September Favorites

Hi Ladies!
Even though we are almost in October, it has felt like summer lately here in MA! Its been mid to high 80's for the past couple weeks which is crazy! I don't ever remember it being this warm ever during September. Of course it's 65 and rainy today..typical New England! I tried a ton of new products this month which resulted in me having a TON of favorites. 

Lets get right into them!

Review: Philosophy Take A Deep Breath Oil Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer

Hi Ladies! 

Today I am going to review Philosophy's Take a Deep Breath Oil Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer. Boy was that a mouth full! After trying out Kate Somerville's Oil Free Moisturizer (you can read my review HERE) I decided not to repurchase because it was pretty expensive. I was browsing around Ulta checking out their offerings when I came across this moisturizer. At first, I only grabbed it because of the price and because it was oil free. Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise.

Take a Deep Breath Oil Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream $35.00 at Ulta

Reshaping My Brows at Tryst Studio*

Hi Ladies!
Today I am going to do a different kind of post. As many of you know, I have a major brow obsession. I have tried to perfect my brows by using gels, powders, creams, and pencils and though they do help, the real issue here is my shape. Of course we all see these pictures on Instagram of women with PERFECT brows, which we all strive for. But no matter how much filling I do, my brows are still missing something.

A fellow Boston blogger  named Biana (of B Loved Boston) told me about an amazing makeup, skincare, and brow studio in Hingham, MA called Tryst Studio.  Tryst has a Precision Brow Design service. This really interested me but I wasn't sure if it was possible to fix my brows without making them super tiny. I called the studio and they told me to email the owner Kelly.

Review: Essence Cosmetics 2014 Autumn/Winter Collection*

Hi Ladies!
Today I am going to share with you Essence Cosmetics 2014 Autumn/Winter Collection. I have really been impressed with this brand after trying out some of the products in their 2014 Spring/Summer Collection (you can check out that review HERE). Essence Cosmetics is a German cosmetic brand that is sold at Ulta. Their products are super affordable and of great quality. They are big players in the fight against animal testing and all of their products are cruelty free.

Here are some of the items from their new Autumn/Winter Collection:

What's in My Closet?: Fall Edition Part 1

Hi Ladies!

I'm really excited to be sharing my first Fall Edition of What's in My Closet?! I tend to do a pretty decent sized wardrobe shopping each season. For some reason I really enjoy fall clothing the most. I love that the weather in the fall (in MA) is still warm enough for short sleeves but is cool enough to also be comfortable in long sleeves. Usually in August or September, I do my fall shopping. I recently went on a little shopping spree with some gift cards that I saved from my birthday. I had no idea that a week later, it was going to be 95 degrees out otherwise, I would have waited. Express, which is one of my all time favorite stores was having a 40% off sale so I went a little crazy there. Below are some outfits that I have created for the fall. Click the links below to see where you can purchase each item or something similar to it.

Top: Checkered Convertible Sleeved Boyfriend Shirt

Jeans: Low Rise Skinny Leg Jean

Boots: Slouchy Flat Knee High Boots

Necklace 1: Gemstone Bib Necklace

Necklace 2: Crystal Brulee Necklace

Review: Eddie Funkhouser Quattro Variable Lash Mascara*

HI Ladies!
How many of you use more than one mascara to achieve a lash look that you are happy with? I know there are a bunch of you out there! Your prayers have been answered! Today I am going to share with you Eddie Funkhouser's Award Winning Quattro Variable Lash Mascara! It is an innovative new mascara that allows you to pick the type of effect the wand gives your lashes. 

Image from Google Images

Before I talk about the mascara, I want to give you a little background on Eddie Funkhouser and his cosmetic line. Eddie is a world renown makeup artist that has traveled the world making women beautiful. He wanted to create a line of makeup that was not only high quality and one of a kind, but also attainable to all women. As a result, the Eddie Funkhouser brand was created. I first was introduced to Eddie and his line from a Wantable Twitter chat. I thought it was so cool that he was willing to chat with his fans and give them makeup advice. He is very active in Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and will respond to your messages! He also has an "ask Eddie" email address where you can email him about beauty advice, application, and his products. I think his willingness to connect to his customers and fans is HUGE. It shows that he truly appreciates all his fans/customers and takes the time to make them feel special.

The Secrets of Blogging Tag

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to do a personal blogging tag that I was asked to participate in by two of my lovely blogging buddies.

Lily from Beauty with Lily and Chelsea from Tiger Love Beauty

The Secrets of Blogging

1. When did you start blogging and why? I started blogging September 2013 because my husband suggested it and I thought it was a good idea. My full time job isn't something that necessarily "interests" me, it pays the bills though. I didn't really have a hobby or anything that I could call my "thing" but beauty and fashion have always been something that I am passionate about. All these things are what inspired me to start my own blog.

2. How many people in "real life" know about your blog? Most people in my life know about my blog in some sense. I talk about it ALOT since it has become such a huge part of my life. Some people don't quite "get" it or understand how important it is to me. That is why I am so glad that I have such great blogger friends who understand where I am coming from.

3. What are your favorite posts to read? My favorite posts to read are reviews and hauls. I almost always do research before buying a product. Reading reviews and seeing swatches definitely helps me make decisions. I also love hauls because I get to see new products out on the market and what products fellow beauty bloggers have decided to purchase. I really value all of their opinions and input on product.s

4. List a blog you have discovered recently. I recently went to some local blogging events and have been other Boston bloggers. Because I have discovered several, I'm going to give you a few to check out! 

Chowing Down By the Bay- Chelsea is originally from San Francisco but is currently living in Boston. She is a food and fashion blogger who loves to share her experiences at different restaurants in the area but also throw some fashion into the mix.

Mainely Styled- Elizabeth is a fashion and lifestyle blogger that posts a ton of OOTD's (outfit of the day) and loves to share affordable fashion finds. She also posts about food, home decor, and health and fitness. 

Nouveau Cheap- G is the go to woman for info on beauty sales, special offers, and new products and programs. I have been following her for a while on Instagram but recently started following her on Bloglovin too. Thanks to El for telling me to check out her site!

5. Which posts are you most proud of? I wouldn't say I am more proud one type of post over the others. I put a ton of time and effort in ALL of my posts. I do feel that my fashion posts (What's in My Closet and Get the Look for Less) take significantly more time than my beauty posts. It isn't always easy finding similar or more affordable items so I am constantly searching the web for these things. I always feel so accomplished when finishing these type of posts.

6. What advice would you give to future bloggers? Make sure that you enjoy what you are talking about. If you don't enjoy it, it will show in your writing.  Also, blog because you love doing it but don't let it consume your life. You don't want to do it to the point where you don't love doing it anymore. You also need a break to spend time with the people (and animals) in your life. Its very easy to go overboard, it has happened to me on several occasions. You don't want valuable time and memories to pass you by while you sit glued to a computer screen. 

Thanks to Lily and Chelsea for tagging me!

I'm tagging the following people:

Hope from Beauty and Bliss

Drea from Naturalle Drea

Karen from KP Says

Ingrid from Neta's Frivolity

I hope that you enjoyed reading this post!

Post your comments below!

-Tanya xoxo

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2014

Hi Ladies!
I can't believe I'm already reviewing September's Ipsy bag!  For those of you unfamiliar with  Ipsy, it is a monthly beauty subscription service. For $10.00 a month, you get 4-5 deluxe to full size beauty products. To learn more you can check out my previous Ipsy reviews on my Subscription Reviews tab at the top of my blog. The theme for this month's bag is "Street Style". For the first time in more than six months, I was super excited about the items in my Glam Room! I was so happy with the items chosen for me before I even saw the colors that I was getting.  

Let's check out what I got!

Review: eShakti "We Design, You Customize"*

Hi Ladies!
Today I am going to share with you a unique clothing company called eShakti. eShakti is an online custom clothing retailer. They have tons of unique dresses, tops, and skirts that are all custom made to your liking. Their sizes range from 0-36W which I think is awesome. It doesn't matter if you are petite or plus size, any dress, skirt, etc on their site can be custom made to fit you. They prefer to get your exact measurements to ensure that the clothes will fit you like a glove. However, they also have standard sizes.

Next is the customization.  eShakti also gives their customers the option of custom designing their clothing. While you can certainly purchase the dresses and other clothing items as is, you could also change things on the dress such as the length, neckline, and sleeves. I think that is really cool. They also make two piece outfits including crop tops and matching skirts.

I feel like there is some variety of clothing styles on this site. From conservative to more more fun and flirty. There are some trendy pieces as well. They have a pretty large selection of vintage/50's style dresses which I feel is the largest style that they make. Though vintage style clothing is not my style per say, I still think that the dresses and skirts are really pretty.

eShakti offers some greats sales and discounts. They also offer a $25.00 coupon when you register and place your first order on their site.

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Laser cut illusion sheath dress

Review: Influenster VSSportsBra VoxBox*

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to share with you the VSSportsBra Vox Box that I recieved from Influenster. I work out 3-4 days a week so I was so excited to get this box. I thought that I was the perfect candidate for this box and knew that these items would definitely get used after this review. For those of you unfamiliar with Influenster, it is a site that works with different brands to promote their products. As an Influenster you link all of your social media accounts. The more active you are in social media, the better chance you have at getting chosen for Voxboxes. However, some Voxboxes can be completely random or very specific having to do with specific demographics. You also complete quizzes on different subjects to become "experts" in that area. 

Onto the products that I recieved:

As you can see from the picture above, the theme of this box is VS Sport. Inside the box was a VS Sports Bra and a pair of VS Sport Crop pants.

The Resolute Beauty Blogger: September 2014

Hi Ladies!  Beauty Bloggers Shalunya from Shalunya and Boyet and El from The Beauty Isle teamed up to create The Resolute Beauty Blogger. They wanted to do this to not only stay on track with their Beauty Blog Resolutions for 2014 but also to give other beauty bloggers the chance to join in on the action. 

Here are my goals and updates on each:

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!!!

Hi Ladies!
I'm super happy and proud to announce that today is my one year blog anniversary! Happy Birthday to Leopard Lace and Cheesecake! It has been an AMAZING journey so far and I can't wait to see what the future will bring. I started my blog as a hobby to talk about my passions; beauty and fashion. I had no idea what would come of it. I have met SO MANY amazing people in the past year. I have made some great business contacts and some life long friends. I have learned so much about the beauty and fashion industry and continue to learn something new each day. It has been so awesome to see the growth of LLC over the past year as well as my growth as an individual. I would be nothing without my readers and fellow blogger friends. I want to THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of my heart! <3

As a thank you, I decided to do a giveaway. The giveaway will run from today September 13th through October 4th. I will announce the winner on Monday, October 6th.

Here are the items that you will win!

Review: Motives Haul

Hi Ladies!

As many of you know, I had a Motives Trunk Show back in July. I had a really great turn out of guests and had a house full of lovely ladies. We all had a lot of fun learning about the different application techniques and playing with all of the pretty makeup. You can read more about Motives Cosmetics and see a bunch of swatches HERE. 

One of the perks of having a Motives Trunk Show is that as the host, you get 15% of the nightly sales to use towards products. Below are the goods that I purchased with my host credits.

Review: Freeman Facial Masks

Hi Ladies,

Today I am going to share my Freeman facial mask collection. I have a bunch of different masks from different brands. Some are high end brands and others are drugstore brands. I currently only have 3 different Freeman masks but plan to get more! All of these masks can be found at your local drugstores and are super affordable.

Review: Nume Lustrum

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to review the Nume Lustrum Curling Wand Set. This set retails for $280.00 on the Nume Site. I purchased this set during a Nume Instadeal on Instagram and only paid $80.00 (plus $12.00 shipping) for it! I was so happy that I waited to get this set. I almost purchased it a few months ago when there was an offer code to get it for $159.00. Good thing I waited! One thing I must note...it took almost a month to receive the product but they took the money out of my account right away. Since I already have a few other curling irons, I didn't mind the wait. Because it took so long to get to me, Nume sent me a free gift to thank my for my patience. The gift was the Nume styling comb which retails for $20.00. The comb helps de-tangle your hair and assist with straightening your hair with an iron. I haven't really used it yet so I can't comment on how it works.

On to the Lustrum....

The Lustrum comes with 5 different barells; 32 mm, 25 mm, 19 mm, Reverse, and Pearl. The heads are interchangeable and lock into place. Along with the barells is a base which is the had piece of the wand. It has an on and off button but no temperature setting. I own 3 Hot Tools curling irons and the Nume gets just as hot and works just as well. It actually heats up in seconds.  It is very light weight compared to my other styling tools. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have a little metal clamp that you can pull down to let it rest against instead of putting it on a flat surface.

Review: Real Chemistry*

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to share with you a skincare line called Real Chemistry. Real Chemistry is a technology based and innovative skincare company that was recently featured in Birchbox. The founder,  Karen Griffin, spent 20 years working in the healthcare industry researching ingredients to help with specific skin conditions. The Real Chemistry line focuses on less harsh ways to exfoliate and products that you can use both alone and with your daily skincare products.

The Real Chemistry line is great for all skin types but also claims to help with a long list of specific skin care issues. Here are the main issues that it is said to improve: dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, fine lines and wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, Rosacea, and acne. Originally, I was going to test these products out myself. However, since I have no serious skin issues and after reading that this line is supposed to help with Rosacea, I knew that my mom was the perfect candidate. 

My mom has suffered from Rosacea for much of her life. I have noticed that it has got worse over the years. My mom is not the best at taking care of her skin. This was her opportunity to not only learn the importance of skincare, but also improve her skin condition. She was really excited and agreed to try out these products for about 3-4 weeks. I asked her to make sure that she used these products religiously. I also asked her to take detailed notes on her thoughts and opinions of the products. I wanted her to give this product enough time so that we can record before and after results.

Here are before photos of my moms face:

These aren't the best pictures (I can thank my stepdad for that) but as you can see, the Rosacea is mainly focused on her cheeks. She does also have wrinkles on and around her eyes but nothing dramatic. Throughout this review, I will give you a little info on each product as well as my mom's experience with each.

Onto the products:

Daily Serum $92.00

Here is what is said about the serum on the Real Chemistry site:

"Our proprietary MTHV® Complex Daily Serum is a feather-light, protein-rich invisible armor designed to be worn under your everyday skin-care products like moisturizer, foundation, and sun-block.  When used twice daily, the MTHV® Complex Daily Serum assists the body with cellular repair, which promotes the reversal of oxidative stress and damage. Routine use of both MTHV® Complex products will help to diminish dark spots as well as fine lines and wrinkles, enhance the skin’s elasticity, and evens and brightens the complexion."

http://myrealchemistry.com/product/daily-serum/

Here are my mother's thoughts on this daily serum: The daily serum is a liquid formula that is a soft with a little bit of stickiness to it. It soaks right into my skin once applied but takes a minute or so to dry. The serum is very lightweight. When I apply it, my skin turns a little blotchy but I believe it is due to the fact that I have sensitive skin. The redness goes right away after. I really think this serum has improved my skin. I think that it is slowly helping the redness fade from my Rosacea. My face also feels softer than it used to and my cheeks don't feel as dry as they used to.

Luminous 3 Minute Peel $48.00

Luminous 3 Minute Peel Trial Size $5.75

Here is what is said about the peel on the Real Chemistry site:

"The peel is a “Protein Peel”.  It will remove large amounts of excess, dead epidermal cells in seconds.  As the synergistic blend of ingredients is gently massaged into the skin, solids form under the fingertips.  These are a combination of the peel’s protein-binding ingredients and epidermal protein.  99.5% of consumers who tested the product and have experience with dermabrasion and acid peels, reported that the Real Chemistry Luminous 3 Minute Peel was as effective or more effective, but did not irritate the skin like other methods.  This protein peel leaves the skin velvety soft and resurfaced after just one use.  Resurfacing is recommended at least once per week for most skin types."

http://myrealchemistry.com/product/luminous-3-minute-peel/

Here are my mother's thoughts on the peel: When this product is squeezed out of the tube it is a soft texture but once you start to massage the product into your face and neck gritty pieces form. I don't actually see my skin "peeling" but supposedly when you are massaging your face with the product, you are taking off dead skin cells. My face feels really clean after using it. After using this product, my face feels soft and has a shine to it. Its not a greasy shine but more of a healthy glow.

 Environmental Rescue Mask (Box of 3) $68.00/1 Rescue Mask $25.00

Here is what is said about the Enviornmental Rescue Masks on the Real Chemistry site:

"The ingredients in the firming serum infused into the intensive once-a-week fabric mask and daily-use pump, are incredibly unique.  Proteins are the building blocks of life and the foundation of our technology.  Our proprietary MTHV® Complex contains Metallothionein (MT) and Hirudin (HV).  MT is a powerful, organic anti-oxidant “power protein”, which can scavenge oxidative, free radical damage from the surface of the skin.  HV is a natural blood thinner, which when applied topically, thins and disburses red lines under the skin which are actually blood particulates, allowing the body to reabsorb them.  Hirudin can also enhance cellular perfusion and blood flow, assisting with the removal of toxins trapped under the skin.The mask is worn for approximately 20 minutes once per week, optimally immediately following exfoliation using the Real Chemistry Luminous 3 Minute Peel.  

http://myrealchemistry.com/product/environmental-rescue-mask/

Here are my mother's thoughts on the masks: This mask is a fabric/paper mask  saturated in product. I had a bit of an issue working with it since I have never used these types of masks before. I didn't want to get it in my face or eyes and had a little bit of an issue getting it on. You had to leave this on for about 20 minutes. After using this product I massaged it into my skin. My face felt soft after using it.

 Here are after pictures of my mom:

These photos were taken about 4 weeks after using these products. 

Overall, my mom really enjoyed using these products. She said that she can notice a difference in her Rosacea. The redness has faded a bit and she believes with continued use, that it will fade even more. She doesn't expect the redness to completely go away in only a few weeks. She also mentioned that she isn't as oily around her nose anymore. Her favorite product is the Daily Serum and she plans to purchase another bottle once the current one runs out.

* I was sent these  products for review purposes. However, the thoughts and opinions in this post are my own. I am always 100% honest in my reviews for all products discussed on my blog.

Have you tried any products by Real Chemistry? Post your comments below!

Comparison: Too Faced Melted Lipsticks vs L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to do a mini review and a comparison post on the Too Faced Melted Lipsticks and the L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints. I have read that the Glazed Lip Paints could be possible dupes for the Melted Lipsticks so I decided to grab some and test them out.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Candy and Fig $21.00

Candy

This is a hot coral/pink with blue undertones.

Fig

This is a mauve/purple color.

The Melted lipsticks are insanely pigmented. They are super creamy and are very easy to apply. I love the felt tip applicator that the product comes out of. It makes it very easy to apply. These lipsticks apply wet and eventually dry with a matte finish. I do feel that they take a really long time to dry which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I did find that if my hair brushed against my lips, the color did transfer onto my face. That is one thing I didn't like about how long it took to dry. Also, if you eat while wearing this, make sure to check your lips after. The lipstick did transfer to my chin somehow one day while eating lunch lol. I didn't find them really drying on my lips but after eating and drinking, you do need to touch up the edges a bit. This has great wear time. I would say it lasts about 5-6 hours without touch up. If eating it will still last but will fade a bit. The lipstick does leave a stain on your lips afterward. Overall, this is an amazing product and I can't wait to pick up more colors!

L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint in Bobmshell, Coy, and Blushing $4.00

Bombshell

This is a fuschia/pink.

Coy

This is a light purple/violet.

Blushing

This is a mauve/purple color with a hint of pink.

I found these products at  Five Below for $3.00 each! They had all the original set of colors but I decided just to pick up these three. Right off the bat, I noticed that these lip paints were way more liquidy that the Melted lipsticks. They are on the watery side but are still very pigmented. They have a slight minty taste/smell to them. I felt that these lip paints were a little harder to get an even application with. I also had a hard time getting a clean and straight line on the edges of my lips. This could be because of the applicator. It is just a slanted plastic tip with a hole in the middle. The lip paints apply glossy and stay that way. They do not dry matte. The wear time is 3-4 hours. I had a bit of an issue with getting these glazes on my teeth as well. Once the paint touches your teeth, it gets all on them. I suggest doing the finger trick where you put your finger in your mouth and make an O with your lips while pulling your finger out. Sounds sexual but it is a good way to get rid of access lipstick/gloss to avoid getting it on your teeth :). Even though I had a few issues with these glazed lip paints, I still really liked them and think that they are worth the price. My favorite color of the 3 is Coy.

Here are swatches of all the lip products and colors above:

L-R: Melted Candy, Melted Fig, Blushing, Coy, and Bombshell

The verdict: I do not think that the L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints are dupes for the Melted Lipsticks. Though they both have amazing pigmentation, they are very different in all other aspects.  In terms of colors, some of the shades may be very similar to one another. For example, the Melted Fig and Blushing. They are very similar colors. The Melted Violet and Coy may also be very similar. I have only tried the ones mentioned above so I can't say for sure. Regardless, I highly recommend both products but the Too Faced Melted Lipsticks are most definitely my favorite of the two!

Have you tried either of these products? What are your thoughts on them? Post your comments below!

-Tanya xoxo