Building a Lash Wardrobe: L'Oreal Voluminous Mascaras

Mascara is one of my favorite make-up items: thick and lush lashes make such an impact on your overall appearance! I'm a huge believer in different mascaras for different occasions (at one point, I had EIGHT mascaras in rotation - check out my mini-reviews here!). At the very least, I like having 2 options in my Lash Wardrobe: A thickening formula for everyday wear and a dramatic formula for evenings out. 

So you can imagine how excited I was to receive this beautiful make-up bag from L'Oreal featuring a "Lash Wardrobe" with a VOLUMINOUS mascara to suit every occasion - from Classic to False Lash DRAMA! I received this package over 2 months ago - I've had a great time thoroughly testing each formula out and making notes to share here.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Swatch

1) L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Review
CLAIM: Uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften lashes and build lashes to 5X their natural thickness, with 2X the intensity for a more dramatic effect.
MY THOUGHTS: This classic mascara is popular with a LOT of beauty bloggers for its famed "spider legs" effect. It is unique because it volumizes the whole lash - including the tip. While the spider legs effect looks good with my overall makeup - I personally like my mascaras to be thick at the root and tapered and feathery near the ends.
GOOD FOR: People who like thick spider-leg lashes.

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Swatch

2)  L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Review
CLAIM: Revolutionary collagen-infused formula and Millionizer Brush for amplified volume and definition.
MY THOUGHTS: Firstly - I'm in LOVE with the packaging. The gold tube is so sleek and glamorous - it looks very YSL.  The flexible brush head with its multitude of bristles was VERY effective at separating lashes and preventing clumping, resulting in perfectly defined lashes which held their curl all day. On my lashes, I found the overall effect to be more lengthening than volumizing.
GOOD FOR: Everyday mascara where you want separation but don't want it to be obvious that you're wearing mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Power 24H Black Smoke Swatch

3) L'Oreal Voluminous Power 24H Black Smoke Review
CLAIM: Matte formula with collagen spheres, provides 24 hours of volume in a black smoky finish. The semi-arched brush catches all lashes for fuller looking and dramatically bold volume.
MY THOUGHTS: This was the mascara I couldn't stop using: I absolutely love it and will DEFINITELY repurchase! It gives me thick & feathery lashes and is very easy to apply - no clumping even after multiple layers. The brush has a unique shape with a flatter side to build volume at the base of my lashes and long-bristled side to sweep mascara on the lash tips. It's super-dramatic and one of my new holy-grail mascaras!
GOOD FOR: Going-out make-up, when you want noticeable & dramatic lashes!

L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara Swatch

4) L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara Review
CLAIM: Lash sculpting fiber formula adheres to lashes for a volumized, sculpted lash effect. Lashes appear fuller, longer, sculpted and curled at every angle.
MY THOUGHTS: Love the cone-shaped wand which makes it easy to reach even my tiny inner-lashes. Similar to the Power 24HR mascara in creating a false lash effect - though this provides MAJOR lengthening (via layering fiber pieces) while the Power 24HR focuses more on volume. The packaging is super-glamorous - love the golden tube on this and the Million Lashes mascaras!
GOOD FOR: Evening make-up, especially if you want longer-looking lashes.

 ALL TOGETHER:

Have you tried any Voluminous Mascaras? Which one is your favorite?

DISCLAIMER: These mascaras were sent to me by L'Oreal, but I am under no obligation to provide a favorable review.  As you can tell, I wrote my honest unbiased thoughts (as always!!!).

Testing 5 Revlon Nailpolishes & How I Apply Nail Stickers: #RevlonSelects

Revlon has a program called "Revlon Selects" that is open to ANY makeup enthusiast (not just beauty bloggers). I read about it over here and since I LOVE trying new make-up, I signed up straight away. I was SO excited to be one of their chosen testers!

In this post I thought I'd feature all of the exciting nail products I've been sent to test out - along with my thoughts on them:

Applying Revlon Nail Art Wildflowers in Bow-Quet

How I Apply Nail Stickers:
1) Clean nail surface by wiping with polish remover/acetone
2) Select a sticker that best fits my nail size
3) Apply carefully on nail
4) Fold down excess over the edge of the nail & file it off (using file included in the kit)

Revlon Nail Art Wildflowers in Bow-Quet after 5 days of wear

Nailpolish: Revlon Nail Art Wildflowers in Bow-Quet
My Thoughts: Surprisingly easy to apply - WAY less time consuming than regular polish. No polish smudges on cuticles OR smelly paint fumes either. No drying time so you can use your hands right away without worrying about smudging. VERY long-lasting: the bottom pic is after 5 days of wear - survived hair-washing & pot-scrubbing. However, I had problems getting the stickers to lie flat at my nail base - they kept curling up and catching on things - I had to keep sticking them back down. Would be great for a special night out - and easy enough to peel off the next day. Can save the extra stickers in a ziploc bag to use on accent nails.

Revlon Colorstay in Natural Pink Swatch

Nailpolish: Revlon Colorstay in Natural Pink
My Thoughts: I LOVE the Colorstay polish range - I had already purchased Bare Bones (such a beautiful neutral) before I received this polish. Natural Pink has replaced Essie Fiji as my ultimate pale pink polish. The color is so pretty with peach undertones to keep the shade warm and flattering. Most pale pink polishes are sheer - but the Colorstay range is known for their opacity & gel-like finish, so you don't have to worry about your nails showing through the color at all!

Revlon Chroma Chameleon in Topaz Swatch

Nailpolish: Revlon Chroma Chameleon in Topaz
My Thoughts: Mesmerizing polish that truly shifts colors from green (pictured) to turquoise depending on the light. Not my favorite finish as I prefer creme formulas over shimmery metallics (I feel shimmery polishes emphasize nail imperfections such as ridges). Thin but concentrated formula - I applied 3 coats but it didn't appear thick or smudgy. Great lasting power - wore it for 5 days with only minimal tip wear.

Revlon Orbit and Vincent Van Gold Swatches

Nailpolish: Revlon Nail Art Moon Candy in Orbit
My Thoughts: The purple base coat is so pigmented and creamy - it applies beautifully and is opaque in just one coat. The top coat has stunning iridescent flakies - but is a little difficult to apply. The flakies are gritty and your nails look a bit lumpy when viewed from the side as the flakie sticks out. The color and effect are very beautiful - and it wasn't that difficult to remove unlike some glitter polishes.

Nailpolish: Revlon Nail Art Expressionist in Vincent Van Gold
My Thoughts: The creamy base is amazing and would look gorgeous even on its own. The gold side is lovely and has a thin brush which makes nail art easy (I used free hand to paint the gold stripes). The formula was smooth and pigmented but thin, so my nail tips don't look bumpy in profile (hate bumpy nails!). I personally don't like the golden & purple combination - but the Expressionist line has a pink & silver combo that I'd like to try. Would also love it if they came out with one for a classic french manicure.

Do you like Revlon nailpolishes? Which of these 5 is your favorite?

DISCLAIMER: These products were sent to me by Revlon as part of their RevlonSelects program, but I am under no obligation to provide a favorable review.  As you can tell, I wrote my honest unbiased thoughts (as always!!!).

Blogging Etiquette, OOTDs & Monthly Must-Reads

Question of the month from Skylette: "What is blogging etiquette to you?  For example, do you comment on everyone's blog that comments on yours?  Do you follow everyone with a blog that reaches out to you?"

I LOVE this question but there's so much to say! I wish we could ALL meet up for one big coffee date and discuss this over cappuccinos!

• As I wrote above my comment box: "Thanks for commenting! Comments are my favorite part of blogging and I respond to each and every one "  I love interacting with my readers and hearing their thoughts on my post - if you've taken the time to comment: I'm definitely writing back!
• I reply under each comment so my readers can see it if they check back - this also helps other readers who may have wanted to know the answer to the same question.
• I wish BLOGGER integrated a commenting system like DISQUS so that you could easily see when your comment receives a reply. When I comment on somebody else's blog, I usually check back in a day or 2 (if I remember) to see if I've received a response - but this is not efficient!
•  In terms of commenting on other blogs - I only comment if I have something meaningful to say. I'm also more likely to comment on a blog when I know I'll receive a response.
• However, I don't judge other bloggers who don't reply back - I know a lot of them send emails to their readers...and in a lot of cases, they may receive SO many comments that its impossible to respond to all of them - I'm just grateful they are writing posts! I get so sad when some of my favorite bloggers feel under pressure and then want to quit blogging altogether! 
• For me, responding to comments is FUN - thanks to you guys for being so amazing & interesting! I especially want to send LOVE out to my regular commenters (you know who you are!) - you guys make my blogging experience so rewarding & worthwhile!

Since I don't have any etiquette-themed photos to share, I thought I'd include some recent OOTDs instead!

Shirt: Old Navy, Necklace: Joe Fresh, Jeans: Garage, Shoes: Old Navy, Bracelet: J.Crew, Bag: LV Speedy 25

Shirt: H&M, Necklace: F21, Jeans: Garage, Shoes: Old Navy, Bag: Coach

What are your thoughts on Blogging Etiquette? 

• Beautygirl24 - Noelle has a serious sweet tooth this Spring. See what jewelry she likes to call her rock candy!
• Ella Pretty - Check out Ella's Mall Haul: Forever 21, Coach & Camo Pants
• Lindsay J Everyday - Lindsay has some exciting news.
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen shared her Favorite Home Items that she can't live without.
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle joined the ombre party.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette plays with the black & white trend here.

New Bag Review: Coach Legacy Leather Mini Tanner Crossbody Tote

The Mini Tanner Tote caught my attention because of its resemblance to the Celine Nano Tote - at a fraction of the price!

Similar: Celine Nano Tote and Coach Mini Tanner Tote

I loved its mini-size, cross-body strap & leather tassel detail. When I received a 25% PCE (Preferred Customer Event) coupon - I thought it was the right time to make my purchase.

UNBOXING:

COLOR CHOICE:

The Mini-Tanner comes in many bright colors but I wanted a dark color since I would wear this cross-body and didn't want to worry about color transfer. Although the Black was classic, I went for Navy since I don't own any dark Blue bags.

At first I ordered Marine - but when it arrived, it turned out to be a deep Purple rather than a true Blue. Luckily my Coach SA was able to track down a Navy/Citron Mini-Tanner from last season for me.

The pictures below reflect the true color of the Navy versus Marine bags (don't know why the lighting is making my Navy bag is looking purplish in the pictures above!)

Legacy Leathers: Navy on the left, Marine on the right

WEARING THE BAG:

Handheld & Cross-body

WHAT FITS INSIDE:

Although the bag is small, it's boxy shape means that it can hold a LOT more than most of my other cross-body bags.  (DIMENSIONS: 9 1/2" (L) x 8 1/4" (H) x 3 1/2" (W))

Looking at my purse contents - I now realize I have a LOT of Coach pieces - I particularly like the durability of their canvas coated pieces. (I own the Waverly North/South Universal Case, Madison Mini-Skinny, and Coach Peyton Zip-Around Wallet)

I LOVE the Navy color I chose - but I'm seriously tempted by Coach's latest spring offerings in bright colors (especially since they just sent out another 25% PCE!). Also - I'm obsessed with Coach's Waverly line - how sweet and pink is this Daisy Coin purse.

Coach Mini Tanner Totes

Have you purchased any new bags recently? Do you like Coach bags/wallets?

Disclaimer: I purchased my bag & wallet/wristlets myself - I don't have any link to Coach...I'm just loving their latest designs!

Product RAVE & a Skincare Haul

As an avid blog reader and beauty junkie, I've been making notes every time I read about a star skin care product. I try not to experiment with TOO many new products because of my acne-prone skin, but I had to give in and acquire a few new products to try!

I'll start by introducing my FAVORITE new purchase - I've only been using it for 2 weeks - and it's improved my skin more than anything else I've ever used!

PRODUCT REVIEW: CLINIQUE TAKE THE DAY OFF CLEANSING BALM

Oil-based cleansers are meant to be better at removing make-up and sebum from your skin because oil attracts oil. I've avoided oil-based products due to my acne-prone skin. I'm SO glad I decided to give this product a try - it cleans everything off my face and leaves me with soft and supple skin. Previous double-cleansing with foam-based cleansers would leave my face irritated and dry while STILL leaving make-up residue.

This balm has a firm and dense texture - similar to Vaseline! I scrape out a dime sized amount and rub it between my freshly-washed hands. It transforms into an oil and I smooth it all over my face. As I rub it into my skin - I can feel my pores unclogging. This sounds gross but little plugs of hardened sebum come loose in to my hands!!! My forehead used to be so bumpy with clogged pores before - now it is completely clear!

When I splash water on my face, the balm becomes a milky liquid and easily rinses off. I'm left with clean and glowing skin. I follow up with Spectrojel  and a warm washcloth to remove any leftover oils (the balm ALWAYS rinses off completely but I don't want to take any chances - plus the Spectrojel keeps my skin pH balanced). My washcloth comes away clean without ANY foundation residue. I wear MAC foundation - and previously, I'd still find traces of foundation on my skin even after double-cleansing!

THE BOTTOM LINE: This product is SUPER effective at cleansing yet SUPER gentle on skin. I'd recommend this product to anyone who wants to remove ALL traces of makeup - especially if you have blemish prone skin that clogs easily.

RECENT SKINCARE HAUL:

Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover - This product has been featured by a couple of beauty vloggers that I follow. I was drawn in by the chic packaging, and the claims that it could remove waterproof makeup.  Sadly, this product was a complete FAIL: The formula doesn't have much slip so it tugs at your delicate eye skin - a complete no-no! Despite being marked for sensitive eyes - the formula made my eyes sting AND finally - the deal-breaker...each time I used it, I lost 2-3 eyelashes !!! I'm sticking with Bioderma (the best eye make-up remover I've ever tried) - it's gentler (no stinging!) and much more effective.

Hydraluron - Caroline Hiron is a UK beauty insider with a very popular skincare blog.  Hydraluron is one of her "hall of fame products" because it contains a high dose of hyaluronic acid which helps the skin attract and retain moisture. It is meant to be layered under a moisturizer to keep skin hydrated, plump and glowing. Hyaluronic Acid is also one of the key ingredients in the cult favorite Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (ANR) serum. Hydraluron is cheaper and has a simpler formula - which I hope suits my skin more than ANR (which broke me out in cystic pimples). I purchased mine at Shoppers Drug Mart.
 
Jade Roller - I've been interested in Jade Rollers ever since I read that Kate Moss uses them. The Jade stone is meant to be rolled across the skin during facial massage to promote lymphatic drainage. As seen in my earlier post, I'm a long-term fan of anti-aging massage and look forward to incorporating this into my facial routine.

Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10 - This eye serum has a triple function: It moisturizes the eye area, brightens it with micro-pearls and uses ceramides to strengthen lashes. The total result of this is younger looking eyes. I've had success with lash conditioners before (including the Revlon Grow Luscious formula posted about here), so I'm interested to see how this works. I will definitely take before and after pictures to see if there is any noticeable change.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Night Spa - This product contains Vichy Thermal water (renowned for its skin soothing properties) and Hyaluronic Acid. It is a SLEEPING MASK - you massage a thick layer of this on to your skin and leave it on overnight. When you wake up - your skin is meant to be hydrated and radiant. I'm eager to try this with my jade roller for maximum massage benefits - and will report back on my results. As this is a clear moisture mask - I also think this would be a great product for long-haul flights. You could apply this to freshly cleansed skin and not have to worry about dehydration from the recycled cabin air.

Do you use a cleansing balm? Have you tried any products with Hyaluronic Acid?

DISCLAIMER:  The Vichy mask & eye serum were sent to me, I purchased all the other products myself. As usual, my thoughts are 100% my own.

P.S. Since Google Reader is closing in July - if you follow me on Google Reader, please click here to add me on Bloglovin. 

Mall Haul: Forever 21, Coach & Camo Pants

I was at the mall earlier this week with one of my besties for lunch and shopping - best combo ever! We went to Forever 21...I didn't want to shop TOO much because I'm trying to streamline my closet - but we definitely found a lot of lovely things!

I loved this cream blouse (although it's not very photogenic & needs to be ironed!) it's soft and drapey - and perfectly complements colored & patterned denim. Speaking of which - I finally found some camo pants! They're more grey than green - but they fit perfectly and were on sale for only $20 at Garage!

Forever 21 Studded Gladiator Sandals

My favorite purchase were these BEAUTIFUL studded heels. As you can tell from my outfits, comfort is key so I favor flats - but these heels are SO light & easy to wear! And all the gorgeous studding reminds me of the Valentino Rockstud Heels. They're not perfect dupes - unlike these flats I spotted:

Valentino Rockstud Flats & Forever 21 Studded Flats

I'm not a fan of the pointy toe so I didn't pick them up - but I definitely admired the gorgeous color & studding detail. And how identical are they to the Valentino flats?

Forever21 Rhinestoned Tulle Necklace

I think it's physically impossible to leave Forever 21 without purchasing a statement necklace - so this cream & pink chain necklace came home with me this time!

Coach Waverly Cherry N/S Universal Case & Forever 21 Forever in Love Metallic Cosmetic Bag

My last Forever 21 purchase was a black & gold makeup bag - it's quite roomy and I plan on using it to store my toiletries on overnight trips. The Coach wristlet was a recent gift from my mother - it's sized for an iPhone with a few slots for credit cards - prefect if you're just running out for a few errands. And how cute are all the hearts?

Here's a quick OOTD from last weekend:

Sweater - Old Navy

Shirt - Gift from my Aunt

Necklace - J.Crew Factory

Jeans - Target

Bag - Longchamp Le Pliage Small

Flats - Old Navy

Have you tried Forever 21 shoes? Do you like the Valentino Rockstud heels?

P.S. Since Google Reader is closing in July - if you follow me on Google Reader, please click here to add me on Bloglovin. 

Comparing Hand Creams: Soap & Glory, Curel, Fruits & Passion and Live Clean

When it comes to hand creams, I'm a demanding consumer. I have very dry hands with flaky patches and peeling cuticles, so I'm constantly looking for THE CREAM that will magically address all my issues and leave me with plumped & glowing skin.

I've tried popular favorites such as Kiehls Hand Salve & L'Occitane Shea Butter - but they are not strong enough to address my dry skin concerns. I've previously reviewed my hand cream collection in this post. I've used up most of those creams and am now switching between these 4 tubes:

Live Clean / Soap & Glory / Fruits & Passion (Cucina Range) / Curel

I thought it would be interesting to create a chart to compare how they ranked in the qualities that are most important to me. (My indicator for the "Present After 1-hour Test" was if my dry & whitish patches reappeared or not.)

MY THOUGHTS: 

In terms of fragrance, nothing comes close to the AMAZING citrusy grapefruit scent of the Fruits & Passion Cucina al Fresco hand cream. If this came in perfume form I'd wear it ALL the time! However, for my dry hands I prefer the Fruits & Passion hand butter range (their Avocado Hand Butter is my most favorite hand cream EVER!).

The Live Clean range is famous for their eco-friendly products: paraben/preservative/phthalate-free, completely vegan, 98% plant ingredients with no animal products or testing. I used their Baby products A LOT for my kiddies. This cream is the perfect choice if you apply hand cream constantly and worry about absorbing harmful chemicals.

The Curel and Soap & Glory creams both perform EXCEPTIONALLY well. Their hydration levels are SO high that they manage to moisturize the dry skin on my knuckles and make them appear lighter. And their effects are long-lasting - I only need to apply the cream 3x a day to keep my skin smooth and my cuticles healthy. If I had to choose between them, I prefer the packaging and scent of the Soap & Glory - and although the Curel is 50% cheaper, a little goes a long way with both creams so they'll last you a long time.

Have you tried any of these hand creams? Which one is your favorite?

DISCLAIMER: The Live Clean and Fruits & Passion hand creams were sent to me for review, the Curel came in a Glossybox and I purchased the Soap & Glory cream. As always - when I review a free item, I consider it as if I paid the retail price...and evaluate it objectively. Gifted or not, I blog to share my true feelings and help my readers

Monochromatic OOTD & Flipping Through: Stylewatch May 2013

Here's an outfit I recently wore to a birthday party. I've read that Monochromatic/Black & White outfits will be very popular this Spring. While this is an easy trend to participate in (as most of us own black & white clothes) I'm always worried that I'll end up looking like I'm wearing a uniform!

Shirt - Express

Black Denim - Garage

Ballet Flats - Wanted (similar from F21)

Necklace - Joe Fresh Alhambra dupe

Don't you love flipping through a magazine with friends: pointing out your favorite looks and wishlist items, then tearing out pages for future inspiration? Grab a mug of Green Tea and see what caught my attention in this month's Stylewatch magazine:

I love Nicky Hilton's pale pink cross body bag - and the relaxed vibe of her whole outfit. Alessandro Ambrosio's skinny jeans look so stylish - especially with her neutral shirt and flats.

Kate Bosworth's style reminds me of an earlier Kate Moss - always chic and understated. Also - I have major hair envy - seeing her pic in the black & white dress makes me want to cut my hair.

Gwyneth Paltrow is a permanent style crush - I know she's controversial but I've always loved her - especially since I read this quote: "It's easier to not change, not do something good for you, not work on your relationship, not make yourself a meal, not work out. Everything in my life that's good is because I worked my ass off to get it and to maintain it." (source) Pretty inspiring, huh?

Although I'm not familiar with her acting, I think Ashley Madekwe always looks gorgeous - love her hair, brows & glowing makeup. And since she's a fashion blogger, she's always perfectly dressed too!

I'm so glad I purchased my American Eagle Denim Jacket - I can't wait to pair it with lace dresses in the summer - Nicky Hilton's outfit is such a classic! It will also look great with maxi dresses - I'd love to find a coral one like Jamie Chung's.

This issue definitely has me excited for summer already (!). I don't know if I'd ever purchase a denim vest, but I love the pink pants. And the shirt dress with metallic accessories seems like the ultimate vacation outfit - perfect for lounging by the pool or sight-seeing.

Will you be wearing Monochromatic outfits this Spring? Do you love or hate Gwyneth?

P.S. Since Google Reader is closing in July - if you follow me on Google Reader, please click here to add me on Bloglovin.  

Adding to my Colored Denim Collection

When colored denim first started getting popular, I wasn't sure how practical or long-lasting the trend would be. Yet somehow over the past year I've managed to acquire 4 pairs!

Mint, Red, White & Olive

Since I wear a lot of cream/white tops, I've found it easy to integrate these jeans into my wardrobe. I think the Olive & White pairs are especially timeless - they'll be wearable even after the colored denim trend fades (whenever that may be!). My newest addition was this mint pair that I featured in my US haul:
 

Bubble Necklace (H&M version), Shirt (gift from aunt - no label), Mint Jeans (Target) Flats (Old Navy)

I also visited my local Target (which recently opened - I'm LOVING it!!!) and purchased these floral jeans. I'm not sure if I should keep them...I worry that I'm drawn to them because they're trendy - and not because I really like them LOL!

There are several other printed/colored jeans that I wouldn't mind trying on - loving both the styles & the prices! I think the camo pair will be particularly versatile - I'd love to wear it with an oatmeal sweater & nude booties.

Camo (GAP) / Pink (Forever21) / Star (Forever21)

Have you been drawn in by colored/printed denim? What colors do you own?


P.S. Since Google Reader is closing in July - if you follow me on Google Reader, please click here to add me on Bloglovin. 

Inside my Travel Make-up Bag...

Packing for a trip really makes you re-think what make-up you need/use on a daily basis.

I wanted to keep my toiletries simple and easy-to-carry for our 10-day family trip...here's what I took in my make-up bag.

TOP ROW:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - as described in my acne-covering post, I use this heavily pigmented concealer as a foundation. One tip - store this little glass bottle in its cardboard box, it shatters very easily (I only had to drop 1 bottle to learn this lesson!)

MAC Fluidline in Dipdown - super long-lasting gel liner. I didn't end up using this...washing & drying the liner brush everyday was too much of a hassle.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer -  my HG under-eye concealer. Super-pigmented & thick - it covers EVERYTHING! Just make sure you moisturize with an eye-cream before applying to prevent caking & unevenness.

L'Oreal Collagen Waterproof & Voluminous Power Volume 24-Hour Mascara - I didn't use the Waterproof one, but I always pack it when I'm traveling to potentially humid locations. I'm testing out the Power Volume mascara - and really enjoying the lash-thickening effects.

Marcelle Liquid Eyeliner Pen - this felt-tip liner was much simpler to use on the go than my regular Fluidliner liner. It ran out halfway through my trip so I purchased an alternative (details below).

CHEEK PRODUCTS - Covergirl Simply Ageless Blush in Lush Berry, Rimmel Natural Bronzer & Tarte Blush in Amused. I've reviewed ALL my blushes in this post. As usual, I layer powder & cream blush for staying power.  I did miss my Tarte Blush in Exposed - it's such a gorgeous bronzy & glowy blush. The Rimmel Bronzer is a new favorite. I tried NARS Laguna but it didn't show up on my skin - and the next shade (Casino) is too dark.

BOTTOM ROW:  My custom-made palette (more details in this post) containing my eyeshadows & highlighting powder. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop - a fresh lipcolor that went with everything. And I never apply mascara without first curling my lashes with my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler.

Here are the make-up/beauty items I purchased on my trip:

Target version of Emi-Jay hairties. Nivea Lip Butter (seriously AMAZING - I LOVE it!). Tweezerman Straight Edge Clipper (surprisingly hard to find straight-edge clippers - they make shaping nails SO much easier!). Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in Black Brown (very pigmented & easy to use). MAC 224 Eyeshadow brush (an impulse purchase from the Cosmetics Outlet - it was $10 cheaper than the store price). Teasing Brush - I'm not very good at teasing my hair, so I'm going to try and see if this helps.

Do you carry a lot of make-up with you when you travel or do you keep it simple?

P.S. Since Google Reader is closing in July - if you follow me on Google Reader, please click here to add me on Bloglovin.  

How my style has changed & Monthly Must-Reads

Question of the month from Alison & Noelle: How would you describe your own personal style? How has it evolved over the years?

THEN (Pics from 8 years ago):

• Delicate jewelry, floral prints, cheap & cheerful bags

Outfit details here: Navy Polka Dots / Sequin Top / Gingham Shirt  / Chambray Shirt / Blazer / Lace Dress

NOW: 

• Statement necklaces, polka dot or gingham prints, lots of layering, luxe bags

 UNCHANGED:

• Simplicity & comfort - I'll always wear jeans + flats.
• Making an effort to look well-groomed...I'm not really into sweats and I ALWAYS do my hair & make-up before leaving the house.
• Loving my handbags and switching them out frequently.

Has your style changed over the years? What do you wear now that you never thought you would?

• Alison*Elle - Alison is keeping it weekend-casual in an asymmetrical sweater and boyfriend jeans.
• Beautygirl24 - Noelle took a stroll through the park and enjoyed the Spring flowers. Her green dress matched the scenery.
• Ella Pretty - See Ella's Target & Outlet-shopping haul from her US vacation.
• Lindsay J Everyday - Lindsay shares 5 Things about herself, now it's your turn.
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen is dreaming of warm weather and summer BBQs with her Spring Wishlist.
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle shows off her first postpartum OOTD.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette is playing up the yellow and cobalt trend.
• The Currently Obsessed - Mehreen shares her inspiration for her baby girls nursery. 

P.S. Since Google Reader is closing in July - if you follow me on Google Reader, please click here to add me on Bloglovin.