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June 30, 2012

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup


Want more reading material from the beauty world? Check out these recent posts from members of the Beauty Blog Coalition.


June 28, 2012

Anastasia Lash Genius Review

Mascara is a necessary product in my makeup routine. In the summer, it tends to wear off pretty easily though. If you don't use a waterproof formula, say bye-bye to your mascara by the end of the day. With Anastasia Lash Genius that's not a problem because you can waterproof any mascara. Yes, I said  waterproof any mascara!


 Lash Genius is a clear waterproof top coat for your mascara. It will protect your mascara from drying out or clumping. With Lash Genius you don't have to worry about buying waterproof mascara for special occasions or days spent in the water. I was able to try it at the same time that I tried the See and Be Seen Kit.


 I love this product because I participate in a lot of summer activities and I can't stand wearing waterproof mascara. It always looks clumpy and makes my lashes feel stiff.  I've been wearing Lash Genius over my favorite (non-waterproof) mascaras. I notice that my mascara lasts longer, doesn't melt or wear off, and keeps my lashes feeling soft all day. The best part is that my mascara doesn't budge in the water!
Lash Genius can also be used on false lashes!! After you apply your lashes and mascara, you can add Lash Genius to hold your lashes in place and it will make them appear more natural looking. 

Lash Genius retails for $21 and can be found at Sephora or on Anastasia's website. This product is worth the money! I've discovered for myself that it really does its job. Try it out for yourself - you won't be disappointed!

Here's a great video for more info and demonstrations: 






What are your thoughts on waterproof mascara? 
Will you try Anastasia Lash Genius?


Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review. I am not being compensated for this post and no affiliate links were used within this review. All opinions are my own honest opinions.

June 25, 2012

Simple Flower Mani



I've gone on a nail polish buying spree lately and I honestly can't get enough! Now that I have a growing collection of polish I am more interested in using multiple colors for my manis and getting creative with designs. I don't have fancy manicure tools so I went on a hunt to find dotting tools but had no luck. I turned to Google to help me out and discovered how to make dots without the tools using a bobby pin!



Here are the colors I used for my mani:
Fear or Desire from Essie (orange), Strong Like Jazz by Piggy Polish (purple), and Unicorn from Sinful Colors (yellow).

The Design:
I applied 2 coats of Fear or Desire to start with, so I had an orange base. Then I took a bobby pin and straightened it out so that it made one long pin with a point on each end. I put a couple of drops of Unicorn on a piece of paper and then dipped my pin into the polish. I made flower shapes and dots on my nails with the yellow polish. Then once that dried, I dipped the other end of the pin into Strong Like Jazz in order to add the purple center to the flowers. After I finished the design and allowed it to dry for a bit, I added a top coat. 

It was a super simple and fast design that anyone could do and you don't need special tools. If you don't have bobby pins laying around you can also use toothpicks or straight pins. 


What do you use for dotting?
If you haven't tried it will you try it now that you know how easy it is?

June 24, 2012

Giveaway - 2 $300 VISA Gift Cards!



The Beauty Blog Coalition members may not all be American, but we do love to celebrate all holidays with our friends, so we bring you the 4th of July Competition, with not one but two $300 USD Visa gift cards! All terms and conditions may be found at the bottom of the Rafflecopter widget. • Competition ends July 5th, 2012.• You may enter on any of the blogs below - Rafflecopter won't allow you enter twice. • You may tweet about the giveaway (the last option in the Rafflecopter) every day for extra entries! Please visit the lovely sponsors of this competition!





15 Minute Beauty Fanatic Beauty and Fashion Tech
Beauty by Miss L Beauty Info Zone
BeautyTidbits Blushing Basics
BlushingNoir Bottles and Bottles of Polish
Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom Cosmetically Challenged
Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist Endless Summer
Future Derm Geniabeme Beauty Blog
Making Up the Midwest Midnight Manicures
Moxie Reviews My Beauty Bunny
My Highest Self My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog
Nails and Noms NaturallyNancy1
Oh So Lacquered Peek.Ponder.Publish
Perilously Pale Phyrra
Polarbelle polish insomniac
PolishGalore Prime Beauty
retrodivas beauty Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful
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June 22, 2012

In My Beach Bag


Hot weather has arrived along with the urge to hit up the beach. If you're spending the day laying out in the sun, it's a good idea to bring a bag of necessities with you. I live in California, but I'm not close to the beach so this is more about what I bring to the pool.

Here is a look at what I generally keep in my bag....



 In My Bag

1. Sudoku book - I got this pretty little sudoku book in a random shop but you can find sudoku books everywhere. I love doing sudoku puzzles when I have some down-time. 
2. Reading material - I usually bring a current magazine or a book to read. I don't do tons of reading at the pool though because I get distracted very easily. I'm a people watcher!
3. Earbuds - obviously I bring my iPhone with me so I also throw my earbuds into my bag so I can listen to some tunes.
4. Hair-tie & Lip Balm - these are self-explanatory items. I have long hair and it makes me freaking hot in the summer (!!!) so I always keep a hair-tie or clip around. I also like to keep my lips feeling hydrated.  My favorite lip balm is Burt's Bees Replenishing Balm with Pomegranate Oil.
5. Sunscreen - I slather on the sunscreen before I go to the pool but I also bring it with me so I can reapply after spending an hour or two in the sun. I use Coppertone Sport SPF 30.
6. A drink - I take a tumbler (this is a Starbucks one obviously) and fill it with cold water or juice. 
7. A snack - I usually just bring a little something to munch on. I always get hungry at the pool!
8. Sunglasses - Got to keep the sun out of my eyes!



What's one item you must have in your beach bag?
Tell me in the comments below!

June 19, 2012

June Birchbox: theBalm, Eyeko, John Varvatos

Another Birchbox review! This month's theme is Jet Set. Take a look at what came in my box - you might want these products for your next trip!



What came in my box

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner
Full size: $15

 I've heard of this UK brand several times but have never tried it. I typically don't wear liquid eyeliner but am always willing to give it a shot. This particular liner includes a felt tip in order to achieve a precise line. This liner is designed to stay put (literally, I had the hardest time scrubbing it off!).


My thoughts: I don't think I'll be adding this liner into my daily routine.It's not that I don't like it;  I just don't like intense liner on me - my eyelashes almost disappear. I'll keep it around for the times that I wear false lashes for that extra intensity.




Melvita Rose Floral Water
Full size: $22

 This is a lightweight rose-scented spray meant for refreshing the skin and also has healing properties. The spray comes in Lavender and Orange Blossom scents as well.

My thoughts: It smells nice and is refreshing on your face but I'm not sure I can justify paying $22 for this type of product. I prefer sprays that are designed for setting your makeup. This just doesn't give me enough benefits for the money.


theBalm cosmetics Stainiac
Full size: $17

I'm glad I was able to try a product from this brand - I've heard about it everywhere. Stainiac is a lip and cheek stain. It comes in three shades: Beauty Queen (the one I have), Prom Queen - pink, and Homecoming Queen - peach. It's a gel formula so it's easy to blend.

My thoughts: I'm usually reluctant to try stains because it seems like it would be easy to apply too much and then hello, you're face is stained! This is a very subtle stain though so I like it a lot and wouldn't mind trying out the other colors too.

Here is a swatch of the gel but it's not nearly so intense once it's blended:





Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Full size: $16

This is another multipurpose product and it's from Japan. It's a gentle cream that can be used pretty much anywhere and safe enough for little ones. Lips, face, body - you can apply it to any dry area in need of some moisture.

My thoughts: This cream is thick as well as extremely soft. I used it on my elbows and they instantly felt more hydrated.  My only complaint is the initial scent. It had an overpowering herbal scent when first applied but luckily it went away after a few minutes.



Extra
Band-aid Cynthia Rowley Dress Up Band-aids
Pack of 20 for $15

This was an unexpected product in my box. I didn't think I'd be getting band-aids but it's something you should always have around so I'm happy to have them. I prefer the nude-colored band-aids because I like them to be discreet but I'll still use these. There are different designs/colors and sizes of band-aids in the box. On top of being a bonus product, it's full size too!








Birchbox Man Extra
John Varvatos Star USA
Full size: $55-70

For this month, Birchbox decided to add in another little extra for the guy in your life. This cologne from John Varvatos has a variety of notes to make up an awesome guy scent. It's a clean scent with a little bit of spice, which is my favorite for men.






I like this month's box. Between the eyeliner and the band-aids, the box was worth the money (those two products are $30 together!). I thought it was cool to get a guy product too; I think they should do that more often. My favorite product of the box was definitely the lip and cheek stain from theBalm. Overall, I'm happy with my products. I decided I will probably stick with my Birchbox subscription for a full year.

Join Birchbox
More Birchbox reviews here.


Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored review. All opinions are mine and my subscription is paid for by me. 

June 15, 2012

Anastasia See and Be Seen Kit





I had the amazing opportunity to try out some Anastasia products recently including the See and Be Seen kit shown above. This kit includes an eye shadow duo that's perfect for summer, tinted brow gel, and two incredible lip glosses. The See and Be Seen kit is available for a limited time and retails for $44 ($80 value). 
As soon as I saw the products in the kit I fell in love. Gorgeous colors and high quality products that have great staying power - what's not to love?!

I took plenty of pictures as I tried them out so let's take a look at everything in detail...


Illumin8 Eyeshadow Duo in On Set

These shades are the quintessential summer colors. They have a bronze-y shimmering glow to them as you can see in my swatches.  The shadows are soft and hydrating. They are meant to illuminate (as the name would imply) and make lids look smooth. I'll be keeping this duo within reach for the summer! 



Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel

This brow tint looks natural and doesn't feel heavy or flaky. Some gels can make your brows feel stiff  but this one is light and settles in nicely. It's fortified with botanical hair conditioners and essential oils. 
The shade seemed a little on the light side for me but I liked the way it kept my eyebrows in place all day. It was also very quick and easy to apply. 



HydraFull Gloss in Heiress and Plastic

I am obsessed with these glosses! Not only are they absolutely beautiful, but they feel great on the lips and are long-lasting.  The packaging is simple and classic.


Plastic 

Plastic is a bright girly pink hue. You don't even need to wear anything under it - it's perfect on its own. I like to wear this with full lashes and slightly flushed cheeks.


Heiress

Heiress is nice coral shade with a faint hint of shimmer. It almost has a red quality. This one is also great on it's own and looks amazing in conjunction with natural glowy makeup.

These glosses are so pretty that I can't keep my eyes off of them! They both stand out really well. I'll be keeping them in my purse so I can apply and reapply throughout my adventures under the sun. 

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This kit is such an awesome deal. I encourage you to pick it up while you can! I love the Anastasia brand and this kit does not disappoint. From the packaging to the colors and quality, I love it all. Interested? You  can find it at Sephora or the Anastasia website.




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Disclaimer: This kit was sent to me for review. This is not a paid or compensated post and all opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used in this post. Photos were taken by me. 


June 11, 2012

A Flashy Manicure



Last week I was inspired to give myself a sparkly purple/silver manicure. What inspired me? Well you know those times when you're browsing through Pinterest and see all these elaborate nail designs and then think to yourself you're not being creative enough with your mani? I had one of those moments and since I don't have fancy dotting tools or nails pens, I turned to glitter - always a wise decision. I used three polishes from three different brands to create these flashy nails.




For the first main coat of polish, I used 2 coats of OPI's 'Purple with a Purpose', which is a beautiful rich purple shade. 


Then I added a few layers of a Pure Ice glitter polish (not certain of the name though) to add dimension to the nail. The glitter is made up of sparkling blue and purple colors. I applied more layers towards the tip of the nail.



Lastly, I applied 'Set in Stones' from Essie's Luxeffects collection to my tips. This popular silver glitter top coat was the perfect addition to top off this pretty manicure.



I'd have to say this is my most favorite polish combo I've done to date. Purple is my favorite color, especially this particular shade, and I basically love anything that glitters. On top of that it was fairly fast and easy. One of these days I'll try a more challenging design but I'm perfectly okay with various sparkly combos in the meantime!

June 8, 2012

Fake Eyelashes?



I haven't always been a false lash fan. I thought they would just weigh my eyes down and irritate me but I've always liked their ability to amplify the eyes. Recently I bought these lashes at Walmart so I could give falsies another try. I bought the starter kit because it included lash glue and an application tool. 


I picked out the Demi Wispies, which I thought looked long, yet natural. 

The tool made the lashes very easy to apply and after the glue dried and settled my eyes felt fine, not weighed down like I thought they would be. They were actually quite comfortable and they made my eyes stand out like crazy! 

Here is a picture from the first day I wore them:

Hello, eyelashes!

I wore them again today. Here are a couple of close-ups of the lashes:




I think these look very natural on me.


I think I have converted to a false lash fan! I'm still not going to wear them on a daily basis but I can definitely see myself wearing them for events and nights out along with the occasional daytime look. 

How do you feel about fake eyelashes? What are your favorites? 

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