Glow Getters Part Two: bareMinerals SPF 25 Mineral Veil Finishing Powder

This is the finishing powder offered by bareMinerals. I use this after I apply foundation to set it. It sets it extremely well, especially my Clinique Even Better Concealer - it doesn't move at all anymore. It controls the oil on my face very well, and I'm not having to reapply powder by lunch. It's great that this has SPF 25 in it because I hate having to apply sunscreen because of how oily it is and the way it smells.

The shade "original" matches my skin tone and is what is pictured below. This product is offered in "original" and "tinted" which match most skin tones. This powder conceals redness, as well. If you don't use anything except a powder base, this would be a good investment because it is a more opaque powder. This powder leaves a matte, flawless finish and application is extremely easy. It's finely milled and very comfortable to wear. 

And for those of us concerned with the ingredients, it's free of Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, and Phthalates.

Glow Getters Part One: bareMinerals Natural Lip Gloss

I got this on Black Friday! The whole package was $10. Although this was a one day type of deal, I know that my Ulta got a late truck and they will be selling this set and another one with eye products for a few more days. You can also buy these products alone.

BareMinerals has been really on their game. I've seen reviews for all their products and they have been very good and very praiseworthy. This is no exception. This lip gloss is great, and I don't even wear glasses that often. I find them to be too sticky and my hair gets caught in them. This one has a really nice colour. It's a coral, which has been very popular. It stays on very well and has a nice glitter to it. You can feel the glitter a little, but overall it is a very smooth and comfortable finish.

It's not drying and it has a really pleasant scent. It tastes nice, but it doesn't have a flavour that makes me want to eat it. If you want a coral lip gloss with a nice shimmer, I'd buy this.

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L'Oreal Magic Smooth Soufflé Foundation

This is a really neat alternative to liquid or powder foundation. It's a mousse and is light and fluffy. When you apply, it leaves a silky texture to your skin. So, this foundation goes on really smooth and leaves a matte finish. You do not need to set it with a powder either. It covers up blemishes as well as your liquid or powder foundation and is classified as a light to medium foundation. This foundation is very buildable.

You can skip this product if you have very dry skin. It does show dry patches and is best on oily or combination skin. I would also advise you to use a flat top kabuki brush whenever you apply this foundations because it looks so much better than with a sponge or your hands. It stops the makeup from forming little balls as you put it on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving guys! I hope your holiday goes really well, you visit family and friends, and you eat lots of food! But don't forget about Black Friday... I plan on buying loads of new beauty products and reviewing them on here. Be safe, snatch good deals, and have a good time!

-Grace

Clinique High Impact Mascara

I got a trial size of this mascara and it has lasted me around the same time as a full size. This mascara is my go-to. It's a wet mascara, but it doesn't clump. You're supposed to apply several coats, wait and let dry, then repeat. However, if you don't have time, it's not a big deal. You can still get the effect.

I like the wand on this mascara. Normally, I go for the rubbery wands, like the Maybeline One By One mascara, but this separates the lashes just as well. It gives a fuller and more defined look to your eyelashes. 

The pigmentation is very black and there is no flaking. I have no problems or quells with this product and I would advise it to anyone who wants a decent mascara. 

And a side by side comparison.

China Glaze: Ghoulish Glow Nail Polish

This was a neat little find that I got after Halloween. It's a glow-in-the-dark top coat! It's made by China Glaze and I'm pretty sure it's limited edition, but if you look in the clearance racks of stores like Ulta, it'll be there.

It's pretty much stays on like any other top coat. It doesn't mess up your design or make it look murky. This nail polish does glow in the dark though and not like some of those dinky, cheap polishes. It has a nice green tint. You have to shake the bottle and hold the polish up to a light at first, but you will get an almost immediate effect. It's really neat.

These were the best pictures I got. It's hard to have a clear photograph of the glow and the bottle in a dark background. My camera had a hard time focusing.

Maybelline Master Precise By Eyestudio

This is my everyday go-to liquid eyeliner. I really like it and I always keep coming back to it. It's so easy to use, the colour is great, is long lasting, and has no mess. It's a felt tip which is so much easier to use than a brush. The tip is smaller than a lot of other liquid eyeliners, so you can get a winged effect every time. It's not hard either which is a problem I've had before.

The colour is a matte black once it has dried and is opaque. I only need to draw the line once and I'm ready to go. However, you will know when you need to throw out the liner because the colour will be lighter and will leave a slightly lighter center of a line.

I've never had one of these dry out. Ever. And I don't follow the rule of throwing eyeliner out every three months (Ew! I know, but I like to use my products up.) I've slept in this, worn it at school, and showered with it on. It stays on, especially well for the showering one. There is no mess either. The only problems I have with this eyeliner are that when I hit the second to third month mark, the felt tip kind of sags and this only comes in one colour. You do get a full use out of your liner and it's worth the $7-8. I highly advise it.

Color Club Polish: Part One

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I've been super busy preparing for a competition and starting up a club. Things are getting pretty hectic but Veterans' Day is around the corner and that means sales! Be expecting more products!

I haven't tried out this brand, Color Club, till now. I was browsing around TJ Maxx and just happened to see this set. It came with the colours, Editorial and Electronica. The colour I'll be reviewing here is Editorial.

Right off the bat, you'll probably notice that this colour is a dupe for Chanel's Peridot. Editorial has a little bit more of a blue hue to it. It is a duo-chrome and at some angles it's a light green or golden yellow with a little bit of royal blue.

 I was surprised to find that the colour pay off is really nice. I only needed two coats and it is not streaky, despite what I've heard of  Colour Club's formulas. There is no chipping and almost no tip wear; I've been wearing this on my toes for a full week. I'm very happy with this polish and can't wait to review Electronica!

BEWARE! If you don't like toes, look away!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I'm really excited to post this review. Whenever I get really lazy and want a really nice manicure, I use Sally Hansen's Salon Effects. I always get compliments and people ask me how I painted my nails.

The strips are very easy to use. You take the plastic cover off, take the strip off the paper, and apply it to the nail. When you put the design on the nail, pull it out and down so that you are left with a clean edge. If you do it like this, it wraps the design under the nail a little and makes it harder to chip. It only takes about ten minutes to prep and do your nails.

The designs always look nice and clean. There are extras provided, so you can afford to make a mistake. The strip comes off just like regular nail polish, just use nail polish remover. It isn't any harder to take it off either. And they do last the 10 days that is promised on the box - even without a base coat.

The design here is 607 Good Morning Glory.

Tips:

• You can buy these at any store that carries nail polish, but if you look in the clearance bin at Target, CVS, Rite Aid, or at TJ Maxx, you can almost ALWAYS buy a set for $2-3.
• Leave your thumbs for last! It makes things so much easier!
• Do NOT put a topcoat over the design. It will blur the design. If you want it to stay longer, use a base coat.
• If a strip is a little smaller than your nail, go up a size. It is a lot easier to trim the sides down than stretch the strip and ruin the design.
• Keep your extras and put them in an air tight bag. You can use them later (See photo.) 

The Beauty of Louise Giveaway

This is a giveaway offered by a blogger who has been in my favourites folder since August. The Beauty of Louise is running this giveaway where you have to make a list of products you would like under 80₤ from this website. Cool, right? And I do like making wishlists, especially with Christmas around the corner.

Anyways, the items on my list are:

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic Concealing & Brightening Kit £28.50 

I've wanted to try out some of the concealers from Benefit, especially after I saw reviews on the erase paste.   I've been meaning to try out some highlighters from them, as well. Plus, I'm all about the budgeting and I think you get more for your money in gift sets.

          

Benefit Fast Train to Fabulous Gift Set  £39.50 

Even if I don't win this contest, I think I will save up and buy this set. I've been wanting to try out the Benefit's Porefessional, Benetint, and They're Real Mascara for so long. When I saw this on the website, I knew that it was going to be added to my list.

 
  Eylure Katy Perry 'Sweetie Pie' Lashes  £5.95

These are a personal favourite of mine. I wore them when I took my photo for my license and I think they add that extra oomph! without looking to extreme. I also really love Katy Perry, she's one of my favourite artists.

Lily Lolo Eye Blending Brush   £5.99

    I think that this brush is pretty neat. I need a good blending brush for my crease because I've been using a brush that is too big. I saw it as I was finishing up my browsing on the site and thought I would add it on.

My total is £79.94. What's yours? This was a fun activity and a really nice giveaway. Go check it out! 

Good luck everyone!     

        

Clinique Stay-Matte Oil Free Makeup

This is my current foundation; I'm the shade 2 Alabaster. I have combination skin but I have used many foundations that are either too dry or too oily. I would have to go out and blot at lunchtime because I had such a shine all over my face. This keeps my face fairly matte, but when I get home after school, I do notice some shine. It's minimal and I don't feel the need to blot, so I don't see a problem. This is also over the course of 9 hours. This makeup doesn't sweat off and with the humidity of the Deep South, it still stays.

It works extremely well with sensitive skin. I don't break out because of it, but I wouldn't say it's improved my complexion. I have noticed a difference in the dry patches of my skin. They are moisturized without being oily.

This foundation is buildable and a light to medium coverage that looks very natural. The formula is lightweight too. It blends very easily and I like that it sits inside of a tube. It's so much easier and cleaner to squirt out than pour!

And the same spot blended out. It looks so intimidating and dark in the picture above...