MAC: Fix+ and Strobe Cream

MAC FIX+ AND STROBE CREAM 

REVIEW! 

So I have heard and read about both these MAC products on many a beautyblog and youtube channel. Between stress and fatigue my skin has been looking super dull lately so I decided now would be the perfect time to try out these two skin enhancing products. 

Benefit Cosmetics: They're Real Mascara

They're Real - The New Mascara from Benefit!

To probably no ones surprise I was super excited to try this new mascara! I have been a lover of Benefit's Badgal Lash for years but I am always open to try a new beauty product. The brush is synthetic and has bristles even on the tip to get even the hard to reach hairs I presume and the formula is pretty wet. Ok well I'll get to the chase. I have long lashes. So what I am looking for is volume. They're Real defiantly showed off the length of my lashes and even extended them more but because there is a lack of body being added with this product my lashes looked somewhat spidery. BUT a couple of my co-workers tried this mascara on and it looked AMAZING!!! One girl straight up looked like she was wearing thick , long , fake lashes. Another coworker ( who's pictures I will show below) just looked like she had amazing natural lashes. So my advice on this one is to just try it for yourself cause it seems to look and work different on everyone. I all the other hand will be stickin to my good'ol Badgal Lash. 

My eye with They're Real mascara.

Dawn's eye with a boring mascara.

Dawn's eye with They're Real mascara.

THANK YOU FOR READING

XOXO

Melody 

The Bible for Cosmetic Junkies!!

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me

by Paula Begoun

 

So I have been wanting to purchase this book for awhile now but the $30 dollar price tag kinda put me off but I wish I hadn't waited for Borders going out of business sale to swoop this puppy up because this book is amazing!It would be helpful to any women interested in what the heck they are putting on their face and if it is worth the $$$ ( I feel like everyone should be interested in these things lol but yeah that's just me ).  Paula the author or the "cosmetic cop" as she calls herself reviews pretty much every beauty product on the market and reviews in a easy to understand and brief explanation of what is in each product, if its helping or hurting you and if its worth the money! This book would be a serious must buy for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies because she covers all that kind of stuff. This book is huge too at almost 2000 pages. I am not buying anything again without first consulting my beauty bible! 

• How to get the best products without wasting money.
• How to avoid ingredients that harm skin, including natural ingredients.
• Which products can really fight wrinkles and make skin look younger.
• Which products clear up acne and which ones make acne worse.
• Shocking insights and insider revelations that debunk the beauty myths pervading the cosmetic industry!

Here is an example from a Bobbie Brown product: 

• Extra Moisture Balm ($85 for 1.7 ounces) This ends up being a very expensive way to supply skin with Vaseline and silicone, the main ingredients (next to water) in this rich balm. The antioxidant plant oils are rendered ineffective by this products jar packaging. And the geranium oil, while smelling nice, can cause skin irritation. Choosing plain old Vaseline not only cost considerably less but spares your skin an irritant response. 

Amazing huh?! So I would defiantly recommend this book and I will most likely be quoting it in my future reviews!! Thanks for reading!! xoxo

Melody

My Favorite Beauty Products!

I hope you enjoy my latest beauty video!!! 




Products used and mentioned!!!


-Urban Decay Naked Palette  $48

- MAC shadows in Black Tied & Carbon $14.50

- MAC Fluidline Gel Liner in Blacktrack by $15

- Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara  $19

-Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara around $10

-Benefit Bronzer in Hoola  $28

-NARS Blush in Orgasm $27

-NARS Blush in Angelica $27

-Dior Lip Glow $29

-Benefit Highlighter Highbeam $24

-MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell $16.50

-Bobbie Brown Cream Shadow in Pink Oyster $22

-Infusium 23 Leave-In Treatment around $7

-Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed $20

-Clarins Multi-Active Early Wrinkle Correction Cream-Gel $55

-Trader Joes Midsummers Night Cream $5

All Benefit Cosmetics Tutorial

Please watch and enjoy my latest video tutorial! 

Its an easy everyday beauty look using all 

Benefit Cosmetics

Please subscribe and comment on my 

you tube channel ! 

                        THANK YOU

                       XOXO 

                       Melody 

Benefit Cosmetics: NEW CHA CHA Tint

CHA CHA TINT

The New Member of the Benefit Tint Family! 

Nothing makes me more excited than a new Benefit product, especially when its a new tint! I have loved the rosey colored  Benetint for years and the pink colored Poisetint is my go-to on a "no makeup" day. So i was sooo excited to get to try the new coral or " mango tinted" CHA CHA tint! And I have to say its my new favorite of the bunch! When you look at the tint product itself it is literally bright orange. So i was kinda scared at first because I hate the color orange. But when i blended it into my cheeks it was the prettiest color of a pinky coral. I am OBSESSED! I recommend this to anyone who wants a pretty just been kissed glow, especially with summer around the corner when tints are essential because they are sweat and waterproof. This product hits counters in June so keep your eyes out! 

Me wearing and posing with my new CHA CHA Tint

"The juiciest flush you can get from a bottle! Our mango-tinted lip and cheek stain smoothes on a whisper of warm tropical sunset hue. It's beauty with a chacha beat! To use: Brush three strokes lightly on the apples of your cheeks and blend with fingertip quickly. Dap on lips and blend. For an extra splash of color, repeat!"

 - Benefit Cosmetics

thank you for reading! 

xoxo

Melody 

HARD CANDY COSMETICS REVIEW!

HARD CANDY 

Cosmetics

I have been looking for an excuse to drive 30 min away to Wal Mart so I could check out HARD CANDY's new cosmetic line thats exclusively sould there. ( i've missed Hard Candy since it left Sephora)  Well turns out last night my best friend was headed to Wal Mart cause she was looking for a solution to help her organize her massive collection of underwear. Annnyywaayyss the whole HC line is totally cute and innovative. The packaging is to die for and most of the products come in vibrant colors. I had never seen a bright baby blue mascara before! Oh and did i mention everything is cheap as hell! I picked up 4 things and spent about 24 bucks. So here is the stuff I picked up! : 

Quick & Easy Cougar Make-up Tutorial

I am excited to present my first make-up tutorial video. Its a quick 3 min video on an easy look for a 40 something hottie or a cougar as they call them these days lol. Its shot a little too far away but bear with me its my first video! hehe Please subscribe on youtube as there will be much more to come!! 

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

XOXO

Melody

MAC: Surf Baby Collection

MAC Surf Baby Collection

MAC's latest limited edition collection Surf Baby launches May 26th and I am super excited about it! I mean I am a California girl who loves a good suntan and going to the beach....now only if I could surf.  This looks like an amazing collection that will put you in the summer swing of things real quick. 

LUSH: Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

 My Recent Visit to LUSH Cosmetics 

So when I was in Vegas and was gambaling at Monte Carlo I saw that they had a mini mall that housed the natural cosmetic store LUSH. I had to check it out cause my friend Katrina has told me it's amazing numerous times. I ended up swooping up some pampering treasures that I've been using for the last week so I could give you the scoop on what I got:

MAC Quite Cute: CONTINUED

MAC Quite Cute: Candy Yum Yum Matte Lipstick

So after my last shopping trip to the MAC counter when I bought the other Quite Cute collection items I couldn't get the hot pink matte lipstick out of my mind. So I went back the next day and swooped it up because its not everyday you see a color like that and plus I was headed for a weekend in Las Vegas and it seemed like the perfect lip color for a Saturday night in the city of sin. Boy was I right! This is hands down my new favorite lipstick. The color was the perfect pop against my bronzed skin and all black smokey eye. And the best part.... it stayed on ALL NIGHT! It lasted me through drinking a yard long cocktail, kissing my man constantly and even through a huge $15 cheeseburger. Im totally impressed. Even if you can't find this color, it is sold out on MAC website and my local counter was out also , you should try MAC's matte lipsticks in general because they are AMAZING. 

( check out those dark circles!ugh thanks Vegas lol) 

XOXO

Melody

MAC Quite Cute Collection

MAC Quite Cute Collection:

What I swooped up! 

 

I ended up buying only two items out of MAC's new Quite Cute collection that came out today but they were the only two things I had any interest in after checking out the collection in person. I don't know what I am suppose to do with a purple or green blush and while the super hot pink Candy Yum Yum lipstick caught my eye I decided to go with a more wearable light bubblegum pink. But the line is worth checking out at your local MAC counter especially if you need something to spice up your makeup routine. 

Amplified Creme Lipstick in Saint Germain: This super creamy and pigmented lipstick is great for a night on the town if you want to have all eyes on you. The "clean pastel pink" color is classically pretty but also attention grabbing at the same time because it's not a color worn everyday. Unless your name is Barbie of course. ( P.S. make sure your lips are smooth or apply some chapstick before lipstick because this lipstick color and consistency accentuates chapped dry lips.) $14.50

Mineralized Blush in Giggly: I can honestly admit to buying this blush simply because there is a heart in the middle of it. I have waaay too many light pink blushes already but that little shimmery plum heart in the middle did add a little extra glisten to my cheek bones that I appreciated. This is a good everyday blush color that has a little extra somthin' somthin' . $23

xoxo Melody 

e.l.f. Studio Brushes: 84006 and 84008

e.l.f. Studio Brushes $3

I came across these brushes at Target and only stopped to feel them because I herd about e.l.f. brushes being impressive on a youtube review video. I couldn't really imagine though that a $3 brush could be all that great but I kid you not these two are pretty much comparable to MAC brushes. The other brushes in the line were not as good such as the powder and blush brushes but these two are definitely worth any make-up mavens 6 bucks.

Umberto Beverly Hills: Dry Shampoo

Umberto Beverly Hills: Dry Clean Dry Shampoo

I am officially obsessed with this dry shampoo. If your anything like me and find that washing and blow drying your hair everyday is not only damaging but time consuming than you need to check this stuff out. I was using the trick of putting baby powder in my second day old hair which was working pretty good at soaking up oil but it makes me hair look white sometimes and I always get it all over my bathroom but Annyywaaaayyyssss I am so happy a girl who went to my beauty school told me about this Umberto Beverly Hills Dry Shampoo. Not only does my hair look clean but I have extra body , workability, and I swear it looks better than when it's clean. Oh and it smells like glazed donuts. Its only $8.99 at Target. Amazing. I'm in love. 

Here is what the can says:

Random Review of the Day: New MAC Cremeblend Blush

MAC has a new cream blush for their permanent line called the Cremeblend Blush. It comes in six colors ranging from bumble gum pink to darker more mauve colors. I asked the MAC girl how these new cream blushes differed from their Cream Colour Bases and she said that the Cremeblend Blushes are alot easier to work with because they are not as pigmented. Which normally would be a bad thing but I have two Cream Colour Bases in Madley Magenta and Movie Star Red and they are so pigmented that sometimes even when I use a little it is too much. I ended up buying the lightest of the new Cremeblends in So Sweet, So Easy and I am very happy with it . It is very workable and leaves me with a natural pretty pink glow! This color may wash out someone with a darker skin tone as it is a very light pink but all you vampires out there like me our gonna love it :) 

MAC's description of product and Colors:  

Benefit Cosmetics: NEW B.right Skincare Line

     I was lucky enough to get to preview three products from Benefits new skin care line b.right: Radiant Skincare. The new line of skin care is available now on Benefit's website and will be at cosmetic counters starting in April. 


(DISCLAIMER: I received the products free and without any additional compensation from Benefit Cosmetics).

The three products I have tested out are as follows with Benefit's product info: 

MAC Quite Cute Collection for Spring 2011

Hello!,

Like a lot of women I am a total sucker for MAC's limited edition make-up collections. Its probably the mix of the custom packaging, the fact that the collections are only available while supplies last, and of course the high quality of MAC products that has me totally hooked. Their Spring collection is a perfect example of this. It is the Quite Cute collection and it is just that. With the adorable Easter egg pastels and the hearts that are baked into the center of the mineralized blushes I am gonna be all over this collection when it comes out! It releases April 7th 2011 in US/Canada and April 20th internationally. I am hoping this is what the Easter bunny fills my basket up with :)

<3

Melody

Statement from MAC:

Foundation of the Gods: Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation SPF 10

    So I don't mean to sound cheesy or anything but I feel like I have found the liquid foundation I have been searching for my whole life! I myself have become a powder foundation type a girl because usually liquid looks/feels to heavy on my skin and gets weird in my lines/creases within an hour of putting it on, not to mention I feel like I can never find that perfect color. Well all that has changed now. I was given a sample from my Clarins lady ( I'm obsessed with their multi-active skin care line ) of this new Skin Illusion foundation in a color she thought would be right for me. I didn't think much about it because I had all but given up on finding a good liquid foundation but I thought 'what the heck' and gave it a try the next morning.
    As I began to blend the silky smooth goodness on to my skin the angels started to sing and my notions of liquid foundations flew out the door. Point blank: this stuff is amazing, it practically melted into my skin in a way that looks so natural but still somehow manages to have amazing coverage. It covered my blemishes and imperfections while still letting my skin breathe and felt light as air. My skin looked flawless and not a wee bit cakey. It also has SPF 10 which is oh so important for protecting our skin to keep it looking young. Oh and did I mention is smells like watermelon! I could go on about this stuff for days, its just simply perfect.

Here is Clarins description of the product:

Welcome Smudgers

Hello I am Melody and this is Smudge : my blog for my constant makeup indulgences and obsessions. I am a cosmetic and skin care junkie who also happens to be a makeup artist and esthetician. But i suppose that would only make sense...

    

                                                               

                           ♥ Melody