Spring 2012 ELF Haul & Giveaway

One of the most dangerous websites for me is the Eyes Lips Face or ELF web page.  There are some truly quality items on this website that are well worth your money.  You can find a fantastic brush set without breaking the bank, extremely beautiful bendable blushes to give you that rosy glow and some new eyeshadow quads that will really surprise you.  If you sign up for the elf newsletter or emails they send coupons multiple times a week for free shipping or even steep percent off discounts.

My justification for placing an order was my need for more makeup wipes.  I really adore the ELF wipes, but I recieved a coupon via email for buy one get one FREE!  Which in my mind meant why not get twice as many as I had planned for?  While surfing the website I found that they had new Eye Makeup Remover Pads which is the small white packet in the photograph.  First thoughts of the eye makeup removers pads- they are too small and thin.  The makeup remover wipes remain my favorites.

Next up I bought the ELF Natural Eyelashes in Black and Brown.  I absolutely LOVE the black lashes and I wear them all the time.  I feel like they give me a really nice, full, natural look.  I have never purchased the brown lashes before, and my my my they are much more light brown in person that I expected.  I look forward to giving these a try.

I went online read up about the ELF Eyebrow Kit and decided that perhaps this would work great with my brows.  I use a brow gel to keep them in place but I do not really fill them in or do much else.  I chose the color Ash since I highlight my hair blonde, and my natural color is a dirty ashy brown blonde.  I must say this kit looks pretty strange in person.  The gel looks like a great color to compliment my natural brows, but the powder almost looks straight WHITE?  Why would I ever put that on my brows?  Oh well I look forward to trying the brow gel. Maybe next time I will order the next lightest shade.

The ELF Mineral Powder brushes really WOW'ed me over when I last ordered in the Fall.  They feel extremely well made, the ferrell and handle are sturdy and the bristles are so soft you almost don't want to put the brush down.  I have been using my Powder brush as a Blush Brush because I like a large brush to help disperse the blush over my cheeks.  Two of these four brushes are for me, and the other two are for my giveaway.  Just subscribe to my YouTube channelhttp://www.youtube.com/user/TheBlushedBeauty?feature=mhee and comment on the video for this giveaway.  It is open until April 4th, 2012 11:59 pacific standard time.  Trust me, you are going to LOVE these brushes.  Two winners will be chosen from the comments section and they will each win one brush.

 In the "NEW" section of the ELF website there were some eyeshadow quads that screamed BUY ME NOW MELISSA, so I obliged and wow they look fantastic in person.  I purchased the ELF Flawless Eyeshadows for $2 each, one in Tantalizing Taupe, and the other in Party Purple.  They are labeled for how they suggest application and really remind me of the Wet N Wild Trios (which I am obsessed with).

Lastly I purchased a couple blush and bronzer duos for a future giveaway... Stay tuned for that :-)

And as a side note here is the polish that I wore in the video.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY :-)

March 2012 Teen Vogue Birchbox

My March Birchbox arrived, and to my surprise I received the "TEEN VOGUE" edition. I was quite excited to receive this special edition box because I had an inkling that this would be a fantastic month. WOWZA this months box won my heart Check out the photos of all of the great items in this months box and the total value of my box. I think this month may be my most valuable box yet.

First up is my Tarte Lip Surgence in JOY- a rich coral shade with a glossy finish
This product was full sized and is valued at $24

Next up is the Shisheido oil blotting Papers. Birchbox gave out a pack containing 10 sheets valued at $1.80. The full size product is 100 sheets for $18

This would be my second favorite item in this months box. The Essie Luxe Effects Polish in A Cut Above. It is a pink glitter explosion! This is a full sized product and it is valued at $8

Ohhh another fragrance sample. If I could opt out of any one type of item in my Birchbox, then perfume samples would probably be it. This one is Annick Goutal and this sample is valued at $0.85, and the full sized is $85

Lastly we have my lovely yellow twistband hair tie. These come in a pack of 12 for $18, so this one tie is worth $1.50. I tend to loose hair ties very quickly so $1.50 per hair tie seems a bit steep.

This Months Value= Over $35 :-)

Mascara Monday- Physicians Formula Jumbo Organic Wear Mascara

I felt it best to kick of Mascara Mondays with my FAVORITE Mascara. I have been wearing this mascara for about a year and a half and I have not yet found something that I love more. The Physicians Formula Jumbo Organic Wear Mascara in Ultra Black won my heart, and nothing has been able to top it. All future mascara reviews will be based on a scale of 1-10, with this mascara coming in at a 9. You may ask why 9 when I rave so highly about it??? Well I think there has to be something out there that ranks in at a 10 (either that I have deluded fantasies of lash perfection)
Why has this mascara won my heart? Its simple.. It is a dryer formula, with great rubber bristles, that can be built up without being flakey, clumpy, or spidery.

I know that recently Physicians formula put out a tube of mascara that is quite similar in appearance. It comes in a black leaf shaped package, and it is still organic wear, however it contains a "Lash Boosting Serum". I have not heard great things about this version of the Organic Wear Mascaras.

I have not purchased the original organic mascara (not jumbo wear), but just the same I have not heard great things about it. If you have tried this one let me know what you think.

Why try new mascaras? Because that holy grail, that blissful perfection, that magical mascara is out there and I cannot wait to share it with you all.
Have a beautiful day :-)

Luck of the Irish Manicure Tutorial

Ohhh St. Patricks day is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate the luck o'the Irish than with a whimsical nail design.



I prepared my nails with Essie Rock Solid, and then painted two coats of the light yellow shade Blake by Julep on four of my nails

Next I painted two coats of White on my Accent nail. I used ULTA polish in Snow White on my ring finger. I then painted one coat of Sally Hansen Xtreme wear polish in Golden-I over each of my yellow nails.

Next I painted my favorite top coat Seche Vite Fast Dry over each of my nails. I grabbed a paper plate and dabbed some green polish on the plate for my Lucky Four Leaf Clover design. I used Wet N Wilds Jungle Fever.

I used a Dotting tool to add four dabs of green and then used the smaller end of the dotting tool to drag the four dots together to meet in the center. I used the smaller end again to create a small stem.

Here is the final product. Golden nails with a lucky four leaf clover. Happy St. Patricks Day, and may the luck of the Irish be with you