Fabs & Flops

I am back again with a little Fabs & Flops post! I think my most favorite part of this little blogging endeavor is the so-called freedom I feel to buy things, so I can blog about it! :) I have loved the opportunity to try things I normally would have never tried and to buy things I would have never thought of buying before. After nearly 15 years of using exclusively Mary Kay makeup, I automatically assumed I would just jump right into high-end makeup because I had never used any drugstore products before, but I cannot begin to tell you just how many drugstore products I have fallen in love with recently. ♥  Not only can I sometimes buy five items for the price of one high-end item, but often times it's just as good or better!
Alright, now here is what I have picked up recently and some that I wish I hadn't . . .   

Fabs:

Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner - Ulta $15
I got this in a Mally Beauty gift set from Ulta. The main thing I purchased was a Mally Poreless Defender (that post will come one of these days) and I got a whole bunch of full-sized goodies. This eyeliner is black and glides on beautifully. $15 is pretty reasonably priced for a good quality eyeliner. I will probably repurchase this in black and buy other colors in the future. 

Mally Beauty Liquid Lipstick - Ulta $20
This is a another goodie that came in the Mally set. All I knew about Mally Beauty was that it is sold heavily on QVC, but it never crossed my mind to try it until I saw it for sale at Ulta. This is a liquid lipstick in a really pretty color and it goes on nicely. It has a paint brush type applicator on the end. The lasting power is not great, but the pigment is nice!  

Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick - Ulta $25
Okay, this eyeshadow stick is amazing. I just love it. It glides on perfectly, with a wet feel, but drys right away and lasts all day. I use it with an eyeshadow primer, so it never creases! I am not sure if I will pay $25 to replace it when it runs out, but I do like it. I forgot to swatch it, but this is in a chocolate/gold color. 

This cream shadow from Laura Gellar as an Ulta sample
freebie. By the way, always, ALWAYS ask for
free samples at Ulta. The whole long cupboard behind
the checkouts are full of things that they just give away if you
ask! This is a pretty good size sample and will last me quite

   a while this is a rose gold color and it has become my neutral,

 day-to-day eye color. I use it with my Urban Decay primer and

it works beautifully! These retail for $19 and I will probably

buy this when it runs out because I am OBSESSED!! 

These are my go to wipes for mornings when
I don't want to bring out the Clairsonic and do
an intense face wash. Prior to trying these I had
only used Mary Kay wipes, which are not
pre-moistened, so these are quite the upgrade. I got
these at Ulta for $6.99 plus coupons! 

Flops:

Mary Kay Lash & Brow Building Serum - Marykay.com $38
This is Mary Kay's knock off version of Latisse. Ya know, the stuff that is suppose to make your eyelashes grow? Well, Mary Kay's version is suppose to not change your eye color like Latisse is know to do, so I figured I would give it a try. I used it for a while. Religiously. I honestly did not see any difference. I think it was a waste of money. I did see that this product was featured in a beauty magazine not long ago and the reviews were great, but it's just not for me.   

NYX Lip Liner Pencil - Ulta $3.49
You know I am a fan, a BIG fan of the NYX Butter Glosses. They are by far my most favorite lip gloss of LIFE, but these liners just don't do it for me. I am not a huge fan of lip liner to begin with, but I do try because it does make a difference. I am glad I didn't pay much for these. I bought four of them and they were BOGO 50% off, plus I had a coupons, so they were about $7 for all four off them. They do not sharpen well, nor do they glide on very well at all. I will not be purchase these again. 

So I was going through my makeup and throwing things out when I came across this lip plumper I  bought a couple years ago (I know, gross, don't judge)....used it again and it still sucks. It is just a thick, sticky gloss in a large silver twist up tube. It is also outrageously expensive (I think it was $18 a long time ago when I got it).  Sure it tingles, but it doesn't make my lips look any fuller than my $5 crystal clear NYX gloss. I have done a lot of research on skin care/cosmetics over the last couple of years and really the "tingling" sensation in the plumping glosses is some kind of mint oil irritating the heck out of your lips, that's why they "plump" (which is actually swelling from irritation). Needless to say this one went in the trash. It is a product I regret buying.

Physician's Formula Va Va Voom Mascara - Ulta $10
This is my least favorite mascara. I do not like brush, it flakes
and it just doesn't coat my lashes like I expect. Luckily,
I got this for FREE with coupons at Ulta, so it's not much of
a loss, but I will never try a Physician's Formula mascara
again. I actually got a BB and a CC cream from PF and
I don't think I like either, but I need to try them a few more
times to be sure. I am sure that will on another Fabs & Flops post
in the near future!  

First, let me start by saying I am not a BB/CC cream
kind of person. I got this at an Ulta freebie (see, always ask for those free samples!) so I figured I would give it a try. It just isn't full-coverage enough for me. I like full, FULL coverage and this just doesn't give it. Plus, I did not feel like it was very build-able, so that was another downside. This travel size retails for $10 and the full-size is $34. I really like the Laura Gellar cream eyechadow, so I will probably try more of her items in the future, but not this one!  

XoXo

$20 Challenge

Sometimes I feel the urge to shop, (okay, I actually have this urge quite often) but don't want to spend any much money. That is where my $20 Challenge comes in. I take a $20 out of my wallet, stick some coupons in my pocket and head to the store! I have done this a few times and it's really fun! Check out some of my goodies from my latest endeavor . . .

Stop #1: Bath and Body Works
3 Mini Jar Candles on sale 3/$10 (normally $4.50 ea)
1 Mason Jar Candle $12.50

Coupon: any item FREE with $10.00 purchase (-$12.50)

Total Paid: $10.84  (with tax) 
Total Saved: $17.34

Stop #2: Ulta
1 Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation $4.99
1 Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed  $2.49 (Rimmel was BOGO 50% off)
1 OPI Glitter Polish (clearance) $2.49
2 Elegant Touch Nail Polish Removers (clearance) $1.09 each

Coupon: $3.50 off any $10 purchase (-$3.50) & 20% off any item (-.98 off the foundation)

Total Paid: $8.31 (with tax)
Total Saved: $ 20.89

Total spent on this shopping trip: $19.15 (.85 to spare!)

A savings of over $38.00!!

XoXo

Ipsy: May 2014

Here it is! 

My most favorite piece of mail! I wait all month for my Ipsy bag. I stalk their website . . . I stalk their Instagram . . .  I'm obsessed! It's the best $10 I spend all month!

1.Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask - This hair mask is AMAZING! My hair is super damaged from all the beach, so I am always looking for something that is going to repair damage and make my hair soft. The full-size of this product is $14.99 at Ulta.
2. Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF 50 - I don't use sunscreen, so I was not excited about getting this in my bag. I'm sure it's great with it being 50 SPF and all. The retail price of the full-size is $12.99.
3. Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo - The eyeshadow duo is perfect! I love the colors, they have just the right amount of shimmer and they last all day! This small duo retails for $11.00.
4. Boo-Boo Cover Up Medium Concealer - This stuff is pretty great. It is marketed to cover up: acne, bug bites, stretch marks, tattoos, cuts, scrapes, and bruises. It's advertised as more of a medical item, rather than a make-up item. This is actually a full-sized tube and it retails for $19.99.
5. SWISSCO Electroplated Eyelash Curler - I love my Tarte eyelash curler, so I will probably be giving this one way. It looks nice though! The retail on this is $5.00.

Total retail value: is $35 for the three FULL-SIZED items I got and then I would say probably at least another $5-10 for the two deluxe sample sizes! So I retail this this Ipsy bag at $40-45! LOVE IT! 

If you didn't read my post about my March/April post about Ipsy you can find it here:
http://kristinaschiltz.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-new-obsession-ipsy.html

XoXo

☼ Lashes ☼

I literally have a notepad list of all the blog posts I am planning on doing for you, but life has just been so crazy busy! I am hoping to get a few done this week. I hope! 

Soooooo . . . fake eyelashes, falsies or whatever you want to call them are something that I totally love to dabble with, but don't wear on a regular basis. I would like to, but that would require getting up extra early in the morning! That's not happening. I own quite a bit of Ardell lashes and this is what I would recommend, unless you want to spend big money about $35 per pair and in that case I would recommend Velour Lashes, which can be found at https://www.velourlashes.com/. The Ardell lashes ($6 Ulta) are a good place to start and they are really affordable! I like the Katy Perry lashes for dressing up and going out. The other few I have are from Such a Tease and e.l.f which were free gifts and/or Ipsy items!

  

My lash glue of choice is called Duo and can be found at both Ulta and Sephora for $7. It comes in both white and dark brown. I have heard lots of good things about Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive, which comes in a tube and with a little brush, but I have not yet tried it. This little case to the right can be found at www.houseoflashes.com for $6 and it great for storing your used lashes for future use.  

Application: 

Before I apply false lashes I always start with a think band of eyeliner on my lash line, I curl my lashes and apply a coat of mascara to my natural lashes. Once I remove a new pair I set them on my natural lashes to measure for size. I usually have to trim off a little bit to make it the most natural fit. Be sure to always trim the outside vs the inside, as the inside lashes are naturally shorter. Next, I apply lash glue (not too much - a little bit goes a long way) to the band of the lashes and let it "dry" for about 30-45 seconds until it is tacky before pressing it into my natural lash line. I use my fingers to apply lashes, but I know a lot of people use tweezers - either one works! I take a minute or so to press them together to make them look natural and that's it! You can add mascara if you want, but since I reuse my lashes several times, I do not add extra mascara.   

Removal: 

I start on the inside and pull gently to the outside for removal. I then peel off any excess glue that is still on the lashes and put them in the case for the next use. I put a little bit of my Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover from Mary Kay (www.MaryKay.com -$15) on a cotton swab and rub it into my eye to break-up and remover any leftover glue. I continue with my normal skincare routine which can be found here if you missed that post!   

XoXo  

 

Brushes

I will give you a run down of my top 10 brushes, the brand and what I use them each for!

1. Beauty Blender (Sephora or Beauty Blender website ($19.99) I use my Beauty Blender to apply both my foundation and my concealer. The Beauty Blender applies foundation flawlessly with a dewy finish (I prefer a matte finish, so I apply powder afterwards, but if you like dewy this is your method). It truly gives an airbrushed finish with coverage that lasts all day!
2. Sigma  Flat Kabuki F80 Brush - ($20 Sigmabeauty.com) This brush is my holy grail brush. It's amazing. Period. Sigma is the best of the best in the world of make-up- even better than MAC and Nars. Yes, I just said that. I have had my eyes on this brush, and several others from Sigma, for awhile, but Sigma can only be ordered online. Sigma is about half the price of MAC or Nars and just as good or even better! I plan to order more brushes when that perfect free shipping and promo code offer presents itself. You know me! ;) This brush applies foundations remarkably well. The bristles are soft, yet dense and the coverage is flawless! This is my must-have brush about all others!
3. Bare Minerals Precision Face Brush - ($32 at Ulta) I use this brush to apply my powder foundation and finishing powders. I have had this brush for quite awhile and it's amazing. I use it all over to give my face a final once over before I put on a finishing spray.  
4. Hot Pink Angled Blush Brush - (BH Cosmetics Pop Art Collection Set $20.95) I bought this set on a whim after hearing great reviews and for the price, it did not disappoint. This was a 10 piece set; I use 5 of the brushes everyday and two or three of them occasionally. I usually do not buy brush sets because it seems wasteful, as I never seem to use them all, but for this price I couldn't pass it up. I use this brush to apply my blush. The angle makes for easy application!
5. Light Pink Powder Brush - (BH Cosmetics Pop Art Collection Set $20.95) I use this as my blending brush to make sure there are no harsh lines from my bronzer, powder, foundation or blush! It's fluffy, soft and does a great job blending out lines!
6. Yellow Complexion Blending Brush - (BH Cosmetics Pop Art Collection Set $20.95) Since I do not own a true couture brush, I use this instead and, for now, it is doing the trick. I have my heart set on a Nars Ita Kabuki brush ($55 yikes!) but they have been sold out forever! I use this nifty little brush to contour my forehead, nose and cheeks. Then, I go in with the BH Cosmetics Powder Brush to blend everything out.
7. Blue Tapered Eyeshoadow Blending Brush - (BH Cosmetics Pop Art Collection Set $20.95) I use this brush for two purposes: 1. an all over the lid eyeshadow brush and/or to blend out all lines in my eyeshadow. Honestly, there are probably better brushes out there for eye shadow, but I think it's more about the quality of the eyeshadow. One of my more favorite eyeshadow application tools is my finger! It does the trick too!  
8. Green Fluffy Angled Eyeshadow Brush - (BH Cosmetics Pop Art Collection Set $20.95) This is my go-to brush for eyeshadow application all over the lid. There seems to be very little fallout with the shadow when using this brush. Again, this brush collection is super soft and I have lost no bristles after months of months of use.
9. Purple Real Techniques Shading Brush - (Kohl's, Ulta, Target etc. $6.00) Real Techniques brushes have a great reputation for being a good brush that is super affordable for everyone. I use this brush to pack on eyeshadow, especially in the creases.
10. MAC 208 Angled Eye Liner Brush - (Nordstrom $20) This brush was a great purchase for me! I can finally apply my most favorite gel eye liner with a steady hand and get that perfect "wing" I have always wanted! It's pretty spendy for such a small brush, but I truly can't do the liner without it!



Alright, so now that I told you about my top 10 brushes, let me tell you how I clean and take care of them!

I have used the MAC brush cleaner for a very long time and I like it. I really do. Here is the downside- it's $15 a bottle and I go through about 1 bottle per month, as I clean my Beauty Blender daily and my other brushes 1-3 times a week. It just became too expensive.




After some research I saw that many people just use Dawn dish soap to clean their brushes, so I tried it and I have never been happier!

The Dawn cuts through the oil on the brushes and the anti-bacterial agent assures that the brushes are clean and bacteria-free. I mix the Dawn with a little bit of Pert shampoo and conditioner in one. That gives it some softness and also makes the brushes smell really good! This shampoo and Dawn was under $4 and should last me a year. You can't beat that! Anyone else clean their brushes with something similar?  













XoXo

Couponing

Couponing is my thing it always has been and probably always will be. I figure, why pay full price for something? I rarely, RARELY buy anything that is full price. I always watch for sales, but coupons on top of sales (or clearance) is the ultimate thrill!

Before a shopping trip I usually look online to see what types of coupons I can find. Remember, you can always combine a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon! I wanted to stock pile some Clean & Clear products since I am really loving their stuff again. Do I smell another skin care post coming up!?

It took me about 3 minutes to find these coupons and here is what I purchased with them . . .

The retail on these five products was $29.95  ($5.99 each). That fifth bottle was picked up at Fred Meyer for FREE with other coupons that I forgot to snap a picture of . . . oops! I broke these into two purchases to maximize the savings and used each set of coupons (pictured above).

Example of purchase:
2 bottles (or 2 packs of wipes) total $11.98 and I am able to use 2 coupons on each product because they are different coupons with different barcodes. So, now I can take $1.50 off and $1.00 off each bottle. Now my total is down to $6.98 and THEN, I use my Ulta $3.50 off coupon and it brings my total down to $3.48 for two items!! I did this purchase two times, over two days.

My grand total was $6.96 for all four items from Ulta, plus the free one from Fred Meyer. By the way, it was free because they were originally $5.99. but on sale for $4.49 - there was a $1.50 off Fred Meyer coupon hanging by the display and then I had a $3.00 off ANY Morning Burst Clean & Clear product (this was sent to my house directly by Clean & Clear - not exactly sure how I got it, but those high value coupons are almost unheard of!).

With a grand total of $6.96 I saved $22.99 which is over 75% off that purchase!!

*You really need to know your coupons - know what you can and cannot combine. I would say probably about 3 out of 10 checkers know coupon policies and will let you combine without question and others will not want to accept it without some prompting ;) Yes, it takes a little time and effort of your part to get such savings, but I think it's worth it! I am set on cleaners for a long time! 

XoXo  

Candles ♥

If I am not off shopping for make-up you can probably find me at Bath and Body Works stocking up on my candle obsession! Although, I use Scentsy to keep the house smelling super clean and fresh, I still love the ambiance of candles burning. I usually burn one in the kitchen, on the stove, and sometimes one upstairs in my room. I think that the Bath and Body Works candles burn wonderfully. I even like them more than Yankee Candles and I use to be OBSESSED, with Yankee, so that says a lot! Of course, Bath and Body Works is known for their awesome coupons, so I can always score an awesome deal on my candles! 

Here is my latest haul . . . .

Regular price: $113.50

Sale price: $67

Final price (after all coupons): $47.75!!!

The small jars were on sale for $10 each, plus I had a free item coupon! I actually paid $20 for all three!

The large jar candles were on sale 2 for $22, plus the Mother's Day candle and stand was a $15 gift with purchase. Then, I had a 25% off my purchase coupon which made it $27.75! 

Not my best couponing trip, but still a good deal nonetheless! This should hold me over through summer!

XoXo

Fabs & Flops

I thought I would start a little blog segment and call it Fabs & Flops where I talk about some items I love and some that I was really disappointed with. For this post I am going to post about NYX Butter Gloss' and the Jordana Fabuliner Liquid Eye Liner Pen.

Fabs:

1.Peach Cobbler
2. Sugar Cookie
3. Cupcake
4. Peaches & Cream

1.Peach Cobbler
2. Sugar Cookie
3. Cupcake
4. Peaches & Cream

My fabs for the week are the NYX Butter Gloss'! I don't know where these have been all my life, but wow!! I picked them up at Ulta this past week because they were on sale buy one, get one 50% off! I was able to pick up for of them for $15- plus my $3.50 off coupon, which made them under $3 each!!







Flops:

As I posted on an earlier post, I have a hard time using liquid eyeliner, BUT I love the look of it! I heard rave reviews about the Jordana Fabuliner Liquid Eye Liner Pen, so I decided to try it out. It was hard to find, but I finally did at Walgreens and to my surprise it was only $2.99! Well, let me tell you . . . this stuff is like a Sharpie marker. It's a really strange black color and the tip is really hard! It hurts to put it on! I would not buy this again, in fact, I am going to throw it out! I looked it up again and saw that it has 5 out of 5 stars. I just don't get it! That's my flop of the week. It's just not for me!

 

XoXo

What I'm Loving: Hair Care

I thought I would switch it up a bit on this post and talk about what I am loving for hair care. I truly don't care a whole lot about my hair. Sad to say, but true. I much rather spend time and effort on my makeup and throw my hair up in a sock bun or top-knot and call it good! I change my shampoo every few months, as I really don't have a favorite. I currently have Bed Head, Brilliant Brunette, and L'OREAL in my shower right now and who knows what random kind I will find when those run out.

1.Batiste Dry Shampoo  (Ulta $8.99) 

I am fairly new to dry shampoo. I have only been using it for about a year or so. I use to wash my hair every day, like every.single.day. I decided I would switch to washing it every other day, then every three days. In order to do this I have to use a dray shampoo, my hair just gets too greasy without it. What I like about the Batiste is that it's cheap, yes, but it also comes with a hint of color, so it doesn't make my hair look gray'ish. I have tried Kenra dry shampoo ($22) and Suave dry shampoo ($3) and both worked just fine, but came out white and made my hair look salt n' pepper like. I am hooked on Batiste! It also smells great and gives volume. It comes in blonde, red, medium and dark brown (pictured above)! 

2. L'OREAL Color Vibrancy Instant Shock Treatment (Ulta $6.99)

I picked this up on a whim a few weeks back after getting my hair colored (bleached) and it was feeling a little like straw. This is meant to be used as a 60 second hair mask. It's no miracle by any means, but it works really well. It smells good and it is helping my hair become it's soft, light-weighted self again. For $6.99 you can't beat the price.  

3. Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment (Ulta $40)

I have talked about this product before, as it is one of my most favorites! It is a little spendy, but oh so worth it! First, let me say, it smells amazing! It is light weight and does wonders for your hair! I put this on before blow drying and my hair dries SO fast! It makes my hair smell great, shine and it is so easy to style! I totally recommend this stuff! 

4. It's a 10 (Ulta $18-36)

I got It's a 10 a while back as a free gift with purchase from Ulta. Have you noticed that a lot of my blog posts start out like this?!? Well, this stuff is amazing. I have the miracle leave-in conditioner and the one with keratin, they are both wonderful. I use it immediately after getting out of the shower. My hair tangles really easily, but with this (and the product I am going to talk about next) I am able to brush it out so easily, my hair stays soft and shiny! The down fall to this product is the price: $18 for only 4 oz. I really want to repurchase when these run out, so I will be watching for coupons!   

5. Tangle Teezer Brush (Ulta $9.99)

Ok, this brush is freaking amazing! Nothing has ever brushed out my long, tangled hair out like this little brush does! The only downfall is that is has no handle and it can get a little slippery when brushing wet hair, but other than that is works great! If you have a little girl who doesn't like getting her hair brushed because it hurts, this is the must have brush for you! I wish I found it sooner!!  

XoXo

Eyes Are The Window To The Soul

Eyes are perhaps the hardest part of applying makeup each morning and for sure the most time consuming! I wanted to dedicate this post to all of my favorite eye products!   If I went into all the items I have or use this post would be never ending, so let me hold back and just share a few of my favorites with you!

UD Primer $20 and UD 24/7 Eye Liner $20

When I put my concealer on each day I go ahead and use it on my eyelids and then the use a eye primer before applying my eye shadow. My eye shadow primer of choice (for now) is the Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion. I got this as a sample at Ulta and I really like it. My eye shadow doesn't crease or fade throughout the day. It looks just as fresh after work, as it does in the mornings! I actually have two samples, so I shouldn't need to purchase this for awhile! 

Here is what my eye shadow drawer 

looks like!

After applying the eye shadow primer I start with a base color for all over my lid - I really want a nice pallet, such as, the Naked 2 by Urban Decay, but for now I need to use up all the Mary Kay and MAC stuff that I already have. 

   As you can see, LOTS of Mary Kay and quite a bit of MAC. Those five "tubes" you see are my MAC pigments- which I LOVE! I don't change up my makeup colors very often. On a normal day I will start with a cream or light tan color that I put all over my lid. Next, I will do a light brown, gold, or reddish color on the crease. Then, I will put a little bit of a darker color on the edge of the crease and the corner, followed by a highlighter on my brow bone.

Tarte (Ulta $17)

Next, I curl my eyelashes before I apply eyeliner. My eyelash curler of choice is by Tarte. It's amazing, it doesn't pinch you and it comes with with a free mascara! Score! it's pretty, too, that should count for something!! 

Some of  my favorite eyeliners are: the Urban Decay 24/7 Black Velvet (pictured above), Ulta Gel Eyeliners (pictured below), and Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner (below). Although I have tried liquid eyeliner and like the look of it, I just can't seem to get it on even enough, so I stick to a regular pencil or a gel based liner.  The Maybelline is amazing- like, incredible! This product was recommended to me and it's great. My only suggestion is to buy a different brush than the one that it comes with. I prefer the MAC 208 ($20) brush!

Ulta $9.99

Ulta $8.00

My final eye step is mascara. Oh, mascara!! Only in the last few months have I felt like I may have found the perfect mascara. I have been on the hunt for something I LOVE for years.... like 15 years. One of my most favorites (which I don't have a picture of) is the Cover Girl LashBlast Volume Mascara and my ultimate favorite of the moment is L'OREAL Voluminous Full Definition in Blackest Black. Although, I did recently see that Ulta had these on clearance, so you KNOW I bought them all up! I hope they are not gone for good! We'll see! I have these four mascaras opened right now: Physician's Formula, L'OREAL Full Definition, Rimmel ScandalEyes, and Calvin Klein ck One mascara. Out of those four, the only one I would repurchase is the L'OREAL. The Calvin Klein one was my birthday gift from Ulta and the other two I just tried randomly. I have very short lashes and try hard to build them up. What is your favorite mascara?

Here are a couple of random's I bought and want to try! That small one is from Tarte and was a freebie that came with my eyelash curler! I will have to let you know how I like these three!

XoXo

      

Brows!

Eyebrows are such an important part of of any makeup routine, or at least they should be! I always think of that article that came out awhile ago about celebrities without eyebrows, in fact, I think there is actually a website dedicated to it! Ha!

This is something I try to never forget, even on days when I don't wear makeup (which is often actually- rarely ever on the weekends) I try to at least fill in my eye brows.

The reason for no makeup on the weekends is because I just like to let me face breathe! Unless, I have something big going on and then I will wear it.

I am obsessed. Yes, OBSESSED with Anastasis Beverly Hills' eyebrow stuff! I even got my sister, Katie hooked on their Brow Wiz pencil and she is not one to use an eye brow pencil, so that should say something as to its awesomeness!

The Brow Wiz pencil ($21 at Ulta/Sephora) is double-sided pencil with a spooly on one end and a mechanical pencil on the other. I first start by brushing my brows with the spooly and then I use the use the Brow Fix wax pencil (pictured) just to wipe over my brows and tame them before filling them in. This was a gift with purchase and I don't know if I will repurchase it ($21) as it's pretty spendy! Then I fill in my brows using the Brow Wiz. It glides on SO well- hands down the BEST brow pencil I have ever used and I have tried many! I always use the Clear Brow Gel to finish off my brows. I do it pretty light-handed, as I don't want hard crunchy eyebrows all day.  

Anastasia Brow Wiz Color Swatches
(I use the Brunette!)

If I am feeling really spunky I will bring out the Dipbrow Pomade ($18) (I believe this is sold out nation wide still, but should be coming back in stock soon!) This is tricky to apply and really does take come work. I bought the special brush with spooly to apply ($18) and I still struggle some times to get it on naturally.

I have the shade Chocolate, as the Dark Brown was wayyyy too dark, in fact, I kind of think that the Chocolate is too dark for me. The next shade lighter is Auburn, but that has too much red in it for me. I just don't know! I will continue to play with this stuff and see!

Oh, I almost forget to mention. I pluck my brows, I don't wax them, but I would like to start! I want to try the Benefit Brow Bar at Ulta. I believe it's $20 and, of course you can use your reward card and earn points! I am just over $600 now- which means I have a $21'ish dollar credit to save up and use whenever I want. If you shop at Ulta often the reward card is really worth it!

XoXo

My New Obsession: IPSY!

What is Ipsy? Ipsy is a monthly subscription bag that costs $10 a month! Yes, only $10 a month - tax and shipping included!

Each month Ipsy sends you a "Glam Bag" with 4-5 highend beauty products to try! How fun is that?! You take a beauty quiz to determine what products you like most and your bag is tailored to fit YOU! Each month after you have received your items you can go online and rate the products you got, which will then further help mold your next bag more to your liking. Make sense? I have only been an Ipsy subscriber for two months, but I have loved my bags both months and I think it's well worth the $10! Let me show you what I have gotten in each bag so far  . . .

March:

I only got four products in my March bag and here is what I got . . .

1. Nicole by OPI textured nail polish by the color "On What Grounds" I really love this color and the texture. It lasts a long time- OPI is by far my favorite nail polish brand! (Retails for $8)
2. Deluxe sample of Moxie Bare Minerals lip stick in the shade "Get Ready" - SO smooths and this last hours! (The retail price of the fullsize lipstick is $18)
3. Be a Bombshell eyeshadow quad in the shade Bora Bora - great pigment, great colors for blue or brown eyes. (Retails for $16)
4. Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer - I gave this primer to Katie, as it is too hydrating for my already well hydrated skin, so I can't say how good it is, but it's sure pricey!  (Travel size retails for $9 at Target)

Total Bag Retail Value . . . $33 (without the lipstick, as I have no idea on how much that would be in a sample size) I would say it's close to $40 in value for only $10! :o)

April:  

There were five items in my Ipsy bag in this month! They were:

1. Urban Decay 24/7 deluxe sample size in the shade Velvet - This is an amazing eyeliner, great for smugging! The retail for the fullsize is $20.
2. St. Tropez (sample size) face tanner - I haven't used this yet, as I am always hesitant to put new products on my face, as I have a tendency to break out. I plan to try this out closer to summer! The retail for the fullsize is $18
3. Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm with brush- fullsize! This lip balm has fantastic pigment! It lasts hours without reapplying! This is fullsize and the retail price is $19!!!
4. City Color White Gold Eye shadow and Highlighting Mousse - This is interesting. I haven't used a "mousse" product on my eyes before. When I use it, I always use my Urban Decay Eye Primer first and it seems to last. I need to take more time to play with it some more, it's pretty neat. The retail on this is $3.99!
5. Such a Tease Lashes- I love, LOVE falsies, butttttt this aren't real hair. I am pretty spoiled with real or even synthetic hair lashes and these feel like plastic. :( I haven't used them yet, but I really don't think I will like them! We'll see! The retail on these is $3.99!

Total Bag Retail Value . . . $27 without the eyeliner or tanner, they are sample sizes, but I bet these are worth at least $5 each, so let's call it a grand total of $37 for this bag all for only $10! :o)

If you're interested in joining Ipsy and getting a bag of your own each month you can join from my link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/78vf

 XoXo

Benefit the POREfessional vs. Maybelline Baby Skin

I have been using the POREfessional for awhile now, so when I saw that Maybelline's Baby Skin was named a dupe I knew I had to try it out for myself. Benefit's the POREfessional is $30 for .75oz and Baby Skin is $7 for .67oz. Obviously, Baby Skin is much, much cheaper!  

After using the POREfessional for quite awhile and the Baby Skin for a good week I feel like I can say  . . . 

that I really prefer the POREfessional. I would have to say it it is a texture thing for me. The Baby Skin comes out clear, no scent, and has a Vaseline texture. The POREfessional is tinted, a faint scent (smells like a foundation/concealer) and is not as greasy as the Baby Skin. I truly think the coverage is about even. If texture doesn't bother you then maybe Baby Skin will work for you and save you a whole lot of money! I, personally, am going to stick with the POREfessional, it is truly a holy grail beauty product for me! 

Baby Skin (left) & the POREfessional (right) 

    

Baby Skin:
.67oz of product (18 grams)
$6.99
Price Per Gram: .39 cents

POREfessional:
.75 oz of product (21 grams)
$30.00
Price Per Gram $1.40

Contouring, Highlighting & Blush

Ohhhhh contouring! I want to learn how to contour SO badly! I have had my eye on the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit for months now. Unfortunately, this kit keeps going in and out of stock and I just can't snag it in time! Now, the latest news is it will not be in stock until later this year! Bummer! It is truly the best rated kit, (I have done my research!) so I will just wait. I have found them on eBay, but they are going for between $80-$220 - no thanks! I'll wait!  In the mean time, I will just use what I already have and make the best of it, so here we go  . . .

Step 1:
I tend to rely on using the Bare Minerals bronzer in the shade Warmth ($19 Ulta/Nordstrom)  for around my forehead, the sides of my nose, the hollows of my cheeks and my chin. Occasionally, I use the Mary Kay bronzer in Desert Sun, ($12) but the pigment is not as great and I have to pile and pile and pile it on to get the same affect as the Bare Minerals. When the Mary Kay runs out I do not plan on replacing.
Step 2:
Next, I actually use the Maybelline Dark Circle Treatment in the shade Brightener ($10 Ulta) has a highlighter. I use this on my forehead, down my nose, under my eyebrows, on my cupid's bow and on my bottom lip. Finally, I use the Mary Kay Translucent Powder to set the highlighted areas.

If you're curious about about how exactly to contour and/or highlight here are a few examples!

*** Blush ***

After I have done my contouring and highlighting, which I do not do every day because it takes awhile, I finish off my face with a hint of blush! All I have are Mary Kay blushes and to be honest the pigment is not great. I want new, high-pigment blush, but I really need to use up with I have first and then I will indulge! The MAC blush called Peaches is what I have my eye on, as well as a few NARS shades, but that $30 price tag! Ouch!


Do y'all have any blush recommendations?

Thanks for reading! 

XoXo

Foundation Routine

Okayyyyyyyy, before I get started on this next post, I forgot to mention something in my skincare post. I did say that I wash my every night, but I still do have those lazy nights where I just clean my face and do not Clarisonic. That's when my Olay wipes come in handy! I got these last summer at Ulta with my reward points, that was before they did cash rewards like they do now! I am saving up for the Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet- I'm half way there!

Foundation, Concealer and More. . . .

1. the Porefessional 

2.Beauty Blender

3. Mary Kay Full-Coverage Foundation

4. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

5. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment

6. Mary Kay Mineral Powder

7. Urban Decay de-Slick

the Porefessional by Benefit is the most amazing beauty product I own! It is fantastic! I never thought of myself has really having pores (I know they have always been there, but I have never paid any attention) until I started using my Clarisonic, now I suddenly notice them. After my moisturizer I put on the Porefessional. I squeeze out just a little bit onto the back of my hand, warm it up and them press, not rub, it into my pores on my cheeks. If I can only choose one beauty product, this is my must-have, never leave the house without product! The downside to the Porefessional is the price $30 for a .75oz tube! Luckily, one tube goes a long way. I recently bought Baby Skin by Maybelline which is suppose to be a dupe of the Porefessional, but we'll see! I will blog my review on the two this weekend, hopefully!  

My Beauty Blender is amazing! I have never tried any of the knock-off ones because I have read enough reviews to know the original Beauty Blender is the way to go! This sponge makes makeup application flawless. You must wet the Beauty Blender before application which makes the foundation press into your skin amazingly well! This is a must have - I no longer use my hand or a foundation brush to apply my foundation or concealer. 

I am still using Mary Kay Full-Coverage foundation in the shade Beige 304. After 10 years as a Mary Kay consultant, I still have quite the stock pile of Mary Kay products. Since I will need to buy a new foundation in the next 6 months, I have been trying out a few samples to determine if I want to stay with Mary Kay and use a consultant or if I want to switch to something else. So far, I have tried samples of Chanel and Too Faced. I have a list of high-end of some drugstore foundations I want to try before I decide! 

After foundation I apply my MAC Pro Longwear concealer in the shade NW25. I get this a little lighter than my skin tone, so it can double as a highlighter. The Beauty Blender is a perfect way to apply this using the tip of the sponge. This concealer is amazing! 

A new item I picked up is the Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle cream? concealer? I am not sure the intention, but I use this over my concealer, also in a lighter shade than my foundation and concealer. I have dark circles - I have tried more water, more sleep, you name it, but they remain. I had them as a kid, as well, so it's just something I need to deal with. The verdict is not quite out and I am not sure if I will continue to buy this once it runs out or not. 

Next to last, I set my foundation and concealer with a light dusting of Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation. I use my Bare Minerals Precision Face Brush to apply (another post on brushes to come!) and it sets it beautifully! This will be a Mary Kay item that I will continue to purchase.

Lastly, I use Urban Decay's De-Slick Mattifying Powder to do a final set, so that I do not get any break through shine in my T-zone during the day. I have only used this for about two weeks and I REALLY want to try the Porefessional Agent Zero Shine when I am out of the Urban Decay stuff.

Whew! Yes, that is my foundation routine. Surprisingly, it actually takes me less than 10 minutes to do! My next post is what I do next when applying my makeup - contouring and blush!

XoXo 

        

Beauty Bloggin'

        Something changed this past January. I turned 29 years old and I realized that I have one year left of my twenties and I should really try to take better care of my skin. After nearly two years of debating whether or not I should buy a Clarisonic, I finally gave in one day, got in the car and drove to Ulta, one of my most favorite stores, and made the big purchase! It was one of those spur of the moment, but not really kind of purchases! I haven't regretted it for a second!

Let me tell you a little about my skincare routine, both morning and night . . . 

I purchased my Clarisonic during a promotion, so I got the travel bag and  full-sized cleanser for free! Bonus!! I picked up the two boxes of replacement heads on Groupon a few weeks ago for only $25 for a box of two! Score! If you purchase the replacement heads individually, I believe, they are $27 each. That is pretty spendy, hence the reason I wanted to stock up - four heads for $50 is unbeatable! The recommendation is that you replace the head every three months. I use my Clarisonic both morning and night. In the past, I have never, ever, been a person who washes their face twice a day, but I do now!!

 

Let me tell you a little bit about my skin . . . 

I never, ever had problem with my skin until my mid-twenties. I did not have skin problems as a teenager, although I tended to be a little oily in the T-zone, but nothing major. Suddenly, my skin began to breakout like crazy! So bad, in fact, I actually went to the doctor to seek a referral for a dermatologist. I didn't get the referral, but I did get a prescription for a topical gel and acne lotion. I still do not know the reason for the sudden shift in my skin, but it is what it is, so I just deal.  

   

  Here is what I use daily/weekly to cleanse my face. I use the purity from Philosophy daily- twice a day. I love it! You can find this online, Nordstrom, Sephora or at Ulta! The 16oz bottle will run you $35. I have never used a cleanser that takes my make-up off SO easily! It smells so organic, slightly medical and clean! I recently picked up the total matteness also by Philosophy as a weekly mask. It can also be used as a daily cleanser, but I prefer it just once a week. It's great for oil control and reducing the appearance of pores. 

      

                Here are a few other items I use from time to time. The Clarisonic cleanser is the one that came free with my Clairsonic and it is alright, but it gives hydration, which my skin doesn't need! ;) I really like the two Clean & Clear scrubs and I will probably repurchase when those run out. The Neutrogena I picked up awhile ago on a whim. The grapefruit smell is not my favorite, so I probably will not purchase that one again. I don't think it's good to use the same thing all the time, so I will most likely always keep a few items for my face. 

Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover $15 

After all my eye make-up is removed, I use Mary Kay Blemish Control Toner to clean my face once again before I moisturize. Mary Kay has actually discontinued the formula I have used for over 16 years! Boo! But, I ordered in their replacement product, so I am going to give that a try. Honestly, the Clarisonic works SO well, the toner is really an unnecessary step, but I like the "tightness" on my face after using it. 

NEW! - Mary Kay Clearproof Blemish Control Toner 

My final skin care step is to moisturize! At night I use a prescription topical gel followed by pure benzoyl peroxide. I tried to stop using it awhile back, but my skin issues just flared up again, so I have to use it. Just once a day does the trick though! During the day to combat my oily T-zone I use the Triple Performing Moisturizer by Benefit. This is something I have only used for a month or so, if that, so I am not not 100% sold on this product.... yet! It is pretty spendy- $34 I believe for this bottle, which is very tiny, so we'll see!  It smells AMAZING, makes my skin so soft and the bottle is darling, which is a huge plus!!

Now that I have spent all this time writing this post, I am thinking to myself, "Why would anyone want to read this?!?" LOL Oh well! My next post if going to focus on my foundation routine! I also plan on posting about contouring, eyes, lips, brows and brushes! 

XoXo