Fancy Friday!!!! Cargo's Mediterranean Collection

Happy Friday!!

Ok so for Easter my mother woke me up with a basket of candy and a wrapped gift. I tore open the paper to reveal-- Ta Daaa!!-- Cargo's Mediterranean Collection!!!!!!!!!!

I mentioned this on What's New/Want it! Wednesday here, and I guess she read it, haha!!

Let's check it out =)
(**DISCLAIMER-- Lipgloss was "lost" (in my purse) at time of pictures. Will post pics!!)

Contents: Blush, Eyeshadow duo, Lip gloss, Better-Than-Waterproof Mascara, and Swimmable Eyeliner.

SOOO CUTE!!!!!!

Back of the make-up pouch~

The zipper pull is a dolphin instead of a bird~ 

Swatches-- eyeliner, eye duo, and blush~

Colors on --- notes the golden shimmer from the blush!

The eye shades are SO beautiful!

I adore this set!! THANKS MOM!!!! =D =D

All of these colors wear very well-- they are easy to apply and blendable, and really work well together. I am in LOVE with the eyeliner!! It's creamy yet really stays in place! The gold eyeshadow is almost a smidge on the allllmost glittery side, but there isn't much fall-out so it's manageable.

The Better-Than-Waterproof mascara is a sort of "Tube" mascara, and is easily removed with warm water and pressure. I actually had a little bit of a weep while wearing this, and I'm glad to say it did not budge! The only thing it, it's really not that volumizing OR lengthening... It's an ok mascara, but not one that I will repurchase.

What do you think? Are you a fan? Did you check out the previous cutesy set from Cargo, the Safari Kit (review here)?

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!
Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven

Technique Thursday-- Pin Curls, revisited.

Hey there!

For some reason I have been so entranced with the whole pin curl technique, haha! I decided to try again the other day,

Here was how I tried them this time:
1. Start with dry, clean hair.
2. Spray with hairspray and curl, pinning them immediately so they cool in the coil.
3. Take them down, spray, and gently brush out.

I know you're probably wonder, "Why don't you just do them the classic way, while they're damp and sleep on them or something?" Well.... I don't know. I'm just being difficult, hahaha.

Pictures!

Beginning~

Curled and pinned~

After taking it down, hahaha!

After taking the pins out-- pre-brushing. 

After gently brushing~

After gently brushing~

After gently brushing~

After it relaxed a little~ 

After it relaxed a little~

I  really like how it ended up! Such a pretty wave.

I guess I really do need to try putting my hair up damp and seeing what happens. =P

Have you tried pin curls before? Any tips out there for me? What do you think of this look?


Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven

What's New/Want It! Wednesday-- Eyeshadows and Palettes and Nail trends, Oh My!

Hey dolls!

Happy Wednesday! Maybe? I hope it's going well for you~

Get ready for your weekly dose of beautylicious lusting. Enjoy. =)

First up! Maybelline has a new Expert Wear Eyeshadow Palette for their summer collection:

Those colors just SCREAM summer! I don't know how wearable they are, but I must get my hands on this, especially with Maybelline being 40% off at Walgreens this week!! (You're welcome.) 

While we're on the eyeshadow wavelength, let's take a look at MAC's new Packed to Go: 6 Cool Smokey Eye Shadows eye palette. This is only available via their website or in airports at the Duty Free shop.

I am in LOVE with all of these shades~ 

Ooooooo.......

Ok! Now we have some cheap nail polishes, yaay!! I love basically all of the shades just released by Wet n Wild for their Limited Edition Mermaid's Cove collection--- check out all of the swatches here. I LOVE this shade, however!! 

Also! Sally Hansen is releasing new patters for their Salon Effects line!! Which one am I excited about? I'll show you! Pink Leopard. Duh.  

Last but not least, let's talk about a new nail trend amongst some celebrities-- the "Daggar Nail." 

Essentially they are just really long nails, tapered almost to a point at the end.

Blake Lively, with a new hair color!!, wore these to a recent event.

Personally I think they make her fingers look almost freakishly long!

 What do you think of this trend? And of her new hair color??? It's for a movie-- she will be blonde again after, I'm sure~

Leave me some thoughts!! What are you lusting over right now? 

Until Next Time--

~Beauty Maven

Tried-It Tuesday-- Konad's Stamping Nail Art System!!

Hey Lovelies!

I've been dying to write this post, just so you know. =) I hope you enjoy!

After seeing this video on YouTube about how to create "Lisa Frank Inspired Nails," (don't laugh, you know you want them!), I decided I couldn't hold back anymore and just HAD to try the Konad Nail Stamp she demonstrates at around 4:12.

Stamper, Polish, Stencil, and Scraper. 

By the way, I ordered the Leopard Print stencil and received this one... still waiting for the correct one to come in...

But in the meantime I really wanted to try it out! She explains how to use it really well in the video, but here's a quick step-by-step-- you have to do it pretty quickly:
1. Put paper towel down to wipe blade on after you wipe.
2. Paint nail color on the stencil.
3. Wipe excess off with blade, and wipe blade on towel.
4. Roll stamp onto design, and then onto nail.
5. Seal with a topcoat-- (Seche Vite doesn't smear it.)
6. Admire!


Pictures!

Polishes I used! =)

My striped "base coat"

After using the stamp~ 

After cleaning up the excess.. kind of..

Both feet!

I think the leopard would have produced the desired effect, but this isn't too bad, either! A bit '80s, but I'm digging the fun color, haha!

I will say that they say you "have to use" the special nail polish--- It DOES work best because it is so thick, and most polishes you have to use 2 coats, you know? But if you have a really thick polish somewhere or want a more subtle look, then have at it! It's fun to just play around with it. =)

I found mine on Amazon, which I could recommend because all of these items cost me around $13! Not bad~

What do you think? Curious about this? How do you feel about the nail art trend? Prefer simple nails? Or would you rather just stick to the Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips, haha!

Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven

Mascara Monday-- MAC's Haute and Naughty Lash Mascara

Hey all!

Sorry for the absence-- it was nice to have a break, but I have missed these posts! =)

For today we have MAC's Haute and Naughty mascara, $18 on MAC's website and counters.

What it claims:

A two-in-one mascara that lets you choose if you want lashes to be naturally defined, or instantly combed and loaded for full-on drama. Easy to use dual-wiper system allows the lightweight formula to go on either way. One wiper refines the application for a clean sweep, while the other loads the lashes for greater impact.

Which looks remarkably like this.... hmmmmm.... MAC came first, btw. ;)

Imitation is the highest form of flattery?

It's not exactly new, but I wanted to post a review anyhow!

Essentially what this mascara does it have the wand able to be removed with two different "wipers"-- the diameter of the hole the wand comes out of-- which changes how much product is on the brush. More product generally equals more volume, and less means less volume aka lengthening. Make sense? =) It's the same wand, just pulled through a different wiper depending on where you unscrew the top.
With this mascara, the Pink wand is the lesser product one, and the Purple is more dramatic.


Pictures!

Bare lashes

Bare lashes on left, Pink wand alone on right. 

Pink wand alone

Bare lashes on left, Purple wand layered OVER Pink wand on right

Purple wand alone on left, Purple wand layered OVER Pink wand on right

Overall I REALLY like this mascara! The ONLY complaint I have is that the Purple wand can have a bit too much product on it-- I find myself having to wipe some back into the tube, which I hope doesn't dry it out faster. =/  

The Pink wand is a good natural look-- I prefer the Purple side, but I like a more dramatic lash. It is nice to have the option, and to only have to pack 1 mascara for day AND night! 

I noticed that layering them doesn't really vary from using the Purple alone. In order to be a true lengthening mascara, it would need fibers to build the length onto you lashes~ since both wands use the same formula, it makes sense to not have that type.. you can't exactly pile on a fiber formula and have it look good, haha. 

It's more expensive than the typical MAC mascara ($18 vs. $14) but if you think of it as a 2-in-1 than it's really not that bad. And actually, for a department store brand, $18 is nice, haha! 

What do you think? Have you tried this? Think you will? What about the Rimmel brand one? I'm so curious!

Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven