beauty blogger – Page 22

Hair Curling Tutorial with NUME 25 MM Wand

November 17, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!!

Today’s blog post goes out to my sweet friend and subscriber, Tammy, who just welcomed a sweet baby girl (congrats again girl!!) because she asked me for my Hair Tutorial-Easy Everyday Curls for Beginners. That tutorial is great for quick, everyday curls, but today I want to share my faaaavorite curls that take a little longer, but I can also get two days wear out of them.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED:

1) I took these pictures about a month ago and almost didn’t upload them because I’m in a lounge top, but hey this is real life!! : )

2) I do NOT show myself using a glove but these curling irons are EXTREMELY hot and when I first used mine I would wear the glove, and sometimes still do. BE CAREFUL!

ABOUT MY HAIR:

I have naturally straight hair, it doesn’t dry completely stick straight like it did before kids, but it’s still very straight naturally. I have very fine hair, but a lot of it. My hair can sometimes be dry at the ends, and I use dry shampoo in the roots to avoid any greasiness on second day hair.

PRODUCTS I USED:

Nume Classic 25 MM Curling Wand (this is AMAZING! I absolutely adore Nume products, they are worth the hype!! Never pay full price for these though, google coupon codes because you can get them for way less!!)

The “Wet” Brush This is the most amazing brush EVER! It puts my old stand-by, a large tooth comb, to shame.

It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product Amazon has the best prices for this!!!

Got2B Gaurdian Angel Heat Protector

Sectioning Clips (I don’t like mine and can’t find my good ones, but the ones I linked are great!)

It’s a 10 Miracle Styling Serum

STEP 1:

Spray your hair with a heat protectant and then begin sectioning your hair. I try not to worry too much where exactly I section, but do the sides and middle in 2-3 sections each. If you would like to see exactly how I section, let me know in the comments and I would be more than happy to do a post on that as well.

STEP 2:

Choose one of the bottom sections and take a 1 inch section from the back. Hold the curling wand upside down with the OPPOSITE hand as the side you are curling and curl the section around the wand. I like to keep the hair flat to the iron and wrap the hair away from my face. To wrap away from your face start with the hair up and over the wand. Continue doing this around your head letting section by section down as you go.

STEP 3:

I let my hair set for a few minutes & spray it with a little hairspray. I then put my head upside down, shake it around and spray it with a little more hair spray. I like to finger comb through some of the curls, but be careful not to do it too much so you undo your pretty curls! I then put a little oil on the ends of my hair.

I know this may seem intimidating, so *pleasepleaseplease* feel free to ask any questions in the comments or on any of my social media. I seriously didn’t know how to curl my hair well until I turned 25!! This may take a little practice, but it is a great style to be able to do! I love this because I can wear it on the first day, sleep on it, and then comb through the curls a little for loose, big volume second day curls.

Have a WONDERFUL week : )

THANK YOU AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!

November 12, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Some days I really want to just pop on here and chat with you guys…and today is one of those days : ) I was talking with a friend and felt so insprired and motivated after our conversation that I felt compelled to write her a quick snail mail note to tell her how fantastic I think she is! And with that being said: I want each and every person reading this to know that I apprecaite it! Thank you to my subscribers who have been so sweet and so supportive!!

I have been working behind the scenes on two exciting new things for Leah Tackles. The first, my own Etsy store! This will be launching soon after lots of tinkering!! LOTS of tinkering! And second, a bit further down the road in early 2015, a YouTube channel!! As most of you know, I am 31 almost 32 weeks pregnant with our 3rd baby, and some of this timing will be to work around the arrival of our newest little man right after the holidays. I cannot wait to start these new ventures, and hope that you will be just as excited as I am!!

Thank you, again, as always for reading my blog and *please* subscribe if you haven’t! It’s super easy to do, just enter your email into the subscription box on the right side of this page and then you will get a confirmation email. That’s it! If a friend or loved one inspires you, motivates you, supports you, or just loves the heck out of you RIGHT NOW is the perfect time to send them a little snail mail love! Plus, it’s a great excuse to whip out your cutest stationary you’ve been saving! Don’t let it sit in drawer forever, use it to make someone’s day!

P.S! Stay tuned next week for holiday makeup set reviews!! I will also have a new Leah’s Friday Five up on the Pearls and Pastries Shop blog this Friday.

Requested Fall Makeup Look with 90’s Lip!

November 5, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

When I posted my Family Clothing Haul a few weeks back it was requested by a sweet subscriber that I share my makeup from those pictures. I re-created the look to share with you today with some close up pictures and will also share the products that I used. Thank you so much to Jaime for her comment and participation! It means a lot to me : )

The Look:

I love this look for fall because it is really easy!! A statement 90’s lip with a winged eyeliner is really all there is to it! I love doing a slight wing and a bold lip because it looks very put together, but in fact takes wayy less time than a more complicated eye look.

Products Used:

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner

I really like this as a primer around the sides of my nose and you can use it for any areas where you have larger pores. I used this a couple of years ago and then decided to try it out again.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 1C1 Cool Bone

This is my ultimate favorite foundation! This doesn’t budge, even on my longest days and on my combo/oily skin.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush On Glow BB Highlighter in 1N Extra Light

I love this to conceal and brighten my under eye circles.

Benefit Boxed Blush in Rockateur

This is such a gorgeous blush! I have been reaching for this a lot this fall.

NYX Mosaic Powder in 01

I like swirling this & lightly sweeping it on the high points of my cheeks for a little extra glow.

Hard Candy Brows Now! Brow Fiber Gel + Highlighter in Light Medium

I like this brow gel for a quick brow fix, but what I really love about this product is the highlighter! This looks stunning right under the brow bone and in the inner corners of the eye!!

M.A.C Paint Pot in Bare Study

Usually I use this as an eye shadow base, but in these pictures this is the only product on my lids!! It is great for a day when you’re rushing or want a very natural look. I just sweep this over my lids with my ring finger and blend.

L’Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black

I love this! This is super black, a nice felt tip, and great for beginners! I used this for my lid & wing.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black

I wore this in my waterline! I also love this in nude.

Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara Water Resistant in Black

I love using a water proof mascara for my first coat after curling my lashes and this is my go-to!

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

This is a deluxe size mini that I have been reaching for a lot lately, and I really like focusing it on the outer parts of my lashes.

Tarte Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler

All eyelash curlers are NOT created equal! This is my first eyelash curler that isn’t just whatever random one I grabbed at the drugstore, and it is worth EVERY PENNY of that $17 price tag! I love this baby!!

EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet

I love using this before applying lipsticks!

Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Rock N’ Rose

This is GORGEOUS! And if you’re looking for that Kylie Jenner lip everyone has been rocking, this is an AMAZING find because it costs $1-2 and works perfectly!

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 08

I love love love love looooove this! The PERFECT affordable 90’s lip color! I also love the Kate Lipstick in 14 for a slightly lighter version! Stunning! Go buy this!

****Thank you so much as always for reading! Please show me some love by subscribing, sharing, and pinning this post if you enjoyed it!! Thank you!!!****

Also, don’t forget to Enter to Win a Butter London Eyeliner!! It’s easy!! : )

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OCTOBER 2014! AND BUTTER LONDON GIVEAWAY!!!

November 3, 2014 & 34 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Okay, I know it’s November now, but I JUST got my October box last Thursday. If you are subscribed to the PopSugar Must Have Box then you know that they had MAJOR issues this month after revamping their website. People had issues with shipping and also with billing. I am disappointed, but I also understand that things happen. My experiences with customer service have always been good, and that says a lot as well.

If you don’t know, the box contains full size items in all different categories: food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! *Usually* the PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box.

October 2014 Must Have Box:

Animal Socks by Happy Socks:

$12

I love fun socks like this for the winter months! I am really happy with these : ) Super cute, and very nice quality.

WINK Eye Pencil by Butter LONDON:

$18

I love this!! I love makeup, and eyeliners are one thing that I don’t have that many of, and I don’t have anything like this. Earl Grey is a beautiful silver gray color and I think it will be wonderful for the holidays (I know, I know I can’t help it…everything can be twisted to be holiday related in my book!)

Would you like to win one of these? My mother in-law is a PopSugar subscriber and she doesn’t wear eyeliner, so she was kind enough to let me have it for a little giveaway for my subscribers! Details will be at the bottom of this post!

Acrylic Frame by Issac Jacobs International:

$36

I like that this is magnetic and easy to swtich pictures frequently! I think this would be great for a place in the home where you’d like to change out the picture frequently, maybe with the seasons.

Chalkboard Candle by Mine Design:

$24

I LOVE candles and I think this is fun because I can write little messages for the seasons, for my husband, for the kids…how cute! I think one of the best things will be depotting this and using it for makeup brushes or pens on my desk.

Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls by Dean & DeLuca:

$5.75

I love trying out fancy candy, and I think these will be nice to have in the evenings when my sweet tooth comes out. *Update: I tried these…meh, they’re okay. It tastes like pumpkin pie filling, but a different texture, and has a lot more pumpkin than chocolate. Still, I ate a couple just for you guys ; ) and I didn’t spit them out or anything.

Halloween Decals by Nailed Kit:

These are cute little nail decals that you can wear over any nail polish you like! I think my daughter will enjoy these as well : ) I would have REALLY liked these had I got them when the boxes usually arrive, and it isn’t a huge deal because I can save them for next year, but I’m not going to put these on for one day! Because to me, Halloween is OVER when it is over, and then it’s full on holiday mode. Checking out the website they have some ADORABLE choices!!

Special Extra:

Shoreline Shea Butter/ Olive Oil Bar Soap by K. Hall Designs:

I’m feeling pretty *meh* about this. I’m not a big fan of bar soap usually, I know PopSugar has sent out a few in the past and I liked one of them, but this is very nice looking. Depending on the scent, Stephan may like this and if not I’m sure we will use it at some point.

Blue Jean Box by The Blue Jean Bar:

Enjoy $40 off of a box. I LOVE subscription boxes, but I haven’t really been tempted by clothing subscriptions. I probably won’t use this, but it is a nice discount.

GIVEAWAY:

1) Comment on this blog post and tell me your favorite makeup item of the moment!! Commenting is *easy* promise! Just click the link by the title of this post and you enter your first name, email, and comment : )

2) You *MUST* be subscribed to my blog! To subscribe enter your email into the subscription box on the right side of the page! You will then get an email that asks you to confirm that you subscribed and that’s it! You’ll just get emails when I post something new.

EXTRA ENTRY OPPORTUNITIES:

If you’d like to gain extra enteries you can 1) Share this post on your Facebook, 2) Share this post on your Twitter, 3) Follow me on a social media platform you are not yet following me on and you will get an entry for each new like or follow (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Luvocracy, Pinterest)

The support means a lot to us and it’ll get you extra entries : )

RULES:

1) This giveaway is limited to those in the United States and Canada, but eventually giveaways will be opening up to subscribers everywhere!

2) If you are under 18 years old just ask permission from your parents to enter the giveaway!

3) A random selection website will determine the winner to keep things fair.

4) Once the winner is contacted by email they will have 48 hours to respond and after that I will select another winner.

5) This giveaway will end in two weeks!!

If you have any questions please reach out to me and I would be happy to help!! I hope that you are having a wonderful week so far : )

Too Faced Melted Kisses!! Holiday Makeup Review!

October 29, 2014 & 6 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I am SO excited to be sharing my first review of a holiday makeup set for 2014 with you all today!! I already did my Holiday Makeup Sets for 2014 post, as well as my Holiday Makeup Sets: Top Values on “Leah’s Friday Five” on the Pearls and Pastries Shop blog, and actually getting to play with one of the sets and try it out is making me even more excited for all of the holiday makeup goodness!

Too Faced Cosmetics Melted Kisses

When Too Faced launched their Melted Lipsticks I was intrigued but had been putting off buying them because 1) I couldn’t decide what color I wanted to try, and 2) $21 each isn’t crazy for a high-end lipstick, but it isn’t as wallet friendly as other options either. Needless to say I was hoping that they would have a holiday set that included these, and when I saw this Melted Kisses set I knew I wanted it!

Cost:

$25.00

What’s Inside:

Deluxe Mini tubes of Melted Berry, Melted Fuchsia, Melted Peony, and Melted Nude. Each of these are part of the permanent collection of Melted Lipsticks.

Packaging:

Ummm hellllooo adorable!! I love the little nutcracker girls on the side of the box and all of the glittery details! Would make a super cute stocking stuffer or gift!!

Swatches:

Melted Berry:

Melted Fuchsia:

Melted Peony:

Melted Nude:

First Impression:

VERY pigmented! These are NOT a sheer wash of color at all! They feel nice going on the lips, and the applicator is very soft. I do think that I’ll use an anti-feathering clear liner like this one from Too Faced, or line my lips before using the darker colors especially. They go on glossy but seem to change to more of a matte which I actually really like! These aren’t drying at all and finding a comforable lipstick, especially one that’s more matte, hasn’t been easy these days since pregnancy has made my lips *uber* dry.

Thoughts After One Day:

I found that the Melted Berry color lasted through lunch and I didn’t have to touch up until mid afternoon. These do leave a bit of a stain on the lips as well, so even when it was time to reapply my lips still had color. I will wear a lipliner next time, but mostly because it was hard to get the edge of the lips perfect with such a bold color.

Thoughts On All Shades After 1 Week of Having Set:

I love this set!! My favorite right now is the Melted Berry because it screams fall/winter/holiday season and the Melted Peony is perfect for everyday wear. I think this is a great value and I love seeing more affordable holiday giftsets out there!!

Thank you so much for reading!! And don’t forget to let me know what holiday makeup sets you would like to see reviews on in the comments!! Have a wonderful weekend!!! XO

Ipsy Glam Bag October 2014!

October 20, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I had a post prepared for today, but when I got my Ipsy bag in the mail right before leaving for a night away, I thought it would be a great time to do a true first impression of this bag. Please excuse the not so wonderful lighting, but you can see that I was really in a hotel ; ) Do you subscribe to the Ipsy Glam Bag?

October Ipsy Glam Bag:

The Bag:

The teal color is pretty, but I really don’t care for this bag. The quilted design in okay, but it is SO cheap-y looking and cheap/plastic feeling. I will use it for travel, but it isn’t anything I’m excited about.

Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths:

These smell very nice and worked well removing my makeup in the hotel. Very nice product! But to take the place of my beloved Neutrogena cleansing cloths? That’ll be hard!

Ayres Body Butter:

This is a tiny sample, but I always love trying lotions and body butters! This is made with the essential oils jasmine and rosemary, and I do like the smell. This does feel nice and rich, and I’m going to enjoy using this.

H20+ Face Oasis:

This says it is a hydrating treatment that is oil-free and non-greasy, which is important to me because I have combo/oily skin. I love trying new skin treatments, and am intrigued by the gel texture of this. This is a really high-end product, and I’m excited to get the chance to try it out with this generous sample.

Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara in 001 Blackest Black:

I already have an unopened package of this from my PopSugar Must Have Box, and now that I have two I am going to try it out. I love trying new mascaras, but I don’t like opening more than a couple at a time. I love that this is a full-size product!

Noyah All-Natutral Lipstick in Deeply in Mauve:

How cute is this tiny little lipstick?! Adorable mini lipstick but it did nick very easily on the edge when I opened it (you can see this in the picture where the lipstick got onto the tube). It is a great color for fall and the formula seems to be very creamy which feels great on the lips. The color seems to be buildable, and I really like it. It did wipe off pretty easily when I swatched it, but we will see how it wears on the lips!

I think I will really enjoy the cleansing cloths, even though they aren’t that exciting, and I really like the body butter as well. I think the lipstick is precious and I like that the color is very buildable! Do you subscribe to Ipsy? Did you like your box this month? I would love to hear from you! I am going to tweak my profile and see if my products improve a bit for next month, although I still think this was worth the $10. Have a wonderful week and thank you for reading!!

Holiday Makeup Sets for 2014!!!!!

October 15, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Okay ladies, it is that time again, the holiday makeup sets are now avaliable in-store and online!! I am swooning over them, of course, and want to share 5 of my favorites here with you today! I will also be sharing 5 of the sets that I think are the best value and should be scooped up first on Leah’s Friday Five on the Pearls and Pastries Shop Blog this Friday! So be sure to check that out for my thoughts on 5 more limited edition holiday sets as well : ) I would LOVE to have an excuse to get my hands on some of these, so please let me know which sets you would like to see first impressions, swatches, and reviews on!!

Holiday Sets for 2014:

#1 Lip Gloss Roulette by Buxom

I love Buxom glosses, but I only have one full size gloss from the brand, and this kit is an amazing way to try 15 mini glosses! The full size glosses cost $19 each for a .15 oz and the mini glosses are .07 oz…so getting to try 15 is a GREAT value! This set contains both cream and polish finish glosses in a wide range of colors.

#2 La Belle Carousel by Too Faced

This set is STUNNING! Thank you to the wonderfully talented YouTuber Melissa Parada I am in love with this set! It contains little mini palettes that you can seperate and give as gifts or keep all for yourself ; ) You get 3 mini palettes with 4 eye shadows, 2 mini palettes with a blush and bronzer, and a deluxe sample of the Better Than Sex mascara. I love that you could pack these easily for travel, and think they would fit easily into makeup storage because of the slim and seperate palettes.

#3 Paint the Town by Formula X

First of all, HOW CUTE IS THIS?!?! If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that I love nail polish! I have been wanting to try the Formula X nail polish for long time now and this set would be a fantastic way to try the line.

#4 Melted Kisses by Too Faced

I still do not own any of the Melted lipsticks even after months and months of hearing about them. I was hoping that Too Faced would have a holiday set featuring them because Too Faced always impresses with adorable packaging and beautifully put together sets. For $25 I think 4 dexlue samples is a great value! And how cute would these be in a stocking?! Or for a girlie gift swap!

#5 Everything Nice Set by Too Faced

Okay, so I know that I have mentioned several things by Too Faced…but like I said above, they are the bomb.com at putting together awesome bang for your buck with the cutest packaging to boot. This set scares me a little, I am after all a neautrals girl when it comes to my eye shadow, but the sparkle in this just SCREAMS holiday makeup!! I do wonder how I could store it, I have seen large palettes stored using desk accessories meant for folders, but I would love to try this beauty out!! It comes with 20(!) eye shadows, 2 blushes, 2 bronzers, a mini mascarra, and 3 makeup brushes. I don’t tend to like the makeup brushes that come in these types of sets, but I do have to say that they look adorable and the bag that this palette comes in is sooo glittery and girly…tons of fun sparkle with this set!

Thank you as always for reading! I apprecaite each and every one of you!! I hope that you have a fabulous weekend and can’t wait to hear what makeup sets you are most excited about for holiday 2014!!!

Drugstore Beauty Haul!!!

October 1, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! And Happy October : ) This month means Halloween, and after Halloween?! In my mind, go ahead and decorate for Christmas!! ; )

I haven’t done a haul in awhile, and today I want to share a small but collective haul from two shopping trips. There are some great things out in the drugstore right now, and if there is anything new that you are loving (or new to you!) please let me know so that I can check it out!! Commenting is easy…just click the link by the title of this post : )

Drugstore Beauty Haul:

Maybelline “The Nudes” Palette:

I shared my love for this gorgeous palette in my September Favorites. I think that most of these colors are beautifully pigmented, and I love that this palette is set up in quads, trios, and duos. I think that this is great for anyone who loves neutral eye shadow looks, and it is a fantastic price point! If you have been holding off on Urban Decay Naked or other high end neutral palettes, definitely give this a shot!

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Porecelain Ivory:

This is the powder that replaced the Maybelline Dream Matte when it was discontinued, and it is my favorite pressed powder to set foundation with.

Maybelline Color Show in Dressed To Kill:

This nail polish such a gorgeous blend of a dark purple, brown, and burgundy! Check this out the next time your in a drugstore or supermarket, because even with my *extensive* nail polish collection, I didn’t have anything quite like this! I am loving this color for fall and winter.

Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment:

I love the Wet n’ Wild eye shadows and this is a trio that I have been wanting to try. The pigmentation is wonderful and I think this will be a great little trio for both everyday looks and a slight smokey eye.

Hard Candy Single and Loving It Eye Shadow In Attraction:

Hard Candy Cosmetics are exclusive to Walmart and there are several items that I love from the line. I think that this eye shadow will make a beautiful crease or outer corner color, and I LOVE the sparkle that it has! I can’t wait to start playing with this color : )

Hard Candy Top Ten Trendsetters Eye Shadow Palette in Birthday Suit:

This is a BRAND NEW item from Hard Candy for the fall of 2014!! Hard Candy Cosmetics has several of these “Top 10 Treadsetter” palettes that just released and I wanted to try this neutral one. I wish the eye shadows were softer and slightly less powdery, BUT with that said I did find that they blended well and lasted all day for me with a primer underneath. I was impressed! I think these palettes are a great option to try colors that you aren’t comfortable with as well because the price point is so low.

Hard Candy Brows Now! Brow Fiber Gel and Highlighter in Light Medium:

I am a big fan of the Benefit Cosmetics Gimmie Brow and I am thrilled to see a fiber brow gel in the drugstore. This can be used alone on your brows or to help set a pencil or powder. The brush isn’t quite as small as the one from Benefit, and more product comes out with the brush on the Hard Candy wand. I love the highlighter end of this product, it is a gorgeous pink-y champagne and it blends beautifully! It reminds me a little bit of the Benefit Cosmetics High Brow, but at a lower price point. I am excited to continue using this!

Thank you, as always, for reading my blog!! And if you have subscribed, thank you so much!! Don’t forget to check out my other social media links which are at the top of this page!! Again, thanks!! XO

September Favorites!

September 29, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a great weekend! One of my good friends visited, and we had a wonderful time with beautiful weather! And my alma mater won big at our homecoming game : ) I am combining my beauty favorites and lifestyle favorites into one post this month. Let’s get right into it…

September Favorites:

1) M.A.C Paint Pot in Bare Study

This isn’t new to my collection, but I have been using it a lot lately and have fallen back in love. I love this as an eye shadow base or on days when I want a super natural look, alone.

2) Wet n’ Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana

This is definitely NOT a bronzer, but it is part of the Coloricon Bronzer collection from Wet n’ Wild, and what it is is a *OMG* gorgeous highlighter. The price cannot be beat, and it comes with a huuuge amount of product. Love it!

3) Maybelline “The Nudes” Palette

I had been holding off buying this because I have so many neutral palettes…but when I saw it was buy one get one 50% off at Walgreens, I went for it because I needed some other Maybelline products. If you do not have this yet and you love neutral eye makeup, or if you have been holding off getting the Naked palettes by Urban Decay or other neutral palettes from high-end brands, YOU NEED THIS! It has had some mixed reviews, but I absolutely love it! I have worn it more than any of my other eye shadows this past month, and think it is definitely worth the $10-12. On the back it shows how you can break it up into quads, trios, and duos which is super helpful for people who maybe don’t know where to start with an eye look, and I find the quads especially to be fantastic! The pigmentation overall is good, although I will say that they wear and swatch much better with an eye shadow primer used first. The packaging is simple, not bulky, and very sleek for drugstore, but my one complaint is that there is no mirror. I could gush on and on about this, and if you’d like more information please let me know because this palette really could have its own post!

4) The Balm Shadow/Blush in Down Boy

This is a perfect baby pink blush! I love this because it looks great with so many eye shadow and lip combos! You can’t go wrong with it, but it is HIGHLY pigmented, so you only need a tiny bit!

5) Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Porecelain Ivory

This is my go-to everyday pressed setting powder ever since the Dream Wonder line replaced the Dream Matte line. I like that it gives an ever so slight coverage in addition to any foundation or BB cream you might have on.

6) EOS Lip Balm in Pomegranate Raspberry

I love the EOS lipbalms! And so does my 3 year old ; ) I like to apply these while I’m doing my makeup so that my lipsticks have a nice base…and this lipbalm is even thin enough that my matte lipsticks still appear matte but have a little moisture underneath.

7) Dual Ended Brow Brush with Spooli

Brand really doesn’t matter too much here, there are great low cost options as well as more high-end brushes, but I have been using powder for my brows lately and loving a dual ended brow brush with spooli.

8) NCLA Los Angeles Nail Polish in Rodeo Drive Royalty

I adore this nail polish! I mentioned it in my “Leah’s Friday Five” on the Pearls and Pastries Shop Blog, and it has been on my nails almost all month! I keep re-applying it because I can’t get enough of this gorgeous color!

9) Bauble Bar Arc Pendant Necklaces in Rose Gold

I have been loving my plain rose gold arc necklace layered with my pavé rose gold arc necklace! So simple and beautiful! This necklace from Bauble Bar is similar.

10) Gorjana Viceroy Necklace in Yellow Gold

This is such a beautiful simple piece! It goes well with everything!

11) Minnie Mouse Coffee Cozy

I found this adorable crochet Minnie Mouse coffee cozy from LNRCrochetDesigns on Etsy! The seller is super helpful and shipping was very fast. How cuuuute is this?! Seriously! Cute!

12) Name Bubbles Small Contact Clothing Labels

This is mostly for all the moms out there! Or maybe if someone is stealing your jacket off your chair at the office or your food out of the fridge at work, you too ; ) These labels are WASHER AND DRYER SAFE! And just STICK ON! Amazing. And they come in really cute designs, too. I was able to use a coupon code “B2SNB” for 10% off as well.

13) “Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids” by Laura Markham on Audible.com

This book is amazing! Stephan and I are only halfway through listening to this book, and it has changed our relationship with our kids (and eachother!!) for the better. I don’t think you need to be struggling or think there is a problem at all to gain a great deal from this book! I really think this book would be benefital to anyone, with grown kids, or without kids at all! We plan to pick up a paper copy as well to highlight our favorite parts. Seriously, READ THIS IF YOU HAVE KIDS!

Phew! That was pretty long! If you read all that, thank you so much! What things have you been reaching for and loving this past month? I would love to know! I hope that you have a great start to your week, and don’t forget to subscribe!! : )

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2014!!

September 24, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!!

Well, I *finally* caved! I have been a reading and watching reviews and unboxings of the Ipsy Glam Bag for a looooong time and after some heavy debating between Birchbox vs Ipsy, I decided to ~~go with~~ start with Ipsy. Today I will be sharing what I got in my bag as well as my thoughts/mini reviews. When you sign up for Ipsy you create a profile so you get items that are supposed to be catered to your preferences, as well as skin type and hair type. Ipsy sends deluxe samples and full-sized products for $10/month. If you are interested in signing up for the Ipsy Glam Bag you can do so here.

September Ipsy Glam Bag:

Swatches of NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Burlesque, Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eyeliner in Fringe, and Cailyn Art Touch Tinted LipGloss in Basic Instinct:

The Bag:

The bag is a cute silver/chrome faux leather with stud details. This bag is cute and a nice size to slip into a purse so that your essentials are easy to grab!

Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in Basic Instinct:

At first I was really excited for this product, and I really do like the lip gloss formula…the color is just not for me! This is a really pretty nude, but the color isn’t the most flattering with my skintone. I *do* like the lip gloss though, and would like to try it in another color.

NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Burlesque:

This is my first NYX single shadow, and I think it’s a beautiful color. The eye shadow has nice color payoff and will be beautiful for fall and winter. I would like to de-pot these into a Z-Palette, and I think they would work well stored with M.A.C single eye shadows.

Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eyeliner in Fringe:

This is a basic brown eye pencil, and I like brown eyeliner for a more natural look. I do NOT think that this eye pencil is waterproof, but I will continue to use it and enjoy the color.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask:

I haven’t tried this yet, but I am VERY excited to try this! I love deep conditioning treatments, and I am always looking to give my ends some love!

Crown Brush C476 Crease/Shadow Brush:

I have never tried Crown Brushes before but I am excited to try this one out! Duo ended brushes aren’t my favorite, because they aren’t as easy to store, but I do travel at least one or two nights a month, and this will come in handy for that!

I am very happy with my first Ipsy Glam Bag, and although I’m not in love with all of the products, I can pass them onto family and friends who may like them better, and I’ll still get more than $10 worth. What subscription boxes are you loving? What boxes are you lusting over? Let me know in the comments!! : )

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