Kiss: Looks So Natural Lashes in Pretty

I received these lashes complimentary from Influenster last month for testing purposes and I have to say, false lashes is right up there with air and water as far as my life essentials are concerned. I wish I was kidding about that statement.

Needless to say, I was really excited to give these a try! So excited in fact, I came home from work with my 13 hour make up face and put these bad boys on!

Revlon Colorburst: Unapologetic & Enticing

I'm a huge fan of Revlon's Lip Butters (which are also part of the Colorburst family), so you can imagine how excited I was to finally see this display at my local Rite Aid last week!

This new collection features two finishes: Lacquer and Matte! The 10 Matte shades come in matte packaging and the 10 Lacquer shades come in shiny packaging. Believe it or not, this actually took me a minute to figure out because the shades were all out of place in the display....I know, no excuse. Brain fart moment for sure! As you can tell by the picture, the matte shades seem to be very popular because there are only 3 left compared to the reasonable amount of Lacquer colors available.

I only picked up one from each section to see if I liked them before going crazy and buying everything. (Who am I kidding though, I know it's the inevitable ending) Anyways, without further ado, here are some photos!

I picked up the matte shade in Unapologetic and the lacquer shade in Enticing. The balms are sealed by a clear sticker which is a nice effort, but it doesn't really prevent tampering with.

Unapologetic

I found the formula of this balm to be very smooth but also quite slippery. The texture kind of reminds me of NXY's soft matte lip cream's. Although smooth, the almost whipped/butter cream consistency can be patchy and not flattering on dry lips. Definitely exfoliate!

Enticing

I loved the formula of this one! Super smooth, shiny, and the consistency has a bit of tack to it. They aren't sticky at all but they have a really nice feel to them. Super shiny but not greasy at all. It reminded me a lot of Urban Decay's Super Saturated High Gloss lip color. 

Other things to note:

Scent: Subtle minty scent

Packaging: Exactly like Revlon's Kissable balms- twist up tube, no sharpener

Lasting Power: These are not long lasting at all. I would say 2-3 hours if you aren't eating and drinking and much less than that if you are. They also will transfer so that's something to keep in mind.

Both finishes are very pigmented and there are great color choices from both lines. I have to say that I really love the lacquer line and prefer that over the matte line based on formula. I didn't see anything mentioned that these were limited edition, so I'm excited that these will most likely be permanent items!

Jesse's Girl: Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

I can't believe it, the day has finally come.

I'm in love with an affordable version my beloved Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner!!! Ringing in at a nice $6.99, Jesse's Girl Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is all that and then some!

I received this liner in my September Glam bag and I was sooo excited because I have been wanting to try this liner out for awhile. The only place I know you can purchase Jesse's Girl Cosmetics other than their website is at Rite Aid, and my local Rite Aid's never carry the liner. Thanks again IPSY, you rock!

Wet n Wild: Mega Last Lip Color vs Fergie Center Stage Collection Lip Color

So similar and yet slightly different. That's exactly how I would compare Wet n Wild's Mega Last Lip Color line to Fergie's Center Stage Lip Color Line.

Similarities

Lipstick shape- Both are round instead of the traditional lipstick shape that comes to a point

Packaging- Both tubes are made of plastic with clear plastic caps that snap on

*I believe both have the same amount of product- .11oz (but not 100% sure)*

Differences

Size of packaging- Fergie collection is taller, but I believe both carry the same amount of product

Formula/Finish- Fergie collection is a bit creamier/hydrating and has a bit more of a shine finish. This is a subtle difference but I did notice a little more ease when applying the Fergie line lipsticks.

L-Mega Last              R-Fergie Collection

Price- Mega Last is $1.99 and Fergie Collection is $3.99

Color Selection: The Mega Last line offers 26 colors and the Fergie line offers 10 colors.

Final Thoughts

These lipsticks are almost identical products aside from it's exterior packaging. I do think the Fergie collection has a slightly more hydrating formula which is nice. I don't know if it justifies a price difference though, as it is just slightly more smooth. I think the price difference has to do more with packaging costs and the fact that it's a celeb branded line. Eitherway, both lines of lipsticks are wonderful! They both offer great pigmentation, last for hours, and are very affordable! The Mega Last line has more colors to choose from compared to the Fergie line, but the Fergie line does offer shades that are different. With that being said though, I purposely used the 2 colors above to show you the 2 lipsticks that I thought were the most similar between the lines. If you own one of those, you could skip on the other. 

*Direct shopping links provided via ShopSense*

Wet n Wild Haul with Swatches!

Last week Wet n Wild was 40% off at Walgreens and Rite Aid, so naturally this happened:

I'm a big fan of Wet n Wild's megalast polishes and lipsticks and at 40% off, saying they are a steal is an understatement! I've also never tried anything from the Fergie line aside from the polishes, so I picked up a few of her lipsticks as well.

Jordana: INCOLOR Fabuliner Liquid Eyeliner

As a self proclaimed connoisseur of liquid liners, I am always trying to find the next best one. I'm still a die hard fan of Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof  Liquid Liner but my only gripe is that by month's end, it's pretty much dry and done. At $20 a pop, that gets a bit pricey to keep purchasing.

One of my friends was raving about Jordana's Fabuliner and at $2.49 +tax at Walgreens, it was kinda a no brainer to give it a try. (I checked Jordana's website and it's listed for $2.99). Basically this liner is dirt cheap. 

Now, I'm not gonna lie, I'm always up for a good deal but sometimes when a product is really inexpensive, I get a little apprehensive about trying it out. It's still mind boggling to me how a really affordable product can be just as good if not better than a high end product. Aside from organic/natural products which will usually always cost more, I guess we really are paying more for a name brand sometimes. Hmph.

Walgreens Beauty Sample Box: School of Beauty

Back in July I posted about Walgreens beauty sample box program which you can read about here. It took about 5 months to receive my first box which I explain in the link I just provided. (To see contents of that box, go here.)

To my surprise, I just received my second box yesterday! It actually arrived in the allotted 6-8 weeks time frame! As I mentioned before in both posts, it's free, so it doesn't really matter when it actually arrives but I'm glad it didn't take 5 months this time.

Here were the choices again at the time I was picking out my box:

Although I'm not in school anymore, I opted for the Back to School box just based on the description. I think it was the "dare to revamp your look" that got me. Are you challenging me Walgreens? I accept your dare!

Rimmel: Show Off Lip Lacquer Apocaliptic

I recently posted my review on Rimmel's Show Off Lip Lacquers which you can read here. I love them but my local Walgreens rarely has any left that haven't been tampered with. I was so excited to finally find an un-open one in Apocaliptic. It was definitely on the top of my list when they first came out!

As far as the color goes, I find that it wears a bit darker than what you see in the tube. It's a rich raspberry color with a slight hint of hot pink and it's awesome. I think this color is actually wearable for anyone and it makes a great statement lip!

In terms of formula, I'm happy to report that this one is just as great as Celestial. Goes on smooth, amazing pigmentation, and lasted for several hours. Definitely another favorite for me!

Loreal Miracle Blur: Is it worth it?

Loreal's Miracle Blur is one of the more expensive "creams" at the drugstore that I've noticed. The cheapest I have seen it is at Target for $19.99, but at drugstores it usually retails for about $24.99. That's quite a lot to shell out on one product at the drugstore, yet that's exactly what intrigued me about it. How could this product cost so much?! I had to know.

I have been using Loreal's Miracle Blur for the past couple months now and I have to say, I'm really liking this stuff.

NYX: Xtreme Lip Cream

I had mentioned these lippies in my last post and realized I have never reviewed or posted swatches of them yet. NYX lip products are some of my absolute favorites and these Xtreme Lip Creams are another great addition to that category!

These Xtreme Lip Creams fall into the lipstick/lipgloss hybrid category. I love these kinds of lip products because not only are they a time saver, they are so convenient! It's nice to only have to bring one lip product with you instead of a couple (definitely not trying to add to the madness that is my make up bag). Oh and the pigmentation of these Xtreme Lip Cream's...amazing! As I mentioned in my last review, these are very similar to Rimmel's Show Off Lip Lacquers as far as consistency. They are a bit drier in formula and a little less shiny than the Rimmel Show Off's but that's being super technical and it's nothing overly obvious. If you have tried NYX's soft matte creams, they are a bit thicker in formula and more hydrating. They are definitely very comfortable on the lips and last for at least 3-4 hours on me.

The only major negative to them is the scent. If plastic & play-doh were a desirable scent, then NYX totally nailed it. Unfortunately, I don't know many people that look for that scent in a lip product, I know I sure don't. The good news is the scent isn't really noticeable once the product is applied. Thank Goodness.

Rimmel: Show Off Lip Lacquer Celestial & Luna

Finally! I got my hands on the long awaited Apocalips by Rimmel! I was a little disappointed that they changed the name for the US release...Apocalips is so much better than Show Off Lip Lacquer. Not sure why the name was changed...are you trying to tell us something Rimmel? Are we Americans not worthy of a cool lipgloss name?! Well, we did get 14 shades whereas the UK only have 8, so that's pretty awesome...I guess all is forgiven.

Anyways, I've been waiting for months for these bad boys to make an appearance here in the U.S. and I was at my Walgreens as soon as I heard they had arrived. To my dismay, not only were a lot of the colors sold out, the ones left over had been opened. So annoying.

There is a seal on the product but like most drugstore makeup, a little clear sticker doesn't prevent tampering. If you aren't familiar with this product, there is a way to tell if the applicator has been pulled out all the way or not.

From L-R: If the center section is clear like the photo on the left, then the applicator has not been pulled out of the tube. Regardless if the seal is broken, if you see a clear section, that means no one has pulled the applicator out yet. The photo in the middle shows the applicator about to be pulled out. You can see the color start to fill the section. The photo on the far right is what happens as the applicator is being taken completely out of the tube. If you see a gloss that has a center section filled with product, then you know someone has pulled the entire applicator out.

After searching forever for just one gloss that hadn't been tampered with, I was eventually able to get my hands on Celestial and Luna. There were shimmer shades but I was only interested in the creme finishes. Though these weren't my top picks, they were new and sealed and that's all that mattered to me!

Review: Dr. Scholl's For Her High Heel Insoles

Here's my horrible attempt at a quick stop motion vine featuring the Dr. Scholl's for Her High Heel Insoles that I received complimentary from Influenster.

I love high heels...I actually prefer them to flat shoes but as I get older, my tolerance for wearing them for a long period of time diminishes. My feet just don't support me the way the used to. 

When getting ready for a night out, a laundry list of thoughts go through my head when picking out what shoes to wear. I always think about where I'm going to be; am I going to be standing a lot, walking a lot, etc.  Definitely a result of many late nights and mornings where I want to cut my feet off. #girlproblems My feet are starting to throb just thinking about all those endless nights of dancing, clubbing, walking the strip of Vegas, etc. Oh to be young again!

SinfulShine At Sea

Previously I reviewed VIP from the SinfulShine line and mentioned that I wanted to try a few more to see if the formula was the same in all of them. Lucky for me, I had received At Sea in my Influenster box to test out. I'm so glad I did, because I absolutely love it!

Almost every negative I had mentioned in my review (which you can read here), was the complete opposite with At Sea! The formula was so much better with this color. It was almost opaque in 1 coat, the formula wasn't too thick, dried in a reasonable amount of time, and it lasted a few days without chipping! I also like that I can get away with not having to put a top coat on because these polishes dry with a nice shine finish.

I definitely have my eye on a few more colors that I need to add to my collection!

At Sea

Walgreens Beauty Sample Box: Glamour Recharge

To receive a Walgreens Beauty Sample Box, you can read my last post to find out how. As I mentioned in my last post, I picked out my box in February but just received it a few days ago. Definitely way over the suggested 6-8 weeks arrival time! It's free so it doesn't really matter but if you have signed up for one and are wondering where it is, I'm sure it's coming...it just might take almost 5 months to receive it!

Out of the choices at the time, I chose the Glamour Recharge Box. Keep on reading to see what was inside!

Walgreens Beauty Freebies!

Calling all Walgreens shoppers!!! If you buy beauty items at Walgreens, check your receipt before you toss it in the trash!

I hardly shop at Walgreens, something about the ones in my area are just well, g-h-e-t-t-o. Anyways, months ago (like in March), I had purchased some nail polish and some lipstick from Walgreens. When I got home, I was just about to throw away my receipt when I noticed another "coupon" behind my receipt. I decided to actually read it and it was a code to go online and choose a beauty box of free samples! Say What?!

Apparently if you spend $30 on beauty related items, you are qualified to choose a beauty sample box of your choice while supplies last! I'm not exactly sure as to what beauty items count towards the purchase, but if you do make a purchase in this amount, definitely pay attention to all the "coupons" you are handed with your receipt.

As I mentioned, this purchase was done in March, and I just received my box a few days ago! I believe from March to July is a little over 6-8 weeks...just a little.  It had been so long, I completely forgot about this box, so I guess it was a nice surprise in my mailbox.

This post was originally going to be about what I received in the box but before I was able to sit down and write it, I had picked up a few things at Walgreens again. Guess what was handed to me with my receipt? Another beauty sample box code! Since this promo is still going on (I'm not sure if this a year round thing or just for a limited time), I decided to make this post about picking out your box.

Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics

Goody Website

So I'm sure you have all seen these ties before...a stretchy piece of elastic ribbon tied in a knot at the bottom. I was first introduced to them over a year ago because of Birchbox but the elastics were made by a different company. I remember seeing quite a few people rave about them and how cute they thought they were. I was never really that impressed with them and after receiving a bajillion of them in my Birchboxes over this past year, I was totally over it.

The main deterrent for me was the price vs function. They went for $5 for a 3 pack and $10 for a 6 pack. Umm what? I could get like a 32 pack of my good ol' Goody black elastics for under $5 and they worked better.

As you can imagine, I wasn't that excited to see these bands again when I opened up my voxbox.

Although I don't entirely get the whole hype, I will say I'm glad Goody has come out with their own because they are better and more affordable.

Olay: Fresh Effects BB Cream

I received Olay's Fresh Effects BB Cream complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster (post coming soon on Influenster if you don't know what I'm talking about). I was excited to receive this product because Olay is one of my favorite drugstore brands.

This BB cream retails for around $12.99 and comes in 2 shades: Fair/Light and Light/Medium. I'm about an NC35 and I can kind of get away with Light/Medium but I definitely think there should be darker shade options. This product has an SPF 15 which is nice but it's not water resistant so it's not meant to be used in place of a sunscreen for swimming or outdoor activities that may cause sweating.

*You can visit OlayFreshEffects.com or Amazon for purchase info*

It comes with 2.5 fl oz. of product which is a decent amount of product. According to the description sent to me, this product claims to provide:
"24-hr hydration and a splash of sheer color. This all-in-one skin perfecter, sunscreen, and tinted moisturizer evens skin tone and refreshes the dullness, for flawless looking skin."


In general, I'm not a big fan of BB creams because I personally need more coverage. I envy those who can get away with a little tinted moisturizer and be on their way.

Summer Ready Feet!

Today marks the first official day of Summer...wooooo!!!! Happy Summer Solstice!

Image from dukky.com

Summer marks the official start of living in flip flops, wedges, sandals, heck, even going barefoot! With all this foot exposure, not only is nail polish a must but so are some nice looking feet! No one wants to see crusty, flaking heels or dried skin around your toe nails..eww! Now I must say, I'm guilty of not taking caring of my feet as much as I should and I walk outside barefoot A LOT. Overtime, this has created some not so pretty feet...calluses and dried heels, gross.

Recently, my feet have done a 180 and it's thanks to 2 products that work amazing together! Separately, I think these products are blah but together they are almost miracle worthy as to how well they work together!

Review: Sinful Shine with Gel Tech

A few months back I noticed a new line of Sinful polishes at Walgreens. If you are unfamiliar with sinful polishes, they are an affordable nail polish line that offer a wide array of colors for only $1.99. I usually get mine at Rite Aid or Walgreens and sometimes they even go on sale which makes them a freakin' steal! The quality of the polish is quite good for the most part, and some colors I think rival more expensive polishes.

The new line which is exclusively at Walgreens, goes for $2.99 and claims to provide brilliant shine, 5x more glossy than a patent leather shoe in fact! Well, so says their website.

I picked up VIP, which is an awesome bubble gum pink color. If patent leather was in liquid form, the formula is just that. It is a mix between a cream and jelly polish which I really like. I found the formula to be a bit streaky for the first coat but would get opaque nails with 2 coats. Sometimes I would apply 3 coats on certain nails where the polish was not applying evenly.

Physicians Formula: Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin FakeOut Mascara

I realized this past month that although I have non-existent lashes and wear false lashes almost everytime I go out, I have this need within me to find/try mascaras in hopes I find that perfect one. I think it's a sickness really but I can't stop. I literally counted 12 different mascaras that I currently have open and semi using...someone call the mascara addicts line, I think I need an intervention.

But whatever, let's add #13 to the mix: Physicians Formula FakeOut Mascara! I wanted to try this because PF is having this promo where if you purchase the mascara with the special packaging that says "Try me for free" you can mail that packaging in with your receipt and they will reimburse you! (click here for the rebate form, ends 10/31/13). So yea, that's awesome but I could never find the special packaging so I just went ahead and purchased it.