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!!