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!

NARS velvet matte lip pencil- Damned

Ok guys so I have a clear shopping problem...but today was the last day to use my $15 from sephora (I got an email a while back saying that if you spent $50 you could redeem this $15 gift card). I almost bought the Naked 2 palette with it, but then decided that was still too much to shell out right now.

So I wasn't going to use the $15...but I read today that if you used it online, there was no minimum. SOOOO the second, less expensive, product I've been lusting over is now ordered and on its way to me.I did have to pay for shipping, and since this lip pencil is regularly $24, it wound up costing me about $16...not bad though! thats $8 off!! I'm so happy!

I visited a friend who goes to the fashion institute over thanksgiving break, and of course we wound up on 5th avenue and in sephora. That is where I fell in absolute LOVE with the nars velvet matte lip pencils. I was instantly attracted to the shade "damned"...its this deep magenta color that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I left.

These pencils are awesome because they are not only matte, but they also have incredible precision. They are a pencil, and can be used as a lip liner as well as an all over color. Because of this, there is no running or smudging. I love how defined they make your lips. It doesn't feel super dry or cakey either. UGH let me stop because I sent it to my house in New York and I wont be back for at least 5 more days. 

So heres a little picture I took while trying the product in sephora. Let me know what you think!

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.

Tricks for Long Hair!

I love long hair. If I could grow mine to be Rapunzel length I would. But I use heated tools on my hair all the time which seriously kills it. 

For the past year or so I've tried some tricks to keep my hair long and healthy and I've had some success!

First Trick: Deep condition

I try to deep condition my hair about twice a week. I do this in place of regular conditioner. I shampoo and then leave the conditioner on for about 5-10 minutes while I shave (I think it says to do this for 3 minutes but I break the rules!). I use the Loreal Everpure deep restorative mask. Its sulfate free so people with chemically treated hair its perfect. I'm also slightly obsessed with the smell, and it lasts for hours. 

Trick Two: Biotin

I've talked about taking biotin before but I love it. I really do notice a difference after taking this stuff!!

Trick three: Oil!!

OH my god I love this stuff. Not only does Orfluido make hair healthier, it makes my hair smell amazing, leaves it silky, AND keeps my frizz in check. It is worth the $30 (although you can find it cheaper on Amazon!) and it is a big bottle so it will last literally forever. I use such a tiny drop and it goes a longggggg way. this is a MUST buy. 

So my hair feels longer, healthier, and I think it looks nicer! What do you think?

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?

healthy beauty!

So we all want beautiful soft silky hair, but we blow dry, straighten, curl it on a daily basis! Its silly and contradictory and yet I still continue to do it. If my hair was reallllly long I'd be happy to wear it curly...but because its only just past my shoulders when curly, I insist on styling it with heated tools every day. Of course, it wont grow much longer because I'm constantly needing to cut off the dead ends.

viscous cycle! So here are some of the products I've added to my beauty routines that I'm loving! They promote health and quality and I've noticed a difference!

First of all, I take biotin daily. This is a tiny vitamin supplement that promotes healthier hair, skin, and nails. My hair stylest even said she noticed a difference in the quality of my hair after I had been taking it for about 2 months. I was ecstatic! My hair seems slightly healthier, and seems to be growing a bit quicker.  You can get biotin literally anywhere. I think I got mine at bed bath and beyond!!

Next is Dove heat defense. I spritz a little of this stuff on my hair while its drying if I know I'm going to be applying heat to it. This not only makes my hairstyle last longer, but it really seems to keep my hair protected. I noticed a massive change after using this product and used up the entire bottle! I need to buy more! It also smells really nice!

I've been using DDF brightening cleanser for about 2 weeks now. My skin feels SOOO nice after using this! It does an awesome job of cleansing! It also is amazing because it is meant to get rid of dark spots, acne scaring, and overall create a more even complexion. I have been really enjoying this product! It smells like black licorice but it doesn't leave a strong scent after I wash it off so I don't mind too much! Totally worth the $38 a bottle!

Lastly I am having a love affair with nailtiques formula two! I apply a coat of this protein to my clean nails (every day that I don't have polish on!) and use it as a base coat. I'm not sure if this is how its meant to be used, but I have noticed that my nails seem a bit less brittle and have been breaking way less! They are getting back to a really nice length so I am insanely excited!

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!!

Wet n Wild Spoiled Polishes

I have an infatuation with nailpolish. I have SOOO many polishes, and can not walk into a drugstore without buying at least one more!

I try to purchase from the brands that work best, but that can get expensive. I'm obsessed with OPI and Essie, even Julep, but these run anywhere from $6-$14 each! I am a broke college student, that just doesnt work out!

But Spoiled polishes by wet n wild are AMAZING. They sell at CVS for about $2 each and they work so well. The colors are also awesome and dry super quickly!!

I personally own three (papa paparazzi and steel the show as pictured below...and another blue sparkle that isn't shown)

If you're like me and love cheap and beautiful nailpolish RUN to cvs and pick some of these up! There are a ton more colors!

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?

Birchbox

I AM SO MAD!!
Next month may be my last with Birchbox, I'm giving them one more shot! Last month was underwhelming to say the least and now this month? I'm so disappointed!

I'll start with the good:

DDF brightening cleanser:
This is a huge sample. More than 4 Ounces! The full size is a little less than doubled, and costs $38 putting this sample at about a $20 value! (yes I did the math). I haven't tried it yet, but I am excited as I've heard really good things about it. This product has been in Birchboxes before though, so while its new to me I wasn't super excited about it because its a product I'm familiar with.

Mighty Leaf Tea:
They gave me 3 tea bags, they are all flavors I'm interested in trying. Earl grey, some african tea, and green tea. I love tea so I don't mind this at all, but again these were in last months birchboxes so even though I've never gotten them I feel like I'm getting leftovers here..

Orofluido:
This is a hair oil. I'm very familiar with hair oils as I use Moroccan oil, and lately have been trying out Macadamia oil. I have naturally oily hair at the roots but it tends to be very frizy and dry towards the bottom. I love hair oils for this reason. This one has a nice smell, and is a decent size sample since a little really goes a long way. I'm excited to use it.

Now the bad:

Caudalie:
I forget exactly what this is but its meant for the face. the tube is SO tiny that I'll be lucky if I get one application out of it! It also said something about working well on dark spots, but I'm 20! I don't have those yet!

Now for the TERRIBLE

Per-fekt lip gel:
is this a joke? I'm really wondering if Birchbox is serious. This little tiny sample is good for a one time use! Its the tiniest little thing stuck on a big obnoxious cardboard flower. I hate lipgloss in the first place, I always talk about how obsessed I am with matte everything. I don't blame birchbox for not knowing I don't like lipgloss, but if they are going to give me a sample of lipgloss at least let it be a deluxe sample like they say it will be! This is so disappointing.

so thats it! Thats my birchbox. Will I get some use out of it? Yes. I mean the cleanser is awesome and the hair oil has potential. Do I love it? no. Knowing that some people are getting essie polishes, beauty blenders, chapsticks, lip balm, lip mosturizers, mascara, etc this month makes it a little more unbearable to look at my box. I should be with the age 20 demographics! Why am I getting all skincare! wheres the makeup/nailpolish/fun stuff!

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.

Matte Nailpolish (well...matte everything)

Obviously I am multi-tasking like crazy right now. I have a 6 page paper due in 12 hours but instead I am sitting here, watching "Across the Universe" and blogging about nailpolish. I have my priorities in order.

So matte products are very in this season. You can get anything from matte moisturizer to matte eyeshadow. Personally, I'm a huge fan of a nice bold matte lip. Matte just means its not shiny, its more of a dull, soft finish. One of my favorite matte trends this season is matte nailpolish.

Some brands (like OPI) make colors that dry matte, but I seem to have little luck in finding them. Even when I am able to track one down, I don't have a ton of colors to choose from. Thats why many nail polish brands are making matte top coats. This will transform any shiny polish into a soft matte finish.

Personally, I've used an ulta matte top coat, and tested out a few other brands at sephora, but fell in love with the OPI for sephora matte top coat.

This stuff is a godsend. I've used it with a bunch of colors and I love the chalky finish it creates!! I can't get enough. 

Love this new matte trend? Let me know what your favorite way to incorporate it into your daily style is!

I found this picture on google that does a really great job comparing matte to regular nailpolish!! enjoy!

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!

Loreal Youth Code BB cream

This is my first negative review and I'm so upset to be posting....
I am not loving the Loreal Youth Code BB cream!!! I posted about loving the other Loreal BB cream (magic skin beautifier) and said I'd write a review after trying the other one. I've been using the Youth Code for about 2 weeks and it has been BAD (at least for me!)

I have been breaking out like CRAZY. Normally this time of month my skin is at its clearest, but my skin has been horrible since switching to the youth code. I haven't changed anything else in my life drastically so I'm thinking it must be that. I haven't been using concealer or any other product but its still clogging my pores like crazy.

It also doesn't cover nearly as well as the magic skin beautifier. Maybe I'm just spoiled and that one is amazing but youth code barely hides any redness. If I'm going to be clogging my pores with this it better damn well cover my gross skin!

Whenever I buy products I don't like, I rough it out and use it until I finish and just figure I wont buy it again. With this...I really think I'm going to just throw it away. Its a shame because I spent like $10 on it and its still pretty much full but I just can't destroy my skin anymore.

sad, sad day.

September MUST Haves!

Okay so I know I've been totally slacking with posting lately but I've been swamped! Between taking 17 credits at school, my job, and my volunteering I barely have a minute to myself! But I decided to get back into things now that I'm getting into a better routine, and what better way than with a MUST HAVES list?

These are all things I own and absolutely LOVE.

So first things first, my newest absolute FAVORITE. For you girls with curly hair, you need to buy Miss Jessies Curly Pudding. This stuff works wonders. I know it seems a little pricey (about $22 for 8 ounces, $38 for 16) but its so worth it. I discovered Miss Jessies when Birchbox sent me a sample of their Quick Curls. I loved that so I went on the site and signed up for a sample of the Curly Pudding and Super Sweatback Treatment. Both were amazing, but I honestly don't think I can live without the Curly Pudding! I got a ton of compliments on my curls the day I used it. I'm a girl who never leaves the house without either straightening my hair, or running a curling iron through it...so finding a product that turns my natural frizz into beautiful long curls is a God send. It smells great too!

Whats next? Eos lip balm of course! I'm not a lipgloss girl. I've said it a hundred times. But I do like keeping my lips moisturized, and I use a ton of drying lipsticks and lipstains so I need a reliable chapstick! Eos attracted me (and lets face it...probably everyone else) because of its cool egg-like shape. Applying it in public just makes me feel like I'm awesome. But it actually does a great job of moisturizing my lips and leaves a slight strawberry taste. Its pretty cheap too, only like $3 and you can get them at CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, wherever! It comes in a ton of varieties so try whichever one works best for you!

Next is an eyeliner. We all know I'm a fan of winged dramatic eyes. The Physicians Formula Eye Booster is a marker, which makes application a breeze. Its like drawing right onto your eyes. It also comes on very nicely, not streaky...so one coat is enough. The design makes the application so easy...great for beginners! Best of all...its an eyelash booster! The liner has a formula that is meant to make lashes fuller which is what sold me! For only about $8 it was a must try! I have been using the product for about 2 weeks and I have to say my lashes do seem a bit thicker! 

Well I think thats all for now! But thanks for reading and I'll check back soon!

NYX matte lipstick

So I've been swamped getting back into the swing of school lately and haven't had a chance to post BUT I have about 20 minutes until class so I figured I'd get back into things!

I've discussed it before and I'll discuss it again, I'm obsessed with matted lips.

The issue is, most drug store brands (aka affordable makeup) don't make matted lip products. I always struggled finding affordable and attractive matted lipsticks...until this summer. While shopping at harmons I discovered the brand NYX. I believe I've posted about them before, they are an affordable drug store brand that is comparable to mac. They make amazing matted lipstick

This is one of the three colors I have. It is called shocking pink and it is very shocking...almost nicki Minaj-esc. Its bold and bright and feminine and I love it. The matte finish makes it wearable and not look like you just left the circus.

If you are looking for matte lipstick i HIGHLY recomend trying an NYX product prior to shelling out $14-$30 on a more expensive brand. You wont be sorry!

Classic with a twist

So I'm a big fan of old-fashion makeup. Think Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe... I love thick winged liner, bold lips, pale skin and dark hair.

But obviously its 2012 so there needs to be some changes. Here are a few of my favorite ways to spice up an old (but amazing) look!

- Matte lipstick instead of one with a lustrous finish
-Lip stain instead of a lipstick. Long lasting color without looking super heavy
-Different colored lips, instead of the classic red you could use orange, pink, purple, etc.
- Colored Liner

so heres a picture of vamped up classic look. Enjoy!

Fresh Faced Vs. Made up

So it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love makeup. I'm the type of girl who does not leave the house without at least a 5 minute makeup routine in place.

I feel like once you get into the routine of wearing it, its almost impossible to be comfortable sans makeup. 

A lot of people think this is wrong, I have a ton of friends who rarely wear makeup and think I'm crazy for always putting the stuff on. People think its an issue regarding insecurity, when in reality, its just a comfort...like a night light.

When I am wearing makeup I feel as though I look my best. This makes me stand a little taller, smile a little more, and be the more outgoing and confident person then I would otherwise be. It makes me feel my best and gives me the courage to do anything.

Nightlights don't keep the monsters away, they are just a little glow that adds comfort and security...same deal with makeup.

I'll admit I sometimes go a little crazy with it, wearing vibrant pink lipstick and Amy Winehouse inspired eyeliner, but if thats what makes me feel best then I'm doing it! So heres a before and after...one side made up and the other fresh faced. Enjoy!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

What a mouthful! Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stains are a recent find of mine, and they are pretty amazing. I only have two so far but I plan on buying a bunch more! The two I have are Darling and Rendezvous

 I am reallly considering buying crush because that is sooo my style! Basically these are crayon like stains that are somewhat glossy unlike most lip stains. Let me rephrase that...they have more of a lipbalm consistency. So it feels like I'm wearing chapstick but looks like I'm wearing lipstick, amazing right? They have a slight menthol smell which I think is nice...but the best part is how long they last! I've been wearing Rendezvous for 5 hours now and my lip still have a pretty orangey tint! Darling doesn't seem to be as pigmented, or last as long, but its still nice! Heres a picture I took of myself, wearing Rendezvous about 10 minutes ago...

Not bad right? I mean it looks a little more orange in person but since the color of the minute is "tangerine tango" I can't say that I mind. I think it looks nice with my skin tone and is so easy to wear. I got these for about $9 at my local CVS but I've also seen them at walgreens and other drug stores. GO BUY THEM NOW! You wont regret it!

OCC Lip Tar

So recently I have discovered this product by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. I'ts called Lip Tar and I've heard wonderful things. basically, it seems to be a lip product that goes on almost like a gloss, but has a matte finish and long lasting wear. They say a little goes a long way, so even though the tube isn't huge it lasts for a while.

They cost about $15 and have a huge variety of colors. I am DYING to try some. When I was younger, I was a huge fan of lip glosses. I'd pick them based on the smell or flavor. As I've gotten older, I've come more and more to despise lip gloss. I am way more into color with a matte finish. I hate the way glosses live your lips sticky and tacky, lets be real thats not going to benefit anyone in any way.

Thats why these Lip Tars appeal to me. Even the word tar just sounds so... dramatically effective. I love vibrant colored lips and these come in pretty much every color from white all the way to black.

Please let me know if you've tried these! Give me your feedback on whether they are worth the $15 or not! Tell me the best colors, places to purchase, whatever!

L'oreal Magic Skin Beautifier

So this is my new obsession. After receiving a sample of the Stila beauty balm in my July Birchbox, I knew I needed to try some more brands! I thought the Stila one worked well, but I couldn't justify spending $38 on a bottle when there are SO many other (cheaper) brands.

I found this little gem in a Harmons. The women working there overheard a friend and I trying to discuss which brand we should get since we were overwhelmed with options, and she recommended this one! I am so glad she did because it is BALM!

This BB cream is much different from the others I've tried (stila, garnier, and dr. Jarts). This BB cream goes on WHITE. Not only is it white...it has these weird black speckles in it. I was grossed out at first, I thought the product I picked up was either expired or needed a good shake. But then I realized the black dots were part of the charm. After rubbing in the product, the specks blend into the white cream and form to your skin tone (or a close match). It was weird...but amazing. 

Beauty Balms are great because they are SO good for your skin. While this one does not contain SPF, it does work to minimize redness and the appearance of pores. It also hydrates and corrects without clogging pores. I've never had the best skin, I tend to break out especially one particular week out of each month. So I would cover these imperfections with a ton of concealer and foundation and powder...which lead to more clogged pores and more breakouts. Since purchasing this product, I have not used foundation or concealer. I have just applied this and sealed it with powder. for me this combination covers just as well as my heavy makeup did, without being as harmful. I've noticed my skin seems a bit healthier and its  a much easier routine!! 

Overall, I really enjoy this BB cream. I wish it was a little less watery because it just feels unnatural rubbing something so liquidy onto my face. I also feel like had it been more of a cream, it would be easier to rub in and would work slightly better. Overall though, it covers nicely, it feels like my skins a bit healthier, and my skin looks way nicer. I've purchased L'oreals youth code BB cream for when this finishes because I'm really interested to see the difference, so I'll be sure to post a review on that once I try it!! 

BIRCHBOX

So this summer I discovered a God-send....BIRCHBOX

Basically, Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that surprises us each month with samples of the latest and greatest beauty and lifestyle products. It costs $10 a month (I justify this as one lunch out with friends...) and so far I feel it has been totally worth it.

When it comes down to it...its not ACTUALLY $10 a month. You get 10 birchbox points for each item you review in the box. These points are converted to dollars to spend in the birchbox store eventually. So for every 100 points you get, you recieve a $10 credit in the birchbox store. I've only received two boxes and I already have 120 points! I'm saving up to get something really expensive and great, and only have to spend a little out of pocket for it. So when it comes down to it I've spent $20 on my two birchboxes, and recieved about $12 in birchbox store credits. So $4 a box is what is actually being lost...and honestly I've gotten more than my moneys worth.

So for my first month I got :
- a pair of birchbox headphones (pink and blue, so cute!)
-a Lara Uber bar (a nut bar in bananas foster...it was amazing)
-a decent sized sample of the balms staniac lip stain in beauty queen
- a Juliette has a gun perfume vial
- a mini color club nailpolish in blue ming
- a little tube of Stila beauty balm (which lead me to an obsession with BB creams...woops)

amazing box, amazing value, and I loved every product. Considering purchasing a full sized staniac!

For my second month I received:
- a shick hydro silk razor (cant wait to use this at school!)
- a 2oz sample of Miss Jessies quick curls ($8 value, and its amazing)
-a FULL SIZED pixi shadow crayon ($18 value...lord help me)
-Juicy La Fleur perfume vial (with spray top!)
-Beauty fixation makeup correctors (underwhelmed with these..but they could come in handy)

This box had a ton of amazing stuff, a full sized pixi product (!!), and was well worth the $10

So basically you should really sign up using this link ----> GET BIRCHBOX NOWWWW

I get 50 points for each person who uses that link to sign up ($5 credit) so I'll love you forever and trust me its worth it!!

Introduction

Hello and welcome!

My name is Sam, and I am a 20 year old college student from Westchester New York. I am currently studying counseling and human services, but along with that passion I absolutely LOVE all things cosmetic. I spend entirely too much money on hair, nail, skin, and makeup products but wouldn't have it any other way!

I plan on using this blog as a sort of review-mechanism...as well as to document some of my great finds and great deals!

So thanks for checking it out!