MAC Heroine Lipstick Available Now Online!

If you follow MAC via social media, chances are you've heard the news by now but, for those that haven't, one of MAC's most famous lipsticks is not only making a much needed and wanted comeback, it is now slated to join the permanent line! I'm talking about the gorgeous, in your face violet known as Heroine. This lipstick made its first debut with MAC's Reel Sexy collection last year and made another appearance in April of this year with Fashion Sets. I think I can speak for most of us when I say, we definitely haven't gotten our fill of this shade yet! Luckily, she's back just in time for the holidays.

As of this morning, Heroine is now available on the website! Get yours before it sells out!

Use code FAST for free second day shipping

Available online December 16th. In stores January 2nd. (US)

 Arriving in stores March 2014 (International)

www.maccosmetics.com

Much love xo

Ulta Under $30 Holiday Gift Guide

The countdown officially begins and we now have less than two weeks before Christmas (is it just me or does December 1st seem like it was just yesterday?) but, if you're anything like myself, you're still in the midst of holiday hubbub and shopping. We all know that sometimes curve balls can be thrown our way so what happens when you've picked out the ultimate gift for someone and it sells out? Or maybe you just have that one person in your life that is almost impossible to shop for, yet you want to give them more than a gift card? While gift cards are wonderful and they are the safest route, I'm sure we all enjoy personally picking out gifts and watching our loved ones faces light up.

To ease the mountain of stress that is holiday shopping, I've created two gift guides (Ulta & Sephora) for the beauty lover in your giftee (and yourself!). My goal was to not only provide a list that was wallet friendly but to also find products that provided a lot of options and that's why 90% of this list are sets, that way not only does this usually mean greater savings but this way, your giftee is bound to find something that they love.

As always, before giving any gifts, especially food items, make sure that the person receiving your present isn't allergic to certain ingredients. We all want to surprise our loved ones but not at the cost of a hospital visit, when in doubt, always ask!

Keep in mind that A LOT of the items on this list are on sale right now but I've listed the non sale prices.


Ulta $5.00 off $10.00 coupon
(Valid now until December 24th)

Happy gift hunting!

Real Techniques Brush Sets
$17.99 - $19.99

Smashbox Wondervision Travel Brush Set
$19.00

Japonesque Complexion Trio
$25.00

Stila Tools Of The Trade
$28.00

The Body Shop Perfumes
$12.00 - $22.00

Philosophy Mini Purse Sprays
$15.00 ea.

Clinique Mini's
$15.00 - $30.00

Calvin Klein Mini's
$17.00 - $20.00

Coach Rollerballs
$22.00 - $25.00

Estee Lauder Mini's
$24.00 - $30.00

Dolce & Gabbana Rollerballs
$25.00 - $27.00

NYX Love In Rio Eyeshadow Trio
$5.99

NYX Love In Paris Eyeshadow Palette
$9.99

NYX Enchanted Kiss Butter Gloss Set
$9.99

Ahava Bright & Merry
$10.00

BareMinerals 4 Pc Gift For Lips & Eyes
$10.00





Ulta 13 Piece Makeup Bag
$12.99

Stila Portrait Of A Perfect Cheek
$16.00

Stila Portrait Of A Perfect Lip
$16.00

Urban Decay Travel Trio
$19.00

Smashbox Try It Kit
$19.00

Tarte Thoughtful Treasures Best Sellers Kit
$19.00

NYX Haute Jersey Leopard Couture Palette
$19.99

Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings
$20.00

Ulta Fabulous Favorites Collection
$20.00

BareMinerals Smokey & Sultry
$20.00

Smashbox Wondervision Lip Gloss Set
$24.00

Lorac Rockin Red Hot Mini Lip Gloss Collection
$24.00

Ulta Just In Case Blockbuster
$24.99

NYX Butt Naked Eye Color Kit
$24.99

Urban Decay Naked Basics
$27.00

Benefit The Sizzlin Six
$27.00

NYX Makeup Artist Kit
$29.99

Ulta Get Ready For The Party Color Collection

$30.00

Ulta Perfect Wink Collection
$30.00





Ulta Cylinder Bath Set
$14.00

Earth Therapeutics Hello Kitty Katnap Set
$15.00

Pacifica Take Me There Set

$18.00

Earth Therapeutics Microwavable Neck Pillow

$20.00

The Body Shop Shea Shower, Scrub, & Soften Collection
$20.00

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Shower, Scrub, & Moisture Kit
$20.00

Philosophy My Heart To Yours
$24.00

Earth Therapeutics Hello Kitty Travel Set
$25.00

H20 Plus All Is Bright Purifying Sea Salt Spa Trio
$30.00





OPI Cheers To The Holidays 4 Pc Mini Set
$12.95

OPI San Francisco Mini Collection
$12.95

Essie 2013 Winter Collection Cube
$17.00

Butter London Double Take 2 Pc Set
$24.00

Earth Therapeutics Foot Doctor Pedicure Kit
$24.99

Butter London Backstage Basics
$29.00

Red Carpet Manicure Must Haves Kit
$29.99





Much love xo

Don't forget to enter my holiday giveaway!

MAC Retro Matte Collection Swatches

"Inspired by Ruby Woo's overwhelming popularity and one-of-a-kind texture, MAC introduces new bold shades in its Retro Matte finish. Eye-catching colours like Dangerous and All Fired Up create a look that's fiercely feminine. MAC also premieres Pro Longwear Lip Pencils in a vibrant colour palette, giving this long-lasting and transfer-proof lip pencil an exhilarating makeover."

As you lovelies know, I am a complete and utter sucker for a good matte lip so, for MAC to release an entire matte collection is seriously one of the best things I could ask for! I ventured to my local MAC the day of release (September 12th) to get my paws on a couple of new lipsticks as well as to get swatches of everything; I ended up purchasing a few goodies by the names of, Fixed On Drama, All Fired Up, and the iconic Ruby Woo. 

Admittedly, I was a complete retro matte noob before this date, I had never tried the formula before but I must say it is to die for! It. does. not. budge. and coupled with my trusty Prep + Prime makes for some seriously bulletproof lip wear. If you enjoy a super matte lip, definitely do not hesitate to give this finish a try.

I will be posting full reviews of my new lipsticks very soon but, until then, enjoy the swatches!

L to R lipsticks: All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous, Dangerous, Fixed On Drama, Relentlessly Red, Runway Hit, & Ruby Woo (Steady Going was missing from the display).

T to B pencils: More To Love, High Energy, Fashion Boost, In Anticipation, Dynamo, Trust In Red, Shock Value, Kiss Me Quick

Even though I didn't purchase any of the lip pencils, I can already see that these babies are FANTASTIC; I put a bit of elbow grease into removing the swatches and some of the shades still left a faint stain.

September 12th was also the release date for the new Viva Glam 1 lipglass so I ended up swatching it as well.

Now, as I said in my Retro Matte press release post, there is still a huge discrepancy over what is limited edition and what's permanent in this collection. I've heard everything from nothing being limited and everything being permanent to only certain shades being limited and back again. Even MAC officials are giving conflicting information depending on who you ask, but as of right now, the MAC website has listed Steady Going, Runway Hit, Fixed On Drama, and Fashion Boost as being limited edition.

Check out the collections here & here

Lipsticks: $15.00 US/ $18.00 CDN

Pro Longwear Pencils: $19.50 US/ $23.00 CDN

Much love xo

MAC Viva Glam I - The Original Collection

From the MAC Website:

"The original VIVA GLAM girl is back! Fabulous, chic and utterly outrageous. The electric RuPaul, first face of VIVA GLAM in 1994, now returns with her sexy signature burgundy red Lipstick and a new Lipglass, universal in glamour and appeal."

If you're a fan of MAC, then chances are you've heard of their famous Viva Glam series. Since 1994, MAC has created ten Viva Glam additions. Nineteen years and a plethora of celebrities like Cindi Lauper, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Boy George, and currently Nicki Minaj; it seems that Viva Glam is going strong and here to stay. Now, if you haven't heard of the line, you may be wondering just what the difference is between this and any other MAC release. Well, Viva Glam is more than just pretty shades of lipstick and lipglass; along with the line comes the MAC Aids Fund. With every Viva Glam purchase, 100% of the sale price goes to helping those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. You can find out more about this cause here.

Even though I am a sucker for a red lip, I never got around to trying VG 1 (or any other VG for that matter) outside of a hand swatch on one of my MAC adventures, so the most I can say is that it is a gorgeous satiny red.

I like that MAC is bringing back one of their "originals" as whether you are a new MAC lover or you and the brand go way back, this is a way for the company to not only introduce a new product but it is also giving one of their most iconic products a much needed reboot. With the steady stream of collections and products that MAC releases every year, it can be hard to keep up with the classics.

 It wouldn't be a proper collection unless we got to see a new product so with the re-promote of the VG 1 lipstick comes the new VG 1 lipglass. I have yet to try one myself but from what I've heard of the MAC Lipglasses, they are rich, pigmented, glosses that can be opaque on their own or used to add an extra pop to a lipstick. Whether you love red lips or you just love the fabulous RuPaul, these two products definitely might be worth purchasing, and the best part is, all the while you will have helped a great cause.

Viva Glam 1: $15.00

Lipstick - Brownish Cool Red (Matte) (Re-promote/Permanent)

Lipglass - Brownish Cool Red

Available now online

Available in stores September 12th


www.maccosmetics.com    www.macaidsfund.org

Much love xo

MAC Retro Matte Collection - Available Now

From the MAC Website:

"Inspired by Ruby Woo's overwhelming popularity and one-of-a-kind texture, MAC introduces new bold shades in its Retro Matte finish. Eye-catching colours like Dangerous and All Fired Up create a look that's fiercely feminine. MAC also premieres Pro Longwear Lip Pencils in a vibrant colour palette, giving this long-lasting and transfer-proof lip pencil an exhilarating makeover."

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

Steady Going - Light Pink (Retro Matte)

Runway Hit - Light Nude (Retro Matte)

Dangerous - Orange-y Red (Retro Matte)

Relentlessly Red - Bright Pinkish Coral (Retro Matte)

All Fired Up - Bright Fuchsia (Retro Matte)

Flat Out Fabulous - Bright Plum (Retro Matte)

Ruby Woo - Vivid Blue Red (Retro Matte) (Re-promote/Permanent)

Fixed on Drama - Rich Wine (Retro Matte)

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil ($19.50 U.S. / $23.00 CDN)

In Anticipation - Soft Yellow Pink

Staunchly Stylish - Pink Beige

Shock Value - Bright Pink Cream

Dynamo - Bright Peony

High Energy - Bright Orange Red Cream

Trust in Red - Bright Cool Red Cream

More to Love - Intense Bluish Pink

Fashion Boost - Bright Purple Cream

Long gone are the days of breaking out the ole' makeup pouch to constantly reapply...and reapply...and ahem, reapply your lipstick after the tiniest sip of water to the biggest meal. Finally, after waiting for what seems like forever, MAC is releasing an all matte lip collection with new shades that have me officially jumping up and down (and no, I am not kidding...okay maybe I didn't quite JUMP but I did produce a very odd squeal of delight). How GORGEOUS are these shades? As a matte lip girl at heart, you KNOW that I am ALL over this collection. I personally have my eyes fixed on, Fixed On Drama (see what I did there? Okay, you're right..that was terrible) which from the swatches I've seen is an absolutely stunning deep brownish wine shade. Dangerous is quite the gorgeous shade as well but reminds me too much of Lady Danger and Scarlet Ibis, both of which I already own. Can one really own too many orange-y red lipsticks? I plead the fifth.

If you're not sure of the difference in formula, retro mattes have a much drier texture compared to the regular matte lipsticks which have a slight sheen, in turn this makes them incredibly long lasting. While I personally have never tried the retro matte texture before, a la the famous Ruby Woo (shocker right?) I know from reviews that these little bullets pack an amazing punch.

Now unfortunately, there seems to be a huge discrepancy on whether this entire collection is permanent or whether some items are limited edition. MAC officials, those with sources close to MAC, as well as MAC employees are all giving conflicting information. It is because of this that I advise anyone that plans on making a purchase from this collection to treat it as limited edition until we know more. 

Now available online

Available in stores September 12th

Huge thank you to the Specktra forum for the info!

Much love & Happy Shopping! xo

New MAC Pro Longwear Shades - Available Now

From the MAC Website:

"Introducing new shades of Pro Longwear for eyes and face. Ranging from light to dark to perfectly match any skin tone, Pro Longwear Foundation and Concealer keep skin fresh and flawless in formulas lasting up to 15 hours. Pro Longwear Paint Pots deliver highly dimensional colour with a luxurious finish while Pro Longwear Eye Liner defines eyes with a dense, water-resistant formula that glides on comfortably and stays for 12 hours, in seven new shades from eggplant to brilliant sheer gold."



Paint Pot: $20.00

Chrome Angel - Platinum Silver

Let's Skate -  Pale Pink w/Pearl (Pearl)

Perky - Creamy Coral w/White Pearl

Rubenesque - Golden Peach w/ Gold Pearl (Frost)

Layin' Low - Creamy Beige

Clearwater - Seafoam

Antique Diamond - Frosted Olive Silver (Pearl)

Camel Coat - Muted Beige

Tailor Grey - Muted Grey

Stormy Pink - Muted Purple Grey

Constructivist - Metallic Brown w/ Red Pearl (Frost)

Blackground - Black Grey w/ Multi Color (Frost)

Eye Liner: $19.50

Powerline - Muted Gold

Devotion - Deep Army Green

Strong Willed - Deep Eggplant

Definitely Black - Deep Black

Foundation: $31.00

NW22

NW13

NW15

NW18
NW43

NW47

NC37

NC44

Concealer: $19.00

NC25

Brushes:

242 Shader Brush - $25.00

195 Concealer Brush - $24.00

193 Angled Foundation Brush - $34.00

Available now online
In stores September 5th

Much love & Happy Shopping! xo

IT Cosmetics Now Available At Ulta!

Good news IT Cosmetics fans! Like Mally Beauty, yet another QVC brand can now be found gracing Ulta's shelves! The brand has officially made the move and is now available both online and in select stores as of today September 1st. 

I have heard great things about IT and I'm happy to see that Ulta is finally expanding their lineup, especially to those that were previously only available online. I know that I'm not the only one to prefer purchasing cosmetics in actual brick and mortar stores as you're able to swatch and at the very least see in person before taking the plunge and making a purchase. (Let's not even go into the pain in the ass that is physically shipping back returns and exchanges). Unfortunately though, for some of you, online ordering will still be the only option as IT and Mally are only available in select stores. Is it a step up? Yes. Is the limited availability still a bummer for some? Absolutely. Hopefully one day Ulta can expand to at least carry the basics in all stores.

If any of my local Ulta stores are carrying the brand, I will be going in the next few days to take photos and swatches!

Much love & Happy Shopping! xo

IT Cosmetics @ Ulta.com

IT Cosmetics Website

Ulta Store Locator

New OCC Collections Available Now!

Oh OCC, why must you do this to me? (Hey that rhymed!). As you might have read awhile back, lip tars hold a special place in my heart as it was back in February that I found my very first, perfect, holy grail, STOP! Look at my lips! red by the name of NSFW. I have not purchased any lip tars since then but it is certainly not because I haven't felt the itch, it is simply "Hey lady use up some of those lipsticks that you already own!". Now, OCC is back with two new collections, ModernCraft & Fragmented Alice and true to form, both collections are keeping tradition alive with the odd and oh so fabulous shades that OCC is known for. 

My favorite shade by far is Sebastian, which is a matte lilac tinted grey/taupe that I am absolutely coveting! You know a color looks amazing when it makes me completely bypass the reds! Since I am a matte lip girl at heart, I cannot wait to see how the new matte texture compares to the satiny texture of NSFW. Unfortunately, it seems that none of the Sephora's in my area will be carrying this collection so I will have to wait just a little bit longer to get my hands on Sebastian!

As for Fragmented Alice, while I personally don't think I could pull it off, Fragmented is positively gorgeous! I expect all of the new shades to look even more amazing in person and I cannot wait to see more photographs and swatches of both collections.

ModernCraft Lip Tar Collection:

From Sephora's website:

"OCC's Fall 2013 Colour Collection, Moderncraft, was inspired primarily by cabarets and the art scene born out of 1920s Weimar, Berlin. Rather than revisit makeup trends of the past, Moderncraft reinterprets and revitalizes this iconic look through a veritable artists' paint box of Lip Tar, in a variety of textures and colors. The Moderncraft Collection marks the first time OCC has launched new shades in all three texture categories: matte, metallic, and stained gloss. Whether you're moved by the transparent neutrality of 'Mein Herr' Lip Tar: Stained Gloss or driven by the seductively dark and industrial 'Black Metal Dahlia' Lip Tar: Metallic, a world of makeup expressionism awaits."

Role Play - Deep Maroon w/ Red Pearl (Metallic)

Anita - Browned Burgundy (Matte)

Black Metal Dahlia - Blackened Burgundy w/ Red Pearl (Metallic)

Dekadent - Translucent Crushed Blueberry (Stained Gloss)

Sebastian - Plum-toned Taupe (Matte)

Mein Herr - Creme Fraiche Beige (Stained Gloss)

$18.00 // 0.33 oz

Available NOW at Sephora.com & select Sephora locations. Available September 6th at occmakeup.com

Fragmented Alice Collection

"Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics journeys into the depths of Wonderland with renowned Symbolist painter Gail Potocki for a truly psychedelic color collection. Inspired by Potocki's uniquely macabre take on the Alice in Wonderland™ mythology, OCC conjures up a limited edition collection full of curious colors inspired by the world of 'Fragmented Alice'. Attendees to the world's largest pop culture event San Diego Comic Con were granted a preview of the collection via 'Fragmented' Lip Tar, a first-of-its-kind acid-green glaze that marries two of our favorite textures together: Metallic and Stained Gloss!"

Lip Tar: $18 // 0.33 fl oz

Fragmented - Golden Acid Green Metallic (Stained Gloss)

Nail Lacquer: $10 // 0.50 fl oz

Gryphon - Cement Grey (Satin)

Severed - Bright Crimson (Satin)

Loose Colour Concentrate: $14 // 2.5 g

Curved Sky - Icy White/Iridescent Blue-Violet

Infliction - Patinaed Pink Opal

Nevar - Dirty Golden Olive

Much love & Happy Shopping! xo

Butter LONDON 2013 Rock Over Tour - Ending Dates

From the Ulta Facebook Page:

To properly welcome the new collection of Rock Your Colour Cosmetics, butter LONDON is giving ULTA shoppers a FREE 20 minute consultation and Rock Over with butter LONDON Global Colour Ambassador, Katie Hughes, and her team of makeup artists.

With a $25 purchase of butter LONDON product, customers will receive a full size Nail Lacquer in Chancer, while supplies last.

To book appointments: Call your local ULTA location and speak to a representative.

Saturday, August 24

11AM - 5PM 

Park Lane

8160 Park Lane

Dallas, TX 75231

(214) 363-0638

Sunday, August 25

11AM - 2PM 

MacArthur Park Shopping Center

7757 N MacArthur Blvd 

Irving, TX 75063

(972) 409-6831

4PM - 6PM 

Robertson’s Creek

5801 Long Prarie Road 

Flower Mound, TX 75028

(972) 539-3762

 Tuesday, August 27

3PM - 6PM 

West Ridge Court

2707 Aurora Avenue 

Naperville, IL 60540

(630) 527-0065

  Thursday, August 29

11AM - 2PM 

Chicago-State Street

114 S State Street 

Chicago, IL 60603

(312) 279-5081

3PM - 6PM 

Clybourn Square

2754 N Clybourn Ave 

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 472-6720

More info @ Butter LONDON

Much love xo

Butter London Rock Your Colour Collection - Available Now

Wink Mascara: $20

Pistol Pink

Union Jack Black

Inky Six

Brown Sugar

Jaded Jack

Indigo Punk

Wink Cream Eye Shadow: $18

Alabaster Gaze

Pistol Pink

Sun Kiss

Inky Six

Jaded Jack

Indigo Punk

Cheeky Cream Blusher: $20

Naughty Biscuit
Pistol Pink
Honey Pie
Abbey Rose

Eye Pencil: $18

Union Jack Black

Indigo Punk

Pistol Pink

Inky Six

Jaded Jack

Brown Sugar

Lippy Tinted Balm: $20

Apricot Sunray
Abbey Rose
Axis Kiss
Black Cherry
Strawberry Field
Toasted Marshmallow

Sheer Gloss: $20

Berry Whipped
Dandy Bubbles
Hot Totty
Coconut Frock
Tipple
Secret Door

Lacquer: $15

Union Jack Black
Jaded Jack
Brown Sugar
Indigo Punk
Pistol Pink
Inky Six

Available Now
This collection is exclusive to Ulta stores, Ulta.com, & ButterLondon.com

Much love xo

Mally Beauty Now Available At Ulta Stores!

Good news for all you Mally fans! Mally Beauty is now available in Ulta Stores!

From the Ulta Facebook page:

"#‎Mallynistas‬: the wait is finally over! Mally Beauty is now available at select ULTA stores. It's easy to find out which stores near you carry it ~ just use our store locator!"

Mally Beauty Store Locator

Okay, the Ulta store locator is NOT accurate (at least it wasn't for me). None of the stores within 25 miles appeared to offer Mally, lo and behold, upon trying the store locator via Mally's website, EVERY store near me carries the brand. So for this reason, I'm going to link the MB locator and not Ulta's.

Mally Beauty @ Ulta.com

Much love & Happy Shopping! xo

MAC Indulge Collection - Online NOW

 "Fall colour is a surreal feast for the senses where no taste is too extravagant and no behavior beyond limits. On the menu: Cremeblend blush flushes skin with buildable glow as eye shadow defines eyes for the ultimate in temptation, intensified by Fluidline. Haute & Naughty Too Black lash darkens and lengthens lashes."

Eyeshadow

Gilty Morsel (Lustre)

Sex & The Oyster (Veluxe Pearl)

Three Ring Yellow (Veluxe Pearl/Re-promote)

Divine Decadence (Veluxe)

Beluga (Veluxe)

Eat, Love (Satin)

Deep Cravings (Veluxe Pearl)

Palace Pedigreed (Satin/Re-promote)

Fluidine

Gilt Gourmet

Deliciously Rich

Blacktrack (Re-promote)

CremeBlend Blush

Tease Your Tastes

Glamour Feast

Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash

266 Small Angle Brush

213 Fluff Brush

"Revel in a magnificent banquet of colour for lips and nails. Lipstick in deep plum, frosted beige and sheer, golden sparkle get layered with Lipglass, ranging from blackened berry to shimmering taupe. Lacquered nails for that opulent touch, rich in jewel tones and molten metallics."

Lipstick

Smash Hit (Dazzle/Re-promote)

By Design (Frost)

Feed The Senses (Lustre)

Just A Bite (Satin)

Sweet Succulence (Lustre)

Lipglass

Ultimate Dish

Fashion Punch

Liqueur (Re-promote)

Lust For Life

Utterly Tart

Lacquer

Sinfully Sweet (Frost)

Magnificent Feast (Frost)

Discotheque (Frost)

Impassioned (Cream/Re-promote)

Screening Room (Cream/Re-promote)

Rebel (Cream/Re-promote)

What shades are YOU most excited about? Personally, I cannot wait to test out Sweet Succulence and Just A Bite, they both seem to be GORGEOUS lipsticks and you know how I feel about my lipstick!

MAC Indulge - Available NOW online. Launches in stores August 22nd

Free second day shipping online - use offer code INDULGE

Much love xo

Birchbox July

Power Play "This month's box is dedicated to helping you take control of any situation, and to make the most of every minute - on the clock or off duty. We've even called in the experts - namely the characters of USA's hit series SUITS - who were the inspiration for some of this month's samples. Try their picks and don't forget to tune in to the season premiere with @Birchbox on Tuesday, July 16 at 10/9c." Happy Playing!

Well there you have it lovelies! This month, Birchbox teamed up to create boxes inspired by the popular show, Suits. While I have never personally watched the show, Gabriel Macht IS one of my favorite actors and so, I have always been intrigued. Hmm...maybe I SHOULD start watching. As far as the products selected, I can see where a couple of them could come into play with the theme of a long work day but, with the majority of boxes there seems to be a major disconnect between the items and the show itself; I personally feel that they could have done a lot better. With that being said, I am very, very happy with the box that I received! I ended up with box #2 which contained:

• Benefit Girl Meets Pearl
• Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream
• 100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream
• Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect
• Birchbox Bobby Pins

I honestly did not expect to enjoy Girl Meets Pearl as much as I do just for the simple fact that I almost never wear highlighters. For the past few years, my go to highlighter has been Too Faced Candlelight, which is supposed to be "translucent" but on my skin tone, it can quickly look too bright if applied too heavily. I am happy to report that I do not have this problem with Girl Meets Pearl. Because of its slight golden pink base, the hint of color is just enough for it to blend into my skin flawlessly without having to worry about a white-ish cast. I love that the sample sizes of this product come in tube form since the full size version comes with an inconvenient twist up application; I have never personally owned the full size but since you only need a tiny amount at a time, I would imagine that the residual product that got twisted up yet remained unused would dry up and eventually clog up the container. I have yet to wear this for the entire day to see how it performs past a couple of hours but, even if it should wear away, the tube would make touching up a breeze. Would I purchase this? Absolutely. Retail: $30.00 // 0.4 fl oz

I have really been enjoying this moisturizer, the light berry scent is refreshing compared to the usual cocktail of chemicals and artificial scents. I love that it sinks into my skin effortlessly, leaves no oily or sticky residue and fortunately I do not experience any of the pilling issues that I have read about in reviews online. My one gripe is that, I do not whatsoever notice any real "mattifying" effect; my t-zone still produces the same amount of oil as it always does and I find myself touching up with my trusty powder after an hour or so. Would I purchase this? I'm going to say yes because it is a nice moisturizer but, the price is a bit on the expensive side and I have other products that I prefer over this. Retail: $22.00 // 30 ml (1 oz)

I must admit, I was quite amused at receiving lotion in the form of "ketchup packets" as the MakeupTalk forum members have so affectionately deemed them. In spite of receiving such a tiny amount (even though there were three packets) the body creme spread quite well! One packet is enough to moisturize both of my arms with a little left over to work into my hands and cuticles. Unfortunately, I can't say that I like the scent much at all; it DOES smell like green apples, albeit very artificial green apples but apples nonetheless. If I were to purchase this, it would absolutely be in another scent; most likely coconut. I do like that this lotion is all natural and devoid of any chemicals so that is by far a plus. Couple that with it being quite good at moisturizing my reasonably dry skin without the dreaded residue and I think we have a winner. So, would I purchase this? Yes as far as performance goes but, the price is too expensive for my liking. Retail: $15.00 // 8 oz

I really, really wanted to love this product but, it was a complete let down for me. The idea of a simple spray standing up to the challenge of my cactus dry hair was almost comical, and as I had predicted, my wild mane won again. I have used this spray almost everyday since receiving it and I have noticed absolutely no difference between my hair normally and when I use this. This product claims to condition, detangle and protect from UV rays, and while I cannot comment on the UV protection, as far as de-tangling or conditioning, this spray did neither for me. I did like that it left no sticky residue nor did it make my hair feel crunchy but, those are the only pro's that I can give this. Would I purchase? No. Retail: $32.00 // 200 ml

I usually adore when Birchbox sends out little extras such as these (my favorite has been the nail file) but unfortunately, these oversized bobby pins just don't do it for me. Since my hair often has a mind of its own, bobby pins are an item that I utilize almost daily but, I personally prefer the hair matching "invisible" bobby pins to the very prominent, HELLO! Birchbox design. With that being said, I do like the pattern, if instead of pins they had been a clip or hair flower, I would have been in LOVE. All personal preferences aside, these are good quality and quite sturdy, they have a super strong hold which means those fly-aways aren't going anywhere! However, the reason that they hold hair so well is because they do not open much at all. Have you ever had one of those infuriating key rings that you have to fight with and chip several nails before they cooperate? Bingo. Alright, they are not THAT bad but, they certainly do not have the "give" of tradional bobby pins. Would I purchase these? No. Retail: $5 // Set of six

Well lovelies, that's it for my July Birchbox, what did you think of the products? I for one have found a new love in the form of Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl and as soon as I save up enough points again, I will be purchasing the full size. Looking forward to the August box!

Much love xo

The Rainbow Tag

Hi lovelies! Today I decided to do the Colors of the Rainbow Tag. The concept behind this is pretty simple, well...I thought it would be, it is actually a little challenging. As I understand it, you are supposed to match your favorite beauty and/or fashion items to each of the seven colors of the rainbow. There are two optional extras, "multi-colored" and "pink" if you have something available, unfortunately I don't seem to own anything bright and multi-colored but I do have pink! A huge thank you to Jackie over at FiveTwo Certified for tagging me; go and check out her blog! 

Red - MAC Lady Danger Lipstick



My absolute favorite lipstick right now, and a forever staple in my makeup drawer (full review will be coming soon). I love how bright and eye-catching this lipstick is, seriously, this lipstick is almost neon. If you've been looking for a real statement red, Lady Danger is one of MAC's best. The matte formula glides on effortlessly, is delightfully non-drying, and stays put for hours without budging. 

Orange - OPI Cajun Shrimp



There is just something appealing about a polish named after food; this has been at the top of my favorite polishes ever since I purchased it, both the color and formula are just about perfect. Opaque in one to two coats, dry within minutes, and the longest lasting of any of my other polishes; Cajun Shrimp is an absolute dream to work with. You can check out my full review here. 

Yellow - TheBalm Balm Jovi Palette



Oh boy, what can I say about this palette except that I use it every single day. I own two other palettes along with this one and I let me just say, the other two have been seriously neglected ever since I purchased this. My favorite eye shades are Presto, Third Eye Blinded, REM, Blink 1982, Alice Copper, and Adagio. The Vanilly lip & cheek color is very similar to MAC's Russian Red. Every product in this palette is very pigmented and a little truly does go a long way, I have yet to make dents in any of the shades. If I had to critique anything, I would have liked to see the lip shades as remove-able, while they are protected, I still would have liked the option, but other than that, I think this is a stellar palette to have. You can check out my full review here.

Green - Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On



This has been one of my staple items ever since I received it in my April Birchbox. I can unfortunately never seem to get enough sleep and couple that with extreme allergies and you have one sad blogger; the attached metal ball feels cool and refreshing while the solution soothes and moisturizes my under eye area. This has been a life saver on those early mornings and days where I look (and feel!) especially tired. I know that no remedy will EVER be as beneficial as old fashioned rest but, I do love having this on hand.

Blue - Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Shadow Insurance was the first eye shadow primer that I ever owned and all these years later, it is still my top favorite; my lids stay matte and my eye shadows stay in place for the entire day. What else can I ask for? It's just an all-around kickass primer that lasts forever and a day. Okay, maybe not forever but, one tube does last me a year with daily use.

Indigo - Batman Tee

Who doesn't love comic book heroes? Wait...there are actually people out there who DON'T love comic book heroes? For shame! I purchased this tee at comic con last year and it has been one of my favorites since, well okay.. it is second behind the Avengers but, the material is super stretchy and soft. It has been almost an entire year since purchasing it and still no fading or ripping so far.

Violet - Vera Wang Lovestruck Perfume



Ever since I can remember, I have been OBSESSED with Vera Wang perfumes but, out of the current two that I own, Lovestruck is my favorite. I have never been good with describing scents so bare with me, but to me, it is just a nice musky floral; not heavy but certainly not the lightest scent. Notes include: Pink guava, mandarin, tuberose, lotus blossom, woods, and sheer musk.

Pink - TheBalm Hot Mama

Hot mama has been one of my go to eye shadows ever since I received it from Birchbox back in December of last year. Like all of my other products by TheBalm, a little bit goes a long way. This shade is perfect for giving a natural, warm glow to my skin as well as helping to even out my eyelid color on my "no makeup, makeup" days.

Well, there you have it lovelies, my answers to the Rainbow Tag! It was not only fun but honestly tricky at the same time. Thank you again to Jackie for tagging me, you can find her rainbow tag post here! Now, to all you lovely ladies below, good luck! I cannot wait to see your answers.

I Tag:

Emily // What She Hearts

Cookie // The Charming Cheshire

Erica // Diary Of A Trendaholic

Christina // The Daily Sugar

Michaela // I Sold The World

Steph // Fun Size Beauty

Much love xo