July Favorites

Hi guys!

I can't believe it's already time to do favorites again. This summer has been so busy that it is flying by! Thankfully, I've gotten to try some new products this month that I'm loving.

Sachajuan Ocean Mist

I already mentioned last month that I'm loving beach sprays. I got this one in my PopSugar Summer Box, and it smells SO good. Other than that, I think it does really nice things to my hair - soft, tousley, perfect-for-summer hair!

Elf Brush Cleaner

I bought this accidentally thinking it was the Makeup Mist and Set, but I actually really enjoy it. I'm terrible about cleaning my brushes, and this gives me a fast, easy way to keep them (relatively) bacteria free. Plus it smells good and so do my brushes after I use it!

Beauty Blender

I got my first Beauty Blender, and I'm totally in love with it. The only thing is that within three weeks it started to mold! I think it's just the way I was storing it to dry, but I've got to be extra careful with my next one.

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

I felt like I needed to switch up my mascara, and I'm definitely glad I choose this one. The formula is perfect for me - not too wet, not too dry - and I'm finding that I really like the synthetic wands.

Citrus Sambra Limited Edition SoftSoap

After being very disappointed by the Summer Edition SoftSoaps last year, I'm really glad I like this one. I love anything citrus, and this reminds me a lot of the The Body Shop Satsuma shower gel I was using, just more moisturizing and lather-y, which I like.


So that's it! Everything I've been loving this month. I have to confess, I may not be able to blog very much soon. I have to tighten my budget quite a lot to save up for some important things, and that won't leave very much for new beauty products. It may just mean more reviews and a closer look at my products instead of new things, but we'll have to see!

June 2014 Ipsy Bag

Hi guys!

I'm almost caught up on my subscriptions now. Today (just a little late) I have my June Ipsy Bag for you. This month's bag theme was Pretty in Paradise and Rebecca Minkoff designed the bag! Look at how pretty it is!

In my bag, I got:

Be a Bombshell Lash Out Mascara

This mascara had a bit of a controversy surrounding it because many people complained about it's smell (mine smells bad, but it's not unusable and it does go away). It has a decent effect on lashes, but it smudged on me pretty badly, so I haven't used it that much.

Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray

As I mentioned in my favorites post, I'm loving beach sprays right now. I'm not a huge fan of the pump on this one, but I certainly can't complain about it.

Nyx Butter Gloss in Eclair

I haven't used this yet, but I've been thinking about trying the Nyx Butter Glosses for a while now. I don't use lip products very often, but when I have occasion to wear this, I'm very much looking forward to it.

Jesse's Girl Waterproof Eyeliner

 I don't use liquid eyeliner (especially not in black) so this product is a bust. On to the swap board it goes!

Ole Henriksen Truth to Go Wipes

These smell exactly like the Truth to Go serum that came in a previous bag (that I traded for) which is a light citrus-y cream scent. It's not my favorite, but I don't hate it. I do like how wet these are, and they do an excellent job of removing makeup.

So that's everything! Did you guys get the June bag? Are you totally excited or wishing for something else?

January Favorites

Hi guys!

Thanks to Christmas, I have some awesome products I loved during January! Most of them came from this kit that my sister got me:

Let's go from left to right!

First we have the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. I recently stopped taking birth control, and my face has been severely unhappy. I'm going to the dermatologist later this month, but in the meantime I've really seen a difference with this. When I use it with my acne spot treatment, I think it helps my skin fight off the awful stuff better than with just the spot treatment by itself. And while I'm not sure it helps control the oil production on my face, it definitely doesn't make it worse!

The blush is in Thankful, and it's the perfect pink color for me. I think it really gives that lovely "it's cold outside" flush, and it has great staying power.

The "skintuitive lip tint" reacts with your body chemistry to create the perfect shade for you. I love using this just to give my lips that little bit of color without being too dark or drying. I usually put this on and then use my Baby Lips over it when I'm getting ready, and I love it!

The other make up product I've been loving this month is my sample size of Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara.

My immediate response the first time I used this was, "Holy eyelashes, Batman!" I love how versatile this mascara is. I can use it every day for a "my lashes but better" look or I can really pump up my look and have my lashes stand out. It doesn't flake or smudge on me, and the staying power is fantastic.

I also have to give a shout out to my The Body Shop body butter. It's been a cold and ridiculously dry winter this year, and this stuff has been saving my skin as well as smelling delicious!

For non-make up products in January, I recently finished watching all 4 (and what's out of the 5th) seasons of Community. 

It's weird and quirky and has gone through some ups and downs, but I love it. It helps that I'm in love with Danny Pudi, who plays Abed. If you're into weird, quirky sitcoms, definitely give this one a try. And once you've watched it, go watch the bloopers. They make me the happiest.

One last favorite for January is Bastille's album Bad Blood.

This band can do no wrong in my opinion. I've listened to this album SO many times over the past month. My sister and I listened to it a bunch on our way to Tallahassee and I've listened to it a ton since then. I am so not an album person, so the fact that I'm so obsessed with this album is a big deal. If you're looking for specific song suggestions, my favorites are "Pompeii," "These Streets," and "Flaws" though, as I said, the whole album is brilliant.

So that's everything for this month! What products have you guys been loving? 

November Favorites

I canNOT believe it's already almost December. It's blowing my mind, you guys. I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. Now it's time for some things I've been loving this month. It's been a good month for new products!


1. Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

I decided to try this mascara out after liking it's look in a Youtube video, and I was not disappointed. I'm in love with how lengthening and soft it makes my lashes look. Side note: I thought for a long time that I was unhappy with every mascara I tried on my left eye. This month I figured out it's my eyelashes, not the mascara. My left eye is seriously whack in terms of what my eyelashes do. 

2. Olay Fresh Effects Cleansing Wipes

I picked these up after running out of my favorite Forever 21 ones. I've been presently surprised. These are wet enough for me, and they're soft, but they're also slightly textured which means they have excellent scrubbing power for getting rid of waterproof stuff. I'm actually enjoying trying out a bunch of different brands of these.

3. Clean & Clear Spot Treatment

I've found I tend to become immune to acne spot treatments pretty easily, so I end up with new ones every time I run out. This one is doing well. The only complaint I have is that doesn't play nicely with my moisturizer. No matter which order I put them on it, the spot treatment beads up and rubs off. Annoying, but not impossible to deal with.

4. Peace, Love, and Juicy Couture perfume

After lusting over this perfume for more than a year, I finally caved and bought myself a bottle at TJMaxx. I'm so in love with this perfume. It's different, and I like that. It's rich and kind of bohemian, and I love it for the cooler weather. Still feminine, but musky and unique. 

5. Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone Palette

I've kind of rediscovered this palette recently, and I really just think it's perfect. I don't use the right side at all, but I've been using the left side pretty much non stop for the past few weeks. The colors are pigmented, but easily blended and just a beautiful, natural look. Definitely one of the best that I own.

What products are you guys loving? Have anything special on your wish list for Christmas?

September-October Ipsy Reviews

It's time for another round of Ipsy reviews! I don't have too many things I can fully report on, since I end up trading some things away or I haven't gotten around to using them yet, but I can tell you about some products!

La Fresh Face Cleansing Wipes

I really like these! They smell good (though I don't know what "refreshing scent" means), and I think they do a good job removing makeup. I've been using them a lot when I travel because the 10-wipe pack is the perfect size for that. I wish I had more, but I probably won't repurchase. 

Cailyn Lip Balm in Big Apple

I was excited about this product because I saw so many people talk about how "wearable" a red it was. I was disappointed by it. For something that calls itself a balm, it's not moisturizing at all, and I didn't think the red looked good on me at all. I only used it once, and I wish I had swapped it instead.

Elizabeth Mott's It's So Big mascara

I've been using this for the past month now, and though I like it, I'm not in love with it. I don't know if it's my lashes or the way I apply, but my left eye always seems to clump badly. My right eye will look great, and my left eye will look spidery and weird. I bought a new mascara this weekend, so this one will be going away soon.

Starlooks Kohl Liner in Obsidian

I've only used this once, but I thought it worked pretty well. I tend to go toward non-pencil eyeliner, so this won't ever be a staple for me, but it worked well in my waterline and came off very black.

Nyx eyeshadow in Walnut

This isn't the color I got in my Ipsy, but Nyx was replacing them for free in the color of your choice, and this is the one I got! I love it a lot. It's beautiful and wears really well. You can see a swatch of it here. I'll definitely look into more Nyx shadows in the future.

Ulta and Drugstore Haul

I've gotten a lot of new products lately! It seems like my purchasing happens in spurts. I can go for a while without anything new, and then all of a sudden, I have a ton of stuff to try out! Some of this is from my Ulta excursion, some of it I got in a swap, and some of it I order from Elf!

1. Butter London - British Racing Green

Totally excited about this color. It's gonna be awesome for winter/the holiday season.

2. Nyx Slide On Liners in Brown Perfection and Jewel

I've been meaning to try these for a while, and I am not disappointed! The brown is more pigmented than jewel, but they're both gorgeous, last forever, and are super creamy. I definitely need to get all the colors!

3. Ulta quad in Illusion

Naked, Seashell, Mystique, Twilight (Top L, Top R, Bottom L, Bottom R)

I'm loving this natural quad from Ulta. I use Naked as a highlight, Seashell on my lid, Mystique in my crease, and Twilight in the outer V. 

4. Mica eyeshadow in Bronze

I haven't gotten to try this yet, but I'm quickly becoming obsessed with bronzes, so I'm very excited to give it a try!

5. Almay lip balm in Blooming

This is a beautiful "my lips but better" color, and it's not too sticky, which I'm pretty sensitive about.

6. Elf Matte Lip Color in Coral

Haven't had a chance to try this yet, but I love everything coral, so I'm not worried.

7. Elf brushes - Crease and Blending

         

New brushes! I'm really enjoying adding these into my make up routine. It's nice not using the same brush for everything!

8. Elf eyeshadow stick in French Lace

I got this to use as an eyeshadow base, and it's quickly becoming a must-have for getting ready!

9. Wet 'n Wild Megaprotein Mascara

Despite it's name, this mascara gives me a super natural look, so I'm really liking it. It has a little bit of a tendency to smudge, though, which I'm not a fan of. Plus, I love the packaging. This has inspired me to try more Wet 'n Wild mascara!

Tell me what new things you've been trying lately! Very soon, I will have a ton of nail polish to share with you! For now, though, I hope you have a fabulous weekend! 

September 2013 Ipsy Bag

Alright guys, it's time to talk about Ipsy again! Thankfully, I had no mail problems this time, and my bag got to me the first time!

Let's see what I got!

This month's theme was 'Classic Beauty'

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple

The packaging is kind of weird on this, but I've heard that it's a great product - even for those who don't do red lips.

Starlooks Eyeliner in Obsidian

I don't use pencil eyeliner, but I think this will probably be good for waterlining when I feel like doing something a little bit darker.

Nyx Eyeshadow in Hot Crystal

I feel like it's my curse to get products I'd be super excited about if only they were in a different color. I just don't care about white eyeshadow. I'm trying to trade this for a different color.

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big mascara

I kind of need more mascara like I need another hole in my head, and, as I've mentioned, I'm really picky about my mascara. When I opened this, the formula seemed really goopy and thick. I'll try it out, but I'm not that optimistic.

Freeman paper masks

I'm not a big facial mask girl, and when I do indulge, I like clay masks. I'm trying to trade these away too. I might've been more intrigued, but a girl in one of my swap groups said her face started burning and got really red after using one, and she doesn't even have sensitive skin! I think I'll stay clear of that!

So that's everything for September! Anything that you are intrigued by? I'm not the biggest fan that I keep getting different products from the same brands. I want to try new brands, not the same ones! I am excited about the lip balm, though. Everything else is pretty disappointing!

Five Products I've Emptied

Welcome to the second edition of products I've used up! In contrast to last time, I actually enjoyed all these products! Let's find out why!

1. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

This product has taken me a long time to use up. Not because it was bad, but because I'm really just not a body lotion person. I bought this two years ago (wow, really?) after I got my tattoo because I was instructed to have a non-scented lotion to moisturize with. It works really well, but I like scented lotions, so it got put on the back burner until I decided to use it up. But if you want hypoallergenic and super moisturizer, this is the lotion for you!

2. Love & Beauty Lavender Extract Makeup Cleansing Tissues

Honestly, I picked these up because they were right by the checkout, were $2.80, and I'm always in need of makeup wipes. For those who don't know, Love & Beauty is the jewelry/makeup/cosmetic line by Forever 21. They even have stores dedicated to only Love & Beauty products. I was blown away by how good these were. They smell nice, and weren't abrasive to my skin while still removing all my makeup. I have already repurchased these (I think they have a green tea and maybe another version as well), and I will probably continue to do so after I finish up all my other kinds.

3. Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response Deodorant 

I also received this in an Influenster box, and while I haven't repurchased this specific one, I have repurchased from the Secret Clinical Strength line. I think it's approach to the different kinds of sweat is interesting, stress sweat is just not my biggest problem. That being said, I loved this deodorant. It smells AMAZING and if stress sweat is a problem for you, I'd definitely recommend it.

4. Softsoap Body Butter Mega Moisture Body Wash in Heavenly Vanilla

I've already said that I love Softsoap, and this one was no different. I bought this during the winter when I was having problems with itchy, dry skin on my back. Since it's not the easiest thing to lotion your own back, I decided to try a body wash with a little more moisture in it. This did not let me down. I really felt like it moisturized me without having to add any moisturizer afterwards. It did help with my dry skin (it didn't magically heal it, but I wasn't really expecting it to) so I was happy with the results.

5. Buxom Lash Mascara

I bought this back when I was on my "all my makeup must be high end" kick from Sephora. Although in retrospect, it wasn't the kind of mascara I was looking for, I did enjoy using it. It definitely adds volume to your lashes and was pretty easy to apply. It has a fairly thick wand, and I liked the way it looked on my lashes. I had no problems with it smudging or flaking. 

*I will admit, though, that I don't feel like I'm very good at reviewing mascara at all. I'm naturally blessed with long, fairly voluminous lashes, so I don't need a lot of help in that department. I also like a pretty natural look as far as mascara goes.