Anniversary Nails

Good Evening,

In honor of my one month wedding anniversary, I painted my nails my husband's favorite color (Burnt Orange). This Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Nail Enamel is in the color 630 Long Shot.  All of the colors of this line have gambling names associated with the color. Now, even with all of the controversary around the Revlon CEO stating that "He can smell when black people enter a room" I will still use this polish up and not purchase anything else Revlon.



I used the Sephora Formula X Nail System. The first bottle is supposed the cleans the nail. The second bottle you're supposed to use is the base coat (pink). The third is the Formula X system nail color (however, I used the Revlon Gel Envy) for the example above.  I then used the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish, in Clearly Quick (clear top coat, that helps it dry a lot faster).  Since I am a mother of three small children, my nails still chip fairly fast (oh well). However, with the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri its not as painful to sit down and paint them, since they dry so fast.



Let me know what you think. My husband said he liked them :)

What are your favorite base coats and top coats? I would love to know, so I can try them out one day. 

Thanks for reading!

Foundation Review: Estee Lauder Double Wear vs. MAC Pro Longwear

Happy Tuesday!

Today I am comparing two of my favorite go-to foundations which are the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Make Up ($37.00) and the MAC Pro Longwear Foundation ($32.00).  In the Estee Lauder I am in the shade Sandalwood and in the MAC Pro Longwear I am in the shade NW47. 

The actual shades are shown above.  

Here is my before and after of both: 

Just a little background concerning my skin issues: I have some hyper pigmentation due to some hormonal craziness that was going on after I had my son. Since I started paying more attention to my skin (by beginning a skin care regimen), I have seen a lot less breakouts. Therefore, when  most of the breakouts were happening (around my chin area), I would get really bad dark spots even if I didn't pick them  I now use dark spot correcting products which is clearing them up, however I still feel that I need to wear a foundation everyday :( Maybe I won't need to one day.   

Moving on: 

Both foundations are great in my opinion. Here are the attributes of both - 

Estee Lauder, Double Wear Stay In Place Make Up:

• 15-hour staying power 
• Flawless all day
• Worry-free, long-wearing makeup stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity. 
• Won't change color, smudge or come off on clothes. 
• Feels lightweight and comfortable.

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation: 

• A comfortable, long-wearing foundation that gives up to 15 hours of wear in any environmental condition. 
• Lightweight and creamy, applies and blends easily leaving the skin feeling soft and free to breathe all day while controlling oil. 
• Specially treated micronized pigments help give a smoother, more flawless, natural finish with stay-true colour.

My Humble Opinion: 

I am in agreement with both of the product descriptions, however, I am in favor of the Estee Lauder Double Wear. Due to my skin issues I mention above, the  Double Wear foundation suits me best with more coverage and it actually feels better on the skin. However, I do like that the MAC Pro Longwear has a pump. 

Based on the finish of the Double Wear, I feel like I could wear this in the summer, sweat and it would not move. Now, I would need to test this out once the summer time rolls around because I recently bought it this Fall.  

Both shades blend really well with my skin tone. If you visit the links above you will notice that both products have a wide range of shades to choose from, which is great for us with darker skin.   

Since I own both, I use the Pro Longwear during the week for work and I'll grab the Double Wear when I am going out during the weekend.

I hope this helps you if you are looking into purchasing a new foundation.  

Let me know which foundation you are currently using and which are your favorites. I would also like to know what shade you are in.  

Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Courtney

Twist Out: Products Used

Happy Sunday!

I co-washed my hair with TRESsumme Naturals Conditioner and two strand twisted my damp hair.  Here are the products I used. 

Disclaimer: I am setting a goal for myself to use all the products that I have before going out to buy a complete system.  On my wish list currently is the Carol's Daughter Marula Curl Therapy Collection. Can't wait to get it, because I want to try a wash and go with it, which I have never done before.  

So let's get into the products I used. They surprisingly reacted really well together.  

The Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner was diluted a bit since the amount in the bottle wouldn't come through the pump.  The Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave In Conditioner was diluted as well (since it was getting low). So I just pumped the diluted Shea Moisture Conditioner inside the Jane Carter Leave In bottle and shook it up.  I sprayed the solution in my damped hair then  followed up with some extra virgin Olive Oil (pictured below).  

The Cantu Shea Butter Define and Shine Custard  was then distributed in small sections of the hair along with more Kirkland Extra Virgin Olive Oil (because I was afraid of the white film that could arise, which has happened before when I used this).  I then brushed the product through with my denman brush.  I two strand twisted each small section and put a small bantu knot at the ends since some of my end do not curl due to heat damage.  

I then sat under a hooded dryer for 20 min. Then I wrapped it a satin scarf and went to sleep.  In the morning I pulled them apart and plucked them out with some Nume Argan Oil. 

And this is how it came out: 

I am happy that there was no white flaky film.  

Let me know what you think and what products you used on your twist out. 

Thanks for reading! 

XOXO, 

Courtney Palmer 

Lipstick Review: Maybelline - Untainted Spice

Maybelline - Untainted Spice , $8.29 at CVS

This is a great drug store brand, neutral shade for darker skin shades. It is also a nice shade for lighter skin shades (I just don't think it would be considered neutral then).  I love wearing this shade to work because it appears very neutral and dramatic at the same time (if you know what I mean).

I was put on to this shade by the GlamTwinz334 (https://www.youtube.com/user/glamtwinz334). I love them.

Let me know what you think.

Here is how it looks on me:



I paired it with the Mary Kay Lip Liner in Cinnamon:


Mary Kay Lip Liner in Cinnamon, $5.75 on Amazon

I provided a link, because those that have known me for a while know that I used to sell Mary Kay a while back (which is why you see the older packaging pictured. It now has a black outer casing).  I may get back into selling.

Any way, let me know what you think and if you have any drug store neutral shades that you love and would like to share.

Also, let me know if you think that $8.29 is too much for the drug store lipstick?

Thank You!

XOXO

Courtney Palmer :)

Black Winged Liner

Greetings!

Welcome to my first post. I am new at this and trying to see how it goes :)

Someone complimented my winged liner today. I was excited and thankful.  

I used NYX Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner 



NYX Collection Noir: Liquid Black Liner, $5.99 at Ulta

Its the best. The line dries shiny and it stays put all day long.

Here is how I created the look in the first picture fast in the morning before running out of the door for work.

Step One: Draw a diagonal line from the edge of you eye up toward your eyebrow tail.



Step Two: Draw from the edge closes to your eyebrow tail swipe the applicator tip toward the middle of you eye lid close to to the lash line.




Step Three: Then swipe the applicator brush from the inner corner of the lash line outward.



Step 4: Fill in where there is still open space.


Let me know if you have any questions. I would also love you to comment.

Thank You!

Courtney :)