POTW! It's back!

Hello lovelies!
I don't know what happened to our Pick of the Weeks, but don't you fret, they are back now! So to get us back on track I bring you the Mascara that I have been using the last couple of weeks. It is the I <3 Extreme Volume Mascara from Essence. It's part of the new line that just came out (at least it just got to my Ulta). It has a very Interesting brush, With three rows of long bristles, and 3 rows of short bristles. It is very big and full.

$3.99

 I feel like this mascara really makes my lashes look fuller and longer with little to no flaking, which I usually have a problem with. It is also very buildable, one coat looks really nice but you can definitely use 2 or 3 coats and get super dramatic, va-va-voom look. But be careful when applying, because it is very easy to make them look clumpy/spidery. Here it is on the left eye (one coat) compared to bare lashes on the right.

Happy Mothers Day to all you moms out there!
-The Addict

Beauty Secret Weapon - Don't Pay to Wax that Stache

Hello Beauties,

The product I want to talk about was a secret even to me until just recently. After a very unfortunate wax pot incident (no one was injured), I was desperate to wax my mustache. It's embossing I know, we as woman like to take care of these issues and pretend like they were never there. 

As you may know, I am a licensed esthetician and I couldn't fathom paying someone to wax me when I have been doing it myself for years. A while back I witnessed a friend of mine use the following product and I couldn't believe my eyes, who on earth would wax themselves when something they bought at the drug store, it's absolute insanity. But in my desperate state I needed a quick fix, and came across Sally Hansen's Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit for Face.

 

I would normally never recommend any OTC waxing products, I can't tell you how many scorched bikini lines I have seen from microwavable wax products. But these little wax strips are super easy to use, gentle and no microwaving needed.

I paid only $4.99 for 48 strips in three different sizes, and it came with a little bottle of aftercare oil. I honestly can't believe how easy these strips where to use and well they worked. The steps are simple:

1) Warm strip in hands

2) Separate double-sided strips

3) Press on, pull off

A few tips when your waxing, make sure to always pull the skin tight and you want to pull the wax strip against the grain for best results and less pain.

The whole process took less than five minutes. I will for sure be added these bad boys to my make-up kit as well, never again will I be tweezing out a unibrow or trying to cover us a mustache.

If you have used these products before or plan on it, please tell me about it! Happy Waxing!

Love, The Artist

Brash Lip Stains

Hey there!
This is the first time I've tried any cosmetics from the brand Brash (which is sold exclusively at Payless stores). I love their shoes, like my sassy new pair of nude platform pumps. But makeup? From a shoe company? I had seen it many times but finally gave in and picked up a couple of these lip stains, I grabbed them because they looked very spring-friendly. I feel like a lot of the stains I've seen/tried were a lot darker. The colors I got are Coral Flame and Pink Lace.

So I don't feel like these had the usual excessively sweet smell or taste like a lot of stains, which I appreciate. I actually didn't notice any smell or taste at all. 

In order to give you an accurate idea of the pigmentation I first applied it to just the bottom lip and left the top lip bare, then applied it to both for the purpose of swatching. Please excuse my chapped lips, they're always very dry in the morning and you need to apply these on clean dry lips.

 Here is Coral Flame 

This is Pink Lace. The Right is with a clear lip balm on top.

These seem to last up to 4 hours or so without fading much, I've been reapplying around lunch time. These are great for people like me who want a lip color but obsessively apply lip balm or chapstick. I'm now pretty tempted to go back and check out some of their other products. They have two other shades (Never Too Red and Bitten Berry) and the go for $4.99.

XO-The Addict

Sally Girl Eyeshadows

Hello loves!
Today we are talking about a line that I don't hear about too often; the Sally Girl line from Sally Beauty. It's a shame too, because They're a pretty good quality and VERY inexpensive. If I'm not mistaken, the entire line is only 99 cents! Today I'm going to be sharing just a couple products, which I think might be the best. First we have the single eyeshadows, they are super pigmented and go on so softly. The ones with the wavy texture tend to have a softer/more powdery consistency (think WnW). I have no complaints about staying power, and they have a pretty decent selection. Here are the ones I have:

Taupe, Cinnamon , Cranberry, Brick, Navy 

Taupe (far left) has got to be one of my favorite browbone shades. I also appreciate the fact that the names are very straight forward.

Next we have the Shimmer Stripes. At first I thought, "what a great multi-use product, it could be shadows or  mixed together it could be a bronzer". They are beautiful as eyeshadows, but I definitely would not wear them as a bronzer! As far as I know these do not have specific names other than the numbers on the back, but here the are:

 This is number 388154. Swatches are from botton to top.

 As you can see, these colors are gorgeous, but are more metallic-which you should not put anywhere put your eyes!

And this is all 4 colors mixed together. It actually looked more like a Rosey Copper in person.

And here is number 388152

 Sadly the corner broke a little bit between buying it and getting it home.

 Again, swatched from bottom to top

And all together is a gorgeous gold.

They only thing I would say about these, is that because they have so much shimmer, I would not use the colors together. Perhaps use them with a matte or satin finish shadow or they will start to look muddy.

I hop you guys enjoyed this, now run and go get some!! :) 

XO- The Addict

Pick of The Week

Happy Tuesday All!

This pick of the week, addresses a serious issue near and dear to my heart...chapped lips. I remember a time not to long ago when your options were basically Chapstick or Burts Bees, everything else...well it kinda sucked. But in this wonderful day and age there are some really stand out brands.

This week I pick Maybelline Baby Lips. I still love my EOS, but the reason this makes it to the POTW is they have some really great tinted lip balms. These are the three I have, they range in price from $2.99-$3.25 depending on where you go.

Pink Punch, Cherry Me & Quenched

Great color, great moisture and I don't feel like I constantly have to reapply it like a lot of other brands.

They look pretty similar in this picture but the pink is actually very bright, Kaci doesn't like this shade for herself, but I love!

Hope you enjoyed this Pick of The Week!

Until Next Time - The Artist

Also, I am running the San Diego Marathon for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, if you would like to help out click here.

Pick of The Week +Bucket Project Update

Hey darlins!
If you watched my last video and the one below, I mention this product! It is the L.A. Colors Automatic Eyeliner in White. I have been on a search for a good drugstore white liner that was long lasting, and this one definitely is! I randomly came across it at a discount store a couple cities over. It was only $1.50, which I believe is pretty standard for this item (they had an entire display of L.A. Colors, I'd never seen that before!). I absolutely love it, and have been using it SO much the last few weeks.

 

Also here is a quick video update on my Bucket Project along with a bonus last minute Valentines Makeup idea!

Olay ProX Clear Review

Hello Everyone,


I have had problems with my adult acne since I was 19 and somehow I managed to have no acne when I was a teenager. I have tried a ton of acne products and they never fail to completely dry out my skin to the point that my face is peeling, burning red and sensitive. They are to abrasive and drying. Now being an eshetician I know I can go to a spa and get cosmetic peels and I wouldn't have any acne. So what's the problem? Cosmetic peels are expensive and they hurt and you have down time. So I am always on the look out for something affordable and gentle yet it still needs to work.


When I saw the advertisements for Olay ProX Clear I was instantly intrigued. They claim to clear acne and hydrate the skin, is it possible? I had to find out.

The Acne protocol is a three step process: First wash your face with the Acne Pore Clarifying Cleanser and pat dry. Second apply a thin lAYer of the Acne Skin Clearing Treatment, and Finally apply the Complexion Renewing Lotion all over.

First Impression: I said in the beginning that I want something affordable, well I don't believe $45.00 is very affordable but I have seen worse. Each of the three products in the basic acne protocol box is very creamy, silky and gentle. Texture gets an A. The third step, renewing cream, does have a slight burn on blemishes (which I like, I want to feel the products working). A few days into it I did start breaking out, I know that if a product is really working it will bring everything to the service and then clear up, so I wasn't discouraged.


A Week In: My skin is starting to clear up, it doesn't feel dry and isn't flaky. So far so good.


A Month In: Well... sadly I am less than impressed. I am back to breaking out, quite possibly worse then before I started using it. I have tons of bumps and lumps where there shouldn't be and my black heads are out of control. Also, my skin has become extremely sensitive and I am completely unable to exfoliate. 


Over all I am so disappointed with this product, I admit that my expectations may have been high, but I honestly feel like my skin is worse off then when I started. I wont be re-buying and I am discontinuing using this system.


Super Sad - The Artist 

Benefit Big 10

Hello all!
Right before I left CA on Black Friday, I stopped by the mall and picked up this neat little set at Sephora. This is the description of the set according to the Sephora website:

What it is:
A travel-size set of 10 small wonders that pack a big punch.

What it does:
This set includes the biggest hits of the season: primers, concealers, lip-and-cheek tints, highlighters, and blushes. This set packs all the Benefit legends you love in conveniently compact sizes.

This set contains:
- 0.1 oz Dandelion (soft pink)
- 0.11 oz Erase Paste in No. 2 Medium *
- 0.08 oz Benetint (rose)
- 0.08 oz High Beam (luminous pink)
- 0.08 oz Posietint (poppy pink)
- 0.08 oz Ooh La Lift
- 0.08 oz Stay Don't Stray
- 0.25 oz That Gal
- 0.25 oz The Porefessional
- 0.1 oz Bella Bamba (watermelon pink)

I could not pass up the chance to try 10 Benefit products that I had never tried before with a price tag of just $32! So after using these products quite a bit here is how I feel about them:

Dandelion (Brightening Face Powder/Blush)- This is nice to top off your look, it gives it a bit of lightness/freshness by adding a little bit of dimension. It's a very light shimmery pressed powder. Some reviews I've read say this is a great blush, and perhaps it is for fair skin tones, but it comes off very sheer on me.

Erase Paste No. 2 Medium (cream concealer)- This is a nice slightly peachy concealer. It has great coverage for both blemishes and undereyes. I did not find that it settled in any of my fine lines and it did not make my blemishes worse. It's very creamy, so I think this would be especially great for those with dry skin/under eye area


Benetint (liquid face color for cheeks & lips)- I am not a huge fan of this product. I didn't find it to be very blendable, and it seemed to make my face makeup smear and look streaky. 


High Beam (liquid highlight)- This is a super shimmery pink tinted liquid highlighter. It's great in moderation. I suggest putting in on the back of your hand first and not applying it directly to the face, or you might look a bit crazy.

Posietint (liquid face color for cheeks & lips)- I had the same issues with this as I did the benetint, with the added disappointment that the color barely shows up on my skin.

Ooh La Lift (under eye brightener-liquid)-I do like the brightness that this gives to the area under my eyes. It makes my face look fresher and more awake. However, when I dabbed this on over my erase paste and powder it made everything wet and smeared a bit.


Stay Don't Stray (eyelid primer)-Good eye primer, as long as you remember less is more. The first few times I tried this I think I too much and I was crease city within an hour. When I used less, it did increase the staying power of my eyeshadow. However, I don't feel it's any better than my $1 elf primer.


That Gal (face primer)- I liked this product in theory. It's a face primer that is supposed give a subtle glow under your makeup. Maybe it's a little too subtle, because once I put my face on I did not feel that there was a noticeable difference. And as a primer, I think the next product does a much better job.


The Porefessional (face primer)- This is probably my favorite product of the bunch. It is a beige colored primer that is supposed to reduce the look of pores. I do feel like it fills them in nicely and gives your face an amazing satiny feeling. I also feel like it did help to keep my makeup on all day.


Bella Bamba (blush)- This is a very gorgeous watermelon colored blush. I think it would work with many different skin tones. It is very pigmented so just remember to use a light hand.


Overall I'd give this set a 7/10. This really is a fantastic deal, you get 10 mini products for only $32. You are getting a variety of products with enough of each to get a good idea of whether or not you would want to purchase the full size. I bought this 2 months ago, and I'm not even close to finishing them. I will continue to play with these, but if you have an idea of way to use these that I have not yet though of (especially the Benetint & Posietint) please let me know, as I would love to be able to actually use these up.

XO-The Addict

Review-NYX Haute Jersey Leopard Couture

Hello Lovelys!

Today I bring you the NYX Haute Jersey Leopard Couture. I wanted this the moment I heard it was coming out and not for the reasons you might think. I don't wear a lot of bronzer because I am super pale and I don't ever have a traditional black smoky eye. I am however obsessed with the Style Network Show Jerseylicious. My Boyfriend (Hes going to kill me for writing this on the internet) and I watch it religiously. We can't get enough of that Jersey style and all of the characters.

When I started swatching this pallet I was actually very pleasantly surprised, I LOVE the colors. The only thing I wont get a lot of use out of is the Bronzers, which I expected.

Over all I really love this set and I think there is something for everyone in it.  All of the colors are highly pigmented, smooth and silky to the touch and have the quality you expect from NYX.

Above: My Haute Jersey Look (Toned down of course) I used the Leopard Bronzer under my cheek bones on my temples and a little all over. The Bright Pink Blush (Very little was needed), The Nude lip gloss and on my eyes I used four shades, two of the purples from the top on my crease and the only highlight color under the brow, and a mocha shade on the base of my lid from the bottom set.

If you have any questions please let me know!

Until next time - The Artist

Pick of The Week

Happy Monday!

I bring to you another pick of the week from Jesse's Girl Cosmetics, this time it's a High Intensity Nail Color in the shade Confetti. I picked this one up a while ago and you may notice I have used it in a couple of my NOTD. For only $2.99 its pretty amazing how many different ways I have been able to use this nail polish. I can take just about any shade of blue or purple polish throw some Confetti on it and I have a brand new look. It's relatively sheer by itself and would probably only wear it on top of other colors. The sparkle is ultra fine and more iridescent than a chunky glitter.

Here are three ways I use it!

Thanks for stopping by! -The Artist

Drugstore Haul!

Hope you guys like it!
XO-The Addict

L'oreal 24 hour Infallible Eye Shadow Review and Swatches

Hello lovelies!
I wanted to bring you a review of the new L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadows. When I got these my first impression was that the formulation very odd. Like a pigment but squished; not a pressed powder, they loosen fairly easily. These are some of the prettiest, most shimmery/metallic colors I have ever seen. Absolutely gorgeous! They apply well and blend very easily. I don't feel like they wear exceptionally longer than most other shadows. Then again, I have very oily lids so most shadows don't last a super long time. I did a look trying to use as many of the shadows together as I could. But in the future, I would pair them with something a lot less shimmery, as it started looking a little muddy. Overall, I think they are great. I would definitely recommend them!

Amber Rush, Bronzed Taupe, Iced Latte, Golden Sage

They retail for about $8 each, but I picked them up for BOGO 1/2 off at CVS

XO-The Addict

CoverGirl Blast Flipstick Review

Hello Everyone!

At first glace the CoverGirl Blast Flipsticks have super cute packaging, get a little closer and I really wasn't very interested in most of the colors. I did end up picking up one, color is Pucker. One side is a bright hot pink and the other is frosty shimmery shade, and has a pretty standard lipstick scent. I do like the fact that you can tone down or brighten up the color. The only big downfall for me is the fact that I can't get this lipstick off. Some might find this as a good thing, but when I take my make-up off I want it to actually come off. But you can eat, drink and wear this all day and still have a stain effect.

You can check out my Mani at facebook.com/artistandaddict

Over all, I really like the concept and would probably buy more of them if they came out with new shades. Other skin shades will probably enjoy these more than me!

Light Shade Alone - Shades Blended - Bright Shade Alone

I purchased my CoverGirl Flipstick at Target for $7.99, which I think is a little steep for a drugstore brand but you you get a minimum of three colors.

I hope you found this helpful! -The Artist

Pick of the Week

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season, I know we are!
For this Pick of the Week I choose NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder. If you don't normally use bronzer or are looking for a less expensive option this is a great product and will only set you back $2.99.

NYC Smooth Skin is a matte powder and I believe only comes in the shade Sunny. I use it two ways, First as a contour powder. If you want to lose a quick 5 lbs apply bronzer under your cheek bone and blend up into your blush to get a quick skinny face. Second, to use as a bronzer for a fast tan apply to the high points of your face; cheek bones, temples and down the center of your face.

Finally ordered the NYX Haute Jersey pallet, I can't wait. Look for that review coming soon!

XOXO- The Artist

Pick of the Week!

Hello lovelies!
Sorry that this is so late, I have been in CA for the last week and didn't get home until late last night.
Enough excuses, let's get started. This product is one that I have been using a lot since I got it in my Cyber Monday elf haul. It is the elf Studio Mascara Primer. I had heard people say that they liked it, but I wasn't sure why because I didn't really understand what it did. So I decided to give it a try with a couple different mascaras and in different amounts (light layer and thick). I do like this product, I feel like it adds length and thickness before you apply your mascara, intensifying the the look. It also helps your mascara stay longer, flake less, and glide on smoother. It even makes my lashes feel more conditioned and it seems like it's easier to remove my mascara at the end of the day when I use this.

$3 at eyeslipsface.com

How many of us have a bunch of half used mascaras in our collection that we stopped using because they weren't all that great? I know I have a few. What's great about this primer is that it can take a so-so mascara and make it great! For example, I have been using it with my NYC Sky Rise Lengthening Mascara which isn't terrible but it's not really anything special on it's own. When I used the primer first then used the NYC Mascara, I had noticeably more intense lashes. They looked awesome! 


I've found that it works best if you use a light-to moderate amount, to where they start to look white but not clumpy, then let it sit for a few seconds before you apply your mascara. They only negative I've noticed is that with the extra product weighing them down my curl doesn't last as long. I think it's a great product to add some oomph to your look or to help you use up some long forgotten products.

Til next time
The Addict

Pick of the Week

Hello Lovely's!


I am so sorry my Pick of the Week is a day late! We got a new puppy and she is taking over my life. 


Anyway I have a great pick for you! It is Jesse's Girl, Mineralized Baked Powder in Ocean Breeze. I really wanted a navy eye shadow and when Kaci was out here we stopped by Rite Aid and picked this one up. I actually did not have high hopes for it but for only $3.99 I figured why not. I ended up absolutely loving it!

The texture is very soft and blends out really well. In this picture I used a darker blue at the base of the lid with the Mineralized Baked Powder all over and a lighter shade to blend the edges into my highlight. Its a more dramatic look but super fast and easy to apply. 

XOXO- The Artist

Review of Kirkland Signature Brush Set

Hey Y'all!
I had heard a lot about these brushes on Youtube, but had low expectations. How could a set of 10 brushes and a super cute purple "alligator" brush roll be only $25 and still be good? Well they are, they're more than good, they're awesome! They are so soft and dense. If I didn't know better I would think these brushes were $25 each, not $25 for the whole set. I definitely recommend this for yourself or for a gift!
The packaging was super cute, they were all displayed in a box set (great for gifting!) .  Unfortunately I had to leave the box in CA because it wouldn't fit in my bag.
All of the brushes are labeled with what type of brush it is, and there is a little booklet with descriptions of each brush and instructions on how to use them. Which is great, especially for beginners.

From the Costco website, which says the price is $32.99 (including shipping)

Brush Roll:
I had originally thought that this set came with a cute purple clutch, and I was pretty pumped. So I was a little disappointed when it turned out to be a brush roll, because I probably won't get as much use out of it. But it is cute and functional. When you put all of the brushes in, you have one extra slot. It has the fold over flap to protect from damage and to keep it clean. It also has a detachable pouch that you can bring on the go, that's where I put the highlighting fan and contour kabuki.

Contour Kabuki:
This little guy is so plush and soft it's ridiculous. I've been using this to contour around my cheeks, chin and neck. It is the perfect size for contouring the hollows of my cheeks, so it makes that step super fast. Up until now I have been using the elf studio blush brush to contour and then would blend with the elf flat top brush, but this brush does both jobs in one.

Highlighting Fan:
I have a few fans that came with different products. I never use them, so I didn't think I would use this at all. But it is so much bigger and fluffier than all my other ones and I have definitely been using it to highlight my cheeks, nose and chin.

Finishing Brush:
If silk and clouds had a baby it would be this stippling brush. It feels amazing. I used this the last couple of days for my foundation and I didn't particularly like the result. I haven't really used a stippling brush before, so I think I need more practice before I can give a fair judgement on this one.

Pointed Foundation Brush:
This is the brush I never knew I always wanted. It is so perfect for concealer. I have just been dabbing my concealer everywhere that I need it and then using this brush to get it in all the little corners and blend it out. Works way better than my finger!

Powder Brush:
So far I've really just used this brush to dust on Benefit Daffodil all over to brighten up my face. Most inexpensive powder brushes have long floppy bristles that don't do a whole lot. But I was delightfully surprised with how full it is.

Cheek Brush:
This to me is a mix between the elf flat top brush and the Bare Escentuals kabuki. I haven't been using this for blush/cheeks, but it does a fantastic job of applying my Laura Geller Balance and Brighten with good coverage.

All Over Eye Brush:
This is dense and soft like the elf studio C brush, but stockier like the elf essentials e/s brush. Very good standard e/s brush.

Angled Eye Brush:
I thought this was going to be just like the elf Angled contour brush. The shape is essentially the same. When I first felt this brush it felt a little scratchy and I didn't think I would get much use out of it. But after a couple uses, it feels much softer (I have no idea why). Because of the texture it picks up a lot of product with very little fall out. I have been using it a lot lately, when I'm in a rush and just want to use one color for all over. Because of the size and shape it takes a whole 2 seconds to flawlessly sweep on shadow in the right shape.

Crease Eye Brush:
I have been wanting a big fluffy blending brush for a while now, and hadn't found any in the less expensive brands that was like what I wanted. That is, until I saw this brush. This one little brush is what sold me on this set. It is just perfect.

Liner Brush:
I am used to just using angled eyeliner brushes, but I found this to be great for tight-lining and getting product right up in the lashes.

I still cannot find my camera, so check out My Pinktastic Life, where I found these great photos!

Til next time!
The Addict