Fabulous Finds Friday: NYX

The Nude Lipgloss Diaries continue as we all know I am powerless to resist adding to my collection!  At the Ulta near me they are expanding their NYX offerings, which makes me quite happy. Add into it that all NYX is buy one, get one half off until the end of this month & there are bargains to be had!

I scooped up 1 of their automatic Lip Liners (regularly $4.50/ea.) MPL10 Nude (top) which is a nude pink beige & 2 of NYX's Lip Butter Glosses (retails for $5/ea.) in BLG05 in Creme Brulee (middle) &BLG07 in Tiramisu (bottom.)

I always fill my entire lip line in with liner. It anchors your color better, plus it also prevents the creepy clown like effect as your lip products wear off of just having an outline left around your mouth. A tip for making your lips appear fuller is to leave the very center bare of color or add a lighter highlighting gloss right in the center of the lip.

 In both pictures, Creme Brulee is on the top lip & Tiramisu is on the bottom lip.

 I know I mentioned in the past, that some of NYX's glosses smelled heavily of Cherry NyQuil...I made sure to do a sniff check before purchasing these & am happy to report that these glosses smell softly of caramels & actually of their shade names. Even at regular prices, NYX products are a great value, but with the current special- they are a definite steals & deals must!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday: NYX

As I previously mentioned I have been loving chubby lip pencils lately.  They're what I reach for when I'm in a rush in the morning, which is pretty much always. They're the perfect hybrid of lip pencil & lipstick + a hint of gloss, since they're often sheerer than traditional lipstick.

I decided to try out NYX's offerings, though a little hesitant. While I adore many of their intensely pigmented eye & cheek colors, their glosses are so heavily Cherry fragranced I am reminded of cough syrup & want to dry heave. Alright they're not that bad, but it's too scented for sure! I purchased their Jumbo Lip Pencil in #721 Soft Fuschia (top) & #719 Pecan (bottom.)

Here I am sporting #721 on the top & #719 on the bottom. Of course I picked 2 very soft, neutral shades that are great building pieces in creating a nude lip or wearing alone. I'm pleased to say the colors really stay put, without being drying! After a few hours & soup for lunch, I looked up to find a nice portion still left on my pucker. Nyx offers 24 shades of this product & I can't wait to experiment with a few more. They already fall into my steals & deals category as they're only $4.50 a piece. I scored an even better deal by scooping them up during a BOGO half off at Ulta! I say pick up a few & draw away.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday

Urban Decay's Naked I & II palettes have quite the cult following. They're often imitated in the prestige market. That means most I've seen come in at well over $30- with the original from Urban Decay coming in at $50.

10 eyeshadows, 5 matte & 5 shimmer are nestled into this homage to Urban Decay. Though the pigments aren't prestige in terms payoff intensity- it's still a great selection of neutrals.

While my original Naked Palette does boost 2 more eyeshadows than this steal & deal version- my Fabulous Find Friday comes in at a tenth of the cost! That's right- $5 will get you this pretty palette at your local Five & Below store.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday: Maybelline

With a coupon burning a hole in my pocket, I scooped up this Maybelline Eyestudio compact recently at Ulta. I had high hopes after the girl at checkout said, "Ohhh I love these."

The compact didn't disappoint- high payoff in terms of color vibrancy with the exception being the highlighter (on top) coming in beautifully sheer with specks of gold glitter.

 I applied the darkest to the lightest shadows working from the outside in & then blended for a gradient look. I also used the darkest shade wet as my liner. This compact is a steal of a deal even regularly priced at $10.99. I played it safe with this selection of nudes called Caffeine Rush, but there are tons of funky shades that will be perfect for creating Halloween looks!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday: Polish Pic{k}s Edition

While making a paper towel run recently in Walmart, a flash of fun colors caught my eye. Some of Maybelline's new Color Show nail polishes begged to come home with me. I scooped up #330 Tenacious Teal (very similar to Chanel's Jade if I remember correctly) & #350 Blue Freeze to add a little variety to my life. I dabbed Blue Freeze on with a tooth pick for polka dots to add a little whimsy to my manicure- you can use the end of a liner brush, as well. It's super easy.

I love the just-bigger-than-trial-sized bottles of polish. Who really finishes a whole bottle of polish before it becomes gooky & thick? I have one polish out of easily 50 shades that gets that much use. These bottles are a guilt free way of adding a dash of color into your life at under $3 a pop- at Walmart they were $2.97 a bottle! So go ahead- brighten your horizon!

Peace. Love. Polish. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

When leopard is this cute, it's a good thing they never change their spots! I adore Too Faced products- they are the epitome of glam & girly, just like moi;) I had been coveting their Pink Leopard Brightening Bronzer for a while, so of course I broke down & bought it.  Then I noticed at Ulta they had expanded the NYX line & this little copy 'cat' caught my eye.

NYX's Tango with Bronzer comes in 5 different color options. This one is When Leopard Gets a Tan.

Both of the compacts are equally adorable & chic.

The NYX version even comes with a half moon brush. Usually I'm not a fan of brushes that come as freebies in compacts. Often they get thrown right in the trash. This NYX brush actually has some substance, will stay in the compact & get some use for touch ups! I found mine at Ulta & utilized a NYX promo that was buy one, get one half off. With it coming in at $7.50(originally $10)- it is a true steal of a deal vs. Too Faced's price tag of $29.  Both lines have great products, but saving money means I can buy even more beauty loot!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday: Smashbox's Shades of Fame

How smitten am I with Smashbox's Shades of Fame Lipgloss Collection? Pretty smitten. I love these bite size samplings of color- which are perfect for travel. It's like a box of chocolates, but with this collection you won't take a bite of one & put it back in the box! I even like this slanted tip applicator & tube over their standard doe foot applicator. What can I say? Mama likes a lot of gloss.

Don't be alarmed by thinking any of the colors will be intense, as they might look in the tube- they're all beautifully sheer. Swatched shades listed from top: Star, Buff, Hibiscus, Papaya, & Candy. As always Smashbox's glosses are never tacky or sticky, so they're ideal to not have that oh-so-sexy-my-hair-is-seriously-stuck-in-my-lipgloss look.

My favorite of the bunch is Papaya. There's something about a soft peach that brightens your whole face, while still looking completely natural. These glosses are good for your pucker, too- they're packed with vitamins & hyaluronic acid.  So scoop up this limited edition collection while you can. With the kit coming in at $29- it's a steal of a deal getting 5 Smashbox glosses for under $6 a piece!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
*Gifted for review

Fabulous Finds Friday: Nyx

NYX is a cosmetics line that is slowly, but surely gaining a spot in my heart.  In my neck of the woods, I can only find it in Ulta & they don't even carry the entire line.  However, what I've been able to get my hands on has been prestige quality pigment at a mass price point.

So I did a little happy dance when Movie Girl got me this Nyx collection for my birthday.  The Nude on Nude collection boasts 20 neutral shadows that easily give Urban Decay's Naked Palettes a run for their money. 10 shades of lip cremes round out this extensive collection for $25. Yes, half the cost of the Naked Palettes.

This collection houses an entire wardrobe of color at your fingertips.  One end of the spectrum is covered with neutrals & the other end offers intense smokey options.  The lip cremes are great soft colors to match whatever eye look you come up with. This collection is a fabulous basic to have if you're just starting out building your kit, but it has the power to make a seasoned artist like myself swoon.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

I love Benefit Cosmetics- their cleverly named products & the fact that their products address real skin concerns & issues. I have countless highlighters from them! They have a cult following for their blushes such as Georgia, Dallas & their latest Hervana. They usually come in these whimsical cardboard boxes with a coordinating brush.

This is Benefit's best selling highlighting & bronzing duo '10.'Look similar? Hard Candy is carried exclusively at Walmart, so whenever I'm there I check out what's new. I recently spotted & scooped up their Fox in a Box Bronzing Duo in Skinny Dipping. The box houses shades that are dead ringers for Benefit's Dallas & Coralista. The color payoff of Hard Candy for a mass line is great quality. Plus, the California beachy colors in the Skinny Dipping Duo give the perfect glow as we head into summer!

One thing about the Hard Candy version is that the compact doesn't completely close, which is probably due to it being displayed open for view ability. It's not a big deal for me- as I'll probably pop the blush out & stick it in my Z Palette, anyway! For $6 vs $28- it's a steal of a deal for sure!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

I love a ballet flat silhouette- it's timeless. When I spotted these Chanel inspired Sam Edelman beauties, I loved the classic colors with the modern {& slightly naughty} spikes on the toes. However, when they arrived they just weren't comfy enough to justify the $130 price tag - so back they went.

So imagine my surprise, when I noticed an almost identical version at Kohls by Vera Wang. I did a little happy dance. They were on sale for $39.99, plus I had a 30% off coupon. Those extreme couponers have nothing on me- actually they do... But none the less, victory was mine!

Again, they're not the most comfortable shoes on the planet- but sometimes the deal is thrill enough! Besides, sometimes we have to suffer in the name of fashion!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

So my sparkly shoe search started with a pair of Jimmy Choo flats I was obsessed with! Alas they weren't meant to be as when I tried to treat myself to them for my birthday, they gave me a Cinderella's step sister complex. I couldn't even squeeze into the 41! However those shoes made both myself & Breezy Style (our spa manager) obsessed with getting some sparkle in our lives. She, being a bargain shopper found these Maria Sharapova for Cole Hann flats on sale for @ $90. I loved them so much they had to be mine, but of course they were sold out at Nordstrom where she found them. I am not a quitter, however. I tracked them down in Iowa, but paid full price for them at $178. Worth it in my eyes. Plus, I justified that I technically still saved over $300 not getting the Jimmy Choos!

So imagine my surprise & delight when good old LC { oh how I miss The Hills} or rather Ms. Lauren Conrad had these beauties in her Kohls Collection! Though not as comfy as the Air Haans for sure, they're still super cute- plus I got them on sale for $34.99! Now I have both gold & silver bases covered style wise- they look soooo cute with skinny jeans!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday: ELF Cosmetics

Most beauty lovers have heard of the big 'O' from Nars- Orgasm blush, that is. It's been a cult favorite for ages, and launched an entire collection within the line. This Highlighting & Bronzing Duo from Nars containing the famed Orgasm Blush & much loved Laguna Bronzer retails for $41. It's a great staple to have in your vanity or professional kit.

Now feast your eyes on ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder Duo coming in at a whooping $3! ELF stands for Eyes, Lips & Face and is found at drugstores nationwide. Though the blush in this duo is a little lighter & packs less pigment than the Nars' duo- it's pretty much a dead ringer!

My current favorite blush from Nars is Deep Throat, featured on the right. Though you can see I love Orgasm, too as I've hit pan on the left. The two shades are very similar, however Deep Throat has less gold shimmer- making it an even more universal option. It's entertaining when having a conversation with a client about these shade names, often they 'blush' & I giggle.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

I'm not going to lie. For as much as I adore make-up, pencil eyeliners rarely make my heart flutter. Yes there has been the occasional glitter pencil here & there- but they were brief flings. I blame it on the glide- or lack there of. On the gentle eye area, I am neurotic about pencils that pull, skip or tug. I want a flawlessly smooth line, which is why I turn to cake or cream liners both on myself & on professional jobs.

So I admit- I judged a book by its cover when I saw this eyeliner trio. However, when I read that Pixi's Endless Silky Eye Pens were more like liquid liners- I have to admit I was intrigued. So I swiped the deep lilac one on & was surprised at the punch of pigment it delivered.

What I love about these liners is how creamy they are, there are very few liners that I've worked with that deliver this much intensity when it comes to color.

The next day I played with the brown & smooth sailing. I was shocked at how impressed I was. I went for the lower lash line & perfectly smudged before it set. And set it does- don't worry about its staying power girleens, it was actually hard for me to get off! Even when I had runny eyes from allergies, these waterproof liners pretty much don't budge. I say pick up this trio at Target- Pixi's holiday goodies will available in November. It's the perfect stocking stuffer with all the color classics at a steal of a deal price- only $12!

Peace. Love. Liners. M

*Product gifted for review

Fabulous Finds Friday

I travel a fair amount for work, but for some reason I've never broken down & bought a travel hair dryer. I've suffered the smell of burnt hair on numerous occasions when using the one attached to the wall at my hotel. But when I spotted this adorably chic one with a portion of the proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research, I relented & bought it.
It was perfect timing, since I could put it to use while I was in NYC last weekend. But I had my doubts. My main hair dryer is the Ferrari of hairdryers. The T3 Featherlight is a dream & shaves off at least a 1/3 of my usual drying time. Plus it even has crystals up the handle- hey a little sparkle does make things a little better! With how small this portable dryer was, I admit I had pretty low expectations.

The Babyliss definitely took me more time to blow dry my mane, of course that was to be expected. What impressed me was how smooth & frizz free it left my hair- I think the nozzle was definitely a plus in smoothing & most travel dryers don't come with one. This little ceramic gem did quite a nice job! I also saw that my mom had the same one in ruby red- she said she saw it was written up in Lucky. My mom got the beauty scoop before me- what's wrong with this picture? Regardless, I'm passing the word on to you. Scoop this baby up at participating Babyliss salons nationwide.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

Any make-up artist will stress to you the importance of good brushes. Though they're often an investment- good brushes, when properly cared for can easily last a decade. Every now & then you find a brush that you adore- as I do this obnoxiously orange limited edition brush that I received in a Bare Escentuals kit a while back. I love it so much, I almost had a panic attack when I misplaced it following a recent off site event. It's almost like a dense kabuki brush, but made for the eyes. Luckily whilst shopping at Target, I stumled upon this version. I know I'm not alone in the fact that I seriously just went in for toilet paper & left having spent about $100!

The brush alone would have cost me $9.99, but there was a collection with three that was only $24.99- so I justified it to myself & of course scooped it up. I love the brush because it almost does all the work for you in terms of blending. Its bristles are densely packed and the size fits perfectly in the crease of the eye. All you need to do is a simple windshield wiper motion for near foolproof contouring!

The trio is completed with an overall face brush & shadow brush. A friend of mine, who's also a professional make-up artist has a set from Sonia Kashuk from before she launched at Target. I literally have brush envy it is so stunning. However, Sonia's collection for Target is well made & the brushes look like artwork with their sculptural silhouettes. Their shape is practical though, they fit the curve of your hand for more comfortable use. Two thumbs up.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday

Run, do not walk to scoop these up girleens! Maybelline's Limited Edition blushes are to die for. I, of course, couldn't resist picking 2 up when I spotted them in Rite Aid!

When I pull this Bobbi Brown blush in Pale Pink (left)out of my kit, clients get a smidge nervous. It does look a bit obnoxious, but it gives the most gorgeous cool toned rosy glow to my brides. They are always won over & it's obvious I love it, as I've hit pan. When I spotted Pressworthy Pink, I did a little dance due to how similar a shade it is while being a steal at $9 vs. Bobbi Brown's at $24! The pink is almost an exact match, with the Maybelline version pulling a little bit more pigmented than Bobbi Brown's.
Here Pressworthy Pink is on the apples of my cheeks, with a little dollop of Stage Glow on either side of my nose to get a little bit of that 'Mandy Moore' dewy cheek look. I've been using Stage Glow all over as a highlighter, as well as an overall shadow. Love them! Grab them while you can.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M