Makeup Maven Prize Bundle #4!

Note: I received the items mentioned in this post as part of a prize package for my placement in Avon's Makeup Maven contest in 2012.  All thoughts and opinions stated are my own!

I got an exciting package in the mail today!!  This is the fourth Makeup Maven bundle (only one left after this, so sad!) and it is a good one!

Blog Comments and Replies

It has come to my attention that my replies to comments aren't always posting as replies to a specific comment, but just being posted to the blog in general.  I didn't realize that this was happening (it didn't happen every time) until just the other day!  So if you never received a reply from me, I apologize!  Check the post you commented on and scroll down -- there is likely a reply from me somewhere on there...  I'm going to double-check every reply from now on to be sure that they post to the correct spot.  Sorry about that!

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaigns 21 & 22

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Hello again!  I have a smaller haul this time around as I've been curbing my spending appetite the closer we get to the holidays.

Inspired by Burgundy

I loved Kaley Cuoco's burgundy eyeshadow for the 2013 Emmys the other night. Gray, brown, and burgundy are such lovely autumn colors.

Instagram Recap

Hey Avon fan!  In case you're not following me on Instagram, you should! (Indicobalterfly)  I don't post often, but when I do, it's Avon or Mark related.  Here are my last six pics:

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 20

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Here it is, finally!

New Haul Post Coming Soon!

Sorry I've been missing the last couple of days! Life has been busy and when that happens, the blog takes a back seat. Here's a preview of my upcoming haul post:

Special Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 19

This post was originally much more descriptive -- however, my Blogger app deleted all my hard work!  I didn't feel like writing all that again. :(

Although I normally order only every other campaign, this one was special because this is the one in which we can order items from Avon's new True Color line!  It took a lot of restraint (lol!), but I managed to not go crazy with my order and only pick up a few things that I knew I could use (*cough* wanted really badly).  Check it out!

Just For Fun!

I got inspired by a Ken Pao pin I saw on Pinterest today and dug out my Mark metallic eye shadows...

I went a little overboard with the Lava, but it was fun!

Product Sneak Peek! C22 2013

Campaign 22.  Ah, the holiday items are beginning to emerge... There's so much stuff coming out for C-22 that I'm just not even going to think about it.  I will, however, talk about a couple highlights.

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 17 & 18

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

In this order I received a few of the new products I talked about in my Sneak Peek posts for Campaigns 17 and 18, as well as a few established items.

Updated Mark. Eye Shadow Palette

As promised, here is the updated layout and (hopefully) better swatches of my Mark. eye shadows!

Quick Nail of the Day

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you know that I did a little experiment last night on my nails, taking inspiration from the Fall 2013 Rebecca Minkoff show.

Product Sneak Peek! C21 2013

Campaign 21 has a slew of new beauty products - some of which, in my opinion, look great!  Others, not so much.  Hang on for the rollercoaster ahead....

Avon Extralasting vs. Maybelline Color Tattoo

Yesterday I started a comparison between Avon's Extralasting Eye Pencil in Shimmering Sand (which I posted about in my Campaign 15 & 16 haul) and Maybelline's 24Hr Color Tattoo in Barely Beige.

Purple Pop Eye Shadow

If you follow me on Twitter, then you may have already seen this pic; I thought I'd post it here too so I can list the products used.

(All products are Avon or Mark.)
Brow: Ultra Luxury Brow Liner in Dark Brown and Mark Wet/Dry Shadow in Tabac
Shadow base: Big Color Eye Pencil in Lavender
Shadow: True Color Eye Shadow Quad in Purple Pop
Liner: Always On Point Eye Liner in Black
Mascara: Mega Effects Mascara in Black

That's all for now!

Product Sneak Peek! C20 2013

Goodness, I'm not sure where to start!  Avon has all kinds of interesting goodies coming out lately.  I think I'll begin with their first seasonal makeup collection since the release of Avon's True Color Technology.

Savage Beauty Fall 2013 Collection

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 15 & 16 2013

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Not a huge haul this time around and a little late (sorry!) but here's what showed up on my doorstep last night:

Quick Nail of the Day

I had a little fun this past weekend and painted my nails for Independence Day! :)  Here's the products I used:
Avon Gel Strength Base Coat
Nailwear Pro+ in French Tip White
Nailwear Pro+ in Tangtastic
Nailwear Pro+ in Stunning Cobalt
Speed Dry+ in Clear to top it off.

 

Have a happy 4th!

Product Sneak Peek! C19 2013

Campaign 19 introduces Avon's new True Color Technology and sharp packaging which I previewed in my post Makeup Maven Bundle.  There are new eyeshadow quads, duos, and singles; lipstick and gloss; and new and reintroduced eyeliners.  Let's check out what's coming!

Quick Avon BB Cream Photos

As promised, here are a couple pics of Avon's Beauty Balm Cream.

 

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 13 & 14 2013

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

Here's what showed up on my doorstep last night!

Product Sneak Peek! C18 2013

Lots of goodies to gawk at for campaign 18!  Here are the ones that stood out to me...

Makeup Maven Top Secret Color Box!

A super cool box arrived today, containing Avon's new color line preview!

Nail and Eye

This is just a quick nail and eye look update using a few of the new Cosmic products:

Here I'm wearing Avon's Nailwear Pro + in French Tip White as a base, with two blended coats of Cosmic in Celestial and Radiant.  The gradient was made using overlapping strokes of each polish -- no sponge needed.

And this is my attempt to use Cosmic Eyeshadow in Galactic Green.  The teal shade is from the Arctic Goddess eyeshadow quad, a matte dark teal that blends out to this lovely color when mixed with the Galactic Green:

That's all for now!

Product Sneak Peek! C17 2013

Here are a couple of the new products coming out in Campaign 17:

Product Sneak Peek! C16 2013

Yep, I skipped Campaign 15.  Why?  Nothing caught my eye, that's all.  :)

Here's what's interesting for Campaign 16:

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 11 & 12 2013

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

The Take:
These are all items I mentioned in my Sneak Peek post for Campaign 12.

Makeup Maven Prize Bundle #2!!

So my second box from the Makeup Maven contest arrived yesterday and I thought I'd show you what products came in it!

Where Have I Been?

Sorry I haven't been around much lately.  I've been considering shutting down this blog for a few reasons; namely, lack of feedback and the fact that I have a family that needs me to not be on my laptop so much.  ...But the thought of this makes me sad, so I'm going to cut back my time spent here and make the posts fewer and more concise and see how that works.  I really enjoy it!

Product Sneak Peek for C14 2013

Here are a few highlights for products coming out in Campaign 14 this year:

Mark Bath & Body collection in Coconut Treat:

This scent is described as "a deliciously tropical indulgence, with refreshing coconut water and mandarin mingling with luscious hazelnut and coconut cream."  Yum!!  I'm a sucker for coconut and citrus...

Big Color Eye Pencils ... Diamonds

 Since some of the original Big Color pencils already contain shimmer, I'm going to guess that these new ones have actual glitter in them, much like the Glimmersticks Diamonds.  I'm curious to see.

Last, but not least...

Nail Art Stickers

 I like subtle nail art.  These are too much for my short tips. :)


That's all for now, check back in two weeks for the next Sneak Peek!

Avon Haul and First Impressions: Campaign 9 & 10

Note: I submit my Avon order every other campaign.  This means that I receive products from two campaigns at once, but half as often as the regular timetable.

The Take:

Tips for Tricky Products: Always On Point Eyeliner, Retractable Lip Brush, & 3-in-1 Sharpener

Have you ever purchased a product or gadget only to get home and realize that you weren't quite sure how to make it work?  I'll admit that I've found myself in that situation more than once!  Which brings me to...

SOME [POTENTIALLY] CONFUSING AVON PRODUCTS:

Pastel Rainbow Eyeshadow

It's a colorful eye kind of day...

All products are either Mark or Avon.  Let me tell you what: that matte blue in the Arctic Waters quad has some oomph!  A little goes a LONG way!

Products used:
Eye Brightening Pencil, Lavender Blue
i-Mark Shadows: Whisper, Latte, Biscotti, Lotus, Dragonfly
True Color Quad, Arctic Waters (matte shade)
SuperSHOCK Max Mascara, Black

Blonde pencil and Tabac shadow through brow

Product Sneak Peek! C13 2013

Here are a few interesting things (well, interesting to me anyway) coming out from Avon in campaign 13 (late May for most of us):

Limited Edition Shades!
 

I don't know about you, but I'm all over these new Speed Dry+ nail polish shades.  ALL FOUR OF THEM.  This wouldn't be such a bad thing... if I weren't limiting myself to only one.  ONE!  Also:

This Is How I DIY: mark. Eyeshadows

I thought I'd show you how I keep my mark. eyeshadows along with swatches of each.  This is what the palette looks like:

 It's made out of an old unlined journal I had laying around.  I followed an online tutorial for hollowing out a book.

Quick NOTD

Sweet Pea Dream (two coats) topped off with Seche Vite.  Yes, I have very short nails!

Product Sneak Peek! C12 2013

Here are a few things that Avon is coming out with in the next couple of months that I'm really excited about:

Baked Eyeshadow Singles!

Now, I realize that baked eyeshadows can be quite hit-or-miss.  But I will definitely be giving one of these a shot... because baked eyeshadows are just so darn pretty!

New Shimmery Glimmersticks!

These look like they might have holographic shimmer.  How cool is that?  And speaking of holographic...

New Nail Polish Shades!

Pardon the mirror-image bottles in the image, I think that sometimes the graphics people at Avon are either in too much of a hurry to notice these small details, or they are doing drugs.  In any case, these polishes appear to definitely have holographic shimmer, which makes the inner girl in me jump up and down.  Isn't Radiant just gorgeous?

A BB Creme?

Yep, it looks like Avon is just now jumping on the BB Creme bandwagon:

...a little late, some would argue.  But better late than never, and also better late and right than early and wrong, so wrong (thinking of some of the tinted moisturizers out there claiming to be BB cremes).

Altogether, pretty neat!  I'll be looking forward to these products, out in May!

I'm Back with an Avon Haul & First Impression!

Sorry I've been gone so long... but that is life.  I blog for fun, not for money, so when things get rough (our family gets sick, work gets hectic, etc) then the fun gets pushed aside for a while.  But now I'm back and I have a new camera!

On to the products:

Happy New Year!

I hope you're doing great so far. :)  Sorry for the absence of posts -- I broke our camera on a rollercoaster over the weekend.  Heh.