Changes are a Comin'

I have nothing to disclose for this post.

So as most of you know, there's been some blogging changes running around these past few days, so I'd thought I'd briefly address them.

First of all, since GFC (Google Friend Connect) is shutting down July 1st, I officially made the move over to Bloglovin. If you'd like my blog's link to Bloglovin click here. I've also added a Bloglovin button to the opening page of my blog, so you can also follow me there. Also, if you want to switch over to Bloglovin, you can actually import all of the blogs you are currently following back from GFC. So at least it's easy! I'm not a huge fan of this change, since I feel like I just got the hang of all the blogging stuff over at GFC to begin with! But as with all changes, I'm just going to go with the flow and hope I continue to have all you lovely readers! If I'm already following any of you with blogs over at GFC, I am now also following you via Bloglovin. I hope if you enjoy reading my blog you'll do the same, and follow me back too!

I also love discovering new blogs, so I don't mind checking out any blogs I'm not already subscribed to! Just leave me your link, and I'd be happy to check your site out!

Also, the FTC updated their guidelines on "How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising." What this means for bloggers is an updated disclosure statement. I usually put my disclosure at the end of any blog posts that feature products. While I will continue to do this, I will also: (1) Place the disclosure at the beginning of the post, before any links associated with a product or place my disclosure close to the product's endorsement.

So basically, I will have a disclosure at the beginning and end of all posts featuring products. For a post like this where I feature no products, I will simply start the post off with "I have nothing to disclose for this post."

I find these new guidelines quite awkward, since it sounds incredibly abrupt at the beginning of the post. I'm sure I'll get used to it, I just don't like the way it changes a post's opening tone. Also, I don't care where the disclosure is; I just care that it exists in the first place. But alas, I will comply (although magazines don't have to disclose at all...what's up with that?).

What do you think of these changes? I hope to hear from you in the future. Feel free to comment about anything, and I will always do my best to reply! I hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Benefit They're Real Mascara Review

Hello everyone! I think Benefit's They're Real Mascara is an important one to review for a couple different reasons. First of all, this mascara is supposedly the most popular (and most sold) mascara in the world! Secondly, you all have a chance to try this mascara for free this year at Sephora! That's right! You can get the sample size free at Sephora, along with a sample size of Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter during your birthday month! Just make sure you are a Sephora Beauty Insider; sign up is free (but let's be real, if you are reading this blog, chances are you already know all about Sephora and/or are a Sephora junkie!).

Image from Benefit.

Benefit is a brand that makes rather expensive, but popular cosmetics. They are known for adorable retro packaging, and innovative products. Not to be negative, but I personally think Benefit is a bit overpriced for what it is. I feel that Benefit relies on catchy gimmicks to sell a lot of their products, rather than focusing on the product itself. It's cute, don't get me wrong, but I like things to be "real." lol

Image from Benefit.

This is the ad that's featured with many of They're Real Mascara's displays. So I'd like to know what's real: the mascara or her boobs? lol. I'm personally not a fan of this type of advertising.
Benefit's claims:

• "94% saw dramatic length & volume"
• "90% saw base to tip curl"
• "94% saw visible lift"
• 90% saw a dramatic increase in breast volume! (lol just kidding)
• Also claims to separate.
• "100% saw long-wearing results"
• The "jet black, long-wearing formula won't smudge or dry out."
• "Specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had."

Benefit is known for it's cute retro packaging, and They're Real is no different. The full size comes in a sleek silver tube. Just as a reference, I'm reviewing the sample size tube I've been using. I do have the full size as well, but it has yet to be opened or used. The brush design features a plastic wand with spiky bristles. The unique feature is the "mace ball" (lol, like the end of a weapon) at the end. Instead of the brush tapering off into nothingness, the folks at Benefit added a little spiky ball in order to get those small baby lashes at the end. While the mascara does effectively reach those hard to reach lashes at the ends, you really have to wipe the excess mascara off the end first. Otherwise you'll get a gloppy mess. The color is very black, just the way I like it! The formula performs much like a waterproof mascara, though they don't state that it's waterproof in the advertising. I personally find it to be waterproof on me, as well as not smudging or flaking. It is also difficult to remove, but no worse than a waterproof formula. I would define this as a finicky mascara; it gives amazing results, but only if you're willing to work with it. When you first open the mascara, it is a wet formula. For me, this meant I really had to wait for it to dry on my lashes; if I blinked too soon then it would get all over my brow bone. There also seemed like there was almost too much product on the brush of a fresh tube; this made the mascara clumpier, especially on the inner corners. However, once I let the mascara dry out for a few weeks, it was perfect! It separated well, volumized, and lengthened. It definitely gave me amazing lashes, probably the best I've ever had. Yet, the window on this is short. Once the mascara dries up too much, then it clumps and flakes. So I'd say this mascara has a short life over all, and most definitely must be used up within 2-3 months. For the expensive price tag of $23 for the full size, "ain't nobody got time for that!" However, since the effect at the mascara's peak is so amazing, I would consider getting the deluxe sample size ($10), which lasted me 2 months. Luckily I have a full size after this plus the Sephora birthday sample! Even though it's a tricky one, I'd highly recommend you getting your freebie and trying it out!

Pros:

• Cute packaging
• Great plastic brush w/ spiky ball at end
• Performs like a waterproof mascara
• Doesn't ever smudge
• Doesn't flake in its prime
• Very black color
• It is indeed long wearing
• In its prime it gives a "false lash effect;" rather it's the best your lashes can possibly look while still being your lashes.
• Volumizes
• Lengthens
• Separates decently

Cons:

• Need to wipe off excess mascara at the tip of the spiky ball!
• The mascara is difficult to remove, but no more so than a waterproof formula.
• Finicky mascara. Starts out too wet, is great for some time, than dries out quickly (you lie Benefit, it definitely dries out!).
• Starts out too wet, and you must let it dry thoroughly before blinking.
• Starts out a bit too wet, but dries out quickly.
• It can clump if you're not careful, but this mostly happens when the mascara is drying out too much. It also flakes at this point.
• Short mascara lifespan
• Expensive for the full size!

Full size outer packaging.

Full size outer packaging.

Full size outer packaging.

The full size tube.

The sample size tube.

The mascara wand.

Full size vs sample size comparison.

Beauty in the Breakdown:

• Brand: Benefit
• Product: Long-wearing mascara that gives a "false lash" effect.
• Shades: One shade only, black.
• Price: $23 for full size (8.5g/0.3oz) or $10 for deluxe sample size (3g/0.1oz)
• Where to get: Sephora, Ulta, Benefit's website, Benefit counters (like inside Macy's)
• Package Quality (out of 5 stars): ***** (Great packaging for both sizes) 
• Overall Rating (out of 5 stars): **** (Very good overall)
• Recommend: Yes, but only if you're willing to work with it, since the effect can be worth it!
• Repurchase: I would consider repurchasing, though I do not like buying mascaras at this price point. BUT, I would definitely buy the sample size for $10, just not the full size. The window on how long you can use the mascara is too short to buy the big one. I'd rather just have the sample for a cheaper, almost drugstore price.
• Grade: B (an A when it is in its prime, but a B overall)

Here's the mascara featured in Valentine's Day Look: Smokey & Sexy:

Featured in Valentine's Day Look: Smokey & Sexy

Here's the mascara featured in Valentine's Day Look: Romantic & Purple:

Featured in Valentine's Day Look: Romantic & Purple.

Disclosure: The sample size was given to me as a free gift with purchase. The full size was given to me as a gift. I was not paid or compensated in any way. All opinions are my own.

This Week's Ramble #1

Hello everyone! While "Beauty in the Breakdown" is primarily a beauty blog, I wanted to sometimes infuse some of my personality with quick updates every once in a while about what's going on in my life. I also wanted to showcase some photography whether it be pictures I took out and about, or some of my family's photography. Both my mom and my grandpa love to take pictures, so I want to showcase some of their wonderful photos!

First of all, I just wanted to take the time to say that I truly appreciate every one of you who take the time to read this! This blog has grown so much since I first started it, and am so proud to have 44 followers! I know that doesn't seem like a whole lot compared to many blogs, but I think it's simply fantastic! I hope whoever reads this feels free to comment anytime or ask me any questions. I want to make posts that appeal to you all, so any tips or recommendations I'd be happy to do!

Last weekend, my boyfriend treated me to a delicious lunch. We had a gift card from Christmas, so we were super excited to try a new place.

I got shrimp and steak skewers w/ roasted potatoes and kale.

The boyfriend got a french dip sandwich w/ cold slaw.

So I have a new non-beauty related obsession: tea! I've always loved tea, but the mall nearby me has a Teavana! And it's so good! You can actually buy a cup of tea from the store, and try all the samples! This tea was free, however, due to the coupon I posted below. It's the Strawberry Rose Champagne Oolong tea mixed with Peach Tranquility Herbal tea. The coupon below is courtesy of Starbucks, since Starbucks now owns Teavana. Hopefully we'll get some tea shops in the future!

My delicious tea for free! :)

Coupons! :)

Head over to Hautelook tomorrow (3/11), for a new sale on NYX cosmetics! Remember Hautelook is a flash sale website, featuring items for up to 50% off (or maybe more who knows)!

Image from Hautelook.

Here's my face of the day. It was raining, so I had on very simple eye makeup: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige all over the lid (this one is limited edition, Barely Branded from the permanent line is very similar), Urban Decay Naked Palette (Naked/Buck in the crease, Virgin as a eyebrow/inner tear duct highlight), Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara (I reviewed this here), and no eyeliner. I instead added color to my cheeks and lips. My blush is Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Flush and my lipstick is Maybelline Color Whisper in Berry Ready.

Wearing Maybelline Color Whisper in Berry Ready.

The photo of the week is from my parent's trip to Napa Valley. The sheep is posing in front of a castle. :)

Photo Credit: Michele Schwab

Now this photo just made me laugh. I love cats!

Photo from Pinterest.

I hope you all enjoyed this type of post! I'd like to do this every once in a while when I have some interesting content. I just started a new job, so I'll be doing my best to post regularly! Things I'm posting this week include a review of Benefit They're Real Mascara, a review of the Maybelline Color Whisper, and a haul!

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend! 

Disclosure: These products were purchased by me for review purposes. I was not paid or compensated in any way. All opinions are my own.

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty! 3/10-3/30

Hello everyone! For all you Ulta shoppers out there, "21 Days of Beauty" is starting this Sunday 3/10 and goes until Saturday 3/30. The purpose of this promotion is to showcase certain brands in store, as well as show the top products of the season. These spring and summer beauty trends are presented alongside makeup/skincare demonstrations, as well as special offers. Each day features one or two "beauty steals," which basically means a heavily discounted high-end product! If you have any questions, visit Ulta.

All images from Ulta.

Happy shopping! :)

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss Review

Nivea is an international drugstore brand known for its skincare products. I've particularly relied on their lip balms for many years. That's why I was excited to try out one of the Nivea lip butters! I featured this product recently in my February 2013 Favorites post.

Image from Nivea's Website.

I chose the lip butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss at Rite Aid for $3.99. The other "flavors" include Smooth Kiss (the unscented version), Raspberry Rose Kiss, and Caramel Cream Kiss. I'm interested in eventually getting the Raspberry Rose Kiss in particular.

Nivea's claims:

• "Enriched with shea butter and almond oil to intensely moisturize and soothe dry lips for long-lasting care."
• "Rich formula melts onto lips providing long-lasting nourishment to make all your kisses better."

This lip butter is a petroleum based balm, similarly to Vaseline. Thus it's moisturizing properties are a mixture of petroleum, shea butter, and almond oil. This is one of the most moisturizing balms I've ever tried. It is smooth and very thick, which I absolutely love. The formula is clear and slightly milky, leaving a slight (but not noticeable) white cast on your lips. It also leaves a slightly shiny finish. It works wonderfully as an overnight lip treatment, since it is great at maintaining healthy lips, as well as repairing chapped lips. I personally use a lip scrub first, than put a generous amount all over my lips. I also use it during the day, but only when I have clean hands. Since you have to put your fingers inside the metal tin in order to apply the product, it's not the best product for on the go. In order to keep the product sanitary, I'd recommend always washing your hands before putting your fingers in the tin. I would not recommend this lip balm prior to putting on lipstick, since it might make the lip color appear more muted, as well as making the lips more slippery. If you want to use it prior to a drying lipstick, I'd apply the lip balm, then blot most of the product off. That way you get the moisture without the slickness. Other than that, it's a wonderful lip balm at an amazing price! Besides the low cost, the scent of vanilla and macadamia is positively mouth-watering! It reminds me of a nutty cookie. While the scent is pleasing, it is not overwhelming and it does eventually fade while on the lips. You also get plenty of product, 0.50oz/16.7g.

Pros:

• Very moisturizing
• Smooth, thick texture
• Maintains smooth lips
• Repairs chapped lips
• Great as an overnight lip treatment
• Smells amazing
• You get a lot of product
• Low cost, only $3.99.

Cons:

• Leaves a slight white cast on your lips. Barely noticeable, and it doesn't look bad.
• It's not the most sanitary, since you have to put your fingers in the tin.
• Not the best to use under lipstick, though works perfectly as long as you blot your lips first.

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss

The ingredient list.

The product.

Beauty in the Breakdown:

• Brand: Nivea
• Product: A moisturizing lip butter/balm.
• Shade: Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss
• Price: $3.99
• Where to get: Drugstores, I got mine at Rite Aid.
• Package Quality (out of 5 stars): **** (I gave it 4 stars since some people won't like having to dip a finger into the product. It doesn't bother me, but it's not hygienic and thus I can't use this product on the go without washing my hands first.) 
• Overall Rating (out of 5 stars): ***** (I love it!)
• Recommend: Yes
• Repurchase: Yes, I will definitely repurchase this same one! I am also interested in getting the raspberry and caramel one!
• Grade: A

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me for review purposes. I was not paid or compensated in any way. All opinions are my own.

February 2013 Favorites and Fails

Hello everyone! Today I'd like to present my February favorites and fails!

February Favorites!

The goods:

Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque

• Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque: I'm a huge fan of using face masks a couple times a week, especially when I'm breaking out. My favorite face mask of all time is the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, but unfortunately the one I had is all dried up. So instead I've been using another version, the mud pack masque. This mask's ingredients are almost identical to the mint julep mask, other than the color and fragrance. As a result, both masks work similarly. There are two ways I use the Queen Helene masks: (1) As an all over face mask a few times a week; (2) As an over night spot treatment on areas that are breaking out. These masks are absolutely wonderful when dealing with acne. I've been breaking out a lot in the month of February, so these masks were my life saver! When used as a spot treatment, the mask is wonderful at not only cleaning out your pores, but drying out the blemish. I wouldn't use this over night every single night since it is drying. But, I would highly recommend this mask to anyone with oily and/or acne-prone skin. Plus, it's only a couple dollars (usually under $4 at drugstores).

Freeman Facial Clay Mask in Mint & Lemon

• Freeman Facial Clay Mask in Mint & Lemon: While I don't love this mask as much as the Queen Helene ones, I really do enjoy it overall. The consistency is quite a bit thinner than the Queen Helene ones, so it makes it much easier to spread all over the face. Plus the lemon and mint fragrance really wakes you up! I only use this mask all over the face rather than an overnight spot treatment. You can find Freeman masks at Ulta and drugstores for about $3.99 each.

Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner in Black

Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner in Black

Swatch of Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner in Black

Featured in Valentine's Day Look: Romantic & Purple.

• Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner in Black: I received this eyeliner in my February 2013 Ipsy Bag, and I seriously love it! I used it most recently at my cousin's themed 1920s birthday party, and it looked amazing! This is my go to liner for dramatic winged eyeliner and/or any bold look in general. It applies very smoothly, better than most gel liners I've tried. 

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss

• Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss: What can I say about these that hasn't already been said? I've always loved Nivea lip products, so I knew I'd love this one too! I've been wearing this almost every night before going to bed, and I always wake up with smooth lips. Plus  it smells delicious, like a nutty vanilla cookie! I highly recommend!

My Inglot eyeshadows!

• Inglot Eyeshadows: I've been wearing my Inglot eyeshadows for most of this month. Inglot's eyeshadow formula might be my favorite of all time! I've now collected 17 eyeshadows total of varying finishes. I'd like to do a review of each shade, if that's something you are interested in.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Me wearing Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

• Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey: I love these Revlon balm stains! They are moisturizing, plus they actually stain my lips! I love the shade Honey, since it's a great "my lips but better" color. I'd describe it as a dusty, pinky, brown mauve. It'll look a bit different on you depending on your lip's natural pigmentation.

There are no fails this month! Instead I have one more favorite...

A marmot from Yosemite! Photo Credit: Michele Schwab.

This is an adorable marmot my mom found while we were hiking in Yosemite National Park. In case you were wondering, a marmot is a ground squirrel. These creatures are much bigger than your average squirrel and have big, yellow, fluffy bellies!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Disclosure: These products were purchased by me for review purposes. I was not paid or compensated in any way. All opinions are my own.

March 2013 Ipsy Spoilers #4 & #5

Hello everyone! If you're an Ipsy subscriber and you're not interested in knowing what's in your bag ahead of time, don't read these "spoiler" posts! If you'd like to see what I've received in previous Ipsy bags as well as an explanation on what Ipsy is click the links: December 2012, January 2013, February 2013. To see the first three spoilers from the upcoming March bag, click here and here.

Just for a quick recap:

• Sneak Peek #1: A nautical themed bag (most likely).

Spoiler #1. Image from Ipsy's Facebook Page.

• Sneak Peek #2: GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette; the stunner of the month!

Spoiler #2. Image from Ipsy's Facebook Page.

This image was taken from an email I received from Ipsy.

• Sneak Peek #3: An eyeshadow pan from Yaby Cosmetics (I'm pretty sure!).

Spoiler #3. Image from Ipsy's Facebook Page.

Looks pretty close, right? Both colors are gorgeous! Image from Guru Gossiper.

• Sneak Peek #4: Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist (or at least something from Juice Beauty!), which is a toner or refreshing spray. I'm excited for this one!

Spoiler #4. Image from Ipsy's Facebook Page.

The cap looks similar. Image from Ebay.

• Sneak Peek #5: LA Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes (8 wipes): I'm always happy to try out make-up wipes. I hope they take off waterproof makeup!

Spoiler #5. Image from Ipsy's Facebook Page.

Image from LA Fresh Website.

It looks like there is no fifth item. I'll update you all if this changes. Either way, it looks like a pretty good bag!