The Balm Cosmetics at T.J. Maxx!!!

The word on the street is that T.J. Maxx's across the country have been getting shipments in of The Balm Cosmetics. Normally sold at Sephora, I was very excited to see if I could get some goodies at half the price! I also had been holding on to a T.J. Maxx gift card for $50 and this was the perfect reason to spend it! I ended up getting 2 eyeshadow palettes, 2 blushes, 1 highlighter, and 1 bronzer all for under $50. I think this is the best steal I have ever gotten from this store. Below are the items that I got: The Shady Lady Vol. 3, Meet Matt(e)., Betty-Lou Manizer AKA "The Bronzing Bandit", Mary-Lou Manizer AKA "The Luminzer", Down Boy, and Frat Boy.

Amazing right!! I love their packaging. I think it is so cute and reminds me of the 1950's and the 1960's. I also love how they name all their colors. I think they are super creative and to me that is part of the appeal of this line. Kind of like how OPI nail polish names are super fun!

The first one I will review in The Shady Lady Vol. 3 I have never used or tested Vol. 1 or Vol. 2 so I don't have much to compare it to but I really like Vol. 3. I think it has really great shimmer to it and I am a big shimmer person.

The first picture is taken with flash and the second picture was taken with out flash. Below are some swatches. I am not the best...lol but getting better.

From left to right is: Guilty Gwen, All the Way Annie, Open to Offers Olwen, Come-Hither Heather, Runaround Rebecca, Safe Bet Annette, Racy Kacy, Envious Erin, and Lusty Lee.

Next up is the Meet Matt(e). eyeshadow palette. I love matte eye shadows as well but was less impressed with this palette. Don't get me wrong, the colors are still very pretty but I felt that they just weren't as pigmented as the Shady Lady Vol. 3 palette.

From Left to Right: Matt Smith, Matt Gallagher, Matt Ramirez, Matt McDonald, Matt Horowitz, Matt Chung, Matt Batali, Matt Schilling, and Matt Patel.

Next is Betty-Lou Manizer which is a bronzer. I love this bronzer, it has just the right amount of shimmer. It looks so pretty when swatched and such cute packaging!

I am also always in search of the perfect highlighter. I think I might have found it with Mary Lou Manizer. It gives just the right amount of glow and not too much shimmer.

And of course I saved the best for last! I loooove The Balm blushes. I currently own Cabana Boy and Hot Mama and they are amazing. I was really lemming Frat Boy so I was so excited to find it.

Such a pretty pink. The next blush is Down Boy which is a little lighter and leans a little to the peach side. Equally as pretty though.

The next picture from left to right is: Down Boy, Frat Boy, Betty-Lou Manizer, and Mary-Lou Manizer.

Amazing!! I can't wait to play with all my new products! Has anyone else gotten the chance to pick these products up at T.J. Maxx? What are your thoughts on The Balm as a brand? There were a few more items at the store that I passed on but I would love to see what other people found at their local stores. I am sure every store has something different. Until next time!!

XOXO

Miss Make-Up Fairy

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips-Kitty Kitty

I guess I am little late on the band wagon here, but I have finally gotten around to trying out my Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips. I have them in the color "Kitty, Kitty" which are really just leopard spots. I have been hearing mixed reviews about these strips. Some say easy as pie, others not so much. I am going to go with the "not so much" crowd. I doubt that I will ever get these again. I found them a pain to put on. Maybe it's because I have short nails. Who knows but here we go!

The kit comes with 16 nail polish strips, a cuticle stick, and a mini file & buffer. I actually liked the cuticle and mini file the best..lol I didn't end up using all the strips and have a handful of them left.  The instructions say to use warm hands to make the strips stick and I def agree with that. I think the warmer my hands and nails were the easier it was for the strips to stick. After picking the best nail strip size for your nail you are supposed to peel the clear protective plastic cover off. Then you are supposed to break the silver tab from the strip. Place the strip at the cuticle line and press on. They say to use the flat side of the cuticle strip but I felt it worked better just to press down with my fingers.

You are supposed to file the excess strip away but I found that you had to cut it first before even attempting to file. It also tells you to file with the soft light pink side however if you don't file with the hot pink buffer side you will never get the excess off.

As you can see nails are not my speciality..lol But I tried with whatever nail stubs I have...lol

I am right handed and usually doing my left hand is easier but for some odd reason I thought doing my right hand was easier. Maybe because I was finally getting the hang of it. It def. was not faster then painting my nails.

Full hand shot. It is the best I could do. Below is the aftermath. You can see the amount of work and how many left over items there were. It honestly took me about an hour.

Unfort. this is def not a re-purchase for me. Maybe I am just really horrible at doing my own nails and should stick to make-up...lol I am curious to see if any of you had similar experiences or if it was super easy for you. I am not sure what I will do with the extra strips. Maybe I'll do my dogs nails. (JK)

Until next time-

XOXO

Miss Makeup Fairy