Tool Tuesday: Eye and Lip Liner Sharpeners

This is a simple tool, but a very important one, on the vanity. It is the pencil sharpener...

Seems simple enough, doesn't it? They are quite affordable and if you use eyeliner and/or lip liner pencils, this is something you have to have.

Here are a couple of reasons why you need one, and you may not have thought about these. One is that the color/liner is made out of a waxy substance. There has to be enough binder in it to keep it held together but not so much that it dries out the product. I'm thinking right now you are remembering dealing with those two very incidents at your own vanity. Right?

One trick to eliminate this is to only sharpen your liners when you are ready to use them. That way you will shave off the dried out sections and expose the more fresh, pliable, workable liner.

Next, using a sharpener after you have used your liner helps keep it clean from nasty bugaboos and other germs that can come into contact with your eyes or lips. And keeping your sharpener clean is not only going to keep germs from taking up residency on it, but also help keep the little blades at their sharpest.

So, which do I suggest, sharpening before or after use? I do both, especially for my lip liner pencils. And I clean off the shaved parts from the sharpener with a bent paperclip, a tissue and creamy makeup remover.

And since these little tools are cheap (I got this one from Wet 'n Wild for 69 cents), it is easy to replace them on a regular basis. Sharpeners like the one in my photos, I replace 3 times a year. My specialty ones, for much larger, blush pencils, I replace as I find that size.

These are simple tips that will keep your sharpener in good shape and keep your face healthy too.

Del Sol Polish: Sun Kissed

Ready to start your week? How about starting it off with a fun nail polish? Del Sol polish is fun. It's one color indoors and when you step out into the sun, it changes instantly to a different color...

There is a Del Sol shop at the Orlando Airport. I happen to be fortunate to have some clients there. After my visits, I swing by the Del Sol shop to see what new polishes they have.


'Sun Kissed' isn't exactly a new shade. However, I picked it because orange and reddish-orange shades are hot this summer. First, this is what 'Sun Kissed' looks like in the shade...

It's a very powdery-soft mellow orange. And, once I step out into the Florida sunshine, things start to shift...

Full out in the sun, and things begin to deepen and brighten...

 A bit more...

 And here you have 'Sun Kissed' with its total sun look...

You cannot believe how smooth this polish applies. I have 3 coats on and no top coat. However, I'm told that a clear top coat doesn't have any effect on the color change. Even through the bottle, you can see the metamorphosis...

If this was a drink, I'd add some rum to it, put in a slice of pineapple and enjoy a little bit of time at the pool. And I think I'd spend half of my time reading my Kindle Fire and the other half would be spent gazing at my 'Sun Kissed' nails...

Have you tried Del Sol polishes? What color do you have?

Forever 21's Love & Beauty: Pink Star Glitter Polish

Pink stars remind me of a childhood cereal...

I would have thought those free stickers in the box would have been neat. If kids got those today, they'd be so pissed they'd punch their Mom.

This polish is a bit punchy too. I got it at Forever 21 and since it is pink, I had to get it...

I knew what I was getting myself into with those sparse glittery stars: it was going to be hard to get them onto my nails. But, looking at them in the bottle made them so inviting...

I have already reviewed the base color I used, Milani's 'Hot Pink Frenzy' here. And this is what it looks like with Pink Star glitter polish as a top coat...

 

I had to fish out the stars. And honestly, I didn't fish too hard. I knew too many glittery stars were going to be hard to remove later. I did like the glitter over the Milani creme pink though. And the sparse stars made the look more of an accent than a full-blown starry look.

These two polishes played very well together. I used 2 coats of the Pink Stars. That seemed to be just the right amount of charm for me.

I was not too partial to Lucky Charms. The marshmallows were the only tasty part. I liked Captain Crunch with Crunch Berries. Do you like Lucky Charms?

5K Race Day Nails: Pure Ice Remix

Today was RACE DAY! I ran the Operation-Giveback 5K held at the University of Central Florida. This is the 2nd annual run, so there wasn't a huge crowd...and that was just fine with me.


Almost all of the course was run on sidewalk and I wasn't too happy about that. Well, let me say it this way: my hip joint wasn't too happy about that. However, it didn't hurt to the point where I started limping and am not in pain some 8 hours later. Thank goodness for good running shoes (I wear Adidas) and good socks too (those are Adidas as well).


Here I am, ready to get this race underway...

My manicure is using Pure Ice's Vinyl Remix collection. I used the green ('DJ Spinner'), yellow ('Emcee Me') and purple ('Vintage Remix'). What is fun about using these polishes is that I don't have to be steady-handed. I apply the 'Platinum' Magic Base Coat, first. Then the black shatter polish over that. Instantly, the black shatters and the white polish is 'stained' to show a particular color. Neat!!! I did each finger in a different configuration and made it fun. I added a top coat to enhance the shine and extend the wearability. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, at the end of the race at the photo op. 

I pinned a photo of my step-nephew, Bill, to my shirt because I ran to honor him. The race is to raise awareness and aid for the wounded coming back from the Iraqi and Afghanistan war. Bill is one of those wounded warriors. I went home with shaving 3 minutes off my personal best 5K time and with this medal...

Pure Ice Vinyl Remix collection was provided to me for my honest review. My opinions are totally my own.

P.S. Why did that shirt-less dude, to the left, photo-bomb my winner's circle photo!!?

Albertson's Store Closing Prices

Sadly, another large grocery company is going out of business: Albertson's. There are only going to be four stores left in the state of Florida by end of next month.


I stopped by one of the many stores they have, here in Orlando, that is closing. They have ALL their cosmetics at 25% off. Body care and hair care are, currently, 20% off. And these percentages will go up as it gets nearer to the store close date of June 9.

Since they had a fairly good inventory left on some beauty items, I got me just a few things.

My first sites were on the Wet 'n Wild section...

 

I got a lip liner for 44 cents. This one is called 'Brandy Wine'. And I have never tried the MegaShine Lip Color before. Now I have a chance. This pretty shade is called 'Lolly Popstar'. 


This Perfect Pair Lip Wand is really awesome...

 

I already have this shade called 'Sensual Peach'. I think it is a cool, trendy shade for this summer too. Here, take a look at mine...

  

 One end is a liner and the other is the lip color. I love these!!

I got a package of Simple's facial wipes. I got a trial size of this in my last Target beauty bag and really liked it. I also got some L'Oreal wipes to do some comparison posts...

Every day, I take a packet of Emergen-C in my water bottle. A decade ago, a co-worker told me she used three of these a day to help control her fibromyalgia. I figure it is worth it for all the great vitamins in it...

Braids are in and I want to have little ties to finish  off some of my smaller braids. And, dental tape is a must, every single night...

If you have been reading my blog for a while, I think you may get the point that Macadamia Oil products are my favorite. Nothing has dethroned them on the vanity! I added to my collection with the leave-in conditioner. Ahhh, the fragrance is luscious. Also, this Caress body soap smelled divine...

Oh, and one more Wet 'n Wild shadow...

'Cool As A Cucumber' is one I didn't already have!

On any of the prices you see, remember, it was 25% off the lowest listed price on the makeup. It is 20% on the body and hair care items.

The Wet 'n Wild lip liner and the Perfect Pair Lip Wand are dupes for me. I did that on purpose too. As a reader, you get to enter my giveaway for those two items. In the comment section, leave a comment on what you like about those two items and your email address. One entry only. And, this giveaway ends May 18, at 8 PM EST. 

Do you have an Albertson's store that is closing by you?