Lip Love: Maybelline Color Elixir Glosses | My Collection + Swatches

     I can say with certainty that Maybelline lip products have tended to be some of my best purchases from the drugstore, with only a couple of exceptions that are only in terms of choosing an unflattering shade for my skintone, and not necessarily a faulty formula. I can say I have yet to encounter a Maybelline lip formula that I dislike. Their Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipsticks are always my first stop when I visit the brand's section, just to see if any new colors have been released. 😍 It's no question that the Creamy Matte formula is certainly in my top 5 favorite formulas of lip products, and that's not just for drugstore - it's overall! 

     Alas, it's almost time to part with one of my favorite moisturizing, comfortable lip gloss formulas - these Color Elixirs are at a heavily discounted price in many places, and so since it seems that the brand is phasing them out soon, I thought I'd show these glosses some love on my blog! It really is a lip love with these, as they really show the lips love by providing a hydrating feel and long lasting wear! Oh, and I almost forgot: They also only require 1 coat! All swatches below are done with only 1 pass of the applicator!

Maybelline Color Elixirs L-R: Signature Scarlet, Blush Essence, Caramel Infused, Mauve Mystique, Mystical Magenta

What's In | Affordable Korean Skincare

     Happy Tuesday!  Imagine my surprise when I was making a visit to Ulta after work one day, and realized that they had added Skinfood and Tony Moly to their skincare selections in the U.S.! I rewound back and remembered when I bought a cleanser when they had the entire Tony Moly brand at steeply discounted prices a while back, so I thought that some Ulta's were phasing the brand out to make way for a new one. I'm so glad that I was wrong, and that they now have a revamp and an even larger selection of the brand! 

Skinfood and Tony Moly are fairly affordable Korean skincare brands that both have origins in South Korea. I was familiar with Skinfood for their salmon corrector (which you have seen on this blog since the very first post I published back in 2014 - this concealer is truly my holy grail!), so I was excited to delve into their skincare! My experience as of yet with their fares consists of a shea butter lip balm and their Moisture Foam Cleanser. 

Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask, $10.50, Tony Moly Bamboo Cool Water Soothing Gel, $9.50

As is probably obvious, the packaging is what ultimately won me over with these items!

Diaries of a Demure Vixen | Essie NOTW

Essie Demure Vixen

     Surprised as I may be that I have not yet featured Essie's Demure Vixen polish (one of my all-time favorite colors to wear on my nails) on my blog yet, I just have to remind myself that yes, my schedule for blogging used to be non-existent lol. Ahem, not to mention that my nails are never really in good form. But I digress! This lovely medley of mauve and taupe has a lilac/violet iridescence to it that is stunning, and leads one to think that it's no wonder that Demure Vixen is a best-seller in the brand. This has been on my nails the past few days, and is a shade that is neutral enough that I can wear for an extended period of time without feeling like I have to change it up, because the opalescence keeps me interested. So, as it stands, it's looking like this will be my Nail of the Week (NOTW)!

This polish has been with me for the last three years, and I have yet to finish my bottle - say what? It's currently one-third of the way through the bottle, and I'm surprised I haven't used more of it, because this is a definite 3-coater. The formula's thin, and the flash of shimmer is fairly subtle (the more coats you apply, the more apparent the violet shimmer is), but it's such an interesting neutral shade that I've found myself always willing to work with, because the results are just too incredibly stunning! It takes a while to dry (it stays a bit gummy for upwards of ten minutes), so I use my Out the Door Topcoat, and it sets immediately and I never get chips or the need to touch up until after 1 week.

Essie Demure Vixen

As far as polishes, do you prefer neutrals, vamps, or brights? I'm also looking into starting nail art, but my nails are such nubbins, I always render it pointless! Any tips? 

💋xoxo-Cailee

* Product in This Post

Blue & Brown Colorful Smokey Eye + Purple Lips

     Hello beauties! Let's call this look Sunday's experimentation! I wore this when I went out with friends in the evening, and I must say I felt so comfortable wearing these brighter tones! Could it be a sign that brights are one of the paths less traveled for me that should in fact be traveled more often? Who knows! I swear, every time I watch a Kat Von D video, I'm always inspired to get my makeup out, experiment with colors, and go crazy. The lady and her artistry is a force to be reckoned with, and all the same, I own absolutely nothing from her brand (only heaven knows why). This look actually isn't inspired from any of the looks I've seen - I just winged it and hoped for the best. 😊This is quite a statement look that's perfect for parties and nights out!

This look is comprised of a blue brown duochrome pigment on the lid, some warm and cool mattes in the crease, and a matte azure blue and a dazzling icy green pigment peeking out from beneath. I finished with a creamy glow to the skin, and a matte smokey purple lip. This will include a full list of products used, and at the very end of the post will be a step-by-step on how I achieved the eye makeup!

3 Pampering Body Care Essentials for Late-Winter

   
     Welcome back!  Well everyone, we have reached the time of year where the inconsistent weather patterns and climates can really begin to wreak havoc on our skin and affect it in many ways, whether it's a cold and dry climate or hot and damp - skin changes along with the weather. That's why it's essential to take care of your skin and keep it well-hydrated and exfoliated, especially during the cold-weather months! Here I will showcase a few products that can battle the winter and keep dry, parched skin at bay, replacing it with soft, radiant, and nourished skin!

Makeup Revolution New-Trals vs Neutrals Palette | Look No. 1: Warm & Glowy Pink

wearing Makeup Revolution New-Trals vs Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette

     It's almost Friday! Every now and then we discover a makeup product that sends us into the horizon with wings, jumping up and down for joy and exclaiming to everyone, 'I've found it! It's here! The perfect tones to forever grace my crepey eyelids!' 

     Well, we may not do that in real life....but we certainly do tell everyone we can when cruising about online, yes? 😀 This palette became an addition to my collection last Christmas, and I'm ashamed to admit that I used it a mere two times, and then, for no reason other than the fact that I just wasn't wearing much makeup during that time, the palette sat in the back of my makeup drawer, untouched for a month or so. Roll in February, whence I dug it out and fell in love all over again.

Makeup Revolution New-Trals vs Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette

A Cleanser You Should Try! Lumene Finland Bright Touch Cleansing Foam

     Welcome back! How are you all?  Oh yes, I have a mid-week skincare review! The Lumene Skincare brand is an affordable Finnish brand of which most ingredients are plant and mineral based (and 80% are located within the Arctic Circle, how sweet is that?), and this brand has been all over my radar lately with their increasingly accessible targeted lines of skincare! They have anti-aging benefits with many of their products, some of which are marketed for all skin types, such as the one I'll be reviewing today: the Bright Touch Refreshing Cleansing Foam (formerly Radiant Touch in a squeeze tube instead of Bright Touch in a bottle w/ pump).

Wet 'n' Wild Photo Focus Concealer | A Review

     Happy Sunday! Looks like I've been on a streak as of lately, because this is the second blog post in a row I've done with Wet 'n' Wild products. Dunno why, darling! I've just been using the brand on the regular! Today I am reviewing this lovely little $4 concealer from the brand's more recent skin base product launch, the new Photo Focus foundation and concealer line. The concealer shade I'll be reviewing is 'Light Ivory.' 

Queen Of My Heart | Limited Edition Wet 'n' Wild Mega Glo Highlighters!

Wet 'n' Wild Mega Glo Highlighting Powders in 'Lilac to Reality' and 'The Sweetest Bling'

     Hello there!  A couple nights ago, whilst teetering precariously in the makeup aisle on the edge of a possible limited edition impulse purchase, trying to decide between what to get (and what not to get - story of a makeup enthusiast's life, right?), I found myself, once again, standing and gawking at the new Wet 'n' Wild line-up of kitschy adorable heart-shaped products for their limited edition Queen Of My Heart Collection. Upon gawking, I remembered what I had said in one of my last videos on my channel: how I had been rather intrigued by these cute little powder highlights! Well, originally it was just the lilac highlighter that peaked my interest, but upon second glance at the pink one, I had an inkling that both were coming home with me!

Wet 'n' Wild Mega Glo Highlighting Powders
Left: 'Lilac to Reality' | Right: 'The Sweetest Bling'

Reviews and Comparison | Flower Beauty Ultimate Eye Color & L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow

Flower Beauty Endless Wear Ultimate Eye Color in 'Sheer Sands,' L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in 'Blinged & Brilliant'

Hello there! Most of us are somewhat familiar with that cream/powder hybrid eyeshadow formula that has been pretty popular, right? Lancome did the introductions with this hybrid formula, then L'Oreal jumped on, and now brands like ColourPop (which, what's wrong with me? I still have not tried these yet!) and Flower Beauty have their own versions of the formula, ranging from a more cushion-y and creamy base setting to a powder finish, to some brands having a more powder-based pigment formula at the onset, with just a wee bit more move-ability that still makes it feel somewhat creamy.

In today's post, I will be reviewing and comparing two similarly toned peachy neutral eyeshadows from two drugstore formulas with similar price points: the Flower Beauty Ultimate Eye Color in 'Sheer Sands,' and the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in 'Blinged & Brilliant.' Let's begin! 

Books I'm Currently Reading!

Books I'm Reading: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, A Song of Ice and Fire Series: Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Hi folks! Here's an update on a couple of books I started in February and have made a bit of a dent in since then. These are pretty much the only things beside me in my bed. 😁