writing now: sephora friends and family goodies

My Sephora Friends and Family order (blogged about here) arrived in no time!  I was hoping to get everything before I went out of town and success!  Just to refresh your memory, I purchase Makeup Forever (MUFE) High Definition Foundation (a staple), MUFE Mat Velvet Foundation, and Nars Nailpolish in Bad Influence.   Here's a short review of my goodies:

wearing now: wide legged jeans

I've been on a skinny jean/jeggin kick for much of the year, but I do *own* other jeans.  Qucik OOTD

reviewing now: revlon colorburst lip butter

Recently, there has been a lot of internet buzz surrounding the new Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter so I picked one up yesterday.  I know they’ve been harder to find in some areas, but I managed to snag one at CVS.  The display wasn’t stocked, but there was a pretty good selection. Constantly wearing lip liners, lipsticks and/or lip glosses leaves my lips a little drier than I desire, so I often don’t reapply mid-day, choosing instead to use a chapstick and a lipgloss.  Let me tell you, these live up to all of the hype.

The color selection is amazing!  There are around 15 or so colors to choose from.  I had a hard time deciding and was immediately drawn to the bright pinks, but decided to do something a little different.  I chose Sugar Plum which appears to be a really pretty mauve in the tube.  I have lipsticks in the plum family that pull a really true, plum, but this gloss actually pulls more pink on me.  I’ve actually read reviews online that said that this is a MLBB (my lips but better) color on some.  While this isn’t the case for me, I’m definitely in love with this color and this product.

I’ve written before that I have pigmented lips, and I own very few products that will show cover the pigmentation, and this is no exception. It doesn’t COMPLETELY cover the pigmentation but the color is definitely there!  If I wanted the true color to show on my top and bottom lips, I would color correct my top lip with a nude lip liner and viola, problem solved!  Without a lipliner, this color didn't last a terribly long time on me.  I definitely get longer wear from a liner/lipstick/gloss combo, but this is far easier to apply and reapply (straight from the tube!) which is a big plus for me!  I would say these are perfect for those who are looking for the ease of a chapstick, but the color of a lipstick/gloss. 

The butters contain ingredients such as: mango butter, coconut oil, shea butter and feel extremely moisturizing while they are on.  They apply silky smooth.   I have noticed that my lips seem to be a little dry by the end of the day, but I don't know if I could attribute that to the product because I have dry lips.

I’m going to pick up a couple of more in the coming weeks, a pink (perhaps Pink Truffle or Strawberry Shortcake) and a nudish (maybe Fig Jam).  Can’t wait to try them out!
Another added bonus: I can apply color to my lips on the go, without using a mirror!

50 classics challenge - week 4: my choice

For this challenge I did something a little different.  I did design an outfit of my choice from the list provided above, but I also remixed that outfit!  This week, is an outfit I might wear to work on causal Friday, or wear to the grocery store or to do some reading in Barnes and Nobles (r.i.p. Borders ;( )

A simple outfit of jeans, a long sleeved tee and flats.  Pre-bloggin, I probably would've stopped there, but the new me also threw on a scarf and a ring for some visual interest! I would also probably throw on my leather jacket or black tulip skirt trench.

Now the remix.  This is something that I would wear if *he* called and wanted to go to dinner in a hurry, or if I was going to go have drinks with friends.

Jeans, a long sleeved tee, black pumps, a ring, a pearl necklace, a leather handbag, and a silk scarf tied around the handbag.  This is another instance where I would probably choose different accessories if I wasn't bound by the list.  A lot of bloggers have been posting about details lately and I've been wondering if that was a part of the je ne se qua that I feel like I'm missing.

Well that's all from me! Don't forget to head over to Petite JD to see her final outfit.  This was an interesting challenge, and I can't wait until the next one!

giving now: goodnight irene! (review)

 I posted here about an opportunity for readers to get a beauty bag full of samples from Target.  Mine arrived in the mail recently so I wanted to share what I got!

Target sent samples of John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Full Body Conditioner, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo and Conditioner, TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, L'oreal Youth Code Day/Night Cream, Burt's Bees Radiance SPF 15 Day Lotion, Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towlettes.  I think the most useful sample for me is going to be the wet cleansing towlettes.  I love to pack these or baby wipes from the travel section in Target when I'm going out of town, especially if I'm planning a lot of events and may want  to touch up my makeup, or if I know I'm going to get in late and may not feel up to doing my whole night time skin care routine.

And of course, I love the makeup bag they provide.  I don't remember the last time I actually PURCHASED a makeup bag for my purse!  They usually come with various makeup line's gift with purchases or as a part of a makeup kit or set.

This one is a beautiful pink and purple!  Love it and can't wait to cram all of my takealong makeup junk into it!  Did anyone else sign up?

50 classics challenge - week 3: date night

Here's my interpretation of the week 3 challenge: date night!  Our "date nights" usually include a nice dinner somewhere.  So here is something that I may wear when spending quality time out with my sweetie!

In fact, after seeing these pictures, I may wear this next weekend :D  Black dress, black pumps, evening clutch in leopard for a little sauciness, and a few accessories (yes, I did include lacy undergarments *wink wink*).  When I took these pictures I thought "pearl bracelets" were on the list of baubles, but now I see that they aren't :(.  If I weren't restricted to this list, I would probably accessorize a little differently than I did for this post.

Just for fun, here's a run down of a date night FOTD:
Face:
Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer
Makeup Forever High Definition Foundation
Estee Lauder Double Wear Powder
MAC Select Cover Up
MAC Blot Powder
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder (Deep)
MAC Love Thing Blush

Eye:
MAC Select Cover Up or Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC Soft Brown
MAC Bronze
Cheap Black Pencil Eyeliner
MAC Black Liquid Eyeliner
Cover Girl Mascara

Lip:
Maybelline Nude Lipliner
MAC Speak Louder Lipstick

What can I say? I'm a natural beauty :)

Don't forget to head over to Petite JD to see what she came up with!  See you for the last week of the challenge...my choice!

writing now: sephora friends and family sale

Is anyone purchasing anything from the Sephora Friends and Family Sale this year?  The internet was abuzz with friends and family rumors this year: Just use the same code as always!  FF2011; They aren't doing it;  They're doing it, but you really have to know someone who works there; They're doing it, but they will email you one code and once it's gone, it's gone!

 Of course, in true internet  myth fashion, the above is a mix of a little bit of truth and a little bit of fiction.  The truth?  You can go here and enter your email address for a one time use code.  You can enter 5 email address per computer, so you could place more than one order, if you had more than one email address.  I know, who doesn't, right?!

I know how crazy the internets gets around this sale, so a couple of weeks ago, I created my shopping cart with plans to log on at midnight and place my order.  Of course the best laid plans, right?!  My internet was out for the last two days :( I went in to work this morning at 6:30 am and placed my first order!  In this order:

 

image credit here

Makeup Forever High Definition Foundation

This foundation is my holy grail.  I've been using it since it's inception a couple of years ago.  I tend to switch to powder foundation in the summer because I become an oil slick :( but the cooler weather means this has become a regular in my am makeup routine once again!  This sale is a perfect opportunity to stock up on old favorites!

 image credit here

Makekup Forever Mat Velvet Foundation

This sale is also a great opportunity to pick up something new!  I've heard great things about the MUFE's Mat Velvet Foundation for ladies with oily skin so I'm hoping this lives up to the hype! I'll definitely write a full review once I get it!

 image credit: here

I was also suckered into purchasing this nail polish!  Nars in Bad Influence.  Nude Nail Polish, yes please!  I was headed towards checkout when I saw this polish available for 8.00!  I did some quick math and realized that after discount the polish would be just over 6.00 so I added it to my cart.  I know...I know...

You'll notice that these are what I'd consider staples or essentials.  I'm not ruling out a second order sometime in the next few days, but I didn't want to miss out on the items that I've been wanting to purchase for awhile.  Other possibilities include a new mascara (maybe Dior or MUFE), a new fragrance (possibly Clinique Be Happy), and a new lip color (although I have a ton of empties for Back to MAC, so I may wait on that!)

Anyone else planning to make any purchase?  Better shop soon, the sale ends on November 2nd!