CoaSTG Stocking Filler Giveaway

Hi my dears!
Just here to let you know about a great giveaway: Confessions of a Small Town Girl's Stocking Filler Giveaway!

Check out this wonderful little giveaway here:

Good luck!
Rav

Urgent Little Post

Hi!
This is a rather urgent post!
Want to help me win a dress dress?
I am currently participating in a christmas contest to win a dream dress that I need for a cosplay project (among other things) but I can only win if I gather at least another 60 "likes" on on my facebook entry.
So if you want to help me, go to this link- Click
After you get to the photo on that link, click "like" and please share so that your friends may like it too!
But please hurry, this ends on December 18th! Only 4 days to go!

Thanks everyone!

ELF Review V -New lippies!

Hi everyone!
Today I'm bringing you a review for something that has been very requested lately- elf's new lipsticks.
I recently bought four of the six new lipsticks for the essential line and so I will share my review now.
Some of you might know I have a bit of a passion for red lipstick and that was what first attracted me to the new line- a new bright red called "fearless". I just couldn't wait to get it, but then I saw a few others that I just couldn't resist so how about I show you?
I bought:
-Nostalgic
-Captivating
-Flirtatious
-Fearless

Left to Righ- Nostalgic, Captivating, Flirtatious, Fearless
Flash photo

Left to Righ- Nostalgic, Captivating, Flirtatious, Fearless
No flash, artificial light photo

e.l.f. Lipstick
"Indulge your lips with long lasting color and shine. The moisture rich formula hydrates, conditions and softens on contact for silky smooth lips.
(...)
Instantly beautiful, healthy-looking lips designed, formulated and tested by our professional team of makeup artists."

From elf UK website

You can find all of these lipsticks here (Europe) and here (USA). They each cost 1$ (US), 1,50£ (UK) or 1,70€ (rest of Europe).

Nostalgic:

When it comes to colour this is a must have- it's a very delicate nude with slight salmon undertone, it is also pretty matte and should look good on pretty much anyone.

As for quality...I found it to be a bit dry and a little hard to apply like elf's older lipstick "Classy", but if you use a little lip balm as a base and warm it a little or apply it with a lip brush, it should be perfectly fine. It is also pretty long lasting and does not smudge easily.

I'll show you a nice swatch in the end of the review.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Captivating:

Curious about orange lipstick but scared it will be too much of a clash with your skintone? Fear no more, because this lipstick is the solution.

Colour wise this is a lovely soft matte orange that pretty much works with any complexion. However it is bright and, although it's great for a beauty statement, I wouldn't advise it for a professional occasion or for shy girls (even if it is a great confidence booster for me ^^).

Quality wise, it is wonderful- very creamy, soft, leaves an even finish and is long lasting but might smudge a little so I advise you to blot it then apply a soft second layer.

Swatch in the end as well.

I give it 8 out of 10.

Flirtatious:

This is a wonderful soft delicate pink, relatively matte but with a soft cold glossy touch, it's not too light that it will look flashy on darker skin tones but it's also not dark enough to draw all the attention to your lips. I think this is another must have for everyone, though if you have pale or porcelain skin, try elf mineral lipstick in "Runway Pink" instead, it's equally lovely and very high quality but a bit lighter.

As for quality this lipstick is very creamy and easy to apply, not as even finish as Captivating and Fearless but still very nice and easy to work with.

Swatch in the end.

I give it 8 out of 10.

Fearless:

I'm sorry to sound like a hyeractive teenage girl but- omg, omg, omg I love love love this!!!

I'm a bit obcessive with finding the perfect red lipstick and I did find one (Dior Plastic Sine- Red) but I needed a cheaper version, I also have 3 other red elf lipsticks and I love all of them for different occasions but this particular lipstick blew me away!

Colour wise Fearless is a hot bright warm red (as opposed to elf's Posh- a cold undertone red), it's relatively matte but still very glossy and it is loud and quite attention grabbing but not as dark or gaudy as Dior Plastic so it is still proper for most occasions.

Quality wise it is extremely smooth and very easy to apply. I found it very confortable to apply and didn't smudge at all, plus it was easy to correct in case of smudging, something rare for red lipsticks.

I definitly advise this one.

Swatch in the end.

I give it 10 out of 10 (yes, it's that good).

Swatches

Here are my bare lips, for comparison:

Bare Lips

And here are all the swatches:

Nostalgic -nude with a salmon undertone

Captivating -smooth orange

Flirtatious -soft pink

Fearless -hot warm red

Bear in mind that my lips are quite chapped/cracked from the intense cold here which may affect the swatches slightly.

I hope you enjoyed this review, I will post a red lipstick comparison review soon as well as a review on the older elf lipsticks. Also, check out Nina's blog post on these same lippies to see the two I don't have -Sociable and Charming.

Feel free to request other reviews from products in my elf items list (here it is).

Also, check out my birthday giveaway, due to several issues I was forced to extend the deadline, check it out here.

Lot's of lipstick love,

Rav

All my ELF products -UPDATED

Hi everyone,
Here's the update on the list of all my ELF products so far.
If anyone has any questions about these products please feel free to ask.
I plan to post more photos too in a near future.

Here is the list of ELF products I own:
-Luscious Liquid Lipstick in "Ruby Slipper"
-Lipstick in "Classy"
-Lipstick in "Seductive"
-Lipstick in "Posh"
-Mineral Lipstick in "Cheerful Cherry"
-Mineral Lipstick in "Natural Nymph"
-Hypershine Lip Gloss in "Honey"
-Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 in "Mauve Luxe"
-Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 in "Iced Latte"
-Plumping Lip Glaze in "Baby Doll"
-All Over Color Stick in "Golden Peach"
-Shimmering Facial Whip in "Golden Peach"
-Professional Shine Eraser
-Clarifying Pressed Powder in "Ivory"
-Clarifying Pressed Powder in "Light Beige"
-Clarifying Pressed Powder in "Rosy Beige" x2
-Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 in "Light Beige"
-Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 in "Rosy Beige"
-Mineral Foundation in "Light (for light sking and gold undertones)"
-All Over Cover Stick in "Light Beige"
-All Over Cover Stick in "Rosy Beige"
-Studio Concealor Pencil & Brush in "Light"
-Mineral Booster (small-sheer)
-Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in "Sun Kissed"
-Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in "Warm Tan"
-Natural Radiance Blusher in "Innocence"
-Eyelid Primer
-Nail Polish in "Glitter Glam"
-Nail Polish in "Red Velvet"
-Nourishing Cuticle Pen
-Nail block
-Shimer Eyeliner Pencil in "Boldly Bronzed"
-Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in "Plum Passion"
-Eye Widener (white)
-Liquid Eyeliner in "Silver"
-Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in "Black"
-Studio High Definition Powder
-Mineral Infused Face Primer
-Blushing, Bronzing and Blending Brush
-Eyeshadow Brush x2
-Studio Kabuki Face Brush
-Mechanical Eyelash Curler
-Powder Puffs
-Brush Shampoo
-Hipershine Lip Gloss in "Sugar Plum"
-Brightening Eye Color in "Punk Funk"
-Brightening Eye Color in "Luxe"
-Brightening Eye Color in "Drama"
-Brightening Eye Color in "Ivy"
-Nail Polish in "Royal Purple"
-Nail Polish in "Light Red"
-Nail Polish in "Black"
-Brightening Eye Liner in "Black"
-Studio Makeup Mist & Set
-Nail Polish in "Dark Red"
-Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 in "Spice"
-Brightening Eyeliner in "Coffee"
-Clarifying Pressed Powder in "Honey"
-Lipstick in "Fantasy"
-Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in "Twinkle Teal"
-Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in "Iconic Ivory"
-Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in "Gunmetal"
-Studio Lip Primer & Plumper
-Studio Stipple Brush
-Eye Crease Brush
-Eyeliner Brush
-Tinted Moisruriser spf 15 in "Honey"
-Nail Polish in "Chocolate"
-Nail Polish in "Lilac"
-Nail Polish in "Mint Cream"
-Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm in "Vanilla Crème"
-All Over Cover Stick in "Honey"
-Luscious Liquid Lipstick in "Brownie Points"
-Super Glossy Lip Shine in "Goddess"
-Tone Correcting Concealer in "Apricot Beige"

elf Haul part 1

-Nail Polish in "Party Purple"
-Tone Correcting Concealer in "Honey"
-Nail Polish in "Goddess"
-Nail Polish in "Clear"
-Brightening Eyeliner in "Plum"
-Clarifying Pressed Powder in "Honey"
-Tinted Moisturiser spf 15 in "Honey"
-Duo Eyeshadow Cream in "Eggplant"
-Complete Coverage Concealer in "Medium"
-Mineral Lipstick in "Royal Red"
-Mineral Lipstick in "Prime Plum"
-Eyebrow Kit in "Dark"
-32 pc. Eyeshadow Collection in "Everyday Brights"
-Total Face Brush
-Blending Eye Brush
-Super Glossy Lip Shine spf 15 in "Pink Kiss"
-Super Glossy Lip Shine spf 15 in "Angel"
-Corrective Concealer
-Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
-All over Color Stick in "Toasted"
-Nail Polish in "Dark Navy"
-Nail Polish in "Hot Pink"
-Nail Polish in "Metal Madness"
-Duo Eyeshadow Cream in "Black Licorice"
-Duo Eyeshadow Cream in "Blueberry"



elf Haul part 2

-Matte Finisher Clear Nail Polish

-Mineral Lipstick in "Runway Pink"

-Mineral Lipstick in "Cool Coral"

-Super Glossy Lip Shine spf 15 in "Mauve Luxe" 

-Nail Polish in "Blush"

-Nail Polish in "Coral"

-Brightening Eye Color in "Glam"

-Luscious Liquid Lipstick in "Baby Lips"

-Studio Angled Foundation Brush

-Beauty Encyclopedia in "Sparkle Eyes"

-Complexion Perfection
-Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumising Mascara
-Nail polish in "Teal Blue"
-Nail Polish in "Purple Dream"
-Nail Polish in "Gum Pink"
-Waterproof Eyeliner Pen (black)
-All Over Color Stick (Pink Lemonade)
-Eyebrow Kit (light)
-Brightening Eye Colour (Silver Lining)

-Natural Radiance Blusher (Glow)

-Nail Polish in "Copper"

-Nail Polish in "Mango Madness"

-Studio Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 in "Nude"

-Mineral Booster (large-sheer)

-Studio Powder Brush

-Brush Case

-Beauty Encyclopedia in "Everyday Eyes"

elf Haul part 3

elf Brushes (+ miscelanious others)

-Nail Polish in Twinkle

-Lipstick in "Nostalgic"

-Lipstick in "Captivating"

-Lipstick in "Flirtatious"

-Lipstick in "Fearless"

-Shimmering Facial Whip in "Spotlight"

-Brightening Eye Color in "Ocean"

-Studio Glitter Gloss in "Bronze Bling"

-Make-up Lock & Seal

-Make-up Clutch

Haul 4

ELF Products on my Wishlist:

-Studio Lip Lock Pencil

-New Personal Blend Mineral Foundation spf 15

-Limited Edition Duo Eyeshadow Set (why can't elf UK just get these, already??)

And that's all for now.
Lots of lipstick love,
Raven

Moments like Diamonds: Sweet Lady Setup Giveaway

Hello again!
Here's another great giveaway that I'm loving <3
Check it out at:
http://chouzuru.blogspot.com/2011/11/sweet-lady-setup-giveaway.html

Also I would coordinate the Forever21 retro girly top with a frilly plated black skirt, a tule underskirt, my stripped white, grey and black knee socks, my black lolila ankle boots with sating black ribbons, my lace fingerless gloves and my mini clip-on top hat (with lace and feathers).
Like it?

Lot's of lipstick love,
Rav

Miss Holly - NARS Christmas Giveaway

Hi,
Just a reminder!
Check out Miss Holly's amazing Christmas Giveaway at

Miss Holly - NARS Christmas Giveaway

Good luck!!!!!!

Raven

I am so sorry everyone

Hello my dears,
I am so sorry. Just when I promise to start posting daily, I went MIA...Why? Well, my laptop fried.
And yes I mean that literally, my motherboard literally fried inside my computer when someone spilled milk over my keyboard. My laptop was already having problems so this just killed it.
That along with my usual personal and family issues made me unable to come online or write anything and therefore I am very sorry everyone.
However, I was (almost by miracle actually) granted a new laptop by my poor dear old dad. I am very grateful for it and vow to care for this new laptop with the utmost carefullness. I also promise to try and improve and update my blog a lot more from now on, I can promise I will update it daily since I'm still trying to get back all my lost data but I will try my best.

Anyway, on to better news.
My birthday giveaway (which should now probably be called "End of the Year" giveaway) has been extended again untill December 31st. However this is the final deadline and I won't alter it again (PROMISE!), also all the people who have entered all still in the run.
Check it out here: http://ravens-writtings.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-2nd-giveaway.html

Secondly, my daily (well almost daily) beauty tips mini-posts will continue! Also feel free to send me any of your own beauty tips to rachel_wiccan@hotmail.com and I will feature them on my posts. Plus I love to learn new tips ^_^

Finally, check out Michelle Phan's most recent video for some interesting news here- http://youtu.be/LVBe8GKFZHc
Or just check out Michelle Phan's new MyGlam project here- http://www.myglam.com/ AND HERE- https://www.facebook.com/myglam?sk=wall

That's all for now my friends!
Lot's of lipstick love,
Rav

http://ravens-writtings.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-2nd-giveaway.html

October 2nd Giveaway

Hello, hello, hello!
Today is a very very very important day, yes it is.
And why is October 2nd of 2011 important? Easy, it's because......IT'S MY 22nd BIRTHDAY!
To celebrate this year I spent the weekend at an anime convention here but I wanted to share this date with my subscribers so here I am.
I haven't gotten any gifts this year but I believe in Karma so here's is a little elf giveaway.
I never stop boasting about elf as you all know, it's my ultimate bargain pick. So I decided my giveaway would be elf related.

The item you may win on this giveaway is........

The elf Brush Case!

The elf Brush Case can be found at the eyeslipsface website (I got mine from the UK Branch website, can't seem to find it in the US Branch website).
It costs 5,80€ or 5£ in Europe and can hold many brushes depending on their size (I keep about 30 in mine). I will be reviewing this extensively in a future post.
If you win you will be getting a brand new unused Brush Case and a little surprise prize.

Giveaway Info:
-Open Internationally
-Starts on October 2nd (at 8am GMT) and ends on December 31st (midnight GMT)
-Winner willl be chosen randomly

Giveaway Rules:
-Be a subscriber to this blog and share (however you want- facebook, twitter, blog post, etc- just be sure to add the link on your comment)
-Leave a comment with you GFC or email and the links to how you shared this giveaway
-Don't double comment please

-For extra entries:
 -post a link (and one of the photos above) on the sidebar of your blog (3 entries)
 -follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/Rach_Hallow and tweet about this giveaway (2 entries)
 -post about this on facebook with the giveaway link (1 entry)
NOTE: these extra entries must be just that- EXTRA, they only apply if you have already share this giveaway in any other way.

So have fun everyone and thanks for reading!
Love,
Rav


PS-This post was edited on October 4th at dawn, ignore the date tag.

EDIT: THIS HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON- I WAS OFFLINE FOR A WHILE DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES AND BECAUSE I HAVEN'T REACHED THE 40 FOLLOWER LIMIT, EITHER WAY THIS DEADLINE IS FINAL, I PROMISE I WILL NOT EXTEND IT ANYMORE.

Tips Of The Day I

Hello everyone,
I know I haven't been updating much but I've had my reasons.
Anyway I'm back to active and given some horrible home-making experiences I've had these last few days I decided to share some beauty and some home tips, so I will be sharing one beauty and home tip every day (and maybe some artsy tips too).
So, let's just get to the point, shall we?

Beauty Tip Of The Day:
-Have no other choice but to shave your legs?
Tip: Do it at night. In the morning your legs maybe be swollen from the lack of movement and reduced blood flow as you sleep so by shaving at night, when your daily activities have got your blood pumping and reduced all swelling, you can get a closer and smoother shave.
Tip 2: Don't use water that is too warm, it will also swell your skin and dilate your pores not allowing a close shave, so try cooler water.

Homey Tip Of The Day:
-Oh my Gods, spilled bleach?!
Tip 1: To counter act bleach effects quickly, reach into your kitchen cabinet and grab distilled (or cider) vinegar! Use a white cloth (a color cloth might stain the garment, carpet, etc that you are trying to clean) to dag the vinegar or if the smell won't bother as much as the stain the soak the area with vinegar, after a few minutes wash with cool water and mild detergent. This also works to clean those nasty yellow (or brownish) spots your white clothes get from bleach, even if the damage is old!

That's the tip of the day, hope it helps!
Love,
Rav

Polish Changes Giveaway

Hello,
Here I am once again to share another giveaway.
Polish Changes blog is having a great nail polish giveaway right HERE.
Check it out and good luck!

Love,
Rav

Lovefemme Giveaway

Hi,
Once again hre I am sharing another giveaway.
lovefemme is having a wonderfull giveaway with not one but THREE winners.
Check it out HERE.

Good luck!
Rav

Beauty Crazed Givenchy Contest

Hello readers!
Yet another giveaway to share! The Canadian blog Beauty Crazed is having a Givenchy contest, so....You know the drill, visit the link below:
http://www.beautycrazed.ca/2011/09/want-to-experience-joy-that-is-givenchy.html

And good luck everyone.
Love,
Rav

THE BEAUTY CORNER 150 Follower Giveaway

Hi everyone!!!
Once again here I am to share another giveaway!
THE BEAUTY CORNER is having a great giveaway for a Sleek palette!
Check it out at:
http://www.thebeautycorner.co.uk/2011/09/150-follower-giveaway-win-sleek-palette.html

Good luck everyone!
Love,
Rav

Sara Hassan's Sigma FLARE Palette Giveaway

Hi everyone!
Once again Sara Hassan's Blog is having another awsome giveaway! Be sure to check it out by clicking the image below.

Good luck everyone!
Love,
Rav

Tattoo Shop Review

Hello everyone!
I realize I've been neglecting my blog a bit too much lately, but I have a good reason- I've been on vacation AND I've been dealing with a lot of bad news, so please don't shoot me :P

Anyway today's review is angled to anyone in Portugal, whether if you live there or are just passing through on vacation (which everyone should at least once!).
I will be reviewing AR Tattoo Shop.

ARTS is located in Tavira, a lovely southern beach town in Portugal with a lot of tourist potential in sooo many ways. If you are ever around southern Europe, remember to drop by ;)
This store is run by it's only tattooist, a brilliant young artist named Anita Rodrigues.
Now, Anita is an old friend of mine but I hadn't seen her in years and when it comes to art and to something as serious and permanent as a tattoo, I don't take things lightly and (as most my aquaintances can testify) I am quite impartial even when my friends are concerned so I admit writting this review was a hard decision.
But, let's get on with the actual review.

Let me start by telling you that I am EXTREMELLY phobic of needles due to a childhood trauma, and the thought of being permenantly marked is scary but I love art and beauty and I have always been a rebelious soul so getting a tattoo has been something I always wanted despite my fears.
I started off by getting to know the store- ARTS is a humble little store but is kept impecably clean and organized and samples of that artist's actual work can be found everywhere.
I was impressed with the higene and warm-heartedness I found in the store and so were all the other customers I spoke to. Some had changed alliagence from other stores after getting tattoed at ARTS and other where so impressed after getting their first tattoos there that they kept coming back, and in my book customer loyalty is always an excelent sign.
I was also impressed by the fact that the artist does mostly original designs while always respecting the wishes and tastes of the customers and she is infinitly patient even with the most picky clients.
I have also witnessed this artist working and everything from higiene to preparation is up to code and she is tremendouly good with people, always with a friendly smile and carefully working putting all her focus and efforts in getting perfect tattoos while at the same time keeping the clients calm, relaxed and comfortable, always having their pain and comfort in consideration, plus unlike many tattooists she is always willing to answer questions and always explains the rules and gives tips to her clients.
The pricing of the store is also very fair and considerably cheap by European standarts and the design work is fast and very efficient.

As per my personal experience, I am highly impressed by the artist's patience and skill in designing the tattoos I wanted. Truth is I had been told more than once that the designs I wanted were impossible in the detail and size I wanted them but working together with this artist we managed to work it out.
Also, I had my two tattoos done is very sensitive places (my wrists) due to personal significance and despite my fear of needles the experience was interesting and exhilirating to me rather than terrifying and excruciating all thanks to the talent and care of the artist.
I was also given tattoo care ointment like every other customer.
Here are photos of my tattoos:

Pros:
Higene, kindness, comfort, efficiency, artistry, price, easy booking, information, good pain management, artist parience, colouring, quality, free tattoo touch-ups, etc.

Cons:
Other than the small store in need for expansion, I saw no other flaws.

All in all I give the place 9 stars out of 10.

For more photos of this shop's work and other info (location, contacts, etc), check out ARTS's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ARTattoo-Shop/193996447300856?ref=ts

And remember- a tattoo is forever.
So be absolutly sure before you get one and always double check the design for mistakes.
Also, before getting a tattoo always double check the store's higene policies, quality of the material, customer service, prices, quality of art, client satisfaction record and whether or not you are confortable with the tattoo artist.

That's all for now.
Lot's of artsy love,
Rav


ps-I was not paid for this review, neither was it requested. It is merely my personal opinion.

A few little things + POW Beauty Mini Giveaway

Hi everybody!
I'm currently on holiday at my aunt's house in the south o Portugal so that's why my blog posts have been sparse.
Also, today is my 5 year dating anniversary with my sweet wonderful boyfriend Mickel, unfortunatly we are still apart ( ='( ) - so any ideas how to celebrate? I might just post a nice celebratory blog post later xD

Finally, I'd like to share POW Beauty's new mini giveaway- please check it out and have fun. Here's the link:

http://powbeauty.blogspot.com/2011/08/mini-giveaway-benefit-topshop.html

Lot's o lipstick love,

Raven

ELF Review IV

Hello readers!

Ready for a new elf review? I know I am ^^

Today I will be reviewing these two elf products- elf Liquid Eyeliner in "Silver" and elf Matte Finisher Nail Polish.

So let's start, and remember I'll use my usual 10 star review.

elf Liquid Eyeliner in "Silver"

You can find it here.

"No more tugging or pulling on your eyelids with this easy glide liquid eyeliner. The smudge-proof liner is rich in color, creating a long lasting defined look. The fine tip brush creates easy and precise definition for natural or dramatic effects." 

From elf Website

I must say I'm not one for liquid eyeliner, I prefer pens, gels and pencils but from time to time a liquid eyeliner is refreshing. So what to say about this little product? I don't like.

I'm not saying it's horrible but it just doesn't work for me, I truly dislike this. However it does have a few pros. Here's a swatch for you.

elf Liquid Eyeliner in "Silver"

The pros:

-Vibrant colour; light; no need for powders to set it; pretty, reflective, shiny and sparkly.

The cons:

-Dries too fast during application; it's streaky and it's flaky.

So basically I wouldn't use it for eyeliner or for large effect applications, but if you just want it for small delicate efects without super high definition then sure go ahead, I found no need to set this with powder and to avoid immediate drying and allow you a little more time for application I advise you keep it in a cool space (also, applying it in the heat of summer might not work very well either).

All in all 4 stars out of 10.

elf Matte Finisher Nail Polish

You can find it here.

"Instantly transform your shiny polish to matte with this translucent top coat. This colour-lock formula with chip resistant shield gives long lasting nail colour. The aerodynamic bristle design glides colour on flawlessly, while the quick dry formula gives perfect application every time. Infused with Vitamin E for stronger, healthier nails.

Our formula is FREE of: Toluene, Formaldehyde, and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)."

From elf Website

I LOVE this product! It's sooooo cool! It really does mattify any nail polish and works as a pretty good top coat, however it needs to be used sparingly or it will end up very thick on your nails which can later make your polish peel off rather than chip ^^'

But rather than letting you take my word for it, let me show you instead with pictures, I'll start by showing you a normal mani and then the same one with the mattifier.

Normal manicure with elf and Barry M Polishes.

This one has the mattifier as a top coat.

And here are the two side by side.

The pros:

-Dries quickly; really does mattify any polish as promised; works well as a topcoat.

The cons:

-Must be applied in very thin layers or it will turn the nail polish into a thick and plastic like layer.

All in all it is great but still has a little room for improvement. I give it 9 stars out of 10.

That's all for this little review, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions go ahead and ask.

Love,

Raven

PINKY PARADISE PARTNERSHIP

Hello everyone!

I have some very exciting news- I am now in a partnership with the contact lens store Pinky Paradise.

They are the best online lens store I know, both in quality and price. Pinky Paradise operates from Korea with a large collection circle lenses, cosplay lenses, lens accesories and even other products such and the ever so popular BB Cream, make up, false lashes and so much more!

The customer service is also absolutly AMAZING and I love the fact that they show actual pictures on how real eyes would look with the lenses, rather than photoshoped examples =)

Check out Pinky Paradise at http://www.pinkyparadise.com/

So to share my love of this store with all my readers I now have my own personal Pinky Paradise discount code for everyone!

The code is ravenswrittings

By entering this code:

-Customers are entitle a FREE cute animal lens case PLUS mystery gifts
-The coupon code can be stacked, If you purchase 3 pairs, you will get 3 lens case plus 3 mystery gifts.

However, there is a minimum of 1 lens purchased to activate the code.
And the best part is this code has no expiration date ^___^

So if you are looking to buy coloured contact lenses (with or without prescription) please choose Pinky Paradise and please use my code!

Also I am making a comitement to hold a circle lens giveaway if at least 10 people use my code on Pinky Paradise before the end of 2011!!!! So spread the word to all your friends!

Have fun trying out some new eyes!

Love,

Raven

ELF Review III

Hello everyone!
I'm finally back to my elf reviews!

Like I stated before, I love elf, it is my favourite brands ever due to its' quality/price ratio and I am determined to review all the products in my huge list of elf products, HOWEVER not everything is a sea of roses and there are a few elf products that I will not be purchasing again and this little review will basically be more of a list of products with flaws I dislike rather than an actually review (though I will review all these products carefully with photos later).

Just remember, people, I'm not saying "these products suck, never buy them, they aren't worth it", no no no, far from it, I'm just saying they did not work for me.

Anyway, here we go, let's start:

-Natural Radiance Blusher in "Innocence"

-Mechanical Eyelash Curler

-Brightening Eyeliners (Plum, Coffee and Black)

-Studio Lip Primer & Plumper (just the Primer side)

-Liquid Eyeliner in "Silver"

-Duo Cream Eyeshadows ("Eggplant", "Black Licorice" and "Blueberry")

-Studio Complete Coverage Concealer

-Studio Corrective Concealer

-Tone Correcting Concealer (Apricot Beige and Honey)

These products really don't work for me. I also have some minor qualms with the nail polishes but I will review those carefully with each colour I review.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Also, please check out my full list of elf products at http://ravens-writtings.blogspot.com/2011/04/all-my-elf-products.html 

Love,

Raven

You Know It Lens Review- Funky Eyes 3 Tone Violet

Hello everyone,
As promised I'm finally getting back to my reviews and here is a review I've done before but since I revamped my blog, I think it's time to write about this one again.

Last October (2010), I bought some contact lenses from the online lens store You Know It.

I really wanted to try a flashy pair of coloured circle lenses for Halloween and since I LOVE violet eyes I decided to go with violet lenses.

You Know It offers a wide variety of lenses from various brands and several complete sets, I myself bought a complete set of Funky Eye's 3 Tone Violet Lenses.

This set included:

-a pair of violet lenses, each in its own glass flask

-a 60ml bottle of contact lens solution

-a lens storage case

I think You Know It's sets are wonderful because you get the whole package so cheap! The set I bought is now even cheaper because it includes free shipping, but at the time I bought my lenses I had to pay the shipping, however it was so cheap I just paid in total 22€.

The second best feature of You Know It is, as I stated before, the incredible variety of lenses they own.

As for the third best feature of this shop it was the shipping- it was so incredibly fast and safe! I got my lenses in 5 days! That's all thanks to the fact that this store is based in the UK, unlike most coloured lens stores with similar prices that are almost all based in Asia (Korea mainly but also Japan and China).

The customer service blew me away as well, they were incredibly nice, fast and effective. I helped a friend of mine buy a pair of white lenses for halloween as well but he accidentally ordered and paid for two pairs and I aided him in fixing the issue with You Know It, and guess what? The order was corrected and refunded in two hours! Excelent service indeed.

As for the lenses themselves, it was my first time using opaque circle lenses but they were surprisingly easy to wear. They were also quite confortable but a bit hard to see in, specially for a first timer like me, every time I turned my head my sight went white for a few seconds and from time to time things got blurry (mostly from the pupil being partially covered), mostly because the lens was very opaque and it was obviously a special effects lens so the goal wasn't perfect sight but perfect flashy effect.

All in all the lenses fulfilled their goal and even though they were 90 days lenses they were very sturdy and I bet they would have lasted much longer.

Here are the photos so you can see the results in terms of effect, please excuse the dramatic make-up, remember it was halloween.

Bare Eyes



With lenses



With lenses

In natural daylight -sorry for the quality it was taken with a camera phone

(By the way those are not false lashes ^^)

Even without the flash of the camera the lenses were very intense and noticeable. I loved the colour and how it made my eyes larger.

I'll give them 8 stars out of 10.

I would definitly advise you to check this online store!

Have fun trying out new eyes ^^

Love,

Rav

Sara Hassan's Blog's 3 Winners 1 Contest -Inoco

Hello everybody,

Here I am again to share another giveaway! I promise I'll get back to my reviews soon but for now here you have a new Inoco Nails Contest by Sara Hassan's blog!!

Here's the link:

http://www.sarahassansblog.com/2011/08/three-winners-one-contest-with-incoco.html

Enjoy and good luck!!
Love,
Rav

Love Makeup's Manly Pallete Giveaway!

Yup, here's ANOTHER giveaway ^_^
This is a personal favourite of mine, I've been wanting this pallete for a couple of years now so I'm trying my luck. Join me and enter :)
Here's the link:
http://lovemakeup-safira.blogspot.com/2011/06/manly-pallette-review-and-giveaway.html

Good luck everyone!

My Kiss 'n Makeup's Birthday Giveaway

Hi yet again!

Here I am to share another giveaway, because I'm just in a giveaway mood (even though I never ever win xP).

So, good luck everyone! Here's the link:

http://www.mykissenmakeup.com/2011/08/birthday-giveaway-international.html

D.G.S.Beauty's Summer Giveaway

Hi again,
Here is another giveaway I'm sharing.
This one is HUGE and pretty awsome, so try your luck.
Here's the link:

http://www.dgsbeauty.com/2011/07/dgsbeautys-summer-giveaway.html

Good Luck!!!

Sarah Hassan's Blog's Mineralissima Giveaway

Hello everyone!
I know I've been away, so sorry!
But I have a new giveaway to share and this one is simple awsome! Sarah Hassan's Blog is promoting a giveaway of a brand I adore so please, try it!
Here's the link:

http://www.sarahassansblog.com/2011/08/mineralissima-giveaway-contest.html

Good luck everyone!

Mascara Comparison Review!!!

Hi everyone,

I think I finally got my writting groove back so here's a new blog post I know a lot of beauty addicts will like.

I decided to compare all my mascara's to choose the best.

The contestants are:

-elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo

-elf Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing Mascara

-Oriflame Wonderlash Mascara

-Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

So let's start with packaging, shall we?

Here we are:

 The first review goes to elf's Earth and Water Mascara Duo. I bought this for 1,70€ (1£) at http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/

This Mascara has two ends, one is waterproof and the other is regular. The brushes are the same but the formulas are slightly different.

The packaging is sturdy, thin and easy to carry, it was also prettier than I expected and not tacky at all, I was quite impressed by it.

elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo -Regular Side





elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo -Waterproof Side



Second review goes to elf's Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing Mascara. I bought this at http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/ for 4€ (3,50£).

The brush is interesting but pretty standard, the package is light, chic and sturdy, all in all i like it but I think the holder is way too long for no reason.

elf Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing Mascara

 The third review goes to Oriflame's Wonderlash Mascara. I'm not sure about the price of this at the time because this was a gift to me and I did not buy it myself but apparently it sells for around 8,50€ (or 7,45£).

The packaging is plain and long but pretty good. The brush is absolutly unique and I ADORE it- unlike Eyeko's Big Eye's brush it's easy to apply without smudging and the silicone tips catch every lash, one side of the brush is bigger than the other which is also unique and allows you to get to each lash in each corner in whatever size. To me it's an amazing brush shape.

Oriflame Wonderlash Mascara

The fourth review goes to Eyeko's Big Eyes Mascara.

I bought this for 9€ (7,95£) off http://www.powderrooms.com/ because it has recently been discountinued from Eyeko untill the improved (and more expensive) version is released but originally the price was 10,50€ from http://www.eyeko.com/.

 I LOVE this packaging- so unique! The tube is squeazable and packs A LOT of product, meaning it lasts longer than most mascaras, and the formula is resistant too. The brush is also unique and surprisingly good for a great final finish but it takes quite a bit of practice to get used to using it without smudging, not very good for speed applications but great for a wonderful final result.

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

And now for the results. I will start with bare eyes and then show the comparison.

These are my bare eyes.

Bare Lashes 1



Bare Lashes 2



Bare Lashes 3

Here are my eyes with the elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo. I found that the regular side left a more natural look and did somewhat give a "lots of lashes" look but it was discreet and didn't offer much curl.

The waterproof side gave a more dramatic effect and some curl, not bad when it comes to volumizing but not the best for lenght but not bad for it either.

Both formulas are light, comfortable, easy to apply and not very clumpy or drying at all. However this was still pretty disappointing, but I guess for the price it's actually pretty good, I'm just used to more from elf.

elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo

-Piercing Side: Waterproof

-Non Piercing Side: Regular

elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo

-Piercing Side: Waterproof

-Non Piercing Side: Regular

Here are my eyes with el's Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing Mascara. The formula is very light and comfortable to wear but it didn't impress me. Given the difference in price I prefer the elf Earth and Water Mascara Duo, this is not as good and doesn't give as much curl or volume. However I give it points for being waterproof, it also doesn't clump at all and can be easily layered for longer, separated lashes. It's not drying or clumpy at all.

This isn't really that bad but to me it was extremelly disappointing, sure it's lenghtening but still not what it promises, however different products yield different results for each person so given the price don't be afraid to try it out.

elf Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing Mascara



elf Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing Mascara

Here are my eyes with Oriflame's Wonderlash Mascara. This is one of my personal favourites. It is somewhat waterproof, gives a lot of curl and lenght and quite a bit of volume, plus it's buildable. The formula is very light-weight and not drying at all. Love it.

Oriflame Wonderlash Mascara

Oriflame Wonderlash Mascara

And here are my eyes with Eyeko's Big Eyes Mascara. I admit it- this is my personal favourite, it's far out of my budget but I just love it. When Eyeko promises to give you anime doll eyes with this mascara, they are not kidding! It gives amazing volume, gorgeous lenght and the curl isn't too shabby either, so it provides amazing dramatic eyes! The down sides are- it isn't waterproof at all and will easily run with humidity (though without humidity it is highly resistant and lasts very long), also it can clump a bit if you try to layer it slowly.

You may also notice that in all the photos my eyelashes look pretty long themselves, that is also due to this mascara and the growth compound in it that helps lashes grow long and healthy.

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

NO EYELASH CURLER USED IN THIS REVIEW.

All in all, these are not the worse mascaras in the market, in fact they are quite good but I'm giving my personal opinion.

Now my rating (out of 10 stars) for each of these mascaras is:

-elf Earth and Water mascara duo -6/10

-elf Waterproof Lenghtening and Volumizing mascara -5/10

-Oriflame Wonderlash mascara -8/10

-Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara -9/10

Sorry about my tired looking eyes and deep dark circles but I really was tired when I worked on this (all nighter).

Anyway, I hope my review helped and if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask!

That's all for now.

Lot's of lipstick kisses,

Rav



Kiss & Makeup's First Giveaway!

Hi everybody,
Once again I'd like to share an amazing giveaway from Diane's "My Kiss n' Make-up" Blog.
Please check it out, there's lot's of nice goodies to win.
Here's the link:
http://www.mykissenmakeup.com/2011/06/my-first-blog-giveaway.html

Good luck everyone!
Raven

Glossyarts Giveaway

Hello everyone,
Time to announce another great giveaway!
Please check it out by clicking the following image:

Thanks everyone!
Love,
Rav

Vettelicious Gosh Giveaway!

Hello,
Yet another giveaway!
I'm been for this item for soooooooooooo long and now it pops up in a giveaway!
Well I never win but I just had to try!
Here it is, please look it up:
http://vettelicious.com/?p=235

Have fun!
Raven

Love Makeup's First Giveaway

Hello Everyone,
Love Makeup (Safira) is having an amazing giveaway!
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GIVEAWAY!
I SOOOOOOO WANT TO WIN! So very very very much! But as you all know I never win...anything. xP
But I'm still going to try my luck at this.
Anyone who wants in on this great prize, just follow this link:
http://lovemakeup-safira.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-fisrt-giveaway-enter-now.html?spref=bl

Have fun & Good Luck!
Rav

ELF Product Review II

Hello Everybody,
Here’s yet another ELF review! Remember, I give products a 10 start rating.
Today I will be reviewing the following ELF products:
-Mineral Lipstick (in “Cheerful Cherry”, and “Natural Nymph”)
-Professional Shine Eraser
-Mineral Foundation (in “Light”)
-Studio Concealer Pencil & Brush (in “Light”)

-Eyelid Primer

 Mineral Lipstick ("Cheerful Cherry" and "Natural Nymph")
You can find it here.

"Now you can hydrate your lips and get a lasting soft color naturally! This nourishing blend of exotic oils, natural waxes, vitamins and plant extracts create the perfect moisturizing formula. The sleek lipstick has superior color payoff, glides easily onto lips, and is long wearing. Lips stay perfectly hydrated and soft throughout the day for no fuss, lip loving happiness. All our mineral makeup is 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.”

ELF UK website

 
I’ve been looking for the perfect red lipstick for a long time and with ELF I found TWO perfect reds I just love, both in a cold hue (I’ll talk about that one later) and in a warm hue.

It’s the warm red I’ll start with- “Cheerful Cherry”, a deep red with a golden shimmer from the ELF Mineral Line. This lipstick is absolutely AMAZING, it’s smooth and moisturizing and just feels as comfy as silk on your lips and the color, when used  properly, lasts and lasts and is simply gorgeous.
Pros: Very creamy and smooth, chemical free and all natural/mineral, beautiful color, fairly long lasting, doesn’t smudge much, great price for its quality.

Cons: Terribly misleading color swatch on the website but the lipstick itself is flawless but could use a little extra staying power.

I would very much recommend, it’s so worth it. 9 Stars.

Now onto the second color- “Natural Nymph”. Like the reds, I’ve also been seeking a perfect nude for quite a while and this color works beautifully as a nude for fair skinned women or as a simple matte pastel color for darker toned ladies. It’s not quite the pinkish nude the site describes it as, in fact it’s more of a natural flesh colored nude with a gentle pastel pink tint.

Like all mineral lipsticks it’s very comfortable and smooth and gives my lips a 5 star treatment.

Pros: Very creamy and smooth, chemical free and all natural/mineral, beautiful color, fairly long lasting, doesn’t smudge much, great price for its quality.

Color: Not quite what the site swatch shows but still fairly well described, it’s needs a bit more staying power though, but a lip primer can save that, it's a bit too light.

If you want matte nude perfect lipstick then this is for you. 9 Stars.



Natural Nymph

 

Cheerful Cherry



For comparison purposes here is "Royal Red",
also from elf's mineral line (will review it later).

Professional Shine Eraser
You can find it here.

" These amazing little sheets instantly absorb oil, minimize pores and mattify shiny skin. Woven texture eradicates shine and keeps skin matte for hours. Green Tea Extract helps re-texturize skin, masking facial imperfections. Travel pack fits neatly in your bag or pocket for on-the-go touch-ups. Contains: 50 sheets.”

ELF UK website

Ever since I found out about shine erasers and rice paper I’ve fallen in love with them, specially because of my oily forehead and nose, but the prices always frustrated me, so when I found ELF’s professional shine eraser I went crazy.
It really does do what it promises. Just be sure to pat it over the skin (not drag it).

Pros: Erases shine, can be carried around everywhere, texturizes the skin and make up, absorbs excess oil, doesn't not ruin your make up, light, mattifies skin, helps disguise imperfections, the green tea extract is quite healthy giving a fresher look to the skin, and of course cheap.

Cons: None that I can tell as yet.

Will keep buying it, totally recommend it. 10 Stars.

Mineral Foundation (in "Light")
You can find it here.

" Our weightless mineral foundation will help get you on your way to healthier illuminating skin. All our powders blend naturally into the skin, and are so light that they work with your skin color to create a perfect color match. All of our foundations contain sun protection factor (spf) 15 and are 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.”

ELF UK website

What to say about this little product…Well it’s decent and treats your skin kindly but the coverage could be a little better, you have to pack you quite a bit of product in layers to get a decent coverage and the powder could be thinner since it clumps a bit so you need a good brush and some skill to apply it.

Pros: Very good for the skin, provides healthier skin, absorbs oil keep the skin matte, decent colors, no chemicals since it’s fully natural, spf protection, blends well with most skin tones.

Cons: Clumpy product, needs a bit better coverage.

All in all it’s a good mineral foundation powder. 7 stars out of 10.

Studio Concealer Pencil & Brush (in "Light")
You can find it here.
" Conceal and heal your acne with on the spot treatment. The medicated formula has active Salicylic Acid & Tea Tree Oil to clear blemishes and reduce scarring. The soft taklon bristle brush aids in creating a natural looking coverage under or over makeup so blemishes disappear and your true beauty shines through.”

ELF UK website

This was a BRILLIANT idea. I’ve been looking for something like this for ages- a concealer that hides the blemishes without blocking the pores and making blemishes and acne worse.

I’ve been needing this for my forehead so it was a blessing to find it, it really solves a serious makeup problem. It also makes your skin feel fresh and healthier and heals blemishes and acne.

However, it tends to not work very well with other products such as some foundations and powders and the reason why is simple- it’s a thick product and cakes a bit when mixed with other  products specially powders so a lot of blending is required and some technique too.

Pros: Heals the skin, conceals blemishes, treats acne, reduces scarring, blends well.

Cons: Cakes with other products easily, is darker than expected by the swatches, needs a lighter tone for porcelain skin types, can’t be used under the eyes or around the mouth (created the need to have an extra product meaning it’s not completely versatile).

I do recommend it but ELF has some room to improve with this item. 7 out of 10 stars.

Eyelid Primer
You can find it here.
" Preps your eyelid for smoother, longer-lasting and crease-proof eyeshadow. The ultra sheer nude color works to increase eye color longevity. The lightweight liquid formula quickly absorbs into the skin for comfortable wear.”

ELF UK website

This primer is officially my favorite. ELF has a mineral infused eye primer too but I haven’t tested it yet since it’s a bit pricy and this one works well for me so I haven’t had to the need to try another one.

This product worked even better for me than homemade primer, Urban Decay primer and a few others and the price ratio also helps sweeten the deal.

It’s completely sheer, soft, delicate, smoothens the skin and dries quickly. The eyeshadows look quite intense and there’s no need to pack on too much since the primer helps it stay put.

Pros: Holds shadows all day long, shadows stay put and don’t smudge, intensifies the colors, grabs the colors quite well from the start, dries quickly but keeps the skin smooth, it’s sheer and works for every skin tone.

Cons: Haven’t found any yet.

I recommend this product, it’s in my ELF top 5 recommendations. 9 stars.

Well, that’s it for this review, I’ll update this post with my photos and swatches of the products very soon, very very soon (Updated ^__^)

Lots of love my dears,

Raven

ps-Forgive the sideways pictures, for some reason blogger won't let me put them up right.