Tag: makeupfavorites

November Favorites!

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I really can’t believe that it’s December 1st! The month of November flew by, but luckily I was able to try out some incredible products that I can confidently call “my favorites”! I gathered up my top makeup, skincare, and haircare picks and luckily, most everything is on sale right now! I’m talking discounts up to 30% off! I linked everything for you, so you can be directly taken to the product’s site!

Briogeo “B. Well organic + cold-pressed 100% castor oil” | $26

If you purchase one thing from this blog post, let it be this! The Briogeo “B. Well organic + cold-pressed 100% castor oil” will literally grow and condition your eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair! You can even apply a drop of this to severely dry skin for instant relief! I’ve also used this on my cuticles for my at-home manicures. I just love multi-use products! Whenever I’m asked what mascara I use, I always mention that I apply this castor oil on my lashes nightly. I really think it makes all the difference! I place a drop on a disposable mascara wand or q-tip and gently brush through my lashes from root to tip. I do the same with my eyebrows, but sometimes use a little bit more product than my eyelashes, to make sure they’re really conditioned. You can even massage some into your hairline if you’ve noticed thinning or breakage. I think it’s super important to mention that all castor oils are not created equally! This one Is an organic and fair trade certified castor oil from India. It is naturally cold-pressed, which means that it contains the highest amount of nutrients and trace minerals that were originally present in the seed after it has been picked. It is less processed, which means it is more powerful and you’ll see the results quickly! I cannot recommend this enough!

Clinique “Pop Splash Lip Gloss + Hydration” | $19.50 | 04 Latte Pop

These may be my new favorite lip glosses! Such a silky, non-sticky formula that have great pigmentation! They leave a super shiny finish on your lips. These are just as hydrating as a chapstick or lip balm too. I’ve really been on a hunt for clean beauty products that are just as good, or better than their non-clean competition. These have no Parabens or Phthalates. These are also fragrance-free, which is a plus if you have sensitive skin. These lip glosses earned an “Allure Best of Beauty” award and I can definitely see why! They have such a range of shades, from nudes, pinks, to bold colors! I have mine in “04 Latte Pop,” which is the perfect rose/brown nude color for medium skin tones! I really want to try “06 Adore U” and “17 Spritz Pop” next!

Stila “Suede Shade Liquid Eyeshadow”| $24 | Midnight Espresso

I’ve been loving matte shadows recently and this Stila Suede Shade Liquid Eyeshadow in the shade “Midnight Espresso” creates such a beautiful, monochromatic eye look so easily! You can quickly build these up to get a multi-dimensional matte finish on your eyes. One layer all over creates a diffused wash of color, but you can easily apply a second layer to the lid to get a smokey eye. Even though this finish is definitely matte, they aren’t flat or boring looking! These are gorgeous worn alone, but you can also pair them with Stila’s glitter or shimmer eyeshadows (which I absolutely love!) These liquid shadows are long wearing, light weight, and hydrating on the eye lids! I’ve only tried the dark brown color, but I have my eye on the stunning matte mauve shade!

First Aid Beauty “KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHA” | $26

I know I can’t be the only one that has those annoying tiny bumps on my arms! It’s called “Keratosis pilaris” and is described as “A condition that causes rough patches and small, acne-like bumps on the skin. This condition develops when the skin produces too much of a protein called keratin, which can block hair follicles and cause bumps to develop.” For me personally, I’ve dealt with it my entire life. I’ve never found a product that effectively removes the bumps and keeps my arms clear, until now! This body scrub has chemical and physical exfoliators that remove the annoying irritation! It is definitely fast-acting, but you have to continue using it every 3-4 days to keep your skin from flaring up again! This product has all of the exfoliating benefits of a micro-dermabrasion, and uses Glycolic and Lactic Acids to chemically exfoliate your skin. This is another clean beauty product, and is allergy tested, safe for sensitive skin, and fragrance free. This product has really improved my confidence because I no longer have any insecurity when it comes to showing my arms or having my husband touch them! It really is a life changing product that I’ll continue to repurchase!

Briogeo “Don’t Despair, Repair!™ honey moisture deep conditioning mask” | $36

I’m not going to lie, the adorable honey bear packaging is what influenced me to buy this! Trust me that the product inside is equally as amazing though! I’ve used this hair mask a few times a week during the month of November and I’ve noticed a significant difference in the health of my hair. Everything looks so much more smooth and hydrated, my split ends are gone, and it has actually helped my hair continue to grow long! I really wish this wasn’t limited edition because I like it more than their original version! This one is super creamy and smells like honey! It is actually created with organic, unpasteurized honey! I use this directly after I shampoo my hair. I apply it to all of my hair, just avoiding my roots and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it out. I seriously notice a huge difference every time I use it and already purchased a back-up! I have thin, fine hair that is pin straight and it doesn’t weigh it down! Miracle hair treatment!

Smashbox “Studio Skin Full Coverage 24 Hour Foundation” | $36

This is my new holy grail, full coverage foundation! I have dry skin in these Winter months and this never clings to any dry patches or You need the smallest amount to cover your entire face, so I’m pretty sure this tube is going to last me until Summer. I love that its practically weightless too. It doesn’t feel heavy, or settle into any of my fine lines or wrinkles. My foundation usually creases into my smile lines and this is one of the only ones that doesn’t at all! I apply it with a damp beauty blender, which really helps to sheer out the formula and evenly distribute the foundation. I do set this with a translucent powder to ensure that it doesn’t fade or transfer throughout the day. The color match is perfection, which can sometimes be difficult for me since I have neutral olive undertones like me!

As always, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read this blog post. I love writing monthly favorites and getting the chance to share these all star products with you! I would love to know what your favorites are this month, so please leave me a comment so I can try them next. Have a wonderful Sunday night and great rest of the week! Love you!

Huda Beauty “Nude Obsessions” Eyeshadow Palette | First Impression Review and Swatches

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Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow PaletteHuda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette

I am so excited to bring you a full first impression review, swatches, and wear test on 2 of the new Huda Beauty “Nude Obsessions” eyeshadow palettes! I chose the Nude Light and Nude Medium versions because honestly, the Nude Rich had too many red-toned shades and sometimes my eyes can get really sensitive to that specific pigment in shadows. I can do mauves and even rose pink colors, but straight burgundy’s and brick reds can cause irritation on my eyelids from repetitive use. I also love the mix of lavender/cool tones in the light palette and the warm, gold colors in the medium one. It’s awesome the Huda did come out with 3 options for everyone to select what fits their needs/skin tone/preference best!

Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow PaletteHuda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette

These palettes feature 9 eyeshadows, varying in texture and finish. Upon first swatches, the mattes are super rich and soft to the touch, the shimmer shades are ultra metallic, and the glitters are very smooth and pigmented! At $29 each, I do find these to be a great value and definitely worth the price point. I picked both of these up at Sephora. Their faux crocodile packaging is really eye catching, but not over the top. Although these are small in size, I wouldn’t suggest traveling with them because of their soft formulation. You may discover some broken shadows if you have experience a bumpy ride!

Huda Beauty Nude Light Eyeshadow PaletteHuda Beauty Nude Light Eyeshadow Palette
Huda Beauty Nude Light Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Nude Light Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Nude Light Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Nude Light Eyeshadow Palette

My first set of swatches belong to the Nude Light palette. This was the first one that really caught my eye because I don’t have anything else like it. All of these swatched so evenly. When applied with a brush, there was some fall out from the shadows. Because they’re so finely milled and soft, I did expect this from the beginning. I personally don’t have an issue with it, but thought it was important to share. The standout shade for me was the shimmering lilac with gold sparkle in the center row, all the way to the right. I wanted to incorporate my entire eye look around that shade because it’s such a fun pop! Purple is one of the few “bold” eyeshadow colors that I actually feel comfortable wearing during the daytime. Blues and greens can sometimes feel a little foreign for work makeup, but I always feel like “myself” in purple tones. I wore this shadow for about 8 hours until I noticed that some of the shimmer did transfer from my lid to my crease. I did wear my NARS eyeshadow primer underneath and usually shadows do hold pretty well with that as a base. I was surprised to notice that this transferred, but it wasn’t anything to significantly sway my favorable opinion of this palette. I love the matte formula a lot! Each shade I tried blended so well, with zero patchiness or uneven pigment. The shimmers were stunning too, but I feel like it’s a lot more rare to find good mattes in these multi-finish palettes. This is my first time trying Huda’s shadows and I was so impressed with her formulation!

Huda Beauty Nude Medium Eyeshadow PaletteHuda Beauty Nude Medium Eyeshadow Palette
Huda Beauty Nude Medium Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Nude Medium Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Nude Medium Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Nude Medium Eyeshadow Palette

The Medium Nude palette was equally as impressive. I was impressed that there was proven consistency spanning from palette to palette. I absolutely LOVE the look I created with this one. I don’t know if it’s because it’s suited for medium skin tones and these shades are naturally more complimentary to me; or if it’s because this is my most used (hence most comfortable) arrangement of color for my every day eye looks. I’m just very drawn to this color story! The only downside to this palette (for me personally) is that there isn’t a matte light highlight shade for underneath the brow bone. That is the only thing that could’ve made this palette a home run for me. I think this one features really thoughtful depth, so you can differentiate shades on your lid even after you’ve blended them. I’ve noticed that more and more brands are creating palettes with colors that are practically duplicates of one other. Then once you have them blended out, you can’t even tell which one you used! I think that’s such a cheap marketing ploy to sell large palettes that are a “better value” when practically half of the shades are nearly the same as the one next to it in the palette. I can tell that all 3 of these palettes were strategically curated and I really appreciate that! These shades wore just as great as the ones I tried in the Light palette. They stay pigmented and vibrant for 10 hours until slightly noticeable fading began.

If you are a neutrals girl and want to add another high quality palette to your collection, then I would definitely recommend the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions eyeshadow palette to you! For me personally, I didn’t need another eyeshadow palette (or 2…to be exact) but I really wanted to test these for you and get my honest review out there for readers to make an educated buying decision. I’m so happy these worked out for me and I definitely want to try some other products from Huda! I have a sample sized lipliner and lip strobe from the line, but that’s it! Let me know if you enjoy these first impression reviews. I really like writing my initial thoughts on a product as soon as I’m finished testing, so these are really fun for me to write! Which palette did you prefer more? I don’t think I can pick one! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day and look forward to more reviews coming from yours truly! Thank you for reading!

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Favorite ColourPop Lip Products!

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I think it’s safe-to-say that ColourPop is blowing up! Not only are they sold on their website and Sephora, but as of today, they are now being sold at Ulta! They are one of my favorite affordable makeup brands because the quality is SO good. Everything that I have ever tried is so pigmented and beautiful! The two lip formulas that I love most are the Ultra Satin and Ultra Glossy Lips. I wanted to show you my favorite shades if you were thinking of purchasing something from one of their three retailers!

Ultra Satin Lips

These are described on ColourPop’s website as, “High pigmentation and a satin-matte finish in liquid lipstick form to keep your lips soft and comfy all day long.” I would definitely agree that they have a comfortable, satin finish that lasts for 4-5 hours, which is very impressive for me! The only downside is that because they aren’t completely matte, they can transfer if you apply too much or skip lip liner. I prefer this formula over their Ultra Matte Lips because these don’t settle into lines or overly dry out the lips. I would highly recommend these to anyone who enjoys the precision of applying a liquid lipstick, but wants more of a hydrating feeling in the formula! There are so many beautiful colors to choose from and at only $6.50, you can afford to buy more than one!

Rever

This is about to be my most worn shade of Summer 2018! It is an orange-red shade that is super vibrant and neon on the lips. I was a bit nervous for this color, just because it isn’t the most wearable, but it surprisingly looks really normal on! I am so excited to pair it with a bronze shadow and peach blush during the warmer months!

Magic Wand

I love this light, pink nude for my every day makeup routine! This is the only lipstick that has the print completely worn off of the packaging! I find that it goes with everything, whether I am doing something natural or more dramatic. I can always trust that it is going to look good! I can pull this off without a lip liner when I am my natural, medium skin tone, but whenever I am self-tanned, I do need to line my lips with a pencil 2-3 shades darker for definition!

Calypso

Remember when everyone wanted the iconic “Kylie Jenner” mauve lip color? This is the closest I have ever come to finding that insanely popular hue. It is described as a mid-tone pink, but I would also add that it has violet undertones. Depending on your skin tone, I could see it pulling either purple or pink; either way, it is going to be stunning!

Frick N’ Frack 

This is such a beautiful rosy, plum color! Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about the tone of this lipstick that makes my brown eyes stand out! This is one of my favorite “date night” shades because it instantly makes my entire makeup appear more dramatic!

Dreamy

I am going to have this peachy pink shade on repeat all Spring! This is such a fresh, bright color that is very wearable. Sometimes I stray away from pink lip colors because they can look a little unnatural and stark on my olive skin tone, but there is enough warmth from the peachiness within the shade, that it looks really pretty! I do pair this with a nude lip liner underneath to give my lips additional definition!

Ultra Glossy Lips

I am so picky with my lip gloss formulas and at only $6 a piece, these are some of the best I have found within an affordable price range! You cannot beat the pigmentation, silky texture and on-trend shades! ColourPop describes these as, “High shine gloss with just a hint of colour in a moisturizing and non-sticky, comfortable formula.” I completely agree! I have tried both the cream and glitter finish colors and they’re all so beautiful!

Fairy Floss

I love wearing this pale nude gloss over a lip liner to give my lips a really full and hydrated appearance! It is pretty sheer, but it is extremely shiny, with no stickiness! If you like clear glosses, then I would definitely pick this one up to wear over your favorite lip liner!

Finders Keepers

This is my favorite mauve lip gloss ever! I think the color is so stunning on my medium skin tone! It is so creamy and gives such a healthy, shiny look to my lips! I think I am going to wear this all the time in the Spring months for a fresh makeup look!

Moon Child

This is the only ColourPop gloss that I own with glitter in the formula and it is SO good! You cannot feel any of the sparkles (one of my biggest pet peeves) and the formula is so silky! It is a beautiful nude pink, with finely-milled gold glitter throughout! I have worn this over light and dark lipstick shades and it goes with everything!

Thank you so much for reading this post! I am definitely going to get back into my routine of posting weekly. I miss writing so much and I have so many exciting ideas to share with you! As always, I would love to know if there is anything specific that you would like me to review! I also wanted to remind any readers that enjoy my content to follow me on Instagram! I am constantly posting new products and mini reviews! It gives me such a great forum to talk with you instantly and answer any of your questions through DM! Have a great week!

How to Look Well-Rested with Brighter and Wider Eyes!

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Do you have dark circles, puffy eyes or just a sleepy looking appearance after repeatedly hitting snooze on your seven alarms? Because same. I developed a routine to de-puff and give a highlighted, lifted appearance to my under eye area, while also brightening and widening my eyes! Keep reading to see the list of products I use and the ways I apply them to look more awake!

I always wake up with puffy eyes and the Clinique “Pep-Start” Eye Cream is my go-to for hydrating and brightening! I love it for so many reasons. I’ve struggled with finding the perfect formula to lightly moisturize my under eyes before I apply concealer. Whenever eye creams are too heavy, it will cause whatever you put on top of it to look heavy and crease. This one is so lightweight, while also being hydrating, so it’s the perfect formula for A.M. application! It is cooling to the touch, which helps with de-puffing as well! I’ve also noticed that this doesn’t give me those small white bumps, which sometimes can happen with different eye creams that I’ve tried. I use a small, pea sized amount and tap it on with my ring finger since it applies the lightest amount of pressure! I wait about a minute for it to sink in and then I go onto the next step!

I’ve been using the Becca “Under Eye Brightening Corrector” for a couple years now and I can’t imagine this product not being in my daily routine! If you have stubborn dark circles that show through with even the most full coverage concealers, then you need to invest in a good corrector! This one is a peach color with light reflecting illuminators, which will counteract the blue tones in your dark circles. A little goes a long way with this product, plus it lasts all day long! I apply this with my damp beautyblender underneath my eye and in the inner corners.

After I’ve moisturized and corrected, I apply a full coverage concealer! I always purchase one that’s 1-2 shades lighter than my foundation to give a highlighted effect! My holy grail formula is the Tarte “Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer” (that’s a mouthful!) and it comes in 14 shades so you’re bound to find your perfect match! It is by far the most lightweight, full coverage formula that I’ve ever tried! It truly conceals acne, dark circles and redness so flawlessly! I always use this product with a damp beautyblender to help sheer it out slightly! If you’ve struggled with your concealer wearing off, then you NEED to try this one because it doesn’t fade during the day or look drying!

By this point, I’ve used so many creamy, liquid products underneath my eyes, that I have to set it with a powder to lock it all in and prevent any creasing! I always choose a yellow-toned, matte highlight powder to enhance the brightening effect I’m going for! Even if you have a different skin tone than me, I would still highly suggest checking out the NYX “Highlight Pro Singles” on Ulta.com! These aren’t sold in store, but I always stock up online! At only $5 a pan, they’re extremely affordable and there are 12 different shades to choose from. I was constantly buying the Anastasia highlight refills and then I discovered these, which are just as pigmented! The powder will also help smooth out any fine lines you may have, which is an added bonus!

Now that my under eyes are concealed and bright, I move onto making my eyes look big and awake! On a daily basis, I typically just apply my bronzer in my crease and take a shimmery shade all over the lid. Even when I’m rushing, I will never forget to highlight my inner corners with a shimmery, champagne eyeshadow! This makes the biggest difference in opening up your eyes and reflecting much needed light in an otherwise shadowy area! I love using this L’Oreal “Infallible Eyeshadow” in “Iced Latte” to brighten everything up! I take my pinky finger and dab the shadow on my inner corners, blending it outwards to seamlessly fade into my lid color.

I have round eyes, with a lot of lid space, so I always use eyeliner on the top lash line to help define and thicken the look of my eyelashes! Whenever I don’t put eyeliner in this area, I feel like my eyes look super tiny and tired. My favorite liners to use are the Kat Von D “Tattoo Liner” in “Trooper” for an ultra black, winged liner and I love the Marc Jacobs “Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner” in “(Earth)quake 41” for a smudged out, brown liner look! I also use the Marc Jacobs liner on my top waterline to further define that area, as well as smudged out on the outer corners of my lower lash line!

I’m pretty sure the best makeup secret to opening up your eyes and making you look awake is using a nude eyeliner in your lower waterline! The Tarte “Fake Awake Eye Highlight” is the most pigmented and long wearing one I’ve tried so far! I’ve repurchased it so many times because nothing compares! The nude color will neutralize any redness you have from having your eyes closed all night long. Using a light color in the lower waterline will help widen and brighten your eye. Back in the day, I would use a white eyeliner, but I’ve started to enjoy the more natural effect of a nude eyeliner now! If you haven’t tried this beauty hack yet, you really need to! It makes the biggest difference and I really can’t do my makeup without it!

Do you have any tips or tricks to getting a fresh and well-rested appearance when you’re really just a sleepy gal?! Let me know by leaving me a comment! I love learning new techniques from you guys! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you found this type of product review/routine helpful!

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“Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette” Review and Swatches!

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It’s sweater weather, so you need a warm eyeshadow palette to feel extra cozy! The “Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette” is a brand new, 12 shadow palette from one of my favorite makeup brands, Tarte Cosmetics! I really love wearing warm shades on my eyes and find them to look somewhat natural on a daily basis. Even though I love makeup and have so many different options, I get the most out of my warm-toned, natural eyeshadows! I was so drawn to this palette in particular because it has both matte and shimmer shades. I knew I could create multiple looks using this one product, making it perfect for getting ready in a rush or traveling!

I wanted to give you a break down on all of the shades and the way they apply! As you can see, the shadows swatch beautifully, but some of them require a little extra work to show up equally as pigmented on the eyes! There are 5 shimmer shades and 7 mattes and I am super pleased with that ratio! In my opinion, you need to have more matte shades so you can create depth in the crease. It’s also nice to highlight your brow bone with a matte light shade and also have a dark enough matte color to add a shadow liner or deepen the outer crease.

  • S’more – This is the perfect “all-over-the-lid” shade. I use this after I apply eye primer to set my eyelid and give an even base to the shades I blend overtop. This is the perfect brow bone highlight too! It’s a bright, matte beige color that will work for a lot of skin tones.
  • Sunrise – I wasn’t very impressed with this color when I swatched it, just because it seems so sheer! I’m happy to report that it looks a lot prettier when you apply it as an eyeshadow! It is a cream shade with a slight golden sheen. If you like to wear really natural colors, you would love this! I love putting this in my inner corners to help my eyes look more awake!
  • Sunset – This is such a perfect gold/bronze shade! It’s not packed with sparkles, so you don’t feel overly glittery when wearing this on a daily basis!
  • Crackle – This is actually such a unique eyeshadow! It is a true brown base, but also has gold flecks throughout! When blending this shade, some of the glitter falls out, so be warned! I think this is best applied in patting motions using your finger to prevent any fallout!
  • Cashmere – A creamy, matte peach shade! I love using this as a transitional shade in my crease! It will be perfect on “no-makeup makeup” days to lightly define!
  • Warmth – This is my favorite matte color in the whole palette! It’s a rusty, terracotta shade that is super pigmented! You need the smallest amount of this color to make a statement! It will instantly warm up any eyeshadow look! I think this is going to be so pretty blended all over the eye and paired with a dark lip for Fall!
  • Flame – By far one of the most metallic colors in the palette! You can apply it with a brush and it will definitely show up on your eyes, but this is another shade that works best with your fingers. It’s a bright copper color with gold shimmer throughout.
  • Cozy – I absolutely love this matte brick color. It’s super creamy and applies evenly on the lids. You do have to be careful when using this alone, either all over the eyelid or underneath your eye because it can make you look slightly sick haha! I think it’s best to add dimension on the outer edges and that’s how I’m personally planning on using it.
  • Candle – I’m so indifferent towards this color because it’s chunky and glittery, but looks so gorgeous on the eyes. I would describe it as a sparkly champagne shimmer! This is the most “high maintenance” color in the palette because you have to use a mixing medium, like M.A.C Fix Plus or the Too Faced Glitter Glue to make it work. You will have a ton of fallout if you try to apply this dry with a brush. It’s best to use your finger to pat it on and work in light layers because it can look uneven and patchy when trying to build it up!
  • Latte – This is my perfect crease shade! It’s one of the more neutral colors in the palette and will help add some variety to natural and more dramatic looks!
  • Simmer – My favorite shimmer shade in the entire palette! This is the most beautiful copper color! It has a gold shift and applies really well with a brush OR your fingertips! I can see this complimenting blue eyes so beautifully!
  • Fireside – This swatch doesn’t do this shade justice, it looks kind of patchy, but it’s really creamy and blendable on the eyes (which is what really matters)! This is a deep plum/brown that looks beautiful as a soft liner if you want to naturally define your lashline. Or you can use it right on the outer corners of your eye for extra drama!

Even though a few of these eyeshadows require a little more work than others, I think this palette is totally worth it! I’m so happy I purchased mine before it sells out and I can already tell that I’m going to use it all the time! You get 12 Amazonian Clay eyeshadows for $46! That’s a really good deal, making each shadow a little less than 4 bucks! They are all extremely pigmented and very creamy, they also smell like vanilla! I have sensitive skin and haven’t had any reaction to the scent or red pigments in these shadows, hooray! This would make an awesome gift for the holidays too! The only person I wouldn’t recommend this palette to, would be someone that hated warm toned eyeshadows because that’s literally all that is inside! Haha! What do you think of this Toasted Eyeshadow Palette? Do you own any of the other Tartelette palettes? If so, I would love to know how this one compares! Have a great week and thank you so much for reading!

Shop the Toasted Palette Here!

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September Favorites!

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I have been trying so many new things in September, but only a few items have stood out as absolute favorites! I love sharing the different things that I recommend to my family, friends and coworkers! My “monthly favorites” are the products that I know will work for a variety of skin types and people with different levels of experience with makeup. I try to include products that are great for everyday use because the majority of my life consists of work and activities that limit how glam I can be from 8 am – 5 pm (although I do wish I could wear glitter eyeshadow to weekly meetings).

Anastasia Beverly Hills, Brow Powder Duo – $23.00

I recently picked up this old favorite of mine that I haven’t used in years! The Anastasia brow powder duo is a two-shade product that helps fill in and shape the brows! This is the most natural way to define your eyebrows, so if you don’t like using a pencil or pomade, definitely try this out! The formula is so good, it will stay put and is completely smudge proof. You can build up this powder, so I recommend using different amounts of pressure to get the desired light-to-dark effect on your brows. With the lighter shade in the duo, gently fluff it with feather-like strokes into the front of your eyebrows. With the darker shade, use slightly more pressure and precisely shape your arch and tail. They have 11 shade options to choose from and I use the duo in “Ash Brown.” By using a powder, you will get a much softer and natural effect, while still looking like you put effort into your eyebrows!

China Glaze, Street Regal Collection – $7.50

If you know me, you know I have an obsession with blue nail polish. I have always loved royal blue shades, but I’ve noticed that so many of them chip within a day of wear. I know certain colors are more difficult to formulate than others, so maybe blue is one of the cursed ones! I finally found one that is a cream finish and lasts really well on my nails! The China Glaze “Street Regal Collection” is online only at Ulta.com. The blue polish is called, “Born To Rule.” They have some absolutely stunning Fall shades in the range and I would recommend checking them out online if you enjoy doing your nails at home! I have been pairing any polish with the CND Vinylux Weekly Topcoat and I think that also helps prolong the wear of the manicure!

L’Oreal, Infallible Pro Matte Liquid Lipstick – $9.99

This is by far the best liquid lipstick formula at the drugstore! The most standout feature for me is the longevity, this will stay on your lips without fading or transferring for hours…it lasted throughout an entire meal without budging! You actually have to use an oil-based makeup remover to get this stuff off! It’s matte, but not uncomfortably drying. I really love the applicator because it allows you to be super precise when filling in your lips and it distributes just the right amount of product. I have mine in the shade, “Stirred,” which is a vampy, burgundy color. Be warned that the colors are darker than what they appear in the tube! I’m super excited to try out some of the more wearable nude shades now that I know the formula is top-shelf status!

Kiehl’s, Midnight Recovery Eye – $37

My under eyes are such a problem area for me. I’ve tried a lot of different eye creams and never found “the one” or a formula that did everything it claimed to do. I have super sensitive skin, so most eye creams would actually burn my skin and give me a reaction with small white bumps. I have been testing the Bobbi Brown eye cream for awhile and it’s really good, it was actually my favorite for a few months. When I ran out of that one, I decided to try out the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye because 1. Sephora finally sells this brand 2. So many people rave about it being their holy grail eye cream 3. No parabens, mineral oil, fragrance, silicones 4. Affordable in comparison to other popular eye creams! This claims to help with dryness, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles. Since using it, I’ve noticed a significant difference in my dark circles, which is super exciting! I’ve noticed an increase in hydration and my fine lines seem to be fading! It’s absolutely a miracle product and I would highly recommend it if you’re like me and desperately trying to prevent any signs of premature aging!

Tarte, On the Prowl Tarteist PRO Magnetic Palette – $10

These magnetic palettes make life so much more convenient! You can pop in your single shadows, blushes, highlighters, powders, literally anything that you can de-pot and keep them in one little place! These are really ideal to keep your 3-4 essential products that you know you reach for every day. You don’t have to dig through your vanity or worry about misplacing anything, because you have it all in one compact place. I have a few different Z Palettes and although they’re nice, I really do prefer these Tarte magnetic palettes so much more! These come with a mirror and they’re more padded than the other ones I’ve tried in the past. I would definitely feel comfortable and confident that my powders wouldn’t break when traveling with the Tarte version. The camo print is so adorable and fun! They also have a leopard print and some limited edition holiday versions as well! Any product that helps keep me and my makeup collection somewhat organized is a winner!

That is all for my September Favorites! I love using all of these products and I feel like you would too! Let me know if you are also enjoying any of these beauty items! What were your favorites in September?! Please leave me a comment letting me know! I love talking to you guys and I feel like I get so many awesome product recommendations! I hope everyone has a great week!

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Shop the products here!

Anastasia Brow Powder

China Glaze Nail Polish

Loreal Liquid Lipstick

Kiehl’s Eye Cream

Tarte Magnetic Palette

August Favorites!

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Too Faced, Matte Chocolate Chip Palette, $26.

I have been loving matte eyeshadows for my quick and easy, every day makeup routine. This little palette has all of the shades you could possibly need for a simple look! There are 11 eyeshadows included and they are all super buttery and creamy. I love that the largest shade in “White Chocolate” is an all-over cream shade that you can use to set your entire eye lid or highlight the inner corners and brow bone with. I can tell I’ve almost hit pan on this one because I use it daily! It’s also the perfect size for travel. I would compare it to the size of my hand, extremely portable and compact. I love that there is variety in the shades, you have cool/warm tones and light/dark. Having such a seamless color range helps me easily create a “put-together” eye look in less than 5 minutes! Also it smells like cocoa so I’m instantly happier each time I use it! This is limited edition, but I found it in stock on the Too Faced website! I will link everything below!

Kat Von D, Shade & Light Face Contour Palette Refill, $14.

Am I the only one who always hits pan on the highlighting/brightening shades in the contour palette first? I can never get through an entire dark bronzing/shading color! I’m so happy Kat Von D started selling refills for the shades in her infamous contour kit. The Shade & Light Palette is my absolute favorite for powder contour and highlight. Her shades are so pigmented, creamy and long lasting! The yellow, “banana” color called, “Lyric” is my absolute favorite for brightening up my under eyes. Sometimes concealer isn’t enough and I need an extra oomph of light! Setting underneath my eyes with “Lyric” helps me look well-rested and more youthful, plus it won’t give you the heinous flashback in photos like some translucent powders can! Since the back of these refills are magnetic, I typically just pop it into a small Z Palette to store it. I would highly recommend these refills if you don’t feel like buying an entire contour palette, especially if you know you’re only going to use 1 or 2 shades! Save your money and only buy what you’ll actually use!

Essence, “Make Me Brow” Eyebrow Gel Mascara, $2.99.

I’ve recently been trying out more affordable products and this eyebrow gel is incredible for the price point! I have mine in the darkest shade, “Browny Brows 02” which brings me to the one and only con I have of this product, not enough shades! At Ulta, there are only 3 shades to choose from, Blondy, Soft Browny and Browny. If you compare to a high end eyebrow brand like Anastasia Beverly Hills, they have six different tinted brow mascaras compared to Essence’s three. I think it would helpful to add a black, light blonde and a red/auburn shade. Now onto all the reasons I love this product! The formula has tiny fibers that attach to your natural hairs and help to build up thickness. My eyebrows do have sparse areas, so running this product over helps fill in any spots in a natural way. It seriously lasts all day without fading or transferring too! It has a really strong hold, so if you like to brush your hairs straight up or lay them flat, you can rest assured that they will stay in that exact style all day long. I really can’t say enough great things about it! I have tried the Benefit Gimme Brow and this is an exact dupe (if not better) and a fraction of the price!

Bite Beauty, Prismatic Pearl Creme Lip Gloss, $22.

Metallic lips are on-trend for Fall 2017! I’ve been loving this lip gloss by Bite Beauty to give me a glittery effect. You can definitely use this product in different ways based on your personal preference. I find that if I wear it on its own and apply it just like a normal lip gloss, it can be a bit too foiled for my liking. Instead, I apply a matte lipstick first, then pat this gloss onto my lips using my ring finger. I mostly just focus it onto the center of my lips to help them appear fuller and more dimensional. These last for so long, which can be rare in glitter glosses. They are also not gritty at all! You can rub your lips together and not feel a single grain of sparkle! I have mine in the shade “Champagne Pearl” because I tend to wear warm nudes on an every day basis, but if you are into more bold lip colors, I would highly recommend checking out “Peacock Pearl.” I swatched the teal/blue shade in store and was blown away by its beauty! It has a green and red shimmer throughout and looked so fun and editorial!

NARS Lipstick, $28.

This is my favorite go-to lipstick! I have the shade “Dolce Vita” and it is a sheer nude pink color. I love this so much because it makes my lips look so healthy and hydrated! This is the type of lipstick that you can put on without a mirror since it’s super creamy and light. Although it does give color to the lips, it definitely is more on the sheer side, which I really like because I can feel comfortable wearing this product at work, on the weekends, day, night, really just any occasion! Even though it is a satin finish, I find that it still lasts on my lips for 2-4 hours, which is a perfect amount of time for me! I would highly recommend these lipsticks if you’re looking for something to wear daily! They have so many shades so you’re bound to find one you love!

Thank you for reading about the products that I’ve been loving for the month of August! As always, I want to know what you are obsessed with! Please leave me a comment letting me know! Also, how crazy is it that we’re already in September?! I think this year is flying by! Like this post if you’re excited for future Fall fashion and makeup content on my blog!

Shop these products:

Too Faced Eyeshadow Palette

Kat Von D Refill PowderEssence Eyebrow Gel

Bite Beauty Lip Gloss

NARS Lipstick

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Eyebrow Routine!

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Eyebrows are essential. I seriously fear leaving my house without having them done…they frame my face and compliment the makeup that I put on. I have naturally full eyebrows, but they're totally different shapes and heights…LOL isn't the saying, "eyebrows are sisters, not twins?" Well, mine are like two distant cousins that live on opposite sides of the country. I do have my good brow (right side) and I can always count on it remaining thick and fluffy, but also nicely arched. My ol' bad brow (left side) is quite a troublemaker and always makes me spend extra time trying to make it symmetrical.

I have used countless brow pencils, powders and pomades. After years of trial and error, I feel like I've finally found a combination that gives me the eyebrows that I love most; natural and bushy! I know what you're thinking, what about tweezing/waxing/threading?! I try to maintain some sort of an arch and pluck any stray hairs underneath the brow and in the middle, but I've stayed away from removing any hair above my eyebrow. It's helped me grow out the horribly over-plucked, sperm shaped mess that took years to undo (thank you, 8th grade) and it gives me more of an undone, natural effect. I love 80's supermodel eyebrows, think Brooke Shields and Cindy Crawford. These ladies brushed their hairs straight up and usually sprayed hairspray on their spoolie to keep them in tact. You definitely don't have to go for this look if you don't like it! It is totally fine if you prefer a more precise, clean brow, I think that look is so beautiful too! I've just had a lot of requests to post an eyebrow routine and I wanted to show you how I've been filling them in lately!

Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade, "Chocolate" and Anastasia #12 Angled Brush.


Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel, "Chocolate" and Givenchy Mister Brow Groom.

  1. These are just my all-natural eyebrows! Something for you to compare for a before and after! ☺️
  2. I always use my Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade. One little jar of this stuff lasts forever and it will never fade throughout the day. I find that it's just the easiest way for me to fill in my brows in a natural way. Using an angled brush, with a spoolie on the other end, also helps me get this done precisely and quickly! I first draw a line underneath the brow to get a defined shape. I always start on the bottom because you can just brush excess product upwards if you apply too much, it's incredibly harder to correct when you start from the top. I focus on emphasizing my arch and extending the tail of my eyebrow as well. With the spoolie side of my brush, I gently swipe any extra product into the hairs, making sure to cover any blank spots.
  3. Now I move onto the top. You can see that I've drawn a pretty harsh line to carve out my arch. This also helps me create additional symmetry and give an illusion that they're the same height.
  4. I've blended all of the lines into the eyebrow hair and brushed through everything a few times with the spoolie. It is so important during this entire routine to never put excess product towards the front of the brows. That's when things can get very unnatural looking! Instead, I take whatever is left on my brush at the very end of the sculpting process and gently fluff it through the front part to lightly shade it in.
  5. I used the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel to give some highlights and dimension to the hairs. It also helps warm them up a little and match my current hair color a bit more. I love this eyebrow gel on its own, but of course I'm extra and add another one in the mix.
  6. I applied some of my Givenchy Mister Brow Groom and used the applicator to brush upwards on my hairs. This is a clear gel, so it's totally fine if a little gets on your skin from brushing them straight. This product is so pricey, but if you have hairs that fall or get wild throughout the day, it may be worth it. This stuff is like superglue and I love fluffing the front section of my eyebrows with this product. It also helps separate each hair and will help you look like you just naturally have beautiful, bushy brows!

What is your must-have eyebrow product? Have you ever tried any hair growth products that helped you get thick, full brows? Let me know! The bushier, the better and I just want the type of eyebrows that could make Lily Collins envious! I really appreciate you checking out my blog and reading this post! Feel free to leave me suggestions on what I should write about next!

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Top 5 Makeup Products Under $10 for Summer| Collab With Beckoning Beauty!

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I am so excited to be sharing my first collaboration blog post with you! I teamed up with my sweet blogger friend, Becca or @BeckoningBeauty to show you my top 5 favorite drugstore makeup products for summer and they’re all under 10 dollars! Check out her post here to read her top 5 picks! She was one of the first subscribers I ever had and I have followed her from the beginning of her blog too! Her posts are so fun to read and she writes incredibly well. She has an amazing, aesthetically pleasing Instagram too; I highly recommend you check her out and follow her there as well @Beckoning.Beauty . I hope you enjoy reading about our favorite affordable makeup products to use during the summer!       


     

Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Foundation, “Golden Beige” – $5.99

      

Run, don’t walk for this new foundation. I cannot believe that this six dollar foundation is better than my higher-end products! I was immediately impressed at how seamlessly it blends into the skin, plus it has awesome medium coverage, which I love for the summer. It isn’t heavy or overly matte, but it maintains its coverage and only lets a minimal amount of shine come through. I have dry-to-normal skin and it works so well for me. I love the way this foundation looks in photos too, it gives you such a flawless finish without looking cakey and yay for no flashback! My favorite way to apply this product is with a damp beauty blender. I have tried it with a brush and it looks great with that too, but my preference is to use the beauty blender and give it a slightly dewy finish! The shade “Golden Beige” matches me perfectly, not too yellow or too pink! I cannot say enough great things about this foundation and I am so happy I decided to try it out! 

        

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer, “Sunny” – $3.62

       

The NYC “Smooth Skin” bronzer in the shade “Sunny” will turn you into a glowing summer goddess! The color of this bronzer is definitely warm, but somehow it doesn’t look orange or artificial on the skin. It blends out to a natural bronze shade with a mostly matte finish. There are some shimmers when you look at the product in the pan, but they blend away once you apply it to your face! I’m always super impressed with how evenly it buffs into the skin. If you are looking for a great bronzer from the drugstore to give you a sun kissed glow, I would highly recommend you try this one, you won’t be disappointed!

         

ColourPop Super Shock Highlighter, “Wisp” – $8

      

This is the best highlight that I have found for under $10 so far! If you are looking for a creamy, pigmented and basically blinding highlight, well look no further. ColourPop’s Super Shock Highlighter’s are one-of-a-kind and stand out in my entire makeup collection as some of the best on the market. This product will give you that “wet look” highlight, without accentuating any pores or texture. I love this product as an eye shadow as well! The shade “Wisp” is super complimentary for medium-to-deep skin tones since it is more of a golden-champagne glow. I also love the shades “Spoon” and “Lunch Money” and for only 8 bucks, you might as well try a couple out!

      

ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip, “Naked Ladies” – $6.00

      

So unfortunately this exact shade is discontinued because it was limited-edition, but I am sharing this product because of the formula! In the summertime, I want to wear matte lip products to help prevent annoying transferring or bleeding, however the dry weather can turn a regular liquid lipstick into an actual painful experience. These “Ultra Satin” formulas are creamy with a satin finish, but they are super pigmented and hardly transfer throughout their long wear time. These are highly pigmented, I would definitely describe them as bold lipsticks, but just with some added moisture! The most comparable shade that they have available is named “Cozy” and it is described on their website as an orange-red, which is perfect for warm weather!

       

Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palette, “Earthy Elements” – $8.97

      

Finding really good eyeshadow palettes from the drugstore can be a daunting task. I have noticed that it’s even more difficult to find really great matte shades within those palettes. I haven’t tried very many Milani eye products, so I was happily surprised at how great these turned out to be! I love the warm orange shades in this palette to create a bronze, smokey eye in the summertime! The matte colors in this palette are so creamy and pigmented, I couldn’t believe this product was under $10 because it definitely feels and performs more high-end than that price point. I would highly recommend these if you are looking for good matte eyeshadows from the drugstore. There are other neutral and more bold sets available as well, so I am sure you can find exactly what you are looking for to suit your preferences best! The “Earthy Elements” palette can give you the prettiest warm eyeshadow look, plus I think the colors look like a sunset, which of course reminds me of summer nights!


         

Thank you so much for reading my blog post tonight on my top 5 drugstore products under $10! I love wearing high-end makeup, but there is something so satisfying about finding that affordable hidden gem! I also want to thank the talented and supportive Becca, @BeckoningBeauty for collaborating with me on this post. She is such a sweetheart and I would love for you to read her post too! We both want to know the affordable makeup products that you are loving, so please leave me a comment below! Thank you again for reading!

      

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Classic Glam Beauty Favorites!

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I’m a big supporter of natural, glowing makeup looks, but every now and then I have to go full glam with a smokey eye and/or classic red lips! Over the years, I’ve tried so many different products, some have worked great and I feel very Marilyn Monroe-esk, and unfortunately, others have had a circus clown effect. I wanted to share with you my all-time favorites, especially since these products can often be a hit or miss!      


My favorite eye shadow palette to achieve a beautiful, smokey eye look is the Makeup Forever Artist Palette Volume 1 – Nudes! This palette retails for $44, but is an overall value of $136! Makeup Forever eyeshadows are some of the best on the market! I find that they’re super buttery and richly pigmented, plus they last forever on the eyes! The colors in this palette are perfect if you want to create that traditional silver-taupe-black gradient that we often see in classic smokey eyes. I like the versatility that comes with this palette, allowing you to choose a sultry, bronze glam or even a bright-eyed, white and gold look! I highly recommend getting this product if you enjoy the colors shown in my swatches! These eyeshadows are so beautiful and definitely worth the money, especially when you save so much purchasing in palette form! 

     


I love red lipstick, but let’s be real…it is a very high maintenance color to wear. It bleeds, it fades unevenly, you may even face the dreaded ‘transfer onto your teeth’ effect. The following products have great longevity, minimal transfer and come in a variety of finishes, so whether you like glossy or matte lips, I got you covered! My first red lip favorite is the Stila Stay All Day Gloss in, “Scarlet Vinyl.” It is a super shiny, very opaque formula that gives your lips a lacquered look. It’s very moisturizing, so you can rest assured your lips won’t flake off into little red bits. For a lip gloss, this formula is very long lasting and will not fade throughout the night! Continuing with the glossy lips, the NYX Butter glosses are my absolute favorite of all time! I highly recommend these in any color! The shade, “Cherry Pie” is a very sheer, but super pretty whenever you just want a hint of red. I love wearing this product during the day when I can’t commit to the upkeep of a pigmented lip. These glosses are so creamy and feel like a balm on your lips, trust me you’ll want them in every color! The Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in “Fiery” is a very matte, zero shine formula, which is beautiful if you want that retro red lip look. I love this shade in particular because it is more warm-toned, with a hint of orange, which I love for the summertime! This product wears for such a long time and will not transfer! The only downside is that it can feel a bit drying once you remove all your makeup, but try putting a Chapstick or lip primer underneath and you’ll be fine! The Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in “Rose Hip,” which is a vibrant red. These are my favorite matte lip products because they aren’t drying, but also aren’t shiny. These lip crayons have a perfect shape to outline and fill in your lips very precisely, which is important with a bold lip color! I own a few other colors in this range and I would highly recommend if you’re just starting out with makeup, they are fool-proof and come in so many beautiful shades! Lastly, I wanted to mention the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the color, “Red Square.” These are similar in shape to the Bite Beauty lip crayons, making the application process so ideal for lining the lips and then filling in! These feel creamy at first, but eventually set into a matte finish and become virtually transfer-proof! I always get compliments on this shade and I find it is very wearable because of the slight hint of brown in the formula, making it almost a brick-red color!

   


I also wanted to recommend some extra products that aren’t absolute must-haves, but they may be solutions to some problems you could be having with red lipstick! The M.A.C and ColourPop lip primers will help prep your lips by filling in fine lines and lightly moisturizing before application! Now that I own these products and love them, I can never wear a liquid lipstick or a matte formula without a primer underneath! These will prevent cracking and uneven fading as well! I also would advise you to line your lips before putting on red lipstick! The thought of lipstick bleeding outside the edges is cringe-worthy to say the least, but by laying down a liner first, you can help seal in those lip lines and guard the product from reaching your chin, upper lip, etc! You can of course line with a red lip liner, but sometimes that can be a little scary because if you mess up…it’s not always the easiest color to blend out! For beginners, try using a regular nude shade until you have mastered the desired shape you want the lip line to be! 

       


Black eyeliners and classic glamorous makeup go hand-in-hand for me! I wanted to mention my favorites since I also use these in my everyday makeup routine as well! The Stila Smudge Stick’s are the best eyeliners to blend out and create a smoldering effect! I have the black one shown in the photo, but I own a lot of the other shades as well and love to blend them on the upper and lower lash lines for a faded, yet defined effect! The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in the shade, “Trooper,” is a holy-grail makeup product in my collection! If you want to do winged eyeliner and find that your currently felt tip pen isn’t doing you justice, change to this immediately! It’s super precise and very black, plus it’ll last forever! The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in the shade, “Tuxedo” makes an amazing black base for your eyeshadows to lay on top of! If you really want your deeper, jewel-toned eyeshadows to pop, try layering them with a black eyeshadow base! These Caviar Sticks last so long on the eyelids and will not crease! The Tarte Tarteist Clay Paint Liner is liquid liner goals! This goes on so evenly pigmented and dark, I was so impressed the first time I tried it because I’ve always found other pot or liquid liners to be so dry or overly wet and messy, but this one is absolutely perfect! If you prefer drawing on your winged eyeliner with a brush, I would definitely recommend these Tarteist liners to you! 

    

Thank you for taking the time to read about my classic glam makeup favorites! Don’t feel compelled to wear a bold lip and a bold eye all at the same time, pick and choose different techniques from this post and make them your own! What are some of the products you grab whenever you want to create a timeless or retro makeup look? Let me know in the comments! 

    

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