Cherry Bomb Beauty

Beauty Blogs Backstage Round 1

June 23, 2010 by Tara Rufo 1 Comment

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.

Bodycology’s New Rich & Creamy Body Wash

June 16, 2010 by Tara Rufo 1 Comment

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.

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Body Wash, Bodycology, Drugstore Brand, Review

QT of The Day #2 Nail Polish Top Coat

June 7, 2010 by Tara Rufo 1 Comment

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

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: nail polish, Quick Tip (QT) of the Day, Tips

Kim Brushes

May 28, 2010 by Tara Rufo Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: brushes, Review

Nail Polish Colors for Spring/Summer 2010

May 26, 2010 by Tara Rufo 8 Comments

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*

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Chanel, nail polish, OPI, Spring/Summer 2010, trends

QT of the Day #1 Mascara Etiquette

May 23, 2010 by Tara Rufo Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Mascara, Quick Tip (QT) of the Day, Tips

Dupe For MAC Fluidline That Will Save You Tons!

May 19, 2010 by Tara Rufo Leave a Comment

Don’t get me wrong, I love MAC cosmetics but at $15 a jar their Fluidline eyeliner doesn’t fit every budget. Even if it does fit in your budget who wouldn’t want to pay practically 75% less for an eyeliner that does the same job, but better?!

I won’t keep you waiting any longer, the eyeliner that I’m talking about is Wet n Wild’s MegaEyes Creme Eyeliner. It retails for around $3.99 and you can find it at your local Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and Rite Aid stores.

The eyeliner comes in a really fancy pot that reminds me of a jewel (diamonds anyone?) and it also comes with a small angled brush. When I first bought my new eyeliner I was so excited to try it out that I opened it immediately and tried it on my hand as I already had eyeliner on. The eyeliner is an amazing consistency…not too wet and not too dry. I used the little eyeliner brush and dabbed just a bit into the eyeliner and then drew a line on the back of my hand. I was shocked! It seemed as if I had drawn on my hand with a black marker not an eyeliner. The eyeliner dried fairly quickly and when I tell you it didn’t budge…it took some work to get it to come off. Water wouldn’t do the trick, but it came off with ease when I used eye makeup remover.

Why do I love this eyeliner? First and foremost it works! It is very easy to apply and a little goes a long way. The black is a true black which I’m very happy with because to me there’s nothing worse than sheer color when you’re not expecting it. With that said, if you use a little bit at a time you can build the color that you want. Of course the heavier hand you use the bolder the color will be.

The Bottom Line – why spend $15 when you can spend the extra money on something else you love? I love this eyeliner more than the Fluidline because of the price, consistency, and the ease of use. The brush is also very handy to have especially if you’ve never used a cream/gel eyeliner before or if you’re on the go all the time like me!

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Drugstore Brand, DUPES, eyeliner, MAC, Wet n Wild

Ava Anderson Eye Makeup Remover Review

May 10, 2010 by Tara Rufo 9 Comments

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic is a line of skin care products in which all of the ingredients in every product scores a zero on the Cosmetics Database toxicity scale (although the lip scrub is listed on the database as a “1″).

Ava, who is only 15, launched her line of skin care products because she wanted all women to be able to use products that contain genuinely safe ingredients.

When I received the makeup remover in the mail it also came with 2 pages of Ava’s products with a description of each product. The description of the makeup remover pads is as follows:

“Ava Anderson Non Toxic Makeup Remover Pads will gently wipe away your eye makeup with ease. Lightly wipe the eye area and watch makeup disappear. Natural, non-toxic ingredients work to break down cosmetics to make what can be a difficult job, easy! No alcohol to dry your delicate eye area skin.”

However, the website also states that you will need about 1-2 pads to remove your makeup….I wish the product list I got said this.

The packaging is really simple, but it is easy to read the ingredients which is always a plus. I was quite disappointed once I opened the container…the makeup remover pads are tiny, especially for such a large container! The size of the pads remind me of the ELF makeup remover pads that you can get for about $1 at Target.

The pads do smell lovely and taking off my makeup was really easy. If you just wear mascara you’ll probably get away with using just one pad for each eye. However, if you’re like me and you love to play up your eyes with color you’ll need at least two pads. I even tried to use the front and back of the pads, but it’s almost as if the makeup bleeds through to the other side so it doesn’t work as well.

Another great thing about the pads is that they don’t sting my eyes, dry them out, or leave any oily residue. So that’s a huge plus!

There’s 50 pads in each container…if you’re lucky and can use one to remove all of your makeup then these pads will last you almost two months! However, if you need 2 or more pads per use, you will be ordering them more frequently.

Here’s a quick break down of my pros and cons:

Pros:
Smells yummy
Removes makeup easily
Doesn’t irritate my eyes
Doesn’t leave my eyes or skin around my eyes feeling greasy or dry
All the ingredients are really good for your skin

Cons:
The pads are very tiny!
Can only buy online
The cost is $14.95 so not exactly budget friendly especially when you have to pay S&H

Overall, I give this product a B+. If you don’t mind purchasing your makeup remover online and don’t mind the price tag then I definitely suggest trying this product for yourself!

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Ava Anderson, Makeup Remover, Review

My Absolute Favorite Mascara!

April 13, 2010 by Tara Rufo 1 Comment

Mascara is really important. Sometimes I don’t think my eyeshadow looks right until I’ve applied some mascara; it just completes the look. However, a great mascara can be hard to come by. I was in Walgreens the other day and decided it was time to get a new tube of mascara. I had heard about CoverGirl’s LashBlast so I decided to give it a try. I chose the LastBlast Mega Volume in the bright organge tube. It cost me $7.79 so I wouldn’t be too upset if I didn’t like it. Let me just start by saying, “Thank you Covergirl!”

Whoever designed the tube knew exactly what they were doing; the color is really vibrant and the tube fits perfectly in my hands. The wand is brilliant…it is really really big. At first I was a bit worried that it was too big, but it works like a charm. It seems as if the thickness of the wand is what makes your lashes stand out.

I swear after trying this product you will no longer need to wear fake lashes or pay for eyelash extensions. I always love putting on my makeup, but since I bought this mascara I’ve been getting even more excited. Another great thing about this mascara is you don’t have to work hard at all to get the volume. You literally just apply the mascara! However, if you love that dramatic look then apply as many coats as you’d like. I’m beyond satisfied with just one coat.

The wand also makes it easy to grab all of my lashes which I didn’t think it would be able to because of its size, but it works perfectly.

I cannot stop raving about this mascara! Don’t just listen to me though, try it out for yourself!

*Stay tuned as I will be uploading pictures…a before and after of my lashes so you can see the difference for yourself!*

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Cover Girl, Drugstore Brand, Mascara

Urban Decay Primer Potion Review

March 15, 2010 by Tara Rufo 2 Comments

Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (UDPP) has got to be the most raved about primer for your lids. It retails for $18 at Sephora for 0.34oz and it comes in three shades: Eden (matte nude), Original (sheer nude), and Sin (shimmering champagne).

Packaging: I understand wanting to make the bottle match the name and looking at the bottle it is really cute, however I despise the packaging! The wand to apply the primer has been redesigned since it first came out so why can’t they change up the rest of the bottle? Personally, I don’t like the wand either; I think it is much easier to get the product off of the wand and apply it with my finger. Urban Decay should hold a contest for its fans to design the new bottle for it’s Primer Potion; anything will be better than what they have now.

Product: I love the primer! I haven’t used any other primer except for my foundation and my concealer, but this primer really makes a huge difference! Not only does my makeup last for hours, my eyeshadow becomes more vibrant.

Overall: Even though I love the product the bottle has me so annoyed that I probably won’t buy it again. I don’t think the frustration is worth $18. Not to mention I’m not even sure if I’ve used up all of the primer because there is no way to see inside of the bottle.

*Stay tuned! I am planning on de-potting my primer potion to see if there’s more product inside that the wand simply can’t get to. If this is the case then I will take pictures and make a blog that explains how to de-pot your UDPP.*

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Primer, Review, Urban Decay