Awesome giveaway at Cosmetically Curious!

Just a quick post to tell ya'll about an amazing Too Faced Giveaway at Cosmetically Curious. This is an amazing blog and one of the sweetest bloggers I know. So, please go check out her blog and enter her contest. What a great prize!!! :) I know its one I would love to win! :) XOXO! Pammy

Quick Rave: Wet n' Wild Color Icon Shadow Single in Brulee'

Mac Vanilla vs. WnW Brulee

Hello readers! Just a quick post today to share my love of this eyeshadow single! This has quickly become one of my most used shades in my eyeshadow collection. The best part, I got it for $.50 during a 50% off Wet n' Wild (WnW) sale at Walgreens! But, even for $1, it is a steal!

My thoughts on WnW Brulee' Color Icon Shadow Single:

• This is my perfect My-Lids-But-Better (MLBB) shade! This cream colored shadow is just slightly darker than my natural skin tone.
• The shadow is matte and smooth (somewhat powdery, but applies very well). It is the perfect "base" shade for your eyeshadow.
• Works well as highlight/brow bone and inner corner color.
• Can be a great "wash" for a no-color look.
• Works great to blend out colors, lighten colors, or soften/blend out the line of a smokey eye.
• And, the best part...is the perfect "eraser" shade. You know, when you need to clean up shadow that has strayed to far outside of your eye area. Or to smooth out a corner.

Comparison to MAC Vanilla: It is somewhat darker than MAC's Vanilla shade (which I also love and use in a very similar manner as WnW Brulee). Vanilla is lighter and is a matte shade with very, very subtle sparkle (the sparkles don't really show up when shadow is transferred from the pan to the lid). MAC vanilla is a smoother shadow, while WnW Brulee is chalkier. They really aren't dupes but are quite similar. I find that I am actually using the WnW Brulee *more* than MAC Vanilla. I tried to swatch it for you; but, seriously, Vanilla does show up for swatching as it is my same skin tone and Brulee just a shade darker. I will try to swatch again tomorrow during daylight to see if I can get a better photo for you readers! :)

WnW Brulee a must-have for every makeup collection!!! As with all WnW Color Icon shadows, the quality is great for a very low price.

Thanks for reading!
XOXO!
Pammy

Wet n' Wild Holiday Palettes: "Night Elf" Review

Happy Monday my dear readers! Hope you all had a great weekend!

This is the first of a series of reviews that I am going to do over the next few days on the Limited Edition Wet n' Wild (WnW) Color Icon holiday palette gift sets.

Let me tell you, all of these palettes are fantastic! And, such a great value (LOL-you readers know I love a good bargain). So, I am very excited to be doing these reviews! Anytime something is Limited Edition (LE), I am always intrigued! These Wet n' Wild Holiday Palettes are a bit hard to find in my area as word must have spread that they are totally amazing!!!

Wet n Wild Color Icon Holiday Palette: Night Elf

This was the first WnW Holiday Palette that I picked up. Normally, I would not reach for a palette quite like this with the bold color selections (I mean, red shadow???), but I had already read online that this was a really great set. So, when I saw it at my local Walgreen's (and the only one, mind you!), I had to snatch it up! I am so glad that I did as I really really love this little palette! I have been constantly reaching for these Holiday palettes ever since I got them!

Swatched on bare skin

Not sure if ya'll can see how pigmented? 

(the only one that is somewhat "sheer" is the red)

Sorry the liner got cut-off...

My thoughts:

• Set includes a WnW Color Icon Palette with 6 shadows and a small WnW Color Icon pencil liner.

• Highly pigmented shadows! I mean, seriously! Major pigmentation!

• These shadows apply and blend extremely well.

• Such great quality at a very low price! $4.99 for the set. I mean, I hate to even say it, but I would have paid more for this set!

• These shadows are very shimmery! We are talking shimmer, some glitter, and sparkle! For some, this would be a downside, but for me...I love sparkle! Especially at this time of the year. You can always pull out some matte eye shadow singles (or other palettes) to wear with these if you like a mix of matte and shimmer.

• I find with this set I wear the shadows in the left hand column the most with the middle left color (a beautiful shimmery gold-ish taupe) being my favorite of the whole palette!

• The darker shadow colors are very pigmented and fantastic for a smoky eye or for topping pencil eyeliner.

• Dupe alert!!! Apparently, the bottom left color, a shimmery greenish brown color, is a MAC Club dupe. Now, I don't have MAC Club, so I can't speak to that. But, I think that this color is VERY similar color and close-enough dupe to Label Whore from the Too Faced Enchanted Glamourland Palette (See picture below with comparison swatches). It applies as a beautiful and dimensional plummish brown with a brownish/blueish/greenish finish. So dimensional!!!

• The shimmery white-ish ivory is just beautiful. Great for inner corner and highlight!

• Love this silver too (and I am generally a fan of silver shadows). It is not as great as the Silver in my TF Enchanted Glamourland palette (IMHO)...but, still pretty good for a $4.99 palette!

• The black is amazing too! It is highly pigmented and the silver glitter is nice too! I like this best worn as a liner. Very deep black color! :)

• You can really do a great dramatic smokey eye with this set!!! We are talkin drama eyes here, girls!

• The only color that I really haven't had much use with is the red. I think that I might just not be "skilled" enough (or daring enough) to experiment with red on the lid. Those who are using the red color...how are you applying it! I can honestly say that I have never in my life worn red shadow before! (Priscilla @MakeupJunkie88)-I am sure you know how to rock out a Red shadow!!!)

• The liner: Black mini Color Icon pencil eyeliner. This is a black eyeliner with some glitter. Generally, I am so-so about Wet n Wild liners. They are pretty hard liners, and this one is no exception. But, I think that these little liners that come with the palette are the perfect size for your purse! Also, once you warm them up a little on your hand, they apply better. I like this liner best worn *under* the black shadow as a liner.

• Last, but not least, these are great as gifts! I have already picked up a few of these Holiday Palettes as gifts! :)

*Tip: I always apply these shadows over a primer. I have been alternating with e.l.f.'s mineral primer, UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion), and have just started testing Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Stay tuned for upcoming eye primer review/comparison!

Dupe Alert!!! Wet n Wild Night Elf Green/Brown vs. Too Faced Label Whore

WnW on Left, Too Faced Label Whore on right

As you can see, they are VERY similar...enough to call it a dupe! 

The Too Faced has a bit more green shimmer, but for the most part. Dupe city!

In summary, seriously ladies, run-don't walk-over to your Walgreen's and pick up this fantastic palette!!! The colors are so unique and just "special"! Such complex colors for a drugstore line! This palette would be worth it alone for the TF Label Whore (Or MAC Club) dupe alone...but, that goldish-taupe is amazing too!!! So, you get those two AMAZING shadows...plus the rest of the palette too! And a little liner. Go treat yourself to this affordable awesome palette!!!

WnW Holiday series), I just feel myself getting creative and wanting to try new and different looks. These colors inspire me!!! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading! How are you all liking the WnW Holiday Palettes. Is anyone else having trouble finding them in your area?

XOXO!
Pammy

I *heart* Redken (cont.): Blonde Glam Line Review

Redken: Blonde Glam Line

Here is part 2 of my "I *heart* Redken" series!

Being a highlighted blonde, I could not resist trying the Blonde Glam line! Just as a reminder (if you didn't read my previous article or are a new reader): I have very long, straight, thick yet fine, dry, highlighted blonde hair. I am usually looking for shampoos/conditioners/or treatment products that provide moisture, strength, or color protection/correction. So, that is a "tall order" for my hair products!

The Blonde Glam line focus on increasing the "shine factor" for blonde hair. Blonde hair that is not shiny just looks "flat" and dull. So, a shine boost is a great thing for blondes! But, with shine products, you do walk that fine line between adding shine...and adding "grease".

Blonde Glam Shampoo:

• Rich/thick pearly shampoo. 
• Very concentrated
• Lathers extremely weel
• Very "fresh" scent...like lemons.
• My husband always complements that my hair smells nice when I use this. Such a "clean" scent. 
• Very gentle shampoo

Blonde Glam Conditioner:

• I find this to be very richly conditioning
• This is somewhat hard to rinse out...definitely leaves a residue.
• Be careful to not apply too close to roots or your roots may appear "greasy" from the shine enhancers.

Blond Glam: Color Correcting treatment:

• LOVE this!!!
• Great for toning down slightly brassy hair.
• This is a purple based color corrector. It adds purple pigment to hair to counteract the yellow/brassy tones.
• I apply to hair as a thick mask after washing and let sit for about 5 minutes.
• This product does not over dry hair like other color correctors that I have tried.
• While this product is conditioning, I still follow it up with using the Blonde Glam conditioner.

General thoughts on the Blonde Glam line:

• My hair styles well after using this, although it does seem to feel weighed down a bit. Slight "residue" left behind. So hair is left not as "bouncy" as usual. But, very shiny!
• Overall, I prefer the Redken All Soft line. But, when I am using the Blonde Glam Color Correction treatment, I like to use it with the rest of the Blonde Glam line as I think they work well with each other.
• I find that my hair styles very well after using the Blonde Glam color correcting treatment. The texture of my hair feels smoother and actually feels "thicker" after using the treatment.
• And as with all Redken products: I feel that with Redken, you are getting a high quality product at a reasonable price (considering it to be a salon-brand). So, for me, a good mid-priced option!!!
• I will totally repurchase these products. :)

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this review! You blondes out there...what do you like to shampoo with to keep your blonde hair looking good?

XOXO!
Pammy

Coming Soon:
-Redken Blonde Glam: Dream Whip Mousse review
-John Frieda Sheer Blonde review series
-100 followers giveaway (getting closer!!!)

EOS Lipbalms: Cute giftset (review!)

evolution of smooth (eos) Lip balms

Don't you love stumbling across unexpectedly cute things while on a random trip to the drugstore!!! This cute little set literally "jumped out at me" while I was waiting at the beauty counter to checkout. I have been wanting to try the eos balms for quite some time and figured this gift set was the way to do it! 3 cute lip balms and an *adorable* case. This is great because I can keep one balm in my purse, one by my bedside, and one on my desk at work. :)

My lips get so dry in the colder weather so this is a *perfect* time to test out new lip balms. So, for the purposes of this review. I have used *only* eos balms for moisture this past week.

In the gift set:

• Honeysuckle Honeydew: (light green container) This is my fave scent/flavor of the group! It really does smell like Honeydew melon (which I love). :) 
• Lemon Drop (the only one with SPF 15): Smells of lemon (hence the name), love that this one includes an SPF 15, wish they all did! This is the one I keep in my purse because of the SPF 15. 
• Summer Fruit: Not that crazy about the scent of this one (reminds me of cough syrup!), but that's just me! :) 

Cosmetic Case: The case has a "summery" feel and would be a great addition to any pool bag! I am thinking that this will become my new makeup case for my purse as I love makeup bags that you can see through. When I grab my cosmetics bag from my purse, I am usually in some sort of "hurry" to reapply and I just think that a see-through case minimizes the digging you do to find your desired product.

The low-down:

• Totally cute and unique packaging. I have honestly never tried a balm quite like this!

• Unique size and shape make it easy to find in your purse. And, it looks cute sitting out on your counter or nightstand. :)

• Love the "soft" texture of the container. Its that "fuzzy" plastic feel. :) Hard to describe (does that make sense)...kinda like the NARS soft packaging. 

• After using these exclusively (no other lip balms used) for over a week, I must say, my lips are in great condition! The only other product that I used before starting this "test" was LUSH's Bubblegum Sugar Scrub (which really prepped my lips well for this test).

• Somewhat hard balm. It warms a bit as you rub it into your lips.

• Waxy, yet moisturizing base makes it the *ideal* prep for lipstick/liner/gloss. I had been using Smith's Rosebud Salve to prep my lips for makeup. But, I think that was almost too moisturizing and color would not last as long. I feel the EOS works much better as a "base" for your lip color!

• Because of the cute shape and flavor/scent of this lip balm, I actually felt myself "wanting" to apply it more!

• These  would make a great gift/stocking stuffer!

• Petroleum and Paraban free

Verdict: I *LOVE* these cute little balms! I will totally repurchase these! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading!

XOXO!
Pammy

Coming Soon:
-November Favorites
-Redken: Blond Glam Review

Thanksgiving Prep: "Tried and True" Family Recipes and NOTD! :)

Happy Thanksgiving Blog Readers!!!

(this is my sweet potatoe casserole: ready to put in fridge, and will bake tomorrow)

Just taking a "break" from work before the company arrives! I have been cooking all day with my "day before" recipes...and i just though I would share them with you! 

On the Menu:

Turkey (doh!)

Stuffing

Nana's Snowy Fluffy Mashed Potatoes (see recipe below)

Sweet Potato Casserole (see recipe below)

Stewed Green Beans with Bacon

Cranberry Sauce 

Rolls

Dessert:

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Appetizers:

-mini crock pot with glazed meatballs

-deli spirals

-deviled eggs

-crackers and cheese

-mini quiches

Tonight for Dinner (night before):

Bowtie Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes, and Cream

(let me know if you guys want this recipe as it is one of my total favs!!!)

Brunch tomorrow:

Cream Cheese Danish Squares

(scroll to bottom of clothes swap post for this recipe)...so good!

Ya'll hungry yet reading all that, LOL! As you can see, I have been busy! I love make-ahead recipes so that on the "big day" you have a bit more time!

Here are my make ahead recipes:

Nana's Snowy, Fluffy Mashed Potatoes (Erik's Grandmother's recipe)

4 lbs potatoes

1 (8oz) cream cheese block, softened

1 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

2 cloves of garlic chopped fine

1/4 cup chopped chives

1/2 tsp paprika

1 T butter

Boil potatoes, then mash. Add cream cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic, and chives. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Spoon lightly into greased casserole. Sprinkle with paprika and dot with butter. Bake at 350 for 30 mins. Can be made a day ahead.

Sweet Potato Casserole   (I got this recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Foods Mag)

3 lbs Sweet potatoes. peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks

coarse salt and ground pepper

1/2 cup whole milk

4 Tablespoons butter

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 cups mini marshmallows

Put potatoes into a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are done. Drain, and return to pan. Heat over medium to evaporate rest of water (about 2 mins). 

Remove from pan. Add milk, butter, and nutmeg. Mash until smooth. Transfer to a baking dish. (To make ahead, refrigerate at this point). 

Top casserole with marshmallows. Bake until center is warmed, about 15-20 mins. 

I will leave you all with a photo of my nail of the day! (Painting nails is part of Thanksgiving prep, right?) 

Nail is messy (rush application! But, wanted to do 

something makeup related in this post!

Polish: China Glaze Bogie (BEAUTIFUL metallic sparkly deep purple)

Okay, company coming any minute! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I am thankful for every single one of you readers!!!

XOXO!!!

Pammy

Hair cut idea...

Hi again ladies! Okay, so some of you know that I am "attempting" to grow out my long bangs in order to get a more uniform "bob" haircut. Well, with my long hair, and my long bangs driving me crazy...I am so tempted to get this Taylor Swift haircut!!! Okay, granted, it is *so similar* to how my hair is now. I mean, really! But, I would love to get a really heavy blunt bang like this (right now I have the side-bang thing goin on). What do you guys think??? My hair would totally do this style (see previous post: January Jones's haircut). Growing out the bangs has just been driving me bananas...seriously!

Here is another good one!

Thanks for listening to my hair-ramblings. LOL! Can you tell I'm on vacation! :)

XOXO!
Pammy

New Beading Project: Any other beaders out there?

Hi again everyone! I couldn't resist a "quick" post to share with you all my new beading supplies! Any other beaders out there?

This is a relatively new hobby for me as I started self-teaching myself beading this summer. My skills are pretty limited. But, I am excited to learn more! I have been so busy at work that I just haven't had much time to devote to beading lately. So, I am super excited to have some time off so that I can get started with some quick projects.

I have a few special girls in my life that I wanted to make bracelets for, for Christmas! :) So Heather A. and Bestie...if you are reading this, act surprised when you see your finished bracelets! :) Also, I will likely make a bracelet to include in the items in my upcoming blog giveaway (still waiting for that 100 Google Connect follower milestone!).

Hope you all are having a great day!
XOXO!
Pammy

Maybelline Eye Studio Cream Shadows: Review

Hello there readers! Hope you are having a great week!!! :)

This review is for the Maybelline Eye Studio shadow trio in Neutral Liasons (25).

The other morning, I woke up with very dry feeling skin. So, I thought with the dryness...what a great opportunity to try out a cream shadow! I did cream makeup on my whole face that day (well, cream blush and shadow).

I applied the cream shadows with my e.l.f. Studio concealer brush and I blended, where needed, with my fingers. The e.l.f. brush worked well with the shadows, but also I could have just as easily applied with my fingers. I used the light color in inner corner and as a brow bone highlight, the medium corner on the lid, and the deepest color in the crease and outer corner. I love the texture of the shadows and it just felt so good going on my dry lids.

The low-down:

• On my super-pale skin, these colors really didn't show up as much as I thought they would (surprising!). They applied quite sheer. I would call this a MLBB (my lids, but better) look. The colors gave my skin a nice sheen and the color in the crease gave some dimension. But, overall, the color was not very vibrant. I would say light-medium pigmentation.

• While colors are not extremely pigmented, the overall effect is nice...a very natural look. Good for a day where you really just want to look and feel natural (and not obviously look like you are wearing makeup).

• Color did not last long and it pretty much faded within a couple hours and showed some minimal creasing.

• I applied some Maybelline Studio Gel eyeliner on the lash line. This was interesting (a learning experience for me)...that faded by mid day! Granted, I have never tried applying gel liners over a cream shadow, but apparently that just doesn't work as the eyeliner melted right off! Don't get me wrong, I love Maybelline Studio Gel liner, it just doesn't wear well over cream shadow.

• While this did fade quickly, these shadows could also be touched up easily. Since they are a cream shadow in a small, cute, portable palette, you could easily toss in your purse and touch up with your fingers throughout the day.

• These shadows feel VERY good going on dry skin! It was just kinda a "treat" to put something creamy on my lids as opposed to my powder shadows. Very "fresh and natural" looking. Sometimes I like to go for a "less is more" look, so these might be the shadows that I reach for in the future on days that I want to go for that type of look.

• I love using these shadows for a "quick" look...like if I am running to the store first thing on a Sat morning and just want to swipe on some concealer, mascara, and a little cream shadow. Perfect for days like that!

• These shadows wear slightly better over UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion). I tested these both with and without UDPP. They also wear better if you are careful not to apply too much (which will cause the product to build up and crease).

• With a coupon plus a sale, I picked up this little trio for less than $4. Not bad!

Swatched left to right. The light color really doesn't show up. 

I applied very heavily for the swatches so you could see the colors. 

You can't really apply these colors this heavy or they will cake. 

Overall, for a natural look, I like these. But, I do wish that they would wear longer and were more pigmented. I will certainly continue to use this little trio, but likely will probably not purchase more. Ya'll know how much I love Maybelline powder shadows, so I think I will just stick to those when purchasing Maybelline shadows.

Hope you ladies enjoyed reading! I would love to hear what cream shadows you ladies like? Or any tricks for application? Tips to increase wear?

This may be my last post for the next few days (unless I post a picture of our Turkey or something?) as I am busily preparing for guests (my inlaws) for the week *and* my husband and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner as well! Our guest will arrive tomorrow and we have a busy week planned. So, If I don't get a chance to "talk" to you readers...Happy Thanksgiving!!! :)

XOXO!
Pammy

LUSH mini-haul and review (total rave!!!) :)

I <3 LUSH!!!

OMG...where has LUSH been all my life! I am lucky enough to live about 3 miles from 2 different LUSH stores, but somehow never experimented with LUSH products until now! I know!!! And, for me...the bath product queen! :) Seriously, I think I have found my new fav store!!! :) Can you all feel my excitement here??? Yes, I have heard the raves, but it wasn't until I actually went into the store (while Christmas shopping) and "experienced" LUSH that I fell in love! Granted, I sneezed a few times in the store (I have bad allergies) and the product fragrances...while wonderful...are a little overwhelming when you first enter the store. But, not worries, I sneezed a few times and then got used to it. And, proceeded to smell *everything*!!! YUMMY!!!

First off, you have gotta love the whole "homemade" and "fresh" product idea! The sales person "walked me through" my entire shopping experience there (and, I am a sucker for good customer service!). As soon as I explained that I was gift shopping, she had a ton of ideas and let me test out a ton of products! :) She seemed genuinely enthused about the brand which is always cool. I love it that most items are not packaged...the soaps, scrubs, bath bombs, etc...all look like little pieces of art! Just grab a basket in the store and go bananas with some wonderful and *totally unique* items! Interesting too how the products have a freshness date and many are even packaged like actual foods (the packaging looks like to-go or grocery containers, cute in a campy way!)

Well, I don't want to give away my surprise presents for my 10-year old Niece, Mollee (as she does read my blog!), but lemme tell ya...there are some CUTE items if you are shopping for a pre-teen!!! I had just the best time picking out things for her the LUSH store! Maybe I will have her post a mini-review here after she has had a chance to test out some of her items! :)

So, I am sure this is the first of MANY LUSH posts on this blog! I got two products for myself...

The Lip Scrub in Bubble Gum:

My lips get so dry in the winter! I have seen some reviews online and on YouTube about this wonderful scrub (and, most recently, on my friend Shaylee's blog Check out her Lip-scrub review here: Cosmetically Curious). I just had to try this. Basically it is a bubble gum flavored sugar scrub...that you can actually eat off your lips when you are done. Who wouldn't love trying this! I just rubbed a small amount on my clean dry lips and gently scrubbed and then licked off! That's all there is too it! Simple and effective. Just sugar in a mositurizing oil base. So, easy! You get a ton of product, so this will last me a long time. The scent and the flavor of this lip scrub is TDF! And, honestly, I think that I will never stray from LUSH from this point forward when I need some lip exfoliation. I am planning on do a weekly or bi-weekly lip treatment with this! After I exfoliated, my lips felt very soft and moisturized! :) I topped with some vasaline just for good measure (but I am sure that LUSH has some great lip moisturizers?).

Wiccy Magic Muscles Massage Bar:

WOW!!! I love this unique product!!! My Mom and I actually "split" this bar since we were both interested in trying it (I literally just used a kitchen knife to split it in half...worked great!).  We both totally love it! After a long day of Christmas shopping with aching feet, this product really called to us as it is supposed to soothe tired achy muscles and fight exhaustion. Just what we needed! :) It is a creamy bar with cinnamon leaf oil (smells divine!) and Aduki beans.

It applies very creamy and then turns "wet". For you exercisers out there...this is like a "natural" Ben Gay (or any medicated muscle rub). I do a lot of running and exercising, so I am no stranger to sore achy muscles. I actually use medicated rubs quite frequently, but can't stand the smell of them. So, from now on I can just use the Wiccy Magic Bar instead!!!

It immediately feels stimulating and "warm/cool" when you apply it. Really, both Mom and myself felt immediate relief in our tired achy legs. Plus, the scent is very soothing. I will continue to use this and repurchase many times (I am sure!). Once it sinks in it leaves your skin feeling very moisturized. The Aduki beans provide a little bit more pressure to your skin when applying (like a massage).  I really enjoyed rubbing this bar onto my skin. I even had my husband rub my back with this. LOVE it!!! Highly recommend. I am actually very curious to investigate the rest of the range of massage bars. If they are as good as this one, I can't wait to try more! I will actually look forward to coming home after working out to rub this bar on any achy overworked muscles! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! This!!!! :)

So, just had to post a quick little rave for these LUSH products! :) You LUSH users out there...what else should I try from this awesome brand??? I am a big bath taker, so I am interested in the Bath Bombs for sure...and probably more massage bars!

XOXO!
Pammy

Essence: Denim Wanted Collection (review) and EOTD!

Hello lovelies!

Here I am with another *total rave* essence review! This review is for the Essence "Denim Wanted" shadow duo, glitter eyeliner, and lipgloss. Seriously, essence is one of the best low-priced cosmetics lines out there! All of these items cost me just less than $5.00 *total*! :) I found these on special display at my  Ulta. There was also a denim cuff bracelet and a few polishes on the same display that I did not purchase.

I also apologize in advance for the lack of skill in my photography! I have been wanting to try to do EOTD (Eye of the Day) and other makeup photos, but my self-photography skills need some improvement! lol! I am attempting to show you some looks below with the "photo booth" on my computer, but the makeup does not show up really well. But, you might get the idea!

The items:

My attempt at an EOTD photo!!! lol at my photograhy skills 

(this is the best I could do with photobooth, you can kinda see the blue shadow/ liner?)

Essence: Denim Wanted! Eyeshadow duo in 02 My Boyfriend's Jeans:

• What an adorable little eye shadow duo! This is actually what drew me in to the whole collection! The duo is packaged in a Stila-like cardboard compact with magnet closure. 

• The two shadows are inside with an applicator and also a "how to" picture with tips. I applied the shadow almost exactly like the "how to" photo. :) 

• The shadows are soft (but not chalky) and quite pigmented. Very "buttery" feeling shadows. Love them!!! They applied and blended extremely well and looked great paired together. 

• The sliver color is just gorgeous applied all over the lid. It appears as a soft whitish silver. Nice shimmer! 

• The blue, while it looks navy in the pan, actually looks more "purple" once applied. So, a purplish blue, if you will. Beautiful!!! I applied this navy to the "outer V" as well as the outer upper and lower lash line. 

• Interesting side note: The color of my eyes can be somewhat chameleon-like. My eyes are baby-blue, but depending on what I wear and what shadow colors I use, they can look either baby blue, steel gray, or greenish blue. This blue/purple color really brought out the green in my eyes. Cool! 

• I "finished" off this look with Wet n Wild's Creme Brulee eye shadow single (my latest fav: a matte cream color that is just slightly darker than my skin tone): used on my brow bone and to blend corners of the blue color and inner tear duct corners. 

• What a great deal for $2.00!!!

Essence: Denim Wanted: Glitter Eye Pencil: 01 My Boyfriend's Jeans

• This navy liner applied more like a true navy (unlike the shadow that looks purplish when applied).

• Formula is slightly "drier" in consistency than my other essence pencil liners. This might be because it is a "glitter" liner. The glitter is slightly "chunky" (not micro fine) and silver. You can see the glitter in the pencil and the glitter also shows up upon application, but is quite subtle. Pencil tugged a bit on the eyes and required some smudging. 

• An "okay" liner. Not my fav, but will continue to use paired with these shadows. 

• To intensify color and increase the wear of the eyeliner, I topped the liner with more of the dark blue/purple shadow from the Denim Wanted shadow duo. 

• This liner was $1.00

Lipgloss, liner, and shadow duo swatches

Essence: Denim Wanted: Lipgloss in 02 I Like Your Shorts:

• This little squeeze tube lipgloss keychain is adorable!!! And, WOW, it has turned out to be my fav product of this mini Denim Collection! 

• I am soooo picky about lipgloss scents! This one is wonderful! It is a very subtle vanilla scent. Yummy!!!

• The gloss is quite thick and moisturizing. It wears very well. 

• This is a clear gloss with whitish silver/irradecent shimmer. Just makes your lips look slightly paler and shimmery. 

• Really love this gloss!!! And, it was only about $1.50! Can't beat that!!!
• 
  

Overall, a *total rave* for this essence denim collection!!! I got this on a "whim"...and do not regret this purchase one bit! I know that I will recreate this eye-look many times! It is just such a quick, easy, and flattering eye. The lipgloss is going on my key chain, so I know it will get constant use! What great quality and "fun" items for a very low price! Love, love, love essence!!! 

Hope you enjoyed reading! And let me know if you have any self photography tips! (lol at myself!)

XOXO!

Pammy

Coming soon:

-Redken Blonde Glam Line: Review

-My Thanksgiving recipes and prep! Yes, we are *hosting* Thanksgiving this year! :) 

Stila Travel Palettes (part 2): Rave for "Make an Impression in Moscow"

Hi there blog readers! Those of you who have been with me from the "beginning" (lol-2 1/2 months ago!) know that one of my very first posts was on the Stila Travel Palettes. Well, I finally got the "Make an Impression in Moscow" palette and just had to share my total rave!

Of the 3 Stila travel palettes, this one is *by far* my favorite one! Not only are the colors beautiful,but I think that they are ideal for my coloring. The brown colors (especially the copperish "Nadia") give good contrast to make my blue eyes pop. And, the baby blue color "Chill" matches my eyes exactly! :) So, if you are a blue-eyed fair skinned girl like me, you might just want to pick up this little palette for only $10 at Ulta. What a good deal!

The low-down:

• As with all the Stila travel palettes the packaging is TDF cute! The package is small, portable, and sturdy. With a nice sized mirror inside and good magnet closure. Love it that the Stila girl "looks like me" on this one, LOL! :)

• The eye shadow colors: Matryoshka (shimmery light beige-brown), Nadia (Shimmery Copper, almost orange), Chill (Shimmery baby blue), Mink (shimmery deep brown). 

• The eye shadows have great texture and are very pigmented. They apply and blend well! Totally love them! 

• Here is how I wear the shadows: Matryoshka on the lid, Nadia in the crease, Mink outer corner and blended on upper lash line. I line the lower lash line with a MAC 266 and the Chill Shadow topped over Wet n Wild's sky blue liner pencil (this combo lasts ALL day without smudging!). I line the upper lash line with Bobbi Brown gel liner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink (which coordinates so well with these shadows). I highlight and do inner corner with Wet n Wild's Brulee shadow single (might do a mini rave post about this soon...I have been reaching for this more than my MAC Vanilla...love it!). I love doing my eyes with this palette! I am experimenting a bit more with color lately and I think lining the lower lashes is a great way to finish off a neutral eye and make it more interesting. (If I could *ever* master the art of self photography I would post an eye photo!!! I promise ya'll, I'm trying...video might be a better medium for me!).

• The Convertible Color (lip and cheek cream color): Lily (a lovely shimmery/dewy sheer peach). I find the texture of Lily to be very different than the convertible colors in my other two Stila travel palettes (that are "harder" in texture and wear better as a blush). Lily is *very* creamy and glossy. It wears best as a sheer lipcolor/gloss as I found it to be a bit too dewy and sheer for the cheeks. As a sheer lip color/gloss...totally Beautiful!!! It wears as a perfect shimmery peachy color on my lips. Seriously love this as a lip color! 

Here are the other items that I used to "finish off" my eye look.

In summary, I totally love this palette!!! The shadows are great quality and work so well together. These colors really work with my coloring and bring out my baby blue eyes. The convertible color is very creamy and wears great as a sheer lip color! I <3 this palette!!! :) 

Hope you enjoyed reading! 

XOXO! 

Pammy

Rimmel Lash Accelerator: Review

Hello lovelies! Here I am with another review. Hate to say it, cause I do love Rimmel, but this product is only "so-so" or "meh" for me. Don't love it, don't hate it.  So, here is my review for Rimmel Lash Accelerator.

I admit, I was drawn in by the commercials and the print add with Zooey Dechanel and her fab lashes (lucky girl! You know those are natural!). I mean, who wouldn't want to try a mascara that will actually make your lashes healthier and longer! I am sure the technology will be there soon for a good treatment/mascara in one...but, this is not it ya'll. At least not in my experience so far.

Background: I have very thin/sparse mid length blondish lashes. I was not one naturally blessed with thick lush lashes. I look for my mascaras to be both thickening and lengthening as I need both. With my lashes being dark blond...I am never without mascara...otherwise you wouldn't be able to "see" my lashes well. :)

This mascara claims to: "Make lashes appear 117% longer in 30 days". It has "AVEC Grow Lash Complex" (whatever that is!). It also claims to make lashes appear 80% longer instantly.

I tested this product for almost three weeks before reviewing. This is possibly not enough time to for this mascara to live up to its lash-growing claims (the package states 30 days). But, honestly, I didn't want to test it for much longer as this product smudges/smears *way* too much underneath my eyes. I almost gave up on this after a week...but, as the formula dried out a bit, I noticed that it started to wear a bit better and smudge less. Many times it seems as if a mascara hits its "peak", if you will, about mid way through owning it. When the formula has dried out enough to be easier to work with? This may be the case with this mascara.

As far as the smudging, nothing bugs me more than having mascara smear under my eyes after all my best effort to cover my dark under eye circles! When I try to wipe off my smudges...I end up wiping off all that painstakingly applied concealer. Ugh! So, back to the review...

My Thoughts: 

Pros:

• The wand is nice on this product.

• The brush separates lashes nicely. But, be careful, too many coats makes your lashes look spidery.

• After 2 coats I see a nice lengthening effect (not 80% longer, but definitely lengthened)

• Nice color. I tested the Extreme black...and yes, it is extremely black.

• You get good separation with the brush. I found no need to go back and comb my lashes. 

• If you catch this on sale and have a coupon...you can get this for *very* inexpensive. I believe I paid less than $5, but it retails around $9 at my Walgreens. 

Cons:

• No, I did not notice any increase in lash growth, nor lash thickness. 

• This mascara did not volumize my lashes. 

• This formula is VERY wet. It takes a long time to dry and during that time you risk transferring your mascara to your lids or under eye. Give yourself a good few minutes to dry. But, over time the formula dries out to a better consistency (IMHO)

• This mascara smudge under my eyes throughout the day. This is the kicker for me. I just cant wear mascara that smudges! And, so many brands do this on me. To me, the whole point of carefully applied makeup (including under eye concealer) is all for not when you get mascara smudges and need to wipe those away. 

So, in summary, yes I probably will test this a bit longer...but wanted to get my initial review and impressions posted on my blog here for you readers. So far, this mascara is not really living  up to its claims, but also does not wear well (on me) throughout the day with all the smudging. Even if I did get a mild increase in lash growth, for me, it would not be worth it with the smudging during wear. While Rimmel has some truly great products (like the amazing Smoky Brun shadow quad), this is not one of them. I must admit, I didn't "really" think this product would grow my lashes...so, I am not too let down on that. But, the wearablity factor is just not here with this mascara because of all the smudging.

What do you readers think? Is this product working for any of you out there? Have you tried any other "growth" mascaras? I have already purchased the L'Oreal Lash Serum which I will start testing tonight (yay!)...I just wanted to test the Rimmel mascara first to see if a lash-growing mascara would work.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for a L'Oreal Lash Serum review sometime in the future! But, I will likely test that for at least a month before posting a review. I have some high hopes on this one as I do hear that it is effective (crossing all fingers and toes!). In the meantime, for mascara, I am going to stick to my Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion. :)

XOXO!
Pammy

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...can't wait to see it!

Happy Saturday everyone! I am on vacation until Nov 29th, so I am in a great mood!

Also, I am so excited to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 1!!!

As a HUGE Harry Potter fanatic (books and films)...I just have to take a moment to share in my anticipation of the next installment of the film series...Harry Potter the Deathly Hallows part 1.

As much as I would have LOVED to go opening night, my Hub and I are going to avoid the crowds (which may be an exercise in futility) and see it later this weekend. BUT, I cannot flippin wait! The previews look fantastic! I can't wait to see how the content of the book translates to film. I am one of those "the book was better" people, BUT, that does not dampen my love of the films. I think the filmmakers have done an excellent job with the visual art and storytelling of Harry. My only complaints with the films are the subplots that are left out for time's sake. I want more house-elves...I want more details. But, lets face it, for the audience's sake they are not going to make a 5 hour movie! So, I am so very happy that they decided to split the final book into two films so that we can get more content.

I must do some rereading, re listening to audio books, and possibly a re-viewing of the last film before going to see the new one! We are talking a massive Harry Potter marathon this weekend!

I am sure I am revealing my inner geek to all of you...but, lol, I can't help it! I am just such a fan! :)

Anyone else planning on seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 this weekend? Anyone seen it already (no spoilers please!). What are all of you guys doing this weekend and over the break? I will update this post after I have seen the film (just to post a "rave" I am sure!!!).

XOXO!
Pammy

NYX Palettes: Champagne and Caviar Palette "Total Rave"!!! :)

Hey there dear readers! Any NYX lovers out there? If you have not discovered NYX cosmetics yet...you must check out this great brand!!! NYX offers good quality cosmetics with nice sleek packaging at a remarkably low price.

This review today is for the NYX Runway Collection: Champagne & Caviar 10 color Palette. I can't believe I have not reviewed this wonderful palette yet...because I love it!

This aptly named palette provides all the shades you need for a totally classic and elegant look that can easily go from day to night! The colors in this palette are timeless and elegant. This palette contains a nice array of soft neutrals for fair-skinned cool-neutral toned ladies like myself. I find that I reach for this great palette very often for a lovely/wearable daytime look!

Here is the low-down:

• This palette contains 10 lovely shadows in a very sleek and elegant compact. Colors include: a white, a light neutral pink, an array of browns and taupes, and dark black and brown liner/smoke shades. The shadows are a combination of matte and satin shades (with some shimmer). I love that there is a combo of shadow finishes as this gives such dimension to your look!

• Some of the medium browns/taupes seem to be near-duplicates, but I don't mind that as those are the shades that I seem to use the most often.

• I LOVE it that this palette contains both a white *and* dark smoke shades as this gives you everything you need to complete your look! I especially love it that there is a matte white as I love that shade for inner corner work. The dark shades work very well when applied over pencil eyeliner for a long-lasting lined eye.

• You can go from day to night with this palette. Apply light and medium neutral shades for day...and then smoke it out at night! All with the same palette.

• These shadows are soft, about "medium" pigmentation (the effect here is soft and subtle), and blendable, but a little bit powdery. But, I'm not complaining as they apply so easily! I think this would be a great palette for beginners because of the ease of blending with these shades. Also a great palette for anyone who loves neutrals or needs an "easy" daytime look.

• I personally love this palette for a work-appropriate daytime look!

• The packaging is sleek and elegant. It looks expensive, but its not! Love the shiny black compact! Features a full sized mirror inside and the shadows are of decent size. You get a good amount of product here!

• Packaging is also very sturdy and it is a nice size for travel. I have traveled with this palette a few times and did not have any shadow breakage. Even with the heavy use this palette gets, the outer packaging is not too scratched up (and this makes me happy as I like my makeup packaging to look nice and clean and pretty). You could easily travel with this palette as your only eye shadow. Maybe add a colorful shadow single if you want a pop of color. But, all your "basics" are covered with this palette!

• What a great value at $10 retail! Check the sales at your local Ulta as they frequently run sales on NYX.

• Tip: for longer lasting shadow and better wear, apply over an eyeshadow base (I like e.l.f. mineral eye primer, UDPP, or TF Shadow Insurance: comparison review coming soon on all these primers)

There is absolutely no question that I would purchase this palette again many times over. I totally love this palette! Big rave from me!

Great news for you readers! I just purchased an additional NYX Champagne and Caviar palette to add to my makeup goodies for an upcoming blog giveaway! So, keep stopping by my blog to check on that! The giveaway is a "thank you" to all you wonderful readers and subscribers. I appreciate all of you for stopping by! I am waiting for the milestone of 100 followers on Google Friend Connect before posting my giveaway. Hopefully I will hit that number soon ya'll! :)

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! What NYX products do you all love?

XOXO!
Pammy

Coming soon:
-Rimmel Lash Accelerator Review

Profusion Beauty Wallet: A "Total Fail" for me

Hey readers! Here today with a "fail" product...the Profusion Beauty Wallet: 25 "glossy" shadows.

What a total disappointment! Granted, at $2.99 for 25 shadows, I really shouldn't be surprised nor have expected much (but, then again, there are some great brands out there like essence and Wet n' Wild that put a lot of quality into their low price, okay, I digress...).

At first glance these Profusion Beauty Wallets really reminded me of the Coastal Scents Metal Mania Palettes that I have seen online. The shadows looked so massively metallic that I couldn't wait to try it out! I even picked up two hoping to toss one of them into my upcoming blog giveaway (stay tuned for that everyone...trying to get to 100 followers first!).

Well, ya'll, the shadows just aren't great. I immediately went home and started testing out some of those shades, only to discover that the "high shine" metallic finish was only a top coating on the shadows and that underneath was very powdery shadow without any metallic sheen that generally lacked pigmentation. Bleck! They blended out to look like "nothing". So, I didn't even do swatches for you readers, there just wouldn't be much to show.

So, needless to say, I am returned these palettes. Luckily, I purchased at Walgreeens, and they takes back almost everything. So, I had no trouble returning the palettes. The shadows just didn't show up metallic and that was why I purchased them. I had wanted a very metallic finish. Instead, I got powdery "blah".

Oh well! Just thought I would let you readers know! I was drawn in by the pretty pink wallet packaging (very "gifty") and the shiny/metallic looking shadows...but was disappointed. I mean, there are certainly MUCH better low priced cosmetics out there like Wet n Wild and essence that are inexpensive yet good quality.

Thanks for reading!
XOXO!
Pammy

Essence XXXL nudes lipgloss in Nude Kiss: A "close dupe" for Too Faced Pillow Talk!

Hello there lovely readers! While browsing at Ulta yesterday, I was so excited to discover a "close dupe" for my beloved Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Pillow Talk (from the Enchanted Glamourland Collection, and seriously, Pillow Talk has become my new fav gloss)! Yes, the essence gloss is "pinker"...but, for the look and effect and yummy scent...very similar (especially over my very pigmented lips)! Total rave for both of these glosses!

As you all know, I totally love essence cosmetics line, so I was happy to pick up the gloss as it was only $1.99! What a steal! The essence gloss is the XXXL Nudes Gloss in Nude Kiss.

*both photos show TF on left and essence on right. 

Here is my comparison of the two glosses! I *totally* love both glosses!!!

Similarities: 

• Same scent! Both glosses have a very sweet scent...it is a very "vanilla" cake-like scent with a hint of mocha? 
• Both shades wear as a lovely nude (with the essence more a "pinkish" nude...but, really, the same effect)
• Similar packaging
• Both glosses wear well as they are thick enough to be lasting without being sticky. Good texture on both glosses!
• Both gloss have good pigmentation. 

Differences:

• The Too Faced has a more "milky" finish
• The Too Faced is more a peachy nude and the essence is more of a pinky nude. You can see the difference in the arm swatches, but over my pigmented lips...the shades are *very* close (with the essence just being ever so slightly pinker)
• They are both thick (yet not sticky) glosses. The Too Faced gloss is slightly more dense. 
• The Too Faced has a brush applicator wand and the essence has a doe-foot applicator wand. 
• Too Faced has gold/iridescent micro fine gitter and the essence has silver/iridescent micro fine glitter...but, neither of these glosses look nor feel overly glittery. And despite the essence having silver not gold micro glitter, again, the effect is very similar on the lips. 
• Probably the most major difference is that the Too Faced gloss is a plumper and has a "minty"/mildly tingly or "cooling" feel upon application and the essence gloss does not have this feel. 
• The Too Faced Gloss retails at $18 and the essence gloss retails at $1.99!!! :) I got my Too Faced Glamour Gloss in the Enchanted Glamourland Set (which is a good value for the price!).

So, if the price for the Too Faced gloss is too high for you, then you can get a "similar" look with the essence gloss!!! Yay for a near-dupe! It is not an exact dupe, but the overall effect is similar enough to give you the same "look" with your makeup. I really love both glosses equally! Also, there are about 3 other shades in essence's XXXL Nudes line, so there are some other lovely nudes to try...and I bet if you mixed a few of them together, you could get an exact dupe!

I was very excited to find this essence gloss at Ulta!!! The essence display at my Ulta has a ton of new products...so, I am tempted to try more! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading!!!

XOXO!
Pammy

Coming Soon:
-Profusion Beauty Wallet: a fail!
-Wet n Wild Holiday Palettes: Night Elf :)

Giveaway at "Expensive Pink"

Hello dear readers! I have been trying to post about this giveaway all evening, but for some reason...blogger wont allow me to upload photos right now...it times me out each time I try to attach a picture to this post. Anyone else having trouble? Anyways, wanted to go ahead and get this link out!
*finally was able to add the picture, whew (a day later!)
Good luck! Hope one of you win!!!

XOXO!
Pammy

Link: Expensive Pink Blog Giveaway
*Note: for those of you clicking the link at work...music will play when you enter her blog! So, turn down your speakers. :)

Mario Badescu: Review and Opportunity for FREE samples!!!

Hello skin-care lovers! Have you tried Mario Badescu? If not, run, not walk over to the Mario Badescu website! You can fill out an questionnaire for an online skin care consultation. The folks over at Mario Badescu will analyze your answers and customize a skincare system just for your specific skin type and skin concerns. And...drum roll please...the best part...Mario Badescu will send you out a *totally free* sample package full of deluxe sized samples and detailed instructions for use!!! Totally free ya'll! You just have to get on the website, do the skin analysis...and that's it! All the product samples will be personalized for your specific skin type and skincare needs. I got mine in the mail just about 2 weeks after filling out the online form. (Please see my Mario Badescu link in the side bar)

I got my samples a few weeks ago. The samples are in the cutest little bottles!!! I have been diligently testing out the products over the past couple weeks so that I could report back to you readers on what worked and didn't work for me!

FYI: I have normal to dry skin with occasional dry/flaky patches. I use Differin Cream as prescribed by my Dermatologist. I have been using that for about 5 years and it keeps my skin very clear without dryness nor irritation. During "that time of the month" my skin gets a bit oily in the t-zone and is more prone to a very mild breakout (although, honestly, I breakout rarely...maybe one or two small bumps every few months). My skin is super sensitive and fair and I seem to be allergic to many skincare ingredients (primarily sunscreens). I don't have any wrinkles (yet), but I sure don't want any cropping up anytime soon! :) So, my skincare routine and recommendations are for people with my skin type. 

If you have oily/combo skin, then you might like to checkout my friend and fellow blogger Shaylee Anne's blog at "Cosmetically Curious". We got our samples at the same time and thought it would be fun to link each other in our reviews so that people could see what was recommended for different skin types!

So, here is what was recommended for me following my online skincare consultation (They sent me items for "combo/dry/sensitive" skin:

Eye Cream: Dermonectin Eye Cream
Scrub: Almond and Honey Non-Abrasive Face Scrub
Night Cream: Seaweed Night Cream
Toner: Seaweed Cleansing Lotion
Cleanser: Orange Cleansing Soap
Mask: Healing and Soothing Mask
SPF: Collagen Moisturizer SPF15
Acne drying gel? (they stated they could not send this as it needed to be in a glass bottle). This is something that I definitely want to try!

I did not test them all at the same time. I added one new product at a time. I did this because my skin is so *extremely* sensitive...that if one product was causing a reaction, I wanted to be able to determine which product caused the reaction. So, I staggered adding in new products. After I determined which products worked for my skin, I started using most of the products together. Does that make sense? Also, I must note that with the weather having just turned cold...my skin is much drier than usual. So, I was testing these products out during a very "temperamental phase" with my skin.

Here is the low-down:

Orange Cleansing Soap: 

• This is a very mild pearly/creamy liquid soap. 
• Creamy/non-foaming feel
• Mild fresh "creamsicle" fragrance
• Leaves a residue after rinsing (doesn't "rinse clean"): downside for me as I prefer a "clean rinsing" product
• Did not sting or irritate my skin at all upon application (big plus for my sensitive skin!)
• About 10 minutes after washing my skin started showing some signs of dryness (dry patches)
• After washing with this cleanser in the evenings, I noticed that I would wake up with very dry skin in the mornings (major dry patches)
• This cleanser might be better suited for more "normal" skin types. My skin in the cold weather gets very dry and this cleaner just wasn't mild enough for my winter-dry skin.
• Tested for about a week. Discontinued use at that time as my skin was getting too dry. 

Seaweed Cleansing Lotion (Toner):

• Very light scent
• Feels nice when applying (no burning, slight cooling sensation)
• Way too drying for my skin. 
• Generally, I am not a fan of toner unless it "adds" moisture to my skin. 
• Tested for 3 nights, after that I discontinued use as it was drying my skin out too much. 

Dermonectin Eye Cream:

• WOW! This is the most moisturizing eye cream that I have ever used! *Love it*!!!
• Unscented pale blue cream (but, why blue? with my dark under eye circles I just don't want any more blue pigment applied on my skin! Note: You can not see the blue when you apply it. I just wonder "why blue?")
• This product is intended for use at Night only as it is a very "greasy" cream and leaves your eye skin looking very wet and greasy. Great for night as you have all night while you sleep for it to sink in and work its "magic"! I tested it during the day, just for kicks, and it is *way* too greasy to wear under concealer (my concealer slid right off and didn't blend it). But, this eye cream was not intended for daytime use. 
• Very hydrating
• After using this in the evenings, I would awake in the morning with very moisturized eyes. LOVE this!
• I like this eye cream so much! Not only will I purchase for myself, but also I would like to get some for my Mom too! :) 

Almond and Honey Non-Abrasive Scrub:

• I swear, every time I open this and smell this I want to eat it!!! It smells so yummy...like honey/almond and oatmeal. I mean, really, smells divine!
• Creamy texture with very soft "scrub" pieces...like oatmeal or , I guess, almond (as the name implies).
• Left skin feeling nice and smooth after use.
• Did not dry out skin.
• No irritation. That is pretty amazing for me as I have to be super-careful with scrubs on my sensitive skin. 
• I would totally purchase this one! 

Collagen Moisturizer SPF 15:

• Non-scented 
• Feels creamy and moisturizing
• Leaves a dewy finish
• Tingling/stinging upon application (this was my allergic reaction coming on, I am sure it would not tingle otherwise)
• Apparently I am allergic to this product! After initial stinging upon application, my face started to get itchy. The itchiness continued to be bothersome so I had to rinse it off after about 15 minutes. 
• Note: I am allergic to most sunscreens it seems. So, this is not the first time that I have reacted like this to an SPF product. Typically, I go for physical sunscreens and steer clear from chemical sunscreens. I am a big label reader when shopping for sunscreens as I know that ingredients like Parsol 1789 bother me. This sample did not come with ingredients listed. After my reaction, I looked up the ingredients on the Mario Badescu website, but was not familiar with the sunscreen ingredient. So, I guess I can add Octyl Methooxycinnamate to my list of products that cause skin allergies. 
• So, I really feel that I can not fairy judge this product as I had an allergic reaction to it and only tested it a few moments. 

Seaweed Night Cream:

• Lightly scented pearly light green cream
• Very moisturizing
• I applied this to dry patches on my face (did not apply all over as I use Differin Cream at night all over my face, so I apply Differin...let that "sink" in and follow up with this over any dry areas)
• I really like how creamy and moisturizing this product is!
• I will continue to use this sample and possibly purchase a full size of this. 
• While I typically do not like my skincare products to be scented, the scent of this one I really like. 

Sorry for the blurry picture folks!

Healing and Soothing Mask:

• This product is designed to soothe any irritation from acne.
• I did not have any breakouts while testing these products, so I really have no idea how this works in relation to soothing/healing acne. 
• However, I did test this anyway. I applied all over my face and let it sit for 20 minutes. 
• The mask felt good on my skin. No irritation. 
• Skin felt smooth after rinsing the mask.
• The next morning I noticed an increase in dryness from the mask. 
• I will update this post if I breakout in the near future (and use this mask). 
• As far as masks go: this is a good one for my sensitive skin. Many masks are too strong for me and contain irritating ingredients. This is certainly a mask that I will use again in the future when I feel like doing some beauty "pampering".

In summary, some products I really, really liked and some not as much. Overall, I really enjoyed testing and using this brand. Also, I must comment that I like the no-frills packaging. Yes, I was allergic to the sunscreen, but that is really a common occurrence for me. I definitely want to explore more products from this line. They have a great selection of high quality products. Also, I must rave about a product by Mario Badescu that I have used for a long time: the Herbal Hydrating Serum: love this light weight oil-free gel for "spot" moisturizing. I keep a small bottle in my purse. 

Remember, what didn't work for me, might work great for you. The *good news* here is that you can test these products out for FREE and see for yourself! I can't think of a deal any better than that!

Hope you enjoyed reading! You guys must check out Mario Badescu's website (please see link in sidebar). Also, don't forget to checkout Shaylee's blog at Cosmetically Curious if you would like to hear about Mario Badescu products for oily skin.

XOXO!
Pammy