May & June Favorite Products!

Hey guys!

So....I'm back! And I'm excited to share with you some of my favorite things from the last two months! I'm kinda embarrassed about just how long it's been since I last blogged. But, let's just dive into my favorite things so far this summer!

Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut Candle, Pink Apple Punch Candle, Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner, Pantene Sheer Volume Shampoo, China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle, Butter London Ladybird, Formula X Brazen, Urban Decay De-Slick Spray, It Cosmetics CC Cream, Moroccanoil, French Lavender and Honey Shower Gel and Body Spray, Too Faced Chocolate Bar, Stila Smudgestick, Jordana Best Lash Extreme, NARS Orgasm, and Tarte Lights Camera Lashes

Bath and Body Works Candle: Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut

Let me say, that I have an unhealthy obsession with this candle and it has only gotten worse by working in the store during the June Semi-Annual Sale. I LOVE this candle. I can't describe the amount of love I have for it. It's perfect. I've heard people say it smells like churros, but I think it smells like heaven. 

Pink Apple Punch Candle

Part of the Summer Sips collection, this was the first purchase I made mostly because I love the strong hint of apple. It's also been the most popular in store. If you love strong, fruity scents, try this out because it can't be beat. 

Pantene Sheer Volume Shampoo & Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal

My new favorite hair combination, this has impressed me SO much the past two months. It makes my hair feel clean, look shinny, feel soft and sleek, and healthy. I haven't used Pantene in a few years, but I've always loved their stuff and I'm so happy I came across this combination. 

China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle

A newer purchase, I think this is gonna be my summer nail color. It's bright, it's fun, and it's the best turquoise I've yet to find. Plus, I always find China Glaze applies beautifully every time. 

Butter London Ladybird

This is my go to red for the summer. It's a brighter red with a little orange in it, and I'm so impressed by it's staying power and how pretty the color is! Plus I love the name!

Formula X Brazen

I've never been much of a fan of pink nails, but this color has definitely changed my mind. This is the perfect blue-based pink that I've ever tried. It stays on the nails forever and it's the most girly, pretty color. 

Urban Decay De-Slick Spray

I've said it a million times, but this makeup setting spray is one of my Holy Grail items. It makes my skin so much easier to handle and deal with during the summer. If you have oily skin, you need to try this out. I use it before my makeup, after I apply, and all throughout the day anytime I'm feeling grimy or oily. 

It Cosmetics CC Cream in Fair

I raved about this stuff a few months ago, but then I abandoned it. However, I went back to it and this time, instead of using a Beauty Blender, used a Real Techniques brush and got totally different results. I love the way it looks and feels on my skin. It's light but provides at least medium coverage. It has tons of sunscreen in it, which is great for summer, and I feel like it just makes my skin look glowy and happy. 

Moroccanoil

My all-time number one hair Holy Grail, I've gone back to using this almost every other day and once again, it never fails to let me down. I love the smell of this stuff and I love how smooth, shinny, soft, and manageable it leaves my crazy poofy hair. 

Bath & Body Works French Lavender Honey Shower Gel and Body Spray Minis

Let me start by saying that I don't honestly like the smell of lavender normally. So for the longest time this scent didn't even appear on my radar because I thought it would be like all the other lavender scents in the world: either too herbal or too artificial. Well, I was totally wrong about this stuff. It hardly smells like lavender! With the sweetness of the honey and apricot this smells like the prettiest, floral and sweet scent. I'm so in love with this scent that I can't wait to buy the larger sizes. I can't recommend this stuff enough. 

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

This was the first purchase I made from my first paycheck and I'm so happy I did. I wanted something that would last and be an investment and it truly is. First off, it smells amazing. Second, I love the colors Marzipan and Milk Chocolate. I find myself always opening it up and using at least one of those shades. I especially like Stila Kitten with Milk Chocolate in the crease. 

Stila Smudgestick in Stingray

I've had a love/hate thing with this mechanical pencil liner. First off, I love how black it is. I might be the darkest mechanical pencil I've ever used. Second, I think it has a pretty decent staying power. Third, it glides like a dream across my lashline. However, I find the consistency very much like Urban Decays 24/7 Liners, which I didn't like because they were so messy to use. But, I keep finding myself going back to this and I love the packaging.

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara

I went back to this mascara recently (I'm currently on a mission to find the best mascara ever and am really struggling). I really do love this stuff. It's so dramatic, affordable, and applies easily. 

NARS Orgasm Blush

I went back to my first blush I ever used this month and have refallen in love with it. I think Orgasm is just the best color for summer. I find that it goes with all of my makeup, and on my skin at least, looks so natural and glowy!

Tarte Lights! Camera! Lashes! Mascara

Another old favorite, I've been using this mini this month too. I like it a lot and love how it defines each and every little lash I have. It lengthens great and the packaging is adorable. Plus I just generally love Tarte as a brand. However, if I know I'll be sweating this is not a great choice because it loves smudging and flaking. 

So those were all my favorites! Let me know what products you've been loving!  

First Impression: Benefit Gimme Brow

Hey guys!

I have another quick first impression today on Benefit's Gimme Brow. When this product first came out, I was a little skeptical. For me, it's really hard to spend so much money on my brows. But after using products from Anastasia and seeing that some of the higher end products do make a difference, I was really drawn to this product. In particular, I was intrigued by the lure of a fast and natural brow. I personally don't like super defined brows, so Gimme Brow sounded great.

Overall, after my first impression of Gimme Brow is really positive. Within two swipes on my first brow and it was instantly transformed. I was shocked by how great it looked with so little effort. Usually with my brow powder, it would take 10 minutes of work to make my eyebrow look that good. Here's a comparison of one brow done and the other not:



Left is the one with Gimme Brow, the right is untouched



As you can see, it made a significant difference. Just like the first brow, the second brow was also transformed. This one I had a little bit more trouble because it got a little gloppy, but it was nothing combing through couldn't fix.

So right now I'm super impressed. I can't believe I scoffed at this before now.

Have you tried Gimme Brow? Let me know your favorite brow products!

First Impressions: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex Mascara

Hi guys,

If you ever need to know one thing about my beauty habits, it's that I can't resist trying out a new mascara. Especially drugstore mascaras.

This weekend I decided to venture into uncharted territory for me: Rimmel mascara.

Don't get me wrong. I've heard fantastic things about the Scandal Eyes line. However, Rimmel is usually a brand that I totally forget about. I'm not sure why, but it's just the way it is.

However, that's changed officially now because I've tried out the Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex Mascara and I want to share my first impressions with you.

The promise of this mascara is pretty simple: it's supposed to give buildable volume that leaves lashes soft and flexible.

The first thing I noticed is the size of the brush. It's huuuuuuge. Like insane. Bigger than Benefit's Bad Gal Lash, which was previously the largest I've ever used. It's not the plastic kind of wand either, which I liked a lot.

The left is the Flex Mascara and on the right is The Rocket for comparison sake. See how huge?

Ignore the awkward expression haha

Overall, I think this mascara is really good. I've only used it once, but I can say that so far, I like it. It's definitely more wet right now after the first use, so I didn't want to layer on layers (I could feel it starting to get clumpy). But I can say that it did add volume and my lashes are soft. And it hasn't worn off or made my lashes fall, so I'd say so far, it's meeting my expectations.

What's your favorite Rimmel mascara? What do you think of huge wands?

March Favorites

Hey guys!

This month I got to try out a lot of new products, so I'm really excited to show them to you. I'm in full spring mode (even though as I write this it's only about 50 degrees outside), so a lot of things that I'm gonna share with you kinda show that I'm in a spring state of mind.

As you can see, there's a bunch of favorites this month and I can't wait to share them with you.

Nail Polish:

Left to Right: Victoria's Secret "Lucky," Essie "Bikini So Teeny," Essie Romper Room," and Essie "Lilacism"

 
VS Lucky

I was skeptical about nail polish from Victoria's Secret, but this was great. The application was flawless, the polish lasted a week!! And the color is truly gorgeous. A perfect mint green color.

Essie Bikini So Teeny

I love this pale blue polish. This month I've really been into light blues and purples and this became a new obsession for me. It has a subtle shimmer and the color is so unique.
 
Essie Romper Room

Very similar to Fiji, but this is a little pinker. I love it! I think it's the perfect girly color for spring and I can't get enough of pale pinks.

Essie Lilacism

This is very similar to Bikini So Teeny, but with a touch of purple. I wore this twice this month, which should show you just how much I adore this color.

Makeup and Skincare:

 
Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner

After I wash my face, I like to go over my skin with a cotton pad with this toner to make sure I pick up any last traces of dirty or makeup. This makes my skin feel super clean and I think it kind of helps reduce redness. I really like this and it's super affordable at Target, but I think overall the Simple Toner is better. But I'll continue using this for now.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I have really enjoyed using this blush brush this month with my Milani Luminoso blush. It's very soft and I think it makes apply blush really easy. If you are looking for good brushes, definitely check out Real Techniques.

NARS Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo

I'm obsessed with this two colors for an all over the eye look. I mix them together and it just creates the perfect shimmery champagne color. The quality and packaging is amazing, like most NARS products and I can't believe I've lived without this duo.
 
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

I began using this mascara sample this month and fell in total and complete love. This mascara makes my lashes super defined, very long, and so volumized. I can't get enough of it.
 
Benefit They're Real Mascara

I also started using a full size of this mascara and I'm just as impressed with this. It is definitely more of a lengthening mascara and I love how it hardly ever clumps. It stays all day and I really love using this too.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay

I featured this in my February favorites as well, but I wanted to feature this again because it has worked wonders with my complexion. I love how soft and clean it makes my face feel and I feel like it's definitely helped clear up my face.

It Cosmetics CC Cream

This has been my go to face product in March because it has a medium-full coverage, felt nice on the skin, has SPF and is super easy to apply. By far the best CC cream I've tried.
 
Hair and Body:

Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Hairspray

At Ulta this month, I got this on sale for $10 and am so glad I took advantage of the sale. This hair spray is fantastic at holding my curls all day, without the awful scent of the L'Oreal Elnet.

Herbal Essences Body Envy Shampoo

I've used this shampoo as a clarifying shampoo to make my hair really clean and less heavy. It definitely does the job and makes my hair smell like oranges, which is seriously the best thing ever.

The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel

I've fallen in love with The Body Shop shower gels this month and one that I'm obsessed with is the Mango scent. This smells like fresh fruit and is perfect for spring and summer. It leaves a light scent on my skin and leaves me feeling soft and clean.

Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Bloom

I love this body spray. It's been my go to scent this month and I can't get enough of it or the cute packaging.

 It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In with Keratin

I forgot to take a picture of this at first, but I've been crazy about the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In with Keratin. I got this for free at Ulta and I think it makes my hair feel and look even better than the original version. It also smells way better. It's great at detangling and at making my hair soft and smooth.

Candle:

Bath and Body Works Honeysuckle Bouquet

This candle is such a great spring candle because it's the perfect floral. It's not super overpowering, but has such a great flowery scent. Plus the packaging is super cute too.

What were your favorites for the month of March?

Review of Smashbox CC Cream

Hey guys!

Let me just say, it seems like within the next month, my life is going to just explode. I have this big capstone project (the biggest and final of my career) due on April 14, and right now my entire life revolves around trying to make it work as well as dealing with all the stresses of state testing and getting the students to actually pay attention to me instead of wishing it was spring break.

But anyway, in between preparing lessons and sleeping, I've been testing some new face products. One of those is the Smashbox CC Cream. This was recommended to me by a makeup artist and Sephora and I've been trying it out for a couple of weeks, so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you.

As you've probably heard, CC creams are great for people with problems with redness and dark spots. They offer a little bit more coverage than a BB cream, but are still usually a light to medium buildable coverage.

According to Sephora, this Smashbox CC Cream is supposed to be a color correcting cream that "fades imperfections, even complexion, and prevents future discoloration." It has SPF 30, supposed to be lightweight, neutralizes and brightens skin, as well as primes, perfects, and protects. It adds moisture without creating extra oil.

My Thoughts:

Overall, I think this is a pretty good product. It feels pretty nice on my skin (by the way, this month I've been STRUGGLING with combination skin, both insanely oily with dry patches around my nose and chin). I find that toward the end of the day, it can get a little oily (what doesn't?) and it can cling to dry patches as well. But it is lightweight and doesn't make me feel like my face is caked with makeup.

I'd say this is a light to medium coverage, but very buildable. One thing that I have noticed, is that after wearing for about 15-18 hours, this can still be on my face in some of my less oily places. I'm shocked that it lasts that long for just a CC cream. Of course, in my red areas, I do notice it starts to wear in the 6-8 hour area, but that's pretty decent.

This is after about 10 hours of wear

It covers my redness pretty well without any concealer, and I usually just wear some powder over it. I do use a primer underneath, because I find that it really clung to my dry spots without that. I also use a moisturizer and apply this with a Beauty Blender to make sure that I didn't get any of those awful patches. This definitely applies patching and awful if you don't blend it in well.

I haven't noticed any long term skin benefits, but I've been using it two weeks, so it's tough telling on that. I wear the color fair and I think it might be a smidgen yellow on me, but I think it blends pretty well into my skin color.

However, I do think $42 for 1 oz of product is ridiculously steep. I'm not sure if I'll repurchase just because of that fact alone. But I am enjoying it right now and I'm going to continuing using it in a rotation with other products. Is it better than the Stila CC Cream? Yes, without a doubt. I think it offers much better coverage and feels so much better on the skin.

Have you tried out the CC Cream rage or do you think it's too gimmicky? Also check out my Stila CC Cream review too.

First Impressions of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Hi guys!

Recently I picked up this little Beauty Blogger sample kit from Too Faced. I mostly picked it up because I wanted to try the Better than Sex mascara. Honestly, I wanted to try this mascara mostly because of the name. Hey, that's pretty much the sole reason why I went out and bought NARS Deepthroat and Orgasm (they are great blushes though, besides the names).

Let me tell you, the name might make you cringe (or giggle if you are me), but this mascara is amazing! I've tried it twice, and already I am contemplating throwing out the $23 for the full size. It's that good.

I've been loving the Rocket, which I thought was the bee's knees, but this just might be better. The brush is super similar to the Cover Girl Flame Out mascara. Which sucked in my opinion. But something about this brush is just better. It somehow reaches all my lashes and just defines and lengths them, while making them huge!! Seriously! Three swipes and I thought my lashes might hit my eyebrow!

So here are a bunch of really bad pictures taken with my Iphone, but I just want you to know, that I'm super obsessed with this stuff. It's perfect!

This picture shows that one eye has mascara, one doesn't.

So as you can see, I love taking pictures of myself. And I really think Better than Sex is a great mascara. Yes, I can see how it can get a little clumpy, just if you have the Rocket or Clump Crusher on hand in case things get crazy, I think it's fantastic. It might be my all time favorite high-end mascara.

February Favorites

Hey guys!

So February is over and I couldn't be more excited! I want Spring and flip flops and flowers, so the quicker that we get done with February and March, the better in my opinion. Except as I'm writing this, it's snowing outside, typical Colorado.

Anyway, this month I tried a ton of new products, so I'm kind of excited to share my February favorites with you. Hopefully, this month I'll be able to share some more product reviews with you, as well as hopefully some room updates as far as decorating goes.

So let's take a look at things that I've been loving of late!

Essie Fiji

This is a pretty popular color for a lot of people, and this month I got to see just how amazing of a color it is. It's pretty, feminine, and neutral (but with a cute pop of interest). I loved it on my nails, much to my surprise. I'm pretty sure that this light pink is going to be a spring staple for me this year. I love that it's completely opaque (I hate nail polish that's still sheer).

Beauty Blender

This month I've been experimenting a lot with new face products, so I finally caved and bought the Beauty Blender from Sephora. I must say, this thing is amazing! It's great on full coverage foundation and fantastic on a lighter coverage CC cream. No matter what, it leaves the makeup looking flawless and super natural. Plus, it lets me keep my fingers nice and clean! I'm already wondering how I've gotten this far in life without one!

The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter

I picked this up back in January from Ulta in a holiday gift pack that was on sale. This stuff smells amazing!! I'm been obsessed with all things peach and mango this month, and this stuff definitely helps make me a little more obsessed with mango! It is thick and buttery, and instantly helps relieve sore lips.

MAC Naked Pigment

I've been wanting this stuff for a few months now, and I finally got to my MAC counter and bought it. I'm so happy that I did, because I've found out just how amazing this looks as an all over the lid color. It's shimmery and a little glittery, but in a subtle sort of way. I think it looks amazing with the colors of the Naked Basics palette (which is a favorite this month too!). I've experimented applying this wet and dry, and both are gorgeous. I'm currently loving it applied dry though, because I think that makes it a little bit less shimmery.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser

My skin went absolutely crazy this month. From oily to acne filled (four zits on my face at once was insane, I haven't had any breakouts like that in like six months!) to now dry, my face has seen it all this month. One thing that I made myself commit to doing is actually cleansing my face after removing makeup. I'm awful about that, but with the help of this cleanser, I've been doing it consistently for two weeks now and this has made a huge difference I think to the way my skin feels. This instantly makes my face feel clean and nourished, soft and healthy. It helps get off any last traces of makeup and I think has helped me calm my skin down (I'm down to just one tiny breakout up my lips).

Maybelline's The Rocket Mascara

I mentioned earlier this month I was giving this stuff another try, and I'm so happy that I did! It's amazing! It adds so much volume without clumping while adding some length! I can't believe that I ever stopped using this stuff! Plus it's amazing on my lower lashes!

Bath and Body Works Market Peach Hand and Body Cream

I mentioned that I'm obsessed with all things peach and mango, and I blame this stuff for fueling this addiction. I love it! If you love the candle, you need this lotion! It smells like amazing fruitiness and makes my skin so soft without being greasy!

Milani Luminoso Blush

Another old favorite, I started using this again this month as well. Can you tell that I'm in the mood for spring? This is the perfect pretty coral blush. I think it's even prettier than NARS Orgasm. And applied with the Real Techniques Blush brush, it's even more amazing. It gives such a pretty, feminine glow.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Hands down my favorite UD palette, I started using this again with the MAC Naked pigment. I use Naked 2 and Faint in the crease and foxy on my brow bone, which makes the most beautiful, everyday look. I'm convinced that whenever you use those three colors, you will just look gorgeous. I feel like I've gotten every penny I spent on this palette back just by how much I've used it.

Bath and Body Works Raspberry Peach Macaron Candle

I was super excited for the release of the Sweet Shop scents this month and I honestly didn't expect this candle to have been my favorite. It smells amazing! Fruity and sweet, it's like the perfect combination of spring and winter. It burns amazing, has a great throw, and I think the packaging is so adorable. You have got to smell this stuff if you love raspberries or peaches.

Love looking at past favorites? Take a look at what I was loving a year ago in my February 2013 Favorites!

Manicure of the Week: Deborah Lippmann Daytripper

Hey guys!

Recently I picked up Deborah Lippmann's Daytripper from Sephora. It seems like I've wanted this color forever. Mostly because the color is simply the most gorgeous pinky coral ever. Unfortunately, the polish is $17, so I've had to put it off for pretty much years. I received a gift card for Christmas from my aunt, so I felt like that was the perfect time to splurge.

First and foremost, the color doesn't disappoint. I adore this color and think it's perfect for toes, spring, summer, and especially Valentine's Day. Sephora describes it as a "pink melon" shade and I think that's pretty accurate.

Unfortunately, I'm not too impressed with the durability of this polish. I found chips in less than two days, which I almost never encounter. But because the color is so pretty, I'm willing to deal with polish that chips easily.

Have you tried this? Do you think it's worth the hype?

Sephora Gift Card Haul

Hi there!

For Christmas my aunt gave me a gift card to Sephora, which was pretty much like having a second Christmas in my book. See, I usually buy my higher-end stuff from Ulta because I like their rewards point system better (although, maybe it's just the Ulta stores in my area, but I always seem to come across the snottiest employees, so I definitely don't visit there for the customer service or their coupon policy), so I don't get to play around with brands such as NARS or some of the other awesome stuff at Sephora.

I knew coming into Sephora that I really wanted some new face products. As much I love the Garner BB cream for combination/oily skin, I know deep inside that the shade is just too dark and yellow for me. And I really wanted to dabble in some higher-end stuff while I could.

After talking to a makeup artist and getting my skin color matched with their new computer program (seriously, I have no clue how it works, but it was beyond cool to watch), she recommended for me the Stila CC Cream. She matched me to the lightest shade, which I would have never thought would match me, but I think it looks pretty good.

In all honestly, I had never heard of it before. In a week or so I'll give a better first look at it, but so far I really like it.

I also picked up some more face powder (she recommended the Sephora brand, which I'm kinda skeptical about, but I'm too lazy to drive to MAC to pick up more of the Studio Fix powder).

Two total random things I never intended on buying were the Josie Maran Bear Naked nail polish removing wipes and Deborah Lippmann's Daytripper. The wipes called me because they have polar bears and peppermint scent and Daytripper is a color I've been lusting over for just about two or three years.

Overall, I thought it was a successful trip to Sephora.

And in case that wasn't enough shopping, I then went to Ulta to do some more damage. I had triple rewards points for the week, and I couldn't pass that down (why does it seem every time I actually have a good coupon or deal at Ulta, is when I don't need to buy anything? I think they plan this...).

 

 

I needed a new Urban Decay De-Slick spray really bad, so  picked up another full-size one.

 

Everything else I got was just truly impulse shopping and the promise of 3x reward points.

 

They had Body Shop lip balms 50% off, so I got this set of three (coconut, shea butter, and mango flavors) for $6.99. Which means that I essentially got 2 of them free, which is awesome.

 

And this Too Faced Beauty Blogger kit totally called me. Mostly because it has a sample of the Chocolate Soleil bronzer and the Better than Sex mascara. First of all, if something promises to smell like chocolate, you know I'll be all over it. Second, I love mascara. And I love products with kind of dirty names (one of the main reasons why I own the two NARS blushes that I do, although the colors are definitely worth it even if they weren't named anything raunchy). And I love samples. So I snatched this up fast.

 

Finally, I picked up this Real Techniques blush brush because I've heard amazing things about their brushes and thought this was a good place to start.

 

 

Last but not least, I had to pick up a new floral/fruity body wash. And Victoria's Secret always comes through for me.

 

 

 

 

I'd say it was a successful trip. I love trying out new things and I think I have a lot of great new options.

 

Have you gone shopping recently? Let me know if there's any products I should try out? 

 

My Top 13 Beauty Favorites of 2013

Happy 2013!

I hope you had a great holiday season and are excited for the new year. I personally am kind of shock just by how fast time has flown. I can't believe that my last semester on a college campus is over. I can't believe that in less than a week I'll be student teaching. And I definitely can't believe that (hopefully) in a few months I'll be graduating from college.

Anyway, hopefully I can get back on the blogging bandwagon a little bit more. Being sick and moving back home definitely have made the last month a little bit stressful.

But anyway, I thought it would be fun to take a look at my beauty favorites from 2013. A lot of them I've mentioned a lot, but a couple may be new. 

Country Chic, Makeup Wipes, Stila Kitten, Makeup Wipes, Eyelash Curler, Essie Lollipop, Cover Girl Ink It, Naked Basics, MAC Studio Fix, Urban Decay DeSlick, Orly Rage, Cat Eyes Mascara, Voluminious Million Lashes Excess, L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo and Conditioner

Bath and Body Works Country Chic

Since this scent was released a few years ago, this has been hands down my favorite. I adore this scent. I included a picture of the old packaging because I haven't purchased the new packaging yet and also because I like the old one better (seriously, sunflowers don't really relate to this scent at all). I love that it's fresh, floral, and even has a hint of lemon. I love ever yform of this scent. When I was trying to think of a scent that represents this year, and the year before, and the year before, it's this one without a doubt.

Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Wipes

I can't say it enough, but I love these wipes. They are amazing. I really don't know how I lived my life without these in it. I love the Simple wipes and the Equate ones, but they aren't even in the same league as these Clean and Clear ones. These take off the hardest to remove mascaras (in my collection that is Benefit's They're Real). They don't break me out, they don't have a funny smell, and they don't burn my eyes. Try these out, especially if you like taking off every speck of makeup.

Stila Kitten

This was an eyeshadow that a year ago I was lusting over and debating if it was worth the hefty pricetag. A year later, I wish I would have purchased it sooner. This is without a doubt, my favorite all over the lid color. It's the most stunning shade I've ever used. I love champagne pink colors, and this one beats Urban Decay's Sin, MAC's Jest and Naked Lunch, and my Cover Girl Shimmering Sands palette. I think I wore this color more than half of the days this year. Considering how much I like changing my look, I think that says a whole lot.

Tarte Eyelash Curler

Although I think it's not available with the Aztec print any more, this Tarte eyelash curler has been amazing for me this year. I think eyelash curlers are one of those tools that you don't put much thought into unless they are failing you. In 2012 I used at least four different curlers, mostly because they didn't work for me. But since April I've used this one from Tarte religiously and it's worked great. It doesn't pinch or hurt. It's easy to clean. And it's adorable. Plus the refill pads online are $1! How nice is that?

Essie Lollipop

Now this is a newer favorite, but without a doubt I've determined that this is the perfect red for me. I don't know about you, but finding the perfect red nail polish is like the Amazing Race. It's literally one of the most trying and exhausting hunts you can ever go on. At least if you are me. I found this in December and bought it honestly on a whim. But you know I love a nail polish when I use it more than once. Especially if it's consecutively. There's something about this polish that makes it better than all the other Essie's I've ever used. The formula doesn't get sticky or dry. The brush is fantastic. It's like a new brand of polish masquerading as an Essie polish (don't get me wrong, Essie is probably my favorite. But this one is like liquid gold). Essie describes this color as a candy cane red, which is probably why this color was my Christmas red I chose for the holidays this year.

Cover Girl Ink It! in Black Ink

Where do I begin with this eyeliner? I have no clue. Because no matter what I say about it, I don't think it can fully describe how much I love this stuff. It's a drugstore liner that (at Walmart and probably Target) you can get under $5. And it's amazing. It's black. It's easy to work with. It stays put. And did I mention it was cheap? And doesn't involve sharpening? And that I love it? Seriously, if you like mechanical eye pencils, try this one out. It doesn't disappoint.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

This, like the Stila Kitten, was something that I debated for a really long time about getting. That's because my Naked palettes are really things that I reach for that often. But since I bought this back in April, I've been obsessed with it. For most of 2013, I found myself using at least 3 shades daily (that's half the palette!). And it looks like I've barely made a dent in it. My favorite look this year was Kitten across the lid, Naked 2 blending in the crease, and Faint in the outer corner. Then I would take Foxy and use that as a highlight. I did that every day from April to December. You know you love a look when you do it almost every day for 8 months.

MAC Studio Fix Powder

This was definitely a summer staple for me. I was afraid of this powder because of it being allegedly cakey and heavy. But it literally was a lifesaver for me in the summer. Because of the heat and humidity, I hate wearing BB creams and anything liquidy on my face. So this powder provided coverage (up to medium coverage actually) that would last no matter what. Now I use this to set my Garnier BB cream and it still is amazing. I hit pan a few months ago and I know the second I run out, I'll buy another because I can't live without this powder.

Urban Decay De-Slick

In 2012 whenever I saw people raving or using this spray I'd usually scoff about how they paid $29 for water to dilute their high-end foundations. But this year I found that this spray is a lifesaver. It rids me of needing primer (which I think are the most pointless products ever by the way). It makes my face matte and refreshed and works great with the MAC Studio Fix powder. I've repurchased this at least 4 times and I probably will again here in the next week or two.

Orly Rage

Like I mentioned earlier, when I use a nail polish consecutively, I love it. A lot. I've used this at least five times in the last two months. I love the rose gold of this polish and it's staying power. It's so pretty!

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara

I think it's common knowledge here on my blog that I love this stuff. First, the packaging is adorable. It's yellow and has a leopard print. How perfect could it be? Second, I love the wand. It's pretty much my favorite wand of whole time for both top and bottom lashes. Third, this mascara makes my lashes so defined, black, and works great at the corners of my eyes. I really don't understand the poor reviews of this mascara because in my opinion it beats the Falsies, the Rocket, and countless others so easily!

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess

I'm a sucker for L'Oreal mascaras, especially the Voluminous Million Lashes kind. What I loved about this mascara was how quickly and easily it built up. I love the false lashes effect and this definitely did it. Plus it had great staying power and cute packaging.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo and Conditioner

Back in October I tried these on a whim. They had the travel sizes in the dollar spot at Target and I decided I want to try something new. Thankfully I decided that, because I love this stuff. I thought I loved Suave Moroccanoil, but it doesn't even compare to the amazingness of these. I love how soft, smooth, shinny, and manageable it makes my poofy and frizzy hair. Plus it smells good. And it's affordable. And that it doesn't build up in my hair at all. Which is really nice since my hair can get greasy kind of easily.

So those were my favorites of the year. When I was doing this, I kept asking myself, if something happened to them, would I repurchase them? And with every single one of them, it was a definite yes. And most of them I have already repurchased (the makeup wipes, Kitten, the mascaras, Country Chic, and De-Slick). What were your favorites of 2013? Are there any products you are looking forward to trying for 2014?

November Favorites

So it's been awhile since I've last blogged. It's hard to believe that I'm in the last two weeks of me being on my college campus. Because of that, making time to blog has been kind of hard.

Anyway, here are my November favorites. I've tried a bunch of new products this month and there's quite a few new favorites of mine.

Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel, Snow Day Candle, Cat Eyes Mascara, Garnier BB Cream Oily-Combination Skin, Aquaphor Lip Repair, CoverGirl Ink It eyeliner, Orly Rage, Clean & Clear Facial Cleaning Wipes

 

Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel

 

Bath and Body Works is in full Christmas mode, and earlier this month I went a little crazy buying all of their Christmas scents. Now, usually I'm a Twisted Peppermint and Vanilla Bean Noel person. I love those two scents so much, and don't worry, I bought those too, but this year when I'm taking a shower and have to choose out of the three, I've found myself choosing this one more often! Winter Candle Apple is a super sweet scent, which is why in years past I haven't really loved it. It's described as "a cheerful blend of ruby red apple, winter rose petals, and candied orange, drizzled with crisp maple and cinnamon." Now I don't smell the cinnamon or the maple, but it's incredibly sweet and fruity. My boyfriend claims he only smells the rose petals, but that's a guy for you.

 

Snow Day Candle

 

This was the first Bath and Body Works holiday candle I used and I've really enjoyed it. I have just a little bit left to burn, just in time for me to either start using Tis the Season or Spiced Apple Toddy for December. This candle is described as "a bright and joyful blend of spruce branches, peppermint, and sweet vanilla that captures the fun adventures of a snow-filled day." This is definitely a scent that reminds me of a cold day! The spruce part really stands out, which I typically don't like green scents, but mixed with the peppermint smells great!

 

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara

 

This is a long-time favorite on my blog and once again in the month of November I've rediscovered it. It seems like lately I'm incapable of just using one type of mascara. I've used this in a rotation with Benefit's They're Real, L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess, L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly, and Covergirl Flame Out. But at the end of the month, it's this one that I went back to. I love the wand, the packaging, and the formula. It's lengthening and adds volume and seems to never clump on me.

 

Garnier BB Cream for Combination-Oily Skin (Shade Light-Medium)

 

On impulse in November I decided to buy this BB Cream. The original version of this I loved for how it evened out my skin tone and reduced my redness, but I hated how heavy and oily it felt. Since the redness in my skin has been bothering me more lately, I decided to try this out. I'm so glad I did, because I love this stuff. I'm matte and pretty much oil free with this, which is amazing because my skin loves to be oily with BB Creams, it evens out the redness, and depending on the layering of product, is solid medium coverage. All of this from a product that is $11.99 at Target. I use this with my Urban Decay DeSlick spray and my MAC Studio Fix Powder. Plus I'd say the staying power is really good too, I'd give it a solid 6-8 hours depending on how oily your skin is.

 

Aquaphor Lip Repair

 

I've tried a lot of lip balm, and I can tell you that out of all of them, this is the only one that truly gets rid of chapped lips and makes them hurt less. I swear by this stuff. Yeah, it doesn't taste or smell magnificent, but it gets the job done...fast. I love it and I don't know what I would do if I didn't have it during the winter.

 

Covergirl Ink It Eyeliner

 

Earlier this month, a tragedy happened: my MAC Technakohl liner broke, while I was in my college town. Which is like an hour away from the nearest MAC counter. Likewise for a Sephora and Ulta. For a few days, I tried making do with Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner, but I found myself getting frustrated with it's messiness, lack of staying power, and sharpening. So while I was at Walmart, I picked up this because I remember hearing some pretty good reviews of this when it came out awhile back. All I can say is, that I love this stuff. It's very black, self-sharpening, has better staying power than Urban Decay, and goes on super easily. Plus, it's only $4.97 at Walmart. I love this so much. It stays on my oily eyelids really well, especially for a drugstore product.

 

Orly Rage

 

This fall I've developed a new nail polish obsession: rose gold. And in particular during November, I've loved Orly's Rage. First off, I usually hate all things shimmer and glitter, but this polish is beautiful. It had tremendous staying power, and the color is gorgeous. I'm not a repeat nail painter, but I've worn this three times this month. That's saying a lot. Go to Ulta or Sally's Beauty Supply and pick this up, because I think it's so pretty!

 

Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes

 

The last couple of months I've been loving Walmart Equate Makeup Removing Wipes, so I was skeptical picking these up. But I heard really good reviews and I was growing tired of having to scrub my nonwaterproof mascara off with the Equate ones. Guys, I can't believe I had never tried these before. They are the best drugstore makeup wipe. The. Best. These take off every single speck of makeup on your face in seconds, with no scrubbing and little irritation. I've never used a makeup wipe as good as these. Yes, they are a little more pricey than Simple's, but these are totally worth it because they get off every little bit of makeup in no time at all.

 

 

First Impressions of Benefit's They're Real! Mascara

So thanks to Sephora's free birthday gift, I recently got to try out Benefit's super popular They're Real! Mascara.

I've heard so many rave reviews about this mascara, but because I thought the $23 price tag was a little steep, plus my hesitancy to try Benefit products (just because I've never tried any before), I just avoided it.

When it comes to higher end mascaras, I find it so hard to justify using them. It's something that I go through super fast, like usually it takes a month or so for me to finish one, and I can't justify spending that much money on something that dries out so fast or gets used up so quickly.

But I love free samples, so I'm excited to tell you guys my thoughts on my first couple uses of this mascara.

On Sephora's website, it says: "A jet-black mascara that lengths, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separtates for a spectacular 'out to here' look."

Basically, it's supposed to be long wearing, black, and very dramatic.

So what do I think about They're Real!?

I really like it! It definitely defines and separates my lashes big time. And at first I kind of scoffed at the dramatic look it claims to have. But after building t up, it was a clean dramatic look. You know how many bold drama mascaras are super gloopy, clumpy, and messy? This isn't.

It doesn't smudge, flake, or budge at all during the day. It's even kind of difficult to take off for a non-waterproof mascara. Which isn't a positive, but you know.

So would I purchase this mascara once this insanely small sample size runs out?

Ugh, that's so tough. If I had an extra $23 laying around, then yes. I loved the way it makes my lashes look. I'm all about volume and length, and this definitely provided it. It's an easy mascara to use. But the price is so hard to overcome.

Have you tried this mascara? What are your thoughts? When it comes to high end products, what are ones that you will buy and others you don't think are worth splurging?

What Beauty Products Are in My Shower?

On Youtube, I always find it super entertaining to watch the "What's in my Shower?" videos. It's like a look into people's lives showing what products are important enough to crowd into their tiny showers, and I find that totally fascinating.

So I decided to finally share what I store in my shower! Here's a look at it!

 

The first thing we'll take a look at is my all time favorite shampoo and conditioner. I absolutely love Suave Professional's Moroccan Infusion shampoo and conditioner. My hair is super silky and smooth after using it!

Next to that in my shower, I have my razor and some body wash. I absolutely love the Schick Hydro Silk disposable razors. They worked amazingly and make my skin feel smooth and so hydrated. Next to that I have my Philosophy I Love Candy Corn body wash that I bought last fall. I adore this sweet scent and think it's perfect for fall.

In the next little cubby, I have first my Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner. When I want to switch up my hair products, I usually opt for this pricier pair of hair products. While I think that it doesn't work nearly as good as the Suave ones, it does a great job of gently cleaning my hair and making it frizz free.

Beside that I have my EOS Vanilla Bliss shaving gel. I'm honestly not a shaving cream person (I usually use body wash), but I love the scent of this.

Next up is my Bath and Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin body wash, one of my favorite fall staples. I adore this stuff. I've used this body wash almost entirely throughout the month of September.

Then I have my Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash. I don't use this super often, but it does make my skin feel pretty clean and it doesn't make my face any oiler. Plus it's foamy, so that makes it fun to use.

The next cutout has my Country Chic body wash from Bath and Body Works. I love this scent so much! Next that is my all time favorite face wash and mask. I love Neutrogena's Clear Pore Cleanse and Mask. It keeps my skin clear and definitely helps with oil control. I always start with this every time I get in the shower.

Finally I have a pink loofa from Bath and Body Works, Lush's Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo, and Lush's American Cream Conditioner. These Lush hair products are really great (super strong smelling though). I usually use these maybe once every other week.

So that's what is in my shower. These are all products that I use quite frequently and really like!

What items are your most favorite in your shower?