Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara Review

This is the first gel-mousse formula mascara. I loved how smooth and soft the mascara left  my lashes feeling when I applied it. It's a non-clumpy formula that doesn't flake, run or make the lashes hard or crunchy after it dries. It also gives a nice volume at the base of the lashes. The brush is tapered on both ends with fullness in the middle. The wand is flexible with nylon bristles so there's a bit of bounce when applying it, but it still has enough structure in the wand to allow for reaching inner/outer corners as well as bottom lashes. 

Bottom Line: I would recommend this mascara to everyone! It is my new favorite and I will continue to buy it until something better comes along!

LORAC Review

LORAC recently sent me some of their "top of the line" products for me to try. I have never tried anything from LORAC before but I fell in love with all the products I received. Unfortunately, the blush/bronzer duo was completely shattered when I opened the box so I couldn't do a review on it. I emailed them to see if they can send a replacement and I am waiting to hear back. On another note, I already did some shopping on their website to see what other products I would like to buy in the near future. You can check out their website here.

Updated May 2012 Birchbox

So as you all know, my first attempt at a monthly subscription beauty service was a fail. I received my new Birchbox in the mail the other day and it was all there this time! Hopefully that was just a one time mistake. I'm definitely going to stick around for another month or two before I decide whether to stay with them or find a new service. If you didn't see my first Birchbox blog, I will put the link here: http://xokaitlinconley.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-birchbox-review.html.

I got the same theme as last time: Downtown Book Party. So like before, this is the list of what should be in the box:

• Color Club | Nail Polish in Disco Nap ($8) 

Just in time for summer, this metalic gold polish looks glam day and night.

• Dr. Jart + |  Waterfuse BB Cream ($32)

Thing of this four-in-one moisturizer serum, sunscreen, and skin-perfecting tint as the (extremely stylish) Swiss Army Knife of your beauty lineup.

• stila | sparkle waterproof liquid eye liner ($22)

Pearly shimmer meets intense pigment in this lasting liner. Better yet, the pen-like want makes wiggle-free application a breeze.

• Kérastase | Cristalliste Lumière Liquide ($42)

Smooth this lightweight, fragrant serum through dry strands to add gorgeous shine.

Extras

• Kérastase | Cristalliste Bain Cristal ($36)

This shampoo removes oil from roots while leaving ends healthy and soft.

• Kérastase | Cristalliste Lait Cristal ($39)

Thanks to hydrating aloe, this rich conditioner seals in shine and moisture.

• Notecards ($10 - set of 12)

Text messages are no match for handwritten notes on fun, modern stationery. 

I'm excited to try all these products out! The stila eyeliner is just GORGEOUS! I will be doing a review on it very soon so keep a look out! 

Dove Invigorating Dry Shampoo Review

As most of you know, it is much better on your hair to not wash it every day. When you wash your hair every day, it strips your hair of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy. I am guilty of washing my hair every day. Over time, my hair began to get really brittle and dry and I was beginning to have a lot of breakage and split ends. 

I finally decided it was time for me to take better care of my hair and give it a break every other day. I have always heard a lot of good things about dry shampoo so the other day I went to Target and decided to buy Dove's dry shampoo. It comes in a 5oz can and costs $4.49. 

I know we all have different hair types from oily to dry so some people don't have to use the dry shampoo as much as others. My hair is pretty dry so it can  typically go about 2-3 days without needing any dry shampoo to absorb the oils. Some people have very oily hair and need to wash their hair every day to keep their hair from looking greasy. That's where dry shampoo comes in. It isn't harsh on your hair like washing your hair daily would be. 

DIRECTIONS: Shake well and spray (about 8-10 inches away from hair) directly onto roots. You then rub it into your scalp for about a minute. Once finished, brush hair and style as usual. 

Bottom line: It smells amazing! It doesn't weigh down your hair. If you have oily hair or you just want to give your hair a break like me then I would recommend trying this dry shampoo!

May Birchbox Review

I have heard a lot of good things about Birchbox so I thought I would give it a shot. For anyone who doesn't know what a Birchbox is - it's a company that sends you a box of samples from Kiehl's, stila, Jouer, Smashbox Cosmetics, Carol's Daughter - Beauty by Nature, Kérastase and many more brands for you to try. It costs $10 each month. 

Below is the link to their website:

BIRCHBOX 

I received my first box today and I am extremely disappointed. My box is missing a lot of things. There is a note inside that tells you what is in your box, what the product does and how much the full sizes retail for. I will list what should have been in my box below:

bareMinerals Review

Today I'm doing a review on bareMinerals. This was the first makeup brand I ever used (and I used it for YEARS). The first time I ever walked into a bareMinerals store, I was obsessed. The vast amount of makeup and colors was incredible! I will be talking about some of the things I have: foundation, mineral veil and eye shadows. 

Foundation:

The two main shades I use are Fairly Light (in the winter) and Medium Beige (during the summer). It has SPF 15 which is always a plus! Fairly Light is meant for porcelain-to-light skin with neutral undertones. Medium Beige is meant for medium skin with neutral undertones. BareMinerals has 20 different shades of the Original SPF 15 Foundation. Each foundation costs $27 so it is a little pricey for foundation but I definitely think it is one of the best ones out there!

Mineral Veil: 

I have always used mineral veil on top of my foundation. It is supposed to reduce lines, absorb oils and soften your complexion. It costs $20 but I think it's worth it! It gives you a flawless look which everyone aims for.

Eye Shadows:

I have had a lot of bareMinerals eye shadows but of course they eventually run out. The ones I have right now are: peach puff, water lily, reveal, hyacinth, black ice, cultured pearl and queen phyllis. They have matte, shimmer and sheen eye shadows so there is a wide variety (hundreds of colors) for everyone. Each eyeshadow costs $14 so again, it's kind of pricey. It's well worth the money!

EOS Lip Balm Review

Today I am going to do a review on EOS (Evolution of Smooth) Lip Balm. I purchased my first one about 5 months ago and I immediately fell in love. I have always tended to have dry lips but ever since I bought this lip balm, I haven't had this problem. They smell unbelievably good!! I have 3 of the 6 flavors - honeysuckle honeydew, summer fruit and strawberry sorbet. The other 3 flavors are lemon drop spf 15, medicated tangerine and sweet mint. I will be buying the other 3 very soon!

Bottom Line: If you have an issue with dry and/or cracked lips, I would definitely recommend buying this lip balm. They cost $3.29 a piece so it's definitely not expensive. Another plus is that they are 95% organic and 100% natural.

Below is a link to the EOS website:

EOS Lip Balm

You can also find EOS products at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS.

From left to right - Summer Fruit, Strawberry Sorbet, Honeysuckle Honeydew

Urban Decay Naked Palette Review

Today I'm doing a review on the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Let me just say that I am in love with this palette! The greatest thing about it is its versatility to be used during the day and at night. With 12 different shades of neutral colors, it makes it very easy to create different looks.

The palette came with a Good Karma Shadow Brush and a mini Eyeshadow Primer Potion (the old packaging). The palette includes the following shadows: Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, and Gunmetal. My hands-down favorite shades are Virgin, Sin, Naked and Sidecar (as you can probably tell from the pictures below). The colors are all pigmented which is a plus!

Bottom Line: If you love neutrals like me, I would recommend investing in this palette. It's a bit pricey but when you break down the cost of everything, you are getting 12 gorgeous shadows, a Good Karma Shadow Brush and a mini Eyeshadow Primer Potion all for $50. I definitely think it is worth the money! A little bit of shadow goes a long way. I have had my palette for 6 months now and I still have a lot of product left. Another plus is that there is a mix of shimmers and mattes, so you can play with texture as well as color.

Below is a link to the Naked Palette at Sephora:

http://www.sephora.com/naked-palette-P267200?skuId=1324532

New Blog

Hey Everyone! Welcome to my blog! I will be using this page to review all the beauty products that I absolutely love! Hope you all enjoy!

xoxo
Kaitlin