Rafflecopter iPad and Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Rafflecopter, an online tool to help those online use as a giveaway tool.  The tool allows for points to be accumulated for the person entering by doing a series of things (tweeting, blogging, liking a page on facebook, following a twitter page, etc.).  If you would like to enter yourself into this awesome giveaway, do so using the following link: http://blog.rafflecopter.com/2012/01/rafflecopter-launch-party/

Eve's Make Up Forever Giveaway!

                            (Picture is not mine, belongs to Eve - see links below)

Eve is a blogger here on BlogSpot as well as on Luuux and she is hosting a fantastic giveaway to start off the New Year!  She's giving away a Make Up Forever Aqua Cream in the color Number 15 which is a taupe color.  I have not used these products as of yet, but I have heard how amazing they are and how they don't crease and wear for hours.  If you would like to enter, please do so using either of the following links below:

Eve's Blog Posting: http://xoxobeautyxoxo.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-up-for-ever-giveaway.html

Eve's Luuux Account: http://www.luuux.com/members/eve-nguyen

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer

I will be reviewing and showing swatches of Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer.

I purchased this concealer a while back after hearing rave reviews about how fantastic it was. I actually purchased it at Rite Aid when they were having 50% off all Maybelline products, so not only did I get this for half price, I also had a $2 or $3 off any Maybelline product manufacturer coupon, so I paid less than $2 for this product. Quite the steal! I will admit when I purchased this it sat in my bin of new products to try for a few weeks. After using this, I wonder why I waited so long to try out this gem! Please note the price I paid for this in no way reflects my feelings about this product – because once my bottle does run out I will be repurchasing (whether that be full price or otherwise). Now onto my review:

PACKAGING:
The product is packaged in a small sturdy plastic marker shaped container, the very tip of the product having a micro-fiber rounded tip. The tube itself holds 0.2 fl. oz. of product. The plastic top covering the applicator is easily removed by pulling upwards. To get the product out of the container you simply hold the neck (the red part) of the bottle and twist. If it is your first use, you twist and twist and twist but I promise it eventually does come out! After the first use the product comes out with ease, one twist and a swipe and you’re pretty good to go.

PRODUCT:
This is available in a number of different shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Honey, Neutralizer and Brightener. This product applies like a dream under the eye. It’s very smooth to the touch and blends in flawlessly. It does give my eyes a bit of a brightened effect, concealing my dark circles and lightening up the area. I use this under my foundation (mousse or mineral), but it can be used over your foundation if you have a container of Instant Age Rewind that directly matches your skin tone. I have seen guru’s on YouTube use this over their foundation and it looked just fine because the product was a direct match for their skin tone. I do not use the neutralizer or the brightener because my dark circles are not terribly out of control – but Maybelline does suggest using a neutralizer if you have extreme dark circles. You can use the brightener shade based on how the formula applies to your skin tone. Personally, in my case, a brightener would make me look crazy (the product already gives me a sheeny/glow) – so I skip it. It does a very good job at concealing any under eye shadows/circles and does not feel heavy.

PRICE:
This typically retails for $9.99 (Walgreen’s, CVS), but the price can go up or down based on where you shop. Target and Walmart typically sell these for $7.94 in store and online. If you have a coupon or are able to purchase this during a sale at any store you may very well get it a lot cheaper.

OVERALL:
I would highly suggest this to anyone in the market for a good under eye concealer. I have oily to combination skin so I was a little concerned because I really didn’t want my under eye area looking like an oil slick – but I have to say it does not do that! Granted I have been using this product in the fall and winter months, so the weather has not been obnoxiously hot, but I feel this would hold up even when worn in the heat. Maybelline suggests the product be applied using the applicator tip, blending in an outward motion, with the excess wiped off with a tissue. I actually apply the product to my under eye with the applicator and use my fingertip to lightly pat it onto my eye gently smoothing my fingertip over it to the outer corner of my eye and with any excess I bring it down to the lower socket of my eye (gently patting/rubbing) and I have even brought this up to my inner and outer corner. I wear glasses (which tend to showcase dark circles if you have any) and it makes my eye area look flawless.

Have you tried the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind dark circle eraser?
Do you have an under eye dark circle treatment that you use?

Note: I swatched this on my hand and I have a birth mark on it. It does not reflect a dark circle because I would hope no ones dark circles were that dark. But as you can see in the blended photograph it’s muted the appearance of the birth mark.

Images are mine do not take or use. Thank you.

Review: Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Fast Dry Nail Color

I purchased this product while at CVS during their 75% off clearance sale.  The color was what immediately caught my eye.  Prior to this I had not purchased any Sally Hansen nail colors – but I have to say I really do like them, although the shape of the wand, etc., is annoying to me.  The polish I am reviewing I actually currently have my nails painted as (see my NOTD post here: http://www.luuux.com/health-beauty/new-years-eve-nail-day ).  I have enjoyed this product and found it applies very well, dries semi-quick (it’s no where near instant) and wears very well as long as it has a top coat over it.  Here are my pros and cons for the Insta-Dry Fast Dry Nail Colors:

PROS:

·         1-2 coats and your polish is opaque

·         Dries moderately quickly (polish will be smudge able by your fingertip if you touch it ~3 minutes after application but I found if you blow on your nails they dry almost instantly.

·         Wears very well with a top coat

·         Polish is very thick (a pro and a con)

CONS:

·         Polish is very thick. Ends (near cuticle) could be lifted if picked at due to thickness.

·         Applicator brush is oddly shaped allowing excess polish to stay on the brush handle and then fall on your nail in large glops

·         Applicator handle too wide to really scrape along the inside mouth of the bottle when removing – so you have to take it out and scrape it over the top of the bottle which could become very messy easily

·         Not instant drying as the bottle states it does.

Overall I am pleased with this polish and will be looking into more color options in this line.

Have you used any of the Sally Hansen Insta-Dry nail colors?

Images are mine do not take or use. Thank you.