Product 411 -- ColourPop In Bloom and Where The Light Is Collections

(Note: So I'm trying out a new title for this post: Product 411. It's not a full review for reasons I explain below, but I didn't want to call it a Product Alert because I'm sure most people are aware of these two items. So this is really just a brief overview. If you've got a better name for these kinds of posts, feel free to share below.)

Lately, ColourPop seems to be putting out a new collection or kit every day.

Now, I'm not complaining because they're all pretty fabulous, but it's just not possible (or reasonable) to pick up all of them.

I couldn't resist buying the In Bloom Collection, which was a collaboration with celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, and Where The Light Is Foursome, which is a collaboration with YouTuber Kathleen Lights, though.

My will power is only so strong, you know.

Review -- Maybelline Eye Studio Color Molten Eyeshadows

Lately, it seems like every time I hit the drugstore, there are intriguing, new products littering the makeup aisle.

So even I manage to make it through one trip for shampoo or toothpaste without buying anything, it's barely a few days before I'm back and giving in.  

I can't help it -- the makeup junkie in me wants to try every product in the world.

Which means even though I hadn't seen much information about Maybelline's new Eye Studio Color Molten Eyeshadows, I couldn't resist picking up a couple when I was in CVS a few weeks back. 

The premise behind these is interesting -- Maybelline describes them as a micro-gel pigment formula that melts with a liquid touch, which basically means they're kind of a powder product that becomes a cream when you touch it.

Review: e.l.f. Studio Waterproof Eyeliner Crayon

I've been singing the praises of plenty of e.l.f. products lately, but we all know that the line is full of hits and misses.

And while I've been lucky enough to come across quite a few of their hits lately, I've also encountered a pretty huge miss.

In theory, the Studio Waterproof Eyeliner Crayons should be a great product.

It's versatile enough to use as an eyeliner or blended out as a shadow, and the formula is supposed waterproof and smudge-proof so it stays in place all day.

They're also twist-up pencils so you don't have to bother with sharpening them, and they come in seven shades that range from nude to black.

Review -- e.l.f. Smudge Pots

I've always been a fan of e.l.f's products, but the line is definitely hit and miss.

I'm always willing to try out new products from the brand, though, because they're so affordable that there's very little risk involved.

But lately, everything I try from e.l.f. is a serious home run -- I've reviewed the Pressed Mineral Blushes and Prism Eyeshadow Palettes recently, both of which I absolutely love.

However, I think my favorite new product that I've tried from e.l.f. in recent months are the Smudge Pots.

e.l.f. touts them as a smooth gel formula that can work as a cream shadow or an eyeliner. They're also enriched with Vitamin E so they can help hydrate and nourish the delicate eye area (which is especially nice for mature skin.)

Product Alert -- upcoming bareMinerals More Than Meets The Eye TSV on QVC

In just a few days (March 22nd), bareMinerals has yet another TSV coming up on QVC.

And while this is more of "basics" kit in my mind, I had to go ahead and order it early because there were a couple of new products in it that had me intrigued.

You know it doesn't take all that much to get me excited about makeup.

The More Than Meets The Eye Collection contains 8 pieces:

• Prime Time Daily Defense Neutralizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
• Ready All-Over Face Color in Elation
• 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Mineral Veil Finishing Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 20
• 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Blushing Apricot
• Hydrating Lip Stain in Elation
• Angled Foundation Brush
• Flawless Complexion Brush

Product Alert/Mini Review -- Maybelline Dare to Go Nude Spring 2014 Collection

Note -- I have to apologize yet again for the recent lack of posts. These days, I'm having photo issues. I usually take my photos outside because the lighting in my house is atrocious for photography (if anyone is into photography and can recommend some good lights or light bulbs for pictures, I am all ears!). But our backyard and deck is still covered with some snow, so that's not an option right now. 

The areas inside the house that seem to get good light are all areas where a certain naughty puppy can get to easily and Charlie has run off with a tube or two of lipstick the past couple of days when I tried to take some photos. (Fortunately, no lipsticks were harmed.) I was able to take some pictures today while the little guy was in the yard -- I must apologize, though, because they're probably not the best quality. I still wanted to get this post up while the products mentioned are still in stores so hopefully they'll suffice. 

Hopefully, we've seen the last of snow around these parts, so I should be back to my usual photo set-up shortly. 

Oh, and I haven't forgotten about the two year anniversary giveaway that I mentioned a few weeks ago. I'm waiting for an item to come in the mail, but I think it should be here sometime next week, which means the giveaway post could be up as soon as then.  Keep an eye out!

 

I’ve really started to hate the limited edition collections and products that so many makeup companies put out these days.

Because there just seem to be so many of them, one released right after another, so it’s really just nothing but a way to sucker people into buying items that they might not necessarily purchase just because you’re telling them that they can only get it for a limited time.

It’s good marketing, I guess, but seriously manipulative.

Now, I say all this and I’m pretty much the biggest sucker going because I always seem to fall for it.

Which is why I’ve been stalking drugstores in my area for the new Maybelline Dare to Go Nude Limited Edition Spring 2014 collection.

Review -- Best of BECCA Kit from Sephora

(In my last review of the Tarte Amazonian Eye & Cheek Palette, I mentioned that I had come across a couple of items that I'd forgotten to review when I got them at the beginning of the year. This is the second of those items.)

I've always been curious about the BECCA brand.

Maybe it's because Lisa Eldridge is always using products from the line in her tutorials and she makes them all look amazing.

(Of course, she makes everything look amazing, right?)

That's probably the main reason, actually.

But when you've never tried a brand and don't know that much about, it can be difficult to figure out where to start.

Fortunately for me, my aunt gave me the fabulous Best of BECCA Kit from Sephora for my birthday so I got to try a bunch of products at once.

It's a terrific way to introduce yourself to any brand, I think.

Review -- Mary Kay Products (Mascara, Lash Primer, Cream Shadow & Lipstick)

Note: I did not pay for these products; I received them in an Influenster VoxBox. If you're unfamiliar with Influenster, it's a program where companies can share their products with a community of consumers, who then share their opinions about the products. You can find more information here (including how to sign up, if you're interested). That said, I assure you that these are my honest opinions.

I've wanted to try Mary Kay products for a while now, but somehow I never got around to it.

(Part of it, I think, has to do with the price -- not that the products are super expensive, but they seem a little pricey for a mail-order brand that I can't see or test the items ahead of time. I mean, I've purchased from Avon off and on over the years, so I'm not averse to the idea in general, but Avon's prices have always seemed more reasonable and they regularly run specials so it seems like there are always good deals to be had.)

So when I received the Influenster VoxBox featuring Mary Kay products last month, I was pretty excited.

It was a completely no-risk way to try the brand and see what I thought of the quality.

Sounds good, right?

June 2013 Favorites

For many people, I'm sure what I'm about to say sounds like crazy talk but I've always traveled to the beat of my own drum so...

I'm not really a summer person.

There, I said it.

I hate the heat.  I hate the humidity.  I hate sweating.

I actually prefer the winter, if you can believe that.

So I'm happy that June's over.  It means the summer is like a quarter over (well, according to my admittedly screwy calculations...).

(Of course, July and August promise to be even hotter and sticker but ...)

But despite my distaste for months like June, I still had a few favorites that got me through.

Shopping Bag -- Tons of Drugstore Lip Products and a Couple of Eye Products

I've been accumulating lip products at a somewhat alarming rate over the past couple of months.

Fortunately, most have been from the drugstore where I'm lured into purchases by the oh-so tempting BOGO-1/2 off offer, so I haven't spent a ton of money. 

Still, I have more lip products that any rational person needs but I've come to terms with that. 

This Shopping Bag also includes a couple of eye products for good measure. 

Review - bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Be Free (and Some Odds and Ends)

Last week when I reviewed the Buxom Full Bodied Lipsticks, I mentioned that I've been on a lipstick buying binge lately.

It's a little strange because I've always preferred gloss to lipstick, but I just can't seem to get enough of the creamy opaque look of lipstick these days.

The fact that I've stumbled across some pretty fabulous formulas in my lipstick shopping craze probably has something to do with it.

The bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick definitely falls into that fabulous category.

And color me surprised because I haven't really been a fan of any of bareMinerals' lipsticks in the past.

April 2013 Favorites

In April, I tried plenty of new products but there were a few tried and true items that definitely stood out as favorites for the month.

Shopping Bag -- All Maybelline

(Note: As I sat down to write this post, I realized that there is third Maybelline-related post I've done in a row.  It hasn't been intentional -- I promise to mix things up a little better this week!)

A few months back, I did what I called a "Shopping Bag" post to share photos and swatches of products that I didn't plan to do a full review of for whatever reason (it's limited edition and hard to get, I've already reviewed the product in another shade, etc). 

I haven't done one since but I finally have some products that fit the bill -- all of which are made by Maybelline interestingly enough.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Summer 2013 Limited Edition Shades (Waves of White, Precious Pearl, Sandy Shores, Cool Crush and Seashore Frosts)

I adore the Maybelline Color Tattoo Shadows.

For me, they're just as good as M.A.C. Paint Pots, which is high praise since the Paint Pots have long been my favorite cream shadows.

These days, I actually give the edge to the Color Tattoos simply because they come in so many beautiful shades -- I think that I have almost all of the colors in the permanent range actually.

That said, I'm usually able to resist their limited edition collections. I think that there was one last fall that featured deep browns and other autumnal shades -- the colors were lovely, no doubt, but with the exception of a green shade, I had other cream shades in similiar shades so I just didn't see the need.

I was a good girl.

I was not such a good girl when I stumbled across the Summer 2013 Limited Edition Color Tattoos at Walgreen's the other day.

Tarte 'What Has Your Makeup Done For You Lately?' TSV AD Shipment #3

As you may or may not know, the Northeastern part of the U.S. got walloped with a ton of snow this weekend -- record snowfall in a quite a few spots, actually.

Fortunately, my part of Long Island didn't get it too bad. We've probably got about 10 inches on the ground here, which is definitely a pain to shovel (I have the sore arms to prove it!) but didn't bring about any real damage.

And before Nemo (apparently they give names to snow storms now too.  Who knew?) dumped all his snow over the Northeast, my intrepid UPS man managed to drop off the third and final AD installment in the Tarte 'What Has Your Makeup Done For You Lately?' TSV series, which means that I had new makeup to play with while I was snowed in today... so no cabin fever for me.

bareMinerals Return to Radiance AD Shipment 3

I'm sorry that I've been MIA this week - I've been fighting off a cold, so I've been really tired and cranky.

But few things make me feel better than some new makeup, so it was perfect timing when my UPS guy showed up with the third installment of the bareMinerals Return to Radiance TSV from QVC on Monday.

Well, the Nyquil definitely helped too.

Revlon Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch

Revlon Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch

Not to brag or anything, but I have the greatest sister in the world.

When I was stressed out about not having power and missing two whole weeks of work after Hurricane Sandy, she wanted to cheer me up and because she knows me so well, she knows that there's a surefire to raise my spirits.

Surprise me with makeup.

Guaranteed to make me happy every time.

So when she surprised me to the Revlon Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch (and a Revlon nail polish that will likely make it into my December Favorites because I am seriously obsessed with it), which I'd been wanting for a while, it definitely did perk me up.

Tarte What Has Your Makeup Done For Your Lately? A/D Shipment #2

Tarte What Has Your Makeup Done For You Lately? TSV Box

You know that you have a serious QVC addiction when two new installments of a TSV show up on your doorstep on the same day.

And from the same brand no less.

That's what happened to me today - my UPS man dropped off the second installment of the Tarte What Has Your Makeup Done For Your Lately? TSV and the third (and final) shipment of the Tarte Miracle of Maracuja TSV this afternoon.

So yeah.  I know I've got a problem.

I just can't resist these deals. 

Seriously.

Brand Spotlight - Maybelline

My Favorite Maybelline Products

When I first started this blog, I used to these brand spotlight posts on a weekly post where I'd share my three favorite products from a particular brand.  I haven't done one in months, but I think that they can be pretty informative, particularly if it's a brand that you're not very familiar with.

So I'm going to try to get back to doing them - and I hope that when I do, you'll feel free to share your favorites from the particular brand in the comments section below. I've definitely tried a ton of makeup, but I haven't gotten around to trying all of it (yet...) so I'll love to know if there are some gems out there that I should add to my shopping list.

This week, I'm focusing on Maybelline.

Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick and High-Shine Liquid Lipstick

Mally Beauty Goodies

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that I'm a full-blown QVC addict.

Well, at least when it comes to their beauty product offerings.

I am a sucker for pretty much any beauty-related TSV.  I just can't help myself - they're always such an amazing deal.

But despite my weakness for QVC beauty items, I had never tried any products from Mally Beauty, the cosmetics line founded by celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal.