March 28, 2016

March Favorites 2016

Warm and cozy was essentially the theme for this past month. March was pretty good.  I turned 24 and had a great birthday weekend with great people. But other than that, not much has happened and has been an "okay" month.  I have consumed more red wine this past month. Not sure how that happened...

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I was really trying for a no-buy in March since IMATS is coming up but, these products kinda slipped in. Here are my top 8 for the month of March. 


Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Palette: I'm considering this a March Favorite even though I've only used it for the past 4 days. Considering it came out around my birthday, it smells like peanut butter chocolate, and it's limited edition, I had to treat myself (treat yo self - Parks and Rec fans anyone?) The shadows are incredible and match with Too Faced's notoriety. It has the pigmentation and the shadows blend perfectly together without it looking "muddy". Plus the added peanut butter chocolate smell is just divine. Surprisingly, I actually loved the "Jelly" color more than I thought. It adds a great pop of color to the lower lash line. Overall, I love Too Faced in general but I love that they create these "dessert like" palettes for people, like myself, who are obsessed with food and perfected palettes with outstanding shadow performance. Well done Too Faced. 




e.l.f matte lip pencil in Praline: I have 2 lip colors that I've been going for this past month. This is 
for the matte, browny nude, color that has been on trend. I love how subtle this comes out on the lips but gives a little hint of the brown color. I find that these aren't too drying for a matte lipstick, but if you do feel that you need a little extra added moisture, I find that the burt's bees chapsticks work pretty well (been using up my pumpkin spice because again, food related smells are just what get me), Added bonus, this is $3 (why I love e.l.f as possibly my favorite drugstore brand) Definitely intrigued to try the other variety of colors they have.

swatches: left to right- fresh sugar balm in honey, e.l.f matte lip color in praline


fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey: (this is from the Bare Beauties duo set):  this is my lighter peach color but still has some brown undertone to it. I got this in a duo set which is essentially cheaper since you're buying 2 different colors for the price of one. It worked out so well because I torn between these 2 nude shades since I wanted to get one and appreciate so much that they put it in a limited edition duo set. These will be smaller deluxe sizes however I think these sample sets are worth it if you definitely want to treat your lips but also have a bit of tint. Sometimes it's just easier to only maintain a chapstick on certain days and this is when this comes in handy.






e.l.f Eyebrow pencil in neutral brown: I realized the importance of "having eyebrows" to a makeup look. Luckily, I don't need too much filling in with my eyebrows but if I ever do need it just to pull the whole look together, I will bring this out. This is perfect for those that don't need too much filling in and is forgiving when doing light strokes. This isn't going to be as thin as most eyebrow pencils but isn't so big that you can't fill it in. I wouldn't say this is ideal for shaping but instead best for those that just need a little fill in to define them just a bit. Also, it's $2....of course you can take my money.



Urban Decay Primer Potion: I have not tried the anti-aging one enough to give a full review, but the primer potion itself, my god. I can see why this has a huge cult following. I originally got a sample at Sephora since I never tried it. Your shadows will not move. Ever. I have slept with my shadows on my face (bad move on my part) and the color and placement of the shadows were still there in the morning. I was impressed and I kinda got addicted to this formulation. I know I lot of different brands make similar formulations to this one but I did stock up at Nordstorm Rack for the smaller travel size tubes for around $5 since the dofa applicator replaced the old packaging. Still even for the travel size, I think that's a great deal since you only need a little bit so I'm all set for the next couple of months.






Urban Decay Naked Concealer in Light Neutral: Another Urban Decay product yes, but this is worth mentioning. If you need serious covered for something that's going to stay on all day and is lightweight but looks natural, this is your concealer. I was a little iffy about this since the price tag just didn't seem reasonable for a concealer (again I suggest to wait until Sephora as their Beauty Insider sale probably around April). However, I'm impress with how little you have to use to get full and spread out covered which makes me consider that it's worth the money. If you have the chance to try this or get a sample, definitely give it a shot.









Bdellium tools Pink Bambu 944 Tapered Contour Brush: This brush I got last year from IMATS and haven't started using it until now. First for starters, The people at the Bdellium booth we're so nice and helpful with all of the products. Just for their customer service alone, I would go back. They had such a wide variety of brushes for already affordable brushes that we're also eco-friendly. To keep it short and sweet, this has become my favorite brush for finely milled highlighters. It picks up enough product but not too much and applies a glow that looks perfected. I've had no problems with shedding or a lose handle when I washed it (always hang it upside down since this is a bamboo handle and you don't want water getting into it). It's definitely a brand to check out if you're looking for new brushes that won't break the bank but still maintain a high quality. 


Maybelline Super Sizer Mascara: I finally understand. This is an addicting mascara. This is, as many people have said, holy grail mascara. This makes voluminous, false looking, lashes and I can't believe it's from the drugstore. This is the perfect layering mascara especially for those mascaras that just need that "extra help". It stays put for the whole day that the only down side to it is that it can be difficult to take off at the end of the night (*whips out the coconut oil*) Excellent product that I hope Maybelline will continue to keep in there collection. Definitely look out to get this on sale (when CVS or Walgreens does BOGO 50% off)  or maybe using one of Ulta's $3.50 off $10 coupons.



8 products overall for my first favorites post. Too much? 

How was March for you? And what we're some of your favorites from this past month? ♥




March 21, 2016

Favorite red lipsticks

Currently listening to old 2000 pop songs as I type this post. What a time for bad fashion but really catchy tunes that you had to sing with all your heart.

Anyway, tonight I share my favorite red lipsticks. I have a problem. I constantly feel like I need new red lipsticks in my collection because of the different finishes or undertones. Red lipstick is definitely not in everyone's comfort zone but I do believe there's a red color out there for everyone. I feel like I instantly have a boost of confidence with a red lip and a little more confidence to conquering the day. 

As I de-cluttered some makeup this week in preparation for imats, I've picked my top 6 red lipsticks that I always seem to go back to. I also wanted to de-clutter because..well... I'm probably just going to buy more red lipsticks at imats. Like I said, I have a problem. 


Those are my babies. Just perfection. It's a good mix of drugstore and high end but I personally think they are all worth it. 

Revlon lip butter in Red Velvet: Really bummed out because i think they discontinued this one which is disappointing because this is such a beautiful low maintenance deep blue based red. I loved wearing this for occasion when I had to look put together but I wanted the comfort of a lip balm and the pigmentation of a lipstick. So comfortable and easy to maintain. It also fades away gracefully during the day and leaves a nice natural red tint. Also this was my first lip butter from Revlon and I think the formulation on all of them are fantastic. I mean, you hear lip butter and how could you not want to put that on your lips. 

Sephora lip cream in 01 Always Red: This is hyped on the internet for a good reason. First, the price is $14 which is right in between high end and drugstore. This is everything you want in a matte liquid lipstick. It has the pigmentation of a true blue base, Hollywood classic, red, doesn't budge and is kiss proof! I can't tell you how many times I have put this lip color on and stared at the mirror just mesmerize by how flawless the application looked. I really would love to try their other colors (such as the deep purple of course). I think everyone should have this staple in their collection. 

NARS Audacious lipstick in Audrey: Ok so this was a splurge. However, if you have the opportunity to splurge (maybe during the Sephora's Beauty Insider coupon week that happens in April) get yourself this lipstick. Honestly any color will do because this lipstick is incredible. I'm obsessed with how this is a deep red with a berry/maroon undertone. I just feel like it's such a unique color. I was all about this color this past winter. Comfortable on the lips and pigmentation is all there. Also magnetic closure packaging. I'm a sucker for that. 

Maybelline creamy matte in Divine Wine: Don't let the color fool you online. This is a deep color with some maroon and slight brown undertones. But if you're feeling vampy, this color is perfect. It's comfortable on the lips but you will want to add a lip liner to this since it can be really easy to mess up such a pigmented and deep shade. I'm really impress with the formulation for how creamy it was for a matte and I definitely want to try more colors.

NARS velvet matte lip pencil in Cruella: Yup this was the birthday gift from Sephora last year!. I love this lip color for, of course the deep blue base red matte color but also for how multi-functional it is. You could wear this alone or use it as a liner. This pairs perfectly with the Sephora lip cream I mentioned earlier. It gives just a little bit of a deeper tone to the classic red that the lip cream gives off. Sometimes Sephora will have a deluxe size product available as a 100 point perk. But from what I heard, Sonia Kashuk's Velvety Matte lip crayon in 03 poppy nude might be a possible dupe for the NARS. I can't confirm on this since I don't own the Sonia Kashuk product but maybe that will be a future post? 

Burt's Bees lip crayon in Redwood Forest: YOU GUYS. I love all of the products I mentioned above. But this my be my favorite and I feel like it doesn't get talked about a lot on the internet. This runs about $9 but I'm so happy I got it. It's a brick red but it's soft enough where it doesn't look too striking so it's comfortable to wear during the day. You can also layer it up it get a more intense color. Although in the swatch below it appears shiny, it comes off mostly matte on the lips. This is so comfortable to wear during the day but you still look like you put yourself together. And because the red is not as striking but has a "little something" to it, I think it would be a great product for those who are trying to get into the red lipstick zone without being uncomfortable.

From top to bottom: Burt's Bees - NARS lip pencil - Maybelline - NARS audacious lipstick - Sephora lip cream - Revlon lip butter

So those are my favorites. What are your favorite reds or lipstick colors that give you confidence?

March 14, 2016

How to prepare for IMATS 101




Yes this is a post that doesn't relate to everyone, but if you're going to IMATS New York or any IMATS show this year, here are some pointers for your experience to be awesome. I mean it will already be great. but these tips make it a lot better.

Make a List:
        List are just great in general to make yourself feel like you got something together. Make a list of the booths you want to visit, what products you want to get, and where the booths are located in the venue. Another tip is to put down original prices and the discounted prices so you can space out your budget if you can. Best way to figure out the possible discounts is a bunch of youtube searching for current IMATS videos or even older ones just to get a general idea. If you really want to get wild, use colored pens to indicate the products you really want and others in black so that way if you have to spread out your budget and don't really need a certain product, you can pass up the item.

Creating a budget: 
      This is a tough one for me because when I went to IMATS for the first time with my best friend, I spent money like it was no one's business. But it should be my business because you can easily go overboard and realize that half of the stuff you bought you really didn't need or the discount wasn't that incredible. Pick a budget that you think is going to work for you. Right now for my current situation, I would like to stick to the $300-$350 range. Some people do $500. It all depends on what you feel right with. Do your research. See if certain products are worth the discount. For example. Tarte last year had their blushes for $10. They are normally $28. Like what? That's amazing yes please. But even though it's a great discount, don't go overboard! you wanna have enough money to get other products.

Be comfortable and prepare with other necessities:
        It's going to be a long day. Don't lie to yourself, you're not staying there for 4 hours. You're probably going to stay there the whole day because the whole event is so magical. Wear what you're going to be comfortable in. For me, sneakers or cute flat boots are the way to go. It's also the city so I just prefer something enclosed. Bring a decent sized bag as well so you can bring lunch and water instead of leaving the venue and missing time. Last year I brought some kick ass sandwiches and Emma and I sat in the morphe line for 2 hours eating our sandwiches. And just as important as the sandwiches, BRING MAKEUP WIPES. It's going to be a major swatch fest.

Shop Smartly: 
       When shopping try to stick to the list. Sometimes that can be difficult because you'll see something great that you didn't know they had before and it's just all down hill from there and you're brain says "what list??" But remember the key is that you don't want to go overboard. For Emma and I, it was overwhelming seeing all these incredible makeup brands that we felt like we needed to get everything. Meanwhile, in reality, half of our products that we bought from imats we didn't use. Another thing to make note of is to not repeat similar colors of similar products. So if you bought a lipstick from one booth and you find another one that looks similar but forgot about buying the other lipstick, you'll be wasting money on products that you could be spending on other stuff. And finally if you can, check to make sure the packaging of the products are intact. Emma bought a setting spray and it wasn't until we came home that we realized the sprayer didn't work properly. SO, that sucked..


Enjoy the experience, the people, and have fun:
      One of the reasons that I loved imats besides the discounts was the people. I loved that you're able to talk to someone in line and learn about the products they got and how they have the same passion for makeup as you do. How you watch all the makeup artists creating art right in front of you and in awe from their dedication. How sometimes these people come from different parts of the country to be there. How you're able to do a crazy eye look and no one will judge you but instead applaud you for doing it.To be confident and to do what makes you feel beautiful. I think that's the main reason I loved imats so much. I would say it's worth going at least once for that kind of experience.


March 7, 2016

Review: Conair True Glow Cleaning Skin Beauty Treatment

Good Evening! I have my review on the Conair True Glow Cleaning Skin Beauty Treatment to tell you if it's worth getting or something to pass up on. I've been using mine for about 3 months and developed some thoughts on the product.

For the start of the new year, I knew I wanted to take better care of my skin. As much as I wanted to get a Clarisonic since I heard positive results from others, I still couldn't justify the price it is to replace the heads every 3 months (about $27). So I discovered this neat brush from Conair which ranges from $48.99- $49.99 compared to the Clarisonic which is normally $99. The Conair brush heads also range from about $9.00-$15.00 which I think is much more reasonable than $27.



       However, I can not make a complete comparison review since I don't own the Clarisonic but I will say, I've been enjoying my Conair brush a lot. It comes with 3 different speeds (low, medium, and high). For the first month I started off on low to have my skin get use to the system and then I gradually moved up to medium. I've been using for my morning and night routine and I feel like I can't do my routine without it. I definitely have noticed that cleans more than just using my hands. It removes all makeup and dirt even the stuff that's not visibly there and my face feels incredibly clean. Lately I've been using the brush with the Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser and it has work out so well for my breakouts. Something about going to bed with a face that I know is fully cleaned helps me feel like I have somewhat of my life together.

You do get 2 different brush heads with the original purchase; a sensitive brush and a regular brush. You also get a charging dock as well.

Some pointers though if you do get this. When using the device, it beeps every 10 seconds to let to know to move to the next portion of your face. The beep is decently loud so that's my only complaint about the device.

Another tip is to the clean the brush head with something other than a cleanser that was used on your face. Even though these products recommend changing the brush head every 3 months, I started to notice I was breaking out again after a month and a half. I did some research and started to clean it twice a week with a clear shampoo and the brush was good to go. If you're curious the shampoo I use it's the Vita Berry Shampoo I received from a Memebox a while back. It smells like candied strawberries and gets the job done to clean the brush.

Final verdict, I think this is worth the money to purchase if you're looking to add a beneficial component to your skin care routine. I noticed a change in my skin as far as it being clearer from blemishes and cleaner then from regular face washing.