March 2012 Favorites

1. Primer - This month I have been loving the ELF sheer eyelid primer so much.  Not gonna lie, my makeup has creased a few times but for $1 it does it's job.

2. Eye Shadow - I have been loving the Victorias Secret Beauty Rush in the color God rush, super shimmery and so many ways to use this, both as a base all over color and a light inner corner and browbone color depending on the look I am going for.

3. Eye Liner - Physicians Formula Nude Eyes Shimmer Strips Liner Trio is amazing, specifically the middle mauvey color.

4. Foundation -  I have been using a combination of Revlon ColorStay and Rimmel Clean finish all month and like how sheer the coverage is for this combination, the tone of the Rimmel is fairly dark brown undertones and the ColorStay is very pinky undertoned.

5. Concealer - I am in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.  It is so creamy and thick enough that it really does cover dark circles.  I use this stuff every night.

6. Blush - pH MatchMaker Blush in pink.  This is the best blush I have ever had.  It's super bright pink and so soft and blendable, it's so awesome!

7. Palette - this month I loved using the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips for
Green Eyes in the collection POP! These colors are so fun, pigmented, blend able and versatile. There are many combinations you can creat with this tiny palette.

8. Face Applicator - this month I found myself reaching for the E.L.F. Powder Brush for EVERYTHING! I use this brush everyday for powder, blush, bronzer and often use it for liquid foundation as well.

9. Eye Applicator - This month I found the best blending brush, the Sonia Kashuk Small Powder Brush.  This brush is a little bigger than the Mac 224 and is sooooo much softer and blends so nicely!!

10. Hair Product - John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock Glosser has been my go to product forever and I have used it a ton lately. I actually cut the tube open and put it in a pot which has made it so much easier to use and remember I have lol.

11. Perfume - Victoria's Secret PINK With a Splash Body spray in the scent Warm&Cozy has been my go to scent all month long.  I got the sample size one and when my secret rewards card can be used I plan to go back and get the large size.  This scent is so light and great for work, as it's not overpowering at all and has undertones of "warm peony and toasted vanilla".

12. Mascara - This month I have fallen in love with the Loreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara, it seperates and volumizes all of my lashes without clumping! Love, so much Love.

13. Moisturiser - Just like last month, I have been using Bio Oil  constantly and love it!

14. Nail Care Product - Barille No Chip Speed Dry Top Coat has worked wonders for me this month, check it out!

15. Movie - The Descendants was by far the best movie of last year and I was so happy to see it come out on dvd and watch it again.  The themes in it are so well played and the acting is just amazing, go see it if you havent yet!

So those are my favorites and most used products of February. Have a great night!

Review Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Blush and Bronzer

Blush and Bronzer Compact

In my last post I gave ya'll my opinions on the new PF pH Matchmaker lipgloss. Well in the last week I have most definitely failed at my project pan and purchased both the blush and bronzer from CVS at 40% off and each product had a 3 dollar off coupon on top of the sale. Well these products are most definitely worth breaking my project pan promise. Both of these products have the same packaging which is super cute.  The only complaint I have is that it is really bulky and gives the impression of there being a lot more product than actually comes in the product.  The bronzer has more product than the blush does which is sad for me because I only use a tiny bit of bronzer but the blush is SO pigmented that I am sure it will last quite a while

Brush and Bronzer with mirror
and my silly face!!!

Brush and Bronzer Swatches
after 60 seconds.

I love these colors. The blush starts as a very light pink and brightens on my skin to a very bright pink fun color blush that actually looks very natural on the apples of my cheeks when blended out.  The bronzer is a little dark for me but I know I'll be darker during the summer... well my freckles will connect during the summer, creating an illusion of darkness. I don't notice the bronzer changing color on my skin but it is a nice glow to being with. There is a little more shimmer in both products than I love but that is okay. 

Blush and Bronzer without glare or my face!

Overall I love both of these products, they are super cute and very pigmented and I love them so much.  

The amount of Blush in the container

Hope this review was helpful and please follow, comment and come back!!! 

The amount of Bronzer in the container. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Review- Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Lipgloss

pH Matchmaker Lipgloss in Light Pink

OMG this stuff is friggin' amazing.  At first when this application is clear and shimmery with no scent or taste.  It has a great glossy appearance and very little glitter. The packaging is beautiful and classy, black and pink with a built in light and mirror.  Within the first 60 seconds of wear the color of this gloss completely changes from a clear gloss with a light pink undertone to a bright pink gloss.  The change is radical and beautiful. I was immediately in love with this gloss.  I love bright pinks but they often are too bright for me, this one is perfect. It is dark enough that it suits me but bright enough that it'still fun and completely wearable. To be utterly honest, I do not buy the whole "changing with the pH of your body" thing, as I have had other people try it on and it always seems to change to that same bright pink glossy shade with just a hint of shimmer and a perfect amount of shine.  

TAG: Questions!!!

Hey guys!

Quickly doing this beauty Tag before heading to work!

SKINCARE
-
-How many times do you wash your face daily? 
2 times

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
Combination

-What is your current facial wash?

Clean & Clear Finishes Oil, Free Pore Perfecting Cleanser

-Do you exfoliate?
I try to but I forget

-What brand do you use?
Clean and Clear

-What moisturizer do you use?
Bio Oil and Ponds 

-Do you have freckles?

Billions

-Do you use eye cream?
No not really

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Not really but I do get breakouts 

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
Nope, but I did in highschool and college. 

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?
I use a combination of Rimmel Clean Finish and Revlon Photo Ready

-How about concealer?
I use a yellow correcting concealer for my undereye area from ELF and a glamoflage from Hard Candy on blemishes

-Do you know your undertone color?
Pink unfortunately

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I don't use them, I have really long eyelashes anyways and they seem like way too much work.

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yeah but I generally have ADD about mascara and use a bunch all the time.

-What brand of mascara do you use?
Loreal right now but I use everything realy.

-Sephora or MAC?
Sephora

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
Nope I've only been to Mac2 times in my life. 

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
I use the SoHo beauty sponge for my foundation and then use an ELF eyeshadow all over brush and theyre powder brush and then use a Salma Hayek blending brush. 

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
 ELF eyeshadow primer

-For the face?I use hardcandy face primer,

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
I like purples a lot. 

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Pencil, gel and liquid depending on the day. 

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
only when I am doing makeup in the car

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
only like 2

-Do you use mineral makeup?
yes I use mineral eyeshadows

-What is your favorite lipstick?
right now mine is the Lip butters

-How about lipgloss?
too many to decide but I love the ELF hypershine glosses.

-What is your favorite blush to use?
MIlani Baked blushes

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
No but I have bought a lot from Amazon.com

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
yeah I love it.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
None near me sadly.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
I'd love to.

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Somettimes

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
When people use way too much eyeliner

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
Usually colorful but not always bright.

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Ummmmmmm Carrie Underwood.

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
Mascara

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Sometimes but not if I'm going anywhere important
-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
No.

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
ELF

-What do you think of Makeup??

It's too addictive but such a self esteem booster. 

Colors of the Rainbow Tag

I decided to do this tag after reading http://makeup4myage.blogspot.com's blog today.

Now the way this one works is you have to name one favourite beauty product in your collection representing each colour of the rainbow.  One of each of the following:

White

  I have two white products I could not live without. 

1. Sephora Jumbo Waterproof Eye Liner

2. ELF Mineral Eyeshadow in Angelic

Red

Revlon Lip Butter in Candied Apple

Yellow

ELF Cover Everything Concealer in Corrective Yellow has been my dark circles life saver this month. I love it so much. 

Green

Wet N Wild Juicy Lip Balm SPF 15 in Watermelon Pasteque, not the best lipbalm I have ever had but its the best green product.

Blue

ELF Mineral Eyeshadow in Beachy is the most vibrant shimmery blue ever!

Indigo

  The top right corner of the ELF Brightening Eye Shadow in Ocean Dreams is the most perfect Indigo color ever.

Violet

The second darkest shade in the NYC IndividualEyes for Green Eyes is such a beautiful violet maroon color. I use this color at least 4 times a week.

So yeah thats my makeup rainbow lol!

Consider yourself tagged!!

Additional Project Pan Products

Hey all!
So I went through my entire collection today and added some products to my P10P so it's more like a P16P now.  The rules are to remain the same though, I just found some new products I would like to try to finish up for various reasons.

Here are the added products:

1. Beauty Rush Baked Eyeshadow in the color Gold Rush- I have had this product for probably around a year and really want to finish it off and just remove it from my collection.  I like this product but have a lot of very similar colored eyeshadows. 
2. Wet n Wild ColorIcon Baked Eyeshadow in the color Fiery- Love this color, it's very mauvy and shimmery I would just like to try to use it more mostly. 
3.  Nuance by Selma Hyack Lights.Camera.Action Eye Trio- This is such a handy product that comes with a cream eyeshadow, eye brightener and eye liner in one stick.  I bought this product a few months ago before I discovered E.LF. and just really want to remember this more and continue to use it.  
4. NYC Metro Quartet Eye Shadow in Lexington Luxury-I have 3 of these in different shades and this is my least favorite color combination.  I dont hate it but it's really boring so I just want to get rid of it without wasting money. 
5. E.L.F Studie Single Eyeshadow in Butter Cream-This is probably my least favorite E.L.F probduct.  The color is a yellowish cream color and it is very chalky.  I received this in an E.L.F free gift package and don't want to just waste it. 
6. E.L.F. HyperShine Lipgloss in the color Flirt- I have like 4 of these products because E.L.F. always sends them as a free gift and I often neglect to use lipglosses. 
7. E.LF. Eyelid Primer in Sheer- I have accumulated a ton of eyelid primers and just want to use this one up. 

All of My Project Pan Products

I also decided to remove my Mac PaintPot from the original list because it is so expensive I really don't want to burn through it, I want it to last..  I'm not really sure why I originially included it anyway because it's neither something I want to finish off or use more of. 

I will post a list on the right side of the blog of all the items I am including in the P16P and will cross them off as I finish them. 

Thanks for reading and post again soon!

My Go To Skin Care Products

So today I decided to do a post specifically on skin care products that I use daily and highly suggest.

I am Irish and have dry, freckly, fair skin and thick, straight black hair.  I was negligent sun protection until about 2 years ago and my skin has been damaged by the sun for many years.   The result is very dry, sometimes painfully so, skin.  I also have patches of eczema that are constantly popping up on my arms and legs, particularly in cold dry weather or when I spend a lot of time in chlorine.

Here are the products I turn to regularly:

• U-Lactin Moisturizing Lotion by Allerderm- My mom actually brought this home from work one day a year or so ago and I was initially turned off by how plain it was.  She works in a pharmacy and had them order it for her.  My whole family suffers with dry skin but my younger brother got the worst of it, with painful eczema that covers his body head to toe.  This lotion has been the only thing that has helped his skin and after a month or two of everyone raving about it I tried it.  It is amazing.  It makes your skin so soft and literally allows it to absorb more moisture that regularly.  You can get this product in most pharmacies but they often do not keep it in stock so you may need to ask the pharmacist to order it for you.  A 16 oz. bottle generally retails for roughly $13-18 but it lasts quite a while and is well worth it.  You can also buy it online.

• Bio Oil- Every single night after I remove my makeup and waskh my face I place a few drops of Bio Oil in the palm of my hand and smooth it over my face.  Application is so simple, it smells fabulous and it literally removes patches of dryness that have accumulated under my makeup during the day.  I only suggest using this at night as it is an oil and does take time to absorb into your face but in the morning your face feels refreshed and smooth.   This product claims to help with scarring and stretch marks but I can't make any claims about that, though I do feel like my few acne scars have diminished since I began using Bio Oil.. It does seem to help even out skin tone also, which I love because I can be very blotchy and red.  Bio Oil comes in many different sizes but the product is all the same and can be found at any drugstore or pharmacy or online for around $8-12. In purchase mine in a 3 pack at BJ's for around $20.

• Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy Oil Body Wash-  I wholeheartedly love and believe in Argan Oil for anything and everything and this Body Wash has not let me down.  I have been a longtime user of Organix hair products, particularly the Argan Oil line.  This is such a creamy moisturising consistency and the smell is light and very similar to the hair products.   This product can be bought at any pharmacy, drugstore or  online for around $8-10 dollars.  I received a $2 off coupon for this product the last time that I bought  the hair products at CVS which brought the price of the product down to around $6

• Burts Bee's Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream-  The climate being what it is during New England  winters my hands become very dry and painful.  This balmy cream has been amazing in the winter and lasts so long.  I use this everyday at least once but a little goes such a long way.  I love the fact that this product smells like almonds and is very waxy, more like a skin protectant than a cream.  This is like chapstick for your chapped hands. It comes in a cute small glass pot that is very portable also.    Love. Pure unadulterated love.  Like all the other products listed above you can find this product at most drugstores, Walmart or online for $5-9 dollars. 

Well those are my most used and loved skin products.  If you have any comments or suggestions for me let me know in a comment por favor. I will be following this up with a similar post on hair care and lipcare products in the next week or so!

My Project 10 Pan

Hey All! So I realized I have been really gluttonous about my makeup collection in the past month and need to pull in the reigns. So I decided to start my own "Project 10 Pan".  I am so nervous about this project because I am literally addicted to makeup but I love these products that I have picked so I am not worried about this because the last few months I have definitely been hoarding makeup.  I have bought everything in sight without thinking about how much I was spending.  So here it goes! For those of you who don't know a "Project Pan" is when you go on a makeup/beauty product buying strike until you finish "X" amount of products.  I will be hitting pan on 10 products.


As of tonight the following rules apply:

• To add a product to my finished "Pan" list, I have to use up the entire thing. Like as in throwing it in the trash barrel kind of finished. Dead.
• I may slip up if I find something limited edition, one of a kind, and a product that I know I will regret passing up. I will probably just keep it in the box until I'm done with this project. Then it will be like a little reward for finishing! 
• Building off of the previous rule, if I see something on a major sale or if ELF has a major deal I will buy the product but it will remain in it's packaging until the product pan is over.  I will also let all of my readers know if this happens so I can be kept accountable. 
• If I receive any giftcards or CVS extrabucks I will use them.  The point of this is to spend less money, not downsize.

Here are my products:

• E.L.F. Complexion Perfection Powder- I love this product so much and use it constantly.  It's only $3 dollars from eyeslipsface.com and I will be starting a brand new one for this product.
• Sephora Mineral Matte Touch Up Powder- I just bought this product last week and it's a great setting powder. So smooth!!
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Nude Palette-  The colors in the palette are beautiful and I use them all the time.  It is very versitile and the shadows are all beautifully creamy.
• Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes- This is my everyday mascara and this is a fairly new product so finishing it will take a while. 
• Sephora Jumbo 12hr Waterproof Liner in White- I use this everyday for innercorner brightening but I have a whole bunch of innercorner pencils so I would like to continue with this one. 
• E.L.F Mineral Eye Liner in Black- Again I use this pencil almost every day.  It is a great waterline color and the pigmentation and staying power are amazing!
• MAC PaintPot in Rubenesque- This will be my most difficult product to hit pan on because I only use a tiny bit per use.
• E.L.F. Cover Everything Concealer in Corrective Yellow- This is a great undereye concealer.
• Hard Candy Sheer Envy Illuminating Primer-  This stuff is great but I have the regular one that I prefer so this is the only product I am trying to Pan to get rid of rather than just throwing out my money. 
• E.L.F Minty Lip Gloss in Seattle- Clear, shimmery, minty, GOODNESS!

Yep so that's it! If anyone has every done a product pan or a makeup diet please let me know any tips you used for curbing the desire to buy buy buy. LOL. Thanks for reading and Ill be back soon!

Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty- TAG

Hey all!
I have never done a tag before but really wanted to do this one because I get to talk about my favorite things!!


TAG QUESTIONS


1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?
My most inexpensive items are all my E.L.F. Essential products that are only a dollar- my favorites are the shimmer sticks (shimmery liners that have built in sharpeners in the cover) and the waterproof eyeliner pens which come in a range of colors and leave a beautifully precise line every time. Love both of those products. 


As for the most expensive item I own, that has to be my Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV.  I got this for $35 dollars from Hautelook and love it so much. 


2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?
I have a love hate relationship with any loose eyeshadows and pigments.  They are beautiful but they are SOOOO messy! I also have a love hate relationship with really dark eyeshadows because I usually like the end effect but they are so dramatic that I have a hard time integrating them into my day to day. 


3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?
My Physicians Formula Happy Boosters products both have the most amazing scent!


4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?
I tend to neglect doing my hair because it takes soooo long and it ends up on top of my head in 15 minutes of my punching in at work.


5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?
Good eye makeup! Like when you get that perfect blend and it all comes together it's amazing!!!!


6. LUST: What products do you think you could never live without?
I could never live without mascara.  I rarely leave the house without it.  My favorite kind is Lash Stilletos. 


7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?
Either of the Naked Palettes would be amazing.  But I usually just ask for gift cards. 


I tag you all! Just leave a link below

Review: E.L.F. Eye Transformer Palette

Hello All!,
So today I am going to give a review/tutorial on the E.L.F. Eye Transformer Palette.  This is a $3 product available on eyeslipsface.com  Just to give you all some background information about how I ended up with this product and what it is.  A month or two ago I placed a E.L.F order and had a coupon code for a whole bunch of extra products and one of them was this product. I will include pictures and swatches below but this is essentially a small black pallet with 4 rectangular powders, a small brush and a rectangular mirror.  I never really understood what it was for because the colors were all very similar, very shimmery and all very light pastels.  Then one day I was watching a n E.L.F. Haul video by xoemilygracexo on youtube and in the related videos sidebar there was a video about this product and I finally figured out how fabulous this product really is!

So here is how you use it:

1. You apply your eye makeup as you would normally. 
2. Apply your eyeliner; pencil, gel or liquid in a neutral tone- black, white and brown
3. Use a precision shadow brush or liner brush to apply any 1 of the 4 tones of the Eye Transformer
4. Watch your normal colored eye liner turn to a beautiful shimmery toned liner

So yes I am in love with this amazing product and suggest everyone goes to the E.L.F. site and buys themselves one of these products because the outcome is astounding!

Here are the pictures//swatches... ENJOY!!!:

This is what the palette looks like. The colors are from left to right-  green, copper, pink and  purple
The green was broken when I received it but it was free so its ok!
\

Swatches after Transformer

White Eye Liner Swatches- Before Eye Transformer

Swatches after Transformer

Black Eye Liner Swatches- Before Eye Transformer

Youtube Channel I Absolutely Love

 http://www.youtube.com/user/emilynoel83
This is one of the most beautiful woman ever and she talks about really doable makeup, down to earth hauls and great advice.  She talks a lot about drugstore makeup and dupes of high end makeup.  In real life she is a news anchor so her videos are very high quality and she sounds wonderful, not like she's reciting something or is trying to impress anyone.  She's real.

I suggest everyone go watch some of her videos if you're looking for any tips or tutorials.  She has over 600 videos on her channel so chances are that you will find something you are looking for.


Also check out her blog for more information.
http://www.beautybroadcast.net/