Buxom Nudes & Brights: Review

Lip glosses are one of my most cherished beauty products.  I am especially fond of Buxom glosses.  I think they are hands down the best.  They last a long time, the colors are amazing, the shine is perfect, and I love the way they feel.  For those of you who don't know, many buxom glosses have a tingle to them.  They claim to plump lips, which, I'm not sure is entirely true.  I notice my lips are fuller, but I attribute it more to the color and fullness of the gloss.

I'm also especially fond of kits.  When there is a kit, I'll probably buy it.  I think it's a great way to try new products without much of a commitment.  Needless to say I was psyched when I saw this kit at Sephora:

Buxom Nudes & Brights! This kit is perfect.  3 nude colors, and 3 vibrant colors- perfect for summer! The thing I loved about this kit was getting 6 different colors for only $32.00.  Full-size Buxom glosses run around $19.00.  These sizes were about half the size of a regular gloss, but you're still getting much more.  Plus, I have a little issue, where I tend to lose glosses.  They end up in my purses, work bag, desk, bathroom, jacket pocket, you name it!  So I figure with six, if I lose a couple, I'm still good hahahaha!

First the Nudes:

From left to right... "Yes You", "Mwah", and "Dolly" (Swatches below)

"Yes You"- is a very, very nude color.  It's almost a plain gloss.  It looks great on it's own or over another color to add some extra shine, or tone down a loud color.

"Mwah"- has a more pink tone to it, but still is pretty nude.  It's perfect for work, or to wear with dark eye makeup, if your looking to tone down your lips.

"Dolly"- I've been a fan of this color for ages.  It's my go-to color.  I usually wear it to work or when I'm at home lounging around.  It's more pink than nude, but it's very pretty on.

Now the Brights...

From left to right... "Strut It", "Pucker Up", "Cha Cha Cha" (swatches below)

"Strut It"- Bright pink, almost like a watermelon hot pink.  It's perfect for summer.  I wore this with a black dress, pink flip flops, and a pink necklace.  It was prefect.

"Pucker Up"- Same idea, but purple.  It's a great summer color for day or evening out.

"Cha Cha Cha"- This is by far my favorite.  It's a neon red/orange color and it really makes my lips stand out and pop.  This color is perfect for those hot summer nights!

Here are the swatches:

As you can tell from the swatch, I am super fair-skinned. (Also, don't mind the scratches... I wasn't kidding when I said I was a crazy cat lady lol).  I really thought all of these colors looked great on me.  I rarely find a kit where such a wide range of colors look good on.  I think these colors would look great on any skin tone.  I was really surprised I liked the brights as much as a I did.  And... all of these colors had the lasting power of Buxom.  They felt great on my lips, were full-bodied, and had ample shine.

This kit is still available at Sephora, both online and in stores.  Price, quality, and the wonderful colors in this kit make it a must have!

Chubby Stick- Shadow Tint for Eyes Review

Are you looking for a quick, easy way to apply eye shadow?  Maybe for those days when your short on time or running late?  How about something you can carry with you on a long day for an easy touch up without the hassle of carrying a makeup brush?  Look no further than Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes!

I've tried Clinique's Chubby Sticks for lips many times and really like them.  I hadn't tried the eye tint yet because, well, lets face it, I have more than enough shadows.  I have played with them in Sephora forever, and finally, when I had a 20% off VIB Coupon I decided it was time to try it.

I went with the color "lavish lilac".  What I really love about this color is you can glide it on once for a very light tone that is is great for work.  But you can put multiple coats on to get a deeper violet color- great for drinks after work or a night out.

Chubby Stick looks like a crayon when you take the cap off.  You apply it by gliding it across your eyelid.  My favorite part- it is super moisturizing, and very light weight.  Best of all- the color lasted me a good 16+ hours!

Chubby Stick Shadow tint retails at $17.00, and I think it is well worth it. It is a quick, easy way to add some color to your lids in the morning or on the go!  You can find it at the Clinique counter, Clinique online, or Sephora.  I am not sure if Ulta sells it or not.   I'm looking forward to trying some of the other shades!

Pretty in Pink!

Hi Everyone! Today I am writing to you from beautiful North Carolina.  I am so excited to be here, and really need this opportunity to get away for a few days!

When I am on vacation I like to relax a lot and today, my makeup look contained all things pink!  Pink is such an easy fun look. I feel fresh, fun, and relaxed. 

Lip Gloss:
Buxom Gloss in "Dolly".  I love this color! You can probably tell from the picture I use it quite a bit.  It is a very light pink when applied, and looks natural.  I love Buxom Glosses!  They are usually my favorite and the shine and color do not disappoint.

Check Stain:
Josie Maran Argan Color Stick in "Rosey".  This product is described as "Ultra Hydrating, Multi-Tasking Balm for lips, cheeks... anywhere".  I love Josie Maran products.  I love the way the argan oil base feels on my skin.  This still is super hydrating, and long lasting.  I only used one swipe, but if you want a darker pink look, you can swipe it across your cheeks several times for more pigment. 

Eyes:
Naked 3 by Urban Decay.  I won't go into this in much detail because I know it's been blogged about millions of times.  But can I just say... I LOVE this palette!  I mix the colors together a lot, and today used "mugshot", "buzz", and "dust".  I was able to create a deep purply/pink pigment that made my eyes pop just slightly. 

Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright.  After flying most of the day yesterday, and enjoying a couple cocktails, I woke up a little sleepy this morning.  A little touch of  this in the corners of your eyes, and any sign of darkness instantly goes away!

Highlighter:
Revlon Highlighting Palette in"Rose Glow".  I use this as a all-over highlighter and use it in place of a bronzer.  It gives me a shimmery pink glow.  Can I say I LOVE LOVE this stuff!  Recently, I had to put myself on a Sephora diet because my beauty addiction was getting a little out of control (thank you Debbie and Alex for your intervention... ha!).  While refraining from stepping into a Sephora, I found some products I hadn't tried at CVS.  This was one of them.  With a 20% off coupon, CVS Extra Bucks, and a BOGO offer, this shimmer ended up costing me under $7!!! How can you possibly go wrong?!?! I've been using this daily and I highly recommend it.  It goes a long way at such a discount price!

Dress: Old Navy; Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft; Necklace: Francesca's; Headband: Ann Taylor Loft; Polish: "Lots o Lux" ESSIE.


What are your easy, breezy, vacation go-to colors!?!?!? 

Urban Decay Finishing Spray Review

One of the most frustrating things is spending time putting makeup on, only to have it disappear in a few hours!  I've heard a lot about setting sprays but haven't tried one until now.  Enter... Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray.  I have been dying to try this spray, but I was reluctant to invest in something I didn't know much about.  (This product retails at $30 for 4oz.)  I was super excited when I was at Sephora the other day and noticed a travel size for $10.  I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to give this product a try without much commitment!

The bottle is a typical spray bottle.  It mists like a hair spray, or leave in conditioner.  The directions say to hold 8-10 inches away from face, and mist spray 2-4 times in an "X" and "T" formation.  I was worried it would make my face appear wet, and even change the tone of my makeup.  Surprisingly, it didn't.  You couldn't even tell anything had been applied.  It seemed to almost evaporate into the skin on contact.  The spray is a bit cool as it goes on, but refreshing.

But the real question is... did it keep my makeup in place for 16 hours as the product claims!?  After several days of using this product I noticed a big difference in the lasting power of my makeup.  I usually put makeup on around 8am on work days, and by 3pm, most has faded.  I noticed when using the spray, my makeup lasted throughout the entire work day.  I wouldn't go so far as to say it lasts the full 16 hours claimed.  10 hours is probably a little more accurate.

Overall, I really like this product.  I am eager to see how it holds up in the summer with heat and humidity.  Stay tuned....