New ELF Studio Shimmer Sheets- Mai Couture Blush Papier Dupe

If you've tried Mai Couture's Blush Papier sheets, you know that it's a really cool way to apply blush on the go...just grab one of the little sheets out of your purse and apply to cheeks- no blush compact or brush necessary.  But the price is a bit steep at $17.50!  

Enter one of my fave cheap makeup brands...Eyes Lips Face- they've come out with a dupe that costs just $3 bucks.  Yep, you read that right!

Here's what the ELF Website says about the new Studio Shimmer Sheets: 

"These lightly dusted shimmer sheets create a gorgeous, healthy glow on the apples of the cheeks, décolleté, or anywhere you desire. Perfect for on-the-go shimmer and applying color instantly without the mess and hassle of carrying around a brush. Simply sweep a single Shimmer Sheet over the desired area for an instant dust of beautiful color. 20 sheets included.

Gently remove a single sheet from the envelope.

Press the shimmer side of the paper on the apples of your cheeks, décolleté, or anywhere else you would like to add a beautiful glow.

Use daily as often as desired."

These come in four colors: 

Pearl- this just adds a pearly shimmer with no color. 

Pink

Golden

Bronze

For comparison's sake, here's a picture of Mai Couture's blush sheets: 

I'm interested in checking these out!  For $3 bucks, I can try them all! 

  

Palmers Cocoa Butter Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub Review

Part 3, and my final post of my Palmers mini haul, is a review of Palmers Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub.  

This scrub is made with crushed, microfine cocoa beans, shea butter, cocoa butter, antioxidants, milk proteins and evening primrose to calm stressed skin.  

It kind of looks like St. Ives Apricot scrub- it's very thick and grainy.  

Here it is spread out on my skin- it's really thick and creamy. 

When you add water, it is easy to work into the skin, but it's non foaming.  Here's what it looked like when I added water:

This is an extremely effective scrub in the sense that it gets all the dead stuff off and leaves your skin pink and glowing.  But.... something was nagging at me from years ago, when I took a skincare class during my days working at Sephora. I remember the expert telling us that using crushed seeds such as walnut or apricot  would create microscopic tears in the skin, and that under a microscope the crushed seeds look like jagged pieces of glass.  But, they did say that crushed seed scrubs could be used on the body, where skin is tougher.  

We were taught that the gentlest way to exfoliate the face was to use a scrub containing round spheres such as jojoba beads, since they just roll across the top layer of the skin without tearing the skin.   

My skin seemed fine after using this, but my skin isn't very sensitive.  I think this might be a little harsh on someone with sensitive skin, but so would any other crushed seed scrub.  

 I think I'll probably reserve this for use on my body- it would make a really great foot scrub, since it's so grainy and effective at sloughing off dead skin.  

New ELF Studio Exact Lash Mascara- Clinique Bottom Lash dupe! Cheap Makeup

My favorite cheap makeup brand, ELF (Eyes Lips Face) just released a brand new mascara called Studio Exact Lash.  The brush looks strikingly similar to Clinique's Bottom Lash mascara- it's really tiny, perfect for grabbing every lash, especially the bottom ones. The best part?  It's a steal at $3!

Here's what ELF's Website has to say about Exact Lash: 


"Achieve thicker, fuller and longer looking lashes that are beautiful and evenly coated. The smaller brush design provides precision application exactly where you want it, so you can coat each and every lash. Great for creating winged lashes and to get target definition for lower lashes. The small mascara wand is specifically designed to be used for the bottom lashes or to target corner individual lashes for precise mascara application.
Apply to bottom eyelashes from root to tip, working in a zig-zag motion to fully coat the lashes. Use to also create target definition for both the upper corner and lower lash line. Reapply if desired."


Here's Clinique's Bottom Lash brush:

I'm really excited to try this!  I'd been wanting to try Clinique's version, but now I think I'll spend the $3 and try ELF's!

NYX Cream Eyeshadow Review- Frost Beige, Suede, Copper and Chocolate swatches.

As soon as I heard about the new NYX cream eyeshadows, I knew I had to try them right away!  I used to hate cream eyeshadows, due to their creasing and inability to stay put for any length of time, but since I tried Maybelline's Color Tattoo cream shadows, my opinion has changed.  I was  anxious to find out if these were just as fabulous...


The NYX Cream Shadows come in 24 shades- here are 11 of them:

I bought four: two light colors and two dark.  
From left to right, the shades are Frost Beige, Suede, Copper, and Chocolate. (I'm not sure why the chocolate one has a giant cap compared to the rest- that's the way it came to me, lol.) 

Here's what NYX's website says about them: 

NYX’s Cream Eye Shadows are bursting with intense shimmering pigments in assorted hues. These exceptional Cream Eye Shadows come in 24 shades that have a velvety texture and dries promptly after application and lasts all day. This rich and smooth Cream Eye Shadow is water resistant and crease-free Cream Eye Shadow is the product that you can wear for every season and occasion.

They come with a sponge-tipped applicator.  This is not my favorite application method- I'd rather use my finger or a brush.  

Frost Beige

Suede

Copper

Chocolate

The swatches on my arm (applied extra thick to show colors):

Here's what I like about these: 

• Huge color range to choose from
• Only $5
• They dry quickly.

Here's what I'm not crazy about: 

• Can get patchy when applying.
• They crease within a few hours and need to be blended out again. 
• Sponge tip applicator is hard to work with. 

 I desperately wanted to like these, because I like most NYX products I've tried, but sadly, I'm not really happy with these.  They're just too hard to use- I'm not a makeup artist, so maybe it's me, but I just think that for the average person, you'll probably find these hard to blend. 

The exception was chocolate- while it wasn't necessarily super easy to work with, it wasn't as difficult as the copper.  It was probably my favorite out of all the colors.  I applied one coat, let it dry, and the applied another, and it looked nice at first.  But a couple of hours later, it had creased. :(   This is chocolate below:

Below you can see the difficulty I had with Copper- I dabbed one layer on and waited for it to dry.  But then when I tried to build it with another layer, the bottom later started to come off.  It ended up looking really patchy and got worse the more I tried to fix it.  

The lighter colors were easier to work with but came out much more sheer.  Below is Frost Beige:

and Suede:

I definitely think that I'll be sticking with Maybelline's Color Tattoo cream shadows, as they are easier to apply and have much more longevity than these.  I also think Cover Girl's Intense Shadow Blast, which comes in a tube with a sponge tipped applicator similar to these, is easier to apply and longer wearing.  

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these.  If you've tried any of the other colors, I'm curious to see if they went on smoothly, or patchy.  

Talk about NYX products with other beauty obsessed readers on the Budget Beauty Forum!

Shielo Antioxidant Leave In Protectant Review

The nice people at Shielo sent me some of their hair products to try. I hadn't heard of Shielo before, but I was excited to try them out after seeing their products are cruelty free, made in the USA, and sulfate free.  
I was given Color Protect Shampoo, Color Protect Reflecting Conditioner, Antioxidant Leave In Protection, and Anti Aging Smoothing Complexion scrub.  Reviews on all the products will be coming soon, but today I wanted to talk about my favorite product- the Antioxidant Leave In Protectant. 

I took some photos of the back of the bottle and ingredient panel:

According to the Shielo website:  "This antioxidant rich leave in protectant is designed to fortify every strand of hair, creating texture, as well as protect your color-treated hair from the elements. Our unique protective complex with pro-vitamins, proteins andamino acids infuse hair with vitamins while providing UV protection. For deeper natural and color-treated hair color. Excellent in eliminating frizz and protecting hair from styling tools". 

Here are the ingredients in case you can't read them all from the picture:


Water, hexapeptide-11, shea butter, lemon fruit extract, sunflower seed extract, cysteine, hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower extract, horsetail extract, golden seal root extract, burdock root extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, apple fruit extract, sugar cane, hydrolyzed rice protein, lemon peel extract, hydrolyzed wheat protein, sodium pca, hydrolyzed wheat starch, mallow flower extract, hydrolyzed algae extract, panthenol, white tea leaf extract, cactus extract, hydrolyzed wheat protein/PVP Crosspolymer, betaine, butylene glycol, cetrimonium chloride, cinnamidopropyltrimonium chloride, dimethicone PEG-8 meadow foamate, hexylene glycol, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, polyquaternium-55, PPG-26-buteth-26, silicone quaternium-3, trideceth-7, trideceth-12, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, fragrance

As someone with fine hair with really dry ends from bleaching, I struggle to find products that will intensely moisturize and get rid of frizz without weighing my hair down.  Anti Frizz serums are usually too heavy and I end up looking like an oil slick by mid afternoon.

This product is a leave in spray that I use in addition to my rinse-out conditioner.  I spray it on right before blow drying, as it's also supposed to protect the hair from heat.  

My favorite things about this product are: 

• The scent- it smells just like the beach- so amazing!
• It's really moisturizing, due to the shea butter, yet lightweight- it doesn't weigh my hair down at all!
• It has UV protectants and antioxidants to protect against color fade.
• It makes my hair really soft and shiny. 
• It's paraben free!

What I'm not crazy about: 

• It's expensive- $19.99 for only 4oz.  I wouldn't mind paying $20 for it if the bottle was bigger. 

Overall, I love this product, and feel that it's perfect for my fine dry hair.  But it might have to be a once in a while splurge since it's $20 bucks a pop!  If you're like me and you have trouble finding products that moisturize without weight (and you like beachy scents) this might be a worthwhile splurge for you! 

Stay tuned for my review of the other Shielo products I got to try! 

***Disclosure-The products featured in this review included products sent for consideration by a company or PR agency. This in no way influenced my experience with the product- all opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this review. ***

Get a Free Sample of Nine West Love Fury Fragrance!

To get a free sample of Nine West's new Love Fury fragrance shipped right to your house, CLICK HERE to like them on Facebook.  That's it!  Your sample will arrive in the mail soon.  


I just signed up to get mine, and I can't wait to smell it- it sounds gorgeous....


" The fragrance opens with Rose Bud FirNat, mimosa absolute, mandarin and red berries pulp. This floral-fruity story continues in rhythm of Tiare Tahiti NaturePrint, Jasmine Samback FirAbs and sandalwood in a heart. A base awaits us with opulent aromas of orris flower, musk, precious wood and amber".  

I

Get a FREE Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Travel Size Item!

Hurry in to your local Bath and Body Works store to get a free travel sized Signature Collection product- lotion, shower gel, body spray- in any of their signature scents! This promo ends on February 20th.  

Also, for President's Weekend, their Signature Collection is Buy 3, Get 3 Free!  Think I'll be heading over to the mall tomorrow! 

Palmers Cocoa Butter Gentle Daily Cleanser Review

Part 2 of my Palmers Skincare Haul  is a review of their Gentle Daily Cleanser.  I've been using this for a few weeks, and so far, I like it!  More details coming below, but first, some shots of the packaging.  

I like that this is in a tube, because it's neater, but one of my biggest complaints with this product is that it's soooo thick, I have to squeeze the tube as hard as I can to get the cleanser to come out. 

This cleanser has the thickness of body butter, and it comes out in one solid piece, rather than being liquidy like other cleansers.  So the best way I've learned to use this, is to rub it between my palms to liquify it before using it on my face. 

Here's what it looks like on my hand spread out a little bit- you can really see how thick this stuff is! 

Once you add water to it, this cleanser foams a little bit, but not too much.  Since I have dry skin, I like creamier cleansers, since foam strips too much oil and dries my skin out more.  I find that once I apply it to my face, if I add a little more water to it while massaging it in, it foams a little more and is easier to work with.  Below is what it looks like when you add water to it:  

This cleanser is really gentle, yet it still seems to get my skin very clean.  It removes makeup easily, and afterwards my skin looks brighter and clearer.  One thing that surprised me about this cleanser is that my cheeks felt a little tight after using it.  I wasn't expecting that because it has so many moisturizing ingredients.  It could be due to the fact that I have super dry skin and it's the dead of winter, but I'm not really sure. 

 Another thing I wasn't crazy about, aside from not being able to get it out of the tube easily, is the smell.  Like the eye cream I reviewed yesterday, it says it has a White Lily smell, but it's mixed with the scent of cocoa, which makes for an odd pairing.  

Overall, I'm really liking this cleanser, and I think it was worth the $7.99.  Palmer's skincare is pretty hard to find, but you can get it at Harmon's (I got mine at the Harmon's inside my local Bed Bath and Beyond).  

To see more reviews of this product, check out Makeup Alley. 

NYX Doll Eyes Volumizing Mascara Review

Part three of my NYX haul is my review of their Doll Eyes Mascara.  The Doll Eyes collection features three mascaras-  volumizing, lengthening, and waterproof.  I decided to go with the volumizing one.  It was $9 at Harmons.  You can also get it at NYXCosmetics.com

Here's what NYX says about Doll Eyes: 
"For irresistibly fluttery eyelashes, try this mascara on for size. Doll Eye Mascara uses a unique blend of natural oils, Vitamin E and nylon fibers to extend eyelashes to almost faux proportions. Choose from lengthening, volumizing or waterproof versions."


Here's the ingredient list: 

The tube is really pretty and the brush shape is really great for getting every lash.  

The formula is pretty dry, which I like because it dries before it gets all over my eyelids.  The dryness makes it great for building multiple coats, because sometimes wetter formulas make the lashes stick together easily.  However, one thing I didn't like about it was that it felt a little bit sticky when I applied it, and it took a little while for the sticky feeling to go away.  

But overall, I loved the volume this gave my lashes!  It really thickened and even lengthened a lot too.  It also has some serious staying power- I needed an oil makeup remover to take this off! 

Before: 

After: 

 What do you guys think?  Have you tried any of NYX's mascaras?  I'd love to try the lengthening one next! 

Check out more Doll Eyes reviews at Makeup Alley!

Flirt! Cosmetics Kohls Mini Haul

I happened to drop by Kohl's on my lunch break yesterday, and noticed some new Flirt! products, including Agent Lash 2 in 1 mascara, whipped eyeshadow pots and a limited edition neutrals eyeshadow palette.  Plus, I picked up a Chickstick lipstick to round out my purchase. :)


Look for my reviews coming up!

Palmers Cocoa Butter Skincare Mini Haul Part 1- Line Smoothing Eye Cream Review

I've been gettin' a little crazy with the mini hauls lately, but what can I say, I can't help it!  

I've been a huge fan of Palmers Cocoa Butter body products since I was a teenager, and I heard that they were coming out with face products, but I hadn't seen them in stores until I went to Harmon discount at my local Bed Bath and Beyond.  Since I love and trust the Palmers brand, I splurged on three products.  Since I don't want to make this a super-long post, I'm splitting it into three separate posts. 

The first one I wanted to talk about is the Line Smoothing Eye Cream.  

I've been using this eye cream for about three weeks now, and I really like it!  More on that later, but first, here's some shots of the labels & ingredients.  It's got some fantastic ingredients in it- Cocoa Butter of course and Shea Butter for hydration, Vitamin E for antioxidant power, and retinol and peptides to smooth wrinkles.  It does have parabens in it, however.

It comes in a tube with a small tip, so you can squeeze the product out.  I like this better than a pump, because with eye cream you only need a little bit, and sometimes products with pumps dispense too much product and it's a waste.  This tube gives you complete control over the amount you need. 

Here's a small amount dispensed onto my hand.  If you notice in the picture, my hand is incredibly dry and flaky, as they always get in the winter.  

Here it is smoothed out a little bit.  You can see how rich and thick it is.

Here's my hand with it smoothed in all the way.  Unfortunately, there's not much to see, as it's really hard to show results in a picture.  But one thing you can see is that the dryness is gone, and my skin tone has improved a little- it doesn't look so ashy.   

So how does it work on my eyes?  Well, I've been using it for three weeks now, and I love how incredibly moisturizing it is, without being greasy.  It soaks right in and plumps up the area under my eyes.  I'm waiting a little longer to see if it improves the fine lines underneath.  So far it seems to have softened them a little, but it hasn't been that long.  

One thing I'm not too crazy about is the scent.  It says it has a "Fresh White Lily" fragrance, but it smells like that mixed with the chocolatey scent of the cocoa butter, so it's a little strange.  But thankfully, it's not that strong.  

Of the three products, this one is my favorite so far.  Plus, at $8.49, it's the cheapest eye cream I've found that has this many amazing ingredients, especially the retinol and peptides!  

You can buy this at Harmon Stores, or by clicking HERE. 

Do you like Palmer's products?  Have you tried any of the face products yet?