New CoverGirl Shadow Pots: Yay or Nay?

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

Happy Wednesday!

I spoke a little bit on Monday about how underwhelming I find 95% of CoverGirl’s products. That being said, when they introduced new products recently, I couldn’t NOT try them. Just in case.

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I picked up one of the new Shadow Pots, primarily because I hated the existing singles so much. (So negative on this Hump Day!) I wanted to see if they were any different.

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Apparently these shadows don’t have names, only numbers. The one I picked up is this bronzy-brown, numbered 330.

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I don’t feel like the quality is as suck-y as the existing ones (are they still out there?), but it’s not a dramatic improvement. I intentionally picked a shade that is usually easy to do, regardless of the brand, but CG didn’t nail this one. SO NEGATIVE, NELLY.

I will wear this one, though. I like the easiness of the color, and how it’s incredibly versatile.

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See? Pretty, after a few layers (over primer).

CoverGirl Shadow Pots are available at drugstores, Target, and Ulta stores. I think I paid $4.99? I haven’t found them online yet.

Have you tried any of these? I’m interested in swatching other colors, but I don’t think I’m willing to buy them to do so.

What say you?

-Laura

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Posted in Eye Products, New Products

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On the Brow with Sonia Kashuk

Posted on May 21, 2013 | Leave a comment

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Brows are one of those features that can be tricky, yet we overcomplicate them more than we ever should. Between over-plucking (NO), super-black tattoo brows (DOUBLE NO), and everything in between, we seem to stumble over what to do with the frames of our face.

While there are definite obstacles for some, like naturally not having any brows, most of us do have some brows going on and today’s product is a great tool to keep them in line.

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The Arch Alert Brow Kit from Sonia Kashuk is a cream-based palette with colors that will suit most hair colors.

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I’ve been using this product for a little over a week and I am very  happy with it. I appreciate that the dark colors are cooler-toned and aren’t actually that dark. Unless you have jet-black hair and jet-black eyebrows, black is never a good look. A good rule of thumb is to go a shade or two lighter than your natural color.

I use my Real Techniques Brow Brush from the Starter Kit to apply the darkest shade with. I follow my natural brow shape most days, depending on the look I’m going for. Some days I want a fuller look, so I’ll just barely go outside the lines to give the illusion of a stronger brow.

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The palette is universal, and to my knowledge, there is only one offered by Sonia Kashuk. The brand has done a great job of covering the bases, color-wise. The darkest shade (top, left) is perfect for us brunettes. I mix the second darkest shade (bottom, left) on those days where I want my brows to stand back a bit.

The blonde shade (bottom, right) is perfect for fair-haired beauties, and the last shade is a gorgeous auburn red for natural (or wannabe) redheads.

Now. For the reason I love this palette the most: the wear time. I’m very happy with the texture, which has the hold of a lightweight wax and the semi-matte finish of a cream. It’s like the Prius of brow palettes; it’s a great little hybrid.

You can pick up this palette at Target and Target.com for $9.99 (the new packaging is black instead of white, just FYI).

*****

I know I don’t normally post consecutively, but I’m trying to challenge myself to post more. I have so many great products to talk about!

Much love, y’all,

Laura

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CoverGirl Clean Glow Blusher in Peaches: Yes, Please

Posted on May 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

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I hate to start off the week on a negative note (it is Monday, after all, so why add to it?), but I have rarely been impressed with CoverGirl’s products. I’m a tried-and-true fan of LashBlast Volume mascara, but that’s really it. So when CG started introducing new products recently, I was skeptical, but because I’m a junkie, I had to try some anyway.

The first product that I gave a go is this Clean Glow Blusher in 110 Peaches. You can see it has three different shades of powder, including a bronze-ish shade, a true peach color, and what would appear to be a highlight shade on the bottom. The compact seems to be the same size as their powder compacts, in case you’re curious.

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I bought this because I’ve been into two kinds of blush colors lately: bold bronzers and soft shades that simply add warmth. This Clean Glow blush definitely falls into the latter category. She’s a soft, pretty little thing, yes?

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When I say soft, I mean it in several ways, not just the color scheme. The pigment for each of the individual shades varies, but even still, they aren’t that rich. The texture is soft and smooth, and when the colors are swirled together, the color is a glow-y and super flattering peach shade. But again, if you’re looking for a super bold product, this isn’t it.

I was impressed with how easily it applies. I’m so used to having to grind into CoverGirl blushes and shadows just to get some product to transfer, so when I can swirl a brush around once or twice and get all I need? Happiness and joy.

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Wearing CoverGirl Clean Glow Blusher in Peaches

I look so angry in this photo… The light was fading, so maybe I was?

I have been really impressed with the wear time of this little lady, as well. I easily get 8 hours of wear with minimal fading over my cream foundations. Wasn’t expecting that from CoverGirl!

Overall, I think this is a decent product that would be worth the money if the parameters fit for you. I’m happy to say that I now enjoy two CoverGirl products!

I can’t find these blushes online yet and I can’t remember what I paid ($7.99?), but I purchased mine from Ulta, so I know they’re at least sold there. I think they’re sold in drugstores and Targets as well.

*****

Even though I do NOT enjoy warm weather, I do enjoy the produce it brings. Today’s breakfast included some massive strawberries and some golden cherries!

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I hope you have a great week! We can do this!

-Laura

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Posted in Cheek Products, New Products

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Born to Glow with NYX Liquid Illuminator

Posted on May 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

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Let’s end the week with some sparkle, shall we?

I fully believe in shimmer. A dab on the cheekbones, in the arch of the eyebrow, or the inner corner of the eyes can do wonders for a Dull Face Day. What’s a Dull Face Day, you ask? You know what it is… One of those days where your skin is rebelling in 15 various ways, you need 6 more hours of sleep, and you could probably stand to drink a gallon of water every hour. One of those days.

Bring on the highlighters.

The NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator in Sunbeam was introduced around the beginning of the year and has been sitting around my desk since I purchased it. I’ve used it a few times and have come to several conclusions:

  1. I appreciate a break from my usual powder highlighters on occasion and find this option easy to use and to blend.
  2. It doesn’t have straight-up glitter, but it’s perilously close to having chunks, and a chunky highlighter equals no bueno.
  3. I don’t care for how it looks blended into my foundation, but like the effect it gives when strategically applied with my fingers.
  4. Though the color appears to be a light pink, no color shows on the skin, just shimmer, making it useful for almost all skin tones.
  5. Over my cream foundations, this product wears a standard 6-8 hours before fading into the night.

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Highlighters are one of those products that can go wrong very, very quickly. Too large of particles leave every pore visible from a 20-yard distance. Too much pigment and you have an extra stripe of color on your face. And too much shimmer/glitter in general and you look like a showgirl. There’s a very fine line here, folks.

Sunbeam walks the line well enough to make the $6.99 price tag well worth it, especially since it will work for so many skin tones. As I go through it, I’ll let you know if I would repurchase it or not. :) Find this product at Ulta and at NYXCosmetics.com

HAPPY FRIDAY! Any amazing weekend plans I can live vicariously through?

-Laura

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Posted in Cheek Products, Highlighters

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Warm Glow? Yes, please.

Posted on May 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

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Lately, I’ve been wearing a lot of bronzer for blush. I’ve just been wanting definition and warmth without adding a specific color to my face, which will just compete with all the color I’ve been wearing on my eyes. (And there has been plenty, lately.)

{Disclosure: This product was given to me as gratis at work. It was not provided for the purpose of reviewing on the blog, and neither my work nor Smashbox know about this post. Sucks for them.}

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I love that they named the blush “Warm Glow”. That’s EXACTLY what I’m going for.

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This is the line of Halo blushes by Smashbox, which deposits product by grinding the solid color into loose product. I feel like this method is a bit unnecessary, as I would just rather pound on a solid brick with my brush, and I surely don’t want loose color. Blech. But at least with the grater you can control how much you scrape off.

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The primary reason I like this blush so much is simply because of the color. It’s just a perfect, easy shade to wear that doesn’t compete. It doesn’t hurt that it is a long-wearing blush and that it lasts around 8 hours on me.

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Not too red or pink, not too brown, but just right for…everything. (This is starting to sound like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.)

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Here I am staring off into the distance while I wear Warm Glow on my cheekbones. I’m probably thinking about something important, like finding a great quinoa salad recipe or something. Holler.

*****

You can find this blush at Sephora and Ulta for $24.

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Posted in Cheek Products

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Retail Therapy: Sonia Kashuk

Posted on May 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

This week has been nutso and I am so glad it’s over! Between dental appointments that end with “you’re going to need a root canal” and cars that won’t start and 18-hour work days, I am DONE. At one point, I threw my hands up in defeat and went to Target to find something that needed to come home with me. I found several somethings from Sonia Kashuk and I thought I’d share them with you here. :)

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First, I picked up the Arch Alert Brow Kit. I wasn’t crazy about this until I noticed that the product in the pan was cream, not powder. That intrigued me enough to buy it, despite knowing I’ll probably never use the auburn shade in the bottom left. ($9.99)

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Next, I nabbed the limited edition Moroccan Dunes eye shadow palette. I saw this a while back, yearned for it, but decided that I didn’t need it, blah blah blah. Well, I kept thinking about it and wishing I had scooped it up, so when I found it still in my Target, it was fate. ($16.99) (I think this is only sold in stores, FYI.)

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And finally, the reason I really wanted to hit up Target: Undetectable Cream Bronzer. I’ve heard really great things about these babies, and seeing as how I can’t get enough bronzer lately, it was destined to be. The glare is horrible in the photo, but I bought both shades (of course I did), despite them both looking really dark. I’ve worn one of them and ERMAGHERD. LOVE. (I can’t remember how much they cost…$9.99? $12.99?)

*****

I’ll definitely do reviews on these products as soon as I’ve tested them, and I can tell you the Moroccan Dunes palette will probably come first, since it’s limited edition. I’ve also realized I don’t give Sonia Kashuk (the brand, not the person) enough credit. I love that they make products most inexpensive brands don’t, and they do it well.

Have you used in Sonia Kashuk products? What do you think?

-Laura

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Posted in Bronzer, Brows, Eye Palettes, Eye Products, Limited Edition

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Gettin’ a Little Naked with CK One Color

Posted on May 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

One of the biggest beauty surprises recently has been the CK One Color line- specifically the lip colors. I wrote about one of the lip glosses not too long ago here, and I have one of the Shine Lipsticks to review today.

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I bought shade 800-Naked (WHAT?! Laura bought a nude lip color? YOU LIE.) and I couldn’t be happier. It’s hydrating, sheer, and goes with just about anything. Even in the picture above, you can see how shiny the bullet is.

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In the swatch above, the left swipe is just one pass of the lipstick, while the right side is multiple passes. Usually, one or two passes is plenty for me, and I actually think if this was opaque, I wouldn’t like the color. It’s a little on the red-side of nude, and I do prefer mine a bit more brown. However, since it’s not opaque, it works really well for me. Because the lipstick is so emollient, I get between 1-2 hours of wear time.

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Of course, this color ends up being one of those my-lips-but-better shades and hard to see much of a difference on. Just how I like it.

I’ve played with the rest of the shades in this line, and I’m really looking forward to buying more! ;) You can find the CK One Color Shine Lipsticks exclusively at Ulta stores and Ulta.com for $16.

*****

So. It’s Monday again. We can do this! Let’s keep talking about beauty products and we’ll make it through just fine.

-Laura

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Posted in Lip Products

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