Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer reviewed!

Warmer weather has arrived and with it came the bug bites... so I found myself in Rite Aid (looking for some hydrocortisone cream) when I stumbled upon "Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer" on sale. For $2 I couldn't say no!  Impulsively and a little greedily I scooped it up in the shades "Pretty in Peach #115" and "Frozen Over #315". Now here I am (itch free) ready to tell you about my new nail swag!

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in #115 & #315

Color: 10 You can't see very well in this picture but Frozen Over is actually a sheer shimmery pale blue however,  I only tried Pretty in Peach (#115) but it was true to the bottle and absolutely stunning! 

Formula: 1 This polish is clumpy, streaky, full of air bubbles and separates after it's dried on the nail creating nasty little cracks!

Application: 5 The brush is a nice thickness but unfortunately that can't save this horror of a formula.

Staying Power: 1 After wearing the polish for one and a half days I'm already sporting little chips.

Overall I'm really disappointed in this line! It was a nightmare to apply due to the formulation. While I managed to get all the clumps that were trying desperately to emerge out I was not able to stop air bubbles from forming. When it comes to nails there are two things I can't stand. Number one is AIR BUBBLES. Number two is cracking polish. Sadly I've been left with both. The only reason I might use this again is the color of "Pretty in Peach" I've been looking so long for a good polish in that color and while I continue to look I might get desperate and crack it out again! As the old adage says "you get what you pay for" maybe next time I'll splurge! 

Have you guys tried this stuff? Have you found a petter bright, poppy peach? Let me know! 

xo Kara Rose 

Flats, Flats and MORE FLATS!

What goes up must come down! Spring 2014's ready to wear collections were all about flats and (in some cases) flatforms. I've already stocked up on flats for the warmer months and I would advise you all to follow suit. Comfort is in so let us rejoice! Peep some of the runways latest flat offerings.       

Peep toe flat booties at 3.1 Phillip Lim

Sneakers at Comme Des Garçons

Pointy toe flats at Helmut Lang

Leather wrap around sandals at Jason Wu

Lace up ballet flats at Jean Paul Gaultier

Moccasin style sandals at Jonathan Saunders 

Classic pointy toe flats at Rochas 

Milani Nail Lacquer Review

After a little hiatus I'm back and ready to review, so lets talk nails! Recently I've been branching out in the nail department. Not only have I been using regular polish (not gel) I've also been shunning Essie (my go to non gel)! The first stop on my new budget nail adventure was Milani Nail Lacquer in "Power Periwinkle".  Read on for the results!

Milani Nail Lacquer in Power Periwinkle

It's been brutally cold in the northeast so I was immediately drawn to this spring like shade. Milani is not a brand I've seen reviewed too often but once I got past my skepticism, into my cart it went!

• Color - 10: The color was true to the bottle & beautifully vibrant 

• Application - 10: This bad boy went on like butter! The formula is so smooth, not too watery or too thick. Even a nail noob can apply this flawlessly. The brush is also nice & flat but not too small which is just the way I like it! 

• Staying Power - 10 Non gel nail color never lasts more than four days on me without chipping... if I'm lucky but Milani Nail Lacquer lasted about a week without a single chip! Once the chipping commenced I was able to squeeze about two days worth of wear before it got real raggedy looking.

  

  Milani Nail Lacquer in Power Periwinkle, after about a weeks wear.

  
  All and all it was a pleasure to wear this fab spring color and I can't wait to try some more shades from Milani. Have you tried this brand? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Let me know in the comments below!  

xo Kara Rose 

Olympic Figure Skating Costume Roundup.

Time really got away from me last week & as a result I missed my "Monday Update" post.  A thousand apologies for that but I'm trying my best to make up for it now! While the Sochi Olympics might be controversial there is one thing we can all agree on... figure skating costumes are the stuff of dreams! Here are my faves.

Ashley Wagner  of the United States

Tongues have been wagging over Ashely Wagner but one thing that has gone largely unnoticed is this gorgeous costume! Ashley, I would never give you a "bullshit" score for fashion!

Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada

Kaetlyn's costume was gorgeous from the front but my favorite detail was the cascade of jewels on her back! 

Akiko Suzuki of Japan

Akiko Suzuki sported on of my favorite looks. The detail and the fairy vibe stole my heart the moment she stepped onto the ice. 

Tessa Virtue of Canada

Tessa looked like a queen in this gold embellished red dress. 

Meryl Davis of the United States

Meryl Davis rocked this beautiful number which was inspired by the ballet Scheherazade. 

Gracie Gold of the United States

Last but not least is Gracie Gold. Adorable, talented & stylish. What more could you ask for? 

 

Mini Drugstore Haul Video!

It's finally here!!! Watch my mini haul blogpost's corresponding video over on my YouTube channel & let me know in the comments what you think! I'm almost done testing out all the products and I can't wait to film the results for you guys. 

xo Kara Rose 

Beauty Faves

Experimenting with new looks has been an obsession of mine for as long as I can remember.  Naturally I'm always seeking new beauty products to keep up with my ever evolving style! While I love to test the beauty waters, there are a few products I always come back to. I decided to film a "Beauty Favorites" video and this is my corresponding blog post.  Read up!

Skin Care

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser . Ask any derm what drugstore cleanser they recommend & I'm sure the answer is this one. Formulated for normal to oily skin types, who are sensitive to harsh products, you won't find any fragrance in this bad boy! Be warned you won't get a lather with this product but it does leave your skin squeaky clean (without a trace of makeup left).  

• Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Night Cream. I've tried several nighttime moisturizers & I am absolutely in love with this one. While I tend to have normal to oily skin, I do get some surface dryness from time. With nightly use, not even surface dryness can touch my face! The texture is strange, with a slightly watery yet rich feel, but the refreshing sensation you experience after application is unparalleled. You won't find any fragrance, parabens or animal testing involved in this product. Natural ingredients make up 99% of this cream including aloe & rice extract! 

• Kiehl's Creme de Corps Light-Weight Body Lotion. This lotion is a bit pricy but totally worth it. It's super light weight & absorbent leaving your skin instantaneously soft! Seriously, I think my hands owned the title of driest in the land but this lotion has ended that. I also love that it's fragrance free so it doesn't clash with my perfume!    

Hair Products

Batiste Dry Shampoo. Because I have color treated/fine hair i'm always looking for a good dry shampoo. I've tried all the fancy/pricy brands but Batiste is my fav! It's amazing at extending time between shampoos, which I love due to all the damage my hair suffers at the hands of dye, & it serves as an amazing styling tool to boost volume! In case you're wondering... my favorite scent is cheery but there are many to choose from!

• Bumble and Bumble thickening hairspray. Not only is this hairspray non aerosol it HOLDS your style! It's totally heat and sweat proof! I love it for my blunt bangs & as a nice bonus it smells great!  

Makeup

 

• Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream. My main skin problem is redness & this BB cream is just enough coverage to even out my skin tone without looking cakey. It's light as air, non greasy, moisturizing & it has an SPF 35 which is prefect for my pasty face! How could you not love a product that does all that in one step? 

• Smashbox High Definition Concealer. I didn't include this in my favorites video due to time but it's certainly worth a mention. While my BB cream is great most days, I do get a spot or two from time to time. On my spotty days nothing beats this lovely concealer + I use it daily to eliminate the dark under eye circles that I'm prone to. 

• Cover FX Bronzed in Pink Topaz. Unfortunately since posting my favorites video I've discovered that this blush appears to be discontinued. It was a beautiful dusty rose color with a subtle shimmer & I will definitely be scrambling to find a replacement when I run out.

• Maybelline Expert Eyes Expert Wear Twin Brow & Eye Pencils. I only use this as a brow pencil (I don't recommend it as an eyeliner!) & a wonderful brow pencil it is! Blonde is the shade I use. It's a subtle ash blonde which I love because so many light brow pencils are way to warm/red for my taste. One of my pet peeves are brows filled in with a warm/redish shade! Another nice bonus is how cheap it is & it comes with two in a pack! 

• Urban Decay original Naked Palette & Naked 3 Palette. So much has been said about these palettes that don't think I even need to go into why they are great... you guys all know! 

• Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 13. This is perfect on days when I have zero time for my makeup but I need to look fab. Once you apply this it's not going anywhere, seriously I have to fight to get it off! They have so many colors but 13 is my go to. I love to wear it alone with some mascara and a bold lip! 

• Benefit They're Real Mascara. Unlike most mascaras you don't have to choose between length or volume! This one truly gives you both without looking clumpy or spidery. With the special domed brush, equipped with bristles on the tip, you can easily reach every lash! 

P.S.  Make sure to watch the corresponding video HERE  to see some bonus faves! 

Another drugstore haul!

I've done it again... I've done a little drugstore damage.  As always I will be reviewing the products I got and sharing that review with you all. Here's a photo sneak peek of the goods!

Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, Revlon blush in 002/Haute Pink & the Balm blush in Argyle

Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids in 875/Vivid Rose, Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids in 885/Vibrant Mandarin & Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 440/Cherries In The Snow

The haul video I filmed will be up next week & as soon as I've tested all the goods I'll be filming the my review!

xo Kara Rose

The Liebster Award!

Hello Beauties! The Liebster Award has finally landed on my blog! I've been oh so kindly nominated by the lovely Lizzie, author of xBeautyMagic, so go check her out. Her blog is fab & so is she! Many thanks to you darling!

The rules

1. Link the blog that nominated you for the award 

2. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate who have less than 200 followers

3. Answer the 11 questions given to you

4. Let the people you have nominated know you've done so

5. You can't nominate the person who nominated you

6. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate to answer

7. You must follow the blog that nominated you 

Here are the questions Lizzie asked me

1. What was the first makeup item you wore daily?

Lip Smackers by Bonnie Bell! I don't even think they make those anymore but being a 90's child I loved them! For those of you who aren't familiar with Lip Smackers, They were very oddly flavored lip balms in tacky colors. As a bonus they usually came strung on a lanyard! 

2. Do you have any siblings?

Yes! One sister, two brothers and me. I'm the youngest. Does that explain a lot?

3. What is your favorite movie(s)? 

This is so hard. Cabaret (starring Liza Minelli) has always been a favorite of mine. It's got awesome music, beautiful style and heavy subject matter. What more could you want? Dazed and Confused is also stellar as well as I <3 Huckabees. Oh gosh, there are soooo many more but I'll stop now! These were my lighter selections however, I do enjoy many others with more thought provoking material. 

4. What is your favorite fashion trend at the moment?

High waisted jeans. I only wear high waisted jeans.

5. If you could only buy one item of makeup for the rest of your life, what would it be?

LIPSTICK! Hands down. I. CAN'T. LIVE. WITHOUT. LIPSTICK.

6. One clothing item you couldn't live without?

High waisted jeans!

7. What is your favorite season and why?

Fall. The weather is beautiful and the fashion is so versatile. You can wear anything in the fall and not be too hot or too cold.

8. What place would you love to visit?

London or India. I couldn't pick just one!  

9. Is there anything beauty related that you wish you could do but you can't?

I've always wanted silvery, over toned hair BUT I've dyed my hair so many colors & have finally achieved a good shade of blonde! My poor hair just can't stand anymore damage.

10. Who is your celebrity crush?

Harry Styles or Jack Harries (does he count as a celeb?). I know what you're thinking! Yes, I'm a chicken hawk. 

11. What is your favorite clothing store?

Top choices are Urban Outfitters, Topshop and ASOS.

Here's who I nominated!

1. Faithfully Emma

2. Whiskey & Proper

3 Pizza Flavoured Lipstick

4. Under the Blush

5. Kaute Kouture 

6. Bubbly B

7. The Make Up Diary

8. That Denim Purse

9. Blushing Rose

10. Elephant Stories And More

11. Kelsie Lauren

Here's my questions

1. If you could have one persons wardrobe in it's entirety, whose would it be?

2.  Who is your favorite Beatle?

3.  What's your favorite lipstick?

4. What's your go to outfit?

5. How many colors (if any) have you dyed your hair and what were they?

6. Who is your favorite YouTuber?

7. Instagram or Twitter? 

8. What's your favorite nail color? 

9. Who are your top style inspirations at the moment? 

10. What's your go to shampoo and conditioner?

11. If there was no chance of failure what career would you choose? 

Best wishes to all you fabulous ladies!

xo Kara Rose 

Nails of the moment

If you are anywhere in the New York area chances are you've been snowed in.  To pass the time, I took to my polish and gave myself a good old fashion manicure (with a twist)! Take a peep and get the look for yourself. Happy painting!

The look

The products 

Step One
Apply one coat of your favorite base coat. I used Sephora by O.P.I 3 in 1 (which is no longer made). I'm actually not the biggest fan of this bottom/top coat but it's what I had laying around... desperate times call for desperate measures!  

Step Two
Apply two coats of Nails Inc. nail polish in Baker Street. Nails Inc. is pricy at $9.50 a pop however, the quality is amazing and the colors are to die for.

Baker Street 

Step Three
Add one generous coat of Nails Inc. Feathers Effect Nail Polish.

Feathers Effect 

Step Four
Finish off with one coat of your favorite top coat & enjoy your fabulous mani!

The big finish! 

Beauty Favorites on YouTube

I've made a video, over on my YouTube channel, filled with all my beauty faves! Check it out and let me know what you think of my picks. I would love love love to know what your faves are! 

xo Kara Rose  

Target Haul - Written Review

For those of you who prefer the written word, I've whipped up a little review for you! Here are the products I will be talking about & the links to buy them.

• Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen Kit 
• Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm (Craving Coral & Rosy Red)
• e.l.f Studio Golden Bronzer 
• e.l.f Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick (Forest Nymph & Rock Out)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky Shadow Pencil
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer, Blush & Eyeshadow (Waikiki Strip/Peach Glow Bronzer

Now lets get down to the fun part! To kick it off we are going to take a closer look at the Pixi "Endless Silky Eye Pen Kit".

In the packaging! 

"Endless Silky Eye Pen" swatches.

I have to start the off by saying I am usually not a fan of pen eyeliner. I use pot or liquid liners, so I went into this purchase very skeptically. Not going to lie, I am eating my words right now! This liner is so buttery and smooth! All that's needed to get a gloriously smooth line is a whisper of a swipe across the lash line.  At this point you may be thinking "That's fine and good but there is no way this liner would last". If that's the case you are wrong. Having oily eyelids I was convinced within 20 minutes I would look a smudgy mess. After an entire days wear I had to work hard to get this stuff off! This product is deffo a new favorite! Here's the verdict in numbers.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen Kit

• Pigmentation: 10
• Colors: 10
• Ease of application: 10
• Staying power: 10 
• Value: 10  ($25 for 5 eyeliner pens and a sharpener) 

Moving on...

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Lip Balm

Craving Coral 

     Rosy Red  

Don't be fooled my the word "balm" in the title. These little suckers pack a pigmented punch! Going into this purchase I expected very sheer color but that is certainly not the case. What you see in the tube is pretty much what you get on your lips. It is moisturizing so the balm claim isn't entirely unfounded + it smells and tastes amazing (like mint).  In terms of longevity I'd say this stacks up about average. Overall all I'm happy with this purchase but it's definitely not the whisper of color that I expected, which is not entirely a bad thing... just unexpected! 

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm (in "Rosy red" and "Craving Coral") 

• Pigmentation: 10 
• Taste/Feel: 10
• Color: 10
• Staying Power: 5 
• Overall Value: 4 ($14 each) 

On to the next! 

Studio Bronzer 

Unfortunately I don't have very much good to say about this product.  On, the color lacked any luster and was just generally unflattering. I tried this out many times in an effort to get it to work for me. Without fail I came out looking dirty, orange or not able to see the color at all! The price point is very low so I can't complain too much but I will not be purchasing this again. 

e.l.f Studio Golden Bronzer 

• Pigmentation: 2
• Shade: 3
• Staying power: 5 
• Value: 10 ($3) 

Next up

e.l.f Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick

Left swatch "Forest Nymph" Right Swatch "Rock Out"

I hate to be the bringer of bad news but this was another dud! Having never tried eyeshadow in stick form I was so excited to try it out.  On the positive side the colors are beautiful and true to the tube. Sadly, the good news ends here.  Applying this was a nightmare! You have to apply so much pressure to get this bad boy on! If you couldn't guess, the sensation of pressing and rolling a stick over your eyeballs is very creepy! Once it's actually on don't get two excited! Even with primer and setting spray the product only stayed on for a maximum of 20 minutes before creasing and running!! At only $2 what could you expect? shrug*

e.l.f Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick (in "Forest Nymph" & "Rock Out")

• Pigmentation: 2
• Shades: 10
• Ease of application: 1 
• Staying power: 1 
• Value: 5 ($2 each. It's so cheap normally the value would be 10 but the quality is too poor)

Lets more on. Shall we?

Master Smoky in "Smoking Charcoal"

By now we all know I'm wary of eye pencil but Maybelline's Eye Studio "Master Smoky" is another exception! You won't ever get a precision line with this guy but you will get is a fab smoky look.  I love the little sponge designed to perfectly smudge the thick line this pencil creates. With the afore mentioned (perfectly sized) sponge you will get flawless rock'n roll peepers in no time! It's so easy to glide on and once you've got it smudged to perfection it's not going anywhere. I wore this all day and not a crease, or a smudge I didn't originally create, showed up! 

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky (in "smoking charcoal")

• Pigmentation: 9
• Color: 9 
• Ease of application: 8
• Staying power: 10
• Value: 10 ($6.99) 

Last but not least

Shimmer Strips Bronzer, Blush & Eyeshadow 

This little guy is a lovely, shimmery, subtle bronzer that can also double as eyeshadow! Just swipe through all the colors evenly with your brush for a discrete bronzy glow, or dip your brush in just one color for a little lid glam. The reason I purchased this was for use as a bronzer. As I'm extremely pale the subtlety works brilliantly for me. If you have dark skin this shade (in equal parts) will be way to light for you. That being said you do have some wiggle room if you concentrate on swiping your brush mostly through the dark side. You can also use the lighter colors as a highlighter!  

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer Blush & Eyeshadow (in "Waikiki Strip/Peach Glow Bronzer) 

• Pigmentation: 5
• Color: 10 
• Ease of application: 10 
• Staying power: 10
• Value: 5 ($11.99) 

This concludes my written Target haul review! If you prefer to watch me talk about all of this click HERE to watch my review. Let me know in the comments what you think of these products!

xo Kara Rose 

NEW review video!

The Target haul review is finally up on YouTube! It was so much fun making this vid. hope you love it as much as I loved making it!! Let me know what you all think ;)

XO Kara Rose

New video up on my YouTube channel!

This one is a Target haul. I'm not doing this video just for the haul. There will be a review posted as soon as I have tested out all the products. I hope you guys enjoy! Watch it HERE

New Video up on YouTube!

I've uploaded my "Holiday Gift Haul". This haul is not just me holding things up and saying "this is a candle. I like it.". NO! It's more of a review of all the products and I even include links so you can find all the items mentioned!  Let me know if you like this vid by giving it a big old thumbs up or leaving a cheeky comment!