Nails: Comparing Zoya Tru & Pure Ice Purple Reign

July 11, 2012 By StephanieLouise 770Leave a Comment2012-07-11+14%3A34%3A00StephanieLouise

So yesterday when I swatched Purple Reign from Pure Ice I mentioned that I’d be comparing it to a Zoya polish today. I am a Zoya fanatic, they pretty much always impress me & leaving me scrambling for their next collections. Is it any surprise I commonly hold more accessible polishes to the Zoya standard?

What I wanted to show with this comparison isn’t the shade (duh, not blind!) but the “lit from within” quality. After wearing Purple Reign for awhile I realized I had another purple that was similar…in a shimmery sort of way! Zoya’s Tru was from their Spring 2012 collection & I’m still in love with it. #1 its purple. #2 it has shimmer. #3 it has a perfect application. Here’s my original shots. The swatches have 1 coat of WnW Fast Dry Top Coat.

So clearly, they aren’t the same purple. Purple Reign is much more red-based while Tru is a bit more medium toned. I think this appears even more distinct because despite Purple Reign being crazy pigmented it is also slightly dusty. Such a complex shade! Tru always looks like it has copper shimmers in it to me but it definitely looks more golden next to Purple Reign in person while Purple Reign looks more bronzed. Both are opaque in 1-2 coats.

So? What do you think? Do you have any “lit from within” purples?

Nails: Purple Reign by Pure Ice is Perfection!

July 10, 2012 By StephanieLouise 771Leave a Comment2012-07-10+15%3A18%3A00StephanieLouise

In the mood for fall shades? Definitely put this one on your list! Pure Ice is seriously affordable but that doesn’t mean they don’t have some absolutely fabulous shades. I pick mine up at Walmart for only $1.99! This shade has an OPI cousin out there (I don’t have it sorry!) from the Dutch line & a distant cousin from Zoya that I will show you tomorrow as well. All in all, its unique & definitely worth checking out. Enough talking…pictures! Topped with 1 coat of Seche Vite.

Purple Reign: A dusty grape packed with gold flecks that shift from gold to copper to bronze depending on lighting.

This is a dream to apply & could be opaque in one coat if you needed to run out the door. As always, I prefer at least 2. I then topped it with Seche Vite for that glossy shine that really makes the flecks in this pronounced. I love purple, I love glass flecks, & I love fall shades. Is it any wonder this is such a hidden gem for me?

What do you think of this bargain beauty? Are you a purple fiend like me? Any dupes you can think of?

June MyGlam Bag- featuring Philosophy, NYX, & More!

July 5, 2012 By StephanieLouise 775Leave a Comment2012-07-05+16%3A08%3A00StephanieLouise

I’ve had some choice words for MyGlam in the past, if you’ve read this blog before then you already know. This isn’t my favorite service & has definitely been close to getting booted off the list completely. This bag, however, I actually like!

Now before I dig into the bag, this card looks like porn. C’mon it can’t be just me…this card is…very late night.

Anyways! This bag only had 4 items, probably because the bag is different than usual. Personally…I don’t like the bag. It leaks glitter, is flimsy, & I have even less use for it than the zippered ones. Now onto the contents! I love Philosophy in an unnatural way so I am always happy to see them in any of my bags. I haven’t tried this gel moisturizer yet, but I am excited to slap it on.

The NYX lipstick is pretty shimmery but I do like it. My shade is “Georgia” which really had me thinking it would be a peach, no? Anyway, I like it but there are a lot of NYX shades I prefer. Living Proof puts out quality products, this styling cream will be put to use for sure. The brand Marbella is new to me, but maybe I need to look into it. This isn’t the blackest felt tipped eyeliner for sure, but it sure does last. In fact, it lasts & lasts. Plus, it is super fine at the tip & gets thicker so you can create pretty much any line you so wish. Swatched above & below the NYX lipstick in Georgia.

What do you think? Do you subscribe to MyGlam? I know a lot of people think these are a scam but this one was definitely worth the $10 for me this time!

Nails: Black Tie Affair from Nails by Laura Swatches

July 2, 2012 By StephanieLouise 778Leave a Comment2012-07-02+14%3A28%3A00StephanieLouise

I LOVE this polish. It defies words, seriously. Something about this mix of black & white just mesmerizes me! Now don’t get me wrong, Under the Boardwalk is glorious in its own right! Very flashy & glitter packed, but they are more like long lost cousins. I can’t wait to wear Black Tie Affair this winter over a cranberry or ice blue. But for now, I’m enjoying it over well…pretty much everything. Stay tuned to see it as my IMATS manicure!

I have “Black Tie Affair” from Nails by Laura over Color Club’s Warhol (the raspberry hot pink) & Pucci-Licious (purple) neither of which contain shimmer. I then topped it with a sweet coat of Seche Vite.

Black Tie Affair from Nails by Laura- Black & white bar glitter, large hex glitter, & medium square glitter suspended in a sheer gray base.

Normally I’d flood you with photos…but I will be posting my IMATS manicure featuring Black Tie Affair very soon! Stay tuned!

Please check out her Etsy (Nails by Laura) shop & I stress this HEAVILY “LIKE” her page on Facebook to stay up to date on orders, what’s available, & what’s coming up next! She also soundboards ideas & does custom orders!She’s rolling out a Zodiac Collection right now that is gorgeous!

So…are you as obsessed with this polish as I am? Are you a black & white fiend as well? What nail polishes are you obsessing over right now?

Polish sent in consideration of review. This is no way effects my choice to review or opinions expressed.

Anastasia See & Be Seen Kit Review & Swatches

June 28, 2012 By StephanieLouise 780Leave a Comment2012-06-28+19%3A47%3A00StephanieLouise

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to play with & review the Anastasia Beverly Hills See & Be Seen Kit. This is a Limited Edition set so I URGE you to pick it up ASAP if you like what you see! You only have a few weeks so jump on it! This set is worth $80 but you can pick it up for only $44 right now! You get 2 full size glosses, tinted brow gel, & an eyeshadow duo. Keep reading for swatches & overall thoughts!

I love this duo! These shades are very smooth & easy to blend. Far right swatches are one swipe & the 2 on the left are blended. These are super pigmented & because the colors are so wearable, these will look fab on everyone. I love the golden bronze shade especially, my blue eyes do too! The warm, shimmering taupe is obviously a winner for me…hello…taupe. The duo is called “On Set” & is totally worth checking out.

These Hydrafull Glosses are INCREDIBLE. The top shade is Heiress & the lighter shade is called Plastic. These are EXCLUSIVE to the See & Be Seen Kit so if you love them, this kit is a must have. These glosses are really pigmented, gorgeous shades, & really comfortable to wear. These somehow manage to be way moisturizing while also being long-wearing. On a random note…I never knew I loved a paddle applicator so much! It makes it so easy to apply!

The Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel was kind of a random addition to this kit but it works well for me. Some of my darker haired beauty blogger friends are upset though, hello, not the right shade! I hope maybe next time they will include clear or something more versatile? Anyway, onto the product! This is wonderfully lightweight for a gel, it almost feels kind of like a mousse. This was really long lasting as well. It left my brows in place but not with a sticky texture.

So that is the Anastasia See & Be Seen Kit in all of its glorious-ness! Its gorgeous, varied, & has the perfect shades for summer! What do you think of this kit? Have you tried any Anastasia products? What are your faves?

Product provided by PR for review, this in no way sways my opinions! All opinions are 100% honest.

Under the Boardwalk Hand Mixed Polish from Nails by Laura Swatches + Breakdown

June 22, 2012 By StephanieLouise 782Leave a Comment2012-06-22+13%3A10%3A00StephanieLouise

Love bright lights? Glitter? To be stopped on the street so people can demand to know where you got your nail polish from? Then this polish is for you! Crazy eye catching & pretty much the only thing you’ll be able to focus on even hours after application. To see the next polish I’ll be reviewing from Nails By Laura, check out my Nail Mail post & view the magnificence that is “Black Tie Affair” nail polish.

Under the Boardwalk from Nails By Laura: A mix of many different colors suspended in a clear base. VERY dense. I love the overall effect but this would also be perfect for an accent nail or even tip bling type of designs. I prefer this with a rich top coat although I didn’t photograph it with the Seche Vite I put on later. These swatches are over Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Raspberry Race.

Approximately composed of:

Shades: orange, gold, silver, bright blue, dark blue, light blue, purple, lavender, medium green, orange, medium pink, light pink, red, white, bronzed orange, black, emerald green, hot pink, lime green, & peach.

Sizing Up the Glitters:
– Micro hex glitter
– X-small hex glitter
– Small square glitter
– Medium hex glitter
– Large hex glitter
– X-large hex glitter
– X-large square glitter
– Wispies (what I call long bar glitter) in the shades orange, white, blue, & red here & there. I prefer these types of glitters to be more sparse so I can direct placement better so that’s perfect for me.

Approximately because I might miss a few, this is one complex polish!

Let’s just say you guys are REALLY lucky I get so many compliments on this blog about how precise I analyze polish because this one seemed to take ages for me to put my finger on! Clearly, its super shiny, colorful, & not for the faint of heart. Perhaps this is why I want to carry it with me at all times & perhaps name it? Perhaps indeed.

So…let’s hear it! Would you rock this polish? How would you wear it? Are you loving it? Do you have anything this complex in your collection?

Polish sent in consideration of review. This is no way effects my choice to review or opinions expressed.

Travel: Showoffs Travel Bags (similar to Tili bags!)

June 10, 2012 By StephanieLouise 7874 Comments2012-06-10+12%3A45%3A00StephanieLouise

So since Birchbox has included Tili bags in all of the videos/posts I’ve seen so far (I won’t get mine till I get back, BOO!) I thought I better show you what bags I’m using my for my trip! In comparison, I can only go with what I’ve seen of the Tili bags, but these look MUCH more durable, reusable, & have the great flat bottom so your items can actually stand straight up!

I was sent a variety, here they are!

Wait, a whole bag devoted to shiny things & purple? Well you know I’m in!

I honestly like all of these, even the brown ones because my husband could use them & not feel “girly” which is rare when packing since I do most of it. I’ve had bags leak not only onto my clothing, but EXPENSIVE products as well. Such a waste! These have many uses in them as far as gifting goes too since I’m usually gifting makeup/beauty items to family & friends across the US.

Are plastic bags cheaper? Yes, but I’ve also never had one NOT rip on me! Plus, these just look cuter. & they have free shipping on their site which you can find here: www.showoffstravelbags.com. I’ll probably use these to go camping with as well since I am consistently losing my keys, bobby pins, toothpaste…ok everything. Nature steals my stuff. Great to separate a wet bathing suit too!

These come with a set of bottles but you can also squeeze some of your own minis in there too!

*A sample of this product was sent for review. All opinions are my own.

NEW L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow Shades in Endless Sea, Bottomless Java, Golden Emerald, & Glistening Garnet Swatches (PIC HEAVY!)

June 9, 2012 By StephanieLouise 78819 Comments2012-06-09+14%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

Ready for a serious case of the “I Wants”? Ever since other people have started getting their hands on the 6 new shades L’Oreal released for summer from the Infallible Eyeshadow line I’ve been cursing to be without them. In person, I passed on 2/6 which were the shades Liquid Diamond & Smoldering Plum. I passed up a purple? I know I know hold your sighs & shock until the end though! The Liquid Diamond shade was a silver-y lilac type shade & I liked it but didn’t NEED it. Smoldering Plum was DARK & because I already have Perpetual Purple which is absolutely stunning, this one didn’t blow me away.

This left me with Bottomless Java, Golden Emerald, Endless Sea, & Glistening Garnet. All of these are MUST-HAVES & absolutely, incredibly, undoubtedly stunning. These have been spotted at many locations but I personally found mine on a wall display (NOT a shelf display!) at Walgreens for $7.99 each.

So, somehow beyond me, I’ve only featured Perpetual Purple from the L’Oreal Infallible line on my blog as a main post! & I did it TWICE! Once was for my Birthday Smoky Eye & the 2nd was the actual test for my husband’s military ceremony. SHAME on me! So I will go into more detail about these for those unfamiliar & do a FULL collection review when I get back. How’s that sound? Fair?

Enough Talking Already, let’s do this!

These have wonderful packaging for me personally. Although I like the normal square or circle packaging, these have a very stable base & lid. I also REALLY like being able to see the shade on both the top label & the window on the bottom. Makes finding these 110% easier. These come with a little push-down things (shown in first picture in post) that you keep inside that re-condenses the products after it becomes loose. Brilliant.

Here is the product itself in each color. First picture is in natural shade, second is with flash to bring out tones you can’t really see otherwise in the packaging.

ENDLESS SEA: An aqua shade that leans turquoise when heavily applied & in darker areas. Glimpses of blue, gold, green, & even lavender can be seen. Perfect name for this shade as it reminds me of the Greek Isles or the Caribbean.

BOTTOMLESS JAVA: A deep brown laden with bronzey shimmer. The second picture is actually way more accurate to the swatch than the first which looks creamier. This looks RICH. When swatched, I actually catch some purple/pink tones up close. Greens too. VERY complex.

GOLDEN EMERALD: A kelly green with heavy doses of gold. Gorgeous! Ultra rich & looks like the gold is glitter its so pigmented. When it catches the light, you can catch all the different shades of green that make up the shade & the gold is breathtaking.

GLISTENING GARNET: A very red based pink with a lilac flash in sunlight. This has been described as everything from a pink to a burgundy to a red in some case. People aren’t making up their minds! Check out the difference here & how gorgeous & different that purple sheen is!

For reference: NONE of the swatches have been color corrected or such edited at all other than cropping. They really are this fantabulous.

Can you tell I love them? That they’re gorgeous? That these shades are instant favorites? What do you think? Will you be searching for them? I’m NOT sure if they are Limited Edition or if they will be added to the core shades..but as soon as I find out I will let you know! Any favorites?

Review: Frownies Combo Rose Water Hydrator Spray & Eye Gel Patches

May 31, 2012 By StephanieLouise 7943 Comments2012-05-31+12%3A51%3A00StephanieLouise

I have been fighting the dark circles. No wait, battling them! They keep popping up probably due to stress. I’ve had a lot going on lately & there they are to prove it. I recently received a kit from Frownies to review (more on the rest of it later on) & these were the stand out product. I wanted to review them earlier but reminded myself it needed a bit more time.

From the Frownies Website:
Eye Gels: Use your first set of Eye Gels three night in a row, then use them once a week for best results.

With one 30 minute treatment 100% of women testing Frownies eye gels saw a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and dark circles.

Eye Gels can be reused when kept moist with Rose Water Hydrator.

Rose Water Hydrator: Frownies’ Hydrator Spray can be used as a daily beauty plumper and toner. After cleansing use Rose Water on the entire face, neck and décolletage to prepare skin for other products or cosmetics. Rose Water Hydrator Spray will compliment the pH balance of the skin and further reduce the appearance of pore size as it begins to plump fine lines and wrinkles. Rose Water from essential oil of rose is an antibacterial wrinkle treatment and helps prevent blemishes on the skin. Rose Water Hydrator with hyaluronic acid is a wonderfully refreshing pick up after exercising, during air travel or anytime a warm dry environment threatens to dehydrate and age skin.

You get them in a foil packet (shown above) then after your first use you place them back inside, mist it with with included Rose Water Hydrator spray, pop it in a plastic bag, & then store it in your fridge.

I must admit, I didn’t have high hopes for this product. I stick to cold, raw potato slices normally. Its no wonder cold helps as it reduces swelling. To my surprise, these feel wonderful. The gel sticks under your eyes although it is already a formed shape. These eventually slowly disintegrate after many uses (I used them 6-7 times) & in between you simply store them until the next use. They are nice & cool but not as harsh as ice cubes. They definitely help with swelling & I did notice my undereyes to be a bit less blue.

The Rose Water Hydrator is the standout for me. I love refreshing spray to make my makeup look less “done” & this has added benefits for all kinds of skin ailments. I didn’t notice it helping me with breakouts but it did make my skin feel lovely! I found my skin hydrated & feeling nice & supple. Love this product! Much better than your average water spray 🙂

Products were provided by PR for consideration.

May 2012: My Gossip Girl Birchbox

May 22, 2012 By StephanieLouise 7985 CommentsMay+2012%3A+My+Gossip+Girl+Birchbox2012-05-22+17%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

I waited so impatiently for this Birchbox. I mean really, I felt like a 15 year old waiting for prom. When Gossip Girl first started, I loved it. I still enjoy seeing the fashion from the show as its all really varied but seriously striking. I’m always happy to see Serena (Blake Lively) & Blair (Leighton Meester) gracing the pages in my many (MANY) magazine subscriptions. When Birchbox managed to team up with Gossip Girl I expected something incredible.

Perhaps that was my fault. Maybe I expected too much. If I had run things, there would have been a Blair box & a Serena box filled with fabulous items dedicated to your favorite GG character. I would have gone classy but fun & really aimed to outdo the other boxes. I mean, this is Gossip Girl after all. Although some people did get fabulous boxes with full size Stila items, I did not. However, I am not reviewing those boxes, I am reviewing my own. Here is what I did receive.

– A small sample of Miss Dior Eau de Parfum. This is a very girl scent that I actually quite like. A small sample though so I only get a few tries to judge longevity.

– Diorshow Extase mascara in a sample size.

– Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF in Glow. I have tried this. I instantly knew it was super sheer & although I tried to layer it over a scar, it just didn’t work for me at all. It has a strange sheen as well which would be fine except that I didn’t expect it to.

– Cleansing Oil Shampoo from Shu Uemura. This only had about 2 uses in it for my thick hair but I got the gist of it. I don’t feel like it was incredibly mind blowing (which for $55 it needs to be) but maybe its only because I got two uses. My hair feels clean but it didn’t do anything brilliant.

-A baby poop colored notecard. I saw this phrase on Pink Sith’s blog & have not been able to get it out of my head. Its just too fitting. I doubt I will ever use this, at least not on someone Ilike.

I will say, the below card ticked me off. I mean, if I watched the show, I would have been livid about the leaked information. I don’t really know what this card pertains to because I don’t watch it but if they ever include a True Blood card like this before a season finale, there will be hell to pay.

Overall, this box is meh. I mean, its not awful but not great. If I hadn’t seen other boxes (but how could I not?) maybe I would be a tad happier but still not beaming. For $10, I’m not dying about it. I think the issues I have mainly are that the shampoo & the DIOR items are pretty much freebies. I feel like overall, this box is lacking & doesn’t compare to many of my former boxes. I’m not dropping out yet, I’ll give it another shot. I just hope I get a glimpse of the wonderful boxes I used to look forward to every month.