I had the pleasure of reviewing a bronzing powder from Verhoeven Cosmetics, and being that I am always eager to share new or relative unknown cosmetic companies with everyone that have such huge potential; I am so happy to share this one with you guys because this is some high quality makeup.
Verhoeven Cosmetics was created by world renowned makeup artist Pieter Verhoeven. He has been in the industry for the past 15 years and started his career in Amsterdam. Being a makeup artist for many years, inspired him to create his own cosmetic line to inspire women and give them high quality products that last.
The entire line has tons of products to suit anyone, lipsticks, blushes, foundation & powder, eyebrow pencils and powders, concealers, eyeshadows, and more. In terms of pricing, it is comparative to MAC, $14 for a lipstick, $21 for their bronzing powder, etc. and the packaging and makeup definitely does not look or feel 'cheap'. You can tell a lot of thought was put into the production of each piece, and even though I only reviewed one product, it was very pigmented; one swipe gave so much color. I will try to do a look with it soon!
Not to mention that the line is depicted by a V (V for Vanessa anyone?! LOL). I'd like to think that it was personalized for me in mind! Ha! ;) But definitely check their site out!
(I'll be posting again like normal tomorrow night, the past few days have been crazy busy at work! I actually have a few videos but holding off on posting a few as I might re-record as I am in the process of getting an HD camcorder for better detail!)
So I recently blogged about NuMe Style Vintage Flat Iron and came across a site where you can get some hot tool brands such as Jose Eber, Bellezza, and NuMe products at an amazingly low price (compared to the actual websites); on MallOverstock.com. They have weekly deals on packages that are highly discounted, on flat irons and curlers. Seems like the deals change weekly, unlike other sites that have a sale for one day only and you end up missing out.
MallOverstock.com purchase in large quantities which is why prices are so low. Shipping is always free anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. I also confirmed that this was a legit site from NuMe Products themselves since this site is still pretty new, it doesn't have much info on it just yet, but it's definitely legit and secure if you are interested in purchasing products from there. :)
I love Target, it's addicting and easy to go crazy in that place! I also love the Sonia Kashuk line they carry- it's great quality at a great price and I love that her line is always updated with new collections and products. It's no surprise I stumbled across her pointed foundation brush for $12.99.
It definitely piqued my interest because it was pointed, and most of the foundation brushes I see these days are the typical flat sided brushes. And heck, for $12.99, it was mine! I wanted to compare it to the Sephora Airbrush Brushes I recently reviewed. I know everyone is on a budget, so I wanted to find something that can fit both of the Sephora brushes at half the price, and the Sonia Kashuk Pointed Foundation Brush definitely fits the bill.
It has soft synthetic bristles like the Sephora brushes, and the small pointed tip mimics the Sephora Concealer Brush #57 to help you apply your liquid/cream concealer or foundation in hard to reach places such as under the eyes, around the nose, etc. You can see a size comparison below next to a MAC eyeshadow, where it's just the right size, not too big, and not too small.
Overall? I highly recommend it if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Sephora brushes, at $12.99 you can't go wrong! It does the job and works great with liquids and creams, and can still give you a nice airbrush finish.
The fiance was just too cute, I was trying to do a video but he ended up stealing the show and wanted to do his own LOL! I love how he doesn't even really talk about the product haha.
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Hello ladies! Don't these Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes ($25 each) sorta look like twins? Well I went to exchange something at Sephora last week (the same day I saw Vanessa Hudgens and her sis in the store trying on makeup!) and they sold out of "Tipsy", they only had "Blissful", so I ended up getting "Blissful", and then this past weekend I went to the Container Store in Century City and the Sephora there, had "Tipsy"! So I ended up buying that one too since I didn't have "Blissful" on me to exchange, and then I thought i'd compare them since they look almost identical to me. They come in handy mirrored compacts, which match the color of the blush inside so it definitely makes it easier to know which is which if you have more than one.
Blissful is more of a pale peachy pink that is more of a sheertone texture, where it's not dull like a matte blush, but not as shimmery as "Tipsy". It's pretty perfect for those of you that want a natural look and have light complexions (as I think it would show up more on lighter skintones to look the most natural). Tipsy is a gorgeous coral shade, it's shimmery and very pigmented and will definitely work well with any skintone and complexion because it will really shine through.
Description from Sephora website:For oily skin types, Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. Those with dry skin will benefit from the clay's nourishing and hydrating properties, which naturally restore skin's moisture. Combination skin types can rely on its ability to zero in on skin concerns and deliver benefits to restore complexion harmony.
These claim to have incredible 12-hour wear, and it comes in other shades as well. So far the wear is pretty good, I will have to do an update to really know for sure, but so far so good!
Which one is my favorite? It's honestly hard to pick one because at times they almost look the same on my cheeks, I like that Blissful is more subtle, and just gives a nice wash of color, while Tipsy is nice and shimmery perfect for the summer, not to mention it seems like a very unique color. I compared these blushes to my MAC "Hipness" blush below. As you can see "Hipness" closely resembles "Blissful", except "Blissful" is more of a rosier pinkish orange compared to "Hipness", and is a tad bit more vibrant.
Blissful on my RIGHT cheek (your left) and Tips on my LEFT cheek (lipgloss is NYX "Natural"):
Pic taken with no flash, using Ottlite Makeup Mirror
I had the wonderful opportunity to review the NuMe Style Vintage (Limited Edition) Flat Iron ($275) from NuMeStyle.com. I love that it's not only hot pink, but it straightens and curls your hair. This flat iron is a little over an inch. It has rounded edges that encompasses the tourmaline ceramic plates, to help give you a nice curl. My old flat iron had a bit of a square edge so it was hard to curl with it.
Years ago, I never would dream to spend over $50 on a hot hair tool, but I can definitely see a difference with certain brands, and sometimes it's just worth the investment of knowing you are not damaging your hair and you have something that will last you a really long time. I had the Conair Wet/Dry flat iron, Revlon Curling Irons, etc. and they never super straightened my hair or give me the long lasting curl I was looking for, and there were times I had curling irons that just broke after awhile. It took my fiance having to get me an Enzo Clipless Curling Iron to realize that with certain things- you get what you paid for. And if you love your hair, you definitely want the best for it.
So I am glad I was able to try this out because finally, I only need to take ONE hair tool when I travel, since it straightens and curls. My sister has to plug in a curling iron AND a hair straightener when she does her hair, and you just need one- this one.
The best part? It comes with a 3 year warranty and my hair was still just as curly even the day after I curled it!
From their website: Using pure ceramic plates ensures even distribution, eliminating the hot spots and chipping associated with conventional irons. Our tourmaline ceramic plates emit negative ions which seals moisture in the hair cuticle keeping your hair shiny, healthy and silky smooth.
- Negative Ion Technology reduces static and frizz for shinier, more manageable hair Rounded Barrels create curls or flips your hair
- Heats up with in seconds
- Built-in converter handles dual voltage from 110v to 240v (you must purchase the country's proper plug adapter separately) Temperature: 410 degrees F
- Ergonomic design is easy to hold, handle and manipulate
PROS:
- It does heat up pretty fast, the red light turns green when it's ready
- The cord swivels at the base, so you don't need to worry about it falling, or getting tangled in things
- The rounded edges helps give you a nice, long-lasting (and shiny!) curl
- It's a little over an inch in barrel size, to give the perfect sized curl, and it's easy to hold
- Can use it when traveling in other countries
- Can use it to flip your hair (like if you have layers), make loose beachy waves, or tighter curls
- Straightens fast and easy
- My curls lasted even the day after I curled it
CONS:
- Does not come with a heat protection glove, pouch or a stand like some hair appliances do
- Can get really hot (like all hair applicances) so be careful
- This particular color is Limited Edition
Overall: This is a pretty good flat iron for me; I hardly do anything with my hair during the week other than straightening it, so I like that this does the job really fast, it straightens my hair in one pass, and I like that I can curl with it too, make flips to my hair, etc. The rounded edges are a major plus, it helps avoid that 'L'-shaped curl and give you nice soft, bouncy curls. You can make beachy waves or round ringlets. I recommend if you straighten and/or curl all the time, and you are looking for a high-end quality flat iron that will last you a very long time. If you wanna see how I used it, and see the kind of curl it made, watch the video below. :)
Disclaimer: All product reviews and honest opinions on this site are solely that of my own and I am not endorsed, affiliated, or paid for this review unless otherwise specified. This product was given for review consideration by www.numestyle.com.
Stephanie requested that I show the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips in "Laced Up", so I thought i'd also do a quick video on how-to apply them as they can be tricky for people who aren't used to nailstrips. I used Seche Vite as my top coat, which I noticed helps it stay on longer. I like that these nailstrips are 'movable' as in if you placed them wrong or it suddenly sticks to your nail, you can still carefully peel them off and start over; as some other brands I have tried (Forever 21's version of nailstrips for example) are a waste of money even though they are only $2.80 for each one I believe, they stuck to my nail and stayed there. If I tried to carefully peel it off to start over it would rip into shreds.
So the Sally Hansen ones are good quality in comparison to other nailstrips out there; I find that the solid colors and some of the designs are great (even the solid colored glitters), while others don't work that well (I hated "Frock Star", it was hard to work with, it felt gritty, and it was a pain to come off!). Anyway, enjoy!
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Some of you may have already seen my video on the Ottlite Makeup Mirror, but thought i'd also do a post on it. It's available at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Amazon, JoAnn's Craft Store, as well as a few other places. It's basically a makeup mirror that mimics natural daylight, to give you the most accurate color and lighting when applying your makeup. Tungsten (yellowish light) gives a wash of yellow to everything, so your perception of foundation color for example could be a few shades off. With the Ottlite, what you see, is what you get! The con is that it shows every detail, pores and all LOL.
It retails for $99.99 in some places but $69.99 on the Ottlite website, and I got it on the clearance rack at JoAnn's for $29! Such a frikkin' steal! LOL. JoAnn's has it on sale online for like $54-60, and even with a 40% coupon, it's still pricey, so if you are interested, definitely check out your local JoAnn's to see if there are any on clearance. It has one button which is the on and off switch (no dimmer), the mirror swivels, so you have a magnified version and a standard mirror. The base/stand reclines back and forward so you can achieve your desired level.
It also comes in different colors, such as pink, white, black, and teal with brown.
PROS: Nice, bright light, really gives you accurate representation of color so you never look weird CONS: It can be TOO bright, no dimmer. For the retail price, the mirror part itself seems cheap, it has a cheap looking fake metal looking plastic on the border of the mirror, I would just expect more if I had to pay full price for this. Price itself is a bit much imo.
Just a follow up post on the Eco Tools Traincase, this is the newest collection from Eco Tools' Spring Line from Alicia Silverstone. As you can see they have re-vamped the design of these bags. They are of course made of eco-friendly materials such as natural hemp, non-toxic inks, and tree-free paper. Also made of bamboo, recycled plastic, steel and aluminum, soybean oil, and crushed walnuts.
Best part? 1% of eco tools annual sales is donated to the 'For the Planet' organization.
I love Eco Tools, incorporating beauty with helping the environment all at the same time! Not to mention their stuff is great for those on a budget, and great quality! They put a lot of thought into their products and constantly come up with new things, and I can appreciate that.
The 2011 Spring Collection additions are:
- Deluxe Pencil Case ($7.99) which are designed to hold all your Eco Tools brushes. Has a removable interior case and storage pockets.
- Hanging Valet ($15.99) which is great for hanging in a hotel room when you travel, or for storing beauty must-haves. The tri-fold bag has three zipper compartments, including a removable bag and a secure hanging hook.
- 4-piece Backstage Vanity Set ($12.99) comes with a convenient countertop brush holder stocked with a Finishing Brush, Angled Eyeshadow Brush, and a Lash and Brow Groomer.
- Revised 6-piece Brush Set and Bag ($14.99) holds even more of your favorite brushes, and comes with a Blush Brush, Mini Foundation Brush, Mini Powder Brush, Spoolie Brush, and a Detailed Eye Shading Brush.
- Cosmetic Bag ($8.99) Great for keeping in the purse for on-the-go touch ups. (It's the one I have)
- Traincase ($14.99) Similar to my last Eco Tools Traincase post, just with the new design.
The Hanging Valet Bag is ideal when I am staying in a hotel, because I can just hang it on the hook on the back of the bathroom door and have all my essentials, moisturizers, toothbrush, etc. easily accessible to me and have everything organized in one spot. I love that they are see-thru too (instead of the mesh that some other valet bags have) because it makes it easier to see your things. The removable second pouch also comes in handy when you don't want to bring the entire thing with you.
The cute little cosmetic bag is what I am toting around in my purse right now, it's the perfect size but stores a lot!
Just a gal that loves makeup and exploring creativity and art. Not a makeup guru by any means, but just love experimenting and sharing tips and tricks.
I apologize in advance if there is a delay in response as we often get swamped with emails and of course I have a real job and life in general.
***Please DO NOT take pictures from this site without permission. Please be considerate and shoot me an email if you wish to use my pictures, and no hot linking. This website is copyrighted.***
Disclaimer:
I am just a makeup-loving junkie who enjoys writing about beauty products and random stuff about my life and experiences. I am not by any means a "guru" or a makeup artist. I just love writing in general. All my product reviews and opinions expressed here on my blog, are that of my own and are based on MY own personal experience with that product, including those sent to me courtesy of a company that sends me one to review.
Any personal information will NOT be given out and is merely used to enter contests on my site. Everyone is different and like with ANY product PLEASE use the products mentioned in this blog at your discretion and with caution.
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