Out of the Box: Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

The new Maybelline Baby Skin was first released in Asia, and it received raving reviews. So when this product finally landed in the US, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Luckily, I didn't have to do much hunting because I scored the last one on the display at my local CVS =P
So, does this product "erase" my pores? What exactly is this product? Find out below.

Final Word: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer

I try to incorporate primer into my make-up routine. While I could pay extra for a great high-end primer, I'm usually more drawn to the drugstore brands (way more affordable). I've been using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer. I was drawn to it because I really like the Instant Age Rewind concealer. 

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012

Right after the re-launch of the Influenster website, they started to send out VoxBoxes. The one I received was the Beauty Blogger VoxBox. As always, each VoxBox is filled with new (and amazing) products that I get to test out and to review.

Keep reading to see the goodies that was in the Beauty Blogger VoxBox

2012 Summer Collective Haul

Due to my busy schedule this summer, it was hard to find time to blog or film/edit any "Haul" videos. So the next best thing for me to do would be to do a summer collective Haul Blog! 

So scroll on down and enjoy! Don't worry, it's mostly pictures =)

Spotted: Magic Lumi Tru Match Foundation & L'oreal Youth Code BB Cream

Lately, I feel like every time I walk into a Rite Aid, Target, CVS, or Walgreens, I see a new BB cream or foundation...

I have my go to BB creams (Dr. Jart or Skin 79) and my usual pick of foundations (L'oreal True Match, Maybelline FitMe, and the new Naked Skin), but that doesn't mean I'm not curious about some of the new products.

I'm especially curious about the L'oreal True Match Lumi, which sounds like the put the True Match foundation together with the Magic Lumi primer/highlighter. For me, True Match goes on my skin very smoothly, its easy to blend, and it stays on my face pretty well. I love a dewy look, so if this foundation can achieve that, it will make it into my collection of everyday foundation =)

L'oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Foundation

And then there's the array of BB cream popping up all over. I haven't tried any of the new ones by Garnier, Maybelline, etc... but the L'oreal Youth Code BB cream caught my attention. I use Youth Code serum at night as part of my skin care routine, so I wonder how the Youth Code BB cream will compare to my current BB creams.

L'oreal Youth Code BB Cream

If any of you out there have tried these products, I'd love to hear your opinion! Leave me a comment below =)

Recreated: Sultry Blue Smokey Eyes

This Sultry Blue Smokey eye was created by Letitia Laura (YouTube). Usually, I don't wear blue eyeshadow. I like to stick with more neutral tones like browns and grays, but when I saw the tutorial for this look I thought "I gotta try this". She didn't use a harsh blue and I thought the gray worked really well with it. So here's what I did to recreate the look:

Letitia applied a white shadow base on her lids first. Since I didn't have a white shadow base, I used my Elf shadow primer in Pearl (it came in a set of 3 - pearl, champagne, and sheer $3)

Next, she applied a blue shimmer shadow by Inglot. I don't own any Inglot shadows (though I wish I did!), so I improvised and used the L'oreal Infallible in Infinite Sky.

To intensify the blue, I applied Urban Decay's Shatter on top.

Letitia applied a matte gray into the crease. I don't know the name of the gray I used because it's from an Elf palette, but any matte gray will work. Then use a matte black for my lash line (use angle brush to wing it out).

Using the same matte black shadow and line the outer lower lash line. 

To finish off the look, I applied a little bit more Shatter to my lids, and applied mascara. Letitia added glitter and falsies which made the look even more gorgeous and intense.  I didn't do that since I just wanted to see if the colors would look okay on me. When I do this again (for a night out), I will probably add falsies and glitter as well.

Here's the final look:

I really liked this look and can't wait to try it again (complete with foundation, blush, and lipgloss) for a night out. To see all the products that Letitia Laura used, check out her tutorial! 

 

**Special thanks to Letitia Laura for allowing me to post this on my blog.

-Wendy

March Hits & Misses

I filmed my first monthly "favorites" video yesterday! It ran a bit longer than I wanted to so I'll be trying to cut down the time for the next monthly favorites video.

Here are the products I mentioned:

The "Hits"

L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadow & Maybelline Color Tattoo:
     I didn't really go in depth with these eyeshadows because they've been out for a while and are all over YouTube so I didn't want to bore anyone with more info, haha! I'm totally in love with these cream shadows. The color payoff is great, and it's long lasting. I do find myself reaching for the color tattoos more than the infallible... I guess it's because the color tattoo has less shimmer.

NYX Concealer In A Jar:
     I bought the color correction concealer in yellow and green. I use green for red spots like blemish and yellow for my under eye area. They have a creamier and thicker in consistency but blends very well. I switch between this and the Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer:
     I use the shade "nude". The consistency of this concealer is slightly thicker than their Age Rewind concealer. It blends really well on my skin and doesn't feel heavy or cakey. I don't really feel like it highlights as well as it says. Some reviews I've read online says that it works just as well as the YSL Touche Eclate... I don't agree. I feel that while the Dream Lumi makes a wonderful concealer, it doesn't really highlight all that well. But I like it enough to re-purchase this product when I run out.

Grazer Eyebrow Pencil:
     My mom sent this to me from Taiwan, so I don't know where you can order online or how much it costs =( What I do know, is that I really really like it! I have super light and thin eyebrows, so I need all the help I can get in that area. I'm constantly on the look out for a good eyebrow pencil. I usually use a shadow for my eyebrows (to achieve a more natural look), but this pencil is amazing! It goes on light and it doesn't clump my eyebrow hairs together, haha! What's great is that you can just pop out the pencil part when it's done and pop in a new one! Only problem is that I can't find it anywhere online, so I'll have to ask my mom to send some more to me when I'm out.

The "Misses"

Maybelline Mastershape Eyebrow Pencil:
     Okay... this could have been a great find. If they gave us more than .02oz of product! Yea, you read that correctly, all you get is .02oz of product for $6.99! I like that it wasn't so much a pencil but more of a wax. It gave my brows a very natural look and it stayed on all day. I also like the little brush that comes with it. But I'm not okay with pay $7 for .02oz of product. I've only used it about 6 or 7 times and it's pretty much almost gone. Needless to say, I'm not going to repurchase this =(
***Edit***
I just read on the Ulta website that in order to get to more product, you have to sharpen it! Did I mention that the pencil is plastic? So the good part is that there's more product that I originally thought. The bad part... sharpening through plastic if it's possible? Would really like to know what you guys think so please comment below!

L'oreal Magic Lumi Light Infused Primer:
     I bought this because I thought it'd give my skin a pretty glow under my foundation. Instead, it made me look a little oily. It doesn't really have that smooth primer base feel that you get with other primers... Overall, I was disappointed with this product. It makes a great highlighter, but it's not a primer like they advertise. Online reviews have said that L'oreal has changed the packaging and now it just says highlighter. I'm not 100% sure because I haven't really looked at the Magic Lumi since I purchased it.

Kiss Nail Dress:
     If you've seen my other YouTube videos or read my previous blog posts, you already know that I'm a huge fan of Kiss Nail Dress. It stays on my nails for about 2 weeks and it actually helps my nails grow! They're coming out with more and more designs and I've already purchased more =)

Sally Hansen Salon Effect Nail Strips:
     This was a big disappointment for me because I've been dying to try this, and when I finally did... I wasn't happy with it. Application process was more difficult than I expected, it didn't stick on my nails at all, the nail strips was hard to handle, not to mention it was hard to remove. It's a total bummer because all the designs are so pretty and I saw some of the new floral designs for the spring, which are GORGEOUS! Oh well...

Got2B Fat-tastic Root Boosting Spray:
     I have very straight and fine hair, which equals no volume. So when I saw this in Bubzbeauty's video, I thought "Hey, I'm going to give it a try!". Normally I use dry shampoo to give my hair some boost, but wanted to find a new product as well. The fat-tastic spray didn't really give my hair more volume or body... it also made it kind of stiff and sticky (something that the product says it wouldn't). So this was a total flop for me. It's back to my good 'ol dry shampoo!

If you've tried any of the products I've mentioned, I've love to hear your thoughts! Please comment below!
Thanks for reading and check back soon!