Concrete Minerals EOTD with Infinity and Nightmare

Posted on May 18, 2012 by lashgirl

Here is my eye of the day and my first attempt at black base shadow.  I used Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner in “Blackest Black” as my base coloring for the entire eye.  Then, I layered Concrete Minerals loose shadows in “Infinity” (the minty shade) and “Nightmare” (the dreamy purple).

Below is the finished product.  I must say, using a black gel base with these loose pigments gives an amazing effect.  Not only are the colors more vibrant, they are nearly bullet-proof on the lid with no fallout or color-fade.

What do you think Lashionistas? Would you wear a bold mint and purple look like this one or is it an infinite nightmare? ;)

XOXO

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Natural Beauty, Kara’s Way

Posted on May 17, 2012 by lashgirl

Kara’s Way is a monthly beauty sampling subscription which specializes in providing Eco-friendly, all natural, and vegan beauty and skincare products.  I read about the company on the site, Subscription Boxes, and I instantly knew that I wanted the chance to see what it was all about.  Let’s face it, with so many tempting monthly programs out there, it can be hard to decide which one’s are unique and worthwhile but an all natural subscription program dedicated to beauty does stand out.  I contacted the company and was stoked when they agreed to let me try their very first box and share my thoughts!

My package arrived today and as soon as I cut the package open, my first cute little surprise was staring at me:

Did you catch that?  Here, have a closer look:

The Kara’s way tag is actually a special paper infused with wildflower seeds that will bloom once planted in the soil and watered!  It was a very nice intro into the type of goodies packaged inside.  As well, there was a hand-written note, thanking me for choosing Kara’s Way which is a caring touch as apposed to the usual card of product names and prices.

Pictured above, all of the lovely loot that came in the very first Kara’s Way sample box!  What I loved immediately when I saw my items was that all but one of the brands were new to me.  I think one of the main appeals of a subscription program is discovering new brands to love and share with others and I was excited to see so many names I’d never seen before.

  1. La Fresh
  2. Beyond Coastal
  3. Naturelle
  4. Honeybee Gardens
  5. Native Touch
  6. Thayers
  7. Keeki

Kara’s Way is a $15 a month service which is on the upper-mid level on the price scale when compared to other boxes.  However, the polish, sunscreen, and lip shimmer alone more than pay the $15 price-tag and these are unique, natural, and Eco-friendly companies.

Overall, I am happy with the first box and I can’t wait to start testing out all of my goodies! What do you think of Kara’s Way Lashionistas? Will you give it a try?

XOXO

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The Sun Safety Kit is BACK at Sephora!!

Posted on April 25, 2012 by lashgirl

Every Summer, Sephora releases one of their best kits of the entire year for a limited time and they go fast! I am talking about the Sun Safety Kit, which contains 17 amazing Summer products for only $30.  It is a deal of such epic proportions that I announce it every time it is released!

Here is a photo link of this year’s Kit:

Each kit will contain the following:

  • Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion – SPF 30 (.5 fl oz.)
  • Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 (.33 fl oz)
  • Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 25 Mineral Veil (.03 oz.)
  • Ole Henriksen Protect the Truth SPF 50+ Sunscreen (0.5 fl. oz.)
  • boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15 (.5 fl oz.)
  • Origins VitaZing SPF 15 (0.5 fl oz)
  • Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 60 PA +++       (.23 fl oz.)
  • Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42 (.23 fl oz)
  • Sephora Collection Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF 15 (5 mL)
  • Philosophy Hope Oil Free SPF 30 (.4 oz.)
  • St. Tropez Gradual Tan (2.50 fl oz)
  • Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 With Dermaxyl Complex (.25 fl oz.)
  • Dr. Jart+  Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45       PA+++ (.33 fl oz.)
  • Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 (.08 oz)
  • Supergoop! Everyday UV Lotion For Face and Body SPF 30+ (.33 fl oz.)
  • Kate Somerville Somerville360 Face Tanning Pad (1 pad)
  • TanTowel  Plus Self-Tan Towelette For Face & Body (.50 fl oz.)

 Total up the value of everything included and you are looking at a $193 value!  I am telling you, Lashionistas, you do NOT want to miss out on one of the best offers Sephora puts out all year long!

I’ve got to go now, I need to tell my hubby what he’s getting me for Mothers day!

XOXO

While Supplies Last: Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit. 17 Best Selling Pieces for $30 – a $193 Value!

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Rimmel London Challenge 4: Simplify Your Look

Posted on April 24, 2012 by lashgirl

As you know, I am one of the 10 Rimmel London Ambassadors for 2012.  Every month, we receive a challenge from Rimmel to complete in our own individual ways.  My fourth challenge came this month and it asked me to simplify my look with the help of some lovely Rimmel products which were sent along with the challenge info.

We were allowed to use only primer, foundation, concealer, and blush for a week’s worth of makeup looks.  We were also allowed to wear one additional makeup item of our choice on each day (mascara, eyeliner, lipgloss, etc.).  In addition to the simplified makeup, we were asked to wear a plain Jane wardrobe to match with little to no accessories.

But, the hardest part of the challenge. the one I dreaded most, was to not add any styling products or to treat our hair in any way.  Ouch! That one hurt me because my hair is something that I am very self conscious about.  However, I swallowed my pain and stuck with it every-time I applied makeup for an entire week.  Here are the products I used:

The product I loved and appreciated the most during my week of minimal makeup would have to be the Rimmel London Match Perfection Blush.  Without it, my face lacked dimension, definition, and color.  With it, I could use the different shades to highlight, contour, and add color to my cheeks- win, win, win!

Every day I wore makeup, I would mix my Primer and foundation together and then apply it to my face.  When I mix the primer into the foundation, I get a smooth and even application of the foundation color rather than applying primer first and then foundation.  The primer was amazing at keeping my oily nose matte but not drying out the rest of my face.

The Match Perfection concealer covered up my dark circles and was long-lasting.  I got a little creasing after a few hours of wear but, nothing I couldn’t quickly touch up- definitely not noticeable.  The best part about this concealer is the application.  It has a brush tip applicator that you squeeze out of the tube which I prefer to the twist-up variety.  It gives you more control over how much product you actually use and cuts back on waste.

Lastly, I chose the Rimmel Scandal’eyes mascara and Stay Glossy Lip gloss in “Captivate,” as my extras for the week.  Sometimes I used the mascara, and other days I used the gloss and just curled the lashes.  Here are the photos I snapped during the week:


As you can see, the products worked amazing together to create a lovely and basic look that can be worn when you want that effortless look.  My skin always looked even and almost flawless (besides my freckles) and the blush gave me natural and expertly blended definition in all the right places.  I was even able to forget about my hair most days because I felt so confident about my complexion.  On the days when I didn’t feel so confident though, a big bright smile was vital!

Overall, I loved the challenge and will continue to use these products for a snappy makeup look that corrects the complexion and lasts all day.  I would like to challenge all of you to try a week of minimal makeup and hair products- inner confidence and a big smile will go a long way!

XOXO

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H-E-B Beauty Pick of the Month: Fekkai Glossing Starter Kit + Giveaway

Posted on April 6, 2012 by lashgirl

This month I was very excited to try Fekkai’s Glossing Starter Kit because my hair is pretty dull on a normal basis.  I’ve tried this kit for about a week now and am ready to give some of my thoughts on the kit.

My first impression of the Glossing Shampoo is that it felt amazing immediately.  Not since my experience with Phyto Phytojoba Hydrating Shampoo has a shampoo thrilled me immediately upon first application.  The conditioner feels pretty standard as far as conditioners except that this one will rinse away completely clean and will not leave the hair feeling waxy or coated.  The same goes for the Glossing cream, it does not leave a residue and will leave the hair feeling much softer.

A peek into the ingredients will tell you that the products are not only gentle but are very healthy for the hair and have a ton of softening agents that will leave hair unbelievably smooth-feeling from first use.

While my hair does feel different after using the kit for a week, it does not really look any different.  Although this kit is called, “The Glossing” don’t expect your hair to look shinier or glossier- especially if your hair is normally very dry and unmanageable like mine.  However, the softness of my hair gives me a thrill that I cannot deny and it does make styling much easier because I am not working against such coarse strands of hair.

If you have never tried a high-end haircare system, I think this great 3pc. set is worth a try for the $27.  You will definitely feel a difference in your hair and reap the benefits of a much shorter styling time!

Win It!
Leave a comment below about this post and you will be entered to win a Glossing kit of your own from my wonderful friends at H-E-B.  You may enter once per day.  For extra entries, Follow me on Twitter and Tweet the following:
I Just entered to #WIN a Fekkai Glossing kit from @LashGirlMe and @HEB http://bit.ly/HjwzBK #hebbeauty

You may tweet this once a day for extra entries.  All entrants must be 18 or older and live in the USA to win (no U.S. territories this time).  Contest begins today 4-6-12 and ends on 4-19-12. Winner has 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!!

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Rimmel London Challenge 3: High Definition Scandal

Posted on March 30, 2012 by lashgirl

My Challenge: Using the colors in your Glam’Eyes HD Eyeshadow as inspiration, take a dull and ordinary article of clothing from your wardrobe and pump it up to be scandalously HD.  The London Look is all about grabbing attention, so don’t be afraid to do something outrageous!

Here is the Glam’Eyes HD Eyeshadow that I used for my inspiration:

This palette is centered around a bold pink so, I wanted a similar color in the article of clothing I chose to alter.  Luckily, I had an old, wrinkly, long-forgotten Stone Temple Pilots tee at the way bottom of one of my dresser drawers.  Not only was it the right color, it was an STP shirt- which got me thinking of alterations with some rock star flare.


I folded the back of the tee in half length-wise and began to cut into the material in a reverse triangle shape (longest cuts on the top, shortest near the bottom.  Then, I stretched out the strands to loosen them and make the material curl in on itself slightly.


The effect was a super sexy off-the-shoulder slashed masterpiece!  Then, I added the perfect accessories and used my Glam’Eyes HD Eyeshadow in “True Union Jack” to give my eyes a vibrantly high definition look.

What do you think of my Glam’Eyes inspired look?  I have to admit, I was afraid this would be too much of a challenge for me.  As a mom of two, I have a very limited wardrobe and did not want to have to cut into anything.  However, I am so glad I did!  I definitely breathed new life into my STP tee and I will never keep it at the bottom of my dresser drawer again!

XOXO

To see what the other fabulous Rimmel 10 girls came up with, visit Rimmel on Facebook.
If you try my look, Tweet Rimmel about it: @RimmelLondonUS

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Concrete Minerals Mini-Haul

Posted on March 21, 2012 by lashgirl

Once in a while, a brand truly impresses you to the point where you have to have the product- whenever you can, however you can, you just plain need it.  This is definitely the case with Concrete Minerals loose pigments.

I first fell in love with these pigments last year when I made my first order from their official site launch.  Since then, I’ve tried several other loose pigment shadows and none of them have had the richness or vibrancy of color that  get from my Concrete Minerals pigments.

So, when I saw that Glossvine.com was having a .99 sale of discontinued CM pigments, I knew I could not afford to let it pass me by!

Six shades in particular caught my eye and I am so glad I snatched them at the price I did.  I would have paid way more for shadows of this quality.

Aren’t they gorgeous? And if you think they look wonderful in the jar, wait ’til you get a load of these swatches! I swatched each shadow naked, without a primer, and they gave  me the most intense color payoff.

I am pleased, as always, with my Concrete Minerals purchase and I will definitely be growing my collection steadily when I can.  I highly recommend these pigments to everyone, you are missing out if you don’t have any yet.  Absolutely Lash Girl Approved!

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Less Booty More Beauty Month 2

Posted on March 9, 2012 by lashgirl

Can I cut back on the sweets in March? Hopefully!

Hi Lashionistas! As you know, I am on a quest to shape up and slim down with the help of a few lovely beauty bloggers and vloggers.  February was our first month and I am happy to report that I reached my goal of 5 lbs lost! Woohoo!  My BMI even went down!

My March goal will be to maintain my weight-loss throughout the month without gaining.  This will be quite a challenge for me because I am stressed!  I have recently begun the process of purchasing a new home for my family and all the pressure and spending makes me hungry for junk food! My weakness has to be sweets so, I will also be cutting back as much as I can in March but, I will need the help of my lovely support group to do it- or else I know I will not make it!

What do you all struggle with when it comes to food?

All in all, the entire group lost weight in February- though we did not all reach our goals and will not be exchanging gifts this month.  What we will be exchanging is support, recipe ideas, exercise plans, and personal progress.  Remember, this challenge is not about getting goodies, it is about providing an incentive to lose and a group of supporters to cheer each other on.  In that regard- February was a huge success!

March goal: Maintain! (olbs)

Something I have changed in my day to day routine: I try to carry my son all the way to pick up my daughter from school (we walk) on one arm, and carry him home on the other arm on the way back.  It is a slightly uphill walk and that boy is heavy! My shoulders hurt but I am able to go both ways on a clear day (when the ground is wet, I struggle a bit).

What are some small ways you change your routine to get healthier? Do you take the stairs, park far away, or wear hot pants while exercising? Let me hear about it! :)

Check out my accomplices:
Wendy
Chelsey
Natalie
Allie
and our un-official Man group-member, Eric

Posted in Miscellaneous | 8 Comments

Getting The Pretty Back Review and MEGA Giveaway.

Posted on March 8, 2012 by lashgirl

Is there a beauty obsessed young woman, or man for that matter, that cannot attribute some of their spirit, style, or talents (how many ways can you apply your lipstick?) to Molly Ringwald? I know I spent many of my adolescent years wishing for red hair and freckles- I got my freckles and learned my lesson about the red when I turned my black hair purple in 10th grade.

As hard as it may be to believe, everyone’s favorite angsty teen is now in her forties and, though she has left much of her image behind her and embraced womanhood and motherhood, she strives to hang onto one thing that is never attributed to an older woman, being “pretty.” As Molly explains in her book, Getting The Pretty Back,  “It’s hard to know when exactly it happens, but suddenly you notice it.  You are “beautiful,” “unique,” “handsome,” (If you’re unlucky), or “interesting.” Pretty is a word that is reserved for the young.”

But, Molly found ways to get her Pretty back and shares her thoughts and ideas about it in her book.  Not only that, there are a ton of life lessons, personal stories, style advice, recipes, makeup advice, favorite hairstyles and so much more.  This is not just a book for the Molly-obsessed, although I must admit I may fit into that category, this is a book for anyone who is stuck in a rut and a guideline for how to get yourself out.

I truly enjoyed reading this book and have taken so much away from it.  It certainly made me take a look at aspects of my marriage, mothering, fashion, and makeup in a different way.  Has a book ever made you question your choice of underwear, taught you the basics of wine,  given you insight into the life of your single/married friends, and helped you find the perfect lipstick all at the same time? If the answer is no, this book is a light-hearted and refreshing must-have!

Mega Giveaway:


I loved this book so much, I wanted to share it with you all in a very special way.  I have Gathered 23 items that remind me of my favorite Molly movies and moments plus a copy of her book, Getting the Pretty Back, to share with one of you. To enter, you need to get a little creative and a little poetic.  Write me a Haiku about how Molly has inspired your makeup, fashion, humor, or anything else that you can think of.  WHAT IS A HAIKU?? Here is my example:

Red-Headed Beauty
Taught me to apply lipstick
Unusually

Perhaps this is a more difficult form of entry than my usual but it is WAY worth the effort and winner takes ALL.  Let’s investigate the evidence a little closer shall we?


All of the rules are outlined in the RaffleCopter Widget, Good Luck and Have Fun, this is my biggest giveaway yet!

Thank you to Harper Collins, Luxx Cosmetics, and The Balm for the items they provided- the Lashionistas and I appreciate it!

Continue reading →

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H-E-B Beauty Pick of the Month: Suave Keratin Infusion Products

Posted on March 2, 2012 by lashgirl

The H-E-B Beauty Pick of the month just gets better and better! The March pick is the Suave Professional’s Keratin Infusion line featuring their 30 Day Smoothing Kit:This kit is a high-quality alternative to salon keratin treatments.  If you’ve never had one, a keratin treatment is a process which infuses Keratin back into hair because this natural protein depletes over time.  Once Keratin has depleted, your hair will look frizzy, dry, dull and unmanageable, a Keratin treatment will revitalize and restore health to the hair.  However, professional treatments can be very pricey and harsh on the hair due to the formaldehyde in most salon keratin treatments.

What makes Suave Proffessional’s 30 Day Smoothing Kit different is that it is affordable ($11-$12) and it is completely formaldehyde-free.  Now, most of you may know that this is just the type of treatment I need for my hair- unmanageable doesn’t even begin to describe it! However, an at-home Keratin treatment is NOT for everyone.  Luckily, Suave has an online quiz you can take to find out if a Keratin treatment is right for you.
TAKE THE ONLINE QUIZ NOW.

This kit comes with 3 products to get your hair under control:

Step 1: Smoothing Cream with keratin loosens, smooths, and detangles curls and waves.

Step 2: Cuticle Seal Cream with KERALOCK™ TECHNOLOGY reforms keratin bonds inside the hair fiber and eliminates frizz for long-lasting smoothness and manageability.

Step 3: Heat Defense Leave-In Conditioner provides ultimate moisturization to protect hair while heat styling. Formulated for use with blow dryers or flat irons for optimal shine and smoothness.

I have already taken the quiz and a Keratin treatment is perfect for me.  Have you ever wanted your hair to take a chill pill? If so, the 30 Day Smoothing Kit is just what the doctor ordered!
EXCLUSIVE COUPON HERE!

The 30 Day Smoothing Kit is a great way to get a head start on having lovely hair but, it is only the beginning! Suave Professionals has an entire line of Keratin infused haircare products that will maintain your hairs health and manageability.  The last product I was sent was this Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo, which I have already used, and I love it!

I have tried to love the Tresemme dry shampoo in the past but, the smell and texture was awful.  It left my hair feeling sticky and smelling yucky.  This dry shampoo from Suave however, is completely amazing! It has a fresh, clean scent and it does not cake up or leave a filmy residue on the hair.  I’ve used it on third day hair and my oily scalp feels completely refreshed and oil-free.  I can definitely say that I have found a new favorite dry shampoo (Sorry Oscar Blandi!) and will re-purchase this once I have used it up!

Best of all, it contains Keratin to help keep hair tame and it works great as a volumizer as well.

Now, here is your chance to WIN a 30 Day Smoothing Kit of your own!!
All you have to do is leave me a comment below letting me know why your hair needs the Suave 30 Day Smoothing Kit.  You must be 18 or older and live in the United States (No U.S. Territories, sorry!).  I want to hear about your wild and crazy hair!

For extra entries: Tweet me about the 30 Day Smoothing Kit or your Frizzy hair.  Every Tweet you leave is 1 extra entry at the rate of 1 tweet per day.  You must include: @LashGirlMe @HEB and the hashtag #HEBBEAUTY

Contest Begins today, March 2, 2012 and ends on March 29, 2012. TWO WILL WIN! Good Luck Lashionistas and, have Fun!!
XOXO

Posted in Contests, Hair | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments