December 14, 2017

November Favorites 2017

As I type this, I'm currently recovering from my post wisdom teeth surgery. Not really the most funnest of times but hey, I get to eat a lot of mashed potatoes and I'm super okay with that.

A very delayed post but here are the products I have been gravitating towards during this month of November (also a pair of shoes that I can't stop talking about and everyone probably wants me to stop talking about- well too bad) There's also some awesome skin care products as well and I'm thinking of doing another skincare update post in the near future.



I've had this highlighter for a while now and I just started realizing how lovely this highlighter is. I think the reason I didn't why I didn't  gravitate to it so much was because Becca highlighters never stay on me which was always upsetting because the finish on their highlighters are beautiful. They give a natural glow and nothing super dramatic or shimmering. You can definitely build this up to be bold glow on the cheeks but I personally love the subtle glow. I find that when I use the Becca Backlight Priming Filter before the highlighter, that it helps tremendously with the longevity. I've also been enjoying this as a light glowy eyeshadow because why not multitask a product?



I would suggest  if you're interested in trying this combination, to get the Glow on the Go Highlighter Set for $20 to get the powder and liquid highlight. It still works the same way they just unfortunately don't have the Moonstone shade but I've heard wonderful and beautiful things about the Champagne Pop shade (which I don't fully understand how I haven't tried that shade yet). 

This has been one of those items this month that you don't realize that you use it everyday until you start thinking what products you were using a lot of. I've been using this as my day time toner right before makeup application. Even after cleansing my face in the morning (and this is after fully taking my makeup off and cleansing the night before) I put some of this on a pad and it removes even more debris that I didn't even know was on my face. It does this without stripping the skin and my face looks more radiant and it feels great to have a face that's fully cleaned off and well hydrated. I'm going to be quite sad once this little bottle goes.



If you need hydration or brightness to your skin, you need this essence. This has been so incredible for my skin especially having the post cystic acne scarring. I'll use this before my moisturizer to add extra hydration (especially during these cold months) and over time I found that this had helped brighten my face. It helped reduce the redness from my scarring and I truly think it's the reason why I've been getting great compliments on my skin lately. I didn't think I would love something so simple as an essence, but it has helped me tremendously and it's very close to being a holy grail skincare product.

Update: I have went a couple of days without using this and I've notice that my face seems a little dull so I truly think this does show incredible results.

sephora.com


I'm beyond happy that I finally bought this and it upsets me to even talk about it because it may not be available anymore. HOWEVER, search through your sephora store and you might be able to find these because these are fantastic. They do have another option as well with six minis for $45 (which is still a great deal considering how much a full size is) On a bright note, they have all of these shades available full size but for the deal and for the amount of times I will actually use these, I find the mini sizes perfect for me. I love that with these that you have the option to do a full opaque glitter eye, glitter eyeliner, or a subtle and iridescent wash of glitter. I would avoid over layering these as they do tend to crease if there's too much product. Other than that, these glitters are very comfortable and there's a little bit of fall out with these, but nothing to drastic. These little glitters just make me so happy for the holiday season and I'm really glad I picked them up.

Top: Smoky Storm
Middle: Kitten Karma
Bottom: Diamond Dust 


This has become a classic product in my makeup drawer and an all time favorite. There's just something about this time of year that I love more about this blush from Tarte. In fact all of their blushes are beyond stunning. I know the inside looks super crummy (It had an accident earlier in the month *sobs*) but this is a very much loved product. I've had this about 2 years now and the pigmentation and longevity of this blush is still going strong. Something about this shade though provides a a natural warmth and color that I think would work so well on so many skin types. I just have no bad things to say about this blush at all. It's 100% worth the $28 and I may repurchase this for the rest of my life (too dramatic? probably).



We're back to a classic rediscovered favorite and it was actually one of the first palettes I did a review on (oh the memories). It's very easy to be distracted with new palettes coming out especially during the holiday season, but I forgot how great this one was. It's suppose to be the dupe for Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette. Although this palette has similar lighter shades from the Naked 3 palette, I love that the Revealed 2 palette has more variety of the deep mauve and plum shades that pair beautifully with the lighter ones. There some shades in here that pull in similar shades from the Modern Renaissance palette as well.




I like the thin packaging and magnetic closure however, it's not the most durable palette. At the same time, you are paying for what you're getting and $20 (a lot of times this will go on sale for $10) for 20 shades is not bad at all. Pigmentation on this palette is great I think for beginners and for anyone really. Although some of the shimmer shades can be a bit chalky, the majority of the shades are very buildable and blendable. Overall, great palette that has been forgotten about and I'm glad I re-introduced it back in my makeup life.



Rockport Cobb Hill Aria:
Someone really needs to stop me from talking about this boots but I need to share them because they are worth the price if you're looking for comfortable and cute durable boots this season. I wear these to work everyday and I can stand in these for a whole entire day without pain. These pair so well with so many outfits whether you're wearing it during the day or wearing them out for the night. Right now, the brand is doing an extra 30% off so definitely take that opportunity to invest in a good pair of solid boots this winter. 

rockport.com 


So that's it for my November Favorites. It's been an exhausting month but we're heading into the homestretch of 2017. I have so so many posts for all of you and so much more holiday shopping to do. There's also an overall 2017 beauty products favorite post coming up too so stay tune for that ♥

November 12, 2017

October Favorites 2017

Well hello hello. I know my October Favorites are extremely late, but hey I got some great products that might make it worth it. October was a bit of a hectic month. I had my beautiful best friend's wedding so a lot of my time was bouncing around between the wedding and work. Nevertheless, I have some favorite beauty products (and tools) from this past month including rediscovering my love for the drugstore products yay!



Dose of Colors Baked Browns Palette:
I guess you can count this as a rediscovered favorite but I purchased this palette back in April at IMATS. I knew though that I would have enjoyed this palette a lot more in the Autumn season. I mean the colors alone are beautiful. It reminds me of a portable version of the Sephora Pro Warm Palette (which I LOVE and I do have a review of it here).



I did get this palette discount when I went to IMATS for around $25 but honestly, the quality of the matte shadows in here is worth the retail price of $32. The mattes are just as creamy and comparable to Kat Von D's matte shadows (which I truly believe she does create some of the best matte eye shadows). These shadows blend beautifully without getting muddy and the colors (used with a good primer of course) last all day. I love that the colors can be a simple everyday neutral eye, to a really define, warm evening eye.

I almost didn't picked this up at IMATS until after I swatched the shades. I'm really glad I did decide to purchase it

Loreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Shakedown
Oh my...you guys....this is up there for favorite liquid lipstick formulas (here is my list of the ones that made the cut in my book). I saw that emilynoel83 had this color on his lips in one of her snapchat stories and been hearing the rave all over social media about formula on these including the pro-matte glosses.


There's so many things I love about this product that I'm not entirely sure where to begin.  For starters, I LOVE the shade. It's the brown lip color that I feel like I've been looking for all season but it has that hint of mauve undertones. It gives me major 90's vibes. I also love the doe foot applicator and how precise it is to get  a crisp line and by corners of the mouth. The formula is so interesting. It has a bit of thickness but when it dries down (which does take a while) it's a comfortable matte on the lips. I noticed when I press my lips together, it will slightly stick but it's not too much of an annoyance since I rather not have my lips be deprived of moisture. It's the longevity of this that blows my mind. Even with eating and drinking, there's some fading and a bit of transfer, but the majority of the color is still there and it doesn't come out of the lip line. It's amazing and makes me feel so much better to bring this out with me knowing I don't have to worry about how bad the reapplication process will be. Beyond impressed with this formula and so incredibly happy it's from the drugstore. Even better, try getting this when a $3.50 off $15 coupon for ulta that comes around (which is what I did plus I had points saved up to take more money off).

So good. Ok I'll stop talking about this now (for now)

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer:
Quite a mouthful to say but what a beautiful product. I've forgot how much I love this concealer and the brightener as well. I also just remembered that I did have this in a favorites a while back but I feel like I didn't give it enough love back then. So let's give it some love now.




These concealers are lightweight while still providing a natural full coverage. I love how the concealers brighten up the under eye area. Finally, one of my favorite things about this is because it's so light weight, it doesn't emphasize on fine lines and looks flawless from beginning to the end of the day.

Maybelline concealer, you have been much loved (if you can tell from the little amount of products I have left in them).

Beauty Blender Micro Mini:
Ok so this isn't a necessity, but I can't believe how much I've been liking this small beauty blender . It's a lot softer and more lightweight than the original beauty blender which makes this perfect for the delicate under eye area. Surprisingly, I've also come to love this with cream highlighters as well.

As I mentioned, I don't think this is a necessity, but if you happen to get one, I would definitely give it a shot first before turning it down (like I almost did). Besides, look how cute it is?

sephora.com 


MBA Cosmetics Chromalights in Champagne Toast:
Now that we're getting into the holiday season, I plan on making glitter a part of my daily routine. If you've seen my face at all for the month  of October, then you know I have been drenching myself in this glitter especially ever since I got my hair dyed to auburn again. I also purchased this at IMATS back in April and I've been using this glitter along with the Dose of Colors Baked Browns palette. The great thing about this product is that the adhesion is already embedded in the glitter so all you have to do is press it onto your eyes. There's some small fallout with the first time applying this but throughout the day, the glitter stays put. It as a really creamy feel which I love because some glitters can be too harsh for the eye. For $10, you get a lot of product and a little goes a long way. I've got so many compliments on this color and I really can't wait to go back to IMATS to try out more of their colors.



Finally, I've incorporated this glitter into my Halloween look for work which was an autumn edition of Mother Nature and possibly one of my favorite looks that I ever done. I applied the glitter to my liquid lipstick leaves on my face to give them some dimension.



Every Drop Beauty Spatula:
Ok bare with me but my last two favorites are tools. However, they are amazing tools. This was also another purchase back at IMATS and honestly I will probably pick up two more this coming year. If you care about using your products to the fullest and getting your money's worth, then you need to get this item. I've always contemplated on getting one for years and I'm so glad I finally decided to get one. I've used this for so many things including skincare items (which as we all know can be pricey) and was very shocked at how much product was leftover. I would be able to get another week or two out of the bottle. The spatula at the end of it is silicone so it washes off easily. I'm obsessed and I've saw recently that they also make a spatula for lip products which is something I'm definitely going to look into.

Makeup Paw Palette:
So this isn't the exact one I got off of amazon however I actually got mine at Primark for about $3 and I can't get over how much I've been loving this set. The spatula is perfect on one end for getting product and the other side for mixing. The metal plate makes it easy to remove the content with makeup remover afterwards. I've been using this a lot to mix liquid lipstick colors and I've also been using this with my inglot duraline and my eyeshadows to create an eyeliner. This has been just a really handy tool to have and I think it's going to be a great addition to my makeup routine.



So yes that's a wrap up of my October Favorites. We're getting into the homestretch of 2017 including an ultimate favorites list for the year. I can't wait to get into the chaos of the holiday season. It exhausts me sometimes but I also secretly love it.



November 9, 2017

Review: Maple Holistics Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

Very excited to be bringing you a quick review from a brand that I think I'm growing to love. For all disclosure purposes, this product was sent to me for review however all of my opinions based on this product are honest and my own.



Alrighty so the review! 

A little bit of background on the company. They are a natural based brand that is cruelty and sulfate free so you're not adding any harsh chemicals to your body, hair or skin (or to the cute furry animals yay!). So I was super excited to try this shampoo knowing that it will be adding benefits without chemicals and was safe on color treated hair. 

This shampoo claims that it will promote hair growth and improve on scalp health. I've been using this product for a couple of weeks now and I can definitely say that I have found improvements with my hair on both of those claims. I can't fully tell if my hair has got longer but I've definitely got comments from friends that it has. However, the biggest difference I've noticed is how clean my scalp feels every time I use this shampoo. I feel like the scalp tends to get neglected sometimes but it's makes an incredible difference and feel to the hair when cleaned properly. 




I think the only downside to this is the medicinal tea tree oil smell which I was expecting with this product. However, I did enjoy using it tonight since I'm recovering from a cold and it helped clear my congested nose. But the smell will definitely being something that you will either hate or love. 

If you lovelies are interested in trying these products yourself, they do have a sampler program so you can try out the products first before committing to a full size. They also have a subscription box for $40/month if you enjoy using their products a lot but with added bonus products inside. It seems that they have excellent customer service care and have a great money- back guarantee policy.

Overall I'm really grateful that I got to try this product and I'm really looking forward to exploring other products that they have especially the skincare line!

Until next time, stay beautiful ♥

October 19, 2017

Recommendations for Sephora couponing holiday season

As I'm typing this post my mind instantly goes into Mariah Carey's tune "All I want for Christmas is You".  I decided to create this post because the holiday sets and discounts are upon us and many of my friends have been asking for recommendations on what they should buy whether it be for themselves or as gifts. So let's get into it because honestly it's my favorite time of year and miniature products are always adorable.

Sephora Favorites Set:
I realize I'm being very blunt when I say that, but I seriously think  these are the best ways to get the most out of your money and to try a bunch of brands including cult favorites. They always have a bunch of different ones from Korean beauty favorites to beauty classics. Some of these sets sometimes also include full sized items which is already worth the purchase. My personal favorite of all of the sets is the mascara set (which I'm having a tough time finding at the moment and really hope they didn't get rid of it!). With the mascara set, you get 5 deluxe sized samples of mascaras from different brands and a voucher for a free full sized one of your choice all for $28. Definitely a great gift to someone especially if they're a mascara junkie. Most of these sets are limited edition so it's best to grab them when you can.

sephora.com

Sol De Janerio Bum Bum Beauty Voyage:
This just came out and it's online only but if you haven't smelled this stuff yet, you need to. Not only does it smell great, but I also do love the formula of the body cream and the fragrance mist that comes along with it smells just as good. I mentioned this body cream in my June Favorites  if you want to read a more in depth review. Even though these are travel sized (still much bigger than deluxe  sized) I still think this is a great deal to try out if you're looking for a new body cream and fragrance. As far a tightening the bum bum? Eh I really didn't noticed much of a difference but it's still kinda funny to say bum bum. I'm a child.

sephora.com


Bite Beauty Agave Kisses Set:
This might be one of my favorite sets actually of the season despite how small it is. If you haven't tried bite beauty yet and you really want to treat your lips I highly recommend getting this set. You get 3 deluxe sizes of the agave lip balm, the scrub and of course my favorite, the agave lip mask. All of the products also come in a little tin so it's great to bring it to travel. I can not recommend the lip mask enough and you can see me rave all about it all the way back in my January Favorites. All of the products have that great brown sugar smell and for $20 I think it's an affordable way to treat your lips or even to give to someone because who wouldn't love getting this as a gift??

sephora.com


As a side note, I love that Bite Beauty comes out with these little holiday sets every year. It's a little bit of luxury for your lips without committing to the full price of just one item. Some of my other favorites from them that I would also recommend are the Amuse Bouche Liquified lip set  (I have a review on one of them from last month in my favorites)  and the Perfect Bite Amuse Bouche lipstick set. I would even be on the look out as we get closer to the holidays as they tend to come out with mini deluxe versions of their lip pencils or lipstick duos for a fraction of the price of what a full sized would be.

Tarte Blush Bazaar Amazonian Clay Blush Palette:
Ok never mind. I lied. This might be one of my favorites. Tarte Blushes are probably my favorite blushes (let alone product) at Sephora. This is definitely worth the price considering that one full sized blush costs $28. Even though they are smaller in size, for this set you get to play with 6 blushes and 2 highlighters for $44 dollars which s amazing. These are all waterproof, very pigmented but also very blendable. Another great thing about this palette is that you could mix two different blush colors and come up with a unique shade. This is very much worth it.

sephora.com


Stila Written in the Stars Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Set:
Well it's currently sold out and I'm not surprised at all. This isn't so much a necessity but more of a "I want to look like a glitter queen and blind everyone" product this season. You're getting 3 deluxe sizes for the price of a full size one. I haven't personally tried these yet, but my goodness. The swatches. They are beautiful. It's the definition of a festive holiday season.

sephora.com


I could go on and on about what sets are worth it but this would be a pretty long post but the ones above are just some of my favorites. I would recommend that if you are considering getting one of these holiday sets, to get them when you can since most of them are limited edition. Best to download the Sephora app since I feel like that constantly gets updated and sometimes they have app exclusive deals. I would also look into skin care sets as well since skincare can be pricey for just one item alone when you can experiment the majority of the line for a fraction of the cost. Finally, definitely look into Sephora's Weekly Wow section that changes every Thrusday. They'll have about 4 to 5 products on sale normally for about half the price and if you have a BI coupon you can use that on top of it.

Alright well I hope this helped a bit! I would of course recommend other products such as foundations but I wanted to stick with the holiday and limited edition sets. Leave any comments down below if you are in need of any other particular product recommendations or any of the holiday sets.

Happy Shopping! ♥


October 10, 2017

Review: 3 mascaras (Urban Decay Trouble Maker, Buxom Big Tease, It Cosmetics Superhero)

Mascaras. It's become one of those things that I've grown to love over the years and find it essential for any makeup bag. These are the three that I have been trying lately and I develop quite an idea on how I feel about them as well as letting you know which one is my favorite out of all of them.



So generally, my lashes are about a short to medium length and they're always straight with trouble holding a curl. In the pictures below, I used 2 coats of each mascara with no primer and without an eyelash curler. Be ready for some up close and personal photos of my eyeballs as well as crazy untamed eyebrows



Buxom Big Tease Mascara:
I've tried Buxom's mascara in the past and did enjoy how much it was able to comb through the lashes but I remember it being an "okay" mascara. I feel about 50/50 on this new one. It's best to talk about the pros first. Despite it being somewhat intimidating, I actually do enjoy the cone brush a lot because it helps get into the tiny lashes in the inner corners. I find that the more I use this, the more I enjoy using it has it helps curls, lengthen and separate the lashes somewhat well. HOWEVER, this part disappoints me a lot because I find this very difficult to take off at the end of the night. Throughout the day and when I come home, I also notice that it has smudged and I'll have raccoon eyes. Not cute at all. It upsets me because I actually do enjoy this mascara but it's not worth the struggle of taking it off at the end of the day for those type of results. I could use a primer of course and see if that helps with the raccoon eyes situation but it's still difficult to remove.

I would suggest to try the Smoky Extravagant Make Up For Ever mascara which has that similar wand shape but is a lot easier to maintain throughout the day and has an easier removal process.



Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara:
Out of all of them, this is my least favorite mascara and I really wish it would work for me. With that being said, let's focus on the two positives about this product. The packaging is captivating and stunning so I do give them credit for that. Out of the three mascaras that I tried, this has been the best brush for combing through the lashes. However, these are the only positives I have about the mascara. It's not a terrible mascara but for me, the results were very natural and there wasn't a significant difference in length. I find that I can't use this mascara on it's own but, I have been using this mascara more as a supplemental mascara with other mascaras. So it is beneficial in that sense but with that being said, I think you're better off saving you're money and purchasing the Covergirl Super Sizer , a mascara that I have raved about before and highly recommend if you need that extra lift that also combs through the lashes but give much better length.




It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara:
I hate being in love with a high end mascara but this....this mascara. I truly think the hype is real with this one and It Cosmetics is becoming a growing brand with me that I've been loving (including the CC cream). I think the more I use this, the more I'm going to love the formula. I think what I love most about this is the curl and length it provides that helps me look awake. It's a mascara that makes me feel comfortable to not wear an eye liner for because it provides so much of that definition. This formula is also not heavy on the lashes and is easy to remove when you're ready to remove it. I also love that it holds the curl (even without curling my lashes) all day since my lashes always seems to fall straight constantly. I'm beyond obsessed and I know I'll be extremely sad when this is done (*sobs in a corner*).


                             

So three mascaras and three reviews. Of course you can seem to figure out that the It Cosmetics product is my favorite one but of course you can be the judge for yourself and see which results you like the best.

Until next time, stay beautiful ♥

October 2, 2017

September 2017 Favorites

And a happy October, aka the best month, to all of you. I'm excited to show off the favorites I have for this month. I have a new holy grail foundation and I even have some rediscovered drugstore favorites. Let's get right into it. Also can we talk about how cute the little pumpkin succulent is? It's fake of course but I got it from Target for $3 and I just think it's such a cute decor for this season.





Bare Minerals Bare PRO Performance Wear Foundation in Cashmere:
I'm so happy to get back into one of my very first brands that I ever tried when I first started wearing makeup. I already rave about their liquid lipsticks enough that I'm sure everyone is done with me taking about them. I always loved their powder foundation since I started using it when I was 15 and my acne was at it's prime. Now at 25, I'm fighting with hormonal cystic acne but this new foundation has done AMAZING things for my skin. For starters, their products are already dermatologists tested so great for those with acne prone skin. It also has your spf 20 in it which is always important especially if you're on active acne medication like myself. You want to protect the skin from the sun's rays constantly and I think it's an important part in our routine that many people forget to incorporate. It's also a breathable full coverage formula and sets itself, so you don't even need powder on top of it. I'm beyond amazed at how well this has concealed and reduce the redness from the acne scarring yet the foundation still looks like skin. So no cake face here and definitely not overly mattifying. It wears beautifully throughout the day and only a few of my oils seep through but I don't look greasy at all. I received so many compliments on my skin with this foundation which I found shocking since I know I still have redness. Overall, if you're looking for an easy foundation that you don't have to worry about throughout the day and is easy on the budget ($34 is not bad at all for a well performing foundation) then I would definitely give this one a shot.

Also I'm so happy that brands are doing pumps for their foundations. THANK YOU SO MUCH.




Biossance Squalane and Antioxidant Cleansing Oil:
This is a new brand in the beauty industry and my second favorite product this month. Before I was using the Clinque Take off the Day Balm which I did love but I'm happy to be using a product that has more natural ingredients and has been dermatologist tested which really has been great with the tail end of my cystic acne. The squalane oil (which is all plant derived) is going to help lock in moisture and hydrate over time. So you're giving back to your skin while removing the impurities instead completely stripping the skin. I think there are several things I love about this. I like that it has a pump (clearly stated in my excitement from the last product). It's also a powerful oil for removing makeup but still gentle and is safe on the eyes so use this EVERYWHERE. Always remember to use cleansing oils on dry skin in order to remove the makeup and oil afterwards. I personally love using this product and then taking a warm, wet washcloth and placing it over my face after massaging the oil in my skin. I'll then take the same cloth to remove the oil. I find the heat of the cloth helps remove the makeup better and it also feels incredibly relaxing after a long day. Anyway, if you're looking to explore into a natural skincare brand, I think this would be a great product to start off with and will greatly help with the "makeup removing" routine.



BITE Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick in Chutney:
Soooo speaking of liquid lipsticks, we're going to talk about a completely different formula of one that I've been wearing the majority of this month. This is a high shine, but fully pigmented color of a liquified lipstick. It's a thick formula but has a smooth application and doesn't tug at the lips at all. Although it is high shine, it's not sticky at all. I normally don't go for these type of finishes (I'm more of a matte finish type of girl) but I've really been loving the feel of this on my lips this month. It has such a good amount of hydration that last for several hours and the pigmentation fades away gracefully overtime. Throughout the day, it doesn't feel as thick as when initially applied and instead feels like a nourishing lip balm. I can see myself liking this a lot more especially when it gets a bit colder out and I want that extra lip balm treatment but color payoff. Sephora currently has a holiday kit for $22 and 4 minis if you want to experiment them first before committing to a full size. Bite always make such great sampler kits every season and these are great as a gift for yourself or to a friend especially if you never tried BITE before. It's a great way to treat yourself but also getting the most out of your money.



Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm:
And speaking of hydration, this will probably be my main stable lip balm going into Fall. As you guessed it and how my nose loves things that smell like food, this has a rich caramel scent that hydrates that lips without it being a super thick formula. I think the only downside to this is that it's in a tin when I prefer my lip balms more in a tube. However, that's definitely something I can over look because the thing I love the most about this lip balm, is that it doesn't disrupt your lip color. The first time I tried this, I was wearing a liquid matte lip color for several hours and I put the lip balm on top. Not only did it give me the hydration that I needed, but the color I had on my lips stayed in place and didn't get on my teeth (yay!). I would say this is more of a "treat yo self" product, but nevertheless, another great product from Fresh.


Essence Make Me Brown Gel Mascara:
I'm so excited to get back into some rediscovered drugstore favorites! I've been incredibly lazy with the eye brows this month but I'm also starting to realize the importantance of having some kind of definition to the eyebrows so I went back to this product. I never tried Benefit's Gimme Brow before but I will say the brush on the Essence one looks very similar to the Benefit's product and could definitely be a dupe for it. It helps give some tint and hold to the eyebrows throughout the day and is perfect for the lazy girl routine. Also the main difference is definitely the price point. For $3, I don't think you can go wrong with something just a simple and similar to the Benefit one. Save your money dear.




Wet and Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana:
This is not a bronzer at all. However, it is a beautiful highlighter that honestly I forgot all about and was shoved towards the back of my makeup drawer. This isn't going to be your super sparkly and "highlight so bright you can blind a person" highlight. It's a subtle highlight that enhances the cheekbones and looks so natural. I forgot how much I love this type of highlight and it's great for days when I'm doing subtle looks. Also for $4, you get SO much product. It's about the size of my cheek. Not the best packaging (I know mine looks worn out and gross) but the important part is what's on the inside (truly a great life motto to go by) and the inside of this product, is perfection.




Commodity Gold:
You guys know that I love really good scents and I'm also the worst at describing really good scents. I was just introduced to this fragrance this past month and I've been wearing it constantly. If I want something a little bit more for for a night out, I'll go for the Elizabeth James Bourbon which I feel like has similar notes to this Commodity scent, just more enhanced. The Commodity Gold. Ugh honestly I just stopped typing to smell it more. It has a warmth and a slight sweetness to pull you in. Kinda reminds you of a late fall/ early winter evening and you're wrapped up in a flannel blanket next to a fireplace with someone. It's so inviting but also still subtle so good for everyday. I hope that helps but if not, feel free to look at the notes of the scent online and just go get a sample a Sephora. Just do it. It's so intoxicating and you'll feel like a million bucks (I guess hence the name "Gold").

sephora.com


Guys that's it! That's all my favorites for this month and I'm super excited to get into the fun holiday months and holiday products with you all. Wishing you all an awesome October!




September 22, 2017

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Review

To be quite honest, I was never super excited for this for this line to come out. I have nothing against Rihanna, I just feel very neutral about her. I did get the foundation and highlighter as part of gratis with Sephora though so I decided to check them out myself.



Fenty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation;
I may be neutral towards Rihanna, but I am amazed with her makeup line. Granted I have not tried all of the products but just from the foundation alone, I'm impressed. For starters she has 40 shades in her collection. That is beyond incredible and something that all companies need to supply. It's also oil free which has been really great especially with my acne prone skin. I think the main take away from this foundation that I love so much, is that it's a breathable, lightweight and full coverage. It's the most comfortable foundation I've tried. It's also sweat proof and the most important part? IT HAS A PUMP. THANK YOU.



I find throughout the day it tends to get a bit drying on my skin so it's best to go in with a good moisturizer before applying.

Overall, this is a great foundation for skin like, full coverage. She priced it affordably at $34 so everyone would be able to purchase (especially now that drugstore prices are going up). I think she really took the time to really focus on her main product and have to perfect many people's skin tones and types. The only downside is that the color I received for gratis (120) is way too pale for me so whenever I wear it, I do have to bronze up my face for it.

Killwatt Freestyle Highlighter in Mean Money/ Hu$tla Baby:
At first glanced, I thought I would like the first shade more than the second shade since it was more golden and I thought it would be too much of a "golden glow" on my pale skin. Surprisingly, it was the opposite. The shade Hu$tla Baby is creamy and has a peachiness to it that helps calm some of the gold. It's definitely a unique highlighter shade that I don't own in my collection yet which I'm pleasantly surprised with. However, I was a bit disappointed with the shade Mean Money. It looked like a really subtle subtle with little to no shimmer, and I feel like nothing swatches on my arm. I even tried applying it with a brush and I still feel like it doesn't add anything to the look. I'm not sure if it has a film to it or I just got a dud. Throughout the day, it wears excellent and is still on my cheeks from the first time that I applied it. But overall for the highlighter duo, at least for this particular shade duo, is a 50/50 for me.



I think this is definitely a line that many people will enjoy but I think the main product and most exciting thing for me at least is the foundation. Again, I wasn't expecting to love it this much and it really shows that she took the time to curate a foundation accessible to everyone with any skin tone. That alone, makes her line incredibly successful and something that will grow in the future.

September 18, 2017

August/ Finally it's the End of Summer Favorites 2017

Good Morning! Clearly, I'm more than ready for the Fall weather to come as I sit here listening to 80's romantic ballads. Not too many new products for this end of the summer post but nevertheless, they are favorites.


Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter:
This is definitely an added new favorite to my body butter collection. It's a very light weight but hydrating formula with argan oil in it and dries down quickly. On the Sephora website, they describe this product as velvety which I would agree with. It has that whipped light texture to it as well and a little bit goes a long way. I haven't tried the other scents yet but the Vanilla Apricot (the one I currently own) has the perfect amount of light sweetness and apricot scent to it. I might pick this product up again when the Spring comes around.   




Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty: 
I have two blushes for my favorites this month because I really couldn't chose just one. This mini sized was in the Sephora birthday gift this year and I think it's one of the best free birthday gifts that they put out. Overall, I've always loved Tarte Blushes. They last all day on me, waterproof, and has excellent pigmentation but is still very blendable on the skin. This particular color is no exception from the performance that these blushes provide. It's a pink/ beige shade and great for everyday for a natural flush of color. These deluxe sizes will last you for a while too so if you haven't tried Tarte blushes yet, I would recommend getting this free birthday gift option and try it out for yourself. I doubt you'll be disappointed in it.



 Anastasia Blush Trio in Pink Passion:
So here's the second blush that I've been loving towards the end of the Summer. I like how this is a trio set and you can use the blushes on their own or all together to get a blush contour effect (which seems to be coming back in style). I also think it's great for the price point to get three blushes for $30 and in a compact but functional case. I personally love using a fluffy blush brush and sweeping across all three of the colors starting at the apples of cheeks and applying it upwards towards the top of my ears. I just love the effect it gives and it makes it look like more was done to the face when it was just a rather one easy step.




Sephora Collection Classic Double Ended Multitasker and Concealer Brush #202:
I plan on making a post in the future of my favorite brushes and you can probably guess that this one will be included on that list. Of course, I love that this is a duo foundation and concealer brush so it's great for those traveling or those who just don't want so many brushes. I love that the foundation brush helps build medium to full coverage with liquid or powder products. The bristles are very soft and doesn't leave any streaks on the face. I do love the concealer brush side of it as well, but I find that I don't use that as often. I wish the concealer side was just a little bit wider such as my e.l.f concealer brush to spread out the concealer over more space. However, I find the concealer brush side to be small to conceal precise detailed areas which could be good for cleaning up a red lip or wing. Overall, it's been my go to brush this month and has been incredibly convenient especially when I don't want to lug all of my brushes with me.



Lancome Monsieur Mascara:
This is my first Lancome mascara that I've ever tried and holy cow (is it lame to say that?), this is amazing. I can see why people adore Lancome mascaras. This holds the curl and length so well throughout the day. I also like how this provides volume but separates my lashes as well. The only down side to this is that I do find it a bit difficult to remove at the end of the day so it's best to use waterproof eye makeup remover on a cotton round and hold it on the eye or about a minute or so. I was so impressed with this one and it makes me want to check out the other Lancome cult favorite mascaras.


 
Kat Von D Saint Eau de Parfum:
This has been my main fragrance this past summer and I've got some many compliments on it. I do like both scents in her collection but the saint scent is light and feminine without it being overpowering or overly sweet. It's described has having notes of vanilla, musk, and jasmine and it's a perfect light balance of all three. I think the only downside to this is that it last me for about 5 hours I would say. However, this is a great perfume if you're looking for something not too heavy but still intriguing. Trust me, you'll get plenty of compliments on this. Also, the packaging it truly a work of art.
sephora.com


My apologize again that this was incredibly late to post. As I type this I already have some September Favorites lining up for the end of the month.