#30in30 Day 3 | NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel

I recently got this lippie. It came in my June Ipsy bag. I actually never owned a Butter Gloss until I got this last month, so, needless to say, I was REALLY excited. These are one of those budget beauty items that was really hyped up, and the hype was true!

The color on this is spectacular. It's a beautiful soft, pink coral. This is totally up my alley. I love corals, and glosses are so easy to wear in the summer when you want some color, but not the heavy feeling of a lipstick. It smells kind of like icing, too. It's vanilla, but sweeter.

The formula is great. This isn't sticky at all. The texture reminds me a less thick, less slick, Maybelline Color Elixir. While it does settle into the fine lines of the lips, I haven't had a problem with it feathering. These don't have a very long wear time, either. As soon as you have a drink or something to eat, the product is wiped away.

Kiss, Kiss.
-A

Wet N Wild Color Icon Bronzer & Blush Review

Time for another review! This time it's obviously on the limited edition Wet N Wild Color Icon Bronzer & Blush in the shade 34298 Everything Under the Sun. I picked this up a few weeks ago and I have pretty much been using this every day!

Like the name says, there is both a blush and a bronzer in the compact. The compact is plastic, and it doesn't have a mirror. Like some other LE collections WNW has put out, the packaging is white instead of the normal black. I don't own any other WNW bronzers, so I won't be doing a comparison to those. However, I do own 2 other blushes, so I can compare in that aspect.

Starting with the larger bronzer portion, it has a matte finish and a smooth texture. The pigmentation if good, and the product blends nicely. I can see it on my skin, which is really exciting to me. I don't have anything bad to say about this, as a bronzer. It is one of the only matte bronzers you will find at the drugstore.

Moving on to the blush, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much. As a design element, the blush is only in the shape of a palm tree and the sun, which makes it hard to get too. This blush isn't as pigment and I thought it would be. The two other WNW blushes I own really pack a punch with color payoff, so this is pretty disappointing in that aspect.

It's a cute, fun product if you're a collector, but for the practical user, it doesn't fit the bill.


Kiss, Kiss.
-A

July 2014 Beauty Box 5 | My First!!!

I got a new monthly subscription, and from the title, I'm sure you've guessed what it is. I now get Beauty Box 5!!! YAY! This is a subscription I've been eyeing for a while. I was thinking of getting this back in December, but I ended up getting Starbox instead because it came with full size products. Well I'm making more money than I was then, so this is what I'm doing with it lol.

Here is my unboxing video, if you'd like to see my general reaction to the products I got this month. Below I'll have the mini reviews on each product.

This month's theme was "Defining Moments."

Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara
As I said in my unboxing video, I won't have a review on this product. I still have about 7-8 open mascaras that I want to finish before I open a new one. This one is second in line. Hopefully I will remember to review it on its own when I finally get around to using it and show you guys some before and after photos of my lashes.

Miss Jessie's Multicultural Curls
So I've only used this on my ends and it was great there, but I did use it in Riley's hair, and it was really great! I'm always looking for something new for her hair, because her texture is different than mine, and my husband's family isn't familiar with this kind of texture either. I will absolutely be purchasing the full size of this next time I stop by a Target.

Anna Naturals Glowing Mama Walnut Face & Body Scrub
You guys, this smells really good. It smells like something I've had before, but I can't put my finger on it! It's so frustrating! The walnut pieces aren't too big, and they give a really great exfoliation without being too abrasive. I would definitely consider picking this up when I run out of my current body scrub.

Body Drench Candy Licious Lips
I got the scent Lemon Drop. It definitely smells like lemon candy. I haven't used this yet either. You guys know I run through lip balm like a crazy person. Right now I have like 7 open tubes, and just like the mascaras, I don't wanna open another one yet.

Hask Argon Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment
I still haven't use this either. I'm so sorry! I just haven't had the time this week to try this out. I absolutely will though because I've been wanting a hair mask. My hair gets super dry and I want to be able to maintain my natural hair really well. This I will be doing a review on whenever I have time.

Price Summary:
Revlon mascara (FULL SIZE)-7.99$
Miss Jessie's cream - 1.88$
Glowing Mama scrub - 1.37$
Body Drench balm (FULL SIZE)- 3.99$
Hask hair mask (FULL SIZE)- 2.49$
Total: 17.72$ USD

Kiss, Kiss.
-A

#30in30 Day 2 | Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Xtreme in Sheer Bare

Welcome to day 2 of the 30-in-30 tag! Today's lippie is a gloss. I bought this when CVS was having their big clearance sale this past winter. It was a gorgeous color and it was half off, so I bought it. This is a lip plumper, but I don't mind. I actually really like the tingle it gives. The packaging is really pretty, too, because it's so simple. It reminds me of Milani's packaging.

Sally Hansen isn't know for her lip products, but they really are great. I own a few. This gloss is in the shade Sheer Bare, and if you can't tell, it's a nude. I have a billion nude glosses, but most are on the pink side. This one is more brown based. It has a gorgeous shimmer to it that you really only see when it catches the light. I wouldn't wear this along. It's too sheer to wear by itself, but it is pretty nonetheless.

Kiss, Kiss.
-A

The Simplest Nail Art Tutorial I've Ever Done

When I say simple, I mean it! There are only 2 steps to this tutorial besides base and top coat. So it is definitely super easy to do! I've always loved negative space manicures, and they were always too hard for me to do because of the common designs I would see on Instagram and Pinterest. This is my take on negative space nail art that requires no skill at all.

What you'll need:

• Base coat
• 5 nail colors
• Dotting Tool
• Top coat

Step 1: You know the drill by now. Put on a base coat. Gotta protect those nails!

Step 2: Pick a color out of the five to be your color to show case. I chose a pinky-purple color by Sinful Colors called Out of Bounds. Apply 2 coats of this to your 2nd and 4th fingers, as well as your thumb. 

Step 3: Use your dotting tool to place dots in random spots on the remaining 2 nails. Do 2-3 dots of each color you've chosen. Leave some spaces between the dots for the negative space effect. The remaining 4 colors I used were Chinaglaze Electric Beat, Wet N Wild Sunny Side Up, Sinful Colors Let's Meet, and LA Colors White. 

Step 4: Apply your favorite top coat, and clean up any extra polish around the nail.

That's it! I told you it was simple. 

Kiss, Kiss.

-A

Lip Product Addict Tag

Just in case anyone was wondering what some of my favorite things to put on my lips are! I decided to post swatches and links here so you could see the true colors since my camera that I use to record totally sucks. But if you want to know why I chose the products I did, then watch the video below!

1. Favorite balm/treatment
Nivea Lip Butters/Carmex Lip Balms

2. Best eye-catching red
Starlooks Infinity Lip Color in Limitless

3. Best luxury & best drugstore
Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxies in Light It Up & Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Plumrose

4. Best Mac lipstick
Pure Zen

5. The most disappointing
Mary Kay At Play Lip Crayon in Coral Me Crazy

6. Liner: yes or no?
Depends on what I'm wearing.

7. Best gloss
Maybelline Color Elixir in Radiant Raspberry

8. Something extra!
elf Lip Balm Tint in Grapefruit

Kiss, Kiss.
-A

#30in30 Day 1 | NYC CityProof Twistable Intense Lip Color in 041 Ballroom Blush

One of my new favorite Beauty Bloggers, Miss Budget Beauty, has a series on her blog called #30in30. I love challenge tags! I never finish them, but I really love doing them. So, to add to my list of tags that I will never finish, I would like to try this one.

I remember when the NYC Twistable chubby sticks came out. I was super excited to try them, seeing as I love chubby lip crayons. These aren't really like a lot of other ones I've tried. These have really intense color payoff. The color you see in the tube is the color you get on your lips. It is super creamy and opaque.

Ballroom Blush is a bright, bold, hot fuschia. I absolutely love colors like this. This goes on very nicely and has a pretty gloss to it. It wears well throughout the day. I don't really have any issues with the wearability of this particular lip product. It does lose the gloss after a while, though. It doesn't leave my lips feeling dry, either. These can be worn sheerly for a wash of color, or worn very opaque for a bolder lip.

Riley wanted to get in on the fun, so here is what Ballroom Blush looks like on her.

I'm jealous of her lashes, too!

Kiss, Kiss.
-A

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Review

I recently posted a haul on my YouTube channel, and the Maybelline Dream Pure BB is one of the products I got. I've had it for about a week now, and I've worn it everyday I've worn makeup, so here are my thoughts. Just as a refferance, I do have combination/oily skin.

First I wanna talk about the packaging. The shape of the bottle is exactly the same as the Dream Fresh BB that Maybelline previously released. It still has the shade on the top of the bottle that fades to white, but those are the only similar things about the two products. Dream Pure has a blue top and lettering with matte packaging. It is 30 mL or 1 fl oz. It is oil free and has 2% salicylic acid to help control oils and fight acne.

As a disclaimer, I did prime my face with the L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher in my t-zone, and the Sheer Cover Base Perfecter on the rest of my face. I also Powdered after with the NYC Smooth Skin Loose Setting Powder in Transluscent.

Here is my bare face after it's been washed and moisturized. (~10:30 am, natural light from my bedroom window)

Here is one layer of the bb cream applied with my fingers. I've tried it with a sponge and with a paddle brush, but it gives the best coverage when you use your fingers. As you can see, it gives a noticeably matter finish to my skin.

This is what It looks like at the end of a 5 hr shift delivering pizza. (~9 pm, natural light from inside my car) It still looks pretty good! I didn't have to blot my face at all, nor did I touch it up. It doesn't have a matte finish anymore, but the coverage is still there. It didn't separate anywhere, either.

Overall I would give this product a 9/10! It has really great coverage for what it it, and it really does mattify your skin. The only thing I don't like about this product, is that it doesn't have SPF. Nonetheless, this is something I would absolutely repurchase. I love it, and you'll probably be seeing it in my favorites post for this month.

Kiss, Kiss.
-A

All Gone! | Products I've Used Up

It's been about 2 months since my last empties post. I think it's about time for another. I'm gonna show you 6 things that I've emptied out and let you know how I feel about them. I've got a good few more, but that would make a super long post. Deal?

Ok so first up is the only hair care item I've finished. I bought this AGES ago. It's probably been about 2 years since I bought this, and it's finally gone. It is the Tresemmé Touchable Softness Conditioner. I got this giant 39 fl oz bottle on clearance at Target for about 5$. It was a crazy good deal, and so it was mine. I use a lot more conditioner than I do shampoo. Mainly because I tend to just co-wash my hair. I only shampoo if I really need to because it tends to strip my hair. This was really nice. I go back and forth with between the Pantene for Women of Color and any other thick conditioner I can find.
9/10

Next is another pack of makeup remover wipes. I've talked about these before, but this is a different scent. It's the Global Beauty Care Facial Cleansing Wipes in the Green Tea scent. They're 3 packs of 25 for 5$, and they work great. 'Nuff said.
10/10

This is another product I've mentioned before. This is the Michael Todd True Organics Jojoba Charcoal Scrub. I got this in an Ipsy bag a while back, and I loved it! I already bought a new one, and I'm currently using it. If you have sensitive skin, this would be a great product for you. It exfoliates, but it's a gently exfoliant.
9/10

I finished a chapstick! I can't think of the last time I was able to do that. I usually lose them. But the one that I finished was the Noya Cherry Lip Balm. This I also got in an Ipsy bag. I was initially upset that I got this, but then I realized what a great product it was.
8/10

I'm not even sure if this counts as an empty or not, but I used this sample of Witch's Pouch Real Skin Moisture Ampoule Base that I got in my Meme Box. This is a primer, if you didn't know. I really liked it. It was moisturizing and fast absorbing. It gave a tiny bit of luminosity to the skin, as well. If I can find this online for a reasonable price, I'll be buying a full size.
8/10

My last product is a body lotion from Bath & Body Works. They don't carry this scent anymore, but I got it at last year's semi annual sale. It's in the scent Pomegranate Citrus. It didn't take long for me to use this up, but it is the travel size. It smelled really great. Pomegranate is one of my favorite fruity scents.
9/10

Kiss, Kiss.
-A