Benefit Primers: Review!

While at Ulta, I began to observe the check out stands, and saw a mini set of Benefit's two most popular face primers. As someone who has never really used face primer, I was curious to see if it actually made a difference. So before shelling out $30 for one of the full sizes when I wasn't sure I was going to love the product, I said to myself, "For twelve bucks, I'll get the sample set."

The set included two deluxe samples of the POREfessional and That Gal face primers. I have been eyeing POREfessional for a while now, as I suffer from large pores on my nose, and hoped that this would help cover that up. That Gal is supposed to brighten, so I thought that it would be nice to use on one of those days where my skin just looks sallow and dull.

I will say that I find my base makeup to last longer with one of these on. POREfessional covers my pores a little, but it's nothing that produces such a miracle look that I would run out and buy it again. That Gal brightens without looking unnatural--it just adds a subtle glow under foundation. I like both!

Right- POREfessional
Left- That Gal

POREfessional is flesh-toned and That Gal is a light, salmon pink that blends into the skin to brighten. POREfessional is thicker, which the aspect that's supposed to fill the pores, but I like how That Gal applies better. 

I believe that both of these retail for around $30 each and are available wherever Benefit is sold (Sephora, Ulta, select department stores). If you're an avid user of face primers, I would recommend these! I know that Benefit just came out with another one (the Stay Flawless, I believe) that I'm looking to try. 

Do you use face primer every day?

xoxo

Alyssa

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

I'm so lazy when it comes to my hair. I've gotten into a routine of not doing anything special with it on a regular basis because, well, I just have never found creating elaborate styles every morning before school worth loosing sleep time. My hair is naturally straight and leans more on the thicker side, so I don't have to bust out my straightener every time I wash for it to look decent. So when I started hearing about Sea Salt Sprays, I was intrigued.

Not Your Mother's has been worming it's way into the top of the drugstore hair care realm this Summer, and I heard some hype around the Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. I picked it up before a vacation, wanting something that would make my hair look cute and add some texture and style with only a minute or two of effort.

The packaging of this is completely user and travel friendly, with a spray top (think the Tressame Heat Tamer Spray) and a little tab to lock the handle so nothing spills out when you don't want it to.

I like to wash my hair and when it's almost dry, tie it into two braids and sleep that to create waves, then add the salt spray when I wake up. However, this creates almost an identical effect when used on dry hair. I love this stuff. I've been using it almost every morning to do my hair since I bought it over a month ago, and the bottle still feels almost full. Plus, the smell is outrageous. Think beachy-coconut and sweetness. Yum.

The photo above is what my hair looked like after I used this on second day, not-styled-previously hair. The right is what it looks like if you really scrunch it up, and the left is what it looks like if you spray it in once or twice and let it do it's thing. My hair is very straight normally, so this kind of style with that kind of work makes me swoon.

You can get this spray at Target and Ulta definitely for somewhere between $5-6 dollars--a bargain, I think. I'm not sure where else carries this brand, but I haven't heard anything but good things about any of their products.

Do you curl or straighten your hair every day?
xoxo
Alyssa

Tarte Lip Surgence Matte Lip Tint in Lucky: Review and Swatches

Jumbo lip pencils have been making a splash in the beauty world in the past year or so, and it seemed like every brand came out with their own version. The product that can be traced back to starting the trend? The Tarte Lip Surgence. Available in a variety of finishes and colors and being sold in a huge set around Christmas time for the price of about one and a half, makeup lovers everywhere gave them a shot.

I received this little guy in my Teen Vogue Birchbox last year and it's needless to say that I was excited. The color is called Lucky and it's a cool-toned, matte light pink that is wearable and fun. Sometimes Birchbox gives lip products in the most unappealing, unflattering colors, but that's not the case here!

The packaging is like any other standard jumbo pencil and it's a twist up, so no sharpening here! I personally like that for lip pencils. I don't like having to sharpen lip pencils, as I don't like using the same sharpener for my lip and eye products. I don't really know why, it just feels funny to me.

This product has a really nice, fresh, minty scent to it and the formulation is lovely. It's smooth and glides on with a lot of color payoff. The swatch above is one coat! 

The final verdict? I really love this, but for $24 a pop, I would skip it and try a drugstore version instead. The Revlon Kissable Balm Stains and the COVERGIRL Jumbo Gloss Balms are both great. However, if you can snag a set of these around Christmastime, I would! Tarte comes out with fantastic holiday sets that are a phenominal value, so if you're interested, keep your eyes open for that. 

Drugstore or High End lip products?

xoxo

Alyssa

Transitioning: Summer to Fall!

I find the transitioning period (the time smack in between seasons) the hardest to figure out in terms of...well, everything actually. Clothes, makeup, nail polish. I never know whether to lean more on the side of the cooler seasons or the warmer seasons. So today I'm back to share with you some of my favorite cosmetic products that can bring you from the light, airiness of Summer to the deeper, golden tones of Fall.

First up, eye products. The Naked Palette by Urban Decay is something a ton of people already own, and I think it's great all year round. You can use the lighter colors in the warmer months and use the darker ones for the colder ones. For Fall specifically, I would use Sin all over the lid/as a highlight, Half Baked a bit on the center of the eye, and darken things up with Smog or Hustle in the very out corner or in the crease. Then I would finish off with Toasted on the lower lashline, and BAM! An easy look for the between-season. For a cream base underneath, try Maybelline's Color Tattoos in Bad to the Bronze (a cool toned, shimmery bronze) or Bold Gold (a shimmery, antiqued gold). Also from Maybelline, the Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Eggplant is great. It's a deep purple, so it brings in some Summer color while being deep enough to be appropriate for the Fall time.

Next, face. Personally, I like looking a bit bronzed as much as I can, but  too-dark complexion just looks unnatural. The Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze adds a nice touch of color without being too noticeable. For blush, I've been OBSESSED with the NYX Powder Blush in Mocha. It's a lovely, natural matte pink with a slight berry-brown undertone, so it's right on trend for Fall. Top your cheekbones with a light, champagne-bronze highlighter (my recommendation? The Elf Golden Bronzer!) to complete then look. 

As for lips, berry-tones and deep reds are always a hit when Fall rolls around, but it's not a hit to jump right into the burgundy lipstick. I like to make the transgression with berry-pinks, a browny nude, and a few dabs of red blended out. I have three Revlon Lip Butters here, Berry Smoothie, Creme Brulle, and Cherry Tart, that are perfect. And for gloss? A peachy, golden color works on top of almost anything. The Avon Glazewear Sparkle in Mirage is one of my all time favorite glosses, and perfect for the Fall. 

Do you like Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring trends the best?

xoxo

Alyssa 

In-Brand Throw Down: Burt's Bees

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with a fan of moisturizing lip products and that I love the drugstore options. Surprisingly, I had never tried the brand that everyone and their cat seemed to rave about: Burt's Bees. With the reputation of being the best lip balms available for the drugstore price, I finally decided to give them a try. But my issue? There were different formulations, so over the course of the past week and a half or so, I've accumulated three different ones, and now I'm back to tell you my thoughts.

The three I have are the Replenishing Lip Balm with Essential Oils (mine is in Pomegranate), the Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm and the Lip Shimmer in Cherry. 

Clockwise from top left: Replenishing with
Pomegranate Oil, Hibiscus Tinted, and Lip Shimmer
in Cherry

First off, the Replenishing Lip Balm. These are made with different essential oils, depending on which one from the line you pick out. I picked out pomegranate, as I tend to like products with it on the ingredient list. This is slightly, slightly tinted a reddish coral. It smells like Carmex, which surprised me. I would have thought it would smell fruity, but nope! In terms of moisture, this is nice, but not as good as other lip balms I've tried. I'd give it a 5/10. Retailing for $3-4, it's average on price point. 

Next up, the Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm. These are the most popular from the brand, and I picked Hibiscus as it's one of my favorite flowers, plus I've heard nice things about the color. I can't really detect a scent, but if anything it's a little sweet. In terms of pigmentation, I would classify this in the same category as the Maybelline Baby Lips. It's definitely more moisturizing than the replenishing one, and I'd give it a 7.5/10. It would have gotten a solid 8 or even higher, but priced at $6.99, it's pretty hefty for a low end lip balm. 

Lastly is the Lip Shimmer in Cherry. It smells very minty and feels a teensy bit tingly on the lips, which isn't my favorite but doesn't bother me either. It reminds me very much of the Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart. It gives a good color pay off and really tints the lips. It's not too  moisturizing though, and the texture is a bit chunky due to the shimmer. I give it a 4/10. I don't think I'd purchase any more of these, even at $3 each.

Left to Right: Replenishing, Hibiscus Tinted, Cherry
Lip Shimmery

The winner? The Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm. I would buy more of these, although I don't think Burt's Bees is the best brand for lip balms in the drugstore (Nivea still holds that title for me!). I do however, love their skin products (especially the cuticle cream!).

Are you a lover of Burt's Bees?
xoxo
Alyssa

Elf Translucent Mattifying Powder: Review

I've grown to rely on translucent powders, as they don't require a color match and fit my complexion all year round. While I still like powders that give a bit of color and a bit of coverage, in the past few months, I've been reaching instead for my translucent options.

Unfortunately, my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte is easily the most inconvenient pressed powder for the handbag. With no mirror, no applicator and a screw on lid, it's just not practical. That being said, I had heard some hype on the Elf Mattifying version, so for $3, I thought "why the heck not?" 

If you're familiar with the Elf Studio line, this packing is, like the rest, nothing special. Black and plastic, with a full-lid mirror and a compartment for a sponge, it seemed like something good for my makeup bag. I'm not necessarily against sponges for powder application, so I brought this along in my bag as is. 

Upon first swatch, this would seem like it would show up on the skin, but I don't really find that to be a problem! It's smooth, invisible, and actually does produce a nice and subtle matte finish. However, I don't have oily skin, so I'm not sure how this would work for someone who has a problem with excess oil. I have read that this is a good product for that too, but for someone with dry skin, a little bit of this applied with the sponge it comes with and I find that it doesn't make me too matte, but helps my face makeup from budging over the course of the day.

The overall rating: okay. I like this, but its not as good as other powders I've tried. Rimmel Stay Matte is my favorite, but I also LOVE the Maybelline Dream Matte and the Arbonne Sheer Pressed Powder. You can find the Elf version at Target or Kmart for $3. 

What kind or coverage do you like with powders? 

xoxo

Alyssa

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

I use a gentle exfoliating cleanser twice a day (my Neutregena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub) so I never felt like I needed a heavy duty exfoliate to use on a weekly basis. Boy, was I wrong! After reading up on some skincare blogs, I realized that everyone needs a rough exfoliation at least once a week. And so I set out on my quest to find a good product for this purpose.

While shopping for a vacation back in July, I landed upon this little guy and decided for a dollar and change, it was worth a try. I find deluxe sample/travel sized items are the best for testing out something new, as they are generally the perfect amount of product to try before settling on an opinion.

This scrub is made with 100% natural exfoliants that "deep clean, instantly leaving skin smooth and glowing." It's also sulfate and paraben free, which is a major plus in my book. The texture of this isn't the roughest exfoliate that I've seen, but it certainly isn't the most gentle and I find it the perfect consistency to use once or twice a week for a deep scrub to get off all the dead skin. For someone like me who's complexion is more on the dry side, it's great!

And lastly? The smell! This stuff smells amazing: a little fresh, a little fruity, and a lot delicious. I'm all for yummy-smelling products (but really, who isn't?) so that feature is right up my alley.

St. Ives is available at most drugstores, and you'll find this scrub (which is also one of their best sellers) with the rest of the line in the skincare department. This retails for $4.99 for 6oz (which is the size I plan on purchasing after I squeeze out the last use of my mini) or the travel sized 1oz for $1.50. Obviously the full-sized is a much better deal, but I didn't want to risk not liking this so I would be stuck with a big bottle of something I disliked.

How often do you exfoliate?
xoxo
Alyssa


PS: Sorry for lack of posts lately. My schedule has been so hectic, but I promise consistent posting is on its way! :)

Avon Luxe Clutch Eye Shadow Palette: Review and Swatches

I stole this from my mom's bathroom cabinet after finding out that it was given to her but it hadn't even been touched once. As a huge fan of Avon makeup, I was excited to divulge into this palette.

The packaging is great for traveling without being too plain and boring. There's this puffed up, purple material (does anyone know the proper name for that?) that makes it cute without making it bulky or annoying to throw in a handbag or makeup bag.

The palette includes 10 shimmery shadows, most of them bright colors with a few more wearables thrown in there. All the shadows are nicely pigmented with minimal fallout/crumbling. My favorite color is the third from the left, which is a gorgeous champagne, leaning more on the pink side. The two colors to the left of it are great two: a dark, rich brown and a lilac-pink. Aside from that, this palette doesn't get so much use. While the formulation is wonderful, I'm not a person huge with bright eye looks. But I have been trying to use this as much as I can with every day.

My swatching is a little crazy, and I apologize for that! I ran out of room and didn't feel like washing everything off and starting over.

If you like bright colors, I would recommend this. I'm not sure how much this retails for, but other Avon palettes go for $12-15, so I would peg this around there. You can find Avon Cosmetics online or through sellers, and I believe there are a few stores in select locations.

Bright or neutral eye looks?
xoxo
Alyssa

Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll: Review

Simple has been my favorite skincare line recently, and it all started when I received this little gem as my extra in my April Birchbox.

This product is marketed to reduce puffiness and wake up tired eyes using "cucumber extract and vitamin goodness." Being made with vitamins is one of Simple's consistent claims, as well their products having skin-loving nutrients and lacking perfumes/dyes. Because of this, the Sensitive Skin Experts really do produce a skincare line perfect for everyone--sensitive skin or not.

In terms of packaging, it's standard for an eye roll, though I think the actual rollerball is cooler than other ones I've tried (which I love). In terms of the product itself, I think it's a wonderful. It really seems to wake up the eye area in the mornings and add a bit of moisture, and I've used this on puffy eyes from sleep/tears and it greatly reduces that as well. All in all, a winner!

You can find this wherever Simple products are sold (generally most drugstores nowadays) retailing from $8-10.

What's your favorite under-eye product?
xoxo
Alyssa

Birchbox Unboxing: August 2013

It's that time of the month again: Birchbox time! I get so excited when the mailman delivers this pink box. Let's be real, I get excited when a mail carrier delivers any box I'm expecting (I mean who doesn't?)

This month, Birchbox collaborated with Anne Taylor to produce a box themed around Finishing School, which once-upon-a-time meant an academy where young women learned the intricacies of high society.

While I like this concept, I don't really understand how these products relate to it. But if that's my biggest problem this month, I think I'm doing pretty well.

Upon opening, I was seriously excited. Look how nice it looks! Needless to say that I dug in quite quickly. So this month, my box included:

• Coastal Scents Eye Shadows (Peach Fuzz, Sea Spray, Deep Viridian, Sand Dune)
• Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes
• MIYU Beauty Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence and Tea
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (Beso)
• Lifestyle Extra: WEI Pomegranate Buffing Beads

I'm really happy with this box. There's some skin care, makeup, and a few oddballs (feet wipes and tea, that would be directed towards you). As drinking tea is "trendy" right now, I think it's something fun to toss into the box. And the feet wipes? Definitely not the most glamorous thing around, but definitely something useful. They're directed towards freshening up your feet during the day, and I think it's a nifty little product. As for the beauty essence and the buffing beads: my mom tried the essence and LOVED how it made her skin feel, and a good exfoliation is great for your skin, so I think these are good things to try out! And then the makeup. I've never tried Coastal Scents shadows, so I was really excited to get these in my box! And while the lipstick isn't exactly my every day shade, my mom swatched some on my arm and it stayed vibrant all day (and night) long, even after washing and a bit of makeup remover. So I'm excited to give that a whirl on my lips. 

In addition, you get a coupon for 20% off a single Anne Taylor product, and 30% off two or more! All in all, I'm very happy with this box. My overall value ended up being somewhere around $26.38, which is better than last month, but I've still gotten better. Again, I'm very pleased. 

What are your favorite types of samples?

xoxo

Alyssa

My Current Favorite Bracelets

I love jewelry. Ever since I was little I loved it. My parents and just my relatives in general are big on gifting jewelry to the women in my family, so even before I was buying it for myself, I had quite a bit to choose from as I got ready in the morning. Lately, bracelets have been my favorite, and I've been enjoying stacking them up. So, for my first fashion post on my blog, I thought I'd show you some of my favorite ones!

As you can see, my jewelry/bracelet taste is pretty tame. I like more classic pieces mixed with a bit of the trendy stuff, and the biggest bracelet I own is actually in this post. Also, while I like colored jewelry, I've been going for plain metal tones recently. And as you can see, I do prefer silver to gold.

First up, these two beauties from BCBGeneration. Named the Affirmation bracelets, these guys have gotten a lot of love on Tumblr and from fashion-lovers. I originally got the Mini Affirmation bracelet, which has a black leather band and says "Fearless" in silver letters, and then went back and ordered the full sized with the dark mint-green band and the silver letters which spell out the word "Dream." The mini (priced at $12) looks awesome stacked with other silver bracelets and the full sized ($18) looks great on its on. You can find these in all different colors, hardwares, and words at Macy's.

Cinema Chic bracelet, Te Amo bracelet

The next two are from jewelmint.com. I was a big fan of Jewelmint last year, but recently I've found their style to have gone too trendy/chunky/statement for me. However, I did make a few purchases while I was still in love with their designs. I am a fan of chain bracelets, and after hearing some great reviews on the original Cinema and Cinema Americano bracelets, I decided to get myself the Cinema Chic version, as I didn't have any gunmetal colored jewelry. The Te Amo bracelet was something that I had admired for a while and eventually found in a sale, and I just think it's adorable with the mesh band, the words (it means "I Love You" in Spanish!) and the design of the plate. Everything from Jewelmint is $29.99.

Every girl needs some pearl bracelets in their collection, and this was something I lacked for a while. While at Kohl's one day, I found this set on the clearance rack in their jewelry department. The brand is Croft and Borrow, and it came with two fake, stretchy pearl bracelets and a stretchy rhinestone one. I LOVE these for a simple stacking look, and I think they look nice with more classic fashion pieces.

This next one is from Dot's and it's just a simple, stretchy silver beaded bracelet with an infinity sign. I saw this, read the price tag ($2) and knew it had to be mine. It looks much more blinged out than it actually is, as the light from the flash reflects on the beads. It just looks really nice with a plain t-shirt and jeans, and I love the infinity sign.

The newest addition to my bracelet collection is this gem from Icing. I hauled this bracelet last month (link to that post here), and I love it. I've seen these on Etsy, but they're just so expensive. So when I spotted this for $6.50, I was smitten. Plus, I know for a fact that it's still there, as I spotted it again just yesterday.

Last but not least, the sideways cross bracelet. I'm not a huge fan of the cross trend, but I love the sideways cross necklaces and bracelets. This particular one was made for me from one of my mom's friends, but you can find these all over!

Which one do you like best?
xoxo
Alyssa

Nivea A Kiss of Shine: Review and Swatch

I'm going to go ahead and apologize in advance for all of the moisturizing lip product posts that are ahead. I'm a little bit of a lip balm junkie, and my favorite thing is to see which ones are the best. So when I found that Nivea, my favorite brand, made lip gloss, I was pretty excited.

Squeezy tube glosses don't bother me in terms of packaging. I think they're great for throwing in the handbag or the backpack for something quick, easy, and mess free. However, I find that a lot of squeezy tube glosses just don't have great formulations, but this one is an exception--by a long shot.

The consistency is wonderful. It's moisturizing, smooth, and pretty much stick-free. It gives off enough color to make a difference, yet not too much to not be able to apply it without a mirror. It's glossy enough to add some shine, but not too glossy. Obviously, the moisturizing aspect is not as great as their stick balms, but it DOES moisturize.

As you can see, it's the perfect pink. Just lovely!

All in all, I recommend this! It's a great, moisturizing lip gloss and I believe that you can get other colors as well if pink was isn't your color. These retail for $3-4 and are available wherever Nivea lip products are sold!

Can YOU deal with sticky glosses?
xoxo
Alyssa

Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream

My mom has been really liking Garnier's skin care line, and every once in a while I sneak a use (shhhh!) to see how the products work. She ended up just giving me this eye cream, as she didn't really care for it. I, however, don't have any real problems with it.

Garnier is my go-to for hair products (I plan on reviewing some of them soon), so when my mom started to purchase their skincare, I was pretty intrigued. This eye cream comes in a green, glass jar and a white lid, and it definitely stands out in my bathroom cabinet. The packaging feels pretty sturdy, and honestly, I have no complaints.

My flash decided that it wasn't going to cooperate, so I apologize for the crappy pictures. The actually product is white in the jar, but once you massage it into your skin the color goes away instantly. The consistency is rather thin. I love thick eye creams, but I do like this one as well. I guess I'm not too particular.

In terms of lifting and wrinkle-banishing, well, I'm not so sure. Does any product reaaaally deliver that promise? I'm young, and don't have to combat wrinkles just yet. I use this at night (Clinique All About Eyes is still the ultimate for daytime...review here) as more of a moisturizer/preventative method, and I like it. However, my mom had some problems with this drying out her skin, so I would read up on some more reviews before making the purchase.

The price tag of this eye cream reads anywhere from $12-15 and it is available at most drugstores, or anywhere Garnier products are sold. The brand's skincare and hair care are usually stocked on way different shelves, so if you spot hair care, check the skincare isle!

Do YOU think products actually diminish wrinkles?
xoxo
Alyssa

Elf Golden Bronzer...or Highlighter?

I have for you today a review of Elf's Golden Bronzer from their Studio Line (more professional products, as apposed to their Essentials line, which is meant for more of the average person). I picked this up at Target one day, hoping for something to give me a nice, sun-kissed glow.

First off, the packaging. Like all Elf Studio products, the packaging is very NARS-esque: simple, black, rectangular. It's simple, classy, and quite a bit boring, but nothing bad nonetheless.

Upon opening, I expected this to be way to light to be a bronzer on my skin, but aside from that, way too shimmery. "This is as shimmery and glowy as a highlighter!" I had though, annoyed that it was labeled a bronzer. Then it hit me: maybe it would work at highlighting my cheekbones.

The colors include two light, bronzy-brown shades, a peachy champagne, and a light cream. All of them are loaded with shimmer, and honestly there is no way this powder would work as a bronzer. When swatched, it turns into a subtle, glowing bronze highlight shade that looks beautiful on the high points of the face.

The picture makes it look darker than it actually is, but I promise it's not that dark at all. For skin tones lighter than myself (I'm light to medium) and you have this, try it as eye shadow. I prefer this as a highlight, but it works nicely on the eyes as well. If you're my shade or darker, highlight with it! It looks beautiful, and I would repurchase this for highlighting, NOT for bronzing.

The Elf Golden Bronzer retails for $3 and is available at Target, K-Mart, and The Christmas Tree Shop. There are two other colors available on the website, which look much darker and one of them is matte. Maybe I'll give the matte one a whirl!

Matte or shimmery bronzers?
xoxo
Alyssa

PS: Today's my mom's birthday! Happy birthday, Mom! I love you! :)