beauty

products I’m loving

by Lara on January 17, 2012

in beauty

Just sharing a few things that I’m really diggin right now.

My hair is baby fine and stick straight so to get some great body at my roots, I’ve been adding a small amount of this to my roots and halfway down while my hair is still damp, before I blow dry. My hair gets oily looking fast and this extends my hair a day by just fluffing with a dryer and brush. It doesn’t feel like I have anything in my hair either. Love love this stuff!

Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel

At $47, I doubt I will get the full-size of this foundation but holy moly the sample was amazing! Perfect flawless coverage and a little goes a long way.

Givenchy Photo’Perfexion Fluid Foundation SPF 20 PA+++

For removing glitter polish, those jars with sponge and acetone are the best. The rough sponge surface helps remove glitter much easier than a cotton ball and they last a loooong time. I think any brand will do.

jar polish remover

This is a mixed review – Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter. I was thinking this would be a sheer glossy lip balm of sorts. Nope. It’s almost opaque and what you see in the tube is what you get on your lips. It’s also super moisturizing and shiny right when you put it on but dries out like lipstick soon after. So, if you see a color you like, grab one but expect lipstick.

I got Raspberry Ice – photo via

Have you tried anything new lately?

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after Christmas clearance

by Lara on December 28, 2011

in beauty

Did you hit up the sales on the 3rd most popular shopping day of the year? I heard some crazy stories about chaotic clothes shopping in the actual stores with things being picked over or deals not being all that great. I’m pretty set on clothes right now but I did check out the sales online. There wasn’t a damn thing I wanted! Stores were still hocking summer stuff as their super deals.

My big thing is to get wrapping supplies and decorations on clearance. I hit 2 Wal-Marts (really looking for elusive vacuum bags) and 1 Target. Women were cart blocking like crazy at 9am at Target but I manged to squeeze myself in.

I got all of this for $25! The platter is ceramic and there are even some cat toys for next year!

Love that polka dot wrapping paper. It’s fun to find things you can use year round but I wasn’t so lucky this year.

On Tuesday I also hit Sally Beauty Supply and scored on nail polish. 50% off already marked down stuff. That’s what I’m talking about! I got these 6 polishes for $6!!

The first is China Glaze Trendsetter. I’ve wanted this polish for a long time but it’s hard to find. Love the weird colors.

From L to R: China Glaze Trendsetter, CG Skyscraper, CG Haunting, Finger Paints Military Green, FP Catwalk Queen, Orly Monroe’s Red

 

So tell me tell me! What did you score?

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ruby pumps

by Lara on December 19, 2011

in beauty

Here’s an easy manicure for the holidays.

I grabbed a mini bottle of China Glaze Ruby Pumps for $2 at Sally last week and added a green accent nail with some glitter. An accent in gold or silver would be sweet too!

looove this color!

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cat eye tutorial

by Lara on December 3, 2011

in beauty

I never leave the house without my eyes done and lately, I’ve had a few people ask me to teach them how to do cat eyes. This is my pathetic attempt to draw diagrams with my mouse.

The main thing to keep in mind is step 3 – the tail. Following the line of your lower edge is ideal. This is what gives your eye some tilt. It should also point to the end of your eyebrows, if you follow standard eyebrow rules, which frames the lid.

Whether using liquid eyeliner with a brush or felt tip, or using a slanted brush and gel liner – it’s never a one-stroke process. I always have to take the tip and touch up all over the place. Some days my hands, eyeliner and eyes cooperate like magic. Other days I’m ready to throw everything out the window.

I also recommend taking some black shadow and rubbing it along your upper lashes to cover up any gaps that your lashes can cause.It covers a multitude of sins.

Here’s a great tutorial showing both liquid (felt tip) and gel liners:

If you have any questions… feel free to ask in the comments!

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October 2011 Birchbox

by Lara on October 12, 2011

in beauty

Well, I think Birchbox is back on the road to redeeming itself after a few weak boxes. My mom and I got the full year up front, splitting the cost, so we’re kinda stuck with ‘em anyhow.

They did give me $10 credit for the defective Incoco nail decals and Incoco is sending me a new sample so kudos for good customer service! It means a lot.

I like the looks of this box. Mom is keeping the hair treatment since I kept the last one and we’re sharing the rest. I haven’t tried anything but the Befine lip serum. It’s not a gloss – definitely a treatment but leaves a nice finish and has no flavor, scent or stickiness. It feels really nice and I’m digging it.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you about the blinc liquid eyeliner sample I got a while back. It was awesome. Didn’t budge! This mascara should be pretty bitchin too.

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Fall lips

by Lara on September 29, 2011

in beauty

I go back and forth wearing neutral glosses and bold color. Laziness is usually the determining factor. Keiko Lynn just did a post on Revlon lipsticks that got my lipstick sisters and I drooling.

So, I made a trip to Rite Aid (they have a way better bonus system than CVS and I had horded quite a few coupons). I picked 4 lipsticks for next to nothing and I love them all!

I hadn’t tried a Maybelline lipstick in forever but they’ve drastically improved their quality and the way they organize their colors. (There was also a BOGO deal.) I also like that I can open their tubes in the store and really look at them. You can only peer into the darkness of a Revlon tube.

No matter what a color looks like in a tube though, it’s always different on your lips. I sure wish they would note if it’s sheer!

Here are the four I picked:

 

  • Maybelline – 830 Plum Shine – buildable color, nice shine effect, very wearable, wears off nicely
  • Revlon – 027 Violet Frenzy – This is from their special Fall display and maybe a limited edition. It looks really dark in the tube but goes on sheer and builds well. That’s about 5 swipes on the swatch.
  • Maybelline – 160 Fifth Ave. Fuchsia – So bright! So much fun! Very opaque.
  • Revlon – 720 Fire & Ice – I’ve always wanted this color. It’s a vintage shade – 55 years old! I’m sorry I missed out on the re-issue of the vintage tube. Very opaque. Gorgeous!

What colors have you been wearing lately?

Are you going to try anything new for Fall?

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September 2011 Birchbox

by Lara on September 15, 2011

in beauty

It just arrived! I haven’t sampled a single thing, just showing you what I got. This marks their one year anniversary.

Here’s what was inside.

First the card (with full-size prices), which will explain everything:

I’m preeeetty excited about these Incoco nail polish appliques. I’ve never heard of this brand before and these have lots of texture and glitter. Only 12 were included in this sample set but I will make ‘em work.

and the rest:

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+ & –

by Lara on August 2, 2011

in + & -

  • New favorite body scrub- no need for lotion after your shower!

Oh most merciful Supreme Kitty, I thank thee for the bounteous backyards thou has placed before mine eye. Bless I, your humble servant, as I embark on my daily quest for sustenance and glory. Make swift mine legs and sharp mine claws, that I may chase down many mousies and little birds, and may your high priests The Hoomins smile upon mine offerings when I drop them on the carpet before them.

  • The Konad stamper arrived. Still waiting on the plates! So excited!

  • MTV turned 30 on Monday. I just realized I’m older than MTV.
  • Yup

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sugar tips

by Lara on July 13, 2011

in beauty

I attempted one of those glitter tip manis.

in order of application

I’m loving this mani and it was super easy too, just a lil time consuming. Turn on a movie and take your time.

  • I have really weak nails and 1 coat of this base makes them super strong.
  • 1 coat cream polish
  • With barely any on the brush when applying the metallic polish, just kinda tap and streak up your nail in peaks and valleys. I went a bit higher than I wanted. Oh well.
  • The glitter went a bit higher and I added another thick coat of glitter just on the tippy tips.
  • Then a top coat (or not). You can apply Seche Vite when your nails are still kinda wet and they dry in about 10 minutes!

Any color variation would work with this – a cream base, a light metallic and a glitter.

Oh! Broke and Beautiful is doing a July nail challenge! Paint those nails ladies and submit your link! You could win a package of nail goodies!

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July Birchbox

by Lara on July 11, 2011

in beauty

My July Birchbox arrived today!

It was put together by Cynthia Rowley – a few of her favorite things.

I actually took pics this time so let’s check it all out:

First off, the box had an agate effect sleeve. Fancy fancy.

You open it up and find a little card with a note from the Birchbox team, and on the back, there’s a list of all the products and full-sized prices.

Shine spray AND a dry oil? redundant much? I just bought that amika argan oil stuff for my hair so this is a bit of a grease overload this time around.

I am kinda excited about that Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse dry oil. Oil on your face isn’t a bad thing. Trust. I had to check out the ingredients online – all natural: Borage, St Johnswort, Sweet Almond, Camellia, Hazelnut, Macadamia Plant Oils – it smells wonderful and that generous sample will last forever.

Also, I’m just gonna say, I don’t want a granola bar in my Birchbox. I’d rather have some teeny sample of some face cream than a damn snack (although it was pretty delicious). That’s just me.

and what was wrapped up in the box?

I love Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar. It’s super light for summer and I’ve used this face wash before. It’s pretty harmless. The mini Zoya polish is called Pandora. They describe it as a “metallic nude”. I think it’s a pearlescent greyish pink, if that makes any sense. I’ll use it in my next mani and show you!

So that’s that!

I will probably only use the shine spray on a day I plan on washing it anyhow. There are some sketchy ingredients listed on the can that don’t float my boat. The Redken site doesn’t disclose them and neither does Birchbox. Hmmm.

Anything you want to hear more about?

What would you like to try out of all this?

P.S. here’s the other Birchbox post I did – no reveal pics though

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