Review: Pixi Eyeshadow Pencils


Pixi-Holiday-2012-Eyeshadow-PencilsI’m not quite sure how this happened but I received another March Glossybox. I believe it was because they had shipped my box out before I had a chance to delete my duplicate account. I was happy that I received yet another Pixi eyeshadow pen. I browsed through Target to do price checking and I will say I would never pay $18 for eyeshadow pens but I will say if you ever get your hands on one they are one of the best eye products I have tried. Application is easy and smooth as the color dispenses with ease onto your eyes. While I have very oily skin, the eyeshadow pencils lasts longer than my other eyeshadows that I have. Both of the colors in the picture are the ones I have tried. Usually pink makes my eyes look bloodshot and jut downright horrible, but was delighted with the pearly color this eye pencil delivered. It gives me a very ethereal feel without looking gaudy and overdone. The gray is also a very admirable color, especially if you want to go for a more smokey, night look. I’m grateful to Glossybox for introducing me to such a great product. I don’t believe it is worth the price, however. Perhaps Ebay sells them for a more affordable price.

Maybelline Baby Lips Vs. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment


fresh-sugar-lip-treatment-spf-15 I was at the Sephora store the other days and have heard rave reviews about Fresh Sugar lip treatment balms. Unfortunately, I was not willing to pay $22 for lip balm. Fortunately I found two small deluxe sizes on Ebay for the price of one. The packaging itself draws you in and is definitely made for the modern day chic and fashionistas of society. Never has lip balm looked so appealing. It has a minty smell and glides on smoothly leaving your lips supple and soft. If there is one lip balm that could compare it would be Maybelline Baby Lips. For only $4, Baby lips also delivers smooth coverage which provides moisture to your lips and a sheer tint (depending on which one you buy). tumblr_m7h67wVTru1qdetvyI’m currently obsessed with the coral colored limited edition Baby Lips shade. The Baby Lips balms do not have a distinct smell as far as I can tell. Maybelline stands up to the higher brands and the packaging is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye despite its more plastic appearance. Baby lips will always remain my favorite but perhaps I’ll invest in a full size Sugar Lip Treatment one day.

Review: Nars Orgasm Illuminator Vs. Maybelline Bouncy Blush Rose Petal


ImageSo, I just recently received my Nars Orgasm Illuminator in the mail and was able to apply some to my cheeks in the car on my mad dash to work while my co-worker drove. It’s a little sticky but not as sticky as Tarte cheek stain blush. I love the color but it’s just too sticky for me to want to use it as an everyday staple. It’s as if a slug slimed on your cheeks. The color is very subtle but gives your skin a dewy, natural appearance. 515vagIJbnL._SY300_While I got a great deal on a tube of the Nars illuminator on Ebay the price may or may not be worth it too you. A more economic alternative is Maybelline Bouncy Blush in Rose Petal. It also gives you a nice soft, pink flush. There is little difference between the two. The Nars may be a little warmer but they both deliver just enough color to your cheeks to liven them up without being overdone.

Review: Be a Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks


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I know I have posted non-stop about products I rave about so here is a blush I’m not too fond of. You have to understand that when it comes to mascara, blush, and eyeliner, I am excessively obsessed. I am constantly looking for the newest dewy pink blush and blackest black mascara. When I found out that this month I was going to be receiving excess amounts of blush I was excited beyond belief. The color of the blush itself is beautiful and the pictures online do not do it justice. However, I recommend using as little as possible on the brush. I made the mistake of believing it was like every other blush and only provided a subtle shade of color. A swipe on the check and my cheeks looked as pink as a Raggedy Anne doll. I had to blend, blend, blend to make it look publicly descent. The color is a brighter pink which is not what I wear in daily life. I prefer the subtle light pink shades. The price for a full size blush is $16. $16? I think that is a little excessive for a small amount of blush. I will not be purchasing this item in the future but I will experiment with what I have.

Boxes Boxes Everywhere


Beauty boxThe beauty box phenomenon has enabled women from all walks of life to access the world of designer brand makeup and luxury products for a fraction of the price. Beauty box subscriptions can be purchased for a monthly or yearly fee and each box includes an assortment of 4-5 luxury items which can be tried and experimented with. This can open people up to new products and brands they may not have been aware of or never would have thought to purchase on a daily basis. Many beauty boxes range from $10 to $21 per month which is what I pay for my current subscriptions. I am currently subscribed to three beauty box services which include Glossybox, Birchbox and Ipsy. I have found different aspects I like and dislike in each. Personally, my favorite beauty box subscription is Glossybox. It is $21 per month and includes 5 deluxe sized beauty products. Many of the products included in the Glossybox are full-sized and allow the consumer to determine accurately how effective a product works and if it proves to be an investment. While Glossybox does not have a vast array of beauty brands like others I have seen, I have never been unsatisfied with my boxes. The only problems I find with this service is their customer service is mediocre at best and take days to return inquiries. Also, shipping takes forever and packages never arrive until 10 days later. But this is most beauty box subscriptions I have observed.

Birchbox is a $10 monthly service and includes 5 beauty products/food goods in each box. They have a vast array of beauty participants compared to Glossybox. However, most of the samples are very small and do not allow the consumer to gain an exact picture of how a product works. They are something you could get at a beauty counter at the department store or in a hotel room. That’s what you get for $10 I suppose. Much like Glossybox, it can take up to 12 days for the box to arrive in the mailbox. I have, however, never been disappointed with the contents of my boxes. birchbox

Ipsy is still yet to be determined but will say it ranks high in shipping services. I just received my first one this week and was not dazzled but not heartbroken. Most of the brands I have never heard of and the all pink theme was less than riveting. Pink eye shadow does not do wonders for my eyes. It makes my baby blues look bloodshot and less than dazzling. I do like that each month the products are encased in a custom makeup bag that coincides with each theme.

The verdict: Glossybox reigns over all three but Birchbox does have potential as well. Ipsy is still in question.

Review: Boots No 9 Silky Leg Oil


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No 9 Silky Leg Oil is one of my newest discoveries that I have fallen in love with. The oil itself comes in a spray bottle, giving the user control of how much or how little they want dispensed onto their body. I personally use this on my legs almost every night and they have never looked better. While this is not as sticky as some other leg oils I have tried, it is recommended on the box that it not come into contact with clothing. I apply three pumps to each leg per night and cover my legs with old pajama bottoms to avoid rubbing it all over my bed covers. In the morning, I have nice, smooth legs that are not oily and sticky. The downside is the price. I’m sure for $10 you could purchase a big bottle of Palmer’s body oil and a spray bottle for almost half the price. However, Palmer’s is very sticky and gets all over everything even when it is not being used. It leaked all over my sketch book while standing upright. Somehow wiping the bottle down did no justice. A little goes a long way so I believe it is worth the price. This is another purchase I will continue to invest in.

On a side note, I hope and pray my Birchbox comes tomorrow! I can’t wait to try all the goodies they put in it this time. Glossybox is the one I am the most excited about each month though. Nothing trumps Glossybox in my mind. I may have to compare and contrast some of the different beauty box subscriptions.

Review: OPI Can’t Let Go


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This is my first OPI nail polish ever purchased and I have to say it is one of the most beautiful colors I have ever painted on my fingers. It is a deep royal purple and makes me think of mermaids and Ariel for some reason. This nail polish in particular is what they call Liquid Sand. It glides on your fingers like regular nail polish but dries in the texture of sand. I can’t help but rub and fondle my fingers which distracts me from getting work done but it’s worth it. I like the fact that it also has glitter bits in it as well. If you are not a glittery person, the glitter isn’t noticeable at first because it kind of blends in with the polish. Once you take a shower, however, the glitter will turn silver and it’s quite noticeable. I purchased a bottle of this on Ebay for about $8.00. It is a purchase I plan on making again once my bottle runs out. I recently purchased Nicole by OPI nail polishes at Five Below. I don’t remember the colors but I know they looked pretty awesome. I hope I love them as much as I do this one. Now I just have to wait for the polish on my fingers to peel off. I’ve never been a big nail painter because I usually either nick all my nails, destroying the coat of polish I just painted on or my dogs bite my hand, chipping away at it. This polish makes for a luxurious and pleasant painting experience. The color, again, blows my mind. I’ve been a purple fanatic for ages now. I have color phases and purple never seemed to go away. I’ve started getting into Petrol, which is a teal bluish color. And I will never stop loving lime green.

Maybe not goodbye yet


For all of those who are interested in my Tumblr site the name is Liza Jane Smith: Reinvented or look under my username: Liza Jane Smith. My parents nicknamed me Liza Jane and I added Smith on the end to make it sound cooler and more rocker chic. The posts I have up now are just little snippets of writing that pop in my head. I’ve listened to Gin Wigmore’s new album which is mostly where my inspiration came from. Music in general gives me inspiration to write. I’m one of the happiest people around, so it’s strange that most of my writing is what I would call “morbid”. My mother always said I was a morbid child. I will say I do have a fascination with tormented souls. Tormented characters make for a better read. Stories about ubber happy people and obvious plotlines kind of bore me. Take Twilight, for example. I’ve never read the 4th book (I’m scared to even know what’s in it) but I do know that once Bella becomes a vampire she is invincible to all other vampire powers. Obvious and boring right? It takes skill to go to the dark places of the soul and bring those feelings to life on paper. That’s my opinion at least.

Secondly, I thought about it and although I’m not planning on doing fashion posts I’m going to switch my focus to reviewing beauty products. I originally was not keen on a lot of beauty hype but ever since I started receiving beauty boxes such as Glossybox and Birchbox I’ve been craving non-stop for more beauty samples. I have to say Ebay is my heaven because I can get products for discounted prices and my bank account does not weep as much if I decide I don’t like something. I have found, however, that where there is a high-end beauty product there is a drugstore alternative that is not only cheaper but possibly better. Fashion and beauty mainly revolve around branding. The product may claim it’s made of the finest materials or ingredients but most of the time I do not see a difference. I will say the Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein dresses I scored at Ross are made of thicker material less likely to rip and fit like a glove. So in some instances, designer brands are better (most of the time no).

I have tested a bunch of products already so look out for a bunch of beauty reviews coming your way. Since I have a Tumblr dedicated to solely writing, it would be kind of weird if I just broke out into random reviewing of products.

So, my friends, it seems it’s not goodbye after all.

Sad Goodbyes


Greetings to those who still read my blog. Well, it’s been a whirlwind. I graduated from college 2 Decembers ago and now work at a mortgage company, far from what I went to college for. I’ve decided to leave fashion behind and just stick to writing. I plan to start a Tumblr site solely for writing mini stories just to stay fresh. Perhaps I didn’t come into blogging at first with the best intentions and is why it wasn’t as noticed as I would have liked it to be. I’ll still leave it up as a reminder of my writing journey. Perhaps I’ll come back to it someday and do it for me and not notoriety.

It’s been a great journey. Thank you everybody!

Visually Dynamic


I know I know. I’ve been completely horrible at updating my blog. I’m surprised people haven’t become bored with it already. Ever since my photographer left it’s been hard doing outfit posts. Need to become more diligent in finding a new photographer. I have so many new clothing items to show off but no way to show them off other than photographing them in a heap on the floor. It’s been a few weeks since my church’s annual women’s conference commenced but I thought I would post up a photo of the merchandise I picked up. I love that the tank is scrunched in the back and is a rather slouchy and comfortable knit tank. I recently started appreciating slouchy tops as opposed to fitted tops which I am more accustomed to wearing. There is something about slouchy tops that make you want to act more modelesque when you are walking around town. I suppose it’s a way of revealing some skin but not too much as to become too risque. I also have a great appreciation for long, rounded off tops long enough to wear with leggings. If it wasn’t for the fact that my tops include striped sequins and silver threading you would think I was wearing menswear without pants. I’m also very excited about having my first fashion illustration book. Since I’m currently out of a job I had to beg my mother and convince her to buy it for me. And of course I’m out of $30 bucks the next time I receive pay but it is so worth it. I’m currently working on drafting and improving my original designs once more. I’ve gone through so many drafts it’s practically ridiculous. I’m very sad Jane by Design ended so soon but I’m very excited that it’s going to be airing again June 5th! It’s rapidly become my favorite show on TV. Hopefully I’ll become better about posting in the future.

The drawings in this book are absolutely beautiful and crazy. It’s amazing how artists can create such beautiful, realistic pieces on paper.

A drawing I’m currently working on and reinventing all of my original designs into something more realistic looking. The models head for now is horrendous and I really need to do something about my monster fingers I seemed to have produced. They make it look so easy.

Last but not least the knit tank I described earlier. Simply adore this tank. Slouchy and perfect for going out or staying inside.

 

 

 

 

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