Shopping: Ulta and Target

hey guys! 

Sorry I went MIA from the blog. Blogging is no joke. Didyaknowthat? 

Anyhoo, I'm still here and want to show y'all a few goodies I picked up recently. Let's start with one of my favorite places--ULTA! An Ulta opened up about 33 seconds from my apartment. Dangerous, I know. My sister-in-law and I stopped in today, to check it out. 

(we were excited)

I, of course, went immediately to my favorite part of the store: the NYX bar. I need to do a whole video and blog post about NYX products, but for now, you'll just have to trust that I love them a lot. 

I picked up a blush and lipstick. I have been hunting down this blush for forever, but it is always sold out, so I was thrilled when I saw this:

This was, by FAR, the most well-stocked NYX bar I have ever seen in an ulta. It made my OCD heart so very happy. 

  The blush is Terra Cotta and the lipstick is Cream Beige

 Terra Cotta (L) and Cream Beige (R)

I think they're beautiful fall colors and make a great duo. The lipstick is such a nice nude color. I will be using these in a tutorial soon, so y'all will be able to see them even better! 

I also picked up another brush for contouring. In my Highlighting and Contouring video, I show what brush I use to contour. This brush is very similar, except it's a bit smaller and precise. I think it will make contouring a bit easier and a tad more controlled. It's also easier for getting around my temples and hairline.  The bristles are so soft. I love them. I already washed it, using my method that I showed in my video about washing makeup brushes, using items you probably already have in your kitchen. It should be dry and ready to go in the morning! 

Lastly, while in Target with my husband, I rummaged through the clearance section and found a few gems. I NEVER go to Target without checking the cosmetic clearance items, or all clearance sections, for that matter. You never know what you can find in there! This time, I paid $11.68 for products that normally would've been $39.00.  woot woot. I got my first Pixi products. I have never tried anything from the brand before. They are one of Target's more expensive brands, so I was thrilled to see a few things on clearance. 

I picked up a liquid, felt tip, liner pen and a volumizing mascara

I'm sure these will also be making their way into a tutorial soon, as well!

The last thing I picked up was a L'Oreal nail polish in this beautiful purple-grey color with golden flecks. I took a gajillion (that's a whole lot) photos of it, trying to capture the true color and naturally, I failed miserably. Here are the ones that sucked the least. :)

 That's right folks. $1.48. woot. 

This is with two quick coats. The color is much more of a dark grey. I love it and think it's also super perfect for fall. Or rather, for the fall I am trying to convince Florida to have. 

Thanks for reading!  Make sure you're following on my facebook page, to keep up with videos and updates! :)

Queen Helen HULK and Bossypants

After reading several recommendations, I bought the Queen Helen Mint Julep Masque, or The Hulk, as I prefer to call it. 

The Queen Helen website says: "Mint Julep Masque is the original natural home treatment to help dry up pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores. Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your clean face and neck. As it firms and hardens within minutes, it draws out impurities from your pores. After the masque is removed, your skin will feel clean, refreshed and smooth. Even for individuals who are fortunate to be free of skin problems, Mint Julep Masque is a refreshing facial treatment that helps relax tired muscles and ease tension lines on the face and neck."

I have used it three times and I LOVE IT! It has a really strong spearmint smell, which is wonderful. It tingles like crazy, right after you apply it, but it goes away. I actually enjoy that because I feel like it's getting inside my pores and going all Hulk-like on those nasty little blackheads. I have pretty sensitive skin, so I was a bit worried about it irritating it, but I had no problem. I left it on for about a half hour or less and then just used a warm washcloth, like it said on the bottle, to wipe it off. I rinsed the cloth several times as I cleaned. My skin was so soft after and I promise y'all, my pores looked smaller! I thought I was crazy, since It was my first application, but i noticed it for sure after the third. It really happened. The Hulk shrunk those suckers down! I also used it just as a spot treatment on a few pimples overnight once and I was pleased with that too. It didn't irritate my pimples or breakout areas at all. It even makes you beautiful while you wear it! 

Proof:

okay, maybe not, but it does make you look like a ninja turtle. 

I had a hard time finding the product because I read that it could be purchased at Target and Wal-Mart and that simply wasn't the case for me. I eventually found it at Walgreens for $4.99. This bottle is HUGE (8 ounces) and I think it will last quite a while, so it's definitely a good deal. Ulta also sells it for even cheaper, at $3.99. Sally's Beauty Supply also sells it for $5.49, but you get more product (12 ounces) and it is packaged in a tub, which might be an easier application. Some people said the tube was messy, but I had no problem. 

Overall: it's definitely a YES for me.

If you have a hard time relaxing for a half hour while wearing the face masque, then let me make a shameless plug for this book:

I started this last night, right after I applied the masque, and I laughed so hard, I made the mask wrinkle around my mouth! Props to Tina. This is such a hilarious book. I was trying so hard to control my laughter, since The Hubster was sleeping next to me, that just ended up doing this weird squealing/ body convulsing. There should be a warning with this thing. 

Happy Hulking and convulsing! :)

Shopping Haul: Dollar Tree and Ulta

After lunch today, the hub-a-dubs and I did a little shopping. We went to the Dollar Tree, which we both love. seriously. We love just walking around and spending $20 on knick-knacks and things. I ALWAYS check out the cosmetic section at Dollar Tree because y'all, sometimes they get some good stuff, for real. They get a lot of well known name brands, just a bit later than most. I documented everything for you guys, (of course!) so if you see anything you like, you know where to go! :)

 

First thing I picked up was this eyebrow kit from Elf. It sells currently at Target for $3 and I've been wanting to try it. It's a steal!

 

I LOVE headbands from the DT. It's the only place I buy them, because they always end up getting broken or lost. I don't mind, when I only pay $0.33 for each! I keep a bunch of these near my vanity and near the bathroom sink. They're great for holding back my hair when I wash my face and apply makeup!

 

 I also picked up these cream eyeshadows from Maybelline.
 I remember trying these back in the day. I want to use them as eyeshadow bases for similar colors.  I can't help but think these would be awesome for halloween costume makeup. They also had a ton of color options. 
 

 
 The dark colored ones have pretty good pigmentation and the lighter colors are all nice shimmers with a hint of color, great for bases and highlighting. I would just make sure to set them with a similarly colored eyeshadow or translucent powder, so they last as long as possible. 
I swatched them for you guys so you could see them. Starting from top left to right and clockwise from the 9:00 position within each container.

 

 

 

  
I also picked up this palette on a whim. I've never seen nor heard of it, but the colors were enchanting! The picture doesn't do it justice, but they all have a gorgeous gold sparkle to them. And when I say sparkle, I mean spahar-kahul. (did you say that out loud? come on, you totally did, huh?) It's some intense shimmer!

 

I also swatched these for y'all, L-R. I was pleasantly surprised with the pigmentation in some of the colors. The product was a bit powdery, so I would definitely make sure to do your eye makeup before face with this one, but for a whopping one dolluh, they seem pretty darn good!

 

They had a ton of palettes. I tried to show one of every color, but I think I forgot a few. Seriously, how perfect are these colors for some seriously funky halloween stuff?

 

 

 

The next store we went to was ULTA, my FAVORITE! :) Even the hubs tagged along, although somewhat begrudgingly. But since I promised we'd be out quickly, he obliged.

 

That's his "here-we-go, off-in-the-trenches" face

 

I only picked up two things at ulta.

The first was this Real Techniques stippling brush. I have heard a lot of good things about their brushes, so I wanted to give them a try. This is my first brush and I bought it with the intention of applying liquid foundation. I have used a few other brushes in the past, but I was not impressed and found they left streaks on my face. I read a few reviews on makeupalley.com and almost all were super positive, so it should be great!

 
The last thing I picked up was something I've been wanting since I saw it two weeks ago! I have been wanting to try the hoola bronzer, high beam highlighter, and the mascara. What better way to try them, than to pay less than what one costs individually and get a sample kit of all of them? It's perfect.
 I can't wait to try this out! It came with a cheek & lip stain, highligher, brightening primer, mascara, eyelid primer, and bronzer. WIN!
Side note: I think I might have sold the woman at the benefit counter on the Elf eyelid primer. haha Even Ulta workers wanna save a buck...or 30 when they can. :)

Keep your eyes out for kits like these, guys. They're a great bargain. Also, remember, Ulta has the best return policy as long as you keep the receipt, original packaging, and have only used 20% of the item. I've never had anyone argue with me on that one before. I return stuff there, ALL the time and they have always accepted everything!


So there ya go! Those are my shopping treasures for today. Has anyone tried out any of these items?

How to: Choosing a Foundation

We have all been there: you walk into the store, intent on buying a new foundation that is going to match perfectly and give you that perfect, cover-up-every-single-mark-on-your-face look, only to become unbelievably overwhelmed by the seemingly thousands (you're overwhelmed, remember? you can be dramatic) of choices. There are several different brands, each brand even has three or four different kinds within their line, and don't even get you started on the colors! 

How in the world are you supposed to know which one of those isn't gonna make you look like this:

                                                                                

(Obviously it's far too light, taking "highlighting" to a whole new level)  

Or this:

                   

(Way too dark and leather-esque/malibu tan barbie)

disclaimer: i'm sure all of these women are beautiful naturally.  They just "enhanced" a bit too much. :)

Skin Tone:

There are two main skin tones: cool and warm. To decide which you are, look at the veins on the inside of your arm.  Are they blue or green? If they're blue, you're cool toned (just like me!) You also probably look better in silver jewelry and in bold colors like black, navy blue, hot pink, fire-engine red, and even pink. If they're green, you're warm toned.  You look better in gold jewelry and in warm earthy colors like peach, brown, gold, light green, and orange. 

You can also pull your hair back into a ponytail and then hold a piece of white paper in front of half of your face. Does the other half look more blue or yellow? If it's blue, you're cool toned. If it's yellow, you guessed it, you're warm.

Another test, is to just look closely at your skin, especially on your face with no makeup. If you have cool skin, you will have rosy undertones. (Just like me!) You can see mine here, in my latest video with no makeup on. If you're warm toned, your undertones will be more of a golden or apricot color. 

Okay, did you think about it? Did you try some of the tests? Did someone walk in on you staring into a mirror with a piece of paper stuck in front of your face and think you were practicing for a one-man production of The Phantom at the Opera? Perfect. 

Knowing this will help you pick out your foundation. Some lines, i.e. L'Oreal True Match, name their foundation according to skin tones. C1 being the lightest cool shade and W1 being the lightest warm. This is extremely helpful, especially for beginners, because a lot of the guesswork is done for you. Now, all you have to do is find the correct color.

Choosing a color:

Okay, first you just have to look at the colors in the bottle and see which one looks like it matches your skin the best. Do not compare the bottle to your hand.  I repeat: do NOT compare to your hand.  Your hand is not the same color as your face.  This method is super out dated and just not helpful. 

 Pick up a few bottles that you think are closest to your skin tone, usually they are in clear glass bottles so you can see the product, and hold them near your face. (If you're shopping at the drugstore or Walmart/Target, I suggest taking a compact mirror with you. Most of these stores no longer have mirrors in the cosmetic section. If you don't have one and are in Target, walk a few aisles over, to the curling irons and such, they usually have lighted magnifying vanity mirrors on display and can be used in a pinch. I've totally done it.) 

Pick the color that matches the closest with your face. If you can test it, test in 3 places on your face.  That's right, three.  1. Underneath your eyes. 2. Around/on your nose. 3. On the side of your cheek/jawline and down onto the top of your neck. It is best to do this all on the same side of your face for two reasons: 1. you can compare it with the no makeup side. 2. If the color is wrong, you still have another side to experiment on. The correct color should, essentially, disappear on your face. If you can't decide between two colors, or can't test the color, choose the darker.  The darker shade will warm up your whole face and give you a nice glow, plus it usually covers better as well. 

If you can't test the makeup, make sure you are buying in a store that has a good return policy, so you can bring that sucker right back! 

Walgreens and CVS will both take anything back as long as you have the receipt and original packaging. It doesn't matter if it is opened and used or not. They want you to be happy. Walgreens items have to be returned within 30 days of purchase. I have also returned makeup to Target with a receipt. I haven't returned to Walmart yet; I've heard they are not the most consistent with returns: some will, some won't. Ulta and Sephora have the best return policies, I think. I have returned items to Ulta, 6 months after purchasing, but I still had my receipt and packaging, so they gave me store credit.

Which brands are good? 

I think the L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup is a great starter foundation for beginners.  Because they name is according to skin tone, once you can identify your skin tone with this brand, you'll be much more confident branching out, since all you have to do is find a similar shade within another line if you'd like. I have used this and loved the application since it blends so well and dries to almost a powdery finish, leaving my skin feeling light. I purchased a shade too light and it wasn't flattering, so I returned it, but I will definitely be re-purchasing. Target:$8.49

                              

I have used and am really impressed with Mabelline's Super Stay Makeup Foundation. It's supposed to be a dupe (duplicate) for Estee Lauder's Double Wear. IT is a full coverage foundation and stays on for forever. I noticed that my Target isn't selling these anymore, so you might have to check around. Walgreens: $11.49

                              

I am currently using Rimmel's Long Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation. I am pleased with the product. It is inexpensive, lasts quite a while, and smells great. it has good coverage. i don't love the packaging and the foundation is a bit thin, which can be messy, but that's not enough for me not to use it. I have recently gotten some breakouts, but have yet to be able to determine if they're from the product, or just good ole' hormonal crazy coming out on my face. Target: $6.49

                                 

Everyone raves about Revlon's Colorstay liquid foundation. They make two formulas: one for combination/oily skin and one for normal/dry skin. I have read countless positive reviews of this foundation. I purchased this from Ulta and returned it because I found it to be way too thin, watery, and it provided next to zero coverage.  However, after reading so many positive reviews, I'm wondering if I just purchased the wrong formula for my skin tone. (I didn't see the combination/oily or normal/dry specification) Seriously, eeeeeveryone loves this stuff.

Target: $9.99

                 

So there ya go! Hopefully that will help some of you guys find the foundation for you. Remember, ask the cashier what the return policy is and don't be afraid to bring that sucker back if you don't like it! It makes the whole process a lot easier because you're not wasting money on products that don't work for you. You can just keep trying until you find what you'd like.

Please let me know, via comment here in the blog or on my facebook page, if this was helpful for you. I want to do what's most helpful! 

If you made it to the end of this post, you're a beauty beast! :)

In-store sigtings

While I was getting my shopping on today, I noticed the products that I blogged about in my first blog: 5 Beauty Secret Weapons . I took some pictures for you guys, so you could see the item and price. 

The chafing gel/ facial primer :) 

It is in the aisle with the all the feminine hygiene products, next to the other monistat items. 

At only $5.99, it's a steal! 

Sometimes, target has coupons on their website for these items. Speaking of Target coupons, use that link to access the current coupons. They've got some good ones, especially if you can combine with any manufacturer coupons!

 

 

The Aquafor is even on sale right now at Target! You can find this on the lotion aisle, in the cosmetics/pharmacy area. 

Seriously guys, this bottle will last for.ev.ver. 

The Coconut oil was at Costco, but I forgot to get a picture of it, so I took one of the one I have at home, so you can see just how HUGE it is.  It is priced at $15.69 at my Costco, which is a fantastic deal for this bad boy. 

Just for a frame of reference, I'll show you what I paid for a bottle last time I purchased, at a vitamin store. 

The one on the left is a 16 ounce jar that I paid $11 for. You all recognize the big bad boy on the right who is 54 ounces, for a whopping $16.  Obviously, I will never make that mistake again. Hopefully you guys have access to a Costco, that carries the oil, and can pick one up. 

You won't regret it--promise! 

Thanks for all the support and feedback from the first video! I filmed two more today, so there just might be one up tonight!

Pretty Blog

I decided that if I was gonna do this whole beauty went bloggin business, then I needed to go big or go home. Clearly, I followed suit after my hair and with the former: the bigga, tha betta! I hope you read that out loud, because I had to say it three times to spell it correctly.

I LOVE watching beauty blogs. Maybe one day I'll do a post or video about some of my personal favorite beauty bloggers. Watching all the videos always made me so happy and then I thought, Man, I wonder what it's like to be on the other side.  I started thinking about it a lot.  Y'all, I would straight up practice recording videos when I did my makeup...without a camera...without an audience...and most of the time, without pants too.
 Let's be honest: who does their makeup when wearing their pants? No one. 


I decided it was best to combine three of my favorite things: makeup, talking, and teaching. What a perfect trio, right? Hopefully you guys enjoy watching as much as I enjoy making.

I am going to blog about new products, great deals in the stores and online, and a whole bunch more. I'll be uploading photos of things I see and do.  My intention is to make videos a bit more than blogging, but don't worry, I won't neglect Clarabel (That's my blog's new name. I just made it up. Isn't it darling?), in the process.

If you guys ever want to contact me for any reason: DO it. I would love to hear suggestions, requests, reviews, and anything else ya wanna tell me! 

email me: KayRosco@gmail.com
watch my pretty videos: Youtube.com/KayRosco
connect with me on my facebook page:  facebook.com/KayRosco2012

I don't claim to be a beauty professional of any kind. I didn't study cosmetology. I am just a self taught, makeup, and beauty loving lady. Anything I say or advice I give, is just my opinion of what works for me,  or what I have seen work for other people. Everyone is different, so what works for me, may not work for you, but I will try dang hard to figure out how I can help-- promise! 


Sneak peek at the next video: 

I'll leave you with a little treat:

I'm so excited for this,  like borderline Jessi Spano excited. (<---click it)

ya welcome. :)


p.s. HUUUUUGE thank you to my favorite Enimly, for her creativity, quick response to panicked text messages, the adorable KayRosco logo, and encouragement! Seriously, she held my hand and walked me through it!