theBalm "PUT A LID ON IT..." Eyelid Primer: Swatches + Review!

I have so many feelings about this product that have no business trying to formulated into words (much less sentences).

Alas, I am beauty blogger hear me try.

This tube of primer came to me as a gift from Birchbox (along with four other things; two of which are full sized versions of products I already adore [bam, boom!]) because I won a competition they were hosting with theBalm; I was SO happy to hear that I had won a prize package and this was the first thing I wanted to try. I had yet to find a Holy Grail eyelid primer (while waiting for my package I had yet to try the NARS Pro Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base that I spoke about in my last empties video)... 

...yet...

...yet...

DID YOU CATCH THE GLORIOUS USE OF PAST TENSE IN THAT SENTENCE?

I wish this primer was housed in Super Sailor Moon's Purity Chalice because it would only be appropriate but I'm sure theBalm ran into some copyright issues when they tried (because that's the first logical option over a squeezy tube, right? No? Oh...).

The heart shape this squeezed out into was coincidental and magical and fate.

Just saying.

theBalm's "PUT A LID ON IT..." Eyelid Primer is a 'nude' (aka light beige) color but turns completely clear once rubbed onto the lids. It's extremely soft and melts immediately into the skin so there's no dry-time-wait-around-hand-flapping (#makeupinstincts) and you can begin applying eyeshadows onto your lids straight away.

The only thing that really matters though (in my opinion) is the performance of the primer... 

THE PROOF IS IN THE GLORIOUS PUDDING THAT IS BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS;

BEHOLD MY FABULOUS FRIENDS:

The first photo was taken around 9AM and the second was around 10PM (hence the need for a flash). That's over TWELVE HOURS of be-bopping around in the heat and humidity of Boston which you may have seen in my most recent VLOG.

theBalm isn't messing around folks; they produce products that make any makeup lover shed a glistening tear (or just flat out weep if you're an emotional mess like me). 

Have you tried theBalm's "PUT A LID ON IT..." Eyelid Primer?

Love it? Hate it?

What's your Holy Grail eyelid primer (or are you still looking?)?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

I Need Your Help!!

If you haven't seen my most recent video (above) for Jen's "Best In Beauty" Competition, then... well, I'd love for you to do so!! And what would be even greater is if you could pop on over to this video and put my name in the comments to vote for me! 

How desperate do I sound?

Seriously though, the competition in this round is fierce and the voting is closer than ever; I'm honestly not sure that I'm going to make it into the next round!

So, if you're feeling extra kind and generous, I would be so humbled and grateful if you took a few seconds to vote for me and help me move into round 6; I can't do it without your support :)

I hope you're all well and, just so you know, I should have a new review up here on the blog tomorrow! It's a good one so hopefully you can look forward to it.

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: Dior Haute Couleur Extreme Wear Nail Lacquer "Lucky"

I know, I know; another nail polish post; I know.

I promise I have other things ready to post about but there's so much editing and filming and splicing that needs to happen behind the scenes and other projects I'm working on and oh yeah I'm still in that one beauty competition (vote for me?) and I'm having trouble prioritizing because there's so much beauty goodness I want to show you... sick of my excuses? Alright alright, I'll get on to those non-nail polish things for you right away master *slumps away Igor style*

(right after I do this NOTD post ♥)

I honestly don't know where to start with this polish from Dior... so let's just start there: it's Dior.

Never have I ever owned a Dior product (much like other high end brands... no Givenchy, Chanel, or Tom Ford in this makeup enthusiast's collection) so you KNOW I nearly puked on my plate of salad when my dear friend Torey made me open up this belated birthday present (SERIOUSLY, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE) the other week at lunch.

Knowing that I have an unhealthy love for nail polish, Torey encouraged the obsession with the selection of "Lucky"... the most beautiful nail product I own.

Seriously, it's everything; you don't just pay for a name when you buy a Dior polish, you exchange your cash for unicorns and magic all in a stupidly pretty little bottle (which says "Dior" all over itself too so you can still label whore yourself off to your friends/strangers).

I've always been a fan of Dior's packaging (most recently his Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo compact #swoonofdeath) and this was only furthered upon application of "Lucky" onto my nails; the brush is PERFECT. Really, it is. Its thick (but not too thick), wide (but not too wide), tapered (but not too harshly), rounded (but not awkwardly so) brush makes it so that you have your nail perfectly manicured in two delightful strokes.

Not to mention the formula of the polish is wonder beyond your wildest dreams.

It's a thicker gel consistency which would normally put me off because of long dry times (and goop bubbles galore) but Dior delivered on this one: my nails were dry within two minutes. Two minutes for a gel polish!! Unheard of *golf clap to Mr. Dior*.

 Did I mention the color?

Ohhhhhhh the color...

It's a shifter in the most captivating way. With each tilt of the hand, each rise and fall of the sun, the polish takes on a different hue; from a deep vibrant coral to an electric rose not dissimilar to Revlon's "Cherries In The Snow" lipstick, there isn't one shade this polish turns that isn't utterly lovely.

Also, it must be noted that I do not have a top coat on my nails. The shine you see here is completely compliments to "Lucky". I felt strange not sealing this with something but putting a Sally Hansen (read [by the upper crust]: peasant) top coat on top of a Dior polish was a level of b*stardization that I couldn't handle.

Alright, I think that's enough makeup-feelings for one post.

A big thank you to Torey is in order a.) for being a ridiculously good and unnecessarily generous friend, and b.) for starting a new level of obsession that I can't even begin to afford (yay grad student life #holla).

Have you tried a Dior nail polish?

Love it? Hate it (you can send it to me)?

What brands are you willing to spend the extra money on?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

YouTube Has Been Eating My Life

I'm sorry that all of my YouTube activity has been taking me away from blogging recently; sad to say that it's probably going to continue that way until I'm eliminated from Jen's "Best In Beauty" Competition... which hopefully isn't anytime soon! As much as I miss blogging I really am having fun making videos with the other girls/competitors each week and feel so utterly humbled to have gotten the amount of support I've received from week to week.

So thank you guys!!

I've got a couple blog posts planned for the near future (some GREAT products to share with you all!!) and lots of videos (vlogs, July's Best & Worst of Beauty, etc.) so hopefully you can look forward to those! Until then you can cozy up with either of the two videos above if you have yet to see them :)

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: Neon Tips

What better way to get back into blogging than by putting up a NOTD post?

To most it would probably be the worst way but to me, a self-proclaimed nail painting goddess (who am I kidding; I'm merely an egotistical enthusiast), it is the only way. In this skin cooking heat mixed with bouts of intense humidity we've been wading through this month I'm really not kidding every time I say I haven't done much in terms of makeup. Painting my nails, however, is a wonderful constant in my life even when the weather is far from.

Just like with my last nail art endeavor, this was a manicure inspired by Pinterest. And while it isn't exactly the same (it was much more subtle and 'elegant' looking with richer colors) I am thrilled with the outcome.

I have to be honest with you though: I was not thrilled with one of the polishes. 

If you remember waaaaay back when I've already given O.P.I.'s "Don't Pretzel My Buttons" a rave review so it should be pretty obvious that the bad polish in question is Color Club's "Reign In Spain".

I got this in my June Birchbox (last month) and was really excited to slap "Reign In Spain" on my nails because a.) I've had love affairs with multiple Color Club polishes in the past (here and hurr), and b.) the color is so unbelievably perfect for the summer. It is the definition of neon; brighter than a highlighter and blinding in certain lights (okay I exaggerated on the latter but at least you get my point).

Unfortunately the formula, unlike the color, just didn't perform for "Reign In Spain". It gets ridiculously gloopy and thick after application on each nail so you have to shake it (ferociously) at least 10 times to get your nails done.

Alas, I got my nails done and, like said, I'm so tickled with the result!!

If you've ever tried to photograph neon colors before though you can empathize with me when I say this manicure was impossible to photograph and get true-to-color. You'll just have to trust me when I say the slanted neon of "Reign In Spain" against the neutral backdrop of "Don't Pretzel My Buttons" is extremely eye catching and a treat to have on my tips.

Have you done any fun manicures lately?

Any luck with neon polishes (or is it a hue/color that's impossible to formulate well?)?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

Floral Nails + OOTW!!

This video is pretty old news to any of you who follow me regularly on YouTube but I figured I'd post it here anyways since... well, I've been a bit absent on Blogger as of late!! My sincerest apologies; Jen's  "Best In Beauty" Competition has kept me plenty busy as well as real-life work, appointments, and socializing. 

I also wanted to say thank you for all of the compliments on my nails from this OOTW video! Not to mention the comments I get in real life ("are those nail stickers?" being one of the nicest and most flattering to hear)... I'm kind of taken aback by how much you all like them and am a bit ashamed to say that I didn't film a tutorial or do a blog post on them! They were just a recreation from a pin I saw on Pinterest so I didn't think much of it.

Base: Revlon "Hot For Chocolate"/ Flowers: Revlon ColorStay "Buttercup", Revlon ColorStay "Marmalade", Sally Hansen "Pacific Blue" / Leaves: Maybelline Color Show "Go Go Green", Revlon "Posh" / Accents + Details: L'Oreal "I Will!"

So there they are! I had had the polish/manicure on for a few days before I took the photos so I'm sorry they're looking a little worn around the edges. But I thought I'd put the pictures up for you all to see that they're far from perfect and something you can absolutely recreate yourself with a mere bobby pin and a slew of polishes (aaaaand a bit of patience but that kind of goes without saying).

I hope you're all well (let me know in the comments below!) and I hope I'll get back to more regular blogging rather than just video posts sometime soon.

xoxo - Cassie

July '13 Birchbox!

Hello everyone!! Not so sure this post of mine is going to have as much 'zip' as usual because I had my eyes poked, prodded, and dilated for a couple hours today and I still feel like my eyes are tapioca beads of pain and anger.

But alas, a promise is a promise and I said I'd have this post up today! It's halfway through July (#emotions) so it's about time I got my Birchbox review out to you all (I've only had it lying around for, oh I don't know, four or five days now).

Take the jump if you want to see what I got!!

My First "First Impressions" (Plus Another OOTW Video)!!

If you can't tell by the thumbnail, it was a good first impression at that!!

This is my third video for the "Best In Beauty" Competition hosted by the super sweet Jen (jenluvsreviews). If you enjoyed my video and want to see me advance to the next round (I would be honored, truly!!) then just head on over to this video and leave a comment with my name (and three other girls if you'd like!)... it's that easy, really! 

Oh, and if you missed it, I also posted another OOTW video which you can watch as well (what's better than catching up on YouTube videos on a Sunday? Nothing *bliss*):

As always I hope you enjoy, and look forward to my July Birchbox review either tonight or tomorrow! :)

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: Revlon "Provoke"

I've had this polish on my nails for the past few days and I must say, Revlon's "Provoke" is a beautiful little chameleon. When I was editing these photos yesterday I had the color matching true to life on my monitor but today the color looks completely different because of the change in cloud cover outside. 

I love a polish that keeps me on my toes so it's pretty safe to say that "Provoke" and I are going to have a long and prosperous relationship together (is it weird that I talk about nail polish like it's a spouse/boyfriend? Hmmm... I wish I cared more).

The thing that made me pick out this polish was a mission I had in my head: I NEEDED a pastel polish that popped; nothing in my nail wardrobe (even I was amazed) lived up to that description so I allowed myself to pop into RiteAid before going to the grocery store the other day. 

I am so happy that I picked up "Provoke" because it fit the bill to a "T".

In the bottle "Provoke" appears to be a pretty straight up pastel peach sherbet. However, once on the nails (aka out of the bottle, as you can see in the last photo above) it transforms into a beautiful peachy (almost strawberry) coral. 

The shift in color isn't just based on the bottle though, as I were to later find out... it transforms with the time of day as well.

How beautiful of a color is that for Summer right now?? Granted, I'm probably overtly biased based on my current and never-ending love affair with the Revlon Lip Butter "Juicy Papaya", but I don't care; love is blind after all (and stupid, but do we let that get in the way? HECK NO).

Unfortunately I wasn't able to capture the way this polish looks in sunlight like I'm getting today because it really is a stunning peachy/orangey/coral that leans freakishly similar towards Revlon's "Marmalade" (the hue's saturation is insane). You'll have to just take my word on it when I say this is a Summer stunner.

This was also the first time I've tried a polish from Revlon's Brilliant Strength collection and, like with most (all?) Revlon polishes, I'm impressed. I have to admit, the smell is a little peculiar (akin to normal nail polish but not quite the same) but nothing to be bothered by. Regardless, the formula was creamy, nearly opaque in one coat, dried relatively quickly, and has a gorgeously plush sheen finish. Also, it's been three days and I don't have one chip! Seriously, not one sign of wear and tear even after countless hours of working retail (those tight buttons and hangers will get your manicure every. D*mn. Time).

So there you have it folks!! Pretty sure it's plain to see that I'm smitten so I'll leave it at that and leave the rest to you!:

Have you tried any polishes from Revlon's Brilliant Strength collection?

Love 'em? Hate 'em?

Any other colors that I need to pick up?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

Revlon Lip Butter "Juicy Papaya": Swatches + Review (+ Makeup Emotions)!!

To get back into the blogging swing of things I figured I'd to something comfortable; something familiar; something that I've worn nearly every day since, oh, I don't know, the MINUTE I bought it.

Juicy Papaya is my everything... the perfect formula (creamy, soft, plus keeps lips moisturized and full of color for 5+ hours without touchups), the perfect color (crack open a papaya and that's what color this is; a coral melon), and the perfect addition to my bag (which has become its permanent residence; I'm thinking of setting up a P.O. Box for it so I can send fan mail and love letters).

A lot of people seem to be under the impression, at least according to several comments I received in my "Top 5 Summer Beauty Products" video, that Juicy Papaya is a limited edition shade but I can assure you (with quite a bit of confidence) that this is absolutely not the case!! I still see it on Ulta's website, CVS' website, and even Revlon's website! This was one of the four new shades released in Revlon's Summer 2013 collection but the colors have made it into the permanent collection.

So don't worry if you didn't get your hands on this beaut when it was first released; you can purchase bliss in Lip Butter form the next time you head to the drugstore!

Now, onto the swatches:

Try and tell me that isn't one of the most gorgeous lip colors you've ever seenOHNOWAITDON'TBOTHERIALREADYKNOW.

Seriously, I have nothing bad to say about Juicy Papaya (well, apart from the fact that it melts in temperatures of 90° and above but hey, I blame the weather for that not the product; JUICY PAPAYA IS MY BABY DON'T TRY TO FAULT IT FOR MOTHER NATURE'S STEAMING GROIN). I'm fairly positive it's going be the first lip product I'll ever have to repurchase (never have I ever been this close to the bottom of a lipstick tube) and I have no problem with shelling over my money once more to have Juicy Papaya in my life always. 

Alright, I'm getting quite emotional over a lip product... can we just take that as being enough of a review? 

I need a Kleenex.

Have you tried Revlon's "Juicy Papaya"?

Love it as much as I do?

What's the first lip product you've repurchased/what's your most used lipstick?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop" Inspired Makeup... Don't Be Scared, I Need Your Help Once More!!

First off, can I just start off by saying that I am THE WORST BLOGGER EVER?

Phewfta, glad that's out of the way; it's just been so long (a week+) since I've written a proper post and I feel like poo about it. Alas, such is life!

I've been a busy bee working (I'm still deciding whether or not retail is worse than waitressing... I'm shocked to say it very well might be) and putting this tutorial together for my "Best In Beauty Competition" round 2 entry!! I made it through to the next stage because of you all voting for me last time and I'm so tickled by it; seriously, it means a lot! 

If you're feeling so kind, I could (once again) use your help! All you have to do to help me get to the third round of this competition is vote on Jen's channel (jenluvsreviews); leave a comment on this video of hers with my name (and two other girls if you'd like!) and that's it! Voila! 

Thank you all SO much for your continuous support of both my blog and YouTube channel. It really does mean the world to me and I can't express my gratitude enough! 

I hope you enjoy the tutorial I put together on Miley's look in the above video and look forward to new posts from me in the next day or two :)

xoxo - Cassie

Weekly Outfits Are Back!!

I can't believe it's been a month and half since my last OOTW video but alas!! They have made their (triumphant?) return.

As always, I hope you enjoy ^__^

xoxo - Cassie

PS: Happy 4th of July to those who celebrate it! Stay safe and have fun ♥

tarte lights, camera, lashes! Mascara: Swatches + Review!

Remember waaaaaayyyyyyy back when when I hauled this little guy for a mere $10 on sale from Ulta?

Well, I sure do.

I can't believe it's taken me two months to get around to finally cracking it open (well, actually, it makes perfect sense; I only wear mascara half the time and I had about a half a tube left of my last mascara to finish up) but now that I have... well, if you watched my most recent "Best & Worst of Beauty" video (I promise, I didn't plan on all of these self-promoting plugs #don'tfightdestiny) you'd know that I might be a high end mascara convert.

The packaging of tarte's "lights, camera, lashes!" mascara is really unique and I have yet to tell if I really care for it; the mascara tube is wrapped in a soft plastic-y quilted purple package. I don't hate it or anything it's just... different (hey, I never said I wanted to teach creative writing).

The wand of the mascara isn't all that impressive either; at least not until you run it through your lashes. This coats EVERY last lash and creates incredible length and volume. It's a wetter formula than many mascaras I've worked with before but I've had no issues with this smearing during dry-down.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

This mascara is all sorts of magic on my lashes: It's as light as whipped cream but looks like I'm wearing pounds of falsies; it doesn't flake or break; and, even though this isn't the waterproof version (sadly, that one wasn't on sale), it held up well throughout a Grey's Anatomy sob session (EVERYONE was dying, I couldn't help myself).

Overall I am just so beyond impressed with the tarte "lights, camera, lashes!" mascara. The fact that I get excited about putting this on in the morning (and don't agonize over taking it off at night [it's smooth as butter coming off!]) speaks about as loud as this mascara looks: volumes.

Have you tried the tarte "lights, camera, lashes!" mascara?

Love it? Hate it?

What's your favorite mascara at the moment?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie