Zoya Daul

It's been raining again here lately which is very usual at this time of year in Florida weather in which I am not able to get good pictures for my MAC Shop & Drop "how to" blog.. But somehow I still manage to get good pics for this next blog on this Zoya nail polish which I am really loving right now!

Daul is such a lovely color of sheer purple with lots of gold shimmer which can actually be used over another nail polish. Now that I am about 4 months pregnant, I'm just wanting to try nail polishes that are pregnancy safe and I'm glad that Zoya is one of them. I know that Essie is another one and so is Butter London. 

Sometimes we just want to feel good about ourselves after all of the stresses that pregnancy can bring us and a little pampering won't hurt as long as they are safe. Zoya is free of formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor which are harmful chemicals usually found in nail polishes that is especially bad for pregnancy. 

I am quite surprised and pleased that it dries a lot faster than other nail polishes that I've tried. Maybe about 3-5 minutes and that's it! Just knowing that it is safe makes me feel secure when painting my nails more often. 

I've used 3 coats on mine for this but 2 coats will do. When I apply my first coat, it does appear a little bit streaky which I find that 2 coats is what you'll need, at least. Also, just like most nail polishes, it has this strong scent which I'm not sure if it's already safe to inhale considering it is free of the harmful chemicals.

What do you think? Do you also feel the same way about trying not to inhale the fumes even though it is formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor free? Let me know :)

I got my Zoya polishes from Ulta for about $8.00.. These can also be found in other online stores like amazon, ebay, & www.zoya.com.

MAC Shop & Drop Palette (Limited Edition)

I was so excited for my first ever MAC eyeshadow purchase which was an eyeshadow quad from the Shop MAC Cook MAC limited edition collection! The palette consists of Sugar Snack (matte), Hypnotizing (frost), Power Boosted (veluxe pearl), and Shop & Drop (satin). At first you might think that you wouldn't be able to pull off the colors in this palette, but there's actually a lot of looks you can do with this quad, from a subtle everyday look to a dramatic look for special occasions!

Front View

Back View

So first off, the palette came in this very nice bright pink slip-on hard cover which I really like! I believe that it's part of the limited edition logo..

Front View

Back View

I also love the palette because it is really sturdy and has a magnetic closure. And at the back it tells you the names of the shades in the palette and how much it weighs etc etc..

Sugar Snack

Sugar Snack

As for the colors, Sugar Snack, which is a matte light powdery pink shade, is the lightest shade on the palette and is good for highlighting the inner corners and brow bone.

Hypnotizing

Hypnotizing is this frosted silvery muted light purple with hints of pink undertones. It is a lovely color which can be worn all over the lids, even on the inner corners or on the lower lid. 

Power Boosted

This is my favorite color on the palette! Power Boosted is this pearly purple shade which has some sheen to it and to me is just beautiful! I love wearing this all over the lids and especially on the lower lid when I just want to have that pop of color!

Shop & Drop

Lastly, the darkest shade is the Shop & Drop which is a satin deep navy blue with a little hint of purple sheen. This shade is the perfect color to deepen a look for smokey eyes and can be applied all over the lid, the outer corner, crease or on the lower lash line. It can be used also as a liner on the upper & lower lash area and waterline which I will be showing on my next blog that's coming up on how to create different looks with this palette!

Shop & Drop, Power Boosted, Hypnotizing, Sugar Snack

As far as pigmentation, they are all very pigmented. The only thing I have observed is that Power Boosted and Shop & Drop doesn't apply quite as dark at first but is definitely buildable and blendable so you can work with it until your desired intensity.

You definitely won't get the most out of these colors without the use of a base/primer. And these just last really long and don't crease if just worn over a base.

I know it's a bit late posting a review on this since it was a limited edition and you can't find this on sale anymore. But for those who own this palette and are still not quite sure on what to do or how to use them, then hopefully my next blog post will help you! :)

Vitabath Original Spring Green Hand Cream

I was searching for a good hand cream months ago. So I went online to Ulta, searched for hand creams, came across and got the Vitabath Original Spring Green Hand Creme. It has 20% Shea Butter and is said to nourish & protect dry hands and has antioxidant vitamins A, B3, C, & E which I think is really good to have in a hand cream as far as nourishing is concerned and is the main reason why I got it in the first place.

At first I really didn't like the scent (which is said to be lightly scented with pine, patchouli and accords of rosewood) because I find a bit bothersome. But the more and more I have been using it, I seem to have gotten a little bit used to it. Still, it's not the kind of scent that I would like for a hand cream. But then, it is just a matter of personal preference. Just not one that I think some people would love.

This product comes in a 2 inch wide squeeze tube and is about 4.2 oz (120 g.). It is small enough to carry with you in your handbag. But for some, it may be a bit large to bring with them.

It also has this white creamy/buttery consistency to it. I have also read a few reviews on this product and for some people, they don't find it greasy at all. But every time whenever I first apply it to my skin it feels a bit greasy and it also makes my hand look a bit shiny and slightly warmer (which I think is also good to use when you're living in cooler environments). But then after several minutes your hand starts to feel soft and the greasiness just goes away!

Overall, I think it is a good hand cream considering the nourishment you get from it, and I have observed that it really does make my hand feel softer and nourished. I personally won't be repurchasing this because the scent was just not to my liking. Unless you like spring green, pine, patchouli, rosewoods scents, or won't mind the scent at all, then I would say go and try this product!

I got mine at Ulta online for about $15, but you can also find this in many online stores like www.myvitabath.com, Amazon, Ebay or even www.bedbathandbeyond.com. Prices would range from $13-$15 depending on the shop and if there is a sale.

Have you ever tried this product? If you have, what do you think of it? Do you think you would be repurchasing it?