Physicians Formula Argan Wear Blush Review!

Physicians Formula came out with blush and bronzer (2 blushes and 1 bronzer) Spring 2015 collection that is infused with 100% argan oil. I tend to stray away from Physicians Formula because I think their quite expensive for being a drugstore brand. Even so, I decided to buy this blush solely for the clearance sale at my local Ulta Beauty. Normally this product is around $13.99, but it was on clearance for $5.99. I couldn't pass that insane deal up!

 

Claims: "Infused with 100% Pure Argan Oil for its rich conditioning benefits that improve skin's brightness, tone, texture and elasticity, Transforms skin, smoothing fine lines, brightening dull skin and renewing suppleness, helping to enhance skin's youthful glow. Ultra-lightweight and creamy, skin-rejuvenating blush smoothes and brightens skin delivering a fresh and radiant blushing glow with a touch of glam."

 

 

I picked up the shade rose. When you first apply it gives a natural flush, but can be buildable to give a rose color. The longevity is pretty good. It lasted me 6 hours of wear (that's after applying my Mac fix + makeup setting spray). The overall packaging seems to be a little bulky.

 

 

It felt soft going onto my skin. It also felt like it's cream to powder, but it's only powder. I think it's decent, but as far as a drugstore brand the price would stop me from purchasing if it wasn't on sale. There are just so many good drugstore blushes that are cheaper (Milani, NYX, Maybelline, Rimmel, etc...).  

 

 

Maybelline ColorSensational Rebel Bloom Lipsticks

Maybelline came out with the Rebel Bloom lipstick collection for Spring 2015. The collection launched a few months ago and I FINALLY got my hands on two of the shades (Blushing Bud and Peach Poppy). I love both shades equally!

There are ten shades in the collection. With floral inspired patterns this Spring these pastel colored lipsticks is a perfect match. The texture is very smooth and moisturizing. The color lasts 2 hours without drinking or eating, which is average for a drugstore lipstick. I love pastels and will purchase more from the collection!

Have you tried these lipsticks? Which colors are your favorite?

Lorac Dazzling Dozen 2 Eyeshadow collection Review!

I haven't done an eyeshadow review in quite awhile. Heck! I haven't done a BIG review in forever! I have been really excited to give my readers a review of the Lorac Dazzling Dozen Eyeshadow Collection for weeks. I didn't want to give a review of this collection straight away because a honest thorough review (as my readers deserve) first takes time to test out the product. I have been testing out these shadows for a few weeks and now give a honest review.

This was purchased with my own money and I'm not paid by commission. These are my honest thoughts and opinions!

Lorac eyeshadows are known for their high pigmentation of the color payoff and this collection did not disappoint. These shadows pigmentation are crazy insane and they are so buttery soft, so much that the top three shades are powdery. They are not the type of powdery of fallout, but only powdery because of how buttery soft they are. Also, the longevity of these shadows are amazing. On a work today they lasted me 12 hours of wear (not kidding)!

From left to right: Blanc (Matte skin tone color) Bone (light pink with peachy undertones) Soft Pink (medium tone pink) These shades are good for a base all over lid or a highlight for brow bone.

From left to right: Caramel (matte medium brown) Bon (metallic pinkish-red) Acai (purple with reddish-brown undertone) The brown shade is perfect for a transition in the crease. Metallic shade for lid and purple shade would be nice for an outer corner shade.

 

 

From left to right: Glided (metallic gold) Denim (shimmer blue) Sage( metallic green) These would all be good as outer corner or even under bottom lash liner.

From left to right: Ecru ( metallic silver with taupe very unique) Storm (matte dark gray) Black Light (black with gold glitter)  The silver would be good for lid or under bottom lash line. The gray and black good for outer corner.

My iphone doesn't do any justice on how pigmented these shadows actually are. They are amazing and well worth the money. They are limited edition currently being sold at Ulta ($39). I would get my hands on these babies before they are gone! Lorac never disappoints! Well, at least not for me! :)

Urban Decay SUMMER 2015: Afterglow 8 - hour Powder Blush

Great NEWS for Urban Decay fans!  They are coming out with Afterglow 8-hour Powder Blushes ($26)! They will debut online on April 15th!

There are bright, neutral, and light shades. I think these can be used for all skin tones and look good.
 Is anyone else excited for these blushes to come out. I'm excited to see if the blushes holds up to it's claim being 8-hour wear!

Butter London Lippy Lipstick Review

HIGH HOPES...HIGH HOPES...HIGH HOPES..

 

 

                                                            
                                          BUT.... Rather disappointed to say the least! :(

I recently purchased a few products from Ulta and these Butter London lippy liquid lipsticks were and still are on sale For $10, normally $18. BTW..sale ends 4/4. It seems like liquid lipsticks are what people are raving about lately. So, I purchased a lippy in the shade Trout Pout (nude pink). The lipstick was extremely sticky, so much it was difficult to apply. The stickiness made the application rough, wasn't easily applied. It took several coats until I was satisfied with the color. The pigmentation wasn't great, very light. It reminded me so much as if I were wearing lip gloss. Don't get me wrong I like lip gloss, but I bought this product solely for what the box says "liquid lipstick."  The longevity lasted 3 hours without drinking or eating. For me personally, this product is sadly disappointing.


P.S
Sorry I have been MIA lately. I have had medical issue and I needed to rest and take care of my health first and foremost.
~CCS

Target & Ulta Mini Haul!

This is my first ever haul blog post! I love to read blogs and watch vids on beauty hauls. So, I thought I'd try out a haul verses my regular product reviews. I went to Ulta and Target and purchased a few things. There are new and products that have been on the market for some time, I just haven't had a chance to try them out.

• Yes to tomatoes daily Repair Treatment (acne) I hate when we are between seasons, my skin doesn't agree to the changes!
• L'Oreal true Match Foundation (shade w2) I'm really excited to use this foundation. I heard great things about it, though I think I could of gone to shade w3 but I will work with it.
• Maybelline lumi touch highlighting concealer (shade radiant) I really like this concealer. It really highlights around my eye area like crazy.
• Butter London Lippy Liquid Lipstick (shade trout pout) This is a new product. I have some thoughts on this one, will be doing a review soon!
• Maybelline NEW! color sensational Rebel Bloom 2 shades (blushing bud & peach poppy) I love these colors. Their so beautiful. I will be buying more shades in this collection!
• Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm (mango butter) At work I have a terrible time with chapped lips and I have used chap stick, eos, blistex, and beecology but none of them worked good enough for me. So, I decided to try out Burt's Bees (fingers crossed).

~ Enjoy ~

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation Review

This foundation has been out for over a year. Every time I went to the drugstore I would walk by this product wanting to buy it, but a little voice in my head would say "walk away." This one time I didn't listen whish is that one time when I should of listened. I was disappointed. I know a lot of beauty gurus and youtubers like/love this foundation, but for me not so much. My first application of using this stuff was a disaster. The foundation is a thick mousse, so since it's not a liquid I thought the best way to apply was with clean fingers. The foundation emphasized my pores on the sides of my nose and dry patches which is a big no no for me. We want a seamless application, right!? The next day I tried out the product again, but this time I used a beauty blender. It came out better, but my pores too much showed through. When I first applied the foundation it wasn't real lightweight as the packaging states, but after about an hour it didn't feel so heavy on my face. The longevity was pretty good. It last a good 7 hours before it started to fade away. I have combination skin and I didn't have an issue with shine for 5 hours before I had to touch up with powder. I think it's a good foundation for those who have combination/oily skin, but if you have dry skin, dry patches, or large pores I wouldn't recommend this particular foundation. I will NOT be purchasing this again.

Have you tried this foundation? What's your thoughts?

e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette Review

I love anything beauty related and I collect a lot of it...skincare, cosmetics, hair products, perfume, etc. There are a few selective brands I haven't really dug into collecting because of personal preferences and/or heard too many negative opinions. e.l.f. is one of those brands. The only thing I owned of the brand was eyelid primer until now. I recently decided to try out a few more of their products. Hey, I might like the products even if others didn't. So I went ahead and purchased their studio blush palette. The packaging stated it was "new", but I don't know how new it really is.

This palette comes with 4 blush shades: an apricot, pink, mauve, and a shimmer coral color. I wasn't too happy with the overall pigmentation, especially with the pink shade. It took at least 4 times to pack on the color. The apricot and coral shades I was happy with, they had decent pigmentation. I thoroughly tested each shade out and all shades lasted anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. Longevity was a -negative. The shades were also chalky which is a big thumbs down for me. I like to have a smooth blush application. The packaging is plastic and at first I thought it was real sturdy until I opened and closed the palette a few times to realize it was pretty flimsy. Even so, this palette is worth the money if you are looking for a cheap blush palette. Personally I will not be using this palette much, maybe only for days I don't have much planned.

Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Shampoo

When it comes to shampoos and conditioners I like mix it up. I don't like to use the same product over and over. I prefer to alternate when seasons shift because in the summer my hair tends to get more oily verses fall and winter it tends to get more dry. I'm a Paul Mitchell kind of gal, but I recently changed it up and tested out Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Shampoo.

The shampoo is infused with shea butter and is scented by jasmine and exotic florals which is why it smells like flowers, straight up! The product contains 8 fl oz. When I used it my hair became very soft, for the first day, but as of the second day my hair developed an oiliness to it. I have tried other products that were way better. For a whooping $20 it isn't anything to be too excited about. I will be going back to my Paul Mitchell and Loreal hair products. As far as who the shampoos is best for are those who have coarse, EXTREMELY dry and brittle hair.

P.S. ~What's been happening?~
I have be lacking in uploading posts the month of February. I have been very busy lately. Working 50+ hours every week and classes have been keeping me on my toes. Work, studying, gym, more studying, sleep has been pretty much my schedule 7 days a week. And on top of that I'm shopping for a new car. I can't wait until the semester is over! As far as my blog I will still be posting. For right now it will only be 1 or 2 posts a week, at least until spring semester is over.

~Happy Blogging~

First Impression! Lierac Paris Mesolift Radiance mini set

My very first ever First Impression review! WOOHOO! I'm really, really excited to discuss with my readers a 'NEW' skincare line I recently spotted. LIERAC Paris! Have ya'll heard of the skincare line? Well, I spotted the Mesolift Radiance mini set at my local Walgreens ($22), it's a $40 value. I was lucky enough to find it on clearance for $11.

The set includes:

- Mesolift Cream 10 ml
- Mesolift Serum 8 ml
- Micellar Cleansing Water 50 ml
- Beauty Bag

CLAIMS:

- Improves skin radiance and tonicity
- Helps revitalize the skin
- Helps reduce the visible signs of skin aging
- Hydrates and protects the skin

I have only used these products for a week now so I can't give truthful thoughts on the claims of it reducing visible signs of aging. I think I need to at least use it for a month to give an accurate opinion on that claim. Nevertheless, I think overall it does improve skins radiance. My skin looks healthier and I have a glow to it.

After I cleanse my face I use a very, very small amount of the serum followed by the cream. The cream makes my skin very soft. As far as the Micellar Cleansing Water, I personally that product is more of a gimmick. Really, what the heck is cleansing water?!? The product is suppose to help with makeup removal, dirt, and other impurities. I don't feel nor see any difference. It didn't take all my makeup off and to simply put it there's way better products out there on removing makeup for the fraction of the price.


The Micellar Cleansing Water was a thumbs down, but the serum and cream a big thumbs up. I will be buying the 2 products in full size and will give a complete review after using it for awhile. If ya'll are interested in purchasing any products of the line I will leave a link to their site.
http://www.lierac.com/int/index.php/

Also, DermStore has their products on sale right now 30% off!

P.S.
I will doing some improvements and changes to my blog (new domain, lens for dslr camera, etc) in the coming up months and thought I should engage with my readers on a more personal level. Saying that, I'm thinking of doing a once a month update of what's going on in my life. Thoughts? Yay or nay?

Facial Mask Review: Formula 10.0.6 'Get Your Glow On'

One of my favorite skincare products to use and test out are facial masks! I absolutely love, love, love to splurge on these! Some of my favorites are Glam Glow, Origins, even Freeman.  Well, I found Formula 10.0.6 at Ulta $5.99. Have I lived under a rock or something??! I ask this because apparently this brand has been around for a long time. The brand was created by a chemist in 1933. Say what?!! Yep! I have been living under a rock!

I purchased 'Get Your Glow on' Brightening Peel Off Mask. To be honest my expectations of this brand wasn't very high. I really don't know why, it just wasn't. Even though I say that, I love this brand or at least this particular mask. This mask is all about the glow, literally.

Claims: "Radiance boosting peel revitalizes tired skin in minutes. Smooth on, sit tight then peel off to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and banish breakouts. Powerful Papaya helps to resurface skin while citrus boosts brightness so you can flaunt a mesmerizingly clear, smooth and radiant complexion."

With this product you will only need a very small amount to evenly spread all over your face. You will only need to put on a thin layer. The first time I used the product it put me off guard because the texture was very tacky. Once I put the layer it was fine. It gave me a tingling sensation and cooling affect, which I love. As the mask was drying my face was getting extremely shiny, seeing why this mask will make your skin brighten and glow. They weren't kidding with the claims! I waited 15 minutes before I started peeling the mask off. Peeling off felt like Summer months as a kid peeling off a sunburn. We all remember those times as kids, right?! I thought the mask was very easy to peel off. Afterward, I rinsed my face in case I missed any spots of leftover mask. When it was finished my skin had brightened considerably.  It really did take me be surprise. My skin wasn't oily in my tzone either. I loved this product and I will continually purchase this and other products from the brand!

Tip: I heard some people did experience a stinging sensation when the product was on and it hurt when they were peeling it off. I have somewhat sensitive skin and I didn't have this issue. The only thing I can think of is if you exfoliate before using this mask don't overly exfoliate to because just doing that can result in burns and scarring. Over exfoliating that result in burns will very well cause the mask to sting and hurt.

SNEAK PEAK - a - BOO! MAC Cinderella COLLECTION 2015!

                                                   COMING MARCH 2015

Disney on makeup!?! Say what?!! Who wouldn't love that?? Mac has recently announced they will be releasing a special addition. CINDERELLA! The packaging of this collection is in baby blue and gold. I think it's really pretty and gives a princess feel, which is good since the theme is Cinderella. The collection consist of mostly neutral colors.

I CAN'T WAIT to get my hands on these, very exciting!
What do ya'll think? Yay or nay? Any of you going to go see the NEW movie Cinderella? It's release date is set for March 13th!

L'OREAL Brow Stylist Sculptor Review

I saw a commercial on television for L'Oreal's Brow Stylist Sculptor couple months back and decided to purchase the product for roughly $10 at Walgreens. I think it's a decent price for L'Oreal as the brand's prices are a little higher than other drugstore brands. My brows are somewhat thick and dark. I think they match pretty well to the color of my hair. Some areas of my brows have gone a little patchy. Brow Stylist Sculptor saves the day!

The Brow Stylist Sculptor has dual ends. One ended pencil for filling and shaping and a waxy end on the other side. The waxy end is solely for setting brows after being filled in and to tame any loose hairs. There also is a cap on one end that has stiff bristles to comb and tame the hairs. This brow product has 3 shades available: Blonde, brunette, and dark brunette. The pencil glides on easily. You DO NOT need to press hard. This brow product only needs pressed lightly to get the full effect. The wax did an OK job. It did tame some of my wild hairs for a period of time. The bristles were best for blending after filling in the brows. The Brow Stylist Sculptor lasted a good 5 hours before it started slowly fading away. Nothing beats Anastasia Beverly Hill Brow Wiz, but this product is good for those days you don't have much planned other than running a few errands or so. It's a decent drugstore brow product!

 

 

 

 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation Review

Hey Beauties! I have been testing out several new products lately and decided to give my full and honest review of the NEW! Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation. I am a fan of the original Fit Me foundation, so I was rather excited to test out the matte version. It's even better than the original!

 CLAIMS:


Mattifies

Erases pores

Matches natural skin tone

Tone & texture fitting

The Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation has 12 shades. I used shade 115 ivory. It's light to medium coverage and can be buildable. For me personally the shade was a perfect match for my skin tone. I dabbed a very small amount all over my face and buffed it into my skin with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush in a circular motion. Afterwards, I dabbed a damp Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and patted gently all over my face for a seamless application. The foundation does become a very nice matte finish within minutes of the application. I also noticed a visible reduction of my pores (hey! we all have pores, I don't care who you are!) while having the foundation on my skin. It also evened out my skin tone and texture. I think the claims were pretty accurate. Overall, this foundation will stay in place between 7 and 10 hours depending on your activity. The price ranges anywhere between $6.99 - $8.99 depending on where you purchase it. I will purchase again, very happy with this product.


P.S.
For all my Cincinnatians and Northern Kentucky gals the Kroger at the Newport Pavilion has their cosmetics 20% off EVERYDAY..Woot Woot!

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refresh Gel-Cream Review

It's Winter and during this season I have dry skin. Therefore, I have been on the hunt for good lightweight face moisturizer for dry skin. About a month ago I happen to come across Garnier Moisture Rescue Refresh Gel-Cream. I was a little hesitate about the purchase because in the past I haven't been the biggest fan of the brand. This product has 2 gel-creams, one for normal to combination skin and one for dry skin. I used the product (for dry skin) for about a month now and I can honestly say I'm pleased.

Garnier claims: the product captures the power of Antioxidant Fruit Water. Together with skin-healthy humectants that resemble skin's natural water-binding functions, this refreshing gel-cream, helps replenish skin's moisture reserves for 24 hours and helps defend skin from external aggressors. This ultra-lightweight, oil-free gel-cream contains 2X more moisturizing agents than Garnier's Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Normal Skin. Dermatologist tested for safety. 100% oil-free. Non comedogenic, won't clog pores. Gentle to skin.

 The packaging comes in a round glass container. It has 1.7 oz, which is the standard amount for most moisturizers. The gel formula is water based so the first application it feels like a cool cup of water has been applied to your face. The formula absorbs easily without leaving behind an oily hot mess or shininess. The only downside it contains a lot of alcohol. It really should strip and dry out my skin, but it doesn't. Alcohol doesn’t do skin any favors particularly in regards to aging. I know I shouldn't like it because of the alcohol content, but it works. It keeps my face soft and hydrated!

Have any of you tried it?
What's your thoughts on it?

NEW! Jordana Modern Matte Lipsticks

Hello beauty loves! Have any of you come across the NEW Jordana modern matte lipsticks? I have and let me tell you how freaking much I love these! I found these at my local Walgreens ($2.49). I purchased 2 out of 12 colors, Classy (mauve nude) and Tease (pink nude).

There is a range of nudes, pinks, reds, and a purple color. The colors are pigmented, but you do have to apply the color three to four times to get the pigmentation you like. When you wear it the first time the lipstick can be tugging on your lips, but after the top layer is off the lipsticks are smooth sailing. They can be drying just like any other matte lipsticks. After all, matte lipsticks are well known for being drying on lips. I applied Vaseline to my lips before applying the lipsticks and with that process I didn't have problems with my lips drying out. The packaging is plastic. It's not a cheap plastic as NYC or Wet n Wild lipstick packages are. It's a very tuff plastic, which I was very impressed with, especially given the price. The tube even clicks when the product goes back down. I will definitely be buying more colors. Heck, why not for the price!!

Foundation Matching! Help!

For the longest time I have had difficulty finding foundations matching my skin tone. The foundation color went two ways for me, a skin tone one shade too light or a skin tone one shade too dark. It's much harder finding the drugstore foundation shade matching perfectly because you don't have tester nor do you have a cosmetic specialist who can help match you verses going to Macys, Sephora, and so forth. So a couple years ago I went to Macys and got matched for a foundation. I love the high end foundations, but I also wanted drugstore brands too, after all they were cheaper at the drugstore. I did research on the internet and came across a site specifically for foundation matching. Findation is a great site to help with matching. You need to be most accurate with your matches, so I suggest for you to go get matched for one or possibly two foundations (for more results). Then once you do that go to the site and type in your foundation/s you were matched at the store for and a list of foundations and the color you are for the brand will appear. It is a pretty accurate site. Most of the time it has given me accurate matches for my skin tone. I always refer back to Findation.

TURBIE TWISTS!

Hey beauty lovers! I picked up a new product at my locate CVS. Well, the product has been out for a long time, but this was the first time I came across it, so it's new to me.

CVS had a deal on Turbie Twists (buy 1 get 1 free) averaging out ($5.99).  This product also came with a shower comb, BONUS! If any of you haven't heard of this product ( I'm sure many of you have) it's a super absorbent hair towel that absorbs excess water. The hair towel is lightweight verses using a regular heavy on your head bulky bath towel. It has a twist and loop system which makes the towel keep hair in place.

I think it's perfect for those of you who have textured or naturally frizzy hair. I tested it out yesterday and I have to say I love it. I squeezed my freshly shamp'd hair to get rid of excess water. I left the turbie twist on my head for 30 minutes. There was moisture on the sides of the towel. Overall, it did a great job! It dried my semi-short hair well.

My hair type is naturally frizzy and I have out of this world volume (thanks Dad for my volume!). After I took the towel off and combed my hair I noticed I didn't have much frizz, then today I noticed even more there was a lack of frizz! I didn't need to straighten my hair which saved me time! I so give this product an A. I love it!

Beauty Radar

Hello beauty lovers! I have been on the search for new Spring 2015 collections and I came across one of my favorites beauty brands of all time! Lorac! Lorac Unzipped palette has been out for some time. The eye shadow palette is mostly rose tones. Well lovers, Lorac is coming out with another unzipped palette! Gold tones. The launch date is set for January 15th and yes I will be buying!! The price will be $42. They are also bringing out an unzipped cheek palette. The cheek palette will come as a set with one of their signature Alter Ego lipsticks. There is no exact date for the launch of the cheek set as I know of. The cheek set will be $30. The unzipped palette and unzipped cheek set will be available on Lorac website and Ulta. I can't wait until I get these babies! I will definitely be doing reviews on these!

Profusion Bare Palette Review

I was in Walgreens a few days ago to see if there were any Spring 2015 collections out yet, which there were! Well, I came across a shelf of clearance items and people the closest to me knows how I love to shop for bargains. The Profusion palette was eyeing me saying "buy me buy me!" haha

The Profusion Bare palette was originally $5 and with the clearance sale it rang up to be just $2.50! Now really who can pass on that steal of a deal? Not me! Even though there was a small percentage of hesitation because a lot of products super cheap have problems with pigmentation, fallout, creasing and so forth. Even so, I honestly can say I am very surprised! The palette comes with 10 eye shadows, 4 mattes and 6 shimmers. Plus, an eyeliner pencil.

                                                                 Without primer

                                                                     With primer

                                                                 Without primer

                                                                    With primer

As you can tell, the pigmentation is decent and after applying primer the shadows popped out!. The mattes did lack color, but can be buildable and best suited for brow highlight. There was fallout with 1 shade (darkest shade on the right side of the palette), not by much. The shadows had no problem with blending or creasing issues. The longevity of the shadows was superb for the price I paid. I put the shadows on at 8am and by 4pm they were still intact. They didn't wear off. I'm very pleased!

If you would like to purchase there may still be a few left in your local Walgreens. Profusion has over palettes similar to this one o their website.
http://www.profusioncosmetics.com/makeup/eyes/perfect-10-quilted.html