Tag Archive for product review

Realness of Concealness: A Lesson in Makeup

I’ve had so many things to tell you about makeup lately that I’m declaring this week:

MAKEUP WEEK

Let’s get straight in to it!

I’m a big fan of Benefit Cosmetics. Like huge! Half of my makeup is Benefit.  I bought it for my wedding makeup and have continued to add more since then.  For my foundation, I switch between Hello Flawless! and Some Kinda Gorgeous.  I’ve never been one to buy makeup for a specific problem area but when this little Benefit Beauty Kit went on sale at Ulta in September, I couldn’t resist.

(It is still on sale!!)

For $18, I thought I would give it a try.  Guys, I’m in love and don’t know how I lived with out it……Let’s go step by step.

Here’s what it promises:

“Sometimes a little concealing and perking up is all you need. It doesn’t take a makeover, just this crafty little kit containing our famous concealers and enhancers. Kit contains: lemon-aid to correct discoloration on eyelids; boi-ing to hide even the darkest under eye circles; ooh la lift to brighten, lighten and tighten the eye area; lip plump to prime, smooth, and plump lips; and high beam to give your skin an ethereal glow.”(Ulta)

So basically this little kit has 5 different “tools” in it.

Ooh la lift- This stuff goes under your eyes to de-puff.  Its a lotion like consistency and rubs in with no color affect.  I lightly rub it in with my finger tips in a circular motion before my foundation.  It works well. I feel like I look less tired in the morning.

Lip plump- a little goes a long way with this stuff.  It doesn’t really plump my lips at all but it sure does make a great primer for my lip stains.  I put three dots on my upper and lower lip and then rub it in with my fingers.

High Beam- This is a hightligher with a pretty shimmer to it. I don’t like shimmer a lot so I haven’t used it much. BUT it does looks great right under my eyebrows! I dot it on and rub it in after I’m done with all my makeup.

….but here’s where we get to the GREAT stuff….

This kit comes with two little compartments on the right with some miracle stuff!

Boi-ing-(the bottom tan one) This stuff goes on under the eyes to “hide dark circles.” I didn’t notice my dark circles until allergy season kicked into high gear.  I apply Boi-ing with my finger tips and pat it all around under my eye BEFORE my foundation.  It tones them down ALOT.  After I apply foundation and powder, they are only vague.  It is quite the little miracle.

Lemon Aid- (the top yellow one) I wasn’t sure about this stuff at first either.  I started using it on my eyelid (as directions state) the first few times, and didn’t like it.  Then one day, I remembered some random makeup tip I had heard about using a “yellow” tint to conceal.  You know those tips..how some lipstick (yellow-based or blue-based) is better depending on skin tone…I’ve never known exactly what this color-based stuff was or how to look for it.  Then it clicked.  Here was a “yellow-based” makeup product directly in front of me.  So I patted it with my fingers on to some red spots.  I applied the rest of my makeup as usual and bam! Perfect spotless face.  Some times NOT using as directed pays off!

Using this kit for the past month, I feel like my makeup is more flawless than it has ever been without looking caked on.  All of these products are light to apply and never feel heavy.   My suggestion: run don’t walk to get some of this stuff!  It won’t be on sale for ever so snatch it now!

To buy it online, visit Ulta here.

*blog disclosure*
I bought this product with my own hard earned money.  No motivation/incentive here. Just plain product love!

Sephora’s Chic Prints For Nails equal patterns of love!

We all follow celebrity fashion and beauty for influence and inspiration. So when Katy Perry, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga,
Rihanna, and more starting sporting awesome patterns on their nails, I took notice! (hounds tooth, zebra, silver fishnet, floral, cherries, leopard print)  Welcome to the world of Minx Nails!
Katy Perry twitpics her floral Minx Nails
Katy Perry twitpics her floral Minx Nails

 What is it? “Made of flexible film, Minx finally gives women completely customized nails that can feature the exact pattern and colors of their newest gown, their favorite photo, or that season’s hottest designs. Because Minx is not a liquid and no hazardous chemicals are used in its application, manicurists can easily apply it to clients at the same time that hair and makeup are being done. Minx does not require any drying time, nor are there any fumes, spills, smudging or chipping. “[Minx Press Room]

 I want, I want!  Of course when I tried to locate a salon near me, I found that the closest one was over 1 ½ hours away and that a Minx manicure starts at $65. FAIL!   

Ah, but all hope is not dashed! Leave it to Sephora and OPI to step up to the plate! Voila!

Chic Prints for Nails!

What it is:
A breakthrough array of precut nail patches for extraordinary nails, instantly!

What it does:
This innovative line, brewed by Minx (and loved by your favorite celebrities) creates customized nails, featuring fierce patterns and prints to satisfy your wildest mani-and-pedi dreams. Dress your tips with your favorite design: anchor, stars, checkers, tiger, fishnet, chrome lace, black & gold geometric, or skulls.

What else you need to know:
One set of Chic Print for Nails contains 16 nail patches of varying widths, for a one-time application to fingers or toes. The nail patch is a solid-film material with an adhesive back that is activated by friction. The warmth from friction creates conformability, allowing the patch to fit over the compound curves of your nails and seal onto the nail bed. The patent-pending material removes easily by rubbing and peeling off. [Sephora.com]

Chrome Lace and Fishnet nail prints
Chrome Lace and Fishnet nail prints

 When I got close to the nearest Sephora, I snatched up 2 designs–Chrome Lace (white background with bright silver lace) and Fishnet (magenta with silver “fishnet”)  At $15 a piece, they are much more affordable than an actual Minx manicure.2010-07-14 20.34.17

        When I got home I opened the package of Chrome Lace to see 16 strips of nail art ready to be applied.

    2010-07-14 20.35.06It recommended starting with clean, bare nails. Check!  It also recommended trimming down the nails with small scissors.  I didn’t do that step and it might have helped.  

2010-07-14 20.34.32

 I rubbed the print and then peeled it off the sheet.  It worked just like the directions said.

I applied the rounded end near the cuticle and rubbed it on smoothing out the bubbles as I rubbed.

This left an extremely long end of nail print to be filed. (this is where I should have trimmed it with scissors!)

I filed with downward strokes to remove the excess print.  Then re-rubbed all nails to ensure all nails were smooth.

    2010-07-14 21.54.06

The directions said nothing about putting on a clear top coat but I’m paranoid so I applied two coats of Sally Hensen’s Insta-Dri Top Coat.2010-07-16 11.16.55

 WOW! I was beyond amazed and couldn’t stop staring at my nails! The pattern was subtle enough but showed.  The silver/chrome effect—whoa, wow, and any other astonishing word you can think of!

 The pretty pattern lasted 5 days and by the end some of the edges started to peel up, including where I filed it down.  I think if I would have cut them down before I filed the extra off, they might have lasted longer. (See! The top of the nail looks rough, and the edges near the cuticle started lifting from the nail)

2010-07-19 12.52.31

I got great comments and feedback about the pattern, especially the pretty chrome effect!  Though the mailman asked me if I put tin foil on my nails?  They were easy to remove, like peeling off a sticker.  One quick hand wash remove any excess glue.  I’m already itching to use the magenta fishnet set but I want to wait for a more special occasion! I also want to buy mutiples of the entire collection so I can have saucy nails all the time! I think I’m in nail love!

 For the $15 price tag, these nail patterns are the perfect answer to when you want to feel extra special!

 Another plus: if you don’t have a Sephora near you, you can order them online!

PHOTO SOURCES:

Katy Perry Floral Minx: http://twitpic.com/ayh7r

More about Chic Prints:http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P263902&categoryId=C19281

THESE PRODUCTS WERE PURCHASED AND TESTED.

Product Review: Goody’s Spin Pin

Sometime last week, I saw the tail end of a commercial for a new hair product/accessory.  Whoo-hoo! 

The name: Goody Spin Pin

The Purpose: make a messy bun in a few easy steps without a jumble of bobby pins
So last night I decided to go pick one up, who doesn’t want a messy bun with ease?!? The search was on. After visiting 2 Walgreens’, 2 CVS’s, 3 other beauty supply stores, and a rude call with a Walmart employee, Target once again prevailed as the best store ever (to me at least!).
After I got home, I went immediately went to the bathroom mirror to play with them.  I pulled them out of the box and was a little surprised to see they looked like a spring. I was a little skeptical on how these two little spring like pins were supposed to hold up my hair.
I did as the directions said, knotted my hair, and twisted in the “SPIN PINS” and voila, it held. My ends were sticking out but that was my fault.   I tried it a few more times and it got better.
I even wore today, each try i’m getting better and better.
 
By the way its REALLY hard to take a picture of the back of your own head!!

I’m impressed and will definitely be perfecting styles with these pins.  For around $6.00, they are worth it!  Good luck finding them though, hopefully it doesn’t take you 8 stores!Hair held with Good's Spin Pin
For more helpful tips visit, the Goody website! or view some of the good tutorials on youtube, like this one from emilynoel83:

–Good luck spin pinning! Have you tried them? What did you think?

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