Product Review: Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeshadow

I'm super excited that I can bring you a review of these products. I've been a long fan of the Physician's Formula line as they are more focused on hypoallergenic, good-for-you products with an organic twist. I happened to be perusing through the makeup section of Ross Dress for Less the other day and I found a mind-blowing deal. It was definitely not a fluke and they had many of these kits laying around, but the originally $10/each Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeshadow sets were selling for $7.99 for a 3-pack!!! I know! It was a $23 savings!

Since I had been itching to try these anyways, I immediately scooped up the set that seemed the most colorful and fun to me. Now, I'm not going to lie, they're billed as Eyeshadow and Liner 2-in-1, but since absolutely any eyeshadow can be used wet as a more intense color or as an eyeliner, I'll only be reviewing them for their eyeshadow properties. You can, certainly, use these wet for a more intense color (as you can with any other eyeshadow you may own from any other brand). 

Each 9-color Shimmer Strips pack comes with an applicator with an angled liner sponge. As with every other brush that "comes with" drugstore eyeshadows, although they are better than most eyeshadow applicators, these are not particularly adept at lining eyes or eyeshadow placement and you'll want to use your own set instead.

Now, I don't have blue eyes, but they didn't have anymore of the "brown eye" sets and even if they did, I probably still would have chosen the blue. Regardless, you don't *have* to wear the colors they suggest, depending on how you wear them, any shade can look great on all eye pigmentations. This set looked the most varied and fun!

Enhance Blue Eyes - Smokey Collection

The first kit is a Blue Eyes set from the Smokey Eyes Collection and the swatches came out decently.

I did notice and you can tell by the swatch, the dark grays (the one in the middle and the one on the bottom) look almost identical, and the second-to-last color was only about half a shade lighter).

I think this set could have used some more variety. I do appreciate the inclusion of a slightly purple navy as the third color down.

This one was definitely a splurge at the original $10 price tag, but for the $2.66 I paid for it, I was more than pleased. The size of these is small and they are lightweight so you can easily travel with them. For an on-the-go set, these colors are creamy (the darker ones tend to be a little more chalky) and very easy to work with and blend.

Enhance Blue Eyes - Eye Candy Collection

Now, I know what you're thinking, this set looks extremely repetitive in terms of shades (blues, blues and more blues). However, the colors are more varied than they appear.

The first trio of blues are more green-hued and I definitely appreciate the inclusion of these in the set. However, I definitely bought this for the cherry red color. Which is superbly pigmented and swatches exactly the same way it looks in the palette. I'm excited to use it and I'm very grateful that they included one of the larger sized rectangles full of that color!

You get a lot of product in these palettes and truth be told, the color payoff is very good, I really only had to run my finger through the color once or twice and get those very vibrant swatches. Unlike the previous set, this darker colors in this set were not chalky but very smooth, the quality was very high, on par with much more expensive companies like Urban Decay and Mac Cosmetics.

Fashionista En Vogue

This palette is my favorite of the trio. Mostly this is because of my love for purple eyeshadow, but also because there is a brow/highlighter color that is very wearable as the first shade in this palette. There is also no recommendation as to which eye color these shades are for, so they must be for any eyes.

Let me also state the obvious and that the golden neon green is another reason why I was drawn into this set set like a moth to a flame. I actually wore this as my eyelid color yesterday and it had extremely long lasting power (I even used it without a primer) and only came off when I scrubbed and washed it.

Each of the colors in this set is unique and there isn't shade overlap as with the previous 2 sets. Out of the three, I think this set is the only one I would actually pay the full asking price of $10 for. The colors are highly pigmented and there is a good variety of looks you can achieve, from light to dark. You can put together a sweet look or a smokey look with this palette, I think the possibilities are endless.

In conclusion, I would definitely look out for these if they're on sale at your local drugstore or at a discount store (such as Ross, TJ Maxx or Marshall's). I think rhe colors really have to be a good mix to pay the full asking price, but for the insanely awesome price of $2.66 each, I would easily pick up the whole collection of these. I think they're easy to work with, great for travel, a good variety of shades, and my only real problem with them is that you do have to pay attention when you're rubbing your brush or finger in the colors because it's easy to accidentally pick up more than just one shade. For this reason, I suggest using a medium sized eyeshadow brush for application, and maybe a thin blending brush for some of the smaller rectangles of color. I have seen rave reviews about the "Nude" colored set of shimmer strips and I'll link it below.

All in all, I give this product a very respectable 7.9/10 for the drugstore!

E.L.F. is Having a Treasure Hunt (Discounted Items Inside)

E.L.F. is having their Hallowe'en Treasure hunt for 2 days. It's basically an Easter egg hunt for makeup. You can only find out what's discounted if you click on all of the categories of makeup they offer. So I've gone and done it for you. Here's what they've got (with links and discount info below):

Mineral Blemish Kit $3.60 (originally$5.00)

Studio Kabuki Face Brush $4.60 (originally $6.00) - this brush is amazing for all-over foundation coverage

Studio Shimmer Palette $1.80 (originally $3.00)

Studio Shimmer Sheets $1.20 (originally $3.00)

Essential 3-piece nail polish set (only in the set featuring the colors purple gray and navy) $1.80 (originally $3.00)

Various Eyeshadow Palettes and Brush Set

Essential Primer Eyeshadow $1.20 (originally $2.00)

Essential Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick $1.20 (originally $2.00) only in the color Rock Out


Here's another coupon code - ECS50F : Save 50% Off Your Studio Line Purchase Of $20 Or More. Plus, Get Free Shipping When You Spend $35. For First Time Buyers. Limited time offer.


I do have to warn all my fine readers that these deals can last for certain hours only, so even though you  may see more codes elsewhere (and even on here) they might not work during the sale for more than a couple of hours. This was stated on ELF's Facebook page. For example, the Studio Matte Eyeshadow was on sale for $1.65 from $3.00 but when I clicked on it, the price was still the full price.

Happy shopping, everyone!

DIY Beauty Hacks All Girls Should Know

1. Use a light-colored frost eye shadow to create luscious 3D lips. Or use a different eyeshadow color for more depth and an ombre effect.

2. Use Elmer's Glue to remove blackheads just like the Pore Strips only much cheaper. Use it only on your nose or on your entire face (avoid your eyes, nostrils and mouth). Apply gauze before the glue is dry for easier removal of the glue, otherwise just peel or rub it off.

http://midwestmodernmomma.com/no-more-expensive-pore-strips-for-me/

3. Use Elmer's Glue as a nail polish base for easy to remove glitter manicures. All you have to do is peel from the side! This manicure can last up to 2 weeks.

4. Apply one coat of Elmer's Glue on your cuticles and around your nail and let it dry, then apply your nail polish. Remove the glue by peeling it off and it will give you the perfect manicure.

5. Twist your hair into two pieces and then twist them around each other. Hold the ends down and run a flat iron over them slowly up and down in the direction of the swirls. The end result will be soft waves.

6. Basics of eyeshadow application: 1 and 2 should be your lightest color. 4 should be your next lightest tone applied to the eyelid, 3 should be a darker mid-tone shade which goes into the crease. 5 should be the darkest color, applied in an outer v-shape to define the shape of your eye.

7. Use a light shade of shimmer eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eyes for a refreshed and bright appearance.

8. Use a rubber band to fix your french manicure.

http://paperraindrops.blogspot.com/2012/02/french-manicure-cheat.html

9. Know where to apply perfume so it lasts all day:

10.  Make your own perfect, custom BB cream.

http://beautyvancouver.com/2013/07/02/d-i-y-bb-cream/

11.  The perfect eyeshadow colors for your eye color.

12. Turn any eyeliner into a gel eyeliner. This also works for turning lip pencils into lip gloss.

13. Use white eyeliner or base all over your eyelids to make any eyeshadow color pop with brightness. Use black eyeliner or base all over to make colors more intense and smokey.

14. To cover up dark circles, apply concealer in a triangle under your eyes. Orange shades of concealer will combat blue undertones of dark circles.

15. Apply concealer, paint pots, eyeshadow base, or Maybelline's Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows as a base under your powder eyeshadow to achieve a more professional look and more staying power.

16. Want plumper lips? Add Peppermint essential oil to your favorite lip gloss to get those bee-stung lips without having to pay a high price!

17.  To make your lipstick last all day, remember to "set" it by blotting off excess product with a napkin and then dusting translucent powder over your lips with a large fluffy brush.

18. Make your eyelashes longer and more full with baby powder. Use a clean mascara spoolie to grab some baby powder, shake off the excess and then comb it through your lashes. Apply your mascara and your lashes will appear thicker and longer!

19. Do you need to tame your eyebrows? Use a clean mascara spoolie (can be from an old mascara you used up) and dab it into petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel. Then run it through your eyebrows for a clean, tamed look that will last all day.

20. To make your red lipstick last all day and to avoid bleeding, line your lips with a matching color of lip liner. To achieve the most natural look, rub the lip liner all over your lips rather than just around the edges.

21. To get the perfect ballerina bun, use a bun filler from any store or make one of our a sock that you cut the toes off of. Roll the sock around itself to create a donut.

22. To get rid of split ends twist your hair around itself and cut off the pieces that are sticking out.

http://www.diyncrafts.com/3312/fashion/40-diy-beauty-hacks-borderline-genius/12

23. Out of dry shampoo? No problem, make your own with this simple recipe.

http://bridebird.com/how-to-create-your-own-dry-shampoo/

24. Turn Kool-Aid into a lipstain.

25. Contour your face to add dimension and thin out your features by using this simple guide.

http://blog.spaboutique.ca/tag/jane-iredale/

26. Creating the perfect cat-eye with eye liner.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/116178865360397704/

27. Make your own lip scrub/exfoliator.

http://theberry.com/2012/10/11/just-a-few-beauty-tips-6-photos/beaty-tips-1/

28. How to do an easy flawless french manicure with paper hole protectors.

http://www.popcosmo.com/2012/05/04/how-to-do-a-french-manicure-effortlessly/

29. Achieve a polka dot manicure using a band aid.

http://thebeautythesis.com/2012/11/13/polka-dot-nails-using-a-band-aid-why-didnt-i-think-of-this/

30. Check your makeup in the sunlight. The daylight will expose any mistakes you may have made in an unnaturally lit room.

31. When applying eyeshadow use at least 3 brushes to keep your look from becoming one-tone and muddy.

http://blush-berry.blogspot.com/2008/09/basic-makeup-set.html

32. Use visine to tone down the redness of pimples.

Wikihow

Product Review: Wild Carrot Herbals Wild Rose Eye Cream

Wild Carrot Herbals is a small, family owned company from Enterprise, Oregon. I'd never heard of this brand until I went to the Pearl District Whole Foods in Portland while on our trip.

I was looking for an "affordable" yet organic eye cream to wear at night - since I have all my other creams in storage, I really needed something to tide me over.

The packaging really drew my eye, it looked wholesome, organic, like a little drum full of vitality. It also had the smell of roses, which reminds me of my grandmother since many cosmetics from Europe back in the day featured the essence of Rose. This was only $9.99 for 0.5 fl oz so I figured I'd give it a shot. I know I could buy cheaper creams from Target but they were full of chemicals, and I really did want to give organic a shot. I appreciate that the expiry date (which is about a year in the future from when I purchased it) is labeled on the outside of the drum and on the outside of the product for maximum visibility. It's super important not to smother your skin in creams that are expired, that way you could actually be doing more harm than good to your skin.

So did this product actually work? Yes, yes, emphatically yes. My eyes feel smooth, soft and some of the fine lines and wrinkles are not as apparent when I wake up in the morning after applying this at night. That being said, I am a 26 year old and I do notice some fine lines appearing and they are exacerbated by dry, cold weather. This cream really limits and even reverses the damage done to my skin, it leaves my eyes feeling soft, rested, and my makeup looks much more flattering on smooth lids rather than flaky, dry ones. As you can see in the photo, the formula is smooth, creamy, and the smell of roses is pleasant and not overwhelming. The cream easily blend into the skin and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy, it also glides on very easily so you don't have to tug at your eye area. There was absolutely no irritation and a very small amount goes a long way. After using this cream for 2 weeks, I can say I've barely made a dent in how much there is. So although the bottle may appear small, it's definitely deceiving since you use such a tiny amount!

I went on a beauty hunt through the Wild Carrot website and I found this beautiful set called "A Bunch of Roses" which features the Wild Rose Eye Cream, grapefruit rose lip balm (oh my lord, I love grapefruits, too!) and unrepentant rose soap. I'm going to gift myself this set when my wild rose eye cream runs out! I think this would make a beautiful present for any special lady in your life.

Next I'm interested in trying the Luminous Lemon and Lavender Eye Brightening Cream since I know that Lemon has natural bleaching properties, this sounds like a product I could easily get behind.

You can purchase any of these items on the Wild Carrot Herbals website or on eBay.

How to Get the Barbie High Ponytail

I've always wanted to get my hair to look voluminous and have a high ponytail but it never seemed to work out and my hair would always flop down into a sad, droopy donkey's tail. There's a quick and easy way to achieve that dramatic volume without much work at all! All you're going to need for this very simple tutorial is two no-damage elastics of your choice (I prefer to use ones that won't tug my hair out when it's time to take them out) but you may want to choose ones which are close to your hair color. You're also going to need a teasing comb, or if you don't have a comb, a brush will work fine as well, you just will not be able to back comb your hair for extra volume.

Here are the steps to achieving a Barbie-rrific glamorous look!

1. Section the front "crown" of your hair away from your face and tie it down into a messy bun
2. Take the back section of your hair and comb it out, add curls for extra volume and backcomb it for even more volume.
3. Tie the back section of your hair into a high ponytail with your first no-damage elastic hair band (the higher, the more it will look like Barbie's!)

4. Comb the front section of your hair down, have it frame your face however you would like or you can just pull it back tightly

5. Smooth it out and wrap it around your pony tail to create a large bun OR if you're not looking for a bun-pony you can just pull it tightly around your existing ponytail and tie down the second "shell" of hair around your first pony.

6. Tie down your outer pony on top of your inner pony, the extra elastic will add some volume but it will also let you achieve a more precise high pony if you're only focusing on smoothing out the front rather than also worrying about where you're tying it down.

Then you will have a beautiful high ponytail. The most flattering placement of the pony is directly in line with your cheekbones, upwards from the hollow underneath them. This is the easiest way to achieve a high pony because you don't have to worry about your fly-aways as you're trying to tie it down, basically the "inner ponytail" acts as a base or guideline for your finished, polished "external ponytail". Trust me if you follow these very simple steps, they will change you ponytail routine! Happy ponying! 

Luvocracy: Pinterest + Shopping in One

You may have heard the name fluttering about the past few months, but what is it? Luvocracy is essentially the same thing as Pinterest but far better in the sense that it lets you purchase what you want directly through clicking on a photo of the item "luv'ed". I'll admit it took me a little while to get on the bandwagon, but it's such a useful tool! I think it would be great for holiday shopping and really has the added functionally (but not yet the population) lacking in Pinterest.

Now an interesting thing that I noticed is when I was looking through the website but did not have an account it was only showing me beauty posts from on poster (Ingrid Nielson aka MissGlamorazzi on YouTube) but then once I signed up for an account, it showed me plenty of other users, so I suppose they're just not sharing other user's login names unless you are also a user, which makes sense for privacy reasons. 

My only qualm with this is that at first, the site seems barren so some people might be reluctant to sign up since they do not see a variety of posts from multiple users. However, let me reassure you that once you sign up, other posts become available! I was so relieved to see that the website is indeed populated with like-minded individuals that I can share my love of makeup, fashion and home decor with!

On Luvocracy, it's retailers and users who benefit from the shopping setup. It's simple, rewards come in the form of money off pending purchases or royalty checks. You can earn rewards when you refer friends or when they make purchases, you earn 2% of all referral purchases but this only lasts for your 1st year of membership. However, if someone buys something you recommended by pinning it yourself, you earn 2% of those purchases and this is permanent. But for every degree removed you are from the person who generates the sale, your royalty is halved. So if I refer something and someone else refers it after me and then it is purchased from that person, I will make 1% rather than 2%.

So these added perks are something to consider because you can essentially be pinning items while you're at work, on-the-go, or as a full-time job. Luvocracy really takes out the middle man which most affiliate programs make you deal with and increases the transparency of how you make money and what amount of money it will be.

The best part is you can even download a simple button for your browser and as you're looking through things you may like, just click it at add it to our collections! You even start out with a $10.00 shopping credit!

You can find my profile here: http://www.luvocracy.com/lethalglam