Concealer Concealer Concealer!!

Being Italian American I have extremely dark under eye circles.  I have always had them.  I have tried so many things over the years I can't even remember all of them, but here are the most recent I have used!!

Lets start off talking about E.L.F. Maximum Coverage Concealer.  This is my most recent purchase, so I haven't been using it as long as the others, but so far I have to say I really like it.  I bought the two lightest shades (porcelain and sand) to mix together to get a good shade match.  I have always kind had a hard time matching color straight out of the bottle and for only $3 of course I bought both.   

I have to say that "maximum coverage" doesn't exactly describe the product perfectly as much as buildable coverage does.  When I use a BB cream it doesn't start off being very full coverage so I feel like I have to layer on more product, which so far I have never had get cakey on me.  When I use a more full coverage foundation I only need one layer of this concealer to do the trick, it's awesome!!  The bottles contain .7 oz, so it will last you a long time.  Not only do I love this concealer for under the eyes but it's great for the sides of my nose and mouth to cancel out redness. 

The next concealer is Hard Candy's Glamoflauge.  This is also a liquid but is much thicker in consistency.  The package contains .71 oz and is not tested on animals.  I bought it in the shade ultra light, which is unfortunately WAAY too light for me and that never happens.  So word to the SUPER pale people, there is a $6 concealer out there for you finally!!! 

 If I bought it again I would get i a few shades darker, because not only is this super pale but it has kind of a gray undertone.  I don't know if the whole gray thing is a problem that they have in all of their colors or just the lightest one, but I can tell you it makes your under eyes look crazy!!

Since the color I got is too light I now use it for sculpting out my eyebrows and it's AWESOME for that.  It gives me that perfect highlighted brow bone that makes my eyebrows just *pop*

If you do use this for your under eyes a little of this product goes a looooong way so i would recommend putting it on your hand first and warming it up and then using a concealer brush to apply it.  It gets very cake very fast, but it's very very pigmented, so it's kind of a trade off in this product.

Another very heavy duty concealer I like is The Balms Time Balm Concealer.  It comes in a pot with .26 oz and costs $18, which is by far the most expensive concealer on the list.  I have it in the shade light medium, which for me is a little dark on it's own.  This came in a set that a purchased and being said I definitely would have gone a little lighter if I could have.  

Unlike the other products on the list, this is a cream, that comes with a cute little sponge.  This is one of those concealers that is perfect for everything, it's super blendable and has excellent coverage and it takes a lot of it to cake up.  

I like to use it as a corrector for those sleepless nights of new mommy hood (or netflix binges lol), but with it being so expensive when I run out, I probably won't be repurchasing.  I feel like if I'm going to pay that much for something it needs to be the most amazing thing ever, and with it not being available at Sephora and the packaging being nothing special I'll probably just stick to whats more easily accessible.  

And last, but not least (and also not pictured) is the Maybelline Magic Eraser, I have been using this for years!! Probably since when it first came out, I am a big fan!  It's the perfect amount of coverage for everyday and has the applicator attached so there is no need to bust out a brush or sponge. 

I know some people do have a problem with the sponge tip applicator, just because you can't really clean it and also can't put it on your hand or a palette (so it's not really practical to share or use as a make up artist)  

If you are like me and aren't a germaphobe, and don't have to worry about multiple people using it, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I can stick it on and boom I'm out the door.  

Unfortunately since I'm out I cannot tell you how much product it contains, but I know it retails for about $9.  

Go out and get covering

xoxo

-Mama Lish

November 2013 Favorites

I wasn't sure if I was going to do a favorites post for last month or not, because I feel like it's almost a little late to be doing what, BUUUUUT better late than never right?

So lets just jump right into it!!

The Balm's Hot Mama

This is my go to blush for all seasons, but I especially love it in the colder months when I really need that extra glow.  It is a peachy shade with a slight golden shimmer, it's very build able and pigmented so I try to use a light hand.  It blends perfectly with my contour, because of the slight shimmer it has.  I'm not going to lie, this blush is on the more expensive side ($20) and it's a little hard to find in stores because Sephora no longer carries the Balm line, but it's a definite repurchase when I do finally run out of it!!

Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser

Now I have since purchased some new concealers, just for the want to try something new, but this has been my favorite concealer through all of that.  I'm now out, but I'm very very tempted to repurchase. I have been using this for the past few years, through pregnancy and being a new mommy!! It's seriously awesome, it's light enough that I can wear it with out having to use foundation, but it has full enough coverage that I can look alive after absolutely NO sleep.  It's super easy to use, you don't need a brush, just a ring finger for blending.  It's perfect for people who are trying to hurry up to get out of the door in the morning, however if you are a germaphobe I don't recommend this product as it's pretty much impossible to clean.  This may be a drug store product, but it's on the more expensive side of drug store products running at $9 for .2 oz, however you can catch it on sale quite frequently.

Garnier BB Cream

This is one of my more recent purchases, but throughout the month of November I have been giving it lots of love.  Its a nice creamy consistency that takes a second to set, and it does seem kinda heavy on your skin while it dries.  Sporting 5 benefits I think it at least lives up to at least two of those since it is very hydrating and contains SPF 15.  This product retails from about $10-$13 depending on where you buy it, and is very easy to find.  

Other than it feeling a little heavy at first I seriously love it, it gives me the perfect amount of coverage for everyday and I know it's keeping my skin moist, which exactly what I need for fall/winter.

Sinful Colors Nail Polish Espionage 

I was seriously obsessed with this color this month!!  I would take it off if it started to chip, just to throw the same color right back on!!  Unfortunately it seems that this product was limited edition, so I can't repurchase, but I think it will last me awhile.  The reason I think I love this polish so much is because it's an actual affordable nude.  I haven't seen sinful colors make very many nudes, and at less than $2 a bottle I had to try it.  Now I have to say that most of sinful colors are hit and miss as most cheap brands are, but this color is fairly opaque in two coats and not super sticky icky like a lot of their colors are.  

All and all, if i found it again I would get it, but that really goes for any nude shade by sinful colors as I have started to see a few others.

Dry Brushing

I know that it's not a product, but this is one of my favorite new things I have added to my "shower routine"  Now I can't say I do it everyday (my skin is too sensitive for that), but the days I do it I feel more awake and a little more luxurious.  Basically what you do is use a brush with natural bristles to brush your body.  I go in long upward strokes on the majority of my body until I get to my chest where they are short downward passes.  Dry brushing helps increase blood flow and helps skin cell turnover by removing dead skin.  I have heard of some people getting off a lot of flakes and saying their bathroom looks like a snow storm, I personally have never had that happen and am slightly disappointed by that.  I know it's weird that I want a giant pile of dead skin, but am the kind of person who wants to see instant proof it's working.  I have noticed that since I've started doing this the keratosis pilaris bumps have improved greatly.

Well those are my November 2013 favorites, I hope you take the time to check out the accompanying  video on youtube

xoxo

-Mama Lish

E.L.F. Studio Baked Eye Shadow Palette Review

First off let me start off by saying, Happy Thanksgiving everyone,  I hope you are all having a good turkey day.  Now lets get straight down to business.  This morning I tried out several of my new e.l.f. products, one of those obviously being my new baked eyeshadow palette, if you read my haul post I said that I purchased the California palette.

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!

The colors in the palette are very beautiful, in the pan.  For the life of me I could not figure out HOW to get this eyeshadow to stick to my eye.  I used a primer, I tried wetting my brush and applying them.  Nothing, absolutely nothing.  The lightest eyeshadows wouldn't even show anything but glitter on my skin; the dark shadows had NO pigmentation what so ever.  The mauvy color looked like a fading bruise on my lower lash line, and I couldn't even use a smudge brush to pack the color on.  I have used some extremely cheap eyeshadows before, my favorite palette through out high school was an 88 costal scents palette (which never gave me problems

)!!  I don't know if i need to use a base color, like a maybelline 24 hour tattoo pots, or mac paint pots, or if I should give it away.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of e.l.f. products I have that I love.  I have some of their loose eyeshadows, and never had a problem with them, maybe it's that these are baked, but I don't like it.  I will give this a few more tries and see what happens with it.  I am just really disappointed especially since it was the most expensive thing I purchased ($10) and so far the worst.  I couldn't even build up a good enough swatch for a picture to show you guys.

xoxo, 

Mama Lish

E.L.F. Haul

Recently I made an order from E.L.F. and I got my package today!! I have to say I'm pretty excited to play with these and start doing some reviews and tutorials!!

Some of the products I picked up are duplicates, I just got them in different shades.  I also got lucky and got a freebie thrown in, but the products are still available for purchase.

The product I am most excited about is the H.D. Powder, this is from their studio line.  I purchased this in the shade Corrective yellow and the original shade sheer.  I ordered the yellow powder to set my under eye concealer and highlight, & ordered the original shade for all over my face.  

Speaking of concealer, I have been looking for a new one, so I ordered the Maximum Coverage Concealer from the studio line in Sand and Porcelain.  I plan on mixing the two to get my perfect shade for both under eyes and facial discoloration.  

I also got the Makeup Mist and Set & the Mineral Infused Face Primer.  I have seen a lot of people raving about both of these products.  I am very excited to try them out, especially to see how the mist and set holds up to Urban Decay's All Nighter (which is my go to summer make up product)

I also picked up the All Over Color Stick in Toffee to test it as a contour.

I also ordered a Baked Eyeshadow Palette in California.  I know people say that you can't really use these shades dry as they are extremely chalky and dry, but are perfect when wet.  I keep a spray bottle with water at my vanity, so this isn't a problem for me.  I still plan on testing it dry to see if it really is all that bad.  

And last, but not least is my freebie.  I got the 32 piece Geometric eyeshadow palette and a 12 piece brush set. 

A List of the Brushes

1801 Foundation Brush

1802 Eyelash and Brow Wand

1803 Blending Eye Brush 

1804 Total Face Brush 

1805 Bronzing Brush

1806 Lip Defining Brush

1807 Brow Comb and Brush

1808 Smudge Eye Sponge 

1809 Defining Eye Brush

1814 Eyeliner Brush

1815 Eyeshadow Brush

1821 Concealer Brush 

There are some really deals on their website coming up for the holidays so go check it out!! Their stuff is so cheap and would make perfect stocking stuffers or gifts for a make up loving secret Santa!!

E.L.F. Website

and check out some coupon codes for discounts and freebies!!

Mini Drugstore Haul

Recently I had to go pick up a perscription for my daughter, and of course it wasn't ready when I got there...and I had been researching somethings I was interested in for the past couple of weeks and thought, while i'm here why not pick them up.

L'Oreal Voluminous Volume Building Mascara

The first thing I grabbed was my old stand by mascara L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara, as I was freshly out.  I love this mascara because it gives the perfect ammount of legnth and volume for everyday, and is very buildable to create drama for more "nighttime" eyes.

Baby lips

The next thing I grabbed was the baby lips in the original and "strike a rose" I had been seeing a lot of people in the beauty community comparing it to Fresh's Sugar Lips, which I absoulty adore and couldn't resist!!

Link to my full review!

Nivea Cream

I picked up a mini tin of Nivea cream, that I have been (GASP) using on my face.  I know most people use this cream for their hands, but in the winter my skin suffers from extreme dryness, especially around the eyes and nose, so I thought I would give it a shot.  If it was good enough for Marylin it's good enough for me!! **plus it was only a buck**

Garnier Miracle skin Perfector BB Cream

After I picked up a heavy duty moisturizer I thought I should top off the whole thing with a BB cream, I hadn't tried one yet and I wanted to soooo bad.  I know most American ones that I have read about are more or less compareable to a hyped up tinted moisturizer BUT, I still wanted to see what all the hype was about.  The best two drug store BB creams (from my online deduction) were the Garnier "All in One Skin Perfector" BB Cream and the Philosophy "Be Your Best" BB Cream.  Looking at the products itself I knew I was waaaaay too light for the Philosophy BB cream, so I went ahead and got the Garnier.  So far I have really loved it, it's not too heavy of a coverage and has a dewy finish when set with a powder.  I wouldn't use this for a full coverage, heavy duty, night on the town make up base, but it's perfect for everyday!!

LA Girl Ombre Nail Polish Set

The last product I picked up I had been looking at for the past few weeks, everytime I went into my local drugstore.  Finally I caved and got it.  It was the LA Girl Ombre Nail Polish set in Love Affair.  When I took it home, I wasn't expecting much for the quality of the product, but the glitter polish took me by surprise.  It was a pretty goodpay off after a few coats, and I like the whole ombre trend.

Link to my full review here!

This time I mostly got products to prepare myself for extreme winter dryness, but that's why it was only a mini haul this time!! There will be more hauls to come!

oxox

-Mama Lish 

Ombré nail trend

The last few times I have been to walgreens this inexpensive little beauty catches my eye...it was only $5 so I had to try it.

Of course I am talking about the LA Girl Colors ombré nail polish sets.

I have been searching for a dupe to the New Black Nail polishes at sephora...I can't justify spending that much money for that little product. 

SOLUTION 

La Girl Colors set

I don't know if everyone can find these at walgreens (they are a holiday promotion), so I will add a link where you can purchase all of the sets online.

I have never used LA girl colors nail polishes before and I probably never will again...UNLESS i'm buying more of these sets.  I'm absolutely in love with this nail trend, and I even like the glitter accent nail.

Speaking of the glitter polish, that was THE best part about the whole set.  The glitter, like the other polishes goes on extremely thin, but that works to it's advantage in this case.  The consistency allows for the glitter to build up, but not be chunky like other glitter polishes.  

All of the colors are very thin and require at least 2 layers, in the photo I have posted I used three coats on my pinky finger and two on the rest.  These polishes have an average to fast drying time depending on how thin of layers you use.

Here is a quick run down of the pros and cons of this product:

Pro

Inexpensive

Comes with 5 colors plus a top coat

on trend

beautiful glitter polish 

glitter polish layers like a dream

Cons

Extremely small bottles of polish

set can only be used a few times

cheap top coat

need several layers of polish 

All in all I can say I would buy more of these sets if I saw them in stores, because who can honestly say they would turn down a perfectly coordinated ombre nail set for $5!! 

Here's the link I promised for the people who can't find it in stores!!

http://www.cherryculture.com/product.php?productid=18066&cat=327&page=1

oxox

-Mama Lish

Fresh Sugar Lips vs Maybelline Baby Lips

I keep seeing people comparing these two products!!! I had been looking for a cheaper version of the most amazing lip balm I have ever used!!!

I got the original and rose Sugar Lips as my Sephora birthday gift last year and I fell in love.  The original is hydrating and moisturizing AND has the best smell ever.  It just makes you wan to eat it right off of your lips.  The rose has the perfect tint for my lips and gives me that extra oomph on the days that I felt a little down and out (and as a new mom that was quiet often)

Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15

When I ran out of these samples I went to sephora.com to purchase a full size tube of Rose...it was $22.50!! I couldn't justify spending that much money on a lip balm, no matter how amazing it is.  

That is when I started my quest, looking for the perfect inexpensive lip balm.  I tried chapstick, EOS and blistex and even tried going back to my old stand by of burt's bees pomegranate.  Nothing was as smooth and luxurious to apply.  I started searching online for a dupe and I kept seeing people comparing baby lips.

 Baby Lips

While the packaging may be cheap looking and plastic the product itself is amazing (even if it doesn't have SPF)  It's just as wonderful on your lips, especially since they are only $4. I got mine on a buy one get one half off, so I only spent $6 for the both of them!!  

I bought the original and the Electro lips Strike a Rose.  I was a little disappointed by the color...it wasn't the shade I was looking for.  I have mostly seen the Sugar Lips Rose compared to the color Cherry Me, which is next on my purchase list.

All and all I would defiantly buy the original again!! Good dupe, especially if you can get one for the buy one get one off deal!  Go forth lovers of lip products and go get your baby lips on!!

xoxo

-Mama Lish

Photos are not my own and are taken from websites listed as a links