Coastal Scents 'Fusion' Lip Gloss Swatch and Review

Here is a swatch of 'Fusion' by Coastal Scents, I threw this color in when I ordered the Camo Quad that they just came out with (review here.)

Overall, I really wish this gloss was more pigmented that it is, I have these glosses in a few other colors (Strunt on Nude, Monroe A Go Go, Mega Mauve & Near Peach) and I think that it their only downfall. They are much more sheer that they appear that they would be in the tube. I like that this is 'wearable' but I was keeping my fingers crossed for something that would really pop when I put it on.

Pros - Easy application, small/easy to fit in a pocket, purse or bag, affordable (they lowered the price since they first came out!), variety of pinks, nudes and peaches; not sticky, smooth feeling on the lips.

Cons - Not nearly pigmented enough, especially with the lip trends going on right now, the brush/cap can feel cheap (bristles stick out funny) and the stopper can pop out and get stuck in the cap - resulting in a messy situation. Be careful when you first open to see if you got one that is going to come apart!


What are your favorite lip glosses, lipsticks, etc.? Which ones have the pigmentation you have been looking for?

Coastal Scents Camo Quad (Concealer) Swatches & Review

This is the new Camo Quad that just came out and is available at Coastal Scents. It is a good size compact, fits in the palm of the hand. Anything to help with dark circles and dullness is something that I am definitely interested in! You can get similar palettes from lines like Ben Nye, Makeup Forever, etc. but this is a more affordable choice for the average buyer.

According to Coastal Scents:

4 primary corrector shades: cream color correctors: Apply to clean and moisturized skin prior to using foundation; can be used on any area of external skin with imperfections.

• Mint Green - use to cover rosacea or red skin conditions; mint neutralizes redness; great for broken capillaries around the sides of the nose and cheeks.
• Yellow - used to cover and hide black, blue or purple imperfections of the skin such as blemishes.
• Lavender - use to even out skin tones such as too much yellow; correcting olive skin/ offers an overall balanced finish and healthy glow.
• Sky Blue - counteracts orange tones caused from uneven or too much tanning/self tanners/sun; neutralizes dark circles.

Pros: Nice/buildable coverage, applies smoothly, affordable palette (about $8!), multitude of corrective concealer choices to cover a wide-range of skin issues, good size - will last a long time, foundation applies easily over the top of it, clear lid so you can see what's inside.

Cons: Cream concealer may be too much coverage for those not used to wearing a lot of product on their skin, will take some practice for people not used to using concealers that don't match their skin tone.

Overall, I think this is an excellent correcting/concealer set. It's affordable, a nice size and the coverage is what I have been looking for. I can't wait to reach for this on the mornings when I need that extra help to appear "fresh-faced."

'Too Faced Starry-Eyed Mini Glitter Eyeliner' Swatches & Review

I really like the idea of glittery items like this being sold in smaller containers because I can never use up an entire full size container if I have one. That is why I think this Starry-Eyed Eyeliner set from Too Faced Cosmetics was a wonderful find for me. This was a set that was sold last year around Christmas time, you can still get these colors by themselves in their full-size versions so I figured swatches would be good for all to see!


Colors Include:

• Super Freak (hot pink and rainbow glitter)
• Ooh & Aah (black and silver glitter)
• Stalkerazzi (brown glitter)
• Mad Mad Love (light pink glitter)

Overall, I think these are great glitter eyeliners. The brush can be a bit weird on them, it would be nice if it was even thinner for more precise application. The color payoff is fantastic!

Pros - fun, bright colors that can be applied in a subdued manner or with a heavy hand for extra attention, stay on well without flaking, apply easily and smoothly.

Cons - sometimes my eyes are sensitive to these liners and feel a bit dry and itchy there the liner is applied (important note to those with sensitive skin/eyes), can be hard to wash off, sometimes hard to get enough product on the brush due to the shape of the container.

Keep an eye out for this gift set to still be available some places, it's well worth the price and the set was being sold everywhere last year, you never know who might still have a set or two lying around!

Modcloth Octopus Necklace & A StudioHalo 'Heart' Necklace

I wanted to share two of my favorite necklaces (at the moment) with you:

This first one, my octopus necklace, which you can get on Modcloth. I just really love the look of this one. I opted to get the bronze/gold one instead of the silver because I wanted to make sure you could see the contrast of the detail on the tentacles, eyes, etc. and looking at the pictures on the site, it just didn't seem like you really could on the silver one. This necklace has a good weight to it and feels like it will last for awhile. I have gotten a ton of compliments on it and I think it really spices up a look. I highly suggest it!

My second necklace I received as a Christmas present this last year. It's an heart cut out of acrylic and is lasered engraved to show the veins and arteries. I think this is a stunning necklace. It's a fairly large size (approximately 2-1/2" x 3-1/2") so it can really be worn as a 'show piece' that speaks for itself. The color ranges while worn from being a vibrant red to a more dark, subdued red. It's hard to capture on film.

Since this rests against the skin and is large, it can feel kind of warm so I like to wear it in the Winter more than Summer or when it's warm out. Otherwise, it can feel a little uncomfortable rubbing against my skin. Other than that, I think it's a beautiful piece of jewelry!

I haven't been able to find this necklace anywhere online but I think I might have found the Etsy seller that this necklace was bought from. The seller is StudioHalo. It looks like this seller has taken a break but I am sure with enough encouragement from perspective buyers, they would get back into business soon!

Sephora 'Nail Patch' Long Wear Nail Stickers

The color that I chose is #502: Black Strass (available from Sephora, I picked these up in the store - other colors are available online).

Eek! I really don't recommend these nail stickers. They are a pain to put on, even if they do apply quickly. They don't tear off easily at the tips after you stick them on, so you can see that I already having 'chipping' when I haven't even worn these stickers for an hour yet! The stickers also don't fit my nails properly and I don't think I have abnormally tiny fingers/fingernails. If you look at my thumb you can see how ill-fitting they are.

Pros - Nice not to have to wait for polish to dry, I think this Black Strass is a nice, glittery color that isn't too flashy but gives me a little pop in what I have on my nails.

Cons - Poor fit, hard to find ones in the package that fit well, hard to get even two uses out of one package (not cost effective), don't tear off easily which can leave jagged edges at the tips, there aren't many color options both in-store and online.

Overall, I don't think anyone should buy these except for the convenience that they give. If anyone is going to be looking closely at your nails, do not reach for these. They won't give you a clean look unless you happen to be a whiz with them. If they fit better and tore off smoothly at the tips then I would be all for them but until that happens, I think I'll stick with regular bottles of nail polish.

Benefit 'Eyecon' Eye Cream

I started using this eye cream about a month ago. I have been trying to be good about moisturizing my skin regularly and I have started to get an interest in using something other than just a regular moisturizer with SPF (I use Oil of Olay every morning). When I saw that this cream was supposed to help with under eye circles, I was intrigued. I perceive my under eye circles to be worse than they probably are but nonetheless, I still think that under eye circles are something that both men and women deal with. 'If I can use a cream to fade them or at least help them, why not?' I thought.

Well, this cream doesn't do anything it claims, it doesn't fade or make under eye circles appear any different than they normally do. I didn't notice any change other than a nice, moist eye area from putting this cream on every morning and night for the past month.

Pros - moisturizes eye area, absorbs into skin quickly, light feeling, hardly any scent.

Cons - expensive for the amount you get, even if it does last for a long time. Does not fade dark circles, reduce puffiness, etc. I don't think it doesn't anything it claims except moisturize.

Here's a picture from when I first started using the cream a month ago:
Here is a picture from this morning.

See? Hardly any difference. Don't waste your money on this one. It's moisturizing and that's nice but it doesn't do anything to fade dark circles or aid the eye area is any other way. I think if you are looking for a moisturizing eye cream, there are a lot of different and probably better choices. As of right now, I think Benefit should stick with the cosmetics and not go into lotions, creams or other regimens.

Do you have any suggestions for an eye cream? I'd love to hear what you use and love!

Avon 'Planet Spa' Hawaiian Thermal Volcano Warming Face Mask

I am a big fan of face masks and I have to say that this is one of the most interesting face masks that I own.

First off, it's almost like it's not even a face mask, more like a super, creamy face wash that heats when rubbed or in contact with water. This mask doesn't dry like traditional clay or 'gel' masks that you peel or rinse off. It stays more tacky and sticky to the touch but you can feel it opening your pores and working to stimulate the facial skin (or wherever you apply it). It has macadamia nut oil, which leaves my skin feeling moisturized and smooth.

Pros - Warming, feels like it increases circulation, relaxing, nice/soothing scent (not overpowering), washes clean, affordable, one bottle lasts a long time, moisturizing, smoothing.

Cons - Gets really warm when rubbed or when water touches it, could be very shocking or uncomfortable for some. The exfoliating particles might annoy those with sensitive skin, due to the fact that the pores are being opened by the warmth.

In the directions, it says to use this mask once daily but I think that's far too much, once a week would be better.

Overall, I really recommend this to people that like face masks and don't have incredibly sensitive skin (I think the combined heat and exfoliation would be too much for that skin type). I like that it's not a traditional face mask and that it is a twist on what we have come to expect from them.

Avon doesn't send this anymore but you can still get it from people who are selling it on eBay or other sites. Give it a chance!

What face masks do you suggest or recommend? Any favorites or secret recipes?

Eyeko Concealer, Highlighting Pen and Tinted Creme

I figured I would give you my opinion on all three of these products at once, since you can get them in a special value set right now (which means less money!) - it is available here!

Larissa at Eyeko was nice enough to send these products for me to review - thank you very much, Larissa! (I was SO excited to get them, especially the Highlighting pen).


Touch and Glow Highlighter - This is my favorite item out of the three. This easy to use pen can be used with just a few twists and you have all the product that you need and it is ready to go. Just apply it to your brow bone, the inner corners of your eyes, the tops of your cheeks, wherever you want their to be a glint of shimmer. I think that this would work on almost all skin tones and would provide the shimmer (or glow) you are looking for without being too glittery. I cannot think of any cons with this product, I think it is well worth the money and "cute" to boot! I already find myself reaching for it every morning!

Touch and Go Concealer - I'm really disappointed that Eyeko doesn't offer this concealer in a variety of shades. Having a generic skin tone color does not work for a majority of people. For me, this concealer is too dark/too yellow and doesn't do anything to offset the bluish undereye circles that I try to cover. On top of being too dark, I don't think it offers enough coverage as a concealer. I think it's more like a tinting that occurs rather than giving coverage.

I would not buy this, it's not worth the money, and I don't think the majority of people would find it useful to conceal undereye circles or anything needing 'heavy' coverage. The pros of this product would be that it is cute, portable and isn't at all messy when you are using it. Overall, If you're lucky enough to have a medium skin tone, with yellow undertones, then give this a try, it might work for you.


Eyeko Tinted Cream - Bronzing or tinting cream is not something I would normally buy. I don't tan (I wear sunscreen all the time) and personally, it's not the aesthetic that I am normally wanting for myself. Nonetheless, I do admire a sun kissed glow on other people and for that I think this cream is great. As you can see in the picture below, it's a dark, golden, copper color. I feel that when used sparingly (very sparingly), it does give off an excellent, youthful "glow" that so many people are after.

I also love that this cream is infused with jojoba oil and infused with vitamins. I feel that if you want a sun kissed look, it is much better to go after it through creams and tints like this rather than going to the tanning booth or sitting outside. It's so important to protect yourself from the sun!

Overall, this cream is an excellent value, the container is fairly large, with a screw-on lid, which allows you to bring it with you without worrying about it spilling or exploding all over your bag. Definitely order it if you like a tanned/bronzed look and want to nourish your skin at the same time!

Remember, Eyeko offers FREE shipping on all orders. If you order, use the Code: E4321 - you'll get a free gift!

Blasphemous Girl Designs, The †[Blasfemary]† Ring, Necklace & Oil Set

I got my order from Tairrie B. of Blasphemous Girl Designs in the mail a few days ago. Check out her store here!

Let me just start off by saying, 'yes! This is exactly what I have been waiting for!' From the moment I removed the envelope from my mailbox, I was in surrounded with the smell of the perfume that only Tairrie B. can create. I kept smelling the envelope all day long at work, just to make the anticipation of opening it when I got home that much better! I think that the cost of this package is almost worth it for the oil alone (which is notoriously hard to get ahold of, as she makes the vials/sets in limited quantities).

According to the description on her store site, the perfume has a secret recipe which contains the following:

Without giving away my secret I will say it captures the
essence of a sugary french vanilla birthday cake drenched in angel, dipped in
bergamot with a hint of nutmeg, a pinch of amaretto, a side of chocolate covered
cherries and a touch of Tairrie.

And I will say this - it is TRULY delightful and wonderful to be the owner of it.

The jewelry and other pieces that came in the package aid in creating the atmosphere that the perfume evokes. I think one could almost say that the pieces are created around the perfume, that is how much I think the perfume/oil can stand on it's own. I know for certain that when I wear these pieces, I will be proud of my purchase and feel fulfilled in what I ordered from her. I only hope that I have the willpower to not use the oil too fast because I don't know when I will be able to pick myself up some more!

Pictures of me wearing the jewelry soon to come!

Please be sure to check out her blog as well as her storefront!

Coastal Scents 'Gel Liner' Swatches

Coastal Scents gel liner's, Black and Deep Plum. I love Deep Plum and I don't wear it enough, I think it would be great to try as an eyeshadow base. Both are vibrant and true to color and apply cleanly and smoothly. They are shown here on clean skin, no base. My only complaint is that the black can be somewhat staining to the skin, but you just have to be careful while washing to make sure to thoroughly remove everything.

I highly recommend these liners! They are affordable, a lot comes in the container and they last forever both in application and wear! Coastal Scents offers a wonderful selection of colors, many of which I still want to get!

You can find these liners on CoastalScents.com. Tell me, what gel/creme liners do you like? Any suggestions that will help me create that perfect cat eye?

"Agent Provocateur: A Celebration of Femininity" Book Review

Agent Provocateur: A Celebration of Femininity by Joseph Corre & Serena Rees

I have a different edition of this book but I can't seem to find a picture of it right now. If you are into depictions of female sexuality through clothing (or the lack thereof), I think this is an intensely inspirational book. The collection of photographs that it holds is fantastic. Bright, bold, colorful, professional photographs, both of people you may know and people you may not. All laced throughout some interesting text discussing various facets of lingerie fashion, women's sexuality, etc.

I truly love that it portrays women are both "socially/traditionally" beautiful as well other portrayals of women. Not everyone is stick thin in this book and that is refreshing, considering we normally never see that in the average lingerie catalogue,etc. I like looking at the lingerie, the hairstyling and cosmetic looks used in the styled shoots, it's all there

I don't own anything by Agent Provocateur but I love looking at their lingerie, I think they have fun with it and anyone who is into lingerie gets what they are doing. The price ranges for the line might be geared more towards the "rich and famous" but I think anyone can walk away from looking at their inspirational photographs, window displays, etc. and feel fulfilled on some level of enjoyment.

I'm not saying that everyone should go out and spend hundreds of dollars on lingerie that they can't afford. I am saying that it doesn't hurt to do some "window shopping" online and daydream about what you would get if you could. And if you can get your hands on a used copy of Agent Provocateur: A Celebration of Femininity, I say go ahead and get it. It's fun to look through and get inspired by.

Do you own any other books by Agent Provocateur? How do they compare to how I feel about this book?

Avon 'Moisture Effective Eye Makeup Remover Lotion' Review

Avon's eye makeup remover is an excellent and affordable solution to removing stubborn cosmetics. I am thoroughly impressed with it's ability to remove waterproof mascara and eyeliner (cosmetics that I wear often).

All you need if a little bit dabbed onto a cottonball and it's able to remove everything that a normal facewash might not be able to. A second swipe over the eyes with a clean cottonball will remove anything that the product soaked one might have left behind.

Pros - effective, affordable (about $4 - watch for sales, I think I picked mine up for like 99 cents), only need a small amount of product, clean/fresh smelling, lightweight feel on the skin (feels like lotion), it isn't oily like some makeup removers, bottle lasts forever!

Cons - Leaves a very light residue (which I just remove with a splash of water at the end of my routine), other than that, the only thing I can think of is that it is inconvenient to have to pay shipping on items like this (makes them more expensive than they should be), so get on Avon's email list - they are always sending out free shippng codes, deals, etc.

'Heavenly Naturals Eyeshadow' Swatches

Here are some swatches for your viewing/shopping enjoyment!

You can get these eyeshadows on Heavenly Natural Beauty.

All swatches are over 'Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner,' which I received a generous sample tube of at Sephora! (See product info on Sephora).

I like these shadows, I think they have great pigmentation and staying power. I also think that the website offers a great variety of colors to satisfy every kind of person.

'Eyeko Face Off Wipes' Review

Eyeko Face Off Wipes were on of the first things that caught my eye when I went to Eyeko's website. I was intrigued by the immensely 'cute' packaging and the idea of being able to tote around a little makeup wipe that not only works well but is not something your 'ashamed' to pull from your makeup bag.

*Pros - Attractive packaging, extremely portable, affordable (8 US dollars or £5 for twenty wipes), removes foundation and powdered makeup easily, brings to mind the idea that there can be a certain aesthetic in what you surround yourself with (I think it can really affect your mood).

*Cons - It would be nice if they were more moist, I found they lost the wetness they have sort of quickly, which makes it hard to remove eyeliner, mascara, etc. Also, the portable packaging is nice but bad for the environment. I think it would be even better if the packaging was "green" and biodegradable.

Overall, I think these wipes are great for a person who doesn't wear too much heavy or waterproof eyeliner, mascara, etc. I wear those cosmetics everyday, so these are something I probably won't be buying again. I also won't be using them up too quickly due to their extreme cuteness so I will be able to show them off for some time to come!