February Favorites!

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer - I've been hearing a lot about this highlighter in the beauty blogging world recently, so I decided to get it, and I'm really loving it. My top three highlighers at the moment are Dior Amber Diamond (subtle glow), MAC Honey Rose (pink glow) and now this one has become a favorite. It's a pearly champgane, that's subtle, but a little more glow than Dior Amber Diamond. I'll post a full review soon.

Physician's Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Powder Foundation - Yes, you read that correct. It has an SPF of 50. I'm completely bummed out because this product has been discountinued. I picked it up for 50% off late January and I've been using it almost every day. Considering I exfoliate my skin on the regular, wearing an SPF is a must for me to avoid sun damage on my sensitive skin. I haven't found my favorite lotion yet, so along with my Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation (SPF 20) and this powder applied on top, I have all the sun protection I need. If you can get your hands on this powder, I'd recommend trying it. It'd be great for the summer months!

Coastal Scents Camo Quad (Concealer Wheel) - I purchased this last year, and neglected it for the most part until recently. I have it in the shade "Medium" and when my skintone was in the medium range (when I was self-tanning) the colors were too light and looked ashy under my eyes. When I have no tan, this palette is perfect. It provides an awesome full coverage (similar to MAC Studio Finish) and works great for covering blemishes. It's been my favorite "go-to" concealer for the past couple of months and I've already hit pan on a couple of shades.

Coastal Scents Fan Brush Black - Before purchasing this brush, I had an ELF Studio Fan Brush, which isn't that great, but it'd get the job done for applying my highlighter. This brush is so soft, and three times as large. I love the way it feels on my face, that I've been wearing highlighter every day just so I can use it. I'm sure it'd be great for applying loose powders as well.

READ MORE!


Zara Woman Blueberry Rollerball - I picked this up recently during my checkout at Zara and I've been really enjoying using it this month. It's warm, fruity, and so yum. I always roll it on my wrists so when I'm going about my day, I can catch a quick whiff.

MAC Brun Eyeshadow - Espresso and Cork have been my two favorite brow fillers over the years, but I've recently switched to Brun, which is a little ashier and darker than the others. It seems to match my deep-dark brown hair much better.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows - I've mostly been using Bold Gold and Bad to the Bronze, this month, almost completely neglecting Tough as Taupe. I wear brown eyeshadow on my eyes almost every day, so these work as great bases to keep my eyeshadow going strong all day long.

L'Oreal Infalliable Eyeshadow in Endless Pearl - I really like the look of opaque flesh-toned eyeshadow on the lids, and this one does it for me. Previously I was using MAC Brule, which I will always love, but I have to literally dig in the shadow with a sponge applicator for opaque coverage. It's a bit easier to achieve opaque coverage with Endless Pearl, so I've been reaching for it quite often and really enjoying it these past couple of months.

Physician's Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner in Dark Brown - You may remember my recent review for this liner in black where I raved about how it's my favorite drugstore liner. Well, I picked it up in Dark Brown and it's amazing. If you spot these babies on sale, give 'em a try.

MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick- A vibrant warm, summer pink. What's really not to love? I barely ever wear a soft, neutral lip anymore, and although this lipstick might look crazy and bright in the tube, when patted on the lips with a little bit of gloss, it's a beautiful pink that can be worn every day.

MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick - I posted about this lipstick recently and can't get enough of it. It's sheer with one layer, but very buildable for opaque coverage. I usually only just wear one layer, and sometimes mix in MAC Hue to create a really gorgeous pink.

Wet n Wild Megalast Matte Lipsticks in Dollhouse Pink, Don't Blink Pink and Think Pink - Think Pink (very similar to MAC Creme Cup) is a shade I've had forever and it's been one of my favorites for some time now, but lately I've been reaching for it almost every day to mix in with all of my other bright pinks to tone the brightness down. I love the mixture of Dollhouse Pink or Don't Blink Pink with Think Pink. It makes them much more wearable and less in-your-face. Out of the three, I've been wearing Dollhouse Pink the most (applied sheer, with a lipgloss on top).

Chanel Bagatelle Glossier Lipgloss - I think this is probably my favorite lipgloss ever, and I'm so upset that it's limited edition! It's the perfect warm, shimmering pink that looks beautiful alone, or atop any pink lipstick. Get it while you can!

Swatches:

Swatches from left to right: Physician's Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner in Dark Brown, MAC Brun Eyeshadow, L'Oreal Endless Pearl Infallible Eyeshadow, Maybelline Bold Gold Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow, Maybelline Bad to the Bronze Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, MAC Viva Glam Nicki, MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick, Wet n Wild Don't Blink Pink Megalast Matte Lipstick, Wet n Wild Dollhouse Pink Megalast Matte Lipstick, Wet n Wild Think Pink Megalast Matte Lipstick and Chanel Bagatelle Glossimer.

 What were some of your Feb favs?

NOTD: Wet n Wild Mega Last Salon Nail Color in 205B Sugar Coat.

 Wet n Wild Sugar Coat Mega Last Salon Nail Color 

Early this year Wet n Wild launched new packaging and an improved formula for their Megalast Nail Polishes. The new formula claims to be long-lasting, promising 5 days of wear. They came out with some new colors along with some of the old, with eighteen shades in total (or at least 18 on Wet n Wild's website).

I wanted to give the new formula a shot, and purchased the shade Sugar Coat, which is a pale, milky peach-pink.

The brush is wide and flat, curving at the tip for a one-sweep application. It's similar to the brush of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish or Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish. It's great for those with average to wide nail beds, but may be a little difficult for those with narrow nail beds. I really like the brush, and for my nails, it provides a very even application with less streaks.

 Wet n Wild Sugar Coat Mega Last Salon Nail Color 

(Three Coats with Seche Vite Top Coat)

Sugar Coat is a really nice natural shade that looks great on it's own or as a pale pink base for french tips. You really only need two coats, but once of my nails ended up a little streaky, so I ended up painting three coats.

The drying time is okay, it's not very fast, but with a fast drying top coat, your nails shouldn't smudge.

I really like this polish, and I'm hoping it lives up to it's 5-day claim. Regardless, a bottle only costs $1.99, so it's not a huge loss.

I'll be updating this post letting you know how long it lasts before chipping or peeling!

Have you tried any colors from the Wet n Wild Megalast line? What do you think of them?

Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Youth-Boosting Foundation & Brush Review.

 Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Youth-Boosting Foundation

I purchased this foundation a couple months ago when I first spotted it on the rack at CVS. I'm not going to lie, the only reason I purchased it is because I saw the little hot pink sticker stuck to the front that reads "TRY ME FREE" that you may spot every once in a while on newly launched Physician Formula products. When you see that little label on the product, it's basically like a mail-in rebate. You send in your receipt in along with the label, and you will receive your money back for the product. (For more information on PF's rebates, click here.)

I'm always interested in trying new foundations, so I thought it was worth a shot, even though it isn't targeted for my age range. That doesn't really matter though, because I've used "firming" and "age-defying" products before and really liked them.

Anyway, Physician's Formula's new Youthful Wear Foundation claims to even out skintone and texture, blending effortlessly while providing a flawless coverage that will last all day. It also claims to be Physican Formula's first ever "Cosmeceutical" foundation that will help treat visible signs of ageing, restoring skins firmness & elasticity and improving the skins appearance in the long-term. Alright, Physician's Formula, You had me at flawless coverage!

Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Foundation is available in three (3) shades: Fair, Light and Medium. Apparently PF didn't get the memo that there are more than three colored skintones out there. 

The foundation is housed in a little purple squeeze tube, which is great for travel (no bulk), convenience (no struggle getting product out), sanitary and you won't waste any product as you'll be able to squeeze out every last drop. And for those of you that like to cut open your squeeze tubes, to literally get every last drop, you'll be sure to get every molecule.

It also comes with a small synthetic foundation brush, which is very soft and actually works pretty well.

READ MORE!

First off, I'd like to mention this is a silicone based foundation. Let me tell you, my personal preference is, I. Hate. Silicone. Unless it's 350cc's of silicone being inserted into my chesticles, I don't want it on my face. Like I said though, it's only my personal preference. For my skin type, silicone based products just make my skin look dull and after several hours, it can feel uncomfortable and oily/itchy on my face.

I chose the shade Light, which is a peachy beige shade. It lacks any real golden tones, but once applied to my face, the color looks much better. After going through different foundations in my stash, it seems to be a perfect MAC NW25 color match, but it can also work for NC20, maybe even NC25 - which is around what I am now. Although it looks a little dark on my hand, it seems to blend well on my face.

The consistency is very light, airy and moussey. It's much like the texture you'd see with a mousse foundation, such as Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse or L'Oreal Magic Souffle Foundation. It blends very well and feels light on the skin. I read in a review that the texture is similar to Laura Mercier Silk Creme, but I disagree completely. Laura Mercier Silk Cream is much creamier and moist. I don't find them comparable.

The coverage is light to medium. It evens out the skintone very well, but my freckles still show through. It has a satiny-matte finish. To add a little glow back into my skin, I like tossing on a little Benefit High Beam on my cheeks.

As for application method, I don't care for the brush it comes with. I like the brush, but not for this foundation. I don't like using my fingers, and I don't like my usual synthetic flat top brush. The best brush I found for this foundation is the good ol' MAC 187 Duo-Fiber Stippling Brush (any skunk brush will do).

Let me tell you though, I have very normal skin. I sometimes apply a moisturizer before a foundation, but not always. I've found that when using this without a moisturizer, this foundation highlights the imperfections on my face and shows dryness I didn't even know existed. It makes my skin look dull and dirty. I then tried using this with a silicone primer and.. *screams* don't ever do it! It balled up all over my face like nobody's business and little balls of foundation fell all over my clothes and in my hair. Don't do it. SO, I applied a good layer of a water based moisturizer mixed with a face illuminator (I used this one I purchased from Forever 21) and then applied the Physician's Formula Foundation and it was like an "AHA!" moment. The foundation seemed to adhere to the moisture on my face, and it blended better on my face and the final result was 100x better. The results were like night and day. You must moisturize your face for the best results and if you'd like an extra glow (since the foundation is matte), add an illuminator in with your moisturizer.

(I applied a layer of DDF Moisturizing Dew mixed with Forever 21's Love & Beauty Illuminator to my face, then using my MAC 187 Brush, I stippled the Physican's Formula Foundation all over my face and swirled the brush in circular motions until all of the product was blended. Then, I applied Benefit High Beam to my cheeks and the bridge of my nose using the same brush. Lastly, I added a little bit of Nars Irrisitiblement Bronzer all over my face for color and Kevyn Aucoin Hot Pink Liquifuschia Cheek Color to the apples of my cheeks.)

The result is incredibly natural, flawless skin. It softens my pores and makes my skin look very smooth. I find the lasting power to be pretty average. It seems to break down a bit after 6 hours. I don't set it with a powder, but I'm sure that would prolong the wear for a couple more hours.

Overall, it took a quite a bit of work to figure out this foundation, and I think it's pretty good. I think it's a terrible foundation for dry skin, and the most suitable for combination/oily skin.

Ingredients: Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 1.960% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Didecene, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tribehenin, Nylon-12, Polyamide-5, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ceramide 3, Glycerin, Aluminum Dimyristate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Silicate, Olive Glycerides, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.

PROS: It has a velvety smooth texture, feels incredibly light on the face (can't feel it at all!), provides a good light-medium coverage and comes with a foundation brush - even if it's not useful for this particular foundation, you may be able to find a use for it. I like using it to apply concealer.
CONS: Limited color selection. There are only three shades: Fair, Light and Medium. There aren't any shades light enough for porcelain skin or medium-dark to deep skintones. The consistency is a little thick, so if there is not enough moisture on the skin, it can be difficult to spread. Looks dull on dry skin. It's quite expensive for a drugstore foundation, at around $14-$15.
PACKAGING: The packaging is great. It's a small squeeze tube, which is great for travel (no bulk), it's sanitary and you won't be wasting any product, as you can squeeze out every last drop.
OVERALL: Overall the foundation isn't bad. It's just so-so to me, and although I will finish up my tube, I don't think I will be re-purchasing it. I think those that will find the best use out of this foundation is those with light to medium skin that leans more towards neutral (as it lacks yellow, but isn't too cool/pink) with minor imperfections. It will even out the skintone and camouflage very minor blemishes. It's best suited for combination to oily skin as it's a foundation that really needs moisture to adhere to, and it also has a satiny matte finish which is great for those with oily skin types. 

Maybelline Bold Gold Eyestudio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow Review!

Maybelline Eyestudio Bold Gold Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

I previously posted about a couple Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows last month, and since then have been using them (mostly Bad to the Bronze) a couple days out of the week. 

Shorlty after, I picked up one additional shade, Bold Gold, which is basically a shimmery, medium toned brassy-gold. 

Bold Gold is a great shade that can be used alone, for a simple wash of color across the lids, or it can be used as a base for a powder eyeshadow to prolong the wear of the shadow, and to make any golden hues in the powder eyeshadow stand out more.

One of the ways I like wearing this shadow is applied all over the lid, with a soft brown shadow blended through the crease, and the top lid lined with a dark brown liquid (or pencil) liner for a quick and simple look.

(Cropped from a previous post)

My favorite application method is with my fingers, or a flat synthetic concealer brush. If you want more opaque color, a sponge eyeshadow applicator works well.

Maybelline Eyestudio Bold Gold Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

READ MORE! 

One of my favorite color combos is using a gold base with a black eyeshadow layered on top, or vise-versa (black base with gold eyeshadow on top). The two shades create a dark blackened olive green shade. It's a little more fun than your standard black. (See below photo)

Here are a few swatches of different eyeshadows layered over Maybelline Bold Gold. 

Swatches from left to right: Maybelline Bold Gold Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow, Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow (copper-gold) applied over Bold Gold, MAC Gilt By Association Mineralize Eyeshadow (blackened bronze-gold) applied over Bold Gold and MAC Black Tied Eyeshadow (black with silver shimmer) applied over Bold Gold.

Applied over Urban Decay Half Baked, the color appears brighter and much more opaque. Applied over MAC Gilt by Association, again, the color is more opaque, and the golden tones in the shadow are intensified. Applied over MAC Black Tied, the mixture of the black and gold make a pretty shimmery blackened green (Nars Night Clubbing dupe?)

I always used MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot (golden apricot cream shadow) as a base for my gold shadows, but I prefer the color of Bold Gold much more. 

If you wear a lot of warm golden and brown eyeshadows, I think you'll really enjoy this product. It's a very easy to use product, it lasts all day and it's in-expensive. 

You can find Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows at your local drugstore that carries Maybelline. The average price is around $6.

Get 'em before they're gone.

I know, I know, makeup brushes again. But I just wanted to share that Coastal Scents recently launched some new brushes (or newly designed brushes) and put all of their current brushes on Clearance. The brushes were already inexpensive to begin with, so the extra discount (I believe it's 50%) is quite the steal on several of them.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them, but some of my favorites include: The Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush, Black Sable Buffer Brush, Destiny Kabuki on a Stick and Fan Brush Black. Most of their eye brushes are quite good. I use The Pro Blending Fluff Brush and Destiny Blender often, and I would say they are very comparable to higher end makeup brushes.

 Assorted Coastal Scents Brushes

*With any new makeup brushes, I recommend washing them before use to release any loose bristles, and rid the bristles of any dust that they may have came in contact with during manufacturing. Also, brushes typically feel softer after a good wash.

I've been ordering from Coastal Scents from the past couple of years and I'm really happy with their service and shipping time. I typically always receive my order within three business days, and my order has never been wrong. (No affiliation)

Check out all of their brushes, by clicking here.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set!

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

I've been interested in trying makeup brushes from Costco for a while now, after repeatedly hearing about how awesome some of the sets have been over the past few years.

I don't have a membership to Costco, so as far as inventory goes, I'm not really sure how often the selection of brushes changes. The location near me only had this set available, and of course, it could differ from location. I really wanted to try a Borghese Brush set, and I didn't know until now that they aren't sold all year round. Apparently they are available around the holidays, and there is a new set each year. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I don't want to give out false information).

The Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set includes: Contour Kabuki Brush, Highlighting Fan Brush, Finishing Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Powder Brush, Cheek Brush, All Over Eye Brush, Angled Eye Brush, Crease Eye Brush, Liner Brush and Cosmetic Bag/Brush Roll.

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

 On the Costco website, the set retails for $29.99. But, at my local Costco, this set was only $13.97! (My amazing friend picked it up for me. Hi May!) I wouldn't necessarily purchase this set for $30, but $14 is an absolute bargain (A little over a dollar a brush + the brushroll/cosmetic bag!)

My favorite brushes include: The Finishing Brush and Pointed Foundation Brush. The finishing brush is one of the softest brushes in the set and feels wonderful on the face. The pointed foundation brush is also very soft and doesn't make the foundation application streaky. Also, because of the pointed shape, it applies the foundation well in small areas (around the the nose, brows and hairline) and it works well for applying concealer.

My least favorite brushes include: The Contour Kabuki Brush and Highlighting Fan Brush. These are my least favorite of the bunch and I probably won't use them often. They are incredibly soft, but almost too soft for my taste. They are synthetic, but the cheap synthetic, where the fibers are shiny and plasticy. I prefer natural bristles unless it's for foundation. I may use them for setting powder, though.

READ MORE!

 I like all of the face brushes in this set, and like I already mentioned, the finishing and foundation brushes are my favorite. All of the brushes are soft, but the powder and cheek brush aren't luxuriously soft. I don't mind that though, and I'm sure they will feel better with a couple of washes. They are dense, and the powder brush works really well for application of loose powder and the cheek brush works great for bronzer.

All of the eye brushes in the set work wonderfully and I have no complaints with any of them. My favorite eye brush in the set is the crease brush. I have a thing for tapered blending brushes, and it's the perfect size for blending color in the crease and it can also work for applying powder under the eyes.

 

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

I was a little hesitant about this set at first because purple is actually my least favorite color in the color spectrum, but these brushes are a very deep, elegant eggplant purple and they don't seem to clash with my other black handle brushes in my kit. 

The quality is very good, and all of the brushes are really sturdy.

If you can nab this set for $14, it really is a good deal. I'd pay $14 alone for the foundation and finishing brush!

To view more details about this set, check it out on the Costco website by clicking here. 

MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick

MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick ($16) is described on the MAC website as a watermelon pink. It's a pretty accurate description. It's a vivid, reddened-fuchsia pink with very fine hot pink/purple shimmer. The shimmer is so fine that you don't feel the grit on your lips. If you were a MAC fanatic in the Fafi days (2008), you might remember a gorgeous little lipglass called Totally It, this lipstick reminds me a lot of that color.

It seems like all I have been posting about lately is bright lipstick - but I swear, I think this is the last one for a while. Maybe.

Insanely It has been on my wishlist for a while now, and I actually like it a lot more than I thought I would.

You don't hear too much about the MAC Sheen Supreme line of lipsticks, and I'm not sure why, because they are amazing formulated lipsticks.

MAC Sheen Supremes are a hybrid between a lipgloss and lipstick. They have the pigment of a lipstick, are ultra-buttery upon application and have a finish of a lipgloss. I only owned one prior (Bare Again) and I have to say they are incredibly comfortable on the lips and they keep any dryness at bay.

Here it is swatched on my hand. With one swipe, it has sheer coverage, but you can easily build the intensity to opaque coverage.

Here it is on my lips. I'll try incorporating a full-face shot when doing lip swatches in the future, but I've been sick for the past week and I wasn't wearing any makeup today. 

And a close-up so you can see the sparkles..

Are you a fan of the Sheen Supremes? 

Guest Post: Eye Look featuring MAC Star Violet Eyeshadow.

Guest Post Written by Ashley

Today the lovely Ashley of Beauty-Twist shares us a gorgeous eye look focusing on MAC Star Violet, a pinky-brown plum veluxe pearl eyeshadow that will compliment all eye colors.

MAC Star Violet Eyeshadow

I'm really loving purple toned eyeshadows at the moment and as I was swatching shades during my latest trip to MAC, I spotted Star Violet, a gorgeous pinky-brown plum with a veluxe pearl finish. This purple-burgundy shade blends like a dream and pairs beautifully with golds and browns. Star Violet is highly pigmented, extremely smooth and velvety, and has a slightly metallic sheen. I find that it performs best when blended into the crease and on the outer-v of the eye.

I only recently began wearing purple on my lids and wish I would have started doing so much sooner! Shades within the purple family are a great compliment for all eye colors and really make the eyes pop!

*Follow these steps for a gorgeous eye featuring Star Violet*

1. Using a flat eyeshadow brush, apply Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow in Bad to The Bronze onto the lids. Blend the shadow upwards and stop at the eye's crease. Use an eyeliner brush and apply to the lower lash line.

2. Apply a gold shadow to the inner corners and first 1/3 of the eyelid. (I used Urban Decay's Half Baked but you may use any gold shadow that you have on hand.)

3. Next, apply Star Violet to the outer-v of the eye and blend into the crease. Be sure to buff out and harsh edges for a soft, smoky effect.

4. Finish of the look with liquid liner and 2 coats of mascara.

Guest Post Written by Ashley

Hi, my name is Ashley. I�m a project manager by day and a self-professed beauty and fashion addict 24/7. I created my blog, Beauty-Twist, to share my passion for makeup and beauty products, fashion, photography, and writing. I love testing out new products, experimenting with style, and expressing my interests through my photographs.

The content of Beauty-Twist consists of makeup and product reviews (drugstore and department store), beauty advice, fashion and styling tips, and occasional photo outings. I�m always on the lookout for up and coming trends in makeup and fashion whether it be a new eye shadow palette, skin care product, the latest shoe trend�you name it! I hope you�ll check out my blog at beauty-twist.blogspot.com.

Where you can find me: 

Review: Hollywood Fashion Tape!

Hollywood Fashion Tape 

Hollywood Fashion Tape is a double-stick tape that can be used on the body and/or clothing. It's said to be gentle on the skin, hypoallergenic and will not leave a sticky residue behind.

When I was working in the office, safety pins were my best friend for covering up any cleavage that my dress shirts may expose. It was probably the most annoying thing in the world to be running out the door to work, realizing that my shirt may be too low-cut, or the slit in my skirt may come up too high. I'd be fumbling at each stop light, wishing to get stuck by a train - but it always seems like when you want a red light, you get nothing but green, right? Anyway, I'd be pricking myself with the pin all the way up the stairs before reaching the office, only to have a visible metal pin showing from my neckline. Whatever. It was better than being "Chesty McChesterson" at the front desk. I tried a couple of double-stick tapes, but they weren't sticky enough and didn't do the job - especially when I had a tight fitting shirt (I needed something more like crazy glue to keep them shut.)

The tape is pretty versatile and you can use it in so many different ways. Aside from your neckline, you can use it to cover up the gaps between buttons on a dress shirt, to hold your bra straps in place, to keep your loose fitting blouse from falling off your shoulders or to temporarily fold over/under your pants that are too long (temporary hem).

The tape is really easy to use. For a quick fixer like the images below, you won't need the full piece of tape. Just snip it in half and peel off the backing. Then, place it on the fabric that is hidden once your shirt is buttoned. *Try your best to place it in the correct spot without having the tape exposed, to avoid removing the tape and trying again, as it may lose some of it's stickiness and become less effective. Remove the remaining backing. Line up the fabric that will lay on top of the tape directly above the tape (so it's not touching) to make sure you're laying it straight. Holding the fabric taut, place it on the tape and press firmly.

READ MORE FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS!

Hollywood Fashion Tape

I think the tin can packaging is really cute. It's small, lightweight and ideal for travel. If you're one of those girls that has everything and more in their bag for a "what if?" moment, then you need one of these. (I'm that girl, by the way. You need Tylenol? Midol? A Band-aid? Hand Lotion? Dental Floss? A Pen? No problem!) I'm sure they'd come in handy at some point for you or your girlfriends.

If you'd like to minimize the junk in your bag, you can simply just carry a few pieces of tape in your wallet or side pocket.

I haven't used this tape in any other way other than with a few of my dress shirts, but it works like a charm and keeps my shirt closed for the full work day.

Hollywood Fashion Tape is sold at Hollywoodfashionsecrets.com for $8.99.

And say no to free shows. ;)

Wet n Wild Within These Adobe Walls Megashield Lip Color Review, Photos and Swatches!

Wet n Wild #372S Within These Adobe Walls Megashield Lip Color SPF15 

Wet n Wild released a new line of lipsticks to their permanent range this past January called the Megashine Lip Color with a SPF of 15.

These lipsticks are promised to deliver sheer to moderate coverage and comfortable wear, while keeping the lips moisturized with it's buttery soft texture. (Contains: Vitamin E, Amino Acids, Avocado Oil, and Rice Bran Oil.)

There are fourteen (14) shades in the line-up: #360S Birthday Suit, #361S Peachy Keen, #362S Make Me Blush, #363S Arrest Me Copper, #364S Bare-ly Legal, #365S Ring Around The Rosy, #366S Pink Slip, #367S A Currant Affair, #368S That's Berry Beautiful, #369S Salsa Lessons, #370S Lolly Popstar, #371S It's A Girl, #372S Within These Adobe Walls and #373S Pink Cham-pagne.

I don't know if it was the dim lighting of my CVS, but none of the shades really appealed to my personal taste. Several of the shades have a frosty finish to them, and frost just isn't my thing.

I did manage to find a shade that I thought would be suitable for daily wear - Within These Adobe Walls, a warm, coral-pink. There is no shimmer or frost, just a lovely cream formula.

Wet n Wild #372S Within These Adobe Walls Megashield Lip Color SPF15 

The consistency is very creamy and feels nice on the lips. The consistency reminds me a little bit of YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks, but less thin, and more moisturizing (RV's aren't moisturizing at all). Maybe a little more similar to MAC's Sheen Supreme Lipsticks. Some reviews I've come across compared these to the new Revlon Lip Butters, but I haven't tried them yet, so I can't compare.

#372S in particular has fantastic color payoff. The color is opaque in just a few swipes. I also love that it has a shiny finish.

The color reminds me a lot of YSL Tender Peach Rouge Volupte Lipstick, but with a stronger pink tone, and less peach.

It's a very pretty color, and livens up my face.

Wet n Wild #372S Within These Adobe Walls

As an added bonus, these lipsticks have a SPF of 15, so they provide a little bit of sun protection.

Since I really like the formula of these, I might pick up a couple more shades. It's A Girl (A pretty pink) and Salsa Lessons (warm red) look like pretty shades.

You can find these at your local drugstore that sells Wet n Wild for $2.99.

Glass Nail Files by Mont Bleu.

I've ditched using a standard nail file for the past year or so, and switched over to glass files. Although I'm no professional, I've gathered a few nailcare tips from nail bloggers and beauty communities along my blogging journey that seem to know a lot about nails.

When picking a nail file, I always pick a really fine grain in order to avoid damaging my nails. I use to have a really big problem with my nails splitting/peeling - realizing later that it was due to the pure acetone nail polish remover I was using a couple times a week. A blogger recommended looking into a glass file to avoid any further splitting of my nails, so I purchased a glass nail file from Sally's Beauty Supply and have been using it ever since. Metal files and emery boards can sometimes be too rough on the nails, especially if they are brittle already. Glass nail files are very gentle on the nails and yield a very smooth result. 

Glass nail files are also very easy to clean, and will last for years. You may pay a few dollars more for one, but it's worth the investment. 

To clean a glass file, simply run it under water. 

Unfortunately glass files aren't as widely available as emery boards and steel files are, and the ones that are available usually aren't very cute or trendy.

I recently discovered Mont Bleu, and was given the opportunity to try a couple of their files. Mont Bleu is a Czech based company that specializes in the making of Glass Nail Files, that are hand decorated with Swarovski crystals and/or unique patterns & designs, delivering quality products worldwide. Although their main product is glass nail files, they also have a selection of other accessories including: glass foot files, tweezers, compact mirrors, costume jewelry, manicure sets and more.

Their files come in a velvet sleeve (not pictured) which is perfect for traveling and to prevent any damage to your nail file. Because it's glass, if you drop it on a hard surface, it can break, so keeping it in the protective sleeve will protect it.

Mont Bleu has a ton of different designs, and they actually use Swarovski crystals, as opposed to cheap, plastic rhinestones. I'm really enjoying my mini file, and keep it stored in the pocket of my handbag.

They are also very affordable at around $7-14 each. To view all of the designs, check out their website at http://www.design-glassware.com/1-home.

Cheryl also posted a review for Mont Bleu recently, click the image below to be redirected to her page.

Disclaimer: This post contains a product sample provided by the manufacturer for consideration. All opinions expressed in this post are my own, and reflect my honest opinion based on my personal experience with using this product.