Nude Tude Eyeshadow Palette & Naked Flush Blush Review.

So my blog readers, I have a few items to share with you that I love! thanks to the powers of Youtube I have been introduced to Urban Decay and The Balm products. Somehow ordering online is more fun then wandering down a drug store isle looking at cheaper quality makeup and wondering if its gonna look nice on me or.. cheap on me. It seems that when you reach out and follow recommendations you find products made by companies that do a great job of it and are higher quality.  You might pay a bit more, but the difference speaks for itself. Ive kind of taken to the same mind set with clothes. You wont see me shopping at Khols or Old Navy anymore, the stuff isn't made to fit my body and doesn't last as long, but if I spent more on a brand name im far more happy in the long run. I say to save and invest in the good stuff, you wont regret it!

For christmas I asked for some products by The Balm, and I did get the Nude Tude - Nude Eyeshadow Palette and I adore it!

I kind of like that natural nude look, I think it does suit me well, browns and orange, earth tones are nice on my skin color. A normal white girl hehe. So this palette is perfect, and there is not one color in this I dont like, and so many options its hard to choose what im in the mood for! I am making much use of the colors "sassy" and "stand-offish" and I have come to find that "sultry" makes a great brow filler and "serious" is a great eyeliner! speaking of which....

The brush that comes with this palette is awesome! the liner brush works like a charm and its the first time I tried using eyeshadow as a eye liner. The brushes tip is tapered to make fine lines, and the black shade offers a softer look which I love. Im also loving the fact shadow comes off easier at the end of the day at cleansing time then a liquid or pencil liner.

The other end is nice and fluffy and holds the shadow well, applies with precision since it smaller and manageable for handling. Its also blends out colors nicely! I could not be happier with this product, so many great shades in one, well worth the price. Did I mention the artwork is fun and whimsical? I adore the pin-up theme.

Naked Flush Blush by Urban Decay.

I was researching a new blush when I ran out of mine. I had just started to get into using bronzer and I found that I preferred it over a pink blush for my complexion. Bronzer on the cheeks gave me a nice warmth right one the apples on my cheeks that looks natural and blended in well with everything else. But every once and a while I just crave a bit of a pink tint to my cheeks for when im feeling a little more spirited and youthful.

I found this product on Urban Decay after some research I decided to try it. Why? well... it has bronzer blush and a highlighter included! It seemed like a no brainer. And thanks to Ipsy.com highlighter was something I had been wondering about, as it can be used on more then just the cheeks! I ordered it and I am glad I did. I like these colors. They look bold but with careful application you can build it up from soft to darker. The colors seem to go well with my skin tone and I think its meant to fit more then one skin tone spectrum. The broze I especially like!

Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

I was looking for a blush brush, and I dont think thats what this was meant for lol. Though it sounds like it can be used for a number of things. In the end I used this as a kind of "dry" fluffy brush to blend in the colors of blush I apply to my face once im done to kind of blur it into my skin and the bronze and blush into one another, and it works well with a natural result. You can see the brush in the above picture with my blush palette, but here is another one anyway!

And thats it for this review, all great products and recommended by Candy! Please leave your comments if you like these products or have others you would recommend :)

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iCandy's Glam Bag Review by Ipsy.com - February 2013

iCandy's Glam Bag Review by Ipsy.com - February 2013

For those of you who dont know what Ipsy is service where each month for $10 dollars a month small bag of beauty products is sent to your home in what they call a Glam Bag with deluxe samples and fulled sized beauty products. You also join into the Ipsy community where you can share your favorite products and looks, styles and fashion. Its well worth it and a great way to be introduces to new items.   Check out this video by Michelle Phan who created MyGlam (click here) 

Feb's theme was the red carpet! a fun idea, and some fun products came out of it! A theme that could combine well with Januarys bag! which for me came with some red nail lacquer from Nailtini and a blending brush from SOHO.

Lets get into it!

Coastal Scent - Shadow Palette Sample - Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Samples are an ideal way to try these highly pigmented, stunning shadows. Wear these pressed powders dry or wet for a more intense, dramatic look.

A nice sample, though small, how fast can a person use a shade of eye shadow pressed powered? Im sure this sample will last me months, especially since I switch up looks, I dont wear through any one color to fast. I really liked this palette, I wasn't sure about the yellow shades, but it came out as a more golden look, and was very nice with the smokey darker color. Its a look ill certainly wear on my eyes many times.

Pixi Flawless & Poreless - The Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer creates a beautiful no-shine finish for flawless, long-lasting makeup application. This shine controlling, oil-free primer smooths out fine lines and hydrates while making pores instantly disappear. It is the perfect skin primer for all complexions and all skin types.

I did try this primer and I was ok with it, but not amazed. I found it was thicker then the one I am using and love, called Mirabella Prime for Face and Eyes. Pixi's was a heavier consistency on my face, which even combined with my BB cream made the sensation of makeup on my face more obvious then i'd like. I also found that it did not stop shine from coming through quite as well as my Mirabella Prime. I may give it more tries, but I think if Im on the fence it probably means I wont use it over what I currently have.

 POP Beauty - Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara. This lash-POP-ing mascara makes lashes plump, long and lusciously flirty! Smudge proof formula adds volume while curling lashes up and out for a look that truly POPs your peepers.
I enjoyed this mascara. I liked the packaging one it, very cute! Its seemed to glide on smoothly and with no clumps. I did use the lash cards that were in this months ipsy glam bag and that of course helped! I do think that Benefit they’re real! beyond mascara is a bit better, makes lashes look thicker.

MicaBeauty - Gel Eyeliner. Define eyes and apply eyeliner like a pro with the MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner! This smooth, highly pigmented gel eyeliner glides over the lid evenly and dries quickly for a long-wearing, smudge-proof finish. Comes in 5 other highly pigmented shades.

Yet to try this product.

Lash Card The Lash Card. Apply your mascara perfectly with the Lash Card! Say goodbye to smudging, clumping, and messy mascara application. The Lash Card has two curves on each side that fit a variety of eye shapes, making it easy to get those hard-to-reach lashes. Each Lash Card is individually wrapped for on-the-go application.

I like this product! though I dont feel that I 'need' it, it was handy, and at first a bit awkward to use, but I got the hang of it. I use a lash curler and tend to just put on my mascara perfectly, but there have been occasions where I smudges some mascara on my lid, or it clumped up and it was a pain to get out the small mascara chunk. So Im thinking these may come in handy, just to have around for those troublesome mascara moments.

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iCandy's Glam Bag Review by Ipsy.com - January 2013

iCandy's Glam Bag Review by Ipsy.com - January 2013

This review is coming a bit late from a shipping incident  nothing that was Ipsy's fault, it had to do with address changes and confusion on my part as to how the Ipsy My Glam bags were shipped. I thought they came UPS but it seems like the UPS is switched somehow to USPS O.o I dunno! but anyhow.. I finally got my Ipsy Bag in for January in the start of February by the time I got my replacement. I contacted Ipsy and they happily sent me another bag since my first would have been returned to address.  Crazy!

For those of you who dont know what Ipsy is service where each month for $10 dollars a month small bag of beauty products is sent to your home in what they call a Glam Bag with deluxe samples and fulled sized beauty products. You also join into the Ipsy community where you can share your favorite products and looks, styles and fashion. Its well worth it and a great way to be introduces to new items.   Check out this video by Michelle Phan who created MyGlam (click here)

Well onto the My Glam bag and my thoughts on it!

100% Pure Argan Oil by Josie Maran - This 100% Pure Argan Oil is a legendary oil that's rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. With its multitasking benefits, Argan Oil can be used for many areas including hydrating and nourishing skin as a daily moisturizer, skin treatment, treating spilt ends, and softening cuticles. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types.

I try and stay away from oil as I do have oily skin, mostly my face and my hair. I did start using this stuff on my dry legs during the cold months, and I really loved it on my skin, especially after just shaving mt legs. I actually preferred the oil over the usual moisturizer  I like how it absorbed into my skin and somehow feel less greasy after then a moisturizer. With the bottle size in the My Glam bag I find Im going through it pretty fast using it on my legs twice a day.

Straight up Nail Lacquer by Nailtini.  - You can’t go wrong with a classic, all the way to your fingertips. These two are the all-time best selling Nailtini nail lacquers. Whether the glossy true-red of bloody mary or the hint-of-pink of frappe, your tips and toes are classic perfection anytime.

I really liked the last Nailtini color we got in the November 2012 Part perfect bag. See my Video on that Here. This new color was classic and sassy, and you could get it in one of two colors and I happened to get red lacquer called Bloody Mary. One coat is enough, the pigment in this is great! I was afraid at first with how 'loud' a color it was, but once I put it on I felt like a classic lady!  The color seems to last well through the days, even when doing house hold chores like dishes. Its nice to have a polish that doesn't chip easily, iam becoming a fan of the Nailtini brand.

Brush by SOHO.- I got the “Get a Grip” Crease Brush 
Create the perfect eye with the Get a Grip Crease Brush. This brush was very loose and fluffy which makes it seem like a blending brush to me, as it doesn't really feel like it gives you a whole lot of control for more precise and spot on shadow application. But it may just be that im not sure how its used. But it is making for a very great blending brush! I use it after I apply the dark color after the light and blend it all in for a smokey effect! it makes it pretty easy. I didn't have a blending brush before this, so im glad to have gotten it :)

Sexy Hair - Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray. Your everyday spray for BIG volume! Spray & Play is a humidity resistant, flexible hold hairspray that provides fullness, lift and incredible shine! Perfect for all hair types.

I am not a hairspray person, in fact when it comes to hair I am really low maintenance. I have a short-styled hair cut and I generally just let my hair air dry after a shower. My husband is always bugging me to do something with my hair. I did try this though! I gotta say, it really works O.o the hair spray seems pretty damn strong, just a small bit and my hair was stiff stuck in place! I imagine though would be wonderful with people that have thick hair, for me though it may have been over kill. I did not enjoy how heavy and sticky it made my hair feel, but Im terrible at wielding a hair drying and round brush and making volume and I have the worst time knowing how to apply hair product correctly. I may try and give it a few more tries though, see if I cant figure it all out.

Pacifica - Tuscan Blood Orange Mini Body Butter - Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter is not only a highly effective antioxidant rich moisturizer that nourishes the driest of skin and helps fight off the signs of aging; it nourishes your other senses as well. The infusion of sparkling, juicy blood oranges that are highlighted with notes of red raspberry and spicy sweet Italian Mandarins take you to the beaches of the Mediterranean. Made with nature’s best moisturizers - Shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil.

This stuff was delicious yummy! it smells so good and I love how it rubs into my skin. Mostly it makes me hungry! I was very pleased with this products and id probably look into more moisturizers by them when I run out. It came at a great time too, during the cold dry season when my legs get so itchy! Ill use it when I run out of the Argan Oil!

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Krispy Kreme run at Mohegan Sun!

So now and and then me and my man get that need to go outside, do something. One of our favorite inexpensive things we like to do is go on a Krispy Kreme run, unfortunately .. or maybe I should say fortunately   the only one near us is inside the Mohegan Sun Casino!  It works out though, as going to the casino is always fun for me! Im not a huge fan of the slots, to much sensory overload, but I otherwise like that hustle and bustle, seeing the people dressed up fancily - though some look like subjects of our local walmart O.o - I like the lights and most of all the Native American decorations. The shops are not so bad either, and the over all artwork is stunning, all the statues and the indoor waterfalls, its pretty epic! Id love to try all the restaurants someday. I always leave there feeling like I spent a day away surrounded by money and luxury, even if I was just there a couple hours.

We actually drove up the wrong way and ended up at the Mohegan Government building. It doesn't always cross my mind, the way things work on native american land, like its only little state in a state. So it was neat to see that they have their own government building. They had some really amazing looking statues on the property, I wanted to get out and look, but I wondered if that might look suspicious, not to mention it was about 10 degrees, to cold!

I took many pictures, just to show off some of the artwork and design of the place. We always park on the "Winter Entrance  side of the casino, so if you visit and come through that way, you'll see all this art!

Amazing glass sculpture, that changes colors. Its very tall and its right between two huge indoor waterfalls, and right near some restaurants  including Boby Flays restaurant!

As we were passing through to Krispy Kreme I came across this BareMineral store. I never noticed that there before, Im not sure if it was newly added, or if I was just oblivious the other times ive been. But I was curious so I went on in! They had so many colors and beautiful pigments on display! The staff was helpful as well. I always wondered how good the product was, and was always curious to try it. I like the idea the products are a mineral powder that would be light on the skin. I just wonder how much coverage it could give to a break outs, and how it does with oil skin. If anyone has tried BareMinerals, tell me what you think of it in the comments!

Finally we reached Krispy Kreme, which was right across from BareMinerals. Thats right, come here girls! make yourself beautiful, then go across the 'street' and make yourselves fat on hard to resist donuts! hehe. To be honest, I really only care for the regular glazed donut by Krispy Kreme as I find all the rest WAY to sweet, and some a bit to dense. But this one glazed donut, is unlike any other I had tried anywhere else. Its fluffy like air and it melts in my mouth like cotton candy!

We stopped at Starbucks of course! and I got the Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino.  A creamy blend of rich mocha-flavored sauce, chocolaty chips, milk and ice. Topped with sweetened whipped cream and mocha drizzle. And it was delicious!

Finally a random picture of Boby Flays Restaurant! me and my man really want to try it someday! Hopefully it will happen in the near future :)

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