YayBlogger.com
BLOGGER TEMPLATES

Thursday, January 31, 2013

OPI Mariah Carey Collection ("Stay the Night" Liquid Sand Review)

I recently picked up "Stay the Night" from Mariah Carey's OPI Collection. It is described online as a brownish/red, but it's more like a blackish/red to me. I put it on my toes because there was no way I was going to put it on my fingernails, but I assumed correctly that it will be hard as hell to get off. You aren't supposed to use a topcoat, because that would defeat the sandy texture. There are 4 regular polishes and 4 sand polishes in the collection. I'm not at all impressed with the one I purchased, and I won't be purchasing any more from her line (probably because I really just don't like Mariah Carey and don't want to support her with my $8...LOL) But in reality, it's just meh. The color is interesting in that it's not really red but not really black. The texture is just what it implies...it feels like sandpaper, not much different than a very fine glitter without a topcoat. I've also noticed that the polish can be "scraped" off by dragging something across your nail. It's just a very odd texture. I'm just not loving it, and I doubt I ever even pull it out of my polish bag again after tonight. Here are some stock photos I found online of the polish collection and the polish I used tonight. I thought I'd spare you all pictures of my toes.   The top row polishes are just regular polishes:


 Top Row
 1) Pink Yet Lavender--a glitter polish with micro lavender glitter and hexagon shaped larger pink glitter
2) A Butterfly Moment--a frosted nude/pink shimmer
3) Sprung--a duochrome metallic coppery bronze
4) Anti-Bleak--a reddish-purple creme

Bottom Row (Sands--meant to be worn without topcoat to show texture)
5) Can't Let Go--sand textured purple matte base with glitter
6) Get Your Number--sand textured blue matte base with glitter
7) The Impossible--sand textured bright pink with glitter (looks red here, but it's pink)
8) Stay the Night--sand textured black/red with glitter
 


Stock photo of #8, the one I purchased.




Swatches on false nails. You can see how pink "The Impossible" is here.


So, what's your take on the textured nail trend? Love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments!



Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Free Member's Only Sites (jacket not required)

Hey, lovelies! Today I wanted to share with you some great websites that offer discounted designer digs (from denim to makeup to vacation packages to purses to sunglasses to skincare to jewelry to shoes....you get it.) You have to become a member to enter, view, and purchase the items, but membership is FREE!!! You just have to be referred via email by an existing member. If anyone is interested in joining any of the sites I discuss, just post your email in the comments, send me a private message with your message, or send me a facebook message with your email. I love shopping on these sites. Shipping takes a little longer than when shopping directly from the stores, but it's totally worth it to get a pair of $400 sunglasses for $75. Each week they have different designers and items available. They also offer items for men, children, and the home. They even  have top designers like Chanel, Prada, Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, J Brand, Halston, and many more.

HauteLook

HauteLook is a member's only shopping site powered by Nordstrom. You have to be invited via email to join, but you can go to the site and view some examples of their deals in the background of the "become a member" page. I've ordered many times from this site, and as I said above, although shipping can sometimes take up to a month, it is worth it for the great deals you get. Here are some examples of today's deals:
M Missoni Textured Print Tank~~Regular Price $469 Sale Price $188
M Missoni Banded Button Up~~Regular Price $717 Sale Price $287
7 For All Mankind Kaylie Bootcut Jean~~Regular Price $225 Sale Price $98
Wolfgang Puck Trio Blender-Juicer-Processor~~Regular Price 200 Sale Price $85

Beyond the Rack

Beyond the Rack is another member's only site that is a lot like HauteLook. They also regularly have sales on preowned luxury items such as bags, luggage, watches, jewelry, scarves, etc, which is great for people who want a designer item but don't want to pay designer price, or even designer sale price. Right now they have this sale going on with items from Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Cartier, Tiffany, Bvlgari, Balenciaga, and many others.

Rue La La 

Rue La La is another great member's only shopping site. My favorite perk from this site is their shipping policy. You pay $9.99 for shipping and it's good for the entire month, so you can go back when new sales come up each day and purchase something without having to worry about paying shipping again.


I hope you check out these sites and find something you've always wanted, for a fraction of the cost!!!




I've been dying for 7 for All Mankind's Vintage California Super Flare, seen below on Heidi Klum, but they are from a few seasons ago and I can't find them anywhere. I ended up ordering a pair of A pockets in the same wash (second pic), but I still want that huge super flare. I have this wash in a pair of regular bootcuts, but I've worn the absolute hell out of them, so it's time for another pair. I'm still holding hope, because anything is possible. If I can find last season's Sam Edelman Pierce boot in both Whiskey AND Black in my size...anything is possible!

7 For all Mankind Superflare





7 For all Mankind A Pocket




Sam Edelman Pierce Boot in Whiskey (I searched for SIX MONTHS for these...I thought I was dreaming when I found them on 6pm.com! The black ones were easier to find. I found them on Amazon.com.








 And....here's Elena from The Vampire Diaries wearing the Whiskey pair.



 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Let's talk about shopping!

Hi, friends! I wanted to post this yesterday, but I didn't have time. Better late than never! I'm going to share with you some of my favorite online shopping sites. I don't work for or own any part of any of the sites I'm going to tell you about, I just have really enjoyed shopping at them, have had excellent customer service, and/or like their random online coupons they have!

First off, I want to say that you should NEVER order anything online without searching for a coupon code. Most sites have a little blank box for you to enter a promotional code or a coupon code. These codes are sometimes emailed to you if you're a member of their mailing list, but you can almost always find a code online if you search for it. My favorite site to find a coupon code is www.retailmenot.com. You can search for any kind of coupon you want from clothes, makeup, jewelry, groceries....anything. Just go to the search box and type in the name of the store you're looking for, and you'll get coupon codes. Some may be expired, some may be for a minimum purchase, some may be only if you use the store's credit card, but many times they don't have any restrictions. For example, you can search for Sephora coupon codes and today you'd find these codes. Always, always, ALWAYS search for coupon codes!!!! Never shop without searching for them!!!  Also, always sign up for emails from the shopping sites, because you can get emails regarding special sales and promotions!

Lindsay Lou Boutique 

My favorite online boutique to order from by far is Lindsay Lou. This is a boutique located in Scottsdale, AZ. They have great sales on a regular basis that I'm informed of via email, so sign up for their email list. They have all the brands that I love most, like Wildfox, Seven for All Mankind, Daftbird, and so on. My FAVORITE thing about this boutique is by far the fact that EVERY time I order something, I get a HAND WRITTEN THANK YOU on my receipt. In this day and age, that means a lot to me. This website is my go to website when shopping online. I'm not sure if it's a mistake, but they have a standing coupon code GRECHEN25 (spelled just like that) that gives you 25% off your entire purchase, all the time. So if you shop there and they aren't offering one of their other sales codes (usually for 33% off) then ALWAYS put in GRECHEN25, because you will get 25% off the purchase. See why I love them so much???

Boutique to You

Another favorite website of mine is Boutique to You. They have fast shipping and great customer service. Sign up for their emails to receive coupon codes and sales dates. They currently have a 10% off code listed at retailmenot.com. They have my favorite brands and also have a "Just Seen On" section, featuring celebrities, so you can see and purchase fashions worn by literally hundreds of different celebs. I think it's fun to see and be able to purchase brands made popular by celebs. Just my thing....I like it.

Singer 22 

Singer 22 is another favorite shopping site of mine. It's pretty much the same as those above. I like having different places to look for items in case I can find it cheaper or with a coupon code on a different site. 

Bauble Bar

For jewelry, Bauble Bar can't be beat. They have the cutest jewelry, and great prices. You can find anything your pretty little heart desires here!!!

Tobi

Tobi is a very affordable site that has super cute items. Shirts, sweaters, jewelry, jeans, etc. The best part? Every day, new arrivals are 30% off! So, on Monday, all the items that are new to the site that day are 30% off for 7 days. Tuesday, there will be a whole new set of new arrivals that will be 30% off along with the ones from Monday!!! The easiest way to think about it is that anything that was listed new on a given day will be 30% off for 7 days. So, the Monday sale will be over before the Tuesday sale, Tuesday will be over before Wednesday, and so on. It's really the best bang for your buck for super cute, affordable items!!!

Tomorrow I'm going to post about some sites that you have to join (for free) that have various discounted items ranging from clothing, furniture, jewelry, vacations, designer bags like Prada and Chanel, luggage, make up...you name it. These sites are private and you have to be invited by a member to join them, but they are free to join if you get an email invitation from a friend who is a member. I hope you all have a fabulous night!





Sunday, January 27, 2013

Closet makeover

I planned on writing a blog entry tonight about my favorite online shopping sites, some of which are just little boutiques that I order from frequently, some are more well known sites, but I ended up going to a friend's house to help her liberate her closet and let go of some clothes that she was holding on to for entirely too long. I'm talking "floor length straight fitted black velvet skirt" too long. ;) I will update the blog tomorrow with my favorite shopping sites, clothing brands, denim brands, and so on. I will be able to put more thought and time into it tomorrow. Thanks, dollfaces!

Also, here is a facebook page dedicated to my friend's blog, AmazeBlog. Check out her fb page and blog.

https://www.facebook.com/Amazeblog


 And...here is the link to her blog.

http://theamazeblog.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings...

These are a few of my favorite things....Part 2

Here are a few more of my "can't live without" products.

Urban Decay Eyelash Primer Potion 

Well, I said I was pretty much a make up slut in the beginning (meaning I don't stick to one brand) but when it comes to eyes, I pretty much love anything by Urban Decay. This is an eyelash primer. You use it before you use your mascara to make your lashes thicker and longer. It goes on white, but don't freak out, your mascara will cover the white. You just apply this first, let it dry, then apply your favorite mascara. I don't go a day without using it. I've tried different brands, including Origins, Clinique, and the very expensive Dior and Lancome versions, but I keep coming back to this one. It really makes my lashes look thicker and longer. It also serves as a lash conditioner, which is fantastic. It's $20 a tube and lasts me at least 3 months...usually longer...because I use it until there's not a drop left and I'm scraping the inside of the tube. You can order it here at Sephora or here on the Urban Decay Website.


Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

I use this product (in Sin) everyday. I just use my finger or a q-tip and apply it to my eyelids before my eyeshadow, and it keeps the shadow from creasing in my eyelids. I have very oily skin, and even oily eyelids, and my shadows would always start to settle into my eyelid crease, but this product prevents it from happening. There are four shades. I'll talk about each of them.

Sin

This is my go-to shade. I have tried (and own) all of the others, but this is my absolute favorite. Sin is a champagne color that is soft and really complements the shadows that I use. It is shimmery, but not glittery, if that makes any sense, so if you like a more matte look, then you may prefer the last two shades I will talk about.  You can buy this shade here at Sephora or here on the Urban Decay website for $20. Since it only takes a dab, it really lasts a long time.

Greed

Greed is a gold shade of the eyeshadow primer. I've found that I don't like using it under my shadows because it is GOLD. However, it works well as a highlighter dabbed in the inner corner of each eye by your tear ducts or to highlight right under your brow bone. When I use this color, I use it as a highlighter in the inner corners of my eyes. The shade just doesn't suit me as an all over primer. You can purchase this shade here at Sephora or here on the Urban Decay website, also for $20.

Eden

Eden is a matte primer in a tawny shade. I don't use this one very often, because it is just too pale for me (and I'm so used to the Sin version that I just don't like the matteness of this as much). If you don't want a shimmery shadow look, then this is the one for you. It will brighten your eyes and set your shadow without the shimmer of the above two primers. It is also $20 and can be purchased here at Sephora or here on the Urban Decay website.

Original 
 
The original version of this primer potion is colorless and goes on like silk. It has all the benefits of the others, but without the color. It will set your eyeshadow without adding any color, so if you want something that will set your shadows and prevent creasing without altering or adding to the color of your shadow, then this is your product. Like the others, it is also $20. You can purchase this product here at Sephora or here on the Urban Decay website.

Another great thing about these primers is that they come in sets from time to time, so if you really want to try two shades but you don't want full size products of each of them, you can buy the duo, which will contain two smaller versions of the potions. Sephora currently isn't selling any of the duo products, however they are being sold on Urban Decay's website.

Original/Sin Duo

This duo of the Original and Sin shades is actually on sale right now here on the Urban Decay website for $22 (originally $28).

Travel size of Eden and Original

Want to try them without a huge commitment? You can purchase the travel sizes of these two shades here on the Urban Decay website for $9 each.

Too Faced Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eyeshadow Collection

This eyeshadow palette is my ultimate favorite eyeshadow palette. I can do a dark, dramatic, smokey eye or I can do a soft, natural, subtle eye. My only con is that the shades aren't available individually for purchase, which makes me sad, because I always run out of the shade Lap Dance, and there's no way to purchase the shade as a single, so I have to wait until I use up the entire palette before I can get it again. I've been to Sephora a hundred times trying to find a dupe (duplicate shade) to Lap Dance, with no luck. Other than that, I love these colors. They are great for a day to night look as well. You can purchase this here at Sephora for $36 (a $121 value) or here on the Too Faced website directly for the same price.

That's all for tonight... I'm going to post more of my must-have products, from shampoos to hairsprays to hair products to nail polishes.....I hope you are enjoying this blog and PLEASE remember to comment and follow me! I'd really appreciate it! Also, spread the word of my blog to your beauty and fashionista friends!

Laters, lovelies!






Monday, January 21, 2013

Bobbi Brown BB Cream

Just wanted to do a quick review on my recent purchase of Bobbi Brown BB Cream. I previously reviewed Juice Beauty's CC Cream ($39), which you can purchase here at the Juice Beauty website directly, here if you are a member of Birchbox (and have beauty point bucks you want to spend to offset the price), or here at the Ulta website. As for the Bobbi Brown BB Cream ($42)...I'm still on the fence. I really liked the color correcting of the CC Cream, but the coverage wasn't great. I like the coverage of the BB Cream, but it doesn't have as many benefits as the CC Cream.

The plus of the BB Cream by Bobbi Brown is that it comes in five shades, rather than just two like the CC Cream. I used the medium shade. It offers more coverage, but I noticed that this Bobbi Brown BB Cream really settled into the fine lines on my forehead, which is really crappy.... I'm not sure if I need to apply it differently or use more or less of the product. I'm going to do more experimenting. I do like that the BB Cream gives more coverage than the CC Cream I tried, but I'm really considering returning this product and going back to the CC Cream. What I do love about this product as well as the CC Cream is that it really controlled my oily skin. It didn't make it matte by any means, but it wasn't a virtual oil slick like it was when I used the Make Up Forever Oil Control foundation, which is a big frickin joke in my opinion. It was TERRIBLE for my skin. I was oilier, broke out more, and by about 10 am I couldn't touch my face without literally taking the make up off with my fingers. I tried using blotting papers for the oil, which were papers that guaranteed that they wouldn't remove your make up. Well, they removed every bit of my make up. I don't blame the blotting papers. I blame the foundation itself. I do love this product in that my make up doesn't literally slide off of my face like it did with the MUFE foundation. I think it's just a matter of finding the right BB or CC cream for me. I'm going to give this one another shot this week and really decide if I love it or hate it. If you're interested in trying this out, you can order it here from the Bobbi Brown website or here from Sephora. Let me know what you think about any BB or CC Creams you've tried in the comments below!

Laters, lovelies!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Fifty Shades of Ooh La La

I know I promised more beauty talk today, but I'm really exhausted. This whole blogging thing is new to me so it takes me forever to get everything just the way my OCD mind wants it before I publish it, so it can take up to 4 hours for me to be happy with it. I'm getting better, though. Today I received some new fashion and beauty in the mail. YAY! I got the Bobbi Brown BB Cream and plan on using it tomorrow and writing a review, comparing it to the Juice Beauty CC Cream I've been using this week. I also got a new Wildfox Couture swim cover up (that I'm going to wear as a shirt)....Hell, I'm just going to post pics of the clothes! I also got some pretties from Agent Provocateur today. I ordered a bra last week and it was too small, so I returned it, but honestly, even too small the dang thing was better than ANY bra I've ever owned in my LIFE, so I decided it was worth the price. I've been following The Lingerie Addict on Facebook and she posts each week about designer lingerie sales, so find her and follow her if you want to try some AP at a lower price!!! If you catch the sale right at the beginning, you can fine $250 bras for $10. I'm not even kidding. I haven't had that luck yet as my size is always sold out before I get to it, but they're there. I swear. I also got two sweaters which were replacements for the two that the neighborhood dogs chewed to pieces. They are just plain grey sweaters from Zara. This was my first shopping experience with Zara. They have some nice stuff at VERY reasonable prices.

Fifty Shades of OH YES I DID

The package was just so beautiful. Like a beautiful pink slice of heaven. I didn't even want to open it. I had the same reaction with my first Tiffany's box. I didn't open it for a week. (I knew what was in it...an XOXO ring) My husband finally said he didn't spend that kind of money for a blue box to sit on my dresser. I opened this and was in love. I bought the Love Bra in white and the Snowberry Bra, which is an ice blue. That reminded me of Fifty Shades. Ana had a blue bra she wore. You can find the bras I bought here and here at the Agent Provocateur website. 

Wildfox Salty Hair Shirt Swim Cover Up

I am so ready for summer I could scream! I'm a southern belle, and these cold temps are for the birds!!! This shirt is more like a thin sweater-type material. It's meant to be worn as a swim cover up, but I'm wearing it as a baggy shirt with denim. It runs big. I got an extra small and it's still crazy baggy. I buy extra small in all Wildfox baggy shirts. Just FYI for size references. This is sold out everywhere in the white (they call it foam) color, but it is for sale online in black (they call it night) on some websites. I don't know how I lucked out, because when I ordered it last week it said it was a preorder shipping in late January, and I got it this week. You can buy the black one here at Bloomingdale's for $98.

I was going to post links and pics for the Zara sweaters, but they're sold out online. Zara's prices are reasonable, and even MORE reasonable on sale. I bought each sweater for like $15 each, and they are very good quality. Check Zara out here.

Well, the husband is home, so I'm going to put the laptop away before he says, "Put the laptop away."

Until next time, pretties. Stay fashionable!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Brown paper packages tied up with string....

These are a few of my favorite things....

Here are a few of my HG products. (HG=Holy Grail in beauty talk...items that you just CANNOT live without.) I'm really all over the place when it comes to brands of makeup and skincare I use. Most people are all "I only use MAC!!!!" or "I only use Bare Minerals!!!!" (I hate Bare Minerals) I don't stick with just one brand. I'm sort of a brand slut I guess. I tried the Bare Minerals thing awhile back but stopped using it because my skin is SO OILY that by the end of the day it looked like I'd just spread dirt all over my face. After that I used Make Up Forever liquid foundation (Mat Velvet) but I'm pretty much over that as well. It's really thick and heavy. It's supposed to help with oiliness, and while it did look okay and cover well and combat a little oil, it oxidized (turned orange) soon after I put it on. Regardless of the shade I used, I always look orange by the end of the day. Last month I got a CC Cream by Juice in my Glam Bag and decided to try it out this week. CC Creams are the next generation of BB Creams. BB Creams, or blemish balms, have been widely used in Asia and have just become popular in the US over the past year or so. CC Creams, or color correcting creams, are like BB Creams but with more benefits. BB Creams claim to be all in one skincare routines. Primer, moisturizer, SPF, foundation, & concealer all in one. The CC Creams are like pumped up BB Creams. They have all the benefits of the BB Creams, but the SPF is usually higher and they also include a formula that can be used across various skin tones and corrects redness and yellowness of the skin.  They also have more anti-aging properties that most BB Creams. The CC Creams also give more coverage than their BB Cream sisters, so if you have acne scars, dark circles, age spots, etc, a CC Cream might be of more use to you. I received a CC Cream by Juice in my December Glam Bag and I've been using it this week as I said above. I ordered Bobbi Brown's BB Cream from Sephora this week and it will be here tomorrow, so I'll review it sometime over the weekend.

Juice Beauty CC Cream

When I got this I was like, Meh... I really wasn't even planning on trying it because I'm so picky with my skin products, but since I've been breaking out a lot lately I'm attributing it to the heavy as crap MUFE foundation I've been using and decided to try this out. I put a little on the top of my hand and thought, "This is NOT going to be the right color for me." It was light and almost yellow. The texture is strange as well. Not like a foundation but not like a lotion. I gave it a try anyway. It is very sheer compared to my thick MUFE foundation so I was worried I wouldn't get enough coverage. And...it smells weird. Kind of like plants and herbs and junk like that. (Which would be a plus for those who don't like the chemical smell of makeup...) It only comes in two shades. Yes....two shades: Natural Glow and Warm Glow. I used Warm Glow.  I put bronzer on over it after application, but I must admit, as afraid of the color as I was....this was actually WONDERFUL and did exactly what it was supposed to do. It was my skin tone...only better. Smoother. Natural. Now, it wasn't flawless by any means and it didn't cover my blemishes like it claims it would, but even my MUFE foundation lacked in that department, so I was okay with it. It took a little getting used to as I'm not accustomed to think makeup, but honestly, if I don't end up liking the Bobbi Brown BB Cream, I plan on exchanging it for this. Here is some info from the Juice website regarding this product:

"Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream is ideal for all skin types and especially beneficial for skin showing the signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. Available in two shades, Natural Glow and Warm Glow, to match and enhance any skin type and color. Since Juice Beauty uses no artificial dyes, the colors are effective for skin tones ranging from very light to dark. Natural Glow works best with fair to medium skin tones while Warm Glow is the perfect color for medium to dark skin tones."

And here are the 12 benefits this CC Cream advertises: 
The Ultimate Color Correcting 12 in 1 Multi-tasker:

  • Repairs Damage
  • Evens skin tone & texture
  • Firms & improves elasticity
  • Reduces fine lines & wrinkles
  • Creates a radiant, glowing complexion
  • Balances skin tone
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Protects with chemical free SPF 30 · Mineral tinted coverage
  • Ultimate moisturizer
  • Skin perfecting color
  • Great for all skin types
Overall, I really do like this product and plan on purchasing the full size, especially if the BB Cream doesn't work out. Don't be afraid of the fact that it only comes in 2 shades. (Many others, including Bobbi Brown, come in a wider range of shades.) The point of the CC Cream is that it corrects YOUR color, with some sort of magical witchcraft voodoo. HA.

Favorite Blushes 
 1) Nars Blush in Sin


Nars products are pricey, but I love them. I've found that they have so much more pigmentation than other brands, thus requiring you use less at a time, resulting in the product lasting longer. I probably only buy blush twice a year because it just lasts that long. Yes, I know you're supposed to replace your makeup more regularly than that...blah blah blah. I don't. I won't. If there's still some in the package, I'm going to use it, as long as it isn't like 3 years old. Nars Orgasm and Super Orgasm are the top picks of most ladies, but I just can't pull those colors off. They are too orange/peach for me. I wish I could wear them, but oh well.

2) Laura Mercier Orchid Mosaic Shimmer Bloc (spelled without the K)

 I love, love LOVE this product. I hate, hate, HATE the price and the fact that I can go through one in a month. It has 4 shades of blush (other color palettes available...google if interested) and together give the prettiest shade of mauve I've ever seen. I use the lighter shade as a highlighter above my cheekbones and mix the other 3 darker colors as my blush. While googling this for pics I just realized they've stopped making this shade of shimmer bloc, and I'm heartbroken. I have a brand new, unopened one in my makeup drawer, thank goodness. I guess that's all for this product. They still have other shades. I'll check it out at Sephora this weekend to see if the Pink Shimmer Bloc is similar in color to this one. This product is very delicate, I might add. It's easily breakable in the compact even stored in a bag, and once you start wearing out the center, it's all going to just crumble. It gets all over the place, especially in your makeup bag, even if it's closed. The price being over $40 is also a deterrent, especially since I could use one in a month. I guess it's a good thing it was discontinued in my HG shade.

Favorite Eyeliners
1) Urban Decay 24/7 in Perversion

I love this. I love it, love it, love it. It is the darkest, blackest, smoothest eyeliner I've ever used. The only downfall is that it is so soft that you have to sharpen it every time you use it or you'll get a really thick application. So, with the frequent sharpening comes frequent purchasing. It runs out fast. But if you like a dark, black, in your FACE eyeliner with easy application, this is for you!

2) Urban Decay 24/7 in Zero

This is a softer (as in color) version of black eyeliner. I consider it more of an off black compared to the above one I reviewed. It's good for when you want to wear black eyeliner but you don't want it really dark. It also lasts longer than the Perversion one because you don't have to sharpen it as often. It's not as smooth during application, but it still applies nicely. If you like, you can even warm it with a lighter before applying. I love all UD eyeliners and I don't use any other brand! I'm disappointed that the company was bought out by L'Oreal, though. I'm hoping things don't change....

Favorite Setting Powder
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder

This has been the best setting powder I've found to help with my oily skin. It also lasts a long time as well. Seems like I've had mine forever and it still looks like I haven't used any of it. I really don't have much more to say about this...

Favorite Mascara
Blinc Mascara

Blinc mascara is a tubing mascara. It coats each lash with a little tube that is water proof, yet you remove it with.........wait for it...........water. Yes. That's it! It is AMAZING. It applies like a regular mascara, but it dries very quickly, and once it dries you CANNOT apply more. So if you want to add more than one coat you have to do it immediately. I put it on one eye, then the other, then go back to the first, then the other, so I give it a second or two to set before applying another coat. To remove it all you do it wet your fingers with water and take your lashes in between your fingers and gently rub and pull. It doesn't hurt, in case you're wondering. It just slips right off. I found it best to remove it while in the shower (resulting in my husband asking what all the little spider leg looking things were in the shower...have to rinse it off the walls and floor better...) I had been using Dior Blackout, and I liked it, but I was never able to get it all off with any remover, and I tried them all. Piling more mascara on top of the mascara that I wasn't able to remove resulted in clumpy, thick lashes, and my lashes started to fall out. I knew I had to change. This product was recommended to me by my nail guru and I love it and haven't gone back to anything else. Try it. Sephora has a deluxe sample of this as a 100 point gift right now, and I've also gotten samples from Birchbox in the past. For more in depth info, google some videos of the removal process. It's so easy and really amazing!

Well, I think I'll stop here. I have a lot more items I wanted to share, but this is already a super long blog post, so I'll save some for tomorrow, including hair products, skincare, and maybe some fashion. Laters, lovelies!





Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January Ipsy Glam Bag

Well color me excited! Yesterday I got my (disappointing) Birchbox. Today I open the mail and there's my Glam Bag! Just like last month, this month's Glam Bag did not disappoint! If you are someone who's been thinking about trying a monthly sample membership, I recommend the Ispy Glam Bag because they just seem to have better samples. Birchbox has its pros too (reviewing products for points toward $ off products on the site), but overall I've been really happy with my Glam Bags more than my Birchboxes.

There's that pretty hot pink package of happiness!


Glam Bags are fun because each month they actually come in a usable makeup bag. Last month I got a pewter colored cylinder shaped zipper bag perfect for keeping lip glosses and lipsticks (and tampons...) in your purse! This month I wasn't as happy with the bag, but oh well.


It's just a plain, boring, zippered bag. I have a million little black bags from Sephora already, but they really are good for keeping up with makeup you may only use seasonally, samples you have yet to try, or just any random thing really!  I guess the inside is supposed to make up for the boring outside...


I guess if you are really into stars and the sky, this is the bag for you... Anyway, lets get to the goodies! I was super excited about my Glam Bag, just like last month! It did not disappoint! Here are all the goodies together. I almost threw away the brush as it wasn't in the black bag, just in the pink bag separate. Brax found it before I threw it away!


I was really pleased with this bag. I got a deluxe sized Josie Maran argan oil, a travel sized Big Sexy Hair hairspray (I was most excited about this,) a HUGE Pacifica lotion that I refuse to even call a sample because I purchased this exact size and scent from Sephora last year...I consider this a travel size as well, a Nailtini red nail polish that looks pink on camera, but is actually a true red, and a London SOHO New York concealer brush.

1.  Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil


Argan oils are all the rage right now. They can be used in your hair, on you body, on your face, on your nails, in the bath......just about anywhere. I primarily use argan oil on the ends of my hair. I don't use oils as moisturizers because I tend to break out if I do. I have gotten many samples of argan oil from various companies, and they all seem to be the exact same thing to me, although I did get one from Birchbox that was in a spray bottle, and I liked the application process. Just be sure and spray it on a carpeted surface. I sprayed it on my hair in the bathroom and the residue made my husband slip. Oops. Anyway, this oil smells pretty much like the others. It has the dropper you use to drop it into your hands for application. Once all of my samples of this run out I will more than likely purchase a full sized bottle.

2.  Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Hair Spray


This is what I was most excited about, because this is the PERFECT travel sized hair spray. I found this exact size in the travel section of either Target or Walmart a few years ago before we went to Disney World and was so excited. I have looked ever since for more travel sizes to no avail. I love the Big Sexy Hair brand. I especially love their teasing powder, Powder Play, which is like a sticky powder that you use VERY SPARINGLY at your roots before you tease your hair. It's one of the best products I've ever used and one of my HG products. Can't live without it. (My favorite hairspray is actually by Rockoholic. Tomorrow I'll probably do a post of my HG products.)

3.  Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter 


I put my hand in the picture so you could see how big this sample is. As I said above, I've purchased this size from Sephora in many scents. This is a delicious orange scented body butter. It is very thick, since it's a butter and not a lotion, so if you don't like that kind of texture for a moisturizer, then these aren't for you. I like to use these right after a shower or bath, when I'm just putting on pajamas or sweats and not real clothes. This takes a while to absorb. I can't imagine trying to put on a pair of jeans after putting this on my legs. The smell is just divine. I have another Pacifica butters that has a pearl shimmer and one with a bronze/gold shimmer. I don't wear them often though because I feel a little too old for the shimmer effect, but they are really pretty. 

4.   Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Bloody Mary


I used the flash for this picture because the color kept showing up as hot pink rather than true red. This picture still isn't a true representation of the color, but it's the best I could do. It is a true blood red, like the name implies. I have never heard of this brand before today. Apparently, they also have eye products (Eyetini) and lip products (Liptini). The packaging says, "Wear Nailtini Lacquers alone, layered, or garnished to create countless combinations. Great straight or mixed - it's cocktails for nails." Well, anything to do with cocktails and I'm in! I haven't tried this yet, but when I do, I'll do another review on the color, application, texture, etc. I am not a big fan of red polishes, but this one looks promising. I really see myself wearing this when True Blood returns this summer!

5.  London Soho New York Concealer Brush

This little gem almost got away from me because it wasn't actually in the Glam Bag itself, just in the shipping packaging. My son found it before I threw it away! This brand is new to me, and I've never used a brush to apply concealer, when I rarely use it. I usually just use my fingers or a q-tip. The brush itself is soft yet holds it shape well. I can't wait to try this out tomorrow with my Benefit Erase Paste, which I purchased a few months ago after reading the raving reviews online. I'm still not totally sold on it, though.



Thanks for reading! Until next time, pretties! Stay fabulous!






Monday, January 14, 2013

January Birchbox

Well, I was so excited to see my Birchbox in the mailbox when I got home today! I tore right into it and was.........bleh. Okay, I get it...it's only $10 a month for samples, but I've been getting samples for about 6 months now and I've only had one that I was really wowed by. I'm thinking of cancelling my BB and just sticking with my Ipsy Glam Bag. Anyway...here's what I got this month from Birchbox:

1.  Deborah Lippmann "The Stripper to Go for Go-Go Girls" lavender nail lacquer remover finger mitts

Well....it's fingernail polish remover. Little mitts that go over each finger to remove the polish. I guess it's a neat concept, but $12 for 6 packages? I can buy an entire bottle of Equate polish remover for less than a buck. And what about your toes.....these might work, but how inconvenient. Another thing, many ladies are opting for  shellac instead of actual polish these days, so these just don't seem to be something that I think would sell very well, but who knows. They smell pretty good I guess. Better than regular remover. I'll be sticking with my generic remover, thank you very much.

2.  Amika COLOR pHERFECTION SHAMPOO 


Shampoo samples. My number one complaint: SEND THE CORRESPONDING CONDITIONER SAMPLE!!! I can't tell whether or not I like the shampoo when I use a conditioner from another brand after cleansing. Who knows if the shampoo is great when you follow it with something completely unrelated to the product? Well, this smells okay. Nothing fantastic. My hair feels about the same as usual (probably because I'm using the same conditioner...) I won't be purchasing this.

3.  My Prime Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer


Great...yet another primer. (Told you I wasn't please with this month's products...) I have EXTREMELY OILY SKIN. Like an oil slick. I have tried everything, and I mean EVERYTHING to help with the oiliness: I use a Clarsonic brush, tried many different cleansers/moisturizers/mattifiers/foundations...you name it. The thing I found that works best? Milk of Magnesia. Yes. You read that correctly. Good old liquid milk of magnesia on a cotton ball and spread on your face will combat oil better than ANYTHING you will ever buy. I read about it online YEARS ago, and I'll quit using it for a while to try the newest primer that promises to stop all the oil, and I always end up going back to the good old Milk of Magnesia. I did give this sample the old college try....nothing special. Next.

4.  Hot Mama! by The Balm (All in one blush, highlighter, and eye shadow)

This claims to be an all in one product, but I cannot see using this color as anything but a blush. It is VERY similar to Nars Orgasm, and unfortunately, I'm one of those one-in-a-million gals who cannot pull off Nars Orgasm. It just doesn't look good on me at all. I tried this out and it's cute, but I really had to pile it on, and the sample is so small that it's practically impossible to get your blush brush around enough in it for a decent application. The full size comes with a little mirror in the flap. One thing I did like for some random reason is that the flap is magnetic, so it shuts completely to protect the product in your make up bag. I don't know if the full size is like that, but if they'd put that much effort into a sample I'm assuming the full size is also magnetized. This product and it's packaging remind me a lot of Benefit's Coralista blush, another color I want to wear so badly, but just doesn't look good on me. So, if you love Nars Orgasm but hate the price, try this one out. It's a lot cheaper ($20), but I'll be sticking with my Nars blush in Sin. It's the perfect color for me, and I don't have to use a lot to get good color, meaning I only purchase it twice a year.

5. Skinny Chic by Harvey Prince perfume

And the worst for last...the dreaded perfume sample. My least favorite samples to get are perfume samples. I wear Stella by Stella McCartney, which I ironically got as a free sample from a Sephora online order, and I loved it, and now it's all I wear. This smells similar to a hair product I've used in the past, but I am not sure which one. It says it's a blend of "crisp apple, sweet mint, and warm amber." It also claims that "a spritz a day keeps you feeling young, beautiful, and  slim." I must research this more....because if it's some sort of perfume that acts like an appetite suppressant, then I'll wear the sh!t out of this. But as for now, as the scent lingers next to me, it reminds me of a 12 year old girl and her Walmart perfume. This sample is going into the trash.


Well, there you have it. My January Birchbox full of disappointment. At least I didn't get another Luna Bar I suppose.





Sunday, January 13, 2013

Welcome to Cupcakes, Cashmere, and Cocktails!

Welcome to Cupcakes, Cashmere, and Cocktails! I'm new to blogging, so I'm learning as I go. I've decided to start blogging to share my love and obsession with fashion and beauty with other fashionistas/beauty gurus out there. I plan to talk about fashion, designers, clothing items I love, hair and beauty products, my family, television shows I love (and love to hate), and whatever else I guess I feel like writing about! I'll also review my Birchbox and Ipsy Glam Bags I get each month. I'll probably talk about my pets. Anyway...a little about me. I'm a southern belle, born and raised in Northeast Arkansas, originally from a town called Marked Tree. Yes. That's the name of the town. I live in the huge metropolis (joking...) of Jonesboro now with my husband, Jason, and son, Brax. We have five cats (thank God our house has a HUGE basement), two dogs, Sophie Sue, a teacup Yorkie and Sookie Doghouse (yes...named after Sookie Stackhouse), a stray we believe is a lab/greyhound mix. I guess we sort of have a third dog, Keiffer (named after Teen Mom Jenelle's crazy loser boyfriend....there's a story behind it) who we can't seem to take to the pound, because you know what happens when you take a dog to the pound. We are animal lovers. Can you tell? Well, hopefully I'll add to this tomorrow. Maybe I'll even learn how to add pics! WOWZA! Every time I start a blog I end up posting once or twice then forgetting about it. Maybe now I'll remember to post on here! Anyway, thanks for stopping by!