Studio Gear Holiday Palette

Disclaimer: The product mentioned in this post was given to me to review. I am not affiliated with the company nor getting paid to advertise the product. This post is written with my honest opinion.

I apologize for my random posts the last couple of weeks including this week (going on vacation). With the holidays and spending time with family, it makes it hard to use the computer. I should be back to normal next week. I will try my best to schedule posts this week.

I am lucky to receive a product to review for Studio Gear. I've heard of this brand for some time and have been curious. Given the opportunity to try their Holiday Palette, it makes me happy.

Everyday Minerals Blush in Girl Friday

Please don't forget to enter Zoya Nail Polish Set Giveaway. It ends August 18, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST (Eastern time).


This past July, I was fortunate to receive Beauty Box 5. If you do not know what Beauty Box 5 is, it's a beauty sampling subscription that comes to your door each month.

Just to refresh people's memory, here's my July 2012 Beauty Box 5. I highly recommend Beauty Box 5 if you are into trying samples before buying, as well as, into natural products or at least from what I received. One of the products I received is from Everyday Minerals.

Product Review: Everyday Minerals Blush in Girl Friday

Where to purchase: everydayminerals.com
Price: $6.99 for mini & $10.99 for big (0.17 oz)

Made in USA

Description from the site: A soft plum berry shade that is perfectly feminine and matte.

The ultimate for a natural kiss of color. Everyday Minerals' matte cheek color comes in a wide range of wearable, whimsical shades. For a fresh-faced, feminine look that is remarkable pure, delight your cheeks with one of these charming colors. Effortlessly gorgeous!
Ingredients:

Thoughts: I remember several years ago I use to be into mineral products, and bought tons of foundation samples from Everyday Minerals. I love the concept it's natural and good for you. The only reason I stopped buying is that I realized I'm not a big fan of loose powder. When it comes to cosmetics, I find pressed products easy to work with compared to loose. Loose can get messy.

When I saw Everyday Minerals Blush, I had mixed feelings. I'm not a big fan of loose, but excited that I received a product from Everyday Minerals.

Here's how the blush looks in natural light. From the description, it's a berry color but I did not see that. I saw more a pink color.

From the swatch and how it applies on the cheeks, I can see the berry color the website was talking about.

The blush came with instruction. Basically, I put some loose mineral onto the lip and swirl my brush. Then I apply it onto my cheek the way I want it. It's actually pretty easy to apply the brush. The only thing that can be tough at times is that the lid space isn't big enough for my brush. Other than that, it's not pretty easy.

Here's how the blush looks on me. It's a very pretty, natural color looking blush. I actually like it, but I see myself wearing it more during the fall/winter weather. For some reason, I like my pinks during the spring/summer weather.

Overall, the blush is easy to work with. It can get messy when you open the lid, but that's expected from all powder products. I noticed pressed powder will get loose components as well. After using this blush, I will probably and hopefully use more loose powders. I guess time will tell with that. It's also long lasting. I noticed it lasted the whole day on me, but then again I have dry skin. If you have combination to oily skin, you probably have to reapply.

Pros:
* Everyday Minerals; trusted, natural brand.
* Comes in a variety of colors.
* Pigmented.
* Matte.
* Last all day.

Cons:
* Loose powder can get messy.
* Lid space can be small at times.

Would repurchase: Probably not, because it will last quite a long time.
Rating:  4/5 Tobey's Paws

In the front of the instruction card, there's a promo code "box15" for Everyday Minerals.. I want to share it with my readers. It's good for 3 months after June 10, 2012. My guess is that it expires September 10, 2012. If you want to use the promo code, feel free! :)

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post are given to me. I am not affiliated with any company nor getting paid to advertise any products. This post is written with my honest opinion.

Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale

Please don't forget to enter my Senna Brow Shaper Duo Giveaway. It ends June 30, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST (Eastern time).

Even though my readers are not male, I want to wish you a Happy Father's Day!!! Go celebrate and show your love to your father. :)


On Tuesday, June 12th, Victoria's Secret started their semi-annual sale in stores. They have it twice a year in January and June I believe. It's always best to check it out the first day. It sells out quickly.

These are some of the things I bought. Yeah, it's not everything I bought. :X The other stuff are gifts.

I bought Mega Makeup Kit. They have 90 must-haves for lips, eyes, and face (64 eyeshadows, 8 lipsticks, 8 lipglosses, 3 blushes, 2 bronzers, 1 luminous powder, and 4 brushes). The packaging comes in black and silver. I bought the silver.

When you open the lid, it's the first layer of eyeshadows. They also have a mirror.

You pull the first layer to the sides and you see another layer of eyeshadows.

The layer after the eyeshadows are lipsticks and lipglosses. The final layer is blushes and brushes. I was not able to swatch the lip products and blushes, but the eyeshadows are extremely pigmented. I wasn't expecting that! I also love that the lip products are in their own layer. I hate when it's with the eyeshadows/blushes. The powder will fall into the lip products, and it just doesn't feel so clean. It might just be me though. :P The only bad thing is that once you apply the lip products, you cannot reapply unless you carry the whole heavy kit with you.

I bought another eyeshadow palette. I wasn't planning on buying it until the salesperson swatched the eyeshadows on me. I fell in love with the five colors on the left not including the purple.

I was extremely lucky with these blushes! I found the last three blushes and luckily they were different colors. I'm not too sure if I'm going to keep one or two, but I will have at least one as a giveaway. I just hope you guys will like them. :)

Finally, the lipstick. I actually was not going to buy this until I swatched it. It was gorgeous on my hands! :)

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Blush and ShopBop Winner

Sorry I did not post this week! My oldest brother and his kids, my nieces, came to visit this week. It was a last minute decision. Whenever they come to visit, I lose my computer. :/ Now I'm back and hopefully, for good. :)

I've been wanting to review this blush for the longest time, and I think it's finally time too!

Product Review: Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Blush in #7559 Natural

Where to purchase: drugstores, mass merchandiser, and online at physiciansformula.com
Price: $12.95 for 0.21 oz/ 6g

Made in USA

Description on the back: 
Makeup Powered by You!
* 1st Ever Blush with pH Power Complex transforms into your perfectly personalized hue.
-Fluorescein Based Dye - senses the pH level of your skin & adjusts within 60 sections to created your perfect blushing glow.
- Photochromic Powders - light adjusting pigments adapt to your environment so color looks the same indoors & outside.

Look Your Best in Every Light!
* LED-powered compact lights up and features a full-size mirror, for touch-ups anywhere & everywhere!
Ingredients:

Thoughts: To be honest, I only bought this blush for the idea that the blush matches to your pH level. I know it's a foolish idea to get a blush, but the concept really drew me in. :X I guess I'm a sucker when it comes to cosmetics. Anyways, now to my thoughts.

For the packaging, it's kind of bulky. It's just a square package with different levels.

Here's how the top looks. It's a shiny, black square with pink logo. The only thing I don't like about the packaging is that I can see my fingerprints easily.

The next level is the blush with the mirror. It's a pink, powdered blush with silver dots around the blush. The silver dots give shimmery specks to the blush. Once you use it all, it's just a pink blush.

That same level has a light that you can turn on. The switch is right above the right light. You can compare the picture above to the one exactly above it. Do you see the light on and off? I hope you can!

The last level has the brush.

Since the packaging is kind of bulky and for another reason, I leave mine at home. I hardly carry mine. I got a loose blush pan in mine. I'm kind of scared to carry mine and have the blush crack. For that reason, I don't carry mine anywhere even when I travel. Once I finish the blush, I might actually carry the container. I think the light will come in handy especially at nights or when you're in a dark room.

I usually don't like the brushes the blushes come with, but this is actually pretty okay. It's pretty soft and does not shed. I did noticed some of the hairs go in different directions, but not many. Even though it's soft, I'll still will not use it. I like the round type of brushes for blushes.

Here's how the blush looks in natural light.

A swatch of the blush on my hand. I don't know if you can see the specks of silver especially on the top from the silver dots.

The main concept of this blush is that it "reacts to light and your pH for your perfect blushing glow" within 60 seconds. Well in my opinion, I don't think it does. Even though I don't notice any changes on the blush as soon as I apply it, I still like the color! It's a natural, gorgeous color and it lasts a decent amount of day.

Pros:
* Physicians Formula; I think they have great products for drugstores.
* Comes with light with a switch.
* Comes with a decent brush; soft.
* Natural looking color.
* Long lasting.

Cons:
* Bulky.
* Mine came with a loose blush pan.
* Compact grabs fingerprints easily.
* Blush does not match to your pH level or light.

Would repurchase: Maybe.
Rating:  3.5/5 Tobey's Paws


I went out of town to Palm Springs with bunch of girls couple of weeks ago. One of the girls did my nails.

I took a picture of my nails once I got home. I received so many compliments! People asked me if they were stickers, and I told them someone painted them. So many people were amazed and thought it was gorgeous.

Thank you April!!! :)

Now for the $100 Gift Certificate to Shopbop,

It is...

#59...

Congratulations to mai!!! :)

You have 48 hours to contact me with your name and address. E-mail me at aly_4realz (at) hotmail (dot) com. If you don't contact me within 48 hours, I will draw a new winner.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post are bought with my own money except for the pictures taken from Shopbop.com. I am not affiliated with any company nor getting paid to advertise any products. This post is written with my honest opinion.

Victoria's Secret Semi Annual Sale Haul

I cannot remember, but I believe it was in June when they had the Victoria's Secret Semi Annual Sale *sigh*. :X I went right after work on the first day, and hot dang it was crowded.

Here's my beauty haul. I actually bought some more but I'll be giving them away as gifts. ;)

I'll start with my Beauty Rush...

I bought two eyeshadows from this line. Even though this line isn't discontinued, the colors are. I got Glow Gold and Green Goddess.

Here is the swatch of the colors. Glow Gold on the left and Green Goddess on the right.

I also got a lipstick in this line in Grape Fruity. It seems like this line is discontinued, but I'm not 100% sure.

Here's a swatch of the lipstick. It's a light, sheer color.

Now for the Minerals...

I got one lipgloss in Untamed. It's a discontinued product.

Here's a swatch of the lipgloss. It's such a pretty, not my typical color. I still like it though! :)

The last collection is the Baked Mineral...

The first thing I got is the Shadow Quad in Secluded Lagoon. I won't be showing a swatch of the colors for a reason. ;)

The second thing from this line is the Bronzing Powder in Sun Goddess. Unfortunately, everything is discontinued in this line. I have no clue why since the packaging is adorable, as well as, huge. This is the only one I found. If I found another Bronzing Powder, I would have given away as a prize. :/

Here's a swatch of the bronzing powder.

The last thing from this line I got is Luminous Cheek & Face Highlighter. Oh mi goodness the marbleized is gorgeous! I think I fell more in love with that than the color itself. :X

Here's a swatch of the cheek highlighter.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post are bought with my own money unless otherwise stated. I am not affiliated with any company nor getting paid to advertise any products. This post is written with my honest opinion.