Katie Marie, Author at From My Vanity

Create A Super-Easy Striped Nail Art Design (Nail Tutorial)

November 12, 2014 Katie Marie 7 Comments

Planning to paint your nails and want to spice it up a bit? Today I’m sharing a SUPER easy tutorial. I learned it when I was 12 or something and have loved doing it to my nails ever since.

Let’s dive right in!

Easy Striped Nail Art for Beginners

This nail design is super easy and, besides the normal nail supplies you would need for a manicure — basecoat, nail polish of choice, and top coat — you also want to get your hands on two stripe nail polish. One of the stripers has to be a solid color and the other stripe has to be a glitter polish. You can change up the colors, however you wish, just make sure one is a solid color and the other is glitter. For all of these supplies, Sally’s Beauty Supply is a great place to get them from.

Always remember to apply basecoat. Not only will this protect your nail from being stained by the color you apply, but it will also help your manicure and art work to last a lot longer!

Now take whatever color you want to use and apply the first coat. Make sure you allow at least 5 minutes between each layer of polish. If you apply it all at once it will take forever for your design to finally dry. Allowing time between the layers helps the process to go quicker. (And if you’re like me, it’s hard to wait more than an hour after I do my nails before I need to do something that requires me to use my fingers. 🙂

I always like my colors to be really opaque. Though with this Sinful Color nail polish, I could’ve probably gotten by with just one coat. But….I like pigmentation!! 😉

Now comes the fun part! But super easy, I promise! Pick a corner that you want your stripes to meet at. I pull all the colors to the corners, as I think it gives me a more seamless look.

Take your glitter striper and go in between the black stripes. You can make this as elaborate and as many stripes as you want.

Depending on the day I do my nails, I sometimes do the black and gold stripes on each nail. But for today I decided to just do an accent nail on my ring finger and then applied a little glitter polish to the rest of my nails.

Don’t forget to apply a top coat once you are done! A topcoat helps to seal in your design and prevent chipping for a longer period of time.

That’s all there is to this super-easy nail art! It’s a really fun way to spice up your nail color and takes almost no time! I’ve been using this technique for years and love it! 🙂

If you give this a try, I’d love it if you’d tag me and hashtag #LadyKaty92_Nails on any of my social medias!

I hope you all enjoyed this nail tutorial. I know it isn’t rocket
science, but I’ve frequently been commented on my nail art when I do this, so I thought to share.

Old Factory Making Candles the Old-Fashioned Way! (Giveaway)

November 10, 2014 Katie Marie 6 Comments

Old Factory Themed Candle Gift Sets

Retail Price: $30.99

50 SHADES themed gift set contains 3 different 2 ounce candles. Includes Leather, Jasmine Bubbles, Vanilla Sex.
Made in the USA with natural soy wax and self-trimming cotton candle wicks.
Each gift pack comes with 3
fragrance-themed candles. Each of which burns clean for over 20 hours.
The subtle jar design makes it the perfect complement for any decor, and
any room of the house – kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, family room, great
room, basement.
Buy one for yourself, and another for a loved one – just because.
Every purchase is 100% Guaranteed. If
you are not completely thrilled with the fragrance or appearance of
these candles. We insist you send them back (at our expense) and we’ll
give you a full refund. No hassles. No headaches. That’s our promise to
you.

My Review:

First Impression & Packaging:
I love to burn candles around the house, so was thrilled to receive this set of three candles from Old Factory — a company that’s exclusively available on Amazon. I was sent them as a gift, which is the first time I’ve ever had any experience with Amazon sending a product wrapped. This is how it looked when I opened the package.

I appreciated that they included the invoice, but put it in an envelop so that you have the option to be totally surprised when you open the gift. The invoice also did not include the price of the item.

This 3-Candle Gift set comes in a variety of different sets and, since we’ve just stepped into November, I thought it was appropriate to get the Fall Harvest gift set. Each of the candles are 2 oz. and come with a black screw-on lid. They were slightly smaller than I had expected, but I didn’t see this as a negative aspect.

Product & Application:
I really appreciate and loved the care that Old Factory takes with the packaging and design–from the candles themselves, to the inserts you get, to even the box it comes in. How sweet that they even included little messages underneath the candles (see picture above). They’re a very thoughtful company.

The aroma from the candles can be smelled even before you light them — so yummy! As you can see, the three different scents were in Cranberry, Autumn Leaves, and Pumpkin Spice. The Cranberry definitely puts me in mind of Christmas, so I will be saving that till next month. Autumn Leaves smells outdoorsy….like crushed leaves. Not specifically fall….but more like what the outdoors smell like during the spring, so I would say this would work no matter the season.

Pumpkin Spice, of course, smells like pumpkin…and maybe a touch of gingerbread. Personally, it’s the most accurate “fall” scent in this set. But! When you light them all at the same time, then all the scents do combine to give you a very accurate “fall” smell. It’s my favorite season, so I love it! 🙂

Major Likes & Dislikes:
I think this set would make a wonderful gift for someone who loves candles this Christmas (like me!). Or you could even purchase this set, and then divide them up between three friends as stocking stuffers. I like that the candles are natural and handmade in the USA. And, of course, the scents are really pleasant when you burn them. Not too strong (I don’t like those kinds).

The price seems kind of pricey for 3 2oz candles. But right now I appreciate that they’re on sale, so more affordable. And when you divide $25 three ways, it’s not that bad. And $25 makes for easy gifts.

Final Thoughts:
Almost forgot to mention, but Old Factory has a 100% satisfaction guarantee return policy — if you don’t like the product, they will pay for the shipping to have it returned. I really appreciate this. Too often you see the return guarantee…but you have to pay for shipping it back. That’s not the case with Old Factory candles!

Each candle burns for about 20 hours, so if you do the math….right now you can spend $25 and have wonderful scents filling your house for at least 60 hours! The perfect amount of time for this season — you don’t have to worry about still having half the candle to burn through when Christmas is over and spring is rapidly approaching (like with large B&BW candles!).

If you like burning candles in your home, then you have to try these Old Factory candles at some point! You won’t be disappointed and I think you are going to love the ability to switch scents in a timely manner.

Old Factory Candle GIVEAWAY!
It’s been a little while since I’ve had a giveaway to offer to y’all, so I’m really excited to share this news with you today. 🙂 One of my awesome readers will win 1 FREE Old Factory Candle Gift Set. Thank you, Old Factory!

Contest winners must have an Amazon.com account, a
PayPal account (for shipping reimbursements), and live in America in
order to claim their prize. For more detailed rules, see Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter form below.

Giveaway ends December 1st, at midnight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Question for My Readers: If you won the giveaway, which of the sets would you pick (see list of sets in the picture above).

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above from Old Factory, sponsored through BrandBackers. I only share information that I think will be useful for my readers and I only recommend products I have personally used.

NuMe’s Popular ‘MegaStar’ is an Impressive Flat Iron (Product Review)

November 5, 2014 Katie Marie 15 Comments

** HEADS UP! **

The MegaStar is currently 60% off right now. This is the lowest I’ve EVER seen it! All you have to do is use the code “2DELICATE” when you check out and you will get this beauty for only $78!!

Don’t wait! I have no idea how long this sale is going to last!

I realized a few weeks ago that while I shared my review of the Titan3 curling wand with y’all and have also done several hair tutorials…I never shared my thoughts of NuMe’s well-known MegaStar Flat Iron. So, that’s what we’re going to look at today!

By the way….If you would be interested in seeing a tutorial on how to curl hair with a flat iron…let me know. I’d be happy to share, if it’d be useful to y’all. 🙂

NuMe MegaStar Flat Iron

Retail Price: $199

(But I bought mine on sale for $89! 😉

We call this iron the MegaStar, but we should have named it the Smooth
Criminal – this tool leaves your hair so sleek and straight, it should
be a crime. With 1000% more Negative Ion Conditioning Technology than
traditional irons, the MegaStar transforms your hair with
precision-engineered Tourmaline-infused floating ceramic plates. It also
features a built-in thermal fuse, an advanced heating mechanism, and a
30 minute automatic shut-off function – perfect for the days when you’re
be too busy admiring your hair to realize you forgot to unplug your
straightener.

My Review:

First Impression & Packaging…
I’d been seeing the NuMe Megastar all over Youtube for several months before I finally decided that I needed to invest in a good tool to use on my hair. I straighten my hair all the time and if I can purchase a flat iron that won’t damage my hair like traditional ones do….it’s worth spending a bit of money on.

The flat iron itself is beautiful. That’s the only word I could come up with when I first pulled it out of the packaging. It looks so sleek and cutting-edge. I don’t know what kind of material it’s encased in….but it’s almost a velvety texture. It’s so hard to explain, but it’s like the Bite Beauty Duo Lipstick. (I’m horribly at describing, I know!)

Product & Application…
The MegaStar shows the temperature in digits on the screen and it’s really simple and easy to use. I typically don’t turn it on until I am ready to do my hair. Then I set the temperature, apply heat protector, brush my hair, and the flat iron is hot and ready to use. It really is very quick to heat up!

I typically turn my MegaStar to a higher setting, as I have thick, hard-to-curl hair. (If you have finer or damaged hair, use a low setting!) When I use the flat iron on my hair, I really like that it only takes me one, good pass on a section in order for it to be straight and ready to go. Typically, when I flat iron my hair, it lasts for at least two days.

Major Likes & Dislikes…
I love how quickly the iron heats up. I used to always forget to give my flat irons time to heat up, but with the MegaStar I don’t have to worry. It takes less than a minute to be hot enough to start using. It also has a switch-off mechanism that is very handy — I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten to unplug or turn off my flat iron. I think it kicks in if you don’t use it for 30 minutes. It’s a nice peace-of-mind that NuMe instilled this safety mechanism.

As for a dislike…the price is pretty steep. But when you consider that hair tools are typically expensive, and you can purchase this during a sale and get a really good price, it isn’t that bad. I purchased it for $89.

Another dislike that others might not like is that it can look “dirty”. Kind of the same way the LORAC Pro palette can show up fingerprints and such….in the same way, so can this. But it’s easier to clean. I just wipe it really good with a clean clothe and it blurs it all away, for the most part.

Final Thoughts…
I LOVE my MegaStar! It’s been well over 6 months since I purchased it, and it’s holding up well. The plates are easy to clean. I love that the edges of the tool are curved, so it works really well when I want to curl my hair. I really like doing loose curls with this flat iron — I prefer it over using an actual curling wand! It’s really versatile, so if you’re trying to decide what kind of tool to invest in for your first one….the MegaStar is definitely the one I highly recommend!

Question for My Readers:What are your thoughts on hair tools? Do you invest in good-quality ones? Or are all tools — drugstore and highend — equal in your eyes?

I purchased the products mentioned above with my own personal money. I was not compensated in any way for posting this review. I only recommend products that I have used personally and believe will be beneficial for my readers.

My Holiday Makeup ‘Wish List’ from Sephora (VIB/VIB Rouge Sale!)

November 3, 2014 Katie Marie 8 Comments

If you haven’t heard the news yet…Sephora‘s big VIB/VIB Rouge 20% off coupon will soon be available. I believe the exact dates are 11/6-11/10. I am unsure if they will be having a coupon code for Beauty Insiders…I forget how that went last year. This is the first year that I’m a VIB, so I’m really excited!

Sephora very rarely offers coupon codes, so this is the ideal time to either stock up on your staple makeup products or try out one of the holiday sets that are all over the place this time of year. 🙂

In the spirit of preparing for this sale, I’ve compiled a list of the holiday sets that I would love to try, and you should do. They’re in no particular order — I just thought it would be fun to share the top items on my wishlist with you.

My Wish List from Sephora

Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix

$25

“A giftable set of four mini versions of Bite’s favorite High Pigment lip pencil shades in a purse-sized tin compact.This set debuts two new shades: Winterberry is the perfect festive vibrant shade, and Sable is a nude color that takes your lip looks beyond the holiday season.”

I recently discovered this brand when I purchased their $12 duo lipstick. They are the most luxurious, pigmented, and moisturizing
lipsticks I’ve ever tried. I keep it in my purse and I reach for it all the time.

Tarte Bon Voyage Collector’s Set

$59 ($432 value)
“A chic, portable travel bag filled with a collection of limited-edition,
oversized must-have beauty essentials for the eyes, lips, cheeks, and
complexion.”

I have yet to try out Tarte’s eyeshadows. And since I am always drawn to eyeshadow colors that are in the “brown” family….this palette definitely is tugging at my attention! I’ve tested out these shadows in store, and they are soft and pigmented—two things I always like to find in my eyeshadows. And the value of this set makes it totally worth the price! What a huge savings!

Too Faced Too Faced Melted Kisses

$24 ($40 value)
“A set of four deluxe, Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks in lasting, stunning shades. With a precise tip
applicator, and the lasting power of a stain and the saturated color of a
liquid lipstick in one long-wear formula, each shade goes on creamy and
makes the perfect holiday party companion.”

I received one of these Melted Lipsticks to review, but unfortunately it is in a barbie-doll pink that I can never pull off. But I do like the pigmentation and lasting power of the product…which makes me very tempted to grab this set. I know I would wear the nude and dark red, and could probably pull off the other two. (Hmm…decisions, decisions….)

Urban Decay All Nighter Long Last Makeup Setting Spray Duo

$39 ($60 value)
“A limited-edition set with two full-size bottles of Urban Decay’s
legendary All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray that keeps makeup looking
fresh.”

I purchased this setting spray to use for my wedding, and have really enjoyed the product since then. I tend to use it on the days when I know I’m going to be having my makeup on from early in the morning until late at night. It really does help my makeup not start ‘melting off’ halfway through my day. And if you already love this product, now is the perfect time to stock up and save!

Josie Maran Winter Dreams Argan Skincare

$39 ($68 value)
“A six-piece collection of Josie’s argan skincare beautifiers to hydrate
and nourish skin with powerful antioxidants and essential fatty acids. This complete set includes Argan Cleasing Oil to gently melt
away makeup and skin impurities, Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating
Treatment to plump and preserve skin’s youthful cushion, multitasking
100% Pure Argan Oil to nourish skin, hair, and nails, Argan Infinity
Intensive Creamy Oil to hydrate skin, calm inflammation, tame fly-aways,
condition lips, and illuminate complexion, Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF
47 to smooth, hydrate, and protect, and Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand
Cream to heal and soothe rough, dry hands.”

This set intrigues me because I haven’t tried any products from Josie Maran…but I’m really curious to see if makeup with Argan Oil is as good as it seems to be. And since this set gives you a wide range of her products to try…it might really be worth trying out.

Too Faced I’ll Stop the World & Melt with You

$59 ($110)
“A limited-edition, full face set that’s ideal for creating natural-looking, soft and sexy looks.

Get a natural-looking, full face with
this set’s neutral eye shadows and flushes of color. This set features
the Too Faced Natural Eye Shadow Quad, a deluxe Shadow Insurance
Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer, a full-size Better Than Sex Mascara, a
Sweethearts Perfect Flush Powder Blush in Peach Beach, and a deluxe
Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Peony.”

At half the price, you could try out 5 different products from Too Faced. That fact really pulls at me. As I said, I liked the Melted lipsticks. And I’ve heard fantastic things about the mascara, eye primer, and blush. And the eyeshadows look really pretty. (There’s just SO MANY good sets out this season!)

Sephora Favorites Superstars

$75 ($225 value)

“A 12-piece beauty set with full-sizes of our most-coveted essentials—from makeup to fragrance to skincare.”

There are many reasons this value set is worth the price. For starters, you get so many full-size products of well-know and well-loved products (Nars, Urband Decay, Smashbox). I like the variety of this set, as well. From hair, to perfume, to skincare, to makeup…there’s a little bit of everything in here. And, hey, this would be a good idea to purchase and then break up between your girlfriends—and it’d save you a ton of money, too, then purchasing them all individually.

There you have it! Those are the gift sets I am eyeing as November 6th gets closer. I have no idea which ones I will actually cave and get….if you’re following me on Instagram, you’ll see a haul when I get my order in. But in the meantime…

Question for My Readers: Share with me which gift sets you’re wanting to snag during the VIB/VIB Rouge sale! I’d love to hear what you’re stocking up on and what you’re going to try out for the first time!

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Dove Chocolate Discoveries Make Everything Sweeter #HolidayGiftGuide100Bloggers

October 31, 2014 Katie Marie Leave a Comment

“Dove Chocolate Discoveries”

Life is always so much sweeter when there’s chocolate involved, wouldn’t you agree?? I certainly think so. I always tell my sweet hubby….if you want to get me something, you can’t go wrong with chocolate. 😉

Nicole Cowen, our personal Dove Chocolate Discoveries Rep, has been living the sweet life at DCD for the past 7 years. Nicole will help you find any gift for anyone on your shopping list who has a sweet tooth for fine chocolates. Dove Chocolate Discoveries can make your gift giving easy for gifts for moms, dads, grandparents, or your family and friends afar as well as your coworkers. Sweeten your Boss with a grand corporate gift this year.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries , will make hosting your holiday parties so easy. Right down to their scrumptious cocktails. Surprise your guests with “White Chocolate Daiquiri’s” to toast the night away, or a chocolate spice rub to season any meat dish. Experience the favorite products and learn easy, elegant recipes that will quickly become your family’s favorites, too!

Visit Dove Discoveries and let Nicole help you find that perfect gift. Everything from Chocolates, Sauces, Beverages, Baking treats and gift packages.

www.gotchocolates4you.com

Visit our Holiday Gift Guide online at: http://ndam.weebly.com

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MONAT Introduces Rejuveniqe Oil Intensive to Revive Your Dull Hair! (Product Review)

October 27, 2014 Katie Marie 10 Comments

MONAT Rejuveniqe Oil Intensive

Retail Price: $99 (Amazon Sale: $82.80)

Rejuveniqe Oil Intensive’s exclusive key ingredient is Abyssinian Oil, which along with 10 other rare oils creates a unique molecular structured product that minic’s the body’s own natural oils to visibly replenish and repair with instant as well as long-term age prevention benefits for both hair and skin.

Benefits…

– Seals, coats, and smoothes the cuticle to boost shine and protect from environmental influences

– Provides nutrients, Omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants which help to prevent premature aging

– Protects hair from damage caused by brushing and styling

– Controls sebum production by helping to replenish the skin and scalp’s natural oils

Alleviates dehydration caused by harsh cleaners and styling products

– Replenishes the hair and skin by absorbing quickly and completely

Can be used alone as an all body moisturizer for superior hydration, and/or on specific problem areas such as cuticles, elbows, knees, rough patches. Or mix with facial and body products for an extra-added boost of deep penetrating hydration.

My Review of Rejuveniqe by Monat:

First Impression & Packaging…

Obviously, from the price, this intensive oil is definitely a luxury item (at least, in my book it is! 🙂 I was definitely intrigued to see how this oil would compare with the argan oil products that I typically use to help keep my hair healthy and combat the frizz.

The bottle is really sleek and fancy-looking. While it looks like it would be made of glass or something, it’s actually plastic. The dropper inside doesn’t ever fill up all the way, which I thought was weird. But, so far, it seems to give out the perfect amount to apply throughout my hair.

Product & Application…

Rejuveniqe Oil Intensive is definitely different than other hair oils I’ve tried in the past. I’ve noticed that it’s easier to get an even application throughout my hair. I’ve applied it while my hair is wet and also dry — like when I finish styling my hair and just want to tame the frizz and add some shine.

The feel of this oil is a thick, almost sticky, consistency. I thought I wouldn’t like this, but it actually helps me apply it evenly throughout my hair. And once I start running it through my hair, it doesn’t feel sticky anymore. The oil also smells like lemons. I love the fresh smell, so totally enjoy using this! 🙂

Major Likes & Dislikes…

I like that this oil doesn’t make my hair look greasy — that’s an issue I can run into if I apply too much argan oil. The biggest like is that it does tame my frizz and gives my hair a healthy shine! I haven’t been able to use it long enough to test the long-term benefits of this oil, but so far it’s been really beneficial to my hair.

The only dislike would be the price. It’s just very far out of my budget. I do think that this product will last a while, so it’s nice to know that your $99 will go pretty far before having to repurchase. They also sell it on Amazon, though the price is higher, for some reason.

Final Thoughts…

All in all, my final recommendation would be that if you can afford this hair product (and skin product, though I haven’t tried it for that), it definitely is very beneficial for your hair. The ingredients in this product is very unique from other hair products on the market today. And the fact that MONAT stays more natural is definitely a plus in my book!

Purchase it HERE on Amazon!

Question for My Readers: What is your biggest concern when it comes to your hair? Have you been able to find a product that helps repair that concern? Share it with me in the comments below!

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A new and fantastic hair oil from MONAT to tame and frizzes! | Rejuvenique Oil Intensive | FromMyVanity.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above from iFabbo in the hopes that I would mention them on my blog. Regardless, this does not guarantee a review or feature on my blog. I only share information that I think will be useful for my readers and I only recommend products I have personally used.

LORAC’s Holiday 2014 ‘The Royals Collection’ (First Impressions)

October 24, 2014 Katie Marie 6 Comments

Out of the five different holiday gift sets that LORAC has brought out this season (that I have seen), I have three of them to share with you today. 🙂 I was fortunate enough to receive them just yesterday to try out and share some awesome pictures with you gals. This isn’t my official review, but just some initial thoughts and close-up pictures to see if they’re worth the price. 🙂

LORAC The Royal Collection 2014 Holiday Gift Sets

My Initial Thoughts: Let me just say, before we dive into the products, that I give LORAC 5 big, gold stars for packaging. Not only are they beautifully designed and in appropriate colors for the holidays — red and gold — but the boxes themselves have a velvety feel to them. They’re gorgeous!

I am not a hoarder — as my hubby, I throw out anything that’s not useful (especially product boxes). But with these boxes….I honestly am going to have a hard time throwing them away. They’re so pretty and they feel so special! Good job, LORAC!!

The Royal Lip Lustre Creme Set – $25 (value $90)

The Details: LORAC rules this season with The Royal Lip Lustre Creme Set. Give your lips the Royal treatment with our luxuriously creamy and delightfully smooth Lip Glosses that are loaded with antioxidants of Acai Berry, Pomegranate, Grape Seed and Vitamins A,C & E to help protect and
soothe your luscious, regal pout. This Royal family of Lip Lustre Cremes comes complete with 6 magnificent, high-shine shades that are fit for a Queen. Own the throne with The Royal Lip Lustre Creme Set!

Colors included are…

Empress – exclusive Pink Mauve
Princess – exclusive Pink
Enchanted – exclusive Peach Nude
Reign – Berry
Crown Jewel – Cherry Red
Tiara – Nude

My Initial Thoughts: The first obvious perk to this set is that it’s the least expensive out of the three I’m mentioning today and you receive the most products. I like that this set covers just about the whole color wheel when it comes to mandatory lip colors. From nude, to pink, to red, to mauve…it’s all here in this collection.

I noticed that three of these colors are exclusive. If you’re a collector and a lip junkie…than that’s instantly a major plus to this collection. I got excited when I saw that this was a lustre creme lipgloss. I love creamy lip products! But while this lip product is very pigmented, it still has the sheerness and feel of a regular lipgloss. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t like a liquid lipstick. But for lipglosses, these are great products. They have a really nice smell to them, too. Not overpowering, but definitely a fruity fragrance. Call my weird, but I love for my lip products to smell fruity!

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you’re a lip junkie…you really can’t ask for a better deal. It’s like getting these six glosses (regularly $15 each) for a little over $4 a piece. That’s a crazy deal — that’s cheaper than some drugstore lip glosses! Need I say more? 🙂

The Royal 3D Liquid Luster Set – Limited Edition – $28 (Value $64)

The Details: LORAC rules this season with The Royal 3D Liquid Lustre Set. Give your eyes the Royal treatment with our pastel, princess-inspired,
long-lasting, shimmering top coat. These shades can be applied over eye shadow or worn individually on eyes and cheeks for luminous, prismatic, 3-Dimensional sparkle and shine. Own the throne with The Royal 3D Liquid Lustre Set!

Colors included are…

Opal
24K
Rose Quartz
Amethyst

My Initial Thoughts: I saw Tati from Glam Life Guru talk about LORAC’s 3D Liquid Luster set last season and was really intrigued. (Side Note: If you’re not watching Tati’s videos….stop now and go subscribe to her channel. She does awesome makeup reviews!) While you know I am a big “matte shadows” fan, I do like some sparkle in my life every now and then. So I’m really excited about this collection.

It was really hard to try to get these liquid lusters to show up in pictures, but just take my word for it — they’re 100% more beautiful in person. 🙂 And keep in mind that this is also without any shadow underneath them. If I review these in depth on my blog, I will share pictures of my eyes before and after applying these liquid lusters. I think this set is really beautiful — and you’re getting a great value for the price! The only thing I can not vouch for is how well they hold up throughout the day and if they crease. But since I’ve heard Tati give these a thumbs up more than once in her videos, I’m pretty sure they’ll do great.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It’s a great set, for the price, especially if you’re all about the eyes. 🙂 The one drawback I noticed is that some of these colors are rather similar. Different, but very close. One idea to consider would be to purchase the gift set for yourself and 3 friends. (If you don’t like having excess makeup, that is. 🙂

The Royal Pro Eye Collection – $28 (Value $103)

The Details: LORAC rules this season with The Royal PRO Eye Collection. Give your eyes the Royal treatment and go PRO with products that are fit for a Queen. The Royal Pocket Pro includes Gold from the original Pro Palette, Cocoa from the Pro Palette 2, and an exclusive pro shade in Ivory, all in our velvety-smooth, long-lasting formula. Own the throne with The Royal Pro Eye Collection!

Items included are…

Royal Pocket Pro Eyeshadow Palette – exclusive
Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner
Pro Mascara

My Initial Thoughts: The practical side of me definitely comes out when I view this palette. Since mascara and eyeliner are products that everyone needs and goes through rather quickly, Mrs. Practicality instantly piped up and said “Totally worth the money!”. And she’s right. 🙂 I’ve gone through a Front of the Lines Pro Liquid Liner in the past, and loved it. I had it in the color Brown, so I’m excited to see how pigmented and dark their Black is. I’ve never tried out their mascara or the pocket palette (of course, lol), but this 3-piece collection is just a few dollars more than purchasing a single liquid liner. So…yeah, that’s a pretty good deal.

And the pocket palette looks very promising! As you can see in the swatches, they’re very creamy and pigmented — in tried-and-true, Lorac Pro fashion. 🙂 So I honestly don’t see myself not liking this palette. I like that it only has 3 shadows. I think this will come in handy when traveling. The colors are very neutral and could make a complete eyelook by themselves if needed. I can’t wait to use it — especially CoCoa and Ivory, since I don’t own the Lorac Pro 2 palette.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you’re a practical gal — or buying a gift for a practical gal — than this is definitely the gift set for you. It has products you will definitely put to good use and also an exclusive mini palette. 🙂

Question for My Readers: If you were to purchase one of these gift sets….which would you pick? Or if you have already purchased a gift set from LORAC’s 2014 Holiday gift set, which set did you buy?

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above from Lorac Cosmetics in the hopes that I would mention them on my blog. Regardless,
this does not guarantee a review or feature on my blog. I only share information that I think will be useful for my readers and I only recommend products I have personally used and liked.