Beauty Crave: Gift Set Edition

Hey dolls,

I hope you are all doing well. Can you believe that the holidays are right around the corner? Next week is November, and before you know it, Christmas will be here! YAY! For this edition of beauty crave, I wanted to share with you some awesome beauty gift set ideas. I love the holidays-especially because that's the time that most of our favorite beauty brands release special, gift sets that are just to die for. Let's get started! 

1. Smashbox Snap You're Fab Lip Gloss Set ($30.00)- I LOVE Smashbox lip glosses. They go on smooth, and they give my lips a gorgeous shine. The best part is that the glosses feel so comfortable on my lips. This set includes four travel-sized glosses, as well as two full-sized glosses. Score! The colors included in this set are right up my alley as well. I am glad that a full-sized version of Pout is included (soft pink) because it is one of my favorite Smashbox lip glosses.

2. Tarte Lip Service Lipsurgence Collection ($29.00)- I have noticed that this Tarte lip set has been generating quite the buzz in the beauty blogging community. I can see why. Not only is this lip set from Tarte paraben free, but the variety of colors are just lovely. I love new lip products, and this is definitely a product that is on my beauty wishlist. I am sure it performs as great as it looks!

3. Tarte Ring It In Cheek Stain Set ($25.00)- Here is another lovely product from Tarte. This time it is the paraben free, cheek stain set. I really like the luxurious gold packaging, and the inclusion of a cocktail ring is a great surprise that I am sure nobody will be able to resist.

4. Yves Saint Laurent Holiday Nail Trio ($45.00)- If the gorgeous packaging, and shades aren't enough to make you drool over these limited edition, Yves Saint Laurent nail color set, then I don't know what is. These luxurious metallic, jewel-like colors just scream holidays. The three shades included are No.126 (Black Bronze), No. 127 (Black Lapis), and No. 128 (Black Indigo).

5. Buxom Armed and Gorgeous ($29.00)- These double-ended eye sticks are a great bang for your buck. You are getting six lovely vibrant looking colors, and that blue color is calling my name. I can already picture the different looks that can be created with these colors. I am pretty sure that these eye sticks are great multi-taskers as well. They can be used to line the eyes, alone and blended out as a wash of color on the lids, and as a base color. I love that these eye sticks are paraben-free, and that included in the set are also a handy sharpener, and a smokey eye brush.

What beauty gift sets are on your wishlist? 

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

Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit

I am sure that all of you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I love when beauty companies do their part by donating proceeds of particular product sales, to Breast Cancer Research groups. It is so important that we all do our part when it comes to finding a cure for this disease that affects hundreds of thousands of women a year. In my heart, I KNOW that a cure will be found someday.

I recently had the opportunity to try the limited edition, Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit ($55.00) and I couldn't have been more thrilled at the chance. I have never really been familiar with this brand before, so this skincare line was pretty new to me. According to their website, Elemis combines "natural active ingredients with cutting edge technology" to bring the most effective and powerful therapeutic skincare products. Proceeds of every kit sold is going to be donated to Breast Cancer Care. Elemis pledges to donate $16,000!

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I love that this set included a HUGE and very SPACIOUS, cube shaped travel bag. I love that its pink, shiny, sturdy, and I know I am going to get loads of use out of it. When I spend the night away from home, I usually have to bring two makeup bags because, all the items that I want to bring with me never fit in just one. Thanks to this bag, I can finally store all of my products with ease in just one bag. Love!

This travel bag housed three Elemis skincare products that I was so excited to try. Let's take a look!

Left To Right: Pro Collagen lifting Treatment, Pro Collagen Marine Cream, Skin Nourishing Shower Cream

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream- Besides being Elemis' number 1 best seller, this anti aging cream is "clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkle-depth by up to 78% and increase hydration by up to 45% in just 15 days." I have been applying this cream at night, after I cleanse my face and it feels just lovely. The consistency is smooth, creamy, it absorbs quickly into my skin, and although I do detect a fragrance, it is not overbearing. It smells pretty nice. Calming, in fact. My sensitive and acne prone skin has not reacted negatively, which is always a plus. After application my skin does feel very soft. I hope that the longer I use this face cream, the better the results will be.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment- This neck and bust lotion was a very nice inclusion in the kit. Often times, a lot of us will forget that as with our face, we must also pay attention and give our neck some love! This product is "clinically proven to reduce crepiness by up to 33%, increase skin firmness by up to 17% and elasticity by up to 14%." This cream has almost a thin, liquid-like consistency and it absorbs easily into the skin. The only thing I am not fond of is the scent. I don't really mind it, but its just not my cup of tea. Luckily, it does not linger for too long. I have applied this lotion to both my neck and bust, and the skin in those areas do indeed feel very soft. Although, I haven't really noticed much when it comes to firmness. Maybe its too soon to tell.

Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream- This definitely had to be my most favorite product out of the set of three. This shower cream is amazing. It contains camellia, macademia, jojoba, oat kernel, and wheatgerm. All these ingredients help cleanse and moisturize the skin. A little bit of product goes a long way, so this shower cream will surely last me a good while. The lather is very rich, and the fresh, baby-powder scent that lingers on my skin after I pat dry, is an added bonus. When this shower cream runs out, I am definitely going to purchase a full-sized version. I love it that much.

You can purchase this amazing Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit online at Time To Spa, Bergdorf Goodman, select Nordstrom locations, and by calling 1-800-7-beauty. 

Have any of you tried Elemis skincare products? 

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned in this post by PR, for posting consideration. I am not being compensated for this post, and my reviews are 100% honest and my own.

Products I Have Been Loving Lately: Vol 1

Hey Dolls,

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend! Did any of you do anything exciting this weekend? Unfortunately, I didn't. I have a lot of studying and work that has to be done. It seems that is all I have been doing lately. Its great to know that I am halfway through the semester, so it will surely be over soon!

Anyways, I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite products that have been in constant rotation when it comes to my beauty routine. Also included are a few items that I haven't given much love to in quite some time. Don't you love when you re-discover products again?

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When it comes to foundation, I have been relying on a very cool combination of products that have been giving me all-day, lasting wear results. One of my best friends has recently started selling Mary Kay products, and I couldn't help but purchase this foundation. The Mary Kay Time Wise Matte Wear Liquid Foundation ($20.00) blew me away! This product has made me believe that there are foundations out there, that are capable of fighting against oily skin. I will have a full review of this foundation very soon, but I will say that this matte foundation gives a nice medium-buildable coverage, and it helps control my oily T-Zone area for the most part, all day.

After I apply a layer of the Mary Kay Matte Wear Liquid Foundation, I then buff in a bit of Bare Minerals foundation on top. This combination is perfect for me. My foundation(s) last all day, and since the Bare Minerals foundation contains little hints of fine natural looking shimmer, it helps tone down the matte look of the Mary Kay foundation and adds a glow to my skin. I don't mind a matte foundation, but I can't help but love a glowing, healthy looking complexion. Check out my review of the Bare Minerals foundation HERE.

I strayed away from MAC's Studio Finish Concealer for months. I purchased this concealer specifically to help cover my dark, under eye circles. At first, I was in love with Studio Finish concealer-the coverage was really nice, not to mention the added bonus of an SPF of 35. But then, I started to notice that the concealer settled in the fine lines that I have under the eye area. No bueno! Eventually, I fell out of love and moved onto other concealers. Well, I don't know about back then, but now I have fallen back in love with Studio Finish Concealer. Out of the blue, I decided to give it another shot and I was really happy to see that it had not settled in the lines, and the coverage was just lovely. I have not found the right product to completely cover my dark under eye circles, but this product sure comes pretty close.

Also, I want to mention that a little bit of this product goes a long way. I remember I used to apply WAY too much of this concealer, and who knows? Maybe that is why it wasn't working too well for me back then. I have been using this concealer so much lately, that I have already hit pan on it! More than likely, I will do a full review of this concealer in the near future.

MAC's Fix + has been working wonderfully for me when it comes to giving my dry skin an extra boost of hydration. I apply my moisturizer, do 2-3 quick spritzes of Fix +, let it dry and absorb into my skin for about 5 minutes, then I go ahead and apply my foundation. My foundation goes on smoothly, easily, and it does not settle onto any flakes or dry spots. Winning!

I have been a huge fan of this eyelid primer from E.L.F, which was part of the E.L.F. eyelid primer collection set. This shade-pearl, does wonders when it comes to helping my eyes appear brighter. Its awesome for those mornings when I look super tired. Not only that, but this primer goes on smoothly, its easy to blend, ans it helps my eyeshadow last a super long time. Check out my review HERE.

What products have you been loving lately? 

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. All of the products mentioned are from my personal collection.

Beauty Crave

Welcome to another edition of Beauty Crave, in where I share with you all, beauty products that are on my never-ending wishlist. Let's get to it!

1. Bare Escentuals bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 ($20.00)- I am so excited that Bare Escentuals has finally released pressed eyeshadows. I have a few of their loose mineral eyeshadows, and while I do like them, I think having them pressed is much more practical. Not to mention, mess free. I have seen many swatches of these pressed eyeshadows in a few beauty blogs, and the pigmentation is fantastic. I am definitely going to pick up one of these to try, next time I stop by Sephora.

2. MAC Matchmaster Foundation ($32.50)- This new foundation from MAC has been on my mind ever since its release, a few weeks ago. It contains an SPF of 15, and it promises to give the complexion a natural look, while providing a semi-matte finish. Sounds like something that is right up my alley. 

3. Urban Decay Complexion Pore Perfecting Primer Potion ($30.00)- This paraben free complexion primer helps minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines. I love Urban Decay's eyeshadow primers, so I am hoping that this complexion primer wows me as well. I have been noticing that my pores are a little more visible than I would like them to be, and this product sounds like it could help with the problem. I definitely gotta try this!

4. Benefit Powda WOWza ($28.00)- This set contains three of Benefit's face powders-Coralista, Hoola, and Bella Bamba. Also, a mini-sized brush is included, which is great when one is on the go. I really enjoyed Hoola, and the other two colors sound just as great. If you aren't very familiar with Benefit's face powders, and are interested in trying out a few shades, I think this little box set of three is a great excuse to do so.

5. Dior 'Diorblush' Glowing Color Powder Blush ($42.00)- These Dior blushes have been on my radar for quite sometime. There are many lovely shades to choose from, and I am sure they apply like a dream. Not to mention, these blushes promise to give a healthy looking glow, which is something I absolutely love. I am all about the glow, LOL!

What beauty products have you been craving for, lately?

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

Product Review: E.L.F. Eyelid Primer Collection

When it comes to a really good eyeshadow primer, I rely heavily on the Urban Decay Primer Potion, as I am sure many of you do as well. I admit, often times it is really hard to find a more affordable eyeshadow primer option. But thanks to E.L.F., I think the search is over. I have never really strayed from my beloved Urban Decay Primer Potion...until now. I am SUPER impressed by ALL three of the primers in the E.L.F. Eyelid Primer Collection ($3.00). Take a look! Note: I purchased this set last month, but on the E.L.F.website right now, the set is 25% off, and priced at just $2.25! Talk about a great bargain!

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E.L.F. Eyelid Primer Collection

Left To Right: Sheer, Pearl, and Champagne

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer-Sheer

Sheer is a neutral peach toned primer. It goes on smoothly, is easily blendable, and it dries to a matte finish. This is a really great primer to have on hand. It reminds me most of the original Urban Decay Primer Potion. Both primers have a fast drying time, and the same neutral tone. The most noticeable difference I noticed between the two was that, this primer from E.L.F. blended a bit easier than the Urban Decay Primer Potion. I am thinking about doing a comparison post between this E.L.F. eyeshadow primer and the Urban Decay Primer Potion. So, be on the lookout for that!

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer-Pearl

Pearl is probably my most favorite of the three primers. The semi-sheer white base, contains very fine silver shimmers. This primer easily blends onto my eyelids and dries to a soft matte, shimmered finish. The brightening effect Pearl gives off is just lovely. Honestly, if I wanted to, I could get away with using this eye primer as an eyeshadow because it gives the appearance of a frosty/shimmered shadow look. I use this primer the most out of the three because its a life-saver on those mornings when I am getting ready for school. This primer along with a brightening eyeshadow, do wonders when it comes to awakening my eyes and making them appear brighter. Not to mention it helps hide the fact that I only had 2-3 hours of sleep the night before. Ahhh, the life of a college student, LOL!

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer-Champagne

Champagne is a lovely neutral, rosy light brown that contains small, fine shimmers. This primer goes on smooth, and its great to use when you are going for a neutral look, and are going to layer a neutral colored eyeshadow on top. It makes the shadow color appear more vibrant, and adds a really fun kick to a neutral eye look. I found this eye primer could be worn alone, used as just a shadow. The end result is a very pretty no fuss, soft matte shimmered neutral eye.

Left To Right: Sheer, Pearl, Champagne

All of the primers have a thin smooth consistency, are easily blendable, and drying time is relatively quick. I am a huge fan of shimmered/frosty eyeshadows, and I think pearl and champagne are awesome bases for those kinds of eyeshadow finishes. It is basically a match made in heaven! The shimmers really pop. And Sheer is great for use with both matte eyeshadows and/or shimmered ones. These primers give you options, which is always a plus.

As for lasting power, I found that all three did a superb job at keeping my eyeshadows in place all day. I apply this product along with my eyeshadow at 8:30 AM, and I find the eyeshadow is pretty much still in tact-with minimal creasing and fading, when I arrive home 9-10 hours later.

Although I love these eyeshadow primers, my only issue would have to be with the packaging. I wish these were in a squeeze-tube form, to ensure that every last bit of product is used up. I am worried that I will not be able to get all the product out when the tube is nearing the end.

Overall, these eyeshadow primers rock! And just to be in the know, these primers are also available separately as well, and they are only $1.00 each! It can't get much better than that. If any of you end up trying these eyeshadow primers, I hope you are all impressed by them as I am.

What do you all think of the E.L.F. Eyelid Primers?

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

Nail Of The Day: Sinful Colors-Rise And Shine

Hey dolls,

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend! I want to share with you all the nail color that I have been sporting on my nails all week. Say hello to Rise And Shine from Sinful Colors ($1.99).

Rise And Shine is such a gorgeous, muted bright green teal cream that contains small, fine shimmers. I had somewhat of a hard time capturing the true color of Rise And Shine. These were the most accurate shots I got. I mean, they are pretty accurate, but the color is definitely much more greener and brighter. By the way, Sinful Colors nail polishes are free of DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde. Score!

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Sinful Colors-Rise And Shine (2 coats. with clear topcoat)

Honestly, I usually shy away from colors like this one. I have had Rise And Shine for a few months now and I can't believe that it wasn't until recently, that I discovered just how great it really was. I wish I would have sported this color more often, this past summer. Form now on, I am definitely making it a requirement to wear Rise And Shine much more. I am even shocked that the hub complimented on how lovely the color was. He hardly ever notices what color I am sporting on my nails, LOL!

During application, the first coat went on pretty sheer and a little streaky , but everything evened out once the second coat was on, and I got opaque coverage. I expected to see a glossy finish on my nails once they were dry, but that was not the case. I was surprised to see that this color dried semi-matte. I much prefer a shiny and glossy finish, so of course I added a clear topcoat. In case you are all wondering, I used Wild Shine Clear Nail Protector, from Wet n' Wild ($0.99).

Drying time was super quick and, lasting power was even better. I rocked this color on my nails for a week, and I only got minimal tip wear, and just a tiny chip on one nail-barely noticeable. I really have grown to love Sinful Colors nail polishes. They are affordable and the array of colors and finishes are endless!

What are your favorite green-teal nail colors?

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

Product Review: Dr. Jules Nabet Skincare

Hey dolls,

Two months ago, I had the opportunity to try a few skincare items from Dr. Jules Nabet. I have never heard of this skincare line before, so I was really excited to try some of the products. Dr. Jules Nabet is a renowned doctor that specializes in the field of aesthetic medicine. His clinics are based in Paris and London, and he was chosen as "one of the top ten practitioners in the world."

"Dr. Jules Nabet's products contain an innovative penetrating process that has the power to carry essential components needed to maintain a smooth radiance of the skin, using the best performing elements in his profession." -source 
I am all for maintaining healthy and radiant looking skin. Although I am 23 and don't suffer from wrinkles-well, just fine lines under the eye area, I think it is never too early to start using skincare products that help with the aging process.


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Dr. Jules Nabet Skincare

L. Boxin Cream

L. Boxin Cream ($62.00)- This night cream helps improve the appearance of the skin. It helps the face appear firmer, and more youthful-looking. I applied one pump of this cream before bed, and I did notice a scent, but it was not overbearing. After application, my face and neck felt very smooth to the touch, which I loved. The only issue I had with this night cream was that it took awhile for it to absorb into my skin. On the plus side, I love the packaging. The pump is a lovely addition. Hygienic packaging is always great when it comes to skincare products.

Slimming Act

Slimming Act Emulsion ($69)- This emulsion helps the skin appear firmer and smoother. The best part is that this lotion is not just limited for use on the face. You can apply it on your thighs, neck, and anywhere else on the body where a little more firmness is desired. This product contains organic silica, along with pure caffeine which is known to help increase blood circulation in the skin. I have applied this cream to my neck and upper arms, and I love how smooth my skin looks and feels. 

Zen Attitude

Zen Attitude Anti-Aging Cream ($69)- This moisturizing cream is used to improve the appearance of the skin by minimizing the facial signs of stress that can be caused by environmental pollution in the air, and exposure to toxins. This cream can be used day or night, but I prefer to use it in the day.  

I love the pump bottle packaging, and the scent of this cream is nice. I can't quite describe it, though. But no worries, as the scent dissipates rather quickly. I first applied my sunscreen lotion, then applied this cream on top, before I applied my makeup for the day-making sure to let it fully absorb into my skin, about 5-10 minutes. A little bit of product goes a long way. My makeup goes on flawlessly right over it, and I think its nice to have some sort of shield of protection and remedy from these environmental pollutants, which can wreck havoc on the skin.

Zen Lotion

Zen lotion ($39.00)- This lotion surprised me. Before I opened the box, I thought the lotion was going to be in a tube. But to my surprise, it was in a spray-bottle. Very cool! This spray lotion contains Vitamin C, White Lilly, encapsulated pure Oxygen, and Hyaluronic Acid-which is very popular when it comes to preventing the effects of aging. The vitamin C and encapsulated pure oxygen work together to help improve the appearance of the skin, while the White Lilly cleanses the skin, resulting in a more radiant looking complexion.

I spritz this lotion on my face when my skin needs a burst of hydration. The lotion smells nice, absorbs quickly, and feels very refreshing on my skin. Apart from using this before I apply my makeup, I even tried spritzing this product over my makeup, and it worked quite well by not disturbing any of the products on my face.

L. Boxin Mask

L. Boxin Mask Contents

L. Boxin Mask ($64.00)- Out of all the products, this mask was probably my most favorite. This mask set contains a powder and liquid that helps improve the texture of the skin, and helps it appear younger, thanks to the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamins E and C. I have to say, I really enjoyed this mask. My skin was looking really dull, and rough. My skin definitely needed a pick me up. I mixed the powder and liquid until I got a paste consistency, then I took an old hair dyeing brush and applied the mask on my face. I left it on for 25 minutes as the directions indicated, then peeled away. I was really surprised at the jelly-like consistency. I figured this mask would harden a bit more on my skin, but it dried to a jelly texture which was pretty cool, LOL! 

Peeling the mask off was super easy, but also really messy. I rinsed off any remnants on my face and I immediately noticed how much brighter, and healthier my complexion looked. Not to mention my pores were less visible, and my skin felt super smooth. This mask truly amazed me. I loved it!

Here are some pictures that show the mask process. Oh, and please forgive my messy application. I managed to get this stuff on my eyebrows and hair, LOL! 

Powder poured into a bowl

Liquid poured in

Powder and Liquid mixed together with an old hair coloring brush

Mask applied to skin. Dries to a jelly-like texture

After peeling and rinsing mask off! (no makeup)

I am happy to report that I did not experience any irritation or some sort of skin reaction from using all of these skincare items. I am also happy about the fact that none of these skincare products were tested on animals, YAY! I am not too fond of the semi-high price point, but I think you definitely get what you pay for. And it also helps that a little bit of product goes a long way, so these products should last a long time. I think these products are worth a try if you are looking for anti-aging skincare that helps improve the appearance of the skin by making it appear radiant, and smooth. 

To  find out more about Dr. Jules Nabet skincare products, visit his website at www.drjulesnabetskincare.com

Disclaimer: I received all of the products mentioned in the post by PR, for review consideration. I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above, and I did not get paid for this review. As always, my reviews are 100% honest.