Influenster: Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin

I received the Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin in Light Hair in the recent Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012.

This set of two retails for $7.29 at Target, drugstores, etc and you can check out all of Goody's offerings on the Goody Website. This set comes with two light or blonde shaded spin pins.

These are fantastic. I was skeptical at first, and I cannot tell you how many time I have walked by these in the store, tempted to pick them up and try them out, but have always hesitated. I think I hesitated because I thought even if they work, they wouldn't work for my hair because its so fine. 

I now keep these in my work makeup bag, as a backup for putting my hair up quickly, easily (even without a mirror) and professionally when I need it up and would otherwise have reverted to a ponytail.

Holidays Ahead...

This is the time of year when things seems to go in fast-motion. The last month has gone in pretty fast motion for me. My grandmother passed away November 7, and the days since then and even leading up to it, are kind of a blur. I have a short week at work this week, which is nice, and my sister is going to be coming home on Tuesday night, so we are planning for some fun family time on Wednesday night when I get out of work, complete with games and competition! :)

As far as the holidays themselves go, this year is odd, because for the past 4.5 years we have planned holidays around my grandmother, who needed someone in her home caring for her most of the time, and so our holiday plans are still geared towards her house.

I am looking forward to some family time with my mom and siblings this long weekend, and of course, we have to help with things having doing with my grandma, so I am guessing it will also be a very emotionally draining time, but it needs to be done.

Unfortunately, with all that going on, things have been a little bare on the blogging front. But I will try to get back on track with things.

Influenster: NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact

I received the NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact in 08 - Dark Shadows in the recent Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012.

This compact retails for $4.99 at drugstores, and you can check out all of NYC's offerings on the NYC New York Color website. This compact is nice because in addition to having 4 eyeshadow colors, to create a full eye look and a sponge-tip applicator, it also contains a primer and cream illuminator.

I like the idea of having the primer enclosed in the package. It is not the absolute best eye primer I have used by any means, but it does the job. I think that especially, for the purposes, that I like to use such palettes for this, this primer definitely meets the needs.

The colors in this kit do not appear to have individual names, however, they are well labeled by their proper placement, i.e. highlighter, al over lid, crease/contour. I think that for a newer makeup user this can be especially helpful, but I have a lot of makeup and don't always follow the directions as listed with such things.

Influenster: Kiss Ever PRO Lash Starter Kit

Kiss Lashes Website Link

I received the Kiss Ever PRO Lashes in 05 as part of a Influenster VoxBox. You can find these lashes at Walgreens for $4.99 and also can find lashes on http://www.everezlashes.com/home

I really like false lashes for a night out, wedding, etc. I think its fun to doll yourself up every once in awhile. For truly fancy occasions, I have had individual lashes professionally applied, as I think that is the most natural route, but can be so entirely time consuming when you are going to do it on a Friday night. 

I typically purchase Ardell lashes, in individuals and I really like the effect they give, but like I stated they can be time consuming. I feel that full strips can be very fake looking, but I was pleasantly surprised by these lashes.

I really liked that this these lashes were 100% human hair. They were a bit thicker for false lashes then I tend to utilize, and this is because I am always wary of looking like I am wearing false lashes. I want a perfectly full lashline that looks completely natural. These lashes didn't look perfectly natural, but that isn't to say they didn't look good, they just looked less natural than any other lashes I have used.

Influenster: Boots No7 Beautiful Skin

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion & Night Cream

I received the Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion and Night Cream for Normal/Dry skin in the recent Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012.

I love trying new skincare products, as I am always looking for the perfect products. My skin has changed in the past year, I used to be much more oily/combination, and I have found that I have some much dryer areas as of recent. I was excited to give this combo a try as a result.

I used these samples for about two weeks, and I must say I really like the products. The Cleansing Lotion was a new concept to me. This product retails for $8.49 at ShopBootsUSA (http://www.shopbootsusa.com/), Target, drugstore.com, and Ulta. I followed the instructions for use, that I found on the Influenster website: Best applied to dry skin, massage upward and across the skin using cotton or wool, avoiding the eye area, and wipe off. I use Target Up&Up cotton pads, but I am thinking of checking out the Shiesedo face cottons as well, and I think they would work great for this. 

My only issue with this product is that it isn't eye safe, and while I really like the way it works all over my face, I often look for multi-functional products. But overall, I really like this product, and the way that it left my skin feeling, it was fresh and clean without feeling dried out or tight. 

The second-step in this two-step system is the night cream. I really enjoyed this night cream, it was rich but not heavy. I often find that moisturizers that are made for skin that borders on dry can be overly heavy and oily, but I really enjoyed the texture of this moisturizer. 

Influenster: Bath & Body Works Fall Mini Candle

I am huge fan of Bath & Body Works, and I was super excited to receive the fall mini candle in Nutmeg & Spice in the Influenster Beauty Blogger Box. You can find these candles at: http://www.bathandbodyworks.com or at any Bath & Body Works store.

Bath & Body Works Nutmeg and Spice

I had never tried the Nutmeg & Spice scent, but I found I really like it. I tend to like "foody" scents from the fall and winter collections the most. I always love the Kitchen Spice, Caramel scents, and I love Twisted Peppermint.

Product Information:
Size: 1.3 oz
Scent: a warm and cozy fragrance inspired by an elegant mixture of nutmeg and all of autumn's very best spices.
Cost: $3.50 (often can find sales, such as 2 for $5)

October Favorites

I have been sticking to the same routine for basically the entire month of October. So I guess I can call these all my favorites.

1. China Glaze Urban-Night Nail Polish.  This is a deep plum purple cream nail polish. I really love it for the fall, I picked it up last year, and I am pretty much done with the bottle. I think this is one of the first nail polishes that I have used up, its not quite there yet, but the texture is getting goopy at this point. I am going to try to find something similar or possibly find this exact color and repurchase, I like it that much. I think its perfect for fall, and its even a hit with my 91 year old grandma, who normally looks confused by my nail polish choices, but early this month said that she thought it looked pretty.

2. Benefit Porefessional Face Primer. I am really liking this primer, especially combined with my foundation below. I love that it gives me a flawless finish, and that I just need a little bit to do my entire face. I am almost out, so I am going to be looking at some other samples I have right now, but I anticipate I will be repurchasing.

3. Revlon ColorStay Whipped Cream Foundation. I purchased this on a discount, combining coupons, and I am really glad I did. I think it gives wonderful natural medium-full coverage, and wears excellently throughout the day. I have other foundation products to use up, so I am not sure I will repurchase for awhile when I run out, but at the same time I have been using it this entire month, and have made just a bit of a dent in the foundation.

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dazzled. This is a beautiful rosy color with slight shimmer. It gives a natural glow to the skin, and brings some much needed color to my ever pale fall/winter skin. I could do without the shimmer, but it's slight and doesn't bother me.

5. Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless 12 hour primer. I got this in a small set with two face primers, and then picked up a full-size on a super deal at Ulta in September. I love this primer. A little goes a long way, and it really keeps my eye looks going. I work approximately 10-12 hours/day and my eyes look just as good when I get home as they did when I do my eye makeup.

6. Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Peach Sorbet. This is the one of the most boring nothing colors I own, but it gives a beautiful base to my eyes, and I love that it is pigmented enough to cover my freckles, without looking to light or white on my eyes. It really gives me a perfect looking eyelid look.

7. MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe. I have been combining this with the Revlon Peach Sorbet in the crease for a very classic look. Its perfect to deepen my eye look and give it some sophistication without being too difficult or complicated. I really love this color and I always find it to be versatile, but its really been perfect this month.

I am going to work on venturing outside this look for the next month. I am thinking I might be delving more into deep purples and greens on my eyes. I really like the idea of expanding on a classic look, with a little bit of fall color.