Haul: Chic Week

If you missed out on Sephora's Friends & Family sale a few months ago for whatever reason (like me), here's another sale! It's 15% off everything and there are only a few days left...

I picked up a few items that have been on my wishlist forever.  15% off isn't a lot, but it combined with value sets can make a good deal and justify treating yourself to a few high-end items. I tried my first Soap & Glory product, The Righteous Butter body butter, close to my birthday in the fall.  Since then, I've always wanted to try out more products.  I really wanted the Do a Bubble Take Gift Set for Christmas, but never got around to ordering it. Like all good value sets, it's online only (and has recently been out of stock up until now.)

I definitely wanted to try Hand Food hand cream and Clean on Me shower gel.  Clean on Me was $14.00, and I'm a little weird about shower gels, so many claim it's like lotion in the shower, so I just wanted to try it. I have about one-third left of The Righteous Butter, so I opted for the You Cube ($25.00).  It has a full-size Hand Food, a half size of The Righteous Butter and a trial size Clean on Me, a sudsy puff, and a cute box for storage. ($32.00 Value)

My feet are in bad shape, Bath & Body Works Shea it Isn't So has always been my go-to foot lotion, but I feel like it's not working as good as it used to.  Most reviews praise the Heel Genius ($15.00), so I wanted to see for myself.

Finally, I picked up NARS Laguna Bronzer ($34.00), which I've wanted since I purchased my first NARS blush a few years ago. I received a deluxe sample a few months back, but it's been an absolute pain getting a big fluffy brush in bronzer the size of an eyeshadow pan.

So far, I like Soap & Glory, the scent is nice but doesn't linger all day. They're reasonably priced compared to some of the skincare lines out there.  The packaging is cute, but a little childish for my taste.

it's shower time,
-Kaitlyn

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March Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

Between work and school, I haven't had the time to research, try, and review a lot of new beauty products this month. I managed to pick up a few but I've mostly just stuck to my normal beauty routine.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Fetiche
(full review to come) A sheer, glossy, rosy pink, that suits almost any eyeshadow.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Orange Fizz
(full review to come) The halfway point between melon and coral, a great color to jump into spring.  I've alternated this color between my fingernails and toenails all month.

MAC Tendertone in Hot 'n' Saucy
I didn't really love this at first, but it's growing on me and I find myself reaching for it a lot more.  For class, I've just been reaching for concealer (below), this Tendertone, and mascara.  It's pretty moisturizing with a subtle hint of color.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette
I had my eye on this product for awhile.  When my main concealer had only a few centimeters left, I decided to buy this palette. I had to visit four Targets (over a weeks time) until I finally found it in stock. It's an excellent value - two concealers, a corrective concealer, and pressed powder for only $10.  It's extremely creamy,  buildable, and easy to blend. It's way to being my new main concealer.

four Targets later,
-Kaitlyn

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February Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

Beauty Blender Sponge
I couldn't justify spending $25 on a sponge when these came out forever ago.  I was happy with my $8 Sonia Kashuk “dupe” until I received the real Beauty Blender in my Birchbox this month.  They don't really compare.  Blending in concealer takes a lot less effort now.  This sponge is softer than the basic white wedge.

Nivea A Kiss of Milk & Honey Soothing Lip Care

I have awful, flakey-dry lips, and I'm always on the hunt for a miracle product.  This isn't it, but it has helped some. I mainly use this before bed and occasionally at school.  It has helped my lips more than other recent products.  It actually locks in moisture,

Sinful Colors Cinderella Nail Polish

I picked this up at the beginning of the month when Walgreens had their Sinful Polishes on sale for .99 cents.  I thought I had a few similar colors, but I was wrong.  It's better than the similar colors I own – truly the color of Cinderella's gown with some pink/purple shimmer.

Urban Decay Bootycall Eyeshadow

The Naked 2 palette is growing on me, I can't say I love the whole palette yet.  Nearly every day this month, I've reached for the shade Bootycall, but for different looks.  I wore it as an eyeshadow on its own, blended it with a few other eyeshadows, and used it as both a brow and cheek highlighter.

milk & honey,
-Kaitlyn

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Review: MAC Hot 'n' Saucy

MAC Tendertone in Hot 'n' Saucy from the Cook Collection February 2012

Looking back at my blog, I'm just now realizing I haven't purchased any MAC collections since December 2010 – a little over a year. Nothing has really caught my eye until I saw the Shop/Cook press release.

For lip-product lovers, I'm sure it wasn't too hard to find multiple things to buy with new lipstick shades, kissable lip colors, and what I was excited for, the repromotion of Tendertones. Everyone was crossing their fingers for a repromotion of Ripe Peach Blush in this spring collection. Unfortunately, a lot of people were let down. I've heard raves about Tendertones, and like most good MAC products (and sometimes colors), you'll only see them every few years. I practically ran to my MAC counter the day the collection was released to look at all of the Tendertones in-person. All of the lip colors were pretty intimidating – an orange, yellow, neon green, and bright red. But I remembered reading a review saying these were really sheer. I decided to go with the bright red, Hot 'n' Saucy.

First Impression
I loved the precious exterior box packaging...a summer picnic with the pink plaid packaging. (The lipstick sleeves were really neat, too.) It looked look a lip product in a paint pot. I expected it to be a harder balm so I accidentally dug my finger into with first use.

Review
The formula is excellent, super soft and easily glides on, pretty moisturizing and little to no color.

I usually don't care much for scented products – especially food scents. But I actually don't mind this one... it's some mix between strawberry-kiwi-watermelon. Like Kool-Aid, or a childhood Smackers lip product.

With the Tendertone itself, I was impressed and it does live up to its hype. It appears most other consumer reviews recommended the other 3 shades for the shimmer it provides, but I'm happy with the one I chose. I probably won't pick up any of the others, because there are better lip products out there for about one-third of the cost... if that. It does have SPF 12, so I'll probably end up using this a lot more in the Summer.

I prefer convenient packaging that allows the product to go directly onto the lips. I don't like to mess with lip brushes and putting your finger into a product is unsanitary and messy. Not to mention, the bottom being made of glass doesn't seem safe to travel...

Rating
Product: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Packaging: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

Retail: $15.00

Overall: It's a good product, and a nice one to have if you're really into MAC collections, especially products that are rarely out often. However, for the average consumer, there are better and cheaper lip products available.
Best For: Those who like potted, scented lip products and are looking for moisture but little to no color.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this product to a friend.

Saucy,
-Kaitlyn

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January Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

This month I had to repurchase quite a few items that I love and ran out of Origins Vitazing Moisturizer and MAC Turquatic Perfume, to name a few. I also picked up items that I already owned in other shades.  Instead of me giving a mini review on products you can already find on my blog, I'll just focus on the new products (From the drugstore!) I've been loving for the month of January:

John Frieda Sheer Solution: Lightweight Frizz Control Serum
The reason I''m so obsessed with this is just for the smell.  It smells better than any salon product that has every touched my hair.  (I purchased a few other items from the line, hoping they'd smell similar, only to be disappointed.) It does tame down frizz on damp hair.  But to tame morning bed head, I'm still on the hunt for a miracle product.

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara
It's a fabulous lengthening mascara, the fibers add quite a few centimeters to the end of my lashes. However, it doesn't do much thickening.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
See my full review.   I picked up quite a few of these lip butters but two in this shade.  I wear it every day and apply multiple times, it's replaced my favorite (drying) MAC lipstick.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Top Coat in Crystal Clear
The bottle claims it lasts up to 10 days. (I'm not sure if that's possible - I'm tired of the same color after a week.)  It has made usual manicure of 1-3 days last at least 5-6 days and still looks good (no peeling, minimal chipping.)  It's similar to Seche Vite, but better, and only one-third of the cost.  I just hope it doesn't thicken and ruin like Seche Vite does when you use half the bottle...

the salon smell,
-Kaitlyn

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