Dolce and Gabbana Shimmer Illuminator Review, Photos and Swatches!

Dolce and Gabbana The Illuminator Powder in Shimmer

I picked up this powder recently through a blog sale as it was a great deal, and I was curious to step into the world of Dolce and Gabbana cosmetics. It's not a D&G product you hear much about, nevertheless I still wanted to write a review for it, because there isn't much info online about the product, and I figure it may help someone sooner or later.

Dolce and Gabbana Illuminator is described as a "lightweight powder highlighter offering effortless radiance. An enviable natural glow is created as every area of the face is brightened by the exquisite blend of pearlescent tones."

The Illuminator is available in two shades: Eva and Shimmer.

For a product that is labeled as a highlighter, Shimmer is not one to follow the crowd. In fact, Shimmer, isn't very shimmery at all. I'd say that Eva (light, golden-beige) is more of a traditional highlighter.

Shimmer is a soft, mauved-taupe with a sprinkle of ultra-fine shimmer. So sparse that it's barely there.

It actually doesn't work as a highlighter for me, and I can't really see this working as a highlighter for anyone - rather, a shade to add warmth and depth to the skin. For myself, it works great as a natural contour through the hollows of my cheekbones, or as a nude blush (ya know, the kind of blushes that are a cross between a bronzer).

In some ways, it reminds me a bit of MAC Taupe Blush (Pro shade) but more sheer with an added hint of rosy mauve, whereas Taupe is purely a pale, neutral brown that pulls slightly plummy on my cheeks.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters Review, Photos and Swatches!

Revlon Lip Butters

I'm so excited to finally review these lip butters for you all. After seeing them featured on just about every blog known to man, I figured you all would be bored of seeing them, and neglected purchasing any. But, after finally trying them, I'm totally head-first on the lip butter bandwagon. I want more - heck, I want them all.

Revlon Lip Butters are a hybrid of a creamy lip balm and a lipstick. They are super "buttery" smooth, pigmented, hydrating and pack lots of shine. Whats more to want? And you wonder why they have everyone going nuts. Plus, the packaging is pretty cute and they're affordable at around $6.

These Lip Butters are available in twenty (20) shades: Pink Truffle, Sugar Frosting, Raspberry Pie, Tutti Frutti, Brown Sugar, Peach Parfait, Candy Apple, Red Velvet, Cotton Candy, Berry Smoothie, Cupcake, Gumdrop, Creamsicle, Cherry Tart, Lollipop, Strawberry Shortcake, Sugar Plum, Sweet Tart, Creme Brulee and Fig Jam.

I own three - Strawberry Shortcake, a natural pink, Sweet Tart, a vibrant, watermelon pink and Red Velvet, a deep, vampy red.

Revlon Lip Butters from left to right: Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart and Red Velvet.

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer Lip Balm Review, Photos and Swatches!

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer Lip Balm

I was recently chosen to be a Ladies Home Journal Beauty Ambassador for their first-ever reader beauty awards! I'm so honored and excited to be apart of their program, and in the meantime, I have a bunch of lip products to share with you (courtesy of Ladies Home Journal) that I'll be posting about throughout the week. The first lip product I'll be talking about is Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer.

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer Lip Balms is a product I've always noticed, but never purchased. I always figured they are a little expensive for a lip balm, and would end up going to the dollar rack and picking up a tube of strawberry Carmex. It's funny how certain products that get no hype in the beauty blogosphere get neglected on the racks, because had I known sooner, I would have picked up a couple a while back. Formulated with moisturizing ingredients such as: Coconut and sunflower oil, Vitamin E, Beeswax and Shea Butter, these lip shimmers are 100% natural. 

These lip balms are flavored with Peppermint, so they give your lips a nice, cooling sensation and slight tingle that sticks around for a bit. That may or may not be your cup-of-tea, but I love lip products that provide a small burst of refreshment to my lips.

Lip Shimmers are available in twelve (12) shades: Cherry, Plum, Strawberry, Caramel, Champagne, Fig, Guava, Peony, Radiance, Raisin, Rhubarb and Watermelon.

I own five, three of them being newly released shades - Cherry, Plum, Strawberry, and two shades that have been around - Caramel and Rhubarb.

Strawberry is a soft, natural pink, Caramel is a sheer, bronzed tan, Plum is a deep raisin, Cherry is a sheer, warm red and rhubarb is a cool-rosy red. For those of you freaked out by shimmer, don't fear because these little tubes are incredibly subtle. Caramel is the only shade that's noticeably frosty, but it's not overwhelming. (See swatches at the end of this post)

My favorite color from the bunch is of course Strawberry, as I'm a lover of easily wearable light pinks.

From left to right: Strawberry, Caramel, Plum, Cherry and Rhubarb.

From left to right: Strawberry, Caramel, Plum, Cherry and Rhubarb.

Forget the Twix, I'll take those lace Meundies briefs in slot B3.

For those of you that haven't been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you'll know that fashion & beauty monthly subscription sites have been booming. You can get a monthly subscription for everything imaginable now-a-days, including (I'm sure you already guessed) your underwear.

Yep. Meundies.com is just that. You first take a short questionnaire or "style quiz/profile", so the website can generate a selection of items that will fit your personal style. Once your selection pops up, if you see something you like, you can make a one-time purchase. If you don't see anything you like, there's no obligation to purchase anything. You also have the option to "auto-ship" on your favorite pair to receive them each month for 20% less. 

After choosing auto-ship, just like other sites, you can choose to "skip" the month and you won't be charged. Just make sure it's within the first five days of the month.

The price is $20 a pair. Sound pricey? Meundies.com claims to have "the world's most comfortable underwear". All undies are handcrafted with high quality fabric and lace for ultimate quality and comfort. Not happy with them? There's a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

You have a choice of a thong, boyshorts or briefs. I chose the black briefs, which is my absolute favorite style of underwear to wear for every day.

READ MORE!

Jewelmint Armor Ring Review! Plus 65% off code!

 Jewelmint Armor Ring

It's been a while since my last Jewelmint post, so I was excited when I received my April selection in the mail this morning. I wasn't too crazy about anything these past couple of months, but when I saw the Armor Ring, I knew I had to have it.

Jewelmint's Armor Ring features a pale, oxidized silver 2 1/4" long, finger-hugging shield filled with rows of shiny crystals.

I found no flaws in my ring, and after wearing it for a few hours, find that it's really comfortable on my hand while going about my routine, writing and typing on the computer. Every now and then I glance at my hand to admire the glistening crystals.

I know it's not too unique or anything - I actually own a bunch of similar shaped rings that I purchased from various places (mostly Forever 21) for a few dollars, but after wearing them often, the color of the metal changed on just about all of them. This brings me to the reason I wanted the Armor Ring. I own several items from Jewelmint and actually, I wear my Jewelmint rings most days out of the week, and none of them have changed color, lost stones, etc. I wanted a good quality ring that is still inexpensive, but will last me for much longer.

Nails of the Day: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Pacific Blue!

Two Coats of Sally Hansen Pacific Blue

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue is a bright, royal-blue cream polish with a shiny finish. It's almost a cross between royal blue and periwinkle blue. There are so many different shades of blue, and this particular shade is at the top of my list. I think it's a great summer shade, especially with the current "pop of neon" trend. This shade goes particularly well with neon yellow. 

When I think of neon yellow, I think of this Cambridge bag I've been lusting over for the past few months. But I can't help but think that I'll probably never wear again after the summer. What do you think?

(Image Source)

Here's a comparison to what I'd call true blue. Note the difference?

Love and Beauty Blue (link)

Application with this polish is pretty good. It applies evenly and almost completely opaque with one coat. If you're an impatient gal, you could definitely get away with one coat of this polish. I opted for two for full opacity and a shiny top coat. I did notice with the second coat the polish seemed slightly thick. I may add a couple drops of thinner to the bottle.

Absolutely love this shade and I'm sure I'll be wearing it all summer long.

What's on your nails?

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all days filled with love, happiness and hope.

Happy Easter!

Reminder: 15% off for VIB's at Sephora!

If you're a Sephora "Very Imporant" Beauty Insider and haven't placed your order yet, today is the final day to receive 15% off sitewide at Sephora.com (includes sales items!)

Use the code: CHICVIB

Also, if you haven't heard of ebates by now, I always make sure to use ebates when ordering from Sephora to receive money back on all of my purchases. Right now, you'll get 8.0% cash back on your purchase with Sephora! All you basically do, is search Sephora, and click the referral link which will bring you to the Sephora website. Shop as usual, and your ebates account will track your purchase and will be credited the 8%, which you can then transfer to your paypal account. It sounds more confusing than it really is.

(Click EBATES to create an account)

Pretty sweet deal.

Unfortunately, for regular Beauty Insiders, yesterday was the final day to make a purchase and receive 15% off.

*To be a VIB with Sephora, you have to spend $350+ online or in-store in one calendar year, using your Beauty Insider card.

I have yet to purchase anything - hopefully I can get an order in by the end of the day. Anything you think I should get?

A little patience, please.

After two days of messing around with my new camera (crying in frustration for one of those days) I've come to the conclusion that the Nikon Coolpix P500 isn't for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a really awesome camera. It takes very clear and crisp photos of just about everything.. except my makeup products. No matter how much I tried, the color accuracy was off. It was accurate when photographing scenery and people, but when it comes to photographing my lipsticks - nope, no good. My pink lipsticks looked peach and when everything in person looked nice and bright, it photographed dull and neutral. My previous camera photographed everything as I saw it in person.

So now I'm kind of ambivalent about what I should do now. Return this thing and invest a couple hundred dollars more and get a Canon Rebel? Or, just buy another Canon Powershot for the time being.

Anyway, I have so many products that I want to review, but haven't tested them out yet because I want to photograph them first. It's really killing me not to bust open one of these Revlon Lip Butters.

Hopefully I'll get this all figured out very soon as I have so many posts in store for you all!

(For those who wanted to know, my scarf is by Theodora & Callum! I love their scarves.)

Talk to you soon!
xoxox

A recent trip to the CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet)!

I took a recent trip to my "not so" local Cosmetic Company Outlet, as I've had to urge for several months to stop in and see if I can find any good, discounted cosmetics.

I was mostly hoping to get my hands on some MAC brushes, but the items that particular CCO had in stock were a little on the "sad" side.

I did manage to find some things, though!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 1W1 Bone - After wearing countless foundations that don't get me through a long day, I started to miss an old favorite - Estee Lauder Double Wear.

It's a foundation that I could always rely on that provides full coverage on those shy-of-perfect skin days, is transfer-resistant and long wearing. Love this stuff.

MAC #192 Cheek/Face Brush - A small, synthetic paddle shaped foundation-type brush with a tapered tip that was designed for use of face products, such as moisturizer and/or cream blush. This brush has been discontinued.

I was drawn to this brush immediately as I love using foundation brushes to apply my concealer as opposed to tiny concealer brushes. This brush looked like the perfect brush to apply my concealer. I haven't tested it out yet, but I'm pretty anxious to!

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in #55 Pink Cloud -The only thing that stinks from buying makeup from a CCO (other than it being very old) is finding an awesome shade, and then later finding that it's a discontinued shade. Le sigh.

Pink Cloud has the potential of being my favorite pink lipstick, but it appears that our love will be short lived, as I'm sure I'll have trouble finding a back-up.

It's a creamy, light yellow-toned pink (which makes it appear slightly coral/flamingo pink in the tube). On the lips it's a little bit lighter, and more of a bubble-gum pink. It reminds me a little bit of one of my older favorite lipsticks by MAC called Colour Crafted (but much more wearable).

MAC Royal Azalea Sheen Supreme - A shade that would typically be very unlike me to purchase in the past. It's funny though how certain colors I couldn't wear when I was tan, are flattering on me now. And vise-versa. I wouldn't get near a blue-based pink in the past (being a tan MAC NC40), but now, chillin' in my au natural NC15 skin, MAC Snob doesn't look all that bad, and my HG MAC Shygirl doesn't look too HG status anymore.

Royal Azalea is a light, cotton candy pink with blue undertones. It's incredibly creamy with opaque coverage, and very comfortable on the lips.

MAC Kissable Lip Color in Enchantee - MAC Kissable Lip Color Lip Glosses were limited edition glosses that launched early last year in the MAC Peacocky Collection. They claimed to be a hybrid of a lipstick and gloss, giving you the coverage of a lipstick, with the finish of a gloss that is lightweight and will last for hours.

Enchantee is a cool toned light pink. It's very lightweight, non-sticky, provides good coverage and lasts longer on my lips than typical lip glosses. Bummer this was limited edition!

 MAC Enchantee, Bobbi Brown Pink Cloud and MAC Royal Azalea.

If you'd like to see individual reviews for any of these products, let me know!

New Camera.

Good Afternoon!

Just wanted to do a quick post to let you know I purchased a new camera yesterday (The Nikon P500 I mentioned in my previous post) and I'm excited to put it to use!

I've never owned a Nikon before - every single camera I've owned up until now has been a Canon, so it's a little bit of a change for me. I'm impressed with it so far, but I'm still playing around with it to figure out the proper settings I should be using for product photos and things like that. Any tips would be appreciated!

Also, not sure if you can tell by my photo, Instagram was released on Google Play - Yay! So you can now find me on there with the username 'Missnattyngeorge".

Talk to you all soon!

Camera Chatter (recommendations?) and a couple new MAC eyeshadows added to my collection

Hey Everyone!

Happy April! I hope your week is going by smoothly - If you follow me on Twitter, a few days ago my camera spontaneously stopped working. It was a pretty decent camera, but I was having problems with it right after I purchased it. I'm almost positive it was a defective camera. Anyhow, it doesn't turn on now, so I'll be resorting to using my old camera (which seems ancient and is incredibly bulky) for the time being.

If anyone can recommend a good camera, I'm all ears. A DSLR isn't quite in my budget right now, so for the time being, I'll need a pretty good point-and-shoot camera. I've got my eyes on the Nikon Coolpix L120 or the slightly more expensive Nikon Coolpix P500. I like the fact that they have a great amount of zoom in comparison to other point-and-shoot cameras, which is great for product photos. If anyone has any experience with either model, I'd love to hear your opinion about them.

Onto makeup, shall we?

Alright, so, MAC Shadows. To de-pot or not to de-pot. That is the question. To be quite honest, it wasn't until recently I decided to depot all of my MAC eyeshadows. I always thought that maybe some day I'd regret de-potting them, so I always kept them in their little black pots. Well, keeping them in the pot is nifty and all, but I realized I wasn't getting much use out of any of my MAC shadows, and I was reaching for them less and less, and using my eyeshadow palettes more and more. Now I reach for my MAC palette almost every day and I've been getting much more use out of my shadows. It's only now that I see my shadows in palette-form that I feel like I'm missing quite a few essential colors - a couple being Woodwinked and Soba.

Have you gone the route of de-potting your MAC eyeshadows?

Yes!

No!

I can't decide. Maybe one day.

I'm sure some of you MAC fanatics won't believe I've never owned either of those colors, but it wasn't really until a year ago I started wearing eyeshadow every day. Yep! I've always been a foundation, blush, mascara and liner type of girl that only wore shadow on special occasions. Now I barely ever go without it!

 MAC Woodwinked and Soba

READ MORE!

Illamasqua Mislead Eye Liner Cake Review, Photos and Swatches!

Illamasqua Eye Liner Cake in Mislead

Have you ever heard of "cake liner" before? The first time I ever heard of it was several years ago when I became interested in learning more about theatrical makeup (Ben Nye, Graftobian, Cinema Secrets, etc) and came across Ben Nye Cake Eyeliner - well, I never got around to trying it, but it's a product that's always sat in the back of my memory of products to try one day.

Cake Eyeliner is pretty much the only type of liner I haven't tried before. I've for the most part tried all of the liner options out there - pencil, cream, gel, liquid, kajal, powder, you name it. My preferred choices on most days are gel and liquid.

When I stumbled across Illamasqua Eye Liner Cake ($23), I decided I had to try it, despite there not being too many reviews out there.

Illamasqua Eye Liner Cake is a pressed powder formula, that when comes in contact with water/liquid, becomes an intense liquid-liner.  

There are three (3) colors in total: Mislead (black), Zeal (pine green) and Danger (navy). I chose Mislead, because one could never own enough black liners, right? haha

You can use water to mix the product with, but when using water, I notice the color isn't as vibrant and the lasting power isn't as good. There are of course other options in order for it to last longer - such as MAC Fix Spray, Illamasqua Sealing Gel, Benefit SheLaq, Visine, etc. I usually use Visine and it works great.

The PMD Personal Microderm Microdermabrasion System.

PMD Personal Microderm Microdermabrasion System

I have what you call "high maintenance skin". My skin isn't in very bad shape overall - actually, I have pretty good genes, but as soon as I start skipping my skincare routine, my skin goes haywire. When I stick by a daily regime, my skin looks in tiptop shape - but it's pretty rare that I actually stick by a routine for more than a couple weeks at a time. Why? 'Cuz it's so much easier to just wipe my face with a makeup remover towelette and go to bed. Yes, laziness is the key word here.

Once upon a time I did have some blemish scars, but they soon faded after using an exfoliating brush regularly, along with creams containing alpha hydroxy and glycolic acid.

Right now, my main gripe with my skin is basically the sunspots I have on my upper cheeks from not wearing adequate sunscreen. I never really had freckles until I started exfoliating. I knew your skin becomes more susceptible to sun damage when you're exfoliating and exposing fresh skin to the sunlight, but after seeing first hand all of the speckles on my face, now I know for sure - SUNSCREEN IS KEY!

The PMD Personal Microdermabrasion System is an at-home, handheld device used to exfoliate your skin, not by an exfoliating brush (like the Clarisonic or similar products) but with actual aluminum oxide crystals, like used on expensive machines you'd find in your doctor's office.

What is the purpose of Microdermabrasion? Microdermabrasion is a mild exfoliation of the skins surface, to remove dead skin cells and uncover the fresh and radiant skin cells that lies beneath. Your skin naturally lets go of the dead skin cells on your body, but exfoliation speeds up the process. Doing so, skincare products will better absorb into your skin, working more efficiently. With time you'll notice your skin feels softer, looks smoother, your pores are less visible and scars and spots will diminish.

The machine is very simple to use. It comes with an instructional CD, which is very helpful and should answer all of your questions prior to use. Despite how anxious I was to try it out, I watched the full video twice to make sure I understood it correctly.

READ MORE!

Milani Sweet Rose Minerals Blush Review!

Milani Sweet Rose Minerals Blush

I recently picked up three of the four Milani Minerals Blushes once they were marked clearance (75% off) at CVS. (View the post here, with swatches) Well, a couple of weeks ago, I walked into another CVS and noticed they still had several of the clearance products without clearance tags. So, I scanned them, and sure enough they were 75% off. I grabbed a couple of powders, a bronzer and the only blush I didn't purchase prior; Sweet Rose.

Sweet Rose is a dusty plummy-pink with rosy undertones. It's a very natural, every-day kind of color that won't clash with most of your makeup looks. I initially skipped purchasing this blush at first because I figured the purple tone would make me look ashy. But, I was very wrong. You don't see much red in the pan, but once the color hits my cheeks, it mimics the rosy hue my cheeks would turn after a jog.

All of the shades in this range are pretty pigmented, especially Mai-Tai and Sunset Beach, and I expected the same from Sweet Rose, but it's actually a little less pigmented with one tap of the brush. It doesn't lack in pigmentation overall - it does pack a good amount of color, and is very buildable. It's just not one of those blushes you have to be nervous about over-doing.

It's my favorite blush from the range, as I easily favor shades that can be worn the most often.

Milani puts emphasis that this blush is talc-free and non-irritating. So for those sensitive to talc, this may be a range to look into. (For the full ingredient list, scroll down to the end of the review.)

Milani Sweet Rose Minerals Blush

READ MORE!

Illamasqua Promise Cream Blusher Review, Photos and Swatches!

Illamasqua Promise Cream Blusher

Illamasqua Promise Cream Blusher ($24) is described as a "petal pink". It's your average bubblegum cool-pink, that isn't overly cool, so it will definitely work on warm skintones as well as cool, without looking ashy and/or overly cool purple/blue. 

I use to stray away from wearing cool pinks because of my warm skin, but I've started really liking them on my skin when my skintone is a bit lighter. 

The consistency of Illamasqua Cream Blush is really nice. It's very thin and creamy and isn't at all heavy or sticky. It has a bit of a dewy finish, which you may or may not like. I think it looks quite fresh on the cheeks, and not greasy. For less shine, you can set the blush with a light dusting of powder.

The color is very pigmented and blends very easily. I've worn this blush several times and it never looks patchy or un-even on my cheeks. When used lightly with a stippling brush, it looks like cotton candy on my cheeks. It can be layered for a more intense, doll pink effect. 

I'm back.

Hey Everyone!

You may have noticed there has been an absence of posts, but I've been out of town, and I just came back last night.

George and I took a trip to Minnesota (more work than vacation) to help my aunt move her things to Chicago. We did manage to go to a few fun places. We went to The Mall of America, which I don't think I ever want to see another mall again, or at least for a while after going there. I use to go to there almost every year when I was young, but haven't been there in about ten years. It was just so exhausting walking around for so long, but we had a nice time.

We stayed at Le Meridien in Downtown Minneapolis and it was probably the most comfortable sleep I've ever had in a hotel. Highly recommended.

We rented a Penske truck to drive my aunt's stuff back home to Chicago. I was a little nervous to be riding in a big truck for so many hours, but it went very well, and was actually a pretty fun trip back home. We stocked up on tons of goodies at several gas stations on the way.. haha!

By the end of the day, I was getting incredibly anxious to be back home. I become really homesick when I'm away - I missed my Mom and Rocky so much! ;)

Anyway, I'll be working on a few reviews and getting back to the e-mails I've missed while I was away!

Talk to you all soon! xoxoxo

eBay and CFDA Collab: You Can't Fake Fashion!

eBay and the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) are currently working together to fight counterfeit goods and celebrate original design within the fashion industry.

Combating the supply and demand for counterfeits and those who manufacture and distribute such items requires the coordinated efforts of the government, the fashion industry, law enforcement, businesses, and Internet users like you. As a major destination for fashion shoppers, eBay is committed to partnering to fight the global trade of counterfeits. (Source)

As of yesterday, March 20th, an exclusive collection of 80 handbags customized by several different designers launched on eBay. All of the designs read "You can't fake fashion". Proceeds from each sale will benefit the CFDA Foundation.

Some of the designers include: Badgley Mischka, BCBGMaxazria, Betsey Johnson, David Yurman, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Narcisco Rodriguez, Nicole Miller and more.

Every one of the designer bags are already sold out, but three of the four non-designer bags are still available. I can't find any information if the bags will be re-stocked or not, but if anyone knows, please let me know in the comments!

The sale will run to March 31st.

CFDA Duffle Tote - $45 (I'm thinking about snagging this one!)

CFDA Tote by BCBGMAXAZRIA - $200

Tote by Brian Wolk&Claude Morais of RUFFIAN - $200

CFDA Tote by Doo.Ri - $200

CFDA Tote by Kenneth Cole - $200

CFDA Tote by Peter Som - $200

View all styles here.

Cute aren't they?

You can read more at eBay's Fashion Vault.

A few products that I've been using a lot of lately.

It seems summer has come early this year and even though I'm definitely not prepared, at least my makeup bag is!

When it's hot out, I like to keep my makeup a little more minimal for the daytime. A good foundation with SPF, a light bronzer for a sunkissed glow, an illuminator to make your cheekbones glisten in the sun, a natural pink/coral blush and a little bit of mascara and lip gloss.

Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation - I've been curious about this foundation for years. I remember checking it out a couple years back and I wasn't able to find a good color match for my tan skintone. After seeing Fleur's recent YouTube video, it reminded me how much I've wanted to try it, and the fact that since I hardly ever tan anymore, I'd be able to find a good color match.

I did find a good color match and I've been using it for about a week now. I'm still not ready to give my full thoughts about it yet - all I can say is that I expected to like it a little more than I do at this moment. I am enjoying the high SPF and the lightweight feel, especially since I've been exfoliating on the regular and it's been so hot out! My full review will come soon!

MAC Prolongwear Concealer - Medium coverage with all day, no-budge lasting power. I love wearing it alone or mixed with other concealers.

Chanel Poudre Universelle Compact - I've been using this to set my makeup, and I've been really liking it. I really don't like a matte finish, but I still like to lightly set my makeup to avoid any excess shine. This powder doesn't leave my face looking like a powderpuff, and it doesn't flatten the look of my liquid foundation. It leaves a very nice natural finish, while erasing any shine.

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel/Bronze Universel - I think it's safe to say that if I had to toss all of my bronzers and only keep one, I'd keep my Chanel Bronze Universel. I never thought I'd hit pan, but after three years, I finally did and I'm becoming so anxious to purchase another! I'm so surprised that it's never dried up, and still has it's original smell. It's definitely a good investment. On days where I'm not using this, I'm using Becca Flamenco. They're both light but buildable, and look very natural on my light-medium skin.

Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera - How come no one ever talks about these? I've never tried any of these prior, but I thought Gerbera would be the perfect shade of blush for the summer. All of the pinky-coral blushes I own look alike once applied to my cheeks, but this one really stands out from the rest. It's a light, warm peachy-pink that looks incredibly fresh and natural on the cheeks.

Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond - I own a ton of highlighters, but Amber Diamond is usually my highlighter of choice because of how natural it looks on the cheeks. It gives just the right amount of sheen without being overdone. I've also been using TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer on days where I want something a little more noticeable.

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara - An old favorite. I know that when I'm wearing lash blast, I'll never have to check the mirror throughout the day for smudges. It stays put all day with no transfer - even through heat and sweat.

NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Nude Peach - Although I'm not really keen on the cherry cough syrup scent of these lipglosses, they sure have some great colors. Nude Peach is a glossy coral-pink that looks great alone or paired with any coral or pink lipstick.

What products have you been finding yourself using a lot of lately? Is your makeup bag starting to look summery?

Earth Science Deep Conditioning Masque Review!

 Earth Science Deep Conditioning Masque

I'm no hair expert, but I love trying new hair products in hopes of being able to better manage my mane. I have very thick, fine, curly, dry hair. Oddly, I have a mixture of two different types of curls throughout my hair - some are wavy and then underneath my hair, they're a bit tighter. So basically, tangles galore.

I've tried several leave in conditioners in my days, but I have never really been impressed with any of them. I suppose I've held my expectations a little too high, and most of the time expect the leave-in to act as a little genie and transform my fried hair into hair that's fit enough for a Pantene commercial.

After trying so many, I settled on using Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner on a daily basis. It's cheap, and it keeps my hair soft and more manageable.

For the past couple of months, I've been using Earth Science Deep Conditioning Masque and I really like it!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Luscious deep-conditioning masque repairs dry, damaged, colored or over processed hair. Penetrates and coats the hair shaft in natural silk protein to strengthen and nourish inside and out. Leaves hair soft, tangle free and smooth; not sticky or weighed down. no animal testing, always paraben free.

The directions are to squeeze out any excess water from your hair after shampooing, and generously apply the conditioner to your hair, letting it penetrate you hair for five minutes. Then rinse, and style as usual.

For the best results, you really have to follow the directions. I often take quick showers, and leave it in for about a minute in dripping wet hair and it just doesn't work the same.

Make sure to squeeze out excess water from your hair and then apply a good amount of product in your hair, working it through your ends. **To evenly distribute the conditioner through your hair, it's a good idea to have a wide tooth comb on hand and brush through your hair and work the conditioner through all of your hair. Often times with conditioner, you'll end up holding all of your hair together in a pony tail and distributing the conditioner to the outside of your hair, missing most of the hair that's in-between.

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