CVS Haul!

While checking quickly through the Sunday paper, I found some REALLY good coupons to CVS, so I decided to take advantage of that and pick up a few things over the weekend. 

#1: Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Pencil in 005 Nude

$4.49 - CVS

I had heard a few good things about this eyeliner so I had to test it out for myself. Never trying a nude eyeliner before, I thought this would be great for highlighting and lining my waterline. This is a regular pencil liner, I wish it would be automatic, but that's just my preference.

Regardless, this is the BEST drugstore liner I've ever used. This is so creamy and glides and so smooth without having to apply pressure. It dries pretty quickly and does not smudge for anything. Also, this is very waterproof, so you don't have to worry about that. 

#2: Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm in 255 Jam Twist

$8.99 - CVS

Being a lover of these moisturizing, pigmented balms, I had to get another. This is my third one of these and I wanted to get a deeper color that is more acceptable for the fall time. (Besides my 3 coupons for Covergirl it was also buy 1 get 1 50% off soooo...) But, expecting this to be the deep oxblood/ purple color that it showed on the packaging, 

I was disappointed when it was a dark fuchsia and pretty sheer. It's still an ok color and I'll still wear it, I was just expecting a bit more color.

#3: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Perfume

$12.99 - CVS

A LOT of people love this perfume and when I saw it at CVS for my "Pick 3" I was astonished. I didn't even know CVS sold high end perfume.... Am I late on this? I mean I've spent about half of my life in that store, but I guess it was never really what I was looking for, so I was always indifferent about it. This perfume smells sweet, with a little bit of flowery, and a tiny hint of musky. It. Smells. So. Amazing. After my 5ml sample is done, I may have to find a way to buy the $90 full size... Anyway, I love this and the scent lingers all day. The scent description form the website is "With top notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin, gently tempered with honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. Underlying it are all warm tones of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline." If thats not enough to win you over, the packaging is so cute and girly. 

#4: Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm in 210 #c u l8r

$5.99 - CVS

When looking at these prior to this visit to the store, I always just cringed and walked away. Nothing ever attracted me to them or made me want to get them. After heearing countless good reviews about these, I just gave in and decided to try something new. (I also needed another Covergirl product to get my 50% off so there was really nothing to lose.) This lip balm is super moisturizing, which is a big plus. This color is very pearly and glowy; it can be sheer, or built up to an opaque-ish pearly mauve- pink. Also, this smells like Jolly Ranchers, lollipops and all things sweet and sugary. I'm so so happy I tried this out, Covergirl is really impressing me lately! 

How to Incorporate POPS of Color into Your Eye Look

The more that I play with makeup, the more I want to experiment with color and step out of my comfort zone. Because I would still feel a little bit weird walking out of the house with a neon color from lashline to browbone, I incorporate small, but noticeable pops of color into my look.

The first method to adding some color on your eyes is using a bright shadow or liner on your upper lashline. Before doing this, I used a matte brown shadow about a shade darker than my skin tone. For this look, I would recommend using colors that bring out your eyes. If you have brown eyes, blues and purples will to the trick. I used Stila's "Impulse" from the "In the Moment" palette which is a gorgeous light pink/purple color with a good amount of shimmer and Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Blue on Bye" which was a limited edition shade from last year, but it is a gorgeous royal blue color. This color pop also helps your eyes pop so its a win win. 

The next way to add a little burst of color is to use a lighter or brighter colored base under other shadows for a more subtle pop of color. I applied Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal in "Inked in Pink" as an eyeshadow base and put a matte cream colored shadow on the top so it wasn't and overdose of shimmer. This look is especially good for the first step of using color. 

This look is a little bit more edgy, and isn't appropriate for every outing, but it is fun and cute. This mascara is a royal blue color by Tokidoki which was purchased a while ago and is no longer available. However, you can find Rimmel's limited edition colored mascaras at Walgreens and it will give you the same effect. You can apply this on its own or over clear mascara, but I wouldn't reccomend using this over black mascara. The reasons for this are that the colors can mix and the colors wont show true against the black. 

Apologies for not posting for a while. I'll make it up to you, I promise! More exciting posts to come! xx

August Favorites!

 September has finally rolled around (ugh) and it's time to tell you all the things I've been loving for the month of August.  

#1: Bath and Body Works - Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist 

$6 - Bath and Body Works

Reccomended to me by a friend about a year ago, I've had this for a while. This is the best summer fragrance, but its honestly acceptable for all times of year. This scent is so fresh and clean smelling with the perfect hint of sweet. Starting the summer off with an almost full bottle, its now pretty much... empty. 

 #2: Covergirl - Jumbo Gloss Balm in 215 Watermelon Twist

$6.94 - Walmart

This sheer tinted lip balm is the perfect summer color and its not an overwhelming pink. This is definitely buildable. This is so moisturizing and looks great on its own or with a similar colored gloss over it. This has been my go to color all summer especially because it is so moisturizing and glossy, but its also one of my favorite colors. 

#3: Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream
$15.99 - Yes To 
As I had never been a user of an eye cream before, I was very interested in trying one out. While browsing around at Ulta at the end of July, this one caught my eye with its cute summery packaging. When using this, you have to be pretty consistent using it, or you wont get the full effect. If you use this two times a day as instructed, you will see results in a week. This also helps to get rid of those little crows feet on the side of your eyes. This also smells so amazing, like a sweet, tangy citrus. Your complexion will be perfection.

#4: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
$3.97 - Walmart
This powder is exactly what you need for a quick fix on those oily summer days. This translucent powder is great for pressing into pores and absorbing oil. I don't know about anyone else, but my skin is a mess in the summer. When it was impossible to wash my face in the middle of the day, I pulled this out and it made the world of a difference. This powder is also really good for setting foundation or concealer so your makeup isn't dripping off of your face, but it doesn't give you a cake face. 

#5: Sun Bum SPF 30 Coconut Lip Balm 
$3.99 - Sun Bum
I'm one of those people who can't stand the taste of sunscreen, especially if its in my lip balm. Since the sun shows no mercy, you're still going to have to wear sunscreen if you're out in the heat, even on your lips. This lip balm, although having a high SPF, doesn't taste the least bit like sunscreen, only a sweet, tropical coconut. Don't forget the fact that its incredibly moisturizing, and fixes dry lips in a pinch. 

#6: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
$8.44 - Target
A brush like I've never seen before, I am totally obsessed with this. The bristles are so soft, but the brush is very densely packed. This is perfect for applying foundation, blending in concealer, or dusting and pressing in powder. This brush does it all. 

Drugstore Pick 3 & Reviews: August

I thought it would be nice to try out a fun little series on my blog, and what's more fun than makeup shopping? For this post, I went to the drugstore, not knowing exactly what to get, picked up three products and reviewed them. I'm thinking of doing these once a month. 

Rimmel- Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick in #11
$5.49 - CVS
✰✰✰

I've recently been looking at the Kate Moss lipsticks for a while, never being able  to find a color I particularly liked. When I saw this color at a quick run to the drugstore a few days ago, I was very drawn to it.

When looking at the actual lipstick, it looks like a dark red/ burgundy color which I really enjoy for the fall season. When swatted, it remains pretty true to the actual color. The color in the picture is a little off (It's actually much darker). The finish is shiny and glossy and the lipstick glides on very smoothly. The color is pretty buildable; when worn over a balm, it comes out pretty sheer but with enough swipes of this, you can get a really dark and pretty burgundy color. Its also pretty moisturizing, but I would still recommend wearing a bit of lip balm underneath it so your lips don't dry out.

One more thing... as soon as I opened this I noticed that this lipstick had a particular scent, which smells pretty strongly like artificial berries and a little bit like medicine, which is gross. The smell ruined a great possible product for me. Because of this, I will not use this lipstick. I'm not sure I can get past this. By the way, I asked other people to smell it, so its not just me.

Besides the smell, this is a pretty good product. I would definitely recommend smelling it in the store before spending your money on this.

Hi again! I'm trying this lipstick on the next day, and it doesn't smell bad once you put it on. Still berry sweet, but no medicine. I'm raising it to three stars because it really is a gorgeous cool toned red velvet color. Another downside to this is that is gets everywhere! It some how managed to make its way onto my hands and computer screen. I probably will end up giving this another shot.
~xo   

NYC- Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny
$2.79 - CVS
✰✰✰✰
I had been looking for a good bronzer for a contour and decided on this one after my last drugstore bronzer which was a huge failure. I had heard many good things about this bronzer prior to buying it today.

This bronzer is completely matte and is amazing to contour. When I first opened, looked, and swatched it I was really upset because I thought it would be too light on my olivey skin tone. When I attempted to swatch this on my hand, it blended right in to my skin, hence the lack of swatch. When I took my brush and contoured my face with this, it was subtle, but looked amazing! I am so impressed with this. This bronzer would work for olive skin and anything lighter. You can use this as an allover tan or as a contour. Especially for the fall time, I tend to shy away from shimmer on the face and go for a more matte look, so this is great for that. 

This is a great product for the fall time, or any time you need a little bronzing. I will get a lot of use out of this product for sure, and the price is great. 

Physician's Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara
$8.79 - Target
✰✰✰✰
One of the reasons I picked up this product was because Physician's Formula is not normally a brand that I search if I'm popping into the drugstore. The other is that there was a great deal on it. If you happen to be at CVS, all Physician's Formula is buy $10 and get $6 extrabucks. You're welcome ;) This product is a bit more on the expensive side, which is why I was never really looking to get it but since I was getting something out of it, I thought, "Why not?" 

This mascara is organic as it says in the name. It helps if you have easily irritated eyes or skin. This mascara will probably be my go to during Spring allergy season. This mascara is  worked really well from the first application. It lengthened and curled my lashes adding volume and definition. i had to comb them out a little, but that didn't bother me too much. I think this mascara would be great for layering with others because it doesn't make your lashes crispy and hard. 

Overall, I really like this product because it applies beautifully and gives my lashes an amazing affect and doesn't make them clumpy.