MAC Dupes + My Favorite Drugstore Brand for Eyeshadow + A Look

I know Maybelline is famous for their mascara line because they have so much to choose from but I LOVE their eyeshadows! It's my favorite brand of drugstore eyeshadow ever!

I know many women like NYX, Covergirl, Milani, L'Oreal, etc. but I've come to find that a lot of Maybelline eyeshadows can be possible dupes for some MAC eyeshadows, if not better!

After swatching a couple of eyeshadows from Maybelline and MAC, I noticed that a lot of the Maybelline eyeshadows apply much smoother and apply way better pigmentation compared to MAC. I highly recommend Maybelline eyeshadows for those who are on a budget!

Click on images to enlarge

Here's a look I did using the Velvet Crush quad. It's a soft purple smokey quad with hints of silver in grey. The highlight color also has a small hint of pink in it. It's gorgeous!

Nailene Couture

Click the link to read product reviews for Revlon Runway nails and other tips for applying artificial nails (click here).

I'm here with a product review for artificial nails by Nailene. My take on artificial nails have not always been successful but I feel like with more practice, the outcome gets better. I attempted to apply these nails again and I think I did a better job this time. I didn't get that many air bubbles and I applied the glue much neater which didn't cause it to spread and get all over my skin.

PROS:
→ The length is perfect especially for everyday.
→ You get a nice makeover for your nails for less than what you would normally pay at a salon.
→ Each kit comes with a manicure stick & a file so in case a press-on may be too wide, you can easily file it down to fit your fingernail.
→ The nail glue had a longer nozzle for where the glue comes out which made a more precise application.
→ Nails come in trendy designs especially from their Couture collection.
→ The manicure stick is made of plastic which is so much better than the wooden kind because it's more sturdy and it doesn't dent when you try to push your nails.

CONS:
→ Air bubbles, as always when it comes to artificial nails. I can never prevent them!
→ I had some trouble finding the right size for my nail bed. I tried filing them down to fit my fingernail but I was afraid I would make a mistake so I just left some of them the same.
→ Glue can get messy if you apply too much.

OVERALL:
→ I hardly ever get my nails done at a salon anymore because it's expensive and there's no reason to get my nails done professionally if all I do is work or go to school. So these nails are a great alternative if you don't want to spend so much money at a salon. Artificial nails are great for special occasions because it's a fast and inexpensive way to dress up your nails for a night out without worrying about ruining your nails the way acrylics do.

PICTURES WERE TAKEN WITH A CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSI

This nail design is from the Nailene Couture collection called Starry Sky
with a butterfly sticker from the Bedazzle pack.

Below:
1) 3 sets of Nailene artificial nails
2) Nailene French Tip Pen with UV top coat
4) Nailene Bedazzle Super Star nail Art
5) Nailene Perfect Tips french polish guides

Nailene Couture in Starry Sky

Without flash

With flash

I also want to thank everyone who participated on my Revlon Nails and False Eyelashes giveaway. I contacted the winner (Beautygirl9190) privately but I thought I'd give her an honorable mention on my blog. Thanks again everyone for the support!


DISCLAIMER: In no way is this blog accepting any form of payment for products received by companies. The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. The products in this review were provided by the company.

How To Get Whiter Teeth Fast - Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel Review

**EDIT: For people with sensitive teeth like myself, the packaging doesn't label how much Hydrogen Peroxide is in the gel, which is the bleaching agent. But so far I haven't noticed any discomfort on my teeth. Your main concern is to keep this gel away from your gums since it can cause a more sensitive reaction from the bleach.**

This is a product review about the Plus White 5 Minute Bleach Whitening Gel. I really wanted a quick and inexpensive way to whiten my teeth before school started. I watched Kandee Johnson's YouTube video about this product so I decided to give it a try. (Click here to watch)


WHAT IT CLAIMS: It takes advantage of the same bleaching action dentists use to professionally whiten and brighten teeth (the oxygenating action of peroxide) to gently lift away stains, eliminate yellowing and dramatically whiten teeth. Bleaching begins with the very first application and you'll see whiter, brighter teeth within days, guaranteed!

INGREDIENTS: Water, Poloxamer 407, Glycerin, Hydrogen Peroxide, Methyl Salicylate, Sodium Saccharin, Phosphoric Acid

WHERE TO FIND IT: Drugstores like Walgreens and CVS.
PRICE: $6-$8
VALUE FOR PRICE: 5 out of 5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 5 out of 5
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5







PROS:
→ inexpensive
→ works fast
→ doesn't irritate teeth but keep away from gums
→ has a very slight minty taste

CONS:
→ gel can get messy for some
→ even though it has a minty taste, I wouldn't recommend swallowing it.

OVERALL:
→ I love this! I would definitely repurchase this product once I'm out. I only bought the gel and not the complete system. (The system includes a pre-mouthwash and a mouth guard). To apply this product I use a cotton swab and I cover my teeth completely making sure I don't miss any spots in the crevices. I used Kandee Johnson's trick by using the mouth guard that football players use. (Click here to watch) It might sound weird but it really does the trick! Even though the packaging says "5 minutes" the gel actually doesn't start working until 5 minutes after application. So I leave this gel in for about 20 minutes and then I rinse my mouth. The results are amazing and I've only been using it for a few days.

I recommend everyone to give it a try. You'll be surprised how white and bright your teeth can get by using this stuff. And you have nothing to lose since it's very inexpensive compared to other teeth whiteners that are out in the market.

I've been using this gel twice a day for four days and here are the results.
See how fast it works in just four days of application?

DISCLAIMER: The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. This product was purchased by the author and in no way was this review influenced by the company of the product.

Giveaway For My Followers

I can't believe I've reached over 600 followers! Thank you so much everyone for following my blog. I realized I still had a couple of Revlon falsies and nails still stashed in my makeup case from when I did a review on them not too long ago. And because of you guys, I've decided to have a teeny tiny giveaway. Again, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post. Deadline will be Monday, August 31, 2009 at 1159pm PDT.

Tutorial: Brown & Gold

Apply a gold eyeshadow to the inner half of your eyelid.
I used MAC Gorgeous Gold.

Apply a brown eyeshadow to the outer half of your eyelid.
I used MAC Tempting.
Make sure to blend the two colors together.

Apply a darker brown eyeshadow to the outer corner.
I used a dark brown eyeshadow from a Maybelline quad.
Apply a beige/white colored eyeshadow to highlight.

Apply eyeliner, mascara and false eyelashes.

LIPS - MAC Underplay l/s
CHEEKS - Estee Lauder Nectar blush

Soft Peach Look Using CS 88 Palette

I used the Coastal Scents 88 Matte Palette to create this look. I decided to tone it down with colors and since I really like peachy colored eyeshadows I figured I'd give it a try. This probably isn't one of the best looks I've done but I do like this look for everyday. Hope you like it. (:

i1 - all over lid
b8 and a8 mixed together - applied on crease
i3 - applied on crease
j1 - applied as highlight
Revlon lashes in Intensifying
K-Palette Tattoo eyeliner on upper lash line
NYX eyeliner in white on lower waterline

TUTORIAL: Crease Cut

Here's the look we're going for.

After applying UDPP, apply NYX Jumbo E/S Pencil in Milk all over the lid.

Apply your choice of an all over lid color.
I used a variety of light blues from the Coastal Scents 88 Matte Palette.

To cut your crease I used NYX Jumbo E/S Pencil in Black Bean and a thin eyeliner brush.

With the same brush, blend outwards.
It doesn't have to be perfect since we'll be blending it.

With a dark blue eyeshadow, apply it to your crease.

It should look like this.

With a light blue eyeshadow, apply it above your crease so the dark blue fades into your highlight.

It should look like this.

With a pencil brush, define your crease with black eyeshadow.

Apply a highlight color.

Blend the colors together if it's needed.

Apply eyeliner, mascara & false eyelashes.

Tutorial: How to Cut Your Crease

I've been getting a lot of requests to do a tutorial on how to 'cut your crease'. There are plenty of tutorials on Youtube that demonstrate this technique but I particularly find this technique the most easy and precise in my opinion. There are no right or wrong ways to do this. What's important is that you find a technique that you're most comfortable with. I've tried a lot of different ways to try crease cutting and I find myself going back to this technique so I hope this tutorial helps.

 STEP 1: Begin by applying your lid color. I chose to bring it slightly higher than my natural crease.

 STEP 2: With an eye pencil of any color (anything dark is preferred), outline your crease.

 This is how it should look like.

 STEP 3: With a pencil brush or smudger brush, smudge the black eyeliner upwards making sure you don't bring this color down to your eyelid.

 This is how it should look like.

STEP 4: With a pencil brush, apply black eyeshadow (or your preferred choice of color) to your crease and blend upwards.

This is how it should look like.

STEP 5: With a blending brush, blend out any harsh lines.

STEP 6: Apply a highlight color to your brow bone.

And you're finished! Just apply eyeliner, mascara, and false eyelashes!