CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation

Happy Saturday!

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend! :D

My summer break has been going pretty okay, it's just the normal feeling of "Wait, it's only 11am? What?!". It's going pretty slowly, but there's a whole summer ahead, and I am excited to see what it has in store for me. :)

In the meantime, I am happy to just spend more time here on Blogger. :D

Anyway, I've been meaning to tell you guys about this product, but I just never got around to it:

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation

Redefine natural beauty with our lightweight silk foundation. With a touch of cucumber water and a hint of jojoba and rose hip extracts, our light yet luxurious formula takes heavy weight out of your polished finish. Plus, we're so sure you'll love NatureLuxe Silk Foundation, that if you're not satisfied with the results, we'll refund your money.

- Luxury touched by nature

- Silky formula

- Contains a hint of jojoba and cucumber extract

NatureLuxe Silk Foundation has the same amount of product inside the recyclable plastic tube as TruBlend Liquid Makeup, Clean Makeup, and Advanced Radiance Liquid Makeup.

***from www.covergirl.com***

I like that it is in a recyclable plastic tube as opposed to a glass bottle.

It smells great!

It can feel oily at first, but I find that it is also silky and not too heavy on the face.

It has SPF 10.

Easy to blend.

There are 14 shades to choose from, so there should be a close match for everyone. :)

I got mine in Aspen (320).

Here are the other shades available:

CoverGirl also provides a comparison chart to help us find the perfect shade for us.

At Ulta, they are sold for $11.99. At Target, $9.25.

I'm pretty sure you can get it for much less at Rite Aid, CVS, or Walgreens. :)

I really like the NatureLuxe collection. They have really great products - at least from my experience with the ones I've tried. :)

Have you tried CoverGirl's NatureLuxe Silk Foundation? Thoughts?

I hope you are all having a relaxing weekend! :D

P.S. My $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway is open until June 18th -- still plenty of time to enter! Click the link below. :D

Win $100 to spend on Shopbop!

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm

Happy Friday! :D

I mentioned on my post before this that my original post from Wednesday was deleted along with your lovely comments! I hope Blogger can restore it, but for now, I posted it again, you can check out my previous post if you want to see it. :)

Anyways, I've been wanting to get a colored lip balm for the longest time, but I never got around to it and I also didn't know which brand was best. I've had a good experience with my CoverGirl products, so I decided to try

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm.

Get the sheer color and shine of a gloss with the soft and lightweight feel of SPF 15 balm. Fortified with mango and shea butter, this feel-good formula leaves your lips feeling decadent and delicious.

- Luxurious, sheer color with a hint of shine

- Contains decadent mango and shea butter

- Soft, lightweight feel

- SPF 15

How to apply:

- Lightly pucker your lips and apply gloss generously, working from the inside out. Be sure not to apply outside your lip line.

- Place a folded tissue between pressed lips to remove excess and prevent sticking.

***from http://www.covergirl.com/***

I know it's pretty common sense how to put on lip balm, but I just thought I'd add that on here. :)

I usually put my regular lip balm on before this gloss balm - that way, it glides on easier. And I've also noticed that it makes the color pop out more.

I've read reviews where people were disappointed because it came on clear. I didn't have that problem - there was color for me (probably because I put my regular lip balm first) and the tint also lasted for about three hours.

Here is a swatch:

That's two swipes. It really is very sheer, but there is color - it's not plain and colorless.

If you're looking for a balm that will give you lipstick-like color, then this isn't it. But if you just want a balm that will give you tint, this is a good product.

I am happy with this product, and I definitely want to buy another one when I'm finished with mine. I want to try other colors. :)

Another thing I love about this - it smells great! And if I need to moisturize my lips in class, I can easily reach in to my bag and put this on. No need to open a lid, and dip my finger in to get balm (don't get me wrong though, I love my Rosebud Strawberry Salve!).

My lips get moisturized and I get some color, without worrying if I went over my lip line! :)

At Ulta, these are $6.99... but again, they are probably cheaper at your favorite drugstore.

For the price, I think it's worth giving it a try just to see if you'll like it or not. Even if you end up not liking it that much, it won't be a waste because you will get use out of it. Even if the color may not be enough for you, it really is a good lip balm.

And there are soooooo many colors to choose from!


Mine is Anemone (225).

They also have them in Tulip (205), Thistle (210), Hibiscus (215), Peony (220), Coral (230), Grenache (235), Muscat (240), Pinot (245), Cabernet (250), Marble (255), Clay (260), Sandstone (265), Spice (270), Cinnamon (275), and Clove (280).

16 colors! :D

*You can check out www.covergirl.com to see the actual colors.*

Just another thought, I'm guessing that the darker the color you pick, the more color you're gonna get. Makes sense, right? :)

Have you tried CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm? Do you like it? Thoughts?

Is it something you might want to try?

Have a lovely weekend, everyone! :D

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick Review

Happy Saturday! :D

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Have you all recovered from the excitement of Royal Wedding Friday?

But, of course, there are other things going on in the world besides that... I also want to send my thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the devastating tornado in Alabama. I know there are many things we can all do to help the victims recover from their loss.

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For today, I want to share with you guys my new favorite red lipstick.

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in True Red

- Instant burst of rich, true color with a featherlight feel

- Elasticolor technology provides immediate color release and hugs lips with a burst of weightless color that feels like a second skin

- Available in 20 gorgeous shades, with 5 new shades!

Expert tips: Apply directly to lips for beautiful, high impact color. Can be worn with or without lipliner.

***from www.revlon.com***

This is my new favorite red lipstick because the color is absolutely beautiful! And it's long lasting - when I wore it, I ate lunch and I drank soda, and the color was still there - I just had to retouch, of course. You can use a lipliner if you want, but if you don't have one, it's okay.

I also love the look of the lipstick itself - it's very sleek. I love the "quilted" look, and it's really helpful that you can see which color it is from the cap - no need to turn it over to read which one it is, no need to open each lipstick. :)

You can wear lip gloss in a similar shade with it if you want, but if not, it's also okay because it already has quite a glossy finish.

Another good thing about this is it's very affordable. At Ulta, they are sold for $8.99. They are probably even cheaper if you buy them at your favorite drugstore, like CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid.

I really have nothing negative to say about this because you get a high quality lipstick for a low price, and I think that's amazing!

True Red

The description from their website says there are 20 colors, but there's really 21:

icy nude, petal, pink sugar, candy pink, cherry ice, lilac, mauve, plum, baby pink, carnation, fucshia, soft rose, raspberry, hazelnut, chocolate, rosy nude, soft nude, peach, coral, true red, and crimson

So many beautiful colors to choose from! I definitely want to get other shades! :D

Have you tried Revlon ColorBurst? Which shade did you get, and what do you think of it?

Is it something you might want to try?

Here are links to some of my previous posts:

Say It With Flowers: Mother's Day Gift Idea (and Royal Wedding!)Royal Wedding Magazine Scans
Almay Intense i-Color Smoky i-Kit

I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend! :D

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Eyebrow Pencil

Hello, everyone! :D

How has your Saturday been going?

I was looking through my old photos, and I saw this picture of my Maybelline Define-a-Brow Eyebrow Pencil. I forgot to do a review on it. So here it is now. :)

Micro-mechanical pencil delivers precise application for evenly defined brows.

($6.49, Ulta)

• Smudge-free
• Waterproof
• Blends easily
• Safe for contact lens wearers (Yay for me!)

I also love the little comb - it makes blending easier. :D

Available in 6 colors:

Dark Blonde, Dark Brown, Light Blonde, Light Brown, Medium Brown, and Soft Black.

Have you tried using this eyebrow pencil? What do you think of it?

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I also just want to tell you guys that you can go to http://www.freebeautyevents.com/ and enter their December contest for a chance to win Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer, and Garnier Ultra-Lift Daily Targeted Wrinkle Treatment. :D

The contest will run until December 31st. Winners will be chosen on January 5th, and will be notified on the 15th of January.

L'Oreal will also have a demonstration at select CVS stores - they will be giving out coupons and samples. For our bloggers in New York and Pennsylvania, Coty will be promoting their holiday fragrance gift sets at Rite Aid. Check out http://www.freebeautyevents.com/ for more info. :D

Have a wonderful weekend, loves! :D

CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara Review

Hi, everyone! How is your weekend going? :D

Mine is going well - just spending the day hanging out at home. It's kind of gloomy today here in LA - perfect for a DVD marathon! I'm thinking of seeing some of those Christmas movies recommended to me by other bloggers on my previous post. :)

For today, I just want to share with everyone what I think of my new CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara.

$8.39, Ulta

Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big lash look.

• Instant volume and fullness
• Smudge and smear-proof
• Hypoallergenic and suitable for contact lens wearers

*from www.covergirl.com*

They have it in 4 colors:

Very Black (800), Black (805), Black Brown (810), Brown (815)

The description says it all. This is one of the best mascaras I have ever tried. It makes my lashes look long, and I love the mascara wand!

The day I went to get it, they didn't have the waterproof kind. The good thing about this mascara though, is it doesn't smear and smudge easily. But next time, I will definitely get the waterproof mascara.

Bad things... the price, maybe? It's a little bit pricier than my other mascaras, but for the quality we're gonna get, I think it's pretty much worth it. And I'm not sure, but it should be more affordable at drugstores or maybe Walmart. It has been working well for me, so I am a happy girl. :D

Have you used this mascara? What do you think of it?

Oh, and for my NOTD:

China Glaze - Midnight Mission

I saw this over at Marie's blog - www.allthingsmarie.com. :D

Have you tried this color?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Beauty haul :D

Yay for Thanksgiving break! Who's excited for Thanksgiving? :D

I can't believe Thanksgiving is only a day away! Time really flies, next thing we're gonna celebrate: Christmas! :O

I am finally done with midterms, yay! I can now resume my regular blogging schedule. I still do have some homework, but it'll work out. :)

For today's post, I have a beauty haul!

I got an assortment of beauty products. I will definitely do a review on them.

Should we go through all of them?

Covergirl Outlast Smoothwear Lipliner, $3.29 (Ulta)

There are 12 shades available. I have it in Plum (135).

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Blasting Mascara, $8.39 (Ulta)

They have 4 shades available. I have it in Very Black (800).

Covergirl TruCheeks Blush, $5.69 (Ulta)

They have 6 different combinations. Mine is combination #1.

Covergirl TruBlend Liquid Makeup, $8.49 (Ulta)

They have a loooootttt of shades to choose from. I picked #3 Natural Beige.

Covergirl TruBlend Minerals Pressed Mineral Foundation

I can't remember how much this was. I think it was discontinued or something. :/

MAX Factor Vivid Impact Shadow Duo, $8.69

I actually gave this one to my Mom. I'm gonna have to ask her what she thinks of it. :)

I can't remember what brand this lipstick is, what shade, and how much... it's been a while since I got it. Haha, but I will surely get those details down when I review this lipstick.

So yup, that's it for my haul. What are your recent beauty buys?

Essence Mineral Compact Powder

Hi, everyone! I hope your week is starting out great!

I gotta say that one of the things I miss most about summer is having so much time on my hands. Tons of time = quality blogging time. I wasn't able to blog hop this past weekend as I planned. :( But I hope to do that today. :)

Oh, I just want to share with you guys that I got a perfect score on my Math midterm! At first I was like :O, but now I'm all :D.

Anyway, moving on, I want to share with everyone one of my favorite makeup items from the stash my sister gave me for my 20th birthday (last July).

Essence Mineral Compact Powder

Mineral Compact Powder by Essence is fortified with minerals and has a micro-fine texture for a smooth and matte complexion.
*from http://www.ulta.com/*

They have 3 shades to choose from:

Natural Beige 01, Soft Beige 02, and Perfect Beige 04.

*I have Natural Beige.*

I love this one because, first of all, it's only $2.99 - so affordable! It blends well, doesn't settle into creases, covers up the shiny parts on my face, it is light-weight, and lasts long. :D

When I have a lot of time in the morning to get ready, I put this over my liquid foundation. But most of the time I am in a hurry, so I just use this compact powder without the liquid foundation - and it works great!

I've noticed that these past few weeks, my normal makeup routine has gone like this: moisturizer, concealer, compact powder, blush (those two are interchangeable, haha), lip balm and lip gloss. I've definitely eliminated quite a few steps. But it works out okay, at least I still look presentable. ;)

I really have no complains about this product because it has been working so well for me.

Have you tried using Essence Mineral Compact Powder? What do you think of it?

What's your favorite compact powder?

Another thing I want to show you guys is the pattern on the powder:

I think it's cute. :)

I wish everyone's week is going great!

Are your Halloween costumes ready? :D

Essence 6in1 Buffer Nail File

It really felt like Friday today, it's so weird. ;)

But, *sigh* it's only Wednesday, good thing it's Thursday tomorrow and we're another day closer to the weekend! :D

I thought I finished reviewing everything I got from my sister and brother-in-law for my 20th birthday (this past July), but nope, I still have some stuff left to share. :D

Essence 6in1 Buffer Nail File

The 6-in-1 Buffer Nail File by Essence is the ultimate file to shorten, shape, even out, cleanse, smooth, and polish your nails.

With six different textures, the 6in1buffer file always offers the right strength to shorten, shape, even out, cleanse, smooth, and polish your nails. Leaves your hands looking freshly manicured in an instant.

*from www.ulta.com*

The six sides are:

Step 1 - shorten

Step 2 - file

Step 3 - adjust

Step 4 - clean

Step 5 - smooth

Step 6 - polish

I really can't say anything bad about this nail file because for 99cents, it's extraordinarily amazing! You'll get so much out of it. I would definitely recommend this! :D

Do you use this kind of nail file? What do you think of it?

On another note, the lovely Toni Tralala gave her followers this You Rock! Awesome Follower Award! So, if you are reading this and you are a follower of mine, grab this award because you are awesome and I love you! :D

To see my previous posts, click the links below:

Taco Tuesday!

Movie Trailers and Tagged by Raeny

Life As We Know It

Thanks, everyone! :D

Essence Kajal Pencil Eyeliner Review

Happy Friday, dear friends! I am happy to share that even though today is still hot, it is definitely milder than yesterday. Yay!

It was a busy day - I went to school to fix some things and then I went to the Camarillo outlet with my parents and brother! I took photos, of course! I can't wait to share them with all of you this weekend or next week. :D

Anyways, have you guys tried the Essence Kajal Pencil Eyeliner?

The classic Essence Eye Pencil gives your eyes irresistible depth. (Ulta.com, $0.99)

Pros:

- It's very creamy

- Glides on easily

- Has a fine tip, but is definitely not sharp

- The color is defined

- Only 99 cents!

There are 8 colors available:

Black 01, White 04, Teddy 08, Cool Breeze 11, Nightfever 13, Hola, Chica! 14, Behind the Scenes 15, Neon Sweetie 17

Check them out here.

Cons:

- One little tear = smear, smear, smear!!!

The first time I used this, I got teary-eyed, and the eyeliner smeared all over. I fixed it by using a Q-tip, and applying some more concealer. The good news is it was easily fixable.

Any eyeliner recommendations?

I would also like to thank everyone who checked out my guest post!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend! :D

Olay Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths Review

It's Friday once again, my dear friends! I hope everyone had a lovely week! :D

Because our daily lives are often packed and busy - with long days spent at work or school, a night of going out and hanging out with friends, or going on a date night with your special someone - it is no surprise that we come home tired and just ready to go to bed. While most of us absolutely cannot sleep without washing our face, there are also some who are just so tired that they sometimes just go straight to bed.

Fortunately, we now have cleansing cloths to keep us from sleeping with makeup still on our face. I use Olay Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths before I wash my face. You can definitely use just the cleansing cloth, it takes out my makeup and cleans my face, but I still do wash my face to be sure.

Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths thoroughly cleanse skin with a “lift and lock” texture that holds onto dirt and make-up—even waterproof mascara. At the same time, it leaves skin feeling touchably soft with light Olay moisture and vitamin E.

Add them to your skin care routine to:
• Thoroughly cleanse and soften skin, all in one easy step
• Remove make-up—including waterproof mascara

For Use On All Skin Types. Ophthalmologist Tested. Dermatologist Tested.

*from http://www.olay.com/*

I use this cleansing cloth to take off my makeup before I wash my face. I love how the size of the cloth is big enough to cover my whole face. It is thick enough that the dirt and makeup do not seep into the other side. I use the other side to wipe the foundation off my neck. It smells great, and it leaves my face feeling soft and clean.

It does leave a somewhat slippery/oily feeling though, but it's not such a big problem for me since I wash my face after anyways. It's not that greasy, so it's good - I'm guessing moisture and Vitamin E from the cloth can account for the slippery feeling. I also recommend using it everytime we have the chance because they do dry out. Besides that, I didn't find any big problems with it.

Have you tried this particular type and brand of cleansing cloth? What do you think of it? What is your favorite brand?

I was also going through my photos, and I found pictures of the little gift I got from Sephora for my birthday. Sephora gives cute, little birthday gifts to their "Beauty Insider"s. I think it's great, and every year I look forward to what I'm going to get.

This year I received an eyeshadow, eyeliner, and a mascara. :D

Are you a Sephora Beauty Insider too?

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend! :D

Salon Grafix Spray Powder Shampoo Review

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Now, another week is on, and oh, it's August! :O

This past Saturday, I was just hanging out in our couch with a book and planning to paint my nails. Then my Mom suddenly announces that we were gonna go to a party. I'm like "What? What time?" And then she goes, "in an hour". I don't know, but to me, an hour is not enough. I need to shower, get dressed, put some makeup on, and fix my hair... plus, I still needed to paint my toe nails (I ended up wearing ballet flats even though I wanted to wear sandals, haha).

Anyways, what I'm trying to say with that little story is that my Salon Grafix Spray Powder Shampoo comes in handy during times like that. I've read somewhere that we're not supposed to wash our hair everyday because it will dry our scalp, and natural oil is good for our hair. But of course, we wouldn't want to go out with greasy hair, right? Thank heavens, there are spray powder/ dry shampoos available! :D

Salon Grafix Spray Powder Shampoo, with its color match formula, is perfect for cleansing and refreshing your hair between normal shampoos or when you are on the go.

•Easily brushes off
•Leaves hair revitalized
•No white powder
•No oil residue
•Clean and shiny hair

*from http://www.salongrafix.com/*

Salon Styling Tip: Hair powdering is a current salon technique that creates fullness and blends roots.

Directions: Shake can very well. Cover and protect clothing before spraying. Hold can 6" to 8" away from hair and spray in quick short bursts. Apply to roots by section or layer. Wait one minute to dry, then brush hair thoroughly.

Important: Wash the Spray Powder Shampoo thoroughly out of the hair before bleaching, dyeing, or perming.

*from actual Spray Powder Shampoo label*

I divide my hair into sections and then spray my roots. When I've finally sprayed all layers that I want to cover, I use my fingers to comb my hair (kinda like when we put real shampoo on). After that, I style my hair however I want it to look.

It does take the grease off and makes my hair look a little more refreshed. BUT, of course, not as fresh as after a shower. That being said, I do think that it is good for times when we just don't have the time to go through the whole washing, blow drying our hair, and doing all that good stuff. It's perfect for busy school and/or work days.

It gives my hair a little more volume, a little more "oomph". However, the first few times I used it, my hair got a little bit stiff. I'm not sure why that happened, but as I use it more and more, it seems to be getting better for me.

About the smell... it doesn't really have a specific fragrance, but I find that it smells powder-y. It is spray powder though, so maybe that's why. Haha. It doesn't smell that bad, but it's also not the best smell in the world. Some might be okay with it, some may think it smells bad.

The actuator ("sprayer" as I like to call it, haha) may clog sometimes, the label says to "rinse it under a stream of water" when that happens.

My sister got me the one for brunette shades. I find that it does cover my darker roots a bit, but only for a while.

There are also other shades available:

for Blonde shades

for Black shades

for Silver shades

Final verdict: It's a good product. It definitely does its job. It's good to have one of these handy. However, it's not something super important to my everyday routine that I'm gonna really really need to get a new one (after I finish the one I have) right away. Maybe it will be more important and more useful for me as I get busier with life. ;) I think it fits the needs of different people in different ways. I do recommend getting one and trying it out because it might be the perfect product for you. And it's affordable, definitely under $10. :)

Have you tried this Spray Powder Shampoo or some other dry shampoo? What do you think? How did it work out for you?

Have a wonderful week, everyone! :D

Essence Black Mania Carbon Black Volume Mascara Review

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! There is another week ahead of us - I hope we all have a good one. Can you believe it's August 1st in a week? Wow. Next thing we know, it's Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas. ;)

It's been a pretty fun weekend for me - lots of family bonding time. How was yours?

I have mentioned quite a few times that I am a makeup newbie. I am enjoying learning how to put makeup on, and I actually do like getting all dolled up. :D

I have yet to perfect putting mascara on, though. I have been using the clear/gel kind of mascara, but my sister gave me the real thing. Haha, let's just say I have to practice! I get it all over my eyeshadow and under my eyes too. It's a disaster. But I did okay this morning when I was putting it on. There were a couple of smudges here and there, but nothing a Q-tip won't fix.

Any mascara tips for me? ;)

My sister got me the Essence Black Mania Carbon Black Volume Mascara.

Stunning eyes. The fiber brush in Black Mania Carbon Black Volume Mascara by Essence covers every single hair with carbon black pigments for intense color and sensational volume. ($2.99, Ulta.com)

As a first time user, I can't really compare this mascara with other brands. That being said, I haven't had any problems with it (besides the part about having to practice putting it on, haha). It doesn't clump. It makes my lashes look longer and fuller. And true to its description, it covers every single hair. I find that it brightens my eyes and makes them look more alive. :D

The main reason why I've put off using actual black mascara is because I wear contact lens - I get teary-eyed and I often have to use eye drops - thus, I worry that the black mascara might smear. This mascara isn't the waterproof kind, but I haven't had smearing problems. I yawned a couple of times today, and fortunately it didn't smear. I haven't really used eye drops with this, so that remains to be seen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, though.

I fell asleep for a bit this afternoon, and there are now faint black smudges under my eyes. But, I'm thinking that's normal and expected. ;)

It is also very reasonably priced at $2.99. Perfect for people like me who are just starting out with makeup. :D

What is your favorite mascara? Any tips and recommendations? :D

*Oh, and the code "mimi" is valid until July 31st to get 15% off items (excluding sale items) at http://www.alainnbella.com/!* :)

N.Y.C. Blushable Creme Stick in Big Apple Blush Review

Among the beauty items I got for my birthday, this one is the product that most of my blogger friends have been most interested in. And now that I've had two weeks to use it, I can see why. It's a really great product, and very affordable too! :D

Give a natural flush to your cheeks in one quick step!

This lightweight formula blends effortlessly to provide sheer, all-over color as well as subtle, shimmering accents, contours and dynamic highlights to your cheeks.

*description from http://www.newyorkcolor.com/*

First off, I regret that I am not able to show you guys a swatch, I didn't have time to take a picture, but this one might help a little:

Big Apple Blush (645)

I've heard so many good things about cream blushes, but I've never really thought of actually buying one for myself. So, a big thanks again to my sister and brother-in-law for their wonderful gifts. :D

Okay, now on to the actual review:

I love this cream stick because it really gives a natural looking blush. It blends in well to my skin. I've always had a tendency to put more blush than needed. With this, I feel that I don't do that anymore because once I apply the blush onto my cheeks, I can easily see if I put it on evenly.

How do I put it on?

I smile like how we're supposed to when we put blush on. I swipe/ dab the blush onto the bottom of/ near the apples of my cheek.

*The package said put it on the apples of your cheek, but I find that once I dab/ spread it, the blush goes to the side of my nose = not good. Haha.*

Putting the blush near or at the bottom of the apples of my cheek gives me a much better result. I dab the blush around first, and then spread it a little using my hands to cover the cheek area I want to cover. You can also use a brush if you want. I do that after using my hands to make sure I spread it evenly. Yesterday, I also tried to put a little bit of my light powder blush on top. It came out well. Just the cream blush itself lasts for a long time, but I find that it lasts so much longer when I put a tad of powder blush on top. I guess that's like "setting" it. :D

Last night at about 11pm when I was about to wash my face, I noticed that my blush still looks fresh. I kinda didn't want to wash it off. Haha! ;)

Another good thing is that it is super affordable. I think it's about $3.99, definitely somewhere in that area. It is also available in a lot of stores like Ulta, Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart, Target, etc.

At first, it was a little bit hard to swipe it on my cheeks. I guess it's because it's new, and I kinda had to "break it in". But now it glides on easily. :)

Here are other shades available:

Plaza Pink (644)

South Street Seashell (647)


Urban Spice (646)

Mauvin' Uptown (648)

Berry New Yorker (649)


*all from http://www.newyorkcolor.com/*

Have you tried this blushable creme stick? What do you think? Which shade/s is/are your favorite/s?

*Another reminder: Please don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends tomorrow, July 22nd, at 11:59pm PST. And don't forget to go ahead and check out http://www.alainnbella.com/, look around, shop, and use the code "mimi" to get 15% off (excluding sale items)! :D*

Revlon Custom Creations Foundation Review

Innovative bottle offers five shade settings, making it easy to fine-tune your foundation shade for the perfect match. Simply turn the dial to adjust shade from lighter to darker. Lightweight formula blends seamlessly into skin for a naturally flawless look. Available in a range of skin tones from light to deep. SPF 15. Oil free & fragrance free.

EXPERT TIPS:
• Apply to cleansed skin after your daily moisturizer. • Turn the dial to your desired shade and pump foundation. • Using your fingertips or applicator, blend foundation onto skin, starting in the center of your face, forehead, nose and chin blending outward.

*description and tips from http://www.revlon.com/*

I was ecstatic when I saw that my sister gave me a new foundation for my birthday. My MAC foundation (NC27) is now a bit too light toned for my skin. I am a bit darker/tanner because, after all, it's summer! :D

She got it in light/medium (030), which my younger sister told me they especially matched with my MAC foundation. I think it is absolutely perfect! Among the 5 shade settings, my skin tone is closest to 4 and 5. In the fall and winter, I will be able to use the lighter shades. I just love how you can customize your foundation shade to match your skin tone exactly. There is a perfect shade for everyone!

As the description said, it blends perfectly into your skin. I always worry that it would be uncomfortable to wear foundation because of the heat, but with this, it is not much of a problem. It really is lightweight - doesn't feel too heavy on my face. I think it is perfect for makeup pros and newbies alike. :)

I have an e.l.f. foundation brush, but I like using sponge wedges to put my foundation on.

I use one side to blend in the foundation, then I dampen the other side and dab it all over my face and neck to remove excess foundation. I have heard that it is really important to do that to avoid foundation setting into creases in our face.

It says on the package that you can wash and reuse the sponge, but I prefer not to.

What is your favorite foundation? Any foundation/ makeup tips for newbies like me? :D

*A big thank you to everyone who entered my GIVEAWAY! If you haven't already, please enter my GIVEAWAY here. Get a chance to win a cute top! And a coupon code to get 15% off online shopping! Enter now! :D*

Facial scrub and mask review. :)

These are two of the beauty items I received from my sister and brother-in-law for my 20th birthday. They are both new products, and I absolutely love them! :D

Queen Helene Refining Pomegranate & Raspberry Natural Facial Scrub

Description from the back:

This delicately-fragrant scrub combines Raspberry Seeds with other natural exfoliants to ease away lifeless surface cells and impurities that dull your skin. Pomegranate Oil adds antioxidant protection against the skin-aging effects of the environment.

Exposes fresher, more vibrant skin with renewed radiance. Refines skin's texture, leaving it feeling wonderfully soft and smooth. Conditions skin and helps maintain its vital moisture balance. Paraben free.

Directions:

Gently massage onto clean, moistened face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Rinse off with warm water. Use once a week, or more often if your skin is oily.

I completely agree with the description they gave. Everytime I use it, it feels like my skin is renewed. It leaves it soft and smooth - with a radiant glow. Another thing I've noticed is that it doesn't dry my skin like other facial scrubs I've used. Usually, after washing my face, I put on my toner, and then a face cream/moisturizer. But with this, all I have to put on after is my toner. It is a relief that my skin doesn't dry out even if I don't put on moisturizer, especially in this heat.

At first, there was a different kind of smell to it, but it grew on me. Now I think that it smells great! You can really tell that it is all natural - you can really feel it. It actually reminds me of a smoothie. Haha.

It blends into your skin and covers the whole area you scrub. You know how some facial scrubs clump in one place and get stuck in between your nails and fingers? This one doesn't do that. I love it. :)

I really recommend this product. Have you used this? What do you think?

Freeman Revealing Peel-off Facial Mask

Description:

Provides antioxidant rich skincare to help combat the effects of stress, the environment and your fun, not-so-healthy lifestyle. Combines eight of the most powerful superfruits: Goji, Acai, Pomegranate, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni and Blueberry to help purify, detoxify and soothe stressed skin. Gently purges dirt and oil from skin while delivering superior nutrients. Fortifies and guards against free radicals and environmental stress.

I love how they name all the fruits used in this mask. ;)

The description pretty much says it all. :) It works like other peel-off masks. But, as we can tell from the description, it is all-natural, which is really really good. It smells great. Leaves my skin soft and smooth. I think it works really well together with the facial scrub.

Have you tried this mask? Do you have other facial masks you want to recommend?

*Special thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for their gifts!*