MAC Riviera Life Lipglass Swatches & Review

24 May

MAC Cosmetics’ much anticipated “Hey Sailor” collection released this month. While I really wanted the entire thing (HELLO CUTE PACKAGING!), I was good and allowed myself to purchase one item only. Even though I’m not a big lip gloss person, I loved the orangey shade of Riviera Life and decided to pick it up.

disclaimer: Please excuse my unruly eyebrows and terrible skin. Having a “bad face day” ;)

 

PROS: I haven’t used lipgloss in a while and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn’t goopy as I thought it would be. I absolutely hate a super sticky feeling on my lips but this wasn’t that bad. It is exactly as described, highly pigmented orange with flecks of gold. I think it looks great on warm, darker tones. It is very opaque and bright, did not need to coat my lips to get the bright orange effect. I really love the packaging too. It lasted about 3-4 hours, but as soon as I ate a lot of it came off (but most gloss tends to do that)

CONS: As you can see in the last close-up picture, it kind of has the tendency to settle in the cracked/dry parts of your lips, so make sure you exfoliate before applying (I did not, and my lips always tend to be on the drier side)

BOTTOM LINE: It is a gorgeous shimmery, orange shade that complements my NC42 skintone without looking “too much”. I could definitely get away with this for everyday wear. I would definitely purchase.

WHERE TO BUY: $15.50, Any MAC counter or store, MAC’s website. (Use code TXT for free shipping on any order on their website!)

What do you think of my lipglass? Is it poppin’?

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , ,

OOTD – Date night in NYC

21 May

Yesterday, I went to Sephora to use my free VIB makeover. Afterwards, my hubby surprised me with an impromptu trip into New York City to walk around and eat in Little Italy.

 

The MUA at Sephora did a great job on my “makeover”. I asked her to do a smoky eye with the Naked Palette. For the rest of my face, I had her use products that I already own. She really took her time and wrote out what colors she used so I could easily re-create the look at home.

Since my face was so done up, and it was a particularly warm day, I decided to keep my outfit simple and comfortable.

‘

What I’m Wearing

Dress: Kardashian Kollection (I was stuck at Sears getting an oil change one day, and I had a $20 gift card. Don’t judge me!)
Sandals: Merona Braided Flats at Target (Surprisingly comfy for the price!)
Ring: Tiger stretch ring, H&M
Watch: Stella by Fossil
Bag: Urban Expressions Dakota Bag at Bag Haus (This has become my everyday bag because of how huge it is!)

Good food, good conversation, and good company. It turned out to be the most perfect date night that we ever had!

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MAC Impassioned Swatches and Review

17 May

There is no such thing as a trip to the mall without a stop at the MAC store, and that is just what I did two weeks ago. I told myself that I had to be good (was waiting for the Hey Sailor! Collection), and only let myself buy one lipstick. My collection is filled with reds, nudes, purples, but very few pinks. I decided I wanted a bright and funky color for the summer. In the tube, Impassioned did not look like it would flatter me at all, but once on, I fell in love immediately!!

PROS: Since it is the “Amplified” formula the color goes on creamy and extremely vibrant, as it is highly pigmented. One swipe was all I needed. I also love that it is buildable, so if it’s too bright for your taste you can blot it, or add more if need be. The MA at MAC said it was more coral but when I swatched and wore it, it looked more magenta/shocking pink on my MUFE 153/MAC NC42 skin. It is muy caliente for the summer and reminds me of the city of Miami! The color lasts for hours, I ate/drank with it and had no problems with it budging.

CONS: The only negative is that even after wiping it off with a makeup wipe, my lips were still stained the next morning. No joke about it being highly pigmented!

BOTTOM LINE: If you are looking for a fun, summery hot pink BUY IT! I’ve seen it swatched on all different types of skintones, and have yet to find one type where it looks unflattering. I know a lot of beauty bloggers prefer more higher end lipsticks, but I believe MAC really does the job when it comes to sexy brights for the summer. For under $16, you can’t go wrong!

WHERE TO BUY: Any MAC Cosmetics store or makeup counter, their website.

Happy lipsticking my lovelies!

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Heidi Klum Wildlife Collection

17 May

I’ve never been one to promote celebrity fashion/jewelry lines because they already make so much money, I don’t want to contribute to that. Also most of the time, they are endorsing crap anyway *cough* The Kardashians *cough*.

Despite this, I’m REALLY digging Heidi Klum’s new Wildlife Collection. I may or may not have gotten sucked into a QVC show featuring her line (which is available on QVC only), so I did some research and I really love everything. It’s a fun mix of glam and boho. Check it out:

If you’re interested, you can see all of her pieces on QVC’s website. Obviously, read reviews before you buy. What I love about the Q is that they have a 30 day no hassle return policy as well as no-interest payment installments. I just purchased one of the watches from her line. Will definitely review it when it comes in!

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Chevron Chic

17 May

Chevron. It’s not just a gas station anymore. It’s a serious print that has taken over runways, wall art, and even wedding cakes!

Over the past year or so, I’ve noticed this trend popping up everywhere. Celebrities and normal people alike are rockin’ the chevron! I love it because it’s a modern  alternative to stripes. While black and white chevron is the most classic, this year’s neon trend has sent this look into overdrive! If you want to be chevron chic check out my picks below!

Item info:
1. Earrings, BaubleBar 2. Top, YesStyle 3. Sundress, American Eagle 4. Tote, Brahmin 5. Maxidress, Gap,
6. iPhone Case, Etsy 7. Wristlet, Brahmin 8. Clutch, Red Velvet 9. Dress, Oasis 10. Bracelet, Forever 21

This trend is not only limited to fashion, but it’s also huge in weddings, home decoration, and even furniture! Do you own anything with this print? What do you think? Is chevron past its prime or are we not there yet?

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Nails Of The Week – Can’t Get Enough Oxygen!

16 May

I’ve been in search of the perfect white nail polish forever. It’s hard for me to find a shade that doesn’t look like White Out on my fingers or doesn’t apply streaky. Behold, China Glaze’s Oxygen – The perfect white/pinkish that goes on streak-free and looks incredibly natural. As much as I love bright and wild colors, nothing beats a classic manicure.

China Glaze’s polishes are so inexpensive, you can easily buy a bottle for under $5 and give yourself a beautiful manicure that will look salon quality without the salon price.

 

 

Amazon.com has it in stock for $3.84! Grab it, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Guest Post: Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

9 May

This week’s guest post is brought to you by my best friend, confidante, and second mother, my sister, Lactivist In Louboutins.

I’m a working mom to a 17 month old boy and wife to a wonderful man. I am a girly girl through and through, but I have a huge sentimental streak. I love makeup, clothes, shopping, and shoes. You didn’t think Glitter & Vodka formed that personality all by herself, did you? ;-)

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. It may be too late to order gifts online to ensure a Sunday delivery. Here’s a quick list of great last minute gifts.

1. Pamper her.

This is a great gift idea no matter how long she’s been a mom. Treat her to a certificate for a massage, facial, mani/pedi, or haircut and color. Even a simple blowout can make a frazzled mom feel more put together. If she has a particular place she loves to go, buy her a gift certificate or book the appointments and take her there as a surprise. If you need a place to go, SpaFinder and Yelp are great for reviews. To earn major points (or need to get yourself out of the doghouse), get a her a day at the spa that includes all the treatments available!

2. A Night Off.

While having a child changes everything, I do not want to completely lose who I was pre-baby. It’s important to me to have time with my girlfriends and to do my own activities, that don’t involve my husband or son. A dinner with the girls or a daytime activity really recharge my batteries. It a reminder that there’s more to me than mommy and wife. Let the mom in your life take a night off with her girlfriends or give her a day to do something special for her. Spend that time with the kids and enjoy your own special time with them.

3. Baubles and Jewels.

Last year was my first mother’s day. I was given an initial necklace from Tiffany’s with an E on it, for my son’s name. It was a wonderful, very “me” gift. The little blue box it came in made it an instant classic, something I can wear year after year.

Is she into style and looking on trend? Consider giving her a subscription to services like JewelMint and Bauble Bar. For $30 a month, JewelMint will send her a trendy piece selected based on her tastes. If she prefers to do the picking herself, check out Bauble Bar. They offer high quality trendy accessories for a lot less than you would pay at the mall. They pair with big name designers like DKNY and Erickson Beamon for limited edition capsule collections.

4. DIY.

There are lots of great DIY projects for mothers day. If it is her first one, consider purchasing a handprint kit to commemorate those itty bitty fingers and toes. This makes a great gift for grandmas, aunts, and godmothers too!

If the littles are no longer infants, there are tons of great DIY projects. My friend helped her toddler daughter paint a Tardis for their Dr. Who-loving husband & dad’s birthday. Remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be made with love.

5. Photo books.

When in doubt, make a photo book. Simply upload your favorite pictures to sites like Shutterfly and Snapfish, and they’ll even put the pictures in a layout for you. It will deliver right to your door. This is a great gift idea for aunts, grandmas, and godmothers who may live far away.

If you don’t have time to order from online, consider your local Walmart/Target or pharmacy. Many photo centers have the option to print to things like calendars, photo books, and even canvas to pick up the same day!

6. Simple Relaxation.

If you can’t get her anything, let her sleep in, take care of the kids, and serve her breakfast in bed. Moms are often too busy to take care of themselves. Make sure she knows how much you appreciate her!

As busy as our lives are, don’t forget to take the time out to appreciate, pamper, and love the woman that brought you into this world.

Happy Mother’s Day to You & Yours!

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , ,

TREND ALERT: Neon Jewelry

9 May

Are the 90′s back? Because that’s what it seems like with all of the trends emerging lately!

As one of the hottest trends for Spring/Summer 2012, neon seems to be everywhere! From nail polish to leggings to hair color, you can’t avoid it. As a lover of all things garish and obnoxious, I jumped right on this bandwagon and haven’t gotten off since. If you don’t feel like committing 100%, but still want to add a bit of brightness in your life, take a look at some of the neon jewelry that has come out recently. Whatever your budget, from Forever 21 to Net-a-Porter, there is sure to be a neon piece that fits your taste and budget.

If you have tons of old jewelry laying around and feel like going the DIY route, check out Making It With Danielle’s post on easily creating a neon statement necklace.

Below are some of my picks of my favorite neon jewelry:

For product information SEE HERE.

What are your thoughts on this craze? Have you jumped on the neon bandwagon yet, or is it too much for you?

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

NARS Lal Mirchi Swatch & Review

5 May

As I mentioned a few posts ago, NARS & Thakoon teamed up to create a line of Indian-inspired nail polishes. Lal Mirchi arrived this weekend and I had to try it on immediately.


PROS: I love this color!  It is 100% opaque and definitely the color of “lal mirchi”, an orangish red. I could’ve definitely gotten away with one coat, but decided to do to anyway. This was my first NARS polish purchase and the brush was wide enough to use. Consistency of polish was a little thick, so I took my time applying. You can definitely tell the difference between a higher end nail polish and cheaper brands with this one.

CONS: Honestly, none!

BOTTOM LINE: If you are looking to splurge on a polish, and covet red/orange colors then this is perfect for you!

WHERE TO BUY: This shade is not available at NARS counters. You can only purchase it on their website and at their Bleecker Street store in NYC.

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , ,

Allure Summer Beauty Box Review

2 May

Allure, one of the leading beauty magazines, puts out a “beauty box” every season of skin, hair, and makeup essentials to get you through the season. The Summer beauty box came out late last month. I heard that they sell out pretty fast, so as soon as it got released, I ordered. Basically, for $39.99 you get $250 worth of 24 FULL SIZE products. Yup.. Full size. I’d rather splurge and spend $40 on a bunch of stuff now, rather than spend $10/month on samples from one of those monthly delivery services. What’s even better is that $5 of each beauty box purchase goes towards the Skin Cancer Foundation. HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT?!

My box came today, so I thought I’d do a quick review:

(Click on each image to enlarge)

Contents of the box

Aloxxi Colourcare Leave-In Conditioner, Bioré Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser
Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer, Cerave SA Renewing Lotion
Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Foam Wash, Cetaphil Dermacontrol Moisturizer
Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Cleanser, Dr. Lewinn Instand Dermal Wrinkle Filler
Fekkai Glossing Cream, Glilette Venus & Olay Razor
Jergens Natural Glow & Protect, John Frieda Frizz-Ease
John Frieda Full Repair Styling Spray, John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lightening Spray
MISS Nail Laquer, Neutrogena Pure & Free Sunblock
Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother, ORLY Nail Laquer
Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray, Pantene PRO-V Anti-Breakage Shampoo
Pantene PRO-V Anti Breakage Conditioner, Pureology Perfect 4 Platinum Filler Treatment
Redken Powder Refresh Dry Shampoo, TanTowel Self-Tan Towelette

Overall, I’m very pleased with everything. I like how they gave a variety of products for different hair colors and types. Though I have no idea what I will do with two full-size bottle of dry shampoo and several facial cleansers, it’s always nice to have extra!!

I highly recommend this beauty box for product lovers everywhere! My $40 went a long way and I get to discover some cool new products as well as stockup on essentials. I believe that this Beauty Box is sold-out but be on the lookout for the next one! I recommend that you buy it and split it with a friend, your mom, or your sister because it’s A LOT of product for just one person.

Though Allure hasn’t said anything about any new Beauty Boxes yet, “Like” them on Facebook and “Follow” them on Twitter so you can get details on the release date/time. This one sold out in less than an hour I believe so make sure you set an alarm!

XOXO

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 46 other followers