Beauty Review // Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Primer

I'm not 100% sure how to review an eyeshadow primer - it has no color so there are no swatches of it - but I just knew I had to review this one.  First off I will spoil the review (I don't really like doing that) because I love this primer.  It seriously brings out the colors of even the cheapest shadows and makes them last super long!  I was very impressed using this primer thte other day with a drugstore Wet n Wild palette.  That palette is not the best quality that Wet n Wild can put out, but applying the shades over the primer made the colors more vibrant and increased the lasting power.

So let's just get into my thoughts on this product :

From the Website

A lightweight and waterproof formula that locks in your eye makeup and prevents shadow creasing. This silky blend dries transparent and preps your lids for a smooth and even application. Watch your favorite eye shadows intensely come to life. More importantly, it protects your eye makeup all day, so you can get back to the important things in life (cat videos, selfies, and hoarding makeup samples).

taken from the website here.

First Impression & Application

When I first applied this primer I was a little confused - it is very thick and I didn't realize that you only need a very, very tiny bit.  The first time I used this I think I used too much - it felt like a cheap cream shadow on my eyelids.  The key is to use the very least you can.

The way I apply this primer now is to take a bit about the size of the head of a pin - this is for both eyes!  I rub it between my two fore fingers to warm up the product, then gently swipe it onto my lids.  I then dab a clean finger (often my ring finger or middle finger) on my lids to pick up any excess product.  This is important because the shadows will blend easier.  This is the first primer I've used that has acted like a glue.  It doesn't really absorb into your skin but rather sits on top to create a sticky layer that holds onto the shadows.

Wear Time

This primer is great for cheapo shadows.  I used an old (yikes!) Wet n Wild eye shadow palette that didn't really have that great of a color pay off or lasting time with any other primers.  And I went into the bathroom before I left work to grab some lunch and my eye shadow was still there! It wasn't the greatest but it was still there!

In the picture above I tried to capture the color payoff of that not so great Wet n Wild palette and the lasting power of the primer.  This was a hard review to photograph!  You can see the light colors became a little more vibrant - like the pastel purple and even a little tiny bit of that pink and the cream color.  And the darker colors were the last to stick around.  That purple though is still showing up in the far right image!

I put on my make up at 6:30am and leave work around 4pm - so that is around 10 hours.  If I use a good shadow - like a Lorac palette - I find that I'm taking off my eye shadow with the rest of my make up when I get home.  That is impressive to me!

Overall Impressions & Recommendations 

I love this primer.  However, the full price is $20 for .35oz.  I got this sample in one of my last Ipsy bags and the sample size is .17oz.  I don't think I will ever go through this whole tube, honestly, so I can't tell you if I'd purchase this again or not.  I can tell you that I'm glad I tried it!  If long lasting primers are important to you I would suggest dropping the $20 on this.  The tube will last you literally forever so it is worth the money.  This is my current holy grail primer - I've had it in my last few make up baskets too!

I hope this little review was helpful - I am so very glad I have this product.  It really is a standout!

Do you have a current favorite eye shadow primer?  Any products to recommend?

xoxo, Moe

October 2014 Ipsy Bag

It's that time of month again! I get so excited when I get my tracking email for my Ipsy bag every month. I love getting new, fun make up & beauty products in the mail every month. Here is this month's bag:

The Bag

This bag is like a quilted, patent leather style fabric. The bright teal color doesn't really scream fall to me but the theme of this bag is Beauty Candy so the quilted style of the bag and the color is quite fun to go with the theme. Unlike many of the other bags I've recieved this one is actually lined, which is very nice. Gives it a bit more substance.

Skyn Iceland Glacial Clansing Cloths, Ecru New York Acacia Protien BB Cream for Hair, NYC Big Bold Curl Mascara, Starlooks Gloss in Guilty Pleasure, Figs and Rouge Hand Cream.

Redeemed with Points - Milani Bella Eyes eyeshadow set.

I have to say I wasn't too pleased with this months samples. First off, getting a full sized drug store mascara isn't really want I wanted to get, nor what I expected to get. This NYC mascara is $4.99 at CVS and actually readily accessible by me. I usually expect to get products that are new or interesting that I might not be able to get my hands on everyday. The teeny, tiny Starlooks lipgloss sample is just rediculous. Now, the actual formula is rather nice and I might just throw it in my purse but the size is crazy tiny. Again, not what I expected from my Ipsy bag. The facial towlettes are always handy and it's nice to have a spare package. The hand cream will probably go in my bag as well and it's really smooth and hydrating. A nice sized sample in my opinion. Another decent sized sample is the Ecru New York BB Cream for your hair. I like that it is color safe as I just dyed my hair but still need some hydration.

I am so very glad that I had points to redeem this go round because the only thing I was really excited about was getting the new Malani Bella Eyes eyshadows. The set of three colors Bella Ivory, Bella Gold, and Bella Espresso (review coming soon!) were available so I snatched up the set because I didn't know if these eyeshadows were really worth it. I am so very thankful for every one that signs up for Ipsy with my link - these points allow me to try things I wouldn't neccessarily try to review for you all!!

This is probably one of two or three total bags I haven't been 100% pleased with but sometimes that is the luck of the draw. If you'd like to sign up for Ipsy, please click here.

xoxo, Moe

September Ipsy Bag

I've bee subscribed to Ipsy for a good long while now - I'm pretty sure it's been a little over a year and I rarely mention it here on the blog because I feel like by the time I get the bag it's the middle of the month and by the time I test everything it's the end of the month and why would I show you something for a month at the end of it?  But I decided to try to start doing the post the week after I get the bag.  So here it is....let's see if we can keep this up!  September's Ipsy bag:

The Bag

The bag this month is pretty big.  It seems to be made of a silver pleather type material with 4 silver, metal studs and a black zipper.  The inside is unlined - like a majority of the bags sent through Ipsy - but the underside of the silver pleather is a nice tan color and it doesn't feel unlined.  July's bag which was really cute and pink had an inside that was really fuzzy.  It was the back side of the pink fabric used to construct the bag.  This month's bag measures 6.75 x 5.75 inches.

The Products

Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet | Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil | Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask | Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser | Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush

Bonus Item from Points - Miss Ardo Eye Bundle (eyeshadow duo + lashes + glue)

Ipsy is the only monthly subscription I have right now.  I love Ipsy because I get to try new beauty products each month and I'm guaranteed beauty products and not just filler stuff.  The quiz you take and the feed back you give, I feel, really affect the bags you get.  I'm not really disappointed in any of the items I received this month.  If you'd like to sign up, I'd love for you to use my link here.

xoxo, Moe

February 2014 Ipsy Bag Review

Yay, it's Ipsy review time!  In December I did a get ready with me video & then in Januray I totally skipped it.  But this month I thought I'd bring it back!  Ipsy is my favorite of the two subscription services I'm subscribed to - redundant much?  I love that you only get beauty related products and I'm a sucker for little bags.  This months was sort of an ok month, I wasn't too blown away but I got to try something I hadn't before:

First, this bag is too cute.  It's pretty sturdy & I think it would make a great bag for your purse for make up or little things.  It seems like it's pretty water tight so should any thing spill from or onto the bag you won't have a mess in your purse!  Like I said, I'm a sucker for little bags. 

I've never tried anything from the brand Jesse's Girl or from JCat Beauty.  This month I was excited to get an eyeshadow palette that was neutral.  In December I got a smokey eye sort of trio & I'm more of a natural girl, really.  I love that center peachy shade in the photo above but a lot of the shades in the palette seem to be very similar.  Eyelashes are something I've failed at wearing only once so to get to try out a different brand is pretty great.   These seem to be really dramatic & flirty.  Now I can say I have my lash drawer stocked because I have some ones I purchased, these, & ones from Influenster.  I love that Ipsy sends you coordinating things - like eyeshadow & lashes - so you can try out not just new products but new looks as well.

This Zoya polish in the color Odette is pretty too.  I like Zoya because they hold up will & are just all around nice quality polishes.  This is actually a lighter, lilac color than what this camera is picking up.  I seriously haven't bought nail polish in ages because I get so many fun colors between Ipsy & BirchBox I don't need to pick new ones up any more!

Also thank you, thank you, thank you to all who signed up with my link because I got to 1000 points to earn one of three perks - I chose a Beauty Blender!  Now let me say this - This. Sponge. Is. Amazing.  All the hype is definitely true but I don't think you need to spend $26 on a sponge.  It was wonderful to try & I might blow the money on one in the future.  If you get the chance to try one for cheap I encourage it but I don't think it's really something to blow $$$ on.

I've gotten a few things from POP beauty before & they always seem to be in colors I don't care for.  I want to retake my quiz on Ipsy but I'm scared because I usually love everything I get except for the bright pink POP beauty lip colors I get.  But this lipgloss is nice - it's in a nice package, it's a decent size, and the gloss itself is nice.  It actually feels really expensive and I might get more use out of it when the weather gets warmer.  I do like this color of pink - it's not too bright & not too baby pink.  This Dr. Lin Acne Spot Corrector is spot on for my type of skin.  I like trying different spot treatments when I haven something that my even my tea tree oil won't calm down.  

So, was this bag worth it?

Yep! Totally.  Ipsy is always a hit for me even when one product stinks I still love Ipsy.  Ipsy is all beauty products and that's why I love it so much.  No other filler crap just fun beauty items.  I also love Ipsy because the bag is like a challenge.  Often times you get products that can work together to create a look.  I think the bags are really well thought out - more so to me than BirchBox.  Also, sometimes you get full sized products.  Hooray for that!

If that all seemed amazing to you - 5 beauty product for $10 a month + free shipping - then go ahead & sign up.  You can do so here.

Do you subscribe to Ipsy?  If so, what do you love about the bag?

xoxo, Moe

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Get Ready With Me // December Ipsy Bag

Happy holidays!  I've got an easy, subtle smokey eye look for you today - just in time for Christmas dinner.  So if you don't know what to do tonight give this look a try.  I love the subtle smokey eye & the other wise subtle make up.  It looks great for the holidays or for everyday wear.  In fact I'll be recreating this look in about 5 hours for dinner at my grandparents.  

I used all the products from December's Ipsy bag for this look.  I really love the Be a Bombshell One Stick - cream blush really doesn't work for my skin but this is great.  I also love the nail polish because the color and formula are perfect.  I'm more of a neutrals girl, but getting the Pop Beauty trio in Smokin Hot made me try a smokey eye for the first time.  I didn't try to go too deep for fear of the dark colors & I think it came out nice.  If this look sounds lovely - take a peak below!

Hope you have a happy holiday & if you're looking to add some affordable beauty products to your life each month sign up for Ipsy here!  Only $10 a month + free shipping = all over it!

Thanks for watching!

xoxo, Moe

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Current Nail Care Routine + Current Holiday Manicure

A long time ago, like two summers ago, I was super into nail polish.  I also was taking the Nail Tech class at the career college I worked for - so I got a little bit of nail knowledge there too.  Currently it's like the arctic tundra up here - meaning there is snow everywhere & it's super cold.  My skin can not handle it!  Namely my hands are dry and chapped all the time.  Skin just flakes off & it's gross.  So I thought I'd put together a little Nail Care Kit that I can keep in my night stand or grab & travel with.  I will be heading down south to visit my family in the next week (yay Christmas!) so I definitely need a little kit to travel with.  So here's what I'm loving to keep my hands soft & nails beautified this winter:

I put this little kit together, like I said, so it's easy to grab & run with.  Normally I keep it in my night stand (a new addition from the what's in my nightstand post here) so I can remember to do moisturize & take care of my hands before bed.  Before this I kept a random bottle of lotion but that seemed not to be enough, adding the cuticle oil has really helped with hangnails & the tender skin around my cuticles.  I feel like that gets super dry as well.  This little kit has everything I need for quick moisture & maintenance all wrapped up in an old Ipsy make up bag - I knew those things would come in handy for something!

The first product here is the Tocca Cleopatra Grapefruit + Cucumber Hand Cream.  This stuff smells divine!  I'm really loving the cucumber scent right now, it's never been a favorite before but I'm suddenly all about it.  I got this in a Birchbox one month & instanly fell in love.  It's hydrating & non-greasy.  I love that it absorbs very easily & I can open doorknobs after putting it on.  Cuticle oil has suddenly fallen back into something I use regularly as well since my skin is dry & flakey.  I also work with paper all day long - touching it every two seconds - so that dries out my finger tips.  I don't if the two are neccessarily related, but I think they are.  So cuticle oil has saved my tender skin from the pain of hangnails.  I feel like the deep moisture of the cuticle oil is amazing.  The current one in my kit is something I got as a part of another nail kit a while (like a long while) ago - it is Swisa Beauty Sensation Dead Sea Cuticle Treatment.

Another lotion in my little kit is something Zach grabbed for me from a hotel he stayed in.  In fact every time he comes upon these TempleSpa packs he snags them.  They also have a calming fabric mist that smells so relaxing - I love to spray it on the bedding when I can't sleep.  So heavenly & relaxing.  This lotion is the TempleSpa Peace Be Still Calming Face & Body Balm.  There isn't a scent description on the tube anywhere  & honestly I can't pin point it, but the smell is so relaxing.  It's a deeper scent & I love it before going to bed.  I've never used it on my face though, I'm scared I will break out!  Then of course for any maintenance that may need to be done I have a small nail clipper & a small box of TweezerMan nail files that I also got in a Birchbox one month.

After all my hard work to get my hands & cuticles refreshed and moisturized it's time for a holiday manicure.  Of course I turned to a classic red & a bit of glitter.

I used my favorite base & top coat from Icing - the Do It All Topcoat - that sadly they are discontinuing.  Honestly, I don't know if you'll even be able to find it.  I picked up the last two on clearance last time I was in an Icing.  So sad.  I then used the Nicka K polish I received in Ipsy bag this month.  I topped my ring finger off with a bit of a glitter polish from Sally Hansen I received, complimentary, in the Violet Vox Box from Influenster.  I like this Triple Shine polish mainly because even thought the glitter is in a blue tinted base it really comes off as pure silver glitter.  Great for sparkly holiday-ness just around the corner!

What are your nail care must haves? How do you battle the cold weather?

xoxo, Moe

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November 2013 Ipsy Review

So it's been settled, my Ipsy subscription is my favorite subscription ever.  I love my bags each month & I am so excited for December's!  I think November did it for me though - just some amazing products.  Made me realize how much I looooove this subscription.

Here's what I got in November

Em Michelle Phan Lash Gallery Mascara

This was definitely not my favorite product.  If you didn't know, volumizing mascaras are what I'm all about.  The wand on this one was weird - long & curved and not what I'm used to or what I prefer.  It does have built in micro-fibers* that are supposed to lengthen.  But this just wasn't for me.  You should see the yucky face I'm making right now.

Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon in Hot Damn

This was a favorite! Finally a lip crayon in this bag that isn't hot pink!  The last lip crayon I got was from Pop Beauty & I much prefer this nice, deep red color to baby pink.  The texture is nice, it lasts pretty long, & it's easy to wear since it's in this crayon form.  Much easier to apply on the go, I feel.

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Laquer in Caviar Cocktail

Loved this as well! In fact I did a whole post on cocktail inspired nail polishes because of this one.  I've gotten Nailtini polishes before & to me there's nothing too special from polish to polish.  If it doesn't chip in the first two days, I think it's good.

Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched

This was a great product as well even though the shade doesn't show up too well on my skin.  I'm going to use this more of a highlight/flush of natural color product.  If I'm ever feeling like I don't want to wear too much, this product comes in handy.  I think that it's a great representation of the brand as well.  The packaging in nice - sort of rubbery, reminds me of Nars packaging.  The texture is great as well.  I'm excited to try more from Pixie.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Amethyst

I love Starlooks pencils because of Ipsy.  This one is a beautiful silvery lavender shade, great for holiday silver eye looks.  I'm thinking of doing a look like that too so stick around, you never know when I might throw that in.  These eye pencils glide on like no ones business & the staying power is amazing.  I always turn to my black one for tight lining.

GlamGlow Youthmud Tinlexfoliate Treatment

This one was cool & also weird.  I don't know if it was supposed to have little weird bits that reminded me of seaweed, but mine did.  I'm pretty sure I like the tingling & the exfoliating of the product and it makes my skin feel nice & rejuvenated.  A nice mask sample.

I really do have to say that November sealed the deal for me & getting my December bag made me so excited!  I think I might actually try to do an Ipsy look with the products for my YouTube channel!  If you're interested in signing up for Ipsy, you can do so here!

xoxo, Moe

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How to Write A Helpful Product Review

Lately I've be loving writing reviews on products I've been using on websites such as Influenster, Birchbox, Ipsy, & this blog.  While I'm by no means a professional critic I've found there are something that make a review more successful than others.  For example, when I'm looking to know if I should buy a certain product I like reviews that give me the most information about the product & information about the user in the briefest way possible.  The nine word this product is so great, I just love it! reviews are not helpful.  So since I've been reviewing my butt off on these sites - did you know you get points for reviewing the items in your Birchbox?  And that those points can give you credit to purchase things!?! - I thought I'd share with you how to give helpful reviews if you're looking to get into that sort of thing.

Title with Key Words - Just like with writing a blog post, you're review title should be descriptive & give an indication whether you liked the product or not.  You can touch on the performance, the price, the quality, the way it affected you, etc.  For example below is a screen shot of the review I was writing on my current favorite shampoo - Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Shampoo (I also love the conditioner, the mask, & the styling oil!).  You can see in the title I've used key words to sum up the gist of the review - it's affordable, feels luxurious, & does give shine.  This is the review in itself & will have people reading your review since it's very descriptive.  You can also use this technique if you're writing a review on your blog.  Having a descriptive title gives readers a reason to click & also appeals to search engines when others are searching for products.

Informational yet Brief Review - The body of your review should give a lot of information but doesn't (necessarily) need to be five paragraphs.  In the example above, I used two short paragraphs to describe the product.  First, I started off with information about myself - I have oily hair & this product isn't targeted towards oily hair, but it works on this hair type as well.  This is helpful for others who might shy away from the product since it's not necessarily targeted towards them.  Then I elaborated on the product & it's affect on my hair type.  I once learned in an english class that the best way to write an essay is to create the previous sentence into a question & then answer it in the next sentence.  This is sort of hard to describe but has really helped me take writing seriously.

It might be small to read, but the first sentence is: Even though this shampoo is targeted towards normal to dry hair, it works great for oily hair as well. If we turn that into a question Why does this shampoo work great for oily hair as well? then you'll see that next sentence answers the question: This shampoo (and the whole Moroccan Infusion line) works wonders for adding shine while not adding greasy-ness.  Shine with out turning your hair into a greasy mess is a challenge for those with oily hair.  Keep turning your sentences to questions to elaborate.

Continue to answer these questions, briefly, and expand on the title.  You might find it helpful to write the review first then pick the most relevant words to create your title.

Consider the Cons (or the Pros) - If you're in love with a product you might want to consider the cons, just in case.  (Or vice versa).  In this particular review I noted that the moroccan oil scent is strong so if you're sensitive to smells, you might not like this product.  Influenster has a section to list the pros & cons of a product.  These pros & cons go at the top of the review to help readers get the overview of your review.

I think that product reviews are very helpful - if your writing on your blog or as a part of a subscribtion service or you just plain like a product - others get to know what might be right for them.  A helpful review gets more credit than an OMG this is great! review, if you know what I mean!

xoxo, Moe

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