Favorites

Recently Loving #3

11:50 AM

Hi everyone! I realize it's only been a couple of weeks since my last favorites post, but I went shopping after that post went up and have since then discovered a few more things that I really love, so I thought I'd bring you another favorites post. I should've just waited to do a July Favorites... oh well!


Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
When I saw this product, I knew I had to have it. The packaging drew me in. So lovely! Anyways, I’ve been really loving this product. It smells lovely, foams up very well, and cleans my skin thoroughly without leaving it feeling stripped. It also removes makeup very well.

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water – in-depth review coming soon!
This is a cleansing water that I was very impressed with. I use this as a makeup remover on my lazier days, and it does the job just as well as my coconut oil. It smells fresh and has a nifty pump dispenser, which I love.


Eye Brow Pencil - Black
Unfortunately, I have no idea what brand this is from… I bought it in Taiwan for 40 NT dollars expecting it to suck, and then it sat in a drawer for a year. It’s got a spoolie on one end, and a retractable gray-toned black pencil. I lightly fill in my brows with this, and then brush them out with the spoolie. The color lasts all day and doesn't budge. I have a lot of trouble finding a truly black brow pencil in the States, and this is it.

Physician’s Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner – read my full review here
Originally, I liked this liner but I wasn’t swayed, but after a few months of using it I’ve really fallen in love with this product. It’s just so easy and convenient to use! In fact, the claims about it being an eyelash serum are true as well, I have noticed that my lashes are fuller and longer than before. After a quick swipe of powder or eyeshadow, this liner lasts all day and doesn’t smudge or fade away.


Wet n’ Wild ColorIcon Eyeshadow Trio in Walking On Eggshells – review coming soon!
This trio is amazing. All the colors are beautiful. They’re buttery, well pigmented, last all day, and the colors go very well together. I especially love the highlight shade, it’s a good highlight for the rest of my face as well. A swipe down the bridge of my nose, a dot on my cupids bow, and two light dustings on my cheekbones bring out my features and make me look glowing and healthy.

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla and Macadamia Kiss
I recently got this lip butter (the only one of the three scented ones I didn’t own) and I must admit that I like it a lot more than Raspberry Rose or Caramel Cream. The other ones leave my lips with a white cast, and this doesn’t. The formula of all are spectacular, however. Super hydrating and sweet smelling.


Esteé Lauder Rosy Pink Nail Lacquer
This was a gift from a friend, and it’s also a sample sized product. It’s so pretty! The polish is a light peachy pink that dries quickly and doesn’t chip.

Up & Up Strengthening Nail Polish Remover
There’s not much to say about a nail polish remover. However, this takes off my polish with ease and doesn’t leave my cuticles in a sorry state.


True Religion Love Hope Denim Perfume
True Religion is famous for their crazy expensive jeans. I didn’t even realize they made a perfume, until I found this travel size floating around a Marshalls. I sniffed it, and I knew I had to have it. It smells intoxicating. Sweet and flirty, it has notes of caramel and sugar, but it’s not sickly sweet. It’s feminine but strong, and I will be buying the full bottle when my little one runs out.

Nails are the Estee Lauder polish!
Antique Ring
I recently returned home from a visit to my hometown, where I purchased this little gem at an antique shop called Antelope (located in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan). It’s pretty and cute, but very small and only fits on my pinky.

In The Middle – Mat Kearney
Mat Kearney is one of my favorite artists, and this song is one of my favorites by him. It’s beautiful and emotional. Listen to it.

Thanks for reading! What have you been leaving lately?


nails

Nail Care Essentials

8:47 PM

Sometime nails really need some TLC. I try to give my nails a nice little pamper every week, and this is usually the routine I use. Keep in mind that I don't normally have nail polish on my nails, and if I do I simply remove it with some remover before diving into this routine.


So the first thing I do is buff my nails using one of these 4-step buffing blocks. These can be purchased at any drugstore for fairly cheap, and they work pretty well, in my opinion. I simply follow the four steps dictated on the block and my nails are left very ridge-free and smooth. After buffing my nails, I use a glass nail file because they are gentler on the nails and don't wear out like emery boards. Anyways, I use the file to shape and file down my nails until they are a shape and length I'm comfortable with. Then, after I'm done filing my nails, I dab a bit of cuticle oil on my nails. This just hydrates them and keeps them from getting raggedy and unhealthy. After the oil has absorbed in, I use some cuticle cream to really ensure that my nails are happy. After a few minutes of applying that, I like to use a nourishing hand cream to lock in everything.

Thanks for reading! What's your nail care routine?

Wishlist

Sephora Wishlist - Skincare Edition

8:42 PM

Hi guys! I stopped by Sephora today to pick up a face wash and I realized why I never go in there... I'm tempted to buy the whole damn store. I thought I'd bring you a series of wishlists of the things I'm craving from Sephora.

Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover - please excuse the section of the remover missing! It appears my double-checking skills in Photoshop are a bit lacking. Anyways, I tried a sample of this when I stayed at a friends house, and I fell in love. It removes eye makeup with ease.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm - I was reading a blog somewhere where somebody compared this to a lighter version of the Emma Hardie balm. To be honest, I'd rather try this Clinique one more. It seems to be more effective.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream and Energy-Boosting Moisturizer - I have only heard wonderful things about these two products. They claim to be refreshing and hydrating, and also cooling and feel nice on the skin.

Thanks for reading! It's been lovely. What have you been craving lately?

eyeliner

No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil Review

12:14 PM

Hey guys, I hope you're having a good day. Today I have a review, and it's on the No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil.



What it is - a traditional pencil eyeliner
Where you can get it - Target stores, or online
For how much - $7
Anything else - Boots products are "tested on people"

Claims - "No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil is a long wearing and silky smooth pencil for amazing colour and definition."

Boots is a brand that has always appealed to me, with their different lines and bright displays at Target I'm always tempted to pick up some products. A few weeks ago I bought myself the Amazing Eyes eyeliner in Brown. I honestly have no idea how many shades are available, I don't see it on the website.

So let's talk packaging, it's in a pencil form (must be sharpened, some product will be wasted) with a little smudger sponge on one end. I think it's really handy and those types of pencils can be a little hard to find sometimes. However, the sponge on this pencil is really unnecessary because the pencil won't blend. When they say stay, they really mean stay. The wood of the pencil can also be sharp and poke my eyelid sometimes.


So more on the formula itself - it's crap. This pencil gives off little color payoff. It's also super hard and tugs on the eyelids. The only way to make this pencil apply easier is to warm it up by holding it in a flame for a quick second. And even then, it's not that great. However, it does wear alright. It doesn't smudge or disappear.

Topmost was swatched once, middle several times in one line, bottom several times

Bottom line: I do not like this. It has a good idea with the sponge on one end, but the pencil pulls on the eyelid and has little color payoff.

Thank you for reading! Have you tried this pencil? What'd you think?

out with the old

Out With The Old #1

11:52 AM

Hey, guys! How are you today? I decided I'm going to start a new series of posts, similar to empties. However, these aren't empty products, but things that I'm going to get rid of, whether given away or tossed because it's bad or empty. I wanted to do these instead of empties because I don't finish up products quickly, but I'm going to write a mini-review on the products anyways. Today I've got an armful of products, some new and unused because I'm going away and I'm going to give these to my friends.



1. Ponds Clarant B3 Dark Spot Correcting Creme (Normal/Dry) - empty. The label peeled off! This is the formula for normal to dry skin. There are two versions of this, one for normal/oily skin and one for normal/dry skin. I had mixed feelings about this product; while it definitely did help with dark spots, it was too heavily fragranced and could be irritating for some people, and didn't quite provide me with enough moisture. I would not repurchase.

2. Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick - empty. This wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. The packaging was really unhygienic, it came in rollerball form, so aren't you essentially rolling the bacteria back onto your skin? Anyways, like I said, it was neither good nor bad. I had to dip a damped q-tip into the product, which wasted a lot of product, but I feel like this worked to an extent. It dried out any pimples considerably, but that was only a temporary fix, as the blemish would pop back up. I would not repurchase.

3. Equate Nail Polish Remover - empty. I had this for ages, as I went about two years or so without wearing nail polish. This was supposed to be a Target knockoff of Cutex remover. I honesty don't care what brand takes off my nail polish, as long as it gets it done. This did just that, with a bit of elbow grease. It didn't leave my nails feeling brittle or dry. I do not care if I repurchase.

4. No7 Maximum Volume Mascara - empty/old. This was not a very good mascara. First of all, this is the only Boots mascara I have seen without a little blurb on the packaging with claims. This must mean that Boots doesn't believe in this mascara, because I certainly didn't. Second of all, the mascara did not live up to the name - maximum volume? You can hardly say that if all the mascara does is color your lashes. It didn't provide volume, length, curl, or definition. In fact, the formula never seemed to really dry and I had to be really careful blinking until it somewhat dried. I would never repurchase. What a waste of money.

5. No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara - empty. After that rather negative mini review on the last No7 mascara, I thought I'd bring you a positive one. I liked this mascara - it gave me natural looking volume and length, and even curled my stick straight lashes with the nifty wand. It never smudged, flaked, or budged, but it was really easy to remove with some makeup remover. I would repurchase, and plan to the next time I go to Target.

6. NYX Za Za Zu Mascara - almost new, giving away. I used this mascara once. It's a fiber mascara, so I expected a lot of volume and length, but it didn't really give me very much. Not to say that this was a bad mascara, as I could visibly see more volume, but not nearly as much as I expected and with barely any length. The mascara also has a very dry formula, which isn't bad but it made the mascara flake a bit, and the fibers would flake into my eyes. The wand is also waaaaaay too big. I didn't dislike it, it just wasn't for me so I would not repurchase.

7. Nivea Lip Butter (Raspberry Rose Kiss) - used a few times, giving away. These products are really lovely, very moisturizing. However, this one left with me with such a terrible white cast! I've been using it to remove stubborn lip products, but that's it. I can't stand the white cast. I would not repurchase this particular one.

8. Boots Extracts Almond Lip Balm - used a few times, giving away. I have the coconut version of this lip balm, and I loved it, so I went and bought this one. I really wanted to like it, but I hate the smell. The formula itself is good, nice and moisturizing, but man the smell... I would not repurchase this particular one.

9. Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal 24hr Eyeshadow (Inked In Pink) - used a few times, giving away. This was a nice product. Read my full review here. I'm not keeping it because I barely use it, but I would repurchase if Maybelling stopped testing on animals.

10. Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm (Rosy Red) - used a few times, giving away. This is a lovely product. Ready my full review here. However, the color is just not for me. I would not repurchase this particular shade.

11. Essie No Place Like Chrome - used a few times, giving away. Essie products are always so and so with me. While they're opaque in a couple coats, they chip so easily. This product was one of those. It's a very nice shade,  chrome, but it's something that I barely wore and it would chip off within two days without a top coat. I would not repurchase.

12. No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil (Brown) - used once, giving away. I did not like this product. Review coming soon. It was generally bad; the wood was spintery, it didn't have great color payoff, and it smudged. I would not repurchase.

13. NYX Slide On Eyeliner (Black Sparkle) - used once, giving away. This is a really nice product. Read my full review here. It's just not something that I would use. I would not repurchase this particular shade.

 14. Wet n Wild Coloricon Eyeliner (Black) - used once, giving away. This pencil was surprisingly good, the color payoff was intense and you got a ton of product for one dollar. The problem was that this smudged on my oily lids, otherwise it was a nice product. It just wasn't for me, so I would not repurchase.

15. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer (Rhubarb) - used a couple times, giving away. There was nothing wrong with this product, I just wasn't using it. Read my full review here. I would repurchase if something came up when I needed it.

 16. Maybelline Masterdrama Cream Eye Pencil (Midnight Master) - used a few times, giving away. I wanted to like this, as everyone else who has it says it's nice... but we just didn't get along. The packaging won't retract, and the first time I ever used it I had to twist for about five minutes until the product came up. It smudged and moved around on my lids. I would not repurchase.

 17. Bath and Body Works Lipilicious Mint Glass - used a few times, giving away. I'm not a big lip gloss person. This was a nice gloss, super shiny and smelled like mint chocolate, I just don't love lip gloss. I would not repurchase simply because I don't like lip gloss.

 I also have a few new and unused products that I'm (you guessed it) giving away. I don't have anything to say about these products, because I've never tried them...

NYX Le Frou Frou Mascara
NYX Faux Lashes Mascara
Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss Trio
Material Girl Lip Gloss

Thanks for reading! Have you used up/gotten rid of any products recently? What did you think of them?

eyeliner

Maybelline Masterdrama Eyeliner Review

12:09 PM

Hey, guys. How are you? So today, I've got a review on the Maybelline Masterdrama Cream Eyeliner.


What it is: a cream eyeliner
Where it is: drugstores and online
For how much: about $8 depending on where you get it
Anything else: Maybelline products are tested on animals

Maybelline claims that this eyeliner has a "Pencil's delivery plus cream's intensity. Created with the highest concentration of pigments for more intense eye drama. The new generation of liner."

 These cream pencils are available in five shades. I have mine in black, or Midnight Master.


The liner is packaged in an automatic pencil, which insures that no product is wasted from sharpening, but at the same time it's not as hygienic as a clean, newly sharpened pencil. There are obvious flaws with the packaging of this liner... First of all, I had to twist for ages when I first got the liner for any product to come out. Secondly, it won't go back down! What weird packaging. It's not just mine as well, others have said the same.

This pencil is super pigmented, the color apply opaque in one swatch. It's creamy and smudgable. However, it does tend to skip on the eye a bit. It also moves around on the eyelid and by the end of the day you have panda eyes!

 I wanted to like this liner, I really did. A lot of people have loved it. It was nice and pigmented, but from the packaging to the budging around, I knew it just wasn't my cup of tea.

 Bottom line: I didn't like the liner, but a lot of others have.

 Gracias for reading! Have you tried this liner? If so, what'd you think?

lipstick

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review

8:59 PM

Hi, everybody! I've got a review for you, today it's on NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo.


What it is: liquid lipstick with a matte finish
Where it is: select drugstores like Ulta and online
What's the price: $6
Anything else - NYX products are cruelty free, some are vegan friendly

NYX claims that these liquid lipsticks are "neither lipstick nor lip gloss, this matte lip cream is a new kind of lip color that goes on silky smooth and sets to a matte finish. Soft Matte Lip Cream is surprisingly durable and, unlike some matte lipstick formulas, also moisturizing."

 These lip creams are available in ten shades, ranging from bubblegum pink shades to deep reds. I have mine in San Paulo, which is described simply as a "plummy pink". I think San Paulo is a berry toned mauvy-pink, a nice color for an everyday lip if it matches your complexion well, which it does me.

The packaging is really simple - it's like a lip gloss with a doe-foot applicator. The sifter sometimes won't remove enough product and you're left with a little too much and have to wipe it on the mouth of the tube, but otherwise the packaging is fine. It functions fine.

This is insanely pigmented. I've heard only wonderful things about all of the shades, and I intend on owning them all the next time I get around to an Ulta or somewhere that sells NYX products (they can be a little hard to locate sometimes). As you can see, the swatch is opaque and the color payoff is phenomenal. The cream itself also smells incredible, like cookie dough or something I could eat.

These are incredible. Love at first use. They're super creamy, glide on evenly and fade evenly (I get a couple hours wear from these - they also wear comfortably!), dry to a matte finish quickly, and they don't dry out my lips. Granted, these aren't exactly hydrating, but they do not dry out your lips at all.

 Bottom line: you get yourself some of these. I definitely will. They're affordable and really really great, and live up to the claims.

 Thanks for reading! Have you tried these products, or any liquid lipsticks? What did you think?

review

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm

9:18 PM

Hi, guys! Today's post is on the Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm, I've been really liking this product lately and I figured I'd share my thoughts, you know, share the love!


What it is: tinted lip balm
Where it is: Target stores and online
What's the price: about $9
Anything else: Sonia Kashuk products are cruelty free!

Target exclusive brands have some sort of magnet. I find myself staring at the Sonia Kashuk products every time I go there, they're packaged so nicely and look so luxurious and expensive. Everything I have tried from the company thus far has been a complete hit, which is great! I've taken it upon myself to try out a lot more of their products, and I am going to hold myself to that! Plus, every blogger has a problem with buying more makeup then they need...

Sonia Kashuk claims that "the lightweight formula supplies essential nutrients, vitamins and anti-aging ingredients and protects lips from UV rays with SPF 15. Infused with Acai Oil, cultivated through a sustainable development program in Brazil, this anti-aging lip balm is rich in essential fatty acids, Cherry Extract for antioxidant protection and Safflower Seed Oil to nourish and restore lips moisture."

 SPF is something I'm constantly forgetting on my lips, and I find that a lot of SPF lip balms aren't hydrating enough, so it's great that this product has SPF.

 These tinted balms are available in four lovely sheer shades, mine is Hint of Pink, which is a sheer pink.

So the packaging... Can we talk about how expensive it looks? It's in a black, heavyish twist up tube, which some might not like but I prefer more weighted things (I don't know, it's weird). Sonia Kashuk's logo is printed onto the side of the tube, and I'm worried about it rubbing away, but I like it. It looks so classy. Anyways, the shade and product name are on a sticker on the bottom of the packaging in tiiiiiiiny font. The one qualm I have with the packaging is that if you're in a hurry and don't take the time to look at the product itself, you might grab the wrong shade.


So, the shade and the formula... Hint of Pink is... well, just what it sounds like! It's a nice, sheer shade of pink, the bullet looks a little coral but the pink is simply pink. Let's talk about formulation now. I quite like it! It's lightweight and hydrating and leaves a nice glossy sheen, but the only problem I have with it is the smell... It smells like plastic. Blech. But the product is definitely nice enough to make up for it!



Bottom line: this is a really nice product. It does what it claims and looks more expensive then it is. I highly recommend it!

 Thank you so much for reading! Have you tried this product? What'd you think?

traveling

What's in my Bag | Travel Makeup Edition

9:59 PM

Hey guys! I'm going away tomorrow and I love reading these kinds of posts, so I thought I'd write one!


Face Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer - this is my favorite everyday base for those days where I'm having a rougher skin day. It looks natural and has evens out my skin tone. It has SPF 15 too - plus!

Face Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette - my trusty concealer palette... you will never fail me. This handy dandy palette has two concealer shades and a neutralizer, it even has translucent powder! Everything in one.

Face Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Roller - generally, I like this underneath my eyes for lazy days, and those days when just one concealer isn't doing the trick.

 Eyes Physician's Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner - this is my favorite liquid liner. It's opaque, stays put, and easy to use with the ultra fine brush tip.

Eyes NYX Slide On Pencil (Brown Perfection) - I love this range of pencils. This brown will be nice for waterlining for a natural look, and it won't budge after it sets.

Eyes No7 Extravagant Volume Mascara - this mascara works has a very interesting brush, and I've really liked it so far. I'm putting it to the test by having the faith to bring this on vacation with me.

Eyes No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara - this mascara. Is great. It curls my stick straight lashes a bit, and gives them volume while looking totally natural. It doesn't smudge or flake, and it comes off easily with remover.

Eyes No7 Lash and Brow Perfector - this is my brow gel, actually. It's fine. It works alright, it keeps my brows in place.

 Lips Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm (Unique Pink) - this is a great lip product that changes to a pink according to the pH level of your lips! I actually have a few more lip products in my makeup bag that's always with me, but this is the only one going in my 'official' makeup bag.


I'm not bringing too many tools, just my eyelash curler, an angled brush, a fluffy brush, and a sponge.

Thanks so much for reading! What's in your travel makeup bag?

eyeliner

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens

12:25 PM

Okay, people, first of all, before I start this post, I just wanted to say that these eyeliners are AMAZING. They're totally perfect.


What it is: a traditional pencil liner
Where it is: Pixi products are sold exclusively at Target stores and online
Cost: $15
Note: Pixi products are not tested on animals

Pixi products have always drawn me in. Their ethereal light green packaging is so dainty and pretty. The lighted stand at Target is always calling me in. "Emmiiiiiiiilyyyyyy come spend $15 on eyeliiiiiiiner." I've always been reluctant to try out the products because they're not cheap. Their products usually range from the $10 - $30 range, which is expensive, especially for a drugstore brand.

 Pixi claims that these are "waterproof, super-long-wear, no-smudge, no-budge eye liners. They glide on like seamless silk, and in a single sweep motion create a flawless, solid jewel-toned line. No retouching required all day - or night! Gentle on eyes, yet intensely coloured and super-silky. Waterproof. Paraben-free. Mineral oil-free. Preservative-free. Hypoallergenic."

 These pencils are available in ten perfect shades. The two I have are Black Noir (intense black) and Black Cocoa (deep brown).


These liners are traditional liners, meaning that they must be sharpened. This can result in some product being wasted, but it also means that it's more hygienic, as you get new, untouched product every time. They're housed in a pretty green wooden pencil with flowers printed on the wood. The back end of the pencil is a corresponding color with the shade.


These pencils are amazing. The pencils are super pigmented. When Pixi says Endless Silky, Pixi really means it. They glide on like silk, no skipping or dragging on the delicate eyelid. I feel like they're like a liquid, gel, and pencil eyeliner all in one. They're in the easy-to-apply form of a pencil, yet give the intense color of a liquid (taken from the box of the pencil - what, it's true!). They have the staying power of a gel eyeliner as well. The pencils set in a good amount of time, enough for you to smudge out the product if you want but not enough that you have to be careful blinking. They're perfect.

Bottom line: Incredible eyeliners. Get them if you can.

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Hi there, I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you. I'm a beauty blogger who also happens to be very interested in photography/film. Chat with me, let's be friends!