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Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadow Mosaics by Black Opal

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Aug. 12, 2010   6 Comments  

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**

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Bodycology’s New Rich & Creamy Body Wash

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June 16, 2010   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.

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Dupe For MAC Fluidline That Will Save You Tons!

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May 19, 2010   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!

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My Absolute Favorite Mascara!

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April 13, 2010   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!*

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The Best Shaving Cream I've Ever Used!

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Jan. 17, 2010   Leave a Comment  

To me, shaving is a very tedious task.  It has always taken me forever to shave my legs which is probably why I dread shaving them.  Regardless as to how I feel about shaving it is something that I must do.  I found a shaving cream that I absolutely love which is great because shaving seems like less of a chore now.

Gillette For Women Satin Care for Sensitive Skin Shave Gel:

This shaving cream is exactly what the name says.  It is a gel so a little goes a very long way.  I suggest getting a little onto your hand, rubbingr hands together to create a lather, then apply it to the area that you’re going to shave.  If you need more gel you can always apply more after.  The gel turns into a very soft cream that feels great on my skin and it is very easy to shave through.  Another plus is that it smells great!

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Create your own MAC FIX+

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Dec. 19, 2009   Leave a Comment  

Love MAC makeup, but hate the prices? Me too! Recently I’ve heard a lot about their FIX+ spray…if you haven’t heard about the uses for it here is a quick list:

  • to set your makeup (just a light spray over your powder foundation can help reduce the cakey apperance)
  • to use as a refresher spray (on your face or even your hair)
  • to turn your favorite eyeshadow into your new favorite eyeliner
  • to use your eyeshadow wet for a bolder, longer lasting shadow

There’s a ton of different ways to use the FIX+ spray however for $18/bottle it can be pretty pricey. Have no fear! There is a quick and easy way to create your own FIX+ spray for $5 (unless of course you need to purchase a container to put it in then I’ll say less than $10).

Here’s what you need:

  • pure glycerin (I bought 100% pure glycerin you don’t need to, but I’d get somewhere in the 90s range
  • a clean/sanitary bottle to put the product in
  • water (filtered or purified is best)
  • possibly a funnel for easy pouring

All you need to do is add EQUAL parts glycerin and EQUAL parts water. I suggest pouring the two into something that you can stir it up (or shake up) because the glycerin is quite syrupy. Then just pour the mixture into your bottle and voila! You have your own FIX+ spray.

To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what the shelf life is. I’ve had my mixture for probably a month now and I’m still using it. I did use filtered water instead of regular tap water. I say try making small amounts that way you won’t waste the glycerin. I also have my mixture in a little spray bottle so that I can easily spray my brushes. I’ve only used this mixture for my eyeshadows and to make eyeliner because I don’t feel the need to refreshen my face during the day.

**PLEASE NOTE: Not every eyeshadow is meant to be used WET! You will want to check the package or even the product’s website to see if it can be used wet. Eyeshadows that aren’t meant to be used wet can be damaged (they will get a weird shine on them which will result in a difficult time using them dry). Pigments and loose eyeshadows last longer and look more vibrant when using this mixture!  The general rule of thumb is that matte shadows will get ruined when used wet whereas shimmery ones won’t.  You can also split the shadow up (if it is big enough) and use one side wet and one side dry.

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