My Favorite Things: Clinique Chubby Stick

I decided to start a new segment called "My Favorite Things" here at Glass Slippers and Combat Boots.  Each month I will write about my favorite product of the month.

This month I chose:

the Clinique Chubby Stick

I recently got one as a part of the Clinique Bonus Time at my local mall.  I am obsessed with this product.  It is ah-mazing.  I have a confession, I am not a huge lipstick person.  Yes, I wear it on special occasions, but otherwise I stick to chapstick and lip stain.  The chubby stick is the perfect product for people like me.  Clinique calls the product a "moisturizing lip colour balm."  The chubby stick moisturizes and glides on like lip balm, but has color like lipstick.  It feels so soft and smooth on my lips and it lasts.

I chose the color Super Strawberry.  It is a very pretty pink color.  It would be a great color on any skin tone.

The chubby stick comes in a range of colors.  I can't wait to grab a few more.  I don't want to wear anything else on my lips anymore.

If you would like more information on the Clinique Chubby Stick, you can check out the product pages for on the websites for Clinique and Sephora.

Well, that's my favorite product of the month.  Have you tried the chubby stick?  If so, what do you think about it?  If not, what is your favorite product this month?

How to Give Yourself the Perfect Pedicure at Home

It's that time of year again!  SPRING BREAK!  Spring break is a sign it is time to break out some of my favorite things... flip flops.  Flip flops are a spring break must have if you are headed to the pool, the beach, or when you are making a quick run to the store for party supplies.  Here in the Sunshine state though, we tend to wear flip flops and sandals almost year round.

After wearing boots and tennis shoes for most of the "winter" (yes, I put it in quotes because in Florida we don't have much of a winter).  I decided that it was time to give myself a pedicure.  The dry weather combined with my love of boots has really taken it's toll on my feel.  They aren't pretty.  So today I decided it was time for a pedicure.  Naturally I don't feel like spending a ton of money for pedicures every week, but with a few supplies I can do my own at home.

Step 1:

Take off any polish that is on your toes.

Step 2:

Clip your toenails.  Clip them straight across and do not round the edges.  Doing so prevents getting ingrown toenails!  If you would like to file your nails, file them the same way (rather than back and forth) as it helps to prevent your nails from breaking.

Step 3:

Add a little bit of cuticle cream if you would like (I used Sally Hansen Healthy Cuticles Now).  Gently, push back cuticles with an orangewood stick.  If you start to push back the skin around your toes... STOP.

Step 4:

Fill up your bathtub or a small bin with warm water.  Let your feet soak in the water for at least 15 minutes (the more dead skin you have on your feet, the longer you'll need to soak them).  Add a few drops of some essential oils (such as peppermint) or bath salts if you would like to.

Step 5:

This is the gross part.  Scrape the dead skin off of your feet focusing on your heels, the balls of your feet, and the sides of your feet.  For this you can use a foot scraper or pumice stone (I use a Ped Egg).  Warning: Do not scrub too hard.  If your skin looks pink stop.  The point is to take off the excess rough skin, but you do need some tough skin left to help protect your feet.  I use the Ped Egg.

Step 6:

Slather on a foot cream.  Put on socks to help the cream to really soak into your feet.  For added hydration, leave your socks on overnight.  I used Gold Bond Ultimate Softening Foot Cream with Shea Butter.

Step 7:

Put on a thin coat of nail polish base.  This helps to protect your nails from being stained by your nail polish, as well as help your polish last longer.  I used Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Diamond Shine Base & Top Coat.  Make sure that you wash all cream off of your nails before applying your base or polish.

Step 8:

Paint your nails with your favorite nail polish.  Use cotton balls to keep your toes from touching each other.

I chose China Glaze nail polish in Re-Fresh Mint.

Step 9:

After your polish dries, add a clear top coat to help your polish last longer.

You're all finished!  Make sure your polish is completely dry before putting on shoes or walking around too much.  If your polish starts to chip, it's time to give yourself another pedicure!

What is your spring polish color?  Do you prefer the DIY yourself approach, or do you visit the salon.

Review: Too Faced Bronzer in Snow Bunny

The issue: During the summer, I tan quickly and my skin looks great.  But during the winter, I have very light skin. I really do not enjoy having such light skin... must be a Florida thing... so I am constantly looking for a way to add a little color to my skin.

During my Sephora Haul last month, I searched for a product to add some color to my pale skin.  While speaking with a saleswoman at Sephora, I told her I was interested in trying a bronzer, but I did not want anything too drastic or anything that would make me orange.  I explained that I was looking for something to add some natural looking color to my skin.  Her suggestion?  Too Faced Perfecting Bronzing Powder in Snow Bunny.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I simply adore this product.  Snow Bunny features four shades, white, golden bronze, delicate pink, and fawn glimmer (see above photo, left to right).  The four shades let you customize your application.  This is not a matte bronzer, but has a bit of shimmer to it.  While it is shimmery, it is not glittery.  I feel that the shimmer helps to make my skin look a little more healthy.  The bronzer comes in a compact which also features a mirror.  The compact is about 3 inches wide, so it is the perfect size to throw in your purse to apply on the go.  I have to add, the outside of the compact is absolutely adorable!

Application: I like to use delicate pink and fawn glimmer as blush, and use primarily white and golden bronze (with a little of delicate pink and fawn glimmer) for the rest of my face.  I typically apply the bronzer in the shape of the number 3 on each side of my face, and then add a little to the bridge of my nose.  When it comes to brush choice, I use the Too Faced Flatbuki (you can read my review of the Too Faced Flatbuki here).  They work fabulously together.

As you can tell, I absolutely love this product.  I only took off a half star because I feel like I have to apply a lot to get the color that I want.  But everyone uses a different amount, so it make take you less product to achieve your perfect glow.  I have to add, this can be taken as a positive, rather than a negative.  With many bronzers I have seen, you think you are putting on just a little bit, and then you realize that you have put on way too much.  This is definitely not the case with this bronzer.

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora or Too Faced in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was completely honest.  It was not affected by anyone else.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

As always, I would love to hear what you think about my review.  If you have any questions about the product, please feel free to leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer them. :)

Review: Too Faced Sun on the Run kit

Another review from my recent Sephora Haul.

I had been looking at the Too Faced Flatbuki brush on Sephora's website when I came across this kit.  For $5 more it included a mini bronzer in Sun Bunny.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The flatbuki brush isn't your average brush.  It is, however, more or less what it sounds like... a flat kabuki brush.  The brush stands about 2 1/2 inches tall and rather than being super thick like the kabuki, it has more of a flat appearance.  My favorite things about this brush are the super soft "Teddy Bear Hair"bristles (bonus: they are cruelty free).  Not to mention the shiny pink handle is simply adorable.

The kit also includes a bronzing powder in Sun Bunny (0.08 oz).  At first, I was a little intimidated by the color of it.  Once I tried it on, I fell in love!  The color is simply beautiful, and gave my skin a pretty tan color (without looking orange).  The sad thing is that it made my face a little too tan for the rest of my body, so I think I may keep it in my make up bag for now.  But once it gets a little warmer, you can bet that I will use it daily!

When I opened saw this box, I was pretty surprised.  It was much smaller than I expected.  For the price, I had hoped for a little more.  But because it was only $5 more for the bronzer, I think it was still worth purchasing.

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora or Too Faced in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was not affected by anyone else and was completely honest.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

Review: Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit

For my first review, I thought I would start with the Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit which I bought during my recent Sephora Haul.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying although this kit was pretty expensive, it comes with a lot!  The kit includes the HD Microperfecting Primer (0.5 oz), one bottle of HD Invisible Cover Foundation (1.01 oz), the HD Microfinish Powder (0.17 oz), and the HD Kabuki Brush.  I thought I would give you a break down review of each product in the order in which I use them.

The first product I apply is the HD Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral.  At first, I was a little disappointed by how small it was.  However, I quickly realized that a little goes a long way.  The primer has a very light and pleasant scent which I only smell during the application.  It makes my face feel soft and I can definitely feel it creating the perfect base for applying my foundation.  Be sure to let the primer dry before applying your foundation.

Next comes the HD Invisible Cover Foundation.  One thing that is great about this kit is that it lets you choose your own shade of foundation.  At the Sephora store, you just pick your bottle of foundation and place it in the box.  When purchasing online, you choose the kit with your shade in it.  My foundation is #117 in Marble (for light skin with yellow undertones), but I will definitely have to move up a few shades during the summer (although I am very pale in the winter, I tan very easily in the summer).  I noticed a difference between the HD Invisible Cover Foundation and my previous foundation.  This foundation gives great coverage, something that I am always looking for.  I wouldn't say that I have horrible skin, but I wouldn't say that I have great skin either.  I guess I am somewhere in between.  Surprisingly, I found that the foundation feels much lighter and natural on my face than others with extra coverage.  I usually feel that I have to either sacrifice coverage or feel with foundations, but this one has it all!  The HD Invisible Cover Foundation comes in a ton of different shades, so I was able to find one that matched my skin perfectly, rather than having to choose one that was a little too light or a little too dark.  I also have combination skin.  I found that this foundation works well with combo skin because it has enough moisture to not be drying, but it doesn't add extra oil either.  To apply to my skin, I use my Sephora Professional #45 mineral powder brush.  I dab the foundation onto my skin, and then blend it in with the brush in a circular motion.

The last two products, the HD Microfinish Powder and the HD Kabuki Brush, I use together.  The Kabuki is super soft and it feels amazing on my face.  The base is about 1 inch wide, and the brush stands a little under 3 inches tall.  The brush is very thick and despite it's small size, it gives full coverage.

The HD Microfinish Powder pleasantly surprised me.  In fact, it amazed me!  I honestly didn't think it would make that big of a difference, but wow. Wow, wow, wow.  This little pot of powder makes all the difference.  It is ultra fine powder and is made from 100% silica.  It is uber soft and feels like I'm rubbing pixie dust on my face.  Or crushed pearls.  Or you know, something else magical.  Not only does it feel magical, but it really creates the perfect finish to my makeup.  It really makes my skin flawless looking.  The powder slightly mattifies your skin, it's translucent, and it works with any skin tone.  This is also an Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, so you know it has to be good!

All in all, this is one amazing kit.  My skin feels great, and it looks great too.  It is long lasting, so I don't have to worry about it melting off of my face or having to reapply throughout the day.  I am tempted to carry my powder and kabuki in my purse with me, just because they feel so amazing.  Although this set is a little pricey, it is a great deal.  The kit costs $79, but it is a $109 value.  When I first bought this kit, I thought that it probably wouldn't be too much better than my usual foundation (which I could pick up at any drugstore or my local Walmart), but I was dead wrong.  I know now that I will never be able to go back to my old makeup.

At Sephora, you can test these products before you buy them, so I would definitely recommend trying trying out the foundation before purchasing it so that you are able to match your shade.

Now it's your turn.  What do you think of this kit?  Would you like to try it?  Have you tried any of the products before?  Which products do you use and love?

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora or Make Up For Ever in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was not affected by anyone else and was completely honest.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase the Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit or any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

Sephora Haul!

For Christmas, I received a few gift cards for my local mall.  What happens when I have money to spend at the mall?  I go crazy in Sephora!

If you haven't heard of Sephora, I urge you to find one near you or check out their website as soon as you finish reading this post.  You can check out their website here.  One of the things that I love most about Sephora is that they carry a number of different brands in addition to their own.  This makes it easy to pick out the best product for you without having to remain with the same brand.  I also love that you can try almost every product before you buy it.  Also the salespeople at my Sephora are so friendly and helpful.

I had my eye on the Make Up Forever HD Complexion Starter Kit for a few weeks, so naturally that is where I headed first.  The kit includes HD Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral, HD Invisible Cover Foundation in your shade (mine is #117), HD Microfinish Powder, and HD Kabuki Brush.  (You can read my review of the HD Complexion Starter Kit here).

I also purchased the Sephora professional #45 mineral powder brush.  With the multitude of brushes placed before me, I asked a Sephora salesperson for help.  She recommended the mineral brush because it would take less time to use than a regular foundation brush and that it gave your makeup an airbrushed look.

I also looked for a concealer to help hide my dark under-eye circles (more on that in a post coming soon).  Once again, I was overwhelmed, but my salesperson helped me narrow down my choices.  After trying on a few concealers, I chose the Amazing Concealer in Light Golden.  I chose the smallest tube, but a larger one is also available.

In addition to concealer, I looked for a bronzer to add a little color to my light skin.  I was a little nervous about choosing a bronzer because I did not want to look like a pumpkin.  I tried on Too Faced bronzer in Snow Bunny and fell in love!  The color is great to add some warmth to my often too pale skin. (You can read my review of the Too Faced Bronzer in Snow Bunny here.)

As I hunted for a good bronzer brush, I picked the Too Faced Sun on the Run kit.  The kit includes a mini bronzer in Sun Bunny and the Too Faced flatbuki brush.  So small.  So cute.  (You can read my review of the Too Faced Sun on the Run kit here.)

Last, I picked up some Sephora brush cleaner to help me clean off my pretty new brushes.  I chose the small bottle so that I can see how much I like it, but a larger bottle is also available.

As usual, Sephora also hooked me up with lots of awesome free samples!  Really, who doesn't love free stuff?


Through the poll I posted last week, I found out that you all would like to read some reviews and recommendations.  As a result, I decided that I will be posting reviews of all of these products in the near future.  Once I do, I will add the links to this post so that if you ever decide to re-read it, you will have access to all of the product reviews.  Don't worry, I will be sure to spread them out so that you don't get too tired of make up (if that could ever happen).  Look for my first review on the MUFE HD kit soon.  It is definitely my favorite out of these purchases and I am dying to write about it.

Have you tried any of these products?  If so, which one?  If not, which one would you most likely want to try?

Oh and before I forget, for those of you wanting to know a little more about me, check out my new "About Me" tab located at the top of the page.  If you have any questions about me that are not answered there, feel free to ask.  There is another new tab up there as well with a list of a few of my favorite blogs.  Let me know what you think! :)

#8. Find a pretty fall nail polish color

The other day while I was visiting my local drugstore (picking up supplies for a school assignment of course), I couldn't resist walking through the beauty department.  I decided that it was time to pick out my fall nail polish color.  After all, it is part of my fall challenge!  There were so many pretty colors to choose from.  During the summer, my nail polish motto is, "the brighter, the better!"  Now that it's fall, I decided to try something a little different.  After much deliberation, I chose a bottle of NYC In A New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in a pretty shade called Manhattan.  Manhattan is a dark purple color (maybe you could call it mauve).  My favorite thing about the NYC nail polish line is how inexpensive it is.  I bought a 0.33 oz bottle for $2.  Although this nail polish is not a top of the line polish, I change colors frequently (I try to repaint them at least once a week), I can't afford to buy the expensive brands every time.  All in all, I was happy with my purchase and I love my new fall color! :)

From NYC:
"At last, a manicure that moves at the speed of Manhattan. NYC's In a New York Color Minute nail polish is slick, glossy polish that goes from wet to set in less than 60 seconds with a special control-flow brush that dispenses just the right amount of color for perfect application…even if you need to apply while heading across town in a taxi. Be vibrant, be brilliant and be bright for less."

Pros:
Wide range of colors
Dries quickly
Inexpensive
Full brush

Cons:
Needs top coat for shine/even finish
Must use at least 2 coats for even color

Here is a photo.  It isn't great but that is only because my camera cord is missing and I had to use my phone. :)  Also, I'm out of clear top coat, so I will have to post another photo once I restock so my nails will look all pretty and shiny.

Here is another photo featuring someone with very pretty nails and a very nice camera. :)

As you can see, the color is dark purple, but in certain light, you can see a hint of red.

Have you every tried NYC nail polish?  What is your favorite "on-a-budget" nail polish line?