Link Love Lately No. 1

1. “Techno Butterfly” Christian Dior S/S 2013 Makeup Tutorial by Nikkie Tutorials
   1. This girl is seriously amazing when it comes to editorial/fashion inspired makeup!  The look here may be my favorite.
2. Are You Circumcised? Ask Max Questions #2 by MaxNoSleeves
   1. Yes, the title is slightly weird, but this video contains one of my favorite quotes ever.  He’s asked, “Where’s Waldo?”  His reply, “I don’t know, probably off with Carmen San Diego laughing about all the socks they’ve stolen from my dryer.”
3. Louder by Neon Jungle
   1. I like to listen to BBC Radio 1 when I wake up in the morning and they’ve been playing this quite a lot.  To me, this song is perfect for blasting in the car when you just want a moment to get away from it all.
4. The Painted Rogue
   1. Probably the most unique beauty blog I’ve found so far!  It’s like D&D meets makeup with a dash of expert photography.  I found her site via one of Temptalia’s Sunday Link Love posts.
5. Blog Advice 101 by London Beauty Queen
   1. Since I am such a new blogger I always appreciate tips from those who have managed to make a career out of it.  LBQ covers all kind of topics that don’t always get talked about, and I appreciate her blatant honesty and genuine enthusiasm for what she does.
6. Kitten snuggling stuffed animal GIF
   1. Yes, I am a female and I squeal with happiness over small furry bundles of cuteness.
7. Emergency Kittens @EmrgencyKittens
   1. In the same vein, if you also appreciate kitten cuteness and you have a Twitter, how are you not following Emergency Kittens???  They post lots of adorable photos that make any stressful day a hundred times better.
8. Summer Matte Pat Down by The Beauty Department
   1. A clever tip for getting your cream blush to last all day, especially for oily girls!

What have you been loving lately?  Share in the comments!

Maybelline Color Elixir by Color Sensational | Review & Swatches

Right off the bat I would like to state how seriously impressed I am by this formula!  They are without a doubt the most hydrating gloss I have ever tried.  The moisture really sticks around, even after the high shine wears off.  They also give a good dose of color and I think the lipstick bullet shaped packaging is rather clever.

There are 20 shades total.  There’s a nice color selection available with several neutral pinks, some brights and some darker shades.  I wish they would add a few more peachy pinks to the line; their Celestial Coral is not what I would call coral although it is a nice color.  The shades don’t always translate on the lips the same way they look in the tube either.  The two I have for review today are 065 Caramel Infusion (left) and 080 Captivating Carnation (right).

Blowpro Textstyle Dry Texture Spray

The Blowpro Dry Texture Spray was the very first “texturizing spray” I ever tried. It wasn’t love at first spritz, but now I enjoy it so much I’ve almost finished the can and even purchased the travel size!

It comes in both a full and travel size. I like the green and white packaging, and I think the more recent cans have a green spray nozzle as well. The top is rather cheaply made but on the full size it fits snugly and doesn’t fall off. The travel size top can pop off if it’s rolling around in your bag. Both sizes have a nice even mist and I don’t find that it dispenses at pressure washer forces. I’ve had my full size for at least 6 months and I use it at least a couple of times per week, so I feel that you get a decent amount of product. I haven’t had any issues with the nozzle clogging either.

Now, let’s look at the product claims:

FOTD 6.12.14

This is my new favorite “every occasion” makeup look!

I think it would be suitable for the office, a date night, or even a night out if you’re pressed for time.  I focused most on the skin, trying to give myself a little color for summer and cover up some hormonal spots on my chin.  I went very simple on the eyes with a little black liner and tons of mascara; add a neutral lipstick and we’re set for the day!

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara

One of the newest additions to the L’Oreal mascara collection is the Voluminous Million Lashes Excess, here in 455 Black.

Housed in a beautiful red and gold metallic tube, the product itself states some very bold claims:

“Our newest addition to the Voluminous family, L’Oréal Paris introduces Voluminous Million Lashes Excess, which combines bold volume with clean definition for an excessively dramatic lash look. Our legendary Millionizer brush is bigger than ever to separate and build each lash evenly from root to tip. The mascara features a built-in, anti-clump wiper that removes surplus mascara for a clean and impactful effect. Plus, the ultra black formula amplifies each individual lash for a dramatic lash effect.” –lorealparisusa.com

I have tried the original Voluminous Million Lashes mascara and I disliked it so much I actually returned it. While the brush was very good at separating and defining the lashes, it gave almost no volume and not as much length as I was hoping for. I’m happy to report this formula is a definite improvement.