June 2012 Favorites!

Hi there friends! This is my second favorites video, and I'm starting to really like filming these types of videos over any other type! I'm glad I decided to start sharing my favorites!


Any-hoo, Here is what I have been loving, what are your June favorites??


1. Natural Radiance Wrinkle Reducer patches
-Not sure if these are actually work, because I don't have any wrinkles yet, but they are very cooling and calming on the eyes! Rid of dark circles over night.


2. MakeUpForEver Aqua Smoky Lash mascara
-The DRIEST mascara formula I have ever come across! Perfect for my short and sparse lashes, just wish it had a different price tag! LOL


3. Loreal Magic Souffle Smooth foundation
-The WEIRDEST foundation I have ever used. Looks like a cream, feels like a mousse, but dries to a powder consistency. This is THE BEST foundation for oily complexions during the summer.


4. Julep Daylight Defense SPF 30
-It is always hard to find the right SPF for summer because they tend to be too emollient. They make my oily skin more oily and even cause me to break out. Luckily, this SPF is PERFECT for oily/combo skin. It doesn't feel heavy at all and still provides great protection!


5. Julep Daylight Defense Lip Balm
-I don't care much for SPF in lip balms but I added this to my favorites because I can't get enough of the flavor! It tastes JUST like chocolate after eat mints!! YUM


6. Black Eyeshadow!
-Using black eyeshadow was a bad idea in the past for me. I could never blend it right and it looked patchy and messy and dirty... but I have been practicing and getting the hang of it-- now I can't help but use black in every eye look lately!!


7. Bullet Blending Brush - Coastal Scents
-Using a small little bullet brush like this has made using black eyeshadow so much easier!


8. Broadway Nails Impress Manicure in Love Bites
-This is the second time I've used these types of nails and they lasted so much longer this time around!! It must have been the way I applied last time.. But these lasted a whole 8 days!! Even after dish washing, chores, bathing dogs, etc.




Happy start to July!!

Use up Those Products!!

I wanted to share with all of you. I know this happens to me A LOT! 


I buy a product thinking I'll love it, but it doesn't work out that well and ends up being tossed to the back of a makeup drawer and never sees the light of day again!! 


Instead, I've been trying to use up those kinds of products in one way or another so my money doesn't go to waste and this is what I've come up with for three particular products.


1. Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream in Medium/Deep. -- This was too moist for my oily skin and the shade oxidized horribly with my already reddish undertones.


2. Hard Candy Glamoflauge  Concealer in Medium -- This concealer is very thick and pasty, and though the color is Medium, it is still way too light for my complexion (Emphasis on WAY TOO LIGHT!)


3. CoverGirl Original Setting Powder in Translucent Honey -- I usually use this powder in the same color but in the Clean formula, not Original. Between the formulas, the color is way off. The clean formula is a light caramel shade while the Original formula is more of a tan bronze shade. I might be able to use as a bronzer, but I don't bronze my face too often.


I mixed the BB Cream and the concealer that made a nice match of my normal foundation with a just in between consistency! Though it was a little on the light side, that wasn't a problem because I used the darker powder to even out my complexion.


How do you make use of unwanted products??

$20 Makeup Challenge (TAG)!!

Click HERE to watch the video! ^__^




All Jordana products are $1.25 each, regardless of the item (at Savemart Stores only)


jordanacosmetics.com




Wet n Wild products can be found at all drugstores.


Crown Brush tools can be purchased online at crownbrush.us or at IMATS






RULES:


1. Prices are before sales tax (Tax doesn't count)
2. ALL items used will be counted (brushes, sponges, etc)
3. Total must amount to $20 or less
4. Be creative and have fun!


I tag Makeup by Imera and Ashley Romanian Butterfly!


Products Used:


Face:
-Jordana Creamy Liquid Foundation in Toast
-Jordana Forever Flawless Pressed Powder in Creamy Sand


Cheeks:
-Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in 906D (as cream blush base)
-Jordana Blush in Terra Cotta


Eyes:
-Jordana Eyeshadow in Heart of Gold and Brunette
-Wet n Wild Cream Eyeliner in Black
-Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara


Brows:
-Jordana shadow again in Brunette


Lips:
-Wet n Wild Lipstick in 906D


Tools:
Crown Brush (Sale tab)
-Pro Brow Spoolie
-1/4 Angle Liner
-Mini Blush

LA Splash Cosmetics

Recently I was contacted by a company called LA Splash Cosmetics; they have provided all these products for me to review. The thoughts and opinions on these products are still my own.

The Package I received

Products Available at: LA Splash Cosmetics (online) or Duane Reade stores

Diamond Sparkle Gloss

Electric Shock

-Diamond Dust Sparkle Gloss 
Shade: Electric Shock
Price: $6.99
This gloss was extremely bright. It looked more like children's play makeup or something a drag queen would wear. The shade was not something I see myself or any other adult wearing. As far as the formula goes, it is really nice. This isn't overly sticky or runny, it just has the perfect consistency. The glitter is not obnoxious and it comes off easily with a makeup wipe. I'm sure I would have enjoyed this more in another shade.

Twilight Glitter Liner

Swatches of the gloss, liner, and shadow base

-Twilight Collection Glitter Liner
Shade: Onyx
Price: $6.99
This eye liner was a dud in my opinion. I didn't like the formula, the color, or the glitter. It was runny, smeary, and the glitter was too reflective; it made my lash line look like it was missing liner in some places because the light reflecting from the glitter. 

Shadow Base in Nude

-Enlightened Creamy Shadow Base
Shade: Nude
Price: $6.99
I liked this eye shadow base, it was creamy and smooth, it applied easily and helped shadows stick. The color was a bit off; the container read Nude but it was more of a bronze shade. This was very similar to the Maybelline eye tattoos, only the eye tattoos are a bit more shimmery. 

Shadow Duo in Egyptian Queen

Shadow Duo in Beach Babe

-Glamour Intense Pigment Eye Shadow Duo
Shades: Egyptian Queen (purple and gold) and Beach Babe (teal and pink)
Price: $5.99
These eye shadow duos were very nice. The formula is good, not chalky. The colors are beautiful. The only downside, is these wear off easily. They lasted and looked much, much better with a base underneath. However, I feel these are over priced. The shadows feel and wear exactly like Jordana shadows, only Jordana products are about $1.50 and last fine on their own, without a base. 




****Overall thoughts****: In my opinion this company has products extremely similar to Jordana Cosmetics, but I feel Jordana is cheaper and better quality.

March Julep Maven Box

**Live footage of the box is available on my channel and below; I will also post a video of my allergic reaction at the bottom of this blog post**

Available at: HERE


Box: March Bombshell


Price: $20


Overall Box Value: $52


Packaging: Julep is still offering their reduced sized black box, but this month's goodies was wrapped in a pretty purple paper bag for spring!


Items Received:
-2 Nail Polishes in Sofia (a sheer cream green with blue glitter) and Natasha (a orange cream perfect for tootsies!). Both are valued at $14 a piece.
-1 Julep Maven Emory Board/Nail File (free perk, not offered on the site)
-1 Bottle of Julep's newest salon treatment, "Julep Elixer". An Organic Morrocan Argan oil for hands, face, and hair.


Liked: 
I loved the nail file! (I collect nail files.. hehe) It's simple and black, but I don't mind.


I also loved the polish! Julep is already busting out shades for spring and I will be ready this season with these shades!


Disliked: 
Every time I review a Maven box, I have only good things to say about it. Except this time! The sole item I have to complain about this month is the Elixer. I was extremely excited to try this out because I LOVE argan oil products and use them all the time!! However; I was disappointed in this becuase:
1. It didn't smell like anything
2. I did not notice an improvement of my skin when using this (I didn't try it on my hair)
3. It caused a horrible allergic reaction on my face that landed me in the ER!


I have no idea why that happened, I've used argan oil before with no complaints. Julep's Elixer even states that it is anti-inflamitory, hypo-allergenic, and non-irritating. I wanted this to work for me so badly, but the doctor said to steer clear from it. 


Did anyone else have trouble with the elixer this month? Even though I had that mis-hap, it didn't take away from the over all value of the box for me. This is the first time I've ever disliked a Julep product. I do not plan on canceling my subscription, I will just have to be a bit more careful!

NATURAL RADIANCE SKINCARE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Its time for another giveaway lovely and lucky ladies!(and gents!)

Here is a video on the giveaway, but if you're more about reading blogposts, I have provided all that too!


Company: Natural Radiance: Food for the Skin


What I will be giving away: 10 lucky subbies will win a Purederm Deep Cleansing Peel-Off Cucumber mask. 


Details on the product:

This Cucumber mask gently peels away impurities and dead skin cells while Cucumber extract leaves your skin moisturized, smooth and silky. The airtight mask allows natural ingredients to penetrate deep to unclog pores and increases skin clarity and moisture, leaving a smooth touch, fully hydrated skin.

• Deep clean and moisturizing peel off formula with cucumber extract.
• Gently peels away impurities and dead skin cells while Cucumber extract leaves your skin moisturized, smooth and silk.
• The airtight mask allows natural ingredients to penetrate deep into the pores to unclog and increase skin clarity and moisture

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this mask, it cleared my skin and left it feeling cool and refreshing. It smelled good, and peeling it off was fun! :)


Rules:
-Must be a subscriber to my VixensLovee blog OR my VixensLovee YouTube channel
-Must be 18 or older to enter, or need parents permission (which needs to be denoted in a comment)
-Must be a US resident or have a US shipping address


Giveaway will run until April 30th, Good Luck!!!

MY FACE GOT ALL SWOLLEN!

Products I Hate! Revlon Misses

I usually love Revlon products but lately I have picked up a few things that I just hated, even though I wanted them so badly to work!

The products I picked up were from local drugstores, which I hate! Becuase I didnt like them and couldn't get my money back (I was passed the return policy because I like to test things for a few weeks before I review it!)

Im not sure if I picked up a bad batch, or if these were just past their expiration date (which would explain the clearance) but they were not worth my purchase.

I was dissapointed in:

-Revlon Colorstay Mineral Bronzer
-Revlon Bronzer
and
-Revlon Matte Powder Blush


Revlon dissapoints in these three products

The reason I didn't like these is becuase...

-They were super chalky
-They had slim-to-no color payoff
-They did not last

I do have swatches for you, but if they look the least bit decent it is becuase I had to rub my finger on these for a good 30-45 seconds to get some product on them. This may spund a little dramatic, but I promise, I am not exagerating!

I really wish these had worked better, and for the original price, I can't justify taking the risk on repurchasing in the hopes of having a better batch.


Left: Swatches with flash
Right: Swatches without flash, notice the chalky-chunks

Please let me know if you have purchased any of these and if they worked better for you. I did really want them to work for me, and if they worked better for you, I will go repurchase these for original price. Thanks again everyone!

Love and lipstick,
Monique

Exuviance Purifying Cleansing Gel

Skincare Webstore
http://www.neostrata.com/home.do

I am very pleased to bring this review to everyone! This will be on a cleansing gel that was sent to me by Amy from Neostrata, a skincare webstore. This Webstore sells some of the greatest skincare lines! One company they carry is called Exuviance, a skincare line dedicated to fighting acne with anti-aging properties. I am not always pleased with some of the products I reviece from companies (I'll soon have a review up on something I hated!), but this cleanser really was a great find!

Available at: Neostrata http://www.neostrata.com/product/exuviance+purifying+cleansing+gel.do

Price: $28

Packaging: This cleanser comes in a box, nothing too fancy. I will be honest, when I opened this up I was a little dissapointed. It looked so plain and I thought, "this must not be that great". I was wrong, dont judge a cleanser by its packaging! I dont mind the packaging much if the product itself makes up for it, which is the case in this situation. When it comes to the product packaging, the cleanser comes in a tall plastic bottle with a great pump

My newest addition to my skincare regimine!

Details: An anti-aging facial cleanser with alpha and polyhydroxy acids to soothe and improve the skin's texture. Deep cleans to remove impurities. Non-drying and gentle on skin. Safe to use on all skin types. Soap free, foaming, dermatoligist and allergy tested.

Used for: Entire month of November; once in the morning and once at night.

Pros:
-I love that this is a gel cleanser and doesn't have soap; it did not dry out my skin. Gel cleansers (and moisturizers) are great for oily skin, something I have.
-Effectively washed away makeup and eye-makeup residue. (I use an eye makeup remover but sometimes I am still left with residue from liner or mascara, this cleaser got rid of that)
-Leaves skin extremely soft and smooth.
-Doesn't burn or itch
-It lasted very long. Both myself and my sister used this morning and evening for the entire month of November and I have a little more than 1/4 left. If you use it for yourself only, it will last much longer.
-Very effective in fighting acne:

If I ever fall asleep with makeup on, I am guaranteed breakouts the very next morning because my skin is oily. I cannot fall asleep with makeup on and no matter how late it is or how tired I am, I make it a point to wash off all makeup before bed. I wanted to test the acne fighting of this cleanser, so I fell asleep with my makeup on purpose! The next day I washed up to find no breakouts and I was impressed. I decided to test it out again the next day, same results. I fell asleep for an entire week with my makeup; no breakouts what so ever. This stuff really is amazing!

My cleanser the day I opened it.
This humble bottle hides a great skincare inside!

Cons:
-I wasn't too crazy about the smell of this cleanser. It didn't stink, but it didnt smell that good either. Im not sure how to explain the smell, and if I try, I know it will only sound weird (In my opinion, it smells like cardboard and school supplies....see, weird). However, I read 3 other reviews on this and the women agreed that it smelled really good, so it might be possible that I recieved an older batch?

How to use: Use one pump on; with fingertips, gently massage over face and neck.

Worth it?: YES. I am so glad that I was sent this cleanser. I will be repurchasing this before I run out becuase this is now part of my beauty regimine. I would absolutely recommend this to a friend. It is worth every penny! The results are amazing.

What are your opinions? Do you have a tough time picking out a great cleanser? Would you like to try this? I am thinking about including this in a future giveaway so please let me know if you would enjoy this or not! Thanks again!

Sibu Beauty's Cleanse and Detox Facial Soap

I LOVE using all natural products so I was so happy when I got this in the mail! This is a beauty bar sent to me by Sibu.

Here's a little more on the company:
Sibu is an all natural, all organic, cruelty free premium skin care company.

They pride themselves on their most valuable ingredient; found in all of their products, the Himalayan Sea Buckthorn Berry. The berry is better known as the Beauty Berry in Europe and Asia. It contains Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9 (great for hair, skin, and nails!).

The berry is also rumored to help in weight loss-- but don't eat your soap. :) If using sea buckthorn for weightloss is something you're interested in, they do carry dietary supplements on their website...

On to my review of this soap!

Available at: Sibu Beauty http://www.sibubeauty.com/index.php

Price: This was sent to me; its available for $6.95 (for 3.5 ounces)

Packaging: Shrink wrapped and sealed; comes in a box.

Details: Designed to rid skin of impurities and pollutants from everyday exposure. Creates a barrier to protect skin from UV rays and cell damaging free-radicals. Also promotes tissue recovery and healing.

Beauty bar packaging

Packed with more than 190 bioactive compounds to inhinit bacterial growth. Contains no parabens. Free of dairy, wheat, gluten, yeast, sodium and preservatives.

Pros:
-Smells clean and fresh!

-Lathers to a rich, thick, and creamy soap

-Protects from sun damage! I loved this-- even though its winter, you still need to protect yourself from the sun. Now you can just wash up with this before leaving your house everymorning and top it off with a moisturizing SPF!

-Cleans and conditions the skin

-For ALL skin types.

-Didn't dry out my skin
-Becuase its a bar soap, it will last you a long time

Cons:
-Its a bar of soap, it looks like a plain bar of soap. Am I the only one who loves pretty detailing and packaging..
-Its a bar of soap, it sits on a soap dish-- ew!

My beauty bar right before its first use!

Further thoughts: I really liked this soap. I not only used it on my face, but as a body bar in general. I noticed my skin felt smoother and looked brighter. Its not very cute, but it doesn't take away from the results this gave my skin. The only thing I recommend is to buy a soap container that seals up. I hate leaving bar soap to sit out; it gets full of bacteria and just grosses me out!

Would I recommend this: Yes. I liked the results. I would buy this again, most likely for travel. I think this would also look really cute in a gift basket! :)

Let me know your thoughts! What is your favorite natural/organic skincare product? (Mine is Enfuselle!) Do you like the idea of a beauty bar? Or does that gross you out too? Let me know how you would keep your precious soap from getting ruined!

Sephora's Allure Beauty Editor's Palette

Click to enlarge

This is the second item on my Sephora haul and its another "Traveler's" palette (A palette for on the go!). I had a lot of questions as to why I bought two traveler palettes.
Here's why: The Colorista palette allowed me to pick any shades I wanted for the smaller palette. But sometimes, I took so much time trying to pick and choose colors that it defyed thepurpose of even buying the palette at all; to spend less time at home finicking over my makeup at home! So, I bought the Allure Beauty Editor's Palette by Sephora because it includes 5 already assembled mini palettes in one! When I am really in a hurry, I jsut pick one and go!

Here are the details:

Available at: Sephora

Price: I purchased mine for $54; last I heard it was only $17! :D

Details: 5 mini makeup palettes set into one large container/case. Each palette offers a different look. All the palettes contain 6 shadows, 1 blush, and 1 lip gloss. The palettes pop out of the case and can be put in the mini-compact for on-the-go use.

Compact for mini-palettes.
The hole is to pop the palette out.
Includes a nice mirror and peep-pocket for lip gloss to show through.
Click to enlarge

Packaging: Large shiney, plastic case. Has the Sephora logo on the front. Windows allow you to peek through to the palettes.


Removing from the encasing and inserting into mini compact
Click to enlarge

Pros: These shadows are so beautiful, they have great color payoff and I am very satisfied with them. There is a nice mix of matte and shimmer shades. The blushes are gorgeous and have amazing pigmentation; all the blushes are matte (yay!). The large case/container that this comes in is sturdy. The palettes pop out easily, but not too easily (they will not be falling out every few minutes). I like that I don't need a stylus/pick to remove the palettes like in the Colorista palette. The colors apply with minimal effort, just tap your brush into them and you have enough product! The lip glosses--Oh my goodness, I love them! They have the look and feel of a gloss but the color of a rich lipstick! And they last a good while. The blush and shadows last me a full work/school day with a primer or some sort.


"Beauty 101"
Neutral glam for those just beginning
Soft taupes and warm cheeks
Click to enlarge



"Sparkles Fly"
Sultry evening look
Berry red gloss and a warm sunkissed cheek
Click to enlarge

Cons: The shadows are the slightest bit too soft. One of the shadows is matte black and I accidently dropped it on the floor in my bedroom; it chipped a little and left tons of fall out on my white carpet! (anyone know how to get that out?). So handle these carefully. Other than that, I have no complaints about this palette! Except that I bought it when it was still full price LOL!

"Color Theory"
Pop of color!
Nude gloss and blush to tone down the bright eyes
Click to enlarge



"All Fun No Sun"
Bronze with a pop of purple!
Rosey pink gloss and a warm blush
Click to enlarge

Would I buy this again / Recommend to a friend: YES! Absolutely; I am rarely so completely satisfied with a product but this one has earned its high marks! It makes for a great gift and looks pretty sitting attop a vanity :)

"Where There's Smoke"
Smokey evening look
Mauve cheek and a classic red lip
Click to enlarge

Did you ladies love this palette? Do you like the idea of a "on-the-go" palette? Or do you already have something like this? Let me know in the comments below!

Sephora Colorista Palette

Has this ever happened to you?: You have three or so favorite shades but they're in a larger palette. When you're in a hurry, you try to just bring the entire thing with you but end up with a broken palette or crushed makeup! There is a fix! Sephora has recently come out with two "traveler palettes". The idea is a small removable palette within a larger one holding all of the shades! PERFECT!

The flash blackened the mirror in a photo. Half of the lid is see-through.
Click to enlarge

Here's the skinny!:

Available at: Sephora

Price: (temporarily?) Discontinued, was available for $30

Details: 40 eyeshadows, 15 Lip colors, 3 Cheek and 3 Bronzer shades, 5 Cream liners, 1 Removable palette and 1 stylus/pick to remove makeup pans. The lip, shadow, and liner pans are all dime sized. The blush and bronzers are about 2'' X 3''.


Blush and Bronzer Swatched
Click to enlarge

Pros: Great for travel, small yet sturdy, Nice large mirror on bigger palette, Large variety of shades for the beginner or all makeup lovers. The colors are bright and vibrant. The blushes and bronzers have great color payoff. Lip colors have good pigmentation and are not overly sticky.

Removable inner Palette
Click to enlarge

Cons: Stylus/Pick tends to fall out of place quite often and chip shadows. Cream liners are not very pigmented ; they take multiple applications to show up effectively. Lip colors tend to melt quickly/easily. Most shades are shimmer/not very many matte shades (only 5). Bronzers have a slight amount of shimmer to them.

Eyeshadows. These were too shimmery, they picked up too much of the flash; Still beautiful shadows!
Click to enlarge

Recommendations: Store this flat or remove the little pick to keep it from crashing into your makeup pans; about three of my lip shades have been smeared by this little guy, and two of my blushes have been chipped from it as well. Definitely use a primer for these shadows. They are not horrible in pigmentation, but will last longer with a primer. The lip glosses in this palette are very fragile. I do not recommend taking them with you in the smaller palette because they melt in even minimal heat very easily, and they tend to get full of loose shadow fallout.

Lip Color and Cream Liner swatches.
Click to enlarge

I really enjoy this palette. I took it with me when I went on vacation this summer. It was perfect in size and held some of my favorite shades. Keep an eye out this Christmas for it to come back on sale!

E.L.F Studio HD Powder & SPF 45 Sunscreen UVA/UVB Protection

To finish off my E.L.F Cosmetics haul, I've got the Studio Loose Powders. The picture on the left is the High Definition Powder, and the picture on the right, with the amazingly long name, is a SPF loose powder. These powders have 3.5 ounces of product and are available for $6 each; they are worth the price.

The SPF powder only comes in one color, although it does have a light brown tint to it. This mineralized powder is infused with aloe, grapeseed extract, and vitamins A, C and E. The color applies transclucent but it does come off a little too pink on some darker skin tones. I wore this powder on my recent vacation and it worked so well while on the beach and at the campsite! This provides light coverage and blocks sun damage.

The High Definition powder is translucent and creates what is called a "soft focus" that covers all imperfections. This is designed for those who work with cameras. A TV interview, broadcast, or a photoshoot can sometimes highlight blemishes, but with this powder that is all blurred and softened away. I loved this powder so much, it really makes your complexion glow and look flawless! The first time I tried it I took a picture just to test it out, and this really does wonders in front of cameras. I recommend using this powder very lightly or you will get a ghostly complexion. Another great thing about this product? It is an EXACT dupe for Smashbox Cosmetics' Photo Set HD finishing powder, which retails for about $28! Save some money, get the same results.

Both of these powders control shine very well, but these are not packaged for travel. These are so bulky, I actually had trouble storing them at first and I had to move some of my other things around to fit them. They are just plain big. They have a really nice sifter, though, and a large powder puff. I use the puff to pat the product on, and then I buff it out with a face kabuki.  

E.L.F. Studio Blushes and Blush&Bronzer Duo Compact

Im still working on my E.L.F haul! I bought two blush compacts and a blush and bronzer duo. I was satisfied with all three so lets get right into it and I'll tell you know why.

This blush here is in Giddy Gold. I bought this for a glowy and bright look on my cheeks, perfect for the summer time. This blush was very bright in color; I was expecting it to be a little more wearable for the face ,but it was just too much. I didn't throw this out right away and I use it instead as a highlight. Just a small and light swipe above my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose gives me the dewey look without using an expensive highlighter.  If used sparingly, this could also be used as a highlight for the decollete area when wearing some more revealing tops; if done right, it could look sexy, not skanky!

This next product is the Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in Blushed and Bronzed (how original). E.L.F is definitely trying to dupe Nars' blush and bronzer compact! The encasing is almost the same, only this packaging has a non sticky coating, unlike the Nars compacts. The E.L.F one also has a sturdier and larger mirror. However, as far as the quality of the product goes this is not a dupe at all. Don't let it mistake you, though, these are still really great blushes for a wonderful price. The blush is a corally light pink with hardly any gold shimmer in it. The bronzer is a matte dark brown and it is perfect for contouring. I advise using this bronzer especially lightly and sparingly as it is a little difficult to blend.

This last blush I purchased is in the shade Candid Coral. If you compare it to the photo above, you can see that this blush looks exactly like the blush in the duo compact! I think they might be the same shades so this was a bad buy; only becuase now I have two of the same shades! The only difference is, this one has more gold reflects in it and it definitely not as matte as the other one above.

The blushes are $3 each and the duo compact is also $3. These blushes are very soft and it does not take a lot of product to get a good color payoff. I recommend tapping your brush into the pan and lightly tapping off any excess to avoid fallout. Rubbing or circling your brush will result in way too much product and crazy amounts of fallout. These come in 11 colors and I recommend trying them all!

ELF Studio Kabuki Face Brush

As I was moving my collection, I was looking through all my brushes and realized I didnt have a full sized kabuki brush. I took the chance of buying one from ELF and now I only wish I had bought an extra one for my sister! This brush is $5 and is made of synthetic Taklon bristles. This is supposed to be antibacterial, but really I dont see how that is possible. Just clean your brushes regularly to be safe and keep your complexion clear :) This brush is so soft, I was shocked because after all it is from ELF. It works great and only shedded a strand or two which is absolutely wonderful. The ferrule is metal and quite sturdy; it keeps the bristles fully packed together. This brush is nice and thick, and it is great for full coverage with face powders. For the price, I would consider this a steal :)

E.L.F Studio Mineral Face Primer

To kick off my ELF review, I have here their mineral face primer available for $6.00. If you havent heard of ELF cosmetics before, get on this stuff! This company sells their drugstore brand at the lowest prices ever! These products are available at Target starting from $1, $3, and $5!! I had huge orders so I shopped online. This silicone based primer goes on before makeup to make your face a flawless canvas for your foundation and concealer. Meant to fill in lines and pores, this base will make your face smooth and help your makeup last all day long. This is a great product for the price. This really does apply smoothly and help makeup glide on. It is silicone based which will need to be exfoliated off when washing makeup off. I have no complaints because for only six dollars, it works well and does what it is supposed to do, and its better than paying up to $24 for a smaller amount of Smashbox primer. My only caution is that silicones may make the face oily; however, I have oily skin and this was not a problem for me. Another caution: The pump on this product (genius!) is faulty (not so genius..) It squirts out way too much product in just one pump and the pump is very tough to push down. I recommend carefully pumping half a pump onto finger tips, rubbing finger tips together, and applying a dot on the chin, forehead, and both cheeks before rubbing in with your fingers. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, here is your fix.

Shaklee's Enfuselle Balancing Moisturizer

I had an earlier post on Enfuselle and I got Emails asking for more reviews on this brand because its not commonly heard of. For those who have never heard of or tried Shaklee products, I can tell you it is a company that asks for investment. This stuff gets pricey but it is extremely worth the money. Of everything I have ever tried, this is the stuff I swear by and recommend to everyone. So with that said, I'll have more reviews on all their products that I use in the upcoming weeks.
This is my all time favorite moisturizer, as you can see I have used it almost all up! and When I order this, I use every last drop. Call me cheap but I will wipe every bit of lotion out with my fingers or I'll use a Qtip if I cant reach it lol, which I have been doing as of late. But I just ordered a new one so I'm hoping it comes in before I run out completelyI love this stuff to death, I have been using it for about five years now and I plan to use it until (God forbid) they stop making it. This can be found on Shaklee's website for $25 (w/o shipping and tax) and the bottle contains about 2 oz of product. What I love is how light this is. This feels like I'm not even putting on moisturizer but my skin feels so soft and quenched. There is no dryness, tightness, stretching, etc of my skin at all after I have put this on. This gives skin at matte finish which scores big points for me; I hate when a lotion feel good on your skin but leaves it shiney. This also firms the skin by repairing the skins collagen and protecting it from the suns future damage! After using this for years, I have no premature wrinkles and my skin holds its youthfulness; this product, overtime, has left my skin glowing and naturally beautiful. The photo of me and my main squeeze in the about me section shows me using just this moisturizer and some mascara and eyeliner. Everyone asks what foundation/concealer I'm wearing in that picture and are shocked when I say I'm not wearing any! This lotion is just amazing over all. It has all natural ingredients, no additives, no oils, no parabens, hypo allergenic, no perfumes, no animal testing, no soaps, no artificial ingredients. It is the purest thing you can find for your skin.
The clinical results over the period of 28 days are as follows:
146% increase in skins resiliance
268% decrease in appearance of fine lines
173% decrease in appearance of wrinkles
Restorative of skins natural lipid levels
Basically dolls, this stuff is a miracle worker :) I love it, and if I could provide this for every lady out there, I would. Hope you all get a chance to try it, Happy Blogging! And as always, god bless :)

Biore Nourish Moisture Lotion

Here is another moisturizer I tried and its Biore's Nourish with SPF 15. I found this at Walmart for around $9. I got this because I absolutely love Biore's cleansers, so I trusted that the lotion would be good too. (I'll have cleanser reviews up soon!) This lotion is supposed to deliver nutrients, balance and fortify the skin. I usually only use this at night because its quite heavy but I like the way my skin looks in the morning. I wake up with a softer and more glowing complexion; maybe from the "balancing and fortifying"? Whatever it is, I really like it! The only reason I don't use it for day is because the heavy consistency leaves my skin oily :p Darn oil! Lol, but for night time use it is perfect. It hydrates my skin over night so in the morning I don't have puffy dark eyes (dry skin under the eyes causes all of that!) and in the morning I just wash off excess oil and use my lighter day lotion. If you dont have oily skin, this is a great product for all day wear. Happy Blogging!

Olay Complete

Another moisturizer I tried was Olay's Complete moisturizer for Combination/oily skin. This was around $10 at Walmart and I had heard great things about it so I bought it on a whim. I came home and tried it for a few days. The box promised a light and non greasy formula with UV protection and Vitamins E & B3. After trying it for about a week, I could not stand it anymore :/ It actually burned when I put it on my face. Again I didnt like the smell on this one either and it still left my face oily. I decided to look on Olays website and the reviews their from other (dis)satisfyed customers said that the company developed a new formula recently (the one I bought) and that it was just horrible. Others agreed with me that it was not oil free and made their faces more oily. These ladies were very upset and all were demanding the old formula back which was truelly Oil-free. I should have read the reviews before purchasing lol. But I didnt completely waste ten dolars; this moisturizer turned out great for my mom :) I'll keep looking!

Proactive Solutions

I have been obsessed with moisturizers lately. Its close to summer and my skin needs a light moisturizer that won't give me any oil and but add some SPF. I am still on that struggle to find that perfect moisturizer! But I have tried a number of some recently and I thought I would share what I thought about them. The first is Proactive's Oil Free Moisture with SPF 15. It comes in their package for $30.  This was supposed to keep from adding oil to my skin, which I really need because I have oily skin. I had high hopes for this but they came crashing down after I tried this. I was hoping for something light that can go on under makeup. It is light, but thats the only thing I liked about it. This is not oil free, it actually made my skin more oily! Especially on my forehead. This also smelled yucky. So I don't recommend this for those of you with oily skin. I'll keep looking for that perfect moisturizer, wish me luck!