Hi guys! Here's a fun, glittery New Year's Eve makeup look using only drugstore products. I love how it turned out, and you could change up the colours to be more you if you want, or for whatever occasion.
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In which I use mostly drugstore makeup products, including some I've never tried before to make a simple, pretty, wearable everyday makeup look. Hope you like it!
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Hey guys! I posted a video with a similar concept ust over a year ago, but looking back, I didn't like how it turned out anymore, so here I am to update that look with something I think is far more flattering for more people!
I tried to use as many drugstore products as I could and limited the high-end products I used to make this more accessible to anyone who doesn't want or can't afford higher-end products. Let me know if you would like to see a high-end makeup look with a similar concept, and I'd be happy to do that!
Also, let me know if there are any particular colours or products you want to see me use. Your requests are always welcome. =)
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Just the makeup look I wore to my super small, casual birthday party with some friends a couple weeks ago. We went to an Italian restaurant, then saw a late showing of Batman v. Superman, and went back to my friends' apartment to eat ice cream cake! Twas a good night! But of course, I had to put on some great makeup to make up for my super-comfy clothes! =D Enjoy!
And if the music isn't your thing, feel free to mute and play your own. If you like it, the artist is linked below, and I know his music is also available on Google Play (so probably iTunes as well?).
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Hi guys! Here we are once again with another review thanks to Influenster! I'm sure you all know this by now, but it's kinda required that I remind you that although I was sent this stuff for free to review, all of my opinions are completely my own and completely honest.
This time, I was sent a set of skincare items from L'Oreal, specifically the Ultra-Even formula of their new Hydra-Total 5 line. There were three different routines sent out to different people, including ultra-even, ultra-soothing, and ultra-fresh. The Ultra-Even line, which I received is targeted towards normal skin types, and is meant (as the name clearly suggests) to help even out skin tone. Here's what I received in my L'Oréal Hydra Total-5 VoxBox:
As you can see, the line I received contains four products: an exfoliating face wash, a toner, a daytime lotion with SPF, and a nighttime moisturizer. The idea of the whole line of products seems to be that each product has 5 benefits; this seems like a gimmicky marketing tactic to me, but I suppose if everything meets the claims, that's alright. The common promises of each of the products in the Ultra-Even line are:
While the other benefits are more specific to each product. Now, let's get into each poduct, shall we?
L'Oreal Hydra-Total 5 Ultra-Even Routine Scrub
So, the two special things this claims to do, aside from the three they all share, is cleansing and exfoliating, and these aren't exactly hard claims to live up to. This is basically a gel cleanser with scrubbing particles that, from the ingredients, I'm guessing are "armenica seed powder" ... or ground up apricot pits. This is a pretty harsh scrub, and may not be great for all skin types. I also feel like I hear people disliking the St. Ives apricot scrub because the apricot pit particles make tiny cuts in your skin, which isn't great. Definitely not for sensitive skin, at any rate. At least this scrub knows it's a bit harsh, and recommends only using it once a day, either in the morning or at night.
As for what I thought of the scrub, first of all, it smells really great! Fruity in a natural way, not a really candy-scneted way, which is lovely. Basically like peaches or apricots... which makes sense for the scrubbing particles. Overall, this cleanser made my freshly cleaned skin feeling quite tight and dry, but not really irritated. I'm not sure it's the right formula for my dry-patch prone winter skin, as after using it a couple times, I started to notice fresh dry patches popping up on my face that meant I had to take a break from this system for a while. I've stopped using it now, but will try it again when I start getting oilier in the summer months.
L'Oreal Hydra-Total 5 Ultra-Even Routine Toner
The toner claims to tone and remove impurities, which is pretty much what I figure all toners do? It's an astringent toner with two types of alcohols high up the top of the ingredient list, along with salicylic acid, sulfonic acid (which sounds scary), and other big chemical words, with nothing soothing like witch hazel, aloe, or cucumber to tone it down a little. It is very medicinal smelling, although it seems like they tried to make it smell like the cleanser/scrub.
This was my least favourite part of the routine that I was sent. It smells strong, and especially after the scrub, it causes my skin to burn! I thought maybe that was my fault because I didn't notice the first time I used it you're instructed to dab it on, not swipe like usual. But after trying both ways, this toner seems to be way too harsh for me. If I continue to use it, it will probably be with a gentler face wash and a heavy moisturizer.
L'Oreal Hydra-Total 5 Ultra-Even Lotion
This "lotion" is basically the day time moisturizer with SPF for this routine, and claims to moisturize and protect skin. I would hope a moisturizer with spf would moisturize and protect... >_>
Anyways, this lotion is oil-free, and is actually not the worse facial spf I've worn. It has a more classic L'Oreal skincare + SPF scent, and the perfume might not be great for anyone with sensitive skin or a sensitive nose. The active sunscreens in this product are Octisalate, Octocrylene, and Avobenzone. It also contains salicylic acid, which seems unnecessary.
I don't really like or dislike this particular product... I'm pretty indifferent. I'll probably use it some more since it does have a bit of SPF, especially as we go into summer months and I'm outside more. However, it isn't great. I don't personally think it sets and absorbs well enough for use under makeup, unless you use it sparingly (which defeats the purpose of an spf) and blot your face well before makeup. I think it might work better for drier skin types.
L'Oreal Hydra-Total 5 Ultra-Even Moisturizer
This second moisturizer is more of a night cream, and promises to moisturize and reduce dark spots. Unfortunately, I don't really have dark spots to test this stuff on, so that claim will go unchallenged. This cream is very thick and opaquely white, and does have a very faint scent, though it is surprisingly faint compared to the SPF lotion. However, unlike the other products in this line, the moisturizer does contain parabens, so if you try to stay away from that, this isn't the product for you.
While it looks really heavy, it does absorb into the skin pretty well, and without leaving your skin looking white and pale. It also doesn't leave the same greasy look I found with the day lotion, which might make this a better day-time lotion too for under makeup. I don't love this product, but I do like it and will continue to use it up. I just won't likely run out and uy another when it's gone. I have used better products, whether I want something light that absorbs quickly, or something heavy and super hydrating, but this is still possibly the best part of the box that I was sent.
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All-in-all, I wasn't super impressed with anything in this box. Some of it was wrong for my skin type, and some were just alright. However, the more I've tried from L'Oreal's skincare ranges, the more I'm convinced that it isn't their strong suit! I've had great products from L'Oreal's hair and makeup ranges, but their skincare always leaves me unimpressed. Sorry, L'Oreal, but that's my honest opinion!
That said, if you've had good luck with L'Oreal skincare in the past, this may still be a good line for you! Everyone's skin is different, even within skin types. I'd recommend this mostly to someone who, like the package suggests, has normal skin; if you aren't sensitive, prone to oiliness, dry patches, or bothered by scents in your products, this might be for you if you're looking for a line to help you acheive a more even overall skintone. Just be sure to be gentle with the scrub and toner, and I think you could get along fine.
Sensitive, oily, and dry skin types? Keep looking!
Did you get one of the Hydra-t Total VoxBoxes? Let me know which one, or if you've tried any of these products, or just generally tell me about your experiences with L'Oreal skincare!
Thanks for reading!
I'm so in love with the way this makeup look turned out, so I hope you enjoy it too! I was looking for a new combo to make out of my beloved UD Naked palette, and this is what I got pairing two colours I wasn't sure would work together!
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Let me know some of your favourite shadow combos from the Naked palette if you have any!
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In which I talk about my favourite things in makeup, fashion, tech, music, and drinks from September through November... including rambling on about my favourite Starbucks drink of the moment for more than a whole minute... =P
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As the title suggests, today's video is a comparison of the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette and the new-ish L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2, both rosy, pinky, purple, taupey palettes, one high end, one low end... so how do they compare? Check out my video, and the swatch picture below to find out!
I also included a quick review of the Miss Manga Rock mascara from L'Oreal in this video, because I didn't really have enough to say for a separate video! Enjoy, and let me know if you've tried either or both of these palettes, and what your thoughts were! =)
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Comparison Swatches. Left = Urban Decay Naked 3 | Right = L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2
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If you haven't seen my vlog yet for the event, that went up this past Thursday, so make sure to check that out for a peek into the event! But for now, let's take a look at everything that I was lucky enough to receive!
Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:
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Pictures!!
Everything:
(I'm going to insert a jump here so that those who don't want to see all the pictures, don't have to load them, since this is a big post! So just click below to keep reading!)
So the mystery brand has been revealed, and it turns out those products they sent us were from Garnier Fructis’s Damage Eraser line. And, as promised, this week they sent out the full-sized products to reveal who was behind the—frankly fantastic—products they sent out in the unlabeled bottles. (If you didn’t seem my Mystery Brand VoxBox post, click here to check out my first thought on this line.)
If you remember from my last post, those first three bottles were all that they sent out for trial, and the tub at the end is a “strength reconstructive butter,” or basically a deep-conditioning treatment which it suggests you use once a week. I can’t wait to get a chance to try it out, but I fully expect that it will be just as good as the rest of the line, which I am still really pleased with! My hair had been absolutely loving this set of products for the last week!
Unfortunately, Influenster didn’t include prices on the included information card:
However, I’m fairly certain that this product, like other Garnier Fructis products can be found at pretty much any drugstore/grocery store, and I image it will be in the 4-6 dollars per bottle, and maybe a but more for the split-end serum and conditioning mask.
Also, this is only slightly related, but honestly,am I the only one who finds it odd, wrong, and even slightly disturbing that—not only does L’Oreal own Garnier Fructis in addition to their L’Oreal Paris hair care line—but they also own a massive portion of the whole beauty market? 25 brans is a huge number, and it spans a shocking number of low- to high-end brands, including, according to my research Maybelline and Urban Decay. So weird. So wrong.
But anyways, aside from that slightly disturbing fact,l I do really like this product line, and though I wasn’t too surprised to find that the brand was Garnier, I am happy that I get to continue using these products for free!
I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
Thanks for reading! If you have anything to say or ask about this line, Influenster, or L’Oreal, make sure to let me know in the comments!
Hello again! In case you don’t follow me on Instagram and Twitter (and you should: links in the “Follow Me” tab above), I was recently chosen by Influenster to be included in their Mystery VoxBox program. This is an interesting box because we were sent a set of hair products from one of L’Oreal’s many brands in minimally labelled sample bottles to try out for a week. The idea is that we are meant to use the products and try to figure out what brand this new set of products is from. In the next week, they’ll send out the full-size products to unveil what we’ve been using. A little cheesy, but still definitely fun.
Here’s a quick look at the contents of my mystery box:
According to the included card, this new formula is supposed to “reconstruct hair’s strength by 90% from root to tip . . . repair hair & prevent further damage” which it claims to do thanks to “damage-fighting Phyto-Keratin Complex and Cupaucu Butter” which all sounds very impressive.
I’m actually pretty impressed with this set of products, also. . . Not only does it smell fantastic, but after my first washing, it left my hair feeling super soft, shiny, and bouncy! And the fact that they sent me this stuff for free is in no way colouring my appreciation for this product’s quality—where’s the fun if I’m not being honest—I legitimately think it’s fantastic!
I wish the above picture could show you just how nice my hair was after using this product, but you’ll mostly just have to believe me. I’m really looking forward to getting my full-size bottles!
As for what who I think this product might be by, I don’t really have much to go on. However, I do have one guess: I think it might be L’Oreal themselves because of the smell, which is fairly similar to the classic L’Oreal shampoo.
Anyways, I guess we’ll see in the next week sometime, so I’ll be sure to update you when I find out!
Let me know in the comments if you also got one of the Mystery VoxBoxes, and if you did, who you think these products might be from. Thanks for reading!
I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
Once again we have come to a new month, and that means it’s time to talk about my favourite products. This month, I had very few products that really stood out, at least none that I hadn’t mentioned in the past month or two, though many of my September favourites were going strong for October as well. That said, I do have a couple of things to mention:
1. Peace & Love & OPI by OPI
This is probably expected, considering I was already raving about it in the haul post when I first got it. In the last month, though, I’ve probably worn this polish at least three times! If you want to see some great swatch pictures, you can see my haul post featuring this polish.
2. L’Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Power Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
I decided to switch up the brand last time I needed to buy a new shampoo, and so I settled on this one because my hair definitely needs the moisture, and also in part because I think Elle Fowler (from YouTube) was talking about how good Hyaluronic Acid is… and Hyaluronate sounds like that. Yeah. Anyway, this shampoo is actually fantastic. It definitely leaves my hair feeling a lot softer and smoother, and I like that it doesn’t attempt to amplify my curls like my last shampoo did, since all it ever managed to do was make me look lopsided and messy, in my opinion. So I’m definitely enjoying this shampoo, and I may even repurchase the same one for once when this one is gone.
3. Coca-Cola Lip Smackers
I have a lot of lip balms, some more high-end, some super cheap. You’d think I use a lot of lip balm if you counted how many I have, but I usually don’t bother because I generally don’t like how they look, feel, and/or smell on my lips. I’m also really inconsistent about what I like a lip balm to be like: minty? flavoured? slick? shiny? thick and creamy? coloured?
Anyways, at the moment, my favourite is likely a childhood classic for lots of people: Lip Smackers. Specifically the Coke flavoured ones. If you had these as a kid (or if you use them now, obviously), you probably remember not just how great they smell, but how great they taste. For a long time I stopped bothering with lip smackers because my little sister used to eat lip balms as a toddler… I’m writing a lot about this, probably unnecessarily, so I’ll get to the point. This lip balms smells like those Coke bottle candies, is shiny (not shimmery), barely tinted (just sorta makes your lips look a little redder/darker) and doesn’t end up feeling greasy unless you really layer it on. Also, it’s been super hydrating for my just-starting-to-dry-up lips.
Non-Beauty favourites:
1. Michael Kors Jet Set tote
I just posted about this, so I won’t bore you with more, but this is definitely a favourite! If you want to see more pictures or read me ranting about how much I love this bag, you can check out my other post about it (and check out my anniversary makeup at the same time!).
2. Plain teas
Image from LuckyVitamin.com
Usually I prefer my teas with cream or milk and sugar, but lately I’ve really been enjoying flavoured and spiced black teas with no milk and either very little or no sugar. Aside from being healthier and lower in calories, which is definitely not my reason for drinking my teas this way, I’ve basically just been enjoying tasting different flavours in my same old teas. Tea is also a lot more refreshing when you don’t have a sweet, milky aftertaste! It’s good for a change of pace. (My particular favourite at the moment is Stash’s Holiday Chai tea. Not sure if you can get it in stores yet, but it’s available every Christmas season.)
3. Agents of SHIELD
Image from KernelsCorner.com
This is a brand-new(ish) tv show from Marvel, and it is fantastic! If you like superhero movies like The Avengers and Ironman (which everyone should), you should love this show as well. If you haven’t seen the Avengers movies, some references might be lost on you, but its still a great, funny show all the same. And Agent Coulson is fantastic. Also, if you have seen the Avenger movies, but haven’t heard about this show, the show takes place starting a while after the events of The Avengers movie. The 6th episode just aired this Tuesday (the 5th), so it shouldn’t be too hard to get caught up, and I definitely recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet!
And that’s all for this month! Let me know your October favourites in the comments!
I picked up a few skincare items from Wal-Mart a little while ago, since there were a few things I needed. Here’s what I got:
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Cleanser:
I’ve tried the St. Ives Apricot acne scrub and my skin really liked it, so I thought I would give this a try, since I only have toners and a cleansing water at the moment, and I like to have a proper face wash for in the shower, especially after a trip to the gym. I haven’t tried this out yet, though, since I’m lazy, and have yet to find a small bottle to carry this with me to the gym in, as I usually just end up using my cleansing water and/or toner when I’m at home. It does smell pretty nice, though, like apricots, but not too strong or sweet.
St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub:
As I mentioned above, I like the St. Ives Apricot scrub, so I thought that I would try this one out next, since green tea is awesome, and, if I remember correctly, good for your skin. Also, my skin has been a little spottier lately than usual, so I thought a good acne scrub couldn’t hurt. As you can see above, it has a matcha green colour, and super-fine grit to it. So fine, I almost couldn’t feel it on my hands, though it was very obvious on the delicate skin of my face. The scent is also very fresh and clean; I really like it! I didn’t notice any special effects from this scrub so far, but I’ve only used it once and it did at least leave my skin feeling clean.
L’Oreal Paris 48 Hr Hydration Day Lotion for Normal Skin:
I got this because I wanted a good sunscreen for under makeup, since the one I got last year can feel a bit greasy, though it smells nice (Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch SPF 45). Its pretty nice, though still ends up very shiny on my skin. However, I do find it makes a pretty nice base for foundation and/or powder, and doesn’t feel as heavy as a body sunscreen. The scent leaves a little to be desired, in my opinion… It’s not bad, but it just seems a little bit Old-Womanish to me, if you know what I mean. Still, a pretty good product over all, and for less than $10 (I think it was on sale), I can’t complain.
What skincare items have you been using lately? Have you tried any of the products above? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Thanks for reading, I hope y’all are having an awesome day!
Sorry it’s been so long since my last post, I’ve had a lot of homework to do (still do, actually, but as tomorrow is my birthday and I have another week until the next thing is due, nothing further will happen until Thursday night), and I also had to clean up my mess of a bedroom to finally get my desk in here so I could bring home the computer I built with my boyfriend, because he and his family are moving, and for some odd reason, they don’t want to drag around a desktop computer that doesn’t even belong to them. Odd.
Anyways, that is not what I’m here to talk about.
You’ve probably all already seen the new-ish L’Oreal Colour Caresse Shine Stains, and seen plenty of reviews of them. I picked mine up, however, not long after hearing about them, and I think they were on sale at Shoppers at the time, as well.
Anyway, if you have heard of them, great, but if you haven’t a lot of people have compared these to the YSL Glossy Stains, since both products go on as a gloss, but leave a stain on your lips, hense the YSL product name. That was the same idea I had when I first saw these, and since the YSL ones are so great (but sooo expensive!), I had to try out this product. Let’s take a look, before I give you my review, though, shall we?
Packaging: It’s cute, but I have two issues… 1) The second you touch it, it’s covered in your fingerprints and no longer looks all shiny and pretty. And, 2) No where on the package itself does it say the name of the product. I had to google “L’Oreal glossy stain” to figure out the official name. Ugh! For function, though, this is a perfectly good tube and has a perfectly good wand with a doe-foot applicator.
Swatches:
The second swatch is after letting the colour sit for a while on my skin, and then rubbing off the gloss. The product remains sort of tacky on the skin, and I find this on the lips as well. When you first apply, it feels very wet and slippery, and I find that it is very hard to get the colour to go on evenly, and very easy to end up blotchy. The best remedy I’ve found to this dilemma so far is to not try too hard, because the more you swipe at it trying to even it out, the worse it gets.
There’s really nothing about this product that I’m super happy with, and its pretty disappointing for the price. It doesn’t smell good, feel good on the lips, it feels wet, then gets sticky. It rubs off quickly, and even the stain doesn’t have much staying power. I really don’t think I would suggest this product for anyone in love with the YSL Glossy Stains… or anyone else for that matter, unless you are just curious and have the money to spend. Save your money and get a good Revlon lipstick instead, or almost anything else, really. >_<
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So, let me know if you’ve tried these, I’d love to hear what you thought about them, I'm just not too impressed by them myself.
Also, I will have a birthday post in the next couple days, since today (March 27) was my birthday. However, since my presents weren't beauty-related, those, and some of my purchases from today will be over on my other blog: Thought-Constellations around the same time, and I'll also write about what I did today for those who are interested. I did buy myself a couple cheap little makeup presents today that I will show you, as well as a mini-review on the Benefit birthday gift from Sephora.
Anyway, thanks for reading, as always I'm very thankful that you take the time out of your day to visit my blog! =)
So, I’m barely getting this to you by the end of the first week of the month, as I like to do, but honestly, I forgive myself…
Anyways, I only have a few favourites this last month. I’m not really sure why, since I’ve been able to buy myself more stuff than I have for the past few months, but I guess I just stuck to old favourites. I do have a couple of things to share with you for January though, and here they are:
Lipstick/lip products:
I don’t have any particular shades or products for you in this case, but more and more lately I’ve been loving lipsticks, lip balms, and lipstains. The only thing I’m still not very into is gloss. These are some of my favourite colours at the moment, and I love that NYC one more than it looks like I should. Once it’s on it has a really nice dark-ish berry colour!
Real Techniques flat top brush as foundation brush:
Most of the time, I apply foundation with my fingers. I’ve tried using my ELF brushes, but they just don’t really seem to spread the product very well or evenly. However, when I tried this brush, it worked beautifully! I haven’t used my hands alone to apply my foundation since! It really blends the foundation in naturally, even my Lancôme, which I usually have found looks a bit cakey on my skin.
OPI’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service:
I’ve been loving this colour so much. I’ve worn it several weeks in a row, on it’s own, or layering it over other polishes to play with how best to wear it. It’s just so shimmery and gorgeous, especially under natural light!
Non-Cosmetic Favourites:
Greek yogurt:
Image from Delectablychic.com
I posted this in my last haul post, so this might not be a shock. Astro is definitely my favourite of the three brands that I’ve tried. I love how thick and creamy Greek yogurt is. I wouldn’t say its all that healthy, though, if you think that. All the one’s that I have found have had very high fat contents, about as much as cream in some cases. It also has lots of protein, making this a very high-calorie food. It is delicious though. I think it makes a great treat, and I like to eat it as a dessert type food. =)
Vanilla Spice Lattes:
Image from Starbucks.co.uk
I’m very much hoping that these, and the Vanilla Spice syrup, are permanent additions to the Starbucks menu, because I am completely in love! It tastes so much less sweet than the plain vanilla, and the cardamom (which is the “spice” in vanilla spice, and also one of the dominant flavours in chai tea) is so smooth and soothing! So delicious!
And that’s all for January. I hope to have more posts up soon, including some Valentine’s Day nails. I apologize again for my slow posting lately.
Anyways, let me know what your favourites were in the comments! I love to here from you, as always. And don’t forget to follow on GFC if you aren’t already; I plan to start my first giveaway when I finally get to 50 followers! =)
Thanks for reading <3
