Neutrogena Wave Duo

I've been meaning to do a review on this for months, especially after seeing a youtuber rant about it. And now, e.motion in: motion has done a review (click here) and although, I don't wanna seem like a copycat I have a totally different review than her. I know, right - chaotic mess of disagreeing reviews, how does one decide ;)

So I bought mine after watching commercial after commercial of this face cleanser vibrator & on a trip to Target I discovered that not only was the Wave Duo on sale but so were the replacement pads! So I purchased it and have been using it about 3x a week ever since :)

I have to say that I like it. I knew it was not going to do wonders for my skin (come on, it's from a drugstore and it's no Clarisonic for heaven's sake) but I use to use just a makeup removing towelette and then move onto my Proactiv set & when using a toner I would notice makeup residue on the pad. Leading me to believe that maybe using a makeup removing towelette was not getting off all my makeup and therefore, Proactiv was not able to do it's job.

Now, I notice far less (if ANY) makeup residue after using my the Wave after the makeup removing towelette and before applying Proactiv. I don't use it everyday because I find that it could be a little too harsh on skin (rub it in circular motions on face for 60 seconds).

To use I simply wet my face, apply the pad to the Wave and wet the Wave. Then I start rubbing on my face and splash some water on my face to get the foam going. I get LOTS OF FOAM from doing this. It even gets in my hair, lol.

It leaves my face SOOO SOFT & not a bit dried out. I tend to use it at night but I've used it in the shower too.

There are several different kinds of pads that you can get. I have tried the original (my favorite) and the shine free ones that are suppose to reduce oil - the only reason why these aren't my favorite is because the texture is a bit rough and definitely wouldn't recommend for everyday use.

Overall, it's much cheaper option than the Clarisonic and I'm satisfied at around $15 full price (you can find them on sale often).

Gotta Show Some Love ...

I am still relatively new to the makeup world. I really got my hands dirty with makeup in spring of 2008 when a friend started working at Estee Lauder's makeup counter @ my Macy's. From there I was led to Lancome, next Bare Escentuals, Sephora.com, etc.

A makeup Guru, I am not (maybe someday) but I do know a thing or two about some of my favorite products. These products that I am going to share for you are my sorta "Holy Grails" if you will. Though @ times I get caught up in all the new sensations in the makeup world and overlook my "go to" products.

First off is Avon's Satin Gel Eyeliner in Black Pearl (black with itty bitty flecks of gold).

***** 5 stars better than any other eyeliner!!!

Avon describes it as "Avon's darkest, richest, most intense eye liner. Soft gel color glides on easily for long-wearing definition." I would have to agree :)

I am NOT AN EYELINER FAN, especially pencils. I just find that they are too harsh for everyday wear. I line my eyes in shadow instead for a softer look. But when I use Avon's Satin Gel Eyeliner I can make it dramatic or soft and this stuff does not budge. I have used Smashbox's Jet Set Eyeliner and although it does the job I like the texture of Avon's better, sometimes Smashbox's tends to flake a tiny bit.

The size of Avon's pot is comparable to Smashbox's but it's a fraction of the price. Avon sells a bent brush to apply with their eyeliner and I find this works amazingly well! Sometimes you can even get the brush included with the eyeliner depending on the promotion.

Avon's Satin Gel Eyeliner offered in Black Pearl, Black/Brown Pearl, & Brown Pearl $7

Avon's Bent Eyeliner Brush $1.99

Next, is Laura Geller's Balance N Brighten

***** 5 stars

Fell in love with Laura Geller when I was watching QVC one night. Granted, I haven't met her and she was on tv trying to sell her products but this woman seems so remarkably GENUINE! I can't even describe. I have a lot of her products and I still continue to watch her whenever I see she is on QVC, even though I probably have the products she is talking about!

Her Balance N Brighten is what launched her line I believe and it's a baked foundation. It is swirls of pigments that are created to match almost any skintone. It is for light to medium coverage and evens out skintone effortlessly. I also recommend using the Baked Powder Brush - it's my favorite to use with Balance N Brighten and works best!

If interested I would highly recommend purchasing the Baked Powder 6 piece Indulgence Set off QVC (I have 2 sets) where you can try:

• Balance N Brighten foundation

• Bronze N Brighten powder

• Ethereal Rose Baked all-over face powder

• Baked Marble eye shadow duo in amethyst/lagoon

3 Pound Haul :)

So, I know that in my last post I said, I am going to save money. No more buying makeup until I have hit pan AND finished a product :( Sad but I waste too much money and this isn't helping me achieve my goal (apartment with the boy).

BUT I did however, take advantage of Cherry Culture's 20% off code and purchase my first NYX products - always heard GREAT THINGS! I went a lil' overboard - just went to check to see where my package is at and it mentioned that it's 3 POUNDS!!! WOW, I knew I ordered a lot but WHOA! So excited to say the least, talk about going out with a BOOM ;)

I also ordered (probably my last) Laura Geller products through QVC (I just get so pissed with their OUTRAGEOUS shipping and taxes charge on EACH ITEM). I need to rave about those products too b/c 2 of the items are repeat purchase.

Anywho, very excited for the end of the week when my package/packages (I also had the highest bid on ebay though I will rave about that after I get it) are going to be sitting by my door just waiting for my lil' hands to rip it open - early Christmas!!!

Spending Habits

I'm completely copying smiley13tree @themakeupobsessed in her quest to use up products before getting new ones. I have a lot of unused/half used makeup piling up in my bathroom cupboards ... plus, my checking account could be a lil' fuller ;)

Smiley13tree had such a good idea to make a list of things that needed to be used up, along with each product's retail value. Then next time I decide to place an order or walk into Sephora I know how much money I can spend (based on how many prodcuts I have used and their total retail value).

Seems simple enough, now I just have to stick to it!

So far, nada thing is used up and I have a feeling it's gonna be a LONG TIME :( No shopping for me for quite a while ...

Fall Favorites

Instead of doing a September, October, November favorites blog I'm doing a Fall Favorites post. Pretty smart, huh?! I would love to say I planned this out but I just never got around to doing the past months' favorites and my favorite products just all blend together as to when I started using/loving them.

*** I do not have pics up and I know that's a major perk to have pics up, especially when they are your own personal pics but I have linked every product (which actually took more time than I originally thought)

Face:

• Moisturizer - Jergen's Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer been using this since April & it does not add oil to my already oily face nor does it make me breakout
• Primer - Stila's Hydrating Primer SPF 15 & Laura Geller's Spackle Under-Makeup Primer been using LG longer, it has a "wet/moisturizing" feel while Stila is still new to me and the product feels thicker
• Foundation - Stila's Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation & Stila's Illuminating Liquid Foundation still a lover of LG's Balance n Brighten, I'm loving Stila's liquid foundations to add some moisture to my skin during the winter months P.S. LOVE using my Sigma SS190
• Powder - Stila's Sheer Pressed Powder AMAZING, put on after foundation and my skin stays matte and very lil' oil
• Blush - Benefit Dallas, Physican's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush & Highlighter in Rosy Glow Dallas is a bronzer/blush without the shimmer, very warm look. Physican's Formula was hard to use at first but sooo many colors you can use
• Luminizer - Benefit High Beam Never tried anything like this, it really brings out cheekbones

Eyes:

• Primer - Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Shadow - this varies as I pull out forgotten palettes and try new shadows sorry I'm not more specific but it's been a lot of natural colors because of work
• Liner - I do NOT LIKE pencil eyeliner & most generally use shadow to line use darker shades from eyeshadow palettes
• Mascara - Maybelline Lash Stiletto & CoverGirl Lashblast Volume Lash Stiletto makes my lashes exremely long, classy, and sophisticated (if lashes can look like that!) & Lashblast Volume adds not only volume but also makes them long

Lips:

• Lipstick - Estee Lauder Pure Color Lasting Lipstick in Pinkberry "go to" lip color, nude/pink & I LOVE the SCENT of Estee Lauder lip products
• Gloss - Benefit I'm with the Band a warm, shimmery pink

Sets:

• Benefit Celebutante Set
• Stila's Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe
• Sephora's Blockbuster Palette 2009
• Benefit Glitz Glam & Gloss Set
• Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection this works so well for work, can only wear natural eye

Listing on Ebay

Over this nice holiday break coming up I will be taking the time to mess around with Ebay. I have been and bidder on Ebay for years but only recently have I put serious thought into becoming a seller.

I have no clue what I am getting myself into - anyone on here a seller on Ebay??? Any advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED :)

Things I will be selling:

• Dooney & Bourke handbags and accessories from the IT collection
• Victoria's Secret Pink Boyfriend sweats
• Victoria's Secret Pink hoodie

If anyone is interested, let me know and I will keep you posted on when I list and the links :)

Anyone who would like to throw some tips my way about selling on Ebay I would love forever!

Thankful for an Amazing Man

He would probably kill me if he knew I put this on here ... but too bad ;)

This is my Mr. & I'm so happy to have him in my life. We definitely compliment each other and keep one another in check! I know this isn't the best pic of him but that's just the thing - he hates taking pics.

The look on my face in this particular picture is priceless and captures how he makes me feel :)

On our way to a wedding reception ---

Whoa! Talk about Bang for Your Buck :)

Review: Stila Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe - Medium

I give this somewhere between 4 & 5 stars. The only reason why I hesitate to put 5 stars is because I didn't like the two tinted moisturizers in this set BUT to be fair, I have NEVER LIKED TINTED MOISTURIZERS. So given that I knew I probably wouldn't like the tinted moisturizers, I still purchased the set and am overwhelmingly happy with everything else included :)

I'm modeling this review from the review I left on Sephora.com



First off, when I went to Sephora on the way home from a trip to Branson, Missouri I somehow ignored this foundation set. I gave it a look over and honestly saw that it had liquid foundation and thought "Hell, no!" Never been a fan of liquid but this set has won me over!



I am absolutely IN LOVE with this sampler set! I was looking for other options for coverage besides powders - lover of Laura Geller's Balance and Brighten but I wanted to try a liquid formula for the winter. Oily during the summer months, my skin turns dry in the winter months and liquid coverage just sounds like it would be more appealing due to the change in weather.



These are very GENEROUS SAMPLE SIZES. I have yet to use one up!



My favorites are the Natural Finish Oil Free foundation and the Illuminating foundation. I have yet to "run low" and have used both SEVERAL TIMES. The coverage of both are simply amazing - "like butta" but in a good way, just blends effortlessly :) I have been using my Sigma liquid foundation brush for application.



Natural Finish Oil Free gives a matte look and probably the one I will repurchase fullsized. I find that the Illuminating foundation is just as good but it leaves a dewy glow - which I like, but I tend to pat on Stila Sheer Powder after foundation application to "set" my makeup and prevent premature shininess ;) Sooo, to get to my point - the Illuminating finish is gone after I have applied powder on top and looks the same as the Natural Finish Oil Free foundation.



The blush is even bigger than what I would consider a DELUXE SAMPLE and it's easy to apply and blend! Oh, and although I was a bit skeptical, I tried it on my lips - I like it! Not moisturizing (it doesn't claim to be) but I apply a clear gloss and it's beautiful!



In love with the primer too! Will buy full size soon! It's white, which I haven't experienced before but I like it! Just a pea size is all you need :)



As far as the tinted moisturizers go, I am not a fan but I don't hate them either. I just like to have more coverage when I put something on my face. I will use it when I'm being lazy or on weekends though. It's good quality.



All the products have SURPASSED ANY EXPECTATIONS I HAD (we will just leave the tinted moisturizers outta this).



I have even contemplated getting another one or 2 sets!!! But I figured that I had better sit down and decide on one or the other and just buy full size because I know I can't go wrong! Very happy I decided to try this!

*** Forgot to add, it says it's $40 value and it's only $18

Sooo Bummed & Any Swappers?!

So just read on my dashboard that TiffanyD will be having another blog sale tomorrow (click here) - but I will be just getting off work :( Looks like I'm missing another one.

I'm gonna just throw this out there --- If anyone has a MAC mineralized blush in Love Rock and is interested in selling or swapping please let me know. I'm on the hunt for one, checked MakeUpAlley but not too sure about it.

What Color, What Texture ... It's gotta be Kat Von D!

Ahh, I'm sooo excited to talk about Kat Von D's Eyeshadow Palettes. I only wish I would have swatched these babies for you :( I will add swatches later!

I fell in love with Kat way back before she teamed up with Sephora to start her own makeup line. My mom and I watch her on TLC's LA Ink and Miami Ink (before she had her own tattoo parlor). Her taste and style is admirable and eye-catching. Something if I only had the balls to attempt I would. Her tattoos are so detailed ... and her eyeshadows???

Just as amazing!!! Like her sense of style, her shadows appear to be just as in your face and out there. I thought the picture I took of the shadows captured the pigmentation and texture rather well but when I look at the picture below I feel they are represented true to person but perhaps a lil' washed out.

I was hesitant to try out her shadows because even Urban Decay can be a bit overwhelming for me at times but I "earned" enough points @ Sephora through the Beauty Insider Perks to cash in for Kat Von D's Rock N Roll Eyeshadow Palette and thought, "why not?" Let me say, that if you have the Rock N Roll palette or have heard reviews on it - the palettes from Kat's line are completely different in a good way!

The Rock N Roll palette consists of only 4 yet generous pans of color. 2 pearly ones & 2 with shimmer. The texture is a bit silky but nothing to go crazy about. I have worn it for a day and wasn't super impressed but wasn't really bummed either. Was it worth my hard spent cash, er "points"??? Well, I was excited to try it and wasn't interested in Sephora's lil' palette that was also offered so I'm satisfied.

As far as the other palettes of Kat's that are pictured. Three were on a whim with Sephora's Friends & Family Discount and Metal Orchestra (the one I was uber hesitant about) was purchased with the winning bid of $29 on Ebay :)

The True Romance palettes from Kat's beauty line @ Sephora (click here to see) are AMAZING! The texture is super silky which makes them fun to apply! There are mattes and shimmers and most include one cream shadow. All include Lucifer - a matte black that is GREAT for LINING & CREASE/CORNER. Which brings me to the thought that goes into these palettes! Each palette has it's own unique name and each color has it's own name as listed on the back of the palette. Quite interesting lil' names too, I would name them off for you but I don't have a palette near me. The palettes also have 2 lil' double-ended brushes. I find that they WORK GREAT for LINING but that's it.

I always use Too Faced Shadow Insurance but these have great staying power. I tend to not take my makeup off til after midnight (I'm a night owl), which means my makeup has been on for 12plus hours - this is even hard to get off when swiping it with a makeup removing cloth!

I have tried the purples in True Love (last four on the right), Gypsy (first four on the left), and the browns in Ludwig (last four on right) and have been beyond pleased.

Ludwig - kinda your neutral/natural basics ... definitely could be worn to work depending how light of a hand you have

Gypsy - the color between black (first color on the left) and the shimmering pink is very iridescent and beautiful on it's own or blended with other colors

True Love - the purples are VERY PIGMENTED! The purple next to the white leaves kinda a sheen. Oh, and the whites in the palettes are more of a sheen of color, sorta iridescent - plays off of whatever color is blended near it.

Metal Orchestra - this is your "rockin' the blues" palette. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but am excited to say the least!

These shadows are very forgiving too! I was sweeping on a color and it had way more payoff then I thought it would but with my blending brush it just worked its way in with the other colors.

The outside packaging is beautifully decorated with sketches of tattoos. You can see a picture of them in my previous post below.

I say a definite must try even if it means only going to Sephora to swatch the colors for yourself. The palettes are $34 but you can find them cheaper on Ebay. Even for $34 you are getting 8 eyeshadows = $4.25 each ... WOW!

Anyone else tried these?

Haul-Lights of September forward ...

Good Lord! Let me just say, I absolutely love following all beauty bloggers on here - what they do is a heck of a lot of work! Trying to keep up to date with everything and posting reviews/rants/raves in a timely manner is a job all in itself!

These are the majority of my beauty hauls from September to the present. As I'm sitting here typing though many drugstore items seem to be popping into my head. Oh, well.

Here goes:

Victoria's Secret

• Smokey Eye Palette
• Shimmering Eye Palette
• Heidi Klum Eye Shadow Palette ... click here for review

I think Victoria's Secret is overlooked as far as makeup. I liked somethings in their old line but this fall they came out with new formulations and the eyeshadows are SUPER SILKY!

Urban Decay

• Urban Ammo Eye Palette
• Wallpaper Shadow Box
• Book of Shadows Volume II

MANY, MANY reviews on these already but let me know if you would like me to do one too or just swatches

Sigma

• Complete professional brush set ... click here for info - Review COMING SOON!

I'm in heaven ;)

Sephora

• Ultimate Blockbuster
• Round-A-Pout Beach Ball
• Makeup Palette To Go - Warm Tones

Benefit

• Celebutante Set
• Glitz Glam & Gloss Set
• Coralista Box o' Blush
• Thrrrob Box o' Blush
• Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Sippin n' Dippin
• Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans
• Silky Finish Lipstick in Thrillin' Brazilian
• Silky Finish Lipstick in Ladies Choice
• Lip Gloss in I'm with the Band
• Automatic Lip Liner Pencil duo in Naked Ambition

With the exception of the Celebutante Set, all were purchased off Ebay for a FRACTION OF PRICE! Still playing around with these

Too Faced

• Natural Eye Neutral Eyeshadow Palette - Review COMING SOON!

I believe this will be PERFECT FOR WORK - going to use tonight for first day @ Coach :)

Stila

• Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe - Medium

I'm loving all the options Stila offers for coverage :) Review COMING SOON!

Kat Von D

• Rock N Roll Eyeshadow Palette ... Insider Point Perk
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in True Love
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Metal Orchestra
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Gypsy

AMAZING!!! Full sized palettes an absolute MUST TRY!!! Review on ALL COMING VERY SOON!

Whew! I believe that's it! I have my work cut out for me. Seems that by the time I get around to reviewing something there are already enough brillant reviews out there that it would just be overkill for me to do one too.

Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts?

Stila Gift of Appreciation

I swear, this lil' set has been in my hands before it even came out on Sephora's website. I got this set when I was returning from my trip to Branson, Missouri on a whim @ Council Bluff's Sephora. In September, it wasn't even on Sephora's site yet.

It totally caught my eye due to the INCREDIBLE VALUE! For ONLY $38 (a $192 value) - you can't even purchase 2 of these items separately for the price of the set!

Just take a second to take it all in if you aren't familar with the set:

***ALL FULL SIZED PRODUCTS!!!

• 0.17 oz Eye Shadow Trio in Gold Glow (gold/ bronze/ ivory)
• 0.32 oz Illuminating Finishing Powder in Rose Gold (peachy pink sheen)
• 0.31 oz Sheer Pressed Powder in Medium
• 0.04 oz Lip Rouge Liquid Lip Satin in Pucker (bright pink red)
• 0.04 oz Long Wear Lip Color in Flushed (deep rose sheen)
• 0.28 oz Lash Visor in Black
• 0.08 oz Plumping Lip Glaze in Minty Mint (soft gold)
• 0.04 oz Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz (apricot nude)
• Pencil Sharpener

Honestly, I don't believe I have EVER USED STILA BEFORE THIS SET - & now I'm a Stila Lover!

Eyeshadow Trio

• Adds a shimmery "POP" to your basic neutrals
• Very GENEROUS SIZE

Illuminating Powder

• @ first I wasn't sold on it ... I don't think I really knew how to use it as a highlighter at first
• It is very subtle but gives you a nice gleem (is that a word?)
• HUGE, this will last a VERY, VERY, LONG TIME

Sheer Pressed Powder

• My FAVORITE PART of the set
• Put on AFTER PRIMER and BEFORE FOUNDATION and OIL-FREE ALL DAY (I have very oily skin but also dry in areas)
• Only comes in MEDIUM in this set
• ALREADY BOUGHT ANOTHER

Lash Visor Mascara

• Can't give a reveiw because I haven't even opened it yet (have WAY TOO MANY mascaras waiting to be used)

Kajal Eye Liner

• Undecided - It's FLESH TONE
• "wide awake" look not quite achievable

Long Wear Lip Color

• LOVE IT!
• Powdery pink tint
• NOT DRYING

Lip Rouge Liquid Lip Stain

• Great for PIN-UP DOLL LOOK
• FELT TIP like a sharpie
• Major STAYING POWER
• VERY RED, just sucked on a popcicle red

Lip Plumping Glaze

• DIDN'T find it PLUMPING :(
• MINTY SCENT
• BEAUTIFUL when LAYERED ON TOP of LONG WEAR LIP COLOR
• SHIMMERY NUDE
  
  *I didn't include the pencil sharpener in the pics ... just your basic metal sharpener, though I heard that it's especially meant to sharpen the Kajal Pencil
  

Swatches of the Eyeshadow Trio - VERY PIGMENTED!

PROS:

• Definitely worth the price even if you only find 2 things you like
• Lip Glaze is $22 & Sheer Pressed Powder is $28 if purchased separately

CONS:

• With such an amazing price I can't think of any :)

Mail, Mail, Mail ... wtf?!

Recently I went on a sorta rampage ordering things online. First of all, I received my beloved Sigma Pro Brush Set and am in LOVE. I own no MAC brushes (that is what everyone has been comparing these brushes to) but I can tell you, these are amazing and I have definitely been missing out - but more on that later :)

I also bought some things on ebay. I have used ebay MANY times in the past and have had primarily good luck ... UNTIL TODAY!

UGGGGHHHH!!! Let me just get that off my chest. I was super excited when leaving the house this morning to see that the postman was taking an extra amount of time @ my mailbox. I knew that I would have a lil' package waiting for me upon my arrival back home. But *scream inserted here* when I did get back home and cut open the package I found a Benefit perfume (something "Lee Lee") inside! I was so disappointed, outraged that I didn't even take a look at the name of the perfume. I wasn't exactly sure yet what was SUPPOSE to be inside the box I just knew that this is NOT WHAT I BIDDED ON AND PAID FOR!!!

So after going through my inbox and connecting the name of the return address to an email I discovered that I was suppose to receive a huge set of Benefit from this seller which only made my blood pressure boil past any healthy level. So here I am, stuck with this dang perfume and waiting for a reply from this brain-dead seller. This just sucks!

Anyone else had any bad experiences with ebay??? Wait - maybe I don't wanna know until my transaction is resolved and I have my beloved Benefit items craddled in my arms ;)

this past weekend ---

--- list 2 things you DID & 1 thing you DIDN'T ---

- Saturday -

-- DIDs --

- pull out my favorite - it feels like snow - vest & feel cute despite having a terrible sinus infection

- watch really good true ghost stories marathon w/ my hun :)

-- DIDN'T --

- dress up or go out for Halloween

- Sunday -

-- DIDs --

- eat @ La Fiesta w/ my mom & Ben

- guess correctly that the Vikings would dominate the Packers (Ben's choice wasn't so lucky)

-- DIDN'T --

- stay awake for the entire game ... oops!