Image Source: orogoldcosmetics.com

I remember going through this insane “gold everything” phase in middle school. I had everything from gold necklaces to gold bracelets, rings and earrings. And the worst part is, I would wear them altogether. Just about everyday. Crazy, uh? I’m not as in love with gold as I used to be (I love white and rose gold though) but I am all over the brand Oro Gold Cosmetics.

You have heard about Oro Gold, haven’t you? Technically the name of the brand is “Gold Gold” because “Oro” is the Spanish word for gold. Ha! And the crazy thing is, there is actually GOLD particles in these products. Yeah, I know…who knew gold was actually good for skin? OroGold Cosmetics has cosmetics for everyday use as well as skincare products that promise to transform your skin after multiple uses. I have yet to try anything from them, but I’ve got my eyes on quite a few of their products. The good thing about their products is that they are so specialized. Like, where else do you find a brand that has products JUST for neck care?

I’m not sure but I’m pretty sure when aging first starts to show its signs, one of the first places it hits is the neck. I think I’m saved by genetics because neither my grandmothers nor mother have sagging neck areas. But, just to be safe I’d love to dabble in Oro Gold’s 24K Neck Lift Cream. This baby promises to lift and adds a ton of moisture to the skin. I’m guilty of not really paying attention to the neck area and it’s high time that I start preventive care in that department.

Then there’s the OroGold Cosmetics 24K Vitamin C Facial Cleanser. I mean, who wouldn’t want to use a cleanser that has Vitamin C and 24K gold in it? The foaming action is supposed to be great for not only cleansing the skin but for removing makeup as well. Um, yeah…that’s definitely up my alley!

Wanna feel super fancy? I do! Oro Gold Cosmetics 24K Collagen & Caviar Mask looks spectacular! This product contains 4 super products: 24 Karat Gold, Caviar, Collagen and Aloe. I can’t pretend that I knew caviar has been used in skincare products but hey, I’m all for putting some on my skin if it promises to hydrate beyond belief and keep those wrinkles at bay. The things we do for great skin, huh? A tub of this is pretty pricey but directions only tell you to use it once a week. That seems reasonable enough for me!

So yes, I’m all for taking care of the face but what about the body? I am huge about taking care of the skin all over. I couldn’t ignore my skin if I wanted to, as it is super sensitive. I so need that Golden Body Butter in my life. I’m a fan of all body butters but I tend to adore ones that are shea butter dumped in them. Shea butter is a stable in my life so it only makes sense that I obsess over skincare products that have shea butter in them.

Have you ever tried anything from Oro Gold Cosmetics?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own. 

And then some. I was sent these new stained Stained Glosses of theirs and well, yeah…I’m in love. Esposo, baby, you better watch out. These glosses are stealing my heart!

Have I told y’all bout my reoccuring obsession with all things rainbow? I fell hard for rainbows when I was in elementary school. Somehow the bug has bit me again and now I can’t stop hoarding rainbow’y stuffs. Or giving rainbowd’d kisses.

I know. I am just in love with color these days. Or…everyday. Let’s do a rundown of these beauties, shall we?

Jealous is a popsicle pinkish red. I find this Lip Tar Stained Gloss to be the most wearable out of the 6. Jealous is just perfect by herself. I didn’t need an additional or anything. Sheer perfection!

Androgyne is a sheer orange gel. I almost looks neon in the tube but it’s surprisingly wearable once worn on the lips. I didn’t think I could pull this one off but I love it!

Voyeur is a yellow glaze and I’m pretty sure this won’t look flattering on anyone. I reckon this gloss will better be used as a mix with other glosses.

Rhythm Box is my absolute favorite of the bunch. This purpled burgundy is just stunning and I could easily wear it every day. I found it to be the most pigmented of all of the Stained Lip Glosses.

Meta is a red orange shellac and I didn’t think it would work well for me, but it did! I tend to wear blue toned reds but this one shocked me. She is a beaut!

New Wave is a glassy neon pink. It isn’t as neon on the lips as it is in the tube. Still pretty nice though.

Mixin’ the lippies…

OVERALL:

Man, I love these. It’s really hard not to love stuff from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics though. These are $18 a pop at Sephora so they aren’t cheap but I’ve spent my lunch money on OCC lippies more times than I count. My favorite? Jealous and Rhythm Box are niiiiiice. I hope OCC does more of these Stained Gloses. The “stained” power wasn’t as long-lasting as the regular Lip Tars but they blend nicely, moisturize the lips and are more pigmented than I thought they’d be. So yes. I adore them. And I want more. I needs more!!

Any OCC lovers in the house? Have you tried the Stained Glosses yet?

Image Source: VineVera.com

Oh darlings…skincare. You know it’s my think. I adore everything cosmetics but my truest love is skincare. When the mascara has dried up and the eyeshadow has run its course, it’s your skincare products that will truly be your best friends. I’m not even kidding. I may not always have time to put on a full face of makeup but I certainly have time to take care of my skin. It’s a lesson that I learned many years ago from my Mama and will certainly pass it on down to my daughter.

As a beauty blogger, I am forever getting the opportunity to test drive products and brands. Vine Vera is a luxury and higher-end brand that rocks for socks for several reasons. For one, I don’t typically wear a lot of higher end skincare products but when I do get my hands on them, I feel like I am truly pampering my skin. That said, check out the 3 reasons why I really need to try Vine Vera.

They care about the eyes. Many skincare brands forget about products for your eyes. It’s kinda crazy too, because a lot of time when when first start complaining about sagging skin that is started age, it is usually around the eye area. I love when brands have options when it comes to taking care of the skin around the eyes. From the Resveratrol Eye Collection Dark Circle Eye Cream to their Resveratrol Eye Collection Age Defying Eye Serum, Vine Vera has us covered in the eye maintenance department. Could care less about the skin around your eyes? It’s better to start preventative action now than to wait before something pops up.

-The collection names are wine-inspired. Yours truly isn’t much of a drinker (no seriously, I can’t even handle a sip of wine without making a childish “It’s gross face.”) but I can’t deny how marvelous and creative the collection names are of this brand. Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc…I mean how fancy, can you get? I absolutely love it! Each collection has products whose packaging are fitting to their collection. For example the Chianti collection has products that are decked out in gorgeous shimmery burgundy packaging. I love when brands get creative like this. It doesn’t happen often enough!

-They have fantastic products for men. Okay, so my man isn’t the type to slather a mask all over his face. But there are men out there who don’t mind it! And why shouldn’t they? Men have skin too! Vine Vera has wonderful products that are fitting for men. Vine Vera’s Resveratrol Men’s Renewal Mask is packed with plant extracts and Witch Hazel and it looks like it would feel just wonderful and soothing on the skin. My guy doesn’t know what he’s missing. You know a skincare product looks good when you’re a gal and yet you’re more drawn to it than your man is. Ha!

Vine Vera doesn’t come cheap but hey, like I always say, skincare is an investment. The next time I have a few pennies to blow on skincare products, I’ll be checking on Vice Vera.

Follow Vine Vera on Pinterest.

Any higher-end skincare lovers in the house?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own. 

I typically use an electric breast pump to express milk and I highly recommend that mamas who do more pumping than nursing do the same thing. However, a manual breast pump fits in my life well because I don’t always have time to connect myself to the electric breast pump. Sometimes I get caught up with working or I’m traveling or I just don’t feel like going through the whole “finding time to pump” routine. And that’s when the manual breast pump comes in handy.

I’ve been amazed at how much this baby can express in a good 5 minutes. I find it works best when I am slightly engorged. It does enough to relieve the pressure and cleanup is a breeze.

I actually have another manual breast pump that I’ve purchased and I prefer this one over the one I bought because this one seems to be 10x more comfortable. I attribute that to the silicone flange.

The pump is also effective without the flange and I find that my output is MORE when I don’t use it. However, if I’m going for comfort and to take the “edge off”, I use the silicone flange. Clean up is easy because there aren’t that many parts that I had to tinker with. The pump comes with a nice booklet of instructions. It looked easy to dissemble but I actually had to refer to the manual to find out how to do it.

PROs

-It’s affordable. It is only $30.
-Larger Nuk bottles can fit into the pump. Perfect for pumping and then feeding baby right away.
-Easy to find. You can get it Target, Walmart, etc..
-Parts are easy to clean.
-Comfortable and has a nice suction.
-A bottle nipple comes with the pump.

CONs

-Dissembling the parts is tricky the first go round.
-Can be messy. But so are all manual hand pumps.
-There are several parts to clean.

I’m a fan and I’m actually going to purchase another one to keep in the car for an emergency expression situation. You laugh but there is nothing funny about engorgement and not being able to express it quickly. Remind me to tell you about that time I had to hand express milk for Elle when I accidentally left one of her bottles at home and she had gulped down the one I brought. Yah. The exclusively pumping life is somethin’ else, I tell ya…

Breastfeeding mamas, do you ever use manual breast pumps?

Nothing fancy in the packaging department…

Price: $7.99 in drugstores
Packaging (brush wand): 3 out of 5
Overall: 3.5 out of 5

What It Claims: “Revolutionary dual-ended Mascara for 360° all around Lash Glam. Two brushes specifically designed for top and bottom lashes. Special quick-dry formula holds lashes in place” (source)

The Truth: I’ve had better Maybelline mascaras but this one isn’t too shabby.

What I Loved About It: I do love the option of having two wands. Not ideal for everyday use but if you’ve got the extra time, it works!

What I Didn’t Like: The volume power is just so so.

Overall: This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a wand like this from Maybelline. Back in the day they had mascaras with dual wands. One wand was for a primer and the other was the actual mascara. Those were just so so. I actually like this mascara a little bit better because at least you can see the impact that is made. I like the idea of being able to have a mascara for those hard to get smaller lashes. Most wands make it difficult to do because the wands are large. The baby wand is fantastic for this purpose. Look how wittle she is…

I found that this wand is also great for grabbing the inner lashes too. And I suppose if you have super tiny lashes, they work for those too. The regular wand, however just isn’t plush enough to provide a ton of volume. I mean it does ohhhhkay.

It’s a nice wand. I think it’s great for separating and attempting to straighten out wonky lashes but I didn’t find it to be insanely impactful for those seeking crazy huge lashes. If you’re desirous are defined lashes without much POW, this mascara will work. But if you’re like me and need for folx to see your lashes before they see you…well, you may be disappointed. On the good side, the formula was easy to apply and I didn’t get any clumps. Score! So yeah, it’s not my favorite mascara but hey, if you are serious about maintaing those bottom lashes, me thinks you’ll like this baby. I also found it to be pretty lightweight. No heavy lashes here. I had nice and fluffy lashes all day. But on the downside, fluffy lashes don’t stand up too well in Florida humidity.

Bare Lashes

Lashes after 2 coats

Do I recommend it?: Meh. I think Maybelline has better mascaras in stores these days. Even the Rocket is better than this one.

Okay Maybelline mascara lovers, what did you think about this one?

Yay for another post from the 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!

Phyrra – Want a camera bag without sacrificing style? You need the Epiphanie Lola, the best bag for beauty and fashion bloggers!

Vampy Varnish – Now you don’t need $250,000 to buy Azature Black Diamond Nail Lacquer Trust me, it’s fabulous stuff!

we heart this – tests Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil and asks the question “do you really need a $42 lip product?” Sorry wallets everywhere, you really do.

Beauty Junkies Unite – I just put COVERGIRL’s new Flamed Out Mascara to the test—check out the review with before and after photos!

Clumps of Mascara – is beyond obsessed with coconuts. So much so that she has been using these Pacificia Coconut Face Wipes daily!

EauMG – rounds up her most worn perfumes of spring 2013.

Gouldylox Reviews – Can a razor change your life? Pin it to win it and find out!

Lipglossiping – gets bedazzled by beauty after swatching the new Leighton Denny Holographic Collection. A matte holo? Whoulda thunk it?!

My Beauty Bunny – Want vibrant, sugar-coated candy nails for summer? Of course you do! We’ve got a look at the new Milani Texture Nail Lacquers that will add a sweet pop of texture to your summer mani.

Nouveau Cheap – If you’re a bright, bold matte eyeshadow lover who is also on a budget, you just might want to click right here.

Prime Beauty – is crushing on the new Lancôme Gloss In Love collection. Sparkle, shine and innovative packaging, oh my!

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by Phyrra – Izzy from Musings of a Muse has been my guide for finding beauty most unusual, as well as the best in BB and CC creams. LOVE her blog!

Question of the Week:

What’s the most regrettable hairstyle you’ve ever had? (Details, please!)

B says, “I hated having a perm. HATED it. Chemically straightening my hair ruined its health and I felt like such a victim to my hair. I enjoy my natural texture more because now! “

Any bad hair do’s on your watch? Do tell!

Sexy, ain’t they? Every few seasons OCC gives us a smashing deal of 5 Lip Tars for only $49. This is a crazy awesome deal because one Lip Tar usually costs $18. The Pro’s Picks Lip Tar Set v2.0 contains 5 unique shades that can be worn alone or mixed together to create your own shade.

(l-r)
Hoochie, Lydia, Pretty Boy, Iced and Kava Kava

Of course Hoochie is my favorite. That vibrant magenta is quite the stunner.

I wanted to create two additional lip colors using good ole’ Hooch as my base.

I had to use flash on the camera for a lot of these pics because Hooch is so hard to photograph. But wow…I love it.

I did some mixin’ with Hoochie and Pretty Boy and came up with this…

…and then I mixed Hoochie with Lydia and Iced.

Iced alone is pretty magnificent. I can’t wait to find other ways to use that beautiful frosty white. 5 Lip Tars for $50 is such a great deal and I am so going to be looking out for their next season’s release. That’s what I love about Sephora. You can always find some awesome beauty deal that you aren’t able to find other places. Check out what my fellow beauty bloggin’ ladies have featured in our Coupons.com giveaway blog hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My my myyyyy….this Florida weather is insane, y’all. It’s not even funny. Like, there isn’t an ounce of humor behind it. Us Floridians always complain about the heat and humidity. Every year. It’s kinda like how folx from snowy areas get all huffy every time snow hits the ground. During snow season. Yeah.

What was I talking about again? Oh yes…I was complaining about the heat. So even though I’m not a fan of sweating bullets within seconds of stepping outdoors, I’ll be spending quite a bit of time outside this summer. It’s Elle’s first summer and I’ve gotta turn it up for her. We’ll be doing weekly treks to the Farmer’s Market and starting swim lessons! Last month was National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and in addition to spreading the word about No Fry Friday, Eucerin is also asking folx to take the Skin First Pledge. Taking the pledge is a great commitment to yourself AND you’ll score a sample of a Eucerin SPF product.

This month I got the chance to hang out with the Daily Protection SPF 15 Body Lotion and the Daily Protection SPF 30 Moisturizing Face Lotion. I reviewed both last year and I’m still lovin’ them!

Eucerin also sent a blue wristband that turns blue when UV rays hit it! Of course I would take a picture of it at 7:30 p.m. Ha!

Stay tuned for more Eucerin developments, reviews and giveaways!

You know I was all over it. I mean, look at the ingredients.

Simple. 3 ingredients. That’s it. I love it. What VS says about this luscious smoothie…

“Choco-Luscious Skin Smoothie is the choco-licous way to keep you skin smooth and moisturized throughout your busy day. Easily spread and absorbed, doesn’t leave a greasy feel or film. Your skin will love you for it! And you’ll smell choco-yummy too!” (source)

I’ve been on the cocoa butter train since, um…birth. My Mom slathered us in that nutty oil for years. And of course I’ll be doing the same for Elle. Best thing about this stuff? It takes no time to put on because it literally melts onto your skin…

PRO’s

-Super moisturizing. Especially for those who suffer from eczema.
-A little goes a long way. This 4 oz jar should last you for quite sometime.
-Gentle enough for baby skin. Given that baby doesn’t have any allergies to the ingredients, of course.

CON’S

-It’s super greasy so I find it better to use at night than during the day.
-If you’re not a fan of the nutty smell, you may not like this.
-It’s a bit pricey at $14.98 a tub.

I’ve been slathering this stuff all over Elle and I. Esposo won’t let me slather it on him. That’s okay. This is why my skin will glow, glisten and be wrinkle-free forever. He will look 80 years old next year. Ha!! You can scoop up a tub of this stuff at VermontSoap.com.

For one, they are vegan! Wooo hoo! I’m no vegan but I tend to only regularly use vegan skincare products. And not just to be cool but because my skin acts crazy with products with a ton of mess in ‘em. So yeah, these are great because they are without the yucky ingredients.

And they’re cheap too. $6 for 20 wipes is a darn good deal for wipes that you plan to keep in your travel bag. The packaging is great too…

The hard plastic lid closes securely enough to keep the cloths moist. WIN! I should really dabble more into Pacifica products. They are my kind of brand!

PROS’s

-You don’t need water for these. Just pull from the package and wipe face.
-They do a great job at removing makeup too! Especially eyeliner and face powders.
-Affordable! $6? C’mon, that’s nothing!
-Skin feels great after use, not too try and they don’t leave an oily residue either.
-Easy to find! You can get these from Target or PacificaPerfume.com.

CON’S

-The packaging says that “all natural” fragrance is used but that seems ridiculously vague.
-They are a bit lint-y. So while they do great at removing eyeliner, I’d rather use my own makeup remover with lint-free pads.
-The coconut fragrance is nice and dissipates quickly but it may be a bit too strong for some.

Yeeppp, I’m lovin’ these! Can’t wait to try more products from Pacifica!