Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Preview Swatches - Soldiers In Charms & Spoiled Army Brat

I stopped by another Walgreens yesterday. Didn't find what I was looking for but I walked out of there with these two new Wet N Wild eyeshadow palettes from their new collection. There are a few more other colors but I wasn't really interested in them. I am not sure if these are limited edition. It doesn't say so on the packaging and I don't know how soon I can get the review up so I figure I might as well post some swatches and give you my first impression.

Soldiers In Charms

• Browbone - a shimmery chartreuse kind of shade. The texture is nice and soft but the pigmentation was on the sheer. 
• Crease - dark shimmery olive green with sparkling gold shimmers. Texture not too soft or stiff. Pigmenation was really good. 
• Eyelid - matte medium army green with grey undertone. Texture was soft but pigmentation was just average.

Spoiled Army Brat

• Browbone - soft dusty and shimmery rose with a satin finish. Texture was soft and pigmentation was average.
• Crease - muted berry red with a matte finish. Texture fairly soft, slightly powdery, and pigmentation was fairly good. 
• Eyelid - a soft shimmery light pinkish peach. Texture was very soft, a bit powdery, and pigmentation was average. 

These are my first impression of the palettes based on the swatches only and my opinion is subject to change once I put them to the test. They're pretty inexpensive and I think overall the color payoff is decent to good so I think they might be worth a try if you are interested.

Have you spotted these new eyeshadows yet? Will you pick any up?

Latest TJ Haul

Is it Friday yet? I can't wait for the long week-end and school starts next week for the kids.

I stopped by TJ Maxx the other day. I needed to return something and along the way, I also took the opportunity to look around for stuff.

A couple weeks ago, I had received a deluxe sample of Yellow Diamond and loved it so I think it was fate that I stumbled upon it again. This huge 3 oz eau de toilette bottle is more than a handful and looks bright and cheerful on my so-called vanity. I got it for $59.99, intact and still wrapped in manufacturing packaging. It usually retails for $89.00.

It has a sparkling fresh scent. It smells flowery, citrusy, and lightly woodsy. I can't figure for the life of me why they don't have an eau de parfum version of it. My only complaint is that the scent fades after a couple hours so I would need to keep a back up spray in my purse for touch up. That might be a good thing for people who don't want a strong scent but I want an all day affair when it comes to fragrance and makeup. I was just at The Burlington Coat Factory yesterday and also spotted another one of these Yellow Diamond. So with that said, if Yellow Diamond sounds like something you might like, you may be able to find good deal on it at the stores I mentioned.

Right Amount of Evil and Spazmatic

Nail polish, nail polish, and more nail polish...Yeah I know. I buy nail polish like I buy water. TJ sells a duo like these for $6.99. So I'm going to shamelessly admit that I tampered with the nail polishes. I'm bad but I didn't like the pair it originally came with so I switched one nail polish for another. I don't think they really care anyways. Half of their makeup is pretty much destroyed or gone bad, no one is buying, yet it is still sitting on the shelf for sale.

And lastly, I grabbed a pair of nude flats with gold studs. Super duper cute! They fit nicely but my stupid ankles are still swelling so the straps feel a little tight around the ankles. Well I couldn't pass this up for $19.99.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator Vs NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator

If you'd like to read my individual review of each products you can click HERE for the NARS Orgasm Illuminator, and HERE for the NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator.

When I did a heavy swatch, NOI is peachier and NYX BTGLI paler. However, because both are sheer and are intended for highlighting, once blended they are almost identical. Personally, I think the way they look once blended is very hard to tell the difference so I would say NYX BTGLI is a good dupe. Other than being a good dupe, it also lasted longer than the NARS Orgasm Illuminator at a much more affordable price.

What do you think? I'm definitely in favor of the NYX Illuminator.

NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator Gleam - Swatch and Review

Hi everyone,

I apologize for posting so late in the evening lately. I normally try to get my post ready to go by the time I get home from work but I've been feeling low in energy and needing more time for myself after a long day at work or running errands.

Summer is not over yet and the heat is still going...Maybe not for much longer if you live up north and I'm actually really looking forward to fall. There's still time to keep glowing with the NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator. Check it out...

Packaging

• Squeeze tube with a lovely glowy peachy nude color and black cap
• .6 oz or 18 ml

Product

• I am typically not a huge fan on highlighting but there was something about this highlighter that I thought was appealing and made me want to try it. It reminded me a lot of the NARS Orgasm Illuminator, which I will compare on a separate post. 
• The shade I have here is Gleam and it's a shimmery light peachy nude with a golden shimmer glow.
• Apply it with your fingers or a brush but you must do it as soon as you put it on your skin. It blends easily but sets within a minute. 
• I love that it gives me a very subtle and natural golden glow. It actually last pretty long. I'd say between 6 to 8 hours. If'I'm not caught in a sweat with it, it does last me all day. 

Final Thought

If you are looking for an affordable highlighter with a subtle golden glow to it and will last you through most of the day, you should definitely consider getting this one. It also comes in another shade, which is a pale pink pearly shimmer. That one might be more suitable for pale ladies.

Rating: 10/10

Price: $7.00
Availability: Ulta, NYX Cosmetics

Small Drugstore Haul

What the heck is up with the weather lately? We've been hit by a heat wave and I've been sweating my butt off getting ready and going in and out of the car. I'm a person who sweat very easily and profusely when it's hot. I'm so annoyed. It's messing with my hair, makeup, and I don't like the smell of sweat. It makes me very self-conscious.

I've been on the hunt for the new Milani Coming Up Roses blushes but I had no luck so far. So while I was stalking the stores for it, I managed to pick up a few items.

I haven't used my OLAY facial brush in a while and wanted to go back to using it since my skin has been acting up lately. I needed a new replacement brush head so I went ahead and got a box. I didn't realize the box contains two ($10.49 at CVS), which is cool.

The first three, I purchased from CVS and the last one at Walgreens.

I saw a new display of Maybelline Limited Edition products for Fall 2013 but the only thing that stood out for me was this crazy purple gloss in the shade Purple Royale ($7.29). I did a quick swatch for you so you get an idea of the color and pigmentation. Wow I am totally digging it! It's semi-sheer, definitely more wearable than you'd think.

Next, I went back to scoop Nicole by OPI Gumdrops My Cherry Amour ($7.99). I knew I should have gotten it with the others and I cannot ignore any longer that I need it.

While I was at Walgreens, I saw a new display of Wet n Wild Tough Girl nail polishes. They are textured nail polishes by the way. After glancing at the collection, I only grabbed Atten Hut! ($3.99) which is a murky army green with gold shimmers.

So that's it for my little haul. Have you spotted any new collections?

Influenster Goodies - The Good Life Voxbox

Yesterday, when I arrived to work, I finally got to see my new work area and holycrap! It is freaking small! It's half the size of what my old cubie was. I don't like it but oh well, gonna have to get used to it from now on. :(

On the bright side, I received another box from Influenster! I have never tried any of these products before so I am definitely excited. Love the fact that I got two snacks here. I can't wait to tear them up and taste them. I am also curious to how this bottle of dietary supplement is going to curb my appetite. I could use some help. I have not been watching what I eat for the past few months. I just stuff myself with whatever I feel like eating and I'm letting myself go. Plus, I've been going through mood swings and I feel that my overall physical and emotional well-being is rolling downhill. *Sigh* I need to get my sh*t together.

Anyhoo, I've taken a picture of the card that came with what I got so you can read a brief description of these products.

Have you tried any of these?

Orly Aqua Pixel Swatch

I picked up Aqua Pixel a few weeks ago at Sally Beauty Supply. It ended up in their clearance section and as you know, I love checking out the nail polish clearance because you can always find polishes from recent collections that didn't sell out.

Not sure if this would qualify as a textured polish but it seems to be a hybrid between glitter and textured. I only needed 2 coats for opaque coverage. Formula was very easy to work with. I had no problem with distributing the color and glitters evenly. The base is a semi-sheer turquoise blue and contains lots of silver shimmer and silver glitters. It feels a little gritty as it dries.

China Glaze Luna

I don't have any other post ready but I'm not sure if I should even bother to post this one. Since I've already made the swatches a little while back, I thought I might as well. This is a polish that I've had for a some time now and never got around to posting the swatches. I purchased it from a nail supply store. I'm not sure if you'll be able to find it in store but it is available for purchase on Ebay in case you might want it.

Luna is a frosty light shimmery blue with small holographic glitters and micro silver glitters. It's quite sheer and applies with ease. I was able to get a fairly decent opacity in 3 coats though you can still see faintly some visible nail lines. I think the name is very appropriate for this color. It looks soft and dreamy. The glitters are subtle but add a mystical sparkle to the nails. The swatches don't do this polish justice. It looks absolutely lovely in real life.

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer (CW04 Beige) - Swatch and Review

I've been using this concealer a lot to cover up some scars and blemishes since I've been breaking out like crazy lately. I picked it up from Ulta a few weeks ago during a sale and here's what I think of it.


Packaging

• This concealer comes in a clear tube with a doe foot applicator
• .11 oz or 3 g

Product

• CW04 Beige is a medium light color with beige undertone. It's close to my skintone but just a little darker. 
• It's pretty pigmented and creamy, which allows for flawless blending. It offers medium to almost full coverage, sets within a minute, and offer lasting coverage that will get through most of the day with just minimal fading at the end of the day. 
• This concealer works great for covering blemishes, scars, and under eye dark circles. It's my do-it-all concealer and I love that I can use it for any cover up I need. 

Final Thought

This is a pretty good concealer and one of the best I've tried. It's so easy to work with and offers almost full coverage and last fairly well too. For the price, you really can't beat that. Do try it!

Rating: 9.5/10

Price: $5.00
Availability: Ulta, NYX

NYX Slide On Eyeliner Tropical Green - Swatch and Review

I have previously reviewed and swatched some of these NYX Slide-On Pencils on this post HERE. I should've known better but I just couldn't resist the color. Tropical Green was just recently picked up a few weeks ago during Ulta's BOGO sale.

Packaging

• Pencil covered with matching color. 
• .04 oz or 1.2 g

Product

• Tropical Green is a gorgeous shimmery deep teal green. 
• I really love how NYX managed to make these pencils glide so smoothly and still provide fantastic color pay off. There's absolutely no pulling or tugging. 
• While everyone's experience might be different, this color started smearing and fading after 2 or 3 hours of wear. It looks like it's melting off my eyes. Ughhh, it wasn't pretty and it made me sad. 

Final Thought

Happy beginnings with buttery smooth and pigmented application but that happy story is short-lived and ends sadly with fading and smearing. If your lids are oily and prone to smearing, then I don't think these will work for you. Otherwise, I've heard that some people are pretty happy with it.

Rating: 7/10

Price: $7.99
Availability: Ulta

Yves Rocher Grand Rouge Rose Hale - Swatch and Review

Even though I was a bit underwhelmed by the YR Long-Wear Lipstick, I am happy to say that I had a much better experience with the Grand Rouge. Take a look!


Packaging

• Shiny metallic gold. It has a simple but more sophisticated appeal to it, though when I hold it the weight is pretty light. 
• .13 oz or 3.7 g

Product

• Rose Hale is a pinky nude brown with a creme finish. The color is rich and opaque. I find this shade very flattering and will probably look great on all skin tones. FYI, the color on the tube is different from the color on the website. If you want to order this shade, it is "golden pink," item 89821. 
• I fell in love with the formula the moment it touched my lips. It feels pretty incredible on the lips. It's creamy, smooth, hydrating, and light-weight. It contains Camellia Oil, Vitamin E and Organic Sesame Oil.
• It wears 3-4 hours on me without drinking and eating, which is pretty standard. 
• It's pretty heavy  in fragrance. The scent is similar to L'Oreal Colour Riche lipsticks. 

Final Thought

The scent can be a bit much for some but if you can get past that, the formula is wonderful, hydrating, smoothes the dryness, and feels light and luxurious like some of my high-end lippies. Would definitely recommend the Grand Rouge lipsticks.

Rating: 9.5/10

Price: $16.00
Availability: Yves Rocher 

Have you tried any Yves Rocher lipsticks that you liked? Let me know which one you like.