Primp & Pamper

With stressful lives and the gloomy weather, feeling blue in the last legs of winter is almost inevitable. In times like these, I think we all deserve an hour or so just to ourselves for self care in the form of relaxing and pampering. Since I've been feeling a little glum myself, I thought I'd outline some of my favorite ways to "treat yo self"!

Put On Your Favorite Lipstick
Is it just me, or does putting on lipstick put anybody else in a good mood? I have found that devoting a couple minutes to experimenting with your makeup makeup collection has always been a bit therapeutic! After wanting and saving for months, I finally splurged on a Tom Ford lipstick (in Paradiso) and it is heaven. Another favorite? Too Faced's Juicy Melons.

Eat Your Favorite Candy
(Because candy is dandy)

Read a Magazine
While waiting for a face mask or your nails to dry, why not pour over one of your favorite magazines? I am currently smitten with Betty Magazine (look out for a post on this gorgeous magazine soon)!

Use a Face Mask
With a host of affordable to luxury face masks that deep clean, tighten pores or exfoliate on the market, your face deserves a bit of pampering - just don't forget the cucumber slices! n_~ (Here I used a purifying papaya mud mask)

Wear Perfume
I'm kind of guilty of using my perfume only for very, very special occasions - it's just so pretty and expensive I don't ever want to use it all up ;A; I do think, however, spritzing yourself with a lavish scent can be just the right way to perk up your mood! I love Marc Jacob's Daisy (I've had it for years and it still smells perfect!) and Nicki Minaj's fragrance.

Paint Your Nails
Filing and painting one's nails is something I haven't gotten the hang of yet (seriously, how do you people get your nails into specific shapes?!), but now that my nails have grown out (I bite them when I'm nervous!) I've been painting them left and right! Here I'm wearing Wet n Wild's Tickled Pink.

How do you pamper yourself? ♡

60s Bombshell with Covergirl + $100 Giveaway

So, so excited to be sharing my second video with you guys! CoverGirl recently asked me to review their new Bombshell line comprised of mascara, eyeliner, and beautiful cream shadows which immediately reminded me of 60s French scarlets with smokey cat eyes like Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot.

I picked up the Bombshell Volume by Lashblast Mascara in Very Black, Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black Passion, and Bombshell Shine Shadow Eye Shadows in Ooh La Lilac and Ice Queen at Wal-Mart and set to work transforming myself into a 60s bombshell!

It was so fun playing with these products - the cream shadows blended beautifully and I love that they could be sheered out or packed on to intensify the color. I usually don't use felt tip eyeliners, but found the Bombshell Intensity Liner worked like a dream for applying my favorite look - cat eyes!

I've been having terrible luck with mascaras - I've looked high and low (literally - both at high and low-end products!) but nothing has truly wowed me - but Bombshell Volume Mascara is something special! After applying with it's special duel ended wands - one a volumizing basecoat, the other a intensifying topcoat - not one but two people asked if I was wearing false lashes! Incredible.

ON MY FACE:
Smoothers Liquid Make Up in Buff Beige
TruMagic Skin Perfector
Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Blush Twist
Ice Queen
Ooh La Lilac
Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black Passion
Bombshell Volume by Lashblast Mascara in Very Black
Contouring Blush in Peach Perfection

And, CoverGirl is offering one Mermaidens' reader a $100 giftcard to Wal-Mart! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! Giveaway ends February 12th and is open to United States residents only. Winner will be contacted via email or twitter. If winner doesn't reply to email within 24 a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. The Walmart gift card and information have been provided by CoverGirl.

Retro Barbie Makeup Tutorial

Last month, I kind of fell in the rabbit hole of Youtube videos - watching the beautifully filmed and edited monthly favorites and lookbooks, it didn't take long for me to want to try it out for myself (even though I really am not a fan of my voice)! After weeks of trying to plot the perfect video, I filmed and edited my very own makeup tutorial. And what better subject then one of my ultimate beauty icons - Retro Barbie? I'm not 100% happy with the end result, but I'm still proud of myself for dipping my toe in such uncharted territory!

I got to show off some of my very favorite makeup products lately too - like Maybelline's new lip elixirs and Tarina Tarantino's hyperliner in kanzasi; which I bought from Emerging Thoughts, a favorite store who are giving Mermaidens readers 15% off all orders with the coupon code "kailey"!

Is making videos something you think I should keep trying to get better at? I'd love to hear your thoughts! ♡

ON MY FACE:
MAC's RiRi Woo (sold out; Ruby Who is nearly identical!)
Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner in Kanzashi
Benefit's POREfessional
Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream
Maybelline's Lip Exilir in Signature Scarlet

At the Vanity

MAYBELLINE LIPCOLOR IN SHOCKING CORAL, REVLON LIPSTICK IN REALLY RED, REVLON LIPSTICK IN APPLE POLISH, LAURA MANFRE STICKERS *

I've been a bit down lately, and I find in those situations the best thing to do is try to find joy in the little things - like watching an animated movie or playing with new makeup. So when I heard Rite Aid was having a buy one get one half off drugstore makeup sale, I hightailed it to the nearest store! (◡‿◡✿)

TOP: SHOCKING CORAL MIDDLE: REALLY RED BOTTOM: APPLE POLISH

I ended up getting Maybelline's BB cream and one of their ColorSensational Vivids Lipcolors in Shocking Coral at Rite Aid - I've been meaning to try both for months!

I also walked to a local drugstore nearby and dug around in the clearance bin to find the last two Revlon lipsticks in Really Red and Apple Polish - each one only $2! I haven't tried any of Revlon's lipsticks before (besides the lipbutter!) so I was probably more excited then I should be over my discovery :|

I'm usually not really a fan of frosty lipsticks, but out of these three Apple Polish ended up being my favorite shade! When I got home I discovered it's discontinued color - sad face!

By the way, I almost killed these lipsticks trying to take pictures of them! The plastic shell in the background fell on top of them - thankfully they were a little smudged but okay! How do you beauty bloggers do it?!

MAYBELLINE DREAM FRESH 8-IN-1 BB CREAM IN LIGHT/MEDIUM
Meanwhile, I was pretty impressed with this! I did some research online and a lot of beauty bloggers agree that this product should be called a tinted moisturizer instead of a bb cream since it doesn't have anti-aging properties. That said, I was happy with my purchase since it was only $7, reduced the visibility of my pores, left my skin feeling pretty soft, and is SPF 30!

FOREVER 21 CAT TWEEZERS, FOREVER 21 CAT MAKEUP BRUSHES, LAURA MANFRE STICKERS *

Oh and by the way, how cute are my new Forever 21 kitty beauty brushes (sold out online but check your local stores!!) and tweezers?! Can't wait to play with them - the bristles are super soft!

FOREVER 21 SHEER BLOUSE, DRESS BOUGHT FROM PAIGE, ORIGINALLY TOPSHOP

And I know this isn't makeup related - but look how pretty my new dress and blouse look together! :')

What little things cheer you up when you're feeling blue? ♡

Too Faced Sweethearts Blush Review

If you've been reading Mermaidens for very long you will know I absolutely a d o r e makeup! Being able to put on a little bit of lipstick and eyeliner makes me a little bit more comfortable with my outward appearance and does wonders for my self confidence.

And because of this, I want to start sharing makeup reviews! And isn't Too Faced's Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush the perfect product to start with?!

Lately (due to Jessica's influence, no doubt!) I have been extremely curious about using blush - and so when I saw Too Faced's Sweethearts Blush I absolutely melted and made a bit of a snap decision and bought it!

I absolutely love the packaging's aesthetic - it's pink, it's gold, it's a heart shape! What I'm not as pleased about is the fact the case is made out of paper, and thus not quite as durable as I would hope!

But otherwise, I really do love it! What really cinched the purchase for me was the fact it comes with three different shades of pink - all of which can be built up to be more pigmented if you wish!

Trying to look glamourous while using a broken compact...

And now a very important question - what kind of brush should I get to apply this beautiful blush properly?! (⌒▽⌒)☆ And please let me know if you want to see more makeup reviews on Mermaidens! ♡

Mint Floral Dress c/o SwayChic

on my face I am wearing...
Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Eyeliner
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous
Laura Mercier Eyebrow Blonde Pencil
Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush
MAC Toxic Tale (limited edition, dupe)