Beauty for the Economically Challenged

Finally, a new makeup post! Yay!!!

I like to keep this blog positive, but just for one second…

You know when you are going to see some people you really hate, maybe because they’ve done you wrong in the past, or made you miserable somehow, and so you know you need to look really good? Well, that is what caused this makeup look. I love to say that happiness is the best revenge. ;)

Face: Revlon Colorstay Foundation, Revlon Photoready Concealer, Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Powder Foundation, ELF Studio Blush in Candid Coral

Lips: NYX Round Lipstick in Gardenia. I ended up blotting this a lot to tone it down (after I took the photo). It looked a lot better then. The lipstick is super glossy, and so it made my already full lips look even bigger, which then made my relatively small eyes look even smaller, so toning down the lipstick helped a lot. I also used ELF’s Lip Lock Pencil.

Eyes: I used ELF’s Eyelid Primer. Then I used the Naked 2 palette; Suspect on the lid, Snakebite in the crease and outer corner, Foxy on the browbone, and Bootycall in the inner corner. Then; ELF’s Liquid Eyeliner Pen and Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara.

For my hair, I used my Proliss 1” curling wand; more on that in a later post.

xox

Noelle Alysse

The middle part. I don’t know about you, but I find it pretty daunting. I have a high forehead so it’s hard to pull off. In fact, I’m still not sure that I pull it off.
But, it’s pretty popular right now and beautybycolleen rocks a middle part every day and so she inspired me to try it. Also, Kim Kardashian wears one and we all know that she’s perfect.

So, I decided to use my new curling wand to do waves so that it would stay full all day and would be palatable for whenever I looked in the mirror. If you want a tutorial for these, I’d be glad to do one, just let me know. :)

For makeup, I used Wet n Wild’s three-color eyeshadow palette in Silent Treatment, Hard Candy’s Stay in Line eyeliner in Black Pearl, Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator mascara in Black, and ELF’s Candid Coral blush. I’m also wearing colorless Gap vanilla lip balm.

xox

Noelle Alysse 

I just saw it today and yelled “OH MY GOD NO WAY!” except I was all alone and it was really embarrassing but I don’t care because I’m so happy.

And then a bought some things….

expect a post. :)

xox

This was a request from a follower, but I’m really glad they requested it because this nail polish is perfect for a review.

Aside from the obvious draw of it being $2, this nail polish has a lot going for it.
First off, the color is absolutely beautiful. It’s bright, but it has just enough pink in it to not be totally offensive to your eyes.
The picture is after two coats, but I really prefer to do thin coats, so if you play your cards right you could definitely be fine with one coat.
It also dried really fast, which is always nice. It stayed put really well too, a lot better than expected for a $2 product. The formula was thick but not too thick, and just felt really good to put on, if that makes sense. It was nice and smooth and glide-y (haha).

(I got this image from E.L.F.’s website, I would have taken my own but I’m writing this at home and I left the bottle at school).

My own picture is much more true to color than the picture of the bottle.

The only fault I can find with this product is the handle of the brush. As you can see from the picture, it’s really thick so it’s kind of difficult to grasp in your hand. But it’s easy to get past.

Overall, I give this an A- and I would definitely recommend it!

xox

Noelle Alysse 

As many of you know, I recently went crazy on the Eyes Lips Face website and did a haul on all my new swag.

I told myself that I was going to do all requested reviews (obviously) and also do a review of the thing I used the most in the first week.

Without a doubt, I used the Glossy Gloss in Ballet Slippers the most (pretty much every day to be honest).

Part of my love for this product is just the title of the color; “Ballet Slippers.” I’ve been a ballet dancer since I was five, and the gloss really is a very similar color to the ballet slippers I often wore. It’s a kind of muted beige-y pink, and I think it’s gorgeous.

I know that a lot of people get frustrated with E.L.F.’s Glossy Gloss because it’s sticky. I personally don’t mind. It is sticky, but it’s not too bad, and to me it just comes with the territory of a really shiny gloss. And when it’s sticky, it has more staying power than a watery gloss. This one isn’t sticky enough to bother me at all, and it definitely lasts a pretty good amount of time.

The best part is, my lips themselves feel soft even after the gloss is gone. I’ve always hated the never-ending struggle between balm and gloss, and this solves that for me. 

I also have a lot of natural color to my lips (you can tell a lot more by looking at the close-up picture), so a lot of glosses lose their color when I put them on. This one really doesn’t do that as much as others. (For girls who have my problem: try a light layer of concealer over your lips before your gloss!)

This color can’t necessarily be worn with everything. If your skin tone is like mine, it can wash you out if you’re wearing white or really light neutrals. A healthy dose of blush helps too! :)

The only fault I find with this product is the applicator. It’s a brush, and I just personally don’t like that as much. Most people don’t mind that though.

This can be found for $3 (!!!!) on E.L.F.’s website or in some stores such as Target and K-Mart.

Overall, I give this product a B+.

Questions? Comments? You know what to do!

xox

Noelle Alysse

As many of you know, E.L.F. recently had a free shipping promotion, and I took full advantage of it!

This is what I got:

• “Warm” eyeshadow palette: I kind of already regret getting this, I haven’t used it yet but I just plain don’t need it. I just got excited because it was only $5.
• Lip Lock Pencil: I LOVE THIS. I went on a day trip to NYC which included 8 hours of bus travel, lots of eating, and also sleeping on the bus, and my very red lipstick didn’t bleed at all!
• Blush in “Candid Coral”: I think I like this so far. I’ve heard it’s a dupe for NARS Orgasm blush, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. I’ve had a hard time getting enough on my face but I think the brush I’m using is too soft. The color is great!
• Nail polish in “Mango Madness”: I haven’t tried this yet, but I swatched it on the back of my hand and it stayed on my skin through a long, hot shower so I’m impressed so far.
• All Over Color Stick in “Pink Lemonade”: Haven’t tried this either, but I’m a little scared to because when I swatched it on my hand it seemed REALLY PIGMENTED and bright so I’m not quite sure how I’m going to use it without looking like a clown. I’ll keep you posted, haha.
• Flat top powder brush: Love in a brush. So nice.
• Eyeshadow “C” brush: Haven’t used it yet, but I’m sure it’s great.
• Glossy Gloss in “Tangerine Tango”: I really went out on a limb when I bought this because I know how popular tangerine is getting, but I also am not known to wear really really bold colors like that (except I really can rock a red lip if I do say so myself). I’m really happy that I bought this, though, because it’s definitely tangerine but it also doesn’t slap you in the face when you look at it. I know that a lot of people don’t like how sticky these glosses are, but my lips actually felt really moisturized after wearing them so I can get past it.
• Glossy Gloss in “Ballet Slippers”: See above.
• Brightening Eye Color in “Pretty N’ Pink”: I used this today, and it’s really cute as long as you don’t put too much. I’m happy with it.

Let me know if you want full reviews/swatches on anything!

xox 

Noelle Alysse

STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING. GO TO EYESLIPSFACE.COM OR TARGET OR KMART. AND BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!!!
If that ^ is all the you get from this review, then that is totally fine.
This is going to be a rather short review, because really all I can say is that I love this product. It blends well, doesn’t crease (unless you put too much on, but that’s true for any primer, no matter how expensive/good it is), and goes on really nicely. In fact, even though it comes with a little brush to put it on, I use my finger, just because I like it better and I feel that I have more control that way. 
I’ve used this primer with powder and cream eyeshadow, and purposefully didn’t wash it off at night (bad, I know, but I wanted to test it out) and woke up in the morning with still-perfect eyeshadow. I repeat, I woke up in the morning with still-perfect, creaseless, eyeshadow. Is this stuff magic?!!
The only complaint I have-a very minor one-is that it feels pretty greasy when you first put it on, but the feeling subsides within 20 seconds.
And as a reminder, this is just the Eyelid Primer, not the Eyeshadow Primer. I haven’t tried the Eyeshadow Primer because I don’t feel any need to. 
Also, in true E.L.F. fashion, this primer is $1. ONE. DOLLAR. Can you beat it? No!
I give it an A! 

If you have a different opinion, please please please let me know! As I say and will say in every review, I made this blog primarily to learn, and I would love to hear what you think too!

xox

Noelle Alysse