February Faves!

My February Favorites!

Foundation:

Maybeline Mineral Power Foundation

Concealer:

NYX Concealer in a Jar

Setting Powder:

NYC Loose Powder

Highlighter:

Revlon Bare It All Powder in Buff Love

Blush:

Wet N Wild Loose Mineral Blush in Rose Shimmer

Eyeshadow:

Ben Nye Grand Lumiere in Iced Gold

Paula Dorf Eye Glimmer in Prism

Eyeliner:

L’Oreal HIP Creme Eyeliner

Mascara:

NYX Baby Doll Long Length / Volume

Lipgloss:

MAC Lipglass in Pink Clash / Viva Glam VI

L’Oreal Infallible Lipgloss in Sunset / Barely Nude

Total Beauty Web Tour

Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog reviews and gives away a big bag of e.l.f. beauty booty.

Beauty Junkies Unite shows us how to eliminate muffin-top and be comfortable at the same time. Slimpressions makes a favorable impression!

Beauty411 shares her finds for the Best Winter Hand Creams. If your hands need relief, don’t miss it!

Advice Sister’s Alison Blackman Dunham is sharing Fashion Week’s “must-haves” because it’s always the little things that make life easier, more successful, and more fun!.

Head on over to The Makeup Divas and enter to win 2 tubes of Covergirl’s Lashblast Luxe Mascara. While you are there, check out the other giveaways I have.

Boutique Flair experiences oneness with chocolate thanks to Coco-Zen.

Kyl at The Beauty Couch shares some tips on how to stretch your beauty budget.

Butterflydiary has an amazing Fashion Week themed giveaway! Patrick McMullan sent “Fashion Week” survival kits to his celeb friends. Win ONE of these luxury kits here

Viva Woman recommends you to use grapeseed oil underneath your moisturizer because it contains more antioxidant power than vitamins C & E!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings has discovered, and fallen in love with, a foundation that makes skin look flawless and stays in place all day. Read about it here!

Dina at eye4style takes it all off with Paul & Joe’s Makeup Remover. Check out her review here!

Watch Marta’s interview with MAC’s Lead Makeup Artist, Gregory Arlt, backstage at Twinkle!-Talking Makeup.

Checkout the Informed Makeup Maven’s fave mascaras, palette buying tips and reviews check it out and leave a comment

Neon Bible shows you how to get Natalie Portman’s Oscar Look for Less

Addicted To Lipstick shows us swatches and gives us her review of the Mac Hello Kitty Collection. You can see the pics here Mac Hello Kitty Review

Fabulous Over Forty discusses what she thinks is the must have palette this spring.

Image and Style News is having a AVEENO Hair Care Collection GIVEAWAY click here to enter AVEENO Hair Care Collection

Being green just got a whole lot easier. Check out the new Victoria’s Secret PINK Body line at MissWhoever You Are

Blaq Vixen Beauty shares her thoughts on the AHA Souffle she’s been using for the last 5 months!

The contest hosted by More Than a Pretty Face to win one of three Mood Lighting Shimmer Cremes from 3 Custom Color Specialists closes March 7. Enter now!

Beauty Anonymous reviews Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow from Dior spring 2009 collection.

Find out The Secret to Supple Winter Skin at Makeup Bag.

Enter Indian Girl’s GIVEAWAY to win one of five Skin Prep FX Face Primers from Cover FX

StyleBell talks to celebrity stylist, David Babaii, on how you can create Angelina Jolie’s award winning Oscar half up half down hair style!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway. They have 5 boxes of the new Crest Whitestrips up for grabs. Hurry, the contest ends Saturday!!! Check out the details here.

Time for a new giveaway on Beauty Blvd.! Enter to win a tube of Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto! Enter here!

makeup loves me shows you how to get one of the most talked about looks of mercedes benz fashion week, the glossy black eye seen at chris benz. plus, vote on how well she rocks the look!
Lipstick Addict makes a review on Garnier Roll-on Eye Brightener

Glossypink reviews a product collection that will have you thinking your bathroom has been converted to a day spa!

Daneen from Spoiled Pretty may have discovered the BEST BLACK EYELINER EVER! Click here for the review

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Collective Hauls for this week… so far

Since I’m planning on hauling off and on for this week, I decided to break up my hauls into two posts, instead of making one mega post. I’ve been taking advantage of coupons and sales this week, which makes this a very frugal shopping week. All of these items came Ebay, Swapping, Back 2 Mac, Target and so forth.

Here is my haul for this week:

Target – They put their L’Oreal HIP eyeshadow duos on sale for $3.99 and I had a bunch of $3 off coupons, so I indulged in quite a few duos:

Wicked

Rascal

Dynamic

Sassy

Shady

Saucy

Charisma

I also picked a couple of new brushes from Sonia Kushak that I LOVE!

Pointed Blending Brush (MAC 226 dupe)

Large Crease Brush

After Target I hit up the MAC Store to turn in some empties and pick up a new lipglass. I got two mineralized eyeshadows for my B2M empties and one lipglass:

Earthy / Riches

Illusionary / Burning Ambition

Viva Glam VI Lipglass.

Pink Clash – I got this in a swap. I adore this color.

Walgreens – I had heard some good things about the Jordana Pretty Shine lipglosses, so I grabbed a couple when I ran in there a couple of days ago:

Divine

Babe

CVS – I stopped in here because I had some Physician’s Formula coupons that were about to expire along with a couple of other coupons that were expiring as well. So here is what I picked up:

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Eyeshadow Duo in Blue Eyes Organic

Physician’s Formula Palette Powder Corrector in Green

N.Y.C. Metro Quartet in South Street Seaport

Ebay – I love and hate this site. I love the awesome deals, but I hate them as well. LOL. Well, ever since the Stila Mandarin Collection came out a couple of years ago, I had been majoring lemming the Cool Eyeshadow trio, but I wasn’t to purchase it before it went bye bye. Well I found it on ebay for $16 with free shipping. So now that little beauty is now in my collection.

Lastly I ordered some of Coastal Scents E-Z Pressing Medium from Beauty of the Earth. I refuse to purchase anything from Coastal Scents again, but I wanted that product, so I got it from Beauty of the Earth instead. I can’t wait to try it!

Review: Vincent Longo Perfect Shine Lipgloss in Cherros

I purchased this lipgloss when I purchased the Virgin Lux glosses from the 50% off sale. I really didn’t like this color when I first saw it, because in the tube it looks like a dark hot pink. I am not a big fan of pink lip products, I prefer peach/ berry / gold tones. Anyway I decided to bit the bullet and try this one. I am so glad that I did! This color applies sheerly onto the lips, leaving a very nice wash of dark pink on the lips. There is no shimmer or glitter in the gloss, making the color very sophisticated and wearable for day wear.

This gloss is non sticky and long lasting, just like the Virgin Lux lipglosses. The texture is thin, so it doesn’t feel heavy on the lips. Cherros is the only Perfect Shine gloss that I own, but there are several in the line, many with shimmer. These are the in the same container as the Virgin-Lux lipglosses and are also the same price. I highly recommend them, especially if you can get them for a discount!

Product: 4/5

Price: $22

Available: Sephora, Vincent Longo

Small L’Oreal Haul from Walgreens

This week, Walgreens has put L’Oreal Lip products and HIP items on sale BOGO Free, and since I still have a ton of $3 off coupons for anything L’Oreal, I decided to pick up a few items. For about $11.50 I got 2 HIP Loose Kohl Eyeliners in Navy and Burgundy and 2 L’Oreal Infallible lipglosses in Barely Nude and Coral Sands.

I have been dying to try the new kohl eyeliners since they came out, and I have just been waiting to get them BOGO Free, because as you all very well know, I despise paying full price for drugstore makeup. I plan on getting all the eyeliner colors, but Walgreens didn’t have them all, and I grabbed the only two that didn’t have signs of use.  I am happy with my purchase, because I had heard a lot of good things about Burgundy and Navy for brown / hazel eyes like mine. So I am glad that these two weren’t screwed with.

I am also a huge fan of the L’Oreal Infallible lipglosses, as I already owned 8 of them before today. I picked up Coral Sands and Barely Nude, becuase I just wanted some nude long wearing lipglosses. I bought Coral Sands because it is basically a dupe for MAC’s Prr lipglass. The both look exactly the same on my lips. I swapped my Prr away because I knew I was eventually going to get Coral Sands. Barely Nude is very close to my one of my top fave lipglosses, which is NYX”s Megashine lipgloss in Natural. Both glosses look very similar on the lips, now I don’t have to worry about bringing Natural with me where ever I go.

What I’m currently using…

I read this tag on a few blogs now, so I thought I’d do my own. I’m curious to know what you guys use, so let me know in the comments!

Hair

Shampoo: I really am loving Sunsilk Waves of Envy and Aussie’s Protect and Correct Shampoos.

Conditioner: Same as my shampoos. I love using matching shampoo and conditioners…

Styling products:I have some, but I don’t use them. LOL.
Hair mask: Pantene Pro V Fortifying Fortifier

Body

Shower gel: Soap & Glory Clean on Me – <3

Body moisturiser: Lubiderm 15 SPF Moisturizer (in the purple bottle)
Deodarant - Arm N Hammer

Fake tan: Nope!

Face

Cleanser: Neutragena oil free acne wash

Eye makeup remover: Essence of Beauty Oil Free Makeup Remover / Baby Wipes

Exfoliator – I am not currently using one.

Makeup

Primer: Monistat Anti Chafing Gel

Foundation: Maybeline Mineral Power Liquid Foundation in winter / Aubrey Nicole full coverage mineral powder in summer

Foundation brush: Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush (187 dupe)

Concealer: NYX Concealer in a Jar

Powder: NYC Loose Translucent Powder / Aromaleigh Silica Powder

Blusher: Milani Luminous

Bronzer: None

Highlighter: MAC Vanilla Pigment

Eyeshadow base: UDPP, MAC Paint Pots

Eyeshadows: I use a bunch of random ones.

Eyeliner: L’Oreal HiP Creme Liner in Black

Eyelash curler: Don’t use on (yet)

Eyelash base: I don’t have one.

Mascara: NYX Doll Lash, Lash Blast

Lipstick: Don’t really wear a lot of lipsticks

Lipgloss: L’oreal Infallible Lipgloss in Sunset (Mega LOVE!!!)

Nail colour: I change colors a lot, but I stick with cooler shades.

Review: Vincent Longo Virgin-Lux Lipgloss

I purchased these glosses during a 50% off sale at a local high end beauty boutique near my house. I purchased two Virgin-Lux lipglosses in Apollo Gold and Prismalite. I also picked up another LV lipgloss that I plan on reviewing in another post. I normally don’t go for these type of glosses, because these are very sheer, and sometimes hard to see on the lips. I feel ripped of sometimes when it comes to this type of gloss because it seems like I spent X amount of money on nothing.

However, I really, really like these glosses. They are very sheer, but when I apply them to my bare lips, I can see the shimmers dancing on my lips, making them look fuller and sexier. The shimmer is very finely milled – so it doesn’t look like a glitter bomb exploded on your lips. It’s very subtle, making it suitable for everyone. Apollo Gold is gold with slight green shimmer. Prismalite is a very faint pink with gold shimmer. Both of these look good on bare lips and over lipstick. They are non sticky and they last a long time on the lips. They remind me of the Revlon Super Lustrous lipglosses, so if you like those you will love these.

Product: 5/5

Price: $22

Available: Sephora Vincent Longo

Total Beauty Web Tour

Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog and Total Beauty give you the rundown on the 10 best breakthrough products for 2009.

All the single ladies, Beauty’s SPOT found a suitable replacement for men in Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Bath & Shower Cream.

Continuing a month of weekly giveaways, head on over to Bare Budget Beauty for your chance to win a set of Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shimmer or Shine products!

Check out the new Tarte “Spring Greening” palette and A Perfect Whirled cheek stain with Beauty Junkies Unite!

Beauty Anonymous wears Jewel Lips.

Neon Bible checks out some great Valentine’s Day gifts for men.

Alison Blackman aka. “Advice Sister Alison” finds out why TJMaxx and Marshalls really are a shopaholic’s dream, and uncovers some of the “must-have” trends for Spring 2009.

Beauty411 is delighted with the Dior Spring 2009 Makeup Collection!

Viva Woman recommends you to use organic flowers on your face with Zuii Organic Floral Makeup and offers a 15% special discount for her readers.

Come see what mascara The Makeup Divas is raving about.

Indian Girl loves the simple fragrance of KENZO’s Eau De Fleur – Magnolia

Just in time for Valentine’s Day,eye4style is giving away a personal lingerie fitting and a bra and panty set from Eveden. Click here to enter!

Fabulous Over Forty has a FABULOUS Kiss My Face skincare giveaway worth over $200! Hurry – giveaway entrance ends on Sat.

Krista of Boutique Flair knows that silky smooth skin is one part of having a pulled together, stylish look. So, she loves this product!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews an at-home spa treatment that will leave your skin feeling and looking amazing. Read about it here!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway with Ralph Lauren’s new fragrance. Click here for the details and to enter!

Beauty Beast has been taking the new MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation for a test run. Find out what the verdict is byClicking here!

Glossypink shows you how to get Shopaholic’s Isla Fisher’s red-carpet look!

makeup loves me tells you about a bling-tastic valentine’s day spa treatment. happy valentine’s day!

The HomeSpaGoddess shares her thoughts on the new Revlon Matte Collection.

Julie at More than a Pretty Face reviews brow products from Japan and provides readers continual updates on promotions and specials for February 2009. In view of MAC’s Helly Kitty collection, Stila’s Barbie Loves Stila collection, and Too Faced’s Smurfette collection, she asks, What is with the nostalgia craze?

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Daneen from Spoiled Pretty is sharing her love of Felix Rey with all of you. Enter to win an Emma Zip Top Cosmetics Case (retail value $90). Also enter to win all ten shades of CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains, and three tubes of CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara!

Review: MAC Paint Pots

I am always looking for products that will keep my eyeashadow on my lids until I’m ready to take it off. Creasing eyeshadow was one of the things that kept me from wearing makeup for a long time – I didn’t know how to combat it. Well, Fortunately for us, an array of products have hit the market over the past few years that make creasing eyeshadows a thing of the past. One of the products that was recently released in the past couple of years were the MAC Paint Pots. I have to admit, when these products made their debut in 2007, I wasn’t into MAC, so never paid any attention to this release. Besides I had my faithful Urban Decay Power Potion, so I was happy for the moment.

Anyway about a year ago, I broke down and purchased Nice Vice and received Cash Flow as a gift from the Fafi collection. I also just recently swapped for Delft, bringing my total of paint pots up to 3. I have to say, I absolutely love these things. They make my eyeshadow stay on for several hours, without a base. It’s not as long as my UDPP, but it’s hard to beat that product anyways. Delft is the only color that I have that is in the permanent collection. It is a dark teal color with gold pearl.  A good description of the color would be it is the pigment Blue Steel in paint pot form. This color makes a great base for all sorts of eyeshadow looks, from a neutral with a twist to an all out tropical look. It is definitely worth the price.

Product: 4.5/5

Price: $16.50

Available:  MAC Cosmetics

Wet N Wild / Prestige Haul

After my crappy week, I needed a little pick me up, and my local Walgreens had Wet N Wild BOGO Free this week, so I treated myself to some of Wet N Wild’s new offerings. Walgreens also had Prestige liners marked down down to a $1.29 a piece, so I indulged of some of those as well.

I plan on reviewing these products in the upcoming posts.

Wet N Wild:

Speed Gloss in Reckless, Frenzied and Crazed

Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost, Sunset Peach

Mega Last Long Wear Lip Color in Endless

Ultimate Minerals Loose Blush in Barely Peach, Rose Shimmer

Prestige:

Eyeliner in Sage

Lipliner in Shimmer

Soft Blend Kohl Eyeliner in Jasmine, Chamomile

Lightshine Sheer Gloss Liners in Honey Suckle, Banyan, Hibiscus, Lily, Bonzai

All together my haul came in at $24 and change. I was very happy. Nothing like an awesome deal to make you feel so much better!