First Impression: Stila Double-Ended Blending Sponge

         I've had my eye on the Beauty Blender for a while now, since basically all of youtube is using it. However, I never bought it because of the price. Then Stila came out with this double-ended blending sponger for only $12?!! I knew I had to get it! This can be purchased at Ulta online or in stores. I have also seen this on Amazon.
          According to the packaging:

         "This dual-ended sponge applicator applies makeup seamlessly for a smooth, streak-free finish"

         Directions for this sponge include:

         "Rounded side: Perfect for application all over the face and neck." 

         "Pointed side: Ideal for accessing hard-to-reach areas and precision blending." 

         "Usage: Dampen sponge with water and apply your favorite stila foundation, beauty balm, or tinited moisturizer using a "stamping" motion all over the face and neck. Also works great for applying stila's convertible color onto cheeks. For best results, do not sweep or drag sponge across the face. If needed, gently buff away any streaks or lines."

         "Care:  It is recommended to wash the sponge after each use. Gently wash with a mild cleanser, set aside on a clean surface and allow to dry completely."  

 So after following all these instructions....

          Do I believe this applicator applies makeup seamlessly for a smooth, streak-free finish? YES!!!!

          As for my first impression on this product, I'm going to start with the packaging. It's basically in a plastic bag with a piece of paper, not impressive, but it is very minimal. I also think whoever wrote the instructions need a lesson in grammar as the first word of a sentence should have the first letter capitalized. It makes reading the instructions very difficult. As for the sponge itself, I think it's brilliant. You may think it's too stiff, but once you wet it, it becomes something amazingly soft and bouncy. If you "stamp" the foundation on your face with the sponge, it gives you a beautiful flawless finish. It looked so amazing, I forgot I had to powder after!!! However, the key is to stamp, if you don't you get streaks and blots. So do follow the instructions!! What I like most, is product doesn't really stick to the sponge. Part of that is you wet it in the beginning, but I think it also has to do with the way the sponge is constructed.  I normally just dot my foundation on my face then go in with the sponge. If you put foundation directly on your sponge, it will also soak up more of the foundation and leave less of it for your face. (It is a sponge after all :)) The only bad thing I have to say about this sponge, it that it needs to be cleaned after every use. Technically you are suppose to clean all your brushes after one use, but realistically, who has time to do that every day?? hm??

My Overall Rating: 95/100

So, if you have the beauty blender and the Stila double ended sponge, which do you think works best?

       

Best Places to get Discounted Drugstore Products

          

          If you love makeup like I do, this addiction can be quite pricey even when talking about drugstore products. Over the years I have discovered certain discount stores that carry drugstore products (some even high end) for a fraction of the cost. However, please take into consideration your region as different areas may carry different products and even different stores that do the same exact thing. This is based on California. J

The most unlikely stores seems to be the ones with the best deals.

1. Grocery Outlet

-You think this store is just for groceries? Think again! Some of the best deals I have found here. Remember when Loreal launched the Project Runway collection? Well, just the other day I ran into some of the Le Gloss and Colour Riche lipsticks from that line for $2 each. Yes, you heard me…$2! I believe Le Gloss and Colour Riche lipsticks normally cost around 993042. Yes, they may be “old.” But as long as they have not been open, they are still safe to use even a year later. Some other brands I have seen here are Milani, Physician’s Formula, Revlon, Maybelline, Garnier, E.L.F… just to list a few. These products definitely vary by store. I’m not quite sure how Grocery Outlet gets their hands on these products, as a lot of them were clearanced out of Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens and such.

2. Big Lots

-This is a very similar store to Grocery Outlet, but less emphasis on groceries. (Think like Target or Walmart but slightly cheaper.) From my experience, Big Lot does not carry as much cosmetics as Grocery Outlet. Some brands I have seen at Big Lot is Almay, Wet n Wild, Covergirl… just to list a few. Their selection isn’t as broad as there will be 15 of the same shade of eyeshadow. Prices here are slightly higher than Grocery Outlet, but still cheaper than normal drugstore prices.

3. Ross

-Though this store is mostly discounted clothing, they do have some cosmetics. Most of their cosmetics are drugstore, but their body/hair products are usually discounted high end products. From what I have seen, they carry Physician’s Formula, Profusion, Bed Head, H2O… just to list a few. Selection varies depending on the day. Some days you will have a great selection and other days you will have very few choices. You should also note products here are sometimes beat up, at least more than other places. So check before you buy! Especially here!

4. TJ Maxx/Marshalls

-This is very similar to Ross, however, most items in these stores are more designer and name brand. You see this with their beauty products as well. They mostly carry discounted high-end things like Elizabeth Arden, however, like Ross they have Bed Head and they also carry Sexy Hair. I have also seen fragrances here like Wonderstuck by Taylor Swift and Fame by Lady Gaga

5. Dollar Tree

-Now a lot of brands I see here are not really mainstream brands, however, once in a while I will see Covergirl or Loreal here. Sometimes they carry ELF, but it doesn't really count since most of ELF cosmetics are usually $1 anyways. 

6. 99 Cent Only

 -What applies to Dollar Tree also applies here. 

7. Blog Sales

-I only mention this because sometimes you can get unused drugstore products and even high end products for a lot cheaper than retail. Part of that is people buy things then don’t use it then sell it. You do need to do your own research though as most items in a blog sale are used. For more information about blog sales, how to buy and all that jazz, read my post!

So, where do you like to get your makeup? 

First Impression: Maybelline Fall 2013 Color Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss

          Ever since this collection came out from Maybelline I have been dying to get my hands on these lip glosses! Of the 4 in the picture, 3 of them are in this collection. The 3rd color is from the Summer 2013 Collection, or at least that is the display I took it off of. Even though it is not in this collection, I thought it would be nice to have another lip gloss from Maybelline to compare to so you know if these lip glosses are consistently the same quality.
         The first color is Flash of Pink (#290). It's a neon baby pink. The second is Raspberry Ablaze (#305). It's a beautiful cranberry color. The third is not is the fall collection, but is Mirrored Plum (#240). It's a neon purple. The last one which is in the collection is Purple Royale (#295). It's an indigo color.
         You can find these are your drugstore. I found mine at Rite Aid, and so happens this week they had buy 1 get one 50%, plus a bonus $5 on a future purchase with a $15 Maybelline purchase. There was also a $2 Maybelline lip coupon going around, but I think it has been taken off as of today. They retail around $7.49 at Rite Aid, but they do sell these at Wal-Mart for $5.50! Not sure if Wal-Mart will have the limited collection though...

Now on to the review!

          This is what the Maybelline website says about the product:

          "Lavish lips with a molten hot glaze:

• More Vibrant Color from pure liquid pigments
• Cleaner Shine from our 100% wax-free gloss
• Creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar
• Now gloss goes gutsy in 12 arresting shades"

          I believe everything Maybelline says about this is true, except with all the limited editions, they definitely have more than 12 shades out there. The colors are extremely vibrant. According to the ingredients list on the Ulta website, there are no waxes and there is honey in the lip gloss. They should have also talked about the packaging because OMG, this packaging is so beautiful and amazing! The only down side is that it is a little bulky.

          Some interesting facts about this product:

1. There are NO parabens.
2. There is fragrance in this product.
3. Maybelline does test on animals.

          As for my first impression on the product, I actually quite like it. I love that it is not very sticky. On a scale of 0 to 10 they would be a 2 for sticky. You can still feel the gloss on your lips when you rub your lips together, but if you are talking or yawning you won't feel the stickiness. There's a slight fragrance too it, but I can never smell it while it's on. As for color payoff I wasn't impressed with how sheer it seemed, especially when I first applied it. The color seem to come on opaque then blend away as you put more on and because a semi-sheer gloss. However, if you let it sit for a good 10 minutes, your lips will magically turn more opaque. I have no idea how this happens, but this product definitely looks better after some sitting than than right after you apply it. I guess that's a good thing if it just keeps getting better. These glosses actually last a few hours without fading too badly and hold up quite well with food. The darker colors tend to leave a slight stain than the lighter colors. As for comparison with Mirrored Plum (the one not in the collction), it seems formulation wise, they are all the same. 

My Overall Rating: 92/100

If you have these limited edition lip glosses, what do you think? What is your favorite?

Until next time...
-Cindy

Review: Wet n Wild Coloricon Bronzer (Reserve Your Cabana)

          This is my review of the Wet n Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana (# 743A). It is a beautiful light cream color that works great for a highlighter. I have been wanting this product FOREVER since Emilynoel83 from youtube talked about it. I finally bought it after Rite Aid had 40% off Wet n Wild Cosmetics. This normally retails for $3.99 at Rite Aid. You can also find this at Walgreens, some Target stores, and whatever drugstore that carries Wet n Wild. You can also buy this online at the Wet n Wild website.

          From the Wet n Wild website, the product is described as:

          "Add a golden glow and a touch of luminosity to any complexion for a healthy, sun-kissed look. Special blend of treated nylon powders provide long-lasting, blendable color. Dermatologist-tested."

          Do I believe it adds a golden glow? Well, not Reserve Your Cabana

          Do I believe it adds a touch of luminosity to any complexion? Yes!!!!!

          Do I believe it gives a healthy, sunkissed looked? Yes it gives a healthy look, not sunkissed.

          Do I believe it provides a long-lasting, blendable color? Most definitely

          Here is a swatch of Reserve Your Cabana and judge for yourself. (Obviously, this is not blended out, but it gives you an idea of the color and the amount of payoff you get.)

Some interesting facts to note:

1. There is SPF 15 in this "Bronzer." Active ingredients include Octinoxate 5% and Oxybenzone 1.5%. 
2.  Wet n Wild DOES NOT test on animals. However, these products are made in China, and China is known to test on animals....
3. There is an expiration date, I'm assuming due to the sunscreen in the product.

          As for my 2 cents on this products, I love it! It applies amazingly! Blends well and gives you that extra glow! You also get a large amount of product (13gs) so this will definitely last you basically forever. There isn't much shimmer or glitter in this product so you won't look like a glitter ball when you step out in the sun. It is a semi-long wearing formula, as it will be there after a few hours, but past 4-5hrs it starts to fade. Part of that is my skin type, a lot of things just fade on me because I have oily cheeks (Yes, I know that sounds funny). 

My Overall Rating: 90/100

If you have this, product do you love it or hate it?