Happy New Year!!!
I want to wish all you beauty junkies out there a GREAT NEW YEAR and a happy start to 2009!! I have it on good authority that this next year will be a GREAT ONE!
Enjoy tonight and sleep it off tomorrow!!!
2008: My Year in Beauty
2008 was one hell of a year for me. Both personally and professionally, but that’s for another day. This past year all brought me all the way into the world of beauty with the start of this blog. I became aware of sooo many brands and products that I had previously never heard of.
I would like to share with you what has changed my life beauty-wise.
Creme/ Gel eyeliners – Finally mastering the art of gel liners. This opened up a whole world of colors and looks for me once I was able to master using an angled brush and gel / creme liners. My favorite liners from this year are hands down the L’Oreal HiP Creme Liners.
Mineral Makeup – This has got to be the BIGGEST thing that happened to me makeup wise over the past year. My face kept breaking out in pimples everytime I tried a new foundation so, I was stoked to find a foundie that matched my skin and kept me from breaking out.
EcoTools – I have fallen in love with these new brushes on the market. They are some of the softest brushes I have ever used. They are synthetic and are made out of earth friendly products. I adore the eyeshadow brush for cream eyeshadows and the blush brush is just heavenly.
NYX Cosmetics – This is one of THE GREATEST drugstore brands I have come across. I absolutely love almost everything I have received from this brand. The only thing that I don’t love is their pencil eyeliners, because they seem slightly under pigmented. But I don’t care for pencil liners anyway.
Urban Decay Palettes – I love these things. Amazing quality and price. My favorite is the Book of Shadows. My first true high end love.
Urban Decay Primer Potion – Enough said.
These are some of the things that changed my beauty life – what are some of yours?
Total Beauty Web Tour
After what seems like ages, Beauty Junkies Unite reviews a few pieces from JK Jemma Kidd Cosmetics. Target’s beauty department is coming on strong!
Are you ready for Spring? Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy has the full scoop on all of the upcoming beauty collections from designers like Chanel, Givenchy, Shu Uemura and more for 2009! A must-see!
Did the holidays completely stress you out? Beauty Beast explains how one little product from Origins can help you forget all of your worries in no time.
Beauty411 shares the details on the frosty new MAC Chill Collection!
Viva Woman shows you how to make an easy homemade bath scrub with Epsom salt!
Beauty Anonymous reviews Shiseido’s Integrate Holiday 2008 Makeup Palette!
Indian Girl shows you 9 Colorful Ways to do the Smokey Eye Look !
eye4style is resolving to save more dough in the New Year, so let’s start by spending less on these chic drugstore beauty finds!
The Makeup Divas reviews the new ChapStick True Shimmer lip balms.
Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews the new CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains!
Marta Walsh Interviews Nadia Comaneci-by Talking Makeup!
marina from makeup loves me tells you what hair tool she’s using for new year’s eve night!
Spoiled Pretty is teaming up with Benefit Cosmetics for a Twilight-inspired giveaway! Five winners will win Benefit’s Silky Finish Lipstick in Ms. Behavin, a mulberry glaze used on Edward and the rest of the Cullen family!
Review: Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder
I purchased this product when it first came out, because it was toted as being a dupe of the Makeup Hi Def finishing powder that recently came out. The purpose of this product is to smooth out the skin to make pores look smaller and to give the face an airbrushed look. This is why I bought it, I wanted to try the MUFE version of this powder, but my local Sephora didn’t have any samples of it, and I didn’t want to shell out $30 for this product. So I bought the Aromaleigh version which was about $10.
I personally really like this product I use it all the time as my setting powder, especially when I use my liquid foundation. This keeps my makeup from melting and it keeps the oil at bay for most of the day. I apply this with different brushes, I use my Sonia Kushak and Flirt! skunk brushes and my EcoTools Powder brush. My brush of choice is based on what I grab at the time of application. The only problem that I have this powder is if you apply too much of it, it leaves a whitish tint on your face. However this can be a good thing if you want to lighten your foundation.
Product: 5/5
Pricee: $10-13
Available: Aromaleigh Cosmetics
Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Revitalizing – Conditioning Body Lotion
I was recently given the chance to try this lotion from Crabtree & Evelyn, this was my first foray into the brand, even though I had heard of it before. The product, when applied to the skin leaves a nice lemon scent that I found to be extremely pleasant, however some people may not care for lemon. If you are one of those people, then this product is not for you. The main purpose of this lotion is to “revitalize the spirit and body” along with moisturizing said body as well.
When I applied this product, it was a light texture that sank into the skin easily, with no oily residue left on my skin. Unfortunately I was dissapointed in the moisturizing ability of this lotion. After the lotion first sank it, it felt wonderful, but my hands were just as dry as before an hour later. For the price of this lotion, normally $19.50 for 250 ml, I was expecting something that left my hands feeling soft longer than a few minutes. I also did not feel “revitalized” like the bottle claims. I will definitely not be repurchasing this product, if I ever finish the bottle I have now.
Product: 2.5/5
Available: Crabtree & Evelyn
Price: $19.50, on sale for $15.50
You can read more reviews on this product at TotalBeauty.Com
Just For Giggles
I love this picture to death, and I wanted to share it with you!
Hauls From This Past Week
I have been so freaking busy this past week. I’ve been trying to get all my Christmas presents together. I’ve been making homemade body scrubs for everyone, so that has been a pain to put together. But it’s been cheap – which leaves me plenty (hah) of money left over for my hauls. So I thought I would just make a massive list of everything I have picked up!
Kohls:
Flirt Cosmetics 40 count eyeshadow palette. This is no longer available online, and it’s selling out of the stores. I was lucky to get mine – which was the last one there. Anyway these eyeshadows are the same size as MAC’s so they fit into the their palettes. I have to say that there are some duds in this set, but there are more good eyeshadows than bad, so it’s still worth the $23 I paid for it.
CVS: Last week, CVS had a BOGO Free sale on their L’Oreal Lippies, so I grabbed some of the Glam Shine liglosses, because I had be curious about them. NYC Color was also marked down 50% so, I grabbed a bunch of the Ultra Longwear lipsticks, I like them and they were $1 a piece.
L’Oreal Glam Shine lipglosses in Diva, Prima Donna (MAC Pink Clash Dupe!), Drama Queen and Seductress.
NYC Color Ultra Last LipColor: Air Kiss, Rose Petal, Red Flame, English Rose, Mousse, and Rose Gold
Beall’s Outlet: This place always has a few good finds in their makeup area, and this week was no different.
Revlon Limited Edition Bare – It – All Lustrous Powder: Buff Love, Goldi-Locks, Peachy Tease, and Pink – A – Boo.
L’Oreal Colour Juice lipstick in Cheeky Peach
Walgreens: There wasn’t too much on sale this week, but I did pick up a new Rimmel lippie that was 40% off and I has a $1 off coupon, so I picked up one to test. I love long wearing lipsticks and glosses, so I’m looking forward to trying this one out.
I think I spent around $50 or so for my entire haul. Which isn’t bad AT ALL. I will probably get around to writing reviews for the Glam shines and Rimmel lippies because they are still available on the market. The Revlon and the Flirt goodies won’t be getting a review because of their hard to find status now.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Kiss & Stay Lipgloss: Lustrous Nude
Total Beauty Web Tour
Because confidence is the most beautiful accessory to wear, enter to win a $500 personal coaching gift certificate from Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog (sessions conducted via phone or in person by a Certified Personal and Executive Coach).
Lipstick Addict makes a review on elf cosmetics : All Over Face Color in Pink Lemonade and Brightening Eye Color in Noveau Neturals so check it out!
Viva Woman reviews THINgloss: a lip gloss that can make you thin!
Beauty Junkies Unite has some decadent sweets to share that won’t go straight to your hips! Come check out the new Sweet Decadence eye shadow collection from Bare Escentuals. Eyeshadow swatches have never been so sweet!
Don’t miss the first installment of the Holiday Gift Guide over at Bare Budget Beauty!
Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews The Body Shop’s new line of mineral makeup, Nature’s Minerals. Click here for the scoop!
Beauty Anonymous takes a look at Paul & Joe Spring 2009 Makeup Collection.
Need an amazing and affordable holiday eye palette? Look no further than Purminerals Holiday Eye Palette in Celebrate, Reflect, and Inspire as reviewed by CaliforniaCosmetics.
The Latest Holiday Beauty Deals Addicted To Lipstick Has put together a list of all the Holiday beauty deals you can find this week on the web.Click here for all the latest beauty deals and steals to buy.
The Makeup Divas reviews and tells you about a romantic and stylish home fragrance line that have made their way into Elton John and P.Diddy’s homes. Check it out HERE.
Fabulous Over Forty has a Prescriptives Px Protect giveaway. Be sure to sign up for a chance to win!
Indian Girl shares her easy steps to follow a complete Night Time Skin Care Routine
Happy Holidays from Makeup Files! Just in time for the holidays, Trisha is giving her readers a discount on The Complete Eyebrow Guide, 50% off! Take advantage of the half off discount from now until the end of the year.
Halle Berry Hair Styles-by Talking Makeup!
Beauty411 gets her dreamgirl on and shares a Holiday Luxe Gift Guide!
Boutique Flair sampled several products from Skin Care Rx. Just what the Dr. ordered for beautiful skin!
eye4styleis loving festive candles – see her picks for the best of the bunch!
The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having 2 giveaways this week….one with Oral B Pulsonic and another with Phillips Norelco Bodygroom for men. Check out the details here.
Find Your Best Concealer at The Beauty Blog.
The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews Pur Minerals Pressed Mineral Foundation.
Suzanne at RN Guide to Skin Care answers the burning question, “ What is a Peptide?
The Beauty Alchemist is giving away 1 Beautyfix Kit of products . Enter thru Dec. 27
Glossypink shows you some gorgeous holiday looks (and has a special song to Santa!)
Beauty Blogging Junkie shares some shimmery holiday party/NYE product recshere.
MissWhoever You Are dishes on her new fave fragrance, Bond No. 9’s Bleecker Street, perfect for the holidays!
Spoiled Pretty is really embracing the season of giving. Enter to win a Burt’s Bees Overnight Bee-Uty Bag, Mint Medley Gift and Radiance Gift. This week, Spoiled Pretty is also giving away three 1 oz bottles of Look, Vera Wang’s latest fragrance!
16 Random Things About Me
I am not in the mood to write about makeup or anything like that, so I thought I’d write something random about me 
1. I am addicted to pizza. I love it. I am trying however to wean myself off of it. I can actually eat pizza everyday without getting tired of it.
2. I can’t shop with other people. I can’t go shopping with anyone – I HAVE to do it on my own or I won’t get everything I need.
3. I have become a HUGE fan of Meat Loaf over the past several months. I can listen to his Bat cds with out stopping. They are FREAKING AMAZING!!! It’s hard to believe that Meat Loaf can hit the notes that he does at the age of 60.
4. I sleep with an old Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) pillow. I’m 23 now, and I’ve had that since I was like 5. I never sleep without it. NEVER.
5. I used to be a vegetarian. I tried that lifestyle twice over the past several years. However it never lasted. Some people just aren’t meant to live that way.
6. I graduated from The University of Florida a year ago. Whoo!
7. I’ve never had a boyfriend before. Now because I didn’t have the chance, but because I just didn’t want to date just anyone. I’d rather be single than miserable.
8. I get obsessed with different things. I tend to go through phases, in where I become obsessed with a particular thing, then I move on to something else. Here are some of my old phases: Phantom of the Opera, Garfield, Twilight, BackStreet Boys…. My current obsessions include Meat Loaf, makeup, and home fragrances that I burn in my oil burner.
9. I HATE being woken up by my alarm clock. I curse it out everytime it wakes me up. Pisses me off.
10. I watch Hannah Montana.
11. I am in love with the artwork of Joseph Vargo.
12. I love shopping. My hobby is to find the cheapest deal on makeup. Not crappy makeup, but good, decent brands.
13. I am not a big fan of higher end makeup. I can proudly say that I do not fall for high end makeup. Why should I buy something that is $30, when something I get for $5 works just as good or even better than the $30 thing?
14. I grew up loving Disney. Ariel was my favorite princess.
15. I love vampires.
16. I only drink Diet Coke and Coke Zero sodas. Rarely will I treat myself to a Coke Icee.
Well that was fun. I hope you learned something about me
