Fabletics

I just received an email today regarding the newest addition to the "Fab team" (JustFab & fabkids), Fabletics. Co-Founder Kate Hudson is behind this new fitness clothing line that combines her intuition as an athlete and fashion lover. It's another monthly subscription service that allows you to take a quick survey and then receive monthly picks based on your profile.

The monthly fee is $49.95 to be a VIP member but you have until the 10th of each month to skip and not be charged anything. Basically, it's just like JustFab, in that you never have to make a purchase if you don't want to. You do however, have to remember to skip each month! Becoming a VIP member offers significant savings on outfits (up to 40%), but you can purchase items separately as well.

After browsing the site, the clothing doesn't seem to be anything too special or different design wise. Hopefully that will change as time goes on. There are a variety of basics offered from sports bras, tanks, capris, leggings, etc. I'm not a huge fitness buff by any means but I'm sure the lululemon addicts out there will agree, you pay for the quality of the fabric.

Being that Fabletics is still very new, there aren't many reviews out yet. However, from the ones I have read, Fabletics seems to be providing some quality stuff!

I just ordered an outfit and I'm excited to see for myself. I picked out the 'Reveal' outfit which included 3 items for $49.95:

Omemee Sports Bra

Nadi Legging

Headband

I'll definitely post a review as soon as I get the items. If you are in need of some fitness clothing or this intrigues you, feel free to use my referral link and get 20% off your first purchase!

*Pictures taken from Fabletics.com, referral links provided*

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!

OPI: Rock Goddess Review & Swatches!

This month OPI has released their Halloween 2013 limited edition mini nail lacquer set. The set includes four rocker-inspired mini nail lacquers and an adjustable skull bracelet. The set retails for $12.95 at Ulta but I have seen varying prices online.

First, I must thank my friend who got this for me. As a polish addict, I could never have too much and a friend that supports my addiction is a keeper, if I do say so myself! Ok, now on to the review and swatches!

Favorite Beauty Blender and Brush Cleanser for under $5!

Beauty Blender- $19.95

Beauty Blender Cleanser- $17.95

Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser- $15.95

I'm no mathematician but spending almost the same amount as the product to clean the product is not the business. 

I've always used Neutrogena Naturals Cleansers to clean my beauty blender and the occasional dish soap for deep cleaning. (P.S. dish soap with a bit of olive oil works amazing for cleaning brushes as well.) I've been content with how well this cleaned my Beauty Blender, until I started using....drum roll please....

Yves Saint Laurent at Costco?

Yup. You read the title right, I just spotted YSL's Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick at my local Costco! I haven't been to Costco in awhile so this could very well be old news, but I was quite impressed to see it in stores.

My local Costco only had one color available, 11 Rose Culte, but I'm excited to see if they will start to offer more colors.

Originally $34 a piece at Sephora, they sell for $26.99 at Costco. This isn't a huge savings but it's savings none the less. I hope this is just foreshadowing more high end make up items that will be popping up at my local Costco.

I already love Costco but this just made it that much better! It might quite possibly be my ultimate one stop shop!

Things to pick up at Costco:
Eggs
Seaweed
Spinach
Brie
Jameson
YSL Lipstick

Le Awesome.

Sanrio Inspired Nails

When I was growing up, the Sanrio Store was heaven! I remember blowing out my birthday candles in first grade, wishing I could own everything in that store! I think I even prayed to God for that as well. Apparently, my first grade self thought that was what God was for. Oh to be young. Haha. 

*Image from Wikipedia*

My love for Sanrio even continued well through high school, does anyone remember those picture wallets we used to carry around?!

When I walk into a store now, I see all these new characters and I miss seeing all the characters I grew up with. If you know me now, you know I love all things Hello Kitty, but back then, Pochacco was my favorite and I actually didn't like Hello Kitty at all. #Pochacco4life

Every now and then I  have a moment of nostalgia and this time I decided to pay tribute to what I consider Sanrio's all-stars when I was growing up. Enjoy!

Sanrio Nail Art

L-R: Pekkle,
Bad Badtz-Maru,
Kerokerokeroppi,
Pochacco,
Hello Kitty

Who was/is your favorite?

 *Don't forget to check out my instagram: @GaudyGlam for more nail art!

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.

Nails of the Day and $1 Glitter polish!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I kinda have a thing for nail art. Anyone who is into nail art or nail polish hoarding knows that changing your polish several times a week, if not everyday, can become a very normal thing.

Anytime a polish stays on my nails for longer than 2 days or if I re-paint my nails with the same color after it chips, i'm pretty much diggin' it.

Case in point: China Glaze's Tart-y For The Party (Any fellow Bravo Housewives Fans?!)

I've been rocking this color for a hot minute but just recently I decided to add some glitter accent nails, because well, everything is better with glitter.

I stumbled upon Maybelline's limited edition Color Show Sequins polish at Big Lots! For $1!!! I picked up Lavender Sparks, which is an amazing purple glitter polish. It was full of micro and larger glitter pieces which is my favorite kind of glitter polish formula. Did I mention it was $1?! You seriously can't beat that!

So my advice to all the nail polish whores like myself: don't forget to check the make up aisle of any discount store because you might find something awesome for a steal!

*So obsessed with this combo right now! It reminds me of sugar plum fairies and gumdrops...haha*

Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM!

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!

New Eyebrow Favorite: Make Up Forever Aqua Brow

Have you ever done your make up but forgot to do your eyebrows? You know something looks a bit off but you can't quite pin point it. It's then that you realize how important your eyebrows actually are...they really do frame your face and complete your look!

*Photo from free-range.org.uk*

I know for me personally, if my eyebrows aren't done, my whole face looks off. I also don't have the nicest brows, so it's imperative I "fix" them before presenting myself to the world.

Back in the day I used to use brow pencils (not a fan of them anymore), then switched to mac eyeshadow in Espresso , then to Benefit brow zings. I would still be using them to this day except I've stumbled upon a little new discovery called Aqua Brow!

In the beginning of summer, I was looking for waterproof/water-resistant makeup in general because of the activities I knew I had planned. YES, I wear make up to the beach. Anyways, I came across Aqua Brow and was intrigued not only because it claims to be waterproof but it was a gel type formula which I thought would be perfect for drawing on the "tails" of my eyebrows.

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!

Birthday Week[end]

It feels like ages since I have posted something...7 days to be exact. What is this madness?!

Well my birthday was on Saturday, the 17th, so I was a little pre-occupied with party prep and pre- celebrations this past week.

On my actual bday I had an evening bbq at home with some of my very best friends. It was wonderful. 

So wonderful in fact, I didn't take many photos. FAIL. What started as an intimate, chill, bbq, turned into a night of drunken shenanigans that I can barely remember. Jameson was flowing, beer pong was going, people taking shots out of a beer bong, and enough food to last a week! So in a nutshell, it was a great night!

Here are a few photos that were taken before the festivities:

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.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser

If you aren't familiar with the brand Suki, than we are in the same boat my friend.

The last time I ever saw the letters s-u-k-i together, it was the first part of that awesome love ballad song Sukiyaki by 4 P.M. Any 80's babies in the house?! I love that song! #noshame

Anyways...

I received a sample of this cleanser in my July Birchbox and it couldn't have come at a better time because I had just run out my exfoliator. Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that I had just run out, I probably wouldn't have tried this product for awhile. I already threw away the sample packaging, but it was very "homemade" looking. Usually when I have samples of brands that are completely unknown to me, in a no frills, homemade kind of packaging, I tend to be a bit apprehensive about trying them out. Is that just me? 

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