L'Oreal Extraordinary Oils VoxBox

At the beginning of this month I was sent the L'Oreal Extraordinary Oils voxbox from Influenster.

I received:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Deep conditioning mask

I have very curly and dry hair. I love these products. The first time I used them all together and I was shocked because it left these very pretty, very soft, ringlet curls in my hair. These curls stayed in tact for four days before I washed again. 

I plan to make another video with an update and so I can show how my hair looks before and after. But, for now, the report is that they are GREAT products!

Say HELL NO to cucumbers soothing facial masks!

Hey hey. :) So, like most people who peruse Target, I've seen this brand "Yes to _____" around the cosmetics area.

I decided to pick up one of the single use Yes to Cucumbers calming facial masks for sensitive skin. I don't have sensitive skin, really, but I love anything melon/cucumber scented, so that's what really swayed my decision.

 I decided I needed a little "calming" in my life a few days ago, what with preparing for finals and everything else going on in my life. The word stress is seriously an understatement when I think of my life right now. So, I decided to put on a face mask. I have a bunch of bottles from Avon, but I was going through my samples/one use products drawer and figured I should use one of those. This product smells amazing, just like I thought it would. And when I put it on, I noticed how smooth the consistency felt. It was like velvet. I followed the directions to a T. I was about 3 minutes in when I started feeling a strong tingling sensation on my face. It didn't feel BAD, and a lot of masks I use have a tingling sensation as well.

HOWEVER, at 5 minutes when I went to take it off, as soon as I applied water to it, it felt like candle wax on my skin. I seriously felt like I was burning and my face was being ripped off.

It left my face looking like this:

Which, I'm not a face mask n00b, I know a lot of them will leave your face a bit puffy and red from taking off the dead skin, etc. So, at first I wasn't alarmed. I was though when my face was still red the next day, and still hurt. In total my face was red for like three days and hurt like a bitch even after the redness went away. Even my dermatologist was stumped to find an answer as to why my face reacted that way. :/

I don't know if I just got a faulty product or there's something in it, but I seriously felt like I had a chemical burn on my face.

Even though I want to like that brand, after this experience, I'm not buying anymore of their products.

Has anyone else had shady issues with this brand?

Love, Noralee

Hit or Shit: Rimmel Clean Finish Liquid Foundation.

Full price this foundation is under five dollars, sorry I can't recall full price nor find it online, but I know for sure it was under five. I snagged it at Target with a red tag, clearanced to about $1.70.

I was honestly so completely stoked about this foundation for a week or so, because it was the first time I'd gotten a shade that completely matched my skin tone, and half the time I could go without concealer because it was brightening and FULL COVERAGE AS FUCK!

I LOVED this foundation... Until, it started breaking me out. Which is seriously strange for me and my skin type. I don't have sensitive skin, if I did, I seriously wouldn't have a face for the kind of shit I put my skin through sometimes, haha! But I started getting these monstrously huge breakouts ALL over my face. I also was getting patches of redness on my nose and cheeks. It was crazy, my skin has never reacted to any product like this before. So, I stopped wearing this foundation for a week and switched back over to my beloved Loreal Magic Souffle, and within a day the redness was gone, and I never got new breakouts since switching off the Rimmel foundation.

 This foundation is "clean" feeling and it will keep the oil under control, but for me personally and my skin, this is a huge SHIT. Honestly, if you have sensitive skin, I definitely wouldn't tell you try this, your skin might fall off or something, and that would totally be lame. So, not saying this is a bad product, because obviously I said like three times that I loved it, but my skin did not, which is why this sucks.

I'm mad that I have a whole bottle of this sitting in my makeup collection now, man. :(

Anybody else have any bad experiences with Rimmel? This was my first time branching out to face products from them, previously I've only used their mascaras and lipsticks, which I love.

Love, Noralee

Hit or Shit?: ELF HD Powder.

 This is the ELF HD Powder. It isn't new, but this is the first time I've tried it. It is available on the website in the this one, and one called "body glow" or something along those lines - it is the same packaging but I think it wouldn't be of use to me, because it looks kind of like a "glittery" bronze and I'm not a big fan of all over shimmer powder stuff. Butttt, if you've tried it and I'm wrong, correct me! This product is $6.00 and worth above and beyond every penny of that.

 The packaging is a matte black container, very sleek. And comes with the powder puff above. Which it is soft and great quality, but not to sound like a snob - I just like my brushes better when applying. I'm totally keeping the puff though, because I'm sure I'll find a use for it, and if not, it's just too cute to get rid of, really.

 This is what it looks like with the grate on top of it.

And here it is removed so you can see the actual product.

This gives your face a total finished feeling. I am so in love with it. It is one of their more "expensive" items, which is why it's taken me so long to just get it and try it out. I got it at my local Target a little over two weeks ago, and have been trying it out on different temperature/humid days to see how it holds up. The thing I think I'm most impressed with is the fact that it can make any foundation you're wearing look not only flawless, but like it is not there at all. I've tried wearing this two different ways, the first being all over my face. And the second was an experimentation, where I didn't blend my makeup line as well as normal, to see if this would do anything to it. It does. It sets in, perfectly. Besides the sheer fact that something translucent acts with such coverage, it also blends other products well. I think this product is very versatile and something that has quickly become a staple into my everyday face routine. Did I mention it feels like silk on your face? True story! I don't know if it's just my imagination but ever since I started using this, I've felt like my face has been getting softer.

This is totally a hit, and really worth trying out. In fact, it's already on my repurchase list.
ALSO, I think I will order and extra for my giveaway, if you'd guys be interested. ;p

Have any of you tried ELF's HD Powder? Or something similar?

Love, Noralee

Hit or Shit?: ELF Essential Line Tinted Moisturizer.

I wear tinted moisturizers typically in the summer and pre-fall in Texas because of how hot and humid it is. I picked this up because it is getting to where I can start back in on my foundation routine but it's also not completely cool enough. My current tinted moisturizer was kind of spendy so I'd like to save as much as possible for the days I'll really need it, not the days where I got up and figured it'd be hot, only to walk outside and realize, oh shit, I need a sweater.

REAL TALK: This stuff is light weight, easy blending, stays put, and gives more coverage than my other tinted moisturizer. I was seriously surprised. Plus, since this is a part of their Essential Line it was only $1.00. Of course that means, as you can see in the first photo, not a lot of product. But, I do know they have them in bigger packaging on their Studio Line for $3.00. (They've even come out with an oil-free line.)

You do get a lot for the fact that it costs one dollar, I'd say. It's definitely not a one use bottle. I've used it about 4 times now and will say a little really does go a long way. This is a hit. :)

Love, Noralee

ELF Lipstain in Crimson Crush

This is a lip stain from ELF, it is $2.00. I got mine in Crimson Crush. I love how pigmented it is!

It doesn't dry out your lips, either. It is very light.

I've been having some really cracked lips lately, as you can see. So, if anyone has any suggestions for lip scrubs? I've been looking into Lush, but I'm not too sure just yet.

I really love this. I've already decided that once they have more shades in stock I'll be ordering all of the shades. No lie! This is such a hit and at a really wonderful price. :)

Love, Noralee

ELF Cream Eyeliner Swatches & Small Review

The packaging is kind of small, but the staying power is amazing. So, you wouldn't need to reapply it throughout the day, and a little of it goes an extremely long way.

These swatches stayed on my arm for a long time! I used a Nutrogena wipe, nothing. I scrubbed with a brush in the sink, a little bit of movement. Took a long hot shower, scrubbed, finally. And even then it still stained my skin well. I think these have awesome staying power and pigmentation for the fact that they were $3.00 each.

Love, Noralee

ELF's Baked Eyeshadow Palette in California

The Baked Eyeshadow Palette in California. This is brand new from ELF, and costs $10.00

As you can see in the right hand corner, and if you watched my ELF haul, mine broke during the shipping process. Which makes it look messy, sorry! However, I emailed them that very day, and they sent me a new one. Last I tracked it, it is supposed to be here this week. But, since this is fairly new, I just wanted to get all the swatches up for ya'll.

 This is a part of the Studio Line, so if you wanted to get it for half off you can use a code I'll be leaving at the end of this post. :)

Elf has great customer service, so if anything is ever wrong with your order you shouldn't hesitate to ask. I actually wasn't going to say anything because I figured they wouldn't do anything about it. But, my Mom who sells Avon, told me I should at least send an email and I'm glad I did.

Swatches:

The whole top row.

And, the whole bottom row.

I'd just like to say, these are very pigmented. These are simply one swatch, I did not try to build up the color ton make them look like this. They are EXTREMELY pigmented, and have wonderful staying power. The California palette has the exact layout of Sephora's Moonshadow Baked Palette in In The Nude. I don't own it so I can't compare quality. But, I figure since ELF is infamous for doing dupes, that must've been what they were going for. I think this is an amazing compact palette. I am already considering buying the other palette in NYC. 

All in all, I am totally in love with all of the colors and their color pay off. :)

Love, Noralee

Click below if you want the 50% off Studio Line Code.

Hit or Shit?: ELF's Eyebrow Kit (Medium)

 I've been trying out the ELF Eyebrow Kit, in Medium.

It comes with a dark cream, and light powder. So, typically, I fill my eyebrows in with the dark cream, and then use the light powder as a setting powder for them.

 This is what the color looks like when you build it up. (About 2-3 swatches.)

And this is what it looks like with just one swatch.

I did the swatches like this to show you that almost any shade of brown eyebrows light or dark could be used with this one kit. I like that there are options with this product. Some days all I do is take the powder and dust it into my eyebrows and go, those are just days when I know I'm going to be sweaty and in a hurry all day, but I don't want naked brows. Haha. And, the fact that you can build it up to a much darker shade is awesome, because I used this kit to fill in a young lady's brows for her senior photos when I was doing a shoot for her. Her brows were black, and I was able to build up this kits pigment easily to shade her brows in.

I think this kit is a hit for the price, it's from ELF's studio line, therefore $3.00.

Though, some days I gravitate back towards my pencil because it is quick and easy. I will say that sometimes with a pencil lines and get a little harsh by accident, and that is never the case with this kit. 

Love, Noralee 

Hit or Shit?: ELF Translucent Matifying Powder

 This is on ELF's Studio Line, hence the black packaging. It was $3.00

 I couldn't really swatch it, since it's a translucent powder. But, it will blend into any skin tone, if you were wondering.

I got this stuff just on a whim when I was ordering. I had the 50% off code for the studio line, and I'd heard some good stuff about this powder from some YouTubers.

I never expected to love it as much as I do. Seriously.

I keep it in my purse 24/7 now! It's like, you're going through your day and your face starts to feel a little oily, right? Just pull this out, put some of the powder over the oily area, and first of all, it doesn't smudge your make up, and second of all it soaks up all of the oil! I love it. When you use it over your foundation and powder routine, it isn't overpowering, it blends into your make up and gives you a more photofinish matte face look. It is gorgeous.

I live in Texas, so it's still really hot during our transition to cooler Fall times. So, I stick to wearing light coverage tinted moisterizer and pressed powder. I love the effect it gives your face when you put it on over your present make up. It looks smooth and airbrushed.

ELF's Translucent Matifying Powder is worth it, and totally a hit.

Love, Noralee

Hit or Shit?: JULEP MAVEN.

I got my box yesterday, but I get off school around 6PM, therefore my lighting wasn't ideal. So, I waited until this morning to photograph the box and contents.

I got 3 products, and they came in this canvas tote.

I got two nail polishes and a foot cream. I used the polish and was very impressed with the fact that I only needed one coat.

Here's how they turned out:

And here is the foot cream:

 I usually use Avon's Foot Works in Cooling Watermelon on my feet, and I refuse to use anything else. But, I decided I'd give this a try tonight and let ya'll know how it is. I meant to last night, but totally spaced it while I was studying for my Philosophy exam. Anyhow, it smells really nice, it is cucumber mint. And it's a very light foot cream, which I think is awesome. There's nothing worse than a thick, gross, gloopy foot cream. Haha.

Hit or Shit wise for Julep Maven...............

Personally this isn't a "shit" for me, but it is a miss. It's just not something I would pay $20.00 a month for, especially seeing as you only get three products. The foot cream is decent size (2 fl oz) and the nail polishes are really beautiful. I think if anything I would purchase the nail polishes individually. At this point I have already cancelled my membership as to not have to pay full price for the next box. Maybe I'm just not in their demographic. I am thinking about trying a month of MyGlam Bag though. It's only $10.00 a month, and seems like you get a lot more products to try. So, all in all, I love the nail polishes, and I will do a full review about the foot cream. But, I will not be getting another Julep Maven box.

Love, Noralee

ELF: Countour Kit

I LOVE this kit. I've been waiting for a long dang time to try it out. It was never at my local Target, and it was sold out for awhile on the website.

I love the color of the blush. It is beautiful. And y'know, I've swatched it next to my panned beyond panned Nars Orgasm, and they are REMARKABLY close. This is a really inexpensive dupe, and I recommend it heavily.

A little goes a LONG way with both of the colors, but for me and my skin tone, it's really the bronze I have to be very careful with.

Both are smooth and blend very well. This product is totally a hit, and I think you should pick one up at your local Target or order one off of eyeslipsface.com :)

Love,Noralee