Nicole by OPI, Essie, and Milani Nail Polish Review and Look!

How is being back in school, everyone? This is a quick review on 3 nail polishes I got out shopping with my cousin recently and 1 I already had but would still not mind comparing! I found a pretty great deal while I was out shopping with my cousin! I happened to come across 2 really cute Nicole by OPI nail polishes with glitter and hearts and my uber girly girl side was wanting out so bad so I just had to get them.

The names are so cute..I got "Honey-Dew You Love Me?", which blue glitter and hearts in it,  and "Spring Romance", with all sorts of colored glitter and pink holographic hearts. I found these for $3 each at 5 below, which I think is pretty awesome considering before they made it into that store, they were around $8 each. I'm all for good deals (though every beauty junkie has a splurge or two!). These glitter polishes bring me back to my childhood a bit...as a kid I was always attracted to things like that and whenever you apply a coat on top of some opaque color, it becomes so fun. The formulation is pretty thick, but definitely not overly so. The only think people wouldn't necessarily like with these is having to basically go fishing for the hearts..getting the glitter is easy, and I think if you want only glitter and not hearts, it would be a fun top coat. I had to swirl the brush around and try to scrape the hearts to the top so many times and hope I got lucky! Once you place the hearts, you can arrange them how you like before the polish dries..so basically, this polish is really fun and cute, but it requires a little extra hassle compared to just a few swipes.

I hadn't been in Marshall's in forever so I just stopped in there to see what they had and in the beauty section, I found a beautiful pink Essie polish named "Infatuation". I'd say it is a mix between a salmon and bubblegum pink, though it can show up light pink or borderline orange in certain light. It was only $4, and though you can still find cheaper polish at the drugstore, I had never tried Essie polish before. Their formulation is pretty thick, and the color is very true to how it looks. I really like it. I got a Milani nail lacquer for my birthday about a year and a half ago from the neon collection. It is a bright blue/teal color named "Fresh Teal". I have always found Milani to have pretty runny polishes, but they are not too messy and they dry fast, so I really like them. For back to school I decided to put all these colors together to create this look:

I put "Fresh Teal" on my ring fingers as an accent and "Infatuation" on the rest, then I coated "Fresh Teal" with "Honey-Dew You Love Me?" and "Infatuation" with "Spring Romance". I really like it; its so fun! See you again soon! Love, Kenzie

Mega Review! Clarisonic + Sephora Haul! (: Part 2

*Takes a deeep breath* Ready for Part 2? xD  Using a Clarisonic Mia2 feels like giving yourself new skin after every use. In this post I'd like to talk about what I've been using with my Clarisonic and also give a rundown and review of the samples I received with my online order from Sephora. I hope you all enjoy!

I had never tried out any Boscia products before my Sephora purchase, so I was excited to try some out. The Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel does exactly what it says it does. It pumps out the top, and it does come out as a sheer black gel/liquid. It has sort of an odd smell..it smells fresh but it also sort of smells like motor oil or something to me but I don't really mind it. After working this into your skin, it feels as if the inner layer of your skin is being chilled (slightly tingly) and your skin is slightly tightened, minimizing the look of pores. It is perfect for morning use when you want to wake right up and feel refreshed. The Detoxifying Black Cleanser works exactly the same, only it doesn't pump out and it warms instead of cools, so it's good for when you want a nice rest. The Green Tea Blotting Linens smell fresh--exactly like sweet green tea bags. The packaging is very cool--its limited edition! It has an oriental design and looks cute hiding in your purse! They are translucent light green papers with brown specks. Not the best blotting linens I've used, but they still work very well at blotting your lipstick or picking up any excess oil from shiny spots on your face. The only problem I have with them is that they are so thin and rip easily.

The next product is an extra purchase I made in-store. It is a product I've heard many Clarisonic users rave about. It is Philosophy's Purity Cleanser..and I've heard from many people (but mostly persuaded by missglamorazzi on youtube) that this cleanser + the Clarisonic = Awesomeness. I really do like it. I love all of Philosophy's product packaging..so simple and cute! It has a liquidy lotion consistency and looks milky. I can't quite put a finger on what it smells like and I've asked several people..to me it sort of smells like a fresh..herbal bug spray? xD It doesn't smell bad it's just a unique scent. (its natural--no fragrance) You can use this without a Clarisonic (all of them can be used without it of course) as a cleanser and as a makeup remover. I would describe it as a basic cleanser, definitely great for everyday use and I'm loving it!

My birthday was last month and I added the Fresh Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo to my cart as Sephora's birthday gift! It comes with the Sugar and Sugar Rose Lip Treatments. The packaging is so sweet and sleek. Both lip treatments are SPF 15, and they glide on the lips smoothly and are very moisturizing. I personally have very dry lips so I usually have the urge to reapply often. The smell of the Sugar reminds me of lemonhead candy and the Rose smells almost the same with a hint of rosy scent. I really like the Rose tint, as it is very subtle and natural. I love getting little birthday gifts from them; it shows that they really care about their customers! Finally, I'd like to talk over the samples I chose with my online purchase.

The 3 samples I chose were:

-Urban Decay's Naked Skin Foundation: I liked this sample because they gave me 4 different shades to make sure mine (or similar to mine) is included--and I can give the rest away to my friends. I liked the foundation, (I was shade 2.5) but I found the sample a bit yellow..It lasted throughout the day, wasn't heavy, and it gave a pretty matte finish. It dries very quickly though, so it is one of those foundations where you have to work in sections so it doesn't dry out and look patchy.

-Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation Primer & Acne Treatment Gel: I haven't tried this yet! I'm waiting for a day where I need my foundation to stay all day long. Since I have combination/oily skin, I like that it is matte so I am excited to give it a try.

-Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil: This one is my favorite and I am planning on buying the full size very soon. Since I can have oily roots sometimes I was a little scared to try a hair oil...I didn't think I would really need it but it is so amazing. It acts as a serum and I like to apply it in the middle of drying my hair to protect it from heat damage and ensure it doesn't leave residue. It makes my hair look so silky and shiny and fresh out of the shower. (minus the water! ;P)

I also entered a code for 6 fragrance samples. I could choose from 4 themes: Playful, Casual, Addictive, or Chic. I decided to go with what I feel was closest to my personality, so I picked Playful. To cut things a bit shorter, I'll just tell you my 2 favorites. My second favorite is Giorgio Armani's Acqua di Gioia. It is very fresh, light, and aquatic. I love it..good for being outside or at the beach to work and shopping! My absolute favorite is the Versace Bright Crystal..I've already gone out and bought a full size! It is very light, playful, and girly. I am planning on wearing the to school a lot. I've been wearing it so much lately, everywhere I go!

Thank you so so much for reading everyone! Please Follow if you'd like and feel free to comment and request anything you'd like to see on the blog! XOXO Love, Kenzie

Mega Review! Clarisonic + Haul! (: Part 1

I've really missed posting and I can't believe how long it's been but I was just feeling like I couldn't go to sleep without posting. I'm so glad I've developed a hobby that I can stick to and that I love..and I love hearing your feedback and can't thank you enough for your support! Every little thing you do really really helps out. Now into my mega haul madness! 2 weeks ago I was browsing Sephora online originally planning to get the Sephora + Pantone Universe Strokes of Nature Brush set. They really caught my eye but they were never in stock and the day after I bought loads of Sigma brushes (spoiler alert--haul + review very soon!) I received an email from Sephora explaining that they have been discontinued, and I'm assuming it's because they were limited edition, but I've seen them in store so if you still like the colors of the year you can still find them I'm sure. (The orange colors of the year are fantastic by the way.)....Warning: this is a very long post!! x.x

Anyways, back on subject..I've heard all the rave about the Clarisonic and now that the Clarisonic Mia2 is out, I decided to ponder the options and work with my birthday money. I was very very excited to see that after my bad luck with the discontinued brush set, there was a good deal on the Clarisonic Mia2 if you buy from Sephora, which is the Sonic Skin Cleansing with Boscia set, which was the exact same price as just the Clarisonic and an extra brush head, but with this set you get the  Clarisonic Mia2 and charger (duh), Travel Case, 2 brush heads (one for sensitive skin and one for deep pore cleansing), Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel (full size!), Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser (deluxe sample size), and Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens (full size--100 sheets and limited edition packaging). I don't want to sound like an infomerical but I truly feel like I've gotten a great deal here. A $228 value for $149 is quite a lot of savings for me, and it was common sense to buy it over just one thing for the same price. It also comes with a 90-day money back guarantee and a 2 year warranty. My only con was that the set only comes with the white Clarisonic, so only one color option, but the savings makes up for it in my opinion. Now for review..first lets talk about the star of the show.

After I finalized my order, I was getting more and more excited over getting a Clarisonic...I've heard soo many great things about it and I have lots to say about it myself. I was very satisfied with Sephora as far as shipping goes because this was my first online order, and most anyone is always a bit worried, wondering if all your items will be shipped in the mail with no hassle and no damage. Everything came in wonderful condition! The Clarisonic Mia2 is almost alien-like; it just looks like the latest technology. It is very sleek and it's smaller than I expected, which is good for traveling. It came with a coupon for $25 off any future clarisonic.com purchase of $50 or more, and a little guide explaining features and precautions. I charged mine 24 hours before use as suggested, and the charger is really cool. All you have to do is touch it to the handle of the Clarisonic and it holds magnetically. The brush head buzzes once and the light around the power and speed buttons lights up to let you know its charging. After taking the charger off, it buzzes twice if fully charged, and once if not. Each hour of charging is one minute of use, which seems tiny but it only takes a minute to cleanse your face with each use! I times you so that you have 20 seconds on your forehead, 20 seconds on your nose and chin, and 10 seconds on each cheek. I like this because its the perfect amount of time if you're in a hurry and it assures that you don't irritate the skin. I tried it out first using the sensitive skin brush head. There are also brush heads for acne, the body, very sensitive skin, etc.

I've been using my Clarisonic for 2 1/2 weeks and now I feel like I can't live without it, It was such a good investment. I use it every night and some mornings if I have time and want to feel refreshed. No matter what product you use with it, the result is soft and smooth skin and it takes off any dead skin you may have for a soft and refreshed face. I love that it has 2 speeds so that you can either have a routine cleaning or a nice deeper cleanse every once in a while. My skin looks fresher and clearer than before I started using it. At first I was a bit worried because once I started using it I broke out for a few days, but now it does magic for my skin. Its so easy..1 minute, and all you have to do is wet your face and put the product on your face or the brush head, wet the brush head and turn it on..it's really that simple. Thank you so so much for reading and Part 2 is coming very very soon!

Love, Kenzie

Review: St. Ive's Apricot Scrub

I'm so excited to talk about these! This is sort of like unicorn poop in a jar, magical. I first tried a St. Ive's face scrub when I was at a camp with my church and my group leader had a travel sized fresh skin scrub that she didn't need to take back with her and said that someone could take it. Of course I'm all into beauty and skincare products so I said I would. The first kind I ever tried was for fresh skin, but it also has scrubs for clear skin, sensitive skin, and timeless skin. And that is just the apricot..they also have herb and tea scrubs to try out as well. Elonzia was on the trip with me and when we got home, we had like a 7 step facial product testing extravaganza. This scrub is the first thing we tried out. This is what it looks like. It isn't runny, so if you turn it upside down or if it tips over it won't make such a mess all over the place. The color is a light peachy tan with tan and light brown specks in it. It has a very very fresh scent, like a right out of the shower smell with a hint of apricot, so it smells more fresh than fruity. It is oil-free which is very good for my oil and acne prone skin. It is creamy, and the specks of what I think is walnut (because the main ingredient is water, second is walnut) give it a sandy feel. The scrub is on the rough side, but it isn't the roughest scrub I've used and I'm sure the scrub for sensitive skin is a lot gentler. It leaves my skin feeling so smooth, cooled, and refreshed. I like to use this in the morning a lot because it helps me wake up too because of how refreshing it is. The big tub (pictured) I got only cost $5 at Target, and it is well worth the money. There is 10 ounces worth of product, and the expiration is in 2014, so this will last me a long time, and I can share with friends! This scrub was a great first impression to St. Ive's products. They're cheap, they exfoliate, they WORK. Another product that is definitely worth a try, and is a bang for your buck! Love, Kenzie (and I'm sure Elonzia would agree!)

I Think I'm Obsessed..with Studs..A Hyper Post from Kenzie

Noo, not that kind of stud O.o weird people..Anyways lately whenever I go out shopping I don't know what it is that possesses me to look straight at a studded object. Studs are a daring fashion statement, but at the same time it's not overwhelming. (in most cases)..not like bright neon skinny jeans or something (and don't get me wrong those can be very cute but I'll fill you in later on what I mean by that.) Getting waaay side tracked, STUDS. They're cute. They're silver. gold. green? every color!! FUNN! These studded heels are like..a mullet, a fashionable one though! Business in the front,  party in the back! And when people see you walk away their eyes wont stray away so quickly. You don't have to be a biker to wear a studded jacket, either. When paired with the right outfit, it can be a great eye-catching piece in your wardrobe. Let's not forget studded shorts. Every beauty guru on instagram is raving over studded shorts, and I don't blame them. There are so many different looks you can create and you can make studded shorts yourself...more sophisticated than bedazzling! If you like to play it safe, you can amp up any simple outfit with studded jewelery. Bracelets, cuffs, belts, rings, you name it.. can come in a studded design. What I like so much about studs is that they can appear on dainty and flirty items, and also be a must-have for daring, rebellious looks. You don't need so much money to buy it because they are made of so many different things, and come in so many different shapes. Circular studs, square, triangle, trapezoid, ya know. You're bound to find outfits with studs almost anywhere you look! I know I have..because I'm not obsessed at all...

Love, Kenzie

Tomorrow I will be reviewing a long loved skincare product. Thanks for your support and remember to follow via GFC or Bloglovin'. More followers, more chance for giveaways! xoxo

Review: C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

I'm finally back! I'm so sorry for the wait, everyone! On the bright side, this is a completely buzz-worthy product and I'm extremely excited to talk about it. My birthday was on Wednesday and my sister works at Bath and Body Works. I've heard so many good reviews about this product and I was shopping around with Rebecca, not really realizing that it was sold at BBW for only about $6. They have the Rose Salve, and they have a lavender one too. I may purchase that one later, and Rebecca has it, but the smell really turned me off in the store. The rose sort of smells like...old lady perfume..I don't really know how else to describe it but the point is that it's not a great smelling product, although the smell of it is pretty subtle. I hate bad smelling lip products because obviously it sits right under your nose. The container was hard to open at first, but it is basically a twist opening. On the container it says that the salve can be used on lips, cuticles, elbows, knees, and the face. It is made up of .9% rose extract, and even though that may seem like a very small portion it really stands out. The amount of product in the container actually surprised me. I think it will last me at least 2 or 3 months, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing after it runs out. The first ingredient listed is petrolatum, so it has a light Vaseline feel to it, sort of like hardened jello or something. I've always had a problem with chapped lips year round and this does magic for me. In the winter I will make sure to stock up on this!  When it comes to lip products I'm really picky, because one of my BIGGEST pet peeves in cosmetics is sticky lip glosses! I hate them so much!! The Rose Salve is not sticky at all, it is very smooth on the lips. The coloration of the product is very sheer, but I've experimented with layering this on top of several of my lipsticks, and it gives a nice rosy boost to most of them, and I really like getting comfort and style at the same time, so I can be wearing my favorite matte lipstick, and be wearing this to help soothe and soften my lips, and I will still look great! ;)  Definitely worth buying, especially because you get a lot of good quality product that will last a long time for a very small price. Thanks for reading! xoxo Love, Kenzie

On the C.O Bigelow website ( http://www.bigelowchemists.com), you can see other lip and makeup products, or you can go to http://www.bathandbodyworks.com for exclusive products provided by C.O Bigelow.

Sorry!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted anything this week, I've been doing a lot of work and have been feeling pretty tired from it. I promise that next week there will be multiple posts. Next week I will be closer to more of my makeup products anyways and I'd like to do some reviews and maybe a tutorial coming up. There's a slight chance I'll make a post tonight because just typing this is making me want to type more so I'll just have to see but thanks to everyone so much for your support and for reading my blog, following, and pressing that +1 button. It really really helps! Stick around! Love, Kenzie