January Favorites

Hey there!

It's now officially February, which I have some mixed feelings about. I love Valentine's Day (any holiday where there are hearts, red, pink, polka dots, and lots of cute little floral things is at the top of my list), but I really don't want this semester to fly too much, since April is the month that I pretty much have the biggest, most important school project of my life due. Seriously, I'm kinda freaking out about it.

Anyway, since I didn't do a December Favorites and because I've tried out a lot of new things in the month of January, I'm pretty excited to share with you my favorite products this month. So let's take a look.

Milani Brow Fix Kit

This month I found myself in a little bit of a brow product bind. I had been using the Maybelline Define a Brow (which I truly dislike, but was too cheap to buy anything else), but when that ran out, I didn't know what to use. I found this product just laying in my makeup collection collecting dust. Last spring I picked this up, but deemed it too light to use. However, I've found despite the fact it's a little light, it makes my brows look so good! Like natural and put together at the same time. I combine the two brown colors with an angled Sigma brush and then just fill them in, then follow that up with a little clear mascara. I'm so pleased! Sometimes, the key is to just shop your makeup collection!

Victoria's Secret Passion Struck Body Wash

I don't know if others feel this way, but after Christmas this year I was in the mood for spring. Forget the snow, sweaters, boots, and cozy scents. I was ready for fruit, floral, coral, sundresses, and flipflops. So even if the weather doesn't agree with me (hello, snow!), this body wash definitely helped me cure my spring fever. It is one of their new scents and I really like it because it's girly, fruity and floral, but not obnoxious at all. It's said to smell like Fuji apple and vanilla orchid and I really love this a lot.

Benefit Rockateur Blush

This is the first Benefit blush that I've ever tried, and honestly I was a tad skeptical when I heard all the rave reviews about this blush when it first came out. First of all, I dislike the name for some odd reason. And I'm a little late to the huge rose gold craze. But, I decided to pick this up this month and am so glad I did! This is such a pretty, natural, everyday blush color. I've found the best brush to use to apply this is my MAC 168 because it's firm and layers the product on really well. Plus I'm always pleasantly surprised by the floral scent. And I think the packaging is pretty cute too.

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara

I picked this up on a whim on New Year's Day from Kmart and seriously, I can tell you how amazing this mascara is. I can't believe not everyone owns this mascara. It's volumnizing, lengthening, and so dramatic! When it comes to mascara, the bigger/faker looking, the better in my opinion. And this just comes out beautifully! I've definitely gotten my $2.99 worth of this stuff!

Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo & Conditioner

I went back to a summer staple this month and have refallen in love with it. In my 2013 favorites I talked about my love for the Total Repair 5 from L'Oreal, which I had been using almost religiously. However, I began to notice my hair was lacking some of the shine and healthiness it used to have. So I went back to this duo and instantly saw a huge change for the better in my hair. It's so shinny and smooth when I use this stuff! I can't believe how affordable it is either!

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub

I picked this up after Christmas and I love it. I think it's without a doubt a winter must-have if you have chapped lips. Not only does it taste amazing, but it really helps your chap stick sink in deeper after you use this.

Lorac Behind the Scenes Eyeshadow Primer

This came with my Lorac Pro Palette, and at first I turned up my nose at it. I figured it would be subpar like the Urban Decay Primer Potion or the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. However, I eventually found myself using it and falling totally in love. Guys, this is even better than the NARS version (and $3 cheaper!). I ask my eyeshadow to last all day (which means usually about 10-12 hours teaching) and this primer holds up that entire time. It's amazing! If you have oily lids, you need to check this stuff out because I can't get enough of it.

Lorac Pro Palette

I received this for Christmas and I'm so glad that I did! I must admit, this is better than the Naked Palettes. I think the shadows are all great quality, they last all day, have great color payoff, and I love that there's both matte and shimmer eyeshadows in here. I've used this palette all month long, never straying away from it. I can't get enough out of the Nude or Light Bronze colors. I usually wear one of those with Taupe in the crease.

So that's my favorites for January! What have you been loving this month? I love product recommendations!

By the way, if you like seeing what products I've featured in my monthly favorites previously, make sure to check out this page of my entire list of favorites!

Spring Haul!

Hi everyone!

A few days ago I went shopping and picked up some fun spring things that I would like to share with you! I don’t know about you, but I love shopping when the weather is nice. It just has such a happy feeling to it!

The first thing I picked up at my college's bookstore. I'd been eyeing these guys since they came out awhile back, but I couldn't justify spending the $11 on highlighters. However, this week I dediced I needed some nice spring highlighters, so I went for it. I absolutly love the ones in Go Wild, Jazzy Blooms, and Midnight Blues!

Later, I went to Victoria's Secret, which is always a huge downfall for me. I love that place so much. Recently, I heard some beauty guru talking about Vanilla Lace, which is a scent that I used to wear like back in early high school. Deciding that I wanted to try out something new, I bought the shower gel in it. What I didn't realize until I bought it, is that is smells so much like Vanilla Bean Noel from Bath and Body Works! Maybe that's why I liked it? But as I've mentioned before, I'm loving sweet smells,. and this is totally perfect! Plus, is it just me, or does Victoria's Secret shower gels leave a stronger scent behind that BBW?

 

Also at Victoria's Secret, I decided to buy a couple more of my favorite things in the entire world: their V-neck t-shirts. I love love love these guys. Not only are they super soft and comfy, but they always come in great colors (brights, neons, pale blushes, and essential colors like black). I can't say enough great things about them. I love layering them under a cardi and with a scarf, for a simple cute outfit. I'd been wanting a black one really bad, so I picked up that and since they are 2 for $30 (hopefully it bothers other people that two months ago these were 2 for $28 like it does me), I also got a pretty mint green one. Both are perfect for spring! 

 

And since Bath and Body Works was next door, I couldn't stop myself. The first thing I saw when I walked in was this adorable plug in for Wallflowers. Seriously, how cute is this guy? Now I know it's probably meant to be daisies, but I told myself they are daffodils (which are my favorite flower), so that meant I had to get it for my room at school to ring in spring. Seriously, see that bow? And the yellow? So cute.

 

Also while I was there, I was totally sucked into the 2 for $22 candle sale. My logic was that at home for spring break I'd want some nice fresh, spring smells for my room. So I picked up First Bloom, which has the cutest packaging ever, I might add. It's description says, "This fragrant blend of peony, apple blossom, and plumeria captures the essence of the very first blooms of the season." It is one of the true spring smells for me (next to lilac, which is my all time favorite. I'd say the description is pretty much what it smells like: very flowery, kinda perfume-y, and I can must definitely smell the apple in there. I'm a sucker also for floral scents, especially roses, which this is kinda like.

The second candle I got was of course, Frosted Cupcake. I've been obsessed with cupcakes, and I thought I should invest in a candle to make my room smell like one. The description says, "A true food-lover's deligh-fresh vanilla been, sugar, cake batter, and rich buttercream frosting mix it up and create an irresistable scent." It smells truly like the best bakery ever. I love it!

 

What's funny, is the reason I actually went shopping in the first place was this dress. See, a couple weeks ago when I was in Dallas for my sorority's District Day, I tried this on at a Macy's for fun. I loved the color, the lace, and how it fit, but I wasn't completely sold. Fast forward two weeks, and I wanted it bad (mostly because I had pointed it out to my boyfriend who said it would look beautiful on me, and then I decided I needed it). So thankfully the Macy's closest to me had it still in my size, so I did it. It's the perfect spring dress. I just picture it looking lovely with wavy curls in my hair and my riding boots (or maybe my gold flip flops depdending on the weather and whether my toes are painted it or haha). I have an obsession with lace dresses. If it weren't already obvious.

 

Then the next day when I was hanging out with my boyfriend, we stopped at another Macy's. This one has a MAC counter in it, so of course I had to pay it a visit (seeing as how the nearest MAC counter to my college is 30 minutes away). So I picked up my absolutely favorite: Techna Kohl liner in Graphblack. And after using it, I remembered why I love it so much! It's so rich and creamy. It doesn't take any pressure to create a dark line. And it stays! It doesn't change to being a gray color like the Physican's Forumla liner I'd been using for about the last five months. It's simply amazing!

By the way, how amazing is my boyfriend? He knew I wanted to visit the MAC counter so bad, and even though he despises makeup (especially MAC because he thinks it's too expensive), he led me to Macy's, and patiently waited as I swatched eyeshadows and blushes. He didn't even complain a bit! Seriously, I'm so lucky to have him. Plus, he surprised me with breakfast the next morning! Boyfriend of the year without a doubt.

What spring things are you tempted to buy? Do you notice yourself shopping more when the weather is nice?