Cuticle Saver and Nail Growth Tip

Hey y'all!  Most of y'all know I recently took off acrylic nails.  Girls... my nails were destroyyyyyed.  I had them less than a year and my nails would randomly bleed from the middle of them because they were so thin.  It was bad bad bad.  So I'm going on three weeks without them now and they are probably 60% back to normal (which isn't even good) but anything not so painful is improvement. 

I just wanted to share something that I've been doing that seems to have made a huge difference.  I massage Vitamin E Oil into my cuticles and all around them three to five times a day.  This makes them have that freshly manicured look but even better--healthy.  They look so healthy when I put this on (they're not..).  A huge plus to this is that it makes them grow faster.  Massaging the cuticle and nail bed draws blood flow to the area and stimulates growth.  What's to lose?! 

The only negative is that it does get oily/sticky.  I feel like I'm constantly wiping oil off my phone but I'm sure if you don't do this as often as I do you won't have this problem!

I got the CVS brand of this and it was probably 2 or 3 dollars.  I've bought this for so many of my friends I can't even say how much I love this. 

What do y'all suggest for after-acrylic nails?  (Nailtique update coming up--Not good!!!)

XO Be Sweet!

Two New MAC Things

Hey guys! So if you've been following, all of my recent posts are some form of a haul.  This is getting out of hand really fast...  I need to go on a no buy soon!  But while I was at the mall today I did stop in MAC and got two classics that I think every girl should have. 

I picked up Angel lipstick.  It's a frost but really should be more of a creme sheen I think.  It's just a really true pink but more mauvey then barbie pink.  I really think this would flatter anyone's skin tone.  Ask me if you'd like a swatch!

I haven't really worn this by itself lately because my lips just look bad.  It's not that they're chapped or dry but when I put it on it looks like they are, every single wrinkle magnifies and it's very odd.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Maybe a good exfoliater?

The second thing I picked up was Satin Taupe eyeshadow.  No need to explain this--it's just what it sounds like.

The reason I love this is because its a perfect crease color AND lid color.  For me, it is hard to find one that is not too light or too dark and able to double as the two.  This is SO worth the 14.50& (big deal coming from the bargain queen)

So thanks for reading!  I know this one isn't super exciting just sharing the two classics with y'all!
XO and HAPPY ALMOST VALENTINES DAY! Be Sweet

Huge ELF Lip Haul

Ok I just want to start off by saying it's totally NOT a normal thing for me to buy twenty or so lip products at once so don't judge!  There was a huge Valentines sale with a code for 50% off all lip stuff! So exciting.  Obviously, this was supposed to lure you into the site so you would end up purchasing a bunch of stuff.. nope, I just got lip gloss. A lottttt of it. 

My total was about 22$ including shipping and handling.  Without the code it would have been about 48.  Yay for good deals :)

So here it goes:

1.  Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips

2. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Strawberry

3.  Mineral Lipstick in Natural Nymph

4. Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink

5.  Mineral Lip Gloss in Pageant Princess.  NOTE: this is not even relatively CLOSE to this color.

6.  Mineral Lip Gloss in Wild

7.  Lipstick in Classy

8. Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm in Strawberry Creme

9.  Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm in Vanilla Creme

10.  Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm in Orange Creme

11. Hypershine Lip Gloss in Fairy

12.  Hypershine Lip Gloss in Blossom

13.  Hypershine Lip Gloss in Flirt

14. Hypershine Lip Gloss in Bubblegum

15.  2 in 1 Lip Conditioning Gloss in Love It

16.  Minty Lip Gloss in Nashville

17.  Conditioning Lip Balm SPF15 in Peaceful Pink

I also ordered three of the new matte lipstick pencils in Coral, Praline, and Natural but they did not ship with this order.  I just contacted customer service about that so we'll see what happens. 

Let me know which of these y'all want reviews or swatches on!  Many of these are NOT true to their website color at all. 

Thanks for reading! Have y'all tried any of these? What do you think?
Comment and subscribe! Be Sweet! <3 Lina

Mini Sephora Haul!

Hey guys :) I made a few bucks while shoveling snow today so I decided to go to Sephora!  I just picked up four little things so nothing big but I figured I'd share.

1.  I LOVE THIS.  Korres Jasmine Lip Butter 10$  The packaging on this is super cute too.

2.  I LOVE THIS TOO.  haha this stuff is GENIUS.  I'll do a separate review on it soon.
     Sephora brand Lip Attitude Glamour in Innocent Beige 12$

3.  Sephora by O.P.I. Nail Polish in Rumor Has It.  It's just a super eggshell sheer white color that's not super cute but it was only 5$ instead of the regular 9. 

I cannot find a picture of the next two anywhere! And we all know my camera skills are horrendous... sorry:(

4.  Sephora MultiAction Nail Polish in Plum.  I don't know how much these always are but I got it for 1$ :)  This is a very matte plum shade that's a little chocolatey and purpley.  Very pretty for winter/fall.

This just shows that you CAN go to Sephora and not spend your college tuition money.  I got four things for about thirty dollars which can be similar to drugstore prices!
Thanks for reading!  Comment and subscribe!
Have y'all gotten any really good Sephora deals?  What have you bought there lately?

XO Be sweet <3

CVS HAUL

Hey guys!  It NEVER snows here... last weekend it was 75-80 degrees and now it's 19 feels like 7.  Gotta love Texas crazy weather.  So I've been cooped up in the house for a full two days now and JUST went outside for the first time today!  Walked to CVS and of course hit the makeup aisle. 


Here's what I picked up!


1.  L'oreal HIP Bright Shadow Duo in Roaring. 


None of the pictures I found are really true to color.  Both are darker and I love love love the taupey one.  This is 7.99 but mine was 75% off so I got it for 1.99ish

2.  Revlon Beyond Natural Blush and Bronzer in 420 Nude.  I have no idea how much this is but I wanna say 12 or 13.  I got this for 75% off also, so I only paid 3ish.



3.  Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 070 Airy Fairy.  This was also 75% off so instead of paying 5.29 I paid a little over 1.

4. L'oreal Paris HIP Shine Struck Liquid Lipcolor in 660 Euphoric.  Got this for 75% off of 12 and paid about 3. :)

5. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Pearl in 405 Silver City Pink.  This was originally 7.99 but I got it for 50% off so I paid about 4.

6.  Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 Pink Blush.  This started at 5.29 but I paid 1 is because it was 75% off.  I think I'm going to really like this one.  It's a super true kinda bubble gum pink.



7.  And last but not least!  Almay Intense Color eyeliner for green eyes in 004 Raisin Quartz.  This is probably my seventh one of these.  I use it every single day.  I don't want to talk too much about it because I'm planning on doing a whole post on just this.  It's the only thing I paid full price for and it was 7.99

So that's it! Yay for bargain shopping! Tell me which of these you want reviews on or which you have and liked/didn't like!  Be Sweet, comment and subscribe <3

The Mint Balm

This has been a coveted item in my crazy household for a good month now.  Seriously I've had to search for it a good six or seven times... people steal it and hide it.  It's SO good.  I really just bought this after a facial to humor the lady.  She was all up in my face trying to sell me anti-wrinkle stuff and age spot faders I was like I'm in highschool!!! Soooo I bought the chapstick.... ThankGAWD I did.

This is Glo Minerals The Mint Balm with SPF 15 moisture treatment... I think it might have some rosemary in it too?

Reasons I love it:

1.  It's huge.  Seriously this things the size the bottom of an OPI nail polish.  LOVE IT. I'm such a sucker for jumbo lip products.

2.  Yummy Yummy Yummy.  It smells SO good.  It's the kind of mint like an Altoids that's kinda spicy.  It's a really sweet mint like a sugary peppermint?  I hope y'all know what I'm talking about...

3.  It really works! A lot of times I find products will have one thing I like, i.e. color, smell, etc. but it doesn't actually do anything.  This balm is beyond moisturizing and you only have to use a tiny bit!

4.  Super duper long lasting.  I put some on after dinner tonight at 7ish and its stilllllllll on my lips.  Y'all it's like 10:30....

GO GET THIS NOWWWWWWW it'll change your life.

Be Sweet!!

OPI Dupe!

Ok to start.. sorry for this awful break!! I didn't die or runaway or anything I've just been insanelyyy busy.  Just checked facebook for the first time in two weeks. That says a lot.

Anyway... I found a dupe for OPI's Russian Navy.  There are a lot of dupes for this but this one is the most perfect I've seen. 

With Flash ^^

Without Flash ^^

This is New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in West Village.  As you can see in the swatch, (actually you really can't see much sorry about my fail camera skills.  I'm working on it)  West Village is blue-er with just one coat but with two it's equivalent.  Obviously, the formulas not as good.  CVS vs. OPI.  not complaining at all.. I'm a bargain junkie, just thought I should note it.  But I do think these are almost exact if not perfect.  The only thing I can really say that's different is that Russian Navy has a little bit more of a purple iridescence but I honestly never noticed it until I turned the camera flash on it!

This is completely worth skipping the expensive nail polish on.  Get the dupe :)

Do y'all have any good ones?  Tell me tell me! 

PS!!!! Another one I discovered today!  Milani Nail Lacquer in 830 One of a Kind is a great dupe for OPI's Here Today Aragon Tomorrow.

Love y'all be sweet, comment and subscribe :)

Naked Nails Day 1

I was so bad today... yes, I picked off ALL every single one of my acrylic nails.  Worst. Descision. Ever.

I don't know what I was thinking but I've been wanting to go to natural nails and I guess I just went for it.  My nails literally are PAPER thin.  I've had acrylics since May 2010 (so not long at all) The reason I got acrylics in the first place was because I pick my cuticles chonrically and they're alwaysss bloody and gross.  And honestly, I didn't have anything to lose.  My natural nails are a disaster.  They peel like no other and don't really grow... now they're worse.  Not dissing acrylics, loved loved loved them they looked perfect and were so fun to try out fun colors with.  I did take pictures of my nails but they're wayyyyy too embarassing to post.  I'll post them once they're decent hahaha. 

 I'm using Nailtiques nail protein formula 2.  It's advertised for "soft, peeling, bitten, weak, or thin nails"  which I have all of the above.  You're supposed to put a layer on every day for four days and then take that off and start over for two weeks.  So I'll let y'all know how that goes!

Just a note... I'm in SOOO much pain.  I'm not just being dramatic either.  (this doesn't have to do with taking my own fakes off)  My nails are SO thin that they literally feel like they're on fire.  I've taken two ibuprofin and an aleve and I've been soaking my nails in ice water for the last hour.  Dethawing them to type this was awful.  Any tips?!?!?  pleaseeee help with this one.

XO I'll keep y'all updated! BeSweet

Love This Mascara

           I'm SO weird about mascara.  I think it's because I'm so obsessed with eyelashes.  They're one of the first things I notice about people... it's really weird I know.  I'm NOT blessed with good eyelashes.  I wish I was.  Mine are relatively long but they're very very fine and I don't have many of them.  I had a coupon from CVS for two dollars off a Maybelline XXL mascara so I picked this one up on the way to a college visit Friday. 

I know this is a horrible horrible horrible picture... I took it with my phone in the car after I had put on my mascara in the car! (dangerous don't do that) I was just sending it to a friend who wanted to see the difference.  I really wasn't planning on doing a blog about this because I wasn't expecting anything but I was so pleasantly surprised!  Obviously I didn't do a great job on this I was just throwing it on on the way to a meeting so no curler, primer, etc.  And this was just one coat.

This is Maybelline XXL Bold.  But it also comes in length and curl. 

It has two steps.  The first side is for volume and it has a thinner old school brush that's super plain.  What I love about this is that even the first step is black.  Usually two step mascaras have a primer first that is white and ends up being hard to cover or giving your eyelashes a grey look.  The second side is supposed to lock in the mascara and make it last all day.  I found this to be very defining.  It has a thicker brush that is kind of peanut shaped that really separated and added extra length to my lashes. 

It's a super dramatic mascara and I love the formula.  It didn't clump but after the second coat it did start to look a little tree branchy.  (which was totally my fault not the mascaras)  Also, I applied this at 6 30 in the morning and came back to my hotel room at 4 and it was still perfect.  A little had gotten under my eyes in a line from where I had blinked but I believe that's from my concealer that is kind of oily and doesn't dry very well.  My only complaint about the XXL Pro is that I wish it was darker.  Yes, it is black but to me, black is not just black.  The reason I love Falsies so much is because the black drama version is such a rich shiny tar-looking black.  But other than that I say go for this mascara.  I would never have purchased it without my coupon but I'm so glad I did because this is now living in my purse!

Thanks for reading, if you try this let me know what you think!  What's your favorite mascara? I'm always on the prowl for more!

XO Be Sweet :) love y'all, Lina!

Loving this Nail Polish + OPI vs. Essie

Hi girls :)

One of the most difficult times for me to pick out nail polish is transitioning from winter to spring.  I never know if I should go dark or light or bright or muted... it's a long process.   Fall to winter is easy, that's the greiges matte reds etc.  Anywayyy for my latest set of fills (after I had gone back to the color table literally four times) I chose a shade of dark red. 

I know I have freaky shaped fingers... too much piano and bass time.  Just ignore them :)

This is Essie's Clutch Me If You Can

The reason that I love this is because even though it's a dark red it's NOT burgundy or maroon.  It's still a real true red which is really hard to find.  Most of the darks get purpley or browney. 

My only complaint is one that I always have.  Generally, I chose Essie for light colors and OPI for dark colors.  (I have no idea if this is true it's just what I've gathered after years of being a polish addict)  OPI tends to begin with a white base whereas Essie tends to begin with a clear.  What I'm trying to say is that even though Essie's dark colors are dark they are still a little bit translucent when OPI's dark colors are completely opaque.  The same goes for light colors.  In the summer I want a little bit of translucent pink like Essie's Sweet Heart or Ballet Slippers (all time fav) but a light OPI still gives me the very whitey pinky kinda Fiji-esque color.

Does that make sense?  If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks for reading, comment and subscribe! XO Be Sweet :)

Major Haulage!

ELF haul :)  I haven't been a fan of ELF (eyeslipsface) for very long simply because I didn't know about it, but in the last couple months I've completely fell in love.  I took advantage of an ELF sale called something like Coffee Break.  It was a three hour sale that had so much stuff (pictures below) for only twenty dollars!  It said it was a 150 value, I don't believe that, but it was originally 45 so I'm excited about the deal!

I LOVE these.  I got every beauty encyclopedia (Lip, Face, Basic Eye, Everyday Eye, and Sparkle Eye editions) and the ELF professional 9pc brush collection which honestly I didn't know it came with so that was a fun little addition.  The brushes came in a great carrying case that has two huge pockets and room for all the brushes.  Also, it came with Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths which I'm not going to use, does anybody want them?

My only complaint is that a lot of these eye shadows appear really sparkly.  I'm more into matte but I'll have to test them all out first!

Tell me which one of these you would like a review on!  I love love love this purchase.. can we go back to the fact that it was only 20?!?

Comment and subscribe! XO be sweet :)

My Everyday Look

          So this is a post that's not too exciting but I felt like I should share what makeup I wear everyday.  This is the makeup I don't leave the house with out... bottom line: VERY minimal.

Face:

• MakeUp Forever HD primer
• CoverGirl NatureLuxe foundation in 310
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin loose powder in light
• Bobbi Brown Concealer in Sand
• Lancome Star Bronzer in Bronze Solaire
• NARS blush in Orgasm

Eyes:

• Sephora Perfecting Eye Primer
• Clinique Like Mink (light side)
• MAC Sandy Taupe
• Benefit pencil in Eye Bright
• Almay eyeliner in Raisin Quartz
• ELF essentials waterproof eyeliner pen in black
• Lancome Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe
• Maybelline Falsies mascara in Black Drama
• Bare Essentials mascara in Flawless Definition

Lips:

• CoBigelow in My Favorite Lip Balm
• MAC lipstick in Hue
• Chanel lip gloss in (not really sure, stickers off) maybe Tickled Pink

And there ya go!  Not anything special, just the everyday stuff but thanks for reading!

Comment and subscribe!
Be Sweet <3

PERFECT OPI DUPE

          Okay so if you know anything about OPI polishes you know about Midnight in Moscow. (Lincon Park After Dark's long lost sparkley twin)  This is my go-to polish color in the winter and I have used one full bottle and half of a second one.  I was cleaning out my nail drawer today and discovered an IDENTICAL color.  I've found dupes before but never one this exact!

This is Sally Hansen Laquer Shine in 08 Glossy.  I purchased mine at CVS. 

Normally I would say ones a little more red ones a little more shimmery, etc. but I really don't have anything to say about these!  They're literally the exact same!  I would say OPI is better quality but that's the case with all expensive nail polishes.  But if you're the kind of girl that can go through a whole bottle... go get Glossy!

XO Be Sweet!

Holy Grail Lip Combo

I've missed y'all! I've been out of town since Thursday and haven't gotten to a computer so sorry about the lack of posts lately!

I just wanted to share with you girls a lip combination that I will NEVER stop wearing!  I love love love this and can't imagine leaving the house without it. 

Sorry about this bad quality picture haha but these two are MAC Fleshpot which is a PROcolor and NARS Turkish Delight. 

It is a nude hue, which I love right now but I know I won't in a couple months, but these two together give a super natural I-just-ate-strawberry-icecream look.  It's plain enough that it's good for school but since it's glossy and pinky it's perfect for night too!

I'll get up a picture with me in this to hear what you think but I've consistently been wearing this for as long as I can remember now and I LOVE it.

Comment and Subscribe!
Be sweet!

What's your favorite lip combination?  Do you use a liner too?  (I probably should...)
      

Scrubba dub Favorites!

Okay last needy post of the night!

What do y'all use to clean your brushes with?  I'm currently scavenging Sephora.com to find a brush cleaner because they have a BareMinerals promotion that I really want and I definitely don't need any thing. hahaa, so I always just clean my brushes with plain shampoo and reshape them and let them dry?

I'm looking at the Sephora one and the Bare Min one.. What do you think?  If you don't use one how do you clean your brushes?

XO! Be sweet <3

Two Questions for Y'all!

Hey sweeties!  So I have two questions for y'all that I've done some research on and still don't have a clear answer.

1.  Fekkai Glossing Cream.  Most of y'all saw that I bought this in a recent mini Sephora haul (post below) and I don't really know how to use it... My hair routine consists of blow drying and straightening my hair almost every day.  When do I put this in my hair?  While it's wet or dry, before or after it's straightened or dried, etc.  Can y'all give me specifics on how this works best for you?

2.  Stila One Step Primercolor.  What is this....  It came in a sample from Sephora and I've read a lot about it and people use it so many different ways that I don't know what it's actually for.  Is it primer for color or is it the actual color?  Do you put it on before or after your makeup?  Mine's in Per Suede.

Let me know please! :) Be sweet!

Product Warning!

       Hola!  In a recent Sephora purchase I got a sample of Sephora brand primer.  I'm new to primer and am currently addicted to Makeup Forever HD primer (review below)  When I first put on the Sephora primer I literally double checked the package twice.  I felt like I was putting baby oil onto my face it felt SO soft.  I immediately got nervous that I had just put a pee sized amount of oil onto my face.  It's really weird describing a gel as soft but it really was.  It was such a weird sensation.  And it does work as a mattifier like it claims! 
      The downer...  I've used it twice and am breaking out sooo badly.   It's not one or two pimples here and there it's on both cheeks and forehead and I rarely rarely rarely get zits on my cheeks. 
      So If you're looking for a primer don't overlook this one because it does do exactly what it claims!  But it did make me breakout so if you're naturally blessed, as I am not, with good skin then go for it!

Just a warning girls and my favorite boys, this will clog your pores and cause zits. 

Be sweet! <3

Buddy the ELF, what's your favorite color?

           Hey cuties! So I had a little elf haul last week that came in today!  I've never used any ELF products before so it probably wasn't the most genius idea to do a haul of it, but once again, another of Lina's brilliant moments.  I bought a lot of things so I'm just going to list them below, I think the most expensive was three dollars but mostly everything was only a dollar! I thought it was worth a try!

Essentials Mechanical Eyelash Curler.  I broke my eyelash curler the day I ordered this, I thought that was a sign.  I think I'm going to like the handles! I've never had one with those before. 

Total Face Brush.  Okay honestly, who wouldn't buy a face brush for a dollar?  I'm planning on using this for bronzer because it's really fluffy. 

Ethereal Brightening Eye Color 

 Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara.  I really just wanted this for the clear brow gel... What do you do with clear mascara? 

 Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in 2420 Warm Tan.  This is still in the package so I really shouldn't be talking about it but it looks kind of sparkly.  I wish I had gotten the Matte but I JUST now saw it while I was getting the picture!  It is a really pretty true bronze and not orangey. 

Waterproof Eyeliner Ben in 7303 Black.  I don't know why I ordered this.... I don't wear liquid eyeliner OR waterproof products... maybe I'll try something new?? 

 Shimmer Palette

 Studio Powder Brush.  This is kind of infamous on YouTube as a great buffer brush so I thought I'd try it! 

Eyeshadow Brush.  Easy go-to eyeshadow brush for a dollar... why not? 

Custom Eyes Step 2 in 2507 Pink Ice.  Another desperate attempt to match Stila's Kitten.  With all the dupes I've tried I probably should've just bought it by now.  In the package it looks really glittery though.. but I'm excited to try this one!

My friend bought some products in this haul too because you had to spend 25 to get free shipping! hahah all of her items were face products like foundation, tinted moisturizer, concealer, etc.  I'm really not trying to sound stuck up or spoiled but it makes me really nervous to use a dollar product on my skin... after all, I am a teenager.  Have you used any ELF face products?  If so, how did your skin react?

Yay for my first ELF purchase!  What's your favorite thing from the brand?  I'm so excited to play with all these new things and purchase more in the future!

Comment and subscribe <3 stay sweet