Magic Bag O' Samples: Dior Diorshow Mascara

When I signed up for Sephora's new Flash program, I placed an itty-bitty order to test it out, and was able to pick up a deluxe sample of Dior Diorshow Mascara. I've been hearing raves about this product for years, but could never bring myself to spend twenty-five bucks on a mascara. I've been able to use this a few times now, so I feel like I can give you a fair assessment of how well it performs.

Honestly...it's pretty good.

Two coats. Ignore the bags. It's been a week...

Do any of you remember Rose Petal Place? That little doll collection from the early 80s that was all flower-based? Rose Petal lived in a watering can? Anyhoo, Rose Petal Place smelled like, you guessed it, rose petals. This mascara smells exactly like Rose Petal Place. I mean, ex-act-ly. I put it on, and instantly, I'm transported to the little den in my Grandma's house, where I'm on the floor, playing with Rose Petal, and waiting for my turn on the Atari. Frankly, I kind of love that.

As for the performance, I can't really complain too much. It does lengthen the lashes, though I didn't see too much in the area of volume. I did have some minor clumping, but nothing that a lash brush couldn't fix. I did not experience any flaking, irritation, or smudging, even though it is not a waterproof formula. It's a really good mascara, in my opinion.

Will I be buying it, though? No. I still can't bring myself to spend $25 on a mascara. Besides that, I still feel that Buxom Buxom Lash is far superior. It may not smell like my childhood, but it lengthens and volumizes in one coat, and does it for less money.

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. It's a good mascara, but still too pricey for what it is.

Prettiest Pretty Princess: Pink Positivity

Today is not my favorite day. It's the twelfth anniversary of my dad's passing, and it really doesn't get easier. On top of that, I got to deal with some less than fun insurance excitement, and the puppy decided to get a tummy bug. It's been a banner day around the Smith house!

To fight the urge to curl up in a sock drawer and sleep for days (points for reference!), I've decided to focus on the positive. I like pink. It's not my favorite color--that's teal, if you were wondering--but it tends to make me feel all bright and cheerful, and darn it, I need that today. So, in honor of pink, I'm pulling out two of my current favorite pink products to review for you. Spoiler Alert: they're both really good.

First up is E.L.F.'s Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Summer Nights. This has become my go-to lip product for the Summer. It's so hot and humid that about all I can wear is a little tinted moisturizer and cream products, so the overall look tends to lean towards "farmer's market" or "I've had the flu, and you're lucky I tried this hard". My main goal is to avoid scaring small children, really. Anyhoo, this is the quintessential "my lips but better" lip color. It's glossy, non-sticky, extremely user-friendly, and feels very moisturizing. Yes, there is a little glitter, and yes, you can feel it, but not enough to make it a deal-breaker. The staying power is...well, laughable, but for two bucks and this much pretty, I can re-apply. It's not like you need a mirror (or even a steady hand).

How pretty is that gold shimmer? Oh...I just can't even...

The other product is Zoya PixieDust Professional Lacquer in Miranda. The Zoya site describes it as a "rose sparkle" in Mauve family. I'm describing it as an exact match to the hot pink bows on my favorite Hello Kitty pajama pants. Seriously, though, it's a warm, rosy berry with a freaking ton of sparkle. So much sparkle, in fact, that a male friend who has zero interest in nail polish commented on the sparklies from across the room. That's sparkle.

The wow factor, oddly enough, isn't so much the intense sparkle, but the matte finish and sugary texture. Rather than attempt to describe it (the best I could come up with was "raspberry sand dunes", and that sounds somewhat disgusting), here are some pictures:

Shade

Sunlight

See? It's like having microfine grains of sand glued onto your nails. Doesn't necessarily sound appealing, but it looks beautiful. I keep staring at my nails!

Now, it does chip a little, but touch ups blend in easily, due to the texture. Normally, a top coat would prevent this, but using one defeats the purpose of having a matte finish. I've kept an eye out for dings, and added extra coats as necessary. So far, I'm on day four (and probably coat four), and it still looks fresh and flawless. Two coats for full opacity, quick drying, and relatively low-maintenance. I haven't tried removing it, yet, and I'm anticipating it being a real pain in the rear--akin to removing glitter polish, which is the devil. A beautiful, sparkly, shiny devil--but for the utter beauty that this polish is, the extra effort is totally worth it.

Have a lovely Monday, folks! I'm off to eat a chocolate chip cookie because it makes me happy, and my newest bathing suit is a tankini, so who cares about calories!

Shorts, I Salute Thee

*Apologies to anyone who now has "Camp Anawana (We Hold You In Our Hearts)" stuck in your head. I'm right there with you.

It's crazy hot outside, and as today is the first official day of Summer (For reals? What season have I been melting in for the past month? Spring? Surely not!), I thought I'd share with you my favorite pair of shorts.

Photo Credit: Old Navy

These are fantastic, and here's why:

1. They're twill, so they look nicer than denim, breathe, and don't hold wrinkles. I can hang mine in the bathroom while I take a shower, and that pretty much takes care of "ironing".

2. They have a 3.5 inch inseam (they also come in 5 inch), which makes them short enough to still be young and hip (although, by uttering those words, I have just deemed myself neither), but long enough to cover the cellulite and allow me to squat down when necessary. And yes, sometimes it's necessary.

3. They're cobalt blue, which is too pretty for words, and have a crisp, white, somewhat exotic pattern. You can wear them with a white tank and be casual, or a flowy blouse for a dressier look. I have a neon yellow tee I'm dying to try with them. (They come in other colors, too, but the cobalt is my favorite.)

4. In stores, they're on sale for $15. I can't even...that's just...I bought two more pairs. I have no idea how I'm going to style hot pink or teal shorts, but I'm up for the challenge!

Have a lovely weekend, guys! Try not to evaporate in the heat.

'Ip, 'Ip, 'Ooray! Ipsy June Un-bagging

Holy mackerel, I am a lousy photographer!!!!!!! If June's bag taught me nothing else, I now know, without a doubt, that photography is NOT my calling! 

Thomas borrowed my phone yesterday to take a picture of the dog, and I didn't remember to check my settings after he gave it back. There were several more pictures taken like that, and then I took everything out of the packaging and threw away all of the trash. So, yeah...no going back, now. My apologies. The picture of the dog turned out well, though, if that's any consolation.

Anyhoo, June's ipsy bag's theme was "On the Wild Side", and mine consisted of a Cailyn gel liner in Purple, a Chella highlighter pencil in Ivory Lace, a NYX powder blush in Spice, a Starlooks lipliner in Bare, and a J.Cat Sparkling Cream Palette (read: glitter) in Volta, all packed in a cute little leopard and neon yellow bag.

Since the pics are a no-go, here's a brief rundown of what I thought of each item. Again, my apologies.

The Bag
This is a really cute bag. The leopard and neon are both "wild", but in such a small dose, it's not tacky. The quality isn't off the charts, but this will make a fine travel bag, wallet, or clutch. I saw where someone else painted the spaces between the spots with pink glitter, then added rhinestones along the zipper. The end result was precious, and I'm planning to do the same to mine in the next few days.

Caylin Gel Liner in Purple


So, it's not a product pic. Here's the Caylin
on my eye, and Chella in the inner corner.



You know, I used MAC Fluidline for years. When that ran out, I switched to E.L.F. for economical reasons, and really liked it. Then, somehow, I ended up with Smashbox pen liner, and that led into the current trend of Urban Decay pencils. This might just make me go back to gel. It's gorgeous, creamy, practically fool-proof, and comes with its own brush, which is conveniently housed in the cap (which is genius). The staying power is excellent, and I'm definitely a fan.

Chella Highlighter Pencil in Ivory Lace

This is decent. It does what it says. It's a creamy, matte ivory pencil that you can use to highlight your brow, inner corner, cupid's bow, or what have you. I have one very similar to this that's from Anastasia, and there's another from Milani that's out in limited edition. It's a good product, but nothing ground breaking.

Starlooks Lipliner in Bare
I have not tried this, and I'm not sure I will. It's just...well, it's just an ugly color. I hate to put it that way, but that's really the only way to put it. The pencil is sort of a brownish, mauve-ish--you know what? It's the color of prune juice. I'm chucking it in with the zombie makeup.

J.Cat Sparkling Cream Palette in Volta
Wow. Not to be Negative Nancy, but this is another "miss" for me. (Oh, I hate posts like this!) Now, I love glitter. When I was five, I told my mother that glitter was my favorite color, and it still is. That said, I feel like glitter should have a purpose in your look, and I can't figure out what purpose black glitter that can not be used around eyes could possibly serve. This is not an eyeshadow. It's chunky glitter in a cream base. I'm...I'm...ready for Halloween, I guess.

NYX Blush in Spice
Here is another standout to join the gel liner! NYX knows blushes, that's for sure. This is my first single blush from the company, but my Dark Shadows Crimson Amulet palette came with five, and they're amazing. Spice is a deep rose with subtle shimmer, and is ridiculously pigmented. You have to use a light hand and a fluffy brush, but you can get a really nice, natural glow out of this product. It's a welcome addition to my collection, and I do have pictures of it!

That's one swipe, by the way. Whoa.

There you have it. That's June's ipsy bag. For funsies, I put together a look using the liner, highlighter, and blush...and it's about as mild as you can get. So much for walking on the wild side!

If you want a product list, let me know in the comments. Otherwise, I won't bore you to death.
Also: Those curls lasted about thirty seconds after this photo was taken. Darn humidity!! It's in a ponytail now. :(

Flash! Ah-ah! Saving Every One of Us (Time and Money)

This is just a quickie post to let you know about a cool little development over at Sephora.

They've started up an Amazon Prime-esque program called My Flash. In a nutshell, for $25 a year, you'll receive free 2nd day shipping* on an unlimited amount of orders, with no minimum total required. Orders can also be overnighted at the reduced rate of $5.95.

*Cue record scratch* Say what???

Now, I don't know about you, but for me, this is a steal. Let's do some math:

Regular shipping is $5.95 (let's call it $6, shall we?) and takes four business days to arrive. To receive your order in two days (like with My Flash), you'll have to shell out $16.95 (let's call it $17, 'cause...really...). If the amount of time it takes for your order to arrive doesn't matter to you, and you would never pay to expedite shipping, My Flash will pay for itself in, roughly, five orders. Sounds like a lot, but I'll get to that in a minute. If shipping time is an issue, and you're one of those folks who finds themself rush ordering on a regular basis, My Flash will pay for itself with two orders. If you've ever had to overnight an order, then the reduced rate will pay for itself with three orders.

In case you're wondering, last year, I placed four orders. In 2011, before my town's beauty population explosion caused an Ulta to be built across the street from a brand new Sephora Inside JCPenney, I placed eight orders. I would have placed more orders each year, believe it or not, had it not been for the shipping fee. You see, there have been many, many (manymanymanymany) times when I've been doing makeup for a project, and realize a little late in the game that I miscalculated just how much of a product I was going to need. There have also been those times when, at the very last minute, Thomas and I figured out exactly what it was that a character needed to really make them pop, and I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $17 to overnight one item. Nope. Ain't happenin'. Thomas and I usually end up checking both Sephora and Ulta, and then end up with me combing the shelves of the drugstore or Sally's, trying to find something sort of comparable to what it is I really needed. I also tend to use trial sizes, because they're easier to carry, take up way less space, and I'm more likely to use them up before they expire. I like trial sized Benfit Bad Gal mascaras for my actresses, trial sized Bumble and Bumble Prep for setting and re-setting curls, and if I have a particularly oily-skinned actor, a trial sized Urban Decay De-Slick. You can't get Prep in the Sephora Inside JCPenney, and the mascaras are kind of hit and miss. The De-Slick's not too hard to find, but one out of three isn't exactly good. Considering how stressed out I got on the last film, the fact that I can now just sit back on my couch, grab the iPad, and order whatever it is that I need, in whatever size I prefer, and have it show up on my doorstep two days later is a flipping dream come true.

So, yeah, I signed up. Immediately. Did not pass Go. I placed my first order while I was at it, for a three-dollar product. I didn't need anything (and really didn't need to spend any money), but I wanted to test it out. I placed the order on Wednesday at almost 2pm Central (the cut-off for same-day shipping is 3pm, but it doesn't specify time zone. I assumed Pacific, since the company is based out of San Francisco), and received my package today (Friday) at 11:15am. In it, I found the customary three free samples, and another bonus sample that I'd requested with a coupon code.

I'm a happy camper. Of course, the value of this program is completely dependent upon your own shopping habits, but for me, this is kind of a god-send.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.


*I have to add this: Only available in the Continental US. Excludes Canada, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, P.O. Boxes, APO/FPO, HAZMAT orders. HAZMAT will receive free ground shipping. Cut-off time for 1-day shipping is 12pm. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Putting the Lime (or Vanilla) in the Coconut: E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes First Impression

Did you know that Walmart carried E.L.F. now? Surprise!! I had to run in the store yesterday, and was greeted by a really nice display, filled with all sorts of essential and studio line goodies. As it happened, I had used up the last of my beloved Pacifica Island Coconut body lotion that morning, and was (and am) not in any real position to replace it anytime soon, so I called it kismet and picked up a pack of the E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes in the only available scent (it's fate, I tell you), Vanilla & Coconut. Today, I thought I'd give them a whirl and share my first impression of the product.

Honestly...it's kind of neat.

I'm going to start this off by saying that I will totally be replacing my Pacifica as soon as I can. There is absolutely no comparison between the two items. However, I do have some definite use for the E.L.F. wipes...just not necessarily as a moisturizer...let me 'splain:

The wipes smell lovely. The sweet vanilla and sweeter coconut give off an almost dessert-like fragrance, but the scent is so light that it's not cloying. It's downright dreamy, actually. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the scent doesn't last very long. Truthfully, I don't think it lasted much past application. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you're a perfume wearer, you don't have to worry about competing; if you're going to be in a tight space with a lot of people (like an office cubical setting), you won't kill anyone allergies.

The formula, itself, is fairly dry, which is a plus in my book. The humidity down here is ridiculous, so anything greasy or thick flat-out melts off of your skin and feels disgusting. You can leave little lotion puddles on your car seats. It's not pretty; I don't enjoy it. This is nice and cool, sinks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth, but dry to the touch. Its hydrating properties aren't bad, either. It's not the "World's Best Moisturizer" (TM), but it does the job. I applied after shaving, and that gross itchy feeling that you get after a close shave went away immediately, and I haven't experienced any irritation.

Now, the application is a bit tricky. You would think that a wipe would just, you know, wipe on. Um...no. Not quite. These wipes are super-soft, which sounds fantastic--who wants to rub something rough on their skin? Unfortunately, the texture causes the wipes to bunch up while you rub, effectively cutting the application surface by about 75%. It's workable, but a little annoying. Still, I'd rather have soft than scratchy any day.

This appears to be a nice product. It does what it claims. For three bucks, I couldn't be happier. That said, when I repurchase these (which I will), it will be to toss the very convenient little package in my theme park bag. I know, I know, that sounds odd, but again, let me 'splain:

I hate the smell of baby wipes. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I adore the smell of baby wipes on a baby. I detest using them on myself. I'm 33, not three. I would like to smell like a grown-up, thank you. Normally, when we go to Disney or Universal, part way through the day I begin to feel less like a girl and more like a swamp thing. It's nice to be able to pop in the restroom and freshen up a bit before, say, going in a restaurant. I don't like to carry a ton in the parks, but a travel brush, some blotting papers or a little powder, some lipgloss...and a pack of baby wipes...go a long way toward making me feel human again. Now, these lotion wipes don't have the same cleaning properties as the baby wipes, but I'm not necessarily trying to clean anything. I just want to wipe off the sweat, cool down, and hopefully smell a little less theme park-y. This should do the trick nicely, and I won't have to go into Be Our Guest smelling like a pre-school.

Verdict (thus far): 8 out of 10. Good in a pinch, and great in a park.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain Rev--Oh, Let's Just Call It What It Is--RAVE!

Here's my pick for favorite long-wearing Summer lippie. I know that the other day I posted about the Rimmel Show Off (Apocalips...whatever...) liquid lip lacquers, and said that while they were okay, they were a little drying, and just not my favorite. Of course, I also said that I probably wouldn't pick up any more, and I totally did today, so what do I know? It's my birthday...it was sparkly...I need help...

Anyhoo, in case you were wondering what my favorite actually is, it's the L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain. Well, that's a mouthful.

The first time I tried this, I hated it. Flat-out despised. I don't remember why, though, to be perfectly honest. I just remember that I thought it sucked, and I tossed it in the back of my traincase, presumably never to be seen again...

...But then, I needed an orange lip color. I don't remember why. I also don't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, and ocassionally can't remember my phone number. For whatever reason, though, I needed an orange lippie, and Coral Tattoo was the only one available. You know what? I loved it!! It was easy to appy, true to color, shiny, lightweight, moisturizing...pretty much everything you could want. I picked up Rose On and On the next time I was at Walgreen's, and it's become a staple. I don't have a shot of Coral Tattoo, but here's the Rose On and On:

Isn't that gorgeous?! You get great color payoff, and it's comfortable. It's like pajama pants for your mouth. You just throw it on and forget about it. I wore Coral Tattoo to a friend's baby shower, and after a couple of hours of eating, drinking, and talking, it hadn't budged. Today, I wore Rose On and On to lunch with my family, and while I did need to touch it up afterwards, it was only because the shine had worn off. The color was still there.

Photo Credit: Crushing On Clothes
This blogger has some lovely swatches, so head on over there! This is Coral Tattoo, by the way.

I could continue to extol upon the virtues of this lip color...so I will! The packaging is too pretty for words. The tube is gold with a little clear window to display the shade inside. The product is scented, but it's a light, floral scent that fades upon application. It's sticky enough to stay put, but not so sticky that it's obnoxious or causes you to eat hair every time the wind blows. It's supposedly a budget-friendly (less than $10, depending on where you go) dupe for the YSL Glossy Stain, and while I have not tried that (because it's freaking expensive), I would believe the L'Oreal to be high end. Basically, it's just a d*** fine lippie.

Final Verdict: I have no cons. None. This is a rare 10 out of 10.

And now, because it's my birthday, and my awesome baby brother took me out to lunch to celebrate (on his dime, I might add), I have to add this photo, because it makes me happy. I love that kid so much.

Happy Thursday, everyone! 

Janet Van De Graaff* Would Love These: Rimmel Show Off Liquid Lip Lacquers

Okay. So, way back in December, a blogger that I just adore posted some swatches of a brand new long-wearing liquid lipstick from Rimmel. The shades were gorgeous, and Rimmel's a good brand, so I was gutted to learn that Apocalips (how cute is that?) were only available in the UK.

Well, fast-forward to last week, when Rimmel released their line of Show Off liquid lip lacquers (read: Apocalips) here in the States. I was so excited, that I ran to my nearest Walgreen's to grab one of these $4.99 beauties before they flew off the shelves!

Okay, okay...I got two. Sue me.

The first one that I picked up was Celestial, which you will not see here because I am a horrible photographer and none of the photos turned out worth a darn. It's a really lovely peachy-beige, if that's any help. The second one, though, was Big Bang, and it's a true red. Seeing as I was just hired to be in an Andrews Sisters tribute group (that's a whole 'nother story), I could definitely use a long-wearing, pin-up red.

Now 50% Blurrier!

The packaging is flat-out cool. It's identical to the UK version, with the exception of the name change. The tube is just shy of cellphone length, and features a faceted cap in black that gradates down to a clear bottom half, which displays the color inside. The Rimmel branding and Show Off name are in silver foil. My one complaint is that the shade name can only be found on the little safety sticker, so you can't peel it off unless you have a fantastic memory for color names. I don't.

You know what red lipstick is great for? Learning that your lips are really asymmetrical.

The Good: The doe-foot application is smooth and even, and the pigmentation is top notch. The product is insanely glossy, and that gloss remains even after blotting (as you can see from the above photo. Yup...that's blotted). Eating and drinking does affect the wear time some, but without eating, and with drinking only through a straw, it can go four hours, easily. Not too shabby for five bucks.

The Not So Good ('Cause It's Not Really Bad): The smell. It smells like aloe vera, which is really strange, since there isn't any aloe vera in it, that I could find. Luckily, that does fade after application, so it's not unbearable. This is also a very drying product. After four hours, my lips were pretty much screaming. You can apply a balm over the lipstick to help with the dryness, but there's a process:

• Apply the balm, which will ball up and remove some of the color in patches.
• Blot off the excess balm, removing the flakes.
• Reapply lipstick over balm.

So, yeah...that part's kind of a pain. There is also some feathering, but that's to be expected with bold colors. You should also exfoliate and moisturize before applying, but again, that's the norm. Also, please bear in mind that, while this is long-wearing, it's still prone to transfer.

I really like this lipstick for those times when you know you're not going to be able to touch-up for a while. Filming, stage work, weddings (just be careful kissing!)...any time you need to look really good for a really long time, but also need to be fairly low-maintenance. Would I wear it every day? God, no! It's way too drying. Will I pick up every color? Not on your life. I'm definitely more of a lip gloss girl, and rarely wear "real" lipstick. Can I recommend this to others? Absolutely.

Final Verdict: This is a lovely product with great staying power and an even greater price tag. Pick up a couple if you're into shiny lipsticks. 7 out of 10.

*For those of you who aren't musical theatre geeks, like myself, Janet Van de Graaff is a character in The Drowsy Chaperone, and she sings a song called "Show Off". The more you know...