Thursday, April 25, 2013

Nars Eyeshadow Primer

NARS Cosmetics makeup primer


NARS Cosmetics makeup primer



My last post was on the Loreal "Magic" eyeshadow primer.  We all know how that went; horrible.  Or in how I like to spell it; "whoreibble".  Since then, I have made it my mission to find a primer that was going to work for my oily eyelids.

I have been watching YouTube videos for many years now and I love the beauty community.  I think it is the best thing ever to watch videos and have other girls share their opinions on things to try and what to avoid.  Missglamorazzi is one of my favorite YouTubers and she has always raved about the Nars eyeshadow primer.  Ingrid has similar skin to mine (oily/combo and oily eyelids).  She has always sworn that this product works for her and so I felt pretty confident in trying this primer.  I was not disappointed!  Sephora was having a 15% off sale so I paid about $22 for the primer.  Not too bad.  Honestly it is kinda expensive, but I was willing to pay top dollar in order to make sure my eyeshadow stayed put!  I have given this primer a few weeks use before writing this post as well and it has not failed me yet.  I even slept with my makeup on multiple nights (not ideal/not on purpose...crazy nights hahaha) and to my surprise, my eyeshadow had not moved a muscle.  I like how it doesn't feel greasy and it was easy to blend.  I also appreciated how it didn't leave any color on my eyelids.  Some primers I have used before left a white cast or a shimmer and I personally am not a fan.  I just want it to be an invisible barrier that protects my shadows.  I didn't experience any creasing which is my biggest problem with eyeshadows.  I worked out and perspired a ton and my makeup was still flawless.  I could go on and on about how excited I am to finally have found a holy grail product and  I would highly recommend this eye primer to anyone who is looking for a product that wont disappoint.  

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

L'Oreal Magic De-Crease Eyelid Primer

Buy L'Oreal Magic De-Crease Eyelid Primer, Nude & More | drugstore.com
I have been on the search to find an eyeshadow that doesn't crease on me.  I saw an old Macbarbie07 video where Bethany used this eyeshadow primer and I was immediately intrigued.  It can be found at the drugstore which makes it very accessible and it couldn't be as expensive as buying a high end eyeshadow primer.  I found this primer at Wal-Mart for about $8; not too bad.  I was had such high hopes for this primer but I am so disappointed.  So disappointed in fact that I will probably end up returning it because I will have no use for it.  The only thing that this primer has going for it is the fact that it is available at the drugstore.  Maybe my eyelids are a lot more oily than the average girl but this primer made my eyeshadows crease so bad.  I wish I had more things to say about the primer, but the bottom line is is that this product just didn't work out for me!  I would love to hear your recommendations for eye primers!  Please leave me a comment below with your suggestions!

Always,

Aimee XO

Monday, February 4, 2013

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipsticks

 photo ScreenShot2013-02-04at91953PM_zps3ad8be30.png  photo P1011766_zps46db3c4d.jpg  photo P1011761_zpse4dda982.jpg  photo P1011776_zpsc60c50c9.jpg


I can't contain myself when it comes to an awesome lip product.  I am a lip junkie and no matter how many lip products I have, I will always keep trying out whatever catches my eye.  I have seen a ton of YouTube videos on people loving these Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids lipsticks and just by seeing the different shades people have been showing, I knew that I was going to be obsessed as well.  I love love love bright lip colors!  They are so fun to rock and it pretty much screams my personality in a small tube.  I think its a fun way to go outside the box without being too crazy.  It was really hard for me to choose which ones to get ( I was trying to not go overboard lol).  I decided to only purchase 2 lipsticks.  They were buy one get one 50% off at CVS; each one running $7.49.  I think it's a smidge pricey, but now that I know that I love these lipsticks, I'll be sure to be on the look out for these at Wal-Mart.  The shades I chose were "Hot Plum" and "Vivid Rose".  I have olive skin and these two colors look awesome with my skin tone.  In the tube the two shades look very different from each other and even looking at my swatches you can obviously tell the difference between the two shades.  However, on my lips, they do look rather similar.  I can personally tell the difference between the two, the Hot Plum has more of a purple undertone.  But if you are looking for a few shades that look vastly different from each other I would suggest maybe choosing one shade or the other; not both.  I used a lip liner with the Hot Plum yesterday when I wore the lipstick and it seriously lasted all day long.  I ate a breakfast burrito, drank some cider, and was talking all day at work (it was a busy busy busy Super Bowl day might I add) and the lipstick was still on my lips after an 8 hour workday.  I was absolutely impressed.  I used to think that lip liners were a gimmick product to be quite honest, but I am sold on it now.  I truly believe that the main reason why my lipstick lasted all day was because of the lip liner.  These lipsticks go on very smooth, they have a very creamy consistency.  They weren't the most hydrating lipsticks in the world but it didn't dry out my lips completely either.  Maybelline always does a great job with cute packaging that is simple and sleek.  I can't really say I have any complaints about this product.  Of course I would love for it to be hydrating like the Whispers or Revlon lip butters, but I can sacrifice that for the awesome pigmentation that these lipsticks have.  I highly recommend these lipsticks for anyone looking for a fun way to stand out.  I definitely will be purchasing some more colors because I love them so much.  Have any of you tried the Maybelline Vivids?  If so, let me know in the comments below what your favorite shade(s) is!

Always,

Aimee xx

Friday, February 1, 2013

Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub


I have to admit, I have a ton of beauty products that I have sitting in my collection and a bunch of products that I am really wanting to try out.  When I watch Youtube, read blogs or talk to friends, a lot of times that helps remind me to keep rotating my products so I don't completely forget about what I have.  I was recently watching Rachel Talbott on YouTube and she was talking about her favorite drugstore products.  The Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub was on her list of favorite products.  This reminded me that I had a brand new tube of this amazing stuff.  I originally decided to try this product out almost 2 years ago when I was watching another YouTuber, Hollyannaeree.  She had always talked about this scrub and she has amazing looking skin so I decided to give it a whirl.  This stuff is absolutely a dream.  I have sensitive as well as oily combination skin, so I always worry if products will irritate my skin.  This scrub is so gentle that I use it everyday.  I know a lot of beauty people would shun the fact that I scrub everyday, but each person's routine is obviously for their own personal needs.  It keeps my skin clear with minimal breakouts.  The only time I do breakout is during that time of the month, or when I get lazy and have my makeup for a long period of time ( over 12 hours).  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking to try a great face scrub to their skin routine that doesn't break the bank.  You can find this at any drugstore, Wal-Mart, Target etc.  The second picture is the previous packaging for the product, just in case you were curious.  I would love to know what your favorite face scrub is!  Leave me a comment below!

Always,

Aimee xx



SkinCare beauty product



Pore Unclogging Scrub


Monday, January 28, 2013

My First Hair Extension Experience!

A few weeks ago I spent a fun afternoon with my friend Ashley dying her hair and making new extensions.  I have always been curious about extensions, but I haven't had anyone that I knew that wore them.  When Ashley asked me to help, I jumped at the opportunity and figured it would be a fun thing to write about!  Why not?  

Ashley decided to go with a dark chocolate brown color and she wanted to incorporate red into her extensions for added dimension and fun.  I have to say I absolutely love this color combination!  Not too many people are daring enough to get some red going in their locks and I think it is such a fun and bold color!  Heres what the extensions look like out of the packaging below....




After getting the extensions ready, it was time for the hard part.  Really these next steps took awhile to do and I can see how tedious of a process it truly is.  Next up, grab so wig clips (Ashley purchased the Sally's brand....but she said they ended up being pretty bad quality...just an FYI), needle, scissors and some thread.  Ashley already had previous extensions that she had already measured out, but basically you just want to measure the extensions from one end of your head to the next.  Once you have figured out the length that you want for your one piece of the extension, cut the extension and set aside.  Repeat this process until you have the desired amount of extensions.





After you have the extension pieces, grab two wig clips per extension section piece.  Grab your needle and thread and start sewing the clips (one on each end) and the two sections of hair extensions together.  For this part Ashley sewed the largest section with just the chocolate brown.  For the smaller extension pieces, she sewed one chocolate brown and one red hair extension piece together.  She did this so that the extensions would blend together much better.  You definitely don't want too blunt of chunks just showing up random places in your hair because we all know that look isn't all that cute.  LOL.  Here's what the extensions looked like after she sewed them together.  


Now that the hard part was over, it was time to do some dying! (Hair dying that is....not dying dying ha)  You want to obviously dye your hair the same color as the color you have as the majority color of your extensions.  Ashley has gone to beauty school, so she knew what she was doing on this part for sure.  She whipped up the dye mixture and handed it off to me!  This part was really fun, at least for me! 





After letting the dye set and washing it out, I watched Ashley style the extensions.  To me this was the most fun part of the entire process.  She had this old manikin head from beauty school that she clipped on each set of extensions one at a time and curled the extensions.  I would say this is any girly girls dream!  I could honestly sit and do that for a long time, I love playing with hair! LOL


 I work with Ashley and I have heard numerous times people ask her how she gets her hair the way it is ( loose waves).  Wrap your hair AROUND the barrel of a curling iron instead of clamping it.  Not only does this not give you as structured of a curl, I frankly think it just makes it look more wearable and everyday polished without trying too hard.  Also, wrapping your hair around the barrel instead of clamping just makes it so user friendly.  I think more people have trouble getting the hang of curling their hair when trying to learn how to clamp their hair.  

Here's how the extensions look on Ashley....



Doesn't it look amazing?!  I know I may be a little biased to dark hair, but I absolutely love how it turned out!

All in all, I had a great first experience learning about extensions.  Even though they are expensive, I think it is a great way to change up your look without having to commit to it being permanent like a haircut!  Hope you enjoyed reading this, and leave me a comment below if you have tried extensions and what your thoughts are!

Always,

Aimee xx

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Yes To Cucumbers Facial Wipes



I originally received a sample size (10 facial wipes) in my Ipsy glam bag a few months ago and it wasn't until recently that I decided to give them a try.  These wipes are 98% natural, biodegradable, oil free, non comedogenic and hypoallergenic; specially made for sensitive skin.  Reading the packaging I was really excited to try these, it sounded so awesome!  I have tried some Yes to Tomatoes products before and I loved them, so I was naturally expecting that I was going to like these as well.  I have never really gotten on the makeup removing wipes bandwagon because I just felt like it was an unnecessary product to be honest.  I thought that it was just a waste of money when I could just wash my face to take off my makeup.  I have to say that I am sold on the makeup wipes concept now; keyword the "concept".   I really loved coming home from work and just grabbing a wipe to feel refreshed before a workout or just because I wanted to give my skin a chance to breathe.  I do have to say however, I am not really sure why this is an Allure beauty product award winner.  I have no other face wipe to compare it to, but I did not like them and I wouldn't purchase them.  I liked the light and fresh cucumber scent.  It was very refreshing for my skin and it made me "think" I was clean.  This wipe by no means is a one stop shop.  I could feel sticky buildup on my face and I literally could peel off little balls or pieces from the wipe that was left on my skin.  It was not able to take off my eye makeup.  I shouldn't have even tried swiping it over my eyes, it just made even more of a mess.  I would definitely recommend that you wash your face after using the wipes, which in my opinion defeats the entire purpose of the product.  I shouldn't have makeup left all over my still after using a facial wipe.  Like I said, I liked using it to take off majority of my makeup when I needed to workout or just have it off my face.  I shower at night so that's when I would be able to do my nightly facial routine and get off the remaining product off of my face.  I do have sensitive skin and my skin wasn't irritated by this product.  When I did try and take my eye makeup off, it didn't make my eyes burn at all which was a nice feature of this product.  On the Yes to Cucumbers website it says that for a pack of 30 facial wipes it costs $5.99.  I do feel like that is a bit expensive for facial wipes, but then again I also don't have any other wipes to compare them to.  All in all, I think there are going to be better facial wipe products out there that will do a better job.  I enjoyed the convenience of the wipes, but maybe I will just stick to traditionally washing my face and save a couple bucks for something else.  Tell me what your suggestions for good facial wipes down in the comments section if you'd like to share!

Always,

Aimee xx
Beauty product




Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Movie Madness: Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook


Silver Linings Playbook


****NO SPOILERS**** 


 My heart was absolutely taken with this movie. I have been waiting about a month to see it. It originally came out in theaters in December but for some reason it wasn't playing where I live. Thank goodness it finally came to my town; I wasn't going to miss the chance to see Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence sharing the big screen. I had pretty high expectations for the movie because of all of the hype that it was getting, even though I try not to go into a movie like that. But I have to say, I was so surprised at the movie. It was on a different intellectual level. It wasn't one of those sit there and just hang out kinda movies. It had depth, emotion, silliness, and I felt sucked in to the characters; I was drawn to them. My roomie went to the movie with me and I told her maybe I felt more connected to the movie because of past life situations and people in my life but regardless, it was an excellent movie. I don't think I have been so emotionally connected with a movie since watching 127 Hours. I was quiet literally the entire drive home just letting it all soak in. I definitely recommend the movie to anyone looking to be intrigued by not your everyday Hollywood movie. Bravo Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.  It inspired me to find my "silver lining" in life. 


Excelsior.

Aimee xx