Nails of the Day with CoverGirl and Spolied

I am wearing some summery nail colors right now!

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Glosstini in Bahama Mama, a deep peach with very fine silver sparkle, on fingers.

Spoiled Nail Color in Plastic Flamingo, a bright fluorescent pink, on toes.

What's on your nails today?   Have a beautiful Friday!

FotD With Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten

I like multi-tasking with makeup.  One of my favorite things to do is use bronzer as an eyeshadow.  Laura Geller's Bronze-n-Brighten is cool because it has a bunch of colors in it.

I used the darkest color for the crease and the lightest color for highlight under the brow along with a color from Maybelline's summer Color Tatto collection for today's simple look.

Face:  Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer if Bare
          Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer in Fair
          Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten

Eyes:  Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Seashore Frosts
          Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eyeshadow in Bubbles (discontinued I think)
          Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten
          Paula's Choice Great Big Lashes Mascara in Black

Lips:  Milani Crystal Gloss in Summer Baby

From left:  Maybelline Color Tattoo on Seashore Frosts, Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eyeshadow in Bubbles, Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten darkest color, lightest color and blended swatches, and Milani Crystal Gloss in Summer Baby

Have a lovely day!

Pantene Silky Moisture Whip Review

I struggle with my hair.  I used to have really beautiful, thick, long wavy hair when I was a teenager that I loved.  Now, due to changes in my health (and probably some aging effects), it is shoulder-length, very fine, anything from slightly wavy to curly depending on the time of year and amount of humidity in the air, and damaged since I color it.  It gets quite frizzy and kind of fly-away and the curls/waves aren't defined without some help from a product of some sort.  It drives me crazy and I really miss having hair that I like.  I'm also terrible at styling it.  I've never been good at it.  90% of the time I put it up in a hair clip so I don't have to deal with it, but occasionally I'll wear it down and air-dried.  This is when I need a good styling product or something to define the waves and make it look more finished.  I've tried "curly hair"  type stuff, but I hate anything that makes my hair crunchy or leaves it looking wet for hours after it's dried.  I've tried leave-in conditioners, but they usually weigh my hair down and makes it look kind of stringy.  I'm always looking for new hair products to try in hopes I'll find the miracle products that will make my hair look amazing.  So, long story short (too late), a while ago, while I was perusing the haircare aisle in my local Meijers, I spotted Pantene's new Silky Moisture Whip and, since it claimed to be a lightweight moisturizer and styler, decided to buy it.

This has a very light, whipped texture like mousse, but without the stickiness on the fingers.  It is, essentially, a whipped leave-in conditioner.

I first thought this was going to be like a standard mousse that would make the hair kind of sticky, but it doesn't at all.  It doesn't have any hold to speak of, and I'm not sure it is supposed to.  It does define my waves, but if I brush my hair, they kind of disappear.  It has lots of moisturizing ingredients, but no polymers or anything that would hold the hair in a specific style like a mousse would.  

I use this while my hair is still damp and just scrunch it into my hair all over, including the top of my head.  It does make the hair feel "wetter" and it seems like it takes a little longer to air dry (but not by much).  It defines my waves nicely and doesn't make them at all crunchy.  Once my hair is dry, I gently run my fingers through it to give it a little more volume, but not enough to disturb the wave pattern.  It makes my hair soft and touchable.  I've also used it before blow drying my hair and it makes it much smoother, softer, and it seems to make it straighter, too.  

I think this would work well for anyone with fine hair, straight or curly.  

I don't know what it could do for thick, coarse, or even medium thickness hair.  I suspect it wouldn't do a whole lot except give a little moisture.  

For my hair, I really like Pantene Silky Moisture whip.  I am about to run out of my second can, and plan on buying another.  

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for visiting!

Milani Haute Flash Full Coverage Shimmer Lipgloss in Quick Flash

Milani is quickly becoming my favorite drugstore brand.  I don't think there is a product I've tried that I don't like.  They make 3 different lipgloss formulas, and I have one of the Haute Flash glosses to show you today.

Milani says:  A full coverage, highly pigmented lipgloss with an extra glossy shimmer finish. The non-tacky, anti-feathering formula and flexible soft sponge applicator allows for easy application.

Quick Flash (#106) is a shimmery ballet pink with very fine pink and silver glitter and has excellent pigmentation.

Milani Haute Flash Full Coverage Lipgloss in Quick Flash swatch (natural light)

(indoor light)

(flash)

This is definitely a full coverage gloss that feels almost like a liquid lipstick.  It is a thick gloss, but is not sticky.  It is very smooth and quite moisturizing because of the thickness.  It also wears longer than the average gloss.  It is very glossy, shimmery and sparkly as well.

The spongy applicator is flat on one side which makes applying the gloss very easy.

I just love this gloss!

This gloss formula comes in 5 different colors that include red, baby pink, bright pink, and bronze.  They retail for $7.49 on the Milani website.

NYX Blush in Summer Peach Swatches

There are times when I don't know how to start a post.  This seems to be one of them, so let's just get to the swatches!

NYX says:  Our pressed powder blush delivers sheer, silky color that glides on, blends beautifully and creates a natural glow. 

NYX describes Summer Peach as "peachy pink with gold reflects."  I think it is a pinky peach (more warm than cool) with a tiny bit very fine gold glitter that you see more in the pan than on the cheeks (I don't think I can even see the gold on the cheeks!).

indoor light

natural light

The texture is smooth and non-powdery.  It applies fairly sheerly and the color can be built up, so you don't have to worry about accidentally going overboard with color.

NYX Blush in Summer Peach swatch (indoor light)

(flash)

blended and heavy swatch (natural light)

This is such a pretty color and gives a beautiful, natural flush to the cheeks.

NYX Summer Peach on cheeks, Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara in Noir, Neutrogena MoisturSmooth Color Stick in Juicy Peach

NYX powder blushes are available in 24 shades and are $5.00.

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Review

I've been using the Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer (in the color Bare) for some time now (like a year at least).  It does everything I want it to, so I haven't bothered to try a BB or CC cream yet.

Stila says:  This revolutionary oil-free, tinted moisturizer multitasks as a skin-hydrating, skintone-perfecting, SPF-protecting complexion enhancer. The micro-fine light diffusing pigments create a sheer wash of natural color and help diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Its oil-free formula melts right into the skin and dries down, creating a gorgeous glow without the tackiness or greasiness. 

Other key benefits include:

• Oil-free tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 protection
• Water-resistant
• Light-diffusing pigments help diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles
• Ginseng root extract and Gingko Biloba Leaf extract provide potent antioxidant benefits and help prevent premature aging

It has broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 20 in the form of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.  It also claims to be water resistant for up to 80 minutes, which is kind of unusual.

I find this quite hydrating and my skin never feels like it isn't getting enough moisture.  It is sort of a light cream texture that doesn't feel too slick or slippery, and it dries to a satin finish that looks natural.  I do use a setting powder, just because I tend to get oily in the t-zone after a few hours.  I like the fact that because it uses mineral sunscreens (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) I can use this around my eyes and not worry about irritation or stinging.

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer swatch in Bare

It has sheer to light coverage, which I prefer for everyday.  I find that it provides enough coverage and I often skip concealer (unless I really need it around the eyes) and just wear this.  It tones down any redness quite well and it seems to make my pores look a little less noticeable.

I also like that this has anti-aging skincare ingredients.  It is chock full of antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, ginseng and ginko biloba extracts, as well as soothing antioxidants like chamomile and green tea extracts.  (Antioxidants protect the skin from oxidative stress that damages and ages the skin.)

Stila's Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer is a wonderful tinted moisturizer that protects the skin, provides lightweight moisture, and evens out skin tone well.  I expect to repurchase this (again) when I run out.

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Rated R Swatches

NARS makes some really great eyeshadow duos, especially if you want bright color (they of course make some beautiful neutrals as well).  Rated R is one of those cult bright color duos.

Rated R contains a bright lime green with greenish gold shimmer, and a bright blue with blue and gold shimmer.

The formula of this duo is a little stiff (as opposed to a buttery formula), but are well pigmented and don't create any fallout.

NARS Rated R swatch (natural light)

indoor light

flash

This pic really shows the shimmer!

I used Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperliner in Tommy Jet on the lower waterline and Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara in Noir along with the Rated R duo.

I love these cool, bright eyeshadows!

NYX Round Lipsticks in Rose Bud and Indian Pink Swatches (and a cute kitty!)

I thought I would do a few quick swatches of 2 NYX round lipsticks.

First we have Rose Bud, a cool pink with a little lavender and gold shimmer.

NYX Rose Bud

Next is Indian Pink, which is a medium orange-y color with a hint of pink and gold shimmer.  This color is fairly bright on the lips.

NYX Indian Pink

From left:  NYX Rose Bud swatch, NYX Indian Pink swatch (natural light)

flash

indoor light

no color

NYX Round lipstick in Rose Bud 

NYX Round lipstick in Indian Pink

These both have the lovely NYX round lipstick formula that is pretty moisturizing and lightweight, and kind of slippery.

My boy kitty Charlie is in my suitcase and ready to go on the trip to visit my sister in Madison, WI!

His sister Emma knows they aren't really going, so getting in the suitcase is just silly...

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Coral Shimmer Swatches and Review

I'm always on the hunt for a good moisturizing lipstick since my lips are usually pretty dry (I tend to chew on them as a nervous habit--I should really just exfoliate them with a good scrub and leave them alone!).  I thought I would try Rimmel's Moisture Renew lipstick because Rimmel makes some great claims about the formula.  

Rimmel says:  Ingredients

Lips so cared for, true colour is maximised! Maximised, radiant colour. Innovative formula with 3 super Moisturisers. Lips feel up to 70% more hydrated and up to 60% smoother! SPF 20, Vitamins A, C and E for protected lips.

I chose Coral Shimmer which looked like the perfect color for spring and summer (or any time of year I feel like wearing coral).

This is a really beautiful pinky coral with gold shimmer.  I think it looks very pretty with a pinky coral or pinky peach blush like NARS Orgasm.

It is somewhat sheer, lightweight, and has a thin texture.  It has a really strong smell that to me smells sort of floral-y and sunscreen-y and kind of skin lotion-y all at the same time (I'm guessing the sunscreen in it probably has something to do with the smell).  The scent dissipates after a few minutes, but the first few minutes are kind of unpleasant.  It feels slightly moisturizing and not at all drying.  It is quite and glossy and kind of slippery.

indoor light

indoor light

flash

natural light

natural light

no color

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Coral Shimmer

Of note, Rimmel makes one of the few lipsticks at the drugstore with sunscreen.  Too bad it isn't a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects from UVA and UVB rays--it only protects from the UVB.

I think this is quite a gorgeous color, but the smell is definitely noticeable, which is disappointing.  If you are sensitive to scents you will want to avoid the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks.