New Beauty Test Tube

~Instagram photos~

I ordered the New Beauty Test Tube from QVC's website, here.

It's around $30, which seems like a lot when there are other beauty subscription services for $10, but the products are good-sized and the Tarte lip product in this tube is around $24 alone, so it's well worth it.

I believe you can still order this tube, and then the next ones come out in August, October, January, April, August and October 2013. I actually like that it doesn't come out monthly, partly because I wouldn't want to spend $30 each month, and partly because the products are so well sized I need time to use them!

I haven't tried all of the items yet, but I'll write a little about the ones I have.

I haven't tried this on my eyes yet, but it looks like a lovely color. And it lasted! I took a shower after taking these photos, and it was still going strong after I got out, and it wasn't until I scrubbed my hand that it came off.

I've worn this Tarte LipSurgance a couple times now and I really like it. The swatch picture I took of this came out awful, but it's a bright baby pink with subtle shimmer. I'm very drawn to these types of colors but typically coral-y pinks look better on my skin tone. It smells like peppermint, which isn't my favorite but it doesn't deter me from wearing it. Overall I really like it and I've never tried anything from Tarte before!

I haven't tried this yet as I have a lot of moisturizers to get through at the moment that I want to use up first, however this looks really nice. I was surprised at the color, I was thinking the jar itself was red and the stuff inside would be white!

I've used this only once so far, but I really liked it! It smells good and made my skin feel really nice; clean but not dry. It has little exfoliating things in it too, but it gentle and I didn't feel like it was scratching my skin.

I've seen this before and have never felt overly bothered by it, but I was pleasantly surprised! It lathers quite nicely and leaves my skin feeling so soft. The only thing I don't love is the smell. It's not bad, it just seems a bit mature if that makes sense. 

I've been using this just in areas where I worry about wrinkles, around my mouth and on my forehead. I've only been using it a couple days so I can't really say if it's working yet, but I like it. It smells sort of minty.

I accidentally squeezed out waaay too much and I couldn't get it back in!
I've heard of this before but I've never looked into it. I usually use Jergens Natural Glow and Protect which gives you gradual color and has spf 20. I'm very curious to try this out and see which I like better! I want to use up the rest of the Jergens I have, but this smells better and seems to moisturize well so I'm excited!

Overall I was very pleased with the New Beauty Test Tube! There wasn't anything I didn't like and I was able to try things I've been curious about. I'd definitely recommend it!

Favorite Beauty Products from April!

e.l.f. Golden Bronzer (which was dropped and mangled only two days after I bought it)
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NW15 - luv it~
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light - luv itttt~
L'OREAL Wear Infinite Studio Secrets eye shadow in 901 Frosted Icing (used to highlight cheekbones)
Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Warm - such a beautiful color

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel
benefit BAD gal lash mascara (the mini version) - wasn't crazy about this at first but now I like it a lot
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Topshop Lip Tint in Crystal - gives my lips a "bitten" pink look with subtle shimmer

Topshop Lips in Infrared - never a color I would've thought I would like but I LOVE it

Revlon Nail Enamel 211 Charming - been obsessed with light purple nails lately

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Sephora Mineral Powder Brush (both used for liquid foundation) - favorite foundation brushes

MAC 116 Blush Brush

e.l.f. Blush Brush (for highlighting)

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Real Techniques Accent Brush (used to smudge eyeliner)

MAC 217 Blending Brush (My favorite eye shadow brush hands down)

Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush

What I've Been Up To | Instagram

1. I drew Mario for someone on Draw Something and I kinda like how it came out. 2. Made dinner for my bf! Chicken and asparagus! 3. Bought an e.l.f. bronzer and within 2 days mangled it. 4. Put purple in my hair. 5. 6. 7. Finally order some Topshop lipsticks! Ohh La La, Infrared and Crystal! 8. MyGlam Bag arrived! My first one and I was overall pretty pleased with it! 9. Orly's Frisky nail polish is mah fave!

Mall Haul! (I only went for two items...)

This was an impulse buy from the MAC counter in Macy's. First of all, let me just say that I've been visiting this mall for years thinking, 'if only they had a MAC store, they'd be perfect.' I NEVER go into Macy's, but this time we parked in front of the store and the MAC counter was straight ahead of the doors. 

Anyways, I've been wanting a new concealer as the Neutrogena one I've been using forever just wasn't cutting it. I've like this so far. At first I was worried it'd be waaaay too pink but you really can't tell when it's on my face.

 This mascara was near the checkout in Sephora for $9.00. I can't remember how much the regular sized one is, but I'm thinking it's around $20.00. I like this mascara and I'm glad I bought it, but I don't think I'll be spending $20.00 on it as it's nothing spectacular.

 When I got my hair done a couple weeks ago the woman used Moroccanoil on it and my hair felt amazing afterwards! This was in a salon store for about $15.00, which is a bit steep for such a small bottle but I really wanted it.

I also found these Real Techniques brushes which I've been hearing a lot about lately. I haven't tried them all yet but so far I'm quite impressed! Special thanks to Albie for convincing me I needed both! :)

 Now onto the two things I actually went to the mall for...

NARS Sheerglow Foundation! I've read some rave reviews so I really wanted to try it. I guessed at my shade because for once I wasn't hounded by multiple Sephora girls. In fact Albie and I kind of lingered around the NARS stand for a while waiting to see if anyone would come over. 

I've been using this since I got it, and I like it. I didn't know how to feel about it at first. I was expecting a MIRACLE~*!&~^!~ or something considering the reviews I've read, but. It's just. Foundation? It feels nice and I like the coverage and the finish. But I'm not blown away. One thing I've noticed it that it sometimes builds up in my pores, something I've never had a problem with before. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, I don't know. Perhaps I'll review it once I've used it longer.

Nothing but good things to say about this brush! It's a mineral powder brush but I've been using it with liquid foundation. Love it, love it, love it. I actually wanted it because I'd seen Estee from essiebutton use it. (I'm obsessed with her by the way. You need to watch her youtube videos. NEED.)

I also got a new Hello Kitty car decal sticker since some lowlife decided they needed to steal the magnet I had on my car. (Still pissed about it. You just don't mess with other people's cars! YOU JUST DON'T!)

Also, I've been OBSESSED with this meme.

BERKS! EHRMAGERD!

MAC Lipstick : Ravishing!

My skin always comes out so pink in my swatch photos. Ugh.

So pleased with this lipstick! The last two times I've been to the MAC store I've swatched this and loved it, but I always seemed to forget about it when ordering online. I received an email about free second-day shipping last week (it ended up taking about 4-5 days, but oh well) and decided to finally order this! It's unlike any of my other lipsticks, but it does remind me of a Revlon lipgloss I also got last week called Coral Reef. (I may do a post on the that and the other lipgloss I got from Revlon, too.) It's a gorgeous peachy-coral-orange color and I think it's perfect for spring. It's a cremesheen which is probably my favorite finish in the MAC lipsticks. Hopefully all of these MAC products aren't getting too boring in my posts, I've acquired quite a bit lately. I love their lipsticks. They smell amazing and they have great color payoff, at least from the ones I've bought so far.

As I was taking these pictures, my cat Lily, or Lil as I like to call her, decided to come be cute.

What a little muffin!! She rarely decides to sit still long enough for me to get a decent picture.

Anyways, I hope you've enjoyed this post, if anyone reads it, heh. Bye!

Viva Glam Nicki

Last week my Viva Glam Nicki lipstick came in the mail! I'm sure you've seen multiple blog posts about it already, I know I have. That's actually what made me want to buy it. The more I saw it, the more I decided I loved the color. It's a bright pink with just a bit of coral I would say, very nice for spring. Of course it smells of vanilla like other MAC lipsticks, which I love. It has a satin finish which isn't my favorite but I don't dislike it either. It's my first Viva Glam lipstick from MAC, and I'm now convinced I need more. MOOOARRRR.