Octobers Ipsy Bag Review

Since it's 10 days into November (doh!), I guess it's about that time for Octobers review of my favorite monthly treat: the ipsy bag!

This months bag contained five items: volumizing hair gel, lotion, lip gloss, nail polish and some face wipes.

This months bag rates at 4/5 kittens; details as to why a kitten is missing can be found below!

THE REVIEW:

Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel

I really liked this product and there is a few reasons why. First off, I cannot do hair, like, at all. I cannot braid, heck, I am lucky enough that I can put it into a ponytail, or bun. Hair has never been my forte and I am extremely blessed to have a wonderful aunt who does hair and is able to teach me a little wisdom. This stuff rocks because you can be as bad with hair as I am, and still be able to use this. I have fine, flat hair, so I am in desperate need of volumizing to stop the hair from laying and looking so flat. I semi-blow dry my hair, and when its still damp but not soaking wet I apply a quarter size amount of this to the roots, and work my way to the ends. Then I flip on my hair dryer and really concentrate on my roots. I take my pinkie, index, ring, and middle finger and massage my scalp while blow drying that area. When my hair is dry, I look like I've had a blow out, and it's amazing. I highly recommend this product!

Nourish Organic Coconut & Argan Oil Body Lotion

I hate this so much, I feel like I should invent a new word for hate. First off, it stinks, really bad, and it doesn't even feel like lotion. It applies like water, and I get no nourishment from this product. I've tried to use it (several times), and I literally cannot get past the stench of it. To me it smells like red tide, or rotten fish. The only good thing about this product is that it is organic and cruelty free. Other than that...EW!

La Fresh Oil Free Face Cleanser Wipes

I like these wipes, but they are not my favorite. I will definitely use them, but they are only good for one thing. After you take your makeup off with a makeup remover wipe, these will clean your face, but they do NOT remove any makeup. If you use these expecting for them to remove makeup, you will be highly dissapointed. I found myself using my makeup remover wipe, washing my face, and then using these because when I used these after my makeup wipe, I found no traces of foundation on my face, yet when I washed my face, my eyebrow powder was still on! They smell nice, and do not burn or sting my face or eyes like my makeup wipes, so I have been using them after I work out and cannot rush to the shower right away. It would be great to keep in your car or purse if you needed a little refresher on the go.

Bare Minerals BUXOM lip plumper gloss

First off let me say that I love Bare Minerals and I have been wanting to try this product for I dunno, 5 years or so. I was so happy to see this product in this months bag, and I was not disappointed. I have tiny little lips, and have never tried a lip plumper product before because I never thought that it would work. This stuff works, is an excellent gloss, isn't tacky, smells like a caramel frappe,  tastes like one too, and makes my lips look perky and ta dow. I would buy 500 of these if I could, no joke. It tingles, but doesn't irritate my lips which is what I was afraid of. Everyone should own at least one of these. The color is nice, and is a pinky nude which is perfect for everyday. It's festive without being too intense, and it makes me want a frappe really bad.

My lips look considerably fuller... LOVE!

Zoya Nail Polish in Giovanna

I love green, and metallic and this is the prettiest green metallic polish I have ever seen. From my 50 random facts video, y'all know I can't paint my nails for ish. But that doesn't stop me from trying or admiring polishes. This color is so pretty, everyone should check it out immediately because it is gorge! Zoya is becoming one of my favorite nail polish brands because every polish I've gotten through them has been in an ipsy bag, and they have all been fab.

Look how pretty that is!

In summary, I enjoyed 80% of this bag this month. The total retail for all of these products is somewhere in the 45$ range, and I received them for 10$. I really love ipsy, I know I tell you that every month, but I do. I highly recommend signing up. It's available for the US and Canada, and it's 10$!

If you are interested in signing up, please use this link because we will both earn points! Points are used to redeem higher end items :)

Join Ipsy here!! 

Until next month kittens, remember that you are beautiful, and valued!

XO

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation First Impressions/Review

Hey dolls!

I did a review of this product over on my YouTube channel! Please subscribe, it means so much to me!!

Check it out below :)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review & Swatches

I recently purchased four of NYX soft matte lip creams, and I've been wearing them non stop to get a good feel for them. I have recently become a lipstick whore, and It seems like everywhere I go I have to buy some sort of lip product lol I am obsessed with matte lipsticks so I figured I'd try NYX because they are so affordable. At 6$ each (right now they are BOGO 50% off at Ulta) it's an amazing opportunity and price point for everyone.

The colors I got are called Sydney, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, and Monte Carlo

       

Sydney is a pale pinky-nude color, and I like it because it can be applied with a light hand and is a perfect pink nude, or if you layer it, it's a soft pastel pink. It's a pretty color, but I am not sure If I like it. It did crease a bit, but I am not sure if its the product or the fact that my lips are dry right now with the cold weather we are getting here in NC. Would I buy it again? Probably not.

"Sydney"

Addis Abba is a bright fuchsia tinted lipstick, and I absolutely love it. It's bright enough to satisfy my rainbow loving soul, but its also muted enough so that you can wear it everywhere; including work. It applies smooth, smells amazing, and isn't drying like most matte lipsticks. Definitely worth 6$!

"Addis Ababa"

Amsterdam is known to be a dupe for LimeCrimes famous red velvetine lipstick, and my opinion on it is that it comes close, but the coloring doesn't match. The smell, and feel of Amsterdam is really good, and for the price, you can buy almost 3 of these- compared to Red Velvet. I love the color, the feel, and the application of all of these products, but this one feels so velvety and smooth when you're done, it makes you feel like you aren't wearing any lipstick at all. It's not drying, stays put, and is a good (I say good because it's not my perfect shade) red. It's got more blue in it, than orange, so it flatters vampire toned skin like mine. I imagine it would look great on anyone though. Buy it again? Yes, I already have actually!

"Amsterdam"

Monte Carlo is my favorite out of all of the lippies because I love a good red. Blue toned reds look really nice with my skin tone (opposed to orange toned) and I love the richness of the color. It reminds me of cranberry sauce. Like all of these, the application is easy, smooth, and velvety, and it's very moisturizing (surprisingly). I would definitely buy this again!

"Monte Carlo"

All of these products can be purchased anywhere NYX is sold: Nyx.com , Ulta.com, Ulta stores, and even in Target!

I've made it my mission to stock up on my favorite colors, and to own the entire collection. They are great, and I hope you will check them out! On Nyx.com if you give them your email you will receive a 25% off coupon 'welcome25' which will save you some $ too. I also like that every order over 25$ ships free, which saves you even more ;)

Vampy Look of The Day

Who doesn't love Vampires, they're usually hott!! haha I didn't do this look thinking that I wanted to look like a vampire, but it kind of reminded me of one. The dark, deep set eyes, dark lips, and pale skin (I get that naturally). I am loving my Dark Heart Designs products a lot lately, they really are as amazing as I keep telling you, so you should really check them out.

1. Prime eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance.
2. Using a fluffy brush apply Marry The Night (the dark blue) to your entire lid, blending outward and upward. Blend until the color looks uniform with no empty spots. You want the outer edges to fade out, so make sure to blend out the hard lines.
3. Using the same brush, pat on Rag Doll onto the center of your lid. This gives your lid the iridescent look seen in the pictures above.
4. Apply Fairy tale to the inner corners of your eyes.
5. Using your favorite black eyeliner, line your waterline heavily and then take a flat brush or eye smudger and smudge the lower lash line to create a heavy, defined waterline.
6. Using your favorite liquid liner, line your upper lash line with a thin line. (You can wing out if you'd like, but I chose not too)
7. Apply Mascara.
8. Next is the skin. Apply your favorite foundation. I used the new Airbrush Amazonian Clay Powder Foundation from Tarte.
9. Apply a deep plum blush like the one from Dark Heart called Dark Paradise.
10. For the lips I lined them with Perversion from Urban Decay (the same eyeliner I used on my waterline), and then using a lip brush patted on Venom lipstick from Urban Decay. 
11. Put your fangs in (optional)

Sit there and sparkle like a Cullen, cus you look good!

This was a super easy, simple look to do. I hope that you guys like it. Be sure to like me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/24-Karat-Dime/346926852073610 and become a follower of my blog if you like it :)

Protect that neck, the creepers come out this time of year!


Until next time :)

There's a mermaid in all of us

Today I wanted NEEDED to be a Mermaid. Mermaids are mysterious, they don't have any bills as far as I can tell, and they don't have any reason to go to college, or at least its not proven that mermaids go to college. The point is I needed to escape today. I have had a really bad month; my husband and I are fighting everyday, I've had no time for fun because of college, and I am also on a diet. Whip all those issues in a blender and I am stressed to the max! Insert...Mermaid.
Now this is not a "real" mermaid, and I didn't really try to get all fancy with it. I just had fun (finally!!!).

I put some fishnet stockings over my head, and began to fill in my forehead with colors...

Its mermaid-esque ;)

Products used and application:

Forehead (scales) : I covered my forehead with fishnets by putting one stocking over your head, kind of like you would with a wig cap. With a shadow brush, I loaded Dark Heart Designs e/s in Grace (white) and covered my entire forehead. Over the Grace I used Betrayal from the Vice 2 Palette (its the purple color). Over that I patted on Pinkies Up by Dark Heart Designs. When I took it off it left just a slight effect. I'm sure if I would've pushed hard, it would've left a better indent, but I like the softness of it.

Eyes: I primed eyes really well with Too Faced Shadow Insurance and applied Sugarpill's Mochi to the lids. On top of Mochi I applied Dark Heart Designs e/s in Fairytale to the entire lid, and then applied Dark Heart Designs e/s in Rag Doll to the middle of the lid. For the lower lash line I applied a thick line of Dark Heart Designs e/s in Nymph. The purple brow color is the same color used on the forehead (Betrayal from the Vice 2 Palette). The eyeliner is by Jessies Girl. Mascara is Covergirl Lash Blast in Black.

Face:I applied moisturizer and then Kat Von D Lock It Foundation to the entire face. On top of my foundation I used Dark Heart Designs e/s in Bone Daddy as a setting powder to give my face a pearlescent glow. On top of that I sweeped a light application of Urban Decay Naked Illuminator to the apples of my cheeks, and applied Dark Heart Designs Summertime Sadness Blush.

Lips: Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam

Photo Editor: PicMonkey/ Lomo Filter/ No photo retouching

Does it even look like a mermaid? hahaha oh well, it was fun!!!



Until next time :)


-Sam

Neutral Look featuring Dark Heart Designs

Hey everyone, I hope you are enjoying your weekend!! I am swamped with a project for school so I haven't had time for really anything but that so far. Today, however, was my uncles birthday so my family and I went to my aunts house to have dinner and hang for a bit, which means I got to do my makeup (yay!). I kept it low-key and casual with a bit of glitter cus you know how I do! I can't ever go totally neutral, that's too boring for me hehe. All products used will be listed below, I hope you guys are all having a great weekend!!

EYES
1. Prime eyes (I used too faced shadow insurance)
2. Apply Dark Heart Designs e/s in Elizabeth to entire lid
3. Using an angled e/s brush apply DHD e/s Audrey (black) to the outer corners of your eyes, blending left to right and up until there is just a slight hint of color
4. Using Nyx jumbo eye pencil in Milk, add a dab of color to your inner corners, and using the same white shadow (Elizabeth) go over the milk
5. Line your bottom lash line (the skin part, not the waterline!) with Elf's glitter liquid liner in Starlight
6. Apply mascara. I used Elizabeth Mott's It's So Big

FACE
1. Prime Face with a moisturizer ( I used St. Ives w/collagen )
2. Apply Foundation with a brush (or your hands). Foundation I used is from Benefit and its called Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup
3. Apply concealer under your eyes ( I used Nyx)
4. Dab setting powder onto your concealer ( I used Ben Nye Banana Powder )
5. Blend out concealer and powder until all the yellow is gone
6. Apply Bronzer to hair-line, jaw line and hollows of your cheeks ( I used Nyx )
7. Apply Blush. I used Summertime Sadness by DHD

LIPS
1. Apply your favorite pink lipgloss to your lips. I used Nyx Lip Butters in Merengue

Done!

All DHD products can be purchased on the following link: http://darkheartdesigns.storenvy.com/

Juice Beauty Organic Oil-Free Moisturizer Review

I received this as a sample in one of my recent Juice Beauty Orders (look for a review soon!). I am always on the hunt for new skin-care because it seems like skin care trends change more often than the definition of beauty according to society.

Skin care is something that I take very seriously and it is one of those things I am disciplined about. There are so many things in life that I cannot control, but the things I choose to put into and on my body are just a few of the things that I do have control over. When it comes to moisturizer, I want my skin to have a natural glow and dewiness, which is what moisturizer helps to accomplish. I used this moisturizer for a week non-stop, and I like it so far.

Positives:

The product is dense, which means you do not have to use as much to cover your entire face, which is helpful since you are supposed to apply it twice per day (morning and night).

It is not heavy on your face like some moisturizers, and absorbs quickly. Who wants to wait around for their moisturizer to dry anyway? Hehe  *DRY TIME WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES*

Organic QUALITY ingredients & Cruelty Free = Happy ME!

Cons:

It’s a bit pricey. @ 28$ for a 2oz. tube, (although it will last a bit) it does not do anything extraordinary for my skin. Its moisturizer, and a 5$ 10 oz. jar works just as well.

Slight filmy residue left on your skin until you let it fully dry. As said above it does absorb quickly, but it is not instant, and there is an obvious residue left on your skin while it is still “wet”.

Will I buy a full size product of this?

Probably not. 28$ is a lot of money for a moisturizer. I would rather invest it into something else--- like candy J

If you can afford it—check it out. You will not be disappointed and the benefits of quality ingredients are definitely worth it.

Retail price: $28.00 for a 2oz tube

Available @ www.juicebeauty.com