DIY Brush Cleaner

If you're a makeup junkie, fan of beauty vloggers/bloggers, or anyone in between, you've no doubt heard of the Sigma brush cleaning glove. It looks like an oversized, silicone over mitt, with raised patterns on it, for washing/rinsing/refining your makeup brushes. It's a great idea, it's pretty cute, and the sucker actually works. Thing is, it's nearly $40. For a bumpy oven mitt.

Really?!

I've seen a few resourceful types find cheaper alternatives (some have actually been oven mitts), some making squiggles on plastic clipboards with hot glue. If I've realized two things during brush-clean-a-palooza, it's A) I'm a lemming and B) my brushes can be SO MUCH CLEANER!! And without the hefty price tag!

I loved what SecretLifeofaBioNerd did for hers, with the clipboard and glue gun. I have no glue gun, even less cash, but still managed to pull off a similar project with I think decent results. Instead of glue, I used puffy paint. Yup, good ol', relic of the '90s puffy paint. I know for a fact this stuff will hang on until/unless you practically take a chisel to it. My mom "personalized" some insulated cups for us for Christmas one year, and after many, many dishwasher trips, the big C on my cup is just as gobby-blobby as the day she did it. Plus, glitter. My puffy paint has glitter.

I do not own lots of brushes, and none are really that large, so the different areas for each pattern aren't that big. I just dabbed until it looked right. I did roughly follow, to the best of my abilities (puffy paint bottle and arthritis permitting), the patterns on the actual gloves. It's obviously not exactly like the original, but I'm ok with it. Plus, if there's an area that doesn't work that well, I can try again on the other side, or scrape off and start anew. The best part? This puppy didn't even cost $4 to make! (Including tax!) So, if you're pining for that silly mitt, but can't/don't want to shell out the bucks, try making your own! These clip boards come in several colors, and puffy paint in even more, so you're likely to get a combo you love. And on the super-cheap!

First Impression Review- Jordana Eyeliners

For a couple of months now, I've been hearing/reading about a brand called Jordana, that is apparently sold everywhere, and yet, nowhere. I've heard mostly good things, that their products are affordable and good (and not just "they're good...for affordable makeup.") So I've been on the hunt, and recently discovered that my local Walgreen's does, indeed, sell Jordana (I'd previously thought they don't; the section is just extremely tiny.) During my last trip there, I picked up a Twist and Shine balm stain (review is coming!) and two eyeliners. This is my review of those liners.

Liner one is the 12 HR Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner pencil in 04 Purple Fix. Initially, I thought it would be a close match to Urban Decay's Rockstar liner. It swatched pretty close, UD's has a bit of brown in it, whereas Jordana's is deep purple with sort of maroon-fuchsia shimmer. When I first swiped some on my wrist, I thought, "jackpot! Urban Decay competition for a whole $2.49!" When I applied it to my eye lids.... it was a bit of a letdown. It applied chunkily, some of it flaked off into my eye, and it just was not what I was hoping for. When I tried smudging it, it wouldn't budge. I think I waited too long to try to do that. It definitely is smudge-proof after it's set, so surely the 12 hour claim is not for the sake of marketing. It really is a gorgeous color, and I'm not giving up on it just yet, because I think it can be worked with. I think it would work really well with the shadows in the last Fun Palette.

The second liner is the retractable Easyliner in Sterling blue (which was a whole $1.39, thanks to a 60 cent savings from balance rewards.) It applied a bit smoother than the 12HR pencil, is a thinner line, and a beautiful peacock-y blue. It was a bit easier to smudge, but wore off in places when I tried to keep smudging it. It's not labeled as a long-wear type liner, so I didn't find that unusual. I think it would work great with purples, deep bronzes, and other shades you'd find on a peacock feather. Or even as a pop of color on a more neutral eye.

Pardon my crappy pic. Non-phone camera's charger cord is still m.i.a.

Current verdict, they seem to be pencils that have a slight learning curve. The colors are gorgeous, I just need to figure out how to get the best out of them. And for the price of either, I am definitely willing to find out how to best use them. Would I recommend them to a friend? Yes, but I would warn her/him that the 12HR may be a bit temperamental, work with it quickly, and one eye at a time.

**These products were purchased by me for personal use/review purposes.**

Summer Favorites

Being a chubbster, one can (correctly) assume, I am no fan of the heat. Humidity makes me want to punch kittens. Combine the two, and you've got yourself the right conditions for Satan's taint. Oh don't act shocked I said taint in a public place, you should hear me cursing at the self checkouts in WalMart. That said, there are some things I do actually kind of like about the season- swimming, camping, the warm breezes at night, and looking forward to fall. Which, let's face it, is my main object of seasonal adoration. Sweaters and boots and corduroy, yes please.

That said, here is my list of things I have enjoyed this past summer. Not that it's over yet. And not that I'm not wishing it were. I've come to accept it as a part of life, and maybe, just maybe, when I am a more fit person, I will enjoy it more, because the minute I am of a proportionate height/weight/muscle combo, I will parade naked. Or, at the very least, in a cute, skimpy outfit, because, why not? Here's the list :)

• Queso con Mambo, Sao Paulo's, Austin. I could eat this frequently and not get tired. Fatter, sure, but I'm seriously debating whether or not that is a bad thing.
• Youtube beauty vloggers. ThatGirlShaeXO. Vintage orTacky. Grav3yardgirl. Leighannsays. XSparkage. Dkycutie78. Not my entire list of channels I've subscribed to, but these ladies make up the bulk of my watching time. I want a cupcakes and makeup party with them for Christmas.
• Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt spray. It smells really nice. It does provide texture, like bedhead, imho, and it will bring out any natural curl you have. Since I have little to none of that, I've used it before twisting my hair into 2 sections on top of my head, and going to sleep like that. The next morning, I have mermaid-worthy waves/curls. Sadly, I tried to make them stick around with NYM'S volumizing hair spray. Not a good plan. So yes, this works, I like it, but if you want the look you're after to stick around, use some good old fashioned max hold hairspray with it.
• Pastel Nails. I'm pale, and probably shouldn't wear neon colors. So my nails have mostly rocked the summer as though it were still spring. Except for the weeks I've worn Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Mermaid's Tale. Let's just all agree now, summer= mermaids, mmkay? I also love Zoya's Pixie Dust in Liberty. I love blues hues.
• I've really enjoyed smelling like Pacifica's Wakiki Pikake (which I also scored a tube of the body butter @ TJ Maxx recently for $8!), Ulta's Creamy Coolada Crackling Sparkle Mousse and Dragonfruit Parfait lotion, and Escada Especially, despite the fact that it is not too long-lasting. It's light and sparkling and pretty, which is perfect for summer really, it's just got the lasting power of a sparkler. And as always, Pacifica's Island Vanilla, which is good year-round in my world.
• When I've applied my face, I've reached for my Naked 2 and Fun palettes, a Wet n' Wild mascara, the name of which escapes me (released earlier this year I think. Skinny, purple tube. Lengthening, I am almost positive), Pacifica's Berry Guava lip balm, Nyx Matte Lip Cream in Milan, Nyx Retractable liner in Deep purple, shadows in aqua/teal shades, and Palladio blotting papers. A few new items to this (meaning, I just got them within the last 2 weeks) are Nyx's Butter gloss, a Revlon Kissable Balm Stain, and Rimmel's Stay Glossy 3D gloss. I love the Nyx glosses, especially Strawberry Parfait on top of the Balm Stain in Sweetheart. It's a bold, hot pink, which I would have to say is my other lip signature for the summer so far.
• Accessory-wise, I've gone from dangling earrings to smaller (but not tiny) ones. My favorites are a pair shaped like anchors, in a blue and white stripe, that remind me of something Betsey Johnson would have designed. The others are some pyramid and round studs, of varying degrees of sparkle, that I got at Lane Bryant (which, your size or not, they have some seriously cute jewelry.)
• On the tv, Breaking Bad. Almost nothing but. I would get into a show just before its final season, but my god, chemistry and meth and crime after crime have never been so interesting to me before. I still have the occasional fling with the trash coming out of TLC, and the new Arrested Development episodes on Netflix. Netflix is usually it, as far as my viewing habits go. Oh, and True Blood, except I think Jesus doesn't want me to watch it during any season of it. I saw the first two episodes, then no more satellite until last week. Just in time for the last two. No spoilers, but seriously?! What the hell, True Blood? What the hell?

I think this about wraps up my summer favorites, and what a long list! Which is probably a good thing. Maybe my days of summer grumpiness are soon to be a memory. I am hoping, by next summer, we'll have moved to Austin, I will be in a better place, physically, and I discover plenty more favorites to share :) Hope you have had an exciting summer!

Urban Decay Palette Bonanza

Lately, it seems like the only benefit of regular employment (beyond, um, benefits) is the fact that after toiling away for a year, you get back a portion of what you basically loaned the U.S. government, minus interest. This post is not about to meander into political territory, worry not. What I'm getting at is, I worked part of last year and paid taxes. This year, I got a refund. Yay. Plus, my sister owed me lots of cash for watching her spawn, and part of that went to Sephora. I, ladies and gents, am now the proud owner of 3, count 'em, 3!!!! Urban Decay palettes. One of which is featured in my girly stash wish list.

First up, the one I've used most often so far, and newest overall, the Glinda palette. My goodness, do I love this. I'm so insanely pale, that even with primer, the Aura shadow doesn't really show up, but it's possible the primer I'm using is a bit beyond its prime. I've used this twice so far, using the get the look card provided, and using the silver side of the shade Oz on top of South once. Love it. The eyeliner is just as good as every positive review I've read states, and the lip pencil....this might be an HG lip product for me (and don't fret  that it's "limited edition," I believe the pencil is actually the shade Naked from the permanent line of UD's super-saturated high-gloss lip pencils.) It's my lips but better. Bigger, even. Love all of it.

Next up is the item from my wishlist, the Fun palette. I wanted it from the moment I laid eyes upon it, despite my worries that I cannot carry off such bold shades. I do love the glittering teal case, and won't lie, it did factor into my want. I have played around with it somewhat, and wound up making myself look a bit clownish, bordering on drag queen. But, I was not doing any sort of actual, serious application, so that is not any sort of demerit. I am in love with the shade Fishnet, I like the mini gloss, and I think this will be my summer palette. It'd really be a good one to take with on a short trip, as it contains three neutral shades in addition to the brights. Plus, y'know, cute case to protect it from your purse or carry on.

Third is the Naked 2 palette. Not since Nyx's Waiting for Tonight/Be Free palettes have I debated so over which to choose. I consider myself to be cool-toned, although my eye color may contradict this. Most reviews stated that the 2nd of the nakeds is best for cooler tones, so I went with it. Haven't tried it yet, but I have used the brush (love), and dropped the whole damn thing on the floor, and watched every shadow but one pop out and scatter. Only one was damaged, and I think I got them all back in their proper spots. If you've never paid attention to the slight differences in colors between things online and things right in front of you, try to sort out mixed-up makeup. Between this and my Nyx Haute Jersey palette, I think will be my go-to daily palette.

Since these all came from Sephora, I was treated to the requisite free samples, plus my birthday gift (Benefits "Real Birthday Turn Ons," which consists of a mini tube of They're Real mascara and a mini stick of Watt's Up.) Also included, a bag of 5 more fragrance samples of my choice. I picked the addictive set, and I think so far my favorite may be Flowerbomb. I haven't been able to smell much lately however, so I'll be hoarding those until my sinuses decide to work again. I'm tempted to order a few more things, just to get another fragrance sampler bag :) yeah, I'm greedy, but I can make a sample last like no one's business.

I have quite a few more reviews to come, from NYX, Pacifica, and maybe a couple tutorials, and a faves post. I've gotten quite a bit behind lately, and Miss Sophie has had a respiratory illness going, but she's fine now, and I'm catching up. So stay tuned :) More to come asap!

Girly-stash Wishlist

Raise your hand if you have a list of make-up wants that reads like a novel! *raising hand* If I had an income right now, probably more than one of the following items would be in my hot little hands as we speak. Which reminds me, I should probably just start wearing makeup every day, whether I'm going out or just watching Dr. Phil. Purely to justify the cost, of course ;)

Urban Decay, The Fun Palette

I am super-duper pale. And I'm ok with that. What I am not ok with is the fact that certain eye shadow shades make me look like I went on a month long bender. The bruised look is sooooo never happened. Brights are tricky, too, unless you don't mind looking like the makeup is wearing you. I am not one of those girls. Or at least, I don't think I am. Enter this palette. UD is renowned for their shadow formula- velvety, buttery, silky. Perfection. I've never tried the brand, but I love everything about this palette, from the shadow colors, to the turquoise, glittery pouch it all comes in. That tiny tube of gloss looks good to me as well, and well coordinated. Because if you're going to wear a loud teal shadow, you should really keep your lips quiet. I've seen swatches of this palette on a few sites, and I think I could totally pull it off.

Nyx, Be Free Palette

Originally, I was not interested in this one at all. The colors looked too bleah to me, and I was loving the Waiting for Tonight palette, all JLo associations aside. I have since seen video reviews of both palettes, and this one really knocked me out. As a total eyeshadow huss, seeing swatches of these on someone who is also pretty fair skinned was one thing. Seeing how gorgeous these shadows are on that pale soul, as opposed to how boring they look in the picture, was another thing. A revelation. And the review of that other palette? Not as bueno, although several of the shadows swatched (same lady did both videos) were just as pretty as some from this one. The blushes are pigmented, the glosses are not quite as pigmented, but I am never one for palette glosses, anyway. It would also be great to travel with.

Benefit, Sexy Little Stowaways

I have never used any Benefit products. This set, for holiday 2012, would be a great intro to the brand. I am most intrigued by the "The POREfessional" pro balm, "Bella Bamba" face powder, and "Badgal Lash" mascara. The packaging is adorable, the sizes are right for taking them with (hence stowaways), and there is not one thing in this set I couldn't find use for. 

Smashbox, Studio Pop Ultimate Palette

Yes, I like palettes. I like pretty much every eye color contained within this palette. I love that the eyeliners are creams. I love the huge mirror. I love that this palette has way more than the next one I'm going to write about, but costs the same. I can see me in many, many looks with this palette.

Urban Decay, The Vice Palette

Yup, shadows are my vice. Not to be cute, as I really do love just about every piece of makeup one could possibly use (except you, coral-orange everything. And Pantone, really? Please don't pick an orange shade again for...ever.) I love lipsticks for the way they make my puny mouth look a little less so; I love eyeshadow for the way it can take my eyes from favorite feature, to favorite feature on steroids. I love the colors in this palette, neutrals, brights, soft shades and smoky. Urban Decay, for me, really is what makeup should be about- having fun. To whit- I don't understand people who freak out over the prospect of wearing what may be an out-there color. It's makeup, not a tattoo! It will wash off! Also, remove that stick from your behind, and live a little! I could see myself playing with this for hours.

These are my current gimme gimmes. The major ones, anyway :) Maybe Santa will be feeling extra generous this year! I can hope, right? 

Girly-stash, October 2012

I've found myself somewhat flush with cash this fall, so like any responsible human, I decided to save that shit like it was the last money on Earth give back to the economy by buying myself a few little things. Never feel guilty for treating yourself, people. Two bottles of Chanel's Peridot varnish? It's called stocking up! Buying five NYX jumbo eye crayons each trip to Ulta? What, they can be hard to find! Sometimes, going a little overboard isn't a bad thing. Just make sure you have money for gas, food, and houseplants (or glitter polish. Or whatever may be on your constant list of wants. I'm not bossy, swear ;) ) The following were found at Walgreen's:

 Sally Hansen's Complete  Salon Manicure line is being discontinued/reformulated, so those polishes are on sale pretty much all over. If you can find any, that is. The regular price of these was about $8. I paid $1.89 each for the two I got, shades "Angel Wings" and "Shall We Dance?" They are not my usual crazy glitters, far from it. SWD? is a pinky nude, and angel is opalescent white in the bottle, but shows up more iridescent pink on my nails. I really like them both. If you are a fan of nudes, you may be in luck, as those shades may be the only ones left in your area. Best part? On those two polishes alone, I saved $11.20. Not too shabby.

Still in the  Ms. Hansen section, I decided to give a new nail treatment a try. Hard as Wraps promises acrylic strength in 60 seconds. I am not so sure about this, as it seems acrylics would not fall prey to a steel wool scrub pad in a sink full of dishes, but I also fully admit, I am murder on my nails. I had been using Nail Life (sans formaldehyde) and it used to work well for me, but it tends to thicken about halfway through the bottle, and leaves a bubbled finish on. Never mind the fact that it peels like mad. So if HAW can outlast my obsessive hand washing, and not turn into a bottle of goo in a month, it may be my new go-to. Oh, and that's assuming it makes my nails longer and stronger.

In the travel section, I found a bottle of Clear scalp and hair therapy shampoo. I had never used it before, it smells ok, and was $1.99 for a 3oz bottle. I know these are about $5.99 full sized (about 120z),and when I did the math, the full sized is, per ounce, a better bargain, ringing in at roughly 50 cents/ounce. The travel size is 66 cents/ounce. Don't be like me and always assume a travel size is a bargain! I hate math, but I love saving my cash, so I promise to work on this :) As far as the shampoo itself goes, I like it so far. The smell is a weird, plastic-y, grape-y scent, but it doesn't linger.

Next is a Studio 35 Beauty brand travel touch-up brush set for $2.99. I've been looking for a set of eyeshadow brushes for a wee bit now, and as I could not shell out for the Eco tools set, I decided to get this one. The blush brush is too small for any sort of blushing, but I kinda like it for an all-over eye color brush. The smaller brushes aren't bad, and it also includes a lash/brow groomer, which I have been in desperate need of for some time now. So, while these are not super-awesome-professional quality brushes, they are at least as good as my travel size mark brushes I've been using for several years now. I do think the blush brush could have been better, though.

Lastly, Invigorating Apricot Scrub (store brand) was 99 cents, and seems ok, perhaps a little rougher than its brand-name counterpart of Swiss origin. I can't use it every day, but I do like it. I am an oily, sensitive gal, and if there is no exfoliation on my face, things go awry.

All in all, I'd say this was a good trip. I'm only sorry that I hadn't signed up for the rewards card before  today.

October Loves

I am so glad summer is finito. I hate hate HATE summer. Perhaps if I lived in L.A., not La., where temps year-round were not sweltering and too muggy to breathe, my opinion would change. However, I live in the temperate region I refer to as Satan's Taint. It's as unpleasant as that sounds.

Gladly, October has arrived, cooled things down enough to be bearable, so I am in a better mood, and thinking about the things I am loving now. First up, a new favorite blog. Beauty in Budget is written by Teresa, who regularly scours drugstores, Target, Ulta, Sally's and the internet, for the best deals in beauty. Her philosophy, that being thrifty does not equal being stuck with low-quality products, is a smart one. Her reviews are honest, especially helpful if you are a dry-skinned gal (but don't let that deter you! I'm oily and find her reviews insightful for my issues too), and her writing style reads like a chat from your very knowledgeable friend. She also shares her monthly gets from Birchbox, offers giveaways, and reviews any higher end products she receives (as either gifts or with great discounts.) If you love makeup, want to know where your dollars would be best spent, follow her blog. http://beautyinbudgetblog.wordpress.com/ 

Keeping in the budget theme, we move from the vanity to the kitchen. Our eating habits of late have left much to be desired. Frozen pizzas, drive thru, repeat...I'm sick of the same ol same ol. So I made a list one night, based on things we already have around the house, and built a menu from there. The two main aspects of this are 1) will this meal provide leftovers, and 2) are the ingredients able to be used more than once. I call that stretching. And it has changed how I cook. In the past, leftovers either went to waste, or don't exist (on chicken pot pie or enchilada nights, especially.) Now, I am planning leftovers. It's not quite once a month cooking, which I think my kitchen is currently too messy/disorganized/small to make work, but it's in that vein. I keep in mind the number of servings, what goes with the main, and will I be ok eating this more than twice a month? Because a nice pot of red beans and rice is great, but it's not my favorite, so the thought of eating it frequently does not set my heart aflutter. Which might be a shame, I do make really good red beans. It is on my list of to be mades, so sometime before this month is over, we will have some and freeze the rest. My goal is to stay out of WalMart as much as possible, not spend a ton on food, and stretch things as far as I can. I have a list of meals to make, how many servings they will provide, and I have tried to assign them to a day, so I can see how far they will go. It hasn't exactly worked out that way, because so far, two meals went to the freezer, and two more were eaten later in the night, or for lunch the next day. However, I feel I am on the right track, since starting this we have only spent about 200 on groceries, and I know I have enough to finish this month, and stretch into November. Fingers crossed that we make it to November 7th. Probably a lofty goal, but with careful planning, I see no reason why not :) I have a few other culinary favorites right now, but I am saving those for a possible future giveaway, so subscribe and stay tuned!

The other loves of my autumn are pretty much required for this time of year. Halloween, pumpkins, candy, nicer weather...the usual. I loved Halloween as a kid. I was always very shy, but putting on a costume seemed to help some of that float away, at least for the night. I love the holidays, despite their inherent insanity, so this time of the year is like the best of both- fun days are coming, but things haven't gotten nutso stressful just yet. And fun sized chocolate everything is everywhere. Love that! ;)

A Case Full of Happy

I <3 nail polish :)