NEW Herbal Essences Naked Clean & Refresh Coming Soon

January 13, 2016, 7:02 am

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I have a major soft spot for strawberry-scented shampoo and conditioner. My Mom used them on me when I was little (I think it was VO5's version) and then in middle school, I used a version by Suave that left my boyfriend constantly sniffing my hair. Even talking to him years later at a reunion, he said he remembered me as the girl with the strawberry hair...I guess it left a big impression! 

I haven't really seen any strawberry formulas out there recently...either they stopped making them or maybe the stores in my area just don't carry them (you'll have to let me know if you've seen any near you!). 

So I was super excited to see that Herbal Essences will be launching a Strawberry Mint scented shampoo and conditioner as part of their naked line. Let's take a look...

One of my followers on Instagram mentioned that Olay makes a body wash in this scent (I had no idea!) and I really like the idea of the mint blended in with the strawberry because it makes for a more grown up scent. 

The Clean & Refresh shampoo ($5.99 at drugstore.com) is free of silicone, parabens and colorants and is supposed to "refresh and vibrantly clean strands to reveal your hair's natural beauty". 

Clean & Refresh Conditioner ($5.99 at drugstore.com) is free of parabens and colorants and contains lightweight moisturizers to nourish the hair without weighing it down. 

Did you use strawberry shampoo when you were a kid?  I'd love to hear about it! 

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Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayon Review

January 13, 2016, 12:43 pm

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I recently found the Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons ($6.99) at Walgreens and picked up five shades to review and swatch for you guys. There are ten shades all together (see my post of all ten shades here) but I wanted to try the formula first and make sure I liked it before I committed to buying more. I'm a big fan of the original Color Tattoo formula so I had very high hopes for these...let's take a look! 

When I first heard about the Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons, I thought it was a brilliant idea...I love the original Color Tattoos but the pots tend to dry out over time not to mention they get all over your fingers when applying them. Having the same formula in a convenient crayon is a beautiful thing! It makes the process of applying them fast and easy...just slick them on and quickly blend for an easy everyday look that won't budge.
They're packaged in a chubby twist-up crayon with a clear cap that fits nicely and doesn't seem loose or want to pop off. Mine actually click when I press them down so they feel nice and secure. My one pet peeve though, is that they don't twist down all the way so you have to be careful when replacing the cap.

There seem to be two finishes...satin and shimmer. I was disappointed that there weren't any matte shades but I'm hoping they'll release some over the summer or maybe for the fall. The satiny shades don't have any visible glitter...it seems to be ground up very finely so they have more of a shiny finish. There are visible glitter particles in the shimmer ones but they're not super glittery. Of the five shades I bought, Lavish Lavender and Gray Crystal are shimmers and the other three are satins. You can see in the photo below which ones have visible glitter if you look at the tip of each crayon (the one all the way to the left and the one in the center). Thankfully, they don't feel gritty during application at all.

Left to Right: Lavish Lavender, Lilac Lust, Grey Crystal, Bronze Truffle, and Barely Beige.

When I swatched these, I was surprised by how easily they glide on the skin. The formula feels lighter and more slick than the Color Tattoos in the pots so I was concerned that they might crease or that wear time would be shorter, but it wasn't the case..at least for me! I have dry skin that tends to hold on to cream formulas and I don't typically have issues with makeup sliding off my face, so I can definitely say that these perform the same as the regular Color Tattoos for me. They lasted 8-9 hours with no creasing before fading away pretty evenly. Still, if you're oily these may not last on you. They don't have that "tacky" feeling the regular Color Tattoos do...they're much softer and slicker.
Also, because these are a more lightweight formula, they take a little bit of building up, and tend to sheer out a lot when blending with your finger. The regular Color Tattoos go on very strong and pigmented with one swipe and that's not really the case with these.

Speaking of the regular Color Tattoos, I wanted to see if any of the crayon shades were dupes of the originals. I found three that were pretty close but no exact dupes. 

The Barely Beige Crayon is slightly more golden (and more pigmented) than the Barely Beige in the pot. 

The Bronze Truffle Crayon is close to Bad to the Bronze but has a bit more warmth to it. 

I was excited to see that Lavish Lavender is very close to the limited edition Black Orchid shade! I know a lot of you guys were disappointed when you couldn't find that one and it's no longer available. Lavish Lavender is a little more shimmery and is also slightly cooler toned but overall, it's a nice smoky purple shade.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons. They took the same long-wearing, non-creasing formula and delivered it to us in a convenient crayon format. My minor complaints would be the fact that they don't twist down into the tube all the way and that there are no matte shades. Also, they do take a little bit of finesse when blending...you might need to add a little more due to them sheering out a little. I'd love to hear from someone with oily skin to see if these held up as well for you as they did on me! 

You can find these at Walgreens stores now for $6.99.

Wet N Wild MegaGlow Illuminating Palette Review

January 13, 2016, 3:27 pm

≫ Next: Hard Candy Strobing Drops Coming Soon

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The Wet n Wild MegaGlow Illuminating Palette ($4.99 at Walgreens) has gotten a refresh for 2016, with new packaging and a new formula! As soon as I saw this, I immediately grabbed one to review for you guys because everyone is highlight-crazy these days (including me!) and this just looks so darn pretty! 

Compared to the old version, this palette is quite a bit larger with a thinner, sleeker design. I believe the old version came in three different shades (Catwalk Pink, Strike a Pose Rose, and Starlight Bronze) but so far I've only seen the Catwalk Pink shade in this new version.
Overall, I really love the modern and updated packaging. It feels sturdy and would travel easily since it's so slim.
One thing that's great about the larger size (besides getting more product) is that it's easier to use each individual shade if you want to do that versus swirling them all together.

This palette contains four illuminating shades, including a pale gold shimmer, a pale pink highlight, a golden pink, and a shimmery bronze shade.

My first impression of these is that they're pigmented, but also a bit on the powdery side with some fallout. The lightest shade has the least amount of pigment, followed by the bronze...both applied a bit sheer and patchy on their own. The pale pink and pinky gold shades in the center of the palette are the most pigmented and go on really smoothly.
The main thing I want to point out about this palette is that it's not super shimmery...you won't be able to get that "strobe" effect with it. The effect is very subtle and it gives your skin more of a glow than an in-your-face highlight. Some of you may want an illuminator that packs more of a punch and if that's the case, this probably isn't for you. Personally, I like more of a subtle glow, so I'm pretty happy with this palette overall.

Here's what the shades look like swirled together...they create a beautiful warm peachy pink shade. I'm so fair that I can actually use this as a blush, but darker skin tones may be able to use this as a subtle pink highlight.

Overall, the Wet n Wild MegaGlow Illuminating Palette wasn't what I was expecting, but it's not really a bad thing. Rather than use this to highlight, I plan to use it as more of a glowy blush instead. I absolutely love that peachy pink shade that's created when all four colors are swirled together. I'll also use the two lightest shades to add a subtle glow to the high points of my face on days when I just want that "lit from within" look. 

But, if you're looking for something that'll give you that strobe effect, I don't think this will give you quite the intensity you'd be looking for, so you might want to skip this one.

You can find this now for $4.99 at Walgreens stores.

Hard Candy Strobing Drops Coming Soon

January 14, 2016, 5:44 am

≫ Next: Maybelline Master Contour Review

≪ Previous: Wet N Wild MegaGlow Illuminating Palette Review

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I was catching up on Snapchat last night before bed, and happened to spot this quick post from elleusa (Elle Magazine). It's Hard Candy Strobing Drops liquid highlighter! I have no idea when this will be available or if there are more shades, but I'll keep you guys updated once I find out more information. I just figured you might like a little sneak peek to start your morning! :) 

Maybelline Master Contour Review

January 14, 2016, 7:46 am

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Maybelline Master Contour Kit ($12.99 at Ulta.com) is brand new for Spring 2016 and I first spotted it at CVS last month in a huge Maybelline display that had a bunch of new products in it. I picked this up with the intention of posting a review soon afterwards, but it kind of got lost in the shuffle during the craziness of the holidays. Thankfully, I'm back on track and posting reviews every day, so to hear my thoughts on this palette, just keep on reading! 

Contour palettes have been around a while and the trend doesn't look like it's going away any time soon, so I'm glad that the drugstore brands are releasing some budget-friendly options. Some kits such as the new L'oreal Infallible Pro Contour and the Wet n' Wild Coloricon Contouring Kit have only two shades...a highlight and a contour, but the Maybelline Master Contour also contains a blush, similar to the Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palettes (Maybelline and Urban Decay are both owned by L'oreal by the way).
The Master Contour kit comes in two shades...Light to Medium and Medium to Deep. Being fair skinned, I opted for the Light to Medium. Just looking at the shades in the pan, I was happy with the shades they chose...the bronzer doesn't appear too orange or too warm, the blush is a light matte pink that seems pretty universal, and the highlight is a light frosty beige with a hint of gold in it.
I should note that there is no mirror in this palette, but it does have a see-through lid which is great for being able to identify what it is in your makeup drawer. This kit also comes with a brush but in all honesty, it's so tiny, I feel like no one could use it on their face. Maybe my niece could contour her dolls with it?! It's also kind of stiff and scratchy...yuck.

Each pan is labeled for the makeup newbie who's just getting into contouring and there is also a guide on the back of the palette that shows you where to put each color on your face.

When I first swatched this palette, I was impressed with how soft and blendable the powders are. They're nicely pigmented and sit really nicely on my skin. Just a quick tap into the pan with my brush picks up a good amount of product and it blends so beautifully. Actually, that begs the question, why can't Maybelline make their eyeshadows out of this formula?! Just a thought! :)

Color-wise, I think the contour shade is just slightly warmer than I'd like it to be for my cooler toned skin, but not to the point where I can't make it work. I'm happy that it leans pink versus orange at least. The blush is a really pretty matte pink that looks very natural on me. The highlight is a little darker than I'd like it to be, because it almost blends in with my skin tone. A lighter shade would pop a lot more on my cheekbones, but overall, this one does look really pretty when it catches the light. Also, if you have more medium-toned skin, the highlight will probably be light enough for you.

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As I was working on this review, I kept mentally comparing the Maybelline Master Contour to other similar kits I have in my collection, so I decided to do some swatch comparisons to see if this could be a dupe of another contour palette! 

Top Left: Makeup Revolution Ultra Brightening Contour Kit in Ultra Fair $5.37 Top Center: IT Cosmetics Live, Love, Laugh Vitality Face Disc $38 Top Right: Wet n' Wild Coloricon Blush & Glow Trio in Sunset Junction $3.99 Bottom Left: Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Naked $32

I broke up the swatches so we could compare the highlights, blushes and contour shades separately to make it a little bit easier. 

I wasn't able to find an exact match in any of the highlight shades, although the Makeup Revolution one came very close. The Urban Decay highlight is darker and more pink, while the It Cosmetics highlight is darker and more golden. The Wet n' Wild palette had a light pink highlight. 

As far as the blushes go, the Maybelline, Urban Decay and IT Cosmetics versions have a matte finish while the others contain shimmer. The Urban Decay and IT Cosmetics blushes lean more coral/peach while the Makeup Revolution and Wet n' Wild blushes are golden pinks. So again, no real dupes here.

Finally, the contour shades! Next to the others, you can really see how pink the Maybelline Version is. The Urban Decay and Wet n' Wild contour shades lean a lot warmer than the others and the IT Cosmetics and Makeup Revolution shades are closer to true browns...perfect for contouring, IMO.

Overall, the Maybelline Master Contour Kit in Light to Medium is a pretty good drugstore option if you're looking for a contour palette. The formula is beautiful...highly pigmented and blendable and the shades would work well enough for those with fair to medium skin. Ideally, I would have liked to see this palette broken up into two separate palettes...one for fair to light skin with a lighter highlight, and one for Medium skin tones with a darker blush and slightly darker contour shade. 

What do you guys think of the new Maybelline Master Contour? Have you tried it yet? I'd also be interested to hear from those of you with darker skin tones to see how well the Medium to Deep shade worked for you! 

Maybelline Master Contour is available at your local drugstore or at Ulta.com

NEW Flower Beauty Arrives at Walmart

January 14, 2016, 12:13 pm

≫ Next: Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball Review

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Yesterday, my pal Krista on Instagram (@mymonthlyobsessions) spotted a ton of new Flower Beauty products at Walmart so this morning, I went to see if my local store had anything new. Sure enough, there was a lot of new products and some of them seemed to replace older ones. None of the new releases are on the Walmart website yet, but there are quite a few Flower products on Rollback, which likely means they're being discontinued. Just a heads up in case you want to go check and see 

if any of your favorite products are going away. 

OK, so let's get started...there's a lot to cover!

First up is the new Ultimate Eye Color (or Endless Wear Eye Color? It says both on the package). They're $7.98 each and claim to be crease-proof and give 12-hour wear. They come in five shades: Sheer Buff, Sheer Sands, Sheer Cinnamon, Sheer Charcoal, and Sheer Seas. When I got these home, I thought they were going to be like the L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadows because they have a little disc that sits on top when you open the lid. But when I started swatching, I realized that these are a lightweight cream shadow! They feel cushiony and putty-like, similar to Colourpop shadows. Yup! I'll be doing a first impression post on these very soon. 

Next are the Ultimate Lip Butters ($7.98 each). I think these might be replacing the other lip butters from Flower because those are on Rollback and weren't in the Flower display anymore. These come in six shades (sorry that the photo looks washed out...the lighting in there was terrible): Naked Petal, Rose Petal, Peach Petal, Blush Petal, Ruby Petal and Poppy Petal. They claim to give lasting hydration with a glossy finish.

Next are the E.E. Erase Everything Foundations ($12.98 each). Let me just say...OMG these are amazing! Yes, I already tried mine when I got home, haha. First of all, they come in only four shades, plus a clear shade that can be used as a primer, or by itself on one of those no-makeup days when you just want to blur imperfections. The other shades also say that you can use them as either a foundation or a tinted primer, kind of like Tarte's BB Primer (except these are much more hydrating). They feel like no other foundation I've ever tried...they have a super thick, spackle-like consistency that fills in all your lines and pores, but it's not sticky or tacky. It glides on like a balm...yet it's not greasy, it actually gives a soft matte finish. It's not a mousse either, it feels like a very thick moisturizer or night cream (but thicker than any one I've tried). They disappear into your face quickly with no residue. The primer blurred just about every line and pore in my face and then the foundation (which feels exactly the same) evened out my skin. It's probably the most hydrating foundation I've ever used, and the coverage is sheer to medium with one coat. I could easily just wear this most days, but it will also be amazing as a tinted primer!

Next is the Long-Wear Eyeliner, which comes in five shades: Onyx, Amethyst, Brownstone, Emerald, and Sapphire. These are automatic pencils that claim to be creamy, fade-resistant, and long-wearing. 

There are two new brow products...first there's an Eyebrow Pencil which comes in three shades...Blonde, Brunette and Dark Brunette. Next, there's an All-in-One Brow Mascara with a comb/brush combo on top, which comes in two shades: Light and Medium.

Next is the Long-Wear Lip Creme ($7.98 each). These claim to be high-intensity color with an opaque, satin finish that's long-wearing and non-feathering. They come in cute squeeze tubes sort of like Too Faced's Melted Lipsticks!

Finally, it looks like there's a new and improved version of the existing Eyes on the Prize Eyeshadow Chubby, that claims to be crease-proof and provide all-day wear. There were only two shades in this display, Rose Gold Dust and On Taupe of the World, so I'm not sure if the range has been cut down to only these shades or if there are more on the way.

What do you think about all the new Flower Beauty launches? Did anything catch your eye? 

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball Review

January 14, 2016, 9:29 pm

≫ Next: IT Cosmetics New Year, Your Most Beautiful Skin 6-Piece Collection

≪ Previous: NEW Flower Beauty Arrives at Walmart

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Earlier this week, I spotted the new Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball ($3.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond) and they looked so much like the Baby Skin blushes that launched over the summer, I almost passed them by. When I took a second look and realized they were actually Baby Lips balms, I grabbed all four shades to try and review. I love the original Baby Lips formula most of the time, even though they usually aren't enough moisture for me in the winter, so I was excited to see if these are the same or possibly a new formula. Also, I was happy to see this cute packaging return as a lip balm this time...I felt like it was wasted on the blushes, since I didn't care for them at all. 

Let's take a closer look! 

The Baby Lips Balm Ball claims to be a "tinted creamy lip balm" that "leaves lips smooth with a subtle flush of color". When I compared the ingredient list to the original Baby Lips, I found that there are quite a few differences in the formulas. The one that stood out most to me is that the original Baby Lips contains shea butter as a moisturizing ingredient, but it's absent in the new Balm Ball. This version contains Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride (fatty acids from coconut oil) and castor seed oil, which are definitely moisturizers... but for my dry lips, they don't beat the power of shea butter. Plus, I don't find the original Baby Lips to be the most moisturizing balm anyway, so removing the shea butter for this new formula concerned me a bit.

The packaging is definitely cute and eye-catching, with bright colors and a chubby ball tip similar to the Eos lip balms. It's not the easiest applicator if you're trying to stay inside the lines, but these are pretty sheer so it doesn't matter too much...anything that gets outside your lip line can easily be wiped away. They don't have any visible shimmer, at least to my eye, but they do go on super shiny. They feel very lightweight, smooth and slick as you're applying them and feel nice on the lips at first.

The bad news is, these wear off pretty quickly, leaving my lips feeling just as dry as if I hadn't applied them at all. I wouldn't say that they actually dry out my lips...they just don't leave a lasting moisturizing effect. Compared to the original Baby Lips, I think that these are slightly less hydrating but they do have a similar lightweight, slick feel. Another thing to note is that my lips are pretty chapped right now and the color did cling to dry flakes a little bit.
I also wanted to mention that they have a slightly fruity scent, in case you're sensitive to fragrance.

When I first started swatching these, I was disappointed in how sheer they were. The swatches below on my arm took a good 5-7 swipes back and forth just to produce the color you see here. The good news is, the more I swatched these, the more the pigment came out, so maybe there's a bit of a top layer that needs to come off first.

On my lips, the colors seemed to show up a lot better, but it's likely because the color is layered over the natural pigment that's already present there, unlike on my arm. I really like the shine and color these give...they look naturally pretty. They just don't last very long at all...then again, they are lip balms so it's common to have a shorter wear time.

Overall, I like the new Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball, but I don't love them. Maybe it's because my lips are so dry right now and these just aren't giving me the hydration I need, so I'll have to see how I like them as the weather warms up and the condition of my lips improves. 

Have you seen these in stores yet? What are your thoughts? 

IT Cosmetics New Year, Your Most Beautiful Skin 6-Piece Collection

January 15, 2016, 8:33 pm

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Starting now through 11:59 pm tonight (January 16, 2016), the IT Cosmetics New Year, Your Most Beautiful Skin 6-Piece Collection is the Today's Special Value on QVC. This is a $214 value for a special one-day only price of $59.96! This collection contains six amazing products that will let your natural beauty shine through. Let's take a look! 

I got my kit this week from IT Cosmetics and I was so excited when I opened this beautiful box. All of these products are new to me except for the double-ended complexion brush, which I got in a previous kit last year.

The CC+ Veil Cushion Compact Foundation (regularly $38) is a sheer-to-medium, buildable coverage foundation with SPF 50+ physical-only protection. It also contains anti-aging peptides, vitamins A, C, B, & E, niacin, algae, hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed collagen for immediate and long-term skincare benefits. Cushion foundations are all the rage at the moment, in part because they're portable and feel so lightweight and breathable on the skin, like a serum. Unlike the original CC+ Cream (which is a holy grail product for me), this isn't full coverage, but I like the fact that the coverage can be built up if I need it, or I can wear it a little more sheer on my good-skin days. 

I was so excited to try this since I've used quite a few cushion foundations in the past, and this is definitely my new favorite! It doesn't settle into lines or pores and the Drops of Light technology gives my skin a subtle lit-from-within glow. When you factor in all the skincare ingredients and SPF 50+, this is an unbeatable formula. Plus, this kit comes with a refill, so you're really getting two of these...that alone is worth more than the cost of the entire kit! 

You can choose from Fair, Light, Medium, Tan and Rich.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Veil Cushion Compact in Light

Also included in the kit is the Heavenly Luxe Dual-Ended Complexion Perfection Brush (regularly $48). If you haven't tried an IT Cosmetics brush, you're in for such a treat. They're the softest brushes I've ever used and so well made, you don't ever have to worry about shedding. I already have this particular brush from a previous kit, and it's the best foundation brush...I use mine for both powder foundations and liquids to get flawless coverage every time. I love that it has a large head for covering the wider areas of your face and the smaller end to get into narrower spaces, such as under your eyes and around your nose. 

Funny story... my two year old son recently got into my makeup brushes and ended up grabbing one of my IT brushes. He proceeded to walk around the house brushing it all over his face and saying, "soooft" over and over again (I posted the photo on Instagram here). 

Heavenly Luxe Dual-Ended Complexion Perfection Brush

The CC+ Creme Blush (regularly $24) is formulated with peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, silk, antioxidants and Drops of Light Technology for a lit-from-within glow. It comes in the shade Je Ne Sais Quoi, a universal soft pink that's perfect on everyone. This is my first experience with this formula and I love how silky and smooth it is! Some cream blushes feel sticky and are hard to blend but this one is so lightweight and glides on easily. It starts out sheer but it can be built up if you desire more color.

CC+ Creme Blush in Je Ne Sais Quoi & Heavenly Luxe Angled Radiance Creme Brush

The Heavenly Luxe Angled Radiance Creme Brush (regularly $48) is precision cut to hug your cheeks, placing blush exactly where you want it! The micro-fine dual fibers and airy brush head blend cream products into your skin giving an airbrushed finish. When I first saw this brush, I wasn't sure that the bristles would be dense enough for me, but it's just perfect! When I apply cream blush with this, it gives such a soft, beautiful finish with no streaks or unevenness.

Heavenly Luxe Angled Radiance Creme Brush

The Blurred Lines Smooth Fill Gel-Creme Lipstick (regularly $24) nourishes your lips, reducing the look of lines. The one that comes in this kit is a brand new shade, Je Ne Sais Quoi...a universally flattering pink. This lipstick feels so nice going on...it feels as moisturizing as a lip balm and gives my lips a bit of shine along with color that's completely buildable. One swipe goes on a little bit sheer, but when I went back and forth again, the color deepened into a medium rosy pink shade with more coverage. So just like the blush, you can go sheer with this if you don't want a bold pop of color, or build it up if you're looking for more.

Blurred Lines Smooth Fill Gel-Creme Lipstick in Je Ne Sais Quoi

Here, I swatched the CC+ Veil Cushion Foundation in Light, CC+ Creme Blush in Je Ne Sais Quoi, and Blurred Lines Lipstick in Je Ne Sais Quoi.

Left to Right: CC+ Veil Cushion Foundation in Light, CC+ Creme Blush in Je Ne Sais Quoi, and Blurred Lines Lipstick in Je Ne Sais Quoi

Overall, if you're looking to freshen up your look in the new year, this is an amazing collection to get you started! It's such a great value, especially if you've been wanting to try IT's Heavenly Luxe brushes...you're getting two of them and just one is almost the price of this kit if you buy it separately at QVC or Ulta. Plus, you're getting double the cushion foundations (worth over $70) and a universally flattering creme blush and lipstick. 

Grab yours today at QVC.com to get it at the special price of $59.96! 

*Disclosure- PR Sample *

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The Balm on HauteLook Today

January 18, 2016, 12:11 pm

≫ Next: BH Cosmetics Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow Palette Review

≪ Previous: IT Cosmetics New Year, Your Most Beautiful Skin 6-Piece Collection

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Great news for all fans of TheBalm Cosmetics! Everything is 50% off on HauteLook today and I was able to score four products I've been wanting to get for a long time. I'm always checking out TheBalm when I'm in Kohls and swatching different products, but I have to resist the urge to buy because I know that they tend to do HauteLook sales pretty regularly.

Here's a small sampling of what's available...but act fast because they sell out quickly! The Lou-Manizers are only $12 if you've been wanting to try them. I ended up getting the Meet Matt(e) Palette, Hot Mama, Frat Boy and Down Boy blushes. 

If you don't have a HauteLook account yet, you can sign up for free here (they're owned by Nordstrom). Happy Shopping!

BH Cosmetics Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow Palette Review

January 19, 2016, 7:57 am

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Earlier this month, BH Cosmetics was having a killer sale and I picked up a few products that I've been wanting to try for a while, including the Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow Palette (Reg. $23, Currently $11 at bhcosmetics.com). I actually reviewed the original Forever Nude palette a few years back (see that post here) and I really liked it, so I had a good feeling about this one. Let's take a look...

Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow comes in a pale pink cardboard palette that's super cute and also slim so it's easy to travel with. This is an entire face palette in one kit...you've got two highlighters, two contour shades, and one blush and they come in two different shade options based on your skin tone...Light/Medium and Medium/Deep.

Inside the palette, the pans are nicely sized and it's laid out with the two highlighters on top and the blush and contour shades underneath. There's also a mirror , but it doesn't come with brushes, but it's just as well because I never use the brushes that come with palettes anyway (except for the ones in the Urban Decay Naked palettes...those are pretty great!).

Of the two highlighters, one is a matte banana shade, which is perfect for setting your under eye concealer and brightening the skin. The other highlighter is a beautiful pink-y champagne shade that adds the perfect amount of glow to the high points of your face. It's a nice light shade so it makes my cheekbones pop rather than blending into my skin color.

The blush is a really pretty pink shade with gold shimmer and it's one of those shades that will look good on pretty much everyone!

There are two matte contour shades that come in this palette...the first one is a lighter warm brown that's more like a bronzer, while the other is slightly cooler in tone and deeper, perfect for contouring.

These powders are so soft and pigmented, I barely need to tap my brush in the pan to pick up a ton of color. These swatches look intense, but it's because I swirled my finger into the pan and swiped them, so they're a bit more concentrated. They go on softer with a brush.

The deepest contour shade looks really dark here, especially against my fair skin, but when I lightly touch my brush to it and buff it into my skin, it creates the perfect touch of color to create that hollow under my cheekbones, and I can build as needed. So my advice here would be to just use a light hand at first and build up as necessary. The good news is, this palette should last a long time, since you only need to use a little bit.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the quality of this palette and also with the shade selection. I've been looking for a yellow banana powder for a while now and I love having it in the same palette as my highlight, contour and blush...it's so convenient for travel or just getting ready in the morning. It's so much easier to just grab one palette than all these individual products. 

You can find the Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow (on sale for $11 now!) at bhcosmetics.com 

I'm Featured in Women's World Magazine!

January 22, 2016, 2:09 pm

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I'm so excited to be featured in the Feb 1, 2016 issue of Women's World magazine, which just hit newsstands this week! I was interviewed last month and the article is all about the best drugstore beauty finds. Here's a preview of the story...if you happen to see the issue next time you're at the grocery store, definitely check it out! :) 

Snow Day Beauty Products

January 23, 2016, 1:50 pm

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The East Coast is having a major snowstorm at the moment and while we're stuck in the house, all I can think about is tropical island getaways. So I took my favorite coconut-scented products into the shower with me to lift my spirits give me that summer feeling. If you're obsessed with coconut like I am, you'll definitely want to check these products out...GlamGlow's ThirstyCleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser ($39) is a mud to foam cleanser for normal to dry skin types. It contains coconut milk, rare Brazilian yellow clay, olive milk and plumeria flower blossom to help remineralize the skin and boost hydration. It smells delicious... just like coconut milk and starts out as a creamy tan-colored mud. I like to apply it all over my face when my skin is dry and leave it for a few minutes (it's just like the GlamGlow ThirstyMud mask, but much cheaper and you get a lot more product). Then I add a little bit of water and massage it in, and it foams up and deeply cleanses without leaving my face feeling dry or tight. 

I recently picked up the new You Are Amazing Smooth It Out Exfoliating Body Scrub & Wash at Target and I'm loving it! Every product in the line is only $3.99 and there are body washes, lotions, body mists and scrubs in six different scents. I picked up the Coconut Water scent, but I was thisclose to grabbing the Vanilla Bean as well. This scrub has a really fine grit that's suspended in a shower gel so you can slough away the dead dry skin while you cleanse your body. I love scrubs like this because they don't crumble all over your shower...they stay put nicely on the skin because of the fine texture and nothing goes to waste. Plus, the flip-top cap is way easier than trying to scoop product out of a jar.

The Body Shop's Coconut Beautifying Oil ($14) is one of my favorite body moisturizers for many reasons. First off, the scent is to-die-for...it's a sweet, creamy straight-up coconut scent rather than a suntan lotion-type of scent. It's also perfect for locking moisture into damp skin the second you get out of the shower...since it's an oil, it won't evaporate from the surface of your skin like water-based lotions will. Finally, I can't say for sure if it was this or good genetics, but when I was pregnant, I used this on my belly twice a day and never got one single stretch mark. 

Glossier's Coconut Balm DotCom $12 is a coconut-scented version of their famous universal skin salve. This little tube works wonders on any part of your body...lips, face, cuticles, elbows, you name it. It comes out of the tube thick and rich and melts into the skin on contact for deep hydration. I love to use it on my lips and cuticles before bed and on my lips during the day, and the fact that it smells like the beach is just a bonus!

Finally, my favorite beachy perfume is from the indie brand Smell Bent and it's called St. Tropez Dispenser. It literally smells like being on a tropical island beach with notes of fresh coconut, jasmine absolute, aloe vera, and a light breeze over vintage musk. For me, it brings back memories of the beach in the 80's...there was a suntan oil my parents used to use on us that smelled exactly like this. I don't know what brand it was but I'm pretty sure they don't make it anymore because the sunscreens of today don't smell this good. 

Well, now that I'm officially in vacation mode, what are your favorite scents/products to use when you're in the mood for summer? Are you a coconut fan like I am, or is there another scent that lifts you up in the middle of winter? 

Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palette Review

January 23, 2016, 4:09 pm

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The Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palette ($9.99 at Milanicosmetics.com) is brand new for Spring 2016 and comes in six beautiful color combinations. I recently spotted them at CVS and grabbed one to review and swatch for you guys, although it was really hard to pick just one. I was torn between all of the shades and a few of them were calling my name, but in the end, I had to hold back because I wanted to test out the formula first before buying more. The one I really wanted, Earthy Elements was out of stock, so I picked up Bare Necessities, which is described as "warm neutrals". Let's take a look...

The Everyday Eyes Collection comes packaged in shiny gold palettes with clear lids so you can easily see the shades inside. I actually don't mind the lack of a mirror...I rarely use the mirrors in palettes anyway and I like being able to see what I'm grabbing in my makeup drawer at a glance. They also come with a double-ended brush that I would actually use in a pinch...it's much better than those sponge-tipped applicators. 

My local CVS didn't have all six color combinations and neither did Walgreens, so I pulled them up on the Milani website to see the ones I had missed. 

01 Must-Have Neutrals- Cool Neutrals

02 Bare Necessities- Warm Neutrals

03 Smoky Essentials- Smoky Neutrals

04 Plum Basics- Plums & Mauves

05 Earthy Elements- Terracotta & Earthy

06 Vital Brights- Cool Brights

On the back of each palette, there are directions for creating a look and each shade is labelled according to where it should be placed on the eye. 

I was instantly drawn to these warmer neutrals in the Bare Necessities palette, because they're shades I would wear every day. This palette has four shimmer shades and two matte shades.

The shimmer shades are super soft and highly pigmented with one swipe, although they do crumble a bit and create some fallout. The matte shades in this palette seem to be hit or miss. The lighter matte shade (second swatch) went on pretty sheer and needed to be built up quite a bit, but the darker brown matte (bottom swatch) packed a lot of pigment in one swipe, even though the texture felt much drier (and had less fallout) than the shimmery shades. Also, I should add that these swatches are not over primer, so the pigmentation is really quite impressive.

Overall, this palette is amazing quality for $9.99 and I'm so happy to see a high-end caliber palette at the drugstore. Between these and the CoverGirl TruNaked palettes, I feel like the drugstore eyeshadows are finally starting to compete with the more expensive brands! I will definitely be picking up more of these, even if I have to order them online...I'm dying to get my hands on that Earthy Elements one! :) 

You can find the Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palettes at CVS, Walgreens and at MilaniCosmetics.com.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation Now Has a Pump...Hallelujah!

January 24, 2016, 6:48 pm

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Thank you so much to reader Shannon for this heads up! She recently noticed that Revlon Colorstay foundation now comes with a pump. I know this used to be a holy grail drugstore foundation for a lot of you and one major complaint I hear is the lack of a pump on the bottle. Also, the formula was changed in 2013 which was also a big disappointment for a lot of people...they removed the SPF, the finish changed and it took on a funky paint-like smell. 

Well guess what? Shannon tells me that the old coverage is back, SPF and all! And no more paint smell...yesss!

She sent me a few pictures of the new pump bottle...they're a little taller than the old ones and she said they're mixed in with the old ones at stores in her town (she's in Indiana). 

Photo: Budget Beauty Blog Reader Shannon

Photo: Budget Beauty Blog Reader Shannon

Have you guys seen this in stores near you? I'm definitely going to check near me...I loved the old Colorstay and haven't worn it in a few years due to the changes. I'm so excited to find this! 

Thanks again for the info and pics Shannon! :)

Flower Beauty Ultimate Eye Color Review

January 24, 2016, 7:51 pm

≫ Next: Milani Everyday Eyes Earthy Elements Review & Swatches

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Recently, I was at Walmart and spotted a ton of new Flower Beauty products (see my post here for all the details).  I couldn't wait to dig in and try everything I bought, especially these new Ultimate Eye Color Cream Eyeshadows ($7.98 each).  I assume that these are replacing the Color Play Creme Eyeshadows because they were no longer on the display (and are currently sold out online). Overall, I noticed a lot of new products in the display that seemed to be replacing older versions, so they may have decided to reformulate certain products. I do remember liking the Color Play cream eyeshadows, so let's take a look and see how these compare! 

First, let's talk about the packaging! It's very high end and luxurious...definitely a step-up from their old white packaging (although that wasn't too shabby either). These eyeshadows come in heavy glass pots with glossy black twist-on lids that have rose-gold accents. I'm really impressed because you just don't see packaging like this at the drugstore...there's no flimsy plastic here...these containers make you feel like you spent a lot more than $7.98.

Inside, there's a black disk sitting on top of the product, which reminded me a lot of the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows. The packaging doesn't indicate whether you're supposed to keep it in there or throw it out but, I'm keeping mine because I think it may help to keep air out of the container and prevent the product from drying out. 

Just looking at these shadows, I assumed they were a similar consistency to the L'Oreal Infallibles...velvety powder that's loosely packed, similar to wet sand. But to my surprise, these are actually creams with a soft cushiony texture, closer to Colourpop's Super Shock than Maybelline Color Tattoos. But unlike the Colourpop formula, these feel lighter and a bit more sheer. They go on super silky and smooth with a barely-there feel that I really love!

Sheer Sands is a really beautiful rose gold shade.

Sheer Sands

Sheer Cinnamon is a warm, rusty shade.

Sheer Cinnamon

Sheer Buff is a lovely grayish taupe.

Sheer Buff

According to the packaging, these claim crease-proof, 12-hour wear and lightweight, sheer color. 

Here's a better look at the formula, which looks completely different once I dipped my finger into the pot. It went from looking like a loosely packed powder to looking like a cream. You can see how the cushiony formula holds it's shape where my finger swiped through and it takes on a smoother appearance.

Sheer Buff

On the skin, all three shades have a beautiful shimmer that's not chunky or glittery. These are not heavily pigmented shades, nor are they meant to be...these are the perfect shades for everyday wear and are quick and easy to apply. But that being said, you can definitely build these up for a bolder look. They go on like silk and blend beautifully. Actually, they went on so smoothly, I was concerned about their staying power, but they ended up lasting all day on my dry skin without primer...no creasing or fading!
I mainly use my fingers to apply these, but I also like to use an eyeliner brush to apply these to my bottom lash line. I find that when I apply powder eyeshadow under my eyes, it ends up migrating down, giving me the dreaded raccoon eyes, but since these have amazing staying power they're perfect for smudging underneath my bottom lashes.

Sheer Buff, Sheer Sands, Sheer Cinnamon

Overall, I'm so happy to have found the Flower Ultimate Eye Color shadows. It's nice to have another drugstore cream eyeshadow option besides the Maybelline Color Tattoos and the sheer formula of these makes them so perfect for everyday. I also love how lightweight they are...I can't even tell I'm wearing them! 

Next time you're at Walmart, I definitely recommend picking up one (or two or three) of these. Two thumbs up! 

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Milani Everyday Eyes Earthy Elements Review & Swatches

January 25, 2016, 3:09 pm

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Hey guys, I hope you had a good Monday! I finally found the new Milani Everyday Eyes Palette in Earthy Elements ($9.99 at Milanicosmetics.com) today at CVS and I wanted to share my review and swatches with you since this has highly requested the past few weeks. I posted a full review on these new palettes a few days ago, and swatched the Bare Necessities shade, so I won't go too in-depth with the formula today. I just mainly wanted to swatch this Earthy Elements shade since it seems to be the one everyone is most curious about. I can definitely see why...you really don't see beautiful warm shades like this  in most drugstore palettes, and can we talk about that matte orange shade for a second?! Stunning. 

Let's take a look...

The shades in the Earthy Elements palette are so warm and rich. On the Milani website, this palette is described as  "terracotta & earthy" and it contains both matte and shimmer shades in warm tan, taupe, orange, and deep brown. As I mentioned in my full review the other day, these shades are highly pigmented and really impressive for a drugstore palette. It can truly compete with palettes that are many times the $9.99 price tag! The gold packaging is also gorgeous.

Every shade in this palette with the exception of one swatches beautifully. The shimmers are soft and buttery (and have a bit of fallout) while the mattes are drier with less fallout but both types are nicely pigmented and blend beautifully. The one shade that was a bit more difficult to work with is the shimmery beige shade all the way to the right below...it has quite a bit of shimmer that makes it feel gritty and it swatches more on the sheer side.

Overall, I'm in love with the Milani Everyday Eyes in Earthy Elements! Even though I really liked the shades in the Bare Necessities one, I feel like that palette has shades that are similar to ones I already own, while this one is completely different than anything I have. It's perfect for wearing right now in the Winter months and I know I'll get a lot of use out of it. 

Have you seen these palettes at your local Walgreens or CVS? I should mention that these were actually in the permanent Milani display, not on top of a shelf where all the new stuff is, so definitely check there!  

Wet n Wild Ombre Blush Review & Swatches

January 26, 2016, 8:04 am

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I've been looking for the Wet n Wild Ombre Blushes ($4.99) ever since I heard about them launching at Target recently. But the local Target in my small town is always behind when it comes to putting out new merchandise, so I haven't had much luck. This past weekend, we headed down near NYC for some shopping and ended up at a store that was right near a Target. I ducked in quickly to see if they had the blushes and they did! So I wanted to get a review/first impressions post up quickly because I know a lot of you have told me that you're really interested in these. So let's take a look...

Packaging-wise, these are really pretty...Wet n Wild has redesigned their products to have a more modern feel and I really like the simplicity of the sleek black compacts. I also like being able to see the shades right through the top, it makes it easy to grab the product I'm looking for out of my makeup drawer.

The Ombre Blushes have cute party/drink-themed names like The Princess Daiquiries, Mai Tai Buy You a Drink, and In a Purple Haze and have a gradient effect with shades that are light and highlighter-esque on top and deepen as you reach the bottom of the compact. All the shades are a bit on the pastel side, which makes me think of the new Pantone Colors of the Year that are baby pink and purply-blue. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but pastels definitely seem to be popping up a lot this year.

The Princess Daiquiries is a peachy pink shade.

The Princess Daiquiries

Mai Tai Buy You a Drink is a bronzy nude peach shade.

Mai Tai Buy You a Drink?

In a Purple Haze is a bluish-purple shade.

In a Purple Haze

Formula-wise, I wasn't all that impressed by these, sadly. I love Wet n Wild's regular blushes, and these had the same soft feel, but they went on powdery with a lot of fallout and not much pigmentation. You can see in the swatches below that they barely showed up on my very pale skin, so anyone with darker skin than mine will have an even harder time with these.
Also, they looked shimmery in the pan but it was just an overspray and the finish looked more matte and a bit chalky on my skin.

Overall, I'm sad that these were a bit of a flop for me because they looked so pretty! I'll definitely have to check out the NYX Ombre Blushes and see if those work out better for me. Also, if you're looking for a great ombre blush, Hard Candy makes a great one, available here. 

If you'd like to try the new Wet n Wild Ombre Blushes they are available now at Target.

Pixi Skintreats Now at Target

January 27, 2016, 9:10 am

≫ Next: N.Y.C Demi Lovato Lovatics Palette Review & Swatches

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I totally freaked when I walked into Target yesterday and saw that Pixi Beauty has brought their Skintreats into stores (isn't that such a cute name for a skincare line?). I'm obsessed with their Glow Tonic (see my review here) and I was beyond happy when that finally arrived at Target last summer so I didn't have to order it online anymore. Now all of a sudden I'm overwhelmed with new skincare goodies to try (in a good way)! So today I wanted to create a little guide to all the new products and break it down by category to make it easier, since there's a lot to sort through on the Target website. So if you're interested, just keep on reading! 

Cleanse:

There are a few different cleanser options available, depending on your skin type and needs...

Glow Mud ($18)- This active yet gentle cleanser with 5% glycolic acid exfoliates to reveal a glowing, healthier-looking skintone. Mud deep cleans & detoxifies pores while hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and avocado oil plump & nourish the skin. Leaves complexion feeling smooth & purified.

Nourishing Cleansing Balm ($20)- Rich and luxuriously textured, this balm-to-oil cleanser melts away makeup & impurities for clear, glowing skin. It

deep cleanses as it nourishes with added sweet almond oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. Leaves complexion feeling plumped & nourished.

Moisturizing Cleansing Cloths 40 Count ($10)- Refine & condition skin with these on-the-go cleansing cloths that purify while removing dirt & oil in one easy step. Each soft cloth is infused with aloe vera and camellia oil to soothe skin, leaving it feeling refreshed & hydrated.

Exfoliate: 

Used after cleansing, these will remove that layer of dead skin and get you glowing!

Glow Peel Pads 60 Count ($22)- These highly effective exfoliating pads contain 20% glycolic acid to reveal brighter, healthier, more radiant skin over time. Helps to minimize pores, breakouts, and fine lines while promoting an even skintone. Enriched with vitamin E and aloe vera to nourish & soothe.

Glow Tonic ($15)- This exfoliating toner helps to brighten the complexion resulting in a healthy glow. Formulated with 5% glycolic acid, Glow Tonic exfoliates, brightens and smoothes the skintone and texture. Aloe vera, ginseng, and botanical extracts work together to nourish and treat your skin revealing an improved complexion. Alcohol-free and gentle on all skin types.


Serum: 

These serums will help to correct and treat your skin. 

Hydrating Milky Serum ($24)- This nutrient-rich serum restores dehyrated skin, revealing its natural radiance. Silky-smooth & lightweight, it gives a burst of hydration without a heavy feel. Rose flower extract, jojoba oil, and aloe vera nourish, while glycerin traps moisture to the skin for a plumped effect.

Overnight Glow Serum ($24)- Exfoliate & soothe skin with this miracle serum that works while you sleep to reveal a brighter complexion. Formulated with 10% glycolic acid & arginine, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and fade sun spots over time. Enriched with cucumber & aloe vera extracts to calm skin and vitamins A, C & E to nourish.

24K Eye Elixir ($22)- This multitasker is infused with powerful age-defying ingredients to refresh eyes & prevent signs of fatigue. Collagen helps to repair the delicate eye area, peptides plump fine lines, and raspberry tones skin. Cooling rollerball applicator soothes & encourages circulation around the eye.

Moisturize: 

There are three different types of moisturizers...day cream, night cream and a facial oil.

Glowtion Day Dew ($22)- Advanced illuminating skin-perfector nourishes & soothes while giving a boost to dull skin. Featherlight and hydrating, this moisturizer imparts a natural-looking radiance to skintone, making it look healthier & more even. Lavender oil calms, kaolin purifies, and mica brightens.

Beauty Sleep Cream ($24)- This fast-absorbing, nutrient-rich nighttime essential helps to protect, nourish, and hydrate skin while you sleep. With 100% natural mango butter, plus oils of lavender, lemon & bergamot, this cream calms and balances skintone.

Rose Oil Blend ($24)- This botanical blend is infused with a powerful complex of youth-preserving oils to help improve skin's elasticity and glow. Sweet almond, rosehip, jojoba, pomegranate seed, and rose geranium oils nourish the complexion, leaving it comforted & smooth to the touch.

Masks: 

There are two mask options...one that's wash-off and purifying, and the other is a leave-on sleep mask. 

Glow Mud Mask ($22)- Stimulate, clarify, and brighten skin with this revitalizing mask. The mineral-rich treatment absorbs oil, draws out impurities, and fights breakouts while giving an energizing boost to the complexion. Kaolin & sea salt purify while ginseng & aloe vera balance.

Nourishing Sleep Mask ($22)-  This overnight mask provides a nutrient-rich veil of moisture to heal & protect skin while you sleep. The formula is rich in fruit & flower oils to soothe, arginine to strengthen, and hyaluronic acid to plump. Deeply nourishes skin, leaving it silky-smooth to the touch and seals in any serum or treatment applied underneath.

Final Steps:

Finish off your routine with a lip treatment and glow mist.

Nourishing Lip Polish ($12)- This 2-in-1 lip exfoliator + nourisher helps to repair & protect dry, sensitive lips. Luxe, nutrient-rich formula smoothes lips with shea butter & a blend of sweet almond, apricot, and evening primrose oils. The unique massage applicator stimulates circulation, giving a healthy, plumped effect.

Glow Mist ($15)- All-over glow mist for a radiant, dewy effect.

Gives a glowing, luminous & smooth complexion. Enriched with 13 natural oils plus propolis, aloe vera and fruit extracts.

Before makeup: hydrates, protects & nourishes.

After makeup: sets, adds a dewy finish and protects skin.

Anytime: refreshes makeup, hydrates and adds glow.

I ended up going a little crazy yesterday and got the Lip Polish, Mud Mask, Sleep Mask, 24K Eye Elixir, and Mud Cleanser (plus I already own the Glow Tonic and Glow Mist). I wanted to get the overnight serum but it was already sold out, as were a few other things. My Target store was pretty low on stock in quite a few of these items, so I have a feeling these are selling out quickly. It's so nice to have a mid-priced skincare option...I tend to spend more on skincare than on makeup, but I don't always want to pay Sephora prices...these are more in line with Olay's pricing. 

What looks good to you? Will you be indulging in any of these? 

N.Y.C Demi Lovato Lovatics Palette Review & Swatches

January 27, 2016, 5:17 pm

≫ Next: NEW N.Y.C Get It All Collection at Target

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N.Y.C New York Color recently released the Lovatics collection with their color ambassador, Demi Lovato which includes several products including lip & cheek tint, a mascara, and a brow pencil. But what I couldn't wait to get my hands on was this Lovatics Palette ($6.99) when I saw it at Target recently. The gorgeous color palette had me swooning because I can see myself using every.single.shade. The only question in my mind was, can the quality be even remotely good at $6.99? I've tried many drugstore eyeshadow palettes at price points between $9.99 and $14.99 that were total flops so I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best when I put this in my cart. Spoiler alert...it's amazing. And you need it.

This palette comes packaged in a slim black case with a clear lid so you can see the product inside. It also comes with two double-ended sponge tipped applicators, which I will most likely never use. But overall, I really like the sleekness of this palette...it'll travel really well yet the pans are as large as the ones in the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, so you're still getting a lot of product in here. Speaking of the Naked palettes, I noticed that this one looked very similar to the original Naked palette, so I've done a comparison a little further down in this post.

The Lovatics palette contains a nice mix of matte and shimmer shades, and the shimmers range from barely-there shimmer to a moderate amount of shimmer...but none of these are what I would call glittery. The texture is just incredible and not just "for a drugstore palette"...this is 100% comparable to a $50+ palette...seriously. The swatches you see below are one swipe on bare skin with no primer.
Every single shade, whether it's matte or shimmer is soft, buttery and highly pigmented. They pick up so easily whether you're using a brush or your fingers and lay down impressive color in one swipe. It was really shocking to me that there wasn't one dud in the whole bunch...even the mattes perform exceptionally well.

When I put this next to my Naked palette, I instantly thought it would be a dupe...the shades look so close! Many of them are, but as you'll see below in the swatches, there are only a couple of shades that are the same.

I'm happy to say that while I was swatching these two palettes side-by-side, I noticed no difference in quality, pigmentation and texture. The $6.99 Lovatics palette performed just as well as the $54 Naked palette.

Top Row: N.Y.C. Lovatics Palette Bottom Row: Urban Decay Naked Palette

Overall, I'm blown away by this palette and am so glad to see better quality eyeshadows starting to show up at the drugstore. If you have the Naked palette, you don't necessarily need this one, considering they are very close, but it's not an exact dupe so if you see certain shades you really want, I say run, don't walk to your local Target and grab this before it sells out.  I can't wait to see how the rest of this collection works out...stay tuned for more Lovatics reviews coming soon! 

NEW N.Y.C Get It All Collection at Target

January 28, 2016, 8:26 am

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When I was at Target yesterday, I spotted some brand new N.Y.C. New York Color products including a new line that was developed with New York Makeup Artists called "Get It All". The idea behind the line is that you don't have to compromise when it comes to your makeup. With these you can get it all...great formulas, results, and pigmentation at truly affordable prices. 

Let's take a look...

Get it All Lipcolor ($2.99) gives intense, long-lasting color that's not drying or sticky. It gives your lips a shiny finish and they stay moisturized all day long. 10 shades.

Get it All Foundation ($3.99) is a portable all-in-one stick foundation that combines long-lasting wear, buildable coverage and a soft matte finish that looks luminous and natural rather than flat.  It has a silky smooth texture that's easy to blend and claims to minimize pores, fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles. 5 shades.

Get it All Mascara ($3.99) features an all-in-one formula that gives a 360 degree effect on your lashes in one stroke with amazing length, volume and curl. It has a unique creamy texture that leaves your lashes comfortable and flexible, never brittle. It doesn't smudge and has an easy-to-control brush.

Finally, there are new Expert Last Lip Lacquers in a matte finish ($3.99). They're not part of the Get It All Collection but I wanted to include them anyway since they're new. I really liked the original Expert Last Lip Lacquers (see my review here) so I can't wait to try these and see if they get along with my dry lips, since not a lot of mattes do! 

These claim to give high-impact, explosive color, full coverage, non-sticky texture and a velvet-smooth finish. 3 shades. 

I ended up grabbing the Get it All foundation stick to try...at $3.99 I couldn't resist! Check back for a review on that soon. 

Have you seen these at Target yet? Or at other drugstores (I believe they're carried at Walmart, CVS and Kmart also).