April Favorites

April was a great month for products for me as I wore makeup more often. I work from home so most of the time I'm bare faced and in pajamas so it's wonderful when I have occasions to get dressed up for. The thing I love most about my favorites for April is that most of them are products that are easy to apply for a simple and natural look.


Makeup:


Nyx Butter Lipstick in Lollies- These butter lipsticks are amazing and I want more of them. They are so smooth and the colors are beautiful. I have 2 of the colors right now but I've been wearing 'Lollies' a lot since it's a light peachy pink that is perfect for a touch of color. The color 'Fizzies' is next on my list!

Benefit They're Real Mascara- I bought this mascara a while ago and while I liked it, I didn't like that it wasn't waterproof. I am all about the waterproof mascara so I kind of tossed this mascara to the side. This month I found it again and decided to try it out during the day and I actually ended up loving it! It is great for day time as it doesn't quite hold my curl as well as a waterproof mascara does BUT it does make my lashes look super long. Plus, it was so much easier to remove than I'm used to! ;)


Essie in Borrowed and Blue- I talked about this polish in my Spring Nail Colors post as it is one of my favorite nail colors for Spring. It's a beautiful pastel blue and I got so many compliments when I wore it!

Skin Care:

Hempz AromaBody Body Moisturizer in Pineapple Lily (Limited Edition)- I found this moisturizer in the sale section and I am so glad I picked it up. I have been slathering this stuff all over my body when I get out of the shower and it makes my skin feel so soft. Also, the scent is amazing. Especially if you like smelling like a pineapple. I am so bummed that it is limited edition because I won't be able to get another when I run out! They actually have it on Amazon right now but I'm not sure how long it will be in stock.

Hair Care:

Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo- I picked this up last month as I've been meaning to find a good cleansing shampoo. I usually use a very moisturizing shampoo but I need something to use every couple weeks to really clean my hair and get rid of any product build up. After using this I fell in love!!! It smells just like fruit Mentos. SO YUMMY! It makes my hair feel really clean and of course, my hair smells amazing after using it. This shampoo will be perfect for the Summer to pull out any chemicals after swimming in a pool.

KMS California Tame Frizz Taming Creme- I wanted to try a new product for my hair now that the weather has been getting warmer. I usually use the Argan Oil by DermOrganic (which I still love) but I decided to switch things up. KMS California's Tame Frizz line has a few different options, including an oil, but I chose the Taming Creme. This stuff smells amazing and I love how it makes my hair look and feel when I use it before blow drying. It smooths my hair so much and doesn't make it greasy. If you have thin hair like me, I'd suggest keeping it on your ends only. I use so little product each time that this bottle is going to last me forever!

Random:

Book: I read 4 books last month but my favorite was 'All The Truth That's In Me' by Julie Gardner Berry. When I first started reading this book, I was super confused because it wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. The cover and description make it seem like a modern story but it's actually set back in the Colonial days. It doesn't give specific dates but based on the fact that they used a pillory, I think that could put it in 1700-1800's. The writing style is also a bit different but I'm so glad I stuck with it because it was SUCH a good read. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it if you love historical fiction or mystery novels.
Show: I'm currently in the middle of SO MANY tv shows. I am such a sucker for tv series and sometimes I overwhelm myself trying to keep up with them all. My boyfriend put on the first episode of House while I was picking up a pizza and by the time I got back and started watching too, I was addicted. Now we are on to season 3 and we just love it! Dr. House is my favorite, I love how snarky he is. Every episode his team always disagrees with him and I always scream at the tv "Don't argue with House, he always figures it out!!!"

What were some of your favorite things in April? Can you even believe it is May and Summer is coming?!

Spring Wishlist

Even though Fall is my favorite time of year, I am BEYOND excited for Spring this year. The weather is finally getting warmer and the sun is shining! I'm not much of a warm weather person (over 80 degrees and I am OVER IT) but since we got snow this year I am fully ready to move on to the next season. I can't wait to bring out all of my Spring dresses and start wearing brighter, more fun colors!

I put together a Spring Wishlist to highlight the items I am dying to get my hands on this year. Some items are old, some are new but they are all items I neeeeed! :)

1. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Unapologetic: I am in love with these Revlon balms (especially the matte colors!) and can't wait to wear them during the Spring time. Unapologetic is at the top of my color wishlist right now.
2. Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Color in Make Waves: I saw this color in a magazine and I have been obsessed. I can't wait to get my hands on this color. It looks gorgeous!
3. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Tipsy: I still have yet to try these blushes but I've heard nothing but amazing things about them. I saw these blushes reviewed a few months ago on Essie Button and I decided I had to have that coral shade!
4. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Turquoise: This is the prettiest eye liner I've ever seen! This would look amazing smudged under the eyes for a little bit of color.
5. Jouer Matte Moisture Tint: I'm not sure which shade would be best for my skin tone but I've always wanted to try this tinted moisturizer. I used to use Benefit's You Rebel tinted moisturizer and this product reminds me a lot of that. I don't like wearing much on my skin during the warmer months and I have to have SPF so I'm thinking this would be a great product to try.
6. Essie Nail Color in A Crewed Interest: I have been in love with this color for years but I never see it in any stores. I may have to order it online because it looks like the perfect peach shade. This color would also look fabulous with a tan!

What products are on your Spring wishlist this year?

February Ulta Haul

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that my flat iron broke back in the beginning of January and I have been sporting natural hair for the last 2 months. I'm not gonna lie, it's been rough. The times I did end up going somewhere I had to curl my hair because it looks awful natural. After seeing a deal on Ulta's website on the Chi flat irons, my boyfriend and I went to Ulta to pick one up. While we were there, I ended up browsing (while he organized shelves...he hates messes!) and picking out a few more products.

Original Chi Ceramic Hairstyling Iron- My boyfriend actually picked out the flat iron for me. I wanted one of the glittery fun colored Chi flat irons but the original was on sale for the same price and since it had a longer warranty and was made in the USA my boyfriend suggested that I buy the black one. See? He's actually quite helpful to take beauty shopping as I wouldn't have checked those things!

Queen Helene Grape Seed Extract Peel Off Masque- My current tube of this stuff has been almost out for a few months now but every time I go to buy it the shelves are empty! While I was browsing the aisles at Ulta this mask popped into my mind and I made a dash for the skin care aisle. There on the shelf was one grape seed mask! You can bet I snatched it up! Score!

Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick- I've been dying to try these Master Glaze blushes, especially the coral one so I was excited to see they had one left! Coral is my favorite for Spring and Summer so I'm excited to try this out!

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser- Since Ulta was having a buy one get one sale on Maybelline and I had already picked up the blush stick I looked around for something else to buy. I saw the Baby Skin package and asked my boyfriend if I had noticeable pores. He said no but I bought it anyways. We'll see if I like it!

Nyx Butter Lipstick in Fireball- The Nyx Butter lipstick display was one of the first things I came across while looking over the makeup aisles. I hadn't heard much about these but the colors were so pretty I had to try one. The selection was pretty picked over but I tested a few colors on my hand and decided Fireball was a gorgeous bright color for the upcoming Spring months!

Nyx Baked Blush in Foreplay- Nyx had a baked blush display on the end of one of the aisles and I was so sad to see that most of them were already gone. I tested a few colors on my hand and decided I really wanted the color Foreplay but of course they were all gone. I decided to go back to the Nyx section of the makeup aisle and found that they also had baked blushes there. Again, I got lucky and they had one more left! Happy dance!

Sweet & Shimmer Mirror- I saw this mirror on the Ulta website around Christmas time and thought it would be the cutest stocking stuffer. I forgot about it and when browsing the clearance section today I noticed they had an entire jar filled with these little compacts and they were only 49 cents each. I don't have a mirror that I carry in my purse (and honestly with the amount of time I spend with things in my eyes you would think I would carry one) so I figured for 49 cents It would be perfect.

All in all a successful shopping trip I would say! I'm excited to try these products out and share my thoughts with you!

Valentine's Day Beauty Wishlist & Gift Guide

I'll be honest, I've never been a big Valentine's Day fan. My friend's and I (back when we were all single) used to celebrate 'Single Awareness Day' instead. That is what Valentine's Day always felt like anyways! Nowadays, I'll make something delicious for dinner and my boyfriend and I will just watch a movie and eat candy. THAT is my favorite way to spend Valentine's Day!

Since Valentine's Day is this Friday, I thought I'd share a little wishlist of sorts. These are all beauty products that I think would be perfect for the upcoming holiday. Also, if you and your significant other exchange gifts this little list may help 'em out (hint hint), right?

1. Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum: Because smelling nice on Valentine's Day is a must and fragrances are usually a safe bet for gift giving.

2. Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Something About Berry: These blushes are the cutest! A heart box?! Yes, please!

3. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick: I love these balm stains. They wear nicely and this color just screams Valentine's Day to me!

4. Essie Nail Polish in Fiji: This color is soft and romantic and will pair nicely with your date night dress or your sweatpants! :)

5. Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Poppy: The cases on these lipsticks are adorable and the color range is just gorgeous!

6. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub: You've gotta have soft skin whether you are going on a date or just hanging out at home. Since Winter is slowly fading you've got to start getting your legs ready for shorts and dresses!

What are your Valentine's Day plans this year?

January Favorites

I spent the majority of January sick and rarely left my apartment so I didn't end up wearing much in the makeup department. I did however end up using a lot of skin care products this month!


Makeup:

Physician's Formula Touch of Glow Nude Wear Concealer/Highlighter- I can't rave about this stuff enough! I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I do! The few times I did leave my place during the month of January (you know, when I ran out of chicken noodle soup or cough syrup) I would always put this stuff on under my eyes and it made me look a million times better. It conceals AND brightens and the packaging is super cute! I like the twist up design of this also but I've found I get a little overzealous when twisting the bottom and end up with a little more product than I wanted. I'm practicing though!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Smitten- I did end up going to a concert this month as my boyfriend and I received tickets for a Christmas gift. It was at the beginning of the month before I got sick so I did end up getting at least one good face of makeup on during the month of January. I wore this lip stain for the concert and ended up loving it so much it's been in my purse ever since. The color is SO beautiful. It's slightly darker than my lip color and the color stays on for hours. I also love that it feels like a lip balm on the lips. No sticky feeling!

Skin Care:


Softsoap Body Butter Coconut Scrub- I usually use the St Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash but when I ran out last month, I sent my boyfriend to the store for a new bottle and they didn't have it! He ended up picking up this coconut scrub for me instead (He knows me so well!) and it is amazing. I love coconut so the smell is so yummy but it's really the texture that is amazing. It's thick and creamy like a body butter with tiny exfoliating beads in it. I use this to wash my body and to shave my legs since it's so creamy.


Neutrogena Wave Vibrating Power Cleanser- I bought the Wave at Target about a year ago when it was on clearance. I'd always wanted to try it and it was about $5 so for that price I figured, why not? I don't use it every day but I use it whenever my skin starts to feel dry and dull. Since I was sick this month I ended up using it quite a few times. My skin just felt icky and dry and the Wave made my skin feel so much healthier.

Jurlique Moisture Replenishing Day Cream- This day cream came in a Birchbox last year and I used quite a bit of it this month. I use my Benefit Total Moisture at night but my skin was SO dry this month I needed more help. I don't love the smell of this (I'm so not an herbal scent person) but I love how thick it is and how it feels on my skin. It definitely helped revive my dry skin this month.

Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub-I've had this product for a while now and I don't even think they sell it anymore but since it's only a sugar scrub I still use it. Along with dry skin this month I've had crazy dry lips. I use this stuff to scrub away the dead skin on my lips before I slather on my lip balm. Even my boyfriend uses this stuff! You can find similar scrubs here.

Random:

Books:

I did quite a bit of reading this month and somehow have ended up with too many library books checked out (I use an online library check out app on my phone/iPad) so now I'm trying to get through them all. I read Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight and I really enjoyed it! It's almost like a dark Gossip Girl murder mystery full of twists and by the end of it I was dying to finish it so I could piece everything together. I also started reading the Little House on the Prairie Collection. My mom bought me the boxed set of books when I was a child and I've already read them but I decided to read them again after she found the collection the last time I visited her. They are pretty quick reads but I really enjoy them. I'm currently almost done with the second book and am reading them in between all of my library check outs!

TV Show:

Friday Night Lights- OH. MY. GOSH. I am obsessed. I watched all 5 seasons of Friday Night Lights in 2 weeks while I was sick. I couldn't stop. I have had it in my Netflix Queue forever and always wanted to watch it because HELLO CONNIE BRITTON (love her!) but always avoided it because...football. I am SO happy I started watching it though because the show was amazing. I already miss it and feel the need to start it over again. Also, Tim Riggins. He is probably my favorite character off any TV show I have ever seen. My boyfriend is tired of me saying the words Tim Riggins but I mean look at him!!! Did you watch this show? If so, we could talk about it all day if you want to! ;)

I cannot believe it is already February, where is the year going?!

Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Jing-a-Ling

When I was in high school, my Mom encouraged me to get a job so I could make some extra money. At this time, I had just started driving and I didn't have any bills other than car insurance (Mom still paid for my phone- those were the days!). I got a job at the local Dairy Queen and instead of putting money away into a savings account like I should have, I spent more money! I realized that I was making enough money to buy more expensive makeup than was at the drugstore. This started my weekend trips to Sephora with my friends and this is when I fell in love with Benefit Cosmetics. I still have the first product I bought from Benefit even though they no longer make it. I'll have to share it someday because I think it is amazing and looks beautiful in my makeup collection.

Anyways, I am subscribed to Benefit's emails and recently they had a 50% off sale on some of their products. These are products that they are discontinuing so I quickly got online and checked out the list. Of course there were lots of lovely things but I didn't see anything I had to have until I got to the lipsticks. The Silky Finish Lipstick in Jing-a-Ling to be exact. I can't remember who recommended this color but I know I've heard multiple recommendations for it and since this was the last chance to buy it, I did!

I was surprised by the size of the box since all I ordered was the lipstick and some samples. The packaging is so cute and I love their tissue paper!

This is how the package looked when I opened it up.
The contents of my package: Silky Finish Lipstick in Jing-a-Ling, Fake Up sample in Medium, and a Hoola sample.

I absolutely love when brands let you choose samples with your order. I'm always looking to try new products and it's such a great way to decide if you like something before you place an order for the full product. There is nothing worse than having a full product of something you hate and will never use.

This is actually the first lipstick I've ever purchased from Benefit but I must say their lipstick packaging is adorable!

Top view of the lipstick package where the color name is displayed.
When you open up the lipstick box, you can actually pull out the front display of the lady and when you flip it over it has some 'words of wisdom' on the back. Again, such a nice touch! These are the things that make a brand stand out. Mine said "Never apply lipstick while driving on a gravel road".

Jing-a-Ling is a beautiful pink shade. It's like a 'your lips but better' color and honestly I can't think of anyone it wouldn't look good on. It's not too light and it's not too dark, it's a very safe shade to wear for everyday. I'm super excited to start wearing it! I've tried it on of course but didn't leave the house so it doesn't count! :)

Here is a swatch of the color. I would post a picture of it on me but I've been sick this past week and feeling less than stellar. I'm a little frightening looking right now as well (although I did shower today so hurray for me!) but I will post a picture of the color on me soon!

Thank you for reading and I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

What's in my Purse?

To stray slightly from the makeup/beauty posts, here is something a tad more personal...what I carry in my purse on the daily. I love these posts because it's so fun to snoop and see what other people deem necessary to carry in their purse. Since I'm carrying a smaller purse than usual mine isn't as crammed with stuff but I'll be sure to share again when I switch to a larger purse.

This is the purse I'm currently carrying. It's a Deux Lux purse that I purchased a few years ago at Urban Outfitters for a trip to Las Vegas. It's actually my 'Summer' purse but I like how small it is so I've kept using it through Fall and Winter this year. I love that it's a cross body purse and I don't have to constantly hold on to it. I don't particularly love the way it closes because it is a pain to pull that strap up to snap it closed every time you use it but I put up with it since it's so cute. I'm also getting a bit sad about the wear that is starting to show on the strap on the front. :(

What's inside?

1. My 'Summer' wallet. It's small and turquoise and falling apart but it gets the job done! I bought it specifically to put in this purse since my regular wallet is gigantic. The brand is Cooperative and I got it at Urban Outfitters.
2. My current sunglasses. I got them at Nordstrom for about $12 a few years back and they are still in one piece! My mom actually got me some super nice sunglasses for Christmas but I'm terrified to use them since I'm used to having cheap sunglasses. I'll probably switch to my nice ones when it gets sunny out again.
3. Of course I keep my favorite lipstick of the season in my purse at all times!
4. Hand sanitizer. I don't use it as often as I should but my boyfriend is always asking for it so it's useful!
5. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten. Such a gorgeous color! Easier than lipstick but gives my lips some color when I need it.
6. Softlips. My lip balm of choice. Must have this at all times.
7. A hair tie.
8. Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet. Oh you know, just have to have multiple red lip options.
9. My iPhone. An obvious essential.
10. Chocolate. Duh. You carry chocolate in your purse too, right?

So, what do you carry in your purse? If you've done a post like this please leave a link below so I can check it out!

A Little Ulta Haul

I stopped by Ulta to pick up a few essential items: makeup remover and a nail file. Of course you can't stop at just the essentials when visiting Ulta. Plus, who's to say what is essential and what isn't?
I browsed around for a bit and noticed they were having a buy one get one 50% off on most of the drugstore brands in the store. SCORE! They also had their usual $3.50 off coupon that the ladies at the counter scan for me when they see my Ulta member card. This made me feel a little better about picking up a few items for fun.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover- I usually purchase the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes to remove my makeup but I decided to buy the liquid version for removing my mascara. I always wear waterproof mascara and I've tried so many different removers claiming that they take off waterproof mascara and they almost never work. Neutrogena is the only brand I've found that easily removes my waterproof mascara.

Sally Hansen Ahead of the Curve Sapphire Nail File- I misplaced all of my nail files and instead of buying a pack of regular files, I chose to buy this file with super fine grit. I almost never file my nails (so bad!) but it's something I need to start working on if my nails are ever going to be shaped nicely.

Essie Nail Poish in Lots of Lux- I spotted this nail color while Christmas shopping with my best friend and thought it was SO gorgeous. Since I was shopping for others, I didn't buy it but told myself I'd go back for it someday. Well, while walking up and down the aisles, I thought I'd check to see if they had it in stock. I found a shelf full of the newer Essie colors and after searching through the heaping pile, I was able to snag the last Lots of Lux they had! Whew! Talk about lucky!

Physician's Formula Touch of Glow Nude Wear Concealer/Highlighter- Ulta had an end display featuring the new Physician's Formula Nude Wear products and I couldn't help but snatch up this concealer/highlighter. Not only is it adorable with that little bow on it (love bows!) but I've been looking for a more brightening product to use for under my eyes. I'm excited to try this out and see how it works!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush- I picked up this stippling brush after reading reviews online that it makes your skin look flawless. I've used a brush and a sponge to apply my foundation and currently I'm liking the sponge a lot more. I'm curious to see how my foundation will look when I use this brush to apply it. I'm always looking for products that make my skin look flawless but also natural.

Maybelline Colorsensational The Buffs Lipstick in Nude Lust (920)- Last time I bought a nude lipstick, I made the mistake of getting a color that was way to light for me. I didn't want that to happen again so I made sure to research this collection before making a purchase. I actually ended up going for a color that I wasn't planning on but it turned out to be the perfect shade!

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Serum- Who doesn't want longer, thicker lashes? I was searching online to find an inexpensive lash growth serum that really worked and after reading the reviews on Ulta.com for this serum, I was hoping they had it in stock. I was super excited to see it in store and grabbed it up. I'm going to test this out for a month or so and I'll share my results with you all!

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Audacious (245)- As I mentioned in my post about the Colorburst Matte and Lacquer Balms, I've been meaning to try a color other than a red. Since Revlon had the buy one get one sale going on, I decided to pick one up. I saw this bright orange pink shade and figured it would be an amazing color for Spring and Summer. It goes on super bright so I'll have to play around with it a bit.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey (001)- After wearing my Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten on Saturday night, I remembered just how much I loved them. I wanted another but wasn't sure which color to go with next. Leighannsays on Youtube (love her!) has recommended the color Honey multiple times in her videos so I decided to give it a try!

I'll obviously be trying out the products I've listed above and I'll share my opinions on them after I've put them to use. I'm really excited about that lash accelerator and also that beautiful nail color!