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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Upcoming MAC Collections

Hey guys!

You may or may not remember but in my first Collections post, I had tips on how you can avoid a frazzled trip to a store frantically trying to remember what shades you wanted.  I've been working on my list for Peacocky and (although I had no plans of liking anything in this collection) MAC + Mickey Contractor.  I've already done my Cham-Pale and Stylishly Yours but I noticed I didn't feel the need to use Excel this time around.  Maybe because I didn't get that many things from either collection.

Here is a screenshot from the rough draft I've created in Notepad.



I doubt any of you will have trouble following my list but here's the Key:

#1—the title of the collection and the release date. This is helpful so I can keep in mind my timeframe to get my funds together.
#2—product name with price
#3—the total cost of the shades within that particular product
#4—total cost of my collection picks

First I'll address what you guys probably all jumped on: I will NOT be buying $292.50 worth of eyeshadows.  As you may have guessed, I super LOVE Temptalia.  Christine is so awesome with her swatches and I love how detailed her descriptions are for shades, texture, wear etc.  That's where I go first for all MAC collection information.  So right now, she doesn't have swatches of the eye shadow available.  The only shadow swatches I've seen are for Odalisque and Mating Call.  Hence the *** next to them because I know from the swatches I want them.  Once swatches and reviews are available, I'll be going through the list and knocking off the ones I know I don't want.  Again, this is a first draft which will go through much editing before I purchase anything. 

As I mentioned above, I love Christine's descriptions of shades so I've gone to Temptalia for her descriptions of each color and shortened them a little bit for my own personal reference.  At the final draft of my "process" the descriptions will be removed as I've already decided which shades I want and I'll be much more familar with them.  Please note the descriptions I have now for Peacocky are the MAC descriptions, not Christine's while Mickey Contractor descriptions are in Christine's words.


  My next step would be to comb the internet for swatches, narrow my picks to the colors I really, really want/what I can really, really afford and ta-da!  I can call my nearest MAC counter, order and in a few days rolling in products!
 
Hope you guys find this helpful.



Coming Up...

Hey guys,

So I know the blog has been a little MAC-centric lately. And I’ll be honest—the next couple posts will be MAC’s collections. In fact in the next post I’m about to tell you about MAC Cham-Pale and Stylishly Yours with a bit about Mickey Contractor and Peacocky.

Buuuuuuut, I finally caved and purchased NARS ultra-favorited Orgasm blush along with Orgasm gloss and Bad Education gloss—the last one I couldn’t pass up from the swatches I’ve seen! Alas, I placed my order on Monday and it only shipped yesterday or today. I’m not sure as I got the shipment confirmation saying it shipped “today” Thursday at 12:26 AM so it’s sketchy. As soon as I’ve gotten them I’ll put stuff up. Yeah, I know I’m late for the band wagon and that’s only because I don’t bother with blush. I’m usually pretty flushed without it so until recently I didn’t bother.

I’ve purchased a Z Palette after watching Marlena from Makeup Geek TV’s review on palettes. I chose the Z Palette because it seemed like a happy medium between the three she reviewed in quality and cost. I’ll review that once I have time to work with it a little bit. I’ve never done de-potting before (I’ve kept the shadows in the packaging they come in just because why not?) so I’m going to research that and…maybe video tape my attempts? It will probably be a very sad, sad fail video but maybe you guys can learn from it!

I have also been going through some Etsy cosmetics companies/sellers/whatever you want to call them. I ordered this beautifully luscious red color I am oh-so-excited to receive. There are a couple companies I want to get a few shadows and/or pigments from and of course, reviews will follow.

If you guys have any questions feel free to email me or leave a comment.

See ya!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle

Hey lovelies!

I wanted to do a quick review about the new(ish) L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle foundation I picked up the other day at my local Walmart for $13.97. 



I had seen this a couple weeks ago--which is when it was probably released in my area--and when I passed by it I thought, "So L'Oreal is doing a Maybelline Dream Mousse knockoff then?"  L'Oreal's product touted the same as Maybelline's Dream Mousse: poreless, smooth, flawless skin.  Let's be honest--there's no such thing.  Not even the models who rock these products have perfect skin but I digress.  This weekend when I walked by, I grabbed a jar and opened it to get the consistency and color of the product inside. 


This seemed much thicker than Maybelline's Dream Mousse.  I couldn't help it...I poked my finger at it.  And I was right, much thicker and MUCH smoother when I swatched it on my hand.  After patting it for a second or two, it completely blended into my skin tone.  The only discernable difference was that the foundation evened my skin tone and made my skin appear smoother. 


I know it's really difficult to see (foundation swatches are a little silly) but you can kinda tell how the foundation filled in the fine lines on my hand.  The foundation feels like it has primer built in--although I could not find any official info that can confirm there are any primer-type ingredients.  It definitely has that silicone-y smoothness to it.  Although the product is thicker, it applies nicely.  If you choose this foundation, keep in mind a little goes a long way.  I used a clean finger to pat once into the jar then dabbed one spot on each cheek, my forehead and chin and blended with my fingertips.  I added teeny dabs to places I need extra covering.  I didn't use any concealer this time so I could see what kind of coverage I could get with it.  I'd say medium coverage--which is what I perfer.  I have noticed that this foundation is buildable, I just have to tweak it a bit.  The way this blends SO well into my skin, I think I could use it as a spot foundation as well just to cover a few imperfections than spread it all over my face.



I took the above picture right after my full face application in natural light.  I know my face looks a little weird--we had nothing but gray skies here which made the light outside coming in look strange.  Also, I have no color on so you guys could see how it applied to my face. 

I like the way this wears, also.  I've worn it for 8 hours (with no primer, just washed my face and applied moisturizer) and it still looks nice.  It hasn't really faded even though I've gone out in the bitter cold winter temperatures of the midwest then inside a couple stores.  Halfway into wearing it, I noticed my skin looked a little dewy but if I had had some pressed powder or even blotting papers at the time, I'm sure it would have resolved that small problem.  At times, I have slightly oilly skin so I'm pretty confident it was my skin that caused that than the product.  The dewy sheen happens with many foundations I use.  Looking at a mirror now, 8 hours later, I have a little bit of excess oil but my skin tone still looks even.  There is no product build-up on the top of my chin which can sometimes be an issue with me and I don't see any "scales" either (scales being where product can kinda separate on my cheeks which can make my skin look dry).


I know, I know.  I look...tired, drunk and probably a couple other things lol!  I'm downstairs and the lighting down here is dumb.  It took a lot of wriggling to get even this shot.  Anyway, you can see a little bit of sheen on my cheek, nose and forehead but otherwise it lasted pretty well.

If you wanted to know, I chose 512 Classic Ivory.  I believe it's the 2nd to the lightest shade.  For MAC uses for reference, I'm an NW15.  Yeah, I was shocked I didn't get the lightest shade too.  This was the first color I grabbed when I wanted to check out what it looked like inside the jar and it blended SO well.  Right now there is not a lot of shade choices but I've noticed drugstore brands sometimes release limited shades then once the product takes off, they begin to offer more.  So, if you don't find your exact shade, they may offer it later!

Let me know what you guys think!
Would you get it?  Are you going to pass?  Or will you wait on forming an opinion until you can stick your finger in the jar at a local store?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

MAC Tartan Tale Chapter 2: Smoky Thrillseekers Pigment Swatches

Hiya lovelies!


Out of all the products in the entire Tartan Tale collection, I knew I had to get one of each of the pigment sets! I think pigment sets are a really good value. Click here for Temptalia's explanation of volume, size, price and other stuff.

What I especially like about the pigment sets is that there are four pigments and one glitter vials. I think it's good for people who enjoy loose colors/pigments but also if you want to begin collecting pigments. A little bit of pigment goes a long way so even though the vials are smaller than the average full-sized pigment container, for most people one vial will last quite a long time. Also if you noticed, some of the colors included in this year's holiday sets are repromotes from previous limited edition collections. This is a great way to pick up a couple colors you missed the first time around.

Please note: All these swatches are done wet with my homemade mixing medium.

To get the reflects glitter to stick (and all glitter, really) I've been using LA Splash Eyeshadow Sealer/Base. It's thicker and more tacky in consistency so the glitter has something substantial to stick to. I apply it to my skin or over eyeshadow then pat the glitter on and use a strip of scotch tape to remove any fall out.



Smoky Thrillseekers Tin
 
Naked, Jigs & Jives, Dark Soul, Blue Brown pigments

 
Reflects Blackened Red 

Friday, November 26, 2010

MAC Tartan Tale Chapter 2: Cool Thrillseekers Pigment Swatches

Hiya lovelies!


Out of all the products in the entire Tartan Tale collection, I knew I had to get one of each of the pigment sets! I think pigment sets are a really good value. Click here for Temptalia's explanation of volume, size, price and other stuff.

What I especially like about the pigment sets is that there are four pigments and one glitter vials. I think it's good for people who enjoy loose colors/pigments but also if you want to begin collecting pigments. A little bit of pigment goes a long way so even though the vials are smaller than the average full-sized pigment container, for most people one vial will last quite a long time. Also if you noticed, some of the colors included in this year's holiday sets are repromotes from previous limited edition collections. This is a great way to pick up a couple colors you missed the first time around.

Please note: All these swatches are done wet with my homemade mixing medium.

To get the reflects glitter to stick (and all glitter, really) I've been using LA Splash Eyeshadow Sealer/Base. It's thicker and more tacky in consistency so the glitter has something substantial to stick to. I apply it to my skin or over eyeshadow then pat the glitter on and use a strip of scotch tape to remove any fall out.

Cool Thrillseekers Pigment Set Tin

 
Mauvement, Silver Fog, Softwash Grey, Cheer My Dear
 

Reflects Pearl Glitter*
(LA Splash Eyeshadow Sealer/Base)

*Sorry, the right swatch is a little sooty because my brush that I used to transfer the glitter was a little dirty from swatches I had done earlier.  Rest assured the glitter is pure loose cosmetic grade glitter with no brown base.  (And yes, I cleaned my brushes at the end of the day)

MAC Tartan Tale Chapter 2: Warm Thrillseekers Pigment Swatches

Hiya lovelies!

Out of all the products in the entire Tartan Tale collection, I knew I had to get one of each of the pigment sets!  I think pigment sets are a really good value. Click here for Temptalia's explanation of volume, size, price and other stuff.

What I especially like about the pigment sets is that there are four pigments and one glitter vials. I think it's good for people who enjoy loose colors/pigments but also if you want to begin collecting pigments. A little bit of pigment goes a long way so even though the vials are smaller than the average full-sized pigment container, for most people one vial will last quite a long time. Also if you noticed, some of the colors included in this year's holiday sets are repromotes from previous limited edition collections. This is a great way to pick up a couple colors you missed the first time around.

To get the reflects glitter to stick (and all glitter, really) I've been using LA Splash Eyeshadow Sealer/Base.  It's thicker and more tacky in consistency so the glitter has something substantial to stick to.  I apply it to my skin or over eyeshadow then pat the glitter on and use a strip of scotch tape to remove any fall out. 

Warm Thrillseekers Pigment Set Tin


Gold Mode, Most Darling, Gift O'Glamour, Gilded Green


Reflects Bronze Glitter
(using LA Splash Eyeshadow Sealer/Base)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

OPI The Show Must Go On Dupe for MAC Bad Fairy??



OPI is one of the brands that has teamed up with the upcoming film Burlesque starring Christina Augilera and Cher.  When I first saw the teaser trailer for the movie with all the glitz, glam, sparkly lights and such, I was happy to find the nail polishes seemed to reflect that.  I did not purchase all the nail polishes but when I was in my nearest Ulta, I noticed The Show Must Go On bore a striking resemblence to a color I already owned: MAC Bad Fairy.  Turning the bottle slowly in my hand, I noticed the way the pinky red shimmer seemed similar to the highly coveted Bad Fairy.  Impulsively, I purchased it (along with Tease-y Does It) despite the $8.99 price tag.  Don't judge me, my local salons that carry OPI products have not even gotten these in! 

Tonight I did a couple swatches to  find out if my assumption in the store was correct and in answer the question the title of this post asks--no, The Show Must Go On is not a dupe for Bad Fairy. 

In comparison, The Show Must Go On is much more pinky-red, while (in the lighting that I am in while I write this post) Bad Fairy is more ruby red/red-violet.  Honestly, I don't know why I thought these would be similar.  My memory of Bad Fairy at the time I made the purchase was definitely skewed especially when you look at these two side by side in the bottle and on the nail!  But I'd rather admit my silliness than have someone who missed out on Bad Fairy buy The Show Must Go On only because they shared my thoughts.

Having said all that, I still think The Show Must Go On is a great color.  It's flirty, pretty and the shimmer puts some from fun in the color.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  Seeya, lovelies!


OPI The Show Must Go On, MAC Bad Fairy (L to R)





Sunday, November 7, 2010

MAC Tartan Tale: Chapter 1 Pigments Review

Heya guys!

I wanted to share my thoughts with you, real quick, about the pigments from MAC's Tartan Tale holiday collection.

These are very gorgeous--when applied properly. I applied these with a dry brush and there was quite a bit of fallout. These pigments have a black base and when I tried to clean it up with a quick, gentle sweep of my kabuki, it made a bit of a mess. It reminded me of soot. I have some ideas to counter act the possibilities of mess.

  • Apply the pigments to your eyes first then use something like MAC Pro Eye Makeup Remover or MAC Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover (obviously you can use whatever removers you like, but for those who don't know of a good makeup remover, now you have ideas). You can read about the MAC removers here.
  • Use a mixing medium. You can read more about mixing mediums . Mixing mediums are great because with one drop and a bit of pigment (or glitter or loose shadow), the consistency is like a paste and the product will adhere to your lid or where ever you are applying it. And, because the pigment has the mixing medium to hold on to, fallout is reduced or usually eliminated altogether.
I would recommend the mixing medium with these pigments for another reason.  These pigments are best applied wet.  In the pictures, I used MAC Fix+ Spray because I had it readily available when these pictures were taken.  In the pictures, you can see the flash of teal in Moonlight Night, the flash of purple in Later and flash of copper/gold + bits of shimmer in Family Crest.  These are gorgeous colors but if not applied wet, you can miss out on some really nice effects.

I should mention Later is a repromote from Alice + Olivia, but beautiful nonetheless.  I know I missed it the first time around and I'm glad I didn't this time!


The Family Crest (Dry/Wet), Later (Dry/Wet), Moonlight Night (Dry/Wet)
The Family Crest pigment


Later pigment

Alternative angle of Later pigment (last one wasn't the best)

Moonlight Night pigment


Moonlight Night, Later, The Family Crest
(Wet using homemade mixing medium)
Oh my GAWD can you stand the gorgeousness of these with the mixing medium?  And they're even more jaw-dropping in person IMO. 

Additional Products

Here's a quick post about some additional products you can use so your makeup will last longer and/or look more vibrant.  Also some products you can use to fix or remove your looks.

Makeup Removers
You can use whatever you like.  Some people use baby wipes, some use drugstore brands and some use expensive department store brands.  I'm going to be purchasing MAC Pro Eye Makeup Remover and MAC Gently Off Eye & Lip Makeup Remover.  I'll do a full review of each when I do.  The reviews I've read have definitely recommended both.  For those of you who are considering purchasing either of these (or both), below is a comparison.

  • An MUA at MAC told me if you need a quick fix while you're creating your look at the beginning of the day, dip a q-tip into the MAC Pro Eye Makeup Remover and fix your mistake.  It's water-based so it won't leave behind a residue that will not allow you to apply more makeup.  MAC Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover is a two-part solution that removes everything, including waterproof formulas.  This is something you can use at the end of the day to completely demolish your look.  The MUA said it does leave a slight residue on your skin that will cause applying additional makeup a little difficult (which is why it was recommended to me as an "end of the day" remover).

Mixing Mediums
  • You can purchase a mixing medium (like the ever-popular MAC Mixing Medium $18.00) or you can view numerous Youtube videos on how to make your own Mixing Medium. The jist is 1 part glycerine + 3 parts water = homemade mixing medium! Keep in mind the homemade mixing medium shelf life is pretty short. I've heard 2-3 weeks max. This is because homemade mixing mediums do not contain preservatives. I have heard MAC Mixing Medium can last a year or two.
Eye Shadow Primers
  • I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance (TFSI).  I used to use Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP).  Those are the ones I hear the most.  I switched because I noticed UDPP creased quite a bit after about four hours.  I'm guessing because I'm obviously not staring at my eye shadow every second.  By the end of the day, my shadow was seriously faded and creased to an awful mess.  I've been using TFSI for about a week and it seems to be lasting like it is supposed to.  I'll update this as I go if anything changes.
UPDATE:  I definitely prefer Too Faced Shadow Insurance to Urban Decay Primer Potion.  The shadow definitely adheres to my lids better.  I do still notice the shadow seems less vibrant after it's been on for 8 hours.  It's like it's rubbed off although the eyeshadow itself doesn't really migrate and I don't rub my eyes so I'm not sure what's happening.  At the end of my 8 hour day, the eye shadow can just look a little worn.  I do notice a little bit of product gathering in the deeper line on my eyelids.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Tartan Tale: Chapter 1 Swatches

Hiya Lovelies!
Below is a list of what I've purchased from Chapter 1.  I may be buying more from Chapter 1 but I have a bit of a short list for Chapter 2.  I'll do reviews of each product in separate posts.  For now, I'll say I really love all these products so far!

Reminder: Chapter 2 is coming to stores (and I've also heard online) November 11th!
 
 
 



Baron's Rose Lipstick


Dazzle the Lads Lip Bag box

Check out this cool MAC crest.  Festive!


Dazzle the Lads Lip Bag (with lip pencil to show size)

Moth to Flame dazzleglass, Draw Me Close lip pencil, Baron's Rose lipstick


Reelers & Rockers Palette box

Reelers & Rockers Palette


White Rabbit, Melt My Heart, Carbon,
Family Treasures, Gaelic Gold, Crown & Scepter



The reason I did the penny was to show size.  When I finally saw this palette, I was disappointed by the size of these.  I don't know what I expected, there are six shadows--how big can they be?

Undercurrent, Petrol Blue, Black Swan, Lord It Up, Black Line
(L to R)



Family Crest pigment, Later pigment, Moonlight Night pigment
(Dry/Wet with MAC Fix+spray)

Family Crest pigment (top 2-Dry/Wet) Later pigment (bottom-Dry)



Family Crest (Wet), Later (Dry/Wet), Moonlight Night (Dry)

Later (Wet), Moonlight Night (Dry/Wet)

Moonlight Night pigment, Later pigment, The Family Crest pigment
(Wet with homemade mixing medium)

Monday, October 25, 2010

MAC Fabulous Felines Superslick Liner Review

I have to say I usually do not like liquid liners. They are so easy to mess up and smear into my crease when I open my eye too soon after applying that I honestly haven't bothered to use any in years. After seeing the quick view for Pure Show on Makeup Geek and the fantastically detailed swatches for Defiantly Feline, Signature Blue and Smoky Heir on Temptalia, I knew I had to try them if not only for the colors.


The MAC website claims the liners dry in 15 seconds—completely true! Quick drying time and the sponge cone tipped wand makes these easy enough even for me to use. Normally liquid liners have a horribly flimsy, thin brush that with an accidental flick of your hand will cause disaster. Not to say that won't happen, but I definitely feel I have a lot more control with the sturdier-by-comparison sponge applicator. I can also hold the wand at an angle as I line my upper lid so the line will go from fine to thick without having to go back over the same area five or six times like I would have to with a thin brush. Another great feature about this product: the water-resistance is awesome. I did a swatch on my hand when I was home on my lunch break, went back to the office and even after washing my hands several times throughout the day, the liner (Pure Show) refused to come off until the next morning when I noticed it had rubbed off from sleeping.

I have received Defiantly Feline—brown with almost a bronze tone, Signature Blue—a lovely deep blue that borders on navy and Pure Show which is gold with a metallic sheen. I ordered Smoky Heir which is a deep purple that dries slightly shiny but it is backordered so I'll be receiving it in a few weeks (I hope!). I'll also be ordering On the Hunt black shortly and I am a little tempted to go for the metallic silver shade Nocturnal and the lovely shimmery green liner Treat Me Nice.*

*Update: I received Smoky Heir and On the Hunt but I have not ordered Nocturnal or Treat Me Nice as of yet. But I still really want to!

Anyway…these are so great! I do not know how long these last (I’ll update the post when I run out of these or if they dry up suddenly) but so far I like them. I apply them to my upper lash line (after primer and usually eye shadow), I wait less than a minute and I’m good for the day. I notice if I rub them with a dry finger—I mean, really rub, the liner will break apart into little bits. I can remove these with my regular makeup remover despite it being water-resistant and so smudge-proof. All the liners I purchased dried to a shiny (opposed to matte) finish except for Pure Show which is more metallic.

Temptalia’s swatches of these are my favorite swatches.

For Nocturnal, Signature Blue, Smoky Heir click here.

For Pure Show and On the Hunt click here.

For Defiantly Feline and Treat Me Nice click here.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Collection Tips!

So I am all about stalking all the beauty blogs for swatches and more info on upcoming collections.  Here are some tips that I find help me choose what products to get in a collection.

Research!

This can include looking for swatches, color/product descriptions, etc. Check to see if these colors are similar to a product you already own.

Temptalia’s Dupe List I think this is a wonderfully, genius idea. This list covers high end brands to the common drugstore so you can find something in your price range, ideas of color, consistency etc.

Review swatches--scour websites for someone close to your skin color. Many swatches I have seen are on the hand/arm but some can be on the place you normally put the product. I prefer to see both, especially for lip products.

Company’s website—go here to verify if the products you’re thinking of buying is a permanent part of the company’s catalog or if it’s limited edition. For example: MAC Tartan Tale’s Lash & Line Kits are full of products MAC has all year round. You get more for your dollar buying the kit, but if you miss out you don’t necessarily need to throw a fit because you can buy any those items separately. For me, this will allow me to focus my spending to another part of the collection.

Make your list, and refine it several times—this helps me so much! I can be a bit “particular” but my Wish List goes through several stages starting usually 2-3 weeks before the collection comes out. First is the note-taking stage. While I leisurely peruse the collection details online, I make notes in Notepad on product name, type and cost. A week after, more details of the collection are usually available like color breakdown and finishes. I transfer the notes to Word and flesh out vague spots in my list. When I want to see how much damage this collection will do to my bank account, I put all the information in Excel. I like Excel because it will automatically calculate how much my total cost will be. Finally, I have two totals: the grand total of every product on the list and the other is what I absolutely “need” to get.

Here are some examples of my crazily categorized lists.

Venomous Villains Excel List
(More Coming!)
Researching before your trip to the store could save you money to buy something you truly love.
 
Please note I do NOT NOT NOT own Temptalia's Dupe List or have any affliation with Temptalia.  My mentioning them is only a way to expand the reader's resources and knowledge base!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Veet Suprem’ Essence Spray on Hair Removal Cream Review

Total Project Time: 25 minutes

Application
First thing I noticed during application was that it was more of a foam than a cream and one thing I was concerned about was getting an even application. The can says to press on the nozzle completely to ensure an EVEN (yes, it was stressed like that on can) application. I pressed the nozzle all the way down and used a continuous up and down motion. I used a moderate speed but I had to go over sparse areas for a second coat. I was sitting on a stool alternating between bending over while spraying and angling my leg up on my bathtub. When my feet were planted on the floor and I was bending over, I noticed the spray came out of the opening in a triangle shape and some of my tub and tile was very lightly coated with the foam. It was so slight the foam couldn’t be seen, only felt when I put my foot in the area. This product is seriously slippery—soap and body wash aren’t even this slippery! I tried wiping it up with a cotton towel but the product was just moved around. I realized quickly I’d have to use water and maybe even soap to get the slick film off my tub and bathroom floor. This may sound strange but during my six minutes, my skin kind of…hummed. It didn’t sting or tingle and it wasn’t painful or unpleasant. I don’t know if that’s normal with Veet or if I was just imagining it. If anyone uses this product, let me know if you felt something similar.

Removal
The can came with a wide wavy piece of plastic that was used to scrap the hair and the foam off the leg. This was easy enough to use however when I put my leg on the edge of my bathtub and used the scraper at a side angle, the foam flopped to one side of the scraper then slipped onto the area I was about to work on. Now I have two layers of foam stacked on each other. It was pretty messy. The other two depilatory creams I have used in the past had an actual cream texture with more structure so there was no flopping or slipping top of itself. After trouble with the removal while on the stool, I got into my shower/bathtub. It was a little difficult and awkward to remove the product with the water on. When I held the scraper under the water the foam slipped off onto the bathtub bottom making the bathtub extremely slick. If it weren’t for the handle bar the last owners of the house installed, I would have fallen several times. It took longer to remove the greasy film off my legs than the other depilatory creams I’ve tried. Then I had to let my shower run for several minutes afterwards to get the bathtub bottom foam free.

Afterwards
I noticed my skin felt particularly soft and smooth before I used my lotion. A few minutes after putting on my lotion, I noticed my right leg had a couple red bumps of irritation and was very mildly stinging. I used Nar Hair Remover Lotion a few weeks ago and I’m pretty sure my skin was a little stingy/tingly and slightly irritated right after. With Nair, this clears up by the next morning (and I tend to do this stuff pretty late at night. At the time I was getting into bed after using Veet, it was 2:30 am).

Regrowth
The next morning when I ran my hands down my legs, I definitely felt pricklies (which is unusual for me). Literally five days later I had noticeable hair regrowth on my legs. I was pretty disappointed with this because I know the product I usually use (Nair Hair Removal Lotion) can give me about 10 days or so before the hair on my legs are back to normal.

Verdict
I will probably not be using VEET Spray on Hair Removal Cream again. Putting the product on can be messy. The can said to apply it while you’re in a shower stall or something but with the slippery-ness of the foam, anyone could easily fall. Second issue was the wavy plastic remover and the way the product flopped onto the next area I was about to remove. And the most important issue was the short timeframe I would have smooth legs.
Please note this was not sent for consideration. I bought this product with my own money and by my own choice. I’m always on the lookout for products that may work better and will always give my frank and honest opinion.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - Mad Hatter Makeup Tutorial

This is a look I created that's inspired by the Mad Hatter from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Be sure to check out my other tutorials, reviews and all things beauty. Comment, rate, subscribe if you like the video. Follow me on Twitter.





Products I used:
  • Hard Candy Powder Keg Loose Eyeshadow in Inked
  • Micabella Eyeshadow #87 Iridescence
  • Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Orange Pop
  • Bloody Mary Pressed Eye Shadow (has no name, just look for the neon orange one)
  • Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Passion Purple
  • Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Fuschia
  • Micabella #61 Artic White
  • Maybelline Full N Soft Mascara in Very Black (2-3 coats)
  • Loreal Paris Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara (1-2 coats)
In the pictures I'm wearing Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick #300 Rose Blush with a bit of MACs Lipglass in Sonic Vibe
For the video I believe I'm wearing a mix of clear gloss, Micabella's #83 Difference and #81 Resonance
I forgot the Artic White highlighter in the pictures I took at the beginning of the video! Below are some pics with the Micabella Artic White.




Close ups with the completed look



Anyway, I hope you guys like the tutorial.  Feel free to email, comment or request!  Seeya lovelies!

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo & Conditioner Review

I was feeling bored with my current shampoo (funnily enough, another Herbal Essences formula) and wanted to try something new. My hair is past my shoulders, thick (not the strands thick but the amount of strands on my head thick) and naturally wavy. I don’t dye my hair or use additional products at this time. Sometimes I notice buildup on my scalp from my shampoo and conditioner and it is embarrassing, inconvenient and a little gross to me and onlookers. I do not have love for the buildup. I also don’t like to buy anything I can’t get from a local drugstore or something that’s too expensive. I found this article after doing a web search: 20 Best Drug Store Shampoos. Herbal Essences Hydralicious was the number one shampoo. Go through the slideshow to find out what real readers said about it and the other 19 shampoos made the list. The price was reasonable at my local Walmart ($2.97 per 10.01 fl oz bottle), it smells pretty good and when I got it I was so excited to try it because of what the readers at TotalBeauty.com were saying about it. This shampoo and conditioner is meant to (obviously) hydrate hair to help with shine and softness. One reviewer mentioned how touchable her hair was after using it (and she wasn’t the only one touching it either). I wouldn’t necessarily say my hair is coarse but because of the thickness and how long it’s getting, I can’t brush all of it alone and even with someone helping the tangles can be annoying.
Several Weeks Later…
I’d say I like this shampoo and conditioner. I usually don’t put any other products in my hair like hairspray, leave-in conditioner, shine spritz etc because I don’t like how it weights down my hair and feels gunky so I can’t comment on how well the Hydralicious shampoo and conditioner will remove other products on your hair that are used regularly. I did go to a salon recently and have a bunch of additional products in my hair and that one time, the shampoo and conditioner did remove the other products well. As far as results on my regular use I shampoo and condition about 3 times a week and I let it air dry. The products leave my hair very soft, lots of shine, easier to brush and a bit more manageable. The smell it leaves in my hair is not overpowering to the scents I use daily. I’m very happy with my results and the shampoo and conditioner. It’s a great price and its readily available at anytime I need it which gives it so much more value to me (I love being able to buy a product at 3 in the morning if I want to because it’s not at a mall or a salon). It’s also available in larger bottles for about $6 in my area. The 10.01 fl oz bottles have lasted me a month, I still have more in the containers and I use more than the generalized recommended amounts.

Rated: 4 out of 5

Monday, July 5, 2010

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - Cheshire Cat Inspired Makeup



Products used:

  • Covergirl Eye Enhancers - Tourquoise Tempest
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - Vibrance 88
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - Effervesence 89
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - Artic White 61
  • Sonia Kashuk Dramatically Defining Longwear Gel Liner - Indigo
  • Maybelline Full N Soft - Very Black 2-3 coats
  • Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies - Very Black (waterproof seriously works) 2-3 coats
  • NP Set Compact Lipgloss - Nisi
Tools:
  • Sonia Kashuk Medium Eyeshadow Brush for blending
  • Brush that came in the Maybelline Eyestudio Dramatic Gel Liner package**





**I know in the video I said I used Sonia Kashuk (KasHUK didn't pronounce the second syllable very well haha) but when the camera was off I realized I don't like the bent eyeliner brush AT ALL. I bought it, used it once and didn't like it, gave it a second chance and did like it but now (third chance) I really don't like it. The bent eyeliner brush did not hold it's original stiff shape like I was so sure it would. I have a brush from my Maybelline Dramatic Eye Studio gel liner that I used instead to get the end result you see on the video.

Update and Things to Come

Hey everyone!


I know it was some time between my first two videos on youtube and my Cheshire Cat tutorial but I'm going to be coming out with quite a few more videos with different looks I've been developing while I've been away.

Another thing I'm going to be doing are reviews. Here's a list of products I have and will be testing out:

  • Bare Escentals bareVitamins Prime Time Primer
  • Maybelline Eyestudio Eyeshadow Quad
  • Maybelline Eyestudio Cream Trio
  • Revlon PhotoReady Foundation
  • L'Oreal, Double Extend 24-Hour Lash Boosting Sytem (Mascara + Serum), Black
I'll be coming out with all but the last pretty quickly. The Lash Boosting System is going to take some time because I want to use this for at least a month. I'll have before and after pictures so you guys can get a solid idea of what this system can do for you before you decide to spend your money! The L'Oreal, Double Extend Keratin Lash Boosting Mascara was listed in the article The Best Drugstore Alternatives to Pricey Cosmetics so I knew I wanted to try it.

I'm excited to review these products for you guys and if anyone wants me to review a product before you buy it, please leave me a comment or email me and I'll see what I can do!

Don't forget to Follow Me on Twitter

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - Red Queen Inspired Makeup



Products used:

  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 104
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 52
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 61
  • Ben Nye Eyeshadow - Flame Red
  • MAX FACTOR 2000 Calorie Mascara - Black Brown (or Black would do well)
  • Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick - 880 Rose Passion

Optional details:
  • Use a matching blue eyeliner to line waterline (or the shadow you used on your eyelid)
  • False lases to add drama

Sexy Feminine Valentine's Day Makeup Tutorial




Products used:
  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 81 in inner corner to almost middle (feather edge)
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 29 blended with 81 from middle to outer corner
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 3 above crease to eyebrow (or lower if you perfer)
  • Micabella Eyeshadow - 83 over 81 in inner corner to lighten/warm
  • Max Factor 2000 Calorie Waterproof Mascara in Black Brown (you can use black, I just perfer the brown because it's more natural to my coloring)
  • NP Set Lip Gloss Compact in Nisi