Random Thoughts - Social Media Icons, Ads, Followers, and Family

I haven't done one of these random posts in a while. It seemed like a good time.

Social Media Icons

I just added some social media icons to my sidebar. I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I wasn't sure how or where to find them. Thankfully, Chelsea Dawn over at Life Unpublished saved the day.  She did a post about free social media icons that she had found on Carrie Loves. There's 19 different icons in 30 different colors!

I've added links to my Facebook, Twitter, and Bloglovin' pages. Please check them out. I'd actually really appreciate it if someone went and liked my Facebook page. It keeps reverting back to being unpublished, and I'm guessing that's because I don't have anyone following me there yet.

Ads

I tried signing up for Google AdSense over the weekend because I'd like to start making a little (and I do know it would be a little) money off of this blog to help fund my makeup addiction. Sadly, my application was rejected almost immediately. The page that they sent me to that was supposed to explain why wasn't really helpful. Anyone have any experience with this they can share?


Followers

I somewhat recently surpassed 100 followers! That felt like such a milestone. I know this is still a baby blog that is growing really slowly, but I'm proud of how far it has come. Thanks to all of you for reading, following, and commenting. I've got a giveaway in the works to celebrate, but I don't know when it will go up. Definitely keep a look out!

Family

As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent my Saturday helping my future brother-in-law work on finishing trim for the new house he's building. I wasn't really looking forward to it because I like being lazy on the weekends, but it ended up being a really good day.

Two of my three nieces (I've been around since before they were all born, so I just consider them my nieces, not my future nieces) came out to the new house while we were working. In between sanding and moving boards, I had time to play with both girls. The 7-year-old did a little bit helping me sand boards and wipe them down. She seemed so proud to be helping. The 5-year-old took a very impressive nap curled up on the concrete floor right by where an electric sander was being used.

I feel lucky getting to see all three of these girls grow up. They have such interesting personalities, and it is fun watching those personalities develop.

Consistent Posting

I'm also going to give myself a pat on the back for sticking with posting more consistently. As life has gotten back into full swing after the holidays, my other resolutions have fallen to the wayside a bit, but this one has stuck *knock on wood*

The next step is getting posts scheduled more than a week in advance. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm optimistic that I'll get there.

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!

Essence Quattro Eyeshadow - To Die For - Review and Swatches

I hope all of you are having a nice, relaxing weekend! Mine is going to be busier than normal, but I'm hoping to get some relaxing and blogging squeezed in too. Around the time this post is going up, I'll be getting ready to go help my future brother-in-law stain a bunch of trim and doors for the new house he is building. Sunday is always laundry day for me, and I also need to try and get caught up on things around the house that I've been neglecting due to being busy and then getting sick. A well-thought-out trip to the grocery store (with a list and everything) should probably happen too, but that might get put off until Monday.

 When I finally got access to an Ulta at my favorite shopping location, I kind of went a little crazy. I picked up several items from NYX, Real Techniques, and Essence. What can I say? I was excited to have those brands easily accessible.

I picked up the Essence quad in To Die For because it seemed like a good basic palette (not that I don't already have plenty of basic palettes).

 This quad retails for $3.99 on Ulta.com. It comes in a clear plastic compact that feels quite sturdy and isn't overly bulky. There aren't any applicators included, which is a plus in my opinion. Since I don't generally use sponge-tip applicators, they are a waste for me and just add to the bulk of the packaging. 

I like the design of the pans as well. It's a cute pattern, and the sizes of the pans coordinate with how much I would use each color. 

 I haven't used the highlight shade much because it has a satin finish to it and seems to have a slight grey tone. My regular highlight shade is completely matte. I will use this shade most often as in inner corner highlight.

As you can see, the assumed lid shade is really close to my skin tone, so the swatch doesn't show up very well. This shade also has a satin finish. While I would say the swatch appears decently pigmented, this shade seems to apply somewhat sheer on the lid.

The two darker brown shades are clearly very similar. The one on the left is a bit warmer and has sparse bits of tiny gold shimmer along with a more apparent satin finish than the other shades; the one on the right is the most matte of the four, although I would still call it a satin. They both work well as crease shades. They blend out easily. 

All four shadows have a really smooth, creamy feel that is pretty impressive for the price. The satin finish of all the shadows is so subtle, they really come off as matte on the eye. Under a primer, they seem to last well throughout the day except for the assumed lid shade. I think it fades throughout the day, especially on the center of my lid, but it's so sheer that it's hard to tell.

Final Thoughts

This is an okay quad. I like the look that it gives, but it isn't anything special. I think it would be nice for someone looking for a everyday drugstore palette without a lot of shimmer or sheen. It would also be a good palette for someone just starting out with makeup who is intimidated by eye shadow. Anyone with a larger collection probably has similar colors and could pass on this without regret. 

Do you have any fun weekend plans or are you doing chores and playing catch-up too? What is your favorite basic shadow quad or trio?

It's Ok Thursday! Link Up

My friend Amber from Book Geek Speaks has been doing this link up started by Amber over at Brunch with Amber for a while now, and I finally decided to jump on board.

   

It's ok

 

...that I didn't work Monday through Wednesday because I had a nasty cold. 

...that I make Hamburger Helper for dinner way too often. I know it's not healthy, but it's easy and my fiance likes it.
 

...that I read a lot of cozy mysteries and fluffy romances and very few things with actual substance. 

 

...that I pre-ordered the new Tarte Amazonian Clay Concealer on QVC, even though I'm trying to cut back on my beauty spending.
 

...that I have over 1000 new emails in my inbox just because I've been too lazy to delete them.
 

...that I've been meaning to clean the bathroom floor for about two weeks now, and it hasn't happened yet.

What's ok with you this week?

Battle of the Freestyle Palettes

In the process of pressing loose mineral eye shadows and depotting larger palettes of shadows, I've picked up a variety of freestyle palettes to accommodate them all. I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at all of the options.

Homemade Palette - Approximately $5 to make

I did a post about how I made this palette here. The best feature about these is that they are inexpensive to make. This particular tin can hold 23 shadows (26mm pans). If you've got a lot of shadows that you are trying to store, these might not be big enough. You'd have to have quite a few to store a large collection. Another downside is that the lid isn't attached. It didn't seem like a big deal to me until I went to grab a stack of them and didn't get a solid hold on the bottom palette. The palette when flying, and I had some damage to a few shadows (thankfully none got completely destroyed).

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Holds a decent number of shadows, depending on size
• Easy to make

Cons

• Lid isn't attached, which means it isn't good for traveling
• Might be hard to locate tins
• Not ideal for a larger collection

Stars Makeup Haven Large Freestyle Magnetic Palette - $19 per palette with $7.95 shipping minimum)

This is just a plain black plastic palette that I ordered from Stars Makeup Haven. It's sturdy, but it's too large and flimsy for me to feel comfortable traveling with it. The biggest pro of this palette is that it holds a ton of shadows. I can fit 45 standard-sized pans in it.

Stars Makeup Haven also has a small freestyle palette that sells for $14. I don't know how many shadows it holds since I don't personally own it. 

Pros

•  Holds 45 standard shadows, which is great for larger collections
• Sleek black design

Cons

•   Cost - it seems really pricey, especially with shipping added in. I held out for a sale, which doesn't happen often
• The case shows smudges easily
• Not ideal for traveling because of the size and the construction isn't extremely sturdy (although good for everyday, at-home use)

Z Palette - $20 for a large palette; $14 for a small palette; Free shipping on orders over $60

 I picked up some Z Palettes at the tail end of December when they had a few different palettes on sale. These palettes are cardboard with clear plastic for the lid, but they are really sturdy. Magnets hold the lid closed. The large palette can hold 28 standard-sized shadows, and the small palette can hold 9 standard-sized shadows.

I love that this palette had a clear lid so I can see what shadows are in them. Another great feature about these palettes is that they come with metal stickers that you can put on non-metal pans to make them stick to the palette.

Pros

• Variety of colors and styles
• Has a clear lid, which makes it easier to locate specific colors
• Sturdy construction
• Comes with metal stickers to put on non-metal pans

Cons

• Expensive - the large size holds 17 less shadows for approximately the same cost as the Stars Makeup Haven palette (I wish they made an even larger palette)

Unii Palette - $29 for a palette, free shipping after you buy 2, and buy 4, get the 5th one free

 I bought this Unii Palette on a deal site over the summer and was able to get is for somewhere around $10 (I'm not listing the deal site because I read awful reviews on it after I made this order and don't trust promoting it). I would never have bought it at full price. It only holds 13 standard-sized shadows. The place where this palette really shines is in how sturdy this palette is. It is super solid plastic with a rubber seal around the edges. I took the second picture to show the latch. This is a super solid latch. I could throw this loosely into a bag without any concern about it popping open.

Pros

• Super sturdy - clearly designed for travel
• A variety of colors
• Finger grip

Cons

• Only holds 13 standard shadows
• Expensive, especially for how small the palette is

Final Thoughts

I think each of these palettes has their uses. My favorite overall is the Z Palette, followed by the Stars Makeup Haven one. I would only buy the Unii Palette if you are able to find a good deal on it. I don't think it is worth the full list price. The homemade palette is great if you just want to depot one or two bulky palettes, but aren't ideal for anything more than that.

Do you have any freestyle palettes? Which one do you think would work best for your needs?

NYX Retractable Liner in Bronze - Darkhorse Product

Happy Friday!

This reviews going to be short and to the point because I've had another crazy busy week. I subbed for second grade two days, and today I will be working with kindergarteners for the third day in a row. Little kids are sweet, but they are also exhausting!

If you are anything like me, you have heard and read a ton of rave reviews about the NYX Slide On Eye Pencils. They are supposed to be really good dupes for Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner Pencils.

I'd been meaning to pick one up to try out, but when I was looking at NYX eye liners in Ulta, I couldn't help but notice that the Slide On Pencils retail for $8 and NYX's Retractable Eye Liners only retail for $4.50. At nearly half the cost and getting a pencil that I don't have to sharpen, I couldn't resist.

The liner had been used prior to this picture. Sorry!

I only picked up one shade, Bronze, but there are 16 colors total in this formulation.

Swatch: NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Bronze

The formula of this liner is really nice. It's soft and creamy without being too soft and creamy. It gives a little bit of play time for smudging before it sets, and it stays put throughout the day. I get some fading around the outer corners of my eyes, but I get that with nearly every liner that I own, so I don't worry too much about that.

With all of that being said, I'm really surprised that I haven't heard much about this line of liners before. I obviously can't compare it to the Slide-On Pencils since I haven't tried those, but it's hard to beat these retractable ones when I don't really have anything negative to say about them and are quite a bit cheaper.

Have you tried the NYX Retractable Eye Liners or the Slide On Pencils? Are you as glad for the weekend as I am?

Tarte Journey to Natural Beauty 6-pc Collection - Review and Swatches

You know I'm completely in love with Tarte Amazonian clay blushes. They are my favorite blushes to use, and I've amassed a decent sized collection since their release.

When I saw that there was an Amazonian clay blush in the new Tarte Today's Special Value on QVC, I couldn't resist ordering it (and signing up for auto delivery).

The set is currently selling for $59.94 plus shipping (the price will jump to $72.50 if there are any remaining after the official TSV date of February 5) and comes with:

• Brow Architect Liner and Shaper
• Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Fearless
• Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Plummy Rose
• Tarte Lights, Cameras, Flashes Mascara
• Makeup Bag

Brow Architect Liner and Shaper in Fair/Light (Estimated Retail Value: $18)

Full product

Spoolie

Defining Powder in Fair/Light

Liner Product

Liner Product

I've never really done much to my brows. They are naturally full, so the most I normally do is pluck and wax them. This product was my first real experiment with a brow pencil. I surprisingly like the little bit of definition the liner part adds to my brows. According to the pamphlet sent with the set, the liner is a universal shade. Sadly, I can't get the defining powder to work for me. It applies cakey, uneven, and extremely obvious. The spoolie is nice to have right with the product.

Aside from not liking the defining powder, the other major negative to this product is that there isn't much of the liner product. The second to last picture above shows the liner product twisted all the way out. That's all there is there.

Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush (Retail Value: $32)

I already have one of these from a previous purchase of the Amazonian clay foundation. It's a super dense, soft buffing brush. I used it a lot to apply mineral foundation over the summer. I find it a bit too large for applying liquid foundation.

What makes this version of the brush unique is the decorative handle. I think it's really pretty, but I'm worried about how clean it will stay and how well it will hold up over time. One minor feature that I really like about this version of the brush is that the bottom is flat. It's such a large-handled brush that it seems to make the most sense for me to just stand it up on my table, but the original one that I have is curved at the bottom of the handle, so I have to keep it in a brush holder.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation in Fair (Retail Price: $38)

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I've purchased this foundation before. I like it. It's a really good color match for me, which is always nice since I have a hard time finding foundations that match me. I also feel it's worth pointing out that you are getting 1.7 fl oz of product when most foundations only have 1 fl oz.

My biggest gripe with this being included in the TSV is that it's included in TSV's too often and is included in the auto delivery shipments. I already had a tube-and-a-half of this foundation in my stash before I got this tube, and I'll have two more coming my way in future shipments. Even if I didn't have any of this in my stash already, I don't know anyone who can go through a foundation in three months (the amount of time between shipments). I wish Tarte would mix it up by including different face products in each shipment.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Fearless (Retail Value: $25)

The pamphlet states that Fearless is a warm pink shade, and I would agree with that. It also has fine gold shimmer. It's a beautiful shade that is up to par with the regular shades in the line.

Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Plummy Rose (Estimated Retail Value: $26)

 

I'm not a lipstick wearer, but I was curious to try this one, and I'm thrilled that I did! It doesn't feel heavy on the lips; it feels more like a balm. The color is also a really nice, everyday color. I'm really curious to see what shades will be sent in the following shipments.

Lights, Cameras, Flashes Mascara (Estimated Retail Value: $19)

 

If you've followed me for awhile, you know that I'm not a fan of the Lights, Cameras, Lashes mascara. I was skeptical about trying this new variation, but I figured I might as well give it a shot.

I'm happy to report that I'm liking it, even though there's been a couple minor issues. The first issue I had was figuring out how to deal with the brush.  I'm going to go ahead and link you back to the product listing for this set to see a better picture of the brush for this mascara because my picture doesn't show it very well. The brush has a slight curve to it, and, according to the pamphlet, one side has shorter, softer bristles, and the other side has longer comb-like bristles. The shorter bristles, as best as I can tell, are on the underside of the curve. The first few times that I used this mascara, the wand felt really awkward; I was worried I was going to poke myself in the eye.

My other issue was having it smudge onto my browbone during the course of the day. So far, this has only happened once, so I'm assuming it was some freak occurrence. I'm not noticing any flaking during the day, which is the usual problem I have with mascaras. I'll make sure to give an update if I discover down the line that I actually dislike this mascara.

Edited to add: I had the smudging issue again today. I've come to the conclusion that it was because I was too warm and ended up with a light sheen of perspiration on my face. Not good. I'm the type of person who sweats at the drop of a hat (lovely image, I know), so this is really unfortunate. I will probably still use this mascara some, but it couldn't be an everyday mascara for me. It'll have to be relegated to days when I'm just running a couple of errands or days when I'm just playing with makeup and not planning to leave the house.

Swatches

From left to right: Plummy Rose Lipstick, Fearless Blush, Brow Liner, Brow Definer, Foundation

 

The Bag (Estimated Retail Value: ???)

 This is a really cute bag that's a good size. All of the products from this set fit in this bag with plenty of room to spare. I don't know how much I'll actually use it, but since I just consider it an extra, that doesn't bother me.

Bonus Item:

 Tarte always throws in a deluxe sample of product with the first shipment of a TSV. This time it was a sample of their Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self Tanner. I was a little disappointed because they've sent this sample before, and I don't use self tanners. Then again, it's a bonus, so I'm not really bothered by it.

 Total Estimated Value: $158 (Note: I didn't assign any value to the bag or to the self tanner samples.)

Final Thoughts:

As with all of the other Tarte TSVs that I've gotten, this set is an incredible value. You are getting the entire set for less than buying the foundation and brush individually. If you are interested in a couple of these products, it's worth checking out. If you aren't sure whether to get the auto delivery option, get it. You can always cancel future shipments if you decide you don't like the colors in them (the future colors haven't been released yet).


Are you going to indulge in this Tarte TSV? If you've picked it up, can you give me any tips on how to get the defining powder to work.

Fresh Sugar Lip Balms - Worth the Price?

I was thrilled when I found out that Sephora's 2012 birthday gift for VIBs was a duo of mini Fresh Sugar lip balms in original and Rose. There's a lot of hype about these balms, but I just couldn't justify the $22.50 price tag to try out a full size (Ouch!). Getting to try them for free was a much better deal.

Here's a look at the duo from the day I brought them home. The packaging itself makes these balms feel fancy because they are metal tubes and the cap twists on and off.

Sadly, this is what ended up happening to my original balm after a handful of uses:

This balm is SO soft, you can't keep it in your pocket, which is where I always keep my lip balm that I'm using for the day. The packaging gives the balm too much wiggle room. It would work a lot better in a more traditional lip balm tube where the balm is formed to the side of the tube. I ended up having to depot this into an empty jar that I had on hand because I just couldn't use it in the tube anymore.

As for how well the balm actually performs, it is a nice feeling balm. It's not overly slick, but it isn't waxy feeling either. It has a citrus/lemon scent that is nice but not over-powering. One major positive is that it has SPF 15, which is always nice. As for how well it moisturizes, I don't find it amazing. Since I'm trying to use it up, I'm using it pretty constantly right now, and the edges of my lips start to feel dry, and I don't know why that is. After doing a scan of the ingredients, my best guess would be because it has benzyl alcohol in it, but I have no proof to back that up. 

Final Thoughts

Is this balm worth $22.50 for a full size? Not for me. I don't want to have to be super careful when slicking on a lip balm or keep it in my purse instead of my pocket, and the formula isn't amazing enough to overcome that negative. If it were in a value set that I already wanted, I wouldn't object to using it again, but I'm not going to go out of my way to pick more up.

What do you think of the Fresh Sugar Balms? What is your favorite lip balm?