Makeup Products & Brands I Live By

I used to mainly buy Mac makeup & cheaper pharmacy brands, but I've been testing out different makeup brands from Ulta and Sephora and now I have a variety of go-to products that I love and use on a daily basis.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow · Tarte Face Makeup · Stila Lipstick

Smashbox High Definition Concealer: ($22) This concealer works great for covering up blemishes and dark spots before applying foundation. The consistency of it is long-lasting throughout the day and the tube also lasts a long time making it worth the price.

Tarte 12-hour Coverage Foundation: ($38) I've tried a number of foundations and this one (made with amazonian clay) by far provides the most coverage which I like since I tend to apply makeup in the morning and do not have the time to re-apply during the day.

Gel Eyeliner Pencil: ($8 Avon or Ulta brand) I like how gel eyeliners apply smoothly and thicker/bolder than regular pencil liners. Even better, the cheap Ulta brand works just great for me.

The Original Naked Palette: ($52) If you're not already familiar with Urban Decay's Naked Palettes, they are the bomb! These palettes are great because they offer a great variety colors to get a casual daytime look or a more bold nighttime look.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara: ($6.99) I've tried mascaras that are 10 times this price and I always come back to this one. I use Falsies on a daily basis but I also have some Mac mascaras that I use for more bold/nighttime looks.

Stila Color Balm Lipstick: ($22) This is my most recent makeup purchase and I love the colors that they offer if you're looking for a rich, moisturizing lipstick that is long-lasting.

Clinique "True Bronze" Powder Bronzer: ($26) I LOVE this bronzer and use it every day... I literally don't leave home without it! After applying foundation, I dust a light amount all over my face to get rid of the pale/flat look that foundations can cause especially on lighter skin. This bronzer gives your face a nice refreshed glow to start the day (or night).

Mac Eyeshadow Pigments: ($15) I own a variety of these power shadows and use the lighter/neutral colors on a daily basis for work and the bolder colors for going out with friends. You can find pretty much any color you're looking for and they last quite a long time so it's definitely worth the price. 

Urban Decay Primer Potion: ($20) I don't always remember to apply primer, especially when I'm rushing in the mornings but I definitely love how it works and it really helps to prolong your eye makeup and prevent creases.


Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

    What face makeup do you live by?

Every Girl Needs Some Lipstick, Nail Polish & Wine

One: I finally got a new case for my iPhone 5S from VS Pink for $14.50. I love the mint/turquoise color although it looks more white in the photo.

Two: I managed to paint my own nails without making a huge disaster. I really need to start doing more at-home manicures instead of paying someone every couple of weeks for pretty nails. The color (Play Koi) is quite bright for winter but I really liked how easy it was to apply.

* I received this Sally Hansen Triple Shine nail polish complimentary from Influenster to test.

Three: New Stila Color balm lipstick from Sephora. I have been looking around for a bright purple lipstick for a while now and finally found this color (Gemma) while browsing the Sephora in Vegas a couple weeks ago. It gives my lips that "pop" I was looking for.

Four: I'm loving the Cranberry Chutney Yankee Candle. It makes my house smell so good.

Five: Pinot Grigio and comfy socks last night for a chilly night at home.

Have a great weekend!

Joining Lauren for H54F and Darcie for Five on Friday.

Skin Cleansing Systems: Clarisonic Mia vs. Olay Pro-X

I had been using the Olay Pro-X for about 6 months until my lovely girl friends gifted me a surprise upgrade to the Clarisonic Mia for my birthday in December.

My routine has been to use the cleansing system with a gentle cleanser once per day, typically in the night to remove any extra makeup and oil/dirt on my skin.

The Mia was an upgrade indeed as you can see the brush head is much bigger than the Pro-X with a lot more density to provide a deeper clean for your skin. 

For the price difference, you would definitely hope for better results when you compare the Pro-X at $30 retail and the Mia at $125 retail.

I'm not by any means bashing the Pro-X as I really liked it up until I received the upgrade so I would still recommend it if you are looking for an inexpensive cleansing system. It works just fine but you get what you pay for ;-)

As for the Mia, I really like how it thoroughly cleans my skin and makes it feel super soft especially when used with the Clarisonic Gel Cleanser that came with it.

The other great thing about the Mia is that there are several brush head options you can purchase depending on your skin needs such as deep cleaning, sensitive skin, and acne cleansing. So far, I've stuck with the normal brush head and it works perfectly fine for me.

I'm curious to hear everyone recommendations or experience with skin cleansing systems.

Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

Day & Night Makeup Favorites

Decided to talk about some of my favorite beauty products that I use regularly and have come to love over the years. 

Daytime Makeup: 

I aim for a more natural look during the day so I use very basic products and neutral colors for my eyes.

Revlon Liquid Foundation · Ulta Eyeliner · M·A·C Eye Shadow

~Almay liquid liner (upper eye)
~Ulta gel eyeliner in black (lower eye)
~ Clinique True Bronze pressed powder bronzer - (to prevent the pasty white look)
~Maybelline Flasies mascara
~ Mac powder eyeshadow pigments

~ Revlon PhotoReady foundation

Nighttime Makeup: 

I use many of the same daytime products plus a few extras to "step it up a notch" and achieve more a bold look especially for my eyes. I rarely wear bright lipsticks or dark eye shadow colors since my skin is on the fair side.

M·A·C Mascara · Sephora Makeup · Smashbox Eyes Concealer/Shadow Base

~ Urban Decay eye shadow primer
~Smashbox concealer (for blemishes or dark spots)
~Tarte foundation (for heavier coverage)
 ~Sephora Luminizer
~The original Naked Palette of eye shadow colors - absolute favorite!

~Mac Haute & Naughty Mascara: Has two brushes-in-one-tube for either a natural look or dramatic eyes. I really love this mascara for achieving bolder eyes for going out at night.

What's your favorite beauty product to get bold eyes for nighttime wear?

Friday Finds & Favorites

YAY the weekend is right around the corner! I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend after several back-to-back weekends of traveling out of town, birthday celebrations, and non-stop drinking ;-P

Joining Lauren today for H54F and Darcie for Five on Friday.

1. Ulta has their eye shadows, lip glosses and eyeliners going for $4. I love their neutral eyeshadow colors for everyday use/work makeup so I bought a few this week.

2. I've been eyeing these beautiful Tory Burch sunglasses online. I should really wait until my birthday in December but it's sooo tempting not to get them asap.

3. My new favorite iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. I think it tastes so much better (and is cheaper) than Starbucks and most other iced coffee I've tried.

4. New favorite beer of the season - Redd's Strawberry Ale is soo delicious. I bought a 12-pack last weekend and they're almost all gone. *lush*

5. Healthy dinners at home cooked by K - baked tilapia topped with shrimp & capers, with steamed brocolli & carrots on the side.  Lucky to have a man that wants to can cook.

Have a great weekend!

Product Review: Self-Tanning Lotions

I've done the tanning bed thing along with spray booths & airbrush tans but my most recent craze is self-tanning lotions. They're aren't harmful for your skin and you can somewhat control how much or little of a tan you get.

I aim for a gradual & natural look...nothing crazy just prefer not to be the color of the wall, that's all. So far I've tried 4 different sunless tanning lotions with very different outcomes/effects.

My #1 Pick:

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
(Retail price: $9.99)

For the price, you can't go wrong and it gives me the gradual/natural look I want. You can slowly build your tan over time if you use it as your daily moisturizer.


So Bronze Tinted Lotion 
(Retail price: $29.99)

It's quite pricey and I think it worked too well or maybe I shouldn't have bought the Medium/Dark lotion because I almost turned into a different race. It also dries very quickly so it's hard to spread/rub it evenly onto your skin. I may or may not try the Light/Medium one in the future.

Ulta Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion with SPF
(Retail Price $8.99)

Didn't notice any color difference in my skin so won't be purchasing this one again. Note: I bought the Medium Deep lotion color which had no effect on my skin.

Banana Boat  Sunless Tinted Lotion 
(Retail Price: $7.99)

Barely worked. Didn't notice any major color difference, however I did buy the Light/Medium Color so I might try the Medium/Dark in the future.

Any other recommendations for sunless tanning products?

Mary Kay® Glamor Look VoxBox

My VoxBox arrived in the mail last week from Influenster and I love the Mary Kay® products they sent me to test. I was happy to try a new makeup brand since I mainly use Mac, Urban Decay and Clinique along with some cheaper brands such as Revlon and Maybelline.

The Mary Kay© kit came with:

~  Lash Love Lengthening Mascara (I ♥ Black)
 ~ Mary Kay Lash Primer

~ Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm

~ Cream Eye Color / Concealer Brush

~ True Dimensions Lip Stick in Pink Cherie

I was impressed with the quality of Mary Kay's makeup products. My favorite is the lipstick ~ I love the smooth/creamy texture which is moisturizing like a chapstick and I really like the color they chose to send me (Pink Cherie).

The lash primer and mascara looked great on my eyes. I've never actually used Lash Primer before but I can see the difference in the density of my eyelashes, which aren't usually very thick or long. The mascara brush is different from all others I have tried and is designed to prevent clumps.

The Cream Eye Color was super easy to apply. The color - Violet Storm - looks like a dark purple but, when applied, it goes on very lightly so it works good for my skin complexion.

I will definitely be purchasing some more eye colors for everyday use.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes

What's your experience with Mary Kay® products?

Adios Bellas!

High Five For Friday

It's Friday. That's enough to put a smile on my face...along with the white chocolate & macadamia cookie I had for breakfast. (I blame my coworker for this).

Breakfast of champions?

Linking up today with Lauren for High Five for Friday:

1. New Sunglasses for Summer purchased from Aldo on our NY trip (2 for $12).

2. Quick and healthy dinners at home - BBQ chicken with spinach & mushrooms.

3. I'm so excited my Mary Kay Voxbox arrived in the mail this week. Review to come soon on the products they provided me to sample.

4. Visited Downtown Disney on Thursday with my coworkers for "team building" day...turned out to be more like team drinking day ;-)

5. Finally got to use the gift certificate that K gave me for our anniversary last night. New mani & pedi just in time for the weekend. I love this turquoise color for summer.

 

Have a great weekend

Summer Must-Haves

With the holiday weekend in just a few days, I wanted to share some of my summer must-haves and fave products for 2013.

#1 - Mix and match bikini tops & bottoms from VS.

#2 - Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen - I swear by this sunscreen and have spent 5+ hours in the sun without burning.

#3 - A Nice Big Beach Bag - I got this one for free after spending $70 at VS. It looks small in the photo but it fits everything I need - 2 towels, a change of clothes, snacks/water bottles and everything else you need to take with you to the beach or pool.

#4 - Waterproof Mascara - I use Maybelline Volume Express Turbo Boost and it works great.

#5 - A Cute Hat - I found this Straw Fedora for only $9.99 from Charlotte Russe.

#6 - Self Tanning Lotion - I've been using ULTA brand (and Jergens Glow in the past) to get a little head start. It doesn't make you look like Snooky. Promise.

Joining the Wildcard Wednesday Linkup today for the first time...

What's your must-haves for fun outdoors in the sun?

High Five For Friday

Wow, this is officially my 100th post! I feel like only joined the bloggy world yesterday... but I'm happy with the direction it has taken and hope to continue to meet many more funny, beautiful and inspiring ladies in this space.

I'm also gonna have to start planning a giveaway to offer my lovely followers very soon!!

Joining Lauren today for H54F.

 

 (*sorry for the super tiny pics. My blog template restricts me from using anything bigger. I gotta get that fixed.)

#1: We're headed to St. Pete, FL tonight to see one of my favorite bands - Slightly Stoopid! I saw them about 5 years ago but their music has grown so much since then... I'm excited!!

#2: My new goodies from Ulta (saved $100 using my rewards card and several coupons & promotions currently going on). Several products I decided to try after reading Whitney @ I Work Yoga Pants to Work's "What's on my Face" post including Revlon's PhotoReady Foundation and Benefit's High Beam Highlighter.

#3: Having fun last weekend with one of my best friends and her housewarming party.

#4: New favorite snack - Flipside pretzel crackers, with pepper jelly and brie cheese. This is also an awesome finger food to serve at parties.

#5: Painted my nails for the weekend with a sheer pink nail polish called Sheer Blossom. Light or nude colors are much harder to mess up!

Cheers to the weekend!

 

Beauty Buys for ma Birthday

G'morning!

I had a little fun shopping online at Ulta.com recently and decided that my birthday this week was a good enough excuse, right? I've been bored with my makeup and wanted some new additions so I can start experimenting with different "looks".

I got the Brow Kit by Anastasia Beverly Hills for fuller, more defined eyebrows.

High Definition Liquid Concealer by Smashbox to cover up blemishes and lighten under the eyes.

I got a few different pairs of false eyelashes to wear at upcoming parties & weddings.

 

Also the Sunless Tinted Lotion by Banana Boat to try to keep somewhat of a tan going during the colder months, even though it's still like 80 degrees here in Florida...in December. Craziness!!

And I got this 10-piece beauty bag free for spending over $35. 

I am still experimenting with my Naked palette & have recently resorted to watching YouTube tutorials to learn new tricks ;-) (I still suck though).

I'm also linking up for the Tell Me About It Tuesday blog hop.

   

Hope you have a great day!

Product Review: Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

A couple months ago I received this small purple bottle along with some items that I ordered online from ULTA. I had no clue what Maracuja oil was so I put it to the side and kind of forgot about it. Last week I decided to do some research online.

Turns out Maracuja oil is a nighttime facial moisturizer. After reading about all the benefits mainly the 3 listed below, I decided I must try it:

Smoother: Moisture-rich formula replenishes & hydrates skin
Firmer: Nutrient-rich essential fatty acids repair & rejuvenate skin
Brighter: Vitamin C awakens skin for a healthy, radiant complexion

I have been using it every night for the past week and I LOVE it!  It makes your skin extremely smooth and is perfect for this time of year when the cold weather tends to dry out your skin. It isn't oily and absorbs very quickly also it doesn't have a bad smell...it smells okay. For the past 10 or so year, I was using an Oil of Olay facial moisturizer daily and nightly and so far I prefer how my face feels and looks with Maracuja oil, at least for the nighttime. 

Instructions: After you get out of the shower, rub 2 to 3 drops into the palms of your hands and then spread evenly on your face and neck.

Downside: The tiny bottle of Tarte Maracuja oil is $46 retail at Sephora and Ulta, which is a huge bummer!!