My HauteLook purchase

I was excited to receive a little package in the mail yesterday. It was my second Hautelook purchase. If you are unaware of Hautelook, it is a website where you can purchase high-end brand name items at low prices. My first purchase was two pairs of designer jeans that usually are $100-$130 a pair. I got two pairs for $100, they were from Rock & Republic.

I love the deal I got on my second purchase, which was also from Rock & Republic. This time from their cosmetic line. I bought their Exhibition Pressed Powder in Cashmere. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a match to my skin tone, but for $11, I took the chance and it paid off. I am NC42 in MAC, just to give you an idea on the shade I got.

These powders usually go for about $60, so $11 + shipping (about $15 total) was a steal for me. I really wished I got more after I received this item, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to like their product. Certain brands usually return on Hautelook events every now and then, so I’ll be on the look out. I want to try their blushes next time. I see them selling online for $100!

The packaging alone is worth it. It’s like eye-candy. I would love to pull it out of my purse in public and “touch-up” my make up just to show this baby off.

I L O V E the R&R logo on the top of the compact.

Other brands that I have seen on Hautelook:

Crown Brushes

Guess

Jessica Simpson

Betsey Johnson

Anna Sui

Miss Me…

I could go on, there so many to mention. They even have discount hotel stays, resort stays, furniture, kitchenware, etc.

Favorite Hair Color part 2

I thought I would elaborate more on my hair color. Maybe posts some pictures to show what it looks like on my hair.

My natural hair color is black.

Now this is what it looks like after I used the Garnier once:

Then I re-touched my hair a few weeks after and noticed my hair becomes more lighter after a couple of uses.

It seems the lightening of my hair is more natural with this product than other hair color products I used in the past. The dark roots look like they belong and not like my hair is need of a desperate touch-up.

Thanks for stopping by!

My favorite hair color

I have recently been dyeing my hair a medium brown color. For years I used Loreal Feria then a few months before our family vacation in the Philippines, I stopped coloring my hair in anticipation of having my hair straightened by “bonding”.

It’s been a few months since my hair was straightened and I am starting to see the waves grow out. I needed a changed and color was my answer. I decided to try another brand and went with Garnier’s Iced Macchiato. After a few weeks of wearing this color, I was about to color my hair back to it’s natural black color as winter is approaching, but suddenly I was getting compliments on how good the color looked on me. I guess I’ll keep it this color for a bit longer…

Feelin’ Old

Came across this survey someone posted in Twitter. This student was asking for help in school. This was the 1st question. UGH!

Nars Blush Palette–my new treasured possession!

I just had to give in and order this online on the last few hours of the Friends and Family sale at Sephora. It was out of stock for a few days and I was bummed that I couldn’t add it to my original order. My first order I bought some of Benefit’s creaseless eyeshadows and other stuff. When this was back in stock, I used a different email address to generate a 2nd 20% coupon code to order this! I haven’t used it yet – its just too pretty to ruin!

 

Target Beauty Bag–Free Samples

I came across a blog post announcing free samples from Target, I signed up for one and I shared the link on my Facebook page and my personal blog (before I had a beauty blog)

.Target Free Sample Blog Post

This was back in August and I thought that I would never get one as it has taken so long. I finally got mine in the mail a couple of days ago…

I could say the dog ate it, but we don’t have a dog. It really looks like the mailman was attacked by a dog, or some kind of animal with sharp teeth. My poor package.

I got a few samples of shampoos and conditioners, facial cloths, face cream and a book of coupons all inside a little make up bag.

Technorati Tags: Target,beauty bag,free samples

So far I used one sheet of the Ponds’ Cleansing Towelettes and I love the smell and texture. I plan on purchasing a pack on my next haul and use the coupon that came with my beauty bag.

I also used the John Frieda full REAPIR shampoo and conditioner this morning. I need more product to decide how I like it.

I really like the make up bag. It will be placed in my purse along with my other make up bags that I use in my attempt to organize. I never can find anything, so I’m trying to fix that.

October Faves

The end is near… the end of 2011 I mean. I feel a little sad. It seems I haven’t accomplished much this year. It was the middle of this year when I started getting really interested in make up and beauty products. After 4 months, it has become a full-blown addiction. I have spent a lot of time and money hunting for various products I wanted to try. I think I have enough to last me a lifetime now. At least I will look gorgeous until I die!

I have a handful of beauty products that has become my must haves this last month.

First is Vanicream.

I have really dry, problematic skin. I suffer from eczema and so do my two young children. My poor 3 year old daughter has it worse than her brother. So, I am always on the look out for a good moisturizer. I heard about this cream on YouTube and a few days later I found it at my local Target.

It states “Formulated without dyes, lanolin, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens, formaldehyde”. I love the stuff. For the longest time, I was using Eucerine (the big one in a jar), and it worked fine except it was like smearing spackle on your body. That stuff is THICK! Vanicream is creamy, goes on smooth – like a thick lotion. It’s formula is so pure, it can also be used as a face cream.

It is a little pricey. I got it for a little less than $15, but I was able to get a 2nd jar at Walgreens for $12 ( it was on sale). The quantity of the product is in weight rather than ounces – this jar had a net wt of 1 lb.

Second up is my Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuli Brush:

It buffs in my liquid foundation so well. I kind of go between this and a damp beauty blender. I use my Beauty Blender when I use the The Present by Philosophy as a foundation primer. But the rest of the time, I use this. I just saw a video by GossMakeUpArtist on how to make pores disappear. He used a technique that blends the foundation into your skin. I think this will be the perfect brush for that.

Third is my Sigma E25 Blending Brush:

This is a travel size brush.I got this as a free gift when I purchased a couple of brushes off their website. It’s a nice treat. I plan of ordering a full size one when the budget allows. I’ve gotten a little crazy buying stuff lately, I need to slow down.

This brush blends the edges of the eye shadow so nicely. I really like it. I think it actually improved my make up skills.

Fourth is O.P.I.’s Nail polish in Vodka and Caviar

I am a nurse, so nail polish is a no-no on the finger nails. I’m limited to pedicures and the occasional manicure for special occasions. But the minute I have to report to work, my nails should be bare. It’s a big part of infection control. That being said, I am not going to show you how this color looks on my feet. It’s too awkward for me. I don’t have “sexy feet if there is such a thing. You are gonna have to take my word for it that this is a nice color.

It is a deep red. There are sooooooo many other brands that carry this classic color, but what makes this special is the life span of this polish. It stayed on my feet for almost two weeks before I felt I needed to redo my nails, and that was only because my nails grew a little longer.

Last is Benefit’s Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in STRUT:

I like how you can put a small amount and have a subtle shade on your lid but if you pack on a little more, it makes the look more dramatic. And it does stay on a long time on the lid. It works really well when you use it for a smoky-eye by blending a little on the outer corner of your lid, but I like putting a small amount right above my upper lash line and slightly blending it keeping it right below the natural crease then lining my upper lash line with some black liquid eyeliner and the look is done. The swatch above it one heavy swipe with no blending.

The trick also with this product is to blend it quickly as it dries and sets really fast.

That’s it for my faves of this month. Til next time.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter–Gotta have it!

I’ve been waiting for these to show up in my local drugstores/grocery stores and just came upon the a couple of days ago. I’ve heard a lot about them on YouTube, gurus have raved about these, so I just had to try them.

I found them at my local H.E.B. (a local Houston grocery chain) and they were priced at $7.47, BUT they had their yellow coupon specials and it was $3 off!!! So, at first I grabbed 2 of them, just to get a feel. The minute I tried them, I had to get more.

They are so creamy and go on smooth (like butter!). It feels really hydrating – I think these would replace my EOS lip balms as a lip treatment. But I think I’ll still stick to EOS when I’m at home – for those times I’m not wearing makeup.

The pigmentation is awesome for a lip butter – it gives off a color just slightly less intense as a lipstick would. Enough to be worn alone.

And the shine they give off – no need for a lip gloss on top either.

It’s a product that will replace many of your lip products by itself.

I have a total of six shades:

Crème Brule, Sugar Plum, Berry Smoothie, Peach Parfait, Pink Truffle and Fig Jam

I really don’t know how many shades there are total, but I know there are many more. I really would like to get Red Velvet next as I think it would be a good thing to ease me into wearing a red lip. I’m more into wearing neutral/nude colors. I get really self-conscious when I wear bright lip colors. But I’ve heard darker red lips is the in-thing for the winter.

I am hoping these are a permanent line for Revlon as they are so awesome. I’d hate to see them disappear. I plan on getting some of these for my stepmom who’s a lip stick addict.

Wet n Wild I <3 Matte

I am so happy that I finally found this palette. I’ve been on the hunt for a couple of weeks now and it just showed up at my local Walgreens. I bought one at first then after trying it out, I had to get a back up.

The shadows go on smoothly and blend nicely. I love that fact that they are all matte. Shimmer isn’t appropriate all the time, especially in my profession, so this is perfect for me. At $4.99, you can’t go wrong, at the buy one get 2nd 50% – you’d be a fool to pass it up! If you see it, you should get one for yourself!