another (mostly) drugstore haul w/swatches & FOTD

It is a warm and toasty 37 degrees fahrenheit in Orlando right now. Let's just say I'm not very happy about this. I've been avoiding my desk at night the past week or so, just because I've been too cold to leave my sofa and warm blanket (Florida translation of "too cold": mid-50's..) but tonight I actually had to break down and turn on the heat. :P I only like cold weather during the holidays, but once they're over, NO THANKS! Anyways, #rantover and now on with the good stuff. :)

• Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam foundation in Classic Ivory (Target)
• Essie Lux Effects polish in Shine of the Times (Walgreens)
• L'Oreal Colour Riche nail polish in Club Prive (Target)
• L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Plume (Walgreens)
• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (Target)
• L'Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner (Walgreens, on sale for $5.99)

I love, love, love the L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle blushes. Seriously, they are amazing. I like the Maybelline Bouncy blushes and all, but they have nothing on the L'Oreal in terms of ease of application, lasting power, and wearability. I now have three of the four shades available (I think the only one I don't have is a medium pink), and I plan on getting the one I don't have, too! Did I mention I love these? ;)

I also love the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream/gel shadows.  I think they work best as primers (as several others have said as well). I didn't think Bad to the Bronze looked that spectacular in the packaging, but when I saw swatches, I knew I had to have it. I do find it creases a bit more than the other two I have (Tough as Taupe and Pomegranate Punk), but I still like it lots.

I was curious to try the L'Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner, because it seems to be a drugstore alternative to the WEN cleansing conditioner, which I've tried and liked, but found it to run out too quickly and too pricey to repurchase.  I've only been using it for the past two days, so I can't really give a review, but I will say that it smells amazing!

L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Plume, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Plume, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

L'Oreal Club Prive + Essie Shine of the Times

The Body Shop Candied Ginger gift set (50% off; $45 down to $22.50 - total steal as these are all full-size products!)

The Body Shop mini grapefruit body scrub

Elephant mug from Target (his ears are hearts!)

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam on skin (hate it!)

Okay, so I fell for the gimmick of the foam foundation. My mistake, because this is one awful product.  It's difficult to apply, it oxidizes like CRAZY, has a pungent sunscreen smell (it's SPF 16 - random number, right?), and is extremely sheer. If you're interested, the shade I purchased was Classic Ivory. Major regret. :P Oh well, that's the risk you take with drugstore makeup, right? They can't all be winners!

The crazy part is that I still am curious about Revlon's Photoready foam foundation. And I HATE the original Photoready! I swear, you put "new" on the label, and I'm instantly intrigued. #sucker

I thought I'd show you a quick FOTD with some of the products. I've been having some issues with my camera (in my phone) lately - it just can't get the white balance right when I take self portraits - it seems to always be too bright or too dark. I'm trying to figure out the problem but until then, this is the best I can do. :\

FACE

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam foundation

Dior Aurora

L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle blush in Plume

YSL Metallic Colorama face highlighter

EYES

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette YDK (lid), Busted (crease), Booty Call (highlight)

Chanel Beige Lame e/s (under brows)

Stila Stay All Day liquid liner in Black

Trish McEvoy 24hr Shadow/Liner in Topaz

Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil in Dark Brown

Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

LIPS

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre #108 Ochre Rose

I hope you all are enjoying 2012 so far.  I know I am - new collections are sprouting up all over the place! Plus my best friend/cousin and her toocuteforwords baby daughter are coming to visit me next week for a few days - I'm stoked! And, to top it all off, all my fave shows are coming back on the air this week and next -  yay, Vampire Diaries! I've been filling my DV-R with Friends reruns this past month. :)

By the way, may I just say that this has been the most difficult blog post to write EVER because a certain little orange monster has been walking back and forth across my desk the WHOLE TIME. He particularly likes to step on the keyboard and just stand up in front of the monitor for minutes at a time. But even when he's getting into mischief, he just looks so darn cute! How could ever get mad at this little chunk?

post (kitty-)breakfast snuggle

One of these things is not like the other...

"Look how high I can climb, Mom!"

 

Thanks so much for reading!

Lots of love,

xoxo,

Jess