Finding a Skincare Routine for Me: Updated Skincare Routine

I have always struggled to find a skincare routine that felt like it was working for me. It took a lot of me learning about my skin, trial and error, and discovering my skin type. I am lucky that I do not have to deal with blemishes or acne scaring. My skin, however, is very dry; dry to the point where if I do not immediately put on moisturizer, the area around my mouth will turn ashy. It is a problem that I deal with every winter and it has been a frustrating experience to deal with.

Recently, I changed my skincare routine and people have definitely noticed a difference. I have gotten many compliments on how healthy and glowing my skin looks and it is all thanks to my No. 7 Skincare items, Mario Badescu facial spray, and my Paul Mitchell Marula Oil Treatment that I have been using for the past few months.

For my every day routine, I stick with four key products: No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser, Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, Paul Mitchell Marula Oil Treatment in the light formula, and my No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream.

These four products have really made an improvement on my skin. The gel cleanser starts as a gel and then turns into an oil as you rub it into your skin, adding moisture while removing any buildup that may have accumulated through the day. The facial spray just adds a refreshing boost of moisture that I can continue to use throughout the day if I feel my skin is getting dry. I keep a mini version in my purse if I need it on the go. The No7 Day Cream is a great moisturizer that I use for day or night because it really helps to add the finishing touches on sealing in the moisture that I put back into my face.

The Marula Oil was a surprising product that I recently started using, since I had originally purchased it for my hair. I was using it on my extensions to give my curls a boost without having to curl my hair again and it worked really well. However, when I took my extensions out, I felt like it was too light of a formulation for my transitioning hair. I started using it on my face right before I put on my moisturizer and it just really helped to lock in moisture that I felt like I had been losing during the winter months.

Two other products that I use when I need a little something extra are the No7 Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator and Hydration Mask. The exfoliator is great at exfoliating my skin and helping to bring back brightness after a long week. I use it once a week to get any dead skin cells or impurities that have built up over the week. The mask is a wonderful mask that really helps to add an extra boost of moisture for my really dry skin days. The texture is something that you would need to get used to, as it kind of feels like glue when you apply it to your face; however, it does an excellent job at retaining moisture.

They have really helped me out during the winter months! Here is a makeup free selfie to show you how great it is!

 I really suggest trying some of these products if you have really dry skin like I do and see how they work for you. 

Just Call Me Dionne: 90’s Inspired Makeup Look Featuring Naked Smoky

Good Afternoon!

This weekend, I rocked this makeup look and god so many compliments on it while I was at work that I wanted to recreate it for a post! I have been obsessed with the Naked Smoky palette and my ColourPop Ultra Matte Lipsticks lately. The smoky neutrals and bold dark lip colors make me crave autumn so badly that I find myself just doing fall makeup looks regardless of if I am melting outside. This is a very easy makeup look that combines shimmery shadows with matte lips and a nice winged liner. I hope you enjoy!

For my base, I have been doing the same routine that I normally do, but for this look I used my Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer to highlight under my eyes, down my nose and t-zone, on my cupid’s bow, and on my chin. This concealer is great for really brightening up my face and making me look more awake.

The eyeshadow look is so simple for a nice neutral smoky eye look. I love the shades in the Naked Smoky palette so much and I feel like you can do so much with this palette because of the versatility. I started by using Combust (a matte tan shade) as a transition color all over my lid. Then I used Dirtysweet (a shimmery goldish tan shade) all over the lid over Combust. In my crease I used Radar (a shimmery dark gold shade) to add depth to my eyes. In my outer corner and on my lower lashline, I used Whisky (a matte chocolate brown shade) to give that beautiful smoky look. Whisky is my absolute favorite shade and the reason I keep picking this palette up every time I do my makeup. It is the most beautiful chocolate brown that I have ever seen. Finally, to highlight the inner corners of my eyes, I used High (a shimmery pale peach shade).

Winged liner is not my strong suit, but with practice I have been able to make a liner routine that works for me. Using my Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, I draw a little triangle in the outer corner to make the wing, and then fill it in only to the middle of my eye. Then using a black kohl liner, I draw the rest of the line in and also fill in my upper water line to make my lashes look thicker. I followed that up with the Benefit Roller Lash mascara, using the wand upside down because that is the only way I like to use that mascara.

When I make mistakes with my winged liner, the quickest way for me to correct it is to grab my Simple Micellar Water and a Q-Tip and wipe away the problem area. It is the fastest way to correct the problem while keeping your makeup intact, so don’t fret over those little liner mistakes!

Last but certainly not least, I finished the look with my ColourPop Ultra Matte Lipstick in Limbo to give that perfect 90’s lip color. All I need is a pair of Doc Martens and flannel to really set the 90’s mood.

This look is a perfect look to transition into the fall weather and even into winter. I cannot wait to continue to rock this in the upcoming months. I hope you enjoyed this post and have a wonderful day and I will see you Wednesday with a new post!

Matte Lip Madness: ColourPop Ultra Matte Lipsticks

Mars, Tulle, Creeper, Limbo, Zipper, LAX (left to right)

Good Afternoon!

I had been looking for a new brand of affordable lipsticks to try out because, as much as I love my high end makeup, I cannot always afford to shell out the money for those products. I decided to get my hands on the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipsticks as soon as they came in stock. I tried to grab colors that I knew I would wear and would work on my darker skin tone. I know what colors will work for my complexion and try to avoid bright or lighter colors that will make me look washed out. I picked six colors, valued at six dollars apiece, which brought my total to $36. That was not a bad price for lipsticks in my opinion, seeing as though I shelled out a nice chunk of change for the Esteé Lauder lipstick. I chose mostly colors that I would wear in fall since the seasons will soon be changing and I tend to wear more lipsticks in the fall and winter than summer. Each color was unique, which I loved and I cannot wait to play around with them.

Zipper, Mars, Creeper, Tulle, Limbo, LAX (left to right) 

IN DEPTH OF THE SIX SHADES

Tulle was my second favorite of the lip colors that I tried. I loved this shade as soon as I saw it on the website. When I saw it swatched, I immediately thought that it would make a lovely peachy nude color that wasn’t too brown. The pink undertones make it look so feminine and perfect for a simple, girly, natural makeup look for an everyday face. The lipstick applied very smooth, the smoothest of the six and was the least patchy. Since it was so similar to my natural lip color, I was not able to really tell if you could see my natural lip color underneath.

Limbo was my absolute favorite of the lip colors that I purchased. In the tube, it looks like a light brown, but it applied to a deep, chocolate brown as soon as it hits the lips. I was initially shocked when it came out of the tube so dark and I thought I had grabbed the wrong lipstick, but it was really that dark and I was so enamored by the color. It applied with no patches and left an even distribution of product across the lips. One coat worked fine for me to get that intense, dark, matte brown color.

Mars was my least favorite of the six, simply because bright pink is already out of my comfort zone. It applied patchy it took multiple coats for me to get a visible color in the center of my lip. I felt like it kept wiping away every time my bottom lip touched my top lip.

Creeper was a shade that I felt you will need a liner for because, like Mars, it took multiple coats to get a visible color in the center of the lip.

Zipper was the shade that I had the highest hopes for because it reminded me of Heroine by MAC. This was my second least favorite of the six because the color payoff was not as high as I anticipated. It applied really patchy and took a lot of coats for it to look purple. I showed a picture to my friend and she said she liked it because it gave a fuschia ombré effect to the lip, which is nice, but I was really looking forward to the bright purple lip.

Last, but not least, LAX was the shade that I got the most compliments on. I kept it on for a few hours to see how it lasted and it lasted a very long time. No wear, unless I went to drink something and my lips got wet, but even then it wasn’t too bad of wear. LAX was buildable and bold, which I like in a lipstick and it did not leave my lips feeling too dry. I really liked this color a lot and felt it would look amazing in the fall.

Overall, I liked the lipsticks because I feel like when paired with a good liner, they will do wonders. I would recommend them to anyone under that condition only. The staying power for these lipstick was insane. Once they dried, they were completely matte and were not going anywhere. There was no clinging to dry patches, which I find happens with a lot of matte shades. They were pigmented, if you built them up to be and lasted for awhile. Getting them off was a struggle though, so I recommend that if you are to wear one of these shades, you should be positive that it is the one you want to wear all day and are willing to take the time to remove at night.

 I can’t wait to see what makeup looks I can create around these colors. Thanks for reading and I will see you next week with a new post!

Rough Morning to Great Day: How I Feel Better After Waking Up In A Funk

This morning I woke up feeling sick, tired, and really down. I had been having a bad weekend because of my anxiety and I just felt exhausted from the stress. Then I started thinking of things that I did not like about myself and I stopped and wondered, why am I doing this? I need to get out of this funk and boost my self-esteem and my mood. Here are some tips for how I get myself out of a bad morning and into a happy day.

Have a personal mantra.

On days where I feel like it’s going to be a bad day, I try to not fulfill the self-fulfilling prophecy of a bad day and repeat to myself “I’m going to have a good day.” Lots of people think that I am joking when I do this, but it really gets me through days that are stressful. Saying that to myself helps me to not make a big deal about little things that go wrong and look at the big picture. This is a good day because I’m still alive, I’m still healthy, and I have people who love me.

List two physical traits you love about yourself and three mental/emotional traits you love about yourself.

I love my eyes. I love my weird chicken pox scar on my cheek. I love that I am creative. I love that I am passionate about my relationships with my loved ones. I love that I am a survivor.

Reminding yourself about the things you love about yourself can really help you to not focus on the negative and see how great of a person you are.

Do a project that makes you happy.

For me, cleaning out and organizing my closet is a Zen experience. I work in retail as a merchandiser, so I love to organize clothes and make presentations out of clothing. Some days, tackling my wardrobe and makeup collections really help me to stay calm and collected when I feel like the world is crashing in. Then I can take the items that I know I am never going to wear and donate them to someone who could use them. It’s a good way to give back while also helping you to calm down.

Talk to someone who makes you smile.

I have wonderful people in my life that can lift me up whenever I am feeling down. Knowing who to talk to that will help get you through a rough day can help you feel like everything is going to be okay. Realizing that they love you and do not see you as a burden may be hard, but obviously if they are here and are helping you then they care and want to see you feel better.

Splurge on something.

I say splurge in a loose sense. I do not mean spend a ton of money on something, but if you want to spend the day playing the Sims or watching Netflix, splurge on that. If you want to eat your favorite meal that you know isn’t the healthiest but it makes you happy, splurge on that. If you want to buy yourself a present that is a little pricey, but you can afford it and it will not cause you to be broke or prevent you from attending to responsibilities, splurge on that. You deserve something nice every once in a while and you deserve to be happy.

Today is going to be a day of projects and splurging and I am already feeling better thinking about it. I hope everyone is having a lovely day and I will be back on Wednesday with a new post for you!

Monthly Favorites: July 2015

Good Afternoon!

Today I would like to share a few of my favorites from this past month, some of which will not be a surprise if you have read my previous posts over the past few weeks. This month, I have a few products and videos that I loved and would love even more to share with you. So let’s get into it shall we.

PRODUCTS

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer.

This product has left my skin feeling so moisturized and plump. I never knew what a good moisturizer was until I discovered this. It is pricey, but it is worth the price tag in my opinion.

Clinique All About Shadow Single Shadow in Black Honey (as a bronzer).

I wouldn’t have thought to use this as a bronzer until the nice woman working in Ulta suggested it to me. After I told her my troubles of finding a bronzer for dark skin, she showed me this and it changed my life. Finally, I can add life and depth to my face and keep it from looking so flat.

The final three are three that I have raved about countless times, so here are the blog posts for those!

Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Restless

Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Sugar Scrub

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Emerald Sparkle (250)

VIDEOS

Ombre Sunset Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial by Jaclyn Hill

5 Favorite Outfits: July by Amelia Liana

I watch YouTube videos nonstop, but those are the two that really stuck out to me this month.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and that August brings you lots of joy and good vibes. See you in the next one!

The Morning After Detox: Skincare and Makeup Recover for a Rough Night

Good afternoon!

This post was inspired after, to be blunt, having an extremely bad hangover and also having a sad night. When recovering from a hangover or a sad night, I like to take some time to indulge in things that will help my skin and body recover.

The best way to lift your mood after a rough night is to put on a good playlist or radio station. I either like to use Grouplove Pandora or 90’s Pop and Alternative Pandora. Either one makes me so happy that I can’t help but dance and sing along. Next, you have to add some life back to your skin. Bringing life back to my skin is a four step process: cleanse, detox mask, toner, and moisturizer.

SKINCARE AND SHOWER

My go to cleanser and toner are the Body Shop Vitamin E Cleanser and Toner. My detox mask is a new purchase that I will be writing a review on soon. It’s the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask. I like to add that to my face and let it sit for about ten minutes while I hop in the shower. 

In the shower, I like to use a fragrance that makes me happy, so therefore I will chose anything apple scented. These Bath and Body Works products smell amazing and fill the shower with an amazing scent that just fills my heart with joy. After the showering and cleaning the mask off of my face, I like to follow up with my toner and my new Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer. After doing this, my face feels refreshed and awake.

MAKEUP AND HAIR

As for makeup, I always like to go for something light, but something that makes my skin look refreshed and happy. I rarely wear contacts after a rough night, so I always do a minimal but brightening eye look since I will most likely be wearing my glasses. Contacts are rough on my eyes and I only wear them for special occasions or big night outs. After using a light base of Complexion Rescue, I use my BareMineralsStroke of Light Eye Brightener that literally highlights under my eyes and makes me look so awake and well rested. You cannot even tell that I can was up all night and did not have a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of my concealer.
But it has been featured in older blog posts and I will link to those.

Something that always cheers me up is using a new product that I have recently purchased. A big purchase that I made recently was the new Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette. I have been using this palette all weekend to make dramatic or every day looks. I also love using my Kendall Jenner lipstick because a bold lip just makes me feel like I tried.

Recently, I have taken up wearing wigs because it is so easy to get ready with them. I pull my hair back under a wig cap and throw on my favorite wig to make me look like I put so much effort into my hair. It looks really nice and natural.

Finally, throw on your favorite outfit and take on the world! It is easy to stay in bed and wallow in sadness or sickness, but sometimes you have to get up and get out. Doing this always helps me to feel so much better about going out after a rough night. How do you like to get refreshed after a rough night?

I hope everyone is having a lovely day and I will see you Wednesday for a new post!

Products used:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleanser and Toner

Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask

Bath & Body Works American Apple Shea and Vitamin E Shower Gel

Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Sparkling Snowflake Scrub

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer

Elf Studio Eye Refresh

The Body Shop All-In-One InstaBlur Primer

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Chestnut

BareMineral’s Stroke of Light Eye Brightener in Luminous 4

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep

Clinique All About Shadow Single Shadow in Black Honey (as a bronzer)

the Balm Instain Blush in Swiss Dot

Urban Decay Naked Smokey Palette (Combust, Whirlpool, Thirteen, and High)

Tarte Gifted Amazonia Clay Smart Mascara

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

My New Pop Of Color On The Lid

I have always been one to shy away from color on the eyes. For the longest time, the most color I would do would be a muted pink on my eyelids, but recently I had a desire to branch out and experiment with more color. This is a goal of mine for the year. I have gotten so used to my makeup routine, so I am trying to bring more life into my makeup routine and switch it up every so often.

My new favorite pop of color for the lid has to be my Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in the shade Emerald Sparkle (250). It is so gorgeous on the lids, especially if you have brown eyes and/or a darker skin tone. The turquoise shade sits beautifully on the lid and the sparkle is just enough to make you look awake without looking overdone. I love popping this on when running errands, going to work, or grabbing dinner and drinks with friends.

Swatch of Emerald Sparkle

The formulation of this eye liner is amazing. It glides on very smooth with absolutely no drag and is very pigmented on the lid. The color absolutely pops, especially when I wear my glasses. I am a lazy gal when it comes to my makeup products, so this self-sharpening eye pencil is amazing for a girl on the go. I would recommend this eye pencil for anyone who is looking to add a pop of color to their look without going overboard.

It also looks great with a pop of color on the lips as well. I have tried wearing this look with a purple lip and a coral lip (below)  and the results were grand! I can’t wait to try more liners from this Rimmel range because if they are all formulated as well as this eyeliner, I will definitely be loving them.

Top 5 Life Changing Products

I got into the makeup game pretty late because I always felt like makeup didn’t work for me. I had a hard time finding the right products that gave me the “WOW!” factor and it was pretty disappointing buying a product only to end up being very let down by it. However, these five products made me believe that there was hope for a girl like me struggling to learn about makeup and how to make it work for her.

I’ll show you how each of these products have helped me to create a great go-to makeup look. Any other products that I have used, I will mention at the end but the main focus is these life-changing five products.

Bare faced and ready to go!

bareMineral’s Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

I got this product in the sampler back in 2009. I successfully made it last for a while because a little bit goes a long way with this baby and contrary to popular belief, I don’t wear makeup every day. I loved how it made my skin look so effortless, airbrushed, and FLAWLESS. I always got compliments on my skin because it evened everything out and just added such a lift to my dull skin. I solely use bareMinerals’ foundations because they do such a wonder for my skin. It’s so lightweight that it literally looks and feels like you’re wearing nothing on your skin and it just looks like your skin but better.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

Do I need to explain? Never have I had nice looking brows until I tried this. I tried pomades, but they made my brows look too fake and dark. This pencil adds the perfect amount of color to make my eyes look bold but natural. I have also never had my eyebrows done (waxed, threaded, plucked, etc.) so it is easy for me to fake a tamed looking brow now.

Foundation and Brows

e.l.f. Essential Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer in Sheer

Never did I know that eyeshadow could look glorious on my skintone before using this primer. I always had the problem of shadows never looking pigmented enough, but when I swipe this baby across my lid it really changed my confidence in wearing eyeshadow. Eyeshadow primer is a must, especially because I recently discovered that I have oily eyelids. You should have seen that creasing! I’m never going without my primer again.

e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Black

This product taught me how to do my winged eyeliner to the highest of fleek. Did I use that right? I don’t really care if I did or not because that’s how I feel about how my eyeliner looked. This liner has great staying power and I miss using it every day like I used to. I was never a liquid liner person so I tried this gel liner and it really helped me learn to do a feline flick. Also this liner is three dollars so how can you not try this liner to learn to do a feline flick?

Eyes primed and my gel liner on

MAC Lip Liner in Chestnut

I finally got my first MAC lipstick last year maybe and I absolutely loved it. It was in the shade Touch, but the thing that made me love it the most was the lip liner I used. I was solely using my Chestnut liner with the Touch lipstick, but then I had a brilliant idea; why not pair this liner with other lipsticks that are a little too light that you wasted money on Keyerra? Low and behold my favorite lipstick pairings were born. This lip liner has changed how I feel about nude lipsticks. It had helped me to create great lipstick looks without looking like my lips are made of ash. I always get compliments when I pair Chestnut with my Laura Mercier lipstick mentioned in this post. It is the perfect nude.

Lined the outer rim of my lips and it looks a little weird.

And this is the finished look. These products have really shaped the way I do my makeup and give me a really fresh looking face. My love for beauty has really grown because I found products that have helped me make makeup work for me and my style and that is a very important thing I feel.

Other products used:

The Body ShopAll-In-One InstaBlur Primer

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Chestnut

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer in Dark

L’Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Plumper in Medium to Dark

Clinique All About Shadow Single Shadow in Black Honey (as a bronzer)

the Balm Instain Blush in Swiss Dot

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette  (Limit, Nooner, and Blackheart)

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Spiced Rose

Weekend Travel Makeup Bag

This weekend, I attended the SweetLife Music and Food Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Now, I know that I am very local, but I ended up staying with a relative so that my friend and I could be lazy and not have to travel as far. I decided that I needed to pack a small makeup bag so that I could quickly put my face on for this hot, sticky, sweaty day in the sun.

Packing a travel makeup bag is very difficult for me, but I took one of my favorite blogger/Youtuber’s advice and packed my bag while I did my makeup to ensure that I only packed what I needed and did not forget anything in the process.

BASE & FACE (IN ORDER OF APPLICATION):

The Body Shop InstaBlur Primer

BareMineral’s Complexion Rescue in Chestnut

BareMineral’s Stroke of Light Eye Brightener in Luminous 4

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony

L’Oréal Brow Stylist Plumper in Medium/Dark

Bare Mineral’s Tinted Mineral Veil

The Balm Instain Long Wearing Blush in Swiss Dot

Elf Eyelid Primer in Sheer

NYX Glam Shadow Stick in Elegant Marble

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Stag

Tarte Gifted Amazonia Clay Smart Mascara

TOOLS:

ELF Cosmetics Complexion Brush for Mineral Veil

Real Techniques Blush Brush for Blusher

Tarte Eyelash Curlers for these lashes

Makeup Bag from Old Navy

As a backup, I brought my Naked Palette in case the gold NYX shadow did not live up to expectations, but it did so I did not need to resort to my go-to gold Half Baked. For my base and shadow, I blended it out with my fingers so that I could cut down on the number of brushes needed. I decided on something simple for the festival because it was very hot and there was a possibility of rain. My look held up for the entire day and I was very excited about that. 

My Obsession with American Eagle Outfitters

Growing up, I wanted to be like all of the other popular girls in school who wore American Eagle, Hollister, and Abercrombie & Fitch. I went to far as to have an American Eagle credit card that I used to spend on my desire to fit in. As I got older, I started developing my own sense of style and shunned all of those brands because how can you be original wearing that? Abercrombie was just too expensive for not that great of clothing and once I saw a nine year old wearing the same Hollister hoodie that I was wearing at 20, I decided to throw in the towel. However, AEO has always held a special place in my heart.

AEO is very great for building your wardrobe from the ground up. They offer such a great selection of sturdy basics. Their "Soft and Sexy" range is amazingly comfortable. I often find myself stocking up on so many tees because they are indeed very soft and I feel sexy wearing them. How can you feel sexy in a striped v-neck you may ask? Because the shirt says that it is sexy and I believe it.

I feel like AEO has changed dramatically with how it presents itself. The clothing is very well made and worth the money. I have had many of my layering tanks since high school and they are still holding up. My favorite shoes are my brown leather AEO flip flops that I have had for years, comfortably broken in and effortlessly stylish without even trying.

If you are looking for a store that can provide great building blocks for developing your own sense of style, I would definitely look into AEO. There is so much that you can do with what they provide.

And don't get me started on their underwear line Aerie. I solely wear Aerie underwear and bras because they are that great.

New Me, Nume Hair Set

Sorry for that terrible pun, but I just could not help myself.

Although I am not a mother, I treated myself to this glorious Nume Hair deal that they were running on their website for Mother’s Day. This deal included the Titan 3 Hair Wand that comes with 3 barrels (19mm, 25mm, and 32mm), the Megastar Hair Straightener, the Signature Dryer, AND their White Truffle Shampoo and Conditioner. All of this was values at $605, but with the coupon code, I was able to receive all of these goodies for $199. That’s absolutely amazing considering that the Titan 3 is $199 on its own!

I got my lovely new hair styling tools in turquoise because I wanted to try something bold. My go to would have been black, but the turquoise is so lovely. I am very excited to use these products on my new sew-in weave and cannot wait to do a full review. I can say that the curling wand gets very hot and tells the temperature in Celsius. I may or may not have burned my shoulder at 180 degrees Celsius (around 350 degrees Fahrenheit). I have used the White Truffle Shampoo and Conditioner on my hair after I took my sew-in out and it left my hair feeling very clean and nourished. The smell isn’t too bad either. I am very happy with those two products.

The deal is still running for the next few days so definitely take advantage of this great deal!

The Nude, the Vamp, and the Red Lip

Sorry for the lack of a post last week. Things have been pretty crazy with my doctor’s appointments, family engagements, and work. But I am back this week with a post for all of those who fancy a chat about a pop of color on the lips.

Lip color is such a fun thing to do! Sometimes, I’ll pop on some lipstick just for the fun of running into Target when I know that I shouldn’t. For me, I have three go-to style of lip color that I will wear: the nude, the vampy, and the red. My favorite would have to be the vampy even though I only break it out on a special occasion. I’ll show you my two go to colors for each of these looks in order of the swatches above.

THE NUDE

MAC Touch paired with MAC Chestnut Liner

This nude the definition of nude in that it matches my skin tone to a T. I had been on the hunt for the “perfect nude” for a while with no success. I wanted a color that looked natural, but did not make me look washed out. When the kind lady at the MAC counter suggested I try this on, I was blown away by how much I loved the color on. I was so obsessed; I wore it every day for a good two weeks. Now, although this does not look very natural, it is my favorite go-to “nude” lip. I love this lip paired with a neutral eye look. It is such a bold nude lip that is so different, yet so gorgeous. I have gotten many compliments on this color and I just love it.

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Spiced Rose paired with MAC Chestnut Liner

When I first got this lipstick, I think I was enamored by the fact that it was Laura Mercier and did not pay attention to how much it actually washed me out. I felt bad for not liking it when I got home because it was a gift from my best friend and I had claimed that I loved it on so much. This lipstick had been sitting in my makeup bag for months before I thought, why don’t I try this with a brown liner? Low and behold my life changed. I absolutely adored this lip color once I applied a brown liner to help blend the color. It looks absolutely marvelous on.

THE VAMPY

MAC Smoked Purple

OH. MY. LORD. This is my all-time favorite lip color ever. End of discussion. My best friend mentioned above had purchased this and I was so in love with the color on her, I had to buy it for myself. Whenever I am in the mood for a dark lip, I immediately grab this. It looks great with a purple smokey eye look or with no eye makeup at all. It steals the show and makes me feel like a vampy goddess the Spice Girls would be glad to sing about in “The Lady Is A Vamp.” Yes, I referenced the Spice Girls when talking about my most beloved lipstick.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Shameless

First of all, Revlon, how is this a balm? This is so pigmented, it should be a lipstick. I love this balm so much because it has such a high color payoff and is still so hydrating, yet matte. I don’t understand how it works, but it does the job. This was my go-to vampy shade before I discovered MAC’s Smoked Purple and I still will sometimes choose it over Smoked Purple when I want something a less dark, but still just as bold.

THE RED

Nars Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

I received this lip pencil as a sample size as my birthday gift from Sephora and, wow, this blew me away. I had always seen Anna of Vivianna Does Makeup rave about the Nars matte lip pencils and had been dying to try them, so when I saw that that was my birthday gift, I ran to my nearest Sephora and picked it up. It is so lovely and rich in color that it has instantly become a favorite of mine in the short month that I have had it. I definitely plan on purchasing the full size. It is not as bright as my Stila liquid lipstick but it gives that brilliant red that instantly reminds you of the infamous Cruella de Vil. What a beauty it is on!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

I had always been looking for the perfect red lipstick to put on on days where I felt I needed an extra boost. One day, I received my BirchBox and there it was staring back at me. This liquid lipstick is amazing. It’s so pigmented and gorgeous and makes me feel like I can light up the whole room. It’s a very bright red that steals the show and really makes your lips pop. It is a matte lipstick, which is how I prefer my lip colors, but it doesn’t feel drying. I rarely need to touch it up because it really does stay all day. This is my all-time favorite red.

When I’m not throwing on a little balm and running out of the house, you can bet that I will have one of those six shades on. What are your favorite lip colors to rave about? I’m always looking for a new shade to purchase.

I hope everyone has a lovely week and I will be back next week with a new post!

Monthly Favorites: March 2015

This has been the winter of me trying to combat the lack of moisture in my skin. It has been absolutely terrible this winter and I felt like there was nothing that I could do to help it. Luckily, I had made some purchases and received some gifts that have really helped out a lot. This has also been a month of me remembering how much I love Drake and discovering new hobbies!

BEAUTY FAVORITES

My Moisture Restore Combo: The Body Shop Vitamin E Starter Kit & Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter

This duo has helped my skin so much this winter. The Vitamin E Starter Kit comes with a gentle facial cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. I use all three daily and it has helped add so much moisture to my skin.  Now, unfortunately the Vitamin E Starter Kit that I had purchased in store is not available online; fortunately for everyone, myself included when I go to repurchase, the Vitamin E Starter Kit that I did find comes with an additional item that I had not received, which is a night cream.

When I finish, I add my Vaseline to my lips either prior to applying my makeup or just because. It is the only product aside from Carmex that actually keeps my lips hydrated. I am so grateful to my dear, dear friend for buying that for me after witnessing my struggle of having chapped lips this season. I love to prep my lips before applying a bold lip color by exfoliating then applying my Vaseline. It really helps for the color to pop and not stick to dry patches.

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

This has been the best product that I have found for removing my makeup, even waterproof liquid liner and heavy duty mascara. It is amazing how fast and efficiently it can remove my makeup without a trace. The only thing that I don’t like about it is that it leaves my skin feeling a little too oily, but that is easily fixed with my Vitamin E gentle facial cleanser that I use immediately after the oil. Also, I do not like how whenever I type "camomile," spell check thinks that I have no idea what I am talking about.

NON-BEAUTY FAVORITES

“If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” by Drake

Do I really need to explain? Drake is bae and I cannot stop playing this record. I listen to it all day every day. "Jungle" is by far my favorite track on the album, but I love every single track. I’m attending a Drake themed birthday party this weekend and I am hoping that this is played on repeat the entire time. Pictures with Drake balloons will be taken.

Blogging

I have loved blogging the past few months since starting AWT with my friends and TITK as a solo venture. I know that I only post once a week on this blog and once a week on my other blog, but I love the feedback that I get from friends, family, and readers. I like being able to talk openily about my interests and share my love for so many things. I was so nervous to blog because I thought that I would not be taken seriously or people would think that I was wasting my time, but the support has been great and I am so grateful. It’s really nice and I cannot wait to see how the blogs grow over the next year and so on.

I do not have a lot of favorites this month simply because everything that I have been using this month are things that I always use and have been using for years. I am trying to branch out and try new products that will hopefully become new favorites to rave about. I'm excited to see how my favorites change next month!

Minimalist Everyday Makeup

I’m a minimalist for everything in my life, especially when it comes to my makeup. That was one of the main reasons that I wanted to start blogging. I found it hard to find POC bloggers who did not put so much effort into extreme highlighting and contouring and focused more on a simple, wearable, every day face. Sometimes a simple base and eye look is just what you need to really make your face glow. I thought that I could help out other POC who are not too into very extravagant makeup looks and opted more for a minimalist look.

My every day makeup look is bare bones neutral everything. I may do a pop of color with the lip, but my base and eyes stay the same most days, unless it is a special occasion or I feel like trying something new.

BASE

I typically stick to my bareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in Bare Espresso and bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener  in Luminous 4 for concealer. I have been using bareMinerals SPF 15 Mineral Foundation in Medium Dark (or Golden Dark in summer) since 2009. I have never used another foundation since because I felt like if it wasn’t broke, why fix it? I opted to switch to the liquid foundation because I trusted the company but wanted to try something new. I recently purchased their Complexion Rescue and am excited to try that for a while and give a review. I set my face with bareMinerals Tinted Mineral Veil. That is my go to setting powder that I have never strayed from.

I do not to any highlighting or contouring, simply because I have yet to find a bronzer for my skin tone that will add warmth to my face. Also, I’m afraid that if I do a highlight it will be too shiny. Any tips or suggestions would be great. I am still in the market for a good minimal contour, bronzer, highlight routine.

My go-to every day blusher is theBalm Instain blusher in Swiss Dot. It is so super pigmented, so a little bit goes a long way. I just love the flush of color that it gives to my cheeks. I recommend that to anyone who loves a nice peachy glow on your cheeks!

EYES/BROWS

For brows, I use my Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony and set that with Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep. I recently purchased L’Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper Gel Mascara in the shade Medium to Deep as a dupe for Gimme Brow, so I hope that goes well!

My eyeshadow, I keep very bare bones and basic. I use the shades Naked on my lid and Buck in my crease from my Urban Decay Naked Palette and my Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara for my lashes.

LIPS

For lips, I normally just use Vaseline to give my lips some moisture and then touch them up throughout the day with whatever lip balm I have thrown in my bag. I only do color on special occasions and for that I love a vampy dark lip.

I'm excited to try these new purchases. I will have a full review on how I feel about them as soon as I try them!

How My Lashes Became Smart and Gifted

Back in November, I purchased the Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara. Whew, what a mouthful! I am in love with this mascara. Let me just tell you how this changed my entire life. This formula is amazing and it gives my lashes just the perfect amount of feathery goodness that is perfect for an everyday look or a night out look. This mascara gives such definition and volume that I constantly get compliments on my eyelashes, and immediately after I say my thank yous, I rave about the product and tell people to buy it. The packaging is absolutely beautiful. It comes in a bamboo barrel and the brush is so simple and thin, but does the job perfectly. I just love it and I wear it every time that I wear makeup. I would recommend it to anyone really.

Why is this mascara so smart and gifted? According to Tarte's website, the mascara is said to work with your lashes to give you extreme length and volume, while also promoting healthier lashes in the long run. The eco-friendly formula uses no harsh chemicals and helps to build strong lashes over time with continued use.

The only downside to this mascara is that it does hurt the wallet a bit. The retail value of this mascara is $20.00, but it is so worth it, in my opinion. However, if you want to just sample it, Ulta sells a mini travel size Gifted mascara for $10.00! How lovely is that? It really is great and it has transformed my makeup look over the past few months. I have also noticed a difference in my lashes! I can’t wait to try more from this brand because it is beginning to become a favorite of mine.