Crown Brush (Brushes)

I already own a few Crown Brushes and I love the ones that I have. Hautelook.com was having a sale on their brushes a few weeks back. I jumped right on it and bought 4 brushes. They are so amazing. The brushes I purchased are IB126, C428, C429, and IB109.

IB126 is an Italian Badger Chisel Blush brush. The bristles are fluffy and dense. I did notice after the first wash it lost it's shape and widened a little... but nothing to bad. I have used this brush for 2 things... applying blush and applying setting powder. It works great for both.

The C428 is a Deluxe Duo Fiber Shadow brush and the C429 is a Delux Duo Crease brush. I loved these brush the moment I got them. I love them so much I will be purchasing more from crownbrush.com as soon as I have enough money to order from them. (There is a minimum when you order.) If you are a fan of blending these brushes are for you. They not only blend out amazingly, they also are the best for loose shadows or pigments. They are by far my most used shadow blending brushes now.

IB109 is an Italian Badger Chisel Fluff brush. I love this brush for shading the entire lid. It isn't very dense so it is wonderful for applying highly pigmented colors. I also use it to blend and it does a great job! I love the length of the handle and how soft the bristles are.

Overall, they all wash well... have minimal shedding and are perfect for blending and creating more natural looks. They are fully synthetic. Great wet and dry they all are must haves in my collection, and with the prices they totally are worth the money. I have been using my new ones for about 2 weeks and they still wash great and feel amazing. I love them!

Left to Right: IB126, C428, C429, IB109

OCC Loose Colour

When I went to IMATS NY (a few months back), I bought a few products from OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics). 2 of those products were loose colours or as some people know them, loose pigments. I purchased Platonic and Obscure.

Platonic is a pale cream shimmery pink, and Obscure is white with teal flecks. Obscure doesn't seem like much in the jar, but when it is swatched it is really something special.Personally, I like using the pigments wet rather then dry. The good thing about Obscure is that it looks amazing on dark colors, such as black liners or black shdows. It lightens them up and gives them a gorgeous green tint... and I mean gorgeous. I mainly use Platonic with my pink-y, purple, and sometimes neutral looks. There are so many things that you can do with these colours. Next time I go to NYC or next time I go to an IMATS show I will be picking up more of these loose colours.

(Left to Right: Platonic, Obscure)
Top swatch is dry, bottom swatch is wet

Sorry for the bad pictures... it was last minute.

MAC Bloggers' Obsessions (Sonoran Rain)

I purchased one item from MAC Bloggers' Obsessions. I bought the lipglass "Sonoran Rain". I really wanted that and the eyeshadow "Jealousy Wakes", but "Jealousy Wakes" was sold out right away. I was not quick enough.

When it comes to lip colors, I always go for more neutral colors. I have always wanted to branch out and get a pink or a red, but I have never found one that I think looks good on me. I really did take a risk buying Sonoran Rain, but I figured I would always wonder what it looked like on me. I must say.... it does look very pretty. It is not something that I will wear everyday, but it is the best I have found to date. It is an opaque, red-orange with fuchsia, and gold shimmer. The wear time is pretty good. It lasted a few hours on my lips... which says alot for me. It is on the heavier side, but I guess that is why it lasted as long as it did. I do feel that I will need some type of liner on my lips when I wear it because I feel that this is the type of gloss that will bleed. In my pictures I dont have any liner on (because I dont own anything red at the moment).

Overall... if you love red lips, then this is a must buy for you. If you are like me, and have been wanting to branch into this look buy cant jump right into a red lipstick... then try this. It might surprise you.

John Freida Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray

Let me start off by saying that I cannot be held responsible for the outcome if you try this product yourself. I am merely sharing with you my experience with this product, and your results may vary depending on the color, texture, condition and porousness of your hair.

That being said, I love the spray "John Freida Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray". I purchased this product at CVS for $9.00 (it was on sale). I dont know the full retail price. This is a controlled lightening spray, which means you will not see immediate results. As the box indicates, you will see "results in 3-5 uses." I also want you to be aware that this product contains hydrogen peroxide, and it works with HEAT to lighten your hair. The instructions do not mention sun (remember Sun-In Hair Lightener from the 80's and 90's which reacted to the sun to lighten your hair?). This product requires a heat-styling tool to work its magic. And I do mean magic! It recommends that you use a curling iron or flat-iron after application for maximum results. I dont use either a flat-iron or a curling iron (on the norm), but I did for 6 days straight. I blew my hair dry on the hottest setting and then I used my flat-iron.

I was in dire need of getting a touch up on my roots (I think this time my hairdresser would have recommended a full head of highlights, not a partial... which obviously costs more money). Last time I got my hair done it was March 21st, and I started this process May 29th. Your hair does grow faster in the warmer months and I looked like I had "prison roots". haha! I dont have the money to get my hair done at the moment. I couldnt have tried this product out at a better time. I did get in contact with my hairdresser and asked her opinion about this product and she said she didnt know anything about it, but that she doesnt like over the counter products because it is not meant for everyone's hair. I decided to take the risk anyway because I figured that it was $9.00 rather then $80.00. (I get a great deal on my hair because my hair dresser does it out of her house, but still I dont have the $80.00 to spend at the moment.)

I towel dried my hair and sprayed it directly on my roots and then combed it through. I didnt do the under part of my hair only the top (crown). I then blew it dry on the hottest setting (making special effort to apply lots of heat to my roots ) and then flat-ironed the top portion of my hair (where I sprayed). I am not a fan of the flat-iron because I already have thinner flat hair and this just makes it worse. I did this process for 6 days straight. (I normally only wash my hair every other day but I wanted to get the final result as soon as possible because it is my 30th birthday and I am going out with my friends for a party tonight.) I find the fragrance of this product pleasant--it smells just like a regular hairspray. There was one time that I think maybe I used a bit too much and it didnt smell great, but it wasnt horrible. (To be fair, I do have a sensitive nose and can smell bad things a mile away.)

Now for the results. I actually saw results on the 1st day. You read that right... the 1st day!!! It had already started blending my "prison roots" into the rest of my hair. I am so excited about this product, I can't even tell you. I dont have to go back to my hair dresser now (for god knows how long). After using this product for 6 days, it looks like I am fresh out of the salon. I probably could have stopped using it after the 5th day, but I figured one more time wouldn't hurt. (The box recommends you can use it for up to 10 uses.)

I was a bit nervous about using the spray for two reasons. First, my hair tends to pull a strawberry color if not done right. (Some of my "old" hairdressers said it wasnt red but golden... yeah right. My hair used to have a strawberry blonde tint... not what I was looking for) Second reason was because I had read mixed results online from random beauty review websites. Then I read some reviews from fellow beauty bloggers and saw a "favorites video" from one of my favorite youtube guru's (TiffanyD. That is the link to the video where she mentions this product... it is around the 9:50 minute mark). She uses the product as well. I was very interested in the product when she mentioned it, but she didn't show her before and after so I wasnt 100% sold yet. What finally sold me was I saw this product being talked about on a beauty segment on The Today Show. It was renowned makeup artist and beauty expert Mickey Williams. After I saw that segment, I went right to my local CVS and bought it. Here is a link to the segment. It is the second product that she talks about. 

My natural hair color is dark blonde/light brown (I think... hehe). I have been coloring and highlighting my hair for so many years and started at such a young age, I cant be 100% sure. I do remember I started coloring my hair because it was a bit mouse-y and had absolutely no shine to it. I think that my roots look horribly dark when they come in, but I am told by my hairdresser that 1st-- it's not that bad and 2nd-- it just looks that way to me because I color my hair a lighter blonde. I can say that my eye brows are so light that I need to tint them or fill them in so they actually show up. And my arm/leg hair is blonde (just in case you were wondering, haha). So I consider myself blonde when people ask. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!)

My hair does not feel dry or damaged in the slightest, which I think can be attributed to the fact that this is a gentle, very gradual lightening process. I also stopped after six applications instead of using ten. (I'm not saying that ten applications would cause damage, but since I only used six, I can't tell you either way if it will damage your hair or not. But I don't think so.) I do have some breakage in the front of my hair, but I dont think that it is from the product. I think that it is from my flat-iron... which is another reason why I stopped using my flat-iron a few years ago. The breakage is not that bad... I can tame it.

One last thing: after using this product six times, the bottle still feels basically full. That's great news considering you only get 3.5 oz of product to begin with. I imagine one bottle will last quite a while since I only had to use it 6 times. Keep in mind I only did my crown area. I have read that some people say that after their first time of using it, they had a little more then half of the bottle left. I am assuming that they did their entire head (not just their crown).

I will be purchasing this product again when mine runs out. I love the fact that I can do this between highlights, if my roots are bothering me, or if I am in a pinch with money (like I am now). If you have tried this product or plan on trying it, please let me know. I want to hear other people's views on it.

Here are my before and after pictures. I really wish that they were better and I am sorry about that. There is a major difference and I hope that you can see it. The first picture you can see there is about 1" of roots and the second picture (which is better quality) there are no roots. (Like I have mentioned numerous times before... my camera really sucks.) I know for now on to use my laptop for close up pictures like this. The lighting is better.

Before

After

Birthday Gift

I got the best birthday gift for my... UGH, 30th birthday. I really hate even writing that number. So lets go with, my 29th and 12 month birthday. hehe! I wanted to share this gift my readers because this has been my dream right hand ring for 3 years. I am so crazy that I used to go "visit" it at Macys (and all the other stores that had it), just to see how pretty it was and try it on. I knew that one day I would buy it... but it was just WAY to much for me just to fork over the money for a right hand ring. Well, I finally got it (and even better, it was given as a gift)!!! This ring is made by LeVian. They have the most gorgeous collections. If you have never seen any of their stuff, you must check it out. But be warned... you will fall in love and it will be a new obsession.
The ring that I am now the official owner of is rose gold (but LeVian calls it strawberry gold... so cute), the center stone is Cotton Candy Amethyst surrounded by diamonds, side stones are Pink Sapphires, and there are more small diamonds in the front and back of the band. I hope that I described that so you understand.

Below I have posted my ring along with detailed pictures. I am so glad that I got the ring when I did because it is newly discontinued. This was my LAST chance to get this ring. And whats even better is that my parents got it for a steal. I know that they got it for more then 60% off the original price, but I dont know the exact price. Doesnt matter... I am wearing the most beautiful right hand ring EVER. Maybe turning, UGH, 29 and 12 months wont be that bad after all. So far I love it. Have a great day beauties. I know I will try, it's my Birf-day! xo

Make your nail polish last longer

I was browsing the internet and read some tips to help keep your nail polish on longer. (Plus a few other random tips that are GREAT.) I know for me personally, my polish lasts a day maybe two days. It is very frustrating because I know with any kind of polish on my nails it helps keep them strong. I have very weak, paper thin nails that bend and peel very easily. I have been struggling with this ever since I had my tips taken off 3/4 years ago. Nothing and mean NOTHING has made them stronger so it is best for me to have some type of polish on them at all times. Here are the tips that I have read about helping to keep your nail polish on longer. Let me know if any of you have actually tried any of these, and if they work or not. I will be trying some of these starting this week.

• Before painting your nails, dip your fingers in cider, or apple vinegar for a few minutes and allow them to dry naturally (do not wipe them dry). The polish will stick to your fingernails and not to the natural oil on the surface of your nails.

• Another method would be to remove all the residue and oil from your nails with soaking your hands in lukewarm, soapy water and scrubbing them slightly with a cloth. The nail polish will be applied on a clean and dry surface.

• Tip for yellowed nails: You can also soak your nails in lemon juice for about 8-10 minutes, it will instantly brighten your nails and banish yellowness.

• Apply your nail polish in thin coats (applied in thick layers, your polish will will only peel). Let these layers dry naturally, give some time for coats to adhere to your nails.

• The applied top coat can be hardened - after finishing your nail polishing soak your hands into cold water for several minutes. (I love this tip... I am totally trying this one today!!)

• You can also increase the life of the nail polish, if you apply a thin coat of topcoat every day. (I have tried this and it seemed to peel anyhow... but maybe what I consider a thin coat really isnt thin.)

• The texture of a nail polish can totally change if you don't keep it in a cool place - preferably in the refrigerator. This will lengthen their life span. (Cool idea... literally, haha.)

• Interesting!!! Shaking the nail polish bottle is forbidden you're only make it full of air bubbles - instead, roll it between your palms.

• Last but not least.... Moisturize your hands daily in order to prevent the nail polish from cracking, if your hands are dry, polish is prone to deteriorating. If you wish you can use olive oil as a moisturizer.

I hope that some of you get to try these tips or have tried them. I am looking forward to hearing any other tips, or if you have tried any of the ones that I posted. Have a wonderful day my beauties!

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure

I found THE BEST loose sparkle powder. It is called Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity in "Pure". This sparkle powder comes in 3 different colors: Pure, Gold, and Bronze. It was a very hard decision on which one to buy because they were all so beautiful and sparkly. I have been in search of the perfect powder or eyeshadow for my eyes that has just enough sparkle. This is it! This also comes in a shimmer dust for your body and hair that has an atomizer that disperses the sparkle evenly. I chose not to buy the shimmer dust because I figured that I could add the loose sparkle powder to my body lotion and get body sparkle that way if I really wanted it.

Now back to the loose sparkle powder. It looks pink in the container but when you apply it to your skin, it is just a white crystal sparkle. This can be added over any eyeshadow color to give it that "POP" that you were looking for. You can also use it to highlight your brow bone. I did use it, lightly, on my cheek bone as a highlight and it was very pretty. But I think that some people might think its too much sparkle. Personally, I dont mind it. I actually love it.

Another great thing about this product is that there is not much fall out. I noticed that after I put it on my eyelids it actually stayed put without an adhesive or wetting it. I am glad that I tried it first before adding my Hard Candy Glitter Glue. I do like that glue, but I would rather not use it if I didnt have too.

I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for sparkle or just loves sparkle like me. I purchased this at Sephora for $19.00. I think that this price is a steal because I can see this jar lasting me a long time. A little goes a long way.