Sunday, October 10, 2010

First post in over a month! Back with the "This-or-That Tag"!

I'd like to start out by apologizing for being nonexistent for over a month - college started back up, and student teaching is a lot more time-consuming and so much more work than I imagined. I will try my absolute best to post more, but I can't make any promises about it this semester! I will definitely be posting as much as I normally did by late December since my student teaching will end and I will be on winter break. After that, I will be posting frequently since I have an easy final semester as a Senior! :) 

I figured that I'd come back with a tag! I just saw this on Allthatglitters21's Youtube (check Elle's This-or-That tag video here) , and knew I had to do it since I've never done one before. Here we go! 


This-or-That Tag Questions:
Makeup:
Blush or Bronzer - Without a doubt, I'd have to say bronzer. I can't stand being pale, so this is a necessity for me all year round.
Lip gloss or Lipstick - Lip gloss. I hardly own any lipsticks, since I find many of the formulas to be drying, so I like to keep my lips shiny and moisturized with lip gloss!
Eyeliner or Mascara - This is a tough one... I use both every day, but I do feel that mascara really opens up my eyes. I guess I can kinda cheat here too - I could technically use eye shadow as eyeliner, so I really wouldn't be giving up eyeliner, would I? ;)
Foundation or Concealer - I rarely use foundation so this is a no-brainer - concealer
Neutral or Color Eye Shadow - Neutral eye shadow since I've been wearing it every single day this semester for student teaching. 
Pressed or Loose Eye Shadows - Definitely pressed since I use them every day! I do own loose shadows, but I don't use them that often.
Brushes or Sponges -
I never use sponges and I use brushes every day, so my answer is brushes

Nails:
OPI or China Glaze - OPI. I also use Essie a lot. 
Long or Short - Both. It really depends on my mood and how lazy I get with my nails.
Acrylic or Natural  - Natural. I feel that it's much easier to maintain. I have recently gotten Shellac, which I will do a post on soon.
Brights or Darks - Both. It really depends on the time of year - in the Fall and Winter I do darks, and in the Spring and Summer I do lights.
Flower or No Flower - No flower. Though I still do think it's cute, I haven't gotten a flower since I was younger. I feel like my mani/pedi doesn't last as long if I get a flower. 

Body:
Perfume or Body Splash - Perfume.
Lotion or Body Butter - Lotion - I'm obsessed with Curel.
Body Wash or Soap - Both - I use both in the shower.
Lush or Other Bath Company - Other Bath Company - I have never been to Lush, and I love Bath and Body Works! 

Fashion:
Jeans or Sweat Pants - Jeans. I love them and I'd wear them every day if I could.
Long Sleeve or Short - Short sleeve. I like the Summer, so I love wearing short sleeve. I even wear it during the winter under sweaters.
Dresses or Skirts - Dresses. I really don't own many skirts and I'm obsessed with dresses. 
Stripes or Plaid - Stripes. I particularly like nautical stripes. 
Flip Flops or Sandals - Flip Flops.  I own so many bedazzled flip flips, it's not even funny. 
Scarves or Hats - Scarves. I love to use them to accessorize a plain t-shirt. I also look horrible in hats.
Studs or Dangly Earrings - Studs. I HATE the way I look in dangly earrings.
Necklaces or Bracelets - Necklaces. I love layering necklaces. 
Heels or Flats - Both. I like heels for night and flats for the day.
Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots - Cowboy boots. LOVE them!
Jacket or Hoodie - Hoodie. I have frizzy hair, so I like wearing hoodies just in case it rains.
Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe - Forever 21. Their clothes are adorable.
Abercombie or Hollister - Neither - I haven't shopped at either since I was 16.
Saks 5th or Nordstrom - Nordstrom 

Hair:
Curly or Straight - Both. I've been wearing my hair curly a lot lately. 
Bun or Ponytail - Neither, but if I absolutely had to pick I'd say ponytail. I hate wearing my hair up.
Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips - Hair clips. I don't really call them butterfly clips, but I wear my hair half-up, half-down a lot.
Hair Spray or Gel - Neither.
Long or Short - Long.
Light or Dark - Dark.
Side Sweep Bangs or Full Bangs - Side-sweep bangs.
Up or Down - Down.

Random:
Rain or Shine - Shine. The rain does bad things to my hair, and I hate the humidity. 
Summer or Winter - Summer.  I love the warm weather.
Fall or Spring - Fall. It's so pretty when the leaves change color. I also like the clothing choices better. 
Chocolate or Vanilla - Vanilla.
East Coast or West Coast - East Coast because that's where I'm from! 


So, now that I'm done with my tag, I choose to tag...
EVERYONE! 

Leave me some responses once you've done the tag below! Talk to you soon! :)


Monday, September 6, 2010

Review: Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara


When I picked up my Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara (read my review on it here), I also purchased Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara.




I was very intrigued by both the commercial and the promises that this product made, so I decided to give it a shot. When I arrived home from buying this product, I was dismayed to find that some negative reviews had been written about this mascara, but I decided to test it out anyway.


This picture shows my natural lashes curled with no mascara applied. 


As you can see, the wand ensures that each lash will be coated evenly and really separates the lashes. It also has a lot of the product on it, but doesn't clump.


When I first applied the product, I noticed that my lashes did look longer, but not dramatically. As you can see in the above picture, the first coat of mascara added a lot of definition to my eyelashes and made them stand out. 


The mascara also held curl well almost all day, and didn’t clump when I added a second coat, which you can see in the last picture. I have been using this for a little over a month straight, and I really like it a lot. (I’ve only used the Covergirl LashBlast Fusion when I’ve tested it and gone for a night out)

I’m really happy that I didn’t let the negative reviews on this product change my decision to use it. I honestly really liked this mascara, and it has successfully come in as a close second to my favorite mascara – Urban Decay’s Multi-Benefit Skyscraper Mascara (read my review here). Though I don’t notice a difference in my lash growth yet (I’ll keep you updated in a few months when I have used it for a longer period of time), I am a fan of this product’s overall performance in that it doesn’t clump and does add some length to my natural lash.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara = A

Have you tried Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara? How did you like it? Let me know in the comment section! 

Friday, August 20, 2010

Review: Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara


Since there is nowhere to get refills on my lash extensions up at college, I decided to forgo my lash maintenance appointment and let my extensions fall out on their own. I am a bit depressed because I LOVE my Xtreme Lash Extensions so much. I will be getting them again next year after college graduation, since I will be living back at home for a while and will be able to get my lashes filled indefinitely. Anyway, after my extensions were gone, I noticed that I was in dire need of mascara and decided to take a trip to Target. While there, I picked up Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara  since I love the original LashBlast Volume Blasting formula, and I really liked the color of the packaging – purple is my favorite! I also purchased this mascara because I thought that if this was the “fusion” of both the original LashBlast Volume Blasting and the LashBlast Length mascara, it would be unbelievably amazing.

I liked the packaging of the product - I noticed that it was very sleek and easy to hold. As I said before, I also liked the color. 

When I examined the brush, I noticed that it looked just like the original LashBlast wand. There were a ton of tiny bristles that would prevent clumping from occurring, and ensured that each lash would be separated. 


When the brush was covered in mascara, I was still able to see the tiny bristles. 


When I initially applied the mascara to my eyes, I noticed that though there was no clumping, my lashes weren't longer or fuller. 


When the formula had been on my eyes for around 7 hours, I noticed that the curl was barely there, and the mascara had worn off a lot. 

Ultimately, I was not too thrilled with this product. Though I did like the packaging and the fact that it didn't clump, I didn’t like the fact that it didn’t hold curl too well and it wore off. I honestly didn’t think it added a dramatic amount of length and volume either. I don't think I am going to be using this product at all after my trial with it, and will definitely not repurchase it in the future. 

Covergirl LashBlast FusionC+

Have you tried this product? What did you think of it? Do you have any other mascara recommendations? Let me know in the comment section! :)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Makeup Deal Monday - Week of August 16, 2010


Here's the first Makeup Deal Monday. It's basically the same as Surfing Sunday, but I just changed the name and the day. Check back every Monday to check out all of the beauty deals that are happening during the week! Enjoy! :)
- Check out the full list of weekly specials here.
- Check out the Sale page here for some awesome deals!
- With any purchase, get a Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer sample when you enter the code KDEYE at checkout.
For Beauty Insiders only: (this is on the weekly specials page, but I wanted to point out that it is just for Beauty Insiders) Get a free Boscia Luminizing Black Mask sample when you enter the code BOSCIAMASK at checkout.
- A free 17-piece Ulta gift is offered if you spend $17.50 or more on any Ulta brand products. This huge gift comes in 2 different shades.
- Check out the huge amount of gifts with purchase here.
- All of the great special offers are listed here.
- Tarte products are available at Ulta with free shipping. Use the coupon code 53120 to get this offer.
- Get free shipping and a travel-sized mini of Extreme Party Mascara when you enter the offer code FALL8 at checkout. This code can only be used once and is only valid through August 20, 2010 at midnight ET.
- Choose 2 complimentary samples at checkout. See them here.
- Get free shipping for purchases of $50 or more automatically – no code is needed.
- Free shipping for purchases of $50 or more.
Nordstrom.com – Beauty
- It’s only $5 shipping when you spend $50 or more when you enter the code BEAUTY
- Check out the fabulous gifts with purchase here.
- There are some awesome gifts with purchase over at Saks too! Click here to see them!
Hope you enjoyed the first Makeup Deal Monday! Please comment below if you know of any beauty deals that are not in this post! xoxo

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Surfing Sunday is now Makeup Deal Monday

Starting tomorrow, "Surfing Sunday" will be changed to "Makeup Deal Monday". Check back tomorrow for some fantastic makeup deals for the week of Monday, August 16!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Most Wanted Makeup Wednesday


Introducing... Mix and Match Makeup's "Most Wanted Makeup Wednesday"! There is way too much makeup stuff that I have found I want (it's unhealthy, really), and I want to share my list of 5 items that I want each week with you! :)

I love that this product is made out of a beautiful synthetic material and is only $29! It has a ton of room for brushes and other cosmetic tools as well! The brush belt also comes in pink and black. I want to purchase the belt in black because it'll match the Complete Kit with Brush Roll that I already own (check back soon for a review of the Complete Kit with Brush Roll!).

The colors of this MSF are so pretty! I love that there are both gold and amber flecks in the rose color - I feel that it would be such a pretty blush and highlight color. One of the girls who works at the MAC store told me that this is pretty comparable to Stereo Rose which I unfortunately didn't get, so I feel that this product is the next best thing.

I just saw this commercial, and I knew I had to have this product! I reapply my lip gloss constantly, so I really like the fact that this product doesn't smudge and stays on for a long time. Though I don't really wear red lipstick/gloss, I feel like Beyonce's Red is gorgeous! I also really like Andy's Rose too, because it's more of a pink color. I feel that the best part about this product is the cost - it's $11.49 for a product that lasts a long time! Though all of the colors are sold out on the L'Oreal Paris site, you can find the collection in stock here on Ulta.com!

I have so many purple shadows, but it's never enough (purple is my favorite color). I love how this kit is so compact and contains such highly pigmented colors. I'm loving the way the girl in the picture's eye makeup looks, though I don't really know if I could pull that look off.

Though I don't think the name of this pencil is very appealing (I hate the way Cottage Cheese tastes haha), I love the color of this pencil. The last time I went to Ulta to pick one up, it was out of stock, so I've been wanting this product for a while.

Hope you enjoyed the first "Most Wanted Makeup Wednesday"! Leave me some comments below letting me know what cosmetics product(s) you're wanting this week!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

How to Care for your Lash Extensions

I love my lash extensions, so it's very important for me to care for them so that they last as long as they can. Here's how I care for my Xtreme Lash Extensions (refer to my last post “All About Eyelash Extensions” about whether or not lash extensions are right for you!)

When I initially get my lashes put on, or get my lashes filled, I don't get them wet for 48 hours (I mentioned this in my last post). This means I don't even get steam near them when I shower. Be sure to not use mascara on them for this period of time as well.

Each morning, I brush my lashes with a disposable mascara wand in order to straighten them out. I received mine from the woman who does my lash extensions, but you can buy a 12-pack of them at SallyBeauty.com here. When brushing, be sure to not brush hard or start too close to the lash line. Remember to start brushing your lashes from the middle of the lashes to the tips. Doing so will ensure that your lashes don’t come out while brushing.

Once a week, I apply the Xtreme Protective Coating to my lashes. This product strengthens the bond between the lash and the extension, which ultimately makes the lash extensions last longer. It also creates a barrier against oil and adds shine.

When doing my makeup, I use LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer (read my review here) before applying eyeshadow. This primer is oil-free, which is very important. Remember to use oil-free products around or on your lashes so that your extensions don’t slip off of your natural lash!

If I feel that I want to wear some mascara (which isn’t entirely necessary since the lashes look awesome by themselves), I use the mascara provided by Xtreme Lashes. I use the Xtreme Length Mascara, which is oil-free. Besides being safe for the lashes, it’s an extremely great product! It doesn’t clump or flake, and it comes off very easily with eye makeup remover.

When I take my eye makeup off, I use Almay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads. Again, it’s extremely important to remember to use oil-free products with your lashes! I feel that these pads are extremely convenient and can be easily disposed of. Remember not to put too much pressure on the lashes when using the pads, since you can tug at them and cause some of your lashes to come off!

Other times, I use Xtreme Eye Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser to take off my eye makeup. This was formulated by the company that created the extensions, so you know it’s perfectly safe to use around your lashes. It also smells really good – kind of like coconut, and has aloe in it for moisturizing purposes.

Finally, when I go to bed, I remember not to toss and turn (I mentioned this in my last post). It’s important to not sleep on one side or your stomach since you’ll apply pressure to your lashes, so sleeping on your back is ideal.

You can order any of the Xtreme Lashes products I mentioned above on either the Xtreme Lashes website here, or you can purchase them where you get your lashes done.

I hope this post helps you get the most out of your lash extensions! Feel free to ask any questions or post any comments below! Also, if you have Xtreme Lashes and care for them in a different way, be sure to tell me in the comment section! J

Surfing Sunday - August 8, 2010

Sorry for the lack of posts… I have been on vacation in Florida for a week and am actually leaving to go to the airport in an hour to get back home. I promise that I am going to post so much this week - in fact, I have a post that I’ve already written which is coming your way tomorrow!

Here are the great deals I’ve found for this week’s Surfing Sunday! I’m going to warn you now that this is quite a long post, although that is a good thing – it just means that I found a ton of deals!

Sephora.com

  • *Reminder for VIBs* Swag Bags are being given out to VIBs until today, so hurry and get yours! Check your email – you have to either print it out or show your code with a mobile device to get your bag if you choose to pick it up in store; or just enter the code given to you when checking out online. Also, VIBs earn DOUBLE POINTS with any Sephora purchase until today!
  • Check out the full list of weekly specials here.
  • Check out the Sale page here for some awesome deals!
These are only some of my favorite sale products from Sephora this week, since if I wrote about every product on the sale page that I want, I’d be sitting here all day!

  1. The Waterproof Bronzing Kit – It contains 6 water-resistant products. It was originally $28, and is now $15. Even though the summer’s almost over (I’m so sad), I’ve been wanting to try out this kit since it has come out. With a price tag of $15, I can’t resist!
  2. The Stila Collectible Travel Palettes “Road to Radiance – Across the USA” and “Pretty in Paris” - These palettes were once priced at $65, but have been marked down to $10! I love the colors in these palettes!
  3. Stila Paint Your Pout Red Palette – The Talking Palette – I own nothing like this because I never wear red on my lips, but this palette makes me want to! It was originally $45, but is now only $15!

  • For Beauty Insiders only: (this is on the weekly specials page, but I wanted to point out that it is just for Beauty Insiders) get a deluxe sample of Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara. This is a brand new mascara, so it’s your chance to grab it before anyone else! Enter the code “SPECTRUM” at checkout.

Ulta.com

  • Tarte is now offered at Ulta! To celebrate, Ulta has a new promotion – Free Shipping with any Tarte purchase when you enter the coupon code 53120 at checkout.
  • Ulta is now offering 3 samples at checkout

bobbibrowncosmetics.com

  • Get free shipping with purchases of $65 or more!
  • Choose 2 complimentary samples at checkout. See them here.
  • Get two travel-sized minis: Extra Balm Rinse and Protective Face Lotion SPF 15 with any order when you enter the code TALENT at checkout. This offer is only valid until Friday, August 13, 2010.

Tartecosmetics.com -

  • There is a Friends and Family promotion 40% off sitewide! If that’s not good enough, you get to choose a free gift! Click here to see the items which are 40% off.

Stilacosmetics.com -

  • Click here for Stila's online warehouse sale! There are tons of great deals on this site!
  • There is also free shipping for purchases of $50 or more

LauraMercier.com -

  • Free shipping for purchases of $25 or over ending today at 11:59 CST, so act fast!
  • Free shipping and some great deluxe samples (check the offer out here) with any purchase of $45 when you enter the promo code AUGDELUXE2 at checkout. This offer ends today at 11:59 EST so act fast!

Nordstrom.com – Beauty

  • It’s only $5 shipping when you spend $50 or more when you enter the code BEAUTY

Bloomingdales.com – Beauty

  • Check out the fabulous gifts with purchase here.

saksfifthavenue.com – Beauty

  • There are some awesome gifts with purchase over at Saks too! Click here to see them!

Hope you enjoyed this week’s Surfing Sunday! Please comment below if you know of any beauty deals that are not in this post! xoxo

Monday, July 26, 2010

Mix and Match Makeup's New Layout!!!

Sorry if you visited the site earlier today and things were all over the place... I did a major overhaul and changed everything around! Hope you enjoy the new layout!

Please let me know how you like it, and feel free to tell me if you have any suggestions! :)

Sunday, July 25, 2010

NYX Giveaway Update


Update!

So, since Mix and Match Makeup didn't reach 25 followers by today (July 25,2010), the contest has been postponed until August 25th. If, by that date, Mix and Match Makeup reaches 50 followers, there will be a prize to be determined in addition to the $30 worth of NYX products!

For the rules of the giveaway, and to enter, please refer to the NYX Giveaway post. Good Luck! :)

Surfing Sunday


Here's this week's list of great online makeup deals!

Ulta.com
- For this week only, get 20% off of your entire purchase! Use the coupon code 51194 to take advantage of this great deal! This offer is only available online.
- You can get $3.50 off of a $10 purchase on Ulta.com as well. Use the coupon code 49499!
***Remember, you can only choose 1 coupon code to use per order!***
- There are a bunch of free gifts with purchase available! To see the complete list, click here. My favorite is the 3-piece Benefit set you can receive with a $25 Benefit purchase.

Nordstrom.com
- For the full list of Nordstrom exclusives, click here.
- There are sooooo many awesome gifts with purchase at Nordstrom.com. Check them out here.

SaksFifthAvenue.com
- There are great gifts with purchase at Saks. See the full list here.

Urbandecay.com
- There are a bunch of deals over at Urbandecay.com. Many of the deals are items for $5.00! Check out the Urban Decay clearance section here.
- You can get two Double Fatty Mascaras – 1 regular and 1 waterproof for only $29 (it’s worth $40). Check out the deal here.
- For other deals like the Double Fatty Double hitter, check out other gifts and sets here.

Benefitcosmetics.com
- Get free shipping in the US with any $50 purchase on Benefit.com when you enter the code PRETTY50 at checkout.
- Get free international shipping with any $115 purchase on Benefit.com when you enter the code WORLD115 at checkout.
- There are a bunch of great items on sale! Check them out here.

MACcosmetics.com
- Free U.S. shipping at MACcosmetics.com with any $50 purchase.
- This isn’t a deal or anything, but it is a reminder to check out your favorite MAC shades which are being discontinued. See the list here.

Tartecosmetics.com
- There are some great Tarte value sets here.
- Check out the clearance section for some money-saving deals here.
- This isn’t really a deal, but I just wanted to inform you about the Limited Edition natural cheek stain “Ten”. Get it here before anywhere else!

BobbiBrownCosmetics.com
- There’s a contest to win Bobbi Brown’s new Denim and Rose Collection here. One winner will win a $300 Bobbi Brown Gift Certificate AND the new Denim and Rose Collection, and 5 others will get other awesome prizes! Be sure to enter!
- Get free shipping with any $65 order. This will be applied automatically, so you won’t need to enter a code at checkout.

Hope you enjoyed this week's Surfing Sunday!
Feel free to leave me any comments or questions! :)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

All About Lash Extensions!

I got the Xtreme Lash Extensions right before my 21st birthday, and I've had them on for a total of 2 months now. I've decided to compile a list of everything you need to know about extensions in order to help those of you who are contemplating getting them!


This is a picture taken before I received the lash extensions. As you can see, my lashes aren't that short, but they aren't ridiculously long.


This is a picture taken after I got the lash extensions. My lashes look A LOT longer than they were.


Here are some things that I've learned about lash extensions:

1. It takes about an hour and a half to apply the initial set of lashes - It's a big time commitment to get the lashes and maintain them.

2. It's a painless procedure - Your lashes won't feel any different once the extensions are on. You'd think they would feel heavy, but they feel as if nothing is on your lashes.

3. When the lashes get either initially put on or replaced, you can't get them wet for 48 hours - Be sure to wash your hair and shower before getting your lashes put on that day. Using a clear shower cap over your hair and eyes when you shower helps so you don't get your lashes wet by accident! You can also use goggles. This sounds silly, but it really works!

4. It takes about 45 minutes every 2-3 weeks to have the lashes "filled", or replaced - You have to commit to filling the lashes each week, or they'll fall out.

5. It's very EXPENSIVE! - It costs about $250 to get the initial set, which is about 40-60 lashes; and $75-$95 to get the lashes filled every 2-3 weeks. *Remember to check your salon's pricing - every salon is different.*

6. You don't have to use your eyelash curler at all! - I have a lot of lashes, but they're straight and don't have a natural curl to them. I found myself using my eyelash curler a lot during the day in order to ensure that my lashes were curled prior to getting extensions. I would even carry my eyelash curler in my bag when I went out at night with my friends! Needless to say, I am obsessed with my lashes being curled. When you have lash extensions, you should not use an eyelash curler as it can damage the extensions.

7. It doesn't affect your natural lashes or the lash growth - Don't worry, your lashes won't fall out, and nothing bad will happen to them after getting the extensions.

8. You don't have to wear mascara- You don't have to wear regular mascara or waterproof mascara in the pool or ocean, and your lashes will still look good after! You also don't have to worry about your mascara running.

9. You can't use certain mascaras if you feel the need to wear mascara - Most mascaras are oil-based, which means that the lash extensions will slide right off of your eyelash if you apply them. You should purchase the mascara made especially for the lashes, which is water-based.

10. You have to use an oil-free makeup remover - This is a relatively easy practice to get used to. All you have to do is switch to oil-free makeup remover pads.

11. You can't toss and turn in your sleep! - I move a lot when I sleep, so this was hard for me to get used to. You should sleep on your back since the lashes aren't hitting the pillow, which causes them to either bend in a weird direction, or fall off. Usually, my right eyelashes fall off more because I sleep on my right side.

12. They add a ton of length to the lash - As you can see from the pictures above, there's a dramatic difference in my lash length.

I hope this helps you decide whether or not lash extensions are the right choice for you! :)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Review: Urban Decay Naked Palette


I was super excited when I heard that Urban Decay was coming out with a new palette for Fall 2010! I knew it would be a great product because Urban Decay is one of my favorite brands... I know I can always rely on them for good quality makeup! This palette includes 12 shades, a double-sided eye pencil, and a mini Primer Potion. 5 of the shades are new, 7 are permanent, and 1 is a comeback.


As you can see, the packaging on the palette is absolutely GORGEOUS! It's a dark brown velvet texture, with gold lettering etched into the velvet. I feel like it's not as funky as the other palettes from Urban Decay that I own - it's very sophisticated, and really embodies the neutral eyeshadow shades found within it.


This photo was taken with the flash off. You can see that 10 of the shades are primarily neutrals and browns, with two grey/black shades in there as well. You can also see the double-sided 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - the colors are Zero and Whiskey. Zero is a black pencil, while Whiskey is a reddish brown pencil, which is a new addition to Urban Decay's collection.



The two photos of the palette were taken with the flash on. You can clearly see which shades are shimmery and which are matte. For more information about the shades, refer to the pictures below! (Note: I feel that all of the colors are great as an all-over lid color with the exception of Virgin, which would be a great highlight)


These are the first four shades with the flash off (top) and on (bottom). The names and descriptions are as follows:
Virgin: (New) A frosty, creamy, very light beige. Great as a highlight color on your brow bone or on your inner tear duct.
Sin: (Permanent) A shimmery nude.
Naked: (Permanent) A tan matte.
Sidecar: (Comeback shade) A shimmery dark beige It was in the first Book of Shadows, but not sold separately.

These are the next four shadows with the flash off (top) and on (bottom). The shades are:
Buck: (New) A matte dark tan.
Half Baked: (Permanent) A shimmery light yellow-bronze. One of my favorite shades of all time :)
Smog: (Permanent) A shimmery tan-bronze.
Darkhorse: (New) A bronze chocolate brown with a subtle shimmer.

These are the last four shades. The shadows are:
Toasted: (Permanent) A shimmery light brown. It reminds me of a darker version of Sin.
Hustle: (New) A frosty, shimmery, dark brown. It reminds me of a darker version of Darkhorse. It's named after an Urban Decay Ultraglide Lip Gloss, Hustle.
Creep: (New) A black shadow with blue-silver shimmer.
Gunmetal: (Permanent) A dark grey shimmer.

One of the best things about this product besides, well, everything else I've mentioned so far is the fact that all of the shadows are full size. Normally, an individual Urban Decay eyeshadow is $17, so 12 of them would be $204! This means that you're saving $160!!! Technically, with the cost of the double-sided eye pencil and the mini Primer Potion, you're saving more than $160... how great is that?!

Ultimately, I believe that Urban Decay's Naked Palette is one of the greatest makeup purchases I have EVER made! It's great quality, the shadows are all highly pigmented, and the cost can't be beat! In all seriousness, everyone should have this product! Good job, Urban Decay! :) A++++++++

Note: The Naked palette keeps getting sold out on both urbandecay.com and sephora.com. I will definitely let you know when it's back in stock so you can get your hands on this awesome item! :)

Surfing Sunday!


Sorry I haven't posted since Monday... I've been super busy! I promise to make it up to you guys with tons of reviews on some great products such as Urban Decay's Naked Palette!

Here's a list I've compiled of some great beauty deals!!!

Ulta.com: There are so many offers, so don't miss them!
- With any $25 purchase online, you will receive a FREE Summer Beauty Bag, which comes in an airplane-approved Ulta bag and 8 samples. Be sure to add this to your cart with your $25 purchase, but BEWARE - if you add this to your cart, and you do not have $25 worth of products in your cart, you will be charged $25 for the bag! This offer ends on Saturday July 24, 2010!
- In addition to the 8 samples found in the FREE Summer Beauty Bag, you will be able to pick 3 free samples of your choice at checkout!
- There are many free gifts with purchase at Ulta.com - click here to see them all! Products range from Almay to Benefit to Murad!
- Get $3.50 off any $10 purchase when you enter the coupon code 44500 at checkout! Remember that if you have many coupon codes to use, you can only enter one... choose wisely!

Sephora.com: See the offer here
- Click the link above for a list of the Sephora weekly specials! Some include a Philosophy Miracle Worker value set, which you receive for $75 instead of the usual $125; a Sephora bronzer and blush duo for $30 instead of $42; and Korres Jasmine Shower Gel for just $6.50!
- Also be sure to check out the sale for some awesome products! Click here.

Urbandecay.com: See the offer here
- Urban Decay has lowered the prices on select products such as Smoke Out Eye Pencil, Loose Pigments, and Ultraglide Lip Gloss to only $5!!! I went crazy and bought almost every item listed (haha). Go check out this awesome deal!

Lancome-usa.com: See the offer here
- There's FREE shipping on all lancome-usa.com purchases until Thursday July 22nd, 2010! In addition, you'll receive free samples of Renergie Cream Anti-wrinkle and Firming Treatment and Effacil Gentle Eye Makeup Remover! This is a $34 value, and there's no product code necessary to receive these items!
- With any $35 purchase, you'll receive $38 worth of deluxe samples! Enter the code BASTILLE at checkout! The samples include: Dual Finish - versatile powder makeup, Color Design - eye shadow, and Hypnose Drama - volume mascara.

bhcosmetics.com: See the offer here
- Check out the link above for 3 different summer specials!
- Get 20% off the 120 palette when you enter the code SUM2ND at checkout! This offer expires on July 19, 2010 at midnight so act fast!!!

Nordstrom.com: See the offer here
- Click the link above for some great Nordstrom beauty exclusives!
- Be sure to check out the gifts with purchase as well! Click here!

- With any La Mer purchase, you'll receive a sample of the La Mer Moisturizing Gel Cream when you enter the code LAMER44
- For other great gifts with purchase, click here!

- Check out the gifts with purchase - click here!

Hope you all had a great weekend! xoxo

Monday, July 12, 2010

Movie Makeup Monday: "Despicable Me"-Inspired Eye Makeup Tutorial


I have been really wanting to see "Despicable Me" in 3-D this week (yes, I'm 21 years old, but I really like Disney/Pixar movies! haha), but have to wait until the weekend. This film has inspired me to do an eye makeup tutorial, which is primarily blue like those cute little minions' costumes, which you can see below.


I made this little guy, Mixer (for Mix and Match Makeup - get it?) on the "Minion Maker" which is here, so check it out!


This is a more muted version of the look, which you can wear during the daytime.

Here's the look:
- Remember to prime your lid with eye shadow primers such as Urban Decay Primer Potion (review here), or LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer (review here).
- Apply NYX Eyeliner Pencil in Pearl White (review here) around your tear duct.
- Apply any black eyeliner to your waterline. I love Urban Decay's liner in Zero, since it really stays put for a longggg time!
- Apply Urban Decay eyeshadow in Shattered to your lid. Blend away any harsh lines. Also apply Shattered to your lower lash line.
- Apply a highlight color to your brow bone, such as Urban Decay eyeshadow in Polyester Bride.

I will definitely be wearing this look when I finally go see the movie... I'll be so cool in my 3-D glasses! (just kidding!) ;)

Hope you all are having a great week so far! Stay tuned for more reviews! xoxo

Review: Living Proof No Frizz Straight Making Styling System for Thick to Coarse Hair



If you read my last Sephora haul, you'll know that I purchased the Living Proof No Frizz Straight Making Styling System for thick to coarse hair (you can read my haul which gives an overview of the product here - it's in the first two paragraphs).
I was expecting the bottles to be a lot bigger - as you can see in the photos below, they were pretty tiny in comparison to my iPod and my hand. They were great for a trial, however, since they were so small. This kit would be fantastic for a vacation, since they are travel-size and are airplane-approved!


As for how the product treated my hair - I ended up loving it! The initial time I used it, I wasn't crazy about it since my hair felt straw-like. This was very odd for me, since my hair never tangles. I watched the "How to videos" about use the product, and it suggested to use a brush (view the "How to" videos here). The second time I used it, and for the rest of the time I used the system, my hair felt really good and didn't frizz as much in the humidity as it normally does, though it still did frizz a bit. I really liked the fact that it allowed me to not wash my hair as often, and I loved the smell - it's a citrus/orange scent.



Ultimately, I will definitely purchase the larger bottles, since I really like this product! :) This product earned an A -, because it didn't keep the frizz away completely. You can purchase the Straight Making System on Sephora.com here (a $34 value for only $25) , or on the Living Proof website here (a $48 value for only $39 + shipping).

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Surfing Sunday!


So today is the start of "Surfing Sunday"!

"Surfing Sunday" is the day where I surf the web to find you good deals on makeup!

Here are some of the great offers I came across today:

Bloomingdales.com: See the offer here.
Bloomingdale's is offering a bonus offer with select products – receive a complimentary 5-piece deluxe sample kit with any $75 single or combined purchase of any of the following featured brands: Estée Lauder
Clinique, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, MAC, Lab Series, Aramis, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, and DKNY.
The 5-piece deluxe sample kit contains: (1) Joe Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne, (1) Bobbi Brown Lipgloss, (1) La Mer Moisturizing Cream, (1) Clinique High Impact Mascara, and (1) Estée Lauder Perfectionist Wrinkle Lifting Serum.

Macys.com: See the offer here.
There are so many free makeup gifts with purchase at Macy's! I didn't want to list all of them (there's a whole page of stuff), so check out the link above. Gifts range from individual samples, to sets of makeup, to handbags.

If you purchase $50 worth of products or more, you will receive free standard shipping from MAC. You also have the option to upgrade to 2nd day shipping for only $5.00, or upgrade to overnight shipping for only $10.00. You don't have to enter an offer code - this will be done automatically! This offer is only available to U.S. addresses only, and this offer cannot be used with a gift card.

Nordstrom.com: See the offer here.
There are a few gifts with purchase available at Nordstrom. They are available for Bare Escentuals, Bvlgari, and Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare.
- With any Bare Escentuals purchase of $50 or more, you will receive an $18 mini buffing brush.
- With any Bvlgari men's fragrance purchase of $75 or more, you will receive mini eau de toilettes of AQVA pour Homme and AQVA pour Homme Marine.
- With any $125 purchase or more of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, you will receive five Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel two-step travel packets and a travel size Lift and Lighten Eye Cream. The total gift is worth $39.

There are sooo many deals going on at Ulta! I received a code in my email for free shipping on orders of $25 or more, which is 59031. This offer lasts until July 17, 2010. I also received a coupon code for $3.50 off any $10.00 purchase, which is 44500. It is important to note that only one coupon can be used per order, so make sure to choose wisely when you're checking out! These codes are also available on the website.

Sephora is offering 5 samples with every purchase, instead of the usual 3, until July 13, 2010 at 4pm PST. They come in a cute airplane-approved Sephora bag! Order fast because this special offer is ending really soon!!!

I hope you enjoyed the first of many "Surfing Sunday's"! xoxo

***Remember to enter the Mix and Match Makeup Giveaway to win $30 worth of NYX products!!!***

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