Crown Brushes - My New Found Love!

A few weeks ago I received my Crown Brush Master Studio Set in the mail.

The 30 piece Master Studio Set is made with our professional grade Studio Series brushes. Each brush features a polished chrome ferrule and matte black birch wood handle.

This set includes:

Tapered Powder Pro Spoolie, Jumbo Powder Dome, Red Sable Oval, Retractable Lip, Unique Pointed Dome, Lash Fan, Flat Bronzer, Stiff Brow, Angle Blush, Bent Liner, Small Chisel Blush, Mini Liner, Maxi Mop, Angle Liner, Oval Foundation, Oval Taklon, Oval Camouflage, Deluxe Crease, Brow/Lash Groome, Round Contour Long Handle, Eyelash Definer, Red Sable Oval, Chisel Deluxe Fluff, Chisel Mini Smudger, Chisel Pointed Fluff, Sable Angle Liner, Red Sable Oval, Detail Mini Chisel, Taklon Square, 30 Slot Jumbo Case

These brushes are so amazing!  I prefer these over all my other brushes!  They are extremely soft, durable, easy to clean and inexpensive.  This set was $129.99, that's about $4 a brush!  This is perfect for people looking to build up their brush collection without having to shell out $30 a brush at MAC and still get high quality.  This set is also great for people who are learning to use brushes in new creative ways - there are 27 different shaped and sized brushes to work with.  I recommend this to all makeup lovers - it's inexpensive and high quality.

If this set is out of your price range, here are some smaller sets I recommend:
Deluxe Studio Set - 14 piece set - $42.99
Studio Set - 10 piece set - $35.99
Basic Set - 10 piece set - $29.99
12 Piece Professional Set - $25.00

A Look using all ELF Products

A lot of people are skeptical of ELF - So I decided to do an entire look using all ELF products.  I ended up wearing this out last night and it lasted all night and early this morning when I got home at 4am :)

A Look using all ELF Products:
ELF Tinted Moisturizer in Nude
ELF Flawless Finish Foundation in Sand
ELF All Over Cover Stick in ivory
ELF Corrective Concealer
ELF Complexion Perfection
For Touch Ups: ELF Clarifying Pressed Powder in Light Beige
ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium
ELF Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara in Black
MAC Eye Kohl Pencil in Smolder
Ardell Invisiband Lashes Glamour in Demi Wispies
DUO Lash Glue in Clear
ELF The Beauty Encyclopedia Basic Eye Edition
ELF The Beauty Encyclopedia Face Edition
ELF The Beauty Encyclopedia Lip Edition
All Brushes Used Were ELF Brand

MAC Fast Response Eye Cream

I bought this cream almost 2 years ago (and it is just now running low!) because I was working a lot of overtime and not eating or sleeping healthy.  I was starting to suffer from dark circles and early morning puffiness.  I had never used an eye cream before and thought I'd go to MAC since I was getting all my makeup from them at the time (the mall was literally 2mins from my office).  I told the rep my issues and she suggested the MAC Fast Response Eye Cream.

"The super-charged, caffeinated cream with instant effects. De-puffs, erases the look of dark circles, firms, soothes and softens skin around the eye. Special optics act like magic to fade away lines."

Although this was my first eye cream, I fell in love instantly!  When I first used it, I used way too much - you only need a tiny bit - I applied it to my under eye area and began dotting it on lightly with my ring finger.  The formula feels very silky when applying, and through out the day it keeps the skin smooth and hydrated.  By night it was still very smooth and within a couple weeks of daily use, I noticed my dark circles were no longer dark.  This product completely surprised me and has been a must-have in my routine ever since!  I recommend this to people with dark circles, early morning puffiness, and sensitive skin.

Seche Nails; Seche Clear base, Retain, Seche Plus

Attention all nail lovers looking for high quality products!  Seche is by far my favorite brand for preping, finishing, strengthening and restoring nail products.  They are known for their Dry Fast Top Coat that goes on clear and stays clear - their non-yellowing quality has been applied to the other products they offer.  A few of my favorite ones are the Clear Base, Retain, and Seche Plus.  The polishes apply very easily with no bubbling or clumping; once dried, the products have a smooth feel.  Here's some information on my three favorite products:


Clear Base

"Seche Clear Crystal Clear Base Coat was created after ten years of development to offer a clear base coat for nail polish which will not yellow and will adhere to the natural nail."

I have tried a LOT of base coats and have never been happy any of them, I actually stopped using base coats because they would alter my nail polish quality in a negative way.  This is the first base coat that I've used that goes on smooth and stays smooth.  It creates a perfect base for your nail polishes and it doesn't change the quality of your colors at all.  I will never use any other base coat brands, I even threw out my other base coats and only use Seche now.


Retain

"Maintains strong durable nails. Retain keeps the nails strong and protected. It is more than just maintenance, it is continuing therapy to help keep nails long and beautiful. Once you have long, beautiful nails, Retain will condition, protect, and improve them."

I don't always wear nail color, and on the days I don't, I have been using Retain.  It has definitely kept my nails healthy.  I had never thought of using a nail therapy before, but after using this, I now cannot think of not using a nail therapy.  It's truly amazing and I think every nail lover needs this in their collection.  You can also use this as a base under your favorite nail colors.


Seche Plus

"An innovative treatment for strengthening and hardening weak, thin, split and brittle nails. Seche Plus™ can be worn alone or as a base coat. Dries clear, hard and has a long lasting finish."

When I first tried this I was skeptical to think it could perform as it advertises to.  I have tried many other products promising to strengthen, and just ended up disappointed.  Seche Plus, in my experience, really did strengthen and protect my nails.  I was able to grow them out to 3/4" long and the only reason why one broke was because I accidentally got it caught on something.  Even after having my nails in water for long periods (showering, washing dishes, etc.) they were softer, but did not bend or break.  You can also use this as a base under your favorite nail colors.

I recommend Seche products to people who polish their nails on a regular basis - just think of all the wear and tear your nails endure between the colors and the polish removers.  If you look for good quality colors, then you need good quality products to prep and protect your nails too.

*Product(s) were received for trial/review; these are my honest opinions

LA Splash - Love Notes Collection

Are you getting excited for Valentine's Day?  If you are like me and love pretty and glittery things, then you will love the LA Splash's Love Notes Collection!  There are 6 glittery polishes each holding tiny heart decals inside and 5 glitter dust pots each holding tiny heart decals too!  The polishes and glitters are packed with different tints of pink, red and white glitters - classic Valentine's Day colors.  You can use these polishes alone or on top of your favorite nail color.  I did a few different swatches for you guys and I hope you all enjoy these as much as I have.  I want to go get the whole collection after playing with these polishes and glitter dusts.  (note: Psychedelic is not part of the Love Notes Collection, but it is a fun color and I think it looks pretty with the collection)

Here are the LA Splash polishes and glitter dusts I used:

LA Splash Nail Polish - Be Mine
LA Splash Nail Polish - Sweet Heart
LA Splash Nail Art Glitter - Red Heart Spangle
LA Splash Nail Art Glitter - Psychedelic

LA Splash Nail Polish - Be Mine
LA Splash Nail Polish - Sweet Heart

LA Splash Nail Polish - Be Mine
LA Splash Nail Polish - Sweet Heart

LA Splash Nail Art Glitter - Red Heart Spangle
LA Splash Nail Art Glitter - Psychedelic

LA Splash Nail Art Glitter - Red Heart Spangle
LA Splash Nail Art Glitter - Psychedelic

I thought it would be fun to show how you can use these polishes and glitter dusts, so I grabbed a few of my own polishes I had.  I chose an opal color for a more classy look, a hot pink color for a more chic look, and a black color for a more edgy look:

CQ Nail Polish - Night
Milani Nail Lacquer - Hot Pink
Sally Hansen - Diamond Strength - Platinum

Here are some different ways to use the Love Notes polishes and glitter dusts:

Index nail: Be Mine
Middle nail: Be Mine on Platinum
Ring nail: Be Mine on Hot Pink
Pinky nail: Be Mine on Night
Thumb nail: Red Heart Spangle

Index nail: Sweet Heart
Middle nail: Sweet Heart on Platinum
Ring nail: Sweet Heart on Hot Pink
Pinky nail: Sweet Heart on Night
Thumb nail: Psychedelic

I really like these polishes, the polish itself is quite thick which is good because it holds on to the glitter and hearts very well, i was originally worried the heart decals wouldn't hold to my nails, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I also like how the base nail color can show through the Love Notes polishes, giving your nails a completely different feel from just using the Love Notes on their own.  The only thing I dislike about these polishes is that you have to spend a little more time fishing out the heart decals from the bottle, but once you get them onto your nails, it's all worth it!  I recommend these polishes to people who like to dazzle their nails with pretty glitters and decals, and for people looking for a little umph to jazz up their Valentine's Day outfit!

Visit the LA Splash website to Take the Love Test, after a series of questions it generates some polishes and glitter dusts that fit your ideal Valentine! :)

*Product(s) were received for trial/review; these are my honest opinions

Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Original Moisturizing Creme

I want to start off saying that I absolutely love this creme!  After I had my baby, the hormones jolted my facial skin to change, and in an annoying way.  I had extremely dry skin to the point where I had irritated spots of red everywhere and it even got so bad it was flaky.  So, in a desperate mission to save my face, I reached for the thickest creme I owned.  Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Original Moisturizing Creme "provide long-lasting moisturization to relieve extremely dry, sensitive skin" and it is so true!  The first day I used this, I put it all over my face before going to bed.  When I woke up the next day and washed my face, it was smoother, more hydrated and the irritated redness was visibly reduced to just a couple pinkish spots.  That day I applied more of the creme all over my face, let it soak in and then applied my makeup - my skin stayed hydrated all day and it didn't effect my makeup's longevity.  Here's more information I found on their website:

-Rich, soothing formulas seal in moisture to help heal very dry skin

-Create an occlusive seal that protects skin impaired by disease (atopic dermatitis, diabetes or psoriasis) and even enhances the absorption of topical medications

-Contain minimal ingredients for maximum safety

-Mild formula can be used on children

-Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, non-irritating

Eucerin Promise: High quality ingredients and clinically-proven formulas that help keep your skin healthy. Eucerin skin care is safe for sensitive skin and so effective that it's been trusted by dermatologists for years.

What's more impressive to me is that it doesn't have that watered down consistency.  It's very thick - I have to really squeeze the tube hard to get the creme out.  It goes own so nicely and you can feel it soak in as soon as you begin massaging it into your skin.  I have tried this on my elbows, knees and heels and I have never seen a product work so great on so many areas!  Also, I have very sensitive skin, and this creme does not have that chemically feel to it, (some products tend to feel like they are burning my face when I put it on).  I recommend this product to people who are experiencing extreme dryness and need an intense hydrating creme.  I wouldn't recommend this for a daily use product because it is a heavy duty product.

Burt's Bees for Men!

My boyfriend was given some Burt's Bees products for men as a gift and I realized he's been using them a lot lately, so I thought I would share his opinion of them with you all.  I'm assuming he doesn't want to blog about it (haha) so I put together a list of questions for him to answer and I hope you all find this interesting and helpful - and maybe even a great gift idea!






1. What products do you use from Burt's Bees?
I have the Natural Skin Care for Men Hair Gel and the Natural Skin Care for Men Body Wash

2. What do you like about them?
Hair Gel: It doesn't make my hair crusty when I use it, it's a more natural look.
Body Wash: It smells good and keeps my skin hydrated.

3. What do you dislike about them?
Hair Gel: The smell straight from the bottle isn't the best, but after you apply it to your hair the strong smell goes away.
Body Wash: You have to use a lot of it because it doesn't last on the luffa long enough to wash your whole body.  It seems like I have to use more than I would with other soaps.

4. If they were not given to you as a gift, would you have purchased them? Why/why not?
No, because I didn't know they were available.  I only knew Burt's Bees made lip balm and hand salve, I didn't know they made anything else.

5. Now that you have used them, would you repurchase them?
Yes.

6. Would you recommend them to other men?
Yes I would, I recommend the hair gel more because of the natural feel and look that it provides.  I wouldn't exactly recommend the body wash because men don't talk about body wash and soaps.

7. What products did you use before getting these Burt's Bees products?
I never used a particular soap before, and the hair gel I used to use was LA Looks.

8. How are these Burt's Bees products better/worse than what you previously used?
Hair Gel: It's better because of the way it dries on your hair - it leaves your hair looking healthy and sharp, unlike other brands that leave crusty dry particles and makes your hair stiff.
Body Wash: It's different and good, but I wouldn't say it's better than what you normally find in stores.

9. What are your favorite features of these Burt's Bees products?
I like the packaging, it looks good.  I like the finishing result of the hair gel and the smell of the body wash.  The body wash leaves you feeling clean.  The prices are more expensive, but the quality is higher.  The hair gel is definitely worth the price, but the body wash doesn't stand out enough to pay more for it.

10. Are you interested in learning what other products Burt's Bees has for men?
Yes.

Makeup Look: Neutral Soft Smoke

makA few days ago, my friend came by to model for a makeup look.  I did a neutral soft smokey look using the E.L.F. Essentials Beauty Encyclopedia Sparkle Eye Editions.  The palette has some lovely shimmer shades that look really good on her.  I only did the eye makeup here, she applied the rest:

Makeup Looks: CG Eye Enhancers - Tropical Fusion

A few days ago I posted a blog about Covergirl's Tropical Fusion quad.  Here are a couple looks that I like to create with these colorful shadows:

Bath Time? Yes, Please!

What could be better than a little bit of me-time in a luxurious bath!  Well, here's your chance to save some money and relax a little.  ME! Bath is a great company that sells all sorts of bath and shower goodies.  Their products are fantastic and I think every person should try it out at least once!  Take advantage of this offer and treat yourself to some ME! time.

Visit their website at mebath.com and use this 30% off coupon code: maketheswitch

While you're there, check out the Scoop Of The Week, Amber Waves, currently on sale 18% off!

All About Brushes: Duo-Fibre Stipple Foundation Brushes

MAC 187, MAC 130, E.L.F. Studio, Sonia Kashuk Highlightin

Next in the series is the duo-fibre stipple foundation brush.  This brush is very versatile, you can use it for liquid, cream and even solid powder products.  It is a good brush for a blended application and that 'natural skin' effect.  It's great for people with uneven textured skin because you can layer on the makeup for more coverage and blend or 'buff' it into the skin.

Application Tips:
- when applying liquid/cream foundation, lightly dip the bristles into the liquid, or swirl the bristles into the cream, and use a dotting/stippling motion all over the face to apply the product; then use small circular motions to blend it into the skin
- for full coverage, allow the liquid/cream foundation to set into the skin, then apply another layer of foundation and blend it in again
- when applying loose/pressed powder foundation, lightly dip the bristles into the powder, or swirl the bristles into the pressed powder, and tap the brush handle gently to loosen the excess powder, and use a dotting/stippling motion all over the face to apply the product; then use small light-handed circular motions to blend it into the skin
- for a full coverage, reapply the loose/pressed powder and blend it in again

Brushes I Recommend:
MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush (standard size)
MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush (short bristle stipple brush)
E.L.F. Studio Stiple Brush (standard size)
Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush (standard size)

What I Personally Use This Brush For:
- I use it as an all over liquid/cream/powder foundation brush on my face
- I use it to blend over uneven textured skin areas
- I use it to apply my primer before I apply any makeup products
- I use it to apply blush and bronzer to get that natural skin glow effect

*CLOSED* GIVEAWAY: 50 Dollars for 50 Followers!

Hello readers!
Thank you all so much for following and reading my blog, I appreciate everyone's interest and support!  As a gesture of appreciation, I will be doing a giveaway for you all.  Once the ticker hits 50 followers - a winner will be chosen!  I hope this happens sooner than later because I'm anxious to find out who wins :)

The giveaway prize:
A $50.00 eGift Certificate to Sephora.com

How to enter:
- Be a public follower of my blog (if you are not public, your name will not show on the list as a follower and you will not be listed for the random selection)
- Comment on this blog post with your email address (if a winner is selected without an email address listed in the comments of this blog, I will not be able to send you the prize therefore a new winner will be chosen)

Good luck and I hope the winner will keep me posted on what they chose to use their $50 for!

xoxo
Krystal

Covergirl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Tropical Fusion

While I was rummaging through my eyeshadows looking for inspiration for a new look, I found Covergirl's Eye enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Tropical Fusion.  I had bought this in 2008 for a summer look (which I wore a lot!) - then repurchased again in 2009 when it had run out.  I thought this quad would be great for a few summer looks, and I actually got more out of it than I had expected.  Not only did I use it for summer looks, but the blue and teal can be used in all seasons.  You could also do a neutral look and add a fun color to your lower lash line to pump it up a little.  I am going to do a few looks with this quad and post them later.  I highly recommend this quad to people who like to add a little pop of color to their look.

My Everyday Look

Today I thought I'd photograph the different layers I do for my everyday eye look.  I'll be doing a video soon about the whole process, but for now here's some photos to get the idea.

All I have on here is a thin layer of foundation

I added my eye lid base of Painterly and Brulee

Applied Mulled Cider to the outer corner and up to my crease

Applied Retro Speck all over my lid

Applied Avalanche to the inner corner and pulled up to meet my crease color

Applied mascara and liner

The shine you see is the face highlighter I applied

Final Look

All products I used

Products Used:
PRIMER: Laura Mercier Primer
FOUNDATION: MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW25
CONCEALER: MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW25
MAKEUP SET WITH: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Loose Powder in Medium
BRONZER: NARS Laguna
BLUSH: NARS Orgasm
CHEEK HIGHLIGHT: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft And Gentle
EYEBROWS: MAC Cross Cultural
EYE LID BASE: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
EYESHADOWS: MAC Brulee (base color), MAC Black tied (upper/lower lash liner), MAC Crystal Avalanche (eyebrow highlight), MAC Retro Speck (lid), MAC Mulled Cider (outer corner/v)
UPPER/LOWER WATERLINE: MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder
MASCARA: Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara
LIP CONDITIONER: Nivea A Kiss Of Smoothness
LIPSTICK: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Blushing Nude 637

Jasmine La Belle - Wink Compact

I love to browse online for the cheapest makeup that I think might just turn out to be a great deal!  On my last visit to Ulta's website, I found Jasmine La Belle's Wink Compact.  It's a slender little compact holding 18 shades, some matte and some shimmer, and comes with a brush applicator and a sponge tip applicator (both of which I tossed out due to low quality).  The colors are good quality and the shades they offer are very interesting.  They are not shades I would normally find in an inexpensive palette.  My favorite thing about this compact is the color intensity - when I first used this product I did a green to black look and it was unbelievably pigmented.  I was very very shocked and anxious to share this with everyone!  The only thing I dislike is the smell of the makeup - it has that 'cheap makeup' fragrance - but it's not so bad that it would make me not use it.  I recommend this to people looking for lots of color choices, cheap, and compact packaging.

Milk Mask?

Whenever my skin needs a complete rehabilitation, I fall back on this never-failed trick.  It only takes a couple of days to do it's magic, and I'm not exactly sure how it works - but it does and I have never had a bad reaction.  It leaves my skin the smoothest it's ever been!  Honestly, it can smell a little unattractive, but fight through it because it's well worth the process!

Here's what you need:
- packet of dry milk - I use Nestle's Carnation Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
- filtered water - I use bottled water
- shallow container - I use a mini container like Pyrex's 1 cup dish

Here's what you do:
- add 2 tablespoons of dry milk in the container
- add 1 teaspoon of water in the container
- mix the water and dry milk into a past like consistency; if it comes out too watery just add a little more dry milk
- moisten your face with water
- apply generous amounts of the milk paste to your entire face, you want to apply it like a mask
- let it dry completely, it will feel very dry and start to crack
- once it has all dried, splash your face with water, lightly massaging your face while you rinse the milk mask off
- when you dry your face, pat it dry instead of rubbing it

After this, your skin will feel smooth and tight without any dryness or irritation.  You can also do this mask after steaming your skin, it's a good way to remove blackheads after your pores have been opened with the steam.  I hope this helps out many people as it has saved me from irritably dry skin.

The Versatile Blogger Award!!

I want to thank Mozzarella & Make-Up for awarding this to me, it is extremely thoughtful and I'm so honored to be recognized and awarded!
Please check out her awesome blog at http://mozzarellamakeup.blogspot.com

The rules for this award are:
- Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your blog
- Tell us 7 things about yourself
- Award 15 recently discovered new bloggers
- Contact these bloggers and let them know they've received the award(s)

7 Things About Me:
1. I love my little baby girl to pieces!
2. I'm addicted to all things beauty; especially makeup
3. I find it very very hard to resist using every discount and offer on makeup
4. I love doing makeup on other people, even if it's for free!
5. My goal for 2011 is to hit 100 followers on my blog and 100 subscribers on my youtube
6. I really do love getting requests from my audience on looks to create and products to use!
7. I have never been happier with my life than I am to be doing makeup, blogs and videos - all things I truly enjoy doing!


I Am Awarding These 15 Bloggers:
1. Pixiwoo
2. Live.Love.Makeup
3. Beauty Lover's Blog
4. Dulce Candy
5. GlamaDazzle
6. No Artificial Sweetner Here
7. Pammy Blogs Beauty
8. Pretty Things In My World
9. CandiLand
10. Tanya Burr
11. Wifezilla Etc.
12. Makeup By Alli
13. Kandeeland
14. MsGliterazzi
15. Beauty And All That

Jasmine La Belle - 8 pc. Twist Mirror Compact

During my take-advantage-of-the-holiday-sales shopping I did online at Ulta, I found this product while browsing their entire stock of cheapest makeup.  What grabbed my attention about it is the twist mirror feature.  I thought it was cute and an interesting way to package a compact.  Jasmine La Belle's 8pc. Twist Mirror Compact comes with 8 shades, some are matte and some are shimmer.  At the time they had a pink/purple/brown compact and a purple/blue/gray compact, I chose the pink/purple/brown one.  I must say, the colors surprised me, I thought they would be on the chalky side, but they are actually good quality.  The lighter shades are very sheer but still hold the sparkle you see in the pan.  It came with two double ended sponge applicators, which I tossed out because I wouldn't have used them anyways.