First Impressions and Review: e.l.f. Cosmetics lip exfoliator

As part of my recent Ulta haul, I purchased the e.l.f. cosmetics lip exfoliator in clear.  The e.l.f. lip exfoliator also comes in mint and cherry tart.  I decided to give it a try since I am not happy with the other exfoliators I've tried out.  A lip exfoilator should be in everyone's cosmetics tool bag.  It is a great way to sloughs off dead skin from lips so that your lipsticks and lip glosses go on smooth.  Skin peels on lips make you look older and no one wants that!

The e.l.f. lip exfoliator comes in a black, cardboard container.  The packaging is a little bit (and unnecessarily) bulky for me.  The exfoliator itself is a black, sleek tube and fits nicely in any normal sized lipstick holder.  The clear lip exfoliator smells like vanilla and looks pretty cool.  You can see the microbeads inside the lipstick applicator.  The directions, which you will want to follow, have you wet your lips first.  This will help to move the applicator around your lips.  The first few swipes really did not accomplish anything.  You will have to move the lip exfoliator across your lips at least 4-6 times before you will feel the microbeads work.  Once you feel the beads across your lips, you do notice that your lips are softer and smoother.  To me, it feels like a nice massage.  After you are done, wash your lips and put on your favorite lip balm to moisturize.

Is it worth the hype?  Bottom line: yes!  The e.l.f. lip exfoliator was super easy to use and it did make my lips visibly smoother so that my lipstick application stayed on longer and looked flawless.  And at $3 per lip exfoliator, you can't go wrong.  If you would like to get your hands on the e.l.f. lip exfoliator, click here or here.

Take a Coffee Break with Friends with Benefit

Ulta  is having a great beauty break deal for today only.  If you plan on purchasing $50 of beauty products on Ulta online, you will receive a Free 4-pc Benefit Gift.  From the picture, it looks like you will be gifted Benefits' Hoola Zero Tanlines, Shy Beam liquid highlighter, Lolli balm (a hydrating lip balm), and Dew the Hoola (brozner).  All products that will get you ready for spring and summer.  Hurry with this deal as it is only good for 6 hours (10AM-4PM CT) today!

Product Review - Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Sparkle Berry

Mary Kay Cosmetics is offering new and limited shades of their NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss Line.  Just looking at the new catalog, we could not resist trying out the
Mary Kary NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Sparkle Berry.  The NouriShine Gloss goes on super smooth and quenches dry lips.  The intense berry color provides ample coverage and can be worn without the need for reapplying for 8 hours.  Overall, we really liked the hue of the new limited edition.  It provides a great wine color with a little glitz (all thanks to the shimmer) that transitions well from winter into the spring.  We would also consider wearing this color in the Fall.  Sparkle Berry also pairs well with the new Pantone Summer color--Marsala.   This also goes well with a blue blouse, particularly turquoise.  For those who may be a little color shy, you can either apply half the amount of Sparkle Berry to your lips or blot some of the excess away.   Sparkle Berry is available online or thorough your Mary Kay consultant for $14.00 (0.15 fl oz).

Give Me Some Lip

Add a bit of pop in your wardrobe by featuring your lips front and center.  Stilla has their Putting On The Glitz Lip Glaze Set on sale for $35.00 (orig. $42, valued at $138).  The set includes 8 deluxe lip glazes in Glamour, Gleam, Glint, Glow, Glitter, Glimmer, Glisten and Glory.  Set also has rose gold leaf headband.

Glow in the Morning

Wake up in the morning to the scent of fresh oranges and magnolia.  Origins has an amazing gift set that has the GinZing brightening mascara (full size), GinZing energy boosting moisturizer (1 oz), GinZing refreshing eye cream (0.17 oz), Berry Splash Hydrating Lip balm (0.25 oz) in a cute 100% recycled cotton bag.  The Let Us Glow kit costs $28 (orig. $52.00).  The set makes a great gift for family, friends and even yourself.  It's also a good way of trying out the lip balm and eye cream before committing to the full size options.  Let Us Glow is a limited kit so hurry and purchase your's today!