High End (Too Faced) and Drugstore (NYX) Eye Shadow Primer Comparision

Hi, my name is Lori and I have oily eyelids.  Yep, I admit it.  Face is dry to combination but the darned lids are not!

I have tried everything; concealer, powder, MAC painterly paintpot, prayer... but nothing stops my eyeshadow from creeping and creasing!  Gah!

Two weeks ago I was at my local Lawton's Drugs and while chatting with the cosmetics advisor and we started chatting about primers.  I starting complaining about the oily lid dilemma and she asked what I had tried.  Let me list the brands:

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• MAC Painterly PaintPot
• Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

She asked if I had tried the NYX Eye Shadow Base.  Nope - Never.  So off I went with a sample in Skin Tone.  I tried it and it wasn't too bad - no worse than any other brand, but let us compare.  So I did two tests with Too Faced.  One of short duration and one for a lot of hours.

I applied Too Faced shadow insurance to my left lid (right when looking at pic) and NYX Eye Shadow Base to the right lid (left looking at the pic) at around about 10:30am

And then at 9:15pm, I checked the status.

Hmmm... Interesting. The difference in hardly noticeable.  But you know what is noticeable?  The price.  The NYX retails for about $10CDN and the Too Faced costs about $23CDN.  Wow.

Here's my one tip, use it sparingly and let the primers set before adding shadow on top.  A couple of minutes.

Next up?  Urban Decay Primer Potion vs NYX Eye Base in White.  Stay tuned....

February 2012 TopBox Overview

 February TopBox

I am sooo excited to be receiving beauty samples in the mail.  I was a bit skeptical at first but I have to say that I have not been disappointed thus far in any of the deliveries. This is my second TopBox and I think they are fab!


They send everything in a cylinder which are covered with a lovely paper.

The cylinder of samples

Off came the top of the package

Let's have a peek inside

Brochure on the inside

The List of what is included

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat

Derma 24 Collagen Elastin Restorative Hand & Nail Treatment - FULL SIZE

Whats left??

Pari Light Pink Shadow - FULL SIZE

Shadow on Finger

Swatch on Hand

YSL Mascara

Mascara Wand Close Up

Overall thoughts?

On the products

I have tried everything but the YSL Touche Eclat.

• The Derma is excellent on my hands, I usually lather up my hands and put on cotton gloves when going to bed - this creme is making a difference (used every night this past week);
• The pari eyeshadow is a lovely light pink.  I recommend you wear a good eye primer underneath for 2 reasons; to punch up the colour (as the pigment is a tad light) and to keep the shadow from fading.
• The YSL Mascara is ok.  I prefer a mascara with more impact but this is a nice one coat formula that I wear to work.  The staying power is not ideal but I like it for an understated look. 
• Also included was 2 samples of LillyPilly (oops forgot to photograph them).  I received LillyPilly in another box previous and I do enjoy the product.  Lovely smelling and very emollient!

On TopBox

I think it is very much worth the money.  For $10 plus tax, I received 2 full size products and 3 nice sample sized products.  Love the packaging!!

Anyone else with thoughts on the products?  I welcome all feedback!

Cheers,
Lori

Blueberry Coffee Cake - You know you want some!

I had loads of blueberries in the freezer from the summer and decided to try to bake a coffee cake.  I do enjoy baking cookies but cake success seems to have eluded me.

So... Here we go.

Follow the pics for the recipe

Blueberry Coffee Cake (Adapted from Betty Crocker® recipe)

Things You Need (Otherwise Known as Ingredients and Supplies) and Things You Do (Otherwise Known as Directions)

Meanwhile... Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom and side of 9x3-inch springform pan or 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray.

Crumb Topping

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup  all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ( I am closer to 3/4 tsp)

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 

 

In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour and the cinnamon. Cut in butter with fork until crumbly. Set aside.

Wet and Dry Batter

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup shortening

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (thawed and drained) 

 

In large bowl, stir together all coffee cake ingredients except blueberries; beat with spoon 30 seconds. Fold in blueberries.

Ready for the Oven

Spread batter in pan. Sprinkle with topping. 

(Mine looked very lumpy and did not spread well - but I persevered and it wasn't anything to worry about!)

Just out of the Oven and Cooling

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove side of pan.

Glaze for the Top

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons hot water (I had to use a little more - Closer to 1 Tbsp)

 

In small bowl, mix all glaze ingredients until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over warm coffee cake.

Pre-Glaze

Apres-Glaze

Look OK?

Happy with the Results!!

I took this cake into work and it was a hit!!!  Whew!

What do you think?  Look ok?  Any suggestions for another cake to try?

Beauty Sample Box comparisions

Remember when I said I would compare the sample boxes?  A long time ago?

Well, this is the first month that I will receive all three.  They are:

LuxeBox by Loose Button
TopBox
Glymm

**Update on Feb. 24th  - I also just subscribed to GlossyBox

In all fairness, I have received Luxe Box and Top Box last month too, but this will be my first month for all three.

Stay tuned for comparisons...

In the meantime, here are the links to the respective websites.

LuxeBox - http://www.loosebutton.com/
TopBox - www.topbox.ca
Glymm - http://www.glymm.com/glymm-box/
GlossyBox - http://www.glossybox.ca/

If you wish to sign up (and help a ole gal keep her beauty sample addiction going), here are the links:

LuxeBox - http://luxebox.loosebutton.com/friend-sign-up?referrer=ZmFjZjBkOGY=
TopBox - coming
Glymm - http://www.glymm.com/share/penneyl72
GlossyBox - http://www.glossybox.ca/invitation/Mjc2Ng==/ here!