My latest Obsession... And it's only $7!!!

I was walking through the cosmetics aisles of a store, you will rarely find me in….. Wal-Mart. I stumbled across the Hard Candy Brand. Hard Candy used to be main stream about 10 yrs ago and could find them in many Department Stores. The brand slowly started to diminish when heavy hitters like MAC and Urban Decay started to shine. They revamped their line and now are exclusively a Wal-Mart brand. Lucky us. I have found one of the most awesome mascaras I have ever tried. Lashaholic - Big Bad Lashes Super Volume. The name alone spoke to me. I am a Lashaholic. What made it even better it came in blackest black and was only $7.00. Packaged in a cute pink cylinder cardboard case. I opened the cute pink tube and there was a curved brush. I usually don’t dig a synthetic curved brush, but I gave it a try and the outcome, I had Big Bad Lashes. They were gorgeous. There was not any smudging or flaking the entire day. So ladies run to Wal-Mart and pick this up you will not be disappointed. This is amazing stuff. I think it easily compares to some of the high-end mascaras from Lancôme, Dior, and Buxom. I am very excited to buy more of the products and test them out.

These are both with 2 coats of mascara.

Oscar Party Looks

Hourglass Cosmetics sent me an email about some of the Oscar party looks. These 2 ladies look stunning. Their make-up artist used all Hourglass Cosmetics. The looks are very elegant, yet leave each one glowing, and are great daytime looks.

5 Minute Smokey Eye

You can achieve a quick smokey eye. It is all because of a new product on the market, Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow. I achieved this look in under 5 minutes. I quickly used my finger to sweep across the lids and into the crease. I took a light highlighter color (Urban Decay Sin) and blended at the crease and applied to my brows. I took a dark brown liner (Clinique Quickliner in Dark Chocolate) lined above the lash and below. I took a medium bronze color (Mac Woodwinked) and quickly applied over the liner along my bottom lid. Applied mascara and I was done.

This new product by Maybelline is pretty awesome. There was no need for a primer to keep my shadow lasting all day. I bought it in Tough as Taupe, a taupe shade should be a standard shade in your eye shadow arsenal. It lasted all day with no creasing. I plan to buy other colors to try. The cost is around $6.00. I would compare this to the MAC paintpots. MAC has many more color options, Maybelline has about 12 shades currently.

Nails Nails Nails

So it is Friday, and I am sure many of you are off for a pedi/mani sometime this weekend. Here is Essie's Bobbing for Baubles. This nail color has been extremely popular for the last few months, the demand was so high it was backordered. Dark colors are still a hot trend, and will be through next winter. Vampy shades were on all models at fashion week. This is such a great alternative to black because of the cooler blue tone. Which makes it a nice transistion into spring.

 *** Note to self, I need a mani!!

Algenist

I received a sample of Algenist from my January Birchbox. It came with a 14 day sample. I used it for the full 14 days and my skin looked awesome. I could really see it working my fine lines where not noticeable. It claims to make a difference in 10 days and I could see a difference in less time. It uses different methods of firming than most anti-aging moisturizers. The key ingredients include: Alguronic Acid which increases cell regeneration and helps with the firmness of the skin. ProPeptide3 are proteins and peptides which restructure, strengthen and repair skin. Avocado and Olive Fruit Oils to moisturize, soften and smooth skin. Phytosterols to enhance moisture, skin texture and repair damaged skin. It is a heavy cream, however does not fell heavy on the skin or greasy what so ever. It is free of parabans, sulfates, and synthetic dyes. There have been many publications recently written on how the technology in this product exceeds others. Sephora has just recently started carrying this product. You can purchase through them or online at http://www.algenist.com/. The price is pretty steep, at $94.00 for 2 fl oz. I am sure this will last a little while. My 14 day sample lasted about 21 days. You do not need very much. I highly recommend this product.

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara

This mascara has been out since December. I loved it the first time I used it. As I kept using it, the love turned to a like. The mascara seems to dry out rather quickly. Its big claim is to give 4mm of incredible length. It does do that; I tried to take a picture next to a ruler, but it was a little hard. This is not a major claim since many other mascaras do the same thing. The first time I used it my lashes looked fabulous almost like fake lashes. There was incredible length, and they stayed curled. After the initial use the lashes don’t look so hot any more. There is not a real definition to the lashes that you get with many lengthening mascaras. The wear is good, there are no flakes or smears. I would say this is ok. The price is around $7.00 and if you are looking for just length then this would be a good cheap mascara. Do not expect any real big expectations.



Mascara



no mascara

Loreal Le Gloss

This lip gloss is wonderful. For under 6 bucks it is one of the best on the market. It has been around for about year. It comes in 16 different colors ranging from clear to a deep dark plum. It has Argan Oil and Vitamin E so it will be moisturizing on your lips. It does not have a tacky feel. The smell is just divine, like vanilla cake batter. I love the high shine it gives. You can where alone or over lip colors. You can pick up at any mass market store.

Shampoo and Conditioner

About 1 month ago I tried this amazing "new" to me line. Malibu C . It is 100% Vegan and all the packaging is environmentally friendly. Since the products are sulfate free they are great for color treated hair. I have used the Scalp Wellness, Color Wellness and Hard Water Wellness. My hair looks and feels great. I don’t have a bad hair day. My hair is shiny and my scalp feels great. It does lather quite a bit and each one of them has a great scent. The conditioners are light weight and really moisturize my dry hair. My hair was blond for about 9 months and then I recently dyed it to light brown. With all of the bleaching my hair is dry. I am slowly getting it back to its original state and these conditioners make my hair feel very soft. My only problem is trying to decide which one I want to use each day. You can get it at http://www.malibuc.com/

Eye Rock Liner

Eye Rock Liners are 4 stick-on adhesives to give you the "winged liner" look. They have four different styles. The directions are very simple: make sure your eyelid is clean and dry. Peel a liner off the backing, and hold the strip against your lid to measure for a precise fit. Trim off any excess on the inner corners with a pair of scissors, and then place the liner as close to your lash line as possible. You can use the tweezers to move around and if there are any gaps fill in with black liner. My first thoughts were; these are fun over the top dramatic. They do feel like stickers or tape on your lids. Sadly, corners kept lifting all day. I really wanted to like these, because they would be fun. Maybe for an evening out, although you may be concerned about the corners lifting. They are $13.00 for a set of 4.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection

My first thoughts were how lightweight this lipstick felt. The smell was 2nd, it is kind of a waxy vanilla smell, not very appealing. I can quickly overcome that. Through the day the biggest thing I saw was the staying power. It wore for about 5 hours, through drinks, and lunch. After I ate it seemed to have lip stain look to it, which was also nice. I only had to reapply 1 time.

The product claims to deliver soft smooth lips in 7 days. I have 4 colors I have been rotating, Dazzle: a true pink, Captivate: a pinkish beige, Enthrall: a reddish brown. and Precious: bright berry. I have noticed my lips are smoother, but not really softer. The colors are very vivid, even the more natural colors. If you can find some colors you like I would recommend this lipstick. Be prepared the color on the lipstick itself is much more lighter and muted than what the color is. The staying power is awesome you will love that. You can always apply with your finger for a lighter color. The staying power is still the same.

Top: Enthrall
Bottom: Precious

Rimmel Extra Wow Lash Mascara. It promises to deliver lashes 12x bigger than they are with a buildable formula. I decided not to take pictures for 1 big reason, there were so many flakes under my eyes it smeared and looked like 2 black eyes. It went on nice and natural at first, but my lashes began to droop within the first hour of wear. By hour 3 the mascara started to flake and smear. I would not recommend spending the 5.00 on this mascara.

My Favorites Products: Day 5

I love this product so much that it would be the 1 item I took if I was stranded on an island. The Shiseido Eyelash Curler. I am sure you are thinking all eyelash curlers are built alike. This is not true. The pads on the curlers are all made of different materials. If you buy a cheaper version, the pads are made out of cheaper material and are going to be rough on your delicate lashes. This curler is also wider than most out there, so it will curl every lash. Curling lashes automatically adds drama, making your eyes appear bigger and brighter. The curler is $19.00.

My Favorites Products: Day 4

WOW!! I have no idea how I lived without this stuff. As a mom of 3, I always look tired. Vitazing manages to make my skin look awake, like I got 10 hours of sleep. It smells so good. It is a moisturizer, so if you have oily skin this is probably all you need. I am on the drier side and use a lightweight cream and then apply this after the cream has absorbed (about 5 minutes). I apply concealer where I need, dust with some powder and a flawless face appears. Keep in mind this is a moisturizer so it gives a very light coverage. It will fit most skin tones. It comes out a light beige color but then adjust to your skin tone. The cost is 35.00 and you can get it at any Origins location or http://www.origins.com/product/3858/13004/Skincare/Daily-Essentials/Moisturizers/VitaZing/SPF-15-Energy-boosting-moisturizer/index.tmpl.

My Favorite Products: Day 3

Bronzer!! More importantly Physicians Formula Bronzers. They make so many and I have used a few, and they are all so good. I have tried a lot of bronzers in my lifetime and there is not a single line out there that has it nailed down like Physicians Formula. They have the perfect color in any type of bronzer. They wear really well. The picture above even has the right tone for the time of year it is. All of the products are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, paraben-free and non-comedogenic. The first ingredient listed is Mica, which is a natural skin brightener. The bronzers give your skin a radiant glow. It is best to apply bronzer in the places that the sun would naturally hit; cheeks, forehead and nose. I would lightly dust the nose and forehead and apply more to your cheeks, moving in a diagonal motion from your temple downward. The prices vary but are usually around $11.00. They can be found in most large mass stores or grocery chains.

My Favorites Products : Day 2

Fresh Sugar Plum Lip Treatment SPF 15. This is AMAZING!!! This is a lip treatment and color in one. It smells delicious and feels so light and moisturizing. It has grapeseed oil, and vitamins A, C, & E which all are antioxidants. It has a buildable coverage. You can put on 1 coat for a light flushed color, or add a lip liner and layer for a longer lasting deeper color. This color looks good on everyone. They also have a clear, nude, passion (reddish tint) and rose (pink). Besides lip gloss this is my go to lip covering. Buy online at http://www.fresh.com/ or at Sephora. The cost is 22.50.

My Favorites Products: Day 1

My Clarisonic Mia. This is a product I can't live without. I had heard may great things about it, but did not believe the hype. A friend of mine, Shea, told me what amazing things it had done to her skin; and since I worked with her I saw the proof. Her skin was so smooth and clear. I had to have one. I was very fortunate to get this as a gift from my mom, best gift ever. It does have a high price point at $119.00, but it is worth every penny. My skin has never looked and felt so good. I am not sure if it because the Clarisonic is a deep poor cleanser or because it does slough off all the dead skin and my products work better. This miracle worker is for all skin types. It has many different brush heads so it can work with most sensitive skin to a man's thicker skin. You can use it with any cleanser. My recommendation would be a basic foaming cleanser. It is waterproof. The brush moves in a circular motion and does all the work, so there is no extra pressure is needed from you. My skin is radiant. My make up goes on smoother. I stopped using this for a week and could see a dullness in my face. Since then I use it daily. The battery is chargeable and last up to 20 minutes. You only use it for 1 minute each day. If you want a great product I highly recommend this, your skin will love you for it.

Weekend Tip

Don't sleep in your make-up, this will age your skin and clog pores. Leave cleansing wipes by your bed to make sure you clean any dirt and make-up off. The 2 above are really good ones.

I had a great first week, I hope everyone is enjoying the blog.

Next week I will name my top 5 favorite products.

Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara

No Mascara

Mascara

Mascara

 Buxom is a brand from the Bare Essential Cosmetics Company. This mascara is exclusively sold at Sephora. The cost is $22.00. This mascara has the ability to offer volume, lengthening and defining. It has a very unique brush which expands and then shortens. The non-expandable brush defines, separates and adds length. Once you expand the brush it adds volume. I actually just tested the extended brush in the pictures. I love volume, but as you can see it also gave great length to my non-existent lashes. Their was no clumping or flaking. The shorter version of the brush is great as well, it gives a very natural finish to the lash. I love that the black in the mascara is a deep black, your lashes will stand out. It lasted a good 10 hours before the lashes started to droop. It was very easy to wash off with cleanser. It did have a faint smell but quickly went away after it dried. There are no synthetics dyes, sulfates or parabens Overall I give this a 4 out of 5. It was a good mascara.

Beauty Tip of the Week

You can use eyeshadow as eyeliner, all you need is a stiff thin eyeliner brush and water. Pick the color of choice, wet the brush in water, shake off excess water and dip in eyeshadow. You have a great long lasting eyeliner.

Olay Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream

I already had a suggestion to review an eye cream,  specifically an Oil of Olay eye cream. I bought this product more on the claims. It claims to treat dark circles, crow’s feet and fine lines with a gentle anti aging cream that transforms the look of skin above and around the eyes. Sounds great, because this is what everyone is looking for in an eye cream. It comes in a small jar. It has no smell, but does have a concealer colored tint. The tint does not transfer to the skin. In the ingredients list, it is packed full of vitamins. All in all it sounds great on paper. After using it for a month it does very little. I have not seen any change, the dark circles are still just as dark. It is not very moisturizing and my make up does not lay smooth, it emphasizes the lines instead of diminishing them. It was very disappointing, I would give this a 1 out of 5.

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM

CeraVe is a wonderful line. I am going to specifically write about CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM which is a nighttime moisturizer, developed specifically for the face. It helps repair damaged skin and maintain the skin’s natural protective function with ingredients not commonly found in other moisturizers. It is for all skin types. It has ingredients like Ceramides, which help lock in moisture. Niacinamide which is an anti-inflamitory, and Hyaluronic acid which is an anti-aging ingredient. It has no smell and sinks in rather quickly. It is great to use with or without a serum. It can be found at Target, Walgreen's, CVS or most local grocery stores. It has a nice price point of around 14.00.  My personal opinion is that this is one of the most wonderful moisturizers I have ever used. It scared me at first because I was afraid it would not give me enough moisture in winter months, but each morning I wake up with hydrated skin and it is not greasy at all. The lotion absorbs into my skin which is nice because you know the ingredients are actually working. I always use a serum underneath. This definitely is a 5 out of 5. I have seen no dislikes what so ever. The other great thing is that it is a pump, so you do not have to worry about spreading bacteria when you put your fingers in a jar.