Monday, November 25, 2013

Benefit | gimmeBrow

*waves sheepishly* Hello everyone! Hope you're having a good start to your week. It's been a bit quiet over on this little edge of the web, hasn't it? Truth be told, I've been majorly distracted with working (then sleeping) and I've been trying to read more so the computer has been pushed to the side. I'm also getting ready for Blogmas next month so I guess the thought of blogging every day will make up for my lack of posts this month. At least that's how I figure it, haha!

Anyway, today's post is going to be about a new and completely unexpected favorite product of mine: Benefit's gimmeBrow. I'm not one to ever mess with eyebrows by filling and shaping them because sometimes it can look really unnatural if you don't do it right and adding another meticulous step to my makeup routine just wasn't for me. But when I saw this guy at the Benefit + Birchbox event I went to a while back, I figured why not give it a try? (Mostly because I had to buy something anyway and brow products are something that are non-existent in my collection) gimmeBrow is a "brow-volumizing fiber gel" which is meant to stick to hair and skin to quickly and easily create lush brows. The product itself is quite small, almost the size of my middle finger. It comes with an easy to use applicator with a small spooly on the end that holds the fibers and picks up the product. It's a bit off putting to see how small it all is, but you really don't need to use a lot and the small spooly makes it easier to be precise when you're filling in or just giving some shape to your eyebrows. The formula is wet like a brow gel usually is, but it dries within a minute so you have time to play around with everything before it sets. I love the effect it gives because it's the most natural looking eyebrow look I've ever gotten from a brow product. You wouldn't even guess that I did my brows but they look a bit more defined, darker, and definetely shaped. It's def. not a product you'd want to pick up to create BOLD looking brows, but it is great to add a little natural oomph. I find myself reaching for this guy a lot when I go to do my makeup and it takes no time at all. Just a few brushes through my eyebrows and et voila, they're done! It's $22 for the little tube with 0.1 oz of product but I've been using it religiously for a month now and it still seems to be full and the gel hasn't dried out, so that's great! I'm not sure if I'll buy it again when I run out even though I do love it, but we'll have to see! If you can justify the slightly expensive price and want a brow product that's quick, easy, and gets you the natural effect you want, I'd def. give Benefit's gimmeBrow a go!
 What are you favorite brow products?

Sunday, November 17, 2013

NARS | Guy Bourdin One Night Stand

First, there was the Danmari blush palette that sold like super hot hotcakes. Now, NARS bring to us another stellar blush palette in collaboration with Guy Bourdin. Sure, I'm sad I missed out on the Danmari, but the NARS One Night Stand palette is exponentially better. Buckle your seat belts because this is going to be a rave review like you won't believe! One Night Stand is a cheek palette that's got you covered with 0.14 oz of four blushers, a bronzer, and a highlighter.
  • Devotee Highlighter (highlight glow)
  • Mistinguette Blush (bubblegum pink)
  • Deep Throat Blush (flirty sheer peach)
  • Laguna Bronzer (diffused brown with golden shimmer)
  • Orgasm (peachy pink with gold shimmer)
  • Goulue Blush (medium pink)
A regular sized NARS blush will run you $29 for 0.16 oz. This cheek palette costs $65 and each pan carries just 0.02 oz less product, but let's be real, how many blushes have you hit pan on? I know I haven't yet, haha! So you get six cheek products for the price of about three which in my eyes is such a steal! The pigmentation of these is not even a topic of discussion- it's amazing. Just enough pigmentation to leave you with the desired color on your cheeks without being able to go over board. The texture is very smooth, finely milled and not at all chalky. You get a nice variety of colors so it doesn't feel like the shades are overly similar. In the Danmari palette they had Orgasm and Super Orgasm which, who really needs both? My favorite is Mistinguette, which is such a lovely bright yet pale cheek color. It makes no sense until you see it on, haha. The packaging, as always with NARS, is the classic black with rubberized case and the large NARS letters with a splash of red to display 'Guy Bourdin's' name. Absolutely love, love, LOVE it. The packaging will no doubt get a bit dirty in time, but I quite like it, shows a bit of love <3 The whole One Night Stand palette is a just a smidge smaller than the whole of my hand, but it'd be perfect for traveling and has seriously got you covered for any event your cheeks may attend, haha. 

So, final verdict? I think it's a great palette overall! You're getting a great array of shades, with stellar pigmentation, for an amazing price. It's something that should be on every beauty junkie's wishlist, I think. This would also make a great gift for any makeup/cheek product crazed person on your list! If you can get your hands on it, I'd say go for it, without hesitation. I can almost guarantee you'll be sorry if you didn't!
What do you think of the One Night Stand palette? Has it made your Holiday wishlist?

Friday, November 15, 2013

Aurora | Once Upon A Dream

Happy Friday, to all! It's been a while, but I'm finally back with my Disney Princess series! I've been sick all week, but it's been far too long and I needed to get back in the swing of this series! If you're new to my blog (there are a few newbies, so hello!) my Disney Princess series is basically a series in which I take inspiration from one Disney princess and create an eye/makeup look! I've already done six other princesses Snow WhiteRapunzelKidaBelleCinderella, and Ariel, so make sure to check those out by clicking on each respective princess! Today is the seventh installment and I bring to you Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. I'll be honest, this is the princess I had a hard time with finding inspiration. I really loved the concept of the "make it pink, make it blue" when the fairies were fighting over the color of Aurora's dress, but I couldn't find a way to make it not seem like a baby shower on my eyes. I wasn't very inspired by Aurora and all I could think was natural, natural, natural because she's a probably the most natural beauty. So I took the theme of natural and actually ended up using blushers as eyeshadows to create a pretty pink gradient. My sister said it looked like my Rapunzel look, but I think this one is more subdued and natural (*take a shot every time I say natural) I really like it and can actually see myself wearing this to work, sans the glitter of course, haha. I may redo her one day, although I am quite pleased with the finished look ... and the tiara ;D Here's what I used:

On the eyes:
  • Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion
  • Urban Decay Venus Eyeshadow
  • NARS Devotee Blush
  • NARS Devotee Blush
  • NARS Mistinguette Blush
  • NARS Goulue Blush
  • Urban Decay Mushroom Eyeshadow
  • Lit Cosmetics California Soul Glitter
  • ULTA Automatic Eye Liner in Raisin
  • YSL Badydoll Mascara
On the face
  • NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
  • NARS Mistinguette Blush/Benefit Devotee Blush
  • Benefit gimmeBrows Brow Gel
  • MAC Venus Lipstick
Which Disney Princess inspires you the most?

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

LUSH | Abombinall

If you've seen my latest LUSH Haul post you'll know that I recently bought this adorable ball of bath. It's LUSH's Abombinball bath bomb that's meant to look like the Abominable Snowman (although he looks more cute than abominable ;) ) He's available both in the States ($6.95) and the UK (£4.10) but this year it's a retro (online exclusive) product, which is such a shame because he's fantastic and deserves to be on the shop floors surrounded by his other yeti-friends. Abombinaball smells of peppermint and hints of vanilla, which is so soothing after a long day. When you plop him in the bath he fizzles for a bit until the faster fizzing bath bomb inside is exposed and he starts (slowly, but surely) zooming across the tub. I'd suggest adding bubbles after he's all fizzled out so you can really see him run! He leaves a white frothy trail over gorgeous blue water. I've forgotten how conditioning LUSH bath bombs were supposed to be but this one did a fantastic job of reminding me. When you step into the bath the water feels silky and soft, and your skin feels smooth in seconds. I know it's more 'bang for your buck' when you split LUSH's bath products into halves, but I always love the whole experience of LUSH's baths so I chucked him all in. Just know that even though Abombinaball is a more pricey bath bomb, he can be rationed, even though I didn't ;) This guy was a favorite of mine back in Holiday 2011 and I've just been reminded how amazing he is. I really wish they would have brought him to the stores, as I love him and it'd be easier to get a hold of 20 more, but I'm glad I did snatch one up when I did!
Is there a bath bomb you can't bear to ration? Are you on your way to order up a couple of doxen Abombinball's? :)