Monthly Manicures - February 2014

For February, I kept my nails pretty simple. The ridiculously cold weather has really done a number on the skin on my hands. I didn't want to change my nail polish too much because nail polish remover really dries out my cuticles.

Valentine's Day Treat: Estee Lauder Gift with Purchase

My mom swears by the Estee Lauder Youth Dew fragrances, and recently they had a gift with purchase that was partnered with Lilly Pulitzer. I love Lilly Pulitzer prints and designs, so my mom decided to share the gift with purchase with me for Valentine's Day. I had the best Valentine in the world!

I think the partnering between Estee Lauder and Lilly Pulitzer began in 2013, and it appears that most of the gifts with purchases through out 2013 and now into 2014 have a Lilly Pulitzer bag. Some of the gifts with purchase have compacts and mirrors with Lilly Pulitzer print and design. I have a makeup bag from last year, which I keep at work with my essentials, makeup remover, oil blotting papers, powder, lip balm, and some other essentials.

Review: QVC Exclusive Tarte Colored Clay 7-pc Collection Auto-Delivery

I ordered the recent QVC TSV with Tarte, the Colored Clay 7 piece collection. It was the TSV on February 4, 2014, but is still available on the QVC website. This kit has a series of new Colored Clay products, and also has some other products. I honestly wasn't going to order this, but I have a whole lot of member credits because QVC cancelled my Tarte Beauty without Boundaries Auto Delivery and left me with a lot of credits I have to use up, so in an attempt to just use it up, I ordered this. If I am being honest, I would much rather have had the Beauty Without Boundaries kit, but this kit is fine.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Fair

Product: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles

Color:  Fair

Price:  $8.99

Size:   0.20 fl oz

Packaging:  Click up concealer with spongy tip

Scent: None

Yay or Nay?  leaning toward NAY

This was something that I was looking to purchase for quite some time. It's okay but I would not call it my favorite product. I do not like the dispenser. I either get barely any product (after two-three twists) or way too much product (after four twists).

The product claims to create a radiant, refreshed looking eye area utilizing a formula with goji berry and haloxy to erase dark circles and fine lines, as well as diminishing the appearance of puffiness around the eyes.

Review: ELF Studio Lip Lock Pencil

Product: ELF Studio Lip Lock Pencil

Color:  Clear

Price:  $3.00

Size:   0.68 oz

Packaging:  Black twist up tube

Scent: None

Yay or Nay?  YAY

This is a product that I picked up at Target on a whim. I am not really into lipliner, although I have a few shades. I really like the idea of a clear lipliner. This pencil is great for using with any lip color. You can trace the outline of the lip as a barrier to keep the color on the lips. It fills in the lines and creates a barrier so there is no feathering. 

QVC TSV Tarte Colored Clay 7 Piece Collection

I placed an order for the newest QVC TSV with Tarte, the Colored Clay 7 Piece Collection that debuted today, February 4, 2014. For today only its on a special for just under $60, although with shipping and tax it came out to just over $72 for me.

Check out the review here.

I have had some pretty major issues with QVC customer service and orders being cancelled recently. As a result, I have quite a bit in credits from my previous orders and gift cards I had purchased to buy the orders that have now be cancelled. I probably wouldn't have bought his set but for the fact that I want to just use up these credits and probably be done with QVC.

Review: Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara

Product: Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara

Color:  Ultra Black

Price:  $9.99

Size:   0.26 oz

Packaging:  Black curved flat leaf patterned packaging with green script

Brush: Large rubberized bristle brush

Scent: None

Yay or Nay?  Yay

I picked this mascara up on a whim when it was on sale and they had two mascaras packaged together for the price of one. I love the Organic Wear FakeOut Mascara, and so I decided to try this one out as well.

This mascara boosts several different benefits, including "100% saw enhanced lashes instantly" and "94% saw extended & fuller looking lashes after 4 weeks" through the combination of BioActive Minerals that nourish & strengthen hair and ProBiotic Protein to encourage protein synthesis for healthy hair.

I had to laugh when I read that 100% saw instantly enhanced lashes, well I would hope so or what is the point of wearing mascara? As for the four week fuller looking lashes, essentially to me, this means that this mascara has natural "conditioners" for the eyelashes.

January 2014 Favorites

This month because of the unbearably cold temperatures, my makeup looks have been pretty simple. The second I step outside, my eyes water uncontrollably and I feel my lips becoming more chapped by the second. My skin is painfully dry from having the heat on high, its overall in need for a simplified makeup look.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Cream - This moisturizer is luxurious and extremely moisturizing. I try not to use it every single day, so I have been alternating between this and an Estee Lauder sample that I received as a gift with purchase. This moisturizer claims to keep your skin moisturized for 24 hours and I absolutely believe that it accomplishes that goal. In this horrendous polar vortex temperatures that has been an essential. In addition I started using the Philosophy Help Me retinol treatment so my skin has been dryer as a result of that as well. Although I do not find the Help Me to be too drying, and in normal circumstances does not leave my skin feeling stripped of moisture, but combined with the subzero weather it doesn't help.

Nivea Milk & Honey Lipbalm - I keep this by my bed, and every night I put it on. Its really cold here and I find that my lips are getting chapped and painfully dry no matter what I do to protect them. I do find that this balm is great for moisturizing them and I think it is helping from letting them get too dried out. I actually picked up one of the Nivea balms for my little brother to try out too because he is having a hard time with the cold weather, and he is liking it too.

I haven't been wearing full-face makeup most days because my skin is so dry. I just throw on some concealer and light powder to keep it in place.