Glitz N Cosmos Re- launch Soiree

On Thursday, November 20th, 2014 I had a small re-launch soiree celebrating updates that I have made on a blog.What originally started off as a simple "topic" for my senior project class turned into something that I really am trying to take serious and blog consistently entering 2015.  The event was very intimate and a way to re-introduce my peers to my blog. I am now back in action with Glitz N Cosmos and I hope you all enjoy past and future post.

Favorite Fall Scents

Today, I am bringing you all my favorite fall scents of 2014. Some are classics like Flower
bomb and I have some new scents from Burberry as well.


1.

My Burberry, is Burberry's newest fragrance and it is perfect for cozying up with "Bae" or a night out with the girls. Notes: Sweet Pea, Bergamot, Geranium, Golden Quince, Freesia, Patchouli, Rain-Tipped Damask and Centifolia Roses. 


2.

Flowerbomb, a classic, beautiful scent that can do no wrong. I love the attention I get when I wear flowerbomb. Notes:Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Ballerina Freesia, Patchouli.






3.

I have never been a fan of Philosophy fragrances but the moment I smelled Fresh Cream, I was hooked. I get the best wear from it when I pair it with the body wash and body lotion. Notes: Etherial Cream, Soft Sweetness, Hints of Vanilla.

4.

I recently developed a love for CLEAN fragrances, they have so many amazing scents but White Woods is my absolute favorite. You can mix the CLEAN scents together for a more customized scent. This scent is also unisex. Notes: Bergamot Leaves, Mandarin, Black Pepper, Calla Lily, Vanilla Orchid, Magnolia, Sandalwood, Praline Musk, Amber Woods

5.

Last, one of my oldies but goodie scents Pink Sugar. I absolutely love this fragrance. Notes: Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Licorice, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Cotton Candy, Vanilla, Caramel, Musk, Wood, Powder.

6.

I really wanted to keep it at 5, but I had to add Prada Candy L'eau just because IT IS AMAZING! Notes: White Musks, Benzoin, Caramel, Citrus, Oriental Florals. 

Also, Viva La Juicy (original), Viva La Juicy Noir, and Viva La Juicy Noir are scents that I am in love with as well but didn't make this list but definitely check them out!

 You can get these scents from Nordstrom or Sephora.

Best Holiday Gift sets

Here are a few Holiday gift sets that would be perfect for those gals on the go we all know( or you can be like me and get most of these for yourself).

Sephora never fails with their gift sets, I find them to be the most reliable.

MACs Holiday Collection was pretty impressive this year, I love the bags more than anything.

Check out these gift set + more on:

Sephora

MAC COSMETICS

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How I Achieve a Golden Glow

Hey Lovelies! I am bringing you guys my very special golden glow summer routine. YAY! These last few months I have been obsessed with looking like I just came out of a golden pool (LOL) and with trial and error, I have found my perfect products to achieve a golden glow. The only product that isn't shown is the Laura Mercier Bronze Radiance primer, but I will add a picture at the bottom. The arrows in the picture rspresent the order of how I use each product starting with skin care. I take skin care very serious and I love using mask as often as I can ( of course not everyday). Once or twice a week  I will switch my mask up but to acheieve a radiant natural glow I love this REN Radiance Renewal mask! amazing stuff, I tell you go to your local sephora and grab a sample before purchasing so you can be amazed.

After the mask , I apply MAC Cosmetics Strobe cream which is a luminizing moiustirzer that has a pearl finish once applied. I then mix my MAC Lustre drops in golden with my foundation ( Nars Sheer Matte in Cadiz) and apply with my beauty blender. After applying my  NARS Creamy Radiance concealor in Biscuit, I then set with my MSF Natural in Medium-dark and lightly cntour with MACS Blunt, MACS Worldlywealth (Moody Blooms Collection Blush) or my Too Faced Sun bunny. I highlight with MAC MSF in Gold Deposit( obsessed with) and set with either my Cauldalie Beauty Elixir or MACS Fix +( both give dewy, healthy glow finishes)

How I Achieve a Golden glow by raven-erica-alston featuring MAC Cosmetics

Ren mask / Caudalie skin care, $19 / MAC Cosmetics beauty product, $17 / MAC Cosmetics face powder / MAC Cosmetics spray makeup, $39

   

Laura Mercier radiance bronze primer

MAC Worldly wealth

Too Faced Sun bunny bronzer

They're Real Push Up Liner, Make-up Remover , and Mascara Review

Greetings doll faces! I will be reviewing the new Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner and Make-up remover( we all know I LOVE the mascara) so lets get right in to it.

I received the trio a few weeks ago at work and before I tried the liner, I was so excited. My manager told me not to get too excited because it wasn't all that but I just knew she was cray-cray. I go home that night and try out the liner and I had such difficulty using this product because you have to twist up the bottom, but not too much because then you will get too much product which results in a super thick, sloppy  line. You also cannot twist the pen back down so twist with caution. It is a rubbery/felt ( unsure of the material) tip that the liner comes out of and I am still unsure if it should be full or if it is better to use the liner when it low. Once I applied the liner, it was a little better. Though it did not glide on my eye like other liners I've used, I had to remind myself that this is gel liner and not liquid so application will be different. I will say, that I get amazing wings when I use this product, its very black and tends to last for hours. I will continue to use this product, in hopes of getting use to it. I have had a few clients at work return this liner so it really depends on the person and their patience( you must be patient with this product) 

I don't have too much to say about the make-up remover, to me it is just a make-up remover. It is easy to use and gets the job done which is always good. It definitely get's the liner and mascara off( both are hard to remove) which is a major plus for me because I can NEVER get They're Real mascara off EVER!

I hope you enjoyed my review. I do love the Benefit brand. I believe they are very innovative with a lot of their products (especially they're real products) The idea of the liner was genius and I feel that with time, this product will get better. 

My Favorite Way to Remove my Make-up

How I remove my make-up by raven-erica-alston featuring botanics skin care

Ole Henriksen botanics skin care / Eye care

So I know we all have those nights where we are so tired we can barely stand up to go wash our make-up off. Now I'm not saying don't cleanse your face after a long, sticky summer day but if you are just so pooped I would rather you grab a wipe and fall into bed. My favorite wipes are the Ole Henriksen wipes( the Orange in my favorite). The wipes not only remove make-up but are very beneficial to the skin, especially the blue pack which have are double-sided providing a ribbed, exfoliating feeling and a smooth feeling on the opposite side which also helps with acne and break outs. The Purple pack is if you have super sensitive skin, they are so gentle yet definitely will get the work done. Lastly, The Orange pack, which is infused with vitamin D and help with evening skin tone and assisting with a healthy glow which I recommend to EVERYBODY! I love Ole Henriksen he's a great guy with amazing products. I also added the Make Up Forever Sensieyes which is a a great eye make-up remover for those stubborn waterproof liners.

My five favorite peels& exfoliates

My five favorite peels& exfoliates by raven-erica-alston featuring paraben free skin care

GlamGlow paraben free skin care / Peter Thomas Roth face mask / Kate Somerville face care / Peter Thomas Roth beauty product, $65 / MAC Cosmetics beauty product, $38


Decided to share with you all a few of my favorite peels and exfoliates. I love exfoliating and all five of these peels/masks/exfoliates aid with brightening dull skin. They also aid with break-outs and removing dead skin which is so important. The Glam Glow is my recent favorite( it just came out) I applied it on one of my friends and the difference one use made on he skin was unbelievable. Will  post before and after pictures soon

My top 5 summer beauty must haves

With a month and a half last of summer, Its never too late to grab summer beauty essentials, All of these products are great for the summer because they either mattify, are waterproof, or aren't too heavy that you feel like a clown.

1. If you aren't into wearing lip glosses or lipsticks in the summer for whatever reason, then these lip balms are for you. It is so many colors that you can have a new look every day of the week. They are moisturizing protecting and smell so good. They are pigmented for them to be lip balms and some even have SPF.

2. Let me tell you all that I LIVE FOR THIS PRODUCT! when I first received it, I thought it was too dark which turned me off but the key to this product is that it lightens as it starts to sit and blends amazing when using certain brushes or a beauty blender. This product is mattifying AND Hydrates the skin, it provides an amazing coverage, has SPF AND is recommended for people with acne (works just as good if you don't have acne). The gel formula works with any skin type and it is reasonably priced.( sold at Sephora)

3. Brows are ALWAYS in and don't let your eyebrows melt off with powders or pencils. I recommend the Anastasia dip brow because it is a pomade( easy to apply) and waterproof.

4.If you like to wear eye make-up in the summer, but worry about it creasing...have no fear, Smashbox 24 hour Eye primer is here to save the day

5. I have been loving Dior mascaras and just about all of them are waterproof which works perfectly in the summer

My top 5 summer beauty must haves by raven-erica-alston featuring anastasia cosmetics

Cover FX paraben free  skin care / Christian Dior volumizing mascara / Anastasia cosmetic, $43 / Fresh moisturizing lipstick / Smashbox makeup primer

Upcoming MAC releases May-Sept

   Get your pockets ready ladies, these next few months MAC will be giving us thst work... That make-up work. With two collections (Maleficent) and (Alluring Aqua) releasing weeks apart this month, we have three collections releasing in June (MAC x Lorde) (MAC Pedro Lourenco) and ( MAC x Osbournes) and slight releases in July and August but today MAC tweeted about their big Fall collection featuring The Simpsons for their 25th anniversary ( MAC x Marge) realeasing in September .

Smashbox Santigold Summer Collection

So the other day, I walked into my job (Sephora) and my co-worker walked up to me mentioning the new Smashbox collection we just got in. Not being the biggest fan of smashbox( though I am loving my exposure pallet)  I payed it( brushed it off) until she showed me the lipstick ring. From there I ran to Smashbox and stared in awe at how beautiful this collection is. After swatching everything on my hand(, I just knew I had to get multiple things from this collection. I love the gold lip gloss as "topping" to a pretty lipstick. It is similar to YSL's gold carrot lip gloss and I also adore the double sided liners. What really surprised me at how good it was, were the two eye shadow pallets OH EM GEE the both were so pigmented, so nice, and a perfect blend of mattes and shimmers, I will be purchasing both. I like the idea of the lipstick ring but I'm not sure if I am ready to pay $40 for it. I do wish Smashbox came out with a blush I feel like I would like to see more blushes from them but aside from that, I give this collection an A.

Lime Crime Swatches

While at IMATS I was so pressed to go to Lime Crime, I finally got a few of the items I wanted- four lipsticks and their citrus liner

L-R: Chinchilla,Cosmopop,Dlilac,Mint to be

Citruses liner

Chinchilla at the top, Dlilac and viva glam nicki 2( as a comparison, VG Nicki 2 is lighter)

Limecrime.com

I will be getting more products soon