REVIEW! | Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze, $6.99 USD, is a slightly metallic warm medium brown that's *very* popular among beauty lovers.  I saw it at the CVS by our hotel on vacation and picked it right up!  I kept hearing that it's one of the best of the Color Tattoo bunch, and I was already in agreement after only just swatching it.  The color payoff is phenomenal!  It applies nicely opaque but can still be sheered down if you so desire before it sets.  And boy, does this one set!  I had to use eye makeup remover just to get it off of my arm minutes after swatching it.  I was really excited about this being someone with oily lids who usually has no luck with cream shadows that claim to be long-wearing.  

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze - Unblended / Blended

I love this color.  It's such a great every day go-to shade when you want to up your game a bit without spending a lot of time to do so.

Let's not laugh at that 1 lash.  It's just doing it's own thing. 

So...did it outwit, outplay, and outlast on my oily lids?  It did!  It lasted 8 hours without primer, which is impressive!  It was still flawless at hour 12 with a primer.  In 89 degree humidity.  Color me impressed, Maybelline!

What's your favorite Color Tattoo?

My Rating: A
Where to Buy: CVS, drugstores

WIMB? | Beach Trip 2013

Hello lovelies!

I just returned home from a trip to Miramar Beach, Florida with my fiance Jason.  It was 3 beautifully sunny days on the beach and we had an incredibly fun and relaxing time.

I thought I'd share a few items that I found especially awesome during this trip!

1. Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50.  Anyone who uses high SPF knows you usually get a serious white cast going on when you apply sunscreen as directed: liberally.  I loved this sunscreen because it absorbed a lot quicker than others I've used and my skin felt really well conditioned and happy.  It did it's job, too.  I was able to reapply it throughout the day without feeling like I was covered in SPF build-up and I didn't get burned!  Score!  It also washed off in the shower with very little effort.

2. Suave Humectant Moisture Shampoo.  The best $1.88 spent ever.  I have fine hair that gets oily at the drop of a hat, so I don't usually rock moisturizing shamps.  However, I am a big fan of ocean swimming and that salt water really dries your hair out like a mother, so a hydrating shampoo is a really good idea.  This one was fabulous and actually did such a good job, I didn't even need conditioner on my ends.

3. Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisture SPF 40.  This is my normal daily moisturizer, so I already knew it smells amazing, absorbs quickly, protects, and doesn't break me out.  As an added bonus, it didn't run and get in my eyes (I've had major issues with this happening before) when the sun was beating down full force.  Sephora sells a .5 oz mini version of the full sized bottle for $14 bucks, which is perfect for tucking into a small bag.

4. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.  I can't stop gushing about this powder!  It gives you the most beautiful finish, never cakes or looks overly powdery, and works wonders to control an oily t-zone.  This is going to be the first powder I hit pan on in years.

5. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed.  My sweet Floridian orange blossom Alison at 10AM Beauty reviewed this blush in March and I ended up buying it this month.  She wasn't kidding; this blush is AMAZING.  It's a perfect natural pinky-brown color that never looks muddy and refuses to fade away throughout the day.  I haven't stopped using it since I bought it!

6. MUA Undressed Palette. This handy-dandy little beaut fits into a travel makeup bag like a champ and offers twelve beautiful neutrals in matte and pearlescent shades.  This is one of my favorite buys of the year!  See my full review and swatches here.

7. Cover Girl LashBlast Clump Crusher Water-Resistant Mascara. LOVE.  Anyone planning on spending time at a beach, pool, water park, or humidity-saturated city (ahem...cough cough...like anywhere south of the North Pole after July 1st) should pick this up!  It stayed put on my lashes through 5 hours of swimming and sweating (which I couldn't believe) and it all came off with soap and water!  There were no crusty bits remaining!  I was thrilled because the one thing I failed to pack was eye makeup remover.

8. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep.  I definitely got enough color that I didn't necessarily *need* a bronzer, but this worked extremely well to even out my complexion without any added sparkle.  Plus it smells like chocolate, which means it's extra fly.  Full review and swatches here.

9. Urban Decay Glinda Palette.  Not only is this a great array of shadows, but it contains a mini 24/7 eye liner AND a big mirror, which comes in handy when you're getting ready at a dining room table (with a pineapple base, natch), nowhere near a wall mirror.  Full review and swatches here.

10.  Jack Black SPF 25 Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Lemon & Chamomile.  This is probably my all-time favorite lip balm.  It smells like Fruit Loops, provides SPF 25 without the grainy feel or white cast, and only costs $7.50 for a tube that lasts me months.  If you've ever experienced sunburned lips (*raises hand*), you know it's awful.  My lips were well protected with this puppy in my bag!

Are you going on a trip this summer?  What are your must-haves?

REVIEW! | It's chocolatey delicious! Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Chocolate (Medium/Deep)

I love this bronzer.  I feel like now I could just post a few pictures of it and the review would be complete!  Alas, I think I ought to share a few more details as to why Too Faced's Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Chocolate (Medium/Deep), $30.00 for .35 oz, has been elevated to my All-Time Fave list!

First off, the new packaging is lovely, gilded magic.  It reminds me of something Belle from Disney's Beauty & the Beast would have on her vanity table for special occasions!  It's a good size, too; not quite the diameter of a sandwich plate, but definitely large enough to accommodate your biggest, fluffiest brush.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Secondly, it smells like CHOCOLATE!  This vegan-friendly, paraben free bronzer is infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and it smells AMERZING!!  I wish we had Smell-O-Vision or Google Nose so y'all could smell this right now!  Check it out the next time you're in Sephora.  The smell dissipates quickly once the bronzer is applied, but it's just an added bit o' fun, especially for chocolate lovers!

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Last but most importantly, the color is spectacular chocolatey goodness without even a smidgeon of shimmer.  You might be thinking the color would be too deep for someone as fair as myself, but I love it.  I prefer deeper bronzers and I just use a lighter hand to apply them.  Lighter bronzers look a little ashy on me and I have to use more to get them to show up.  In the heat of southern summers, the last thing I want is to use more of any product on my face; it only increases the risk of my face sip-sliding off in the humidity!

Believe it or not, I used to be a lot darker because I was outside constantly.  Too Faced Chocolate Soleil in Medium/Deep is a perfectly matte bronzer that gives me the exact sunny look that I used to have at the end of every summer.  

Me in 2003 (OMG 10 years ago!!)

Me in Santa Rosa Beach, FL in 2008 (could've used some powder...lol)

In Puerto Rico in 2008 (I miss my FISH and CHiPS shirt!)

Wearing Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

Wearing Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep

These old summer trip photos are especially relevant because this week, my fiance Jason and I will be maxin' n' relaxin' in Miramar Beach, FL for my birthday!  I have been looking forward to this trip for several months and can't believe it's finally here!  I also can't believe I'm turning 33!  I still think 1990 was ten years ago.  Where has the time gone?!  Anywho, I'll be quiet on the blog but will be Instagramming like a mofo.  I just can't quit you, Instagram!  Follow me @glambunctious!  

I hope you beautiful people have a wonderful week.  What's your favorite bronzer of all-time?  

Much love!

My Rating: A+

Where to Buy: Too Faced, Sephora, ULTA

TAG! | Spring 2013 Tag

Cherry blossoms near my house!

What is your favourite Spring nail polish? I am in love with CoverGirl's Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Out of the Blue!  I also love Sally Hansen's Barracuda.  What can I say, I heart blue nail polish!

What is your must have lip colour this Spring? YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Pink in Confidence.  It's glossy pink fabulousness is so comfortable to wear and can be applied without a mirror - yay!

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Pink in Confidence

Show/Tell us about your favourite Spring dress? Like Tracy, I'm not a very good "girl" when it comes to wearing dresses/skirts!  I did pick up a maxi dress recently that I really like but I've yet to wear it!

What is your favourite flower? Roses, cabbage roses, and peonies.

What is your favourite Spring scarf/accessory? My earrings from Target I've been wearing almost every day!  I also love my gray and white chevron scarf my mom surprised me with!  She found it on my Pinterest board titled "My Dream Wardrobe" and got it for me!  How thoughtful is that?!

What is your favourite Spring candle? A Harry & David candle called Lemon Bars I got from Publix; it smells AMAZING and never gets overwhelmingly sweet.  I always hear Tia Carrere from Wayne's World saying "Whammy bah!" whenever I read Lemon Bars.

What is your favourite body spray/perfume for Spring? I can't stop wearing Chloe!

What is Spring like, where you live? Beautiful!  The azaleas, dogwoods, and cherry blossoms are blooming, and the weather is perfectly warm during the day and cool at night.  Spring in Atlanta fools you into thinking summer won't be that bad.  Then it's 99 degrees in July and you can't believe you ever had to employ a cardigan outside the house!

I love cherry blossoms!  This is the one in front of my mom's house.

What is your favourite thing about Spring? Definitely the warmer temperatures.  It's so nice to walk outside and not need a fleece jacket and gloves!

Are you a Spring cleaner? Hmm...I'm just a cleaner, period!  I go through my stuff throughout the year and donate the things I don't need to Goodwill.  Reorganizing things is so satisfying to me.  I also just love when things are clean in general; my house, my office, my car, even myself!  I am a shower fiend and always have been!

Anyone who wants to do this tag is welcome to!  Let me know if you do it so I can check out your answers!  :)

What is your favourite Spring nail polish? 

What is your must have lip colour this Spring? 

Show/Tell us about your favourite Spring dress? 

What is your favourite flower? 

What is your favourite Spring scarf/accessory?

What is your favourite Spring candle? 

What is your favourite body spray/perfume for Spring? 

What is Spring like, where you live? 

What is your favourite thing about Spring? 

Are you a Spring cleaner? 

REVIEW! | L'Oreal Strawberry Blonde, With A Twist Infallible 24H Shadow (Miss Candy Collection)

What color eyeshadow did you most often wear in high school?  I rocked a pale, shimmery pink from Cover Girl called Pink Chiffon (they still make it!) in my early high school years, and a sheer iridescent violet loose powder shadow during my later years there.  I have no idea who made the violet shadow, but I know I wore it for years - even during college.  When I saw L'Oreal's With A Twist, an iridescent violet loose powder shadow, my heart leapt!  It looks exactly like the mystery shadow from my early years of wearing makeup!

With A Twist and Strawberry Blonde are two of the four limited edition shadows from L'Oreal's Spring/Summer 2013 Miss Candy Collection (here's a great shot of the display thanks to Nouveau Cheap) in stores now.

The shadows promise 24 hours of wear and I can confirm that these lasted all day on me (12-13 hours) without any signs of vanishing or creasing.  They may last 24 hours, but I'm not wearing eyeshadow to bed to test that claim out!  :)

L'Oreal Strawberry Blonde Infallible 24H Shadow

L'Oreal Strawberry Blonde Infallible 24H Shadow - Blended / Dry / Wet

Strawberry Blonde is a pale, airy pink shimmer with magenta iridescence.  The magenta duochrome aspect of this shadow reminds me of cotton candy after you bite into it and the spun sugar gets wet.  This color is very sheer but can be built up.  It's hard to capture the duochrome effect on film, but it's really pretty!

I'd recommend applying these dry; the color smoothes on wonderfully that way.  When I applied these shadows wet, they tended to clump and scrump.  

My Rating: B+ (Strawberry Blonde)

L'Oreal With A Twist Infallible 24H Shadow

With A Twist Infallible 24H Shadow - Blended / Dry / Wet

With A Twist is my favorite of the two!  It's a lovely violet with iridescent blue microshimmer.  It can be applied as sheer or as built-up as you'd like.  I LOVE violet purple shades in general, and this one is just gorgeous!  With A Twist is similar to the violet shimmer shade in the Tarina Tarantino Fantastical Jewel Palette, but it's more iridescent and has microshimmer.  It's also similar to the violet shade in the NARS Marie-Galante duo, but it has a more pigmented base.

L'Oreal With A Twist / Tarina Tarantino Violet Shimmer

My Rating: A+ (With A Twist)

Where to Buy: Drugstores (I found the full collection at my local Walgreens)

Would you still wear the eyeshadow color you used to wear in high school?  What did you love about it at the time?

REVIEW! | L'BRI Pure n' Natural 7-Day Facial Skincare

When Sue Nelson contacted me to ask if I'd like to try a 7 day trial of L'BRI skincare, I was excited!  An aloe vera based skincare line free of parabens, waxes, lanolins, SLS, alcohols, mineral oils, artificial colors, and synthetic fragrances?  You can see why I jumped at the chance to try it out.

L'BRI Pure n' Natural was created by Linda and Brian Kaminski (L'BRI is a combination of their names; think of them as the Brangelina of direct sales skincare and cosmetics!) and, true to it's name, the line utilizes natural, pharmaceutical-grade ingredients.  L'BRI products are never tested on animals and they have a 30 day money back guarantee if you don't love the way your skin looks.

So what was my experience?  You can't see certain long-term results, such as anti-aging benefits, in 7 days, but the immediate benefits of softer, more clear skin were definitely apparent for me.  My skin felt clean and perfectly content.

My favorite products were the gentle, non-foaming Deep Pore Cleanser (it removed eyeshadow like a champ!) and the Facial Mask, which left my skin feeling smooth and balanced.  The Deep Pore Cleanser left my skin feeling ultra clean without that dry, tight feeling that leaves you running for moisturizer!

The Smooth n' Firm Eye Repair Gel definitely shrunk the puffy bags under my eyes after a night of sleeping face down in my pillow!  It also absorbed into the skin under my eyes quickly which made my concealer lay down even more smoothly.  It has a thin, gel-like consistency that reminds me of the soothing Aloe Vera gel you smooth on for relief when you get sun burned.

The only product that didn't perform extremely well for me was the Rejuvenating Facial Peel, which uses fruit enzymes to slough off dead skin.  Even though I followed the directions to the letter, I didn't see or feel any dead skin being whisked away.  In the spirit of full disclosure, I find enzyme exfoliators in general don't do much for my skin.  I need a physical exfoliator.  Luckily, L'BRI offers one called Exfoliating Face & Body Scrub that is excellent!  It worked wonders to clear the dead skin from my face and left my skin feeling very happy afterwards.

L'BRI products are not available in stores so orders have to be placed through a representative's website.  L'BRI ships within the USA only, so my favorite Internationalistas and Canadian Neighbor Gals (CNG's, if you will) won't be able to order from this line at this time.

Glambunctious readers in the US can place an order, or try the same skincare samples I tested in this post for $6.75 shipping & handling, by visiting Sue Nelson's L'BRI site here.

REVIEW! | Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine 

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks are the lipstick rock stars of the drugstore set!  I just typed "drugstar" - maybe that's a good description!?  For $5.49, these lipsticks pack a punch of pigmented color.

The Milani site describes this line of lippies as having "True Instant Color. One stroke, full coverage application."  That is definitely true!  One swipe from the tube and you've got fully opaque coverage with a creamy, lightweight feel. All Color Statement Lipsticks contain Vitamins A, C, and E and are free of parabens.   The Color Statement range consists of 28 colors in a variety of finishes, including vinyl, metallic, cream, shimmer, pearl, and matte.

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine 

Ruby Valentine is a gorgeous neutral red with a vinyl finish.  It's SO comfortable on the lips; it feels light as air and the formula isn't at all drying.  This color makes my teeth look super white!  If you've been looking for a red that has that effect, I highly recommend picking up this shade.  The formula is so creamy and pigmented, a lip brush would be my suggestion for the easiest and most precise application.

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine 

Just look at this color!  It's SLAMMIN' RED!

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine - Swatched on NW 20 skin / Flash

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 08 Ruby Valentine

Ruby Valentine wore for 4 hours on me before I needed to reapply.  Jessica at Beautezine described these lipsticks as smelling like watermelon Jolly Ranchers, which I think is a spot-on description!

The Color Statement Lipstick display at my local CVS always looks like it's recovering from a rash of looting.  The last time I was there, they only had seven tubes left!

Have you tried these?  What's your favorite drugstore ("drugstar") lipstick? ;)

My Rating: A
Where to Buy: Milani

REVIEW! | Does Revlon Lash Potion mascara contain the magic wand for bewitching eyes?

If you follow Revlon on Twitter, you probably noticed the mysterious #castaspell hashtags.  The campaign led up to an advertisement featuring one of their beautiful brand ambassadors, Ms. Emma Stone, batting her bewitching lashes and making us all curious about Lash Potion by Grow Lucious mascara.


Let me start by telling you a few things about me and mascara: I have been trying them for years and years and still can't say I've found my holy grail.  My lashes are short, light brown, and nearly invisible without mascara.  My dream lashes are luxuriously long, moderately volumized, non-clumpy, and they wash off easily with soap and water.  I'm turning 33 in twelve days, and frankly I'm begining to think my dream lashes are just that: pure fantasy!  I need a mascara wand that I can get close to my lashline so I oftentimes avoid anything labeled "LOCO Volumizing!" or "MEGA VOLUME BLOWUPTUATIONIZER" because it means the brush is going to be gargantuan, and therefore impossible for me to use without habitually bumping it against my lid.  After spending time blending and shading my eyeshadow, the last thing I want to do is try to clean mascara off my lid without messing up the work I've done.  We've all been there: it's annoying.

I know what you're thinking: "Try false lashes, fool!"  Well, I have, and I must say the "#fail" was created for my results!  I know it takes practice and maybe I will improve over time, but for now, I really just want a mascara that gets the job done.  You might also be thinking, "Try Waterproof!" - and I have, but I hate having to wrassle it free with remover at the end of the day.  I feel that over time, the pulling and tugging is just not great for the skin around my eyes.

I just want mascara perfection, is that too much to ask?  ;)  So, with my seemingly impossible list of must-have baggage, I was dubious but hopeful when I saw Revlon Lash Potion at my local CVS.

Revlon Lash Potion

Revlon Lash Potion

The tube is gorgeous; all bokeh-dotted out and colorful.  The brush is big but not cra-cra big, and the bristles look like a Y if viewed from the end.  The flat sides allow those of us working with shorter lashes to get a little closer to the lashline without the inevitable lid bumping action, but I still have to be extra vigilant to prevent that from happening.  The opening at the top of the tub is rather large, so the brush comes out with a lot of product.  This may be great for you, or you may find yourself wiping the excess away before you apply.

You guys are in for a treat, let me tell ya!  Below is a shot of my natural lashes.  As y'all can see, I have 14!

I have experienced some flaking with this, but the biggest issue I have is that the ends of my lashes start turning DOWN a few minutes after application.  I have never had a mascara do this before, and it really doesn't look good.  My mom, who was sitting at least 3 feet away from me at the time, noticed and asked me about it.  No one wants their lashes noticed because they're doing something weird, lol!

Lash Potion - 3 minutes after application

Lash Potion - 3 minutes after application

Sadly, the search for my holy grail mascara does not come to a close after trying Revlon Lash Potion.  I think it's an okay mascara if you're going to do one coat; any more than that and you may notice "the bends."

Have you tried Lash Potion?  What's your HG mascara?  

My Rating: C
Where to Buy: Local drugstores (US and Canada), Amazon