May's Favorite Products

Hello all of you dearies who take the time to read my little blog, I have a fun list of products for you today! I uploaded a May Favorites video on my youtube channel and promised to provide a list so that it would be easier for viewers to look into these products, so here you go! This is my first time ever doing a favorites list/video so it would be great to get some feedback on what you would like me to include/omit or anything like that. Enjoy!

11. Paris Hilton perfume by Paris Hilton
2. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater
3. Revlon Photoready Bronzer: Bronzed and Chic
4. Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick: Pink in the Afternoon
5. Revlon Superlustrous lipgloss: Coral Reef
6. Revlon colorstay eyeshadow quad in Moonlit

Well, that is all for now, I hope you are loving the wonderful summer weather! Don't forget your sunscreen!

Favorites and Fun,
Barbi

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Polyvorous Dreams

Recently I have been exploring creations on Polyvore.com, mostly to try to increase traffic on my online Jewelry boutique (barbiwaters.chloeandisabel.com). It has actually been helping, and it has been fun! I love getting to create little outfits and accessorize them the way that I want. It is also helpful to find high end fashion items and put them together in an outfit, because it helps you realize that you may already have something similar that can make the same look, or you will notice similar items in cheaper stores! I recommend checking out polyvore, its a great place to find new items and inspiration for using your wardrobe. Here are the few sets I have created so far:

Country Touch of Turquoise by barbi-waters featuring corset shirts

Denim blouse, $52
Corset shirt, $45
Jane Norman high waisted jean shorts, £32
Forever 21 low heels, $33
Turquoise beaded jewelry, $48
Pyramid Leather Wrap, $20

Coral Accents by barbi-waters featuring genuine leather handbags

Statice Quo Dress, $50
Madden girl sandals, $50
Genuine leather handbag, $345
Tear drop earrings
Coral ring
Gradient effect

A Stardust Evening by barbi-waters featuring a black mesh dress

Black mesh dress, $39
Pumps, $42
Earrings
Earrings
Earrings
smoke-frame


Fun huh?! I love these looks! Let me know what you think of them!

Polyvore and Pleasantries,

Barbi

P.S. My May favorites video will be coming soon! I'll also post a blog listing all of the items mentioned-first time ever doing a favorites video!

!!!Update!!! NYX soft matte lip cream

Well I have officially tested the NYX soft matte lip cream in the color Istanbul and I have much to say about it!

I am wearing it in this photo from yesterday, with a warm summer-y neutral look. The lip cream is indeed matte and very soft-it feels like silk on the lips! Unfortunately it didn't have very great lasting power, it behaved basically like a lipstick, but was not as drying as lipsticks can be. I think the lip cream stays pretty moist on the lips to allow flexibility, in contrast to matte lipsticks that can dry up and crack and settle into the lines in your lips.

The color is also very similar to one of my favorite lipsticks, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink In The Afternoon. The Revlon lipstick is more pink though, whereas Istanbul is more rosey so it allows for more comfortable wear (and it is slightly cheaper). I think both products are appropriate for everyday wear-anytime anyplace-but that is just my opinion! What do you think? Would you try it?

It's Istanbul not Constantinople,

Barbi

NYX Lip Creams

The other day I went out to run some errands with my roommate, and one of our stops was Ulta. Now keep in mind, I'm trying to find a job right now so I'm on a tight budget. In light of that I have not been buying any new cosmetics so that I'm not spending money I don't have on things I don't really need. However, I have been wanting to try out these lip creams since they came out forever ago, and I have been hearing such great things about them.

These lip creams retail for 5.99 at ULTA usually, but they were on sale this week, so I got them for an extra 1.50 off, plus my rewards card discounted them a bit more so ultimately I got them for 3.62 each! On top of that I used my rewards points to get another 3.00 off of my transaction-WHAT DEALS!

So I am thoroughly pleased with the deal I got on these two lip creams. I got one from each type of finish, the Xtreme Lip cream has a more satin or glossy finish, and the color I got from that is Nude peach fuzz (bottom photo). This color applies very opaque so you have to be careful not to swipe it all over your face. Other than that it applies like a lip gloss, but it lasts all day! It didn't even transfer very much when I was drinking some ice tea from a glass.

I haven't tried it yet, but I also got one of the Soft Matte Lip Creams in Istanbul (top photo). I have been in love with this shade forever and I'm so ecstatic to have it! It is a rosie pink color, when swatched it seems to apply just as opaque but much more pink than the other color, so don't be misled by their similar appearances in the photos. I will do application comparisons and update this review when I've thoroughly tested out Istanbul. Yay!

Well it seems I'm a bit wordy in regards to these products, but thank you for taking the time to read all of that! Don't hesitate to ask questions or make requests in the comments!

Peach fuzz pouts,
Barbi

Jergen's Natural? Glow Daily Moisturizer

This is a much talked about product for the spring and summer, a self tan lotion with spf that creates a gradually darkening of the skin. I'm sure many people do what I did for years, always walking past it in the stores, even when it was on sale, because I have had such bad experiences with self tanners and I was just too skeptical to give it a risk.

Well I finally broke down and decided to try it out a little over a year ago. It took me the whole summer to use up the bottle, but that is probably because after a while I just didn't need to use it anymore. This lotion is perfectly moisturizing, I prefer it to my regular vaseline with cocoa butter lotion, and it helps to get my summer tan started.

You do have to use it at least once a day consistently in order to see any difference, and some days I use it twice to really get that color boost going. It does what it claims: it gradually deepens the color of your skin while moisturizing and firming at the same time. On top of all of that, it has an SPF of 20, which makes it perfect for staring out that summer tan! I use this consistently for a few weeks to get my pre-tan built up, but then after spending plenty of time under the summer sun (with sun screen on, of course) then I build up a natural tan and don't really need to use it anymore.

 I save it until the end of the summer, and as the Fall creeps in and my natural tan starts to fade,  I start using it again to make my tan last as long as possible.

I really love the way my skins receives this lotion, and it has never given me the problems that other self tanners have given me (unbearable sour odor, orange stains on my hands, on my clothes, on my towels...etc..etc...) No stinky orange with this one!

So I hope this helps anyone who has been wondering about the famous Jergen's natural glow, I do recommend it for getting a bit of color going on your skin. Especially for those with extra sensitive skin who really should not be tanning under the sun, I would recommend you stick to this for the whole season!

Tans and Twinkles,

Barbi

How to train your jewelry

This is how to display your jewelry in a creative and innovative way when you have little room and no budget.

LOOK CLOSELY! You may find my gorgeous handmade-from-vintage-buttons ring from Made by Bee on etsy!

I love the way the jewels sparkle when the light is on!

I have had this lamp since wayyy back in high school, its just a simple lamp from IKEA. I poked a couple of holes in the lampshade to test it out and the holes are hardly visible without the earrings in them. So I went for it and put a few of my most worn pairs of earrings on the lamp shade.

As for the Jewel tree, that was from Target, it was originally $19.99 but I got it on sale (look for the sales and coupons, it will save you a bundle my friends). I mostly put only Chloe+Isabel Jewelry on the tree as it goes with the birdy theme and it helps me keep the items separate for when I do 25 days of Jewels.

For my long, non Chloe+Isabel necklaces, I just used clear push pins to hang them along the wall in coordination with my picture frames (not photoed due to flash glare).

Altogether, I think it looks very nice, and it makes my jewels much more easily accessible; which is great because I am always hurriedly throwing on something as I run out the door to classes!

I hope you like the idea, and are inspired by my little creation!

Cuddles and Creativity,
Barbi

25 Days of Jewels Day 4

Today is a rainy and cold day, so of course I am wearing my oversized scarf! These jewels go perfectly with it. Adding an artistic scarf quickly turns these jewels from glammy chic to a bohemian dream! 

I'm wearing the Lotus Pearl Cluster Drop Earrings, and one of my absolute favorites, the Modern Deco Stretch Bracelet! Check out its new colorful twin! http://barbiwaters.chloeandisabel.com/products/B012G/modern-deco-stretch-bracelet-1

Can't wait to get my hands on that beauty!

Enjoying spring showers,
Barbi