Goody QuikStyle Brush

So awhile back I mentioned that I received a Goody QuikStyle brush in my Holiday VoxBox and I wanted to follow up with you after using it for awhile.

The Verdict: I love it! I have definitely noticed that it helps dry my hair quicker than just using a normal brush. I also love that I received a half round brush. It gives me the same benefits of a round brush, but it's easier for me to use. I ended up buying one of these for a friend and she loves it. I highly recommend that you try one of these brushes and don't forget to let me know what you think!

e.l.f. Tone Correcting Powder

So today I wanted to tell you about Tone Correcting Powder by e.l.f. cosmetics. This powder helps balance out your skin tone. I'm very fair and sometimes I tend to have some issues with redness. Regular powders usually doesn't help to tone it down, but I had success with this one. It blended in easily and lasted throughout the day. If you're not familiar with e.l.f. cosmetics, the price point CANNOT be beat. This little gem cost $3.00.

Features:

• Create a balanced and radiant complexion that is beautiful and healthy
• The lightweight formula evens out the skin tone and absorbs excess oil
• The sheer formula brightens and neutralizes the skin

You can check out the e.l.f. cosmetic line here. I've also had some success with their lip gloss and the primer. Again, the price cannot be beat!

Have you tried e.l.f. cosmetics yet? I would love to hear about some of your favorites.

Madd Style Cosmetics Review & Swatches

I recently started trying out more indie cosmetic companies and I'm in love. One of the first companies I tried was Madd Style Cosmetics and their mineral eyeshadows are BEAUTIFUL! They have so many beautiful shades it was almost impossible to choose. The color payoff can't be beat either. Not to mention the cute packaging!

Each container has 1.2g of product and comes with a sifter. As you can see in the picture each one is also sealed. This particular size retails at $5.00. Madd Style Cosmetics are Vegan and Cruelty Free.
I picked out three colors to start with and again it was SUPER hard to pick. I also got a sampler pack of neutral colors that I will review later. Now, on to the beautiful colors!

 Zed Word - a flesh toned neutral with a pink tint and lots of rainbow shimmer.

Final Fantasy - a soft grey with a heavy gold duo chrome that changes from grey to gold to green depending on the light.

Steampunk - a metallic dark khaki color.

My pictures don't do these colors justice. They're beautiful!!! I will definitely be purchasing more. Very SOON!!!! I wore these eyeshadows on New Year's Eve and the staying power was incredible. I used them over my Urban Decay primer and I didn't have any problems with creasing.

Steampunk on the top, Final Fantasy in the middle and Zed Word on the bottom.

Have you had the opportunity to try out Madd Style Cosmetics? If not, check out their website here.

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Stay tuned for my review on the neutrals sampler pack.

CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balms Review & Swatches

I was just at my local Walgreen's and they had the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms. I just had to grab two to try out. I picked two lighter colors for every day wear and I love them. The color is very subtle on these and they aren't too drying. You also get a nice shine payoff. I like the convenience of the pencil format and these don't need to be sharpened. You can just twist the end to get more product. My only disappointment was that these weren't as long lasting as I would have liked.

The top color is #205. It's a beautiful light shell pink that just gives you a little shimmer of color. Very natural. The bottom color is #270 is a beautiful rose pink. Still a very natural color. Here are some swatches for you. 

#205 on top and #270 on bottom

#270 on the lips

I was having a hard time photographing the lighter color. My photography skills are still a work in progress. :-)

So, have you tried the new CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balms? Do you want to? Which colors have you been eying up? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

December Favorites

It's a short list, but these two products came to mind immediately. This was the first time I've ever tried them and I will definitely use them again.

First up:

Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo by TIGI
This came as an extra in my Little Black Bag Subscription and I'm really happy with it. I usually don't like dry shampoos because they just don't work with my hair. I have fine, dark hair and dry shampoos usually leave a white residue and weigh my hair down. Sometimes I can't even brush it out, but I've noticed that this one is pretty much colorless. I've tried endlessly to find one (from high end to low end) that will work and so far this one is holding up. It allows me to get one extra day out of my shampoo and my hair is a little shinier because I'm not washing the natural oils out on a daily basis. My color is also holding up a little better too. The one downfall is the scent. I think it's suppose to be a citrus but it doesn't do it for me. However it does wear off almost immediately. It's not enough to keep me from using it.

Next up:

Time to Clear Purifying Mud Mask by AHAVA
I love using mud masks, but I hate sitting around with it on my face for 10-15 minutes. Call me impatient.This mask you only need to leave on for 2 minutes...PERFECT! I tend to get the hormonal breakouts around the chin and this helps to clear it up. This is great if you have sensitive skin because it goes on with more of a sheer consistency. It also doesn't dry out your skin like some mud mask can. My skin didn't feel tight when I rinsed it off and I had a healthier glow.


I'm always open to trying new products. I would love to hear your suggestions for dry shampoos and facial masks. What are your go to products?

Neutrogena Hand Cream BzzCampaign

So, I just received my next BzzAgent campaign and it's for Neutrogena hand cream. This really couldn't have come at a better time because I'm suffering with unsightly winter skin. My hands have been DRY and CHAPPED!!! If you haven't checked out BzzAgent you definitely should. You can find them here. This is what came in my kit:

I received a full size fragrance free hand cream and six mini samples. My boyfriend was the first one to get a sample and so far he's liking it. That says a lot because he has the driest skin I've ever seen. This hand cream is a little different from your average hand cream because it's glycerin based. You can see the consistency in this picture.

Please excuse the iPhone pictures. I'm still on the hunt for my camera cord. The nice thing about this lotion is how quickly it absorbs and I'm also noticing some improvement in my nails. They're not breaking as much as they usually do. Yay!!!

Some interesting product facts for you:

• Just one dab repairs many signs of damage: dryness, chapping, splitting nails, dry cuticles, scaliness and roughness
• 2012 Good Housekeeping Seal award winner
• First hand cream to heal with concentrated glycerin
• Keeps manicured hands looking beautiful
• Long-lasting
• 2oz product good for 200 uses (a small amount goes a long way!)
• Available in Original and Fragrance-Free
• Suggested retail price of $4.99 per 2oz product

Have you tried the Neutrogena hand cream yet? I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. 

Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012

Hope everyone is making it through the holidays. I don't know about you but, I'm definitely ready for some downtime. I was fortunate to receive my Holiday VoxBox from Influenster today and I LOVE it. If you don't know about Influenster you should definitely check out their website at www.influenster.com. Influenster is a FREE program where you take surveys based on your interests and obtain badges. Depending on the badges you earn you can qualify for FREE boxes of samples and/or products to try. If you haven't, you definitely need to check out Influenster soon. Here's what I just received:

 How fun is this box? They're all products that I'm super excited to try out!

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal ($1.79 per cup)
This will be great for those mornings when you're running behind and you need something quick.

NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine ($2.49)
I may have actually found the perfect nude for me and the price can't be beat. I also love that this gloss is not sticky and it's super shiny.

Kiss Nail Dress ($6.99)
These are super fun and they will be perfect for New Year's Eve.

EBOOST ($28 for box of 20 effervescent powders, $39 for box 30 effervescent powders)
According to their website, EBOOST will boost your mood, focus, and immunity with natural ingredients and no crash. This is the perfect time of the year for this. I think everyone may be in need of an extra boost after all of the holiday festivities.

Goody QuikStyle Brush - Half Round Styler ($11.99)
I think I'm most excited for this product! Full round brushes can be a little tricky for me, so a half round brush may be just the solution. This brush also has super absorbent microfiber bristles to help dry your hair more quickly.

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks (Under $3)
I love mud masks and I will probably use this tonight.

There was also a $25 coupon to Sole Society which means I will be picking out a pair of shoes later!

I love the assortment that this box contained and I can't wait to try all of the products. I will keep you posted on my thoughts. I would love to hear your thoughts if you've tried any of the products listed or if you've been a lucky recipient of a VoxBox.