Review: Sally Hansen Color Foil

I have been on the hunt for the new Sally Hansen Color Foil nail polishes. In particular I needed  the color 'rose copper'. I seriously needed this like I needed air and finally found it at Target for $6.99. A little more than I like to spend but I felt like it was worth it.

The weird thing about this polish is that it tells you not to use a base or top coat. I realized this after I had already used both.

So backing up a little, I painted my nails1 streaky coat then 2 more and they looked super streaky and the polish was clumped up on my nails. I put on a top coat to smooth things over and my nails looked yellow and worse. I was ready to find my receipt, write a negative review and call up Sally Hansen when I noticed that the back of the bottle says "for best results, use without base or top coat." I had heard so much people talk about this line of colors and seen so many instagrams that looked nothing like my gross, ratchet manicure.

Here are the results of the base/top coat fail:

In the fourth one, you can see how yellowy and gross it turned out. 

I decided to take off all the polish and do exactly what the bottle told me; apply 2 coats without a base or top coats and DAMN. I was impressed. The photo at the very top of this post shows the full manicure.

My nails were dry in under 5 minutes. I mean dry like no dents or chips, rub your nails together, eat a sandwich, do yard work dry. They were rock solid and the color was beautiful. It wasn't this peed on penny type of color but instead a gorgeous, rose gold that I love.

Left is 1 coats and right nail is 3 coats.

Basically, I love this color and style of nails. They looked so beautiful for a day but here is where the problem lies; because you can't use a top coat, the polish starts to chip by the next day. You may be able to add a top coat after the polish has completely dried but I'm too afraid of that nasty yellow color coming back. Overall, I would say these polishes are fun to try but the concept isn't perfect yet. 

Review: Crest 3d white whitest rips vivid (daily photo updates)

 

My teeth were not horribly yellow when I started but I wanted to get them as white as I could and remove some of the yellowness. I decided to take a photo each day and keep track on here of my progress. I update this every day, right after doing the treatment. This pack is designed for 12, daily, 30 minute treatments. 

After the first time, I found them a little bit whiter.

I didn't have any problems with sensitivity or anything. 

This is where I hit the problem. You are supposed to use these every day and leave them on for 30 minutes but about 15 minutes in, I felt a sharp shooting pain on my right front tooth and immediately removed the strip. You can see that above that tooth in the photo that a bit of my gum had been lightened. I think this is where the pain came from. 

***Con: the strip do not stick to the teeth very well and tend to slip around causing them to adhere to the gums or off the tooth completely. 

Today, I had that same pain in my top tooth. This happened at around 20 minutes in this time. Because it is just the one tooth, and not the whole of them, I wouldn't say these caused me so much pain. I may just have have one sensitive tooth. I may just need to stick to a shorter session. 

In person, looking in my mirror, I finally saw the super white teeth I wanted. It may be harder to tell in the photos but, after today they were really working. 








Yay, no more pain or sensitivity today. I was able to keep the strips on for the full time. My teeth are even whiter and have been getting comments from people from about them. I tried to keep the strips from touching my gums which helped a lot. 

Nothing new to report. No pain just more white. The bottom strip came off though. This is my real problem; the strips slide around a lot. The bottom one was getting folded and twisted and I had to just take it off completely. 
















Same thing; whiter teeth, no pain. The strips stayed on for the full 30 minutes.

No pain just slightly whiter.

Nothing new to report. I'm more than halfway done with this and feel like my teeth a so much whiter than where they started. 

The strips stuck on really well. They didn't even budge. They're whiter and whiter each day 

Ugh bad lighting on this one. But I have had less trouble with the strips coming off. I was previously putting them on then getting ready (shower, makeup, hair, etc) and I think that might have been why they were coming off. I've been doing them at night while I'm just laying around. 

This was the after compared to where I started. My overall thoughts:
I really like these and they made a significant difference in my teeth. They are a bit pricey. They don't stick to the teeth perfectly. 

It can be hard to tell in photos but I notice my teeth being a lot whiter and people have told me recently. I think if you're willing to spend a little bit more, you will love these. 

Buy them on Amazon here: Crest 3d White Vivid Teeth Whitening Strips 12 Count

Favorite makeup under $10

High end makeup is great- except for the price. And drugstore make is great for the price but the quality sometimes lacks. My every day makeup routine is mostly high end but there are some drugstore products that I could not live without. Not to say that everything else from the drugstore is crap and not everything from Sephora is phenomenal. 

I swear this is the best foundation ever. Not even just the best from the drugstore. It covers to amazingly and stays on all day. I don't have very oily skin so I don't set this but it dries to a powder finish. Normally i set my makeup because I hate that stick, cakey, wet feeling that most foundations leave behind. I have never seen a foundation that sets quite like this. Every other one that claims to set to a matte, powder finish that I've tried doesn't do remotely that. This best part about this is that it looks natural. It will not cling to dry spots on skin any more than another foundation. I cannot rave about this enough. They have a huge color selection with the lighter colors ending in 5 being more warm and the ones ending in 0 being more cool. It has a pump and it is everything I could ask for. 

I love this primer. I won't bore you with the details because I have a full review of this up. Check it out by clicking the link here. If you don't feel like reading that; basically this makes your skin look so smooth that it appears to have been gone over by a real-life photoshop retouching tool. 

This is an oldy but a goody. I have been using this since I was 14 years old. It makes lining your eyes so easy. It has a rubber elongated cone shaped tip. You can get the straightest line with this. I love that it lasts all day but all it takes is a little water to remove it at night. Don't ask me how that is possible. If you are a beginner or a pro at liquid liner, pick this up. 

Finally, the one thing high end can't even compete with; mascara. Drugstore mascara is so awesome because at most, they cost like $9. High end mascaras are crazy expensive and you have to throw them out after a few months. 

I have also been purchasing Falsies since I was 15. If your eyelashes don't look amazing after a coat or two of another mascara, layer this on top. I don't love it on its own but just a simple primer underneath will do fine. This adds such great length and volume and has the perfect curved brush for getting every last lash. 

Great Lash is a staple but if you've never tried the 'lots of lashes' version, you're missing out. The brush is heart-shaped and it gives amazing definition and length to your lashes. This is one of the cheaper mascaras but it is a million times better than the original that everyone has tried. 

Finally a lash primer. This isn't something that everyone uses but totally should. There aren't too many and I think you can only find Hard Candy at walmart or online but its worth it. First of all, its called 'lash weave'. How great is that? This is a clear-white mascara with tones of little itty bitty fibers in it that cling to your lashes and make them fuller and longer. If you've never used a lash primer, try it unless you like short thin lashes.

The best everyday lipsticks

YLBB: your lips but better: a term to describe lipsticks that are pretty much your lip color but like better than your natural lips. They're natural, neutral pinks and nudes. They're the colors you wear every day.

From the left:

Demure - Revlon | 14 - Rimmel by Kate | Airy Fairy - Rimmel | Centerfold - Buxom* | Viva Glam Gaga 2 - Mac* | Fairest Nude - L'oreal

Demure from Revlon is a really nice almost-coral color. It has just enough color to add something extra but still looks natural and fine for everyday class or work wear. Revlon makes amazing lipsticks. This one is  a satin finish but doesn't appear shimmery or frosty. 

14 from the Kate line for Rimmel is a darker nude. I tend to stay away from lighter nudes because I think they can make you look dead and sickly. Rimmel lipsticks are a bit more dry than the Revlon ones but they apply smoothly and add a nice color. 

Airy Fairy from Rimmel used to be really popular but I don't see it mentioned often. It is definitely a nude pink. This was my go to for forever and has a very subtle satin finish. 

Centerfold was a limited edition shade from Buxom but you may still find it in some stores or online or something. In the swatch it looks like a berry magenta shade but, on my lips its a dark pink nude. I've seen this look very different on different people. Buxom lipsticks are very hydrating and have a beautiful shine on the lips. Some of them are a bit sticky but nothing like a lipgloss. 

Viva Glam Gaga 2 was one of MAC's limited edition viva glam shades. The viva glam line is normally endorsed by a celeb and they proceeds go to fighting AIDS. I am not a Gaga fan but this lipstick is nice. Again it isn't sold anymore but it can still be found online some places. This is a true light nude. I rarely wear this on its own but its the perfect color to wear under a lightly pigmented gloss. 

Finally is Fairest Nude from L'Oreal. This is very similar to Airy Fairy but a bit darker. Its not quite as dark as 14 though. L'Oreal lipsticks are very basic; they're not too dry to too hydrating. They aren;t glossy or matte either. L'Oreal however is made by Lancome so the quality is normally good. This color is my favorite, go-to lipstick. 

What are some of you favorite YLBB lipsticks? Let me know

The best under eye concealers

Oh my god I have the worst under eye circles ever. I’m layers deep in eye cream, corrector, concealer, foundation, correcting powder, setting powder, etc and you can still see them. I have made it my life’s mission to find the best under eye concealers. While I still haven’t found one to completely cover them, these are the absolute best and will work for any normal person.  

1.First up is the Mac pro long wear concealer. It really will last forever. It isn’t cakey or too thick. Mac has a huge array of colors to choose from. If you have super dark almost black-eye darkness this won’t cover them but it will cover anything else. I like to use this over a corrector to make it last long and much my skin. ~$19 at MAC

2. It cosmetics bye bye under eye does exactly what it says. You can say ‘bye bye’ to your under eye circles.
They only offer 4 shades. This has such amazing coverage.
 Its very very thick so a little bit goes a long way.
I’m mac nw 25 and found the color neutral medium perfect for me.
My only complaint is that the light one seems to only match paper.
$24 on amazon

3. Ok this is a crappy concealer so, why am I including it? Because it’s amazing at brightening and highlighting under the eyes. If you put on some of the highlighter over your normal concealer, it will really brighten up the area. If you don’t have very bad dark circles and just want something to brighten and make you look a little more awake this is the way to go. They offer 3 shades and it can be found in most Target stores or online at their website. 

4. Such a cult favorite. Benefit erase paste. They have three shades in light, medium, and dark. Each one is orange toned to help cancel out blueness. This is more of a corrector rather than a concealer but it still works wonders. I have strayed away from this but still keep coming back to it. It costs $26 from Sephora/Ulta

5. Maybelline the eraser is really getting popular. They make a few types of this. There is the under eye eraser, the dark spot eraser, the eraser foundation, and the eraser brightener. This one is the under eye one. As you can see from mine, I removed the little spongey applicator. Doing this allows you to waste SO MUCH less product and its generally more sanitary. This has some really good coverage and I would recommend it if some of the others are too expensive for you. ~$7 from drugstores.

Best ELF products: eye brushes

This is the yet another part of my favorite ELF products series. You can check out the other parts of this series by clicking here

From Left:

1. This is a brush from the studio line. It has an angled tip. Its stiff yet still movable. I find this great for highlighting with eyeshadow or doing one color all over the lid. Its also great for contouring smaller areas like the sides of the nose. My favorite use for this is to set my under eye concealer. 

2. This brush is so tiny I don’t see how you could possibly use this for concealer. Its really stiff and has a rounded tip. I have probably 3-4 of these. I have one use it to line my eyes with gel liner. Another is to smudge eyeshadow under my lash line. Another is used to fill in my brows and I’m sure my dog is harboring the other somewhere. This is my absolute favorite eye brush.

3. Finally the blending eye brush. This isn’t the softest and I don’t use it to blend eye shadow. I think this makes a great pencil brush to pack color into the crease. This one you could live with out but I included it because I use it. 

Nars orgasm/laguna Vs. Elf contouring blush and bronzing powder

Nars makes awesome makeup. I haven"t tried too many things from them just because it is so pricey. That being said there was one thing I couldn't"t pass up: the Orgasm/Laguna duo. If you haven't heard of this, its a blush and bronzer duo that's widely popular. Its so popular that the brand ELF of Eyes Lips Face made a dupe of this.

I was using the the ELF one for probably close to 3 years when I decided I wanted to see what all the hype was about on the Nars one. I have been using solely this one since August and I can say that I think the two are very similar but I wouldn't call it a dupe.

This is a comparison of the two. I've divided it into a few categories. note: the nars one is a mini size, not the full sized version.

Packaging: 

The two look very similar. The Nars one is smaller but that is because it is a mini. The Nars one has larger lettering. If you've ever felt Nars packaging, you know that is has an almost rubbery feel to it. The ELF one has a much more plastic feel. Its pretty clear that ELF was going after Nars when making this. 
As you can tell, I used a lot of the Elf bronzer. I do actually prefer this to the Nars one because it's darker. The colors all look very different in the packaging.
Also the pans for the elf one are rounded while Nars' are squared off.



Look of the colors- Blushes:

On the right I have the Elf blush swatched. On the left is Nars orgasm. The elf one is a bit more powdery and orange toned while the Nars one is more pink. Both are shimmery blushes. They both have a golden shimmer.

Look of the colors- Bronzer:

On the left is the Nars laguna bronzer and on the right is the elf bronzer. These are both shimmery bronzers with a golden undertone. Just like with the blushes, the elf one is a bit more chalky. The Nars one goes on a bit more smoothly. (note that at the top of the nars swatch is a freckle not part of the swatch) Laguna is a lighter color that the elf one. 






Price:

The elf one retails at $3 and can be purchased at eyeslipsface.com | Target | Walmart | K-mart. The Nars duo can be purchased for $24 for the mini (shown in this post) or $41 for the larger one. It can be purchased from sephora or from Nars directly.

Bath and Body Works semi annual sale haul

I picked up a few things from the Bath and Body Works semi annual sale. They have different bins that are either 50 or 75% off. Definitely check out your store and online for great deals.

This candle was the best deal i've ever gotten on anything ever. These are normally $19.50 and I paid 97¢ for this. The cashier told me they found it in the back and it was an old scent but it smells awesome and how could I pass up that. 

 The next candle I picked up was cranberry pear bellini. These are normally $10 but I paid $4. The scent is described as a "bubble and delicious- a bright blend of sparkling cranberry, sweet pear nectar and luscious blackcurrant."

Market peach is one of the minis. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the minis are now packaged the same as the larger ones with the lid and glass- they used to come in a tiny plastic container and have no lid. Peach is one of my favorite scents. Originally $4.50 I paid $2.

This one I bought for a gift. Originally $12.50 but I got it for $4.

Remember when I said that peach is my favorite scent. Well I lied because lemon is the best. I could always use a good soap. Originally $5.50 but I paid $3. Not a great deal but whatever.

Marshmallow shimmer body cream. This is the collect stuff ever because its like whipped cream but its body lotion. It smells so yummy and its not a sweet disgusting scent. It is shimmery and is absolutely one of the most moisturizing lotions ever.

Benefit They're Real mascara: worth the hype?

Benefit released a mascara called "they're real" and everyone went insane. People rave about this like no other product. Finally, I decided I wanted to pick it up but $23? What if it sucked? Then I cam across the $10 mini size of it and it was prefect. This promises to lengthen, curl, separate, lift, volumize. It's basically going to do everything.

The wand is a normal mascara want but there's something different: the tip of it is a spiky little ball thing. It allows you to get every single lash. They say that you should use it both horizontally and vertically. 

The long part will zig zag through your lashes while the tip can be pushed up through them. 

This is one of my problems. That little tip pulls some much mascara out of the tube that if you don't wipe it off your bound for a giant mess. This isn't really a huge problem though, it still work after you wipe off the tip which most people do. 

I did curl my lashes before I applied this even though they claim it will curl. No curved brush though so I doubted that. With only a full swipes trough my lashes they were long, thick, and standing straight up.  I have decent lashes on my own but look at them. I love long lashes. I would wear drag queen style fake lashes every day if I could. 

Now, this mascara doesn't exactly make them look fake to me but no mascara in the world does. Fake lashes just have a certain way about them that no mascara can duplicate. 

Here's where this mascara falls a little short in my case: it really stays on. Like forever. It will not flake at all. This is all good right? Well yes, until the nighttime when you're trying to get this off. This may be my problem though because I normally take off my makeup with just a makeup removing face wash. I'm pretty sure a makeup remover or wipe would get it off. 

While this mascara does do pretty much all of those things that it claims to, I don't know if its worth spending the full almost $25 on. There's plenty of great drugstore mascaras from the drugstore that do this all as well. That being said, my eye lashes look awesome. I would for sure recommend trying out the mini version first. 

UPDATE: i have had this for almost 3 weeks now and notice that its getting dried out.