Eye of the Tigress

Raise your hand if liquid eyeliner is or was ever a scary prospect. Nearly everyone? Yes? Let me qualm your fears and lead you into the land of Cleopatra with ease.

 RIP Liz ~ Image courtesy of SelectSpecs.com

Now, let it be known, I can take z-e-r-o credit here.  The ever-fashionable and intrepid makeup guinea pig LBD turned me on to this, and even gifted me my first one. I'll kill the suspense: It's InColor FauLiner. A liquid eyeliner contained in a FELT TIP MARKER. I cannot make this up. Genius.

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I was nervous about liquid eyeliner for years before trying it out, but once the spell was cast I could never go back to a regular pencil. I was fairly adept at my mini-cat-eye swipe*, but the trouble was the inconsistency. Sometimes thicker, sometimes thinner, a q-tip fix often took up some of my precious morning getting ready time.

At $1.99 - seriously - FabuLiner is a steal and a half. It comes in your basic brown and black online, and I've seen it in navy and dark green in Walgreens. Quick tip: Find it almost always at the cosmetics counter. It's not on the wall or down an aisle like a major brand (Cover Girl, etc.), and the only thing sold under the brand name is eyeliner. Period.

Image courtesy of AccordingToNoes.com

I do wish they would come out with a waterproof version, but at a price of under $2, I can afford to reapply if needed (actually haven't really had to ever - fab staying power on the upper lid!)

Walk like an Egyptian.

*My fave pre-FabuLiner find was always Almay. If your a traditionalist when lit comes to liquid liner, try it out. Optional waterproof formula, soft brush, and easy on the eyes (literally and figuratively).

Sample Test #4

Day four of sampledom: Shower Fresh eau de parfum by Clean

Again, scents are so personal, and will change based on the chemistry of the person who wears them. But the overall impression is, well, clean. 

A hint of floral, but not over saturated, this scent gives me the feeling of hopping into clean sheets. I wore it on my wrists and neck, and was pleased to see that it was still going strong after the end of a none to stationary work day. I did think it lacked a little spice, but it lived up to it's name perfectly.

Grade: B

Buy the eau de parfum here in the range of $20-$69 in a variety of applications.

Clean as a whistle.

Sample Test #3

Test number three could prove to be eye popping.

It's a Sephora's own brand of eyeshadow in a neat little palette.

Now, I want to like purple, but it's just never really done it for me. But. Intrepid tester that I now am, I'll own the hue today.

First Impression/Application:
*Really have to load up the brush to get a good swath of color on my lid with the purples.
*The light and dark purples came across about 2 shades lighter than they look on the card.
*The top color, "Tender Pink No.27", appeared to be shimmery, but surprisingly didn't transfer that way at all. Much flatter than expected.
*The bottom color, "Tiny Bubbles No.12", surprised me by having actual teensy bits of glitter in it. Seemed like a lot for the office, but great for evening. A kind of platinum blonde gold tone, it highlights perfectly and could be dusted on the collar/cheek bones easily.

Overall:
Super impressed with the staying power - Didn't budge all day (with use of Almay eye base previously covered). I'd purchase Tiny Bubbles and use it regularly, but the others I can do without.

Grade: C
Not what I expected in terms of color or texture, but solid staying power and 1 out of 4 was a winner.

Buy it here on Sephora.com for $12 per color pot.

Sample Test #2

Today's test could leave me with a major headache by the end of the trial.

Its Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette by Aquolina.

A mix of spicy and sweet, the sugary package's pink and white stripes are topped with a bright red chili pepper to show it's not all fluff.

Overall:
Scents are so personal, but my take was while Pink Sugar definitely lived up to it's name, the undertones kept me from smelling like a bakery. It also seemed to linger longer (say that five times fast) than most Eau de Toilette's have in the past, which I appreciated. Light and airy with a hint of earth, I like it. However, it's a scent I'd rather use in my home than on my body.

Grade: C
Too sweet for my tastes, but I'd use it again in the right mood, or stick it in a corner of my sock drawer cracked open a bit for some scented tootsies.

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

Full Size Info:
Buy it through Sephora at the price of $29-$54 for a 1, 1.5, or 3.4 ounce selection. The scent also comes in body mousse, rollerball applicator, hair perfume, body scrub, and deodorant, among others.

Sample Test #1

Here we go - I'm using my own face as a guinea pig.

Test #1: Cover FX Camouflage Concealer in Light

First Impression:
*Scary orange color, even though it's second to lightest and the spectrum of offerings ranges from X-Light to X-Deep.
*Strange odor: Semi-herbal, semi-medicinal, overall weirdness.

Application:
*A little thick, but goes on smoothly and blends quickly and easily. No more orange (phew!).
*Covers like a dream - I'm instantly flawless.
*A little goes a long way - Just how I like it for $$$ purposes when looking at a new product. I used maybe a quarter of the sample and got all the major areas on my entire face.

Wear:
*Lovely matte finish.
*Didn't do my dry skin any favors - Flakiness showed through, but was squashed with a light moisturizer application over the top. To it's credit, make-up stayed put.
*A little heavy. I don't notice it moment-to-moment, but my face feels way different than normal to the touch (the company calls this "velvety". Hmm.).

Grade: B+
I'd buy it and use it, but not every day. Too heavy. Super fab special occasion coverage.

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

Full Size Info:
Buy it online through Sephora at $27 for 0.5 ounces. The sample is 0.05 ounces, so I'm pretty sure 1/2 an ounce would last for quite a while. Wide range of colors

Samples Are A Girl's Best Friend

Samples, how great are they?

A world of possibilities to find the next best thing in a palm-sized package. I have a stash of all kinds of goodies just waiting... and waiting... and waiting... for me to find the perfect moment to try them out and use them to their full potential. Maybe because they're free, or maybe just thinking I might need just exactly that size of that thing at some specific future moment, but I never actually use them.

This changes today!

I recently placed an online Sephora order, of which every one you get to choose three of their offered samples for that time period. I also (through RetailMeNot.com, posted about here) found a web code to get a slew of other free samples with my order in a tidy little travel case. Here's the stash:

So now my objective is to try each and every one, and give a little review here. Who knows, I may just find the next best thing.

Oh, the possibilities...

Gorgeous on the Go

Trolling Sephora.com one day, I found myself scoping the "Value Sets" section. As a rule, this section of the site offers fantastic little snack packs of all sorts of beauty brands, allowing you to test drive a multitude of colors and categories.

On this day, I found this gem I've come to love:

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

It's the Too Faced Glamour to Go 2 Pack, and my only disappointment is that I missed number one. Containing eight semi-sheer and shimmery eyeshadows on the top level and four glosses and a blush on the second slide-out tray, it's topped off by the mirror (underside of lid above shadows - not seen in photo), and the fact that it's all about the size of a 1/4 of a pack of cards. Magical! My faves in the pack: The yellow looking shadow in the bottom right corner is actually the perfect shade of glimmery gold that I find myself using nearly every day in some capacity, and the nude lip gloss in the top left corner of the bottom tray is almost obscenely perfect.

Downside: No applicators come with this guy. To me, not truly a problem as I'd rather use my own brushes or fingers anyway, but if you're used to the brands that come with their own you may be dismayed.

Priced at $19.50 it may seem spendy, but when considering a regular size Too Faced singular eyeshadow is around $16 a pop... Well, you can see the value.

Further Lip Service

As mentioned yesterday, since getting hooked on Covergirl Outlast Lipstain I've had a bit of an extra drying factor happening on my lips. Thought I'd share my fave ways of nipping that in the bud:

Image courtesy of Yun.Shop.blogspot.com

Favorite Chapstick:

As many of my pals will confirm, I'm a bit of a chapstick snob. I've tried a boatload, and my winner comes from a place you may not even know makes the stuff: The Gap. Yep, Great American Pants (did you know that's what Gap stands for?) should actually be Great American Chapstick... but Gac just isn't that catchy. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

*Zero stickiness.

*Sheen like a light gloss.

*Long-lasting.

*$4-$5.

*Actually good for your lips.

*Yummy flavors/scents that change periodically (I currently have Sugar Plum and Pomegranate in my purse).

Image courtesy of mythbusterbeauty.com

Favorite Gloss:

Lots of the same high points I look for in a chapstick factor into my gloss as well. I don't wear it super often, so I'll put up with a teeny bit of stickiness, but other than that I want an easy, comfy wear. I'm not the girl who wants to reapply either, so it's gotta have a bit of staying power. Winner: Too Faced. There are several different styles, from uber-shine to just-a-hint. Find it at Sephora.com

Givin' Some Lip

New must-have alert!

Image courtesy of makeupandbeautyblog.com

Pretty much all the drugstore brands are jumping on the bandwagon with the lip stains in marker form, but I decided to try Covergirl Outlast Lipstain... Mostly because it was the one in front of me in the aisle, and on sale to boot. It seemed like a safe bet to try (regular price: $8.99).

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I chose the color 'Flirty Nude', pictured above. Based on some staining trials in college with actual markers, I knew to choose slightly brighter than I would in a lip gloss or lipstick as stains are sheer as sheer can be, and are easily layered for higher impact. The options for the Outlast stain line are fairly wide - From the lightest pink 'Everbloom Kiss', to the darkest mauve 'Saucy Plum', you'll find a shade for you.

Bonus: This little guy is currently available for the buy one get one 50% off program on Walgreens.com (good for a multitude of Covergirl goodies - Mix and match style), so if you need a super easy stocking stuffer, carpe diem.

My only issue with it is the little bit of a drying factor, which I've found to be easily remedied with a little swipe of gloss or chapstick over the top. Pucker up!

Mop It Up

Oil. It's gross, but it happens to the best of us. Face gets shiny, hair gets dull, nothing a girl can do but begin again, right?

Nope.

Tried and true brand Clean & Clear to the rescue:

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

Their blotting papers hit all the high points:
*Remove oil.
*Don't disturb makeup (even my powder bronzer stays put - magical!)
*Allow the grossly satisfying visual of the paper turning clear when the oil hits it.
*Once that strange plastic package is off, the papers live in a slimmer-than-a-gum-pack case and are non-crinkly and silent to use.
...And here's one they don't advertise:
*Run it down tendrils of hair or rub on your roots for a quick oily hair pick-me-up.

That last one's my new favorite.

Walgreen's also makes a what's-the-difference knock off that will save you a few bucks too ($4.50 vs. $6):

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I've taken quite a shine to these.

Long-Lasting Lotion

Maybe not your head, but shoulders, knees, and toes (knees and toes! Sing along!) will all benefit from this product.

Image courtesy of Drugstore.com

It's Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Creme. It does wonders for dry hands, sure, but what it can do for the rest of you is pretty great too:

*Quench the thirst of those dry summer feet and elbows.
*Add both moisture and a lustrous glow to gams.
*Last-all-night gleam and softness to shoulders.

It's a tiny bottle, but believe this: A little dab'll do ya. As it warms in your hands, the thick cream thins out to evenly coat wherever you're spreading it. It absorbs quickly and scentless-ly, leaving a nylon-smooth feeling on your fingers you won't believe. Not to mention it's the perfect size for stashing in a handbag, desk drawer, or even glovebox.

$5.50 for 2.7 ounces (airplane friendly) at your local drugstore, or online at Drugstore.com

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

If M.A.C Fix+ is my perfect finish to putting on my face, Almay Bright Eyes is my perfect beginning.

Photo courtesy of Drugstore.com

Technically an eye base, it's true use is to slap it on your eyelids pre-shadow for all day staying power. It fulfills it's intended purpose like a champ, but I've found it to be versatile in ways Almay doesn't advertise.

*Brighten under-eye circles
*Stipple on for redness coverage
*The single best blemish concealer I have found. Ever. Anywhere.

That last one is what keeps me coming back, and why I pass on this product to so many pals.

I can actually say I've shopped everywhere - Europe included - for the magic elixir of flesh colored goo that will hide a nasty blemish of any sort. Sore and red? Covered. Dry and flaky? Gone. Irritated and blotchy? Where? The combo of micro-fine highlighting powder, and swelling/redness-reducing marine compounds, white tea and peptides is the dream combo.

$8.99 for a tube with the ease of squeeze, a stiff-but-soft brush, and mornings filled with the feeling that you can, indeed, face the day.

M.A.C Fix+

It is my be-all, end-all, must-have product.

photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com

And this is coming from a new recruit. I envy the folks who found it ages ago, and have known it's wonders for years. It's M.A.C Fix+, technically a makeup fixant spray for use either before or after you put on your face. But it's uses are many:

*Fixant - Put your makeup on and keep it there. All day.

*Light moisturizer

*Makeup refresher
*Post-gym glow of a different (less stinky) sort
*After shave emollient - Legs & pits for the ladies, face for the menfolk
*Blend your powder shadow/pigments with Fix+ for serious stay
*During/Post-Flight wake-up call (& TSA carry-on approved 100mL)
*Etc. ... etc. ... etc. Endless.

A blend of green tea, cucumber, chamomile and glycerin (fab for those flaky moments, mattifying and calming for the others), along with good-for-skin vitamins and minerals, gets all rolled up into one perfectly fine mist. Topper? Deliciously scented with the (male & female friendly) scent of Sugi.

And I know how the equation usually goes: M+A+C = $$$.

Nope. At $18, it's one of the cheaper prods they offer. And it doesn't only last a week, but a couple of months at least, with the option of making it stretch as long as you want it to... Although I would like to hear from the person who resists addiction.

I'll be back at the counter in the next, say, 60 to 90 days. I'll shell out eighteen clams for true love.