Lessons In Humility From a Six Dollar BB Cream: Wet 'n' Wild Fergie BB Cream Review

I am a snob.

I don't mean to be. It's certainly not intentional, and I absolutely don't think I'm better than anybody else. That's not it, at all. I just have a real problem believing that a six dollar BB Cream from the drugstore is going to be anywhere near as good as an exponentially more expensive one from, say, Sephora or Ulta. Somewhere along the way, I got it into my head that cheap equaled, well, cheap.

I am a snob.

The thing is, I'm only like that with certain products. I will happily skip off to the drugstore for skincare. My lipliners are almost exclusively Rimmel. Cream shadows? Maybelline Color Tattoos ftw. Powder shadows, on the other hand? Pretty much going to be Urban Decay or Stila. Eyeliners? Urban Decay, period. BB Cream? Too Faced or Urban Decay, and the Urban Decay isn't even that good. Occasionally, I'll be in a pinch and have to use a Garnier that I've had for probably too long for it to still be sanitary, and I will marvel at how much I like it, and wonder why I don't use it more often. Then I'll put it back in the cabinet and forget about it--just like my CoverGirl Outlast foundation that is freaking amazing, but gets passed over for Urban Decay or MAC. Why? Because, apparently, I am a snob.

This needs to stop.

So, about a week ago, I had to go for a physical (ain't that fun?), which led to a trip to Walgreen's, where I decided I deserved a treat, goshdarnit. While perusing ye olde wall o' cosmetics, I saw this little darling by Wet 'n' Wild, and curiosity got the better of me: Fergie BB Cream 8-in-1 Beauty Balm. Everything about this screamed, "BAD IDEA!", but I just had to know.

You know what? I like it. I mean, I really like it. I've used it several times since purchasing, and have been impressed. Let's break it down:

Packaging: The packaging looks fantastic. I have it on my counter alongside NARS, Urban Decay, Tarte, and a few other high-end beauties, and it fits in surprisingly well. The product comes in a black squeeze tube with silver accents. A clear strip near the bottom shows the cream, so you can check the color, as well as see when you're running low. The cap is flat, and allows the product to stand up on its own. I do have a problem with the absence of any sort of safety seal, but there are advantages (more on that later). 9 out of 10.

Scent: Here's where things get tricky. The tube I own has a very distinct maple syrup fragrance. It smells exactly like you just smeared pancakes all over your face. I have absolutely no problem with this, as I happen to enjoy pancakes, and the smell disappears once the cream is applied. However, other people have purchased tubes with a drastically different, far more unpleasant scent. I believe I heard someone use the words "toxic" and "waste". That sounds dreadful. My advice: take advantage of the no safety seal issue. Buy a tube, keep the receipt, and before you leave the store take a good whiff. If it stinks, swap it out. I DO NOT advocate opening a tube you have not paid for. It really sucks when you buy, for example, a lipstick and get it home, only to find a fingerprint or worse waiting under the cap. Don't be that person. Plus, if the tube is defective, it's better the store know so that they can prevent someone else from buying and using it. 8 out of 10.

Texture: The cream has a very light, gel-like consistency, and is slightly tacky. It feels like nothing on the skin. 10 out of 10.

Range: Five shades are available, as of this writing, ranging from Light to Deep (a vast improvement to most brands' one- to two-shade ranges). I am a MAC NW15 and have been using Light/Medium, which is, perhaps, a skosh too dark. It looks fine in my bathroom lighting, but in natural (as you'll see in a moment), it's iffy. I think it'll be great during the Summer, though. Right now, I'm two shades lighter than Casper. 9 out of 10.

Application: I've been using my fingers, and the product has absorbed quickly and blended easily. I do recommend finger application, as opposed to brush. I find BB creams and tinted moisturizers (which, face it, Western BBs tend to be repackaged tinted moisturizers) apply better with fingers, because they warm up the product, which aids in blending. 10 out of 10.

Coverage: This is very light coverage. I wouldn't go so far as to say light to medium. This is strictly for evening out skin tone, and not for covering blemishes or extreme redness. It's definitely recommended for folks who don't need the coverage of an honest-to-God foundation, but just want a little something to keep from being completely bare-faced. It covers a little better than the Urban Decay Naked Beauty Balm, but that's not saying a whole lot. Here's a shot of my cheek after applying the cream. You can still see freckles and a slight amount of redness. The skin's texture, however, is nice. You don't see a whole lot of pores, and there's a slight glow. 4 out of 10.

See if you can find a constellation among the freckles! I have the Big Dipper on my right arm. I don't tan; my freckles just connect...

Finish: I've found this to leave a very natural, glowy, but not shiny or oily finish. I think it's quite lovely, and much nicer than expected. It looks much more expensive than any other drugstore BB I've tried. There's no shimmer, either, which also sets it apart from others I've looked at. Everything about this reminds me of the Stila tinted moisturizer I used to swear by around the time I graduated from college. This is just slightly less sticky and a heckuvalot cheaper. 10 out of 10.

Wear: On my normal-combo skin, in 64% humidity (I checked), with slightly above-average exertion (I had a voice lesson and took a whirlwind trip to the mall before heading on to work), no touch-ups were required by the time this godawful selfie was snapped. That was about three and a half hours. I don't look shiny, and there doesn't appear to be any wear or rubbing off. I did touch up with a little bit of powder about half an hour later, but it wasn't absolutely necessary. I was checking my lipstick and figured I might as well. 8 out of 10.

Pay no attention to the catterpillars over my eyes. It's pollen season, and I don't want to sneeze while holding tweezers near my eyes. I'm uncoordinated. It would end poorly. I'm making an appointment at the Benefit Brow Bar soon, I promise.

Other: This BB cream is cruelty-free and contains SPF 15. That's kind of low for a BB, but better than nothing. No score.

All in all, I think this is a winner. I especially like it for traveling, when you might not want to bring your expensive makeup for fear of it being lost or damaged. Plus...six bucks. Really? I mean, really?

Final Verdict: 8.5 out of 10. It's super cheap and works like a champ. Kind of a no-brainer.

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.

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...



Hey, Mr. Postman!: Top Five ELF Products Worth the Shipping

You've gotta love E.L.F.

If you're on a budget (and aren't we all?), those little one- and two- and three-dollar price tags can be pretty darn hard to resist. I mean, come on! How am I supposed to say no to a lipgloss that looks just like Stila's Lip Glaze, but only costs a buck? I could get twenty-two of the E.L.F. for the price of a single Stila! Not that I need twenty-two lipglosses, but it's the principle.

Unfortunately, the downside to having ridiculously low prices is that, by comparison, your online shipping rates can look a tad on the high side. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time paying more for shipping than for the item to be shipped. Sure, you could try to find your item locally, since Target and select Walgreen's carry an assortment of E.L.F. products. They just don't have anywhere close to the entire line, meaning that there are times when you can't circumvent the shipping costs. With that, I have compiled a list of the top five ('cause that seemed like a good number) E.L.F. products worth the cost of shipping.

Now, please bear in mind, this is not a list of the five best E.L.F. products. These are items that are A) high-quality, B) classically useful (not just super trendy and fun--these are warhorses), C) either difficult to dupe with a readily available item, or are dupes of much more expensive items. Basically, these are items that, were you to add the almost seven dollar shipping charge to the original amount, you would still come out ahead. Now, on to the list!

5. Studio Lip Exfoliator ($3)
I'm a fan of making my own lip scrubs, but they're not always the most travel-friendly option. This little gem is unique in the fact that the scrub comes in a solid form and is housed in a cute little lipstick tube. You can toss this in your purse or travel bag and not worry about sugary liquid spilling out of a tub and onto your other products. The scrub smells and tastes like yummy maple and brown sugar, and is chock full of skin-loving ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba oil. Even at what amounts to a $10 price point ($3 + $7 shipping), it's a good buy.

4. Studio Lip Lock Pencil ($3)
If  you wear brightly colored lipstick, this is a must-have in your kit. This pencil outlines the outside of your lipline to keep color from feathering or creeping into any fine lines. There are a couple of drugstore varieties of this product, but I have yet to actually see one in a brick-and-mortar store. If you go the Sephora route, a clear lip liner--which is all this is, really--will run anywhere from $14-$20. The E.L.F. version works like a dream and, even with shipping, is still easier on your wallet.

3. Studio Eye Shadow "C" Brush ($3)
This is a very basic eyeshadow brush, but it's one of the best I've ever worked with. I use mostly Real Techniques now, but every now and then I grab this one, and am reminded how awesome it is, and wonder why I don't use it more often (why don't I use it more often?). The brush has a sleek handle design and very densely packed synthetic bristles. It picks up product really well, lays it down really well, and blends really well. Basically, it performs really well (in case you hadn't picked up on that). If you're going to spend ten bucks on an eyeshadow brush, this is the one to buy.

2. Studio HD Blush ($3)
Considered to be a dupe for Make Up For Ever's HD Blush, E.L.F.'s version packs a very pigmented punch. It's creamy, applies smoothly, and wears well. It's a top notch formula, and a steal at a ten-dollar price point.

1. Studio High Definition Powder ($6)
HD powder is a silica-based finishing powder that can be used to set makeup, but is mainly utilized for its airbrushing effect. It leaves skin looking flawless, silky smooth, and camera-ready. There are several on the market (most notably by Make Up For Ever), and tend to carry low-volumes and high-prices. E.L.F.'s version is only six bucks--expensive by E.L.F.'s standards--and you get a figurative ton of product. Yellow and Shimmer versions are also available, but the standout is the original transluscent powder. With shipping, it'll set you back about $13, but you'll still be getting more bang for your buck.

Of course, this is assuming you only need to purchase one item. But I know none of us would ever go makeup crazy on the E.L.F. website...right?...Guys?...Hey! Wait up!! I need some brow gel...and lip gloss...and a blush...and.........

It's Two, Two, Two Posts In One!

Today is nasty, rainy, humid, and all around ugly. On top of that, it's Casual Friday. Of course, my work environment is pretty relaxed to begin with, so you can read that to mean I traded in my "nice" jeans and "respectable" top for comfy old jeans and a t-shirt. This one, specifically. It made me giggle.

Basically, it's one of those days when I expect the What Not To Wear folks to knock on my door at any moment.

Seeing how I wasn't really trying with my look today, and had a million (not sure that's an exaggeration) errands to run in the icky weather, I thought today would be the perfect day to try out a sample that caught my eye, as well as a neat DIY hair product. Both are made for quick, easy, natural looks, and that is definitely the name of the game today.

The Magic Bag O' Samples

Somehow--and I honestly can't remember how--I ended up with a sample of L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur. Supposedly, it's a "finishing cream" that you put on after your moisturizer, and can either wear alone or under makeup to blur wrinkles, lines, pores, and other minor imperfections. I have minor imperfections, so why not? I popped open the foil packet and applied the opaque ecru cream to my face.

It's a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm. Flat out. There's a higher SPF and it costs about $14 less, but those are the only differences I found. Unfortunately (and if you click the link you read my review of the UD), it just doesn't do it for me. I can't quite figure out a purpose for it. There's zero coverage, so it doesn't even out your skin, and you still need, at least, a concealer. You could use it as a primer...or you could just use a primer. As I said in the UD review, there are better and cheaper out there. If you have perfectly even skin and just want a little protection or some skincare benefits...you could use an anti-aging moisturizer with sunscreen and skip this extra step. I just really can not find a point to this. But, if you were planning to buy the UD BB cream, L'Oreal just saved you fourteen bucks. There you go.

Frugal Friday

Many of you are probably familiar with beauty blogger and youtube guru PinkSoFoxy. If you're not, you should be, because she's amazing. Her approach to beauty blogging is unique in that she takes a "less is more" approach. Instead of constantly buying new stuff, she "shops her stash" and pulls from items she already owns, rediscovering old favorites along the way. Her videos also show fantastic tips for decluttering and simplifying your space, and in the process, your life. Seriously, I encourage you all to go check out her sites.

Anyhoo, she recently uploaded a video and blog post on how to DIY a sea salt spray for beachy waves. I've been using Bumble & Bumble Sea Spray, but I'm about to run out and thought that this might be fun to try. I had all of the ingredients, anyway, and if it worked, I could save the $25 I'd have spent on a replacement bottle. So, this morning, I whipped up a batch while I waited on my coffee to brew. By the way, I have a Keurig, so that's about three minutes.

Bottom line: this stuff rocks.

After my shower, I towel dried my hair and gave it a rough blow-dry until it was just damp. Then, I sprayed my concoction all over, scrunched, and let it finish air drying. The results are amazing. I have messy, beachy waves that aren't at all crunchy or sticky. My main complaint with the Bumble & Bumble was that it always looked great at first, but as soon as I ran a brush through it, my hair became a frizzy, dry, hot mess. My hair is so soft with this that I can run my fingers through it, brush it, whatever. It still looks pretty and wavy. If you have three minutes, I highly recommend giving this a shot!

The ingredients you'll need are all linked here. I used Herbal Essences Body Envy gel, which is discontinued, turns out. It's a light hold, volumizing gel, so anything like it should work similarly. I omitted the essential oil, because A) I didn't have any, and B) my hairspray is scented, and I thought that might be too much going on at once. For the shimmer, I used (no kidding) a little bit of an old E.L.F. mineral eyeshadow. Worked like a charm. Thank you, PinkSoFoxy, for this awesome DIY project!

Frugal Friday, Deck the Nails Edition: Wet N Wild Lavender Creme

I bought this color to use for a nail art look I attempted to put together--"attempted" being the key word, as it failed miserably. However, the color was so pretty that I had to share it with you. Plus, at only 99-cents, you can't beat the quality.

Seriously! How pretty is that?! And that's dry, without a top coat. It's just that shiny. Turns out, it's almost the exact same shade of fuschia as this year's Victoria's Secret Black Friday tote bag. The formula is wonderful, too. It glides on smoothly, is easy to guide, opaque in two coats, dries quickly, and lasts for about three days with a top coat. Even then, there's very little chipping, and only a little wear on the tips.

The color number is 454D, and I found this bottle at Walgreen's. The color name is Lavender Creme, and that just boggles the mind. Fuschia? Yes. Hot pink? Maybe. Lavender? Are they high?

The nail art may not have worked out, but I can't wait to coat my toesies with this happy color. Have a great weekend!!!

Review: E.L.F. Baked Blush in Passion Pink

Yesterday, I showed you a little haul that included two of the E.L.F. Baked Blushes. Today, I've got a review for you on Passion Pink.

First up, don't let the name fool you. This is actually peach; much in the same way that Pinktastic is actually gold. I have this ridiculous compulsion to buy Peachy Cheeky, simply to find out what color it really is, since these names have absolutely nothing to do with the color payoff. That aside, I'm not disappointed in the color, just confused.

And speaking of color...you know how yesterday I mentioned that this looked like a dupe for NARS Orgasm?

NARS on Left, E.L.F. on Right.

I wasn't far off. The E.L.F. is a tad more peach than the NARS, and much more pigmented. The NARS is pinker and sparklier, and far sheerer. I had to swatch it several times to match the single swatch of the E.L.F. They're not exact, by any means, but if you're in the market for an Orgasm-ish color, you could do a lot worse for three bucks. They look much more similar in person, for the record.

NARS on Left, E.L.F. on Right.

It's a very subtle blush once it's on your cheeks. More than color, it leaves a pretty glow.

On cheeks: E.L.F. Passion Pink. Highlighter: E.L.F. Pinktastic. Bronzer: Tarte Park Ave. Princess.

I packed it in my purse, just in case it faded and I needed a touch-up during the day. Happily, I can say that I've been wearing this for four hours, and it's still going strong. I have touched my face, been in and out of doors, talked on my phone, and moved around quite a bit. In other words, I haven't been sitting like a china doll on a shelf.

I like the natural, soft look of this blush. The staying power is there, the color is lovely, and you can't beat the price. The packaging isn't fancy, but it looks nice and functions well.

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. It would be nice if the names matched the colors, but you can't always get what you want; sometimes, you get what you need.

In case you were wondering about the rest of the face, here's what's doing:

Primer: Tarte Clean Slate

Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt NW15

Concealer: Maybelline Age Rewind in Neutralizer (yup, I'm pale)

Setting Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent

Finishing Powder: E.L.F. Baked Bronzer in St. Lucia (yup, it's pale)

Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

Eye Shadow: Urban Decay Snakebite (all by itself. It gets a bum rap, but it's gorgeous as an all-over color)

Eye Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick in Rehab

Inner Corner: Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick in Midnight Cowboy

Brows: E.L.F. Brow Kit

Mascara: Buxom Lash Waterproof

Contour: Benefit Hoola

Lips: MAC Shy Girl

E.L.F. Cyber Monday Haul and First Impressions

E.L.F. ran a 50% off plus free shipping sale on Cyber Monday, so I took the opportunity to pick up a few things. They just came in yesterday, and I thought you might be interested in some of the newer items on the site
.

I picked up two of the HD Blushes, two Baked Blushes, one Baked Bronzer, the Eye Refresh, one Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick, and the Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Natural.

St. Lucia, Passion Pink, Pinktastic

Here are swatches of the St. Lucia Baked Bronzer, Passion Pink Baked Blush, and Pinktastic Baked Blush. St. Lucia is a very light, warm bronzer with a subtle hint of sparkle. I used it all over today, much the way I would a MAC Mineral Skin Finish, and it just helped knock the chill off of my uber-pale face. I had to use different products to contour and add color. The Passion Pink blush is also very light and warm, with more of a peach tone than I had expected from the online photos. I thought this would be more of a plummy color, but this looks like it could dupe NARS Orgasm. I haven't checked them against each other, yet, but this is definitely a peachy pink. The Pinktastic blush is actually a very pretty gold highlighter. Again, not what I was expecting, but not a disappointment. I bought this thinking that it would be a good dupe for one of my favorite MAC highlighters, Moon River, that is now discontinued. They're actually not even close to similar, but I think I'll get a lot of use out of this one, anyway. It's just lovely. It's just not pink.

Left: Moon River. Right: Pinktastic.

Left. Moon River. Right: Pinktastic. Um...it's not pink. Nope. Not pink at all.

I started to swatch the entire eyeshadow palette, but decided that a few representative shades would probably be just as informative. If you want, I can do an entire, in-depth review on the palette, though. Let me know in the comments. I realized right off the bat that these shadows were E.L.F.'s standard hit-or-miss grade, unfortunately. Believe it or not, there are five swatches in the above photo. The very first one barely showed up, and it was a mid-tone brown. The second swatch is super powdery. The third is supposed to be a glittery blackened gray, but very little glitter transferred to my skin. The last two are actually very nice, and they're demi-mattes. Honestly, I expected the least from them, and they ended up being the best out of the bunch. Originally, I purchased this to use for film makeup, and I intend to keep playing around with it. Maybe it will surprise me. Something tells me I'm probably going to end up having to break down and get the Coastal Scents 28 neutral Palette, though. I am wearing two shades from the palette on my eyes today: a soft gold and the demi-matte ecru shown above. So far, they're doing pretty well.

Here are swatches of the HD Blushes in Showstopper and Encore, and the Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Movie Star. Showstopper is a gorgeous berry with shimmer, and Encore is a shocking pink with shimmer. These blushes are scarily pigmented--a little dab'll do ya! I've not tried wearing them on my cheeks, yet, but they didn't want to come off of my hand. The formula is creamy, and I prefer the consistency to that of my Make Up For Ever HD Blush, honestly. Be prepared to work quickly, though, because they dry almost instantly.

Movie Star looks like a blood red in the stick, but comes off as a very natural red. Sort of like the color you'd get after kissing for a few minutes. I am surprised by how much I like this product. It's sheer upon first application, but the color can be built up by layering over time. The color starts out glossy, but dries down to a stain-like finish. It's long-lasting, but non-drying, and there's no taste or scent. Seriously, I really like this product.

Movie Star upon first application. It's not red, but it's the perfect flush.

The Eye Refresh is a clear liquid that you apply with a rollerball applicator. The packaging is nifty, but I couldn't tell where any liquid came out. I just felt the cool metal ball rolling under my eyes. It's pleasant, but I think you get a similar effect with an ice cube for free. I'll keep playing with it and report back if anything miraculous occurs.

Packaging-wise, I have no complaints. The HD Blushes are dead ringers for MUFE's packaging. The baked items are housed in functional, if not flashy, compacts. The palette is sleek, sturdy plastic with a usable mirror. As I said before, the Eye Refresh looks cool (even if it does feel a little cheap). The only thing I'm not thrilled over is the Lip Gloss Stick. I love how it's made--especially the twist up design--but the white coloring is killing me. The first time I used it, red product smeared all over the top portion, and it just looks messy. Making the package color match the lip color would look much cleaner.

Have any of you tried these products? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

October Favorites!

It's the end of October, and that means it's time for FAVORITES!!! *insert Kermit flail here*

We all have lives, so let's skip the small talk and get straight to it!

Skin
Clean & Clear Oil-Free Dual Action Moisturizer
While Thomas and I were in Orlando, we realized that the car trip had left both of us with really dry skin that was beginning to break out. We had to run in a Walgreen's anyway, so I had the chance to pick up something, anything, that could help. This was cheap, and we were desperate. Now, I'm happy to say that I have a new favorite basic moisturizer. It doesn't have any anti-aging benefits, but my skin feels great, and breakouts have been at a minimum. Added bonus: it leaves a cooling sensation as it sinks in.

Face
Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation
Ulta sent me a 20% off anything in the store coupon, so I bit the bullet and bought this. My only complaint about this foundation was that it didn't hold up to heat and humidity, but now that it's cooler and drier, that's not really an issue. Ever since I tested this, I've found myself comparing other foundations to it. Now, I could spend the next however long and however much money trying to dupe this foundation, or I could just buy it and be happy. I just bought it, and I've been happy as a clam with it ever since. It's gorgeous, and I highly recommend it.

Eyes
E.L.F. Disney Villains Palette, Maleficent, Night Villain Shadows
As weird as this may sound, and as difficult as it may be to believe, I've been reaching for this more than any other palette, recently. I don't even keep it in a drawer; it's right there next to my brushes. Misfortune, Diablo, and Forest of Thorns are three absolutely beautiful, pigmented, buttery shadows, and they work perfectly for Fall. The rest of the shadows...eh, I could take or leave. These three, I'm really hoping E.L.F. decides to sell as singles. They're amazing.

Lips
Urban Decay Lipsticks in Sellout and Midnight Cowboy
I am ill that these have been discontinued, and I'm really angry at myself for snapping up three colors while they were three bucks apiece on the Urban Decay site. I had no idea I'd like them so much!! The packaging is so vile that I barely have words to describe my hatred, but the lipsticks are glorious. They're moisturizing, wear well, and the colors are simply beautiful. Of the three I purchased, Sellout and Midnight Cowboy have made it into the daily rotation. Sellout is a warm neutral rose, and you can still find it online (see the link). Midnight Cowboy is a glittering nude that also makes a lovely topcoat over other colors. I like it over Dervish lipliner from MAC, but normally wear it on its own. I can't find it anywhere, but if you know of a good dupe for it, please share with the rest of the class.

Nails
Sephora by O.P.I. in Leotard Optional
Sephora by O.P.I. in Blasted Gold Glitter
I've been wearing these together, and love the birch bark effect it leaves on my nails. Leotard Optional is a plummy nude, and the Blasted Gold Glitter is...well, blasted gold glitter.

Other
International Delight Creamer in S'mores
It looks like chocolate milk and tastes like graham cracker. I can't stop drinking it!!!!

I hope you enjoyed this, and have a safe and happy Halloween! If you're in the Northeastern region, and are duking it out with Bad Sandy, please know that you're in our thoughts. Good luck, and be careful.

Frugal Friday: Cheap (or Free!) Last-Minute Costume Ideas

Wow!!! Halloween is only five days away, and Halloween weekend is upon us!! Over the next few days, some of you may find yourselves unexpectedly invited to costume parties, with no costume hanging in the closet. Oh, no! What to do?! I know the last thing I'd want to do is hit the costume/party/Halloween pop-up store the weekend before Halloween (no, thank you), so I did a little of what I like to call "Closet Shopping" to put together workable costumes out of items I already had lying around the house.

Yes, they are all kind of lame. No, it doesn't matter. It's Halloween. I think you might even get extra points for having a lame costume. Points for what, exactly? Not a clue. I just make this stuff up as I go along.

1. Tourist
Pull out the shorts, flip-flops, sandals, backpacks, fannypacks, and the loudest Hawaiian or theme park shirt you can find. Bonus points if the t-shirt has Marty Moose on it (again, no idea what the points mean. Just go with it). Sun visors, baseball or trucker caps, knee socks, and a dab of sunscreen on the nose (greasepaint or white cream makeup work, too) complete the look.

2. Proud Parent
You know how some Baseball dads and Pageant moms have t-shirts, noisemakers, and a dozen, or so, pins, posters, and the like? What if every club did that? A fun spin (and one not likely to offend any parents who may fit this description--mine did!), is to pick a club where a cheering section would be entirely inappropriate, like Debate, or Model UN. You know, where matches and meets are notoriously quiet and require deep concentration, and where most people show up in business attire. This one may require a trip to the craft store, but maybe not. If you're already a DIY-er,  you might already be all set. The basic costume is jeans and t-shirt. The fun comes in how you decorate that t-shirt, and what props you decide to carry--the louder and crazier, the better. Don't be afraid to use neon, rhinestones, and glitter, all at the same time. Proudly proclaim that you are a Scholar's Bowl Mom/Dad...foam finger and all!

3. Beauty School Dropout
You will need a cheap (five dollar-range) stylist's smock from the beauty supply shop, some spray in hair color from the drugstore or Walmart (look on the Halloween aisle. It's still much safer and far less crazy than going to a party store!), and foam rubber curlers. Spray your hair with whatever color you like (if you go for pink, you could also make a little nametag that says "Frenchie", and wear a pencil skirt or capris with cute flats under the smock), and roll onto the curlers. Then apply the tackiest makeup you can think of. I mean, make the eyes different colors and smear the lipstick (unless you're Frenchie, then stick with cute and 50s-inspired). This also works for guys, by the way. I'm just going to leave you with that mental image.

Have a great weekend!!! 

DIY: Halloween Candy "Spell Book"

Last year, Thomas and I found this "spell book" at Hallmark. If the link doesn't work (and that's a very real possibility), it's a hollow box, decorated to look like a Witch's spell book. You fill it with candy, and can use it instead of a trick-or-treat bucket. They talk, too, which is really cute. I considered getting one, but they were around twenty bucks, and were just a little too cartoony for my taste. I gave it some thought, and realized it could probably make a more realistic one for a lot less money. I mean, it wouldn't talk, but it would still look really cool, and that's what mattered. This year, I got to work, and can now proudly show you my creepy book of candy spells! But first, let's see how you can make one, too:

First, I started with a store-bought hollow book. This one cost about $5.99 at Ross. It's probably around 8 or 9 by 12 or 13 inches. I didn't measure it, but it's not much larger than a sheet of printer paper. It's probably about 1.5 to 2 inches deep. That's enough to hold plenty of candy.



Nice enough, but not really the look I was going for.




Inside the "book"

 The first thing I did was tape off the "pages" of the book. They were already detailed with a nice gold finish that I wanted to keep. I used a little painter's tape I had lying around from when we painted the bedroom to protect the edges. Then I sprayed the entire book down with a coat of the stickiest, yuckiest, ungodliest black paint known to man. Seriously, this paint has been the bane of my existence. I also forgot to take a picture of it. Oops.

Once I had the base coat on and it had dried, I taped off the areas I wanted to keep black (the spine), and sprayed the rest of the book silver. Thankfully, it was a lot easier to work with.



The darn thing still sticks to everything, and you can see where some black is already showing through.
I kind of like that, though. Gives it a little age.

 Next came the hard part. I wanted a harlequin pattern, but wasn't sure how to do it. This turned out to be the easiest method. It's time consuming, but it works. (I just wish I'd remembered to take more pictures...ugh...sorry...) First, tape off your first set of diamonds. I found it easiest to make my tape go corner to corner. Spray these, and once they dry, tape off your next set. If you mess up, you can just spray over the whole thing and start over. It's not an exact science, and it is frustrating, but it's worth it.

See?! Again, that black was awful, so I had a little bleed through and smudging, but overall, I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I did the same pattern on the back of the book, as well. Okay, to be perfectly honest, I did the pattern on the front of the book, as well. I accidentally did the back, thinking it was the front. I was going to leave the back silver. Oops.

Then, to add a little interest, I brushed some gold leaf I had leftover from another project onto every other gold diamond. 



Here's the leaf. I don't remember how much it was, but it wasn't very expensive. It came from Michael's.





And here's the book with the gold leaf.



After everything dried, I used a glue gun to add some jewels to the spine, and a label on the front. The label came from Hobby Lobby, in a pack of four. This is the original placement. I didn't like it, so I moved it over later, as you'll see in the final pictures.

As a finishing touch, I used a little more of the liquid leaf to freehand a title onto the spine of the book. I tried to mimic the lettering in the label. Thomas and Ronnie decided to photobomb, I guess.

And here is the mostly-finished product, on the mantle with the rest of the Halloween decorations. I say "mostly-finished" because I still need to clear-coat it. that black paint is ridiculously sticky and stains my hands when I touch it.

Thanks for making it all the way through this! I hope you enjoyed it, and please let me know if you try this yourself. I'd love to see pictures!

Frugal Friday: E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick Review

E.L.F. has eighteen shades in their line of five-dollar mineral lipsticks. I have three of them. Let's play!

Here, we have Ripe Rose, Barely Bitten, and Cheerful Cherry. I have to say, in the tubes, they look fairly similar. Barely Bitten is obviously the lightest, but the other two are darn near identical. I do detect a hint more brown in the Ripe Rose, and a teeny smidge more berry in the Cheerful Cherry.  Let's see how they swatch, shall we?

Oooh! Now, I can see a difference! Ripe Rose is definitely more of a dusty rose, with brown tones. Barely Bitten is more of a true rose, and Cheerful Cherry is a gorgeous berry red. They swatch easily, are nicely pigmented, and are almost impossible to remove. They should last a good, long time on your lips. So, how do they feel and look on the lips?

I only swatched one on my lips, because I was literally running out the door. I ended up just wearing this one as my lipstick du jour. This is Ripe Rose. It's not as brown on my lips as it was on my hand. Here, it's just a really lovely rosey shade. While I am glad that it's a pretty color, I am a little perturbed that it doesn't match the swatch on my hand, or the shade in the tube. Still, it feels like butter on, and has lasted all day, even through lunch, with only minimal touching-up.

Pros: packaging looks very high-end, moisturizing feel, beautiful color and pigmentation, long-wearing, great price point
Cons: not even slightly true to color

Final Verdict: 8.3 out of 10. For five bucks a piece, snag a few of these high-quality lipsticks and play around with figuring out the colors.

Frugal Friday: Checking Out Wet N Wild's Megas!

If you've been around here for any length of time, then you'll know how much I love Revlon lip butters. They're beautiful, moisturizing, last a decent length of time, and the packaging is precious. Still, I do love a good bargain, and I'd heard that Wet N Wild had their own version. I didn't know the name of the product, though, so I picked up two items that looked similar to the lip butters (I've since seen a third, a lip lacquer, but have not had the opportunity to try it) to see if there was any comparison. Let's take a look, shall we?



Left to Right: Mega Last Lip Color in Just Peachy, Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Pink Champagne




Top to Bottom: Mega Last Lip Color in Just Peachy, Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Pink Champagne

 I think you can tell by looking at these swatches that neither one is a lip butter, so I need to keep looking. Still, since we're here, and since these are only $1.99 each, let's take a look at these.

Mega Last Lip Color in Just Peachy
I really hate this product. There it is. I said it, and I'm incredibly sorry. It's going in the trash can. The swatch isn't bad, but on your lips...okay, let me describe it this way: when I was about 12, my Mom and Dad let me start wearing lipstick. That was it; just lipstick. Immediately, I became enthralled by the Wet N Wild display at Phar-Mor. I'd say at least 75% of my allowance went to different shades of lipstick, each pinker and tackier than the last (I was 12!), and my favorite was called Petal Pink. It was this godawful Barbie-pink, chalky, super-dry abomination that make my lips look like I'd coated them down in Pepto-Bismol, and I thought it was fabulous.

This looks exactly the same, only slightly more orange. In 20 years, only the packaging and my taste have improved.

Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Pink Champagne
In direct contrast, I'm really enjoying this lip color! It's closer to a CoverGirl Gloss Balm than a lip butter, but that's just fine with me. In addition to being a lovely shade, the product is very moisturizing, has no discernible flavor or scent, and contains the all-important SPF. It's not very long lasting, though. That's really the only drawback I've seen. This is also a much more pigmented product than I originally thought it would be. There's nothing sheer about this pink!

I thought the packaging for both products was very pretty, though both caps are difficult to remove, and I finally gave up on ever getting all of the plastic off of the Pink Champagne.

Final Verdict: Skip the Mega Last, but pick up every color you can of the Mega Shield. They're beautiful, feel good, give protection, and are less than two bucks a pop.

Wearing Pink Champagne.

A Quick, Cheap Fix: E.L.F. Tinted Moisturizer Review



Photo Credit: eyeslipsface.com



On a whim, I picked up some E.L.F. Tinted Moisturizer the last time I was in Target. I've been doing the sunless tanner thing, and am just a little too dark for my Too Faced Beauty Balm. I've also noticed that my Garnier BB Cream has started to look a little greasy. I have to tone it down with a pretty heavy-duty matte powder, which kind of defeats the point of having a BB Cream, really. I'm wondering if, perhaps, I've reached that point in the tube where all the illuminating ingredients have settled. In any case, I needed something for my slightly less-ghostly-than-usual skin, and it needed to be cheap. I saw this product for $3 and figured, "what the hey?"

You know what? It's actually not bad. I've given it two days of wear, and I'm really happy with it. Here's a breakdown:

Packaging: The moisturizer comes in a really nice, black inverted tube with flat-top cap. It looks high-end, reminiscent of NARS or MAC. You can see the product's shade through a small, clear strip on the front. My only gripe is that my cap didn't fit quite right. It's closed and secure, but it sits at a strange angle. Not a big deal, but I thought you should know. 9 out of 10.

Texture: I really like the consistency. It might be a bit thin for some, but right now, it's so hot and humid that I'd wear tinted water if I could. I've just used my fingers to apply, and the moisturizer absorbs nicely. Best of all, you don't need to use another moisturizer with it. Believe it or not, some tinted moisturizers just don't do the trick on their own. This one leaves your skin nice and hydrated. 9 out of 10.

Finish: There doesn't appear to be any shimmer in this product (none that I've noticed, anyway), and I've only needed to lightly brush a little mineral powder over the top to set it and my concealer. Light coverage. 10 out of 10.

Ingredients: It's not paraben-free, but it does contain Aloe, Cucumber, and Vitamins A, C, and E. It also contains SPF 20. 7 out of 10.

Shades: Here's the kicker. There is a wide range of shades, from Porcelain to Espresso, and at only $3 each, you can afford to buy more than one shade and custom blend. Sadly, they all have a slight yellow cast to them. For me, that's not a problem, as I have yellow undertones, anyway. However, if you're rosier or more neutral, you can pretty much hang it up. It's not going to work for you. I have no idea why E.L.F. does this, but I've noticed in their other face products, too. 5 out of 10.

Price: For $3, you get .25 ml. I've heard complaints that that's too small of a size, but my normal face moisturizer costs $18.99 for .50 ml. The E.L.F. gives you half as much, but at a mere sixth of the price. I'd say that's pretty darn fabulous. 10 out of 10.

Final Verdict: 8.3 out of 10. I like it. Whether it's to get you by, or you just want a decent tinted moisturizer for a budget price, I recommend it.

I'm wearing "Nude", the second lightest of the seven available shades (over two coats of sunless tanner. I'm that pale. Oh, look! Tanner lines around the bridge of my nose! Yay! *sigh*).

Other Products Used:

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in Light

E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Warm

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Free Love

Buxom Stay There Eye Shadow in Mutt
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Whiskey

Buxom Buxom Lash Mascara

E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

NARS Blush in Super Orgasm (sorry, Mom!)

Buxom Stay There Eye Shadow in Cocker Spaniel (as Highlighter)

Burberry Lip Mist in Copper

I swear, it doesn't look like that much on the counter!!

***UPDATE!! Spend $20 at eyeslipsface.com TODAY (6/21) and get a free mystery bag worth $20! Use code BDMYSTERY at checkout. 4 random winners will receive a $50 gift card in their bag!

Unspeakable(-y Cute) Dooom

One site that I just love is Shirt.Woot. Every day, a new, original tee is featured and available for only $12. Yeah, there are a lot of sites like that, but this is the only one I've seen where the shirt is still available for sale after its featured day. The price just goes up to $15. I can totally deal with that. I don't know about you, but I don't always have the extra money lying around, and have missed out on some truly epic t-shirts on some other sites.

Anyhoo, the other day, one of my favorite Shirt.Woot artists unveiled the third installment in their Unstealthiest Ninja collection. Unfortunately, the first two are sold out, but I just had to share this with you:



Photo Credit: Shirt.Woot

How freaking adorable is that?! Oh, I just want to hug him! The artist goes by the handle dooomcat, and you can learn more about them on their site. You can also purchase prints and other items, as well as check out a web comic.

Know of any other cool artists? Want to share with the rest of the class? Let me know in the comments section.

Frugal Friday: Window Shopping Challenge!

Happy Friday-Before-A-Three-Day-Weekend!! Major sales happening over the next few days. I won't bore you with those, since they'll all but slap you in the face if you're out and about. Instead, here's the scoop on some extra special savings that you might not know about. Let's get to it!

TooFaced: Free Shipping all weekend with code THANKYOU12. Exp. 5/28.
Sally Beauty Supply: Take an extra 50% off all red tag clearance with code 555100. Exp. 5/28.
Bath and Body Works: $1 Shipping on orders over $25 with code MEMORIAL25. Exp. 5/28.

Question: has anyone here ever paid full price for anything at Aeropostale? That store seems to be in a state of perpetual clearance, and that's just fine and dandy, dandy and fine with me. Today, I looked and about half the store was 70% off. Just for giggles, I hopped on Polyvore and gave myself a challenge: put together a Memorial Day BBQ outfit for under $50, using only Aeropostale items. Here's what I came up with:

$50 Memorial Day BBQ Outfit by adorablenapalm featuring nyx lip gloss

Not bad, if I do say so, myself. Dress, shoes, bag, and two accessories (that ring is precious, and I like the way the curve in the sunglasses mimics the curve in the bodice), and the total came to $44.10. For coming in so far under the imaginary budget, I imaginarily treated myself to an imaginary lip gloss, bringing the final bill to $49.60. Heck, I'm so proud of myself, I may go try this on at the real Aeropostale this weekend. You can't beat twelve bucks for a dress.

I hope you all have a truly wonderful holiday, and please take a moment to remember the reason for the day. See y'all next week! If you're interested in any of the products mentioned, there are links below. Bye!

Nyx lip gloss
$5.50 - nyxcosmetics.com

Floral Halter Dress
$12 - aeropostale.com

Aero Surf Vertical Tote
$10 - aeropostale.com

Jelly Quarter Strap Sandal
$7.35 - aeropostale.com

Vented Shield Sunglasses
$9.75 - aeropostale.com

Sparkly Jelly Ring
$5 - aeropostale.com