First Impression of the ELF Mineral Infused Face Primer

So recently I ran out of my Sephora perfecting face primer and I was stuck with my hands tied. I wanted to try something new (not that I didn’t like the Sephora one, which was pretty good for the $17 price), but I just wanted to explore more in the face primer world. Honestly, I haven’t always been sold on face primer. But I put it on anyway to help my face powder (the only type of foundation I have been wearing these days) stay longer and smoother and look like cakey.

Well, I was caught running out of primer without the time or the money to head to Sephora and Ulta to pick a Smashbox, Two Faced, or Tarte one. After some researching online, I decided to pick up the Elf Mineral Infused Face Primer. It was $6, a little bit pricier for something from Elf, but I was super excited to try it.

Packaging

The first thing I noticed about the primer was the fact the outside of the bottle was oily. Like it was leaking out of somewhere. That wasn’t pleasant. So I’ve already decided if I have to travel with it, I’m going to have to put it in a little baggie so the rest of my stuff isn’t coated in the primer as well. In terms of the rest of the packaging, I love the pump top. It’s really convenient to get the right amount (usually a pea size). I think the packaging just looks really classy and pretty for a drugstore product that costs $6.

Texture

The primer itself is a lot like the Sephora one I used previously, and much like what I assume the Smashbox primer is like. It’s the clear, silicone type that feels really silky and smooth (I have yet to try a cream like texture of a primer, so if you have tried both, let me know which one you like better!). It’s very smooth, however it has a more gel like texture than the Sephora. It’s not as silky, and I find I have to use slightly more when applying it to my face.

Wear

I’ve actually found that the Elf Mineral Infused Face primer is not as oily as the Sephora one. My face doesn’t feel as slick, it feels more matte. That’s a huge plus for me. I’m not sure about the wear out of it, but I’d say my powder stays on for about 3-4 before needing more application.

Overall Impression

So far I really like it! For the price, it really can’t be beat. The packaging is cute (I’m hoping the leaking is just this bottle) and it works in the same exact way as the Sephora version.

Have you ever tried this face primer? Or any others from the drugstore? Do you think face primers are important? 

High Five for Friday

It's been awhile since I've taken the time to highlight the top five highlights of my week, so here is my High Five for Friday!!

1. The most thoughtful, amazing, sweet anniversary presents from my boyfriend! Seriously, I have no clue how someone can be as creative as him. And my roses have brightened my mood all week! I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

2. My chapter's 27 new members! It's so nice to have new faces and I'm so proud of my sisters and how hard they worked during recruitment. Plus, I'm really happy to have the stress of recruitment over with!

3. Going home!! It's so nice to go home and see my family.

4. My new ELF eyelash curler. For only $2, I got this cute eyelash curler from Target. Mine has a leopard print on it, and I absolutely love it! And it's working just as great as my MAC curler right now too!

5. Starbucks, for being with me no matter what! Seriously, how else can a girl get through school and sorority recruitment without a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

What has been the highlight of your week? Enjoy your weekend!

A New Mascara in Town

Hey everyone!!

Sorry for the week or so absence. Sorority recruitment has consumed my time the past week and half, but last night was bid night (yay!! Welcome home 27 new girls!) and that hopefully means that my life will slow down a bit. Doubtful, but I can dream, right?

So in this time where I've beaded over 25 necklaces by hand and made five recruitment boards, I've had some time to find some beauty steals...from the drugstore! Some that I love so much, they are currently beating out some of my favorite higher end ones!

First up, is mascara. I was watching a mascara favorites video on Youtube and heard one of my favorite beauty gurus discuss ELF's Mineral Infused Mascara. Then I went to Target for a bunch of other stuff, and of course, I couldn't go to Target without scouring the makeup section. And I remembered her rave reviews and of course was tempted because of the $3 pricetag. So I went for it.

{Source}

As I've talked about previously, I'm completely obsessed with Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara. But not so much in love with the $19 price.

I honestly wasn't expecting much from the ELF mascara. I mean, it's $3. And I have no clue what mineral infused mascara is supposed to do. According to the packaging, it says:

-Mineral Infused Mascara creates fuller, healthier looking lashes

-Enhances lashes for a naturally thicker and more volumized look.

-The long wear formula and unique silicon brush creates clump free and defined lashes that last all day.

Boy, I was surprised after using it. Because, it looks fantastic! It's a drier formula, which I love. It reallydoesn't clump. It defines lashes beautifully, just as well as my Tarte mascara. Has great staying power for a non-waterproof variety. And yeah, the price can't be beat.

My only complaint with it is the fact that  the brush feels a tad flimsy. Either the stopper is too...small, or the brush isn't made the best, or both. But it's really a small complaint.

So I think that was a pretty successful drugstore makeup find!

Daily Makeup Products

Wanna look inside my makeup bag? And at the products that I use daily that don't fit in it? Well then hopefully you like today's post!

First, this is my makeup bag. It's from Vera Bradley in the print Island Blooms, and I think it's so adorable. When I bought a lot of my MAC makeup I decided that I needed a really adorable makeup bag to hold it, one that doesn't ugly up whatever surface it sits on or drawer it lives in. Plus it kind of keeps me from blowing all my money on makeup, because I plan to make everything fit in there. It makes travel much easier, storage simpler, and finding an everyday look a lot faster.

So here is sorta of an overview of my makeup. I didn't put all my individual MAC eyeshadows because that will come here in a little bit. Here you see:

-My Naked Palette

-My Smashbox BB Cream (review to come soon)

-Garnier BB Cream (review also coming soon!)

-NARS blush in Orgasm

-MAC Skinfinish Natural

-Maybelline Falsies mascara

-L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara

-MAC Technakohl Liner

-Wet N' Wild eyeshadow

-MAC paint pot in Painterly

-Urban Decay Primer Potion

-Revlon tweezers

-Sonia Kashuk "Perfectly Neutral" eyeshadow palette

First we'll start with my face products. I don't like heavy foundations or a huge long drawn-out routine. So I recently I've started using a BB cream (I've used the Garnier for a week or two and I've only used the Smashbox one day once so far), then I set it with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (I was matched to medium plus and it's perfect). I love this powder and can definitely reccommend it to everyone. It's fantastic. Then I just use my NARS Orgasm blush (which I have found to look really natural and pretty on me. A lot of people complain that it's too bright or shimmery, but I honestly don't think it's that way on me).

Soon I'll post a review of these two BB creams (I don't want to jinx it just yet, but I'm a fan so far of the Smashbox one).

For my eyeshadow primer I go back and forth between MAC's paint pot (I use Painterly) and Urban Decay's Primer Potion. I guess for some odd reason when I use MAC eyeshadow I use MAC and when I use my Naked palette I use my Primer Potion. But I actually have my eye on the NARS one so hopefully soon I can try that out soon.

These are other products that I use out on my eyes. The lash curler is from MAC and I love it so far! Then there is my MAC Technakohl liner in Graphblack. Seriously, I have no desire ever to try another liner. It glides on smoothly, doesn't budge at all, and creates such a pretty look. Plus, no sharpeners are involved! I've read and heard great things about Urban Decay's 24/7 liner, but I believe it's $5 more and I'm perfectly happy with this MAC liner.

Then I'm sure you see my two different kinds of mascara. I love to try out new mascara and these two are the newsest ones! I've been loving the L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes. I think it's my new number one. But I was super curious about the Maybelline Falsies so I'm enjoying that a lot right now. A girl can never have too many favorite mascaras, since they always seem to discontinue them. Both are in very black and waterproof.

I love eyeshadow and I have a pretty large selection (I'm sure it's actually tiny compared to a lot of people haha).

-Naked Palette: I thought I wouldn't like it as much as I do, honestly. My favorite colors are Sin, Buck, and Naked. However, there is still tons of exploring and playing around I need to do.

-My Wet N' Wild palette (or whatever you call the trio of colors haha) in "Walking on Eggshells." I love it. After using my MAC and UD shadows I thought that I could never stand the thought of using a drugstore (super cheap) brand, but this is amazing. Worth way more than $2.99. Check it out.

-Sonia Kashuk's "Perfectly Neutral": I love love love it. Absolutely beautiful and a great value. (pictured up close below). I learned about it from Kate from The Small Things Blog. Check out her tutorial because that's the look I use :)

-MAC eyeshadows: I'm personally not a fan of their palettes, I like the individual little pots instead.

Colors that I have include : Knight Divine (it's like a dark blue/black, I honestly haven't used it yet), Vex, Copperplate, Blanc Type, Satin Toupe, Ploof, and Expresso. I absolutely love using Vex, Copperplate, and Satin Toupe. They are so pretty! And they can be mix and matched together too!

These two prodcts don't fit in my makeup bag, but they are both things that I use every day (usually).

Left: MAC's Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover. A must in my book. I love it. Even gets waterproof makeup off.

Right: MAC's Brush Cleanser

My little brush collection. From left to right:

-Good Karma eyeshadow (came with my Naked Palette and I honestly have used it once)

-Sonia Kashuk small eye shader

-Bare Escentuals angled eyeshadow brush

-MAC 217

-Sonia Kashuk crease brush

-MAC 239

-ELF large eye shader

-ELF blush brush

-ELF complexion brush

Everyday, I always use my MAC 217 and 239, and all three ELF brushes. So the very low end of my brushes and the higher end. I have yet to find a better brush than my ELF large shader to do my brow highlight.

So that's my collection. Hopefully I'll have some reviews coming soon, some new products to talk about, and if anyone has any questions, just ask!

Much Needed Shopping Trip

So I've had my eye on a few things recently and today I decided to finally go get them. You know, sometimes nothing beats a good shopping trip. The sun shinning, walking around, and a nice Starbucks to go with it.

So I went to Target (my favorite store in the entire world) and picked up a few cheap essentials. I know after all that debate about Sigma vs. MAC vs. Sephora brushes I bought two ELF. By no means are they my final selection, but sometimes you just need to buy something to tide you over until you afford better. Plus, if they are good, they were only $3 each. And if they aren't, eh. It's only $6 total. But reviews online were pretty postive about the blush brush and the complexion brush, so we'll see.

While I'm discussing my love for Target (it is seriously up there in my top 10 loves because they constantly amaze me), I also decided to try out the Cos Bar cleansing towelettes. They're currently highlighting businesses from around the US and one of them is Cos Bar from Aspen. It was probably the packaging (loving leopard right now) and promise of a blueberry scent, but they were calling me. And for $5, you really can't argue. I'm loving my Garnier ones right now because they aren't overly oddly smelly and get off my mascara (best thing ever), but I'm halfway through them and wanted to try this. So excited to take off my makeup tonight!

The other half of my shopping trip was to the open air Promenade shoppes, which happen to have many of my favorite stores (Pottery Barn, Victoria Secret, Bath and Body Works, Express, Ulta, and Sephora).

Sephora is seriously another favorite of mine. Everything just calls me. Kinda like the Apple Store, everything is so shinny and sleek and beckoning me to sample new products. In the end, I walked out with what I wanted. NARS blush in the ever famous Orgasm and Sephora's ultra-smoothing primer.

I think I easily spent over an hour in Sephora playing with everything. I swatched the Naked Palettes on my arms, drooling over them (I know, I'm the last person to not own them), tried on every primer in the store (on my arm for some weird reason haha), and comparing all the different foundations and such.

But overall, I'm happy with the blush and the primer. I was seriously stuck for a little bit between Orgasm and Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush. Ugh, that was such a hard decision!

How is a girl to choose?! After swatching them, trying to them on, trying to find something to sway me either way, I finally had to go with NARS, it is supposedly the best. Plus, it was what I went to Sephora for originally. But I will definitely have Tarte in mind for the future, because the texture of the blush was so cool. Soft, heavily pigmented, almost cream-like. But definitely solid.

I also found a way to manage to stop my the mall to go to Dillards to visit the MAC counter. I've been trying to figure out a good summer face look and finally the wonderful reviews of MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural called me. It was cheaper than the Makeup Forever, Benefit, Bare Escentuals, and Laura Mercier ones I was looking at. And the reviews were promising me something that I wanted: a light, natural, finished look. I was color matched to medium plus and I can't wait to try it.

Overall, I think today was a successful shopping day. My account took a beating, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet I guess in the sake of investing in good products (hopefully). I can't wai to try them all and see how they work for me. This will be my first high quality face routine (before I just dabbled with Covergirl and other drugstore brands). Hopefully they live up to the hype!