Revlon Matte Balm's

So for any of you who are familiar with my blog, you're probably aware of my obsession with Revlon lip products. I love their lipstick, liquid lipstick, and balm stains. When I heard that they were coming out with a line of matte balms, I could not WAIT to get my hands on some.

These were incredibly difficult to find, as most of my local stores either didn't carry them yet, were sold out, or had tampered products. The wrapping on these were less secure then revlon's balm stains...so this is probably the reason for the wasted products. My CVS did have a fully stocked selection, however they were charging about $12 each! Being that I saw Target and Harmon's selling these balms for $7, I decided to wait.

Well I finally got three shades...standout, sultry, and shameless. Let me tell you I am NOT disappointed. While these are described as balms, there is no mention of the word "stain" or "long lasting", unlike their counterparts. With that being said, I find that they have pretty great staying power, and last just as well, if not better, then the typical lipstick.

Above is a photo of the shades I purchased, alongside swatches. The first is Standout, a beautiful blue-toned red that is perfect for probably any complexion. It's beautiful for winter months and makes teeth appear whiter because of its cool undertones. Next is sultry, a pretty color I could best describe as dusty-rose. It is a nice every-day bold lip. Last is shameless, a crazy Barney-like purple color. I love this and I love how true to packaging the product shows up, but I struggle finding occasions where this color is appropriate.  Don't mind my pale skin, I'm in desperate need of a tan.

Overall, I think these are great, they have good lasting power, good color pay-off, a wonderful matte finish without being drying, and are incredibly affordable. These have a slight minty smell, same as the balm stains, and the color selection is beautiful! I can't wait to get my hands on more

just for fun, heres a picture of myself wearing "shameless"

December 2013 Favorites

Okay so with the year coming to an end I figure I should post up some favorites! These are products I found myself using at the end of 2013 rather frequently, and products I anticipate using into 2014 as well!

So to start off, I have been LOVING my Bahama Mama Bronzer by The Balm. I love ALL things made by The Balm and this bronzer is no exception. It is a somewhat deep made bronzer that is absolutely perfect for contouring. I think the thing I love most about it is that it is in no way orange. It is a nice brown, so I don't feel like an oompa loompa when I use it. While my primary use for the product is contouring, a light dusting is perfect for an all over subtle bronze. This stuff is incredibly pigmented so a little goes a long way. At $20 this stuff isn't the cheapest, but it is certainly not as expensive as some competitors such as Nars Laguna costing $36. I purchased mine from amazon but you can find it on thebalm's website as well!

Next is an amazing mascara.... Too Faced Better than Sex! This stuff has a strange wand but I find it gives my lashes both incredible volume AND length. I prefer mascaras with wands that aren't rubber. I feel they just don't compare when it comes to volume. This stuff is great and it looks even greater when applied alongside fake lashes (as I did for new years). This product can be bought at sephora and costs $23

My favorite eyeshadows have been the matte colors from my Naked 2 palette, if we're getting specific. I find myself using the shades Foxy, Tease, and Blackout on a pretty regular basis. I love the entire palette but lately I've been focusing in on these shades because I am loving matte shadows. The look these colors give is incredible! As we all know the palette is $52 but it has so many usable colors that its worth it!

My favorite eyeliner lately has been the Eyeko skinny liquid liner in black. It can be purchased at sephora and costs $16. It has a great tip that can create an incredibly precise line and it is jet black. I have no complaints its just the perfect for wing tip and all things liquid liner related. Here is a picture of the tip and one of me with the liner on...

Alright so last is a fragrance. I have been loving the Betsey Johnson by Betsey Johnson perfume and it is beautiful. It is somewhat masculine and fruity at the same time. I can't even put it into words it is amazing and the bottle is beautiful too. I use it pretty regularly and I got a 3.2 ounce bottle at Marshalls for like $20 so you can't even go wrong. I highly recommend this scent to anyone who likes fruity deep scents!

Quarter Life Crisis

Soooo things have been a little nutty lately. The semester is coming to an end rather rapidly, and it is becoming more and more clear each day that I will be graduating in just a few short months. My whole life I've had a plan. Finish third grade...go to fourth....fifth...so on. Even senior year of highschool, I may have had no idea what school I'd be at...but I knew I'd be in college. But here I am four years later, just a little while away from having a Bachelors degree in Counseling and Human Services...and I have no idea where my life is going to take me.

I've been applying to service organizations, volunteer corps, and I'm even going to apply to a few graduate schools...but at the end of the day I don't know what I want. I mean if money weren't a factor, I would go right to graduate school and get a masters degree in School Counseling. I want to be a guidance counselor. I love my internship and I could see myself working in a school setting. But I do not want to pay all that money for graduate school. So I'm trying to find ways around it like working for an organization that would help pay or I don't know....anything really.

So I've been in a bit of a funk. I've been feeling old and unsubstantial and like my life is going no where. What can you do with a bachelors degree in Counseling? Not too much let me tell ya. But I love it. I don't regret pursuing the field because it is genuinely what I am good at and what I want to do with my life. I also want to be rich so I can buy makeup all day every day...go figure.

It doesn't help that my boyfriend-type-figure is in the same sort of place. He's going to be going to law school next year but he has no idea where. Neither of us knowing what state we will be living in adds a double dose of stress and ain't nooooobody got time for that. He's brilliant and he's gonna get into a great school I'm sure of it...but lord help me if he follows in the footsteps of Elle Woods and goes all the way to Boston to attend Harvard Law.

Seriously though if he gets into Harvard I will be so happy and supportive. We'll see though, stuff is still very much up in the air. Which gives me stress. When I get stressed I buy makeup.

Luckily for my very empty wallet, I went to a CVS that carries Wet N Wild makeup. My CVS at home doesn't, so its a treat to see the display at the one here in Scranton. I bought two lipsticks and I'm slightly in love. One of them I haven't worn yet but I've been eyeing it for a while. its 908C, and everyone says it looks like Mac Rebel. We shall see!

The one I have used and love is actually from the Wet N Wild Fergie Collection. It is called V.I.Pink. it is one of the creme lipsticks, the packaging is so cheap and tacky but sometimes we all need a little cheap and tacky in our lives. Plus when it comes down to it...I bought it for the lipstick not the packaging. I'm just such a sucker. Like I am willing to spend extra money on mac lipsticks because the packaging is so chic and I feel so glam putting it on. I understand how stupid this is, but I'm just so flawed. I've heard amazing things about the Wet N Wild lipsticks though so I figured I would give them a try.

Oh. My. Lord. this lipstick is beautiful. I was drawn to it because of its slight blue undertone. I work well with cooler shades. V.I.Pink is a pretty, medium pink. It isn't as bright and barbie as some other lipsticks I've purchased in the past. It is also not so light that it gives lips a weird flushed look. In my opinion its perfect. I still feel like I can get away with a bit of a dramatic eye, but its also bold enough for a simple winged liner look. I applied it with a brush, just because I prefer applying most lipsticks with brushes. I feel it gives for more precise lines and there is more control on the amount of product being applied.

I think this lipstick costs me around $3. Compared to the $15 for a mac product, I'd say this is a good deal. The lipstick stayed on very well even after some drinking. The color is rich and pretty pigmented. It goes on creamy and doesn't dry out the lips. Over all I really have no complaints. Could the packing be nicer? of course. But is this enough to keep me from buy a great product? ehhh not so much.

Here's a photo from last night of me wearing the lippy. Have you tried it? Or others? let me know what you think!

The higher the lashes the closer to God

My eyes are my thing. While I wear crazy nutty lipstick a lot I really do like to focus my makeup around my eyes on a regular day. My mom has piercing blue eyes, my dad had brown eyes, and for some reason me and all my sisters ended up with my moms eyes.

One of my friends calls them my blue gems.

So I like to make sure they pop when doing my makeup. There are a lot of tricks to doing this, ranging from using a highlight in the corner of the eye, lining the waterline with white liner, the shape of the shadow and the colors you choose...but one of my favorite tricks is making my lashes look long and luscious.

There are a few mascaras that accomplish this, but when looking for really bold lashes...falsies are fabulous too.

I'll start with my favorite mascaras.

First we have the Benefit They're Real. I know this is a cult favorite and everyone is obsessed with it, so its probably no surprise on my list. My favorite attribute of this mascara is how it lengthens and separates the lashes. They don't look clumped together, and although I sometimes like for mascaras that give off more volume, this one really is great especially for the first coat of mascara. The brush is plastic/rubber and it has little bristles coming out from the top which makes it easy to reach the harder to access spots. It is not waterproof, so make sure you're not planning to get emotional while wearing it. Overall it is truly a great product though and I'd even venture to say its worth the money. Cost: $23

Next, for those of you on a budget, is the E.L.F 3-in-1 mascara. This stuff is pretty comparable to the benefit They're Real and at a fraction of the cost! It will set you back only $3 ($20 less then benefits) and it has the same separating effect in my opinion. The brush is really cool, its sort of strangely shaped but again, this allows for easier access to hard to reach spots. I use this one as a first coat and then typically apply a coat of my all time favorite...

Mally volumizing mascara! Let me tell you this stuff adds volume! At $20, this stuff isn't cheap but it really is worth it. It makes my lashes thick without clumping and of the three I've mentioned, I'd say it gives the best "falsies" affect. I naturally have pretty thick/long/dark lashes but I love using mascara to curl and add the extra kick. This stuff curls and holds for a majority of the day. If I had to recommend any product it would be this one! So go buy it today you will thank my I promise!

When really looking to spice it up and look extra special, I suggest using false lashes. My favorite (and also cheap) brand is Ardell. You can pick them up at your local CVS or drug store. There is a large variety of styles so I'm sure you'll find some you like! Sometimes I even cut them in half and only apply them to the outer corner of my eyes. This gives a fantastic cat-eye effect. You can buy lashes pre-cut, but I prefer to do it myself to assure they are the exact length I like.

I hope this post was helpful! Let me know what you all think. Have you tried any of these? Do you agree with my reviews. Comment and let me know!

Why I'm obsessed with Birchbox

While the word "obsessed" is a term I seem to over use...I promise I am not throwing it out lightly in this scenario. I am not so slightly obsessed with Birchbox.

For those of you who don't know about Birchbox, it is a company that sends out 4-5 beauty related "samples" each month. I'm hesitant about using the word samples because in many cases I have been sent full sized products as well as sample sized products. While Birchbox has both male and female options, I am going to focus on the female boxes in this post. The female Birchbox costs $10 a month. This is comparable to some other monthly beauty box subscriptions currently out. It seems that Birchbox and Ipsy are the two most prevalent. Both are the same cost, do essentially the same thing, and are great pick me ups each month...so why is Birchbox my favorite?

I have a few reasons. The first and most important reason is Birchbox's points system. For every product you receive each month, you are given the opportunity to do a quick review on the website. This is as simple as filling in some bubbles. After completing these reviews, you are rewarded 10 points for each. This means that each month, you are accumulating approximately 50 points. So why does that matter? Well...for every 100 points you earn, you are given a $10 credit to the Birchbox shop. The Birchbox shop carries full sizes of all the samples you've received, and other great products. There are always way too many things that I want in the Birchbox shop so putting those points to use is never an issue. So since you're getting 50 points a month, you're technically only paying $5 per box. The other $5 is given back to you in credit to use in the shop. And while it isn't given back to you in cash, I'm pretty sure Birchbox points are just as good for any beauty junky like myself. You also get 100 points for EACH friend you refer to Birchbox. I've referred 3 people in my time with Birchbox...which means I've gotten another $30 to spend in their shop...just for telling people about my awesome experience!

Another reason I prefer Birchbox is the quality of the products I'm receiving. Ipsy gives plenty of full sized products, however they are more often then not low-quality, drugstore brand makeup. Don't get my wrong, I LOVE my Revlon, Cover Girl, etc. but in my opinion, the thing that makes Birchbox so great is that it opens my eyes to new and amazing products that I would have NEVER purchased on my own. With Ipsy, yes I may get a full sized NYX blush, but this is something that costs under $8 so I probably would have tried it on my own if it seemed appealing enough. Birchbox introduces me to hair oils that cost $30 a bottle, perfumes that cost $70 a bottle, mascara that costs $23....things that unless I knew for SURE how great it was, I would never spend the money on. Thats the whole point in sampling things isn't it? Not getting full sized products but being able to try new, quality products.

Now don't get me wrong, Birchbox still gives out full sized products every so often. I've been purchasing Birchbox's for almost a year and a half now but just off the top of my head I have received the following full sized products:
-Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen- $18
-Model Co Lash Xtend Mascara- $24
-Model Co Party Proof Lipstick- $24
-Mally Mascara- $20
-Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner- $16
-Incoco Nail Appliques- $9

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff but thats a lot of full sized products...and that doesn't even mention the great sample sizes that were also included in the boxes. I've also received a TON of generously sized nailpolish samples. Many samples are deluxe sized, meaning they are more then just foil packets. DDF and Stila give out incredibly generous sample sizes for example.

Birchbox also has incredible costumer service. If there are any issues with a sample, or any questions/concerns they are prompt and efficient in responding. While they don't make mistakes often, on the rare occasion they have I have been helped quickly and have been given points or replacement samples. They are always kind and understanding as well. They have such quality costumer service!

I signed up for Birchbox excited for the makeup products, but I've found myself enjoying the hair and skin products most. I've used my points to purchase Beauty Protector hair spray which I can't live without now, DDF brightening cleanser, Orfluido hair oil, Shea Terra Black Soap, and more. These have all become such crucial staples in my beauty regime and I can't thank Birchbox enough for introducing me to such awesome products!

So if you are even slightly interested in hair, skin, makeup, and nails...sign up NOW. Birchbox gives you quality and will introduce you to great new products. And at the end of the day, it really only costs you $5 a month...so give up that Frap from Starbucks this week and treat yourself to something you'll get much more enjoyment out of. You wont be disappointed!

Here are a few pictures of past boxes I have received, just to give you an idea!

What are you waiting for?! Go sign up!

Fall is Upon Us!

Although the weather is still shakey, it is becoming more and more apparent that fall is upon us! To me, this means lots of scarves, boots, layers, and bold colors!

Don't get me wrong I wear bold makeup year round, however there are different colors and hues for different seasons. Fall is perfect for deep, rich colors and I could not be more excited.

I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite products for fall, and hopefully it'll inspire some awesome looks of your own!

Bold Lip:

The trend you will see me taking full advantage of in the fall is a bold lip. This may be my favorite thing about the change in season. One of my favorites is Urban Decay Confession. Now I believe this lipstick is no longer made, however it is still available through ebay which is actually where I got it a year or so ago. This color looks scary as all heck in the tube. It is a deep purple, almost black. However the color is very buildable. I use a lip brush and apply a light coating that way. By doing this a little product goes a very long way. I get compliments every time I wear it, and I think it is perfect for the colder months.

Heres a photo from last night of the product on. As you can see, it really does sheer out when you apply a light coating. I'm in love with this product I can't even put it into words.

Bold Nail:

Nothing is more appropriate in the fall then a deep nailpolish. Reds, purples, blues, you name it. All of these shades have deep, dark personalities that we can bring out in the fall. Some of my favorites are OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (An almost black purple shade), Essie Wicked ( A deep oxblood ), And OPI Suzi Skis in the pyrenees (A beautiful charcol). I highly recommend any of these for spicing up your look! Nothing finishes an outfit like a freshly painted set of nails!

Bold Scent:

Perfumes are another aspect of a beauty regime that change seasonally. For the fall I'd say my favorite scent is FlowerBomb by Viktor and Rolf. This scent is so dynamic. The level of florals and spices and just sheer perfection in this perfume is worth the hefty pricetag.

Baby I'm Back with some favorites

Oh lord its been a while since I posted. I don't even have a good excuse, I've just gotten so caught up with stuff. Anyway! I've accumulated a ton of new products since I last posted (of course) and I have acquired some new favorites!!


First I'm going to start with a couple new foundations that I love. I have used the same foundation for years, and when I say years I mean probably at least 5 years.  I've posted about it before, its the Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse. It has a pump for application, great coverage, and it doesn't make my skin break out. These are all great qualities in a foundation! But I've been mixing it up a bit through the past few months.

First, I splurged and purchased the Kat Von D Lock it tattoo foundation. This stuff is BOMB. It has the best coverage of any foundation I've every used, dries matte, and lasts all day. I know its incredibly costly at $34 per ounce (based off sephoras pricing) but it is worth it. I use it sparingly because I'm so in love with it and want it to last forever. I save it for days my skin is really uneven, I have bad breakouts, or for special occasions. This stuff also has a pump applicator and beautiful packaging. I highly recommend it if there is room in your budget!

A more wallet-friendly foundation I have discovered is the Cover Girl 3 in 1 Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation. This stuff is great! It has good coverage...not quite as heavy as the Kat Von D foundation, but it is good for the days you need medium to heavy coverage! The coverage is also very layer-able. It also applies with a pump which again, I love (I'm so predictable, if a product has a pump I'm sold). I usually apply it with a Stippling brush for a flawless finish. I feel that while this product claims to work as a primer, concealer, and foundation...I still need a bit of concealer. Considering it is a drugstore brand though I am highly impressed and might even consider this a new favorite. It dries matte...what more could a girl ask for?

Another love of mine is the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in translucent. It is no secret by now that I prefer all things matte.  I love finishing my face routine with a sweep of a powder. I feel it really sets my foundation and concealer, allowing for the makeup to stay in place through the duration of the day and providing a flawless finish. This product only costs about $5 and it has become a staple in my makeup routine. 

I am a major fan of a bold lip. This is also pretty evident. Over the past few months I have been loving a few new lip products, some a bit on the pricey side, while others can be found in your local drug store! 

First is Mac Up the Amp. I always gravitate to lipsticks with cool undertones, especially purples. I feel they compliment my face the best and I just can't get enough. Up the amp is beautiful. It is creamy, not drying, but not super shiney either. Its the perfect finish. I can't get enough. At $15 its a bit on the pricey side but its nothing compared to a YSL or Chanel lipstick. Heres a picture of me in Up The Amp, and a picture of the product in tube.

Another great lipstick I've gotten into is the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick. I own a fullsized tube in Aria, and a sample in Beso which I received in my Birchbox. Aria is similar to up the amp, but a bit more of a berry color. The thing I love about these lipsticks is the staying power and the liquid application that dries completely matte. It looks FLAWLESS. It is important to be cautious when applying though, because once its dried into place, the little imperfections will become noticeable. Beso is a beautiful true-red. I love it for a statement red lip (come to think of it, I might wear it out to the bar tonight!). I can't say enough how great this stuff is!!

Last, I am currently LOVING the Loreal Wet Shine Stain in Stubborn Plum. OH MY GOD this stuff is great. I know I am usually not one to go for the glossy products, but I'm hooked on this stuff. I don't know if its the color that makes it so flattering, or if I am just coming around to glossier looks. The staying power of this stuff is amazing. It stays glossy for hours, and even after the gloss diminishes, the color stays true. I wear this stuff to my internship all the time and don't feel that I'm overdone. This product is similar to a YSL gloss stain which I have never tried but I know they have a cult following. I love it and I love the price even more! I want to say this stuff will run you around $8.

I hope this was a helpful post and I hope you stick around because I'll be posting more soon! Have you tried any of this stuff? Do you love it, hate it, agree with me, disagree, or have anything to add? Let me know!!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

So I've been hearing about the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette forever...

Everyone talks about the Naked Palettes and how amazing they are. At $50 a piece, it took a while for me to make the plunge and purchase one. This winter I decided to order the Naked 2 palette and its been such an awesome experience experimenting with the shadows!

Naked 2 has cooler tones then the original, and in my opinion it works flawlessly with my pale complexion. The only thing I would add to the palette would be a more shimmery, light color. The shade "bootycall" is the closest to this in the palette, but I think there is a need for a bit of a more shimmery highlight color (to remedy this, I use the loreal infallable iced latte shadow as a highlight, along with other colors in my naked 2 palette).

This palette has such an awesome range of neutral shades, and I can't get enough of it!! I know $50 seems slightly steep, but I use literally every single color in the palette, so I'm totally getting my moneys worth!

Go buy it! You wont be sorry!!

and heres an awkward picture of my eye with shadows from the naked palette

The Balm!

Okay so there is a brand of makeup that I discovered this summer that I believe is worth posting about!

The balm is a cosmetics line that is sold places like birchbox.com or sephora (so obviously good quality makeup!). The products are priced similarly to most of the stuff you'll find in sephora ( $18 for a lipstain, $20 for a blush...etc) but I've really enjoyed the products I've tried!!

My introduction to the balm came from my July Birchbox. I recieved a sample of the staniac lip/cheek stain which they make and it was love at first sight. We all know how crazy I am about a nice lipstain!! I received the shade "Beauty Queen" and let me tell you, this was an awesome sample! The formula is a sort of gel, but it goes on really nicely. It leaves lips a nice pink color!

Next is my new blush! I spent some of my birchbox points and ordered the balms "Hot Mama". This is a $20 blush/eyeshadow. It is multipurpose, although I doubt I'll use it for a shadow. Its a shimmery peach color that many people compare to nars orgasm. I think its slightly less shimmery than the nars variation but it is equally wonderful!!

Let me know if you've tried any other products from the balm! I'd love to hear about it!

Revlon ultimate liquid lipstick

I am literally the worst! I can't believe my last post was a month ago. I think I've just been insanely swamped with this busy semester! I'm still just as much of a makeup freak as ever though, so don't worry I've been collecting and obsessing plenty!

One thing that I've purchased in the past month and am slightly infatuated with is the Revlon ultimate liquid lipstick in vigorous violet. Major mouthful, but so worth it. I love Revlon's lip products, they have those Just bitten kissable lipstain balms that are out of this world. This product is even more my style though.

The vigorous violet is the only shade I've tried, but I'm considering buying another color or two. The violet has a bit of shimmer, goes on like a lipgloss, but dries with a matte finish. The lasting power is UNREAL. There are nights where I put the product on around 9PM, go to a party, drink, stay out till like 3, come home and pass out without washing my face (I know how terrible this is, but we all have those moments) and the lipstick will STILL be on when I wake up. Thats just not even fathomable. I LOVE IT.

I think that the color works really well with my pale skin/ blue eyes/ dark hair. It has a bit of a blue undertone (obviously because its a purple). It looks like it would be super harsh in the bottle, but honestly I think its the perfect balance of socially acceptable and dramatic. I wear this to class, to work, to parties, wherever. The revlon liquid lipstick has become a staple and I'm not stopping!!

For those of you who like the stila liquid lipstick (I do!), this product is very similar for like...half the price.

Face Base!

In my opinion, the MOST important part of my makeup routine is all the stuff I do to even out my skin and create a nice base for the exciting stuff like eyeshadow, lipstick, and more!

My typical routine involves a few steps including primer, foundation, and powder. Regardless of the look I'm going for, these steps stay constant and I never leave the apartment without at least these basics. 

I call these steps the "base" because it is the base of the rest of your cosmetics. Afterward I apply all the color. I've been using the same base products for a while and I find that once you discover which ones work for you, you'll never want to stray outside of them! 

So I start with a primer. I use the Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier which I've posted about in the past. This can work in leu of foundation, however I find that the coverage is much nicer with a little foundation on top! The magic skin beautifier is a Beauty Balm and is BY FAR the best one I've used (and I've used a bunch!). For more information, feel free to check out my earlier post about beauty balms!

NEXT: time for some foundation! I've been using the same foundation for at LEAST 3-4 years (maybe longer? I can't even remember when I started using this stuff!) A friends recomended it and there has been no turning back since. The Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse is everything you could want from a foundation. It is thick and creamy, has a pump applicator, and doesn't give a greasy gross feeling. I have very sensative skin to the point where i can't use certain primers without breaking out...so you'd think a thick, moussey foundation would wreck havoc on my skin. Maybe its because I've been using this stuff for so long, so my skin is used to it, but for some reason I do not break out from using this! I'm slightly obsessed! A little goes a long way and the pump applicator is insanely easy to use. I don't think I will ever stray from this stuff!!

The LAST step for my base is powder. This helps set the foundation, and creates for more of a matte finish. I don't like for my skin to look moist or dewy so I love powder. I have friends who hate it though, so it really is a preference type of thing! My absolutely favorite Powder is another Maybelline product. It is the FIT me powder. They make a foundation as well, which I've never tried, but I've heard bad things about it (plus I'm already sold on the one mentioned above!). This powder is awesome. I hate the applicator it came with, so I bought my own pack of cosmetic sponges and they help apply the powder evenly and absorb any unwanted moisture. 

So I highly recommend ALL of this stuff. I seriously don't know how I lived without them! What are some of your favorite products?

Influenster- Beauty Blogger voxbox

OH MY GOD this is the happiest submission I may ever post!
I've posted about Birchbox and Beauty Army in the past, we all know I'm obsessed with beauty box subscription services yadayada...but I'm a broke college student who only clears about $300 a month...so when $30 goes to a cell phone, like $60 goes to gas for my car, and who knows how much goes toward shopping...its difficult for me to justify spending a ton on subscription services.

So I have two...my birchbox and beauty army which comes to only $22 a month... its my treat!

But then theres influenster... now I don't get a box from influenster every month, but it is the coolest site. Let me tell you about it:

-you make an account and complete surveys
-you blog about products and the site (youtube, blogger, tumblr, twitter, whatever you prefer!)
-you recieve FREE products...I repeat 100% free, you don't even pay for shipping
-you review these products and the process repeats!

I'm honestly not sure how often you receive a box from influenster. I do know that it depends on whether or not you qualify (based on your surveys). But I was just chosen to receive my very first box and it is the beauty blogger box! I got it in the mail today! Let me show you!

I hope you enjoy my bedding that the box is sitting on...haha!
But look at all that stuff! Is it the most high end brands...no. Is it worth trying at no cost? Absolutely!! So now let me go through everything and tell you how I'm feeling!

Vitabath fragrance- This stuff retails for $10 and is a fragrance. I received the scent "citron leaves". Now, this was an extra added to my box. Not everyone was given this, but for some reason I was specially selected. I looked on the website and while I don't hate this scent I also don't love it. I'm a perfume girl. I've been wearing Escada rockin rio lately. I enjoy either sweet or musky scents, so a citrus isn't totally my style. Like I said it smells nice...but after looking on the site I think there are some scents I would have much preferred (lavender and chamomile, orchid and coconut, grapefruit and vanilla). Regardless, this is something I will try, maybe it will be more my style after its settled on my body (stuff never smells the same on as it does in the bottle after all!).

NYC palette- This retails for $5.  I actually have a different NYC palette already and I was not super impressed with it. The colors just don't seem to blend as well as higher quality makeup, nor do they have the staying power that I prefer (even with primer). I will give this one a shot though, I'm always happy to have more options when it comes to makeup so its a nice addition to my collection! This also includes a primer and highlight. I am very excited to try it!

Boost Health & Energy supplement- I'm excited to try this on a day when I need a pick me up! I HATE everything that is orange flavored (with the exception of orange juice) so I doubt I'll love the flavor, but if I feel like I enjoy the product I'd look into purchasing other flavors (if they make them?)

Not your mothers Kinky moves- I actually own the dry shampoo by the not your mothers brand. The thing I enjoy most about this brand is that every product I've seen has smelled AMAZING. The Kinky moves creme smells like grape and Jasmine and it is AWESOME. I haven't tried it in my hair yet, so who knows how it works (the dry shampoo is just okay) but I will get back to you when I do!

Kiss ever pro lashes- I HAVE NEVER WORN FAKE LASHES. I blog about beauty products and have never tried fake lashes, how is that possible?! Well my natural lashes are decently thick/long so I have never really needed to...but looking back I wish I had for prom or something. I have been meaning to try them but just never committed to purchasing them. Now I don't have to! These look like nice ones, not anything weird or hoochie. I think they seem like they could appear natural with a little oomf. I may wait to use them until halloween (if I can hold out!)

Goody twist pins- I'm not sure if this is what they are actually called, I threw out the packaging for them...but I'm SOLD these are awesome. They retail for about $8 (for the set of 2). This seems steep considering you can purchase like 60 bobbie pins for $1 but its worth it! These can hold SO MUCH HAIR. I played around with them and put my hair into a bun and the two pins completely supported all of my hair. I have a friend whos sworn by these since she first tried them and now I understand why. This is a product I've been meaning to purchase, but again, never got around to buying. I am sooo happy to have these!

Lastly...

A bath and body works mini candle in Black Pepper Bergamot - First of all, I'm not even going to ask WHY there is a candle in this universe that is scented "black pepper". Who wants to have their home smell like black pepper?! I don't know who created the fragrance behind this candle but I want to know what black pepper they use because it smells NOTHING like black pepper. THIS CANDLE SMELLS AWESOME. It has a kind of musky/manly smell. I'm a sucker for all sorts of man smells (axe, old spice, UGH don't get me started). This is no exception, I'm obsessed. I don't think the name matches the scent but with that being said, this may be a new favorite B&BW scent of mine!


So thats my influenster box! I think its awesome, I got a ton of products and it was free! I'm so excited to start really using the products! Feel free to ask me specifics about anything I've mentioned, or let me know about your experiences with this stuff!!

NYX matte lip cream- monte carlo

So I recently purchased an NYX matte lip creme in the shade monte carlo!
Honestly, I'm still not sure how in love I am with it, but I do enjoy the product!
Monte Carlo is a deep blue toned red. It is beautiful on, and I love how it looks, but it doesn't have the best lasting power. NYX matte lip cremes go on like a gloss, and dry into a bit of a matte finish. I LOVE THIS. I'm always searching for the latest and greatest matte lip products.

Pros:
Beautiful color
very pigmented
nice matte finish
easy application

Cons
a bit streaky
drying to the lips
not the best stay-power
feels cakey after drying


I love this for the first hour or so I wear it...but after that it feels very caked on and flakey. If you are planning to eat with this stuff on...be ready to re-apply! It didn't last great after I ate/drank. I felt as though other matte lip products leave more of a tint, while this one leaves a layer on top of the lips.

For the price, this is a great product. It may not be my ABSOLUTE go to matte product, but I like it for a once and a while thing! Try it out!

NYX eyeshadow base

Ok so after todays upsetting Birchbox I feel the need to make a happier review!

So today I will be reviewing NYX eyeshadow base...this stuff is BOMB!

So I believe they come in a few variations (white, white pearl, and skin tone I believe?),= but the one I have is the white. I purchased the white because when I was in the store, they didn't have the other two in stock and I'm super impatient. I needed eyeshadow primer and thats all they had in that particular drug store so I went with it! Had they had all three available, I would most likely have gone with the skin tone one, or maybe even white pearl...hell I'd be interested to try all of them!

So this is what it looks like, its a little pot that will run you about $7
Its creamy, I just run my finger in there and blend some into my eyelids a minute or two before applying eye shadow. I don't know how well this stuff makes your shadow last, because that aspect seems about the same to me. The reason I love this product is because of how vibrant it makes my shadow! I usually use NYX shadow, but even when I don't it reacts super well with the other brands! The color shows up as exactly the same pigment that you see in the pan! its wonderful...heres a swatch of the SAME COLOR with and without...

Now thats a dark brown. I applied the same amount to both swatches (if anything more shadow was applied to the top swatch). I think its obvious that the bottom swatch is the one that I primed. So do you need primer? No. Will your results be better with it? Absolutely!

I highly recommend this stuff! What primers do you think work best?

New Products!

I'm expecting two new lip products to be here in the next weekish. If I don't get them before Friday I'll have to wait until Wednesday to try them out because I'll be home for break. I'm so excited though!!

Urban Decay Confession Ebay

I know I should calm down with purchasing makeup but I have to say its become a bit of an obsession.

At this point I'm about to drop out of college and go to beauty school.
**just kidding. but maybe in the future I'll pursue it?!

So I've never really utalized ebay but after one of my friends started getting gently used designer stuff from their this summer i decided to give it a go.... and OH MY GOD its my new obsession.

This week alone I've purchased a sample size of Young Blood mineral primer (which honestly, i prefer to use as an eye makeup primer so a sample will last months) and an Urban Decay lipstick.

I already have the Young Blood (I've posted about it!) but I am SO beyond excited to get the Urban Decay lipstick. It is in the color "confession" which makes the Usher song get stuck in my head...but its beautiful.

Now it looks Scary....

Like wtf did I just spend $22 on black lipstick?! 

NO! First of all, it retails for $22 but I got it for $7 on ebay! 

But it isn't black! It looks so deep but its actually a really pretty berry color that can be spread sheer like this...

how amazing is that? I can NOT wait to get it! It's on sale on the Urban Decay website for $3 but shipping is $9 so this was a better deal for me...

but still if youre interested $9 is super cheap for an UD lipstick!

***I took this pictures from google

Beauty Box Finds!

So I know I've posted about Birchbox before, and my obsession with it, but since then I've also subscribed to Beauty Army (So yes, I am the girl who spends $22 a month on beauty samples).

October will be my third month with Birchbox, and my second with Beauty Army. In these few months I've discovered some really cool products and brands that I would love to share!

Ok first is something that I actually purchased another sample of (someone was selling it on ebay for like $1 so after shipping it was only $3).

Let me stop talking. Basically it is the Young Blood mineral primer. The sample size is awesome. Its 5ml and the one I got from beauty army has lasted me a while and isn't even halfway finished! Full sized (1 Ounce) is $41 which puts the sample value around $7. I got it on ebay for $3...less than half price! I'd say its a success!

above is a picture of the sample. It has a pump top and it is fabulous! It makes my skin so silky, really keeps my makeup in place, and reduces the appearance of pores and lines. I may purchase a full size some day...but for now I'll stick with my cheaper little samples!

Another product I have been loving is Besame rouge. This stuff is beautiful! While it works on both lips and cheeks, I have yet to use it on my lips. Its a pretty red that can be blended into a pinky/red. It adds the perfect amount of color to cheeks and I'm a little obsessed. The sample size was decent, but the full sized container is absolutely stunning. I expect the sample to last me a long time, but when I run out I will most likely purchase the full sized product for $22!

Ok so the first picture is the full sized besame crimson rouge. The tin is so cute! The next is the sample size which  received. Last is a picture someone posted of how the product blends out and the amount of range in color you can get. it really is an awesome product!

So these are just two of my favorites so far, and ironically they are both from last months beauty army! Can't wait to see what samples they have for me to pick tomorrow, I'll post once I get them!

Ciao

S.

Chi turbo 1 inch hair straightener

Ok so I have naturally crazy curly hair...

told you! Its wild. I'm not really the type to leave it naturally curly, if I'm going to wear it curly I use my Remington pearl curling wand (thats a review for a later date!) for looser, beachier waves. The majority of the time though, I straighten my hair. I've been doing this pretty much since 8th grade (7 years...don't I feel old...).

I remember it was right before my 8th grade graduation and confirmation. I wanted to be cute and have straightened hair. I only had a couple of days before my confirmation and so I rushed and ordered a Chi turbo 1 inch straightener...well thats what I thought I ordered....

but then 3 of them showed up. 

I'm still unsure as to what happened, I guess I accidentally clicked to order 3 instead of 1. Dumb. So I kept one, my older sister kept one, and the other sat in a box. I used and abused mine for a solid 5 years and then the cord got snagged and it stopped working (RIP). So I popped open the 5 year old unopened backup. I've been using it for about 2 years now and it still works just as well as the day I ordered it (and its two siblings). 

Chi's are great for people with crazy, curly hair. I find that it makes my hair look silkier than it is naturally and manages frizz very well. My hair stays straight all day with little to no product. I have honestly no complaints about just how great Chi straighteners are. 

The ones they make now are much sleeker than the one I have. Being that mine is from 2006, there are much newer models available that I'm sure work even better and are much thinner. 

Basically, if you have curly hair and want a reliable straightener, I highly recommend investing in a Chi. You can get them at Harmons or bath and body works or any other place you can use coupons for under $100. 

So I guess the only appropriate way to end this post is with a picture of my straightened hair...

See? No kinks! Just shiny, straight hair. Gotta love my Chi!