Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Roller Before & After

The Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Roller has been hyped up a lot lately and for a little under $14 (can be found in most drugstores or online), I wasn't willing to give up that money for a product that seemed a little bit gimmicky.  But, my CVS had $10 off of $20 for Garnier skincare, so I picked up the roller ball with the sheer tint.

Eye Before:

This picture was shortly after waking up after not getting as much sleep as I should.  My face is washed, I do not have on concealer or foundation. And yes, I do have some freckles now that it's summer :)

Eye Immediately After:

Eye After 5-minutes (Added eyeshadow & mascara):

The eye roller claims to instantly brighten and correct dark circles as well as energize and simulate microcirculation in the eye area. There are two formulas for this product, the original transparent one and the sheer tint one that claims to fit most skin tones

This is the close up of the color, but it really does blend in well to the skin.  And the roller ball feels smooth and almost therapeutic.

I would most likely still top this with a concealer as I don't think the product gives the coverage that I need (although it did cover some of the discoloration around my eye), but I do feel like it brightened the eye area, more so in the inner corner. I would use it alone for a minimal make up look, like maybe if I were wearing only tinted moisturizer, but in my daily work day, I'd go for the concealer on top. 

The box says to reapply throughout the day and the tube is portable, but it's not something I want to have added to my bag.  I'd rather buy a good concealer to top it with, set the concealer and be set for a few hours.  I'll keep trying it to see if I notice any other changes.  It does tingle slightly at first, but nothing more than like a lip plumper.

Eve Pearl Sale 40-55% Off

Hi beauty lovers,
Just a quick post to let you all know that Eve Pearl is having a Memorial day sale that is 40-55% off full priced items.  Check out the website for goodies.

I purchased at the Black Friday sale and have tried the HD pressed powder, HD Dual foundation (cream foundation), Eye palette in Au Natural, 2 lipsticks (Nude Beach and Blush -- Blush being my favorite), and of course the cult fav Salmon Concealer.  I can honestly say I've loved each product. I've also bought the foundation brush, but I don't consider that a must-have.  It's nice if you don't have a foundation brush, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it.

Discount Code: BP52911
*Ends Tuesday night at 11:59PM

I normally just post this on my twitter (MakeUpChicBlog), but I wanted to do a quick post here as well as it's  great offer.

CVS (Drugstore) 75% Off Haul (Going on now!)

You know you're excited about your purchases when the minute you get home, you start taking pictures for your blog. Anyone else do that?

Anyway, CVS (stores in the US, not online) is having it's 50-75% off mark-down again.  Please remember not all stores are putting out the stickers, so try scanning some items to see if it comes down. Not all shades with foundation/concealers are on sale, so unfortunately, you may not be able to get a match (but if you are looking for something to mix with another foundation, it may work).

1. Almay Dial-Up Mascara in 020 Black Noir (w/ free automatic eyeliner) Reg $8.49. Sale $2.12
2. Rimmel Glam'Eyes in Spicey Bronze. Reg. $4.39. Sale $1.09
3. Rimmel Glam'Eyes Lash Flirt Mascara in 003 Kohl Black. Reg. $8.39. Sale $2.09
4. Rimmel Waterproof LASH MAXXX in 001 Black Noir. Reg. $9.39. Sale $2.35
5. Rimmel Stay Matte + SkinPure Complex in 103 True Ivory. Reg. $6.99. Sale $1.75
6. Revlon Age Defying Spa Foundation inh 003 Light. Reg $14.29. Sale $3.57

Recommendations: I haven't tried any of the mascaras, but I have bought the Rimmel Stay Matte foundation before and I like it alot.  I wear it to work a lot set with my MAC MSF Natural. And for under $2, if you have been wanting to try it, I'd say give it a shot.  At my CVS all the shades were on sale.

I've already swatched the eyeshadow and it seems very soft and powdery.  Expecting some fall-out with this one, but the pigmentation is great.

in the sunlight, it's more glittery:

But if you are not going to be in much sun, it's more of a shimmer, so it's not over-the-top glittery

I think Spicy Bronze will be a great summer shade to get that bronzed goddess look.

I'll be reviewing the mascaras and the Revlon foundation as I try them out.

MAC Surf, Baby! Haul

MAC collections generally come out in stores on Thursdays, but this time it came out on Wednesday at certain MAC stores (not the counters).  I dropped into MAC on my lunch break and given it's a small store, it was packed, so I went past all the girls looking to swatch and try on makeup and headed to the register.  For collections, I pre-shop.  Here's what I picked up...

I picked up the Eyeshadow in Swell Baby (mid-tone gray, satin finish - $15.50), My Paradise Cheek Powder ($28), and Hibiscus Cremesheen Lipstick ($15.50).  Prices are a dollar more b/c of limited edition packaging.  I'm actually not a huge fan of the packaging.  The boxes are cute, but the white-ish gold containers aren't my thing.

Most likely to sell out: My Paradise Cheek powder. It has the gold over-spray similar to Marine Life last year (any MAC fan will remember that fiasco).  The powder is buildable to your desired liking.  But it looks so pretty I don't want to touch it!

Another that is likely to sell out quick: Hibiscus Lipstick.  MAC describes it as a bright orange coral, but I definitely get some red vibes as well from this (picture is probably showing it a bit darker than it is...stupid palm pre).  This is a limited edition color (but we all know MAC loves a good repromote).

Overall, I got what I wanted from the collection.  I always pass on the polishes b/c I'm not much of a nail polish person, especially at that price.  The lipglasses are fairly dupe-able and the bronzers didn't seem to want to be friends with my skintone.

Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System Review

By now, most of us are familiar with the Clarisonic...and at $140 for the Mia, most of us cannot afford it.  Introducing, the Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System!

This retails for $29.99 (but if you are ordering online, look around for coupons b/c I got mine at 20% off).  I know people have said this sells out quickly in stores, but online, you can probably get it a bit cheaper with coupons.

What you get in the box: the cleaning system (complete with on/off button and two-speed button), brush head, Exfoliating Cleanser (less than an oz), and a battery (it is battery operated, which I love that I can keep it near my shower and not have to charge it).

The refill brush heads retail for about $9.99 when you need to replace it...I have no idea how often you would replace it.  I was guessing similar to the time you would replace a loofah.

I cannot compare this to the clarisonic as I can't see spending that money, but I'm loving this product!  The first time I used it, my skin felt unbelievably smooth (and I was a skeptic of this).  I've never had smoother skin...ever.

I have dry skin and somewhat sensitive, so I use this every other day or everyday if it's a day I work out and have more sweat and oil.  The first night I used it, I thought it was a bit harsh, but you definitely get used to the cleaner and it's not pulling at your skin.

Also, make sure to have all your hair back!  Nothing was less fun than my hair getting caught in the twirling brush head when it slipped from my pony tail.

FAQ's:
Can you use this with other cleansers? Yes! You can use any cleanser, but I recommend an exfoliater for the days you want to deep clean.
I have sensitive skin, will this work?  It depends on the degree of sensitivity.  My skin got a bit red the first time I used it, but it doesn't anymore, and it feels almost therapeutic
Do you like the cleanser?  The cleanser I didn't have a strong love or hate.  It's alright.  I didn't sense miracle results because of the cleanser, so I'm sticking to my own.  I will use up the tube, but I won't repurchase it.
How long have you tested it? 3.5 weeks so far
Would you buy the Clarisonic? After using this, no.  I've thought about it in the past, but if you are like me and skeptical of handing over $150, try this one to see if you even like the concept of the product.
Where do I find it? Drugstores, Ulta, Wal-mart, Targets, etc. You can also try the online websites or buy from ebay or amazon, but those sites are over-pricing it right now due to a sell-out in many stores.  But I haven't had any problem finding it in stock online.  Just look where ever Olay is sold.

Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow 030 Incognito Swatches & Short Review

I have never owned a Dior eyeshadow or anything Dior.  But I swatched the Incognito 5 Colour palette at Sephora and I was in love.  It retails for $58, so I held off because, well, it's $58.

I just got updated to VIB status again and received a 10% off coupon and ebates was running 12% back, so I snatched up this little beauty at $45.94.

Yes, it's still pricey, but you get .21 oz. A MAC eyeshadow is .05 oz for 14.50.  If you buy 4 of them to get .2 oz, you spent $58. So really, the cost balances out.  If you are normally spending that amount on MAC eyeshadows, the Dior palettes are essentially the same cost plus you get .01 more and a compact with a full mirror.

One thing I will say, the actual product is a bit darker than it shows on the Sephora website, so I recommend swatching in the store if you can.  I would pick a palette where you love all the colors, which is why I chose the neutral palette.  The colors they consider matte, I would say have a bit more of a satiny finish.  The beige in the top left and peach in the center are the mattes.  The ivory is a golden pearl and the two bottom shades are shimmers.

The colors are very pigmented and blend amazingly.  I put them over MAC's painterly paint pot and I didn't have to touch up even going from working a 9 hour day to happy hour to dinner with friends.  They stayed the whole time.

These shades also lend well to layering.  My absolute favorite is the taupe color.  It's gorgeous.  Not to mention the packaging is chic and holds up well being tossed in a handbag.  I could easily see this becoming a palette I travel with.  The palettes also come with a tutorial fold-out written in multiple languages for tips on color combinations.

Rating: 4.75 (out of 5).  It's that amazing.  I have no complaints on this palette.  The only downside is the cost, but like I said, if you are buying a ton of MAC shadows...it's the same cost.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in 23L

I have an extreme fear of running out of MAC's I Get No Kick Eyeliner.  It's a beautiful champagne color, limited edition, and I only bought one.  I love it for the waterline to open my eyes or even smudged into the lash line for a subtle pop.

I've been on a quest since then to find the perfect champagne eyeliner, leading me to:

MUFE Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in 23L.  Retails for $18 at Sephora (I had a 10% off VIB renewal coupon + 12% off with Ebates).

The color is described as a metallic pink champagne.  I think it's more on the champagne than the pink side, but the color is gorgeous and I think this one will look great on all skin tones.

Overall, I think it's very similar to MAC's I Get No Kick.  I probably would have continued buying that one had it not been LE because it is more cost effective at $14.50 and for waterline use, I felt like these two were very comparable for staying power.  I usually touch up once mid-day and I'm set. The MUFE pencil does however have a waterproof formula, so it may hold up a bit more during those hot summer months.  I'll have to test this out more.

Overall Rating: 4.5 - I'd repurchase again and again...and again.  But I still am holding on to my MAC pencil.

Let me know if any of you have found a similar liner on the market.

Stila made a naked palette...?

Here's a glimpse at Stila's latest palette (available for purchase through e-mail to subscribers to Stila first).  Retails for $39 and includes 10 neutral shadows and a smudge stick.  It seems like the set includes some permanent shades and some new.  Of course, cult favorite Kitten is included. (These are not full size shadows)

• Bare - matte ivory shade
• Kitten - frosty pinky color
• Bliss - matte beige pink
• Sunset - shimmery canyon pink
• Sandstone - matte light coco
• Champagne - shimmery pale gold
• Gilded Gold - golden brown with shimmer
• Luster - dark aubergine with gold shimmer
• Night Sky - blue with shimmer
• Ebony - black
• Smudge Stick in Damsel (matte brown) - full size

So, aside from the pinky shades, there color choices are similar to UD Naked palette with Night Sky similar to Gunmetal and Ebony similar to Creep.  While the finishes of the shadows are not dead on, the color choices are incredibly similar.

For the most part, I think many other brands trying to ride on the wave with Naked are a bit late.  Most sites have it restocked by now and it's easier to get your hands on.

After purchasing Naked, I can't say I have any desire to purchase the Stila one especially because I own 2 of the colors already (and I'm not a Kitten eyeshadow fan...sorry!).  So, sorry, Stila, you're just too late!

NYX 12-Hour Sale Fail

I grabbed my coffee and logged on to facebook, already seeing fans swarming NYX's fanpage with excitement over the 12-year anniversary sale where select items were $1.20.  Twitter was also abuzz with shopping excitement (my sale announcements are usually on Twitter under MakeUpChicBlog if you are interested).

3:00 EST, I'm ready to go! But wait...where is the page?  I just have a white screen.  Refresh. Nothing. Refresh. Nothing. REFRESH. REFRESH. REFRESH.

No one could get on to buy anything.  Servers were crashing and the NYX team promised they were working on it.  After hour 3, that cup of coffee became a glass of wine and I must say, I had a bit of fun reading comments from other makeup fans (and posting a few of my own).

Now, 19 hours past the "12 hour sale" time and I still have bought nothing. The page is still crashing for most of us, which has made for some very angry NYX fans.  I've never had this much trouble shopping online.  I know people have mentioned trouble shopping MAC coveted collection sales, but I have never had a problem getting my hands on the products.

In the end, NYX has announced a 50% off coupon that they will be announcing. 

I'll admit, I was up to 10:30 PM EST trying to log in.  About every hour I checked to see if anything was happening. 

I do think NYX needs to get a grasp on it's technology and that they weren't prepared for the amount of users hoarding their site, but there are shoppers that spent hours trying to access the site, only to end up angry and put off.

Honestly, I would never say this makes me want to boycott a brand.  Do I think NYX was unprepared? Absofreakinglutely.  Hopefully it was a learning experience for them and next time, they will be better prepared.  But right now, I think the brand has some CYA to do with some very upset ladies who just need a jumbo eye shadow pencil!

Ironically, all the time I spent waiting....I realized that I don't even use half the NYX products I own.  However, I will admit the products I was waiting for were the blushes (creme or powder) and the eyeshadow trios.  If you waited for this sale, post below how long you waited and what products you were dying to get your hands on.

Dupe for Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara with Too Faced Pinpoint and Loreal Telescopic

Clinique bottom lash mascara is everywhere now.  The small brush is perfect for getting those tiny bottom lashes, but the cost is $10 for .07 oz which is fairly expensive for how little product you'll get.  While you won't use it that often if it is only for the bottom lashes, here are some better values

Too Faced Pinpoint Lash Injection is a great alternative.  It's priced at the same $10, but you get .13 oz (it's the travel size).  The brush is still small, however, if you don't want to travel with 2 mascaras, you can also use it on the top lashes.

The smaller brush makes it easier to get the smaller lashes.

Twice as much product as the Clinique brand with awesome staying power.

Loreal Telescopic is another great substitute.  You may need some practice with the "spikey ball" applicator, but after a few tries, it is easy to control and even better costs under $10 at the drugstore for .27 oz. And you can most likely get it on sale or with a coupon. Bonus: you can also use it on top lashes and get into corners.

Bottom lashes with pinpoint lash injection.

Overall, I like the idea of Clinique's bottom lash, but for the cost, I feel that you can find other substitutes that work just as well.  Also, for me, I'm not generally wearing mascara on my bottom lashes at my day job, so I can't justify the cost, so I would rather use that extra money towards a high end foundation or eye shadow.

No Extra Tools Challenge! Using Wet & Wild ColorIcon Lust Palette

So, I'm sure this is already a tag either in the blogging community or youtube, but I wanted to try doing an eye look using only the tools that the sets came with our just my fingers.  I chose the Lust palette by W&W mostly b/c it has a sponge tip applicator and a "brush".  Normally, I know alot of people just toss these, but if you are stuck in a pinch, they can work well enough to get the job done.

I used MAC's paint pot in Vintage Selection (applied with finger) and Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara.

Next, I used the light pink shade (meant to be the highlight) all over the lid with the sponge tip applicator.  Then, I took the small "brush" and used the deep purple shade in the crease.

Highlight for the inner corner is from the Revlon 12-hour Palette In the Buff, applied with finger.

Overall, you can work the brushes provided, but I noticed that when I tried to "touch-up" before photos, the fall out from the shadow is greater, so I recommend making sure the shadow is how you like it and then applying mascara b/c my highlight shades fell to the inner corner of my lashes.

I can deal with having to use the sponge tip for an all over the eye  color, but for the outer v and crease, I miss my real brushes!

Michael Todd Purple Eye Shadow Well Palette Review & Swatches

As I've said in my Michael Todd Creme Glace review, I'm loving Michael Todd lately! Minus that whole can't purchase in stores thing...Anyway, I picked up the purple well palette off of Hautelook for about $25 (these retail for $48 on the MT site and you can customize your 3 shades for the platte).  The palette is purple, comes with a full size mirror and shade "squares" that you can pop out.

One of the best features is that you can see the shadow names through the back without ever opening the case.  It's also helpful if you decide to change up the order of your shadows or switch palettes.  These only come in 3 and 6 pan sizes. You can also put blushes in of the same size, so if you were traveling, the 6 pan palette is great b/c you can get a lot of products in one.

Left to Right: Yummy Mummy (lavender Frost), Deep Heather (Matte), and Lady Luck (deep wine Frost)

The shadows have good pigmentation, especially Lady Luck.  In the photo, I do have a primer on my arm b/c Yummy Mummy was too light to show on my camera.  A little bit of fall out with the Yummy Mummy shade as well.  No problems with the others.

Here's a look at the palette without the shadows popped in.  Mine is the 3 hole palette (it may look like 6, but it's the mirror reflection).  It also has room for a travel brush.  Hautelook did not supply the brush, but the MT site does give you one.

Back of the palette.  This palette is very sleek and shiney (hence the huge glare).  One thing I dislike is that the labeling is off.  While it doesn't distract from the product, I like labels to be straight and orderly and Lady Luck is angled...which is really distracting me now!

Final Grade (1-5): 4.  I would repurchase the palette.  I love the Deep Heather shade and it's great in the crease.  However, again, the online swatches on the MT site are not great.  Yummy Mummy online I feel looks more pigmented than it actually is.  I recommend looking for swatches before ordering unless you are a huge fan of a group of colors.  You could end up with something that you don't love. 

NARS Brousse Eyeshadow Duo: Trial and Error Review

I used the Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer as a base...which may have been my first mistake and then applied the deep brown color all over the lid and put the purple shade in the crease (Nars calls it a black violet...I say it's a deep plum).  There was some fall out from the purple, but that could have been that I was using my crease air brush. Rest of the eye is in the buff Revlon pallette for the corner and UD Sky Scraper Mascara.

Just ignore that spot on my left eye that I smeared the shadow off on.  Don't worry, I fixed it before going out.

After about 3 hours of wear and being outside in the hot sun, the eyeshadow started to slide off a bit...I normally don't use the Kat Von D primer, so I'm going to try UDPP or a paint pot from MAC to see if it works a bit better.
Overall, I'm not that impressed by the NARS eyeshadow duo more in part b/c I'm factoring in the $34 price tag.  I'll certainly continue to use the shadows, but I'm not sure how soon I'd purchase another.  I think I have to play around with other primers first.