Beauty Blog

Blog Sale

2011-09-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much for checking out my blog sale. I decided to do some cleaning and I have makeup that needs a good home! All sales are final so please do you research before buying. The colors shown may not be accurate as computers can distort colors. Please do your research before buying so you know what the colors look like.

HOW TO PURCHASE:
- This sale is only open to US as of now, I may open it up Internationally at a later date. All items are on a first come, first served basis. I will update this post when I can. PENDING means that an item has been requested but has not yet been paid for. Once I receive payment for an item, I will mark the item as SOLD.

-I will only accept PayPal as payment to purchase from this blog sale. This is the easiest type of payment. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can sign up for free at paypal.com.

-Email me at beautybyannie07@gmail.com and let me know what items you would like to purchase as well as your paypal email. I will email you an invoice via PayPal stating your total cost. Please make the payment within 48 hours or the items will go to the next person.

-If you are interested in multiple items you can make me an offer. I want these things to get a new home!

-Shipping costs will be $2 for the first item and an additional 50 cents per item.

If you have any additional questions about sizes or usage please shoot me an email. Thanks :D

Mini Zoya Polish in Caitlin-(0.25 fl oz half of the full size)-Swatched on one nail-$2.50

Twilight Woods Fragrance Roll On-Used once-$2

AHAVA Hand Cream-Use twice-1.3 fl oz size-$4

Candles By Victoria- Over 600 Scents?!?

2011-06-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

I am not quite sure why it has taken me so long to talk about this company because it is one of my favorites, but here I go! I spent the longest time trying to find a good candle. Good candles can be hard things to come by. They are either too expensive, don't smell true to scent, or don't scent a room at all. Well, all that changed when I discovered Candles By Victoria. Candles By Victoria is a family run independent business run out of Van, Texas. I absolutely love supporting family/independent businesses. Victoria has a brick and mortar store there, but she does most of her business through her website CandlesByVictoria. Her candles are very reasonably priced, have an amazing scent throw, and smell incredibly true to scent. The only issue I have with her company? She has over 600 scents so it takes me days to plan out an order :D

Here is a very small sampling of my collection (just to get an idea of the different size options offered):

Victoria definitely has a fragrance, candle size, and price point that would appeal to everyone. Her options range from 2 oz scent shots that you burn in a tart warmer, to reed diffusers, to mini jelly jars, to candles that look and smell like delicious desserts, to 32 oz kettle candles, to her newest line of candles called Sweet Treats, need I go on?

It can definitely be overwhelming at first but my advice is to pick a category of scents you like, for me it is fruity and bakery. After you have determined what scents your nose gravitates towards, then look at scents within that category that appeal to you. Her scent descriptions are so amazing and really help you imagine what that scent will smell like. I promise you once you make your first order you will surely be hooked!

I am also a member of the pouring pot which is the Candles By Victoria message board. If you want suggestions please come join us on the board. It is full of amazing people with nothing but great advice, even on things unrelated to candles. Another great resource for CBV suggestions is YouTube. I know there are a bunch of amazing review on YouTube. I try to always do reviews when I get a new order in on my YouTube channel.

Probably my favorite thing about her company? How involved Victoria is with her customers. Watch a video of hers and you can instantly tell how passionate she is about what she does. She is always inventing new ideas for her company and always asking for her customers advice. I love when you order from a company and feel like they truly care about you. I honestly can't say enough fantastic things about this company. Check her site out, I promise you won't regret it :D

New Makeup Line From Sigma!

2011-04-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

These palettes are now available: here!

The new makeup line consists of three different eye shadow palettes each with its own name: Flare, Dare, and Bare. Each palette will contain 8 eye shadows and a dual ended eye makeup brush. Each palette also has a mirror inside which is perfect for on the go! The palette will retail for $35 (USD) which is a fantastic deal because the retail value of the dual ended brush alone is $18.

Note: The following pictures are not mine and do not belong to me! They were taken by Simone and she gave express permission for bloggers to use them. All of the credit for these pictures goes to her :D

* Here is a picture of the dual ended makeup brushes that will come in the various palettes. I love how the handles of these dual ended brushes are colored to match the colored design of the packaging of their respective palettes, which you will see further below.

*Flare: This palette contains what I would call neutral with pops of color. The colors in this palette would be great for creating a neutral look but also great for those days when you want to add a little color. The colors from left to right are: Crush, Oversee, Define, Publicize, Resist, Gossip, Allure, and Beware. Oversee looks like the most gorgeous blue, perfect for adding a pop of color in the form of liner to a neutral look! This palette comes with an olive green handled dual ended brush that contains the E55 on one side and the E40 on the other.

*Dare: The first though I had when looking at this palette is that it is fairly reminiscent of the colors you would find in the desert. There are a beautiful range of earthy shades in this palette. The colors from left to right are: Surrender, Grasp, Chase, Escape, Reveal, Catch, Shout, and Vanish. Shout looks like the most beautiful orange yellow shadow. That color reminds me of a gorgeous sunset. This palette comes with a red handled dual ended brush that contains the E20 on one side and the E45 on the other side.

*Bare: This is what I would call the working professional's palette. It has a beautiful range of neutral colors for any working professional during the day, but it also has a few colors that could turn a beautiful neutral eye into an amazing smokey eye for the evening. The colors from left to right are: Shine, Control, Snoop, Hitch, Act, command, Elope, and Approach. This palette comes with what looks like a tan dual ended brush that contains the E30 on one side and the E25 on the other.

I know a lot of you will be asking this question as well, what is the finish of these shadows? Per Simone on Twitter these will be a mix of matte and satin in each palette. I literally jumped for joy when I read that! I personally like using a mix of stain and matte shadows in my everyday look and I get so frustrated when I pick up a palette that has only one type of finish. Variety is the spice of life after all? Maybe not, but in this case that old sentiment rings true.

These palettes are perfect for traveling because you have a great variety of colors with different finishes, 2 brushes, and a mirror all housed in a very classy and sleek looking palette!

I personally like neutrals with a pop of color so I can't wait to get my hands on Flare and Bare :D
You better believe there will be a review on my Youtube channel as soon as I can get my hands on these! I really think that there is something for everyone here! Which one do you think you will get?

MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick Dupe!

2011-03-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

MAC Lipstick Dupe Alert! If you have ever watched any of my YouTube videos you know that I absolutely love lipsticks that are a "your lips, but better shade." I would say that is my all time favorite shade of lip color. I was going through my collection the other day and I saw these two lipsticks that fit that shade description exactly and I thought they looked pretty similar in the tube. I have had both of these in my collection for quite a while, but I have never really thought to compare them. One is a drugstore lipstick that cost a couple of dollars and one is a high end lipstick that will run you $14.50, so I thought that maybe the drugstore one could be a dupe of the higer end one. The picture above shows both of these lipsticks. Tne one on the left is Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Sunset and the one on the right is MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick.

The one of the left is Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Sunset which is available in all drugstores that sell Rimmel. The one on the right is my all time favorite MAC Viva Glam V lipstick available at Mac stores, counters, and online,

They both have pretty much the same amount of shimmer. In my opinion they are pretty close dupes. I think that the Rimmel lipstick is a bit more neutral than the MAC Viva Glam V which I think is a tad bit more on the pink-neutral side. Both of these lipsticks are a "my lips, but better" lipstick and it is the perfect lip color to wear on an everyday basis.

Will I replace my MAC lipstick with the Rimmel one? Probably not and I only say that because 100% of the proceeds of the MAC one go to charity. So while the MAC one is $14.50 and the Rimmel one is about $5, I will pay the extra money to donate to charity. For those of you who are looking for a good alternative and a cheaper dupe, definitely check out the Rimmel one!

Swarovski Necklaces!

2011-02-28T09:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I have been making jewelry for quite a while and recently I have been considering selling my jewelry. So far I have only made three designs that will be available for sale and they are available in a very limited quantity for the time being. As time goes on I may add more designs. I am doing this strictly as a hobby and because I would love to be able to share this with everyone.

These necklaces are listed to purchase on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/people/BornDance

All necklaces are made to order. Because I am just starting out, order processing time is usually 4 days and I will be using USPS.
Thanks so much for all of your support!

Anchors Away Necklace
$15 shipped anywhere in the US
This necklace is on an 18 inch silver plated chain with a silver plated anchor charm and an 8mm Swarovski crystal in capri blue. It has a lobster clasp and there is a 6mm Swarovski crystal in capri blue at the closure.

Starfish Necklace
$15 shipped anywhere in the US
This necklace is on an 18 inch silver plated chain with a silver plated starfish charm and an 8mm Swarovski crystal in capri blue. It has a lobster clasp and there is a 6mm Swarovski crystal in capri blue at the closure.

Guardian Angel Wing Necklace
$15 shipped anywhere in the US
This necklace is on an 18 inch silver plated chain with a silver plated wing and an 8mm Swarovski crystal in amethyst. It has a lobster clasp and there is a 6mm Swarovski crystal in amethyst at the closure.

If you are interested in any of these pieces please visit my Etsy site (listed above).

Thanks so much for all of your support :D

Incoco Nail Appliques

2011-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Incoco dry nail appliques give you a perfect manicure in minutes with no dry time.

Details: These are dry nail appliques that are made of 100% real nail polish, they are not plastic or stickers. These act as a base coat, main color, and top coat in one. These are DBP, Toulene, and Formaldehyde free. These come in a variety of colors, glitters, and designs including a french manicure option.

Where to Buy: As far as I know these are now only available to purchase at their online store for about $8. I purchased mine on clearance ($2) at Walgreens, but as far as I know they are not sold there anymore.

How to use it: These come on a strip (as you can see in the picture above). You just peel the polish off of the backing and place on your nail. The package comes with a file and you use that to file off any excess. You do not need to use a base coat or a top coat with these. The first time or two that you use these it can be a bit tricky but it becomes very easy once you get the hang of it. To remove these you just use regular nail polish remover. I find that these tend to "stick" to my nails more than regular nail polish so I prefer to use acetone polish remover. Non-acetone works just fine too, but it may take a bit longer. Incoco's website has great instructions as well as videos on how to apply.

Just a note: My nails are on the shorter side so I am able to use one strip for two nails which gives me more value for my money.My tip is to start with the pinky finger and work your way to the thumb.

How long they last: The picture to the left is my nails on day NINE of my manicure. Usually I am lucky if I can get 2-3 days out of my manicure before I have to remove it because of chips. This manicure could have probably lasted a few more days as well. There was one small chip and the tiniest bit of wear at the tips.

My thoughts: I love this concept as well as the product. It can be a bit more time consuming than a regular manicure to actually apply but the fact that as soon as your done, your nails are dry I would say it is worth it. I wouldn't say that these are something you would use every time you paint your nails, but these would be perfect for something like a vacation where you don't want to have to worry about chipping and touching up every few days. These a perfect for someone who wants a long-wearing manicure with no dry time and ease of application.

Argan Oil

2011-02-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Moroccan Oil seems to be the new thing lately, but it is quite pricey. I have seen it go for $30 for the same size bottle as this Argan oil which retails for $9.50. I decided that the Argan oil would be a friendlier alternative for my wallet.

Details: An oil treatment that is used to protect hair from environmental and heat damage as well as to revitalize and nourish fry and damaged hair. This product also claims to add shine and help to eliminate frizz. The bottle that I purchased is 3.4 oz.

Where to buy: I purchased mine at Sally Beauty Supply for about $9.50.

How to use it: I take a quarter size of this prodcut (I have long, thick hair) and smooth it through my hair after my shower. I also use it on dry hair before I straighten it.

My thoughts: I am in love with this product. This is a quick step that I can add to my hair routine and I am able to use it on wet or dry hair. I have seen a significant improvement in my hair in terms of look and feel. My hair is naturally unruly, curly, and a bit coarse to the touch. After using the Argan Oil I have noticed that my hair feels softer, looks less frizzy, looks shinier, and it looks healthier overall.

Overall rating:
I would give this product A+. I can't compare this to the Moroccan oil, I'm sure it is a fantastic product but the Argan oil works great for me. I love the way this makes my hair look and feel and it is a great value for your money because you need the smallest amount.

What do you all think? Have you tried Argan Oil and what were your results?

New Packaging for Urban Decay Primer Potion!

2010-08-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

It seems as if Urban Decay has listened to all of its loyal fans and taken our requests into consideration! I know we all thought the original "genie bottle" was very cute, but it was such a waste of product. Urban Decay has just released a new Eyeshadow Primer Potion in a Professional size at Sephora. This is a new very user friendly squeeze tube! It retails for $29, but it comes with 0.85 oz of product. The original size primer potion only had 0.34 oz and the XL size had 0.55 oz. So this release is truly a professional size bottle! And you can actually get all of the product out of this tube! The only downside, its that is it marked as limited edition!?! Huh? I have heard that they will be releasing a smaller size in the same tube design in their fall line, so let's hope so. I think it would be a bad decision on there part to only release this packaging for a limited time! If you want to purchase this product, head on over to Sephora and take a look!

Nail TAG

2010-05-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

I saw this tag on the lovely Nouveau Cheap's blog and decided I would do this here! If you haven't checked out her blog you are really missing out! She gives lots of great insight on affordable beauty products as well as letting you know about great deals!

How many polishes do you have in your stash?
About 50 and growing!

Which brand do you own the most of?
I would have to say I own the most China Glaze

What colors do you own the most of?
Pinks and nudes

Do you have a color/texture you do not own?
I don't have any neons or yellow polish.

What's the one polish you always pick up to lift your spirits?
China Glaze Good Witch. It is a great pink color with glitter!

What is the nail polish that you wear most frequently?
Rimmel Milk Chocolate!

What polish do you keep looking at and wondering why you haven't gotten rid of it yet?
Rimmel Princess Pink-It is a beautiful color in the bottle but I feel like it takes at least 3 coats to get anything even close to the color in the bottle.

Go-to Base Coat?
Don't really use base coats that often, I know I should...but I just don't!

Go-to Top Coat?
I like the INM Out the Door top coat

Stamping vs Free Hand?
I typically do very simple free-hand. Can't afford to get into stamping right now!

Bling me, baby? or No bling for me, please!
Some bling-an occasional glitter polish here or rhinstone there.

I consider my nails basically nekkid if they don' t have some kind of design?
Nope! Most of the time I use just ONE color of polish. It is on a very rare occasion that I attempt a nail design.

My favorite plate/tool/technique?
Hmm, I really like using an unexpected color as a french tip...like grey!

What was the last nail related thing you bought?
A mini nail quad of Spring Inspired Essie nail polishes

How many nail related hauls have you bought in the last 7 days (on-line/in-person)?
Only one-a quad of mini Essie polishes

If you've ever been on a no-buy, how long did it last? Is that what you planned?
I've never put myself on a no-buy for nail polish, but if I was I have a little inkling that it wouldn't last too long!

If anyone out there reading this is a nail polish lover, I tag you to do this fun nail tag! Either do your own post on your blog or put your answers in the comments section :D

Tuesday Tips!

2010-04-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday. It is absolutely gorgeous here in sunny FL and I plan on fully taking advantage of that by hitting the beach later.

I just wanted to write a quick post to let you all know about a new series that I have started on my YouTube channel titled Tuesday Tips. Basically every Tuesday there will be a video (usually under 5 minutes) giving you a quick tip.
So far the tips have been:

How to make your own tinted moisturizer (perfect for the Spring and Summer months)
How to use less of your brush cleanser which in turn will save you money.

If you want to know more make sure you go to my channel and subscribe so you get the "latest Tuesday Tips"! Thanks so much and I hope you all are enjoying this lovely Spring Day :D

White Watch? Under $20? No Way!

2010-04-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I promise that in the near future I will become more diligent in updating this blog. Life has just been so crazy lately, I'm sure many of you know how that is.

I wanted to share something fashion related with you that I just purchased thanks to Tracy and Stefanie from eleventhgorgeous on Youtube. Do you know how every season there seems to be one trend that everyone is loving? This season it seems as if white watches are the new big thing. I have a love/hate relationship with watches because I feel that most of them are either too expensive for what I am willing to spend or are not quite "fashionable" enough for my taste. I like my watches to be a bit of a statement piece and something that can look good with other fashion pieces as well. Well, I came across a gorgeous GUESS watch, but lo and behold it was $150. So, Tracy and Stefanie introduced the YouTube world to this watch from the company BONGO:

It meets all of my criteria for an everyday watch and the best part? It is only $15! I love the fact that it is so affordable because in the off chance that something were to happen, you won't be out a ton of money. You can purchase this watch from Amazon or I picked mine up at my local Sears! I love that it is a bit more of a statement piece and it has the lovely rhinestones all around the face of the watch. I would have never believed that a watch like this would retail for under $20 if I had seen it first. I was a little bit skeptical about this watch at first, which is why I chose to purchase it in a store so I could see it for myself before making the purchase. But, let me tell you it is definitely worth the $15! Let me know if you pick this watch up and what you think! Hope you all enjoyed this!

Sassy Minerals Haul

2010-02-21T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I know I have been MIA this month, but things have been crazy busy at work and such. I recently received some amazing products from a company called Sassy Minerals. To view the haul on my YouTube channel and to hear more about the company and pricing click here.
This company is wonderful. The customer service is fantastic and the shipping is very fast. They have a wide variety of products, but this post and the video are mainly about the eye colors!
This is how the shadow samples arrived. They came in a cute fishnet style bag with a silver ribbon at the top:

Here are the 20 samples:

Here is a look at how they individually package each sample. Each sample comes "shrink wrapped" with a plastic ring around it so that nothing can open up or leak during shipping:

I decided to post the swatches here instead of showing them in my video because there are so many! (Click on the picture to enlarge it)

Color names from top to bottom, left to right:
1st row (Eye Candy-Liner): Flash of Brilliance, Gasoline Rainbow, Secretive, Tattletale
2nd row (Eye Candy-Shimmer): Crown Jewels, Elusive, Fairy Wings, Fate
3rd row (Eye Candy-Shimmer): Glass House, Party Girl, Silk Sheets, Starstruck
4th row (Eye Candy-Silk Luster): Acoustic, Dust Bunny, Eclipse, Immortal
5th row (Eye Candy-Silk Luster): Thunderstruck, Understated, Wonderland
6th row (So Cheeky-Shimmer): Tart

Definitely go check out this company. Let me know if you have tried any of their products and what your favorites are!

FTC Disclaimer: These products were sent to me by the company for review consideration. This is my 100% honest opinion and I am not being paid to review these products.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! So sorry I have been MIA lately. I have been crazy busy with work and life, but I promise I will have some more things up soon! I just wanted to check in to say Happy Valentine's Day! What are your plans for VDay? Are you going out and having fun with the girls, or having a night with a special someone? Me? I am having a homecooked meal (cooked with love by my boyfriend). We went to the outlets the other day and he got me my VDay present. This is something I saw and I really wanted, but I decided we couldn't afford to get it, so he surprised me with it later. He couldn't even wait until today to give it to me!

Yesterday night I also came home and there was a box contianing a dozen roses on our doorstep! I am so lucky to have this amazing man in my life.

Comment below and let me know what your Vday plans are :D

MAC Coconut Ice

2010-01-31T19:07:00.000-08:00

Hi all! If you are anything like me, the thought of Spring and Summer fast approaching makes you all giddy inside because of all the amazing colors that will be realeased in makeup and clothing collections!

One of these collections was released this winter to prepare us for Spring. This collection is the MAC in Lillyland collection (Lilly Pulitzer). This collection had many different items that were all inspired by Lilly Pulitzer's preppy and bright designs. We saw a lot of bright pinks, corals, oranges, ect..

One of my favorites from this collection had to be the nail polish in Coconut Ice. This is a beautiful coral/pinky color. This is the perfect color to bring us into Spring. The swatch on the left is two coats of this gorgeous color! In real life, this color has more of a brighter coral finish than is showing in the swatch.

Did you haul anything from the MAC in Lillyland collection?

If You Were Stranded on a Desert Island....

2010-01-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

what 5 makeup/beauty items would you bring? I was looking through my ever growing makeup stash today and my boyfriend posed this question. What in the world would you do if you were stranded on a desert island. You woudn't have access to all of this makeup, so what 5 items would you bring? Usually anything he says relating to my makeup stash goes in one ear and out the other (ie..you have way too much makeup, think of what else we would have bought with that money, ect) but this comment got me thinking. What 5 items would I bring? I think the point of that question was to make me see that I only needed those 5 items, but clearly if that was intent he was way off!

To see what I think, click here to watch my YouTube video on this topic :D

So, let me know...what 5 items would you bring?

Its...Giveaway Time!

2010-01-24T12:49:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, I just wanted to announce that Skin MD Natural is holding a giveaway. If you are new to my blog or have not read past posts you can click here to read my review on the Skin MD Natural shielding lotion or click here to watch my YouTube review of the Skin MD natural sielding lotion. To sum both reviews up, I think that this is a wonderful product that everyone should have in their skincare arsenal! The amazing people at Skin MD Natural are hosting a massive Valentine's Day giveaway. All you have to do is click here to go to the giveaway entry and supply them with your name and email.

The prizes are as follows:

A Bottle Skin MD Natural shielding lotion
A Bottle Skin MD Natural + SPF 15 shielding lotion
One pound of See's dark assorted chocolates
12 Starbucks VIA Ready brew coffee pouches
A "Kiss Me" mug
A Cuddly teddy bear
Lollipop Bouquet
All in a lined wicker basket

This giveaway closes on February 7, 2010. This is the cutest giveaway and perfectly themed and timed for Valentine's Day...and it takes less than a minute to enter. Thanks guys, and let me know if any of you win :D

Great skin starts with...

2010-01-20T17:41:00.000-08:00

a great moisturizer! A company called Skin MD Natural has made a product called a shielding lotion. This is not your typical moisturizer!

Details: A new innovation in the world of Skincare. This is a three in one moisturizer-a face, hand, and body lotion. The packaging on this product is quite simple, but that's ok because you are not purchasing this for the packaging!

Where to buy: This can be purchased at the Skin MD Natural website or at locations that can be found using the store locater on the website!

How to use it: Use this as your daily moisturizer all over your body, face, and hands.

How it works: This moisturizers shields your skin from everyday irritants such as soap, cleansers, and chemicals. These are things that we all come in contact with everyday. This lotion also forms a protective layer on your skin to help your skin to retain its natural moisture. You apply the tiniest bit to you skin and rub it in just like a typical moisturizer. This lotion is a gel like consistency that is fairly thin, but don't let that fool you. This little lotion packs quite a punch of moisture!

My thoughts: I think that this is a great lotion. This has improved the look and feel of my skin. I was a bit skeptical using this on my combination oily face, but it gave moisture to the dry areas on my face, didn't add extra oil to the oily parts of my face, and didn't clog my pores! I have also used this on my cuticles and on my dry cracked feet. Is this a miracle product? No. But, I have definitely seen a big difference in the way that my skin looks and feels.

Overall rating: A-
I would give it an A+, but this one does not have an SPF in it. They do make a lotion with an SPF of 15 in it.

To see more about how I feel about this product, check out my review on YouTube

To learn more about this product visit the Skin MD Natural Website

FTC Disclosure: This product was sent to me by the company for review consideration. As always, this is my honest opinion and I am not being paid to review this product.

New Product Alert: Urban Decay's New Primer Potion!

2010-01-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

So, it seems that the Urban Decay Primer Potion has somewhat of a cult following. I must admit that I am among that cult! Last year Urban Decay released a new one called Sin, which was a shimmery champagne color. I am in love with the original primer potion, but to be honest the Sin primer potion was just ok for me.

But, Urban Decay has recently released a new one called Eden! This is marketed as a "tawny matte color" and product that you can wear alone for a "no makeup look" or to enhance eye shadow colors that you are wearing. I love the concept that they now have a matte neutral colored primer potion! This is what I have been hoping for! I think that this would be the perfect product for a day when I am running late and really only have time for eyeliner, because this can be like my priming and neutral shadow color in one step! I am definitely a fan of anything that can help me get out the door faster in the morning.

As you can see, this primer potion is still packaged in the traditional "genie" type bottle. The applicator is the bent doe foot applicator. I am not sure if this truly helps to get more of the product out, as I have not cut open my bottle with the bent doe foot. If anyone knows, please let me know!

This primer potion has a different feel to the bottle. Instead of the original plastic type bottle, this bottle has a suede like feel to it. ( I am guessing similar to NARS product packaging)

As of right now this is only available at Sephora stores and at Sephora.com as a Beauty Insider exclusive. It is $18 and as of now, it only comes in one size.

My verdict on this: I am headed out to Sephora to purchase this as soon as I am done with this post! I am so excited that they made a matte primer potion :)

Will you be purchasing the newest addition to Urban Decay's primer potion family?

MY FTC Disclosure

2010-01-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, the FTC created a new regulation regarding the disclosure of where products come from. This regulation basically states that if a blogger or a YouTuber receives a product for free, is sponsored by the company, or is receiving monetary compensation for a review then they must disclose this to their readers/viewers.

My blog and Youtube channel are both ways for me to share my love of everything beauty and makeup related. This new regulation doesn't really change much for me. I am still a girl who loves anything and everything related to beauty and wants to share that with anyone who cares to read about it/listen to it.

I am making a promise to all of you that I will always provide an honest review whether I received it for free or not. I think that sometimes receiving a product from a company is nice for everyone because I get to try a product that I may not have considered trying before and I get to share that product with you.

After having said this, all of my reviews come from my personal experience with the product and are my own opinions. Sometimes people have different opinions and experiences with a product and the opinions written about here are all my own.

Thank you to everyone who has been following my blog and commenting. I really do appreciate each and every one of you :D

Yearly Standouts: 2009 Favorites

2010-01-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

This is my list of my favorite products of 2009. To see the actual products and hear more about them, check out my YouTube video!

When deciding which products to use as my 2009 favorites I really thought about which products I used on a regular basis, whether that be daily or weekly. Here is the list of products that I chose and links to where you can purchase them.

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Sephora stores, Sephora online, Urban Decay online)
Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer in Noir (Drugstores)
MAC Eyeshadow in Ricepaper (MAC stores, MAC counters, MAC website)
Coastal Scents 88 Color Matte Eyeshadow Palette (Coastal Scents Website)

Lips:

Softlips in Vanilla (Drugstores)
Revlon Colorstay Clear Lipliner (Drugstores)
MAC lipglass in Viva Glam V (MAC stores, MAC counters, MAC website)

Face:

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder (Drugstores)
Bare Minerals Summer Bisque (Sephora Stores, Sephora online, Bare Escentuals stores, Bare Escentuals website)
CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in Plumberry Glow (Drugstores)

Brushes:

Coastal Scents Pink Kabuki (Coastal Scents website)
Coastal Scents Deluxe Buffer Brush (Coastal Scents website)
Bare Escentuals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush (Sephora Stores, Sephora online, Bare Escentuals Stores, Bare Escentuals website)
ELF (Eyes Lips Face) Eyeshadow Brush (ELF website)

Skincare:

CVS Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes (CVS Stores)
Clean and Clear Persa Gel-10 (Drugstores)
Oil of Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 (Drugstores)

Miscellaneous:

Bath and Body Works Antibacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Gel-PocketBac (Bath and Body Works Stores, Bath and Body Works website)
Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal (Drugstores)

I hope you all enjoyed this post! What were some of your favorites in 2009? Comment below and let me know :D

A Twist on the Traditional French Manicure

2010-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

I love the look of a classic french manicure, but I was looking through my nail polish stash the other day and I decided to do a french manicure with a twist! Here is the final result:Keep reading if you want to see what products I used and the steps I took to achieve this look. Keep in mind you can use any brand of polish that is the same color, I am just showing you the particular products I used.

First, I applied a base coat to my nails. This gives the nail polish something to grab onto as well as prevents your nails from getting stained. I used the China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (Sally's Beauty Supply):

Next I applied grey nail polish to the tips of my nails. Try to make the line as straight as you can, but if it's a little uneven that's ok, because we can cover it up with the silver later! I used MAC nail polish in On the Prowl (MAC):
Then paint over your entire nail (including the grey) using a very sheer pink color. I used the Rimmel nailpolish in french manicure (Drugstores):
Next, I used a silver nailpolish with a fine tip brush applicator. I painted a line where the grey polish and the sheer pink color meet. Here I covered up any mistakes I made with the grey by thickening the silver stripe. I used So Easy Stripe Rite (Sally's Beauty Supply):
Last, I used a top coat to seal in the nail look! I used Beauty Secrets fast drying top coat (Sally's Beauty Supply):

This technique is fun because you can use any color combination. You can do pink tips with silver, black tips with gold, aanything you can think of you can do with this nail look!

I hope you enjoyed this. Comment below and let me know what color combination you used :D

Matte nails are a new trend!

2009-12-28T20:18:00.001-08:00

It seems as if anything matte is becoming popular (ex: matte lipstick) and nail polish is no exception! China Glaze is one of the brands that now has a Flat Finish top coat. Their top coat is called Matte magic.

Details: This little bottle of milky clear (contradictory, I know) colored nail polish is a top coat that magically turns any nail polish that you apply into a matte color.

Where to Buy: I purchased mine at Sally's Beauty Supply. I originally purchased this for $5.99, but recently saw it on sale there for $2.99! This bottle is slightly smaller than regular China Glaze nail polishes. This top coat is .325 oz. I am sure you could also purchase this anywhere that China Glaze nail polishes are sold.

How to use it: You apply your colored nail polish as you usually would. Then, you let the nail color dry for the normal amount of time. Instead of using your regular top coat, you apply this to your nails

How it works: As the topcoat dries you will watch your nail color turn into a matte color. As you can see in the picture, the left nail has a regular top coat, and the right nail has the China Glaze Matte Magic. (Excuse the messy polish job)

My thoughts: I think this is a must for any nail polish lover. By owning this topcoat, you instantly double your nail polish collection!

Overall rating: A+
Note: I have not tried any other matte top coats, so I can't compare this to others.

If you're looking for a new face mask, try......

2009-12-28T19:58:00.001-08:00

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque!

Details: An old school green face mask that claims to "dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads, and shrink enlarged pores."

Where to buy: I purchased mine at Walgreens for Buy one get one free at $2.99. So essentially, I got each face mask for $1.50 plus tax. The size I got was 8oz. You really can't beat that price!

How to use it: After you wash your face, when it is still wet, you apply a layer of this all over you face and neck. You wait about 15 minutes. You will notice that the mask has started to turn a light green or white color. When the mask is all light green/white, you rinse it off with warm water and a washcloth. I just use warm water and my hands.

How it works: This mask draws out all the dirt and gunk from your skin as it dries.

My thoughts: I think that this is an amazing mask, and not just for the price! I have found that it does help with pimples and blackheads. I haven't seen a whole lot of difference in the size of my pores, but then again I don't really check the size of my pores all that often! This mask really does make me feel like I am getting a spa quality facial right in my own home. My face feels nice and refreshed after I use this mask... I am chalking that up to the mint :)

Just a note: It does come out like a very thick green clay so you do have to squeeze the tube quite hard!

Overall rating: A-
I would give it an A+, but I find that when you get down to the end of the tube you really have to squeeze the tube hard to get out all of the product.

20 Questions tag

2009-12-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here are my answers to the 20 questions tag!

1.Thing you cannot leave the house without
My key chain, my cellphone, purse, and Softlips (which is usually in my purse so I am covered)!

2.Favorite brand of makeup
I do not have one favorite brand of makeup. I think that any collection should have something from this brand and something from that brand. I personally have a mix of drugstore and high end and they each have a place in my collection.

3.Favorite Flowers
I love Gerber daisies as well as orchids. I also love getting roses (but only occasionally). I love the smell of fresh flowers in the house.

4.Fav clothing stores
I shop at lots of different clothing stores, but some of my favorites are American Eagle, Charlotte Russe, H&M, Forever 21, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, just to name a few ;)

5.Fav perfume
This seems to change depending on my mood. My current fave is Little Sexy Things by Victoria's Secret. Some others I love are Juicy Couture and Burberry Brit. for body splashes I love Country Apple and Twilight Woods from Bath and Body Works.

6.Heels or flats
Both at different times. When I go out at night I like wearing heels because I am only 5 feet. I am a teacher so usually I like wearing flats to work as I am on my feet all day.

7.Do you make good grades?
I am done with both high school and college, but I did make good grades. Studying was very important to me.

8.Fav colors
Depends on what this is referring to...in terms of eye makeup colors I am loving neutral colors at the moment. As for favorite all time color, I am a pink girl! But, I also love green and blue :)

9.Do you drink energy drinks?
Not on a regular basis. But, I will sometimes drink 5 hour energy.

10.Do you drink juice?
Yes! I love juice, especially apple and orange. I also love a nice cold glass of cranberry juice at times.

11.Do you like swimming?
I love swimming.....in lakes, the Gulf, oceans, the pool! I love anything and everything involving the water as well. I love sailing and used to do it a lot.

12.Do you eat fries with a fork?
No, I do not. But, if I have a fries and a packet of ketchup I will squeeze the ketchup on each fry individually.

13.Whats your fav moisturizer?
I am loving Olay total effects right now!

14.Do you want to get married later on in life?
Of course I do. But at the moment I am very happy with my relationship as is.

15.Do you get mad easily?
Not necessarily easily, but if it is over something serious then it takes a while to gain back my trust.

16.Are you into ghost hunting?
No, I am not. I think the concept is interesting, but not into ghost hunting. I am spooked very easily.

17.Any phobias?
None that I can think of.

18.Do you bite your nails?
No, sometimes I pick at them but I really try not to because it makes my fingernails look horrific!

19.Have you ever had a near death experience?
None to date.

20.Do you drink coffee?
Yes, yes, and yes. I know it is bad for my teeth, but I just love it! I usually drink 1-2 cups daily.

Favorite brushes!

2009-12-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone had a great weekend! This post is going to be about a few of my favorite brushes! Here are the pictures of my favorite brushes and what I like about each one. Further down is the list of how much these brushes cost and where you can purchase them!

This first brush is the E.L.F eyeshadow brush. This is a wonderful brush and it is not just a good brush for the amazing cost ($1). I find myself reaching for this brush as an all over lid color brush every single time! That is because this brush packs on color very well and it is a very sturdy brush.

The next brush is my Coastal Scents pink kabuki brush. Yes, I will admit that part of the reason I initially purchased and now love this brush is because it is pink, but that alone does not qualify it to be in my favorites! At first, I thought this brush would be good for mineral foundation. I used it for that for a few days and I was disappointed, but then I had another idea. I tried using this brush with my setting powder and lo and behold this works amazingly for that :) Oh, and did I mention that this brush is wonderfully soft?

This next brush is my flat top deluxe buffer brush from Coastal Scents. This is my HG brush for mineral foundation. This helps your minerals to give a nice even coverage! And I like the fact that the handle is a bit shorter than some similar brushes as I feel that if gives me more control.

The next brush is my Coastal Scents chisel mini detail brush. Let me just warn you that this brush is a lot smaller than it looks on their website, but I have found a perfect use for this! This brush is amazing for applying shadow to you inner tear duct and inner corner of your eye!

The next brush is my Coastal Scents Italian Badger round crease brush. I have found that this brush is very nice for applying shadow in the crease. It keeps its shape, but is also nice for blending.

And the last brush on my favortites list is my MAC 219 pencil brush. This is a wonderful brush for defining the outer v. I like this brush because the bristles are stiff and hold their shape even while applying shadow with a heavy hand.

E.L.F Eyeshadow brush ($1 at eyeslipsface.com)
Coastal Scents Pink kabuki ($4.99 at coastal scents.com)
Coastal Scents Deluxe buffer brush ($7.95 at coastalscents.com)
Coastal Scents Chisel detail mini brush ($1.99 at coastalscents.com)
Coastal Scents Italian Badger round crease brush ($2.89 at coastalscents.com)
MAC 219 Pencil brush ($23 online or at MAC stores/counters)

A quick note: Your brushes will only be as good to you as you are to them. So, please make sure that you spot clean your brushes often and deep clean them! I can't tell you how often you should do either of these things as it all depends on how often you use your brushes. I spot clean mine every time I use them and I deep clean them every week.

What are some of your favorite brushes? Are any of your favorites the same as mine? Comment below and let me know :)

(Note: I am not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the companies mentioned in this video, nor are they paying me to write this review. All of the products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.)

First real YT vid!

2009-12-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to let you all know that I have uploaded my first YT video. It is all about beauty related stocking stuffers. Please go check it out on my channel and let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/user/BornDance

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Sephora inspired brush holder!

2009-12-19T13:55:00.001-08:00

This post is going to be about the Sephora inspired brush holder that I feel like everyone has! Well, I made my own and here is the result! This has been "coined" the Sephora inspired brush holder because this is the way that Sephora displays their brushes that they sell in the store. For a wonderful tutorial on how to make this brush holder check out EnKore Makeup on YT!

The purpose of this brush holder is to be able to not only have easy access to your brushes, but to have something that looks nice on your vanity.

First, the materials and where you can purchase them:

The container- the container is a white ceramic container that I purchased at Michael's for about $5.
The clear beads - these come from Michael's. They can be found in the floral section. They are little clear beads called ColorFill and they are about $5.
The red and green beads- As you may be able to tell I love red and green things. I wanted to add something other than clear beads. So low and behold I found something in my bf's closet that worked perfectly. He had a whole container of the little things called Airsoft pellets. Basically they are little clear plastic beads that you can use to shoot people with, but they work even better for this in my opinion! To his dismay I could take "anything and use it for beauty stuff" But, the airsoft pellets come in lots of pretty colors such as red green, white, orange. You can purchase these at walmart!
The brushes- the brushes you can find in your own makeup collection!

To see more about the brush holder you can view this video on my YT channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWO1AyTTNw0

This brush holder allows the brushes to stand straight up and they become easy to access and very easy to store.
Let me know how you organize your brushes by commenthing below!

Suggestions, comments, requests, ect...

2009-12-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a minute and write a post to let you know that I am open to any and all suggestions, comments, advice, and requests. I write this blog because I love makeup and want to share my love with everyone else! If you have any suggestions or advice on how I can improve my blog please let me know. Comments on my blog would be appreciated as well. And last, but certainly not least if you have any requests for product reviews or requests for a fun blog post, please let me know and I will add it to my list. This blog is new to me and it will probably start out slow, but I would love to have an arsenal of ideas to pull from!

Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day :D

Yankee Candle now makes........

2009-12-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

lipbalm! No, don't run to get your eyes checked because you read right! Yankee Candle has decided to make a product to appeal to makeup lovers out there! They now make flavored lipbalms that look like very miniature versions of their famous candles. Seems like such an odd product for a candle company to make, but if you ask me this is a very successful product.

I own this lipbalm in vanilla lime. First let's talk about packaging. Each lipbalm has .14oz of product. These have some of the cutest packaging I have ever seen in a lipbalm. They are a miniature version of their candle. The "top" of the jar is also the "top" of the lipbalm. You pull the entire top of the lipbalm off to access the product. The "base" of the jar is where you twist the lipbalm up. They are also such a great conversation starter. Imagine being at the office, at the mall, or walking down the street and pulling out something that looks like a mini candle and applying it to your lips. That will certainly start some sort of conversation!

The lipbalm comes in seven different flavors. The flavors are as follows:

Black cherry
Buttercream
Christmas cookie
Juicy watermelon
Sweet strawberry
Vanilla cupcake
Vanilla lime

Next, let's talk about ease of application. These lipbalms apply very smooth. One thing to note is that these lipbalms are slightly more "chunky" in size than a regular size lipbalm (such as a Blistex or a Chapstick). I find that it only takes one swipe to cover your whole lip. The lipbalm in vanilla lime tastes exactly like I imagined that scent would taste (Weird I know...who who think of tasting a candle?)

And of course, let's talk about the one thing everyone wants to know. Are these lipbalms good for your lips? Yes, yes, and yes! These days, I will not purchase a lipbalm without SPF in it. These lipbalms have an SPF of 15! They are made with lots of ingredients that have been proven to help moisturize lips such as extra virgin olive oil, vitamin E, beeswax, and rosemary.

So run to your nearest Yankee Candle store or their online website and pick a few of these up. They would make wonderful stocking stuffers!

Have you tried this lipbalm? Comment below as I would love to know what you think!

(Note: I am not affiliated with or sponsored by Yankee Candle, nor are they paying me to write this review. The products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.)

Coastal Scents 88 matte palette

2009-12-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
This post is going to be about the 88 matte palette from Coastal Scents.
Note: I added the "bling" to mine. I just had some self sticking gems that I put on the front.
I thought with the holidays quickly approaching I should do a post about this palette as it would make a great gift for anyone on your list whether it be a teenager who is beginning to get into makeup, your best friend who loves makeup and has everything makeup related (except for this), or your cousin who is a professional makeup artist. If there is someone on your list who prefers shimmery colors or prefers more neutral colors you are in luck because Coastal Scents has 3 different 88 color palettes. They have a shimmer, a matte, and a warm. The 88 color palettes range from $18-$25 depending on which one you get.

This palette has a great variety of colors, 88 to be exact (duh!). The pigmentation on these shadows is fantastic. These colors can stand up to any high end brand in my opinion. (As with all eyeshadows make sure you use an eyeshadow base!)

The colors in this palette are about the size of a dime. One thing I love about this palette is even though it looks like there isn't much color or that it won't last very long, they last for a very long time. I have been on a neutral eye kick for the past month and a half and I have barely made a dent in the color that I use all over the lid. The other thing I love about this palette is that not all of the colors are actually matte. Some have just the slightest sheen (definitely NOT a shimmer) to them.

Go to the Coastal Scents website and pick up one or all of these palettes either for yourself or as a gift. These are an amazing deal and they are very affordable!

For more about the 88 Original (Matte) palette check out the video on my YT channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M66XxG-e_U

(Note: I am not affiliated with or sponsored by Coastal Scents, nor are they paying me to write this review. The products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.)

Makeup remover...why I use two!

2009-12-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

This post is going to be an explanation of the two makeup removers that I use. I own and love two makeup removers for different reasons. The two makeup removers I use are:

Rimmel Gentle eye makeup remover

AND

Neutrogena oil free eye makeup remover

The big question everyone is asking: well why use two makeup removers?

First, I'll tell you what these both claim. Both removers claim to be oil free, safe for contact lens wearers and people with sensitive eyes, will remove even waterproof mascara and eyeliner, and will not leave an oily residue.

Both removers are oil free. As to the second claim about being safe for contact lens wearers and people with sensitive eyes I neither wear contacts nor have sensitive eyes so I can not attest to that. I find that the next claim about removing waterproof mascara is only applicable to the Neutrogena. I find that it take many swipes and a lot of tugging for the Rimmel to remove waterproof mascara and eyeliner. And as for the last claim saying that they will not leave an oily residue, I feel that only applies to the Rimmel as I feel that the Neutrogena leaves an oily film.

Now, on to the reason why I use two. A lot of times if I am in a rush in the morning, I will skip mascara and eyeliner alltogether and just use a dark shadow as my liner. Now, many beauty experts out there will have my head for saying this next part, but sometimes I come home after a long day/night and I don't want to wash my face *gasp*. So, on those nights I will use Rimmel's eye makeup remover becuase it removes all of my eye primer and eyeshadow and does not leave an oily residue. Then I will follow that with a Pond's makeup remover towelette and then I am ready for bed. If I use the neutrogena remover I have to wash my face after because, at least for me, it leaves an oily residue.

Now, I always wash my face in the morning and I want to stress how important it is to remove all of your makeup before going to bed. (Note: if you don't....hello clogged pores!) Washing your face thoroughly is the best way, but in a pinch eye makeup remover and a makeup towelette will work just fine.

Both of these can be found at your local drugstore and depending on where you get them they are about the same price. Keep in mind that most drugstores run promotions on both of these makeup brands quite often!

I hope this was helpful for those of you looking to try a new makeup remover.

(Note: I am not affiliated with or sponsored by any companies mentioned in this post, nor are they paying me to write this review. The products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.)

Introduction for new blog!

2009-12-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself and my brand new blog. I am in my mid 20's and I love makeup. I am by no means an expert or makeup guru of any kind, although I love watching them on YT! I am just a girl who loves makeup and beauty products. YT is where I have learned a lot about makeup. I decided to start this blog to talk about beauty related things and to share information with you. This blog will probably start out slow as I am a full time teacher and that really does take up most of my time. I will try to keep this blog updated and please leave a comment and let me know if you have any ideas for fun blog posts! Thanks for taking time to stop by and keep checking for new posts :)