Foundation Application & Review: Nars Sheer Glow

I thought it was about time to post an updated foundation routine. Especially now since I've been trying a new foundation with great results -- the Nars Sheer Glow liquid. Check out the video below for a full review of this product as well as a demonstration of how I apply it.

READ MORE - Foundation Application & Review: Nars Sheer Glow

Lash Enhancing Eyeliner? Buxom Lashliner from Bare Escentuals

How did I not know about this stuff? Actually, with all the lash-enhancing products out there now, how did other brands not think of this sooner? Especially since you apply them all "as you would an eyeliner".

I guess as a long-time MAC Blacktrack Fluidline fan, I've never felt the need to look elsewhere for a good black gel liner. I came across the Buxom Lashliner by Bare Escentuals on a trip to Sephora about a week ago. I had to do a double take as I glanced over the little selection of gel liners claiming to be a "Lash Enhancing & Conditioning Treatment". Sold. Seriously, why didn't I own something like this already? We all know how much I adore my black eye liner and wear it pretty regularly. Adding a lash treatment in the mix just makes good sense. And at $15 for a 2gram jar (MAC Fluidline is 3 grams, just to give you some comparison), I felt like that's reasonable for the quality ingredients and if it actually delivers. It comes in three shades, a black, brown, and a black with silver micro-glitter. I purchased Leatherette, the black shade.

So I've been using this product for a week straight, mainly looking at the actual wear and quality of the liner. Just because it hasn't been enough time to see any benefits where the lash-enhancement is concerned.
To my surprise, (Because honestly, lets face it...this stuff seems kind of too good to be true) it applied easily and has great pigmentation. And even better, sets to a smudge-proof finish. However, it does take a little longer to dry than fluidline, but that's not a problem for me since I have a habit of setting liners with black eyeshadow anyway-- even gel liners. Other than that, it's very comparable to Fluidline.

Then for the really rewarding part-- The formula contains natural ingredients and no parabens, which is always a little added bonus. It contains ingredients that actually stimulate hair growth as well as other great ingredients that support healthy lash growth and keep them conditioned.
Now I've never used any lash-enhancing products before and mine are naturally pretty thick, black, and long to begin with. Like I said, I haven't used it long enough to see real results, but I'll report back in a month :)

This is available at Sephora and most everywhere else you can purchase Bare Escentuals products. Click here to read more about the product and for shade info.





*Products mentioned in this post were purchased by me and I am in no way affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned.

READ MORE - Lash Enhancing Eyeliner? Buxom Lashliner from Bare Escentuals

Amazing Argan Oil

So this is a more "hardcore" review... almost 2 months in the making!
Over the past few months I've been using a new product that I'm so excited about. I had heard of Argan Oil, but I wasn't really sure what to do with it. In my mind, it was simply a body moisturizer. Got plenty of those. Nothing I thought I needed. So when I first got the Argan Oil by Josie Maran Cosmetics, it honestly sat on the shelf for a few weeks. It was something new that I wasn't quite familiar with and had no plan on how to use it. When I started experimenting with it and read up on it's benefits, I realized that it is truly a multi-use product. So first of all, I started using it as a body moisturizer. I used it around areas that tend to get really dry like my elbows. It absorbed super quick and left no residue. Then my mind started working--- CUTICLES. Yes!! I would try it on my cuticles. So I did and I was completely impressed. As with a lot of typical products as labeled as actual "cuticle oil", I get great moisturization and results, but it takes a little while to absorb. With this, it absorbs super quickly so I can literally apply it right before walking out the door, rub it in quickly, and get on with my life without oily fingers. Best part is that I get the same moisturizing results and my cuticles are lookin' super healthy.
Now my absolute FAVORITE use for this is as a hair treatment. I color my hair a lil' bit...I'm not gonna lie. With that comes damage, but I feel that there are ways that you can give your hair the moisturization it needs and keep it healthy. So I've been using this oil to give my hair a little treat. I've done this several different ways-- There really are no rules when it comes to this stuff. If I use it on damp hair, I'll rub a few drops between my fingers and apply it to the ends of my hair only. That way when I dry it, it retains it's volume at the roots, but looks nice and healthy on the ends. For more intense moisturization, I'll apply it generously to dry hair. Make sure you reserve this ritual for lazy days at home, or even overnight. Sometimes, if I don't have time for this, I'll apply it as soon as I wake up to my dry hair just as before, but I'll leave it in for about 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. It really is an amazingly effective product for hair.
Of course, as I said before, you can use this as a body moisturizer. On especially dry areas, or in lieu of your regular lotion.
Besides being incredibly effective, an extra little "feel good" to this product is that it is 100% organic. Totally and completely 100% organic Argan Oil-- Only one ingredient. It also has virtually no scent which to me, is huge. When you first apply it, it has a slight natural almost herbal scent, but when it's rubbed in, the scent pretty much disappears.
The most amazing thing about this product though is that you can literally use it all over your body and it delivers amazing moisturization. However, it leaves no oily residue on the skin which normally occurs with an oil. It also makes my skin look incredibly glowy and healthy.
I'm addicted. My body lotion hasn't gotten any action in a month because of this stuff.

This is honestly something that is totally multi-use. Yeah, at $48, it seems a bit pricey, but when you think of all it does, it's totally worth it. It's like a hair treatment, body moisturizer, cuticle oil, etc. all in one. So it saves counter space too. Which for a product junkie like me, is always a good thing! =)

You can find this product at Sephora or on josiemarancosmetics.com.

READ MORE - Amazing Argan Oil

The Balm: Shady Lady Palette

I'll just be honest, usually small palettes like this (think the ones by Urban Decay) usually disappoint me. They usually only have a few colors I like and I almost always find myself having to reach for other eye shadows to round it out...like a good highlight and a good dark shade. This one seriously has it all. All of the colors are amazingly pigmented as well. While there is a great range of different colors included in the palette, they actually could all pair and combine really nicely to create a countless amount of looks. The palette contains 9 colors--6 eye shadows and 3 shadow/liners. I also absolutely love the packaging. Not just the cutesy leopard print, but I love how small and sleek it is. It's very portable (especially with the giant mirror inside). The fact that they've wasted no space on awkward, useless applicators that would just go into the trash is also a plus. And because good ingredients are always a plus in my book, I've got to mention the fact that it earned Sephora's "Natural Seal".

OH, and did I mention all shadows in the palette can be used wet or dry??




You can get this limited edition (Sephora exclusive) palette for $38 at sephora.com

READ MORE - The Balm: Shady Lady Palette

Coastal Scents SMACKS! Pictures, Swatches, & Review

New Smacks lip gloss from Coastal Scents : $4.95

READ MORE - Coastal Scents SMACKS! Pictures, Swatches, & Review

Coastal Scents Hot Pots Info!

For those of you who have always wanted to get your hands on some MAC refill shadows (or palettes) but aren't close to a MAC store or Pro store (or simply don't want to pay $11 each), you are going to LOVE the new CS Hot Pots. They come in eye shadow (and blush refill pans) that are the same size as the MAC eye shadow refills. I received all of them and had the chance to play with them quite a bit and am actually very impressed with the color selection and payoff. With 66 shades to choose from, there's something for everyone.

As you can see above, each Hot Pot comes in a small plastic container. At only $4.95 each, you can feel not so guilty about getting all the shades you want! Even better, if you purchase 12 Hot Pots, Coastal Scents will add a FREE 12-pan empty eye shadow palette to your order to hold all your lovely little selections.
Coastal Scents offers an empty 12-pan palette, 15-pan palette as well as an empty quad to hold the Hot Pots as well.
The colors have actual "word names", however, they're identified by a letter and a number, as seen below.

The numbers are preceded by either an M, S, or B.
M=Matte
S=Shimmer
B=Blush


To see more info on these, check out my video review!

READ MORE - Coastal Scents Hot Pots Info!

Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer REVIEW

I've honestly never been a huge fan of the regular Jergens Natural Glow line (well except for the Natural Glow SPF20 Facial Moisturizer), but this product was surprising.
It comes in two shades: Light to Medium and Medium to Tan skin tones. I bought the Medium to Tan because that's all that was available at my Kroger (this stuff has been HARD TO FIND since it's so new). Anyway, I've used it twice so far and it's very much un-like any other self tanning product I've ever tried (and trust me, I've tried them all).
First of all, there is no typical self tanner smell. I actually thought it had no strong smell whatsoever (Jergens is known for it's obnoxiously scented self tanning products). It's the lightest, cleanest smell. However, when you smooth it onto your skin, the scent actually disappears which is cool. First, you shake it up really well and dispense a small amount into your palm. It's best to start out with less than you think you need because since it's a foam, it expands in your hands. It's very similar in texture to that of a thick hair mousse. It really absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves no stickiness, which is what makes it unique. However, I feel that as a "daily moisturizer", it's a little light. My skin feels soft after applying it, but I still feel like I need something more moisturizing. Since it does sink into the skin so quickly though, you can definitely apply a light moisturizer to areas that still feel dry.
About the results, I've noticed absolutely no streaks whatsoever. However, I'm used to using self tanning products and am careful about applying it. I've used it twice and can already see a difference. Not a HUGE difference or anything, but very subtle and natural. I feel like if I used it everyday, it could get to be a bit much, so I might switch to the Light to Medium formula. Or, keep the Medium to Tan formula and just use it every few days.
Also, the can is a bit small. I feel like if I truly used this product everyday, it would be gone in no time. For $8.99, I feel like the can should be a little larger. But that's really my only complaint!

READ MORE - Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer REVIEW

LUSH Fresh Face Masks...Reviews!

LOVE LUSH! As I've said many times...but dislike their face/skincare products for the most part. Well, all except their masks at least. Over the past few months, I've tried several of them and actually LOVE a few. Before I get started, here are some things to remember about their fresh face masks:

1. They expire. I believe most have a shelf life of about 2 weeks. So unless you're going to use it often and in large amounts, purchase the smallest container. If you buy a larger size, it will probably end up going to waste.

2. Consider your skin type. They have a wide variety of fresh face masks made to suit your skin type. If you're still unsure and don't want to take the plunge to buy a full sized one, ask for a sample. Lush is always pretty generous.

3. KEEP IN THE REFRIGERATOR! ...they expire, remember?

4. Save your old containers! Return 6 empty containers to Lush and get a free fresh face mask.

5. The fresh face masks are not available for order online because of the fresh ingredients... They would be ruined by the time they got to you! So if you want any of these, you'll have to purchase directly from a Lush counter or store.

Here are my thoughts...

BB Seaweed mask:
This mask was just ok. It's supposed to be best for those with normal to combination skin. It is lightly exfoliating (VERY lightly) which is nice, but isn't super effective. Also, the chunks of seaweed are quite annoying, as they'll just fall off your face as the mask dries. I just felt like it really didn't do...well, anything.

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Cupcake mask:
This is actually one of my favorites. Who doesn't like chocolate right? The chocolate scent isn't the only reason I like it though. It actually makes my skin feel amazingly soft and look brighter. According to Lush, this mask has detoxifying ingredients and is best for people with oily or breakout prone skin. It really reminded me of spreading brownie batter on my face which was a little strange at first, but it honestly grew on me. It also has super small gritty granules (similar to that of a cake batter) that creates a light exfoliation as you rinse it off.

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Love Lettuce mask:
This is my absolute favorite out of the Lush masks I tried. This one smells a bit..."fresh". Like a mix of fresh veggies. You apply the mask, let it dry for about 10 minutes (like the others), but when you rinse it off, you lightly massage it into the skin so that the exfoliating granules can go to work. After treating my skin with this mask, I can't stop touching it. It really makes it baby smooth.

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Cosmetic Warrior mask:
Honestly, I didn't even make it 2 minutes with this stuff. It's supposed to be good for treating breakouts and calming oily skin. Which maybe it does, but the scent of garlic is so off-putting that there is NO way I could ever actually use the stuff. I applied it and had to hold my breath as I tried to get it all rinsed off. No thanks!

READ MORE - LUSH Fresh Face Masks...Reviews!

Coastal Scents Camouflage Concealer Palette

Yep! Another new palette from Coastal Scents! This one intrigued me just because I'm very picky about concealers so I was very curious to see if these would deliver. Because I knew that if they did, I would pretty much be in heaven because this would seriously come in handy in my kit.
Upon opening it, I knew I would have to wait a bit to evaluate the texture just because of the change in temperature (thanks to the shipping) had made it sweat a bit, as cream products like this has the tendency to do. So I let it rest for a day. The texture is very similar to that of the Studio Finish concealer or the Full Coverage Foundation by MAC. It's very thick and creamy and very pigmented. I wore one of the lighter shades to cover a blemish yesterday and it had some SERIOUS staying power. On me, it's a bit heavy for my under eye area (as is the Studio Finish), but this would be awesome if someone needed a full coverage concealer.
As seen from the swatches, the shade range for lighter skin tones is better in this palette. The darkest shade is similar to about an NC50. Also, the majority of the shades are more cooler in tone.
If you are a makeup artist, this would definitely be an awesome addition to your kit!

READ MORE - Coastal Scents Camouflage Concealer Palette

Brights Anyone??

Craving brights? These new 42 Color- Double Stack Eye Shaodow & Blush combo palettes available from CoastalScents.com are really, um, bright. Available in both Matte and Shimmer versions, there's something for everyone. These are some of the brightest pressed eye shadows I've seen. On the skin, most of the colors have the effect of a mineral eye shadow or loose pigment. Pretty impressive. Since there are so many colors in each, ranging from these bright primary shades to a few neutrals, I only swatched a few of the brighter colors. But as you can see from the pictures below, these palettes are not for the timid, they are VERY colorful!

42 Color - Double Stack Matte Shadow & Blush Palette
$28.95


42 Color - Double Stack
Shimmer Shadow & Blush Palette
$28.95


The palettes themselves are pretty small closed...


...but when you open it, the eye shadow tray comes out and stacks against the top revealing the blush underneath.

The blush colors are the same in both palettes

Overall, the payoff of the blush colors are pretty great too!



*Reviews of their other new palettes are coming soon*

READ MORE - Brights Anyone??

MAC Sugarsweet Collection Swatches & Review

I actually loved this collection in person...well, except for the funky tri-colored parfait-like lipglosses. Here is what I got and the swatches! You can also check out a full video review below.

Nail Polish in Peppermint Patti : $11.00


Shadesticks in Cakeshop (top) and Lemon Chiffon (bottom), $16.50


(no flash)
(with flash)
Lipsticks in (l-r) Lollipop Loving, Bubbles, and Saint Germain, $14.00

Eye Shadow in Dear Cupcake(l) and Aquavert(r), $14.50



Mineralized Skinfinish in Refined $27.00

Mineralized Skinfinish in Perfect Topping, $27.00

(sorry about the finger swatches...these don't photograph well)
Refined(l), Perfect Topping(r)

Promo image credit: Specktra.net (lisen.chic.se)

READ MORE - MAC Sugarsweet Collection Swatches & Review

MAC Grand Duos Review/Swatches

Mineralized Blush (Duo): A mineralized Blush featuring soft-shimmer super-shine pearl in pretty tricolour veining to enhance and glorify cheekbones, followed by the pop and dimension of solid colour shimmer without an overly frosted look.
US$22.50

Overall, this is a beautiful collection of colors. Overall, the pigmentation is better in my opinion than the regular Mineralized blushes. Also, the color is very smooth and the shimmer is very fine. No chunky shimmer here. These two were my favorite!

Love Rock
( Gold violet mélange / bright blue pink)

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Intenso
(Pink gold mélange / Terracotta rose)

READ MORE - MAC Grand Duos Review/Swatches

New MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation Review

YAY! MAC finally has created a good liquid foundation. At least in my opinion. To be honest, I've never had good luck MAC's liquid foundations. But this is the first I've really liked. This one is truly unique.

A creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. Hydrating, instantly revitalizes the skin while keeping it looking smooth, soft and plush. Long-wearing, water-resistant.
40 ml / 1.3 US FL OZ
US$28.00

Based on the description, I didn't think I would like this foundation because I have more combination/oily skin. I pictured this as being like most other "hydrating" foundations that claim to have a "natural satin finish". Usually they don't set well for me and have an oily look, as some people mistake or label foundations that leave an obnoxious shine as "natural" or "satin" finishes. This one is so unique because when it's blended in, it truly looks like skin. Not shiny, not matte...just, well, natural. When swatched on my hand (or worn on the face), it truly blends in completely and leaves no noticeable difference in finish between the product and my natural skin. That's truly saying something for a foundation. It is truly long wearing, and since it's water-resistant, it's actually really great for those of us with oily skin.
The only weird thing about it to me is the sweet, butterscotch scent. After a few applications, I got used to it though.

For more info. about this product (application methods, coverage, etc.) see my review video below!

I'm glad MAC finally created a liquid foundation I like!

You can see the gel texture in this one. It doesn't run or drip like a traditional liquid foundaiton when held sideways.

Not blended in

Blended in...you can see (or not see) the natural finish. It disappears into the skin.

READ MORE - New MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation Review

Lush/Hate relationship....Lush Skincare Review

Ok, so I've made it a little over a week with my new skincare routine. Sadly, I've got to say that I was a little disappointed. I wanted to LOVE everything, I really did. But unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. Staying true to my commitment issues with skincare (other than my old trusty Proactiv), I didn't even make it the full 2 weeks. Read on for the full reviews of each product and why I stopped using these products.
**Please keep in mind that what works/doesn't work for me, may do the total opposite for you. These are just my honest opinions.

Lush Coal Face Cleanser:
At first I LOVED this stuff. If you're like me and you're used to a really deep cleanser that makes your face feel super clean, this is probably the best Lush cleanser for you. It has small exfoliating bits in it as well, which was important to me because I pretty much have to have an exfoliating cleanser after being used to using the Proactiv cleanser for 8 years. Unfortunately, the little bits are few and far between in the soap and while you can feel them in the lather, it really doesn't do a thorough job of exfoliating. It's just kind of scratchy. The soap lathers beautifully into a rich grey lather. The smell, which was kind of weird at first, really grew on me. It rinses very clean and easily. The downfall of this cleanser is that it's very drying. I felt like it wasn't really doing anything for my skin, just cleansing it and making it very dry. Not really putting anything back. I felt like I could have gotten the same cleansing effect with a bar of dial soap.

Tea Tree Water Toner:
The best part about this stuff is the packaging. I love how you can spray it directly onto your face or onto a cotton pad. I really didn't care for the scent. It reminded me of bathroom cleaner. I really didn't find it to do anything really. After washing my face, it really didn't make my skin feel any more comfortable or like it had truly "toned" it and put anything back that my skin needed. I know this stuff claims to be pretty effective, but it just wasn't for me.

Vanishing Cream:
This is supposed to be the least oily moisturizer Lush has. That being said, it still contains oils. I had been using this in place of my Benefit Dear John cream that I LOVE and really found that it didn't hold a candle to it when my skin was really uncomfortable. The Benefit Dear John however, is not completely oil free and I find it to do a better job of moisturizing without feeling as oily as the Vanishing Cream. Something that kind of freaked me out about it was the Johnson's Baby Oil-ish after scent. That, I did not like. At $35 for the small container, I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be after using it consistently.

Mask of Magnaminty:
This cleanser/mask feels really nice on the skin and has a really strong minty/tingling sensation as it dries on the skin. I actually found the sweet mint scent to be kind of nauseating. Like mint and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. However, it's a little difficult to rinse. When I would rinse the mask, I would rinse it to begin with with my hands and warm water so I could get all the exfoliating benefits of the mask (which I really didn't find to be all that exfoliating), then to get the rest of it off, I would have to really work at it with a washcloth and warm water. Then, my washcloths would get stained and that was no fun. I actually really prefer the Love Lettuce mask by Lush. It's actually exfoliating, cleansing, and easy to rinse off. It just seems to work better with my skin. I also LOVE the Cupcake mask for when I need less exfoliation. I guess I shouldn't have tried to find something new when I already had found two masks by Lush that were working perfectly.

Philosophy On a Clear Day Retinol Treatment:
This was the only keeper out of the bunch. I found that during the course of using all of this new stuff, I didn't get any acne-like blemishes or anything like that. Just clogged pores (ew). Which I think the other products were more to blame for. I felt like this stuff kept most areas of my face acne free and really smooth. I also feel that when I use a retinol treatment, my pores are less noticeable. The only downfall to this stuff is the price. At $40 for such a small tube, that's a little much in my opinion. My biggest piece of advice would be to head to the drugstore and pick up some of the Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Cream with Spf. That one comes in a much larger tube, is 1/4 of the price and adds the spf protection which is crucial for retinol treatments since sunlight breaks down the active ingredients in any retinol treatment. Also, never pair a retinol with a leave-on benzoyl peroxide treatment (like a cream). They kind of cancel each other out and renders both uneffective. At least that's what the derm. says!

Ok, so the main reason I stopped using these products were because of the clogged pores that resulted. Not blemishes or acne or anything like that, but my skin just looked bumpy. Just on my forehead and chin. Something I've never really experienced before. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy about that. I feel like it was a combination of two things. Not enough exfoliation and not using any type of acne treatment (other than the retinol). While I've never had any real acne issues, I've always needed to use skincare aimed toward treating acne to prevent it since my skin can break out easily.
So, I've decided to go back to my old faithful Proactiv. It was good to me for 8 years. It really has everything I need: An exfoliating, medicated cleanser, a toner with glycolic acid (which will help smooth the appearance of my skin and fade any acne scarring), and a benzoyl peroxide acne treatment lotion. Since I stopped using this because it had become a little harsh on my skin, I'm planning on using the benzoyl peroxide lotion much less often. For moisturizer, I'm going to use my MAC Lightful Deep Ultramoisture cream day and night and the Benefit Dear John Cream when my skin feels like it needs some extra moisture. As for the retinol treatment, I'll use that at night if I feel I need it.

So needless to say, I haven't had the best of luck with Lush's skincare. In the past, I have also tried their Fresh Farmacy, Herbalism, and Angels on Bare Skin cleansers. I honestly didn't care much for those either. Yeah they were fun to use and different, but they just didn't deliver any real results. Out of all the cleansers by Lush, I actually like the Angels on Bare Skin the best, but I've realized that I need something with more cleansing, active ingredients. So as far as Lush skincare goes, the Love Lettuce mask and Cupcake masks are really all that works for me.
**EDIT** Also, the Ocean Salt Scrub. I actually like that a lot. Probably won't use it as much now that I'm back on Proactiv, but it's still awesome.

I LOVE Lush. Their skincare....umnotsomuch.

READ MORE - Lush/Hate relationship....Lush Skincare Review

MAC Hello Kitty Review and Swatches!

Alright guys, here are all my lovely Hello Kitty goods! I was super excited about this collection for a long time because I've always loved Hello Kitty, but when I actually saw the collection and got to test the colors, I really cut down my list. Most of these items were part of my anniversary gift from my husband. The man knows what I like.
Overall, this collection has some great colors, a few stand-out items and the packaging is super cute (but the glitter chunks are kind of annoying).
Read on to see my haul, swatches, and reviews of the products!

Eye Shadow Palettes: ($38.00)
Both of these palettes caught my eye because I love the color groupings for each. However, they both can be VERY easily duplicated by colors in the permanent line. See for yourself...

Too Dolly Palette

Yogurt(matte), Romping(frost), Too Dolly(frost), Stately Black(lustre)

Overall, the payoff of all these colors are pretty decent. With the exception of Stately Black. If you want it to appear dark, you have to work with it a bit and apply a lot.

...and the dupes...
(Yogurt is in the permanent line), Post Haste, Aquadisiac, Black Tied

I COULD NOT believe how easily duped this palette was. While Post Haste is a matte, I actually think it would look better with these colors than Romping, just because the color payoff is so great. The most surprising was the dupe for Too Dolly...Aquadisiac. These colors are almost identical. Also, if you have the Heatherette palette with Mood Ring, that would work awesome as well. It's also VERY close. Aquadisiac is almost prettier! As far as Stately Black, Black Tied was almost identical. So if you can't get your hands on this one, those are colors that would replicate looks you could create with this palette almost exactly...if not better!


Lucky Tom Palette

Creme Royal(veluxe pearl), Paradisco(frost), Stylin'(velvet), Lucky Tom(lustre)

This palette is probably my favorite. However, a few of the colors are a little difficult. Paradisco is a gorgeous color, but it has horrible payoff. To get it to show up, you'll need a good base and a heavy hand. Also, Stylin' is a little on the chalky side (as some velvet colors are) and you'll also need a good base and a heavy hand to get it to show up bright. It's also nice worn more sheer as well though.

...and the dupes...
(ok, with this one I got a little excited)
(Paradisco is in the permanent line)
top row: Nylon, Climate Blue(limited edition), Carbon
middle row: Ricepaper, Parfait Amour, Mont Black (limited edition)
(bottom row is Lucky Tom palette)

Surprisingly, Parfait Amour actually looks closer to Stylin' than Climate Blue does in person. However, because of the frost, it didn't really photograph similar at all in my opinion. Again, while the color grouping is nice in the palette, you can easily create a similar look with these duplicate colors.

Beauty Powder ($22.00)

Tahitian Sand
(warm, pale peach with a light sheen)

Beauty Powders have never been my favorite. They don't really deposit a lot of color, and they're really not supposed to. I use this one as a setting powder with a big fluffy brush to add a bit of brightness to my face since it's similar to my skin tone. I also use it on my cheeks, forehead and chin to add a bit of brightness. I didn't get the pink one because I have a similar pink Beauty Powder and I really don't use these that often. Honestly, the only reason I got this is because I couldn't resist the cute embossed design in the powder itself.
(The swatch isn't worth showing...it doesn't show up on my hand) :)


Beauty Powder Blush ($18.00)

Tippy

I LOVE Beauty Powder Blushes. They have the smoothest formula with soft pearl particles. None have ever disappointed me. This one is no exception. It's a very nice bright pink that would work on so many different skin tones. It can be applied sheer for lighter skin tones, however, is pigmented enough to be easily applied to darker skin as well and look great. I skipped Fun & Games which is a peachy shade, but since I love BPB's so much, I have a feeling I might pick it up soon before it sells out!



Lipstick ($14.00)

Cute-Ster (lustre)

This is really the only color that caught my eye. It's a very wearable peachy pink. It's extremely sheer and doesn't deposit much actual color, but it leaves a really nice shine and sparkle to the lips. Again, the embossed design on the actual product sucked me in! I probably would have skipped the lipsticks all together if they didn't have that little added touch.

Lipglass ($14.00)

She Loves Candy

The lipglass colors in this collection were gorgeous in the containers, but overall, I found them to be disappointing. They were really sheer, which I usually like, but they were too much like other colors I already have or I didn't care for the color. So I decided to get this one because it was pretty and pink and I really wanted at least one!

swatches:
She Loves Candy(top), Cute-Ster(bottom)

Tinted Lip Conditioner ($14.50)

Pink Fish, Popster

These were, in my opinion, the best products in the collection. Super pigmented, very moisturizing, beautiful colors. Perfect. Pink Fish is my favorite. I went back to purchase a back-up of Pink Fish, only to realize I was given Popster by mistake. But it worked out for the best because I LOVE Popster too!

swatches:
Pink Fish(top), Popster(bottom)

Nail Polish ($11.00)

On the Prowl (cream)

This is a really light gray. Nothing fancy. It's a cream formula, which means there's no shimmer or frost to it. I thought it was the most unique out of the three shades. The pink was too much like several other pinks I own and the white was just, well, white.


Makeup Bag and Petite Makeup Bag ($35.00 & $22.00)

I really wanted one of these bags so bad but never got one. When we returned from vacation, my mom surprised me and had picked them up for me! Gotta love mom's and V-day surprises. thanks mom<3

check out the cute pink satin lining...

Hello Kitty Lash ($12.00)
I love these lashes. Mostly because they are more of a half-lash style.
(Just for comparison, you can see the true size of the small makeup bag because the lashes are sitting on top of it. It's very small!)

Expect a tutorial (or 2) featuring some of these products soon!

READ MORE - MAC Hello Kitty Review and Swatches!