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!  

April Favorite Beauty Products!

Hey guys!!

I'm pretty excited to share my April favorites with you. This past month I tried a ton of new things, especially makeup. So let's get started!

So here is an overall overview of my favorites for this month. I decided that it would be fun to take pictures outside. This was good in theory, except my golden retriever Murphy insisted on helping...

It ended up being a long process with his help.

Makeup

Clean and Clear Night Relaxing Makeup Dissolving Wipes

Because it was new and has cool packaging, I was lured this month to try these wipes. Overall, I think they are really good. Just like the white package of the original version, it's just as amazing at removing mascara, just with an extra scent added. It's super strong scent, so if that bothers you, this probably isn't the product for you. But it's really nice overall and I've already repurchased for when I run out.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP

This month I've been obsessed with shimmering champagne eye looks. First, I gotta say that this cream shadow has the prettiest packaging ever. Beautiful. Second, this is a really subtle cream shadow. I definitely recommend you pack it on with a synthetic brush for more color, but I've had no problems with it creasing when I put a powder eyeshadow over it.

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer

This is a super hyped up product and this month I picked up the travel size that costs $18 to see what all the fuss is about. The Sephora makeup artist warned me that this leaves a blue-ish cast on the skin at first, but does a great job of concealing redness. I have to admit, this is the BEST primer I've ever used for my face. It makes my pores disappear, redness invisible, and makes my foundation last all day. It's truly amazing, although the pricetag makes me flinch a little bit. (Okay, a lot)

Beautyblender Solid

I can't believe I've lived my life without this soap. Basically it's bar of soap made to clean Beautyblenders and makeup brushes. What I didn't expect was for this to be utterly life-changing. It gets out the toughest stains in brushes and leaves them feeling and looking amazing. It beats the Sephora and MAC cleansers, it beats baby shampoo, and it's definitely a lot better than the handsoap I tried previously on my beautyblender.

Benefit Gimme Brow

Recently I wrote a review on this product and I'm still loving it. It has made my brow routine so much easier and faster and I'm going to be forever thankful for that. It's fool-proof and makes my brows look amazing.

Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer

While I love my MAC Select Cover concealer, this is a better color match and I've been obsessed with it the later part of this month. It definitely helps cover up blemishes, my undereyes, and redness around my nose. It's kind of hard to blend unfortunately, and I find that it likes to blend off rather easily, but for the most part it's a pretty good concealer.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex Lycra Mascara

This might be my new favorite mascara of all time. Yes, I went there. I've been using this all month and it's still wet, it's still going off effortlessly. And it still gives my lashes a huge, volumized look. Plus it makes them look a million miles long. If you are in the market for a new mascara, you need to try this one out. I'm so surprised that I had never heard anything about it on Youtube, because it's amazing!

Real Techniques Powder Brush

I thought I could never love a powder brush more than my Sigma one, but that changed this month. This brush is super affordable, applies product perfectly, and it is really easy to use.

MAC Matchmaster Foundation

I wrote a review on this too, and I can't say enough amazing things about this. If you have oily skin, you need to try this. It makes my skin glow while still being matte, and leaves me looking naturally beautiful. I love this stuff.

MAC Careblend Powder

This with my foundation is amazing. It's perfect for sensitive skin and doesn't cake on. I'm so glad I invested in this powder.

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

In addition to the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow, I also purchased the Urban Decay version too. This is amazing too. This is not a cream, but a primer, but also gives a great champagne pink glow to the eyes. It stays on all day and gives a strong hint of color.

MAC Peachykeen blush

I've worn this blush everyday since the end of March and I still can't get enough of it. I love this stuff. It gives a perfect pink color to the cheeks for spring.

Nail Polish

Deborah Lippman Blue Orchid and Flowers in Her Hair

These spring colors have been amazing this month. Blue Orchid is like a periwinkle blue that is just beautiful and applies great. Flowers in Her Hair is the perfect mint green and is probably my favorite mint green I've used yet.

OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender

I didn't expect to like this color, but I think it's my favorite of spring this year. It's absolutely gorgeous and very unique.

Zoya Remove Nail Polish Remover

I got this free in an order I made earlier this month and tried this purely out of curiosity and was so pleasantly surprised. This just melted the nail polish right off of my fingers and toes, even easier than acetone, but better because it's not nearly as harsh.

Haircare

Suave Humectant Moisture Conditioner

I love using this along with the Herbal Essence Body Envy Shampoo. It makes my hair super shinny, smooth, and soft. Plus this smells really good too.

Moroccanoil

This is an old favorite, but I've used this on my ends this month and I just love the smell and the huge change it makes to my hair. It's amazing.

Body and Skin

Olay Refreshing Nectarine Body Wash

I picked this up on a whim earlier this month and I'm obsessed with the amazing scent and how soft it makes my skin feel. It's even better than Bath and Body Works shower gel.

First-Aid Beauty Blemish Patrol Pads

I don't know how much of a difference these are making to my skin, but I love how refreshing and clean they are. Plus I've had a much better skin month, so I'd like to think these have something to do with that.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Delight

This is my go to spring scent. It smells fruity and floral and simply amazing. Plus the packaging is super cute to look at too.

Candle

Last but not least, I need to include my Market Peach candle. With spring comes the need to constantly have this burning and I still am obsessed with this scent. I love it.

So there you have it. What have been your favorites this month?

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?

The Guide to Oily Skin

Hey guys!

When I first started using makeup, there was always one question I was faced with that seemed really daunting: do I have oily or dry skin?

For people that have been using make up, this might seem like a silly question. But when you are new to things, it can be really hard, since this is usually a question that only you would know.

It really helps when you do know the answer, because it can help you pick the right kinds of makeup and skincare product for you.

I thought that maybe I could help out a little.

Signs of Oily Skin:

-You notice shinny spots on your skin: especially on your forehead, nose, and chin.

-You feel like you need to wash your face several times a day.

-You often get pimples

-You have an oily scalp: meaning you wash your hair or need to use dry shampoo often.

-You feel your makeup sliding around your face during the day.

A quick way to tell if you suffer from oily skin: buy a pack of oil blotting sheets (my favorite are the Deep Clean ones by Neutrogena). Press a sheet against your skin. If you turn the paper into something that looks like the picture below: you've got oily skin.

A few tips for people with oily skin:

-Even though you might not want to, moisturize! Skin becomes oilier the more it dries out. I like the First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream.

-Choose face products that say they are oil free and mattifying. I like It Cosmetics CC Cream and the Smashbox Photo Finish Light primer.

-A good powder is your best friend. I love MAC's Studio Fix Plus.

-Finding a good cleanser that cleans deep into pores is super important. I love the Neutrogena Clear Pore and First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser.

-Blotting sheets like the Deep Clean ones above, are so helpful!

-When all else fails, Urban Decay's DeSlick spray literally works miracles.

Make sure to check out all of my latest posts: My Nail Polish Collection, My Everyday Makeup, MAC First Impressions/Haul, and Covergirl 3-1 Foundation Review.

5 Things I'm Loving

Right now, there's a few things that I can't get enough of.

1. I'm obsessed with Pure Seduction Bloom from Victoria's Secret. Not only is the packaging freaking gorgeous, but it smells like spring in a bottle. I couldn't help but go out and buy the shower gel as well.

2. I'm equally crazy about this nail polish from Vicky's as well. I think this is the most perfect mint nail polish. It's the color "Lucky."

3. Don't get me started on Benefit's They're Real mascara. This makes my lashes look like they are a million miles long. Plus it goes on without a single clump. It's truly one of my favorite mascaras ever.

4. My first NARS eyeshadow duo in Alhambra is so pretty I can't stand it. This pink and sparkly gold combine to make the prettiest all over lid color ever. I can't believe I've lived without this for so long!

5. My boyfriend. I can never get enough of him.

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!

Favorites List

This post is gonna be a little bit different, but I thought it would be sorta fun to make a list of some random favorites of mine. 

Color: I've always loved yellow and red...but hardly ever together. It's always a toss up between which I like more. 

Ice Cream Flavor: Did you know that second graders are usually only concerned about this question? Seriously, in the last like five months of being around seven and eight year olds, I get this question the most. Which is kinda unfortunate because I don't like ice cream all that much. But since you can't tell a second grader that (it's like saying you hate weekends or baby bunnies), I tell that I like Cookies and Cream. 

Hair Product: Moroccanoil. This is by far, my holy grail hair product. It makes my hair so silky and smooth and smells amazing. 

Beauty Product: Mascara---the answer varies, but right now I'm loving Maybelline's The Rocket. 

Nail Polish: Orly's Rage

TV Show: This is a three way tie: Gilmore Girls (I literally love everything about that show), Scrubs (hilarious and it's one I never tire of), and Boy Meets World (words cannot describe how much I love this show). I'm also becoming pretty addicted to Friends thanks to my boyfriend. 

Material Possession (that's not electronic): My pearl earrings...no doubt about it. 

Month: September. I love the beginning of fall (the scents, the clothes, the colors, the weather!). My birthday and anniversary fall in this month. It's literally the best month of the year...with December coming a close second. 

Day of the Week: Fridays. Specifically, Friday nights. 

Time of the Day: I really like getting ready every day, but I don't like waking up. I really like afternoons and cozy late nights. 

Lazy Day Activity: Laying in bed watching Scrubs on Netflix or spending the whole day on Pinterest. 

Store: This is tough to pick between Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, Target, Ulta, and Sephora. Can I choose them all? 

Type of Animal: Prairie Dogs

Holiday: Christmas

Sports: Hockey, especially college hockey. 

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!

Student Teaching Wardrobe Staples

Well today is the day.

For first day with students for my student teaching! I'm excited and so nervous!

If you are a fellow education major or student teacher or even teacher, you might know how hard the transition from dressing like a college student to dressing like a teacher can be. And expensive!

Being in a sorority definitely helped a lot since our meetings were usually business casual, but I was kind of surprised last semester in my practicum (where I was in the classroom 2 days a week and taking classes on my college campus the other two days) just how hard it is dressing like a teacher! I don't mean that in an "it's so hard to dress classy" sort of way. I meant it's hard to have clothes that work for your life outside the elementary classroom and for the rest of your life. Because as a college student, money is hard to come buy. Especially right now for me with less than $20 in my bank account.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a few of my teaching staples with you. These are things I relied on heavily last semester and things I pretty much assume will be super important to me again this semester student teaching.

The Diva Pants, Essie Chinchilly, Portofino shirt, Mossimo Flats, Pink V-Neck, Infinity Scarf, Vera Bradley Tote

Old Navy The Diva Skinny Ankle Pants

So I'm only 4 foot 11, which means that the only things more impossible than finding jeans to fit, is trying to find dress pants. I don't think people truly realize how frustrating shopping for dress pants is for shorter people. I mean, petites don't even fit me, with the pants legs pretty much sweeping the floor. But when I found these pants from Old Navy, I pretty much rejoiced. First of all, they are skinny leg. Which if you didn't know, skinny leg is great for girls that are short because I think it lengthens the leg, and can be rolled up to look cute, and can even be altered easier. Plus they don't look like monsters attached to your legs are trying to eat your feet. These pants are great, pretty affordable, and come in a ton of different colors and prints. They look adorable with flats and are great even for riding boots.

Essie Chinchilly

Always a nail polish favorite of mine, I had to include Chinchilly in this round-up of staples. Why? Because I think it's the perfect go-to nail polish for every occasion and every season. It looks classy and professional, but it's a ton more fun than a baby pink or a plain nail. It's literally the most perfect gray-purplely neutral color.

Express Portofino Shirts

If you have any reason to dress up at all, and don't own at least one of these shirts, you are seriously missing out. Thanks to a few of my sorority sisters, I found this shirt this past fall and have seriously fallen in love. Why? Because they shirts are not only super cute and fashionable, but they are also great for professional settings. They come in a million different colors and prints, and while they are a little pricey, they usually are offered Buy One Get One 50% off. Some are a little see through (the lighter colors), so for those you'll want to wear a tank and probably a cardigan over (which is super cute!). They are super cute with the Old Navy pants and riding boots. It's a staple outfit for me for teaching.

Mossimo Ona Flats

If the pants issue wasn't already frustrating enough, I have tiny feet. In fact, most of my shoes are from the children's section. So you can imagine how hard it is to find teaching appropriate shoes that are also comfy. But I finally found them in this flat. I love my leopard flats and hope to get more in the future. Plus they are really affordable too.

Victoria's Secret Pink Essential V-Neck

You might be scratching your head at this one, but one of my favorite outfits to wear for teaching involves these tees. First, they are super comfy and come in a million colors. Second, they look absolutely amazing with an infinity scarf and a cardigan. It's amazing how this combination of tee, scarf, and cardigan look like you worked all morning on an outfit when it really only took five minutes. The Target Boyfriend tees are also great too.

Cute Infinity Scarves

The best advice I can give student teachers is to invest in a ton of infinity scarves. Buy plain ones, floral ones, polka dot ones, animal print ones, and at least one in every color. I'm serious. Because not only do these instantly elevate an outfit from boring to amazing, but they also make tops like the Pink V-necks appropriate in a school setting. I think this one from Nordstrom's is adorable! If I can recommend one though, I'd say you for sure need a black one. I seriously can wear mine at least once a week.

Cute Teaching Tote

Of course I had to include a Vera Bradley tote. I think it's really important to have a cute teacher tote bag to carry notebooks, your lunch, and whatever other necessities you have. I have two of these Vera totes and love them a lot. I choose this smaller version rather than the big Vera style because I'm shorter and the big one looks like it's trying to eat me. I also like that this one is more affordable, especially if you hit big sales on clearance ones.

What are your favorite clothes to wear when you need to be a bit more dressy?

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?