BA STAR Cosmetics

Press Sample

 #1 with Cheerleaders, Dancers, Competitors & Trend Setters.

 BA STAR Cosmetics specializes in many products such as High Drama Pressed Eyeshadows, Glitter & Glue, Mascara, Eyeliner, Blush, bronzer and more. Complete your makeup kit with BA Star Cosmetics. 

 Along with cosmetics BA STAR offers headbands, lanyards, and face & body stickers.  

 I was sent a free sample of BA STARS Natural Palette and have to say that I was impressed with the pigmentation when swatched, however when applied to my lids with a brush the color pay off was only so-so. The lightest color was on the chalky side and had some fall out.  I wore the shadows over a shadow base and found that only a few minutes after applying there was some creasing. BA STAR Palettes retail for $8.75. 

 

Notice the Creasing?

 What I really want to mention are the awesome fundraising options. If your team/sqaud/troupe are looking for fundraising options I recommend checking out BA STAR. 

 GET 50% OFF YOUR ORDER WITH CODE BBSMOKY

Check out BA STAR

*I was sent a free sample of the BA STAR Natural Palette. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. I was not paid for this review.*

Crayola is Celebrating it's 110th Birthday with an Adventure!

Crayola is celebrating it's 110th birthday, and the original 8 colors want you to help them celebrate.

"To celebrate their 110th birthday, our 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new fun-omenal Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they're out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you're invited to join the fun!

How can you join in on the fun? You can FOLLOW our crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color, and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayloa Experience this coming May, 2013!"

Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click "enter now" for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens.

The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It's an experience your kids will never forget - and neither will you!

*Information for this post provided by Crayola. I was not paid for this post*

Mally Beauty Spring/Summer Essentials

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By now some of you may know about my love of Mally Beauty products(or just Mally Roncal in general). If I've got makeup on, I have at least one Mally Beauty product on. Don't know who Mally Roncal is? Well, get with it! Just kidding. Mally Roncal was doing makeup professionally for 15 years before she started developing cosmetics, she knows her stuff, and is still glamming up celebrities on the regular. I bet if you've picked up a magazine you've seen some of Mally's work. Beyonce, anyone? How about J.Lo, Angelina Jolie, and Rihanna? Mally has made them all as she says, "GORGOIS". You may have even seen her work on Beyonce at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration.  Anyhoo, I was checking out her latest products on QVC and decided I would share my Spring/Summer Essentials. All were chosen with heat in mind. So here goes...

Mally Face Defender BB Cream Foundation SPF 15
 "Look instantly younger with this smoothing, protecting foundation. With antiaging ingredients and SPF 15, the innovative, oil-free liquid formula glides on velvety-smooth to help protect skin and diminish the appearance of pores and fine lines. You'll look like you're cast in a soft, diffused light." Comes in 5 shades.

*Tip*  Can settle into fine lines and wrinkles if you fail to really blend it out. This BB Cream can be used alone or under foundation to even skin tone and mattify the skin. Great lightweight formula which is rare in a BB Cream. 

Diamond Un-Powder 
  "What is it: Diamond Un-Powder is not like traditional powders--it's an Un-Powder that spreads evenly across your skin, allowing natural light to bounce across the skin's surface while diffusing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

 *Tip* I if you like a fuller coverage apply this over the Mally Face Defender BB Cream with a powder brush. Or you can wear this alone and apply it with the included sponge. 

Mally Beauty Believable Bronzer
   "This is Mally's special way of getting a natural sun-kissed look. It uses three powders--a tanning powder for allover color, a shimmer to highlight, and a beautiful sun shade that's designed to make your cheeks radiant like a day at the beach."


I haven't personally used this product but I imagine it is the bronzing equivalent of her Shimmer, Shape & Glow which I LOVE.

Mally Evercolor Waterproof Automatic Eyeliner
 "Evercolor Waterproof Automatic Eyeliner has a long-wearing formula that contains nourishing and conditioning ingredients yet is gentle enough to use on your inner rims. It offers excellent payoff and coverage and is easily blendable shortly after application. Smudge-proof and set in 30 seconds. A sharpener is not needed--just twist the barrel." 

*Tip* If you want to smudge this out a little work somewhat fast before it fully dries, otherwise this eyeliner ain't budging without makeup remover. Great for watery eyes. 
  

Volumizing Waterproof Mascara
  "This Volumizing Waterproof Mascara has a unique formula that helps create the look of gorgeous, full, luxurious lashes. The combination of natural waxes and carefully chosen powders gives lashes an instant boost...oh, and did we mention it's waterproof?!"

Mally Evercolor Melted Lipstick
  "Evercolor Melted Lipsticks are not traditional lipsticks, nor are they lip gloss. This hybrid formula provides the best of both worlds to give you the lips you've always dreamed of, all with the added benefit of soothing and caring for your lips. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, aloe, avocado, and olive oil, they help protect and condition your lips."

*Tip* Ok, not so much a tip but the Melted Lipsticks are designed to leave a stain which is awesome when you don't have time to reapply. Works especially well with the darker shades. I've been rocking Mauve constantly. Also really great at hydrating and healing chapped or dry lips. 

 All theses products can be found on QVC.com not all have made their way to mallybeauty.com yet.

What are some of your Spring/Summer essentials? 

*I was sent press samples of the Melted Lipstick and the Face Defender BB Cream. Other Items mentioned I bought myself or are on my wishlist. I was not paid to mention these products and all opinions are my own* 

New eos Lip Balm in Lemon Drop now with SPF

Warm weather is almost here and it’s time to show some skin. While you’ve got your body covered, it’s easy to forget about your lips! Thankfully, this bright and easy-to-find pool bag essential from eos will help you beat the heat and protect your pout from harmful rays.

eos Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Lemon Drop Can a lip balm make you smile? We think so. That's why we invented this one. Pamper your lips while you protect them from the sun with this eos Lemon Drop with SPF 15 that’s naturally flavored and PABA-free. Packed with natural conditioning oils and antioxidant rich vitamin E, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth. Now with 80 minutes of water-resistant protection, what’s not to love? Price: $3.29 Availability:Target, Walmart, Walgreens Have you seen this around yet? I have yet to spot it.

Schick Hydro Silk Review from BzzAgent

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So What's the Bzz about Schick HYDRO Silk?

"If everything in life served as many purposes as the Schick Hydro Silk^® razor, ladies would have fewer boyfriends and a lot more closet space. (And not just because they like to stuff unused boyfriends in their spare closets.) With so much to highlight about this versatile razor, here's a quick look at what might interest your girlfriends most:

• Each cartridge is filled with Water-Activated Moisturizing Serum that's infused with marine extracts and shea butter and hydrates longer than any other razor*
• 5 Curve-Sensing^™ blades move independently from each other to deliver an incredibly smooth, efficient shave and blade guards help protect skin from irritation(fewer strokes helps reduce irritation!)
• Contoured oval cartridges allow for a closer shave around hard-to-reach places like ankles, knees and underarms
• An ergonomic, soft touch handle with rubber grips provides ultimate control while shaving
• Schick Hydro Silk^® razors are stocked at grocery stores, drug stores and mass retailers; the Starter Kit sells for an average retail price of $9.49, while 4-packs of refill cartridges retail for around $15.11

*Moisturizes for up to two hours after shaving.

For best results, apply your favorite shaving cream, gel or foam when using the Schick Hydro Silk^® razor"

Photo Taken from schick.com

So What Do I Think? 

  Whelp, I think this would be a fantastic razor if it weren't for the main selling point which is the moisturizing serum, which I have come to call slime. The serum is so thick and slimy it actually creates a barrier between the 5 blades, and the skin.   Which doesn't allow for a close shave at all. I have to go over the same area so many times that once out of the shower, I still have stubble and razor burn. Ugh!

 I thought that maybe after using the razor for awhile the slime (serum) would eventually start going away. Nope, that slime is still going strong after 2 weeks! Now, normally I would think that still having the serum after so long would be a really great thing, but not in this case it is just too thick and defeats the purpose of the whole razor. I mean 5 curve sensing blades and they aren't even being allowed to do their job!
 If Schick would lessen what I feel is an extreme amount of slimy thick serum, I think this would be a really fantastic razor, with the 5 curve sensing blades, ergonomic handle, contoured oval cartridges, and shower hanger. But, being as how the razor struggles to give a close shave it just isn't worth the $10 price tag, not to mention the refill cartridges are a whopping $15 bucks. Yikes! I'll stick with my Schick Quattro, Thank you.

*I received a Schick Hydro Silk Razor for free as a member of bzzagent.com. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. I was not paid for this review.*

L'OREAL Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Review

Image courtesy of Loreal

 There are so many BB creams out there today. Just a year ago the only place you could pick up a BB cream was in a department store or on the internet from an authentic Asian company, and even then I found the variety overwhelming, as well as expensive. So I was happy when drugstore lines started to come out with them, and then quickly disappointed to find that most are just glorified or repackaged and renamed tinted moisturizers.  I was given the opportunity to review L'OREAL's new  Magic Skin Beautifier BB cream, as a member of SheSpeaks.

 What is a BB Cream you ask?

 "BB cream is promoted as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. "^{Huff Post Style Canada}

What does L'OREAL say about the Magic Skin Beautifier BB:

 "This product gives the sheer coverage needed to create a natural bare skin finish, while delivering built-in skincare benefits. With four beautifying actions, this all-in-one innovation primes and smoothes, perfects to hide flaws, hydrates all-day, and corrects and evens skin. The product is infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization."

 I chose the shade Light. There are 4 shades to choose from and I should have chosen the lightest shade. Here's why; When you first squeeze out the BB cream it is a white watery liquid with little grey specks. L'OREAL says those little grey specks are beads that once rubbed into the skin burst and "self adjust".  I do not agree with the "self adjust" part. The Light shade ended up being about two shades darker than what I would consider light. So I recommend finding the shade that you would normally use and then purchasing the next shade below and that should be your perfect color match.

 Contrary to some other BB creams I've tried, I find that this product actually does offer some coverage. It's a sheer coverage but It does a really great job at evening out my skin tone, and makes me feel it's enough coverage to just but some of this on and head out the door.  This surprised me, because I had thought that there was no way this watery formula was gonna do anything in the way of coverage.  Speaking of it's consistency this is something I have really appreciated. While others are thick and feel heavy on your face the Magic Skin Beautifier is very light and I have actually forgotten I put some on. It's very comfortable on the skin, and gives the effect of not having any makeup on at all, but having much better skin than you may naturally have. The Magic Skin Beautifier BB is not porportaded to have sun screen in it but states on the package that it may contain Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxides (light reflectors used as an aid to reflect sun from skin)  so be sure to put your regular sunscreen on beforehand. 

Before and After

I love the Magic Skin Beautifier so much that it has become a daily part of my routine. Some days I wear nothing but this BB cream and others when I want more coverage, I use it as a primer under my regular foundation.

 The L'OREAL Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream comes in 1.0 FL OZ and retails for $10.95, it can be purchased and mass drug and food retailers nationwide. For more information you can head over to L'OREAL's website.

*I received a sample of this product free for the purpose of a review from Shespeaks and Loreal Paris. All opinions are my own and 100% honest*

A Beauty Bloggers Wishlist...

These are some of the beauty items on my wishlist. What are the products on yours?

December Wishlist
with Benefit Cosmetics, Urban Decay, NARS