Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

What's in My Bag? Tory Burch Robinson Mini Satchel

Hello there!

I just wanted to let you know I posted another video -- this time, it was a "tag" in the YouTube community called "What's in My Bag?"

I reviewed my bag briefly at the beginning and then went over everything in it.

It's the Tory Burch Robinson Mini Satchel that I reviewed back in June.



I still love, love, love this bag and will continue to wear it around constantly.

I will say this "What's in My Bag?" video doesn't have too much clutter or random "junk" that you may typically expect from this type of video.

But honestly, that's because I'm pretty OCD about things and organizing. So although there's a lot of stuff in my bag, it's not too crazy.

Hope you enjoy :)

Monday, October 28, 2013

Top drugstore makeup | 10 under $10

Hi there! Hope your week started off on a good note.

I have a different kind of post today: 10 products under $10!

I'd like to expand this series later on with other "10 Under $10" posts, so I figured this was a good place to start.


Instead of focusing specifically on lip products or blushes today, I'm covering a wide range of items that can almost complete our look. I'm just missing a foundation! Not bad, right? I'm all about finding great beauty products for a great price.

In the video, I'm wearing everything mentioned except the lip gloss.

Here's a breakdown of the products:

1. Neutrogena Shine Control Powder ($9.99)
Love this to set my foundation.

2. Wet N Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil ($3.99)
This is a great bronzer for contouring.

3. Milani Baked Blush in Rose D'Oro ($8.99)
A beautiful rose gold that's lovely this time of year.

4. NYX HD Photogenic Concealer ($4.99)
Perfect, creamy under eye concealer!

5. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded ($5.94)
An awesome eyeshadow primer.

6. Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Naturally Glamorous ($8.99)
Fantastic shadows in a tiny case that fits in any clutch/makeup bag.

7. Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer in Black ($5.99)
Creamy, pigmented and LASTS all day!

8. Maybelline Full N Soft Waterproof Mascara in Very Black ($7.49)
The only one that keeps my lashes curled all day.

9. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Primrose ($4.99)
My go-to lippie, no matter what.

10. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige ($4.99)
I love this lip gloss on its own. It's definitely NOT beige.

------------

I use most of these products every day, so I'm definitely a huge fan of drugstore makeup.

When you find a gem that's also inexpensive, it's that much better!

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it somewhat useful. Thanks for reading/watching!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Review + swatches: Urban Decay Vice 2 eyeshadow palette

Happy weekend!! Hope you all had a great week.

To celebrate a weekend of relaxing (and playing with makeup apparently), I picked up the limited edition Urban Decay Vice 2 eyeshadow palette ($59) at ULTA.

After eyeing it for weeks, I just gave in.

Although this palette is a tad pricier than the Urban Decay Naked palettes ($52), I felt it was justified when I swatched the shadows in store! Wow. More on that in a bit.

Plus the Vice 2 comes with 20 shadows vs. 12 in the Naked palettes.

Anyway, can we just quickly mention... This. Packaging.

It's so pretty and STURDY. So basically, it's PURDY.

Purples have been screaming my name lately (must be a fall thing), so this packaging, of course, made it all the more appealing.

You push the button pictured (that says Urban Decay), and the palette slowly opens. It might as well have a light shining down on it. It's THAT beautiful.

Now onto the shadows themselves.

Ahhhhh... divine.

This palette comes with 20 exclusive shades. It does come with 8 more shadows than the Naked palettes, but they are 0.03 oz compared to the 0.05 oz of Naked.

But for now, I'm OK with that.

I swatched 10 shadows on my left arm at a time. They are buttery and some are EXTREMELY pigmented. Others not as much. But I'm LOVING them overall.

Out of all the shadows, I'd have to agree with other reviews about Lovesick NOT swatching well. As you can see in the photo below, it just doesn't look that great. Dry and patchy.

Everything else in the first 10 shadows are amazing, especially the metallics on the far right. That silver, though I don't know what to do with it yet, is SO pigmented.



As you see (or NOT see) in the 2nd half, Habit is invisible... or so it seems. It's a light nude matte, pretty much like Naked in the Naked Palette, so it just completely blended into my skin.

The shimmery shadows like Stash, Betrayal and Ambush are especially pigmented and gorgeous.


Here's a full description of each shadow based on the Urban Decay website:

First half
--Smokeout (dark taupey-black satin)
--Prank (deep navy matte with turquoise floating pearl)
--Radar (metallic brown shimmer with iridescent micro-glitter)
--Dope (warm champagne satin)
--Lovesick (black matte with iridescent micro-glitter)
--Madness (bright metallic blue shimmer with blue micro-glitter)
--Damaged (bright metallic emerald shimmer)
--Toxic (metallic copper-pink shimmer with tonal micro-glitter)
--Shellshock (bright metallic silver)
--Strike (antique gold shimmer with silver micro-glitter)

Second half
--Voodoo (metallic purple shimmer with iridescent purple micro-glitter)
--Habit (light nude matte)
--Coax (medium metallic pink with golden iridescent micro-sparkle)
--Stash (deep olive green shimmer with iridescent micro-sparkle)
--Betrayal (bright purple satin with blue shift)
--Ambush (metallic brown satin)
--X-Rated (baby pink satin)
--Poison (charcoal satin with iridescent micro-sparkle)
--Derailed (medium metallic taupey-brown shimmer)
--Rewind (medium brown matte)

The palette also comes with a dual-ended shadow brush and BIG mirror that takes up the whole top half of the case.

If you were on the fence about getting this palette, I hope this review was somewhat helpful! And if you didn't even consider it before, it may be a good investment to consider!

Seriously, I'm seeing this palette taking me far with so many different looks. Can't wait to play.

Thanks for reading!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

RiRi Hearts MAC review: RiRi Woo lipstick + lip pencil photos

Hi there! Today was the first day the RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection became available at all counters, so I went straight to Nordstrom after work.

I had a feeling I only wanted RiRi Woo lipstick ($16.50) because I didn't get it the first time she had it.

Plus, I wish the line was more fall-themed. They re-promoted several items, based on what I've heard, read and seen.

The eyeshadow quads also seemed quite ordinary and not worth the $44!

So back to RiRi Woo... definitely in love right now.

I haven't worn it out, so I can't say how long it wears, but the product itself is gorgeous.

One of the MAC girls convinced me to also get the RiRi Woo Pro Longwear lip pencil ($21.50) at the last minute. Such a good saleswoman...

I first lined my lips and filled them in with the lip pencil. This felt very creamy and easy to apply.

Then I put on the lipstick, right from the bullet.

This is a Retro Matte finish, which I've never tried before, but it felt just fine! Not too dry. I applied lip balm beforehand like usual.

Since I wanted to get a red lipstick from MAC anyway, why not get one in the amazing rose gold packaging, right? Such a great decision.

I highly recommend this combo.

Have you purchased anything from the RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection? Let me know in the comments!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

September Favorites 2013

Happy October - the start of my 3 favorite months of the year!

Now if we can just get past the 90-degree weather and onto the 70s in Phoenix, it would really feel like fall.

September was a pretty successful month for trying new things. I conveniently have 9 favorites for the 9th month of the year.

They cover quite a few categories, so here we go~

SKINCARE:
  • Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser ($36): I bought this from my esthetician after my bi-monthly facial. She used it on me right at the beginning, which felt so nice. It has menthol, so you get a minty feeling on your skin. I'm not usually a fan of that for my face, but this one is gentle enough. This brand's products have great online reviews; this is my first purchase. The website says the cleanser is "formulated to actively remove oils, dead skin cells and help eliminate harmful microbes, while relieving inflammation and smoothing the skin." It's ideal for oily/problem skin - right up my alley. I use this at night, and it instantly removes makeup. As soon as it hits my skin, my foundation falls right off. Love, love, love.
  • Trader Joe's Nourish All-In-One Facial Cleanser ($5.99): I'm still adoring this cleanser! I blogged about it at the beginning of September, only a week into using it. Since it was early, I was hoping it would continue to impress me. So far, it has yet to let me down! I use this one in the morning. Read my blog post about it for more information.
HAIRCARE: 
  • Batiste Dry Shampoo ($7.99): "YouTube made me buy it," is basically all I can say. So many YouTubers rave about this, and I finally gave in and picked it up at ULTA. I love it!! Well, obviously, since it's in my monthly favorites. I've been using the Oscar Blandi powder formula dry shampoo, which I still like using, but Batiste definitely gives me the volume I want. Dry shampoo has been my savior. I wash my hair every other day, and my Day 2 hair looks and feels amazing, if I do say so myself.
MAKEUP: 
  • DiorSkin Forever Fluid Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup SPF 25 ($47): What a name! So could it be? Did I find my holy grail foundation? This stuff doesn't cover EVERYthing (medium coverage), but I've been loving it as a lightweight go-to foundation for everyday wear. A lot lighter than Estee Lauder Double Wear but a bit more coverage than the Garnier BB cream that I've been loving. It also smells really good. I'm not used to that, but I'll take it. I buff this in with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, and it blends so well into my skin. I use shade 20, Light Beige. The packaging is also beautiful, which always helps :)
  • Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Bronzer ($12.79): This is an awesome bronzer for contouring. Ever since I bought it, I've been using it every time I wear makeup. It never turns orange on my skin. By the way, I believe the shade I use is called "Bronzer" so that made things confusing for blogging. It's a bit pricey for a drugstore bronzer, but I think it's worth the money. I've been using it daily, yet you can't even tell in the photo!
  • Milani Baked Blush in Rose D'Oro ($8.99): Can't believe it took me so long to discover this one! I purchased 4 baked blushes from Milani a few months ago, and I was more drawn to the other 3 shades: Luminoso, Dolce Pink and Corallina. For some reason, it took me a while to get to Rose D'Oro, but I think the saying goes... I saved the best for last! Seriously! I've been extremely drawn to rose gold ANYTHING recently, so this works out wonderfully. This is a beautiful rose gold blush that is very pigmented. Gahhh! Can't say enough good things.
RANDOM:

  • Furla Glasses ($150-ish?): For the first time EVER, I now wear prescription glasses. I'm slightly near-sighted and need them for driving, watching TV, etc. I went to Costco for an eye exam because I've been having issues with extremely red eyes. Turns out they are super dried out and scratched up ***reaches for eye drops*** so I was told to get Refresh eye drops at the drugstore and... yeah, I also need glasses. Oh, OK! I was actually pretty excited because since I was little, I thought wearing glasses was so cool. I luckily found the perfect frames that fit my face just right AND were adorable. Pink bows on the side? So me! I get compliments quite often from strangers, which I really appreciate. It's not even like they're complimenting me because they're actually new and I've never worn glasses before. Strangers don't know that! So I know these were sure winners :)
  • Soy-Blend Large Jar Candle in Heritage Pumpkin at Target ($10): I think I just converted. If you love pumpkin, this candle may be your new best friend. If the other candles in this line are THIS good, I'm no longer buying candles from Bath and Body Works. And that's saying a lot! It's currently burning near me as I type, and it just smells SO YUMMY. Since I loved this so much, my boyfriend and I picked up several others at Target, including one called Red Velvet. A Target.com review on the Red Velvet candle pretty much sums it up: "Love it, I want to smash it into my mouth is smells so good." That's a good sign! I haven't burned the others yet, so I cannot wait. Go, go, go. Pick this up right now. Heritage Pumpkin is limited edition.
  • Vanity Girl Hollywood Broadway Vanity Mirror ($399): Ahhh, yes. My beautiful new vanity mirror. This was such a great online shopping experience! I bought this on the website and it showed up at my apartment less than a week later, I believe. It was VERY stressful figuring out which table to put this on and then actually assembling that (cough, IKEA, cough), but otherwise, this vanity mirror has been fantastic. I know the price seems very steep for a mirror, BUT this is top notch and makes my life so much more convenient. Stress-free living is priceless at times. I wanted a place where I can put on makeup with good lighting and have all my products right next to me. My boyfriend was amazing with helping me rearrange things, and now my setup is looking pretty good! I wanted to blog about this, so this worked out well.
This concludes my September Favorites post. Rather long, but I wanted to explain each thing well. More to come!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Makeup organization ideas: Getting inspired + trying new things

Hi there! Today is all about organizing.

As my makeup/beauty collection grows, I realized I need a better way to sort everything.

First of all, I LOVE to organize, so this will be a fun project!

I currently have some acrylic pieces from The Container Store (one of my favorite stores EVER), including lipstick holders. Lovvve them. I could definitely use more!

The one in the photo actually came with a Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer, which retails for $34.99 but I'm pretty sure I got it on sale. This was a couple months ago. Target also sells similar ones.

I love displaying lip products like this because 1. They're colorful and fun to look at, and 2. Seeing them all displayed this way will encourage me to use them all, so they don't get lost in a drawer.

So now, I'm considering Muji drawers! They're a big hit among beauty bloggers/vloggers, and the thought of ordering them excites my sad, organization-loving self. The Acrylic 5 Case Drawers go for $27.95.

I definitely prefer organizing all my makeup in clear cases like these. Like the lip products, seeing everything makes me want to try different products I own, so they don't go to waste.

There isn't much room at my current apartment for too much display, so the drawers could be a huge help.

And last but not least... I'm getting a Vanity Girl Hollywood mirror soon! So so so excited. Ahhhh.

I'll definitely blog about it when that happens. This will allow me to transform my desk into a vanity. I use a laptop (currently typing in my dining area), so the desk will be more useful by transforming it into a makeup station. That way, I don't get stressed out by shoving my laptop/office supplies out of the way while getting ready, or carrying products back and forth between my bedroom (where I store everything) to my bathroom just to put makeup on. And with the lights, I'll be able to apply makeup in my room any time of day without having strange shadows.

Revamping everything will hopefully inspire me to blog more and try new things.

I'm looking forward to organizing and utilizing the small space I have. More to come!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo. Thanks for reading!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Sunday Pinks: Lipstick photos + swatches

Baby pink lipsticks are a staple in my makeup bag.

They're quick, easy and flattering on almost anyone, if not everyone.

Since Sunday is a perfect day to kick back, have brunch and feel pretty... thought I'd swatch three of my favorite baby pink lippies of the moment.

And even if you're working today, these are perfect for the workplace.

They're subtle pinks that won't look garish. And you can definitely pair these with a natural makeup look, as well as a dramatic smokey eye. Gotta love versatile products!

I picked out (from left to right) MAC's Creme Cup, Revlon's Primrose and Rimmel's Pink Blush for this Sunday.

Why I love...
  • MAC Cremesheen in Creme Cup ($15): I mentioned this in my August Favorites blog post because I reach for it quite often. This is the nude-pink out of the three, very similar to MAC's Angel but warmer and (obviously) creamier, in the way it feels and looks. It has a nice sheen to it. It doesn't accentuate dry parts of my lips, which I appreciate a TON because my lips are constantly dry. I wear a clear lip balm underneath, as I do with all my lipsticks. It lasts about three hours on my lips, I'd say, before reapplying. It's not great, but it's not that bad for me either. I never mind reapplying lip products. 
  • Revlon Super Lustrous in Primrose ($5): This is probably one of my absolute favorite lipsticks of all time. I fell in love with it a couple years ago, and I've been raving about it since. Primrose is unique in the sense that it's a baby pink, but (maybe because of its blue-ish undertones) it really POPS. It just brightens up my look and makes me feel glam, but in a pretty/classy way. For a glossy look, I like pairing this with Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Crystal Lilac. (Note: I'm NW20)
  • Rimmel Lasting Finish in Pink Blush ($5): For sure, this is one that doesn't get nearly enough love from me but I still love it so much. This blog post is inspiring me to wear it today, actually. It's a beautiful lippie that goes on creamy, feels creamy and doesn't accentuate dryness on my lips. It looks pretty bright in the photo above, but I don't find it to be that way on my lips. I think it definitely brightens up my look but NOT in an overbearing way. I'd say it was more of a bubblegum pink than the other two lipsticks, yet subtle enough for everyday wear.
For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo. Happy Sunday!

Monday, September 2, 2013

August Favorites 2013

Two posts in a day is definitely unheard of for me, but I'm glad I got to stay in on Labor Day and catch up.

I thought I'd start posting my favorite products of the month. And since we're already a couple days into September, figured I should hurry.

To ease into this, I don't have many products. But these are all items I highly recommend, so I want to explain them a bit. Mini reviews, basically. So the post may end up rather long.

There are some other products (mainly for my skin) that I've been loving, but I want to wait a little longer so I know I truly adore them. Sometimes, my skin doesn't show signs of breakouts or clogging until a few weeks in, so if these products continue to be great, they will most likely show up in my September Favorites.

Here are my favorites for the last month:

--Aveeno Positively Nourishing Antioxidant Infused Body Wash with White Peach and Ginger ($6.99): Wow, what a mouthful. This body wash smells so good! I've been on a huge "peach" kick for a long time now, so I'm a sucker for anything that smells like it. My usual go-to body wash is also Aveeno, so this isn't much of a surprise, but I think this is a great spring and summer product. For winter, I'll probably switch back to my usual Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, which is great for those of you with sensitive skin like mine!

--L'Occitane Aromachologie Soothing Shampoo ($30): This one should actually have a blog post of its own because it's that good, but I guess I'll just have to deal with putting it in my monthly favorites :) I've been looking for something to help my sensitive scalp. I never thought about my scalp too much, but it had been getting itchy lately. And it makes sense that my scalp would be sensitive since my face and the rest of my body is definitely that way. Before this shampoo, my HG product was TIGI Bed Head Urban Antidotes Level 2. That stuff makes my hair feel AMAZING. And it's still great, but lately, my scalp needed some extra lovin'. So this shampoo, with five essential oils, has been what my scalp needed! And it's treating my hair very well, too. Since I have extremely oily skin, I've always avoided oils of any kind in my products, but now I'm learning that some essential oils are ESSENTIAL for a reason. This is my new HG shampoo. It's pricey, for sure, but so worth it. And I still use the Bed Head conditioner!

--Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Fragrance Mist ($12 but on sale often): Smells so good! What more can I say? My boyfriend loves it as well. Plus, I just found a Bath and Body Works Wallflower that smells just like it: Heirloom Pear.

--Too Faced Pretty Rebel Beauty Eye Shadow Palette ($46): These shadows are buttery! I don't have to worry about any fallout with this palette, and the shadows have great pigmentation. This is my first Too Faced purchase, and I'm excited to try more. This is a limited edition palette, I believe, so get it while you can. I may end up swatching the shadows in a future post.

--MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup ($15): My favorite MAC baby pink lipstick for years has been Angel, but Creme Cup has taken over. This is a beautiful, everyday shade for me. My lips are very pigmented, so I tend to lean more toward these sort of shades to mute the color of my lips a bit. And I love the Cremesheen line.

--Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bold Gold ($5.94 at Target): I love Color Tattoos. I have them in Barely Branded, Bad to the Bronze, Inked in Pink and my current love... Bold Gold. This one goes well as a primer for me, under shadows like Urban Decay's Half Baked. It just brightens up my eyes really well and it's not too glittery.

--Milani Coming Up Roses Blush in Romantic Rose (about $8 at CVS): This Coming Up Roses line is limited edition, so I don't know if they're still in stores, but I was able to snag all four shades at the end of July. The packaging is just stunning. Surprisingly, my favorite one ended up being the one I almost didn't get because I thought it looked too dark for me. It's very pigmented and matte. I couldn't find a good website to link to, so it must be hard to find these at this point.

--Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink ($7.99): This is a Milani blush that's NOT limited edition, so I highly recommend these! I have them in four shades: Luminoso, Rose D'oro, Corallina and Dolce Pink. They're all amazing, but I've been loving Dolce Pink lately. It's such a pretty, girly pink. These are very shimmery, so a little goes a long way. They double up as a highlight that way, so I avoid additional highlighting products when wearing this blush.

--Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Caramel ($21): Wow wow wow. Love this! After hearing Holly Ann-AeRee talk about this in her YouTube videos, I decided to try it out. I've been having love/hate relationships with brow products lately, so I needed something new. I'm so glad I got this and went with the Caramel shade, which is what Holly uses. I realized that I've been using brow products that are too dark for me. Since my hair is naturally black/very dark brown, I figured I'd go with similar colored brow products, but now I know to go with lighter shades like Caramel and it makes a huge difference. Plus, the Brow Wiz pencil is so easy to use. It looks so much more natural than powder, in my opinion. I never would've thought!

So that's the end of my August Favorites. More posts soon!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Best makeup brushes: Real Techniques review

After trying them out for just over two months, I can wholeheartedly say I LOVE Real Techniques brushes!

Samantha Chapman's line of makeup brushes is fantastic, affordable and high quality.

I don't have all the brushes... I think I just have 8 of them, but I think that's a pretty good number to rate them.

Here's my Top 4:

--Expert face brush ($9): This one is my absolute must-have. I use this brush to apply my foundation or BB cream (which is the only thing I've been wearing lately!) and I dab my under-eye concealer in with this as well. It's sturdy, dense and very easy to wash. I used to use a Clinique foundation brush that got really gross, even after washing it. This one is a third of the price and so much better. It's amazing when you're looking for more coverage and it doesn't leave my makeup streaky. If you're going to try one Real Techniques brush, I recommend this one.

--Powder brush ($10): Love, love, love this brush. It's a really big, super soft brush that I could sweep across my face all day. It's that soft. I use this to set my makeup with a powder. I, again, used to use a Clinique brush for this, and the Real Techniques brush is a lot bigger and softer. And so much more affordable.

--Blush brush ($9): I use this one for two things - applying blush and blending away any harsh lines on my face. At first, I didn't like this one for blush (I thought it was too large), but I've been using it this way for the last couple weeks. It picks up just the right amount of product and allows me to build the color. Otherwise, I love using this one to blend my bronzer and blush into my skin, so you can't tell where the product is starting or ending. The worst thing is going out and then realizing that my bronzer is very harsh, too obvious and just odd. I prefer the subtle look! For a flawless face, BLEND BLEND BLEND!

--Contour brush (only available in the Core Collection kit for $18): This is the perfect size brush for applying highlighter just at the top of my cheekbones. I don't use it to contour. I've been loving the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze for this.

As you can see in one of the photos, I also like my MAC brushes. But for much less money, I highly recommend Real Techniques brushes, especially my Top 4 picks!

I linked the above descriptions to Real Technique's website, but I bought them in person at Ulta. I recommend slowly building your brush collection with Ulta's amazing $3.50 off $10 coupons! Best deal around.

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Garnier BB Cream for combination to oily: Review + photos

The day has finally come: I tried BB cream.

Yes, it seriously took me this long. I didn't feel like I needed it, and quite honestly, I still don't. (Do we all really *need* BB cream?) Anyway, I just really wanted to try it.

I used to use Aveeno tinted moisturizer on days I didn't want full coverage, and I liked it a lot. However, once I ran out this last time a few months ago... I didn't feel the urge to repurchase it. Although I had repurchased it twice before.
Instead, I've been combining my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation with a little moisturizer to lighten it up.

Then I thought... there has to be something more convenient but with a bit more coverage than the Aveeno tinted moisturizer.

So after reading that the Garnier BB cream for combination to oily skin is MUCH better than the original formula, I figured I should finally try it. It was $11.99 at Walmart.

I have to say... success! At least so far. I did the usual deed with a dusting of powder, some bronzer and blush on top. And my skin looked like it had just as much coverage as when I use my Double Wear foundation mixed with some moisturizer (which is still pretty much medium coverage). It looked great!

When applying, it is extremely watery (heads up: I'm storing the tube upside down in my basket of products to prevent it from building up in the cap). I quickly got some on my hand, dotted it around my face, and then blended it in with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. It felt really light on the skin but with very good coverage. The light/medium shade matched me perfectly.

And overall, I have very oily skin. As in, I blot every couple hours. But with this BB cream... it felt like I didn't need to as much. Noooo way.

That never happens. Seriously.

I've had "holy grail" success with Garnier before, when they had a detoxifying gel facial cleanser that was discontinued several years ago, so I had some faith. Glad I went for it!

Going forward, I'm hoping it continues to be fantastic: no breakouts, no clogged pores, etc.

For now, things are looking up.

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Revlon Lip Butters Juicy Papaya + Wild Watermelon: Review + Photos

I got them!

After reviewing the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters line last week, I picked up 2 out of the 4 newest additions over the weekend: Juicy Papaya and Wild Watermelon.

I got Wild Watermelon first at Target and really liked it. It really does give my lips that "I just ate a cherry popsicle" look that many vloggers have raved about.

Since I'm not really used to having bold lips, I dab it on and go - just like with Sweet Tart.

Then after reading some rave reviews about Juicy Papaya, I got it yesterday at Target. I think we have a WINNER!

Juicy Papaya definitely lives up to the "juicy" name. I use my go-to Carmex Moisture Plus clear lip balm underneath and the Lip Butter goes on REAL smooth. It then has an extremely juicy look. I also don't have to just dab it on. I can swipe and reapply all I want.

No lip gloss necessary, for sure... even more than the other Lip Butters, in my opinion.

If you want an idea of what it looks like on me, check out the photo in my Target Sunglasses post from yesterday.

The orange in the tube can look intimidating for someone who doesn't typically wear oranges, but it's so sheer and natural. Get this if you were considering it!

I may need another tube just as a back-up.

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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Revlon Lip Butter review: It still wins

I love getting around... when it comes to lip products, that is.

From Revlon to MAC to Lancome, I'll try all kinds of lip products. And this only started in the last year! Before then, I wasn't too concerned about my lips. I had my set products (MAC's Angel was a big hit for me) and didn't do much exploring.

Then I started noticing my lips looking washed out in photos when I consistently went with just a clear lip balm - and I could be doing a lot better than that!

So to change things up and feel girly without doing much else, I've been accumulating an assortment of lip products.

With the rest of my face, I stay pretty consistent. I use the same foundation, blush, and eyeshadows each day. Then the fun begins with the lips!

Which lip product I'm loving right now

The thing is, even after purchasing various brands and different lines, I still reach for Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters the most.

This product first came out in 2011 and was all the rage. There were tons of blogs, vlogs, and swatches for them. "It's a lip balm! It's a lipstick! It's something in between!"

So yes, it took me a long time to finally buy one. In order to catch up several months ago, I bought 6.

I'm totally late to the party, but I'm still hanging around. Love the formula, love the colors, love the price tag (about $6 at Target).

I currently have (from left to right in the photo) Sweet Tart, Cupcake, Gumdrop, Lollipop, Pink Truffle, and Creme Brulee.

My favorite right now is Sweet Tart. It's a bright bubblegum pink that I learned could look clownish if over-applied. I use it to dab my lips and I'm good to go. It gives my lips a nice flush.

They're easy to apply, moisturizing, and brighten up my face. I still wear my clear lip balm (Carmex Moisture Plus) underneath, but I think they're still hassle-free. They also have the newer shades (Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya, Sorbet, and Pink Lemonade) I haven't considered yet. Not sure if I'm interested in them.

What's your go-to lip product? Have you tried the newest shades? Let me know what I should try next!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.