Hoots of a Night Al

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen

September 8, 2016 24 Comments

Y’all, wet n wild has been KILLING it lately. Or maybe they’ve always been killing it, and they just weren’t on my radar, but man they are now! I recently saw their Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection at HEB and grabbed everything that interested me.

One of the items I picked up was the wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen. This shadow trio included…wait for it…three shadows! Who’d have guessed, right? 😉

The shadows are imprinted with words signifying where you should apply each shadow. The “eyelid” shade is a deep plum with flecks of gold glitter. The “crease” shade is a rich shimmery cranberry. The “browbone” shade is a matte cream.

I actually inverted the “eyelid” and “crease” shades and really preferred the colors that way. I could also see just using the “browbone” color as a base and using one of the other two shades in the crease as they’re both pretty bold.

I have blue eyes, so I already love using reds and purples to make them pop. These shadows definitely complimented my eye color, and I think they would go well with any eye color. Also, the shadows were surprisingly pigmented, so I’m sure they would look beautiful on any skin tone.

The cranberry “crease” shadow was definitely my favorite shade, so I used it to line under my eyes as well. It’s a beautiful rich color and has just enough shimmer without being over the top sparkly.

If I had one complaint about these shadows, it would be that there was a little bit of fallout. However, it was minimal to begin with, and tapping my brush before application eliminated the issue completely.

I’m so glad this eyeshadow trio was released with the fall collection because the warm tones will be perfect with so many fall outfits and looks.

Thankfully, wet n wild stuck with the “trio” theme and kept this eyeshadow UNDER $3. Yes! Only $2.99! Too good to be true, right? Except, um, no. It is true. I just told you that, silly.

The entire collection seems to be sold out left and right, so if you happen to see some of it and are looking for some fun, new shadows, I would snatch this wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen up pronto!!!

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: Le Marc Lip Creme Lipstick by Marc Jacobs in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

wet n wild How Fleek Is Your Love Color Icon Matte Liquid Lipstick

September 6, 2016 2 Comments

If you’ve read my blog at all, you know I love classic red lipstick. So when I saw this beautiful red released with wet n wild’s Limited Edition Fall Collection, I couldn’t pass it up.

This shade, How Fleek is Your Love, is one of four Color Icon Matte Liquid Lipsticks in their new collection. First of y’all, the name? So dumb and weird. I cringed just typing it. However, a lipstick by any other name would be as beautiful. Or something like that.

Poorly misused quotes aside, I’m trying to express that I love this lipstick! The formula is a true matte that dries down only seconds after application.

The color payoff is amazing and completely covered my lips in one coat. This is a classic blue-red lip that will flatter any and all skin tones! I think it makes teeth look whiter, also!

The applicator is a fuzzy, doe foot wand, that made application relatively easy. The flock on the applicator was a little long for my taste, which meant I made a few mistakes applying the lipstick. It is also curved in towards the tip, which I’m assuming is to allow more product to be picked up there. I was able to cover almost all of my lips with one swipe which was nice.

I would definitely have some tissues, concealer, and/or a lip brush on hand to help clean up any mistakes you make. This product dries FAST and is LONG wearing, so try to remove any excess/accidental lipstick you apply ASAP!

However, since it sets down to a matte so quickly, bleeding wasn’t an issue for me. Hooray!

It also doesn’t transfer. It stayed on well for several hours. I was able to drink water, but it started flaking oddly when I tried eating with it on. It sort of came off in tiny little chunks, but not off completely. It would have definitely required reapplication though!

In fact, I had to use a lipstick remover to get it all the way off! This lipstick remove from e.l.f. worked great. Just beware before you apply this stuff that it is HARD to remove without a product designed to do just that. Otherwise you’ll be scrubbing your poor lips raw!

All this jabbering and I haven’t even mentioned one of the best parts! This matte liquid lipstick only costs $2.99! YES. UNDER $3. Unreal!

It’s unfortunately currently sold out on wet n wild’s website. However, it is sold at HEB, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and other retailers. Wet n wild also has a store locator function, so you can see where to purchase their products in your area.

If you don’t see it in the regular wet n wild section of your store, check end caps for special displays, since this is a Limited Edition collection. And trust me, their collections sell out quickly! I bought everything I wanted from the fall collection as soon as it showed up in my HEB, and the next time I saw the display it was totally empty! If you want something, snatch it up when you see it!

As you can tell, I’m pretty enamored with this wet n wild Color Icon Matte Liquid Lipstick! The price can’t be beat for the quality! I think it holds up well against higher end matte liquid lipsticks for a fraction of the cost.

I purchased more from the wet n wild fall 2016 collection, so I’ll be sharing my thoughts on those products soon! I hope you’re all as excited about them as I am!

Beauty

Formula X The System XCEL

September 1, 2016 2 Comments

I used to be a habitual nail picker, and my nails were never more than tiny, unsightly stubs. Thankfully, a few years ago, I kicked the habit, and I’ve been addicted to painting my nails ever since! That’s why I was so happy when Influenster sent me this new nail care set from Formula X!

The System EXCL is a customizable 4-part nail treatment system for creating the perfect at-home manicure. You can select any polish for the nail color, and the remaining 3 steps help prep your nails and ensure your manicure will last.

The packaging is so cute on these bottles. The large white cap is removable, and a smaller handle is beneath so you have more control while polishing. Before I started my manicure though, I had to remove my old polish.

Thankfully, I also received Formula X Delete All 5 finger polish remover. This stuff was no joke.

Delete All is seriously removed all of my old polish within seconds. When you open it up, a formula soaked sponge sits inside. There are 5 holes (one for each finger, obvi) that you simply slip your fingers in. I sort of swiveled mine around a bit for a few seconds. Once I slid out my fingers, ALL OF MY POLISH WAS GONE. Miraculous, y’all. This would be so convenient to travel with or just to have around for a quick polish change.

After my nails were polish-free, I moved onto the first step in The System XCEL, CLEANSE XCEL. This step is a quick-drying formula that helps remove natural oils from your nails and condition them before you apply any polish.

Once you apply that, the next step is PRIME XCEL. This base coat helps whatever polish you use bond with your nail bed while preventing it from staining. This step takes longer to try than the CLEANSE XCEL, but it really helped my polish go on smoothly. After it dries, you can finally move onto the fun part…your polish color! I chose to use the Formula X polish I was sent, TGIF. It’s a beautiful pinky-coral shade.

The TGIF brush was thinner than the other steps in the system, but otherwise I really liked it! The color is beautiful, and it was opaque after two coats, which is important to me! I waited for both coats to dry before moving on to the final step, SHINE XCEL.

SHINE XCEL is the glossy, quick-dry top coat that is supposed to give your manicure gel-like protection for long-lasting results. I must say, I’m impressed! It did dry pretty quickly, and it really gave my nails a beautiful shine. They definitely feel nice and strong as well! I’ve shelled shrimp, showered, shoveled snow (not really, but you get the idea), and so far, I’m chip-free! I hope it wears well for a long time!

Overall, I’m very pleased with the The System XCEL! I think it could easily replace a salon manicure. My favorite part was the brushes on the 3 clear steps. After some research I can see why. Apparently they feature the Xpert Strokes Brush, which was just redesigned and features a wider brush with 440 bristles that creates a custom glide and streak-free finish. I wish all polishes had that brush. It’s amazing!

At $32 for the set (which includes whichever Formula X polish color you choose!), this would pay for itself in just a couple of uses, if you consider the cost of a manicure at a salon. If you’re big on at-home manicures like me, I would happily recommend The System XCEL!

Which color should I try next??

Disclaimer: I received the Formula X products complimentary from Influenster, but all opinions are my own.

Travel

Mount Vernon

August 30, 2016 2 Comments

With all of the craziness occurring in politics currently, I’m reminded of our trip to Mount Vernon last February. It was both of our first times visiting, and we had a wonderful time.

When you first arrive, you enter the Ford Orientation Building and can take a picture with the Washingtons and their grandchildren. It’s a wonderful greeting to Mount Vernon and made us excited to start exploring.

Once outside the building, we ventured along the pathways until we saw this beautiful sight across The Bowling Green. It was so exciting to see such a familiar building and know we would be stepping inside soon.

We journeyed around the East side of the mansion, where we found the Blacksmith shop. They have live demonstrations from modern-day blacksmiths who shared and showed how the shop was used during the time President Washington lived there.

We had a wonderful time exploring the grounds as well. George Washington is said to have taken great pride in the grounds and gardens of his home, and it shows. There was beautiful landscaping, paths and trails throughout the woods, and evidence of what I’m sure is a beautiful garden during the spring. We visited in late February, which I’m sure doesn’t show the landscaping at its peak, and we were still very impressed.

One of my favorite parts of visiting Mount Vernon were the sweeping views of the Potomac River. The mansion was perfectly situated so that you could admire the natural beauty surrounding the property. Thankfully, the land situated across the Potomac has been preserved as parkland, so hopefully the views will survive for years to come.

We spent the time before our scheduled tour simply enjoying the scenery and imagining what it must have been like to wake up with such beautiful views every morning. I would love to visit again on a sunny day or perhaps at sunset! I’m sure the views are stunning year-round.

Soon it was time for our guided tour, so we headed back to the west side of the mansion. Each tour is led by a friendly, knowledgeable tour guide, and I thoroughly enjoyed our journey through the home. It was amazing to picture our former President Washington penning a letter at his desk, or imagine the former first lady greeting visitors in the foyer. The mansion was well-preserved and beautifully restored, so it was easy to think what it must have been like for visitors staying in the famous home.

I simply expected to spend some time walking around and enjoying the scenery, but I wasn’t anticipating the sense of patriotism and pride for our first President and country I felt at the end of our tour. Unfortunately, photographs were not allowed inside the mansion, but I can still remember so many of the beautiful details. You could really sense the pride George and Martha Washington felt in their home.

We had a mini photoshoot outside the mansion, that I will allow you to enjoy below. 🙂 It’s just such a scenic area, it was impossible to resist! 😉

I snagged one of the clever George Washington for President buttons to wear around the property, too!

Louis and I strolled over to the original vault and current tombs for the Washingtons for the last outdoor part of our visit. The original vault is pictured below, but Mr. Washington requested a larger tomb be built to house his remains along with those of his family after his death. The fact that he specifically requested to be buried at Mount Vernon should prove how much he loved his home.

Once we walked past the tomb, we got caught in a bit of a rainstorm, so we hurried back to the museum to explore inside (where it was warm and dry!).

We spent a couple of hours browsing the museum, and there was a lot to discover. It covered all of President Washington’s life, his time at Mount Vernon, and America’s history during his lifetime, as well as several personal artifacts of his and Martha’s. He was a pretty incredible and very interesting man.

I happily wore my George Washington for President button the more I learned about him!

Finally, our day came to a close, and we headed out. If you’re considering visiting Mount Vernon, I’d highly recommend it! It’s fun for all ages of people who love America. 🙂 There are also more interactive activities, areas of the grounds to explore, and facts to learn. I’m sure the outdoor activities are big during the warmer months, too! I’m thankful such a wonderful piece of American history has been preserved so well.

What are your favorite patriotic spots on the East coast? I’d love to know for future trips!

Beauty

Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Matte Crimson

August 19, 2016 4 Comments

I’m a strong believer that red lipstick looks beautiful on anyone! It’s universally flattering, adds some glam to any look, and feels timeless. That’s why I was so excited to get this tube of Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Matte Crimson recently.

As you can see, the color is a beautiful, classic red shade. I tend to prefer classic reds over reds with orange, pink, plum, etc. tones. I think it’s the most flattering on my neutral-warm toned MEGA fair skin.

Plus, how cute is this packaging? I think this lip-covered tube may be exclusive to Ulta, but thankfully the Matte Crimson color can be purchased wherever Clinique is sold! (It comes in a classic silver tube everywhere else.)

The Long Last Soft Matte Lipsticks are described as “creamy, matte lip color with staying power.” Their claims include, “This lipstick keeps its soft, matte finish for hours. It will not feather, creep, stain, or dry out.”

I found all of these to be true! I must say, the application was a little difficult. It glided on easily, but the shape of the lipstick made me think this may be easier applied with a lip brush.

However, once applied, I loved it! The color is rich and very pigmented. It claims to be matte, but demi-matte may be more appropriate. It’s not drying like other matte lipsticks, and it will also transfer. I think that’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for an all-day lipstick.

In the several hours I wore this, it didn’t feather at all, which I often have an issue with. It also didn’t dry out my lips. When I finally wanted to take it off, I had to use makeup remover to get off all the color!

It was very comfortable on my lips and didn’t dry them out like other mattes. It didn’t wear off at all, but I feel like it would have wear off evenly over time, which is nice.

I loved the shade because I feel like it made my teeth look whiter. Some other shades of red aren’t as flattering to teeth color, so I think this one may be slightly blue-red. I’ll never pass up a lipstick that improves my smile!

I love red lipstick because it can be used year-round! I think this Matte Crimson will definitely be in my lipstick rotation this fall.

As you can see here, I paired my red lips with a simple daytime eye look. This color would be great with smoked out eyes for a date night, too, though! Red is versatile like that. 🙂

It costs just under $20 a tube, but I feel like this classic shade would be a great investment. One of my favorite drugstore alternatives is Revlon Matte Balm in Standout, but it’s not quite as vibrant. For a red option that’s even longer-wearing, I prefer MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Perpetual Flame.

If you’re in the market for a new red lipstick to try, I, obviously, would happily recommend this one! It’s vibrant, non-drying, long-wearing, and beautiful!