Jamberry Berry Sparkler

So I may or may not be able to go to the Ren Faire because of all this rain but if I do....these will be my fairy nails!  I ordered these on a whim with my hostess rewards and actually ended up liking them way more than I thought!

Normally I take all nail pictures in natural light but I added my flash for these because it really brought out the sparkles and made them look more true to life than regular lighting did.

Berry Sparkler is a super cute glitter finished wrap that starts pink and fades to a sparkly silver.  These are just so adorable and I've already received compliments on them.  They feel so magical, playful, and elegant all at the same time!  I'm really glad I stepped outside my comfort zone and got these wraps!

Colourpop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lipstick in Tulle, Trap, Koala, and Mars

I was super excited for these Ultra matte lipsticks as soon as I heard about them for the first time.  I LOVE matte lipsticks, especially in a liquid formula, plus they are only $6! You really can't go wrong.  The only thing that could make something like that more perfect was if they were super opaque and lasted for hours.......oh wait! ;P

This formula is the bomb.  The lipsticks go on opaque and completely even for the lighter colors.  There is a bit of uneven color for the darker ones but another coat would fix that right up! Its honestly not even that noticeable in person so I don't bother with a second coat. These stay put on my lips for hours.  The only time they start to die is when I eat something greasy, but even then they hold up really well! I had the Pizza Hut lunch buffet and Mars was faded in the middle of my lips but from a distance, you could barely even tell I just devoured way too much greasy pizza goodness. Also they are transfer proof! I can kiss my boyfriend on the cheek as much as I want to and he won't get covered in lipstick! For $6 these are 110% worth every penny.  My only complaint would be the dryness, I may have trouble pulling these off in winter.

Tulle is a gorgeous deep brownish red.  It is absolutely gorgeous and will be amazing for fall. I could see this pairing with almost any of my fall outfits and I'm sure in a few months it will be an every day lipstick for me.

Trap is a very interesting slightly purple nude.  In yellow light it looks brown but in natural light the purple comes out a lot more.  I really adore it as a nude and can see wearing this with a dark smokey eye often.

Koala is a light pinkish purple.  This is honestly one of my least favorites because based on swatches I though it was be a bit more purple on me and less pink.  I think it makes my skin tone look a bit weird so I'm not sure where and when I'm going to be able to wear this. I don't mind how it looks in the pictures I took however so maybe I'm being too negative about it and it actually looks just fine, haha!

Mars.  An absolutely stunning deep pinkish red. I am in love with this shade and it is probably my favorite.  I wasn't even going to get it initially and just threw it in my cart last minute. I love this shade because it is bold and in your face but also goes with a lot of outfits.  I've worn this with all black, light green, purple....just....it somehow looks awesome no matter what I'm wearing.  I'm in love.

Overall I would recommend these, they have a great formula and the quality is fantastic for the price! <3

Where to buy: colourpop.com

Price: $6

Ipsy Glam Bag March 2015

Yes I know the first week of April is already happening but I only just got my hands on my March glam bag a few days ago while I was home for Easter.  I didn't hate this bag so I wanted to take the time to talk about it.

The bag is nice  and cute and floral....too bad it doesn't really match the mood of the month, at least here.  All of march has been cold, rainy, and miserable. Nonetheless the bag is very nice this month.

1. NYX Butter Lipstick in Pops

"Pamper your lips with a hydrating kiss of smooth Butter Lipstick in 22 luxurious shades. The delicate texture of satin fused with the high color saturation creates an even finish on lips that’s long-wearing and beautiful."

This loses a point only because I didn't get the color I was lusting after.  I used my Ipsy points to get it however, so at least not all is lost.

4/5

So I was super bummed that I did not get Hunk.  I wanted that purple soooo badly, but of course I got the nude. WTF Ipsy. STOP. Luckily this is a pretty color and the formula is awesome so I will probably get some wear out of this. It glides on smoothly, lasts for a few hours, and is very pigmented and non drying.  I'm a huge fan of this formula. Yay NYX!

Where to buy: nyxcosmetics.com, ULTA, Drugstores

Price: $6

2.  Pūr~lisse soymilk cleanser & makeup remover

"Appreciate your skin, don’t irritate it. Cleanse the day away in one simple step with this sulfate-free blend of Soy Milk, Whole Oat and White Tea. This gentle cleanser leaves your face silky soft, without a trace of impurity. The 4-in-1 sulfate free & non-drying formula gently washes away dirt and makeup (even mascara!), while soothing and toning skin."

I enjoyed the Pur~lisse brand moisturizer I got so I was definitely looking forward to trying this.

5/5

Just like the moisturizer this brand seems to pack everything I want into one package!  It removes makeup, its gentle, and non drying! I really couldn't ask for more.  The scent is mild and not unpleasant which is always a plus for cleansers.  I hate washing my face with smelly nastiness. 

Where to buy: purlisse.com

Price: $36 ($6.43)

3. Boo Boo Cover Up in Medium

"Have a Boo-Boo? Skip the bandage and the shiny ointment. Look your best even while you heal with Boo-Boo Cover-Up for face and body. Our innovative formula offers great coverage for skin imperfections while containing ingredients known in nature to promote healing."

I want to start by saying.....IPSY, WHY WOULD YOU GIVE A CUSTOMER WITH PALE SKIN A MEDIUM TONED CONCEALER.  Seriously, their "personalization" is absolute garbage.

1/5

In the image the top swatch is the concealer and the bottom swatch is what I currently use (Mary Kay Ivory 2).  That difference is laughable.  I absolutely need a very light pink toned concealer or else it will just look yellow and disgusting.  This gets a one for a few reasons.  First it is absolutely nowhere near my skin tone.  Second while my Mary Kay concealer rubs in creamy, this almost felt a bit drier, which is not good for my already dry skin. Third when I did try to put it over a pimple, besides it being a yellow dot on my face it honestly didn't seem to cover that well.

Where to buy: booboocoverup.com

Price: $20 ($8)

4. Gilchrist & Soames Body Lotion

"Sophistication and style are encapsulated in a complete package of understated elegance; crisp, clean and luxurious. Antioxidant-rich botanicals of red tea, soy, ginkgo biloba, grape seed and milk thistle, renowned for their beneficial attributes, combine in a dynamic blend to restore and revive.

This rich yet fast-absorbing formulation provides superior moisturizing benefits with nutrient-rich oils, humectants and emollients to heal and protect the skin."

It's kind of ridiculous how unimpressive and nondescript this product is....

2/5

 There is literally nothing about this that makes me want to buy it.  It gets two points for being a moisturizing and succeeding at such....however the brand name is unexciting, the color is white, the smell is strange, and the packaging is really boring.  I accidentally forgot to include this in the overall bag picture because I forgot it existed.  At first I thought this was unscented because of the weird smell it add that I assumed was the smell of the natural lotion.  Well apparently it is supposed to have a scent and some people are saying they like it.   On my skin I smell it more but it still isn't nice.  It's very old lady like.

Where to buy: gilchristsoames.com

Price: $16 ($5)

5. VINTAGE by Jessica Liebeskind Illuminating Face Highlighter

"Add a beautiful wash of color and subtle, sexy shimmer with the ILLUMINATING FACE HIGHLIGHTER. Created to be worn on top of fresh, dewy skin or as a delicate highlight over pretty blush – the reflective pearls add radiance on contact delivering a diamond-like finish to the skin."

This was an unexpected favorite, but for the wrong reasons, haha!

4/5

So this doesn't really work for me as a highlighter but I'm actually liking it a lot as an eyeshadow.  Its shimmery and very slightly pink, making it look more natural on my skin than a brown or tan colored shadow.  I have it swiped on my cheeks in this picture but you can't really see it. It just kind of makes it look like I'm wearing a shimmery blush.  Besides on my eyes I also like putting a tiny bit on the top of my lip as a highlight. Thank you Ipsy for finally sending me a highlight I have a use for!

Where to buy: vintagecosmetics.com

Price: $18?

This is hard to price as its sold out and I hate when companies remove the price when an item sells out. I found this price on a different website so I can't guarantee accuracy. 

So overall this bag wasn't great but it wasn't horrible.  In total everything cost about $43.43 which is in the standard range for an Ipsy bag. I believe my mom and I have made the decision to go back to only getting one bag every month starting in July when this subscription runs out.  

Interested in Ipsy?

Valentine's Day Nails

Ok yeah I know Valentine's Day was a while ago but with my camera dying I kind of have a backlog of posts. Oops! So even though its past here are my nails that I did for Valentine's Day!

For the base I used Formula X in Voodoo which is a absolutely gorgeous light metallic pink.  Then I took Demi by Zoya which is a dark berry shade and tipped each of my nails except for my ring finger where I instead drew a cute little heart.  I couldn't take this picture until a few days after Valentine's Day so I had to do a bit of touching up, that's why they look a little less than perfect.  Regardless I love my nails and I love these two polishes. Combined they make the perfect cute girly nail design.

NYX Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Tea Rose

So I've been eyeing this lipstick for a while.  And by a while I mean like at least a year.  I'm not sure why I never picked it up...I guess NYX just kept releasing so many unique and crazy colors that I spent my money on them instead.  Well not this time!!

I picked this up during a BOGO 50% off sale along with the Crystal Pewter liner.

This is my first time trying a lipstick from their matte line and I am seriously impressed.  I love it!  It glides on pigmented, matte, and does not seem drying.  The longevity is very nice as well, much better than the wicked lippies.  I am so excited to add this to my collection and I will be wearing it for my super important graduate school interview this weekend. I think it is a great my lip but better shade and is perfect for any professional setting.

Where to buy: Nyxcosmetics.com, Ulta, drugstores

Price: $6

Pink and Green Birthday FOTD!

Happy Birthday to me! Even though I have a week worth of finals ahead of me, I never let it get me down.  

I was planning on reviewing my Sephora birthday gift for today but because I left it at home, I won't be able to use it until the semester is over...I'm so good at life....sigh.

So instead, in honor of my birthday I wanted to share with all of you one of my favorite looks!

I feel so insanely fabulous every time I wear this.  The colors can also easily be changed up to match whatever outfit you are wearing.

To do this I first put Ever in Your Favor by Shiro Cosmetics all over my eye lid.  Then I take Blackheart from Naked 3 and put it in my crease.  I add a bit of depth to the outer part of my eye using Blackout by Urban Decay.  Next I draw a wing with my (brand new just opened!!!!) Jesse's Girl liquid liner.  I finish it up with a sweep of Fringe from the Electric Palette under my eye.

On my lips is NYX lip liner in Plum with Starlooks Odetta on top. 

With a green cardigan and my dark pink Turkish scarf I feel awesome today!

Starlooks Guilty Pleasure Lip Trio with Charm, Odetta, and Guilty Pleasure

Look what finally came in the mail! Eeh!! Starlooks offered a special Guilty Pleasure lip trio set through Ipsy and for only $24 with free shipping how could I pass up a lip liner, lipstick, and lip gloss!?

The products came in a super cute white bag with a 10% off my next order coupon code.

The lip set included the Guilty Pleasure lip gloss which I received the sample size of in my October glam bag, Odetta a soft pink matte lipstick, and charm a dark lavender lip pencil.

Let's check out some swatches!

I had gotten a nude pink Starlooks liner in a previous Ipsy bag and absolutely loved the formula so I was very excited about getting this.  I think out of the three this is definitely my favorite.  It is such a beautiful matte lavender that I think looks freaking great on me. The formula is very creamy, easy to apply, and can easily be worn alone without appearing dried out and gross like most lip liners tend to look upon solo application. Also obligatory wink to show off my awesome wing.

Next is Odetta, the matte lipstick.  As far as being matte I don't think it really is...the lip liner definitely but the lipstick has a bit of a sheen to it, which overall isn't' a big deal.  I had never tried a Starlooks lipstick so I was quite anxious to give this a try. I wore it out on a walk with my boyfriend and it lasted perfectly throughout our hour walk and my cappuccino. The formula is very impressive, creamy, yet still has enough stick to it that it doesn't just slide right off as soon as I try and drink a coffee.

Because I'm lazy I'm reusing the picture from my glam bag review.  It's the same product so I didn't see a point in taking an all new set of images. Anyway, this lip gloss drove me to buy the lip trio so obviously I like it.  It has decent pigmentation and staying power for a lip gloss and the soft pink can be worn alone or over top of most lip colors so it's very versatile.

Finally the moment you've all been waiting for....all three together! The purple undertones of the lip liner show through even when having a pink lip stick and lip gloss over top, which is awesome because I love purple.  It is a bit darker and less purpleythan the lip swatch they posted to their Instagram, but I still like the color so I'm not going to complain.  These three together definitely create a very nice, sophisticated, natural lip color.  Honestly I can see myself skipping the lip gloss over this and just wearing the lip liner and lipstick together and saving the lip gloss for solo lazy day use. This is mostly just personal preference as when I wear a full face I tend to prefer my lips being as matte as possible.  

Here is a side by side of Odetta alone, Charm alone, and then all three together.   I think this helps show how much of Charm shows through in the final look.

And finally here are the swatches after rubbing away at them, as you can see all three even the lip gloss left a stain, yay!   Also this is the lip trio after a few hours and two very delicious spinach lasagna roll ups (excuse the sauce on the corners of my mouth).  It evenly fades to a lighter pink, its nice knowing I can wear this through a meal without getting that dreaded lipstick outline.

The lip trio set is sold out, as per usual with the Ipsy special offers but the individual products can still be purchased.

Where to buy: Starlooks.com

Price:

Lip liner- $13

Lipstick- $14

Lip gloss- $13

I've loved every Starlooks product I've tried so far....I may just have a new top brand! :)

Urban Decay Pressed Pigment in Jilted from the Electric Palette on my Lips

Ok so this is hands down my favorite shadow for use on the lips.  Just wow, its so freaking gorgeous.  I wish the Revolution lipstick in Jilted looked this awesome.  The blue shift is so much more pronounced from the shadow and it goes on like a dream!

This color is intensely pigmented and pats on the lips very evenly.  Put on a gloss on over this and it looks so fabulous especially for fall.  I can see me reaching for this shade a lot for use on my lips way more than on my eyes.

MAC Rocky Horror Nail Polish in Bad Fairy

This is the second nail polish from the limited edition MAC Rocky Horror collection, Bad Fairy. I. Love. This. Color.  I never want to take it off its so gorgeous.  Depending on the angle it can look pink, red, or orange and it's just so insanely beautiful. Of course this is the one not in the permanent line. :(

Look at that duo color deliciousness.  This goes on a lot better than Formidable, building up to full opacity in only two coats.  So far it also seems to last longer.  I will definitely be using this a lot as its dark enough to wear in fall but also light enough for spring and summer wear. The versatility and uniqueness is just awesome.  

As if it wasn't already awesome enough I think it looks absolutely amazing when paired with purple, my favorite color..  That color combo...so lovely...

I want this color as a lipstick and eye shadow please...

If I don't stop now I'm going to gush about this polish forever.

Urban Decay Pressed Pigment in Savage from the Electric Palette on my Lips

Here is yet another Electric Palette shadow on my lips.  This time its Savage a much more natural (at least as natural as the electric palette goes ) and wearable shade.  Overall this was fairly easy to apply and even though it looks a bit patchy in the close up, from a bit further away it looks perfect. If I ever wanted to wear a matte pink lip I would definitely reach for this.

This color makes me feel so bubbly and cute! It will stain the lips when taking it off though so prepare yourself for that.  Stay tuned for me to eventually finish the palette...I think I officially have the top row done! Yay!

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Jilted and Anarchy

I've had these two Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks for quite some time but only recently realized I never swatched them....then I started to swatch them and forgot again.  I'm bad at life.  Anyway I received a sample size of Anarchy in an Ipsy bag and was so in love I had to buy another! I am definitely a huge fan of these lipsticks.  I love the formula its very creamy and opaque and only starts getting dry after a few hours, but I'm always willing to trade dryness for super long wear! I think they are worth the price unlike some other high end lip products that do not perform near as well but sport the same price tag.

First up is Jilted. This is a very pretty deep pink with a blue shift.  The lipstick goes on very creamy and lasts for hours.  I feel that it is very versatile as it is bright enough to be worn in summer but yet still deep enough to be pulled off in fall as well.  

And here is Anarchy a very intense hot pink! I know...this picture looks so different than the other...I took them a month apart in different locations of my apartment because I forgot I was working on getting these swatched...oops!. Anyway the formula for this one seems about the same however for whatever reason it lasts twice as long.  And by twice as long I mean I have yet to ever reapply it while out.  I've eaten multiple meals and this lipstick just keeps on trucking.  If you are looking for a high quality hot pink this lipstick may be your holy grail!

Where to buy: Ulta, Sephora, Urbandecay.com

Price: $22

NYX Wicked Lippie in Power and NYX Round Case Lipstick in Aphrodite

I've been looking forward to the release of these Wicked Lippies for what seems like forever.  I had originally planned on getting Betrayal but since it seemed so similar to OCC's Technopagan I decided on Power.  The online swatches made it seem so interesting and unique.

Well for me it doesn't look the same on my lips as it did on the major beauty blogger's lips.  Maybe it's because I'm super pale but it goes on very dark.  I was definitely expecting it to be a bit lighter, but instead it comes off as a very deep metallic pink. While I do like the color it isn't as unique as I had thought.   In fact after putting it on I instantly thought of NYX's Round Case Lipstick in Aphrodite.

Here is Aphrodite swatched so that you can compare.  Power is a tad bit lighter and of course a bit more metallic but honestly when on the difference isn't all that varied. I like the formula for Aphrodite better, it is less slippery and applies easier and more opaque.  In my opinion if you already own Aphrodite I wouldn't bother with Power.

The formula isn't so terrible that I would not buy another, in fact I'm hoping to pick up Cold Hearted because I need some metallic dark grey in my life.

Where to buy: NYXcosmetics.com

Price: $6

NCLA Los Angeles Accent Nail Wraps in House Of Hollywood Nº 1

Quite a few months ago I got these nail stickers in a beauty subscription box.  I don't remember which one it was from because we have since canceled them all except for Ipsy. If I had to guess I would say Birchbox.

Anyway I had never used nail stickers before and decided to document my first attempt for all of you.

The stickers I will be reviewing today are NCLA Los Angeles Accent Nail Wraps in purple, gold, and pink patterns.

It comes with twelve stickers.  I think there are 2 for each finger except for the ring finger, which gets four.  I think.  Its hard to tell the size difference of the middle ones.  Honestly I'm not thrilled with the look of these, they just aren't my style.  I don't wear gold anything so I probably won't wear these very often. My favorite is the mostly purple and pink pattern so I will be saving those for a special occasion.  The first thing my boyfriend said when I showed him my accent nail was "looks neat, but it's not really you."

Here are the instructions.  Simple enough and easy to follow.

Well right off the bat I mess up somehow.  The sticker would peel cleanly off the paper.  A thin layer of paper came with it.  Luckily there was a small air gap so I was able to carefully peel the detached nail sticker off the paper and get it on my nail. I hope the rest don't come off so difficultly. 

Here it is right after sticking it on.  Looks kind of hillarious :P

After some bending and filing this was the result.  I think it looks cute but for my first attempt I had two air bubbles and it was also unevenly placed on my nail.  Luckily its not noticeable from far away but the little imperfections kind of bother me.

Here is my nail up against the rest of the stickers showing the difference between on the paper and on the nail.

Overall I do like the concept and would definitely buy more stickers but in a style more close to my tastes. 

Where to buy: shopncla.com

Price: 26 wraps for $16

If you are using them for every single nail the price is pretty hefty.  $16 for two and a half manicures....However if you use them one or two nails at a time then I think the price is a bit more plausible.

<3__)~

Cynthia Rowley Lip Stain in Tulip

I recently canceled my Birchbox subscription because for the last few months I haven't been getting anything really exciting.  There are only so many hair treatments, moisturizers, and exfoliators I can get until I become fed up. Before canceling however I made sure to use the points I had saved up!  I had exactly $20 worth so I browsed the store to find something to get for free because who doesn't love free??? Anyway, I decided on Cynthia Rowley's Lip Stain in Tulip.

Overall I like it.  I would never pay full price for it simply because the color is pretty average and the sheerness really isn't my thing but as a free gift its pretty awesome!  It wears for a while and leaves behind a nice pleasant stain.  It looks to be a super awesome purpley color in the tube but applies sheerly so it looks more like a natural fuchsia color.

Where to buy: Birchbox.com, cynthiarowley.com

Price: $20

<3__)~

NYX Butter Gloss in Merengue

So I loved the Creme Brulee Butter Gloss that came in my June Ipsy bag so much that I ran to my nearest drugstore and picked up another color.  I decided on Merengue and snagged the very last one! :D

I like this one just as much as Creme Brulee, maybe even more.  It has a nice amount of color and the light pinkish color is nicely flattering on my skin. I am rarely ever disappointed by NYX.  I will definitely be getting some wear out of this. I may possibly even consider getting a third color.  Oh I forgot to mention they also smell like dessert!!

Where to buy: Target, drugstore, Ulta

Price: $5

<3__)~