NOTD: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Bubblegum Pink!

Two (2) Coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Bubblegum Pink

Two (2) Coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Bubblegum Pink

Bubblegum Pink is a creamy, cool toned lilac pink with a very slight, barely detectable opalescent sheen.

The formula of this polish is pretty nice. It's an opaque, cream formula that reaches full opacity with two coats. Application with the first coat can be a little streaky, but with two coats it seems to even out. The formula is a bit on the thicker side, so I probably wouldn't do three coats with this polish.

I really love this color and I think it will be a "frequent" of mine. It's pretty much almost identical (minus the opalescence) to another fav. of mine, Revlon Fast Dry Nail Enamel in Cupid (seen here).

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear is actually one of my favorite drugstore lines of polish. Aside from the great variety of colors, the stubby application brush that makes painting my nails easier, the price is very reasonable. At most stores, a bottle is under $3.

Drugstore Haul! Hair Dye, Lipstick, Lipgloss, Glitter + Crackle Nail Polish!

This post jumps around a little bit, but I didn't want to break it into separate posts. Hope you don't mind! Anyway, he's my haul from a couple of days ago. Everything was purchased from Walgreens. I purchased the Rimmel at 50% off and the Wet n Wild at 50% off with their current sale.

Clairol Nice n' Easy Perfect 10 Hair Color #5 Medium Brown

Pure Ice Crackle Nail Polish in Jetsetter

Sinful Colors Glitter Nail Polish in Nail Junkie 927

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Pink Blush 006

Wet n Wild Mega Matte Lipstick in Think Pink 901B

Wet n Wild Lipstick in Nouveau Pink 511B

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lip gloss in Pink Remedy 110

Clairol Nice n' Easy Perfect 10 Hair Color #5 Medium Brown. I've read pretty good reviews for this box dye, so I thought I'd give it a try instead of my regular Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes. I love my previous dye, but it just didn't cover the grays well enough. (Yes, I do have grays) I'm hoping that this dye will work better for that. I should be using it in the next few days.

[Outdoors, No Flash] Left to Right: Wet n Wild 901B Think Pink, Wet n Wild 511B Nouveau Pink, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pink Blush 006

[Outdoors, Flash] Left to Right: Wet n Wild 901B Think Pink, Wet n Wild 511B Nouveau Pink, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pink Blush 006

Wet n Wild 901B Think Pink is a warm, bubblegum pink. I rarely come across pinks that I really like because cool toned pinks don't suit my skintone, and it's difficult to find a warm pink that's light enough, opaque and has no shimmer. I actually already own this shade, but I purchased another as a backup because it was on sale for 50% off at Walgreens.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pink Blush 006 is also a bubblegum pink, but it's a bit cooler in tone compared to Think Pink. It's often compared to MAC Viva Glam Gaga (the first one).

Wet n Wild Lipstick in Nouveau Pink 511B is a bright, magenta-pink. Ever since I saw it on Jo, I had to have it. The formula is surprisingly nice for a 99 cents lipstick. It's creamy and applies evenly and has great color payoff. See it on Jomakemeblush by clicking here.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lip gloss in Pink Remedy 110

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lip Gloss in Pink Remedy 110 is a medium toned pink gloss filled with very fine shimmer and the slightest bit of frost. I'm a bit underwhelmed by the color - pretty in the tube but does not show up on my lips and the color can't be easily built. I do like the fact that it contains an SPF (15) and has a large, flattened applicator. 

Wet n Wild Nouveau Pink Lipstick

Sinful Colors Glitter Nail Polish in Nail Junkie 927 has a teal-blue very sheer base, combined with chunky blue glitter, multicolored glitter and fine green glitter. I purchased this because it reminded me a little bit of a Butter London polish I really want called Henley Regatta.

Pure Ice Crackle Nail Polish in Jetsetter is a royal blue with a pearl finish. Honestly, I never really liked crackle polishes, and I never thought I'd purchase one. But when I saw a large display of Pure Ice Crackle Polishes at my Walgreens for $3.99 each, I thought I ought to purchase my first one to review. There were several colors to pick from, but I ended up picking blue. I thought it would look really cool over a green or lighter blue polish.. and possible over the glitter polish I had just purchased.

A photo I took with my cell phone at Walgreen's of the Pure ICE Crackle Polishes

I find it a little difficult to work with. I've never used any other crackle nail polish, so I can't compare, but it dries very quickly and starts crackling right away. I find that you have to coat your nail extremely quick, and if you go over the polish, it won't crackle as well. It crackles the best when the coat of polish is very thin.

Left to Right: A Generic bright, seafoam green polish with one coat of Sinful Colors Nail Junkie on top, China Glaze For Audrey with Pure Ice Crackle Jetsetter on top, A Generic bright, seafoam green polish (same as index finger) with Pure Ice Crackle Jetsetter on top, Three Coats of Sinful Colors Nail Junkie. All  nails have one coat of Seche Vite Top Coat, except for my pinky.

I actually liked how each nail tuned out. I think the glitter polish looks really pretty over the bright green, and I think it would look really pretty over a blue polish as well!

Do you own any of these products? Do you have any drugstore favorites you can recommend? Let me know in the comments! ☺

First Impressions: NuMe Couture Tourmaline Flat Iron!

NuMe Couture Flat Iron - Black

NuMe Couture Flat Iron - Black

Product Description: The Couture is a 1 1/3 inch iron with tourmaline-infused plates and variable temperature control which will help tame the unruliest and thickest hair. Simply smooth away unmanageable frizz from those troublesome tresses and add shine to any style – sleek straight, big and bouncy waves or perfect curls. Best for thick or curly hair.

The NuMe Couture Professional Styling Iron is all you will ever need in bringing salon results home. Advanced technology and smart features include a dynamic alignment system that ensures perfect contact between your hair and our 100% tourmaline ceramic plates. The ceramic ion technology generates gentle far infrared heat and by infusing plates with crushed tourmaline crystals, 600% more negative ions help create the perfect frizz free hair without any heat damage for quicker, superior results. It's a proven technology that leaves your locks bouncing with health.

http://www.numestyle.com

First Impressions: 

• The iron itself is very lightweight and easy to handle.
• The iron reaches 410 degrees Fahrenheit, and it heats up quickly.
• Awesome swivel cord that doesn't tangle up - a big plus. Also, the cord isn't too short, so I don't have to be directly next to the power outlet while doing mine or someone elses hair.
• Rounded plates, which makes it easy for curling hair. The smooth plastic makes it easy to rotate the iron though my hair to create a curl.

 I only received this iron in the mail yesterday and tested it out on a few strands of my hair today, so I can't any anything else yet on the performance of this iron. I'll be tossing my old iron, and using this iron full time, so I will have a detailed review very soon!

In the mean time, check out Cheryl's review for the NuMe Reverse Curling Wand!

[click the image to be re-directed]

 Follow NuMe on Twitter!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned in this post was provided to me by NuMe for consideration. I am in no way affiliated with the brand mentioned. All opinions are my own.

Travel Beauty Tips! What to Bring with you on Vacation/Holiday!

Now that Summer is approaching, it's the season where many of us are packing our bags and heading off to a luxurious destination (well, hopefully it's a luxurious location). With that said, that may bring flying anxiety to some, and panic upon what to pack among others. Hopefully my couple of tips will help you with your future trips. 

FLYING?

If you're checking in your baggage, make sure to pack anything liquid safely in sealed bags. I've had self tanner leaks and nail polish remover leaks in my luggage, but I packed them in double sealed bags so nothing of mine was ruined. Any toiletries/fragile items you're checking in, make sure they are tightly shut and place them in sealed bags. For extra protection, you can wrap the bag in bubble wrap and then place it in the middle of your suitcase between clothing. Also, if you have "lost luggage" phobia, don't bring any makeup items that can't easily be replaced, such as your all time favorite discontinued Guerlain Meteorites that you paid $150 for on eBay. Try bringing your powder products on board with you in your carry on baggage. There is a possibility they can shatter in your suitcase. To avoid this, wrap them securely and place them in the middle of your suitcase between clothing. For your pressed powders, you can place a round cotton pad on top of the product and close the compact shut, and for eye shadows, you can place a cotton ball on top and close the lid shut. This will keep them extra secure.

Place a cotton pad over any pressed powder compacts and a cotton ball over any eye shadows. Then, close them shut.

**Make sure to check your airlines baggage restrictions by checking your airlines website.

Typically, you are allowed as many liquid items as you can fit in a quart sized zip bag.

DRIVING?

Make sure your makeup is located in a cool/shaded place in your car. If you're driving in heated conditions, its a good idea to bring along a small cooler or cold insulated lunch bag to store your makeup bag in there. This will prevent any of your lipsticks or cream products from melting. 

*Wear sunblock as you'll be exposed the the suns harmful rays for several hours!

PAMPER PREPARATION

While you're away, you're most likely going to have a fun packed agenda with little time to pamper. A couple of days before your trip, make sure to tweeze your brows and any other strays on your face so you won't have to worry about tweezing on your trip. Also, exfoliate and shave your legs and apply a moisturizing lotion to your whole body. You don't want alligator skin while you're lying out at the pool. Also, while you're in the shower, spend an extra 5-10 minutes using a leave in conditioner in your hair to keep any dullness at bay. Trim and file your nails so you won't have any jagged or hang nails. If you're going to give yourself a manicure, using a very light color is best, because if your nail polish chips, it won't be as noticeable as if you were wearing a darker color.

TOILETRIES 

Carrying a lighter load when traveling always feels so much better than lugging around a bag you can barely move. Try bringing travel friendly sized items with you. If you're going away for the weekend, you won't need a 12 oz bottle of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. You can find a good variety of travel sized items at Target for around $1-$2. Their selection of travel items have gotten much better than in the past. Most drugstores have travel sized items as well, but I usually find that Target has the best prices. Some Wal-marts have a pretty decent selection as well. An alternative to purchasing new items is, purchase a pack of assorted travel containers and pour your own products in the containers. There are many places you can purchase them from, I've even found a 4-pack of assorted containers at my local Dollar Tree.

TOILETRY CHECK LIST 

• Shampoo & Conditioner. To save space, you can opt for a shampoo + conditioner.  
• Heat Protector. Pour a little of your favorite heat protector in a travel container to keep heat damage and dullness away!
• Hair Spray. Depending on how the weather is, your hair may fall completely flat. So make sure to pack a travel sized bottle of your favorite firm-hold hair spray for any hair disasters!
• Hair Brush.
• Styling Tool. Flat Iron/Curling Iron? I usually just bring a flat iron because it can double as a curling iron. Most hotels have blow driers.
  
• Shower Gel. Again, pour a little of your favorite shower gel in a travel container. If you aren't very picky, you can always use what the hotel provides and skip this all together. Four star and up hotels usually have nice toiletries, so if you're staying somewhere luxurious, don't worry about it.
• Razor. Just bring one. You can get double uses from your conditioner and use it for a shave cream.
• Tweezer. Emergencies?
• Nail File. 
• One Nail Polish. Like I mentioned earlier, opt for a light shade that is wearable with any item of clothing in your wardrobe and isn't very noticeable when it chips.
• Toothbrush & Paste.
• Deodorant. My favorite is Secret Clinical Strength. 
• Q-tips and/or Cotton Balls. For multi-purposes.
• Loofah/Sponge.
• Feminine Items. For a quick refresher! Make sure to check the calender, you may be un-lucky and end up with your period on your trip. Pack a few pads if you're unsure - or if you're traveling with a bunch of friends.
• Perfume. I don't like bringing my full size bottle with me, so I usually take a body spray or if I have any perfume samples/decants on hand of my favorite fragrance.
• Sunblock. A must have if you're in the sun. Especially if you're going to be outdoors a lot and spending hours driving in a hot car.
• Body Lotion. *If you use it daily! But, still good to have.
• Facial Cleanser & Moisturizer. If you have a specific routine, try keeping it simple for the weekend. A good cleanser and moisturizer will do.
• Makeup Wipes. These always come in handy. You may want to do your makeup in the car, but you have on day old mascara that's crumbling under your eyes. Or, if you've been partying all night and you want to just crawl into your bed the second you open your hotel door, without changing your clothes or washing your face, these will be your best friend to avoid any morning breakouts.

MISC ITEMS

• Hand Sanitizer/Antibacterial Wipes. My (almost) sister in-law recently told me that she always brings Clorox wipes and wipes down the hotel.. such as the bathroom, phone, remote, etc. How smart! Sometimes I get grossed out and don't want to touch anything when I'm staying at a hotel. No matter how "nice" it is. I don't think any hotel cleans the rooms as thoroughly as they should.
• Band-aids. Especially if you are wearing high heels or new shoes. You don't want to be limping around all weekend with blisters and cuts on your heels. 
• Vitamins. Vacation is usually the time where you will excuse yourself from eating healthy - So if you're planning on pigging out, pack a multi vitamin so you won't miss out on any vital nutrients. 
• First Aid. On every trip, I'm always prepared with travel packets of headache medicine, antacids, allergy medicine, eye drops, Neosporin, etc. for emergencies.
• Contact Lens Solution/Extra Contacts. If you're a contact lens wearer always bring solution and extra contacts. You don't want to lose a contact and have no back ups!
• Beach Towel. If you're planning on going to the beach or if Hotel towels make you cringe. 
• Self Tanner. I like bringing my travel friendly 2.7 oz tubes of Sun Labs Lotion with me because they don't take up much space and have a less likely chance of leaking. Mousse and spray formulas are more likely to leak in handling.

MAKEUP

I know we all want to look good when we're on vacation and look our best, but don't try getting too creative and bringing all of your different colored eye shadows and glitters with you. Be practical with what you pack.

• Eyeshadow palette. A palette is usually your best option for travel, rather than bringing a bunch of loose shadows. A palette is easy and convenient and will give you many color options.
• Two-Three Lipsticks. No more than three! Pick two fool proof shades that you can wear with anything and one color that's a little more daring.
• One Lip Gloss. I know we all love options, but one lip gloss should do. One that's fairly sheer and can be worn over any of your lipsticks.. or alone!
• Two Eye Liners. One black and one brown. Brown for during the day looks and black for night.
• One Foundation. Your favorite one that will never let you down.
• One concealer. Your favorite for covering blemishes and dark circles.
• Two Blushes. Or one bronzer and one blush. Pick shades that are suitable for every day and can be worn with anything.
  
• Setting powder. To minimize shine and for quick touch ups. 
• Brow Filler. Keep those babies tamed! 
• One Mascara. Who really needs more than one?
• Your Every Day Brushes. I like a variety, so I bring a bunch of my favorite brushes.
• Eyelash Curler.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

 Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation - I have a lot of foundations I like, but this foundation never fails. It's never heavy, covers well and looks natural.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer - This covers me dark circles and blemishes better than any other concealer.
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder - I put a little in a small sifter jar to save space.

Benefit High Beam Highlighter - To add glow to my face when needed.

Chanel Orchid Rose Blush -  A very natural pale pink that works with any eye look.

MAC Golden Bronzer - A very subtle bronzer for all over color.

Napoleon Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette - Although this palette isn't available any longer, it has a very good selection of colors and I can create the perfect brown smokey eye with it. The Urban Decay Naked Palette is another option I may choose.

Bobbi Brown Black Ink Gel Liner - A jet black to line my eyes with or smudge into my lashline

MAC Coco Bar Liquidlast Liner - A long wearing, water resistant brown liner.

Maybelline Define-a-brow - One of my favorite brow fillers.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Benefit Badgal Lash (travel size) - I don't love this mascara, but it's travel friendly and gets the job done.

MAC Subculture Lipliner - A no-brainer lip liner. It goes with every color lipstick.

Wet n Wild Think Pink and Pink Suga - An every day bubble gum pink and peach.

Illamasqua Obey Lipstick - A bright pinked coral-peach.

NYX Perfect Lipgloss - A sheer pink that looks great over any lipstick or solo.

Left: MAC Golden Bronzing Powder, Right: Chanel Joues Contraste Orchid Rose Blush

Left to Right: MAC Subculture Lip Pencil, Wet n Wild Pink Suga' Mega Matte Lipstick, Wet n Wild Think Pink Mega Matte Lipstick, Illamasqua Obey Lipstick, NYX Perfect Mega Shine Lipgloss.

BRUSHES
So maybe it's not necessary to have to many brushes, but I like switching up my brushes now and then. All you really need is your favorite foundation brush, a blush brush, powder brush, an all-over lid shadow brush, crease brush and angled brush (forgot to picture one, whoops!) Store them in a brush roll or a large plastic bag so you can get to them easily.

Left to right: Sigma Tapered Blending Brush, Sigma Pencil Brush, Sigma Medium Angled Shading Brush, ELF Studio Blush Brush, Sigma Large Powder Brush, Sigma Large Angled Contour Brush, MAC 131 Duo Fiber Brush and Coastal Scents Flat Top Buffer Brush. (Not pictured that I would also bring would be my ELF Studio Angled Brow Brush)

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Since the morning is always hectic, make sure to double check your bags to make sure if you forgot anything. If you are miles away and you realize you did forget something, don't worry.. it gives you the excuse to go shopping! :)

A LAST REMINDER 
What I've learned when packing is, don't pack anything extra that you think you might want to use while on vacation. If it's not something you use daily, or even weekly, you won't need it. I use to pack a variety of shower gels and lotions and I would never use any of them. Stick to one of each.. pick your favorite! As far as makeup goes, again pick shades that are fool-proof. Neutral eye shadows, natural blushes, a good bronzer and every day lip colors. 

ENJOY YOUR VACATION OR WEEKEND AWAY!