September 2013 Beauty Lust List featuring Dior, Makeup Geek, & More!

September 27, 2013 By StephanieLouise 304Leave a Comment2013-09-27+21%3A45%3A00StephanieLouise

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Affiliate links.

Do you ever gt a severe case of the “I Wants”? I’ll assume yes because, well, you’re here! I’ve made quite a few purchases this month & still have a list around a mile long! I thought I’d show you some of the products I’ve been lusting after…feel free to tell me your thoughts if you own them or enable me with more options in the comments!Let’s get this party started shall we?

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Photo source: Sephora

Dior Miss Eau de Parfum
I had to put this at the top of my list because I’ve been lusting after it for YEARS! I’ve seriously gone through at least 10 testers! I have it on pretty good authority (upon penalty of severe disappointment) that I’ll be getting this for my anniversary next month! Finally! This is the first scent I could see as my signature. I am honestly not fond of it upon first spray but when it settles into my skin it smells incredible!

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Photo source: Sephora

Smashbox Liquid Halo Foundation
I’m trying to decide on a new foundation for fall but I’m left undecided. I usually go for drugstore but I’m not finding my current ones to be moisturizing enough. I figured it was time to invest in a more expensive (& hopefully higher quality!) option! I have pretty dry skin but I like some coverage. I also need something that wears for a long time. I like that this has SPF, isn’t matte, & is supposed to look natural. Has anyone tried it?

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Photo source: Sephora

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24HR
My other main contender is this foundation from Lancome. This is supposed to last a really long time (although I never wear my makeup for over 24 hours I guess that’s nice?) & not need touch ups. This is pricey but if it isn’t drying on my skin it will be worth it. I have a hard time finding something long wearing that doesn’t make me look like a dried out mummy up close.

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Photo source: Sephora

Benefit Boxed Blush in Dallas
With all the hype about their newest shade are you surprised to see Dallas on my list? I have a confession: I don’t own ANY Benefit boxed blushes, not one! Everyone is usually shocked but I got into the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes so I had my focus elsewhere. But Dallas has my attention. I’ve had this on my list since last fall because I think it would be the perfect addition to my oh so loved neutral blush in Exposed from the Tarte Amazonian line. This shade has a touch more mauve/plum so I think I’d wear it a lot in the colder months.

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Photo source: Sephora

Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in Fluorescent Beige
When the luxe Marc Jacobs line hit Sephora online I wasn’t all that impressed. Pretty yes but not stunning. When I went into the store, however, I fell for this polish specifically. It looks so pretty & ethereal & honestly the whole collection looks SO much better in person. I don’t shell out $18 for a nail polish often…but I just might have to snap this one up after hearing raves about the formula as well.

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Photo source: Sephora

Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con Palette in The Starlet
Another Marc Jacobs item? Well, duh, because I need more eyeshadow. Because this is the internet I’ll just tell you straight out that was in a severe sarcastic tone. But this palette spoke to me…the price did not. I’m loving it thought so who knows… I love the neutrals but when I swatched in the store the copper shade screamed my name.

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Photo source: Sephora

Lancome Gloss in Love in the shade Blink Pink
Normally I’m a pretty standard drugstore gloss girl. I have a lot & I like the variety without putting me into a spiraling black hole of lippie debt. But Lancome totally made something special here. I swatched this in the store, loved the color so much. Then I walked around. Because it is a gel it leveled out on my skin & looked EVEN BETTER. It was ridiculous. I need this & hope to buy it soon!

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source: Sephora

Tarte Pure Delights 8-Piece LipSurgence Lip Set
Omigarsh! It is that time of year (you know, before October) that they start rolling out holiday sets & this one got me right in the heart. I love the formula on these pencils SO much & the idea of having even more that are more travel friendly has me sold. Plus, the variety in the set looks nice with some of the regular formula & some mattes. All shades look fabulously wearable as well.

BLOGGER/VLOGGER ENABLERS

Photo source:ULTA

Pink Sith- NYX Mosaic Powder Blush
Sorry about the bad picture quality ya’ll. But seriously, I never expected this. Usually I stalk Pink Sith for high-end products to drool over so when she posted about her Top 10 Under $10 & I saw a blush I figured she knew what she was talking about. She knows her blushes. I’ll have to pick this up sometime in the future!

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Photo source: ULTA

Beauty Broadcast- Lorac Dazzling Dozen Eye Shadow Collection
Emily is constantly making me buy things through youtube or her blog. Seriously. She did a set of quick swatches on this set from ULTA & yeah, I need it. When she pointed out that the shade Smokin’ is a dupe for the Taupe shade in the Lorac Pro Palette I knew I was suckered in. I say that like it is such a terrible thing right? But honestly… $35 for 12 Lorac full sized singles is a steal.

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Photo source: Sigma

Vampy Varnish- Sigma Creme De Couture Palette
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this palette after watching some video reviews so I hit the web where I feel you can just get a better feel for most products. I love swatches & video swatches don’t always look all that great. When the fabulous Vampy Varnish reviewed this so honestly & swatched them so beautifully she swayed me to the “want” side of the spectrum. All of these shades are matte pastels mostly & just so pretty.

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Photo source: Sephora

Blushing Noir- Smashbox Fade to Black Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette
I am a big Smashbox fan & Brooke from Blushing Noir sang me a sweet, sweet tune about this lovely palette. Personally I think I prefer this palette above to the Fade In but she convinced me the quality was definitely worthwhile. I might even check out both. & her eyeshadow look? Gorgeous.

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Photo source: Makeup Geek site

Cosmetics Aficionado- Makeup Geek Liquid Gold Pigment
I’ve seen so many wonderful reviews on the Makeup Geek pigments but when Cosmetics Aficionado showed this awesome dupe for the Make Up For Ever Metal Powder #4 I was blown away! I’ve actually had my eye on that shade & to see her swatches where the Makeup Geek just looks SO much easier to work with I was sold. & can I really buy just one pigment? Let’s not be silly, I’m sure I’ll be hoarding quite a few in the nearish future.

Whew! So there you have it, my very long list of beauty lusts! Lots of things here I’m planning to pick up but I would absolutely love any recommendations or other products you think I might enjoy! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Zoya Zenith Collection for Winter/Holiday 2013 Swatches & Review

September 27, 2013 By StephanieLouise 305Leave a Comment2013-09-27+13%3A12%3A00StephanieLouise

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PR Sample. Referral links.

Zoya did something that made me SO happy this year- they went with more of a winter theme than a holiday one. Now don’t get me wrong, I love reds & greens. Really, I do! But sometimes collections for winter/holiday feel repetitive & this one doesn’t. I love the icy nature & how each shade is still seasonally appropriate without screaming a specific holiday. Love. The Zoya Zenith Collection for Winter/Holiday 2013 contains 6 gorgeous polishes, keep reading to see more!

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I added top coat with all of these shades out of habit but hey were also lovely without. Opaque-ness varied shade to shade so check the descriptions on that.

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Zoya Seraphina- A white/silver metallic base with silver shimmer. 3 coats. Probably could have gotten away with 2 if I wasn’t taking photos. Very metallic & looks like glittering snow, so winter appropriate!

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Zoya Cassedy- Metallic pewter with a green/teal tone. 1 coat to opaque. Completely unique shade & totally opaque. This is an expected winter shade but I think it works.

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Zoya Belinda- Royal purple (leans a bit less cool toned in real life) with fuchsia & purple-y blue shimmer. 2 coats.

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Zoya Payton- Rich slightly plum toned cranberry jelly packed with holographic shimmer. 2 coats. My favorite of the collection! Totally stunning & the holos really packed a punch!

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Zoya Dream- A deep blue jelly packed with holographic shimmer. 2 coats. Could’ve done 3 for photos but looked fine in real life. I’d do 3 next time for sure. I love this one as well but I think the shimmer is more prominent in Payton.

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Zoya Mosheen- Icy blue topper shade crammed full of iridescent shimmer & bar glitter. 2 coats over Belinda. 1 coat over Seraphina. A very pretty shade & definitely says winter.

These shades will be available on the Zoya site on October 1st. You can buy them as a set or pay $8 each.

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What shades are your favorite? Do you like this icy take on a holiday type collection? I’m pretty happy with this as a winter collection & am having a hard time playing favorites! I’d say if you love cranberry shades, holo, or jelly you need to pick up Payton though!

Top 7 Textured Nail Polishes for Fall 2013

September 26, 2013 By StephanieLouise 306Leave a Comment2013-09-26+19%3A49%3A00StephanieLouise

I bought it. PR Sample. Affiliate links.

I picked 7. I wanted to pick 5, totally could have done 10, but these 7 are my absolute favorites of the moment. I’ll have links to my past reviews with swatches & links to purchase if available. I adore this textured trend so much so that I hope it isn’t a trend but a whole new start. The textured shades I own wear extremely well, don’t need top coat, & the ones below scream fall. Enjoy!

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Zoya in Tomoko Pixie Dust Polish– Shimmering matte champagne.
Totally eye-catching while still being neutral. Work appropriate while still totally glam. (full review here)

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Zoya in Carter Pixie Dust Polish– Shimmering matte regal purple with purple glitter.
Maybe my favorite shade of all because it is SO glitter-tastic, wears SO well, & is my favorite color. Must. Own. (full review here)

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Zoya in Dhara Pixie Dust Polish- Shimmering matte orange with golden/copper gleams that looks like fire.
A fire-y orange? I don’t need to explain this pick further. (full review here)

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Sally Hansen Sugar Coat in Pink Sprinkle- A cranberry jelly type base with irregular glitters that look gold & copper/light bronze.
My husband eats cranberries by the can so of course I needed one here! I love that it is jelly-ish & the flakies are just fab.(full review here)

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Wet n Wild in Atten HUT!- Metallic silvered olive green with antique gold shimmer.
Olive-y. Military-ish. Totally in for this fall on the runway! (full review here)

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OPI in Stay the Night Liquid Sand Polish– A black base with faded red/pink small glitters.
Sexy, vampy, & just so fall to me. I still think it looks a bit like volcanic rock & the shimmer looks like embers.(full review here)

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OPI in Alcatraz…Rocks Liquid Sand Polish- A cool toned navy base packed with multi-colored shimmer mainly green, purple, & gold.
I love the heck out of this & it is totally original. Check out those different shades of shimmer, glorious! (full review here)(purchase here)

Here is a Pinterest friendly version for your convenience!

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If you love textures then I think you’ll definitely find something for fall here! As a reminder, these dry textured & matte. You can also add top coat so it is kind of like two polishes in one! I love each & every shade & plan to wear the heck out of them this season! Gee…can you tell I like textures with shimmer? What are your favorite textured shades for Fall 2013?

7 Random Must Have Beauty Tools!

September 24, 2013 By StephanieLouise 307Leave a Comment7+Random+Must+Have+Beauty+Tools%212013-09-24+22%3A53%3A00StephanieLouise

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I bought it. PR sample. Affiliate links.

Ever look at something I blog about & think How does she do that? or watch a video & think What is that handy dandy thing she’s using? Well, here are my current top beauty tools that you need in your life! All of these tools I consider must-haves & make my life so much easier! Let’s dive in!

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#1 Wet Brush
What it is: (from the Wet Brush site) Super soft IntelliFlex™ bristles. Detangle hair with ease. Works great on wet or dry hair.

Why I Love it: Seriously, this is just the best. I have fine, thick hair & man is it a job to detangle! I prefer this to my other brushes/combs meant for wet hair because the handle is convenient, it has held up perfectly for over 6 months, & it really does work. If you have kids with tangles I seriously can’t recommend this enough! I’m an adult & can’t imagine my hair without it ever again!

Where to Get it: You can purchase a Wet Brush from the Wet Brush site, Sallys Beauty Supply, & ULTA.

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#2 Make Up Miser
What it is: A set of three flexible and reusable makeup spatulas that allows you to “get to the bottom of it” and capture every drop of your expensive foundations, serums, moisturizers and other cosmetics.

Why I Love it: This is the product I’ve been waiting for, something to keep my long nails out of my foundations & various creams. Much more sanitary, gets all the product out of the bottom of inconvenient bottles of expensive product, & honestly just creates less of a mess! You need something like this if you use beauty products, create travel sizes of your favorites for trips, or are sick of wasting money! You get three different sizes that are flexible at the tip but nice & long on the handle.

Where to Get it: the Make Up Miser site.

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#3 The Makeup Guard Card
What it is: (from the Ollie Girl site) The guard card is made of a TPE-Styrene Blend that is a recyclable material that has an excellent flexural fatigue resistance and an outstanding resistance to chemical and weathering. The cards measure 2″ x 4″ in a trapezoidal shape with rounded, no sharp edges and measurement markings for measuring your exact eyeliner extensions. Angled sides with ruler measurements are specifically designed as a visual guide for doing a perfectly
even and clean eyeliner application every time.

Why I Love it: Ever heard of the credit card trick? How about disposable eyeshadow guards? Well this is so much better! Not only is it obviously more sanitary (hard to keep a credit card clean!) & doesn’t disrupt your makeup (adhesives clearly stick to skin & moves product around) but this just fits. The shape is perfect for eyeliner, eyeshadow, & any specific lines you want to draw or even out. Perfect for blending, measuring lines on each side with the ruler, & quick to clean. You can apply makeup much more evenly, cleanly, & quickly.

Where to Get it: from the Ollie Girl site.

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#4 Makeup Brush Guards
What it is: These are basically stretchy tubes that fit over your makeup brushes for storage, after cleaning, to reshape, & protect brushes.

Why I Love it: These are definitely must haves if you want to keep your brushes in good shape. When washing brushes, the bristles can get a bit funky & either flare or look different than before. They help keep their shape, come in a variety of sizes, & help your brushes dry & store correctly. I can’t imagine traveling without them either, I’ve ruined many a brush in the past but no more!

Where to Get it: You can get these from a variety of places like Sephora, the Brush Guard site, & even Coastal Scents.

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#5 Precision Tip Q-Tips
What it is: (from the Q-tip site) With pointed tips specially designed for makeup touch-ups and cleaning tight spaces, new Q-tips^® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs are must-have at home!

Why I Love it: These are just so stinking handy. I have some in a big pack but I love this little pack that is a little bigger than an Altoid tin. I refill it from my big set & then put this one in my purse. I use these to apply creams/ointments, treat cuts, clean up my eyeliner, clean up lip products, & I’ve even applied makeup on the go with them. The pointed tip makes these must haves!

Where to Get it: Walgreens, Target stores, Walmart stores, & drugstore.com.

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#6 Beauty Blender
What it is: (from the Beauty Blender site here) Blend your way to a flawless face! Seeing make up is the first sign of an amateur application. Beauty Blender was created without edges in order to eliminate visible lines and streaks. Use Beauty Blender damp when applying wet/dry make up. When Beauty Blender is wet it is normal for it to expand to nearly twice its original size. Use the pointed end and the stipple and twist technique to work make up into depressed areas of the face. The stippling and twisting action feathers out the make up’s edges, leaving a perfect finish.

Why I Love it: So normally these are pink but my newest batch I bought are black so they don’t show staining as much. This pounces foundation, concealer, & even cream face products effortlessly & blends every together with ease. You’re left with a finish that is pretty perfect & you can even layer products comfortably. This is also a must-have to impart a bit more moisture in my skin. I’ve tried some lower priced alternatives & they don’t come anywhere close to the softness, density, & pouncing ability.

Where to Get it: Zappos, Sephora, Beauty Bridge, & Beauty.com.

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#7 Travalo
What it is: (from the Travalo site) Travalo refills directly from a standard perfume bottle. With our patented system fragrance is never affected by exposure to the air and decants magically from one sealed bottle into another in just a few seconds, without any assembly or parts.

Why I Love it: So mine looks a bit different from the one available now because I’ve had it for a few years I think. Super easy to use, creates a travel fragrance in seconds, & is pretty darn affordable. I love this little device & have 2 or 3 of them floating around. I always have a daytime & a night fragrance on me, just in case. This is simple, saves me lots of money since buying bigger bottles is a better deal, & I can see in the window when I’m starting to run low. So handy.

Where to Get it: Perfumania, Macys, Kohls, & Travalo online.

What do you think of my top picks? Have you tried any of them? Want to? What about some of your favorites? I’d love to hear about them!

RocksBox Unboxing #4 & Review!

September 24, 2013 By StephanieLouise 308Leave a CommentRocksBox+Unboxing+%234+%26+Review%212013-09-24+14%3A24%3A00StephanieLouise

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Referral links. PR Sample.

When it comes to RocksBox (the jewelry subscription that lets you try new pieces & buy them at reduced prices or return them for new ones) they seem to be pretty hit or miss with my style. As always I received 3 items, read more to see them & what I thought!

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This month…my box was pretty knocked up. They were really nice when they started out but I think the re-use is take a toll on the quality. The packaging inside is still nice & unlike in the beginning the jewelry is safe & separated.

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Stilla Pendant in Gold from Viento
Retail Price: $100.00 Member Price: $80.00
This necklace is really pretty & has a nice quality chain. I like the color of the jewels as well but they don’t really stand out against the gold.

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Drop Earrings in Blue & Gold from Lucas Jack
Retail Price: $79.00 Member Price: $63.20
These earrings are a nice color & very lightweight…but definitely not worth the price. They feel & unfortunately look like plastic. Cute but not for me.

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Nail Bangle in Gold by CC Skye
Retail Price: $95.00 Member Price: $76.00
I really like this bracelet! It basically looks like a giant golden nail but rounded into a bangle. I’ve seen a lot of bracelets like this lately & they go with pretty much everything.

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This was another pricey month eh? Also…kind of thrown that all three pieces are gold. Don’t get me wrong, I love gold, but usually they send different types of metal. At least I got one of each though, that is nice variety. You can return all the pieces you don’t want to buy in the included bubble wrapper & they’ll send you new ones. I really liked the bracelet but I just bought a similar kind of design (but in silver with spikes) so I’ll bee sending all 3 back this month. You can check out my Instagram to see me wearing them both together!

Want to earn credits? Me too! This is important with any subscription service for me because freebies are just plain fun. You’ll receive $25 for every new member that you refer. You’ll also receive $5 for posting a photo of you wearing your items & tagging @RocksBox per RocksBox set. Luckily, I have a code for 50% a 3 month subscription thanks to iFabbo, just use the code FABB when you sign up! Please use my referral code here, I’ll love you forever!

What do you think? Any pieces you’d want to pick up? Have something similar?

Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipsticks Review & Lip Swatches

September 23, 2013 By StephanieLouise 309Leave a Comment2013-09-23+13%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

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I bought it. Affiliate links.

Revlon kills it when it comes to lip products. When I heard they were releasing a new line of lipsticks I was excited, what could it be? They covered the balm stains so I was thinking maybe they would try to compete with the Maybelline Vivid line? Nope! Instead they whipped up something worthy of a high end brand, keep reading to see why I am loving the Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipsticks!

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Like other Revlon lipsticks, I love the packaging. Peek windows on the top are my favorite so I can see the actual shade. Beyond helpful since labels often lie. Plus I can see what shimmer looks like which labels often hide.

From Revlon:
A silky lightweight formula that lets you indulge your decadent side. Available in 10 new luxurious shades.
– Exclusive LiquiSilk™ formula with mega-moisturizers seals in color and softness
– Silky-smooth, creamy texture
– Stay true color wears evenly

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Swatches from left to right: Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipsticks in Kissable Pink, Fuchsia Shock, Lovers Coral, Rich Girl Red, & Berry Couture. Each swatch is multiple swipes to build up the color to full opacity so you can see it.

This new Revlon Shine lipstick formula is very creamy & moisturizing but all of these shades seem to be more sheer than you’d think by the label or peek window. These do leave your lips with a kiss of shine much like a moisturizing balm but in a lipstick form. The shine does eventually wear away but the color lasts a bit longer. When the shine fades (within an hour) you’re left with more of a satin color & some of the darker shades actually stain the lips. I find these comfortable to wear & wear off evenly but not exactly long lasting.

For the lip swatches below, I did lighter swatches so you can see how I normally wear them & how they wear down a bit. You can absolutely get the same shade as the swatches above, just wanted to show some variety!

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Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink- A sheer shimmery pink. The shimmer comes across more as shine not shimmer so it doesn’t look frosty.

Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Fuchsia Shock- Creamy light fuchsia pink. You’d need to really build it up to make this shade opaque. I tend to prefer it sheer.

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Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Lovers Coral- A sheer creamy coral. I have been wearing this shade a lot this summer, I find it really flattering.

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Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Rich Girl Red- Sheer tomato red. Really pretty & easy to wear for a red.

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Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Berry Couture- This comes across as a neutral pink when sheer but it can be a bit more berry in a few more swipes.

I bought my lipsticks at a few places. When they weren’t on sale at CVS or Walgreens I’d snap them up at Target. Overall I’m pretty happy with my choices & I even picked up another shade called Pink Pearl which is a nice neutral that is barely noticeable minus the shine. My favorite shades I’ve picked up so far are Lovers Coral & Rich Girl Red but I actually like them all so far! I consider them a light balm & sheer lipstick hybrid.

What do you think of these shades? Have you tried any colors from the new Revlon Super Lustrous Shine line? Which shades are you most interested in?

Sephora Favorites $25 Give Me Some Lip Sampler Review + Swatches

September 20, 2013 By StephanieLouise 310Leave a Comment2013-09-20+17%3A21%3A00StephanieLouise

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I bought it. Affiliate links.

Are you a lip product junkie? Welcome to my den then because I freely admit I’m obsessed. I love me some new lippies…from purple to hot pink to nude to red. I just love them. When I spotted this set (which has come out in different varieties before) I immediately took a look. These Sephora Favorites sets are always a nice value & if they contain enough products I wanted anyway then they are almost like getting freebies. This set retails for $25 on Sephora but has a US value of $90. Keep reading to find out what I think!

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Right from the start- these are wearable shades. If you’re looking for a new hot pink or vivid lacquer red, skip this set. However, if you dig daily wear shades, this could definitely be a big hit for you. You get 6 products total & although I consider them all wearable they are different enough to switch around. I can’t really say how this would look on different skintones since I’m fair so I do apologize for that. Also, the price peels off & the box beneath the sleeve is a nice rose gold. This is a perfect gift!

From Sephora:
What it does:
This lip kit features the best glosses, sticks, glazes, and balms from Sephora’s favorite brands. Perfect for gift giving or as a treat for yourself, this collection has all you need for luscious, always-kissable lips.

This set contains:
– 0.10 oz Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Bare Pink
– 0.07 oz Buxom® Full-On™ Lip Polish in Dolly
– 0.14 oz NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight
– 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment
– 0.05 oz Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb
– 0.10 oz Tarte LipSurgence™ Lip Luster in Glitzy

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment– This is such a popular product & I have actually used up one of these before. A pretty tint & sleek packaging, this is a nice product. I will say…if you live in a warmer area don’t keep it in your purse, that sucker will indeed melt! I adore the color & that it has SPF 15. Always nice to get a product you already know is a winner!

Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Bare Pink– Laura Mercier makes some killer lip products & if you’re looking for a wearable shade of gloss this could very well be it! This is a creamy very light peach toned baby pink. Healthy, glossy, & quite comfortable for me to wear. I like this shade best layered over another. Also great to tone down shades for the fall/winter.

Buxom® Full-On™ Lip Polish in Dolly– So happy with this shade! Buxom makes some of my favorite lipglosses in general & this shade is so up my alley. They wear evenly, last a long time without being too sticky, & tingles a bit. Dolly is a muted mauve with golden shimmer. So pretty & totally perfect for fall!

NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight– As far as I know, this is the most popular NARS gloss shade. Rumored to be Kim Kardashian’s favorite lipgloss (at least a few years ago) you’ll see this all over. I honestly do really like the shade, it is pretty but not a must have in my collection. I think if I had a darker complexion this would be reached for a lot more. This is a semi-sheer creamy fair pink. I like the formula & enjoy the shade most to add some pink to overly nude shades.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb– Freaking pretty right? This is a plum/mauve & the formula is divine. I mean, seriously, I’m goingg have a problem not buying this whole line. Super comfortable, the pencil size isn’t too big or small, & the formula is just fabulous. This totally stays in place but is formulated without any parabens & a whole list of other not-so-great ingredients.

Tarte LipSurgence™ Lip Luster in Glitzy – I don’t own many of the Tarte LipSurgences in the Luster form so this was a nice addition! Plus it pretty much paid for the box! Glitzy is a nude-y pink with visible golden shimmer. For me, this isn’t too in your face so I quite like it. It doesn’t scream glitter to me which is a major plus. One thing to note is that because it is more neutral I find it easy to wear, I don’t have to fret about to staining or wearing off unevenly. Plus…I totally love the minty scent.

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Swatches left to right: Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment, Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Bare Pink, Buxom® Full-On™ Lip Polish in Dolly, NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight, Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb, & Tarte LipSurgence™ Lip Luster in Glitzy.

Overall you have wearable shades in a variety of finishes & textures. Quite happy with the sizes as well! For me personally, the Tarte LipSurgence in Glitzy made this kit worthwhile since it retails for $24 on its own. Basically I paid $1 for the rest of the products. Win. I’m surprisingly happy with all 6 products which is pretty great!

Want something bigger? Bolder? More money? There is a new-ish Sephora Favorites set called Give Me More Lips which contains 16 different products. Yes I bought it. Yes I’ll be reviewing it. Just wanted to give you a bit of a sneak peek in case you’re a lip junkie too! 😉

What do you think? Do you prefer these sets to have more variety or are you digging how wearable these shades are? Again, this is available for only $25 from Sephora.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Fall 2013 Nail Polishes in Malbec & Gold Roses

September 20, 2013 By StephanieLouise 311Leave a Comment2013-09-20+00%3A42%3A00StephanieLouise

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I’m pretty excited to show you the two Fall 2013 Tracy Reese Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polishes I picked up in Malbec & Gold Roses. This was a really pretty collection in person & these were the two that I had to have for fall. One is a stunning purple & the other is a rose gold…not surprised? Yeah if you’ve been reading for awhile then you probably saw that coming! Keep reading to see what I thought!

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Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Malbec- A beautiful red toned medium plum. 2 coats.

This is a lovely purple that is just so fall. I love red toned purples like this that have a lovely wine base. Purple is definitely my color so I never cringe at collecting another in a great shade & formula.

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Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gold Roses- Metallic true rose gold. 2 coats.

I’m calling this one a must have. You NEED this shade! Most rose gold shades lean more gold or even bronze but this has the perfect pinkness that makes it a true rose gold. So gorgeous & rose gold is still so on trend. Personally, I think metallics like this are timeless.

These shades? Winners. Absolutely. The Sally Hansen Tracy Reese collaborations are always stunning & this season is no different. What do you think? Have you picked up any polishes from this Fall 2013 collection?

SoFlaJo Black Mamba Nail Polish Swatches, Matte, + Review

September 18, 2013 By StephanieLouise 312Leave a Comment2013-09-18+21%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

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PR Sample.

Halloween is just around the candy corn-er, my favorite time of year. The pumpkins are singing, skeletons are dancing, & candy is copiously eaten. Black Mamba is from the “A Snake On the Hand Is Worth Two On The Toes” Halloween 2013 collection from SoFlaJo. This collection is based on slithering snakes which is a fun take! I keep thinking about the new season of American Horror story since one of the covens is from Louisiana & I imagine them rocking some eerie snakes. Okay, now onto the polish!

A Snake On the Hand Is Worth Two On the Toes Halloween 2013 Collection – See more at: http://www.soflajo.com/product/black-mamba/#sthash.NVGdHy9v.dpuf

a black jelly with green holographic glitter and green hex glitter. – See more at: http://www.soflajo.com/product/black-mamba/#sthash.NVGdHy9v.dpuf

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SoFlaJo Black Mamba- A black jelly base packed with emerald green medium & small hex glitter, shimmer, & scattered small holo hexes. 3 coats seen here but it was opaque in 2.

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With Butter LONDON Matte Finish Shine Free Topcoat. I’ve been really digging glitters matte lately & I think this time of year is the best for it.

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With Seche Vite topcoat. Glossy is probably my favorite for this polish, pretty right? The holos really come out to play.

All SoFlaJo polishes are made from natural pigments and glitters with bases free of the chemicals Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin and Dibutyl Phthalate. All SoFlaJo polishes contain solvent resistant stainless steel mixing balls. – See more at: http://www.soflajo.com/product/black-mamba/#sthash.NVGdHy9v.dpuf

This shade & the rest of the collection can be purchased for $10 each .05/15ml full size wwwSoflaJo.com.

This is a sample size bottle so the full sizes are much larger. The prices have changed on SoFlaJo as well! US shipping to a flat rate of $2 per order. And International shipping to a flat rate of $10 per order. These rates apply ONLY on the SoFlaJo site, not on etsy.

What do you think of this shade? I think it feels very Halloween & definitely inspired by slithering, glistening snakes!

My First Wantable Box: Thoughts, Customer Service, & Mini Reviews

September 18, 2013 By StephanieLouise 313Leave a Comment2013-09-18+12%3A31%3A00StephanieLouise

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PR Sample. Referral links.

Wantable is a new to me subscription that has three options: beauty, intimates, & accessories. There is a very in depth quiz (more on that below!) that gears your interests then your box is shipped out full of mystery items promising to be worth $80-$100 in value. Was it worth it & what did I get? keep reading to find out! [Read more…]