Ho-Ho-Hottttt curls

Hey girlies!!! I hope you lovely ladies are having a fantastic holiday season. Today, I wanted to write about something that is near and dear to my heart---the never-ending search for perfect, lasting curls.

To me, attaining curls that LAST has been a vast life-long experiment wrought with lots of failures and few  successes. This quest felt kind of like finding a needle in a haystack. It was that fruitless you guys....I SWEAR!!

My hair is so freaking fine and thin, that I would leave the house and be all

And then.....seriously yall like five minutes later I was all

Most frustrating thing EVER!!!!!!! Until finally I figured out one single, technique that actually DOES SOMETHNG!!!! So, of course I had to share it with you gals!! FULL DISCLOSURE: this works best for more during Winter-time because of the whole no-humidity thing (which in Florida is like never) but it DOES work :) I hope it helps you lovelies get pretty, bouncy fun hair!!!

The Ox and Lamb Kept Time....Plumb Ump Ump Ump UMP!

Sorry about the title folks...I had to do it :)

So yahhhh....the question is who ISN'T wearing plumb this holiday season?! I lovvee all the fashion, accessories, nail colors, and of course the eye makeup. Here is my take on the ever-popular plum smokey eye. Enjoy!!

Dollar Tree Dolls

Okay first of all let me begin by answering your most certain mental question right now. If you have read ANYTHING else I have ever written (like EVAAAA) than you are probably wondering if I actually have a harbored residence INSIDE of a Dollar Tree. The answer to that question is of course no, but I'm about as close to that as you can get. I....freaking....love....Dollar....Tree.

I mean I could literally make this entire post about all the multitude of reasons why I think it's the greatest store ever. However, since you chose to spend your busy afternoon with us here for a few quick beauty tips, I'll instead thank you for your time and digress.

If you have not been to your local Dollar Tree within the last few months for beauty supplies.....RUN....do not walk.

For those of you who don't know me, I store my makeup for the weekends in a giant black caboodle that looks like some traveling salesman's wears from the 1950's. Its crazy big, it's cumbersome, and there is no way in heck this thing is used on a day-to-day basis. I mean granted, it does an awesome job keeping everything organized and it's really helpful when I do bridal makeup or fun makeup for other people but for me it mostly on comes into play on the weekends.

Typically, on the weekdays I let my face take some time off from makeup all-together. I like to think your skin is kind of like you. It works hard all the time, but enjoys a little vacation every now and then ; )

My skin on the weekdays

My skin on the weekends

 

So on the weekdays, I keep a tiny little bag of makeup around for just the basics.

 

This is where Dollar Tree comes into play. I mean, the brands they are starting to carry right now....its...O-M-G. While walking through the makeup aisle this last time I was completely blown over. They carried ELF and Rimmel, Wet N Wild, and LA Colors.

 

I can't wait to try all the products I saw on the shelves, but since I've only tried a few I thought I'd show you which ones made it into my daily makeup bag/ basics and why.

 

These line of ELF lipliners are amazing!!!! Typically, lipliners start out at $6.00 or more and that is WITH a coupon. Meanwhile, these little beauties start out at just a buck in a multitude of colors. Just fyi my personal favorite is in the color "Natural" because it's a gorgeous peachy tone and it pretty much goes with every skin tone.

 

 

 

PROS:

 

*Goes on easily

*Beautiful color selection

*Does not bleed color

*Comes with sharpener

*ITS ONLY ONE DOLLAR!!!

 

CONS:

*Does not last all day

 

These incredible eye pallets from LA Colors. Now, before you get all snobby on LA Colors, hear me out. I know we all remember getting those HUGE LA Colors kits for Christmas and birthday parties when we were little girls that had the eye shadows with the texture of chalk but SERIOUSLY. If you haven't given the eye shadows a try recently....I highly recommend it. The texture is now really nice, and it gives a beautiful pigmentation. To show how much I believe in these products, I'll follow this by saying I just used the pallet depicted below doing bridal makeup. Not only did it last all day, it looked BEAUTIFUL!!!!! P.S. The pallet color below is in TRADITIONAL which is my favorite because is has tons of gorgeous, neutral colors.

 

 

 

PROS:

*Beautiful color selection

*Nice, creamy texture

*Awesome pigmentation

*ONCE AGAIN FOLKS....IT'S ONLY ONE DOLLAR

 

CONS:

*Not much product in the pans

*We STILL have those LA Color Christmas memories which always ended with us looking a lot like Mimi from the Drew Carrey show. Sorry LA Colors, you are awesome now...but the memories remain. LOL!!

 

This mascara by Wet N Wild is FANTASTIC!!!!!! It's got this really tiny brush that makes doing your longer lashes a breeze and it's so good for lengthening those lashes. I especially like using this mascara as a layering mascara under falsies.

 

PROS:

*Nice packaging

*Does not make eyelashes appear to plasticky

*Lives up to claims in lengthening and separating those lashes

*Awesome small brush for easy application

*DOLLAR MAKES YOU HOLLER FOR LONGER LASHES!!

 

CONS:

*Is not waterproof

*May lead to spider(y) eyelashes if you apply multiple coats of just this

*You probably want to apply with something volumizing and not just use it in it's own entity because if not, your lashes look really skinny.

 

I mean seriously you guys these products rock!! Give them a shot and tell me what you think!! I plan to get some new videos up and  running soon and don't be surprised if you see me rocking these new dollar products :) I honestly believe they have all the quality of high-end products without spending the extra $$$$$$$. Until next time, Delightful Dollar-Descending :)

 

An Open Letter to Our Readers : )

The other day, while laying back in bed preparing for sleep, I had this horrible nagging feeling of something missing. I kept going back and forth-wondering where the heck this feeling was coming from. Had I forgotten to get cheese again at the market? Did I not put the wash into the drier for the fortieth time?

 

Then I realized I hadn't written on here in like forever...and I do mean FOR- EVER.

And I felt so bad because writing and makeup are two things I love!!!!! It's so much fun to just write about whatever we're doing with makeup and hair right now and then to find out later that other people (our awesome readers) like to hear what we have to say!!

So anyways, this is just an open letter to our amazing readers (and at over 2000 hits now we know you are out there) to say: the writing continues folks!!!! I feel like I've learned so much in the last few months about new hair ideas, new makeup products that work, and new tips and tricks regarding getting the best beauty bang for your bucks!!! Please keep stopping by for your beauty fixes :)

Baking Soda Babe

I don't know about anyone else, but come summertime in Florida, I don't stop sweating....ever. Here in the land of the sun, summer= three-four months of just pure, unadulterated beat downs by mother nature. And my apologies to those of you living in Florida with leather seats. That's like playing a game of hot potato, with your thighs, that lasts however long you car trip does. OUCH!!

=

My face especially feels the pain as I never feels my skin looks quite "right" during these months. It all begins when my pores look too oily due to aforementioned sweat-fest. Then, in a sad attempt to fix the oiliness, I apply too much toner and BAM the skin is now over dry. It's a fun little game I play all....summer....long.


That's why I'm always on the hunt to find new, natural washes/treatments that help restore facial skin. I've been seeing one such idea floating around Pinterest for months now. It suggests you wash your face using baking soda and nothing else. The original "pinner" (or author for those of your foreign to the uuber-addictive online pin board craze) stated that making a paste with just baking soda and water, and then applying this to the skin to let sit, makes for a type of microderm treatment. So, I gathered up my pennies, nickels, and dimes and gave this idea a shot.

First of all, when I say that I gathered up my nickels, pennies, and dimes to purchase a box of baking soda...that is what I actually mean. A box like this one cost me .59 at Dollar Tree. I've also seen a similar brand of baking soda at Aldi for .77. It is SOOO not expensive and baking soda is AMAZING for oh-so-many reasons. But I'll get to all the arguments for why baking soda rocks in uno momento por favor. For right now, let's get back to treating your face with the stuff.

Okay, so essentially, I just mixed baking soda and water together until I got a nice, thick consistency. P.S. THIS IS WAAAYYY TOO MUCH!!!

Then I applied the baking soda mixture on my face and let sit for about fifteen minutes.

Then I washed it off

Overall, I really liked the way letting it sit on my face made me feel. It kinda tingled as it sat there and it felt like it was really working on my facial pores. When I washed it off, my skin didn't LOOK any different, but it felt much tighter and more smooth in some areas.

Also here are two other reasons why baking soda rocks:

1) With the excess mixture from the face treatment, I used the water/baking soda pre-made mix in a really hot bath. It makes a silky, incredible texture that makes you feel like your bathing in something fancy-dancey. SOO nice
2) If you mix a touch of baking soda with a little water and apply to leftover mosquito bites (yet another fun reality of Florida summers)it really brings down the swelling and more importantly the itch.
3)Mix a touch of baking soda with your regular toothpaste to make an extra-strength whitening formula
4) Out of room spray? Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a 1/4 cup of you favorite fabric softener in an empty bottle. Fill the rest with water. This makes homemade febreeze for 1/2 the cost.

Is it worth it?! For the cost of the box it's at least worth a shot!!! And I really enjoyed the way it made my skin feel (although if you have the sugar and honey at your home for the aforementioned face-scrub nothing beats that).

Until Next Time,
Baking Soda Beauty Bantering!!


Eliz

Put on your best face.

Hi all! 

So, I mentioned a couple posts back that I wanted to review Boots No. 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation. I'm a woman of my word, so here you go! 

That's what it looks like. It comes in a nice bottle with a pump (!!!). I love pump-able products. They just seem way more sanitary than dipping your fingers into the product. 

The formulation is great. It's nice and creamy, but it dries to an almost powder finish. It's light enough to wear in the humidity of summer, too, which I love. It doesn't migrate all over your face, and it has a nice, buildable coverage so you can go as lightweight or matte as you want.

It lasts for a good while. I'm a huge believer in setting your makeup with powder, so I always do this, but it does do a really good job of keeping skin nice and matte looking. 

No flash on left, with flash on right.

This is without any concealer or finishing powder, but it just gives you an idea of how it covers imperfections, etc. 

My only downside is that it is SPF 15, which is great, but it does give a slight white cast when photographed. But I love everything about this foundation, so that doesn't bother me in the least (besides, when you're natural skin tone is "Casper," what's a little more whiteness? Right?). 

Overall, this is an awesome foundation. I'm SO glad I discovered it and I can't recommend it highly enough! 

PS: I found this because I'm a cheapskate. I had gone to the gym, not gotten sweaty, and had errands to run but didn't want to go totally bare-faced. So I ran into Target real quick, grabbed the sampler of this, slapped it on, and fell in love. So basically I'm one of those cheap nasty girls who does her makeup at the sample counter, but IT PAID OFF, okay??

Flawless foundation, 

Mary

Summer Saviors

Hellooooo All!!!

I hope that you are all enjoying a terrific Tuesday afternoon!!! I recently read Mary's post on her Summer makeup/toiletry favorites and thought to myself: WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA!!!!

 

Especially for our readers in awkward, ridiculous climate types---summer makeup can be tough!! Take Florida for example. During the summer months, we Floridians are likely to wake up to absurdly high temperatures. Then, at the conclusion of our days, we aren't too surprised when an insanely loud and VERY rainy thunderstorm. This happens....oh...I dunno...EVERY...FRIGGIN...DAY. As a result, if you like to doll yourself up during these cer-azzyy months...you have to learn to adjust your makeup techniques accordingly. Which brings me to:

 

MY SUMMER MAKEUP FAVORITES

 

 

FOUNDATION

 

 

I have found the Lumi True Match foundation to be the holy grail of all summer foundations. "Why?" you may ask. I'll tell you why. Because it doesn't make the worst mistake all my other foundations make in the summertime---guaranteed. The Lumi True Match does not attempt to make your skin look perfectly matte.

 

As one Floridian to another, if I see a girl at any type of outdoor, summer event who's face is perfectly matte I'm thinking she either A) did her makeup in the car on the way or B) hasn't been outside for more than five minutes yet.

 

To me, matte foundations are not a good thing for the sweaty, steamy weather that is Florida in summer. It feels way too heavy and eventually yields to looking plain greasy. Ew.

 





On the other hand, the Lumi foundation stays somewhat glossy and gives a more dewey finish. It is so awesome in the summer because it dosnt feel too heavy and it's supposed to look a little shiny. At only $12.50 it's well worth the cost, especially considering Loreal gives out $2.50 coupons all the time :)

BRONZER

 



In summer, I personally forego the blush and go for the bronzer instead. I have naturally pink cheeks, so I just try to provide a little color under the cheekbones for a more defined appearance.

Specifically, the one I love is Goddess from Wet N' Wild. As you can see, it has hints of pink and tan and so it looks really nice for a blush/bronzer. It also provides it's wearers with a touch of a glow---which looks great with the Lumi foundation. At $2.50 for a purchase price, it doesn't get much better than this.

P.S. More ivory-toned ladies (such as myself )may want to use this sparingly, and only in the summer when you are a little more tanned. It comes off a little too dark otherwise!

EYESHADOWS

 

 

It's well-known knowledge around here at budget beauty that I can't get enough of those Wet N Wild eyeshadow pallets. For $5.00 and 8 SHADOWS it's a remarkable buy!

 

But what I really love about these shadows, for summertime, is the shimmery side that looks so much more natural in summer. Just put a little on for day and then add a darker color to the browbone for night. So easy and such beautiful colors. The one pictured above is in "Petal Pusher."

 

So there you have it, just a few of my summer faves. Don't forget to keep the ideas coming about what you want to see next, as Mary and I love our readers :)

 

Until Next Time,

 

Summer Sun-sations

 

Eliz



Duel of the lashes.

Hi everyone! 

I was in Walgreens the other day and noticed they were running a buy 1, get 1 half off special on Covergirl products, so I decided to try a couple of mascaras I've been eyeing. 

So they were the Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara and the Lash Blast Fusion Water Resistant Mascara.  

(I need to gripe for a minute about the absolute stupidity of mascara names. I mean, "Super Thick Lash," "Millionize" and "Volum' Express Turbo Boost?" I mean, wtaf, guys?? Also, mascara commercials are my favorite example of sexism in the advertisement industry, but that's a rant for another day.)

Anyway, I wanted to try the Super Thick Lash because I had read that it was an affordable dupe for Tarte's Lights, Cameras, Lashes, and I'd heard good things about the other one in the beauty blogosphere, so I thought, "let's go for it." 

The Super Thick Lash worked much better in terms of separating the lashes, and it definitely held the curl better over the course of the day. The Lashblast seemed more thickening, but it didn't do much in the way of lengthening or defining.

Ultimately, if these two had a waterproof lovechild, it might be a pretty good mascara. 

Since neither is actually waterproof (the Lashblast is "water resistant"), they both smudged a bit throughout the day. The Super Thick Lash was a bit flaky by afternoon as well. 

As far as formula, the Super Thick Lash is much more liquidy, making it messier to apply. The Lashblast is a drier formula which makes it lot easier to apply, but it works so poorly that it doesn't really matter. Also, I like the traditional bristles on the Super Thick Lash better than the giant rubberized ones on the Lashblast (see pics above).

Overall, if I had to choose one, I'd choose the Super Thick Lash and just wear it on days when I only needed good lashes short term (these are not good mascaras for the 8 hour work days!). Overall though, neither of them blew my mind. 

I will say, however, that the Super Thick Lash does seem to be a good dupe for Tarte's pricier mascara. That being said, this is one of those cases where I think you get what you pay for. Tarte's is still a better mascara...I'm just not willing to shell out $20 for a tube of mascara! 

Have you tried either of these? Do you have one you recommend or would like to see tried? Let us know in the comments!

Luscious lashes, 

Mary

Hot town, summer in the city...

Hello, lovelies! 

So, as you all know, summer is HERE and it's HOT outside! As such, I find myself adjusting my beauty products to the season so my face doesn't absolutely melt off by the end of the day. I wanted to share some of my favorite summer products with you! Read on!

Boots Beautifully Matte Foundation

I'm going to do a more in-depth review of this foundation sometime in the hopefully near future, but for now suffice to say that I love it. It's a much drier formulation than most liquid foundations, which is great when the sweat starts pouring. This has been my go-to foundation since the weather got warm, and I think it'd be great for anyone with oily skin (or people who live in a swamp, like we do!). Highly recommend, you can get it at Target!

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, Monistat Chafing Gel

In the sticky summer heat and humidity, primer becomes a MUST if you're going to wear foundation (or anything on your face, really). Both of these work really well to help keep makeup from sliding off your face as the day goes on, and assist in creating a matte finish. 

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder, E.L.F. Matifying Powder, and Hard Candy Welcome Matte Powder

 I have used all 3 of the pressed powders above, and they all work really well to a) help keep makeup in place, and b) touch up during the day. Any pressed powder will do the job, but it helps during the summer heat to switch to more powdery formulas and save your liquids for when it cools down a bit. 

Hard Candy Blotting Papers

Blotting papers (like primer by Monistat) are one of those beauty things that are actually pretty gross. But they become an essential in the summer to keep oil at bay during the day! I've used a bunch by different brands, but don't really have a preference...I think they generally all work pretty well. But Hard Candy's hot pink packaging (and price point!) sold me! 

Rio Rumberry, "Lucky You," and Victoria's Secret Pink Beach Body Sprays

I find that most actual Eau de Parfums are wayyy too heavy to wear during the summer, so I usually opt for a  clean, floral, or tropical body spray. They're light enough to keep the fragrance from becoming too heady, but just enough to give you a nice fragrance. A lot of perfumes have body spray editions now, too, so definitely check that out if you have a signature scent. 

Dove body wash and deodorant in Cucumber & Green Tea

This is SUCH a cool, light, clean, and refreshing scent for summer! The body wash lathers up really nicely and is perfect at the end of a hot day, and the deodorant works really well, too. The scent is just really nice, and helps combat that stank-nasty "sweaty body" smell that sometimes happens in summer! 

Lush Vanilla Puff Powder

I love Lush's dusting powders, but this one is my all-time favorite. I've re-ordered it quite a few times, and it's something I can't do without during the summer! The vanilla smell is so decadent...a great, calorie-free way to indulge your sweet tooth! And I love that all their powders are talc-free, but they work really well to help absorb oil and sweat throughout the day. I can't recommend it highly enough! 

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh Lotion

This is just a really nice, lightweight lotion that still manages to moisturize without being too heavy. I love it for after I shave, and, BONUS, it has aloe too! So if you end up getting too much sun, this feels really nice on scorched skin, too! 

So there you have some Summer Secrets from the Swamp! Do you guys have any beauty products or tips/tricks that you use to beat the heat? Let us know, and thanks for stopping by! 

Stay cool!
-Mary

I'M BACK!!!! And ALSO...Drugstore Products I LIKE BETTER than the high end stuffs :)

HELLO ALL!!!

Gosh it feels good to be back on our blog!!!!! I'm so sorry I've been away for awhile, but life has been nuts---as I'm sure you all understand!!

I got to thinking, in my (ahem) not so brief absence, that I have so many friggin products in my makeup bags that are either straight up dupes or BETTER VERSIONS of high enders I own. So I thought I'd do a little video post for you guys and let you see for yourselves. ENJOY!!!!

Skin Winning

Hello, lovelies!

I am a BIG believer that healthy skin = beautiful skin. The better care you take of your skin, the less product you end up needing (of course, there are exceptions: acne, rosacea, etc.)! 

My all time favorite skincare line is Clinique's 3 Step system. 

Remember how Proactiv had the 3 step system, too? Clearly, I think they're on to something. Cleansing first, followed by an astringent/toner to remove any remaining gunk, makeup, dirt, etc., is a great combo for getting squeaky clean skin. Of course, all of this should be followed by a moisturizer so you don't completely strip your skin of oils and moisture. 

The problem with the Clinique thing is that, while it's lovely and nearly-perfect, it's PRICEY. I asked Santa for it, and that's how I get it every year, because if I have to shell out $50-$60 for SKIN SOAP...ain't nobody got time for that!

Luckily, I have a backup plan made entirely of drugstore products that works JUST as well. Behold!

For skincare, I've found that Clean & Clear works better for me than Neutrogena, Cetaphil, or any of the other pricier drugstore brands. They have a TON of different cleansers, so if you have any kind of oily skin, chances are you can find a product that'll work for you. 

Witch hazel is probably my all-time favorite skin product. It's a wonderful, natural astringent and is awesome for all skin types. My father has used it as aftershave for years, I routinely apply it on sunburns (when I get them), and I'll even skip my Clinique toner in favor of witch hazel if I'm having a sensitive skin day. It's absolutely MARVELOUS, and you can find it for about $2-$4. If you don't have any, GO GET SOME. 

And lastly, I've realized that the Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel-Cream is an almost dead-ringer-dupe for the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Gel. But it's a fraction of the cost! It has a really nice, cooling feel, and a whipped gel texture, which makes it perfect for hot summer nights (don't even pretend like it's not 87 degrees in the shade, come on now). It's a very lightweight moisturizer, which makes it perfect for people with oily skin. 

All that said, this is what works for MY skin. You could have oily skin like mine, and these products might not work for you, but I just wanted to share my favorite (splurge!) and what works just as well (save!). Also, bear in mind, if you have combination or dry skin you'd want to use different products. Clinique will screen you for your skin type and customize their 3 step system for you and your skin. You should probably do the same thing with drugstore products. Dry skinned people want to AVOID Clean & Clear (or anything with Salicylic acid) and would probably do well to find a heavier moisturizer. Witch hazel will work for EVERYONE, though! 

Here are a few products I use regardless of what skin cleansing system I'm using, just to supplement:

Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub: a great exfoliating scrub that I use a couple times a week.

Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer: I'll use this in the mornings. It's a great base for my makeup, has SPF 30 (!!!) and doesn't have the greasy, heavy feel of sunscreen. Plus, it smells nice! 

Freeman Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals Facial Mask: it draws out dirt and crud that's deep in pores, is a fun blue color, and rinses away leaving skin feeling PERFECT. It's pretty affordable, too! I use it about once a week (if I remember). 

And always remember to take off your makeup before bed! Even if you're three sheets to the wind, JUST DO IT. It's so incredibly unhealthy for your skin to sleep in makeup. If you don't believe me, just Google it (and hope to God you don't have a strong gag reflex). 

So, what skin products do you use? Did you find this at all useful/relevant? Let us know if you have any questions or comments! And thanks for stopping by! 

Sensational skincare, 

Mary

Save green on Lumene!

Hey guys!

I'm currently working on a post all about skincare (!!!), but in the meantime, I wanted to share something awesome with you!

Walgreens just released their new Summer Savings coupon booklet, available in stores, and while there are LOADS of incredibly useful coupons on all kinds of products (even everyday stuff like paper goods and groceries...CHECK IT OUT!), my absolute favorite was a $4 OFF coupon for any Lumene product!

Now, if you're unfamiliar, Lumene is a Finnish cosmetics/beauty company that specializes in all-natural, and mostly organic skincare. Their stuff is really nice, and usually a bit costly, but getting $4 off is a great way to splurge and try something! 

Their BB Cream got rave reviews on Makeup Alley, and I tried it. I have to say, I loved the formulation: creamy, silky finish, medium buildable coverage...only the shades SUCKED! It only comes in Light and Medium, and apparently my vampire skin is lighter than Light. Go figure! But other than that, I loved it! So if you're looking to hop aboard the BB cream bandwagon, and have light to medium skin, I definitely recommend it. It's one of the better ones I've tried! 

Anyway, rush yourselves down to your local Walgreens and get one of their coupon books! And if you're not a member of their rewards program, I highly suggest you sign up. They actually GIVE you rewards (unlike other so-called "rewards programs") that can add up to major savings! 

Super savings!

-Mary

E.L.F. lip magic

Hello, dearest readers!

We want to apologize for the lack of regular updates lately. Real life sometimes gets in the way of doing more fun things, like makeup tutorials and product reviews! But as always, we want to thank our readers and followers for your ongoing support. You're the best!

I'm here to review a few products from ELF. ELF (Eyes Lips Face) is one of the leading budget cosmetics companies, with many of their products costing between $1-$5 (!!!) and having widely known distribution places, such as K-Mart, Sears, and Target. 

Now, I've tried and LOVED ELF's brushes and eye shadows, but I had never tried any of their lip products. So on a whim, I ordered 4 fun lip things from ELF's website and I wanted to review them for you!

1. Essential Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick - $2

So, I ordered this product because I've been eyeing the chubby sticks from Clinique for ages but can't justify the price tag. So I figured I'd give this a shot and see what I thought. I got the shade Coco Loco, and I have to be honest: it's almost so sheer that nothing shows up. I apply it with a really heavy hand, and it looks like I have almost no discernible color on my lips apart from a sheer, sparkly gloss. The texture is nice--it's not sticky or thick. I'm not sure if it's just the color I got, or if the color payoff for all of them would be so unimpressive. Overall, I'm glad it only cost $2 and would maybe try one more shade to see if it would make a difference. Otherwise, I wouldn't repurchase. 

2. Mineral Moisturizing Lip Tint - $3

I got this because I am pretty much addicted to tinted balms (see my review on the Revlon Lip Butters!). The shade I ordered was in Guava, and it's a nice peachy-pink color. Is it super moisturizing? No, not really. It goes on, lasts, and has the color payoff that you'd expect from a lower-end tinted balm. The color is pretty, but it lasts such a short time. I do like the packaging, though. It's slim enough to fit nicely into a pocket for on-the-go touch ups. That being said, again, I don't think I was madly impressed with it enough to reorder. I still use my Baby Lips more than this one. 

3 and 4. Essential Lipstick - $1 each

This was my favorite of the three products I ordered. I actually really like the texture of these lipsticks (really silky, not sticky at all), the color payoff is decent considering they're ONE DOLLAR, and they came in a plethora of shades. I ordered the shades Charming (#3) and Fantasy (#4), but as you can see, Charming came broken! I was really disappointed because naturally, in a huge twist of irony, that was my favorite of all the products I ordered. I attempted to fix it using like three different ideas on Pinterest, but none of them worked. So I've just been using it as is with the help of a lip brush. But darn! Because it's the prettiest color! It's a really springy-looking pink, and I don't actually have anything that's similar in my lipstick arsenal. Since it's only $1, I'll definitely reorder. Fantasy is just as nice, but it's too brown for me (it doesn't look so brown on the website!). But this was the one product I think I'll definitely reorder, and try in some more shades--they're only $1 after all! 

Swatches without flash.

Swatches with flash.

Anyway, I'm really glad I tried some of these, and it just goes to show that more expensive products don't necessarily work better than their cheaper colleagues! Have you ever tried ELF's lip products? What's your favorite? Let us know! 

Exciting ELF Endeavors!

-Mary

Makeup Brush Faves Part II

Hey guys!!! I so loved Mary's post from last week!! Honestly, what is an artist without their tools?! I just had to add my own favorites, as there are so many awesome, inexpensive makeup brushes out there.

I thought it might be fun to do a breakdown or a mini review of each makeup brush, where I like to use it, and demonstrate how I use it day to day. So here it is, my video of top makeup tools!! Enjoy!!

5 Brushes That Will Change Your Life (You Can Thank Me Later)

Hey dearest readers!

After attempting 3 different videos, I realized my technical difficulties have reached Biblical curse-level, so you'll just be getting text posts from me for the time being. I'm sorry! I really do exist and do things! Luckily, sweet Elizabeth is an endless fount of ideas and brilliant videos, so keep checking out our Youtube channel!

Today, I wanted to share with you 5 makeup brushes that I find necessary for my makeup kit--I use them daily! They help with application, make your makeup appear more professional, and best of all they're AFFORDABLE. I, like every makeup junkie, wish I had an arsenal of MAC brushes. But alas, on a small income, you do what you can with what you have and luckily, the makeup industry has caught on and offers good quality products for a very fair price!

1. Handled kabuki brush. 

These are great brushes, not only for applying any kind of powder foundation or setting powder, but for BLENDING in your makeup. Usually I'll apply liquid foundation with my fingers, but afterwards, I like to take one of these guys and use small, circular sweeps to blend it all in, especially around the corners of my nose, into my hairline, and down my chin (to avoid "the line." You know what I mean!). The handles make them easy to use, and I love the dense, soft bristles. Mine are Sonia Kashuk (the pink one was a special edition for breast cancer...look for it again in October!) and EcoTools. My only complaint with the Sonia Kashuk is minor bristle fallout. If that's a major pet peeve, try the EcoTools one! It's much softer, too. 

2. Blush brush.

This is a must. You must have one. You simply must. Especially if you're using drugstore blushes, because the brushes they come with look like this:

You know the ones. They're about as big as a quarter, made of cheap plastic and terrible fibers? And HOW are you supposed to get any product onto your face without looking like a bunch of little pink lines? This is why you need a good, fluffy blush brush. The bristles should be full for good application, but not too firm or they'll move around the foundation underneath. My favorite is another of Sonia Kashuk's, but again my issue is with bristle fallout (though it's not so bad on this brush). ELF has a whole slew of makeup brushes (in the $1-$5 range!), and I have ZERO complaints with any of the ELF brushes I own. Definitely worth checking out. 

3. Eye shadow brush. 

You need this for the same reason you need the blush brush:

"This is a great idea!" said no one EVER. 

 If you get no other brushes, at least get the blush and the eyeshadow brushes! A good shadow brush will make your application SO much smoother. You can really get the whole lid, or just angle it so you get the outer corners, or use it for highlighting. I use one brush for my light colors and one for my darker ones (because I'm obsessive like that), and those two do just fine for me! Mine are from an El Cheapo brand called  Studio Tools, and they work just fine. I think I have a couple from ELF, too, and I love them just as well! 

4. Blender.

Blending your eye makeup makes such a difference, omg. I wish I could make people understand this. I think there's a common misconception that you're somehow going to rub off all your makeup if you blend, and that's just not true. It's not going anywhere. Besides, it's always easier to layer on some more product than it is to take it off! So for the love of Pete, just get a blender brush. Use it when you do more than one color on your eyelid, and be amazed. It'll make your eye makeup look so much smoother and more professional. Just do it. A decent blender brush is anything with a more conical shape and fuller bristles. Mine is from Sonia Kashuk, and I love it.

5. Smudger.

I lost my smudger once and almost cried. It was like the world had just stopped spinning because I had no idea how I was supposed to do my eyeliner anymore (I got it back though! It had fallen behind my dresser!). A smudger is basically a brush handle with a little cone-shaped sponge at the end, and you can use it to blend out your eyeliner. I LOVE this because I, unlike media-portrayed "perfect" models and celebs, can't always get my eyeliner straight on the first try. Or when I do a smokey eye, I like to have smokier eyeliner. Or when I line my bottom lashline, I don't like a Robert Smith look (no offense, man. I love you, Robert Smith, but your makeup skills leave a lot to be desired.).  I especially love this to blend out my bottom lashline, giving it a smokier look. Anyway, I can't live without mine. This one is originally from Studio Tools but I can't find it online! ELF has one for $1 though! 

So there you have it. I realize the Sonia Kashuk brushes can be a little pricier, but honestly, I probably wouldn't repurchase any of them now that I've discovered ELF's brushes! They're a fraction of the cost and as I said, I don't have any of the dreaded bristle fallout. You don't have to pay a fortune to improve the quality of your makeup application. Even if you slowly start replacing your tools, one week at a time, you'll end up with things that will make your makeup process so much easier and your looks that much more professional looking! 

Until next time, bodacious brushing!

-Mary

Wet 'N' Wild Wonder

Hello all! I hope that you guys are having a somewhat okay Monday (it is Monday after all ; ) At the start of this lovely April week, I wanted to take a minute and think back on all the awesome products I've used in my tutorials/blog posts.

Specifically, in thinking back on many of my awesome purchases, I have really been BOWLED OVER by the amazingness that IS Wet 'N' Wild products. In the past, I was seriously missing out. This brand was just something I just didn't pay much attention to as I continually proceeded to pay $10 plus for products that weren't half as good.

Thankfully, though with age comes wisdom. I recently made the switch to Wet N Wild products and I don't think there is any going back. I mean they are just so awesome. The price point is great, the quality is awesome, and even the packaging looks nice!

I really had to think hard about what my favorite products were to make the video below. It was a hard choice and now I own so much stuff from them : ) But, nevertheless, hard choices had to be made because it's our duty, as always, to make sure our readers keep on saving and loving their discount purchases.

With no further ado, I share with you my Wet N Wild faves (to date.)

Splurge vs. Save: Lipstick for Gloss Lovers

Let me tell you a story about how I was stupid a while back and thought that high price = high quality, and was then proven most egregiously wrong. So, those of you who know me know that my go-to lip products are Burt's Bees and lip gloss. I love lipstick, but I just prefer the balmy feeling of a gloss or chapstick. So sue me.

Well, since my favorite NYC lipgloss has been discontinued (and the online price bumped to $14! It used to be TWO BUCKS in drugstores!), I've been in a a bit of a panic over finding something to replace it. There are loads of lipsticks out there, I just hate the texture that most of them have. They leave my lips feeling dry--or worse, CAKEY--and the color payoff is oftentimes mediocre at best.

So, being an idiot, I decided I was feeling fancy one day (you have to say "fancy" with a British accent..."fauncy") and went to Sephora to see what I could find.

I was immediately drawn to the Benefit Silky Finish Lipsticks. They came in beautiful black and white tubes, had the most divinely creamy texture, and had a variety of colors to choose from. So I bought one in "Rocket Pop."

It was a beautiful color and felt absolutely HEAVENY on my lips.



For like, fifteen minutes.

After that? Gone. Gone like The Rock's street cred after doing that Tooth Fairy movie. Just like, NOTHING.

Sorry, Benefit, but if I'm paying almost TWENTY DOLLARS for something, I want to it to last longer than that! God forbid you try to eat or drink anything in it! I might as well have been wearing my tinted Burt's (it totally would've lasted longer). I don't care how pretty the packaging is. If it sucks that badly, it's going back.

So I owned that for less than 24 hours. So much for being fancy.

Then I went into CVS, and saw the Revlon Lip Butters. The internet has been abuzz with these things already, so I decided to try one.

Oh. My. WORD.

They are so worth the hype. This may well be the world's perfectest lip product. It feels like a chapstick going on, has the finish of a gloss, and the color payoff of a lipstick. This is like the Holy Grail of lip products.

Being a makeup junkie and a CVS Rewards Card member with some cool coupons and stuff, I got five. Which came out to just over $20. So for two dollars more than the Benefit Craptacular Lipfail, I got FIVE WHOLE LIPSTICK THINGS.

(I apologize for the utter lack of HD photography. I do what I can with what I have, okay?)


Those are the ones I own, and the whole line has dessert names. How cute! From left to right: Strawberry Shortcake (1), Peach Parfait (2), Berry Smoothie (3), Lollipop (4), and Candy Apple (5).

I wanted to swatch them out so you can see them:



Strawberry Shortcake is a really sweet, light pink color. When I first tried it, it immediately reminded me of Mac's Viva Glam Gaga, which I love. But this one just seemed a little more wearable for me. I love pale pinks (St. Germain by Mac is SO pretty, I just can't wear it!), but I have a hard time finding a good shade. This one is light without looking pasty!


Peach Parfait is a perfect neutral. It's a peachy pink with gold shimmer, but I didn't even notice the shimmer until I photographed it. It's definitely not like you have massive chunks of glitter on your lips. This one is perfect for everyday, and I think it would be especially pretty in the summer!

Berry Smoothie is my favorite (I'm on my third tube!), because that shade is one of my go-to colors for everyday wear. I like berry colors, because if I go too light on lip color with my pale complexion, I look dead. So I definitely like a little bit richer colors. This one is exactly how it sounds--a pinkish berry color. I wore it today at work all day, and the staying power is pretty remarkable for a balm-gloss type thing.

Lollipop is an awesome fuschia, hot pink color. It's bright, but what's great about these is how buildable they are--apply lightly for a sheer wash of color, or apply with a heavier hand for brighter, more "lipsticky" color. This one is just FUN. I love brights, and I can definitely see it getting a lot of wear this spring and summer.

And finally, Candy Apple is a fire engine red with orange undertones. I was torn between getting that one and one called Cherry Tart, but as aforementioned, I love berry tones and have a lot of deeper reds. I don't have anything with ANY orange in it, though, so I decided "what the heck" and went for it. Turns out that coral-tinted reds are flattering on me! Woohoo! This is an awesome punch of color for gutsy girls or days when you need that extra "pop." I think pairing it with a neutral or gray eye would be fun.



Anyway, they run about $7 a piece, and they are worth every single penny. If you come across them, grab one and just try it. You won't be disappointed!

You also won't be out $20 like you'd be if you'd gone to Sephora. ;)


Lots of lovely lips,  Mary