Ageless Derma Natural Camoufleur Concealer in Fair Demo & Review

March 25, 2014 By StephanieLouise 155Leave a Comment2014-03-25+22%3A45%3A00StephanieLouise

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I feel like I’m constantly searching for the perfect concealer. Undereyes are often my biggest problem so when given the opportunity to try the Ageless Derma Natural Camoufleur Concealer in Fair that is what I was most excited to test it on! Keep reading to see how this concealer stood up to dark circles & what my final thoughts are!

From Ageless Derma- Ageless Derma Camoufleur Concealer is perfect for hiding those skin imperfections such as dark spots on the face that come with age or excessive sun exposure. This concealer will cover up scars, port wine stains, and other flaws to make the complexion more even and flawless. The Ageless Derma Concealer also works as an anti aging skin cream due to its pure mineral content and youth-renewing ingredients.

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With lots (lots!) of claims I was pretty excited for this! Ageless Derma claimed to hide flaws, have SPF, resist signs of aging, & help brighten dark spots. I have really dry undereyes so I was nervous- most concealers just don’t apply evenly without ending up patchy. But you can see it is really creamy above!

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Before concealer & after. You can see this concealer nicely removes any trace of redness & evened out the darkness as well. It isn’t especially moisturizing but with a nice eye cream this blend on nicely because you only need the smallest amount. It has nice concentration & great color correction abilities. Although not as brightening as I’m used to around my eyes it did help color correct some of my spots as well.

With a natural look and a creamy formula that will revitalize your skin with coverage that is flawless and healthy for your skin, you will love Ageless Derma Camoufleur Concealer. It is a 100% mineral make-up that comes in beautiful shades to cover any skin’s imperfections, plus it is free of parabens.

I don’t think this concealer will be for everyone because it is super concentrated but I find it works nicely in many areas, especially spots. You can purchase this concealer from the Ageless Derma website & although a bit pricey this pot should last me nearly forever!

Beauty Box 5 Box for March 2014 featuring Hard Candy, Tree Hut, & More!

March 25, 2014 By StephanieLouise 156Leave a Comment2014-03-25+13%3A29%3A00StephanieLouise

Beauty Box 5 Subscription Box Soap Hard Candy Makeup beauty Subscription Monthly Review

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So like all of my subscriptions rolled in recently & I wanted to start with my standby Beauty Box 5. Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription service that brings you beauty based products every month- check out their site to learn more! This month they included a few new to me brands as well as some of my favorites- keep reading to check out what was inside!

This month’s box is centered around Spring Cleaning- “out with the old, in with the new!” Here is the information card provided, click to enlarge.

Jane’s Pick All Natural Soap- So this is an all-natural soap infused with herbs & flowers…but unfortunately I haven’t a clue which scent mine is as it isn’t marked. They have lots of options & they’re all unique. Based on the scent I think mine is maybe Joy which is supposed to contain rose geranium & rosemary. It lathers nicely & leaves my skin feeling moisturized, you can tell it has some lovely oils!

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter- I’ve received Tree Hut products before & again- I totally love them! This is the Coconut Lime scent & it is fabulous. It reminds me of summer & tropical weather. The texture itself is amazing too, I’ve been buying this stuff ever since my first sample. It is so rich & extra thick that it quenches my quite dry skin. Paraben free, full of butters, & real extracts are the perfect blend.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Makeup Base- I love this inclusion! I have a few Bellapierre products but this one is totally new to me. This is an ivory shade that is supposed to serve as a concealer, illuminator, & eyeshadow primer. Although this wouldn’t work for all skin tones as a concealer this does work great as an eyeshadow base! It leans more dry than creamy, perfect to top shadow with. The color selection for me is actually quite nice as well!

Hard Candy Just Nails Nail Color- I haven’t seen this classic design from Hard Candy in quite awhile- my sheet says it is a 90s revival! My nail polish in the shade Pretty in Punk & it is a gorgeous pink! I love it! So much fun to see this bottle with the ring topper again, awesome addition for a real makeup enthusiast!

Swissco Dual Sided Facial Pad- I’ve never seen this before but it is a cool idea! So this little cleansing pad is a reusable dual-sided wonder to cleanse the face. For me though I think the exfoliating side might be a bit rough on my delicate facial skin so I’ve been using it down my neck & chest. It is supposed to achieve softer skin & smaller pores but I’ve been using it mainly for exfoliating to make sure pricey skincare really gets down deep.

Left to right we have the Bellapierre Cosmetics Makeup Base, Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in Coconut Lime, & the Hard Candy Nail Polish in Pretty in Punk.

You can subscribe to Beauty Box 5 monthly for $12 a month, $30 for 3 months ($10 a month), or even $99 a year (only $8.25 a month!) which is a pretty darn good set of options if you ask me! You receive 5 samples monthly & it has helped to introduce me to lots of new brands to play with!

So with a makeup item, nail polish, body soap, & body butter then the Swissco product which I consider a tool we have a well-rounded box for March 2014 wouldn’t you say? I’m quite happy with every product & I think I’ll actually be using them all which is excellent.

What do you think of this box? If you receive Beauty Box 5 I’d love to see what you got this month so feel free to let me know below!

Zoya Monet Swatches & Review for Spring 2014

March 21, 2014 By StephanieLouise 158Leave a Comment2014-03-21+16%3A30%3A00StephanieLouise

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I always love getting the new Zoya collections & the Awakening one was absolutely beautiful- I fully swatched & reviewed it here. Monet came out with this collection & I decided to give it a post of its very own. Monet is beautiful but also has me torn- keep reading to find out why & check out the swatches!

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Why is Monet throwing me off? The formula isn’t spectacular- & that is putting it nicely. It definitely has some goop & thickness issues. It needs some thinner which I’ll be adding after I use it as few times. The glitter is hard to grab because of the base unfortunately.

So why did it get its own post? Just to complain about it? No! Because Monet from Zoya is THE perfect spring glitter. I have it over some of the Spring 2014 Zoya Awakening collection just to show that. Are these shades gorgeous? Obviously, they’re from Zoya. Can they be worn alone? Of course, have at it! But if you want a something extra- some pizazz that still says spring maybe? Then Monet is the answer.

All swatches are over the Zoya Awakening Collection (full review & swatches here) & they are varying coats of Monet. The peach shade is Zoya Cole, purple is Zoya Hudson, & pink is Zoya Dot.

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Zoya Monet- A cellophane glitter topper suspended in a clear base.

So is it my favorite glitter topper from Zoya? Nope. I’m actually not sure which is my absolute favorite because I love the flakies from back in 2012 I reviewed & the more recent Maria Luisa which I reviewed here as part of the Fall 2013 Satin release. That’s still one of my favorite fall releases ever…but now I’m getting off track.

Anyway. Recommending Monet? It depends. If you’re willing to really work with this glitter & eventually thin it out then I think you’ll love it. It really is instant spring to me- I feel like I almost have tiny Easter eggs on my nails. However, if you want to slap something on, I might urge you to look elsewhere. Monet is available for $10 from the Zoya website.

What do you think of Monet? Worth the work or are you passing? What are your favorite shades for spring this year?

Butter LONDON Cosmetics Swatches, Reviews, & St. Patrick’s Day Look! + Linkup!

March 17, 2014 By StephanieLouise 159Leave a Comment2014-03-17+18%3A59%3A00StephanieLouise

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Butter London rolled out with a ton of new cosmetics & I’ve been trying them out for some time now! I’m finally ready to give you my thoughts along with swatches & then I decided to show you what I’m rocking for St. Patrick’s Day since I used a few products from Butter London which you’ll see below! Cream blushes, lippies, a cream shadow, & bright lime eyeliner? Keep reading!

Butter London Cosmetics Eyeshadow Blush Eyeliner Lippy Balm Review Swatches Tutorial

The packaging is lovely on these across the board- sleek black with subtle touches. The running them is black, shiny, & clean looking. Each cream blush has a nice mirror but no wasted space. I appreciate this packaging & it makes it easy to use day to day.

Check out the interior of the boxes they came in- so cute right? I seriously want to hoard all of these boxes & maybe wallpaper a room or something? They’re adorable.

Butter London Cheeky Cream Blushes in Honey Pie, Abbey Rose, & Pistol Pink
First off, cream blushes are my jam. If you have any kind of dryness then you probably feel me! If you have oily skin, cream blushes help other blushes stay on longer. Moral of the story? Cream blushes win. The shades I have here are Honey Pie ( a soft slightly peach pink), Abbey Rose ( a more vibrant coral toned rose), & Pistol Pink (a hot fuchsia pink).

Normally I photograph without touching products but I wanted you to really be able to see how creamy these are & I’ve had them for well over a month. They still look brand new despite consistent use.

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Left to right- Butter London Cheeky Cream Blushes in Pistol Pink, Honey Pie, & Abbey Rose swatched on bare skin. The pigmentation these is absolutely gorgeous- plus they’re really blendable! I like applying with a stippling brush, especially for the more vibrant shades. There is a another shade in this line I’m dying to get my claws on!

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Butter London Wink Eye Pencil in Jaded Jack
This eyeliner is a bright lime green pencil liner. It is super creamy- no tugging at all. You will need a sharpener. Swatches will be below & of course this was a staple in my look today!

Butter London Twigged Wink Cream Eye Shadow
This eyeshadow was a complete surprise for me as cream shadows normally don’t look quite right on their own. Twigged is a beautiful color- a shimmer taupe. It has a doe foot applicator which I used for application then I blend with a flat brush. After it dries you can also layer on more which is nice for a darker look although I didn’t have issues with pigmentation. I don’t have oily lids but I didn’t have significant creasing issues & it set so it didn’t feel tacky throughout the day either.

Butter London Lippy Tinted Balms in Toasted Marshmallow & Teddy Boy-
Lippies! I love lippies! The texture on these is more of a lipstick that won’t dry out your lips- they have pigmentation so don’t expect sheer. & they’re also buildable! I found them very cofortable to wear & apply without tugging or slipping. They apply with a slight shine which looks more moisturizing then they evolve into a satin throughout wear. Toasted Marshmallow is more of an orange based nude which is lovely but doesn’t look as good on my fair, cooler leaning skin. Teddy Boy, however, is an amazing rosy pink with the ability to look neutral on my lips. I LOVE it! You can see it in m look below!

Left to right is Butter London Lippy Tinted Balms in Teddy Boy, Toasted Marshmallow, top is Butter London Twigged Wink Cream Eye Shadow, then below is Butter London Wink Eye Pencil in Jaded Jack. Each lippy is 2ish swipes to build up the color a touch while the eyeshadow & eyeliner are one swipe. Top is in direct sunlight & 2nd is in shade so you can see the coloring on that eyeshadow change up a bit.

Today I’m wearing Butter London Lippy Tinted Balm in Teddy Boy, Butter London Twigged Wink Cream Eye Shadow on my lid, on my lower lashline is Butter London Wink Eye Pencil in Jaded Jack, & oh so lightly on my cheeks is Butter London Cheeky Cream Blush in Honey Pie.

Have you tried any of the newer Butter London cosmetics? I’ve reviewed & loved tons of their polishes so I can’t wait to see more in their makeup line! I love that there are very wearable neutrals then great pops of color! Anything I should check out?

An InLinkz Link-up

Zoya Awakening Collection for Spring 2014 Swatches & Review

March 11, 2014 By StephanieLouise 161Leave a Comment2014-03-11+12%3A18%3A00StephanieLouise

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So with a new season comes a new Zoya collection & this one is all about classic spring shades, some with a slight twist! You might notice Monet isn’t mentioned here- it will be in a post all on its own soon! Keep reading to see these shades in action & hear my thoughts!

All swatches on bare nails with a Out the Door.

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Zoya Cole- A softened peach cream. 3 thin coats.

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Zoya Dillon- A pale slightly metallic mint with green/gold fine shimmer. 3 coats.

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Zoya Brooklyn- A buttery, soft gold with a slightly metallic pearl finish. 3 thin coats.

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Zoya Hudson- A cool toned somewhat metallic orchid with gold & pink fine shimmer. 3 thin coats.

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Zoya Dot- A cool, pale pink creme. 3 thin coats.

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Zoya Rebel- A cool, mellowed somewhat metallic Caribbean blue with gold & perhaps green shimmer. 3 easy coats.

This is a very expected array of spring-y colors with a few twists here & there. My favorites were Dillon, Rebel, & Hudson. I dig those shimmers a lot! I might have been able to get away with 2 coats with all 3 had I not been photographing. Cole needed some TLC in the application department ( I might’ve needed to do 4 coats) & Brooklyn was a bit streaky for me. Dot was kind of in the middle for me- I just don’t rock pale pinks often against my skintone.

You can purchase these shades from the Zoya website & from select Ulta stores.

Which shades are your favorite? Any colors you’re really feeling say “SPRING!” to you? If these are too demure for you, I’ve been using some in nail art I’ll be sharing soon- just a thought!

It Cosmetics CC Your Way To Beautiful Skin Collection + Naturally Pretty Matte Violet Eye Tutorial

March 10, 2014 By StephanieLouise 162Leave a Comment2014-03-10+18%3A08%3A00StephanieLouise

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It Cosmetics has come out with one of the absolute best value sets I’ve seen period in their It Cosmetics CC Your Way To Beautiful Skin Anti-Aging 4pc. Collection. Today you can pick this up at a special low-price of only $58.98 for ONE DAY ONLY. Keep reading to see what I think since I’ve had the opportunity to preview & review this set & stay tuned for a video demo including one of my favorite eye looks using the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Matte Palette!

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Included in this set is the brand new SUPERSIZE version of the Your Skin but Better Full Coverage CC+ Cream, also new to the brand is the Plush Paddle Foundation Brush, the Tightline Waterproof Mascara, & the also brand-new CC+ Lip Serum Hydrating Anti-Aging Color Correcting Creme Gloss in the shade “Love”.

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From It Cosmetics-
Apply Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ to clean skin, or over top of your moisturizer. A little goes a long way; blend well to develop perfect color match. With the Heavenly Luxe Plush Paddle Foundation Brush, apply a smooth, even layer to face, neck, and decollete.

Starting at the root of lashes, hold the Tightline slim wand horizontally, then wiggle and sweep the brush up and through your lashes. Can be worn alone or under mascara for a more visible eye liner effect. Lightly and gently press Tightline along the root of your lash line, filling in the gaps between your lashes; move along the entire upper lash line for a beautiful Tightline eye liner effect.

Glide CC+ Lip Serum over your lips for instant color correction and lip tone. Can be worn day or night for an ultra-hydrating treatment and naturally pretty flush of color that lasts!

It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ replaces your full-coverage foundation, SPF, antiaging serum, hydrating moisturizer, color corrector, skin-brightener, and pore minimizing primer in one step.

You can view my review of the It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ (along with the It Cosmetics Brow Power & Eyeliner I used n the tutorial) here in detail. I did want to tell you that in the video you can see a size comparison between the regular size & the supersize- crazy right?! So much awesome! I am almost out of mine in Fair & need to buy a new one, bummer medium is definitely too dark. Luckily if you order you can choose from Fair, Light, Medium,Tan, or Rich to find your perfect match.

Heavenly Luxe Plush Paddle Foundation Brush
The Heavenly Luxe Plush Paddle Foundation Brush helps to smoothly apply CC+.

So like I said in the video, this type of brush isn’t normally my first choice. I just haven’t found my match you know? Here’s why this one is different- it is all about the bristles. I think the main issue with most paddle brushes is lack of density & being too stiff- 2 things this brush has hit out of the park. I think I finally found a match!

Tightline Waterproof Mascara & Primer
New Tightline Waterproof Mascara takes the place of your eye liner, lash-enhancing serum primer, and waterproof mascara!

Have a mascara that just doesn’t do anything for you? Have blonde lashes (waves hand frantically) & have issues getting mascara all the way to the root?You’re going to love this. In the video I specifically show you how I use it- to make mascaras that stink pretty darn awesome. I tend to use this as a primer & with the tiniest wand to date it also doubles as a super black, long-wearing mascara.

CC+ Lip Serum Hydrating Anti-Aging Color Correcting Creme Gloss in Love
CC+ Lip Serum Hydrating Anti-Aging Color Correcting Creme Gloss helps to color correct and provide intense hydration to your lips.

I am a professed lip junkie but I definitely am head-over-heels for this new marvel! Love is a really natural somewhat sheer rose shade, perfect MLBB(my lips but better) color! I mean, the texture just blew me away. So comfortable, so pretty, & so good for my somewhat dry lips! This gets my squeal of the post award, I can’t wait to get my hands on more shades!

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Check out one of my favorite looks with the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Matte Palette Vol. 1 (check out my full review of this palette here!) using one of my favorite shades, Violet. If you’re interested in seeing the tutorial for this look & all of the products I’ve mentioned in this kit demonstrated check out my video here & please remember to subscribe, it’ll make my day!

Purchase the It Cosmetics CC YOUR WAY TO BEAUTIFUL SKIN 4 Piece collection from QVC March 10th for $58.98 (while supplies last) for ONE DAY ONLY from midnight to 2:59 AM ET at this special price. I have to say, I highly recommend it! The value is amazing! Please do let me know if you’re interested in any looks in particular & I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Eyeshadow Palette Swatches & Review

February 25, 2014 By StephanieLouise 1651 Comment2014-02-25+15%3A56%3A00StephanieLouise

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I’ve been waiting a very long time to get my hands on some It Cosmetics eyeshadows! I’m proud to say I now have some & I seriously couldn’t wait to get this review underway for you guys! Normally this is a teaser space- did I like it? Will you want it? But I’m doing something a bit different. I’m declaring the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Eyeshadow Palette a necessary palette, as in you need it, keep reading to find out why!

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From It Cosmetics- Apply your choice luxe high-performance anti-aging eye shadows for a beautiful, naturally pretty look! These anti-aging ultra luxe eye shadows can be worn wet or dry, as shadows or liners. Colors can be worn alone, or mixed together. To transform any matte shadow shade into a gorgeous shimmery pearl shade, just dip your brush first into your choice of matte shade, then tap your brush into the transforming pearl shadow, then apply.

The palette itself comes housed in a velour-type outer packaging (this faint pink as seen above!) that feels sturdy. The closure is magnetic & much like beloved Cargo palettes you can see here the closure lays flat against the palette which definitely helps when traveling to stay closed. Although I like the overall construction I’m not a fan of this type of fabric outside packaging (a bit like the Urban Decay original Naked Palette) because over time my letters start to fade off & I find other forms easier to sanitize. Personal preference of course.

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Inside you have a nice sized mirror, 14 eyeshadows, one transforming eyeshadow, & some seriously flashy fabulous gold background. I dig this, seriously, I get a bit more happy every time I open it. Each shade name is labeled below the eyeshadow, something I crazy appreciate after a few brands stopped doing that this year. I love that I can look down & know by name which shades to tell you guys I have on without rigorous research. I actually like that this palette doesn’t come with a brush (although some It Cosmetics deals for this palette do) because it makes the palette that much more compact & travel friendly. Let’s be real- I’m using more that one brush when I do my eyeshadow…always. I’m high-maintenance even when I’m in a hurry apparently.

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Top row left to right- Sheer Joy, Soft Light, Warmth, Soulful, Mocha, Violet, Midnight, Noir.
Bottom row left to right- Love, Sunrise, Sunset, All Heart, Java, Iconic, Transforming Pearl.

The texture on this palette overall is exactly what I’d expect from It Cosmetics- it is exceptional. I feel like these shadows are almost creamy but not difficult to blend at all. In fact, if you’ve had issues with blending matte shadows in the past, you will love these shades. The blendability is out of this world.

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Here are my swatches over primer done with a clean, dry fingertip.

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Left to right: Sheer Joy, Soft Light, Warmth, Soulful, Love, Sunrise, Sunset, All Heart.

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Left to right: Mocha, Violet, Midnight, Noir, Java, Iconic, Transforming Pearl.

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Here is a better shot of the Transforming Pearl so you can see the sheen & dimension a bit better.

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Here are Love, Sunrise, Sunset, & All Heart topped with the Transforming Pearl. Although I like the addition of the Transforming Pearl for highlighting & center of my lid I don’t find myself using it very much for actual transforming. I find it dampens these oh-so-pigmented shades a bit more than I’d like so I stick to highlighting my matte looks with it. Obviously this is just personal preference.

It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Palette Breakdown:

– Can create an all matte look or add in a subtle pearl finish where wanted.

– Colors range from warm to cool for big variety.

– Shades actually become more exciting as you use them & find color combinations.

-Nearly zero fallout for me.

– Paraben-free, fragrance-free, sulfate-free, & cruelty free.

– Great for aging skin with Hydrating Age Reverse and Prevent Complex and infused with Peptides, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Silk, Anti-Oxidants and Drops of Light™ Technology.

– Flattering shades that will take you from day to night.

– Can use them wet or dry, as eyeshadows or liners.

– Helps diffuse the look of wrinkles & lines on the lid.

– Blends like a dream.

-Palette is sturdy & stays closed while traveling.

Overall…I’m thrilled with this palette & am kicking myself for not having more It Cosmetics eyeshadows already in my stash. Since this is labeled as “Vol. 1” I am crossing my fingers for many more to come…because I need them in my life. This is one of those strange brands that works well for everyone- aging skin, young skin, dry skin, oily skin…they honestly cater to everyone somehow. I have some It Cosmetics holy grail items in my stash (Check out my review of their CC Cream & my favorite highlighter possibly ever both from It Cosmetics!) & I’m more than happy to continue to add to my collection.

You can purchase the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Eyeshadow Palette for $42.00 from the It Cosmetics website & also at ULTA. That’s significantly less than many other palettes of this size & honestly, most aren’t anywhere near this quality.

I’m beyond thrilled & have been having significant issues using anything else since this palette arrived. Even when I do use another palette I find myself using this as a companion to make just the right look that isn’t too metallic or shimmery. What shades appeal to you most in this palette? I definitely want to do some eyeshadow tutorials using it, anything in particular you want to see?

Zoya Textured Holo Magical Pixie Collection Spring 2014 Swatches & Review

February 20, 2014 By StephanieLouise 167Leave a Comment2014-02-20+16%3A21%3A00StephanieLouise

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I could not be more excited about the trio from Zoya I’ll be showing you today! No really, it isn’t possible to be more thrilled. If you’ve been wanting a textured nail polish with a whole lot of bling & glitters that catch lots of light you’re really going to dig the Zoya Magical Pixie Collection, check out my photos & review below!

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Zoya says “Imagine the best-selling Zoya PixieDust formula amped up with larger glitter and the first ever holographic pixie particle – for a never before seen magical effect!”

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I’ve applied these shades without base or top coat as recommended by Zoya. All 3 shades are the most textured finish we’ve seen from Zoya & notably more blinged with the addition of multi-sized holographic shimmer & glitters. These polishes seriously speak to me..get ready for LOTS of pictures! Above is Zoya Cosmo with Flash so you can see the magnitude of awesome glitter in each bottle!

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To apply I recommend doing very thin coats & letting them dry in-between. I did 2-3 thin coats for each shade & skipped topcoat for that super textured effect. I’m sure that these would be amazing with top coat too, I’ll be playing with these shades in nail art & might have to show them that way too!

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Zoya Pixie Dust in Cosmo- a silver crystal sparkle, textured PixieDust with mega hex iridescent particles. I think Cosmo is my favorite…it just goes with everything. Cosmo is just so blingy & more crystal than silver so it isn’t so silver that it won’t look great with gold or other tones.

a silver crystal sparkle, textured PixieDust with mega hex iridescent particles. – See more at: http://zoya.com/content/item/Zoya/Zoya-Nail-Polish-in-Cosmo-ZP717.html#sthash.tQ0XseAZ.dpuf

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Zoya Pixie Dust in Lux- a rose quartz sparkle textured PixieDust with mega hex iridescent particles. This is an ulta-soft feminine pink with that girly feel. But with a lot more silver at certain angles.

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Zoya Pixie Dust in Vega- a blue opal sparkle textured PixieDust with mega hex iridescent particles. It is much lighter in person & maybe even a bit more seafoam-ish in coloring. I think my camera tried to make it more blue but figure it a bit more silver to be on the safe side on the nail.

These aren’t like the original Zoya Pixie Dusts so if you don’t dig a chunkier texture these might not be for you. Which is fine with me. I’ll take them all, I totally dig this. The edginess, the feel, the wear time which tends to be quite longer for me, & the bling. Oh the bling. I love these but they may not be for everyone. I really hope they come out with more…maybe a poppin summer release? I want a SERIOUS coral & maybe a purple? Zoya fairies…are you listening?

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This collection is available on the Zoya website currently for $10. There are always awesome deals going on so you might even be able to snag them & some more shades…check my vast Zoya obsession history here for ideas!

Have you been keeping an eye out for this new Zoya idea? What do you think? Which shade is your favorite?

Philosophy Loveswept eau de Toilette Spray Review

February 19, 2014 By StephanieLouise 168Leave a Comment2014-02-19+13%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

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Husband bought it. Affiliate links.

So hubby did pretty great this Valentine’s Day (or rather I did!) & he picked up the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (which I’ll review for you soon!) & this lovely fragrance from Philosophy. Philosophy Loveswept is a soft floral with a romantic musky base. Keep reading to see what I think!

I first picked up this fragrance for a sniff in my local BX (military base store) because it was out for a Valentine’s Day display. Obviously it fits perfectly from the name to the heart on the bottle right? I’m a limited edition Philosophy fragrance fan. The regular line doesn’t really fit me but those tend to suck me in & rip my wallet from my manicured claws. I have tend to really enjoy the spring & summer mixes but this is totally different from those.

Philosophy Loveswept has a great mix of notes you’ll find in varying scent in my collection, like pink jasmine, cedarwood, & violet. & also…some notes I’m not usually drawn to at all like amber & bergamot. Somehow…this mix really works for me though! Although the base is musky which I don’t usually dig somehow the more floral/fruity side really makes it work for me!

Notes:
– Top: bergamot, blue violet.
– Middle: lotus blossom, pink jasmine, purple passionfruit.
– Base: musk, creamy amber, white cedarwood.

I’d describe Philosophy Loveswept as romantic & feminine with a touch of flirtatious. I feel girly wearing this, like those girls who twirl in springtime commercials? Oh come on, you know what I’m talking about! With oversize hats & sunglasses? Yep!

You can find Philosophy Loveswept at Sephora, Nordstrom, Macys, the Philosophy website, & wherever Philosophy is sold for varying prices depending on size. There are also other options like lotions, body washes, travel fragrances, etc.

Have you taken a whiff yet? What did you get or gift for Valentine’s Day? Any favorite Philosophy products I should check out?

Lancome Gloss in Love in Peach Show Swatches & Review

February 10, 2014 By StephanieLouise 173Leave a Comment2014-02-10+20%3A22%3A00StephanieLouise

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I bought it. Affiliate links.

This gloss has been so well-loved the past few months that I’m giving Lancome Gloss in Love in Peach Show its very own post! I don’t splurge on high-end glosses nearly as much as drugstore- the drugstore just has so many options for a lower price! But when I felt this on the back of my hand I was quite impressed. Keep reading why this is worth every penny!

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This photo is much more color accurate than the first! Orange/peach shades can be tricky!

From Lancôme- The first Lancôme Gloss that truly loves your lips: unprecedented shine wraps lips with color and addictive comfort. This gloss combines color with 6 hours of moisture in an easy click-to-open package. The NEW Expert Applicator hugs lips, resulting in a smooth and line-free vinyl lip look. These easy to wear glosses can be worn by themselves or combined with our shimmer top coat, 200 Just Strass, for added sparkle and shine.

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First let’s talk about what makes this gloss a bit different than the rest!First of all- the texture. I honestly wasn’t in love upon first swatch- it felt like an average gloss. I actually fell in love 10 minutes later when I noticed this beautiful shade on the back of my hand looked even better than before! This texture is more of a gel & apparently it smoothed out against the warmth of my hand for a more vinyl look. & without much of a feeling (I don’t consider this glossy tacky/sticky) that is pretty impressive for a lightweight gloss to be so pretty to me! It lasts quite awhile as well, a bit longer than my average gloss.

The packaging is also different- this isn’t your normal twist top. You actually push that little square button & it pops up. I actually quite like this! I don’t have excess gloss gunking up or getting on me/my purse/my hair/my dog/etc. Truly a smart design & as always I love a gloss with the visibility so I know how much I’ve used. The wand is also quite different! It is a very curved looking doe-foot applicator. It has a small well inside & it applies the perfect amount of gloss to my lips while conforming to lip shape.

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Now let’s talk about the shade Peach Show from the Lancome Gloss in Love line. This has some light gold shimmer & against the peach I think it will be amazing for spring & summer…although maybe I should say it is a year round shade since I also wore it all through fall & winter! It gives my fair lips that pinch of peach that goes with pretty much everything.

Lancome Gloss in Love for $27-$28 from the Lancome website, Sephora, Nordstrom, Harrods, & wherever Lancome cosmetics are sold.

I will definitely be buying more from this line when I’m in my next splurgy mood- I’ve got my eye on Glittermania, Scarlette Starlette, & Rose Oscar at the moment! What is your favorite gloss right now? Have you tried any shades from this line? Any appeal to you?