2014 BLOGGER CHALLENGE- BOOK WISHLIST

Last Post: MUA Velvet Lip Lacquers | Advice Series: Here

We are now officially a month into the 2014 Blogger Challenge and I am going strong. Every topic so far has been interesting (well at least to me...) This week is something I've never done before but I like it. Its all about books! I was going to show my favorite book but I just haven't found a book that I think is worth sharing so I have decided to compile all the books new or old that I have an interest in buying.

The Fault in Our Stars: "Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten." (Chapters.com)

I've heard so man great things about this book, that I am really intrigued to read it. I am determined to read it before the movie comes out!

Where Beauty Lies: "Step behind the velvet ropes of Fashion Week and enter an exclusive world of opulent parties, hot guys, designer style…and new lies"(Chapters.com)

This book is written by youtubers/bloggers Elle and Blair Fowler. I have loved them for about 3 or 4 years so I am beyond supportive of everything they do. I read the first one so I am excited to read the 2nd installment.

Hunger Games Series: No description because I'm sure everyone knows what they're about. Believe it or not I have never read the Hunger Games. Before I watch the 2nd and 3rd movie I want to read the books. They are supposed to be 10x better than the movies!

Alexa Chungs "IT": "The darling of the fashion world and co-host of the music TV show Fuse News shares her inspirations, musings, and her own very personal and eclectic style"(Chapters.com)

I'm not necessarily an Alexa Chung fan but I've heard great things about the book so I've decided to take a looksie!

Lauren Conrad Books: I'm not really sure what they're about but a lot of my friends and onliners have raved about them. They look really girly and fun so it will be a light read!

Perks of Being A Wallflower: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about what it's like to travel that strange course through the uncharted territory of high school. The world of first dates, family dramas, and new friends"(Chapters.com)

I still haven't seen the movie but I am waiting till I have read the book. It seems like a relatable book so I am interested in reading it. 

Divergent Series: "In Beatrice Prior''s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue-Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent)."(Chapters.com)

This is also another well loved series that has received a lot of hype. The story line seems really interesting and different!

Those are all the books I am looking into for the next couple months. I am determined to finish them by the end of Summertime! Lots of Love, 

Bloglovin: Head 2 Toe Vogue

MUA VELVET LIP LACQUER- FIRST IMPRESSION

 I've heard a ton about the brand MUA London so I decided to pick up some products that jumped out at me. One of the products that really intrigued me was their Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer. This is what the website describes them as:
         "Smooch your way to red carpet glamour with MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers. Long - lasting and kiss proof, these intense formulas come in five rich, vampy shades. Encased in chic frosted glass packaging, these lacquers glide on with the ease of a gloss, drying in seconds into a matte velvety texture. They are the ultimate make-up bag must have" 

Instead of me trying the product out for a week or two then doing an extensive review on it, I thought I would try something a little different. I decided to do a First Impression type post like ItsJudyTime, Casey Holmes and many others. I kind of cheated a little because I couldn't help but open it up and swatch it. oops..

*F.I Rating = My rating on first sight/use. Out of 4 stars. It may change after handling product a little more*

Packaging
         I absolutely adore the packaging! At first sight I fell in love. Its sleek, classy and simple. The frosted glass adds a different touch then just a plain clear glass. It also represents the actual product with it being a matte packaging and the product being matte as well.

F.I Rating: ****

Brush
      There isn't really anything special about the brush. Its just a basic doe-foot applicator. I will say it does work well with this product. It didn't streak the product or make the application uneven. If it was more of a brush I feel like the product would be hell to put on.

F.I Rating: ***.5

Formulation

         I absolutely love this formulation so far! When I first applied it I was kind of put off because it wasn't matte and it transferred. I thought I just  got scammed but the MUA Marketing team but I left it on anyway. Note: It only took one thin coat to get full color payoff. I left it for a few minutes without touching it and to my surprise it was fully matte and didn't transfer AT ALL! I I kissed my hand, I rubbed my lips, I drank water and it didn't budge. Even the swatch on my hand didn't come off, I even used makeup remover! So far its a yes for me!

F.I Rating = ****

Check up 2: After wearing it for about 1-2 hours I'd say I rubbed my lips again and it started to flake off a bit. I look at my finger and there was bits of the color. I looked in the mirror and in the center of my lips were patches where the product came off. It wasn't from water or food but just from touching my lips. I was still pleased though because it wasn't feathering, mostly all of the product was still on, it still didn't transfer and I could drink and eat w/o it all coming off. Still a yes!

F.I Rating = ***.5

Check up 3: For the next few hours I wanted to see if you are able to reapply this product over your previous coat. Since it started peeling and flaking off I though it would be appropriate here. It still applied evenly and covered the patches perfectly. It evened smoothed over the flaking and stopped it for a little bit.  Its a go for reapplying! Shortly after the reapply my lips started to feel more dry than before. I ate, checked and was shocked to see that almost half of my lip was bare. The product peeled off and not in a flattering way. My lips are very patchy now. Almost all the product has peeled off. Still doesn't transfer though!

F.I Rating = **

Last Check up: The product faded more and more. It stopped peeling though, it only started to fade and get worn off. It didn't fade evenly at all! There was still a light amount on my top lip. It left a stain on my bottom lip that made it look like I was just wearing lip liner. It stayed like this until I washed it off at night.

F.I Rating = .5/*

Overall, I would recommend this product if you have the patience and time to maintain it. You would get a couple hours of wear then you'd have to remove and reapply. Little bit more work than a tinted lip balm but if you want a matte, pigmented lip product then you have to deal with it. All the colors in the range are quite bright so beware. Buy Here

Tips: Prep your lips before- exfoliate and moisturize!(I didn't but I could tell it would help)
        Don't reapply over a previous coat- makes the peeling worse 
         Avoid liquid foods like juices, soups, smoothies- lowers the wear time of product

Thanks for reading my loves and remember to check out my previous post, here, if you are a blogger wanting to give advice!

Twitter: @head2toevogue

Email: beautylover1290@gmail.com       

Polyvore: @beautywarrior1

Bloglovin: Head 2 Toe Vogue

CANCELLED- BLOGGERS ADVICE SERIES?

Have you ever been sitting down doing nothing and think up an idea that you think is just fabulous? I just got this wonderful idea that may be worth giving a try. I am interested to know your girls thoughts on this new series idea.

Every week, 2 weeks, month... I haven't figured this out yet but anyway. I would tweet or put up a blog post asking for bloggers to volunteer for a chance to give advice to fellow bloggers or just readers. There will be a set topic every post. The topic can be beauty, fashion, lifestyle related. From photography, to tips and tricks to personal advice. I will ask for bloggers that specialize in that weeks topic to volunteer, but anyone is more than welcome to email me about wanting to take part in that topic.

To sign up for that weeks topic you can tweet me your email, post your email on the blog posts comment or if you're not comfortable in releasing your email you can email me personally. I will email all participants the topic. The blog post and tweet will go out the week before. For example/ if the advice post goes up on Feb. 21 then I will ask for bloggers on the 14th and so on, you will have plently of time to get your advice together.

As this is the very first post in the series, I am asking for volunteers now up until the 18th of febuary. The post will go up on the 21st. The topic is a basic one that is open to anyone, Staying true to yourself throughout your life and/or blogging journey! 

Please join! There is no set limit to how many bloggers can take part. Depends on the turn out of the project and the length of the advice. Maybe 5-10?

Thanks so much loves!

The Blogger Made Me Buy It Tag + Life Update!

Long time no talk my loves. You probably think I fell off the face of the earth but guess what? I didn't! I'll get more into where I've been at the end of the post because not everyone cares about my life. I decided to start my posting off with a tag that I've seen floating around the interweb. This tag has been popping up left and right in my blog feed so I thought I would hop on the bandwagon and do it as well.

1. Who are your most influential bloggers? Who are the ones that you really rely on for reviews and swatches?

I definitely love Drugstore Dreamer here on blogger. She has tons of reviews up and all drugstore. Southern Charmed (formerly know as Little Miss Average) has great honest reviews up on her channel as well. But I haven't found the one blogger I always go to, I kind of just search Google. Looking for the one though, so if you post loads of reviews and swatches leave your link below!

2. Do you buy a product solely as a result from one review from your favorite bloggers, or do you look for more reviews from others?

I almost always look for more reviews via other bloggers or the good ol' Google. The only time I don't is if I completely trust a blogger and tend to like everything they like. For high-end products its a must though!

3. What is your most favorite item that you have ever bought as a consequence of blogs?

It would either have to be my Naked Basics Palette or the Benefit They're Real Mascara. Both of them are absolutely amazing and would recommend them to anyone! Use them everyday!

4. What is your least favorite item that you have ever bought as a consequence of blogs?

Either the Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara or the Maybelline BB Cream. Both are not nearly as amazing as they were hyped to be. Big let down by those two products. I have more but I don't feel like listing them all. Let me know if you want a post on products not worth the hype!

5. Name 5 products that you have bought recently as a result of blogs.

Haven't bought much makeup lately. BH Cosmetics 88 Color Palettes. MUA Makeup. Rimmel Apocalips. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. Urban Decay DeSlick Setting Spray. These aren't that recent but shh..

6. Have you ever given into blogger hype? If so, which hype?

Oh yes! All the time! I feel like I just answered the products in questions number 3, 4 and 5 so I don't want to be repetitive. But one major one is the Beauty Blender. It was talked about so so so much on youtube, blogs, online, in real life. I totally gave in!

7. Have you ever avoided blogger hype? If so, which hype?

It's not that I've avoided them I just haven't gotten my hands on them. That is the Naked Palettes. Also the Nars Orgasm Blush. I can't justify spending like 20- 30 dollars on a blush!

8. Is everything you buy based on blogger reviews or are there some items you buy without checking out a review?

80% of the things I buy are out of blog/youtube reviews. Sometimes I'm just walking down the aisle an I see something that catches my eye and into my basket it goes. I fall into the marketing traps/ schemes of brands. They suck me into the black hole and there is no way of escaping. 

If you were here for the beauty stuff them bye bye for now! See you in my next post! But if you want to know my life then keep on reading for more fun and excitement!

Right now my life has been a jumble of school, stress, social life and yes.. Netflix! Lame excuses I know but it's true! Lately I've just been dumped with loads of school work. I'm not the most stay focused type of person so it took me a lot longer. I've mean't to post so many times but one, I've had writers block since January 1st and two, I got busy. I thought I'd do better without a schedule but I guess not :/ I'm officially going back to my Tuesday, Friday, sometimes Sunday posting schedule with the hopes of staying on track. Be aware though, come mid-June I will be neck deep in exams and school so it may drop off a little bit. Well I think I've ramble on for too long and I've had the break I needed so I'm just gonna go and enjoy my life! Until Sunday my loves, Stay fabulous!