New Longwearing Active Formulas from COVERGIRL

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New Longwearing Active Formulas from COVERGIRL

Have you browsed COVERGIRL lately at the drugstore? They have some amazing new products that I am super excited to share with you!

Covergirl LashBlast Active Mascara:
The Covergirl LashBlast family of mascaras are always my favorite to use. I honestly do not have a favorite amongst the various formulas of LashBlast. I tend to change it up amongst these as my everyday mascaras. I just love the cubby brush and the overall feel of the chubby wand. Plus, LashBlast mascaras never smudge on me. That is a feat as I have very watery eyes. So, I was superexcited to try out this new Active version of a product that was already a fave. :)

Lash Blast Active Mascara gives an instant boost of volume. It promises up to 24 hour wear. Now, I did not test that, lol. However, it is quite a claim. I must say, this mascara does wear extremely long and extremely well! I am actually someone who wears a little bit of makeup to the gym. No, nothing too crazy...I just do the basics: concealer, mascara, and lip balm. Typically, when I hit the gym, I do it in the morning and then go about my day and shower sometime before dinner. So, that means that I want at least concealer and mascara on while running errands and such. This mascara easily lasts through a workout and my busy day! This mascara comes in 4 shades.

Formula

• Sweat-proof, Smudge-proof and clump-proof
• Ophthalmologically tested
• Up to 24 hour wear

Benefits
• The brush provides easy application, control and separation due to the alternating bristle lengths and the brush shape that hugs the lash line
• Suitable for contact lens wearers

Covergirl Outlast Active 24 Hour Foundation:
I have always been a fan of Covergirl foundations. They are a deal at the drugstore and I typically have great results! I am not an everyday foundation wearer. However, when I do wear foundation. I really want it to last and wear well. Longwearing formulas like this one are fantastic for extended wear! While I don't wear it to the gym or during a workout, I still want it to hold up to sweat! I live in sunny hot and humid Atlanta. So, anything sweat-proof is a must! The new Outlast Active 24 HR Foundation is available in 18 shades for Fair to Deep skin tones.  It’s a light-weight foundation that has fantastic wear! I tried the shade #810 Classic Ivory which is just a touch too dark for me. There is a shade lighter that I need to try that I think would be perfect for my fair skin. I love the coverage and the finish. Plus, the added SPF is a must!

Formula
• Sweat-proof, Transfer-proof and Humidity proof coverage,
• Formulated with a blend of flexible, water-proof polymers
• Contains SPF 20 and is oil-free

Benefits:
• Up to 24 hour wear
• Does not clog pores
• Suitable for all skin types

Covergirl Get in Line Active Eye Liner:
When I feel like getting "fancy", I put on liquid liner and do a basic cat eye. The Covergirl Get in Line Active Eye Liner combines a lightweight feel with intense color for maximum impact. The long wear formula is waterproof and sweat-proof to fit your active lifestyle. Just like with mascara, I appreciate a long-wearing sweat and waterproof formula when it comes to eyeliner. I just want to put it on and not have it budge until I take it off. This product does just that! So, I am super happy with it!  This product comes in 3 shades.

Formula & Benefits:
• Up to 24HR wear
• Sweat-proof, water-proof
• Lightweight feel and intense color for maximum impact

Benefits:
• Brush tip applicator for precise lines

Have you tried any of the Covergirl Active products? Let me know what your favorites are! I haven't tried the setting spray yet...that is next on my list. :) As always, thanks for reading! 

XOXO!!! 

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Get Your Pout On: COVERGIRL Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipstick

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Get Your Pout On: COVERGIRL Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipstick

It is time to get your best pout on: Meet COVERGIRL's new Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipsticks. Liquid lipsticks certainly are the thing right now. So, I am super excited about COVERGIRL's gorgeous assortment of shades in their Melting Pout collection. 

COVERGIRL's new Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipsticks have a gel-based formula which is packed with rich color pigments for a lusciously moisturized look and feel. Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipstick coats your lips in a rich and creamy color that feels silky-smooth.

Formula & Benefits:

• Highly pigmented gel formula that gives the color payout of a lipstick with the smooth glide of a gloss
•  Soft-touch precision applicator
•  Formula packed with rich color pigments

The pigment of these Melting Pout lipsticks is absolutely amazing! I really enjoy the texture of these liquid lipsticks. They are rich and pigmented and are quite moisturizing. The color looks so smooth and saturated on my lips. These lippies are high-impact color! The finish is satin and the product feels so lightweight on the lips. 

The packaging is super cute, too. I like the squeeze tube and the angled flocked tip for a precise application. The texture and wear time are pretty good, too, for a liquid formula. 

I tried the shades: #115 Celebrate, #105 Gel-Ful, #130 Don't Be Gelly, #100 Gelebrity, and #110 Evan-Gel-Ical. I probably like #110 Evan-Gel-Ical and #115 Gelebrate the best. I do wish that there were more shades in the light pink/nude range as I would love more selection.

Here are all of the shades currently available:

Gelebrity

 Gel-ful

 Evan-gel-ical

 Gelebrate

 Tan-gel-o

 Gell Yes

 Don’t Be Gelly

 Gelfriend

 Gellie Jelly

 Gel-bird

 Raspberry Gelly

 Gel-mate

The COVERGIRL Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipstick retail for $6.99 each. Be sure to check these out if you are looking for a moisturizing and highly pigmented liquid lipstick! 

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Get the 2017 SAG Awards Look: Janelle Monae and Sofia Vergara with COVERGIRL

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It’s was an important and exciting night for COVERGIRLs Janelle Monae and Sofia Vergara, as both hit the red carpet in support of their outstanding ensemble performances in Hidden Figures and Moonlight and Modern Family.

Here is the great news...I have all of the information on how both Janelle's and Sofia's looks were created directly from COVERGIRL! 

Below, Janelle and Sofia’s makeup artists share the inspiration behind their stunning beauty looks from tonight’s red carpet. From bold lips to retro eyes, enjoy the tips from Jessica Smalls and Kayleen McAdams. 

Janelle Monae’s 2017 SAG Beauty Look

Courtesy of Jessica Smalls:

For Pouty Bold Lips: Start the application at the center of the lips and work your way out using Outlast All Day Color & Gloss in Vivid Violet, which gives off an intense lip color and will stay put all night long. By using this technique, the center of the lip is more concentrated with color, making the lips appear fuller. 

For A Soft Sultry Eye:  Line the bottom of the eyes with Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Espresso, use the smudger tip end to slightly pull the color out. This will elongate the eyes and give the effect of a faux wing.

Get Janelle’s SAG beauty look at home using the following COVERGIRL products:

·         COVERGIRL So Lashy! BlastPro Mascara in Intense Black

·         COVERGIRL Easy Breezy Brow Shape + Define Brow Mascara in Soft Brown

·         COVERGIRL Easy Breezy Brow Fill + Shape + Define Brow Powder in Soft Brown

·         COVERGIRL TruNaked Eyeshadow Palettes in Roses

·         COVERGIRL Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Espresso

·         COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Soft Touch Concealer in Deep

·         COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Color & Gloss in Vivid Violet

Sofia Vergara’s 2017 SAG Beauty Look

Courtesy of Kayleen McAdams:

Retro Eyes: For this look I wanted to go for a more retro feel so I kept the eye heavier on the top with brown shadow from thetruNaked Eyeshadow Palette in Nudes. Then I used Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Espresso with a bit of brown shadow on the bottom. To emphasize the look I used two coats of So Lashy BlastPro Mascara in Extreme Black on top, but just one coat of So Lashy in Black Brown on the bottom, a trick to keep the eyes looking soft. To really reach all of the lower lashes I used the specialized ball tip to ensure each lash was lightly coated with mascara.

Bold Lips: As soon as I saw this dress I immediately wanted to do a bold red lip. I used the Outlast All Day Color & Gloss in Richest Red. This product has amazing staying power and will last for the entire show. Use a lip liner after applying the base color to lock in the color and then top with the gloss. 

Get Sofia’s SAG beauty look at home using the following COVERGIRL products:

·         COVERGIRL So Lashy! BlastPro Mascara in Extreme Black and Black Brown

·         COVERGIRL Easy Breezy Brow Shape + Define Brow Mascara in Soft Brown Brown

·         COVERGIRL TruNaked Eyeshadow Palettes in Nudes

·         COVERGIRL Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Espresso

·         COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Color & Gloss in Richest Red

·         COVERGIRL Lipperfection Lipliner in Passion

Have fun re-creating these looks! 

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What is NEW at the Drugstore? COVERGIRL New Releases 2016

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Have you browsed your local drugstore's makeup section lately? There is no question. Drugstore makeup has stepped up its game! There are so many gorgeous new drugstore makeup items. It literally makes me giddy browsing through the aisles and seeing all the pretty palettes and gorgeous colors. Beauty trends have driven production of not only a wider variety of makeup items available at the drugstore, but also has driven up the quality. It used to be that you could only get a highly pigmented concealer, a potted gel eyeliner, a contour palette, or a nude eyeshadow palette at Sephora, Ulta, or a department store makeup counter. Well, now you can get those items at the drugstore...and at a drugstore price! 

I am so excited about COVERGIRL's new releases for 2016! COVERGIRL will always be a go-to drugstore brand for me. Not only are COVERGIRL's prices extremely affordable, but also the line is nostalgic for me. My very first makeup I ever bought was COVERGIRL and I have kept COVERGIRL products in my makeup routine ever since! Even though I have always loved COVERGIRL, I do feel that they have stepped up their game the past few years with some really high quality line additions. So, lets talk about my newest additions to my makeup routine from COVERGIRL!

To hear about how I like these new items from COVERGIRL, please click "read more" below! :) 

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Foundations

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It is time for Top Ten Tuesdays! This week we are sharing our Top Ten Foundations. Over the years, I have really grown to love foundation. Nothing perfects your skin better! There are quite a few in my current makeup rotation. From liquid to powder and matte to dewy or sheet to full coverage, I really do like a variety of formulations and finishes. It just depends on my mood and what look and feel I want on that particular day. So, without further ado, here is my list! I have both high end and drugstore loves to share! :) 

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Foundations:

• Rimmel | Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation with Comfort Serum: This is one of my newest favorites and it is a drugstore formula! Love the smooth feel and great coverage. Not to mention, Light Porcelain is a perfect match for me! What to hear more, check out my full blog review of this beautiful foundation here. :) 

• MAC | Studio Fix Powder Foundation: This is my longest running favorite foundation! Actually, this is the first foundation that I ever wore on a regular basis. For day-to-day/everyday wear, I prefer the ease of dusting a light layer of powder foundation. The coverage of this powder is just amazing. Just an easy and light dusting really perfects my skin and leaves me looking flawless. NC15 is a perfect match for me in this foundation. I am never without this. As soon as I run out, I always buy more. Also, sometimes I layer this over a lighter coverage liquid foundation to increase coverage. Love, love, love this! 

• Laura Mercier | Silk Creme Moisturizing Foundation: This foundation has the most beautiful feel! I adore everything about it and reach for it often. This foundation comes in both moisturizing and oil-free formulations. 

• It Cosmetics | Celebration Foundation: This is a fabulous powder foundation! It is packed with anti-aging ingedients. So, like all IT Cosmetics products, it is good for your skin while giving you a flawless finish! While it is a powder, it has a luxurious creamy feel and fabulous luminous coverage.

• COVERGIRL | Ready, Set, Gorgeous Foundation: The Classic Ivory shade is a pretty good match for me in the Summer when my complexion is slightly darker. While I do wish this was slightly lighter, I still love the look, feel, and coverage of this foundation. Plus, the price is great! 

• Urban Decay | Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup: Like the name states, this foundation feels weightless on your skin. This foundation honestly looks like "real skin"...but better! It is so natural, so light, and so flawless while still giving good coverage. Plus the shade 0.5 Cool/Very Fair is a perfect match for me. 

• Shiseido | UV Protective Stick Foundation: This stick foundation from Shiseido is phenomenal! It is water-resistant and it contains SPF. So, it is a perfect Summer foundation for me. The shade Fair Ivory is a decent match for my skin tone (just slightly too dark...but, it works in the Summer when I am slightly darker and self-tanning). This glides on smoothly and it is a perfect small size for your purse for touch-ups! 

• Lancome | Teint Visionaire Skin Correcting Makeup Duo: I love this 2-in-1 from Lancome! It has a liquid foundation on the bottom that is packed with anti-aging ingredients (contains the active ingredient as Lancome's Visonaire Serum!!!) as well as light-refecting skin enhancers. The top flips up to reveal a creamy concealer. This is a great idea! I use the liquid all over and then use the concealer to give more coverage where I need it on my face. I love how my skin looks with this: flawless with a dewy glow. Beautiful! I wear shade #100 Ivoire. 

• tarte | Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation: As much as I have grown to love liquid formula foundations, I admit that for "easy makeup" days, I always reach for a powder formula. This is so fast and easy to apply. It has all good ingredients in it, too. I like the natural finish (not totally matte). You can build coverage from light-full depending on how you apply. I apply it with tarte's brush and it looks flaweless. Plus, this really lasts all day! I wear the shade fair-light neutral.

• NARS | Sheer Glow Foundation: This hydrating and luminous formula leaves my skin looking so perfected while feeling so light on my skin. The shade match of Siberia is spot on to my skintone in the Winter. So, this is a perfect foundation for right now! Love, love, love it!

So, that is it! My Top 10 Foundations. If I was forced to choose a Top 3 out of this list, they would be NARS Sheer Glow, MAC Studio Fix, and Urban Decay Naked Skin because those three are the best matches for my ultra light skin tone. However, all ten of these really are fabulous! So, be sure to check them out. Also, be sure to scroll through the thumbnails below to see what my fellow Top Ten Tuesdays Bloggers picked for their foundation favorites! :) xoxo

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Top Ten Tuesdays: Nail Polishes for Autumn

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It finally feels like Fall here in Georgia! The air is crisp and cool in the mornings and the Sun is out and shining in the afternoons (on a good day!). Autumn in full-swing. The season's full arrival is sure reflected in my nail color! While the weather has cooled, it is still to hot here to dive into all the gorgeous new sweaters and boots that I see in the magazines and on Fashion blogs. So, I get into the Fall mode with my nail color! Plus, hello, Halloween is almost upon us and there are certainly some fun nail looks that I like to explore to get festive! Fall in Georgia is my favorite time of the year. So, I really have an affinity for Fall Nail Polish as well!

It was *so hard* to pick only 10 polishes for this post...I mean *so hard*! So, I tried to focus primarily on polishes that I am gravitating towards currently. Many of these are new releases since that is honestly what I play with more often! The result, I couldn't pick just 10...but got "close" with 13.

So, without further ado, here are my picks for Top Ten (13, wink!) Nail Polishes for Autumn 2015:
I am going to break them down into "categories":
Festive/Press On Nails: 

Broadway Nails Halloween Press On Nails: These press-on-nails by Broadway Nails are just *so fun*....and super quick! I haven't used press-on nails in a few years. So, it is fun to experiment with these. I have tried a nice little variety from the brand and am saving these two designs for the 2 weeks leading up to Halloween! Broomstick is a sexy twist on a french manicure with black tips, a spider web, and a glittery spider. My husband actually thinks these look super-sexy. So, I am going to wear them the week before Halloween when we are hitting a cool Halloween party together. :) The Cauldron Set is a super festive mix of orange and black nails with jack-o-lantern faces, spider webs, spiders, and a black glitter accent nail. I will wear these the week of Halloween! Yay! These are such a great alternative to polish! They are super quick and easy and the best part: no dry time. Plus, your manicure looks perfect (and lets face it, my nails usually don't look perfect).

Fun, Glittery, or Unique Polishes:

KBShimmer: If you are looking for unique and beautiful polishes, look no further than KBShimmer! Their polishes always stand out in my collection for being truly unique and remarkably different! I selected two polishes from KBShimmer for today's Top 10 post: Be Scareful (Dots, shreds and circles in orange and black swim among a near white crelly base. After dark, this polish glows ghoulish green.  Since glow powder is heavy, I suggest rolling/shaking before application) and I Feel Gourd-geous (A coppery champagne color, this fine holographic polish shines in the light. Two –three coats offers a beautifully neutral full coverage polish). Both of these polishes are from their new Fall/Winter 2015 Collection (if you missed my full review post, check it out here). I am obsessed with Be Scareful because it *glows in the dark* (OMG! How fun for Halloween parties!!!). I Feel Gourd-geous has seriously got to be one of the most beautiful polishes I have ever used. Ever. I seriously will paint my nails with this week after week (and I almost never repeat back-to-back). It is sparkly and pretty and seriously the best "neutral" ever!

Orly Glitters: These two, I believe, were released last year (or the year before) for Halloween. This time of year, I love reaching for Monster Mash (lime green holographic glitter) and Right Amount of Evil (orange holographic glitter). These are great on their own or layered over other polishes. They are festive and fun for sure! 

Colorful:
Just because it is Fall doesn't mean that you have to completely shy away from color! Sure, the neons and brights of Summer are out of my rotation. However, I just can't resist my signature blues and purples, and pinks. These three from SinfulColors are just gorgeous and in heavy rotation on my nails and toes right now: Too Cool For Pool, Royal Flush, and No Filter. I am especially fond of fuschia colors for nails and toes. So, Royal Flush (gorgeous Fuchsia creme), in particular is a huge fave!!! Royal Flush and Too Cool for Pool (Periwinkle with very subtle iridescent micro sparkle) are from the SinfulShine 2-step (no light) gel polish system. Just apply the step 1 Gel Nail Color and then top it off with the Gel Topcoat. It is that easy! I do find that these manicures last just a bit longer than my usual manicure. So, I am thrilled with the results! No Filter (iridescent Twilight blue) is from the Oh Snap Collection. I love this deep shade. It is colorful; yet, so deep and rich for Fall. Plus, have I mentioned that SinfulColors are an amazing deal at the drugstore! For just a few dollars, you can try as many shades as you want! :)

Deep, Dark, Red, and Metallic:

My Inspiration: My PERFECT Red Lip

No Fall/Winter Nail Polish Collection would be complete without some Red and some Metallic! Now seriously ya'll, I am not normally a red lipstick and polish girl. However, the tide has turned! I am really on a red lippie and polish kick. Do you know what jump started this trend for me? The StarWars Collection from COVERGIRL! I am *obcessed* with StarWars and flippin adore this collection. I completely fell in love with the lipstick Red #30. It is absolutely the *perfect* red. It has just enough of a cool undertone to work perfectly with my skin. It is a gorgeous true red and has me completely converted. It is now an "everyday" Red lippie for me (I NEVER thought I would have an "everyday") red! Can I tell you one other awesome thing, besides it being a Star Wars item, this lipstick seriously lasts all day on me. Sure it fades a bit when I eat. But, my lips look gorgeous all day with very little re-application when I wear this. I don't wear a lot of makeup day-to-day. So, a nice pop of color on my lips goes a long way! Sorry, total digression here! Lets get back to polish.

So, my point is...falling in love with red lips has me now turning to reds for my tips and toes, too! The Star Wars Collection from COVERGIRL has a gorgeous true red polish #180 Red Revenge and I am also loving Nemesis #195 (a deep eggplant). These polishes are the awesome Outlast formula which is a great 1-step super glossy polish. I love these for a quickie mani! If you haven't checked out the Star Wars Collection yet from COVERGIRL, you definately should before it sells out or becomes hard to find! The assortment of lippies, polish, and mascara is awesome! A must-have for any Star Wars fan like me! :)

One of my other favorite polish lines is the Complete Salon Manicure Collection from Sally Hansen. Fabulous formula and a great choice for colors! For Autumn, I am loving #863 Maasai Red (deep red/burgundy creme) and #871 Lady T (Silver Sparkle Metallic).

Be sure to check out my fellow Top Ten Tuesdays bloggers posts (see below). I can't wait to see what they are wearing on their nails this Fall! :)

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Summer Essentials: Favorite Waterproof Makeup

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With the temps in the mid-upper 90s, it is time to embrace my no-fail Waterproof Makeup! Waterproof makeup is essential this time of year. Many days I do end up either at the pool or doing water activities with the kids in the back yard. I often do not know how my day will play out. So, I always opt for as much waterproof makeup as possible. Plus, in this heat, Waterproof makeup is much more resistant to sweat and general makeup "melt-down"!

Overall, my makeup look is very simplified (and even more so in the Summertime when I honestly just couldn't be bothered with a fussy look). So, I keep it streamlined: concealer (for under eye area and concealer or a good coverage foundation to dab over slight redness on chin and around nose area), a dab of powder, mascara, maybe eyeshadow (just a wash of color on the lids if I do), lipbalm or sheer lip gloss, and a bit of blush or bronzer applied as blush for color. If I am getting "fancy", I will do eyeliner, too.

I have a nice little assortment of waterproof and longwearing makeup options in my makeup collection right now. So, I am going to share some of my favorite picks with you today!

Summertime Essentials: Some Great Waterproof Makeup Options:

• It Cosmetics | Bye Bye Under Eye Waterproof: How amazing is it that my favorite concealer by It Cosmetics is also available in an waterproof formula?!?! This pleases me to no end! The coverage is amazing and the pigmentation is fabulous. The shade "Light" works very well with my fair skin tone. I just love that I can cover my super dark under eye circles in a waterproof way! Even if I wear no other make, I don't leave the house without concealing those bad dark circles! 

• tarte | lights, camera, splashes™waterproof mascara: This mascara gives my lashes everything that I crave (length, curl, and volume) while also being waterproof! No smudges with this mascara! 

• tarte | Amazonian clay waterproof bronzer (in both matte and shimmer finishes): Waterproof bronzers? Yes, please! I wear high SPF on my face. However, I do still crave that sunkissed glow and can get that with these tarte bronzers! I am especially in love with the matte one! Beautiful!

• Shiseido | UV Protective Stick Foundation SPF 37: This is a long-lasting water resistant foundation with a creamy feel and medium coverage. This is great for covering slight redness around my nose and on my chin. This foundation is very convenient for travel or on-the-go touch ups because of the slim and portable size. This doesn't budge until I take it off! It comes in four shades. I am the shade Fair Ivory. 

• Pixi | Endless Silky Eye Intensity Duo and Lash Line Ink: Pixi sure does know have a nice selection of waterproof liners! Right now, I am especially loving the Silky Eye Intensity Duo in the Blue Eye Intensity Shade. It is a no-smudge dual ended eyeliner with a deep matte blue grey liner on one side and a brightening opal beige on the other side. I line my upper lash line with the blue grey and brighten up my inner corner and lower waterline with the beige. It is super easy to apply and very flattering for my blue eyes! If I want more of a "liquid liner" look, I reach for Pixi's Lash Line Ink which I have loved for years! It quickly lays down dark color and it doesn't budge. The tip makes it very easy to use and is a great product to get that winged liner look.

• COVERGIRL | Clump Crusher by LashBlast Mascara: I know, I just can't stop talking about Clump Crusher! It is my all-time favorite mascara. If you haven't already, you really must explore COVERGIRL's mascaras. I am quite a fan of pretty much all of the LashBlast mascaras. Clump Crusher is water resistant, doesn't smudge, and defines my lashes beautifully with no clumps. Plus, the green tube is pretty darn cute!

• PurMinerals | Big Look Waterproof Mascara: I love this new mascara from PurMinerals! This mascara gives beautiful fullness and length to my lashes. The waterproof formula is great for Summer! 

• essence | Lash Mania Reloaded Waterproof False Lash Mascara: If you are looking for a good budget mascara, be sure to check this one out! For only $4.99, it is a steal and it leaves my lashes super dark black and full.

• essence | Gel Eye Pencil: I have long been a fan of essence's eye liners. They are so cheap and honestly so good! These glide on and lay down nice dark color. For only $2.99 each, you can afford to indulge in a variety of fun colors for Summer!

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Makeup Wars: Favorite Mascara!

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It is time for another Makeup Wars! This time we are sharing our favorite mascara!

My Eyes:

My eyes are so sensitive. I have allergies, they are sensitive to light, and they are prone to tearing. This really gives my mascara a run for the money. I need a mascara that will really hold up to all the tearing of my eyes. Plus, I like a formula that gives me nice length and volume with no flaking nor smudging. Sure, I could go the waterproof route for longer wear. However, I like the fell of non-waterproof formulas much better.

Makeup Wars: Favorite Mascara with CoverGirl

I am super excited about this topic this week as I have a clear favorite. Often times, I have many favorites in a given category. However, for mascara, there truly is one that particularly stands out in my sea of mascaras in my collection. Now, there are really are many mascaras that I like. Many that I think are really great actually. However, when it comes to my gold-standard go-to mascara that I reach for time and time again and I am always pleased? That has gotta be Covergirl's Lash Blast Clump Crusher!

I love the packaging, the brush, and the formula. I get amazing smudge-free wear! Plus, I get such nice separation and fullness. As the name states, you never get clumps from this formula! I highly recommend this mascara! I have purchased it time and time again and think that I will go on using it forever (seriously!).

As a general rule, I am partial to all of CoverGirl's LashBlast formulas (I think I have tried them all!). If you like affordable drugstore mascaras, and like smudge-free wear, then I highly recommend that you check out CoverGirl's line of LashBlast mascaras. There are quite a few types. So, I am sure you will find one that you love!

CoverGirl LashBlast Mascaras: These are ALL good!!!

Be sure to check out what my fellow Makeup Wars bloggers picked for their mascara favorites!

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Top Ten Tuesdays: Beauty Stocking Stuffers!

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Top Ten Tuesdays is back! Top Ten Tuesdays is a collaborative list-type blog series where top beauty bloggers share their Top Ten lists.

This week we are sharing our ideas for beauty-related stocking stuffers! Are you all ready for Christmas yet? I am still in the midst of Christmas shopping with it being about half way completed. So, I am always looking for good ideas for stocking stuffers!

Beauty Stocking Stuffers! with Softlips, CoverGirl, L'Occitane

To find out more details about each product, please click "read more" below! :)

Drugstore Finds: NEW Products from COVERGIRL!

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The Latest from COVERGIRL with CoverGirl

Have you seen some of the latest new products from COVERGIRL? There is no question that COVERGIRL is one of my go-to drugstore brands. It is a brand that I have used and trusted ever since I started wearing makeup as a teenager! I am always excited to see and try new products from COVERGIRL!!! This new lineup of products is no exception. COVERGIRL has some really fabulous new products and even a new numbering system for their classic shades (as well as new shades, too!).

For this review, I tried out an assortment of items from COVERGIRL's expanded TruBlend Collection (COVERGIRL TruBlend Liquid Makeup , COVERGIRL TruBlend FixStick, and COVERGIRL TruMagic Products) as well as a few of COVERGIRL's Outlast nail glosses and a couple Bombshell shineshadows. Please click "read more" below to find out more about how I liked these fun new products from COVERGIRL! :) 

L'Oreal and Cover Girl Giveaway at Free Beauty Events: April Contest

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Have you ever checked out the Free Beauty Events site? It is a great resource for local beauty events in your area. Plus, they have great monthly giveaways! To find out more, please click here.

Makeup Wars: Favorite Mascara!

Are you ready for another Makeup War? I sure am! Today we are battling it out over the best mascaras. I am jumping into the fray with one of my all-time favorite mascaras!

What are these Makeup Wars of which I speak?
The Makeup Wars group blog blasts about the same topic about every other week. We link to each others' posts through the themed graphic at the top of the post (see the last mascara, next mascara links) and the blog logo/photo links at the bottom of this post. We encourage you readers to click the links and scroll through all of our blogs to see our favorite mascaras! Our posts all go live at the same time. So, finding out what other Makeup Wars bloggers picked is a surprise to me too! I am always so eager to click through to find out what everyone picked!

Did you miss our last few Makeup Wars? Be sure to check out those posts here: Battle of the Taupes, The $20.00 Face Challenge, Battle of the Favorite Summer Lippie, the Most Expensive Face Challenge, the Best Brush, Favorite Fall Polish, Favorite Red Lipstick, Best Fall Look, Halloween Manicure, and our Favorite BB Creams.

I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I literally do not go a day without it. Even on "no makeup days" I still slap on some concealer, a bit of lip balm, and a couple coats of mascara. So, why the hate? Most mascaras smudge on me....terribly! I am not exactly sure why. My best guess is that my eyes are very sensitive and they tear a lot. Therefore my mascara must stand up to that tearing. Between the wind, bright sun, and allergies, there is almost always something making my eyes water a bit. Sure, I have tried waterproof mascaras to combat this. I just don't like how stiff they make my lashes feel. Plus, those are harder to remove.

So, what is a girl to do? Find the best mascara and stick with it! Rarely do I ever stray from my Holy Grail favorite mascara. Even as a beauty blogger who tests out products, I still do not stray much. I mean, why stray? Are you curious about what I selected as my favorite mascara? Well, keep on readin!

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion (Total RAVE!!!): Holy Grail Mascara

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion: Holy Grail (HG) Mascara 

As you can tell by my title, this is a *total rave* article! CG Last Blast Fusion (brown: non-waterproof) has been both my go-to and HG mascara ever since it came out. I totally love this mascara!!!

I have been a fan of the Cover Girl mascaras ever since they came out with the flexible rubberized lash head with their Last Exact mascara (which I also love, BTW). I have tried many "rubber brush mascara" versions by Cover Girl including the original Last Exact (clear and purple tube), Last Blast (now called Lash Blast volume: fat orange tube), Lash Blast Luxe (red fat tube), and my HG Last Blast Fusion (fat purple tube).

Generally, I like regular formulas better that the waterproof versions. That is just my personal preference. I find that the non-waterproof versions have less flaking. But, I know some people swear by waterproof. So, its just up to you.

Here are some highlights on my HG mascara:

• I *love* that the brown shade is so wearable. I am blond with fair skin...and for an everyday mascara I prefer brown. This is a beautiful medium shade of brown, not too dark, and not too light. PERFECT!

• This mascara *never* clumps...no need to even use a lash comb with this. 

• It is so easy to apply! Just apply straight out of the tube...no need to dab off excess on tissue or tube. The wand geniously picks up just the right amount of mascara. Seriously, fool-proof application!

• Makes my lashes look both longer and thicker. 

• This is the only mascara that I have ever worn that gets me "Wow, your lashes look so pretty/nice/long" compliments (and this is an accomplishment for my normally short/sparse lashes!!!)

• Great price!

• Wears all day long with absolutely no flaking nor smudging.

• Removes easily (I use Neutrogena's Makeup Remover)

• Formula has a nice consistency...moist, but not too wet. 

• Formula leaves a nice "finish" on lashes.

• The purple tube packaging is ridiculously cute!!! 

The only "downsides" (none of these are even close to being "deal-breakers" for me):

• The fat wand might take some getting used to for application. I am so used to the size of the wand that it doesn't really matter to me. But, it does feel "different" in your hand and it takes a little getting used to manipulating a fat wand/brush head.  

• The large tube takes up more "room" in your purse. Definitely not a "slim design" package. But, honestly, this doesn't bother me either as I don't typically reapply during the day. I always leave my mascara at home. 

So, a *total rave* for Cover Girl's Lash Blast Fusion mascara!!! I have purchased this over-and-over again...and will continue to do so. I also love that Cover Girl is so readily available. I usually just pick this up at my local grocery store with a coupon. No searching around to find this product!

What is your favorite mascara? Do you have a Cover Girl Fav? The only Cover Girl mascara (with a rubberized brush head) that I haven't tried is Lash Blast Length. Just wondering if anyone had any comparisons?

Thanks so much for reading my lovelies!

Coming Soon:
-BeneFit Ooh La Lift: review
-Essence of Beauty Brushes: Bargain alert and review

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm: Review

Have ya'll seen all the lipstains in the drugstores lately? It seems as if everyone is coming out with one: Covergirl, Maybelline, and Revlon all have lipstains in their current collections. This Revlon one drew me in over the others with it's catchy "Just Bitten" (vamp theme!) name and the dual ended product with lip balm on one end.

So, here is my review for Revlon's Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in the color Frenzy

The idea: Lipstain is a product that "stains" your lips (rather than coating your lips like a lipstick). It is transfer resistant and long-wearing.

Here are my tips and thoughts about Revlon's Just Bitten in Frenzy:

• start with clean dry lips in order to best apply the product (you don't want anything "coating" your lips like lip balm as the color needs to soak into the skin on your lips)
• the color of the stain is the exact color of the product tube
• Frenzy is a beautiful bright raspberry color (perfect for "perking up" my fair skin and complementing my complexion)
• The product is dual ended with the lipstain on one side of the tube and a lip balm on the other side (save the lip balm until after the lipstain is applied and dry)
• The lipstain has a very light berry scent. The lip balm is unscented and clear.
• The lipstain applies like a felt-tip marker and feels wet initially on your lips, but dries quickly.
• The stain is beautiful on its own, or topped with a gloss.
• Suggestion for all felt tip products(feltip eyeliners and lipstains): store tip side down so that the product goes to the tip and the tip does not dry out over time.

My wear test:

• You can reapply lip balm or gloss on top as needed.
• Lipstain does not dry out your lips like how a long-wear lipstick does. It just stains them.
• Lipstain does not transfer color. So, no worries about getting this vibrant color on your coffee mug, your teeth, or your honey (so, pucker up! :)
• Lipstain wore really well all day, but it did slowly fade over time. I wore it through coffee, water, lunch...
• Slight fading noticed within the morning hours, with more significant fading after eating. Even though the color faded, the lips were still visibly "berry" looking later in the day...but, the color was much less vibrant. So, the color will wear all day with decreased vibrancy. I purposely did not reapply as I wanted to see how long it lasted. I almost like the color better after a few hours of fade-time. I was dissapointed that by the time that I got home from work, the color had almost completely faded. BUT, that was after 8 hours of wear (with no reapplication, just reapplication of lipbalm). I think that ideally, a reapplication after lunch would give this product all day-color with just one touch up. And, I think considering how much you have to reapply regular lipstick, one touch-up is pretty good. Plus, I like the color a little better after it fades.

Overall: A big rave for Revlon's Just Bitten! Looking forward to trying more shades from Revlon and some of the other brands as well. (Revlon offers 10 shades, yes...all with vamp-themed names, how appropriate! You guys know that I will have to try Twilight!!!).

Revlon's Just Bitten lipstains retail for about $8.99. But, as you readers know, I hardly ever pay full price! Picked this up during a Revlon sale at Ulta (plus had a $1.00 off coupon), so I ended up getting this product for just a few dollars. The trick to really saving money on cosmetics is to know what ads are out (check online or your newspaper)...and to combine a manufacturers coupon with an in-store sale.

Hope you enjoyed reading!