My Apologies

Sorry the blog came to a stand still. I am in the process of trying to do a revamp. I have also been very busy trying to get my blog sale going. I assure you though the blog will be up and running again very soon! :)

Target Health & Beauty Haul - L'Oreal, Revlon, Love&Toast

1. L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Stick in Cotton Pink - I am so in love with these new lipsticks! They remind me so much of YSL. Packaging, texture of the formula, and smell. I will be buying many more of these and highly recommend them, especially for less than 1/3 the cost of YSL.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in (créme) Primrose - I know I've talked about this lipstick before, but I just really like that the formula has no smell or taste.

3. Love&toast Body Lotion in Dew Blossom - I found this at Target so I decided to give it a try. The bottle says: "paraben-free, never animal tested, no animal ingredients, and no artificial colors". To be honest though I only bought this because it was on sale and the bottle was just too cute lol. An interesting little fact I didn't know until I googled it: Margot Elena , the owner of this brand, is also the owner of Tokyomilk products, which they just recently started selling at Sephora. I have actually been eyeing one of the fragrances. So anyways, this lotion isn't greasy and does absorb quickly. However, the smell isn't much to be desired. I don't dislike the smell, but I don't like it either.. I'm just oddly attracted to smelling it and I'm not even sure why. I will use the product until it's gone, but I probably wouldn't purchase again. If they fixed all the scents then this product would be perfect.

Mini Mac Haul - Hey Sailor!

     Hey everyone! Sorry I've been slackin' lately with the blog posts. I just got a second job so I've been very busy the last few days. I've got some catching up to do, a few hauls, some reviews, but for now here is my Mac haul :)

1. Hey Sailor! High-Light Powder in Crew2. Lipglass in Pink Lemonade3. Hey Sailor! Powder Blush in Fast Fleet
     Crew and Fast Fleet were actually sold out on maccosmetics.com, but then they restocked the high-light powder so I grabbed it quick, and good thing, because it sold out again so fast. The Fast Fleet blush I actually had to pay a little extra for on eBay. I NEVER buy Mac on eBay because a majority of the products are fakes, but this product came with the store receipt.

     I have only tried out Crew and the lipglass so far. The high-light powder is more of a blush to be honest because from what I've heard the color isn't just laid on the top.. and if that's the case then this is too much for a high-light. Beautiful pigmented blush though! I'm actually really happy about this because I prefer blush anyways. Blush is one of the things I can't help but want to collect lol. As far as the lipglass, I'm sure most of you know these glosses are really thick and sticky. It bothers me a little, but I deal with it because I love the color and smell! Overall extremely happy with my purchases! If you get a chance to snag the high-light powder, I say go for it :)!

May Favorites 2012! - B&BW, Essie, Lush, Mac, Maybelline, Origins, Too Faced

1. Bath & Body Works Forever Sunshine Body Mist - "An exclusive blend of golden apricot, pink peonies, and a hint of praline that captures the romance of warm days that linger into cool autumn."

2. Essie Nail Laquer in Tart Deco - "Chic and modern, this dreamy coral is an artistic burst of color."

3. Lush Alomond & Coconut Shower Smoothie - "Creamy almond oil and coconut oil shower smoothie to gently cleanse and care for your dry, or irritated skin and give it all the moisturizing attention it needs."

4. Lush Miranda Soap - "Miranda is made by hand with fresh, organic kiwi fruit to gently cleanse, tone, and brighten your skin. We add in gorgeous bergamot for its soothing, orange-scented effects. To clear up congested skin and to refresh weary spirits we blend in ylang ylang and juniperberry."

5. Lush Lip Scrub in Sweet Lips - "Vanilla extract and jojoba oil keep your lips moist, castor sugar gently exfoliates, and the rich, deep fragrance of cocoa absolute gives this an irresistible touch."

6. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle - "Gilded Peach Bronze"

7.  Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze - "Ink technology creates super-saturated color. Cream gel smooths on for vibrant color that does not fade. "

8. Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 - "This supercharged antioxidant moisturizer with white tea, maritime pine, and UVA/UVB sunscreens surrounds skin in a protective bubble to help delay the appearance of premature aging signs."

9. Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System - "The activating mascara base and top coat is designed specifically to melt and seal the Flexistretch nylon fibers into long, thick, dramatic lashes without the risk, mess, or commitment of other false lash alternatives. Unlike traditional fiber mascaras, Better Than False Lashes allows you to dial up the lengthening fibers so you easily get better, longer, thicker, more dramatic lashes instantly."

Philopshy Makeup at Big Lots for $3?

     Yes, that is correct! $3/piece! When I went to my local big lots yesterday what I got was all they had left. I guess you could say I got there just in time! I even asked if they kept more in the back, but what they had out was all they had and the display was tiny so no wonder it was all gone so fast.

1. The Color of Grace Amazing Grace Shimmering Face Powder - This product smells just like their Amazing Grace fragrance, which I actually didn't care for on me, but I do like the way the powder smells. It looks like it could be a good highlight product

2. The Color of Grace Heavenly Light Pink Illuminator - Also looks like it could be a good highlighter.

3. The Color of Grace Eyelighting Shadow Duo in Heaven/Earth - Very pigmented, slightly shimmery eyeshadows.

4. The Supernatural Lit from Within Healthy Cream Blush in Look on the Brightside - Very sheer light pink blush.

5. The Color of Grace Angel Kiss Lipgloss in Pretty Please - It's a nice lipgloss, nothing special. I wouldn't ever pay more than $3.

Sephora Haul - Algenist, Bite, Dior, Tarte

     This haul was from a few days ago and I am very excited to share it with you! I had a very long conversation with the skincare specialist that was working that day and she was very helpful! I will have a post coming soon with all her tips and tricks! She helped me pick out an eye cream to help keep my eyes looking youthful. She said she normally recommends Algenist because in all the years she has worked at Sephora she has seen the results the product has.

1. Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm - This eye cream is pretty pricey at $65, but right now Sephora has a boxed set with a full size eye cream and some extra free goodies! Comes with a deluxe sample size of gentle cleanser and an eye serum. For the same price and eye cream size I of course went with the set. She said this product will help to brighten my eyes, so I should see improvement even though I don't have wrinkles yet. I'll make sure to let you know if I see any results or not!

2. Bite Beauty Lip Shine Lipgloss in Sante - This lipgloss I really dislike because of the taste :( It smells good, but has that dreaded lipstick taste. If that doesn't bother you then it's worth trying. This gloss isn't really sticky, but is on the more thick side.

3. Bite Beauty Luminous Créme Lipstick in Retsina - I really liked this nude color, but just like the lipgloss it as the same yucky lipstick taste. It just makes me completely sick to my stomach. This product is probably going back to the store. From now on I know to stay away from Bite products, which is too bad because they do have nice colors. I think I am always so drawn to the products too because they are edible lol, but they taste too icky to want to eat!

4. Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Grege - These eyeshadows have such a lovely silky feel and are very pigmented. Grege is described as "light brown shimmer/ cream shimmer/ light taupe sheen/ plum brown sheen/ gunmetal grey shimmer".

5. Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum - I actually bought this product a while back and didn't care for it. I was recently looking for a good primer with the hopes it would add some length and volume to my lashes. I spotted this in the store and decided to give it another try because I didn't exactly give it a fair chance as a primer. I was basically just putting it on at night for lash growth, but I also didn't give it long enough to see results before deciding it was a waste. It actually is a good primer. It did what I was hoping it would in giving the appearance of longer thicker lashes. As far as promoting lash growth I can't say as of right now.

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface - This is the 6th Tarte blush in my collection. These are absolutely my favorite blushes!

Drugstore Haul - Maybelline, Revlon, Essie, Hard Candy

     Yea, I went a little crazy during my latest drugstore haul lol. I am extremely happy with all of my purchases. Now when I go into Sephora I have such a hard time even buying any kinds of lip products because now I know I can get some just as good at the drugstore at less than half the cost!

1. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm, Cherish, and Sweetheart - These stains are comparable to Tarte's lip stains. They smell the same and to me seem to work the same! Which is good news since they only cost around $7 or so.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss SPF 15 in Pink Pursuit - I know I just recently bought a couple of these, but I liked them so much I wanted another. The other two I bought have no shimmer at all, but this one is a light pink color with really fine silver shimmer.

3. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Silver City Pink, Softshell Pink, and Wink for Pink - I also just recently bought one of these in a matte shade, really loved it, so I went back for more. Two of the ones I just bought have a pearl finish and the other one is a creme finish. I will have a post with swatches very soon for you!

4. Maybelline Touché Camoflant Lumineux - This product is described as a "highlighting concealer" which I basically bought to try in place of YSL's touch  éclat. This product only cost me $6.50 compared to $40. I have only swatched it on my hand, but it seems like it will do the trick. I will have a review up shortly!

5. Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush in Bombshell - I've only tried this blush on my hand so far and it seems to be very pigmented. I will let you know how I feel about it once I try it out :)

6. Essie Nail Lacquer in It's Genius and Dive Bar - My local Walmart had some Essie polish on sale so I grabbed a couple. These colors are more for fall/winter, but they will be waiting in my collection until then :)! It's Genius is a really pretty plum purple color with golden shimmer. Dive Bar is a dark blue with green and purple shimmer.

May Products That Didn't Make The Cut

1. Tarte Celebutante Dry Oil Shimmer Spray - This product smelled like coconut and was really pretty, but caused blemishes. This spray is for your chest and shoulder area.. chest + breakouts = not very pretty. Such a shame though because otherwise this was a nice product. I noticed they just recently discontinued it.

2. YSL ROUGE VOLUPTÉ PERLE Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15 in Coral Sun - I absolutely love the smell and taste of YSL lipsticks. This was very pretty, but too chunky with sparkle, left a weird gritty texture on my lips. Also didn't last on my lips for even 5 minutes. Completely not worth the $34. This product went right back to the store.

3. Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion SPF 12 PA++ - I really love the Benefit Facial polish so I decided to give this a try for a day time facial lotion. Smells great, just like the facial polish. The reason I didn't end up liking this product is because I could tell it was starting to break me out. I had a few slightly raised bumps, which is normally a warning from my skin to stop now. My skin is not sensitive, but it is acne prone. I was very sad that this product just didn't work for me.

Quick Healthy Snack - Turkey Roll-Up

     This was just my lazy way of making a sandwich, but bread is no good for a diet anyways lol. For those of you, who are like me, and don't like to always cook something for yourself then this is perfect. It took me less than 5 minutes to take 2 slices of all natural turkey breast, 1 piece of swiss cheese folded in half, and any desired amount of spinach leaves, then do the obvious and roll it all up. Voila! I just grabbed a low fat yogurt to eat with a couple of them for lunch.

Drugstore Haul - Revlon, Maybelline, L'Oreal, Pure ICE

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in Painted Purple - Wasn't really into cream shadow too much until I tried these. Love them!

2. Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Flared in Blackest Black - I tried this years ago and absolutley hated it, but I heard they changed the formula so I decided to pick one up. It's often compared to Lancome Hypnose mascara which I have not tried, however, I really do like this new formula because it does give a little volume without weighing down my lashes.

3. L'Oreal Colour Riche leGloss in 159 Golden Splash - This gloss is really pretty. The color I got is a sheer peachy color with really fine golden shimmer and it's a great tasting gloss. Only slightly sticky.

4. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Matte Stormy Pink - I'm not sure how staying power is but it's a nice color, on the more sheer side of a lipstick. Also had no gross lipstick taste, which I was very happy about.

5. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss SPF 15 in Coral Reef and Pink Pop - I saw these glosses and thought the packaging was cute so I grabbed a couple. I have actually never heard of these glosses, but I am glad I picked a couple up. They have a nice sheer color and don't really taste like anthing to me, which is good. Normally I can't speak for staying power because I rub my lips together a lot, but this I tested and it was on for over a half hour or so. For a gloss that seemed decent to me.

6. Pure ICE Nail Polish (from left) in Twinkle, Spitfire, Mint Dream, and Homerun - Such pretty colors and extremely cheap nail polish (under $2). However, I don't recommend these if you're not that great at painting nails. The formula is kind of thick and gets sticky/tacky easily which makes it very easy to make your nails a clumpy textured mess. I did one coat on the thin side, then a really thick second coat, and used Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat to help them dry quickly. You can only brush a couple times before it starts to get tacky and clumpy so you have to get the product in the right place the first time. Overall, I am happy with these still though!

How to Get Rid of Those Rough Winter Hands

     These two Lush products are the perfect combination to combat those dry/rough winter hands. I work in a nursing home which means I am constantly washing my hands. This is a huge problem in the winter because they start to get so dry that it's painful. These two products help to eliminate that problem and helping hands is also a lotion that will protect your hands during hand washing.

      First is Rub Rub Rub which is an exfoliating sea salt that they claim smells tropical, but really it smells like laundry detergent. You can use it as an all over body exfoliator, but that's kind of difficult because the product melts away with water, so having already wet skin it doesn't exfoliate as good. If you plan to use this on your whole body I recommend doing it in the shower before you turn the water on. When you rinse off it leaves you silky feeling, but no coated. Then once your hands are exfoliated use some of the Helping Hands lotion.. A little goes a long way with this stuff. It contains "Soothing honey, moisturizing oils, and nourishing butters help to protect and care for hardworking hands and make them soft and flexible once again.". Once you're done both steps, and the lotion soaks in, you'll have perfectly soft non greasy hands!

Dry Shampoo Favorites & Fails

1. Suave Dry Shampoo Spray - Complete FAIL! This actually made my hair a lot more greasy! It was only $3 at walmart so I figured why not, I'll give it a shot. This product is awful and going in the garbage.

2. Pssssst! Dry Shampoo - I've heard good things about this product, but it did not work for me at all. It's more of a runny liquid than a powder and it just makes my hair worse. Very disappointed with this product.

3. TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Conditioner - When I bought this I didn't realize it said conditioner and not shampoo. My mistake. I tried using it on the ends and it didn't really do anything. Waste of money.

4. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo - This product worked, just didn't hold up or last for very long. Smells really good though, but I guess that doesn't make up for a product that is mediocre.

5. Bumble & Bumble Brown Hair Powder - This product works, but talk about a huge mess! It leaves brown spots all over your forehead even when trying to be careful, also turns your hands black while trying to put your hair up.

6. Ojon Full Detox Rub Out Dry Cleansing Spray - Excellent product, but do not buy in the spray can! Sprayer gets clogged after only 1 or 2 uses. Hopefully they fix the design of the can then this product will be perfect.

5. Ojon Full Detox Dry Rub Out Dry Cleansing Powder - This product is great! Only dry shampoo that really worked great. Absorbs the oil and gives a little bit of volume and texture. It has a kind of minty smell to it. The bottle is pretty easy to work with to get the powder right at the root, but be careful to not tap too much out because you don't want to end up with white hair.

Small Drugstore Haul - Revlon, Maybelline, & Natureluxe

     I was browsing drugstore makeup the other day and spotted the Natureluxe Mousse Mascara that I've recently heard good things about. I tried it out yesterday and I'm really excited to say that it is great mascara! It lasted all day without flaking off anywhere. People claim it's comparable to Benefit's They're Real, I disagree with this. The brush I guess is similar except the Natureluxe doesn't have the plastic bristle ball like thing on the end. I do really love They're Real, but sometimes it tends to weigh down my lashes which defeats the "they're real" look. The Natureluxe is a lighter formula so it didn't weigh my lashes down. For only around $8 I highly recommend the Natureluxe mascara!

     Then I spotted the Revlon Lip Butters, which I love. So I decided to try one of their Colorburst lipsticks because the packaging is similar and cute. I purchased it in baby pink, which looks like a frosted pink on the lips. I do really like this lipstick, but it's closer to their lip butter formula than an actual lipstick. Which is fine with me because like I said I love the lip butters. This product can also be bought for around $7.

     I recently bought The Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze so I decided to also pick up Tough as Taupe. After trying the first one I bought I've been becoming more and more obsessed with cream products. Right now I am really loving cream eyeshadows and blushes! I highly recommend trying these out. For around $6 you'll be happy and you're wallet with also be happy!

My Skincare Routine: Path to Clear Skin!

1. Philosophy Purity - I use this face cleanser every morning when I wake up and at night before bed. "Philosophy Purity Made Simple is a pH-balanced formula that rapidly dissolves dirt and makeup while deep cleaning pores." Can be purchased at Sephora 3 oz.-32 oz. for $10-$49.50.

2. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream - I use this moisturizer nightly in the winter when my combination skin has dry patches. "This Ultra Repair Cream is a thick, rich, emollient product that hydrates deep down with exceptional penetration." Since I only use this product on my face I buy the 2 oz. travel size for $12 which can be purchased at Sephora.

3. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - I use this gel moisturizer nightly in the summer when I only need something light. "A lightweight, oil-free hydrator for combination and oily skin." This product can be purchased at Sephora 1.7 oz.-4.2 oz. for $13-$24.50.

4. Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 - This my daily moisturizer all year round. Remember, even when the clouds are out doesn't mean the sun isn't! "This supercharged antioxidant moisturizer with white tea, maritime pine, and UVA/UVB sunscreens surrounds skin in a protective bubble to help delay the appearance of premature aging signs." Can be purchased at Sephora 1.7 oz. for $39.50.

5. Clinique Ance Solutions Spot Healing Gel - I use this anytime I see the start of a blemish. You only want to put a little bit on the spot/spots, rubbing all over the entire area can cause over drying. Don't expect this to be a miracle worker, sometimes it works better than others. For me, if I start to see a blemish, sometimes it causes it to just go away before it starts and sometimes it pops up anyways. "This fast-drying gel is applied directly to blemishes to help diminish their size while promoting quick healing," Can be purchased at Sephora 1.7 oz. for $15.

If you have combination/oily skin and/or acne prone skin then these products will all be great for you! I experienced absolutely no break outs from any of these products.

My Makeup Essentials

     These are two products I don't leave the house without wearing or having in my handbag with me at all times. First is the Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder in translucent. I have slightly oily skin in my t-zone area and cheeks. This powder absorbs it right up! I didn't even know there was such a product until a few months back I was researching on Sephora skincare products to reduce oily skin. Someone recommended this so I decided to try it even though I felt like it was too good to be true to actually work. Glad I took a chance on it because it is my favorite makeup product. It lasts a good 5+ hours and when it comes time to reapply it has a handy little sponge and mirror for a quick and easy application or when you're on the go. It can be used over a foundation or tinted moisturizer and doesn't cause the dreaded "cake face". It also comes in other colors if you want some kind of minimal coverage. This product is only $21 at Sephora!

     The second product I wear on a daily basis is Benefit's Boi-ing Concealer. It is descried as an industrial strength concealer. I don't have really dark circles, but I use it underneath my eyes to brighten them up. This is a thick concealer though so it would be great for those of you with dark circles or blemishes that need covering. This product is available at Sephora for $19.

Cute Sandals? I'll take 'em!

     I had $20 in Khols cash I had to use yesterday before it expired. I already knew going in I wanted some new shoes. They had some really beautiful studded Rock & Republic pumps, looked amazing on, but the display shoe buckle actually broke while trying them on. Maybe it was just from a lot of people trying them on, or maybe it was poor construction? I wasn't sure, but it was enough to make me not want to buy them even though I did really like them.

     The Vera Wang shoes tend to be my favorite at Khols so I went to look at her section. I already have her spike studded pumps and then I saw the sandals. They have black, brown, and white. I did like the other colors but the white ones were my favorite and the only ones they had in my size at the time anyways. These sandals are not available online but are $29.99 at your local Khols.

Tea Time!

     My boyfriend bought me a Keurig for Christmas and this was before I even knew they had tea k cups! Needless to say I was super excited once I realized this. My favorite is the Celestial Green tea with a packet of splenda. I used to be a coffee fiend, but once I got pregnant with my son, drinking coffee (decaf) would upset my stomach. I figured it must just be the pregnancy, but nope it still happens to me. Oh well, on the bright side, it will save my teeth from coffee stains. Every so often I'll get a blueberry Dunkin iced coffee and just deal with the stomach ache because it's too delicious!
     Anyways, back to tea.. I really love the tea for the Keurig because I am one of those people who is too impatient to let it steep. So of course then my tea never tastes too great because I don't let it sit long enough. With the Keruig tea there is no steeping necessary and it's still full of flavor!

     I also ventured out to Walmart at midnight for some strange reason. Picked myself up some cottage cheese doubles. I used to never like cottage cheese, couldn't get past the chunky texture. It was one of those foods though that interested me and I kept  wanting to try it when I would see it at salad bars in restaurants. Now it's one of my favorite foods. It's so delicious if you can get past the texture. I prefer mine by itself or with pineapple.

     A little tip for you health conscious people: eating cottage cheese after a workout gives your body protein and carbohydrates for post-exercise muscle recovery.

Review: Stila Long Wear Lip Color

     I bought this in the color Coquette which is described as soft rose sheen. You want to know the best part about these? They smell like vanilla! I am always smelling lip products before I buy them because I am pretty picky when it comes to scent and taste. I am not really a huge Stila fan, and don't care for most of their products, but I would recommend these to anyone! The formula is very creamy and seems to moisturize. I can't comment on if they are actually "long wear" because I am one of those people who rubs their lips together constantly so I don't mind reapplying as needed. They have a nice color range to choose from and are $20 at Sephora!

Review: Bvlgari Omnia Coral

     This new fragrance from Bvlgari has a very fruity scent. People either love it or hate it. Some think it's nothing special and some found that it smelled good at first on your skin, but soured quickly. I didn't have this "souring" problem, but I did find it to fade quickly. It does smell lovely, an excellent summer scent, but is it anything special? The answer is, no not really. Just another fruity scent that doesn't last. The bottle is so neat though, I love the way it sprays! I'm embarrassed to say this but, I would probably be one of those people to buy it just because of the bottle lol. This fragrance is at Sephora for $47 (.84 oz.).

Review: Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner

     This product is 6.75 oz. for $14. To me it's so worth it because all it takes is a quick couple of sprays, swipe across a tissue, and your brush is sanitized for the next use. No rinsing necessary. I'm all about keeping my face clean and clear so this certainly helps with that. I still do a weekly shampoo brush cleaning of course. Using this daily cleaner will not only help to keep your brushes bacteria free, but will help keep them in tip top shape.

Review: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

     My boyfriend's mother actually give this to me for my birthday in a gift basket. If you're looking for a great inexpensive moisturizer, here it is! This is scent free, so it's good for sensitive skin as well. It's not greasy and absorbs quickly. I love using this for my legs, because that's where I tend to get really dry. Before putting on a dress or skirt I slap some of this on my legs and I am good to go :)! This product is only $6.47 for 8 oz. It also just so happens to be an Allure reader's choice award winner! You can purchase it at Walmart or wherever else Aveeno products are sold.

Prada Candy Obsessed!

     I first smelled this scent in a magazine and I was instantly hooked. It's a lovely sweet candy like smell, but still sophisticated. Sephora in the U.S. does not currently sell this scent but you can buy it at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, or Saks Fifth Avenue. I purchased some samples of it on ebay to make sure I absolutely love it before committing to buying it since it's pretty expensive. $80 for 1.7 oz. and $108 for 2.7 oz. The shower gel in the photograph came with some samples I had bought. I don't care for the shower gel as much as the fragrance so that I wouldn't purchase again, but I will be buying the fragrance first chance I get! It's one of those scents I just can't stop smelling.

Review: Mac Sheen Supreme Blossom Culture

     One of my favorite lipstick colors! To me this looks like a peachy pink with some extremely fine golden shimmer. So fine that you don't really see it on your lips and you can't feel it, it just adds some dimension. My photo was taken with instagram so the color is not accurate, but you can goggle for swatches. Temptalia's picture doesn't look all that accurate though, so avoid that one, for some reason hers is a little more baby pink. It's more peachy colored thank pink. This lipstick is on the more sheer side. A perfect shade for summer!

   Mac's lipsticks are some of my favorites! I am super picky when it comes to lipstick usually because of the smells and tastes. I would love any kind of recommendation :)! I tend to stay with lighter and more sheer colors because I have thin lips and a light complexion.

Vera Wang Spiked Pumps!

     I'm unsure of the exact name of the shoe, but I purchased these at Khols. Most of the spikes are kind of rounded off a little and it also has some little jewels sewed on in between. Over all this is just a really interesting and flattering shoe to look at. I fell in love with them as soon as I tried them on and spikes aren't usually my thing. They do not currently sell them online, but try looking at your local Khols. I paid somewhere around $35-$40 area. Great price for a good quality shoe that you're sure to get compliments on!

Kenneth Cole Patent Leather Wallet

     I bought this wallet at TJ Maxx. I don't remember the price, I just know it was under $15. This is a great wallet for all you girls who have a lot off stuff to pack in it. It is a zip around, but also has a button closure compartment on the front. Inside there is room for money, coupons, cards, ect. The button closure front is an area for your ID and more cards or coupons. Before this I had a Juicy Couture wallet I had gotten at Tj Maxx and I couldn't even close it anymore because I had too much stuff. This zips closed nicely. It's good quality and who can resist black patent leather?

My Clarisonic Mia Has Arrived!

     I am so excited to try this product everyone speaks so highly of! My skin for the most part has been clear lately, but I do have larger pores so they tend to clog easier. I'm hoping this will help to keep them clean. I will end up letting you know how it goes. I am so nervous for the purging stage everyone talks about because a breakout sucks, but the recover time with all the reds spots sucks even worse in my opinion.


For those of you who haven't heard of the Clarisonic it claims to:
- Remove makeup six times better than traditional methods.
- Clear pores and reduce the appearance of pore size.
- Cleanse so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better.
- Create noticeably healthier looking skin.


     I bought mine off of birchbox.com in Turquoise. Sephora doesn't sell the turquoise one, which is really a shame because it's so pretty. This product only ended up costing me about $55 because I had $40 worth of points saved on Birchbox and I was waiting for a 20% off coupon to use my points on something. Full price for this product is $119 and it comes with a sensitive brush head and gentle face cleanser. I won't use the face cleanser, but I will be using this with my Philosophy Purity.

Philosophy 3 in 1 Body Wash at Tj Maxx

     I always stay on the lookout for Philosophy at TJ Maxx because it seems to be there every so often. My mother is a big Philosophy fan so I picked this up for her. I do love the smell of most Philosophy 3 in 1 products, but not enough to buy for myself. I had gotten a sample of some cinnamon bun body wash I think it was and it smelled extremely delicious, but didn't leave any scent on my skin. I was super disappointed! I would probably only use these for a bubble bath to enjoy the smell, but I don't take baths enough to bother and I don't think I could give up my Lush bath products anyways. So overall I personally do not care for these and wouldn't bother to waste my money :(

     Have you tried their body washes, how do you feel about them? Have you tried them for baths or shampoo? I'm curious to hear!

Review: Rebecca Minkoff Iphone Case

     I bought this online and in the photo I saw it looked so cute. Well needless to say the description failed to mention it's a textured print, and it's really not all that flattering. Also the stripes in person are bright neon yellow.. yikes! I don't really care for neons honestly and the neon with the tan texture was just strange looking to me. If the yellow was more pastel and had no texture this would have been really nice. This is going right back where it came from. I am either going to splurge on one of the Rebecca Minkoff cheetah print cases or the Marc Jacob's one.. haven't decided quite yet, what do you think?

Kenneth Cole Reaction Tote

     I spotted this large tote bag today at Tj Maxx on clearance for only $15. I picked it up as a gift for my mother. She's a nurse and likes to have a large tote for work. This reminds me so much of the Marc Jacobs Nylon Totes. The photo was taken with instagram so I know it's hard to tell the colors are black with pink thread. I really couldn't pass it up for only $15. Hopefully she enjoys it! Also, to my surprise, there was tons of Coach Sunglasses. I figured they would've been all sold out before I had a chance to go back. I decided not to pick up another pair after all because I'm content with the ones I did purchased.

Essie Nail Polish in My Collection

     These are currently the only Essie polishes I own. They are such beautiful colors and the polish is long lasting. My only complaint is I wish the polish was a little thicker so I didn't have to do two coats if I don't feel like it.

(From Left)
1. Luxeffects: Set in Stone
2. Luxeffects: As Gold as it Gets
3. Turquoise & Caicos
4. Tart Deco
5. Peach Daiquiri
6. Lady Like

Heaven in a Jar!

     Jar? Plastic container? Same thing. I can't get enough of this Lush Shower Smoothie! It contains almond and coconut oil to help moisturize skin. I take a small scoop and it lathers really nicely on my loofah. This product does leave your skin with a coat of the oils, but it's such a thin layer you can barely feel it and when you get out of the shower you just feel as though you've put lotion on that isn't greasy or oily at all. Another plus is that this product smells so delicious! I use this a few times a week and it's definitely a treat after a stressful day. I highly recommend this and if you live near a Lush store you can ask them to make you a sample. This is easily one of my favorite Lush products!

Review: Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss

     I first picked this up in Nectar which looks like a really bright coral. It's actually pretty sheer on your lips which I was happy about. Then I also bought Origami which is described as bubblegum pink, but is also sheer. This photo does not accurately show the color, you can find swatches on google though. This isn't a gross tasting gloss.. not to me at least, but it is weird so I feel like you'd either love it or hate. It's borderline sticky, kind of on the thicker side and smooth, but not at all like Mac lip glass which I can't stand. If even the slightest stickiness bothers you though then this probably is not for you. I can't really comment on wear time because I constantly rub my lips together, reapplying doesn't bother me. This is really lovely gloss though, but pretty expensive at Sephora for $28 so if you feel like splurging I recommend trying these. I plan to buy many more!

My Target Find!

     I spotted this navajo type print wallet at Target and thought it was just too cute. It's a small little cloth wallet. I think I only paid around $12 or so. It's not ideal for someone who needs a lot of things in their wallet at all times. If I want to use this wallet I tend to just stick in it what I need for the day. What do you think of it :) yay? or nay?

Review: Glo Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Device

     This product comes with 10 G-Vials (whitening gels), I used 8 of them. I see a lot of people say you can see results after 3-5 uses, but I don't know if I felt I did and no one else commented on my teeth so it couldn't of been that big of a difference if at all. After 8 days of using this product I feel it works, but only slightly. My teeth are just slightly stained from when I used to be a coffee drinker/smoker. Maybe my hopes were just too high for this product or maybe it would take a lot more treatments until I get the bright white that I want. For me it just wasn't worth the money I paid. I have seen so many people give it excellent reviews though so I guess it's different for everyone depending on the severity of the yellowing. I will say though that it's worth trying because it didn't make my teeth sensitive even in the slightest, so in that aspect it is excellent.

Review: J.R. Watkins Sugar & Shea Body Scrub

     I purchased this at Target a while back, I can't remember exactly how much it was I just know it was fairly inexpensive. I was on the search for a good body scrub and this unfortunately didn't really end up being it. This product smells great, is moisturizing, but is very greasy/oily! I would never use this on my whole body.. however I found another use for it. I know you're supposed to exfoliate before shaving to get up any ingrown hairs, but I use this afterwards to scrub off dry skin and in replace of lotion. Doesn't really bother me if my legs feel greasy and this leaves them looking nice and moisturized for summer. Probably wouldn't by it again just for that, but I do like it for my legs only.

Wake Up and Smell The Roses

1. Korres Body Butter in Japanese Rose - $29

2. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - $29.95

3. Lush Amandopondo Bubbe Bar - $7.95

     I have been loving the rose scented body products lately. The Korres body butter is so perfect for really dry skin. However, I recommend using it at night because it is a greasy feeling lotion, but it really does work!

     The Ro's Argan Body Conditioner is easily one of my favorite Lush products. It has argan oil in it which is really nourishing and hydrating for the skin. When I first used this product I noticed it left an oily feel on my body in the shower, but once I toweled off I was only left feeling moisturized. I can't say it feels like an oily film because it doesn't, but it does feel like you put some kind of moisturizer on. I recommend using this at night.

     I actually haven't tried this Rose scented bubble bar yet, it just kind of went with my rose theme lol. The first and only bubble bar I have tried is ma bar, which I probably would not repurchase. It smelled really great and made nice bubbles in the bath, but it left the water looking brownish and dirty. Not a very appealing thing to want to take a relaxing bath in lol.

     I definitely would not use the body butter and conditioner together because then you really will feel greasy and gross, but they are excellent products on their own! Just a couple of my favorites. Have you tried any lush bath products? Which one was your favorite :) !?

Review: Too Faced Better Than False Lashes

     This is Too Faced's new Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System! I was super excited for this when it first came out because I am one of those people with short sparse eyelashes :(. With this product you need to know how to curl your lashes correctly and apply mascara carefully otherwise you are going to end up with a fuzzy mess. If you're hoping for your lashes to be "better than false lashes" you pretty much need to already have nice natural lashes. If you're like me then it will make them longer and fuller, but it certainly won't be better than false lashes.

     This product does make my lashes look nice, but is kind of a pain because it takes a while to dry fully so I have to sit there with a spoon to my eyelashes to keep them curled up otherwise the product weighs them right down. I can't see myself using this product all the time, but on special occasions when I don't have false lashes I will definitely take the time to use it. This product is really going to be different with each individual person so I think it's definitely worth trying! It is available for $35 at Sephora.

Review: Korres Lip Butter & Glaze

     I just want to start off by saying I LOVE these! They smell and taste great. The formulas between the butters and glazes are pretty much the same. I prefer the glaze because I don't like having to stick my finger into a pot. They are very moisturizing, but like anything only continue to work if you keep using it. I use mine religiously and my lips are always silky feeling.

     My favorite is the Jasmine Lip Glaze. The others I don't care for as much only because of the colors, well except guava which has no color. Wild Rose is sheer but still a little too dark for me, same with Quince. Pomegranate I can get away with but it's very orangey coral ish. Jasmine has close to no color, just a nice sheer nude. If you can pull off dark or bright colors then I recommend them all lol!

They are available at korres.com or Sephora. The Lip Butters are $12 and the Glazes are $14.

Review: Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream

     I had gotten a sample of this in one of my birchboxes.. I forget which month it was now. What drew me to it was the smell, which is strange because it's not a great smell, there was just something about it that I liked. So I tried it as my moisturizer one night. After I wash my face it starts to get oily about a half an hour or so later. I noticed my skin was less oily than usual which I thought was weird. Then I went online to check if it was supposed to do that. Low and behold it is a moisturizer that is supposed to reduce oil. I just thought it was kind of neat I noticed it actually worked before I even knew what it was supposed to do lol.

     This is a product from France and the only place I have seen to buy it in the U.S. online is birchbox.com. It is $22 + tax & shipping so it came to about $30 for me and it's only 1 oz. so it's pretty little. I do like this for a daytime moisturizer because it's light and helps to mattify a little, but I wouldn't repurchase it again for the price and size. Don't expect this to be a miracle worker for your oily skin though, it only cuts down some oil. If you have the money to spend then it's worth trying!

    What do you do to keep your oil at bay?

Review: Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creasless Eye Primer

     So this is Tarte's new Clean Slate 360° Creaseless 12-Hr Smoothing Eye Primer! Prior to this coming out I had been using Urban Decay Primer Potion which most of you may know works extremely well. However, parabens and all that bad stuff don't usually concern me, but putting it on my eyelids? I become uncomfortable with it. First I looked into Korres because I love that brand, but the primer didn't have such great reviews. Then I looked at some of Tarte's (this one wasn't out yet) and they had very mixed reviews so I was still unsure which one to go for. Then a few weeks later I saw this new Tarte primer and even though it had no reviews at all yet I had to try it. So I bought it and to my surprised it's excellent! It looks white when you squeeze it out, but it goes on translucent. My eyeshadow holds in place all day and I have oily lids. My only gripe is I wish they would fill the container a little bit more. It feels only about half way full.. but maybe that's just mine? I guess I'll find out when I have to buy a new one lol.

Which eye primer is your favorite? :)

Favorite OPI Nail Lacquer

These are my top 3 favorites from the OPI brand of nail polish! 'Mermaid's Tears' from the Pirates of the Caribbean line. Who doesn't love that color? It's like a merky blue. Next is 'It's My Year' from the Miss Universe line. So gorgeous.. it's like a purple with golden shimmer. Last but not least is 'I Eat Mainly Lobster" which is a beautiful pink with fine pink shimmer.. it's very subtle.

What's your favorite nail polish brand and color? Another thing I'm curious about is do you prefer round or square shaped nails?

Review: Alima Pure Organic Nourishing Lip Balm

This product came in my April 2012 Birchbox in Rhubarb which has no color on your lips. When I first tried this I didn't care that much for it. I kind of just left it hanging around, so then whenever I needed a lip balm this was right in front of me. Today I was using it all day and noticed how smooth my lips were. I guess you can say it grew on me. Like any lip balm, it only works if you continue to use. Great product for a quick fix for those unattractive chapped lips. Only $7 on birchbox.com

Baby Finds VS Coupon!

So my child decided to rip up my Victoria Secret catalogue lol. Which is fine with me because honestly I was probably just going to throw it away anyways. So I go to clean it up then low and behold the $10 off coupon. This gives me a reason to finally get some of their self tanning products I've been wanting to try. Someone told me they are good.. so once I find out for myself I'll be sure to let you know!


Have you tried them? How did they work for you? Do you recommend the lotion or airbrush spray?

TJ Maxx Treasures

Coach sunglasses at TJ Maxx! They had a few different styles. Once I get paid I may go back and check out some of the others.. providing they even still have them. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold quickly. I also picked up a cute pink little shower caddy from the Dollar Tree. If I ever need any little containers for organizing my things I tend to check there first.

What is the best thing you've scored at TJ Maxx or Marshalls?

Bath & Body Works Mists

I normally only shop at Bath & Body Works if I have a $10 off $30 purchase coupon. So for 5 body mists I paid $32 + tax. I'm really glad they decided to make a new bottle, it's much nicer. I tend to use these on days I'm not planning on doing too much and I save my expensive perfumes for special occasions. I have to say Warm Vanilla Sugar has always been a favorite of mine and still is. I am in love with the new Malibu Heat though, it's excellent for summer!

Do you prefer the new or old style bottles? Which scent is your favorite?

A day in the life...

I want to do a little shopping with a Sephora birthday gift card I've been saving. I'd love suggestions on what to buy :)! Other than that, I indulged in Teen Vogue, but this issue didn't really interest me too much. Although I am curious to try the new Maybelline Color Show nail polishes.

Then I also decided to play with my makeup. I am clearly no professional, just a girl with a passion. Some of the products I used are, Tarte Clean Slate Primer, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Shadow Pencil in Sin and Rehab, Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion, and Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension. Wha do you think?

Review: Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish

     My skin is very happy with me for buying this product! It's scrubby enough for a good exfoliation without being too harsh to irritate your skin. I normally don't like scented products for my face, but this just smells so clean and fresh that I can't resist it! I don't have sensitive skin, but I do have acne prone skin and this product doesn't break me out. I cleanse my face with Philosophy Purity first because I don't like to rub around oils, dirt, or makeup on my face that will clog my pores.

     I got a friend of mine to try this and she said she didn't like the way it made her face feel. I didn't understand this until the other day when I used too much product. My only assumption is that's what she was doing. I recommend using just a small dime size amount and it just leaves your face feeling clean without feeling dry or tight

     I originally wanted to try the Laura Mercier Flawless Face Polish, but it was kind of expensive,  $30 for 3.4 oz. The Benefit one is $22 for 4.5 oz.

Review: Korres Cheek Butter

I am a huge Korres fan so as soon as I saw this new blush I had to have it. I have been looking for a nice cream blush so this was perfect timing. I am very happy with this product. I bought it in Philia Rose, which is described as a warm pink. The others looked a little too dark for my light complexion right now. This blush stayed put on my face all day and I felt glowing and pretty :)

Charlotte Russe & Forever 21 Haul

     It was such a lovely day outside I had to get out of my apartment. So I took a trip to the mall for a few new summer items. My first stop was into Charlotte Russe. To receive 10% off your order, details are on the website. I just picked up a new outfit and a little summer dress.

Belted Linen Tube Dress - $29.99

Elastic-Side Ponte Skirt - $16.99

Button-Down Hi-Low Top - $24.99

Double-Breasted Ponte Blazer - $36.99

     Next was Forever 21, which to my surprise was less cluttered and much neater looking compared to usual. I only really went in to browse jewelry anyways because looking for clothes in there can be an all day affair lol.

Lacquered Pyramid Bracelet - $6.80

Pyramid Hinge Bracelet - $6.80
Knotted Rings Necklace - $7.80