Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy #460 Hold ‘Em -- Ready for Autumn

Talk about ready for Autumn! I recently picked up the new Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy polish in #460 Hold ‘Em ($5.00, Target).

A gorgeous dirty, plummy color, it’s an amazing formula that delivers quick, one coat, opaque color and high shine. I’ve gone chip free for 3 days now...which is amazing considering all of the typing I do on the daily! 

To accent, I used Maybelline’s Color Show Jewels in #608 Gilded in Gold ($2.99, Target) on the tips of my ring fingers. Now this one you can definitely go ahead and skip. While the glitter itself is beautiful, different jagged shapes, the ratio of clear polish to glitter is not conducive to an even distribution onto the nail. So you basically end up with 3 glitters on your nail. Such a headache. For glitters, I recommend the Sephora Formula X Transformers Top Coats. 

But even with that little flop, this quick at-home manicure turned out rather well, wouldn’t you say? So definitely try out the new Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamels and skip out on the Maybelline Color Show Jewels.

It’s a Dupe! Nars Iskandar Eye Paint and L’Oreal Silkissime liner in Gold

Nars Iskandar on left eye, L’Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in Gold on right eye

Nars Eye Paint in Iskandar and L’Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in Gold

Now swatched, they don’t look that close. Nars is more of a ‘dirty’ gold. But on the lid, they look identical! Wear time is very similar....long wearing! Great unexpected find!

Nars Iskandar (left) L’Oreal Silkissime in Gold

Nars Iskandar on left eye, L’Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in Gold on right eye

Milani Bella Eyeshadows--High Demand!

Whoa, buddy! I was just here 72 hours ago...and they weren't even stocked yet! After hearing they were finally out, this is what I stumble upon. I hope they are as good as they say they are, because I may be buying them all out of spite when they finally restock!

A Mini Collective Haul

Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Charade ($35, Sephora)

Bare Minerals Ready 8.0 Power Neutrals Palette ($40, Sephora)

Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector ($9.09, Kroger), MUFE HD Foundation ($42, Sephora),  Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation ($9.99, Target)

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo in Musk/Lychee ($12, Sephora)

Sephora Smoky Cream Liner in Bewitch Me and Statue Bronze ($5 ea, Sephora)

Korres Lip Butter in Quince/Coing ($7.99 sale, Sephora)

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara ($7.99 Target)

Weekend Snaps...

Target is getting it done with their shoes! I picked up these little beauties for $35...and oh so comfy! Perfect for autumn as well! PS please don’t mind the fur tumbleweed. When you’re a crazy dog lady, tumbleweeds will tumble. Even if you sweep 15 times a day! (polish is Color Club’s Pardon My French)

Picked up this little beauty as well! Gold AND fuchsia? Yes please, Starbucks! I’m on a mission to drink 100 oz of water per day. So 4 of these babies and I’m well on my way to super hydration!

And my recent breakfast favorite! Eggs, dash of milk, red onion, tomatoes, green onions and chives all scrambled together with an avocado on the side. So delish!

This hilarious video was the highlight of my morning!!

We all know how mysterious and seemingly unattainable people find contouring and highlighting to be. This short video courtesy of Buzzfeed demonstrates what it can really do for your face if you have the patience and time for the ‘blend, blend, blending’!

Ulta -- Your Free Gifts Are Quite Good!

OK...not so much free, ‘free’ with a $40 purchase. But still! I highly recommend keeping an eye out for these awesome deals and line up your purchases accordingly. Their offerings do change quite often as well. 

I chose a Bare Minerals set ...Fabulous sizes, and my chance to sample the much loved Lash Domination mascara. Which is wonderful!
 -Ready Pressed Powder Foundation
-Ready Eyeshadow Duo 2.0 in The Inspiration (Muse/Passion)
-Ready Blush in The Natural High
-Lash Domination mascara

New Online Boutique

The last few years,  I have had the pleasure of working with and for one of the sweetest, most amazing women I have ever met. I have been lucky enough to work with her on different retail opportunities. From working at her first boutique storefront, to working with her as a buyer for a boutique I previously managed. I can not say enough good things about her. A woman, and a business, like none other!

Now she has done it again and opened a new fabulous online boutique!! Gilt + Gossamer offers the latest styles at affordable prices...without compromising quality. I am absolutely obsessed with their selections, and although it isn’t much at the moment, because a) they’ve literally only been opened weeks and b) inventory is leaving very quickly, she is constantly adding new styles! So my best advice would be to act quickly and add a unique flair to your wardrobe!

                                           Shop Gilt+Gossamer

Follow them on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/giltandgossamer/

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilt-Gossamer

Simple, Quick & Glam -- And All Drugstore!

A quick, easy and glam look with only a few products...and all drugstore! 

Products:

-L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation in Light Ivory

-NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain

-Elf High Definition Undereye Setting Powder

-Physician’s Formula Bronze Booster Powder

-Hard Candy Kal-eye-descop Baked Eyeshadow Duo in 057 Peace (champagne color all over lid)

-Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Black

-Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black

-L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

-Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color in 03 Fiery Coral

-NYX Butter Gloss in Sugar Cookie

-NYX Wonder Pencil (applied around lips and in water line)

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow

“with coconut water for more hydrated, healthier looking lids.” -- Sephora

Now we’re concerned about how healthy our lids are?? Goodness! In any case, this newer product from Josie Maran is completely stunning and perfect for summer. Imagine a metallic sheen that lasts all day and does not fade away...well this is just that. ($18 at Sephora)

At my local Sephora, they only had 4 shades:

L-R: Beach Sand, Rio de Rose Gold, Playa del Pink, Bora Bora Bronze

I picked up the Playa del Pink shade. This product is different from anything I own. It is a bi-phase liquid-- which means it contains 2 parts, the coconut water and the pigment that mix together to bring you this beautifulness. It does separate, so before applying you will need to shake, shake, shake it! 

The doe foot applicator delivers super strong pigment in one swipe. It is (obviously) a wet formula, so I wait a few seconds for it to set. Lately I have been using it under the Lorac Pro 2. My favorite thing to do is layer the Rose color on top immediately after laying down the color. The effect is a super metallic look that is no muss, no fuss, easy and long lasting. Perfect for the summer!

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Emerveille

Surprise! Italian Sephoras carry Chanel! Who knew?? 

Anyway, while looking through the Italian Sephora, I stopped at the Chanel counter in surprise! They had their Illusion D’Ombres (basically Chanel’s version of a cream shadow) priced at 23 euro! Which equates to about $31 USD. Well, you know I picked one up because they retail for $36 in the States. 

I was really looking for Mirage, one of their Summer 2014 colors that has quickly acquired cult favorite status -- as it is sold out positively everywhere!! Well, they didn’t have it, so I picked up a beautiful rosy gold color -- Emerveille. Part of their permanent collection, this is a great everyday all over lid color that doesn’t crease and catches the light beautifully. 

Well much to my surprise at checkout, it rang up at 26 Euro! Those sneaky, sneaky people! Of course I didn’t realize it until it was too late. Hubbles had to point it out for me, actually. So my steal turned out to be a dud. Boo.

But it is a beautiful color! Still on the hunt for Mirage...

They Did It -- The Lorac Pro 2 Palette Has Arrived!!

For those who are new to my blog, I have been a massive fan of the Lorac Pro Palette for awhile now. The quality is outstanding, especially the matte shades. Matte formulas are often hard to get 'right' -- and by that I mean, pigmented but easily transferable and blendable. 

And the price is oh so right! For $42 (at Ulta) you get 16 shades, 8 matte (top row) and 8 shimmer (bottom row).  Let's compare this to an Urban Decay Naked palette -- 12 shades for $54. This is called value, people! (but let's be serious, I still love the Naked palettes, too)

Anywho, check out a photo of the Lorac Pro here from my Perfect Palette Tag post. 

Back to the Lorac Pro 2! This palette contains cooler tones compared to the Lorac Pro 1 and includes 2 gorgeous jewel tones...

Cool Gray has quickly become my new favorite crease color...and Lt. Brown is an amazing transition color. I honestly believe a person could definitely own both. But if I had to choose one to recommend to someone, I'd probably say the 1...just because I do feel like it's a warmer neutral palette that would appeal to more people. But personally, I prefer the 2. 

Some swatches---

L-R: Rose, Cool Gray, Nectar, Plum

As always, I feel like photos do not do the palette justice. So next time you’re at Ulta, go check this out!

Happy 4th of July!! Independence FTW

Let's Talk New Drugstore Lippies...

With summer finally showing her glorious hot self, cosmetics companies are also releasing their new summer collections...so of course, I had to pick up a few lip products 'just to see how I like them--for research purposes, of course!'

First, let's look at the new Burt's Bees Matte Lip Crayon. It seems like everyone and their dog is bringing out their version of the chubby lip pencil. And of course, I've jumped right onto that bandwagon. Who wouldn't want a convenient, super pigmented, easy to apply lip product to throw into their pocketbook?? 

But ladies, let me tell you, Burt's Bees version has quickly risen to my favorite spot. They are super pigmented, last quite awhile and do not dry out my lips!! I bought two of their six shades -- Sedona Sands (nude) & Carolina Coast (blue toned pink). They are a matte formula that leave my lips feeling moisturized! I picked mine up at Walgreens, where they retail for $8.99. But I took advantage of a B1G1 50% off deal, so essentially paid about $6.75 ea. I haven't seen them at any other Burt's Bees retailers, but they are permanent to the line so expect to see them soon!

Next, I picked up another of the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Stains ($6.99) in the color Unapologetic. An amazing bright coral color that makes your teeth look white as new fallen snow (yes, I just said that). Gorgeous for the summer and especially for fair skin girls afraid to delve too far into the orange lip trend. I do really like this formula, however it does make my lips a tad dry -- nothing major -- but just make sure your lips are properly exfoliated and moisturized before applying.

And finally, for those who want a super punch of moisture and gorgeous sheer color, I give you the Covergirl Smoochies ($3.99)! This product has been out for awhile as well but I hadn't purchased any until seeing one of my favorite YouTubers (Young Wild and Polished) talk about their new shade in Alter Ego. It is the best everyday light pink lip color to throw into your bag! It's sheer color lasts a descent amount of time for, essentially, a balm. But fret not, the buildable color will stick around for longer than you think!

L-R: CG Matte Balm in Unapologetic, CG Smoochie in Alter Ego, Burt's Bees Matte Lip Crayon in Carolina Coast and Sedona Sands

ULTA 40% Off Sale This Week

40% Off NYX, L’Oreal, Neutrogena and Physician’s Formula

This Week at Ulta…through 7/5/14 

Ulta has really been catching my attention with their sales and promotions. For instance, getting an awesome value Bare Minerals deluxe sample pack (including blush, eyeshadow duo, pressed powder and Lash Domination mascara) for FREE with my purchase of the Lorac Pro 2 and other skin care essential stock ups. Be sure to sign up for their emails to receive sales and promotions daily. Today, for example, they are giving away a free full size Cargo eye palette with $50 purchases (while supplies last). Insane!

Happy Shopping!