Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms in Watermelon & Berry Twist Swatches & Review

February 25, 2013 By StephanieLouise 525Leave a Comment2013-02-25+14%3A41%3A00StephanieLouise

I’m totally engrossed in the jumbo lipstick/balm/stain trend. I have a few more to pick up (like the Neutrogena… if you like that one comment me below!) then I plan to do a larger scale comparison. I’ve had a couple of requests to see the Tarte version which I love & I’ve already reviewed the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains although I’ve since picked up one or two more. Overall I like this application because (as long as they aren’t too soft) these pencils have perfect control & are much easier for me to take on the go & apply in a pinch. Covergirl released a similar concept except these are promoted as a “sheer wash of color” on the lips.

From Covergirl:
Twist up the color and glide on the shine. Treat your lips to a balm fortified with shea and mango butters for a smooth look with a hint of color. Sheer color in 16 shades. Soft shine without the sticky feeling

So I knew all of this going in, I wasn’t expecting WOW pigmentation like an OCC Lip Tar & I was expecting these to perform more like maybe my Maybelline Baby Lips that I love so much.

The packaging on these is about average. I like that you can see the corresponding shade on the cap. These are twist up lip products so that’s what the silver base is. These do come sealed with a plastic wrap which I really appreciate. My biggest complaint (& probably will forever be) with products is when you can’t see the shade name on them after removing the outer packaging. Am I supposed to never open these? They do have numbers on the bottom so I was able to look up the shade names…but I just don’t think that is as good. When you name your products ( & cute catchy names at that) I want to be able to see them!

Bare Lips(excuse my clearly sickly coloring currently)

Watermelon Twist- Sheer, warm pink.

Berry Twist- Sheer fuchsia toned berry.

Left is Watermelon Twist & right is Berry Twist

Texture & Wear:
I find these to be more moisturizing than the Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stains but I don’t consider those very moisturizing in general because they are stains. I find them less moisturizing than my Revlon Lip Butters & they do offer some sheerer options. I was surprised on the pigmentation on these, although they are marketed as sheer, sheer, sheer! they actually pack some pigment & from what I’ve seen of some of the deeper shades significantly more then sheer.

I think I’m still (after over a month & a few requests for a review of these) trying to decide how I feel. These don’t provide the kick of moisture for when I need something moisturizing or the intense pigment kick of many lip products. I also don’t find them all that glossy. They’re somewhere in between. I might need to pick up a deeper shade since that is what people tend to be preferring overall.

What do you think of the Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms? What is your favorite jumbo pencil type lip product?

Soap Cartel Lavender Muse, Egyptian Rose, & Detox Campaign Soap Bars Review

February 24, 2013 By StephanieLouise 5261 Comment2013-02-24+15%3A38%3A00StephanieLouise

When it comes to soap, I’m all about the scent. Of course I want to get clean & not have to fumble but it really is all about the scent. Very rarely do I still with one specific type, just go by smell. Soap Cartel totally has me covered. Not only are these super pretty to look at, smell great, & feel wonderful on the skin but they also have loads of ingredients I like using on my body.

My soaps arrived packaged in a waxy paper then placed in a small burlap sack with “Soap Cartel” printed on the outside. Each bar of soap has the name pressed into the bar & the type of soap is around the closure of the bag. You can see them next to each bar below. Each bar is between 4.5-5 oz.

From Soap Cartel:

Our rustic soaps are made using the old-fashioned cold-process method and cure for a minimum of 4 weeks. Every one of our handmade soap bars is created using oils of olive, coconut, palm, castor, & avocado along with skin-nourishing mango and organic African Shea butter.

All of our products are made in small batches using 100% natural, sustainable and many organic ingredients. Every one of our items is hand crafted and unique. We take pride in our products knowing that we have utilized high-quality ingredients such as essential oils, clays, butters and herbs. We do not use any synthetic ingredients in our products.

Lavender Muse Soap Bar: This is a nourishing vegetable soap made with African Shea butter and scented with pure French Lavender bringing a classic aroma to an entirely new level. Enhanced with Mediterranean Sea Clay and avocado oil; this soap gives you just the right amount of soothing pleasure and moisturizing qualities.

I absolutely love this soap! Perfect for a relaxing late night bath or shower before bed. Moisturizing without leaving that weird film some soaps leave. Plus, it looks lovely.

Egyptian Rose Soap Bar: Pink soap has arrived! This is a beautiful blend of Egyptian rose, mint & Italian bergamot with just a hint of delicate spices. This soap was fashioned with pink rose clay to create an indulgent bar that detoxifies and clears the skins impurities. A perfect complement to an amazing blend of nourishing oils and body butters used to craft this soap.

Probably my favorite soap because I’m such a rose hoarder. This is a beautiful blend of rose & bergamot with a tinge of mint that makes it refreshing. This isn’t quite as moisturizing (although leaves my skin very comfortable) as the Lavender Muse soap but it does feel like it is cleaning my pores. I love the lingering scent!

Detox Campaign Soap Bar: Soap Cartel’s activated charcoal bar will take care of those pesky impurities and will bring you the right amount of detoxifying properties. Bursting with the proper amount of luxurious oils and the right blend of Eucalyptus and Australian Tea tree oil to satisfy many skin complexities; this natural soap goes deep into the skin to revitalize the pores and awaken your senses.

Let’s take a moment to marvel at the awesome-ness of the image of this soap. It looks so, well, badass. I love the smell of Eucalyptus & tea tree oil so I was loving this one. It just smells so clean & healthy to me. It also helps with my headaches & to clean my sinuses so to have it in a soap form is lovely & appreciated. The charcoal in this definitely pulls out impurities. I’m a big fan of this soap.

I’m a big fan of these clearly, wonderful. Really something special. These make amazing soaps for myself & would be perfect gifts for any occasion. You can purchase Soap Cartel items on their website. They also sell items for skincare, hand soaps & more. I would really love to try their bath tablets, Gentle Giant Soap, & skincare items!

**Items provided in consideration of review. All opinions are my own. Not a sponsored post.

Nails: China Glaze Def Defying Swatches & Review

February 23, 2013 By StephanieLouise 527Leave a Comment2013-02-23+19%3A20%3A00StephanieLouise

This was a shade I picked up recently from the Cirque Collection from China Glaze. Originally, I passed it up & went for the glitters ( I swatched Whirled Away, Water You Waiting For, & my favorite shade It’s a Trap-Eze! here) because, well, they’re glitters. I actually picked up Def Defying & Hanging in the Balance which I’ll show you later on. How I passed up Def Defying I don’t know…I am a green fanatic especially when they lean lime-y.

China Glaze Def Defying- Vivid chartreuse/lime green creme. Perfect & shiny in two coats. No top coat.

I love this so much! What do you think? Did you pick up any shades from the Cirque collection?

Nails: Sinful Colors Almost Famous Glitter Collection Swatches & Review

February 22, 2013 By StephanieLouise 528Leave a Comment2013-02-22+22%3A36%3A00StephanieLouise

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This is a pretty pic heavy post because wowie, these are lovely. Along with the Sugar Rush Collection I swatched yesterday from Sinful Colors, these are the current Sinful Colors Collections. You’re going to see some nice variety here along with a few really unique combinations. Keep reading to see swatches of each shade!
So all of these glitters are swatched over the Sinful Colors Sugar Rush collection. Shade names will be listed under each set of swatches for reference. None of these swatches are with base coat. Amount of coats varies so read the descriptions! Also…my very favorite polish is at the end!

In the Spotlight- Light green/turquoise fine glitter, shimmer dust, & a rainbow of small hexes in the shades blue, silver, green, gold, orange, purple, & fuchsia. You’ll see a few more shades in this collection with a similar glitter coloring. 1 coat with a bit of manipulation with the brush. Seen here over Sinful Colors Sugar Rush.

Lush Life- Turquoise micro, small, & medium hexes in a clear base. 1 coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Cotton Candy.

Poparazzi- Small purple hex glitter in a clear base. Dense, a bit irritating to clean up. One coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Orange Cream.

Fantasy- Purple fine glitter, holo shimmer dust, & a rainbow of small hexes in the shades blue, silver, green, gold, orange, purple, & fuchsia. 1 coat of absolute gorgeousness. Seen here over Sinful Colors Candy Coated.

After Party- Bright blue micro & medium hexes in a clear base. 1 coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Sugar N Spice.

Show Stopping- Square holo micro glitter, light pink micro glitter, & small holo hexes. I think this one would be tough to get opaque but it is a stunning topper. Even coverage seen here in 1 coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Sweet Tooth.

Star Dust- Purple tinged base densely packed with purple micro hexes & small fuchsia hexes. This has a hidden purple shimmer that is really faint. 1 coat was patchy & a bit awkward so this is 2 coats which is obviously quite thick over a base color. Seen here over Sinful Colors Unicorn. Next time I’d put it over a purple or black base. Could be opaque on its own.

Bombshell- Ultra fine blue/green flaky dust (much like a crushed up version of Zoya’s Maisie flakie glitter) in a clear base along with the rainbow small hexes. I used 2 coats because it is absolutely glorious & I honestly couldn’t believe it was flakies! Clearly…my favorite because I’m an insane flakie fanatic. Seen here over Sinful Colors in Sweet Nothing.

So overall, this collection is awesomely varied & quite different from anything else I’ve seen from Sinful Colors. There are some awesome rainbow glitters in here along with some staple glitter shades. Did I need them all? Well considering they’re currently on sale for $1 each with the Walgreens coupon…yes, yes I did.

What do you guys think of these shades? Don’t forget to check out the Sugar Rush Collection from Sinful Colors too, that’s what these are swatched over! What is your favorite shade?

Accessories: Grace Adele Items

February 22, 2013 By StephanieLouise 529Leave a CommentAccessories%3A+Grace+Adele+Items2013-02-22+15%3A21%3A00StephanieLouise

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So this morning, a bit of a different kind of post! I received a few items from a Grace Adele consultant & I’ll be sharing them with you today. Also, the whole way that Grace Adele works…because it is totally different from anything else I’ve ever seen!

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So looking at the http://graceadele.com/ site…this is definitely a new concept. Basically you choose different pieces of your purse & put them together like a puzzle. You pick your base bag then add onto it.

Here’s their equation-

So you get to pick your fabric, style, wallet, other bag accessories, & similar jewelry. Neat concept.

I received this Daisy necklace which you can see in a photo above in red. Not quite my style (but I LOVE their Laguna necklace!) but very cute. Easy to wear because it is black & white. I really like their packaging though, with the matte & glossy polka dots! Super cute.

I also got a little wallet in red & black. This is very cute, I imagine it is meant to be hung on one of the bags because that seems popular in the Grace Adele photos. I love the quilting & this is the perfect size to travel with. It also has a nice feel & zipper, both important to me in a wallet!

To purchase Grace Adele items, you have to go through a consultant like EdieAnne. Contact her below to purchase items, become a consultant, or just to ask some questions! To check out more items from Grace Adele & other fun stores, check out the contact information below!

Beauty n’ Scents & More
EdieAnne
http://beautynscents.net
http://facebook.com/beautynscents

I am a Career Coach, Mentor and Director
An Independent Scentsy Family Director
Been in business for about 2 years and teaching for 20+
Look me up on Youtube @beautynscents

**Items sent in consideration of review.

See Stephanie Read: A Good American by Alex George

February 22, 2013 By StephanieLouise 530Leave a Comment2013-02-22+03%3A09%3A00StephanieLouise

So when I started reading A Good American by Alex George I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’m not huge on historical fiction…unless there is loads of horrible romance thrown in. Or supernatural something. This isn’t that type of book though…. & yet still, I loved it. The beginning was wonderful & so that I won’t give away too much, here’s the basic description.

This is the story of the Meisenheimer family, told by James, a third-generation American living in Beatrice, Missouri. It’s where his German grandparents—Frederick and Jette—found themselves after journeying across the turbulent Atlantic, fording the flood-swollen Mississippi, and being brought to a sudden halt by the broken water of the pregnant Jette.

A Good American tells of Jette’s dogged determination to feed a town sauerkraut and soul food; the loves and losses of her children, Joseph and Rosa; and the precocious voices of James and his brothers, sometimes raised in discord…sometimes in perfect harmony.

But above all, A Good American is about the music in Frederick’s heart, a song that began as an aria, was jazzed by ragtime, and became an anthem of love for his adopted country that the family still hears to this day.

This has a great “pull you in” beginning & while the middle is a little bit here or there it all comes together in the end. The twist is totally worth it. Although I didn’t feel the flow as much as I would’ve liked, it didn’t stop me from wanting to read it. With a lot of sweetness & a lot of soul, this book hit all the notes expected. Pun intended.

Interested in reading A Good American? Join in on our discussion over at BlogHer here, we’d be happy to have you! I’d love to heard what you’re reading right now, care to share? I’m always looking for a good read!

**This book was provided for review. This is a compensated post. All opinions are my own.

Sinful Colors Sugar Rush Collection Swatches & Review

February 21, 2013 By StephanieLouise 531Leave a Comment2013-02-21+17%3A36%3A00StephanieLouise

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It has been a very long time since I covered Sinful Colors on this blog. After the big blogger fiasco, I silently bought a few polishes here & there but without much love. I was angry, as a customer & a blogger. Now, going into a new year, I’m going to start covering them here & there. To my knowledge, they have resolved things with the bloggers previously involved. Here’s to a lesson learned I hope. Keep reading to see swatches of each of these lovely shades!

With that, I bring you the Sugar Rush Collection. With lots of hidden shimmers & gorgeous spring ready shades this has me prepped for spring. All of these swatches are without top coat or base.

Sweet Nothing- Creamy pastel blue with hints of turquoise. 2 coats. A bit thick.

Unicorn- Pastel yellow cream. Harder to manage & patchy. 4 thin coats. This is the only shade from this display that is actually permanent. It became easily clear that the formula has gotten much better!

Sweet Tooth- Warm pastel lavender with hidden shimmer. Sheer first coat. 3 coats.

Sugar N Spice- Creamy hot pink with hidden shimmer. 2 coats opacity.

Candy Coated- Pale pastel super blue toned lavender with hidden shimmer, barely visible. Sheer first coat. 3 coats. More purple than in the photos.

Sugar Rush- Light pastel blue cream, no shimmer. 2 coats opaque. I’ll need to swatch this with some other similar colors. I know I have something similar but it is absolutely lovely! Color corrected because it is pretty much white with a drop of blue.

Orange Cream- Pastel creamy tangerine orange with hidden shimmer. 1st coat sheer, 3 coats to opaque. Probably one of my very favorites, it is lovely.

Cotton Candy- Light cool pink cream with hidden shimmer. 3 coats to opaque.

There you have it! I really hope you’ll stick around & follow to see the collection I am most excited for. The Almost Famous Collection from Sinful Colors is full of glitters & some of them are just terribly awesome. I’ll be showing those to you soon! What do you think of the Sugar Rush swatches? Any shades you’re interested in?

I also wanted to note that with the Walgreens deal going on this week, I snapped all of mine up for $1. Most people are saying you can only get 3 at that price but for some reason…it worked at my Walgreens!

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks in Raspberry Rush, Nude Creme, Red Label, & Flamingo Pose Swatches & Review

February 21, 2013 By StephanieLouise 532Leave a Comment2013-02-21+16%3A17%3A00StephanieLouise

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Milani has sent out a lot of these lipsticks to bloggers (sadly I wasn’t one of them!) so I went to pick out some of the shades after seeing rave reviews. I didn’t mean to really, but I happened to grab one from each color family. Definitely worth the buy! Keep reading to see why the Milani Color Statement Lipsticks will have a permanent spot in my vast collection!

From Milani: Make a statement without saying a word! True Instant Color. One stroke, full coverage application. This next generation lipstick gives the ultimate in color, texture and finish. The lightweight creamy formula contains Vitamins A, C, & E to moisturize and nourish lips. Paraben-free. Available in Vinyl, Metallic, Cream, Shimmer, Pearl & Matte finish.

The lipsticks don’t have a lot of information on them (meant to look more sleek I imagine) so I’ll be pulling some information from the Milani website. The lipsticks contain 0.14 oz of product (MAC Lipsticks contain 0.1 oz for reference) & come packaged in a golden reflective tube. The base contains a bit of the actual lipstick shade so you can see true color & if it has shimmer in it. I love color correct packaging, so much more helpful than guesstimating. The only information on the base is the shade name.

These have your average lipstick shape when opened. They smell distinctly of watermelon. Although that scent doesn’t stick around for long, I absolutely love it. Fresh watermelon, not plastic-y at all. My kryptonite. I love me some watermelon.

Raspberry Rush- Metallic raspberry purple. I honestly didn’t intend to buy a metallic shade but I didn’t notice in the store. This is super pretty but I wish it was a cream since I find them a bit easier to wear. This is beautiful though & I see myself wearing this a lot.

Nude Creme- Pink based nude cream. Love this! What great opacity for a nude! Hidden shimmer that makes lips use more moisturized.

Red Label- Bright pin-up red cream. Gorgeous, seriously, the perfect red.

Flamingo Pose- Bright, warm toned coral pink cream. This is absolutely stunning. Perfect for spring & summer. Hidden shimmer that makes lips use more moisturized.

These shades have amazing, high-end like pigmentation. Absolutely impressive. The color is smooth but not drying. Very comfortable to wear. The pigmentation is absolutely perfect on all of the shades I purchased, I only use one swipe for the swatches.

I have to say, vast improvements have been made to the Milani lipsticks, these are undeniably lovely. I found mine in a permanent Milani display for only $5.49 each. Bargain, seriously. I urge you to at least pick one of these up, I can’t wait to snap up some more! What shades are you loving? Anything you’d like to see more of?

Pomegranate Nail Lacquer in Spoiled Brat & The Queen’s Jewels Swatches & Review

February 19, 2013 By StephanieLouise 533Leave a Comment2013-02-19+16%3A48%3A00StephanieLouise

I am so excited to be bringing you these swatches today! When I got the press release for Pomegranate’s Royal Fairy Tale Collection, I immediately knew which two shades I wanted. As I browsed through the new shades (all of which are absolutely gorgeous & so want to come home with me!) one very dreary day here, I immediately grasped on to “lime green jelly” & “jewel glitter” in the description. Sold. Keep reading for some seriously happy swatches!
From Pomegranate Nail Lacquer:

Each of our bottles contains 14.5 milliliters/0.49 fluid ounces.

Our long-wearing polish glides on smooth for a great finish.

All of our polish is:

Made in the USA.

“4-free” – Contain NO toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or camphor

Not tested on animals

All of our colors are available in limited quantities. Grab your favorite while it’s still in stock!

Pomegranate Spoiled Brat- This is a granny smith green creme jelly hybrid. Love. This is 2 even coats but 3 would give a bit brighter appearance. I love the shine & jelly finish with the easier coverage. This shade is different, the base seems a bit more neutral of a green but it has a wicked brightness. Gorgeous.

Pomegranate The Queen’s Jewel- A clear base packed with medium silver hexes & small orange, silver, green, light blue, brilliant purple, & red glitters. There’s also another layer of even smaller hexes ( I call them micro hexes) in red, green, & light blue. I thought this was going to be more jewel toned ( a bit darker in shades) but I love it none the less. Seen here is 2 coats over Pomegranate Spoiled Brat.

I absolutely love both of these polishes & instantly smile when I see them. Spoiled Brat has be 100% ready for spring time, sunshine, & new grass. The Queen’s Jewels? Hello, it is a multi-colored glitter. If you aren’t a frequent reader…it is a need to own all the glitters. ever. & this one has a lovely mix with interesting sizes that translates well on the nail. I’m happy with the wear time as well & this polish holds together beautifully.

You can find Pomegranate Nail Lacquers by visiting their site & I urge you to check out more of these new shades. I’m seriously lusting after Damsel & Storm the Castle as well! Are you loving these shades? What polishes are you craving from the Royal Fairy Tale Collection?

** Polishes provided in hopes for a review. All opinions are my own. Not a compensated post.

Beauty for Real Light Up Lip Gloss in Kiss Me Review & 10 GLOSS GIVEAWAY!

February 18, 2013 By StephanieLouise 534Leave a Comment2013-02-18+16%3A28%3A00StephanieLouise

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So today I have an exciting post & giveaway to share along with Beauty for Real ( Justina’s Gem’s who connected me to the brand!) for 10 Beauty for Real Light Up Lip Glosses in Kiss Me! Along with the review, you’ll have a great chance to win one of 10 glosses at the end of the post! Woohoo! I think you guys will really love this shade, formula, & overall look so let’s dive into the Beauty for Real Lip Gloss in Kiss Me.

From Beauty for Real:

This ILLUMINATING LIGHT UP LIP GLOSS formula is like no other! It’s loaded with PLANT DERIVED antioxidants like green tea and grape seed extracts to deliver outstanding regenerative properties and ANTI-AGING capabilities, as well as aloe vera and avocado oil which are full of essential vitamins, are antibacterial and highly emollient. Our light up lip gloss has a super moist, silky feel on the lips, it’s LIGHTWEIGHT, comfortable, not sticky or tacky, yet is long wearing.

They contain a groundbreaking lip plumper which feels COOL and REFRESHING when applied. Marine collagen infuses lips with plumping benefits, leaving lips FULL and LUSCIOUS.

We have created a super high tech package with a convenient mirror on the bottle and an LED light in the lid that illuminates lips when applying, for an easy, PERFECT APPLICATION on the go! LED lights are easily turned on and off with the button on the lid and can also be used as a mini flashlight in your handbag, at a dim lit restaurant or in your car!

The packaging on these glosses is modern & awesome. I love a gloss with a mirror & a light so this hits both those notes perfectly. You can see through the tube & see the color along with the Beauty for Real name. On the bottle there is a label with the shade name ( Kiss Me), website, & product amount. On top of the tube is the button you press to turn on the led lights.

The gloss has your average doe foot applicator, not too big or too small. Perfect for application. There are two lights up in the lid on either side of the wand. They allow you to view on application in dim lighting or you can use it as a mini flashlight if you really need to. I won’t lie, I’ve totally done this.

This shade in particular is a MBB (my lips but better) pink shade with some shimmer. I’m pretty fair so obviously this might be more or less opaque on someone else. You can layer this on in a light coat or build up the opacity. This gloss feels great on & glides on smooth without getting too tacky. It is the great in-between so that it lasts a good amount of time but doesn’t cling. This gloss is also nice & moisturizing so wear is comfortable!

You can purchase this gloss & other Beauty for Real products on the Beauty for Real site. This gloss retails for $22.00 on its own but they sometimes offer lipgloss sets. I’m really hoping to try some more shades soon!

Giveaway Time!

So let’s talk about the giveaway! There will be 10 Total Winners (wahoo!) so you’ll have an excellent chance at winning. This giveaway is open to US residents only. One of the required entries to to join the Beauty for Real mailing list. This will not cost you anything & if you so choose, you can unsubscribe after the giveaway. They won’t sell or use your e-mails for anything else so don’t panic. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below & if you have ANY questions please feel free to let me know in the comments. If you have an error, do try to refresh the page! Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
** Gloss provided for review. All opinions are my own. Not a sponsored review or giveaway.