MY FAVORITE NAIL POLISHES

I'm one of those girls who paints their nails twice a week. (I know, crazy). I just love changing it up with my nails all the time. My collection of nail polish has gotten pretty out of control which is fine with me. The following are some of my favorite nail polish colors!

SEPHORA BY OPI: MERMAID TO ORDER

I have loved this color for YEARS. It's a gorgeous metalic blue/green that looks holographic on the nail. Absolutely gorgeous. No matter how many nail polishes I try, I always come back to this one. It's so unique and different - I've never found a nail polish quite like it.

ESSIE: PLAYDATE

This color is so fun. It's a gorgeous lilac color that's so pretty for Spring/Summer. This is a newer color in my collection but it didn't take long for it to become a favorite. 

MAYBELLINE COLOR SHOW: CHIFFON CHIC

LOVE this color. (It's the pink, not the accent nail). TIP: Make sure you use a top coat: this nail polish chips really easily.

CHINA GLAZE: FOR AUDREY

This is a true Tiffany's blue color which is one of my favorites. I love love love this polish and China Glaze makes awesome quality polishes. TIP: Wet n Wild's "I Need a Refresh-Mint" is a complete dupe for this color.

REVIEW: AUSSIE 3 MINUTE MIRACLE

I have long, damaged, dry hair. I am constantly looking for miracle products that are going to help fix my unfortunate mane. I purchased Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle for around $3 about 2 months ago. It's a decent product that doesn't break the bank.

PROS

• Price. There are so many high end expensive brands out there which I really cannot afford. My hair is important to me, but I'm not going to spend $100 on a product that I don't even know will do anything. This product is so cheap that it's a steal for what you are getting.
• Smell. I loooove the scent of coconuts. This product definitely has a strong coconut smell and I absolutely love it. I wish the smell would last longer in my hair, but unfortunately by the time my hair dries it is gone.
• Results. I don't use this product often, probably once every two weeks or so. I don't like using deep conditioners every time I shower just because I feel like it weighs down my hair. I have definitely noticed that my hair is a lot softer/shinier after using this product. I can't stop touching my hair after I use this and even my boyfriend noticed how soft it was as well. I think if a guy notices something like that, then this stuff does pretty good! 

CONS

• Packaging. Unfortunately, the packaging is a let down. There is no cap on the product, you just squeeze it and the product comes out of a hole. This is kind of annoying as water can easily get into it and water it down if you aren't careful. Also, it's probably going to be hard to get the product out when there isn't much left of it.
• Miracle? No. Yes, I love the way this makes my hair feel after I finish using it in the shower but it's definitely not a miracle. My split ends are still visible and it hasn't really made my hair feel stronger by any means. 

CONSENSUS

This product has made my hair softer and look healthier but it hasn't done much besides that. I think it's a good deep conditioner to use once in awhile but I think there are definitely better options out there. I didn't expect this to really be a miracle product but I do like the smell and think for the price you can't really complain too much!

REVIEW: L'OREAL TRUE MATCH LUMI FOUNDATION

Once again, I've been MIA! I just moved into a new place and it has consumed my life. I want to try to update this blog at least twice a week so let's see how this goes!

I love trying out new foundations so I picked up L'oreal's True Match Lumi Foundation. After seeing a youtube beauty guru use it in one of her tutorials, I was sold. It made her skin look absolutely flawless and gave her skin an airbrush affect. I've been experimenting with it for a month now and I'm pretty pleased with the results.

PROS:

1. It has a great pump. I love when foundations actually have pumps on them because it controls how much of the product comes out and it doesn't waste any. 
2. Blendability. This foundation blends so easily that you can use your fingers or a brush and you still can get great results. I prefer using a flat top brush as it makes it super easy and fast to blend this foundation on the skin.
3. Air brush finish. I've never used an airbrush system for foundation but I feel like this can give the equivalent results. I love the finish it gives my skin: it's not completely matte but not overly dewey. It makes your skin glow and look healthy.
4. Buildable coverage. I like a full coverage foundation and this is definitely buildable. You can use a little and have a light-medium coverage but you can also build it up enough where concealer is not really needed.
5. Lasts all day. You can't go wrong with a foundation that remains put for the whole day. An occasional touch up with powder and this foundation is good to go for full wear.

CONS:

1. Watery. When you pump this foundation it comes out quickly and quite watery. I prefer a foundation that's a bit thicker as this one is quite runny. 
2. Oxidizes: After sitting for awhile on the skin, this foundation actually gets a shade or two darker from when you first put it on. I'm not a fan of this as my skin is fair and I purchased one of the lightest colors. This is a pretty large con for me as I hate when my foundation doesn't match my skin tone. It also looked a bit orange to me as well when this happened.

CONSENSUS:

Definitely not my holy grail foundation but it's pretty good! I think the fact that it oxidizes pretty intensely may be a reason why I would not re-purchase it. I do love the flawless finish it gives my skin though.

MAY FAVORITES!

I just realized I haven't posted on my blog in almost two months. I guess life just gets the best of you sometimes! Life has calmed down a little bit so I will for sure be posting more frequently again. :)

Since I haven't updated in awhile, I'm going to do a May favorites post about my current favorite products! I feel like whenever I go grocery shopping I tend to pick up a few beauty products along the way. The following are my current favorites for this month!

FOUNDATION: Foundation is a must for me always as I have hyper-pigmentation as well as a very rosy complexion. I am currently trying to use up the rest of my Cover Girl 3-in-1 foundation that I mentioned preciously as I don't like wasting make up. As I've said before, this isn't my favorite foundation (check my previous review). My favorite foundation currently is Revlon's Color Stay Whipped foundation. Absolutely love the consistency of this foundation and it gives great coverage.

CONCEALER: Still loving my Hard Candy heavy duty Glamoflauge concealer. I use it every day - even when I don't wear foundation. I will admit it's quite heavy and a little bit goes a long way. It's perfect for those days when I don't want a full face of foundation.

LIPSTICK: I really loving Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten lipstains. I have the colors Cherish and Sweeatheart. Absolutely obsessed with these. The colors are beautiful for Summer and they really do stain your lips. TIP: These are a little drying so I usually apply and EOS lip balm over them.

LEFT: CHERISH      RIGHT: SWEETHEART

MASCARA: Maybelline's the Rocket Mascara is a great drugstore brand mascara that boosts eyelashes and make them look full. This is definitely going to be a repurchase for me!

HAIR PRODUCTS: I've been using Dove's Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner for a few months now and I love it. This system makes my hair feel so soft and healthy. It's supposed to significantly help visible split ends as well as prevent them. I can definitely tell a huge difference in my hair since using it.

REVIEW: NYX BUTT NAKED EYES PALETTE

NYX is a great brand with quality products for a reasonable price. I have several products by them and when I saw this palette I was like OMG, I need it. 

For around $25 you get 15 eyeshadows PLUS 4 blushes, a bronzer, and two highlighters. I was so hyped up for this palette but unfortunately I was disappointed. 

THE EYESHADOWS: These shadows are SO CHALKY. The pigment of them is poor with or without a primer underneath. Once placed on my eyelid, they were invisible. They were also hard to blend and basically useless. As you can see by the swatches, they barely even show up on my hand.

With flash

Without flash

The only upside to this palette are the blushes, highligher, and bronzer. They are actually pretty pigmented! The blushes are really pretty and wearable shades while the bronzer is great for contouring. The two highlighters are also great and very pigmented as well.

The bronzer looks kind of orange in this lighting but I promise it's not!

CONSENSUS: 

This palette definitely has its ups and downs for sure. I'm not a fan of the eyeshadows and don't think I will ever be using them unfortunately. I know NYX has good quality eyeshadows as I've used them before but for some reason they're slacking in this palette. I do like the blushes and have used them quite frequently as well as the bronzer and highlighters. So I guess this palette wasn't a complete waste for me but at the same time it is kind of disappointing! 

UPDATED REVIEW: COVERGIRL OUTLAST 3-IN-1 FOUNDATION

So I've been using the Covergirl Outlast 3-IN-1 foundation for a little bit now and I'm sad to say my feelings for this foundation have changed drastically. Let me tell you why..

1. COVERAGE: I think I was a little jaded when I first reviewed this foundation. I thought it was full coverage but it really isn't. Maybe it's because now I have more break outs thanks to this foundation? Yes, this foundation has broken me out. I didn't want to believe it was the foundation so I continued to use it then soon realized it didn't cover any acne/redness on my face at all. It almost looked as though I had put a BB cream on my face. I had to use concealer in order to cover any blemishes.

2. LASTING POWER: Without a little extra help from concealer, this foundation begins to fade throughout the day. I've never had that problem with other foundations before. I don't know why. It seems as though this foundation like really sinks into your pores. (Possibly the reason for causing my break outs?)

3. THE FOUNDATION GETS DARKER? Yes, the foundation gradually gets darker as it sets into my skin. So much for taking all that time out to pick the perfect shade I guess? I feel like as the foundation sets it gets a shade or two darker from when I first apply it. It's awesome if I would have gotten a color too light for my skin tone but unfortunately that was not the case.


RE-CONSENSUS: 
My bad. I pretty much just contradicted everything I said in my initial review of this foundation but I felt the need to correct myself. I guess that goes to show you should actually use a product consistently for awhile before reviewing it lol. I was just so taken aback by how great it was the first time I applied it until now where I'm not happy with it. My main issue is that it has broken me out which sucks for me because I don't just get one little pimple I get a TON. I think I am going to try out a different foundation that I've heard some hype about so stay tuned!

HOW TO: Get long, healthy, hair

I don't know what it is but I feel so much more confident with longer hair than I do when my hair is shorter. I've always loved having long hair and I absolutely DREAD going to get my hair cut. I have grown my hair out several times: the longest it has been was almost to my butt and currently it's about halfway down my back. Here are some tips that I've discovered that have helped the health as well as speed up the process of growing my hair.

1. ELIMINATE HEAT: Well obviously this is a no brainer. Heat products are extremely damaging to your hair and can cause split heads which makes your hair look unhealthy and actually shorter than it really is! I try to use the least amount of heating tools as possible. I rarely use a hair dryer and stick to using curling irons and flat irons for limited occasions. Seriously, this can help significantly for the health of your hair. ESPECIALLY, if you're trying to grow it out. (If you do use a lot of heat products, ALWAYS make sure to use a heat protectant. Be generous with it because this is the barrier between your actual hair and the heat).

2. STAY AWAY FROM BLEACH: Do not, I REPEAT, DO NOT, bleach your hair. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way the affects that bleach can have. I got the under part of my hair bleached blonde almost a year ago and my hair is still seeing the affects of it. All of my hair that was bleached is unhealthy and has broken off to the point where my hair that is underneath is shorter than my hair on top. Weird, I know. Thankfully, it's only underneath my hair. It's been a process trying to rejuvenate the hair that was so damaged from the bleach. In general, stay away from over processing your hair. It really really takes a toll.

3. USE A DEEP CONDITIONER: I feel like my deep conditioner has saved my hair. I use one from TRESemme and it has done wonders to bring life back to my hair. I use it about once or twice a month and it leaves my hair feeling soft and healthy.

4. TAKE BIOTIN: I researched a lot about the vitamin biotin before purchasing it. It's amazing for hair growth as well as good for your skin and nail growth. I've been taking it for about a month now and I can see a huge change in my hair. It feels thicker and stronger than it did before. I'm not sure about hair growth though - I haven't been taking it for long but if I do see any progress I will definitely post about it!

5. SLEEP WITH YOUR HAIR DOWN: I'm guilty for sleeping with my hair in a pony tail or bun at night. The problem with this is the hair tie can pull your hair out at night and it is also suffocating to your hair. I know I've woken up in the morning seeing a few stray hairs on my pillow and I realized that since I move around so much at night without realizing that my hair was being pulled at the same time.

6. DON'T WASH YOUR HAIR DAILY: When you wash your hair every day it eliminates the natural oils in your hair that helps it become healthy and grow. I used to wash my hair every day because I thought it looked oily but now I wash it around every 3 or 4 days. I've noticed a huge difference in my hair: build up is eliminated, my hair doesn't get as oily as it used to, and my hair just looks healthier and shinier. (Still shower daily lol just avoid washing your hair).

7. GET YOUR HAIR TRIMMED EVERY 6 WEEKS: The best way to eliminate split ends from ruining the process of growing out healthy hair, make sure you are getting your hair trimmed. I'm guilty of not doing this but it seriously makes that much of a difference. I've actually taught myself to trim my own hair so it's cheap. There are plenty of tutorials on youtube that make it easy to trim your own hair. I've also noticed that my hair looks longer when I trim it more often (weird, right?)


I hope some of my tips helped you guys out! I'm no expert but I do love having long hair and try my best to keep it healthy. :)

IPSY MARCH GLAM BAG REVIEW

So it's that time of the month again to review the wonderful wonders of the Ipsy glam bag! Some good, some bad, some I don't know if I should cancel my subscription. This bag was okay.

THE BAG: Thank you, Ipsy. FINALLY. The bag actually has a cute pattern. I'm digging the nautical/spring break theme. I love the sailor print. The quality is the usual. I'm pretty sure I broke the zipper when closing it the first time but it's okay!

LA FRESH MAKE UP REMOVER WIPES: Cool. I can always use some make up remover wipes. They're cute and pink and travel sized. Besides that, they're just your average make up wipes. Nothing special about them. You could probably find similar at your local dollar store.

GLAMRX MINI FREESTYLE PALETTE: Love this! It's a cute palette that you can add little eyeshadows/blushes etc. that are magnetic on the back. It has a cute mirror in it and it's definitely great for travel. I really like the idea of this!

YABY EYESHADOW REFIL: I received two mini eyeshadows to go inside the GlamRx palette. The two colors I have are Sand Dune which is obviously a sandy color and So Vein which is a green/teal color. I was excited about the green eyeshadow since St. Patrick's day is this upcoming weekend! Unfortunately, the eyeshadows aren't that pigmented and are actually kind of chalky. I can work with them though. A good primer may help.

JUICE BEAUTY HYDRATING MIST: This is a good size mist that I guess it used to hydrate your skin when it's warm outside. Well, it smells like ass. Sorry for being so blunt but even my boyfriend told me I smelled like a grandma after spraying this (lol). I think that's pretty much self explanatory. If a guy notices it smells bad, then it really does.

CONSENSUS:
There were definitely some hits and misses in this bag. Honestly, I don't expect this company to please everyone all the time. It's impossible. Personally for myself, I don't know if it's worth the money anymore. I don't use the majority of the products I receive so it's kind of waste. It is definitely awesome for trying out new things though which is why I'm kind of on the fence! We will see what next month holds and then I think I will decide whether to stay or unsubscribe!

MY FAVORITE ELF PRODUCTS

Elf has quickly become one of my favorite brands for two really good reasons: 1. it's CHEAP and 2. it's good quality! Elf can be found at Target but I usually just order from eyeslipsface.com since they have everything on there and it's free shipping. The following are my current favorite products from Elf.

1. EYESHADOW PRIMER: I've heard from many reviews that this primer is a dupe for Urban Decay's Primer Potion. I completely agree: this eyeshadow primer does great at eliminating creases and prolonging wear of eyeshadow. It's such a steal for $3!

2. EYESHADOW IN SOCIALITE: I'm absolutely in love with this color. It's a gorgeous plumy shade and if you love sparkly eyeshadow this is definitely perfect. It's so pigmented and it makes my brown eyes pop. I haven't tried it wet yet but I'm sure it will be even better. These shadows come in a bunch of colors too which is awesome.

3. CONTOURING BLUSH AND BRONZING POWDER IN TURKS AND CAICOS: I've heard this is a dupe for Nar's blush and bronzer duo and it totally is. The packaging is almost identical and the quality is great. I love the bronzer for contouring. It's a matte brown which makes it great to accentuate cheek bones.

4. MAKE UP REMOVER WIPES: These are cheap make up remover wipes that makes my life a hell of a lot easier. I can be lazy sometimes when it comes to taking off my make up and these do a great job and removing all face and eye make up as well.

5. SHIMMERING FACIAL WHIP IN LILAC PETAL: I've heard this is a dupe for Benefit's high beam and although I've never tried the high end brand I've seen swatches on youtube and this is exactly the same. Except... it's only $1. I love putting this on my cheek bones. It's such a great highlight.

6. FACE BRUSH: Love this brush to apply powder, blush, bronzer, EVERYTHING. Great quality and it blends everything perfectly.

7. MAKE UP MIST&SET: I love this for setting my make up. It ensures that my make up stays on all day and I've definitely noticed a huge difference when using this. It keeps my make up in place and makes sure my foundation continues to stay full coverage which I love.

8. EYELINER PEN: The felt tip on this eyeliner makes doing a winged look easy, even for people who suck at doing winged liner (like myself). I've used so many different eyeliners to do the wing affect like gel, mechanical, pencil, etc. and this is the only one seriously that makes it so much easier and actually look good!

REVIEW: NAKED PALETTE

The first question I asked myself before getting Urban Decay's Naked Palette: Is it worth it? The answer is YES. Yes, it is. For $50 you are paying for twelve quality eyeshadows that are extremely versatile. You can use this palette in the daytime for a softer look or at night for a dramatic smokey eye. Oh, and the bonus: this palette also comes with Urban Decay's well known eyeshadow primer potion and a great eyeshadow brush as well.

I use this palette very frequently and have had it for over a year now. I haven't even hit pan on any eyeshadows yet (almost on half baked though: a gorgeous shimmery gold shade). I love how this palette has shimmery shades as well as matte. I love using the shade Virgin as a brow bone and inner corner highlight. The shade Naked is great as a transition color for the crease and I love using Sin for a lid color. 

If you prefer cooler toned colors, I'd go for the Naked 2. If you're like me and you prefer warm tones then definitely go for the original Naked palette! I know $50 seems like a splurge but trust me: this is such a staple in my make up collection. I can't tell you how many eyeshadow palettes I have and I'm constantly reaching for this one!

REVIEW: MAYBELLINE THE ROCKET VOLUME MASCARA

I cannot begin to tell you how many mascaras I have tried over the years. I am constantly trying out new mascaras and new combinations that will boost the volume and length of my lashes. I LOVE Maybelline mascaras and I think they are the best drugstore options out there. The Rocket Volume is one of their newest and I am in love.

PACKAGING: Um, ADORABLE. Maybe I'm a little biased because pink and blue are two of my favorite colors but I am obsessed. It is a pretty big tube which is a pun for the name, but I love it.

THE WAND: The wand actually kind of reminds me of the wand that is in Benefit's They're Real mascara. There are a lot of mini bristles and it's a pretty decent size wand. It does a great job at making sure the lashes are separated, not clumpy, when applying.

THE RESULTS: This mascara leaves my lashes voluminous as if I were wearing false lashes. Although I like to combine different mascaras, sometimes I will just wear this mascara alone. That's how good it is. Honestly, one coat does the job but if you're looking for that false lashes look then for sure 2-3 coats is optimal. 

CONSENSUS: 

This is a MUST HAVE in your mascara collection. The formula is great, the wand is perfect, and it does a great job at making lashes look awesome. Although my favorite mascara was Maybelline's the Falsies, I'm pretty sure this one has it beat!

MY SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR ACNE SCARRING/BREAK OUTS

Unfortunately, I was not blessed with great skin. I envy those who can walk out of their house without some extra concealer or powder! In my teen years I struggled with acne which has now carried into my adult years with the ever so lovely acne scars or hyperpigmentation. It seems like whenever my face breaks out a lovely dark mark decides to stay for awhile. Here is my current skincare routine that has worked for me to eliminate acne and scarring as well.

LOREAL GO 360 CLEAN: I love this face wash for several reasons. It doesn't break me out. It's cheap and it comes with an awesome scrub tool for your face. I use this face wash to remove my make up (which by the way it does a great job at this!) The scrub tool is amazing at removing clogged pores and any dry unwanted skin on my face. This face wash makes my skin feel extremely refreshed after using it.

CLEARASIL ACNE+MARKS FACE WASH/MASK: I don't use this every day because it's an extremely strong formula that can make my face feel dry if used as a daily cleanser. Once a week, I put this on my face in the shower and let it sit on there for a minute or two. I feel like this face wash has definitely helped with eliminating acne as well as lightening my acne scars. 

CLEARASIL ACNE+MARKS SPOT LOTION: I've been using this spot treatment for a really long time and I love it. Although it is a spot lotion, I pretty much just use it as a toner all over my face. The only thing I don't like about it is the extreme smell but honestly I do think it has helped my skin tremendously. It has helped lightened acne scars as well as redness.

NEUTROGENA ON-THE-SPOT ACNE TREATMENT: Best thing ever. My face doesn't break out as bad as it did in high school but occasionally I do get a pimple here and there. I usually combine this spot treatment with the Clearasil when I break out and it dries up the breakouts in literally a day. 

I am no dermatologist but this is what works best for my skin. Acne scarring is annoying and I've found the best way to eliminate it/clear it is by making sure that you take your make up off every night and allowing your skin to breathe.

REVIEW: COVERGIRL OUTLAST STAY FABULOUS 3-IN-1 FOUNDATION

I was due for a new foundation so while shopping yesterday at Target I picked this up. I'm a devoted viewer of beauty videos on YouTube and I have been constantly hearing rave reviews about this foundation. I was kind of skeptical as I have always used Revlon foundations but decided to give this a try since EVERYONE was raving about it.

Just for reference: I have dry skin opposed to oily and have heard this foundation works great for both skin types. I purchased this foundation in the shade buff beige. It wasn't too difficult to color match unlike Revlon's Color Stay Whipped foundation which is also a foundation I really do like a lot. I recommend holding the foundation up to your wrist which is what I did and I think I color matched pretty well. (This foundation was $9.50 at Target).

ANYWAY, AMAZING foundation. Seriously. Definitely my new favorite and I will give you some reasons why:

1. This is a medium-full coverage foundation. Personally, I like full coverage as I've said previously I have acne scarring. This foundation does exactly what it says: it woulds as a primer, concealer, and foundation. What other foundation can do that?

2. I didn't need to use concealer. It saved me so much time to just put the foundation on without having to worry about blending out concealer too. My acne scars were covered amazingly: no need for the concealer I normally use which is such a plus.

3. Blended amazingly. I don't think I've ever used a foundation that was so easy to blend. I used a flat top brush and I feel like it took seconds and I was done. (Also a little bit goes a long way!)

4. It stayed on my face. All day. I went to work and came home and looked in the mirror and my face still looked great. No acne scars or redness peeking through.

5. THE PUMP. It makes applying foundation SO much easier. I like being able to control how much product I use opposed to the Revlon foundations where I would always pour out too much and waste a lot of it.

CONSENSUS:
MY HG FOUNDATION! I hate to say it but this foundation for sure beats out my Revlon Color Stay foundations. So if you're looking for a great foundation that can be built up to full coverage: I definitely recommend this.

TOP 5 FAVORITE HAIR PRODUCTS

So I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. It's way too thin and gets knotty so easily. It keeps curls well and grows quickly. I can never win. Here are my top five holy grail products that work for me!

1. My favorite shampoo EVER is of course way too expensive for my liking. Redken's All Soft Shampoo is probably one of the best shampoos I've ever used. It's worth the money, I swear. I've never used a shampoo that made my hair feel so soft and healthy. I don't wash my hair every day and this shampoo still keeps my hair soft for 2-3 days after washing. It's no miracle product: it doesn't eliminate split ends but if you have chemically damaged hair like myself, I highly suggest shelling out the money for this.

2. I cannot begin to tell you how tangled my hair gets, it's insane! Dove's Therapy Detangler works miracles. It doesn't make my hair greasy even though I spray heaps amounts of it when I get out of the shower. It smells great and definitely helps detangle my hair. It's cheap too which is always a plus.

3. TRESemme Heat Tamer spray is amazing for so many different reasons. It works great at protecting my hair but not only just that. My hair is dull and flat and I feel like this heat tamer gives my hair more body and keeps it straighter for longer if I use a flat iron. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy.. but I've had people tell me my hair looks different/awesome when using this stuff. It also smells awesome and the packaging is perfect for what it needs to do. Another cheap hair product I could not live without!

4. TRESemme's Rejuvenating Mud Masque is something I've been using for years now. Once or twice a month I like to really give my hair a deep conditioning and this is what I always grab. It smells amazing and a little bit of it goes a long way. It makes my hair feel refreshed and extremely soft. I don't like to overuse it because I've noticed my hair gets used to it if I use it more than once or twice a month.

5. Last but not least, a wide toothed comb! I know, random. But seriously- I love used this when I get out of the shower. It doesn't pull out my hair like a paddle brush does and I feel like it helps get knots out easier. Mine is from Sally's Beauty supply and it was like 2 bucks!

IPSY: February Glam bag REVIEW!

So I've been MIA for a little bit but I'm back with another Glam bag review! I feel like this month's Glam bag was eh. Definitely not my favorite and I'm kind of starting to consider canceling as I've noticed that I don't really use all the products I get each month. It's only 10 bucks but still.. I'd rather use that 10 bucks towards a product I know I like.

THE BAG: Not a fan at all. It's like a fake pleather material that just FEELS and LOOKS cheap. I've been with Ipsy for four months now and this is by far my least favorite bag. One of the things that drew me to Ipsy was the cute bags their make up samples came in. Prior to subscribing I saw bags with cute designs and since I've been subscribed (November) every bag I have received has been boring and plain.

COASTAL SCENTS MINI PALETTE: Out of everything in the bag this month, this is my favorite product. The shades I received are wearable and extremely pigmented. I only did a few swatches but I was definitely pleased with how great these shadows are. BUT this sample is EXTREMELY small. I was shocked to see how small it really was. Still, it's a product I can actually see myself purchasing in a full size in the future.

LASH CARDS: Cool concept, DOESN'T WORK. These lash cards are supposed to block mascara from getting on your eyelid when applying. Awesome idea since that's a major problem I have whenever I apply certain mascaras. The thing is - it's a fail. I used one and still got mascara on my eyelid. I thought maybe I was doing something wrong but after watching a few of the guru's who endorse Ipsy use these lash cards and end up with mascara on their eyelids as well, I realized they're not good.

PIXI FLAWLESS AND PORELESS: This is like a face primer that I'm pretty sure you can find at Target. Awesome because I love drugstore products that are affordable. I can always use a face primer!

POP BEAUTY MASCARA: Just your normal, average mascara. I have other mascaras that work way better but it's okay.

MICABEAUTY GEL LINER: I don't really use gel liners (I've tried before but I prefer felt tip/pencil) but this is a really good one. The consistency is buttery and it slides on really great. It's dark and perfect for winged eyeliner. I can see myself occasionally using this.

CONSENSUS: 
I really hope Ipsy steps their game up a little bit or else I may cancel. I feel like the bag could have been so much cuter with it being Valentine's Day.. so I'm hoping next month we actually get a printed bag. I'm sick of the mascara's we keep getting: I have way too many. I do think Ipsy is better than a lot of other subscription services out there but I feel like something is missing. I'd love to get a lip stain, blush, or any Urban Decay products. I guess we will just have to see about next month!

IPSY: JANUARY GLAM BAG REVIEW

I've been subscribed to Ipsy's Glam Bag service for three months now and I just received my January Glam Bag yesterday. If you don't know what Ipsy is, it's a beauty subscription service that sends you 5-6 deluxe sample/full size products once a month for a $10 fee. I've been pretty satisfied with the products as they really pay for the bag itself. It also gives me a great opportunity to try out high end products that I may have not purchased before due to the price. (I'm broke lol)

This month we received a Big Sexy hair spray, Nailtini nail polish, Josie Maran argon oil, Soho brush, and a Pacifica body butter.

THE BAG ITSELF: Eh. It's a flimsy navy blue color with a star pattern on the inside. I wasn't too thrilled with this bag as it just felt cheap to me. I was also kind of disappointed that we received yet another plain bag. I've seen in previous months before I was subscribed pretty patterns on the bags such as multi-colored stripes, a chevron pattern, flowers, etc. I'm hoping next month they go back to the patterns because I'm getting kind of tired of the plain! It's still a good bag to put make up in for traveling though.

BIG SEXY HAIR HAIRSPRAY: YES! Thank you for this, Ipsy. My hair is flat, dull, unfortunate. I was so happy to see this as I know this brand is kind of pricey. I actually saw this exactly sample size for $8 at my local drugstore. WOW. So basically, this product itself almost pays for the bag. I've heard amazing things about this brand but was never willing to spend the money for it. If I love this product, I will definitely be purchasing it.

NAILTINI NAIL POLISH: This was probably the product I was the least thrilled about. Last month, we got a nail polish by the same brand in a beautiful sparkly color called Millionaire. I've used that nail polish so much in the past month as it was perfect for the holidays. Unfortunately, I received a red color called bloody mary. I don't wear red nail polish and I don't see much of a use for this. I was kind of bummed I didn't get the other color that was sent out called frappe. It's whatever though. A full size nail polish? Pretty good deal.

JOSIE MARAN ARGON OIL: AMAZING. This product definitely makes the whole bag worth it. This is a very expensive product that is supposedly supposed to work wonders for your face, hair, body, nails etc. For someone who suffers from acne scarring and split ends, this is like heaven sent. I'm going to try and use the whole sample within the next month or two and do a review if it does anything amazing for me!

SOHO BRUSH: I received the crease brush and I'm cool with that. I kind of went crazy with buying brushes lately so an extra brush doesn't really hurt.

PACIFICA BODY BUTTER: I've kind of been on a body butter craze lately so I was definitely happy to receive this in the bag. This product smells AMAZING. It also makes your skin feel so soft which is a plus for me since my skin is so dry right now. (Thank you, Winter!)

Overall, I think it's a pretty good bag. Definitely not my favorite out of the three I've received but it is what is is. For $10 a month you're getting some great, high end products. The bag pays for itself so you can't really go wrong.

FAIL.

So tonight I was shopping at Meijer just picking up some cat food, the usual. Of course I strayed to the make up section like I usually do (lol). I knew I didn't want to spend money I don't have on anything crazy so I was looking around for some possible on sale items. I came across these lipsticks by Milani that were on clearance: originally $4.49 on clearance for $2.49! I was excited because I've been on a lipstick kick lately. I purchased the shades 29A Beloved and 12B Tiki-Tiki-Pink.

These looked SO PROMISING. Unfortunately, they are on clearance for a good reason.

Problem #1: They smell like grape cough syrup. I was shocked by how awful of a scent these lipsticks have. SERIOUSLY. I've never smelled a scent quite like this before. I was almost too appalled to put them on my lips.

Problem #2: What is up with the shape? They are kind of like a sphere shape with sharp edges. Um, what? 

Problem #3: They look decent when they are swatched but on they are SO UGLY. Tiki-Tiki-Pink is so sheer and the bit of color it does have is like an ugly coral. Beloved is sheer as well with a tint of brownish/caramel/I don't even know.

I've learned my lesson. Never buy lipsticks on clearance again. There's a reason WHY people are not buying them. I love the brand Milani but this product was overly disappointing. I think the smell is probably the biggest thing wrong with this product. I don't get it, I don't lol.

ELF BRUSHES REVIEW

Elf 12 Piece Brush Set!

I was in dire need of new make up brushes when I stumbled upon this Elf twelve piece set on Amazon. The craziest part? TWELVE BRUSHES FOR TWELVE DOLLARS. Say what? I've seen Elf brushes in Target for three bucks a piece so I knew this was an absolute steal. (Direct link to the brushes above). I have nothing to really compare these brushes to as I've never owned higher end brush sets, but as far as I'm concerned: these get the job done!

The set comes with: a concealer brush, blush/bronzer brush, foundation brush, blending eye brush, smudge eye sponge, eye liner brush, total face brush, defining eye brush, eyelash and brow wand, lip defining brush, brow comb, and an eyeshadow brush. For $12? That's INSANE.

The quality of these brushes are fantastic as well. I've experienced no fall out with the bristles which sometimes tends to be an issue with cheaper brushes. The "total face brush" AKA powder brush is probably my favorite out of all. It feels so amazing on my face - it's soft and not scratchy like other brushes I've encountered. It blends my powder perfectly and I'm obsessed.

The packaging is great as well: for semi-newbies with make up it is so helpful that each brush comes packaged individually with a description of what they're used for. Also, if you throw out the packaging and forget, the usage of the brush is written on the actual brush itself.

I don't know if it's just me, but I don't think I could ever justify spending $30 on one brush. I think this is a great deal and you're also getting quality products which is even better.

HOLY GRAIL: Concealer

Thanks to my wonderful teenage years, I've been graced with some ugly acne scars. Glamoflauge by Hard Candy is the perfect concealer to conceal not only my acne scars but to use as a highligher as well. I've only seen this brand at Walmart and I remember the first time I saw it I thought this brand looked like it belonged in Sephora. For $6, I've found a concealer that does a great job at concealing what I need concealed!

WARNING: This concealer is exactly what it says on the packaging. HEAVY. Apparently, it's supposed to be able to cover tattoos! It's extremely thick and a little bit goes a long way. I've had the same tube for probably a year or so now and I still have so much left over. I chose the shade light (It also comes in medium and dark) because I wanted it to be a little lighter than my skin tone. By choosing the lighter shade, I also use this underneath my eyes to brighten them up a bit. I've found that this concealer can be cakey if you use too much. I use probably half a pea size amount for my entire face. It doesn't crease and it is definitely long lasting.

For those of you in the same position as me, I highly recommend purchasing this concealer! It's affordable, it does its job, and there's nothing bad to say about it.

Beau and the concealer. I'm such a cat lady it's insane.

NYX ROUNDED LIPSTICK REVIEW/SWATCHES

After seeing so many awesome reviews on these lipsticks, I knew I had to try a few out. Apparently, these lipsticks are a top selling product for NYX. I mean, how can you go wrong with a lipstick that is $2.99? I bought Chic Red, Tea Rose, and Fig from www.cherryculture.com. These lipsticks are also available at Ulta for $3.99 each.

As you can see from the swatches, Tea Rose and Fig are extremely similar. I didn't realize how similar they were until I actually swatched them to be honest! Fig is a deeper mauve color while Tea Rose is a softer peachy mauve. My favorite of the three is definitely Tea Rose. I think it's the most wearable and works best for someone with a ghostly complexion (such as myself lol).

Chic Red is an IN YOUR FACE bright true to form shade of red. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I ordered it online except that I wanted to go outside my comfort zone. I don't see myself wearing it very often but it's definitely pretty. It kind of reminds me SLIGHTLY of Mac's Ruby Woo. I don't think this picture does it justice.

Fig is a pretty mauve color that I think is perfect for the Fall/Winter time. I don't think there's anything special about this color honestly. It reminds me of honey for some reason. I'm not sure why! lol.

Tea Rose is apparently one of the most popular NYX round stick colors. It's probably my favorite out of the three. It's so similar to Fig yet I feel like it's just a prettier color. It's softer and looks great on fair skin, in my opinion.

Although I'm not completely happy with the three colors I chose (FYI- ordering lipstick online is probably not the best idea. There are HORRIBLE swatches for these lipsticks which don't show their true colors) I think the quality of these lipsticks are great for the price. They glide on like BUTTER. They aren't drying in the slightest which is great because my lips are so chapped right now thanks to beautiful Winter! I can see myself purchasing more in the future for sure.

No make up (Sorry!) This is what Tea Rose looks like on me. :)

an introduction :)

Hi! (if anyone is reading this right now, lol). I've decided to start a blog devoted to beauty as it is an important aspect of my every day life. I don't really have a set plan for this blog - it's just going to be anything and everything. Reviews, thoughts, possible tutorials.. I'm not exactly sure right now! I'm not a professional by any means - just a normal girl who enjoys a whole lot of girly stuff. :)

A little about me:

My name is Stephanie and I recently graduated from college (May 2012). I'm 23 years old and living in Ohio. I'm obsessed with cupcakes and cats. I live for the moment, not for the past. I love my friends and family more than words can describe. I love to online shop a little too much. I wouldn't consider myself amazing at make up, but I'm definitely learning! I love following new beauty blogs so feel free to comment!