Wet n Wild VS NYX

CONTESTANT STATS

Wet n Wild Coverall Correcting Palette

Number of Shades- 4

Formula- Cream

Price-$3.99 at CVS

NYX Color Correcting Concealer

Number of Shades- 6

Formula- Cream

Price- $11.99 at Ulta Beauty

So a few weeks ago I picked up the Wet n Wild Correcting Palette on a whim. I’ve been hearing about the advantages of colored concealers. Especially with the new craze of clown contorting I thought it would be fun to try it out.

With the Wet n Wild pallet only costing $4 I didn’t feel like I was losing anything. There are a few things that I immediately like and didn’t like so much.

One of my major likes is the white color. I have VERY light skin and I use this shade as a high light. It has very fine shimmer and looks great on my skin. I don’t like that there is no little ridges between colors though. I’ve already had colors get a bit mixed in my rush to get ready….All the colors are quite pigmented if a little chalky. I just add a bit of oil to it and it goes on fine. I don’t mind the chalky consistency too much because I love a very matte finish anyway.

OVERALL I THINK THAT THE WET N WILD VERSION DOES WHAT IT SHOULD FOR THE MONEY IT COSTS. It will defiantly work great for those who don’t feel like spending big bucks on their make-up routine.

OK…now to NYX Color Correcting Concealer. So I’m just trying this out now and I really hope that it has amazing coverage because it’s a concealer. So after a quick swatching session and a little fiddling I think I’m in love. These are SO creamy and glide on perfectly. The colors are quite light and not as pigmented as I wanted but still quite nice. They blend out perfectly and with some foundation they would be great.

I don’t know if I really feel like this is worth $12 but I don’t feel like it was wasted money. I really like that it has a few contorting shades and the pink is very nice but I feel like it could really use a shade of white. I would suggest this for those who have sensitive skin or don’t want to bother with mixing oil into their makeup. I think this is a better quality formula.

AND NOW FOR THE WINNER! The winner of this battle is……..NYX Color Correcting Concealer.  Though I still stand by the Wet N Wild version.

E.L.F.'s Belle Collection

E.L.F.’s Belle Collection

Price: $12.99

Brand: E.L.F. Cosmetic’s

Buy: Only available at Walgreen’s

A few days ago I was walking through Walgreen just going there to get some RX’s and grab some milk. It was then that I saw it. Disney themed make up! I had to try it. I only picked up E.L.F’s Beauty and the Beast line so far but if you guys ask I might pick up some more. The other princess’s lines aren’t branded by any well-known cosmetics brand so I was a little nervous about trying them yet.

So on to the review! I purchased the “Beauty Book” It’s very cute on the outside and has a good selection of line. It opens with a cute little mirror but it’s not real glass so that’s sad and there is no magnetic closure either. There are also a couple of suggestions about how to apply the products which I tried out and will be posting the results (which are quite hilarious) next week.

Let’s start with the brush included. It’s a typical eye-shadow brush but I find it to be a lesser quality than other E.L.F. brushes. The bristles are a bit rough and bothers my eyes when I use the brush. 

I’ve now tried all of the 7 eye shadows and I really like all the colors except for Beast. Beast is a really pretty color but it’s too much of a typical blue 80’s eye shadow. When worn it looks like your back in eighth grade just learning how to put on makeup. I might try Beast with a navy eye liner or use it for a Halloween costume.

Furthermore, the eye shadows have a strange consistency. They are sort of chalky and don’t have hardly any fall out. Which is nice if only they would come off on the brush better and apply evenly. Even though they are difficult to work with I will probably use them quite often just because I love shades of gold.

As for the blush (A Single Rose)  and bronzer (Enchanted)…I adore them! The blush is a great shade of orangey pink. It has a light glittery shine to it but most light skin tones are going to look great with the blush. The bronzer is a nice warm brown that is again very nice for light skin tones. Also a major plus the bronzer is MATTE! It’s perfect for me. These are both very pigmented and come off nicely (not chalky at all). They do apply a little unevenly but with a little work I didn’t have a problem with them.

It also comes with both a brown and a black eyeliner. Nothing special, these are just basic E.L.F. eyeliners with some fancy names (Spell on the Castle and Happily Ever After). The last piece of the “book” is a lip gloss in a bright ruby red. It’s named Love’s Kiss and I thought It would look super tacky but it actually looks very classy. It’s still a lip gloss so I don’t really like it much. (I prefer lipsticks) but it was an OK product.

Overall I find the book to not be worth the money. The best part is the packaging and the products are sub par for it’s price. If you like Beauty and the Beast go ahead and purchase it if not just keep walking.

Nude Dude Palette

Nude Dude Palette

So I spend a lot of time shopping at Kohl’s and lately I’ve been seeing a lot of The Balm Cosmetics products. Among all the colors, lipsticks, and primers I was drawn to the newest eye shadow palette Called Nude Dude Volume 2. I loved the pinup style of packaging and adored the colors.

This pallet comes with a good mixture of shimmer and matte colors and the men showing them off make me smile every time I open it up. Also, the names of each color is a personality trait that starts with “F”. So, I can be fearless and flirty or fierce and friendly and still look on point.

I find the colors are super pigmented which doesn’t really show in the photos but trust me a little goes a long way. I love both of the golden tones and several of the darkest shades. I only wish there were a few more dark shades. I really love creating crazy creases and intense smoky eyes.

For a beginner or even an expert this palette did not disappoint. I can create intense looks or my little sister can wear it to Jr. High School. It’s an investment for those who only buy from the drug store usually but it’s so versatile and very sturdy for its cardboard packaging.

When I bought the palette it was right after Christmas and they had many of their holiday gift sets on sale. So, I went ahead and got the little gift set that had a mascara with it. I wasn’t particularly interested in the mascara but it was only like $6 more.

The Body Builder is the name of the mascara and while I loved the box it came in the tube leaves something to be desired. It is just a simple black mascara tube with white writing. After the palette’s cute pinup’s I expected more.

Overall the product is still my favorite of the moment but I feel like I could do better. I prefer my friend's

 Tarte Amazonian Clay mascara better but I’m waiting to buy a whole bunch of Tarte products in hopes of getting a better deal. I love both of these products and feel that as a set they were worth the money but if you’re going to buy separately ship The Body Builder.

Pricing

Nude Dude Volume 2:$36.00

The Body Builder: $19.00

Set: No Longer Available

https://www.thebalm.com/

Remember if you have any request or suggestions just leave a comment below.

July 2015 Birch Box!

July 2015 Birch Box!

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Brand: Oribe
Price:$22-42 (Full Size)
I am so excited about this product. I love the smell and the size of the sample. I’ll be able to get several uses out of it to decide how I like it. I do feel the full size pricing is a little high. I’ve never spent that much on shampoo let a alone a texturizing spray but if I really like it I could see myself splurging. Also, It says that this is supposed to be an alternative to dry shampoo. I don’t know if it will work as well because it doesn’t have any type of powder in the product. It’s more like a light hair spray than a dry shampoo but I’m willing to give it a shot.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick

Brand: Stila
Shade: Venizia 14
Price: $20 (set of three)
I might be in love guys! This is a true wet to matte lipstick. It glides on like a gloss and drys completely matte. I haven’t tried it to see how long it stays but it’s supposed to last “all day”. I’m not sure what kind of time period that is but it would totally be worth carrying it around to reapply. I love the color. It’s a beautiful orangy-red that looks great on my light skin tone. I really feel that it would look great on olive complexions too. Overall a steal for about just under $7 a piece! Also it smells wonderful! It’s got a vanilla scent so if you don’t like scented products you might want to pass.

Coola Cucumber Moisturizer

Brand: Coola
Price: $32 (full size)
Certified Organic!!!!
Ok so this sample size is really small in my opinion for a facial moisturizer but it might just be me. I feel like I could probably get two MAYBE three tries before I would run out. I really like to give products like this a good go before purchasing. Especially when they’re over the $25 mark. But it does smell like cucumbers and it’s a pleasant smell. It absorbed really quickly and didn’t leave any greasy residue but I thought it was a little thin. I’m used to moisturizers that are quite thick and this one didn’t hit that mark. I’ll have to give it a few more tries before I’m sure but so far not my favorite.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrazion Skin Exfoliate

Brand: Dr. Brandt
Price: $78 (full size)
This is creamy kind of skin scrub that smells a bit chemical for my taste. It’s a lot like the Visanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. It has small micro bead type crystals that scrub all the dead skin off your face. I really like Brighten Up! Even more then that I like the price. ($34). I really don’t feel like this product does enough to warrant it’s $78 price tag.
Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara

Brand: Benefit Cosmetics

Price: $24 (full size)
I am SO excited to try this product. I’ve been hearing about it non-stop by people who love it or hate it and now I can finally have an opinion. Luckily, I got a black sample otherwise it would have been completely useless to me. I don’t believe in any other color of mascara unless it’s Halloween. It seems like a really good sample size. It’s about a third of the size of a regular mascara. I don’t know what else to say unless I try it right now….oh hell I’m gonna go put it on. …(5 minutes later)….
Ok so the first impression is really good. It curled my lashes amazingly. I could almost give up my eyelash curler with this…almost. It also did give the base a very full look which I adore but I feel like the lashes look a litter spider-leggy if you know what I mean. Overall I really like it but I need to try it with a full face of makeup on before the final verdict.

If you’re interested in any of these products most can be found at Sephora but all can be found at Birchbox.com!

June Favorites

June Favorites

5) Paper Mate Flair

Brand: Paper Mate

Price: $11.59 Amazon Prime Eligible

Buy:  http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Mate-Porous-Point-12-Pack-74423/dp/B000J09CO6

This seems like a silly thing to love but I’m completely addicted to Flair pens. They’re felt tipped and don’t bleed through. Most importantly they come in tons of colors. As a college student this is very important. I color code my notes and my planner to stay organized so I like that they have multiple colors. Also, it’s nice that there are both dark and light of most colors. This way the more important things I put in a dark color. If it’s related to the original info but not that important I can put it in a lighter shade of the same color. This just shows how OCD I am.

4) Color Statement Matte Lipstick

Brand: Milani

Price: $5.99

Shade: Matte Naked 61

Buy: http://milanicosmetics.com/Color-Statement-Moisture-Matte-Lipstick.html

This lipstick is the perfect color for everyday wear especially in an office environment. It’s a dark nude color that looks great with many skin tones. It will wear all day as long as you don’t eat. It will dry out your lips but I’ve found that using lip balm first takes care of this issue.

3) Shea & Sweet Orange

Brand: All Good Things Handmade

Price: $12.75 (8oz jar)

Buy: http://www.allgoodthingshandmade.com/#!product/prd1/3436217145/all-good-shea-body-butter

I bought this stuff from a little store in my hometown and it is fabulous. It’s all natural and handmade. This shop also provides vegan options and pet safe solutions. You can use this body butter as a moisturizer or as a hair treatment. I love putting it in my hair for a few hours before I shower. It has worked wonders on my split ends. It is available in two fragrances I have the Sweet Orange and it is perfect for a citrus lover.

2) Brow Fix Brow Kit

Brand: Milani

Shade: Medium 02

Price: $7.99

Buy: http://milanicosmetics.com/Brow-Fix-Kit.html

I’ve been searching for a solution to my brows for a long time and I think this is the best I’ve found yet. It comes with a mirror, tweezers, angle brush, and makeup sponge. This along with the highlight and two brow shades make this kit an absolute win. The highlight does wonders for my arches and the two colors are meant to be mixed together so as to get the perfect shade. I love the little mirror inside because it magnifies the brows so I can work more efficiently. Overall this was a great choice.

1)

Just Add Color (Adult Coloring Book)

Author: Souris Hong-Porretta

Price: $12.40 (Amazon Prime Eligible)

Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Outside-Lines-Artists-Coloring-Imaginations/dp/0399162089/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435623736&sr=8-1&keywords=outside+the+lines

This coloring book is a compilation of many authors’ works including Keith Haring, AIKO, and Lia Halloran. Each page allows the colorer to create something new with a great piece of art. I love feeling like I can create and change while still getting a little bit of art knowledge. Also, it’s perfect for the adults like me to find their childish side. It goes great with my Flair pens and buy far it is my favorite item of the summer. I’ve already colored several pages and I plan to finish the whole book by the end of the year….maybe the end of the summer.

Two Favorite Drug Store Brands

Two Favorite Drug Store Brands

Hello Gorgeous! I’m excited to tell you about a few of my favorite products and brands of the moment. I’m the type of person that gets really attached to certain products and these are the ones that I cannot stop using!

Sonia Kashuk and Milani can be found at Target and CVS respectively. I know for a fact that Sonia Kashuk is available exclusively at Target and I’ll link the website below.  Milani I have seen a few other places including the dollar store but I can most often find it in CVS. But now let’s get to the fun part!

Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette

Brand: Sonia Kashuk

Shade: Light 07

Price: $10.99

This pallet is one of the best things I have bought in a long time! It’s a little pricy for a drug store brand but it totally worth the money. Each color is smooth and buttery and sits on the skin well. I find it blendable and buildable which is great. I also love the green tinted shade for covering redness. Out of the whole palette the setting powder is the best. It’s silky soft and keeps all of my concealers in place for hours. I love that it is actually pale enough that it actually matches my skin tone. This is rare because I’m practically transparent (lol). Also all Sonia Kashuk products have a magnetic closure which is a blessing. Unless you’re like me and bobby pins get stuck to it all the time.

Baked Powder Blush

Brand: Milani

Shade: Red Vino 09

Price: $8.49

This blush is my go to for summer. It’s a very warm red color with a very fine shimmer though it appears mostly matte when applied. The only thing that I would really like is for the packaging not to wear so poorly. The Milani logo has almost half disappeared in just a month. This product also has a Mirror and  small blush brush that comes with it. The brush is not very good quality but I find the mirror very handy.

Undetectable Creame Bronzer

Brand: Sonia Kashuk

Shade: Warm Tan 41

Price: $10:99

I am completely obsessed with this bronzer. The only drawback at this point is that it is a creame formula. I tend to have a bit of trouble applying it correctly but it’s just operator’s error not a problem with the actual product. The texture is divine. The product comes out super pigmented and smooth and blendable. I find it blends particularly well using my Beauty Blender but I’ve also used my fingers with great success. The product is VERY warm toned so for those ladies out there that aren’t into this I would try Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick instead.

Swatches of Blush and Bronzer

Color Statement Lipstick

Brand: Milani

Shades: (Lightest to Darkest) Matte Naked 61, Uptown Mauve 20, Sangria 21

Price: $5.99

These are the best lipsticks from the drug store that I’ve tried in a long time. All the colors are super wearable and they only dry out your lips if you don’t wear lip balm underneath the product. I’ve found that while they are not completely matte but they can pass for matte in a pinch. I think the packaging is super cute and I love how the actual product is displayed at the bottom. It makes knowing the color a bit easier for me. I’ve worn these to parties and only had it wear off when I ate a meal. I appreciate the staying power and quality of such an affordable lipstick.

http://soniakashuk.com/

http://milanicosmetics.com/