#bbsecretsanta What I Got

Hi Ladies!

This year I was quite daring and decided to join in on a beauty Secret Santa "swap" run by Georgina from Makeup-Pixi3 and Laura from A Scottish Lass.  They both took the time to organize it and I thank them so much! I was paired with the lovely, and very sweet Tasha from Bellezakisses.  

The rules were straight forward and a dollar amount was set, from there we got to know each other

our likes and dislikes. We sent the packages by the needed dates and then waited. 

I got my package but wanted to wait till Tasha got her package too (also retail hours on holidays didn't allow much awake time to actually open the package for a few days).  ALTHOUGH, 

*guilty*

I did shake the package a bit….nothing sounded smashed *thankful* 

SO 

Let's get into my package.

I have to say that Tasha really packaged everything SO nicely, 

and the empty book is perfect for my collection! (I have a bunch from my travels)

Plus who can resist shiny silver tinsel? (maybe that's just me)

Tasha sent me the following:

Adorable wrapping!

Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush

It's rather funny because I purchased the eye kit and was thinking about purchasing next the fine liner brush but Tasha beat me to it! (I think she's a mind reader…sshhhh)

Revlon (blah blah blah blah) Balm Stain in Precious (amazing color!!!)

The last balm stain I had from Revlon was a little too out there for me, 

I kept wishing I had purchased a more everyday shade…

and once again, Tasha was a total mind reader and picked out a BEAUTIFUL shade. 

Beautiful color!

First off, I didn't even know that NYX had these beautiful gel liners! This color is stunning and I can't wait to spice up my neutral looks with this awesome liner color. (insert happy dance)

NYX Cream Blush in Tickled

I adore this color. It'll be the most perfect over a tan blush ever.  I wish I was tanned…instead I am ghostly pale. (oy the Central European problems).  But funny enough, I had also sent Tasha a NYX cream blush! (not the same shade)

Revlon Colorstay Shadow Links (L-R) Cocoa, Bone, Java
Disclaimer: Cocoa was not broken in transit, my pup jumped up and caused me
to drop the shadow. But I can still repress it :)

Revlon Colorstay Shadow Links (L-R) Taupe, Copper, Gold

I wanted a bunch of these, but each time I found a location with them, it was so picked over or the shadows were smashed up.  I love that Tasha picked out a bunch of finishes, that copper and Taupe look amazing!

A few extra goodies from a couple of "Rugrats"  Please pass on my thank you Tasha!
Pop Rocks are my favorite and I never seem to find enough of them. The nail decals are also awesome!

Project Pan: 1 Month Update

Hi All!
 One month down and I haven't cracked! Woohooo! Well overall this entire project is going very well, and I'm quite happy that I've stuck to my guns and kept money in my pocket :) (a happy bank account right there).  So let's get to the nitty gritty and get the details of this first month:

  Bath & Body Products I Haven't Even Touched

Benefit Wonderlift

got2b 2 sexy voluptuous volume

B&BW Anti-Bacterial Hand Cleanser

Redkin Shine Spray 02

got2b Instant Leave in Mender

Makeup Products I Haven't Even Touched

ELF Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade

Wet N Wild Ultimate Minerals Foundation

Sally Hansen Lipgloss in Ruby

Clinique Double Ended Lipgloss

Buxom Lipstick in Two-timer

Black Radiance eyeshadow in Radiant Gold

                                              

Bath & Body Products I've Been Working On:
got2b crazy sleek blow dry lotion
B&BW Moonlight Path Body Spray
Vitabath Asian Orchid & Coconut Body Mist
Bodycology Coconut Lime Twist Body Cream
Julep Scrub for Hands
Clean & Clear Blackhead Mask
Avon Freeze Dry Nail Polish Spray

Products That I Finished

B&BW Coconut Line Verbena Body Butter

PSSSSSSSSSST! Dry Shampoo

Makeup Products I'm Working On:

PF Color Correcting Powder

PF Bronze & Brighten Bronzer

LA Colors Nude Trio

YBF Brow Pencil

ELF Double Ended Eye Pencil

Rimmel Glam Eyes Single in Royal Linen

ELF Cream Eyeliner in Coffee

ELF Tone Correcting Concealer in Apricot Beige

Pangea Organics Lip Balm

NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone

NYC Applicious Lip Balm

How have your project pan's been going?

xoxo,

Emi

If you want to check out my video here is the link!: Project Pan Update

November Ipsy Bag

Hi All!

So of course, with each and every subscription service, we want to make sure that we are getting our monies worth.  On my youtube channel I did an unboxing and here I wanted to delve deeper into the actual products, swatches and the actual worth of the products.  

I have to commend IPSY in their bag this month because it pulled together many key parts to a "glam look". Many times with Birchbox I found that the products were just thrown together haphazardly. 

Treseme Tres Two Level Four Hold: $1.59

Nailtini in Champagne: $14

be a bombshell lip crayon in hot damn: $14

.em by Michelle Phan pillow plush in strawberry: $15

Pixi bronzer in Subtly Suntouched: $18 but includes kabuki

Starlooks Eyeliner in Topaz: $14

Let's do a quick rundown:

Starlooks: 14

Pixi: 18

.em: 15

be a bombshell: 14

Nailtini: 14

Treseme: 1.59

So the total of product in this bag is: 76.59!!

But now for some swatches!

1. Starlooks Eyeliner in Topaz  2. be a bombshell in Hot Damn 3. Pixi Subtly Suntouched
4. .em cosmetics pillow plush in strawberry 5. Nailtini in Champagne 1 coat 6. Nailtini in Champagne 2 coats 

Did you sign up for IPSY? What did you think of your bag this time? What about the Birchbox followers? Comment below and let me know how your subscriptions are going!

xoxo,

Emi

Tide Pods: Are They Worth It?

Hi All!

So on a beauty channel, here I present to you, my readers a review on the Tide Pods in Spring Meadow**.  I'm very skeptical when it comes to multiple purpose 3 in 1 types of products. So I wanted to break down if these pods not only work as well as they claim, and if they are worth the money value, cause hey, let's face it detergent ain't cheap.

I followed the directions on the packet, first off these little jellies feel very weird because they aren't very sturdy.  One wrong drop or paper cut and I feel like these could leak easily. Plus I feel like if I left these in a damp(isn) area, these would melt down.

                              

I threw one in with my comforter and found that a few makeup stains remained (makeup had spilled on my comforter), and the scent was EXTREMELY light.  I threw the blanket back in the wash with my regular detergent, stain stick and fabric softener, and found the stains gone. 

Let's break down the cost of these little jelly caps and compare them to the price with old school products:

           

Taken from Walmart.com

Taken from Walmart.com

Taken from Walmart.com

So the total for all of these above products comes to : 18.42

Taken from Walmart.com

While the pods look like they come out to be about 3 bucks less, let me put it in retrospect. If you have a large load of laundry i.e. linens or a large load of darks (like I always seem to have) you need to throw in 2 packs.  Most of my laundry, let's say 2/3s is large loads, so in theory I would have to use two packs instead of one. So it just doesn't add up!

The individual products are more concentrated and seem to work better.  They cleaned my blanket even on the second wash.  

Final Verdict: If you have laundry that only needs a quick wash with no stains and is a very small load (maybe using a laundromat?) you can purchase these because yes they are lighter in weight than combined previous products.  But for real stain fighting, dirt and grim blasting, ya can't get away from using three separate ingredients plus a little extra time to get the best clean.  

So what do you guys think?

xoxo,

Emi

**This product was sent to me for review by Influenster and does not affect my views on the product.

Project Pan October-June 2013

HI All!
    So I started a new project on my youtube channel, the good ol' project pan.  Catch a gander, subscribe, leave a comment!  I was inspired by JessicaMaykup, another you tuber who has don't this project before.

Body Products I Want to Finish:

got2b crazy sleek blow dry lotion

Julep hand scrub

Psssst! Dry Shampoo

Redkin Shine Spray

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bac 

Bath & Body Works Moolight Path Body Spray

Vitabath Asian Orchid & Coconut Spray

Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Body Butter

Bodycology Coconut Lime Twist Body Cream

got2b split end treatment

Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Cleanser Mask

Benefit Wonderlift Gel

Avon Nail Expert Quick Dry Spray

pile of my products

Makeup I Want to Finish:

NYC Applicious Lip Balm

Buxum Lipstick

Pangea Organics balm

Sally Hansen Lip gloss

Clinique Double Ended Gloss

ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick

Elf Double Ended shadow liner stick

YBF Brow Pencil

ELF Cream Eyeliner in Coffee

NYX Eyeshadow base in Skintone

LA Colors Trio in Nude

Rimmel Glameyes single in Royal Linen

Black Radiance Mineral Shimmer Eyeshadow

Physicians Formula Tone Correcting Powder

Wet N Wild Mineral Foundation

ELF Tone Correcting Concealer

Physicians Formula Bronze & Brighten

Have you started a project pan?

If you have a youtube channel link it below!

xoxo, 

Emi

NYC Plumping Lipgloss in Pleasantly Plump Pink

Hi All!
    Today I wanted to bring a review on a lip gloss that I had a chance to try from the drugstore (and extremely affordable) brand, NYC.  I like a lot of NYC products, it's actually one of those brands that I first got into because it was so affordable to a young teenager like myself (at the time).  Today's gloss is the NYC Plumping Lipgloss in 467 Pleasantly Plump Pink. **I was sent this gloss to try out and after playing around with it for a few days, I've developed an opinion regarding it.

The official NYC website advertises this gloss as the following:

So how did the gloss match up to the claims? Let's delve into it!

Claim: Get voluminous lips in one effortless stroke/ 50% more volume to your lips

Reality: This gloss does make your lips look more voluminous, it fills in those lines and just makes them look plump. the 50% claim is a bit false because if my lips really did go up 50%, I'd be lookin like Angelina Jolie.   For the actual "plumping effect" I'd have to say it's slim to none.  There is a light minty feeling, but the best way to describe it is if you took a tiny TINY bite of sweet mint gum.  (random association I know)

Claim: 4 hours shine

Top Left: Gloss with flash Bottom Left: No flash. Top Right: Sunny day no flash

Reality: This gloss lasted a long time on my lips.  It is a bit thick/heavy on the lips and is a bit sticky, hence the long stay.  As I wore this gloss through the day, it would get tackier.  It didn't really last the full 4 hours, but it does last longer than most of my other glosses.

Additional Comments: While the shade I got was really pretty, the smell of this gloss is something I can't get over.  This gloss has a sickly-floral-old-lady-violet-mint smell.  Not only does the smell affect you, but it just gets into your mouth and you taste it too.  I tried several times to wear this gloss, but I just can't deal with the smell.  It's bad enough that I wouldn't want to kiss my fiance while wearing it.

Final Call: I would say, that with so many other glosses available even in the NYC line, I would pass on this particular gloss ONLY because of the smell.  I can deal with a lot of different fragrances, but when it comes to lip products and scents, I am particular and this is one scent and taste I can't deal with.

Have you tried this gloss?
What did you think about it?
xoxo,
Emi

**I was sent this gloss complimentary of Influenster, yet it does not affect my opinion of said product.

ELF Studio Makeup Remover Wipes

Hi All!
   So I hope this day finds you all well.  What I'll be reviewing today is the ELF Studio Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths which retail for $3 on the eyeslipsface.com website.  These are pre-moistened cloths which come 20 to a pack.

Taken from the eyeslipsface.com website.

Let's first check out those claims:

1. "Gently and easily cleans skin to remove all traces of makeup and dirt, even waterproof mascara."
     I did find that this cloth worked well on removing most makeup, and did actually remove my waterproof mascara! I did go over with a toner and found a little of left over makeup on the cotton pad, but not bad enough for me to get all hell bent.

2. "Great for on-the-go travel"
   Ok, let's admit it...all cleansing cloths are easier to travel with than a bottle of liquid and a cotton pad. (what a duh!) What I like a lot is the fact that the pack has an inner seal and then an outer clasp that snaps shut.  I'm not as paranoid that these will dry out as quickly as other packs.

3. "Gentle Cloths are soft and soothing for even the most sensitive skin."
  These aren't as soft as a baby's bottom, but they don't irritate my very sensitive, contact wearing eyeballs.  While I would not call these nessesarily soothing, they don't leave my skin feeling stripped of moisture.

4. "Infused with Aloe Vera Extract for deep hydration and moisture"
  That would be the nice, and fresh smell I get from these cloths.  I can't argue with the moisture aspect but deep hydration...well how do you test that? I don't feel dry, but I feel clean.  But then I put a moisturizer on....sooo that claim is a little up for grabs.

The price: For $3 bucks, they are probably a cheaper pack than I'm used to for cleansing wipes.  When ELF has a 1/2 off sale I'd say snag a few packs!

Overall reaction: I could see myself buying these again.  The packaging is practical but also minimal and sleek looking.  They have not broken my face out, and don't leave an unpleasant residue on my skin.  I see more people talk about the $1 cloths, but I think these are well worth a shot.

How has your experience with these been? Would you try them out?
xoxo,
Emi

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