Beauty – Page 21 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Beauty

Manna Kadar Cosmetics | Beauty Simplified

Posted on December 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I recently had a great opportunity to join Birchbox and the brand Manna Kadar for a Google Hangout. We got to hear from Manna herself as she shared great information about her makeup line, and answered our beauty questions. As part of the experience, Birchbox sent me some of Manna’s products to try, and I wanted to review them for all of you! I’m completely obsessed with this line!

All of the products arrived in an adorable pink and white chevron pouch, along with a catalog to tell me a bit more about the brand. As I’ll explain more throughout this post, one of the reasons I love Manna Kadar products is because they are easy to use, labeled well, and really simplify my makeup routine. Plus, the products are amazing!

Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion

The Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion in Birchbox Love is a Birchbox Exclusive shade! This is an incandescent liquid that can be mixed with foundation or used alone to give the skin a glowy, illuminated look. I was a bit nervous to try this, but I’ve worn it a few times as a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones, and I’m loving it! The product is a light pink shade, but blends right into the skin. What’s left is a beautiful glow that has a slight shimmer in the light! Perhaps soon I’ll be brave enough to mix it in with my own foundation!

Concealer Trio

Next up is the Concealer Trio in the shade Warm Front. These cream concealers have an amazing formula, and are extremely blendable. The lightest shade is almost invisible in the swatch photo above because that is how well in blends in with my skin tone! I love that this trio has different shades, so if my skin gets a bit darker in the summer I won’t have to purchase a brand new product. Manna really thinks of everything!

Eye and Lip Primer

If you’re looking for a great two-in-one product, the Eye and Lip Primer is for you! I have the shade Light Medium, and it is perfect for me! I haven’t tested this as a lip primer yet, but it is amazing as an eye primer. It goes on smoothly, and really makes eyeshadow pop. As with all Manna Kadar products, it is long lasting as well. I am really liking this so far!

Lip Gloss

I’ll be honest, I was very nervous to try this next product! The Lip Gloss in Hot Lips is a bright pink color packed with lots of shimmer. I absolutely loved the color, but was afraid of how it would look on me. Turns out I actually like it! The sparkle isn’t overboard, but the gloss is very pigmented. It is a bit sticky, but I don’t mind that. I also can’t help thinking what a gorgeous nail polish Hot Lips would be!

Mascara

Last but not least is the Curling & Volume Mascara in Black. I actually decided not to open this mascara yet because I already own a Manna Kadar mascara that I love (pictured to the right in the second photo). In fact, that mascara made my October Favorites post! I’m sure this new mascara will be just amazing as the one I’m wearing now, but if you would like a full review sometime in the future let me know in the comments!

Makeup Look

I am using all of the products mentioned in this post for this makeup look! I feel like my skin looks great with just a touch of the concealer, and my lips look nice even though I’m not used to such a bright color. I went a bit fancy with my makeup here because I was headed to an event that you will hear about soon, and I’m glad I got to see the eyeshadow primer at work. I’m really happy with everything!

All in all, I am truly enjoying all of the products I’ve tried from Manna Kadar Cosmetics. This is definitely more of a high end makeup brand, but if you are looking for really high quality products, I think these are worth the splurge. Everything reviewed in this post retails from $19-34, and can be purchased on Birchbox’s website HERE and Manna Kadar’s website HERE. Have you tried any Manna Kadar products? Let me know in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Deck Your Legs with Duane Reade Hosiery this Holiday! #DRPartyLegs

Posted on December 18, 2013December 16, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

CB-sponsored-post-black-600 Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you some fashion looks for upcoming holiday parties. Up until now you’ve been rushing around buying gifts, decorating, and not spending one moment to yourself. If you’re in need of some last minute outfit ideas, I’ve got you covered! Back in October, I discovered that Duane Reade sells an amazing line of tights. If you’re a girl on the go much like myself, stop by your local DR Hosiery department and grab some tights! Let me show you the outfits I put together for the holidays!

Before I headed to the store, I rummaged through my closet to find some outfit inspiration. When I had a couple dresses picked out, I knew that I wanted some heavy tights and something a bit more fancy. As always, Duane Reade was stocked up with all different kinds of tights from which I could choose. Just look at the hosiery department! (Don’t mind the boxes on the right, my store is remodeling!).

Outfit 1 – Office Party

First up is an outfit that I created with an office holiday party in mind. I began with a maroon dress that has faux leather detailing, added some black pumps, and, of course, some DR Legwear! In this look, my tights are a thick, ribbed material. It’s difficult to tell from the photographs, but they are quite textured and warm. I would say they are one step away from leggings. To finish off the look, I grabbed a simple, black blazer from my closet as well. I always err on the conservative side when it comes to fancier events, and in the winter it’s always safe to dress in layers!

Outfit 2 – Cute and Casual

If you’re more of a cute and casual girl like me, this second outfit may be more your style. I began with grabbing a purple dress and black cardigan, and then added on some super cute bow and polka dot tights! I am obsessed with how adorable these tights are, and I think they can dress up any outfit. I also showed this look with both boots and flats – comfortable footwear that still looks put together. If you’re worried about the cold in this outfit, wear a pair of opaque tan tights underneath the patterned ones. No one will know your little secret!

Show Us Your Party Legs Contest!

Now that I’ve shown you some holiday outfits using Duane Reade Hosiery, it’s your turn to head to the store and show off your party legs! Duane Reade is hosting a contest on Facebook where you can win some fabulous prizes. Simply go to the “Show Us Your Party Legs” tab on Duane Reade’s Facebook Page HERE to enter!

All in all, I really love all of the tights I’ve tried from the Duane Reade Hosiery line. They fit me really well, and the possibilities are endless with all of the great colors and patterns. Of course, I love that these tights are fabulous and affordable as well! I only spent $16.98 for the tights I showcased in this post. I never thought I would buy and love tights from the drugstore!

What are you wearing for the holidays? Let me know in the comments!

Beautiful NYC | Julep NYC Holiday Pop Up

Posted on December 13, 2013December 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m super excited to bring you the second official post in my Beautiful NYC series. I’ve labeled a few other posts into this category if it was an NYC event, or simply some shopping I’ve done around town, but today I’m highlighting the Julep Pop Up store that is officially opening today! I was lucky enough to be invited to a special Maven night at the store yesterday, and heard from the wonderful Jane Park – Julep’s CEO and Founder. As a huge Julep fan, it was really exciting to meet Jane (who is extremely nice, by the way!) and learn a bit more about Julep as a company. Let me show you some photographs I took inside the Pop Up shop!

Julep NYC Holiday Pop Up — The nail polish was separated by style profile. Look at how gorgeous the displays are!

Favorite Beauty Products — Helpful signs shared about the Maven program, and you could even vote for your favorite beauty products!

Modern Beauty — Of course, the beauty and skincare products were for sale as well!

Check out this cool nail polish bottle flowing from the ceiling!

Maven signatures — All of the Mavens were asked to sign this placard with our favorite nail polish! It will be brought back to Maven headquarters. Can you spot my name?!

Adventures in Polishland was here! — There I am! I chose the nail polish Drew!

The Pop Up store sells all the Julep polishes and products you love, plus some gift sets for the holidays. One great thing about the store is that you are able to build your own custom Maven box, and you can build as many as you want for the $19.99 price. Of course, I built my own custom box!

I decided to build my own It Girl box, complete with three nail polishes, and then grabbed the Julep Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover. While this remover is definitely a bit on the expensive side, it is my all-time favorite remover, and I decided to treat myself. If you would like a complete review just talking about that remover, let me know in the comments!

The first polish I grabbed is the same one I added to the Maven sign – Drew. I’m not sure why I didn’t already own this polish, because it is perfect for me! Drew is a bright pink creme, with just a flawless formula. I applied two coats, but it was nearly a one coat formula. I could literally wear this every day and not get sick of it! I really do love my pink nails.

Next up is Bette, a gorgeous purple polish that leans towards fuchsia. Bette has a “crelly” formula that is not quite a creme and not quite a jelly. It applied really well, and I am wearing two coats in the photos. Bette is very similar to a limited edition Wet ‘n Wild nail polish that I own, but I’m so happy to have this one because that bottle is halfway empty and not available any longer. Plus, Bette definitely has a better formula!

Last but not least is Lena, a beautiful teal polish with subtle gold shimmer. When I first spotted Lena at the store, I thought it was a creme polish, but I actually love the shimmer added in! This polish is also a winner because it has a one coat formula! I just love when I make that discovery! Lena also reminds me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Any other fans out there?!

All in all, I had a great time exploring the Julep NYC Holiday Pop Up and attending Maven night! If you will be in NYC during the holiday shopping season, be sure to stop by! The shop will be open starting today, December 13 through December 22. It’s located at 102 Fifth Avenue, amongst several other places to shop. You can find more details on Julep’s website HERE. Be sure to let me know if you visit the Pop Up!

This post contains affiliate links. All products purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Julie G Meet Up at Rite Aid in NYC!

Posted on December 11, 2013December 11, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! This past Saturday I had the amazing opportunity to meet YouTuber Julie G at Rite Aid in New York City. Julie has her own nail polish line with the brand Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics, and they held a meet up to show off the new Holiday Frosted Gumdrops Collection. I was so excited to meet Julie. I’ve watched her YouTube videos for a while now, and I love her nail polish line. Adventures in Polishland is all about fabulous and affordable nails, and Julie’s line retails for just $3.99! Let me show you the nail polish I wore to meet Julie, and all about the event!

I knew that I had to wear a JulieG nail polish to the event, so I chose Hot Cinnamon from the original Frosted Gumdrops Collection. Hot Cinnamon has the perfect formula, and is opaque in two coats. I love the bright red color, and how sparkly it is! It’s definitely perfect for the holiday season. Little did I know my nails would be even more festive thanks to Julie!

Yes! That’s me with Julie, and those are my nails on her Instagram! When I arrived at Rite Aid, Julie was all set up to give manicures to her fans using her polish collection. She used two of her new Holiday Frosted Gumdrops to create some nail art on my nails – Gift of Gold and Mistletoe. I love how it turned out!

Here are some more photographs from the event. It was such a fun time!

Image Courtesy of Jesse's Girl Cosmetics — Getting a Manicure from Julie! (Image Courtesy of Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics)

Jesse's Girl even gave us goodie bags! — Jesse’s Girl even gave us goodie bags!

All in all, I had a wonderful time at the meet up! It was so great to meet Julie, and talk about all things nail polish. I recently ordered the full JulieG Holiday Frosted Gumdrops Collection, so keep an eye out for that review soon. Until then, stop by your local Rite Aid to pick up polishes from the JulieG line, or shop online HERE. Thank you again to Julie, Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics, and Rite Aid for the wonderful experience!

Products I’ve Used Up #1

Posted on December 6, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have my first ever “empties” post, where I talk about products I’ve completely used up. I love watching these types of YouTube videos, and thought I could share my empties with you in blog form! This is a great way to learn about a lot of products in a short amount of time! Let me share my empties with you, and let you know if I would repurchase them!

HAIR CARE

L’Oreal EverSleek Intense Smoothing Shampoo – I’ve used this shampoo and conditioner set from L’Oreal many times! I love that it is sulfate free, and really leaves my hair feeling soft and healthy. It retails for around $6 at the drugstore, and is a shampoo I return to every once in a while. I definitely recommend it! [BUY]
Klorane Dry Shampoo – After getting a sample in a Birchbox, I just had to get the full size version of this dry shampoo. It is amazing! It zaps the oil right out of my hair and makes it feel clean. It’s the best dry shampoo, and worth the $18 price tag. The only drawback is it does run out rather quickly. I plan on getting another one soon, though! [BUY]
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – This is a new holy grail product! It has changed my hair for the better! My hair is much healthier now that I apply this oil, and I just love it. This travel size lasted me about six months, and it is worth it. I’ve already repurchased it! [BUY]

SKIN & BODY CARE

Sukí Face Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser – I got this sample in a Birchbox, and I loved it! This is a two-in-one cleanser and exfoliant, and it smells like lemons. It was pretty gentle as a scrub, and my face always felt great afterwards. The only reason I am not going to repurchase this is because the full size is $32.95. Otherwise, I love it! [BUY]
Lulah Body Wash in Magnolia Fig – I am just using up my subscription box products! I got this body wash in a PopSugar box, and it was so nice and luxurious. I loved the rich scent, and even the packaging is cute. At $11.25 I’m not sure I would repurchase this for myself, but it would make a great gift! [BUY]
Whish Exfoliating Body Wash – This is a body wash I wasn’t too thrilled about. While it had a pleasant scent, I didn’t like using a body cleanser with an exfoliant added in. I just prefer to do that separately. Plus, I had to use a lot of product to feel clean. I’m going to pass on this one! [BUY]
Burt’s Bees Hand Salve – This little tin contained a medicinal hand cream. I really enjoyed it for days where my hands really needed some extra help. It is quite greasy, but works well. It’s not my favorite hand cream, but definitely a good product. [BUY]

NAIL CARE

Rite Aid Renewal 100% Pure Acetone – For some reason I’ve never used pure acetone to remove my nail polish before. Now, I’m hooked! This is the best nail polish remover I’ve ever used, and it didn’t damage my nails or cuticles. Plus, this bottle lasted me a long time because I didn’t have to use as much remover. I am definitely going to be buying this again! [BUY at Rite Aid]
Sephora Collection Base Coat – This is hands down the best base coat I’ve ever tried as well! It dries really quickly, and I love the large, flat brush. The only downside is that it can only be purchased on Sephora’s website, but I’ve already gone ahead and repurchased another bottle. At $6, I think it’s a steal! [BUY]

MAKEUP

CoverGirl Natural Lash – I use this clear mascara to keep my eyebrows in place! Now I don’t have crazy hairs anymore! Unfortunately I dropped this, and it dried out rather quickly. I did repurchase, though, and I love this product! It’s around $5 at drugstores. [BUY]
CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mascara – I also used up a black mascara from CoverGirl. I absolutely loved this one because it gave me natural and clump-free lashes. Unfortunately this line has been discontinued, but you can still purchase it on Amazon. I highly recommend it! [BUY]
Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara – Last but not least is another mascara! This is a high end one that I got in a PopSugar box. I absolutely loved it, and I was amazed how well it curled my lashes. I was so sad when it dried up because I’m not going to repurchase it at $19. It’s worth it if you can afford it, though! [BUY]

Those are all of the empty products I have to share with you today! I hope you enjoyed learning more about these products. Please let me know if you would like to see more Products I’ve Used Up posts in the future!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Winter Wonderland Week | Gift Guide – Beauty & Skincare!

Posted on November 26, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I wanted to share some gift ideas with all of you. Whether you’re shopping for someone special, or simply looking for items to put on your own wish list, here are some ideas that I have! This post will be all about beauty and skincare products, but later on this week I’ll have even more ideas to share. Let’s get into the goodies!

L’OCCITANE Hand Indulgences

What:

Trio of 3 shea butter hand creams in the scents Fleur D’or, Cherry Blossom, and Shea Butter.

Price:

$28 (Retail Value: $36) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

These luxurious hand creams are perfect for the winter season (especially if you have a nail polish aficionado for whom to shop!). Give the entire set to one person, or split them up for stocking stuffers.

Sigma Essential Kit

What:

A set of 12 professional makeup brushes, including face and eye brushes.

Price:

$139 – save 10% with code NOV2013 [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

All makeup lovers need great brushes! Sigma offers amazing brushes that are more affordable than other high end companies. Spoil your loved one with a set of these brushes, and she will appreciate it for sure.

bhCosmetics Eyes on the ’60s Palette

What:

An eyeshadow palette complete with 30 shades in all colors of the rainbow.

Price:

$9.95 (Retail Value: $19.95) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

bhCosmetics is a favorite of YouTube Beauty Guru Carli Bybel. She uses the shadows so often, it prompted me to purchase a palette from the brand, and I highly recommend it! Plus, the prices are perfect for everyone’s budget.

Sephora X The Twenty-Two

What:

Set of 22 mini nail polishes from Sephora’s new Sephora X collection. Contains creams, neons, chromes, and glitters!

Price:

$55 (Retail Value: $103) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

Sephora X polishes have an amazing formula, and are great for any nail polish lover. This is another set that can be given as a large gift, or opened up and split up into many gifts. Plus, it’s a fabulous value!

Sephora Favorites Fragrance Sampler For Her

What:

A set of 14 perfume samples, a clutch, and a voucher for a free full-sized fragrance.

Price:

$70 (Retail Value: $140) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

Picking out the perfect fragrance can be difficult. Sephora makes your job as gift-giver easier with this sampler by providing an array of perfumes.

Wantable Makeup Box

What:

A box filled with 4 to 5 full-sized makeup products. What’s inside is a surprise!

Price:

$40 [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

If you really have no clue what to buy the makeup lover on your list, get her a mystery box! Wantable offers amazing high end products that she is sure to love.

These are all of my top gift picks for beauty and skincare this holiday season! There are, of course, many more great brands and options to choose from, but I hope you can draw inspiration from this Gift Guide as you head to the stores. Happy Shopping!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Winter Wonderland Week | Glam Holiday Makeup #DRHoliday

Posted on November 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

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Happy Monday! Winter Wonderland Week continues today with a makeup look. To create my festive face, I grabbed some new products to get glam – Duane Reade Holiday shopping is not just for gifts! On an every day basis, I keep my makeup simple and natural, but for the holiday season it’s fun to be a bit more glamorous. If you’re a busy student, a mom on the go, or simply looking to spice up your beauty routine for a holiday party, I have a few tips for you!

My first step was going shopping for some new makeup. I headed to the Duane Reade store at 40 Wall Street here in New York City. If you’ve never been to that Duane Reade location before, definitely stop by. It has a huge beauty department called the Look Boutique, and you can even get a professional manicure right in the store! The photo below is just one section of the Look Boutique! Look at how gorgeous and bright the store is!

I had a difficult time deciding which new makeup products I wanted to purchase for my holiday makeover because there was so much from which to choose. I finally settled on some goodies from the Boots No7 line. This brand is from the UK, and is making its way into Duane Reade stores around the city. The display (shown below) featured testers so I could swatch the colors on my hand before purchasing anything. Let me show you what I picked up from No7!

The first product I picked up is the No7 Lipgloss in Number One History. I’m always hesitant to try a red lipstick, so I thought this lip gloss would be perfect for the holidays and still be in my comfort zone. Plus, the packaging is adorable and was calling my name in the store. As for the formula, it is really nice, and feels creamy on the lips (no stickiness here!). This lipgloss is quite pigmented, so I wore it alone, but you can always layer it over a lipstick if you like. The retail price of the No7 Lipgloss is $9.99.

The next product I picked up was the No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder in Spice. I was sold on this blush as soon as I tried the tester in the store –the formula is so smooth and soft, and is extremely blendable. Spice was also the perfect shade for my skin tone. For just $9.99 I had to pick it up!

The last No7 product I grabbed for my holiday makeover is the Stay Perfect Trio Eye Shadow Palette in Cappuccino. This trio comes with gorgeous neutral and shimmery shadows – a bronze, a silver, and a light highlight shade. Just like the blush, these shadows have a super soft and silky formula. I’m also impressed with how pigmented they are. The shimmer adds a bit of sparkle, which I think is great for the holidays! This trio retails for just $7.99!

I also picked up a new foundation because winter means that my skin is a bit lighter than it was just a few months ago! I’ve heard so many great things about the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation that I had to pick it up. I got the shade Classic Ivory (or 810 if you use the number system), and it matches my skin quite well. This is definitely a medium to full coverage foundation, and I’m impressed with how flawless my skin looked when I put this on. It’s also an amazing value at just $13.49. This is definitely going to be my new go to foundation!

Here is my completed holiday makeover! As someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, I feel so glammed up! I used all of the products mentioned above, plus the Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Potion in Blackened Brown and Rimmel Stay Matte in Translucent (which can be purchased at Duane Reade as well). For my hair, I just twisted it across my head and secured it with a bow.

All in all, I’m loving my completed look! I used products that are fabulous and affordable, and went a bit outside my every day makeup routine for the special holiday season. If you like, you can spice up this makeup look by adding some eyeliner, darker lipstick, and some bronzer. It’s definitely customizable! These makeup products also make perfect gifts this holiday season, so stop be sure to stop by the 40 Wall Street Duane Reade during your holiday shopping to grab these (and many, many more) cosmetic products. Stay tuned for more holiday posts as Winter Wonderland Week continues tomorrow on Adventures in Polishland!

Dare to Compare | Makeup Remover Wipes!

Posted on November 19, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I have been searching for the perfect makeup wipes for quite some time now, and I thought it would be fun if I shared some of my findings with all of you! The drugstore contains so many different brands, that I know it can be difficult to find the perfect wipes at an affordable price. Let me share with you four different brands that I’ve tested out the past few months!

Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial TowelettesPrice: $6.49 for 30 wipes; 22 cents per wipe [BUY]

Scent: These smell great! Just like real cucumbers (not the fake cucumber smell!).

Texture: Very soft to the touch, and contained a lot of moisture.

My Experience: I really liked these wipes! Overall they did a good job of removing my face makeup, but not so great at removing mascara.

Formula 10.0.6 Keep Me Clean Clarifying Facial Wipes

Price: $5.99 for 25 wipes; 24 cents per wipe [BUY]

Scent: These smelled a bit like baby wipes (I wasn’t a fan).

Texture: Rather soft, and held a lot of moisture.

My Experience: These did an excellent job of removing all my makeup, but the smell really did me in.

Olay Fresh Effects S’Wipe Out Refreshing Make-up Removal Cloths

Price: $5.99 for 20 wipes; 30 cents per wipe [BUY]

Scent: Very light scent that just smelled clean and fresh!

Texture: Very soft to the touch, and held a lot of moisture.

My Experience: I loved these wipes! They did an excellent job of removing all of my makeup, and leaving my face very clean. For a bit of added savings, use a coupon! These clarify as a cleanser on Olay Fresh Effects coupons.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

Price: $6.49 for 25 wipes; 26 cents per wipe [BUY]

Scent: Interesting – not bad, but it was a bit citrusy!

Texture: The wipe itself is a bit tough, but feels gentle thanks to the moisture.

My Experience: After hearing tons of beauty gurus (and my own followers!) rave about these, I’ll admit they are pretty darn good! I typically had to use two wipes to remove all my makeup, though, and they left my face sticky.

The Verdict

Out of these four brands, my favorite is definitely Olay Fresh Effects! Unfortunately, that is the most expensive, but keep an eye out for coupons and sales at the drugstore. The Simple and Yes to Cucumbers wipes are definitely a close second. I’m not sure I would repurchase the Keep Me Clean wipes, mostly due to the smell. Keep in mind that prices of these wipes vary from store to store, and geographically. Let me know in the comments if you would like to see more posts like this in the future, and what makeup wipes are your personal favorite!

This post contains affiliate links. All products purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Stay Moisturized this Winter with NIVEA and Duane Reade! #DRNIVEA

Posted on November 13, 2013November 16, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

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While it’s technically still autumn, we experienced our first snowfall of the season here in New York City just yesterday! As the temperatures drop outside and the heat is turned up indoors, my skin sure takes a beating (and I’m sure yours does, too!). I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect moisturizer to ensure that my hands and cuticles are not only in shape for blogging about nail polish, but feeling soft in general. With the holidays just around the corner, dry skin should not be an added something to worry about. I headed to my local Duane Reade store and picked up a couple products from NIVEA to combat my already appearing winter skin!

On my shopping trip, I grabbed the NIVEA Extended Moisture Body Lotion and NIVEA Lip Butter in Smooth Kiss. Both were easy to spot in the Health & Beauty sections of my Duane Reade store – the blue and white logo really stands out!

I couldn’t wait to give the NIVEA Extended Moisture Body Lotion a try. My poor hands needed some TLC! So far, I’m loving how this lotion works. It leaves my skin very smooth, yet not greasy. Plus, it is not fragranced, so it just has a fresh, regular lotion smell that won’t wrinkle your nose (perfect for those that can’t do scents!). Just as the bottle advertises, the NIVEA Extended Moisture Body Lotion is very long lasting. I’ll be sure to use this during the hectic holiday season to cut down on how often I need to apply moisturizer!

I was also really excited to try the NIVEA Lip Butter in Smooth Kiss. I’ve heard so many great things about these lip balms in the beauty community that I was wondering what I was missing. Normally I’m not a fan of lip balms that come in a pot (and not a tube), but this one is large enough in circumference that I’m not worried about getting the product under my fingernails. As you can see, it fits snugly in the palm of my hand.

As for my thoughts on the NIVEA Lip Butter, I’m loving it! Smooth Kiss is fragrance free, but if you prefer a flavored lip balm there are others from which to choose. I also find that it truly does have a buttery texture! It feels so nice and creamy on the lips. If I have any product left on my finger after application, I just rub it into my hands. I’m sure the extra moisture doesn’t hurt, right?!

All in all, I’m really impressed with these products from NIVEA. As we head into winter here in NYC, I know I will get great use out of them. Not only will they keep my skin looking fabulous during the holiday season, but the prices are affordable as well! The NIVEA Extended Moisture Body Lotion is just $9.99 for a 16.9 fluid ounce bottle, and the NIVEA Lip Butter is just $4.29. Make sure to stop by your local Duane Reade store to pick up these products today, and enter the Duane Reade and NIVEA contest on Facebook to win a trip to Time’s Square on New Year’s Eve! All details can be found HERE.

Dare to Compare | BeautyBlender vs Rickycare Original 3D Blender

Posted on November 9, 2013December 5, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to everything fabulous and affordable, but I’m also for splurging on products that are great quality. When I first heard about the BeautyBlender, also known as the $20 makeup sponge, I didn’t understand the hype. Instead of dropping some serious cash, I went to my local Ricky’s NYC store and picked up what I thought was a BeautyBlender dupe. To my surprise, I received the real deal in a PopSugar MustHave Box, and after months of testing (seriously!) I’m ready to answer the question: is the BeautyBlender worth the money?

What: BeautyBlender

How Much: $19.95 [BUY]

Attributes: The BeautyBlender is as soft as can be. It can be used wet or dry, and applies liquid foundation with ease. Oh, and it’s hot pink!

What: Rickycare Original 3D Blender

How Much: $8.00 [BUY]

Attributes: The Rickycare sponge is dense and firm. It’s texture is nice for evenly distributing makeup, however it absorbs product and is difficult to clean.

SIDE BY SIDE

Dry

Wet

Similarities:

Size/Shape – When dry, the BeautyBlender and Rickycare Blender are identical in size and shape.
Durability – Both the BeautyBlender and Rickycare Blender are long-lasting products that have not yet shown signs of wear (besides discoloration).

Differences:

Size/Shape – When wet, the BeautyBlender absorbs more water, and is slightly larger than the Rickycare Blender.
Texture – The BeautyBlender is very soft to the touch while the Rickycare Blender is much more firm.
Application – The BeautyBlender applies makeup very well by distributing it evenly and transferring product onto the face. The Rickycare Blender applies makeup very well, but a lot more product is needed since it absorbs makeup.
Cleanliness – The BeautyBlender does not stain as much as the Rickycare Blender.
Experience – I personally prefer the feel of the BeautyBlender on my skin rather than the Rickycare Blender, as it is much softer.

THE VERDICT

You may have guessed it, but the BeautyBlender is absolutely worth the money! The Rickycare Original 3D Blender is still a good product, and if $19.95 is out of the question for you, definitely spend the $8.00. However, I would highly recommend investing in a BeautyBlender. It will last you a very long time (I see no signs of wear in mine), and it makes all the difference in my daily makeup routine. I know it sounds silly that this is a $20 sponge, but once you’ve tried it you will understand the hype! I also recommend the BlenderCleanser to clean your BeautyBlender. Both products can be purchased at Sephora HERE.

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