Happy Easter!

 

I hope that you have a great Easter holiday.  The Husband is off today, so we are going shopping and out to a Mexican dinner.  Yum!  I hope that you have a great holiday weekend, filled with lots of love and candy.  Play safe, peeps.  🙂

 

Rimmel BB Cream Epic Fail

Rimmel BB Cream

I have been hearing such great things about Rimmel’s new 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream.  There are a lot of people who really like the formula so I wanted to give it a try, even though I am not the biggest fan of American drugstore BB Creams.  This Rimmel version, people said, was different.  Well, I certainly found it different all right.

Rimmel BB Cream

Here is what Rimmel has to say about their 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream: “Primes, moisturises, minimizes pores, conceals, covers, smoothes, mattifies, brightens, and helps protect. Lightweight, ultra comfortable formula instantly gives a flawless, 100% natural finish. SPF 25.”  Rimmel 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream Comes in three shades, Light, Medium, and Medium dark.  The formula is thick, and because of its thickness offers more coverage than some of the other BB Creams on the market.  I found that it didn’t want to blend into my skin well, and takes a bit to work it in.  Also, it seems to dry pretty fast, so you need to blend it out as quickly as possible.  Below you can see what it looks like partially blended on my hand.  Can you see how it looks a little dry and patchy?

Rimmel BB Cream- partially blended

When worked into the skin, Rimmel BB Cream has pretty decent coverage, which is unusual for a typical BB Cream.  It has a semi-matte finish, also unusual for a typical BB Cream.  There is a very strong scent to the product that I was not a fan of.  I thought that on my hand, the finish looks smooth and even.  The swatch here looks really good in my opinion.

Rimmel BB Cream- blended out

Unfortunately, I had a completely different experience when applying Rimmel BB Cream to my face.  First, I want to say that I do not think my results are typical.  I believe that I had an allergic reaction to the product, so take this with a grain of salt.  Here is my experience trying to use Rimmel’s 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream.

First, I tried to apply it on bare skin and I could not get the product to blend out on my face.  Trying with both my fingers and a brush, it looked spotty and patchy, and just terrible.  I washed it all off immediately.  Next I tried just one small area on my face over Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, thinking that a primer would help it apply more evenly.  Still, it looked patchy and uneven, like it did not want to blend out at all.  It balled up when I tried to blend and was a complete disaster.  It was like my skin didn’t want anything to do with this BB Cream.  I gave up and went to take swatch pictures for the blog on my hand.

Since my swatches came out so well, I decided to try the BB Cream one more time.  I had needed to blend a lot on my hand to get the smooth finish, so I figured that maybe I hadn’t blended enough when I tried to wear it.  Also, my skin had been pretty cold in the morning, so maybe now that my skin was warmer it would blend better.  I tried again, making sure to blend really well with my fingers, and working on small sections of my face to avoid the quick dry time.  It still looked horrible, dry and patchy, and it emphasized my pores.  I tried smoothing it out with a brush to no avail.  Completely disappointed, I moved on with my day so that I could at least test longevity for my review.

After about fifteen to twenty minutes, I noticed that my face felt really hot and my skin kind of stung a little.  I looked in the mirror and was shocked to see that my cheeks were so red that they looked almost purple under the makeup.  I immediately went to wash my face, which made it sting even more.  My cheeks and forehead were bright red and very hot.  I applied moisturizer and some Tarte Maracuja Oil to my whole face to sooth it, but it took hours for the heat and redness to go away.  I don’t know if it was the fragrance or what, but something in that BB Cream completely reacted with my skin in a very bad way.  It was terrible.

Shocked and totally embarrassed tomato face

Now, like I said, these results are not typical.  I have heard some great things about Rimmel 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream.  I obviously do not agree, but that doesn’t mean that everyone will have a bad reaction to it.  I would certainly be wary if  you have sensitive skin.  Also, just to be on the safe side, be sure to purchase from a store that takes returns and keep your receipt.  I got my tube for 50% off, so it’s not a huge loss, but I am still going to return it.  For me, Rimmel 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream was an epic fail.

Springtime Giveaway Winners

We have a winner!  Actually, we have two.  It’s time to announce the winners of my Springtime Giveaway.  Thank you to all who entered.  If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry.  I’ve had several giveaways on this blog, so there will definitely be more chances to win in the future.  I had 17 people enter the Springtime Giveaway, so I assigned a number to their entry and used Random.org to pick a number for each prize.  Here’s the list:

1. Samantha G
2. Twirly Girly
3. Denise Perry
4. Fatima
5. Pastelhell
6. Totallychristie
7. Ashley
8. Lisa Carr
9. Dana Rodriguez
10. Jenna
11. Caroline
12. Kirsten H.
13. Kitty
14. cherry wu
15. yyzzaagg
16. Rebecca
17. Ebony Wright

The first winner according to random.org is Twirl Girly.  Congratulations!  Twirly Girly requested the Nuuk package.

The Nuuk Package

The Nuuk package includes:

• e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Gloss in Festive
• e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Pink Umbrellas
• Coastal Scents Go Palette in Nuuk

Next up we have our second winner according to Random.org who is number 15, yyzzaagg.  Yay!  Yyzzaagg will get the Cairo package.

The Cairo Package

The Cairo package includes:

• e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Gloss in Joyful
• e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Sangria Starters
• Coastal Scents Go Palette in Cairo

Thanks again to all of you who entered.  Congratulations to both Twirly Girly and Yyzzaagg!  I will be contacting you shortly to get your shipping information so that I can send out your prizes.  Happy Spring, everyone!

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation and Powder Review

Revlon Nearly Naked

It has taken me a really long time to figure out what I think of Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup Foundation and Pressed Powder.  I purchased these products in early to mid February and have been using them regularly, but hadn’t been ready to write the review until now.  I believe that the new Revlon Nearly Naked line offers some really good products, but they will not fit everyone’s needs.  Let me explain.

Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup Foundation

Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup Foundation is really lovely.  Per Revlon: “Revlon’s breakthrough Nearly Naked makeup balances skin and makeup so they work in perfect harmony. With buildable coverage and seamless blending, you are sure to cover flaws and perfect your skin’s tone and texture. No heavy cakey or greasy mess.  Makeup so refreshingly light, it melts right in, creating a fresh, even look. So the only one that knows you are wearing makeup is you.”

There are 16 shades of Nearly Naked foundation, and they are separated by warm and cool undertones.  The shades seem to run a little dark, so pay close attention to what shade you select. There is a pretty good selection of light and dark shades, but be careful of the overly yellow or pink undertones to some shades.  I chose the shade 150 Nude, which may be just a little too dark for me right now, but the lighter shades were either way too light or too yellow.  It’s not a bad match for my face, and it works fine as long as I am careful blending it out.  The foundation does not oxidize on me.

The consistency of Nearly Naked is pretty a runny liquid.  There is no noticeable smell.  It feels wonderful on the skin, so light that it really doesn’t feel like you are wearing makeup at all.  Revlon really got that part right.  It goes on very well and doesn’t feel like it sits on the skin, but instead blends easily and “disappears” into your skin.  Nearly Naked has a sort of satin finish, not too matte, but not too dewy either.  There are no shimmer particles like Revlon Photoready or some of the luminous foundation out there, but it’s not flat matter either.  I think Revlon did a really good job creating a foundation that looks like skin.  And, as an added bonus, Nearly Naked has SPF 20.

That’s not to say that it’s the perfect foundation.  First of all, Revlon failed in a big way by not providing a pump for such a liquidy foundation.  The poor packaging means that you are guaranteed to either contaminate your product or else risk wasting a lot of it by trying to pour it out.  Also, the cap sort of “locks” into place and can be a bit of a pain to lock and unlock when twisting it on and off.  The glass bottle is perfectly functional, but overall I was really not impressed with the packaging that Nearly Naked comes in.

Let’s talk coverage, which can be seen as a plus or a minus depending on your specific needs.  Revlon Nearly Naked is a sheer foundation, but it is buildable.  You can achieve light-medium coverage depending on how many layers that you apply.  For someone with good skin who wants that “no makeup” look, one layer just to even out your skin tone will work great.  For those with more issues to cover up, two (or more) layers is a must and use concealer.  Those with dark acne scars or major skin issues will probably find the foundation lacking, but then again they probably wouldn’t be looking at something called “Nearly Naked” in the first place.  Building up the foundation does not make it cakey or heavy.

Revlon Nearly Naked Swatched

You’ve seen in previous posts that I do have some skin issues that need covering, especially redness from my mild rosacea.  I have decided that as long as I don’t have any flare ups, I can get away with wearing Revlon Nearly Naked.  No, it doesn’t have the best coverage, but it’s enough for me on the weekends when I am running errands or am having a light makeup day.  Would I wear it for a night out?  No.  But it’s a great back up foundation when I want something light. Nearly Naked lasts a good 6-8 hours on me with no powder.  If I prime first and then set with powder it lasts very well all day long.  However, I would think that someone with oily skin would definitely want to prime and then set with powder.  I’m thinking that oily skin will break this foundation down after a while.

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

Speaking of powder, I also got the Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder.  This stuff is awesome!  I’m not sure what Revlon did to give the powder a creamy consistency, but it is super cool.  Let me be clear, Nearly Naked Pressed Powder is definitely a pressed powder, but it is not chalky or even powdery.  It’s wacky.  As someone with dry skin (who is addicted to powders), it’s hard to find a face powder that isn’t too dry looking.  Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder has a silky soft texture that blurs skin imperfections while still looking natural.  It’s extremely light, which may tempt you to use more  and more of the product, but really there is no need.  One layer does the job well of setting foundations and adding an extra touch of coverage.  Toss the little pillow of a sponge though.  It’s useless.  Also, the powder tends to run dark.  I have Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light, but it is more of a medium shade in my opinion.  I went ahead and got fair instead, though that one is a touch light for me.  *Sigh*  My coloring is kind of hard to match, no matter what the line.  There are only six shades of powder in the line, but hopefully Revlon will expand in the future.  I’ve tried the powder over a bunch of different foundations, and it is consistently good across the board.

So my final verdict is that Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup Foundation and Pressed Powder are both very good products if you are looking for light coverage and a “no makeup” look.  If you need more coverage that the lighter side of medium, then you may want to look elsewhere.  The lightweight feel makes this a great foundation for weekends or warmer days when you just don’t want to deal with makeup, but still want to even out your skin tone.  I definitely think that the Nearly Naked line is worth a try, especially if you can snag it on sale.

EDIT:  I forgot to mention that if you haven’t already, don’t forget to enter my Springtime Giveaway.  I’ll pick a winner on Monday, so there are still a few days left to enter.  🙂

Face of the Day (Catchy Title, I Know)

I’m testing some products, so I thought that I’d do a spur of the moment Face of the Day post.  I am sooooo tired today (which you can probably tell by the bags under my eyes that aren’t normally there).  😉  One of our balconies is having problems, so I’ve been dealing with inspectors and maintenance all day.  Our downstairs neighbor was having a similar problem, so I’ve already lived through endless hours of construction sounds right underneath me, and they haven’t even gotten to our balcony yet and probably won’t for a couple days.  Anyway, as far as today’s post… what can I say?  It’s my face.  🙂

Products used:

Face:

• Wet n Wild Coverall Cream Foundation
• e.l.f. Cream Blush in Temptress (contour)
• NYC Blushable Creme Stick in South St. Seashell
• Benefit Highbeam

Eyes:

• Revlon Photoready Eyeshadow Palette in Pop Art
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Taupe and in Black
• Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara
• NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Medium Brown
• Coastal Scents 88-Warm palette (brows)

Lips:

• Wet n Wild ColorIcon Lipliner pencil in Brandy Wine
• NYX Round Lipstick in Terra Cotta
• Tarte Maracuja Lip Gloss in Heath

I will be reviewing the newer products soon, so keep an eye out.  Some are keepers and some are not.  I hope that you liked this look.  Don’t forget to check my previous post and enter my Springtime Giveaway.

Springtime Giveaway

Springtime is upon us and I’m thinking that it’s a good time to do a giveaway.  In honor of the first day of spring, which is later this week, I am giving away two small packages of goodies for eyes and lips.  Both packages will include one Coastal Scents Go Palette, one e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Gloss, and one e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick.  Let’s take a closer look.

I have reviewed the e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Sticks here if you want to know more about those.  I think that they are great.  The e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Glosses are a similar style to the Stila Lip Glazes, only smaller.  They are closer to the size of the mini Lip Glazes that Stila sells in three packs.

Coastal Scents Go Palette in Sydney

I really love the Coastal Scents Go Palettes.  I’ve shared with you on this blog how good I think Coastal Scents shadows are for the price.  They preform really well for me, and are pigmented and long-lasting.  I like them so much that I gave one to both my mother and my sister this last Christmas, and they have both reported that they love them too.  The palette pictured above is in Sydney, and is from my collection.  I wanted you to be able to see inside one of the Go Palettes “in real life”.  The palettes are square, have a full mirror, and contain twelve dime sized shadows (the same size pans as the CS 88-palettes).  There are seven Go Palettes in the collection.  I have three of them, and have really enjoyed all three.  I am giving away two of these Go Palettes this week.

The Nuuk Package

The Nuuk package:

• e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Gloss in Festive
• e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Pink Umbrellas
• Coastal Scents Go Palette in Nuuk

CS Go Palette in Nuuk (photo from the CS website)

Coastal Scents Go Palette in Nuuk is inspired by Greenland.  From Coastal Scents: “Travel to an icy wonderland with our Nuuk Go Palette. This palette features twelve highly pigmented eye shadows inspired by the Aurora Borealis seen from Greenland’s capital city. Highlight your look using a range of shadows including snowy whites, iridescent pinks, soft lavenders, and pastel greens.”  The nine shadows are a pastel collection that is right on trend for this spring.  Though Nuuk will look good with any skin tone, these shades would look amazing on darker skin.  I paired the palette with pink lip products for a fresh spring look.

The Cairo Package

The Cairo package:

• e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Gloss in Joyful
• e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Sangria Starters
• Coastal Scents Go Palette in Cairo

CS Go Palette in Cairo (photo from the CS website)

Coastal Scents Go Palette in Cairo is inspired by Egypt.  From Coastal Scents: “Discover exotic beauty with our Cairo Go Palette. Containing twelve highly pigmented, Egyptian themed shadows to create an endless array of looks. With a combination of matte and shimmery neutrals, rich browns, and a sultry olive, you can sculpt irresistibly seductive Cleopatra inspired eyes for day or night.”  These desert-themed shades can create countless neutral looks that are always in season.  I paired Cairo with Nude-toned lip products to complete the look.

I think both winners will be very happy with either of these packages.  So, to enter:

1. You must be a subscriber to this blog (I check).  If you are not yet a subscriber, just enter your email address in the box on the right hand side of the page and hit the “Sign me up!” button.  A confirmation email will be mailed to you to verify that your address is a real one.  Once verified, you will receive email updates (you set the frequency) of any new posts so that you won’t miss a thing here on BiBB.
2. You must provide a valid email address when you win so that I can get your shipping details.
3. You must be willing to provide me with your mailing address so that I can ship your prize.  If you are under 18, you must have explicit permission from your parents to give out your address.  I don’t want any angry parents, so be honest kids.  You must have a mailing address in the US.  I’m really sorry to my international readers, but for now, I’m not prepared to ship cosmetics to a different country until I’ve done a little more research about the rules.
4. You must leave a comment on this entry telling me what you are looking forward to most this spring.  Also, tell me which prize you would prefer.  The first winner chosen will get their pick, the second winner will get the other package.

That’s it.  This giveaway will last for one week, and I will be picking a winner on Monday, March 25.  Good luck to all of you who enter.  🙂

 

Orange and Green St. Patrick’s Day Eye Look

Orange and Green St. Patrick’s Day Eye Look

St. Patrick’s Day is on Sunday, so I wanted to get this Orange and Green look up today.  It was very easy to do, and it’s all drugstore.  I pulled out my Wet n Wild Flora palette from last spring’s LE collection.  I used my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk as a base so that the colors would really pop.  It’s a slightly different twist on other looks I’ve seen using this palette.  Usually the green is on the outside of the lid, but I really like how this look came out.  I hope that you like it.

Have a happy St. Paddy’s Day!  Drink responsibly and be safe.  🙂

Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm

Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms

Jumbo lip pencils are having a huge moment right now, and it seems that every brand has their own version.  Today I am reviewing the Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms.  I have two shades, Mocha Twist and Plum Twist.  Here’s what Cover Girl has to say: “Twist up the color and glide on the shine. Treat your lips to a balm fortified with shea and mango butters for a smooth look with a hint of color.”

Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm

The Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms have a very similar look, size, and packaging to the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Strains.  The body of the tube is the same color across the whole line, and the caps indicate the shade.  Like many jumbo lip pencils, they twist up and do not need to be sharpened.  One extremely frustrating thing about the Jumbo Gloss Balms is that Covergirl did not include a shade name on the actual product.  Once the outer plastic is removed, the shade name is lost forever and only the shade number is left for reference.

The Jumbo Gloss Balms feel very good on the lips.  They are moisture rich and comfortable to wear.  I didn’t find them particularly heavy and they aren’t sticky in any way.  The shea and mango butters really work well for a soft, smooth application.  I thought that they were more comfortable than the Revlon Balm Stains, actually.  Plus, they are travel friendly and easy to use on-the-go.  I really want to like the Jumbo Gloss Balms, but I don’t.

Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms in 265 Mocha Twist (L) and 260 Plum Twist (R)

The real problem I have with the Jumbo Gloss Balms is that, at least the two shades that I have, are too sheer for me.  I know that they are supposed to be sheer, but I have two of the darker shades in the line and I really have to build them up to get any color pay-off.  On my hand, you can see some color with these heavy swatches.  However, on my lips it is a different story.

265 Mocha Twist

I went over my lips several times with Mocha Twist, but no matter how much I tried to build up the color it looks just like my lips.  I may as well be using chapstick.  Mocha Twist didn’t change my lip color at all.

260 Plum Twist

I got a bit more color pay-off with Plum Twist, but still not very much,  Again, this is me going over my lips several times trying to build up the shade.  It’s pretty, but having to pile on the product, of course, makes it feel much heavier on the lips and much less comfortable.

In addition, I can’t get the Jumbo Gloss Balms to last more than an hour on me before fading completely.  Maybe it’s my particular body chemistry, but these things will not stay put!  I feel like I have to constantly re-apply.  I’m sorry, but if I’m going to pay anywhere from $7-$9 (or more in some places), I want more from my lip products.  I have heard many fantastic reviews of the Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms, and they appeared in many monthly favorites posts.  Maybe other people have had better luck, or else really wanted extra sheer lip color.  For me, though, Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms are a fail.  It’s just not worth it for so little color combined with such short wear time.

How about you?  Have you tried Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balms?  What were your thoughts?

March 2013 Ipsy Bag

March 2013 Ipsy Bag

It’s Ipsy time again, and I have my March bag to show you.  The theme for March is “The Great Escape” and the bag is all about beauty on-the-go.  Can I just say that the nautical theme makeup bag is so freaking cute!  It’s not the best quality, but it is really adorable.  Anyway, let’s get into the goods.

GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette

GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette:  “The GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette was made exclusively for ipsy Glam Bag subscribers. The magnetic base is the perfect spot to store pan-only eyeshadows (2 of which are included in this Glam Bag!), blushes & bronzers, or whatever you need for perfect for quick touch ups on the go! Whether you are headed off to spring break or just need a cute and clever way to store products in your bag, you can create the perfect makeup look and take it with you with your exclusive GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette.”  I’m not sure how to price this one out.  The regular Glam RX Touch Up palette that this Freestyle palette was modeled after retails for $16.50.  In addition to the magnetic palette, it normally comes with a top layer containing makeup for touch ups.  I’m going to gauge this is worth $8.00, since we got half of the original product.

Yaby Eyeshadow refills

Yaby Eyeshadow refill:  “Whether you want to make a dramatic statement or just add a veil of color to your eyes, the yaby eyeshadow refills are extremely easy to work with. Can be used wet or dry and the smooth texture allows blending with ease. All shadows are vegan friendly and the pans are reusable for mixing.”  Retails for $3.15 each at yabycosmetics.com.  I believe that these are full-sized refills.

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist:  “Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist tones, hydrates, and refreshes your face and hair while on the go, anytime of the day. Hydrate with the refreshing blends of organic juices for a fresh, radiant complexion.”  Retails at $22 for 6.75 oz at juicebeauty.com.  Sample size 1oz, worth $3.27

LA Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover 8ct Pouch

LA Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover 8ct Pouch:  “LA Fresh Travel Lite portable towlette wipes are perfect for jetsetters, go-getters, outdoor enthusiasts and multi-taskers everywhere. Towlette packets are small in size, designed for practicality and are easy to apply discreetly. Each item is carry-on friendly and slim enough to slip into a pocket, purse or wallet. Perfectly portable, La Fresh makes beauty a breeze when you’re on-the-go.”  8-pack retails for $1.99 at lafreshgroup.com

All in all, my grand total worth of March’s Ipsy bag is $19.56.  It’s more than my $10 subscription fee, but not by nearly as much as usual.  I usually get five items in my bag, but this month was only four.  I’m a little ambivalent about this month’s bag.  On one hand, I’m very excited about the small magnetic palette that I received.  I’ve been thinking about getting a Z-palette or something similar to de-pot my drugstore palettes.  It’s great to have a small “tester” magnetic palette to see what I think before I invest in a larger one.  Plus, this is the perfect size for my Coastal Scents samples and these Yaby shadows.   On the other hand, the bag overall is a bit underwhelming.  I have no interest in the LA Fresh wipes at all.  Yaby is a Canadian brand, so even if I like them, I probably won’t purchase because shipping to the US is like $25.  I’m interested in trying the Juice Beauty hydrating mist, but I still haven’t really made up my mind if I like March’s bag or not.  It’s certainly not the best bag that I have received from Ispy, but this is my sixth month and the first one that didn’t excite me.  That’s a pretty good record in my opinion.  I can’t love them all.

How about you?  For those who are Ipsy subscribers, did you like this month’s bag?  let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

EOTD: Peacock Inspired Eyes

Peacock Inspired Eyes

I didn’t have much going on today because I am taking it easy after almost giving myself a concussion yesterday.  I slammed my head against the corner of my kitchen cabinet.  So, since I was just kickin’ it, I thought that I’d do an EOTD post.  I’ve been wanting to do a peacock inspired look for a few weeks, but hadn’t gotten around to it.  I used golds, greens, and blues.  This was me just experimenting, but I really like the way it came out.  I played up the green today, but if I try this again, I may bolster the blue.  This look would be a great one for winged eyeliner and false lashes, but since I was just playing, I kept it simple.  I hope that you like it.  🙂