Thursday, August 1, 2013

➳ July Favorites

Goodness gracious, I don't want it to be August just yet! I'm not ready for classes to start in a matter of 28 days! That's practically September but still! July has been much more productive than June. I went to Hershey Park, spent some time in the outdoors of Pennsylvania, and got to see my friends. I've also been a busy bee on YouTube thanks to my regularly scheduled videos and the Best In Beauty competition. Thanks to all of your lovely votes I kept making it through each round and got to create a new video each week! I'm still in the running this week and voting for the 5th round ends today so if you haven't voted yet, please do so over at this link by commenting 'TheModMermaid' --> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUHScNpeJrc) I'd really appreciate the support! 

The things I've been loving in July have been the most random combination of products. Or maybe not so random now that I think about it. I promised myself in my last favorite's video that I would not touch the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette since I was relying on it way too much, and I haven't! I've experimented with other shadows in my collection and I've fallen in love with Naked Lunch and Twinks from MAC. I also feature some of my favorites from the Ariel collection, some beauty products that have helped me beat the heat, as well as some haircare bits and accessories that I think you guys will enjoy! I appreciate you taking the time to watch! :)

What have been some of your July favorites?

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Wishlist | Get Me To VIB Rouge

Sephora Wishlist
Happy Wishlist Wednesday! Don't worry, that's not becoming a thing just yet on this blog - I have a wishlist to share with you all and it just so happens it's Wednesday, haha! If you've ever been to a Sephora you'll know that they have a reward system called 'Beauty Insider' where for every $1 you spend a point is added to your account. 'Beauty Insider' is just one tier of their reward system - the second tier is 'VIB' (Very Important Beauty Insider) and to get into that tier you need to spend have spent at least $350 in a calendar year. I am currently a 'VIB' and get all the wonderful perks that come with that but now Sephora have done it and brought out a third tier called 'VIB Rouge' (how prestige sounding!) To get 'VIB Rouge' status you need to have spent at least $1000 in a calendar year. I saw that and thought, "holy cow, what?!" mostly because I knew I wouldn't be able to ever reach that tier. Turns out, I'm a lot closer than I think. I e-mailed Sephora and they told me I'm only 280 points (well 180 now, you'll see why) away from having 'VIB Rouge' status. I think I squealed, haha! I'll need to spend $280 (now $180) to get the acclaimed status of 'VIB Rouge' which comes with so many benefits your mind will explode (one being free shipping, always and forever, well, until your 'VIB Rouge'-ness expires) and a shiny red points card (which you know is the only reason I want it, haha ;) ) If you want to read more about it you can over here.  

So loooooong story short, this wishlist is a compilation of items that I've been lusting after that are sold at Sephora stores, that would help me get to 'VIB Rouge'! 
  • Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll Mascara | It's got a much longer name than that but I figured I'd spare you another essay, haha! I got this mascara as a '100' point perk in my last order from Sehpra. I saw the tiny little brush and just laughed. What was that ittle bitty baby supposed to do to my lashes? A whole lot, it turns out! It's separates and because it's so tiny it can really give you lift from the root of your eyelashes, so mucho volume and your eyes appear bigger! I'm one to always go on and on about drugstore mascaras working better than high end ones but I've fallen for this bad boy, hard. 
  • Lorac Pro Palette | Who wouldn't want this palette? It's a perfect mix of shades to create a whole slew of eye looks, with a nice mix of matte and shimmery finishes. I haven't bought it yet because I've got all of Urban Decay's Naked palette's and can't justify another one, but I'm slowly starting to find reasons to need it, haha!
  • Dior Amber Diamond | THE HOLIEST OF HIGHLIGHTERS THERE IS OR WAS. Actually that's not true, I'm pretty in love with MAC's Soft & Gentle but UGH! The packaging, the shiny 'Dior' label, and just the softness of the finely milled shimmery product, makes it TOP on my "I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want ..." list! 
  • Yves Sait Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in Fuchsia in Excess | See? It's an essay of a name for a lipstick, haha. Anyway, I've been eyeing this lipstick up and down ever since I saw the ad for them in Sephora. The model on the ad was wearing it and it looked so gorgeous that I instantly thought 'I have to have it!' Some like blush, some like mascaras, but for me lipstick's are my kryptonite. I don't think I'll ever have enough, haha, which is why I went ahead and already bought this yesterday on an impromptu trip to a supper fancy mall in New Jersey! So this baby has gotten me that much closer to VIB Rouge *__*
  • Caudalie Beauty Elixir | See my thoughts on this annoying, son of a sea witch product here. I love this stuff and I hate myself for loving this stuff. I'm working on a small bottle of this but know that when it's finished it'll only makes sense to get the bigger one. DANG THIS STUFF.
  • NARS Sex Appeal | This blush is like a ghost to me. It's a gorgeous soft, pale peach color that really brightens up my face and I always think about it when my eye look is a bit darker or smokey. I actually bought this once and then returned it because my wallet felt too guilty for splurging when I knew I shouldn't have. I still want this, so much. I have absolutely nothing like it in my small stash of blushes and it would be just the perfect addition!
I would totally be honored if any of these products made their way into my collection to help me get into VIB Rouge. I've already gotten the lipstick so I'm that much closer! Also, my mom bought the Marc Jacobs Honey perfume (SO CUUUUTE) so that helped push me to only needing about 180 points. I think if it weren't for my dad buying a perfume/cologne for everyone he knew around the holidays, I def. wouldn't be this close, haha! 
What would you buy to help you get to VIB Rouge?

Monday, July 29, 2013

5 Minute Makeup Challenge | Best In Beauty Competition ROUND 5!!!

Hi everyone! Do you ever have those weekends where it feels like a millennium has gone by and then you finally get home into your own bed and you don't know what to start to catch up on?! Yeah, I've had one of those weekends. I finally got out of my house, met an amazing blogging/YouTube buddy of mine Andrea (FromInsideMyCloset), did some shopping, hung out with my boyfriend, and then finally saw some of my friends from school. We got tea and we got Shake Shack and it was glorious. This little extended (and unexpected) weekend has thrown me off my blogging and YouTube schedule so apologies for that. If you hadn't noticed this disorientation than my apologies for bringing it to your attention, haha! So on Sunday, whilst I was out and about, my 5th video for the Best In Beauty competition went up! I just wanted to take a moment to express how happy and bubbly it makes me feel to have this much support! It's overwhelming, mind-boggling, and makes me smile every time I think about or see someone vote for me. Thank you all so much for taking the time to watch my video each week and then going over to vote. I didn't expect to make it this far but so glad I have! For this week's round we were given the task of doing the ever so fun 5 Minute Makeup Challenge. It's A LOT harder than it looks, people, haha! In this video I attempt to do my current everyday makeup routine and also show you how I would handle 5 minutes to do my makeup in real life! I hope this is a video you guys enjoy because I had a lot of fun putting it together! When you've finished watching please head on over to this link right here --> (http://youtu.be/YUHScNpeJrc) and leave a comment on that video with 'Jessica' or 'TheModMermaid' to vote for me! I'd genuinely appreciate the support to help me make it into the 6th round. There's only 4 of us left so the race is getting tight! As always let me know what you think in the comments below and most of all, enjoy the video!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Disney Collection by Sephora | Ariel Collection ''Part of Your World" Palette

Happy Saturday to everyone! I usually don't post on the weekends but seeing as how I wanted to take a wee day break from a full week o' posting, I decided, what the heck? There's still one more item left to review from the third Disney Collection by Sephora and that is the Part of Your World Palette. This palette is much, much smaller than the Storylook Palette (which I reviewed here) but the same amount of detail was poured into just like with every other piece of this collection. If I'm honesty (AND IT PAINS ME TO SAY) the only reason I picked up this palette was to complete my collection. Sure, I didn't get the polishes or glosses (still debating) but those aren't products I gravitate to like I do with eyeshadows. So yes, I picked it up because of it's gorgeous packaging. When I finally saw the colors inside I had mixed feelings. I loved the look of the colors together ... but when was I gonna wear a green with purple, c'mon?! (AGH, this is killing me, haha) When I finally had it in my hands though all the doubts flew out the window, hopped in a taxi, drove to the airport, and took a plane to Timbuktu. I was completely smitten and the colors in person are beautiful. They're not everyone's cup of tea, but they're beautiful. 

Who's-it is a pearlescent white that's the designated "highlight" color. I usually designate the lightest and shimmery colors as highlight colors, haha. It's the most pigmented of the bunch so I'm thinking it could do well as an inner eyelid shadow or on the whole lid to make your eyes look bright and big. What's-it is an almost 'dirty' matte taupe color, leaning toward gray I want to say. It's hardly visible on the swatch on my arm but holy cannoli is it a wonderful blending color for the next two shades. Dinglehopper (!!!) is a satin green shade and that's as far as my abilities will let me describe it, sorry, haha. It's a really nice green with muted tones that make it so wearable. Snarfblat (These names, I can't!!!) is the most gorgeous purple, leaning a bit towards indigo shade I've ever seen. Probably because it's got small flecks of purple glitter that put you in a trance when you look at it in the pan and then swatch it. The last two shades also don't have the greatest opacity but if you layer them over a white base or even a colored one they honestly just come to life. All they need is that base, perhaps some NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils to really get working. They're very easy to work and blend as much and as little as you need them to. No worries if you've applied a bit too much!

As for the packaging, you all know I'm just in love. The picture on the front shows a silhouette (love all these silhouettes) of  Ariel sitting on a rock looking out at the sky with the moon illuminating her while she probably day dreams. The are is just gorgeous and I can't say it enough. There's little silver seashells framing the whole scene. This palette is in a cream colored plastic casing and opens up like quads tend to do. Inside you find the four shades nicely placed inside surrounded by gold.  It also comes with a space to hold the two brush-tip/sponge-tip duo brushes. I wouldn't throw these out guys, the brushes are great and the sponge tips really help you pack on the color! I don't find it's bulky, it's actually quite compact and I can see myself bringing this on some travels. There's also a mirror inside this palette which is really lovely to have. Inscribed on the mirror is 'dreams are realities in waiting'. Ugh, I'm THIS close to getting that quote tattoed on my forehead. All of these quotes seriously just hit home for me in ways that even I can't imagine. It pulls at my wittle heart strings every time. 

I'm completely love this eyeshadow palette and the colors are more wearable than you think. They do need a tiny bit of help in the form of a colored base but other than they're really great. If you've been itching to get your hands on something from this collection I would recommend getting this. It's the only palette left as the Storylook palette has been long sold out. You shan't be settling for a less than amazing palette and you'll have your piece of the sea :) You can get the palette on Sephora.com and in stores in the first week of August for $30! I'll be doing an eye look on this on my youtube channel fairly soon so stay tuned for that!

Here are the three other pieces I've reviewed from this collection if you haven't seen them yet!
What do you all think?

Friday, July 26, 2013

Disney Collection by Sephora | Ariel Collection 'Set the Mood' Compact Mirror

Do you ever anticipate something so much that it just seems like it'll never come to fruition? You anticipate it so much that time seems to go slower and slower and the day or event you've been anticipating doesn't seem real? Well, that's how I felt about this Ariel Set The Mood compact mirror that was released in the Disney Collection by Sephora. The compact mirrors have been the pic de resistance to every single one of the Disney Collection selling out in just hours. Unfortunately, the same rang true for the Ariel collection and it sold out in about an hour and half. I was (somehow) lucky enough to be awake at a normal hour and catch the release. I snagged myself four *blushes* Haha, I don't know why I needed so many but maybe I'll give them to some friends and family. This compact is absolutely gorgeous and was completely worth waiting for. The detail in the cover is outmatched. Seriously, if you can find anything prettier let me know. The compact depicts the scene of 'Kiss the Girl' in The Little Mermaid when Ariel and Eric are boating on the lake. It shows them in silhouette and around them are the little fish swimming (and in the movie singing) around them. It's very sturdy and has a bit of heft to it which to some would seem troublesome to carry around, but for $20 I'm glad because it feels like it won't just snap. There's a quote inscribed on one of the mirrors that says "you've got to be you" A lot of people seem to have a problem with this quote and it's relation to the movie but it's ... just ... I love it. There's no way to fault the execution of this compact in every detail. I have no words for this compact - really, I don't, the pictures honestly say it all. I'm so happy with it and can't wait to whip it out instead of my phone to touch up my makeup. Every mermaid should have this to complete their collections :)
What do you all think? Were you lucky enough to catch it?