FOTD with My Darling Naked Palette

Hello Ladies,

I love UD Naked Palette so much that sometimes it is hard to go back to the bright world of colors. And yet I succumb to its charms day after day, without even missing my darling Sleek palettes. Today is no exception. 

 I'm a little unhappy with my lips, but I think it is because of the flash. In real life the lip liner wasn't as visible. Maybe it is really ok, and I'm just making a fuss over nothing but I really don't like the look of lip liner being different from lipstick (even if they are in similar colors).

 I think this eyebrow shade looks much better than here (I used the lightest one) but I am still not entirely happy with it.  I don't know why really, since it's not like I am a natural redhead anyways... I think I want the shade to be in between NYX brow powder and this... but if I mix them together, it would be too dark.

Face:

• Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer.
• Covergirl NatureLuze Foundation in 310 Flax.
• Maybelline FitMe Concealer in 15 Fair.
• Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in Transparent.
• GOSH Brow Kit - used Light because I'm trying all the colors.
• Collection 2000 Shimmer & Shade as blush.

Eyes:

• URBAN DECAY Primer Potion in Eden.
• UD Naked Palette - used Sin on the brow bone, Sidecar on the lid and Hustle on the crease.
• Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Black.

Lips:

• Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Berry Sorbet.

What do you think? Are you as obsessed with Naked Palette as I am? 

~ Lyuba

P.S. Please check out my first ever giveaway and blog sale! :) 

Silent Treatment FOTD

Hello Ladies, 


For the past few days I've been in love with Wet n Wild Silent Treatment ColorIcon palette, and here is FOTD using it. I have to say something about photos, since they look different to my usual photos. My husband took these, outside using no flash. So although the colors don't look quite so bright, I think this is a pretty good representation of how it looks in 'real  life'. 

Face:

• Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer.
• Covergirl NatureLuze Foundation in 310 Flax.
• Maybelline FitMe Concealer in 15 Fair.
• Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in Transparent.
• GOSH Brow Kit - used Medium because I'm trying all the colors.
• Collection 2000 Shimmer & Shade as blush.

Eyes:

• URBAN DECAY Primer Potion in Eden.
• Wet n Wild ColorIcon palette Silent Treatment.
• Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Black.

Lips: 

• Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Sweet Ginger.
 

I'm in a serious need of hair cut and new color. For some reason my hairdresser is refusing to cut my hair as short as I want, I think I need a new hairdresser lol.

I actually followed the instruction on palette (for once) and used all 3 colors as instructed. My eyebrows are too dark, but that's because I'm trying out different colors from GOSH Brow Kit.

I didn't wear any eyeliner but I rather like the look because it is not my usual style. :)

What do you think?  Have you tried any of the Wet n Wild ColorIcon palettes?

~ Lyuba

P.S. Don't forget to enter my 50 Followers Giveaway and check out my first ever blog sale!

THREE Month Worth of Empties

Yup, you read it right! THREE MONTH worth of empties! I barely had any in March, then a lot in April, and now it's the end of May, but since I wasn't blogging for the past 2 month I have quite a stash going.

1. TRESemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo (2) - love this stuff, it's a real life savior.

2. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush and Diva - Blush is my favorite and I will buy and buy again. Both TRESemme and Batiste work the same for me, but Batiste is about half the price of TRESemme. Guess which one I'll buy again lol?

3. Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner (2) - my go to toner, 'nuff said.

4. Almay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads - they used to be my go to eye makeup remover pads, now I like to try new stuff. But I will always come back to them, although I prefer oily ones (bought oil-free by mistake lol).

5.  GOSH Velvet Touch Foundation Primer - love this stuff. I will stock up on it before I leave UK.

6. Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation in Ivory - it looks like there is a little left, but no matter how much I try I can't get it out. So I consider it finished lol. So far this is my favorite foundation, I will stock up next time I'm makeup shopping. :)

7. Ukrainian  Lipbalm "Tender" with jojoba oil and vitamin E - one of the best I used. I wish I had an easy access to Ukrainian stuff, because as of right now I have to wait till I go visit again :( And my friend will have problems mailing those to me because of stupid people at Ukrainian post offices that don't read rules and just refuse to mail stuff.

8. Simple Repair Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream - well it promises to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles and it does none of it. My main concern is fine lines under my eyes, which drive me crazy and I was hoping this would help reduce them at least a little? Tiny bit? But it did nothing. It still hydrated my skin, and didn't irritate (but nothing irritates my skin) so I MIGHT buy it again. Or I could try another eye cream from Simple line that doesn't promise to reduce wrinkles, so I won't be disappointed.

9. Simple Radiance Brightening Eye Make-Up Remover Pads - review coming soon, I just need to buy a new package so I could photograph it (shame on me). But I can say I love it, with very minor cons.

10. Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Smoother Skin Retexturizing Primer - I reviewed it before. I simply love the packaging, so I'm going to keep it for something else.

11. TRESemme Healthy Volume Shampoo & Conditioner - I used it, and used it, and used it some more for several month but finally I had to say enough. Even if they are almost half full still, I couldn't keep using them. They are CRAP!! My hair was always so tangled that it felt like I didn't brush it for several days. Other than that, I guess they did a decent job of cleaning my hair, but tangled hair is a big pet peeve of mine so because of that I will never ever buy them again. So even if they are not technically empty, they will be hitting a trash can right after I'm done writing this post.

12.  Softsoap Juicy Pomegranate & Mango Infusions Moisturizing Body Wash - this is the stuff that I keep coming back to whenever I can't decided which body wash to get. Since all of them do the same job on me, I go by smell as the deciding factor and this smells simply divine! I will always buy it!

13. Spa Paradisa Revive Your Skin Watermelon & Pink Grapefruit Shower Wash - it smelled great so I got it. :)

14. The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Body Scrub - it smelled divine, so I was very happy when I picked it up half off after Christmas. Not so much after I actually used it. It felt like spreading a non-seedless jelly over your body, except that I think real jelly would exfoliate better. It did nothing! I didn't see or feel any improvement in my skin. I will never buy it again, no matter how nice it smells!

What did you use up in May? (or April & March ;P) Let me know in the comments below, I love reading these kinds of posts.

~ Lyuba

P.S. Blog sale is coming tomorrow! :)
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Review: Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Smoother Skin Retexturizing Primer

Hello Ladies,

This Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Smoother Skin Retexturizing Primer (what a mouthful huh?) was very high on my TO BUY list ever since I swatched it in Superdrug. Because it felt so nice and looked so cute :) Yes, I'm a sucker for packaging.... guilty as charged.

I wanted to try this primer with The Eraser foundation, but I just so happened to get me the US version of The Eraser and didn't need the UK one. Would you be interested in me comparing those two (US and UK one)? I already can see some differences in the range itself, for example I believe that US has more shades and they are possibly named differently. And their primer is in the tube instead of cool glass container.

I bought it from Superdrug because none of my local Boots had it yet at the time, but right now both stores have it on sale for £7.99 although I paid the full price of £9.99. Like I said, I was in love with the texture and the packaging. I'm not a fan of luxurious makeup (because of the price tag), but this primer feels very luxurious to me. Probably because of the sheer weight of the container. 


So here is what they say: 

Our gel formula retexturizes skin, creating a perfectly smooth, visibly transformed complexion. Our gel formula instantly lifts and diminishes the look of pores; retexturizing skin’s surface for the smoothest looking complexion – with or without make-up.

And this is what I say: 
First I would like to mention to price. £9.99 for a measly 7ml when normally primers come at around 30ml (or is it me who just happens to buy those at 30ml?) is a little steep in my book. Just to illustrate my point, the US equivalent of this primer comes in a 27ml tube. What's up with that Maybelline? 

I love the gel formula and it is clear in color, so you can't see it on the skin once applied. I had a lot of fun photographing it because the texture was coming out sooooo nicely.

See? You can't see it all, but it is there! And not even blended.

I applied it with a brush from this set by dipping the brush in the primer and then transferring  it to my face in circular motion. I have to dip it in several times to get the coverage I like, especially paying attention to the nose area since that's where my foundation usually looks the worst. 

This is NOT how much I use for my whole face. I dip it in several times

I didn't notice any visual difference in my complexion after applying this primer but then it's not like I have a lot of wrinkles and large pores yet. But my face did feel very smooth and nice to touch. However, my face feels exactly the same when I use GOSH Velvet Touch Foundation Primer. They are both very similar in consistency, except GOSH one is more runny when Maybelline is more solid.

The foundation glided on top of this primer very smoothly and lasted the usual amount of time it lasts for me - the whole day with minimal powdering on the nose throughout the day. I also cannot comment on how it would feel for someone with dry or oily skin, since I have a normal skin. I do believe that it might be better for dry to normal skin because it felt very moisturizing.


Overall I am impressed with this primer, but I will not buy it again. Why? Because to me GOSH Velvet Touch works in exactly the same way and for £12.99 I get 30ml of product vs. £9.99 for only 7ml with Maybelline. Yes, it lasts a long time and a little goes a long way, but so does GOSH and at 30ml it will last a LOT longer. 


What do you think? Have you tried Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Smoother Skin Retexturizing Primer? 


~ Lyuba

Holiday Haul

Hello ladies,

I consider myself a pretty patient person. If not, how else would you explain me being able to buy cosmetics and not use it for a while, even if wanting to a lot. I have some stuff that I bought back in November but have not touched because first I wanted to use up some existing things I have, and now I need to take photos before using it. I'm talking about Benefit's Her Name Was Glowla set, but it is not pictured because it is not technically a part of my holiday haul. 

Holiday season is a crazy time for my family because our birthdays happen in December, then of course Christmas and New Year, and then our anniversary is on January 3rd. This year is a little bit less crazy because my husband is away and I'm all alone with cats (and all they care about are some yummy munchies), plus he got a big gift that combined birthday, Christmas and anniversary gifts so I didn't have to think hard about what to get him. So I got some stuff for myself instead haha. Or asked for cosmetics as a gift.

FRONTCOVER To Go set
On my birthday (December 27) I met up with some friends at Bluewater mall but little did I know that it is THE infamous Boxing Day. I was told that it is the equivalent of US Black Friday. Well either way, it is also my birthday and I was determent to do something fun and going shopping is always fun in my book. Even if I had to drive for over an hour and dodge crowds. But anyways, enough of my ramblings. I wanted to try Frontcover makeup for a while, and this set was 1/2 at Boots so I figured I had a right to pick it up. I swatched some eye shadows while getting ice cream with my friends, and we were totally impressed. Now I just need to work up the courage to take more detailed photos and review this, so I could be freeeeeeeee to use it.

 Sigma Complete Kit with Brush Roll in Pink
I got a giftcard from my in-laws... which could only be used in US. This is a whole separate rant that everyone who knows me already heard all about. Anyways, after trying to use it in Bluewater with no success (I had to try!!!), I decided to go the trusted route of ordering something online. Sigma had a sale on their brushes at the time, so I ordered Complete Kit with Brush Roll in Pink, which I probably would have never ordered if I had to buy it myself. Can't help it, as much as I understand the need for good brushes I just can't shell out $80 at one time :( I got the set in pink, but I do not see it on the website anymore so maybe they discontinued it.

tokidoki Robbery Palette
Remember my rant about some websites not shipping to APO addresses? The stuff you see from now one are the ones I really, desperately wanted from Sephora but had no way or ordering them myself. So I gave a list to my brother of stuff I wanted and he got me all these stuff!!!! I think I'll do that from now on, just give him a list haha so he doesn't have to think so hard. :P So here is tokidoki Robbery Palette which I really really really wanted. I don't have any idea who tokidoki is/are, some kind of Japanese cartoon? (speaks the person obsessed with Japan) Nor do I really care. I've heard the name before, but other than that I had no idea about them. But when I came across their makeup range on Sephora I was blown away by the cuteness! The box is metal too! :) And the design is so cute :) Ok, I'm in a cuteness overload happy land right now.

Stila limited edition Travel Palettes
Ever since I saw these I've wanted the Russian palette. Yup, because I have Russian in me. Too bad for me though because it was sold out everywhere except Sephora. I could get Tokyo and Aspen on Ulta.com but why would I order from there when Sephora had 4 of them, including Moscow? So my brother got them for me :) They are sooo cute in person, although smaller than I expected. If I like these enough I will hunt down the other two on eBay, for collection purposes.

Yup that is my kitty trying to steal some makeup ;P

Tarte Bronze Smoky Eye kit
I've been wanting to try Tarte cosmetics for a while, so I just added random stuff to my list. Actually I added a LOT of random items, not necessary Tarte, to have some element of surprise but this is what my brother choose for me so I could finally try it. I don't see this set on Sephora.com anymore so I guess they sold out. So far I'm excited about everything except bronzer and possibly the lip stain because it is very brown. But I'm going to try it and see how it looks on me since I never ever tried brown for a lip color.

 Maybelline Instand Anti-Age primer and Sleek Molten Metal
These are not part of my holiday haul, but stuff I picked up on Saturday. I'm very excited about Maybelline's Instant Anti-Age primer because I also ordered an American equivalent of it. I guess it is part of the Eracer foundation line which just now been released in UK (I went to 3 Boots stores, and 2 Superdrug stores before I found it in the 3rd Superdrug) but it had been released in US for a while. I finally ordered myself one with the primer that comes with it, otherwise I would have bought a foundation too. I'm can't wait to receive it in the mail so I can compare to, mostly because shade names and numbers for foundation are different for US and UK. Call me clueless, but I thought that the shade names and numbers will be the same. Guess not lol.

Next is Sleek Molten Metal which I wanted to try ever since I saw a preview of it in December. I had to go to 3 Superdrugs before I found it too! Not much to say here other than I never used cream eye shadows so it will be a new experience to me. 

Have any of you picked up any good stuff lately?

~ Lyuba