Product Line Rave: Michael Todd True Organics

 So obviously by the title you can tell that I'm in love with a new line of skincare! I have been using the Michael Todd True Organics line since December and can confidently say I attribute my improved skin to their products. Not only do I love that their products are formulated without all the bad stuff, but they are effective products for my acne prone and blemished skin which is awesome!

The picture above shows all the products I have tried from the line, minus one other bottle which I think I threw away already. It's crazy to think that I have positive things to say about each product! I am not affiliated with the brand what so ever,  I seriously just love the products!

Tarte: Maracuja Lip Exfoliant

Dry, chapped, flaky...words I never want someone to utter when referring to my lips.

I could never get myself to spend money on a lip scrub so I always went the DIY route: olive oil, honey, and sugar as well as the occasional tooth brush on the lips. The homemade scrub worked but it was pretty messy and I was always too lazy to make a new batch every couple months (sad, I know). The toothbrush method worked as well but it didn't always exfoliate my lips as much as I wanted it to.

So I was always back and forth: should I get the Lush lip scrub, or maybe the Fresh one, or maybe the Sara Happ one, or maybe my favorite from back in the day; The Body Shop Lip Scuff... ahh, it was just annoying really that I couldn't get myself to spend the money on any of them! Of course, put anything that has a panda on it in front of me and I'll justify the purchase. Ridiculous.

Anyways, a few months back, Ulta had their 20% off anything in the store coupon so of course I had to decided to pick up some new products to try. One of those items: Tarte's Maracuja Lip Exfoliant for $16! What? How? I don't know what I was thinking, well I wasn't thinking...I swear, that rare 20% off makes you feel like you have gold or something!

Not gonna lie, I mainly bought it because I thought the packaging was super cute and I like almost everything I have tried from Tarte, and again that damn 20% off...it made me do it.

So the verdict?

UPDATE: Essence Eyeliner Pen

Almost a month ago, I posted a review on the Essence Eyeliner Pen. Since that review, I have ordered a new one from Ulta.com and tested the pen out again. I can confidently say I finally have a final verdict on this product!

So how did this pen fare?

Put the champagne away, there isn't gonna be a celebration. 

So the first couple of days using the pen was great. Easy to use, extremely black, and it reminded me yet again why I liked the pen so much. Then day 4 or 5 came around and the pen started drying out again. It was to the point that I could line one eye fine but then I would have to put the cap back on, wait a couple minutes, and then use it for my second eye. I was so bummed. I only use the pen once per day, so for the pen to dry out that quickly is ridiculous. 

So even for $2.99, this product is a waste of money. Even the ELF eyeliner pen lasts almost a month before drying out and you can get that for $1! 

I definitely would not recommend this pen and the search for an inexpensive Stila Eyeliner dupe continues...

Panda & Polka Dot Nails

If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with Pandas. For as long as I can remember, they have been my favorite. One time, I seriously debated buying panda ping pong balls from ebay and I don't play ping pong.

Anyhoo, if you follow me on Instagram, you will also notice I like doing nail art as well. So what better combo than my love of nail art featuring my love of pandas! I decided to just do an accent panda nail to match my panda phone case...totally normal right? Yea, I thought so.

Instagram: GaudyGlam

Sephora: 1000-point reward!

Back in February I received an email from Sephora letting me know there was a new 1000-point reward available! I hardly ever redeem my points so I had accumulated quite the balance. I was excited to see that the reward was a 20% off card for one entire purchase. If you are a Sephora shopper, you know that 20% off is as good as it gets!

I noticed this is only available in California and Texas right now, so if you live in either of these two states, you have until May 26th to redeem your points for the card (in-store) and 60 days after you get the card to use it. I assume they are testing this out in these two states before releasing it to a larger demographic. I'm quite pleased with this option but if Sephora wants to increase the % off, that would be even better (obviously). 

So I'm coming up on my 60 days and I have accumulated quite the list of items I need to re-stock on and new items I want to try. I'd love to know what you are loving or think is worth trying! Aside from my re-stock "essentials," this is my list of new things to try:

Must Have Nail Polish Remover!!!

CVS Instant Polish Remover, $3.29 at CVS (Duh.)

I mention in my April 2013 Favorites that I have become quite obsessed with this product! As a nail polish addict, I paint my nails at least 2-3 times a week and sometimes 2-3 times a day! I've always used pure acetone that you can find at beauty supply stores because it's the quickest way to take off polish. Seriously, once you go acetone, you don't go back...ain't nobody got time for that!

If you have ever used pure acetone, you know that it dries the crap out of your nails and the skin around it. For me, it was a small price to pay for how fast it took off polish. Then I came across this little gem and holy F, I'm in love!

April 2013 Favorites

April was yet another month where I loved so many things! My skin was definitely acting cray this month so I did tend to focus more on my skincare and I'll have reviews up shortly of what worked and what didn't . The weather also started getting much warmer and that meant a little less make up for me... just a little. Let's not kid ourselves, I'm a full face make up kind of girl but I started to bust out more of my nude pink lipsticks and less of my beloved brights. Eye make up was pretty much the same everyday and some days it was just mascara, liner, and lip balm. 

I think I have mentioned most of these items before but here's what I used and abused in April!

*Disclaimer: I'm not associated with any of the brands mentioned and all opinions are my own. Direct links have been provided to make shopping easier. Some links are provided via ShopSense*

Golden State Warriors Nails!

The first home game of the playoffs is tonight so you know I had to represent! I had to use my left hand for the nail art (I'm a righty), so the lines aren't as clean as I would like them to be but they turned out better than I expected! Still not patiently waiting waiting for my nails to grow on my left hand but that's a whole separate issue. Anyways, GO WARRIORS!!!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for other nail looks and beauty things that I don't always post on the blog! @GaudyGlam

Soap & Glory: A Great Kisser Moisture Lip Balm

This is a fairly new lip balm that Soap & Glory has released at Sephora. It goes for $10 which is on the high end for a lip balm but I'm totally in love with this stuff!

Style Haul Spring Nails Giveaway: I Won!

So I received a wonderful message this morning on one of my Instagram photos from Style Haul:

I was so excited, I had completely forgotten I entered this Nail Art Giveaway hosted by Style Haul and China Glaze! You might remember these nails, which I posted on my Instagram and here on the blog. This is the first nail contest I have ever won so I'm super happy!

I went over to Style Haul's Instagram and saw the photo collage they put together of the winners. So exciting! Then I realized, wait I didn't get any tag notificiations on this photo and as I browsed through their other photos, I saw they featured my nail design on Friday as well! I realized, oh snaps, they tagged the wrong Gaudy Glam :( They tagged Gaudy_Glam (some dude) instead of Gaudy__Glam. What's the difference? I have 2 underscores in my name...uhh, total FAIL on my part for using 2 underscores.

I was totally ok with everything until I saw this:

NOT COOL!!!! Trying to take credit for something you know is not yours?! I don't know if this person also took the extra step in emailing their contact info as well and in turn will be receiving my prize of Spring China Glaze polishes...so not cool AND leaving a comment after mine! Tisk Tisk.

But anyway, the silver lining is when I went to change my IG name, the original name I wanted was available! @GaudyGlam: no spaces, no confusion!

So I guess some good came out of all of this and I'm still happy I won, even if someone else is getting credit for it. "Will the real slim shady please stand up!"

Review: Corn Huskers Lotion

What do you call a product that makes your skin soft and costs less than if you were to try and make a DIY version of it? Too Good To Be True Corn Huskers Lotion.

This cheap, ugly packaged, no brand name hand treatment is a damn gem I tell you! This stuff is one of those rare cheap finds that actually works, which in turn makes you all giddy inside. *Disclaimer: grab a comfortable seat or maybe a cup of coffee, storytime is about to begin...

Random Ramble: Pussy what now?

So I was just doing my weekly perusing on the Ulta website when I saw their ad for OPI's The Bond Girls collection. So I'm quickly glancing over the colors and what's that I see? A polish called Pussy Galore....uh, what?! Re-read for the third time...yup, that sure says Pussy Galore. I immediately start laughing because I'm not thinking about a surplus of cats, that's for sure.

*Image from Ulta.com*

Upon further googling, I learn that this was in fact one of the Bond Girls' name (my knowledge of Bond Girls is quite small) but c'mon, Pussy Galore?! I'm dying. You might say I should get my mind out of the gutter but I doubt I'm the only one that thought that this polish name could also moonlight as a porn title.

Apparently Nars also had a polish named this is as well, both demure light pink colors....haha, of course they are. Some things I guess will always make me giggle like a 1st grader: public farting and the word pussy (which never refers to a cat in my mind).  Pussy Galore...haha, too much!

Sephora VIB Chic Week Picks!

Since Sephora's Chic Week is currently under way for Beauty Insiders and VIB's, I thought it would be fun to post some products I love!

If you are a Beauty Insider or VIB you already know about the sale, but in case you haven't checked your snail mail or email, everything is 15% off for Beauty Insiders (April 12-21) and VIB's (April 11-22). Sale is in-store or online using the code: CHIC or VIBCHIC depending on your account status.

I love seeing what other people are obsessing over and hopefully my picks will inspire you to try out some new brands or items. These are my tried and true top picks that I highly recommend! (Direct links are provided below via ShopSense) Happy Shopping!

1. Sephora Microsmooth Foundation Face Powder $22.00

2. Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base $24.00

3. Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush $32.00

4. LORAC Pro Palette $42.00

5. Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation $38.50

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hr Blush in Exposed $26.00

7. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner $20.00

8. Caudalie Beauty Elixir $18.00-$49.00

9. Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Moisture Balm $10.00

Essence: Eyeliner Pen

As I continue my quest for cheaper alternatives of liquid eyeliners, I came across this particular one at ULTA. I've never used anything from the Essence brand but I have heard good things about some of their products. I hadn't heard anything about this particular product, but for $2.99, it was definitely worth a try.

From my first use, this product reminded me of my absolute favorite: Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner. This was super exciting for me. The liner was nice and dark black, the tip was perfect for precise application and winging out the liner, and it stayed put all day on me. It's not water proof or as smudge proof as Stila's, but for the price I thought this was an amazing liner.

Revlon Precision Dark Lash Adhesive VS. DUO Dark Tone Lash Adhesive

When you wear false lashes as much as I do *cough* almost everyday, it's important to use a good lash adhesive. For years I have sworn by DUO's Lash Adhesive in dark tone. Nothing drives me crazier then when I see pieces of white lash glue dried on the lids or lash band. Yuck.

About a month ago, I saw that Revlon had a dark version of their precision lash adhesive at my local Walmart. It was about $4 and I thought I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did....seriously, my new holy grail lash adhesive!

Compared to my previous beloved DUO Dark Tone lash adhesive, there are a few things that stand out  to make this product the obvious winner in my book.

Dollar Tree Finds!

I have to share a few things that I was excited to find at the Dollar Tree today! I love the Dollar Tree and I'm always excited to find name brand items for a $1. A dolla makes me holla honey boo boo! I always go there for my cotton rounds and kleenex tissue (damn allergies), but today I saw some beauty goodies I haven't seen before!

L'OREAL: Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara

I purchased this mascara about two months ago from Rite Aid and Target and I have been using it ever since. I have to say, it's definitely one of my favorites among all mascaras I've tried and the best mascara I've tried for lengthening.

I have been using both the waterproof and regular formula to see if I could notice a difference. The waterproof mascara is definitely a drier formula but they both work well at lengthening the lashes. I didn't notice any flaking and as for the waterproof claim, I don't wear mascara under water but both formulas have not run down my face or anything like that. Between the two, there really isn't much of a difference except for the fact that one is a bit drier. They both are very black and I find that both hold a curl for about the same amount of time.

March 2013 Favorites

I loved so many things in March, it was hard to narrow down all the items to keep this post from becoming an essay. Some of the products I feel need their own post so as I get those up, I will link the post so you can read a more in depth review of those items.
I say it every time, but seriously, where does the time go? I mean I literally didn't realize it was Easter until like 3 days before the actual day! Hence, why this post is up late....

Anyways, here's what I loved, used, and abused for March:

Rimmel: Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick #17

Shade #17 is a nice mid-toned pink, perfect for everyday wear. I love pinks like this because they go with any make up look and really require no thought. It is a warmer pink which I usually don't like, but I find this to be very wearable and a great pinky nude.

This color apparently came out as part of the Spring 2012 collection. However, at the Walgreens I purchased it at, it was advertised as a new shade. As many make up brands release in the US first before releasing overseas, Rimmel releases products in the UK first before releasing them here in the states. (Is anyone else waiting for the Apocalips to release here?! Hurry up Rimmel!)

Color Club: Halo Hues in Blue Heaven

Holy Halo Batman! This polish is amazing! As I finally get my hands on one of the polishes from the 2012 Halo Hues Collection, Color Club has already come out with their 2013 collection! Oops.

I've been eyeing this collection since it came out last year, but for some reason I never got around to purchasing it until a month ago. I really wanted Harp On It or Cherubic but the place I go to was sold out, so I picked up my third choice: Blue Heaven. Let me just say, no regrets on this purchase! I love this color because it has the hint of blue that I like but in other lighting it also looks like silver halo.

The formula is thin which is nice because you can layer coats without a problem. I found that it was a little streaky so about 3 light coats was perfect for me. I absolutely love the holographic effect! It looks exactly the same on your nails as it does in the bottle! But I'm sure you could care less about what I have to say about the polish, let's let the photo do the talking!

*3 coats applied, no top coat. Taken in direct sunlight, no filter on photo.*

Can we just all take a moment to awe over how effing amazing this polish is?! Ugh, I can't. Seriously, speechless.  In love. The end.