Black Sweet: July 2011

July Sayonara Products!

Can you believe it is the last day of July? Where is our summer going? As we say goodbye to this month, I am also saying goodbye to a handful of products. Once again, for some empties it is good riddance and for others it is a regretful goodbye (until I repurchase, that is!). Here are the products that I finished up this past month.

Too Faced Lash Injection

I bought this mini from Sephora just to try it out, and I am glad I never invested in a full-sized tube. For me, this mascara was nothing special. The bristle brush is big, fat, and dense, which I like, but it took too much work and too many coats to achieve the length and volume I seek. On top of that, it left my lashes stiff and had an unpleasant flowery scent. Goodbye!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

Burt's Bees is notorious for making great lip balm. I love that this is all natural and that it leaves my lips tingling a bit. The only thing I wasn't fond of was the tin packaging- next time I will opt for a stick instead for easier, more sanitary application.

fresh Cannabis Santal

As I have mentioned before, I really dislike traditionally feminine and flowery fragrances for myself. Instead, I opt for more earthy and spicy scents, and Cannabis Santal is right up my alley. No, it doesn't smell like what you are thinking of, naughty girls! Cannabis Santal smells like incense but isn't over powering.

Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser

For intensive exfoliation this is too gentle for me. It is better as a daily cleanser, but as it is cream based it is not best suited for my oily prone skin. I love the natural Yes to brand, and I think this is a good product for someone with very sensitive, or normal to dry skin. For myself, however, I'll pass. See my full review here.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

This is the first dry shampoo I have ever tried, and I don't know how I lived without it! This summer essential has been great for sprucing up oily roots and adding volume.

EOS Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss

Another product I am sad to see go. This shave cream is incredibly moisturizing and smells divine. Plus, EOS is a natural brand! Read my full review here.

Suave Max Hold Hairspray

This can lasted me more than a year because I don't use much product on my hair. Nothing special, but this hairspray got the job done and was really cheap.

Yes to Tomatoes Facial Hydrating Lotion

Panic struck my heart when I pumped out the last of this lotion! I reviewed it here, but in short, this is the first lotion that I feel was formulated with my skin type and needs in mind. It sinks in quickly, hydrates and balances well, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. Oily prone divas rejoice!

Yes to Blueberries Intensive Repair Serum

This product is part of Yes to's anti-aging line, so this was a preventative product for me. Although I don't yet have wrinkles to tackle, nightly use of this product really improved the condition of my skin. It was more radiant and smooth, and I could tell that it was helping to repair damaged tissue and increasing surface skin cell turn-over.

philosophy purity made simple one-step facial cleanser

I thought I would hate this cleanser, but it wasn't half bad. My skin needs a product that is better at oil control, but I can say that this made my skin baby smooth. Read more on it here.

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Pencil

At first I was really disappointed in this product; so much so, in fact, that it made it into my May Flunkies list. Although the shade is a great match for my brow color, the pencil crumbles easily and is difficult to keep sharply pointed. Over time, I learned to work with enough to use it up, but I won't be repurchasing.

What did you use up this month?

The Infringed Photos

How Do You Feel About Photo Theft?

Beauty Blog Link Love 7/30/2011

Still need more inspiration on how to spend your beauty money? See below for the best in the US & UK.Need to give your lips some TLC? Amy Antoinette shares her favourite lip balms.Check out what makeup Lauren has been sporting recently over at Lovelaughlauren.Find out why Lush's Fresh Face Mask Ayesha has Kajal Couture singin' to 90s pop music!K from Beautifully Addicted To show you her E.L.F Blushers.Summer teals and greens have been a gorgeous combination for FabDiva20! Check out her FOTD: Summer Teals and Greens.Jo shares an eye of the day, swatches and first impressions on the new MUA Professional palettes.Jenn from Spiced Beauty reviews Cover Fx Natural fx foundation, a great product for the summer!Madame B Fatale continues on with her Illamasqua Brand Overview with Part 3.You only just need three brushes for eye make-up - see which ones make the cut for Shivani at Adorable on your Vanity!Hellcandy has had a huge revamp of her UK beauty blog! Visit her all new site for the latest on beauty complete with nail gallery!Miss Beauty Nerd meets Maggie, daughter of Benefit Cosmetics' co-founder, Jean Ford. Maggie shows off her new Eye Wanna eyeshadow palette for Fall. Makeup Morsels finds one self tanner to love. Find out which one it is here!Cindy over at Prime Beauty is singing the song 'I Feel Like a Woo-Man' after finding the Canadian Brand Barefoot Venus.If you like having a nosey at other bloggers collections take a peek at thehighlighter overview at Eyelining Obsessions. Krasey Beauty heats things up, with a summer-inspired face and outfit of the day!Essence launched a great retro collection called 50's GIRLS Reloaded! Check out some swatches over at Vesna's blog!Do you need a new coral blush that won't break the bank? If so, check out Anita's review of Accessorize Bronzing Block Shade 3 which might just be the prettiest coral blush you'll see this summer!---Christina the Glitterholic hosts an awesome Spellbound By Jynx Giveaway. Be sure to enter!!Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Beautyland Tour, Week of 7/21/2011

Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation Review + FOTD

I have been using Estee Lauder's highly reviewed liquid foundation, the Double Wear Stay-In-Place makeup, for quite some time already before I decided to give up on it. It wasn't because the foundation was a bad product or that it broke me out; I stopped because my exact shade match was not available at local counters (a huge boo, really, for a foundation so fantastic as this).

Main Impression

This top-rating liquid foundation is neither runny nor too thick. Makeup fans love how well it glides on the skin while infrequent makeup users like me may have a bit of a hard time blending this foundation perfectly. Also, the fact that it dries out real quick on the skin may be a huge factor why it's not easy for me to even it out on the face. To lessen my application problems using this foundie, I find that using the fingertips is the best way to put this on.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation, SPF 10, 30mLP1,900 (~$43) - local counters, $35 - website

Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation provides a non-greasy, lightweight feel on my face that stays put for a good 9 hours (coupled with a good face primer). I only had to blot twice during that day and was still able to sport a clean, fresh look that my friends gush about. Its matte finish unfortunately obviates the dry areas on my cheeks, sides of the nose and some parts of my chin area, but it's nothing that ample moisturizing can't correct.

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand on my NC25 skin

The makeup blends well with the skin and provides ample coverage for my skin imperfections. It was able to decently conceal all the reddish areas of my face and most acne marks while blurring the visible pores on my cheeks, nose and forehead. My undereye area gets instantly brighter too even without the use of a concealer. It was effectively able to give me a flawless look . I heard that it can also provide full coverage but I've yet to try it since I'm already satisfied with its natural, healthy finish.

Shade Match Fail

[Checkout Sand, Tawny and Ivory Cream swatches side-by-side on NC25] I first used Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand (warm undertone), then jumped to Ivory Cream (neutral), and lastly to Tawny (warm). Chart-wise, my selection of shades ranged from lightest to darkest (with Ivory Cream being under a different undertone group). It was truly wasted money on these three because none of them were a perfect match on my NC25 skin (Yup, I'm now NC25, thanks to my derma's wonderful topicals). Sand and Ivory were too light, Tawny a tiny bit dark.

My last hope was for Sand or Ivory Cream to turn dark on my acidic face. But since this super foundation never significantly darkened my skin as most liquid foundations do, I can firmly conclude that I have not been given my perfect match yet. I'm eyeing Fresco (neutral) or Ivory Beige (warm), but SAs claim that these shades will never reach our counters.

Estee Lauder+ In2it: tweaking the too light Double Wear shade (Sand) with In2it 2-way Powder Foundation (Golden Harvest)

It might be too vengeful of me to rate the foundation really low plainly because I have not seen my shade match just yet (shade match is super points for me). If I wanted to keep each Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation bottle, I will have to make do on figuring out tweaks and tricks to make the currently available shades work for me. But I don't have the luxury of time to perform these tweaks every time I do my makeup because I'm such a slowpoke. I need a PERFECT SHADE MATCH. (N.B. I will do a separate post on the shade swatches)

Notice how my face is too white in comparison to my neck (2nd photo)I set the liquid foundation with a powder foundie that finishes dark on me (In2it)

Helpful Hints

1. This product is packed in a twist-cap bottle. If you have a MAC SFF foundation pump, you can use it to allow a more hygienic and controlled method of getting the product out of the bottle.

Photo Source

2. I address my issues with its consistency (explained above) by mixing the foundation with my moisturizer.

3. Be sure to use a makeup primer if you have oily skin so that this makeup stays put well.

Recommendation

If you have oily skin and you want to achieve a flawless face canvas for a good number of hours without the heavy, greasy feel, save up for a bottle of this superb foundation. I never broke out from this foundation. It's a bit pricey but a 30mL bottle will be difficult to finish even if you use it on a daily basis. It may be a grueling task to find the perfect shade match since not all shades are available in our local Estee Lauder booths but once you get a good match, the Double Wear liquid foundation may just top your list of HG face bases.

July Favorites & Flunkies

July was a really exciting month for me! Not only is July my birthday month, but I made a big change and moved to a new state! As far as makeup goes, I didn't haul much but I had a blast rediscovering some oldies but goodies in my collection. I had been in a bit of a makeup routine rut that finally broke this month. Here is what I have been all about this month, along with two flunkies that disappointed me.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Gash

Gash is a shimmery, coppery dark red with a slight metallic sheen. It looks a little intimidating in the pan, but it is a really divine and versatile shadow. This month I have been blending this in to my crease for an interesting take on a smokey eye. Or when I am feeling really dramatic, I pack this all over the lid- sounds scary but it looks awesome, and really makes my green eyes pop.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

An old favorite that I fell out of the habit of using my UD Naked Palette until just recently. This month it has definitely made a comeback- it has been ideal to create bronzed and golden eyes that are perfect for summer. I have been particularly loving Smog, Half Baked, and Darkhorse.

Essie Topless & Barefoot

For the first part of summer I was obsessed with bright colors- especially coral and orange. This month, I have opted for more subtle and sophisticated nudes and pastels. Topless & Barefoot is the perfect nude for me, and made for an awesome birthday manicure.

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet

This is a recent purchase and unfortunately I forgot to snap a picture of my mani while wearing this. I have been craving a pale mint green and was debating between this and Essie Mint Candy Apple. I picked Mint Sorbet because the Essie one is a touch more blue. Mint Sorbet has a really delicious creamy finish and looks great against a tan.

Sephora Sculpting Disk- Bronzer section

Bronzer has been a must-have for me this July, and I have been adoring the one in the Sephora Sculpting Disk. I already used all of the translucent powder, and the highlighter is just so-so but the bronzer is perfection. It is a matte brown that doesn't lean orange and is great as an all over setting powder or contouring shade.

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2

When I first bought this, I was afraid it was too pale and gave me the dreaded concealer lips. Now that I have a bit of a tan, this lipstick is the perfect nude. It is a creamy beige that doesn't lean pink with an amplified finish.

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink

I rediscovered this lipstick this month and it has been my go-to shade. It is a gorgeous creamy pale pink that goes with most any look.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto

I bought this during massive CVS haul and paid less than a quarter for it so I figured it was worth a shot. I don't particularly like this for my top lashes because it doesn't deliver the volume I seek, but it is superb for the bottom lashes. The wand is small and slightly pointed making it ideal for reaching those small inner corner lashes, and the lengthening formula gives a doll-like look.

Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black

I have been trying out a few mascaras lately, so this old favorite fell to the bottom of my collection. I started using it regularly again this month and it makes me wonder why I even bother to try other mascaras! The formula is truly volumizing without getting too clumpy, and the consistency only gets better with time.

Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Brush

I received this in a Makeup Alley swap and it is a much welcomed addition to my brush collection. It is technically a blusher brush, but I have been using it to buff in my liquid foundation. The bristles are really soft and dense and delivers an almost airbrushed finish.

Korres Fig Shower Gel

I received this in my July Birchbox and was so excited to try the Korres brand. I love that this is all natural and lathers well, and the fig scent is right up my alley: earthy, dark, and slightly sweet.

ybf automatic eyebrow pencil in universal taupe

This was also a recent Birchbox goodie, and has been a trusty addition to my daily routine. This pencil is soft with nice staying power, a good match for my brow color, and the spoolie on the end is handy.

Unfortunately, July also brought me two flunkies:

I might get some grief for this one, but I wasn't all that impressed with this cult favorite. This was a 100 point perk at Sephora, and never one to say no to a coral blush I snagged it. The color is nice, but not too unique in my opinion. But what really gets me is the smell! It is strongly scented, and the sweet sugary perfume lingers on my skin. Yuck.

alba Coconut Creamy lip balm

I loved this when I first picked it up for just a few cents during my CVS sale haul. I love that it is all natural and I am obsessed with anything coconut. But because it is made of mostly natural oils, this baby cannot hold up to heat. A summer day in my purse and this lip balm was totally melted. I do like this, but sadly it has to live my by nightstand and stay indoors.

What have you been lovin' this month? Any flunkies to report?

The Dry Skin That Almost Ruined My Vacation (And How Mario Badescu Saved It).

Caudalie Celebrates With 15% Off!

ARCONA Tea Tree Mask

Emjoi Micro-Pedi Makes At-Home Pedicures Easy

I'm not showing you my feet. I'll show you pictures of me after scrubbing my face in the shower, but I cherish you as a reader, and therefore will not subject you to the horrors that are my feet.My Father, when I was born, once famously told me he said the following, while choking back tears, upon the day of my birth:

(They are smiling because they haven't seen the feet yet. And where is my hat?)

"Connie, she's beautiful. But she has monkey feet."True story. So you're not seeing my feet. As a point of clarification, I was born with long, grippy toes. Not hairy feet, which my Mom wanted to make sure everyone knew. She didn't give birth to an actual monkey-girl, just a sarcastic baby with long, grippy toes.The point of all of this is that I don't like my feet. They never developed to be as grippy and useful as we all thought they would be after the proclamation at my birth. Thankfully, they still aren't hairy, but they are rough and not particularly sassy (they have next to no shot of being sexy, so I'm aiming for the next best thing). While they look better after a pedicure, I'm not made of money and I'm totally afraid of this baby feet thing. So I prefer to wear boots.Then one day this appeared in my mailbox.

Emjoi's Micro-Pedi is a very simple little tool that buffs away dry rough skin in a few seconds. It comes with two different rollers - one for coarse skin and one for the seriously coarse skin. You use the appropriate roller head on your tootsies and your feet are dramatically different in moments. Not only did it work on my feet, it worked wonders on Loxy's as well. It runs on two AA batteries and is pretty much ready to go out of the box. You can clean it easily by running it under water. It doesn't hurt at all. In fact, it kind of tickles in a smooth sort of way. (Versus the rough way it might tickle with a pumice stone at the salon.) Just be sure to do this over a paper towel so you keep your foot flakes to yourself.Product was sent for review. My mother continues to be embarrassed by this blog but still helps me find old pictures to post. So go figure.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Salma Hayek's Nuance Makeup Line at CVS

You probably already knew this, but a few weeks ago, I discovered that Salma Hayek has a really large cosmetics line at CVS called Nuance. Apparently, it has around 100 pieces in the total collection, including some really interesting packaging. I had to pick up a few items. I was powerless against it! Apparently, this launched in the late spring, but it just made its way to my local CVS in early July.

According to the packaging, " My line is inspired by my Grandmother, who dedicated her life to keeping women beautiful. My products are designed to help every woman enhance the nuances that define her individual beauty, and make my Grandmother proud."

So let's check it out. First up is the Nuance Beautiful Blends Eye Quad.

This interesting flower bud contains four colors- cool charcoal, warm smoke, silver mist and pearl teal. These shadows are pressed, apply very sheer without a primer and brighten up if you foil them or use a primer.

This wore ok and didn't crease. A primer will make these colors go much farther.

The packaging is kind of fun, but also a little flimsy. Still, it is fun to play with, assuming you like to play with your makeup.

Next up is the Flawless Wear Tinted Moisturizer. This moisturizer is perfect for you if you already have perfect skin and are looking to add a dewy radiance. I found this to be very, very sheer and very dewy. If you have oily skin, you may find this to be too hydrating.

(Shown in light)

It also includes Micronized Cotton Powder that claims to minimize the appearances of wrinkles and fine lines. This wears ok for a tinted moisturizer, but isn't particularly transfer-resistant or long wearing. I would like this better if it had an SPF, but no dice. This is a great option for those with nice skin who just want to boost radiance.

Finally, I had to try this lip gloss in Strawberry. This gloss is very pigmented, which is great.

However, it also has a very strong sweet taste, which I am not crazy about.

But, on a day where I don't have the shpilkes (where everything bothers me for no reason), I can get away with wearing this because the color itself is so pretty.Have you tried any of this line? There is also skincare and haircare - I'm curious to know your thoughts!I bought these. Nuance does not test on animals.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

July Birchbox Review

Earthly Body Marrakesh X Leave-In Treatment & Detangler

I've been testing a lot of leave-in conditioners, oils and treatments. Some have rocked my socks and others left me limp. Marrakesh X definitely falls into the socks rocking category. But what is it?

Marrakesh X is an argan oil and hemp oil blend that does ten amazing things to your hair. According to the company, Marrakesh X :

1. Detangles

2. Controls Frizziness

3. Moisturizes All Hair Types

4. Strengthens Hair

5. Seals in Hair Color

6. Prevents Split Ends

7. Protects Hair During Thermal Styling

8. Gives Brilliant Shine

9. Shields Hair from Sun & Wind Damage

10. Absorbs Quickly Without Greasiness

(See? It's like a whipped, foamy lotion.)

All of the above is true, although in the spirit of full disclosure and honesty, I didn't test it for prevention of wind damage. However, it has become one of my go-to products for daily use. I apply five spritzes in the palm of my hand and then add it to my damp hair, from the ears down, after my hair has had about thirty minutes to dry. Then after it is completely dry, I add another three spritzes to add manageability and shine.

I know a little of this goes a long way, but it doesn't seem to weigh my hair down at all the way that some other oils do. It also encouraged my hair to wave and didn't make my hair look greasy after two and a half straight days of use (with no washing). Maybe because this comes out like a whipped lotion and not an oil? Either way, on days when I'm not testing other products, this is definitely one of the products that I keep reaching for.

You can also pick up Marrakesh X in three different scents, because why not? Loxy is loving the High Tide scent, which is kind of like vacation (coconut, lime and verbena). But if that isn't for you, check out Dreamsicle or the original, Moroccan Nights. You can pick one up for $15.99 from the website or through select salons and beauty supply stores.

Product was sent for review. Earthly Body is cruelty free.

Beauty Shorts: New Products That Work Better (Plus One That Doesn't).

It's too hot for me to do anything. I did manage to try two products you should know about and one you shouldn't, but otherwise, I'm moving as little as possible.Check out the first two products that worked.

Too Faced has a lip liner called Perfect Lips, available in one color, Perfect Nude. I'm not really sure how one lip liner can be perfect for everyone and I am not suggesting that it is. But it does happen to be my perfect color. It's just a teeny bit darker than my natural lip color. In the above photo, my lip is nude, except for the outline of the lip pencil. So if you share my coloring, this lip liner wears really well, blends seamlessly, feels smooth and is almost undetectable as a liner. Yet it manages to give lips a defined edge, keep color in place and make lip color last longer. If you've tried this and you don't share my skin tone, I'd love to know how this worked for you. For me, it's kind of Perfect!

Sephora has their own line of OPI shatter polishes, called Sephora for OPI Blasted. I've tried the regular OPI Shatter (black) and the Sally Hansen Crackle and I've had a really hard time getting either of them to shatter on me. Maybe it's because I'm not applying it correctly or maybe it's because my nails are very "wavy". (Which I've discovered means the nail appliques HATE my finger tips.) I picked up the Sephora OPI Blasted Silver, as my favorite cast member promised me that it worked for her. Much to my surprise, it worked really easily! I used Blasted Silver over Zoya's Gemma. I was ready to kiss this trend goodbye solely because I couldn't get it to work for me. The Blasted is fool proof, based on my experience!

Now for the product that makes me mad. I picked up this new Maybelline Shine Sensational Pop Stick in Citrus Slice. This is supposed to be a bright tint with major shine. More like major fail. This was too gorgeous not to pick up. Too bad it has NO color. I'm super pale and it doesn't even try to tint me the slightest bit citrus. And it has a really heavy saccharine taste. Bleck.

If you have a young child that desperately wants to play with makeup, this is great for them. It looks like it would have a color punch, but all it does is fizzle. Plain old Chapstick has more shine than this. I tried to swatch it but couldn't even get that to show up. So you'll just have to trust me. I bought all of this. Too Faced doesn't test on animals. Maybelline does.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

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