ELF Glitter Primer Review

elfglitterprimer

The e.l.f. Glitter Primer is, as the name suggests, an eye primer meant especially for glittery shadows. If you’ve ever worn glittery eye shadows and noticed little bits of sparkle flaking off and ending up all over your face throughout the day, you understand why the need for such a product exists! I mean hey sometimes glitter all over your face is the look you’re going for, and if that’s the case rock on with your bad self. But for the rest of us, there’s e.l.f. Glitter Primer.

Unlike other eyeshadow primers that leave your eyelids basically just feeling like a smoother version of themselves, e.l.f. Glitter Primer leaves the lids feeling slightly tacky or sticky. It feels a little weird, but the stickiness is what keeps the particles of glitter in place. I use an amount roughly the size of a lentil on each eyelid. It feels smooth going on and doesn’t cause irritation at all. It really cuts down on fallout! I have used this primer successfully with ColourPop’s glittery SuperShock shadows, as well as some of Urban Decay’s sparklier shades with much success. I also really like using this primer with baked shadows! Baked shadows tend to be shimmery and kind of all over the place since essentially you’re scraping powder off the surface to apply it to your eye. Having a stickier base helps keep the powder in place and look more vibrant when it is applied in a packing or patting motion.

Each tube of Glitter Primer is 10.5 ml, or about the size of an average lipgloss tube. The price is a pretty unbeatable $2. I haven’t seen this primer in store displays at Target, so to my knowledge you can only get it from e.l.f.’s website. I definitely recommend giving this a try!

Wet Seal Plus Grand Opening and Haul

wetsealplusopeninghaul

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the new Wet Seal+ opening! I’ve been eyeing the clothes on the website and when I found out my closet mall (The Shops at Mission Viejo) was getting one of these stores, I was super stoked. The grand opening included a fun event that I wasn’t able to go check out on 8/16, but Veronica of Cid Style File went and her instagram pictures got me all excited to go. I actually had a totally legit reason to go to the mall today, so that’s an added bonus haha.

Anyway! The store is really nice, but I had sale vision and didn’t even think to take pictures. D’oh! What I like is that everything is laid out with plenty of room to browse. I hate super cramped stores. I don’t think word is out about this new store yet because it wasn’t crowded — not that I mind. I am kinda antisocial when I shop, haha. I also appreciated that the racks weren’t so crammed full of stuff that I couldn’t move anything. My local Forever 21 is like that…you can’t push the clothes apart because half the garments will slide off the rack.

Now ON TO THE HAUL!!

IMG_4040IMG_4041

I fell in love with this Chevron Peplum Top almost immediately. The sales staff said sizes run small, but I found this fits true to size. I love the zipper detail on the back. It’s available on their website here.

IMG_4043

This top I shall lovingly refer to as my “flying squirrel” top because it makes me feel like I have little webbed wings LOL. They call it a “Ruffle Solid Top”. It drapes down the front and the back, making it very figure flattering for those poochier than usual days. -ahem- It’s available online here and comes in several other colors. This also fit true to size.

 IMG_4042

This teal and navy striped maxi skirt was a total last minute grab. I didn’t even try it on. I’m glad I grabbed her though! It’s a straight-cut skirt, but fit true to size. This skirt came in a ton of colors. I’m tempted to get more! It’s available online here.

IMG_4044

My second favorite thing of the haul – this amazing Chevron & Lace Skater Dress. This also came in several colors, but I decided to be adventurous and go with green. This was the only thing I bought that I felt ran kind of small – it’s a bit tight in the boobs! But a way cute dress I could NOT leave in the store. I loved it so much I posted a picture on instagram from right in the fitting room. It’s a little on the short side so for work I will pair it with black leggings. No accidental flashing!! It’s available online here.

IMG_4047IMG_4045

By the time I saw these jeans (jeggings actually), I had an armload of stuff to try on. These jeans literally promise they will make your butt look better. I thought ‘what the hell’ and added them to my pile of stuff. Turns out they’re my favorite thing that I purchased.

Now, I’m the anti high waist girl. I have a short waist to begin with, so that means most high waisted things come up to my boobs. Not to mention jeans that say they ‘contour’ usually end up making me feel like a stuffed sausage. They look great for standing around in. But they aren’t comfortable to bend, sit, or you know move in. With these jeggings, I have found a new best friend. I LOVE them. Do they make my butt look better? Um, I don’t know. They don’t make my butt look bad. The high waist does come up pretty high, but it’s COMFORTABLE. I can still sit in them and move and bend and all that good stuff. They hold in my tummy without making me feel like a salted pork product. Fit is true to size. They’re available online here. I got them in dark denim but they are also available in black!

IMG_4046

Wet Seal+ had lots of really cute jewelry. Almost every top or dress in the place was paired up with a necklace on a mannequin, and it was pretty much written in stone that I wasn’t leaving without at least one new necklace. I chose this floral statement necklace because it will go with everything. It’s available online here. Apparently this necklace is sold in regular Wet Seal stores too. :)

Overall, I loved my first visit to Wet Seal+. They gave me a spiffy coupon that can be used next month – $15 off my purchase of $50 or more. You betta believe I’m coming back! I could have grabbed SO many more things and spent a ton more money if I had let myself. The prices here are more than Forever 21, but less than Torrid and Lane Bryant. The style is a lot more contemporary than Lane Bryant as well. While I like LB (especially for bras and panties), some of the styles feel a bit matronly for someone my age (I’m just about to turn 28 for those of you keeping track!). I can’t wait to come back next month with my coupon and get some more goodies. I’m seeing Wet Seal+ as the alternative to ill-fitting Old Navy Plus when it comes to affordable fashion. Yeah!

Maybelline The Nudes Palette Review

IMG_3547

Maybelline’s The Nudes palette is a 12-pan eye shadow palette chock full of beautiful neutrals. It’s thoughtfully configured into duos, trios, and quads, and even has suggestions on the back of the palette for how you might use the shade in an eye look.

IMG_3544

IMG_3545

IMG_3546

The Pros

  • Nice array of colors and finishes.
  • Great value – 12 shades for $10-$15 depending where you buy.
  • Tons of different ways to use each shade.
  • Included suggestions on how to use the colors.
  • Simple, lightweight packaging that is easy to open/close and store.

The Cons

  • There’s some inconsistencies between the shades – not all the shades are really pigmented.
  • Texture-wise, they’re not the worst shadows I’ve ever used, but  I had some difficulty blending, and they were not quite as smooth as I would like.
  • Some of the more shimmery shades have a LOT of fallout. Do your eyes first, then foundation!

 

I tried Maybelline’s The Nudes palette with a few different eye primers, and by itself. I got the best results when I wore it with NARS Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow Base or Urban Decay Primer Potion. I would suggest using a primer that gives a smooth canvas for easier blending rather than a sticky base like a MAC Paint Pot or NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil. Wear time for me usually isn’t an issue since I have dry skin, but without any primer at all I did notice some slight fading at the end of the day. I was still impressed because ‘end of the day’ means I’ve had my shadows on for a good 12 hours.

The price of this palette varies depending on where you get it. I’ve heard as low as $9.99 at places like Ulta and Target but I’ve also heard closer to $14.99 at CVS. I would suggest waiting til one of those 40% off sales or using coupons to get this even cheaper if you’re interested. Ulta currently has it for $9.99 and eligible for their BOGO 1/2 off sale.

Since there are so many great neutral palettes out there (both high and low end), I can’t say this one is a must-have. It’s certainly a nice addition to my collection though since I’m a neutral nut.

 

Top 10 MAC Products You Should Try (At Least Once!)

MAC-Cosmetics-Logo

Often I am asked questions like “what’s good from _insert brand here_?” or “is _brand name_ the best?”. I always tell them there’s good and bad products from every brand. But then the follow-up question is what are the good things to try? With those questions in mind, here are my top 10 MAC products you should try.

1. Cremesheen Lipstick in Modesty

Modesty is one of those super easy to wear, never fail colors. It’s a my lips but better nude (MAC says “muted neutral pink”). Great for job interviews or to pair with a smoky eye.

mac217

2. Brush #217

The #217 brush is a white goat filbert brush and absolutely one of my most-used makeup brushes. It’s just the perfect size and shape for sweeping color over the lids. I love it so much I have 2. It is a total bitch to keep clean, though!

macfix

3. Fix+

Fix+ is a product beloved by the masses and misunderstood by about as many. It’s a mist charged up with caffeine, glycerin, cucumber, and other skin-friendly ingredients. It works well to refresh your skin throughout the day. I also like to use it to “super charge” my moisturizer – spritz it on and massage the moisturizer in on top of it while your skin is still wet for an extra boost. It can also be used to spray down powder to make it meld with the skin better and faster.

4. Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

The combination of the semi-translucent mineralize blush formula and its buildable nature with the perfectly toned beige of this blush make for the perfect nude cheek. It has a warm gold pearl that goes on soft and pretty– not garish or overly shiny! I’ve yet to see this blush fail anyone.

macpigments

5. Pigments

Pigments are just that – loose concentrated pigments. They have a ton of different uses. Vanilla makes a great highlight (for eyes, cheeks, anywhere really). There are tons of great eye color shades. Others can be mixed with lip colors for really cool effects, too. Melon looks great on the cheeks, eyes, or lips. Tan or Naked pigment can even be mixed in with a body lotion for a gleaming, glowy effect on your skin.

maccleanse

6. Cleanse-Off Oil

Don’t be scurred to put this oil on your face; it’s one of the good guys! Start with dry skin and hands, and massage a couple pumps of this oil cleanser into your skin. The cleansing oil will dissolve the makeup and melt it off as you watch. Then rinse with water to let it emulsify and rinse clean. It’s 100% free of any mineral oil. There’s no residue, either. Yay! Bonus: there’s also Cleanse-Off Oil Tranquil for especially dry or sensitive skin. I want to try that one when I finish my bottle.

macvolcanicash

7. Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

I swear the first time I used the first release of volcanic ash exfoliator, a choir of angels sang at me in the shower. Okay maybe not, but I friggin love this scrub. If you’re having a breakout anywhere on your face or body, it does a great job of scrubbing away while drying up any over zealous oil production and nipping that nasty zit in the bud. But not just for acne sufferers, I use the VAE even when I’m not having skin problems. It’s just a darn good exfoliator too. It gets any yuck outta your pores and leaves your skin baby-butt smooth.

mac209

8. 209 Eyeliner Brush

If you want to draw an uber-fine line with a teensy brush that not only has a fine tip, but holds its shape, you’ll fall in love with the 209. It’s SUPER tiny, but doesn’t splay out or fatten up after you use it. It stays sleek and teensy tiny. If you have smaller eyes and/or just want to be able to do a very thin line, you’ll fall in love.

macfast

9. Fast Response Eye Cream

If you need to de-puff and wake up your eye area in a hurry, Fast Response lives up to its name. It has caffeine for an extra perk-up. If you need an extra boost of moisture to your lips, try Fast Response to plump up lines and moisten lips, too.

10. Eyeshadow in Patina

I hear more buzz about colors like All That Glitters, or Naked Lunch, or a plethora of other colors. But trust me, the one everyone needs to try is Patina. MAC describes Patina as “taupe brown with gold pearl”. TAUPE. PEARL. Duh. You need to try it at least once.

Have you tried any of these MAC products? What’s on your “must-try” list?

June Blog Sale

IMG_3004

Hey guys…I’m having a blog sale…

  • Email sales (at) glossmenagerie dot com to purchase. Please include your paypal email if it is different from the email you use to inquire. :)
  • Once I invoice you, if you do not pay your invoice within 24 hours I will consider you to have changed your mind and go on to the next person!
  • I’m open to haggling, but don’t low-ball me and please don’t haggle unless you’re buying multiple items.
  • only accept Paypal as payment.
  • Shipping within the US is $3.50 for most packages (up to several small items). This covers First Class shipping to you, delivery confirmation, and my materials. Heavier items or large sales will be required to pay actual shipping. If you’re buying a bunch of things and I think a Flat Rate box might be cheaper than actual shipping, I’ll let you know.
  • International buyers are welcome, just ask for a shipping quote.
  • All sales are 100% final. No returns/exchanges.
  • ***I wrap carefully, but you may have your package insured at your cost. Just let me know if you’d like to add insurance.
  • I am not looking to swap any of my sale items at this time. Please do not offer swaps. Thank you.
  • I try my best to take color-accurate photos, but they are only meant to be used as a guide to show the use of an item and its condition. If you are unsure about color, please also do a google image search to ensure you know what you are buying!

 —————————————

lustreglasses

MAC Lustreglasses ($10 each) L to R:

Ensign
Little Vi
Flash Mode
Star Nova
Flusterose
Love Knot

lipglass1

MAC Lipglasses L to R: ($10 each)

Hush Hush Rose
Cultured
Magnetique
Electric Fuchsia
Boldheart
Song and Dance (lettering wearing off tube) – $9

lipglass2

MAC Lipglass ($10 each) L to R:

So This Season
Pinking Shear
Lip 65
Secretive
On Display
Perky

sheensupreme

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks L to R: ($12 each)

Gotta Dash!
Supremely Confident

lipstick1

MAC Lipstick L to R:

Naturally Eccentric – $20
Ultra Madame – $10
Strayin’ – $30 (SOLD)

lipstick3

MAC Lipsticks L to R:
Screenqueen – $50 SOLD
All Revealing – $10 SOLD
Brew – $10

buddinglust

MAC Lipsticks L to R:

Budding Lust – $15
Violetta – $10 (SOLD)
Spice – $10 (SOLD)
Courting Lilac – $15 (SOLD)
Pure Decoration – $10 (SOLD)

lipstick5

MAC Lipsticks L to R:

Orchidazzle – $15 (SOLD)
Up The Amp – $8
Mlle – $20
Playing Koi – $20
Spice – $8 (SOLD)
Fresh Buzz – $10

lipstick6

MAC Lipsticks L to R:

Strange Hybrid – $10
Cherish – $7 (SOLD)
High Tea – $7 (SOLD)
Punkin’ – $10
Festivity – $5 (SOLD)
Sandy B – $8 (PENDING)

lipstick7

MAC Lipsticks L to R:

Saint Germain (marked sample) – $12
London Life – $8 (SOLD)
Sequin – $5 (SOLD)
Half n Half – $7  (SOLD)
Scanty – $5  (SOLD)
Her Fancy – $10

lipsticks8

MAC Lipsticks L to R:

Jubilee – $10
Pomposity – $12
Danse – $10
Creme de la Femme – $12
Hang-Up – $10 (SOLD)
Intricate – $12

IMG_2861

MAC Lipglass L to R ($10 each)

Baby Blooms
Summer Crop
Utterly Discrete
En Pointe
Sonic Vibe
Electro-Lush

IMG_2835

MAC Archies Girl Lipstick ‘Betty Bright’ swatched 1x still with box – $50

revlonlippies

Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks $3 each

Plum
Lilac

IMG_2848

NYX Lipsticks $1 Each — (L to R, back to front)

Sparkling Apricot
Pure Red
Fortune Cookie
Vivaldi
Rose
Lip Du Jour
Uberchic

IMG_2843

Vincent Longo Gel-X Lipstick in Time $10
Vincent Longo SPF 12 Baby Balm in Catalina Rose $8

IMG_2844

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Infrared – $15

IMG_2842

Inglot Slim Gel Lipstick #50 – $10

IMG_2841

Shu Uemura Lolishine Rouge #333 – $10

IMG_2847

Urban Decay Lipsticks

Back Row L to R: Jailbait ($15), Vinyl ($18), Confession ($18), Peroxide ($18), Lovechild ($18), Midnight Cowboy ($15)

Middle Row L to R: Naked ($15), Rush ($15)

Front Row L to R: Buzzkill ($15), Gash ($18)

IMG_2849

Stila Lip Glaze (large size)

Ulta-mate Pink – $7
Cinnamon – $9
Fig – $9
Pomegranate – $10
Candied Apple – $10
Vanilla – $7
Passion Fruit – $10

IMG_2862

Christian Dior Petal Shine Quint – $35

IMG_2864

MAC EZ Baby Tendertone – $12

IMG_2863

MAC Hot ‘n Saucy Tendertone – $12

IMG_2865

MAC Tendertones (brand new without box)

Softnote – $15
Shush! – $15
Tender Baby – $15

IMG_2866

MAC Lipglass (Liberty of London packaging) in Perennial High Style – BNIB – $25

IMG_2897

MAC Pigments CW from Top:

Spiritualize – $25
Milk – $25
Push The Edge – $12 (half jar)
Antique Green – $25
Violet – $25

IMG_2888

MAC Infatuating Rose Palette – $30

IMG_2889

MAC Intriguing Scarlet Palette – $30

UDdeluxe

Urban Decay Deluxe Palette – $15

IMG_2891

Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude Palette – $30

IMG_2892

MAC 6 Dashing Lassies Palette – $30

IMG_2893

MAC Lip Glosses L to R:

Dazzleglass Glamour OD – $15
Dazzleglass Via Veneto – $15
Glimmerglass Blackfire – $20
Dazzleglass Date Night – $15
Dazzleglass Bare Necessity – $8
Dazzleglass Steppin Out – $10
Cremesheen Glass Ever So Rich – $20

IMG_2894

MAC Lipglass L to R:

Frozen Dream – $10
Culture Clash – $10
Standing Ovation – $10
Rich n Ripe – $10
Desire – $10 Lull – $10

IMG_2895

MAC Lip Glasses L to R:

Snowscene – $10
Icescape – $10

IMG_2899

Stila Lip Glaze (mini size) (names may not be in the order they are in the photo)

Marmalade – $3
Apricot – $3
Plum Fairy – $5
Raisin – $5
Kitten – $5
Grapefruit – $5
Candy – $5
Starfruit – $5
Cranberry – $5

Or take all the minis for $35!

IMG_2898

Chanel Glossimer – Pagoda – $10
Chanel Glossimer – Equinoxe – $8
Revlon Colorburst Gloss – Peony – $3
Revlon Colorburst Gloss – Strawberry – $3
Buxom gloss mini in Sugar – $3

IMG_2867

MAC Old Style Quad – BNIB – $4

IMG_2868

Stila Trio – unknown name – $10

IMG_2870

Stila Trio – Red Carpet Look – $10

IMG_2871

Laura Mercier palette – includes 2 quads and 2 cake liners – $20

IMG_2873

MAC Warm Palette – $30

IMG_2874

Annabelle trio in Hot Fudge – htf in the USA – $10

IMG_2876

Stila Blanc Palette – $15

StilaAdventurousinAspen

Stila Adventurous in Aspen palette – $8

StilaEmpoweredinPink

Stila Empowered in Pink palette – htf – $15

StilaPrettyinParis

Stila Pretty in Paris palette – $8

StilaRoadtoRadiance

Stila Road to Radiance palette – $10

StilaTrendsettinginTokyo

Stila Trendsetting in Tokyo palette – $12

IMG_2896

or take all of these Stila palettes for $48

IMG_2981

MAC Lilacrush Lip Gelee – $10

IMG_2982

MAC Delicate Crush lip glass mini – $4

IMG_2983

MAC Star Nova lustreglass mini – $4

IMG_2984

MAC Lip Glass Minis

Elle – $4
Pink Poodle – $1 (SOLD)
Cruise Control – $4

IMG_2988

MAC Solar Bits

Black Ore – $25
Impassioned – $25

IMG_2990

MAC Pigment Vials L to R

Gold Dusk – $10
Gold Mode – $10  (SOLD)
Reflects Antique Gold – $10
Gold Stroke – $10

IMG_2996

MAC Shadows

Gesso – $10
Mont Black – $15
Silverthorn – $15

IMG_2998

MAC Shadows

Top Hat – $15
Fertile – $15

IMG_2999

MAC Shadows L to R

Buckwheat – $15 (SOLD)
Rose Blanc – $8

IMG_3001

MAC Shadows Top Right CW:

Clue – $10
Blackberry – $10 (SOLD)
Hypnotizing – $20
Moth Brown – $20

IMG_3002

MAC Shadows CW from Top Right:

Creme de Violet – $9
Very Violet – $10
Of Summer – $10
Scene 1 – $9

IMG_3003

MAC shadows CW from Top:

Greensmoke – $10
Velvet Moss – $15
One Off – $12

IMG_3004

MAC Shadows CW from Top Right

Freshwater – $10
Zonk Bleu! – $15
Moonflower – $12
Birds & Berries – $15 (PENDING)
Star By Night – $12
Ingenue Blue – $15

IMG_3005

NYX Shadows L to R

Luxor – $2 Frosted Lilac – $2

IMG_3006

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow – Ruthless – $10

IMG_3007

L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows L to R

Perpetual Purple – $5 Midnight Blue – $5

IMG_3008

Inglot AMC Shine 36 Eye Shadow – new – $7

IMG_2991

MAC Bloodline Pigment – BNIB – $20

IMG_3011

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadows

Tres Teal – $10 Whim – $10

IMG_3012

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Duos CW from Top Right:

Sea & Sky – $12
Illusionary/Burning Ambition – $12
Earthly Riches – $12
Family Silver – $12

IMG_3015

MAC Mineralize Blush Duos CW from Top Right:

Love Rock – $15
Happy Together – $15
Light Over Dark – $15
Earth to Earth – $15

IMG_3016

(Left) MAC Summer Rose Beauty Powder – $20

(Right) MAC Blush of Youth Beauty Powder – $20

IMG_3017

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish from TOP, CW –

Soft ‘n Gentle – $30 (PENDING)
Cheeky Bronze – $30
Gold Deposit – $30 (PENDING)
Perfect Topping – $25  (SOLD)
Light Flush – $30 (SOLD)

Please email sales (at) glossmenagerie dot com to purchase any of the items listed here. 

New NARS Location – Las Vegas

NARS Las Vegas Boutique Image 01

Planning on heading to Las Vegas any time soon? Be sure to visit the 6th freestanding NARS boutique that just opened up in the Forum Shops at Caesar’s!

NARS Las Vegas Boutique Image 02

Doesn’t it look gorgeous?! The sales staff are makeup artists trained personally by Francois Nars himself. ‘Nuff said.

NARS Las Vegas Boutique Image 04

Some interesting tidbits…

  • The concept for the store was designed by Francois Nars alongside Fabien Baron of Baron and Baron design firm.
  • The glossy red cash wrap is color matched to NARS Jungle Red lipstick.
  • The store features an enormous (11×6 feet) video screen playing rotating short films by Francois Nars.
  • An exclusive mix of music was created for the store by renowned French DJs Les Jumeaux.

The store is located at 3500 South Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas NV tel. 702.749.1525.

I can’t wait to visit the next time I’m in Vegas!

The Best Drugstore Skin Care Products

Welcome to cheap thrills – drugstore edition! While I’m an advocate of splurging whenever you can on skin care – because you DO get what you pay for when it comes to skin care, that doesn’t mean nothing in the drugstore is worth trying. Au contraire! There are also quite a few inexpensive gems to be found there.

aloe

#1 – Fruit of the Earth 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel

I ALWAYS have this on hand. Aloe is a soothing, cooling moisturizer that won’t upset your skin. It’s great for those of you who are prone to redness as well. My only caution is keep it away from your eyes. It tends to make my eyes sting/water if I get it anywhere near my eyes at all. Available in a mini size bottle for $1 at most drugstores.

#2 – Freeman Face Masks & Scrubs

Hi, jr high called, and said to remind you THAT CHEAPASS DRUGSTORE MASK WAS THE SHIT! And you know what, they still make it! And tons more! Freeman masks are the TRUTH. I haven’t met one yet that I didn’t love! The cucumber peel-off mask is delightfully gross (if you are the kind of person that enjoys peeling dried elmers glue off of yourself, you’ll love this…), and have you even imagined anything more decadent than a chocolate strawberry detox mask? These suckers are available at Ulta, drugstores, and online (for the whole huge selection, go there!) at freemanbeauty.com from $1.99 to $3.99 each.

acnestresscontrol

#3 – Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Line

There are 6 products in Neutrogena’s Acne Stress Control line and they’re all pretty fan-effing-tastic. They’re formulated with salicylic acid (chemical exfoliant and known acne zapper) as well as soothing cucumber. Zaps zits effectively, and cheaply. If you have dry skin you’ll want to either use lots of extra moisturizer, or only use this every other day. Each product in the line is $6-$7 at drugstores.

epiellewipes

#4 – Epielle Facial Cleansing Tissues

These face wipes are the bomb dot com. They come in several varieties in addition to the “original” cleansing wipe, including Aloe, Cucumber, Citrus, and Green Tea! Green Tea are my personal favorite, but they’re all amazing. Not sure where to find these? Big Lots is a sure bet. A pack of 24-30 will run you a whopping dollar.

#5 – Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

Duh, this product made my favorites! And I gave it a good review! So you know it’s going on my best of drugstore skin care list. Lazy person version of my review: it’s surprisingly great, more gel than cream, and is as refreshing as advertised! It’s about $8 or $9 at the drug store.

blueberryserum

#6 – Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Intensive Skin Repair Serum

Lest you think you can’t get skin care that goes beyond basic cleansing at the drugstore – voila! Yes To Blueberries has this nifty little serum for a mere $20. This serum is chock full of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and more goodness to help prevent signs of aging. It also smells good, so if you’re not into the science-y part of skin care, there’s that.

There are countless other products I could get into from the drugstore that are equally fab if not moreso than their high end counterparts. Have you tried any of the six products I mentioned above? Which are your fav cheap thrills in skin care?

Best Beauty Gifts for Mother’s Day

Okay so Mother’s Day is not quite a week away. Do you have a present yet? I’ll admit it – I don’t! It’s kind of one of those things that I remember only when I run in to the grocery store and see a big sign in the floral department reminding me. So since I’m a last minute shopper, and you might be too, here are my picks from the beauty world for mama. Also, as an added bonus, all of these things are available in an actual store. Because you might not want to wait for something to get shipped. We’re such slackers.

For The Techy Mama foreoheroIf your mama loves a nifty gadget, run– don’t walk (wait, who ever walks anywhere?) to your nearest Sephora and grab her a Foreo Luna. Okay come on you knew that was coming if you’ve read this blog before. I love the damn thing. It’s a gazillion times better than the Clarisonic because it’s way more sanitary and way more gentle. There’s also no add-on cost since you do not need to go out and buy brush heads. However, the initial up-front cost is $199. Ain’t your mama worth it?

Conair-Infiniti-Pro

 

Another great gift idea for your techy mama at a more affordable price point is the Conair Infiniti Pro hair dryer (available for around $30 at Ulta). This dryer comes with 2 different concentrator attachments, include a cold shot, and packs quite a punch in the power department. Not wild about the orange color? Ulta also carries a cobalt blue version, and a limited edition pink (may not be available everywhere).

For Mama Who Loves a Classic chanelIf your mom is a classic beauty who loves timeless, fail-safe beauty items, you can’t go wrong with Chanel. Head on over to your local Nordstrom and hit up your Chanel counter! The Chanel Le Brilliant Glossimer Duo is a perfect gift. It includes 2 Glossimers (the most luxurious lip gloss there is!) in Crushed Cherry and Wild Rose, along with a lip liner in Nude and a sharpener. They all come in a cute little zipper bag emblazoned with Chanel Beaute. The whole set runs you $64.00.

For Mama Who Loves Manisnail-polish-resort-2014-collection-mini-cube-4x-5ml-p8585-35047_image

Got a manicure-loving mama? Nail kits are the way to go. Ulta has the Essie Resort cube. It’ll run you $17.00 for 4 pretty minis. While you’re there, pick her up a bottle of Zoya Remove+. She’ll thank you later.

For The Girly Girl Mama

lavieIf mom loves all things pink and girly and feminine, she’ll love Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle. It’s a new version of an old favorite, and it’s divine. Depending on the size bottle you get, it runs $58 to $98 at Ulta (and lots of other places).

All that said, mom, if you’re reading this — none of these are your present!!! I’m saving another idea as a surprise. ;)

2014 Makeup Show LA Shopping List

themakeupshowLAlogo

My favorite of the beauty trade shows, The Makeup Show, has its LA stop this coming weekend. A week from today I will be immersed in my favorite beauty brands, along with some of my favorite people! As much as I gush about the fantastic educational experiences and getting to hang with my fellow beauty blogging babes, let’s get real– the shopping is amazing at these events! Some brands are even debuting brand new products at TMSLA. So what’s on my shopping list? Keep reading.

The very first thing I will do is probably make a beeline for the NARS booth. I pretty much always have a NARS wishlist as long as my arm, and right now is no exception. Any time I can get my paws on some NARS at a discount, and all bets are off. I can’t wait to swatch the new Matte Multiples and to nab the new Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya (seen below in use back stage during NYFW at Creatures of the Wind SS’14). I love the Satin Lip Pencils and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for suggestions for your own shopping list.

narstimanfayainuse

After waiting in what is sure to be a crazy line at NARS (worth it!) I will head over to booth 909, Billion Dollar Brows. You guys know what a brow freak I am. A lot of the stuff I will be picking up at TMSLA this year is brow-related. To me, eyebrows are like foundation, except where I would leave the house w/o my foundation, I wouldn’t like to leave without my EYEBROWS.  Anyway…

I am obsessed with my BDB brow brush. I’ve used it *exclusively* for my brows for the last 4 years. I just want to pick up another one. If there’s some sort of show special I’ll grab another brow powder too. I’ve had my BDB brow powder for as long as I’ve had the brush, and I’ve made a pretty significant dent in it. I’m sure it could go another few years, but it’s always good to grab a backup if it’s a good deal, no?

bdbduophoto from Billion Dollar Brows

After BDB I will mosy on over to the booth #1000, Breakups to MakeupAngelique’s Etsy shop has the cutest tees and accessories with makeup-obsessed themed phrases on them. I’m particularly fond of “I Would Cry But My Mascara Is Designer”. How friggin’ cute, right?

mascaradesignerphoto from Breakups to Makeup on Etsy

Then I can’t wait to go stare at the gorgeous vintage-inspired makeup at Besame Cosmetics. Everything is made in small batches here in LA. The packaging and attention to detail of this line makes every piece a work of art! I have never owned anything from their line, but maybe it’s time? ;)

Next I’m off to do more brow-related shopping! I want to go check out the new Dipbrow pomade by Anastasia. I haven’t decided if I will actually buy this, but it looks pretty cool and I want to check it out. However, I’m very sure I want another Sketch-a-Brow pencil from Senna Cosmetics! I used mine up completely, and I miss it. GIMME.

Also on my list to check out…the tinted moisturizer from OCC. I want something with a little coverage that looks skin-like, and is less heavy than my BB cream. I don’t really need much, just evening out the redness on my cheeks and around my nose.

The Makeup Show is also the best time to stock up on staples like makeup wipes, sponges, brush cleaner, etc. I am on the hunt for a large sifter jar to decant some of my Ben Nye Neutral Set powder into. It comes in a huge bottle and it’s kinda hard to use it by pouring a little onto the teensy cap.

A post about TMSLA shopping would be incomplete without mentioning brushes. If you want brushes, THEY GOT BRUSHES. You can pick up brushes from all of the best lines in the business: Bdellium Tools (the b is freaking silent, people), Crown Brush, London Brush Company, esum (find them at the Muse Beauty booth – AMAZING), oh and a little line by the name of Hakuhodo. Also, a special treat – Beautylish will be there along with the Wayne Goss brush collection! Some of those brushes look really cool from what I’ve seen on Youtube, so I look forward to getting to play with them in person.

Speaking of brushes, Stila will be at TMSLA and several of their brushes are longtime favorites of mine. The #5 all over shadow brush, the #7 precision crease brush, and the #9 all over blend brush are all fantastic brushes. I have like 4 of the #7 brush, that’s how much I like it. You really can’t ever have too many brushes. ;)

As far as other things at the show, I will see what strikes my fancy. You never know who is going to have some super cool new thing, or what’s going to be on a ridiculously awesome show special price. Plus, and this happens to me all the time, you’ll see a product you didn’t think you wanted and a makeup artist will show you a different way to use it that CHANGES EVERYTHING. That’s the best part about shopping at these events. Often, you’ll get to talk to the people that developed the product and get to hear their thought process, and gain such amazingly helpful insight into the products themselves.

The Makeup Show LA (#TMSLA) is March 1st & 2nd in downtown LA. Tickets are still available ($48 for 1 day, $68 for both) with various discounts available for students etc. You do have to be a professional (or studying to become one) to get tickets. More info about all of that is here.

See you at The Makeup Show!

By the way… if you are as crazy about eyebrows as I am, follow my Pinterest board “Hey, Nice Brows” for lots more eyebrow love.

10% Off Plus Sizes at Forever 21

Hey all my fellow plus size ladies…just wanted to pass along that Forever 21 has 10% off their plus size selection now through 11/5/13. Simply use the code F21PLUSOFFER.

If you want some shopping suggestions, I picked out a few of my fav items as well as the perfect accessories to pair with them! Take a look…

forever21plus

#1. Pleated Geo Button Jacket ($29.80) – This unique jacket is feminine and also edgy with the geo buttons. I’d continue the juxtaposition of feminine + edgy with the accessories, using these wide calf harness boots ($42.80) and pearl spiked rings ($6.80). Outfit-wise there’s a lot you can do. I’d probably opt for dark denim and simple tee.

#2. Sorry Not Sorry Raglan Sweatshirt ($22.80) – I love this sweatshirt. I’ve been known to use and abuse the #sorrynotsorry hashtag from time to time, so I would totally rock this. Since if I were wearing a sweatshirt I wouldn’t want to bother with a bunch of jewelry, I thought these studded hightops ($39.80) were the perfect pairing with this sassy sweater. The “Rad” mirror compact ($3.80) was just an extra bit of fun I thought was cute.

#3. Bold Striped Hi-Low Skirt ($19.80) – I never jumped on the high-low skirt trend before, but I would for this skirt. I love the stripes, and I like that this skirt shows a little bit of leg (but not too much). I don’t like showing a lot of skin in general, but a little peek is kind of fun. ;) As we get into cooler weather I could see this looking cute with either pumps or heeled boots and a blazer. For this post I accessorized the skirt with these multi-tonal bangles ($4.80) and a fun red umbrella ($9.80).

#4. Spotted Textured Combo Dress ($24.80) – The first of 2 “LBDs” I picked. I love the black on black texture of the bodice of this dress, and the floaty chiffon skirt. Sure it’s a little bare for winter, but you could easily put on some tights and a sweater with this cute little frock. For the accessories, I kept with the cat theme and chose this awesome cat charm bracelet ($7.80) and super cute cat iPhone case ($8.80).

#5. Elegant Draped Fit & Flare Dress ($32.80) – I just loved the flattering drapes of this cute LBD. It’s a classic style that you could wear to a variety of occasions. I’d wear it with some tights and black booties and a little shell cardigan for holiday parties. Accessory-wise I wanted to glam it up a bit since it’s a basic black dress. I picked a very much on-trend gold metallic ponytail cuff ($3.80) and a studded wrap bracelet ($8.80).