Allure Freebies!

Whoo hoo!  I actually won a couple of the Allure Magazine summer giveaways!  Lucky girl that I am, I won a bottle of Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! perfume.  This fragrance retails for $88!  It is a lovely floral/fruity scent; I don't think it is a particularly unique scent.  However, the bottle is simply gorgeous and looks fab sitting on my dresser.

And, I won a Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in the shade Pink Freeze.  I hadn't tried this line of lipstick before and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this lipstick.  Pink Freeze is a bright but wearable pink shade.  So, thanks Allure!!!  I am loving my free products!

Makeup Haul and Mini Review

My haul from the Christmas Tree Shops

I just happened to stop into the Christmas Tree Shops yesterday and discovered that they have a ton of drugstore makeup selling for around a dollar less per item than say Wal-Mart sells them for.  So, I stocked up in some favorites while I was there.

What I got:

• Tiny Conair hair clips
• Palladio blotting papers in Natural
• Freeman Superfruits Peel Off Facial Mask
• Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Ivory
• Posh crease brush duo
• Revlon Color Stay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackened Brown
• Olay Complete SPF 30 Moisturizer 

Here are my thoughts on some of the products listed above:

Palladio blotting papers: These are great for quickly eliminating any shiny areas on your face.  I just grab one and gently blot my face with it for a fresh matte finish.  The papers have a fine rice powder on them that absorbs the oils on your skin.

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer:  This is probably my favorite concealer.  I love that it has a little wand applicator you can use to tab the product on with.  And, the color and consistency are really great for covering under-eye circles, redness, and blemishes.  It blends really well and provides medium coverage.  This is my go-to concealer for a quick and easy cover-up.

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer wand

Revlon Color Stay Liquid Eye Pen:  These pens are awesome!!!  I have never been able to apply liquid eyeliner well...until, I found this product.  It's basically a marker with a really fine tip that you use to draw on the eyeliner.  This is liquid eyeliner that anyone can use!  It goes on really nice and smooth and lasts all day.  One of these pens usually lasts me a couple of months.  I use them daily and have never had one dry up on me.

Revlon Color Stay Liquid Eyeliner Pen

I can't review everything yet, as I have not really tried out the Freeman face mask or the Posh crease brush dou.  See my previous blog entry for a review of the Olay Complete SPF 30 Moisturizer.  Please leave comments if you have tried any of these products.

Favorite Blushes

In going through my makeup collection the other day, I realized that I have quite a few blushes, several of which I use on a very regular basis.  So, I thought I'd share some of my favorite blushes.

NARS blush in Orgasm, NARS blush in Sin, Benefit Sugarbomb blush

First, I have a few high-end favorites.  NARS blushes are absolutely top quality; they are very pigmented and come in a broad range of colors.  My two favorite colors being Orgasm and Sin.  Orgasm is a shimmery, peachy-pink that is perfect for any complexion.  Sin is more of a deep rose color; I apply this shade with a light hand.  Another high-end favorite of mine is Benefit's Sugarbomb.  This blush comes in a cute box and smells divine, though the scent does not linger once applied.  I think this is actually my all-time favorite blush; it is just the perfect shimmery, rosy shade for adding a light flush to the cheeks.

Cover Girl Classic Color blush in Soft Mink, Maybelline Dream Mousse blush in Peach Satin, Maybelline Expert Wear blush in Gentle Rose

I have several drugstore favorites, as well.  Cover Girl Classic Color blush in Soft Mink has been a staple in my collection for years.  I've hit pan on this one for good reason; it's one of those shimmery rose colors that anyone can wear.  While I am not a huge fan of cream blushes, I have found one line that works great for me.  The Maybelline Dream Mousse blushes are wonderful!  The light mousse consistency of these blushes allows them to blend flawlessly into your skin.  I find this blush great for the summer months when I want a more light and natural look.  And last, I have a blush that I didn't really know was a favorite...but I hit pan on it; so, I must use it a lot.  Maybelline Expert Wear blush in Gentle Rose is a very light pink shade great for a naturally flushed look.  I tend to use this to top off cream blushes because it is so light.

Swatches left to right: Cover Girl Classic Color blush in Soft Mink, Maybelline Expert Wear blush in Gentle Rose, Maybelline Dream Mousse blush in Peach Satin, Benefit Sugarbomb blush, NARS blush in Orgasm, NARS blush in Sin.

Must Have Eye Quads

Maybelline Stylish Smokes Eyeshadow quads in Natural Smokes and Charcoal Smokes

These Maybelline eyeshadow quads are great for a quick and easy everyday eye look.  They even have writing pressed into each shadow indicating where it should go; this is great for someone who is new to makeup application.  The reason I feel that these are must haves is because you can create natural or dramatic looks with these shadows, and the colors are so unique and nicely pigmented.  At $6 a piece you can't go wrong!