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Too Faced Better Than Chocolate Set on HSN Today!

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Today only, HSN is running an amazing Too Faced deal for their Today's Special.  For $49, it includes the Chocolate Bar palette ($49 by itself), Better Than Sex Mascara ($23), Shadow Insurance Eye Primer (deluxe sample), and La Creme Lipstick in Nude Beach ($22). Plus, they're offering free shipping on it as well as a one year subscription to Glamour magazine.  Also, if you purchase this set, HSN will give you $20 off the Too Faced Teddy Bear Brush set!
They're also offering payments on this so when you order, your credit card will only be charged $16.33 right away and then you'll be charged two more payments of $16.33 over the next two months. This is great if you're not sure if you'll like it because it'll only add $16.33 to your card now and you can get it home and try it, and if you don't like it, you can return it before you get charged for another payment next month (and they'll refund the $16.33 you initially paid also).

This is a great deal if you've been wanting to try the Chocolate Bar for a while because you get a ton of freebies with it!  I have the La Creme Lipstick in this shade, Nude Beach and it's one of my favorite lipsticks...it's the perfect pinky nude and it's ultra creamy and hydrating!
This will likely sell out quickly, so if you're interested, head on over to HSN.com to get yours!

Wet N Wild Fergie Come Correct Celebrity Concealer Review and Swatches

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I love a good concealer, so when I saw Fergie's new Come Correct Celebrity Concealer ($5) at my local Walgreens last week, I had to get one to try.  I've been so impressed with the Fergie line from Wet N Wild- they've truly stepped up their game (see my review of her new palette and blushes) so I had complete confidence that this would be another hit...and I wasn't wrong. 
First of all, I had to look up what the heck "come correct" means because in my sleepy CT town, no one is using this term.  According to the Urban Dictionary, it means:

To come out rightly. To speak or approach someone with respect, and not with undeniable ignorance. To do something the right way the first time to avoid being bitched by another.
1. That bitch better come correct next time if she wanna hang out with me! 
2. I would advise you to come correct before you start throwing out facts that are really false.


Ok, so now that I know what it means, haha, let's talk about this concealer.  It claims to be a full coverage concealer with a silky-smooth, buildable formula that blends seamlessly into the skin.  I can honestly say, this is one of the only drugstore concealers I've tried that is truly full coverage!  Many claim to be, but this one actually covers everything. 


The formula has a grease-paint type of feel that most closely resembles Bye Bye Undereye by It Cosmetics or Tarte's Maracuja Creaseless Concealer. But the thing I like about this one is that while it is super thick, the formula is a little drier so it doesn't feel quite as greasy after dry-down as the others.  Come Correct dries to a powdery satin finish that I think even oily skin types would be ok with.
This comes in three shades: Fair, Golden Medium (yellow undertones) and Medium Beige (peachy pink undertone).  Unfortunately, even the darkest shade isn't very dark, so I hope they make more shades in this line. I purchased Fair and I'm really happy with it because it has a peachy pink undertone that's perfect for canceling out dark circles!
Similar to Bye Bye Under Eye, it comes in a squeeze tube that has a tapered tip.  You only need a tiny bit of this and it goes really far.  In that way, it also reminds me of Amazing Cosmetics Concealer.  You can seriously overdo it if you use too much, so you have to just apply a tiny dab and build it up from there if you need to.
Compared to Bye Bye Under Eye, the tube looks a little shorter, but it holds more product...Come Correct is .34oz. while Bye Bye Under Eye is .28, not to mention that Come Correct is $19 cheaper! 
Bye Bye Undereye's lightest shade is "Light"- they don't offer a "Fair" option. When I swatched it next to Come Correct "Fair", I found them to be very similar, but the Come Correct version has a little bit more peach in it.  This is actually a good thing since peach is opposite blue on  the color wheel and hides dark circles better than yellow-based concealers.
Left: Bye Bye Under Eye
Right: Come Correct Celebrity Concealer
Texture-wise, the two are very similar also.  They both feel super emollient, but Come Correct dries faster and feels powdery once dry, yet it doesn't settle into fine lines or look cakey! 
Left: Bye Bye Under Eye
Right: Come Correct Celebrity Concealer
Here are some before and after shots.  I have a lot of freckling/sun damage under my eyes and it's very difficult to cover.  This is the first drugstore concealer I've tried that actually covers them!  Also I don't have super dark circles, but in the photo on the left, you can see some darkness under my eye toward the inner corner that has a purple-ish tint to it.  Come Correct covered everything!
Left: Before  Right: After
Here's a shot from further away...I blended it down into my cheek area and it covered absolutely everything. 
After

On the other side of my face, I have even worse freckling/sun damage and Come Correct almost completely covered it as well!
Left: Before  Right: After
Then I took it a step further and decided to apply it all over my face since Bye Bye Under Eye states that you can use it as a foundation. I didn't have primer on, but decided to go for it anyway.  I was super impressed with how much it covered all of my imperfections and made my skin look amazing. I can still see some of the darker freckling, especially on the bridge of my nose and a little under my eyes, but for the most part it did an excellent job. I didn't need much because a little goes a long way.  I applied it with my fingers but next time I'm going to try it over primer and use my Beauty Blender to see if I can get an even more flawless application.  You can't see it in the photo but it had a bit of a powdery look on my skin, so if anyone got up close to me, they could tell I was wearing foundation. I prefer a more natural, invisible look and this is very thick so thinning it out a little bit might work a little better to achieve that.

All Over Application
Overall, this is a really impressive concealer, drugstore or otherwise!  It's one of the most effective formulas I've ever used that doesn't settle into lines, crease, or cake and it lasts all day long without budging!  It's pretty much a spot-on dupe for It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye as well, so I'll add it to my Pinterest dupes board

Come Correct Celebrity Concealer is a Walgreens exclusive, and out of the 6 Walgreens in my immediate area, only one of them carries it, so it's not an easy find right now.  I've heard that this collection was supposed to be in stores in February, so it's possible that it'll be more widespread in the coming weeks.  I hope you can find it near you, because this stuff is amazing! 


Deal of the Day- Crown Brushes Up to 80% off!

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I've heard tons of YouTube gurus talk about Crown Brushes, but since they're a little on the expensive side, I had never tried them before.  Then I found out that they're owned by Coastal Scents!
Today, Crown Brushes are on Haute Look and there are some insane deals on them!

If you've never shopped Haute Look before, they're owned by Nordstrom and they have daily flash sales on everything from clothing to shoes and beauty products!

Here are a few of the amazing deals on the site now:

Pro 12 Piece Brush Set with Faux Snakeskin Case $14 (Reg $82.50 - 83% off)



These are just a small sampling of what's available! I'm excited to try some of these as well as their makeup!  They are also offering professional train cases and makeup storage (Lord knows I need that!). 
Check it out at Hautelook.com


Scentbird Perfume Subscription Review

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PR Sample
Finding that perfect perfume can be tricky...sometimes you can smell a sample in a magazine or spritz a little on your wrist while browsing in the store and think you love it, only to purchase a bottle and realize that it actually gives you a headache. Or it's so sweet it starts to make you feel sick after you've worn it a few times. Wouldn't it be great to take home a sample large enough to use for an entire month to make sure you love it? 
Enter Scentbird, a perfume subscription service that allows you to choose from 350+ designer fragrances and take home a 30-day sample for only $14.95 a month.  
Here's how it works:

1. Sign up at Scentbird.com, take the quiz and get personal recommendations.
2. Choose your perfume.  You can go with one of the suggestions based on your quiz answers, or just choose one that you've been dying to try.
3. Get a generous .27oz spray in a luxury case (each subsequent month, you'll get a refill for your case).

With Scentbird, you don't just get a typical sample in a glass vial...it comes housed in a beautiful, sleek black case that reminds me of a large lipstick tube.  To open it, you just twist the tube in the middle and the spray nozzle pops up from the top.  When you're ready to dispose of one sample and get the next one, just pull the perfume vial out of the top of the case and pop a new one in!  It also comes in a soft, black velvet bag to store it in...the packaging is just so luxurious, I love it!


The sample I chose was Versace Crystal Noir. I read somewhere that one of the main notes in it was coconut (and I love anything with coconut!).  I had never smelled it before and once I got it home, I wasn't sure about it initially, but it's actually grown on me. After wearing it around for a few days, I've decided it's definitely a night time scent- dark, spicy and a little sweet. I love that I've been able to really give this scent a chance by wearing it a while and figuring out how (or if) it fits in to my life. Plus, I've been able to get lots of opinions, from my husband, friends, and family.
Below, I wanted to show how large this sample is compared to the "typical" perfume sample.  You're getting a little over a quarter of an ounce with this (.27oz) , while most perfume samples are only .05oz.
Overall, I love Scentbird! I think it's a great way to not just sample, but really try a new perfume. For $14.95 per month, it's an inexpensive way to wear the latest designer fragrances and to find your perfect signature scent.  

What do you think?  Have you tried Scentbird, or are you thinking of trying it out?  

***Disclosure- The product featured in this review was sent to me for consideration by a brand or PR agency. This in no way influenced my experience with the product- all opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this review. ***

Sephora Mystery Mascara- Could It Be The New Benefit Roller Lash?

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Yesterday, I received a mysterious package in the mail from Sephora and POPSUGAR. Inside, there was a blank tube of mascara with no branding on it, and a card asking me to try it and post the results to Instagram. It said that the brand will be revealed on Feb 2, which is only a few days away. But I'm pretty confident I already know what it is! 
I'm terrible at waiting...I was that kid who snooped for her Christmas presents and as an adult, I always look at spoilers whether it be for a subscription box I'm getting, or finding out the plot of a movie. So waiting for this is pure torture. But thanks to one of my Instagram followers, I now think this is Benefit's brand new, not-yet released Roller Lash. Once she told me her suspicion, I went straight to Google and found some reviews from UK bloggers about Roller Lash. Not to mention that when I first took the tube out of the envelope yesterday, I said to my husband, "this looks like the tube for Benefit's Bad Gal Lash".  Something about it just said Benefit to me.


Here's a link to a really in-depth review of it from a blogger who went to a launch party for Roller Lash- she talk about all aspects of it from the brush design to the formula- FacesByGrace.
In a nutshell, Benefit wanted to create a formula for customers with straight lashes and smaller eyes. The brush is inspired by hair rollers and has tiny hooks that catch and lift the lashes, giving a curled effect without having to use an eyelash curler. Here's what it looks like:
When you compare it to the brush on my mystery mascara below, they look really similar and if you look close, you can see the tiny little hooks at the end of each bristle on the bottom side.  Also, you can see a tiny bit of pink at the head of the brush, which tells me that this wand was originally pink. Finally, the card that I was sent with the product says, "Innovative brush 'hooks' your lashes for visible lift, giving you a super-curl that lasts for 12 hours".  So that's my guess!  We'll see on Monday Feb 2 if my suspicions are correct.
Ok, on to the results!  I was definitely intrigued when I read about Roller Lash but I didn't expect results this great...
Before

After

After

After
Can you believe the crazy curl?! My lashes were seriously almost touching my eyelids, they were so curled and long.  It didn't clump at all and I didn't need a million coats to get a good result. Also, unlike They're Real, my lashes don't feel stiff at all- they're super soft and feel like they have nothing on them.  I assume it would have to be pretty weightless to allow your lashes to hold a curl like that!

So anyway, I'll update you on Monday when I find out what mascara this is, but I'm pretty sure it's Roller Lash!
What do you think of the results?

Rimmel BB Radiance Review

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Rimmel BB Cream Radiance ($6.99, Walgreens) is a new version of their original BB Cream that just popped up last month for Spring 2015, along with a matte version I reviewed a while back (see that post here). Let's take a look!
Like the matte version, this has 9 claims, but instead of claiming to absorb oil and mattify the skin, BB Radiance says that it "Awakens tired skin, brightens the skin with Vitamin C complex, and gives a radiant finish". I wonder if this is the BB version of Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation? It kind of sounds similar. It comes in two shades, Light and Medium.



It comes in the same tube as the others but with an orange cap and writing, instead of blue or purple. It also has a glossy finish.
Coverage-wise, this is right on par with the BB Matte...both have more coverage than the original Rimmel BB Cream, which was more like a tinted moisturizer. This one is light-to medium, but buildable to medium. I expected it to have a dewy finish but it really doesn't...it dries to a satin finish not unlike the matte version. I think what makes it "radiant" is the pearlescent properties it has. It's not sparkly or even shimmery but it just gives your skin a glowy effect that I really like! I purchased the Light shade, and you can see below it's a teeny bit dark for me, but BB Creams are pretty forgiving as far as color goes so when blended out, it's a pretty good match.
Overall, this is a nice BB Cream with good coverage compared to most American BB's that have tinted moisturizer-like coverage. While it doesn't have oil absorbing properties, it does give a finish that's almost as matte as the matte version...it dries quickly with no greasy or dewy feel. The pearly finish seems to wake up the skin and gives you a nice glow without being shimmery. I'm a fan!

Have you tried any of the Rimmel BB Creams? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

New NYX Products Now on Ulta.com!

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NYX has just released a ton of new products and they're on sale now at Ulta.com!
Lip products are Buy One Get One 50% off, plus, there's a 20% off coupon that you can use online that's only good until tonight, 1/31 (Go to Coupon Here).

I'm most excited about the new Butter Glosses.  I follow @readysetglamour on Instagram and she posted some gorgeous swatches of them...they look amazing! Check them out HERE.

Here are some of the products I can't wait to try!

Intense Butter Gloss ($6)

Prismatic Eye Shadow ($6)

Highlight & Contour Pro Palette ($30)


V'amped Up! Lip Top Coat ($7)- Turns light colored lipsticks into darker shades!


3C Conceal, Correct, Contour Palette ($11.99)



This is just a small sample of the exciting new products from NYX!  To see them all, please visit Ulta.com.

Question- What Beauty Related Stuff Do You want To See Online?

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I'm just wondering...if you could have a beauty-related online tool or app, what would it be? A database of dupes? Or a swatch gallery? Maybe a way to find sales on your favorite beauty brands all organized in one place?
I'd love to know what you feel is missing in the online world of beauty...it can be as creative as you want!

BH Cosmetics Now on HauteLook.com!

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Attention Hautelook members!  BH Cosmetics is now on the site and there are so many awesome products at over 50% off.

Here are a few of my picks:

The Wild Palettes are 55% off at only $8.50.  These baked eyeshadows are way bigger than they look in the photos.  I reviewed the Wild Child palette HERE.

 These blush palettes are so pretty and there are also two Contour & Blush palettes and concealer/foundation palettes.

 These blush duos are so pretty and only $4!
If you aren't a member of HauteLook yet, you can sign up for free HERE.  They are owned by Nordstrom and feature all the best beauty, clothing and shoe brands for way less than retail.  But hurry because each sale only lasts a few days and items sell out quickly!

Also, the Stila sale is still live until tomorrow morning!

Makeup Revolution Ultra Velour Lip Cream Review

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Makeup Revolution Ultra Velour Lip Cream ($4.74) is a new lip formula from my favorite UK makeup brand. It reminds me of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams or the Rimmel Show Off Matte Lip Velvets, but these are different in their own way. Let's take a look!
There are 10 shades of the Ultra Velour Lip Cream, but my last Makeup Revolution haul was so big, I only had room in the budget for 1 of these.  I chose "Not One For Playing Games" which looks quite purple in the tube, but goes on semi sheer so it's actually really pretty!
It comes with a standard doe-foot applicator and goes on super smooth and velvety, again similar to the feeling of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams or the Rimmel Show Off Mattes.  The difference here, is that the two I mentioned are opaque at first swipe, while this one is a bit sheer at first until you build up a second coat.  I actually like it because it's a bit more versatile...sometimes I prefer a sheerer wash of color. It has a vanilla cream scent that I happen to love, but if you're sensitive to fragrances you might find it to be too much for you.



Here, I built it up with two coats. It looks a little glossy upon application, but settles into a semi-matte finish after a few minutes. It never gets completely matte, but it also never feels dry. It felt comfortable the entire time I had it on, which was about 3 hours or so. Unfortunately, the wear time on this wasn't super long...maybe a bit longer than a gloss, but not as long wearing as the matte versions from NYX and Rimmel.
I'm really loving this shade though! I'm usually more of a nude lipstick kinda girl, but this is subtle enough, while still giving a pop of color.
I really want to try more of the shades now! What do you think? Have you tried these yet, or are you thinking about a Makeup Revolution haul in the near future?
To order, please visit Makeup Revolution here. If you're in the US, be sure to change the currency to see the prices in dollars.

Redken Extreme Length Collection Now In Stores!

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I spotted a new Redken line over the weekend at Ulta called Extreme Length.  It claims to help your hair to grow up to 6" in a year (vs. the average 3").  I'm all for my hair growing twice as fast! Wonder if it really works?
There are two products available so far:


Extreme Length Sealer ($24)- Redken Extreme Length Sealer for all types of distressed hair.
Benefits:
  • Formulated with biotin
  • Extreme Length system of Shampoo, Primer and Sealer helps achieve your maximum length -up to 6" in a year
  • Leave-in treatment helps prevent damage and breakage
  • Helps reduce the appearance of split ends
Extreme Length Primer ($22)- Redken Extreme Length Primer for all types of distressed hair.
Benefits:
  • Formulated with biotin
  • Extreme Length system of Shampoo, Primer and Sealer helps achieve your maximum length -up to 6" in a year
  • Provides weightless conditioning
  • Builds strength from root to tip
I'm trying to grow my hair out again, so I really want to try these! I've had really good results with most Redken products I've tried, so I'm hopeful for these.  What do you think? Are you interested in trying these? 

Hourglass Modernist Palette Review and Swatches

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Recently I was in Sephora and spotted the beautiful Hourglass Modernist Palettes ($58) on the front table where they set out all the new products. There are actually 7 versions of this palette so it was really hard to choose just one (Lord knows I can't afford any more than that!). I ended up going with Infinity, which is described as "warm neutrals". 
The palette case is really sleek and modern, with a deep, dark bronze color and mirrored finish. It's not too large, about the size of an iPhone so it's perfect for travel or taking with you in your purse.



Even though the palette isn't too large, they fit a lot of product inside due to the fact that all of the shades run together in one seamless piece. This means no wasted space between eyeshadows! It's also just beautiful to look at...each shade has a rippled sand effect and it's probably the most unique looking palette I've ever owned.
The shadows are finely milled and super buttery...almost too much so, as I experienced a lot of crumbling and fallout as I was swatching the shades, especially from the one in the center of the palette. But that didn't happen as I was applying them to my eyes...they went on soft and silky smooth.
Warm Ivory, Dusty Rose, Bronzed Mauve, Cool Taupe, Dark Cocoa.

The matte Warm Ivory shade was difficult to catch on camera since it blends in with my skintone pretty well. The rest are also gorgeous matte shades with the exception of (my favorite) the Bronzed Mauve shade in the center, which is a little shimmery. The problem is, the pigmentation wasn't there on a lot of these, which surprised me because they're so soft and buttery!  The Warm Ivory shade was probably the worst as far as pigmentation...it was a bit streaky.  The Dusty Rose, Cool Taupe, and Dark Cocoa were decently pigmented.  The Bronzed Mauve had the most pigmentation- that one really packs a punch.

Overall, this is a really pretty palette...it has a nice range of shades from pinks to browns that can create a variety of looks.  The buttery texture makes these easy to blend, just be careful when dipping a brush or your finger into the pan, because it's sure to make a few crumbles. Unfortunately, pigmentation is all over the place and not consistent so that was disappointing.  This palette isn't cheap and I've used drugstore palettes that had just as much, if not better pigmentation.
So if you're buying it for the name or the gorgeous package it comes in, I would definitely recommend it...it's super luxurious-looking, and the colors are gorgeous.  But I just feel that the pigmentation should have been stronger for a palette in this price range and wish the shadows weren't so crumbly and messy.
What do you think?  Have you tried this, or would you spend the money on a Modernist palette or skip it?
You can purchase this palette, see the other shades, and read more reviews at Sephora.

Kaplan MD Perfect Pout Lip Mask & Lip Balm Duo Review

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When I was at Sephora last week, I spotted the Kaplan MD Perfect Pout Duo ($23) on the front tables where they put the new products.  I don't think this is actually a new product...it's been out for a while, but it's new to Sephora.  Since my lips are always in various states of chapped-ness, especially during the winter and I had $20 left on a Sephora gift card, I figured this would be the perfect thing to try next. Let's take a look!
This kit comes with Lip 20 Mask, Lip 20 Balm, and a spatula in a little cloth sleeve (such a good idea to keep it clean!).  The Lip 20 Mask is both and exfoliating and hydrating treatment that you leave on for 3-5 minutes, then you wipe it off with a damp cloth and apply the balm to seal in moisture.

The Lip 20 Mask is a thick cream that contains hydrating ingredients like Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid, and it also contains exfoliating fruit acids, such as Papaya enzymes that break down and dissolve dead, dry skin without having to scrub at them. It also contains peppermint, so it has a cooling and tingling sensation when you first apply it.  It's also supposed to plump your lips, and even claims to give the "look of professional injections at home".  I already have pretty full lips, but I did notice some plumping after use.  Unfortunately, it disappeared after about 15-20 minutes so it's not a long lasting effect, at least for me.
I mainly love this mask for the exfoliating properties! The first time I used it, my lips were in really bad shape, with dry patches everywhere, so I left it on for 10 minutes (you can even leave it on in a thin layer overnight but I haven't tried that yet). When I wiped off the mask, all the dry patches were gone and I was left with soft, smooth lips! I've tried countless scrubs and while they do take the dry skin off, they can also make my lips even more dry and irritated.  This didn't do that, which is fantastic!
The Lip 20 Balm is a medium-weight lip balm that's so smooth and not sticky at all.  It feels really soothing and hydrating! It comes in a tube with a slanted applicator, so it's not messy to use- just swipe it on and go.  It has a slight peppermint flavor that's not overwhelming at all.  I've been using it by itself during the day, as well as after the mask at night and it's really helped to keep the dryness away.

Below, I swatched the mask and balm so you can see the textures...the mask is a thick white cream while the balm is clear and glossy.
Overall, this Perfect Pout Duo has made the biggest difference in my lips...I've been using it for a week and the dry patches haven't come back! I use the mask and balm every night before bed and wake up with soft smooth lips.  I think the plumping claims are a little inflated (pardon the pun, haha), because it seems to be just a temporary effect. So if you're looking for something to create fullness, this will only give you a boost for a short time.
Personally, I think this has been more effective at getting rid of dry, chapped lips, and keeping them that way than any lip scrubs I've tried, so it's definitely worth it if you want to give this a try! It's available at Sephora for $23.

Have you seen this yet, or have you tried it?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Makeup Revolution Naked Chocolate Palette Review and Swatches

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Makeup Revolution has done it again with another Chocolate Palette!  I was in love with the original two they released a few months ago (one of which was a Too Faced Chocolate Bar dupe) see my reviews HERE and HERE. Those were amazing...great pigment and soft, buttery shades, and while they contained some neutral shades, they also had some brighter colors in the mix.  Well this new version is called Naked Chocolate ($12.62) and it's all neutrals!  Let's take a look...
Instead of the brown chocolate bar-style palette that looked good enough to eat, this one is yellow...a bit of an odd color choice.  I probably would have made it a cream color so that it looked more like white chocolate...but that's just me.

Like the other chocolate palettes, this has the 3D half-melted design on the lid, a full mirror inside the top lid, and 16 shadows inside with the names printed on a clear plastic sheet.  It also comes with a double-ended sponge-tipped applicator.
Taking a look at these shadows, they're all beautiful earth-toned nudes- 5 mattes and 11 shimmers. There's enough variety here to create any look from subtle to smoky. There are three highlight shades- one matte, two shimmer and all three are very different tones when swatched (I find that in many palettes, they're too similar to each other). There are beautiful bronze and rose gold shades, rosy taupes, and several brown shades from subtle to dark.

As always, the quality is fantastic.  All of the shades are soft, smooth, and buttery with excellent pigmentation, especially the shimmery shades.  The mattes were a little more powdery, which is typical in a lot of palettes, but they were still easy to work with and had good pigmentation. I didn't really experience much, if any, fallout during application.

Smoothly, Divine, Mocha Lover, Dipped, Choc-Fest


Adorable, Buttons, Frosted Choc, Delight, Sweet Shop, Sugar


Double Dip, Tob-le-rone, White, Milky, Way
Overall, this is another winning palette from Makeup Revolution and is probably my favorite in the Chocolate line!  Have you tried any of Makeup Revolution's palettes or other products yet?
To order, please visit Makeup Revolution's website (US customers, be sure to change the currency on the left of the website to US dollars).
Check out all of my other Makeup Revolution Reviews here.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Contour Kit Review and Swatches

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The first time I saw Makeup Revolution's Ultra Sculpt and Contour Kits, I immediately thought they looked like dupes of Urban Decay's Naked Flushed palettes ($32).  I wanted to pick one up to compare them, so I did that a little further down in this post. I chose the shade Ultra Fair ($5.53), mainly because it looked like it could work for cooler, lighter skintones like mine. I always have to be careful with bronzers especially, because they can be too warm and orange for my skintone.  So I try to look for ones that are lighter and cooler.
This kit is really portable and contains everything you need to contour, highlight plus it has a blush to finish off your look!
This kit has a small mirror at the top of the inside lid but it's not really that functional...the rest of the lid is see-through. Packaging-wise, Makeup Revolution never really feels cheap and their palettes all close tightly with a nice click.  I don't have to worry about any of them opening up in my bag, which is great!



These shades ended up being perfect for me...the bronzer is a nice light matte shade, the highlighter is beautiful and glowy, and the blush is like a dupe for Nars Orgasm- it's the perfect shimmery peachy-pink shade!
These are super soft and blendable with nice pigmentation, and I found them to be easy to work with.
I compared it to my Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Naked, which was the closest match color-wise. The Urban Decay version has the same three elements in it, but one difference is that the shades are different sizes depending on how much you would use each one.  Most people would use the bronzer the most, so it's the largest size, then the blush, and the highlighter is the smallest because you would mainly just use it on small areas.
Another difference I noticed was that the Urban Decay blush is matte (and slightly darker and more pink), while the Makeup Revolution blush has some golden shimmer and a little more peach in it.

Here, I compared the shades directly...
Urban Decay Bronzer, Makeup Revolution Bronzer

Urban Decay Highlighter, Makeup Revolution Highlighter

Urban Decay Blush, Makeup Revolution Blush
Overall, I would say that this is an excellent dupe of Urban Decay's Naked Flushed palette at only $5.53 (not to mention the blush is a dupe for Orgasm!). The bronzers and highlighters are extremely close to each other and although the blushes are different, I almost prefer the Makeup Revolution shade on me (though the Urban Decay shade is lovely as well).
There are also a ton of shades to choose from on the Makeup Revolution website (this link will take you to the other shades).
What do you think?  Would you try this one out or splurge on the Urban Decay version?

Giveaway! Win an I Heart Chocolate Palette!

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Want to win Makeup Revolution's I Heart Chocolate Palette? Right now you can enter to win on my Instagram page, just by following me and reposting the photo with #iheartcchocolategiveaway and @budgetbeautyblog.
To see my full review of this palette with swatches, please click here.  Also, stay tuned for more Makeup Revolution giveaways in the coming weeks! 

Julep Maven February 2015 Review and Unboxing Modern Beauty

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I got my Julep Maven box yesterday. I always look forward to it because it's so customizable, I can always make sure that I'm going to like what's in it.  

About Julep/How it Works: 
If you're new to Julep, it's a subscription box that's $19.99 a month. When you sign up, you take a quiz to find out what your style profile is (you can switch it if you don't like the results of your quiz). With most of the profiles, you'll get 2 nail polishes from the new collections each month and one full-sized beauty product. I chose Modern Beauty this month, which is 2 full sized beauty products...here's a look at each profile and what you can get with each.  
Each month on the 20th, you can log in and look at what's inside your box.  You can swap profiles and get a different box, plus add on extra products (and sometimes change shades like I did with my eyeshadow last month). You only have a day or two to make your changes and then it's locked in.  
This month, I decided to stick with my Modern Beauty profile, because I wanted to try the beauty products that were offered, plus I had some points (Jules) saved up from my last few boxes so I added on two nail polishes for free using my points. (You earn points automatically with each month's box and they add up so fast! Every few months I can add on nail polishes for free). 

This Month's Box:

This month's collection is called the Afterglow Collection and there were some seriously pretty nail shades as well as highlighting products for the face.
My Modern Beauty box came with Glow Highlighting Powder ($28) and Illume Eye Brightener ($22) which came with a choice of Champagne or Pink (I chose Champagne). I also added on two nail colors from the Afterglow collection that I absolutely loved using my points (so they were free). Then I got a surprise! Julep snuck a free Holo glitter topcoat into my box...yay!
Glow Highlighting Powder ($28) is a beautiful champagne shade and I'm a little obsessed with highlighters at the moment!
It comes in a sleek black compact with a full mirror.  It's a nice slim case perfect for travel or keeping in your bag.

The powder is super soft and buttery and it feels really lightweight.  It's shimmery but not chunky or glittery and I just love the warm champagne shade.
Illume Face and Eye Brightener ($22) is a highlighting pen that can be used anywhere on your face or under your eyes.  I had a choice of pink or champagne, and I chose the champagne because I have a pink-based highlighter pen like this already.

It's super creamy and blendable and doesn't sink into fine lines or pores.  It brightens without looking obviously shimmery which is really nice!
I added on Brandis (Taos Turquoise Creme) and London (Heather Blossom Creme)...these two shades had me thinking Spring! They'll definitely cheer me up in this freezing snowy tundra we call New England.

This was such a nice surprise to find this Valentine's Day inspired topcoat, Hartleigh, in my box, courtesy of Julep!  It's such a pretty glitter with little hearts inside...it'll be perfect for the next few weeks.


If you're ready to try Julep, I have a few coupon codes below so you can get some freebies when you sign up...
Julep Beauty Inc.

Julep Beauty Inc.

Julep Beauty Inc.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss Review and Swatches

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NYX Intense Butter Gloss ($5.99 at Ulta) is a new Spring 2015 release and it's a pumped-up version of their original butter gloss with tons more pigmentation!  I got mine at Ulta.com and right now, they're having a BOGO 50% off on these, so if you're interested, you may want to pick these up before they sell out (which NYX products tend to do). I picked up four of the twelve available shades to try and I tried to get a range of tones.
Tres Leches, Sorbet, Napoleon, Funnel Delight
This is one swipe of the applicator!  These have a liquid lipstick-like intensity, but with the same Butter Gloss feel and shine you know and love! They also have the same sweet vanilla-like flavor.
Tres Leches, Sorbet, Napoleon, Funnel Delight
The applicator is a long flat style that makes application easy and quick because it covers a large surface area.



Tres Leches is my favorite shade of the bunch.  It's a super wearable, pinky brown that I know I'll wear all the time.  It's that classic MLBB shade for me!
Tres Leches
Tres Leches
Sorbet was the only shade that disappointed me.  It's a pinky peach shade that's pretty but on me, it looked strange as an opaque color.  I'd probably like it better in a sheer formula. It also was the only shade out of the four that applied patchy and streaky and it settled into my lip lines.  I had to put forth a lot of effort to get it to look good, while the others were just basically swipe and go.
Sorbet

Sorbet
Napoleon is a bright coral pink and I think it'll make a great summertime shade if I'm brave enough to pull it off!
Napoleon

Napoleon
Funnel Delight is a beautiful fuchsia pink that I love because it has more of a blue base than orange or coral.  When it comes to brights, I prefer blue-based shades with my fair skin, so I would definitely wear this one when I'm in the mood to wear a bold shade.
Funnel Delight
Funnel Delight

Overall, if you like NYX Butter Gloss but were craving more pigment, you'll absolutely love these! They definitely have more staying power than the originals, but keep in mind they're still a gloss so while you'll get a few more hours of wear, they're not a long-wearing, all-day kind of a lip product. Although I will say, they did stain my lips somewhat (Funnel Delight the most), so some color will stick around long after the glossiness wears off.
If you're interested in these, definitely head over to Ulta.com and pick up a few while they're still BOGO!

New Drugstore Makeup Line! Circa by Eva Mendes

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Get ready to run to your local Walgreens later this month...Eva Mendes is launching her own makeup line called Circa, and it'll be at Walgreens, Walgreens.com and Drugstore.com! This old-hollywood themed line will be priced between $8 and $15 and will appeal to a wide variety of skintones.  Let's take a look!
Here's an excerpt from Marketwatch.com:

Circa "appeals to the varying needs of a multicultural market, with shades designed to work across the lightest and darkest of skin tones, through the use of high-performance formulations, rich pigments and innovative technologies offered at more affordable prices.  The nationwide launch supports Walgreens desire to increase accessibility to well-priced, diverse, specialty beauty offerings.

"I've been involved with the beauty industry for a long time and wanted to help create a cosmetic line that could reach a wide variety of women" said Eva Mendes, creative director for CIRCA.  "As a Latin woman, it was important to me that we create a line of products that work for all women and is accessible without compromising quality."
The product portfolio includes offerings across the eye, lip, and face categories, with 133 SKUs in total. CIRCA will launch in top-selling Walgreens beauty doors nationwide, as well as Walgreens.com and drugstore.com, starting in late February."
So what do you think?  Are you excited for the launch?  I think it's going to be a welcome addition to the drugstore...so many brands don't offer a broad enough shade range so I'm glad that this sounds like it's going to appeal to all skintones.

Nonie Creme Color Prevails Launches at Walgreens

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Earlier, I posted about Eva Mendes' new line Circa that'll be landing at Walgreens this month, and now I have another exciting scoop for you...Nonie Creme, former creative director at Butter London is launching her own line of color cosmetics and nail products at Walgreens called Colour Prevails. I haven't seen it in stores just yet, but the line is available now on Walgreens.com and Drugstore.com (which is part of the same company).
Colour Prevails is a"beauty company rooted in art, paint, and a desire to give people easy-to-use tools for beauty reinvention and self expression." It features products that either do double duty or feature an innovative design, such as their Precision Painter (nail polish brush) that helps you to apply it better. 
Let's take a look at some of the products!
Lash Ombre Mascara $13
Watercolor Wet/Dry Eyeshadow Palette $19
Sculpture Contour and Highlight Duo $14
Bashful Beauty Lip and Cheek Multi Stick $13
Classic Lip Duo Lipstick/Lipgloss $14
Eye Design Shadow/Liner Duo $12
Colourwash Comfort Balm $9
Nail Lacquer $8
Blank Canvas Liquid Foundation $15

Click on the pictures or links to learn more about each product, or to purchase.

I'm excited to try several of these products!  I wish they had a picture of the eyeshadow palette on the inside (it says coming soon).  What are you interested in trying?
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