We need to chat about E.L.F. For reals.

Time to end the bloggy silence of the past few weeks. So I have blogged before about E.L.F. (eyes lips face), but never really got around to trying their products. For those who didn't read the old post, the premise of this company is that every product is $1. That's it. Good quality, LOOOOWW price. What's not to like, right? Anywho, they caught my eye in Target a few times, but I'm like a child in there easily distracted by shiny things (read: cheap clothes, swimsuits, handbags, candles, home decor, etc etc. You know how it goes down in Target. You know.). However, my trip Friday night I couldn't resist this nail set...for FIVE DOLLARS. 5...dollars....:
 

I mean, shut up. One BOTTLE of OPI is $9 on sale. And these colors are totally with the trends of the season (two pastels, a coral, and two purplish pinks)...FOR FIVE DOLLARS. (Obviously I'm impressed with this price point)


Anyway, I bought it. When I got home I thought, "I'll bet these are going to be crappy quality" You know what? They really aren't at all! As you can see in the pics below, the bottle width is thinner than NARS, but no smaller overall than other nail polishes. The colors on my nails below are one coat only. I apologize for the photo quality, but just take my word for it that I am DYING over the pastel blue and purple and that coral orange on my middle finger. I'm having a hard time not changing my polish daily. The brushes make an even coat, and when I did my normal clear base, two coats, and top coat on my toes with the blue, it turned out just fine. I was complimented numerous times today on my pedicure color, so that's a great sign. On my nails I might do three coats, but for the price you can afford to do as many coats as you want.

All in all, I'm impressed. I really wondered about the quality with the price point, but have been pleasantly surprised. I plan to try out some of the other products. For a dollar each, you can really try EVERYTHING and not feel the least bit bad about throwing it out if you hate it. Let me know in the comments if any of you have tried this brand! If they keep throwing out products like this, they are definitely going to have a new fan-girl on their hands!!

E.L.F. is available online and at Target.


P.S. I edited the blog text, layout, etc today. I know most people are probably reading through RSS feed, but if you aren't and the new text/layout/etc is hard to read, PLEASE let me know. I like the way it looks but the readers preferences trump my decisions! Let me know!

Not that I want you all to compete with me but...

Holy MOLY look at the giveaway from Beauty Blogging Junkie. I really want this all for myself, but I had to share. Click the link to her post HERE to read all about the bajillion things (51=a bajillion in the giveaway world) she is giving away and follow the instructions if you'd like a chance to win.

I might fall over if I win, just a heads up.

Winter vaca 2011...aka how I saved my skin

Hi all. Sorry as usual for the lack of posts, I actually have quite a few products I want to comment on, but haven't had the time! Hopefully the next month or so I will get better about it. (I do say this every month don't I? Well. Here's hoping).

Enough rambling. I wanted to share with you a pretty old school product that basically saved my face on my vacation. T and I just returned from our week-long ski trip to Steamboat Springs, CO. It was absolutely fabulous, and I am very depressed to be home and working again. However, I do feel better in being a little more prepared this year to deal with the cold, wind, and altitude change! Last year it took about 2 weeks for my skin to recover, but this year I feel normal already! Here's some tips for any winter vacations you may have in the future.

1. Get a humidifier in your hotel room. I know. Any readers outside of the south are probably laughing at me, but whatever. I am Southern through and through, and my skin, sinuses, and eyes just CANNOT handle the dry, cold air. Last year I was miserable by day 2...this year the FIRST thing I did was ask the hotel for a humidifier, which they promptly provided so I must not be the only person in need! I may complain about the humidity when my hair is in full on freak out, but I sure do appreciate it when I'm NOT in the steamy South!

2. Chapstick. Copious amounts. No brainer.

3. Visine. I had two bottles--one in my ski pants pocket and one in the hotel. Again. Copious amounts.

www.walgreens.com $5

4. Aquaphor. This is the old school product but by God, it's GENIUS. It's basically straight Vaseline on your face, but I guarantee you will wake up in the morning with all traces of windburn GONE. Lifesaver this trip. Lifesaver.







 


5. Sunscreen. Just because it's snowing does not mean you don't need sunscreen. I'm in LOVE with Neutrogena Ultra sheer SPF 70. Best. Sunscreen. EVER.








I did not have any of these items last year except the sunscreen, and I was pretty miserable with the dry skin and such by the last day. I was a bit #fail on my hair this trip, it's dry and a bit messed up now so I'm going to work this week on repairing that mess. Maybe next year I'll get skin AND hair down. :)

Now I have officially had my fill of winter...bring it ON Spring!!

Yet another post to share!

I need to start collecting the best posts of the week and sharing at once, don't you think? Anyway, my dear friend Coco has inspired me to get a little more, shall we say, fierce with my lipstick choices. I am starting with a red from NARS called Viridiana (Color swatch to the left, $24 at Sephora). She suggested "Beyonce Red" by Loreal Infalliable lipstick, if you don't have time to get to a Sephora as well.

If YOU would like to move into the realm of red, check out this post from Beauty Bets (again, told you it was a good blog) on "The Best Red Lipsticks of All Time"

Blog post to share

Hi all! I realized that part of the goal of this blog was to share blog posts that I find, not just cover products I have personally tried. So, I am going to try and be a little better about doing that (and you all will get more postings and info from me in the process. Win-win, right?)

This is a blog I started following recently, and I really enjoy it. Her post today is about cuticle oil, which I know I could definitely use after this frigid winter. So go check out Beauty Bets drugstore discovery.

Covergirl SmokyShadow Blast

So I had a couple extra bucks in my pocket this weekend and decided to try out a couple of new beauty products for fun. The first one I'd like to review is the Covergirl SmokyShadow Blast. I purchased "Bronze Fire" (dark brown and cream) at Rite Aid for ~$8.

Photo: www.covergirl.com

First, the set-up. Step 1, which goes over your whole lid is a rounded tip, and step 2, which goes along the lash line and in the crease is more pointed. Both sides are the consistency of typical wet eyeshadow or wet blush...fairly thin, definitely not like lipstick. It goes on smoothly, but I had to use my finger to blend it all in. I also needed regular eyeliner...the second step is not really eyeliner at all.

It looks pretty good going on, although it was a little bit light. At the end of today (4 pm) I can still see it some, but the "smoky" effect is definitely blended away. It's definitely not a substitute for a proper smoky eye with normal eyeshadow. For a weekday though, it works. It also would be a good tool to throw in your purse as a "back-up" tool for last minute plans or surprise work meetings where you need to freshen up your look. Also, it would be a good tool in a gym bag; that way if you shower and get ready at the gym you don't have to tote a ton of eyeshadow tools with you.

Overall, I give this a B- for ease of use but points off for light application and not staying on very well.

Help me choose!

Gals I am going to a Mardi Gras ball in two weeks. After 6 years in Louisiana I am FINALLY getting around to checking this off my list. It's not a big fancy one like the ones in NOLA, but it's definitely a good one for Baton Rouge! :) And I never, repeat NEVER, get  the chance to be dressed up or anything. 99% of my time is spent in gym clothes and lounge-wear these days...needless to say, I'm pumped.

So this is a pic of me and T from 2007 at my sister's debutant ball in the dress that I will wear. Cute dress, but I gotta say it's not one of my most outstanding hair and makeup moments. Very plain. I would like to actually look like I am attending a ball from the neck up this time. I am not going for an updo...T is not a huge fan, and it costs more at the salon to get an updo. It needs to be a style that can survive though. I get it styled at noon, but the ball isn't til evening, and I will be outside for a parade at some point as well So...what say you? Let me know in the comments what you think. If you can't see my profile pic, my hair is longer now than in 2007...about to my collarbone.

All photos courtesy of People.com

I'm kinda thinking one of the Glee girls, what do you think?? If you have any better ideas, please let me know. Also. Makeup ideas...I am thinking smokey eye with neutral lip, and a steel grey nail polish. Yay or nay?