Walmart haul: CQ & NYC nail polish

While watching one of SWalkerMakeup's older videos on youtube, I saw that she had on the prettiest nail polish. When I saw that she had left the brand in a comment, and I saw that it was a drugstore brand, I had to run and check it out.





The color was N.Y.C's Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Pink Promenade Creme. I also picked up the In A New York Color Minute polish in Manhattan. You already know how much I love these polishes. While the Long Wearing line isn't as good as the New York Color Minute ones, they are still decent quality. I had to put on a few coats to get the color in the bottle, and the first coat goes on streaky, but the result is a beautiful pinky red color.





I had read on a blog, whose I cant remember, about the CQ line of eye shadows. I have always seen them in the store and passed right on by because I had never heard any reviews. Since the blog post was positive and the line is super cheap, I decided to pick up a few things.





I got an eye shadow in the color Taupe. It's a gorgeous, highly pigmented color that lasts all day long...all for $2! The shadow is a little bit powdery, but I can put up with that. It looks so pretty paired with MAC's Satin Taupe or a little bit of Carbon.


[Swatches]




The lipstick is in the color Tickled Pink. It's a nice every day natural pink color that can be applied without a mirror. I like colors like these for work because there isn't always a mirror handy, and you don't have to worry about looking like a clown. The lipstick has a bit of an overly perfume-y smell, but it's not noticeable once on the lips. It glides on very smoothly, but doesn't last too long. For being a pretty color & $2 as well, I can live with having to reapply. Just a little piece of advice if you go to check these out...make sure you open the cap to check the color! You can see the color in the bottom of the tube like the NYX Round Lipsticks, but it doesn't match the actual color at all. On this specific one, the color in the bottom of the tube is more of a nude color.


[on the lips]




I hope you're all having a nice relaxing weekend :)

NARS at TJ Maxx!!!

I took my son to see Santa today, and took a few detours in an effort to pick out my Christmas presents from my parents. I decided that I was in need of a new purse. One that was a little more higher end than the ones I usually pick up from Target/Kmart/Walmart. I found a Kathy Van Zeeland one in Boscovs that was a little more subdued than her usual overly blinged ones, but it was more than my mom was willing to spend. I tried Boscov's and they had nothing, so it was off to TJ Maxx.

I found a really pretty cute new purse & wallet, but I'm not allowed to have them until Christmas, so photos will have to wait. But I did convince my mom to let me have the NARS duo early. Yes NARS! For $24.99 I got Striptease lip gloss & Deep Throat blush!! These are both on my NARS wish list, so I was super excited!! (If you can't tell by all the exclamation points!!)





I don't have a proper review or swatch of them on the skin because I wanted to hurry up and post this in case anyone wants to run over to TJ Maxx to see what they can find.


Swatches:

{Deep Throat/Striptease}





I also saw a 5 (I think) pack of mini lip glosses for $24.99. I believe it included Striptease, Orgasm, Harlow, and Triple X. Unfortunately I can't remember the last one. As the gloss/blush duo put me to the limit, I didn't pick this up, but I think I might go back when I get paid to see if they have more. I also believe that I saw a video on Youtube where someone found the NARS Body Glow, so Ill have to keep an eye out for that.

Enjoy the rest of your weekends!

Stuff from Big Lots

I always try to come up with some witty title and I just can't do it; hence "stuff from Big Lots." I guess it's straight to the point!





Top: Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadows in Not Just Nudes/Luxurious Lengths Mascara in Black

I'm really happy with these! The colors are really pretty neutrals, and they are quite pigmented. I always use these on top of UDPP, so I can't testify to whether they crease if used on their own or not. I don't bother chancing it because I have semi oily eye lids, and I don't want end up with a hot mess halfway through the day. Used in conjunction with the primer, these shadows last all day long and make the color of the shadow stand out. They are definitely worth checking out even at full price. I think this duo pack was around $3.99, but as I've lost the slip I cant be sure.

Swatch:





The mascara is CRAP! It's a really weird brush shape which has smaller bristles on one side and longer ones on the other. I'm not sure of the way you're intended to use it, but I've tried using the smaller end first; the longer end first; and alternating sides. None works. The formula seems rather dry, and I find I need to keep putting the wand back in the tube in order to get any product on my lashes. Once I do though, the results are poor. I guess if you're looking for a very natural look, with just a darkening of your lashes, than this might work. Although if that's the case, I think I'd rather just go mascara free.


Middle (left): E.L.F Clarifying Pressed Powder in Tone 2 (came with the blush brush!)

The only reason I bought this was because of the price--around 1.50-- and the brush. The only store that sells E.L.F products around me don't carry any of the brushes. I didn't have high hopes for this brush because most of the reviews werent positive about it, but I love it! I use it every day. It's not the softest brush in the world, but it doesnt scratch my face. It's a bit thinner than my other angled brushes, so I think it works really well for contouring and the very apples of my cheeks.

The powder is okay. I've purchased this powder once before and it was way to orange, so I threw it out. This one isnt as bad, but it still has orange undertones, so I don't use it all that much.


Middle (Right): L'Oreal Gloss Burst in Pink Guitar

I've never seen this product before in stores, nor did I find anything except an Ebay Australia listing for it. It's essentially a starburst-esque pattern with varying shades of pink. When mixed together, it's just a bright pink, but the gloss isn't very glossy, it's pretty drying, and wears off quickly. If you happen upon them in Big Lots, pass them by.





Left: Ms. Makeup Eye Lash Curler

Don't buy this!!!!

I purchased this cause of the use of my two favorite colors, but it cut off some of my lashes! The pad must not be wide enough for it because when I closed the curler the top & bottom parts closed over the pad & sliced off my lashes. The pieces that got cut off were smack dab in the middle section, but no one seemed to notice till I pointed it out to them. The point is...I NOTICED! lol Thankfully they're starting to grow back.



Right: Ms. Makeup 6 piece Travel Set


This comes with a: blush brush, powder brush, eye shadow brush, sponge tip applicator, brow/lash comb, and lip brush. Again all crap, but what can you expect for 3 bucks? They brushes shed, and the powder & blush brushes are pretty flimsy. The sponge tip applicator and brow/lash comb are okay. The best part is the cute little pouch tho.






Next up is hair & body....






Left: TRESemme Smooth & Silky Deep Smoothing Masque

I've never actually seen any TRESemme masques in stores like Walmart or Target, so I don't know if you can get this anywhere besides Big Lots. This smells very clean, and is meant to be slathered on and left for 3 mins, and you wake up with smooth, silky hair...and you do! If I shower and then sleep on wet hair, I wake up with a frizzy mess, but this actually reduced the frizz and my hair was pretty smooth all day long. And it was super soft too. All for the price of $3 :)


Right: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Firming Butter with Q10 Gradual Tanning Moisturizer

What a mouthful! I adore the original Palmer's lotion, so I thought I'd give this a try. It smells every bit as chocolatey goodness as the original, but the old biscuit smell does unfortunately kick in after a bit. But it's oh so worth it. After just one application, I had a little bit of golden color that wasn't at all streaky. As usual, I get lazy and didn't continually use this, but I imagine it will give me a nice tan since I got some color after using it once.


Finally I couldn't resist this cute pink Sharpay from HSM hair brush. Yes I am aware that I should probably grow up a little, but I dont want to!

Today's FOTD

During the week I tend to be rushed for time, so I usually skip eyeshadow. Today I decided to put in the effort and do up the eyes. I even went so far as to wing the liner out a bit, and it didn't turn out too bad!

{Well hello there Edward!}




Face:

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige
E.L.F Clarifying Pressed Powder in Tone 2
Physician's Formula Mosaic Powder Palette in Healthy Glow Bronzer
Prestige Skin Loving Minerals in Glam Tan (to contour)
NYX Blush in Angel


Eyes:



UDPP
MAC Retrospeck (all over lid)
MAC Tempting (in crease)
MAC Carbon (in outer v)
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in Black (upper lash line)
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Zero (waterline)
L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black (base coat)
Rimmel The Max Volume Flash in Extreme Black


Lips:

Hard Candy Painted Lady Lip Color in Fire Alarm

NOTW: NYC Pink Poodle

I finally used the "In A New York Color Minute" n/p in Pink Poodle that I bought a few months ago. It's a really pretty baby pink color with tiny gold shimmer running through it. I absolutely love these nail polishes. They are affordable and really great quality; plus, they last for about 5 days before chipping. The only negative to this specific color is that it goes on a bit streaky and needs about 3 coats to get a good color. Unfortunately, this was a limited edition color, so you can't find it in stores, but the colors in the regular line are just as gorgeous! Go check them out :)





On another note, I went and saw New Moon last night!! I had pre-ordered tickets a week ago for myself and my friend, as part of her bday gift. The showing was at 7:00, so we went to get a bite to eat first and then to stand in line @ about 6:00. They were showing it on 5 screens, with the times overlapping, so the line was pretty damn huge! Once they let the 6:30 people in, I'd say there were close to 150, maybe more in line for the show. People were gangsta about finding a good seat! There were women in their mid 30s fighting over seats...lol. When I say fighting, I clearly mean lots of catty name calling! I couldnt believe it. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the movie itself. Certain parts were a bit cheesy, but they there were some comical moments that the first one lacked. I think I prefer Twilight much better, but I think New Moon is worth seeing. If for no other reason than you get to see Taylor Lautner shirtless & standing in the pouring rain!

Target Haul: Dollar Section & Pixi

This haul is from around 2 months ago, so I apologize as you might not be able to find the things from the $1 section any more. I always mean to be more diligent in posting hauls & things right away, but it never seems to happen!




The calendar was $1 and it's a perfect size to fit in my desk drawer at work. The top of my desk is taken up by my monitor, tower, files, and pictures of my loved ones. So I was pretty happy to find this for a buck & in pink with butterflies. I was in Target this past weekend and while they didn't have this particular calendar, they did have the same size in different designs, so you can still get something similar.

I love that Target pretty much always carries Hello Kitty items in the $1 section. I was extra excited to see pink Hello Kitty bubble gum scented anti-bacterial wipes (say THAT 3 times fast!) as the Swine Flu is going around, and I'm doing everything I can to keep it away from me and my son. I originally put 10 packs in my cart, but restrained myself down to 2. The scent is definitely artificial and not 100% like bubble gum, but it's still pretty nice. Plus they're real handy when you're out and there is no soap & water in sight. The pen was also a dollar and has a cute Hello Kitty charm...what more could you ask for?

The face wipes are Target Brand Age-Defying Towelettes. Clearly there is no beneficial age defying properties here, but they smell nice & were cheap, so that's why I got them. They work like any other face wipes and managed to take off all of my make up. I would buy them again. I can't remember the exact price but they weren't more than $4.50.




[The flower pot was a Mother's Day gift from my 6 year old]


Whenever I'm in Target, I tend to glance at the Pixi, NP, and Jemma Kidd displays, but never buy anything because I think it's rather expensive for a "drugstore" brand. I figure if I'm gonna be spending around $14 for one product, I'd rather go to MAC. But I noticed some of the products were on sale, and the Pixi Lip Boosters were one of them. For some reason, not all of the colors were on sale, but out of the few that were I picked a color called Nixie. It looked like a really pretty light pink in the tube, but when it comes out it's much brighter. It's a click type pen with a brush applicator. I believe it was about $5 on sale. I really like the product and do think it's worth the full price of $18. It's nicely pigmented, smells fruity, and is pretty moisturizing. Plus you get 4 ml's of product in one tube.


Here's a photo of me wearing it.




Have a wonderful week everyone <3

Avon Haul (1) and Review

It's been about a year and a half since I ordered anything from Avon. At my last job a co-worker was a representative, so I would order pretty much from every campaign--not good for the wallet! Just recently a co-worker at my current job became a representative, so I decided to help her out and order from her first campaign...good excuse right!?!

Onto the small haul...





To the very left we have Nail Experts Pearl Shine. It helps to "strengthen the nails with vitamins", and give them a "lustrous pearl finish & a healthy buffed look." I can't attest to the strengthening part because you're supposed to use it regularly for it to work. I use this once every few months when I'm too lazy to polish my nails, but want them to look nice. It's very easy to use, with no streaking, and it dries instantly. At $6 it's definitely worth a look if you're into a minimal nail look.





In the middle we have Advanced Techniques Pillow Curlers. I bought these because my hair can not hold a curl to save it's life. After about five minutes all the curl falls out. I figured since these were "pillow' curlers they would be soft enough to sleep in. I was wrong. While I imagine they are more comfortable than regular curlers, I'm just too much of a wimp to wear these through the night. I tried them for around and hour and couldn't get to sleep properly and woke up with a headache, so I took them out. So as you can tell I haven't given these a proper try, but when I first got them, I wore them for about 5 minutes, and ended up with a nice soft curl. Obviously it didn't hold because I didn't use hairspray or anything, as I was just testing it out quick. I do plan on buying another pack. You get 12 for $4.99, and while I can get all my hair in these 12, it's a bit too much and it falls out. They are super easy to use though. It essentially feels like a few cotton balls wrapped in soft cotton material with a wire inside. You open it up and put some hair in, than roll it up and fold the ends over. It doesn't pinch or pull at all.

To the right we have Dew Kiss Lip Dew. It's a moisturizing lip balm..'nuff said. It's a pink color in the tube, but goes on clear on the lips. I used to use this all the time in HS, so I bought another one for nostalgia sake. It has an perfume-ish scent, which I'm not too fond of, but at 79 cents you can't go wrong. It also leaves the lips with a bit of glossy shine.

Finally, in the tube, we have Look Alert Focus Regard Eye Brightener in Illuminating Pearl. According to the Avon website, it has "light reflecting pearls that dispel dark circles, fade away fine lines, and optically airbrush imperfections." Sounds great, right? WRONG. It does none of the above. It's a pinky-white pearl color, but the formula is super runny, and I can't tell the difference when I use this and I don't. I've tried it under and over foundation, and it doesn't work either way. I also tried it as a cheek highlight, but once I rub it in, it pretty much disappears. Thankfully, it was only $3.99, so it wasn't a huge waste.