{My Faves}: August 2013

August Favorites!

It’s September, y’all!  Do you know what that means?  It’s almost my FAVORITE time of year… scarves, jeans, hoodies, and bonfires are merely a few weeks away.  {I live in the South, so this could mean as early as October or as late as late November, but I’m still excited!}    Here are a few of my favorite things I’ve used in the month of August!

 HAIR

Got2Be Powder'ful Volumizing Styling Powder
I use this powder almost every day.  It’s perfect for revving up flat hair.  My hair will lie limp no matter how much I have curled it.  Whether I’m wearing a curly or straight style, I always end my styling process with a few sprinkles of this.  I simply take sections of hair, lift them up, and sprinkle at the roots.  Once I’ve applied to all of the areas I’d like, I rub my scalp all over, and tousle my hair.  It gives amazing volume and allows my hair something to “grab” onto.  It also works well if you tease before adding the powder.  I have to warn you, this powder adds a “dirty hair” element.  It makes your hair feel a little dirty, but it is simply the added texture from the powder.  My hair shows oil extremely quickly, and I’ve never once felt like my hair looked dirty after using this.

MAKEUP

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

I’ve had this blush for over a year, but it is one of those that was put away in my blush organizer and forgotten.  I pulled it out a few weeks ago when I was tired of my same old routine {Nyx Powder Blush in Cinnamon} and fell in love with it all over again.  It is a beautiful peach shade with some shimmer.  Many have noted on YouTube that is a good dupe for Nars in Orgasm.  It’s not an EXACT match, but it is pretty darn close.  I generally do not like a lot of shimmer on my face due to having an oily T-zone, but I really love the glow this color gives.  I highly recommend it and it’s about $8.00 at CVS.

NAILS

Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover

I swear by this stuff.  I change my nail color every 3-4 days, and I usually use Acetone remover so I’m not spending a lot of time scrubbing my nails.  The acetone is harsh and dries out the skin around my nails and cuticles.  I use this every other time I change my polish.  I remove the existing polish from both hands, and then I choose a starting hand and apply the Gel Cuticle Remover to my cuticles of that hand.  I allow it to sit for about 3-5 minutes, then I go in with an orange stick and gently rub the areas where I applied gel.  This eliminates excess cuticles, dead skin, and also moisturizes.  After I have rubbed each nail with the orange stick, I simply wipe each nail with tissue or cotton pads to remove it.  The instructions on the tube suggest washing your hands after, but I leave it on for extra moisturizing.  Repeat with your second hand.  This gel is also great for toes.  I got mine at CVS, but I’ve also seen it at Walmart.

MISC.

Better Homes and Gardens Candles and Scented Wax Cubes
I really love the Better Homes and Gardens candles and the scented wax cubes from Walmart.  The best part is that they are so cheap {$5.50 for candles, $2.00 for wax}. The candles come in large sized jars with lids similar to Yankee Candle jars, and they last for the longest time.  They also have great scents!  I picked up two new candles the last week of August in Simmering Apple Cider and True Fall Splendor.  I’ve been alternating burning them in my room all week and they linger all over the house.  There are a lot of new fall scents that just debuted for the 2013 collection and they come in candle form and wax form.  I picked up Warm Rustic Woods in the wax to burn in my office at work.  It’s a rather masculine scent, but not overpowering.  Everyone who walks by comments on how nice it smells in there, so I think I chose well.    

Well, those are a few of my favorite things for August.  I hope you found something new to explore.  Stay tuned in a few days for some new reviews!

{Nails}: LEOPARD

I have always liked leopard and cheetah prints and I recently tried a little nail art incorporating the print.  I really like how they turned out.  What do you think?  What is your favorite type of nail art?

Base: Nina Ultra Pro in Beige-A Vu
Spots: L'Oreal in Walk on the Beach, O.P.I in A-Taupe the Space Needle, and Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint in Black
Top Coat: Seche Vite

Base: Essie in Turquoise and Caicos, ring fingers in Nina Ultra Pro in Beige-A Vu
Spots:  L'Oreal in Walk on the Beach, Essie in Turquoise and Caicos, and Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint in Black
Top Coat: Seche Vite

{My Faves}: July 2013

July Favorites!

I realize we are half way into August, but I really wanted to start offering a monthly favorites post which highlights some of my favorite products that I use every month.  In the future I will try to post these within the first few days of the following month so I can accurately document month to month what I currently love just for you!  So, let’s get started!

HAIR

L’Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray

I am IN LOVE with this Hairspray!  When I say IN LOVE, I mean it’s a true affair – now, I might not be ready to rank it up there for my feelings for boys; however, it may be up there with how I feel for chocolate! {ha ha}  I purchased this for the first time back in June and surprisingly it took me until last week to use up the first bottle.  Now, with that being said, it is pretty pricey for a drugstore brand.  I’ve found the general price in my area to be around $14.99.  I know… go ahead and gasp, I’ll wait.  I did too when I first went to purchase it.  I saw a lot of my favorite YouTube gals using it in their hair tutorials and I figured I’d go and grab a bottle for around $5.  Much to my surprise when I got to CVS and it was $10 more than I expected, I still decided to give it a whirl.  Now I’m hooked and my wallet is sad, but at least my hair is fabulous! 

This hairspray is very lightweight on the hair, but still holds like the crunchy hairsprays do.  I’ve never been able to find a happy medium when it comes to hairspray – they either work great and leave my hair crunchy, or are super wet and add too much weight or moisture to my hair.  The Elnett is a spray and stay without the crunch.  It comes in several holds and the option of scented or unscented.  When I got my first bottle, I picked up the unscented {pretty much because I didn’t even pay attention} and I didn’t really notice any kind of odor from it.  With this last bottle, I decided to live on the edge a little and check out what it smelled like by purchasing the scented bottle.  For some reason, I expected a sweet scent from this product; however, what I got was a time warp back to the days when I spent a lot of time with my Granny.  For lack of a better way of putting it, it smells like old lady hairspray.  My Granny was a classy lady and went to the salon once a week to get her weekly style.  She slept with a foam head wrap every night to keep her style shaped and every morning after using her pick to even out her do, she would go to town spraying away with a spray that smelled just like the Elnett.  Some would find this to be a negative aspect, but every day when I use the spray, I remember my Granny and it takes me back.  Wondering how to try the Elnett without paying so much?  Well, right now I have three suggestions for you:

• CVS offers bonus bucks for frequent purchases when using their customer card.  I save those extra savings for purchases like these.  If you don’t shop at CVS a lot, still grab a card and go in periodically just to swipe your card at the coupon kiosk – they have coupons every week and usually they are geared toward beauty or hair care.  This week I got one that was $3 off any hairstyling product of $10 or more.  That would allow me to get the Elnett for $3 off… better than the full price.
• Ulta is another great place to buy it.  Sign up on their site and they will send you their catalog every other month.  There is usually a $3.50 off coupon on the back of the catalog.  I used this to purchase my bottle last week.  Don’t have an Ulta?  Wait until you need several things to justify shipping costs and use the coupon for online shopping. 
• Ulta also has travel size bottles of the Elnett for around $6 {I’m sure other stores do, too, I’ve only noticed it there}.  To me, I think that is a joke because the bottle is tiny and the size comparison from spending $6 -$15 is not worth it; however, if you are skeptical, it is worth it just to try the spray.  If you like it, that small bottle can be your purse/travel bottle when you buy a big one – which I’m sure you’ll want to do!

Tangle Teezer Brush

I had seen these odd looking brushes for a while and just never really felt the need to get one.  On the flip side, the longer my hair has gotten, the more difficult it has become to brush – especially when I neglect getting it trimmed and my layers start to grow together.  It is also much easier to damage your hair when it is wet due to the elasticity changing with the abundance of moisture.  I saw the Tangle Teezer online about six months ago and pinned it to one of my Pinterst boards for later evaluation.  When I was at Sally’s Beauty about two months ago, I saw them and decided to just get one and see what I thought.  I picked up a hot pink one {the only other choice in stock was purple – I pinned a leopard print one…but, we all have dreams} and tried it the very same night.  Amazingly, it runs right through my hair with minimal snags in comparison to a regular brush.  I find the top of my head to be the most tangle prone area for me due to the amount of products I use on a daily basis and the teasing I do – this little brush really helps get those tangles out without the breakage.  I use this after every shower after I have towel dried my hair and it gets everything smooth.  I really recommend this brush for those with long hair or sensitive scalps.  These are $13 at Sally’s.  I had a $5 off coupon from a previous purchase and I have a Beauty Club card, so my savings were well worth it.  They can be found all over the internet if you don’t have a Sally’s Beauty nearby.  I did not notice them at Ulta when I went last week {you know I was still looking for that leopard one}. 

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray

I have tried a lot of dry shampoos over the past year and there was only one that I was really unhappy with {Got2b Rockin’ It Dry Shampoo – it was too powdery for my dark hair}, and I can honestly say most of the ones I have tried all work the same.  The reason I think this one tops the list is because it’s super cheap {under $3}, works just as well as the $6 brands, and it smells GREAT.  It has a very citrus/fruity smell, but clean.  My hair is very prone to becoming limp and oily after washing and I also use Moroccan oil when I blow dry if I’m using a straight style.  Sometimes only a little bit of that oil can really ruin the volume and body of my hair.  I can spray a little dry shampoo at my roots once I’ve blow dried and it sucks out a lot of the oils and leaves my hair looking super clean, volumized, and smelling great.  I also use this after a long work day if I’m going out or to an event and don’t have time to wash my hair – it makes it smell so good, sometimes people ask what shampoo I’ve used.  I highly recommend it as a competitor for the more expensive brands.  The only small downside is that is does run out faster than some of the others I’ve tried.  Not super fast, and not enough to matter for the price, though. 

MAKEUP

L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara

I mentioned this mascara in a first impressions post back in February and I’m still involved with it.  The mascara and I are taking things slow, but I really see a future!  Really, I’ve purchased three of them since February.  I love it.  It makes my lashes so long and full.  The only downside I have found about it is that it is very wet and slow drying.  I have to really pay attention to blinking quickly and looking up for a few minutes after I’ve applied so that it doesn’t deposit onto my lower brow bone.  I’m usually pretty mindful of this and it isn’t really that much of a burden; however, I have had some surprise sneeze attacks immediately after applying that have really done a number on my shadows that I applied beforehand.  I couple this mascara with it’s cousin, L’Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions, and they really do make my lashes look flawless.  Save by waiting to shop until your drugstore does it’s L’Oreal BOGO for the month – buy one and get one half off.  If you only want the Carbon Black, get two and put one in your stash for when you run out!

L’Oreal True Match Foundation

Wow, I just realized just how much L’Oreal I have purchased lately – they are really climbing the drugstore brand ladder!  This foundation is great.  I’ve had a lot of issues with dryness lately.  It’s very strange.  My skin is oily, but then it gets super dry on the tip of my nose, so I combat that with some super moisturizer {Clinique Moisture Surge – heart it}, which then makes me a little too oily.  It’s a process I cannot explain.  Either way, I get really cakey when it comes to foundation.  I was using the Covergirl 3 in 1 for a while and I do love it, but I think it will be more of a winter makeup for me.  The True Match has really proved to be a great little foundation!  It goes on easily, is buildable, and sits on my skin nicely.  I do have to powder after a few hours, but when I do, I rarely see any buildup like I do with other foundations.  They also have a wide variety of color choices and a diagram for choosing based on warm, neutral, and cool skin tones.  I do find that when swatching on your hand in the store that the foundation does go on lighter at first and changes once it has set to a shade slightly darker.  I had to exchange the first color I chose in the store due to this.  I use shade W5 Sand Beige.   I would suggest swatching the color you think would best match your skin, go do your other shopping for a few minutes, and then look at the swatch again and see if it is too dark.  This foundation is under $11 at my CVS and you can also take advantage of the BOGO sales with it and the mascara {or go cray cray and get a new liner or eyeshadow}!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment + Concealer

Umm… the name is aMOUTHFUL, but the product is aMAZING! {see what I did there?} 
This is another flashback from my February first impressions post.  I LOVE the product, but I do very much dislike the packaging.  It comes with a sponge attached to the end and you simply twist to replenish product into it.  This is very wasteful and I honestly don’t feel like the sponge does much good.  I removed it and I just twist out product and apply with my finger tip or with my concealer brush.  This product really does brighten my under eye area and doesn’t accentuate lines under the eye.  I set it with my Ben Nye Banana Powder, but you can use any translucent powder you’d like.  I chose the Brightener 160 shade.  I paid around $8.99 for this at CVS and I will purchase another when I run low.  

NAILS

My most recent nail polish purchase is made by Essie.  It is in the shade Turquoise and Caicos.

I love the pretty minty shade and it's perfect for summer! This polish was $8 at CVS.



That's all I have for my favorites for July.  Check back next month for August favorites!  

Have a pretty day, y'all!

{Review}: Sally Hansen in S-teal a Base + Sally Hansen Target CLEARANCE Alert

Sally Hansen Target CLEARANCE Alert

 

 

Hey gals!  I just wanted to pop in really quick and tell you about the Target clearance I discovered yesterday and provide a quick impression of Sally Hansen's S-teal a Base.  From what I saw, their entire Sally Hansen section was on clearance.  This included polishes {even the new Sugar Coat and Fuzzy Coat polishes}and color nail strips. I wanted to grab one of the Sugar Coat polishes, but they were already sold out of the color I wanted {Sour Apple}.  They did have Cotton Candies, though, which I may go back and pick up just to try it out.    

Sally Hansen in S-teal a Base

 

I did pick up S-teal a Base and Presto Pink in the Insta-Dri polish. I have to say, for S-teal a Base, the color does go on differently than what is seen in the bottle.  To me, the bottle shows a more teal hue (hints the name), but when placed on the nail, it is much more green.  I added a layer of Essie Lux Effects in Pure Pearlfection on top to add some shimmer.  Honestly, now the color really reminds me of Oz.  I like it, but I am not big on bold greens on my nails.  I am excited to try the pink shade I picked up as well, so I will be providing my impression in a few days! 

*All prices given in this post are based on pricing in my specific area.  Please be advised the prices could be lower or higher depending on your own location*

Stay pretty!

{Giveaway} : Seche Vite, China Glaze + Extras!

GIVEAWAY TIME!! 

In the honor of launching my blog and Facebook page {Beauty and the Belle Facebook}, I'm doing a China Glaze/Seche Vite giveaway!  

The winner will receive: 

• [1] Full size bottle of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat {this stuff is amazing}
• [1] Full size bottle of China Glaze in Ruby Pumps {just in time for the new Oz movie}
• A few of my favorite nail essential extras {these are a surprise}

Here's all you have to do to be entered to win:
1. Add Beauty and the Belle as a friend  on Facebook {or comment here if you don't have FB}
 
2. SHARE this post on Facebook:

3. COMMENT on this blog post

TO BE ENTERED MULTIPLE TIMES:
 
5. Follow on Instagram {beauty_andthe_belle}
6. Comment on this photo on Instagram

You may repeat these steps daily for more entries! :)

The winner will be announced Friday, February 8, 2013. Good Luck!!

{Review}: Revlon Colorstay in Rain Forest

Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel in Rain Forest

I picked up this beautiful, glittery green when I stopped to get Revlon Colorstay in French Roast.  Due to a BOGO50 special at CVS Pharmacy, I got both, but I ended up loving this one much more than French Roast.  If you read that review, you learned that the staying power was below par.  The Rain Forest, however, lasted for about five days before I got sick of it and changed it.  I'm pretty sure the glitter bits had a lot to do with it's staying power, as they sort of grab on to the nail a lot more than a solid hue.

I really love the depth of this green.  It shimmers and shines and reminds me of a green version of Dorothy's shoes in The Wizard of Oz.

*All prices given in this post are based on pricing in my specific area.  Please be advised the prices could be lower or higher depending on your own location*

{Sale Alert}: Sally's Beauty Supply ORLY/Seche Vite/China Glaze BOGO!

I popped into Sally's Beauty Supply two days ago because I wanted to treat myself to a little nail polish happy, and I found a glorious sale!!

They are currently offering a BOGO on all ORLY products {minus polish removers} and a BOGO offer stating that if you purchase a bottle of Seche Vite top coat you can choose a China Glaze polish for free.

I'll be doing a review soon, but I purchased:

• Seche Vite and got China Glaze in Lubu Heels free
• ORLY Tough Cookie and got ORLY Nite Owl free

Hurry to Sally's, the sale ends tomorrow!

{Dressing Room/Craft Room Revamp}

I am so excited to reveal this project I have been working on for quite a while.  I recently expanded my apartment to a two bedroom and have devoted the new room to my crafting and as a place to get ready for the day.  It is still a work in progress, however, I do want to show what I've done so far.  As I have time I will update where I got all of the items shown.  I'm also still working on a few projects (like covering the ottoman). 

 The finished dressing area (minus the unfinished ottoman)!

{cabinet from Overstock.com, desk/hutch from Amazon.com, chair from Walmart, mirror from Hobby Lobby, acrylic storage from Amazon.com, nail polish shelf from Amazon.com, white shelf from Michaels, curtain panels from Pier1}

 {Drawers hold eye shadows, face primers, pencil liners, and mascaras.}

 {Glass jars for brushes and acrylic stackable drawers for face products.}

 

{detailed view}

 {detailed view}

 

{"You are never fully dressed without a good manicure" - Essie Facebook page, framed with a frame from Hobby Lobby}

 

{I made the necklace and bracelet holders from wooden dowels and mug hooks.  The shelves and ring holder are from Hobby Lobby.  The stackable jewelry trays are from Michaels.}

 {detailed view}

Let me know what you think!!

{Review}: Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Nail Strips in Walk the Catwalk

Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Nail Strips in Walk the Catwalk

I'm so excited to share this review with y'all - I LOVE these!  If you are not familiar with gel nails, I'll give you the rundown:  They are similar to acrylic nails, as they harden and last longer than regular polish.  These specific gels are light-cured.  This is generally done with the help of a UV/LED Lamp.  Sally Hansen has followed suit by offering starter kits which include lamps along with the gel polish strips.  {NOTE: I used my Sensationail lamp (review to come on Sensationail products) when applying these strips, as I did not want to spend extra money on something I already had.  I will give details below}

Product Details:
There are several options for these Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Strips:

Mini lamp starter kit ($29.99) - includes 1 Mini LED Lamp, 16 Gel Polish Strips, 1 Gel Top Coat, 2 Nail Cleanser Pads, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and Instruction sheet

Full size lamp starter kit ($69.99) - includes 1 LED Lamp, 1 Gel Base Coat, 1 Gel Nail Color, 1 Gel Top Coat, 10 Nail Cleanser Pads, Acetone Remover, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and Instruction sheet

Insta-Gel Strips ($14.99) - includes 16 Gel Polish Strips, 1 Gel Top Coat, 2 Nail Cleanser Pads, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and Instruction sheet  
{This is what I purchased because I already have a lamp}

Application:
The directions on the Insta-Gel Strips box suggest curing the patterned nail strips one nail at a time.  If you are planning to use these strips for fun patterns only, I would suggest getting the mini lamp for the cheaper price, as it is not suggested you do all of your nails at once.  If you plan to use these gel strips in a wide range of colors and patterns, I would go ahead and spend the extra money on the full size starter kit so you get the full size lamp. 

As I mentioned earlier, I used my Sensationail lamp.  I am unsure if this is suggested, as I was just trying it out, but I got perfect results using it.  I will also say that I cured each nail for 60 seconds under my Sensational lamp rather than the suggested 30 seconds, just to ensure ample exposure and curing.

All you do is clean your nails, apply the strips and contour/shape them, apply the top coat, cure under the lamp, and wipe clean - that's it. {Be sure to follow the included instructions}

Removal:
Because these are gel nails, they "should" be soaked off using Pure Acetone Polish Remover.  I will admit, I peeled them off.  I know this is not healthy or good for the nails, as it removes the top layer of the nail, but once I get going it becomes a nervous habit to peel them off.  I have successfully removed gel nails in the past by soaking cotton ball halves in acetone and applying them to each fingertip and securing them with aluminum foil so the cotton can penetrate the polish.  I found this to be a lot less messy and tedious than soaking. There are also gel polish remover strips available in stores.

My results:

These only lasted a week for me rather than the two that "Sally" suggests, but I feel that it was because it was my first time using strips and my intermediate application techniques.  I also put some furniture together the day after doing my nails which contributed to extra wear and tear.  I will also say that I am OCD when it comes to chipped nails and once one nail chips, I'm ready to change them all.  I could have left these on for at least another three or four days.  I had minimal peeling on some of the edges on just a few nails which could have been fine, but I picked at them and made them worse.  I plan to redo these again soon to see if my first try's practice round proves that the second time is a charm. 

*All prices given in this post are based on pricing in my specific area.  Please be advised the prices could be lower or higher depending on your own location*

{Intro & A Review}: Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in French Roast

Hey y'all!

I've FINALLY decided to get this blog going after a long time of taking it into consideration.  I've realized lately that I try a lot of new products on a regular basis and I am always looking for reviews myself, so what better way to offer my own than through this blog!  I hope to update you on the newest beauty products, my favorite products, "dupe" products for you savvy shoppers, and much more!

So, lets get started with a review!  

Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel in French Roast

I have been eying this color online for a few weeks, but I haven't been able to find the color at any of the stores nearby.  Well, I finally spotted it at CVS Monday and snagged it and Rain Forest (buy one Revlon product, get one 50% off this week at CVS, B-T-Dubs). 

I'll admit, I L-O-V-E the color - it has a hint of glitter in shades of gold and on the nails it is just the right shade of brown, but I am already disappointed with what Revlon considers "longwear", at least with this shade.  It has already chipped tremendously and it is only DAY TWO.  I will say I have a few other shades from this line and I have not noticed such chipping so quickly, so it could be the formula used to create the shade.

This was taken the night I painted them Monday.  They were shiny (ORLY Sec N Dry Top Coat) and the color looked great.

These pictures are from today, Wednesday. Please disregard my dry skin, it's frigid here and I've been using lotion like crazy.  Notice the huge chip on my pointer finger and there are chips on the tops of almost every nail.  They have also lost their shine and are showing scratches - in two days.

I'm quite disappointed, as I do try to keep my nail colors on for about five days at a time, and I have received a lot of compliments on the shade, but the time I put into shaping and cleaning up my nails and polish is definitely not worth it for only two days of wear.  I'll be changing them up tonight or tomorrow and will be trying Rain Forest - and I'll do a comparison review, so stay tuned {UPDATED: see the review here: Revlon Rain Forest Review}



*All prices given in this post are based on pricing in my specific area.  Please be advised the prices could be lower or higher depending on your own location*