NOTD: butter LONDON "TOFF"

It's hard to believe that I hauled this butter LONDON polish over a year ago now (though it's even crazier to see how tiny Galileo was in those pictures!!) and am just finally getting around to posting a NOTD on it but alas… that's life for you. I'm here with "TOFF" now so let's bask in the glory of the moment rather than the past and be merry together!! A little dramatic for a nail post? I suppose I agree but I love nail polish so darn much that it's actually fairly fitting to do a jig over a pretty polish.

"TOFF" may be the prettiest nail color for fall in the spectrum of purples/plums. It is an extremely opaque (you could definitely get away with just one coat though I did two in these photos because, as always, I'm insecure and need that extra coating) and glossy cream polish in a shade that even my artist brain can't really explain. It's a muted purple, it's a soft plum, it's a pastel grape… but more than anything: it's a beauty.

The one thing that I have to note is that "TOFF" is a chipper. After the first day of wear I had quite a few chips on the tips of most of my nails, though it definitely had to do with the fact that I work retail and all of that buttoning, unbuttoning, hanging, and tugging at plastic hangers probably didn't help things. 

Regardless I think the color is absolutely stunning and worth every touchup and reapplication; it's demure, flirty, and perfectly fit for fall!

Have you ever experienced such sudden chipping with a butter LONDON polish?

What's your favorite shade for fall this year?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

A Quick "Hello"…!

And an even quicker "good night"; it's been a long week and I'm ready to jump in bed (living for the zzz's because I'm f*cking fantastic). 

I hope you're all well and have a relaxing and/or productive Sunday depending on your priorities!

xoxo - Cassie

benefit "they're Real!" mascara: Swatches + Review!

I have so many feelings about this mascara; some of them are overwhelmingly good, some are upsettingly terrible, but overall this huge emotional spectrum leaves me confused, conflicted, and overall unhappy.

So thanks a lot benefit! You've made a mostly beautiful mascara. 

But thanks, moreso, to (a lot of) the beauty community! You've overhyped a product to the point that I can't enjoy it as much as I'm sure I would have if my mind weren't a clutter of "wtf how could they neglect to mention this that and the other thing???"

Like many beauty enthusiasts, I got this as my birthday gift from Sephora this year (which I hauled, amongst many other things, here). I was thrilled because along with this mascara it also included a mini version of the Watt's Up! highlighter; these were two products I've always been curious to try but never willing to shell out the money in order to do so. Thankfully Sephora teamed up with benefit this year for birthdays because, as much as an emotional roller coaster this mascara has been, I've truly enjoyed giving it a try.

I think the one thing that people always note about the "they're Real!" mascara is the spiky ball at the end of the applicator wand... which mine didn't seem to come fully equipped with. I'm not sure if I got a dud or if all of the mini versions of this mascara were made like this but it seems like maybe half of a sort of spiky ball? It really stinks because that was supposed to be one of the super magical parts of the "they're Real!" mascara and, if I'm being honest, this version is less than stellar at getting the tiny lashes in the inner corners of the eyes. Don't get me wrong, it definitely gets the little lashes but instead of separating and defining them it just clumps them together in a less than flattering manner.

That aside though, the length of the wand actually helps to make lashes look fantastic; I'm absolutely smitten with the balance between length and volume that the "they're Real!" mascara provides.

Now I know, you may be wondering gee Cassie that opening paragraph seemed like a lot of shade and drama thrown around over a silly missing spiky ball at the end of your mascara wand... your lashes look great! 

And hey, if that were the case then I would say you're absolutely correct! Sadly though, there's a much bigger problem with benefit's "they're Real!" mascara and it has to do with the mascara itself.

This mascara is a smudgey bugger. After just a few hours of wear, even if only worn on the top lashes, I somehow end up with smudging on my bottom lid area (I'll never understand the physics of that phenomenon). It's not the worst smudging I've ever encountered (I don't think anything can compare to the panda eye disaster created by L'Oreal) but it has to be noted that this happens every single time I wear it; I really don't have super oily lids or anything so I know that it's the mascara causing the smudging. 

The "they're Real!" mascara is also a fairly wet formula so there is a certain amount of dry-down time you have to deal with before you can safely blink. It's something I just don't care to have to think about in the morning when I have a hard enough time remembering curling irons are hot when plugged in (shut up and stop laughing) much less whether or not it's safe for me to blink.

As far as I can tell, benefit doesn't make a waterproof version of this mascara which is an absolute bummer because I think that would solve the smudging issue. But alas! It is what it is and, even though it has its downfalls, I truly have enjoyed trying "they're Real!" out. If you want me to fork out $23 for a mascara though it needs to be far more perfect than just damn near.

How do you feel about benefit's "they're Real!" mascara?

Do you agree with the hype or were you let down like I was?

Have you tried a mascara that's actually worth the high end price or do you just stick with drugstore?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

Yet Another Empties Post!

Just wanted to stop in real quick to share a video I just uploaded to YouTube in case you're interested! 

I hope you're all well and had a good start to your week today (°∀°)

xoxo - Cassie

real Techniques expert face brush

The hype was high... my expectations were low... my mind was blown (and face left looking fuh-lawless). 

If you watched my Best & Worst of Beauty video last month then you already know my basic feelings on the real Techniques expert face brush. However, now that I've been using it for more than a week (like was the case in that video), I can add my thorough review into the already overwhelming sea of "AH-MAAAAAZING" proclamations that exist on this brush; basically, just expect a bit more literacy than the beauty community is typically known for.

The first thing I noticed about the expert face brush was something I coulda-shoulda-woulda noticed but for some reason failed to: this thing is tiny! I don't know why I was expecting something bigger when I've seen it used and held before but I think it's because I was using my e.l.f. studio powder brush for foundation (which is probably 4 or 5x the circumference of this brush).

I mention it because, when thinking about using something so small for a full face of foundation, it seems a little... well, wrong. But somehow this little guy manages to buff foundation into the skin like I've never experienced; truly, it leaves you with an airbrushed finish and an ego boost to keep your head high throughout the day. No streaks or foundation lines on the jaw with this! Just smooth, flawless looking skin. It's fun for me as well because you use this brush like a paint brush rather than in the usual circular motions many other foundation brushes require.

The expert face brush is also, as many people scream and drool about, extremely dense and soft. Though honestly, if you're used to using e.l.f. studio brushes then the softness won't blow you away. It's comparable but I'd say e.l.f. still takes home the gold in terms of texture. Don't let that deter you though; this is still a very soft brush that feels wonderful on the face. When it comes to density though, the claims are all spot on. The expert face brush is so deliciously dense and has yet to shed a hair on me so I expect it to stay fat and phat for a long time to come.

My one gripe about the expert face brush is that it soaks up a ton of foundation. What that means is that you need to put a little more foundation on your face for regular coverage (the brush sheers it out compared to using a different brush or your fingers) and it also makes it so you have to actually keep up on washing your brush(es). I am terrible at washing my brushes, getting around to it about once a month (yeah yeah, I know... throw rocks at me later, okay?), but I definitely have to wash the expert face brush once a week. If I don't, all of the excess foundation clumps up the bristles and makes your subsequent applications streaky.

Aside from my one problem with this brush (which comes down to my own laziness, but I know I'm not alone so I feel it's something worth mentioning) I am, like the rest of the beauty community, absolutely smitten with the real Techniques expert face brush. The hype had me absolutely terrified of this line of brushes but I'm so happy I snagged this one on sale at Ulta last month; I'm eager to get more the next time there's a sale!! The brushes are worth every penny of their retail price but since Ulta seems to do a BOGO 50% off of the line once a month there's no reason for me to pay full price o(≧∇≦o)

What are your feelings on the real Techniques brushes?

Worth the hype or overhyped?

What are your favorite brushes (from this line or otherwise)?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

Another Installment Of Weekly Outfits!

Just stopping in real quick to post my latest OOTW video... as always I hope you enjoy and hope you're having a great week so far!!

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: O.P.I. "Stay The Night"

Remember the blog post I did a half a year ago (omgwtfwheredidthetimegotearsareeverywhere) where I gushed buckets of emotions over O.P.I.'s "Get Your Number"? Well I sure do because I actually have it on my nails at the moment (because I'm lazy and never post these dang NOTD's when I actually have the corresponding polish on). Considering I wore this in the speaking portion of my September Best & Worst of Beauty video I figured it was probably about time that I posted on its sister polish from the same collection. 

"Oh my gawd, Cassie, that picture is soooo blurry and unprofessional..." I KNOW BUT LOOK AT THE SPARKLES; LOOK AT THEM AND APPRECIATE THEIR ABUNDANTLY PRESENT BEAUTY.

Just like "Get Your Number", "Stay The Night" was from the O.P.I. Mariah Carey Liquid Sand Collection (of Spring 2013) was something I just had to snatch up; a.) because I had originally seen it here and, as usual with the lovely lady behind the sleepandwater blog, was dazzled into buyer's need (opposite of buyer's remorse because all-of-the-feelings-none-of-the-shame) and b.) as I mentioned in the video where I hauled this polish, my friend Torey gave me all of the justification required when trying to be good and not buy anything: "Cassie... you need it".

Boom.

Signed, sealed, delivered; I'm yours. 

 I knew when buying "Stay The Night" that it wouldn't dazzle anywhere near the way "Get Your Number" does; plenty of pictures were out on Google by the time I heard of these polishes so it was clear to me that this was going to look less than pleasing without a top coat. However, a certain nail blogger had raved about this shade and how it looked like glowing embers in a campfire blah blah blah... ha ha ha ha. More like raspberry preserves crusted along the lid of the jar. No matter how I look at it, "Stay The Night" in its liquid sand form is just utterly and completely unappealing to me.

Thankfully this polish can be salvaged with a thick, shiny top coat. It really is a pretty bugger when worn like this and has a remarkable depth to it considering it's just a black base with the same pink sparkles laced throughout. Usually you'd need at least a few different sizes or a couple different colors of glitter to create the deep cosmic-esque look "Stay The Night" does (a good example is how dimensional this polish looks compared to a poor-man's-version I have and reviewed here) so I have to give it credit there.

Overall this polish is nice but not necessary. Sure it's pretty but I think I compare it to the multifunctional (in the sense that it looks beautiful with or without a top coat) "Get Your Number" too much to enjoy it to its full potential. Gah I don't know, you tell me!!

What do you think of O.P.I.'s "Stay The Night"?

Love it? Hate it?

Any other liquid sand finish polishes I should try out?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

Sweater Weather TAG!

Hello hello my friends!! 

Just stopping in real quick to post my newest video here on my blog; it's a fun tag video for fall and, considering fall is my favorite season, I was super excited to film it! The video itself is fairly short (well, short for a Cassie video...) and sweet but I hope you enjoy regardless~

xoxo - Cassie

October '13 Birchbox!

HRRNNNGGG IT FEELS SO GOOD TO FINALLY HAVE MY COMPUTER BACK ლ(ಥДಥლ)

Though it's also utterly sad and shameful to realize how reliant on this chunk of magical metal I am... oh well, I guess I'm mostly happy to have it fixed and humming happily in my lap once again.

To kick off my return to the blogosphere (you probably didn't even realize I was gone considering it was only a few days hhahaha *head hang of shame*) I've got my October Birchbox to share with you all! I got this way back on Monday and was so gutted that I couldn't share it with you right away; this has got to be one of the best Birchboxes I've ever received.
Eeeeeeeevvvveeeeeeeeerrrrrr.
And with that many exaggerated italics you know I mean it. Take a closer look after the jump!

Short People Problems

I may not be the most help when it comes to reaching things (though customers at work seem to think I've got a go-go-gadget arm at the ready to reach them a ceiling-high tshirt) but I am helpful at hemming pants considering I've had to do it myself for the past... gosh, almost ten years? 

Yikes.  

Hopefully my lack of height can help any of you needing a very basic (and not at all professional) tutorial on shortening your pants while keeping the original hem! Enjoy~

xoxo - Cassie

DIOR Dior Addict Lip Glow: Swatches + Review!

Please don't ask me why I've had these photos sitting in my computer for two months now and haven't written a blog post for them... because I have an answer that no one will like.

You want to know anyways? Fine (but I warned you):

I. Don't. Know.

I think the main thing is that I feel like I can't do this beaut enough justice. No matter how many photos I take, no matter how many times I bring it into Glamour Shots there will NEVER be enough feather boas and mardi gras beads to make the Dior Addict Lip Glow look as magnificent as it is. Because it is magnificent. It's magnificent and more.

So pretty... SO PLASTIC AND PRETTY. 

If I had to live with one shade of pink for the rest of my life it would be this; any color that makes thick plastic look this expensive and need-worthy is a winner in my book. In fact, I don't know why I haven't painted my apartment this color yet. Oh yeah, probably because I have a cat that would rub himself all over the walls and then he'd be pink... though that wouldn't be the worst thi-AHEM.

I honestly think this has been my most coveted beauty item since the beginning of my beauty obsession. It just seems so perfect in every way: super cute yet fancy pink lip balm that transforms into your perfect shade of pink on your lips? Pink pink pink? Sign me up. Essentially this is a mood ring for your lips, but not the mood ring that you got in the early nineties out of a grocery store quarter machine; no, this is the mood ring where you walk into Tiffany & Co. and DEMAND they set the 'stone' in platinum. Because as much as the Dior Addict Lip Glow is a gimmick, it's a gimmick that works.

 I think the only other time I've been so happy with something working is when I found out ShamWow's can actually soak up all of anything liquid your cat (or maybe it was you... but you'll tell everyone else it was the cat DON'T LIE TO ME) may have knocked over onto the floor.
That aside, the Dior Addict Lip Glow really does its job and does it right. This little guy earned gold star stickers across the board in the testing labs, that's for sure. It glides on smooth, smells just like Orbit's Sweet Mint gum (which is, by the way, my hands down favorite), and lasts on my lips for 5-6 hours; that's crazy for a lip balm!!

But I know, I know, you want to see that mood ring action on my lips right?
Don't worry, I've got you covered:

See how the balm shifts from a mauve berry color to a bright (in the most natural of ways) pink? I absolutely love this stuff. It's not like people are going to notice your lips changing color (that would be more than slightly frightening) but it's a fun little quirk to see once you pick up on it. Plus, like said, this lasts for so long on the lips keeping them moisturized and tinted with a hint of sheen with no worry or need for touchups.

So, overall, I have to thank Dior. I don't care that this balm puts a hole in my already weeping wallet; some things are worth it and the Dior Addict Lip Glow is one of them. I mentioned this product in my Best & Worst of Beauty video a couple of months ago but truth be told it's been a favorite of mine since purchase. I love that on days when I'm rushing out the door (or heck even on days when I just plain can't decide on a freaking lip color) I don't have to think about it; I just throw this on my lips and into my purse and I'm good to go! No if, ands, or buts about it, this'll match anything because it's made to match you.

Have you tried the Dior Addict Lip Glow?
Do you think it's worth the money?
What's your favorite high end lip product?
Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

Another OOTW Video!

Ahhh~ it's nice to have at least one constant in life; aside from coming home to a purr-happy Galileo at the door after a long day at school or work (or both... oofta), OOTW videos during the school year are another thing that I know I can count on pumping out for you all.

As always I hope you enjoy!

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: essie "shine of the times"

Uuuuuugh you guys I am so backlogged on blog posts; I have so many products photographed (of course half [or more] are nail polishes), some of which are from two freaking months ago, but when it comes to editing and writing about them... belch, that's a whole 'nother story now that the school year is in full swing. But I'm trying my best (and in my mind that's what matters most!) so hopefully you all can bear with me while I chug along trying to keep ThriftThick afloat.

Anywho, silly self loathing aside, I've got a super lovely nail of the day post for you all today!

I had this manicure on my nails a couple (few?) weeks ago and am considering re-doing it after I type this up because it was just that pretty that it warrants another wear.

I mentioned in my September Best & Worst of Beauty video that last month I was all about the glitter nails and, I must admit, this was one of my favorite polishes to wear. Something about the dazzling rainbow opalescence reflecting off of the flecks in "shine of the times" matched so perfectly with the nude backdrop of "Innocent Nude" (which is my favorite nude nail polish; I reviewed it hurr!); I think it's the delightful dichotomy of flashy and subtle that works so well to produce that je nais se quoi-lity (see what I did there? Wut wuuuuut).

Just look at this nail polish (ignore the cat hair).

LOOK AT IT.

So. Effing. Pretty. In every way shape and form.

I know I gripe and moan about a lot of essie polishes because of the crap/patchy formula but, though I know my Gemini-exaggerating(embellishing)-ways can be a little over the top, I do truly mean that. I also mean it when I say that "shine of the times" is excellent. You only need one coat (which is what I did in these pictures) for a dazzling effect that compliments so many different other colored backgrounds; I've put this atop O.P.I.'s "Black Cherry Chutney", essie's "first timer", and Revlon's "Cloud" and it was beautiful paired with each one.

Ahhh to have a life as carefree as this little fluff booger's...

So that's it everyone! 

Like said I've got many more posts on the back burner so hopefully I can get around to editing and writing them soon; until then I hope you're well ∩( ・ω・)∩

Have you tried essie's "shine of the times"?

Love it? Hate it?

What's your favorite super-shiny-distractingly-glittery top coat or nail polish?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie