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Easy DIY Fall Wreath

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Ok, so this isn't exactly beauty related, but it's a fun DIY project that I do every season, and I thought this year I'd share it with you.  
I got the idea when I was in Michael's craft store a couple of years ago.  I saw an employee making wreaths behind a counter and I thought, "I could do that!"  Before, I used to pay so much money for a wreath for my front door- they can go from $50 all the way up to over $100 so I figured if I could do it myself, I'd save a ton of cash. This wreath cost me about $20!  I've added it to my Pinterest DIY Idea Board, so please check that out for more inspiration and projects.
So here's what you'll need to get started:
I got all of my supplies at Michaels.  You need:

  • A grapevine wreath (mine is 18" but they come smaller than that if you have a small door, or if you want to put in indoors).  The 18" wreath is about $5.  I actually used the same wreath I had from the summer- just pulled the old flowers off and it's as good as new!
  • Wire Cutters
  • A glue gun/glue sticks
  • Artificial flowers.  I tend to use the ones that come in bunches...they're cheaper in the long run, and already coordinated for you. These bunches were $12.99, but Michael's had them 60% off, so they were $5.19 each.  I bought 4, but only needed 3.  I bought them at the beginning of September and they were already 60% off, so it's best to wait until the season has started, and you'll get the best deals.  If I bought these when they came out in July, I would have been kicking myself!
  • Wire for hanging or a wreath hanger.
Next, separate the bunches and cut each section so that the stems are only a few inches long.  This is the most tedious part.

Now you're ready to start!  Tuck each stem into the wreath between the branches.

Continue sticking all of the stems into the wreath.  You can make it as full or sparse as you'd like.  I personally like very full wreaths, and it can help hide the fact that the grapevine base isn't a perfect circle. 

When it looks the way you want it, you can take your glue gun and start gluing the stems to the grapevine base.  You can glue as you go, which might be easier to get in there with the glue gun, but I like to make sure it looks the way I want before I start gluing.  You just have to pull the flowers back a little bit and then put a dot of glue where the stem meets the base.  It's a little more tedious, but it saves you from having to pull it apart later if you don't like the finished product.  

This is what the glue will look like.  You won't see it underneath the flowers/leaves.

If you have a little helper, that makes it fun! :)

When you're finished, you can either hang it with a piece of wire, or from a wreath-hanger, and you're done!  Here's my finished product...

Please visit my Pinterest DIY Board for more fun DIY projects! 








New Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm Review and Swatch Caramel Infused

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I'm definitely a balm/gloss type of girl, so whenever a new one hits the market, I usually end up trying it. Especially if it's a hybrid gloss/balm. I really liked the ones Almay came out with in the Spring, so I was happy to see Maybelline jump on the bandwagon.  Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm comes in 20 shades and retails for about $6.75, depending on where you purchase it.
I chose the shade Caramel Infused, which I hoped was a your-lips-but-better shade...and it is!

The applicator is a soft flocked triangular shape that really deposits color well...much better than the usual sponge.

The color payoff on these is better than I expected and is better than the Almay version. It has a vanilla cookie scent that's not too heavy, but it's there. The balm feels very cushiony and hydrating, not sticky or tacky. The wear is like that of most glosses...not great. But the color sticks around a while after the glossiness fades. 
Here's a swatch of Caramel Infused...it's a pretty pinky nude.

So have you seen these in stores yet? Will you be purchasing?

Spotted! New L'Oreal Magic Top Coats and True Diamond Swatch

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I was in Walgreens today and saw some fun new L'Oreal Magic Top Coats. 

They create different effects when layered over your existing nail polish color. 
The Matte Velvet mattifies your polish.
The True Gold adds gold shimmer.
The True Diamond adds silver shimmer.
The Sparklicious adds chunky multicolored sparkles.
The Holographic adds shimmery hologram sparkles.
The Shift Me slightly alters the color you have on.

I bought The True Diamond because I thought it would look good over the shade I have on currently, which is a dark charcoal gray (Essie Cashmere Bathrobe). 
I also found a picture that shows all of the effects on navy blue nails. I've pinned it to my Nails, Nails, Nails board on Pinterest, if you'd like to have a look. It's labeled L'Oreal Magic Top Coats.

So here are the before and afters on my nails. Unfortunately, the effect doesn't photograph all that well, but it looks really great in person!




I want to go back and get the Holographic and the True Gold ones. Depending on which color you have on, these can be stunning. 

Which ones do you want to try? Or if you have tried them, what do you think?



ELF 3-in-1 Mascara Review- Possible It Cosmetics Hello Lashes Dupe

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While in Target yesterday, I couldn't help but check out the ELF section to see if there was anything new. Well,  I didn't see anything new, but I picked up the 3-in-1 mascara to try out.
When I got it home, I realized that it has a wand with a ball tip, like It Cosmetics Hello Lashes, which is $29. Since the ELF version is $3, I thought I should see if it's a dupe! First, some packaging/brush shots.


For reference, here's It Cosmetics Hello Lashes:


The verdict?
If you like Hello Lashes, you'll like ELF 3-in-1. It performs about the same and doesn't smudge. BUT...
I'm not a fan of the wand. I get that the ball is meant to be used vertically to push up and separate the lashes, while the rest of the wand is used horizontally. But using it that way, the ball, which is the widest part, kept depositing mascara on my lids, even when I was super careful. It just made a huge mess! It was also a very wet formula, which didn't help. 
Here are my before/afters:


I've pinned this to my Dupes board on Pinterest. Please check it out for lots more dupes!






October 2013 IPSY Glam Bag The Art of Beauty

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I got my IPSY Glam Bag today, and once again, I'm lovin' it!  
Here's what I got...

First is LA Fresh Oil Free Face Cleansing Wipes. The full size is $9.99, and has 30 wipes...this one has 10, so it's a travel size. These wipes are gentle makeup removers that are biodegradable and smell really fresh and clean!

Next is the Wet N Wild Fergie Photo Op eyeshadow compact in Desert Festival. The colors are awesome and the pigmentation is crazy! This is a full sized product and retails for $5.99. 


Next is Zoya polish in Neve, full sized, worth $8! Love, love, love this color blue! I can't wait to wear it! 



Next is Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel, 2oz. travel size, worth $5. I've been losing tons of hair after my pregnancy and was just thinking I wanted to try a new volumizing product. IPSY read my mind! 


Finally, the last product in my bag was Coastal Scents Medium Eyeshadow Brush, full size, worth $2.50. This brush is natural bristle and so soft...amazing quality for the price! 


So this month's bag was about $25 worth of products for $10! If you're looking for a sample site to join, I highly recommend IPSY. Their bags are always a good value! Last month's bag was full of full-sized products, worth about $60! 
You can sign up HERE if you're interested. 

For those of you already subscribed, what did you get in your Glam 

Spotted at Target! Sonia Kashuk Bath and Body

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Yesterday at Target, I saw that the new Sonia Kashuk bath and body line had finally arrived...yay! I've been waiting for this for a long time! Of course, I had to take some pictures to show you, as the packaging is so gorgeous and would look fab in your bathroom, or guest bathroom! 
I apologize if the photos aren't the best, as there was a Target employee nearby stocking shelves who was looking at me strangely, like "why is this chick taking photos of our displays?!". So I tried to be stealth about it. I at least wanted to capture each scent name and description. Each scent has a hand cream, body wash, body lotion, body butter, body oil and Eau de Toilette. So you are able to really layer these scents in many different ways!

My favorite scent is Red Promisia. It's a gorgeous, warm, cozy scent without being too spicy or too vanilla. It just reminds me of being wrapped in a cashmere blanket, and even though its warm, it's not headache-inducing. The sweet vanilla is balanced by the sandalwood and the jasmine. 
I was so excited that there was a body oil, since body butters are all too easy to find, while oils are not, especially at the drugstore. So I purchased the oil, $10.99 and the body wash, $8.99 and promptly went home to take a shower.



The body wash is super creamy and foams nicely in the shower. The oil is in a convenient spray and is super moisturizing for my dry skin. Both are scented to the point where I can still smell it on myself in the evening...it lasts all day! I might still purchase the perfume to take the scent up a notch for going out and stuff. But for every day, the body wash and oil are enough! 
I'm so happy with these products...they look beautful, work well and smell amazing!
Have you tried these yet? If so, what's your favorite scent? If not, which one would you like to try?


Dupe alert! $5.99 ELF Neutral Palette dupe for Urban Decay Naked Palette

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Target has put out their ELF palettes for the holiday season, and I was psyched to see a neutral eyeshadow palette for $5.99...a total steal.
I'm not willing to shell out $50 bucks for Urban Decay's version, but this one has all those colors plus more! Granted, the UD shadows probably have more pigment, but the ELF ones are way better quality than one would expect. Slap some eyeshadow primer on first and you're good. 
Here's a look at the shades...oh and this also comes with a brush! 




I'm going to pin this to my Dupes board on Pinterest, so if you'd like to check out tons of beauty dupes for less, please visit me on Pinterest!


New Cover Girl Tru Magic Bronzer Review- Chanel Soleil Tan dupe

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The idea of a cream bronzer thrills the heck out of a dry-skinned girl like myself who just ends up looking muddy/dusty when using powders.  A while ago, I was tempted to try Chanel's Soleil Tan, but couldn't bring myself to spend $48 on a bronzer.  There are a few other high end options...I think Hourglass makes one as well.  But nothing at the drugstore...until now!

Yesterday, I spotted this at my local Walgreens!

This is what Cover Girl calls a "Soft Touch Balm" rather than a cream, and the name fits.  The color is sheerer than you'd expect from a thick cream, but enough to give you a fantastic glow. It glides on effortlessly, needs minimal blending, and looks fresh, dewy and radiant on my skin (not a speck of shimmer).  It has the consistency of a primer- very gel-like and makes your skin feel like velvet.  It doesn't sink into fine lines or pores which is another huge plus for me.

My only complaints are that it comes in one shade (although this shade is perfect for my fair skin, but darker skinned girls might not think it's enough), and that it comes with a sponge, but there's no compartment to put the sponge in, so it has to sit on top of the product.
Other than that, I'm in LOVE.  This was around $8 and I might just go back and buy up the rest, because things like this don't tend to stick around long and I think I've found my HG bronzer.
Here's a swatch on my arm (in daylight).  This isn't blended and so that you can see it better.  When blended, its the perfect bronze shade- not orange and looks very natural!

I'm going to add this to my dupes board on Pinterest, and if you haven't checked it out yet, there are tons of great drugstore dupes, so stop by when you get a chance!



New Cover Girl Tru Magic Skin Perfector Balm- Mally Face Defender Dupe

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Yesterday at Walgreens, I spotted some new Cover Girl products in a line called Tru Magic (I'm thinking it's their answer to L'Oreal's Magic line).  I already reviewed the bronzer here, and today I wanted to talk about the Skin Perfector Balm.


The balm is a totally new product for the drugstore.  We've all seen similar products in the high end stores, like Stila's Stay All Day, Benefit's Dr. Feelgood or Mally's Face Defender, but there were no affordable drugstore versions until now (this was about $8 at Walgreens).  


This balm is supposed to prime and control shine, making pores disappear.  Unlike traditional gel primers in a tube, this one feels lightweight, is not greasy, and makes my skin feel like velvet!  It's very easy to apply and can be done before or after makeup.  I love, love, love this product, as well as the bronzer I reviewed yesterday.  

My only gripe about this is that the applicator sponge doesn't have it's own separate compartment and has to sit on top of the product.  But other than that, this is an awesome mattifying/priming option that's so easy to use and makes your skin look and feel amazing!
I'll add this to my dupes board on Pinterest as a dupe for the three I mentioned above. 






New Cover Girl Products Spotted in Store- Bombshell Collection

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Yesterday at Bed Bath and Beyond, I spotted the new Cover Girl Bombshell collection!  Take a look....


New products include:
Bombshell Volume mascara.  Note the text above the product...Model is Wearing Lash inserts.  Why do they do that?  I wish companies would be honest and show what the mascara will really do.  I'll have to test this one out for you guys so you can see results that aren't deceptive! :/


Next is Bombshell Intensity Liners in black and brown.  These are felt tip, and longwearing.  Nothing new, IMO.

Lastly are these Shineshadows.  These are the most interesting to me, but they only come in 3 colors- white, army green and a purplish- gray.  


What do you guys think?  Have you tried any of these yet, or if not, do you want to?

IPSY Glam Bag December 2013

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It's that time again, when I look forward to looking in my mailbox to see what goodies await me in my subscription boxes!
This month's IPSY Glam Bag was another success (for the most part).  This month's bag is called Celebration, and without further ado, here's what I got for my $10...

First up is Pop Beauty's Brighten Up Your Life palette.  This is a mini version with 3 shades (the original has 10 for $24). I love, love these neutral colors, and they are so soft and pigmented!


Next, is a full sized Be a Bombshell The One Stick in Girl Crush ($16).  This is a Nars Multiple dupe, and this color is so pretty!  It's a shimmery pink-nude and can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks.  I love it!


Next, is a full sized Nicka K New York Nail Polish in Classic Taupe ($5).  I love this beautiful mushroom brown shade- perfect winter neutral.  I also love the bottle this comes in...so pretty!

Next, is a full sized Andrea Strip Lashes ($4).  I'm not really a false lash person, but it's nice to have on hand for a special occasion. 


Last, is a full sized J. Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil ($4) in Caramel Mocha.  This lip pencil has tons of pigment and is very soft and moisturizing, but I'm not crazy about the color.  I like a neutral lip and this orangy-red shade is too much for me.

Overall, it was another great Glam Bag, and 4 out of 5 products were full sized!  All in all, about $36 worth of product for $10. 
To sign up for an IPSY glam bag (you can cancel whenever you want, so it's worth a try for a month to see how you like it!) just head over to IPSY.com
What did you get in your Glam bag this month?  I'd love to hear about it!

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Review- Smashbox Photo Finish Dupe

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Yesterday, I spotted Maybelline's new Baby Skin primer ($12) at CVS and posted it straight to my Facebook wall.  (From now on, I'll be posting all of my drugstore finds directly to Facebook, so you'll be the first to see new products and won't have to wait for my review). 


Since this claims to be a pore eraser, I was thinking that it might be a dupe for Benefit's the Porefessional, but actually, it's more like a dupe for Smashbox's Photo Finish primer. Let me explain...
Benefit's the Porefessional is creamy and thick and really is used as a spot treatment for pores, but Baby Skin is a clear silicone gel that reminds me exactly of a primer, namely Photo Finish. While it does fill in pores somewhat, it doesn't erase them, by any means.  I do like that it's lightweight and makes my skin feel soft and smooth.  It's also hydrating on my dry skin, so I like that also.
The bottom line is, if you're looking for a pore eraser, this isn't a product I'd choose, because it only works so-so in that department.  But, if you're looking for an inexpensive dupe of Smashbox Photo Finish, I say by all means, get it!  
I'll be pinning this to my Dupes board on Pinterest, so if you haven't already checked it out, please come visit me there!




L'Oreal Visible Lift CC Concealer Review- Spring 201

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L'Oreal has some of their new Spring 2014 products out at Bed Bath and Beyond.  I shared a photo of some new Infallible Eyeshadow colors on my Facebook page, and today I wanted to review the Visible Lift CC Concealer.
I didn't like this at first.  I applied some to my hand and it appeared runny and thin, and I thought, "this isn't going to cover anything" and left it on the bathroom counter.  The next night, I looked in the mirror and noticed a bit of darkness under my eyes and picked it up again, figuring I bought it, I might as well try it!
I actually really like it!  Here's some details:
It has a rollerball applicator, which I like because it works well with the thin consistency and makes application a snap.
The formula is thin, like a serum texture, and if you have major dark circles, this isn't going to work for you.  However, if you have some minor concealing to do, this does a great job.  It also doesn't settle into lines at all, even after building up the coverage, so if that's a concern for you, you'll really love this. 

It covered the darkness/slight redness under and around my eyes and I was surprised at how flawless I looked, considering I almost didn't give this a chance.  Sometimes a thicker concealer ages you, even though it covers more, because it settles into lines and can look matte and cakey.  This feels light and has a luminous finish (not shimmery, don't worry).

Give this a try if you're in the market for a nice concealer to hide minor to medium flaws.  I'm glad I did!


New Garnier Cleansing Oil Review Spring 2014

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Garnier has launched some new cleansing products for Spring 2014 (as well as some new skincare that I posted on my Facebook page last week and will be reviewing soon). 
The new line is called Clean+ and they have some acne products as well as some for dry skin.  
One that particularly intrigued me was the cleansing oil. Cleansing oils have been around a while- I used the DHC one years ago and the high end brands like Josie Maran, Dr. Perricone and Nude have also had them for a while.  They don't foam up like other cleansers but instead, they dissolve dirt and makeup from your face and whisk it away without stripping the oils in your skin, hence why they're great if you're dry like I am.
I've actually been using Josie Maran's Argan Cleansing Oil for a while now, because there were no drugstore options.  At $32 for a 6oz bottle, I wasn't looking forward to repurchasing it (although I got the most recent one with a birthday Sephora gift card).  So I was super excited to see Garnier release one for $8!
So I thought I would compare the two to see if Garnier cleansing oil could be a dupe for Josie Maran's. Read on to find out!
First, how they're alike:

Both come in clear plastic bottles with a pump for easy dispensing.  They both say to apply to dry skin with dry hands and massage into your face, then add water to emulsify before rinsing.  This makes these hard to use in the shower, because even if my face is dry when I step into the shower, my hands get wet pretty much right away.






How they're different:

Garnier's is 4.2oz for $8 and Josie's is 6oz. for $32...quite a big difference! But, the biggest difference is in the ingredients. Josie's is all natural, while Garnier's is full of mineral and petroleum oils with some natural ones mixed in. This is why there's such a big price gap, as these petroleum oils and filler materials are far cheaper than natural oils.  Josie's ingredients aren't listed on the bottle, so here they are:

Argania Spinosa Kernal (Argan) Oil, Polysorbate-20, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Here's Garnier's ingredients:


The Garnier version is also much thinner than Josie Maran's.  When I pump it into my hand, and apply it to my face, it tends to run and drip, while Josie's is very thick.  The thickness really helps when massaging it onto your face, as it stays put while you work it in and emulsify it. 
Garnier's has a very mild pleasant scent, similar to soap or shampoo. Josie's has an orange creamcicle scent that I  love which actually comes from the Grapefruit peel oil, so it's a natural scent as opposed to Garnier's which says "perfume" in the middle of the ingredient list. 
Now, do they work?  Yes, both took off my makeup and cleansed my face without drying it out.  But I like Josie Maran's cleansing oil a bit more, due to the natural ingredients and thickness of it which makes it easier to work with. However, it is very expensive, so in a pinch, Garnier's will work just fine.  I'm really glad that there's now a drugstore option for cleansing oils!

For an all natural dupe of Josie's that uses Soybean, Sweet Almond and Sunflower Seed Oils, check out this one from the Body Shop- Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil.  It's on sale now for $13.50 (reg $18). Shop The Body Shop 


 I'll add this to my dupes board on Pinterest since it is a dupe for more expensive cleansing oils.
Have you used oils to wash your face, and if so, do you have a favorite?

Garnier Ultra Lift Transformer Review Spring 2014 New

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Last week, I posted pictures on my Facebook page of some new Garnier products that have hit the shelves.  I spotted these at Walgreens, but they are also available on CVS's website if you don't have them near you yet.
Today, I wanted to talk about the Ultra Lift Transformer, which is a cream that hydrates, protects, and over time reduces wrinkles.  Garnier states that this cream gives both instant results (color correction and brightening) and long term results (boosting cell renewal and preventing dryness to combat wrinkles).  It contains Pro-Retinol from Nature, which is in their other Ultra Lift skincare products (I really love their night cream- see my review here).
So here's my review and I'm also going to compare it to another similar product- Miracle Skin Transformer to see if this could be a dupe!



This comes in a 1.7oz tube and retails for $16.99.  It has no color upon application, and when you rub it into the skin, the color adjusts to your skintone.  Being fair skinned, I've had problems with products like these in the past being too dark/orange, but this wasn't at all- it looked very natural! 
Here are some packaging shots:



To me, this seems like yet another BB Cream- it definitely evens out my skin, but doesn't cover much.  I like the SPF 20 coverage and that it has wrinkle-reducing benefits, but you won't get flawless skin with this.  
The name "Transformer" made me think of another product, Miracle Skin Transformer, and I wondered if maybe Garnier was trying to create a dupe.  I happen to have a small tube of the Miracle stuff, so I thought I'd compare them!
Miracle Skin Transformer is also supposed to instantly minimize skin imperfections, as well as contains ingredients to help make skin look better over time, although instead of Pro-Retinol, they use M3, a combo of anti-oxidants and Coenzyme Q10.  Both contain SPF 20 and have similar amounts of coverage.  
Here, Garnier is on the left (starts out white and adjusts) while Miracle is on the right (this is the Light shade).

The one thing Miracle claims that Garnier doesn't is that it Primes.  I would agree, since Miracle felt a bit more waxy like a balm, while Garnier's felt like a cream or tinted moisturizer.
Other than that, they are very similar products except for the price...Miracle Skin Transformer is $48, while Garnier Ultra Lift Transformer is $17.  Both gave about the same amount of coverage.
Here's a swatch of the Garnier, and you can see in the center how it's starting to turn color, as I rubbed it in a little.

This is Miracle Skin Transformer, and you can see how it's a bit thick and waxier looking:

Overall, if you're in the market for a BB-type cream that has a lot of great benefits, including SPF 20, Garnier's new Transformer is a good one to try.  It can also be a dupe for Miracle Skin Transformer, although the priming benefits aren't as great.  Still, it's a much better price point! 
I'll add this to my Dupes board on Pinterest

Have you seen this out in the stores yet, or tried it out?  What did you think of the adjusting color/texture?


New Wet N' Wild 2014 Spring Fergie Centerstage Collection spotted at Walgreens!

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This morning I spotted the new Fergie Wet N' Wild collection at Walgreens.  There are a ton of new products!  I posted close-ups of everything on my Facebook page, so do check it out!

New Miracle Blur, Pantene Expert Hair Regrowth and L'Oreal Advanced Haircare Spotted at Walgreens! Spring 2014

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At Walgreens this morning, I spotted a ton of new products for Spring 2014!  I'll be posting them all to my Facebook page, but here's a preview of some of the new stuff...so exciting!

L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur has some new additions including Miracle Blur Eye, Moisture Blur, and a Triple Power Overnight Mask.  Close ups are on my Facebook page.


Next, we have a Hair Regrowth Treatment from Pantene Expert- looks like it has Minoxidil in it, plus a treatment shampoo! Close ups are on Facebook.

Also, L'Oreal Advanced Haircare has a new Volume Filler collection that looks amazing, as well as one for severely damaged hair.  I posted close ups on Facebook.

Also on Facebook, I've posted a bunch more new items, including Rimmel's Scandaleyes Retro Glam mascara, and Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation and Primer.  Also, an anti-aging hair color from Clairol and Pantene's Damage Detox collection, so please check it out!

L'Oreal Miracle Blur Eye Review Before and After

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Yesterday, I spotted some new Miracle Blur products at Walgreens (see my Facebook page for close ups on the products).
I was psyched when the original Miracle Blur was launched last year, as it seemed like such a cool product.  But alas, every time I used it, it pilled up and rolled off of my skin.  
But, I still wanted to try the version for eyes, since at 36, I've started to develop some fine lines.
Here are some packaging shots and ingredients:


This formula is supposed to work immediately to fill in lines and brighten the eye area, and also contains Revitalift ingredients like Pro-Retinol and peptides to work on wrinkles over time.
It comes in a tube with a metal applicator, which feels nice and cool on the eye area and helps with puffiness.
The formula is creamier and less waxy than original Miracle Blur- it's like a thick eye cream.
But the question on everyone's mind is...does it work?  Should you drop $25 on this stuff?  You be the judge- here are my before and after pictures.  Look at the wrinkles under my eye-

BEFORE

AFTER

I thought it did a decent job, although my wrinkles are still there.  But they are definitely less noticeable.  It's hard to tell from these close-ups, but looking in the mirror, I also noticed when I applied it to one eye, that the skin around it looked brighter and more even than the eye that had nothing.

The verdict?  While it doesn't work miracles, it definitely helps to camouflage wrinkles and brighten overall.  I like it!

What do you think?  Would you try this?





The Body Shop Chamomile Cleansing Butter is a Ren Cleansing Balm Dupe!

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Right now, cleansing oils are all the rage, but I'm making a prediction for 2014 that cleansing balms will be next.  They're more portable than oil, but are basically oil in solid form that melts on contact.  Less mess, same moisturizing benefits.
I recently got a Sephora gift card for my birthday, and was in heaven trying out everything in the store.  This Ren cleansing balm caught my eye, but spend my whole $50 gift card on it? Not a chance!

So I jumped for joy when I saw this at the Body Shop for $15! Shop The Body Shop
It has similar ingredients to the Ren version...shea butter, but instead of sweet almond oil, it has olive oil. The Ren balm includes a muslin cloth to use during application, but the muslin cloth at the Body Shop is $6, bringing the total to $21.  
But right now, they're having a huge sale, and the Chamomile Cleansing Butter is $11.25 and the muslin cloth is $4.50 bringing the grand total to just over $15.
To shop the sale and try it out, click below!  I'd love to hear from anyone who's tried this...I picked some up today and will review soon!

SALE Up to 50% OFF Sitewide. Valid 12/30-1/26

I'll also pin this to my Dupes Board on Pinterest.

New Suave Professionals Awapuhi, Macadamia and Seaweed formulas are here!

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I just spotted some new Suave Professionals lines at Drugstore.com!  
I absolutely love their Keratin and Moroccan Oil Lines- see my review HERE.  They've really stepped up their game in recent years, so I'm excited to see how these new formulas are!

First, is a Seaweed and Lotus Blossom Volume Line.  In addition to shampoo and conditioner, there's a leave-in foam.

Salon-proven to volumize as well as Pureology®*.
Enriched with special exotic natural ingredients such as seaweed and lotus blossom and free from parabens and dyes, our Seaweed All Day Body Shampoo & Conditioner products gently cleanse and add body from root to tip so hair is uniformly voluminous.
All Day Body System with Seaweed & Lotus Blossom provides:
  • 24-hour body
  • Touchably soft, weightless bounce
  • Luxurious nature-inspired fragrance
DIRECTIONS: Apply. Lather. Rinse. For best results, follow with Natural Infusion All Day Body Conditioner.For longer-lasting volume, use with Natural Infusion All Day Body Leave-In Foam.

Next up is an Awapuhi Anti-Breakage Line, with a shampoo and conditioner and also a Strengthening Light Leave-in Cream.

Salon-proven to strengthen as well as Pureology®*.
Enriched with special exotic natural ingredients such as awapuhi ginger and honeysuckle and free from parabens and dyes, our Awapuhi Anti-Breakage shampoo and conditioner products gently cleanse and fortify hair to prevent breakage for a thicker, fuller look.**
Anti-Breakage System with Awapuhi Ginger & Honeysuckle provides:
  • Up to 95% less hair breakage**
  • Stronger hair for thicker, fuller look**
  • Luxurious nature-inspired fragrance
DIRECTIONS: Apply. Lather. Rinse. For best results, follow with Natural Infusion Anti-Breakage Conditioner. To enhance strength, use with Natural Infusion Strengthening Light Leave-In Cream.
Last, is a Macadamia Oil Moisturizing line with shampoo, conditioner and a light oil spray.

Salon-proven to moisturize as well as Pureology®*.
Enriched with special exotic natural ingredients such as macadamia oil and white orchid, our macadamia moisturizing shampoo and conditioner products help provide hair with:
  • 10x more moisturization**
  • Softer, smoother look**
  • Luxurious nature-inspired fragrance


All of these are supposed to be dupes for Pureology, so I'll post these to my dupes board on Pinterest

Which ones are you excited to try?

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