Monthly Archives: August 2012

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow Pencil vs. Milani Shadow Eyez

I originally purchased the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil Stash during the 2011 Holiday Season. I loved this set so much I ended up purchasing another when it was on clearance.  I use these pencils with eyeshadow primer whenever it’s humid where I live.  On days when there is less humidity I apply the shadow pencils without primer and the color stays until I remove my makeup.  Got more than 12 hour wear from these pencils. I’ve used the 24/7 shadow pencils by themselves, as a liner and an eyeshadow base.  The regular size pencils are $20.00 each and come in 12 colors.

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Recently I purchased the Milani Shadow Eyez 12 HR Pencil. I purchased two pencils at CVS for $6.79.  I tested the Shadow Eyez pencils without primer and the pencils less than 8 hours.  With eyeshadow primer the Shadow Eyez pencils last all day. The Milani Shadow Eyez 12 HR Pencil normally retails for $6.99 and is available in 6 colors.

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ImageUrban Decay Sin on the left, Milani Champagne on the right.

ImageUrban Decay Clash on the left, Milani Aqua Blue on the right.

I still love the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils.  I admit $20.00 is a bit much to pay, but their long wear and choice in colors is worth it to me. I will still refer back to the Milani Shadow Eye 12 HR Pencil for the two shades I swatched.

August Myglam Bag

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August Birchbox

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Final thoughts: July Myglam Bag and July Birchbox

July was the third month I received a Myglam Bag and a Birchbox.

The theme of July’s Myglam bag was Beach Beauty. My bag consisted of:

  1. Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer – sample
  2. NUME HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner – sample
  3. Yes to Cucumbers On-The-Go Facial Towelettes – pack of 10 towelettes
  4. Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish – deluxe sample in Sugar
  5. Circus by Andrea’s Choice Nail Color in Somersault – full size

The July Myglam Bag was another winner for me. The Green Apple Moisturizer was very lightweight. That was especially important for me considering the Summer in my area has been hot and humid. The Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes did a good job of removing my makeup and didn’t leave an oily residue behind. The Circus Nail Polish I received was a beautiful pastel yellow shade. My favorite beauty item in July’s Myglam Bag was the Buxom Lip Polish in Sugar. This shade looks great on everyone. It’s a shade you can wear everyday.

The theme for July’s Birchbox was the five senses. My box consisted of:

  1. Alterna BAMBOO UV + Color Protection Fade-Proof Fluide – sample
  2. Color Club Nail Polish in Blue-Ming – mini size
  3. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Purple – full size
  4. Harvey Prince Eau Flirt – sample
  5. LARABAR uber – snack size sample
  6. Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds

When I opened July’s Birchbox the first thing that caught my eye was the earbuds. They must really be good headphones because my youngest daughter has them now. I was also happy to see the Eyeko Eyeliner. I had to hide the eyeliner from my oldest daughter since purple is her favorite color. The Eyeko Eyeliner glides on so smoothly with the felt tip applicator. The Color Club mini nail polish in Blue Ming was also a winner. I got so many compliments when I wore that color. I also had to remind my youngest to give the nail polish back to me. The eyeliner and the nail polish were my favorite beauty items in the July Birchbox. The Eyeko Eyeliner is long wearing and a great alternative to wearing the basic black eyeliner.

Nail Design for August

Here is my youngest daughter’s nail design for the month of August.

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This is what she used:

China Glaze

Flying Dragon (Neon)

Beach Cruise-R

Purple Panic (Neon)

Poinsettia

Surfin For Boys

Flirty Tankini

Japanese Koi (Neon)

Sun Worshiper

Fast Forward Top Coat

OPI

Ogre The Top Blue

Fly (Nicki Minaj Collection)

Need Sunglasses?

Finger Paints

15 Minutes of Frame

Wet n’ Wild Fast Dry

Ebony Hates Chris

Kiss Brush On Nail Art

Silver

Revlon Nail Art

White

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Becoming a Fan of NARS Cosmetics

I am starting to become a fan of NARS cosmetics. The main thing holding me back from trying NARS was the price. The couple of makeup purchases I have made I’ve been extremely happy with.  My first NARS purchase was actually his book, Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself.  This book features women and men of different age, races, skin tones. The book shows the before and after photos which include the instructional sketches on transparent overlays. This book also gives you a list of the NARS products what were used in the makeover. If you can’t afford the products used descriptions of the colors are provided. Makeup Your Mind:  Express Yourself is available at Barnes & Noble and amazon.com.

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The second NARS item I bought was the Taj Mahal blush. I saw a review of this blush from another Beauty Blogger (thank you Erin of Scandalous Beauty). This blush is described as blazing burnt orange with golden shimmer. I must say this color gives me a nice healthy glow especially since I have a dark complexion. Taj Mahal blush retails for $28.00 and is available at NARS counters and http://www.narscosmetics.com

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The last item I purchased was the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer from NARS. I always wanted to wear a tinted moisturizer. I could never find the right shade until now. Other brands were too light for my complexion. The NARS shade I have is Martinique. The tinted moisturizer is lightweight and does a great job of evening out my skin. I still have to use a little concealer on the blemishes, but it’s nothing major. The Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer retails for $42.00 and can be purchased at Sephora, NARS counters and http://www.narscosmetics.com

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Image Me wearing the tinted moisturizer in Martinique and Taj Mahal blush.

It’s a serious commitment to spend a lot of money on any beauty product. I can honestly say I’ve gotten my money’s worth with these purchases from NARS.