E.L.F. High Definition Powder in Sheer

I've used this powder twice now and I really like it. The packaging is nice. A large black square/roundish box with a powder puff that I'll never use inside of it. I think the sifter top is just the right size even though I've heard complaints about it being to large. I am african american with brown skin and alot of translucent powders show up as ashy on me. This one didn't. I used this to set my concealer and cream blush and it was perfect. I looked totally airbrush. It also keeps the shine at bay which is one of my biggest makeup issues. I also used it on top of ELF eyeshadow primer just to help my eyelids stay oil free and that's worked well. I even felt like it had a bit of coverage to it which was weird but appreciated. Translucent powders never have coverage. Yesterday driving to work wasn't so hot, but driving home it was 87 degrees and while I was a little sweaty, a simply blot with a tissue and I was matte all over again. I purchased for $6.00 which is more than the normal ELF products (priced at $1.00 - $3.00) but it was definitely worth it. I can see this package lasting me for over a year since you need so little. I love this stuff.  Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

E.L.F Studio Conditioning Lip Balm in Blissful Berry

While this lip balm did condition my lips quite well, it definitely didn't have as much pigment as I thought it would. When I opened up the package, I was delighted to see a beautiful berry hue. When I stuck my finger in the pot, it was a bit awkward, like, my finger didn't really fit. But the color was so nice and it was a great consistency. When I applied it on my lips I was definitely let down. It looked like my natural lip color. It took about 3 layers on each lip for the color to show up and it wasn't as nice as the color in the pot. So...what I think I'll do is just keep it in my purse just as a chapstick instead of like, a key ingredient to my makeup look. The packaging is cute. The bottom is clear and you can see the balm through it and the top is black with white lettering on it. Very chic. But takes up alot of room in my makeup box. I would buy it again. It was cheap ($3.00) and it moisturized well, but it definitely wasn't pigmented enough to show up on my lips. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

E.L.F. Studio Small Tapered Brush

So I purchased this brush to use at a setting powder brush. When my package came, there was 2 of them (one will be given away so leave a comment). The brush is quite small (smaller than I thought it would be) but very soft and it had a nice long, sturdy handle. I put my under eye concealer on like usual and I used the High Definition powder to set it. I liked it alot. It picked up just the right amout of powder and blended it perfectly. Then just because I was curious, I dabbed it into the cream blush duo that I got also and applied it on my cheeks and it blended it perfectly. Then wiped the excess off on a paper towel and used it to apply a small amount of MAC Raizin Blush to my contour. While it did work well...its a bit small for my contour. Now I know you're thinking, contour brushes are supposed to fit right in the hollows of your cheek bones...but I prefer it to be a little larger so I don't look dead. I blended it out with a kabuki and it was fine. I definitely like this brush. I like the versatility of it. It can do setting powder, cream blushes and powder blushes. I even used it to apply my highlight to my brow bones. I give this brush 5 stars. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

E.L.F. HAUL!!!

So I did a decent ELF haul this past week and I've tried quite a few of the products that I got and I'm really excited about sharing my review with you guys. For those of you who aren't familiar with ELF or just haven't purchased anything from them, I do have to say they are a great company. Everything is super cheap ranging from $1 to $6. The $1 items I don't really buy but I do buy from the Studio and Mineral line. I absolutely love it. It's super cheap but the quality is so good. I've always had good experiences with customer service and my shipment always comes in a timely fashion (don't order close to a holiday weekend like I just did (Mem Day) or it will be delayed but that was my fault). Over this is probably one of my favorite drugstore brands. They also just opened up their first store in New York City which I plan to visit soon to give you guys the scoop on. What I got on my haul is:

-Studio Small Tapered Brush
-Studio Blush & Bronzer Duo in St. Lucia
-2 Studio H.D. Blushes
-Studio Liquid Eyeliner
-Studio Lip Balm in Berry
-Studio High Definition Powder in Sheer


Don't forget to leave a comment on one of my post as I got some extra stuff for giveaways. I should have my 1st post about my haul up in a day or so. Thankss!!. Desiressbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes

This is now my HG makeup remover. I've tried several other makeup removers but always end up with makeup still all over my face and burning eyeballs. I purchased these a couple weeks ago at Walmart for 2 dollars. at night before I wash my face I gently wipe my eye area and my entire face and lips. I'd say at least 90 percent of the makeup comes off and the other 10 percent I just wash away with my facial cleanser. they have not caused any breakouts and do not burn my skin or sting my eyes. no more raccoon eyes in the morning I love these wipes!! Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment

I LOVVVEEE this stuff. I originally bought this as like a serum for my frizzy naturally curly hair. After trying it on my curly hair I hated it. It sat on the surface and my hair just looked greasy and limp. I tried it with my blowdrying and flat ironing routine and I love it. After towel drying my hair I spray in a leave in conditioner and detangle. Then I seperate my hair into 4 sections and clip off three of them leaving one free. I apply a nickle sized drop of this serum to the one section and blow dry with a round brush and a paddle brush. After doing that to all 4 of the sections. I apply a dime sized amount to each section and then flat iron. It wasn't greasy at all just very shiny and has lots of slip and movement to it. Love this stuff. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

Dark N' Lovely Au Naturale 10-In-1 Styling Gelee

I purchased this styling gelee a couple of weeks ago and I really wasn't impressed. If you read my Shea Moisture Curl Milk review, you'll know that I used another product with it and it was this. The consistency is like snot (hahah). Very similar to KCCC. I applied this after the styling milk and this just didn't work for me. It loosened my curl and didn't do anything from poof or shrinkage. I know they're advertising this line as an "anti-shrinkage" line...THEY LIED. It didn't nothing for my shrinkage. My hair still shrunk from right above my butt to right below my shoulders. And I didn't like how my curls looked. It turned my 3C curls into like 3A and just huge. It gave very little hold. I'm into crunchy curls because that's what seems to work best for me and this just left frizz. I ended up putting my hair into a bun like usual. I purchased this product for I believe $10.99 at CVS so it's not cheap. I wanted to try other products from this line but I can't justify spending $11 each on something that probably won't work for me and it'll sit on my dresser for 2 years and then I'll end up throwing it out. I definitly won't repurchase. I don't recommend. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

Kinky Curly Curling Custard

I like this styling product but I can't say that I love it. I normally wear my natural 3c hair straight but sometime, specifically in the summer, it's just better for me to go curly. My issue with my hair is while I do like my curl pattern I have such THICK hair, it's not even funny. I have very long hair, down to just about my butt, but that's not the problem...Whenever I go curly my hair looks great for the first hour, after that, my hair starts to grow wider and wider until my hair is literally huge. And on top of that, my hair shrinks up to my shoulders. I have been on the hunt for YEARS to find something that would stop the outward growth and the upward shrinkage. I bought this stuff about a year ago and I like it. It definitely defines my curls and makes them less frizzy but it does verrryyy little when it comes to poofiness and shrinkage. Now I can't expect miracles, but I do hope for them. I normally wash my hair at night. Apply the KCCC and put it in a pineapple then cover it with a plastic shower cap on and then a silk night cap. It the morning I let down, PERFECT, still wet curls that are highly defined and shiny...about 1.5 hours later, I'm a complete triangle head again. But...what can ya do right? I purchased this at Whole Foods for like $30 which I thought was way too much but my mother also bought a jar and didn't care for it so she gave it to me so I guess I'm heald over for a while. Still searching for my miracle in a bottle. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogpot.com

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk

So I purchased this product and  used it and I'm kind of on the fence about this product. I applied it after detangling my 3c hair and my curls were so soft, shiny and defined. I used a styling gelee on top of it and put my hair in a pineapple, in a plastic cap and went to sleep. I woke up this morning and it just wasn't that great. The combination definitely loosened my curls which I didn't care for. Now this could totally be the other product, but I'm just saying. My curl was loosed and I had some shrinkage as well of outward growing so I ended up putting my hair in a bun like usual. I do like this product as a leave in. It was definitely soft and shiny but it didn't do much for definition or hold. This is just the first time I used it though so maybe I just need to try it a few diferent ways first. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

SmashBox Camera Ready BB Cream - SPF 35

OMG...this product is amazing. I recieved it as a trial sized gift at Sephora while purchasing something else. Of course they only had one color which was light/medium...I'm african american and while I'm not dark, I'm definitely brown skinned. I figured that I would just use it to highlight or something. So, the first time I used it, I fell in love. I normally apply Mac Studio Fix Concealer under my eyes to brighten (I don't really have dark circles but I like to lighten things up). This is so much better. I apply a small amount under each eye and create a small triangle shape (I'm sure makeup people will know what I mean) and it looks so naturally bright. It makes my past application of concealer look fake. I haven't tried to highlight with this and I don't think I will. My makeup looks so amazing now. And I like that it was SPF in it. I used to use foundation that had SPF but I noticed that in pictures I look washed out and ashy, so I stopped. I like that I'm applying SPF right where the sun does the most damage on your face and if I take a picture, my whole face won't look like a pasty white doll face. I definitely plan to purchase this stuff in light/medium for the same purpose. I don't know how I was living my life before I starting using this stuff. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

Dot by Marc Jacobs

I really like this perfume. It smells perfect. Sweet enough but not too sweet, floraly enough but not too floraly. Young, fresh, it's a great perfume. I get compliments all the time on this perfume...but while I do have a pretty large bottle of it...I can't wear it often because I will use it up too quickly. The scent only last 3 hours MAXIMUM on my skin. I find myself spraying this perfume on at least 3 times on the days that I wear it. The bottle is too cute BUT, it's hard to spray since it has huge wings protruding off of it. You have to turn the pump to just the right angle so you can hold the bottle comfortably. That's the only reason I can't give this perfume 5 stars. Minor flaws. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel Cream - Dry Skin

I loveeeee this moisturizer. I normally am not one to repurchase any product. I like trying new things. But after trying the regular version of this moisturizer, I purchased the dry skin version and I am hooked and just bought my third jar of the stuff. While I did like the original of this products, I figured I could use just a bit more moisture. This stuff is wonderful. Only use it directly after washing your face or it will be too oily. It does linger on the skin for a few seconds but I just apply it and then either brush my hair or text someone back really quickly and normally within 30 seconds this stuff has soaked right up into my skin and my skin just feels healthy and soft. I only use this moisturizer under my makeup and I use it almost as a primer. My makeup lasts longer with this stuff underneath it and it smells good also. Some people complain about the packaging saying it's unhygenic...it's only me using it and I make sure I have clean hands before dipping my finger into it...solves that problem. It lasts so long also. Each jar seems to last me at least 3 months. For a drugstore moisturizer, it's a bit pricey. I buy it at WalMart for $8 and last time I had a $2 off coupon but I've seen it as high as almost $10 at CVS. Whenever you see a coupon for this stuff, cut it and go buy it because you will want to stock up. I will continue to use this for as long as they make it...and when I find out they're stopping making it, I'll buy a few jars to hold me over until I find something similar. Desireesbeautyblog.Blogspot.com

C'mon Guys

C'mon guys. I can see that you're visiting my page but no ones leaving any comments =(. I am a first time blogger obviously so I need advice (badly). Do you like my reviews? Are they helpful to you? Have I done any products that you're interested in? Are they any products you'd like me to try? Thanks =).

Spring Facial Hair Remover

So I got this thing on Amazon for like $2.00. I had seen in on youtube a few times and I'll try anything to get rid of these stupid, probably 5 hairs on the left side of my chin near my jawline. I've tried tweezing which is kinda a pain because you have to pull one hair at a time and I normally just end up (dun dun dunnnn) swiping my razor across it. I used this spring thing this morning and holy crap this thing hurts. It did pull out the hairs but then it left a few broken also. Apparently you really have to play with it to get down a method that works. I'll continue to play with it and let you guys know.

Remington Smooth 'n Silky Epilator 6025 - AHHHHH!!!!

So....I'm kind of on the fence about this epilator. It's the first one I've ever purchase and I got it on Amazon for I believe around $50.00. This is kind of embarrassing but I let my leg hair grow out for about 5 days because I wanted it to be long enough for the epilator to grab onto. The sound is absolutely horrifying. Like...I contemplated just sending it back and going back to shaving when I heard the sound. But my boyfriend called me a wuss and tried it on a small spot on his leg. He said it hurt but it wasn't all of that. I'm not one to really inflict pain on myself so I had my boyfriend do it. The first 10 minutes involved me screaming bloody murder and yanking my leg away. It was like mini lightning bolts hitting my leg simultaneously. It was torture. My boyfriend gave up after the 10 minutes but I was determined to finish. So I continued by myself. My leg started to go numb after a while and it was bareable then. It took me about 20 minutes to do the lower part of one leg and then it died which I expected because apparently it comes half charged. So I just plugged it into the wall and finished the next leg. I used it on both the high and low setting and to me there really wasn't much of a difference. By the time I was done, the pores where the hair had been ripped out were definitely red and swollen but nothing too crazy. Only thing is, my skin definitely wasn't smooth. I had missed about 1/3 on the hairs on my legs. So what I plan to do is, shave. And then wait about 2 days and epilate again just so the hairs will be shorter because I think 5 days worth of growth was a bit too much. I really want to like this epilator and hopefully after I do my plan I will. But to answer the main question everyone is looking for...it hurts like nothing you've every felt before.



***UPDATE***

So I did what I said I was going to do, and shaved the next day after using this (which was last Thursday). Today is now Monday and my legs are still 99% silky smooth. Normally, the day after shaving, I have stubble and definitely 2 days after shaving I have visible hair on my legs, 3 days after, forget it. After using this epilator and then shaving the next day, I'm going on 4 days with no hair. It's almost upsetting because I wanted to use this epilator again. I plan to use this probably once a week now to keep my legs smooth. I am so excited about this. 4 whole days and it feels like I just shaved yesterday. It's unreal.

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer

I purchased this about 2 weeks ago and I've hated it since the very beginning but thought maybe I was using it wrong so I decided to give it a chance. I used to use a primer by Urban Decay and I loved it but I decided to try something a bit more budget friendly. The first time I used the Hard Candy primer, I thought it'd work out very well. The consistency was a bit strange VERY GREASY. I know what a silicone base feels like but this is like applying olive oil to your face, but my makeup was rather smooth and nothing had gone dramatically wrong.By 10AM I was an oily slick. I had to blot my face several times that day when normally I only have to blot once or twice MAX. I went home and to my surprise, my makeup had literally slid off of my face. Umm, where the heck did it go?? I've never experienced that before (even without a primer) so OBVIOUSLY, I must have been the one messing this up. Over the next week and a half, I tried using it in different ways, not putting it on certain areas. Putting more on certain areas, Putting translucent powder over the primer before applying my makeup...nothing helped every day I looked like I rubbed fried chicken on my face and half of my makeup was gone. Now, this morning I wake up and I have a huge pimple between my eyebrows. This is the only thing I've changed in my regimen and ever since I started using ProActiv I've had pretty much no break outs. It has to be this primer. I threw it away and I will splurge and go back to Urban Decay.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation - C7

So I've been using this powder for a long time now. I want to like it so badly but I'm not sure. I have VERY oily skin so I use this as my foundation. My shade is C7. When at home, applying my makeup under a lamp on my makeup desk, my makeup looks great. Perfect color, well blended, it just looks really good. But when I step outside, something just doesn't feel right. I've been in the car driving to work, pulled down the car mirror in the sun visor and been like "OMGGG this looks terrible", but then I'll get to work and look in the mirror and it will look fine. One day while goofing off at work, I took a picture of myself and was like "OMGGG this looks terrible" but when I went to the bathroom, it looked fine. I just don't know what to make of it. This is the shade that was recommended for me at the MAC store so I'm assuming that it's the right color. And in some lighting it looks great and in other lighting it looks horrendous. I have this problem with all foundation though, whether it be powder, liquid or cream. I haven't had the guts to ask anyone, hey...does my face look ashy or anything? But I really need to know. It's to the point that when I'm in lighting that I know isn't good for me, I'm embarrassed for anyone to look at me. But, like I said, it could just be me and maybe it looks fine. It's pretty expensive but I'm willing to pay for products that work so I need to know whether this is good for me before I run out of this one lol. It hasn't caused any break outs or anything so that's why I really want to stick with it but I just don't know. I'm working up the nerve to ask someone's opinion on it one day.

Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel Creme Moisturizer - Original

This is my favorite moisturizer and I really can't see myself using anything else. I first purchased this because it sort of resembled Clinique's Moisture Surge. Paying $40 for a moisturizer just isn't an option for me so I decided to try this out. The first thing I noticed was the packaging. Alot of people complain that the packaging is not hygienic because you have to dip your fingers into the jar to get the product. I really don't mind because it's just me that uses it and I always have clean hands before applying. It's the first product I use after cleansing my face in the morning so I don't have to worry about cross contamination from another product. The next thing I noticed was the smell. This stuff has grape water in it so it was a very fresh (I wouldn't say fruity) scent to it. Smells great but doesn't linger which is good, who wants their face to smell for up to an hour lol. When you apply it, it doesn't resemble a cream at all. Very gel like. It goes on and absorbs into the skin SO QUICKLY. The reason I steered from traditional moisturizers is because it would take so long for it to seep into my skin and then it'd leave a residue that would make my foundation brush drag and look streaky. With this stuff, it goes on a little wet, I give my hair a quick brushing and by the time I'm done, it has completely absorbed into my skin and it just feels like very soft skin instead of skin that has lotion on it. I pretty much use this as a foundation primer because since it's a gel formula (and does have a bit of alcohol in it), it kinda dries up the oilies while still making the skin soft. I love this stuff. It's never caused any breakouts or anything (and any and everything causes me to break out). I only use it in the morning before I apply my makeup (as at night I use proactiv) and one jar lasted me for 4 months because it doesn't take alot to do your face. It could be cheaper ($8 at Walmart isn't bad but $10 at CVS is) but I have to have it lol. I have also tried the dry skin formula and will soon by writing a review on that. Love this stuff.

Elf's Eyelid Primer

I've tried several primers over the years, Urban Decay, Tarte, Nars, MAC, spending upwards of $20-$30 each on them....ELF eyelid primer is the best primer I've used and at the time it only costed $1 (I believe that it's now $2) at Eyeslipsface.com (but I've also seens ELF products at Kmart and Target). I have every oily eyelids ands with every high end primer I've tried, my eyeshadow had a huge, thick noticable crease in it by 11:30AM. With this, I just apply a thin layer, dust a bit of tranlucent powder over it and my eyeshadow has stayed as long as 10 hours with no creasing at all. I feel no need to try any other primers because I've found my HG and for super cheap. It hasn't caused me any irritation like some primers have. This stuff is just fantastic. I have at least 3 of these in my stock at all time and will continue to use it until they stop making it...and before they stop making it, I will buy a few lol. Love this primer.

Welcome to my blog

Hi my name is Desiree. I decided to start a blog about different beauty products that I've purchased and used to help people, like myself who do extensive research on a product before they buy it. Just a little background on myself : I'm from New Jersey, born and raised. I'm 20 years old. I started getting into beauty at 15 years old when my mother first started allowing me to wear makeup. I remember being so young and babysitting every weekend just so I could go to Sephora once a month and buy the coolest new palette or primer or WHATEVER. As I've gotten older, bills have aquired (good bills, like student loans and stuff) and while I still love purchasing makeup, I have to balance out high end makeup with drugstore products. I decided to start this blog because there aren't many that have a good balance of both. Either everything is high end, or everything is low end. I'm a normal person, I can't got to Sephora and MAC and spend $400 each time so I hope you guys can relate. I plan to blog at least 2 times a week and my first beauty review should be up in the next few days. I plan to do makeup reviews, hair product reviews, a whole variety of different things and I may even move on to videos so... Bear with me...this is my first blog =). Please do leave comments (Contructive critism please)