Ulta Cosmetics 400 Followers Giveaway!

This giveaway has ended. See the Giveaways page for a list of current giveaways.


Hello Beauties! Haute Lunch now has 400 followers (hooray), so it's time to celebrate with another giveaway! This one if for a fabulous eye shadow palette from Ulta as well as a bottle of eye makeup remover to take off all that beautiful makeup at the end of the day!

Ulta Irresistible Eyes Palette & Eye Makeup Remover - a $62 value!

Here are the gorgeous colors included in the palette!

Here's How to Enter:

This giveaway ends Sunday, August 21st at 11:59pm CST.  Open to all followers (international).

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry. You can submit up to 5 entries total.

Mandatory Entry- Publicly follow Haute Lunch via Google Friend Connect (see sidebar to follow) and leave a comment telling me you've done so.  New followers are welcome!

Additional Entries-

• Like Haute Lunch on Facebook and leave your user name in your comment (1 entries).
• Follow Haute Lunch on Twitter and  tweet the following: "Enter to win an Ulta Eye Shadow Palette & Makeup Remover from @haute_lunch! http://bit.ly/pbicNW #ulta #makeup #giveaway" - leave a link to your tweet in your comment (1 entry).
• Follow Haute Lunch on Bloglovin' and leave your user name in your comment (1 entry).
• Follow Haute Lunch on Networked Blogs (see sidebar) and tell me you've done so in your comment (1 entry).

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. This giveaway is only open internationally, ages 18+. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Sunday, August 21, 2011. Winning entry will be chosen using random.org and winner will be contacted via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

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Review: Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Mascaras

Good Afternoon, Beautiful!  It's hard to believe, but in the two months that Haute Lunch has been up and running, I have somehow failed to talk about arguably one of the most important items in your makeup bag- mascara! Since I've been a long time user of Benefit's BADgal mascaras, I thought it would be best to start by reviewing three of these: BADgal Lash, BADgal Blue, and BADgal Plum!

While all three mascaras promise to deliver big, voluminous lashes, the original BADgal Lash is definitely the leader of the pack. This mascara has won tons of awards and is a best seller at most any store that carries it! The BADgal Blue and BADgal Plum use the same formula, but the colors are supposed to add something extra. Specifically, the cobalt color of the BADgal Blue is supposed to make your eyes brighter, while the BADgal Plum is supposed to intensify the color of your eyes.  Let's find out if this is true...

No Mascara

BADgal Lash (left) & BADgal Blue (right)- does my right eye look brighter? Maybe a little.

Now I'm wearing BADgal Plum. Do my eyes look more green than before? No. I don't think so, anyway.

Though I don't think the BADgal Blue or BADgal Plum entirely live up to their added claims, BADgal mascaras clearly provide thick, full lashes. I still like wearing different colors of mascara depending on my eye shadow and clothing choices, however, and will probably buy the BADgal Blue again. I'm a bit hesitant to buy the plum again, though- perhaps due to the fact that, if you cry while wearing it, it looks like your eyes are bleeding (eek!). Otherwise, the color is very pretty.


As for the application, I just used one coat in these pictures. You can apply multiple coats to make your look more dramatic, and of course, you can also use eyeliner to better highlight your eyes (I didn't here just so you could see the effects of the mascara on it's own). I really like that these mascaras go on smoothly, but when you first use them, the brushes seem to hold too much product, causing the mascara to go on thicker than I would prefer. Luckily, after a few uses I find that the amount of mascara that goes onto the brush is just right, and remains that way until it's time to throw it away (if you're not sure how long that is, check out this post).


One thing that some people might have an issue with when applying this mascara is the large brush. While a brush of this size helps increase lash volume, it also makes application a little more difficult. You need to take your time when applying this, or else you risk making a mess all over your pretty eyes! However, if you have lashes that are at least average in length, application isn't too difficult- you just need to start at the tips, then roll the brush down to your lash line. Here are some pics of the brushes so you can see exactly how big we're talking...

Left to right: BADgal Lash (Black), BADgal Blue, & BADgal Plum

Left to right: BADgal Lash (Black), BADgal Blue, & BADgal Plum

Overall, I think the BADgal mascaras definitely deliver when it comes to volume. I don't know that the colored versions do what they say, but they are pretty colors and can add a little something extra to your look. At $19 each, the price is more than what you would pay for a drugstore brand, but also less than you would pay for other top selling mascaras, such as DiorShow 360 Mascara ($36) or Lancome Definicils Mascara ($25).  Here are my overall ratings for each:

BADgal Lash: 4.5 out of 5 Trays

BADgal Blue: 4 out of 5 Trays

BADgal Plum: 3.5 out of 5 Trays

Have any of you fabulous ladies ever tried BADgal mascaras?  If so, what did you think?  Also, what mascara are you currently using?  I love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions, so leave a comment below!

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Review: Tarte EmphasEYES Brow High Definition Eyebrow Pencil

I just returned from my visit to my parent’s house, and I’m ready to get back into the swing of things!  For tonight’s post, I’d like to review a new eyebrow pencil I bought while I was away.  First, though, I need to say one thing- GO BULLDOGS!  As you probably know, I’m definitely a girly-girl, but I also love my sports, so I’m very excited that my favorite NCAA men’s basketball team is headed to the final four for the second year in a row!  Ok, enough of the jock talk.

While shopping with my mother earlier this week, I stopped by Sephora to look for a new eyebrow filler.  I’ve been using Benefit’s Brow Zing for a while, but haven’t been very satisfied with the results.  The wax was a bit difficult to apply, and the powder didn’t quite match my brows.  Since I was fed up with struggling to apply this wax/powder combo, I thought I’d try a pencil this time around.  After checking out my options and chatting with one of Sephora’s color specialists, I decided on Tarte’s EmphasEYES for Brows High Definition Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe.

EmphasEYES Brow in Taupe Swatch

This brow pencil is super fine and comes in a clickable dispenser, so you never have to sharpen it, just turn the end.  At the opposite end of the pencil is a small, sturdy brow brush that can be used for softening brows before applying the pencil, or after to perfectly style your brows.  The pencil itself glides on easily without pulling hairs, and the taupe is just the right color for my light brown eyebrows.  Unfortunately, the pencil only comes in two colors (taupe & medium brown), so you ladies with super light blonde brows might have to pass on this product.

I really like that this pencil allows you to fill in your brows without looking like you simply drew in some hairs.  It blends well with your actual hair, and stays on all day.  This pencil is waterproof, so it really does last (even on someone like me who has fairly oily skin)!  Overall, I think this is brow pencil is definitely superior to Benefit’s Brow Zing, and it’s not too terribly expensive ($19.50).  Hopefully this pencil lasts a while as well, but that is yet to be determined.

Haute Lunch Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Trays

I’m glad I found a new brow product to fill in my over plucked eyebrows now that fuller brows are back in fashion.  Hopefully my own eyebrows will grow back in some more, but Tarte’s EmphasEYES Brow Pencil is a great remedy in the meantime!  Are any of you ladies lucky enough to have full, manageable eyebrows, or are you like me and need a little extra help to fill in those babies?  I’ve always had a love-hate (or maybe more of a hate-hate) relationship with my eyebrows, so I’d love to hear about your situations and experiences!

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Review: Stila Color Wheel Eye Shadow Palette

Today, I finally got Stila's Limited Edition Color Wheel Eye Shadow Palette! Stila claims the palette is a $558 value, but it sells for just $38. While I'm not sure the shadows are worth over $500, it's still a great value! After receiving this palette in the mail, I spent the next hour or so playing with the different colors (37 in total). The colors included definitely let you achieve a wide variety of looks and the shadows seem to provide pretty good coverage. However, these shadows do crease after a few hours (as do most powder shadows), so using an eye primer before application would definitely be a good idea.

The palette also comes with a 16 page "look book" that gives you a paint-by-numbers type of tutorial to help you apply combinations of shades to achieve a specific look.  Also included are two double-ended shadow brushes (one of which is for applying shadow as an eyeliner).  Here is a look I created using colors 19 (sky blue), 20 (periwinkle), 21 (cobalt), 23 (violet), 25 (white), and 37 (black) as an eyeliner:

As you can see, these colors didn't go on super dark, but I also didn't use a primer.  If you want a more dramatic look, a base should help you achieve this. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the palette. The shadows aren't the best available, but they're decent, especially for the price.  Keep in mind, this is a limited edition, so these palettes will soon become more difficult to find. In fact, Stila is currently sold out, but you can still find them on Amazon  (using the link above) and other online sites.


Haute Lunch Rating: 4 out of 5 Trays

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Buh-bye Racoon Eyes: Top Eye Makeup Removers

In my previous post I mentioned that a strong eye makeup remover was needed to take care of  Tarte's MultiplEYE™ lash primer.  Well if you're still searching for a remover that gets the job done without pulling out your lashes or leaving your eyes feeling like an oil slick, this review is for you!  In today's post, I'm reviewing not one, but three of the top selling removers: Nars Eye Makeup Remover, Lancome BI-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover, and Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover.

Nars Eye Makeup Remover is an oil-in-water remover with cucumber and aloe.  It claims to remove all makeup, even waterproof, without leaving skin greasy.  However, of the three removers I'm reviewing today, this is probably my least favorite. While my eye makeup was completely removed, so were a few of my lashes.  Also, even though the remover is supposed to be grease free, I definitely felt a reside on my skin after use and even the morning after.  I don't think I would dish out the $25 for this product again.


Haute Lunch Rating: 2 out of 5 trays

Lancome BI-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is a top seller and beauty award winner.  Based upon it's reputation, I was not surprised when this remover lived up to it's promise.  My waterproof mascara and primer came off with ease and my skin felt fresh and grease free.  This is also a very mild remover and didn't irritate my eyes at all. Overall, I have been very pleased with Lancome's remover, which sells for $26, and am now on my second bottle!


Haute Lunch Rating: 5 out of 5 trays

Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover is slightly less expensive than the previous two removers, but at $23 a bottle, it still isn't cheap.  However, like Lancome's BI-Facil remover, this product is mild and effective.  I found this remover really felt like it was not only taking off my makeup, but also conditioning my lashes at the same time.  Unfortunately, this conditioning effect also resulted in a slight oily feeling.  Still, I think this remover is a great buy and outperforms many other products on the market.


Haute Lunch Rating: 4.5 out of 5 trays

If you have a favorite eye makeup remover, leave a comment and tell me which one and why you love it!  Have a cheaper alternative?  I'd love to hear about it as well!

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Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically-Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Primer

My very first beauty review is of a product that promises to provide something most all women want: longer lashes!  Tarte MultiplEYE™ Clinically-Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Primer is a white colored lash primer that claims to increase lash volume by 739% (I see they were very precise in their measurements)!  With regular use, lashes are also supposed to increase in lash length appearance.  To use this product, simply apply as you would mascara, let dry for a few seconds, then apply your mascara as normal. Tip: curl your lashes before applying primer, as primer can flake off or cake if you try to curl your lashes after priming.  This also makes your eyelash curler last longer!


After using this product for a couple weeks, I must admit that I do notice an increase in lash volume and length.  However, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I saw a 739% increase, or even a 200% increase, for that matter.  Either way, this primer does pump up the volume (cue early 90's dance music) and add some length.  The primer goes on smoothly, but thick, and lasts all day.  If you purchase Tarte MultiplEYE™ lash primer, make sure you also have a good eye makeup remover on hand, as removal can prove to be difficult otherwise (think extremely waterproof mascara).  Overall, a good buy at $22.  


Haute Lunch Rating: 4.5 out of 5 trays!

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