New Layout - For the Season!

So, I totally made my layout full Christmasy!! W00t w00t! I'm taking a few minutes away from studying for my finals so I decided to write a few things: possible ideas for beauty gifts!

Wanna buy something pretty for your girl friends but don't want to spend too much, here are some ideas:

1) Jewelery: Forever21 has an amazing collection of jewelery for so cheap! $10 Cheap!


* image taken from forever21.com, I would love to be given this pretty thing for Xmas (less than $10)

2) Make up: ELF has some really fancy kits for under $10 also:

* image taken from eyeslipsface.com, full of everything she needs for a nice look, better than the other drugstore kits

3) Fragrance/Bath: Who wouldn't want to smell amazing good for the Holidays... or any time!

* image taken from bathandbodyworks.com

4) Nail Polish: So easy to get! Just buy a few of these China Glaze (especially w/ the discounts at Sally's Beauty stores or even Ulta)

* image taken from google.com

5) Music: If you are completely stuck and don't know what else to get; an iTunes gift card!! Hello!! Or, may I suggest this new CD:

* image taken from google.com, I can't stop listening to this band!

Thanks for reading,
Have a great week!

1-2-3 Peter-Paul-and Revlon

Okay, so this post has nothing to do with Peter or Paul but it does have something to do with Revlon.

Now, I did a similar post way back talking about my 3 favorites, my 3 unsure items, and then the items I hate dislike. This time, I'm gonna do it for Revlon products. Please excuse the picture - I think this was really late at night in my room :)

1) 3 Things I LOVE:

** I guess, it is not surprise:

- Lustrous lipglosses - the one in the pic is Pink Whisper (I have 2 and I like them both!)
- Colorstay eyeliner - blackberry is my absolute favorite (and I have 3)
- The eyeshadow contour brush - this is my recent favorite! I love how soft and well cut it is. LOVE IT!!

2) 3 Things I think are only OKAY:

** This categories mostly deals with things that I like but doesn't always work

- Illuminance creme shadow - the picture above is Coastal Blues - if you use too much, you're screwed. If you don't have a good base, you're screwed. If you are wearing dark shadows over it with no base, you're screwed - crease city! But if you do all of the above, then you should be fine... and that is why sometimes I don't like it. Now, I haven't really worn it out in public yet but just playing around when I'm taking "study breaks" but I remember trying out a smokey eye and even the stupid thing creased and faded 10 minutes after application - 10 MINUTES!!! However, make up artists have said they really like using this because it works on the lids as well as the cheeks - of course w/ the right colors :)

- Mineral mousse foundation - I like this foundation during the summer because it really covers pores and really mattifies your face well. Also, this comes w/ an amazing light quality - you won't feel it on your face AT ALL!!! HOWEVER, I cannot wear this in the winter time or even in the fall - no this has to be worn when my T-zone is oozing out oils or else my face will look so cakey and dry! A great product for oily-faced people but not for combination or dry! So, too bad but I'll have to use you next year, little one.

- Midnight Affair nail polish - an awesome blue/black color. I love dark colors that is really close to black but it isn't... you know what I mean? I really like it but I think because it is so dark that it is a hassel to put on and take off. So, this one is more of a personal preferrence. Every time I wear it, someone asks me why my nails are so dark...? Because I'm wearing dark polish! Anyways, nothing wrong w/ this color I just hate having to take it off... so messy.

3) 3 Things I absolutely DESPISE!

** This was HARD because I definitely got rid of all the things I despise so... I guess these are things I don't recommend you buying when you go to the store

- Colorstay Mineral Blush - Rose Petal; this is actually a really pretty color w/ a bit of a shimmer to it - so it isn't a matte blush. So you get somewhat of a glow when you wear it :) However, the colorstay part is not true and the pigmentation needs work. I had to build and build and build the color!! Overall, good blush but I won't buy this again nor will I buy any color from this line again. There are better and cheaper blushes out there!

- Revlon Lustrous lipstick - Mulled Whine - a really deep red and really isn't my favorite. I have two other red lipsticks (Lancome Mars and NYX Apollo) and those are 100x better. So save your money with this and get something else. I got this from a swap so I didn't buy this myself.


- Revlon 3D Mascara - No, this one I despise. I hate this mascara... the end. HATE IT!! UGH!

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So, that ends that. But I will end the post w/ more happy note:


** Nope, I didn't make him pose like that. I found him like that :)

PS. I am sick - just the cold though but still... EH!!! Runny nose!

Hope you guys are doing well out there! Carry hand sanitizer w/ you at all times!
- Ndoodles!

Giveaway ended!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING

I had a lot of fun reading your comments

THEY WERE AWESOME:

Winner and everything is on the side bar


She has 2 days to respond back to me :)

Thanks again!

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Upcoming posts:
1) a Rihanna inspired look for $2
2) Revlon products review
3) A brush roller DIY
4) ELF haul?

Chai Latte vs. Coffee Bean

Anyways, as I'm at work - getting productive and actually doing my homework (YAY!), I decided to take a break and write a little post... about makeup... of course.

So, I am kinda falling in love all over again with Revlon. I bought a few products that I talked about in my last post, but now I am talking about a quad that I got from them.



Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow Quad in Coffee Beans
The bottom swatches are w/ UDPP underneath
** colors are better in person!

PROS:
+ Matte shadows!! Perfect for everyday look
+ I adore all of the shades - all really great colors
(especially the coppery color next to the darkest brown)
+ Not powdery texture
+ Very cheap - especially at Walmart :D
+ Good staying power! Up to 4-5 hours with no base :D

CONS:
+ Not the easiest to blend... but not bad though
+ You need a good base to get the best color payoff

OVERALL: 4/5
I wish it was a bit more pigmented and easier to blend however I think I like this quad more than the Maybelline Chai Latte.


- I love the highlight from the Revlon quad. It is pigmented but it is also matte so that's pretty cool. The Maybelline quad has an okay highlight but I HATE that it has glitter in it. Not just shimmer but GLITTER! So when I place it in my inner corner, the glitter gets everywhere on my lid. No, I bought matte shadows for a reason, I don't want glitter all over my eyes! *rant over*

- I like both the lid colors. The Revlon quad has a more cool-toned taupe lid color while the Maybelline has a warm-toned taupe color. Because of this, I think the Revlon color looks better on me just because the Maybelline color looks too much like my eyelid color. But again, both are good, no complaints. Both pigmented in the same degree.

- Now, I like the coppery shade WAY MORE than the gold shade. The coppery shade is actually more wearable than the gold shade. Again, I think it has to do something with how much more shimmery and maybe even glittery the gold color is. I just would rather wear the copper shade from Revlon. I think the Maybelline gold is more pigmented though - and these gold shades look really cool on the lower lashline during the holiday seasons :D

- For the final color, I think I like the Maybelline dark color more. I feel like dark colors should be blendable and I think Maybelline shadows are more soft and blendable than the Revlon shadows. However, again, the Revlon shadow color is more interesting because it has a plummy undertone while the Maybelline is just your typical chocolate brown color. With that said, the Chai Latte brown is what I use EVERYDAY to do my brows so I really do love it.

Overall, both are really good quads. If you like matte, natural colors looks like me, really look into these quads. They are great tools for beginners! Like me :)




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In other news:
I woke up w/ a swollen eye today - yeah, the skin around it is just puffy!! I don't know what is going on...?? Allergies? This has been happening to me so often that I'm starting to worry - sometimes my lips get puffy and some times other parts of my body also gets swollen... especially around my joints and stuff. And very often on Sunday mornings... when I have to go to work!! URGH. At least I took a Claritin and then wore my glasses to hide my puffy eye for the moment.

My mom asked if I had put on any make up on Saturday and, even though I did go to a hockey game, I was running late so all I had on was blush. This means that I haven't worn any eye make since Thursday. So I guess it is not make up related and leaning towards food related.

- My trick to divert people from looking at my puffy eyes:
1) Wear glasses
2) brighter color blush (Revlon A Floral Affair - Honeybunch) - you will look healthier :D
3) Fill in eyebrows - take a little bit of attention away from the eyes
4) Darker lipstick - Using my Lancome Mars
5) Flawless face - just another way to make you look healthier

Check out your Ulta... hurry!

So Ulta is having a really great sale last time I went - which was Thanksgiving weekend... so I don't know if they still have this BUT::

Revlon buy 2 get 2 free...

2 things I got from that deal:


* 2 Revlon eyeshadow contour brushes, 2 illuminance cream shadows - Coastal Blues and Pink
Yeah, so all of this was $7.50!! Yeah, it was insane because the stuff was "clearance"

And I am in love w/ both of them already:


I was so excited to see these on sale because I hear Emilynoel83 on youtube talk about them all the time! So, I HAD TO TRY IT OUT!

This contour brush is soft! It is dense and fluffy!! It is tapered and really well cut. It looks sturdy and it is just great at blending and putting colors in the crease.

The only problem is that it is pretty big for my eyes but it works so well! I've been playing with it nonstop. It is the only brush I use to put on shadows... ha ha...

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Then the cream shadows - I haven't opened up Pink Petals yet... but Coastal Blues... is so lovely!! This is a great palette for those who love blues or smokey eyes. And it is great because of that neutral color in the midst of those more dramatic ones.

Here are some swatches... it was really hard to take a picture of them for some reason:


** sorry for the tiny pic!




Very pigmented! All the colors are vibrant and lovely. I LOVE THAT GRAY!!! OH YES LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Great for smokey eyes!!!

I just wanted to post quickly about these great items just in case it is all gone or sold out. I should've done this sooner but I was busy! SORRY GUYS!

Here is a quick look I did using the brush only and a few other little things:





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So, the Holiday season is about giving... and let me tell you... THERE ARE A TON OF GIVEAWAYS going on at the moment!

1) Rai's 1 Year Anniversary Giveaway!! AWW...

2) Sleek for Beauty's 50 Followers+Xmas giveaway
- Really fun blog and great prizes!

3) Nouveau Cheap - a favorite blog of mine is having a massive giveaway - so many chances and so many choices!!

4) Finally, Lipglossing - another MASSIVE giveaway!! these prizes blow my mind! WHOO!

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And of course - my own giveaway :D


CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!!!

I'm Impressed!

So last year's Thanksgiving... guess where I was the night before??

AT A COLDPLAY CONCERT!!!!!

Yeah, this year... didn't do anything :(

But I remember before the concert I said I had to have some dark nails to rock out! So I got the Revlon Midnight Affair and then I also bought this NYC Mod Mauve Frost...

So this year, as I sit at home... ha ha SAD... I decided to paint my nails this color:


AND I'M REALLY REALLY IMPRESSED!! Note that w/ this picture, I've had it on for more than a week - that's why there is a little bit of chipping at the top.

What is going on?? Usually my other drugstore polish would look really odd/nasty by now...

But not this. No, this is a beauty... an amazing gem at the drugstore. And how much is it???? 0.99 cents!!!

Yeah, it is crazy!!

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Now, I gotta admit that it doesn't have amazing color selection but the staying power is extraordinary and how it goes on (I only need 1 coat! Yes, that is one coat you are looking at) is awesome!! Oh, and drying power - AMAZING!

*** warning - don't buy the Luxury Lime... it sucks!! Stick to color and consistency that you think would be good.

This is not my favorite color - it is too bright pink for me but I kept it on - for the memory of that beautiful day >> COLDPLAY day.



I guess there's not more tour for awhile but at least I will always have YOUTUBE.

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Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY ends Dec. 9
- you are playing for this Ecotools set:


CLICK HERE for the details.

Ecotools - A GIVEAWAY! ends DEC 9! **CLOSED**

Okay, before I say anything about this giveaway, I wanted to do a review first... of my own Ecotools:

As you know, Ecotools is a company that makes eco-friendly beauty tools. What I bought was the 5-piece set from Target that cost me $11! It came with a Blush Brush, Eye Shading Brush, Eyeliner Brush, Lash & Brow Groomer, and (one of my favorites) Concealer Brush.

The sturdy handle is made of bamboo, which on the website states that it is a highly sustainable plant. The bristles are synthetic and the ferrule is made from recycled aluminum. Everything is from natural and recycled materials - which IS AWESOME!

So what about the quality???

SOFT!!! Amazingly soft - especially the blush brush. It is like the Everyday's Mineral brushes or like a kitty's tail or something. Sooo good! Because of this that I don't mind using it to place the color and blend.

The concealer brush makes it so that I just dab the concealer on a blemish and the edges are already blended - although it is a bit small for under eyes though so you might need a foundation brush. But again, it is soft, it works GREAT with liquid/cream concealers. I love it.

The liner brush I use often to line my bottom lash line w/ a shadow. Sometimes, I even use it for brows. I mean, a liner brush is a must-have and why not buy one that works well and is cheap!

I use the eyeshadow brush to blend out my cream shadows and even place powder underneath my eyes to set my concealer. DID I MENTION HOW SOFT THESE BRUSHES ARE? Yeah, they are amazing.

And of course, the brow and lash brush - another must have and this is part of the pack - why not.

Another great thing I love - how sturdy and well made these brushes are. I feel like they're never gonna break on me!

** Of course, I would like to mention that the blush brush doesn't pick up as much color as I would like... but if you have a heavy hand w/ your blush - this works great. Also, it allows color to be buildable. Nothing major.

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So I was shopping and I thought - why not buy an ECOTOOLS set for this giveaway I've been planning for ages! So I went to the section and this set really caught my eyes - it was the only one that they had there too!

This is the new Alicia Silverstone brush collection. It comes with a blush brush, eyeshadow brush, lash & brow brush.... and MOST EXCITING...

A DUO FIBER BRUSH!!!

Yeah, cool eh?? Oh and they also have a cute little floral brush holder too :)

What you have to do to join is:

COMMENT TO THIS POST!!

Tell me: What is your favorite Holiday/Christmas family tradition?

I will do that whole random thing again!

Rules: YOU MUST
1) Follow this blog
2) Put your email address w/ the comment
3) Answer my email in 3 days or I choose another winner
4) Comment once!
5) US RESIDENTS only! I'm really really sorry about that!

THIS ENDS DEC. 9! It isn't hard - just write a quick response!

This isn't a requirement but I would really appreciate it if you guys advertise this giveaway on your blogs too! If I don't get more than 5 people joining this contest - I might as well just keep it for myself! I know... I know... horrible!


Well, thanks for reading my post! I hope I've enticed you... ha ha! Please join!

~***~

My favorite tradition is decorating the tree! My sister and I are usually in charge of it. It was more special when my mom would come home late at night from work and the tree would already be up. Also, we love to bake sweets during the Holiday season. We are not Christians but we still enjoy the spirit of the Holiday and we do try to be part of it as much as possible!