Cutiegingerbread

Maybelline Color Tattoo Swatches (Bad to the Bronze, Tough as Taupe, Bold Gold)

2012-03-04T20:18:00.000-05:00

Recently people have been raving about the Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Shadows so I had to give them a try. Even though I have had trouble finding the collection displays, I have found them in permanent displays at the drugstore lately. These cream shadows are pigmented, creamy, and thin. They can be worn alone or paired with a complimentary eye shadow to give your look more dimension. I am so impressed with these and am very happy they are permanent products!

My Current Obsessions video:

Swatches:

Clockwise from top: Bad to the Bronze, Bold Gold, Tough as Taupe

Swatches (left to right): Bold Gold, Tough as Taupe, Bad to the Bronze

I definitely recommend these if you are a lover of cream shadows. They have a wide array of colors including more bold colors.

Have you tried the Maybelline Color Tattoos? What do you think of them? Will you be checking them out?

Pumpkin Oat Muffins Recipe (Weight Watchers Friendly)

2012-01-11T14:18:00.002-05:00

For Thanksgiving and New Year's I've been using a Weight Watchers recipe to make a healthier dessert. This recipe is for a Pumpkin Oat Bread but I adjusted it a little to be more portion and taste friendly. This recipe isn't mine, I just made a few small changes. I added raisins to the recipe and they work great with the pumpkin/cinnamon flavor. These muffins are easy to make and they come out great. I've gotten lots of compliments on them and they are fairly low in PointsPlus values!

You will need:

-Cooking spray (I used Pam)
-1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened in microwave for 15-20 seconds)
-1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
-3 large eggs (beaten)
-2 cups canned pumpkin (if you get a 16 oz. can, you can add in the whole can without measuring)
-1/4 teaspoon table salt
-1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
-1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
-1 1/2 cup uncooked quick oats
-2 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1 cup raisins
-Sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat muffin form pan with cooking spray (not just the bottom, around the sides of the form too)
Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and pumpkin; beat well. Add salt, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, flour, oats, raisins and baking soda; mix thoroughly. Add two teaspoons of batter in each form slot. Add sliced almonds on top of muffins. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Source

This yields 24 muffins, each muffin is 4 PointsPlus. Enjoy!

Will you be trying this Pumpkin Oat Muffins Recipe? What is your favorite dessert?

Sinful Colors Holiday 2011 Nail Polish Collection Swatches

2011-12-31T15:18:00.000-05:00

I was recently sent the Sinful Colors Holiday 2011 Collection. Sinful Colors is one of my favorite nail polish brands because not only are the polishes great quality, they're only $2 at the drugstore! They have a huge range of colors at a very affordable price.

Sinful Colors Holiday 2011 Collection

Out of this World- This color is described as "a perfect silver with swirls of glimmer". This is a sheer, silvery color that has tiny hints of sparkle. This was three coats.

Sugar Sugar- This shade is "a candy cane, red hot tint". A red is a great classic in anyone's nail polish collection. This one is great for the holidays and all year round. This was two coats.

Lady Chance- "An emerald with depth and allure". The swatch came out a little dark in the picture but this is the perfect Christmas tree color. The formula was great, 2 coats.

Midnight blue- "A bold, bright twist on navy". While this color is gorgeous, the formula of this polish was disappointing. It was thin and watery and took three coats to even out.

Daddy's Girl- "A deep purple with a drizzle of shimmer and glitter". This was another iffy formula. This polish is a jelly finish so it was very sheer and thick, making it hard to work with. This was four coats.

Fashionista- "A glitter- laden pewter". This is a gorgeous silver glitter nail art polish. I layered it over Midnight Blue for a bit of sparkle on the tips.

Flower Girl- "A bronzy gold with tons of sparkle". This nail art polish has an amazing formula! It was smooth and pigmented. The brush made it easy to make a french tip line.

What do you think of the Sinful Colors Holiday 2011 Collection? Will you be picking any of these up?

What I Ate Today: Breakfast

2011-12-31T15:17:00.002-05:00

I haven't done one of these posts and wanted to show a breakfast I made this morning. I made an omelet with a sprinkle of light shredded cheese and broccoli. I love omelets as they are filling; they help keep me from getting hungry around 11 am before lunch. The broccoli also helps with making this a satisfying breakfast and adds a little something different to a standard omelet.

Yummy!

What did you have for breakfast? What is your favorite breakfast to keep you satisfied until lunchtime?

Healthy, Easy Hot Chocolate Recipe

2011-12-24T15:06:00.001-05:00

Hot chocolate is perfect for this season. It's perfect for relaxing on a cold winter night. However, the regular mixes or store bought hot chocolates have a ton of sugar in them. Even though it may be comforting and delicious, it doesn't help when you are trying to avoid extra holiday weight. I wanted to share an easy to make hot chocolate recipe that is low calorie! Just a note, this does not have all the sugar we may be used to with hot chocolate. It may taste different for those that are looking for a sweet hot chocolate since it's not very sweet. But it's very yummy!

You will need:

-Almond Breeze Almond Milk (this one is the Original, which has a bit of sugar)

-Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

-Ground Cinnamon

Pour Almond milk and put in microwave for 30 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and stir until the powder dissolves. Add a pinch of cinnamon for taste.

Add your favorite mug!

The almond milk has less calories than regular milk and the cocoa powder is healthier than the typical sugar filled hot chocolate mixes. The cinnamon adds a nice spice and flavor!

Do you love hot chocolate around this time of year? What is your favorite hot chocolate recipe?

BLOG SALE!

2011-12-11T18:44:00.001-05:00

Details:

1. You can pay through PAYPAL ONLY! It's the safest and easiest option for both me and you guys. (If you don't have an account, it's free and easy. )

2. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

3. Shipping is a flat rate of $3 plus $.50 for each additional item for US and Canada and $5 plus $1 for each additional item for international. (To cover shipping and paypal fees and such)

4. You have 24 hours after I send the invoice to pay it. If the person does not pay after 24 hours, the item will go to the next person that wanted it. NO HOLDS.

5. If you want an item, please post a comment with your paypal email address, what item(s) you want, and if you are US/Canada or International shipping. Please only request an item if you are SERIOUS about buying it. (I can't stress that enough, I've had this in my last blog sales of people disappearing after I sent them an invoice. It just delays the process and isn't fair for other people that want the item.)

6. I'm not responsible for lost/damage items. Unfortunetly, what goes on in a post office is beyond my control.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

MAC Depotted Eyeshadows: $8 each (usage listed below)

-Go- swatched twice

-Dreammaker- swatched twice

MAC Short Shorts Eyeshadow (left)- swatched twice- $8

MAC Line Filler Base- Never Used- $5

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Hot Pink- swatched once- $3

Wet n Wild Night Elf Holiday Palette (Limited Edition)- swatched once- $3

left to right;

Barry M Lipstick in 129 (purple)-used twice- $3

NYX Lipstick in Frosted Flakes- used twice- $2

L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Dune- Used 3 times- $3

NYX Lipstick in Strawberry Milk- Used twice- $3

L'oreal Elnett Satin Hair Spray (2.2 oz-travel size)- $3

Rimmel Glam Eyes Eyeshadow in Spicy Bronze- $2

Stila Shimmer Eye Pens (never used):

Gold: $2

Silver: $2

ELF Eyeshadow duo (no name)- swatched twice- $1

BBW Coconut Mango Smoothing Body Scrub- Never used -$5

Bath and Body Works Pocketbacs-never used- 50 cents each

Lunch Box collection Marshmellow Treat

I Love Bling

Milani Single Shadow in Flare- swatched once- $2

Revlon Single Shadow in Hazelnut- swatched once- $1

Rimmel Glam Eyes single shadow in Night Jewel- $2

Estee Lauder Eye Pencil in Brown Writer- swatched once-$3

Bath and Body Works Candle in Vanilla Coconut (4oz) - $3

Revlon Quad in Lavendar Meadow- used twice- $2

NYX lipstick in Darling- used three times- $2

Prestige Eyeliner in White- swatched once- $2

Sinful Colors Boom Boom- Never used- $1

Milani Fashion Shadows Palette in Bckstage Basics- used twice- $2

Revlon Quad in Stonewash Denim- swatched twice- $2

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Polishes- left to right:

Lacey Lilac- used once- $2

Purple Pizzazz- never used- $3

Blue Me Away- never used- $3

Green With Envy- used once- $2

Collection 2000 polishes- never used- 50 cents each

left to right:

Spangles, Big Hair

Fyrinnae Loose Shadows (swatched once)- 50 cents each

Kurisumasu

Orangutan

Maybelline Salon Expert in Sweet Dream- Never used-$1

Sally Hansen Insta Dri in Peach Breeze- never used- $2

Sephora by OPI in Lagoon-a Beach- used once- $3

Stila Mini Lip Glaze in Brown Sugar- never used- $2

China Glaze- left to right:

Kiwi Cool Ada- used once- $3

China Glaze- left to right:

Snow- used once- $3

Nicole by OPI in Me + Blue- used once- $3

-Revlon Siren- never used- $3

-Color Club Soft as Cashmere- swatched once- $2

-Sally Hasen Blue It- never used- $2

BLOG SALE TONIGHT

2011-12-11T13:39:00.001-05:00

I have picked out some more items from my collection that are neglected! I will be having a blogsale tonight with the new items along with remaining items from the previous sale at a discounted price. Thank you everyone for your support!

Details:

This blog sale will go up Today, December 11th at 9 PM EST

1. You can pay through PAYPAL ONLY! It's the safest and easiest option for both me and you guys. (If you don't have an account, it's free and easy. )

2. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

3. Shipping is a flat rate of $3 plus $.50 for each additional item for US and Canada and $5 plus $1 for each additional item for international. (To cover shipping and paypal fees and such)

4. You have 24 hours after I send the invoice to pay it. If the person does not pay after 24 hours, the item will go to the next person that wanted it. NO HOLDS.

5. If you want an item, please comment with your paypal email address, what item(s) you want, and if you are US/Canada or International shipping. Please only request an item if you are SERIOUS about buying it. (I can't stress that enough, I've had this in my last blog sales of people disappearing after I sent them an invoice. It just delays the process and isn't fair for other people that want the item.)

6. I'm not responsible for lost/damage items. Unfortunetly, what goes on in a post office is beyond my control.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Comparisons

2011-12-08T12:13:00.001-05:00

I have gotten to the point where my neutral eyeshadow collection is quite...large (understatement). I know a lot of people have been debating getting the Naked 2 palette as it might be dupeable or too similar to Naked 1. I have to say, I LOVE this palette. I can't pick a favorite between the two, but I do love them both. I do think they're a little similar but the colors are gorgeous and versatile. Click here for my post on swatches of all the Naked 2 Palette shades.I wanted to share some comparisons and possible dupes I found for some of the shades.

left to right: UD Foxy, Wet n Wild Brulee

left to right: UD Half Baked (Naked 1), UD Half Baked (Naked 2)

left to right: UD Virgin, UD Foxy, UD Bootycall

left to right: UD Sidecar, UD YDK, Wet n Wild Nutty

left to right: UD Tease, MAC Quarry

left to right: UD Blackout, NYX Black

Did you purchase the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette? How do you think it compares to the first one?

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Swatches

2011-12-06T14:46:00.001-05:00

I was so excited to get my Naked 2 palette in the mail! It is currently out of stock but they should be bringing it to stores next month. I wanted to give you guys some quick swatches of the palette! I will be doing a video and tutorial with the palette and a comparison blog post so stay tuned!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

The shades! This palette comes with 12 shades, a double sided brush, and a mini lip gloss

Hello, gorgeous!

Swatches (left to right): Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve YDK, Busted, Blackout

Swatches (left to right): Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall

Swatches (left to right): Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

Swatches (left to right): Suspect, Pistol, Verve

Swatches (left to right): YDK, Busted, Blackout

The palette also comes with a mini Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Naked, a neutral pink

With my order, I received a free mini Urban Decay 24/7 liner in El Dorado, a gold

Swatches (left to right): Naked Lip Junkie, El Dorado 24/7 Liner

Did you purchase the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette? What do you think of it?

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette is LIVE!

2011-12-01T13:14:00.001-05:00

Urban Decay just posted the much anticipated Naked 2 Palette! If you are interested in ordering it, I would do so as soon as possible because there are only 5,000 available this week. More will be available next week!

Source

Here is the link: http://www.urbandecay.com/Naked-2-Palette-by-Urban-Decay/282,default,pd.html

Don't forget to sign up for their emails and they will email you a 10% off coupon!

Happy Shopping!

Will you be getting the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette? Do you have the original Naked Palette?

GASP! Urban Decay Naked Palette 2!!

2011-11-29T12:01:00.001-05:00

I have been IN LOVE with the Urban Decay Naked Palette since it released! I remember ordering it that day and haven't looked back since. It is a wonderful palette for neutral lovers and I find myself reaching for it quite often. I recently stumbled upon some very exciting information: there will be a Naked Palette 2!!

Swoon!
The colors are: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

This photo and information is from the blog Pinch of Pretty. Please check out her post, she has a comparison picture of the two palettes!

This palette looks like it comes with a mini gloss and a double sided brush. At first glance it looks a little similar to its predecessor but I am anxious to see swatches/reviews!

According to Urban Decay's twitter, the palette comes out Thursday, December 1st!

Will you be getting the Urban Decay Naked Palette 2? Do you love the original Urban Decay Naked Palette as much as I do?

Dr.'s REMEDY Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

2011-11-25T09:47:00.001-05:00

Happy Black Friday! If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a great one with your loved ones filled with amazing food! Today is the ULTIMATE shopping day: Black Friday! I have done a ton of shopping already with all these amazing deals. If you are a nail polish addict, here is one from Dr.'s REMEDY. Their polishes can be on the pricier side so getting a deal is always great to try out the brand and save money.

Dr.'s REMEDY is a line of doctor-inspired cosmetics that is dedicated to using clean, hypoallergenic ingredients. The birth-child of two New York-based podiatrists, Dr. Adam Cirlincione and Dr. William Spielfogel, Dr.'s REMEDY proves quintessentially-perfect for any person looking to better the condition of her skin and nails. Dr.'s REMEDY is sold exclusively at www.remedynails.com or by calling 877-323-NAIL.

Are you taking advantage of any Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals? Do you do a lot of shopping on these days?

Rose Gold Nail Polish Comparison (Sally Hansen, OPI, ORLY)

2011-11-21T14:38:00.001-05:00

Rose gold nail polishes have been a big trend for the Fall and Winter! I have three polishes that are in the same color family but all differ in their own unique way.

left to right: Sally Hansen Time To Shine, OPI Designer De Better, ORLY Rage

The pictures may not pick it up but OPI Designer De Better has copper flecks in it. Sally Hansen Time To Shine has subtle silver shimmer. ORLY Rage is a smooth, metallic finish.

How do you feel about the rose gold nail polish trend? What is your favorite trend for the Fall and Winter?

Current Nail Polish: Butter London Wallis

2011-11-21T14:37:00.001-05:00

I have been loving the bronze trend for Fall and Winter. A gorgeous color for this season is Butter London Wallis. It is definitely a unique color and worth the high price tag!

Butter London Wallis

Do you own Butter London Wallis? What are you wearing on your nails right now?

Golden Bronze Nail Polish Comparison (Sally Hansen, Butter London, L'Oreal)

2011-11-21T14:21:00.001-05:00

I have been seeing a trend of golden bronze nail polishes for fall. As the weather gets cooler and darker colors are more in trend, these colors are great for a multi dimensional nail polish. I have a few polishes I thought were similar but they are all justifiable since they are different in their own unique way.

Sally Hansen Bronze Ablaze, Butter London Wallis, L'Oreal Owl's Night (this is from their Project Runway collection)

Swatches: (left to right) Sally Hansen Bronze Ablaze, Butter London Wallis, L'Oreal Owl's Night

I am loving this trend! I am especially loving how these 3 shades have so much dimension. The way they are shown, they are shown is in increasing order of darkness. Bronze Ablaze is a amber-y bronze color. Wallis is a golden brown. L'Oreal Owl Night is a deep dark brown with gold flecks.

Do you own any of these nail polishes? What do you think of them? What do you think of the golden bronze nail polish trend?

Dr.'s REMEDY Fall Fever Collection Swatches

2011-11-21T14:19:00.001-05:00

I was recently sent the Dr.'s REMEDY Fall Fever Collection. I have done reviews on the Dr.'s REMEDY polishes before on this blog. These polishes are formulated to benefit your nails with Tea Tree Oil and vitamins. The colors chosen for their Fall Fever collection are perfect for this time of year!

Left to right: Balance, Defense, Noble

Balance- This color is described as a brick red. It's a nice, classic red. This was opaque in two coats.

Defense- This is described as a deep red. It's a deep, wine color that's perfect for fall. This was great in two coats.

Noble- This is a classic navy. Navy seems to big this fall and this one is a true navy. The formula on this one was amazing, opaque in one coat.

You can purchase Dr.'s REMEDY nail polishes on www.remedynails.com for $17. While they are more expensive than typical nail polishes, they have the added ingredients to help strengthen and condition your nails.

Have you ever tried the Dr.'s REMEDY nail polishes? Will you be checking them out?

How To: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

2011-11-20T14:36:00.001-05:00

My latest project this weekend was chocolate covered strawberries. I have been posting my What I Ate Today posts and thought a recipe post might be something you would enjoy! I am no chef so I wanted to share a super basic "how to" for this treat. Overall, this is a low point (or calorie) yummy dessert!

1. Ingredients:

Strawberries (washed)- make sure they are fully dry before you dip them in chocolate.

Chocolate- I used Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate. You can use any type of chocolate, dark chocolate is a bit of a healthier choice.

I used a little more than a quarter of the chocolate bar since I only had a few strawberries. This was about .5 oz.

2. Line a plate with parchment paper.

3. Microwave chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 20 second intervals. My chocolate took 40 seconds, it was just melted and I just "crushed" it with a spoon. Thank you to Snack Girl for the chocolate melting tips in her chocolate figs post!

4. Gather chocolate to edge so you can dip the strawberry into a high level. Hold the strawberry from the top, preferably by the top leaves. I dipped the strawberry at a 45 degree angle and twisted it around in a circle.

5. Place the strawberries leaves down on the parchment paper. Put the strawberries in the fridge for an hour to let the chocolate harden.

6. Enjoy!

This is a yummy, low point treat. For those of you following Weight Watchers, the strawberries are 0 points and the chocolate is 4 points for the whole amount used. For 2 chocolate covered strawberries, it's about 1 or 2 points. Hope this helped!

Do you eat chocolate covered strawberries often? Will you be trying out this recipe?

November Birchbox

2011-11-08T13:48:00.001-05:00

I got some nice stuff in my Birchbox this month! I haven't been too impressed with it in the past few months but this month, it was a slight improvement. Here is my first impressions video and close up pictures of my samples:

Classic Birchbox Box

I always love how it's packaged!

The theme of the box: Getting Gifty

What is in the box and prices

Left to right:

Zoya Holly Polish

Anastasia Hydra Full Gloss in Sugar Pink

Supersmile Toothpaste

Choco Pod Firecracker Chocolate (SO GOOD!)

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt Perfume Sample

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? If so, what was in your box? What did you think of your box?

Halloween Candy Corn Nail Tutorial

2011-10-30T19:22:00.000-04:00

I have been in the Halloween spirit with all the costumes in stores and seeing people dressing up this weekend! I don't really dress up every year but I love doing a Halloween manicure. Here is my manicure from last year. This year, I decided to do candy corn nails. I got the tape tip from this post. Below is my tutorial of how I did this simple manicure and some pictures:

Here is what you need:

-Orange Nail Polish

-Yellow Nail Polish

-White Nail Polish

-Base Coat

-Top Coat

-Tape

The colors I used:

Sally Hansen Sun Kissed

Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow

Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Zoya Anchor Base Coat

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Candy Corn Nails!

This is a simple manicure but just takes some patience. Happy Halloween!

Will you be trying out this Halloween nail tutorial? Did you a Halloween Manicure? Feel free to link me to pictures of your festive nails!

Current Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Co-Bolt Blue

2011-10-25T14:18:00.002-04:00

First of all, I wanted to thank you guys so much for a great blog sale! Thank you to those that purchased and spread the word. It means so much! The packages that have been paid for are going out tomorrow morning. If your invoice has not been paid yet, please do so.

Here is the link to the blog sale if you haven't checked it out yet! http://cutiegingerbread.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-sale.html

On to the nail polish!

I have found a polish I just can't get enough of: Sally Hansen Co-Bolt Blue. I can wear it for weeks and not get tired of it!

Co-Bolt Blue is a GORGEOUS cobalt, electric blue. The name is so appropriate! This polish goes on perfectly and is opaque in two coats. LOVE

What is on your nails right now? What nail polish are you loving?

Sephora Friends & Family Sale Info- 20% Off

2011-10-20T10:29:00.003-04:00

I wanted to share what I found regarding the Sephora F&F Sale since it starts today! For now it's online only. Go to this page and get your unique, one time use code: http://www.sephoralove.com/friendsandfamily. The sale last from today, October 20th to November 2nd.

I don't know if there will be an in store coupon for the Beauty Insiders or VIBs but when I know more, I will be sure to post it here! Happy Shopping!

Thank you Musings of a Muse for the info!

Will you be participating in the Sephora Friends & Family Sale? What is on your wishlist?

What I Ate Today: Lunch

2011-10-19T12:25:00.000-04:00

I seem to get the most creative with my lunches so I guess I post those the most. I packed a delicious lunch today, I think I might have the same for dinner! This may not be the leanest meal (because of the way the chicken was prepared mostly) but it filled me up and tasted so good.

-Trader Joe's French Green Beans

-Trader Joe's Quinoa Duo with Vegetables

-Chicken kebab (from Russian store)

What is your favorite lunch? Do you always eat the same thing or do you like to mix it up?

October Birchbox

2011-10-14T12:51:00.001-04:00

I recently got my October Birchbox and wanted to do an accompanying post to my video to show some up close shots of what I got. I'm not thrilled nor disappointed with what I got, which I have been feeling lately with Birchbox! Here is my first reaction video:

Love the pink logo =]

The card that tells you what came in the box and the overall theme. This month's theme is about prepping your skin as well as adding finishing touches.

What is in my Birchbox this month

Inside look! I love the way they package the items every month.

What I got:

-AHAVA Mineral Foot Cream

-Blinc Mascara

-Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel

-Pangea Organics Facial Scrub

-Lash Cards

The Lash Cards are so funny, they are backwards! You can read them as you are holding them up to a mirror to put on mascara.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? What was in your October Birchbox?

What I Ate Today: Lunch

2011-10-13T14:16:00.002-04:00

I haven't been doing these posts lately because I haven't been too original with my meals. I don't think you guys need to see 3 posts in a row of oatmeal! I want to share interesting things with you, not the same old thing everyday. =] Today I made ("made" is used loosely lol!) a lunch that was so delicious!

-Trader Joe's French Green Beans

-Trader Joe's Saucy Scallops with Mushrooms

I would just like to express my LOVE for Trader Joe's, especially their frozen food aisle! There are so many amazing ready to eat meals that you just pop in the microwave for 3 minutes and ta-dah: yummy food! Both the components of my lunch are from that aisle. I love trying all their different options.

What did you have for lunch? Have you ever shopped in Trader Joe's? What are your favorite things from there?

Sally Hansen Bronze Ablaze (Review and Swatch)

2011-10-10T14:11:00.000-04:00

Since I have a huge nail polish collection, it is rare for me to find one that is unique to everything I have to my collection. Sally Hansen Bronze Ablaze is one of those nail polishes. I had heard about it when Nouveau Cheap posted about it (check out her post!) and saw how gorgeous it was. Bronze Ablaze is a bronze with gold and amber shimmer to it. The shimmer is so fine that it is like a glow. The formula is very smooth and is opaque in two coats. I believe this polish is limited edition so I highly recommend that if you see it, you pick it up!

Sally Hansen Bronze Ablaze

Do you own Sally Hansen Bronze Ablaze? What do you think of it? Will you be picking it up?

Jesse's Girl Stiletto (Swatch)

2011-10-10T13:25:00.000-04:00

Recently Youtube's JulieG713 came out with a nail polish collection with Jesse's Girl. It's so exciting to see Youtubers branch out and get creative! One color from the collection immediately stood out to me, Stiletto. This polish is a gorgeous taupe (I have been loving taupes!) with a subtle silver iridescence. This was opaque in 3 coats.

Jesse's Girl Stiletto

Did you get any polishes from the Jesse's Girl JulieG713 collection? Did you get Stiletto nail polish ? What do you think of it?

Essie Power Clutch Swatch

2011-10-10T11:47:00.002-04:00

I recently picked up Essie's Power Clutch from their Fall collection, which also has Case Study in it (swatch here). Power Clutch is a deep,inky grey. It is perfect for those of you that love really dark polishes for fall. It applied nicely, with two coats. It has lots of depth for a dark grey, it has almost a forest green undertone to it.

Essie Power Clutch

Did you pick up any polishes from the Essie Fall collection? Do you have Essie Power Clutch? What do you think of it?

Essie Cute As A Button vs. Essie Peach Daiquiri (Coral Comparison)

2011-10-08T14:37:00.001-04:00

Even though Fall has come, I am still loving the summer corals. I have two Essie corals in my collection that are gorgeous yet similar. I thought I would do a comparison if any of you were interested in both!

Left to right: Essie Cute As A Button, Essie Peach Daiquiri

Swatches:

Index and Ring Fingers: Essie Cute As A Button

Middle and Pinky Fingers: Essie Peach Daiquiri

Essie Peach Daiquiri is darker and has more orange tones to it. Essie Cute As A Button is about a shade lighter and has more of a peach tone. They are similar but I think if you are a coral lover, you can justify both!

Are you a coral nail polish lover? Do you have Essie Cute As A Button or Essie Peach Daiquiri? What do you think of them?

What I Ate Today: Starbucks Bistro Box

2011-10-07T14:16:00.000-04:00

The title isn't necessarily correct, I ate this Wednesday! It was a great mid afternoon snack while catching up with a sweet friend. Starbucks has introduced a line of Bistro Boxes, which include healthier options for snacking or even as lunch. These boxes include small meals that are much more nutritious than their usual cake/bread offerings. I chose one with more fruit in it since fruit is 0 PointsPlus on Weight Watchers.

Protein Bistro Box:

Cage Free Egg, white cheddar cheese, honey peanut butter spread, multi grain muesli bread, apples and grapes.

The peanut butter in it came in a little packet (like the ketchup packets but bigger!). I have seen Katie with these in almond butter. I think these are such a great idea for on the go! I sneaked it in my purse ;)

These Bistro Boxes are pretty filling. They include nutritious items that will fill you up as opposed to just junk. I approve! :)

For those of you observing Yom Kippur, have a easy fast!

Have you tried the Starbucks Bistro Boxes? What do you think of them?

Butter London All Hail The Queen vs. Color Club Love 'Em/ Leave 'Em Comparison

2011-10-06T14:58:00.000-04:00

I have been hearing a lot of buzz about Butter London's All Hail The Queen and how gorgeous it is. I had also read that Color Club Love 'Em/ Leave 'Em might be a dupe for it. Not wanting to pay the money for the Butter London (but admitting to myself I may buy it eventually), I bought the Color Club on Ebay.

left to right: Butter London All Hail The Queen, Color Club Love 'Em/ Leave 'Em

Index and Ring Finger: Butter London All Hail The Queen

Middle and Pinkie Finger: Color Club Love 'Em/ Leave 'Em

I would not say these are dupe of each other, but if you like one you will like the other. Butter London All Hail The Queen is more of a taupe-y brown with subtle holographic microshimmer. Color Club Love 'Em/ Leave 'Em is a copper-y brown with more obvious holographic shimmer.

Do you have Butter London All Hail The Queen or Color Club Love 'Em/ Leave 'Em? What do you think of them?

Revlon Fierce Nail Polish (Review & Swatch)

2011-10-06T10:45:00.001-04:00

The other polish I bought from the Edgy Elegance is Fierce. Both this and Princess drew me in with the addition of silver shimmer, which gives more depth. This, like Princess, applied like a dream with two coats. Fierce is a purple-y magenta with silver shimmer running through it.

Revlon Fierce

I am very impressed with Revlon collections lately, especially the polishes!

How do you like Revlon nail polishes? Did you get anything from the Edgy Elegance collection?

Comparison of the Sandy Beige Nail Polishes

2011-10-05T11:03:00.002-04:00

I have been loving the nude polish trend and feel that for Fall, it has evolved into the sandy nudes trend. For Fall, I typically wear darker polishes and it makes sense that the nudes will be darker as well. I have three polishes that while they might be in the same color family, they are all very different (and therefore I can justify having all of them!)

Left to right: Essie Sand Tropez, Revlon Smoky Canvas, Essie Case Study

Swatches: (left to right) Essie Case Study, Revlon Smoky Canvas, Essie Sand Tropez

As you can see, Essie Sand Tropez is the lightest of the three, a light sand color. Essie Case Study has more brown/camel tones than the rest. Revlon Smoky Canvas looks more grey compared to the other two.

What is your favorite nail polish trend for the fall? Will you be picking up any of these polishes?

Butter London Haul (Swatches)

2011-10-03T23:49:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, Ulta had a BOGO Free on their Butter London polishes. Since NYC does not have an Ulta, I had to get them online which was fine with me until the polishes ALL sold out! I had 3 in my cart and didn't want to wait for them to be lost so I just checked out as fast as I could, only getting one free polish. One free is better than none any day though! Here are the polishes I got:

left to right: Teddy Girl, Yummy Mummy, All Hail The Queen

Teddy Girl- This is a gorgeous light pink cream. It was opaque in 3 coats. It reminds me of OPI Mod About You, except the OPI chips so quickly!

Yummy Mummy- A taupe-y brown. This is a nice neutral for the fall, opaque in 3 coats.

All Hail The Queen- A taupe-y brown with subtle holographic shimmer. I have heard so much about this polish, I had to get it! It's a gorgeous neutral with a subtle twist with the holographic shimmer to it.

Another cool concept with the Butter London polishes is that the cap comes off and you have only the handle. The Chanel polishes also do that, a cute little feature.

Did you get any Butter London polishes during the Ulta BOGO? What do you think of their polishes?

What I Ate Today: Breakfast

2011-10-03T12:06:00.000-04:00

I am loving doing these What I Ate Today posts, it helps me get more creative with my meals. I do have lots of nail polish posts coming out if you are tired of these! Today I added some pumpkin to my oatmeal (a suggestion I found on Healthy Diva Eat's blog). I bought a can of Organic Pumpkin at Trader Joe's (LOVE that place!) and it's a great addition to the oatmeal. It makes it more full and adds some nice subtle flavor.

-Weight Watchers Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal

-Frozen Mixed Fruit (I add this before so the fruit defrosts as the oatmeal cooks)

-Sliced Almonds

-Chia Seeds

I love that the WW oatmeals come in the cups because I usually have my breakfast on the go and it is much more convenient than the regular paper pouches!

What is your favorite breakfast? Are you a pumpkin fan?

What I Ate Today: Post Workout Shake

2011-10-01T13:02:00.000-04:00

I love having a shake after my workouts. It's my favorite way to get my energy back and they are so refreshing. My favorite ingredient in my shakes is bananas, they are naturally sweet so no need to add sugar. =]

-Skim Plus milk-1 cup

-Frozen Raspberries

- Banana

-Whey Protein

-Peanut Butter-1 tsp

-Chia Seeds

I LOVE this thing, it's a single serve blender. It has the handle and the extra top so you can take it to go. After a morning workout, it's so convenient to take the shake with you and then clean it once you get to work. It's one of those little conveniences I didn't know I was missing!

Here is my video on my favorite post workout shake:

What is your favorite post workout snack?

What I Ate Today: Lunch

2011-09-29T14:49:00.000-04:00

For lunch I ate ANOTHER salad! I've been loving salads lately. You can get so creative with them and eat a lot without any guilt! I don't add dressing, which might sound weird, but I find dressings take away from the deliciousness of the actual vegetables. I love vegetables and love to add different flavors and textures. I have not found a dressing I like and a lot of them are mostly fat. I love to enjoy the vegetables as they are. :)

-Romaine Lettuce

-Cherry Tomatoes

-Sugar Snap Peas

-Broccoli

-2 teaspoons Sliced Almonds

I have been asked if salad fill me up and the answer is actually no. While I am full once I eat the salad, in a few hours I am getting hungry but that isn't a problem for me! With fruits and vegetables, you can eat a lot without the guilt. I have heard some people being afraid of the sugar in fruit but it is not the same as table sugar! The sugar in fruit is natural! Of course it is not recommended to eat more than 6 or 7 servings of fruit but you can eat a lot more fruit in the day than candy, without the guilt. Just my input :)

What did you eat today? Are you a salad fan?

Revlon Princess Nail Polish (Review and Swatch)

2011-09-28T13:19:00.001-04:00

I recently spotted a Revlon display for their new collection, Edgy Elegance. For reference, this is the one with Halle Berry. I believe she is actually wearing Princess in the promo picture! I picked up two of the polishes from this collection, one of which is Princess.

Princess is a metallic blue with silver shimmer. The formula is AMAZING. This picture is one coat and it was perfect. The silver shimmer adds a really nice sparkle to the polish and doesn't remove like a glitter polish (added bonus!)

What do you think of the Revlon Princess nail polish? Did you pick anything up from the Revlon Edgy Elegance Collection?

What I Ate Today: Lunch

2011-09-26T13:47:00.002-04:00

Thank you all so much for your feedback on my health posts! I have decide to go ahead and do these posts and on THIS blog. I love adding variety and sharing my health journey with you.

I made today's lunch last night so it will be ready to go. I think I might do this more often since I am always rushing in the mornings and making lunch is the last thing on my mind. I made a yummy salad combo! I love salads because you can get creative with what you put in them. Lettuce by itself is by no means filling for me so I add other flavors and textures.

-Spinach Leaves

-Grilled Chicken

-Cherry Tomatos

-Sliced Almonds

-Raisins

-Red Apple

I LOVE Luna bars! I don't have bars everyday but if I have one on the go, it is most likely a Luna bar.

What's your favorite meal combination?

Your Feedback Please!

2011-09-23T12:58:00.000-04:00

I write this blog for you guys and who better to guide the posts I do than my wonderful readers!

Yesterday I did a "What I Ate" post, where (as self explanatory as the title is) I shared my meals and snacks. I am hoping to incorporate more health posts into this blog since I can't post as often as I would like on my health channel. After I did that post, I got some mixed feedback on it. Though it was mostly positive, I always welcome constructive criticism!

I have thought about doing these health posts on a separate blog but to be honest, 2 channels and 2 blogs is a little overwhelming for me and I never want to feel like any of this is a chore (since I do love this so much!). I also had a suggestion of doing these posts on Tumblr, (maybe I'm wrong) but I don't see a comment section on Tumblr and what I love most about my blog and channels is the interaction!

So my question for you all is: What do you think of the health posts on this blog? I want to incorporate it into the usual posts, but by no means let it be the ONLY content I post.

-Do you like the idea of the posts? Do you think they will be helpful?
-Do you think I should keep the posts on this blog?

I want to do a good compromise for those that do and don't like these posts while still having fun with it. Please let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have since you are the ones reading them. =]

What I Ate Today: Breakfast, Snack, Lunch

2011-09-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

Aside from my beauty channel, I also have a health channel. Although I love posting on my health channel, I do not have the time to do it very often. I got an interesting idea from a Twitter follower to show what I eat for my meals and I thought it would be good to do blog post updates on this! I'm hoping to incorporate my healthy eating into the other topics I post about on this blog. Please let me know if you are interested in seeing more posts like this!

I hope to give you guys healthy ideas for meals and snacks. I have learned a lot on this healthy journey, and am still learning.

Breakfast:

-Archer Farms Cherry Almond Oatmeal

-Frozen berries (what I did was pour the oatmeal in the bowl, pour boiling water on it and add frozen berries. Then I put it all in the microwave for 30 seconds!)- I love berries in oatmeal!

-Added 2 teaspoons of chia seeds

Snack:

The Mini Babybel Light cheese are my favorite snack! They have 6 grams of protein and are so yummy. They're great for on the go snacks.

Lunch:

-Frozen Mixed Vegetables (defrosted, obviously!)- In a rush, I just throw the frozen vegetables in a tupperwear container and defrost at work.

-Beef, cubed

-Cherry tomatoes

Snack:

-Kind Macadamia and Apricot bar. I wouldn't recommend this one. I love bars in general, but try to not have them often because they are high in carbs. This one especially, has 12 grams of fat (some are most likely from the nuts) and only 2 grams of protein. While it's yummy, it doesn't have a lot of nutritional benefits, it's more like a candy bar.

What are you favorite healthy snacks and meals? Did you find this post helpful? Would you like to see more of these posts?

Current Polish: Essie Case Study

2011-09-18T10:04:00.001-04:00

Essie recently came out with their Fall collection and one color's name stood out to me immediately: Case Study. This is a term used often in Sociology and I am a Sociology Major! The color is gorgeous so it had to be mine.

Case Study is a khaki beige color, perfect for Fall! It applied smoothly in 2 coats.

Did you pick anything up from the Essie Fall Collection? What is on your nails?

MAC Posh Paradise Nubile and Genuine Treasures Paint Pot Swatches

2011-09-16T16:36:00.002-04:00

MAC released a collection of new paint pots, mattenes, and other items. I was intrigued by the paint pots since I love using them as a base! The collection has a gorgeous selection of colors overall. I got two of them: Nubile and Genuine Treasures.

left to right: Genuine Treasures, Nubile

MAC Nubile Paint Pot- A beige-y peach color with very minimal shimmer.

MAC Genuine Treasures Paint Pot- A bronze shade with gold glittery particles.

Swatches: (left to right) Genuine Treasures, Nubile

-Genuine Treasures comes on sheerer than any of the shades, I was disappointed to see it has some glitter. I talked to the MA at my tore, who was wearing it, and it looked gorgeous on her! She said there was no fallout so I'm hoping it will work well as a smokey bronze base.

-Nubile is a gorgeous base color. It would work great on it's own or under neutral lid colors. It has a bit of shimmer to it so it brightens the eyes, definitely a great shade for a minimal eye look when worn alone!

Swatches: (left to right) MAC Grain Eyeshadow, MAC Nubile Paint Pot

When I was swatching Nubile in store, I thought it would be too similar to MAC's Grain eyeshadow. I am happy to report that while they are similar, they are not at all the same color. As you can see, Nubile is slightly darker and looks more pink in comparison. I think they will be great paired together!

What do you think of the MAC Posh Paradise collection? Do you love the paint pots as much as I do? Did you pick anything up?

September Birchbox

2011-09-14T21:46:00.000-04:00

I excitedly received my Birchbox in the mail today! Birchbox day is always exciting because I love opening the box and seeing what's inside, like a present! This month the theme was their one year anniversary!

Birchbox Box!

As always, there is a card inside explaining the theme of the box. This month it says they are celebrating us! It is their anniversary and they including various products that reflect Birchbox: crafty, practical, prepared, and adventurous.

On the back of this card is the list of items included with short descriptions and full size prices.

Included in this box:

Truth Art Beauty- Face Nourish Birchbox Blend

Jouer Lip Enhancer

Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

Incoco Nail Polish Applique

Here is a closeup on the Incoco Nail Polish Applique design: pink leopard!

The "treat" of the box is a Birchbox friendship bracelet. I'm so excited to wear this! You might see it in a Bracelet Stack post.

At the bottom of the box is a cute thank you celebration image!

I am most excited to try the Incoco Nail Polish Applique, Jurlique Moisturzing Hand Sanitizer, and the Birchbox Friendship Bracelet!

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? What did you get in your box? What did you think of it?

Current Nail Polish: ORLY Rage

2011-09-14T12:39:00.002-04:00

There are some polishes I get and think, "Why didn't I get this sooner??" ORLY Rage is definitely one of them! I have heard so much about this color and have only recently got it on eBay. It is a gorgeous rose-gold metallic polish.

ORLY Rage- This polish is perfect in two coats, the picture seems to show it as a gold but it definitely has the rose tint to it.

(P.S. Excuse the mess that is my vanity!)

What's polish are you currently wearing? What is on your polish wishlist?

Revlon Expressionists Collection Info

2011-09-02T16:32:00.000-04:00

I recently spotted the Revlon Expressionists Collection at my local Duane Reade. This is their Fall collection and has a variety of products and colors! This collection is actually by Gucci Westman, Revlon's Global Artistic Director.

Here is some more info on the collection:

The Expressionists Collection will be available in October 2011 at drug and mass retailers nationwide, and on Revlon.com. The full collection includes:

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in four new shades: Buffest Beige, Prime Pink, Ultimate Orchid, and Vigorous Violet ($10.99 each); Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in in three new shades: Sky Line Pink, Abstract Orange, and Violet Frenzy ($7.99 each); Revlon Luxurious Color Diamond Lust Eye Shadow in five new shades: Celestial Silver, Plum Galaxy, Starry Pink, Neptune Star, and Night Sky ($4.99 each); Revlon LIMITED EDITION Bordeaux in the Snow Lip Gloss Palette ($6.99); Revlon Nail Enamel in four new shades: Starry Pink, Smoky Canvas, Blue Mosaic, and Facets of Fuchsia ($4.79 each).

Source

According to Nouveau Cheap, there seems to be a Deborah Lippmann dupe in this collection!

Revlon Expressionists Collection Display

One new product in the collection is the Revlon Diamond Lust shadows, which seems to be shadows with glitter. With the right base, these shadows can give a ton of sparkle to your look!

Revlon Diamond Lust shadows

This collection also features new polishes, including the Deborah Lippmann dupe! I purchased a sandy neutral color (back, far right) that I will post a swatch of in a few days.

Revlon Ultimate Liquid Lipsticks- These look really interesting! A gloss that lasts like a lipstick sounds so cool, and there is a wide variety of colors for everyone to choose from.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick- From the colors, it looks like some of the lipsticks might correspond to the liquid lipsticks (such as the dark purple!)

There is also a new product from Revlon, the Bordeaux in the Snow Lip Gloss Palette.

The display also features information about the collection, including a picture of Gucci Westman and describes the two new products: the Diamond Lust shadows and the Lipgloss Palette.

Have you spotted the Revlon Expressionists Collection near you yet? What do you think of it? Will you be picking anything up from this collection?

Revlon Carbonite Nail Polish (Review and Swatch)

2011-09-01T17:05:00.000-04:00

I am sure a lot of you have heard the buzz about Revlon's dupe for the very popular Chanel Graphite Polish. Revlon is famous for taking higher end polishes (namely, Chanel), and making more affordable dupes of them (example: Revlon Perplex). Revlon has done it again with Carbonite!

Revlon Carbonite- A gorgeous gunmetal with silver shimmer

Unfortunately, I can't compare the Chanel and Revlon since I do not own the Chanel one. However, Stephs Closet has done a detailed post doing just that: comparing the two polishes and their similarities and differences. Here is the post!

Also, stay tuned for a surprise with this on my YouTube channel!

Do you own either Chanel's Graphite or Revlon's Carbonite nail polishes? If so, what do you think of them? Will you be picking up the Revlon polish?

BEAUTY FREEBIES: Target Beauty Bag!

2011-08-28T21:22:00.001-04:00

I have to thank Nouveau Cheap for posting about the Target Beauty Bag! Target previously did this promotion where you could request their Beauty Bag, which ended up a cute bag filled with nice samples. Well, it is back!! Don't hesitate to get this sample, they might go quickly!

To grab this sample go to http://samples.target.com/ and click "request sample" and fill out the survey and your info. NOTE: This might not seem like it is going through. At first, it seemed to be processing for a long time but when I tried to submit it again, it said I had already requested a sample for my address.

I can't wait to get this sample bag! From the picture, it looks like there is an eyeshadow palette, dry shampoo, and more! I hope the requests go through and everyone gets a sample bag.

Will you be getting the Target Beauty Bag? Did you get a confirmation statement when you submitted it?

MAC Me Over Haul (Swatches and Comparisons)

2011-08-27T10:43:00.000-04:00

MAC recently released the MAC Me Over collection. If you know anything about my taste in makeup, you can tell that I was all over this mostly neutral collection. I made a post about this collection with info and a wishlist (click here for that post) and am happy to say I got a decent amount of products without going overboard and got things that I already love. Here is my haul video of what I got and swatches and comparisons are below!

MAC Butternutty Shadestick

left to right: MAC Butternutty Shadestick, MAC Bare Study Paintpot, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

MAC Moleskin

left to right: MAC Moleskin, Urban Decay Naked

MAC Carbonized

MAC Carbonized, MAC Centre Stage, MAC Mulch

MAC Curvaceous

MAC Curvaceous swatch on hand

MAC Curvaceous lip swatch

MAC 226 Brush

As you can see, the 226 is a tapered crease brush.

left to right: MAC 219, MAC 226, Revlon Contour Crease Brush, Sigma E40

Did you get anything from the MAC Me Over Collection? What did you think of it?

Revlon Masquerade Collection (Pictures and Midnight Haze Swatch)

2011-08-22T14:29:00.000-04:00

I recently spotted an exciting Revlon collection! Revlon's Masquerade Collection contains 8 polishes that I think would look great for Fall and the transition months from Summer! One of the shades really stood out to me and I had to get it (along with another bottle for a future YouTube giveaway!). I tried to Google info about the collection but found practically nothing on it. I hope this post helps you guys that might be on the lookout for new Fall polish colors or are looking for information on the collection as I was.

Revlon Masquerade Collection Display

Golden Charm- A golden, pewter color.

Devil's Lure- A deep wine/plum shade.

Royal Cloak- This one is actually darker than in the picture, it's a dark purple.

Devil's Candy- A gorgeous red.

Midnight Haze- I was instantly drawn to this one as a great Fall color! It's a steel color with shimmer.

Alluring Amber- Mid-tone orange

Phantom Angel- Basic white, it looks like it's glowing in the picture lol!

Jaded Night- A green/teal shade.

As you can probably guess, the one I purchased was Midnight Haze.

Revlon's Midnight Haze

This polish is a gorgeous deep grey/steel color and will be perfect for the colder months. It also has some shimmer to it. The polish looked so unique and multidimensional!

Have you spotted the Revlon Masquerade Collection? What do you think of it? Will you be picking up any of the polishes?

TAG: Beauty Favorites

2011-08-19T14:10:00.000-04:00

I was tagged by the incredibly sweet Mom's Makeup Stash to do the Beauty Favorites Tag. The basis is pretty self explanatory, there are a bunch of categories of beauty products and you list your favorites for each one! Definitely check out Sandra's blog, she's such a sweet and informative blogger; she gives lots of detail in her posts without going on and on haha!

Foundation I love my NARS Sheer Glow! Not heavy at all and applies nicely.

Powder I have been using my MAC MSF Natural as a setting powder, or even a light foundation.

Primer The Murad Oil Control Lotion has been working nicely for me. It doesn't keep my oils away all day (rhyme!) but it helps prolong them.

Blush If you watch my videos or read my blog, you can tell I'm not a blush girl! This usually confuses people for some reason lol! I have some rosiness to my cheeks so I rarely wear blush. If I had to choose one (well, I only own one!) I would pick NARS Madly, it's a nice natural peachy tan color. But usually I just sweep a little of bronzer on my cheeks to give some warmth and dimension.
Bronzer My go to bronzer is now Tarte's Park Ave Princess. I find it's more natural than the cult favorite NARS Laguna, which can get muddy on me sometimes.

Concealer Benefit's Erase Paste for under eyes, set with Benefit's Powderflage

Highlighter I don't wear any, rebel!

Moisturizer I have been using the Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture. It has a convenient pump and SPF 15.

Lipgloss Any gloss from the Revlon Super Lustrous line. I kept Sandra's answer because I have to agree! These are the best glosses I've tried, such a nice formula that's not sticky and doesn't cling to your lips. I love the Peach Petal and Pink Pop colors the most. Also, I have been reaching for MAC's Pink Lemonade a lot!

Lipstick Lately, I've been loving MAC's Gem of Roses, such a gorgeous color.

Lip Balm I have to say, the Jack Black balms. They are so moisturizing and yummy!

Lip Liner I barely wear lipliner but I love the Prestige liner in Silk.

Eye Primer Urban Decay Primer Potion, hands down.

Eyeshadow Too Faced Silk Teddy, I'm sure you guys have seen me rave on and on about it!

Mascara I love the Revlon Grow Luscious. Recently, I have been using the Benefit They're Real mascara, which is really nice too.

Face Brush The Sigma F80, best foundation brush EVER! It's completely worth the hype.

Eye Brush MAC 217. If I had to throw all my brushes away and keep one, it'd be this one...it's so universal.

Nail Polish Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment. I wouldn't wear this on it's own but it is an amazing layering polish. It has fine, holographic shimmer that is gorgeous over ANY color.

Perfume Ralph Lauren's Romance has been my signature scent for years.

Makeup Brand High End/Drugstore

High End: MAC

Drugstore: Wet n Wild

Eyeliner Jordana Fabuliner for lash liner, Prestige Total Intensity for waterliner

Makeup Remover Bioderma Sebium H2O. Get this people! It is by far the most effective makeup remover on the market. (I kept Sandra's answer. She actually sent it to me in a swap and though I think it's SO expensive...it's truly wonderful.)
Nail Polish Remover Zoya Remove +. Expensive but amazing. (I kept her answer for this one too, best polish remover I have EVER tried.)

Favourite Drugstore Product WnW Eyeshadows, by far one of the best shadows I have tried PERIOD.

Thank you so much Sandra for tagging me! I tag EVERYONE but I have some specific people I would love to see do this post:

Maria: http://itsmylife-maria.blogspot.com/
Emily: http://aladyinlove.com/home/
Yana: http://peachlacebeauty.blogspot.com/
Katie: http://www.healthydivaeats.com/ (I know Katie is a health blogger but she is also a nail polish (Essie!) addict and I'm sure she has some amazing beauty favorites to share!)

If you do this Tag, please let me know! =]

What are you beauty favorites?

Zoya Promo- 2 FREE Nail Polishes

2011-08-07T16:46:00.000-04:00

Zoya is having ANOTHER promo! I love when they do their sales because they always have great ones available where you get a deal. I bought a lot of my Zoya polishes during their promos. It's a great way to try out their polishes and save money.

Right now, they are having a promotion exclusively for their account holders. (If you have ever ordered from them, you already have an account!) You get 2 FREE POLISHES with purchase on their site. If you buy one polish, it's like buy 1 get 2 free!

Here is how you can take advantage of this promo:

"1. Log into Zoya.com
2. Click on the "My Account" link at top of page
3. Click the "My Coupons/Promos" link on the left hand side

To redeem your code:

1. Add any (non-color spoon) Qtica or Zoya products to your shopping cart, plus any 2 Zoya Nail Polish colors you would like.
2. Apply code in Shopping Cart
3. Submit Your Order

IMPORTANT: Don’t share you code with anyone! Once you use your code, it’s gone forever!

Promotion expires Friday, August 12th 11:59PM ET. Not valid with any other coupons, specials or promotions. Valid in USA only. To receive a code, you must have had a valid online account at the time this email was sent (5:45PM ET). We are not responsible for incorrect emails addresses, credit cards or a variety of things that are outside our control."

Source

Here is my blog post with swatches of all of my Zoya polishes: click me!

Will you be participating in this Zoya Nail Polish Promo? If so, what colors will you be getting?

Trend Alert: Leopard Print

2011-08-03T15:58:00.000-04:00

I have been so inspired to do more fashion posts (blame it on Pretty Little Liars)! Lately I've been seeing leopard print everywhere. I think this will be a new trend in the Fall because it is a great way to spruce up your outfit! By adding the bold leopard print to something like an all black outfit, you can add an eye catching piece to what would be just a dark ensemble. I tend to get stuck in black or just dark colors in the fall so I will definitely be going to leopard print to add a "pop of color" to my outfits!

Here are some of my favorite pieces (yes a lot of them are from Express, I LOVE that store!):

Leopard Infinity Scarf- perfect to spice up an outfit (especially since circle scarves are in too!)

Source

Gathered Collar Ruffle Front Top- want bold? wear a leopard top and tone down everything else!

Source

Haircalf Stretch Contour Belt- great to pair with a black dress!

Souce

Leopard Spot Stone Stretch Ring- cute little accessory that isn't too much print

Source

Leopard Cardigan- Like I said, Pretty Little Liars totally inspires me. I love the bold combo of the purple with the leopard.

Source

Sam Edelman Calypso Flats- I have these in the Pewter Boa shade and they are so comfortable! I can't find these in my size but if I could, I'd snatch them up in a heartbeat. Your shoes are a perfect way to add a touch of boldness to your outfit.

Source

What are your favorite Fall trends? Are you going to be into leopard like I am?

Bauble Bar Promo- $10 OFF!

2011-08-02T14:42:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I posted about one of my favorite Bracelet Stacks featuring a bracelet from Bauble Bar! I found out about this company through Twitter. One thing I noticed about them is their "company Twitter practices". We have all seen those company Twitter accounts that just promote their brand, don't reply to anyone, and just RT all the good things anyone says about them. The tweeter for Bauble Bar (who I met and is SO sweet!) actually interacts with people that talk to the brand. In addition to finding out about their latest additions to the site, they also tweet about general fashion drool worthy-ness. I'm a big fan of companies that listen to and interact with their customers, not just push products.

They are currently having a promo right now! Make an account and get $10 off your first purchase.

Their jewelry are a great way to have a unique, trendy piece without sacrificing the quality (ahem Forever 21). They are more expensive that the typical trend jewelry (F21, H&M) but they will last you much longer than those because they are made with quality materials!

Here are some pieces I'm eyeing (sorry the pics are so small, if I made them bigger the quality would be distorted):

Dazzle Bead Wrap

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Bead Quartz Wrap (omg their wrap bracelets are gorgeous!)

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Silver Pebble Studs

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Navy Cluster Bracelet

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They have free shipping on all orders over $30 and free returns! You can get a great deal on some cute pieces with this promo.

You can purchase this jewelry at http://baublebar.com

Have you ever purchased from Bauble Bar? Will you be taking advantage of this promo? What do you think of their jewelry?

Monday Bracelet Stack (one of my favorite combos!)

2011-08-01T14:33:00.003-04:00

Bracelet layering has been so in since the Spring! I love pairing a watch and bracelet (or braceletS-plural haha!). I know this blog is more beauty/polish but I thought I might throw in a fashion-y post here and there since I've been leaning towards that obsession lately. Let me know what you think of more fashion type posts! =]

My combo of the day:

left to right: Forever 21 turquoise bracelet, Bauble Bar champagne bracelet, Tiffany charm bracelet, GUESS watch

I love the combo of the color with a bit of neutral. The Bauble Bar bracelet was actually a sweet gift from when I went to visit their HQ office. I got to check out their gorgeous office (so much inspiration all around them!) and meet the person that tweets for them! (who is gorgeous!) I actually have a post coming up of a promo they're doing so stay tuned! Here is their site: http://baublebar.com

The turquoise bracelet is another favorite of mine, it brings a nice "pop" with a mix of blue and green. Each of these are my favorite pieces alone (such as my watch that I wear daily) and when I wear them together, it's extra wrist happiness!

Do you layer your bracelets? What are your favorite pieces to stack?

Dr.'s REMEDY Hot Hot Hot Summer Shades Collection (Review and Swatches)

2011-07-21T16:04:00.001-04:00

I was recently sent the Dr's REMEDY Hot Hot Hot Summer Shades collection. If that brand sounds familiar, I reviewed their Winter collection here. The premise behind the brand is that they have "clean, hypo-allergenic, anti-fungal ingredients" and are meant to be beneficial for your nails. Their polishes have a smooth formula overall and have Tea Tree Oil, Vitamins and Wheat Protein in them. This summer collection includes 5 gorgeous shades PERFECT for summer.

left to right: Nurture, Glee, Tranquil, Bold, Lovely

Nurture- This color is described as a nude pink and I would have to agree. It's a great nude for those of you obsessed with the nude polish trend for spring and summer! This is on the sheer side and was 3 coats.

Glee- This is a gorgeous champagney-gold. It's not a typical "yellow gold" type of color but is more of a champagne. This took 3 coats.

Tranquil- It is described as tangerine and that's one of the first things I thought of when I first saw it! It has a great brightness for summer and is a nice bold color. This was 3 coats.

Bold- I had to include a picture of just the bottle, look at it! It's so gorgeous!! It's like looking in a pool =]

Bold is described as a baby blue, but it has so much more depth than that! It's like an electric light blue. It's a truly beautiful color and my favorite from the whole collection. It also has a great formula, this was 2 coats.

On a little side note, I think the names of this and Tranquil should have been switched. Tranquil is more bold and Bold is more tranquil lol!

Lovely- this is described as a lavender, I think it's like a deep grey toned purple. This would be nicer in the fall/winter months for me but I know there are people that love wearing dark colors even in the summer. This applied nicely and took 2 coats.

This collection has a little bit of everything; nudes, bolds, darks. I think a lot of people can find something they like from this collection! My favorite would have to be Bold, for sure. I can't get over it's depth and stunning electricity. Also, the formula has great ingredients to helps improve the strength of your nails, a great added bonus!

Dr.’s REMEDY is sold online for $17 at www.remedynails.com.

What do you think of the Dr.'s REMEDY Hot Hot Hot Summer Shades Collection? Will you be picking any of these up?

Sally Hansen Barracuda Nail Polish (Swatch and Comparisons)

2011-07-17T16:50:00.000-04:00

Light blue nail polish seems to be everywhere for spring and summer. My Essie Borrowed and Blue post is one of my most popular blogposts! I found another popular light blue polish: Sally Hansen's Barracuda. This polish is part of the Tracy Reese collection, and seems to be quite hard to find. In this collection is also Delphinium (click here for my po st). Below is my video comparing three baby blues: Essie Borrowed and Blue, Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau, and Sally Hansen Barracuda. I am also having a giveaway on the Barracuda polish in the video. If you would like to enter, please do so in the comments of that video only.

Sally Hansen Barracuda

This color is a light blue, but as you will see it has a green undertone compared to the other polishes I will be comparing it to. The formula is a little finicky, watery yet thick. This swatch was 3 coats to get it opaque. Despite the effort to apply, the color is gorgeous and worth it.

Comparison:

left to right: Essie Borrowed and Blue, Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau, Sally Hansen Barracuda

Swatches: (left to right) Essie Borrowed and Blue, Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau, Sally Hansen Barracuda

As you can see, these polishes are all in the same family but are each different in their own way. Essie Borrowed and Blue is the lightest of the three, having a more white base. Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau is a darker, more vivid sky blue. Sally Hansen Barracuda is still a light blue but has more of a green undertone compared to the other two.

Do you own Sally Hansen Barracuda Nail Polish or the other polishes? What do you think of them? Will you be picking any of them up?

Wet n Wild Gilded Age Eyeshadow Trio (Swatches and Comparisons)

2011-07-15T12:10:00.000-04:00

Wet n Wild is quickly becoming one of my favorite drugstore brands. At such a low price point, their products sometimes beat higher end ones out of the water! They recently released a new eyeshadow trio, called Gilded Age. This trio has been hard to find so I thought I'd post some comparisons to help you all decide if you really do need to search for it, or if this is similar to what you already have!

Wet n Wild Gilded Age Eyeshadow Trio- The shades of this trio are the same quality as the other trios: smooth, creamy, pigmented, in a word...HEAVEN!

Swatches: (left to right) Browbone, Crease, Eyelid

Comparisons:

left to right: Gilded Age Browbone, Urban Decay Sin, Too Faced Silk Teddy, Stila Kitten

left to right: Gilded Age Crease, MAC Tempting, MAC Mulch, Milani Java Bean

left to right: Gilded Age Eyelid, Too Faced Honey Pot, Urban Decay Half Baked

If you do find this trio, I highly recommend picking it up! I believe people have been finding it at CVS and it retails for around $3.

Do you have the Wet n Wild Gilded Age Eyeshadow Trio? What do you think of it? Will you be picking it up?

July Birchbox

2011-07-13T13:38:00.001-04:00

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of Birchbox. If you haven't, it's basically a monthly makeup subscription service. You pay $10 and every month receive 4-5 deluxe makeup samples! I always find it exciting to see what's in everyone's box and open mine on camera. I have decided to do accompanying blog post to give a closer look into the box as the video is more of a first impression. Let me know if you guys like this idea!

Here is my video opening the box:

This month's box was curated by Cynthia Rowley. It came with a special sleeve around it with a gorgeous pattern.

Here is what the regular box looks like once you take off the sleeve.

The tissue in it is usually pink but this month it was light blue.

In every box, there is a card explaining the theme of the month. In this one they explain that Cynthia Rowley curated the box and talk more about her style.

On the back of the card is always a list of the products included, a little description, and how much the full size is.

Here is what was in my box: (clockwise, left to right) Zoya Polish in Shay, Redken Shine Flash, Ahava Mineral Hand Cream, Philosophy Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser, Kind Almond & Apricot Bar.

My thoughts:

Zoya Polish in Shay- We all know I'm a nail polish fanatic so seeing this polish in my Birchbox made me happy! This is one of their polishes from their nude collection. It's a gorgeous nude with a slight shimmer to it, making it unique from the other cream nudes we usually see.
Redken Shine Flash- I haven't tried this yet but it's an interesting product. It claims to be a finishing, shine spray. All I can tell you is that it smells like hairspray, but doesn't feel sticky on my hand.
Ahava Mineral Hand Cream- I have previously received another Ahava hand cream in one of my Birchboxes. It's a nice size cream to keep in your purse. It smells nice but not the BEST hand cream I've ever tried.
Philosophy Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser- I hear rave reviews about this product! People love using it, especially with the Clairosonic! (can that come in my Birchbox??) I haven't tried it yet but don't believe the claim that it will take off all your makeup AND cleanse your skin. I never use a cleanser to remove my makeup. I take off my makeup with a makeup remover (recently have been using the Bioderma one) and then cleanse my skin; that way I know all of the traces, dirt, etc. have been removed.
Kind Almond & Apricot Bar- This was the extra in the box. I was pleased to see something a little different in the box, other than makeup. I am currently on a health kick so I was happy to try this. It is DELICIOUS! It has the crunch from the almonds, sweetness from the apricot and honey, and has pieces of coconut that add an interesting texture/flavor to it. It was also filling, which is great for something to take on the go. It has 5g of fiber and 3g of protein, so very nutritious! It does have 12g of sugar, so be careful with these but overall, it was yummy and one of my favorites of the box.

You can subscribe to Birchbox at http://www.birchbox.com/.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? If so, what did you think of your box this month? If not, will you be checking it out?

Bath & Body Works Coconut Mango Smoothing Body Scrub Review

2011-07-12T15:20:00.002-04:00

I have officially found my holy grail summer scrub! It was love at first smell with Bath & Body Works Coconut Mango Smoothing Body Scrub. The smell is just as it might sound: mostly coconut with a hint of mango. The scent is perfect for summer and I'm sure that even in the winter, it will make me think of wonderful beaches!

Even the packaging is so summery and beachy. The scrub itself is great. It isn't too harsh and exfoliates the dead or dry skin wonderfully. I have had a few dry spots and the scrub got rid of them effortlessly!

Here is the actual texture of it, I hope you can see in the cap. I love that it's a squeeze tube so it is not messy and easily controllable.

Here is the scrub "swatched". The granules aren't too big and do a great job exfoliating my skin.

I highly recommend this scrub! It may be sold out in store after the sale but it is still available online for 50% off. You can purchase this scrub at Bath and Body Works online.

Have you tried the Bath & Body Works Coconut Mango Smoothing Body Scrub? What do you think of it? Will you be picking this scrub up?

MAC Styledriven Collection (Info and Wishlist)

2011-07-07T17:09:00.000-04:00

Did we really think MAC is just coming out with one HUGE Fall collection and that's it?? HAH! The Styledriven is filled with "Pro Longwear" products, a lot of which are new formulation. However, it is a big relief that all of these will be part of the Permanent collection. That means no rushing, scrambling, or panicking. We can safely wait for reviews and then get the items we want later.

My wishlist is in bold and pink, but it all depends on swatches, quality, etc.

MAC Styledriven Collection for Fall 2011

Launch Date: September 22nd, 2011 for U.S./Canada, October 2011 for International

Pro Longwear Lipcreme ($16.00 U.S. / $19.00 CDN) (Permanent)

To the Future! Mid-tone neutral pink with pearlized pigments (Frost)
So Very Good Mid-tone plum with pearlized pigments (Frost)
Dress It Up Light blue-pink (Cream)
Positively Dashing Mid-tone berry blue red (Cream)
Endless Drama Deep berry blue red (Frost)
Soulfully Rich Deep mid-tone purple with red pearlized pigments (Frost)
Soft Sell Light yellow-pink (Cream) (New & Permanent)
Till Tomorrow Mid-tone mauve (Cream) (Repromote)
Prolong True red with blue undertone and pearlized pigments (Frost) (Repromote)
Good to Go Loudmouth orange (Cream) (Repromote)
Love Forever Bright blue pink (Cream) (Repromote)
Extended Play Mid-tone red with yellow undertone (Cream) (Repromote)

Pro Longwear Lipglass ($TBA) (Permanent)

Ready or Not! Neutral light coral with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)
Driven by Love Red-blue with slight pearlized pigments
Dark as Night Deep mid-tone purple with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)
Lasting Achievement Mid-tone purple with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)
Infinitely Likeable Light pink (Cream)
Patience, Please Light pink-blue (Cream)
Whoops! Bright coral (Cream)
Full Speed Ahead Bright pink-magenta (Cream)
Show Me! Mid-tone neutral plum (Cream)

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil ($TBA) (Permanent)

Nice ‘n’ Spicy Pink cinnamon stick
Bittersweet Intense brown
Absolutely It Soft burgundy
Morning Coffee Mid-tone rose
What a Blast! Bright orange
Etcetera Creamy beige
Kiss Me Quick Yellow red
Staunchly Stylish Pinky beige
More to Love Intense bluish pink
In Anticipation Soft yellow pink

Pro Longwear Eyeshadow ($TBA) (Permanent)

Carefree Pale white gold (Frost)
Pink Frontier Soft golden pink (Frost)
Sunny Outlook Bright golden yellow (Satin)
Sweet Satisfaction Soft neutral beige (Frost)
One to Watch Light warm brown (Satin)
Lie Low Dark frosted golden brown (Frost)
Plush Vivid purple (Satin)
Thru the Night Deep navy (Frost)
Fresh Flare Bright kelly green (Frost)
Hot Paprika Mid-tone burnt red (Frost)
Tease with Ease Bright fuchsia (Frost)
Make Your Mark Dark chocolate (Satin)
Keep Your Cool Dark grey brown (Satin)
Legendary Black Warm almost black (Satin)
Weathered Dirty blue grey (Frost)
Styledriven Pale white blue (Frost)

Source

Are you excited for the MAC Styledriven Collection? What's on your wishlist?

MAC MAC Me Over Collection (Info and Wishlist)

2011-07-06T22:28:00.000-04:00

MAC has some pretty exciting things coming out for their Fall collections! I wanted to start out with the BIGGEST one! The MAC Me Over Collection is going to borken up into 3 displays, and will honestly require some saving! I have put my wish list in pink and bold. Of course, my final list will depend on swatches, quality, budget, etc.

MAC MAC Me Over Collection for Fall 2011

Launch Date: August/September 2011, TBA

Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)

Secret Lover Pale pink with yellow pearlized pigments (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
Peachstock Neutral peach (Satin) (Permanent at PRO)
Offshoot Mid-tone neutral pink (Cremesheen) (Limited Edition)
Oh, Oh, Oh Plum bronze with pearlized pigments (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
Rebel Vivid pinkish purple (Satin) (Permanent)
Prince Noir Deep blue-purple (Matte) (Limited Edition)
Smoked Purple Deep eggplant purple (Matte) (Permanent at PRO)
Runaway Red Rich red-blue (Satin) (Limited Edition)

Lipglass ($14.50 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)

Illicit Creamy neutral pink (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
Social Light Neutral pink with pearlized pigments (Limited Edition)
Curvaceous Light grey pink (Limited Edition)
Plum Fun Neutral plum with purple pearlized pigments (Limited Edition)
The Wee Coquette Naked neutral pink (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
Good Times Pale mauve (Limited Edition)
Spite Muted plum taupe brown (Permanent)

Lip Pencil ($13.00 U.S. / $15.00 CDN)

Spice Pink cinnamon stick (Permanent)
Chestnut Intense brown (Permanent)

Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad (Limited Edition)

Evil Eye Deep yellow grey (Matte)
Palace Pedigreed Deep berry with soft pink () (Repromote)
Spellcaster Blackened violet (Matte)
Moody Blackened green (Veluxe Pearl)

Lady Grey Eyeshadow Quad (Limited Edition)

All Races Cool light taupe mauve (Matte) (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
TendersmokeMuted silver lilac (Frost) (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
Lady Grey Light frosted green-grey (Satin) (Limited Edition)
Hazy DayMid-tone grey (Veluxe Pearl) (Limited Edition)

Eyeshadow ($14.50 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)

Creamy Bisque Mid-tone ivory with pearlized pigments (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Moleskin Nude brown (Matte) (Limited Edition)
Outre Mid-tone mustard (Matte) (Limited Edition)
Satin Taupe Taupe with silver shimmer (Frost) (Permanent)
Mythical Frosty copper red (Veluxe Pearl) (Limited Edition)
Carbonized Frosty dark brown (Veluxe Pearl) (Limited Edition)

Eye Kohl ($14.50 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)

Teddy Intense bronze (Permanent)
Smolder Intense black (Permanent)

Shadesticks ($17.00 U.S. / $21.00 CDN)

Butternutty Frosted light neutral (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
Cakeshop Frosted pewter (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
Tundra Icy silver (Limited Edition)
Heirloom Light icy pink (Limited Edition)
Street Cool Mid-tone grey violet taupe (Limited Edition)

Fluidline ($15.00 U.S. / $18.00 CDN)

Dark Diversion Darkened plum (Repromote) (Limited Edition)
Avenue Charcoal black with gold pearlized pigments (Limited Edition)
Midnight Blues Blackened blue (Limited Edition)
Dark Envy Blackened green (Limited Edition)

Nail Lacquer ($14.00 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)

Purple Majesty Deep purple (Cream) (Limited Edition)
Deep Sea Deep teal (Cream) (Limited Edition)
Quiet Time Beige nude (Cream) (Limited Edition)
Fatigues Army green (Cream) (Limited Edition)

Blush ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

Equilibrium Light bronze (Satin) (Limited Edition)
Stunner Light coral pink (Satin) (Limited Edition)

Cream Colour Base ($16.50 U.S. / $20.00 CDN)

Take Root Rich red brown (Limited Edition)
Seaside Soft peach rose (Limited Edition)

Brushes

211 Pointed Liner Brush ($TBA) (Permanent)
214 Short Shader Brush ($24.50 U.S. / $29.50 CDN) (Permanent)
226 Small Tapered Blending Brush ($TBA) (Limited Edition)

Source

PHEW! That's one big collection and one big wishlist! It has lots of exciting repromotes: shadesticks, the 226 brush, new neutral shadows... I was drooling reading through it all. =]

Are you guys as excited as I am for the MAC MAC Me Over Collection? What is on your wishlist?

Urban Decay Friends and Family Sale (25% OFF!)

2011-07-05T11:28:00.000-04:00

I wanted to let you guys know that Urban Decay is having a sale! It is 25% off everything EXCEPT the Naked Palette. It's kind of a bummer that you can't apply it to that palette but it is in stock for those that want to get it. The code for the sale is FFSUMMER11 and it ends Sunday, July 10th.

You can take advantage of this sale on http://www.urbandecay.com/. Happy Shopping!

Will you be participating in the Urban Decay Friends and Family Sale? What will you purchase?

Current Nail Polish: ORLY Flirty

2011-07-01T16:08:00.001-04:00

I recently received a belated birthday gift from my good friend Rita and of course it included a nail polish (what can I say, my friends know my addiction well!). The polish was ORLY Flirty. It is from a recent collection, Happy Go Lucky (love the name!) Flirty is perfect for summer, and is a nice twist on a hot pink. It is a hot pink, but has some purple/magenta undertones. Another thing that stands out from Flirty is the fine, silver shimmer in it. The camera doesn't quite pick it up but it gives a nice depth to the polish.

ORLY Flirty- It applies very well, 2 coats!

Do you own ORLY Flirty? What do you think of it? What's on your nails?

OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection Review and Swatches

2011-06-28T16:46:00.000-04:00

Recently I purchased a few of the polishes from the OPI OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection. For me, personally, this is more of a Fall collection. It has very subdued, muted, dusty colors. In the Spring and Summer I prefer brighter polishes. These would be perfect for Fall/Winter time! It's a very murky polish theme, I guess because pirates are murky? lol

Stranger Tides- This is a light, muted, yellow green. The formula is nice and applied evenly in 2 coats.

Mermaid's Tears- This is a dark green. It's more of a subdued sea foam green. Again, the formula is great and was opaque in 2 coats.

Silver Shatter (over Mermaid's Tears)- This is a silver crackle polish. To be honest, I'm a little crackled out! Crackle here, shatter there. There's so many companies coming out with crackles that there are plenty to choose from. This shatter isn't very opaque, which is my only con with it. I do like the effect of this, it adds some sparkly, especially to the more muted colors in this collection.

Have you picked anything up from the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection? How do you like it? Will you wear these colors in the Spring/Summer?

TAG: The Top 10 Award

2011-06-23T15:11:00.000-04:00

I was tagged by the absolutely sweet and amazing Nouveau Cheap tagged me for the Top 10 Award. I'm incredibly flattered and LOVE her! If you don't already follow her blog, why not?? (hehe) She posts only about drugstore makeup and not only does she help you find amazing affordable makeup, she'll suggest coupons and deals on how to make it MORE affordable. She's not only a sweet blogger but a great friend and I highly recommend you guys check her out if you don't already love her!

Before this turns into an "I love Nouveau Cheap" serenade, let's get onto the tag!

The Rules:

1) Link back to the person who tagged you

2) Nominate 10 other bloggers

3) List your 10 favorite beauty products

I nominate:

1) Silly Lilacs

2) 15 Steps then a Beauty Blog
3) Roamy Live
4) Ebrushka's Makeup Bag
5) Chi Chi
6) Lipstick Rules
7) Polish and Pearls
8) CocoBella

9) A Lady in Love

10) It's My Life

Please check out all of these blogs, I love reading each and every one of them!

My 10 favorite beauty products:

Nouveau Cheap put in this disclaimer and I will keep it since I agree!

(I have to put a disclaimer here: my favorite products are always changing and evolving, but currently these are my can't-live-without products; some of them have been holy grail products for years, while others are newer obsessions):

1) Too Faced Silk Teddy Eyeshadow

2) Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

3) Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

4) NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (my shade is Deauville)

5) Dermorganics Volume Foam

6) Cetaphil Cleanser

7) Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss in Peach Petal

8) Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner

9) Essie Van D'go Nail Polish

10) Wet n Wild Nutty Eyeshadow

Phew! That was so hard to choose not only just ten products but just ten bloggers. All of these products are things I love and keep going back to. I would even go as far as to call them essentials!

What are your favorite products? Do you have absolute essentials you reach for daily?

Current Polish: Sally Hansen Delphinium & Urban Outfitters Afterhours

2011-06-16T12:32:00.000-04:00

A sweet Twitter follower recently sent me the Sally Hansen polish in Delphinium that I have been searching for. This is from their Tracy Reese collection and is nowhere to be found! Thankfully Erinn spotted it and sent one to me. I did a manicure with this polish and an accent glitter nail!

left to right: Sally Hansen Delphinium, Urban Outfitters Afterhours

Sally Hansen Delphinium- This is a gorgeous dusty lavender with a bit of mauve to it. If you are tired of bright spring/summer colors, this is a great color to change it up! This was 2 coats.

I also added a glitter nail on my ring finger with Urban Outfitters Afterhours. I don't usually do an accent nail, lately I have been taking Nicole by OPI Make a Cometment and painting it over every nail. The Urban Outfitters polish seemed to match the Sally Hansen polish because it looks to have a purple tone to it. It's really a sheer, rainbow glitter and reminds me a bit of the Nicole by OPI, except the glitter particles are bigger. It also has some red/purple glitter, it's a nice multidimensional glitter.

Have you tried any of these polishes? If so, how do you like them? What's on your nails right now?

Sigma F80 Giveaway WINNER

2011-06-09T14:09:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my Sigma F80 Giveaway! I loved reading all of your entries. I have chosen a winner through random.org.

Congratulations, Neny!!

I have already emailed the winner to the email she provided so Neny, please reply back with your address as soon as you can.

Thank you again to everyone that entered! I wish I could give all of you a prize. =]

WetnWild Comfort Zone Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches

2011-06-06T13:05:00.000-04:00

If you saw my rave review about the WetnWild Walking on Eggshells post or heard me mention WetnWild's Nutty eyeshadow 500,000 times, you can probably guess that I love WetnWild eyeshadows. I think the quality and pigmentation is amazing and one of the best products I have tried (not just in the drugstore!). Today I have a review and some swatches of the Comfort Zone Eyeshadow Palette. Here is my review and giveaway video on this palette:

Please enter only in the comments of the video.

The eyeshadow palette is absolutely amazing. The pigmentation is the same creamy, soft consistency of shadows that are in their trios. I love that the consistency is consistent throughout the palette. Sometimes palettes have some shadows that are crappy/not very pigmented but this palette does not have a single dud. The colors are neutral, earthy toned so I was all over it. Not only are there neutral colors, but there are some green toned ones in case you want to do a colored look too.

WetnWild Comfort Zone Eyeshadow Palette

earth tones galore!

Swatches (as they appear in each row in the order of the palette, left to right):

Browbone colors

Eyelid colors

Crease colors

Definer colors

I highly recommend this palette and WetnWild shadows in general. You can find the 8-pan palettes at Walgreens for $5.

Have you purchased any of the WetnWild 8-pan Eyeshadow Palettes? What do you think of them? Will you be picking up the Comfort Zone Palette?

MAC Haul: Surf Baby and Permanent (Swatches and Comparisons)

2011-06-03T13:29:00.000-04:00

I recently took advantage of a 20% off birthday coupon to Henri Bendel and treated myself to some MAC goodies. I picked up a few things from the Surf Baby collection and from their permanent range.Here is my haul video followed by some swatches and comparisons:

First up are the Surf Baby items, I only bought 2 eyeshadows.

left to right: Short Shorts, Swell Baby

swatches: (left to right) Short Shorts, Shroom, Nylon

Short Shorts is almost identical to Nylon! (oops)

swatches: (left to right) Swell Baby, Groundcover (from Fashion Flower), Bough Grey (from Liberty of London)

I also picked up some items from the permanent range that I have been eyeing.

left to right: All That Glitters, Quarry

swatches: (left to right) All That Glitters, Quarry

left to right: Oyster Girl Lipglass, Pink Lemonade Lipglass

swatches: (left to right) left to right: Oyster Girl Lipglass, Pink Lemonade Lipglass

I'm pretty happy with everything I got! They are definitely colors that I will get a lot of use out of.

By the way, don't forget to check out my Sigma F80 brush giveaway!

Have you picked anything up from the MAC Surf Baby collection? What do you think of it? What are your favorite MAC items?

Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush Review and GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]

2011-06-01T15:56:00.004-04:00

I have a very exciting post today, a review of the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush AND a giveaway for one of you! This is actually my first blog giveaway so I am so excited to give back to you wonderful readers. I have heard about the Sigma F80 brush from many Youtubers raving about it. When I was given the opportunity to try the brush and potentially do a giveaway with one, I jumped at the chance! I not only knew that I wanted to try this raved about product, but the fact that I could do a giveaway sealed the deal. Now that I have had about 2 months to try it, here's my verdict: I LOVE IT! Stay tuned for the giveaway further down!

I have been using the F80 with my NARS Sheer Glow foundation. I was previously only using my fingers for this foundation. After using this brush for the first time, I found that it is quicker to use my hands and that the brush takes a bit more time. However, the brush gave a bit of a more natural look with the foundation.After the first few times It did not soak up any of the product as some brushes might do. The edges of the brush are also great for precise areas of the face like around my nose. If I wanted to add concealer to any blemishes, I patted it in with the brush and it worked great!

I use this brush with a downward motion mainly. I dot on the foundation throughout my face and then use the brush to blend it in. The flexiblility of the brush also allows me to easily spread it down my jawline to blend the color down. I also found this brush worked better at applying the foundation to my forehead than my fingers. I have combination/oily skin and my forehead gets dry. The F80 helped the foundation glide along the dry skin without catching on any dryness.

Pictures:

Behold the magical foundation brush!

Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki - F80

I have been keeping this brush in my on the go makeup bag and usually the MAC brush label would have started to wear off, but this one is intact! Also, it is synthetic hair, which is great for those of you that do not prefer to use animal hair brushes.

This is what the actual brush looks like. It is dark haired mostly and then white on top. Usually it is white but mine has gotten lots of use!

It is a pretty dense brush without being too dense. It has a perfect amount of give without being floppy.

The face brush also comes with a brush guard which I have been loving. Since it has been in my on the go makeup bag, the brush guard has helped it retain its shape and not get squashed by the other products in the bag.

You can purchase this brush through Sigma Beauty for $16.

Sigma was generous enough to also offer one for a giveaway for one of you guys to win the F80 brush. After I tried the brush and fell in love with it, I HAD to do one! I knew there was an option to do a giveaway when I got the brush but I had to make sure I liked it first. Now that I love the brush, I absolutely want to do a giveaway with it!

Giveaway [GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!]:

One reader will win the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush. Sigma will be shipping the prize.

Since this is my first giveaway, I borrowed Nouveau Cheap's method of entry for her giveaways with her permission. Thank you, G!

RULES:

1. Giveaway begins today, June 1, 2011 and ends Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 11 PM EST.

2.. If you are under the the age of 18, make sure you have parental permission to give your address to Sigma in case you win.

3. There will be 3 ways to enter, each way counts as an entry for a MAXIMUM of 3 entries per person. Please include which of the entries you have done in one comment!

Entry #1: Leave a comment and tell me why you would like to win the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush.
Entry #2: Be a follower of the blog through Google Friend Connect. The link is on the right hand side of my blog under Followers, located under the Categories section. I should be able to see you in the list.
Entry #3: Follow me on twitter @cutegingerbread and tweet the following: "Enter to win a Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush from @cutegingerbread http://bit.ly/kHnj80 " Please include your twitter name in the comment.

4. Leave your email address in the comment so that I can contact you if you win.

5. Giveaway will be open Internationally to all readers.

Good luck to those entering!

FTC: I received this brush for free through the Sigma Affiliate Program and this post includes an affiliate link through the program, which anyone can enter. The brush that is being sent to the winner is being provided by Sigma. I truly love this brush and even though I received it for free, I would not give it a positive review and agree to give one away unless I did really like it.

Birthday Face and Outfit of the Day

2011-05-30T13:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was my birthday and I wanted to thank all of you that wished me a happy birthday on twitter and youtube! I really appreciate your sweet wishes!! I went out with my family and went for a casual yet cute look. I haven't posted my looks since the March and April challenges so I thought it'd be a nice occasion to do one.

Products used:

-Murad Oil Control Lotion
-UDPP (base for undereye concealer)
-Benefit Erase Paste (under eye concealer)
-NARS Sheer Glow in Deauville
-NYC Smooth Skin Powder in Translucent (to set foundation)
-Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer
-NARS Madly

Products used:

-UDPP
-MAC All That Glitters (lid)
-MAC Quarry (crease)
-MAC Mulch (outer corner)
-NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk (inner corner base)
-Urban Decay Virgin (inner corner)
-Jordana Fabuliner Eyeliner (upper lashline liner)
-Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner (waterline)
-NYX Black (to set liner)
-Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
-L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

-Top: Express
-Jeans: Levi's
-Flats: Sam Edelman Calypso Flats
-Watch: Guess
-Bracelet: Tiffany's
-Earrings: LV
-Nails: Essie Van D'Go

That's my look for the day! Hope you are all having a great Memorial Day Weekend and please take time to remember and thank our troops =]

Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment Nail Polish Combinations

2011-05-25T18:33:00.000-04:00

Since I am currently obessed with the Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment polish, I thought I would show you guys some combinations with this amazing nail polish. Here is my original post on the polish. In this post, I wanted to show you guys how gorgeous the polish looks over a variety of colors and texture.

I am also doing a giveaway with Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment on my YouTube channel and the video is below. Please enter in the video comments only.

left to right: Essie Topless and Barefoot, Essie Lilacism, Zoya Charla, Sally Hansen Black Out

Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment Nail Polish over top: (left to right) Essie Topless and Barefoot, Essie Lilacism, Zoya Charla, Sally Hansen Black Out

This amazing effect is so hard to capture on camera! Feel free to click on the picture to see it up close.

Have you picked up the Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment Nail Polish? What do you think of it?

Free Zoya Summer Polish!! (Today Only!)

2011-05-24T13:43:00.000-04:00

Sheesh Zoya has one promo after another! Right now, Tuesday only, they have a promo code for a FREE nail polish from their Summertime, Sunshine, or ModMattes summer collections. To get the free polish, pick one color from those collections, add it to your cart, and enter code SUMMER1. All you pay is shipping.

Fine print:

*Online only, cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or coupon. US ONLY. Promotion ends TUESDAY May 24, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST. Offer good for 1(one) free bottle of open stock .5 oz bottle from the Zoya Summertime, Zoya Sunshine or ModMatte Collections ONLY. Code: SUMMER1 must be entered in order to obtain discount. Art of Beauty Inc. will not honor promotions that are submitted after promotion has ended - No exceptions. No exchanges. No returns. Worst case scenario please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Comments, videos and pictures posted about this Zoya Nail Polish Offer outside of Zoya.com or zoyanailpolish.blogspot.com are not representative of the opinions of Zoya Nail Polish, Art of Beauty, Inc., Qtica and Qtica Smart Spa and we do not confirm the accuracy of any postings. Customers are responsible for maintaining active accounts. If username or password have been lost we (Art of Beauty, Inc.) are not responsible for restoring accounts or giving out any account information. S/H not included.

Last summer promo, I bought Rica and Faye and I love those colors! I am thinking of getting Apple.

Will you be participating in this Free Zoya Summer Polish Promo? What polish will you get?

Tips on How To Stay Healthy

2011-05-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

I know this isn't on the same topic as my usual beauty/makeup posts but I thought I would share some tips on how to stay healthy! If you follow me on twitter, you probably know that I have joined Weight Watchers almost 2 months ago. I am so happy with my decision and have been thinking of whether I should start a blog or channel focusing on my journey, tips, etc. (Let me know which you prefer please!) I tweeted about a week ago and asked what were your favorite health tips were. I have learned some on my WW journey too so I wanted to compile a list of the responses and my tips. Of course since I have so much to share, I may or may not (ok, I will) add in a bit to the responses I received!

1. emoney429 recommended to "drink lots of water". Sometimes when you are thirsty this feels like hunger. I try to stay hydrated throughout the day and if I am hungry to drink a bottle of water and then see if I was truly hunger or just thirsty.

2. She also recommended "eating a lot of fiber". I definitely agree with this (as does Weight Watchers!). Fiber rich foods help satisfy you longer so you are not hungry an hour later.

3. narsaddict is a fellow Weight Watchers member. She recommended "watch your portions, eat 5 small meals a day, drink lots of water, excerise, and don't deprive yourself." These are definitely things that Weight Watchers teaches and I agree with them. Not only are these things that help you be successful during weight loss, but these are lifestyle benefits too!

Warnings:

Weight loss and staying healthy isn't all about encouragement of good, healthy foods, but it is also important to watch out for things that are not as healthy as they may seem.

1. Meadowlea says, "don't restrict yourself completely! Reward yourself every so often. You'll burn out quick by depriving yourself too much." I completely agree! I think this is why a lot of "diets" fail. Once you tell yourself that you can't have something, that's all you may want! It is important to leave room for indulgences. As a health psychology teacher of mine said, "If I ignore my chocolate craving, a week later I'll eat the whole cake". It's perfectly ok to treat yourself to a small piece once in a while. Just don't treat yourself too much! ;)

2. Meadow also claims, "Don't be fooled by "organic" or "natural" labels; do your research! Those labels can be tricksy! ;)" Food labels and claims are not regulated by the government! The companies have to put nutritional info but if they decide to slap on an "organic" label, they can do so even though it's not! I recommend always glancing at the ingredient list and nutritional value.

3. susyxxxx warns, "definitely do NOT skip meals.... 5 small meals a day is ideal - then your body won't go into 'starvation mode' ". This is so important to keep in mind. Our bodies are designed to get nutrients from food, once they see there aren't nutrients coming in, they try to save all they can and not let them go. It may seem like a good idea to skip a meal and then you don't have the calories but in the end, you may end up being hungry and then overeat. The 5 small meals is a great idea! I personally have 3 regular meals and 2 snacks (usually fruit) but the 5 small meals keeps you from getting hungry often.

4. narsaddict says, "certain juices have tons of sugar be careful. with crackers make sure they are not high in sugar or salt. also its better to eat regular fruit then dry." These seemingly "healthy" items may be packed full of added ingredients, such as sugar or salt, to "add taste". It is always better to go to the fresh, unprocessed route. Instead of banana chips, go for the actual banana!

My additions:

All the ladies added great points and I couldn't have said them better! I would add:

1. Be wary of "fat free" items. Usually they may be fat free but other ingredients have been added, such as sugar or salt.

2. Drink lots and lots of WATER! As mentioned, water is great to hydrate your body without adding the sugar or flavorings of other drinks. Your body NEEDS it and will be happy to receive it.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. These make great snacks in the middle of the day and have lots of vitamins and nutrients.

4. Lastly, don't look at it as a chore! If you feel like you're forcing yourself to do all these things when all you want is a big pizza, the change won't last long. I view Weight Watchers as encouraging a lifestyle change, rather than a fad diet that is drastic. This is how I view all these tips; it's something I want to implement throughout my life, not just while I hope to lose weight. Once you start eating healthier and being a little more active, this is what you start craving (personal experience, everyone is different, etc.).

Thank you for reading these tips! Please let me know if you like these posts and if you would like to see a health channel/blog. =]

What are your favorite weight loss tips? How do you stay healthy?

Zoya Polish Exchange Haul and Swatches

2011-05-22T16:57:00.000-04:00

I recently participated in the Zoya Polish Exchange. Zoya does this every year for Earth Day, here is my post on the details. I like Zoya Polishes overall, here are swatches of my collection (pre-this year's polish exchange). I think this is a great promo that they run and it's for a great cuase, supporting green practices to be easier on our Earth. I also purchased the Zoya Remove +, my favorite nail polish remover, for my mom, and the Zoya Anchor Base Coat.

Here is my haul video (with some other polishes!):

left to right: Dove, Happi, Renee, Crystal, Dannii, Julieanne

Dove- As the name suggests, it's a dove grey. Great application, this was two coats.

Happi- This is such an interesting color, a pink with gold/green duochrome. This was 2 coats.

Renee-A raspberry pink, it dries pretty matte. This was also two coats. I think this would look great on the toes!

Crystal- a gorgeous metallic blue with gold shimmer. This was the sheerest of the polishes I got, it was 3 coats. The color combination makes it look like a night sky!

Dannii- A medium purple with gold shimmer. This was 2 coats.

Julieanne- This would be a nice fall/winter color. It is a deep purple with purple shimmer. I believe it was three coats.

I think I have more Zoya polishes than any other brand thanks to their promos!

Did you participate in the Zoya Polish Exchange? What polishes did you get? What are your favorite Zoya polishes?

Product Rave: Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment

2011-05-19T14:16:00.002-04:00

I recently purchased a polish that I have been OBSESSED with! On a Target trip I came across Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment. At first I thought it was just a holographic polish but when I looked at the brush, I saw that it was a sheer, holographic glitter! This is an amazing layering polish and now I just want to put it on top of everything. I will have to do a post with swatches of this color layered over a variety of colors and finishes (I'm that obsessed lol) Feel free to click on the pictures to see the holo close up!

Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment

amazing holo!

Currently, I am wearing this over a sheer, pinky nude polish: Wet n Wild's Sugar Coat. Nouveau Cheap made a post about this being a dupe for OPI's Bubble Bath. Here is her post.

Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment over Wet n Wild Sugar Coat

I love this combination of a nude polish with the holo effect sprinkled over it! I can't wait to try the Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment polish with other polishes.

I highly recommend this polish. It's different than any other layering glitter because it has small glitter particles that have a holographic effect. I believe this is a Target exclusive shade. You can find it at Target stores, Target online, Amazon, and Ebay (except it's like $14 with shipping on ebay eek!)

Will you be picking Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-ment up? Do you already have it? What do you think of it?

NYX COSMETICS ANNIVERSARY SALE!! (Today Only!)

2011-05-15T13:07:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share with you guys that NYX is having a HUGE anniversary sale in a few hours! This is for only 12 hours, 12PM PST- 12AM PST, starts 3PM EST! I don't want you guys to miss out on the great deals so I wanted to share this BEFORE it starts (better late than never! This sale looks huge and has so many NYX products on sale and I predict people will be scrambling to make their purchases and things may sell out. So many items are only $1.20!

Here's some more info:

Source

My recommendations: I LOVE their single shadows, One Night in Morroco Palette (not sure if that's on sale), and their Mega Shine Lipglosses. NYX has a preview of the sale on their Facebook Page in the "Store" section.

You can shop the amazing sale at http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/ starting 12PM PST. Happy shopping!

Are you excited for the sale? Did you pick anything up? What did you purchase?

I LUV BBW CLUB- Bath and Body Works Freebies!

2011-05-12T15:24:00.000-04:00

If you were lucky enough to sign up for the I LUV BBW CLUB back in December, you received a magical freebie card! This card let you get Bath and Body Works Freebies once a month on Thursdays. These freebies included travel candles, pocket bacs, and travel sized signature items. No purchase was necessary! It was a very exciting program that just ended in May. We have all been waiting for another sign up (DUH, who doesn't like freebies?) and I THINK here it is. I'll explain in a bit.

Source
I was so excited when Free Sample Freak blogged about an opportunity to call a number and be put on a list for the renewal of the I LUV BBW CLUB card! As I mentioned, this is a great program of freebies and of course I would not mind more. Here is Free Sample Freak's post. Also, Nouveau Cheap did a blogpost about this. Here is Nouveau Cheap's post.

Here is what Free Sample Freak said about the sign up:

"As of right now the only way to sign up for the next round is to call the following number: 1-800-756-5005, let them know that you are interested in signing up for the next I Luv BBW Rewards Club (it’s FREE)! They will take your name, address, etc. and you will be guaranteed to get an invite for the next round once it starts!"
Source

When I called that number to say I wanted to sign up for the I LUV BBW CLUB, I was given a Customer Relations number and it seems that everyone was transferred to. The number is 1-800-395-1001. Call in and press 0 for Customer Relations. You may have to wait on hold a while, about 15 minutes. When the person picks up, you ask about the Club and they take your name, address, and email.

There is some debate about whether this will guarantee you a sign up, if it is a waiting list, or if there is no promo at all. Different people received different responses. The person I talked to said that this was a list that if there was a renewed club, the people would be contacted by email. Nouveau Cheap and Free Sample Freak talked to people that said there WAS a club and this guarantees you a sign up. I don't know which answer is right but in my opinion, it never hurts to just sign up! Also, I have heard that you get a coupon for giving your info so if anything, you get a discount!

I wish there was a way for us to know for sure if this is a sign up or not but this is all the info I can give you! The club was amazing last time so I HAD to spread the word about anything I heard about a renewal. If I hear more news I will be sure to spread the word!

Did you call the sign up line? What was your experience?

The Makeup Tag!

2011-05-10T16:38:00.001-04:00

I was looking for some blog tags to do since I am behind of blog posts and stumbled across this one from Caribbean Beauty Blogger. I guess you can say I tagged myself! I love beauty tags and though this one had some interesting questions. =]

1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup? Around 15 I discovered eyeliner!

2. How did you get into makeup? I picked up a love of eyeliner from one of my friends but I didn't get into makeup as I am now until I discovered the beauty community on YouTube.

3. What are some of your favorite brands? MAC, WetnWild, Revlon, Bare Escentuals. I love so many different products from different brands that I do not have just one favorite.

4. What does makeup mean to you? I think it's a great way to not only enhance one's beauty but to express creativity. I love discovering new products and new combinations. I also love that it's something that unites people all over the world. We all bond and share based on this one thing and I love that we can all meet people through this hobby!

5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be? eyeliner, mascara, concealer, lip balm

6. What is your favorite thing about makeup? That it's a way to express my creativity.

7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup? I think if I find a great product, it's a great product regardless of brands. There are some amazing products for a low cost (Wet n Wild) and it makes me look at higher end companies like they need to step their game up!

8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner? Find what works for YOU and not necessarily what is a group favorite. There are a lot of products that people rave about that might not suit you and that's perfectly fine. Also, practice!

9. What is one makeup trend you never understood? Drawn on brows, not flattering!

10. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube? I LOVE IT! I have been making videos for almost 2.5 years and I'm so happy I can share this passion with others. It's a great way for women (and men!) to bond and inspire each other! I have met so many great people through YouTube and am so proud to be a member. =]

Thank you so much for reading! I tag all of you to do this!

Current Polish: Essie Tart Deco (swatch and comparison)

2011-05-05T16:33:00.000-04:00

I am fully ready for spring and have found an amazing spring color! Essie Tart Deco is a pinky orange coral. As I'm sure a lot of you know, coral's a very in for spring and summer. This is definitely a nice polish for those of you that are new to the trend. It has some pink tones in it that keeps it from being plain orange.

Tart Deco applied pretty smoothly, this is two coats.

I wanted to compare it to China Glaze Peachy Keen but I think I sold that in a blog sale (and apparently don't miss it). From what twitter followers have said, Peachy Keen is more orange. I have Essie Haute as Hello to compare it to. Haute as Hello is a strange color, as you can see in the bottle is a light peach but on the top where it seems to have separated and is darker, that is the color it comes out!

Index and ring fingers- Essie Tart Deco

Middle and pinky fingers- Essie Haute as Hello

Essie Tart Deco is a nice addition to my collection, especially since I am new to corals/oranges. I bought this at a local beauty supply store but you can also find it online.

Will you be picking up Essie Tart Deco? Do you already own this polish? What do you think of it?

MAC Fashion Flower Collection Haul (Swatches & Comparisons)

2011-05-03T11:38:00.000-04:00

I have missed the excitement of new MAC collections! The Fashion Flower had some times that I was excited to get and when it was launched online, I snatched the three items up. I purchased the Fresh Daisy and Groundcover eyeshadows and Ever Hip Lipstick. Here is my haul video and below are some swatches and comparisons:

Hello, MAC haul!

The two eyeshadows I got: (left to right) Fresh Daisy, Groundcover

These shadows have the standard black MAC pot packaging but the actual product is imprinted with a flower design.

swatches: (left to right) Fresh Daisy, Shroom, Nylon, UD Virgin

Swatches: (left to right) Groundcover, Copperplate, Mystery

I also picked up Ever Hip lipstick. This is one of the most popular items of the collection so if you want it, GET IT! It's a gorgeous pinky-coral.

Swatches: (left to right) Ever Hip, Revlon's Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef. This shows how pink of a coral Ever Hip is compared to the orange coral of Coral Reef.

Ever Hip Lipstick on the lips (still getting the hang of lip swatches)

I am very happy with my small purchase from Fashion Flower. My favorite product that I bought has to be Ever Hip! It is gorgeous on the lips and I highly recommend it! I am new to coral lips and was afraid it would be orange but it's a ot more wearable if you're like me and used to pink lip colors. My second favorite is Groundcover. It is a grey taupe color and I don't have anything exactly like it. I do love Fresh Daisy but it is my least favorite because it is almost exactly like Nylon.

What did you think of the MAC Fashion Flower Collection? Did you purchase anything? If so, please share your haul!