Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadows | Elizabeth Vasquez

Hello Everyone!

On a recent trip to CVS, I spotted a display case full of Milani eyeshadows that I had never seen before. I really enjoy the Milani blushes and thought I would try these eyeshadows since they were rather inexpensive. These retail for $3.99 at Walgreens and for $4.29 at CVS however, in CVS these eyeshadows are buy one get one 50% off. Here are some swatches along with a short review of them.

Overall I am very impressed with the quality of these eyeshadows. I was a bit worried that the dome-shape of the shadows would affect the texture of the product itself. Many products with this shape tend to be very hard at the top and it isn't until you get through the top layer, that you get a better product. The texture is very smooth and buttery. The pigmentation is very impressive, especially for the darker shades. The color range is amazing since you can find anything from blue and pink, to purple and green. With the wide range of colors comes a great range in finishes. Each shade is clearly marked with the finish on the label, underneath the shade. I clearly opted for the more neutral shades and they are absolutely gorgeous. These shadows blend beautifully on the lid and with each other. The packaging is very cute, but a little bulky and take up a bit of space if you have a couple like I do. You would not expect much for such inexpensive products, but these certainly are great.

Hope you enjoyed this post :)
Have you tried the Bella Eyeshadows?

June Favorites - 2014 | Elizabeth Vasquez

Hello Everyone!

This past month has been rather difficult for me, as you may have read here. Since I worked a lot more hours than I usually do, I didn't have much time to try out new products. These are products that I found myself using on my days off and more than anything else in my collection. I am also super excited that Summer is here and will be posting a couple of posts incorporating this season. The next couple of posts will include new drugstore products that I have been putting to the test, so I hope you're looking forward to that. Let us begin....

June Favorites - 2014

- Toni&Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray: I have really been loving having my hair in loose beach waves. It looks very natural and takes little time to do. I love being lazy during the Summer and this type of hairstyle allows me to look put-together without trying very hard. I have tried many sea salt sprays and this is the only one that I enjoy using. It doesn't make my hair stiff or smell weird, which is a major plus. It gives my hair texture and volume and the style lasts.

- Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes: I had been stuck on using the Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes to remove my makeup, for such a long time. The last time that I ran out, I decided to try something new and picked up these. I am rather upset that there are only 25 wipes in a pack when there are usually 30 days in a month, but that is besides the point. One wipe is all you need to remove a full face of makeup, which includes waterproof mascara. They do not break me out or leave my face feeling dry afterwards.

- Stila In the Light Palette: I have talked about this palette many times before because I love it so much. It is the perfect neutral palette that has everything that you need in one place. I can do so many different look using this palette, without having to reach for any other product.

- Tarte Amazonian Clay Off the Cuff Cheek Palette: I hate talking about this product since it was limited edition and I know so many people were trying to get it. Blush always disappears from my face very quickly for no apparent reason. These Tarte blushes are the only ones that really seem to last all day for me. This palette has every color that you need for the Summer. There a couple of brighter options and a couple of neutral shades, along with a bronzer. It is very travel friendly and perfect for the Summer.

- MAC Creme In Your Coffee Lipstick: By this point it is very clear that I am obsessed with MAC lipsticks. This is a deep nude/pink shade that I have fallen in love with. I have worn this shade more than any other lip product this month. It goes with any look from neutral to a smokey eye. It is very creamy and would look good on so many different skin tones.

- MAC Lip Pencil (Spice): I have been loving the deep nude lip looks this past month. This is a very dark nude/pink lip liner that I like to use all over my lips. It is a very Kylie Jenner kind of shade that I  cannot get enough of. 

- Tarte Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder: Due to the extremely hot weather I have been needing to set my makeup with some type of powder. Since I do use a lighter shade of concealer under my eyes, I don't like to use my face powder to set this area. This is a very fine and light finishing powder. I swirl a brush into the lid and and swipe it over my concealer. It helps to last all day and to prevent creasing.

- Benefit Hoola Bronzer: As it is Summer, I am a bit more tan that I am throughout the rest of the year. The lighter bronzers that I have don't seem to make much of a difference in my complexion, so I have been reaching for my Hoola Bronzer more than anything else. The shade is perfect for my skin tone and doesn't make my face look muddy or orange. I can build it up to contour my face and lightly brush it all over for a beautiful tan.

- Origins GinZing Mascara: It has been more than 100 degrees here almost every single day and I don't know if I'll survive until the end of the Summer. Because all my makeup just seems to melt in the heat, I don't like to wear a lot of it. My eye makeup is very natural and minimal. I love this mascara since it looks like your lashes, but better. It is natural but gives a bit of length and volume, without looking too intense. 

- Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer (Kitten): I find that cream and liquid eyeshadows seem to work best on me for this heat. I absolutely love the Kitten shade in the Stila In the Light palette and this is just the liquid version. It is easy to blend and stays on the lid all day. I don't have to worry about it disappearing from my eyelid or having to retouch it throughout the day.

- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation: One of my all time favorite foundations to use during the Summer is the NARS Sheer Glow. When a BB cream isn't enough coverage for me, I immediately choose this foundation for a little extra coverage. It gives the skin a very beautiful glow without looking oily or greasy. It has medium coverage, but can be built up.


Hope you enjoyed this post :)
What are your June favorites?

May Favorites - 2014 | Elizabeth Vasquez

Hello Everyone!

I realize that we are more than half way done with the month of June, but I failed to post a May favorites last month. As you may know, I've been away from the blogging world for a bit to try to deal with some life stuff. If you would like to know why, then you can read all about it here. If found these photos in my camera and decided that they shouldn't go to waste. Here are the things that I loved during the month of May.

May Favorites - 2014

Skincare:

- First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Serum: I'm a really big fan of serums. They make my skin feel so much better and really help my moisturizers absorb into my skin. This serum is perfect for people with uneven skin and dark spots. I've used this for a little over a month and my dark spots have continued to get lighter and my skin looks much more even. This is a bit on the pricy side, but it is well worth the money. 

- Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips: This is a product that I have used for years and most people know of. I'm not too sure what the major difference is between these and the regular pore strips, but I tend to choose these in hopes that they might make my face look amazing. These are perfect for clearing up the pores in your nose area.

Hair:

- Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk: Just to give you an idea of how extreme the weather is in Texas, I will tell you that the sun is completely gone and it is 98 degrees Fahrenheit outside right now. With this weather comes frizzy hair. I've talked about this smoothing milk before and will continue to use this for the rest of my life. It helps to control the frizz in my hair and makes my hair feel so soft. It doesn't make your hair feel stiff or weighed down. It is also a great way to keep your hair from looking dry as well.

- Not Yours Mother's Plump For Joy Thickening Hair Lifter: This product is the reason that I want to try every single one of the Not Your Mother's products. I was looking for something that would instantly give me volume without making my hair feel stiff and this product does just that. Th texture is that of a gel which was very unexpected since it is in a spray bottle. I spray a couple of pumps into my palms and rub it into the roots of my hair. It works on either wet or dry hair and gives loads of volume.

Makeup: 

- L'Oreal True Match Foundation (N3): I mentioned this product in my last favorites but in a different shade. Sometimes my skin tone isn't as warm as it is other days and I found that the neutral tone works best for me. This line has so many different shades that it would be almost impossible to not find one that fits you.

- Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette (Light): I am obsessed with the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and when I ran out I needed something quick. I picked this concealer palette up at Target as a quick backup and I am so glad that I did. With this palette you are able to mix the colors to find your perfect shade. I use the top two shades the most for under my eyes and on dark spots. It also comes with a green toned concealer to cover dark circles and a setting power. This concealer will cover just about anything and blends very easily.

MAC Matte Lipstick (Velvet Teddy): This Summer I am all about the nude lips. MAC lipsticks are definitely my favorite lipsticks to wear. This is a beautiful pinky nude shade that is a bit more creamy than matte. It isn't drying on the lips, but doesn't have a glossy finish either. This is the perfect lip color to pair with any type of eye look.

MAC Lip Pencil (Dervish): It wasn't until this past month that I became interested in lip liners. I was a bit terrified of using them, but when I saw this shade I had to try it. This lip pencil is a pink shade with a pearly finish to it. As opposed to just using this to line my lips, I will actually fill in my entire lips with it. The color lasts for a really long time and it makes my lips look fuller than they actually are.

- Maybelline Color Tattoo (Sleek & Spice): Because I have been using mostly nude lipsticks, I have been going a bit darker on my eyes. I know that this is not exactly the thing to do during the Summer, but it's what I have been enjoying to do lately. These Color Tattoos are great for quick looks that last all day. This shade is a taupe that leans more on the brown side. It looks beautiful on its own, under other shadows, or combined with other shadows in the crease.

- NYC Liquid Eyeliner (Black): I don't know if it is just me, but eyeliner always disappears from my eyes. I leave the house with it and when I return it is completely gone. I love the Kat Von D eyeliner, but it is a bit on the pricy side. I picked this up as a cheaper alternative and it is amazing. It is super dark and stays on my eyes the entire day. It is a bit tricky when you first apply it since it is so wet, but once it dries you are set. It is extremely inexpensive and easy to apply.

Random:

Dr. Dre beats: I am not a big fan of headphones that go over the head because of my small head. Most headphones are too big and fall off, or too low and make it difficult to listen to the music. I never knew what all the hype was on headphones that covered the entire ear, until I tried these. I have the studio version of these beats and they are amazing. Once you listen to music on these bad boys, music will never sound the same when you listen to it any other way. Everything is so clear and you can really appreciate the songs that you like. I do have to wear these in the smallest way possible and they are still a bit big, but I can work with them.

Contact case: There's not much to say about this contact case except for the fact that it is adorable. I love anything with flowers on it so when I saw this case in Forever 21, I had to have it.

Bows: I have been obsessed with bows this Spring/Summer. They add something really cute to any outfit and can be worn so many different. These can be found very inexpensive at Forever 21 in loads of different colors.

Hope you enjoyed this post :)

What are you looking forward to most this Summer??