Shakeup Your Makeup

 

Covergirl LashBlast Clump Crusher mascara is the newest in the Cover Girl line up of mascaras.  Being part of the much loved "LashBlast" line, I was anxious to pick this up and give it a try.  Claiming up to 200% more volume without zero clumps was quite a thought! 

 

The brush on this similar to the original LashBlast brush with the rubber bristles, but this is curved to fit along the lashline and grab all the lashes, pulling them through the brush and preventing clumps.  The formula on this is a bit on the dry side, which helps prevent the clumping as it clings to your lashes, in my opinion.  I did purchases the darkest shade (I think called Blackest Black).  The tube is the original size/shape as all the other LashBlast mascaras, but this is bright green. 

 

Onto some before and after shots: 

 

 

I have to say, this has taken the front seat in my mascara collection.  Yes, the formula is dry, but it helps to coat the lashes without creating clumps at the tips.  I did not experience any clumping or flaking with this formula.  The brush is amazing, and honestly what I think does the magic.  It clings to each lash, separating and fanning them out, creating a fringe of lashes that I don't typically get with a volumizing mascara.  Literally each lash has been pulled out and coated, but they don't end up clinging back together (because of the dry formula, I think).  The brush also holds onto those lashes, so as you pull up, it helps lift and curl the lashes without using a curler.  I have read a lot of reviews where users layer this ontop of their other favorite lengthening or volumizing formula and I have not done that yet, but am anxious to give it a try.  Although I am extremely pleased with this on its own, I'd like to see if I can amp it up even more!  Like I said, this is my new favorite mascara.  At around $6.99 a tube, it's middle of the run on price, but Covergirl always has coupons out there that can help lower the deal.

 

 

Have any of you tried this mascara yet?  What did you think??

 

Several weeks ago while grabbing some stocking stuffers at Ulta, I found the remnants of an Essence Breaking Dawn makeup collection display and picked up a couple of the remaining items.  There wasn't much left of what looked to have been an interesting collection, but I was able to get two glitter eyeliners and a pigment.

 



 

Both come with a small and thin artificial bristle applicator.

 

The pigment I picked up, Jacob's Protection, is a dark almost black pigment with iridescent shimmer.  This would make a gorgeous eyeliner.

 

 

Swatches below.  The eyeliners required several swipes to get the color to pay off, so if you are looking for a subtle glitter to wear as an eyeliner alone or on top of your favorite everyday liner to kick it up a notch, these would be pretty good.  Once dry, they lasted all day without flaking off, which was also nice. 

 

The pigment is rich and dark - the picture below doesn't do it much justice.  I wore mine over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy and it lasted all day with nice color and shimmer payoff.  I haven't tried this as a liner yet, but think i would be a nice alternative to plain black.

 

There were several other items in this collection that I missed out on, including two highlights, a blush and three other pigments.  Prices started at $1.99 for the liners and went up from there.  Did you pick any of this collection up? 

 

 

Ulta always has some neat products around the holidays.  When I went in the other day over my lunch, there was a display of Layla Cosmetics nail polishes called Soft Touch Effect and Ceramic Effect.  These had a matte finish (Soft Touch) and the Ceramic Effect are long lasting and quick drying.  Smooth and sleek bottles, and a variety of colors to choose from.  I have never heard of this brand, but they look interesting - especially if you like matte nails!

 

I had heard that CVS was getting one of those permanent display pieces, similar to Walgreens, to feature some of their polishes but until now had not seem them in my area.  Well, in time for the holidays, I went in looking for some of the CVS Beauty clearance, and found the display up and running with some of the new Sally Hansen Complete Manicure colors.  I took a snapshot of some of my favorites (especially the glitters!). 

 

I love that copper color (Copper Penny), and the gold is really pretty too.  Both had multiple sized glitters suspended in clear polish. 

 

Also, I found Black & Blue, which has been posted about a lot online recently.  A rich, deep navy duochrome, that flashes purple and teal.  Next to the Sally Hansens were the new Revlon Brilliant Strength colors, one of which was very similar to Black & Blue, called Beguile...just in case you can't find the Sally Hansen. 

 

Have you tried any of the new colors yet?  Which one is your favorite so far?

 

'Tis the season for new displays and holiday goodies to really start popping up in the stores.  CVS had tons of displays along the tops of their health and beauty shelves the other day, and one that really caught my eye was the new Physician's Formula Smoky Nude collection.  If you frequent my blog, you know I adore the Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Eyeliners for Green Eyes, Hazel Eyes, and the Metallics that came out last Christmas season. I love the Green Eyes black pot so much, I have used the entire thing and am hoping to snag one when I go look at the CVS semi-annual beauty sale.  I swear these wear as well, if not better, than the high end department store gel eyeliners, and go on so smooth and pigmented, and for the set they average $4 a piece at regular price (a set of 3 is around $12).  Love, love, love...

 

Anyway, what really caught my eye were the new Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Liquid Metal Eyeliner Trios, and I'm kicking myself for not buying one when I was in the store.  I loved the taupes/nudes in the second picture.  It's hard to see, but the blacks actually have some shimmer to them as well. 

 

Have you seen these?  I am going to have to go get a set to try - the colors look gorgeous.  I know Nouveau Cheap ran a review on one of the sets, and she has some nice swatches up too.  If I get one, I will certainly post a review too...

 

Today was glittery type of day.  The Wet 'n Wild Color Icon in Diamond in the Rough had been looking at me from my nail polish drawers for a while now, so I thought I'd freshen up the Sally Hansen "In a Flurry" I had been wearing earlier in the week with the glitter top coat. 

 

Unfortunately it's cold and rainy out here in the Midwest so I can't get a good picture, especially one that does the sparkles in this manicure justice, but here's a quick snapshot.  Actually, the In a Flurry doesn't do much for this manicure at all except offer up a nice dark base coat for the Diamond in the Rough.  Regardless, I like it, and it's been wearing extremely well too which is an added bonus in this hectic time of the year!

 

Walmart had a new display up the other day for, what I assume, is the holiday introductions for SensatioNAIL.  These are sets of two polishes, one glitter and one color.  There is a red set, silver set and gold set.  Very fun if you are looking for something long-lasting in the glitter department!

 

Since I've been neglecting the blog of late, I wanted to post a quick FOTD from last week using last year's holiday limited edition Wet 'n Wild Pallet in Golden Goddess.  I tend to go to this pallet a lot when I am looking for orangy bronzes, and I don't think I've posted anything using it, so here you go!

 

 

 

Today is a really quick look at a FOTD I did using the Bare Escentuals Bare Luxury kit I posted swatches of last week.  I really love the graphite color called Undercover.  It is gorgeous on, extremely smooth and creamy, and so easy to use!  I paired Undercover with Celestine, and then used Stealth as my highlight.  The radiance makes a gorgeous blush as a warm, very pale, bronze color.  In this picture I am wearing the lip color in Wow Factor, which is a warm berry color.  The picture below has better lighting.

 

I love this kit - a great set for everyday use.

 

I started cleaning out some of my makeup, and realized I had not posted pictures of the third installment of the Bare Escentuals Bare Luxury TSV I purchased on auto delivery.  Actually, it looks like I've forgotten to post several other installments as well, so I will have to dig around for the memory card with the other swatches on it! 

 

This collection comes with two brushes, to eyeliners, two lip colors, a radiance and a Ready2.0 eyeshadow set.  Up first, the radiance.  The color in this set is called Chic Radiance and is a really pretty nude-tan shimmer.  This actually reminds me a lot of my favorite mineral veil of BE's - the Feather Light Tinted Mineral Veil I purchased several years ago on QVC in a deluxe size, and it has lasted me to this day.  When applied all over the face, it adds a subtle warmth and shimmer that is so nice in this dull winter months.

 

**More pictures after the jump!**

 

A few days ago I posted a picture from the Walmart checkout line with some new, seasonal flavors of Chapstick.  Well, I went back and picked them up - the Apple Cider and the Candy Cane.  I'm a total sucker for anything peppermint in the winter, and the cider had me intrigued so I grabbed it too.

 

Both are your typical chapstick consistency and color.  The cider is a hint darker (this could be because I had applied it on top of my lips and I was wearing a red that day).  The fragrances are wonderful too.  The Candy Cane is just that - a soft and subtle peppermint.  Not a sappy sweet peppermint, and not medicinal either.  Just the smell of a candy cane.  The Apple Cider is a lighter fragrance, with a hint of green apple and subtle mulling spices.  Again, nothing strong enough that I think anyone else is going to smell, but still a nice change from the basics of ChapStick.  I actually really enjoyed both of them - one of my all time favorite ChapStick was the Vanilla Mint which I have the hardest time finding anymore (possibly it's discontinued?), and these have filled the void for me at the moment!

 

Have you seen these yet?  Picked one up?  What did you think?  There still is one more flavor - Chocolate Truffle - but I don't care for chocolate flavored lip products so I passed on that one.

 

I honestly don't know if this Avon Satin Satisfaction lip color is even still available, but I saw it sitting, unopened, in my drawer and thought I'd take it out and try it.  Honestly, I don't even remember getting this, so it's definitely been a while. 

 

Satin Satisfaction lip colors are medium to full coverage lip colors in a tube, which use a very flexible flat tip (kind of like a doe-foot) applicator to apply.  These have SPF15 and do not have a glossy finish, hence the name "satin".  There were several colors to choose from, and I clearly went out on a limb to pick out red...not a typical color for me.

 

 

The swatch below is two swipes on the lip.  If you zoom in, my natural lip shows through, so this is a buildable coverage.  The texture is velvety.  It doesn't dry completely, but it also isn't sticky or glossy like a typical lip gloss.  Instead, it stays put while being flexible, and doesn't feather off the lips.  I'm actually wishing I had purchased more of these when I picked up the red.

 

 

And, just because I liked my makeup the other day when I wore this Red Temptation, here is a full face. 

 

Have you tried these Satin Satisfactions by Avon?  What did you think of them?

 

Walgreens has started putting out their holiday beauty products, and this one instantly caught my eye on an end cap.  It is by Profusion, called the Perfect Ten eyeshadow pallet.  There were two pallets, each retailing at $4.99. 

 

The first pallet, below, was called Midnight Fever and consisted of 10 shimmery colors, leaning more taupe and gray. 

 

The second pallet, called Sultry and Neutral, has half shimmery and half matte colors.  Most of the mattes were the light shades, where the shimmery shades were goldens and bronzes. 

 

I picked up both of these and will swatch them, hopefully tonight.  I didn't have the chance to do so last night for you guys.

 

Gorgeous, aren't they?  The colors look really good and smooth, but only a swatch will tell!

 

After several days over overcoming the stomach flu I am finally back.  I decided to go bright and colorful this morning, in hopes of giving my mood a boost.  Besides the stomach bug, the weather has been gloomy too, so I'm in need of some color to brighten the day!

 

My outfit had lots of coral, purple and pink, so I thought I'd tie in my eyeshadow with it.  Today is a mix of Fyrinnae and Aromaleigh - four colors that worked extremely well together.  Aromaleigh Zinnia (the inner corner shade) actually doesn't look like much when applied, but is a gorgeous pink in the pictures.  Maybe it was the lighting in my bathroom that washed it out, but I love the pop or color below.  Here is what I used:

 

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy - all over lid

Aromaleigh Zinnia - inner corner

Fyrinnae Electro Koi - next in towards outer corner from Zinnia

Fyrinnae Velvet Vampire - next in from Electro Koi / blended along lower lashline ontop of liner

Aromaleigh Solange - outer corner, crease

Avon Glow Eyeliner in Ultra Voilet - lower lashline

Physicians Formula Gel Eyeliner Trio (green eyes) - the brown shade

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

 

I used to be timid about bright colors, but have managed to mix them into my looks.  For instance, Electro Koi is an extremely bright orange, and although gorgeous in the pot, one might think - what do I do with this?  But, just a subtle application with some more neutral colors can really make a look stand out, without being over the top. 

 

One more thing, I just received the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in the mail as a freebie I signed up for on Facebook - it's a pretty good mascara giving some nice definition and length.  I will do a full review after a few more days of trial. 

 

I spotted some new Maybelline Color Show Nail Stickers at Meijer yesterday.  I was drawn in by this gorgeous orange below, and the rest are pretty neat as well.  Price was $6.49 each and there were lots to choose from!  They were kind of tribal looking, which was neat.  Something beyond the glitters and solid colors out there. 

 

Closeups of the nail strips below.