Fresh's Advanced Sugar Lip Therapy & Polish Duo

photo courtesy of qvc.com

I received this duo from QVC several months ago and found that it was a nice way to be introduced to the Fresh brand.

 

Included in this set are a full sized Advanced Lip Treatment balm and a travel sized Sugar Lip Polish.

 

Despite the size of the scrub, just a little bit is needed for a good lip exfoliation. I've been using this once a week and have hardly made a dent.

The consistency is thick and a lot more grainy than any other types that I have tried out in the past. While there are plenty of moisturising ingredients (jojoba, grapeseed, shea butter), I've still noticed that my lips feel dry and tight immediately after use. As of right now I'm still unsure of whether or not this will be repurchased.

 

In the beginning I didn't think much of the lip treatment, however, I recently made a trip to Sephora to replace my original (and now empty) tube. It goes on easily and has a light citrus scent. I apply this before bed and in the morning my lips are nice and soft.

 

If you've tried this please tell me what you think.

You can purchase Fresh products at the following:

*fresh.com

*qvc.com

*sephora.com

*Sephora

 As always, thank you for reading and supporting this blog :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

LG Eye Spackle

Laura Geller is a well known NYC makeup artist and some of her most popular products are her different "Spackles", which are under makeup primers.

It is my belief that these played a role with my horrible breakouts a few years back so I normally shy away, however, I was willing to give this one a shot. After all, I couldn't imagine it messing with my eyelids the way it (possibly) did with my face.

I used this for almost a month before finally giving up. Long story short-it just didn't work. I've used every kind of primer that has ranged in price from $1-$20 and never had as horrible results as this. No matter how much or little product was applied, by mid day I found dark lines all over my lids where the shadow had migrated.

I did find a light at the end of the tunnel which has caused me to continually use this on a daily basis. I apply this around the inner corners and under my eyes as a base for my Bisque concealer. Not only does it keep the product in place but it also brightens the area making me look a little more awake. (Keep in mind that I'm fair so this might not work on all skin tones)

For the amount that I use daily I have a feeling I'll have my sample-size amount of product for quite a while. When this runs out, as surprising as this might sound, I do intend on repurchasing.

Overall, I say give it a shot...if anything, you never know what other uses this Spackle could have.

If you are interested, this can be found at the following locations:
*LauraGeller.com
*Macys.com
*QVC.com
*Ulta
*Ulta.com

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog :)


Note: This product was given as a free gift with purchase. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Lori Greiner Ready Set Go Bag Organizer

Photo courtesy of QVC

Aside from special occasions, I generally like to switch bags on a monthly basis. The annoying part to this is having to fit in what seems like an entire lifetime's worth of items.

For a while I had been using the Pursefection, which used to be offered on QVC.  I really liked it except for it's poor quality. In fact, I ended up going through two of them in a couple years' time due to the same problem-the material would rip apart for no reason. Pockets that weren't even in use would start to fray and then out of no where there would be a hole.

 

After reading a lot of positive reviews, I ordered the Ready Set Go Bag Organizer by Lori Greiner, which I couldn't be more happy. Not only does this fit in all of my different sized bags but it's also really easy to take out thanks to the two side handles that are attached.

I really love how structured this organizer is, as opposed to the Pursefection which flopped around. The quality itself is quite good as well-this has been used on a daily basis for months and it still looks brand new.

Whether you have one bag or like to change up your look, I highly recommend checking this out.

If interested, this can be found here.

As always, thank you for checking out my blog :)


Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Trio

I have been wanting to review this for quite some time, as I have been using these lipsticks for almost a year now. Prior to watching a presentation of this set on QVC, I had never really had much of an appeal for It Cosmetics, however I was quite intrigued and felt the need to try them out.

Each Vitality Lip Flush acts as a lipstick, anti-aging lip balm, gloss, and stain. Not only are these paraben free, but they also contain ingredients such as vitamins A, C & E, Acai, and Green & White tea.

Upon first application it truly feels like a balm but over time, I noticed that my lips do start to feel dry requiring a gloss application. If I wear these on multiple days in a row then my lips start to peel, which is not too pretty. The staying power itself, though, is really impressive. In fact, I first started using these lipsticks while recovering from getting my tongue pierced, which required brushing my teeth a lot. Through all that, I never had to reapply.

The colors consist of:

-Je Ne Sais Quoi-a sheer pink

- Love Story-a deeper pink (My personal favorite)

- Pretty Woman-a sheer berry
Note: The colors will differ based on your natural lip color and how much product is applied

Overall, these have become a go to product, especially on occasions such as parties, concerts, and vacations. For the most part, all it takes is one application and then I'm set for the day.

If your interested, you can find this set by going on qvc.com, alternately, you can find the singles at itcosmetics.com.

As always, I thank you for visiting my blog :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Ciate' Perfectly Polished Nail Palette

 

Ciate' is a UK based nail brand that, at least in my opinion, is mostly known for their various nail techniques (for lack of a better word) such as the Caviar Manicure...they're also certified as being "3 Free".

Antique Brooch

Amazing Gracie

I've mostly seen their products in Sephora but was never exactly pulled to give them a shot, mainly because of the price. I did, however, find a great deal a few months ago, which inspired my two-month long experiment...

Dangerous Affair

Heirloom

Onto the product at hand...
The Perfectly Polished Nail Palette contains eight mini paint pots with colors ranging from neutrals to brighter and more dramatic shades. I won't lie, the bottles are all pretty small but still so cute, especially with their little bows.

Looking Glass

Mistress 

The shades include:
Spending Spree-a glittery golden shade (you can read my weekly polish post Here)
Power Dressing-a deep blue jean shade (sorry, I did not have a post about wearing this polish)
Mistress-a classic red shade (you can read my weekly polish post Here)
Dangerous Affair-a burgundy shade (you can read my weekly polish post Here)
Amazing Gracie-a soft pink shade (you can read my weekly polish post  Here)
Heirloom-a glittery purple/gold shade (you can read my weekly polish post Here)
Antique Brooch-a glittery ruby/gold shade (you can read my weekly polish post Here)
Looking Glass-a glittery silver shade (you can read my weekly polish post Here)

Power Dressing

Spending Spree 

The Good:
*long wear (at least five days)
*shiny finish
*quick dry
*gorgeous pigmentation

The Not So Good:
*could get a little streaky upon application
*the glitter in Antique Brooch actually pulled on my clothes

Overall, I was really impressed by the quality, however, at $15 a bottle (full size) I doubt I'll be picking up more anytime soon.

The nice part about this set is that it gives you the opportunity to try out several polishes from this brand for about $30.
If interested you can order or read more about this here. As of right now I believe this is a QVC exclusive. You can also find other products at Sephora, Nordstrom, and the Ciate' website.

As always, thank you for stopping by :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Jason and The Drugstore-Maybelline Superstay 14Hr Lipstick

Last night as I wrote out the shopping list for Jason, I decided to have a little fun and also asked him to pick out a lipstick. Having just watched several "My Boyfriend/Husband Does My Makeup" videos, I was inspired and pretty curious to see what he'd bring home. Truth be told, I expected either black or a shiny silver shade, thankfully that was not the case.

He was actually a really good sport and it looked like he took this experiment quite seriously.
Out of everything he had to choose from, he came home with the Maybelline Super Stay 14Hr Lipstick in Ultimate Blush.

I'm still beyond impressed with his choice because the shade alone is absolutely perfect and one that I would probably reach for quite often.
To me this just screams Spring...it's a perfect light pink tone with a little bit of shimmer.

The staying power is actually pretty impressive as well.
I applied this before I left for work and at first wasn't thrilled with the sticky feeling it left, however, that went away within minutes. Having spent a nine-hour day without touch-ups, the lipstick is still on my lips. Although, I would like to note that the color has been turned down a bit.



7:30AM

5:30PM

Overall, I really liked this, which says a lot considering I'm not a huge fan of Maybelline products. I  could certainly see this being used especially on occasions when I don't want to worry about whether or not my lipstick is still looking intact. If anything, my main complaint would be the fact that it has made my lips feel dry so I probably would not use this on a daily basis.

While I can't speak for Jason, I had a fun time with this and am considering turning this little game into a possible series...we shall see......

As always, I thank you for visiting my blog...
I'd also like to give Jason a special shout-out for being so supportive and willing to play along :)


Note: This product was selected by someone else, but was purchased with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Nails Inc. Must Haves

Photo Courtesy of QVC.com

Nails Inc. had originally started as a U.K. based nail-bar chain and has since expanded throughout the world. A couple of years ago Sephora began to carry a select few of their polishes and somewhere along the way, QVC jumped on the bandwagon as well.

I ordered this one Friday night after watching a presentation and within minutes it completely sold out. This collection offers four of their most popular neutral shades.

Included are:
*Porchester Square=grey shade
*Elizabeth Street=nude pink shade
*Jermyn Street=taupe shade
*Cadogan Square=camel shade
Note: There is no shimmer.

The wide brush and thick polish make for an easy and even application. I found that you really don't need more than one coat thanks to the impressive pigmentation. The colors are quite wearable and quick drying. My manicures lasted at least a week without any kind of chipping.

I normally don't like to spend a lot on nail polish but I've been enjoying this set. Overall, I'd like to give some of their more colorful shades a try.

If interested, this set is (I believe) exclusive to QVC.
Nails Inc. also offers a wide variety of colors and effects which can be found at nailsinc.com or Sephora.

As always, I greatly appreciate you support that allows me me to talk non-stop about makeup ;)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Perfect Formula Nail Essential Discovery Kit

For the past couple of months I have been trying out a a few products from the Perfect Formula nail line which were offered in a discovery kit sold on QVC.

Included are:
*Original Gel Coat
*Pink Gel Coat
*Daily Moisture
*My Favorite Top Coat
Please note, these are not full size.

There were plenty of mixed reviews but, personally, I've had absolutely no problem. While I've been applying the Daily Moisture each night, everything else has been used on a weekly basis.

Gel Coats=The difference between the two formulas is that the original is clear, while the pink gives a little color to the nails, giving it more of a gel effect.

Daily Moisture=This is used to keep nails and cuticles moisturised in order to promote healthy nail growth.

My Favorite Top Coat=This helps my manicure last longer and gives a high shine finish.

The following are the benefits I've gained from constant usage:
*Quicker nail growth
*Stronger nails
*No more peeling or cracking
*Less of a need to file and/or buff

Other Notables:
*All four products have a thinner consistency
*The brushes are wide with a plastic texture

The only complaint I have is the fact that the base and top coats contain a very strong chemical smell so I recommend using these in a well ventilated area. Other than that I absolutely love how my nails look and the fact that these are fast drying is certainly an added bonus as well.

This kit cost around $30 (the same price of a full-sized bottle of Gel Coat) for a 60-day supply. I have gone beyond that time period and have a lot of product left.

If you're interested, you can read more/order this kit here or by visiting Perfect Formula.

As always, thank you for your much appreciated support :)


Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Found: Philosophy Just Release Me Dupe

About a year or so ago I discovered Just Release Me by Philosophy and instantly fell in love. It takes off everything in pretty much one swipe, is oil-free so it never breaks me out, and as an added perk, calms my skin after I pluck my eyebrows. The only con to this is that it costs $18 which wouldn't be so bad but it does add up considering I go through this rather quick.

In my search, I've come across some brands so bad that I just threw out the entire bottle (you can read more about that here) and others that were tolerable, like the L'oreal eye-makeup remover. I finally found the one which is almost identical to JRM, Neutrogena's Oil Free Eye-Makeup Remover.

After looking up some reviews, I decided to give this a shot and was shocked when I realized that not only does this have the same benefits as Philosophy but the ingredients are pretty identical as well...and for only a fraction of the cost!

It's a relief to know that not only is this cheaper but it's sold everywhere as well.

I can already tell this is my new H.G. product and definitely recommend this to anyone who has not tried it before.


As always, you're support is much appreciated.

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Return To Radiance Collection

Last year bareMinerals had the Return to Radiance collection on QVC as a TSV, which I had regretted not ordering ever since. While $85 is defiantly a lot to spend, this kit itself truly is a great value, especially considering it has almost a $150 value.

~The Breakdown~
*Prime Time Neutralizing Foundation Primer=$23
Unlike the original face primer, this one helps to reduces redness.

*Original SPF 15 Foundation (my shade is Golden Fair)=$27
The best foundation I have ever used and covers absolutely everything...not to mention has dramatically helped to improve my complexion.

*SPF 20 Concealer=$18
This gives the foundation an extra boost offering even more coverage.

*Prime Time Primer Shadow in Cameo Pink=$12
Eye shadow primer in a pinky coral shade...I have not tried this out just yet.

*Ready Blush in The French Kiss=$22
Another great blush from the brand in a watermelon-pink shade....warning to all the faired-skinned ones out there-use a light hand.

*Marvelous Moxie Gloss in Hot Shot=$18
This is a flamingo-pink shade...you can read more about my love for these glosses here.

*Full Coverage Kabuki Brush=$28
This is a full-tapered brush that I like to keep in my purse to use with my Ready Mineral Veil.

*Blush Brush=$15
This is a soft, round brush...since I prefer a retractable brush for on-the-go applications, this has not gotten much use.

Overall, this would make a great gift for someone who is looking into trying out bareMinerals, or even just makeup in general for that matter. The reason I ordered this was because it contains many of my H.G. items, which are now "waiting in the wings". Not only did it save me $60, but I was able to pay for it in monthly installments making my wallet sweat a little less :)

If you're interested, there are currently two different kits offered on QVC. The one that I have can be found here, and the original, which contains different shades for the blush, eyelid primer, and gloss (along with brushes) can be found here.

As always, I thank you for visiting my blog :)


Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Treat Yourself To Gorgeous: A Review

Back in December, Tarte had a TSV which was truly a great value, the Treat Yourself to Gorgeous Collection. This company is known for their wonderful holiday palettes and this one certainly was no exception. In fact, it sold out before the night was over.

I meant to review this sooner but in a way I'm glad I waited. Initially I had planned on returning this  but having had more time has granted me the ability to give it more of a chance.

The set comes with:
-4 Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Glosses
-4 Cashmere Waterproof Eyeliners
-20 Amazonian Clay Eye Shadows

The nice part about this is that the glosses are in one gift box, eyeliners are packaged in another, and the shadows are in one large box that slides open. All three are magnetized which makes it easy to keep everything together or you can chose to separate them.

Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss
*Darling (soft pink)
*Brazen (bright rose)
*Genuine (creamy pink)
*Giddy (coral pink)

photo courtesy of qvc.com

This was the only part of the set that I truly did not like. The glosses are packaged in a click-pen, which made it very difficult for application. There were times when I either could not get the product out or a ton came out of the tip all at once. I did try these on several occasions but they ended up either looking solely like a clear gloss or resulted in a gluey look. Eventually I just gave up.
I tried keeping everything together for this review but somewhere along the line I ended up losing these...

Cashmere Waterproof Eyeliner
*Black
*Black-Brown
*Bronze
*Black-Orchid

These are automatic pencils, meaning, they do not need to be sharpened. I quickly learned to be very careful when twisting the top to bring up the pencil because you can't bring it back down...I actually almost lost one of them that way even before trying them out. The pencils themselves are really great quality with wonderful pigmentation and staying power. If I had to rate these on a scale of one to five, I'd give them a four (I took one off due to the packaging). Out of all the brands I've been playing around with, I think these might be one of my favorites.

Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow

This is more of a neutral palette that ranges from a light buttercream to a deep charcoal. Of course, there are also some gorgeous purples thrown in as well. Basically, this set gives you enough options to go from the most neutral to a great smokey eye. The shadows are nicely pigmented and feel amazing. They're so soft and silky, not to mention apply quite easily.

Overall, I really like this kit...it's great to give as a gift for others or even just for yourself. Aside from the glosses, I feel like Tarte certainly did not disappoint.

For more information and/or to place an order, you can find the Treat Yourself to Gorgeous Collection here.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this blog :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Lorac's Sweet Temptations Lip Gloss Collection

A while back I vented about the fact that the post office lost a package of mine (you can read about it HERE). Well, here it is...

This set is part of Lorac's Sweet Temptations holiday collection, not to mention my first purchase from the brand in general.

~What It Is~

A set of six full sized lip glosses that are each scented after their names.

~Shades~

*Candy Apple=warm red

*Frosted Gumdrop=bright pink

*Pumpkin Spice=Barbie doll pink

*Cotton Candy=medium pink

*Butterscotch=pale peach

*Creme Brulee=light pink

Note: These are jam packed with glitter/shimmer.

The glosses feel extremely light and last a decent amount of time.
I noticed that the lighter shades looked a lot smoother while the darker colors applied streaky, but it did help if I layered them on top of  lipstick.

Overall, while the shades are really nice, these glosses really did not impress much.
Don't let my opinion push you away, though. If you want to try them out you can find them at the following:
*lorac.com
*sephora.com
*Sephora
*ulta.com
*Ulta

As always, thank you for reading my blog :)
2 More Days Until TSO!!!!!!!!

P.S. I really need to stop taking photos when I'm tired...I think the exhaustion shows :(

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

LG Holiday Italian Marble Lipstick

I had been on the fence about this set for a while mainly because I already have a ton of lip products. The deciding factor was the fact that a portion of the price is being donated to the Red Cross to benefit Hurricane Sandy victims...being a Jersey girl, how could I possibly pass that up?

Already being a lover of Laura Geller's other Italian Marble lipsticks, I knew before even trying these out that I'd enjoy these just as much if not more. They offer a lot of moisturising benefits and glide on like a lip balm, which is absolutely perfect for this time of year.

The difference between these and the other sets I have is that these are extremely pigmented  and really pack on the color while the other shades like Dulce and Riviera are more sheer. I also noticed that while all three had a glossy look to them, Strawberry Toffee and Mixed Berry had a metallic finish, while Honey Bun was more matte.

All in all I think this is a great value, especially considering each lip stick retails for $18 each. As usual, these LG lip products certainly do not disappoint.

{it was only fitting to model using the classic Laura Geller pose}

~Shades~

*Mixed Berry*

Warm pink with pomegranite shades; Applies as a deeper berry tone

*Honey Bun*

Warm melon and glazed cinnamon shades; Applies as a light peach tone

*Strawberry Toffee*

Warm pink with copper undertones; Applies as a magenta shade

Please note: This is what the colors look on my lips and can vary from person to person

I think this is a QVC exclusive...if interested you can check them out HERE.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.



Smashbox Studio Pop Eye Palette and Brush Trio

Last year I missed out on Smashbox's Photo Op Mega Palette so when I saw this, although, slightly smaller, I jumped at the chance to order it.

I'm thrilled because this marks three firsts:
1. First Smashbox eyeshadow
2. First Smashbox palette
3. First holiday '12 makeup set

In the past, all I had tried from this company were the eye liners, which I love. In fact, I've exclusively worn the Limitless Liner in Onyx on my waterline for several years.
I figured that this would be a great value as I could try their shadows, cream liners, and brushes all at once.

To the best of my knowledge this is exclusive to QVC. Yes, I have seen the palette in other locations, however, I haven't been able to find the trio anywhere else.

 The Smashbox Studio Pop Eye Palette and Brush Trio comes with:

-3 Brushes

-Palette consisting of 16 Photo Op shadows and 4 cream liners

-4 Lesson Cards ranging from easy to pro

~Brushes~

* #7 Tapered Shadow Brush: Oh my I love this brush!!!! It's incredibly soft and since the bristles are looser, I use this to apply a lighter shade all over my lids.
* #15 Definer Brush: I like to use this to apply shadow in my outer v blending into my crease. It's small enough and yet, is perfect for a precise application.
* #20 Double-Ended Smudger Brush: It took a little getting used to but I like how easy it is to apply cream liner with the smaller bristles. Even for a first timer like myself, the application looked flawless. I also enjoyed the smaller rubber tip on the other end for smudging pencil liner...it created a cleaner line.

~Shadows~
At first I had a tiny bit of buyers remorse and, while very pretty, I couldn't help but wonder about what the big deal was with these shadows...I quickly found out. Upon first swatch, I was immediately impressed. I have never encountered eye shadow so smooth and pigmented. All I have to do it lightly tap the brush and I get tons of product, but without any fall-out. The quality is just amazing, not to mention the fact that there are a lot of different looks that an be created with this palette.

~Shades~
*Nocturnal: Shimmery Deep Navy
*Lunar: Shimmery Silver
*Emerald: Shimmery Light Green
*Nude: Matte Caramel
*Vanilla: Matte Vanilla (great for highlighting!)
*Obsidian: Shimmery Slate
*Champagne: Shimmery Beige
*Bark: Shimmery Deep Brown
*Cinder: Shimmery Violet
*Pastel: Matte Soft Pink
*Orchid: Matte Dark Purple
*Flamingo: Shimmery Coral
*Smoke: Matte Dark Gray
*Amethyst: Shimmery Violet
*24K: Shimmery Gold
*Nutmeg: Shimmery Golden Bronze

~Cream Liners~
At first I was a little afraid because I had never used any kind of cream liner before, however, I've really been enjoying this product a lot. They've lasted all throughout the day without smudging and is probably the easiest to apply out of all the other liners I've used in the past. My only concern is whether or not they dry out in this palette...time will tell (hopefully not).

~Shades~
*Bronze: Shimmery Bronze
*Royal: Deep Purple
*Picasso: Deep Blue
*Nightlife: Shimmery Black

(shadow swatches)



(liner swatches)



Overall, I can't really find anything wrong with this set. I've been using it for several weeks and continue to find new color combinations...the possibilities seem to be endless. My only complaint it that this came out after my vacations as this is perfect for travel.

Unfortunately, I waited too long to post this as it seems to be no longer available, however, you can get the palette itself at these other locations:
-Macy's
-macys.com
-Nordstrom
-nordstrom.com
-Sephora
-sephora.com
-smashbox.com (I haven't seen this on their site as of yet)
-Ulta
-ulta.com

As always, I thank you for reading my blog.

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.