Makeup Wars - Makeup Storage

Nothing to Disclose 

This week’s edition of Makeup Wars is both super fun and super hard – how we store our makeup.  I have an entire room that is devoted to makeup and nail polish.  It’s basically my beauty room!  My computer and TV are in there as well.  It’s hard to show you just my makeup storage without showing you my whole room, since the makeup pretty much takes up the whole thing.

You Need This Green: SpaRitual Rhythm of Life

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I recently picked up SpaRitual Rhythm of Life at Marshall’s for the bargain price of $3.99.  It is the perfect emerald green shimmer.  I almost didn’t get it but I showed it to my husband and he declared I didn’t have anything like it in my stash.  He was right!  From what I  understand it was from the Fall 2011 collection.  If you can’t find it at your local Marshall’s, you can still snag it on Amazon.  It’s even available in a mini!

 

 

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Two Brights from Nuance Salma Hayek

Affiliate Links  Product Provided for Review 

 

 

Since we are having very un-fall like weather, I have two un-fall like polishes from you!  Honey Blossom and Lilac are both from the permanent Nuance collection, available at CVS.  They are everything you could ask for in a crème – smooth, rich and opaque in two coats!

 

 

Honey Blossom – a bright raspberry pink crème

 

 

Lilac – a rich lilac crème

 

You can see more polishes from Nuance Salma Hayek in this post.

 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Win It! Stur Water Enhancer and a $250 Gift Card

Product (will be) Provided for Review  

Have you heard of Stur?  I have a few of these babies on their way to me and I can’t wait to try them!  Anything to help me drink more water!  What is Stur, you ask?  Let me tell you!

 

Stur is a natural stevia liquid water enhancer with 0 sugar, 0 calories, and 7 essential vitamins. Available in several flavors, Stur helps people naturally drink more water, by adding as little or as much flavor as they want.

The founder created it when his wife was pregnant with twins and he wanted to help her drink more water throughout her pregnancy. The U.S. Institutes of Medicine recommend Americans drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Among other things, water helps maintain the balance of body fluids, can help control calories, helps energize muscles, helps keep skin looking good, and helps your kidneys flush out toxins.

There are 6 flavors - and you can mix them with water, tea, unflavored soda, or even cocktails!

 

Stur Features:
▪ Lightly sweetened with stevia leaf extract
▪ Natural fruit flavors
▪ Zero calories
▪ Sugar free
▪ Gluten free
▪ Caffeine free
▪ Vegan
▪ 7 essential vitamins - A, D, E, B3, B5, B6, B12
▪ Add to water, soda water and even cocktails!
▪ Portable – great for travel

Flavors:
▪ Cucumber Mint
▪ Lemonade
▪ Orange Mango
▪ PomeCranberry
▪ Strawberry
▪ Lemon Tea

Stur contains stevia leaf extract. The sweet leaves of the stevia plant have been safely used as a sweetener in South America for centuries, and are recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the general population, including pregnant women and children. Stur does NOT use artificial or chemical sweeteners commonly found in other water enhancers and bottled beverages, such as Sucralose, Aspartame, and Acesulfame Potassium.

Price: $3.99-$4.99 for an 8 oz. bottle, 10 servings per bottle.

Please wait for the Rafflecopter Widget to load!  Please see the widget for complete contest rules. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

New Tools from Tweezerman

Product Provided for Review 

Have you seen these adorable new tools from Tweezerman?  How cute are the mini slant tweezers?  Even though I haven’t had the chance to use my new neon file yet, it is so bright, I could never lose it, even in my disaster of a room!

When I received these products, I immediately thought I would put the tweezers in my purse.  But somehow they landed on my makeup desk and never left!  Even though they are tiny, they are as sharp as regular Tweezermans.  In fact, I need to send both pairs of my regular size Tweezermans in to be resharpened, but I am lazy and haven’t done it yet.  So instead I use the little ones.  They work so well it will be a miracle if I ever send my full size ones off!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Coming Soon: OPI Top This! and Take Ten for Holiday 2013

Nothing to Disclose 

 

OPI is releasing two sets for Holiday 2013 that I can’t wait to get my hands on!  They are going to make GREAT stocking stuffers!

 

 

Top This! contains a trio lacquers - Top Coat, Matte Top Coat and Snowflakes In The Air, which is a limited edition glitter topper available ONLY in this kit! 

 

Take Ten includes the following lacquers in mini size: Pirouette My Whistle, Alpine Snow, Bubble Bath, Tickle My France-y, You Don’t Know Jacques!, Cajun Shrimp, Big Apple Red, German-icure by OPI, Malaga Wine and Lincoln Park After Dark.  This is a great set, I am especially happy to see Pirouette My Whistle, which you can see here and here.

 

Take Ten and Top This! will be available October 2013, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com. Take Ten retails for $24.95 ($29.95 CAN), and Top This! retails for $27.00 ($32.85 CAN).

 

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Coming Soon: OPI Miss Universe 2013

Nothing to Disclose 

This year OPI has once again teamed up with the Miss Universe Pageant to bring us 3 limited edition lacquers:  the dusky purple I’m Feeling Sashy, the deep black plum Miss You-niverse, and the textured matte platinum This Gown Needs a Crown.  I may not be a pageant fan (unless it’s on Toddlers and Tiaras) but I am a fan of OPI collaborations!  The 2011 Miss Universe Collection  was amazing!

I’m Feeling Sashy

Miss You-niverse

This Gown Needs a Crown

Worn without top coat, This Gown Needs a Crown offers a new satin finish. Each bottle of this matte silver nail lacquer comes with a complementary bejeweled crown ring – the finishing touch for a manicure worthy of Miss Universe. All three hues are inspired by the gorgeous, sophisticated women entering the 2013 MISS UNIVERSE^® competition, to be held November 9, 2013.

These shades will be available October 2013, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

BeWell Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center October 12 &13

Sponsored Post 

If you are in the Pasadena area October 12 or 13th, you definitely want to check out the BeWell Expo!

What It Is:

BeWell Expo is designed to honor your inner and outer self. It is an exclusive beauty and wellness getaway where attendees can experience and indulge in the industry's best kept secrets. As an attendee, empower yourself by embracing the tools your body, mind and spirit need to look and feel good.
 

What You Can Expect:

The entrance fee of $25 per day includes the following complimentary activities:

· Identify your skin type and understand the current condition of your skin…at the Skin Analysis Lounge
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/skin.php

· Find the best natural makeup to lock in your look… at the Eco–Beauty Makeup Bar
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/beauty.php

· Whole new look with a beautifully shaped eyebrow at the Brow Bar
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/browbar.php

· Treat yourself to the healthier gel polish manicure with trendy colors at the Eco–Nail Bar
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/nail.php

· Feel like you had just spent a week on the beach…by stopping at the Tanning Bar
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/tanning.php

· Enjoy a party Lash application at the Lash Bar
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/lash.php

· Emerge in a relaxation and healing sound bath with Tibetan bowls by Karma Moffett
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/relaxation.php

· Aura imaging (value $20.00)

· Initiate, inspire and transform yourself at the Yoga Studio + receive free GAIAM mats on a first come, first serve basis (value $45.00). Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/yoga1.php

· Attend a plethora of lectures/demo on energy healing, chakra balancing, relaxation techniques, color therapy, inner peace solutions, aromatherapy and much more...
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/geti.php

· Shop from the beauty and wellness industry leaders.
Click on the link for more info http://bewell-expo.com/exhibitors.php



Tickets are $25 for one day pass and $50 for two day pass.
Use code BW2013 for 20% off! Register at BeWell-Expo.com. Hurry! Tickets are limited.

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Top Ten Tuesday - What's in My Purse?

Product Provided for Review  Product Purchased by Me  Affiliate Links  

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about what we carry in our purse.  I recently picked up two bags from the Target 3.1 Phillip Lim collection, and while I was transferring bags I removed a ton of lip products… I found that I had three of the same exact lip gloss in the same color in my bag!  What is wrong with me!  I still have 7 left.  In fact, all of the makeup I carry around with me consists of lip products! 

• My MAC Graphic Gardens bags - while I am not a big MAC shopper, I do love these bags.  I picked one up at CCO and scored one off eBay.  I keep lipsticks in the smaller one, and random bits like my Mini Almond Hand Cream from The Body Shop, hair ties, and my (discontinued) Philosophy Supernatural Blotting Sheets in the larger one.
• Lipsticks - I have two MAC lipsticks with me at all times - Spiceflower (from the Graphic Garden set) and Peach Blossom.  Spiceflower was LE and they really need to bring it back!
• Lip Butter - I can’t live without my Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle.
• Lip Gloss - Revlon Nude Lustre (discontinued, don’t like the new formula, bought 5 on clearance at Target recently), IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi and butter LONDON Lippy in Toff.  Toff is really a liquid lipstick but I can easily apply it without a mirror so I consider it a gloss
• Lip SPF - Coola LipLux in Peppermint Vanilla.  Love love love this as both a delicious smelling lip balm and an SPF!  I love it so much I apply it at night when I have no need for SPF.

What do you keep in your purse?  Let me know in the comments and be sure to check out the rest of the lists below!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

butter LONDON, IT Cosmetics and Coola provided for review

You Need This Green: Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen Loden Green

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Sally Hansen Loden Green

As soon as I saw swatches of the 2013 Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen collection on All Lacquered Up I knew I had to have Loden Green!  I stalked the endcaps at my Target, and Saturday night I was finally rewarded.  Although I am not a fan of the Complete Salon Manicure brush, I couldn't pass up this gorgeous limited edition shade.  As many greens as I own, I can't think of a single dupe.

Be sure to check out Michelle's post for some other great greens from the collection! 

Have you picked up any new Sally Hansen's lately?

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Beauty Spotlight Team: Helen's Top 12 Oils

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Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has, in part, become a forum for Helen's unmitigated obsession with luxury face oils. Therefore, when The Beauty Spotlight Team allowed her to choose up to 12 items to feature she naturally chose 12! Any guesses as to which of these magical golden elixirs made her list? 

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

China Glaze Howl You Doin’ vs OPI Merry Midnight - Quick Comparison (Bottle Shots and Swatches)

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Hello all!  I have a super quick post for you today.  I recently came across China Glaze Howl You Doin’ (part of the China Glaze Monster’s Ball collection for Halloween 2013) at ULTA.  It was a truly mesmerizing polish that I had to have!  Knowing that China Glaze was B2G1 FREE and that I had a $3.50 off coupon, you better believe I took advantage of that deal!

 

I was so excited about this polish that I swatched in my car and shared it with you all on Facebook and Instagram.  Many people commented that it seems like a dupe of OPI Merry Midnight or Orly Fowl Play  (which aren’t dupes of each other, you can see my comparison here).  Personally I felt that it wouldn’t be a dupe to either because it contained so much glitter.  But of course I did comparison swatches! 

 

Index and Ring:  Howl You Doin’

Middle and Pinky:  Merry Midnight

 

 

The formulas are completely different on these two.  Merry Midnight is a jelly while Howl You Doin’ is not.  In fact the base of Howl You Doin’ is very uneven, probably due to the amount of glitter.  Merry Midnight contains micro glitter and flakies, while Howl You Doin’ contains glitter and larger irregular shaped orange glitter.  The base color of Howl You Doin’ is much much closer to Orly Fowl Play.  Clearly I should have compared all three polishes but it totally slipped my mind how different Fowl Play was from Merry Midnight!  Nevertheless, there is much more chunky glitter in Howl You Doin’ - so much so that it does not look good without a top coat.  With a top coat?  GORGEOUS!  My official favorite polish of this fall!

 

The entire China Glaze Monster’s Ball collection is currently available online at both ULTA and Sally Beauty.  The retail price is less expensive at Sally’s, but if the B2G1 Free Promo is still going on at ULTA and you use the $3.50 coupon, then THAT is a better deal!

 

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Coming Soon: OPI Pink of Hearts 2013

Nothing to Disclose  

For the 7th year in a row, OPI is releasing their Pink of Hearts collection in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This year the collection consists of Pink-ing of You (a pale pink), More Than A Glimmer (a milky multicolor glitter) and a set of pink ribbon and crystal decals. 

Pink-ing of You is a repromote from a previous Soft Shades collection, though somewhere I remember reading that the new shade is not an exact dupe of the old one.  (If you know who wrote that, let me know in the coments!)  My friend Gianna of Nouveau Cheap has already swatched More Than a Glimmer, which you can see here.  

OPI will be donating $25,000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and $5,000 to Rethink Breast Cancer (a Candian foundation).  This collection will retail for $15.95 ($19.95 CAN) and will be available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com

What do you think of this collection?  I admit I haven't purchased this set before, but after seeing G's swatches, I am excited to try More Than a Glimmer in a jelly sandwich!  The decals are a nice touch as well!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Perlier Volcanic Thermal Scrub - Double Duty Body Scrub and Glitter Remover!

Product Provided for Review  Affiliate Links 

 

You may have seen the Perlier Volcanic Thermal Scrub making it’s way around the blogosphere lately, thanks to the lovely ladies at iFabbo.  While I initially use this scrub for its intended purpose in the shower, this week I have been using it at my sink!

 

 

This is the first scrub that I have ever used that is not sugar or salt based.  While I love those types of scrubs, I hate how quickly they “melt” when you apply them.  Get them just a little bit wet and all your “scrubbies” disappear!  I have stopped buying scrubs for that very reason - I feel like all money washes down the drain - or makes a slippery slimy mess on the floor of my shower!

 

That’s one of the things I really like about the Perlier Volcanic Thermal Scrub - it is not comprised of a simple solution of salt/sugar and oil (that you could make in your kitchen).  Instead the ingredients in this Perlier scrub are small pieces of volcanic rock and other minerals of different sizes that will slough off the dead skin until YOU rinse them away.  I was pleased that I could use this in the shower, with the water running, and the product stayed on my skin!

 

 

As well as it works in the shower, I found an even better use for it.  Don’t you hate when you remove a really, really stubborn glitter polish and you are left with small pieces of that same glitter all over your hands?  Not your nails, mind you, your hands!  That drives me crazy, but today I found the solution - one tiny scoop of Perlier Volcanic Scrub and 30 seconds at the sink left my hands smooth, soft, and glitter free!

 

Get this scrub for yourself - you won’t be sorry!  It is exclusively available on HSN, where it retails for $25.  Use the code iFabbo5 to get $5 off!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.