Back At It - Requests

::peers out from computer screen:: I have been gone from this community for way to long and I think it's about time I become active again! The last time I made a post was way back in November. I was working part time in retail while I was in between jobs and I had so much more free time than I do now. I began a position in NY around the beginning of December. The commute takes about 1.5 hours out of my day so by the time I get home I have missed out on all the good sunlight for natural light photos. 

I have also began the search for a home to purchase so you can imagine I am doing my best to cut back on spending, even on beauty related items :( 

I have  revived my Twitter and Instagram accounts though and have posted on both of those outlets frequently in the past couple of weeks so please follow be on there if you do not already!

I definitely want to get back into blogging, even with my limit stash growth! I have already drafted a couple of posts - I just need to photograph the products before publishing them. I would love to hear from you guys, who, by the way, are amazing for even sticking around - I truly thank you for that!

Feel free to reach out to any of my accounts and leave comments and requests listing post you would like to see from me.

Hope you guys are having an amazing summer!

Rave: Cream Highlighter

I have been avoiding using more than one powder product on my face this fall. If I go into powder bronzer, powder highlighter and powder blush it is just way too much and too drying for my skin! Today I'm going to talk about a product brand that is never really mentioned in the beauty community because their makeup isn't that luxurious or quality. However, my friend just started selling Mary Kay and I purchased a product that I actually ended up LOVING. It's a facial highlighting pen from Mary Kay that is the same concept as the YSL Touch Eclat and MAC's Prep n Prime pen. Now, I do not own the TE or Prep n Prime so I cannot comment on their similarities or their dissimilarities. 

The Mary Kay pen comes in 4 shades. I wear shade 2 which is a neutral shade. Shade 1 is more peachy, shade 3 is peachy pink and shade 4 is a very deep luminous brown shade. The Mary Kay Highlighting Facial Pen has a click brush applicator. Normally I find this trait in a product annoying but after the first use you get plenty of product disbursed after just a couple of clicks. 

The highlighting pen is meant to lift shadowy areas of the face and make your skin tone brighter and more luminous. I have seen many reviews where people use this exactly under their eyes and have issues with it settling into fine lines but that is not what this product is for. I use this in a number of areas on my face including down my nose and on my cheekbones and right under my dark circles. I apply it right from the pen and blend in with my fingers. This is a sheer product and is really easy to blend

Nars Sheer Glow No Highlighter:

Mary Kay Highlight and NYX Cream Blush in Tea Rose:

As you can see from the photos the highlighter gives the skin a nice glow from within and really pretty pearlescent appearance. 

This is a really nice highlight if you are getting into the cream highlight/contour kick that is really popular right now. It retails for $18 which is a little cheaper than the Mac Prep n Prime and significantly affordable compared to the YSL so if you wanted to try out a product like this it is a good one to test drive before you shell out all that money!

Do you have a favorite cream highlighter! Share your favorites 

Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm

I received a small sample of the Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm in a Birchbox a while ago and used every last bit of the stuff! I loved it so much that I purchased a tube (.66 oz) because I spotted it at the sample cart near the registers at Sephora. 

Dr. Jart+ claims that this product covers blemishes and evens out skin tone while calming blemishes or irritation. The BB cream contains caviar extract and other antioxidants to protect the skin from pollutants. It also contains Arbutin which is a skin lightening agent to help cover dark spots on the skin. This product does contain SPF 25 so keep that in mind if you are going to be photographed! Another positive is that this product doesn't have any strong scents. The garnier BB cream has a really strong chemical scent that is not so nice!

I love this for when I don't want to use a medium to full coverage foundation but want a product that will blur my acne scars and even my skin tone out. I find this to be light coverage but very buildable while still feeling light weight. The texture of this BB cream is really lovely and it blends effortlessly. I find I only need a nickel side drop for my whole face which is nice because it appears as if I am not wearing anything at all on my face. (Side note: I still use concealer and set my face with my Mac Mineralized Skinfinish Natural).

The one aspect of this product that may be a problem for some is that it is one shade. The formula is meant to adjust with your natural skin tone. 

Overall I think this is a really nice product if you want a little coverage but still are looking for a fresh, clear face. 

Have you tried this BB cream?

One Layer:

Two Layers

Fall Essentials: Skin Care (Boots, Origins, & Clinique)

Happy Hump Day! As promised, I am bringing you my favorite skin care products I use during the fall (and winter) seasons. For the record, my skin is normal to dry during this time of year. I am clog prone but have found a couple of amazing products to get rid of my pesky clogged pores (cellnique skin action sebum gel and one that will be mentioned in this post)! My skin care routine doesn't really change in the winter but there are a few products I add to assist with making my skin look healthy and hydrated. 

First, I use the Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask whenen I feel like my skin needs a boost of moisture. The product itself is a peachy pink and white thick and creamy consistency. I use 1-1.5 pumps to cover my face and then maybe add just a little more to extra dry areas. Very few things irritate my skin but this is a hypoallergenic mask so if you experience irritation, this mask is one to try. I normally don't use this every week but it can be used on a weekly basis for 10 minutes at a time to give your skin some extra moisture. When I rinse this off with warm water it literally melts off the skin and leaves my skin with a beautiful, hydrated and soft texture. 

When my pores seem to be extra clogged I use the Origins Clear Improvement Mask. This mask is really great for any time of the year but I especially like this in the winter time. I used to use Clinique's Step #2, the toner, when my skin was not cooperating but I found that to be a bit drying. This is a charcoal mask so it does get hard and a little uncomfortable as you keep it on but the mask is not drying whatsoever. It dries to a clay like consistency and attacks what ever dirt is in your pores and helps give your skin a clearer appearance. I use this 1-2 times a week OR I use it as a spot treatment if I have any pimples or breakouts.

And of course I couldn't do a fall essentials post for my dry skin without  a moisturizer. I use Clinique's Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer every night and I feel like this makes such a difference in my skin. My skin doesn't quiet glow the next morning but it looks very even, smooth and healthy. The moisturizer promotes cell turnover so I am left with fresh, new skin cells which is why I don't even feel the need to apply much foundation the next day. When applying this after washing my face at night it does feel thick in texture but ask it sinks in it gives your skin a nice smooth feeling. I always apply my moisturizer while my face or hands are still a bit damp. This helps the moisturizer sink into the skin, rather than just sitting on top of it. Before purchasing this I read many reviews with ladies of all skin types so I think this would be a great product no matter what your skin type.

What skin care products do you especially love in the fall?

Wantable Box

Recently, I was contacted by a monthly subscription box compamy called Wantable. Wantable offers not only  beauty boxes, but jewelry and intimates as well. Wantable sends full size products (sometimes valued at $80 or more), not sample sized. 

I had seen a couple of the reviews prior to me being contacted and I was really excited at the chance to receive an accessories box!  I have so many makeup samples as it is and accessories are something I enjoy collecting as well. After taking a style quiz I was pleasantly surprised when I received my box. In it came 3 items - a scarf, a necklace and a ring (that to my surprise actually fit well). 

The ring I received was a gold mesh ring - very similar to the Tiffany's mesh ring that I used to have in silver! The mesh ring is stiff and does have the flexibility like the Tiffany & Co. ring does. It's a very simple and wearable ring for an every day accessory.

The necklace I received is a statement piece with a thick gold chain and 5 various rectagular and square pieces. There are also little diamond studs in the center of each piece. I love accessorizing plain black t's with this necklace as shown in the photo.

Finally, I received a scarf which I was thrilled about. Scarves are essential during the fall and winter time. The scarf I received is a black and white patterned scarf that has a combination of cheetah and zebra print throughout. Again, I am all about simplistic t's and tops that I can accessorize with a scarf like this one.

To purchase a Wantable box you can go to their website  https://www.wantable.com/. Single boxes can be purchased for $40, or you will receive monthly boxes for $36 a month. It is one of the pricier subscription boxes but you are getting full sized products!

What are your thoughts? Your you subscribe or purchase a wantable box?

Fall Essentials: Cosmetics

Hello Ladies! My apologies for not updating as much as I would like. I am in the middle of searching for a new job OH and catching up on Scandal :)

While it is not yet feeling like October over here on the East Coast yet, I can't help but begin to fall in love all over again with my autumn  essential beauty products.

During the fall months I really like to play up my eyes and use shadows that are going to bring out my blue/green hues. There are a few shadows that really exaggerate the green in my eyes. I really love cranberry shades during this time of year. I always use Mac's Cranberry but NYX makes a great dupe called Rust. In my opinion,

cranberry shadow is a must have for anyone with blue or green eyes and looks great paired with gold shadows in the crease. 

I also love deep bronzier shades during this type of year. My favorites are Woodwinked and Bronze my MAC. On lighter skin tones like myself (NC20) Bronze is a bit more dramatic than an everyday neutral bronze. 

Woodwinked is another great eyeshadow choice for the autumn months because when it is applied to the lid it appears as a beautiful bronze shadow with some orange tones that pop much like the leaves during this time of year. 

On my lips I always have my Mocha Rose Lip Balm. I found this in my local beauty supply store but CO Bigelow's balm is very similar. It is a vaseline type texture and moisturizes the lips very well.

Benefit's Full Finish Lipstick in Lady's Choice is the perfect nude for me in the fall time. It is very much so "my lips but better" shade. Lady's choice is a pink nude with a touch of brown, giving it a very neutral appearance. The formula is amazing - very rich and creamy. Is is very glossy so a lipgloss is not necessary when wearing any of the Full Finish lipsticks by Benefit. 

For a more vampy lip I always reach for MAC's Rebel. Rebel is a fuschia/merlot berry shade with a semi shine finish. I love this because it's not the most extreme bold but definitely enough for that 'vampy' effect.

If I'm looking to add a gloss over my lipstick or by itself Baremineral's Buxom Lipgloss in Dolly is a nice muted plum shade. These lip glosses are known for the tingling sensation on your lips once applied. The gloss is supposed to plump your lips but it does not have that effect on me. If your lips are insensitive to tingly sensations and that menthol feeling you will love this lipgloss - the shade is beautiful and it contains a little bit of shimmer as well. (swatch posted below. 

There are a couple of blushes in my collection that exude fall to me. One is Pallido's baked blush in Choc-au-lait. This is a beautiful auburn shade. That sounds a little bit scary when describing a blush but on my NC 20 skin, it really warms up my face and gives it a glow from with in appearance. You only need a touch of the brush because a little goes a long way! The pigmentation is very impressive and the lasting power is great for such an inexpensive blush.

Another blush I am a fan of during the fall is Milani's baked blush in Berry Amour. This is a soft berry shade with pink, rose, and gold veining throughout so it's not a harsh berry shade when mixed all together. There is some shimmer in this blush and it can be a little chunky but it just takes some blending for that to dissipate.

To add a bit of glow to my skin during the dry months I use MACs Cream Color Base in Hush. Hush is a nice pink champagne color that makes your skin come alive when applied to the cheek bones. It is a tid bit difficult to work with but as you warm the product up with your fingers is becomes easier to blend.

Finally, I am adding a base to this post because it really gives off a dewiness to your skin that is much needed in the dry air. I am talking about Tarte's Marajuca Creaseless Concealer. When I apply this to my under eye area I look so refreshed and awake. It brightens and adds a natural looking sheen. I have a full review and swatches of Tarte's concealer here.

I am definitely going to be doing a fall essentials series - within the next couple of weeks I will share my essential nail polishes and skin care products for fall :)

What are your fall beauty must haves?

Sigma Brush Haul and Review

A couple of months ago I was itching to purchase some new makeup brushes and ultimately went the the Sigma brand. Sigma has created a great amount of buzz in the beauty community and I really wanted to try out a few of their products myself. I ended up with a few face brushes and a couple of eye brushes. 

 F84 Angled Kabuki: Not that I needed another foundation brush, but what I DID need was an angled dome shaped kabuki foundation brush. Sigma's F84 is dense angled brush with soft synthetic bristles. I love using this to apply and buff liquid foundation into my skin. Prior to using the angled bush, I always used a flattop foundation brush but I find I like this so much better. I never have an issue with streaking when using this brush. I always end up with a very even distribution of product on my face. The angle also makes it easy to get into the tinier spaces on the face like under the eye and around the nose. When I am in a lazy mood, I always use the angled tip to blend my under eye concealer as opposed to using my fingers. 

Sigma F55 Small Duo Fibre: Out of all the brushes I purchased, this one does the least for me. I thought I would get so much use out of this brush for foundation, cream blush, pigmented powder blush, highlighter. The bristles are extremely sparse and 'floppy.' When it comes to applying product to face, the bristles just go limp and it does not make for an even or effective makeup application. Because the bristles are not at all dense, it's very hard to blend out product. I would definitely reconsider if you are going to purchase this brush and go for a brush with more bristles. The only product I like using this brush for is very shimmery highlights - it only picks up a little product to apply so you don't look like you over did it on the shimmer. 

F35 Tapered Highlight: This brush is really great for both contouring and highlighting. The tapered tip is great for applying bronzer to contour and the base is wide enough so you can angle the brush to blend out the bronzer so you don't end up with a harsh line. I also like using this brush to set my under eye concealer with a powder. The one negative about this brush is that the hairs are not as soft as I thought they would be. 

E60 Large Shader: This has become my new favorite brush for applying my all over lid color. The bristles are very soft and it's wide & long enough to cover a large portion of my lid at once.

P86 Precision Tapered: This is a great brush for applying concealer. I use this most of the time to grab product from my Mac Studio Finish Concealer and dot around my problem areas. It doesn't really blend out too well when it comes to spots but it does a nice job at getting around my nose area and blending concealer out in the hard to reach areas. 

Those are all of the brushes I purchased and my thoughts on them! 

Leave me a comment with your favorite brushes or ones you think I should check out!