Product Spotlight: Love it or Hate it?

Ever notice your makeup is kinda like your closet in a sense when its like "I have nothing to wear!" I see posts like this all the time and I think it is a really good way to bring those products back to life and also a great way to save your money! So these are those makeup products that I bought and I don't nearly use them as much as I should be. I am determined to shop my own stock and bring those diamonds in the rough back to life!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember this palette from icing? I didn't! great pigment, great price, great colors, hasn't been touched since! I think this would be great for a really dramatic smokey eye. Lately, I have been putting some black eye shadow over my liner (which I am so glad I picked that tip up! It makes your line look even black-er) & this black would be perfect b/c my other black shadow is shimmery as this one is matte. I am a bit scared of blue shadow, I think its because I am better with warm colors, but I think the dark blue would be really nice for an outer corner color, no? On top of all of that, the packaging is adorable!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara - I actually hated this mascara when I first got it. I thought the formula was too watery and I wasn't a huge fan of the brush. I have done a complete 180 because I have been using it the last 2 days and actually loving it. My lashes are thick and long so I don't like lots of clumps on my lashes. This stuff really separates my lashes and I love the brush now. See, thats what happens when you start shopping your stash.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garnier Fructis Roller Ball- I just wanted to mention this because I had really high hopes for this since everybody talks about it, but I am sorry - I really don't see much of a change in my under-eye area. I really wanted to like this stuff, but I just don't. I still use it hoping it might be doing something that I am not even aware of, so I still have hope, I suppose.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark.Celestial Eyes in Mint Sky- It's a cream shadow and even tho it is looking a little dried up, once rubbed between my finger to warm it up for a couple of seconds, it is still good to go- for me anyways. Keep in mind that I bought this in like March. I think these would be really good as a base. Cream shadows are perfect to pair with the same colors of the powder shadow to make your look really pop

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This next one is def. a diamond in the rough. I cant barely read who/what it is but I managed to figure it out Rimmel's Kiss & Stay. I bought this when I was a dancer a couple years ago, I can probably just go ahead and toss it if I wanted....but I don't want to! It is a really beautiful color, a bold pink that is perfect for a night on the town, since I don't dance anymore. I pulled it out and swatched it to see if it still had the staying power it did, and let me tell you, it does! I have never seen anything cling to me like this stuff does. Water will not take this stuff off. I used my Clinique makeup remover to take this stuff of but I think soap and water will do, but you may have to scrub a bit. Not majorly or anything but it does "kiss & stay".  If you try to take it off with just water, the water will run right off of the product and as you scrub it will kind of feel rubbery, you know what I mean? Although a little annoying, I think its a good thing, held up to their promise. Thanx Rimmel!

(left)swatch I left on while I slept (didn't attempt to wash it off) (right) swatch that I swatched 1 minute before I took the picture

Is there anything that you are bringing back to life? What about tossing it and never looking back? let me know in the comments! Thanx for reading!

Heads Up on the Sigma Give-Away, Guys!

 

 click me!!

if you wanna come back to my blog to click on the link,  it will be in my left side bar (: good luck ladies!!

Dear John, Will You Marry Me?

I am in love & I dont care who knows it! -Buddy the Elf. 

I am talking about John Frieda and his awesome Full Splendor Conditioner for Luxurious Volume. Remember my CVS haul? If you do, you may remember that I did have high hopes for this and I really was looking for a good conditioner as I do have really dead-ends. Even tho this conditioner isnt esp. for damaged hair, it does help it.

My hair type is thick, curly/wavy, frizzy (at times), damaged, & color treated. I usually buy shampoos and conditioners that add volume even tho my hair is pretty voluminous, I think I can credit that to the products I use. Including this one. John's promise to us Voluminous sisters:

"Builds fullness at the roots, strengthens and conditions where needed for silky, full-bodied hair."

&

Usage: I squeeze a palm full of this stuff in my....well, palm (lol). My hair goes a couple inches past my shoulders. I always start at the roots and really concentrate on my ends first.(that is where I need the most care), and then whatever I have left over put just below my scalp. Putting any products on your scalp can make your hair greasy faster and its not good for it. I apply at the beginning of my shower and right when im about to get out, I rinse it out. Even my wet hair is soft! This shit rocks.

After I do blow dry my hair out it is much softer. I am not joking when I say that my hair has never been that soft in my life. No fly-aways or tangles. My hair is easier to style & get volume. I am not saying once you get out of the shower, you are going to have volume. You obviously do need to blow-dry as you would to get volume, but this stuff def. helps. I don't use another volumizing product after my shower w/ John Frieda.

Thats not even the best part of this product- it did really target my damaged areas, which are my ends.I was expecting more volume than mending but I actually got alot more tlc than I thought I was going to get. If you have split ends- grab this stuff!

Availability/Price: It was on sale for $5.29 with the original price of $7.29.It is readily available at any drug-store and even some salons because it is a higher end brand but the only complaint I do have is how much you actually get. I think you should get a couple more fluid ounces for that price. I have long hair! I need a lot of conditioner! I have used it about 4x and I have about 2 more uses out of it.

Consistency/Scent: Of course it smells so good like any other conditioner and yes the smell of my hair did linger into the second day so that is a good thing. I would say it's about as thick as any other conditioner. If I am comparing it to Wen conditioner, the Wen is much thicker. another FYI.

So end result is even tho it is targeted to volume & not for split-end mending, I think it does help with your dead hair, as promised, as well as volume. I love this conditioner (can you tell?) I just feel like you should get a little more for the money you are paying for it! luckily mine was on sale and I think I can hopefully catch it on sale whenever I need it.

Beauty Blog Link Love

So I got to blogspot today, just like I do everyday, I started clicking on almost every blog on the reading list like it was nobodies business! lots of fun stuff to read about today so here's my:

Life as a Southern Girl is all about a good deal so be sure to check her out to see what she thinks of Neutrogena's Fight & Fade toner.

Recently discovered blog is Carlinn at Superficial Girls which is a really awesome fashion blog with beautiful pictures too! The girl has got a serious fashion sense, today on her blog she shows you Four Ways to Wear

Over at Fairytale Kiss, Jade from South Hampton, UK puts together a really cute collage using items from Prodigy Red for a festival look- you guys know I love collages! like Jade mentions, its a great way to shop guilt free!

On Elles Makeup Blog, she really reminds us to get back to basics! Check out her easy, yet useful tips here.

I am a huge candle lover!! If you are a candle junkie like me, check out Bath & Body Works new candles for the fall over at  NouveauCheap. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies candle?!? oh my gosh, yes please!

I know this is a beauty blog and all but I am in love with food blogs! esp. the dessert ones! That is why I love this post on white chocolate recipes because even tho im on my diet, I kick my sweet tooth craving just by looking at these Bites From Other Blogs over at Love From the Oven- white chocolate mousse, frozen white hot chocolate, white chocolate brownies?!? I am so there!

Shalynn over at Makeup Bliss re-created Makeup Geek's Berry Mojito Look and she did an awesome job! Great FOTD! 

I wanted to keep it even more interesting and I grabbed some really cool articles and videos off of beautylish so I hope you enjoy these too

• An article on the Best Stretch Mark Remover Creams 
• If your ready for the London Look, check out this article on all the latest summer essentials that Rimmel launched this season
• Sexy Party Hair Tutorials. I love the Katy Perry Inspired one, don't you?
• Needing some Evening Makeup Inspiration anybody?

Just a little update on the blog as you guys can tell by the lack of hauls I haven't been shopping really compulsively but I have bought some stuff and tested it out so I have lots of reviews coming up, lots of different conditioners & face wash actually. There are some holy grail products omg I am so exited to talk about them! I don't wanna spoil the surprise and tell you guys know! Everybody likes surprises right? (I don't haha) I also have a FOTD coming up I am exited about!

Remember to leave a good link if you have seen anything interesting lately!

OOTD: Pefect Spring Day

Yes, I know it's not spring guys! This was actually done in June when it started getting nice out in Ohio, this was the last day I wore long sleeves: 

Shoes- I got them at Burlington Coat Factory not sure of the brand!
Jeans- Fire Jeans the Lisa Skinny Jean- I think I got em at Penney's
Tank Top & Sweater are from Old Navy
Necklace- Body Central

please forgive the aim of this "photo-shoot" as my mom took them and didn't really "zoom-in" to see my outfit as a whole! so I hope you guys enjoyed it anyways! And I will get better with my OOTD pictures, its just hard because I am not the one taking them! (:

so yeah just a small quick post, it has been so busy around here! how is everyone else enjoying their summer? Be sure to link your OOTD in the comments! thanx for reading guys!

Im Loving...

I have been seeing so many cute shoes that I just had to do a post like this!

1. Tuesday Turquoise from Shoe dazzle- here's what I would wear with these shoes: the color blocking concept I am in love with- With this outfit idea, I think I would have to choose one to wear: either the belt or bracelets!

2. Mojo Moxi in Poppy from Bakers- These are favorite ones out of the bunch!

3. Victoria G from Bakers-

4. Marco Santi shoes from Sole Society-

One more thing: This song! if you watch Teen mom, then you know this song- I love it! It is so soothing and beautiful-

what is everybody else loving? thanx for reading!

You Guys Wanna See Whats in my Birchbox?

Im sure you do if you clicked this, so here we go! This month the Birchbox decided to have their first every guest curator, designer Cynthia Rowley. All of these products are her must-haves and let me just tell you, the girl has great taste! I know I say it every time, but this seriosuly is the best Birchbox yet!

ybf beauty automatic eyebrow pencil- I have seen this product time and time again on HSN and I have always wanted to try it, considering my obsession with eye brows. When I seen it in my Birchbox you can imagine how exited I was to try it out! I really like this, my brows look really natural.

 philosophy purity made simple face wash- this stuff has such a great reputation! my aunt stands by this face wash- so exited to try it!!

redken shine flash- another great pick! I tried it, and yes it does make my hair shiny, and it dosen't feel like there's a bunch of product in my hair

korres shower gel- this is something I haven't heard of since Birchbox

So I would say the thing I am most exited for is the ybf brow pencil! I am so exited about that one just because I have seen it so much on hsn and ive wanted to try it out! I also am really happy I got the redken shine flash (that bottle a $10 bottle people!) and also the philosophy face wash. If you get a Birchbox, what did you get in yours this month? if not, sign up! and don't forget to mention that Erica sent yah!