Brow-Zinga! The Benefit Brow Bar at Ulta

This morning, I had the opportunity (okay, so it was more like obligation--my brow's looked like Wolverine's) to stop by the Benefit Brow Bar at my local Ulta, and thought I would share my experience, in case any of you were curious to try it yourself. I've noticed a severe lack of reviews on this service, honestly, and figured maybe I could help remedy that. If you've been, please leave a comment below with your thoughts. Please share with the rest of the class.

When I first arrived, I wasn't really sure what to do or where to go. I knew where the brow bar was located, but that was about it. I didn't have an appointment either, since the website had not mentioned anything about how to go about making one. For the record: I recommend making an appointment by calling the store. Walk-ins are totally cool, though.

Once inside, I learned that the nice lady at Benefit was there and available, so I hopped in the very comfy chair and let Candace get to work. I didn't specify a service, as only two were offered (wax or tweeze) and the price difference was negligible. I just told her to do what she needed to do, and that I didn't expect miracles. She laughed, and started the unenviable task of taming my unruly caterpillars.

She started by measuring the beginning, ending, and arch points of my brows, in relation to the shape of my face and eyes, and marked where they should be. She took great care in this, and did not rush, but didn't waste any time, either. Then, she applied a very creamy wax to my brows to shape them. This wax (and I can't believe I'm saying this) did not hurt. At all. I wasn't even mildly uncomfortable. Kid you not.

Once the brows were roughly shaped out, she finished the detailing with a pair of tweezers, trimmed the longer hairs with some scissors (I was a mess, y'all), applied a soothing lotion, and then waxed my brows into a perfect arch. They look gorgeous. I'm also under strict orders not to touch them between visits, and I'm perfectly okay with that. I'm an idiot with tweezers.

I have to say, what impressed me most throughout the experience was how professionally it was handled. Candace's certification was on display, and through conversation I learned a little about her background that I won't go into, but was extensive and impressive (I'm using that word a lot today). Not once did she try to sell me anything. Let me just repeat that for emphasis: not once did she try to sell me anything. No upsales, so concealers, no skin care--nothing. The service cost $20, and I left a tip, but nothing else was ever tacked on. When I left, I did have some redness, but it was easily covered by a little concealer that I keep in my purse.

This is definitely something that I will do again. I'm thrilled that I was finally brave enough to try it. Now, do I try the Dermalogical Facials next? Decisions, decisions...

Review: Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub

I ran out of my Olay Skin Smoothing Cream Scrub--which I love--and thought that now would be a good time to try out this Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub that I keep seeing everywhere. I've been using the Simple wipes for months and really like them, and my Mom's been raving about their undereye roller. Ulta sent me a $5 off coupon, so really, there was no time like the present. I snapped up one of the last bottles in the store, and excitedly went home to wash my face.

Um...I don't like it. At all. Not. A. Fan.

Let's break this down:

The Good
I like the packaging. The product comes in an inverted Spring green squeeze tube. The tube is also translucent, so you can see how much product you have left and not be caught off guard by an empty tube. The print work on the tube is attractive and...well, simple. I'm also impressed by Simple's promise to never use dyes, fragrances, or irritants, as well as their low price point. This tube was $7.99 before coupon.

The Bad
This stuff smells awful. I'm all for not using perfumes, but this product doesn't smell "natural"; in fact, it smells downright chemical. That's actually the word Thomas used to describe it when I asked him to sniff the tube. To me, the scrub reeks of bug spray. It's just not pleasant.

Another thing that's not pleasant is the exfoliator. Simple uses rice granules, but they're so large that they don't so much smooth your skin as assault it. If I wanted to scrape my skin, I could just use my fingernails, thank you. Also, the granules do not dissolve, so if you use this in the bath (and I do), the granules stay in the bath water. Granted, this does mean that they, in effect, scrub your entire body, but not well, not comfortably, and not on purpose. It's just kind of gross.

The Ugly
In in a fancy circle on the front of the tube, you'll see the word "moisturizing". Ignore that. My skin has felt tight and dry after each washing. I've also experienced some breakouts, but I can't definitively point to this as the culprit. I'm pretty sure, but can't say for a fact.

I'm stuck with this stuff for the moment, so I'll keep you posted if anything new develops. The wipes are great. I've really enjoyed the toner. This is not up to par with those. If you're looking for an inexpensive scrub, go with the Olay. I know I will be.

Final Verdict: 3.6 out of 10. Try the line, but skip this.

Deck the Nails: Good Idea, Bad Idea

During my search for the perfect festive red glitter polish (which is still on-going, I might add), I ran across this little monster in an Ulta 5 for $5 bin. Don't even bother looking for it online--my guess is that even they're ashamed of it. I can't even find where anyone's ever swatched or blogged about it before. It's like it doesn't really exist. Wow. I also can't tell you the real name of it, because the label I have says "Wicked", and Ulta has a different polish labeled "Wicked" on the site. Seriously, I'm flummoxed. All I can say is if you see a bottle of Ulta nail polish that has giant chunks of red glitter in a black base, RUN AWAY.

*UPDATE! It's called "Fashionably Late". I have other names for it...*

Make it stop. Please.

I hate, loathe, and despise this polish. It's not even pretty on. What you see, in the photo above, is three coats. I managed to capture this on camera just before the glitter began peeling off. That's right, peeling off. It got caught on everything imaginable, and within an hour, I already had noticeable chipping. Granted, I didn't use a top coat, but the polish was already so goopy, the base polish so streaky, and the glitter so haphazard (and not in a cute way), that I didn't see any point in prolonging the misery. I wore this from Thursday until Sunday, and was never so happy to remove a polish. By the time I began to attempt to take it off (oh, yeah, it was an ordeal...more on that later), Thomas asked me if it was a crackle polish. No.

To remove this, I started with my usual glitter removal method: cotton pads soaked in non-acetone remover and applied to the nails. Usually, after a couple of minutes of this, the polish whisks off of the nail, and only a small amount of scrubbing is required for thelingering sparkles. Not this time. Oh, no. This time, I soaked the nails...then scrubbed...then soaked some more...then scrubbed some more...then eventually used my finger nail to scrape...then scrubbed some more...for about an hour. No kidding. I finally got all of the polish and glitter off, but I started to think I was going to be stuck with silver glitter on my nails forever. Oh--the polish remover took the red off of the glitter, but the silver undercoat was still there, and it was still stuck to my nails.

This is going in the trash. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Not only that, it might be my pick for worst polish of the year. I just need to figure out what it's called. I'm going with, "The-polish-that-shall-not-be-named".

On the opposite end of the spectrum, here's my pick for mani of the season: the Louboutin Manicure. The concept is very simple. You simply paint your nails with a shiny black varnish (I added sparkles on an accent nail. Adele did hers in silver for the Grammy's. You can be creative), then color the underside of each nail red, like the signature Louboutin sole.

Front

Back

As simple as the concept is, the execution is much more difficult and detailed. This definitely not a "slap on as you run out the door" nail look. To start with, you'll need to make sure that your nails have grown out long enough for the underside to be visible. You also will need to make sure that the undersides are completely clean and free of nail "dust" from filing. Paint your base coat, and add any embellishment you're going to, then let dry completely. For the undersides, choose a red that is opaque and bright. The one I used was a little too sheer, so some of the black polish from the front is still showing through (it's Ulta Red Carpet Red, in case you were wondering. Love the shade, but it's just too sheer for this. The black is the nail duo by The New Black). If you're feeling fancy, you can paint the very edge of your nail red, too. Finish with a top coat (just on the front of the nail and edge).

Now, get ready to do some clean-up, because painting the underside of your nail red without looking like you've done yourself a major injury is downright impossible. If you're in a hurry, a q-tip with polish remover should work well. If not, paint them in the evening, once you're in for the night, and just wait it out. By the time I'd finished my shower the next morning, the majority of the mistakes had rubbed off, and the errors on my finger tips peeled off easily.

It's not the most out-there of nail designs, but it's a lot of fun, and a cute little discovery for anyone observant enough to spot. It's also completely appropriate for anything from office cocktail parties to ugly sweater contests. Have fun!

Frugal Friday: Stocking Stuffers $20 and Under

With the holidays in full-swing (yes, we've already had one of them. Remember that day before Black Friday when we all ate pumpkin pie and scoured ads? That used to be called Thanksgiving. It counts as a holiday), now is the time of year when we have to come up with gifts for everyone we've ever met. Some of them even get more than one gift! In hopes of keeping everyone in their credit cards' good graces, I've compiled a list of some of the most giftable stocking stuffers, all coming in at $20 or less each. Hope this helps!

Photo Credit: Sephora

These pretty little blotting linens from Boscia are infused with peppermint essence to help you lift off oil and keep your cool. 100 sheets per pack, $5.

Photo Credit: Sephora

Be beautiful inside and out with this manicure set from Sephora, benefitting Breast Cancer Awareness. Cuticle pusher, nipper, and scissors included in the vibrant pink case. $20.

Photo Credit: Sephora

This is one of the best deals in the bunch, and it's already packaged in a gorgeous gift box! This set includes Tarte's gold eyelash curler (one of the best I've used) and a deluxe sample of their fabulous Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. $16.

Photo Credit: Real Techniques

If you haven't tried Samantha Chapman's line of brushes, you don't know what you're missing! This adorable set comes with a multi-task brush, shadow brush, and foundation brush, all in a multi-functioning case/display. $17.99

Photo Credit: Sephora

Looking for something elegant? Try L'Occitane hand cream in one of eleven gorgeous scents. Each comes in a tube designed to represent the fragrance inside. $10.

Photo Credit: The Body Shop

Here's another fantastic deal! You can get The Body Shop's shower cream, body scrub, body butter, soap, and a bath lily in luxurious Shea, and it comes housed in a lovely gift box. $20.

Photo Credit: Shopping.AOL

Got a polish lover? Treat them to Butter London's Yummy Mummy and a bottle of Powder Room polish remover. Added plus: the remover smells like baby powder! $15.

Photo Credit: Sephora

Another one for polish fans, but more for the color collector, Sephora by O.P.I.'s Tinsel Town set. Here, you get four mini polishes with Hollywood-themed names (Already Famous, What Film Noir You In, Dear Diary, and Metro Chic), packaged in an art deco gift box. $19.50.

Photo Credit: Bath and Body Works

For the gal on the go, try this glamorous lip gloss/perfume duo in Forever Red. Pomegranate and Vanilla Rum highlight the rich scent, while the non-sticky gloss will keep her pout the perfect shade of ruby red. $15.

Photo Credit: Beautylish

Finally, for that someone who has everything, give her a place to store it all. This Urban Decay mini palette comes with Melt (peach shimmer) and has room for three more of her favorite UD shadows, plus a gigantic mirror. $18.

Glitter and Be...Batgirl, Actually: NYX Glitter Cream Palette Review

***Points to anyone who guesses the song reference in the title! Also, not a Batgirl tutorial. She doesn't wear glitter, sad to say.***

I'm going to be controversial today!! Well, as controversial as I get, anyway. (I'm generally pretty easy-going...)

NYX has a collection of glitter palettes on the market, and it seems like you either love them entirely, or you hate them with the fiery passion usually reserved for only people who hit the elderly or kick puppies. Let me preface this by saying, I had no idea.

A couple of weeks back, Ulta ran a 40% off sale on NYX and a few other brands. I'd been eyeing the pretty shinies for a while, but have not been able to bring myself to spend upwards of five bucks a pop on them. I mean, it's not like I have the opportunity to wear full-on glitter every day. But...it was close to Halloween...and they were on sale...and it would almost be buy one, get one...so I bit the bullet and picked up the two that I thought I would use the most (you know, when I actually use glitter). I got Royal Violets, a variety of purples and a bright gold, and Paradise, which is sort of the "neutral" palette. It's a black, white, silver, and gold, with a hot pink thrown in for funsies. Here's a quick pic of the two.

Paradise is on top, Royal Violets on the bottom.
I have not used Royal Violets, yet, so it's still sealed. That's how it comes from the store.

I wore a Batgirl caped shirt to the Disney Halloween Party, and thought it might be fun to add a little glitter into my makeup for the occasion, so Paradise went with me to Orlando. I got to play with it a bit, and wanted to share my thoughts on the palette.

Frankly, I liked it. I can, however, see why this is so polarizing, and I'll explain.

WHY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THESE PALETTES (taken from numerous bad reviews)
1) It's not pigmented.
2) It doesn't blend well, and it gunks up your brushes.
3) It doesn't look like it does in the pan when I put it on my eyes.

Alrighty. I get that. Every word of that is true. However, I don't think these palettes were ever meant to be pigmented, applied with brushes, packed on that heavily (though you can, and I've seen it done!), or even necessarily used around the eyes. In fact, on the back of the Paradise palette (not the Royal Violets), it flat-out states that it's not intended for use in the eye area. In other words: THIS IS NOT GLITTER EYESHADOW! It is loose glitter in a lightly tinted gel base. It's a less messy, more travel-friendly, infinitely more convenient alternative to just applying loose glitter, and if you look at it in that regard, it's a great product for the glitter-obsessed.

Close-Up of the Paradise Palette

Swatches. Left to Right: Pink Holographic, Black Multi, White Holographic, Gold Holographic, Silver Multi.

Now, I'll be honest. I used this in the eye area, because I am a rebel and I do what I want. Plus, I didn't see the warning on the back. Oops. Of course, I would never recommend that you ignore a warning and use this in the eye area. That would be irresponsible of me, and that's just not how I roll. Please forgive me for not having a picture, but I think the swatches above should tell you all you need to know about how this looks on. There's no difference. It's just glitter, and I used my fingers to mix the glitter with the gel, then place it over a finished eyeshadow look and onto my cheeks. Obviously, the eye area is the most common place for glitter to be used, and it strikes me as silly that this isn't eye-safe. That said, I think there are some ways you can use this to accentuate an eye look without placing it directly in the area. The white and silver make beautiful brow highlights, and you could probably take it down to the crease area without too much trouble. I would be extremely careful about going onto the lid, though. The extreme inner corner is pretty much out, but you could keep it mostly around the bridge of the nose and under the eye. Do not use this as a liner! I didn't have any trouble with fallout or sliding around, and the glitter came off fairly easily with a makeup remover wipe. The only irritation I had came the next day when a couple of errant pieces I missed with the wipe ended up on my right eye's waterline, and I had to try to gently remove them. I also used the pink as a cheek highlight, and it looked really nice.

The Good:
Beautiful colors, easy to apply, travel-friendly, convenient, inexpensive, no fall-out, long-lasting

The Bad:
Not a lot of product in the pan

The Ugly:
Not all are eye-safe

I really like this product for what it is. It's when you try to make it into something that it's not that you run into disappointment, but isn't that true of most things?

Final Verdict: 8.2 out of 10. Bear in mind it's not an eyeshadow palette and shine on!

Bold Berry Lips and a Little Catharsis

Hollywood Life posted this picture of Emma Watson looking absolutely gorgeous at the Toronto International Film Festival. The accompanying article was about her bold lips/nearly naked eye combination, which I love, but the suggested lipstick for re-creating the look just bugged the heck out of me.

Photo Credit: Hollywood Life

It's a beautiful color--don't get me wrong--but seems much more tomato red than the berry Ms. Watson sported. Sure, you could do this look with tomato red, but I feel like the berry keeps the overall effect modern and sophisticated, where a brighter red could come off more retro.

Instead of sitting at the computer pounding my fist and silently seething (it seriously bothered me, folks), I decided to rectify the problem as best I could. Here are my berry picks for a Watson-esque Fall look:

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Fresno
I love these lipsticks. Flat out. They're shaped more like a lip pencil (but nowhere near as large as a Chubby Stick), so you can use them to line. They feel a little thick going on, but melt into your lips within a few minutes, and leave a lovely tingle. They last a good long while, too, and are almost matte. Fresno is described as a "blackberry wine".

MAC in Hang-Up
My favorite berry from MAC was discontinued (Berry Boost), and I've found nothing to compare. However, I know how fantastic MAC lipsticks are, and wanted to include one in the list. Hang-Up is insanely dark, but with a brush and a light hand, this "deep berry" creamsheen can be a beautiful shade for Fall.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo
I picked this up thinking it was a true red, but was pleasantly surprised to discover it was really a lovely raspberry color, not unlike my Berry Boost (see review and not completely un-Watson-like look here. I think I may be ahead of a trend for once!). This is a cheap, quick, and easy way to pull off a bold lip, and I highly recommend it.

E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick in Cheerful Cherry
Just so you know, it's not cherry. I have a review here, with swatches, and the name is deceiving. Don't let that put you off of this product, though. It's a darn good lipstick at a darn good price point ($5!), which makes this an inexpensive way to experiment with a bold lip look.

UPDATED! Five Dollar Find: Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation Review

It's still hotter than hades around here, and the humidity is so thick in the air, you practically need to breathe through a straw. The thing is, in another month, we'll be in sweaters. They'll be lightweight sweaters over tank tops, sure, but by Halloween, we'll need jackets. My point is, it's almost that lovely time of year when tinted moisturizers and beauty balms make way for heavier foundations. I guess I need to get one...

So, I'm on the hunt. I already tested out the Urban Decay Naked Skin, which was unbelievably gorgeous, but caked a bit and didn't last in the humidity. Still, it's in the running, since it won't be a gazillion degrees and muggy when I actually go to wear it. It is pricey, though, so I thought I'd check out the other end of the spectrum, and try the super-inexpensive Rimmel London Clean Finish. $4.99, Ulta. I love Rimmel's powder, so maybe this would work for me, too.

According to the bottle, Clean Finish is supposed to leave you 100% poreless. To put it to the test, I applied my True Ivory shade without a primer. Before applying, though, I noticed that there's a little spatula attached to the inside of the lid, to allow you to scoop out however much product you need. I like that. There's no way that spatula will ever reach the bottom or sides well enough to scrape out the dregs, but for now, it's a lot neater than having to try to pour out the foundation, and more hygenic than trying to use a sponge.

Foundation Only. *shudder* You can still see some pores, and a little discoloration around the eyes.

I used a Real Techniques expert face brush to buff the product into my skin. The shade match was spot-on, which is always a nice surprise when you don't get to test out a product in the store. The texture is not heavy, and leaves a not-matte, but not-dewy finish. It's actually a very similar finish to the Naked Skin, but the coverage is nowhere near the same. I didn't see where there was much more coverage--maybe a touch--than my Too Faced Beauty Balm. That almost defeats the purpose of switching to a foundation, but the Clean Finish does photograph better.


Pay no attention to the puffy eyes. It's allergy season. This is just a pretty, inexpensive, decent, everyday foundation. It does photograph much better than a beauty balm, even if the actual coverage is only slightly heavier. That's a good thing.

After several hours of wear, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was very little settling or caking (and even that was easily smoothed back out), and the shine was minimal and blotted away in a jiff. I was not, however, 100% poreless. If anything, the pores on my nose seemed more prominent.

This is not bad--not bad, at all. It's not the best foundation I've ever used, but it's definitely not the worst. It does the job, and it does it for only $4.99. Is it my Holy Grail foundation? No. But for now, it'll do.

Shade Range: There are what appear to be eight shades of pale. I'm day-glo, and somehow managed to match to the second lightest shade, and not the first. 3 out of 10.

Application: It went on like moisturizer, and wasn't buildable. It did sink into my skin easily. 6 out of 10.

Packaging: I love the spatula, and the glass container is very nice, indeed. 9 out of 10.

Appearance: Natural, not too matte, not too dewy. Light coverage. Not 100% poreless. Photographs well. 8 out of 10.

Wear: Fairly long-wearing. Not oil-controlling. Minimal caking and settling. 8 out of 10.

Price: $4.99. That's a steal. 10 out of 10.

Final Verdict: 7.3 out of 10. It's a decent, light-weight foundation for a dream of a price. Just hope they have your shade.

UPDATE: I've worn this with a primer for a couple of days, and it feels so heavy on my skin, I just want to run in the bathroom and wash my face. This is my usual primer, and I've never had this experience with it before, so I have to attribute it to the foundation. Still and all, I do recommend this as a good drugstore foundation, but I thought, in the interest of full-disclosure, that you guys needed to know this.

You Oughta Be In Pictures!: Urban Decay Naked Skin Review

Photo Credit: Sephora

Hey guys! It's time to dust off the ol' magic bag o' samples! Today's pick: Urban Decay Naked Skin liquid foundation.

If you're new to Adorable Napalm, let me get you up to speed on the magic bag o' samples. Back when Thomas and I first got married, I developed a bit of a sampling...problem. Rather than continuing to turn our home into Hoarders-meets-The Borrowers, with teeny-tiny piles all over the place, I culled the collection down to the million, or so, packets I might actually use, tossed the rest, and started making myself go through at least one foil pack a day until I ran out. It took ages, but I managed to get through...well, most of them. There are a few that I haven't braved, yet. Plus, the occasional new sample still squeaks through. Case in point: Naked Skin. It showed up in a recent Sephora order.

This is one sample I didn't hoard! I'm already a huge fan of Urban Decay, and have been very eager to try this out. The sample packet came with four shade options and an incredibly handy tool for choosing your shade. It was a clear sheet of plastic with all 18 shades sheerly printed. Hold the plastic up to your jawline, and the darkest shade that disappears on to your skin is your match. It was a very simple but effective test, and I found that I'm a 2.0 (For reference, I'm also a MAC NW15--yes, we do exist, and we glow in the dark). 2.0 was one of the shades included, so I grabbed it and set to work.

The first thing I noticed was that this was, duh, a liquid. I went to dab a bit on the back of my hand, and ended up with all of the packet's contents gushing out! This foundation has a very thin consistency, and I found that my Real Techniques stippling brush made for the easiest brush application. A sponge would probably work even better, but I had a small product flood to contend with, and the brush was handier.

As I buffed the product into my skin, I was amazed by how well it covered. I really expected this to be light-to-medium coverage, but it's really much more like almost full-to-full. I only needed the tiniest bit of concealer under my eyes and to finish covering one blemish. Even more amazing was how lightweight the foundation felt for that much coverage. It really did feel weightless! I did not use a primer with this, because I wanted to test its longevity on its own. Here's a picture of my skin, minus primer, minus concealer, pre-powder (because I'm brave...):



My pores? Where did they go? They took the dark circles with them, too!

 I went about the rest of my makeup routine as usual, then snapped this photo.



I am totally changing my Facebook picture to this. And wearing this makeup look all the time. Heck, I may just blow up the picture, cut it out, and carry it around on a popsicle stick like a little mask. TAKEN WITH A CELL PHONE, Y'ALL!!!

 I adore the way this photographs. It looks airbrushed! This, by the way, was the only attempt at a photo of this foundation, and it has not been edited in any way. Looooove. Now, I didn't use flash for this picture, but it should be noted that this foundation would be wonderful for flash photography. It doesn't contain SPF, and sunscreen can flash back in photos. That said, because it doesn't contain SPF, you would want to wear a sunscreen with this product any time you aren't having your picture taken.

Of course, I still had to put it to the two most difficult tests: time and humidity.

I went on to my voice-over job, which is pretty darn laid-back. It's indoors, in air-conditioning, and I don't move around too much. By the time I arrived--only about three hours after application--the areas around my nose, mouth, and eyes had already caked a bit. Throughout the day, I noticed myself getting a little shiny around the T-zone, too, but was able to blot most of the oil off.

After work, Thomas and I went walking with my friend, Genna. We don't so much power walk as we stroll around the neighborhood and talk, but I decided to leave the makeup on and see how it stood up to the heat and sweat. I doubt any of you will be slathering on foundation before hitting the gym, but some folks may have outdoor Summer weddings to attend. You can work up quite a "glow" rocking out to the chicken dance, let me tell you. Well, before too long, I was glowing up a storm, and my foundation was glowing all over my hands, as I wiped around my eyes and forehead. Heck, I managed to glow so brightly, I had foundation fingerprints on my shorts and t-shirt, by the time I got back to the car. I didn't take a picture because A) there wasn't much of anything left on my face, at that point, and B) nobody wants to see that. Ew.

So, how does it rate? Let's take a look!

Shade Range: Fabulous. There are 18 shades from porcelain to deep, with a variety of undertones. I found my match right off the bat, and that almost never happens. 10 out of 10.

Application: Easy to apply and blend, buildable for almost full coverage. 10 out of 10.

Appearance: Gorgeous! The finish is demi-matte, so you don't look too shimmery or too "made up". It's just a very natural finish. Photographs beautifully. 10 out of 10.

Wear: Feels like you're not wearing makeup, but does have a tendency to cake. There was some oiliness, and it did not hold up to sweat at all. 4 out of 10.

Price: At $38, it's much more expensive than drugstore brands, but it's right smack dab in the middle of higher-end price points. 7 out of 10.

Before I give the final verdict, I'd like to reiterate how gorgeous this is in photographs. If you are having bridal portraits--or any portraits--done, this would be my go-to product. I would experiment with primers, powders, and setting sprays before wearing this for the actual wedding day (especially if it's an outdoor wedding), but I highly recommend this for pictures. I also think this will be brilliant for holiday parties this Winter, when it's colder, drier, the parties only last a few hours, and you're going to photographed into oblivion.

Final Verdict: 8.2 out of 10. For short periods of wear and photographs, I highly recommend.

***UPDATE! Urban Decay will be on Hautelook (www.hautelook.com) on Friday, starting at 10AM Central!

Frugal Friday: Discount Rockstar (Featuring NYX Crimson Amulet Palette)

Today, just for fun, I thought I would try a look using almost exclusively drugstore (or the drugstore side of Ulta, anyway) products. It's hot and sticky and gross outside, so I went with a sleek ponytail hairstyle with a smoky brown eye. I hope you guys like it. (And please be kind about my photography and how messy my car is. Thank you, The Management)

Shirt: Old Navy. Necklace: Soixante Neuf for Open Sky. Earrings: JewelMint. Car: Hurricane Erin.

The ponytail is the easiest thing in the world. Blow-dry your hair as straight as you can get it (I like to use a good leave-in conditioner/heat protectant first), then run a little Fekkai Glossing Cream throughout. Gather up your bangs/front section, and tease the underside for a little height and pin in place or use a barrette. Then create a ponytail, as usual, and slick down any flyaways with a little Pantene Classic Hairspray. If you want to fancy it up a bit, wrap a lock of hair around the ponytail and secure in place with a bobby pin.

The makeup isn't much more difficult. Start with E.L.F. Tinted Moisturizer, then grab your NYX Crimson Amulet palette (if you don't have one, see if you can still snap one up. It's one of my absolute essentials, now) and pop a little HD Eye Primer on each lid and blend up to the to the brow. I like to add a little under each eye, as well.  

Next, you're going to need the bottom half of the eyeshadow palette. Going left to right, the second shade on the bottom row is your all-over color. The third shade on the top row goes in your crease. The second shade on the top row goes in your outer corner, adds further definition to the crease, and runs under the lower lashes. Finally, the dark brown shade that's second on the middle row completely lines your eyes--upper lashes, lower lashes, and inner corners. Wing it out a bit on the outer corners. For the waterline and a little added definition, I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Whiskey. It's not bargain, but it's all I had. Your brown and inner corner highlight is the first shade on the bottom row.

I pulled out the only other high-end product in this look, next. I used Benefit's Boi-ing Concealer to clean up around the eyes and cover blemishes and redness. Again, it's pretty much all I had, outside of my film kit. E.L.F.'s Eyebrow Kit in Medium filled in and defined my brows, and a coat of Maybelline Falsies waterproof mascara coated top and bottom lashes.

Alrighty! On to the rest! Apply the matte pink shade at the very top of your NYX Crimson Amulet palette to your cheeks, starting about an inch away from  your nose. You don't want too much on the apples. Then dust the highlighter on the cheekbones. Finish the look with a swipe of Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey on the lips.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

UPDATE! Kissing Cousins: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain VS. Tarte LipSurgence

Thanks for bearing with me on Friday. I'm much better now. Of course, my sweet little Ronnie got a spider bite on his eye at 4:00 this morning, sending us to the Pet ER in a blinding thunderstorm, then back home for zero sleep before we had to be up for work, so I'm still a bit loopy. The puppy is fine and dandy, dandy and fine, but I'm zonked. I actually confused my acid reflux medicine with the sugar spoon this morning, and deliberately plopped the pill into my coffee. Couldn't fish it out, so I drank my Zantac, and you know what? Coffee sweetened with reflux meds tastes absolutely terrible. Oh well.

Anyhoo, I did manage to snag a couple of those Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey and Sweetheart, so I was able to see how they compare to the Tarte LipSurgence. I haven't tried the Clinique Chubby Sticks, so I don't know how similar they are. I'm sorry.

To start with, I only wanted the Honey, which is a pretty rosy nude. Then I saw that Walgreen's had them buy one get one 50% off, so I snapped up Sweetheart, too, since it looked very similar in color to my Tarte Enchanted. I figured I could really compare them that way. However, when I got home, I realized that the colors were quite a bit off from each other. Since I've not really had much of a call to wear hot pink this weekend, this review is mainly based off of Honey.

Pretty Packaging.
I also noticed that the Revlon is larger than the Tarte. Thought I'd throw that out there, too.

The packaging is very similar. The color of the stick is the color of the balm; both are retractable, but the Revlon has a pretty silver-toned twister, and the Tarte has a pretty silver-toned cap. The balm itself...well, there's really no comparison. The Tarte is much more transluscent, and feels more like a solid gel than the crayon-like texture of the Revlon. Both are highly pigmented, but the Tarte's pigmentation is just a little bit better, and much truer. Both felt very moisturizing, had lovely mint flavors, and proved to be long-lasting, but the Revlon does feather and slide more than the Tarte. Of course, the price points are wildly different, as well. Tarte will run you a steep $24, while the Revlon is just $8.99.

Swatch of Honey.

Here's the thing: I really like the Revlon. A lot. I've worn Honey almost exclusively this weekend, and loved the way it looked and felt. It's a great product. It's just not as great as the Tarte. It's also not anywhere as expensive, either. I just don't want anyone to get this thinking they're getting the exact same product for a third of the price. They're also not getting a cheap copy, either. The two products are similar, but they're not the same. As I remarked earlier, the Tarte is more of a gel stain, and the Revlon is more of a crayon balm. Again, both are wonderful products, but they are not the same.



Me, wearing Honey.
No, the funky angle doesn't mean I'm going through an art photography phase. I just can't shoot worth a flip.

Bottom line, if you're looking for a moisturizing stay-put stain and have the extra money, go with the Tarte. If you just want long-lasting, lightweight color, save yourself a lot of money and go with the Revlon.

Final Verdict (not as a comparison): 8 out of 10. Keep one on hand this Summer.

Frugal Friday: More Bing, Bang, Boom For Your Buck!

Bath & Body Works: $10 off any purchase of $30 or more with code ENJOY1050. Exp. 6/3.

Starbucks: Free tall drink when you buy a pack of Starbucks VIA Iced Coffee. No code or coupon needed. Exp. 6/3.

Today's Frugal Friday tip is probably a no-brainer, but I thought I'd throw it out there: Value Kits. If you love high-end makeup, but hate high-end prices, value kits are definitely the way to go. In case you're staring at the screen, wondering what in the world I'm blathering on about, value kits are small collections of coordinating products. Sometimes they're full-sized, sometimes they're deluxe samples, and sometimes they're a combination of the two (see Benefit's Rare Beauty kit). No matter what, you're getting a lot of product for less than you would normally have to pay.

Now, there are a few cons to going the value kit route; namely, you can't pick your colors or products. You might end up with something you absolutely hate! There's also the fact that some of the products can be miniatures, and a lot of folks don't care for that. Personally, if there's a product I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like, but the overall set is amazing, I'll save that product for someone else who'll go nuts over it. If you haven't opened it, save it for a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift. As for the minis, I personally prefer them. Rarely do I finish a product before it's either expired or out of season. Plus, I like to keep my most used products in a counter-top organizer. Minis take up less space and cause less waste. Anyway, if I end up using it all up and loving it, I can purchase the full-size without feeling like I'm gambling away my money.

Here are some of my favorites out there right now. The most expensive is $50, and the least is only $12!


Buxom Beach Bound Lips & Lashes: $12, Sephora

You can't beat this deal with a stick. You get a full-size Big & Healthy Lip Balm in Copacabana (nude) and a deluxe mini Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black. Normally, the balm alone costs $15, so basically, you're getting a $3 discount on the balm, plus a free mascara. Yeah, it's a mini, but it's a good-sized mini that will last you a while. 

Photo Credit: Sephora



Benefit Legally Bronze: $38, Sephora

Another amazing deal here: four full-sized products, and they all work together for a nearly complete look! Hoola bronzer (a $28 value all by itself), BADgal Brown mascara, Gilded highlighter pencil (which works well as a shadow/liner), and High Beam liquid highlighter, all in a cute, reusable makeup bag.



Photo Credit: Sephora



LORAC Elite Collection: $38, Sephora

I picked up a LORAC set once on a whim, and fell in love with the brand. In fact, just this week, I pulled out one of their baked blushes to add to my Summer staples. It makes a fantastic bronzer on my crazy-pale skin. Anyhoo, in this kit you get a blush, three shadows, lip pencil, lip gloss, mascara, and mini eye primer, all in gorgeous neutrals. Everything's full-sized except, obviously, the mini eye primer. If you only like two or three products, you've gotten your money's worth. If you like them all, just add foundation and powder for a complete look. Bonus: comes with a sweet little makeup bag.



Photo Credit: Sephora



Smashbox Beauty Exposed: $39, Ulta

A mix of minis and full-sized products, this is another kit that will give you almost an entire look. You get a palette with five neutral shadows, a mini Photo Finish face primer (which will normally set you back $17 on its own), a pretty pink blush, medium-sized coral gloss, and a brown eyeliner pencil. Fantastic kit for someone just starting out with makeup, or who is interested in trying neutrals.

Photo Credit: Jules Darling

Sephora Favorites Beauty & the Bride: $50, Sephora

This is really the most hit and miss of the bunch, but I still think it's pretty darn awesome. It's a sampler of 11 mostly miniature products (there are a couple of full-sized, though), housed in a "keepsake" box (meh). These are all different brands, but, oddly enough, you could do an almost complete look with what's in here. There is so much stuff, I'm not even going to try to list all of it, but you can click the link for full details. This is also a kit that would be very easily broken up into several small gift sets. 

Photo Credit; Sephora


Have a great weekend, y'all!

Summer In the City: May Favorites

First off, I want to congratulate my awesome, amazing, and way too darn tall baby brother on his 8th Grade Graduation! Not only that, but he won the Technology award for his class! Don't ask me what that means, because I'm a bad sister who has no idea. Still, I'm impressed, and couldn't be prouder.

And yeah, I cried.

Buckets.

I love that kid.

 

Photo Credit: Sally Beauty Supply

 

Okay, now that I've embarrassed the pants off my younger sibling, let's move on to something new! Since it's the end of the month, and I've had the opportunity to play with some new things, I thought I'd put together a little "best of" list. These are the products I've found myself reaching for the most this month. I tried really hard to choose both high-end and drugstore products for each category. Think of it as a mini-review/recommendation list. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, let me know, and I'll try to keep this up. I'm trying to tailor this blog to what you guys want to see, so please, do a girl a favor and tell me what  you want, what you really, really want.

Eyes

Photo Credit: Sephora

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Rehab: Toss this is in your beach bag for one-step, no fuss, boho smoky eyes. Run this bronze-y brown all over the lid and under the lower lashes, smudge it out, then use it to line upper and lower for added definition. No brushes, primer, or neatness required! $20, Sephora.

NYX HD Eye Shadow Base: Surprise! This is the only primer I've ever used that could really cut down on glitter fallout. I adore my UD Midnight Emergency palette, but Midnight Rodeo and Midnight Cowboy (my favorite shades, wouldn't you know) tend to turn into mini Tinkerbell-explosions that no amount of clean-up can fix. On a whim, I used the sample size primer from my Dark Shadows palette, and ended up with only the tiniest bit of fallout on my cheeks, instead of the disco-ball shrapnel I'm used to. Awesome stuff, guys. $6.99, Ulta.

Lips

Photo Credit: Sephora

Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lip Tint in Enchanted: I picked this up to wear during a voice recital, which is basically an hour straight of singing. Correction: it's basically a solid hour of beating your lips together, interrupted only by brief, yet frequent, periods of chugging water. Anything that goes on your lips has got to have serious staying power, and this definitely did the trick. Not only that, but my lips stayed soft, moisturized, and the prettiest shade of fresh strawberry pink. It's pricey, but given the circumstances, worth it. I do want to compare it to the new lookalike, Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm. $24 (nearly choked!), Sephora.

Photo Credit: Drugstore.com

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Lollipop: Speaking of Revlon, I am absolutely loving their new lip butters. They feel like a balm, look like a sheer lipstick, and come in really pretty, color-coordinated packaging, so no fumbling around looking for the right one in a sea of black containers. (I'm looking at you MAC and E.L.F.!) Lollipop is a super bright fuschia that can be worn sheer for a wash of color, or built up for maximum impact. It's gorgeous for Summer. $5.99, Drugstore.com.

Face

Benefit Boi-ing: I'm just going to say this: I ran out one day (okay, so I accidentally dropped it in my coffee while I was half-asleep and trying to get dressed in a hurry. Grace and dignity, right here), and had to use another concealer I had lying around. I figured that would get me by for a few days, at least, right? Nope. By nightfall, I'd replaced it, and have no intentions of ever being without it again. It's just that good. $19, Sephora.

ELF Mineral Foundation: I use this to set my beauty balm and concealer, and honestly, I like it better than the UD powder I was using. Plus, I feel like I'm doing something good for my skin by using the mineral powder, and it's a heckuva lot cheaper. $5, eyeslipsface.com.

Body

Photo Credit: Sephora

Super by Perricone Supermodel Legs: I won't go out in shorts or a skirt without this, if I can help it. It's leg makeup, pure and simple, but it's so easy to use, and your legs look fabulous. This is a lightly-tinted, weightless moisturizer that you just rub on for a subtle sheen that reflects the light and masks imperfections. I'm not going to say that it does anything other than that, but for this day-glo white chick with cellulite, that's enough. It's on sale right now, and I plan to pick up a few more bottles. $15, Sephora.

Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen with Shimmer: I live in the extreme deep South (any further South, and you'd be swimming). It's hot. It's muggy. It's downright miserable, and while I feel that everyone, regardless of location, should wear sunscreen every day, there's really no way around it down here. You go outside, you fry. End of story. This feels nice, coats well, protects really well, and leaves you with a pretty glow. The smell's a little too sunscreen-y for my taste, but I can live with it for all the other benefits. $9.99, Drugstore.com. (Available in several SPFs. I like 40. 'Cause I'm Casper.)

Hair

Photo Credit: Sephora

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray: My technique for beach waves: Spray this in towel-dried hair, then roughly blow-dry until just damp. Let air-dry the rest of the way. Do. Not. Brush. Looks like I just spent the day at the Gulf, and it's so fast and easy! $24, Sephora.

Bumble & Bumble Prep: I use this is conjunction with the Surf Spray, actually. That's why I have two high-end products for this category. The day after you Surf Spray your hair, spritz this all over to reactivate the product, then brush through for soft waves that last all day, or use as a base for hot rollers or a curling iron. You can also use this on its own as a style primer, but I love it for reactivating product. It really came in handy a couple of weeks ago during filming. Travel size is only $6 at Sephora.



Photo Credit: Buy.com



It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In: The drugstore pick is as expensive as the high-end! That's madness! I hate, hate, hate, that I got this as a deluxe sample. I used it up, fell head over heels in love with it, and then found out how much it cost! It's completely worth it, though, and a bottle will last months. Spray it in freshly washed hair for detangling and added softness and shine. I don't know how I lived without it. $21.99, Target (I believe Ulta is less, but I can't find it on the site).

Nails 

China Glaze in Watermelon Rind: This is a super fun, unexpected pop of color for your toes. I don't recommend it for fingers, but this bright teal glitter shade looks beyond beautiful peeping through flip-flops. Check it out at the top of this post. $6.49, Sally Beauty Supply.