FOTD - featuring Ipsy's May Glam Bag

I'm coming at ya today with a FOTD post.

I could spend all day playing in my makeup drawers... rediscovering products I haven't used in a while... & trying out new things.  

I recently subscribed to Ipsy's Glam Bag and I am LOVING IT.

For $10 a month, you'll receive a cute little makeup bag with 5-6 products, some full-sized, for you to try out and enjoy.  So far, everything I've gotten has been top notch.  It's an opportunity to try new products, things you've never even heard of, as well as things you normally might not be drawn to or spend your money on.  

And it's $10!!!  All you have to do is walk (or drive) to the mailbox.

So today, my FOTD features 2 products I received in May's Glam Bag.

There are also a few new products I'm trying out and will review soon, as well as some that were tucked away in the back of the drawer... they needed to be dusted off and used again!

 Products Used:

Makeup Forever HD Foundation - #118

yaby concealer* - buff

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - 011 Creamy Natural

Bare Minerals concealer - Well Rested

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer - Sunny

Merle Norman Lasting Cheekcolor - Heavenly

MAC Paint Pot - Painterly

Revlon Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick - 220 Volcanic

Maybelline Eye Studio quad (LE) - Olive Martini

(I focused on the deep, bronzy/blue color - compared to MAC's Club, in case you don't have this quad or can't find it)

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen - 01 Blackest Black

Covergirl Lashblast Volume - Very Black

Milani Brow Fix Kit - 01 Light

Juice Beauty lip gloss* - Fig

*products mentioned are from Ipsy's May Glam Bag

Current Loves

It's been so long since I've done a "Favorites" post.  But I do have some things I've been loving lately, most of which are brand new products for me.  These are not my every day, no fail, "have to reach for" products.  These are products I've either rediscovered or purchased recently for the first time.  I love them so much, I thought I'd share them with you... in a "Current Loves" post.  And it's a long one.  ;)

Here goes...

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We'll start with the foundations of the face - what holds the look together.

Revlon Colorstay

Normal/Dry

200 Nude

I have posted before about Revlon Colorstay.  Back last year sometime, I purchased the Oily/Combo version.  And I hated it.  Only tried it a few times... but I knew it was not for me.  However, I kept hearing everyone on YouTube rave about it.  I just didn't get it.  That's until I saw a video by MakeupByTiffanyD just in the past month or so.  She had the same feelings that I did about the Oily/Combo version.  So she's been using the Normal/Dry version for a while and loving it.  And I have to say, I DO, TOO.  It's TOTALLY different in consistency and finish.  It's more lightweight, blends SO much easier, and has a very natural finish.  And it still has the staying power that Colorstay products are all about.

Merle Norman

AquaBalance

L26

On days when I don't want/need as much coverage, I've been reaching for my Merle Norman AquaBalance foundation.  I had sort of "replaced" it with Maybelline Fit Me, which I still love, simply because it's much cheaper.  But I wanted to go back to AquaBalance for a while.  It's a great foundation for all skin types and it's perfect for Spring and Summer.

A few times, I've even mixed AquaBalance with Colorstay for medium coverage and a natural dewy finish.

For my concealer step, I've been using this combo:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind

Eraser Dark Circles

Fair

I don't have to tell you about this concealer.  It's amazing.  And I've raved about it before.  But it works great with the next product.

Bare Minerals Concealer

Eye Brightener

Well-Rested

I have terrible dark circles.  Terrible.  And I had heard so many great reviews about this product that I couldn't wait to try it.  I couldn't hold out any longer.  And it IS amazing.  After I apply the Maybelline concealer and blend out with my fingers, I use a large fluffy shadow brush to sweep Well-Rested in the corners of my eyes and down under.  It "sets" the concealer and adds brightness, while also hiding the darkness.  And a little goes a long way.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer

Sunny

This is the time of year when we all want to look sun-kissed.  I use bronzer throughout the year.  I don't do heavy contouring.  I just use it to give a little life to my skin.  I purchased this product back during the winter, but it was just too much color for my pasty skin.  Since it's now getting close to Summer, and I've gotten a little sun on my pale complexion, it works much better.  I sweep it along my cheekbones with a Sigma F30 Large Powder Brush.  It just wakes up the skin.

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Now we have the fun, color stuff!

For shadows, I've been reaching for 2 palettes lately.  

Wet n Wild

Comfort Zone

My "go to" look for the past week or so has been a bronzy eye.  Sometimes, I'll throw in a little color on the bottom lashline, since that seems to be a hot thing right now. 

Gold/Bronze looks are so flattering on blue eyes.  And they are just so summery.  And I'm ready for Summer!  For a CHEAP, but amazing quality shadow option, you just can't beat Wet n Wild.

Lorac Pro Palette

I've also been reaching for my Lorac Pro Palette a lot.  It's just so perfect.  It has an amazing mix of matte and shimmery shades and the color range is excellent.  This is a great palette to own.  And it's perfect for traveling.  It's a "one stop shop."

e.l.f. Studio Blush

Twinkle Pink

This blush was featured in my last blog about e.l.f. blushes.  It's just great.  It's got pink... it's got peach... it's got shimmer.  Makes for the perfect Spring look.

Merle Norman

Soft Touch Eye Pencil

Blackout

Not enough people talk about Merle Norman products, but you know I'm a firm believer and supporter.  This is one of those products I just can't live without.  The WHOLE LINE of Soft Touch liners is great.  I've got several colors and they do not disappoint.  I reach for Blackout the most.  It's a true, rich, deep black.  And it has amazing staying power.  It also smudges easily for a smoky look.  I've never been one to rock dramatic eyes, until lately.  I've loved playing with different color combos and thick black liner.  And I've also been wearing this product on my water line... something I've never been a fan of.  But this pencil stays put and does not irritate my eye.

The last is a brush.  And I apologize, but I don't even know the brand.  All I know is that I bought it in a set of 3 from Wal-Mart.  I THINK they say something about High Definition on the package.  This particular one is perfect for blending and adding a crease color on my eye.  I love it.  It's just perfect.  And the other end is a pencil brush, which I use for inner corner highlight.  LOVE LOVE.

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Next, lips.

Nivea

A Kiss of Milk & Honey

This is a great lip balm.  I keep one in my purse and one by my bed.  I have been having a problem with the corners (actually just one corner) of my mouth cracking.  So I've been applying this product like crazy.  It helps to heal and takes away the itch. 

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner

East End Snob

I'm not a big lip liner user, but I saw Kandee Johnson use this one in a prom video.  I loved the color.  It looked like the perfect nude pink.  And I was right.  It's a great color and would go with almost any lip color.  It's not drying, but stays true to color and lasts a really long time.

The next 2 I've been wearing as a combo.

CoverGirl Lip Perfection

Jumbo Gloss Balm

205

I hate that these products don't have names.  But this is a soft pink.  Very natural and nude.  And I love the texture of these gloss balms.  I want to get more.. and soon.

MAC Lustre

Politely Pink

I've been topping off the CoverGirl Gloss Balm with this lipstick.  It's almost the same color exactly, but it's got a shimmery sheen.  These 2 products look so pretty together.  I also feel that the Gloss Balm gives the look a little better staying power.

MAC Sheen Supreme

Supreme Style

I LOVE this lipstick.  It's perfect.  It's a soft peachy pink.  Just so perfect.  It is sheer, glossy, and smells great.   It's just a great "go to" color.  One you can grab and slap on with anything you're wearing.

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For body, I have 2 brand new products.

Curel

Daily Moisture Lotion for Dry Skin

I have been a fan of Curel lotion for, well, my whole life.  As a child, I had lots of trouble with eczema and extremely dry skin.  And I still fight it on occasion.  Lotion is something that I like to switch up.  I try different ones each time.  I had been using a lotion by Jergens, but I wasn't really happy with it.  It was just "ok."  I was running low, so I decided to go ahead and pick out something new... I don't like to completely run out of anything.  But then, I get so excited about the new one, I usually end up throwing the old one away. :)

This is a GREAT lotion.  You get a lot of product.  And it goes a long way.  The smell is soft and very nice.  I have rarely used a lotion that lasts ALL DAY after I apply it.  And this is one of those.  I apply it immediately after my shower.  At bedtime, my skin is JUST AS SMOOTH and moisturized as it was in the morning.  Amazing.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner

I used to use toners religiously... twice a day.  For the past few years, I had just gotten lazy with that step in my skin care.  But I recently noticed that my skin texture wasn't as "pretty" and smooth as it once was.  So I went on the hunt for something to fix that problem.

And I found this product.  This toner has Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids.  These are great for exfoliating and resurfacing skin.  After just a few uses, I could tell a DRAMATIC difference in my skin. And the best part, my skin is back to its soft and smooth texture.  Life saver.

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There you have it.  my Current Loves.

Review - e.l.f. blushes

HELLO, THERE!

It's been a while.  I'm back today with a review on blushes from the makeup line e.l.f. (eyes lips face, can be purchased at Target, some drugstores and eyeslipsface.com).  

A few months ago, I became "blush crazy!"  I've never been a huge blush user, until recently.  And I've become obsessed.  While I love my MAC and Merle Norman blushes, as well as Tarte and Be a Bombshell, I am EXTREMELY IMPRESSED with the studio blushes from e.l.f.

They have very nice packaging (resembling those of Nars) with a sturdy, sleek black container and a mirror.  They are small enough in size to store easily, but they really hold quite a bit of product.

And they cost $3.  Yes, 3 bucks.

Now, on to the actual colors.  I have purchased 4 colors from the line.  My most recent purchase was just yesterday, actually.  But we'll get to that shortly.

Now, I know that some of the colors look very similar, but they really are quite different.  It's all due to lighting.  I tried my very best to capture the true color of each blush.

We'll start with Tickled Pink.

This is a great rosy pink color.  Not too bright.  Great for everyday pink looks.

Some of the blushes have very apparent glitter, but this one simply has a nice sheen.

Next, we have Candid Coral.  If you like peach blushes, this one is great!  It's very soft, but definitely has that peachy tone to complete your summery look.  And again, there isn't a lot of shine or shimmer with this color, just sheen.

Next, we have Fuchsia Fusion.  I LOVE this color.  While it looks so scary and bright in the package, all it takes is a tiny bit.  Major pigmentation with this color.  But it creates the prettiest bright pink glow to the cheeks.  PERFECT for summertime.

I will say, this blush color does contain larger pieces of glitter, which I am not crazy about.  But when I wear this blush, I tap off the excess from my brush and apply the smallest amount just to the apples of my cheeks.  I don't seem to notice the glitter as much applying it that way.  Also, the top layer of the blush seems to have more glitter built in.  Once you get past the initial layer, it gets better.

And last, we have Twinkle Pink.  This might be my new favorite.  It is the perfect blend of pink and peach with gold shimmer (again, it's actually glitter).  And the pigmentation is great!  I'm amazed at the quality of these blushes for the price.  I purchased this one yesterday at Target and tried it out when I got home.  When I first swatched it, I thought it was going to be too powdery.  It was quite messy in the package.  But it applied just as creamy as the others.

I also wore it to church today with a gold and purple eye look and peachy lips.

So pretty.

Here's a picture of Twinkle Pink on my skin.  I slapped some on (on top of whatever I was wearing before that had worn off) but I couldn't wait to play with it.

My local Target carries a few more that I don't have, but I'm in love with one - Pink Passion.

It will be my next e.l.f. purchase.

While Fuchsia Fusion is a more "purple based" pink, Pink Passion is a bright bubblegum pink.

Looks like it'll be perfect for summer.

Hope you get a chance to try some of these blushes and let me know what you think!

~Carolyn