December Beauty Empties 2013

It is that time of the month where I show you what is in my garbage bin other wise know as my December beauty empties. This month I have a bit if stuff since I didn't do a mid December empties. So let's just jump in and take it from there. 

1. Delon cotton rounds

- if you read my blog you have seen me bring these up time and time again. Love these cotton rounds and I purchase them at Costco for a big pack for $10. Will always re purchase these.

2. Preven's Paris facial makeup wipes 

- I bought these at winners in bulk three packs for $7. Never tried them before but I figured for the price can't go wrong. Well was I half wrong. They take off makeup with no issues, the clothes are moist. However the smell of these cloths are horrendous. I had already finished two packages so I will finish the third one and never purchase these again. When something doesn't smell right to me it just throws me right off and I don't enjoy using the product any more. Definitely not a re purchase for me. 

3. Balea face masks

- love these masks. I use them all the time, very affordable at your local drug store. Definitely a re purchase and if you read my blog you know I have used these frequent in the past. 

4. Proclaim intensive hair mask with keratin

- tested out this hair mask and it was nice. I enjoyed it, if it didn't have keratin in it I would use it everyday as a regular conditioner but since it has keratin then you need to be careful that you don't over deposit keratin in your hair because that can cause breakage. Too much keratin causes your hair to become weighed down. Therefore causing breakage on your hair shaft. Don't believe me go look it up.

5. MJ face masks

- I have also used these masks in the past. Love these as much as the Balea brand. Affordable and easy at home process . Can't go wrong for those who are on a budget but still want to pamper themselves. They come in different scents and types for different skin typed or needs. Always a re purchase.

6. Biore pore strips

- I used these strips occasionally to remove and tough black heads that my clarisonic wasn't able to remove. A pack of 8 lasts me a few months because I don't use these often. They are a bit pricey around $11 for a pack of 8. Even though they are pricey a pack of 8 are expensive the do last a few months for me. 

7. Elf brush shampoo 

- this is a great alternative to your makeup brush cleansing routine. It's cheap, around $3 and a little goes a long way. Making it last longer. I don't have a local elf counter near me, so I won't be repurchasing this anytime soon. But if it pops up at my local TJ max store then I will be picking it up.if you have elf access locally go check out this brush shampoo. I love how it cleansed and conditions the brushes in one step.

8. Neo strata micelles cleanser (sample size)

- I had another sample size if this last month and loved it. I still enjoy it to cleanse off makeup but full size is a bit pricey $30-$40. So unless I get a gift certificate or more samples I don't think I will be purchasing this product in full size. Good product though. Loved it while it lasted.

9. Enjoy professionals luxury shampoo and conditioner 

- got these sample sizes if shampoo and conditioner from a long time girlfriend of mine. She is a purchase rep at a chain of hair salons and spas. She sent me some goodies to try and review and I am on the fence with these babies. The shampoo claims to be sulfate free however on the back ingredients it does advertise that there are sodium sulfinate products in the shampoo which doesn't make it completely sulfate free. The shampoo didn't do much and I find that it didn't leave my hair clean at all. The conditioner on the other hand I love! The conditioner is so packed with moisture that when you apply it to the ends it makes your hair feel rejuvenated back to life. Both products smell like coconuts but I prefer the conditioner over the shampoo. These products you can get at your beauty supply or your hair salon depending on which hair salon carries the brand.

10. Seche vite nail top coat

- love this top coat. Fast drying, and gives a glossy finish. The only down fall is that this top coat dries out quick. By the time it gets three quarters empty the product is gooey and hard to apply which causes bubbles. So then it's a throw out product by then but still worth the first three quarter full.

11. St.Ives fresh skin apricot scrub

- love this face scrub. My ultimate favourite scrub from the drug store. It doesn't break me out, keeps my skin hydrated and gets rid off all the unwanted dead skin especially in the colder months. Very affordable you can't go wrong. 

12. Urban Decay Naked Skin BB cream

- I did a full review on this baby a few month ago, go check it out. I love this BB cream, it blurs imperfections and adjusts to your skin tone. It is on the high end side but so worth it. Will repurchase once I try a few more BB creams to report to you all :) 

13. Smash box photo finish foundation primer (sample)

- loved this sample works just as good as the famous Benifit porefessional. I will be picking this up in full size for sure once I finish some of my other primers. It is a high end primer so it lands in the $50 range in case you want to try it, I suggest you grab a sample first before you make that big of a commitment.

14. Michael Todd samples

-  I tried the hydration boost serum and citruct cream from the Michael Todd line and I really enjoyed them. The serum was a bit greasy at first but nice my skin soaked it in my face felt amazing. The citric cream was a good face cream for the morning. Loved both, and will consider buying the full size in the future when I need a face cream. I am trying to worth through a few other creams before then.

15. Nivea pure and natural mint and minerals lip balm

- this has been in my favourites plenty of times this last couple months. Loved this balm at night time, it is very hydrating and light at the same time. Repurchased already :) 

16. Bath & Body Works candles

- yes these candles are pricey and that's why I get them when they are two for $20. Love the fall scents and I can't wait for the summer scents to come out! These candles are always a repurchase for me as they set a more relaxing mood in my room. 

That is it for my December empties. I hope you enjoyed.

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone, thank you all for following my blog. It means so much to me that you all have the same interests as I do!

Until next times beauty lovers

MacGirl25❤️

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette Review

Ola beauty lovers! As all of you may know, yes Urban Decay came out with their third installment of the Naked Palette. Yes this palette is a rose gold theme. Yes this palette is $62 at Sephora. I am going to give you my quick honest opinion as always :) 

So being the makeup addict that I am, I made sure I was one of the first ladies to get this palette. Let me just say WOW. I love all the Naked palettes, but this one just has a special place in my heart because I love rose gold.

I have been wearing this palette now for two weeks since I received it and I can not stop using it. The looks you can make with this palette are very soft but sultry at the same time. A great palette for the women who work in an office environment that want to keep their makeup light and airy but still have a great eye look to their outfit.

The packaging of this palette is the same tin material from the Naked 2 palette. So it is easy to travel with and it does not make finger print marks which is a bonus. Easy to clean is what I like.

This palette comes with twelve gorgeous shadows and a double sided eye shadow brush. When you order from the Urban Decay website it also comes with a sample size of all four Urban Decay eye shadow primers.

The quality of these shadows are just like the other Naked palettes. Buttery and easy to blend. The only shadow I have an issue with is the very white shade "Strange". This one I find has a bit of chalkiness but as you blend the chalkiness goes away.

The double ended eye shadow brush is high end quality, the bristles are soft and amazing to work with these shadows. The brush does not shed so that is a bonus.

However the down fall is that there are only two matte shadows for blending, and the rest are shimmery or sparkly.

I would love to do swatches but my pictures on the swatches did not come out well. So if you want to see live swatches check out my YouTube channel MacGirl25Antonietta.

All in all I am enjoying this palette. A great addition to my collection and obsession. :) You ladies know what I am talking about.

Until next time beauty lovers <3
MacGirl25

November Beauty Favorites 2013

Back again with my November Favorites. Some repeats but some newbies as well but this post will be a brief quick one, I know a lot of us are still trying to get things done before the holidays. I can not believe that it is December already! November used to be a long month for me. Anyways lets jump in:


1. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
- I have been reaching for this palette all month. Love the neutrals in this baby, the shadows are very easy to blend and buttery. I did a full review on this palette so if you want to go check out that review click below:
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/10/urban-decay-naked-basics-palette-review.html

 

2. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin
- This drug store option is awesome. The formula of these are great for the winter time because they are not too creamy and not too powdery. Easy to blend and affordable. Love it.

 

3. Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Cat eye mascara in Glam Black
- Love, Love, Love this mascara. I have a review with photos of my lashes below. Go check it out if you haven't seen my review. Once you read it, then you will know why I love it.
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/11/maybelline-colossal-volum-express.html




4. Stila Eyeshadow in Coco
- I have had this shadow for months and I love this shadow for blending in the crease. AMAZING pigmentation and blend ability. Very easy to work with and been using this all month as well. These are priced in the $20 range but they are so worth it, and you get a good amount of product.


5. Nivea Pure & Natural Mint and Minerals lip balm
- LOVE this balm. I have mentioned it a few times. Use it at night time before bed and in the morning my lips are perfection. It is a great light formula that works and it is affordable at the drug store.



6. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner
- I have to say this is a my ultimate favorite shower body conditioner for winter time. The amount of moisture this baby gives my skin is delightful. My skin feels like it has drunk the entire lake up with how hydrated my skin feels after using this product. You wash your body then rinse, then apply this conditioner wait a minute or so then rinse and you feel like a delectable dessert. No lie go get a sample at Lush and I will say I TOLD YOU SO. This product is pricey but so worth the splurge for winter.



7. It's a 10 Miracle leave in plush Keratin
- I have mentioned this one too in a previous favorite. LOVE IT! Leaves my hair feeling soft, silky, detangles, and keeps my hair straight when I flat iron it. This product also acts as a heat protectant. Awesome stuff. I can't live without it now.



8. Macadamia Wide Tooth Comb
- This was the best $5 I spent. This wide tooth comb is great for after the shower combing through knots and prepping your hair for blow drying. Can't live without this comb either.



9. Proactiv Solutionns Refining Mask
- OK I have not enough words to tell you how much I love this mask. I get serious hormonal break outs around that time of the month...sometimes it is not that time of the month. This mask I rely on to keep those break outs at bay before they become cystic. Not pretty. Love this mask and yes I have a back up of it because this baby is almost empty.



10. Lush Lip Scrub in mint juleps
- Love this little guy for exfoliating before bed. Keeps my lushes lips hydrated and dead skin free in these cold winter month. We all know these cold winter months do not do us any justice when it comes to beauty. LOL




11. Vitafusion Multivites gummy vitamins
- Love these vitamins. Got them at Wal Mart and they are much easier to take then those honken horse pills that no one can swallow. A huge jar of 150 is about $8 :) such a bargain.



Until next time beauty lovers <3
Stay safe during this holiday season!
MacGirl25

Limited Edition Palettes Part 2

Ola Beauty Lovers! With the holidays coming up quickly, I want to get this part 2 up so that you all can make your decisions for the holiday season of gift giving to someone else or yourself. Come on, who doesn't buy for themselves at one point or another?

So here is my Part 2 of the Limited Edition Palettes.

Smash Box Heat Wave Palette: $54.00+tax

• This palette is great for those summer lovers. Smash Box has always been one of my top end brands to go to for eye shadows. This palette has 10 full size eye shadows (shadow pans are equivalent to MAC eye shadow pans) plus a double ended eye shadow brush. 
• The quality of the shadows are amazing, very pigmented and easy to blend. 
• The color range is great. There are a great selection of neutrals and darker shades to take any day look into a smokey dramatic night look.
• Out of the 10 shades only 2 shadows are matte enough for blending purposes, the rest are more on the shimmer side. I know there are people out there who would prefer a more matte palette but these shades are worth the splurge for how pigmented and blendable they are. With two matte blending shades what more do you really need?
• The size of the pans are fairly larger then most pan sizes in the beauty industry which is a bonus.
• The double ended brush has a larger shader brush on one end to pack on the color, and on the other end there is a short shader brush for more detailed work. The shorter shader is great for under the eye work, inner corner work, or even the brow bone.
• This palette also comes with a huge mirror on the top which would come in use when traveling. 
• The packaging is sleek and compact. The packaging material is like a hard plastic material so the palette will not get dirty, and if it does it is easy to clean off. 
• Even though they call this a summer palette, you can get away using this palette through out fall and winter as well, since they have a few warm and cool tones included you can widen your range of looks.

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette: $68.00+tax

• This palette is the IT palette. Urban Decay is very well known for the quality of their eye shadows. So it doesn't surprise me when I saw this palette release and a lot of beauty lovers jumped hoops to go grab it. Yes I admit it, I did too, I have nothing to be ashamed of. 
• These shadows are made without Parabens, Sulfates, & Phthalates which is a bonus for those more aware consumers out there.
• The palette comes with 20 shades of a great range of colors. There is a great selection of neutrals for daytime looks, and there are great colors to deepen any day time look into a night time look with in seconds.
• The quality of the shadows are fabulous. Very buttery creamy formula, easy to blend and the pigmentation is floor stopping. 
• This palette also comes with a double sided brush, which I enjoy. No make up lover can have too many brushes let me tell you. One end of the brush is a tapered blending brush for the crease, the other end is a more wider shader brush where you can use it on the lid or in the crease.
• There are about 2 or 3 matte shades to blend with. I was a bit disappointed on the selection of matte shades for blending purposes, but I can deal with it if I have too. 
• The price for this palette is a steal. One Urban Decay Shadow is $23. This palette is worth $460 but you are only paying $68 plus applicable taxes. Such a great item to add to your collection if you are a palette lover like I am. Plus I missed out on the Vice 1 palette so I just HAD to get this one. 

Lorac Pro To Go Palette: $50+ tax

• I am not too sure if this palette is limited edition. However I was only able to purchase it through online only, so I am assuming it is a type of limited edition product.
• I saw this palette on a few beauty gurus on YouTube and I was sold. I love my neutrals, so for those of you who have a weakness for neutral shades, be aware this one will get you. 
• The palette comes with 6 shadows, 2 blushes, and 1 bronzer and 2 shadow brushes.
• This is a great deal for a full face palette. 
• The shadows are 3 matte and 3 shimmer shades, and the quality of the shadows is great. If you love the Lorac PRO Palette then you will love this PRO to Go palette. The shadows are very pigmented, creamy, easy to blend.
• The blushes are on the matte side and so is the bronzer, both are very pigmented and easy to blend as well
• This palette can go from daytime neutral to intense smokey dark night look with no problem and even though you have two blushes and a bronzer in their, doesn't mean you only have to use them for blushes. If you want to spice up a neutral eye look go ahead and use those blushes for eye shadow, why not? No one is stopping you from doing that.
• The packaging is like the NARS packaging so dust or make up residue will cling to the packaging if you are not careful. It is a more smaller travel friendly palette if that is what you are in the market for.

Well Beauty Lovers, I hope this helped you in making a decision on which Limited Edition Palette to pick up. There are a lot more out there on the market, but these were the ones I purchased with my own money and enjoy.

Leave me a comment down below if you have any of these palettes or if you have different palettes that your enjoying that are from a limited edition line.

Until next time beauty lovers <3
MacGirl25

October Beauty Favorites 2013

Ola Beauty Lovers! Yes I am back with in twelve hours again to give you more love :)

Today is October Beauty Favorites! I have a tone of stuff so bare with me and if you can go get your self a hot cup of something to enjoy while reading this novel :)

1. It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Conditioner with Keratin
- I LOVE THIS STUFF! My hair has been so healthy since I use this in my damp hair after I shower and towel dry before I blow dry! My ends have never felt so healthy for such a long period of time until I began using this. Remember a little goes a long way so a couple of sprits through out your hair will help the following: Maintenance if Keratin straightening treatment, increases styling and manageability, perfect for all hair types, replaced lost protien, protects the natural keratin in hair, protects against heat, restores hydration balance, detangles, defrizzes and adds shine, strengthens hair structure, seals cuticles for extra silky hair. That is a mouth full and does wonders! It is a bit pricey, around $16 - $20 but well worth it! You can find this at Target, Trade Secrets, Or your local Wal Marts hair salons have them as well.

2. Two Mini spray bottles filled with my own concauction
- Why two you may ask? Well one bottle is just plain old water. I use this to spritz on my brushes before applying foundation or even pigments. The secont bottle is water with tea trea oil to act as a brush disinfectant. I may not have the time always to clean my brushes so this is an in expensive way to do a quick disinfect before using brushes that you have used over the last couple days. And if its wet when you apply to your face you shouldn't worry because tea trea oil is great for your skin! Go check out my article on benefits of Tea Trea oil!



3. Britney Spears Perfume in Midnight Fantasy
- This has been my go to perfume all month. I loved the original fantasy fragerence but the midnight one is more subtle and lighter to use. It is a sweet scent but its tolerable. Enjoyable for me any way.

4. IBD Reconstrux Nail oil : rebuild and Renew Nail Growth
- This nail oil is my #1 favorite nail oil to activate my nail growth. I had a rough month with my nails breaking and splitting from stress and weather so I had to take this puppy back out and start using it again. I got this at Sally's beauty supply for about $10. It takes a few weeks but there is a difference in my nails when I use it religiously. So worth it!



5. Sephora By OPI: Non Fat Soy Half Caff (Nude Nails)
- Since my nails are shorter at the moment I love wearing nude nails at this time. I hate it when my nails are all messed up, broken, short, un-even so nude nails are my go to for those times of the year. This nail polish color is one of my favorite nudes to wear since it blends well into my skin tone, I am brown biscuit right now so it looks great.

 

6. Proactiv Solution: Refining Mask
- I have massive break outs around that time of the month. My hormones just do not want to simmer down. So this refining mask has been helping me out tones! I use it all over my face every night when I am getting those break outs for about 3 days and poof those suckers go away! It is a bit expensive, full size bottle is around $30 but it is well worth it because it works!



7. MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NC45
- I have been tanning so I am using a darker shade in powder foundation to warm up my face. My skin is still oily from the warmer month so I can not yet use liquid foundation. I need the weather to geta bit more colder for me to switch over. I usually have combination skin, but in the warmer months I am oily, and colder month I am drier. Anyway love this powder foundation. Been my favorite power foundation since high school! Great coverage, and it is buildable if you want more coverage.

 

8. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
- I won't go too much into this one, since I have a review on it. Go check out my review on this one in a previous article! Love this palette. It is great for everyday use. Multipurpose for different areas of the face which is great! Such a great little compact to travel with and the shadows are so buttery and blendable. Love it! Sephora has this for around $27.  Check out my review in the link below:

http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/10/urban-decay-naked-basics-palette-review.html




9. NeoStrata Moisture Infusion Cream (sample size)
- I got this delux sample size face cream and was hesitant to try it. Lately when I try sample sizes of face creams I had bad luck with them. They were either too greasy or they smelled awful. But this Neo Strata Moisture infusion face cream is a delight to use. Very moisturizing without being greasy (thank the Lord) and it smells good. Those are my main two items I look for in a moisturizer, also that it does not break me out and that has not happened. Yay!

10. Nivea Mint & Minerals lip balm
- This is my favorite lip balm. Very affordable, and leave your lips smooth. It does not cause any cracking which is great. The light minty sensation is awesome because it is not over powering. You can get this at your local drug store.



11. Revlon Color Stay 12 Hour Eye Shadow in #1 Copper Spice
- This little quad is amazing for every day use. I love this color quad for work mostly, but even for the night time as well. The colors are pigmented well. They do blend great, the only issue is they can be a tiny bit chalky. But what can you do for a $11 quad you can not complain. I have another quad from the same line called #5 Blushed Wines. Both quads are neutral colors. Copper Spice is more of a brown earthy tone neutral, and blushed wines is more of a pink tone neutral. Both are great but I use Copper Spice the most.

#1 Copper Spice

#5 Blushed Wines

12. Urban Decay Naked BB Cream
- I love Urban Decay products. My second favorite make up line by far (With MAC taking first place of course) This Naked BB Cream is amazing. It is a great formula that really does what it says on the bottle. Optical blurring is really the best feature in this formula. Of course it has a primer to prime the skin, and thats great but the optical blurring portion of it is my favorite. When you apply this beauty balm on your skin it truly blurs out any redness and tones down the discoloration areas on your skin. Amazing. The price point is on the bit expensive side but realistically it is worth the price. Sephora is selling them for about $34. I know it is steep, but well worth it in the end. Trust me on this one, I would not tell you otherwise if it didn't work out for me. Keep in mind my skin tone is Olive toned, and I have oily combination skin. The only down side about this product is the scent. Not the best scent but its managible. Go check out my link below to my full review on this product I did back in August.
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/08/urban-decay-naked-skin-beauty-balm.html






















13. Benefit They're Real Mascara (Sample size)
- So I got this sample size as my birthday gift from Sephora and I wasn't fond of knowing the brush head was a spikey plastic material. But I shouldn't have judged until I tried it. Boy is this mascara great. It makes my lashes look twice as long then they are naturaly. Volume wise, it gives volume but not enough volume as I would like. A normal bottle size is $30 and I don't know if I would spend that much on mascara when it only does one out of the two features I look for. But It still made my lashes look great, so I am enjoying it while it lasts. Ps. I have a second sample of this baby so I should be ok for a while LOL.




















14. Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
- I love this eye lid primer before applying shadows. This primter is a one shade fits all type and really cancels out the discoloration on the eyelids big time. Sometimes I don't even apply shadow because I love the natural color the primer gives my skin. Amazing. Sephora sells this product for $22. I have had it for a while so it does last, but the packaging could be better. The doe foot applicator is great, but as you get to the bottom of the tube, it is hard to scrape out the rest of the product since the applicator doesn't go that far down the bottle. A squeezy tube would help. I love the product just the packaging could improve in order to not waste product.



















15.L'oreal Smoldering Eyeliner in Black
- Love this smoldering eyeliner for the water line. I use this to smudge on the top lash line as well if I am doing a smokey effect, however the waterline this baby lasts and that is what I want. Very inexpensive $8 or so and even though it's a smaller stick the product does last long because you only need a little bit to go a long way! You can find this at your local drug stores.

16. Marcel Eyebrow Pencil in Black
- This is my favorite drug store brow pencil by far. I have tried a few brow pencils from the drug store in the past and this one is the best one. The formula is very creamy and therefore makes the application to the brows more enojoyable. Less work to blend in which is a bonus AND because the formula is creamy and pigmented you can also use this baby as an eyeliner too! Yup two in one. Love those type of products. I purchased this a while back and it has lasted me about 1 year and I am still going with it. Granted its coming to the end but still lasts long.
 

17. Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder in Sandstorm
- This one is new discovery for me but since I purchased it I can not stop using it. Cheap product and keeps your skin matte. I bought it a bit lighter for setting under the eye (since I don't want to finish my ben nye banana powder) and I find myself using it in my T zone as well. Got it for $6. Pretty impressed with Rimmel lately. Keep in mind I have combiniation oily skin. So those girls out there who are dry skin, you may not enjoy this as much as I do. :) Just saying.


18. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin
- I was scared to try this but once I did, I fell in love! These blushes are so affordable and they blend so well into the skin that I just can't believe how great they work with my skin. Yes they are cheaper, they do not last 14 hours onthe skin, which is a bummer but really all you need them to last is for an 7 to 8 hour work shift. Anything more then that is a bonus. I usually use my real techniques contour brush to blend this product out and it works so amazing. You will be able to find them in any drug store.
 

19. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter
- I love using this baby on my hands at night before I go to sleep. It is a body butter so it does have a tiny bit of greasyness to it which I personally do not mind since I am going to bed, my hands will not be wondering around doing things for them to slip. In the morning my hands feel so soft and hydrated, wow I can not say enough. I love those body butters. I think the Body Shop is a Canadian store, but if you are interested in checking them out they are having a 40% off sale right now (November 2-3 2013) so go check it out!
http://www.thebodyshop.ca/en/shop-by-line.aspx#/shop-by-line.aspx

20. Real Techniques Brushes
- I have the more expensive Sigma brushes and those are great, however Real Techniques brushes founded by a fellow YouTuber from Pixiwoo Channel are by far the best most affordable brushes anyone can have. The sets of 5 to 3 brushes per set go for about $18-$20 a set! Which is amazing! The bristles are so soft, easy to use, easy to blend make up with. They are great and to wash them is so easy as well. I have been loving these three brushes below the most this month from the Real Techniques Brush line. If you are a beginner or even a make up proffessional these are a must have in your collection. I swear to you that you will not regret the purchase.

Multi Task Brush
Contour Brush
Domed Shadow Brush






 Well that is it for my October Favorites! Thank you all so much for reading, I truly appreciate all your support!

Until Next Time Beauty Lovers ❤️

MacGirl25