Tag Archive | makeup

Update-e.l.f. High Definition Undereye Setting Powder

Nov30

ELF Undereye Setting Powder Packging

Update-I used a better brush today, and the results are amazing!  The lines are blurred and not cakey at all.   I’ve had this on since 7 am, it’s now noon, and my under eye area looks great!  Never under estimate the power of a good brush!

Whose says $3.00 won’t get you anything these days?  I just bought this powder yesterday at http://www.target.com/p/e-l-f-high-definition-undereye-setting-powder/-/A-14795896#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=elf+under+eye+powder, and it’s awesome.  It works great to set your concealer.  I just started using Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector along with Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-aging concealer by IT, (which I purchased from http://www.ulta.com) and this e.l.f. setting powder is a nice finishing touch.  It’s a finely milled whitish powder that blends well. I have some serious under eye line action going on, and this helps to blur everything out.  While you can still see my lines, my dark circles are gone, and I can live with that!

The brush that comes with it is a joke, but for $3 bucks, who cares! Just use a small fluffy brush to apply. Now it doesn’t completely hide my lines, I have too many! Plus I wear glasses so that helps to hide them as well.  Now if I could just blur out all the other wrinkles on my face, oh wait, I really don’t have too many. That my friends is from using a daily sunscreen for the last 30 years. Sure, you can get procedures done to help look younger, but I would rather have more money in my pocket.

 

Thanksgiving Grinch-Thanks Ulta

Nov27

Now I am a huge  www.Ulta.com fan, but I sent them an email today expressing my dissatisfaction that they were open on Thanksgiving.  I really wasn’t expecting a response, but boy what a response I got!  Below is the response, along with the email I sent them! Sheesh!

Hello, Stacy

You recently reached out about your concern regarding your local Ulta store.

We thank you so much for your valuable contribution to our company and are very glad to hear you invest in our products. The fact that you write reviews on our products on your blog is highly appreciated and your compliment will be sent forward to our company.

Looking at your profile, we see that you do in fact value our company highly.
Unfortunately yes we are open on Thanksgiving. We understand that this holiday has recent values in spending time with family and eating good food while other stores have large blowout sales. Unfortunately we do profit off of these sales.

Your concern though, questions me. Thanksgiving is not a holiday worth celebrating since it has roots in the slaughter of an entire nation of people on the first Thanksgiving, so I do not see why any store would be closed on this holiday especially since we benefit during this time with the sales and large amounts of it.

We’re so glad you got in touch and want you to know how happy we are that you shop Ulta.

If you have any other questions, you can respond directly to this email.

Thanks so much,

Dakota G.
Ulta Beauty Guest Services

Dear Sirs,

I have been shopping at your fine establishment for over 10 years. Ulta is my favorite store, and I often write glowing reviews on my life style blog with links to your website. I have introduced your store to my worldwide readers. I am also a platinum rewards member. I estimate I spend almost $1000 a year at your stores. I shop at Ulta weekly. I don’t smoke or drink, I buy cosmetics and skin care, lots of them.

The staff is always helpful, and I’ve gotten some great tips. I am writing today because I was saddened to see your store was open on Thanksgiving. I expected more from Ulta. You sell beauty products, not 50 inch flat screen TV’s for under $300. I actually stopped today for some Christmas gifts.

Judging by your current stock value, I would not have guessed your company would have been aligned with the likes of Walmart, and Best Buy. I can’t imagine anyone waiting in line to buy make up. I expressed my disappointment to the salesperson that helped me today, and she thanked me for my concern.

I’ve worked in retail in my life, but fortunately it was many years ago, and I never had to work on a holiday. I know our society has gone overboard on our consumerism, but I expected more from you.

While I will continue to shop at Ulta, I just wanted to let you know of my concerns.

Thank you,

Stacy K.Not_our_Priority

 

Ipsy April 2015 Glambag Review

May2

Ipsy April 2015 GlambagThe past few months my Ipsy bags have been a bit of a disappointment. So much in fact, I didn’t bother to review most of them.  Well this April bag made up for it.  I’ve been an Ipsy subscriber for 4 ½ years, and have generally been very happy with my monthly bags.  For $10 you really can’t go wrong.  I recently changed my profile, so that may have contributed to my better April bag.

Here is what I got:

Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk-$6.50-love the scent, works really well

Hikari Tango powder blush-full size-$15 a pretty matte pink coral

The Balm Nude Dude eyeshadow in Flirty-beautiful brown shade with flecks of gold-$4

Mica Beauty Cosmetic Eye Primer-$22.50-really makes the Flirty shadow pop on my blue eyes

Julie Nail Polish in Damsel-full size$3.99-vibrant fuchsia pink

Total value of April’s bag $51.99. I loved everything this month.  Nothing will be going to my niece’s goody bag this today.

In the photos I have on the eyeshadow, blush and eye primer.

Way to go Ipsy.com!

Almay Wake Up Concealer-Review

May1

I’m always on the hunt for the perfect under eye concealer.   I think I may have found it. I was shopping at my favorite store Ulta, and had a $4 off coupon for any Almay product.  I bought the light shade; it matches perfectly with my pasty white skin. I don’t have issues with puffiness, just dark circles.  A little goes a long way, and it has a built in brush that I like.  I think I paid a few a dollars for it. It’s very natural looking and lightens up my under eye just right. It’s very creamy and easy to blend. I had a Ulta store coupon for $3.50 that I used also.

Almay Wake up Concealer May 2015A definite winner!

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3460257&_requestid=586453

Another wonderful use for Argan oil!

Mar9

Argan oil face_skin 3-9-15I used a few drops on my face right after I showered.   After about ten minutes, I put on my 30 SPF moisturizer as usual.  Then my liquid foundation. OMG!  My skin looked amazing.  I think the argan oil works better than a primer.  Every time I went to the bathroom today, (which is a lot because I have a bladder the size of a walnut) I couldn’t get over how good my skin looked.  My skin looked nice and dewy up until I took my make up off a little while ago.  I put my foundation on at 7 am, and took it off at 8 pm.  I also picked up some Almay stick concealer at the dollar store.  I don’t normally use stick concealer because it’s too heavy. Guess what? This stuff is great!  It worked really well under my eyes and around my nose.  It especially worked on the dent in my forehead.  Score one for Stacy!

Happy Monday!

 

 

This is how much I love Ipsy.com!

Mar7

I was just checking my Ipsy.com account and saw that I’ve been a subscriber since December 2011!  I knew that I had been getting my Glam bags for a few years, but didn’t realize just how long. How cool is that??

I just updated my profile and got a sneak peek at my March package, and I’m getting some great stuff!  I’ll review as soon as I get my pretty hot pink package!Ipsy Image

 

 

Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush-Review

Mar7

This new Physicians Formula Nude Wear blush is a great everyday color.   The blush has Nude Wear written on it in shimmer.  The shimmer quickly wears off.  The price was $12.99 at Ulta, but I paid $7.54 as it was a buy one get one 50% off, and I had an Ulta store coupon.

The color I have is Natural and it’s a great peachy color.  My go to color before was Clinique in New Clover. With the Physicians Formula, I barely have to sponge any off.  It’s a great color for my pale complexion.  It is very natural looking and fresh.  It gives me just the right amount of color.

I like that there are four colors in the palette.  I use all the colors together, but you could easily use each color separately. Well one of the colors is a highlighter.  The blush colors are very neutral, and the packaging is adorable.

I’m really digging Physicians Formula lately, and at such a great price, I’ll be saying Buh Bye to Clinique New Clover.

Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush-Natural 2-8-15http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod6380035

Physicians Formula’s Argan Wear Glow Oil is 100% Pure Argan Oil-Review

Mar7

Physicians Formula 100 % Pure Argan oil 2-8-15Let me start off by saying this product is amazing!  I had tried Josie Maran’s argan oil and loved it.  I got a sample of Josie’s in an IPSY bag I got a while ago.  While I loved Josie’s brand, it’s a bit pricey.  The Physicians Formula Argan Wear Glow oil is only $14.99 for one ounce.  I bought it at Ulta, and only paid $8.69.  They had a buy one get one for 50% off, and I had an Ulta store coupon.

Here is the Ulta description:

Physicians Formula’s Argan Wear Glow Oil is 100% Pure Argan Oil, known as “liquid gold” for this its rich conditioning benefits, can improve skin’s brightness, tone, texture and elasticity. Weightless multi-tasking miracle combines the benefits of a moisturizer, primer, brightener, protector & treatment in one! Use on face, body, hair, & nails. This magical ingredient from Morocco transforms skin, smoothing the appearance of fine lines, brightening dull skin and renewing suppleness, helping to enhance skin’s youthful looking glow without ever leaving a greasy feel or finish.

I’ve been using it for about a month. It is so great for my mature skin.  I was trying the Mario Badescu skin care line and wasn’t really impressed. My chin had broken out, which my skin never does, so I took the Mario stuff back to Ulta.  The argan oil cleared my skin up immediately. Argan oil gives you a nice glow, and seems to smooth out my skin. It softens my wrinkles and just makes my skin look better.  For the price you can’t beat it.

I use it as a night time treatment. I use 4 drops for my face.  I’m trying a Perricone MD Cold Plasma Sub D on my neck and will hopefully see some good results with that.

Argan oil has so many uses.  I’ve been using Moroccan oil on my hair for several years, and it works great.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod11861055

So what is up with Charlotte Tilbury??

Feb26

I just got my March 2015 issue of Allure magazine, and was reading an article called “The Influencers”.  The first person profiled was Charlotte Tilbury, makeup artist of the moment. I enjoyed her story but was a bit put off by her “never being seen without makeup” comments.

I totally get that, as I look like a corpse without makeup, but I’m sure as hell not going to wear it to bed.   She said “I never go without makeup-ever”.  And that “I only take it off at night when the bathroom door is locked. Then I put it right back on and sleep in it.”

What!!?!?!?!?  I’ve been reading Allure for years, and really haven’t come across such a stupid statement.  You never want to wear your makeup to bed, especially not eye makeup.  That is the quickest way to get an eye infection.

My older (dumber) sister slept in her makeup for years.  I would always get after her about it. She was too lazy to wash her face, and thought that “well my mom has great skin, so I will too”.  Guess what dumbass sister, your skin looks like crap now smudge 2-26-15and you permanently jacked up your eyes.  My sister lives in a different state, so I didn’t see her real often.  She finally admitted some years ago that her tear ducts were permanently damaged and she had to use some sort of silicone inserts in her eyes. Yes, it was caused by years of sleeping in her mascara.

Charlotte is no spring chicken so she should know better.  I hope impressionable young woman don’t take her “never go without makeup” to heart.

 

Ipsy February 2015 Glam Bag Review

Feb15

I’ve been an Ipsy subscriber for over two years now. This glam bag was somewhat of a disappointment.  Here is what I got this month:

City Color Creamy Lip Stain in Flirtini-full size-$4.99

China Glaze nail polish in Marry A Millionaire-full size-$9.99

Model Co. Blush Cheek color in Peach Bellini-full size-$22

Glam Glow Brightmud Eye Treatment-2 samples-$11.50

First Love Roll on Perfume Oil-.29 oz.-$10

The value was $58.48 well over the $10 I paid. The lip color is blah pink that did nothing for me.  The China Glaze polish in Marry A Millionaire is a fun purple, silver and aqua glitter.  The Model Co. blush in Peach Bellini is a peachy color that will be very versatile.

First Love Roll on perfume oil was okay, I was not crazy about the scent.  It smelled very old lady like.  I’m anxious to try the Glam Glow Brightmud Eye treatment, well maybe not after I read some reviews online.  Some say it burns your eyes.

Overall, I’m only keeping the blush and polish, the rest are going in the stash I’m saving to send my 18 year old niece.

Ipsy February 2015 Glambag www.ipsy.com