recent beauty favorites

01. nivea kiss of care & color - this. stuff. is. my. favorite. oh my gosh. i am not a lipstick girl. i'll put it on, but it's a struggle for me. these add a hint of color and feel exactly like a lip balm - they're probably even more comfortable than revlon lip butters. i have them in a few shades, and i wear them non-stop!

02. juicy couture's viva la juicy la fleur - i am a huge, huge fan of juicy couture's perfumes, especially viva la juicy. my friend got me viva la juicy la fleur for my birthday, and i'm obsessed! i wear it every day, and i'll probably run through the entire bottle before the year ends.

03. mary kay eye cream - i've never tried any mary kay products prior to this one, nor have i used a dedicated eye cream. i do like this product, and i wake up every day with my skin buttery soft. as far as help with dark circles, i'm not sure. however, i really need to keep this in my routine, because there is no such thing as too much moisturizing, especially around the eye area.

04. opi polish in 'keeping suzi at bay' - this has been a wonderful fall color that i've worn on my hands and feet constantly. it's a slightly darker, rich toned navy that looks gorgeous with fall color palettes.

review: nyx's dream catcher palette

ok, i do love my naked palette. and i've used the hell out of it. it's a little embarrassing how dirty and busted up it is. i've even gone out and purchased singles of some of the colors. needless to say, i love me some neutral shadows, so this palette caught my eye in ulta when i was perusing for a a shimmery champagne shade after my single pot of 'sin' ran out.

nyx's dream catcher palette comes in 3 varities - golden horizons, dusk til dawn and stormy eyes. originally, i was set on the golden horizons palette. when i got to ulta, it was sold out! i was really drawn to the dusk til dawn palette and ended up picking that one up instead.

for $14.99, it's definitely more affordable than the naked palette. this week it was on sale on ulta.com for $8.99! i wanted to see the colors in person though, just to be sure. so far, the pigmentation on colors is a hit or miss - some are far more pigmented that others. these shadows are also slightly more chalky than i anticipated, and it feels like there's lots of product going on and not enough color payoff. however, as i said, this is differing from shade to shade so far. using a primer is a must.

it's a good buy for the number of colors you get. however, if you've got the money to spend and you're looking for a neutral palette, you're better off with naked or a too faced palette. i'm going to continue playing with the colors here as i do enjoy the shimmery shades for basic lid colors, but will i repurchase this? probably not. nyx is a wonderful brand for the price point, but this palette only looks gorgeous - the actual color payoff and shadow texture falls just a bit short.

overall rating: 3 of 5 stars.

review: urban decay's b6 prep spray

there is an array of beauty products available that fall into the "mist", "setting spray" or just plain ole "refreshing spray" category. and honestly, they're a little silly. yet in all my makeup conscious years so far, i've had one of these lying around.

do they actually do anything? i'm still trying to get this question answered. i feel as if anything that happens on your skin could almost certainly be attributed to something aside from the few spritzes of fancy water you're putting on there (because that's what it is, y'all, fancy water!).

in the past, i've used mac's fix+. this spray is marketed as a "makeup setting spray". and while it smells lovely and feel refreshing on the skin, i didn't feel it provided any makeup setting qualities.

urban decay's b6 vitamin-infused complexion prep spray carries a hefty price tag of $33 for the full size - more than mac's fix+, which retails at $21. i originally received a sample of this product after buying urban decay's primer potion (which i love) at ulta. i tried the spray & used the entire sample - then felt compelled to purchase it. while it's not a product that provides results you can immediately see, i felt like my skin loved it. after 2 weeks of use, my skin just felt better - brighter, less redness & a more even tone. i sprayed it in the morning before my makeup, and at night after washing my face.

i'm almost done with this bottle, and will i repurchase it? i'm not sure. these sprays could very well be providing a darn good placebo effect. this was the only spray i feel i've gotten actual results with.

have you ever used a cosmetic spray similar to this? what are your thoughts?

review: jouer lip enhancer

years ago i received a sample of this product in a birchbox and i loved it. and on my quest for the perfect lip balm, i had totally forgotten about it! i reviewed dior's creme de rose, which is very similar to this product, but half the price.

at $14, essential lip enhancer still isn't a "run to the drugstore" lipbalm. but it's worth the extra effort! it's got a light rose scent - which is why i compare it to creme de rose - but features actual practical packaging, a tube, instead of a pot that can be easily contaminated and get icky after a while.

this product is thick on your lips, but i feel it actually makes a difference after some time compared to creme de rose. it doesn't fade away quickly like many lip balms or force you to feel the need to apply more after 30 minutes. this is going to be my go-to winter product, as it gets a little cooler in birmingham and i'm sure i'll need it!

review: mac's girl about town

i like to keep you on your toes here at floral frocks. one post i'm writing about my coming-of-age realizations about what i want to do with my life, and the next i'm reviewing lipstick. but hey - lipstick is an important part of life too. c'est la vie.

though the makeup world is full of reviews on this shade, i wanted to add my thoughts because i am not a lipstick person. i've always wanted to be. it has the ability to truly transform your face, wake it up and bring out different tones in your skin. my daily lip is usually chapstick or baby lips. reapplication, smudging, the dreaded lipstick teeth - gah, so many reasons i've stayed away. but i'm trying, i'm really trying. and this color is so fantastic that i have to say, its swaying me.

girl about town is, in my opinion, universally flattering. with the appropriate makeup to match, this shade looks amazing on all skin tones - even mine, and i'm kinda pale.

the wear on this lipstick is great. it stays where it's applied and the color payoff lasts for hours - i haven't had to reapply it yet after going out. i love wearing it with a neutral outfit and allowing it to be my 'pop' of color. seriously, don't be afraid of it. its bright, yes. but wear it with toned down makeup and you're creating a fantastic focal point for your look. you can even blot it a few times if you want something more subdued. i did this, and i found that the color remaining was stuck on my lips like a stain. so if you're looking for long-lasting, this is it.

i can't wait to wear girl about town well into winter, spring and beyond. new favorite! and at $15, its worth the splurge.

review: revlon colorstay foundation

i used to dread the thought of wearing liquid foundation daily. too thick, too heavy, just too much. for many years i was devoted to mac's mineralized skin finish natural. while its a great product, the price tag was becoming a burden. i searched for a drugstore alternative, and somehow ended up looking at things in the liquid category.

once i find something that works foundation wise, i stick with it. i don't like switching it up. i've been using revlon's colorstay for about a year now, and i've totally changed my mind on liquid foundations. if you're scared to use liquid and want something lightweight, give this a shot!

i wear shade 220, natural beige. mac's 187 is my absolute favorite foundation brush - first i stipple it on, then blend it out. and while a liquid foundation does require more frequent brush washing, this particular foundation gives such great results that i don't mind a bit.

price: at target, i paid $9.99. i've seen it both cheaper and more expensive at other drugstores.

package: nothing to complain about here. but it would be nice if it had a pump that came with it.

application/results: this foundation applies beautifully and quickly with my mac 187. it doesn't dry too fast, and a little goes a long way. i'd rank it at about a medium coverage, but its definitely buildable depending on your preferences. my favorite thing about this foundation is the fact that it isn't heavy, doesn't clog my pores and lasts all day, even without setting powder. as someone with oily skin, i appreciate the product being specified as a "oily skin formula", but i've found that i still have to blot after 6-8 hours. however, the coverage holds up great.

the bottom line: i've used colorstay for as long as i have because it feels great on my skin, is simple to apply, doesn't break me out and provides just the right amount of coverage for everyday. and until i find something better for the price, this is what i'll use for years to come!

dior's creme de rose review

i already recommended this product on instagram, but after having used it for a few weeks, i thought i'd write a more detailed synopsis of my thoughts. i love lip balm & i go through them like crazy because i lose them a lot, so i'm always picking up another tube. my tried & true drugstore favorites are burt's bees and soft lips, but the wonderful world of marketing did it's job & made me feel like i needed something better. that something turned out to be dior's creme de rose, which i received for christmas.

price: at $27, i don't see it as a "stop by the store because i need a lip balm" lip balm. it's kind of a weighty decision. am i really paying nearly $30 for a lip balm? well geez, it must be amazing, right? so maybe i need it, and maybe it will last for a long time.

package: to start off, the packaging is lovely. clean, simple, effortlessly dior. as far as functionality goes, pots of product are often labeled less hygienic. but i'll be honest... i don't truly care. use clean hands and throw it out if it smells/looks weird = my philosophy. so no points off for that.

scent: the scent is to die for. some aren't a fan of rose scents, but i really, really am. if you enjoy the scent of diorshow mascara, it's that same rich, velvety rose used here, but a little less chemically. i've had lipbalms that smelled dreadful, but i don't mind smelling this all day/night.

application/results: it applies like any other potted lip balm. it's quite smooth and not too oily, and feels very moisturizing on my lips. after doing a lot of reading about other people's experiences with this product, i had some big expectations. most used it as a treatment applied at night. i did this, and woke up to my lips feeling the same as they always do. after a few weeks of use, i haven't noticed any real difference.

the bottom line: it smells lovely, has cute packaging, but is no better than lip balms more than half the price. if you're looking to spend the money because you expect out of this world results, i wouldn't waste your time. but if you feel like dropping some cash & adore rose scents, go for it.

we built these paper mountains

winning the national championship on january 9th & partying on the strip, the '2011' added behind nick saban's statue, my vodka & cranberry at skybar in auburn, watermelon hookah at big daddy's, vanilla bean frap, dinner at moe's, dinner at panera bread, fresh manicure, my new yankee candle & new mineralized skin finish natural.

school has been busy as usual! lots will be going on with my internship this semester, & i'm really excited about it. i know the semester is in full swing when i'm drinking coffee every weekday. winning the game on the 9th was a great way to start off the year & its been amazing since then! i don't do resolutions, but i do want to try sushi this year - i guess i'll start off with california rolls, isn't that standard? i've already tried a lot of new things, like kickboxing classes. i think 2012 is going to be great, & i've never been one to be pessimistic about new beginnings.

mini MAC haul

on friday night i went on a little trip to the summit in birmingham with the girls for a shopping trip. we had cheesecake factory for dinner. i got alfredo & jw's lemonade, nom.

we stopped by all our usual favorite places & then i went by MAC to spend a giftcard that was burning a hole in my pocket! i picked up a new bottle of fix+, brush cleanser & eyeshadow in 'gleam'. i've never tried the brush cleanser & i got it in hopes of being encouraged to clean my brushes more often. most girls can agree that their brushes don't get a thorough cleaning nearly enough, so here's to hoping this helps in that area. last, i got an eyeshadow in 'gleam'. though my favorite neutral shadow is 'naked lunch', i wanted to pick up a different neutral for every day. i liked the warm golden tones in 'gleam' & i thought it would be pretty for fall.