MAC Flighty Collection (May 5)

MAC's Flighty Collection is going to be released on May 5, 2011 in the US and Canada. They're throwing quite a lot of collections at us, aren't they? This release will be a little better than usual: 15 Big Bounce eyeshadows!

I know, I'd rather these be 15 new colors of paint pots too! These shadows are supposed to be very sheer and creamy. I've heard that though quite light, fluffy, and flighty, they don't stick around your lids for too long. Hence the flightiness! But maybe I'm wrong and they'll be awesome - and we'll have something new to love.

Expect vibrant Zoom Lash mascaras, 242 brush, and newly formulated eyeshadows.

Are you anticipating the Flighty collection? Or picked up anything from Quite Cute?

Disclaimer: Handmade Reviews is not affiliated with MAC Cosmetics. Images courtesy of O My.

Giveaway Winners!

There were a lot of entries to sort through but I finally have three winners drawn via random.org. Congratulations girls! Check your emails & I hope you like your prizes!

The winner of the Sigma Brush Giveaway is:
F80 Brush: Carrie from This Free Bird (carrie****@gmail.com) [Blog]

The winners of the Sephora Gift Cards Giveaway are:
$40 Gift Card: Lisa Batel (heartlis******@yahoo.com)
$10 Gift Certificate: Amy Trankiem (amy********@gmail.com) [Blog]

I am also going to link the winners' site here if they have one so we can spread the joy! (Winners with blogs, please tell me your url so I can link you.)

Haven't won yet? You still have a chance to win a $29.99 credit to JewelMint!

Random picture of delicious avocado sushi I had for lunch. =)

JewelMint Giveaway

CLOSED - Check Out New Giveaways!

Win a JewelMint jewelry of your choice! This giveaway will end April 30, 2011 11:59PM EST. Two winners will win their choice of jewelry (valued at $29.99 each) from JewelMint. Winners will be selected via random.org and contacted for their address and jewelry selection. This giveaway is for US residents only because JM only ships to US. (Sorry, but I am hosting a huge international giveaway soon!)

To enter, just be a follower and fill out the form once. You get one extra entry if you blog about the giveaway or link the giveaway on your sidebar. This means you only have to do one or the other and you can only get one extra entry no matter what.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is not sponsored by JewelMint. Prizes are bought with my own credit.

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Clinique Acne Solution Foundation and Bonus Time Gifts

I got my Clinique acne solutions liquid foundation from Macy's to counter those little irritating bumps on my forehead.

It's really just 0.5% salicylic acid added to regular foundation.

Too cool for me, but I can now wear foundation without worsening my breakout.

Dries very quickly, but blends okay.

And with my purchase came some fun gifts:

Oh, and two pretty makeup bags!

• Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, 1 oz./30ml
• Lash Doubling Mascara in Black, .14 OZ./4g
• Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips, 1.7 FL.OZ./50ml
• Clinique Colour Compact: Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Twilight Mauve/Brandied Plum, Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Smoldering Plum
• 2-in-1 Lipstick & Gloss Duo - Different Lipstick in Shy, 1.3g/.04 OZ o Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Mystic, .15 FL OZ/4.5ml"

I was impressed with this free compact.

The lipstick can be removed from the lip gloss.

Left to right: Twilight Mauve eyeshadow, Brandied Plum eyeshadow, Smoldering Plum blush, Shy lipstick and Mystic lip gloss

I'll review the foundation in a few weeks. You can get the bonus kit at a Clinique counter with purchase of $21.50. :) I'm glad I made this purchase. I admit I don't need any of these things - but who doesn't love freebies?

CoverGirl Continuous Color Lipstick Review

I just picked up CoverGirl Continuous Color lipstick in Bistro Burgundy and I am super impressed with it! Not so much because of the color, but because it feels completely non-drying on my lips. Its texture is very creamy and it glides on smoothly.

Here, I am comparing it with a sample of Clinique High Impact Rouge in Rosette:

CoverGirl Continuous Color Lipstick in 430 Bistro Burgundy and Clinique High Impact Rouge Impact Lipstick in 17 Rosette

Bistro Burgundy and Rosette

They are similar, but Rosette is more pink with fine glitters. Bisto Burgundy is a deeper red and a lot more moisturizing (though Rosette in itself is not dry). The staying power of both are similar: four to five hours at most. I am going to pick up a few more colors of CoverGirl Continuous Color lipsticks. It's definitely one of the better drugstore lipsticks I've tried.

Light application of Bistro Burgundy

Jewelmint Aqua Bomb Ring

There was nothing in it for me this month at Jewelmint so I bought this re-released Aqua Bomb ring. And I'm glad I did, because it is sold out again.

It came in an aqua-ish box instead of black. How cute!

I always adore the personal descriptions.

Most items have Jewelmint inscribed.

It looks so good on Kate Bosworth!

This is the third item I bought from Jewelmint and I have to say that I'm pretty satisfied with my selection. I never bought their recommended-for-you jewelry and instead opted to pick my own every time. I know myself best and I'm pretty darn proud of it. :) [Click here to see my other Jewelmint selections.]

L'oreal Double Extrend Eye Illuminator Mascara

I really like the idea of this double-wand, customized-to-your-eye-color mascara. It didn't do much for my brown eyes though.

This wand is the black base mascara.

This wand has the pearlescent topcoat that is supposed to illuminate your eyes.

The wand did a very good job of separating my lashes for a very natural look, but it didn't fill my lashes out or add any major volume. The "topcoat" is a layer of fine golden brown glitter. I really liked it when I first applied it. I felt illuminated in a way. Though I didn't notice anything, I kept hoping someone would compliment my pearlescent eyelashes, as L'oreal would describe it. But time went on and no one noticed - and I concluded that the pretty topcoat really just took away from the darkness and depth of the actual mascara. This mascara gets a B-.

I also got my hands on the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki brush:

I absolute love the brush! It's a soft kabuki with a long handle that makes for easy application. I always use my MAC 187 brush to apply my liquid foundation, but I have recently been using a lot of mineral foundation. I think this brush works a lot better for that purpose because it helps me save a lot of product.

StyleMint Coupons 2012 (by Mary-Kate and Ashley)

StyleMint Coupon Codes December 2012

SMSHW50 Save 20% off your first order when you click and apply coupon at checkout. This StyleMint coupon is valid for new customers / new accounts only. Coupon expires December 31, 2012.

Mary-Kate and Ashley are teaming up with Beachmint, the company behind Kate Bosworth's JewelMint.com, to launch an exclusive t-shirt store, StyleMint.com. (Wow, that's a lot of mint.) StyleMint will function a lot like JewelMint except that they sell t-shirts instead of jewelry: each shirt will cost $29.99 and a new collection of shirts will come out every month.

StyleMint's first collection will be launching in July, but you can go to their website now to get on the membership list. From what I've read, the first collection will consist of eight styles of cotton/Modal tees, including crew-necks, V-necks, relaxed Henley and wedge. Each style will be available in different colors such as white, cream, heather gray,navy, light blue and striped. Knits and sweaters may become available in the future.

I really like JewelMint so I anticipate that StyleMint will be just as wonderful. I don't like to pay $30 for a t-shirt though, so I really hope that the designs are amazing or they incorporate sweaters and knits into future collections. I will definitely check out their stuff, but I probably won't get a membership unless these shirts are really worth the money.

Sigma Makeup Eyeshadow Palettes (June 24)

Here is a sneak peak of the new Sigma Makeup eyeshadow palettes coming out next month. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous! [Update: Click here to see the swatches and here to read the review].

Three eyeshadow palettes in Flare, Dare, and Bare.

Bare

Dare

Flare

These palettes retail for $35 each. That price isn't too bad considering each palette comes with a two end brush. I am looking forward to buying Bare to test out the quality. Let's hope it's worth the wait!

For anyone attending IMATS in LA this year, be sure to stop by Sigma's booth for a free gift: mini eyeshadow palettes!

Disclaimer: Images courtesy of Sigma Makeup. I am not being compensated for this post nor was I asked to make it. I am a Sigma affiliate. This does not affect my opinion.

BH Cosmetics 120 Palette Giveaway Winner

I used random.org to select a winner and the winner of the BH Cosmetics 120 Palette Giveaway is:

G A B Y (gaby*******@hotmail.com)

Congratulations Gaby! Gaby also runs a wonderful blog called Gaby's Beauty Blog. Make sure to check her blog out and share the love.

There are still two giveaways going on so everyone still has a chance to win: Sephora gift cards & Sigma brushes.

Happy April 1st everyone! (This is not an April's Fool joke.) =)