Tropical lips in fall?

Knock, knock. Let’s acknowledge the fact that I’ve been a terrible blogger —- “real life” got in the way of posting, but I’ve got a few things to share with you, so expect some posts with reviews and swatches in the next couple of days!

First things first, I need to let you know that I’m a bit of a lip product junkie. If I’m in a buying mood and in CVS or Target, I will probably pick up one (or seven) lip glosses or lipsticks. Usually, I end up getting variations of the same color family, lightish pink or peach. So, I have tons and tons of lip products that are all essentially the same.

This is just from randomly cleaning out my purse one day. I have probably 3x as many at home.

So, when I happened to be perusing the cosmetics aisles at Target last week, I most certainly did not need to buy any lip products. I resisted the urge to load up my cart but did snag one, which has quickly become my favorite fall lip color.

It’s Rimmel London Stay Glossy Long Lasting Lipgloss in the shade Treasure Island. It cost around $4 at Target. When you think “fall lip color,” you probably imagine deep, berry shades, but I like the unexpected tropical vibe this gives. It really brightens up my face, especially if I’m going lighter on the eyes and cheeks.

I haven’t really used many Rimmel products before, but this gloss has me itching to grab some more. The texture of it is perfect — it’s opaque and sticks to my lips without being super gooey. It doesn’t slide off and wears really well (although I’m not so sure about their claim of 6-hours of coverage).

Excuse the poor quality of this iPhone photo, but check out the applicator:

It’s not a brush exactly, more of a wand that dips in the center and flairs out at the end. The shape is really nice for hugging my lips and evenly applying the product.

(Don’t you love the steering wheel swatch? Don’t worry, I wasn’t in drive when I took this.) Such a pretty shade with the right amount of sparkle. Even though it might not be an expected color for fall, I think it’s perfect for the season and brightening up when you might otherwise be choosing deeper shades for the rest of your makeup.

Bruises, scratches and boo boos be gone! Boo-Boo Cover Up review

I have lots of things about myself that I love and think are super awesome, but there are a handful of things I’d give anything to change. One of those is how sensitive my skin is, especially how easily I bruise and get red marks. There are several reasons why my skin is sensitive, one being that I take a medication that makes my blood thinner, which means that every little tap and scratch can turn into an ugly boo-boo.

So, you’ll understand when I was incredibly excited to learn about a new product called Boo-Boo Cover Up, a concealer that heals skin imperfections while covering them up. It’s summertime, ya’ll — I want to wear short sleeves and shorts! Brandy, who created the product, calls it “first aid for the fashionista,” and after trying it…I totally agree! Love love love this product.

She sent me two tubes to test out and review. They’re both in shade Medium, which right now is the only one the product comes in, but there will be more options eventually. (Fortunately, Medium was a pretty darn good match for me, and according to the Boo-Boo Cover Up website, it’s formulated to work for most people.)

This is a body concealer, but it’s safe for the face. I really liked the consistency of this for my body, but probably wouldn’t use it on my face unless I had a really hardcore imperfection, maybe like a burn from the curling iron. That’s not to say this is a heavy concealer, though…it’s lightweight but provides amazing coverage and blends out amazingly.

I’ve tried this several times since receiving it, from bruises on my legs to scratches on my arm. (That sounds painful, but it was just the result of a frisky kitty!) Take a look at these before and after photos:

Ouch! Looks bad, right? (Seriously, my cat is almost 6 years old and just became incredibly playful all over again, at my expense!) I really didn’t want to go to work in short sleeves with all of these icky marks showing, so I thought it’d be a great opportunity to test out Boo-Boo Cover Up.

Like I said, the pigmentation in this stuff is pretty concentrated, so you don’t need more than a little dot for each imperfection. The best method to blend it out is to dab it until it’s sort of melted into your skin. Take a look at the “after” shot:

Yes, the scratches are still there, and if you get thisclose to my arm, you’d probably see them. But, they weren’t completely uncovered so that folks passing me by during the day would feel like they needed to ask “What the heck happened to your arm?!?!?” Perfect, and now I don’t have to wrestle my cat into wearing those Soft Paw things!

This product is more than just a concealer, though. It’s got great ingredients that promote healing (chamomile, aloe, Vitamin E, tea tree oil and green tea), so your wounds won’t stick around as long.

There’s a deal on Noblivity, an ecommerce marketplace for boutique stores and up-and-coming brands like Boo-Boo Cover Up, where you can try it out at cost! But, if the deal isn’t going when you check Noblivity, take a look at the Boo-Boo Cover Up website, where you can see all the online retailers that sell it (for around $20).

It’s spring! OOTD

The weather is finally warming up a bit, and it’s staying sunny until the evening hours. I love the spring. Here in Texas, spring only lasts about a month or two before the sticky, hot summer weather comes around, so I’m enjoying the breezy spring while it lasts.

I’ve been trying to throw some color into my wardrobe, since I’ve been wearing mostly black, gray and brown along with deep, rich colors since winter. I paired two tank tops with a white military-style jacket and baggy, tomboy jeans, plus my favorite part, heels that have become my “go to” shoes for the season.

Starting with the best part, I guess…my favorite heels from Sam & Libby (purchased for around $15 at ROSS!). The only disadvantage to buying designer shoes at a store like ROSS is that I can’t get information on the style name, and they’re probably from last season. Still, a super cute pump that is incredibly comfortable to walk in.

They’re a shiny sort of taupe color with a ruched pattern across the top, and a three-inch or so heel.

Here’s a better look at the top half of the outfit. (The jeans aren’t too exciting — they’re Converse brand from Target, the Tomboy style.) I’ve got an army green tank from Forever21 as the base, with a green and white striped tank (with ruffles on the shoulders, but you can’t see them), and a white jacket with gold detailing over top.

Last fashion element to this OOTD, these earrings from Forever21. I love these little bows! I got them in a 3-pack (all bows, these black ones, along with white and pink) for around $3 or so.

For my makeup, I chose bright lips and cheeks, with more muted eyes. My blush is an NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, with Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose over top. On my lips, I went with NYX Lip Liner in Ever paired with MAC’s Do It Up lipglass.

Because the rest of my face was so bright, I went more understated with my eyes, just a peachy taupe shadow all over the lid, a medium brown in the crease and a darker brown in the outer v, with a dark brown liner and mascara to finish it off.

I love dressing for the spring. I can still layer cute jackets and tops but can get a bit more adventurous with the colors and patterns of what I wear. And for makeup, bright lips and cheeks are definitely a flattering look on anyone!

Another favorite thing about spring? (Well, this spring…) I got a puppy! Her name is Sadie, and she’s a mix of German Shepherd and boxer and some other breeds, and she’s absolutely adorable.

CVS haul – some deals!

I made a CVS trip recently (OK, this particular trip was a couple of weeks ago, but I still wanted to share my haul, since the deals were so good!) and got a few things from the last of the 50-75% off beauty clearance. Several times a year, CVS will run a 50-75% off certain beauty products that are either being discontinued or released with new packaging, and if you use coupons (including some coupons from the CVS Extra Care coupon machine in the store!), you can find some really awesome deals.

I got the last Coty Airspun powder that was marked 75% off. These are a staple in the beauty department of CVS, but they were clearanced during the most recent sale, and I thought about getting one each time I was in the store and finally did. I got this powder for about $1.75! A steal of a deal since it’s a tried-and-true favorite among makeup buffs, and it’s a fairly large size.

I also snagged this Rimmel Colour Rush Quad Eyeshadow in Smoky Noir, marked down to 75% off (can’t remember the final price, but it was in the $1-$2 range). Most of my eyeshadows are in neutral brown shades, but I’ve recently been loving a darker, black smoky eye and wanted to get some shadows that would help me create that type of look. It was fate that I found this quad for such a low price! The pigmentation isn’t bad at all, and it comes with a variety of blacks/grays that I can use for allover the lid, in the crease, and to darken the outer corners. Just wish that the pans themselves were larger so I got more product!

Even when CVS isn’t running its 50-75% off clearance sale, you can find some great deals in the store. These next two purchases from the same shopping trip are good examples of how you can find sort of spontaneous deals right in the store.

CVS is really great about marking down products and labeling them on the shelf with “don’t miss at this price” stickers! Sometimes, there’s a 25% markdown, but if you’re lucky, you can snag a great product, like this Burt’s Bees Radiance Healthy Glow Kit on clearance, sort of randomly! I found this kit for 75% off (not part of the great beauty clearance!), and paid around $3-$5 for it! That’s an amazing deal, since Burt’s Bees is a really great line of products that are all-natural and healthy for your skin, but usually a tad pricy. I love love love the Radiance line, since it does all of the great things that the main Burt’s Bees products do, but they add this touch of sparkle and glow to your skin. So gorgeous.

The other thing you need to make sure you do every single time you go into CVS is to visit the Extra Care Rewards Center, usually at the front of the store and often right next to the health/beauty/cosmetics section — easy, since you’re probably already there! You scan your CVS Extra Care card (and if you don’t have one, you need to get one! They’re free.) and the machine prints coupons for you right there in the store. I usually scan my card twice to make sure I’m getting all the coupons for the day. On this trip, I got an awesome deal — $8 off any Physicians Formula product!

I purchased this PF EyeBrightener in the shade Natural Eyelight, normally priced at $8.29, which means with my CSV coupon, it was just $0.29! This is a fantastic product, by the way…a great way to add a subtle shimmery highlight to your inner corner and brow area. Check out the swatch:

I love CVS, so if I need to visit a drugstore for health or beauty products, that’s usually where you’ll find me! On top of all the deals, if you have your CVS Extra Care card swiped every time you check out, you earn a percentage of your purchase back for quarterly ExtraBucks, which are like money to spend on anything in the store!

 

 

Giveaway time! Win an EnvyDerm product worth $99.95!

Thanks again to KMR Communications for sponsoring another giveaway here at What’s On My Face? This time around, we’ll be giving one lucky winner an EnvyDerm product, worth almost $100! Check out the details about the product:

EnvyDerm is an eyelash growth and conditioning serum that will give you fuller, longer lashes. Who doesn’t want that? I know whenever I see my lashes in the mirror, I wish for more volume. I’ve never used any kind of treatment for my lashes, only mascara, but this one sounds pretty awesome.

How to Use EnvyDerm?
The EnvyDerm applicator is very similar to a liquid eyeliner applicator. One should apply the stimulating serum once a day before bedtime along the upper and lower lash lines.  EnvyDerm does not disrupt the daily application of make-up or other skincare routines. Can be used on brows as well.

What is in EnvyDerm?
EnvyDerm is formulated with active natural ingredients such as bioavailable lipo-oligopeptides that stimulate keratin genes.  Powerful SymPeptide technology lengthens and strengthens natural lashes. EnvyDerm uses vitamins, minerals and amino acids to moisturize and nourish lashes and brows.

When Can I Expect to See Results?
One should begin to see the lash line becoming thicker, fuller and healthier looking in as little as 2 weeks!  In a clinical study, users saw a 25 percent increase in eyelash length during this period.  EnvyDerm will continue to prove results over time if used on a consistent basis.

And, check out this photo of the results of using the product:

So, want to try EnvyDerm? (I know I do!) Here are the details of the giveaway:

• Must subscribe to this blog (through Google Reader, Blogger, etc.)
• Must be 18 years or older (or have your parent’s permission to give your address so we can ship your prize)
• Must live in the U.S. (sorry to international readers!)
• Must comment to this post, telling me which celebrity has the most glamorous look (and it’s probably because of the eyelashes!)
• You can comment as many times as you like, but each comment must be different.
• You can earn an additional entry by linking to this blog on your own blog, or Facebook or Twitter (reply to this post with a link to your post).
• The giveaway will end at midnight on February 28, 2011.

Good luck!

Walgreens haul! Wet n Wild 8-pan palettes, Yes to Carrots, L’oreal EverStrong

I’m so sick of winter! I know I can’t be alone…I’m done with cold, gray days and looking forward to spring (or at least the month or so of spring we’ll get here in Texas). When I’m feeling restless like I have this week because of the weather, one thing puts me in a better mood…shopping!

So, I bring to you a Walgreens haul from this afternoon. I didn’t go in with much of an intention, except to get at least one of the new 8-pan eyeshadow palettes from Wet ‘n Wild, which are only being carried by Walgreens and Wal-mart. And, score! My Walgreens had all three in stock, and I picked up two (the blue/silver one called Blue Had Me at Hello was tempting, but I didn’t think I’d be able to make much use out of it, so I couldn’t justify buying it).

I did pick up these two…

Comfort Zone, the neutral palette of the bunch with pretty olives, coppers, browns, tans, peaches, etc. I have all the neutral W’nW palettes, from Vanity in the ColorIcon collection to Walking on Eggshells in the trios, and Golden Goddess from the 2010 holiday collection, and I’m happy to say that these colors, while very similar to shadows in my other palettes, aren’t duplicates of what I already own.

Petal Pusher, another palette I was destined to get because I’m a sucker for purples. I also have the purple palette from the W’nW 2010 holiday collection (Sugar Plum Fairy) and sadly, the first three colors on the left are the exact same as what I got in the other palette. Pretty colors, but duplicates nonetheless!

After I got the Wet ‘n Wild palettes, I strolled down the haircare aisle. My hair has been giving me some trouble in the past couple of weeks. Normally, I have pretty dry, thick hair, so I don’t need to wash every day (or even every other day) because it just never gets oily. But, recently, I’ve noticed a lot of oil and/or product buildup just the next day after I’ve washed it, although the ends are still dry. Because my hair is thick, this kind of buildup really weighs it down and makes it look dull and lifeless.

I looked through just about every line at Walgreens and almost bought some John Freida products (they had coupons attached to them!) but after reading the ingredients and seeing that they contained parabens, I went with more natural products — Yes to Carrots Daily Pampering Shampoo and L’oreal EverStrong Overnight Treatment.

I’ve used the Yes to Carrots shampoo before and remember really liking it. I’m kind of fickle when it comes to shampoos and switch them around a lot, but if this does the job, I’ll probably continue to repurchase. I washed my hair with it tonight, and it foamed up so nicely and made my scalp feel so refreshed and clean.

I’ve never used the EverStrong treatment, but it was on sale for $5.99 instead of the regular $8.99 price, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I’ve used a ton of different leave-in treatments, but this one says it’s specifically for use before you go to bed and on dry hair, so I’ll let my hair air dry and put it on the ends before I go to sleep.

So, there’s what cheered me up today! I’ll do a separate post later with swatches and a review of the W’nW palettes.

What’s making me smile at the moment?

A couple of beauty-related things have been helping me kick my winter blues (seriously, when you’re past all the holidays, and it’s still crazy cold, and you just want it to be breezy and sunny, it’s easy to be in a funk!) — and I wanted to share with you all, so you can smile, too!

Curly hair! For as long as I can remember, my hair has been super straight, not a hint of bounce or wave. But in the past year or so, after cutting in some long layers, I’ve noticed that if I let it dry naturally, it always has some curl to it. Here’s the look I rocked today…I washed it yesterday before going to the movies, gave it a quick blowdry and put it up in a bun. When I took it down last night before bed, it was more than just wavy…it was curly! I helped it a bit today by using a curling iron to better define the curls, and I love the look I ended up with.

Birchbox! If you haven’t heard of Birchbox, check out the website. It’s sort of like a magazine subscription, where you pay each month ($10) or can buy a yearly subscription, and at the beginning of each month, you get a box of goodies in the mail! You fill out a survey when you join so they can get an idea of what your skin/hair/cosmetics likes and needs are, and they send you a box of deluxe samples (in high end brands) tailored to your profile! I got my first Birchbox in January, and I intend to keep it going on a month-to-month basis. Love getting mail, love trying out new products, what’s not to love?

Another current love that I don’t have photos of…Victoria’s Secret PINK loungewear! I definitely made a couple trips to their Semi-Annual Sale last month, and I scored on sweatpants, sweatshirts, and yoga pants. When I’m not at work, wearing business attire, I’m at home, lounging in these comfy, casual clothes. Love love love.

What a deal!!

Check out what I spotted at ROSS today!

It’s the 100% Pure Moxie kit from BareMinerals, on sale for $14.99! It’s got 3 brushes, an all-over mineral face color, blush, a mineral veil, and 2 eyeshadows. It definitely pays to look around at discount stores like ROSS…you never know what you’ll find! I also got some clothes, but I’ll do a separate haul post on those so I can include pictures.

Run — don’t walk — to CVS

I’m testing out my iPhone to blog and wanted to post a quick message about a great makeup sale happening now at CVS!

It’s their 50-75% off sale that happens I think twice a year, and when I checked it out yesterday, I saw great deals from Revlon, L’oreal, Physicans Formula, CoverGirl and more.

The sale will go on till the products are gone, and if you don’t see clearance stickers at your local CVS, take your items to the scanner anyway — they will most likely ring up on sale!

Easy e.l.f. tutorial

I created this image tutorial for a contest on the e.l.f. Facebook fan page and thought it would be fun to share here. It was for a holiday look, but this could definitely be worn every day, although you might want to tone down the shimmer if you’re wearing to work or school. (Click on the photo to make it larger and to read the text.)