Swatchfest: new CQ and Petites Color Fever polishes

As promised, here are swatches of all the new CQ and Petites Color Fever shades I've purchased over the past few weeks.

Let's start with my absolute favorite:

CQ Rustic Dream

(retail: $2.99)

Three coats, no top coat

As you can see, this is a beautiful rust/orange/pink duochrome. It is even more stunning in person, let me assure you. I literally can't stop looking at my nails when I'm wearing this one.

CQ Golden Green

(retail: $2.99)

Two coats, no top coat

Golden Green isn't really unique, but it's still a lovely olive green with gold shimmer. I have plenty of shades like this, so I'm sort of regretting this purchase because I was hoping it might be a little different on the nail.

CQ Slate

(retail: $2.99)

Two coats, no top coat

This is a lovely, vampy, dark teal and I have nothing like it in my stash so I love it BUT: warning! Slate is a @#$%& to remove. It didn't stain my nails, but it left a lot of color behind on my skin (on the sides of my nails) and also underneath my nails. I'd double-up on base coat if you're planning to wear this one.

Next, here is Daze, layered over Slate:

Petites Color Fever Daze

(retail: $3.99)

I prefer Daze, which is a lovely glass-flecked(?) lime green, as a layering polish and I really LOVE it over Slate. I'll show Daze to you by itself in a second.

Here is 24K Gold over Rustic Dream:

Petites Color Fever 24K Gold

(retail: $3.99)

I totally did NOT need to layer 24K Gold over Rustic Dream, but I didn't know it would be so opaque until I tried it. As you can see, 24K Gold completely blocks out the rust shade of Rustic Dream. You really can't see that color underneath. Oh, and this was two coats of 24K Gold under three coats of Rustic Dream. No top coat.

Now I'll show you both 24K Gold and Daze with NO base color underneath either shade:

Two coats 24K Gold

Three coats Daze

No top coat

In these pictures, it's hard to see the true beauty of 24K Gold, which is packed with gold and reddish-bronze microglitter. It looks sandpaper-ish in my pics, but that's only because I didn't apply a top coat. In person, it's not too bumpy at all because the glitter is so fine, and a top coat completely eliminates the gritty texture. This is such a stunning gold glitter--it might be my favorite of anything I own. The texture of this polish is quite similar to the Milani One Coat Glitters (kind of like glitter glue) but the glitter particles are finer.

Daze is so pretty--I think it might be similar to a Zoya shade--would anyone like to chime in with a dupe?

If you missed the other new shade I swatched last week, Pink Diamond, you can see that here.

So, do you have any of the newest CQ or Color Fever polishes yet? How do you like them?

More new CQ and Petites Color Fever shades (pic heavy)

I want to thank my amazing reader Roanna for kindly sending these pics of the new shades she spotted from CQ and Petites Color Fever. If you saw my previous posts, you know that both CQ and Petites Color Fever have just released new shades and the displays are popping up at Rite Aid locations across the country.

Well, Roanna also spotted some new shades that are NOT in the counter displays I showed you here. But they are definitely new shades, and they're so pretty I can't wait to show them to you. Please note: there are some existing shades in these pics as well, but the majority of these colors are brand new.

image credit for all of the following photos: Roanna for Nouveau Cheap

Pistachio, Mint Green and Pearls

Golden Green, Pink Candy and Coral Pink

Rustic Dream, Candy Grape and Slate

Peachy Keen, Purple Passion and Mystical

Milk Chocolate, Vintage and Ivory

Eggplant and Blush

Peachy Keen and Idyllic

Tahitian Green, Slate and Corduroy

Solar, Neon Dream, Virgo and Daze

Zodiac and Galaxy

Electric Indigo, Periwinkle and Cream Rose

Again, a few of these shades are existing core collection colors, but the majority of them are brand new and I could not be more grateful to Roanna for sending these pics our way!

Please check back in a few for my swatches of some of these shades--one in particular is so gorgeous I cannot stop staring at it!

Have you spotted these new CQ and Color Fever polishes in your area yet? Do you own any? What shades did you get?

The Lipstick League - week of 3.21.11

Welcome to the inaugural post for The Lipstick League! We are a group of beauty bloggers, bound together by the desire to save the world with beauty, one post at a time!

Once a week, each member of The Lipstick League will select a favorite post from their blog and we’ll assemble the links in one tidy weekly post for your reading pleasure.

We’ve gathered together a fantastic group of beauty bloggers whose content spans the world of beauty on topics such as makeup, skin care, nail care, fragrance and beyond!

To add a bit of personality to these posts, we’ll also ask each Lipstick League member to answer a “Question of the Week”, which they will answer on their own post. So be sure to check all the member's responses!

We hope you enjoy these weekly posts—we are so proud of the group we’ve assembled and we can’t wait to share this great content with you, our readers!

The Question of the Week for this inaugural post is: 

If you could only wear one lip product for the rest of all time (gasp!), what would it be?

G's Answer: Hum...I had to think long and hard about this one, but I've got to go with my Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker Lip Balm. If this was the only lip product I could use for the rest of all time, at least it would be fun, smell yummy, taste yummy and also give my lips a nice natural flush. I could get away with wearing it on no-makeup days, and I could also use it with a full face of makeup. So yeah, Dr. Pepper it is!

Here are this week’s links...

Beauty Junkies Unite - just can’t get enough of Urban Decay’s Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Clumps of Mascara - tried brown eyeliner for the first time. It wasn’t what she thought it was.

EauMG - reviews a NEST candle. Its fragrance will put a smile on your face.

Nouveau Cheap -  puts the new Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer to the test. Does it really give you 400% shiner nails in seconds?

Orange to LA -  has her first experience with Jill Stuart Cream Eye Shadows, see if these shimmery shadows get you noticed!

Pink Sith - is finally able to get some much needed color on to her pale cheeks thanks to Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush # 5. No Pinching required!

Phyrra  - discusses foundations, skin undertones & overtones and shows you her naked face!

Vampy Varnish - Zoya ModMattes Collection for Spring 2011 swatches & review.

we heart this -  takes a look at the new Hourglass Aura Cheek and Lip Stains. Finally, a stain that you can be happy about!

What do you think, readers? If YOU could only wear one lip product for the rest of all time (gasp!), what would it be?

See you next week!
~The Lipstick League

Review: New Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser

I recently received some of the new Neutrogena Naturals skincare products for review, and I've already reviewed the lip balm, which I am seriously loving more and more by the day (click here if you missed my review). If you received the Neutrogena Naturals Lip Balm in your Target sample bag, I'd love to know what you think of it!

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Purifying Facial Cleanser (I'll also be reviewing the scrub in the near future).

 Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser

(retail: around $7, 6 oz)

In addition to not containing any "harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes or phthalates", the formula of this cleanser is "90% naturally derived". It also contains naturally-derived salicylic acid (from willow bark extract), which can be great for combating acne. I've actually had lots of luck with skincare products that contain willow bark, so I was happy to see it in this cleanser.

I've been using this cleanser for a few weeks now (every day and night) and you know what? Every single time I use it, the fragrance reminds me of something from my childhood. It's been driving me CRAZY trying to figure it out. Finally, the other day in the shower it hit me: this cleanser smells like watermelon-flavored Now & Laters! Now, it's not identical to Now & Laters, but I'm telling you, it's close. I LOVE it because I love the smell of fruity candies, but I do want you to be aware that this cleanser does have a distinctive, fruity fragrance, and it's not that regular generic "fruit" fragrance. It's special, and it absolutely reminds me of watermelon Now & Laters. Too fun!

As for the cleanser itself, I've been very pleased with its performance. It lathers nicely, and when I work it into my skin, it really feels like it's doing a good job of removing the dirt and oil from the day. My skin feels so clean when I use this product, but I'm happy to report that it doesn't feel stripped, dry or tight either. This cleanser rinses easily off my face, and I've noticed that my skin looks a touch more clear since I've been using it as well.

The one thing I want to warn you about is that, depending on your eye makeup, it may not remove every last trace of makeup from your face. I always use washable mascara, and I've noticed that with certain brands (Revlon Grow Luscious, for one) it takes some extra effort to remove every last trace of mascara from under my eyes. It removes every trace of my Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara with ease though, so I'm very happy about that.

FINAL VERDICT: In my opinion, Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser is a very nice cleanser that works well with my oily skin. It  lathers easily, smells amazing to me (hello, childhood candy!) and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and clean. Also, the willow bark extract is an added bonus that works well with my skin. This cleanser may not remove every last trace of your eye makeup, so just be prepared for some trial and error in that department. Other than that, I think this is a nice new addition to the world of drugstore facial cleansers.

Have you tried anything from the Neutrogena Naturals line yet? If so, what have you tried and how do you like it?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Sneak peek: Rite Aid Video Values coupons for April

I just received a preview of the Rite Aid Video Values coupons for April, directly from Rite Aid, and I'm pretty excited about the coupon-stacking potential next month! As always, I'm only posting the beauty-related coupons in this post, so for the full list, you'll need to visit the Video Values site (the April coupons are not yet available for viewing but they should be up in a few days).

Remember: Video Values coupons can be stacked with manufacturer's coupons if you have them, so now's the time to do some match-ups with the coupons in your existing stash, or comb the online printable coupon sites like AllYou.com, Coupons.com and RedPlum.com to see if they have any coupons that you can combine with these for extra savings.

Oh! And before I forget, there are some awesome coupons that you can use in ADDITION to regular product coupons:

$2.00 off a $10 Purchase of Participating Video Values Hair Care Products (Hair Care Bonus)

$2.00 off a $10 Purchase of Participating Video Values Beauty Products (Beauty Bonus)

The $2 off a $10 beauty purchase is a repeat from March (the March coupon is still up if you want to get it). You have access to this coupon by watching 12 beauty-related videos.

These extra coupons are GREAT because let's say you wanted to get a box of the new L'Oreal Sublime Mousse hair color (I'm not sure if this is a "participating brand" but let's just say it is for the sake of this scenario). Also, I'm not sure of the retail price, but let's just say it's $10. Well, you could use the Video Values coupon below ($1 off), and stack that with the $3 coupon that's on AllYou.com right now. THEN, you could also use the $2 off a $10 hair product purchase coupon for a whopping $6 off the retail price of the hair color!

The beauty-related Video Values coupons for April:

$5.00 off Conair You Curl Styler or Conair Infiniti Pro AC Dryer

$5.00 OFF ANY John Frieda Precision Foam Colour item

$3.00 off any Nexxus Pro Mend item

$2.00 off Samy Fat Hair

$2.00 off Samy Fat Foam

$2.00 off Bio-Oil

$2.00 off any full size got2b styling item; excludes trial size

$2.00 coupon off any Rimmel Glam'Eyes Day-2-Night Mascara

$1.00 off any Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Item

$1.50 off Burts Bees products excluding Lip items

$1.50 off Any Neutrogena Naturals Skin Care

$1.00 off Two Colorsilk Hair Color

$1.00 off Scunci Upzing Combs or Conair You Syle You Curl or You Lift & Volume Brushes

$1.00 off on Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight

$1.00 off Luster's Hot Oil Treatment 1z

$1.00 off Sublime Mousse by L'Oreal

$1.00 off L'Oreal EverPure

$1.00 off L'Oreal Preference Hair Color

$1.00 off L'Oreal Excellence Hair Color

$1.00 off L'Oreal EverSleek

$1.00 off L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray

$1.00 off Aveeno Shampoo or Conditioners

$1.00 off any Veet Items

$1.00 off any TRESemme Climate Control item

$1.00 off Any Softlips Pure Lip Balm

$1.00 off a Non-Prescription Purchase when you watch the Wellness+ Video

$1.00 off a Non-Prescription Purchase when you watch the Rx Services Video

$1.00 off Any Garnier Skin Care (limited quantities)

$0.50 off Garnier Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (limited quantities)

$0.50 off any Dark & Lovely Products

$2.00 off a $10 Purchase of Participating Video Values Hair Care Products (Hair Care Bonus)

$2.00 off a $10 Purchase of Participating Video Values Beauty Products (Beauty Bonus)

If you know of any great coupon match-ups for April, please let us know in the comments! Right off the bat, I know that there have been $1 Neutrogena Naturals coupons in the Sunday paper for the past few weeks, so if you have one, you can stack it with the $1.50 Video Values coupon for $2.50 off one item. Pretty sweet!

Review: New Garnier Pure Clean Shampoo & Conditioner

Every time a drugstore brand releases a new silicone-free shampoo or conditioner, I'm always curious to try it. I have a love/hate relationship with silicones. Certain products that contain silicones work WONDERS on my hair, while others do the opposite. Some silicones, which are less water-soluble, can build up in my hair and leave it feeling flat, heavy and lifeless. Other silicones can make my hair soft and bouncy, so it's kind of a guessing game for me.  Either way, if you use products that contain silicones, it's always a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo every once in a while, just to guard against product build-up. OK, enough about that!

If you're the type of person who likes to avoid ALL silicones in your haircare, I'm hoping this review can help you to better determine whether the new silicone-free Garnier Pure Clean products might be a good option for you.

 Garnier Pure Clean Shampoo and Conditioner for Normal Hair

(retail: around $4 each, 13 oz)

(Whoops! As you can see in the photo above, I forgot to take a picture of these products before I started testing them. Oh well, at least you know I gave them a thorough testing, right?)

I got a fantastic deal on these products a few weeks back. Rite Aid was having a 2/$5 sale on all Garnier shampoos and conditioners, and I also had two $1 coupons from the Sunday paper, which means I paid a grand total of $3 for both the shampoo and conditioner. Gotta love sales + coupons!

As you can see in these photos, this is Garnier's "greener" option for haircare. These products contain no silicones, parabens or dyes, and they're quite biodegradable as well.

If you're a new reader, let me tell you that my hair is long, naturally wavy, and fine in texture (but I have a lot of it). I have oily roots, dry ends, and my hair is color-treated as well. I don't use a lot of heat on my hair (I wear it wavy most of the time), and I barely use styling products aside from the occasional leave-in conditioner, mousse or smoothing serum. 

My top needs when it comes to a good shampoo are:

• It should thoroughly cleanse my hair without leaving it feeling stripped or excessively dry
• It should lather up easily and thoroughly
• It should be easy to distribute through my long hair
• It should rinse clean with little effort
• It should not contribute to tangling

My top needs when it comes to a good conditioner are:

• It should help detangle
• It should make my hair feel moisturized
• It should rinse easily yet leave a light, protective coating behind
• It should, at the very least, not interfere with the curl of my hair (even better if it makes my hair more curly)
• It should not weigh down my hair or leave it feeling greasy
• Less than 24 hours after use, it should not make my roots oily

So if your hair type and needs are anything like mine, then you might be interested to know that these products did not work well for me. Given the product claims, I had such high hopes for Pure Clean but, sadly, they did little to improve or maintain the look or feel of my hair.

Let's start with the shampoo: it did lather easily and it was easy to distribute through my hair. It rinsed clean as well, but my hair felt dry after rinsing. It DID feel clean, but I couldn't get past the dryness.

The conditioner was easy to apply, and I was rather hopeful after noticing that it did a very decent job of detangling. In the shower, my hair feels smooth and silky after application. When I rinse this conditioner out of my hair, it does leave a nice protective coating behind, which doesn't feel too heavy or greasy. 

But the real issues come when my hair is dry. The "healthy hair that shines" just isn't there for me. My hair looks dull and kind of lifeless after using these products, and my curls are almost nonexistent. Also, the longer I use these products, the more dry my hair feels. Every time I look in the mirror, I kind of get sad because I have no shine, no bounce, no "oomph" to my hair after using this shampoo and conditioner.

Like I mentioned at the top of this review, I'm not a complete silicone junkie, and I've used other products that have been silicone-free in the past. So I knew going into this that I wasn't going to get the results I get when I use products that DO contain silicones. BUT, I was just hoping that the shine and weightlessness that are part of the product description would actually be visible on my hair. They're not.

FINAL VERDICT:  Garnier Pure Clean Shampoo and Conditioner for Normal Hair are not a love-match for my particular haircare needs. I find the shampoo lathers well and rinses clean, and the conditioner does a really nice job of detangling my hair. However, when my hair is dry, it looks flat, dull and lifeless, and my curls are weighed down to the point where I need to use a curl-enhancing styling product to bring them back to life. If you're used to silicone-free products already, and your hair is in healthier condition than mine, then these products might perform much better for you. Unfortunately, they just don't do the trick for me. By the way, the fragrance of both the shampoo and conditioner is very similar to other Garnier products, with maybe just a tad more of a green apple note.

Have you tried the new Garnier Pure Clean products yet? If so, how did they work for you? I'd love to hear from you!

Jane Cosmetics on Haute Look tomorrow (Friday)

I want to thank my lovely reader Sheryl for reminding me that Jane Cosmetics will be on HauteLook TOMORROW, Friday, March 25th! If you haven't been able to take advantage of the 75% off clearance sale going on at Rite Aid right now, here's your time to stock up on your favorites by Jane.

Be sure to log on bright and early tomorrow to get first pick! And thanks again, Sheryl, for the reminder!

(As always, HauteLook is a members-only shopping site, so you'll need to be a member in order to view the sale. Membership is free and they usually approve members within 24 hours, so I'd register NOW if you're interested in picking up any items during this sale.)

Sally Beauty Clearance Sale

In case you weren't already aware, I wanted to let you know that Sally Beauty is having a 50% off clearance sale both online AND in-store:

This sale ends March 27th so hurry if you're interested.

Have you been to the clearance sale in-store yet? Share with us any great deals you've spotted!

More info on the Borghese Rapido Collection

Remember back in January when my lovely reader Rachel shared with us those pics of the new Borghese polishes? Well the display that's been popping in drugstores lately contains both new core collection shades, as well as some of the new Rapido shades. (FYI, the Rapido polishes all have white caps.)

Today I'm excited to share with you info about the ENTIRE Rapido collection!

From Borghese:

The Borghese Rapido Fast Dry Nail Lacquer collection is a quick-drying formula that is available in long-lasting colors. Borghese invites you to discover the new Rapido Fast Dry Lacquer collection in bold brights and chic Italian neutrals. Evoking all the vivid colors of a garden in bloom, and the sophisticated hues of city style, Borghese’s new nail lacquers complement every wardrobe.

These long-wearing, nail-strengthening lacquers contain Borghese’s exclusive Aqua di Vita complex to help restore moisture and balance, while Micronized Gemstones add strength and brilliance. Each shade comes with a special Duale Curve Tip Brush custom designed to hug the shape of your nail for smooth, flawless application that lasts up to seven days. The rich, saturated hues are free of DBP’s, Toluene and added Formaldehyde.

The Borghese Rapido Fast Dry Lacquer Collection includes:

Vigneto

Marino

Mochaccino

Chroma

Lira

Menta

Violetto

Maraschino

Siena

Rosso

Anemone

Limoncello

Do you own any Borghese Rapido polishes? How do you like the formula?

Review: New Suave Touchable Finish Hairspray (and freebie opportunity!)

Before I get into this review, I want to tell you that I received some awesome information this week from Suave about a great opportunity to try a full-size Suave styling product FOR FREE:

From Suave:

We are partnering with Emmy Rossum, star of Showtime’s “Shameless,” to launch “The Suave Challenge” to see if women across the country can tell the difference between Suave Professionals products and top salon brands. 

 

In honor of the challenge, Emmy and Suave Professionals are so confident that the new line works as well as those sold in high-end salons that they are inviting women nationwide to put it to the test themselves by giving away a FREE full-size styling product  to 200,000 visitors to Suave Beauty’s Facebook page on Thurs, March 24.

 

Additionally, consumers can visit CanYouTell.com to compare NEW Suave Professionals® with top salon brands by putting them to the ultimate test. Suave is so sure that you will not be able to tell, that they are giving prizes to anyone who can prove them wrong.

I'm not sure which product you'll receive, or if you have a choice, but if you've seen my reviews for the new Suave Captivating Curls Whipped Cream Mousse and the new Suave Dry Shampoo, you know that these new styling products are AWESOME, so I would definitely log on to Suave's Facebook page ASAP tomorrow morning to take advantage of this opportunity! You can also click here for the full list of new 2011 haircare products from Suave.

Now, on to my review of the new Suave Touchable Finish Hairspray:

Suave Touchable Finish Lightweight Hold Hairspray

(retail: around $2.99, 9.4 oz)

From Suave:

NEW! Suave Professionals® Touchable Finish Lightweight Hold Hairspray (aerosol)
Delivers brushable, weightless hold with touchable finish.
• Salon proven to hold as well as Sebastian® Zero GravityTM hairspray¹
• Humidity defense complex smoothes away frizz and flyaways
• This formula is anhydrous, which means there is no water in the formula, greatly improving the dry time and feel of the products
$2.69 – $2.99 (9.4 oz.)
¹ Sebastian is a registered trademark of Sebastian International, Inc.

Ingredients:

SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Acrylates/Hydroxyesters Acrylates Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Fragrance (Parfum), PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane  

 

Long story short: I'm LOVING this new hairspray. Why? For starters, I love that it doesn't contain water, which means it's not one of those hairsprays that curly-haired girls need to fear (you know, the kind that leave your hair so damp you risk getting frizzies?). The mist is truly "ultra fine" and because this is a lightweight hold hairspray, I experience NO crunchies, NO flakes and NO glue-like feeling when I use this on my hair. 

I have naturally wavy, fine hair (but lots of it) and in this crazy weather we're having in Southern California right now, my hair has been a big ol' frizz ball. What I love about this hairspray is that it gives my hair a touch of texture where I need it, and a touch of control as well. But I don't look like I'm wearing hairspray, and I can easily brush my hair, or run my fingers through it, after I've used it.

I wouldn't recommend this hairspray for those who need a lot of control or hold, since it's not designed for that (note: Suave also has Extra Hold and Super Hold versions of this hairspray). But if you need a tiny bit of control or texture to your hair and you don't want anyone to know you're wearing hairspray, this might be right up your alley. Oh, and the fragrance is fresh and fruity--I like it a lot!

FINAL VERDICT: If you're looking for a truly lightweight hairspray that dries instantaneously, the new Suave Touchable Finish Lightweight Hold Hairspray is definitely worth considering. It smells great, it's got an ultra-fine mist, it leaves my hair touchable and gives it the tiny bit of extra texture and hold that I crave when my hair's acting up. I love this stuff, and it's hard for me to believe it's just $2.99 a bottle.

Have you tried any of the new 2011 Suave styling products yet? Does this hairspray sound like something that might work for your haircare needs? Are you planning to log onto Facebook tomorrow to grab your free product?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

The Wednesday Question

I think that now is a good time to reflect a bit about the drugstore beauty purchases we've made in 2011. With the coming of spring, let's talk about our favorites so far:

What are your favorite drugstore beauty products that you've purchased so far this year?

Your response can include new products, and also new-to-you products that may be older, existing core collection products that you've just recently discovered. I'd say my favorite things I've personally purchased so far this year (which excludes anything I was sent for review, of course) would be the NYC Lip Stain and the Softsoap Strawberry Smoother body wash. I can't get enough of either! Oh! And HOW could I forget the Physicians Formula Organic Mascara and the Happy Booster Blush! How about you?

Laura Mercier and Smashbox sales TODAY

I'm so bad at reminding everyone about the various members-only shopping site sales for cosmetics, but I wanted to post this because, as of the time I write this, there are still good deals to be had on:

Laura Mercier Cosmetics at GiltGroupe.com

and

Smashbox Cosmetics at RueLaLa.com

I just checked the GiltGroupe site and there are still beautiful Laura Mercier eyeshadow singles available for $10 (retail: $22) and some palettes that are half price. Over at RueLaLa, there are two pretty Smashbox eyeshadow palettes on sale for $22 (retail: $45) among other items. 

As always, these types sites are members-only and you'll need to be a member to view the sales. Membership for both sites is free, and it usually takes a day (sometimes less) to be approved. If you're not a member already, it might be a good idea to sign up even if you aren't planning to buy anything from these particular sales, because you never know what might pop up in the future!

Violet Eyes

What kind of beauty blog would this be if I didn't pay tribute to the passing of one of America's true beauty legends?

Elizabeth Taylor was probably the first woman to truly make me stop and realize the power of eye shadow. When I first saw her in Cleopatra as a little girl, I was mesmerized.

And who can overlook those violet eyes?

In recent times, Elizabeth Taylor was probably better known for her eight marriages (she claimed Richard Burton was the one true love of her life, evidenced by the fact that she married him twice). But I think today would be a nice time to remember her work as an actress and the exquisite beauty and grace she presented to us on screen.

My favorite film of Elizabeth Taylor's has to be A Place in the Sun, where she played opposite Mongtomery Clift.

But who can forget her in that iconic white slip in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?

Quite possibly the most beautiful eyebrows in the history of the world.

It goes without saying that Elizabeth Taylor had an immeasurable influence on the world of beauty. This morning Dita Von Teese tweeted the following message:

@DitaVonTeese: My biggest "I can't believe this is happening" moment: http://twitpic.com/4ch28t Rest in peace, Divine Liz.

Elizabeth Taylor was a beauty and style icon whose influence on women will live on forever. I'm very sad that those violet eyes have closed for the last time.

The Target beauty sample bag: did you get yours?

Remember at the  beginning of this month when I posted about the offer on Target.com for a free Sonia Kashuk makeup bag filled with beauty samples (which is no longer available, so please don't try to get one)? If you signed up for it, did you get it yet? I've received lots of tweets and emails from those of you who received your bags this week, and my awesome reader Robin sent me a pic of the contents of the bag she received:

image credit: Robin for Nouveau Cheap

The contents of Robin's package included a Sonia Kashuk makeup bag, a full size tube of the new Neutrogena Naturals lip balm (which I just reviewed here--I will  be so curious to know if you guys agree with my review!), a sample of Revlon ColorBurst gloss, a sample bottle of the new Nivea lotion (I've been so curious about this one!), a sample bottle of Pantene, sample packets of Fekkai haircare and a bunch of beauty coupons. I think this was an awesome FREE sampler deal so I hope you all signed up for it.

My lovely twitter follower @BeautybyAnnie tweeted me a pic of her bag, and it was identical to Robin's, so it APPEARS that everyone's getting the same items (let me know in the comments if the contents of your bag are different than what you see in the photo above).

If you got your bag and you tried the Neutrogena Naturals Lip Balm, please let me know if you agree with my review. I am loving this balm more and more by the day, so I'm glad you all have a chance to try it (for free!).

Did you get your bag yet?

Thanks again, Robin, for the awesome pic!

Review: New Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer

With all the new nail implements hitting our drugstores lately from brands like Revlon, Sally Hansen and CoverGirl, I thought it would be fun to review the one that I've been the most intrigued by (especially after seeing Aquaheart's review here, back in January).

I patiently waited for a good sale and picked this up for a great price a few weeks ago, and now I'd like to give you my thoughts:

 Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer

(retail: around $3.50)

As you can see from the packaging, this buffer promises 400% more shine than bare nails, and the shine is supposed to last three days.

I like the shape of the buffer because it gives you a lot of surface area to work with when compared to traditional nail buffers. The only complaint I have is that the tip of the buffer, which is the best part to use to really get into the nooks and crannies of your nails, might be the part to wear out first. I really like the pointed tip, and when I'm using this buffer I favor that tip over the rest of the buffer. So I imagine that, over time, the tip will wear out and I won't be able to use that part of the buffer much. But hey, at least I'll still have the rest of the buffer to use (and there's a LOT to use).

The nontraditional shape of this buffer fits easily in my hand and it's very convenient to work with. Also, the sponge material inside the buffer is very firm, so I don't forsee it bending and giving out after a few uses. All in all, it feels like a quality nail buffer in your hand, and that's more than I can say for the dozens of other cheapie buffers I've had over the years that seem to disintegrate after just a few uses.

As instructed, I used the green side first, which contains a fine-grade sandpaper surface. My nails have lots of ridges, so I require a bit of a grittier sandpaper to do the job. This one is VERY gentle, so I required lots of buffing to even out the ridges, although it wasn't excessive by any means. I'd say it was on par with other buffers I've used in the past.

Next, I used the white side of the buffer to polish my nails, and THIS is where the Crazy Shine buffer really shines (pardon the pun).

Of all the buffers I've used in the past (both cheapie and higher end), this buffer is BY FAR the most effortless to use, and the results are pretty much instantaneous.  I went into this thinking it would be like any other buffer, but boy was I wrong. I literally ran this buffer across my nails three times and the shine was INSTANT. It literally looked like I had just applied a high-shine top coat to my nails.

As much as it pains me to show you my bare nails, I just have to show you a before-and-after:

PLEASE forgive these pictures. In the "before" shot my nails look absolutely horrible. I did a lot of work outside before I took these pics, so my skin is dry and my nails are really beaten up (and I broke my middle fingernail which really bums me out). I have some slight yellowing due to always wearing nail polish, and I didn't want to apply any lotions or creams to my nails before using the Crazy Shine buffer because I wanted my nails to be as dry and oil-free as possible. Also, due to the lighting in these pics, my nails look dirty. I assure you they're not, but it bothers me that they look that way (oh the embarrassing things I do for this blog!).

ANYWAY, as you can see in the "after" shot, it literally looks like I'm wearing  a shiny top coat. I am not. This picture was taken just moments after using the Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer and nothing else. And I am pleased to report that I'm now on day three after using this buffer and my nails are still incredibly shine.

FINAL VERDICT: The Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer absolutely lives up to its claim to "create top coat shine in seconds that lasts three days". I have no way of measuring if my nails are truly 400% shiner than before, but they are REALLY shiny, and it took no effort whatsoever to get there. The green side of the buffer is gentle, which means you may require some extra elbow-grease if your nails have lots of ridges, but the star of this show is the buffer. If you're looking for crazy shine that lasts at least three days, I think you'll be very happy with this product. DEFINITELY worth $3.50 and if you can get it on sale (or have coupons) I say don't hesitate to pick one up. This is a quality product that, in my opinion, is worth double the price.

And the winner of the Auric Blends giveaway is...

The winner of the Auric Blends Egyptian Goddess Perfume Oil giveaway is:

Sheryl (sgickler)

Congratulations, Sheryl! I will email you in a few minutes, so please respond to my email within 24 hours to claim your wonderful prize!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and please check back soon because I have more fun giveaways planned for the very near future!

Just a few more hours to enter my Auric Blends giveaway

Just a quick reminder that my Auric Blends Egyptian Goddess Perfume Oil giveaway ends in about three hours (11:59PM Pacific). This is a gorgeous fragrance that I personally wear about once a week, so if you like clean, comforting, snuggly types of scents, definitely enter for a chance to win your own bottle here!

CVS and Rite Aid Clearance deals!

When will these clearance sales end? I hope the answer is NEVER! Last weekend, thanks to reports from several of you wonderful ladies, I headed out to some CVS and Rite Aid locations in search of end-cap clearance bins.

I'm pleased to tell you that several of the items from the CVS beauty clearance sale are still available in plastic bins, and not just in San Diego! Many of you have reported seeing clearance bins of makeup and nail polish in your areas too!

And it's not JUST the beauty clearance sale items (you know, the ones we all probably have memorized at this point like the Sally Hansen Carmindy stuff, Physicians Formula Mineral Wear stuff, etc.) but I also spotted some limited edition goodies too! In fact, I was pretty upset to find the limited edition Borghese polish shades Limoncello and Pistachio, which I paid nearly full price for when they first released, for just $1.00 each! 

Here's what I got at CVS:

Left to right:

Prestige Liquid Glitter Precision Eye Liner in Meteor: $1.57

Prestige Total Intensity Long Lasting Eyeliner in Fierce Blue: $1.57

Revlon Nail Polish in Tropical Temptation: $1.00

Sally Hansen Diamond 12-hour Lip Treatment in Flawless: $1.82

And it gets even better, because I had a $1 Revlon coupon from the paper a few weeks ago, which means I got Tropical Temptation for FREE!

I actually got the polish and the lipgloss for my mom, because she loves anything in coral, but the liners are for me. I'm always on the hunt for good gray or silver liners, and Meteor is a great smoky gray with fine silver microglitter. Love it.

And the BEST deal of the bunch was definitely that Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner. When these first came out a few years ago, I talked about them a LOT on this blog. They're as good as UD 24/7 liners to me (some even perform better than my UD liners). I believe these were the FIRST drugstore liners to dupe the UD liners (they came out before the L'Oreal HiP, Milani and CoverGirl versions) and I'm kind of bummed that more people don't talk about them because I think they're just fantastic. They're normally around $7, so to get one for $1? That's crazy! If I were you, I'd run out to CVS as soon as possible and see if you can spot these on clearance. They're worth the hunt!

At Rite Aid, I was in utter SHOCK to see bins full of limited edition products from 2010, all slashed to 50-75% off. I spotted those limited edition L'Oreal HiP duos we were all going crazy for last year, the LE sparkly Lash Stiletto mascaras, and TONS of limited edition Maybelline ColorSensational glosses and lipsticks for $2 each. Heck, I even spotted a Demeter Vanilla Cake Batter edt, which normally retails for $15, on clearance for just $4 (I would have snatched that up in heartbeat but I already own it).

So the moral of this story is, get to CVS and Rite Aid as soon as you can and look for clearance bins on the end-caps of EVERY aisle in the store. These clearance bins aren't always in the beauty department--I found some of them over in the household cleaning supplies aisle, so you never know!

Have you found any great clearance deals at your local CVS or Rite Aid locations lately? I 'd love to hear from you! And thanks again to everyone who gave me the heads-up about these deals. You are THE BEST!

Searching my blog...

In my ongoing quest to find the perfect search engine for this blog, I have recently noticed that the application I have been using for a while now, Lijit, has changed the way it brings up search results. It seems to now be picking up any mention of a search term, including sidebar info that isn't really relevant (and also creates redundancies in search results).

So...I have added a second search box to my right-hand sidebar. I brought back the Google search application, but I've kept Lijit there too.

If you wouldn't mind, I'd love it if you used both searches and let me know which you prefer. If you could leave your preference in the comments on this post, I would really appreciate it. I just want you to be able to find what you're looking for, so your feedback is crucial here. Thanks SO much!

Swatches: Petites Color Fever Pink Diamond

Pink Diamond is one of the newest Petites Color Fever polishes that I showed you in this post. You can find Petites Color Fever polishes at Rite Aid and, I believe, at Walmart as well. At Rite Aid they retail for $2.99 (although lots of older, core collection shades are now on clearance for $0.99--if you missed my post about that, click here for more info).

Once the sun comes back again (it's so rainy here in San Diego right now--I love it!) I will post the other new shades I purchased.

But today, it's all about the pink glitter! After a few days of wearing the two shades of pink I showed you in this post, I decided to top them with Pink Diamond.

In these first pics, I used one coat of Pink Diamond over Milani Sugar:

 Petites Color Fever Pink Diamond (over Milani Sugar)

(retail: $2.99)

I'm so mad that I broke my middle fingernail--it's all that I can see when I look at these pics! Anyway, regarding Pink Diamond, you can see that it's packed with varying sizes of glitter pieces. I don't care for it after one coat, and I think you might agree with me when you see these next photos.

In these pictures, I used two coats of Pink Diamond over Milani Parfait:

I think Pink Diamond is so much prettier after two coats! So sparkly and cheery. I'm also pleased to report that, after a layer of top coat, this polish isn't bumpy to the touch (which I'm sure is due to the fact that the glitter is so fine).

If you're a pink glitter gal, this one might be worth the hunt. I can't wait to wear it on my toes over a neon pink for summer.

Do you own any of the new (or old) Petites Color Fever polishes? What are some of your favorite shades?