Ever heard of Black Opal? Because I hadn’t, but I’m so glad I do now! I was given two eye shadows to try out Gold Galaxy (the yellow and brown mosaic, far right) and Zanzibar (the purple mosaic, far left) which are pictured below.

Let’s get started with the review!

Black Opal states that these eye shadows are “safe for even the most sensitive eyes.”

The benefits of these shadows include:

• hypoallergenic
• oil free
• talc free
• paraben free
• fragrance free

I am a HUGE fan of these shadows! They are beautifully pigmented and they don’t feel heavy or cakey at all.

Gold Galaxy looks kind of weird at first glance because of the yellow and orange shadows, but the other three colors work so well to blend these colors nicely. I love using this palette for a more natural look (think classic pinup style). The lightest color (I like to call it sand) is perfect as a highlight color. If you tend to go for a more neutral eye, then this palette is a must have!

Zanzibar could look intimidating for those who are experimenting with color, but trust me it isn’t so scary once you start playing with these shades. I love this palette because I can do so much with it. If I’m looking to do a purple smokey eye I can opt for a light or dark purple, even a black. If the color is too dark you can always tone it down with the lighter purple or even the silver. You can even do a smokey eye with the silver and black or the silver and purple-brown color.

What I love the most about these palettes is that you really do have several options when it comes to how you want to do your eye shadow. This means more for your money and who doesn’t love that? Speaking of money, these palettes cost $8.95 which I think is a great deal.

If you’re wondering whether or not they truly are great for sensitive eyes, wonder no longer. They are! I haven’t had any problems with these shadows at all.

The Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadows come in two additional shades Caribbean Blue (second from the left) and Rain Forest (second from the right). You can purchase these shadows as well as additional cosmetics from Black Opal on their website as well as major drugstores (like CVS).

I recommend these shadows 100% I just absolutely adore these palettes and I think you will too!

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

**Photo courtesy of Creative Media Marketing**

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

It’s that time again…time for Round 2 of Beauty Blogs Backstage! This month I had the pleasure of interviewing Jaimi; author of Plays With Color.

Here is our interview:

Do you know of a great DIY/at home beauty regime that you would want to share? None that I’ve tried yet!  I keep meaning to try milk of magnesia as a mask, because my skin gets so oily during the summer, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.

How do you ensure a good quality picture of your swatches? So much trial and error!  I usually try for natural light, no flash, and macro mode on my camera, but it usually still takes a lot of tries before I get one I’m satisfied with.  If you look at my NYX lipstick swatches, you’ll see goosebumps on them…it was winter, and to get any amount of sunlight in my apartment I had to put my arm right up against the window!

Do you have a favorite (or perhaps several favorite) underground cosmetic line(s) that you think people should try? If so, what are they? Honestly, my cosmetic tastes are fairly mainstream.  Probably the closest thing to “underground” I’ve used are Sweet Libertine and Fyrinnae, and that’s only because they’re small indie companies, and considering how much I see Fyrinnae around, I’m not sure exactly how small it truly is!

Did you set up the layout/design of your webpage yourself? If so do you have prior experience with web design or did you seek help? I did not–it’s just a WordPress theme I found somewhere.  I’m not good with graphics.  I can do any sort of web programming you put in front of me, but if it’s going to look at all good someone else is going to have to design the visuals.

What is your favorite category to blog about? Probably EOTDs.  I tend to babble on about them; I’m still pretty clumsy with a brush (of any sort, not just makeup brushes!) so what I come up with in reality usually has only a passing resemblance to what I was picturing when I started the look.  (This would also explain why I haven’t been blogging much lately; between job hunting and thesis writing and revising I haven’t felt compelled to wear much makeup recently!)

Would you ever consider making videos to either put on your blog or YouTube? I’ve considered it, but I am incredibly awkward in front of a camera.  (Also, see my last answer: I’d have to get a heck of a lot better at putting makeup on to even consider immortalizing the process!)

What does Himey Kitty mean? My name is Jaimi, and one of the managers at my first job started calling me Himey, as an Anglicization of the Spanish pronunciation of my name.  Combine that with my love of cats (my boyfriend swears that I’m actually part cat) and the nickname Himeykitty was born.  One of my friends who is, sadly, no longer with us actually combined the two together, and it stuck, and has for about 12 years now.  An advantage is that I can get the username on pretty much any website out there!

That’s all for this month; stay tuned for round 3 next month. Thanks to Jaimi for the interview and to LiAnn from Beauty Blogs Backstage for putting this whole thing together! If you’re interested in reading my interview you can check it out here.

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

Smashbox Cosmetics launched a new line for the summer called Naked Beauty. The basis behind this line is barely there colors that are meant to enhance your own natural (naked) beauty. The collection includes: eyelid primer, bronzer, blush/highlighter combo, and eight mini lip glosses.

I’ve heard of Smashbox Cosmetics, however I’ve never used their products until now. Needless to say I was very eager to be able to review this collection; so let’s get started.

Photo Finish Lid Primer in Golden Nude ($20) This is the second eyelid primer that I’ve tried and it is simply gorgeous. The color is a perfect golden nude with a hint of shimmer. You can use it as a base for your eyeshadows or wear it alone for a more natural look. The primer really helps to keep your shadows in place which is extremely essential during the hot months. Just dab a bit onto your eye (or finger) and gently rub/pat it to help blend it over your eyelid.

Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer ($39) I tend to not use bronzer because I am so fair skinned; even in the summer I can’t achieve a tan. However, I gave this one a shot. I love that it gave my face that sun kissed glow and it didn’t feel heavy or cakey on my face which is a huge plus. According to Smashbox Cosmetics, this bronzer helps to fight the signs of aging. What woman wouldn’t love this? To use, just twist the container to release the desired amount of powder for a single use. Apply to your cheeks, bridge of your nose, and your forehead. Think of places where the sun naturally kisses your face.

Naked Beauty Lip Gloss Collection ($25) These mini glosses are very sheer, but they look and feel great! The shades in the collection include: Nude (pinkish brown with little shimmer), Bare (very sheer light pink), Exposed (bubblegum pink), Sun Kissed (shimmering brown), Naked (shimmering light brown), Buff (light peach), Pure (sheer hot pink), and Natural (sheer mauve). Each tube of gloss is 0.04 fl oz. Please note, the description of each shade is my personal description not Smashbox’s.

High Lights/Creamy Cheek Color in Naked Beauty ($26) Having never used a cream blush or highlighter I am a big fan of this duo. I feel as if I have more control over the application as well as the intensity of the color. The creamy cheek color is a pretty sheer red that gives your face a beautiful flushed look. Simply apply the creamy cheek color to the apples of your cheeks and blend outward. Then apply the high lights to the top of your cheek bones, down the bridge of your nose, and anywhere else the sun naturally kisses your face.

Overall, I am a big fan of this collection. Although this line is pricey, I think the quality speaks for itself. This collection is absolutely perfect if you’re looking to achieve a natural, beachy look for the summer. I recommend this collection 100%.

If you have this collection or some products from it, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Smashbox Cosmetics can be found on their website and at Sephora, Ulta, and now Nordstrom.

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

**Photo courtesy of Tractenberg & Co.**

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

I’ve always thought about trying a tinted moisturizer, but I never really looked into which one to buy. Making a decision can be pretty confusing since there are so many brands out there.

I received Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer and decided to write a review on it.

The packaging is wicked cute. I love what Hard Candy has done to their line in regards to all of its packaging. It is quite funky, but girly at the same time. I love that the bottle is see through that way it is easy to tell when the product is running low instead of having to guess. The flip top cap also makes it easy to squeeze out the product and recap it without the hassle of screwing the cap back on while you have product on your hand. Lastly, I love that the font is bold and easy to read so that I know exactly what the product does and how to use it.

The product itself is awesome. The tint of the moisturizer is very sheer. I received it in tan and I am very light skinned, but this shade was just a bit too dark for me. So pay attention to this when you’re trying to pick out a color to match your skin. The moisturizer feels great, but I wouldn’t suggest using it alone if you have really dry skin.

My current foundation routine is as follows:

• apply a small amount of moisturizer
• apply Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer
• apply foundation
• apply powder to set foundation

This may seem like a lot to you and it very well may be, however my skin tends to dry out in the summer so I can take advantage of the extra hydration. Also, Hard Candy’s moisturizer doubles as a primer so it helps your foundation last all day long.

Overall, I’m in love with this moisturizer. I plan on purchasing one that is closer to my skin tone so that I can wear it alone on days when I don’t feel like putting on a lot of makeup. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has wanted to try a tinted moisturizer, but is unsure about which brand to buy.

If you’ve already tried this product or are planning on trying it I would love to hear your thoughts. You can view all of Hard Candy’s products on their website and you can purchase their products from Walmart.

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

**Photo courtesy of DNA Public Relations**

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

Recently, I joined a website called Beauty Blogs Backstage. Each month bloggers get paired up and they interview each other; the interviews will be posted on the interviewer’s site as well as right here.

This month I was paired with Meredith who writes for Retrodivas Beauty; here is the interview. I hope you enjoy it!

How long has Retrodivas Beauty been a blog?
We actually started back in 2006 as Daily Dose of Coffee, blogging about all kinds of things such as beauty, fashion, and pop culture. I switched it in 2009 after attending New York Fashion Week for the first time to specifically focus on beauty, and created a new blog for fashion and style at RetrodivasCloset.com.

Why did you choose to write about beauty related topics?
I think like every other beauty blogger I’ve met, I’m a certified product junkie. I’m always looking for the next best thing, and I try everything. My background is in journalism, so the two just melded together perfectly.

What is your all time favorite beauty staple (something you absolutely cannot live without)?
A fabulous mascara, and my favorites change constantly. My go-to is still DiorShow, but I’ve found so many lower priced mascaras of about the same quality that I may be losing my loyalty.

What beauty product was your biggest disappointment?
I remember trying a Burts’ Bees body wash that smelled very, very similar to the room deodorizer in a local highway rest stop. It could have just been me, since fragrance is so personal, but I was so disappointed about it. I usually love everything that Burts’ Bees makes, so this one particular thing gave me a real sad face.

What are your thoughts on drugstore brands vs. “designer” brands?
I think that one doesn’t need to spend a fortune on every single bit of makeup. Sure, there are some designer brands that make awesome products, but there are some amazing drugstore products as well. I would encourage everyone to stay within their budget, whatever it is, and find the best products that they can afford.

Just how addicted to coffee are you?
Very. Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m not kidding when I say that I need coffee. They usually go out of their way to help me find some.

What is one thing you want your readers to know?
That I adore hearing from them, no matter what it’s about. I love answering their questions, and hearing that I’ve been helpful just makes my day.

Please stay tuned for round 2 and also check out my interview on Retrodivas Beauty.

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

I was fortunate enough to be able to try out Bodycology’s New Rich & Creamy Body Wash; the one I am reviewing is called Refreshing.

According to their website, “Rich&Creamy Refreshing Body Wash is formulated with Green Tea Extract and Cucumber Essence for a crisp showering sensation that will leave skin feeling awakened and rejuvenated.”

I’ve used this body wash for a couple of weeks and I must say I’m quite happy with it. The name doesn’t lie either, it really is rich and creamy. What I find to be the best part about the formula is that it isn’t so creamy that it feels gross on my skin and it isn’t hard to rinse off. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated which I love because I have sensitive skin and sometimes the water can leave me feeling dry.

Another great feature is the pleasant smell of the Green Tea mixed with Cucumber. I can’t even describe to you how the fragrance works; it’s kind of something you have to experience yourself in order to fully understand. The scent isn’t overwhelming, but it isn’t subtle either. It is…well…it’s rather refreshing! Honestly, I would love to have this scent as a bath salt while taking a nice relaxing tubby!

Last, but not least, the body wash can be used as shaving cream. If you find yourself in the shower without it, just lather up the body wash and shave away!

There is only one down side to this product and it isn’t even the product it’s the bottle. It opens from the bottom instead of the top. Maybe it is just me being picky, but I prefer my body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc to open from the top because water tends to seep in when the opening is on the bottom. I don’t even keep the body wash on the floor of the shower and water still finds a way to get inside. With that said, it won’t keep me from buying a bottle once I run out of this one.

I definitely recommend this body wash and I’m eager to find out what the other scents smell like. Bodycology can be found at Walgreens and Walmart for around $4.99 which is an excellent price for 18 oz. Check out their website for more information!

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

Painting your nails different colors can be a lot of fun, but it can also be quite annoying when you look down and notice that there are chips in the polish. It is easy to paint your nails and forget about adding a top coat, but the top coat is the key factor in the amount of time your polish will actually last on your nails.

There are so many top coats to choose from, so it can be rather overwhelming when deciding which one to buy.

The one I use is Seche Vite’s Top Coat

Not only is this a top coat, but it also dries fast which is a huge plus! Seche Vite works great because it makes my nails/polish look nice and shiny, but it also makes my polish last without any chips (please note that I also don’t have my hands in water or chemicals all day so I’m basing this on just regular wear). I kept my polish on for a week prior to taking it off because I got sick of the color, but the polish didn’t budge at all.

Seche Vite can be purchased at Ulta as well as Sally Beauty Supply for about $7.99-$9.95

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

Recently, I received two Kim Brushes to test out. I’ve used them for a few weeks now and have decided it is time to do my review on them.

The first brush I got is the E135 – an eyeliner brush. The website describes it as “An angular, flat brush, for application of internal or external eye-liner. Ideal for gel application.” The brush is made out of taklon and it is a small angular brush.

When I first got this brush I was a little disappointed when I looked at it. I thought the bristles would be tightly compacted so that the brush wouldn’t be so flimsy.  However, after using the brush I was really impressed and really happy. It is so easy to use, I honestly feel like it does all of the work for me (and who doesn’t love that?)

The great thing about this brush is that it can create a thin line that is right along your lashes or it can be used to build a thicker line. I appreciate being able to do both.  Another great thing is that you don’t need a ton of product on the bristles to get the look you want. I tend to use a small amount anyways and then add more as I go so that I don’t mess anything up.

I definitely recommend this brush to everyone especially those of you who are trying out gel/cream eyeliner for the first time or haven’t found that one brush that just does it for you. This one will!

The second brush I got is the E125 – it is also made out of Taklon and the brush is oval shaped. The website describes this brush as “An oval tipped brush, for creating a smoky look of the eye. Ideal also for precise lining of lip gloss.”

I thought it was kind of odd for a brush to be used on the eyes and lips, but as long as you clean it well before using it on either part you will be all set.

This brush is awesome. It is really small so it works perfectly to get color right into your crease without overdoing it with the shadow. Again, the bristles on this brush aren’t tightly compacted, but I don’t think it matters much with this brush either.

It also works really well to apply lip gloss. I tend not to use brushes for my lip gloss because I never really found the need for one, but I’ll probably use the E125 as my go to lip brush.

Overall I’m quite impressed by these brushes. Unfortunately, the website doesn’t provide the prices of the brushes so I’m not sure if the price reflects the quality of the brush. You also can’t order the brushes online, however if you want more information you can email them here or go to their website to check out their products.

Kim Brushes has brushes for the eyes, face, and even nails.

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

Each season brings with it new trends and each new trend means new colors. The best and easiest way to keep yourself updated with the season’s hottest colors is to wear nail polish. So what exactly are the hottest nail polish colors for Spring and Summer this year? Keep reading!

I have to say that OPI’s Hong Kong Collection has completely summed up the best colors of the Spring and Summer.

Perhaps you’re thinking what I was thinking when I first saw this collection…these colors look like they’re meant for the Fall, but I promise you they’re not. This season the colors are kind of all over the place in regards to brights and darks. Personally, I love this collection (although I have not seen it in person just yet). The colors aren’t too funky so I wouldn’t hesitate to try any of them. I particularly love that blue and green (which some may consider to be the funkier colors) are being considered trendy!

Here are the names of the polishes:

Top Row Left to Right

Lucky Lucky Lavender, Jade is the New Black, Dim Sum Plum, Bling Dynasty, Hot & Spicy, Meet Me on the Star Ferry

Bottom Row Left to Right

A Good-Mandarin is Hard to Find, Pearl of Wisdom, Suzi Says Feng Shui, Chop-Sticking to My Story, Panda-monium Pink, Read My Fortune Cookie.

**OPI nail polish can be bought at Ulta, Sephora, and beauty salons. If you google OPI Nail Polish you will find a lot of sites that sell their product for a lot cheaper than in store.**

If this collection doesn’t really speak to you, have no fear. Here is a list of colors that are also hot this season:

Bright Pink -Try OPI Elephantastic Pink

Baby Blue – Try China Glaze For Audrey (think Tiffany’s blue!) **I have got to get my hands on this color!**

Mint Green – Try Essie’s Turquoise and Caicos

Classic Pale Pink – Try Revlon Sheer Rose

Periwinkle – Try Butter London Muggins

One of the hottest shades this summer I saved for last…I honestly don’t know how I feel about it. However, if you want to wear or want to know what the celebs are wearing it is called GREIGE (Grey and Beige). Chanel made this color famous with their Particuliere color. However, if you prefer not to spend $20+ on your nail polish there are plenty of alternatives.

Chanel Particuliere

OPI You Don’t Know Jacques

There’s plenty of different variations of this color…think beige, grey, even a mushroomy taupe. What do you think of this color? I’d love to hear your opinion!

I know there’s a lot of different colors in this post, but nail polish gets changed quite often.

Here’s a few more color palettes just to get your juices flowing:

As you can see brights, pastels, and neutrals are all in this season. The question is…what’s your color/shade of choice?!

These products can be found at your favorite retail stores like Sephora and Ulta, but try looking for them online as well. You can pay a lot less for each bottle which means you can buy more!

*This post was requested by Morgan*

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

What girl doesn’t love her mascara? Whether you wear it by itself for a more natural look or with a full face of makeup, mascara is pretty essential. However, it has the shortest life out of all beauty products.

All too often women get eye infections and mascara is the likely culprit, but have you ever considered the way in which you use your mascara could be causing the problem?

Here are some quick tips on mascara etiquette:

• Never “pump” your mascara! This will cause air and bacteria to become trapped inside of the tube. Extra air will cause your mascara to dry out and extra bacteria is never a good thing.
• When you take the wand out of the tube try twisting it to remove it, the less “pumping” the better.
• Forget what you’ve heard/read about adding moisture to dry mascara. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read advice on how to get rid of dry mascara…from adding water to visine to olive oil. If your mascara is dry throw it out. Adding anything to it will just create a breeding ground for mascara and trust me it is not attractive when that bacteria infects your eyes.
• If your mascara is dry and it is less than 3 months old (think brand new or less than a month old) try contacting the company that makes the mascara. As much as this can be a pain you are saving yourself money in the long run without having to buy prescription medicine to treat your eye infection.
• Mark your calendar or make some kind of note the second you open your new mascara, then make another note 3 months from that day. This way you can easily keep track of when it is time to buy a new mascara and throw out the old one.
• Even if you don’t use your mascara every day, once you open it you have 3 months til it goes bad.

Mascara can be your eyes’ best friend, but it can become your worst enemy very easily. Remembering these tips will allow you to not only get your money’s worth, but you will also get the full shelf life of your favorite mascara.

Cherry Bomb (Tara Rufo) is a 23 year old who recently graduated from college with a BA in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Please submit any inquires to trufo4@gmail.com

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