Review: Milani Purple Gleam & Sale Alert

Just a heads up, CVS is having a clearance sale...50-75% select items! I saw the sale on Nouveau Cheap's blog. The link will be below. You might want to scan the sale items before you check out because some of the sale items on the list were not on sale at my CVS.

I ended up buying four Milani nail polishes, the Revlon Colorstay concealer in light and a backup of my favorite light, Wet-n-Wild's single shadow in Brulee. I got all this for $9.06 with $22.93 in savings.

Whenever I got home I decided to try Milani's One Coat Glitter in Purple Gleam. I have been obsessed with purples lately, literally cannot get enough!

The polish...

One Coat. 

I really wanted to put this polish to the test since it's called one coat. On my index and ring finger I'm only wearing one coat of the glitter polish. On my middle and pinky finger I'm wearing Wet-n-Wild's Disturbia (a deep purple) as a base and one coat of Purple Gleam, Honestly, one coat of Purple Gleam alone doesn't cut it for me. I do, however, like the purple base with the glitter over it. Hopefully it will be easier to get off because there isn't as much glitter on that nail. 

Two Coats.

I have two coats on all the nails and I think they all look the same. In the future, I will use the Disturbia as a base and only one coat of the glitter polish because I don't think it makes that big of a difference and I don't have an extra layer of glitter to get off. 

Overall Thoughts...

I think this is a beautiful true purple glitter polish. Obviously the one coat claim isn't entirely true, but with either a base coat or two glitter coats, it's just perfect. I do reccommend this polish to anyone wanting to try it. It's gorgeous on the nails...and it's only $1.25 at CVS right now!

Glitter is tough to remove so use the foil method to remove this (or other glitter) polishes.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I am overly excited about my wonderful deals from CVS!
• Ross' Christmas present came in today and the nail polish I ordered for myself came in too. What a pleasant surprise since it came a few days early! 
• I had a study session with a friend from class and I feel a little bit better about our final tomorrow. We met at Starbucks and I had the Gingerbread Latte (which is delicious), but since I don't drink things with caffeine, I'm a bit jittery. Lol

Click here to see the CVS clearance list on Nouveau Cheap's blog.


Which Milani polishes do you like?! (:

Nail of the Day: Maybelline Sequins in 280 Sea-Quins

This is my first time trying Maybelline's Color Show line. I've seen a few colors in their permanent line that were pretty, but none that I had to have. Today, I was in Wal-Mart and saw the color Sea-Quins #820 from their Limited Edition Collection. This collection has been out for a while now, but this is the first time I saw this particular color. There are eight colors in the entire Sequins collection, but this is the only one that stood out to me. I believe I paid less than $3 for this at Wal-Mart- what a steal! (:
I wish I wouldn't have been so late on the bandwagon to try this line's nail polish because this one is great! I will be purchasing more from the Color Show line!

The polish is opaque in 2 coats. Even with a top coat, the glitter still feels rough and doesn't give the shinny finish I would like. Overall, I didn't have any problems with this color and formula. The color is an absolutely gorgeous teal glitter with some sapphire glitter bits in the polish. I paired this polish with Hard Candy's Mr. Right, a basic navy.

Use the foil method to remove stubborn glitter.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I am obsessed with this nail polish and will be getting a lot of use of it...thinking about buying a back-up.
• I took my first final yesterday. It was in Physical Anthropology and I got a 100 on the final and ended up with an A in the class. (:
• How gorgeous were the lovely ladies in the VS fashion show?!! 
• I ordered Ross' Christmas present last night...I think it should be here tomorrow! 

Have you tried Maybelline's Color Show line? What are your favorite colors?

Throwing Fireballs With Family!

Hello, Pretty People! 
I know it's been forever since my last blog, but school has been crazy...only two more weeks till Christmas break! A month or so ago I mentioned that my family and I would be throwing fireballs in the upcoming weeks and that I would be blogging about it.
I first want to start out by saying that it was so amazing to get together with my family. I had not seen some of them in over 10 years! So, yeah, I was basically re-meeting some of my family all over again.

About fireballs...
Throwing fireballs has been a family tradition for many generations. I asked my grandfather how the tradition started and he couldn't remember. All he could remember was his mother (my great-grandmother) sitting around with her sisters making them for Christmas. When my grandfather was growing up, they didn't have a lot of money for Christmas, so for their entertainment, they threw balls of fire back and forth. Yes, fireballs are literally on fire! Last year, my grandmother made all the fireballs for our family (about 10-12). At that time, only 8 people participated. This year, family I had not seen in over a decade came down, so we needed a bot more than 10-12. This year, we had 22 fireballs with about 15 people throwing.

Last Year (New Year's Eve 2011) 

This weekend (Dec. 1st, 2012)

Diclaimer: I am NOT to be responsible for anyone getting hurt playing with fireballs. My family has been doing this for many, many years so we know what we're doing. Do not attempt! 

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• It was so amazing seeing everyone last night! What a great way to start off the Holiday season! 
• I have my first final tomorrow! Wish me luck! 
• I think I will start Christmas shopping tomorrow! (:

Review: Maybelline Brow Pencil

Holy Grail Brow Pencil!
I have been using this brow pencil for several months now and I have to say, I love it! I don't plan on using any other kind because I am happy with this one! According to the packaging, this is the #1 brow and liner pencil in the U.S.

This is probably the only time you'll ever hear me say that I like this product because it isn't crazy pigmented. When it comes to brow pencils, I feel like less is more. I was so turned off by brow products for years because it was too creamy and too pigmented and my brows looked drawn on...not a cute look, ladies! This one by Maybelline has just enough to give a polished, natural look to your pretty face. When filing in your brows, remember, if you have blonde hair, use a brow pencil that's a shade or two darker than your hair color; if you're a brunette, use a brow pencil that's a shade or two lighter than your hair color. If you have black hair, dark brown looks more flattering and natural, as black can be way too harsh.

My shade is blonde because even though my hair is a light brown, using a brow pencil labeled "light brown" can be a bit harsh.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• It's the day after the election which means... no more campaign ads! 
• My research paper is due in a week! I am kinda excited to just turn in the damn thing and be done with it. Lol
• I've been obsessively looking at engagement rings online. The "looking" process is so exciting!
• I have two reviews coming in the next week or so. I will be reviewing Suave Dry Shampoo and Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Anti-Chip Top Coat. Trust me, I will have some strong feelings during these reviews...stay tuned. 

Have you tried the Maybelline Brow Pencil or do you have a favorite one?

Review: T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel

I love using witch hazel as an astringent!
I started using witch hazel as an astringent about a month ago. Within that time, I can tell such a difference my in skin tone. Witch hazel is great for oily, irritated, red, damaged, blemished or inflamed skin. Being away at college has made my skin go a little crazy: some days it's fabulous, some days it's a blemished hot mess! I blame my bad skin days on a college diet (lots of frozen dinners) and lack of sleep. Since using witch hazel, my skin looks so much better, but I still get the occasional blemish during "that time of the month." Disclaimer: witch hazel does have a fairly strong scent. It smells kinda like a bonfire (burning firewood). When I first started using it, the smell disgusted me, but I don't notice it bothering me anymore. It took me about a week to get used to the smell. Also, T.N. Dickinson's witch hazel does have 14% alcohol in it but I haven't noticed that it's dried out my skin.

When I apply and how often...
I've incorporated witch hazel in my everyday skin care routine. After I remove all my makeup, I put some witch hazel on a cotton ball and go all over my face and neck. I was surprised after using this that I was never getting off all of my makeup- now I know I am. I don't always use witch hazel in the morning...only if my skin has been more oily than usual (Note: I have combination skin). After witch hazel, I apply my moisturizer, as usual.

Hope yall don't mind the houndstooth scarf. There was a glare on the clear bottle.

The claim...
"Our 100% natural astringent gently cleanses and conditions skin without removing essential moisture."

The price...
It's about $4 at Wal-Mart and about $6 or $7 at the drugstore (prices may vary by location).

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I've finally rotated my closet to my fall wear. While doing that, I went through all my clothes- spring/summer and fall/winter- that I'm going to give away/donate.
• Last night I made the best pork chops EVER! Ross really enjoyed them, too!
• Is anyone else amazed at how fast October went by?! I can't believe November will be here in a week and a half.

What are some of your skin care favorites?

Review: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Night Renewal Cream

Hello, everyone! I feel like it's been ages since my last post, but my classes have been so crazy that I haven't had a chance to blog. 

I am so in love with the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Night Renewal Cream. I bought this about two (maybe three) weeks ago and I can tell the biggest difference in my skin. At 24, I never thought I needed a specific night cream. To me, it seemed like something for maturing skin. However, a few weeks ago, my skin was awful, dry and dull. I purchased this night cream from Wal-Mart for $6.47. It retails for $8.47 (prices may vary by location), but there was a $2 off coupon on the box so I got it at a cheaper price. This night cream contains 2.7 oz of product. Also, Palmer's does not test on animals!

The claim...
This fast absorbing anti-aging formula is loaded with targeted skin firming and smoothing ingredients. Powerful antioxidants and peptides work together with Cocoa and Shea Butters to leave skin soft, smooth and radiant. The unique combination of these ingredients provides a luxurious cream to maintain moisture levels throughout the night for smoother, softer skin.

Beneficial Ingredients... 

• Cocoa and Shea Butters: deeply moisturize and nourish 
• Retinol: encourages skin's renewal
• Peptide Complex: supports skin structure and integrity
• Vitamin E: powerful antioxidant
• Aloe Vera: soothes and calms skin
• Milk Proteins: helps improve skin's texture and tone
• Evening Primrose: soothes stressed skin

The claim and benefits are listed above in case this is too small to read. 

My Thoughts...

After the first use, I could tell a difference in my skin; it was so much softer and continues to improve with each use. I really love that it absorbs so quickly. Whenever I used it for the first time, I wasn't sure if I liked that because I was concerned that it wasn't properly moisturizing. But, now, I love the fast absorption because I know that my skin truly is locking in that moisture. The box claims that there's a fresh white lily fragrance. If you're sensitive to fragrances, this might not be the product for you. I really enjoy the smell and have noticed the more I use this night cream, the more I get a faint whiff of Cocoa Butter...which I really like.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I have a review that will be up in a day or two on Witch Hazel and how I've incorporated it in my skin care routine. 
• Ross is coming to see me tomorrow! I can't wait! (:
• I talked to my grandmother the other day and found out she and my aunt made 21 fire balls for (around) New Years. I will post pictures of fireballs and what they are in a few months whenever we throw them. Yeah, I'm pretty excited about it! 
• I've picked out my classes for my last semester at Troy! I cannot wait to graduate in May and get a big girl job! (:

What is your favorite night cream?

My First Blog Award!

It might sound crazy, but I feel like I've been accepted into the cool club!

Neha gave me the "One Lovely Blog Award!" I just started blogging about a week or two ago and I already feel like I've made friends in the blogging community. (:
Thanks, Neha for thinking of me! You made my day! :)









The Rules...

• You may thank the person who nominated you...It's optional... :)
• Add The One Lovely Blog Award to your post.
• Share 7 things about yourself.
• Pass the award onto the people who u think deserve this award (not more than 15 people)

Seven Things about myself...

• I am very close to my family, friends, and of course, my boyfriend! :)
• Pointed silverware creeps me out...like when the handle comes to a point. I have my own "safety silverware" at Ross' because I don't like using the other kind.
• Nasty teeth and rank breath freak me out! With that being said, I have an slight obsession with brushing my teeth. I seriously brush about 6-8 times a day. It used to be worse until my dentist told me to chill out or not have enamel by the time I'm 25 or 30. 
• I love food! I'm a savory, not a sweet! :)
• I love to go out with friends, but I'm usually a homebody.
• Ross and I have really been into wine lately. We think we're so fancy because we now have legit wine glasses and cute wine stoppers.
• I love animals! :)

And the award goes to...
BudgetBeautiful

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• So excited to go home tomorrow and see my family!
• I went to the movies last night ($1 movie night!) with some friends. Well, actually, me and my old roommate saw something else because she didn't buy a ticket early for House at the End of the Street and they were sold out. So, we went to see Dredd and it was really good. When it first started, we were like oh gosh, a guy movie...but we both really liked it. 
• I have been obsessed with PSY's Gangnam Style and I've about got the dance down! I need to ask my friend from Korea what he's saying.

TAG: Pretty in Pink (for Breast Cancer Awareness Month)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

I've known several women who have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, as I'm sure many of you have, too. Even though Cervical Cancer hits closer to home- my mom lost her battle to Cervical Cancer October 27 2009- I remember getting up with her early on a Saturday in October to participate in Curves Breast Cancer Awareness walk. We participated in the walks for three years and I met the sweetest people and heard some inspiring stories. Since pink is the awareness color and a lot of people wear pink in October for awareness,  I thought it would be fun to create a tag and share our favorite pink beauty and fashion items.

Tag questions...
What is your favorite pink eyeshadow? I absolutely love the pink shade in the Walking on Eggshells trio by Wet-n-Wild. This is probably my favorite eyeshadow trio I have. I've repurchased at least three  or four times. EmilyNoel83 has duped the pink shadow to MAC'S Naked Lunch. Watch her video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YILFQeZZ5SI

What is your favorite pink blush? Elf's Blush  from the Studio line in Fushia Fusion. This is a gorgeous bright blue-pink that goes on matte. I know there is shimmer in the pan, but I don't find that my brush picks up the shimmer. Also, some really pink blushes can pull a little red on me and I like that this one doesn't. Elf's blushes are crazy pigmented (as you can see) so a little goes a long way. I think it's pretty obvious that I really like this blush!

What is your favorite pink lipstick? I recently purchased the NYX lipstick in Fig and I can already tell it's a favorite. The color is so opaque. I like this color because it's a natural-pink lipstick that packs a punch.  Oh, and the best part...these are only $3.99 at Ulta. *Picture below of me wearing NYX's Fig.*

What is your favorite pink lipgloss? My favorite is NYX's Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige. I have no idea why they named this lipgloss Beige when it's obviously pink, but nonetheless, it's amazing. Once again, the NYX lipglosses are so pigmented and I love the scent.

What is your favorite pink nail polish? This one was very hard, so I thought the best thing to do would be to choose the shade I wear the most because clearly that means I love it. Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear nail polish in 23- Fushia Power is a pretty classic pink. This is not a unique shade, but it's a color I wear a lot.

What is your favorite pink piece of clothing? I'm not super crazy about the high-low trend, but this sweater was the exception! This was great during the spring months when it was still a little chilly from winter. Because October is all about pink and Breast Cancer Awareness, I'll definitely wear this again...and I'm still obsessed with bright neon colors. 

People I Tag...

• EmilyNoel83 (from BeautyBroadcast)
• Crystalis007
• Michelle1218
• Hollyannnaeree
• Neha Mishra

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I had a wonderful time in Auburn this weekend visiting Ross. On Friday we ordered pizza and just stayed in and on Saturday we made homemade lasagna and he bought us a few bottles of wine. After dinner, he took me to the movies for a date to see Lawless. We thought it was a great movie! 
• I talked to one of my besties today! I was thrilled we were able to catch up...it's been months since we've talked! 
• I also talked to my sister today and I get to babysit my niece and nephew this coming up weekend. I cannot wait! My niece is talking up a storm and my nephew just started walking not long ago! :)

Fixing to leave and watch Lawless. 

Face makeup: Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 Ivory, NYX HD concealer in CW02 Fair, Maybelline Age Rewind in Brightner, Elf Blush in Mellow Mauve (contour) and NYX blush in Summer Peach.

Eye makeup: Revlon Colorstay Quad in 500 Addictive, Elf Cream Eyeliner in Black and  Maybelline The Falsies mascara in Very Black

Lips: NYX lipstick in Fig

What are your favorite pink products?

Review: AcneFree Severe

Let's talk skin care.
Whenever I went off to college almost two years ago, my skin went crazy! I've never had acne, just the occasional blemish because of hormones. I don't know if it was stress, water change (the water in Troy is very soft), change in diet, etc. All I knew was that my skin was awful! I tried everything I could think of that worked for me in high school whenever I had hormonal blemishes, but nothing worked. What was so bad was that I was so self-conscious of my acne that I would use full coverage foundation and heavy duty concealer to cover my imperfections.  My skin wasn't able to breath because I had on a ton of makeup and I refused to leave the dorm without any because I was concerned everyone would stare at my acne. So, one day I was at my whits end; I stumbled across an article that talked about adult acne and how for most people, things that worked for you in high school won't work now because it's a different type of acne. This intrigued me! I also read that maybe the active ingredient that has work in the past, for me it was Salicylic Acid, doesn't work for you anymore and it's time for a change. After doing a little research, I decided to try out a product with Benzoyl Peroxide, but I didn't know what product, yet. I found the AcneFree Severe kit by University Medical at Wal-Mart. It retails for about $25 dollars. For some strange reason, whenever I saw this product, I had a feeling it would work for me...and it did! The AcneFree line has different kits for different types of acne.

Step 4's top broke so it won't stand up. 

Introducing AcneFree Severe...
Step 1: Antibacterial Cleansing Wash. This medicated cleanser has advanced micro-benzoyl peroxide. I really felt like those beads were getting deep in my skin. This bottle contains 4 fl oz of product and has 2.5% Benzoly Peroxide in it.

Step 2: Corrective Toner. This oil-control toner is great. I felt like it helped remove my full coverage makeup. Alcohol is the second ingredient so this product is a little drying. This contains 4 fl oz of product.

Step 3: Maximum Strength Repair Lotion. This continuous release lotion contains 10% benzoyl peroxide. The lotion can be a tad drying, but my thought process was, I'll treat the acne first, then focus on the dry skin.

Step 4: Retional Renewal Complex. This is a spot treatment. Only apply at night about 10 minutes after step 2. Disclaimer: This spot treatment works wonders, but it is very drying. If you get dry patches (like I did) use it every other day to help prevent further over drying.

How to apply...
Morning: Use steps 1, 2 and 3.
Night: Use steps 1, 2 and wait about 10 minutes before apply step 4.

Pros: Saw dramatic results in about 2 weeks and was acne free after about a month.
Cons: Drying. I had dry patches on my face where I applied the spot treatment. When I got dry patches, I used an apricot scrub and an intense moisturizer. Then, I used the kit every other day until acne was gone.
Overall thoughts: I love this product! Although I did get dry patches, I still recommend this kit for severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide is a drying product, as it dries up acne. For me, I didn't mind a few dry patches because my overall results were so great!

Reviews on AcneFree Severe: http://www.drugstore.com/university-medical-acnefree-severe-acne-treatment-system/qxp161048?catid=182247

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I did pretty well on my Social Science Inquires test! yay! :)
• Packing to go to Auburn tomorrow! Can't wait to see the boyfriend! <3
• I gave blood yesterday and my finger that they pricked to check iron levels is killing me. It's like they stuck me all the way to the bone...ouch!

What do you use to keep your skin clear?

Review: Sinful Colors Nail Polish. Muse Collection

Left to Right: In the Mist, Muse, Smokin'

I am so in love with these gorgeous dark shades from Sinful Colors! They are going to get a lot of love this fall and winter. I only got three of the colors, but I am very happy with my selection. Before I talk about this particular collection, I want to let y'all know that I have seven of the Sinful Colors nail polishes and they are all wonderful! I can't wear Easy Going (a white based neutral pink) because it doesn't look good with my skintone, but I adore the others. I will be giving Easy Going to my sister. Hopefully it will work for her because it really is a beautiful color. With that being said, this collection   has the same great opacity as the regular line. I didn't get bubbling, streaking, or early chipping. Longevity isn't very important to me though because I change my polish quite regularly, usually every other day. However, there have been days when I've had to wear a polish (from Sinful Colors) longer than usual and it held up perfectly. These colors are a great alternative to black polishes that are nice at times, but can like a little witchy.

You can purchase sinful colors at Rite Aid, Walgreens and my Wal-Mart just started carrying the regular line.

Introducing the colors...
In the Mist. This is the first color I was admittedly drawn to. In the bottle it looks like a charcoal gray dark green, but on the nails it's more of a dark hunter green. Honestly, I don't like green polishes, but I decided to give it a try because for some reason I thought it would work for me. I am so glad I picked this one up. It looks beautiful on the nails and I am looking forward to getting a lot of use out of it. I used two coats and it's a creme finish.

Muse.  This is my favorite color in the collection. It's a murky purple with a charcoal gray undertone.   This is absolutely stunning on the nails...very vampy for this time of year! I am currently wearing this one and I got a compliment earlier at school on the color. I used two coats and it's a creme finish.

Smokin. This is a really pretty true dark charcoal gray. I actually don't have anything like this in my collection so I was really happy about my purchase.  Smokin is a tad more watery than the others, but it isn't too bad that you can't work with it. I used two coats and it's a creme finish.

Overall thoughts...

These are great polishes. I love the formula, shade selection, brush and opacity. These are $1.99...such a steal for an amazing product. 

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I had an awful dream last night! I really shouldn't watch Criminal Minds before I go to bed. 
• I got a new pair of jeans today. I've been needing a new pair for a long time because my others are just getting too big. (Fixing to brag...I was in a 3! Thank goodness I lost all that weight!)
• Hopefully Skype will be working tonight so I can talk (rather, see) Ross! :)

Have you tried any of the Sinful Colors Nail Polishes? If so, what did you think? What are you fall/winter nail polish must- haves?!