Julep Maven Penny Box - It Girl

Left to right: Hand Cream w/ SPF 30, Hayden, Leah, Megan, Fast Dry Topcoat

We all know of the very popular Julep maven box by now but it wasn't until recently that I decided to jump on the band wagon along with fellow bloggers. I guess I didn't want to commit. But when Julep sent me an email with the "It Girl" penny offer, I was in there like swimwear! lol

I'm not going to go into how Julep works because I'm sure we already know. I took the quiz and got "It Girl." My package arrived in a small black box that was neatly packaged on the inside with scrunched up confetti strips and a ribbon holding the polishes. The polishes come very secured as each one was wrapped in bubble wrap.

What's included in "It Girl?"

• 3 color polishes - Megan, Hayden, & Leah
• 1 fast dry top coat
• 1 sample size hand cream with SPF 30

Left to Right: Hand Cream w/ SPF 30, Hayden, Leah, Megan, Fast Dry Topcoat

Packaging

I really like the packaging of these polishes. I think that's what attracted me in wanting to try them out, other than the color choices featured online. Julep polishes have the classic thin brush; not my favorite but get the job done. Each bottle holds .27 FL oz of polish.

Megan Nail Vernis (w/ flash & w/o flash)

Megan- mediterranean aquamarine shimmer. This color is on the metallic side, not my favorite. Here I applied 2 coats of Megan. You can see it doesn't photograph too well (left pic above).

Leah Nail Vernis (w/ flash)

Leah- grass green with a hint of shimmer. I do like the hue of this green but it goes on very sheer with the first coat. Here I applied 3 coats and would possibly want to do one more.

Hayden Nail Vernis (w/ flash)

Hayden- bold bright neon peach creme. This definitely applies as a creme. Here I applied 2 coats and was not fond of the color at first but now that I've been looking at the pics, it's starting to grown on me. Note: you may have to touch up the second coat in a few areas because they stayed a bit sheer on my nails.

Fast Dry Topcoat- I would say drying time is just the same as any another fast dry topcoat but I haven't been able to test out its lasting power. Now if you hate the smell of marijuana like me then I advise you to not pick this topcoat up! It reeks just like it.. or is it just me? Ha!

Overall Thoughts
I'm glad I only spent a penny on this maven box. It may be because I had such high expectations of these $14 polishes. Maybe it's just these certain polishes and that's why they were offered for so cheap?? Who knows.. what I do know is that I've already skipped next month's box and might just cancel my subscription.

If you want any additional information I didn't cover in this post you can visit julep.com

HAVE YOU TRIED JULEP MAVEN YET? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss - Crystal Lilac - Bordeaux - Rosegold

I've had these Revlon Colorburst Lipglosses for quite a while now but hardly reach for them.

Revlon describes them as "Lips that shine with killer color. This weightless gloss makes lips pop with 5X more shine than patent leather. They contain moisturizers and anti-oxidants such as sweet almond oil and vitamin E conditions that improve lip texture."

What I like about these glosses are their texture, YES they do feel lightweight and don't leave your lips feeling sticky while still providing color power.

The packaging is very classy and sturdy and my favorite part of these glosses is the amount control stop inside of the tube. I personally don't like when lipglosses get very messy because they don't have the stops located inside them.

The applicator is not your original doe foot, instead it is a plush curved tip that provides an even application for your lips.

Curved applicator

Now why don't I really grab for them anymore? The scent! At first, they smelled of vanilla but soon after they gained a nasty smell, one of my biggest peeves when it comes to glosses. Whether I'll use them again, I'm not sure. I feel I should because they have hardly been used but isn't against some kind of makeup rule?!

I own three of the 12 available colors - Crystal Lilac - Bordeaux - Rosegold

From left to right: Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss Crystal Lilac - Bordeaux- Rosegold

Swatches left to right: Crystal Lilac - Rosegold - Bordeaux

Crystal Lilac is a shimmery pink-opalescent purple. A very pretty color to apply over a pinky lipstick.

Revlon Colorburst "Crystal Lilac"

Bordeaux is a deep wine gloss with a hint of very fine gold shimmer.

Revlon Colorburst "Bordeaux"

Rosegold is a gold shimmery peachy gloss. Also very pretty paired with the right lipstick or can stand alone.

Revlon Colorburst "Rosegold"

DO YOU OWN ANY OF THE COLORBURST LIPGLOSSES? WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE?

Revlon Stormy + Sally Hansen Set the Stage + Baby Updates

 Hello all,

Today's post is of my nail look from New Years Eve. I just found the pics on my computer :/

For that day I started off by priming  my nails with my trusty Sally Hansen Strengthener. I added 2 coats of Revlon Top Speed in "Stormy" and for a festive effect I topped it with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Set the Stage." Finished off the whole look with Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat. Hop you like it :)

For polish descriptions and additional pics continue reading..
*Don't forget to scroll down for pics of my nice & nephew <3*

"Revlon Top Speed‘s patented formula delivers amazingly quick color, with a built-in topcoat that rises to the surface for a glossy, ultra smooth manicure- that sets in 60 seconds. The ColorPrecise™ brush ensures even, smooth, salon quality application every time. Available in 32 shades." (revlon.com)


"Stormy" is a slightly creamy light grey-taupe polish in the bottle but dries a bit darker when applied. Drying time is very quick, perfect for on the go manicures. Brush allows for smooth a application.

 

 Sally Hansen's "Set the Stage" is clear based glitter polish containing gold round micro glitters & larger hexi-glitters. When applying this polish, the glitters tend to go on sparsely so I had to keep reapplying until I was content with the amount on each nail.

Just thought I'd baby brag a bit lol.. My oldest sis had a baby boy on Jan 9th (she was 2-1/2 weeks early).. She and the baby have been staying at my house which means I get to see him everyday :D My niece (my other sister's baby) is 2 months old now and has gotten so big! Here are a few pics of my 2 cuties..

Emma 

Emma

Jesus

Jesus

Jesus

Review: Smashbox Mashup [[Pic Heavy]]

Today I have a few goodies from Smashbox Cosmetics. To be perfectly honest, I do find their cosmetics to be a bit pricey for my pocket right now but I am a fan of a few of these following products where I may be willing to buy them again. Thanks to Smashbox for giving me the opportunity to try these items out.

Halo Yellow Correcting Hydrating Powder- $39
Description: A revolutionary powder that reduces the appearance of redness while minimizing the signs of aging. Upon application, 96% of women saw a noticeable reduction in the appearance of redness. In 6 weeks, women saw a 67% decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This anti-redness powder, formulated in yellow to immediately color correct and balance skin tone, also contains 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and a powerful peptide that work together to perfect skin. Wear alone or on targeted areas paired with your favorite foundation to even skin tone. Oil-free, talc-free, paraben free.

I really like this color correcting powder. At times I tend to get a bit of redness (you can tell from my swatch pic) and this powder tones the color down in an instant. The lid doubles as a mirrors, very convenient and the grinding packaging is a plus so this way you aren't getting powder all over the place (good for me since I do my makeup on my bed), plus a little goes a long way. There's no need for packing on a ton of powder which is good especially since it will cost you a pretty penny. I don't use it every day since I don't get red very often so I can't comment much on the statistical facts put out by Smashbox but I highly recommend the Halo Yellow Correcting Powder for anyone looking to quickly conceal redness on the face. 

High Definition Liquid Concealer (Medium)- $20
Description: Conceal imperfections and dark circles with this weightless, good-for-your-skin formula that provides buildable coverage. Cell-energizing Ribose renews the appearance of skin and soft focus pearls deflect light to minimize the appearance of blemishes and fine lines. Shake well before dispensing product for a flawless application. Oil-free. Paraben free.

Applicator

Swatch

Blended Swatch

I'm in love with this concealer! From the easy access applicator to the formulated coverage. The applicator allows me to squeeze out a good size amount onto my CD that I use when applying makeup. This way I can control how much I want to dispense and use when applying with my concealer brush. The formula is lightweight and creamy that doesn't feel heavy or cakey on the skin. Coverage is just right for my under eye dark circles. Depending on how bad my dark circles get I can build the coverage I need at the time. I'm already running low and might have to just pick up a replacement @ Ulta!

Limitless-Long Wear Lip Gloss SPF 15 (Endless)- $22

Description: Get gorgeous color and shine for up to 6 hours while helping to protect your pout from UVA/UVB rays with SPF 15! The contoured wand hugs lips for a comfortable one coat application.

I don't think I've kept this gloss on for 6 hours just because I tend to wipe it off after a while but I do think that it is long lasting. The formula is a bit tackier than most lip glosses (allowing it to stay on longer). I appreciate the doe foot applicator and enjoy the light fruity smell. I love wiping system in the packaging of this gloss since one of my biggest makeup annoyances is when a gloss has no internal wiping system and glops out onto the top of the tube. As for its color (Endless) it's just okay. Nothing to rave about because it's a bit sheer. Looking at the packaging, one would think it is a pigmented gloss, but it really isn't.

Limitless Eye Liner (Black Violet)- $19
Description: This waterproof eye pencil provides bold color that won't smudge or budge for up to 8 hours. The creamy, easy-to-apply formula contains vitamin E and jojoba to moisturize and protect. The cap houses a unique built-in sharpener so you'll always have the most precise application To use sharpener: remove sharpener cap and then remove end plug from sharpener. After sharpening pencil, use plug to clean out any remaining shavings.

Liner tip

Sharpener located in the pencil cap

Swatch

Though I am impressed by the sharpener located in the cap of this eye liner, the actual product didn't do much for me. Yes, it is a very creamy liner and goes on easily but I don't like the application on my eyes. I see myself using this liner more as a smoky lash line liner that I would smear out a bit. In my opinion, not worth the cost.

Soft Effects Powder Eye Liner (Brown)- $22
Description: Developed to mimic the effect of a soft focus lens, which eliminates hard lines and angles, this unique applicator and formula creates a beautifully diffused line of color that never looks harsh. Before each use, shake well and tap off any excess powder before lining eyes.

Applicator

Swatch

Another Smashbox fail for me. I've never tried a powder eye liner before and now know why. Don't get me wrong, I'm up for trying new things but this was just a complete no-go for me. Swatched, I really liked the pigment in color and texture but when I tried applying it to my lids, it was a complete disaster. I had fall out everywhere even after following the instructions and it did not look too cute. I had to completely remove my eye makeup and some foundation after trying this powder liner. Also not worth the cost.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by Smashbox Cosmetics. I have not received monetary compensation for reviewing this product. This review only reflects my honest opinions and experiences with the product.

What is your favorite Smashbox product?