CoverGirl - The New Statement Eye

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

If you were thinking that you could get away with not knowing how to do a cat eye because the trend would be over quickly, well, you'd be wrong.  Wait, that was me.  I love the look of a bold cat eye, but getting all the pieces in place hasn't been easy.  CoverGirl took pity on me, apparently, and sent me a couple of products to make it easier for me to create that bold eye: The Super Sizer by LashBlast mascara, and Intensify Me! Liquid Eyeliner by Lashblast. 

Make Up Monday - Estee Lauder CyberWhite HD

Hello, Fireflies!

My #NailArtForNubs post will be up at 9am Eastern, but while you're waiting, assuming you are, I'd like to tell you about a little skin care thing I've been using and like.

Meet Estee Lauder CyberWhite HD Advanced Spot Correcting Moisture Lotion.

Even though I have the mind of a 12-year old boy, my face knows that I'm a 40+ year old woman.  And, one of the problems I've had to face is that of some hyperpigmentation.

I've tried a handful of different 'brightening' and 'whitening' products, and this is the first one I've tried that made a noticeable difference - and I wasn't even using it systematically.

Here's my only issue - the dispenser is a plain old hole, like for lotion. 

The product is a clear, watery liquid.

So, you're supposed to put the liquid on a cotton pad or something to apply, but I don't want to waste liquid that's just going to stay on the pad, because this stuff isn't cheap.  So, I just pour a little on my hand and slap it on my face.  Gently, now, because I'm not into pain.

So, I'd rather have a pump dispenser or something like that.  But it's not really that big of a deal.

It's incredibly hard for an amateur like me to take a pix of the shiny, reflective box, but I tried.  Here's what it says:

"Magnify your skin's clarity like never before.  Our first brightening system with HD-90 Technology features a naturally derived ingredient so potent it takes brightening to a new dimension.  The CyberWhite HD System helps eliminate dullness from deep within skin's surface to help dramatically brighten the look of dark spots with unprecedented power."

"CyberWhite HD Advanced Spot Correcting Moisture Lotion.  Infuse your skin with this powerful brightening treatment lotion.  Formulated to minimize the look of dark spots and dullness and optimize the brightening benefits of the CyberWhite System.  Revitalizes skin with fresh waves of hydration as it balances, protects, and cushions. Leaves skin soft and supple.  Up close, your skin looks flawless, fair, translucent, with High Definition clarity.

Dermatologist-and Ophthalmologist-tested.  Non-acnegenic."

So, it's part of a system of products, but I can't afford all of them, so I picked this one.  If you have trouble with dark spots, you might want to check them out and see if one of the line works for you. 

Have you tried any dark spot correctors that worked for you?

Glowing Jewels #FallingForNailArt

Hi, Fireflies!

I love jewel tones.  They are some of the most flattering colors for me to wear.  This glowing red from Estee Lauder is perfect for me.  And the name, Dressed To Kill, is perfect for it.

Blackened red with orange shimmer! So pretty.

I got these little rectangular rhinestones from Cult Nails.  They compliment Dressed to Kill perfectly.

What is your fave jewel tone?

All that glitters is not gold...

But, today, it is!  Come see what I mean...

A while back, I tried this Avon Garden Green and really liked it.  Great blue shimmer, though it dries soooo slowly on me.  The lump on my ring finger?  I can't remember.

I layerd on some of Sephora for OPI It's Real 18k gold topcoat, and I loved it.  Oftentimes, I forget about layering, and then I "discover" it all over again.

So, I decided to try it over a few different colors and finishes, and see what, if any, I liked.  First up -

Maybelline Bare Escape.  This is part of an LE collection this spring/summer.  It's a barely there grey, almost white.  Application was ..meh.  I had some issues with it not leveling completely.  The shine on it is really nice, though.

In Real Life, I could barely see the gold flecks.  Very, very, very subtle.  Kind of a waste of real gold topcoat, in my opinion.  A gold glitter with bigger flecks might be just the ticket, though.

One of Butter London's spring pastels, Fruit Machine is a bubble gum pink.  Unfortunately, it had the same application problems as most of the other pastels from this collection.  Problems self-leveling, patchy application.

I really love pink and gold together, but again, this was almost too subtle for me.

Sally Hansen Complete Black and Blue.  A dark blue with cobalt shimmer, this one almost looks like a duochrome.  Two coats are definitely needed to get the full spectrum of color, and it goes on really well.  Really liked this one.

Now we're getting somewhere.  The darker colors are what's really needed to make the gold pop.  I loved the shimmer and shift from beneath the gold flake.

Este'e Lauder Dressed to Kill.  I am a huge fan of these polishes that have a burning glow from within.  This polish is right up my alley.  I think I may have even gasped a little when I put it on.

This was my absolute fave with the gold topcoat.  You can see the fire burning underneath, the gold popping on top, and every direction you look at the mani, you see another dimension of color.  There's even some gold within the polish.  This was a synergistic mesh of polish, where two become something greater by coming together.

ETA:  I was asked to do one with black and gold, so here it is: 

Wow, huh?  Love it.

I was too cheap to pay the full price for this topcoat when it came out, and snagged a bottle on sale.  It's a true luxury to have gold flakes on your mani, and I can see where there are times where regular gold glitter would be acceptable, and even preferable over real gold.

Are you over the gold flake topcoat?  Do you think it's too extravagant, or worth it for a once-in-a while luxury, or would you rock that every day in every way?