Category: Beauty

ColourPop Haul, Review and Swatches!

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Who can say no to 20% off?! I sure cannot! When ColourPop was offering the discount site wide a few weeks ago, I decided I had to take advantage of such a good deal! Not only is their non-discounted price point extremely inexpensive, but combined when combined with an additional percentage off, this was a deal too good to pass up! 

Molly, Naked Ladies, Magic Wand, $6.


    

I really wanted to try their new Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks after hearing that they are matte without feeling dry. My biggest complaint with regular liquid lipsticks are the dry, chalky feeling that typically happens to me within the first hour of wear, hence the reason I was so attracted to this formula. As soon as I put this on, I immediately noticed how comfortable it felt on my lips. It is a mousey consistency that had a whipped texture even when it has “dried down.” I tested all three colors and was pleasantly surprised that the nude shade, as well as the two vibrant shades, both applied evenly and highly pigmented. I did wear these with a ColourPop lip primer too and noticed that this prolonged the wear time. I was able to eat and drink without this product breaking up in an obvious way on my lips. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that this particular formula stained my lips so even after it had completely worn off, I still had a hint of color left. I would highly recommend these to anyone that dislikes that drying, flakey feeling that is all too common with liquid lipsticks, but love the look of a matte formula. Also they have an extensive color selection with shades that range from natural to bold, so you’re bound to find one you like! Safe to say, I’m ordering more of these!

Swatches from left to right: Naked Ladies, Molly, Magic Wand.

Honey Dude, Prance, $6.

The other new product I tried for the first time are the creme gel eyeliners! I purchased the periwinkle-blue color “Prance” as well as the nude shade “Honey Dude” to give me a good balance between natural and edgy! I’ve been seeing lots of looks using colored liners in the water line and as winged liner, so I’m excited to experiment with the blue shade for summer! I’m always using a nude eyeliner in my waterline on a daily basis because I love a wide-eyed look! I’m loyal to my Tarte Inner Rim Brightener, so this ColourPop one has a lot to live up to! I’ve worn it for the last two days and although I don’t think it’s the best…it’s definitely not bad! For the price, it’s great! I just do have a hard time with it staying on my water line. Maybe it’s because it’s allergy season and my eyes are constantly watering, but the nude shade was really difficult to keep pigmented and bright in my waterline. As for the blue shade, “Prance,” this color lasted beautifully in my waterline all day long! It remained vibrant and true to color for the entire day and I received so many compliments on the unique pop of color! I really want to do a tutorial on the look because I think it was different and perfect for people who want to try something on trend for summer, but also want to keep the overall look very wearable and subtle.  

Swatches from left to right: Honey Dude and Prance.


      

Tassel, Girly, Alchemy, Sunset Blvd, $5.


    

Lastly, I purchased four of their eyeshadows because I’m addicted to these! I’m finding that they’re all I wear because they’re so pigmented and sparkly! I really love the look of just a wash of shimmery shadow on the lids with mascara for summer! I think this method emphasizes my eyes without looking overdone. I will give a disclaimer that these shadows really need to be worn with a primer during the spring and summer months when makeup products tend to break up and transfer from sweat or excess oil. My favorite primers to use with these shadows are M.A.C 24 Hour Extended Eye Base and Urban Decay Primer Potion in “Eden.” If I forgo a primer, sometimes these shadows transfer from my eyelid and into my crease area. This process can take my once neat and blended eye look into a messy, creasing catastrophe. Onto the shades that I purchased! “Alchemy” is listed on the ColourPop site as a translucent peachy tone, sprinkled with multi-dimensional glitter and is labeled as a Glitter Sheer finish formula. I would definitely agree with this description. The shadow is essentially all sparkles with a natural colored base. I think this would be beautiful with very bronzed and highlighted skin and a bright red lip. Next is “Sunset Blvd,” which is a shadow from their recent KaePop collaboration with Karrueche. This shade is described as a warm golden bronze in a Pearlized Finish formula. I think the color of this eyeshadow is super pretty and subtle. On my skin tone, it shows up as a shimmery wash of color and looks natural enough for daytime. I really like this for an easy, every day shadow because it provides definition without being in-your-face. I feel like this would be a great color to add to anyone’s collection because it is so beautiful and will match any face and lip product you pair with it. Next is “Tassel,” which is a bright, true white with multi-dimensional, highly reflective glitter. I got this color because I thought it would be perfect for a bright inner corner highlight. By adding a white or light colored shimmery shadow to your inner corners, it will open up your eyes and make you appear more awake! So far this shadow is beautiful to serve that purpose. It is very stark white with major glitter, so I can’t imagine wearing it all over my lid and not looking like an ice princess. It looks great in the inner corner and lightly applied underneath the brow bone! Last, but not least, is “Girly” and it’s described as a warm golden bronze in a Pearlized Finish. I definitely don’t see anything bronze about this eyeshadow, but would agree that it is a very warm-toned, cream shade with golden shimmer. I think this color would look gorgeous on lighter skin tones that want a simple shadow to apply all over the lids for a natural look. I applied this shadow all over my lids, with a matte, warm brown shade in the crease and winged eyeliner, and was still asked multiple times what my eyeshadow is! So “Girly” does stand out even in a simple look. 

Swatches from left to right: Tassel, Girly, Sunset Blvd, Alchemy.


       
I really hope you try out some ColourPop items after reading this! Hopefully I gave you some good ideas on new products to try out! I would highly recommend the new Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks because they are really easy to apply and give you an on-trend lip look, without spending a ton of money! These are by far the most comfortable liquid lipsticks I have ever tried in any price point, so you need them! Plus they have so many unique colors so you can try something new! Thanks for reading! 

How To Get A Gel Manicure For Only 5 Bucks!

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I am someone who loves the look of a gel manicure, but despises the act of going to a nail salon for an hour to get them done. So instead, I have searched high and low for nail polish formulas that claim to give the same effect without an LED light. I have tried expensive gel formula polishes from Sephora and Ulta, but I’ve also tried some drugstore brands as well. Before this point, my favorite line of polishes were the O.P.I Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer Collection. The formulation on these polishes are really creamy and only need 2 coats to be completely opaque. However, at $12.50 a bottle, you can easily spend the same amount trying out a few colors than on a single gel manicure. Thus my attempt to find cheaper alternatives at the drugstore. 

    
Wet N Wild isn’t a brand I’m personally too familiar with, but I’m always hearing different YouTuber’s and bloggers talk about. I saw the display for their Wet N Wild 1 Step WonderGel Nail Color and was intrigued by the advertised claims. You can find on their website that the details of these polishes are, “Up to 2 weeks of color & shine based on consumer grading. No UV Light Required. No Harsh Removal. 3-Free! No Formaldehyde, Toluene, or Phthalates!” So after seeing these impressive claims, I decided to pick out some colors! Out of the 18 shades in the collection, I chose my 5 favorite to test the formula. I also want to mention that at only 5 bucks a polish, you can really try out a lot of colors without breaking the bank. Whenever I bought mine at Rite-Aid, they were 40%, which was such a good deal! I highly recommend doing your research on weekly drugstore deals and waiting until you can get them for even cheaper than the standard price. 

Wet N Wild 1 Step WonderGel Nail Color. Colors from left to right: Lavender Out Loud, Stay Classy, Pinky Swear, Condensed Milk, Peri-wink-le Of An Eye, $4.99.

    
These Wet N Wild polishes are SO GOOD! By far the longest lasting nail polishes I have ever tried. Typically nail polishes, regardless of their long lasting formulas, chip within 2-3 days for me. However, these last for about 5-6 days before showing any signs of wear or chips. I would say they last close to 2 weeks until I personally get to the point where I want to either change my polish color, or they’ve grown out and look unkempt. Also keep in mind that since I’m a germaphobe, I’m always washing my hands and using sanitizer and this formula still withstands it all! 

     
So another pro to choosing this polish is the quick dry time! I would say that after I have applied the second coat of polish, it takes my nails a total of 15 minutes to dry completely! For me, this is really impressive because sometimes with other polishes, I wait 30 minutes to dry and find out that they’re still tacky feeling! So yes, these dry all the way extremely quick, which I appreciate very much. 

      
Lastly, these polishes are all you need for a shiny, even coated manicure. Forget about a base coat and a top coat with this product because you do not need one! These polishes are awesome on their own and I have seen no visible difference in the way they apply or perform when using a base coat or a top coat. 

Lavender Out Loud, Stay Classy, Pinky Swear, Condensed Milk, Peri-wink-le Of An Eye

     
I really hope you try some of these Wet N Wild 1 Step WonderGel Nail Color polishes! My favorite colors are Stay Classy and Peri-wink-le Of An Eye. I definitely want to expand my collection, so let me know your favorite shades too! Thanks for reading! 

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Quad in “Sage”

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During my most recent trip to Sephora, I decided to purchase the new Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Quad in Sage. Although some of the other shade selections were more aesthetically pleasing to me, I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and pick the Sage quad, which has shadow colors that supposedly compliment brown eyes.    

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Quad, Sage, $26.


I want to start this review out by stating how beautiful these eyeshadows are. Whenever I first swatched these shades, I was in disbelief at how smooth they felt. The texture is really silky and buttery, which is rare in a matte eyeshadow! These shadows are incredibly pigmented as well. You can see in the swatches above that these shadows do not look chalky or patchy on my skin. The colors are unique and beautiful, I have nothing like the dark green shade in the palette and really loved the way it is borderline black. This makes it super wearable and adds a unique effect whenever applied into the outer corner or as eyeliner. 


I think this palette is versatile enough to be used on a daily basis for a natural look. The base shade is a warm tan color that is perfect for all over the lid. It gives definition, without darkening your eyes in an unnatural way. As you know, I love the definer shade, which is a hunter green color. It really is so unlike anything else I own and I think it does bring out my brown eye color. The contour crease shade is a gray toned, olive green. It looks beautiful to blend out any harsh lines above the lid. I also think this color would look really beautiful as a base shade. Lastly, the highlight is a cream shade that ties the entire look together when applied underneath the brow and on the inner corner of your eye. Although the look I created in the photo is more daytime appropriate, I can see this palette being amazing for smokey eyes by using the dark green definer shade all over the lid. I really love that you can create an entire eye look by using the colors solely in this palette. It’s nice for travel because it’s compact in size and gives you multiple options for natural or glam looks! 

I am really excited to continue using this product and try out the other Shade + Light Eye Contour Quad in “Rust,” “Smoke” and “Plum.” Have you ever tried any of these before? Let me know which ones are your favorite! Thanks for reading! 

P.S. I created Facebook and Instagram accounts! You can find either accounts by searching “Abigail Lindsay Blog” yay! 

Sephora Birthday Haul!

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With birthdays, come Sephora gift cards. I decided to treat myself to a few new items that I haven’t seen before! I want to give you my first impression based on using these products over the past week.

Tarte Application Mitt, $6. SEPHORA Beauty Amplifier Set and Refresh Spray, $16. Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Quad, Sage, $26. Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush, Sparkling Bellini, $30. Tatcha Luminous Overnight Memory Serum Concentrate, $110. Fresh Rose Face Mask, $60. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, $15-$30.


 

      
Tarte Application Mitt: 

This particular self tanning mitt feels soft and velvety. I was intrigued by the texture because I assumed this would mean my tanning mousse would blend in smoother and appear more natural. I also noticed that this mitt is reinforced with durable stitching so your hand won’t randomly break through when you’re in the middle of applying (yes, this has happened to me before.) I love that this has the same plush material on the back of the mitt too, rather than the typical flimsy netting that most tanning mitts have. I am going to use this mitt with my Loving Tan Ultra Dark Mousse and I will keep you posted in an upcoming blog about my feelings towards it!

      
SEPHORA Beauty Amplifier Set and Refresh Spray:

As someone who religiously uses Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray after makeup application, I knew it was going to be difficult to find a mist that was just as good. After using this Sephora Set and Refresh spray for a week, I think it is a wonderful product that sets my makeup beautifully and extends the longevity of my face products. It also smells amazing! I would describe the scent as very light and refreshing, which compliments the slight cooling sensation that the mist leaves on your face. The only reason I wouldn’t label this as my “holy grail” or new favorite makeup setting spray is because of the packaging. For whatever reason, the nozzle that the mist comes out of has stopped working. It sprayed perfectly for the first few days I used it, but now the nozzle appears to be blocked with the liquid from within the bottle and won’t spray out. BUMMER.

     


Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Quad:

I purchased this palette in the shade “Sage” because it’s promoted as a brown eye enhancing selection of shadows. I also had nothing like this in my collection, so I was drawn to the green-gray, cool tones that I rarely use. When I began swatching these eyeshadows, I immediately recognized how creamy they are! They feel buttery soft to the touch and blend out so beautifully on the lid. I did a look using these shadows as they are recommended in the palette (lid color, crease color, blending shade and highlight) and will be posting that next! You can be the judge if these cool, green tones really enhanced my brown eyes. I’m definitely going to be purchasing the other color versions of this palette after how incredible these performed! 

       
Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush:

I have been wanting to try one of these blushes for a long time! I was so drawn to the new shade “Sparkling Bellini” and felt compelled to purchase it. Peach colored blushes are my favorite kind to wear because I think it compliments my olive complexion. I have found that very pink blushes seem to look unnatural and stand out in a bad way on my face. This particular blush is very peach when you look at and once you swirl the colors around, it leaves a warm orange tone on the cheeks. I personally really like the color it gives off because it suits me and blends in beautifully with my bronzer. I also love the soft shimmery effect that this blush formula gives off. It’s subtle, but definitely provides a glow-from-within look that is perfect for Summer. I also wanted to mention this blush lasted all day for me! 

       
Tatcha Luminous Overnight Memory Serum Concentrate: 

I got this as a free sample with my online order and couldn’t be more impressed with this product. As many of you know, Tatcha is a super luxurious skincare brand that celebrities, like Kim Kardashian, swear by! I jumped on the chance to score a nice sized sample and began using a small amount every night for the past week. It claims to moisturize and plump your skin, all while giving you a glow! This couldn’t be more true. I was actually kind of sad at how well this product worked because a full size is $110…so… It’s definitely an item I would feel a bit guilty repurchasing again and again. However, if you’re in a “treat yo self” type of mood and want to try a really luxurious product that gives you the most beautiful skin, this one truly works and delivered on every claim it listed in the product description. 

      
Fresh Rose Face Mask and Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: 

Yay for getting good, free birthday presents from places I frequently shop! I opted to select the skincare gift option, rather than the Marc Jacobs lipstick and eyeliner duo. I have tried both of these Fresh products before and absolutely love them! It always feels good to know that I’m putting all natural ingredients on my skin throughout the day. Plus Fresh makes a great moisturizer and an eye cream that are perfect for sensitive skin. I’m glad I got these best selling items in portable, travel sized versions! 

Mother and Daughter Beauty Favorites

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In honor of Mother’s Day, I decided to post about favorite beauty products that both my Mom and I use on a daily basis! These items have been put to the test and work for anyone, regardless of age. 
To begin, we both agreed that the Too Faced Natural Matte Neutral Eye Shadow Palette is a must have. If you are looking to achieve an every day, natural makeup look, then this palette will be your best friend. It’s divided into sections with coordinating colors to ensure effortless application. My Mom loves the buttery formula of Too Faced eyeshadows because they blend out beautifully and last all day!

    
We had to include the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer as a favorite! We both use this product religiously. I’ve recommended this to almost everyone I know! Such a reasonably priced, but amazing concealer, which is why it’s been recognized as the number one best selling on the market. We both use the shade “Neutralizer” because it has a yellow undertone that brightens and matches our olive skin perfectly. 

     
Have you tried the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water?! My Mom and I love it before and after we apply our makeup. On clean skin, we spray this mist all over our face to prime for foundation. I didn’t know if this product was going to work very well as a primer, but it really does hydrate your skin, while controlling oil throughout the day! We also love to spray it after we have applied all of our makeup to take away any powdery effect to our skin. If you’ve ever struggled with your makeup looking dry, cakey and the lines on your face blending out harshly, try this technique! The mist will blend in and lay the powders flat so your finished face has a more skin-like, natural appearance. 

      
The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush is as good as it gets! Neither of us have tried a better blush than these! The Amazonian Clay formula is soft, but also long lasting! I’ve found this product wears longer than 12 hours for me and does not fade in pigment throughout the day! My favorite shade is “Peaceful,” which is described as a “soft nude-peach.” My Mom’s favorite is “Exposed,” which is described as a “nude pink.” This particular blush formula does not emphasize my pores (which are prominent on my cheek area) or causes any skin irritation. The Amazonian Clay blushes by Tarte are always winning awards from prominent beauty influencers, so trust me when I say you must try these! 

       
Lastly, we both decided to share our newfound love for the It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation Illumination Powder! This stuff is amazing to wear alone, or on top of foundation to set and provide extra coverage. When I’m doing my quick and easy makeup look for work, I don’t use liquid foundation because it takes so long to blend out. Instead, I apply this powder all over my face once I’ve put on primer and concealer! This particular powder foundation covers really well and has light reflecting technology in the formula so your face doesn’t look cakey. The one downside to this product is that it comes in only 5 shades. The limited selection may prove problematic to some, but personally I can wear the shade “Medium” throughout the fall and winter months, then switch to the shade “Tan” whenever it’s summer! My mom wanted to mention that this product provides a luminosity to her skin and does not settle in her fine lines. This powder gives a glow to the skin that isn’t shimmery or oily looking, but also controls powder like a matte formula would! My Mom wears the shade “Medium” as well! 

Too Faced Natural Matte Neutral Eye Shadow Palette, $36. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer, $8.99. Smashbox Travel Size Photo Finish Primer Water, $16. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush, $28. It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation Illumination, $35.


        
I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed creating it. My Mom was the first person to introduce me to makeup and always taught me the value of inner beauty. Let me know if you would like to see more blog posts featuring my Mom, she really loved voicing her opinion on tried and true products that work for her every day! Happy Mother’s Day to all! 

The Magical Beauty Blender 

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I decided to post about my most used makeup tool; the one and only, Beauty Blender. I know you’re thinking, “What is so special about a sponge?” Well for starters, it can be used multi-purposely with foundation, concealer, cream bronzers and blushes, basically any liquid product! This particular makeup sponge is specifically designed to be used dampened. I place the Beauty Blender underneath running water and squeeze it in my hand for about 20 seconds while it absorbs. You will see that during this process, the Beauty Blender noticeably expands in size.    

BEAUTYBLENDER, $20.


Also we can address the fact it’s $20 for a sponge. Like yes, it blends out every product on your face flawlessly, but it is just a sponge…right? Well in my opinion, this really is different than any makeup brush or application tool that I’ve tried! Since using this product, I have noticed that my makeup looks more blended and natural in person and in photos. For me personally, a beauty tool that I can use with many different makeup products and gives an airbrushed appearance to my skin, is certainly worth $20. 

Before dampened with water and after.


The greatest aspect of the Beauty Blender is its ability to sheer out products. By using this product damp, it prevents foundation from caking up and looking patchy because it removes all excess product. If you pat it underneath your eyes to blend out concealer, it will create a crease-less and youthful effect. Also if you want to set your under eyes with powder, but find that it typically dries up on this delicate area, you can place your Beauty Blender in the powder and set your concealer flawlessly. I also use this to blend out my cream contour and highlight! It makes harsh lines, melt seamlessly into my skin. 

I continue to purchase a new Beauty Blender every six months, regardless of the semi-ridiculous price tag. I feel that after 6 months, the sponge does begin to dry out and not bounce on the skin as well. After I bought my first Beauty Blender, I had a difficult time researching the proper way to wash it. It is recommended to use the Beauty Blender brand liquid or solid cleanser, but it’s kind of pricey for the small amount of product you receive and for how much you use it (I wash my Beauty Blender every other use.) I scoured Pinterest for a duplicate of the ingredients featured in that particular formula and found there’s an even better, less expensive, all-natural formula that you can find at the grocery store!? 

       

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Soap, $4.99.


Let me introduce you to Doctor Bronners Pure-Castille Magic Soap! I have the Lavender version, but there are other scented options you can purchase as well! This soap completely erases all traces of leftover makeup that will stain your Beauty Blender. I have tried the solid and liquid versions of this soap and enjoy both formulas! I choose to repurchase the liquid version for sanitary reasons. This soap also works amazing on makeup brushes too! 

I really hope you try both the Beauty Blender and the Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap and let me know how much you love these products! Also if you are already using the Beauty Blender as much as I do, let me know your favorite makeup product to use with it!

Effortless Beachy Waves 

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As someone who has naturally straight hair, I’ve always envied wavy, voluminous locks. With straight hair, there comes sacrifice in the form of not being able to hold a curl. I’ve gone through dozens of styling products that claim to give grip and hold to my hair. I have bought various curling wands from stores like Target and Sephora. Nothing seemed to work for me, until now! I wanted to share the products and curling wand I use because I think a lot of hair styling has to do with the way you prep your hair! 

What you’ll need: 

Alterna Bamboo Volume 48 Hour Sustainable Volume Spray, $25. Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray, $5.49. Batiste Hint of Color Dry Shampoo, $8.99. Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, $6.19. L’Oreal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented Hairspray, $14.99.

Wigo Color Teasing Boar Bristle Brush, $3.99. Tangle Teezer, $15.

  

Conair Infiniti Curling Wand Styler, $19.99.


   

To begin, I take my Alterna Bamboo 48 Hour Sustainable Volume Spray and distribute the product evenly through my hair. I like to do this step when my hair is still damp from washing so I can blow dry for extra volume. 

     
Once my hair is dry, I spray the Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray from root to tip to prevent any damage from heat styling. Then I brush through my hair with the Tangle Teezer to get rid of any knots. Now that you’ve completed this step, your hair (only if it’s straight, like mine) should look something like this…


    
To begin curling, I section my hair into thirds and start with the lower third section. I could best describe this as my hair that’s beneath the bottom of my ear. Next, I take my curling wand and begin on my left side. When working on this side, I curl all of the pieces in the same direction and away from my face. I personally like the hair to face outwards, rather than inwards, but feel free to curl in the direction you most prefer. I repeat this step on the right side and obviously switch up the direction in order to continue curling away from my face. Lately I have been leaving out an inch of hair at the end of my curl to make my hair look longer and also give an overall beachy, undone vibe to my look. 

   
Next, I repeat the curling steps on the middle third section and the upper third section of my hair. It is tempting to not brush out your curls at this step, but try to let them set for at least 10 minutes to ensure longevity in your style. Once cooled, I take my Tangle Teezer and gently brush out the tight curls. 

    
Lastly, I tease the top of my hair with my Wigo Color Teasing Boar Bristle Brush. A step I like to do to give my hair more volume is to use Batiste Hint of Color Dry Shampoo and spray directly at the teased roots. I then use my Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray all over my hair and scrunch it in. This will provide great texture if you have straight and thin hair, like me!

After the sea salt spray has set, I use my L’Oreal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented Hairspray to lock in the whole look. This hairspray is amazing! If you do not enjoy the crunchy look of hairspray, you will really enjoy this particular formula. Just make sure to get the unscented because the original one smells terrible! 

Yay for the final product!

My Favorite ColourPop Eyeshadows

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If you haven’t heard already, there’s an incredible, affordable, online beauty company called ColourPop! They are quickly growing to become one of my favorite brands because of their weirdly reasonable prices. ColourPop has constant new product releases that feature very high quality eyeshadows, eyeliners, blushes, bronzers, highlights and lipsticks!

I decided to share my favorite eyeshadows with you because I think they are universally flattering shades and would look great for any natural or glam look! Also they’re only $5 so…you need them. 

On The Rocks, Nillionaire, Blaze, Game Face, KathleenLights, Get Lucky, Amaze, Lovely, Supermodel. Each eyeshadow is only $5!

 
     

Their eyeshadows come in a range of shades. You can find both neutral and bright colors that come in a variety of finishes. On their website, ColourPop categorizes their eyeshadows as either Glitter, Sheer, Satin, Matte, Metallic, Ultra-Metalic, Pearlized and Pressed Pigment. My personal favorite finishes are Metallic and Pearlized because they sparkle and bring attention to the eye area. They aren’t as “in-your-face” as a typical glitter pigment, but do give a more unique, noticeable glow to your lids. You can also shop by shade if you have a general color family you enjoy sticking to.  The texture of these eyeshadows are extremely unique, I can best describe them as a very mousey, cream-to-powder formula. It is also important to close the lids on all ColourPop products very tightly because if they dry out, they will lose their smooth texture and pigmentation. When applying these eyeshadows, I recommend using a primer underneath to reach maximum color payoff and longevity. My favorite is the Urban Decay Primer in the shade Eden. Also they do apply more smoothly and pigmented by using a light patting motion with your finger, rather than a standard eyeshadow brush. 

With flash and individual shade names!

     

There are so many good things I could say about these eyeshadows! I get so many compliments whenever I wear them and wanted to share the colors I think you need to build your collection! Based on the shades chosen, I’m sure you can see I enjoy warm-toned neutral colors. However, there are plenty of beautiful, cool-toned eyeshadows to choose from too. Let me know if you decide to purchase any of these shadows and which shades you picked! Also if you want to see more reviews on other ColourPop products, leave a comment below and I will put them to the test!  

For this look, I used Supermodel on the inner corner, with Lovely all over the lid. I then blended KathleenLights on the middle part of my lid. For the outer crease, I blended On The Rocks and made sure the colors faded seamlessly together.

Kylie Jenner Lip Trend On Any Budget 

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Lipstick can completely transform a makeup look. Recently, mauve toned lip products have become the new neutral. I’ve seen these colors paired with both dramatic and natural eye looks. Even if you are annoyed by Kylie Jenner, you can’t deny her makeup always looks amazing. I wanted to post about the mauve toned, matte lipsticks that have become significantly popular since she started wearing them. I have found some of the best formulas in this color range, both from the drug store and high-end beauty retailers. Although they’re not the exact duplicates of what she wears, I do believe they’re extremely similar. I did include some glossier, more sheer options for those who want to achieve the same sort of rosy-brown effect, but do not enjoy the drying formula of liquid lipsticks. I also added my favorite expensive and inexpensive lip liners to emphasize your pout. I suggest filling your lips entirely in with the liner so you don’t have harsh lines or patchiness when any lip product you put over it starts to wear off!

I love each of these lip liners so much! They are basically all the exact same color and only differ in formulation. The Jordana lip liner is great for the price, but doesn’t last more than a couple hours. The Revlon actually does live up to its “Colorstay” name and wears really well throughout the day. My favorite liner in the bunch is the Makeup Forever because although it is the most expensive, it lasts throughout the entire day and never fades or transfers. Lastly, I had to include M.A.C’s infamous “Whirl” lip liner. When interviewed about her lips, Kylie Jenner mentioned this was her favorite. I do like the color of this product, but I personally prefer a creamier formula and this is a bit dry. 

Jordana Easyliner for Lips Retractable Pencil, Tawny, $1.99. Revlon Colorstay Lipliner, Mauve, $7.59. Makeup Forever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil, 3C, $19. M.A.C Lip Pencil, Whirl, $16.50.


       

On to drugstore lip options! I am so obsessed with ColourPop lip products. Their Lippie Stix and Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks allow you to stay on trend with makeup without spending a lot of money. “Oh Snap” is a great rosy nude shade and does not dry out your lips even though it’s matte. “Midi” is a neutral, dusty pink shade that would compliment light to medium skin tones. Whenever I get really tan, I find that this shade is just too light for me. “Trap” is a really unique, cool toned mauve that has a hint of gray mixed in. This is a really beautiful color that I always get compliments on when wearing. My favorite out of the bunch, is the NYX Lip Cream in “Sable.” It is seriously so good. The formula is creamy, but dries matte on the lips. It is a perfect warm-nude shade that compliments any makeup look. I love wearing this color with a simple eye look since it’s basically the color of my natural lips. If you like hydrating lipsticks that are more sheer in opacity, I think you will really enjoy NYX Butter Lipstick in Pops. This is more of a pink color that is flattering on any skin tone. The formula literally feels like butter on your lips and hydrates the same as a Chapstick. Conversely, if you enjoy the ultra matte look of liquid lipsticks, I think you would enjoy the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. They are a moussey texture that dries down extremely matte. I personally can only wear this formula with a lip primer or Chapstick underneath. The shade “Stockholm” is very nude, but has enough brown undertones to make it wearable. 

ColourPop Matte Lippie Stix, Oh Snap, $5. ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip, Midi, $6. ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip, Trap, $6. NYX Simply Nude Lip Cream, Sable, $6.50. NYX Butter Lipstick, Pops, $5.99. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, Stockholm, $5.99.


Here are my favorites from high end brands at Sephora and Ulta! First the Sephora Cream Lip Stain is incredible. The formula is light and moussey and dries to a soft, matte finish. I enjoy this particular liquid lipstick because it stains your lips. After eating or drinking, which naturally wears your lip product off, this color will still remain visible! Next is the Ciate Liquid Velvet lipstick. I do enjoy this formula because it doesn’t transfer and dries almost immediately after application! However, it is extremely drying and will emphasize any cracks on your lips. Onto the cult favorite, Kat Von D liquid lipstick in Lolita. If you’re interested in this shade, you have to act fast and purchase when you see it in stock at Sephora. It is constantly sold out because it is just that good. I have gone through an entire full sized tube of this product because I find it suits my skin tone so well! It will last up to 5 hours on my lips, which is impressive! The Lorac lipstick is great too. I think the undertones in this product are natural and beautiful. It is also in twist-up packaging that makes it convenient for on-the-go application! I decided to include the Nars Lipstick in “Dolce Vita” because it is my favorite lipstick, ever. I find that this color is sheer, but not overly glossy. It is long lasting and also moisturizes your lips as you wear it throughout the day. The Kat Von D lipstick in Lolita is totally different than the liquid lipstick version. Although it is a matte formula, it still is smooth on your lips. The color is also really different as you can see in the swatches below. The lipstick version has more of a warm, terracota undertone. I find this is more wearable on a day-to-day basis than the liquid lipstick version because it is lighter in color and doesn’t have the dramatic look of a completely opaque formula. 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Lip Stain, #13, $14. Ciate London Liquid Velvet – Moisturizing Matte Liquid Lipstick, Pin Up, $19. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, Lolita, $20. Lorac Pro Matte Lip Color, Pink Taupe, $18. NARS Audacious Lip Stick, Dolce Vita, $32. Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lip Stick, Lolita, $21.

 

I really hope that by this point, you have compiled a shopping list of new lipsticks to try out! Thanks for reading! 

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea: “Drink Of H2O Hydrating Boost” and “Aquacealer” Review

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I’ve always loved the brand Tarte. Their beauty products are created with all-natural, dermatologist tested ingredients. They exclude popular cosmetic toxins from their formulas, specifically parabens and phthalates, which I greatly appreciate. Their products are highly pigmented and long lasting, which is rare to find in an all-natural beauty brand. Basically, you can feel good about what you’re putting on your face whenever you use Tarte. With this said, they’ve been one of my favorite brands for years and I’m always drawn to their newly released products.      

Recently, they have launched their “Rainforest of the Sea” collection that claims to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines through their proprietary blend of algae and marine flower. Other natural ingredients promoted throughout this line are coconut for hydration and cucumber for calming and smoothing. You can imagine my excitement to test out these products. I love makeup in general, but I really love makeup that incorporates skin care benefits into their formulation. You can find this limited edition collection exclusively at Tarte and Sephora. 

 I decided to only test out the two products I was most drawn to in the “Rainforest of the Sea” collection. Spoiler alert: I could not be more impressed with the way they performed on my skin! 

 

I love the blue and purple packaging for this collection!


                                                                             
My first impression of the hydrating boost is I LOVE IT! Perfect for moisturizing and priming all in one step. This product went on with a smooth, gel-like consistency. I felt a noticeable cooling effect on my skin too. Once I let this sink into my skin and dry a bit, I was able to effortlessly blend in my foundation. I believe this product contributed to the longevity of my makeup and also hydrated my skin throughout the day!

TARTE Rainforest of the Sea Drink Of H2O Hydrating Boost , $39

 

I had very high hopes for the concealer in this collection because of the hydrating properties in the “Rainforest of the Sea” blend. My under eye area not only suffers from dark circles, but also fine lines and dryness.       

TARTE Rainforest of the Sea Aquacealer Concealer, $26

I decided to lay my Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector underneath my eyes first, to completely cancel out the blue tones in my dark circles. This way I could apply a lighter layer of the Aquacealer concealer over top and prevent product build up, which causes creasing! A tip for blending out fine lines is to look up, take your damp beauty blender and blend back and forth over the concealer, then dip your beauty blender in loose translucent powder and tap in those areas! Then when you look down, you’ll see completely set under eyes that are bright and crease-free! 

I am using the shade Light-Medium. I like to choose a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than my skin tone for a brightening effect.

After testing these products out for a couple weeks, I believe they really work in the ways they claim to. The moisturizing boost definitely calms and hydrates my skin. It primes really well and the rest of my makeup lays beautifully on top. I noticed this product did extend the longevity of my face makeup! 

The Aquacealer concealer is my new favorite! It is such a light, almost watery formula; it feels like you’re not even wearing concealer! It doesn’t crease and the color will not fade throughout the day! I unfortunately would not recommend this product to someone with oily skin because I think it could look patchy if added moisture began breaking through. If you have combination, normal or dry skin, I think you would really enjoy this product. This is going to be the perfect Summer makeup item because it’s not heavy and you won’t have to worry about it melting off! 

    

 I hope you enjoyed this review, let me know other products you would like for me to try out! Thanks for reading!