Monday, May 31, 2010

Drugstore Haulage! ♥

I popped into Walmart this morning & got some goodies!  Along with the things below, i got a new pair of Sony headphones (i literally go through a pair a month :O) - $9,00, Crest 3D White Multi-Care mouthwash as i had a coupon & was interested in trying it! - about $4.00, and i also got a sparkly Disney princess card for my sister's 21st birthday hahaha :) & a graduation card for my other sister!

♥ Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat - I'm currently exploring drugstore top coats - i've tried a Maybelline one & i'm not too hot on it tbh.  I've heard some good things about the Revlon toppies so i ended up getting this one.  Let's see how this goes! - $4.94

Revlon Matte Lipstick in 002 Pink Pout - $5.94 - I've been meaning to get this lippie for ages, but whenever i went to Walmart it was out of stock - this was the last one left & i was so lucky to get my hands on it!  However, when i got home (if you follow me on Twitter, you might know this!), i wanted to kick myself because it's soo similar to shades i already own - see swatches below!
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in 180 Pink Pop - $5.94 - I've been hearing SO many good things about these lipglosses on blogs lately, so of course i wanted to try it out for myself :)  There was a coral & a lilac lipgloss in this range that people have been raving about as well, but the coral was out at the Walmart i went to & although the lilac one looked gorgeous, i only wanted to spend my money on one.  In the end, i ended up just getting Pink Pop as i thought i'd wear it more :)

Note the similarity :(
Buyer's remorse at it's best!
A girl can never have enough pink lippies though, right?  Haha =/

Professional by Nature's Therapy Heat Shield Thermal Spray - about $5.00 - I'm a bit skeptical about this product to be honest, mainly because i'm not familiar with the company at all.  I was looking for a new heat protectant because i feel like my Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray isn't really doing much & i'm not willing to scoop out the money for CHI 44 Iron Guard, no matter how much i love it!  I was between this product & a John Frieda one, but i wanted a heat protectant that i could also use to curl my hair, and that one was not.  What sold me in the end was the "Compare to CHI 44 Iron Guard" on the bottom - sure it looks super cheap & whatever, but this product could turn out to be really good!  Let's see how this turns out..... :O

Photo collage frame - My mom gave me this because it was on sale where she works & didn't think she was gonna use it.  It's plastic & kinda cheapy looking, but with some nice photos in there, i think it could look nice in my room!  Can't wait to fill it up!


Saturday, May 29, 2010

May Faves! ♥

It's that time again!  Time to share with what products we've all been loving this month :)  The year's going by incredibly fast - we're already on the verge of summer!  Goodness... i'm afraid to blink because if i do, it'll be time to put up the Christmas decorations!
I degress...so with the sun showing it's face a bit more and with the air being more hot & humid, the products i choose to use everyday is changing, and i'm also using more products to keep my skin healthy and looking great!  This will be a long post, so i apologize in advance....Let's get onto it!

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1. Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof deodorant
Sure, this may be a bit embarrassing to put in this post, but i don't care because i have been totally loving it!  I have tried the regular Clinical Strength, but it doesn't work as well as the waterproof version, which makes sense.. ew, right?  Haha.  I'm just going to go straight into talking about sweat i guess, that's the only way to really say how effective this product is!  Ever since entering my teen years my hormones have gone crazy, and a side effect of that is sweating.  So that, along with the hot weather, is just a recipe for embarrassment & being uncomfortable.  Ever since using this, i have noticed that my underarm area is significantly drier & smelling fresh!  I believe i found my new favorite deo :)

2. Coppertone Oil Free Sunscreen Lotion
With the sunlight beating down, it's extremely important to protect your skin.  I have been using this sunscreen since last summer, and i really love it for everyday use.  It has an SPF of 30, which isn't too high, but again, it's great for everyday use - however, if i were going to the beach or planning to be outside all day, i would definately use a sunscreen with a higher SPF.  Since my skin is really sensitive to fragrances (esp. in lotions), this is a fragrance free lotion, but it still has that amazing, summery smell of sunscreen :)

3. Lush Vanilla in the Mist soap
You might've seen that i bought this delicious soap in a recent haul (link here), and since then i've gotten to use it quite a bit :)  I'll be writing up a full review on this product soon, but i wanted to include it in my May Faves because it's absolutely divine.  The scent is super warm vanilla, and almost coffee - it's incredible.  It's also quite moisturizing, which for a solid soap isn't something you come across too often.  I absolutely adore this product ♥.  Look out for a full review!

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1. Clinique High Impact Mascara in 01 Black
I did a review on this way back in the day, i kinda stopped using it since i discovered CoverGirl Lash Blast, but i've since rediscovered it.  I still use my Lash Blast, but i use this as on top of it, on the outer corner lashes - it really gives my lashes even more length & volume, and creates more of a cat-eye effect.  Love!

2. Double-ended eye brush
Whilst walking through a cosmetic aisle in Walmart looking for a blending brush, i came across some Revlon brushes, as well cheaper ones - of course i went for the cheaper ones.  I'm not sure what brand this one is exactly because the the label came off of the packaging... but if you spot the Revlon brushes in Walmart, i'm sure you'll find these right next to them.  I already own the MAC 217 brush, which is great for applying color to the crease & blending, but i wanted to find another one to use for when i'm using a look with multiple colors.  This brush is great for blending, i still prefer my 217, but this is a great brush - reminds me of the MAC 224!

3. CoverGirl Cheekers Bronzer in 104 "Golden Tan"
Before i got my Bare Minerals Warmth, i was running low on my favorite Clinique Bronzer ("Sunkissed"), so i went to Walmart (i'm noticing a pattern here...) & tried to look for a nice, inexpensive bronzer.  I landed on this CoverGirl bronzer, and i really like it!  I'll put a little swatch of it above here, it looks like the name sounds, goldie-brownie, but it comes up more orangey-brown on the skin - kind of annoying, but you can always blend it out a bit :)

4. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lipbalm
I'm pretty sure you've all either tried this stuff, or at least heard of it - with good reason too, it's really nice!  I have been using these for years, but went off it a couple months ago because i was trying to use up some other lip products.  Since i've used them all up, i repurchased this & have fallen back in love :)
So minty & fresh feeling on the lips!


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Urban Decay Eyeshadow in "Mad Hatter" (Original name: "Twice Baked")
I absolutely adore this color.  I use this in the outer corner & blend it into the crease, and it looks really nice!  I've tried using up other colors, from Urban Decay & other brands, and i always come back to this.  There are glitters in it, but it really isn't noticeable once applied - still a nice little touch :)

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1. DIY Sailor Button Earrings
So i was having a crafty day a couple weeks ago, as you may know (I did a blogpost on it!  Link here :), and on that crafty day, i made these earrings out buttons & old earrings!  I wore them so much this month, they go with soo many outfits!  Love, love, love - and they were free, eeeee!  Guilt-free accessories :)

2. Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff 10 Day Nail Color in 06 "Violet Frost"
This gorgeous color has been on my nails for the majority of the month!  It's a very pretty, uhh... violet frosty color?  Haha :).  I rediscovered this baby while taking photos for my recent nail polish collection post (link herezzz).  I received many compliments on it - that's always nice, right? :)  The formulation is so-so, probably because i've had this for years & years - it's still a very pretty & somewhat easy to work with polish.

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Say cupcake five times fast if you actually made it through this post!  Hahaha :O
What have you ladies been loving this month?


Thursday, May 27, 2010

Tag: Would You Rather?! ♥

I was tagged by the oh so lovely Masie at My Sweet Diaries & the ever so amazing Fern at FernLaura to do the Would You Rather? tag, so i thought i'd do it!  Thanks for tagging me you sweeties! :)
I love playing this game with my friends, so this tag was practically made for me!  He he he ;)

Rules:
* Copy this picture & put it into your own post
* Answer all the questions
* Tag as many people as you like
* Tell them that you've tagged them
* See what they answered! :)

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Be extremely beautiful or extremely intelligent?
Hmm, i'm not quite sure tbh =/

Go without brushing your teeth for a year or go without washing your hair for a year?
Preferably neither!  Goodness, i'm terrible at these questions...

Be rich or famous?
Rich!

Have an amazing shoe collection or an amazing makeup collection?
Hmm, probably shoe!  Only if the makeup that i did have was filled with amazing products :)

Be able to sing or be able to dance?
Hmm, probably dance :)

Be stranded on a a desert island or in the desert?
How about in a dessert island :) Hahaha, but for real.. desert island.

Have a computer or a TV?
Definately a computer!

Wear spots or stripes for the rest of your life?
Probably spots because you can make spots really subtle as compared to stripes.. if that makes sense!

Drink out of a teacup or mug?
Teacup!

Recieve a bunch of flowers a box of chocolate?
Both would be lovely, but chocolate i suppose - i'm a sucker for anything chocolate :)

Have a hug or a kiss from someone you love?
A long, huge, bear-hug :)  I adore hugs ♥

Meet Johnny Depp or Robert Pattinson?
Johnny Depp!  Nomnomnomnomnomm.  I would be happy either way though :)

Be a fairy or a mermaid?
Fairy!!!

A coffee or a cup of tea?
Cup of tea plz :)

Pink or blue nails?
Pinkieeeeez!

Live somewhere sunny or somewhere cold?
Honestly, probably cold... as long as it snowed :)

Have an amazing house or an amazing car?
Amazing house, for sure!

Be kind or funny?
A happy medium between the two :)

Eat sweets or cake?
Sweets!

Hold a tarantula or a snake?
As long as it's not venomous, a snake!

Wear a necklace or a ring?
Necklace :)

Laugh or smile?
Is it even possible to laugh without smiling?!  :D

Be hated or be a hater?
Eek, hate's a strong word.  Be hated.

Wear pearls or beads?
Pearls!  They're so classic & chic, i love them. ♥

If you had to choose, lose your sight or hearing?
Eeeeeek, probably hearing =/

Have lots of money or lots of friends?
Not sure how to answer this one, since i believe in the quality of friends, not quantity!

Love or be loved?
Love. ♥

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I tag these lovely ladies!:
Katherine at Paper Pocket
Julianne at Lace and Leather
Kirsty at Boo
Ellie at Little Elfie
Shannon at Schnella




Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Review: Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup.

A couple months ago, i bought a Bare Escentuals Starter Kit from Sephora, after recommendation from my dermatologist.  My dermatologist said that the foundation i was using (Revlon Colorstay) wasn't doing my skin any good, since it was a liquid.  She said that a mineral powder foundation would let my skin breathe and also my blemishes to heal faster.



Sorry, they're a bit dirty!
♥ Let's start with the brushes.  The kit came with all of these, from top to bottom: Full Flawless Face Brush, Flawless Face Brush, & Max Coverage Concealer Brush.
I use all of these everyday and under each separate review, i say which one i use for what job.
Overall, i really like these brushes.  I've heard reviews about them saying they shedding excessively, and sure they do shed a bit, but it doesn't make me like them any less.  The only real downside to these brushes i find, is that they take a while to fully dry after cleaning them.
My favorite brush out of all of these is probably the Full Flawless Face Brush because it picks up a lot of the product and really gives pretty nice coverage - which i need!  It's really dense, it's basically a kabuki - and i also use it to blend my contour & blush out a bit.
The Flawless Face Brush is thinner, longer, and less dense, so it doesn't pack the product on as easily, but i still really like it.
The Max Coverage Concealer Brush is really nice as well and works really well to apply your concealer - i use this with both my powder concealer, as well as my creamy Studio Finish Concealer from MAC.



♥ Bare Escentuals Prime Time
I got a sample size Prime Time in my Bare Minerals starter kit and loved it, so i bought the full size (not pictured) and use it everyday.  Prime Time is a primer that only contains 11 ingredients - no parabens, no fragrances, and no preservatives & it also contains vitamins and antioxidants - it's really natural, and contains gorgeous ingredients.  Prime Time minimizes my pores, as well as fine lines and the bumpiness i have going on on my forehead atm.  The only downside to this is that it doesn't control my oiliness all day long, i still look oily, but that's also because of the finish of the foundation, but we'll get into that later!  That's a downside really, but for less oily skin types, this would probably work fantasically!  For me, PT creates an amazingly smooth base.
I apply Prime Time with my hands.


♥ Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil
 In the little information pamphlet that came with my BE starter kit, it says that people with oilier complexions should apply Mineral Veil before your foundation, so i do - i also apply this after my foundation, bronzer, and blush to blend the colors in a bit, to prevent shininess, and to set my makeup.  Mineral Veil is a translucent powder, but unlike most powders, you can pack this on & not look powdery or cakey at all.  It gives a really nice finish - it makes your skin look so luminous and glowy, which is a slight problem for me, as i have oily skin, but for people with drier skin, i think it would look stunning.  The only other problem i have with this is that when i apply this after my foundation, i feel like my blemishes are exposed even more, although i just covered & concealed them. 
I apply Mineral Veil with the Bare Escentuals Flawless Face (on far right of first photo) brush using the swirl, tap, buff method.
-With heavier hand before foundation.
-With lighter hand after foundation, basically dusting it on.


♥ Bare Escentuals Original SPF 15 Foundation in Fair
Bare Minerals Foundation is the only powder i've ever used that hasn't made my skin look chalky, powdery, or cakey.  Like with the Mineral Veil, i can pack this stuff on & my skin will still look very natural.  Even though it's a powder, BE doesn't dry out my skin.  The way this foundation applies is delicious, haha.  Bare Escentuals claims that although it's a powder, it goes on like a cream - and it really does.  Sure it doesn't literally turn creamy, but it applies smoothly, even without much thought.  The finish to this stuff is also super amazing - it's luminous and healthy-looking.  
As for helping my acne to heal, i feel it does help a bit.  I feel like the liquid foundation i was using before had so many ingredients (BE has seven) and was so heavy that it was just smothering my skin and not allowing my skin to heal as quickly as it could.  Since this foundation has fewer ingredients and the texture is fine & light, i feel it really allows my skin to breathe and within the first week of using this, the texture of my skin & my acne had honestly improved a smidgen.
On my "good skin" days, i use this foundation as a concealer.
The packaging of this product makes it as little messy as possible, if you're careful.
I apply the Bare Minerals foundation with the Bare Escentuals Full Flawless Face brush (it's more dense & packs on the foundation amazingly - on far left in first photo) - using the swirl, tap, buff method.
I apply the Bare Minerals foundation as a concealer with the Maximum Coverage Concealer brush using the swirl, tap, buff method as well.


♥ Bare Escentuals Warmth All Over Color
Let me just start by saying this product has just three ingredients.  Three!  Am i the only one amazed?!  Again, preservative (paraben) free, fragrance free, etc.  Warmth is a bronzer basically, so i do the "three" motion to apply it (forehead, cheek region, & underneath jawline) and with the little bit left on my brush, i lightly go over the rest of my face.  Warmth can also be used as a subtle contour.  It looks natural - when i wear this i get comments from people IRL saying that i look tan (trust me, i'm not tan).  Warmth applies really smoothly & i think this stuff will last a long time since you need so little of it.  I've recently discovered that this product goes a little red in pictures on me - this may be my fault because of how i apply it, how much i apply, etc. but either way, no es bueno!
I apply Warmth All Over Color with the Bare Escentuals Flawless Face brush.

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Overall
I really love the concept behind having makeup that's good for your skin, and i really love Bare Escentuals as a company.  If you're curious to try these product, i recommend getting a Starter Kit so you can test these products out, but not have to fully commit with your money to purchasing the full size of everything & purchasing the brushes individually.  In my opinion, mineral makeup is for all ages, races, and skintypes because it's so easy to use, it looks like your not even wearing makeup, & there is a wide range of colors.


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USA: you can buy Bare Escentuals at Sephora in stores & online, as well as on the Bare Escentuals website
UK: you can buy Bare Escentuals on the UK website, as well as in stores (i'm not sure where =/)

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Hair Product Storage!

In this post i'm just going to show you girlies how i store my hair products :).  I was going to include this in my makeup storage post (link here), but it would've been too long!

Above all this is a full length mirror, so this is the most convenient place to put all my hair goodies since i can just sit down here, do my hair in the mirror, and all the products i need are right at my fingertips.
I keep all my hairsprays, heat protectants, serums, mousses, brushes, & two dry shampoos in the back, in the container on the right.  The container is actually the top of the box that i got my Curious by Britney Spears gift set in years and years ago haha.  I need to find something pretty, but big enough to store this products!
On the left, i have a plastic 3-drawer container from Walmart that i used to store makeup in - again, not very pretty, but it gets the job done.  I'll show you seperately what's all in there.  On the top of that, i keep the bows & little accessories on clips in a bowl that i made out of clay in the fifth grade (i think it was fifth grade... :)

In the first drawer i keep hair ties, clips to clip up my hair while i'm styling it, a massive amount of bobby pins & a clip in the lid to a class container, and even more bobby pins.

In the next drawer i keep my prettier headbands that i'd actually wear in public - i need more!  I also keep the two vintage clips my grandma gave me ♥

In the bottom drawer i keep my stretchy headbands, as well as the headbands i just wear around the house!

In my closet, which is about 6 feet from the stuff above, i keep all my hair tools such as straightners, curling irons, and a blow dryer in this wicker basket.

How do you ladies store your hair products?


Monday, May 24, 2010

No More Snow Fairy!?!

Yup.  It's official.  I'm out of my Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel!!!!!!  :(
In case you don't know, Snow Fairy SG as well as other products with the same scent are limited edition, and only come out during Christmas time.  I got 3-100 mL bottles during the Boxing Day Sale & i've officially used every last drop of them!
The scent is aaaaamazing & takes me back to last Christmas when i first smelled this.  *sigh*
The Godmother soap has just about the same scent, but it's not the same - know what i mean?  Haha.
Lush, if you're reading this, you need to start selling again asap!  Nomnom it's delish.

All that remains is the pretty blue glitter at the bottom :(
My plan?: Since the bottle still contains that amazing sickly sweet scent, i'm leaving this bottle in my drawer so i can unscrew the cap & smell it occasionally to hold me over till Christmas :) haha, i'm such a sad excuse for a person!

Snow Fairy, you will be surely missed.
Until next Christmas,
Laura


Sunday, May 23, 2010

Review: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick ♥

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 220 Pink Chic

I've been hearing a bit of buzz around the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks lately and thought i'd try them out for myself!  I was strolling through a cosmetic aisle at Walmart and spotted the shiny, purple packaging i'd recognized from videos and blogposts and trotted over to check them out :)
I landed on the shade, 220 Pink Chic, because it looked like a lighter, baby pink when i swatched it on the back of my hand, and thought it would look really nice on the lips!  It's not a Snob type of light pink, but more of a medium, bright pink - which is still very wearable and i still adore.
One thing that i absolutely love about this lipstick is that it has an SPF of 18, which makes this lippie really great for summer!


Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 220 Pink Chic: left, without flash - right, with flash

Texture: The texture is really nice!  The lipstick applies very smoothly & is more of a glossy-feeling lipstick than a thick, creamy one - it is still a bit creamy though, it's what i imagine the texture of a MAC Glaze lippie would be like.
Taste/Scent: It doesn't really have a taste, but i absolutely looooove the smell!  I don't really know how to describe it, it doesn't smell like a MAC or Clinique lippie, but it definately does still smell like lipstick.  Mmmm, i just adore it!
Drying?: These lipsticks are made to be moisturizing, and i found this lipstick pretty non-drying, even without a lip balm underneath, but i wouldn't say it adds a ton of moisture to your lips.  After wearing this out for a couple hours though, i notice the product settles into the rougher part of my lips - not that it's too noticeable (mainly because of the color) - but close up, it's not too attractive.  Reapplying the product solves that issue though :)
Durability: In my opinion, the amount of time this lippie last on your lips is just a little less than average, for me it requires about two reapplications through a 10-hour day - which isn't horrible, but i've experienced a bit better on this front.
 Pigmentation: The pigmentation on the shade i have is really nice, i haven't tried any other shade in this range, but out of the two other ones i swatched & this one that i've used, they have really nice pigmentation.  You can wear this as more of a sheer, subtle, but glossier color, or you can really build it up for it to stand out a bit more.
Packaging: I'm a sucker for flashy, kind of tacky packaging, so i enjoy this packaging :)  I adore the crown logo on the top of the cap, and the purple outside.  Of course it's nothing too luxurious or gorgeous, but i still like it!
Price: I got this a while ago, so i'm not certain how much it costs, but i know it's around $6.00 at Walmart, which is around the average price for a drugstore lipstick.  The price really isn't too bad, especially for the quality of the product you're getting.


Overall thoughts
I really recommend this to anyone looking for a really nice, quality lipstick, but doesn't want to scoop out a lot of money for it.  I also recommend this to anyone who has problems with lipstick drying out their lips, but still wants a bit of color!  I'm really curious to try out other shades in this range, and i'll probably be taking a trip to the drugstore soon to check 'em out :)



Saturday, May 22, 2010

A few Friday goodies & another award :)

First of all, sorry for this being the second 'haul'-type post in a row =/  I feel like i'm totally bragging!  Do you ladies like these haul posts?
Anyway, I finally went into Lush for the first time in way too long yesterday and my lovely mother so kindly & unexpectedly treated my two two goodies :)

♥ Lush Floating Island Bath Melt - $7.95
♥ 0.41 lbs of Vanilla in the Mist soap - $10.25
♥ Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof deodorant - LOL, i came home from to school to see this lying on my bed... that's kind of embarassing.

♥ I received the June 2010 issue of Teen Vogue in the mail yesterday!  Amanda Seyfried looks absolutely stunning - i think it's impossible to take a somewhat unattractive photo of her!  There's also a really informative story on tanning beds, i'm making my sister read it!  Also in the issue, there was also a little article on Topshop Makeup, with this lovely image on! :)

♥ I also got this really pretty purple dress (which this picture does not give justice to at all!) from Boston Store by the brand Soprano.  I still have to try it on & see if i like it.  To my disappointment, the fabric is 95% rayon and 5% spandex, not incredibly suitable for summer.  I love cotton dresses, but i'll have to see if this'll do!  I'm looking for summer dresses that can be worn without any bottoms like leggings, shorts, jeggings, etc. :) - originally $38, got for $22.80 with discounts

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I was given the Sweet Blog award by the absolutely lovely Dollface_24!!
Thanks so much hun! :)

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Expect reviews from me on the Lush goodies!  Hope you are all having a spectacular weekend, i heard there was sun across the pond today!





Thursday, May 20, 2010

Little Haul, Rant, & Awards!

According to the little poll on the left sidebar of my blog, 58% of you would like to see more hauls on my little bloggity blog!  That being the case, i thought i'd show you a few things i got recently!  Tbh, i don't go shopping very often mainly because i am running low on money / saving up for my trip to London & Paris next year.
But my mom so kindly treated me to some things in Forever 21 and a bracelet, because she is so lovely :)
Oh and i desperately need to go into Lush & get a chunk of Vanilla in the Mist soap & perhaps Floating Island Bath Melt!

♥ Forever 21 Striped Floral Top - $17.50
-lookin' a little boxy lying there!
-link here

♥ Forever 21 pink tank top - $2.50
-a big too short on me =/

♥ Forever 21 Shoulder Bag  - $22.80
- not really sure how i feel about this bag tbh.  Like, i like it & all but i don't know how much use i'd get out of it, i kind of want a pretty, girly, quilted Chanel-esque bag with a long chain, but i can't find one anywhere!  Anyone know of any place that has any affordable ones?

♥ Boston Store Pearl Bracelet - $8.50 i believe
-used to have a flower on it but it fell off within a couple hours of purchase

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This definately isn't a 'beauty' type of photo lol - just a few ranty bits i feel the need to share!
-I've been completely dissatisfied with my hair at the mo.  I like the overall length & all, but my bangs are horrible, i have a bunch of product buildup, and my hair is really unhealthy.  I need a haircut badly, but i just don't want to get any length off! =/
-Since starting Yaz two weeks ago, my skin has improved a bit, but it's supposed to be a month before you actually start seeing results - ugh, i really can't wait.
-The sweatshirt i'm wearing in this photo my grandma gave to me, it's a USA Olympic Team one - & ahhhh it's sooo comfy! :)

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I was recently given two awards buy two very lovely bloggers! :)
Thank you soooooooo much ladies! ♥

I was awarded the Sunshine Award from the lovely Josie - i absolutely adore her & her blog!


And i was given the Stylish Blogger Award from Olivia - who has such a cute blog!!
A part of this tag is to say five facts about yourself, so here we go!:

1. I feel like no one actually cares to read five facts about me, so i'll try to make this quick!
2. I hate school, if that's not the most obvious thing ever.  When people say they hate school, they still try really hard to get good grades, they show up everyday, and they can tolerate it & all, but honestly, i hate it - most of the teachers, students, & ugh i just can't wait to get out.
3. I hope i don't repulse any of you, but i have the same thumbs as Megan Fox.  If you don't already know what they look like, i'm sorry, i'm not providing a photo!  Understand it takes courage to admit this to you all! Don't make fun of me :(
4. I joined marching band.  It's so nerdy, i know!  I love music & need more after school activities, so yeah!  It starts up in late June and goes through all of summer & into autumn :)  Our show this year is The Nightmare Before Christmas!
5. I'm not a big fan of chick flicks tbh!  They are just so unrealistic to me, that they just make me upset by the end of it!  I still watch them sometimes though - i'm a sucker for a cute male lead :)


Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Lippies, Lippies, Lippies! ♥

Before i get into this post, i would just like to give each of you ladies a massive thank you and a huge bear hug for i reached 200 followers yesterday!!!!!  That's honestly amazing :)  Out of all the gorgeous blogs to follow, you chose mine!  I can honestly remember when i only had 5 followers...agh, you girls are amazing!
Thanks a million delicious cookies :) ♥♥♥♥


So i suppose this is a lipstick collection post - i hate saying collection because it sounds really snooty, but i guess that's what it is =/.  Oh, and sorry for these collection posts, i promise i'll think of other posts to do!  That reminds me, in the left sidebar i have a little poll for you girls to do, telling me what kind of posts you'd like to see :)  I need your input!  It would help a bundle :)

So i digress...lippie time!
I'm definately more of a lipstick girl than a lipgloss girl.  My collection is not big at all by any means, but i use pretty much all of them so they're not all going to waste in my drawers!  I'm definately still building up my collection.. so yeah :)

This is how i store my lipsticks, lipglosses, and chapsticks - haha, it makes it look like i have such a tiny collection, well i do but that's not that point....anyway!  If you'd like to see how i fully store my makeup, click here! :)


I have provided swatches for you all & will do a brief overview of each :)

1. Maybelline Color Sensational in 635 Very Cherry: 
You'll probably notice, this super bright color is the only one of it's kind in my collection.  The few times i wore it (only once in public...haha) i got two different reactions, either "OMFG what the hell is that girl wearing" or "Wow, it's very stand-out, but i think you can pull it off".  I went to Target to pick up a red lipstick one day & they were out of the shade i wanted, which was a darker, more wearable one - so i just got this one.  Well, we all make mistakes don't we?  I have a full review of this lipstick here if you're interested :)

2. Maybelline Color Sensational in 025 Pink Please: I bought this after Gemma raved about it in a video a couple months ago, and i'm so glad i did!  It's actually my most worn lipstick, it's very wearable and really adds much needed color to my neutral / somewhat boring looks :).  Full review here!

3. Rimmel Moisture Renew in 220 Pink Chic: 
I was strolling down the aisle in Walmart the other day and spotted the metallic purple packaging for these, so i just had to check them out..naturally.  I was originally going to go for a neutral shade, but i landed on this pink beaut (i'll have to go back for the neutral!).  You'll see it looks very similar to #5, which is actually MAC's Snob - Snob is much more opaque & a bit more drying than Pink Chic, so i wouldn't say it's an exact dupe, but it is indeed very similar.  I'll do a full review on this soon :)

4. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in 070 Soft Nude: 
This is the only nude lippie i own, and the only one i've ever used - isn't that sad?  I bought it before i even heard the hype about it - haha it was so silly, i was roaming the cosmetic aisles of Walmart (there seems to be a pattern here...) & was sweating - well, you know what i mean - over a lipstick to buy, i wanted a nude but just didn't know which one to get.  Since i bought it, i've heard many good things about it on YouTube, especially from MakeupbyMel, saying it's the "perfect nude lip" - she's much tanner than me, but it still suits me quite well.  I'll have to do a more in-depth review on this :)

5. MAC lipstick in Snob (Satin finish): 
Snob is the first MAC lipstick i' ever bought, and i like it loads!  I already compared this to #3 on this list (so if you skipped over that, go read it!).  I would love to try more MAC lipsticks, but the $14 pricetag kind of puts me off...everyone says it's worth it, but i can't bring myself to invest in them!  What are you favorite MAC l/s shades?  I'd appreciate your suggestions!!  Full review on this lippie here!

6. Clinique Colour Surge Lipstick in Extreme Pink:
Thus begins the frosty lipsticks.  I'm not too fond of Clinique lipsticks because the ones i've experienced have been very frosty, which i'm personally not too fond of.  This shade looks more dramatic on the lips than it does on the swatch, so it's not very suitable for daytime.  A pretty shade though!  I don't feel too bad about owning these Clinique lipsticks because i got them in a free gift set :)

7. Clinique Different Lipstick in Think Bronze:
This is definately more of a pinky-peach shade than it is a bronze-y one, so the name always throws me off!  Again, another frosty shade.  Think Bronze is more suitable for daytime than Extreme Pink, but i still don't get too much use out of it - mainly because it's a more peachy-toned pink, whereas i like true pinks :) - another gift set piece!

8. Clinique Different Lipstick in Angelic:
Angelic is more of a peachy-brown type of shade, and it's also frosty (ugh yes, once again!) so i don't get much use of it at all tbh.  Might end up passing this on to my mom or using it more over the summer :)  We'll see!  I believe i got this in the Spring/Summer gift bag.

9. Clinique Colour Surge Lipstick in 22 Pink Beach:
I actually have two of these lipsticks and they are my most worn Clinique lippies.  On the lips it comes out as more of a darker, but more natural - yet still frosty, erg - color.  I don't know why i dislike frosty lipsticks so much... i suppose i just like the more satiny, glossy, or matte-y looks!


What are your favorite lippies?!


Sunday, May 16, 2010

Nail Polish Galore! ♥

Say hello to my little friends...

Hahaha ;D
This is all the nail polish i own.  I honestly don't mean to brag and i definately don't want to seem snooty or anything, so i really hope you girls don't take it that way.  This is a pool of all of my mom, my sisters, and i's varnishes that we've been accumulating over the years.
If you're wondering how these polishes are actually stored click here.

Some girls are crazy about polish, and i'm honestly not.  I need to have a color on my nails though, but i've gotten so frustrated with my nails that i just gave up trying to make them look amazing.  When i see many girl's NOTDs, they're nails are smooth, shiny, & amazing, while mine are messy, uneven, and not-so-amazing.  Anyone know they're secret?!  Well anyway...

I'm going to go through each color group seperately & give mini reviews!
So let's get onto it!

R E D S  &  O R A N G E S
left to right:
♥ OPI in "It's a Doozi, Says Suzi", Sally Hansen in "Cardinal", BonBons by Bari Cosmetics - no name, Sally Hansen in "Salsa Creme", and Petits by Scherer - no name
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I love red nail polish - Sally Hansen in "Cardinal" is almost always on my toes.  The other polishes honestly don't get that much love, but the first OPI color is really pretty for fall & winter.


P I N K S
left to right:
♥ N.Y.C. Long-Wearing Nail Enamel - no name, random polish, Revlon Nail Enamel in 917 Plum Seduction, OPI Nail Lacquer in "You're Such a Kabuki Queen", Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color in 44 Rose Amore, Orly Nail Lacquer in "Pretty Please", OPI Nail Lacquer in "Got a Date To-Knight"
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Pinks have to be my favorite color of polish to wear :)  Whenever i try to branch out and paint my nails a some other color, i always end up using one of these!  My faves are the two OPI ones.  The first two are my least used out of this group mainly because they're quite sheer.  The Revlon (which is probably considered of more of a purple lol) shade i love, but it takes forever to dry so i don't wear it too much.


Y E L L O W S  &  G R E E N S
left to right:
♥ N.Y.C. Long-Wearing Nail Enamel - no name, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in 27 Mellow Yellow, Sinful Nail Enamel in 76 Green Glitter, N.Y.C. Long Wear Nail Enamel in 118A, N.Y.C. Long Wear Nail Enamel in 110A Luxury Lime Creme, BonBons by Bari Cosmetics - no name, random polish
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I don't wear yellow or green polish very often tbh, mainly because they're not too flattering with my skintone, but it looks great in the summer with a tan :)


B L U E S
left to right:
♥ Jane Nail Color in 22 Up All Night, L.A. Girls Flare Bright Delights Nail Lacquer - no name, Nicole by OPI in "It's Up to You", Pure Ice by Bari Cosmetics in #761 Frosted Ice Calypso, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in 04 Blue Me Away!, random polish
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(The first one may look black in the bottle, but it comes out a dark navy color :), i really enjoy wearing bluesy colors on my nails!  Blues are great for anytime of the year, in my opinion.  My favorites from my collection are the first one (Jane in "Up All Night"), the third (Nicole by OPI in "It's Up to You"), and the fifth (Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Blue Me Away" - they are all super pretty (duh haha).


P U R P L E S
left to right:
♥ Artmatic U.S.A. in 101 Black Plum, OPI Nail Lacquer in Boris & Natasha, BonBons by Bari Cosmetics - no name, Pure Ice by Bari Cosmetics - my friend mixed a couple polishes to make this - the original was called "Cheatin", Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff 10 Day Nail Color in "Violet Frost", Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color in 57 Lavender Marquis
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Making this post, i rediscovered my love for purple polish.  I really want a lilac nail polish - Barry M makes an amazing one, ahh we need Barry M in the US!  Anyway, next time i paint my nails it will probably be with one of these :)


B R O W N S,  G R E Y,  &  B L A C K S
left to right:
♥ In the Mood by China Glaze in "Teal to Peach", The Color Workshop - no name, Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in 69 Frozen Fantasy, U Colors Nail Polish - no name, Wet'n'Wild Fantasy Makers - no name, A Perfect "10" in 395 Black Out
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I'm not one to wear browns on my nails, i think they would look gorgeous with a tan though.  The one grey i have is really old & is probably all chunky now haha, it's a really pretty color though.  The two blacks i have are really nice, the Wet'n'Wild one is pretty watery though, but they're both fairly pigmented.  I used to wear black nail polish a lot more when i was in middle school & early high school, but i've grown out of it and have been wearing more colors now.  I think black can still look great though :) - so long as it's not chipping!


N U D E S  &  S H E E R S
left to right:
♥ &IsaDora Perfect Nail Polish in 10 Satin Beige, Sally Hansen Maximum Growth plus Nourishing Nail Color in 08 Vanilla Whimsy, L'Oreal Paris Wear Extraordinaire Nail Enamel in 319 Blush Perle, Revlon Sheer Translucide Nail Enamel in 003 Sheer Snowflake Pink, Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Color in 21 Brilliant Blush, Jordana Nail Polish in 308 Shining Star, OPI Nail Lacquer - label fell off, BonBons by Bari Cosmetics - no name
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I honestly don't know how i've accumulated so many nudes compared to other color groups - i rarely wear them!  My mom must have gone on some sort of spree...haha.  Most of these are very sheer and they take multiple layers to build colors, hence me not wearing them so much.  I'll have to try some of these out soon!


T O P  /  B A S E  C O A T S  &  T R E A T M E N T S
left to right:
♥ Professional Nail Color Fiber Enriched Fortifier, Professional Nail Color Vitamin E Enriched Ceramics Smooth, Professional Base Coat, Maybelline New York Express Finish 50 Second Nail Color 10 Base & Top Coat
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I've tried plenty Base & Top coats, and none of them do it for me.  I think i need to invest in a decent one.  Any recommendations?  Anyway, the only product i use out of these every time i do my nails is the second one, Ceramics Smooth - it somewhat smooths out the lines from my nails to make the polish look a bit better.  I think it's important to do treatments once in a while because nail polish can really smother your nails - not good!



Saturday, May 15, 2010

Tag: What's In My Bag? ♥

This tag is a classic, it has been going around for years and it's a favorite of many!  I've done this once before but i think i deleted it yesterday when i was going on a deleting-my-old-cringey-posts spree ;).  Anyway, i thought i would update you all with what's in my bag :).  I was also reminded of this tag by Holly, who did this post recently!
I was also tagged agessss ago by two lovely girlies, Alexandra and Julianne, to do this so yeah, two more reasons to do it!  Haha.

*Time to show off the bag i suppose.*  So yes, this is my bag (many people call it a suitcase) from Urban Outfitters which i got on sale for $38 i believe.  This puppy has been featured in a couple of my posts now so some of you ladies might recognize it.
I also use this as my school bag (which is the main reason i bought it & also the reason it's so big!) but i took out all my school stuff, so i'll show you all what i carry around when i'm going out for the day!

♥ Back row, left to right: Victoria's Secret makeup bag, wallet, Forever 21 sunglasses
♥ Main row, left to right: water bottle, The Catcher in the Rye book for English class, planner, peanut butter crackers (haha ew), Trident gum, bobby pins, BlackBerry (her name is Daisy :), iPod (her name is Gemma :), and hairbrush

The contents of that Victoria's Secret makeup bag:
♥ another little Clinique bag that holds that Bare Escentuals brush & mini foundation
♥ Germ-X hand sanitizer
♥ Tresemme Tres Two travel size hairspray
♥ Vera Wang Princess perfume
♥ Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in 025 Pink Please (or whichever lipstick i was wearing that day)
♥ Maybelline eyelash curlers
♥ Sephora compact mirror
♥ tissues

The contents of my wallet - note all the hearts, lips, & stars covering things haha - just for safety!  There are creeps in the world...:
♥ Yaz birth control
♥ Sephora Beauty Insider card, American Eagle All Access Pass, Borders Rewards card, Hot Topic frequent buyer card, nail salon discount card
♥ Starbucks, Urban Outfitters, Borders, PacSun, & movie theater gift cards
♥ spa discount card, AT&T phone card
♥ school ID
♥ library card
♥ movie ticket for How To Train Your Dragon (so cute!)
♥ Culver's Scoopie Tokens (haha)
♥ money
♥ pictures of one of my sisters & my cousin
♥ coupons

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I take anyone that fancies doing this :)
Put a link to your "What's In My Bag" in the comments if you've done one!