February Favorites 2014

It's that time of the month again….favorites! (I know what you were thinking…and no)

The following are my absolute favorites for the past month. Some I haven't had for the entire month, but let's not split hairs…they're awesome.

Revlon Age Defying Firming + Lifting Foundation in 05 Fresh Ivory

This foundation has become my go to everyday foundation. It's light on the skin yet still has a good medium coverage. Easily applied (I use my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge) and lasts a good amount of time. I don't notice it grabbing onto any dry patches and it doesn't settle into any of my fine lines. If you have skin that is on the dry side, I highly recommend this foundation!

Photo Credit: Ulta

Physicians Formula Nude Wear Blush in Natural

Another new go to everyday item. This blush is absolutely stunning. It gives a subtle light pink glow on my skin. Basically baby pink --  which I've really been gravitating towards lately. Obviously you can also choose a different pairing of colors to get a darker or lighter look, but swirled together. It's a beautiful light pink.

Tangle Teezer

Still can't get enough of this little guy! They say (and when I say 'they' I really don't know who 'they' are, suffice it to say they know a lot about a lot…clearly) it isn't good to brush your wet hair. Well, not brushing wet hair is simply out of the question for me. And now I have my handy dandy Tangle Teezer to get through those tough wet tangles…and it's super safe. They are available at Target now (thank you Lord!) so are easily accessible. My Target only carried one color - pink. But I'm not complaining!

Photo Credit: Target

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush

My new holy grail bronzer brush! It is dense yet soft and really buffs product into the skin. And it's angled! Hello! Perfect for contouring!

Photo Credit: Real Techniques

Nyx Butter Gloss in Creme Brûlée

Firstly, these smell amazing. It feels amazing on the lips and is the perfect everyday 'my lips but better' color. 

Photo Credit: Ulta

Garnier Fructis Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil for Dry Skin

Still going strong on this product. It is absolutely amazing! Melts my makeup away, even with a whole mess of products on it; and leaves my skin feeling soft and 'nourished'. And I must say, after taking off eye makeup, you look very attractive with it smeared all over your face.

Photo Credit: Target

Caress Body Wash in Passionate Spell

I've been using this scent for a couple of months now. And oh boy, it is divine!! It is a bit of a spicy scent. Definitely reminds me of something you'd use during the cooler months. It's very hard to explain the scent…just smell it next time you're in the body wash aisle. Although, I find that the scent doesn't linger as much as other products. But hey, who wants a body wash scent lingering for too long anyway, right?

Photo Credit: Walmart

Feeling a Little Green

It's in the negative single digits here in the Midwest, so in an effort to at least have Spring in some way, I decided to use the Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Smoothing Eyeshadow in Pale Green. 

Let's get started! Firstly, I wasn't very impressed with the quality of the Boots No. 7 shadow. It's not very creamy and once blended out, really loses it's pigmentation. So along with being much sheerer than I thought it would be, it almost takes on a neon green quality. Not really up my alley.

So, after not being happy with the color, it was time to bring in some help. Enter the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette. I used the green shadow all over the lid and then the black color to define the crease. (it's aptly named 'Crease'..ha ha)

For liner I used the Revlon Colorstay liquid liner in black. It's not as pigmented as my Stila liner, and the applicator is a bit thicker which doesn't make for such a precise line. But hey, it gets the job done!

Next was mascara, and holy moses! I picked up the Physician's Formula Organic Wear mascara in the metallic green leaf tube and today was the first day I used it alone. I absolutely LOVE it! It lengthens and volumizes and separates…without looking clumpy. Oh my, all I can say…is pick this puppy up!

Sorry for the flake left over from my lash curler, oopsies!

Just look at those lashes! Ba-bam!

Next, we curl those the lashes. It's amazing the difference it makes! Note the photos:

No curl

Curl

And finally, time for the lips. Sticking with the spring palette, I slapped on the new Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Ravishing Rose. I topped it off with L'Oreal Le Gloss in Baby Blossom.

This look is just fresh and light. Loving it! Not to mention it makes the green eyes pop! I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one!

Other products used:

-Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Rose Ivory

-Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow

-Benefit Hoola Bronzer

-L'Oreal True Match blush in Baby Blossom

Avocado for Lunch!

My grocery store has had avocados on sale for .99 ea for about a week now. And boy did I stock up! I can't get enough of avocados, and today I decided to have one for lunch! So simple and easy and full of healthy fats and fiber to fill you up!

After slicing it open, I cut a couple of vertical and horizontal lines to make scooping out pieces with a cracker easier!

Flower Cosmetics by Drew Barrymore Creme Eyeshadows

I'm sensing a theme here. Cream eyeshadows are where it's at right now for me. Can't explain it.

Anywho, I have loved these cream eyeshadows from Flower Cosmetics (Drew Barrymore's line available exclusively at Wal-Mart). I've definitely encountered some hits and misses in the collection (if you don't want to waste your money, do not buy the BB Cream…horrible*). But this product is beyond amazing in my opinion.

It comes in a little glass jar with rose gold accent. Upon opening the lid, there is a plug to keep the product from drying. The shadow itself is somewhere between a mousse and a cream. 

The colors I have are as follow:

CE7 Time Willow Tell (a mossy green)

CE2 Good as Mari-Gold (a true gold)

CE4 Mum's the Word (a mauve pink)

See what she did there? Flower Cosmetics? They all have botanical themed names? Yeah….ok.

The pigmentation is just out of this world and apply like a dream!

Although I will say, staying power isn't so great. So I always pop eye an primer underneath. I put a descent amount of product on my arm to swatch and they wiped away so easily.

I would highly recommend picking up some of these. They retail for $7.98 and for the price and how amazingly pigmented they are, it's a no brainer in my opinion!

*opinions expressed in this post are purely my own based on personal experience

FOTD Additional Photos -- Lippies!

So I completely forgot the lippies upon uploading the Wednesdate FOTD earlier! So the following are photos that include my new favorite lip combo:

-- Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Montego Bay
                             &
-- L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lipstick in # 601 Nude Ballet

Amazing everyday color!

Sidenote: I've been loving this new polish I picked up from OPI -- the color is Lost on Lombard. It's a beautiful mid-tone red that is my perfect all year round color (PS sorry for the chippage). I usually am pretty boring with polish. I almost always am wearing a nude, pink or red. And when I say pink, I mean basically neutral pink. Perhaps this spring I'll try to come out of my shell and get a little more adventurous! Woo!

Face of the Day using Maybelline Caramel Cool -- Wednesdate

It's Wednesdate FOTD time! I decided to go a little darker today using the new Maybelline Color Tattoo in Caramel Cool from their Dare to Go Nude collection. 

Let's get started…

*Disclaimer -  you know those days when you try to even out your wings and they keep getting bigger until you just give up and accept the gargantuan but still publicly acceptable eyeliner? Yeah, today was one of them.

I started with my new favorite foundation Revlon Age Defying Firming + Lifting in 05 Fresh Ivory. I then used the Maybelline Dream Lumi in Radiant under my eyes and spot concealed with the Maybelline Fit Me concealer in Fair.

Next, I placed the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Caramel Cool all over my lid and along my lower lash line -- 

This base is absolutely beautiful and will be particularly great in the spring and summer. Not to mention, it really makes green and blue eyes pop!

Product Review: Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray

I recently used up a small Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. I am a big fan of makeup setting sprays because I feel they do work well for the longevity of my makeup…not to mention get rid of that powdery look after you're done piling on the products! 

Although I did really like the way the All Nighter performed; the Chill feels much better on my skin…mainly because it is formulated for those with dry skin. I spray it onto my Real Techniques makeup sponge after I apply my foundation to really set the foundation. Although it is a bit pricey ($30 for 4oz), I do see this product lasting me quite a while….hopefully *knock on wood*. 

I would most definitely recommend this product to anyone with dry or combination skin. I'm not sure if it would work if you're on the oily side. If you are, I would say go for De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray by Urban Decay as well.

Raspberry Banana Breakfast Smoothie

A lot of mornings, I will take whatever fresh and frozen fruit I have and make a smoothie. I find it hard to eat a descent breakfast in the early morning; so smoothies are a great alternative because I can enjoy them at home or take them with me on the road. Today I had some bananas and frozen raspberries. So bam! raspberry and banana smoothie time.

Ingredients:

I use about…

2 Tblspn Fage Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup Vanilla Almond Milk
1/4 cup Coconut Chia Granola
1 Banana
1/3 - 1/2 cup Raspberries

Throw everything in the blender…

Blend, Blend, Blend

I fill my glass about 2/3 of the way and save the rest for an afternoon snack…yum yum!

Beautiful Spring Flowers

I picked these up at my local grocer last week. I've never seen these flowers before and I absolutely love them! They give off a very strong (but not obnoxious) fragrance. I am an absolute sucker for pink flowers…or fresh flowers in general. I don't think you can ever have enough around the house!

The Importance of a Fortifying Shampoo

Last night I had to explain to Hubbles why there is a long term resident in our shower. This resident would be the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying Shampoo. And the reason it's a long term resident is because you really should only use a Fortifying Shampoo once every week or two --  depending on buildup in your hair.

We've all heard that it isn't good to wash your hair everyday. And I know some people that go up to 3 or 4 days without lathering up. This just isn't for me. Especially after working out -- I just want  a nice clean feeling all over. But Fortifying Shampoo is one of those things that you bring in after days of product use. With all of the sprays, powders and gels we put into our hair, we need something a little stronger to strip it back down to the basics. This is where my favorite Garnier Pure Clean Fortifying Shampoo comes into play.

Photo Credit: Garnier USA

This shampoo is the best fortifying shampoo I have ever used. It lathers so well and smells like green apples. And let's be honest, who dislikes that scent? No one. It leaves your hair feeling squeaky clean and refreshed. However, it does strip a lot of natural oils from your hair. So I recommend always following up with a deep conditioner -- and only from your ears down. My personal favorite is the L'Oreal Damage Erasing Balm.

Photo Credit: Amazon

Nars Orgasm Drugstore Dupe Alert

Upon opening the L'Oreal Visible Lift Color Lift Blush in #702 Peach Gold Lift…I immediately thought of the Nars Orgasm blush. They are both a peachy pink with gold shimmer. When I got home, I took out my Nars blush and compared.

Nars Orgasm (L) & L'Oreal Visible Lift Color Blush in #702 Peach Gold Lift (R)

They look almost identical in the pan. Especially at the angle where the light brings out the gold shimmer! 

Nars Orgasm (L) & L'Oreal Visible Lift Color Blush in #702 Peach Gold Lift (R)

As you can see, they are VERY close. The L'Oreal is a bit more pink, but when they are worn look identical! I did get this L'Oreal blush for $4 on clearance at Target. I highly suggest you run out and pick it up. I definitely want to try and pick up the other colors. The formula is so smooth and pigmented. Glad I stumbled upon them.

This Weekend's Haul

Well, after seeing photos from Maybelline's Spring 2014 Collection, I made a point to head out to get my hands on some of it -- mainly the limited edition Color Tattoos. So here's my loot -- 

 Product 1 - Physicians Formula Nude Wear Blush in Natural

The packaging is just adorable. And swirled together, the 4 colors create a beautiful milky baby pink. Perfect for a subtle spring flush!

Product 2 - L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Gloss in Baby Blossom #151

 Again, it's a milky baby/peachy pink. I love this formula of gloss because it's very pigmented and feels comfortable on the lips. I have a feeling this will be the perfect 'topper' gloss for a lot of lip colors.

Product 3 - L'Oreal Visible Lift Color Lift Blushes in #703 Pink Lift/Rose & #702 Peach Gold Lift

Holy moly. Head straight to your Target and pick one of these blushes up before they are gone! My Target had these on clearance. Originally $12, marked down to $4. I've never tried this particular line of blushers from L'Oreal so the clearance price was obviously an incentive. When we got into the car, I broke these out immediately to swatch. Good Lordy, these are so soft and pigmented. I am in love. And the best news yet is that there is a potential dupe for a particularly idolized blush! Stay tuned…

Product 4 - Maybelline Dare To Go Nude Spring 2014 Lipstick in #975 Ravishing Rose 

Wait for it, I know you'll be shocked. Another milky baby pink color! But seriously, this color will be fabulous for spring and the formula is smooth. Although I will say, make sure your lips are decently moisturized before applying because this will cling to any dry parts of your lips. And the smell…let's just say it takes me back to ceramics studio in college…throwing clay on the wheel. And for some reason, I find it appealing. Who knows, but do make note that it does have a stronger scent.

Product 5 - Maybelline Dare to Go Nude Spring 2014 Color Tattoos in #90 Nude Compliment, #100 Caramel Cool and #95 Sleep & Spice

I was most excited for these products. I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Color Tattoos in general and when I saw that this collection was a nudes collection…oh boy, it was like the Ravens winning the Super Bowl all over again. Well, maybe not that exciting, but you get it. The colors I chose were great everyday colors for me (I picked up 3 of the 6). Mine are definitely the mid range colors. The other 3 consist of 2 light beiges and a very dark charcoal. As usual, these swatch beautifully and are very creamy. I prefer the texture of these more than the MAC Paint Pots for this reason. And the staying power is insane, especially for the darker colors (obviously).

Swatched

After trying to wipe them off

Note: The Maybelline products were found at CVS, the rest are from Target. My Target did not have the Spring 2014 collection on the shelves yet.

Bonus: I picked up this Lilly Pulitzer iPad case at TJ Max for $10!

New Camera Excitement

My camera has arrived and before I start getting uber fancy, I'm going to finish reading the User's Manual (I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm kind of a tech nerd). So excited to bring image quality up a notch…or a few hundred notches.  

Jammers and Cammers

Mini Reviews - 2 Recent Products

OK…I have some sad news. My initial thoughts on the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara have changed. Don't get me wrong…the initial results of this mascara are beautiful! But as the day wore on, it flaked so badly!! So sad. And mind you, this is only my experience. I will try layering my trusted Covergirl Clump Crusher to help separate and add a small layer to stop flaking. Will report back on that one.

Update: It definitely seemed to help! There were a few flakes, but nothing compared to the mascara being worn alone. However, because of the flaking, I don't think I'll be purchasing a full size. Sorry, Too Faced!

Photo Credit: Sephora

Next is the Revlon Age Defying Firming + Lifting Foundation. Holy Moses. I didn't really have high hopes for this foundation. I thought it may be too 'dewy' for me. I usually prefer a more semi-matte finish. But this blew me away! I have normal to dry skin and this felt so light and moisturizing with a good medium coverage. As with any foundation, I automatically pick up the lightest shade (I'm Irish and Danish - result? 'porcelain' skin). I was struggling between the two lightest shades and decided to go with the lightest (05 Fresh Ivory). Funnily enough, it is just a hair too dark for me (story of my life). But not enough to where it's uber noticeable. 
If this ever happens to you, please make sure to just blend it down your neck so it looks seamless. No one likes noticeable foundation lines. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if a foundation is too light for you, just warm it up with some bronzer. If you are in between colors, always go with the lighter option!

Photo Credit: Ulta

Long story short, the Revlon Age Defying Firming + Lifting Foundation has definitely become my new go-to everyday foundation. Especially for the tail end of these dry winter months.

Shop Lately -- Go Buy You Something

So I've been aware of Shop Lately for a few months now. I heard about it on Youtube from Melissa Raymond . Oh boy, get ready to be obsessed. This is a site stocked by independent sellers. A 'marketplace' where they can set up their own virtual storefront. Selling jewelry, accessories and apparel; this has become my go to site for 'designer inspired' jewelry -  namely earrings. Because not only do I have an obsession with beauty products…jewelry too!

You are very welcome ahead of time. May I point you in the direction of the House of Harlow inspired Sunburst earrings? $35 at your local House of Harlow retailer… $12 at ShopLately.

Shop Lately Screenshot

He knows me too well!

Such a funny (and perceptive) guy!

 

A Good $24 Investment from Shop Terrain--

Received the faux peonies in the mail -- and love them! I popped them into this gold vase I stumbled upon at TJ Maxx and placed them on my coffee table/trunk on top of my stack of art books. Definitely don't look cheap or plastic-y. Thank goodness! Very happy to have this spring pop of color. Old man winter, it's time to leave us alone now!

Pick them up here: Shop Terrain Peony Bouquet