LA Colors Nail Lacquers with Hardeners in French Nails Purple

Today, looking at my depleting bank account, I got depressed and decided to perk myself up by buying a little something (notice how my logic is completely off?) I was determined to only purchase 1 thing for less than 5 dollars, because that's what I had in my pocket, and I had to give up buying another cup of coffee for the day (it was okay, I already had 2 cups.) So, I picked up a nail polish from LA Colors, paid and walked out (with just the one nail polish!)

LA Colors isn't sold in drugstore by me, but it's available at beauty supplies stores. I picked up their nail polish because I was looking for a lilac color and this one seemed perfect! It was $2.99 which is a lot less than OPI and Essie.

Color: While it does go on kind of sheer, you can build up the color. It's probably because it's supposed to be used as a base for french nails. I did 3 coats and you can still see my nail but the color shows. 1 coat is definitely NOT enough. You can barely see the color, even if you were just using it as a base. 2 coats give you a tint of the lavender or lilac purple, which I think would look great if I added a french tip. It's actually shiny even without a top coat, but it takes a long time to dry. The brush is a standard brush, so it won't cover your whole nail and you'll need at least 3 strokes. It's actually shiny even without a top coat, but it takes a long time to dry so I'd use a quick dry top coat. I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri.

Application: It goes on smooth. The nail polish is pretty thin, which is probably why it's so sheer (even for a base color). I would recommend having a lot of product on the brush to avoid that streaky look, but that's with all nail polishes. If you've ever been to a nail salon, you'll notice they don't fully wipe off the brush. I normally wipe off one side completely and on the other side, I only take off the excess from the top of the brush (not the tip). After applying 3 coats, I think it's pretty even and I don't see any lines or blotches. One benefit of it being so sheer is that even if you get it on your skin (sometimes I can't color inside the lines! lol) you can't see it.

Repurchase: Overall, I like it. I'll have to see how long it lasts and stuff but so far so good. I wish I'd looked at the name before I bought it because in the bottle it looks like an opaque color (okay, fine all nail polishes do!) but that's my own fault. I think I'll buy a few more colors (this time I'll read the names first). I'd also love to see what it would look like with a base under it, maybe white or nude, because then you wouldn't see my nail. Maybe I'll try that one day.

You can find them online for a little over a dollar. One site is http://www.nonpareilboutique.com. I've never ordered from them, so buyer beware! (I've seen a lot of other girls refer to that place which is why I put the link.)

I'll revamp this post once I test out it's wearability, since I just got it today. Same goes for the "with hardeners part." (I'll add a picture soon!)

E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) Eyeshadow in Amethyst

Recently, I purchased a few things from E.L.F. or Eye Lips Face, a company I happen to think is great for it's price. Like any other company, some products are better than others, but all-in-all, I think it's awesome. Many of their products are $1, with $6.95 shipping, and their "studio" line is $3-$6 dollars. There's always coupons codes for 50% off floating around the internet, which basically takes away shipping (I hate paying for shipping! There's a million other things I'd rather spend my money on.)

Anyway, I decided to try a Studio eyeshadow in Amethyst ($3).

Packaging: Cute, simple, sleek. It's black that just says "e.l.f. Single Eyeshadow" in the front and has one of those plastic protectors when you open it. It has a mirror, which is nice, in case you want to throw it in your makeup bag or whatever. It looks like there's a lot of product, but I don't think it'll last very long (explanation below).

Color/Pigmentation: It's a deep purple, like an eggplant, that's really pigmented, especially for it's price. I was quite impressed when I did a swatch on my hand. There are pink-ish shimmers which look really nice, and take away from the bruise look that purples can look like sometimes. But, in pictures, the shimmer doesn't really show, so you should pair it with a brown base. It's very buildable, so even if the first layer isn't as dark as you'd like, you can pack it on. The pictures below are a better representation than the e.l.f. picutre.

Technicalities: One downfall is that it's powdery or maybe the better word is loosely packed? When I dip my brush in, a lot more product gets on the brush than I'd like and there's a bunch of shadow that just sit on top. I guess it's not as tightly packed as it appears. It doesn't irk me that much, but it wastes a lot of product, which is why I don't think it'll last very long, especially when you're like me and you're not very delicate with your makeup. But for the color payoff and the price, the mess doesn't turn me off from this product. Also, it's really easy to blend and sheer out if you wanted to.

Repurchase: I love the color, nice for a smokey look without just sticking to black or gray, and easy to work with. So, yes, if I needed more eye shadows (which I'm sure I'll decide that I do) I would definitely repurchase.

Link: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/ (its the Studio line)
Coupon: sorrypatty (50% off), sweetdeal (75% off only the Sugar Kiss line and you have to spend more than $15), carolina (50% off, under $15 purchase)

Disclaimers: I bought all this with my own money & it's my honest opinion. I don't guarantee that the coupons still work or that these are the only coupons. I just searched "eyes lips face coupon". You can do the same.

Hello Makeup Lovers!

So, I'm sitting in class, reading tons of makeup blogs, and everyone's talking about MAC, NARS, Urban Decay, Lancome, YSL, blah blah blah...and I'm thinking, "holy crap, these girls must be loaded!" Being 23, still in school (currently enrolled in a post-graduate school), with loans looming over my head everyday on top of bills, room&board, etc, it's needless to say my part-time job doesn't allow me to purchase any of these brands, except maybe once in a while if I find a great deal or get something as a gift. So instead, I opt for the "affordable" stuff, the ones found in the drug store (usually on sale), and I think I go out pretty well put together on a daily basis.

For all you girls, who ooh&ahh at these brands, but can't actually afford a whole collection or have other things that require your money, this blog is for you. Reviews, swatches, how-to's using (mostly) drugstore or cheap products.