Nails: DEALS AND STEALS

Pretty purple hues for spring.

I normally look into broadening my horizons by scouting out nail polishes after Christmas. Last year Milani had a decent sale at CVS Pharmacy.  This year, also at CVS, Nicole by OPI Kardashian nail polishes were fifty percent off.  I have been really wanting to try some of the Kardashian line when the first came out, but could not bring myself to shell out eight bucks on one. I picked up two purple shades. Having an assortment of mostly pink shades already, I wanted to try something else; and purple is perfect for spring (haha, can't you tell I am ready for warm weather?! It is frigid up here in Indiana!).  One shade, a lighter purple shimmer is called "One Big Happy Fame-ILY" and the other dark purple shimmer, almost black, is named "Smile for the Glam-era." I haven't tried them yet, as I am leary about using certain products during pregnancy, but I have opened them and they are stunning.  I have high hopes they will wear well.

The shades are breathtaking! Thank you so much Honey for telling me about this STEAL!!

   A couple weeks before I stumbled upon this sale, a dear friend of mine, Honey (at http://www.youtube.com/user/destne146, http://www.honeygirlsworld.com/blog.html) contacted me to let me know if I was interested, she had a code for three free nail polishes at http://www.zoya.com. The only hitch was that I would have to pay shipping, and considering each polish alone cost originally eight dollars, that was a bargain.  I had never heard of them before, but after I was introduced to their site I started noticing their presence in beauty magazines that I love (such as Lucky, Glamour and INStyle).
   Once on their site, I was almost overwhelmed by all their options. They have almost every shade conceiveable.  I gravitated toward one shade, originally because of it's name "Tori."  My daughter Victoria-Tori is her nickname  and it is a beautiful deep pink. Then I went with another called "Zuza" since I have been on the hunt for a decent teal color for summer.  The past few years I have watched that shade come back every summer season, so I don't think it is going anywhere. Then I saw "Tiffany" and was enraptured.  The beautiful pink-gold chrome beckoned to me, or so it seemed.
   The order took about a week to arrive. Everything came nice and neat and intact. So far I have tried Tori, and since these polishes do not have many of the toxins others have, my daughter and I both got to play with that shade. Even the box was environmentally friendly. What can I say, I'm one pleased momma!

<3 Beth.


Note: All opinions are my own unbiased. I am in no way being paid by zoya or opi to blog and/or review their products. I am in no way being compensated. All products mentioned were purchased with discount and the blog post was written of my own free will and of my own choosing.

E.O.S. A New Lip Balm?!

     I was on the hunt when I went to Walmart one day for some skincare to clear up the dry patches on my face, which I have been combating for years now.  I just happened to look down as I walked down an isle when I caught a glimpse of an e.o.s. lip balm in an unfamiliar color.  I had seen yellow, green, and a peachy pink, but a baby pink? I had to check it out. I read on the packaging that it was "strawberries n creme." I have once tried a summer fruit lip balm of theirs and liked it. This has been some while ago, and no longer having one of my own I decided to pick this up.  When I once got home and opened it up for a sniff, I found that it smelled exactly as described.  It is great they put so much product in the packaging. It lasts a long time; considerably longer than, let's say the Avon chapsticks.  I purchased three or four e.o.s. lipbalms for my mother one christmas and she still hasn't finished them. And since it is natural and organic when my two year old baby doll sees me putting it on and wants some, I can apply some on her wee lips without any worries.  I have to clean it often as it seems to collect any debris that may be on my lips; ergo skin flakes ect. I use it every night after my skin care routine before going to bed. During the cold winter months it does help prevent my lips from being chapped.  My only complaint is, as a friend of mine once put it, it is difficult to put in a jean pocket.

<3 Beth.

Smells so yummy!

                                                                   

  Note: I AM IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH E.O.S. AND BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT WITH MY OWN MONEY. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN UNBIASED. I AM NOT IN ANY WAY BEING COMPENSATED FOR THIS REVIEW/BLOG POST. I AM INFACT AN AFFILIATE FOR HTTP://WWW.HONEYXO.COM 

Trying Too Faced Products for First Time...FIRST IMPRESSIONS

My 2012 Christmas Goodies!

        When I first joined Youtube almost two years ago, and immersed myself in the beauty community, I learned of a lot of high-end makeup companies that were unknown to me before.  I have talked a lot about putting together looks on a budget with drugstore makeup and other affordable resources. While they do have their benefits, in the back of my mind I have always wondered if they lived up their hype and was worth their prices.

On one side of the cards the instructions are in french!

      This past Christmas, I was fortunate enough to have some play money to have some fun.  Being that I am very pregnant, buying some newer clothes at this time wasn't really practical.  I decided on trying something very new.  For a long while, I have watched many videos on Youtube discussing the Too Faced eye kits.  Already, I own a dupe for the natural eye kit that I had bought at Rue21, which I do use very often.  I ready many reviews before making my selection.  Having brown tones already in my Rue Beaute dupe, I felt the need for something different. With spring coming on I wanted some soft pastels.  Then I saw it-the Romantic Eye Kit. The packaging alone I found quite pretty; and the cards' directions looked simplistic enough.  When I do purchase an eye kit of any kind, whether it be NYX, Rue Beaute, or drugstore, my main concerns are quick functionality and quality (and cute packaging would be nice, lol). 
    Since there was a special on shipping I added to my order the Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance Primer.  The primer which I have used in many of my previous tutorials, the I-Candy Couture Eye Candy Fix Eye primer from I-Candy Couture (now known as http://www.honeyxo.com ), I have had about a year. It had reached its prime, and I would be needing something new.  I almost cried when I had to give it up. I loved that primer, and still have yet to find anything like it. 
  With my order I was permitted to select some samples. I picked out a lipgloss called Glamour Gloss in the shade flirt and another primer (which I gave away to a dear friend).

Comparing Too Faced to a dupe...

   My order arrived in about a week or so, in a card board box.  In comparison to my dupe, I was surprised that the Romantic Eye Kit was quite a bit smaller in size; the packaging that is.  It looked to have the same amount of product. I tried each look provided by the tutorial cards that came with it. Two of the three I favor more. The classic one I use often, and the fashion one is something I would use when going out with friends or on a date with hubby. The day look, to me wasn't much different than some other kits that I already own.  The shadows have a silky powdery consistency, which threw me a loop, considering I read a review stating that it was very "buttery and soft." Compared to my dupe, it is definitely not. Regardless, the pigmentation isn't too bad and it gave the soft look I was after. Something for spring when I am in a hurry, as is my dupe for summer/fall.  When applying, I didn't notice any fall out, and the colors seemed to blend much better with brushes rather than applicators. 
   The primer I ordered also turned out to work sufficiently. My shadows last all day.  I miss the sticky creamy consistency my previous primer provided, but when my Nyx base is added in tandum it is adequate for now.
   When I first looked at the Glamour lipgloss I was concerned that the shade was too dark, however it worked well with my porcelain skin tone. I was thrown off by the cooling effect it created once applied.  Quite frankly, it almost scared me at first.  It was like I had put mint on my lips.  It didn't hurt at all, nor was it annoying. The sensation just surprised me. I went back to read up on it and realized that there were ingredients that caused this to creating plumping in the lips. I didn't notice my lips enlarge in anyway, but I imagine this would be soothing on hot summer days.
     Was the palette eye kit worth the thirty-six dollars? I will use it. I have tried better products as far as blending and pigmentation. Will I replace it in future? Doubtful.  Regardless, I will use it up; but my curiosity is satisfied now.

I find myself reaching for this look more.

I use the Fashion look secondly.  

NOTE: I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH COMPANIES MENTIONED EXCEPT http://www.honeyxo.com .  I DO RECEIVE SOME FREE PRODUCT FROM http://www.honeyxo.com FOR PROMOTIONAL, ADVERTISING, AND MODELING SERVICES. I AM NOT BEING PAID TO DISCUSS THESE PRODUCTS.


<3 Beth.