Product Review: Hard Candy Baked Eyeshadow Duos

Hey Dolls,

I hope your day is going great! I am so excited because after waiting so long, I finally got the opportunity to try the much raved about Hard Candy eye shadows. I don't have a WalMart near me-the closest one is in New Jersey, a driving distance, so when I found out the hub was driving down there with his dad I asked him if he could pick up a few of the Hard candy eye shadows for me. He picked up 3 for me, but unfortunately one of the shadows crumbled to bits-making me come to the conclusion that these baked eye shadows from Hardy Candy are very soft.

I got 2 baked eyeshadow duos in Peace and Backstage Pass ($6.00 each). Peace is my favorite duo of the bunch. It contains a soft champagne/warm cream color and a soft medium brown color. Both shadows have a sheen to them, more like a frost finish. Backstage Pass contains a light cream and a medium blue shadow. Again, these shadows have a frost finish.

Since these shadows are baked, they can be applied either wet or dry. I like having the option of using these shadows wet or dry because I noticed with these Hard Candy baked shadow duos, if you apply them dry they give a more softer wash of color, as opposed to when they are applied wet when they go on more vibrant and intense. When I apply them wet, I just spritz a bit of MAC Fix + on my brush and that works for me, but I am sure just plain old water would work just as well. I actually prefer applying these shadows wet, because I am all for vibrant eyeshadow as opposed to soft washes of color. Believe it or not, these shadows when applied wet, are very wearable for the daytime.

As far as application goes, they apply really well for me. And they are super easy to blend. Lasting power is great as well. I apply my Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden before I apply the eye shadows and I have pretty, fun, frosty eyes that will last me through the day.

Pros:
1. Affordable
2. Pigmented
3. Have option of applying wet or dry
4. Hard Candy does not test their products on animals

Cons:
1.Eye shadows are soft in texture, making it more susceptible to crumbling if not careful
2. Packaging is plastic, and a bit flimsy

Overall, I am really happy with these baked eyeshadow duos from Hard Candy. I can't wait to try more products from the Hard Candy line at WalMart. Have any of you tried any of the Hard Candy baked eyeshadow duos? Did you like them? Let me know in the comments section!

Here are some pictures (Click images to enlarge)

Hard Candy Baked Eyeshadow Duos in Peace (left) and Backstage Pass (right)

Left to right: Peace, Backstage Pass

Peace

Backstage Pass

Swatch of Peace

Swatch of Backstage Pass

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above.

Fashion Crave: Steve Madden

Hey Dolls,

Here is another installment of Fashion Crave. In this edition I will be featuring shoes from one of my favorite shoe retailers, Steve Madden. I adore their shoes. I purchased a Steve Madden knee-high suede boot this past winter and I loved it. It was super comfortable for being 3.5 inches in heel height, and they looked amazing with skinny jeans and tights. I am looking forward to the fall and winter months so I can rock them again LOL!

Lets check out some shoes!

SANZO ($89.95)

I know sandal season is almost coming to an end (boo!), but I just adore the look of these sandals. They give off a boho-style vibe with all the detailing that is going on. The beads are a beautiful addition to this sandal. These would look great paired with a skirt, skinny jeans or a flowy, casual summer dress.

CARYSSAG ($139.95)

I don't know if I am going to get frowned upon for featuring glitter coated shoes on this post (some may find it a bit tacky) but I love them! Wouldn't these pumps look adorable with a solid colored party dress for the holidays? I can feel the holiday spirit already :)

RADIAATE ($99.95)

When it comes to boots, I am all about combat style. These laced up boots are great for the fall and winter months. These would look great with skinny jeans tucked in, and worn with leggings as well.

TATIANNA ($89.95)

Wedges made a huge comeback this spring and summer and I love wearing them with jeans and dresses. I really like the zipper on the wedge. It is a simple show but so perfectly chic at the same time.

VENOMM ($79.95)

I don't own any faux snake-skin printed heels, and I don't know why? This platform pair by Steve Madden is very chic, and sexy. These would look killer paired with a little black dress for a night out on the town.


What do you all think of Steve Madden shoes? Love them? Let me know in the comments section!

All Image Credits-www.stevemadden.com


Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the company mentioned above.

Nail Of The Day: Flirty Pink with Purple Konad Flowers

Hey Dolls!

I hope your evening is going well. I am on a nail kick today LOL! I may make another post tonight that includes a look of the day so be on the lookout for that later on. Here is my current nail of the day. I really love how this design came out. It is so flirty, romantic, and perfect for summer. Not to mention purple and pink are one of my favorite color combinations.

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Flower design on lower right hand corner-Konad image plate m65

Base Coat-Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in 01 Invisible
Pink Base Color (2 coats)- love and beauty nail polish in Salmon
Purple Image Color- love and beauty purple nail polish from nail collection kit
Top Coat-Konad Top Coat



Disclaimer: I purchased all of these products with my money for my personal use only.

Forever 21 Nail Polish is Love!

Hey Dolls!

We have made it to Friday! I hope everybody's week went well, and I hope you all have a great and relaxing weekend planned ahead. I can not apologize enough for my lack of postings, but I have been under the weather health-wise and it really has taken a toll on me. I have been stuck at home dealing with this and I am very much looking forward to getting back to my old self again. In more happier news, I have reached 205 subscribers! YAY! Thank you all for taking an interest in my beauty blog and welcome new readers :) I see a contest coming soon, so stay tuned for that.

I was at Forever 21 (The new store in Times Square) last week and I was browsing through their beauty section. I headed on over to where the nail polish were and I picked up a love and beauty nail polish in Salmon ($2.80), and a love and beauty Nail Collection set which brings four fun and bright nail polish shades in blue, hot pink, red, and purple ($4.80). All of the polishes I purchased were cream finishes.

In the pictures I have on three coats of each polish, except for Salmon which gave me an opaque look with 2 coats, and no top coat. I am sure a clear top coat will shine these babies up even more. All of the polishes went on very well, were very easy to apply and contain a semi-thick consistency. I love the nail brushes in the four mini nail polishes. The brushed made for an easy application and no streaks or air bubbles were experienced with there polishes from Forever 21. Overall, I am super happy with these polishes and will definitely be checking out some more. I am especially loving the Salmon color. Gorgeous pink cream that looks darling.

Here are some swatches for ya! (Click all images to enlarge)

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With Flash

What do you all think of Forever 21 nail polishes? Let me know in the comments section :)

Beauty Crave: Sephora

Hey Dolls!

Happy Thursday! I hope your day is going well :) Here is another installment of Beauty Crave (haven't done one of these in awhile either LOL!) In this post I will be showing you all some beauty products that can be found in Sephora, that I am interested in and find intriguing.

Let's get started!

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Stain ($24.00)

I have a few Tarte products such as their multiplEye mascara and the Smooth Operator foundation both which have blown my mind. Tarte never disappoints, and I am sure this lip stain is another winner. I have never ventured into the world of lip stains but I do know that lip stains are used to give a pretty subtle natural color to lips. I love that this moisture boosting lip stain (as well as other Tarte products) contain natural, good for your skin ingredients and is free from parabens and other gunk that we can do without. Lipsurgence from Tarte comes in many pretty shades. I have my eye on Lively, which is described as a hot pink. You all know how much I love my pink lips :)

Urban Decay Naked Palette ($44.00)

When it comes to eyeshadow palettes, Urban Decay sure knows how to pick them and make them. I am so excited about the new Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette which contains 12 neutral eye shadows that I am sure will tickle anybody's fancy. As far as finishes go, the Naked palette contains shimmers, satins, mattes, and metallic-Love all of these different choices! I see the Naked palette being appropriate for those who want a simple, neutral day look and it can even work for creating a more smokier eye for nights out. I love the color gunmetal (metallic gray), it looks amazing.

Urban Decay Vegan Palette ($34.00)

The Vegan eyeshadow palette is a great palette. It contains 6 vegan eye-shadows that is sure to win the makeup hearts of many animal lovers :) I wish more makeup companies wouldn't test on animals or use animal-by products. This palette includes neutral-like colors, and they even added a nice pop of teal blue and icy green. And as usual with most Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes, it comes with a pencil eyeliner in Zero (black) and a mini primer potion in Sin which is a frosty champagne color. How adorable is the packaging? Love!

What are you all have your eyes on at the moment makeup-wise? Let me know in the comments, and let me know if any of you have any of the items mentioned above. I would love to hear your thoughts :)

Have a great one loves!

All Image Credits-www.sephora.com


Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above.

Fashion Crave: Old Navy

Hey Dolls!

I hope you are all enjoying this lovely Wednesday. The weekend is slowly creeping up on us :) I have been having lots of lazy days as of late. I just want to be in bed all day and not do anything. But that will all change today. I am getting my butt out of this lazy day "phase" and get moving. Starting with taking a trip down to the gym. I haven't gone since last week Thursday...gotta get a move on LOL! I would love to know what you all do whenever you are feeling down and having a bummy day. What can I do to keep myself motivated?

I have not done a Fashion Crave post in forever! I am back with it today. In case my lovely new readers are new to the fashion crave series, it is a post that features clothing items that I have my eye on and just have to have. In this installment, I will be featuring items from Old Navy! When it comes to bargain hunting cute and comfy clothes, Old Navy has your back. Did I mention that Old Navy is almost, always having great sales of some sorts? Love! Here are some of my picks. I hope you all enjoy!

Cropped Rosette Cardigan ($26.50)

How adorable is this cardigan? I love the adorable rose detailing on the side of the neckline-makes this cardigan look very elegant. I am a huge fan of cardigans all year round. I love wearing them over a tee or a casual, summer dress. The navy colored one is so pretty. But if navy is not a color that fancies you, this cardigan is also available in white, cream, and a soft baby pink as well.

Skinny Cropped Perfect Khakis ($19.00)

Love these cropped khakis. Especially in this navy color-Um, am I sensing a navy kick? LOL! These pants look comfy, and would look great with silver or brown gladiator sandals or even booties if you want to dress them up for night. I bet a simple white/black tee or tank would look great paired with these pants as well.

Embellished Peace Graphic Tees ($10.00)

You can never have enough tees. I am a huge fan of graphic tees in the summertime. I love pairing them with skirts, jeans, and shorts. I love when Old Navy always seems to have a sale when it comes to tees. Check out their website because I spot lots of tees on sale. Some go as low as $6.97. Can I get one in every color please? LOL!

The Rock Star Super-Skinny Denim Leggings ($34.50)

I love black jeans. Especially when fall and winter arrives. I love how they look when paired with boots and heels. I have been on the lookout for a pair of super skinny black jeans that almost look as if they were black leggings. I think these hit the spot :) These jeans would also look great with a soft, flowy top, a tee, and a pair of gladiator sandals or heels for the night. Hey, I bet these would look great with my converse sneakers as well :)

Mosaic-Beaded Leather Sandals ($15.00)

How adorable are these sandals? I love the beading on the top of the sandals on the strap. Just pure joy! There are also some detailing on the sandals that come in aqua, yellow, and neutral. I would pair these with a casual dress, jeans, and shorts. If you are a fan of embellishments on sandals, then they are worth a look at on the Old Navy website. And what a steal for $15! Love!

Long Button-Front Trench Coats ($49.50)

Shame on me for not owning a trench coat! It is a must have in everybody's wardrobe. Trench coats look great with everything. This coat is available in many colors-black, cream, green, navy, and red. I have my eye on this red number. It is screaming my name :)


See anything you like? Let me know in the comments section. I would love to hear your thoughts.



Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the company mentioned above in any way.

Forever 21 Outfits + Glitter Mania!

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all having a great Tuesday! I wanted to take this time and show you all some new summer clothing I have purchased over a period of a few months from Forever 21. When it comes to summer, I am all about dresses and comfort. And these clothing picks of mines happily comply wit both of my preferences. I love shopping at Forever 21 when it comes to cute and comfy clothing for summer. The prices are reasonable, and the pieces are so chic-who can resist! Oh, I also want to mention just in case anybody is wondering, I am a size Large when it comes to Forever 21 clothing. I mostly look for clothing that have some sort of stretch/elastic to them. I find stretchy clothing from Forever 21 fits me best. (Click all images to enlarge)

This dress is super comfy! It is a cream colored fabric, short sleeved, that has giant, beautiful bright flower prints on it. I love how the waist is elastic allowing me to move around and sit comfortably.

I love how Deep, royal blues look on me. I think they flatter every skin tone and this dress is no exception! This beautiful, comfy short sleeved dress hugs my curves in all the right places and it looks very flattering against my body. The tie back, empire waist is really pretty too. I believe the black lining on the sides of the dress helps it to create a more slimming silhouette. This dress does have a very low cut V-neck line, so I would usually just layer a tank top under to get some coverage.

This flower print short sleeved dress was a steal! I believe I paid around $11 for it. This dress has an elastic waist, and it's super comfy. But I must admit that what drew me to the dress was the adorable detailing on the back of it-the cute bow tie back :) I have not work this dress out yet because I am waiting for a nice occasion with the hub to wear it to. LOL! Does this dress seem going out to dinner appropriate?

I love this tribal-like print, purple dress. I am a huge fan of purples and this V-neck dress is chic and comfy! This dress pairs up nice with silver metallic sandals :)

I know I promised you all a glittery look of the day to be posted up this weekend, and I am so sorry for not posting it up. I tried! Believe me, I played around with looks and came up with this. I created a silver and purple glitter eye with glossy pink lips. I was not too happy with the outcome of the look-I don't know, something seemed a bit off. Not to mention that all of the pictures I was taking of the look were not coming out right. Don't you hate when that happens? LOL! But, I wanted to show it to you all anyway. It is definitely a fun and bold look. Perfect for a fun night out.

Thanks for stopping by lovelies!

Top 10 Products I Can't Live Without This Summer!

Hey Loves!

We have made it to Friday-Woop Woop! Any exciting plans for this weekend? I am planning on seeing a movie. I haven't been to a theater since Iron Man 2 was released! Yea-it's been THAT long LOL! I am so sorry I have not been posting as often as I should be. I thought that with the summer finally here I would have more free time to write. But truth of the matter is that I have been super busy and frankly, I am running out of things to write! I haven't really been purchasing many beauty products, and my looks of the day have been pretty neutral and nothing too exciting! I promise to give you all a fun look of the day either Saturday or Sunday. So check back and keep a look out for that post. I will give you a hint of what I had in mind...glitter! OK, that's it no more hints LOL!

I want to share with you my top 10 picks for products that I am constantly reaching for this summer. As far as makeup goes, I am all about neutral and shimmer. For nails, I have been obsessed with corals...so pretty and the color practically screams summer! Lastly, when it comes to body scents, I love scents that are more soft, clean, and fruity.

(Click Image To Enlarge)

1. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Daily Moisture Lotion- I am hope that we all know by now how important it is to apply a facial moisturizer that contains SPF which helps protect against UVA and UVB rays. I have been using this moisturizer by Garnier which contains an SPF of 28 and protects against UVA and UVB rays.

2. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in "Mango Motion"- This nail polish by Sally Hansen tops the list when it comes to my favorite corals. This polish applies beautifully and opaquely in just 2 coats. Honestly, you can even get away with just one if you wanted to! Click HERE to see a previous post in where I swatch this beautiful coral goodness. I have this color on my toes right now. Love it!

3. Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara- This is my most favorite drugstore mascara. It lengthens, volumizes, and the brush works wonders in separating my lashes beautifully. Best of all? The affordable price! Click HERE to check out my review on the famous orange tube.

4. Philosophy Pure Grace Perfumed Body Lotion- I am quite fond of this body lotion from Philosophy. I apply it on my arms, and my legs before I go out so my body can linger in a nice fresh, clean, and sweet smell. Pure Grace body lotion contains antioxidants, and Philosophy describes the scent as being a "clean scent of soap and water". And that is exactly what it smells like. Did I mention I love the pimp bottle? So easy to get the product out. Some may not agree with the hefty price tag of $34.00 for a 16 oz. bottle, but this has lasted me a long time. I am not even half-way through the bottle yet and I have had this lotion since March 2010.

5. MAC Get-Away Bronze Blush- Ever since this blush came out with the MAC To The Beach collection last month, I have been reaching for this non-stop. This blush is perfect for giving my cheeks a subtle warmth to them. I have actually even been skipping blush these days. I feel like Get-Away Bronze blush is just enough color for me. This blush is a frost, and it gives me that perfect amount of soft sheen to my cheeks. Just perfect! Click HERE to check out my review and swatch of Get-Away Bronze.

6. Raph Lauren Ralph Eau De Toilette- This scent is perfect for summer. It is fruity, fun, and flirty. I love how versatile this scent is. I wear this scent either in the day time, or for a fun night out on the town.

7. Tarte Smooth Operator Oil Free Foundation- I love how this foundation feels on my skin. It is not heavy, sticky, contains an SPF of 20, does not contain any harsh chemical ingredients, and it gives my face a healthy glow to it. That is great for me because in the summer I am all about a naturally luminous complexion. Click HERE to check out my review on Smooth Operator.

8. MAC Lipstick in Blankety- You all know that I am all for nude lips. I have been reaching for Blankety a lot because I love toned down lips when summer comes, and best of all the amplified formula is not drying on the lips and they help keep my lips soft, and smooth all day long.

9. Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden- I suffer from the most oily lids ever! And they don't get any better when summer time arrives. That is why it is super important that I prime my lids before I apply my eyeshadow. I love Eden because it contains a yellow tint that is perfect for helping to conceal any lid discoloration. Click HERE to read my review on Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden.

10. Urban Decay Show Pony Shadow Box- I am loving the soft, smooth, and sheen-like neutrals in this palette by Urban Decay. I often apply Toasted on my lid, and smog on the crease. Perfect, simple, and easy to do neutral eye. Check out swatches HERE.


What are your favorite summer must haves? Let me know in the comments section. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Have a great Friday Dolls :)



Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above for my personal use. I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above.

Forever 21: Heart Earrings

Hey Dolls!

I hope you are all enjoying your 4th of July weekend! I am taking it easy today and hanging en mi casa. Although, I kind of wish I were at the beach instead LOL! I have not been to a beach in awhile. I must make it so that I go to the beach before the summer is over.

I wanted to show you all these adorable pair of earrings I bought at Forever 21 the other day. They are heart shaped stud-like earrings that contain a beautiful pink and yello rose images inside. I love these earrings because I don't have anything like this in my accessories stash and they are so fun and colorful. Perfect for summer when you are going for a flirty look :)

Check it out! (Click Image to enlarge)

Have a great one dolls! Be back soon, and my apologies for my lack of posts.