Manicure Monday

I am suffering from a very evil cold. Since I feel like crud I need pretty nails to help feel human (let's pretend there is logic in that lol) but since all I wanna do is sleep I needed a mani that would dry quick. I did a base of wet n wild fastdry in The Wonder Yellows then topped it with a coat of La Rosa white crackle. Super fast drying and now I go sleep!

Review: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Loose Powder

Today I bring you my first experience with a Physicians Formula product.  It is the Mineral Wear Airbrushing Loose Powder (hows that for a long name!)

It comes with a flip lid to cover the sifter

And a tiny little buki brush

You can see a bit of shimmer caught in the light on the top of the lid

(Totally spazzed on before pics....this is the powder over Josie Maran Argan Oil Foundation)

You can see how the powder did not like my dry patches on my nose

Initial Thoughts:   This powder really depends on what I put it over.  Depending on what foundation I use, it will either work really well, or turn my face into an oily mess.  e.l.f tinted moisturizer, wet n wild sheer tinted moisturizer were no goes.  My face was uber oily and heavy feeling by lunch.  Josie Maran Argan Oil Foundation was a total winning combination.  The powder did not make my skin feel heavy or add any extra oil.  The one thing I don't like, even when it is playing well with my foundation, is its tendency to emphasize any dry patches I have (which can be seen in the closeup of my nose) My skin is pretty oily, so dry patches do not last long on me, but this may be something to note if you skin tends to be dryer. 

Overall Thoughts: This is a heavier powder that works best with a heavier foundation.  I was a bit scared by the shimmer you can see in the package, but it does not translate to the face.  Another huge plus is the spf 30, I have recently become somewhat obsessed with spf, so having more spf to layer into my beauty routine is a total plus. I have not tried this powder out in summer to see how it does in hot weather, but as I hate heat and avoid the outdoors like the plague in summer, I don't think I will ever really see how this powder does in a full day of heat!

Swatch: Spoiled in Distant Memory

I got this polish last year at CVS when they had the Spoiled polish buckets. This polish dries to a rubber look finish. This gives is amazing dry time! I may not be a fan of the finish, but I adore the dry time on matte and rubber polishes. Of course I had to add topcoat and you can see the shimmer much better in the second picture. I love this polish with topcoat!

Quick Review: Orgins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

I can't remember where this sample came from.  It was sitting in my bin o samples and it called to me! (gotta love the bin o samples!)

Initial Thoughts: This is a good eye cream.  I was only able to use it for a few days so I cannot comment on any of the anti-aging properties it may have.  I can comment that it is very moisturizing and made the skin around my eyes feel very soft and smooth.  It also worked well under my eye makeup which was a plus.  Often any eye treatments don't play nice with my oily skin, but this one was great and I did not see any problems with my eye shadow from this. This is something I would consider purchasing in full size. 

Manicure Monday

I remember years ago my friend treated me to a mani pedi and I was blown away by the simple flowers they added. I even went out and bought my first dotting tool after I was so blown away. This is a nostalgic mani for me. I wanted to do some simple dotting flowers to remember what my first experience with nail art was.

I did my base in wet n wild fastdry in Buffy the Violet Slayer and the dots in wet b wild wild shine in Black Creme and Metallica

Review: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara

I won this mascara in a giveaway a few months back and finally got around to using it!. I think this is the first CoverGirl mascara I have ever used and I am really impressed!

Bare lashes (and gotta love how frizzy the hair looks!)

Bare lashes:

One coat mascara (woohoo towel holding my hair =P)

One coat mascara:

 

Initial Thoughts: Love the thick brush and substantial tube. It is also a drier mascara which is good for someone like me who will always blink or sneeze or something that will leave marks with a wet mascara. It really made my lashes pop and is a good true black

Overall Thoughts: Love this! I can use one coat for every day or easily build it up for a more dramatic look.  It does not  smudge at all.  I have oily skin and it holds up to a full day of work, heat, and a workout. It also washes off easily with my regular face wash.  So far this is my favorite mascara I have tried in a long time! Sad that I am almost out and that I promised myself I would go through my stash before I buy more...must be patient! 

Swatch: wet n wild fastdry in Hannah Pinktana

Oh love love love this polish. I mean it's pink. And sparkly. And did I mention pink and sparkly?! This is a jelly base, so even with four coats you can still see the nail line. I really don't mind. Not with this sparkle! The first two coats will make you wonder if undies are needed, but coat three and four really build up the color.

It dries to a semi matte finish. The last picture had top coat and it really makes the sparkle and color pop. Love love love!

Quick Review: Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo

Woohoo sample! And it is one of the best smelling ones I have gotten in a long time!

Initial Thoughts: This smells so yummy!!  I do not pick up much coconut, but this is good since I tend to hate the smell of coconut. It smells very tropical and sweet.  Totally spent way too much time sniffing the bottle and washed my hair extra long to keep smelling it. Now for how it performs as a shampoo (cuz really if it sucks it doesn't matter how good it smells) It is a good basic shampoo.  I did not see any drastic changes in my hair, but it also didn't weigh down my fine hair, add to oil, or irritate my scalp.  So not bad at all!

Manicure Monday

Dots! My dotting tools were calling to me so dots it is! I started with a base of wet n wild megalast in I Need a Refesh-Mint. Then I did dots in wet n wild wild shine in Metallica an Black Creme and NYC Long Wearing in French White Tip

Swatch: Sinful Colors in Dancing Nails

Oh how I adore this color! It is this awesome coppery rose gold sparkly happiness. I fell for it after using it in my Saran Wrap mani on Monday I just had to do a full mani. I love it so much I had to do matching toes too lol.

Quick Review: Weil Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum

This sample was received from the brand. Please see end of post for full disclosure.

This one did NOT like me!

Initial Thoughts: I was only able to try this for two days before I started having a massive breakout.  It absorbed into the skin well, but I did not notice any positive effects from it.  This is why I love samples, you really never know how your face may react to something.  What works great for others can make another a pimply mess.  This one just did not work at all for me. My skin is oily and acne prone, but not super sensitive.  Maybe this would be better for those who are not prone to break out? 

The sample of this product was sent directly by the brand.  This is my honest review and not influenced by receipt of the sample. 

Manicure Monday

Saran Wrap mani time! I love this technique. It's fast and I love how it is perfect for a late night mani. Because of the texture and irregular finish, it does a great job at hiding any smudges that happen when you sleep. Pop on a fresh coat of top coat in the morning and you are good to go!

I did a base in Sinful Colors Mint Apple, a great shimmery mint. And did the top layer in Sinful Colors Dancing Nails.

Review: AcneFree Therapeutic Sulfur mask

This sample was received from the brand. Please see end of post for full disclosure.

Everyone's skin is different.  Some like peroxide the best for blemishes, some like salicylic acid. Me? Sulfur has always worked wonders.  When I saw this I had to try it! 

Little blue beads!

I made a good anemic looking Smurf don't I?

 

Initial Thoughts: You can see little blue beads in the mask.  As you work the mask into your skin the beads melt and turn the mask blue.  Once you are a lovely shade of Smurf you let the mask dry before washing off.  It does not sting or burn, just feels tighter as it dries.  It does not drip and washes off easily. 

Overall Thoughts: My skin was softer right after using this mask.  I used it in the late afternoon and the next morning my face was a bit clearer.  Nothing ground breaking, but it was great at zapping pimples that had not fully formed yet.  This seemed to last a few days.  This mask is great and I am always on the search for face products that contain sulfur as it is what works best for me.   This is a great full face mask, but I also think it would be a good spot mask if the full size comes in a tube or tub.  

The sample of this product was sent directly by the brand.  This is my honest review and not influenced by receipt of the sample. 

Swatch: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Cherry Red

I have had this polish forever and never done a swatch. I have used it for nail art but never really looked at alone. I assumed it was just another red creme. Boy was I wrong! I would describe this as a crelly, a cream that is a bit jelly like. It has this great squishy look to it I love. It also applies like a dream. This is just two coats and its perfection.

Manicure Monday

I wanted to do something pastel for Easter and this is what I came up with. I wanted to do a skittle mani, but that would mean I need to own more than 2 pastel polishes lol.

I did my nails in Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac with a accent nail of wet n wild megalast in I Need a Refreah-ment. I then topped them all with a white crackle.

Quick Review: Body shop Rainforest Mosture Shampoo and Conditioner

This sample was received from the brand. Please see end of post for full disclosure. 

One reason why I love samples is sometimes you find things that just really don't work out, and you don't have to spend money to find it out. Keep reading to see why this shampoo and conditioner just did not get along with me.

Initial Thoughts: This is a low lather shampoo.  This didn't bother me at first as most natural shampoos are low lather.  What bothered me is that it didn't make my hair feel clean at all.  I felt like I had washed my hair with just water. My hair did not feel clean and felt like it still had oil and dirt on it.  I added more shampoo and even using twice what I would normally use it felt the same.  The conditioner was really runny, so runny I couldn't feel anything in my hair at all.  Before I apply conditioner I always wring out the extra water in my hair, even with minimal water this conditioner washed away.  After I dried my hair it didn't feel clean or soft.  This one will not be one I will look to purchase, ever.  

The sample of this product was sent directly by the brand.  This is my honest review and not influenced by receipt of the sample.