Monday, January 24, 2011

2010 NV AWARDS: HAIR

My netbook with all my pics is still on the fritz, so my apologies for all the stock photos. But all of these were really my fav's in 2010 and I'm still using all of them currently!! I don't necessarily have both high end and drug store favorites, like I did in my 2010 NV Awards: Makeup.

FLAT IRON





This is pretty much the flat iron I used since this summer. Even though it's only 1", I can do my hair in about the same amount of time I did with my 2" one I used previously. I love that the temperature can be controlled! Also, the on and off switch is on the inside of the flat iron--with my old one, I was always accidentally turning it off! So irritating! To see my review, go here!

HEAT SETTER


Caruso Ionic Hair Setter. I <3 this thing! It takes me about 10 minutes to roll my hair, 15 minutes (just to be on the safe side) to let them cool and I'm ready to go! My hair can be hard to curl and this does a great job! It also gives me long lasting curls--my hair even looks good the next day. That's right, even after I slept on it, still looks nice the next day! LOVE!!! I can't believe I didn't do a review on this yet! I've been meaning to film a video for yt showing you how easy this is to use! Be on the lookout!

CREAM TREATMENT

Oscar Blandi Pronto Gloss. This stuff does it all! It fights frizz, tames flyaways, adds shine and protects against heat. Seriously, what else could you ask for? This eliminates the need for me to use multiple products. It smells pleasant and doesn't feel heavy in my hair at all. Ahh-mazing! An easy favorite to choose!

HAIR SPRAY

Garnier Fructis Style Bamboo Hair Spray. I don't use hair spray much on myself. Just when I curl my hair. But, I use this once a week on my daughters hair before ballet class to keep her bangs out of her face! It does a great job holding her hair, but doesn't make it crunchy either. Also, this is inexpensive and smells really nice!

OIL TREATMENT

Kahina Giving Beauty 100% Argon Oil. Ahh-mazing product as well! Argon oil has been getting a lot of hype lately and for good reasons! I love to add a few drops of this to my conditioner and let it sit for a while. It really does a great job smoothing out my hair and moisturizing it! I can let my hair air dry after using this and it doesn't look crazy! Usually my hair gets frizzy and BIG! But this let's my natural wavy texture rock it out! I use this about once a week. Otherwise, I reach for the Oscar Blandi Pronto Gloss. This stuff is pricey, but well worth it!

***I am not really loyal to any shampoo or conditioner. I will purchase anything decent that is on sale! I refuse to use anything that costs $1, like Suave, because I have before and it ruined my hair!! Brands I did used most in 2010 were Tresemme, Aussie, and Fruitopia.**

Stay tuned for my NV Awards: Skin edition!

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Sunday, January 23, 2011

UPDATE

My charger isn't charging my netbook anymore! I have to fire up the old laptop! More posts soon!! I hope everyone is having an awesome new year so far! Please check out my new youtube channel in the meantime! More videos to come also!


Monday, January 17, 2011

2010 NV AWARDS: MAKEUP

Here's a quick peek at my most loved products from 2010. Most of them were featured on my blog. I filmed a video for these, but I accidentally deleted it!!!! So before it gets too far into 2011, here's my favorites list! I have high end as well as drug store favorites, but not necessarily in all categories.

FOUNDATION


Drug Store
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse
Even though this is supposed to be for oily/normal skin folks, I found myself reaching for this all the time! I went through two of these last year. That's pretty good since I usually just keep trying different ones---I tried LOTS in 2010. I have to exfoliate well before wearing, otherwise it can show dry patches, but when my skin is behaving, this is my favorite drug store foundation!


High End
Laura Mercier Liquid Foundation
This was my favorite liquid foundation by far! The coverage is nice, but doesn't feel like a mask. This is also moisturizing on my dry skin! My shade this summer was sunny beige. I need to pick up another bottle in a lighter shade. I love this one!

CONCEALER

Drug Store
Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer
This is the best drug store concealer I tried in 2010. Though I have to say, I didn't really try that many. I just loved this so much, I didn't feel the need to. This gives very good coverage. Covers any redness and does a good job at under eye darkness as well.



High End
Benefit Erase Paste
This is my HG concealer! I absolutely love this! I bought one this summer and I probably have half a pot left. I need so little to conceal redness and under eye darkness. It can get a little cakey if you use too much, but I think I've got it mastered! Try this is you haven't yet!!!

POWDER

Drug Store
ELF HD Powder
I don't use powder everyday, but when I feel like I need a bit, this was the only one I reached for. Even though it's white, it buffs right into my skin, leaving no trace.=)

CREAM BLUSH

High End
Graftobian HD Cream Blush palette
Ok, I know some people won't agree that Graftobian is high end, but at $23.99 for this palette, I'm calling it my high end product! I LOVE this stuff! I used this almost every day once I got it. It's extremely smooth and pigmented. This really stays on my cheeks ALL DAY. All of these colors, even the dark cherry glaze, it's very wearable for my fair skin. I can't say enough good stuff about this palette.

POWDER BLUSH

Drug Store
Sedona Lace 28 Blush
Ok, ok...you can't find this at the drug store, but Sedona Lace has great pricing, so there! =P
I heart this palette! A few of the blushes are a bit similar, but all the colors are great. The only ones I don't use are the extremely light ones and the orange. These have really good pigmentation, and on top of my cream blush, stays all day!



High End
NARS Orgasm
This is my favorite coral blush! I don't even mind the sparkles in it. I can't really see them on my skin. I used this SO much in 2010, but I haven't even come close to hitting pan! This is so pigmented, I just a few light taps to give myself a nice healthy glow! So worth the $26!

Eyelid Primer

High End
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Professional Size
What a great buy! I love this stuff! I can't imagine not using this. I have tried a few other drug store brands and they just don't compare for me. I just wish they would make this packaging permanent. In a million years when I run out of this one, I might have to jump ship and try Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance for the packaging. Please Urban Decay, keep this packaging!!!


Eyeshadow, powder

Drug Store
Sedona Lace 88 Metal Palette
I HEART this palette. I have MANY palettes, but I used this SO much in 2010! The pigmentation is crazy! I think these def compare (most anyway) to my Urban Decay and MAC shadows. The range in this palette is great, but you gotta love non-mattes. I get so many compliments when I use this palette. I wear a lot of the same colors over and over, but enjoy "discovering" new favorites all the time. Again, I just can't say enough good things about this product! LOVE!!!


High End
Urban Decay NAKED Palette
Of course, I know I got this late in the year, but it's an easy winner. I have only 5 MAC shadows, which I like, but this is my second UD palette and just think they are great! All of these colors are so wearable, which I love! I have so much fun with this palette and enjoy watching my favorite beauty gurus show me awesome looks to try with this.

EYE LINER

Drug Store
AVON Super Shock Gel Pencil Liner
Alright, alright! I know this isn't drug store, but you get my logic by now!
This is a fantastic liner! It just glides on and is so pigmented. These were only available for a short time in the US, sadly. I just have one, plumful. I love it! I wish the other colors were available here. I know these are available in the UK, so pick one up if you can!


High End
Urban Decay 24/7 Liners
I have three of these: Zero, Bourbon, and Whiskey. I really enjoy all of them! These are great on my waterline! These do tend to smudge though, which is the only thing I don't like. I def set these with powder when I use this on my top lashes. I haven't tried any of the other colors, but I'm mostly a neutral gal, so the ones I have work well for me.

Mascara


Drug Store
Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black
This is the blackest, blackest mascara! I love the formula and it gives me such thick lashes! This was hands down, the BEST one...not a hard decision to name this my favorite!!

Lipstick


Drug Store
AVON Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact
These are exactly what they say they are---very pigmented! They also don't dry out my lips like some lippes can. There are so many colors but my favorites of 2010 were "Never Nude" and "Magnified Mauve". These are great! I really like AVON lippies.

High End
Graftobian Cream Cup Lipsticks
These are soooo creamy! They have to be the creamiest lippies I've ever used. The staying power of these are really nice too. My favorite is "Kiss me".

Lip Gloss


Drug Store
Cover Girl AmazeMint in Freedom of Peach
I didn't do favorites of 2009, but this would have been it! I've been using this for two years! I love it! The peppermint oil in these is amazing!! It's the perfect name!! I don't care for the unattractive packaging, but the gloss is great. It's not slippery and not sticky! The consistency is great for me! The color "Freedom of Peach" is a great color for my fair skin and makes my look more polished.


High End
LuMesh Magaly Lipgloss
Ah...these are amazing also! These feel even better than the Covergirl, which you know I love. These even feel good after they've worn off! They are very conditioning for my lips also. Colors are great too! I wish I could have alll 5!!!!


WOW! That's a lot of products! Be on the lookout for my next NV Awards list--skin care, hair care, and tools!!!

Stay NV'ious and check out my new youtube channel!





Tuesday, January 11, 2011

FREE BEAUTY EVENTS ALERT!

It's that time of the month again! Free Beauty Events is hosting another fab give-a-way!

"This month, for example, L’Oreal will demonstrating their True Match lines at select Rite Aids around the country as well as handing out coupons and samples. This information is available for FREE on our website where spas and retailers can promote their events. Anyone who would like our site visitors to know about their beauty event can make a posting for free on our site at http://www.freebeautyevents.com/submit.
On our site you can enter your zip code to find out what makeover, gift with purchase, spa open houses and sampling events are happening near your home. Readers can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   In addition to listing in-store makeovers, Freebeautyevents.com also features a blog on product reviews (
http://www.freebeautyevents.com/beauty-blog) and a monthly contest http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest. We also do a contest each week with a smaller prize on our blog. Please feel free to enter these contests yourself, the odds of winning last weeks contest of the week were 1 out of 8!"




For the month of January 2011, Free Beauty Events will be giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of a Venus Embrace Razor Kit and Revlon Expert Shapers Emery Boards! The Contest runs from 1/1/2011 to 1/31/2011, winners will be chosen on 2/5/2011 and notified by 2/15/2011.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY, PART 3

The good folks at Vapour Organic Beauty sent me some goodies quite a while ago. I've been enjoying many things. Here's the next items in my Vapour Organic Beauty series! These are cream eyeshadow sticks!

Two are from the Mesmerize Shimmer Eye Treatment line, Cinder & Ember. The other one is from the Mesmerize Line (which is supposed to be matte--but I can't agree with that--check out the swatches). Here's a bit from the company about these products that I found to be most interesting:



"Mesmerize Shimmer Eye Treatment is a seductive, sparkling eye color that defines and enhances the eyes while delivery hydrating antioxidants to the skin. Like Vapour’s original matte Mesmerize Eye Color Treatment, Mesmerize Shimmer is infused with Vapour’s nourishing, eye-specific botanical blend, including anti-inflammatory Chrysanthemum and circulation-enhancing Horsetail, to brighten and define the lids without the use of harsh chemical adhesives." 




Sorry this pic is a bit on the blurry side--like how my camera picked up the background better than the foreground? Yeah... me neither! Check out the swatches





These are so cute to start! I just love the Vapour packaging! Not only can you recycle it, it's awesome to throw in your bag/purse and not worry about it getting all over your stuff or breaking! It's very nice and creamy is and easy to use. I just swipe my fingertips in a small circle to warm up the product and use my ring finger to apply some to my eyelids. They say you can wear this on your own, so I tried that out one day.

Well...that ended up a mess. It slip-slided all over my eyes and down under my eyes. Not good. So I tried with mineral eye shadow, as suggested. I used some of my lovely Smooth Minerals from AVON that I love. This worked out much better. It kept my shadow on all day and kept it looking nice. I didn't have any creasing either, so whoray!

Here's a some picture of my makeup complete wearing Cinder on my eyelids as a base. The shadow in this one is actually from my 88 Metal Palette from Sedona Lace--probably one of my all time favorite palettes!


At $16 a pop, they are a bit pricey. But the benefits of using organic products outweighs it in my book! These sticks are small (.17 ounces), but a little seriously goes a long way! I think if they made them bigger, they'd probably go bad before you'd have a chance to use it all. I've had these for several months and have hardly made a dent in them.

Overall, I really enjoy these sticks! They are beautiful colors, which I think would flatter most skin tones and they not harsh to your skin/eyes. I know a lot of people are looking for more natural and earth friendly makeup and I think this fits the bill!

Have you tried Vapour Organic Beauty products? What are your favorites?

Want to win my Hairdo 22" Straight Clip in extension? Go to my new youtube channel and check it out!


FTC Disclosure: I was sent these for review. This is my honest opinion. I was not paid to write this review, or any review for the matter. I am not affiliated with Vapour Organic Beauty.