Finger Paints Pop Movement for Summer 2014 Nail Polish Swatches & Review

May 5, 2014 By StephanieLouise 129Leave a Comment2014-05-05+22%3A13%3A00StephanieLouise

Finger Paints Pop Movement Collection for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

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Finger Paints has a new collection out for Summer called Pop Movement that seriously has me yearning for poolside & umbrella drinks! Fun glitters, beautiful creams, & a whole lot of summer going on! Keep reading to get up close & personal!

All shades were applied with a top coat. The glitters were dabbed on for nice coverage. Above is Finger Paints Nail Polish in Ka-Pow because that neon pink might make it seem a bit different! I don’t have anything like it! Each cream had REALLY nice coverage & Finger Paints Kitchy Tangerine is a new favorite orange…which I often don’t love in collections!

Finger Paints Three's A Party from the Kitchy Tangerine for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

Finger Paints Kitchy Tangerine -A slightly neon, bright orange.

Finger Paints Three's A Party from the Kozmotology for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

Finger Paints Kozmotology – Red, sky blue, black, & soft yellow hex glitters in a clear base.

Finger Paints Paper Mache from the Pop Movement for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

Finger Paints Paper Mache – A white cream.

Finger Paints Three's A Party from the Pop Movement for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

Finger Paints Three’s A Party – Red, peach, & sky blue hex glitters in a clear base.

Finger Paints Art Deco Pink from the Pop Movement for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

Finger Paints Art Deco Pink – A neon hot pink.

Finger Paints Ka-Pow from the Pop Movement for Summer 2014 Swatches & Review

Finger Paints Ka-Pow -Light pink, red, white, & black hex glitters in a clear base.

I love this collection- super fun right? What shades scream summer to you? What are your favorites?

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster Review

May 5, 2014 By StephanieLouise 130Leave a Comment2014-05-05+13%3A46%3A00StephanieLouise

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Dermalogica is a brand I’ve used off & on for years. Their products tend to be pretty pricey but they also have a lot of quite original products. I have quite dry/combo skin & I’ve has LOTS of skin issues lately so this one could be exactly what I need! Keep reading to see how the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster worked out for me!

From Dermalogica- “Hydrating fluid concentrate relieves dryness and fine lines. Help lift moisture levels and minimize fine lines by mixing into your prescribed Dermalogica Moisturizer or applying directly to parched skin. Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Glycolipids and Algae Extract help restore moisture balance. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.”

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So this actually is more like a serum than anything else. You’re supposed to use it on clean skin under moisturizer…so again pretty much a serum. It even looks like many serums- for some reason I pictured this to be more watery but you can see it hold shape. I do think the packaging is effective because you have quite decent control but for the price point it definitely doesn’t feel luxe or look expensive. Something to consider at this price for me personally since I tend to expect glass & pretties when shelling out the big bucks. This has a noticeable lavendar scent as well so if that is a problem for your skincare routine you’ll want to pass.

I tried using this a variety of ways to best find the way it would work for my combo/dry skin. Lately I’ve been having breakouts- especially around my nose & chin area. I also have quite dry skin on my cheeks, lightly on my neck, & often under my eyes. It is a placement game when it comes to acne or hydrating combat products. I tried applying this as directed, as a moisturizer on its own, & as a touch up product. Unfortunately I don’t think is heavy duty enough to serve on a moisturizing product on its own & it didn’t work well as a touch up over products either. I tried using it as a serum just under my moisturizer & I didn’t find it made a large difference later on in the day. My skin started getting dry about the same time.

Unfortunately this wasn’t a great match for my skin personally but I think maybe if you had more oily skin with some dry patches you might have better results! You can purchased the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster from the Dermalogica site, ULTA, & wherever Dermalogica products are sold for around $56.00.

What products help you boost hydration in your skincare routine? What is your favorite Dermalogica product?

Demeter Fragrances for Spring 2014: Wet Garden, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Rain, Honeysuckle, & Sunflower

May 2, 2014 By StephanieLouise 131Leave a Comment2014-05-02+15%3A58%3A00StephanieLouise

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I actually had something else planned for today but I woke up to a surprise- sunshine. Beautiful streams of light for this first time all week! It has been so dreary here & I haven’t been feeling the spring love until now! To celebrate I want to share with you some new to me & old favorites from the Demeter Fragrance Library that are indescribably (although I do try!) SPRING. Ready to catch spring fever? Just keep reading!

Demeter Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray in Wet Garden-
This is surprisingly one of my favorite Demeter scents EVER now! I love rainy days as much as sunshine but here in Nebraska it is just so dreary. We miss all the good storms, most of the rain, & are left with yucky looking skylines. This scent makes me instantly calm & happy at the same time. If florals are overpowering to you- check this out! If you love rainy days & want to smell the rain outdoors on your own skin- this is definitely for you! This encompasses a great day of gardening & watering with notes of green, dirt, & florals perfectly combined. Learn more here.

Demeter Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray in Jasmine-
I can’t believe I didn’t have a single of this scent since my skin pulls Jasmine out of pretty much every perfume containing it. Just the way my chemistry works! I love the Jasmine in Moonbeam (review here!) which I wore SO much last year. I’m excited to have a spray-on version of jasmine since I normally have to use an oil which can be messy. Jasmine smells so exotic & sensual that having the scent on its own is awesome! Check it out here.

Demeter Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray in Orange Blossom-
This was such a nice surprise! I actually got this scent because Ryan loves citrus scents but to me they’re usually just alright. I was hoping this would be a mix between a citrus & a floral & it is! The scent itself smells warm (like actual sunshine!) & really expensive flowers. I must have a sensory experience attached because I think back to a certain hotel lobby that must have had these blooms! It is immediately calming & takes me to a place of expensive relaxation. Buy it here.

Demeter Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray in Rain-
The scent of rain is actually a funny mix not of what comes from the sky but more when it hits the ground! I love the smell of rain on grass/dirt areas- it transports me back to when I was a kid & we’d try to stay outside during recess while frantic teachers tried to reign us in. This is a more subtle, clean scent but has nicer lasting power than expected. Now I definitely need to try Demeter’s version of Thunderstorm since I hope it pulls memories of my years in Arizona & Vegas with monsoon season. Check it out here.

Demeter Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray in Honeysuckle-
This is a guilty pleasure scent for me because my husband has never liked honeysuckle in anything! I try to sneak it in when I can- burning the wax melts in my office, using the candles while he isn’t home, & finally now taking a whip straight from the source! It just smells so incredibly sunny & happy- & like pure honeysuckle goodness. Check it out here.

Demeter Naturals 100% Natural eau de Toilette in Sunflower-
So this is my first ever fragrance form the Demeter Naturals line & I definitely need to pick up some more! From Demeter- Demeter Naturals is the first collection of 100% Natural fragrances at prices anyone can afford, with products between $8.00 and $29.00. Sunflower is kind of a funny scent for me because I always had some kind of idea of what they smelled like from random bouquets but I’ve never had it in a singular scent. The scent itself is actually wonderfully warm & not overly floral at all! This line contains 100% all Natural essential oils, alcohol naturally fermented from corn, distilled water, no artificial color & no phthalates. Buy it here.

Fragrances are one of my favorite excruciatingly easy ways to transition seasons & I think you’ll likely find more than one perfect match from Demeter. Whether you want something clean & soft like Rain or something a bit more floral & sultry like Jasmine you’ll likely find a scent you don’t want to put down. I’m already scoping out some new scents for summer & my eye is on Swimming Pool, Beeswax, & White Sangria! You can see all of the scents on the Demeter website here.

What scents appeal to you most when you transition into springtime? What is your favorite Demeter scent or the one you’d most like to try?

Requested: Laura Mercier Effortless Orchid Eye & Lip Tutorial + Video

April 30, 2014 By StephanieLouise 133Leave a Comment2014-04-30+21%3A11%3A00StephanieLouise

photo LauraMercierOrchidMainPic_zps566bd93d.jpg PR Sample. I bought it. Affiliate links.

Recently I asked on my facebook page what kind of tutorials you guys would most like to see & I got some pretty unexpected answers! Two that really caught my eye were work appropriate & something for those with arthritic hands. You may be thinking those don’t go together but I thought I could make it work! I wanted to come up with something really effortless that wouldn’t require a lot of blending or work in general. The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours are perfect for this! Keep reading to see how you can get a quick eye look & soft orchid lip- on trend & on time! [Read more…]

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm Review

April 28, 2014 By StephanieLouise 134Leave a Comment2014-04-28+16%3A33%3A00StephanieLouise

What skincare does Demi Lovato use? Here's a review of the Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm shown!

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Oh eye creams- I am a serious addict. I like skincare overall but I’m constantly comparing & battling out eye creams to find my perfect match. I have combo/dry skin & my eyes are often a source of issues for me. Whether they’re dry, puffy, or even eczema ridden I’m constantly fixing something. Was the Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm a love match? Keep reading to find out!

I first really took notice of this product when Demi Lovato tweeted about it. She really has gorgeous skin & I try to pay attention to stars in my age bracket since they really can choose to use anything! She called this group of products her “miracle workers” & there are really some awesome ones up there! I took most notice of the eye balm of course but maybe I’ll try some of the others in the future too! Who doesn’t want celeb-worthy skin?

So what makes this so special? Well, after about 6 months of off & on use I think I can tell you! This isn’t a cream but a balm & it is wonderfully balanced hydration for me which is oh-so-important. Hydration is important for making your undereyes look more healthy, reducing wrinkles, & applying undereye makeup seamlessly. Ever tried to apply concealer on dry, patchy undereyes? No one wants that look!

Not only does this eye balm hydrate but it sinks in quite quickly which is surprising. Normally when something sinks in quickly it isn’t moisturizing enough for me but that just isn’t the case this time. This nourishing cream is supposed to diminish signs of aging around the eyes with time. I immediately noticed my dark circles improving within a week & it helps with puffiness as well. Alguronic Acid combined with vitamin C, caffeine, cucumber, aloe and green tea extracts help reduce fine lines and wrinkles while nourishing and hydrating the eye area. It also doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. The scent is really light & doesn’t irritate my allergy-prone sensitive eye area at all.

I’ve always really enjoyed Algenist products but this one goes above & beyond for me personally- a wonderful surprise. I can’t imagine not having a jar on hand at all times! I find myself using this off & on both day & night but I think I prefer it at night. I used this the entire time I was in California on vacation because I know I can truly depend on it. This is an amazing product & I couldn’t be happier I found it!

What’s your favorite Algenist product? What star’s skincare regime would you most like to steal?

Sephora VIB Rouge Make Up For Ever Free Birthday Gift Set Swatches & Review

April 23, 2014 By StephanieLouise 135Leave a Comment2014-04-23+16%3A50%3A00StephanieLouise

Sephora VIB Rouge 2014 Happy Birthday Free Gift Make Up For Ever Review Swatches

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So if you caught my post featuring the Sephora free Birthday gift for Beauty Insiders last year which I’ve linked here then you know I love this program. I happen to spend an obscene amount at Sephora which is why I have the VIB Rouge set which features the eyeliner as well. Last year the gift was from Benefit & this year they teamed up with Make Up For Ever. Keep reading to see what was inside!

This year the free gift contains a Make Up For Ever deluxe sample of their Smoky Extravagant Mascara in Black, Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N9 Copper Pink, & because I’m a VIB Rouge a very mini Aqua Eyes Eyeliner Crayon in 0L Matte Black.

So the gift last year contained a mini size of the Benefit They’re Real! Mascara & an adorable little Benefit Watt’s Up! Highlighter. I loved that duo so much & it confirmed that They’re Real! doesn’t play well with my allergies which saved me some cash. Watt’s Up is awesome- still working on that mini!

So for me I feel like this was a nice into to Make Up For Ever because although I have multiple products from them I don’t consider any of the holy grail. I don’t think any of these 3 are either unfortunately (or not since they’re really pricey) but now I know what isn’t a great match for me! My favorite from this set is easily the lipstick- love the color & the formula. It isn’t heavy & feels comfortable on the lips. I won’t be sprinting out to buy more because of the scent though. It kind of reminds me of a mix of Lancome & Covergirl but I don’t have emotional/memory ties to MUFE so I was having trouble getting past it for the price. The texture reminds me of some of my Laura Mercier lipsticks which I prefer. The eyeliner, to put it bluntly, isn’t black enough for the price. It is waterproof but the color isn’t a love match. The mascara I still can’t decide on- I find the brush hard to maneuver into my corners without getting clumpy but sometimes that changes when a mascara dries out a bit. I’ll keep using it.

I’ll never knock these gifts because they’re both free & helpful so don’t think I’m bashing- this just wasn’t as stellar as last year’s for me personally. Have you picked yours up yet? Do you have any holy grail Make Up For Ever products I need to check out?

Prestige Total Intensity Bold Eye Trio in Smoke & Mirrors Swatches & Review

April 22, 2014 By StephanieLouise 136Leave a Comment2014-04-22+15%3A13%3A00StephanieLouise

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I actually have had this review sitting on the back burner a long time. Like 2013 photo album long time. I don’t really know what to say other than it got lost in the shuffle! Prestige Cosmetics don’t get a lot of hype so hopefully after reading this you might want to check out some more of their eyeshadows (I have!) because these shades are beautiful. Today I’ll be showing you the Prestige Cosmetics Total Intensity Bold Trio Eyeshadow in Smoke & Mirrors!

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So this trio isn’t your normal smoky look- it is actually pretty unique.Instead of white, gray, & black (which I have seen about a million times) this trio has a soft whitened gold, metallic taupe, & satin matte black.

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These swatches are over the ELF $1 primer. These shades can also be applied foiled which is really striking as well although a bit more difficult to work with. I found they didn’t layer quite as well wet. Aren’t the colors lovely?

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Here’s a look I put together over a year ago, did I have less wrinkles? I had bad eyebrows though. Yeah. Please don’t pay attention to those. In fact, don’t compare wrinkle depth either.

I love the taupe shade because it is taupe & that’s my jam but surprisingly I love this white gold shade as well! I don’t think I’d use it as a highlight under my browbone but I love it in my inner corner! Have you tried any Prestige products recently? Thoughts? I think I want to pick up at least one more trio & maybe some singles! I haven’t tried anything but eyeshadows yet but maybe I should!

Glamour Doll Eyes Insider Package for April 2014 Video + 4 March Looks!

April 21, 2014 By StephanieLouise 137Leave a Comment2014-04-21+19%3A58%3A00StephanieLouise

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If you’re thinking “Hey Stephanie! This is up REALLY late this month!” I already know. I really do. I was in a panic but a kind neighbor dropped my package by after it had accidentally been delivered to their house. Whew! Crisis averted! I’m a Glamour Doll Eyes Insider & this month’s package is (shocker) absolutely stunning. Keep reading to check out the new shades & for a shade breakdown of my 4 looks I posted last month!

You can view everything in the downbar of my video by clicking here! I also always include my jewelry, clothing, lip color, eye look, etc. Please don’t forget to subscribe!

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Look #1 Glamour Doll Eyes S & M on the lid & up into the crease. I used GDE Flawless as both a highlight & blender shade. I love one color sultry looks here & there- they can be seriously striking.

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Look #2 Glamour Doll Eyes Heedless Heart with Foil Me on lid, Just Bitten a touch in the crease, Flawless as my highlight/blending shade. I love how soft & springy this looks but with the Foil Me making it more metallic it is a bit different than the norm.

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Look #3 On my lid I used Glamour Doll Eyes Going Green, GDE Doll House on my inner corner, GDE Unveil a touch in the crease, & GDE Angel Wings as my highlight. GDE Going Green with a bit of GDE Foil Me is on my lower lashline.

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Look #4 Glamour Doll Eyes Undressed on the lid, GDE Katie’s Storm to blend out in the crease & in the inner corners. On my lips is Glamour Doll Eyes HydraGlaze Gloss in Homicide.

Hope you enjoyed this month’s unboxing for my Glamour Doll Insider package & my 4 looks from last month! Any color combos you want to see this month?

Eve Pearl Diva Eyes Eyeshadow Palette Swatches & Review

April 21, 2014 By StephanieLouise 138Leave a Comment2014-04-21+12%3A37%3A00StephanieLouise

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I bought it. Affiliate links.

A few years ago I saw Eve Pearl speak at the IMATS in LA. Both my mother & I were entranced by her- so much professionalism & an absolute wealth of knowledge. We watched her completely transform people’s faces with her methods & were pleasantly surprised when she wouldn’t take volunteers that didn’t have anything to fix. She wanted people with noticeable redness or acne or even aging. She was so inspiring that we both immediately went to her booth afterwards to check out her products. To our disappointment, however, it was swamped & many of the shades we were interested in were long gone. Bummer.

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A few months later I scoped out her site again & made a list of things I’d like to eventually pick up. I do this sometimes with brands I’m not super familiar with- it reminds me to keep an eye out for reviews & deals. The Eve Pearl Diva Eyes Eyeshadow Palette was on the list because it looked like the perfect little fall-esque palette. After playing with it awhile longer, I still think it is more fall-toned for me but the shades are beautiful year round. Keep reading to see what I think!

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The packaging on this very compact 6-pan palette is sleek & simple. It comes with a small velvet pouch to store it in & the palette itself is sturdy. The back of the packaging gives some basics along with the shade names which I’ve also outlined below.

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These shades all feel & look like semi-mattes with shimmer. Although not all of the palettes are this way this palette in particular doesn’t contain any mattes. This palette (for me personally) isn’t the only one I’d use on my eyes. I’d need a matte shade or two along with some kind of highlight/blender. I use this with one of my matte, neutral palettes to create a full eye look or else I think it looks like a bit much.

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Top row left to right: Sugar Plum, Cinnamon, & Desert Rose. Bottom row left to right: Black Frost, Midnight Blue, & Emerald Green. Swatches are done over a basic primer.

These shades are very striking & although I don’t feel like this palette itself is everything I need to travel with it is something I quite enjoy reaching for. I’d definitely be interested in picking up some more eyeshadows & maybe pairing this with a palette from Eve Pearl that is a bit more wearable- I have my eye on the Pretty in Pink & Au Natural Eyes Palettes. Each shade has a lovely texture & nice, layerable pigmentation.

What do you think of these shades? Are there any Eve Pearl products I need to get my hands on? Who have you seen speak that really inspires you?

Happy Easter Zoya Spring Awakening Mixed Nail Art Manicure!

April 20, 2014 By StephanieLouise 139Leave a Comment2014-04-20+14%3A25%3A00StephanieLouise

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PR Sample.

When a holiday rolls around I can’t help but feel that urge for a bit of nail art! I recently did some easy wrapped tips with some of the Zoya Spring 2014 Awakening Collection here & a full review of these shades here…& I still can’t get enough!

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The blue shade is Zoya Rebel, purple is Zoya Hudson, & green is Zoya Dillon. I love these 3 together!

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On my pointer I did stripes, on my midde I did Xes & a bow, ring finger is what I think of a traditional trio for an Easter egg, & on my pinky is the swirly color decoration I like to do.

What are you rocking for Easter? What are you doing today? Whatever it is, I hope it is a great day for you too!