Beauty + Apparel Haul | Target, CVS, ULTA, Sephora & Lush

Hey there everybody! Let's all enjoy a lazy Sunday by wasting time on the Internet. I'll help you out. Here's a fun beauty and apparel haul.

P.S. -- I'm shopping at IMATS today so you know what that means -- another haul video is coming!

drugstore beauty | it list vol. 4

1. L'Oreal Visible Lift CC Eye Concealer ($8.99) | 2. c. Booth Tahitian Monoi Dry Oil Spray ($6.99) | 3. Milani Nail Lacquer ($6.29) | 4. John Frieda Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight Flat Iron Spray ( $9.99) | 5. Yes to Carrots Gentle Cleansing Facial Towelettes ($5.99) | 6. NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks ($9)

L'Oreal Visible Life CC Eye Concealer 

It's official. I found an eye brightening concealer I like as much (maybe more?) than my Maybelline Dream Lumi. Holy cow. I'm shocked. This concealer comes packaged as a roller ball, which makes application super simple and has that nice cooling effect when you apply. It's a much thinner consistency than Dream Lumi, but you can definitely build it up. If you're looking to conceal super dark circles, you may still need a correcting concealer (something a tad more opaque), but if you're looking for brightening effects, don't pass this one by.

c. Booth Tahitian Monoi Dry Oil Spray

You guys, this is quite possibly the best smelling oil I've ever come across. They need to make a whole line of this scent. It's freakin' amazing. I want to pump it through the air vents in my home and car so I can smell it all day every day. It's that good. And once I actually stop to pay attention to how well this product works, I'm pleased to report it's good as well. Spray this on any time of the day. Rub it in. It absorbs pretty quickly, doesn't leave oily residue behind, makes your skin feel soft and moisturized, and smells divine. Get a few of them. Keep them everywhere. I'm obsessed.

Milani Nail Lacquer

Another drugstore nail polish line that offers great color selection and fantastic formulation at a budget-friendly price. My current favorite is Power Periwinkle. Check out my swatch and review here. 

John Frieda Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight Flat Iron Spray

I received a sample bottle of this spray recently in an Influenster Voxbox and was pretty excited to try it out. I love getting keratin treatments to help battle Florida humidity and make styling my naturally curly (read: frizzy) hair into straight styles that won't fall to pieces the second I step outside. But keratin treatments cost a pretty penny. 3 Day Straight was super easy to use, incredibly light weight, and delivered super smooth tresses that laughed at humidity for 72 hours. The catch: You have to spray a good amount into damp hair (I did 15 spritzes), then blow dry, and then finish off with a flat iron to seal it all in. It's a bit time consuming, but the results are worthwhile. All you'll need to do are quick touch ups to fix any kinks you get from sleeping. 

Yes to Carrots Facial Cleansing Towelettes

If you have sensitive skin and need makeup removing wipes that are both effective and fragrance free, give these Yes to Carrots cleansing towelettes a go. They effectively remove dirt and makeup without stinging. Plus, they're properly moistened (I know, I know, that word) so they can wipe everything away. No one likes a dry wipe. Ouch! Keep an eye out for instant coupons on the packaging. I purchased mine for $5.99, but it had a $3 off instant coupon attached. Talk about a bargain.

NYX Infinite Shadow Pencils

The jumbo pencil craze is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. NYX made quite a splash with it's infamous jumbo shadow pencils, but their downfall was all the creasing (primer to the rescue!). But now they've released the jumbo pencil's newer, better, sibling -- the infinite shadow sticks. They come in nine neutral shades that you can slap on, blend, and go. And these babies don't budge! My personal favorite: Almond a pearly taupe. 

Manicure Monday: Milani Power Periwinkle

You guys. Spring is almost here! I'm so excited. Mostly because it means the return of colorful polish. You guys know I have a weakness for fun colors. Fall and winter brought us some beautiful deep hues. But I'm a spring and summer polish girl through and through (the wall of polish doesn't lie folks). Maybe it's because down here in Florida it's hard to get into the fall and winter spirit. The weather doesn't really set the tone.

As sultry as my dark polishes are, I'm ready for pastels and brights.

Since I've been craving color and hearing good things about the Milani polish line, I decided to snag Power Periwinkle from the collection because, I love Periwinkle blue. How can you not? It's like a nice mix of bright and pastel all rolled into one.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Milan Nail Laquer Power Periwinkle (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Believe the hype out there, friends. This drugstore polish is quite the unsung hero. First of all, can we just take a moment and admire the color? Isn't it pretty? It's OK if you swoon. I'm totally smitten with it and can't wait to do a few fun nail designs with it too. It's such a fun color, I think it will lend itself well to a little nail art. Now that we've established how awesome this color is, let me drop a little knowledge bomb on you: They have a whole array of other hues that are just as exciting. Is your heart racing yet? I know. Eep!

Best of all, they're easy to access and priced fairly. I picked mine up at CVS for $5.49. Also, they've got a nice color selection that includes some trendy hues. 

The formula is particularly nice. I experienced phenomenal color pay off. Two coats look perfect. But, if you're so inclined, you could get away with just one. It was just the slightest (almost not even worth mentioning) bit thick, but it was not gooey or difficult to spread. 

I'd also like to take a moment and thank the nail polish gods, because the brush isn't huge. I absolutely loathe the fat brush craze. I really really do. It's so much harder to control application when you're dealing with a big thick brush. I know some people love them, I'm just not a part of that circle. I get a cleaner mani with a normal-sized brush. I just end up making a mess with the thick brushes. It's just my preference folks. 

I'm really happy with this polish and already itching to go back to CVS to pick up a few more colors. 

Have you tried Milani polishes yet? How do you feel about Power Periwinkle? What colors would you pair it with? I'm thinking a little coral, pink and white might make a fun combination. 

Haul: Collective purchasing from CVS, Walgreens, and Nordstrom Rack

Hey everyone. Hope you're having a great weekend. I filmed a little haul for your enjoyment. I picked up just a few (nothing big) items last week and I wanted to share those with you. 

Check out some of the other goodies I found. Watch!

By the way, has anyone heard of the brand c. Booth? And if so, what do you think about it/know about it? I just got two of their body oils and they smell INCREDIBLE (yes, I'm yelling, it's that good). I did a little research and found it's a drugstore brand and you can also get it at ULTA and Walgreens (online). There seem to be a lot of people out there who like it, and here I am totally out of the loop.

Spill the beans on it, I need to know more.

Manicure Monday: Valentine's Day Mani ft. Milani Sugar Burst

Love is in the air, my pets. And why not express it a bit on our tips? 

I decided to skip the heart themed nails this year in favor of some polka dot fun, and a little cupcake-inspired sparkle. Because, aren't cupcakes a bit perfect for Valentine's Day? Sweet, delectable, cute, and celebratory that's what I was going for. 

I decided it would be a perfect time to use my new Milani nail lacquer in Sugar Burst. It's a glitter polish that screams cupcakes and confections to me (and clearly it did to the people at Milani, given the name. Sugar Burst is a pastel pink confetti glitter bomb. It has round and bar pastel pink glitter sprinkled with irridescent micro-glitter. It makes a super fun topper to your favorite polishes.  

You can purchase Milani polishes at CVS. Mine retailed for $5.49 for 0.45 fl. oz. You can probably also find them at other retailers, but CVS is the spot for them in my area. My area Walgreens only carries some Milani products and the nail polishes aren't one of them, and there aren't any Rite Aids around here. 

On it's own, Sugar Burst, offer fabulous glitter pay off. To get full coverage, you'll need about three to four coats of polish. But if you're layering it over another color polish, you'll only need one coat. In the photo above, my ring finger has three coast of Sugar Burst, and my thumb has one coat over a pastel pink nail polish. 

To tone down the confetti covered cupcake theme, I paired  Sugar Burst with black and white nails, but then added to the cutesy fun with a few polka dots. The black polish I used is Tarred by Obessive Compulsive Cosmetics, and the white is Snow Me White by Sinful Colors.

My husband and I keep it light and casual on Valentine's Day, so this fun manicure works out well for our low key plans. If you're skipping the romance this year, consider rocking a similar look for a fun girls night. How about a sleep over that involves wine, manicures, baking (and eating said goods), and funny movies? I have some fun girls-night themed Valentine's Day memories.

What will you wear on your nails this year?

Drugstore Beauty It List vol. 2

I'm back with another set of drugstore beauty items that I love. I know it's only the second installment of this little series, but I've already changed the name. I decided the "It List" was a better name for it. I'm hoping it'll stick. Do you guys like it?

So, what's this it list? Basically, I'll periodically share a list of some of my favorite items from the drugstore. They'll all be beauty related in some way and will include makeup, skin care, hair care, beauty tools, and sometimes random stuff you might not have thought to use as a beauty product. It'll also include items I've already reviewed (in case you missed it) and some I haven't.

Pretty simple, right?

Let's get into it.

1. Maybelline Expert Wear Twin Brow Pencils ($2.99) / 2. Neutrogena waterproof eye makeup remover ($5.99) / 3. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara ($5.99) / 4. St. Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion Spray ($5.99) / 6. Milani Eyeshadow Primer Nude ($6.99)

Maybelline Expert Wear Twin Brown Pencils: I love these little pencils. They're super affordable and they work great. They're not overly creamy, which I like because I feel like the creamy pencils deposit too much color and end up making me look like I have caterpillar brows. Not my favorite look. Also, how can you not love the price? $3 for two pencils? Um, yes. 

Note: I use the blonde shade and my brows are relatively dark. I know gals with dark hair and dark brows that also favor the blonde shade in these. If you actually have blonde or light brows, this may not be the best option for you. 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover: If you need to remove stubborn mascara and eyeshadow and prefer to do it without roughly rubbing your skin raw, try this. The dual phase formula looks like oil and water (you know, it doesn't mix) but it's oil free, you shake it to mix them together, pour it on a cotton round, and swipe away makeup. I like to hold it over my eye lid for a few seconds to help dissolve makeup, then wipe away. Easy. Depending on how much makeup you're wearing, you may need to swipe more or less. But you'll never have to tug on your skin.  

Note: The generic store brand of this item usually works just as well. Go ahead and save an extra buck or two. 

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara: What can I say about this mascara that hasn't already been said, ad nauseum, all over the Internet? I'm being serious. If you haven't heard of it, I don't even know what to say to you. Ok, here's what you need to know: It's super black (get Carbon Black), volumizes  excellently, makes your lashes look longer. It's your little black dress for your lashes. There's the Cliff's Notes for ya. 

St. Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion Spray: I love that these spray lotions make it easy to moisturize and pull up your skinny jeans without a struggle. You know what I'm talking about. Check out my review, so you can get more details. Just know, I approve. 

Up & Up Makeup Wipes: OK, these are basically the generic version of Ponds makeup wipes. Those are good too, but I stopped buying the name brand because these Up & Up ones are pretty awesome. They're moist (ew) and they don't sting when you wipe makeup away from your eyes. I lean on these when I'm feeling lazy about makeup removal (read: It's really late and I'm probably intoxicated). 

Milani Eyeshadow Primer: Wanna save some money on eyeshadow primer? Check this one out. Only $7 and works just as well as those popular name brand ones. Check out my review for more of my gushing. 

That's it for this episode of drugstore beauty favorites. Any of these on your favorite list as well? 

Review: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks

This post is well over due. I've been meaning to write it up since the MAC Rebel dupe post, but it just hadn't materialized just yet. Oh well, better now than never, right? 

By now you've probably heard quite a bit a bit about these polishes. I know I have -- and with good reason. These are absolutely great. If you're one of those people who thinks you can only get a good lipstick at the department store, it's time to check yourself and expand your horizons. There are quite a few wonderful lipsticks available in drugstore brands, and Milani is one of them. 

The lipsticks in the Color Statement collection are a-m-a-z-i-n-g.  And best of all, they're even more affordable than some of the great lipsticks available by other drugstore brands. I'm looking at you L'Oreal and Revlon. Don't get me wrong, I love those two brands lipsticks. Heck they've been the top dogs at the drugstore for a long time. All I'm saying, is they better watch out! We've got quite a few others inching into the spotlight. 

Here's what you can expect from the Milani Color Statement line: 

• An awesome price point at $5.49-6.49 (depending on where you find them) 
• A fantastic color selection with 25 shades to choose from ranging from bold to neutral
• Amazing color pay off,  enough to rival the department store brands
• A creamy formula that feels amazingly moisturizing and soft on your lips
• A sweet, fruity scent that reminds me of a Jolly Rancher
• They have the staying power you can expect from a lipstick. It'll stick around for a while, but you definitely need to reapply if you'll be eating or drinking (or even after a long day of wear)

While I was at CVS about a month ago, I picked up two colors during a BOGO 50% off sale: Uptown Mauve (a violet mauve cream) and Rose Hip (a hot pink cream - of course, right?). I'm extremely pleased with these two colors and how amazing they look and feel on my lips. Check out my swatches below.

These colors have me totally wanting more. I can't wait for another sales so I can also pick up Rose Amour, Violet Volt, Flirty Fuchsia, and Red Label (just to name a few).  Oh and by the way, I hear that   Uptown Mauve isn't the only dupe for high-end colors out there, Rose Hip might also be a dupe for a MAC color (more on that once I compare and verify) and that there may be even more. That's got this girl quite curious. Stay tuned because as soon as I find them and have the pics to show you the similarities, I'll definitely share them with you!

Have any of you used the Milani Color Statement lipsticks? Do you love them too? Which colors are your favorites? And have you found any dupes for high-end brands? Tell me all about it!

Five Minute Face Using Garnier BB Cream

Here's a quick video to show you my go-to makeup look lately. I wanted to make this video for two reasons:

1. It's a quick makeup look that should only take you 5 minutes (but definitely less than 10 depending on how long it takes you to blend) to do. You can look presentable no matter where you're going. The main focus is giving you a fresh-faced look that is flawless but not overdone, which means it's appropriate for anything -- groceries, errands, shopping, school, the office, or anywhere else you want to look presentable.
2. I wanted you to be able to see the Garnier BB cream that I just recently reviewed (get all the details here). I think it gives excellent coverage (almost foundation like) and has a great matte, natural-looking finish and you can see it for yourself in this video. 

I hope you like it! let me know what you think!

Video software and music: iMovie and Dan-O from www.danosongs.com

This is not a sponsored post. 

Review: Milani Eyeshadow Primer

I'm so excited to share this product with you guys. I'm not sure when, but Milani released an eyeshadow primer that is worthy of knocking its competition right out of the running. I purchased it recently at CVS and paid a whopping $3.24 for if, thanks for a BOGO 50% off sale, which brings it's regular price to a mere $6.49. Talk about a great deal!

Here's a little of what you might want to know:

• It comes in a squeeze tube (kinda like a mini toothpaste container), which is great because it helps you get to all of the product (not the case with a doe foot applicator method) and allows you to control how much product you squeeze out
• It has 0.30 fl. oz of product for only $6.49. Compare that to $20 for the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion that has 0.37 fl oz of product. 
• The formula is nude and once blended dries down to an invisible finish. Can be most commonly compared to the original formulas of higher end department store primers.
• Has a slightly yellow undertone, compared to the slightly pinker undertones of the UD eyeshadow primer potion. May actually work better on warmer and neutral tones because of the yellow undertones, however it does blend down to nearly invisible so it should be good for everyone. 
• It is more of a liquid consistency, compared to UD's thicker, slightly more mousse-like consistency

The packaging is similar to Urban Decay's eyeshadow primer potion (pictured in travel size) and Too Faced's shadow insurance (not pictured).

The directions for use are pretty darn simple too. Apply, blend, let set. Pretty self explanatory if you ask me. 

Performance wise, Milani is quite the contender. It does everything you can expect a primer to do: gives your eyeshadow staying power, eliminates creasing, and improves shadow color pay off. And it does it just as well as a department store brand. As far as I'm concerned, I'll be saving my money on this drugstore dupe from now on and putting what I save toward other products that perhaps haven't been duped just yet.

Check out my video review for swatches and more information:

 

So, what do you think? Will you be trying this product out? Have you tried it already? Do you like it as much as I do? Comment below and let me know!

Dupe Alert: MAC Rebel

I was perusing the Milani lipstick selection at my local CVS since I'd heard such great things about the brand and most recently about it's lipsticks (a review on the two lipsticks I purchased to follow soon). While perusing I came across a color description I might've skipped over had I not seen the color swatch section on the bottom of the lipstick: Uptown Mauve. Normally, I think mauve colors are a bit boring to put it mildly, but this color didn't look anything like mauve to me. In fact, it reminded me a bit of MAC's Rebel -- a wine color with violet tones. So I took it home to compare. 

When I first got it home and held the two colors side by side, I thought I'd gotten it wrong. As you can see from the photo above, the two colors actually look quite different in the tube. Uptown Mauve looks a lot lighter, while Rebel looks much vampier. But then I tried it on and that's when the magic revealed itself to me. The two are nearly indistinguishable in color once you apply them. Check them out side by side below and tell me if you agree.

So, if you're looking for a drugstore alternative to the oh-so-popular Rebel, check out Milani Uptown Mauve. You'll get a lipstick that is excellent quality (and quite creamy), gives you great color pay off, smells pretty good too (it has a fruity scent, almost like a Jolly Rancher), and costs a fraction of the price ($5.49) of a MAC lipstick. Plus, since it's available at most drugstores, it's probably even easier to come by for most people.



Now that you know there's a dupe out there, will you be bypassing the MAC counter for a drugstore alternative to Rebel? Were you one of the many out there who wanted to get your hands on the coveted lipstick shade? Tell me what you think in a comment down below!


Video music by Dan-O at danosongs.com