October 21, 2012

Jemma Kidd Hi-Design Eye Colour || Review

Hello There!

Recently I have started writing loads of reviews that you will see popping up soon. There are so many new products in the drugstore, and for those who are new to makeup walking into a drugstore can be a challenge in itself. So for those who are interested in picking up some more high end products in the happiest place on earth (Target), then these Jemma Kidd eyeshadows are a good pick. I have always wanted to try some Jemma Kidd products, and long story short, I found some unopened makeup at Goodwill, and each eyeshadow was just .99 cents! I have two colors, and both are just lovely.


Sashay::

This color is so beautiful! I have dark hair and light skin, so this color looks stunning. I have millions of light, shimmery lavender shades from Maybelline, Loreal, and Rimmel, but this one is my favorite. It's gorgeous and glitzy, but the best part is there isn't fallout. This color is awesome with some brown liner and a bit of gloss, because the look is so natural but the shadow gives it a subtle pop. I think this color is great for everyday, and while It does look extra great on people with my skin tone, this color would look gorgeous on just about anyone too.

Silhouette::

I think if you are starting to collect makeup, or are starting to wear makeup, this is a staple color. Sometimes a matte cream shade can look chalky, but this one is creamy and smooth. It's great all over the lid, or as a matte highlight shade too. If you have crepe-y lids or dryness or wrinkling, this color is great because i doesn't accentuate fine lines. It's a universal shade and a staple in anyone's collection.



Overall, I think these shadows are creamy and buttery soft, and pigmented too. Also, they have really long staying power, even without a primer, and are so blendable! Plus the packaging is sleek and chic! I'm all for a beautiful package, and these are clear with hot pink writing and a pink pan too. If that doesn't make you buy these eyeshadows, I don't know what will! There is one catch: they are 17 of your American dollars. However, in comparison, a MAC eyeshadow is 1.5 grams for $15.00 while a Jemma Kidd eyeshadow is 3 grams for $17.00. It's twice the product for only two dollars more! While it's a splurge, it's also a real bargain.

What bargains have you found? Anything that compares to MAC?

xx BB

October 12, 2012

Bargain Shop Lowdown!

Hello There!

I love online shops. Whether or not I buy something is irrelevant; I just love shopping around without leaving the couch. So today I thought I would share three of my favorite online shops that are fun to surf and inexpensive too. I know I have been talking about these kinds of sites recently, but I just love them, so sorry if you're sick of them by now!


I love Ebay. If you have not checked out this website, what are you doing? It's fantastic to find just about anything. I can type in anything- jewelry, nail polish, hot pink motorcycles- and something will come up. Whenever I am obsessed with a trend, I can find an inexpensive piece on Ebay that's cheap enough so when the fad fades I don't feel like I have wasted money. Over time, I have collected some favorites, and I have one favorite seller too, so I thought I would show you some nifty thrifty bits and bobs.












This website is a great way to find the uncommon makeup brands for discounted prices. If you have trouble finding brands like Jordana, NYX, Milani, or China Glaze, this site has loads of unusual brands for cheaper than drugstore or ULTA prices. Also, there are always deals and sales, so if you wait a little while you may find the already discounted prices are even lower! Plus, they have discontinued products and collections, so if you missed a collection, it's still available. Hoorah! Here are some things I have found on Cherry Culture that I just "lurve!"








This site is so fun and quirky, with one-of-kind-pieces that are gorgeous and girly. While it is a bit more expensive, there are still bargains and gems and everything in between! I know I just wrote about Etsy here, but to summarize I think it's lovely. So here are some of my favorite finds!







Overall, I think these are some lovely shops, some even better than the drugstore or mall! Great quality products, even better prices! I just adore these shops, and I hope there are enough links for you to find just what you are looking for!

What bargain "bits and bobs" shops are you loving? 

xx BB

October 11, 2012

wish, wish, want || etsy #2

Hello There!

Can you believe it? I am writing a post on a weekday! Today I thought I would share some cool finds I discovered while noodling around on the good old internet. I am always surfing the web for cute knick knacks and things of the sort, so I thought some of these items might interest you too!


This is a brand on Etsy that sells some awesome phone cases. Even though they only make cases for the iPhone, and I don't own an iPhone, I sill think they are nifty. This brand has millions of different cases for just about everyone, and the prices range form pretty reasonable to a bit of a splurge. I will list the prices with some of my favorites with the photos, but here are some that I think are really cute!


RP: $24.99


RP: $17.99


RP: $15.00


This brand is why I love Etsy. It's all handmade, and beautiful too. This company makes pieces that are sleek, chic, and trendy. While it is a bit expensive, I would buy these products because I think it's important to support small businesses, especially cute businesses! Look at me preaching! Anywho, I looked around the shop and here are some pieces that I thought were just lovely.


RP: $51.99


RP: $25.99


RP: $46.00


I wanted to find a seller on Etsy that made nail polish. From scratch! While I did find loads of sellers, this one was the only one that had a variety of funky glitter polishes that showed up opaque on the nails. There are some fun colors that have different sized glitters in them too! Plus, they're "custom-blended," which sounds like gibberish but so fancy! There were loads that I "lurved," but here are some that I thought were really unique.


Chataigne- RP: $8.00


Wintermint- RP: $8.00


Cobalt Surprise- RP: $8.00

I love looking around on the internet- even if I don't buy anything, it's fun to window shop! Let me know if you like these posts! I love a good excuse to spend ages on girly and fun websites. It's fun to find cool handmade pieces, and unique one-of-a-kind pieces too.

What pieces have you found on Etsy? Any special finds?

xx BB

October 7, 2012

Nail Polish News || Sally Hansen: Mega Shine VS Insta Dry

Hello There!

Today I thought I would do a review on two different top coats. I know that Seche Vite is a popular top coat, but personally it's much too expensive for me and gets goopy too. So I will be comparing two different top coats that are under $7.00. I believe you can find Sally Hansen nail polish in Europe or the UK, but I apologize if you can't find these products. Should I add this to my list of things to giveaway? Hmmm... 

Sally Hansen Insta Dri::


This top coat claims to dry to the touch in 5 seconds, and be completely dry in 60 seconds. If you have tried the infamous Seche Vite, this top coat has a similar consistency and dries with a similar shine. However, while it does dry really quickly, it had one major problem: it flaked. After only a few days, I found that chunks of polish were flaking off, and even by themselves the polish did not chip like that. Within a week my nails looked awful, and that was disappointing. I am not sure why it flakes so badly, but I really dislike using this top coat, and it now sits in the back of my cupboard. What a waste!

Sally Hansen Mega Shine::


This top coat is the same price and the Insta Dri, and surprisingly does about all the same things! It dries quickly, but the incredible thing is that it gives mirror shine- like the box says! I think the main difference between these two products is that the Mega Shine top coat is a lot thinner than the Insta Dri top coat. One thing to watch out for is that you must let your polish dry completely before applying the top coat, otherwise it may drag some of your polish off your nail with the brush. It's especially disappointing when you have done a cool design on your nails! Other than that, I think this top coat is one of the best in the drug store! It keeps my polish on for ages while giving it amazing shine. 

Overall, I think there are loads of top coats in the drug store, but I know that these two are very popular, so I thought I would add my two cents. If you are looking for a new top coat to try, the Mega Shine top coat is a great option and is in just about everyone's budget.

What top coats make your polish indestructible?

xx BB

October 5, 2012

Current Favorites! || September

Hello There!

While the last time I did a favorites post, it was a combination of makeup, music and a mix of everything. But now that I have a Youtube channel I will be discussing my cosmetic favorites there, so today I thought I would share some of my other beauty favorites. 

Youtube/Blog Faves::

Lisa Eldrige:

This Youtuber is fantastic! She is a professional makeup artist who uses models in her tutorials to recreate looks she does on celebs, as well as doing new looks too. When it comes to technique and polished looks, she is someone I look to for fun looks as well as subtle looks. She has a Youtube channel and a website too.

Emotistyle:

These are two Youtubers that make me think "why do they not have millions of subscribers?" every time I watch them. It's a adorable duo named Shamikah and Molly, who are not only fashionable but hilarious too. They take questions from their viewers and answer them in the form of outfits, which is a creative way to think of new videos. They have a Youtube channel  and a website.

Ebay Fave::

This month I went a bit nuts on Ebay and purchased a few things. While I still have a necklace on the way, a week or two ago I got the pastel bunting bracelet recommended by Sprinkleofglitter, and I "loves" it! It was $2.99 and worth every inexpensive penny. It is really good quality and the colors are beautiful, so I had to instagram it! If you are looking to expand your jewelry collection like me this is a great little find. Warning: while the picture on Ebay shows that the bracelet has mint, lavender, powder blue, and pastel pink triangles, it is actually this bracelet here. They are the same, but the bracelet I purchased was cheaper. 


Music Faves::

One Direction- Live While We're Young:

I know people have their opinions about this band, but my opinion is that they are lovely boys who have nice voices, and I think their newest single is great. It's fun and catchy, and I have had it stuck in my head since tuesday. I will link the music video here, just so you can all marvel over how nice-looking they are.

Can't Stop Won't Stop ft Cam Groves- Toys for Boys:

I heard this song on JacksGap's channel, and I thought it was really good. I have not heard any more work from this artist, but this song is a funky twist on the classic rap, and I will link it here. P.S- there's no swearing! Hehe!

Favorite Store::

Ebay:

I just lurve Ebay! You can find anything you need for less than $10.00. Recently I have been expanding my jewelry collection, and Ebay is perfect for getting the perfect piece you have been looking for without spending a million dollars. Whenever I see beauty gurus with loads of jewelry, I think "You should've gotten it from Ebay!" I have written a few Ebay LOTDs, and plan on writing loads more! I never feel guilty about getting loads of things from Ebay, and I would recommend checking it out if you want fun, trendy pieces on a budget. Can you tell I love Ebay? Ebay Ebay Ebay!

What non-beauty things have you been loving this month?

xx BB