Nails: OPI Can’t Let Go Liquid Sand Nail Polish Review & Swatches

February 7, 2013 By StephanieLouise 555Leave a Comment2013-02-07+16%3A18%3A00StephanieLouise

Let me start with: I was fully prepared to hate this nail polish. I love new polishes, in fact, abnormally so. But for some reason, sand didn’t sound fun. When you use a lot of glitter you learn the truth about grit. It soaks up topcoat like a sponge, snags on every fabric you own, & manages to fall or chip off in the most inconvenient times.I was not amused by any of these things & thought OPI’s Liquid Sand would be similar….basically a mess.

However, I was wrong. Very wrong. In fact, I love this polish. From the texture to the wear time, I’m quite impressed. It did take a little longer to dry than average but the fact that you don’t use a top coat with these definitely contributes to that. It feels gritty but not flakey, it lays securely against the nail. This is definitely unlike anything else I have & I’m digging it! Keeping reading for swatches & thoughts about the Liquid Sand formulation.

OPI Can’t Let Go Liquid Sand: Medium purple liquid sand texture with medium purple hex glitter in the mix. Everything but the glitter dries matte (& liquid sand) so the glitter really gives a jolt of interest & catches the light beautifully. 2 coats no base or top coat.

Although this shade doesn’t remind me of Mariah Carey like at all (it isn’t pink for one thing) I do love it. For one thing…it is purple. I love me some purple. This texture is very cool & my husband agreed. I’ve been wearing it for 4 days total & only have minor tip wear. These don’t use a top coat because it ruins the effect but I’ve seen some great swatches (like this one here from The PolishAholic) where you can see this shade with top coat. It is lovely either way really so that’s nice. It looks completely different with top coat.

I received this in my January Glossybox (I’ll be posting about that later today) in a full size but a friend also bought me the set of 4 minis that I’ll try to show you soon! Would I want a whole collection of Liquid Sand? Probably not, I love me some high shine. I do enjoy having something pretty, wearable, & unique though!

NEW Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliners in Nude, Silver, Purple, & Turquoise Review & Swatches

February 7, 2013 By StephanieLouise 556Leave a Comment2013-02-07+13%3A59%3A00StephanieLouise

So I’m hoping you caught my original post where I reviewed the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliners in Black, Brown, & Sparkling Black because they are simply the bee’s knees. Seriously, they are no joke & have quickly found their way into my daily stash. Keep reading to see swatches of these much more colorful shades!

Now if you are anything like me, you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect eyeliner (under $15 preferably) that can do it all. Creamy enough for the waterline, long lasting enough that it doesn’t need touched up, & intense enough to satisfy my obsessive need for a great line. These totally blew me away. Seriously, look back at how black that black is! Plus, these can be found for around $5.

Left to right: Nude, Silver, Purple, & Turquoise.

Nude: A super creamy warm peachy nude.

Silver: Metallic silver, can be opaque. No glitter.

Purple: A medium purple, not quite as opaque as the others. Light bits of silver shimmer.

Turquoise: A cool light blue with a slightly frosted metallic finish.

My favorite of all 4 shades is definitely the nude, I feel like I’ve been looking for it all my life! This super creamy shade reminds me of NARS Rue Bonaparte with a much easier to manage price tag. I have used this liner multiple times but much prefer the Rimmel version. It is creamier & lasts longer. If you look dull around the eyes (often an issue for me) then this will be a major find for you. Don’t freak if it looks odd up close because ones you step back from the mirror you’ll see it brightens rather nicely.

The silver is a close second because it is super creamy & blendable but sets magnificently like all of these shades do. The purple is sheerer than the others but you can apply a second layer for full opacity. Turquoise (which I definitely feel leans more light blue) is a nice shade for a pop of color. I can see this getting a nice amount of use this summer!

I purchased these from Walgreens on a permanent display. That’s super exciting because it was the first time I’d seen them there on the wall instead of on a single display with the jumbo sticks. I’ll be showing those to you next…you’ll love them I bet! For such a small price, these are a serious find. I’ve been impatiently waiting for these ever since UK bloggers (who get Rimmel products first) shared them. Rimmel is quickly becoming my favorite brand!

NEW Victoria’s Secret Nail Lacquers in String Bikini & Backstage Swatches & Review

February 6, 2013 By StephanieLouise 557Leave a Comment2013-02-06+21%3A06%3A00StephanieLouise

This is going to be a depressing post folks. I have been so excited about the VS polishes coming out. I like quite a few Victoria’s Secret makeup items so when they decided to make nail polish I was all in. Unfortunately…the 2 polishes I tried first weren’t what I was expecting…

String Bikini: A very cool pink. Super stringy & difficult to apply. 2 coats.
Cooler than China Glaze Naked, hotter than Zoya Shelby, & slightly lighter than Sinful Colors Pink Forever.

Backstage: Light pink small glitter with sparse holo & dark pink hexes. 1-2 coats? Sponged on… No top coat. Very thick.
Very similar to Maybelline Rose Bling but with less holo & dark pink hexes. Besides that, they’re dupes.

I was so depressed after application I pretty much consider these swatches fails. String Bikini needed to be color corrected because it is that odd shade of pink but other than that….I barely looked through the few photos I did take. Fails. These are fails.

I loved both of these shades in theory (& the names!) but String Bikini was the biggest let down. I’m praying I got a bad bottle because I’ve never used a brand new bottle of polish these stringy. On top of that, it made my nails look dry as heck. Backstage was goopy, which I can deal with, but it was so goopy application was pretty much impossible. I had to sponge this on with the brush but I wasn’t happy about it. Notice the edges are glitter free because it was so gloopy.

Clearly these both need thinner & some serious chemistry. I have some other shades to try but man am I timid now. Very timid. I will say I like the packaging, very much like my beloved butterLONDON polishes with the removable cap & rectangular shape.

I picked my shades up inside the Victoria’s Secret store with some rewards points but these should also be available online soon. I honestly can’t remember how much they were…but they weren’t cheap! Whenever I find the receipt I’ll post the price.

NEW Styli-Style It’s A Breeze! Cooling Gel Eye Shadow Pencils Swatches & Review

February 6, 2013 By StephanieLouise 558Leave a Comment2013-02-06+19%3A33%3A00StephanieLouise

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So far I’ve covered these awesome blush sticks & the long-wearing semi-permanent eyeliners from Styli-Style & now I have some shadow sticks! While both products prior were definitely something I feel like drugstore brands are lacking, these shadow sticks are a total blast from the past! Read on for swatches & a comparison to an old favorite!

When I think back to middle school, blue eyeshadow was all the rage. My weapon of choice? Maybelline Cool Effects Shadow Liner in a VERY frosty blue variety. Man, that’s the stuff. Nostalgia all the way. I haven’t seen anything since that even remotely compared to those pencils but Styli-Style has managed to recreate a similar product with vast improvements!

From Styli-Style:
Refresh your eyes with our special cooling gel eye shadow formula in 10 beautiful shades. This crayon component provides total product control and yields a fresh layer of product each time it is sharpened.

Top is Styli-Style Cooling Gel Eye Shadow in Aqua Forever & bottom is Star Bright.

Aqua Forever: Described as “Teal” on the site I find it is much more than that! The base is definitely teal but it almost has a seafoam green quality to it. There is a fair green/gold shimmer deep beneath. It translates as a satin.

Star Bright: This is described as a”Gold” but I see this more as a warm vanilla. Perfect base or inner corner highlight. Translates a semi-metallic satin.

There are so many differences between these & the Maybelline CEs but the standout is definitely lasting power. When applied, this is very cool. Not cool as in hip & with it but icey. Neat feeling really & much like my old crush from Maybelline. This is a sharpenable jumbo pencil with a plastic cap. You can see the shade on the cap so you can find them easily. That’s where the similarities end though because Styli-Style blows them out of the water.

After applying, you have a bit of time to blend these whether you’d like a sheer base or to blend with other shades. After about 1-2 minutes though, these actually set! You can rub your finger against them when swatched on your hand & there is a light shimmer transfer but the color remains sturdy. They aren’t so long wearing that they are difficult to remove & if you have oily lids I recommend a base if wearing them alone. I really love these 2 shades & definitely want to check out some more!

Do you remember Styli-Style? Do you use jumbo eyeshadow sticks & if so, how? I have more to show you including some more eyeliners, lip paints, & glitter lip stains!

**Items sent in consideration of review. All opinions are my own.

Hair: Random Late Night Twisted Headband!

February 5, 2013 By StephanieLouise 559Leave a Comment2013-02-05+16%3A56%3A00StephanieLouise

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Last night I stumbled onto something awesome. Does anyone else mess with their hair while they watch tv? I try not to but I knew I was washing it today & that’s when I do weird braids & such. Last night though…something cool happened without me trying! Keep reading for instructions!

I started by taking a small strand from the very from of my hair above my left ear & twisting it towards the back. I collected strands across the front until I had a thin roll all the way to my other ear.

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Next I created a rounded shape by grabbing a thicker chunk of hair in a half circle type shape & coming back around. I didn’t go close to the first twist because I didn’t want it to look like corn rows…& I’m glad I didn’t! My twist ended up going along the crown of my head. In the end, it actually turned into kind of a headband!

I loved it! I did this in the dark & told hubby to turn on the light. He said “When did that happen? How did you do that?” at least 4 times. He thought it looked pretty cool! Keep in mind I didn’t have a mirror & did this all by feel so please excuse any bumps or lumps!

What do you guys think? Does anyone else play with their hair like this when they’re bored? I was actually kind of bummed to take it out!

DermOrganic Hair Products Review!

February 4, 2013 By StephanieLouise 560Leave a CommentDermOrganic+Hair+Products+Review%212013-02-04+16%3A46%3A00StephanieLouise

When it comes to hair care, very few products provide the moisture I need during winter without weighing down my thick hair like crazy. My hair looks much better day 2-3 but by then it needs lots of additional moisture….which pretty much defeats the purpose of not washing it. Conundrum.

DermOrganic is made with Argan oil, vegan, doesn’t test on animals, sulfate & gluten free, & contains no parabens or dyes. Impressive! With moisturizing ingredients, natural science, & tons of beauty lovers backing up their claims is it any wonder I was excited to test it out?

Daily Conditioning Shampoo
Daily Conditioning Shampoo is made with facial cleansers derived from lipids and amino acids that moisturize and strengthen salon-treated hair. Gentle on hair, scalp and skin, it creates a rich luxurious lather that makes other ulfate-free shampoos jealous!

This feels pretty amazing on my dry hair! If you put this in my hand without telling me what it was, I definitely would guess conditioner because it is super rich & almost reminds me of a lotion! It is sulfate free so don’t expect a lot of suds but it got my hair nice & clean. This also has a bit of a soapy scent & reminds me of something I used ages ago when I used to wash dishes by hand. I don’t miss that but I can’t help but like the smell!

Daily Hydrating Conditioner
DermOrganic Daily Hydrating Conditioner works at the molecular level to neutralize tangled tresses without silicones, propylene glycol or glycerin. Loaded with natural moisture factors, lipids and Panthenol B5 to increase absorption, improve slip, eliminate tangles and prevent flyaways.

First off, this smells really good! It reminds me of high end/salon hair products & the scent is awesome! This doesn’t feel heavy at all but used in conjunction with the DermOrganic Shampoo I get lovely results. My hair is left super soft, shiny, & moisturized! I don’t have major frizz issues but with the extra moisture any I do have is pretty much cured. I do want to add that although I talked about these adding moisture, my hair doesn’t feel heavy at all but clean & healthy.

Leave-In Treatment
DermOrganic Leave-In Treatment is made with Certified Argan Oil of Morocco to repair, protect and improve hair shine. Restores optimal moisture balance, smoothes and softens, speeds drying time, and protects hair from thermal styling.
Directions: Work a few drops into clean damp hair before styling to repair, protect and seal in shine.

My husband loves when I love this stuff because it smells JUST like a fruity punch type drink! Every time I open it I instantly feel happy. I applied this both to wet & dry hair & really liked the results! This helped speed up my dry time while protecting my hair from heat. This also helped my hair to look wavy without being frizzy so I didn’t have to flat iron. Yay! This is super comparable to other high end oils & I absolutely love this scent!

So there you have it! DermOrganic is definitely worth the hype I’ve been seen recently & I highly urge you to check these products out! My hair feels great & is definitely thanking me for adding moisture back into my routine!

**Items provided in hopes of review. All opinions are my own.

La Bella Box January 2013- A New Subscription!

February 1, 2013 By StephanieLouise 561Leave a Comment2013-02-01+17%3A47%3A00StephanieLouise

I love trying new subscriptions! La Bella Box arrived while I was away & I’m so excited to show you what was inside! I’d describe this box as being a more useable wellness box because although it contains some beauty items it also had home items I’ll actually use!

The La Bella Box is a simply designed box perfect to store the small items & for regifting or storage. Since this is my first box, I’m not sure if the packaging changes but this is very nice. The items are placed on top of black crinkle shards & wrapped in antiqued gold tissue paper. Lovely presentation & it doesn’t feel cheap at all.

It comes with a standard card with information about the products. This feels & looks almost identical to those you’d find in Birchbox. They have the prices for each product which I really appreciate. When companies leave that off I have a bit of a gripe.

Little Blooms Handmade Elastic Knotted Ties(3 Pack worth $5)

I know some people aren’t a fan of these types of hair ties but I love them. I stack them with my bracelets & people never notice the difference! They’re flat, stretchy, & comfortable to wear both in my hair & on my wrist! These are made by an Etsy seller & I’m digging these wearable shades. She also has lots of glitter varieties…I’d love to get my hands on those!

Truffle Truffle Classic Milk S’more (Worth $2.75 each)

I posted a picture of the inside of this candy here & omigosh it is ridiculously tasty. Packed in layers & then covered in chocolate it is a magnificent treat. Check out my Instagram picture to see its chocolate-y yummy glory!

Kishr Ancient Wellness Beverage ( One satchel is worth $1.75)

I adore tea & this is definitely a different blend for me! I opted not to sweeten it (I pretty much never sweeten tea) & it was lovely with a bit of a kick from herbs I don’t normally sip. I liked it quite a lot!

Joe Jacket Reversible Eco-Chic Beverage Wrap (Worth $9.95)

Years ago I had planned to make one of these for myself…that didn’t happen! This wrap is really cute & I love that it is reversible. Although it isn’t the colors I would have chosen for myself (Seriously…white? Who can keep that clean?) I love the prints & that I can switch it over for a change on a day to day basis! From a fellow sewer, the stitching on this is great!

Total Overall Box Value is $19.45 (not counting tax/shipping/other fees if bought separately)

La Bella Box is $19 a month & $60 for 3 months. Was my box worth $19? Only because I thoroughly enjoyed everything in it. I happen to love tea, hair ties, bath melts, & coffee mug wraps. What can I say? Maybe I’m easy to please? For $19 if there had been one product I didn’t love it would’ve been a close call but I’m loving what was in the box. It is original, thoughtful, & feels like something a friend would put together for another friend.

It has a more comfortable, original feel rather than professional. With some items from Etsy sellers (which I love!) & other small businesses, I’m loving the feeling of supporting other creative types without having to search for them myself. I think this is a valuable service & fills a gap in the subscription service market which is pretty saturated with ideas currently. If you’re looking for something new, out of the box, with a personal feel then I think this could be for you!

What do you think of what was in this box? Have you tried La Bella Box? Would you be willing to give it a shot?

**This product was provided in hopes of review. I chose to show it you & expressed my own honest opinions.

See Stephanie Read: Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster ( & Some High School Me)

February 1, 2013 By StephanieLouise 562Leave a Comment2013-02-01+04%3A51%3A00StephanieLouise

If you’re around my age (23 by the way) you’re at that weird point where high school is starting to get a bit hazy. Who did you have 2nd period of sophomore year? What was that project where you eye twitched uncontrollably? What was the name of that guy you regretted totally blowing off? Well if you ever wondered what I was like ( & looked like!) just keep reading!

There are definitely some things you don’t forget though. Fashion mishaps…. That one girl who always tried to make you feel horrible… The first time you accidentally hit something with your car….

What if you could go back? What if you could change things? What….if? Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster examines what happens to the mean girls of our pasts. In high school, I was kind of a mean girl here & there. There’s something about finding your footing in those 4 years that helps shape who you are. I’m happy to say that although I’m not all that verbally filtered & I’m quite sarcastic I definitely grew out of that. I did have one girl in high school though…that one girl who pretty much tortured me. I’m happy to say she has since tried to contact me & become friends which I declined. Growing up is awesome.

This book gets you thinking about the past. What if I went back & didn’t do some of the stupid things I did? What if I could take back some of the hurtful things I said in anger? Or some of the things I did out of spite? What about the times when I was mean just because I could be? This is a great book that thrust me back into the world of proms, gossip, & lots of reminiscing. I haven’t read a book I liked quite this much in ages.

Here’s a little preview:

“Every high school has a Lissy Ryder. You might have known her as the Prom Queen. The Mean Girl. The Bitch. Lissy Ryder spent her teen years making yours miserable. But you escaped her. And even though you went to college, grew up, and got a life, every now and then you wonder if that thing called “karma” ever comes for the Lissy Ryders of the world. Rest assured, it does.”

Follow along with our discussion on BlogHer.com if you want to know more to learn more about this book! I loved it & will definitely be on the lookout for more. After being home for a few weeks & feeling like a kid again this was an awesome escape. Sometimes, I was a mean girl. I totally admit it. This book definitely puts that kind of thing in perspective because even mean girls get theirs. I know the one I dealt with did!

Would you go back & change some things from high school? What were you like? Does this sound like a book for you? You’ll notice I omitted all photos of my exes but I’d love to hear what you think looking back of your high school love life!

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

Win a HTC One X Plus Phone in a Quick Giveaway!

January 28, 2013 By StephanieLouise 563Leave a Comment2013-01-28+20%3A15%3A00StephanieLouise

I am often graced by awesome opportunities with this blog but the best always involve giving back to you! Today I am super excited to be giving away a FREE HTC One X + Phone for AT&T! The best news is even if you aren’t on AT&T (which I happen to not be) you can still use the phone for an emergency call, camera, apps, & wifi!

From AT&T:
Our best Android phone now has 67% faster performance* with a mighty 1.7GHz quad-core processor that easily keeps up with your multi-tasking demands. Quickly load web pages, watch videos plus get animations fast—and we mean fast! Gaming is seamless and immersive with exceptional picture quality.

The HTC One X + is an awesome device & I’ve been testing it for about a week. It is quick, easy to manuver, & was a perfect addition to my trip! I’ve been able to Skype with my hubby lots!

I was also able to take beautiful photos (did you see them on Instagram? I also took a bunch at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA!) & I was way impressed! Whether you’re on AT&T or not…get ready to fall for this phone….for free!

This giveaway is open to US residents & the winner will be chosen February 1st! I’ll then e-mail the winner but if they don’t reply with their address in time, keep an eye out because I’ll contact someone else! Enter in the Rafflecopter widget below & if you have issues try refreshing or commenting below!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Item provided in consideration of review. Item will be shipped from distributor.

NEW Styli-Style Glide On Blush Sticks Swatches & Review!

January 28, 2013 By StephanieLouise 564Leave a Comment2013-01-28+15%3A21%3A00StephanieLouise

If you saw my review of the Styli-Style Line & Seal 24 Hour Semi Permanent Eyeliners then you know how excited I am about the relaunch of this line! Today I’ll be showing you 2 Glide on Blush Sticks & tell you why I like them so very much!

From Styli-Style- Avoid clown cheeks with our 100% product control blush stick that deposits a light sheen of color that blends in easily into the skin. Keep sweeping the stick across your cheeks to build your custom color.

So in case you’re not familiar with this type of product, these are basically a stick form of a cream blush. I absolutely loved the option from NYC but they were discontinued. I have quite a few tints in this form but not as many blushes. I love them! I apply with a small stippling brush which gives me loads of control. If I’m only in a hurry then I apply a bit to my fingers & lightly blend. Perfection!

These are described as sheer but with only a few swipes you can see the color really pops! They can be worn alone for a fresh pinch to your cheeks, layered with other shades to create a custom blend, or worn my favorite way which is as a base to keep powder blushes lasting much longer!

Masquerade: Styli calls this a hot pink but I see it more as a punchy coral. This is a satin sheen finish.

Peachy Keen: This is described as a coral but I feel like it has a lot more peach to it. This one has more shimmer & again that satin type finish.

I really like these but I wish there were more creamy options! I highly recommend checking Styli-Style out as it hits stores near you! I feel like they’re filling a gap many other brands have overlooked or discontinued. Do you remember Styli-Style? If you love the idea of a new brand hitting stores new you that won’t break the bank, check out my Styli-Style Line & Seal 24 Hour Semi Permanent Eyeliner Swatches & Review too!

**Items provided in hopes of review. All opinions are my own.