Project Pan | March 2015

Hello there!

Here's another reason on why I went on a No-Buy March... I wanted to finish up some older products in my collection before they expire on me! So to speed up the process, I decided to participate on the project pan which I don't know the complete rules to but since I'm doing this for myself, I decided to set my own rules.

Some of these products I plan on just trying to finish up at no designated deadline while other products I'm trying to finish up in a couple weeks or so.

The following pictures were actually taken at the beginning of March so I've definitely made some progress since. I'll be doing a couple updates on my process on IG and on here.

Starting with the lip products...

The Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint that I've had for years just needs to go, but I can't get myself to just throw it out because its such a good product and its not even expired! This product has actually been repackaged into a clear squeezy tube in case any of you want to pick it up! Deadline is end of April.

The Bigelow My Favorite Lipbalm is to be completely honest, not "my favorite lipbalm" I prefer using this as a deep lip moisturizer at night or as a clear gloss over matte lippies. And I actually have gone through about 1/4 of this since I've taken a picture of this so deadline for this is end of March.

EOS Lip Balm I actually use this lip balm before any lip product I decide to wear at any given day and is actually flat to the point where I have to use my fingers to apply it so deadline for this is end of March.

Milani Lipgloss I actually threw this in my purse so I could use it more often but I lost it!

Moving on to eye products...
elf Clear Brow and Lash Gel I mainly use this on my brows and I'm actually not a big fan of this clear brow gel so I just want to get rid of it ASAP but I won't be giving myself a dead line for this just because I can rarely ever get myself to use it.

Maybelline BrowDrama just like the elf brow gel, I'm not a fan of this brow gel. Ever since I trimmed the brush to make it straight I find that I use it more often so deadline for this is end of June just because it will take me a while to use it all up.

NYX Eyeshadow Base in White I never use this on the eyes because it creases very badly on me so I just use this for face makeup/paint. I rarely do face makeup so deadline is end of June.

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer I actually like this eyeshadow primer but I just want to try to use it more often so it doesn't dry up on me. Deadline is end of June.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara as I've previously stated in my review for this mascara, this is my favorite mascara and I actually have a full size back up for this so I'm trying to finish this so my back up won't expire on me! Tip: don't get a backup unless you know you go through a product very quickly! Deadline is end of March. 

NYX Eyeliner in Gray this is one of my very first makeup products ever. I've had this eyeliner for over three years and I just want to use it I'll up. Deadline for this is end of June.

elf Eye Primer this is actually almost gone so I just want to use up every bit of it before I open my back up. Love this primer! Deadline is end of May.

Sorry for the blurry shot! I didn't realize it until I made this post...

Moving on to face products...
elf Mist & Set I really like this product except the actual spray applicator! Deadline for this is end of June. 

elf HD Lifting Concealers these a  these actually aren't the best concealers but I enjoy using these as a concealer-foundation hybrid and just setting them with powder on days I want a really natural look. Deadline for this is end of July.

Smashbox Photoset pressed Powder I've actually already hit pan on this and made quite noticeable progress since I took a picture of this (I know I wish I took a picture of the actual product so I could keep track of my progress). I know I go through this pretty quickly compared to my other bronzers so I'll try to have my deadline for this be at the end of July.

I wish I took a picture of the actual products so you can see my progress. I'll remember to do so on my update!!

'Til then, Mary ~

Products Worth the Investment | Artistry Automatic Eyebrow Pencil Review

This week's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Artistry Automatic Eyebrow Pencil which has been sent to me by the company to review.
Just to make it clear, this is my first time working with a company to review products for them, meaning I purchased all the products that I've previously reviewed/featured with my own money and even if this product and the mascara on my previous post has been sent to me to review, the following is my own honest opinions on the product.

Alright now that I made that clear, lets get on with the review!

Close up of the product. I got the shade Soft Black.

This brow pencil comes in three neutral shades in Taupe, Brown, and Soft Black and retails for $13.55 for the actual refill (0.15g/0.005oz) and $15.05 for the refill holder (has a brow brush on the opposite end) at aogoods.com.

My bare brows.

My brows filled in with just the pencil and blended with a bare brow brush (no brow gel to set).

I tend to do a more natural brow look and I find that this pencil allows me to easily do so as it provides a beautiful soft-focused look on the brows.

Pros:

-Beginner/user friendly

-Looks very natural

-No sharpening needed

Cons:

-Doesn't provide any hold to the brows, requires an additional step of setting with a brow gel

-Lightly pigmented (could also be a pro because it gives a very natural look to the brows)

-Pricey...definitely a debate on whether its worth the investment or not

Over the three weeks of testing this brow pencil, I found that this works best for giving natural looking fuller brows. With this brow pencil, you really can't go wrong, its very user friendly and quick to apply. The only downside is that you have to buy the refill and the refill holder separately which are both pretty pricey alone and will total to $28.30! Overall, I think the Artistry Automatic Brow Pencil is not worth the investment. There are tons of other brow products out in the market that are far more affordable and will give better, if not equal, results.


Any brow product recommendation? Leave them in the comments below!


-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Artistry Signature Eyes Volume Mascara Review

This week's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Artistry Signature Eyes Volume Mascara which has been sent to me by the company to review.
Just to make it clear, this is my first time working with a company to review products for them, meaning I purchased all the products that I've previously reviewed/featured with my own money and even if this product has been sent to me to review, the following is my own honest opinions on the product.

Alright now that I made that clear, lets get on with the review!

This mascara retails for $26 at aogoods.com...before the price tag scares you away, I'd recommend you to stay and read on the see the results.

Here's a close up of the brush.

My curled lashes without any product.

My curled lashes with one coat on the top and bottom lashes.

My curled lashes with two coats on the top lashes and a light coat on the bottom lashes.

With the Artistry Signature Eyes Volume Mascara I feel like I could get the results of two or three layers of other mascaras with just one coat of this one. I definitely see a slight bit of length and tons of volume with one coat of this mascara and going for a second coat would just be unnecessary for day to day wear. At just one coat, I feel like my lashes are already big and volumized to my liking and by the second layer it starts to clump and feel heavy.

Pros:
-Effortlessly allows volume and length with just one coat
-Slightly waterproof, it can last through tears and the rain
-Holds a curl all day
-Doesn't flake throughout the day

Cons:
-Has a slight plastic-like smell
-A huge pain in the butt to remove
-Can give clumpy and spidery lashes


Over the three weeks of religiously using this mascara, I found that this would be a great mascara to use on those days you want super big voluminous lashes. I think you could definitely pull off a second or even a third coat as long as you comb you lashes in between layers. Even if I really like this mascara, I would probably not repurchase it because its just too much of a hassle to take off. Even if it gives me really good results, I debated with myself every morning on whether big lashes was worth the extra eight minutes of taking it off at night and for the price of $26, it slightly steers me away.



Have any mascara recommendations? Leave them below!

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | LA Colors 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette | Review and Swatches

Hello there!!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the LA Colors 16 Color Eyeshadow palettes.

If you've been following me here or on Instagram, you probably know that I've had these palettes for a while now and it took me soo long to finally review these because I wanted to make sure that I've used each palette well enough to make a clear and honest review.

Here are the three palettes from top to bottom: Haute, Smokin', and Sweet.

The first thing I noticed when swatching the shadows is that even if they feel very smooth, creamy, and buttery, they are very powdery and have tons of fall out! You've been warned!

Haute

Swatches of Haute without primer underneath.
I'm a little disappointed with this palette as I wish they didn't have two very similar cool toned pink shades and I find that the orange and light green shades are less pigmented than the rest. I think that golden olive shadow from the top row is also very random and doesn't fit the theme of this palette. With all that madness going on with the top row, I am obsessed with the bottom row, especially with the four shades to the right!

Smokin'

Swatches of Smokin' without primer underneath.
I have no complaints about this palette only that I wish the black was a little darker rather than being a charcoal shade. Aside from that, I completely adore this palette!

Sweet

Swatches of Sweet without primer underneath.
You all know I love my neutrals! This palette offers a decent amount of  neutral shades that gravitate towards the warm side. With the handful of shades available, I still think it is not enough, it lacks transition and definer shades. The black shadow in this palette is a bluish black so it isn't the same black shade as from the Smokin' palette.

The white shadow from all three palettes are exactly the same shadows which is really disappointing!
Also, I wish the palette offered a wider range of finishes. All shadows have a pearlized or shimmer finish which is again, pretty disappointing because that makes these palettes not suitable for being "stand-alone" palettes.

Although I would always recommend using a good primer, all shadows show up quite impressively without primer underneath (No where close to the UD Electric palette or Lorac Pro palette). For onlt a couple dollars, these shadows are very pigmented on the eyes, especially the lighter highlighter shades, I find that even if I lightly tap my brush into the shadow and tap off the excess, I still have lots of pigment left on my brush to work with and give my inner corners and brow bones a good highlight.

Overall, I think the L.A. COLORS 16 Colors eyeshadow palettes are great palettes to add to your collection if you're just wanting to experiment with a little color and go out of your comfort zone. For the price of $3.99, you're not losing much. And if you already have great, highly pigmented, good quality shadows (not saying that these aren't!), then I think you can definitely skip on these.
I find Smokin to be great to use for adding a pop of color to your smokey eyes, Sweet for everyday neutral eyes, and Haute to add a definite pop of color to your everyday looks. Although these palettes claim to have both matte and shimmer shadows, the finishes range from pearl to shimmer. The Sweet palette offers a decent range of shimmer highlighter shades, shimmer transition shades, shimmer defining shades and even some stand-alone shadows, but no palette, in my opinion, is good enough on its own, you need a matte transition or defining shade unless you're aiming for an all out, bright, shimmery look.

I hope you found this quick review helpful!

Stay tuned for more reviews!

Thank you for reading!

-Mary

No Buy March

Hello hello there!

I've recently decided to challenge myself and go on a no-buy March!

This challenge is mainly targeted towards me not purchasing any makeup or makeup related products because I'm trying to use up some products that have been in my collection for a while. 

I think the second worst thing next to breaking makeup is having them expire on me! So I'm trying to use up my oldies before they go bad. 

Yes! This will definitely be a challenge for me because soo much companies are releasing new products that I am just dying to try!! And there's so much makeup sales/discounts going! Ahhhhh!! It's torture... 😩😭

I really hope this goes as planned! Anyone else joining the challenge? 

- Mary 

Products Worth the Investment | Sephora 12HR Jumbo Liner

Hello hello!!

Happy March! I hope everyone has a great month and year ahead of them!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Sephora 12 Hour Jumbo Liner pencils which are a collection of 28 multipurpose pencils that could be used as eyeliners or eyeshadows.

These jumbo pencils create a range of different effects and are resistant to water, heat, and humidity. From deep blacks to rich and shimmery shades, each is formulated with exclusive waxes and pigments to assure maximum color intensity that stays put for 12-hours, as it claims on the Sephora website.

There are 28 different colors available:

1. White                      15. Silver Glitter

2. Grey                        16. Grey Glitter
3. Taupe                      17. Beige Glitter
4. Beige                       18. Pink Glitter
5. Brown                     19. Dark Taupe Shimmer
6. Gold                        20. Brown Glitter
7. Khaki                      21. Dark Brown Matte
8. Green                      22. Green Shimmer
9. Turquoise                23. Peacock Blue Shimmer
10. Marine                  24. Electric Blue Matte

11. Violet                    25. Mauve Shimmer

12. Purple                   26. Purple Glitter
13. Glitter                   27. Purple Matte
14. Black                    28. Lilac Shimmer

Claims:

                                         O agree     X disagree

-O Can be used on the inner corner, outer corner, upper and lower lid, waterline and tight line.
-O Can create a dramatic finish or a soft blended out finish.

-O Pencil may be blended with fingers or a brush to spread color all over the eyelid. 

-O Layer two jumbo pencils to create your own custom look. 

-X Can be used as a base for your eyeshadows to make them last all day long. 

For some reason, you cannot use these pencils as an eyeshadow base because it will only create a really harsh, unblended look under your eyeshadows. It works better to lay it over your eyeshadows to create an even more intensified look.

Retail Value: $14 USD

One Swipe. Left to right: White, Purple Glitter, Taupe, Khaki, and Black.

Rubbed swatches.

Wet swatches after rubbing.

Overall, I think the Sephora 12HR Jumbo Liners are worth the investment, especially if you can get them on a discount or bundle. I would say though, that $14 for each pencil sure is a bit pricey, but these are absolutely great products that are super pigmented. With these, a little fefinitely goes a long way! I swipe these over my mobile lid when I just want a quick brightening color or I smudge it out for a nice cream shadow or waterproof liner. I find that these are the only eyeliners that I've tried so far that are actually waterproof and stay on for over 12 hours even on the waterline! As you can see the swatches from after smudging and wetting still stayed in place and are still very vibrant.

Let me know what you think of these Sephora 12HR Jumbo Liners and definitely let me know if you have any comparable products for less!


Thank you for reading!! 

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | NYC Liquid Eyeliner | Review + Swatches

Hello there!

This weeks Products Worth the Investment review is on the NYC Liquid Eyeliner. If you follow me on Instagram (@wndr14lnds), then you might recall me being on the hunt for a good drugstore liquid eyeliner that could be used to cover excess lash adhesive. Well, this was the eyeliner that was recommended to me the most so I definitely wanted to give it a try.

Brush tip applicator.

I only realized that I picked up the pearlized black shade when I got home, but they have a regular black shade available too.

Overall, I really like this NYC Liquid Eyeliner and I will definitely be purchasing the regular black shade. Even if I didn't end up using this particularly for covering excess lash glue like I intended to, I still really enjoy this for adding a nice twist to my regular black eyeliner looks. This eyeliner is super pigmented and long lasting. I love the brush tip which is super precise at the tip, allowing you to create the fines and boldest lines in just a couple strokes.

Got any product recommendations or suggestions? Leave them in the commends below!

Thank you for reading!

Stay tuned for more reviews!!

-Mary

The Creative Blogger Award

Hello hello there!

Yes yes, I am posting on a weekday which my seem like a miracle, but I've been trying having great opportunities lately! Recently, I've been very busy with school so when I have a little free time in my hands, I try my best to work on my blog...it seems like I haven't been exposed to the sun in ages! Haha. 

Anyway today I have been, once again, nominated by dramabeautypop for another blog award! This year alone I've been nominated by her for two awards already! The Liebster Award back in January and the Sisterhood Award in the beginning of this month. Definitely check her out and follow her blog! She is very supportive of me, she has an amazing blog and posts daily! You'll love her!

So let's get into it!

Rules:

1. Nominate 15-20 bloggers and notify all nominees via their social media/blogs. 

2. Thank and post the link to the blog that nominated you (very important!). 

3. Share five facts about yourself to your readers. 

4. Pass these rules on to them! 

Five facts about me: 

1. This is my first year of blogging (officially a year on August)!

2. I have four names. Which some people find normal and others think it's really strange. 

3. I have double jointed fingers! Should I insert a picture? Nooo...I don't want to scare any of you away. Hahahah. 

4. I hate insects/bugs. Every kind of them out there! The only insect/bug I sometimes don't mind holding is an ant. I once played with an ant and it played dead on my finger for about 10 seconds. 

...Yes, I'm strange. Welcome to my world. 

5. I find tons of happiness from the littlest in life. I'm in the process of converting and living a minimalistic lifestyle. The only collection I will keep and continue to grow is my makeup/art collection (Duhh!)

Now that you've learned a couple facts about me...it's your turn!!
I'd love to get to know my readers and fellow bloggers!

I won't nominate any bloggers because I don't want to be limited to who I can nominate and I mostly follow bigger bloggers, but if you're reading this, please consider yourself tagged!!!

If you do this, please leave a link in the comments below so I can read your post and check out your blog!

Thank you so much for reading! 

Have a great night! 

- Mary 

Favorites of the Moment | Makeup Favorites + Mini Reviews

Hello hello!

I just realized that I haven't shared some favorites in a while and since The Oscars is today (which I actually don't keep up to), what better day to give some extra love and appreciation to my absolute favorites? I thought I'd do a quick post sharing some products that I've been absolutely loving recently.

I haven't done reviews on any of the items on this post, but I certainly plan on doing some full individual reviews on certain products. 

Any requests? Just leave them in the comments section and I'll get to you as soon as I can!

Products worth the Investment | e.l.f. HD Lifting Concealers | Review + Swatches

Hello there!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on these e.l.f. HD Lifting Concealers which are from their studio line.

These elf concealers have been raved about by so many so I wanted to test them out for myself. I've been using these for a couple months now just because I wanted to test how it could wear on my skin throughout the different seasons.

Swatches with the shade Light on the left and Fair on the right.

Blended out swatches. Light on the left and Fair on the right.

These concealers are definitely medium to full coverage, as you can see it completely covered my mole. Heehee. On my combination skin, I find that these concealers definitely need to be set with a powder right after blending them in, otherwise they will set into your fine lines.

PROS: Long wearing.A little goes a long way. Very blendable. Medium to full coverage - covers up most imperfections from hyperpigmentation, to sun spots, to redness, to darkness under the eye..
CONS: When builded up, it can feel heavy and look cakey throughout the day. Unnatural/non-skin-like finish. Hard to find a good shade match.

Over all, I really like these concealers, they have such great coverage and staying power for being only $3, still I wouldn't repurchase them. Because of how hard it is to find a perfect shade match, I had to pick two shades (which neither ended up even matching). The light shade is way to warm and orangey to use as a concealer (and no, its not a peachy toned concealer), while the fair shade is too cool and pinky toned on my warm complexion.
So are these elf HD Lifting Concealers worth the investment? Hmmm...I don't think so. I definitely think you can skip on these and save your $3 for another great, affordable concealer for an additional couple bucks.


Stay tuned for more reviews!

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Rimmel Provocalips | Instant Kiss Proof Lips + Swatches

Hello hello there!

Hopefully this isn't too late. I meant to post a review on the Rimmel Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Poof Lip Colours at the beginning of February, but I just got way too busy. Anyway, here it finally is!

730 Make Your Move (top) and 230 Kiss Fatal (bottom.)

Make Your Move is a rusty nude.

Kiss Fatal is a deep berry/plum with a slight bit of shimmer.

The lock and shine swatch is on the far right, its just a typical clear gloss without shimmer.

There are eight total shades from this collection that range from pale nudes, to pinks, to reds, and to a deep plum.

These are the two step type of lip color/stain that has the color on one end and the lock and shine on the opposite end. There is a faint chemical scent in the colored part while the lock and shine has a yummy coconut scent. I usually don't like coconut, but this one just smells so delicious and it hides the chemical scent from the colored side.

I've tested these for over a month and I can say that they are definitely kiss proof, transfer proof, food proof, and drink proof! I can't guarantee that these lip colors can last over 16 hours, but I've worn them for 13 hours and yes, they held up surprisingly well!!

I know a lot of people have complained about these being so difficult to remove, but I find that using baby oil works wonders at removing these stains right off. I also use the Neutrogena oil free makeup remover which works almost as great.


Overall, I think the Rimmel Provocalips 16 Hour Lip Colours are absolutely great products that are definitely worth the investment. I love how comfortable, pigmented and long lasting they are. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a lip color/stain that leaves a beautiful stain on your lips and not just the typical reddish tint most lip stains leave behind.



I hope you found this helpful!


-Mary

Valentine's Day | Dark Smokey Eye Tutorial

Hello lovelies!

Here's my second Valentine's day inspired tutorial which is on this dark and vampy smokey eye! I hope you like it!

At the end of the post, I also show this same look with gold glitter on the middle upper lid and lower lash line.

Here's the final look without the gold glitter.

Valentine's Day | Pink and Purple Smokey Eye with a Touch of Gold

Hello lovelies!

My first Valentine's day inspired tutorial is on this pinky-purple smokey eye with gold eyeliner.

Here's the final look.

The Sisterhood Award | First Nomination

Can you believe it!? I've been nominated for another blog award!
I am very honored and would like to give a HUGE thanks to DramaBeautyPop for nominating me!
If you haven't already, definitely go check out her blog, she has a new post daily! ...and I should mention, her nail art is just soo gorgeous!

The Rules
     -Link the blogger who nominated you on your post.
     -Put the award logo on your blog.
     -Answer the 10 questions that were given to you.
     -Make up 10 new questions for your nominees to answer.
     -Nominate five blogs and make sure they are aware that they've been nominated.
     -When you have responded, leave a link to your post in the comment section of the person who nominated you.




DramaBeautyPop's Questions and My Responses
     What does sisterhood mean to you?
To me, sisterhood means encouraging one another and helping each other to be better than we were yesterday. We should help build one another instead of taking each other down.

     Cake or pies?
Why throw me such a difficult question!? Hahahah.
I think I'd go for cake though...
Sorry pie, I still love you!

     Name three things from your bucket list. If you don't have a bucket list, name three things that you have great interest in trying.
On my bucket list:
1. See the Northern Lights.
2. Be successful in my chosen career (and in life) by 40.
3. Inspire others or make a difference in someone's life.
Great interest in trying:
1. Start a business (whatever it may be...)
2. Befriend a stranger because you can meet such great, life changing people that way.
3. Ride a hot air balloon and watch the sunset.

     What do you find most beautiful about yourself?
I find my hair to be my most beautiful physical feature as with such little effort it looks great (somewhere near great at least). To me, a great hair day leads to a great day just like a bad hair day leads to a bad day.
I also use my hair as a 'curtain' to hide myself from others when I don't feel like socializing or when I am shy. Its like this little barrier between myself and the world around me..

     Winter, Fall OR Summer, Spring?
Definitely winter and fall over summer and spring. I love the dark fall themed colors such as burgundy, forest green, plum, chocolate brown, mustard orange...so beautiful! I also love experiencing the fall and hearing and feeling the leaves crunch beneath your feet.

     What makes you unique?
If you put me in the middle of a crowd, you can easily spot me. I hate fitting in, being like others, or blending in with the crowd. I am my own self. To come and think about it, its actually really weird to be an introvert/antisocial and at the same time stand out from the others.

     Do you prefer to cook or bake?
I haven't had much experience with cooking or baking so I can't give one answer over the other for any given occasion. If I was to make something romantic, I think I would bake. If I was to make something casual, I think I would cook.

     Do you have any insecurities? If so, name one and why?
I am actually really insecure about my body. While everyone seems to want to lose weight, I'm over hear wanting to gain weight...bigger thighs, wider hips, flatter stomach, perhaps even a fuller bust. Just as hard as it may be for someone to cut down on their diet, no matter how much I stuff myself, I never gain weight...

     Top five favorite cuisine.
In no specific order: Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and...Filipino? I like Asian food in general..

     What are your ultimate life goals? Please be as detailed as possible.
I'll list two that may or may not already be obvious...
Firstly, one of my ultimate life goals is to be successful in whatever it is I decide to pursuit as a career. At the moment I am still undecided because although I am an aspiring makeup artist, I fear that it won't get me anywhere.
Secondly, I want to eventually overcome all my fears because "in a mind full of fears, there is no space for dreams."
(I hope that's considered being as detailed as possible)

_____________________________

I nominate

Elf's Beauty

Rambles From My Makeup Box

That Little Beauty Blog

Delicate Whimsy
My Name is Meg Riley


My Questions 
1. What does sisterhood mean to you?
2. Do you have any tattoos? If not, would you like to have one?
3. Name one short term and long term goal.
4. What do you do when you're down/to relieve your stress?
5. What is the best advice you've ever been given?
6. What is one thing you're proud of about yourself?
7. Would you rather love more or be loved more?
8. Doughnuts or ice cream?
9. What makes you happy?
10. What are your goals for 2015?

Alright, well now you know me a bit more. :)
Even if this is not makeup related, I hope you all found this as fun and entertaining as I did.

Huge thanks again to Drama Beauty Pop for the nomination!

See you all on my next post!

-Mary 

Favorites of the Moment | L'Oreal Nail Polishes

Hello hello!

Today's post is dedicated the L'oreal Paris nail polishes, which is my favorite drugstore nail polish brand at the moment. I currently own three from their regular line of polishes and Liya's Nude from their Collection Privée.

(L-R) Liya's Nude, Wild and Free, Wishful Pinking, Rough Around the Edges.

Liya's Nude, which is a purple toned taupe shade, has been my daily love during the colder months. The shade is absolutely perfect for the fall and winter seasons without being the usual burgundy red.

Wild and Free is a foiled royal purple that came out blueish in picture, but its purple. Aside from neutral colors, I love royal colors and this one is just soo beautiful on the nails.

Wishful Pinking is a light ballerina pink that comes off very shear at one coat, but looks so perfectly soft and beautiful. At two coats is when you notice the pink tint and is perfect when paired with gold glitter or french tips.

Rough Around the Edges is black with tiny specks of silver glitter. I love this because if the silver glitter was fewer, it would look like a night sky with filled stars. I like how this adds an interesting twist to the regular black nail polish.

Price Comparison:

L'Oreal's website: $5.00

Walmart $4.97

Target $4.99

Walgreens $5.99

I haven't seen too many people talk about the L'Oreal polishes but it's definitely one to consider adding to your collection if you haven't yet!

What do you think of L'Oreal's polishes? Do you have any color recommendations?

- Mary 

Products Worth the Investment | POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser | Review

Hello hello!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser which I have been trying for a while now and I've actually been really enjoying!

This POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser claims to remove deep-down dirt and make-up, including stubborn waterproof mascara, while infusing the skin with vital moisture - all in one easy routine.

Claims

Hypoallergenic

Suitable for Sensitive Skin

Won't Clog Pores

Dermatologist Tested

Key Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Water, Ceresin, Beeswax, Triethanolamine, Behenic Acid, Fragrance, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, DMDM Hydantoin Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben


Price comparison
Target: $4.99 
Walmart: $4.97
CVS: $9.29
Walgreens: $8.29 
Ulta: $7.99



The actual product is very lightweight, fast absorbing, non-greasy, refreshing and cooling on the skin.
Its directions say to apply and massage to face in circular motions then wipe with a washcloth.
Rinsing off this product is optional, so I think this is great to use if you've been up all night and cannot wash your face, which is what I've been loving to use this cleanser for!
If you've ever used lotion in the past to remove your makeup, this works very similarly like lotion for that purpose, and this is very moisturizing so you don't need to apply a moisturizer after using this.

Just keep in mind that although this does a great job at taking off even waterproof makeup, this does not take out 100% of your makeup and can leave behind dirt in your pores so its still best to wash your face and only use this on days when you really can't wet your face for whatever reason.

Overall, I think this is a great cleanser to use whether you decide to wash your face afterwards or not. It does a great job at removing deep-down dirt and waterproof makeup. I love that it is very moisturizing and does not leave your skin feeling greasy or sticky at all! If you're looking for a cleanser that does not dry your skin out, I would definitely recommend this POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser!

I hope this review was helpful!
Thanks for reading! :)

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | e.l.f. Blush Palettes | Review + Swatches

Hello there!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the e.l.f. Blush palettes in both Light and Dark from their studio line.

A close up of the light palette.
Clockwise from upper left:Matte Light Pink (Very similar to their single studio blush in Flush), Matte Peachy Orange, Glittery Orangey Pink/Salmon, Matte Lemonade Pink.
**The order of the pans is the same order as it was when I received it.

A close up of the dark palette.
Clockwise from upper left: Matte Dark Orangey Pink, Matte Muted (almost mauve) Pink, Matte Brick Red, Glittery Red-Orange.
**The order of the pans is the same order as it was when I received it.

Swatches of the Dark palette (four left swatches) and the Light palette (four right swatches).
**Swatches are of the same order as they appear in the palettes.

I love both palettes, but I find that from the Dark palette I reach for the Matte Brick Red most often while from the Light palette I reach for the Matte Peachy Orange most often.

**Tip: I like mixing the different blushes from both palettes to create a whole new blush shade.

Overall, I definitely think these elf blush palettes from their studio line are definitely worth the investment. For only $6 per palette, you get a lot of product that is very buttery, long lasting, and pigmented. I love elf blushes in general, especially those from their studio line which run at $3 per compact so seeing this for only $6 for 4 pans is a definite steal! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great, versatile, and affordable blush palette.

I hope you found this quick review helpful!
Let me know what you think! :)


-Mary

2015 Beauty and Blogging Resolutions

Hello hello!!

Today's post is dedicated to my 2015 beauty and blogging resolutions!

KVD Foiled Love Lipstick in Oh My Goth

Beauty
My main beauty resolution for the year of 2015 is to improve my skincare routine.
Since I'm constantly trying new products, I feel its just right that I improve taking care of my skin, especially recently, where I've been noticing more and more breakouts on my face.

Another beauty resolution for this year is to practice my skills on over lining the lips, shaping the brows, and contouring the face.

From my back to school series "Whats in My Makeup Bag"

Blogging
My main blogging resolution for the year of 2015 is to stick to my blogging schedule which is on weekends. Recently I've been falling behind on posts (my apologies), but it will improve soon so expect more posts to consistently be flowing through!

Another blogging goal is to grow my audience. I plan on achieving that goal by sticking to my first goal and perhaps joining more social networking sites.



I'm interested on knowing your 2015 resolutions! Don't forget to stop by and share some on the comments section below or my Instagram @wndr14lnds


-Mary

Neutral Vampy Makeup

Hello there!

Here's a quick tutorial on this dark, neutral, vampy look. Hope you like it!

I started by taking this pinky nude shade from the top row of the Maybelline the Nudes palette and placed this all over my primed lids. You could definitely use a matte cream shade but I found this light pink to have a little sheen which adds a twist to the following matte shadows. 

With the shade Taupe from the Lorac PRO 1 palette, I lightly defined my crease while blending softly upward towards the brow bone, this will serve as our transition shade. 

Mixing Sable and Espresso, I further defined my crease softly, focusing mainly on the outer C. 

With a precision/pencil brush, I took a black eye shadow and further defined the crease to further smoke out the look. I also blended this black shadow on the lower lash line, connecting the top shadows with the bottom shadow. 

Using a matte light pink shadow, I brightened the inner thirds of the lid and inner corner. You can switch this shadow with a shimmery/glittery shadow of your choice to brighten your eyes and give the look a wide-eyed look. 

I finished the eyes by lining them with gel eyeliner and adding false lashes and mascara. 

The rest of the products used to create this look: 

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, L'oreal True Match Mineral Powder Foundation, elf eyelid primer, Maybelline the Nudes palette, Maybelline BrowDrama in deep brown, Lorac PRO 1, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Benefit They're Real Mascara, KVD Foiled Love Lipstick in 'Oh My Goth', NYX Lip Liner in 'Currant', elf Black Cream Eyeliner, elf Baked Blush in Jet Setter, elf Pressed Bronzer in eaches, elf Baked blush in Pinktastic.  

I'm trying more and more to get out of my comfort zone and experiment with incorporating some color in my looks. Here I tried using the light pink shade in the inner corners, but at the end, it really don't make much of a difference! 

I hope you enjoyed this look anyway! If you decide to recreate any of my looks, don't forget to share!! :)

-Mary