Random Fun Stuff

Back when I used to work in a cell cubicle, I would have loved having Facebook or Pinterest then. That last hour of work would have flown by! So, that's what I have been doing instead of writing up a nice post tonight.


OK, this is still meant to be a nice post, yet it is random stuff I took with my camera phone. This young lady and I were talking about piercings. She liked my tragus piercing and she showed me her dermal...

I thought she was calling it 'gerbil' piercings. I felt old and out of touch. But, I would have loved to have done something like this when I was younger.

When I was in high school, my best friend was into Hello, Kitty. She couldn't get me to come to the 'pink side'. Now, you all KNOW how that has turned out. I never had any Hello, Kitty stuff until I started blogging. I saw these today and wanted them...

I have to wait til payday, though. But, I already bought this a couple of weeks ago...

It's wrinkly because I was cuddling it. I was giddy that I found something that fit at Rue21!!! I have a cute, new HK necklace to wear with this. No photo though.

I have an online friend named Brooke Bacon. I send her photos of bacon stuff I find...

Tonight I went out to eat sushi. I love sushi! But, when I see the koi pond, I start feeling really guilty. I wonder how they feel...

I like this shirt but I figured it would be cheaper if I just did this to one of my old tees...

My home office doubles as my fitness room. Here's Kayla all acting like she's pooped out from using my weights. Yea, right, Kayla!! Oh, please don't notice my excessive pile of running shoes...

At the last 5K race I ran (it was my 4th one), I got dog tags instead of a medal. I'm still proud...

These races start so early in the morning too! By the time I'm finished with the race, it's still Starbuck's chai time!...

Yes, I took this photo of myself in the Starbucks restroom. I felt pretty boss too. Just ran a little over 3 miles??? Who's making fun of the slow girl now, classmates???? Word!!! Like I said, I was feeling pretty boss!

The Vanity Has Moved

Hi! I moved to a dot com. I'm excited about it even though learning WordPress is new to me. I'm very happy to have a lot of support helping me learn my way around my new blog home.

Come on over and see me decorate as I go along....

www.libbyspinkvanity.com

Chick Nail Polish: Raven's Egg

Chick Nail Polish is a new-to-me brand. They were gracious enough to help sponsor the last Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida meet up that I attended.  And, this is where I acquired this polish. (You can purchase their polish, $9, from their website.)

Before I go any further, I'm saying right now, this is the most vibrant blue polish I now own. It is such a treat to get the same shade that the bottle presents on my nails. This is 'Raven's Egg'....

And, 'Raven's Egg' was a smooth operator too. Just two coats to awesomeness...

That shine is without a top coat!! And Chick Nail Polish stayed in place until I took it off. Sadly, however, this polish stained the heck out of my cuticles and nails. But, since it is a gorgeous blue, I'm willing to put up with it. I just gave my skin extra scrubs.

Can you see how smooth it is? I love this polish because it makes me look skilled at polish application. So easy! Ahh, hypnotic...

 

I would like to try another shade of Chick Nail Polish to see if all of them are as great as 'Raven's Egg'.

If you have tried Chick Nail Polish, how did you like it? If you are a lover of blue polish, you want this one, right?

This product was given to me for my honest review. These opinions are my own.

Cellnique Skincare: Advanced Bio Renewal Serum & Reversal Platinum Cream

I have a preference. I bet you do too. In fact, I bet we have very strong preferences when it comes to beauty and cosmetic products. My strong preference deals with skincare. Back in March, I had a birthday. A BIG one. No, not thirty (that's not big, sorry), and not forty either (that's getting a big bigger), but BIG...5-0. Even though the 'fight' has been on for sometime, I will not allow my face to reveal my age. That's what I have a driver's license for.


One of the key points I'd like to make with my blog is, take.care.of.your.skin. And I'm talking predominantly, your face. That's my secret, that's not really a secret but, has been good, common sense.

I have been using two skincare products for the last month that are new to me. I figured a month would give me a pretty good idea on whether I would give a thumbs up or down on these two items.  Before I go on and on about them, I want to say right off the bat, I loved using these!!

Here is what I got...

First is Advanced Bio Renewal Serum. And the other is Reversal Platinum Cream. Both of these are for skin that is, how should I put it...just past peak. That still makes me wince but, it is true. My skin is less than peak. :/ However, I don't have to give up hope, for cryin' out loud! I found two products to put into my corner.

As you can see, the packaging is simple but very elegant. These are not flimsy boxes. And that is a positive because these products were shipped from Asia. And, don't let the thought of ordering from overseas (if you don't live in Asia) detour you. Cellnique offers free shipping and a 100% refund if you do not like the products.

Their prices are in line with what I would expect from comparable department store brands. But, I was first bug-eyed when I saw these price stickers on the box...

Oh, my goodness!! But, if you go to Cellnique's website, you'll find the US dollar amount. The Serum is $51 and the Cream is $103.

Let's exam the products...here is the Advanced Bio Renewal Serum...

It is in a pump bottle nestled into a sturdy box. Even though the product is labeled a 'serum' it isn't what I expected. This is a lotion, in my opinion. However, it went on smoothly and my skin absorbed it easily. The resume' for this serum is impressive: it stimulates cell renewal, helps keep pores unclogged, improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And there was barely a fragrance which wasn't unpleasant at all.

After the serum absorbed, I followed with the Reversal Platinum Cream...

This, definitely, is a cream. The jar has a bluish hue to it but that's just the color of the jar. Both products where opaque white. And, the cream was a denser consistency than the serum, which is what I would expect. This cream is meant for skin that is drier and focusing on keeping wrinkles and fine lines at bay. This cream didn't have hardly any fragrance either. It deeply moisturized my skin without making it shiny later on in the day. I could feel that my skin was moisturized and, after using it for a month, my skin is now softer. One of the benefits the website mentions for this cream is that it provides a firming and lifting effect. I didn't feel that is something I achieved. But, I'm not disappointed one bit.



On Cellnique's site, they have very extensive information on the products they sell and it points you in the best direction for choosing items that suit your skincare needs.  But, again, if you should not like anything you order, you get a 100% refund.

Cellnique has won me over. I really, really like these two products. And, if the price does put you off some, after using these two for a month and, using them both in the morning before makeup and at night before bed, I am almost half-way through them. Using it twice a day, they will last me at least 2 months. My choice would be to use them just in the morning and use another, specific night cream at bedtime. Then, that would lengthen the usage even more. That is most assuredly my preference.


This product was provided to me for my honest review. These opinions are my own.

Kleancolor: Multi-Tasking Stick

Like the multi-functioning black jacket, I can't resist multi-use makeup. Kleancolor makeup has a Multi-Use Stick collection and I picked one up...

This one is called 'Poppy'. It is a glittery, brick shade in the tube...

I like the packaging because I get a better sense of the shade color as well as how much is left once I start using it. However, as you read on, you'll see how I was deceived, somewhat, on the color...

 

I have started experimenting using a creme blush before I put on mineral foundation. It just seems more logical to do it in that order rather than the other way around. But, I'm working on laying a foundation of color on my cheeks to see if it adds anything to the look.

Some cremes are better than others. I picked 'Poppy' because I don't have any cremes quite this color. It seems I have a lot of pinks, as they work better with my skin tone. But, I thought 'Poppy" would be a nice difference for a creme shadow and lipstick as well.

This swatch illustrates how 'Poppy' looks with my skin color...

 

Interesting that once is it on me, it looks more peachy in color. Still, it is a pretty color.

What I discovered is that Kleancolor's Multi-Stick works best for me just as a creme blush. As a shadow, it creased and I wasn't surprised. Not only am I having issues with shadows creasing on me, this product is super creamy, and it creased in no time. Even as a lipstick, it was just too creamy for any staying power. It did OK as a lipstick only when I used it with a lip primer. And then, that only gave it a couple more hours of hanging around. I think the reason this product worked on my cheeks is because I have normal to dry skin on the apples of my cheeks.

Kleancolor has a total of 12 shades to the Multi-Stick collection. You can see them all on their website. I got mine at Red Lips Cosmetics store, here in Orlando. At $2.99, it's a rather small investment. 

Do you like multi-tasking makeup products?

Cult Nails: Princess From The Fairy Tale Collection

Every little girl wants to grow up and be a princess. Except for me. I wanted to be a scientist and look through microscopes. However, now, I think it is OK to say I would like to be a princess. A rich princess. With lots of makeup and nail polish. And a huge closet full of Princess clothing.

In the meantime, I can have the nails of a princess with Cult Nails 'Princess' from the new Fairy Tale collection...

 

Princesses are stereo-typed as being spoiled. I did have to spoil this 'Princess' a bit. This polish dries very quickly. She isn't one to fuss around. Applying the polish is your job and you must get right to it.

I have three coats here because I was working on smoothing out the look. I still ended up with making patchy areas. Don't let this turn you away from 'Princess', however. This is a beautiful polish! No top coat needed for this one...

 

 

What looks like an innocent, soft blue, there is a pleasant surprise of magenta shimmer to this one. The blue doesn't seem to have a high gloss itself, however, the magenta shimmer gives it a reflective glimmer.

 

You can not only be a Princess, but you can have 'Princess' nails by ordering your Fairy Tale collection from Cult Nails.This is the last polish from the collection for me to review. If you'd like you can click the names and see my reviews of the rest of the collection: Evil Queen with Happy Ending; Feelin' Froggy; Charming with Happy Ending.

If you are a long-time reader, you will know that Libby is the real Princess at the Vanity. But, her new 'sister' is quite a sweetie as well. Kayla has NO pretentious airs at all. After I took these photos of Kayla, she got her tummy 'nom nom'ed...

 

Product was provided to me for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Laura Mercier: Full Blown Volume Mascara

Last month, Neiman Marcus invited the Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida, which I am a founding member, to a breakfast where the various beauty lines shared information about their particular products. One of those lines was Laura Mercier. I am familiar to the name but have never had the opportunity to try one of her products, until now.


I received a trial size mascara. I was very excited to get this to finally experience a Laura Mercier product! This is the Full Blown Volume mascara and it is in black...

 

Mascara has always been a beauty staple for me. However, I never owned more than two at a time. To say I have expanded my horizons is putting it nicely. And though I am not fluent in knowing all that there is to know about mascara, like my friend, Clumps of Mascara, does, I'm having a great time learning!

It is without a doubt I tell you that I really, really like this mascara. It does exactly as it says it does: full blown volume. I've got lots of lashes and they are long. However, they don't have volume. Laura Mercier...to the rescue!

You know that mascara brushes make or break the product. You can have the best durn formula of mascara in the world, but if your brush isn't worth a hoot, it will not matter. Laura Mercier has taken great care, obviously, in making a brush that allows it to be one of the best ones in the industry...

 

 

This brush has a little bit of flexibility to it. And, just enough that it will move through your lashes and not just bend them. That is going to allow each lash to get coated. And this mascara builds nicely. I didn't have any flakes, follow out or smudges during the day. It stayed put until I was ready to remove it.

Now, at $24 a tube, that's pricey for the Vanity's wallet. But, there is no doubt, at all, that this is a quality mascara. And, I can wholeheartedly recommend this mascara. If I wasn't a beauty blogger, where I try a variety of beauty products, I would strongly regard this one as the staple mascara at the Vanity.

Have you tried any Laura Mercier products? Which one do you like?

Cult Nails: Nevermore One-Coat Black Creme Polish

Give me a creme polish and I'll, eventually, look for a way to get glitter on it...

This is a one coat black creme....seriously!!! Maria, owner and creator of, Cult Nails has done what no one else could; make a one-coat black creme. Kari, from Once Bitten Blog, came up with the PERFECT name too: 'Nevermore'. I wore 'Nevermore' for two days before playing with glitter. So, as you may notice, there is hardly any tip wear. 'Nevermore' is so shiny that I didn't even need a top coat either.

Before I removed 'Nevermore', I did four glitter effects on each hand...

 

 On my right hand, I used: NK Nail Enamel in 'Magical' (thumb); Orly in 'It's A Meteor' (index finger); Cult Nails in 'Captivated' (middle finger); Wet 'n Wild in 'Bow In My Presence' (ring finger); and my pinky is bare.


Now on my left hand...

Starting with my thumb: Cult Nails in 'Happy Ending' (thumb); Orly in 'Be Brave' (index finger); China Glaze in 'Luxe and Lush' (middle finger); ring finger is bare; love & beauty in 'Clear/Silver' (pinky). I like how the sunlight bounced off 'Happy Ending'. 

Years ago, when I wore black nail polish, I was so 'goth' about it. It seemed deviant. But today, I don't think anyone thinks twice about seeing it or wearing it. At least for me, I didn't notice anyone pulling their children away from being around me. 

Want to wear a one-coat black creme proudly? You can order yours at Cult Nails. And you can order 'Happy Ending' and 'Captivated', that I used, as well.

Do you take a walk on the wild side...wear black nail polish?

Facial Wipe Wednesday: L'oreal's Revitalift Cleansing Towelettes

When I review a facial wipe, I have been using it for at least 7 days straight. That way I can experiment with different types of makeup and such. That was, until I started using these...

I used L'oreal's Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes. They lasted 4 days, that's all.

Here's why; these are so heavily-perfumed that it gives me a headache. A big one! I'm not often sensitive to smells but I totally am with these. And to have that smell around my face and ON my face was not going to last.

How unassuming these look and feel. In fact, the cloth, itself, is soft. But, it only did a so-so job of removing my makeup. In all honesty, it could have been because I didn't work it long enough on my face. I hurried to get it over with.

 

 

These are the ingredients, and I have no issues, really, with them. My big thumbs down is all based on the overwhelming perfume smell. The packaging says that it has vitamin C in it. I wish they would have made it smell like oranges then. Sigh.

Have you tried L'oreal's Cleansing Towelettes?