Discovering Bobbi Brown & Lancome Doll Lashes

It's been a minute since my last post but to be honest, I haven't purchased many "beauty" items recently. I guess I went on a mini detox but I'm back today with a quick update on my most recent Sephora purchases.



Up until 2 weeks ago, I was a virgin to Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. I'm not sure why I never caught interest in the line prior to it's introduction to Sephora stores. Even so! For months, I ghosted by Sephora's Bobbi Brown section but one random night on the internet changed all of that. I came across Michelle Money's (from The Bachelor & Bachelor Pad 2) beauty channel on YouTube. The video's aren't high quality nor are they on par with some of the other YouTube guru's but she's beautiful and so I watched; only to find the majority of the products highlighted were from Bobbi Brown. Well, curiousity sparked and I also ran out of bronzer. I'm lying, of course. Anyway...

I picked up Bobbi Brown's Bronzer in "Medium" and brightening gloss in "Popsicle." Could I have skipped on the bronzer? Yes. Is it because I have a few hundred other unfinished bronzers laying around? Maybe. But I also think NYC's Bronzer in "Sunny" is comparable. It's not as pigmented. Maybe a tad more orange. But also $3. Can you beat that? Certainly not. I still want to give props to Bobbi Brown though because I don't regret this purchase. The "Medium" shade is beautiful. It has a wonderful color pay out, applies matte, and matches me well. A little product also goes a long way. For those MAC enthusiasts, I'm about an NC35 at the moment.

Bronzer ramblings aside, Bobbi Brown's Brightening Gloss is fabulous! It's not flavored or scented; which is good (in my opinion) only because some products try so hard to either taste good or smell good. It all becomes slightly nauseating after awhile. In addition, this gloss has great staying power and adds a slight tint to your lips. Do I look like I just ate "Popsicle" after applying this gloss? Yes. But it's still very natural and great for everyday wear. If you're curious, I'd say go ahead and try it.

The last item I purchased was Lancome's Doll Lashes. Ugh! Did Lancome promote the crap out of this product or what? But shame on me for not being able to resist hardcore advertising and taking the plunge. Though I prefer the narrowed cone shape wand better than Lancome's Hypnose Drama Mascara, I don't find the Doll Lash formula to be better. The formula is more wet and heavy. Consequentially, my lashes fall flat. Doll lash fail. I would say that if your lashes are naturally longer, this would definitely work for you but those of you with short lashes, beware.

Hidden TJ Maxx Finds!



I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Mine was busy, busy, busy. But in between family, friends, lunch dates, and dinner plans, I was able to slip away to do a little shopping. What I found was a beautiful pair of Steve Madden Leopard Oxfords! Let me first backtrack a little to give you a little background info.

It all started when I  received a Nordstrom's catalogue in the mail at the start of the weekend and spotted a smart pair of oxfords (below) by "Steven by Steve Madden." The pair displayed in the catalogue was rhinestone studded, and valued at $150 - not exactly your most practical shoe. But then I thought: maybe I could find it cheaper elsewhere.

After a little research on the Steve Madden website, I was able to track down the same shoe in different prints. Sadly, even the oxfords (sans rhinestones) were priced at $120 (below); still making them impractical and just another item to lust after. Right?

One of the shops that I randomly like to visit from time to time is TJ Maxx. Stores like these tend to either be a hit or miss given their random inventory but it's a great way to find designer items for less.

Given my less than spectacular storytelling, I'm sure you all know where this story is headed. I'll continue anyway. While perusing the shoe aisle, I came across the pair of Oxfords that I saw on the website for only $49.99! Yes, I almost burst with happiness. So, if I used my college degree correctly, that's about a 40% discount. Yippee! So this must be what smart shopping is all about! *pats back* I'm now fully ready to tackle the fall season.



"Madee" Oxfords Up Close



Revlon Glitter Polishes!

Today, I would like to pay homage to Revlon's glitter polishes. These polishes are AMAZING! I will say that the collection was difficult to track down but after a few visits to my local Target stores, success! I found them. From the collection, I passed on "Blue Mosaic," a bright, glittery blue but decided to pick up "Starry Pink" and "Facets of Fuschia."


3 coats of Starry Pink was applied for full opacity;
but you can definitely get away with the regular 2 coats.

"Starry Pink" (right) is the reason why I began my quest to track down Revlon's glitter polishes. This polish is one after my own heart. It is a baby, milky pink that is surprisingly quite opaque with speckles of silver, multi-dimensional glitters of all shapes and sizes. The polish applies surprisingly smooth and dries with minimal gradiance, especially after a top coat! It is long lasting, $3.50, and best of all, not a pain to remove given it's glittery properties.

The last shade I want to touch on from this collection is called "Facets of Fuschia" (below). The properties of this polish are identical to "Starry Pink" except that only 2 coats were needed for full opacity. The glitter in this polish is also purple rather than silver. 

Facets of Fuschia (5 days old!)

I think "Facets of Fuschia" is so fall appropriate. This polish doesn't require much lighting to show off it's deep purple shade and the bits of glitter really make it far from ordinary.

I quickly snapped a picture of my nails today (right) to show the longevity of Revlon's glitter polishes. I applied "Facets of Fuschia" 5 days ago and besides the natural growth of my nails, there are no chips. The manicure is still seemingly perfect and in tact. Impressive, especially for drugstore!

If you happen to run across Revlon's Glitter collection, I would first and foremost recommend "Starry Pink" and to keep in mind that these polishes are less than HALF the price of a regular bottle of OPI ($8.50). Also, for what it's worth, these polishes are quite unique. Of all the polishes I've ever owned, I haven't yet come across shades quite like these.

Hope you guys enjoyed this quick post! Till next time... ;)

Lorac on HauteLook!

My Lorac purchases from HauteLook arrived yesterday in the mail. Take a look!

Here (left) we have 2 "Evening Out Complexion Kits" - one in "Light" and the other in "Medium." The "Medium" kit is perfect for me at the moment but I plan to use the "Light" kit come Winter. From what I hear, Lorac also created these kits in "Tan" and "Dark" but those options weren't available through the HauteLook sale. 

So what comes in these kits? Well, a silky smooth (medium coverage) powder foundation and 2 cream concealers hidden in the bottom compartment. Super neat! I was not only impressed by the quality of this product but also the modern packaging. Plus, how chic is the reflective charcoal compact? Each Complexion Kit was priced at $10 on HauteLook.

Also pictured is Lorac's Muliplex 3-D Lipgloss with a brush applicator. This gloss turned out to be so much brighter in person than what was shown on the site. I quickly swatched the gloss last night and found the product to be sheer and on the dryer side. No further comments or fabulous first impressions to report here...



Lorac's Powder Foundation in "Medium"

Medium Powder + Duo Concealer Compartment!

 



Nail Polish of the Week - OPI's "It's MY Year."

Here comes another polish update! This week's shade is named "It's MY Year," which once again is from OPI's Miss Universe Collection. This polish is beautiful; A warm purple with gold shimmer. 3 coats were applied for full opacity.

Benefit's "They're Real" Mascara Review

     


"They're Real" Mascara & Wand



Product Statistics



Hi everyone! Just wanted to post a quick review on Benefit's "They're Real" Mascara. Despite the negative reviews, I have to say, I'm really enjoying this mascara. For one, I've always been a fan of plastic brushes. I feel as though they separate and hold my lashes better than regular fiber brushes. Benefit's "They're Real" is no exception. It really delivers on its promise to lengthen, curl, and separate even the most stubborn lashes. I've even tried this mascara on my bottom lashes and holy smokes! I never knew my bottom lashes could even get that long. Amazing! And at a $22 price-point, definitely re-purchase worthy, especially for those of you with short, straight, or stubborn lashes.

HRH Collection - Ombre Bracelet

My first piece from HRH Collection came in yesterday! I am thrillllled with my newly acquired "Ombre Bracelet" (above). For once, the fit is perfect and I'm really loving the "Silver & Gold" combination. Tres chic!

Can I also mention my nails today? (above). I have on OPI's "Crown Me Already." I mean, so what if it's a little too sparkly and bright for the day time? This polish is both fun and spunky! I feel happy just looking at it. Plus, it's a good match to my new bracelet, no? :)