Farewell 2010!

Dear Friends,

In just less than an hour, 2010 will be a memory. I still can't believe how quickly the year flew by!

I'm spending the evening at home tending to my mom who's been sick with the flu these last few days. I actually don't miss going out this year; we're still digging out from a major snowstorm that bombarded the New York area the day after Christmas. This evening I decided change into my PJs early and tackle my ridiculously packed makeup drawer. I purged about a dozen items that I didn't want anymore. I did this in preparation of my Project Pan (# still to be determined), which I am starting January 2nd. I'm really looking forward to using up a lot of my makeup stash this year. But that doesn't mean I won't be shopping new collections when my Project Pan is over! LOL

While I was sorting through my make up drawer I came across some items that definitely earned a place on my "2010 Favorites" list. Here are a few of them (pardon the lack of photos, I didn't plan on doing this tonight!):

~2010 Favorites~

Foundation: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation in Fair
Concealer: Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Fair
Blush: Nars Orgasm
Bronzer: (Tie) Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light & Mac Solar Riche Bronzer
Lipstick: (Tie) Rimmel Airy Fairy & Chanel Rose Comite
Lip Gloss: MAC Dazzleglass in Money Honey
Eye Shadow: (Lord, where do I begin?) MAC Shroom, Vapour, Smoke & Diamonds, Satin Taupe, Shale, Trax, Club, Femme Fi, Play on Plums; Revlon Colorstay Sandstorm Palette; Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette; Wet 'n Wild Nutty shadow, etc.
Mascara (Tie): Lancome Precious Cells Mascara; L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara
Eye Shadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Highlighter: MAC MSF in Refined

I could go on and on but then this list would never end! LOL

Am off to watch the ball drop on TV. Wishing you a happy, healthy and bright New Year. Be safe! Cheers!

Until next year,
Liz :-)

Review: Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection

Hi everyone!

This is a review of the Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection. I purchased this palette about five months ago so this review is a wee bit overdue!

This year Too Faced has released some really awesome palettes. I've never been disappointed with the various products I've tried and this palette is no exception. I really love it! This palette consists of nine shadows that are organized into three color combinations: Day, Classic and Fashion.

Colors by row (left to right):
Day (Heaven, Velvet Revolver, Sexpresso)
Classic (Silk Teddy, Push-Up, Erotica)
Fashion (Nude Beach, Honey Pot, Cocoa Puff)

All of the "Day" colors are matte...Heaven is a creamy, off-white shade; Velvet Revolver is a pale taupe; and Sexpresso is a rich dark chocolate.

The "Classic" colors have shimmer...Silk Teddy is a sheer, cool pink; Push-Up is a light, coppery brown; and Erotica is a shimmery version of Sexpresso.

The "Fashion" colors are also shimmery...Nude Beach is a sheer but glittery warm pink; Honey Pot is a medium gold shade; and Cocoa Puff is a warm reddish brown.

All of these shades are very wearable and easy to layer and blend. For work and typical everyday looks, I tend to reach more for the "Classic" shades. The "Fashion" colors are perfect for evening looks, especially with the glittery shades. I even mix colors from all three groups and they work together nicely. Plus, this palette includes three instruction cards for creating each of the looks...so it's really goof proof!

Now, while I totally love this shadow collection, I do have a couple nit-picky things about it:
the packaging could be better. Don't get me wrong, the box is very pretty but it's bulky. While it is made of sturdy cardboard, I probably wouldn't travel with it. I would be concerned of it getting damaged. Also the package has a little pull-out drawer that, to my dismay, only contains a dual ended applicator that's basically useless. Seems like a waste for such a tiny item!

If I had to rate this product on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest), I would rate it a 4.5. I can definitely see myself reaching for this palette on a daily basis!

From what I can tell, it looks like this palette is a permanent item in Too Faced's line. It retails for $35 at sephora.com. It's a pretty good deal considering the amount of product you get! I hope you find this review helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below.

Until next time!
Liz :-)

A HOLIDAY GREETING

Hello everyone & warmest holiday greetings!

We are just a few days away from ringing in 2011. Can you believe it? I can't...it was on New Year's Day 2010 that I launched this blog. And I have been quite noticeably absent from it for the last several months. The reason? Everyday life and work, really. And I don't see it getting any easier in 2011. I've taken on a several extra responsibilities at work...it's all good but my free time is not as abundant as it used to be. Plus, I'm a primary caregiver to an elderly parent which can be challenging at times.

Despite everything, I have greatly missed posting on this blog. During these last few weeks, I have been pondering whether I should give it another go or just shut it down. And here's what I have decided: I'm going to give it another go! I'm going to commit myself to three more months and see how I do...I hope that during this time I will gain the momentum to keep it going as long as possible. Now I can't promise I'll be posting every single week, but I will definitely try to post a few times each month. Deal?

I'm working on some ideas for upcoming posts. Also, I'm going to give Project 10 Pan another try. For those of you who followed me from the beginning, I tried a Project 10 Pan experiment in January and broke down midway. It wasn't a total failure though; I did finish half the items on my list. But since then I have gone way overboard on new cosmetic purchases and realized recently I really need to use up several products. So, I'm in the process of picking my 10 items and will unveil them right after the New Year. Today I made what I think will be my final makeup purchase of 2010: a couple items from the new MAC Cham Pale collection! My purchase was small: one of the Lipgelees, a lipstick and an eye liner. I ordered online and can't wait for my little haul to arrive! :-)

So that's the latest for now. Looking forward to bringing you more soon!

Until next time!
Liz

My June Top 3 Favorites!

Hey everyone!

Happy July 1st! I can't believe how quickly June passed us by.

Well it's time to reveal my three favorite products for June. This month I discovered two fabulous new products and renewed my interest in a product I have used for several years.

Here they are!

Bremenn Research Labs' Emergency Zit Stick Acne Treatment: I came across this product at Century 21, a discount clothing/merchandise store in New York. After a couple of years of fairly clear skin, my face suddenly began breaking out and I'm not sure the cause. I wasn't having much luck with other acne treatments, so I decided to give this product a try. This treatment contains Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%. After a couple of days, my larger breakouts began to heal and I didn't notice any excessive dryness on my face. In the past I've used other products with Benzoyl Peroxide that were very drying and caused my skin to peel. This is a great product to keep on hand for spot treating sudden breakouts. This treatment also reduces redness and swelling fairly quickly. It's especially effective when you apply it at the first sign of a breakout.

Century 21 doesn't usually re-stock the same items so I was nervously wondering where I'll be able to find it when I run out. Well there's good news: you can find it at Sephora! It retails for $21 - a great value for a pretty potent product!

Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion - I have been using this moisturizer pretty consistently for the last five years. It is oil-free and has SPF30; it also contains powerful ingredients such as Gingko Biloba and Vitamins A, C and E. It's perfect for extremely oily skin (like mine). In the past I have experienced breakouts and irritation from other moisturizers containing sunscreen; I have had no issues with this product. It's my go-to product during the summer months, when my fair skin needs all the protection it can get!

This product retails for $42 and can be found at Sephora.

Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil Moisturizer - This product is a major multi-tasker! I purchased it with the intention of using on my hair. I wanted to see how it compared with Moroccan Oil.

I have been massaging a dropper full of this oil in my hair every other day for the last three weeks. Since then, I've noticed that my hair looks and feels healthier and it definitely has more shine.

What's even more interesting about this product is that it has so many different uses: it can be used on your cuticles, as a body moisturizer, as a bath oil and yes, even as a facial moisturizer! I have used it on my hands and body after bathing and my skin now feels much softer and moisturized. To be honest, I have not used it on my face since my skin is quite oily; but, I think individuals with very dry skin will like the results.

This is another product that can be found at Sephora; the 1/2 fl. oz. size retails for $14. It is also available in a 1.7 fl. oz. size for $48. It's a bit pricey but a little goes a very long way!

So there are my June top 3 favorites. I hope you found these reviews helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to post them below.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

My Revlon Grow Luscious 6 week challenge

Hey everyone,

This week I picked up Revlon's new Grow Luscious Mascara in Blackest Black. Since there are now several lash growth products on the market, this product piqued my interest. And I'm really hoping that Revlon will redeem themselves after last year's launch of their disappointing Double Twist Mascara.

The packaging states that "96% saw instantly longer, more lush lashes". Lash enhancing formula complements the natural growth cycle of your lashes and improves their overall appearance and condition with each use."

I recently tried L'Oreal's Lash Boosting mascara. I opted not to try the serum as I tend to have sensitive eyes and didn't want to leave anything to chance. I did see minor results with this mascara but afterward noticed some lash fall out after I stopped using it. I'm not saying that this product caused that to happen; but as with all other lash enhancement products, you need to continually use them to maintain results.

So with that said, I'm laying down a challenge for myself. For a six-week period beginning tomorrow, July 1st, I will use the Grow Luscious Mascara and keep track of my results. Every couple of weeks I'll let you know how I'm doing!

So stay tuned - should be interesting!

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Favorite Inexpensive Summer Lip Products

Hey everyone!

Hope you are all having a great start of summer so far...can't believe Fourth of July is this weekend! It's been unbelievably hot in NY these last few days. BUT, I'll take this over winter anytime!

So it's been a while since my last post and I want to make up for lost time. Today I'd like to share some of my favorite inexpensive summer lip products. During the summer I tend to stay away from heavy lipsticks and just go with glosses or tinted lip conditioners. I recently found a few that offer great pigmentation and are also very moisturizing. These products are pretty inexpensive...from $1 to under $10!

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lipgloss - The color featured here is Camellia (#250); this is the limited-edition shade Eva Longoria is wearing in the ad campaign. This particular color is a shimmery rosy pink that's not too bright and would flatter most skin tones. It looks spectacular on Eva, especially with her tanned skin. According to the package, this gloss has six-hour wear. I've worn this gloss several times and found that it did last a few hours but not quite six. I needed to re-apply after 4 or 5 hours and especially after eating. It has a sweet scent that reminds me of cotton candy. It's a great gloss to keep handy in your purse and for a retail price of $9.59, is a pretty good value. L'Oreal just released several limited-edition shades for the summer; they're all so pretty!

E.L.F. Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF15 - I recently read that it's not a good idea to wear non-SPF lip products (especially gloss) during the summer months. We now know that all those years we fried our skin with suntan or baby oil wasn't such a good idea; so when you think about lip gloss, isn't that the same as applying oil on your lips? That's why I was so excited when I found this product at the dollar store! I picked up two shades, Candlelight (pictured right) and Goddess (pictured left). Candlelight is peachy-nude shade with a hint of shimmer; Goddess is a metallic mauvey-pink (my fave of the two). Both shades have decent color payoff, offer a good amount of shine and do last on your lips a while. These glosses also have a candy-like scent; nothing offensive. For only $1 each, why not stock up?

Wet 'n Wild Natural Blend Lip Shimmer - The color featured here (pictured at bottom) is #104 and is basically a sheer berry color with a hint of shimmer. This is a fairly new product to the Wet 'n Wild line. The color glides on well and is not overpowering. When I first tried on this shade I thought it was going to go on really dark; instead it applied smoothly, gave me significant but sheer color and felt very moisturizing on my lips. It's a great daytime lip product and very inexpensive - only $2.99. I was pleasantly surprised with the color selection at the drugstore - I may go back for a couple more!

So there are my go-to products for this summer. I hope you found this review helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below. And if you'd like to share your favorite inexpensive lip products, don't be shy...let me know!

Until next time!

Liz :-)

May Favorites & an Honorable (But Sad) Mention

Hi everyone!

Hope you had an awesome Memorial Day weekend! Couldn't ask for better weather here in NYC.

Well, it's that time again - favorites! I've selected three products I used quite frequently during May and am really loving them. And here they are...

1) Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light: I so love this primer! I'm on my fifth bottle so far. This is the oil free version; at first I used the original one which worked great but it felt heavier on my skin. The oil-free version is perfect for my acne prone, oily skin.

In my opinion, this product really smooths out and preps your skin for foundation application. It can be used with any foundation you have. I primarily use this with my BareMinerals Foundation but I've also used it under liquid foundations such as the Revlon ColorStay and PhotoReady foundations. I especially love using this product during the summer months when my skin is oiliest...it helps your makeup maintain a matte finish all day. Plus, not only is it a cosmetic product but it also doubles as a skincare product that contains Vitamin C and peptides! The 1 oz bottle retails for $36 and can be found at Sephora or Ulta. It's a bit pricey but definitely worth every penny!

2) Rimmel London Natural Bronzer in "Sun Light": I've been testing various bronzers for a while and finally found one that doesn't look orange or "dirty" on my fair skin. "Sun Light" is the lightest of the three shades they carry and it's a matte bronzer. As with any bronzer you use, a light application is best; but, I've found that this one is more application friendly and gives you a beautiful natural glow. I've also tried the shade "Sun Dance" which is similar to "Sun Light" but it has shimmer which many people do not like. This product retails for about $6 and can be found at any chain drugstore like CVS and Walgreens. For a drugstore brand, I'll grab this over my pricier department store bronzers anytime!

3) Korres Lip Butter in "Wild Rose": There have been so many mentions of this product on YouTube and in various magazines. At first I wasn't planning to buy it but I ended up caving in and picked up the shade "Wild Rose" which has a sheer red tint. It smells lovely and it's quite moisturizing on your lips! There are several other "flavors" available and I may pick up another one in "Jasmine". One of my favorite YouTube gurus, BelleDuJourNYC, picked up several after a rumor went around that they were being discontinued - yikes! Fortunately, Sephora told her it was not true; but regardless, I don't blame her for stocking up! Korres Lip Butter retails for $10 and best of all, it contains no parabens or sulfates! Who doesn't love that!

And now for my honorable (but sad) mention...

NYX Eyeshadow in "Skin": Just before I took this photo my poor little eyeshadow had a terrible mishap - it slipped out of my hand and fell on my hardwood floor! :(

So as you can see, it totally crumbled. Fortunately, the compact didn't open when it fell so I didn't lose the eyeshadow. I think it's still usable - I just need to store it in a sifter container so it won't fall all over the place when I try to use it.

Anyway, I really love this shadow. Like it's name, it's a natural flesh tone color that works as an all-over eye color and it's especially good for blending out darker shadow colors. I find it works great with most of the shadows I have, especially my various brown and plum shades. Long live the Skin! LOL

So those are my May favorites. Hope you'll give them a try - you won't be disappointed! If you have any questions or comments about these products, feel free to post them below.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Review: E.L.F. Brightening Eye Color shadows

Hey everyone!

How's your weekend going so far? It was a beautiful Saturday in NYC. Plus, I'm enjoying an extra-long weekend as I'm taking a mini-vacation from work...I'm off until Wednesday! Yippee!

A few weeks back I was introduced to E.L.F. cosmetics at the Redbook Beauty Bash in NYC. Afterwards, I ordered several of their products (you wouldn't believe what - and how much - I purchased for about $25!)

I've been using these products pretty regularly over the last few weeks and I wanted to share my impressions of them. There's a lot of ground to cover so I will be doing a series of reviews over the next couple of weeks. PLUS, I will be doing an E.L.F. giveaway soon...so keep an eye out for the details!

First up is a review of the E.L.F. Brightening Eye Color shadows. These shadows come as a quad compact and at $1 each (yes, $1!) are a great value. I purchased the four quads below; the colors are (clockwise from top) Nouveau Neutrals, Day 2 Night, Silver Lining and Drama.

I'll begin by stating that all four palettes are shimmery, none of the shades are matte. In the case of Drama, the two gray shades border on the glittery side. All four palettes include a highlight shade, two medium shades for the lid, and a dark shade for the crease. When I first picked these up I didn't hold a high expectation for them. But as I began using them, I was pleasantly surprised!

With the exception of the three lightest shades in the Nouveau Neutrals palette, all of the shadows had good pigmentation. But I quickly learned that a gentle hand is needed for the application of these shadows. Unfortunately, they are a bit chalky; a light tap of your shadow brush into the darker colors will probably be all you need. I also found that I had to work the brush a little more than usual to blend the shadows but it's not impossible to do.

At first I was skeptical about the durability of these shadows. Like my skin, my eyelids are oily so I always have issues with my shadow staying put all day. I tried applying these shadows with and without primer. When used without primer, I experienced creasing after two or three hours and the colors had somewhat faded. But when used with a primer, the shadows stayed put for most of the day, kept their vibrancy and I noticed little creasing. I tested application with three different primers: MAC Painterly Paintpot, Smashbox Photofinish Lid Primer, and NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Cottage Cheese. (I realized after the fact that E.L.F. sells their own eyeshadow primer - I may order one next time.) All three performed well with these shadows but I think my Smashbox primer was the best option.

My favorite palette of the four is Day 2 Night followed by Silver Lining. In my opinion, Day 2 Night will work well for anyone; you can use the lighter ivory and brown shades for the day and then glam it up for evening with the gold and charcoal grayish-black shades. Silver Lining is a fun wearable palette, ideal for spring and summer. I love the pink and grayish-purple shades.

For a $1 apiece these E.L.F Brightening Eye Color palettes are a super value and will a go a long way. I especially recommend them for teens starting to experiment with makeup. There are several more colors in the product line; you can find them online at http://www.eyeslipsface.com

Also E.L.F. has a channel on YouTube and they have some great tutorial videos. Check them out at http://www.youtube.com/user/eyeslipsfacedotcom

Stay tuned for my upcoming reviews of their various lip products as well as a review of their shadow duos and other goodies.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

April Favorites!

Hey everyone!

WOW! I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. Very, very bad of me. I really need to make up for lost time! I have a list of reviews to write up and I really hope to get to most of them this month.

Now down to business. It was tough picking my top 3 faves for April. But I narrowed the field and, ironically, they're all eye products! Here they are:

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Trio in "Desert Gold"

I bought this eyeshadow palette just a couple of weeks ago and have been using it almost every day. I love these colors! The bottom color is a shimmery taupey-brown color for the lid. I would describe the middle color as a khaki-like brown with a hint of shimmer and is perfect for the crease. The top color is a pretty gold color, also with a slightest hint of shimmer. It's a fabulous highlight shade.

I have to admit that when I first purchased this palette I was half-expecting to be disappointed. In my opinion, Maybelline shadows never had the best color payoff and so-so lasting power. But I've noticed over the last couple of years that the quality of their shadows (and other products for that matter) have improved tremendously. And the improvement is definitely noticeable in this eyeshadow palette. The colors glide on effortlessly and are totally blendable. They work especially well when used over a good primer.

This palette was released with their spring/summer collection and is limited edition (yikes!). So I highly recommend you run - not walk - to your local drugstore and pick yours up. I bought mine at a local Duane Reade in NYC and I've seen it at CVS and Rite Aid. This is a palette you can definitely use all summer and well into the fall season.

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

I bought this product at Sephora last year, used it a few times, put it away and basically forgot about it. Why did I do that? I decided to use it again out of sheer guilt since it was a shame to throw out a nearly full product. I've really fallen in love with this primer! It has a light tint which I find helps to minimize discoloration on your eyelids. But more importantly, it really helps your shadows (any brand) stay in place all day! I have super-oily eyelids so not having to touch up my eye makeup during the day is a major plus. I had been using Benefit's FY...Eye for years but it's now discontinued. I've also used Urban Decay Primer Potion and I really like it but I think Smashbox is going to be my new holy grail primer.

Cover Girl LashBlast Fusion Mascara

This mascara is simply awesome! According to Cover Girl, this product is a combination of the original LashBlast which promised lash fullness and LashBlast Length which promised longer lashes. I never tried LashBlast Length as I'm always going for volumizing mascaras. This mascara really delivers on it's promise! After just one coat, my lashes are long and full and oh so alluring! And after two coats, look out! This is a product I can definitely see myself repurchasing...it's a terrific value and works so much better than many of the expensive department store brands out there. Give it a try!

And there you have it...my top three faves for April. Stay tuned for some product reviews in the coming weeks as well as a giveaway!

Until next time!

Liz :-)

March Favorites & Honorable Mention!

Hi everyone!

Well March has come and gone and after a VERY rainy couple of weeks, spring is finally here! Yay! March was a bit of a crazy month for me...lots on my plate at work so I haven't been able write much for my blog. But hopefully I'll do better in April.

So, I'm pleased to show you my top 3 favorite products for March. This month I'm also including an honorable mention. Here they are:

1) Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Rose Comete: This is the lipstick Rachel McAdams wore for the Oscars, topped by the Chanel Glossimer in Futile. When I saw her look, I just had to have this lipstick! Also, LisaLisaD1 on YouTube has been raving about this color. It's a great purply-pink shade with soft shimmer. It's long wearing and I've been reaching for this color quite often these last couple of weeks. Next pay day I intend to pick up the Glossimer!

2) Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Spray: OK, the product name is a mouthful but it works wonders at controlling frizz! I purchased this product from Sephora last summer. I have hunted high and low for years for a product to control my very frizzy, very unruly hair during humid days. I had just about given up until a friend recommended this to me. You simply spray it on your wet hair and blow dry. Afterwards your hair is straight and shiny and it stands up to humidity very well. I didn't have a need to use this spray during the winter months but I began using it again in March after my bad hair days erupted with all the recent rain storms. This will definitely be my "go-to product" again this summer!

3) YSL Parisienne Parfum: After smelling this fragrance in a magazine, I decided to buy a perfume mini from Ebay for about $20. This perfume smells so pretty. It makes me think of pink flowers; very feminine and light. But a little goes a long way. I just dab it behind my ears and on my wrist. It's a perfect fragrance for summer and one that the men will like as well!

Now here's my honorable mention:

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Rose-a-go-go: I bought this polish during a recent "Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off" sale at CVS. I've always been wary of fast dry polishes; they seem to chip quickly on me. But I was pleased with the quality of this polish. It went on smoothly; you could actually get away with one coat but I opted for two coats with a base coat and top coat. (The photo above is two coats - no top coat.) The polish lasted a whole week with hardly any chipping. I really love this color; it looks very pink in this photo but it's actually a peachy pink that's totally work appropriate. I think this is going to be one of my frequently used polishes this spring and summer. My only negative comment: the brush. It's one of those flat, squarish shapes. It tends to pick up too much polish in the bottle so you have to be extra-careful while applying. If you have the patience, then you will absolutely love the end result!

So those are my March favorites. Here's to a fabulous April!

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Redbook Beauty Bash, New Friends & My E.L.F. Cosmetics Haul

Happy Friday Everyone!

So sorry I've been MIA these last couple of weeks. It's been a wild month at work; and, on top of that, I caught a miserable cold. But I'm now feeling better. Unfortunately, work is still crazy but I'm used to the madness! LOL

Last Saturday, I attended the Redbook Beauty Bash in New York City. It was a gorgeous spring day and the event had a great turnout. I purchased my ticket online; and with the $10 admission, I also received a goody bag filled with some nice products, including a full-sized lipstick from Revlon, a bottle of Cetaphil moisturizer, and an eye shadow duo from E.L.F.!

There were many stations set up where you could get complimentary services, including mini manicures, eyebrow shaping, hand and back massages and mini makeovers. As you can probably imagine, there were long waits for all of the services but everyone was having a great time chatting over snacks and a cocktail (or two).

I decided to get a mini makeover at the E.L.F. Cosmetics station. While on line, I met Allison, who does marketing for E.L.F. We had a great time talking about beauty and makeup. They also had two professional makeup artists doing great eye looks. I received a fabulous dark blue smoky eye look. Nancy, the makeup artist, took the time to explain the technique step by step and answered all my questions. When she was done, Nancy was kind enough to give me her card; I look forward to touching base with her in the future. Nancy has an impressive history in makeup artistry; she graduated from the Sorbonne in Paris and has worked with many music artists and television personalities. She is currently an instructor at the Make-Up Designory (MUD) school in New York and Los Angeles. Nancy's website is http://www.nancyspraguemakeup.com

A huge shoutout to Allison and Nancy...I really loved meeting both of you!

I made note of the products Nancy used on me and ordered them from E.L.F.'s website. She used E.L.F.'s cream and powder shadow duos in "Blueberry". She also used a liquid liner pen in Black. E.L.F. cosmetics are incredibly affordable - most of their products cost only $1 - that's right, a buck! :) I basically went hog wild and ordered several shadows (creme and powder), a mineral lipstick and a blending brush. I also received free shipping! I placed my order last Saturday and received it on Wednesday this week...can't get any better than this.

Here's a photo of what I ordered:

Can you believe I bought all this for only $13???

I'm looking forward to trying out these products and plan to do a review in the next couple of weeks. In fact, an E.L.F. giveaway may be in our future! LOL

So, that's the latest for now. Stay tuned for more reviews and updates soon!

Until next time,

Liz :-)

5 Products I Regret Buying

Hi everyone,

Lately there's been a tag going around on You Tube - it's "Products I Regret Buying". Judging by the number of videos I've seen posted, I think it's safe to say we've all had this experience at one time or another. Personally speaking, I've had many. Here are the five I wished I never purchased:

1) Revlon Double Twist Mascara: OMG, where do I begin??? I'm sorry ladies, this has got to be the WORST mascara ever made. I wanted to throw it away the second I opened the tube. When you pull the wand out of the tube, all you get is a massive clump of mascara all over the brush. You can barely see the brush through all that mess. I checked out many reviews posted online and on YouTube and was really sorry I didn't see them before buying the darn thing. In fact one of my favorite YouTube reviewers, Lisasz09 provided the most adequate and honest review of the bunch. You can check out Lisa's review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--RNX7c98WQ

2) Cover Girl Smokey Shadow Blast in Purple Plume: I reviewed this product in January and was very disappointed. The two colors were lovely but had ZERO staying power. Within a couple of hours the color had faded and because of the creamy consistency, I experienced a lot of creasing. (I didn't photograph it here; right after my January review I gave it to my friend's daughter; she didn't care for it either. LOL)

3) Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Bronzer: I was in CVS a couple of months ago and noticed that several Physician's Formula products were 75% off. I picked up the shade "Healthy Glow Bronze Organics". The color was OK but on the skin it looked too shimmery for my taste. But, the real problem was that it smells awful. It's difficult to describe; but to me, it smelled like the product had gone bad. Someone told me she had a similar experience with another PF product. I could actually smell this product on my skin...not good.

4) E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder: I had a mixed reaction to this product. I bought it mostly for the bronzer; however, the blush color was quite pretty...it reminded me a little of Nars Orgasm. I found the bronzer to be too dark for my fair skin; and despite trying various brushes with it, my face looked splotchy and dirty. I simply could not get an even application.

5) Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Polish in "Violet Metal" & "Marine Blue": Let me first say this is a semi-regret. I bought these polishes during a recent BOGO sale at CVS. The shades are gorgeous! For a drugstore brand, the formula's great and has pretty good staying power. But, here's my gripe...I have a major issue with the brush...it's way too wide and squarish which can make application messy, especially on smaller nails. You need a lot of patience (which is not my forte) when applying this polish. After much deliberation though, I decided to keep the polishes. I'll just take them with me to the nail salon where I'm sure they will do a much better job with application. These colors are just too pretty to give up! :-)

So there are my five product regrets. I could easily add on to this list but figured I should quit while I'm ahead! I'd love to know what your product regrets are. Feel free to post your comments below.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

My February Top 3 Favorites!

Hi everyone!

Well February has come and gone...can you believe it? In just a couple of weeks spring will be here! (And, in my opinion, not a moment too soon!)

I'm excited to share my February Top 3 Favorites. I've picked three products that have given me great results over the last few weeks and I would highly recommend them to anyone!

Here they are:

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment: I recently discovered this salicylic acid acne treatment after using the corresponding toner for a while. Since I was a teenager I have had issues with stubborn acne and have tried many prescription products. Once I hit my 30s the problem subsided but every now and then (usually around that infamous time of the month) I get a minor flare up. Neutrogena makes several acne treatment products but I decided to try this one because of its claim that it hydrates and softens the skin. When I tried other product lines, I noticed they did work but there was a price: dry, flaky skin...not attractive! So far, I have been using this product every morning and night for almost three weeks and I've had no dryness or redness. My skin feels soft, not irritated. Plus, most importantly, my skin is looking clearer! This product works great on its own but for added benefit, I suggest using it in conjunction with the toner.

This product retails for $7.99 and can be found at all major drug stores.

Murad Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 20: This moisturizer is part of Murad's Hydrate/Protect line which is good for normal to oily skin. On Sephora's website this product is described as "a lightweight, multifunctional treatment that optimizes hydration, regulates oil production, improves collagen levels and guards against UV damage." My skin is oily and I've always had issues with finding a product that lightly hydrates while at the same time provides sun protection that won't break me out or cause excess oiliness. I think I've found it with this product! My only issue is that I wish it had a higher level SPF, especially now that summer is coming.

This product retails on sephora.com for $46...a little pricey but I think well worth the splurge.

MOROCCANOIL Oil Treatment: This product has gotten major buzz in all the major magazines. My good friend told me how well it worked for her so I just had to try it. I actually purchased it around the holidays, used it twice and didn't care for it. It made my hair too oily and flat. When I told my friend about this, the first thing she asked was "How much oil are you using?". I told her about a dime's worth which didn't seem like much. She started laughing and said I was using way too much. I actually only needed 2-3 drops! Aha! So a few weeks ago I started using it again and now I really love it! I have fine hair that gets frizzy at the first sign of humidity. It's best to use this product on wet hair before styling. After I blow it dry, my hair looks healthy, shiny and it feels s0000 soft! Plus, it helps keep those fly-aways at bay!

This product is primarily sold in salons but some drug stores are starting to carry the line. Check out http://moroccanoil.com for salons in your area. The 3.4 oz bottle retails for $39 but I was able to find a salon that carried the .85 oz size for under $20. Given how little you need for an application, a bottle will last you a very long time!

So there are my February favorites. Hope you will give any of them a try!

Until next time!

Liz :-)

NYX Giveaway - We Have A Winner!

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to announce that we have a winner in the NYX giveaway!

The winner is Shaim!!!

Congratulations!

Shaim, thank you so much for entering and for following my blog. I will contact you via e-mail to get your shipping information.

Ladies, more giveaways are coming! Stay tuned to my blog for additional chances to win and as always, for more product reviews.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

It's a NYX Giveaway! :-)

Hi everyone,

How's your weekend so far? We're digging out from the monster snowstorm we had yesterday. I really hope this is the last of it. I'm ready for spring!!!

This week I am doing another giveaway. Unfortunately my Sally Hansen giveaway last week was a bit of a bust...guess this product didn't have enough "sex appeal" for you guys! LOL

This week I am giving away two NYX products:

Eyeshadow Trio in "Rock & Roll"

Lip Gloss in "Sorbet"

These shades are gorgeous for spring! The eyeshadows are perfect for everyday wear - the colors are a pale golden yellow, a soft taupe brown and a soft denim blue. All three shades have a subtle shimmer but are not at all glittery.

The lip gloss is a soft shimmery pink. It's a shade you'll definitely reach for frequently!

The rules for this giveaway are simple. First, please click "Follow" at right to follow my blog. And second, in the comments section below, simply write "Enter me!" That's all you need to do.

The tenth person that enters an "Enter Me!" comment

will win these NYX products.

Good luck! The lucky winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 2nd.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Disclaimer: The products mentioned above and the prizes being offered were purchased with my own money.

I am not being compensated by NYX Cosmetics.

Two little discoveries - and a giveaway!

Hi everyone!

Hope you're having an awesome weekend. It was a gorgeous day in NYC - temps in the 40s. Yay! I know, I know - 40 degrees is still cold but it's been a while since we've broken out of the 30s! :-)

Last week I tried two items that I want to share with you. They are Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover and Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam Styler.

Discovery #1:
I discovered the Instant Cuticle Remover while watching MissChievous' recent nail tutorial on YouTube. Julia swears by this product. I had been using another cuticle removing product for some time but decided to give this one a try. This product is da-bomb! When I used it for the first time, it just whipped my very raggedy cuticles right into shape! It simply dissolves all your dried-out cuticle skin and reveals very neat, healthy-looking cuticles. After I applied polish, my nails looked like they had a professional manicure! I now look forward to doing my own manicures and saving money on visits to the nail salon.

You can find Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover at most major drugstores including CVS, Walgreens and Duane Reade. This products retails for approximately $5.49. A great deal!

Discovery #2:

I decided to give this Nexxus product a try after running out of my current mousse. As you can tell in the photo, this is the 2 oz. size which I purchased for under $3 (sorry, I lost the receipt and can't remember the exact price). I've used it several times and I really like it. It gave my hair lots of soft body and shine -- my hair didn't have that "crunchy" texture that some mousse products can give. I like it for those low-humidity days that don't require a lot of hairspray or heavier products. An added plus is that it does not contain alcohol which can dry out your hair. This is a product I look forward to re-purchasing.

You can also find Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam Styler at most major drugstores or on drugstore.com.

Now on to more exciting things...I am doing a giveaway!

One lucky person will win a brand-new bottle of the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. I just love this product so much that I basically want to "pay it forward"! :-)

The rules for this giveaway are simple and requires two things. First you must be a follower of my blog - simply click the "Follow" button at right. Next, in the comments section below, write "Enter me". That's all there is to it! The tenth "Enter me" comment posted will win this awesome product! The winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 23rd. Good luck!

Until next time!

Liz

Disclaimer: The products reviewed above and the prize being offered were purchased with my own money. I am not being compensated by Sally Hansen or Nexxus for these reviews.

Link to MissChievous "Perfect At Home Manicure Nail Polish Tutorial" video: http://www.youtube.com/user/MissChievous#p/u/2/B4bqpihDPnA

My Go To Products

Hi everyone,

Well as I'm sure you've heard, the Northeast is being hit by a nice little blizzard today. It's still snowing in NYC and we probably have a foot so far. My neighborhood looks like a winter wonderland! Pretty to watch now, going to be a bear getting through it later. Oh well.

Anyway, after a long day of working from home, I'm now relaxing in my pj's. Time to get down to some fun stuff!

I love watching YouTube video tags. The latest tag going around is favorite "Go To" makeup products. Thought I'd move this tag over to my blog!

So here's my list of "Go To" items:

*Face Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light

*Eye Primer: Benefit FY...Eye!

*Foundation: BareMinerals Foundation in Fair

*Concealer: Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Fair

*Finishing Powder: BareMinerals Mineral Veil

*Blush: BareMinerals Blush in Rose Diamond (limited edition)

*Contour/Bronzer: Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzer

*Highlighter: Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in By Candlelight

*Mascara: Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Mascara in Very Black

*Eyeshadow: MAC Satin Taupe, Shroom, and Shale (hard to pick just one!)

*Eyeliner: Prescriptives Softlining Pencil in Fig (being discontinued; sigh)

*Lip Liner: Mac Lip Liner in Whirl

*Lip Stick: Loreal Color Riche Bella Donna Mauve and Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Rose Couture 260

*Lip Gloss: Mac Dazzleglass in Steppin' Out and Lancome Juicy Tubes Smoothie in Pink Horizon

So if you're reading this post, I officially tag you! Let me know what your "Go To" products are. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below.

Until next time!

Liz

My January Top 3 Favorites!

Hi everyone,

Can you believe January is gone? Before we know it, we'll be doing our holiday shopping again!

In keeping with tradition, I've decided to do a "Favorites" post each month. But I'm going to limit it to three items...the three that really wowed me. And they're three items I would consider re-purchasing and wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

So without further adieu, here they are:

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Mascara: My new favorite mascara! I posted a review for this on January 20th. The formula is great and I still have no issues with clumping. Plus this brush is fabulous; it lifts and separates each lash and give you lots of length and volume. It definitely rivals the quality of popular department store brands -- and for only half the price!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in "By Candlelight": Part of the "Warm & Cozy" collection, this is probably the prettiest of the Mac MSFs. It's a soft peachy-pink tone; very natural and in my opinion, not overly shimmery. A little goes a long way. You simply get a beautiful glow on your skin. From what I understand, this is a limited-edition product and it looks like the "Warm & Cozy" collection is now leaving the Mac counters. If you can still find it, it's well worth the investment! I really hope MAC makes this a permanent addition to their line.

MAC Dazzleglass in "Steppin' Out": I recently started collecting the MAC Dazzleglass glosses and I LOVE them. I currently own four and will be doing a more in-depth review on them soon. This is my favorite color of the four. MAC describes this color as "clean yellow pink with red pearl". It has some fine reflects that give your lips a pretty iridescent glow. It's not over the top and for daytime, I like wearing this over a nude or light pink lipstick. I like the texture; it's not too sticky and for a gloss, has pretty good staying power. And need I mention the yummy vanilla scent?

So those are my January favorites. (And just to clarify, I purchased all three items with my own money and these are my honest opinions of each item.) If you've tried any of these products and would like to share your comments, feel free to post them below.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Lierac Exfoliating, Purifying and Clarifying Mask - Review

This is a review for Lierac's Soins Éclat Express Masque Clarté (Exfoliating, purifying and clarifying mask). I purchased this mask last summer, used it a couple of times and basically forgot about it. In selecting my items for Project 10 Pan, I came across it again and decided to give it another try.

Lierac is a French brand now widely available at chain drugstores like CVS and Duane Reade. This line has a wide range of items, including cleansers, toners, day and night creams, etc. However, for a drugstore brand, it's a bit pricey...this particular product retails for $30.

This mask has a light green tint and contains very fine granular particles. Lierac's website lists its active ingredients as bentonite, bearberry and zinc oxide and recommends this product for dull skin and large pores. It has a very light herbal scent. After cleansing your face, you apply a light film on dry skin (avoiding the eye area) and let it dry about 10 minutes. During this time, you will feel a mild tingling sensation and a tightening effect on your face. Once it dries, you can either rinse it off or do a light circular massage with your fingers tips for deeper exfoliation.

Overall, I thought this product was good. My face had a rosy glow after using it. However, this product didn't overly impress me. I didn't notice a significant difference in the appearance of my pores which has been a long-time issue for me. I could probably get similar results with another exfoliating product that's less expensive.

So bottom line: Would I re-purchase it? I'm on the fence with this one. I may re-purchase if I don't find another product that offers similar or better results. As I learn more about Lierac's other products, I might be open to trying some of their other skin care items.

For more information about Lierac products, visit http://www.lierac-usa.com/

If you have used this product, I would love to know what you think. Feel free to post your comments or any questions below.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous - Review

The day after Christmas I stopped into CVS and noticed that several new Maybelline eye products had just arrived and were being put on the shelves. My eye immediately went to the Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Mascara.

I have not tried the original Lash Stiletto Mascara (which is all about length and shine); but since I tend to gravitate toward volumizing mascaras, I decided to give this one a try – and boy, am I happy I did! This mascara is fabulous.

It gives your lashes lots of length and volume and the formula is smooth. I’ve experienced no issues with clumping or flaking. The brush is interesting; it has a slim “wavelike” design. The bristles do a great job of grabbing and separating each lash. I was very happy with one coat but add a second coat and va-va-va-voom!

As a contact lens wearer, I’m always careful about the eye products I use. I’m pleased to say this product did not irritate my eyes and washes off fairly easily.

This mascara costs under $9 and in my opinion, is a great value. As many of you know, I’m currently doing Project 10 Pan and am trying to use up my Covergirl Eyelights. I’m basically alternating between these two mascaras but as soon as they’re both done, I will definitely re-purchase.

If you’ve tried Lash Stiletto Voluptuous, I’d love to know what you think. Please post your comments below.

Until next time!
Liz :-)

A Special Request -- Haiti Needs Our Help Now

Dear Friends,

This week's devastating earthquake in Haiti has left us wondering how something so tragic, so incomprehensible could happen to one of the poorest countries in the world. Most of Haiti's citizens had virtually nothing and now they have even less. The death toll continues to rise at shocking levels. The reports coming from Haiti have left me in tears...watching all the men, women and children wandering the streets in utter shock...with no food, water or shelter. And even more distressing, seeing the lifeless bodies piled up in the streets...and nowhere to give them the burials they deserve. It will be many years before the country can physically recover from this disaster. But emotionally, I doubt they ever will.

Haiti is in dire need of money, food and medical supplies. They need our help, and they need it now.

I ask, from the bottom of my heart, to please open your hearts to these poor souls. Please consider donating to any of the charities providing relief efforts in the area. CNN.com has a list of recommended organizations on their website: http://tinyurl.com/yhhub55

Times are tough and we have many economic challenges here at home. But whatever you can give, even if it's only $10, $5 or even a $1, a donation will go a long way toward making a difference.

May God bless and protect the people of Haiti.

Liz

New Year's Resolution #2 - Project 10 Pan!

Hi everyone,

Well the launch of my blog on January 1st was my first New Year's resolution - mission accomplished! Now I need to tackle New Year's resolution #2 (and it won't be easy) - Project 10 Pan.

Project 10 what???
If you follow some of the beauty vloggers on YouTube, the idea of Project 10 Pan took off after Lisasz09 and lollipop26 launched their own Project 10 Pan experiments. It's basically a commitment to refrain from purchasing new cosmetics until you use up 10 products you currently own. It's a brilliant idea but a scary one as well. No trips to the MAC counter or Sephora for a while??? Yikes!

So I've decided to do my own Project 10 Pan as I've acquired a few too many goodies these last few months and have barely hit pan on most of them.

Before embarking on your own Project 10 Pan, it's a good idea to go through all the cosmetics you own and purge items that shouldn't be used anymore (i.e. mascara older than six months, foundation that's starting to separate, unappealing eye shadow colors, etc.) That will make your 10 Pan selections easier to make. Don't hold on to something that you know doesn't suit you just for the sake of using it up. Once you have your 10 items, it's time to make that commitment to use them and stick with them until you've used them up.

After much deliberation, here's my Project 10 Pan list:
*Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation (Light 1)
*Covergirl Eyelights Mascara (Black gold)
*Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick (Rose Couture 260)
*Benefit FY...Eye! Primer
*Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner (Plum Drop)
*Bare Minerals Blush (Rose Diamond)
*Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder (Fair)
*MAC Viva Glam Lipglass VI (Limited Edition Shade)
*Too Faced Eye Shadow Duo (Betsy Baby)
*Lierac Exfoliating, Purifying and Clarifying Mask (btw, will be doing a review on this soon)

I will be realistic and admit that some of these products will take me a while to finish up. If any of you use Bare Minerals products, then you know they last forever. I've had the Rose Diamond blush a year and it's still half full! I will try to post updates on my Project 10 Pan at least every 3-4 weeks. Wish me luck!

I also want to add that any reviews I post in the near future will be of products I've had for a while or purchased over the holidays. I made the decision to begin Project 10 Pan during the first weekend of January and haven't purchased anything since then.

On a final note, if 10 items are a bit extreme for you, how about testing a Project 5 pan? Or if you do aim for 10 items, why not treat yourself to a small reward (like a new lipgloss) when you reach the half-way mark. Set the goal you feel will work for you.

Until next time!

Liz :-)

Laura Geller "The Tropics" Lip Collection

Hi everyone,

Last year Laura Geller debuted the re-release of her most popular lip color on QVC, called "Tropics". She described this lip color as being one of the most popular shades sold at her Madison Avenue boutique.

I recently purchased Laura Geller's "The Tropics" Lipstick and Lipgloss 2-piece set on QVC and I absolutely love it! This collection includes the lipstick in "Tropics" and gloss in "City Lights", a beautiful sheer and shimmery shade. QVC's website best describes "Tropics" as a "burnished coral hue". The lipstick has a somewhat matte finish and in my opinion has great staying power and will work for those with fair to medium complexions. The gloss has a lovely coconut scent, not overly shiny and is a great shade to use over any lipstick you have.

This product can be found on qvc.com and is currently priced at just under $25. What a great deal! (Plus did I mention how adorable the containers are...very chic!) Check out http://tinyurl.com/yzmfrjw

Until next time!

Liz

Covergirl SmokyShadowBlast - Review

Hi everyone,

As a huge fan of Covergirl's LashBlast mascara, I was thrilled to learn that the company was expanding its "Blast" line to include shadows and lip products. When I saw the new SmokyShadowBlast at the drugstore last week, I bought the shade "Purple Plume". This is the shade Drew Barrymore wears in the ad campaign.

This is a creamy shadow product that comes in a two-sided lipstick style container. One side is a light pink shade (labeled Step 1) which is for the lid; the other side is a dark smoky plum (labeled Step 2) which can be used for the crease area. This particular color combination is quite nice.

So far, I've used this product three times; and frankly, I'm a bit disappointed. When first applied, the shadows look really nice. But after only a couple of hours, the shadow began to crease and the color lost its intensity. The first time I used this, I applied my Benefit FY...Eye! primer and the second time I used my Smashbox Photo Finish lid primer. No luck with either. The third time (which was today) I used primer but after applying the shadow, I dusted some sheer powder eye shadow over it. I thought the powder shadow would help set this product and make it last longer. That didn't work either, creasing still occurred after only a couple of hours. :(

My skin (including my eyelids) tends to be oily so I can understand the creasing problem. However, I've never had issues with a shadow creasing and fading so quickly after application. It's a shame because the other colors in the SmokyShadowBlast line are quite pretty and I would have loved to try them. Perhaps someone with normal to dry skin will have better luck with this product. If you've tried SmokyShadowBlast and would like to share your comments, please post them below. I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time!
Liz

Happy New Year & Welcome!

Happy 2010 everyone!

It's January 1st and I'm so excited to launch my blog - yay! I've been wanting to do this for quite some time but kept it putting off - too busy with work, family, yada, yada. I finally decided that procrastination be damned, it's time to make good on one of my dreams. So here I am!

I hope you will bear with me as I get this blog cleaned up and a bit more functional. I've never blogged before, so I'm basically learning the ropes as I go.

So if you're wondering, "Who the heck is Liz?", let me tell you. I'm a native New Yorker and currently work as direct marketer and fundraiser for a non-profit organization. Prior to this I worked in the magazine industry and I used to ENVY the editors who received hundreds of cosmetic, skin care, fragrance products for review every month. It was so cool watching them go through their beauty hauls every day. If we were lucky, there would be a sample sale every few months for employees - and let me tell you what a free for all they could be! But, it was well worth "accidentally" knocking down your boss to get that fabulous Chanel eyeshadow for $2! LOL

When I was in my late teens /early twenties, I mostly used drugstore cosmetics and occasionally Clinique for skinscare. But then Sephora and MAC came on the scene and my life (not to mention my bank account) changed forever. It all became about Bare Escentuals, Smashbox, Guerlain, Stila, Urban Decay and so much more. And so my love affair of all things beauty was born.

I now spend my days keeping up with the latest cosmetic and beauty news and product launches. Each month I wait with baited breath for the latest issues of Allure, InStyle, Lucky, Cosmo and Glamour to arrive in the mail. I love watching my favorite beauty gurus on YouTube talk about their latest hauls and testing some of their recommendations along the way.

On this blog, I plan to post reviews of products I'm testing or currently loving. I promise my reviews will be totally honest - no bias, no bull. In addition to cosmetics, I also plan to review skin care and hair products. If there's an item you would like a review on, feel free to let me know. I can't guarantee I'll be able to do one, but I'll try my best.

So, that's it for now. May 2010 bring you lots of good health, happiness and love your way! Talk to you all soon!

Cheers!

Liz :-)