Spring Favourites!

I'm back from the dead! Hahahaha sorry I haven't blogged in such an unacceptably long time! School has been consuming me (totally not a cliche excuse) and I've also been working hard on my digital art! I want to sell at an anime convention one day so I gotta practice and prepare! Thankfully I just finished my last exam of the semester and now have three months off to lolly-gag till the cows come home! WAHAHAHAH!

Anywho, I come to you with my beauty favourites of Spring! Usually I do it by month but because I don't want to wait until the end of May to post this, I'll just call it my favorites for the Spring season! I've included skin care, makeup, and other beauty related items in this gaggle of goods so without further ado! Here they are!

1) Bath & Body Works Amber Blush Triple Moisture Body Cream

I honestly thought I would never really like anything from Bath & Body Works because all their scents are way too sugary smelling and I have trouble differentiating what smells like what...

IT ALL SMELLS LIKE SUGAR?!?!? I DON'T SMELL THE HONEYED PINEAPPLE! I DO NOT SMELL THE ESSENCE OF ROSE OIL

....yeah....I rage a little about Bath & Body Works products but not for this one! Though it is still has a very sugary scent, it is a wonderful light moisturiser and has a custard like consistency. The smell lingers on the skin but is not so overbearing that you smell like someone dunked you into a vat of syrup. I love the fact that the moisturiser is not heavy! I don't like that greasy feeling that some moisturisers give you after applying so this is approved in my books! I don't tend to have dry skin so this is really just a pick me up on days where I think I could soften up my skin a bit!

2) Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box

Truth be told, I haven't been wearing too much makeup this month but when I want to do a look with eyeshadow, I always seem to reach for this palette. It's compact, cute, and has a selection of nine colors that has your neutrals and a few brighter choices like the shimmery green Graffiti or the electric lilac color, Fishnet. Urban Decay shadows are top notch quality wise with excellent pigmentation, buttery soft textures, and are easy to blend. I have never been disappointed with their eyeshadows; this is no exception :)

3) NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder

My nickname should be disco ball because my oily skin tends to make me look like a shining party orb! This face powder is very good for mattifying the skin when things get a bit too oily and it's so finely milled it doesn't look cakey after a few hours of wear! NYC is also a good brand if you're looking for affordable choices for beauty products and I highly recommend using it to set foundation or just to mattify your face like I do when it gets too oily! It does get a bit messy though if you're not careful and the powder flies everywhere but if you are gentle none of that powder will spill on you :)

4) Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Memorable

It's so natural and perfect for springtime and it gives you such a healthy glow! When you are a student in nursing school you tend to lose all the color in your face and slowly start to resemble a ghoul (from late night studying and stressing over tests). This blush breathes some life back into my face without making it look like you're wearing blush! It is just so natural! It's also a good size to carry around in your purse so you can do touch ups throughout the day if needed!

5) NYX Liquid Eye Liner in Black

I used to hate liquid eye liner. HATE.

but everything changed after I had the patience to sit down and practice and now, I love it! I have very oily eyelids so powder, pencil, and gel liners tend to travel on my face even if I apply only a small amount! This NYX liquid eye liner does not budge throughout the day and is very darkly pigmented so a single pass on my lids gives me the cat eyes I so love :)

Though this product is a favorite for me this season, I do have some qualms about its waterproof power because when I laugh and tear up a bit, it smears off. If you're going to cry or tear up in anyway...this eye liner will not last! It's good for the price you have to pay for it though and is also a more affordable makeup brand!

6) Disney's Merida Lipgloss in Change your Fate

I know.....it's orange. BUT MERIDA!

I picked this up in Disneyland last summer but haven't really gotten around to using it too much since then. This Spring I've given it a home in my everyday makeup bag and I love it! On the lips it doesn't look opaque orange but rather, brightens the lips up by adding shine and a nice vibrancy that enhances your natural lip color! I absolutely adore the fact that this gloss is not sticky because I hate that feeling where your lips feel like they're covered in molasses *shudders*. Honestly half the reason why I love this product so much is the packaging. It's not especially luxurious or high quality packaging but the fact that Merida is on it looking all pretty and the lid has a bow and arrow insignia on the top makes me incredibly happy~

7) EOS Lipbalm in Strawberry Sorbet

I'm pretty sure I've put this in a favorites before but I've been using this every night before bed, right before I go for runs, when my lips are have dry spells and all the times inbetween! It is such a good little lip balm you can take anywhere with you and the domed design allows for easy application. It does a pretty good job of moisturising and I wouldn't want anything less from a lip balm :)

8) The Body Shop Aloe Eye Defence Eye Cream

I also think I've included this in a favorites before but Spring is the season of allergies and this stuff was my best friend in times of need. It has helped calm my raging itchy eyes all season! After a day out, I'd be a swollen mess of allergies and applying this gentle eye cream really helped soothe the itchiness and redness. It in no way took away my allergies but it helped relieve some of the discomfort I was feeling from them. I'm almost out and need to pick up a new one soon!

9) Tarte Maracuja C-brightener Eye Treatment

Lots of Tarte products in this post but they are good! I am out of this eye cream unfortunately *sad face* but it is such a good eye cream to use in the morning! It has brightening effects that lessen the dark circles around your eyes and it sinks into the skin quickly so you are not left with a greasy film over your eyes. It has vitamin C infused into it which is supposedly really good for the skin! I'm no dermatologist but whatever they've done to make this eye cream so good I am all for them keeping up the good work!

10) Tarte Maracuja Lipglosses

I bought the Tarte 2013 Holiday gift set during Christmas and it came with 8 x 0.59oz mini lipglosses in varying shades that all look really lovely on the lips! They are nicely pigmented and have a slight minty feeling upon application. They also moisturise the lips so you don't need to use lip balm prior to putting these babies on! I just love the fact that I don't really need to spend a lot of time picking what color will go with what look for these because they do not overpower your makeup but nicely accentuate it! With 8 of them I'm sure they will last till I'm a little old lady~

 Thanks for reading! I'll be sure to post more often since I have some time off :)

Ciao for now~!

July Favorites!

Guess what time it is again? Monthly favorites time!!!! YAY!!! Sorry I haven't posted in so long but hopefully you guys will forgive me >.<

Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash from The Body Shop

This face wash only recently came out from The Body Shop and so I had to try it! Everyone knows what a big fan of tea tree I am! The consistency, smell, and appearance is a lot like toothpaste. I liken this product to toothpaste for your face but man does it feel good on your skin! Use some water and a marble sized dollop on your hands for a refreshing, tingly clean that doesn't dry out your skin but leaves it cool and spotless.

Aloe Eye Defense Eye Cream from The Body Shop

More Body Shop goodness and this time, it's for my eyes. I've not ventured too deeply into the world of eye creams yet but out of the hand full I've ever tried, I must say I like this one a lot! It's very gentle and light so it doesn't make my already oily eyelids feel greasier plus it feels lightly cooling as it absorbs into my skin. Definitely a treat for sore eyes at the end of a long day!

NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in Translucent

This product is amazing at mattifying skin and it has absolutely zero color to it meaning a huge range of people with skin tones ranging from porcelain white to almost black can use it and not worry about looking too dark or washed out! Use it to set your makeup or just to de-slick an oily face and you're good to go. The one thing I really dislike about this product is that it is incredibly messy, if it came in better packaging that could control the amount of product dispensed each time then I would give it a full 10/10!

NYX Stick Blush in Tea Rose

The main thing I worry about with blushes is that they'l make me look sick if I put it on. I associate fevers with red cheeks (not to mention carbon monoxide poisoning also causes red cheeks before it kills you...) but this blush doesn't give you that sickly look, rather it makes you look healthy and the reddish pink color seems quite natural. Wonderful for hot summer days (which aren't quite here yet but I hope soon will be!) because it's cream based meaning it won't flake off and make your cheeks look splotchy over time. Not only is it a great blush color but it's wonderful as lip rouge! Multipurpose is the name of the game!

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

This is the main primer I've been gravitating towards this month. I've not found a primer that completely prevents creasing or my eyeliner from transferring to above my crease but I've noticed my Hard Candy Primer makes my brushes kind of icky since that primer has a more liquid consistency compared with Urban Decay's. For the summer days, you want your makeup staying in place because nobody wants to look like a sweaty drag queen...even drag queens XD.

Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash from The Body Shop

It has ground up apricot seeds to exfoliate but it's quite a mild exfoliator if I ever tried one! It makes my face feel incredibly smooth after and very cool (since it comes from the tea tree and tamanu oils inside). My issue with this product is that it doesn't lather very well but it does give a gentle clean without stripping all the moisture out of your face! I've noticed my blackheads fading away as well so true to its name, this exfoliating wash does zap away those nasty impurities lying around your nose!

elf Lengthening and Defining Mascara in Black Brown

elf, you are a god of makeup I swear! This mascara has great wear, lengthens, volumizes, and does't clump very much at all. It was also very inexpensive (even though I got it as a gift XP) but nonetheless, some more expensive mascaras I've tried don't give me the same effect as this elf one! My lashes don't flake or sag over time either! Apart from how banging it makes my lashes look, the slim packaging is great for keeping the clutter in your purse minimal when you go out! Kudos to you elf for another amazing product! 

NYX For Your Eyes Only Mysterious Brown Eyes Eyeshadow Palette

My first eyeshadow palette ever and it's up there on the list for one of my favorite palettes too. The pigmentation of most of the colors is phenomenal and the textures are extremely soft and buttery. It's got ten shadows that are great for making everyday looks but it also has a leaf green and some purple shades too if you want to vamp it up a little! The applicator it comes with it's great (I use it to clean the mirror inside and not for putting on makeup XP) but with a good brush or even your fingers, you can make miracles happen with this palette!

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Grape Vine

I was naughty and bought three more Baby Lips lip balms...they're so cute (and not to mention packed with product!) so I had to get more! The color is a deep, purply red that gives lips that need a boost of color life again. It's great for taking out with you because you don't need to carry both lip balm and lipstick when this balm already has some pigmentation! It's not very strong color though so if you want bold lips this probably isn't the thing for you. The moisturizing ability is pretty decent but it does need to be reapplied often to maintain soft lips.

Vitamin E Hydrating Toner from The Body Shop

I never thought a toner could be this hydrating but true to its name, the Vitamin E Hydrating Toner from The Body Shop delivers skin softening treatment while balancing the pH of your skin. I also love the scent of this product, it's hard to explain but smells lightly of sunscreen and spa...weird right? XD

It's also alcohol free so no worries about your skin drying up there! You also only need a dime sized amount on a cotton pad to sweep or pat all over your face so this product is going to last me ages! Soft skin here I come!

Thanks for sticking around! Sorry I haven't made a post in such a long time, I've been focusing on my artwork which you can find here: http://melody-in-the-air.deviantart.com/

I'll try to post more often my blogging beauties!

Ciao for now!

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Review

I know I'm probably the last beauty blogger in the world to do a review on Urban Decay's Primer Potion but it is a pretty good product and deserves a review, there's always new people getting into makeup and if my review can help them I'll be happy!    

The Original Urban Decay Primer Potion 

This product is really really hyped up. Crazy hyped up...everyone seems to know about it even if they don't know what a primer is! It's meant to be used on the eyelids to help any eye shadow stay vibrant and last all day. People with oily eyelids tend to love it but quite honestly it's not the best primer on the market.

It's basically a tube of silicone that's supposed to help your makeup stay put and not crease for 24 hours. Though it does hold on to eyeshadow much better than if you had used eyeshadow without primer, I still find that at the end of the day my makeup still travels onto my lower eyelids and I still crease! So the promise that for 24 hours your eye makeup won't budge isn't true.

Vibrancy wise it doesn't make a huge difference whether I use primer or not before shadow. Eyeshadow with UD primer potion and without are about the same in saturation and color. Again, nothing special.

The packaging is pretty cute though, the genie bottle top is especially adorable but I do have some qualms about it never closing completely. No matter how many times you try to turn it shut it will keep on turning and only click. The product doesn't dry out though thankfully, even with a clicky lid.

All in all I'm not super impressed by it but people that have lids that are less oily than mine may find it a godsend for staying power.

Just my opinions on it, I would love to hear yours if you've tried it!

Thanks for reading and ciao for now~! <3