Top Five Posts of 2013

Goodbye 2013!

Currently I'm without a blogging camera--right when I have a lot of great stuff I could be taking pictures of and talking about! (A couple sneak peeks of it have graced my Instagram.) My new Camera (a cute little purple Nikon point-and-shoot) should be here soon. Until then, I've decided to compile a list of my five most popular blog posts this year (determined by view count).

5. MAC So Supreme Lipsticks in "Sweet Grenadine" and "Candy Apple" with Swatches

I actually love both of these lipsticks a lot. I didn't hear about a lot of buzz about these So Supremes but I loved the two that I got. Candy Apple is one of my favorite lipstick colors that I own.

Nars Guy Bourdin Blush in "Cœvur Battant"

As part of a little mini-haul from Sephora, I picked up one of the Guy Bourdin blushes--my first Nars blush!

Maybelline Color Sensation Color Elixir in "Dashing Orchid"

I've been so into berries and plums lately. I picked up one of these Color Elixir glosses by Maybelline in "Dashing Orchid" which is a lovely sheer plum shade.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in "Showy"

First off, I love lip crayons/color sticks/whatever you want to call them. Secondly, I was drawn to the idea of a "matte balm" with some color... And actually these pack a more powerful color punch than I expected so I was happily surprised.

Ipsy Bag (September 2013)

 I decided to get an Ipsy subscription after I spotted a photo on Instagram and it took awhile to get off the wait list but today I received my first bag!

Marc Jacobs Beauty: Style Eye-Con No. 7 "The Lolita"

I was really drawn to the Marc Jacobs beauty line... I loved the packaging and I wanted something from it so I chose "The Lolita" eyeshadow palette which includes seven neutral shades.

MAC So Supreme Lipsticks in "Sweet Grenadine" and "Candy Apple" with Swatches

A couple of the lipsticks from MAC's So Supreme collection grabbed my eye. I purchased "Sweet Grenadine" and "Candy Apple."

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in "Aurora" and "Stellar"

Been slacking a bit with the blogging (and purchasing of new stuff to blog) because I got a new job! I'm working in a lab now that does blood analysis and I really like it! However, I'm adjusting to a new schedule, working weird hours sometimes and I'm always wiped out.

So anyway, I had grabbed these Rimmel Show Offs awhile back and thought about not blogging them but I love them so much I wanted to anyway. The two shades I bought, "Aurora" and "Stellar" are somewhat similar but different enough for sure to own both.

Bioré Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser

I bought this cleanser only because I couldn't find my regular. I haven't used Bioré products in a long time but I liked that it seemed simple.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in "Femme"

I hadn't been to a Sephora in a while so when I saw that they had OCC Lip Tars, I was excited. I grabbed "Femme" to add to my collection of lip tars... Which now equals a whopping total of two.

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in "Endless Sea"

This shade kept catching my eye every time I'd visit Target or a drug store.... Finally I picked it up at Target for $6.99. "Endless Sea" is a teal-blue shadow. It's almost seems like somewhere between a cream and a powder but it's a powder shadow.

According to Ulta's website it is sweat-proof, water-proof and crease-resistant.

MAC "Tart & Trendy" Lustre Lipstick

I received my "Tart & Trendy" from the MAC All About Orange restock and it arrived today. I hadn't even considered it until I had seen it a few times and it really grew on me. After reading a lot of wonderful reviews, I was sold. I'm a big fan of orange lipstick. (I also swatched Tangerine Dream from this limited edition collection.)

From the Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow Sale: Swatches of "Graffiti," "Peace" and "Frigid"

I took advantage of a Hautelook sale recently and purchased three Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadows for only $4 each (originally $18). The Hautelook sale is over but they are still on sale for the same price over at UD's website. Perhaps they're discontinuing them with the launch of their newer shadows, I'm not sure. I'd definitely check it out if you have any interest in pigmented, bold colors.

I had wanted "Graffiti" for a long time but never wanted to spend the money so when I saw it for only $4.00, I jumped on it and two other colors, getting all three for under the original price!

RiRi ♥ MAC "Heaux" Retro Matte Lipstick

After partaking in the crazy drama that was the launch of RiRi♥MAC, I got "Heaux" today. I ordered "RiRi Woo" also but I did so in the heat of the moment, the ordering excitement got to me and I'm not sure I needed it. But, Heaux on the other hand... I couldn't wait to see it in person!

A Little Re-Opening Giveaway Winner!

Congrats!

Just a quick post to let the winner of my giveaway know she's won... Aenaria, I've emailed you! Please respond to jen (at) echoside (dot) net.

(If I don't hear from you within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.)

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Love That Pink"

I haven't tried a Revlon lipstick in awhile but I spotted this color recently and it was too good to pass up.

Maybelline "Pink Pop" Lipstick

I picked up another Maybelline lipstick recently after loving the last one so much. This one is a light pink called "Pink Pop."

Stuff I'd Have Bought Already... If I Wasn't So Broke

Ah, unemployment. Lately I've been doing a fair amount of online window shopping and I've compiled a little list of things I'd have definitely purchased if not for my limited funds and attempts to hold onto what I do have...

... Eventually I always break. There will be that one item I can't stop thinking about and these are some of those items.... Floating around in my brain and demanding attention until I finally sink and spend the money.

As an attempt to avoid this, I'm going to blog about these few little things that have caught my eye and stuck in my mind. Maybe it will help soothe The Wants and maybe it will make it worse... Either way, check it out!

E.l.f. 3-in-1 Mascara

This "3-in-1" mascara by E.l.f. promises to "lengthen, define and volumize." I picked up this mascara because it was only $3 (not on sale) and I've had some pretty good luck with the brand in the past.

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lipstick in "Pastille Rosebud"

The idea behind Bite Beauty is that "lips absorb what you put on them." So with Bite's 96% Natural ingredient list, it aims to hydrate and smooth while giving a great, pigmented color payoff.

Giveaway Reminder: One Week Left!

Just a little giveaway reminder. There's only one week left to enter to win two MAC products. It is open internationally and there are several ways to enter and they're all very simple. Follow this link to find out how you can win!

Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Face Towelettes

I've been using these face wipes on and off for awhile now and I'm ready to jot down a little review.

The idea behind these guys is a cleansing, exfoliation and brightening in one swipe of a towel. Plus, a grapefruity scent. (No water needed.)

Maybelline "Fuchsia Flash" Lipstick

I've been spotting some very sexy Maybelline color swatches around and wanted to pick up something really bright so recently I grabbed "Fuchsia Flash." Even the packaging is insanely bright. I love it.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Eyeshadows in "Miss Argentina," "Pink Nightmare," "Hot Rocks" and More!

Due to some swatch posts at Beauty's Bad Habit, I decided I had to try Darling Girl Cosmetics. It's always kind of fun to try indie brands because you haven't heard them run into the ground and you can usually find something refreshing and different about them that makes them stand apart from mainstream brands. Darling Girl definitely has some interesting shades... And they're not just cool colors but they transform from pot to swatch into these almost magical hues. Very pretty and very awesome.

MAC All About Orange "Tangerine Dream" Lipstick

I stopped by my MAC counter yesterday morning while running some errands and such and they were almost already sold out of all the All About Orange lipsticks and the store had only been open for an hour!

I only planned to get the one that looked best to me and in the end, I grabbed "Tangerine Dream."

Aczone Prescription Topical Acne Treatment Review

I've had problematic skin forever (10+ years) and for the past couple of years I've been going regularly to my dermatologist and she's tried a few different topical combinations and most recently she prescribed Aczone for my morning face routine. I've been using it for about two months now and can review the ins and outs pretty well at this point.

Let's get a few basics out of the way...

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss (No. 09)

Stopped by Target the other day for a first time in awhile and they have really improved their cosmetics area--it's looking miiighty fine in there.

Anyway.

I grabbed one of these Rimmel lipsticks by Kate Moss in a pretty berry shade that leans a bit red on the lips. (It is shade 09--does it bother anyone else when cosmetics have numbers instead of names? I like names!). These are available in 10 different colors.

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in "Juicy Peach"

I picked up one of these MoistureSmooth color sticks at Ulta not too long ago and I didn't bother to do any sort of research, I'd never heard of these, I just grabbed one because it seemed like the sort of light hint of color/lip gloss I was looking for.

Ulta's site reads:

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks instantly moisturize lips, while continuously conditioning them so they are softer and smoother in just 3 days with nothing on them. Made with fruit extracts along with mango and shea butter, the balm-like formula glides on easily, providing a sheer wash of moisturizing color that lasts for hours. In addition, the twist up package allows for perfect application each time with no sharpener needed.

Ok so now that we both know the supposed deal with these, I'll give you my thoughts.

Out the Door Fast Drying Top Coat

Not too long ago, my friend Heather (another lover of nail polish) told me about "Out the Door" top coat by a company called Inm. I made a mental note that I actually remembered to remember and bought it as soon as I ran across it at Meijer.

In the past, I've used Seche Vite and have been very happy with it. However, OtD costs about half ($4 for .5 fl. oz. compared to $8 for the same of SV at Meijer) so I thought I'd try it. (Just a little side note: I've seen Seche Vite for less online but every time I find it in person, it costs close to $8.)

A Little Re-Opening Giveaway!

In the light of quitting the beauty blog world for so long and then coming back with reignited interest, I thought I'd do a little giveaway of two MAC products that I always intended to giveaway but never did.  One is the "Follow Your Fancy" pigment from the Stylishly Yours collection (I swatched it here) and the other is "Dalliance" mega metal eyeshadow from the Peacocky collection (swatched here).

Both are brand new in box, no worries there, these were not used to swatch--just in case that goes without saying.

Wedding Nails: MAC "Kid Orange" Nail Lacquer

"Kid Orange" was a shade from the MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC collection. (I hate the name of that collection, but anyway...) I went to a wedding this past weekend and this was the nail color I chose to go with my dress. I wanted to take a few great shots of my makeup and outfit but I didn't get many good ones so a nail post will have to do.

I put a personal post on my website about the wedding which includes a couple of photos. It is located here if you happen to be interested.

And on with the polish...

MAC "Rhythm" Lipglass

I'm mostly doing this post because I'm so excited to have bought a MAC product again after such a long time. Months & months! (Also, the blog has a new layout... Scope it out!)

So of course my one teeny lipgloss (and it is teeny) came in a box far, far too large. I didn't pay much attention and didn't know this collection had limited edition packaging so that was exciting. I get a little too thrilled with the packaging, though, I know. I like this one.... Makes me think ultra-bronzey hot, hot summer.

But you'll know what I mean about me and packaging when I tell you the "ooooh, purple insides" moment I had when opening the box:

L'Oréal Advanced Haircare Shampoo & Conditioner Review

I'm not sure what it is about a certain shampoo commercial that will grab my attention and make me buy their product but I do keep my eyes peeled when I'm running out of shampoo and/or conditioner and... Probably ultimately just see the same shiny hair you get on all of them on any one particular commercial at the right time and I'm sold. My last pick was L'Oréal's new haircare line of products called "Advanced Haircare" which are tailored to individual hair needs.

These ones I tried out were not for the same problem: the shampoo is the oleo-keratin variety for frizzy hair and the conditioner is the arginine one for fragile, falling hair. I tend to mix up my conditioners and shampoos all the time because I get the best results that way but I was still very conscious of the immediate after-effects of these ones.

Maybelline Expert Eyes 100% Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover

With Maybelline Expert Eyes Eye Makeup Remover, you get 2.3 Fl. Oz. for $4.49... It was the price tag that sold me. Now that I've used this several times on different brands of makeup... I'm ready to review!

Milani Eyeshadow in "Girls Luv Pink"

I've been wanting to try Milani eyeshadows. I have tried (and liked) other Milani products so I chose this pretty light pink called "Girls Luv Pink" to give it a whirl...

Essence Gel Eyeliner Review & Swatch

When I ran out of my MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack," I wanted a cheaper alternative to try (all my recent posts are starting out like this, do you see the sad, sad trend?) so I selected Essence's Gel Eyeliner in "Midnight in Paris." (or... Black.) The 0.1 fl oz pot goes for a mere $3.99. So... I didn't expect too much...

NYX "Set it & Don't Fret it" Matte Mineral Finishing Powder

With my super oily complexion, I cannot really sing the praises of setting powder enough. I've cycled through a few brands now and this time I went the frugal route and bought this $9.99 finishing powder by NYX.

Most setting/finishing powders I've used have been translucent and WHITE in color. This powder comes in two shades and is not pure white powder. I use the "Light/Medium" but it also comes in "Medium Dark" for what seems like a very small range of tones but these should blend to invisibility--and Light/Medium does do that for me.

Maybelline Color Whisper "Cherry on Top" Lipstick

I'm a big lipstick girl. I especially love high end lipstick but lately I've seen Maybelline popping up on blogs in a way that dazzles and excites me (or something close to that). I have been into sheer color and I perfer a sheer lipstick over a gloss most of the time so I thought I'd give the "Color Whispers" a go. Sounds sheer, right?

I thought "Cherry on Top" was the perfect kind of cheerful pink I've had my eye out for right now. It's very bright and fun and youthful--but I wouldn't say only for the younger ladies.

A Small Haul with a Re-Appearance!

Sooooo... I took a long hiatus but I think I'm totally ready to jump back into the beauty blogging game. Thanks for coming back and reading again!

I've been grabbing little beauty purchases here and there when I'm out and I see something I really, really like. Being on a tight, no-real-income kind of budget right now, I have to be really choosy. I went a little bit nuts the other day when I took a trip to Ulta and Sephora on the same day.

I bought:

• Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in "Cherry on Top" (As well as "Pin Up Peach" for my sister.)
• NARS "Tolède" Lipstick (Something I had been wanting for awhile, it was the main reason I went shopping to begin with!)
• Bite Beauty Lipstick in "Pastille Rosebud" (My first Bite Beauty purchase ever, they have some really pretty colors and this red was to die for.)
• Neutrogena MoistureSmoth color stick in "Juicy Peach"
• Yes to Grapefruit Exfoliating Towelettes
• Sephora Brand concealer brush (Not Pictured)

Reviews of some stuff coming shortly... Let me know if you'd like to see something in particular or if you're loving any of these products :)

Feels good to be back!