Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Smell This: Viva La Juicy Gold Couture by Juicy Couture

I am a Juicy girl at heart. The first time I smelled a Juicy fragrance, I was in love. My love has only grown from there. Sure, there have been a couple that I haven't cared for that much, but overall it is my favorite brand when it comes to perfume.

I think it is time to add a new Juicy to my personal collection because Viva La Juicy Gold Couture has been released within the last month and it is living up to my Juicy expectations for sure.



The top notes are will berries. Middle notes are Sambac jasmine and honeysuckle. sandalwood, golden amber, caramel, and vanilla elixir make up the base notes.

The scent is deep and rich. It smells warm and golden, hence the name of the fragrance. Many of the notes in this perfume are also in Viva La Juicy Noir, which is one of my favorite fragrances. 

Juicy Noir has gardenia and mandarin orange in it, which makes the fragrance smell different. I also think the notes are added in a different order, which may or may not make fragranes smell different. I am not an expert on that kind of thing, so I'm not positive about that.


I'm not a huge fan of this bottle, but that's mainly because I do not really like gold. The bottle is very similar to the other perfumes in the line. Viva La Juicy Noir, which was released last year was the first of the Juicy perfumes to have a metallic bottle. Gold Couture has a metallic gold bottle with the Juicy Couture emblem in the center. The choice of the gold bottle and the name Gold Couture is fitting because of the "golden" notes in the fragrance. The bottle just isn't my personal favorite. 

I don't really care for the bow on top either. I like all the other bows that are on the other Juicy perfumes, but this one doesn't seem to fit the bottle. The mesh feel of the bow and the polka dots make it look a little cheap to me. I also don't think the pink writing on the bottle fits with the gold bottle. However, I'm sure they just used the pink because that is the brand's signature color.


Juicy ads are not usually anything special and these ones are not different. They are the same as all the others just with the new fragrance featured. Sasha Pivovarova is the face of Juicy and has been for years now. She is a Russian model who has done other ad campaigns with Armani, Hugo Boss, Roberto Cavalli, and more. I think she is a good fit for the ads, but I wish they would spice them up a bit more and get more creative.


Viva La Juicy Gold Couture is available in two sizes:
The 3.4 oz bottle is $92.
The 1.7 oz bottle is $72.

This perfume is available in most department stores and cosmetic stores like Sephora and Ulta.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Smell This: DKNY My NY

DKNY, the fragrance line by Donna Karan, has released their newest perfume called My NY. I have never been a fan of any Donna Karan or DKNY perfumes until now.


There are a lot of things I love about this perfume. The most important thing is the scent itself. The top notes are raspberry, pink pepper, and galbanum. Middles notes are Egyptian jasmine, freesia, and orris. The base is made up of patchouli, vanilla, musk, and ambergris. The scent is sweet and sophisticated. It has a nice blend of flowers without it really being a stereotypical "floral" scent. 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Lip Love: NYX Butter Lipstick in Razzle

NYX cosmetics were 40% off a couple weeks ago at Ulta. This was the perfect time for me to try a couple of their newer products I have been eyeing.

I picked up a NYX Butter Lipstick because I have heard and seen so many people talk about these lipsticks. The shade, Razzle, caught my eye.

I am IN LOVE with this color! Razzle is a bright, Barbie pink shade that definitely draws attention to the lips. I just can't even talk enough about how much I love this color. The color payoff is so amazing and the lasting power is really great for a drugstore brand and a lipstick in general.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

ShopMissA Jewelry HAUL

I am all about getting awesome discounts on pretty much anything. Who doesn't love discounts?! 

When I watched a video a couple months ago where XSparkage talked about this company called ShopMissA, I thought she might be a little crazy. Basically this company sells jewelry, hair accessories, nail art, and other things for $1. Yes everything on this website is ONE DOLLAR. I couldn't believe it either. I had to look at the site myself because surely these products have to be cheaply made if they are only $1.

Well let me tell you, one order later and a very minimal chunk of change spent and I am completely in love with ShopMissA. All I bought from the site was jewelry and I am pleasantly surprised by the quality. 

Take a look at the items I bought below:


I'm not sure when owls became such a huge thing in jewelry, but they are EVERYWHERE! I'm not complaining though. As you will see, I bought a lot of owl jewelry because I just think owls are super cute. This ring has aqua jewels on the belly and is a pretty decent size. The band is adjustable, so I can wear it on another finger if I want. Also, any of the jewelry shown here that has any colored jewels, stones, etc. comes in other colors as well. 

Saturday, June 28, 2014

I'M BACK + Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale HAUL! (Wallflowers, Candles, Hand Soap, Body Wash)

I am finally back to blogging! I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer so far. I apologize for being away for so long.

I decided to get back in the swing of things by showing you what I picked up at Bath & Body Works during their Semi-Annual Sale. I got almost all of these products for about $34, which I think is a great deal. I used a coupon they had for $10 off a purchase of $40 or more.

There are four wallflowers I bought a few weeks ago that I decided to show in this post too because they are obviously from the same store. I figured I might as well show everything I have gotten there recently.

I have a lot of bath and body products at home already, so I bought a lot of home fragrance things.


I think Tiki Beach is officially my favorite fragrance at B&BW right now. The scent is a mix of coconut, vanilla, and orchids. It reminds me of summer, the beach, and just smells freakin' awesome. I have this scent in a candle that is burning as I am typing this. I also have it in the scent-portables for my car. I got the 2-pack of the wallflowers because I love the scent so much and they were 50% off.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Down to the Wire

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all that I will most likely not be posting anything until next month sometime. I have three weeks left of my senior year of college and then I graduate May 18th. There are a lot of things going on right now. I am focusing on finishing up my schoolwork and then I will get back to blogging. Make sure you enter your email on the side so you can be updated when I do begin to post again.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Clarisonic Mia 2 Journey: Day 7-14

Friday, April 4th - Friday, April 11th

I learned something new about the Clarisonic that I think is pretty cool. You can remove the center part of the brush head from the whole brush head and clip the small, center part to the Clarisonic so that you can get around your nose and mouth better when you're using it. I tried that tonight and the only real problem I have with it is that you have to take it apart and unclip the head and clip it on and it just takes more time to clean my face. I might not do it every day, but I will do it every so often because it get around my nose so much better that way.

I haven't noticed any other changes as of late. Therefore, I am not going to keep doing a day to day account of what's going on with my skin. I will write about any changes I notice each week and post that.

I talked to a licensed esthetician Monday that works at the store I work at and she suggested not using the Clarisonic twice a day or even not everyday. My skin is obviously not used to this deep cleansing and I think my skin is being over-cleansed and over-exfoliated. I decided to not use it tonight and maybe only use it at night for right now.

My acne has still been a problem this week. I have been fighting to get it under control. I bought an acne mask at Ulta that I am hopeful about. I have been using the Clarisonic every other night, but I think I will try using it every night now.


Saturday, April 5, 2014

Clarisonic Mia 2 Journey: Days 1-6

I recently decided to invest in a Clarisonic. I have heard so many people talk about how great it is, so I figured now was as good of a time to get it as any.

The one I bought for myself is the Mia 2 with a 1 minute automatic timer and 2 speeds. I got mine in hot pink, which I believe is a limited edition color.


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Smell This: Dolce & Gabbana Dolce

Dolce & Gabbana's latest fragrance, Dolce, is feminine floral scent.


The top notes of this fragrance are neroli leaf and papaya flower. The heart is made up of white amaryllis, narcissus, and white water lily. The base is cashmere and musk.

I like the subtlety of this perfume. It's not in-your-face, but it has a really refreshing floral scent. I looked at some reviews online of this perfume and a lot of people said it was boring and nothing special. The subtle scent, which some people are calling boring is exactly what I like about the scent. 


Dolce is light enough to wear as an everyday scent. It makes me wish flowers were blooming here in Iowa instead of it being cold and windy.

The bottle for Dolce is not a typical Dolce & Gabbana bottle. D&G usually stick to rectangles and squares with no frills. The design is a rounded bottle with light green perfume, which is fitting for the scent of the fragrance. The lid is white flower (it's probably supposed to be one of the flowers in the fragrance) which is an elegant touch. There is a black bow that sits around the top as well that adds an extra feminine element to this very feminine perfume and well as the feminine writing of "Dolce" on the bottle.


I found that the scent lasted a moderate amount of time, which I would expect from D&G.

Dolce sells for $112 for a 2.5 oz. bottle, $90 for a 1.6 oz. bottle, and $70 for a oz. bottle of the perfume.


Pictures from fashionista.com, nstperfume.com, and basenotes.net, respectively.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Smell This: Calvin Klein Endless Euphoria

Calvin Klein's has released a new fragrance called Endless Euphoria. It is a great scent for spring and summer.


This perfume smells almost nothing like the original Euphoria. Euphoria has a lot more woodsy notes in it mixed with floral.

Endless Euphoria is fresh and floral and citrusy. The top notes are cherry blossom, mandarin, and bergamot. Pastel rose and violet make up the heart. The bottom notes are bamboo, sandalwood, and musk.


I think what I smell most in the fragrance is the mandarin mixed with the cherry blossom. The floral notes in the perfume are not overwhelming and add just the right depth. This is a fragrance that is perfect for wearing everyday because it is not too heavy or overpowering.

The bottle has a similar oblong shape like the original Euphoria. However, Endless Euphoria is shorter and more round whereas Euphoria is more wide and narrow. The color is a pretty, light pink. There is a purple tube going around the "hose" that is connected to the sprayer in the bottle. I have never seen something quite like it and I'm not sure what to think of it. The lid is tall and has a metallic silvery pink color to it.


The scent lasted for a while on me when I wore it, so I am pretty pleased with this fragrance overall.

Endless Euphoria is $89 for a 4.2 oz. bottle and $69 for a 2.5 oz. bottle and can be found in many different department and cosmetic stores. 

                                                                  Pictures from fragrantica.com

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Lancome Tresor In Love and Tresor Midnight Rose

I recently bought two Lancome fragrances that I wanted to share with you.

Tresor Midnight Rose is one of my all-time favorite fragrances, but I have never actually owned it before. My boyfriend bought it for me, so it was technically a gift. I am in love with this scent! It smells pretty but deep and dark. It has raspberry, rose, vanilla, and musk in it. I just love the way of the notes blend together. This is the perfect perfume for me. This 1.7 fl. oz. bottle retails for $60.


Tresor In Love is a fragrance I kind of ignored until now. I never really gave it a chance. The scent caught my attention when I smelled it a few weeks ago though. It has notes of some fruits, rose, jasmine, cedar wood, and musk. The scent is floral, but it is a soft floral that is not overwhelming at all. It is a great fragrance for spring. I got a gift set they had for the fragrance because it was only a few dollars more. It came with the Tresor In Love perfume in a 1.7 fl. oz. bottle, the matching lotion, and the Lancome Hypnose mascara. The gift set retails for $62.


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Lancome Gift With Purchase!

Earlier in the week, I told I briefly mentioned Lancome's free gift with purchase they have right now. It is a free, 7 piece gift with a purchase of $35 or more. I have pictures of the gift today to show you.

Lancome's gifts are all about choices. The first choice you have is a blue or red bag. The blue bag has a girl riding a bike on it and it says "Paris je'taime!" on it. Not the cutest bag they've had, but at this point I have so many cosmetic bags that it doesn't matter too much to me anyway. I do think that the bag is a great size and can fit a lot of stuff in it. The other color option is the red bag that also says "Paris je'taime!" on it. There are bouquets of pink and red roses patterned all over the bag too.



Thursday, March 13, 2014

Goodwill Sale and Lancome Gift With Purchase!

Today is the start of the Goodwill Sale at Younkers and all Bon-Ton affiliated stores. Now until Tuesday, March 18th you can receive a 20% off of cosmetics and fragrances for every item of clothing you bring in to donate to Goodwill. The entire sale goes through the end of March and you will receive 15% off on items after Tuesday.

Lancome has also started their gift with purchase at these stores as well. I will have a post by the end of the week to show you the items in the gift. It is a 7-piece gift that is free with a $35 of more purchase. You can use the Goodwill coupons on your purchase to get the gift as long as you still spend $35 before tax.

Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to get discounts on cosmetics. It only happens a couple times a year!

To find a Bon-Ton store near you check out this link.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Ulta HAUL/Review of Products! (Nail Polish Top Coat, Dry Shampoo, Face Mask, and More!)

Long time, no talk! I've been focusing on school for the past couple of weeks and didn't have the time or energy to create any new posts. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. I can't promise that I will have tons of posts or anything, but I will try my best to have at least one a week.

On to my post for today:

Last month I bought a few things at Ulta when I had a 20% off coupon. I have had time to use all of these products now except one, so this is a haul/review of everything.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Keep Mascara From Drying Out



Here's a quick tip for helping keep your mascara from drying out too soon or getting too clumpy:


When you are using mascara, don't pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube to get the product on it. It creates air bubbles that dry out the mascara and can cause clumping and other irritations. Instead, stick the wand in the tube and move it in a circular motion to pick up product on the wand.

Have a happy Tuesday! :)

                                                                                    Photo from http://thecallofbeauty.blogspot.com/2011/06/total-beauty-survey-12-best-drugstore.html

Sunday, February 16, 2014

2013 Empties!: Mascaras, Makeup Removers, Shower Gels, Deodorant, & More!

This is my first ever empties post! I started collecting beauty-related products that I used up towards the last quarter of 2013. This is definitely not everything I used up last year, but at least you can get an idea of some of the products I tried. I have short descriptions of the products below and basically decisions on whether or not I would get the product again. Some of the products were samples, so I have noted which products those are.

I will try to remember to save empty bottle and packages more often and do these kinds of posts periodically throughout the year.


This is the first Baby Lips I have used up out of the five I have. This one is Quenched and has no color to it. I like using the Baby Lips before I put other lip colors on. Every once in a while I will wear the ones I have with color in them alone. The moisturizing properties these have are not super long-lasting, but I do think they are pretty good for the price.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Clinique Spring 2014 Gift With Purchase!

Clinique's Gift With Purchase is going on now through February 22nd or while supplies lasts at all Bon-Ton affiliated stores. These include: Younkers, Carson's, Herberger's, Bergner's, Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, and Bon-Ton.

It is a 7-piece gift of skincare and makeup that is free with any $27 or more purchase at the Clinique counter. Below I have pictures and descriptions of everything in the gift.


You, of course, get this lovely cosmetic bag! I love the design and colors Clinique went with this time!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Check Out Products Online Before Buying

Whenever I see or hear about a palette, lip product, blush, or any makeup item really, I check online for reviews and swatches before making the decision to buy it. Okay, I don't do this with every single thing, but at least with more expensive products. This way I can see what people think of the product to decide if it's worth getting. It can also save me from being stuck with a product I don't like or having to make an extra trip to return a product that I didn't like.

There are tons of beauty bloggers online on Youtube and other sites that review tons of products even before they are released in stores. Just Google whatever product you are looking for, and you will most likely find information and swatches on the product.

I know this seems really simple, but I can't tell you how many times I think I'm going to like a product I bought and end up wishing I hadn't gotten it.

Sorry for such a short and pictureless post. I will have at least one other post later in the week for you, so check back for that! Have a happy Tuesday! :)

Monday, February 3, 2014

Clinique Gift With Purchase Starts Tomorrow!



Hey all!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you that Clinique's Gift With Purchase starts tomorrow at all Bon-Ton affiliated stores. These include: Younkers, Carson's, Herberger's, Bergner's, Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, and Bon-Ton.


It is a 7-piece gift of skincare and makeup that is free with any $27 or more purchase at the Clinique counter. The gift goes through the 22nd of February or until your local store runs out of gifts. The gift this spring is awesome, you guys! I will be able to show you pictures of it in a day or so when I get it, but I think it is a great gift for fans of Clinique or newcomers to the brand.

Check back in the next couple of days to see the free gift!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

What I Got For Christmas 2013: Rock Candy Soap, Eye Candy Book, and Lip Product Organizer

Here's the final part of things I got for Christmas. These are the gifts my sister got me, and I think she did a fantastic job picking stuff out.

She got me these soaps that look like rock candy. Yes, you read that right. These are SOAPS! I am amazed by how real they look. I am not sure what the exact brand is, but my sister purchased them online. I haven't gotten the opportunity to use them yet because I have so many other soaps and things I'm using right now.


This one is grape and it smells fantastic!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

What I Got For Christmas 2013: Ciate Nail Polish, Ulta Nail Polish, Viva la Juicy Noir Perfume, Philosophy Gift Set

Here's part two of what I got for Christmas! Sorry it took me so long to get this up!

These Ciate nail polishes came in a gift set of 6. They were packaged inside plastic balls that looked like ornaments. I gave 3 of the nail polishes to my sister for Christmas and kept the other 3 as a gift for my grandparents to get me. 


Yule Rules is a bright blue, sparkly glitter nail polish. For some reason when I saw these polishes, I thought they would cover my nails without having my bare nails show through. I didn't look at them closely enough and they definitely don't cover the entire nail. A regular nail polish has to go underneath unless you like the look of glitter polish on bare nails. It gives me a lot of different options for color combinations though. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Clean Your Makeup Brushes!

Today's tip is fairly simple: clean your makeup brushes regularly.

Photo from http://babebeautybar.com/a-babes-guide-to-brushes/
A foundation brush should be cleaned once a week. If your foundation brush is getting stiff with foundation buildup in it, it's definitely time for a good deep cleaning.

All other brushes should be cleaned at least once a month. I personally like to clean all my makeup brushes once a week or close to that. The idea of the bacteria and makeup clinging to the brushes and going on my face grosses me out.

Not cleaning your brushes regularly can alter the color of the makeup you are applying. It can also make application difficult, which means the end result will not be what you desire.

Taking care of your brushes is important if you want them to last a long time. A good brush can last 5-10 years if your clean it regularly.

I know a lot of you have probably read things like this a ton of times or already know it, but I think it is important.

Have a happy Tuesday!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Makeup Is Only As Good As The Skin Underneath

Many people use makeup, foundation and concealer especially, to cover up imperfections. The makeup will only look as good as the skin underneath though. It is extremely important to take care of your skin and find the right products for you. Here are a few tips on how to find what's best for you.

Protect your skin with SPF.

City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 25Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 40

This is the most important AND most neglected skincare item that you should always use. Your skin needs protection from the sun even if you are outside for five minutes a day. Those five minutes add up over the years and your skin will show it. Sun damage can cause wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) on your skin. To prevent and prolong these things from happening, use SPF! And no, the sun protection in your foundation is not enough.

Moisturize your skin daily. 

Dramatically Different Moisturizing GelNEW Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream

I know there are thousands of different moisturizers on the market and it can be overwhelming to find one for you. First let me say to anyone that's reading this that has oily skin, you may think you don't need a moisturizer or that it will just make your skin more oily, but your skin still needs hydration. Your skin needs moisture even if it has excess oil. An oil-free moisturizer is formulated especially for oily skin types.

Now that I got that cleared up, try and narrow down what your main concern is with your skin. For example, my main concern is acne, so I usually look for a moisturizer that has acne-clearing properties and/or is good for acne-prone skin. If you are concerned with wrinkles, find a moisturizer that targets that concern. You get the idea. If you don't have a concern with your skin, look for an age prevention moisturizer. Every women should start using an age prevention moisturizer in her 20's. If you don't try to prevent and prolong visible aging, don't cry about getting wrinkles early on in life.

Exfoliate.

7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off FormulaExfoliating Scrub

Exfoliation is important too because it aids in removing the layers of dead skin cells that build up on your face everyday. Find an exfoliator that works best for with your skin type and follow the directions on how many times a week you should use it.

Take care of your eyes. 

All About EyesEven Better Eyes Dark Circle CorrectorNEW Superdefense Age Defense Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20

The skin around your eye is just as important as the rest of the skin on your face. You need to take care of it. It is important to use eye creams around the eyes and NOT moisturizer because the skin around your eyes is a lot thinner and a lot more delicate than the rest of your skin. Moisturizers can irritate the eye area and won't hydrate that skin in the best possible way. The same idea of searching for a product that treats your main concern(s) applies to eye cream just like moisturizer.

Take care of your lips just like the rest of your skin. 

Repairwear Intensive Lip TreatmentSuperbalm Lip Treatment

Your lips need care too! SPF is important for your lips like your skin, so make sure at least one of the products your putting on your lips each day has SPF. Exfoliating your lips is a good idea too. I'm not very good at doing that, so I should probably try to do that more. Using a moisturizing lip treatment or balm is a good idea too.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. I hope it doesn't seem like I'm trying to get you all to go out and buy a bunch of products because I know this stuff gets expensive. I do think all of these things are important, but gradually adding them into your skincare routine if perfectly fine. 

Also, all the pictures I posted here are of Clinique products. I just used these as examples because this is the skincare line I am most familiar with. There are plenty of other great skincare lines out there, some at higher prices and some at lower prices, so do some research and find what is the best deal for you. 

 I am by no means a skincare expert and I'm definitely not a doctor or dermatologist, so you obviously don't have to follow everything I say. These are just some of my tips for you all. I hope this helps some of you! If you ever have any questions or comments about skincare or anything else, I can always answer them to the best of my ability. Just leave a comment below. You don't have to have an account to comment.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! :)

Friday, January 17, 2014

What I Got For Christmas 2013: Clinique Chubby Stick Whole Lotta Candy Set and Clinique Party Tips Nail Enamel Set

I know that Christmas feels like it was forever ago, but I thought some of you might enjoy seeing some things (mostly beauty-related) that I got for Christmas. 

I am going to do separate posts to break everything up, so today I will just show you the Clinique products I received. My boyfriend got me two different Clinique gift sets for Christmas: one for lips and one for nails. 


Whole Lotta Candy is a Chubby Stick set that includes smaller sizes of Pudgy Peony, Voluptuous Violet, and Two Ton Tomato. Both this set and the nail set I received were just around for the holidays, but almost all of these products are available separately in full sizes.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Use a Makeup Remover AND a Cleanser

I think cleansers and makeup removers are easily confused or misconstrued because they are often grouped together, but they are definitely not the same thing.

It's important to remove ALL makeup, eye AND face makeup, before using a facial cleanser. If you wear face makeup and just use a cleanser as part of your skincare routine, you are not getting all of the gunk, dirt, and oil off of your face. Layers of all that gross crap will build up on your face and cause a variety of things like flaky skin, clogged pores, acne, and more. It would be like rinsing off all your dirty dishes with just water and putting them away because you think they are clean. They might look clean, but they still have bacteria and stuff that will build up over time if they are not cleaned with soap.

The same concept goes for using only a makeup remover and not using a cleanser as well. If you are just using a makeup remover to wash your face, you are still leaving behind dirt and oil stuck on your skin and trapped in your pores.

If you don't have a makeup remover, there are tons of different kinds out there. I have tried a handful that I would recommend: Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, Clinique Wash Away Gel Cleanser, and Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover are some good ones. I have also heard good things about the Ponds Deep Cleanser and Makeup Remover. The Clinique makeup removers are unfortunately labeled as cleansers but they are just makeup removers and are not to be used at cleansers.

Rinse-Off Foaming CleanserWash-Away Gel Cleanser

Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover                                       
One thing to keep in mind when searching for a makeup remover or a cleanser is that some products will claim to be both. No, no, no, no, no! Don't believe that for a second! Those types of products are not getting all the gross stuff off of your face. The Neutrogena one mentioned above claims to be both. I use it as a makeup remover and use a cleanser after that. If you really want healthy skin, use two products.

I hope this helps some of you!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

2013 Beauty Favorites

There were a lot of new beauty products to try in 2013 and some things I just discovered the past year or fell in love with. I'm sure I could have thought of at least ten more things to add to my list of 2013 beauty favorites, but I didn't want this to be overly long. 

Since a lot of these products were things I had already discussed in other posts like monthly favorites or reviews, I re-used the pictures I had taken before, so they might look familiar.

Anyway, check it out!

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencils

I knew I loved Urban Decay eyeliners the first time I tried them, but I fell even more in love with them this year. At the beginning of 2013 (maybe in March?) Urban Decay released a ton of new shades in their eyeliners and re-released some previously exclusive ones. The colors are even more wild and vibrant than before. Pretty much all the colors were love at first sight. I bought a ton of new shades this year because I just love everything about these liners! They are pigmented, they have any color imaginable for any occasion, and THEY STAY ON! If I had to choose a favorite shade for 2013, I would say Crave (a dark, dark brown that was exclusive to the Ocho Loco 2 pencil set) is my favorite neautral-toned eyeliner and LSD (a dark blue with lots of shimmer) is my favorite colorful eyeliner.


Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Tape Trick For Powder Eyeshadows, Blushes, and Face Powders

Have you ever had an eyeshadow that has gradually developed a bumpy, hard surface? It makes is difficult to apply the eyeshadow after a while when the surface isn't soft and smooth. Brushes have a harder time grabbing the powder and the powders might go on clumpy.

This can happen to most powder makeup like shadows, blushes, and face powders for a few different reasons I'm sure. I believe the main contributing factor to this happening is that the oil from our eyelids and face get trapped on the brushes we use. When we are going back and forth, putting our brush in the powder and on our face over and over again, the oil starts to build up on the powder and create that hard layer.

There is a simple quick fix that can take the layer of hard, oily powder off - tape. Take a piece of tape and place it over the powder. Rub it into the powder (not too hard) to get that layer stuck to the tape. Remove the tape and most, if not all of the bumpy surface should be gone. 

I did this with my Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette because the highlighter shade had developed a bumpy surface.


As you can see below, the tape took off most of the rough surface.


I hope this tip helps some of you out! Have an awesome day! :)