Favorites: June 2012

Hello, my Pretties!

Can y'all remember when the last time I did a monthly favorites post was?  Uh...

Never mind, I have one this month!  I didn't choose that many products for this month but the products I did pick, I have been using a lot. A LOT!

My favorites for June 2012.

Milani Minerals Compact Makeup In 104 True Beige.

My sweet-tart bought this for me when CVS was having their huge clearance on a lot of Milani items.  I think items that were being discontinued.  It was so funny because I didn't go with him but he came back with the perfect shade for my face.  I think he spends a lot of his time looking at my face...

You see, I use this a lot!

I really like the look that this mineral makeup provides me.  My skin looks very smooth and while it doesn't keep the shine away all day, I don't think I need to reapply but maybe once.

Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara in Black.

I have this mini version of Smashbox Lash DNA and I love it.  It's almost gone.  The formula is good for me.  It's very black and wet.  It gives my lashes so much length and a bit of volume.  My only gripe about this is that it is not waterproof.  I laugh a lot which makes my eyes tear up if it's a real good laugh and then my mascara runs!  LOL.  I've cried in it too and it runs.  I look like a woman from a Spanish telenovela crying for her dead husband or something.  Not a good look!

Avon SuperShock Liquid Lip Shine in Popsicle

I cannot stop using this lip gloss!  See, you can actually see that I've been using this a lot this month since I just got it this month.  I don't usually use up any kind of makeup so this is a big deal for me!

I use this a lot too!

This lip shine is called Popsicle and I think it is the perfect name.  It looks like I ate a popsicle when I apply it to my lips.  I don't know about y'all but as a child, I used to only eat the red popsicles because I would run them over my lips to give them a "lipstick look".  Haha.  Who am I kidding, I still do that!  And I've seen my daughters do it too!

Swatch.

BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette
2nd Edition

I got this palette for my birthday from my sweet-tart back in December.  I actually received editions 1-4 and I love them all but I have been using this one almost every single day!  There are so many colors to chose from!  The looks are endless.

Oh my wow!

But I admit that I got it mainly for the chance to do a rainbow eye!  I had been dying to do a rainbow eye but I didn't have the right colors.  Since getting this palette, I've done rainbow eyes often!  I mean, look at the swatches!  These are the shades I use for my rainbow.

Swatches.

Avon Precision Grip Teardrop Blender

I was so super duper excited when I saw that Avon came out with their own version of the Beauty Blender.  I have always wanted a Beauty Blender!  But I wasn't able, or willing, to spend $20 for it.  The Avon version is only $4.99 so I took a chance and tried it out.  Since I've never owned or used an original Beauty Blender, I can't compare the two.  All I know is that I love this one!  I use this everyday.  It makes my mousse or liquid makeup apply smoothly and evenly.  Looks so much better than using fingers or a brush!

Ardell Brow Precision Shaper.

I got a 3 pack of these from CVS on clearance for $1.49.  I had never used one of these but I couldn't pass up on the price.  I'm happy I got them.  They are tiny razors that are used to clean up around the brows.  The first time I used it, I was amazed at the difference in my brows!  I don't use this everyday, of course, but I used it when I'm going to take pics of my eyes for my blog and don't have time to tweeze.  I just clean up with these.  What a time saver!

And these are all my favorites!  I am so happy that I have these babies in my arsenal.  They have been good to me...oh, so good.

Luv & Luk,

--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were bought by me with my own money for the exception of the ones stated as being gifted to me.  These are my own honest opinions. ♥♥

EOTD: I Got Good Jeans

Hello, my Pretties!

Oh my goodness! I have had this Wet n Wild trio for months and I just opened it this week.  Such a shame.  I've been missing out.  It's a very pretty palette.

Wet n Wild Coloricon
#333 I Got Good Jeans

Instructions on how to wear the shadows.

Shadows are also embossed.
Included are a mini brush and a mini sponge
tipped applicator.

Fingertip swatches.
One swipe of each shade.

One swipe of each shadow over bare skin.

ON MY FACE:

♥Avon Dramatic Firming Cream
♥Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Makeup in Medium Beige
♥Milani Minerals Compact Makeup in True Beige
♥Milani Powder Blush in Temptation

I changed the placement of the shadows.  I did not do as the diagram suggests.  I couldn't really picture that silvery blue on my browbone...

I instead used the silvery blue on my lid, the navy blue on my outer "V", and the gorgeous gold in my crease and along my lower lash line.

ON MY EYES:
♥E.L.F. All Over Cover Stick in Honey
♥E.L.F. Eyelid Primer
♥Wet n Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Trio in I Got Good Jeans
♥Wet n Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Single in Brulee
♥Avon ColorTrend Eyeliner in Midnight Blue
♥Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara in Black

ON MY LIPS:
♥Avon Supershock Liquid Lip Shine in Melon Madness

Do you lovelies own this trio?  I have a bunch of these trios sitting in a drawer unopened.  I really need to bust them out and show them some love!  Right?!

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All the items that were mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money. ♥♥

LFI: Red Velvet

Hello, my Pretties!

Feel like a Look For Inspiration post?  Well, I got one for you!

Probably my favorite color is red.  It's sexy, it's powerful, it's hott!  But red makeup tends to be tough to pull off.  While red lips maybe classic, try wearing red eyeshadow.  Seriously, try it.  I did!

My red LFI was inspired by my Ecko Red t-shirt I was wearing at the moment.  I admit, I am one of those girls who often times matches my makeup to what I am wearing.  It maybe wrong but, I really don't care!

This LFI was created using only eyeshadows from my BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette 2nd Edition.  You can purchase that palette by visiting bhcosmetics.com.

Heavy eyeshadow acting as a liner on the lower lash line.

I chose not to do an eyeliner on my upper lash line to
balance out my lower lash line.

Glossy lips with a hint of red tint seemed appropriate.

Remember, this is a Look For Inspiration.  Feel free to tweak it and make it your own.  The point is to inspire you to do something different, something you never thought to do.  I don't usually wear red makeup at all but, why not?

Are you going to try this?

Luv & Luk,
--L.

Just Another Mani Monday: Rimmel London Camouflage

Hello, my Pretties!

I am still trying to get into my old blogging routine so tonight I have a Just Another Mani Monday post for you all.  Let's see if I can get this post up before Monday is over and done with.  There is less than one hour left in the day.

A couple of months ago, I went to Kmart and found a tiny little clearance section on nail polishes.  There wasn't much to choose from but you know me, I got one of each shade they had on sale.  I believe it was five nail polishes.  Today I bring you Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish in 830 Camouflage.  I will show you the other nail polishes I bought that day in future Just Another Mani Monday posts.

That's right! I got this nail polish for only $0.38!

I should have taken a photo of the actual brush.
This brush is so wide and big you can cover your nail in one sweep.

I wasn't sure I was going to like the brush at all because it is so big and so wide and my nail beds are actually pretty small.  But once I actually began to apply the nail polish, the wide brush came in handy.  The application was easy and much faster.  It made for a smooth application.  I had more trouble with my pinkie nail because it's small but it's not like I got nail polish all over my skin.  I think I am liking this wider brush.

Here is a swatch comparing to the color in the bottle.

After two coats.

Camouflage is such a pretty green.  I admit I got the nail polish in the first place because it was so cheap.  I am not a huge fan of green nail polish but this is actually a very neat green.  It is full of golden shimmers.  It sparkles in the sun and looks stunning.

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish in
830 Camouflage.
0.4 fl oz/12 ml

The actual formula is great.  It's very opaque after the first application.  I did two coats anyway, as a force of habit.  The nail polish did dry within 60 seconds which I absolutely loved!  The only thing I didn't like too much is that the finish of this nail polish isn't as glossy as I prefer.  I simple swipe of a top coat would fix that, I'm sure.

Over all, not a bad nail polish at all.  Very pretty color.  Very fast drying time.  Very good deal!

Luv & Luk,

--L.

♥♥ Items mentioned in this blog post were bought by me with my own money.  These are my own thoughts and honest opinions. ♥♥

Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills See and Be Seen

Hello, my Pretties!

Here is the second half of my Review for Anastasia Beverly Hills.  You can catch the first half of this review here: Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius.

Now let me introduce you to this wonderful little package.

Anastasia Beverly Hills
See and Be Seen

This See and Be Seen makeup kit will be available this summer for a limited time only.  This product will be available for about three more weeks only.  This kit can be purchased exclusively at Sephora and Anastasia.net.

Inside cover.

The See and Be Seen makeup kit retails for $44 but is and $80 value!

Package contents.

Each See and Be Seen kit includes:

• Two new HydraFull Gloss colors in Heiress and Plastic.  These limited edition colors were created specifically for the theme of “Make It Happen” and are not available anywhere except in the See and Be Seen Kit.  Anastasia’s Hydrafull Gloss contains lip tint to maintain longer lasting color while maximizing lip hydration and fullness.
• The new caramel tinted Brow Gel.  Anastasia’s brow gel sets your perfect brow look with a hint of tint and is fortified with botanical hair conditioners and essential oils to keep brows feeling as great as they look.
• The soft pink and golden hues of the ILLUMIN8 Shadow duo in On Set.  ILLUMIN8 Eye Shadow Duos are designed to illuminate, firm, and smooth the appearance of skin while also soothing, softening and hydrating.

♥♥ Taken from product information email from Summer at The Confluence. ♥♥

Hydrafull Gloss in Plastic.
2.2 mL/0.07 FL. Oz.

Plastic fingertip swatch.

Applicator is a flat plastic spatula as opposed to a brush
or a sponge tipped applicator.

Hydrafull Gloss in Heiress.
2.2 mL/0.07 FL. Oz.

Heiress fingertip swatch.

Lip swatch.
Heiress on top lip. Plastic on bottom lip.

These glosses are fantastic!  They do not feel sticky at all.  They glide on easily although it did take some getting used to using a plastic spatula to apply the gloss but it worked well.  The Hydrafull Gloss formula is moisturizing.  I did notice a pink tint left on my lips even after the glossiness had worn off.  There is little difference in my eyes when actually worn on the lips.  I have been using Plastic almost on a daily basis.  At first sight, I thought these glosses were to vivid and bold for me but they apply more sheer which makes them much more wearable.  Given that it's summer, these provide a perfect kick of color for day or night.  As for smell and taste, there is a very subtle sweet scent that didn't bother me.  Taste wise, I don't think it has flavor.

Illumin8 Eyeshadow Duo in On Set.
NET WT. 1.1g/0.04 Oz. Each.

In the photo above, I swiped each fingertip over each eyeshadow shade just once and look at how much color I picked up.  Nice.  But, for me, the true test is how much of the eyeshadow on my fingertip will transfer to my skin in the actual swatch.

In the photo above, is the actual swatch.  This is just one swipe of each fingertip over the back of my hand.  No primer, no base, no foundation.  Just bare skin.  Amazing!  The pigmentation is phenomenal.  The texture is silky and soft with no fall out.  The blending is effortless.  The two shades included in this duo are exquisite.

Here I am wearing Illumin8 Eyeshadow Duo
and Hyrafull Gloss in Plastic.

This Illumin8 Eyeshadow Duo is quickly becoming one of my favorite eyeshadows that I own.  They not only look good, but they last.  In my case, I applied a thin layer of E.L.F.'s Eyelid Primer from their $1 line underneath the eyeshadows and that was enough to last me all day!  Wonderful!

Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel.
9.0 g/0.32 Oz.

Fingertip swatch.

Applied over my naturally black brows.

Obviously, this Tinted Brow Gel is not my color.  I am sad that I will not be able to take advantage of this product but I will keep in and use it on friends or family...if I can find someone with light brows.  Most of my friends and family are Latinas like me and we all have dark brows!

I know that Anastasia Beverly Hills is most known for their eyebrow products so I am sure this is a terrific product.  I didn't leave it on long enough to test it.  I felt silly walking around the house with "blonder" brows and my daughters looking at me strangely.  The only thing I can honestly say about this product is that it has a scent to it.  Smells a lot like paint!

And then there was this little box. 

I opened it up and look what was inside!

A promotional 3D Viewmaster.

Included with 2 photo reels each showcasing Lash Genius
and See and Be Seen.

Here are just some of the images presented on the reels:

I haven't viewed anything through one of these in such a long time.  Seriously, maybe since I was actually a child!  This was such a sweet and adorable idea.  I loved this little surprise very much.

Again, let me take the time to thank Summer at The Confluence and Anastasia Beverly Hills for sharing this wonderful opportunity with me.  I have had a wonderful time testing these products out which I have enjoyed very much.

I hope that you all enjoyed my review for Anastasia Beverly Hills.  Don't forget to visit their website at Anastasia.net and check out all the wonderful and beautiful products they have to offer.

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All Anastasia Beverly Hills products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  All statements made in the blog post are my own and honest opinions. ♥♥