What's NEW @ The Drugstore!!!

L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray

PACKAGING: 

Comes in a plastic black spray bottle

Contains 1.4 fl oz of product

FORMULATION:

I was very surprised and glad that there is finally a DRUGSTORE setting spray (excluding NYX Cosmetics). Setting sprays are a great alternative to powder when it comes to keeping your makeup intact on your skin. The mist comes out pretty evenly and not drippy. It is light weight and very refreshing. In terms of how well this product actually works for my dry skin it did a pretty good job keeping the makeup on my skin. In comparison to Urban Decay's All Nighter Spray it wasn't as long. I would say after 6-7 hours the L'Oreal spray started to stop working. I noticed my makeup starting to look a little blotchy. As for the Urban Decay's All Nighter Spray I would get a good 8-12 hours. For people with oily skin it does tend to fade a little bit faster but everyone has different skin so this may not apply to all people with oily skin.

Over all I say this is a decent alternative to more higher end brands such as Urban Decay's or the Skindinavia setting sprays. The price is a bit more on the expensive side $17.99 and don't forget to include tax. But the higher end brands can range from anywhere at $20 and up. Prices may change once this product hits mass market. There are people out there that has bought this for about $16. So definitely do a little research and be on the lookout.

SPOTTED! WHAT'S NEW @ THE DRUGSTORE

Just a few little (NEW) goodies spotted at the drugstore!

I found these new releases at my local Bed, Bath, & Beyond (keep in mind that not every Bed, Bath & Beyond has a cosmetics section and those that do usually have new releases first before the drugstores)

REVLON SKIN RETOUCHER

The second drugstore beauty brand to feature a stick foundation (not counting NYX, Maybelline FIT has a stick foundation). Review on this product will be up soon!

REVLON EYES TO BE DESIRED

EYE ART/PHOTOREADY LINERS

The Revlon Eye Art Pens (10 in all) are dual sided pens used to play up eye looks. One side is filled with a creamy eyeshadow while the other one is filled with a glittery top coat.

The Photoready liners are kajal based and matte. There are 3 colors in all (Lemon, Marine, & Charcoal)

REVLON ULTRA HD LIP COLORS (Lipstick & Gloss)

Revlon's newest lip product line (permanent collection). Features 14 new lipstick colors and 14 glosses (lip lacquers).

L'OREAL EYESHADOW CRAYON

Another drugstore brand has come out with an eyeshadow crayon. There are 14 colors total ranging from neutral colors to bright blues, deep purples, and hunter greens.

Book Review- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 28, 2014

Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty Style and Success- Online and Off

Michelle Phan

It is amazing how something simple as making a makeup tutorial and putting it up on YouTube can lead to such success. Today the most well known YouTubers are making 6 figure salaries. Honestly why am I even bothering applying to graduate school?

One of the top successes in YouTube world today and also the one that pretty much started it all is the one and only Michelle Phan. This woman has generated millions of subscribers and growing continuously each day. She has an average of 1,000,000+ views PER VIDEO. She is not only a YouTube guru but also has her own businesses like IPSY (monthly beauty subscription service), her own makeup line (em cosmetics) and now she is adding author to her amazing resume. In her book Make Up, Michelle talks about her own personal struggles she experienced growing up making the woman she is today. She offers great advice and tips from beauty to skincare to even basic etiquette. It is basically a life guide for the daily woman in a modern world.

Michelle's never give up attitude and ambition is such an inspiration. I recommend this book to anyone not just as a fun read but just a little pick me up on those dark days where nothing in our lives seem to make sense.

You can purchase Michelle's book at booksellers in-store and online nationwide.

Lazy Fall Day Makeup Routine- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 20, 2014

As much of a makeup addict I am, I still have my lazy days where I do not want to do anything. But life is unpredictable, so I devised myself a quick little standby routine that I can easily apply with no fuss and still look somewhat presentable.

Step 1: Foundation/Concealer 

Any makeup look always starts out with a good base. On my lazy days esp. when I have to leave the house quick I don't like to fuss with heavy foundation. My go to product this season has been my Maybelline Pure BB Cream. I just apply it with my fingers and viola! It is super easy to blend and has great coverage. After I apply my BB Cream it is time to cover up my dark under eye circles. I been loving the Cover Girl Ready Set Gorgeous concealer. It covers my pesky under eye circles and brightens up my complexion as well. Even on days where I don't apply any sort of foundation I still apply concealer on my under eye circles. Trust me it makes all the difference in the world!

Step 2: Powder

Any time you wear any type of liquid product, it is always a good idea to set it with a powder. Powder not only keeps your makeup on but also blends your foundation a little more. I been using my Maybelline Dream Wonder powder quite a lot this season. When I first bought it I didn't really like it. It made my skin really shiny and my foundation cakey, however I started to apply it with a lighter hand and it's been working pretty well keeping my makeup together. 

Step 3: Bronzer/ Blush

Just to give myself a bit of color. I like to contour a bit with my Rimmel Bronzer and the blush I been obsessing over is my Benefit Dandelion. It is a pretty netural pink that is great with all looks and skin tones. 

Step 4: Brows

I don't like to put on eyeshadow on my lazy days but I do like to fill in my brows a bit. It makes me look more alive and not like I just rolled off my bed. The Maybelline Master Brow has been a holy grail. It combines my brow color and gel in one so all I have to do is apply and I get nice looking brows.

Step 5: Lip color

Probably the easiest step. Just take you favorite lip color swipe on and go. I been using my L'Oreal Balm in Tender Mauve. It is perfect for fall and a great all around neutral color that won't wash you out. 

XOXO

NEW FROM L'OREAL!!!

L'OREAL VOLUMINOUS BUTTERFLY INFLUENZA

PACKAGING:

-COMES IN THE SAME PACKAGING AS THE ORIGINAL BUTTERFLY MASCARA EXCEPT WITH A RED CAP.

-THE WAND/BRUSH IS PRETTY INTENSE IT HAS THE SAME SHAPE AS THE ORIGINAL BUTTERFLY EXCEPT IT FLARES OUT ALL AROUND (THE MASCARA IS NOT RED JUST THE BRUSH/WAND)

FORMULATION:

I am a huge fan of the original Butterfly mascara and this one is no different. While I don't find too much a difference with the formulation this one this give a but more volume and length and doesn't flake as easily as the original. The brush is easier to use since the flare of the brush is now all around. It does take a bit of time to get use to it but the overall result is amazing. 

The wear time is around 4-5 hours even longer if you are not in hot areas and don't tend to mess with it.

Retails around $7-$10 depends on where you purchase it. Available at drugstores, Walmarts, Ultas and Targets nationwide.

What's NEW @ the Drugstore

L'OREAL POP BALM

PACKAGING:

Very similar to their original color riche balms that are being discontinued. The only difference is that these have a jelly see through cap.

FORMULATION:

These are pretty much the color riche balms repackaged. The formulation is very similar. They apply very smoothly and are very moisturizing. The wear time is so and so they don't really last too long because they are a balm. I do however find these to be a bit more pigmented. They also come in very fun bright colors compared the original color riche balms.

The availability of the colors depend on each store.

Here are a few of my favorites!

440 Electric Pink- Bright neon pink

420 Bold Blush- Mid tone raspberry pink

518 Tender Mauve- Purply mauve

These are now available at drugstores nationwide. They retail @ $7.99 each.

NEW! L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

When I first saw this mascara at CVS I gotta be honest I definitely freaked out a little bit. The packaging just by itself is so darn ADORABLE!!! I mean come on look at it. I am a sucker when it comes to great packaging.

So of course being the makeup addict/junkie I am I had to get it. I love the original Voluminous formula so I was interested to see whether or not this one is an improvement of the original or the exact same thing in a different type of packaging.

The packaging on this is very similar to the L'Oreal False Fiber Mascara with the exception of the neon pink and black. The brush is also very similar to the False Fiber Mascara. It starts out wide at the bottom and tapers to a thin point at the end. The thinner point allows easier access to those annoying little bits of lashes in the inner corners. Like most brushes on L'Oreal mascaras, this one is also a hair and not rubber brush. However unlike other L'Oreal mascaras, the brush wand is extremely flexible that rotates 360 Degrees. This gives you more control over the wand and allows more build able volume. 

I didn't notice an extreme difference in the formulation compared to the original. It claims to give a manga false lash effect and as you build up the mascara you can definitely see a manga like effect. The only slight difference with the formula is that this one is a bit on the wet side compared to the original.

As for wear time (non-waterproof formula), I did not have any issues with smudging or flaking. It wore about 6-8 hours. 

You can purchase this at drugstores nationwide for about $8-9 depending which drugstore.

New Mascaras SHOWDOWN

MAYBELLINE PUMPED UP COLOSSAL VS. L'OREAL VOLUMINOUS MILLION LASHES EXCESS

MAYBELLINE PUMPED UP COLOSSAL

Packaging: Very similar to the Maybelline Rocket Power mascara packaging except hot pink instead of blue. The brush is a cylinder shape that is tapered at the end. The want itself is not flexible, but stays very well in place.

Formulation: I was a bit disappointed with the formulation of this one. I love the original colossal formula so I had high expectations for this one. To get decent looking lashes it requires a couple of coats. The brush is prickly feeling so be careful when applying.

Overall: 3.5/5

Also comes in a waterproof formula.

L'OREAL VOLUMINOUS MILLION LASHES EXCESS

Packaging: Comes in a red and gold tube. The brush is long and flexible and is plastic unlike the Maybelline one which is hair.

Formulation: I was very impressed with this mascara. It held the curl of my lashes while giving decent volume and is a great mascara to layer on top of others. I like the plastic wand, it gives a more flexible control when applying. Only downside is that it doesn't come in a waterproof formula and can get flaky throughout the day.

Overall: 4.8/5

PRICE BREAKDOWN (depending on where purchased)

Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal

$5-7 

L'Oreal Excess

$8-11

Both mascaras are available at drugstores nationwide as well as Targets and Wal-marts near you!

NEW!!! L'Oreal Color RIche Extradonaire Lip Gloss

PACKAGING- Comes in a gold tube that is a cross between a lip gloss tube and a lip stick tube. The applicator is a small flat foot applicator with a sponge tip. The sponge applies a generous amount of color so be careful.

FORMULATION- An opaque gloss with a light texture. Nicely pigmented and not very sticky. They wear really well too about 3-4 hours with maybe one touch in between. They also feel very comfortable on lips and not too drying. They also come in many different shades ranging from nudes to various shades of pink, bright and dark reds. 

You can purchase this at CVS retailers nationwide. They are pretty new so they may not be in stock in every CVS just yet. Retail for $9.99

Favorite Dark Lipsticks

1.) REBEL By MAC- A mid-tone creamy plum color with a satin finish. This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE LIPSTICKS hands down. It looks great on pretty much all skin tones. It is not as dark as it looks in the tube so it is very wearable.

REBEL

REBEL

2.) DIVA By MAC- Intense reddish-burgundy with a matte finish. This lipstick reminds me of the 1920s Flapper girls. A very classic and classy color. And the best part is unlike other matte lipsticks this one isn't drying at all and feels really nice on the lips. 

DIVA

3.) FAULTLESSLY By MAC- Yes yes I know another MAC Lipstick. But they really have a great variety of dark lip colors compared to any other brands out there. Faultlessly is an amplified (very pigmented) dark purple. It has a semi-matte finish. This definitely isn't a lipstick most people would go for including myself. It is incredibly goth like dark. However if you just wear it on its own without any heavy eye makeup it can look pretty great. If you have either a really fair complexion or a really dark complexion I wouldn't recommend this one for you. 

FAULTLESSLY

4.) VIOLETTA By MAC- A clean vibrant violent purple. This is for those of you out there who would like to be bolder by not super dark with their lips this fall. This is a really pretty purple that looks great on light to medium-tan skin tones. It has a cooler undertone and can give you the appearance of whiter teeth. Super fun lipstick overall. It doesn't go as dark as it looks in the tube but it is bright.

VIOLETTA

5.) THE QUEEN'S KISS By L'Oreal - A light satin finish burgundy, cranberry purple. This was a limited edition lipstick awhile back but can still be purchased online. It is super moisturizing and feels great on the lips. The color pigmentation is very nice but not to overwhelming. This is perfect for those of you who want to experiment with darker lip colors but not go overboard. 

THE QUEEN'S KISS

6.) RAISE THE BAR By Bare Minerals- A pearl plum color. This lipstick is part of Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Line. This line of lipsticks are incredibly moisturizing and also contains Vitamins A, C, and E that help deliver antioxidants. So not only you will look good but will also do good for your lips.

RAISE THE BAR

7.) SUGAR PLUM FAIRY By Wet n Wild- A semi matte fuchsia with a dark burgundy undertone. Again this is a great color for those who want to experiment with dark colors but not super dark. Wet n Wild lipsticks are very affordable and great quality. They are EXTREMELY pigmented so a little goes a long way. They can get a bit drying on your lips but as long as you have a lip balm under it you will be fine.

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: THE QUEEN'S KISS, RAISE THE BAR, SUGAR PLUM FAIRY