Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Evelyn Lozada's Cosmetic Line: Is It Truly Hers?



In my previous post, I reviewed Evelyn Lozada's 36 color "Smoke It Out" Palette. I was very excited about my purchase but when I received my order confirmation from a company called Crown Brush, it peaked my curiosity. I thought it was strange that it was sent from Crown Brush as I am familiar with this cosmetic company. I was intrigued to know what Crown Brush's affiliation was with Evelyn's cosmetic line. Now its not uncommon for celebrities to collaborate with a makeup company and create a line of their own. Well, ladies and gentlemen that is not the case here. Evelyn's cosmetic line is not of her own, its private labeled by Crown Brush. Meaning that Crown Brush manufacturers and sell the same eye palettes Evelyn does. The only differences are that Crown Brush sell their palettes for much cheaper than Evelyn's and hers have her name on it.

Now what Evelyn is doing isn't wrong nor illegal but she has led the public to believe that this is "her" cosmetic line. Now when I think of that, I think of someone actually "creating" a line, not putting your name on an already existing product.

Below you will see the pictures of Evelyn's eye palettes and those of Crown Brush. You will see that they are EXACTLY the same!!


Crown Brush: 36 Color Smoke It Out Palette

Price: $19.95
Currently on sale for: $ 11.97


 Evelyn Lozada: My actual 36 Color Smoke It Out Palette
Price: $24.95


Crown Brush: 78 Color Blush/ Eyeliner/ Shadow Palette






Price: $19.95
Currently on sale for: $11.97


Evelyn Lozada: 78 Color Combo Palette
Price: $28.95

Since discovering this information, my review for the palette has not changed. I still believe its a great palette and I have used it for many eye looks. However I would recommend going to Crown Brush, www.crownbrush.com to buy these palettes as they are cheaper.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Go Jane Memorial Day Sale

They're are so many sales going on this weekend...make sure you take advantage.

www.gojane.com has a 25% off sale

Happy shopping!!!


Shoedazzle Memorial Day Weekend Sale

 


www.shoedazzle.com

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes


Cleaning your makeup brushes is very important as they harbor lots of dirt and bacteria and you don’t want that gunk touching your face. Your brushes should be cleaned once a week, 2 weeks max!!!! Cleaning your brushes isn’t time consuming and you don’t need a lot to do so.

I know alot of brushes...don't judge. They're for my kit and personal use.

1. Apply a small amount of shampoo to the bristles and work into a light lather.

I absolutely LOVE this shampoo for cleaning my brushes. It breaks up the dirt so effortlessly and when the brushes dry they're so soft.

2. Rinse the bristles thoroughly under luke warm water. You will notice that the water leaving the brush is tinted from old makeup.

3. Continue rinsing until no color leaves the brush.

4. Mold the brush into its original shape… you don’t want it to dry and the bristles are all over the place.

5. Lie the brushes on a towel to dry overnight.


I wash my brushes at night so they will be ready to be used in the morning.

So there you have it…clean brushes!!!

Hope you guys found this helpful


 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Milani Lip Flash Pencils



These lip pencils are absolutely gorgeous!!! They’re lip pencils that can be worn as a lip liner or a lipstick….I personally wear mine as a lip stick.

Their consistency is so creamy, they don’t tug at your lips when being applied nor does it dry your lips out. Now let’s talk about the color. The color pay off is wonderful!! The colors are pigmented and vibrant with a hint of shimmer. The shimmer isn’t too much and not too little, it’s the right amount making it perfect to wear for Summer.


left to right: In a Flash, Flashy, Flash Light


  I have to say that I was impressed with two things with these lip pencils. First, they're very long lasting. The color lasts on my lips for about 5 hours before any touch ups are needed. Secondly, they provide full coverage to the lips with a glossy finish. I really love these pencils as I think they’re great and fun for the Summer. I purchased my pencils from Walgreen's for $6.99.
FLASHY: Fuchsia color
FLASH LIGHT: Orange/ Coral color
 
IN A FLASH: Magenta/ Purple color


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser & Moisturizer



Properly taking care of your skin is actually more important than applying makeup itself. I have been asked time and time again what skincare products I use on my face. About a month ago I changed my face regiment to the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser and the Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer and I couldn't be happier with the results. I first want to give a BIG disclaimer: everyone's skin types are different and you have to find the right product that is formulated for your skin type. What works for me might not work for you as your results may differ. I'm just simply sharing what products do work for me.

I use Cetaphil Facial Cleanser for normal to oily skin. I really like this cleanser because the consistency is so light. When I first used it I wondered would it really clean well because of the consistency...well it does. My problem with most facial cleansers are that they are way too harsh on my face, leaving my face completely dry however the Cetaphil cleanser is very gentle. It leaves my face feeling very soft and cleaned. It does have a slight fragrance however nothing overpowering. Even though it's pretty pricey as I bought mine from Walgreens for $10.00, its completely worth it. 

In conjunction with the facial cleanser I use the Cataphil Daily Facial Moisturizer for all skin types. It also has spf15, which is a plus. Contrary to what one might believe, no matter what your skin type is, a facial moisturizer should be used daily. I have combination skin, with my T-Zone being very oily. Since using this moisturizer I can say that my face doesn't get as oily as it used to. It doesn't leave my face feeling greasy as it really absorbs very well into my skin. The moisturizer is very lightweight as I haven't had any breakouts nor has it clogged my pores. This product is also $10 from Walgreens.

These 2 products absolutely rock!!  When I finish using these two together, I love the way my face looks and feels!!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Jessica Simpson Fancy Love Perfume




3.4 oz eau de parfum $55

When it comes to perfumes Im not the biggest collector, I probably use the same 2 perfumes the whole year. However I was looking for a new fragrance for Spring/Summer. For those that don’t know me I’m absolutely addicted to home shopping networks such as shopnbc.com, hsn.com, and qvc.com. I was watching shopnbc one evening and everything was 5 value pays (value pays are where you pay for the item equally over so many payments…interest free)!! So I decided to find a perfume. I researched and read reviews on numerous perfumes but when I came across the Jessica Simpson- Fancy Love the reviews were very positive. So needless to say I bought a perfume before even smelling it…who does that? J But boy am I happy I did.

This perfume smells so darn good!!! I absolutely adore this perfume!! It smells so good that I catch myself sniffing myself throughout the day. It’s a very light fragrance, not overpowering but still makes a statement. It’s a very fresh, creamy floral scent. Of course, perfumes smell different on different people but Fancy Love smells very sweet and powdery on my skin. When I smell this perfume, I think of a romantic picnic at the park. This perfume has definitely become my go to smell and I would recommend this perfume to any one that is looking for a light, romantic, feminine smell.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Quiana's Question Qorner: I'm having such a hard time picking eye shadow colors and matching them to my skin tone or outfits. I just started applying make-up and I think I have a phobia of looking like a circus clown when I go out. Any advice on how not to overdo it?


Answer:
Since you're a beginner with makeup, selecting eye colors can be a little intimidating and overwhelming. It might be helpful to start using eye shadows that come in quads or trios that label which color goes on which part of the eye. Maybelline and Almay have some that are not expensive at all. This will allow you to not have to necessarily think about which color to use as it already tells you. As you get more comfortable with colors and start knowing what color combinations look good on you, you can then invest in more colors and higher end brands.


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Beginners Guide to Makeup Brushes


Makeup brushes are an essential tool to makeup. Brushes are very important because no matter how good the quality of the product you’re using is, if you don’t have the right brushes, its pointless. There are many variables when it comes to buying makeup brushes, natural hair vs. synthetic hair, department store vs. drugstore, and there are soooo many brushes that accomplish the same look but differently. I’m not going go that deep as I've compiled an overall general guide to what makeup brushes a beginner needs.


These brushes can be purchased separately or if you purchase a brush set, make sure these brushes are included. The brushes below will allow you to complete a full look and as you get more advanced you can venture into different kinds of brushes and different brands. Please remember this is just a basic beginners guide.




Eyeshadow brush: Its used to apply eye shadow on your eye lid and can also be used to apply eye shadow on your brow bone.



Blending brush: I can’t stress enough how important blending your eyeshadow is. A blending brush will blend any harsh lines and allow your colors to blend naturally.


Liner brush: This brush has many purposes it can be used to apply your liquid and gel eyeliner and you can also line your eyes with eye shadow. This brush can also be used when filling in your eyebrows.


Eyebrow Spooly: It's used to groom and comb the eyebrows.


Eyebrow comb/brush: Another tool used to groom and comb the eyebrows.

Face brushes are a very important factor to a flawless face sometimes more than the foundation itself. Below are 3 different types of brushes for applying foundation. You don’t need all 3 however which one you use will be based on personal preference.


Foundation brush: It reminds me of a painters brush, when foundation is applied with this brush it provides great coverage however this brush can sometimes leave your face streaky.


Stippling brush: It provides an air brush finish, it’s a good brush but you have to really work with the brush and buff the foundation into your skin. Sometimes the bristles are not dense enough to buff the foundation into your skin.


Flat top brush: Buffs and blends the  foundation into your skins flawlessly and with ease however it can be difficult to apply foundation in the nooks and creases of the face.



Powder blush: This brush is big and fluffy as it’s meant to apply powder on your face.


Blush brush: Its used to apply blush on the face, it looks like a smaller version of the powder blush.


Concealer brush: Is used to apply concelear to the face.

What brands to buy?


If you’re a true beginner and you don’t want to invest too much in brushes at the moment go to www.eyeslipsface.com. These brushes are great for practice and even using on a daily basis. Brushes retail for $1-$3, can also be found at participating Target stores.


If you want to buy a quality brush and don't mind spending no more than $20 for a brush. Sigma brushes are great, I personally love their brushes and plan on collecting them all, the can be purchased at http://www.sigmabeauty.com/.

Another great line of brushes are Sonia Kashuk, this line is carried at Target.

And of course Mac always have great brushes… I mean they should for the price, right?

Well I hope you guys found this guide helpful and if you have any questions, please ask them in the comment section.

Don't forget to subscribe!!


Talk to you later!!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

E by Evelyn Lozada Cosmetics Review




You might know Evelyn Lozada as the "villain" of the VH1 hit reality show BasketBallWives. Evelyn has not only made her name by being a reality star but also as an author and launching her new cosmetic line, E by Evelyn Lozada.


 I've heard many good things about her line so I was interested to check it out for myself. I purchased her 36 "Smoke It Out" palette for $24.95 at ebyevelyncosmetics.com. I was first impressed with the delivery time, as I received my package in 3 days. When I opened the palette I really liked the colors and the variety provided, it's a mixture of matte, shimmer, and metallic colors. I played makeup over the weekend using the palette and I have to say that the palette definitely gets a thumbs up. It's everything that you look for in a quality eyeshadow, colors are very vibrant, pigmented, and long lasting. The eyeshadows aren't chalky and goes on with ease. I have to say that I'm thoroughly impressed with the palette and I will purchasing more from this line in the future. Good job Evelyn!!




Friday, May 4, 2012

The Heelless Shoe, Hot or Not?

The heelless shoe is a very unique and creative shoe that has, you guessed it.... no heel. When I first saw this shoe by Giuseppe Zanotti, I immediately fell in love but my pockets aren’t long enough to buy a $1,000 pair of shoes.


A much more affordable version of the shoe is by Jeffery Campbell called Nightwalk. I have been eyeing this shoe for quite some time as its much more reasoanable than the Giuseppe Zanotti costing $170.



I finally bought my version of the heelless shoe from www.gojane.com for $35.00!! Now I’m sure the Jeffery Campbell and Giuseppe Zanotti are of better quality but for this trendy shoe that I will only wear on occasion, I think it’s well worth the money. I know the question that everyone has, is how do you walk in this shoe? Contrary to popular belief the shoe is actually very comfortable and easy to walk in. ( I'm thinking about filmimg me walking in them and even jumping rope). The no heel is more of an optical illusion because when you walk in these shoes it’s not like your balance is thrown off or anything like that. It feels like you're walking on a chunky platform. If you’re comfortable with wearing high heels and stilettos then you won’t have any problems wearing this shoe at all.

This shoe is definitely not for everybody, either you love it or hate it. Let me know if you think its hot or not?

Look how some of the celebs rocked their heelless shoes.









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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

How To Organize Your Finger Nail Polishes

If you’re anything like me then your nail polishes are all over the place in a complete disarray. This past weekend I was looking for a nail polish organizer however I wasn’t interested in paying $50 for one nor did I want to build one. Later in the day as I was in the closet of my guest room, I looked at my over the door shoe organizer with the plastic pockets and immediately a light went off in my head. I could use the shoe organizer for my nail polishes. It would be perfect as each pocket holds about 7 polishes, I will be able to see each color, and no additional space will be taken up. I was so happy you would’ve thought I invented the wheel!! Needless to say an over the door shoe organizer is the cheapest most perfect organizer for your nail polishes. If you don’t have a shoe organizer it can be purchased for approx. $10 at Walmart or Target.  
The shoes in the organizer I don't wear so it was no love lost removing them.

It literally took me about 10 minutes to seperate the polishes by color...not time consuming at all.
                    
I am beyond happy with how my nail polish organizer turned out... now time to buy some more polishes :)