Mani of the Day: Love & Beauty in Gold

August 2, 2011 By StephanieLouise 966Leave a Comment2011-08-02+18%3A51%3A00StephanieLouise

I am in love with this nail polish. This nail polish, once again, deserves a better name than just “Gold”. This is like an antiqued gold mixed with a small amount of round, medium-fine, disco ball glitter. I love the way these catch the light while still being golden, without the harshness. I used this without a base or top coat, leaving it with a grainy feel. I was running out the door to a show and actually loved this texture/look! I might see what it looks like with a top coat later 🙂

For anyone who isn’t familiar with the Love & Beauty brand, you can purchase it from Forever 21 online and in stores for $2.80.

Rave Review: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

July 28, 2011 By StephanieLouise 9684 Comments2011-07-28+22%3A31%3A00StephanieLouise

Let me start off with: You need this mask. It is the most effective mask for clogged pores/breakouts I’ve EVER used, and I’ve used a lot of them. Keep reading for the details!

What Origins says about this product:

When environmental toxins, dirt and debris get under your skin, its waste-filtering system gets jammed, pores get clogged, skin looks cloudy. Nature’s complexion clean-up crew gets to the bottom of skins overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best. Activated Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers, White China Clay absorbs environmental toxins, Lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that “stuff” down there, skin “breathes a sigh of relief.”

How to use: Once a week or as often as needed, open pores with warm, moist towel and layer mask on. Allow to dry, rinse well. Watch your skin shake off the shroud of dullness and take on a new clarity.

Best for all skin types

My Take: They have come up with a miracle mask. I loved the way the Boscia charcoal mask worked, but its pretty steep. I’ll compare those below as always! Anyways, I opened the top to check the consistancy. When you hear charcoal, you think dry, scrubby, or grimy. This is completely the opposite. It is thick and rich, reminding me of a mix of a super-thick body butter and toothpaste. Yes, that thick. I first tested it on my wrist. You should always do this with products if you are prone to allergies or have sensitive skin! It was easy to manuever, the thick mask easily smoothed over my skin. Tested beautifully, so onto my face it went! Its a really neat dark navy/gray color!

How I used it:

Going on, it was cool and refreshing. This doesn’t have a strong scent at all, which I actually find very pleasant. You guys are probably going to laugh at me, but it smelled like sourdough bread straight from the oven, not like the fire pit I had envisioned.

Here comes the good part: watching it work. I felt it starting to tug a bit, the perfect signal its working. If you feel nothing on your skin when you apply a mask, I feel like it doesn’t get deep enough. As it kept penetrating my skin, it tightened a lot. It felt amazing, not painful at all. Here are the pictures right before I washed it off:

Did it work?: So, this is going to be a bit TMI, but I had to tell you guys. It got so deep into my pores that it extracted a blemish. Yes. I’m serious. It literally pulled it out of my face. I have NEVER experienced anything like this. I was in shock and overjoyed. My nose looked visibly cleared and my skin was very smooth and soft. I thought with how strong the mask was my skin might be upset with me, but I guess it liked it as much as I do!

Verdict: Amazing. Absolutely and completely a must-have for me now. I am also going to try this as a spot treatment! I’m not the only one who thinks it works great either. Origins is one of the awesome websites that allows you to review products and this one is 5/5 stars and 95% of customers would recommend it! If you research products like me, then you know how rare that is! Looking at my skin today, I even think it has brightened my skin tone up. I’ve been sick so I’ve been breaking out, thanks to this my skin is absolutely on the road to recovery!

Where to purchase and specifics: You can pick this up in an Origins store or online HERE. You get this mask in a 3.4oz size, it doesn’t take much so this is many applications. The price is $21.00 for this size. If you have been hearing the buzz about Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask, then I bet you’ve wanted to try it. Now let’s compare!

Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask: $34 for 2.8oz

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask: $21 for 3.4oz

Big difference in ounces and price! WOO!

Have you used this product? Do you plan on trying it? What other Origins products are you wondering about?

* I was sent this product for review, however that in no way impact this or any other product I review. For more information, please see my disclosure policy above!

INGLOT Store Walkthrough!!!

July 27, 2011 By StephanieLouise 969Leave a CommentINGLOT+Store+Walkthrough%21%21%212011-07-27+00%3A25%3A00StephanieLouise

I was SO excited to shoot this! Please check it out and subscribe on Youtube as well, the next video is a demo at LUSH! Also upcoming monthly favorites, tutorials, and (VERY SOON!) my nail polish collection video!

Please check out StephLouiseATB on Youtube!

Also, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @StephLouiseATB ! I post everything first there, including deals when I’m out shopping, pictures, and lots and lots of randomness!

Mani of the Day: Nicole by OPI Sea How Far You Go

July 26, 2011 By StephanieLouise 9703 Comments2011-07-26+17%3A29%3A00StephanieLouise

From my Target discount haul! So different from my other colors. It looks to me like a grey/olive base with an antiqued gold finish. Almost a chrome. This is 2 medium coats.

Tropical Fruits Manicure…Including the Fruits!

July 23, 2011 By StephanieLouise 972Leave a Comment2011-07-23+04%3A37%3A00StephanieLouise

I ordered some new filmo slices and I was so excited to try them out! I have quite a few types, but this time I went with a tropical theme 🙂 Here it is!

Thumb- Passion Fruit

Pointer- Lemon

Middle- Kiwi Fruit

Ring- Lychee Fruit

Pinky- Tangelo Fruit

Base Coat- Nail Life Nail Revitalizer Treatment

Top Coat- Nail Life Speed Demon Polish Dryer

White to Make Colors Pop- Sinful Colors in Snow Me White

Left to right:

Green- Sinful Colors in Innocent

Yellow- Icing by Claire’s Nail Color in Butta

Pink- Sinful Colors in Pink Forever

Orange- NYC Long Wearing Nail Color in Times Square Tangerine Creme

Red- Maybelline Express Finish in Red Cavier

Have you ever toyed with Fimos? If you have a blog post or picture, feel free to link it below!

xoxoxo

Forever 21 Nail Polish in Blue/Green….INCREDIBLE!

July 21, 2011 By StephanieLouise 974Leave a Comment2011-07-21+20%3A16%3A00StephanieLouise

Normally I don’t take this many pictures of a nail polish color…..BUT HOLY MOLY! Here is the beautiful Forever 21 Love & Beauty Nail Polish in Blue/Green.

ELF Teal Eyeliner Look!

July 18, 2011 By StephanieLouise 9764 CommentsELF+Teal+Eyeliner+Look%212011-07-18+23%3A52%3A00StephanieLouise

I promised to do a look with this and here it is!!!! I also used Urban Decays “Smog” from my palette all over my lid blended up towards my eyebrow.

The Body Needs: Blackened Collection Eyeshadows and Swatches

July 15, 2011 By StephanieLouise 977Leave a Comment2011-07-15+21%3A42%3A00StephanieLouise

These are abosolutely gorgeous. After ordering this collection, the bright POP collection (if you missed it click here) and the 1 cent samples they have with every order, I know I’ll be ordering more! Have you guys shopped here? What have you picked up?I know they also have a lot of MAC stuff and dupes. If you haven’t seen their site, check out The Body Needs.Remember, the eyeshadow in Purple Pop was my 1 cent sample!

I got these on sale, but I think there are still a few left!

“Orange Grove” Eye Look

July 12, 2011 By StephanieLouise 9781 Comment%22Orange+Grove%22+Eye+Look2011-07-12+23%3A09%3A00StephanieLouise

I created this look using LA Colors Aquatic Paradise palette and their LA Colors Baked Eyeshadow Quad in Asteroid. I used one shade form each. The baked eyeshadow, I used it wet.

Mani of the Day 7/10/2011

July 11, 2011 By StephanieLouise 979Leave a CommentMani+of+the+Day+7%2F10%2F20112011-07-11+01%3A20%3A00StephanieLouise

Hey guys! So this was from OPI’s Alice in Wonderland Collection awhile back, but I adore it. When it comes to reds, I think there are too many duplicates out there. I guess its a tad hard to tell in the picture, but this has an orange undertone thats very visible which makes it unlike my others. I also love that it only takes 2 coats until perfection. I AM wearing a top coat over it though: Beauty Secrets Fast Dry Top Coat. So here is “Off With Her Red!” what do you think?