Ardency Inn Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigment in 'Rose Gold'

The endless pursuit of the perfect rose gold shadow ends here, folks.  Rose gold has been hugely trendy for the past couple years and I've hopped right onto that train from my jewelry to makeup.  I think rose gold is a hard color to get perfect...it can lean too yellow/orange or too pink really easily and miss the happy medium we all lust after.  I saw swatches of Ardency Inn's modster shadow in 'Rose Gold' and knew they had captured the color perfectly.

First of all, I love the shadow's packaging.  The shadow comes in a thin plastic container that is much flatter and sleeker than a MAC shadow. 'H' is printed on the top in a graphic pattern, I am assuming standing for the honey that is infused into the shadow blend.  The brand boasts that they are the first to use honey from the nectar of the Manuka tree in color shadows adding to their creaminess.  The lid opens and closes with a magnetic closure.

As you can see, the color is quite rosey in the pan.  The pan holds 0.06oz of product and will set you back $20. 

I love Rose Gold on me personally because it makes my blue eyes pop. If we chat about color theory for a sec, colors opposite to blue on the color wheel are your yellows and oranges--so for my blue-eyed babes out there, golds, coppers, ambers, and rose golds are what are really going to make your blue eyes pop! 

Above is me wearing this shadow pressed all over the lid and under my lower lash line with some soft warm brown buffed into my crease. My eyes look so blue and almost green!

I found that using your finger and pressing the shadow onto your lid gives much greater color payoff than using a brush. I don't mind this since I intend to use this as a lid color, but just a heads up to any girls out there that don't like kickin' it old school and using your fingers Kindergarten style.... but hey, kindergarteners can be cool as hell so I don't see an issue with it.

Check this color out if you're interested in that perfect rose gold shadow and don't mind dropping some hard earned cash for some quality product.  If you're interested, purchase it if you see it in stock! This particular shade sells out fast!

Check it out at Sephora here: Ardency Inn 'Rose Gold' eyeshadow at Sephora

xxSJ

Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift 2015!

Every year Sephora gives members to their rewards program a free gift in their birthday month!   If you're not a Sephora Beauty Insider, what are you waiting for??? There's no catch to join (no credit cards, no nothin!) and you get a free gift every year while also racking up points on every purchase you make to redeem for deluxe samples later. There is also the highly anticipated 15-20% event for Beauty Insiders every Spring and Fall.  This year, the gift was two mini Nars lip pencils for Beauty Insiders and VIBs (and an extra eyeliner if you are a VIB Rouge!). 

The pencils come in sleek containers with the housed color displayed on the end. These minis are .06oz of product each compared to the full size which is 0.08oz of product (pretty close!). The pencils, just like their full size versions, are NOT twist up so require sharpening. 

The two colors that come in the birthday gift are Cruella, a cult favorite bright matte red, and Rikugien, a satin mauvey pink. 

Here is Cruella on my lips. It applies really easy and smooth though I would recommend using a similarly colored lip liner to get a really perfect outline. This one can be a little rough around the edges since it is such a large pencil.

Above is Cruella compared to some other cult classic red lipsticks! 

Rikugien is very similar to Cruella in terms of application, but it is far less pigmented since it is a satin instead of a matte finish. I like how natural this pencil is and I think it is a great everyday lip color! 

Above is Rikugien compared to some other mauve tones I have in my collection.

The wear time of these lip pencils is pretty good at 6 hours, but you have to reapply after eating and drinking. Cruella does not wear off in a flattering way and leaves a red rim around your lips so make sure to bring the product with you for reapplication during a night out on the town.

Overall, I love that NARS included a bold statement color (and a fan favorite), along with a wearable everyday color. The value of this set is about $39 and it is COMPLETELY FREE if you are a Sephora BI!

No, its not a trap, I promise!
xxSJ

Review: Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick 'Lovecraft'

 I received a mini Kat Von D studded kiss lipstick in the cult favorite color 'Lovecraft' and was excited to try out my first product from this collection! Kat Von D's lipsticks come housed in a black plastic tube covered in studs. Its very edgy in appearance and I can't think of a brand that's anything like it!

The tube does not snap closed very firmly and so I've found this little guy in my purse with out the cap on completely! This might only be a defect with the mini size but still something to note--these are so cute and might be intended for display on vanities. 

The color 'Lovecraft' is a 'matte mauve pink nude' and is one of those colors that always ends up being hit sellers among makeup lines because of the universal appeal. Worth noting is that the color swatches very rosey and warm on my wrist but appears almost purple hued with gray undertones when on my lips! 

 I definitely like how opaque and smooth this color is on the lips. I wouldn't call this lipstick revolutionary by any means as far as wear time or comfort, but I do think it is a very nice formula. The color stays put on the lips with out slipping or smearing and almost has a powdery feeling to it.

Overall, I like this lipstick and can see the appeal. The formula I would imagine caters to deeper or brighter colors quite well where you really want the lip product to be pigmented and stay put with out having to use a liquid or matte lipstick. If you've been unhappy with your lipsticks and are looking for a new formula to try I'd give this one a shot. Its definitely good and I see how it could be some people's holy grail!

Kat Von D lipsticks are $21 for 0.10oz of product ($210/oz). Check them out Here!

xxSJ

Steph Reads: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

It had been a while since I had read a Liane Moriarty novel so I decided to end the Summer off with a perfect chick-lit read: Big Little Lies. This story is told in the voices of 3 very different women who all have at least one thing in common: they all have children in the same kindergarten class. Jane is the young newcomer to town who has a haunting past she is trying to escape. Celeste is a startlingly beautiful woman who on the outside seems to be picture perfect. Madeline is the sassy and vivacious one in the group who can't help but get wrapped up in drama. The book begins by hinting at a catastrophe occurring at a parent Trivia night at the elementary school that will ultimately become the story's climax. The book then starts from the beginning with chapters alternating perspective between Jane, Celeste, and Madeline. Each chapter ends with a small segment of detective interviewing occurring after the Trivia night (what all the events in the book are leading up to!). This thoughtful touch is a fun way to try and piece together the puzzle and get a little more information on characters the book doesn't flesh out quite as much.   Kindergarten may seem like a placid setting for a book promising drama; however, you will not be disappointed!

I loved this book perhaps even more than I loved The Husband's Secret. I enjoy Moriarty's captivating writing style and her ability to create characters that are relatable and meaningful.  I love that every time I read one of her novels, I find bits of myself in each of her characters causing me to care more about them and be more understanding of their actions.  I would mark this book as a must read if you enjoy chick-lit novels dripping with humor and satire and if you are patient enough to hold out for the shocking revelations!

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by Courtney Robertson
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

NOTD: Essie Petal Pushers

Today's nail of the day is Essie's Petal Pushers, a cool toned purple gray that I whipped out in preparation for the cooler Fall weather. The formula of this polish is top notch for Essie--the color was completely opaque in one coat (I did two thin coats for good measure!) and was easy to work with and apply.  The wear time of this polish is also superb lasting about 4 days with no chips. This pretty purple is from the Spring 2015 collection but you can still find it at all drugstores for about $8.

xxSJ

Review: Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous! Oil Free Foundation

After seeing this foundation reviewed favorably by MakeupbyTiffanyD on Youtube (one of my faves!), I thought I'd give it a shot. Since I have fickle skin that reacts poorly if you just look at it the wrong way, trying a new foundation is always kind of anxiety-inducing for me. Will this foundation totally break me out? Will it look like I have an inch of makeup on? Will it dry me out like a lizard??? Luckily for me, none of the above!!! 

This foundation is labeled as 'oil free' and 'fresh complexion' which was a huge draw.  I have combo skin so I worry about becoming too mattified and looking cakey or getting a dewy finish foundation that ends with me looking like I was just dipped in some crisco.  This foundation gets it perfect with being a medium coverage finish (freckles still peeking through while evening out my tone) and leaving my skin looking hydrated, glowy, and healthy. Here is my face with and with out the foundation (no other makeup!):

No makeup on (L); Covergirl foundation on (R)

As you can see, the foundation superbly evens out my skin but you can still see my natural tone and freckles (some may call them imperfections... I say they add character!) peeking through the coverage. This foundation wears really well all day and thus far I have worn it in mild Northern California, dry Lake Tahoe, and humid New York City with no complaints and nothing but comfortable skin. I'm wearing the foundation in this photo as well:

Overall, I'm pretty well pleased with this stuff. The price is a steal at about $7 for 1oz of product and you can find it any drugstore and even on Amazon! I can't speak to the color selection since my skin is pretty easy to color match (110 was perfect!), but there are 12 shades offered on Covergirl's website.  This particular foundation is one of the best reviewed of Covergirl's many different foundations!

Give this product a shot if you're looking for a light-weight, oil-free foundation that can stand up against heat and humidity. I'm very pleased and will definitely repurchase!

xxSJ

Steph Reads: I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by Courtney Robertson

"Bye, I can't stand you all."

Anyone who's been a Bachelor fan for a while remember's Ben's season when the season villain was the woman who prevailed and received the final rose. I remember watching the finale with some of my closest girlfriends and all of us crying 'NOOOOOOoooooooOOOO!!!!' in disbelief when Ben sent sweetheart Lindzi Cox home and chose bad girl Courtney Robertson as his fiancee. When I heard about Courtney's tell all book where she promised readers would see a different side of her Bachelor story, I was too intrigued to pass it up! 

Rightfully named 'I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends,' Courtney Robertson tells us her journey leading up to the Bachelor including a quick run through of her childhood in Arizona and her time modeling in LA.  She talks about her sexual awakening in high school, her ugly duckling feelings from puberty, her rather oppressive mother, and her break into the modeling world. She also discusses in detail past relationships that explain her feelings and emotions when she entered into the Bachelor family.  

As far as the tell all parts of the book, I found this book gave a different perspective on the editing of Reality TV.  According to Courtney, the producers decided Courtney would be the villain, and thus they made her so. In a way, I feel for Courtney because reading this gave me an insight to her personality--she is a sarcastic girl with a dry sense of humor who wasn't going to put up with the bullsh** going on with other women on the show. I kind of feel like if I were on TV, I could be portrayed in such a way. Courtney said when she felt she was being funny and just chatting with the producers, they were really waiting for her to say something to spin as 'villain-y.'  Courtney also owned up to some of the more nasty things she said and, even after explaining the context in which they were said, apologized or claimed she wished she hadn't said it.  

Overall I found this to be a good read and the perfect amount of behind the scenes into the world of the Bachelor franchise.  I found it fun to follow along while reading her book by googling pictures, interviews, and clips from the show to remind me exactly of the moments she writes about. If you are a Bachelor fan, I recommend checking this book out to get some insight into this particular infamous 'villain' and how the show is run! 

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

NOTD: Formula X for Sephora in 'Illustrious'

Formula X for Sephora has quickly become my favorite nail polish brand! I think the formula is fantastic, the colors are plentiful, and the design of the packaging is totally chic to display out in the open.  I'm building this collection slowly but surely, and my most recent addition is this gorgeous pastel pistachio shade, 'Illustrious.' This minty shade has been 'in' for a couple seasons now and I don't see it going anywhere in a hurry! This particular shade sets itself apart from other similar hues because it has a gorgeous pearl sheen running through it. The pearlized finish makes the color look extra shiny and extra gorgeous!

This formula required 2 full coats to be completely opaque and the wear time is about 5 days with no chippage. I love this formula and think its worth the cost to get some of your favorite colors from this brand!

Check out Formula X for Sephora Here!

xxSJ

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in 'Fig'

After falling in love with Bite Beauty's lipstick formula from using their dual ended mini lipsticks, I decided to get my hands on one of their full-sized lipsticks!

The packaging is sleek and modern. The design is seamless using a matte, rubbery gray material with the Bite logo printed on the bottom of the tube.  The lipsticks come in 4 different styles of cap which are supposed to look like the different ways lipsticks can get worn down! The style of cap on each lipstick is dependent on color family--reds, neutrals, pinks, and berries.  The brand sets itself apart by only using edible ingredients in their lipsticks and also includes an ingredient called resveratrol, a super antioxidant. Each tube contains as much resveratrol as 5 glasses of wine!

The color I chose is 'Fig,' a gorgeous nude rose.  

Fig is a super warm pink that has peach undertones making it very wearable for my complexion. I like that the color is a bit punchy and more noticeable then a nude lip but still a neutral and professional color. 

The lipsticks are very moisturizing and last quite a while on the lips. They do transfer while eating and drinking but I find they don't smear and instead fade naturally and evenly away. 

Bite Beauty lipsticks cost $24 for 0.15oz of product. To compare with some popular brands, MAC lipsticks are $17 for 0.1oz of product, Kat Von D lipsticks are $21 for 0.1oz of product, and Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks are $22 for 0.1oz of product.

I really like the way this product feels and wears on my lips. Given that I have such a huge problem with dryness and the appearance of my lips, I will probably be repurchasing from this brand in the future. 

Check it out on Sephora's website Here!

xxSJ
Review on the duo Fig/Date
Review on the duo Musk/Lychee

Steph Reads: Golden Son by Pierce Brown

"I'm Gold, bitch. What'd you expect? Warm milk and cookies just because I'm pocket-sized?"

         Golden Son is the second book in the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown and, in my humble opinion, it succeeded in being just as much of a page-turner as the first book.  The book picks up shortly after the first book ended--our protagonist, Darrow, is continuing his quest to begin a revolution as a Red (the lowest of the classes in this futuristic society), posing as a Gold, the God-like elite on top of the social hierarchy.  This novel focuses on Darrow's journey attempting to incite revolution while trying to maintain what his late wife, Eo, would have wanted. Darrow navigates the world of the Golds, attempting to gain power while being backstabbed and threatened and simultaneously finding true friendship and love.
         I loved this book and it took just as many exciting twists and turns as the first one. I appreciate that Pierce Brown managed to keep my interest with an entirely different plot line rather than recycling too many concepts and devices from the first novel.  In this story, we get new insight into this exciting and thought-provoking world Darrow lives in as well as further development of some favorite characters from Red Rising.
        I definitely recommend this novel and this series to anyone interested in fantasy, sci-fi, or adult fiction.  I liken this series to Hunger Games, only due to its dystopian themes, however I think it is a far better written and more adult. Definitely a 10/10!

SJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

ColourPop Goodies! Birthday Suit, Birthday Girl, and Bill!

This post is looooooong overdue but a while back I got in an order from Colour Pop and wanted to share my thoughts on some of their products!

I got three items from Colourpop, an LA based indie brand that has exploded in the past year. One of the items I got for free with my order to celebrate the brands 1 year birthday: the 'Birthday Girl' eyeshadow which came encased in hot pink plastic with a tiny holographic cupcake on the lid! Adoooooooooorable!  All Colourpop products come in twist off plastic packaging that you have to make sure to close up tight after every use to avoid their unique product from drying up. 

The Birthday Girl eyeshadow is one of the brands' Supershock shadows with a metallic glitter finish. It is a gold color that has some bronze glitters in it. I bought the color 'Bill,' which is my first matte color I've purchased from Colourpop and is a 'muted plum-beige.' I also purchased my first cheek color in this order and chose the color 'Birthday Suit' which is a neutral pink in a satin finish.

All the colors swatch beautifully and completely opaque.  The glitter eyeshadow had the same texture I've come to be familiar with with Colourpop which is a squishy almost wet feeling. The matte eyeshadow and the cheek color were a little bit different in texture; they felt more whipped and softer.  With the glitter shadows from Colourpop I recommend applying them with your finger in order to get the most pigment out of them. With the matte eyeshadow I used a synthetic brush to buff into my crease and it worked beautifully. With the cheek color I got the best result by using my fingers to blend it directly onto my cheeks. None of the brushes I tried could pick up any product successfully but I really liked the results I got by simply blending with my fingers. 

The look above I achieved by buffing 'Bill' into my crease with a synthetic fluffy brush, pressing 'Birthday Girl' all over my lid with my finger, and by blending 'Birthday Suit' onto my cheeks. I think the look the blush gives is a fresh and dewey look which I love for my dry skin.

Colourpop eyeshadows are $5 each and the cheek colors are $8 each. I highly recommend this affordable brand particularly for beginners who may not have a lot of tools or may not want to use many products for one look. I think these shadows and blushes are user friendly and not to mention completely affordable! Colourpop gives you $5 off your first order when you sign up for their email list which will cover your cost of shipping :) Find their products at colourpop.com!

Happy Summer!
xxSJ

Light Brown: Comparing Transition Shades

A transition shade is a color you place in and a bit above the crease of your eyelid to make blending easier and the transition between all your eyeshadows smoother. The most popular transition shade is a matte light brown color. That being said, there are SO many to choose from and so many that are proclaimed 'must-have' colors by makeup gurus and companies. With so many to choose from you'd think picking one would be easy but wading through all the choices can be a tad daunting! I thought I'd share all the matte light browns I have to give you an idea of how more popular ones compare and my thoughts on some of my faves!

Let's get started from left to right! First up are the two matte browns from the Naked 1 palette, Naked and Buck. These colors are great because they layer beautifully on top of one another, meaning you can dip your brush in both of these, buff them into your crease and effortlessly add some great dimension to your eye look. MAC's Soft Brown is the next color and is a great shade if you're looking for a warmer brown that leans peach. It is really similar to Makeup Geek's Creme Brulee and Stila's Wit (from Eyes are the Window 'Mind' palette).  I like these colors if I'm going for a warmer eye look. I think they all perform comparably to one another though I prefer MAC's Soft Brown slightly because I think it is slightly less powdery and blends with other colors a bit better because of its satiny feel.  Next I have the NARS eyeshadow duo in 'Portobello.' These colors are SO amazingly buttery and soft and yet don't kick up a bunch of product when you dip your brush in or are blending them. The color on the left is unique as it has a bit of green in it and the color on the right in the duo is so rich and adds gorgeous depth to any eye look. I highly recommend this little compact if you're looking for some unique and gorgeous colors for your collection that you can get a TON of use out of. Lastly I have the matte brown color from the Dior 5-Colour palette in Grege. Unfortunately I don't think Dior sells this palette anymore which is a shame because it is gorgeous (find my review of it HERE), but if you have it, here is how the rich matte brown in it compares with some other popular browns.

I hope this post was helpful for anyone looking for comparisons of these popular colors!

xxSJ

NOTD: Formula X for Sephora 'Chaotic'

Today's nail of the day is a glittery top coat by Formula X for Sephora called 'Chaotic.' This top coat is filled with black and white hexagon and square shaped glitters of various sizes. This stuff is so cool! In the picture above I layered two thin coats of this glitter over a plain black Formula X polish and the effect looks like outer space!

This polish lasted for days chip free on my nails and attracted many compliments. As with most glitter polishes, it was tough to remove and I resorted to chipping and peeling off the layers of glitter. I think this polish looks great layered over black or white, but it would look really cool over a red or bright pink so you can see both the black and white glitters easily!

Formula X for Sephora polishes are sold exclusively at Sephora and are $10.50 for 0.4fl oz.

Would you rock this chaotic nail color??
xxSJ

Steph Reads: The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

        It's Summertime in the city and I wanted to start the Summer off by reading a fun chick-lit! The book 'The Hypnotist's Love Story' takes place in Australia at Ellen O'Ferrell's beachfront home. Ellen is a successful hypnotherapist who has found a promising bachelor to spend her life with until the day he tells her 'we need to talk.' Turns out, Ellen's perfect suitor Patrick is perfect enough that his last relationship ended with his ex stalking him.  Rather than being scared off, Ellen is intrigued that this gentleman is worthy of a stalker and, in fact, she would like to meet this stalker of his--little does Ellen know that she already has.
        This book was overall a fun read and had a slew of likable and relatable characters. Ellen is incredibly realistic as the seemingly earthly and spiritual hypnotist that has a running train of thought revealing her imperfections. The narration shifts between Ellen and Patrick's stalker which was a nice touch to be able to understand what is going through the stalker's mind during her most outrageous acts of desperation. I actually felt sympathy toward the stalker by the end of the book because I felt I achieved a certain level of understanding of her actions which was unbelievable given I had written her off as a loon at the beginning of this story.  The ending of this story wasn't necessarily unpredictable, but it was incredibly satisfying and light-hearted giving me peace when I set it down for the last time. I will say that this book got incredibly slow in the middle 150 pages or so. I felt like that whole chunk of the book could have been removed and I wouldn't have missed it all! Other than that slow area, I would recommend this book if you have enjoyed Moriarty's previous work. It's fun, realistic, a little sexy, and entertaining!

What's on your Summer reading list?
xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

Ipsy June 2015 Bag!

 Ipsy is a monthly subscription service that sends you 4-6 deluxe sample-sized products each month for the low cost of $10 including shipping. Ipsy is SO popular that in order to sign up for this subscription, you must first get yourself on their waitlist... I did just that weeks ago and completely forgot about it until I received an email that my June bag had shipped! It arrived a couple days ago so I thought I'd share my thoughts on these products and this service.

In this month's bag, I received 2 pairs of Altcheck Depuff Eye pads, a treStique eyeshadow pencil, a Smashbox photo finish face primer, an ItCosmetics brow pencil, and an Aurora Gel Effect nail polish. All of these goodies were housed in a black bag with 'ipsy' printed all over and bright orange zipper enclosure!

I was most excited by the ItCosmetics brow power pencil as this product claims to be a 'universal brow product.' Hmmmmm I'm hugely skeptical of that! I also thought the eyeshadow pencil was missing its cap at first but was relieved to find that the pencil-like pointed tip is really the cap housing the product inside! 

The eyeshadow color I got was 'Marimoto Pink Pearl' and it is really pretty! It is a light gold shimmery cream eyeshadow with peachy pink undertones. I wore this on my lids with a soft brown swept through the crease and it wore beautifully all day.  The brow pencil is in the color 'Universal Taupe' and it actually works pretty well for my brows. This product is meant to be lightly applied for blondes and then more heavily applied the darker your hair color. I could definitely see this color working for many people, though I recommend trying it out in store before purchasing this. The packaging is really nice as it is a weighty aluminum and there is a spoolie for eyebrow grooming on the opposite end of the pencil. 

The nail polish is a gel effect polish by the brand Aurora called '4 Alarm Fire.' I do really enjoy the color of this hot raspberry red, but I don't think the formula is all that great. I had chipping within 24 hours of application and the brush is huge making application a bit difficult on my tiny nails!

Overall I was impressed with the variety of samples in this bag. The value of each product is as follows:
Nail Polish $8
Smashbox Primer $8
Eyeshadow Stick $10
Eyebrow pencil $12
Eye pads $4

That puts the total value of this bag at $42! Not bad considering I only dropped $10 on it and these are all products I will get some use out of.

I really enjoyed my first experience with Ipsy but I don't think I will be continuing my subscription. I have a lot of makeup as is and I don't feel the need to have a ton of little samples lying around. I would definitely recommend Ipsy to people just starting to get into makeup though! It's an inexpensive monthly service that could introduce you to new makeup items and brands to expand your collection and its great for getting some travel sized products for weekend getaways ;)

Try out Ipsy for yourself Here!

xxSJ

MAC Powder Blush in 'Melba'

When I visit my sister and spend the night at her place, I always look forward to raiding her makeup stash in the morning. She has completely different tastes and products from me so I love exploring her treasure chest of makeup goodies! One of the items I always use and love the look of is this MAC blush. I finally purchased it for myself since I found myself missing it when I wasn't at my sister's place. The blush is Mac Melba, a matte soft coral peach blush that is perfectly neutral on my pale skin.

This blush is far different from the bright pinks, peaches, and glittery blushes I already have in my stash. I was on the prowl for a more professional color to wear on my clinicals and this one definitely fits the bill. It looks a bit brown and neutral in the pan but swatches with a nice warm coral tone to it.

MAC blushes are super soft and easy to work with. They build up really nicely and also blend out if you accidentally apply too much. They create a wonderful effortless look to a full face of makeup. I also found that this blush pairs really nicely with my Becca Pressed Powder in Rose Gold layered on top for when I want some extra shimmer and highlight! 

MAC blushes can be purchased from MAC cosmetics online or at counters nationwide. A blush in the pan costs $22.00 for 6g of product or $17.00 for just the refill pan.  Go check this blush out Here! if you're looking for a neutral blush for day to day! 

xxSJ

Deborah Lippmann Calypso Nail Lacquer Duet

This amazing little nail polish duo is currently at Sephora so I just had to share my thoughts on it with you all before its gone! Deborah Lippmann is a well-known celebrity manicurist known for her high quality line of unique nail colors. She is particularly renowned for her glitter polishes which can be topped by few other brands.  The quality of her polishes comes at a price, however, with her creamy polishes coming in at $18 and her glitters costing $20. 

This particularly duo, called the 'Calypso Nail Lacquer Duet,' comes with one of Deborah Lippman's most famous colors, 'Mermaid's Dream.' It is a sandy seafoam green base filled with different sized and hued blue glitters. It leaves a scaly, sandy, finish on the nails and is completely solid in just two coats. The other complimentary polish in this duo is 'Flowers in her Hair' which is a light minty cream color. It is completely opaque in two coats and very easy to apply. The two polishes come housed in a glittery teal zip up pouch perfect for packing polishes on the go. 

Mermaid's Dream lasted for days on my nails with out chipping. It looked perfect for 4 days before it started chipping around the edges. As with most glitters, this polish is not easy to take off which is a definite downer, but I don't think I've ever received as many compliments or caught myself staring at my nails as much as I did when I was wearing this polish. It is so unique and beautiful! 'Flowers in her Hair' lasted a few days with out chipping and was easy to remove with out staining my nail underneath.

These mini polishes are about half the size of a full size polish at 0.27oz each. The whole kit costs $19 which is quite the deal considering the hefty price of just one Deborah Lippmann polish. Considering this kit has one of her iconic colors along with a beautiful neutral, I wholeheartedly recommend this nail duo. You won't regret it!

Purchase this duo here: sephora.com

xxSJ