Archives for October 2012

Boooo-ty Blog Coalition Halloween Link Up: This is Halloween by NbL Swatches + Review

October 5, 2012 By StephanieLouise 688Leave a Comment2012-10-05+18%3A33%3A00StephanieLouise

This is the first ever Boooo-ty Blog Coalition Halloween Link Up! Welcome! If you aren’t familiar with our group, check our the official Beauty Blog Coalition site. For the next 4 Fridays, I’ll be placing this link-up right here so that you can join up & check out awesome Halloween themed posts! Everything from tutorials to nail polish to product reviews by great beauty blogs across the blogosphere! Sit back, get spooky, & remember to click on the links at the bottom of this post for more awesome Halloween themed posts throughout the week!

For my first link up, I decided to push back my makeup tutorial to show you this awesome polish that I custom made with Laura of Nails by Laura on Etsy. She loves doing custom orders & I adore Halloween so this was a match made in Halloween heaven! I picked out the shades & ideas BUT I didn’t really get to know what it looked like until it arrived! She did an amazing job, it is even better than I imagined!

This is Halloween from Nails by Laura (custom order): A clear base packed with dense black glitter medium hexes, medium green hexes, & mini + small neon orange hexes. There is also a healthy dose of silver holo in there! Seen here in 1 coat.

I just, I love it. I haven’t seen anything like it at all. I wanted something different with a bit of funk to it. Plus, she knows me oh so well so when she suggested holo added she knew I would never ever say no. Ever. Holo hair? I’d go there. I love that the neon orange hexes aren’t your typical pumpkin shade, definitely unlike any other Halloween polishes I’ve seen.

My only issue with this polish is finding the perfect base. I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Stonewall here which is a slightly warm/lilac gray. I thought it would be just the right amount of Halloween randomness because white just didn’t seem as fun & black wouldn’t show off the black shimmers. I think I’ll try it over a light orange, red, & maybe a navy next!

What do you think? Are you digging my creation & its originality? I bought this for only $10 off her shop on Etsy & it will last me a seriously long time, her bottles are way generous. The brushes work nicely as well! On a fun note, I’m wearing this to the zoo today for our anniversary, we’ve been married 4 years now! Wowie, I’m getting old!

Nail Challenge Day #16: My Orange Tribal Freehand

October 4, 2012 By StephanieLouise 689Leave a Comment2012-10-04+18%3A03%3A00StephanieLouise

As it turns out…I’m not very good at tribal designs. I honestly had never even thought to do one & just kind of sat down & did this without a plan. I did 2 coats of Crush from Jesse’s Girl then did a slightly darker orange stripe for each nail in Tangerine from Diamond Cosmetics. My black & white are both LA Colors stripers, nothing out of the ordinary.

I thought the 2 oranges gave it something interesting, honestly I just really wanted to swatch Crush. I got 6 Jesse’s Girl nail polishes in the mail & I thought orange would be fun. I instagramed them yesterday (follow me! StephanieLouiseATB) along with oh ya know all kinds of other things. Then I went to town with the black & white. Boom. End result.

So I had a few questions bout Challenge #15 which was “Delicate Print” that you guys noticed I missed. Yes, yes I did. Unfortunately I didn’t plan ahead & my husband pinned (moved up rank) that day so I had on a basic nail. I did put a delicate print over it that night to do a post but I didn’t think it looked all that good. I feel like I’m in a slump with these challenges because tribal definitely wasn’t my best! Delicate…very few nail looks I put up can ever be mistaken as a delicate print. HOWEVER, if you guys DO want to see it, I will definitely put it up in a post just for you.

Here is the list of Varnished Vixens joining me in the Challenge:

-Kimber at Kimber’s Lacquer Korner
-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
–Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby’s Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
–Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine
–Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa
-Mari at Nailista
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L
-Gini at Sassy Paints
–Chameleon Stampede
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance
–Me, Myself, and Polish
– Robin Sparkles

In case you missed, Day #1 was RED Nails, Day #2 was ORANGE nails, Day #3 was YELLOW nails, Day #4 was GREEN nails, Day #5 was BLUE nails, Day #6 was VIOLET nails, Day #7 was BLACK & WHITE nails, Day # 8 was METALLIC nails, Day #9 was RAINBOW nails, Day #10 was Gradient nails, Day #11 was POLKA DOT nails, Day #12 was the STRIPED nails, Day #13 was ANIMAL PRINT nails, Day #14 was FLOWER nails, & the next challenge is GLITTER nails.

See Stephanie Read: Matched by Ally Condie Review

October 4, 2012 By StephanieLouise 690Leave a Comment2012-10-04+15%3A58%3A00StephanieLouise

I freely admit: The last few books I have read just haven’t blown my mind. In fact, a few were a struggle to get through. However, salvation. I finally have a new book to suggest for you guys & I think you’ll really like it. As pictured, I’m of course referring to Matched by Ally Condie. Is it a Young Adult book? Yes, yes it is. Guess what? I don’t care. I may not have been a Twilight fan, but so many of my favorites fall into the YA genre. Don’t judge a book by where they put it in the store!

Admittedly, with all the technical issues I’ve had these past few weeks, this book helped. Technology fail, big time. I feel ya, I really do. I’m one of those people who doesn’t want their car driving itself or to be served by evil robots. Take that as you will.

So reading Matched description totally reminded me of the famous book 1984 which I read back in high school. A futuristc place where people get bossed around for what seems like ridiculous reasons? Check. The different really is that I got really into Matched whereas even after trying to read 1984, it just wasn’t the page turner I wanted. The basis of this book is edgy & new, with a controlling government that “matches” everyone to pretty much everything in life. This isn’t your run of the mill love story folks, it has so much more going on.

Matched (& the following sequel Crossed & finale Reached) are being touted as the next Hunger Games series & that is a lot to live up to. I can definitely see it though! This is one of those books I had serious issues putting down, the kind where you get drowned in unwashed dishes & piles of work pushed to the side? Luckily, I am a bookworm vixen so I finished this in less than 2 days while still getting a few things done (such as sleeping + showering) but I am awaiting the next book.

BlogHer is discussing everything Matched on their site so if you’re interested in learning more, I suggest you check it out! What do you think, does Matched sound right for you? If not, what are you currently reading?

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed, as always, are my own.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Copperhead Swatches + Review!

October 3, 2012 By StephanieLouise 691Leave a Comment2012-10-03+16%3A23%3A00StephanieLouise

I’m so sorry I’m so behind with all my Lustre Shine swatches, I’ve had a really terrible time with my computer lately. Expect to be spammed with them all ASAP! This is my LEAST favorite of the bunch, read on to find out why!

Is this pretty in the bottle? You bet. It might not be my favorite in the bottle, but it is pretty. It has these gorgeous green/purple metallic veins running through it that I was able to capture here & there. My issue? Well, check it out on the nail…

Copperhead Sally Hansen Lustre Shine: A somewhat metallic copper with pink & bronze tones. Applies as more of a metallic but with little to no visible shift. Seen here is 2 even coats of easy application.

See what I mean? It is pretty, but I really think it is a dud compared to the rest of the Lustre Shines if you’re looking for a color shift. As far as bronzed coppers go, pretty, really it is. But as far as compared to Lava or Scarab, pssshhh puh-lease.

What do you think? Is this pretty enough for you to pay the heavy price tag? (More on the other shades & bottles shots + prices can be found on a prior post!) Is this a color that you love or is this one to pass on?

Holiday 2012: Anastasia of Beverly Hills Kisses on my List Lippies Kit Review + Swatches

October 2, 2012 By StephanieLouise 692Leave a Comment2012-10-02+20%3A41%3A00StephanieLouise

Remember seeing these Hydrafull Glosses in my Holiday 2012 sneak peek post awhile back? Well it is time to finally review after giving each shade a loving test drive. When it comes to lippies, I love them all. Tints to glosses & mattes to high sparkle, I want it all. I first reviewed the Anastasia of Beverly Hills See & Be Seen set over the summer when I was in California for IMATS 2012. The 2 shades in the See & Be Seen kit were Plastic & Heiress. We’ve had a serious love affair ever since. Keep reading to see these glosses in all their glory!

So every year Anastasia puts together these amazing kits for the holidays that are seriously steals. These 6 glosses are only $34…cheaper than many of my drugstore picks. Yes, you did read that right! The only issue? THESE SELL OUT. If you want them, don’t wait.

I feel like this collection of glosses was created just for me honestly. I love Heiress & Plastic (in fact it’s bordering obsession) but they are brighter & I like to wear something a bit more subdued for Fall/Winter. I tend to wear lots of darker eye looks or dramatic eyes which call for something a bit more…wearable. Each shade will be perfect year round, these are not your standard holiday glosses.

Before I dive into each shade, let’s talk about my passion for this applicator. I heart this oh so much. So let me explain what you are seeing here! This is a smaller paddle shaped applicator that MOVES but doesn’t disturb my lipstick if I apply this on top. It also doesn’t dye a padded doe foot. This allows me to get just the right amount out of the tube (you seriously don’t need much) so I don’t go overboard. I kind of dig that it is clear too, just a random thing I don’t see as often as your standard black or white.

Shades left to right (2nd photo with flash): Roxanne, Jolene, Lola, Sharona, Maggie May, & Moi.

Roxanne: My favorite & also the one pictured in the applicator photos. Have you seen this shade before on my blog? Why yes, it is a slightly mauver sister of one of my favorite nail polish shades, Spoiled’s Shrimp on the Barbie. Basically, it is glorious. This is a mauver pink with a beautiful gold sparkle.

Jolene: A medium to light pink with a slightly frosty shimmer. This doesn’t look frosty on the lips, it translates to more of a shine.

Lola: A very cool toned light pink with almost a slightly lilac tone in there. This has a beautiful slightly warm shimmer. The combo makes it very different but also very easy to wear.

Sharona: This is a beautiful peach & a bit more sheer. This too has the slightly frosty looking shimmer that translates on the lips as shine.

Maggie May: This is a super creamy pink toned nude. I find this to be a lot easier to wear than your standard opaque nude gloss.

Moi: This is a new shade to me, kind of a nuded out pink? It is probably going to lean more pink on most skintones though. Very creamy & opaque.

Texture wise, these are my besties. These are nice & thick but apply thin. It is seriously hard to explain. I like thicker/stickier glosses, especially in colder months, because they last. The big issue with thinner glosses is they don’t last & I rarely ever wear them on their own. These can definitely be paired with a lipstick but I wear these on their own as well. While they range in opacity, there isn’t one that I have in my stash as “only over ____” does this look right. Plus, some of them even tint your lips which I’m a big fan of. These have a light scent to them but I honestly don’t smell the vanilla on my lips after application. They all look wet/shiny but can be sheered out a bit or built up.

You can pick up this set for only $34 (a $90 value!) at Sephora & the Anastasia of Beverly Hills site. These sets are VERY limited edition & completely sold out last year.( The She Wears It Well Palette I reviewed has also sold out!) If you want this set at this value, grab it ASAP! I wasn’t kidding when I said these glosses were some of my very favorites, from applicator to formula!

What do you think? Loving the shades & wearability or are you looking for something more holiday-toned? Don’t forget to check out the Want You to Want Me clutch set for Holiday 2012 also from Anastasia Beverly Hills, the full review also has swatches!

**Products provided in consideration for review from PR. All my opinions are 110% my own.

Starlooks Starbox for September 2012 (My First One!)

October 1, 2012 By StephanieLouise 693Leave a Comment2012-10-01+14%3A35%3A00StephanieLouise

So if you haven’t heard the buzz about the Starbox from the makeup company Starlooks, it is definitely worth learning about! This is a subscription box for $15 a month that sends out FULL-SIZE products from the Starlooks line! If you haven’t seen their products before, I urge you to check out some videos on youtube. My favorite unboxing guru is thesassiwench who also has a blog as well! For the September box, I was incredibly blown away as it contained a product similar to one I had wanted to buy at IMATS but was sold out…read on, you won’t regret it!

So I was a bit thrown off when I got my Starlooks box because although I had never HAD one physically, I had watched numerous unboxings. Their packaging is now white, which threw me for a loop in the video so I hope that explains my mumbling haha.

Here’s a closer look at what the inside of my box looked like + the beautiful crystals. I had the hardest time photographing those tiny stones but PLEASE know they are absolutely lovely! I hope you can see the opal glow a bit!

Let’s look at the eye primer first! So this comes in a pot which I love. I know some people prefer eye primers in a tube but I actually love min in jars since I apply with a clean finger 99% of the time anyway. Plus, then you can take a spatula & get out every tiny bit as opposed to performing surgery on a tube as to not waste expensive product.

I’ve been using it for a few days now & I am quite impressed. As I stated in the video so eloquently (HA!) it doesn’t have that weird primer smell. WIN! It is a nice light primer, I can’t feel it on my lids at all after it sets up. It works as any primer does for eyes by making shadows last longer. The packaging is a nice, heavy glass which makes it feel more luxe.

I think I made it very clear that this palette is pretty remarkable in the video. Without repeating what I said 100 times again, this is definitely one of the things I’ve been looking for SO long. I just lucked into it, who would have thought? This is very similar to the very expensive NAKEDS stack I was planning to pick up at LA IMATS. When I had finally convinced myself to bite the bullet (ok it took maybe 2 seconds of convincing) they had been sold out since the day before.

I actually prefer this in a palette I think because you really won’t need very much. I think the swatches pretty much speak for themselves. I swatched each shade over a black gel liner then on its own to the right.

This was just one quick swatch of each shade, no blending. Do pictures speak louder than words or what? These are just too beautiful. I mean seriously, I adore. In fact, I left them swatched for hours because I am that distracted by shiny, beautiful things. I hope these go up on their site for purchase because if they ever make more shades, I’d love to pick them up. They act as transformers (as explained in the video) so they are super versatile.

So all in all, I was really impressed with this box! For $15 a month, you KNOW you’re getting full sized products which is what a lot of people are asking me to find in a sample box. Although Starlooks is still a relatively new brand to me, I definitely think they’re on the right track. All of the packaging felt very sturdy & reminiscent of higher end brands. Some of the things I judge are the outside feel, if the labels seem like they will wear off, closures, & general logic of packaging.Plus, their added bonus items are lovely!

I love that they have their own store as well, but I haven’t found these 2 products on there yet. Maybe they came out in the boxes first? That’d be pretty cool. One thing to note is that until they sell out, you can purchase PAST boxes HERE. How cool is that? Because the $15 box is usually quite a bit cheaper than full-sized products. From what I’ve calculated, these boxes are a great savings. Obviously this is my first box so I’m not sure about the past boxes, but they seem to be on par with this one. However, if you buy a PAST box, it is $25 instead of the regular $15.

Who do I think will like Starbox?If you hate foil packets, want full sized products, & are looking to try ONLY cosmetics then this is what you have been waiting for! I am so glad to finally be able to show you girls an ONLY cosmetics box, whew! Been a long time coming eh? I hope you’ll check them out & feel free to post your first reactions below!

**This Starbox was provided in consideration of review. NO affiliate links have been used.