It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In

[ Image Credit]

So I'm on a journey towards, healthier, stronger hair. My hair is pretty long and I will be donating it this year to Locks of Love. I'm in desperate need for a cut and hopefully I can get that done soon. I want my hair to be in top shape when I donate it so I've been easing off on applying heat to it. I also apply a L'Oreal's Overnight Repair Treatment about once a week and always prep my hair with It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In spray.

Here are the 10 Things it Does:

1. Repairs dry damaged hair.

2. Adds shine.

3. Smoothes & controls frizz.

4. Seals & protects hair color.

5. Flat iron spray & thermal protector.

6. Detangles.

7. Stops hair breakage.

8. Creates silkiness.

9. Enhances natural body.

10. Prevents split ends.

How To Use:

Shampoo and condition hair, towel dry, spray product all over hair and comb through. Blow dry or style as desired.

[itsa10haircare.com]

I usually let it sit in my hair for about a minute and then carefully comb through it to evenly spread the product without damaging my hair too much.

To smooth your hair, the company recommends to spray the product on your hand a couple of times and then run it through your hair. (I have yet to try that since I always lightly use hair spray for smoothing/hold.)

I saw immediate results and was convinced that this was really a miracle product! I wasn't sure how I felt about the smell at first, but once it dries it leaves your hair smelling really clean (I've been using it with Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner). You can purchase It's A 10 products at Sally Beauty Supply and Ulta.

I've been using it for well over two months now and will continue using it as long as it's made.

E.L.F. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette

There was a lot of buzz going around about this palette and the 32-piece palette, but since the 100-piece was only $5 more, I decided to go with it. I've had this palette for about a month already and I honestly haven't reached for it as much as I thought I would.

Since these eyeshadows are part of their studio line, I thought they were a little different than the ones from their BEAUTYBOOKS (click here for review). The BEAUTYBOOKS were nice and pretty pigmented when swatched, but when applied to the lid, they lost a lot of pigmentation. It may be because you get a lot of fallout, so you definitely want to use a good primer & base. Unfortunately, the eyeshadows in this palette are the same.

The colors range from neutrals to brights and their finishes from mattes to frosts.

*SWATCH PICTURES COMING SOON! (They were accidentally deleted before they were transferred).

FINAL THOUGHT: Like the BEAUTYBOOKS, I don't think this is a must have palette, but it is a good buy for anyone that is starting off with makeup or if you just want to play around with certain shades before you invest in one that is higher end. I still prefer my Coastal Scents palettes to this one--yes you only get 88 eyeshadows, they are smaller and more expensive, but I think the quality is much better!

Love At First Swipe ♥ Sigma F80 Brush

There was a lot of buzz going around this year about Sigma's F80 brush so I decided to get it a few months back. O-M-G. I'm so glad I did. This brush is heaven-sent!
It's a flat top synthetic kabuki brush with soft but dense bristles. The density of the brush really helps you get the most out of your product since the (liquid) foundation doesn't sink through the bristles and it allows for easy and even application.

The most I'll use the brush before washing it is twice, so I've washed it plenty of times already and it has not shed. I haven't experienced any streaking with this brush, which is pretty much a miracle when it comes to foundation brushes because I usually have to buff it out with a sponge. This brush buffs out your application and leaves a flawless, air brushed finish.

This is definitely a MUST HAVE and should be added to your collection pron-to!

I'm very happy with this company. I love that their brushes are so affordable and well made.

You can purchase yours at www.sigmabeauty.com
[DON'T FORGET YOU'LL GET A FREE GIFT WHEN YOU SPEND $30!]

What are your favorite Sigma brushes? I'm going to add more to my collection soon. (:

Back to School: E.L.F. BEAUTYBOOKS

...and another E.L.F. post. Sometime last week I went to Target in search of a new makeup bag and some travel brushes. As I was cruising down the makeup section I was surprised to run into these E.L.F. palettes! That Target stopped carrying E.L.F. a few months back so I didn't expect to find these.

I've never tried any of the E.L.F. eyeshadows, but for $5 each I thought they were worth a shot...and that's where I get in trouble with E.L.F.: everything is so affordable, that I don't feel as guilty as I should when I splurge on their products.

Anyway-there were three palettes available: Eye Brights Edition, Neutral Eye Edition & Smoky Eye Edition. Being the sucker that I am for neutrals, I got the Neutral Eye Edition and the Smoky Eye Edition of course.

I must say that I am really impressed with the pigmentation of these eyeshadows. For $5, I think that these are great for beginners or anyone that just wants to play around with some new shades because you don't have to break the bank and it comes with a guide inside the "notebook" that tells you more or less how to apply the shadows.

These palettes are being compared to a few of the Urban Decay palettes. I do agree that in terms of color there are several dupes, but as far as the actual shadows are concerned, the ones from E.L.F. are powdery and can cause a lot of fallout. The staying power is OKAY, but you definitely need a primer.

Overall I think that they are a nice addition to any makeup collection, but are definitely not a must-have (in my opinion). I would rather pay a little more and buy a NYX palette.

Below are a few pictures of the palettes. (CLICK TO ENLARGE.)

Neutral Eye Edition

Included is an eyeliner in COFFEE and a sponge tip applicator.
Smoky Eye Edition

Included is an eyeliner in BLACK and a sponge tip applicator.
Here are just some random swatches from both palettes (w/o a primer/base):
-♥ Ariana

HAUL: E.L.F.

A few weeks ago E.L.F. had a 60% Off a $25/+ Purchase. Since a lot of their products are only a dollar or just a little more, I thought this was a good opportunity to buy and try out a few things I've never used before. Here is what I got:
BlushPeachy Keen, Gotta Glow, Blushing Rose.
I've only used Peachy Keen and Gotta Glow. I would only use Peachy Keen again if I were doing my makeup for a night out (it has quite a bit of shimmer in it and I hate shimmer blushes, bronzers, etc.)...even though Gotta Glow is also a shimmery, if you use just a small amount, it works well for a beautiful highlight!
Studio BrushesBlush Brush: This brush is pretty flat so I prefer to use it as a highlight brush for my face. It's the perfect size and so far I love it.
Complexion Brush: This brush is also pretty flat and it may be because of the packaging (I haven't washed it yet). It's good for setting concealer/foundation.
Nourishing Cuticle PenI haven't used this much but I did see results right away. It really moisturizes your cuticles well and gets rid of flakey bits.
Nail PolishesNude, Champagne, Mod Mauve
Desert Haze, Smoky Brown, Chocolate
Plum, Rosy Raisin, Purple Pleaser
I've only used a few of these nail polishes and they are alright. The polish dries fast but the formula is just a little weird when it dries. If you don't apply a top coat immediately you will get scratches on your nails. My biggest problem with these are that some of them were packaged as if they had been used already. The bottles don't seem full and when you open them there are pieces of dry nail polish around the ring...what's that all about? :o/ (You can see what I mean if you look at the the polish in the middle in the second picture).
Matte Finisher Clear Nail PolishI wasn't a big fan of matte nails for a long time, but now I have realized that the right color can look gorgeous with a matte finish! This is the first matte top coat I've owned and it's pretty much like a thick glaze. You only need a small amount to top your nails off and it dries fast.
Mineral Face PrimerWOW! I absolutely love this primer!! It goes on silky smooth (as a clear gel) and my makeup lasts all day long! I'm definitely reordering this product.
Large Brush HolderI've been wanting this for a while, but I never wanted to pay $15 for it because I didn't think it was worth it...so because of the awesome deal I was getting I decided to buy it because I need more brush storage. It's super simple and I think I'm going to separate my brushes in that oder (eyes, lips, face)...I'll decide when I buy more bean bag fill.

I really want to know if any of you have purchased E.L.F. nail polishes and if you have had the same experience.
-♥ Ariana

REVIEW: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation & Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

A while back my boyfriend and I had to go to Walgreens, I knew he wouldn't take long so I ran to the makeup aisle (of course) and quickly looked around. I wanted to try a new foundation and they had a Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Sale on some of their products, so here is what I got:

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation
To be honest I don't have too many Maybelline products, and this is the first foundation of theirs that I have tried. The formula itself is supposed to be a cross between liquid and mousse, and I would say it definitely is. This foundation has a medium coverage with a matte finish. As far as the packaging goes, the bottle has a pump that I absolutely love--it makes it easier to use the right amount and it's just more sanitary.
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
I love using this to set my foundation. This product doesn't make your face look powdery and leaves a nice, flawless finish. The packaging is nice too: it comes with a mirror that makes it easy to use on the go.

For the price, these are worth a shot. The only complaint I have, is that there aren't too many choices of shades in these. In just a couple of months my skin tone will go back to normal and I will need to buy another foundation, so I'm interested in knowing what you all recommend using. Thanks in advance!

*images from walgreens.com

-♥ Ariana

REVIEW: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

I was really excited when this face primer came out and I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed. It's a lot thicker than I thought it would be, so you just need to apply a small amount and really work it into your skin.
Pros:
★This product really smooths your face and allows your makeup to last all day.
★Very affordable. (It's about $13 and drugstores normally have a Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off sale, so you can always get it for a little less).

Cons:
★ There really isn't anything I don't like about this product.

Hope you all have a chance to try this out if you haven't already. I was really impressed and am definitely getting this again once I run out.
-♥ Ariana

REVIEW: E.L.F. Brush Shampoo & Daily Brush Cleaner

I've been using both of these products for a few months now so I decided to share my thoughts on them with you all. Both items are $3 and can be found on the E.L.F. website.

Brush Shampoo
♦Pros: Gets the job done and a little goes a long way.
♦Cons: For the price you can buy an anti-bacterial soap that's three times the size.
Daily Brush Cleaner
♦Pros: Great for spot cleaning and brushes dry in about 10 min.
♦Cons: The smell is horrible! If you're picky about scents, this is not for you. I thought I would be able to deal with it but I really don't like the way it smells.
It also seems to leak from the top if I hold it at a certain angle.

Overall, for the price they were worth trying out but I would not buy these products again.

Have any of you tried these out? What do you think of them?

*images from www.eyeslipsface.com
-♥ Ariana

Drugstore: Wet N Wild

Wet N Wild is one of the cheaper drugstore brands and until recently the quality of their products was pretty cheap too. They have come out with new products and the quality has improved, so a few months ago I picked up a couple of the Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Colors. I hadn't used these much until recently.
901B- Think PinkI am soo glad I pulled them out from the back of my lipstick drawer. They are really pigmented, go on creamy and have a semi-matte finish. They are fragrance free and surprisingly non-drying. These run for about $3 a piece so be sure to check them out. I can't wait to buy more!
★★★
My Blair Waldorf inspired-Ghetto Fab look lol.
(click to enlarge.)
On My Eyes:
ELF Eyelid Primer
Coastal Scents Warm Palette for lid, crease and highlight
MAC e/s in Carbon for outter v
Rimmel London's Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in Black for waterline
Rimmel London's Rimmel Glam' Eyes Ultra Volume High Definition Mascara

On My Cheeks:
Rimmel London Blush in Santa Rose

-♥ Ariana

REVIEW: Urban Decay-All Nighter-Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

[ image from urbandecay.com ]

I was soo excited when this came out! I got it right away and I'm so glad I did. Just spray it a few times after you set your foundation and voila!

Pros: This spray leaves my skin really smooth and keeps my makeup fresh and flawless allowing it to last all day.

Cons: I wouldn't recommend this product for people that have oily skin. My skin type is a combination and I've noticed that almost every time after a few hours of having this product on my face, my forehead becomes oily.

All in all, I do like this product, but for $29, I would wait until I have a promotional code again.

-♥ Ariana

REVIEW: GOT2B 2 SEXY VOLUPTUOUS VOLUME HAIRSPRAY

I BOUGHT THIS HAIRSPRAY A FEW MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I READ A LOT OF GOOD REVIEWS ON THIS SO I DECIDED TO TRY IT. I BOUGHT IT AT CVS FOR ABOUT $7 WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE THAN I USUALLY PAY FOR HAIRSPRAY BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY WORTH IT!! I HAVEN'T REALLY STRAIGHTENED MY HAIR LATELY SO I'VE ONLY USED IT WITH CURLY HAIR AND IT GETS THE JOB DONE!

HOW I USE IT:

MY HAIR IS NATURALLY WAVY-CURLY SO I LET IT AIR DRY, THROW IN SOME PROCLAIM GLOSSING POLISH BEFORE IT FULLY DRIES, SPRAY IT WITH THIS HAIRSPRAY AND THEN BLOW DRY IT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. ONCE IT'S FULLY DRY I SPRAY MY HAIR AGAIN AND IT GIVES ME AMAZING VOLUME FOR THIS NATURAL CURL LOOK.

IT ALSO WORKS GREAT IF YOU SPRAY IT ON YOUR HAIR BEFORE CURLING IT--IT GIVES IT A NICE HOLD AND OF COURSE GREAT VOLUME.

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE GETTING VOLUME IN MY HAIR--IT ALWAYS FALLS FLAT--BUT I'M DEFINITELY BUYING ANOTHER ONE SOON SINCE MY BOTTLE IS ALMOST EMPTY. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS HAIRSPRAY FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDS A LITTLE BOOST OF VOLUME.

-♥ Ariana