Milani Bella Eyes {#5, #7, #16, #24} Review~!

Hey Guys~!

Last week I went to CVS and I saw a few displays of new drugstore products. One of the ones that caught my eye was a collection of single eyeshadows from the brand, Milani. I've never really tried anything from the brand before, and there was a 50% off sale on anything from the Milani line, so I decided to get four to try out. I've been testing them out to review. So let's start~~!

The packaging is okay. Like everything from Milani, the packaging is fake looking gold; which I personally don't like cause it looks cheap. It's also a bit clunky compared to other single shadows I own. The compact is very secure though, so if you drop it there's no chance of it opening or breaking.

On the Milani website, there are thirty different shades to choose from. These range in color, both neutrals and colorful shades, and finishes, such as; matte, metallic, satin, shimmer, and iridescent. I love seeing a huge variety in an eyeshadow collection because then there is something in everyone's comfort zone.

I bought mostly neutral colors, since I knew I'd get a lot of use out of them. I got four and they are #5 Bella Taupe, #7 Bella White, #16 Bella Champagne, and #24 Bella Bronze. All of them have different finishes, which I was excited to work with.

Here are some swatches of these shadows. According to the website, they're supposed to have rich, vibrant color both wet or dry with just one swipe. So I first swatched them both dry and wet.

I noticed that when dry, the white is kind of sheer and feels a little chalky. All of the others are fine though.

When these shadows are wet, they are beyond amazing~! They have a smooth and creamy, almost gel like consistency, and they are is super pigmented. 

You would think that with such nice pigmentation and quality that these eyeshadows would be kind of pricy. However individually they are only $4 a piece. Like I said before, I got these buy one get one 50% off, so they only cost me around $12. And I think that's pretty reasonable.

Packaging: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Color Range: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Texture: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Pigmentation: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Price: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Overall: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

I really like these eyeshadows. They just as nice as some of my more expensive ones in texture and pigmentation. I'm not fond of the packaging, but the product is so great that I don't really care. If you're looking for a great drugstore eyeshadow, or have never tried anything from Milani, this is a great start. I now want to try other Milani products too.

So that was my Milani Bella Eyes review. If you have any recomendations for other Milani products or you enjoyed this review, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you in my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Pürminerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation Review~!

Hey Guys~!

In a lot of posts and in my makeup tutorial, I have used or mentioned a powder from the company Pürminerals. At Ulta, where I got it, the lady there told me it was like a cheaper version of the Bareminerals powder foundations, so I decided to give it a try. I've had it for a few months and now have gotten more into wearing it. Therefore I thought it would be great to review it for all of you. So let's start~~!

I really like how this compact looks. It's a matte silver with dark grey dots. The compact itself is made of a sturdy material, so it won't break easily. Inside it has a mirror and then your product. This powder doesn't come with a brush or powder puff, which I assumed it would, but I don't mind.

The shade selection is quite large for a powder foundation. In the line there are eleven different shades offered on the Ulta website, which I was surprised about. The one I have is the lightest shade, which is Porcelain.

I absolutely love the texture of this powder. I've tried other powder foundations in the past, but they either offered no coverage or felt chalky on my skin. This one feels smooth and light, making application easy too.

Another thing I love is that this has SPF 15. I get sunburns really easily, and I haven't gotten one once while wearing this on my face. Since it's summer time, I haven't been into wearing a ton of heavy makeup. So most of the time I just apply this and some mascara and feel great. 

On the Pürminerals websites, this product claims to give you flawless coverage, correct and prevent any imperfections,  brighten the look of dark spots and age spots, and to smooth skin. Some of these claims aren't nessecarry for me, especially the anti-aging properties, so I'll tell you all my results for everything else.

Coverage wise I'd say this powder is very buildable. It can give the 'no makeup' look, but still can create medium coverage. I wouldn't say flawless or full because for me it doesn't cover my dark circles, so I need a concealer there.

I took a picture for me just wearing the powder, not even any concealer under my eyes. It covers up my redness and most of my dark circles under my eyes.

Without eye makeup I look dead -.-"

I'm not entirely sure if this corrects and prevents anything, since I do have a strict skin care routine and I have pretty clear skin. So I can't really say if it does this.

I also can't say if this brightens age and dark spots, mainly cause I don't really have those either.

The smoothing affect of this product is alright. When I wear this, my skin looks and feels great. However it does sometimes extenuate the minimal dry patches I have, which is frustrating for me.

This foundation costs $27.00, which for a high end foundation is quite reasonable. I've never been able to find a good mineral foundation at the drugstore, or any powder that compares to this one. So I'm completely fine spending a fair amount for this.

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Shade Selection: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Texture: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Coverage: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Correcting Properties: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Smoothing: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

As you can see, I really do like this product. Although it's a bit pricey and I don't receive all the benefits it promises, it still does a great job of being a mineral foundation. Like I said, there's not been a drugstore product I've tried that gives the same or even similar results. So if you're looking for a mineral foundation, I'd definitely give this one a try.

I hope you guys all enjoyed my review on the Pürminerals Pressed Mineral Foundation. If you have any questions or have a request for a review, let me know in the comments. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss 

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My Back to School Fashion Essentials~!

Hey Guys~!

It's back to school season again, which I know no one is excited about. But I thought I'd pump you all, and myself, up for back to school shopping~~! I hate going back to school, but buying a new wardrobe always makes me optimistic for the new year. Today I thought I'd share with all of you the essential pieces of clothing I think you should have in your wardrobe for back to school. All of them are from either Forever21, Urban Outfitters, or Dresslink. So let's start~~!

A Pair of Jeans

No matter what, a simple pair of jeans is necessary. They go with just about anything and it's super easy to come up with outfits with them. There are tons of different styles; you can get different washes, colors, patterns, with or without rips, etc. Personally I like these jeans from Forever21. They are the Classic Faded Skinny Jeans, {click here} to check them out. These are a light wash skinny jean with no rips, so you can make them either casual or dress them up a little depending on what you wear with them. 

Casual Dress

 During the school years, there are many times, that if you're like me, you'll oversleep. Those days you need to focus on making sure you're prepared for school, and not what you're wearing. A great thing that you can just throw on is a casual dress. I found this one on Dresslink, {click here} to check it out. I liked the pastel color, since it will add some brightness to your look and you'll look like you spent a lot of time getting ready.

  "Little Black Dress"

Along the lines of having a casual dress, a little black dress is something everyone should have. I know that sounds a little cliche, but it's so true. Often there are events, both in school and outside of school that you need to dress up for; such as a school dance, a party, job interview, etc. By having such a basic dress in your wardrobe, you can create tons of looks by wearing different accessories, jackets, shoes, etc. I really liked the scalloped neck line of this one from Urban Outfitters, {click here} to check it out.

A Sweater or Jumper

 

 If you really aren't into dresses, but you want something else you can just throw on, a sweater or jumper is a great option. They can be worn with leggings, jeans, shorts, or skirts, making them really versatile. I like having a few plain solid colored ones, and a few with either cute details or graphics. The one on the left is from Forever21, {click here} to check it out, and the one on the right is from Urban Outfitters, {click here} to check it out. I now realized that both of the ones I showed are blue, but feel free to get any color you like.

Black Flats

 

 Everyone needs a shoe that can be thrown on and go with any outfit. Flats are that shoe. They are great for everyday or for special occasions. Because there is no heel, they're easy to walk in and won't cause you any pain. These ones are from Forever21, {click here} to check them out, and I liked these because of the round toe box, but get whatever you like. There are tons of places that sell simple shoes like these so you'll definitely find something that suites your style.

Watch

 When you are running around school or wanting to know when class will end, you'll need a watch to look at. I love wearing watches to school because I don't have to get my phone out of my bag to check the time. There are tons of different watches available and they are sold everywhere. This one is from Dresslink, {click here} to check it out. And I picked this one cause the clock face has a floral print and I love floral~~!

Cardigan
 

 I personally don't like wearing sweatshirts to school. But I do want to stay warm on those chilly days, so something I suggest getting is a cardigan. They come in many different colors, patterns, and styles, all of which range in thickness. I like having a few thin ones for the warmer months and some thicker ones for the cold months. This one is from Forever21, {click here} to check it out. I really liked the color selection for this one, especially the dusty rose color as seen in the picture. 

Boots 

 

The last essencial I think you should have are some boots. There isn't a particular style I think everyone should have, but just have something that is easy to walk in, so no thin heels~~!! For a casual boot, I love combat boots like these from Dresslink, {click here} to check them out. Last year I had a pair that were similar to these but were a light brown color. I really like them cause they're super comfy and went with just about any outfit. So I think they're great.

Those were my back to school fashion essentials. If you want more back to school themed posts, let me know in the comments below. I either want to do a look book of outfits I wear or a makeup tutorial. Let me know which one you'd prefer. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

･✿ヾ╲(｡◕‿◕｡)╱✿･ﾟ

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July Favorites 2014~!

Hey Guys~!

This month I thought I'd try something different. Instead of writing my monthly favorites for the month of July, I decided to film a favorites video. If you guys enjoy it, then I can try to make these types of posts and others into videos too. So let's me know what you think in the comments below.

Here's the link, {click here} to watch it on YouTube. Or you can watch it here~!

I also decided to list all the products mentioned and link them to any reviews I've done on them.

Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly B.B. Cream - {review}

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 

Sleek Blush in Rose Gold

Maybelline Define-A-Brow Pencil

L.A. Colors Palette in Cafe Au Lait

Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner in Turquoise

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Blooming

Revlon Lip Butter in Sorbet

Revlon Color Stay Nail Polish in Porcelain

Sally Hansen Nail Polish in Aisle Be There

Etude House Nail Polish in Greatfruit

CVS Makeup Clensing Towlettes

Lush Tea Tree Water

My Schemings Anti-Acne Sheet Mask - {review}

Viva La Juicy Perfume by Juicy Couture

Plaid Patchwork Purse

Floral Romper from Forever21

Brave Frontier

I hope you guys enjoyed this new kind of post. If you'd like future favorites posts to be like this, let me know in the comments. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly B.B. Cream Review~!

Hey Guys~!

In my Korean and English Cosmetics Haul, {click here} to check it out, I showed this B.B. Cream from Holika Holika. I've heard a ton of things about it, so now I'll be sharing my own opinions with all of you in my review. I have tested out this product for a week or two so I could develop a full review for you guys. So let's start~~!

First of all, the packaging is adorable. The box has this really cute polka dot pattern, which kind of has a water color effect. The bottle for the B.B. Cream is really unique. It's a frosted glass bottle and the shape reminded me of a pudding cup. . . that was probably the worst way to describe it, so I'm sorry.

I don't really know about the shade selection of this product, cause when I ordered it only two shades were available, #1 and #2. #1 was the lighter one, so I went with it because I have very fair skin and I'd rather wear something that's too light rather than too dark. If you have a skin tone similar to mine own, #1 is probably the better option.

The texture of this B.B. Cream is unlike anything I've ever used before. It's light and airy like a mouse, but is also liquidy like a regular foundation. It applies smoothly and creates a natural finish.

On the Holika Holika website it promises that this B.B. Cream will moisturize your skin, minimize your pores, and cover any blemishes. For me, it's sort of moisturizing. When I wear it on my face, I some times notice dry patches. So if you have dry skin, you may want to try something else. Personally I don't have large pores, so I don't know if this has minimized them in any way.

In this past I've tried many different B.B. Creams, none of which that had a ton of coverage. When I read that this was supposed to cover up acne, I doubted it was true. However this actually does cover up any imperfections on my skin, such as; redness, acne, and scarring.

I got mine from Amazon, and it was $16.98 with free shipping. I have seen it on other websites for more or less money, but I got it for this price since it's been out of stock on the Holika Holika website for months. Also I do think that it's a reasonable price, since I really do like it.

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Shade Selection: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Texture: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Moisturization: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Coverage: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I'm in love with this product. It does a great job of being what most people want out of a B.B. Cream, light in feeling, but still offering coverage. I like this much more than any other American B.B. Cream I've tried and I now want to try more from the brand, Holika Holika.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. If you have any other products from Holika Holika you think I should try, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post

xo

Alyss 

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D.I.Y. Cuticle Cream~!

Hey Guys~!

I've finally been able to grow out my nails, which took a while for me. Something that really helped me was a D.I.Y. cuticle cream I found through Pinterest. This one has very common ingredients that you probably have or can find easily. So let's start~~!

~ Here's what you'll need to make it ~

Olive Oil

Body Lotion / Hand Cream

Vaseline / Petroleum Jelly

Small Container

Plastic Spoon

Measuring Spoons

This is super simple to do. Start off by putting one spoonful of the Vaseline or petroleum jelly as a base into the container. Next add 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil, if you have extra virgin olive oil that would be the best.  

Lastly for the ingredients, add a little body lotion or hand cream. I used a scented one so my hands smell nice when I use it. Now all you have to mix up the ingredients, I found that using the back of a spoon is the easiest way to do this, and you're finished~~!

I hope you all enjoyed this super quick and easy D.I.Y. If you want more beauty related D.I.Y.'s like this one, let me know in the comments below. Also let me know if you want a post about growing out your nails. I can do both if you all are interested. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Dresslink Wishlist {July 2014}~!

Hey Guys~!

I've been in the online shopping mood lately. As I was picking stuff out, I thought that maybe I could start doing wishlist posts. I enjoy reading the ones that other bloggers write, so I thought maybe I could do more of these if you guys find this interesting. Also I thought it would be a cool way for me to share my fashion style with all of you. Today I'll be doing a wishlist for a website called Dresslink. I really like a lot of their clothes and it's super inexpensive too. So let's start~~!

 

First thing I really want is this circle skirt. I've always wanted to buy one, since they're really flattering by creating the illusion of a small waist. At other stores, they're really expensive, but this one is only $3.07. It comes in a variety of colors, as shown in the picture, and I think it'll be great for either everyday or for formal occasions.

{If interested, click here}

This is something I've wanted to buy off of multiple websites, but I found it here on Dresslink. It's this really cute bunny ear hoodie. It looks really fluffy and warm, so I'd probably get this to wear in the fall/winter and wear it with some leggings.

{If interested, click here}

Another sweatshirt I really liked was this Pacman one. I love vintage video games, so this caught my eye. It's really simple and casual so again I'd probably wear this with leggings. It comes in two colors, and the sleeve patterns with the ghosts are adorable.

{If interested, click here}

I have another sweater I really liked. I've wanted to get this off of Amazon, but it's much cheaper on this site. I know this isn't everyone's style, but I thought it was cute and again would look good with some leggings and some boots. Also I really like bunnies, so I was drawn to this.

{If interested, click here}

I really have been into wearing dresses and skirts lately. Also I'm a huge fan of lace anything. So this dress is defiantly something I'd get. It's a 3/4 sleeve dress with lace over the dress and for the sleeves. It comes in very fall/winter colors, except for the beige. But I'd personally get it in the wine color, cause I've recently liked that color on me. 

{If interested, click here}

Here's another dress I really liked. It's this vintage patterned strapless dress. I liked the neckline and how it appears to be cinched in at the waist. Also I liked the pop of blue too around the skirt of the dress. 

{If interested, click here}

Even though I own a ton of purses, I still like getting new ones. The one I thought was really cute. Personally I'm a huge fan of prints and patterns, including polka dots. That's why I really like this bag, and I think it would be great with a lot of the plain outfits I wear to add some color.

{If interested, click here}

This is another thing I like cause I thought it was cute. I'll get anything with a butterfly on it and the pastel colors make this something I'd wear a ton. Also I really like the collar / neckline. It can easily be dressed up or made casual depending on what I wear with it, so I like it.

{If interested, click here}

Besides being a purse hoarder, I'm a shoe hoarder too. But one thing that I've needed is some rain boots. I saw these and instantly loved them. They come in the cream color shown and in black. Of course I love them because of the cute red bow, but besides that they look really nice. 

{If interested, click here}

That was my Dresslink wishlist. If I do end up getting anything from there, I'll definitely write a review for you guys. Also if you guys enjoy this 'wishlist' type post, leave suggestions for what you want to see in the comments below. I may do a Sephora one or a Allegra K one next, so keep your eyes out for that. Thank you guys so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

 

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P.S. Sara from Moments Lika Diamonds is having a huge giveaway on her blog. {Click here} to enter, and to check out her blog.  Here's a picture of one of the amazing prizes. . .

 

Good luck to everyone who enters  ヽ( ★ω★)ノ