Brand Face Off

So, a while ago I mentioned in another post that I had picked up two of the Revlon Nail Art Style Strips from the Ocean State Job Lot (which, if you don't have one in your area, is comparable to a Big Lots or other discount store) for $3 a piece where they usual retail at about $10. I absolutely LOVE the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Strips and I have been using them since they launched, but more on that later. Since I can't resist a good deal and I also can't resist an easy way to do my nails, (ugh, the coats, the dry time, the smudges, GAG) I just had to grab these. Since these came from a discount store the style selection was limited (these type of stores get the overflow from mainstream drugstores) so I only found two styles that I would wear, I'm a bit picky with nail colors and the way they clash with clothes, call me crazy. In retrospect I probably should have picked up a few more, or bought doubles of the two that I liked. And such is life.

The two styles I did pick up, however, were Eye Candy and Wild One respectively.


I haven't used Wild One yet, but I did try out Eye Candy last Sunday and am still wearing them today. I don't think that any picture I take is going to do Eye Candy's silver and purple ombre glitter justice. It is SO glittery my nails just sparkle, even in the dark! It's really fantastic, and I'm not even a purple fan. I don't know how Revlon did it, but they made this glitter strip so well. The Sally Hansen glitter strips are some of my favorites (think Glitz Blitz and Bling It On) but they tend to chip off more easily than the plain strips in my experience. I didn't seem to have that problem with the Revlon glitter strips, though. The back of the box states that these strips are "real polish strips" which is the main reason I picked them up. The strips that are not real polish (for instance, Kiss Nail Dress) tend to fray at the end while I'm filing off the excess and peel off much more easily; they are not for long wear.

Here are some photos of the strips on my nails:

 

This particular style happened to match my Starbucks mug, so I guess I like purple a little more than I thought.

Here, after about 7 days, you can see the wearing, mostly at the very tips, the grow out at the cuticle isn't bad:

 

 

The PROS:

1. They last! For me, wear time is important. I don't want to pay 8 or 9 bucks to have a great looking manicure that chips or peels off after a day or two. For another 5 or 6 bucks I can go to the salon and get my nails done. These claim to wear for ten days just like the Sally Hansen Salon Effects, and thus far, mine are wearing well. It's been about 7 days and they have just now started to wear and chip a bit on two nails. (The same happens for me with the Sally Hansen's at about the one week mark.) I use my hands a lot at work and am quite rough on my nails which is why they never grow out nicely.
2. The patterns are fun! I had tried just about all of the Sally Hansen's and frankly, I was bored with the selections. I was so happy to see some new patterns and, of course, to see more glitter. I know that Sally Hansen began coming out with seasonal patterns, which was refreshing, but those aren't always around in the store.
3. They are real nail polish. They apply just like the Salon Effects, they stick well to clean, dry nails and the excess files off easily. This is not the case with the sticker-like nail strip imposters.
4. The box comes with every thing you need, the same exact things as the Salon Effects. (mini file/buffer, cuticle stick, and strips)

The CONS:

1. While these do come with 16 strips, the size difference between the strips isn't great. It seemed to me that a lot of the strips were similarly sized and shaped. I think Sally Hansen's strips have a better selection of sizes and shapes for different nails.
2. I can only get one use out of a box. With the Sally Hansen strips, half of the strips come in one sealed foil pouch and the other half in another sealed foil pouch. Because of this, I can open only one of the pouches and find which strips fit my nails and cut the strip in half to use one half on my left nail and the other on the right nail. (This probably won't work if you have long nails) All 16 of the Revlon strips come in one sealed pouch so once you open it, you either have to use them all or they will dry out. The hoarder in me hates wasting a good portion of the strip.
3. I can't find them ANYWHERE anymore. I don't know if these were limited edition, if Revlon just decided to stop producing them, or if they are just sold out in every store that I check, but I can't find these anywhere anymore! I remember seeing them when they first came out but they seemed to vanish into thin air! This is probably why I found them at the discount store, how sad.

FINAL DECISION:

I really like these strips, if I can ever find them again, I will be re-purchasing.

My everyday face

 to---->

 

Okay, guys, prepare your eyes. I'm about to share with you all my everyday face routine as of right now from bare faced to finish. I do a variation of this on a daily basis depending on how much time I have, how lazy I am that day, and where I'm going. This is what I do when I have an average time to get ready for work or running errands, it typically takes me about 10 to 15 minutes, less if I omit eyeliner and contouring.

Alright, so here it goes, after I moisturize with my Olay Complete:

 

YIKES, let's even out that skin and get rid of the redness around my nose and eyes. I've used a ton of different foundations but lately I've been using CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in number 335, I like that it's SPF 10 and it goes on smooth and doesn't break me out. I forget how much I got this for because it was on sale but I think it runs between 10 and 13 dollars, but don't quote me. I dot it on my face (too much is no good, you can always add more for more coverage but you can't take it away and cakeface is not festive). I use this e.l.f. powder brush that that I got at Target for $3 (e.l.f. brushes are really nice brushes for very reasonable prices, I use them as often as I do my high end brushes) and just blend out the foundation in circular motions all the way down onto my neck.

 

 

Thanks to genetics and lack of sleep I have dark circles under my eyes, I use Glamoflauge by Hard Candy (they only sell this at Wal-Mart or online around my area) and it's about $6. I also Like CoverGirl cover stick in medium beige for under the eye but it can be a little thick so if dark circles aren't an issue for you, skip this all together, I wish I could.

 The Hard Candy concealer is very full coverage so you really need less than you even think you do, if I have redness around my nose I dot a tiny bit around there too.

 I like this dome shaped foundation brush to blend this concealer but using your ring finger is just as effective and if I'm in a real rush that's what I'll do.

 

 

I like to set my foundation with powder and it really helps if you have oily skin (which I don't but I still like to set my foundation for wearing power). I have been using Rimmel Stay Matte in 004 Sandstorm for about a year now, I've used so many of these but it's a good price for a nice, smooth product. They cost under 4 bucks and it sits nicely on my skin. I use another e.l.f. powder brush (a DIFFERENT one than I used for my foundation, I have a few of these brushes). I like to just use a little on my t-zone and under my eyes to set my concealer.

 

 If you were born with wonderful brows, then I'll take this moment to express my jealousy. I have blonde eyebrows that are nearly invisible. You'd be surprised the difference your eyebrows make, they are a true anchor of your face so I do take the time to fill mine in just about every day. The best eyebrow pencil that I have found is Maybelline Define-A-Brow, I use the color 647 Light Blonde. If I can't find this pencil (I go through them SO quickly, I'm not sure if it's because I use it every day or if there just isn't much product in the pencil to begin with, but I feel like I use them so fast) I like e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit in light. This kit is a colored wax and a colored powder, I love the wax side to keep brows in place and add some color. It costs 3 bucks at Wal-Mart, Target or online at eyeslipsface.com. I just use short and light strokes following the natural shape of my eyebrow. 

 

After I pencil, I use a spoolie to comb the brows down into place and this also helps the pencil blend naturally.

 Yay, I have eyebrows!

 

I always prime my eyes but it's totally optional, I definitely recommend it if you will be wearing heavier shadow or a smokey eye for a night out, it really helps to prevent creasing and your shadow from wearing off. I like Urban Decay Primer Potion but a good drugstore dupe is e.l.f. Eyelid Primer, I use it constantly now because it's only $1 whereas the Urban Decay is about $20.

 

Just a little swipe on both eyelids and I pat it on to blend it out.

 

 

I really love NYX's Butt Naked Eyes palette, it's a total go-to for me. I got mine online for half price but it retails for 25 bucks, it's totally worth it for the 15 full sized versatile neutral shadows (it has a mix of matte and shimmer), four blushes, two highlighters and a bronzer. It's practically a whole face in one palette. It's available at Ulta. 

As you can see, I've hit pan on a few shades, these are the ones I use pretty much every day. You can find similarly colored shadows to these anywhere in the drugstore for reasonable prices but if I were to recommend a brand, it'd probably Revlon. They have great quads with complimentary colors and a good range of shades. I like that Revlon offers a mix or pearls, shimmer, and matte shades as well.

I use this Face Works shadow brush to apply this eggshell nude color (which is matte) to my entire lid all the way up to the browbone.

 

Next I like to add a little depth to the eye with a light brown shade in the crease, I am using another e.l.f. brush, this is the Deluxe Crease Brush.

 

I'll just pick a little up on the brush and tap off the excess then use a windshield wiper motion to follow the natural crease of my eye. I try not to go all the way in or too close to the inner corner of my eye because that can create weird shadows which makes me look tired.

Next, I add a highlight to my brow bone and the inner corners of my eyes, here I'm using the shimmery white because I've used all matte shadows on my eye so far and I need a little something to reflect light. If I am doing a dark smokey eye or a really shimmery look, though, I'll use the matte white that's on the other side of the palette so I'm not TOO shimmery, I'm not trying to look like a disco ball.

 

I like to use a matte black shadow and an angled brush to line my upper lashline on days that I'm in a rush or don't feel like getting into liquid liner. It still gives the effect of a thicker lashline without having to concentrate too hard.

I push the shadow into my lashline as close to the lashes as possible and I use whatever is left on the brush on the outer 1/3 of my lower lashline.

 

Mascara! This is the finishing touch and it makes so much of a difference for me because I have blonde lashes. If I wear no other makeup, I wear mascara. I've been into the CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara since I got it, but for some other ideas on mascaras click here.





 One eye down.

 Two coats on top and bottom lashes.

Another optional step is to line your waterline. I don't do it everyday but it does make a difference. I have two options here, either black or white. Both of these are Rimmel, this is coincidence as I usually by the Revlon Color Stay black liner for my waterline but I couldn't find it last time I was looking for it. I like to use the black to really define my eyes but if I'm feeling particularly tired looking or red eyed I use the white in the waterline to brighten up the eye area.

 

Blush makes me look alive. If I just wear foundation, blush and mascara I feel like a new person. It makes me look more polished and bright. I have clearly used a lot of this mauvy rose color from the NYX palette. Any nice matte-ish blush looks good on most skin tones and is universally flattering. 

 

I put it right on my cheek focusing on the apple of my cheek, less is more with blush but don't be afraid to put color on your face.

I like to add a bit of contour to my face too, I like this Physician's Formula Healthy Wear bronzer, it is SPF 50 and totally matte. It doesn't look muddy on my fair skin, I have it in both light and medium.

I make a fish face and put it under the cheek bones and up to the temple. I take it under my chin, too, and up to hairline. Think of your brush making a number 3 on your face. I like to take a little down my nose and on my chin too, where sun would naturally hit my face.

If I have time, I like to highlight my cheekbones with this fan brush, I put it right on top of the cheekbone above where I put my blush and a bit down my nose.

 

Last, a little lip gloss, lipstick or balm, I've been using Blistex Moisture Melt a lot since the winter has left my lips dry. 

 Done!

 

So, all of these steps may seem like a lot, but let me tell you, I have my routine down to a science and I could do it with my eyes closed. Well, maybe not closed. You could absolutely omit just about any of these steps and still look put together. I always put on foundation, concealer and mascara, though.