New Milani Products spotted at CVS- Baked Blush and Bronzer XL

Some new Milani products showed up at my local CVS this week! 
First up were some baked blushes. The description says, "A luxurious powder blush that features a mélange infusion of colors baked on Italian terracotta tiles. Easy to use, sensorial in texture, the nuances of color become extraordinarily luminous. Silky smooth application leaves your face looking healthy and radiant all day."
 I thought these had been around a while, but the display said "New" so maybe they've been reformulated? Or added new shades?

Some close ups:

Next up, is Bronzer XL- these compacts are huge, and definitely have enough product to be considered a body bronzer as well.  

The description says," A 2-in-1 bronzer, matte and shimmer, perfect for all-over color! First, sweep matte bronzer all over face, neck and body to create instant, healthy, sun-kissed radiance. Second, dab the pearlescent shimmer bronzer to add touches of luminosity! The oil-free, silky-soft powder formula feels luxurious on skin, with a fresh and light fragrance."  I actually bought one of these, so a review is coming soon!

Have you tried these?  What did you think?

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Bronzer Review in Glistening Sun

Last weekend at Harmons I spotted Maybelline's new Dream Bouncy Bronzer.  It follows on the heels of their very popular Dream Bouncy blushes that were first released in January 2012.  There were two available shades, and I went with the lighter one, since I'm fair, called Glistening Sun.  

It has the exact same texture as the Bouncy Blush...it feels like silly putty when you dip your finger into it, and it's an extremely lightweight cream that melts into the skin and feels like a powder. 

The next photo shows what happens when you dip your finger into the product- it leaves a dent in the putty-like product and then you can just push it back together with your finger into its original shape.

Here's what the color looks like on paper: 

And here's what it looks like on me (not rubbed in): 

And here's what it looks like rubbed in: 

I found it to be a little bit orange on me at first, but once it was rubbed in, it wasn't too bad. I think since I have pink undertones instead of yellow, anything with a tiny bit of orange seems to pop out more.  It does have a lot of sparkle, which makes me want to limit how much I use.  I would probably just wear this as a highlight in any areas I'd want a little bit of a glow, such as my cheekbones.  With this much shimmer, I don't think I'll wear this all over- it would just be too much.   

Have you tried this yet?  

Lady Soma Antioxidant Berry Masque Review

Lady Soma is a new brand based in New York City that offers an all natural, holistic line of skincare and supplements made specifically for women (www.ladysoma.com). I was recently given the opportunity to sample some of their skincare products, and I want to tell you about two of my favorites- the Renewal Serum and the Antioxidant Berry Masque. Since there is so much to talk about with these products, I'm going to make it into 2 posts so it doesn't get too long.  First, I'll go over the Antioxidant Berry Masque.

First off, the thing I love about this line is that when I read the ingredient panel on each of their products, I could pronounce and recognize just about every ingredient- and the few that I couldn't, I looked up, and found that they were all natural and not as scary as they sounded! The products are paraben free, using only botanical preservatives, all of their ingredients are organic, and they never use genetically altered produce/grains.  

Now, on to the masque!

I've been a little obsessed with masques lately, so I decided to do a "spa night" after a rough day at work.  I was really excited to relax in my jetted tub with the Antioxidant Berry Masque on.  

The masque comes in a simple, plastic jar, and is 4oz.  

This masque is loaded with antioxidants to neutralize free radicals that are sitting on your skin and attacking your cells, contributing to the aging process.  Jojoba beads, hibiscus buds and cranberry fibers act as mild exfoliants, and aloe vera calms and soothes the skin.  

When I first opened the jar, I was hit with the scent of fresh blueberries- this smells just like a fruit smoothie- absolutely amazing!  And the best part is, it's not a synthetic fruit smell, it's the actual scent of the fruit extracts.  

The product itself is tan in color, flecked with the fruit fibers.  It's not the prettiest color, but I'm glad because there are no artificial colors added.  

The masque is very thick and rich, and you can see by the picture below just how thick it is: 

When you spread it out on your skin, it looks like this: 

I saw some other reviews on this masque and a couple of people said it stung their skin a little bit, but it didn't sting mine at all.  My skin is pretty tolerant to fruit acids and exfoliants, though.  If you have really reactive/sensitive skin, you might want to make sure none of the ingredients in this will bother you, but it's really pretty mild and wouldn't bother the average person.  I just wanted to put that out there, in case.

When I rinsed the Antioxidant Berry Masque off, my skin just glowed!  It looked clear and fresh and felt really soft.  I didn't have any redness and it didn't feel dry or tight.  

I will definitely be using this masque at least once a week to freshen up my complexion and neutralize free radicals.  

This masque costs $32.99 at LadySoma.com, which is a little higher than other skincare products I've reviewed, but it contains all high-quality organic ingredients, and they don't come cheap.  If you're looking for a good quality, delicious smelling, organic masque to brighten and renew your skin, you'll definitely want to give this a try! 

Disclaimer: Jenna has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.

Spotted in Store- New Marc Anthony Hair- Oil of Morocco, Bye Bye Frizz, Beach Waves and Easy-Lites

I spotted some new Marc Anthony products at Rite Aid this week.  
First up, Oil of Morocco- there's a sulfate free shampoo, conditioner, and Argan Oil treatment.

Next is the Bye Bye Frizz keratin line.  It includes sulfate free shampoo, conditioner, blow dry cream, and keratin smoothing treatment.

I also spotted a beach waves spray and a new product called Easy Lites which is a highlighting spray that works with your flat iron to create permanent streaks.  

Have you tried any of these products yet?  I'm curious to find out how well they work! 

Spotted in Store- Giovanni 2 Chic Hair Line

Today at Harmon's I spotted a new hair care line by Giovanni called 2 Chic.  It's got a dual smoothing complex of plant based Brazilian Keratin and Moroccan Argan Oil- sounds like it really packs a punch!  Usually you find products that have either Keratin or Argan Oil, but not both!  Here are the products I found today (there's also a body wash & body lotion but Harmon's didn't carry that).  I love that all of these products are sulfate and paraben free and use natural ingredients!

First up, a shampoo and conditioner: 

A leave-in conditioner/styling elixir that smooths frizz:

A blow out styling mist that protects against high heat and creates bounce while lightly conditioning:

A flat-iron defense spray- I apologize for the fuzzy photo quality: 

And an ultra sleek hair and body super potion.  

I'm really excited to try these products!  My dry, parched hair will love the cocktail of Argan Oil and Keratin! Have you tried any of these products yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Vera Wang to Launch a Makeup Line at Kohls.

Vera Wang is launching her first color cosmetics line in April, which will be sold exclusively at Kohl’s.  The 74 piece collection will be part of theSimply Vera Vera Wang brand she currently has with Kohls.

“It completes my Kohl’s universe,” she told WWD. “Also, a pop of color is such a gorgeous way to let your natural beauty shine through. It’s the ultimate accessory.”  The cosmetics line includes such products as an Illuminating Concealer, aLash Enhancing Serum, and a lip primer, and will range in price from $16.50 to $39.50. Wang has said that each product is a combination of color and treatment, since she believes in creating the perfect canvas.

While it's not exactly budget pricing, I'm curious to see the quality of the new products.  They might be worth a few splurges if they are as great as her other offerings at Kohls already!

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara Review

After reading many glowing reviews on Makeup Alley about Jordana's Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara (it scored a 4.6 out of 5!), and figured I had to try it out. 
It cost only $2.99 at Walgreens, and is one of the cheapest mascaras I've ever purchased! 

 

The brush is not too large or small, rather is an average size, and has very densely packed bristles.

The formula is a-mazing!  It's very thick and rich, yet not gloppy or clump-inducing.  After application, my lashes felt soft and conditioned, yet really long and thick. It's really easy to apply, and builds coats beautifully.  It also doesn't smudge or flake off.  How is this even possible in a $3 mascara?  I can't even believe how impressed I am by this. 

Here's my before and after pictures- 

Before:

 

After:

I'm officially in love with Jordana Best Lash extreme.  Have you tried it?  What did you think?

Spotted in Store- Maybelline Summer Glow Bronzers and Dream Bouncy Bronzer!

I made a special trip to Harmon Drugs today, and discovered some new Maybelline products that were just released, including a new Dream Bouncy Bronzer!  Their Dream Bouncy Blush has been so popular since its release in January, and this bronzer probably will be as well.  So without further ado, here are some preview pics that you'll only find now on the Budget Beauty Blog! 

First, they have two new Luminizers- a Gold and a Pink:

Next, they have two bronzers, a lighter shade and a darker shade, and they have a shimmery stripe down the middle: 

And finally, the Bouncy Bronzer.  These also come in two shades, one light and one dark.  I picked up the lighter shade, so look for my review this week!

Which one of these new products are you excited to try? 

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Polish Review- Razzle Dazzler swatch and Revlon Stormy Night

I spotted the new Sally Hansen Gem Crush nail polishes at my local Walgreens this week, and since I haven't tried a glitter nail polish in a while, I thought I'd pick one up, especially since they're supposed to be full coverage. 

I chose the shade Razzle Dazzler, which is a fine pink glitter with chunkier silver glitter mixed in.  

The brush is wide and flat, which I love- it makes application really easy and quick.

Here's a swatch on paper: 

This is with 2 coats, and it's pretty well covered already.  A third coat would make this totally opaque.  

My only complaint is that this came off within a day without a topcoat, so I definitely recommend using one.  I did my nails a few nights ago, and by midday the following day, the color had almost completely chipped off three of my nails!  So I re-did them with a base and topcoat, and they're still going strong!

I also wanted to show you what this polish looks like layered over another color.  I used 2 coats of Revlon's Colorstay Longwear nail polish in Stormy Night (a dark gray) as a base, and then layered one coat of Sally's Razzle Dazzler, and it came out like this: 

I feel like the possibilities are endless with these!  I can't wait to try Razzle Dazzler layered over a pink shade, I think it would be really pretty.  

Here's the two together- Razzle Dazzler layered over Stormy Night on the left, and Razzle Dazzler by itself on the right: 

What are your thoughts on these?  Do you love them as much as I do?