new product alert: Covergirl Clean Makeup Remover Wipes

you may or may not be aware that i'm a bit of a sucker  i have a soft spot when it comes to makeup remover wipes. i just really, really like them. i do have my favorites, but am more than likely try new ones, you know...just because...

enter Cover Girl's new Clean Makeup Remover Wipes. i spotted these little towelettes at my local Walgreens, and since i didn't find the beauty item i was looking for {but if i'm being honest, i didn't really need…}, and these are super new, i didn't hesitate. :)

yes, these wipes do what they promise, remove makeup, but like most, no, they still don't take it all off. i love the fact that they have a clean, almost nonexistent smell and that the formula doesn't sting my eyes. the wipes themselves aren't very wet, and if i were rating them, i'd give them a solid b+.

so...there's nothing special here. they're certainly not bad, and i'll continue to use them to start my evening cleansing routine until they're gone {25 wipes come in a pack}. will i repurchase? probably not, though not because i don't like them, but because i think my personal favorite makeup remover wipes work better. 

have you tried the new Cover Girl Clean Makeup Remover Wipes?

i bought this; pic taken by me :)

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Liner Trio

i recently bought a Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Liner Trio {in Nude Eyes}, a fabulous trio of eye liners from Physician's Formula, and i am in love…

i confess, it's been some time since i've bought any PF products {really not sure why…}, and each time i see them i've been able to resist the gorgeous products, including those from the Shimmer Strips range {which include other liner trios as well as eyeshadow palettes}. this combo of liner shades was obviously the end of that.

:)

hypoallergenic, fragrance free, paraben free, gluten free and dermatologist approved, Shimmer Strips eyeliners are safe for sensitive eyes as well as contact lens wearers; and just as the brand claims, these liners offer so many possibilities for creating endless looks to complement and enhance all eye colors.

 from the automatic, retractable-style {perfect for lining the waterline} to the high-pigment formula, it's hard to say why i'm so enamored or why i finally decided to take the plunge and buy.

 maybe it's the colors ~ j'adore bronzy-neutrals for summer!

in any case, i'll definitely be purchasing i've already purchased more gems from this range, and now that the brand has my full attention, some other fab goodies are on my radar…

if you're a fan of Physician's Formula, tell me: what products are your faves and what do you recommend as must-haves? thanks for sharing!

visit physiciansformula.com for more info!

i bought this; pics taken by me :)

beauty on a budget: Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder

 every beauty-loving girl with an oilier skin type wants to keep oil under control, right? as the day goes on, there are many ways, of course to do this, but let's be honest: blotting every hour isn't always available or practical, and adding powder repeatedly can create a not-so-pretty, cakey makeup look.

as usual, i'm late to the party, but i've recently started using the popular Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder and yes…i love it!

i've been using  Neutrogena Shine Control powder, and while i love it {it's truly a most fabulous shine-control powder}, i had a Rimmel coupon, so i decided to take a chance on the Stay Matte powder. i'm happy to report it's been working so well! that's always such a relief when trying a new product, right?

of course, i couldn't keep my thoughts to myself ~ i just had to share. if you use this, i'd love to hear what you think about it!

i chose to purchase Stay Matte in Creamy Beige {though i almost went with Transparent}, making the assumption it would be a more sheer finish since all of the available 7 shades fall in the light to medium range {i was right}. i love that this sets my foundation to a matte finish and keeps it that way a good 4-5 hours {just as it claims to do}; i find that not only is the color sheer and very complementary to my dark skin, but the texture is soft, leaves it looking beautiful, and even after a few hours it helps my skin maintain a pretty, soft, glowy-not-greasy look. i also appreciate that it's so affordable {this Rimmel powder is about half the price of Neutrogena's}, so i'll definitely be buying this, possibly in another shade, again.

find Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder at your favorite drug and mass retailer {target, walgreens, cvs, etc}; be sure to visit their website for more info, follow the brand on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay up-to date on all the latest {including, giveaways, promos and more…}

no affiliate links; i bought the product featured; pics taking be me :)

beauty review: Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky shadow pencil + Master Drama eye liners

  
if you're anything like me, you j'adore wearing a smoky eye but don't always have the time to spend creating it. thankfully, a gorgeous, easy to use product exists to help create that perfect smoked out eye look with hardly any effort ~ if you can line your eyes and smudge that line, you can create it with Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky Longwearing Shadow-Pencils.

i bought two in shades Emerald Fury and Smoldering Violet ~ they are simply gorgeous! i love a smoky eye {in case i haven't expressd it enough…}, and these shadow-pencils make it so simple to do {i think i've also mentioned that, too, right?}. the creamy, highly-pigmented formula applies smoothly and the sponge smudger perfectly blends out the color...

the Master Smoky liners are available in a total of 6 shades, so you can create any look your mood desires. i definitely plan to, as it is famously said, "collect them all". :)

other eye-defining gems from Maybelline that i've been using are the Master Drama liner pencils. two specifically: Midnight Master {black} and Coal Commander {a deep charcoal}, both of which i can't get enough of. i always tightline the top of my eyelids with the black. not only to define and create a look of fuller lashes, but to disguise the inevitable inky marks left after applying my mascara du jour. the coal shade is a fabulous alternative to brown when i want to keep my eye look neutral or don't feel like wearing a colorful eye.

in any case, it's all about Maybelline on my eyes these days... for definition and drama at least.

for now…

because we beauty gals aren't always so faithful to one eyeliner, right??

tell me: what liners are you loving right now?

you cn find these at your local drug and mass retailer {i bought mine at, you guessed it, target.}. visit maybelline.com for more info!

products featured purchased by me; pics taken by me :)

budget beauty: Olay Fresh Effects {S'Wipe Out!} Refreshing Makeup Removal Cloths

when you want to quickly take off your makeup {because it's late or you're seriously tired}, and know how bad it would be to sleep in it, i'd like to suggest you consider the Olay Fresh Effects {S'Wipe Out!} Refreshing Makeup Removal Cloths ~ they've been quite fabulous for me to use in the past few weeks... 

these special pre-moistened cloths help to lift away dirt and makeup and are effective even when it comes to removing tough-to-remove waterproof mascara; infused with Olay's signature moisture and vitamin E complex, i think these wipes do a good job removing most of my makeup. i say most because these don't leave my skin completely clean. i think this has to do with the fact that i typically wear a full face of makeup and my foundation is a long-wearing formula. so...there isn't really a cleansing cloth that is absolutely a one-step cleanser for me.

the way i like to use these wipes is as a "first cleanse" ~ removing my eye makeup and all other products that i've had on my face that day. one cloth aids in taking off  a lot of my makeup, but like i said, it doesn't take it all off. it does help in leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth, though ~ no dryness or tight feeling in the slightest. i love the smell, and of  course, the convenience of it is splendid.

compared to other wipes i currently use and have tried in the past {Neutrogena Makeup Removal Cleansing Towelettes are my favorite from the drugstore; i wrote about them here, way back when…maybe time for an update??!}, these rank very high on my list of makeup removers.

i recommend you try these Olay S'Wipe Out! makeup removal cloths for yourself! they can be found at your local drug and mass retail stores. visit olay.com for more info.

product featured sent to me for review consideration; i was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own; pic taken by me :)

my latest drugstore buys from CoverGirl, NYC, Wet 'n' Wild and more!

i've been quite enamored with the current offerings from drugstore brands these days. suffice it to say, i've had to make quite the effort to keep myself from buying everything i see!

you understand, right?

in any case, over the past couple of weeks i've purchased goodies from Cover Girl {nail polishes}, NYC {lip balms, eye liners}, Wet N Wild {a palette and lip liner}...

ok, you get it...

let's take a look at what i've hauled!

Cover Girl glosstini polishes from the limited edition Capital collection in Pyro Pink, Seared Bronze and Scalding Emerald ~ all so incredibly cute in size and so fabulous in color. these will definitely be worn a lot this season!

NYC Applelicious lip balms have stolen my heart; they're so yummy smelling {Caramel Apple, Apple Blueberry Pie and Apple Blossom}, highly moisturizing and just fun to wear {swoon}. i also picked up 2 eye/brow liners, in dark brown and taupe.

along with a lip liner {Chestnut}, i bought a Wet N Wild Color Icon palette {in the very fitting name, Comfort Zone}, an amazingly convenient collection of easy-to-wear, highly pigmented shades; they're already labeled for where-to-apply-in-case-you're-not-sure, which is perfect for young users {like my daughter, 13} or the makeup novice, but still work well enough for the more-than-experienced-beauty-gal who wants to add quality shadows to her collection without breaking the bank.

housed in sleek little compacts are the e.l.f. contouring blush & bronzing powder. i seriously don't know what rock i've been living under, but i just discovered them ~ they're amazing! the three i bought {Turks and Caicaos, Antigua and St. Lucia} are beyond fabulous, not to mention so affordable. for the price, you get two cheek-enhancing shades that will help create gorgeous makeup looks to take you from day to night...

 the brand i held out on simply because of my personal store snobbery is Flower Beauty. i'm a huge Drew Barrymore fan, so learning that she had created a beauty line was fantastic, exciting news to me. but, i confess, it's because it's sold exclusively at Walmart that i stayed away for as long as i did {i'm not going to lie, i'm not a fan}. it was all the positive buzz that finally changed my mind. i had to {had to!!} try the products for out myself. i decided on the Stick Foundation {shade SF7}, Lip Butter {Princess and the Peony} and On Your Mark Liquid Eye Liner {LL1 black}. the consequence for my caving in? i'm now a fan {!!!} and there are still other products in the range i want to try {nail polishes, blushes, eyeshadows, etc}. so now not only will i have to go back when i run out of those things {insert whiny voice here}, i'll have to go back to get the other things i want...oh, beauty girl problems.

you can find all these beauties at your local drug and mass retailers. so, what have you hauled recently? share in the comments!

i purchased all products featured; pics taken by me :)

my beauty faves...

i share many products that i enjoy and grow to love with you here in BGM. and while i have nothing against this {that's the point of keeping this blog after all}, i've realized that the majority of the recent product reviews have been that of products sent to me by the brands.

one thing i don't want is for you to think is that i never buy anything {so not the case}! i buy many products. in fact, now that my daughter is 13 {and quite the budding makeup and hair aficionado if i do say so myself}, i've discovered and purchased items i wouldn't normally consider {so fun!}. i've also enjoyed introducing her to my classic must-haves.

unfortunately, when it comes to reviews, it's those products that always seem to get put on the back burner! so, i'm making it my goal to share my thoughts about those goodies more often...

:)

all of this is to say, i'm here today to share my love for the products i use every day.

my must-haves.

my i'd-be-devastated-if-they-stopped-making-this items...
you have those, right? of course you do! well...these are mine.

take a look...

St Ives Naturally Indulgent Lotion ~ Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract
a simply splendid lotion; from the smell to the fact that it leaves my skin moisturized beautifully without feeling heavy or sticky, i used this beauty year round.


Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil ~ Soft Brown
i visited the brow salon years ago and was introduced to the range of fabulous products. from tweezers to an amazing brow gel, i love this line. the pencil, however is one i grab most often since it's so easy and the color is perfect. for a natural everyday look it's a great shade for everyone, regardless of hair color.

MAC lip pencil ~ Spice
a makeup bag must-have for many beauty girls, i'm sure. this neutral lip liner is fabulous because it works with any shade of lipstick you want to wear, and is even fine to wear on its own.

MAC Pressed Blot Powder ~ Dark
love, love, love this powder! it's great as a foundation setter, but is at its best when it does its main job ~ combating shine without adding additional color.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup ~ 5W1 Bronze
i don't know how to describe my absolute love for this foundation. it will always be the one i go back to. it covers every imperfection, flaw and discoloration with ease, leaving my skin with an amazing finish and it feels like i'm wearing nothing at all.


L'Oreal True Match Blush ~ Apricot Kiss
i've been using this amazing peachy-pink shade for years and i haven't grown tired of it it the least. it has just the right amount of shimmer to always gives me a fresh glow and makes me feel so pretty.


Neutrogena Gentle One Step Makeup Cleanser
sensational for removing makeup {even long-wearing products} and is so gentle. no stinging to my eyes and a little goes a long way.

Neutrogena Gentle Makeup Remover Towelettes
i love how effective these towelettes are at taking off my makeup. like the cleanser i've never experienced irritation or eye sting from these.


tell me: what are your go-to, must-haves-no-matter-what-new-product-comes-along products? 

pics taken by me :)

beauty on a budget: wet n wild nail polishes

with a wide variety of colors and fabulous, wallet-friendly prices, wet n wild nail polishes are ideal for staying on trend, showing off your personal style, and keeping within your beauty budget ~ i don't know about you, but i definitely appreciate this!

i was given the opportunity to try some of the formulas {three to be exact, Mega Last, High Shine and Fast Dry} and am so impressed at the quality and wear of each variation! they all apply beautifully, come in gorgeous shades, and {i have to mention again} are so affordable. really, there's no reason to keep yourself from buying one {or 4 or 5} on your next shopping trip if that's your beauty-loving heart wants...*wink*

let's take a look at just a few of the polishes...

the Fast Dry shades don't dry as quickly as i would've liked, but are definitely faster than the others {shades shown above: Ebony Hates Chris & Teal of Fortune}

Wild Shine offers a wide range of fun colors and finishes {shown above and in another pic, below, in Dreamy Poppy}.

Mega Last polishes boast a wide, full coverage brush and are fortified with calcium and minerals; shades shown: Haze of Love {top left},  I Red a Good Book {bottom left} and Under Your Spell {bottom right}

 using Dreamy Poppy and another Mega Last shade {seen above on my pinky}, Wet Cement, this is a fun gradient design i did for week 4 of my busy girl nails challenge.

you can find these and many other wet n wild polishes at your favorite drug and mass retailers; visit wnwbeauty.com for more info or to buy {via drugstore.com}.

tell me: have you tried wet n wild polishes? leave your response in the comments! 

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

won't make brown eyes blue: L'Oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator Eyeliner

the beauty industry always has little gimmicks they like to throw out at us, the consumer, to pique our interest and hook us into their "newest" idea; in this case, i'm referring to the whole "only these colors enhance these eye colors" talk...

yada-yada...

it's all well and good, but let's face it-- it's not completely true. so much so, that i rebel when it comes to the only-stick-to-these-colors-if-your-eyes-are-this-color philosophy. yes, green and brown eyes look fabulous when wearing shades of amethyst and purples, while blue and grey eyes look remarkable when wearing shades of mauve and coppers, but skin tone and hair color also should play a role in choosing makeup colors.

but i digress...

so i bought L'Oreal's Double Extend Eye Illuminator Eyeliner color enhancing duo liner in Black Sapphire, intended for blue eyes.

and i love it.

though my skin tone is cappuccino and my eyes are definitely espresso {clearly, i have coffee on the brain}, this liner's shade is a fabulous compliment to them.

the lesson, in my opinion? have fun and experiment with your makeup; ignore what the brand says you should wear-- if you want to try the liner/shadow/palette for green eyes and yours are blue/brown/hazel, go for it. chances are, you'll find it stunning. if not, always know that you can wash it away if it doesn't work out. :)

pics taken my me :)

drugstore beauty: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray

i love shine sprays over the type of serums that have to be poured into my hand. this fabulous one, Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray from Garnier Fructis, has become my must-have, not only because it give s my hair serious luster, but because it also nourishes my tresses with 3 highly moisturizing oils-- avocado, shea and olive.

this dual formula is activated after being shaken and can then be sprayed on anytime your hair needs some pampering (wet or dry). it leaves it looking (and feeling) silky soft and has a yummy smell.



this is my second bottle, and as you can see, i am almost out! time to head to Target...

visit garnier.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

Revlon ColorStay Sophisticated Grays Eye Collection

happy monday, beauties! hope you enjoyed a fabulous holiday weekend. did you get any yummy makeup and beauty goodies?

i received a few gems, but the one shadow palette i have been using a lot these days comes by way of a trip to Target i took a few weeks ago.



this Revlon ColorStay Eyeshadow Quad in Sterling Rose came with a ColorStay Eyeliner and was packaged as the Sophisticated Grays Collection. i was drawn to the classic shades because they're perfect for this season and beyond. three of the shades are pretty light, and all of the shades have a sheen to them, but i love mixing and matching the colors-- day to night looks are effortless!



i'm a huge fan of Revlon ColorStay eyeshadows and these didn't disappoint. the pigments of each shadow are good with fab blendability and wear. each color is classic and will easily transition into spring. the liner is mechanical (perfect for waterline application), and stays put all day!

Revlon is available at your favorite drug and mass retailers. be sure to visit revlon.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

beauty on a budget: Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm

lipstains are the hottest thing in the lippie world right now and for good reason. they leave lips perfectly flushed with color and last a lot longer. the only issue is that you have to apply some sort of gloss or balm over them to give lips moisture and shine.



to the joy of lips and lipstain lovers, Revlon has included a balm with their new lipstain, cleverly named, Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm.

i chose to purchase Just Bitten in Forbidden, a pretty coral shade that gives my lips just enough color to keep them looking natural, but can be layered to punch it up a notch.



the felt tip is the same as CoverGirl's Lipstain and lasts just as long on my lips, but the balm that comes with Revlon's version has me hooked (and i can't help but appreciate that they included vitamin C in it for anti-oxidant protection). it moisturizes and leaves lips with a soft shine (if you want a super-shiny, glossy look, just apply your fave gloss over it). while my experience with the balm has been positive, and hasn't happened to me, i have read and talked to a friend via Twitter that it breaks of after a few uses, so be careful!

Just Bitten comes in 10 shades and can be found at your favorite drug and mass retailer. visit revlon.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: Pantene Curl Enhancing Spray Gel

during the summer, i was given the opportunity to try Pantene's Curl Enhancing Spray Gel. i decided it was the perfect time to do something i hadn't done in some time: wear my hair curly!


Pantene Spray Gel + air dry time = my naturally curly-haired self. :)

while i have no issue heat-styling my hair during the summer months, i thought that going back to my method of giving my hair a break-- like i used to do as a teen-- wouldn't hurt me (it always helped my hair stay healthier!).



i love that this comes in spray form, making application so easy. the formula also smells good and never left my hair feeling "crunchy".


i look like i'm 15 again (well, ok, not really), LOL!

give your curls a treat and try find Pantene's Curl Enhancing Spray Gel. you can find it at your favorite drug and mass retailer. visit pantene.com for more info.

xo
product featured sent to me by the brand's PR for review consideration.

beauty in a budget: Olay Total Effects Cream Cleanser + Blemish Control

keeping blemishes at bay as i get older isn't always easy since many different things can trigger a blemish to appear. i also have to keep in mind that my skin isn't the same as it was even a year ago, so i have to look for products that cater to that reality as well.

ugh...

Olay, thankfully, makes keeping my skin looking radiant and clear a bit easier with their fabulous Total Effects Cream Cleanser + Blemish Control cleanser. i discovered and bought my first tube a few months ago and can't get enough.

this cleanser contains micro-beads, providing skin with gentle exfoliation (perfect to use daily) and salicylic acid to treat (and prevent) acne. i love that it's cream-based (typical foaming formulas can over-dry even the oiliest skin), and the anti-aging benefits-- exfoliation, enhanced tone, added moisture, pore and skin texture refinement, and minimization of fine lines-- are the added bonus in my beauty book.

if you're looking for an anti-aging cleanser that will also keep you skin clear, i recommend you try this one! find it at your local drug and mass retailers. visit olay.com for more info.

xo
pic taken by me :)

Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara

one mascara that had me (and many other beauty fanatics) in a frenzy over the summer was Maybelline's new Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara.

have you tried it yet?

if your answer is no, um...why not??!


this mascara has a keratin fiber formula that gives lashes more oomph and the cool "spoon" wand makes getting every lash coated super easy.


clearly the name itself is enough to draw in a mascara junkie like myself, but it's the results that have kept me on the Falsies bandwagon. in my opinion, this is almost the drugstore equivalent of Lancome's Hypnose Drama-- my absolute favorite high-end mascara-- and if the pics don't convince you to try it for yourself, i don't know what will...


before


after

you can find Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara at my favorite mass retailer, Target (where i purchased it). visit maybelline.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)