Favorites: July 2013

 

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. As I mentioned in my previous post, I was getting my July favorites ready, so now... it's July favorites time! This go around it seems like a lot, but I think it's because of the polishes. I had a lot of favorite polishes for July. 

Be prepared for a lengthy post!

Wet n Wild Coverall Cream Foundation in Fair [review]

Glides on weightlessly for sheer-to-medium coverage that’s never heavy, chalky, or dull. Evens out flaws with a silky, semi-matte finish that let’s your skin’s natural luminescence shine through. Contains SPF 15 for the ultimate in anti-aging treatment.

 Once again, in the favorites. This has pretty much become my HG foundation. It actually survived a few heat waves beautifully, which I was completely surprised by.

Wet n Wild Mega Impact Mascara [review]

Make an IMPACT! This revolutionary mascara formula provides EXTREME volume and length with a silicon complex that provides elasticity and flexibility. Proven to enhance the natural lash up to 8X, this all-in-one formula is enriched with Kernel Oil to permeate and condition each lash to promote healthy, strong hairs while adding color and shine.

Although I have enough mascaras to use, I seem to keep reaching for this one, and one other which I'll get to. Again, this is another product that held up during the heat waves as well. No smudging or raccoon eyes!

Ruby Wing Summer Collection in Groupie, Crowd Surf, Electric Firefly, Summer Love and Green Peace [groupie review]

If you love the beach even though your life doesn't always feel like a day at one, and celebrate life and everything it has to offer – there's now a nail polish that celebrates you.   Ruby Wing is every free-spirit's dream: color changing nail polish that transforms in sunlight.   Our color changing technology lets you switch your style from day to night, indoors to outdoors.   Each one of our shades dramatically change in direct sunlight and then back again once inside.

If you didn't realize it, pretty much all of July, I used various combinations of the polishes listed above. While these polishes do change colors in sunlight, I preferred them in their neon-goodness overall. 

Color Club 0 - 60 Speedy Top Coat

A super fast drying, shiny top coat.  Dries in 60 seconds!

So, I had decided to try another top coat, besides the Sally Hansen one that I was using. I went with this one and can say that I was completely impressed. 60 seconds dry indeed! Although dry on the top, I wouldn't necessarily go do hard work because the under layers still are wet enough to put a dent into them. But I still like it overall.

Londontown kur Nail Hardener [review]

Works to replenish strength and maintain healthy nail protein (keratin) and natural oil balances to protect against cracking, chipping, splitting and peeling nails.

Created with a combination of Britain's rapeseed flower oil and a unique blend of natural extracts and vitamins to repair and hydrate dry, brittle, weak and soft nails.

Definitely the main base coat that I've been using under all my polishes through the month of July.

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Big Eyes Mascara

Revolutionary dual-ended Mascara for 360° all around Lash Glam. Two brushes specifically designed for top and bottom lashes. Special quick-dry formula holds lashes in place 

With this, I've been mainly using the lower lash part of this mascara. Although the upper lash side is wonderful too, I just don't seem to use it as much as the lower lash side.

Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Aurora [review] 

The earth-shattering lip lacquer from Rimmel London combining the intense color of lipstick with a lacquer like shine, Show Off Lip Lacquer is an explosive make-up phenomenon that represents the end of color as you know it.  Packed with pure color pigments, its lusciously creamy, conditioning formula promises a never-before combination of color, shine and comfort that last and last.

This was pretty much my go to lippie through the month of July. While I would wear others, this is pretty much the one that I'd always reapply. A bold color, but not terribly so, just a little dab on the lips and I could wear it with a smokey eye.


Sally Girl Eye Shadow Connecting Compacts in Auburn [review]

• Silky Texture
• Available in 48 shades

These Sally Girl eye shadows come in connecting compacts, so you can create your own personalized color palette! 

These things are addicting! Auburn basically became a staple item for me throughout July. It basically made my Saturday "signature" eye look. It's beautifully pigmented which was, indeed, a surprise for me when I first got it, but I absolutely adore the color!

 

 

Shany Cosmetics Natural Fusion Eyeshadow Palette [review coming soon]

The Natural Fusion Eyeshadow Palette is a staple in any makeup artist’s kit. A great blend of mattes and shimmers to warm tones and neuatal shades, this palette is perfect for everyday use. Use SHANY eye shadow lighter hues to highlight under eyebrows. SHANY oranges, browns and purples can be mixed and matched on lid and darker hues in corners and crease of eyes. With 88 colors, you can't go wrong with this long lasting formula. SHANY shadows are highly pigmented and blend well.

Can I just say that I love this palette? There was minor drama when I received it in the mail, drama mainly from my hands being covered in black, but that's for the review post. I caught myself during the work week reaching for this constantly. Any color that I wanted to use, was right there! 

Non-Beauty Favorite...

 

 

 

Howl's Moving Castle

I'm probably late to the party with finally seeing this movie, but after seeing some gifs on my Tumblr dash, I decided that I wanted to finally see it. Honestly, why on earth did I wait?! I absolutely LOVED the movie, and completely wish they'd make a second one. Now, I want to get the book being there are differences between the two. I never really compare book to movie, but I'm curious as to what was changed. I would highly recommend this movie to everyone.

Haul Ahoy!: Could a day be anymore Purrfect?

This is a small haul from yesterday (Friday), I normally prefer not to do posts about hauls, but I was definitely excited about this one! I just couldn't resist. So, this will be a quick post.

Two I purchased at Target, and the other two from Harmons.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Fierce and Tangy ($2.97 - Target)
Color Club Girl About Town in East Austin ($4.29 - Harmons)
Nicole by OPI Gumdrops in Candy is Dandy ($6.94 - Harmons)
Katy Perry Purr Perfume ($8.84 - Target)

The Katy Perry perfume was a major find for me, it was at one of the Clearance end caps on a back aisle. So if you're looking for that perfume, in particular, definitely check out any of the end caps Target has.

Polishes: Color Club Angel Kiss, Halo-Graphic and Harp On It

I know I'm late (ok, really late) to the party with this collection, but I lucked out when I went to another Harmon's, they still had other polishes from Color Club's Halo Hues Collection in the store!

In addiction to Halo-Graphic, I got Angel Kiss and Harp On It. They are just as stunning as Halo-Graphic.So, now I'm only missing three others. I have half a collection!

Halo-Graphic

Halo-Graphic, as I mentioned in a previous post here, comes across as a lilac-pink with what appears to be a gold-esque overlay. 2 Coats were used.

Angel Kiss

Angel Kiss, is a sky blue Holo/Halo. I'm really not one for blues, but I had to pick this one up because it is gorgeous. 2 coats were used.

Harp On It

Harp On It is the collections silver holo polish. The silver itself isn't a dark silver, it actually seems to be a white-esque silver. It's extremely vibrant, the photo itself doesn't do this color any justice. 2 coats were used.

Formula: Perhaps it's just the ones that I purchased, but they seem to have a strange formula. All three are runny as the product is quick to pool down the brush and onto the nail. They can be sheered out, or go on very opaque with one passing. Haven't experienced any streaking or balding with the formula.

Do you have any of the polishes from Halo Hues? If so, what're your favorites?

Better yet, what do you think of the formula?

I love the formula. I'm actually wearing Harp On It now with Halo-Graphic stippled over it on the ring fingers. Once I get out of work tonight, I plan on doing some color blocking, or something dealing with scotch tape ;x

To Dupe or Not To Dupe: Color Club Halo-Graphic vs OPI DS Passion

It's Holo time! Normally, if you know me, in the past I used to throw a particular holo over any polish I had. The polish? DS Passion which is from OPI Designer Series, from the older series that is now discontinued.

So when I purchased Halo-Graphic from Color Club (Halo Hues collection) while I was at Harmon's, I was shocked because I believed it was an exact dupe for DS Passion.

Question is, is it really a dupe?

Halo-Graphic vs DS Passion

DS Passion is from OPI's Designer Series that is now discontinued, I believe this series is from any formula changes as this polish and another I have, have a very distinctive smell of chemicals (smells like permanent marker, not a sharpie, but the real smelly ones). The smell on this one isn't as bad as the other one though. 

Anyway, DS Passion is a mauve-pink holo. The holo is there, just not very distinct, it photographs just a little bit, all over the place. It is on the sheer side, so when I painted the nail plate, it took 5 coats to get it opaque.

Color Club's Halo-Graphic from the Halo Hues series. Looks like a lilac-pink (with gold overlay?). In the bottle though the base color looks similar to DS Passion, but going on not so much. 

Can we just stop for a second and look at that holo! It is insanely amazing! And that's only in the bottle!

Depending on how much you load onto the brush, it can either go on sheer with the first coat or very opaque. On the nail plate I used 2 coats.

Halo-Graphic's holo/halo (which is it?) bursts when the flash hits it. DS Passion's is more subtle, and you can see the base color more so with Passion than with Halo-Graphic.

Would I Call Them Dupes?: Not really. The base color may appear similar, but they aren't dupes. Maybe close to dupes, if you couldn't find DS Passion, Halo-Graphic would be a perfect replacement. In fact I lean more towards Halo-Graphic anyway. The formula is amazing, and the holo/halo is out of this world.

Price: I believe Harmon's sold Halo-Graphic for $7.99, but has it on sale for $3.98. Being the older Designer Series is discontinued, I did however purchase this from Harmon's as well for $5.99 They had a slue of this collection discounted.