Review: EOS Lip Balm

Back with another review, this time its a product that has been so hyped up in the beauty community. I felt like I was missing out by not trying it but did it live up to the hype?



EOS (Or Evolution of Smooth) lip balm is a spherical lip balm containing all natural ingredients that are not only good for you but for the environment, I suppose!

Here is EOS' claim, according their website:
"eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth."

I'm just a little confused on how something is 95% organic and 100% natural. If it is all natural then isn't it all organic? How can something have 5% be inorganic but be natural? If it is inorganic than it is not organic and natural. It just doesn't fly with me!

And why bring up petrolatum? The most classic form of lip treatment is Vaselline also known as petrolatum jelly. I'll get back to this in the formulation.



Ok. I'll just say it, I feel like this did not keep my lips moist, soft and "sensationally smooth" in fact I felt like it was a bit too stiff to glide onto my lips and what product there is, did not sink it, rather is stuck to the surface.

Remember that great claim they made that it lacked petrolatum? Probably why I don't find it smooth. Yes it is an oil but its what makes many, many, many, almost every freaking lip balm work. It sinks in.

Here is why I think its not in the formula, it would mess up what EOS lip balms are known for. Think of how permeable regular chapstick is, it will melt super easily if left in hot conditions. And to help it prevent from becoming a hot mess, that's why we have in tubes or little tubs. It needs something to help it keep its shape.

EOS uses coconut oil which, I'm guessing, is in place of petrolatum. Coconut oil can withstand higher temperatures and thus letting the lip balm be able to keep it spherical shape without having to worry about gravity and heat pushing it down and making a mess.

Phew! All that said, I find that this balm is probably much easier to use in warmer climates/summer/whatever and just not as well as in the winter when lips are dried and crack. Make any sense? :)



The packaging, like I said before, is what makes this balm stick out! Its a cute little ball of balm! I bought mine in the pink one, "Summerfruit".








I was able to find mine in CVS. I know other drugstores carry it too! I have yet to see it in a Target or Walmart type store. But I do know it is also available on drugstore.com and other drugstore's websites!

The prices range from $3 - $5.




I don't think I'll be buying this again! It just didn't do anything for me, nothing that made me think "WOW! My lips are smooth and moist!".

If you're like me and battling dry, cracked, winter lips I would suggest Nivea's "Kiss of Moisture" I love them, they feel amazing and really soak in! And a couple bucks cheaper than the EOS!


Have you tried EOS' lip balm? Love it? Like it? Hate it? Let me know :) Also, what do you do for dry/cracked lips?!

xx Chelsea ♥

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss

I've become a lip gloss junkie, as of late. Lipstick just hasn't been my friend in these dry winter months. So when I was wandering the aisles of CVS and came upon these new Revlon lipglosses, I had to have it.

I have tried Revlon lip glosses in past years but just haven't used any recently. But when I saw the cute packaging and pigmented product inside, something was different.



According to Revlon's site, these new ColorBurst lipglosses are described to do as follows:
"A pop of weightless color with vivid, mirror-like shine. Outshines everything but you!
•Micro-crystal formula for 5X the shine of patent leather
•Plush applicator shaped to curves of your lips for smooth, even application of color
•ColorBurst’s Elasticolor™ technology for rich color with a weightless feel
•Moisturizers and anti-oxidants such as sweet almond oil and vitamin E conditions and improves lip texture
•Available in 15 vibrant, on-trend shades"

Yes, yes and yes! Except I'd leave out the patent leather part because then I think of those overly tan old ladies with leather skin, uhm ew.





I have to hand it Revlon, I think it meets all those claims as mentioned above! In fact I was taken back by how moisturizing these glosses were! I was expecting a just a run-of-the-mill gloss but this felt as though I had also applied some lip balm! Love, love, love, esp. now that its winter!

The formula is rather non-sticky. I have my hair down today but alas no hair in my gloss! It has sparkle and shine but isn't gritty. However, if you are going to reapply it when you still have some product still on, it may feel a little gritty but that is normal and typical for a lipgloss!

The taste/flavor is a pure vanilla extract. I'm not talking vanilla like MAC lipglasses which are a vanilla but a pure vanilla, like open a bottle of it and BAM! A little sweet but not overwhelming!


Revlon ColorBurst Lipglosses in "Hot Pink" (Left) and "Peony" (Right)



I love the packaging of Revlon's Colorburst products! Its chic and cute black quilted pattern makes it look not like your average drug store lip product!

The wand is a doe-foot applicator but it is straight and bends to fit the curves of your lips (by no means is it flimsy!). You really do have control.





Since this gloss is somewhat new, it may be hard to find! But I bought mine at my local CVS (where they had a great Extra Bucks promotion going for Revlon, whaaaat!) but check your local drugstore, Walmart, Target, Ulta, wherever Revlon is sold!

Prices range from $7-$8 for the most part!






Overall, I want to collect them all! I love the formula, the pigmentation, everything they look amazing both in the tube and on the lips!

The two I have are in the color "Peony" and "Hot Pink". "Peony" is a gorgeous pink-peach, pretty much identical to NARS' "Orgasam" blush while "Hot Pink" is your hot Barbie pink!


Hot Pink
BARBIE PINK! Need I say more? Love hot pinks! Pair it with a simple eye, black liner and mascara and that is my go-to look!


Peony
Such a gorgeous peachy-pink, I am willing to say its an exact dupe for NARS' "Orgasm" blush!


***UPDATE***

CVS was still having their Revlon promo which helped me to earn Extra Bucks (more makeup!) so I kind of picked up 4 more colors!! BTW wore "Peony" over MAC's "Hue" lipstick and OH EM GEE. Lovee!

Ok New Color Time!

Top to Bottom: "Rosegold", "Crystal Lilac", "Orchid" and "Strawberry"


In case you doubted me ;)


"Rosegold"
This made my lips a little darker and added some sweet bronzeness to it with gold sparkle. A nice way to warm up a look!


"Crystal Lilac"
This is the only color out of the ones I have that seem to be a bit "milky", kind of more opaque. Its very pale lilac pink with slight purple sparkle.


"Orchid"
A super pretty lilac pink but unlike "Crystal Lilac" it isn't as opaque but rather has more shimmer and purple sparkle.


"Strawberry"
A very light red with great gold sparkle, a great every day red. Nothing too dramatic but a step up from the "I just had a cherry popsicle" red!

All in all, still loving these! I love these on their own but have also been thinking of great lipstick combination! If you have super pigmented lips like me and really wanna get the full affect, apply a slightly peachy-nude lipstick first! I love "Hue" from MAC! Not necessary, but if you want to amp it up because your lips are already pretty pigmented!!

So will you be trying out these glosses, or have you? I'd love to hear!!

xx Chelsea ♥

Post-Op Tweets

Ok, I'm sorry but I have to dedicate a post to my post-wisdom teeth removal tweets. They took out all 4, and I was informed redheads are harder to "knock out". When my mom saw I found my phone in a post-op daze, she was worried. So I thought I'd share those tweets.

Because they're probably better than Snooki's book.

"Im really tires now and it took five minurea but tgey said it took a hiur. And thwy gave me my toothes back for the tooth fairy."

"I dint get how chipmunks live like this. I cant freek my the big cheeks. Cheeks looks like cheese ,i want cheese."

"Cool people spell vheese with a z becayse it looks cooler chz. But chez is that name of that dude we ho lives on that island."

"My mom wamnts me ti sleep in the car while she is in cvs. But I can not. Some mught take advantage oven me."

"Some kadt jyst looked ar a shoppibg cart with an attitude. WHAT DID.IT DI TO YIU. ITS SEPERATED FRIM ITD FAMILY. UT HAS CHILDREN THOSR ... HAND BASKETS ARE ITS KIDZ. THET ARE FOSTER BASKETS."

Hahaha.

Now to go back to working on posts, sleeping with my new pillow-pet and eating pudding and other soft foods. Ew, not a fan of feeling stitches in my mouth.

xx Chelsea ♥

PILLOW PETS FTW.

December Favoritos!

Happy New Year Lovelies!!

I hope the holiday treated you well and that you're fully recovered!

I thought I'd do my December favorites, and I have a few. So I'll keep it short and sweet! And yes, this will be a very photo heavy blog post!

1. Stila Holiday 2010 Lip Glaze Set

Love, love, love this set. Pretty much the only things I've been putting on my lips. I'm on a gloss kick! Ever since the temperature dipped, I've been wearing strictly gloss! Full review and swatches can be found on this post: click me!

2. Juicy Couture Mini Spray Perfume Set

I'm not a big perfume wearer, most mornings I forget but I LOVE these scents! They come in little bottles so I don't feel guilty never finishing a bottle of perfume, they all smell amazing, and they're great for travel and throwing in my purse for when I come out of Chem smelling like acetone! Whaaat!

3. Stila's "Kitten", MAC's "Shroom", "Retrospeck", "Grain" and "Haux"

I have been loving Kitten, Shroom and Retrospeck all over the lid and Grain and Haux in the crease. Grain is a muted, not quite matte, medium brown. Adds subtle warmth. While Haux (contrary to the photo) is a bit deeper and has a plum tone to it. If MAC's "Sable" lost all its shimmer, almost! And to use these I've been loving these 2 brushes....

4. MAC 239 and 217

The 239 beautifully applies color all over and the 217 just fits perfectly in the crease to add some warmth and dimension!

5. Maybelline's "The Falsies" mascara and L'Oreal's Carbon Black Linear Intense Felt Tip Liquid Liner

These 2 products together make me look wide awake and alert, even if I'm not. My pale skin and blonde lashes leave me looking tired if I don't go with a good black mascara/liner combo! This liner has been a favorite for over a year! Review on "The Falsies" is here: click here! And the review for the liner is here: click here too!

6. E.L.F. (Eyes Lips Face) Eye Lash Curler

Best curler ever. And only ONE DOLLAR at Target. Uhm yeah, need I say more?!

7. Tarte's "Ring It In" Cheek Stain Set in "Vivid" and "Flawless"

These two cheek stains from Tarte are in a limited edition "Ring It In" set for the holidays so I'm not sure if its still readily available, but I love these 2 colors (there is a third bronzey one, but it makes me look like a penny, both bronze and cheap). I also love putting NARS' "Orgasm" on top of "Flawless" since it has the same peachy-pink flush as "Orgasm". And it seriously stayed put all day!

8. MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer

I have been running low on eyeshadow primer and for giggles I used this and OMG! Works almost better than UDPP! Just almost!

9. Nivea Creme

Again, another awesome product that was ONE DOLLAR! Amazing for dry hands!

10. Samsung Fascinate

Yup, my new cell phone. Love, love, love it! And now whenever I get an @reply, it makes a tweet-chirp noise that sounds like a real bird that confuses my dog! Ha ha. But this phone is amazeballs.

xx Chelsea ♥

Don't forget, click on photos to make them larger!!

Party Nails!

Hello lovelies!

Another post! I thought I'd share my super easy party nails I did for NYE and just to try out! Classic french tip with a bling twist!

I did use fake nails. I admit it. I love fake nails. Why? My body can't grow long nails! Its one of the problems with my thyroid, a lovely side-effect, dry skin, hair and dry-brittle nails!

My favorite brand has to be the "Broadway Nails", natural, real-short length. They seriously look natural. It amazes people to find out that I have fake nails on. I don't suggest getting the pre-glued ones, they don't last nearly as long! These can easily last a week! And if one falls off, I keep the glue in my purse and its an easy fix! Or if you're home just rub a little nail polish remover to remove the glue and re-apply!

Super easy and around $5! Much better then going to the salon and paying $35 for acrylics that will last 2 weeks! Plus, these aren't as much as a commitment! But I love these!

To add a little bling, I applied a little stripe of silver-glitter polish from Milani (CVS), they have a great selection of nail art polishes, that is polishes with a fine brush to help with nail design! These are around $4- $5 but the one I used, "Art of Silver" is super impressive.

And while hopping around CVS I found this little tin of Nive Creme which is awesome for moisturizing super dry hands! And get this, $0.99, yes under a dollar!

I'll shut up now and post the pics!


Fav brand for glue-on nails!


Heads up if you're looking for this, it comes in a clear little box!








Keep your pretty party nail hands hydrated! New favorite!

Have you ever used fake nails or gotten acrylics, like 'em or hate 'em? And as always, for a larger pics, click on them! :)

♥ Chelsea

New Favorite Mascara and More!

Hello, hello lovelies!

I thought it was time for a review on my new favorite mascara, Maybelline's "The Falsies".

Maybelline claims that this will give you the look of false lashes without the actual need of false lashes. And while I may not go as far as saying that they are falsies in a tube, they come pretty close.

I've been a Covergirl Lashblast girl from the get-go, but I've never felt completely whole with it. It the huge brush was awesome for packing on the volume but never did maneuver well on my lashes.

I bought "The Falsies" on a whim at Target since it was only $5.04 (really do we need the extra four cents, can't we just round it somehow?) and to be honest I wasn't expecting much. In fact, I thought I should also but a tube of LashBlast in case this failed.

But I didn't. And I didn't have to.

This stuff is like lash crack. It does amazing job coating every lash, and all of it. No more blonde roots peaking out! The wand is what had me in awe (if one can even be in awe from a mascara).

Its a traditional bristle applicator but it has a slight spoon-like curved. And the applicator itself it very flexible but not flimsy.

I start with the curve side down, apply then switch to the curve side up and that helps me get inside all the little corners of the lashes, allowing a full, rich, flawless application.

Of course this is with the aid of a lash curler. I picked up the E.L.F one for a buck, and it works well, eye lash curlers do not have to be $25!

Overall, I'll give it an A. Just Maybelline, don't air commercials for this mascara saying no false lashes needed when the models are in fact sporting very big, fake lashes!






Without product on left, with on the right


Without product on left, with on the right

I hope you all had an amazing holiday, and were able to spend it with those who mean the most! And that Santa was good to you! ;)

He was good to me, got everything on my list but instead of a Droid 2 I helped him decide the Samsung Fascinate is even awesomer! And my new techbaby, haha! The screen on this is like unbelievable, photo does not do it justice!



♥ Chelsea

Christmas Tag Overload!

Hello Lovelies!

FINALS ARE OVER. THAT SEMESTER IS OVER. I am now on my bed, back home for Christmas break. Max is sleeping under a blanket next to me and it is the cutest thing I have ever seen!

I thought I'd do a couple holiday tags and make it one giant one!

1. Favorite Holiday Movie
I have an addiction to ELF. I can watch it over 20 times during the season and not grow tired. I can and do recite it often. Also love the original Santa Clause, original Miracle on 34th Street and the Bishop's Wife! But Elf is the only one I can watch and watch and watch and not get tired. Even though I am 20, I will still YouTube Christmas specials of my favorite cartoons. Like Rugrats! And I have a bunch of shows on DVD so I'll watch those :)

And home videos!!!

2. Favorite Holiday Color
I love red and gold together. I think its gorgeous. I also love the glow of the classic colored Christmas lights (not the new LED ones that lack pink) but I don't think that is a color...oh well!

3. Do You Like To Stay in Your PJs Or Dress Up For Christmas?
PJS! I own too many holiday PJ bottoms. I love wearing some penguin pants!

4. If You Could Only Buy One Person a Present This Year Who Would It Be?
My Mom, I always spend the most on her. She deserves it. And is amazing.

5. Do You Open Your Present Christmas Eve Or Christmas Morning?
I peek and search the house and then we have to wait til Christmas Morning. Santa doesn't even come till Christmas Eve....DUH!

6.Have You Ever Built a Ginger Bread House?
A few but they turn out to be hot messes. And no one eats them. The pre-packaged ones taste like ginger flavored cardboard.

7. What Do You Like To Do On Your Christmas Break?
SLEEP. This year, I spent the week of finals and week before up to almost 4 am every freakin night. Also just love doing nothing and relaxing. And enjoying home!

8. Any Christmas Wishes?
World Peace! Cure for cancer! All that good stuff!!

9. Favorite Christmas Smell?
Vanilla Bean Noel. I just sprayed my room with it!

10. Favorite Christmas meal or treat?
Peanut-Butter Blossom Cookies. You know the PB cookies with the Hershey kiss! And Chocolate Oranges. OMG.

11. Any Family Traditions?
We used to have a ton for Christmas Eve. Go to my Aunt & Uncle's for dinner, go check out the Christmas lights, candle-light church service then bed to wait for Santa! And he'd always leave our stockings on our bedroom door handles so we wouldn't wake mom up at 4 am!

12. Do you live where it snows?
Northeast baby! Its snowing now!

13. Do you ever go Christmas caroling?
Nopppeee. I just carol loudly around the house when no one is home.

14. What makes you happiest about Christmas?
Being done with school and with my family. And the joy that people have this time of the year is amazing.

15. What do you want for Christmas?
Did a post on this! Got one present early since Best Buy was having a sale, got the Samsung Facinate, which is a thing of beauty! Wishlist post is here: http://legallystrawberryblonde2.blogspot.com/2010/12/dear-santa.html

I TAG YOU!! Please do this tag and let me know!! I want to hear!!

♥ Chelsea