Sephora Hello Kitty Tokyo Pop!

Comb, Brush, Gloss, Mirror, Palette, and Polishes

Yesterday, after a grueling day at work, I was greeted by a packing when I arrived home.  Between shopping during my 4th of July get away and the order my husband placed some days ago, I managed to finally get my hands on the Hello Kitty Tokyo Pop collection at Sephora.  Although I don't have every piece from the collection, I did manage to get a great deal of the items.  Check out my Tokyo Pop series to follow.

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Just in...MAC RiRi Boy!!

Hot off the delivery truck (literally) is my back-order of MAC's RiRi Boy.  As a part of the RiRi <3 MAC Summer line, RiRi Boy is a stand out from the two red lipsticks that were released.  RiRi Boy gives off a sort of dusty mauve vibe.  It's supposed to be reminiscent of MAC's Up the Amp (which is a color I don't own).  Based on the reviews I've seen, I can't disagree that the two shades comes across very similarly, on camera (although the finishes are quite different).  Keeping in line with the "retro matte", RiRi Woo allows for a more subdued look.  It's not your typical punched up purple that pops...It's a nice shade.

On to the pics...

For more on the RiRi <3 MAC Summer collection, check out my previous post.

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MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette

For the 4th of July, my husband and I decided to take a quick getaway...and what would a getaway be without shopping?  I wanted to try to find a MAC Pro store, because I figured I'd have better luck finding some of those items that aren't always available at the counters.  Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, I never did make it by the Pro store, but I did happen to find what I wanted...almost immediately.

At the beginning of the year, MAC made their Pro Conceal and Correct Palettes available on their regular site and at local counters.  I happened to miss the launch of these palettes and had been on the hunt to find one palette that I could conceal, correct, contour, and highlight with.  I've tried Victoria's Secret's concealer/corrector palette.  It came with 5 shades (3 colors and 2 correctors).  I absolutely loved the peach colored corrector, but I could never quite get a mix of the concealers to match my skin tone.  I ended up giving the palette away; that's when I discovered Bobbi Brown color correctors.  I've tried a couple of shades of the color corrector and loved them both, but I could never find a concealer and corrector combo at Bobbi Brown.  I could either purchase a concealer kit, with setting powder, and purchase the corrector separately, but I could not have them conveniently package together...so the hunt continued.

...Anyhow, on this trip, as soon as I walked in the mall, there was the MAC counter, and what was the first thing I ran into...the Pro Conceal and Correct Palette!!  I had no idea that MAC re-released them.  I stalked their website for months, and all I saw was an "OUT OF STOCK" message.  Apparently, these babies are back for good (or so I've been told).

I debated over whether the get the "Medium/Deep" palette or "Dark".  Just to reference the spectrum of foundation and concealer colors I've worn from MAC:

• Studio Fix Powder in C8 or NW43
• Pro Longwear Foundation in NW45 (too red/dark)
• MatchMaster Foundation in 7.5 (I think)
• Face and Body Foundation in C7
• Select Moisture Cover Concealer in NW40
• Pro Longwear Concealer in NW40 and NW45 mixed 

Those are all of the MAC foundations/concealers I've sampled in a quest to find a good match.  My dilemma in choosing a concealor palette is that NW43 would probably be my closest match (NW43 concealer shade is in the "Medium/Deep" palette); however, the MA at MAC felt that the "Dark" palette would allow me more use.

I don't think this palette will allow me to do much in the way of highlighting, but I definitely think I can correct, conceal, and contour with this.  This will be a useful travel companion.  I try to keep my everyday (well I don't wear makeup everyday) routine simple on the days that I wear makeup, so I'm not sure about using all 6 shades in this palette everyday.  Currently, whenever I contour I use MAC Pro Sculpting Cream in Richly Honed (limited edition...picked up at a CCO...more on that in another post) or MAC's Blunt blush.

In-doors, with Flash

Outside

This palette comes with 4 concealer shades and 2 color corrector shades.  It retails for $40 (USD).  There are four different palettes, so there's something for everybody with this one.

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Maybelline Volum'Express Mascara: The Rocket

Hello Lovelies!!

I finally had to reach into my reserve and test out the Maybelline Volume'Express (The Rocket) Mascara in the color Very Black (401).  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by its performance.  I rather enjoy the look of false lashes (on others) and personally like to up the drama to my own lashes.  I can appreciate the formulation of this product and how I was able to layer the mascara, without clumping.

As you can see from the first image, the wand is left out, separately in the packaging.  Once you remove the insert/cap, you can add the wand to the product.

What I like about the wand are the tiny combs.  This allows for even distribution of product while allowing you to separate the lashes to avoid clumping.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Here, you can see my bare lashes...

I used only one coat of mascara...

Here, I used two coats of mascara, after struggling with my camera.

I purchased this mascara from CVS, and I want to say that I had some sort of coupon and used it on this as well as one of the Maybelline Vivids lipsticks.  You can currently find this mascara at almost any drugstore, including Walmart and Target.

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Fourth of July Nails

Hello All!

Today's post is coming from my phone.  I wanted to throw together a quick manicure.

What I'm wearing:

• Thumb: Sally Hansen Pacific Blue
• Stars: Sally's Beauty Supply
• Fingers: Magazine Cover Mouse (OPI Couture de Minnie Collection
• Base Coat: Orly Bonder
• Top Coat: Orly Won't Chip

Happy 4th!!!!

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OPI and Minnie Mouse

OPI Couture de Minnie Collection

Last year, OPI teamed up with Disney to release a collection of pink and red polishes, each with a play on the Minnie Mouse moniker.  This year, OPI and Disney are back with more pinks and reds and this time, Minnie Mouse has "swagger to spare".  OPI's new Minnie Mouse packaging has less to do with her cutesy side and everything to do with the glamour.

OPI Couture de Minnie ("Runway Minnies") on the Right; OPI Vintage Minnie (mini-set) on the Left

This year, OPI released 5 polishes with the "Couture de Minnie" Collection (featured from L-R):

• Minnie Style
• A Definite Moust-Have
• Magazine Cover Mouse
• Chic From Ears to Tail
• Innie Minnie Mightie Bow

OPI Couture de Minnie (in-doors with Flash)

OPI Couture de Minnie

Minnie Style: a mix of fuchsia, red, and white hexagonal glitters suspended in clear polish

A Definite Moust-Have: is a fuchsia/hot pink color with a pearl finish

Magazine Cover Mouse: is a vibrant red color, with gold glitters, in a liquid sand finish

Chic From Ears to Tail: a light, salmon pink, with iridescent shimmers that are so unnoticeable, it's almost not worth mentioning.

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow: a deep red with micro-glitter flecks

4 of which they also released in their mini set (all of the previous mentioned shades, except for Minnie Style).

This was a collection to rival last year's release of the Vintage Minnie collection, which was a nod to the "throw-back" Minnie Mouse.  Four colors were released in the collection (feature from L-R):

• The Color of Minnie
• If You Moust You Moust
• I'm All Ears
• Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It

OPI Vintage Minnie (in-doors with Flash)

OPI Vintage Minnie

The Color of Minnie: a pearlized red with pink undertones

If You Moust You Moust: candy pink with a cream finish

I'm All Ears: a sheer dark pink with micro-glitters

Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It: a sheer, candy pink polish with micro-glitter and bubble gum pink hearts

...and only 3 of the 4 colors (The Color of Minnie, If You Moust You Moust, and I'm all Ears) were featured in the mini set.  As a bonus, you received a rapid-dry top coat for the fourth miniature bottle of polish.

Click to enlarge

One of the things that makes these polishes drastically different from one another are the finishes.  Magazine Cover Mouse is a liquid sand and those of you who are familiar with the formulation know you can wear this as a demi-matte or add a top coat for a smooth liquid"y" appearance.

I'm All Ears, from the Vintage Minnie Collection, is a very sheer polish with micro-glitters.  It would take lots of coats to build this up to full opacity.  This polish might work better as a top coat, or to layer over a polish you wanted to add shimmer to.

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow, is a shimmery, full-coverage polish; very different from a pearlized polish.  

Click to enlarge

Although, in the side-by-side comparisons, none of the colors from last year's collection are identical to this year's, there were a couple of polishes that were reminiscent of each other.

Click to enlarge

At first glance, I thought "Innie Minnie Mightie Bow" (Couture de Minnie Collection) might have been the same color and finish as "The Color of Minnie" (Vintage Minnie Collection).  Once I swatched the two colors, it was apparent that the "The Color of Minnie" had a pearlized formulation that was very uniform.  There aren't any noticeable glitter flecks in the polish, unlike "Innie Minnie Mightie Bow".  "Innie Minnie Mightie Bow" is a bit darker than the "The Color of Minnie".

"Chic From Ears to Tail" could probably be mistaken for "Pink Friday", from OPI's Nicki Minaj collection.  The difference is much more apparent in person than in the posted images.  Just when I thought, "I aready have the 'perfect' bubble gum pink", OPI comes out with something else.  "Chic From Ears to Tail" is darker and leans more Salmon than Bubble Gum.  Both pinks are extremely pretty, in my opinion, and would really compliment "If You Moust You Moust", in a two-toned manicure.  I've used a considerable amount of "If You Moust You Moust"...it's probably the one pink I reach for the most.

I purchased this collection of polishes from Ulta, where the OPI, full-sized, polishes currently retail for $9 (USD) per bottle.  I was able to purchase them 2 for $15, this past weekend.  The miniature set retails for $12.95.  The minis may be a great gift idea for the little diva in your life, but proceed with caution... ;o)

I took a trip over to Sally's to pick up some non-acetone nail polish remover.  Their Beauty Secrets 8oz ($1.79 instead of $2.79) and 128oz ($8.49 instead of $23.99) were on sale.  The 32oz bottle normally retails for $6.69.  It was a steal to get 96oz more for only $1.80.  I just called my local Sally's and although the 8oz bottles are no longer on sale, the 32oz bottles are for this month.  Also, Friday, they will be having a 50% off sale, so the 128oz bottles (if they are still available) will be an additional 50% off!!

OPI's website:  Click Image to be redirected to Minnie's Closet , on their Website.   Minnie's Closet features Minnie Mouse Illustrations through the years, as well as fun nail designs featuring Couture de Minnie Nailpolishes.

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