April Favorites

-St.Ives Fresh Skin Invigorating Apricot Scrub

This scrub has been an absolute staple in my skin care routine throughout the month of April, and I find myself using it before bed every other day. Full review!

-Bath & Body Works Butterfly Flower Fragrance Mist

I love the smell of this so much, it SCREAMS Spring time! Its a little alcohol-y at first, but I've been spraying it in my hair and I get the best little floral whiffs throughout the day!

-Bath & Body Works Butterfly Flower Body Lotion

Pairing this with the fragrance mist has been my go-to smell for April! You'll smell like you just stepped out of a garden, perfect for Spring.

-Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

I have SATs next Saturday, not to mention AP tests are going on the first two weeks of May, so as you can imagine I've been lacking in the sleep department! I've been swiping this from my mom on mornings when I'd rather die than get out of bed (which seems like all of them lately!) and I love the little cooling roller ball, it really soothes the morning puffies!

-Wet N Wild Color Icon Blusher in "Mellow Wine"

I love to wear bright colors in the Spring, so I want my makeup to look pretty natural and I love this blush for doing so! It is very pigmented, but I find it hard to mess up on those half-awake mornings since it has more of a brown tone to it than your typical pink blushes.

-L'oreal HIP Jelly Balm in "Savory"

I love the whole coral lip trend, but I'm not brave enough to step out in full-on orange lips. So instead, I opt to go with my sheer Jelly Balm gloss; I can follow trends and still be in my comfort zone! Full Review!

-Too Faced Shadow Insurance

I was on the fence about how well this actually worked at the beginning of the month, but I've found the right amount that keeps my shadows from creasing all day and I think this is going to be a favorite of mine for a long, long time!

-Softlips Mint With A Hint Of Vanilla SPF 20

Everyone always raves about Softlips, and I'm beginning to know why! Although I'm not a fan of the packaging for this brand, I love the smell and how tingly it makes my lips! Softlips has been the only thing saving my lips from their normal cracked state lately!

-Mac Lipstick in "Creme D'Nude"

I didn't wear this much when I got it back in February, but I've been loving this lately to keep my look balanced when I want to play up my eyes! I'm sad the nude lips trend seems to be fading, but I'll be whipping this baby out come Fall!

-COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume in "Blackest Black"

Now I completely understand why people consider this a holy grail product! Up until I started using this, I thought all mascaras were just clumpy and would flake no matter what, but I must say COVERGIRL, you've changed my mind completely!

Wal-Mart Haul

I picked up a few little jems on my last Wal-Mart run that I thought I'd share with you even though I'm happy with about 1 out of 4 purchases haha!:

 -Maybelline Fit Me Blush in "Medium Coral"

I still had a coupon for any Maybelline Fit Me product from my lovely little Wal-Mart samples, so since I already had the foundation I decided I wanted to try these blushes! I have to say thumbs up for Maybelline on the packaging for this line, its much sleek-er than any other drugstore brands I've seen. I'm kind of kicking myself over buying this because when I got home I realized it looks an awful lot like my Wet N Wild Color Icon Blusher in "Mellow Wine" that I just bought in a Rite Aid Haul with a tad more pink. But hey, shame on you Wal-Mart, you should have had a bigger color selection

-L'oreal Wear Infinite Studio Secrets Professional Eyeshadow in "Autumn Leaves" for Blue Eyes

First off, I'd like to point out how much of a mouthful that is in case you didn't already notice! I know L'oreal's H.I.P. eyeshadows are supposed to be really good, but I leaned towards this since it was on sale and I had a coupon. I liked the colors of this quad in the store since they look really bronze-y, I figured I could get away with a lot of summer looks using these shadows. But I must say, I've only used these eyeshadows once and am kicking myself again, they're pretty terrible (chalky, hard to blend, not pigmented)! Sheesh, it just wasn't my day at Wal-Mart, but you win some and you lose some

-St.Ives Fresh Skin Make-Up Remover & Facial Cleanser

I'm on such a St.Ives kick after loving their Apricot Scrub! I saw this on the St.Ives website and really wanted to get it since I don't have a makeup remover and I've never really heard much about this one from the beauty community. I've had the chance to use this a couple of times, and I love it so much I'm beginning to think I should try all the St.Ives products!The only issue I had is this one particular cleanser was super hard to find, I looked at least three different places before coming across this one, and it was the last on the shelf

 -Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara in "Black Organics"

 If you haven't already heard about the Physicians Formula $5 coupon going around, get it now! I honestly didn't think I would get any use out of that coupon since all Physicians Formula products are pretty expensive, but if you really look through their stuff you can get away with $1.00 and $2.00 items. Plus that coupon can be printed as many times as you want, and its good until June 15, 2011, so stock up and keep them in your wallet. Wal-Mart didn't have a great selection of the cheaper Physicians Formula products (go to Rite Aid if you want some super good values) but this mascara was there for $8.00, which means I got it for a steal $3.00 and that's a good value for any mascara let alone Physicians Formula! I've heard nothing but good things about this since people who went to the Beautylish event got it in their gift bags. I'm excited to try this out, but I'm a little bummed I got it in the color "Black Organics" and not "Ultra Black Organics" but there's probably no noticeable difference

St.Ives Fresh Skin Invigorating Apricot Scrub

Application

Moisten face with water. Dispense product onto fingertips and massage over face. Rinse with water. Avoid direct contact with eyes. In case of contact with eyes, flush thoroughly with water. For best results, use 3 to 4 times per week.

Product Claims

Oil-free • Non-irritating • dermatologist-tested • 100% natural exfoliants • 100% natural extracts • Formulated without parabens and phthalates • Made without animal ingredients • Not tested on animals

Key Ingredients

APRICOTS are known to contain one of the highest levels of carotenoids (think vitamin A) and super-effective antioxidants. All of this natural power might seem, well, too powerful, but they are actually quite gentle and nourishing and they help make fresher, more nourished skin beautifully possible.

CORN KERNEL MEAL is actually flour ground from dried corn. It’s a soft, but gently powerful all-natural exfoliant that promotes skin cell turnover and regeneration. Cornmeal makes softer-feeling, fresher skin possible.

WALNUT is known for its hard shell, but when it’s ground, it becomes an amazingly effective, all-natural exfoliant ingredient in our scrubs. Not only are walnuts plentiful on the planet, they also help newer, healthier skin come to the surface.

 Pros: The packaging of St.Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub is really cute/simple with no fuss, and it looks cute sitting on my bathroom counter. It smells delicious, just like apricots and no chemically scent like some other facial products. This scrub is formulated without anything from animals, its not tested on animals, there's no parabens/phthalates, and there's a lot of natural ingredients, so if those are things you look for in your skin care, this is a good candidate for you. St.Ives Invigorating Scrub is always faily cheap at any drugstore, nothing that will break the bank. The Apricot Scrub has multiple purposes, don't let it fool you into thinking its just for your face! I love using this on my feet as it takes away all the rough skin especially on the soles, and it makes the perfect exfoliator for your legs before shaving so you get a closer shave/it will keep your legs smoother longer. You can essentially use this anywhere on your body!

 Cons: You would have to be living under a rock to have not heard about all the controversy surrounding St.Ives Apricot Scrubs! Some people claim that it makes tiny tears in their skin and is just way more destructive than helpful (my opinion on the debate: the people who have experienced those problems just have sensitive skin). The little scrubby pieces always have a way of getting themselves into my mouth when I wash my face with this, but its mostly made of food products so its no big deal. Since the St.Ives Apricot Scrub is so thick, it is pretty hard to make sure you get it all off your face.
 

Overall: I think if you have skin like mine (oily, not sensitive) you will absolutely love this scrub as much as I do because your skin type will actually be able to handle how rough it is! I know St.Ives also makes an Apricot Scrub for sensitive skin, so make sure to grab that one if you don't think your skin likes it rough!

Urban Decay Primer Potions In A Tube?!

Huh, I was browsing around Sephora's "Just Arrived" section and came across the all the Urban Decay Primer Potions, but in the tube? 

I'm not talking about the professional size, but here, Sephora is actually selling Urban Decay Primer Potion in a regular sized tube (its exclusive to them, for now at least).

The tube packaging is definitely not as cute as the potion (and a dollar more expensive), but its nice to know Urban Decay actually listened to all their customers.

I never considered buying Urban Decay Primer Potion because of the whole depotting issue, but hey, maybe I'll give it a try now and do a little Two Faced Shadow Insurance comparison of my own.

Here's all the information from Sephora:

Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube
What it is:
An eye shadow primer that preps, brightens, and provides all-day wear.

What it does:
Packaged in a new squeeze tube with a precise needle nose, these bestselling primer potions glide effortlessly onto the skin providing the ultimate eye prep for smoother, more vibrant shadow and all-day, creaseless wear. The original, award-winning formula disappears completely when applied—ideal for the purist who wants a straightforward primer. Eden, Greed, and Sin work triple-duty as primers, highlighters, or eye shadows. If you want to avoid shimmer, Eden provides a matte, nude wash of color. Greed and Sin both feature a sensual shimmer that makes eyes pop. Formulated in an array of textures, the shades in this line truly offer something for everyone.

What else you need to know:
The squeeze tube version of this product is exclusive to Sephora for a limited time.

 Size: 0.37 oz

Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube - Original
What it is:
A sheer nude eye shadow primer.

What it does:
Packaged in a new squeeze tube with a precise needle nose, Eyeshadow Primer Potion is an ultra-sheer, totally nude base that glides onto the skin. The original, award-winning formula disappears instantly and is the ultimate eye prep for smoother, more vibrant shadow and all-day wear with absolutely no creasing.

What else you need to know:
The squeeze tube version of this product is exclusive to Sephora for a limited time. 

Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube - Eden
What it is:
A tawny matte eye shadow primer.
What it does:
Packaged in a new squeeze tube with a precise needle nose, this triple-duty product also works as a highlighter or eye shadow. Perfect for more mature customers or those who want to avoid shimmer, this versatile shade instantly brightens the eyes and provides the ultimate prep for creaseless, more vibrant shadow and all-day wear.

What else you need to know: The squeeze tube version of this product is exclusive to Sephora for a limited time.

Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube - Greed
What it is:
A shimmering gold eye shadow primer.

What it does:
This primer makes color more vibrant and lasting without any creasing. Try a sexy glimmer applied at inner corners of eyes, or wear it alone to transform your eyelids into those of a fierce seductress. This potion even works as a radiant brow bone highlighter, and can add a golden sheen underneath any eye shadow.

What else you need to know:
The squeeze tube version of this product is exclusive to Sephora for a limited time.

Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube - Sin
What it is:
A shimmering champagne eye shadow primer.

What it does:
Packaged in a new squeeze tube with a precise needle nose, this triple-duty product also works as a highlighter or eye shadow. The bestselling champagne shade is soft, versatile, and provides the ultimate eye prep for creaseless, more vibrant shadow and all-day wear.

What else you need to know:
The squeeze tube version of this product is exclusive to Sephora for a limited time.

Photo by Temptalia

Photo by Temptalia

Original, Eden, Greed, Sin; Photo by Temptalia

Rite Aid Haul

I took a little trip to Rite Aid the other day to take advantage of some of their weekly sales, and though I'd share some of the goodies I got with you guys :):

-St.Ives Apricot Scrub Invigorating

It was BOGO free on all St.Ives products last week, so I bought the ever so famous Apricot Scrub and another one for my mom because they had a pretty sad selection of St.Ives products

-Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in 270 "Lacey Lilac"

 I discovered my lack of pastel colored nail polishes the other day when trying to pick a color for my toes, so I just grabbed a nice light purple color for my feet

-Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye Liner Pencil in "161 Black Magic"

All sorts of Rimmel products were dumped in the depths of the Rite Aid clearance box, so I'm wondering if that company is going out of business, or possibly re-doing their packaging? I've had some not so great experiences with Rimmel Special Eyes liners before, but I just couldn't pass it up when on clearance 

-Wet N Wild Color Icon Blusher in "Mellow Wine", "Heather Silk", and "Berry Shimmer"

The Wet n Wild products were 40% off, so I went ahead and picked up these blushes since I've never really been a big blush person and I'm trying to get into it, plus I've heard great reviews on these from fellow beauty bloggers, so I have some pretty high expectations!

Grocery Store Score!

My mom and I were at our local grocery store the other day trying to get the weeks meals sorted out, and it was taking a super long time, so I really needed to use the bathroom, which low and behold happens to be right next to the clearance rack :). 

Nothing is really ever on that rack except old dented soups and ripped cereal boxes, plus there's usually a bunch of elderly people hogging it up so I never really give it much attention. 

But this time, the coast was clear with not a grey haired person in sight, and there was this lonely little Maybelline Fit Me foundation sitting on the rack with a little sticker screaming 

"HI, I'M ONLY $3.75, TAKE ME HOME WITH YOU!".

Psha, I had to give it a home right?

I took it into the bathroom to take a look in the mirror, and whaddya know, it was my shade :).

I wasn't ever really planning on getting this foundation because I've heard a lot of reviews saying that it makes your face oily, and I have the world's most oily skin, so not a match made in heaven. But I think I'm going to form my own $3.75 opinion :).

I had gotten samples of the Maybelline Fit me foundation line a while back from Wal-Mart in the mail that came with a lovely little $1 off any Fit me product but I have yet to get around to testin' it out.

I'm liking the classy drugstore foundation look, I hope all the other brands catch on too!

I probably won't start experimenting with this until summer, so I'll make sure to do a long review on it for you guys.

COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Pure Romance

This collection of great shades is handpicked by our makeup pros and designed to make your eye look go from day to night. They blend effortlessly to bring your eyes out beautifully, without overshadowing. Experiment using them together or as single shades.

• Matte, pearl, and sparkle shades
• Handpicked by our makeup pros to make your eye look go from day to night
• Blends easily without overshadowing 

   How To Apply: 

1. Dust the second-lightest shadow in your 4-Kit palette from your lash line to brow line.

2. Blend the second-darkest shade along the crease of your eyes. 

3. Run the darkest shade along your upper and lower lash lines. 

4. Blend and highlight the lid and brow bone with the lightest shade.

I bought this COVERGIRL quad at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago for about $4.84 since I'm trying to expand my eyeshadow collection without breaking the bank! Of all the different quads in the store, I thought Pure Romance would nice for spring since its filled with a nice pastel pink and a shimmery brown. When I wear this quad, I put the lightest pink all over the lid, the purple shade in the crease, the white as a highlight under the brow bone/the inner corner, and the dark shimmery brown as eyeliner on my lower lashline. I didn't really like the look I got from this shadows together, as the purple color looks a little bruise-y on the eye, and I'm not really into the whole "I just got decked look"! But I find that the colors work really well on their own. I love the shimmery white, it makes a great highlight and gives off a glow-y effect when you catch the light plus it really brightens up the inner corner.The other color I also get regular use out of is the brown. At first I thought it was going to have to much shimmer to be used as liner on my lower lashline, but the shimmer doesn't transfer very well and its become an everyday staple in my eye routine!

Pros: Can't beat the $4.84 price tag! These shadows are really soft and I haven't had any trouble blending them out. I always wear this quad with my Two Faced Shadow Insurance and haven't had a problem with getting them to last through the day (7-ish hours of wear in a sweaty school). You can tell from the swatches that there isn't much color payoff, but I love that since it makes it super hard to mess up!

Cons: Since these shadows are so soft, you have to be gentle when dipping a brush in otherwise you'll get a powder-y mess (made that mistake the first couple times I used this quad!). These shadows have pretty weak pigmentation, even the dark brown color requires a few swipes. The little plastic/foam applicator is useless, I wish drugstore makeup companies would pick up on the fact that people just throw those away and stop including them, it would make me feel less wasteful!

Overall: I think these would be great for someone who's just starting with eyeshadow, or even if you're a pro these are a cheap way to expand your collection!

OPI Nice Stems! Summer 2011 Collection

Stop and see the flowers with summer’s Nice Stems! by OPI, a limited edition collection featuring four new nail lacquers in stunning shades of pink. With whimsical names based on their floral inspirations, these vibrant, flirty colors range from pale, frosty pink to rich fuchsia.  Nice Stems! offers fingers and toes a perfectly pink shade for all of summer’s looks.

                  “These vibrant, feminine hues complement 60’s ladylike fashions, 70’s glam looks, and bold color-blocking, which are the season’s staples,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “The Nice Stems! collection also offers an interesting contrast and feminine accent to the punk and biker looks on the runways.”

                Nice Stems! by OPI shades include:

U.S./Canada Launch Date: June 2011
International Launch Date: June 2011

 $8.50 a piece

Play The Peonies; Come To Poppy; Be A Dahlia Won't You?; I Lilly Love You

  

• Play The Peonies "We’d put our money on this lovely soft-pink."
• Come To Poppy "Surrender to shine with this shimmering coral-pink."
• Be A Dahlia Won't You? "Give the gift of fabulous fuchsia—to yourself!"
•  I Lilly Love You "Fall head over heels with this light pink sparkle."

“Using different micas and glitters can give lacquer a 3-dimensional look,” adds Weiss-Fischmann.  “I Lily Love You is a glitter coat that can be layered over any of the other three shades to add a bright sparkle; or, it can be worn on its own for a subtle tint of pink with strands of glitter.”

The Nice Stems! Nail Lacquers by OPI contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. 

This limited edition Nice Stems! collection will be available beginning June 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

 So what do you guys think of this new OPI Collection? It's so small, I think they could've had a lot more fun with this and used all different types of flowers like daisies or azaleas, there's a lot of possibilities! But who knows, maybe they'll add more as we get into the summer months. So let me know which colors strike you fancy, I know I've got my eye on that shimmery pink, I Lilly Love You!

COVERGIRL Clean Limited Edition Compacts

On the year that marks the Brand’s 50th anniversary, COVERGIRL Clean introduces limited edition Clean pressed powder compacts, available in African-inspired prints. Through COVERGIRL’s partnership with Children’s Safe Drinking Water, each limited edition Clean compact purchased provides a week’s worth of clean drinking water for a child in Africa, for a donation of up to $50,000.
COVERGIRL Limited Edition Clean Compact is available now at Food and Drug retailers until supplies last, and available at WalMart starting in June 2011.

Photo by Nouveau Cheap

Photo by Nouveau Cheap

What do you think of these new compacts, better than the original packaging?

MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder Summer 2011 Collection

In the height of the summer swelter, who doesn’t crave, to suddenly feel, look and be cooler – shine, oil and heat – all gone! you’ve longed for it. And now it’s captured! Mac Magically Cool Liquid Powder. An alchemical fusion that charms water droplets into a loose powder while remaining over 50 percent H2O. The feather light silky powder goes on with the refreshing impact of an ocean mist.
What’s more, this magical melange contains just enough optical blurring via it’s light diffusing pigments to render the skins surface into line softened. natural luminosity. A cool-to-be-cool way to set, and enhance, the look of foundation. For the bare-faced, there’s the reward of natural radiance. During it’s earlier limited edition launch, it was hailed by cognoscenti wanting to stay covertly cool and perfectly collected. This time round it’s here to stay. How magical is that?

U.S./Canada Launch Date: May 5, 2011
International Launch Date: May 2011

All Items Are Permanent

Magically Cool Liquid Powder:

$29.50

• Truth and Light Sheer shimmer that reflects silver and pink
• Honey Rose Sheer rosy beige with multi-dimensional shimmer
• Cajun Sheer bronze shimmer that reflects gold

Brushes:

• 187 Duo Fibre $42.00

Will this be one of your summer essential products?

MAC And Sephora Haul

MAC:

Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 in NW20

I asked the woman at the MAC counter to recommend a concealer that would be really thick and do a good job at covering up blemishes/my discoloration. She told me about the Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35, tried out a few colors, and told me NW20 would suite my skin the best. I wasn't expecting anything spectacular since the makeup artists never put on enough product when trying things on in the store because they don't want to risk it looking cake-y, but I was amazed to see that all of the little blemishes and discoloration were completely GONE! I've always struggled with finding concealers that will cover up the unsightly dark blue marks on my face from picking at my acne (such a bad habit!) because most makeup artists have told me there's no way to completely cover it up. But I find that if I put a few layers of the Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 on, it's like liquid skin; this is my first ever holy grail makeup item!

Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in N5

 My mom actually bought this foundation a while ago, and her skin has looked so good ever since! So when I went to MAC, I knew this foundation was a perfect fit for me, especially since I have oily skin and powder is pretty much the only thing I can wear! So I asked the makeup artist (who was such a sweetheart by the way, none of that you-look-young-so-I'm-going-to-be-snotty crap!) to match me to a color, and she said I could either wear NW25 or N5. I was surprised because I thought I would have been NW20 like my concealer? But I guess not! My mom's color is actually NW25, so I opted against that because I think she's way darker than me (plus it would probably come across orange-y on my skin!). I should've asked the makeup artist to

try out N5 on my skin before I bought it, but luckily it's my absolute perfect match, so she has a good eye! So far, I'm absolutely loving this powder!

  Lipstick in Creme d'Nude

I knew when I went to MAC that I really wanted to get a nude lipstick, but I just wasn't sure which one would work for me! The makeup artist tried out a bunch and we both came to the conclusion that Creme d'Nude looks the best since it has peach undertones so I wouldn't get the "concealer lips" look (which I honestly want to try just putting concealer on my lips for a look!). I had previously looked at this color online, and it didn't really appeal to me since you can tell from the picture above, it looks too pink and dark to actually be a nude (lesson learned that you really need to look at things up close and personal!). This color has become one of my go-to lip products for the Spring and I'm so glad I picked it up!

Sephora:
Two Faced Shadow Insurance

Two Faced Shadow Insurance has been on my list for such a long time! I kept debating between this and the Urban Decay Primer Potion, but the whole "depotting" aspect to the Primer Potion really put me off, so I decided on Shadow Insurance! At first I really didn't think it kept my shadows on any longer than they would without a primer, but I found that I need more than just a little speck due to my oily skin! Now I really love this eye primer, and I'm glad I picked this over Urban Decay!

Be on the lookout for reviews on all these products!