Get Nude on a Budget

Hello People of the Internet! I thought my title was pretty clever btw. Well I've actually really wanted to show this to you since spring, but I thought it was such a early purchase that I really wanted to get a feel for it. I'm not one to wear a lot of eyeshadow, especially in the summer because of the hot weather, reason why I don't splurge on expensive eyeshadow palettes. There is nothing wrong with buying one for $70 but its hard to justify when all you really do is look at it and very seldom use it. I opted for the L'Oreal nude palette's, which have a pretty decent amount of colors and a decent price. For us non-eyeshadow wearing ladies or gentlemen this is a great option. You have a great selection of mattes and also a few with shimmer as you can probably tell even from far away. It comes in a sturdy case and with a brush with two different ends to it. I'm not a fan of the brush because its such low quality, but you can't always get what you want. (*starts humming that exact song with those exact lyrics*)

  

This top palette is made up of your browns, bronze, gold tones. It is a great purchase for any color eye but I'd think that it would look fantastic on blue eyes or green eyes even. It obviously has your highlighting colors are both ends and then goes to warmer darker tones toward the center. I really like this palette and the color range, my favorite color here has to be the second and third from the right. These colors blend really well and have a really nice amount of pigment. As far a duration, they are like most eyeshadows and of course if you want something to last you for a long period of time then a primer should do miracles. The nifty thing about these palette's is that they also come with instructions on how to put them. The colors are numbers on the back of the package (which I clearly forgot to photograph). It gives you a few examples on how to take a few colors and transition from a day to a night time look.

I can't choose which one's my favorite, but as someone who has brown eyes, I feel like this one enhances my eyes more. It has violets and pinkish tones like you can see. Its a really good purchase. Actually both are an amazing purchase. If I remember correctly, the price was about $15 each. The only thing that I'm not a fan of is that the glitter pigmentation. If you like super shiny glittery eyes this is not the eyeshadow for you. The color pigmentation is great. If you don't use eyeshadow as often or don't care for buying more expensive ones then you can purchase one or both of these. 

They're Real! Eyeliner Review

Hello gorgeous people of the internet! How are you all today? Well I'm great, thank you very much. I'm slightly sleepy but in very high spirits. I don't know if its the weather (lies, the weather was brutally hot) or the food I ate or just my day in general, but today I'm feeling great and I hope you are too! Alright, onto the actual post, I had given up on eyeliner because 1) I am complete crap when it comes to putting it on straight and 2) I look like a hooker with eyeliner on, it just doesn't suit me. When I saw this I decided to give it a go and I know this has been out for a while! as most things that I review tend to be but I really had to tried this out (kind of my last hope). This here is the They're Real! Eyeliner by Benefit and it was something a lot of people, by people I mean beauty gurus on YouTube and bloggers, were talking about. I think there was such a big hype about it because it was a completely different eyeliner than what we are used to. Its sleek and black and just awesome! or at least I thought it was before I bought it. 

I'm going to start with the positives because good news is always best! 

The product itself is really good. Its creamy and applies easily on the skin, so the quality of the eyeliner itself is magnificent. I've tried different gel liners before, like Bobbi Brown eyeliner and some drugstore brand that I didn't like (I know, I know some people swear by the Bobbi Brown eyeliner but hey, it didn't work for my oily lids). This product held up pretty nicely to those pesky lids of mine. I found it was so easy to get close to the line of my eye and it fit perfectly in my hand. The packaging fits pretty much everywhere and you don't have to carry the brush and the container because it comes in one. The tip of the pen is rubbery so it moves easily and it also helps guide the eyeliner to where you want it or how you want it to end up (thin or thick). Also, the eyeliner wouldn't budge! I didn't want to buy the remover that Benefit sells because I stand by my Philosophy make up remover, but even with that it took a good rubbing to get it off. Rubbing your eyes excessively isn't a great idea so don't do it as the skin around your eyes is super sensitive. The price is so much more cheaper than buying a brush and the gel separately! I mean its still a little expensive for me but it was for the sake of trying new and exciting things. 

Okay now the bad news (tun tun tun), the concept for this product is brilliant! I mean who wants to have to fiddle around with a brush and a little pot of gel liner when you can have it all in one. Right?! I didn't like how it was sometimes difficult to try and get the product out of this. I would twist and twist and nothing would come out. If I was standing next to someone with a brush and pot of gel they would probably finish before I did. The brush is mightier than the pen in this case. Sometimes because I clicked too much I would get more product than what I needed. Another downer is that it dries up super quickly. If you aren't an expert on your eyeliner and you have to go back and forth on it then you'd be disappointed by this. You would probably get frustrated and give up like I did many times. I'm not completely sure if this just happened to my pen, but the little rubber tip always seemed to be moist or oily for some reason. I didn't like that because it made the product kind of gross and I would have to wipe it off. The price is probably another negative for me because I paid $24 something and I wasn't completely in love with it. The product is amazing! brilliant! just fantastic! but the fact that I had trouble with my pen didn't make me like it so much. 

Overall, its a great product just not for me. I gifted this to my sister because I'm not returning it and I refuse to leave it in my corner of forgotten and rejected makeup items. If you do want to try it but not pay those $24 you can get a small version of it and I believe its only $12. I also think you get the mascara, which is AMAZING! I didn't get that because it wasn't on the market when I was looking to purchase it or else I would have bought the cheaper one.

Makeup Favorites

Hello there! So I've had a few posts that I've been wanting to add on but school has kept me busy, as well as having two jobs. I really do want to post more and hopefully I will as soon as I stop being busy with life. I am also almost done putting together my room and have been living in a cluttered environment, which is another reason why I can't think when trying to write. Anyway, getting on with this post. Here are a few of my favorite makeup products. 

As I've posted before, I adore Chanel foundation. It is by far my favorite foundation that I've had because its so natural looking and fresh. If you are looking for a full cover makeup I wouldn't recommend the Vitalumiere Aqua but I would recommend the Perfection Lumiere. Vitalumiere is more for the summer as I tend to get oily on my T zone and the Perfection Lumiere is for more Winter and Spring time. Perfection Lumiere is also long lasting, even without a primer which I have to admit I'm not very good at keeping up with wearing one. As for a non foundation product, I recently decided to try the NARS tinted moisturizer and I have to say I'm quite pleased with this product. It looks completely natural and even though it does a little dewiness its perfect for those days that you just don't want to put on foundation. I feel like it lets your skin breath as well as come through brilliantly. 

Moving on to eye products of all sorts and kinds. The prep and prime from MAC is a favorite but I tend to have a hate love relationship. The consistency and quality is great on this but I just wish it came in a different container. Its not a big deal but sometimes I have a bit of trouble getting some product out. Its perfect to brighten up any dark or pigmented areas which can range from under the eyes to around your mouth or just about anywhere. The Marc Jacobs concealer/primer doesn't have fantastic coverage but it does lighten up the darkness under the eyes. I completely forgot to add a picture of my all time favorite concealer but you can read all about it on one of my other post where I've written all about it. The container isn't the best at all because its a clicker pen, so sometimes you will get enough product out and sometimes you won't. I feel like that person in class clicking away as if I'm making time go faster with this product. I like the actual product and it goes well when I don't want to get completely done up but it certainly doesn't appeal to me when I have to click away to get enough out. I might have gotten a faulty pen but the price is also another downer, so its definitely a splurge. The Stay Don't Stray from Benefit is by far the best eye primer that I've ever tried. It holds my makeup in place for ages! Even when I have oily eyelids for days do I end up with a great hold on my eye makeup. I don't use eye makeup all the time but it holds my eyeliner all day, as well as my concealer. Another Benefit treasure is the They're Real mascara. This baby makes my eyelashes look natural but also adds to them. When I use it, it makes me feel like I do have eyelashes because they get lost with my eyeliner. I have sensitive eyes so this one definitely did the trick for me. Two of my most favorite eye shadows for the fall are All that Glitters and Samoa Silk from MAC. 

I don't like packing on different colors on my eyelids because I prefer to have a more natural look. Samoa Silk is matte so I use All that Glitters to add a little something to it. I also like using just any brown shadow on my crease to give it a slight smokey effect. You could definitely pack it on after for a night time event or just to go out with friends. 

And Benefit strikes again! I am not obsessed with their brand but they do have amazing products that just seem to work well on my face. The Pore Fessional is probably the funnest thing to touch. Maybe its just me but it is so soft and silky to the touch and it practically feels like a baby's bum. I haven't touched a baby's bum in my life that I can recall but that is how I figure it feels. It leaves your makeup looking really nice and soft and perfect. I love it! I have yet to take pictures with it on so we will have to see if it holds up to photography standards of being pore less. Oh this is the part I'm most excited about, the blushes you see up there are by far the best purchases I've made in my life when it comes to blushes. I've always been a fan of MAC blushes but these are just my favorite. Melba, Gingerly, and Warm Soul (in order from left to right and bottom) are the best. Melba and Gingerly are very similar but with Melba being more of a pinkish tone and Gingerly being more peachy. I think Gingerly is great for the summer and it gives you a tan flushed look. Melba would be the perfect blush for winter for someone with my skin tone. I get slightly lighter in the winter but not to the point where bright pink looks great on me. Warm Soul, oh how I love thee. It looks as shimmery as a glittered covered ornament in Christmas but once you put it on it isn't. It gives great color and can be used to contour but gives you a bit of flush. Its so natural looking and its very build-able. Last but not least the Make up Forever lipstick sample I got from Sephora has got to be my new favorite lipstick brand. I don't wear lipstick all that often because I can't seem to find my favorite shades but this one is my favorite and once I'm done with my sample I'm purchasing it. I didn't take a picture of the lipstick it self but it is gorgeous. It has a flushed pink brownish tint. Their lipsticks are also not drying and seem to actually be moisturizing. 

So there you go! my makeup favorites for Autumn/Winter. 

Products I love vs. Products I don't

So far I have done reviews of single items that I've used or purchased this year alone. I thought it would be a great idea to just put loads of them together and just do them all out once. Its not that I don't love writing about each product but this post includes products that I'm not so eager about. I apologize in advance that I don't have personal pictures of the products I'm going to talk about. I don't have some of them anymore because I threw them away or I've used them up lol.

First one up is the Simple Soothing Facial Toner

Image taken from Google

I was looking for a good toner because my skin was breaking out until recently and I purchased this because I thought it would help. Before I buy anything I go out an read reviews about the product and how its worked or not worked on people who have used it. The reviews on this were all talking about how great it was and how it worked like a charm. As always, there is always that one person which the product doesn't work on and I take those into account as well. Since the reviews were amazing I went out and bought. I used it for over a month and I didn't really see a change in my skin. I kept getting spots and nothing really seemed to change. Guess I was one of the unfortunate buyers the product doesn't work for. One thing I didn't like a lot about this product, other than the fact that it did nothing to me, was the way it all pours out. You can definitely use up so much of that product really quickly. Bottom line, I don't love it. 

Second product I want to talk about are two Buxom Blushes/Blushers

Images taken from Google

Alright, these two were a purchase that I didn't plan or anticipate. I kind of just walked into the store and bought them. I initially went to Sephora to purchase one blusher that is made by Dior but I thought it was too expensive for the amount of product that you received. I asked for a similar color and the sales associate showed me the Buxom blushes. I had never used any Buxom products before so I was a bit uneasy making the purchase. I don't know if these were part of a special edition because I've gone back and I can't find them anymore. The blusher on the left is called Seduction. It is a very bright pink color but don't let it put you off. It is really nice once put on the skin. I would recommend this color during the winter more than the summer. The blusher on the right is called Breathless. It is a peach colored blusher and it is perfect for the summer. I would not wear it for winter just because it goes better with a tan. Both of these blushers have a matte finish so there is no shimmer or creaminess to them. Just good old powder blushers. The color is amazing so I love them! 

Third product is going to be Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lipbalm

Image taken from Google

Let me start off that Soap & Glory is not found all over the states but there are some stores that do carry their products. I actually like Soap & Glory very much, so when I came across this little baby I bought it without really thinking it. First off, the scent of this is divine! It is peach scented, which makes it super amazing. It is not too strong of a scent but it makes you want to lick it right off your lips. I suppose that's why its called "great kisser", who doesn't want to kiss someone with amazing smelling lips? This balm is really, REALLY glossy. It could possibly be a lipgloss if it wanted to. Its a bit too sticky for my preference but I guess I could ignore that because of the scent. I wore it for a while and I didn't really see a change on my lips. I must be immune to all products that repair anything on the body, right? I would even put it on at night to prevent me from licking it right off my lips. It didn't work at all. Also, you have to be extremely careful not to let lint inside of it with your finger or anything because it is extremely hard to pick it off as the consistency is sticky. I have to say that I don't love it. Sorry, Soap & Glory *sad face*.

Fourth product is the Dior Show Iconic Overcurl Mascara

Image taken from Google

For starters, this was not a purchase but a sample that I received at Sephora. They have their awesome rewards/points system so you can purchase and get points and trade them for rewards. In one of my visits I chose this little guy. (Don't you think its funny how men attribute a female persona to their objects and women attribute a male? It made me chuckle a little haha). Anyway, this mascara is AMAZING! I love it! It is hands down the best mascara I've ever tried. I don't know if my eyes are sensitive but they tend to get irritated with a lot of other mascaras. When I opted to try this one, I was a bit weary but I didn't have to be. It makes your eyelashes seem so much thicker. It doesn't smear or end up everywhere. The wand is so easy to control, mind you I don't put mascara on my lower lashes but I'm sure it works great. I definitely recommend this mascara but if you are on a budget then I would save up for it lol. I love it!

Fifth product is Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation

Image taken from Google

As I explained before, I have a rewards card for Sephora and usually it also comes with perks where you receive small samples of products. I received this foundation as a sample, which I think was a smart choice for Sephora because it saved me the trouble to ask for it. I tried it for about two weeks straight and fell in love with it. It is so light but it gives you coverage. I wouldn't say its complete coverage but its about medium coverage. It makes so much of a difference on me. My face looks even all over and more awake. I think of this as a winter foundation because the air is dryer and this is meant to give you a brightening look. My favorite part of foundations is when they don't make you break out and this didn't. I'm in the shade "I'm so money, honey" and I think its a bit light when I tan a little in the summer, which is another reason why I say its a winter foundation. I love it! 

Sixth and final product is the Mac Pro Longwear Concealer

Image taken from Google

This is one of my holy grail items! I just had to say that to start with. I adore this concealer. The texture is not runny but its not thick. I think its perfect. It goes on well under the eyes and I find that it doesn't crease. I have really bad under eye circles, I know its cliche for people to say that but I'm not lying, and they only increase if I don't sleep well. This concealer covers them really well. It is not completely because you can only conceal so much but when put with a corrector it works really well. I have to repurchase it because that's how much I love it. The only thing I don't like much is the pump. You don't really have a lot of control on how much product your get out so if you only use it around your eyes, you have a lot left over. I tend to apply this with my finger and pat it until it is all blended out. This is my favorite and its probably the product I love more than all the other products I mentioned. I LOVE IT! 

Okay, so that is it for this post. I hope this is helpful to anyone trying to figure out if these products are good or not before you buy them. 

xx

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

I sat here contemplating whether to watch the second episode of The Originals or to write this long over due blog post; I decided to multitask. I think one of the biggest challenges, when it comes to makeup, is finding the perfect foundation. I've gone on my own little journey and have found one of my favorite foundations, EVER! It is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation. I think my favorite part of this foundation is that it is so light that you can barely feel its there. Another thing about this foundation is that it is water based. My skin is combination to oily skin, where I tend to be more oily around my T-zone than anywhere else on my face. It is not a full coverage foundation so if you are looking for something with more coverage, this is not for you. Even though it doesn't offer full coverage, this is my favorite foundation for the Summer. It doesn't add any sort of "glow" to my face because when you live in Texas you don't want more glow than what your face already produces, unless you have completely perfect skin. Although I wouldn't call it glow, but a glistening kind of sweat all over your body.

This foundation makes it feel as if you have no makeup on because it is water based. It doesn't make you feel gross or sticky on a hot day. This doesn't mean that in the winter you have to buy a new foundation that won't make your dry skin, if you have any, look any drier. Since the foundation is water based this mean it has no oil, which if you have combination/oily skin it is awesome on you. I don't get as many breakouts as I get with other foundations. I don't know about you but for me its a plus. I've heard that for people with dry skin it tends to "attach" itself to dry patches. The only solution I can think of is exfoliate really well and wear a really good moisturizer. When you first buy this foundation you have to make sure to shake it to mix the product with the water. I usually use a pea size and its enough for my face. Depending on how much you want to put on, its your choice. I personally think that a pea size is enough to cover small imperfections and you can always just go over them with concealer if you like to cover them up completely.

The price is surely to be consider a splurge because its not cheap. I bought my foundation on the Macy's Chanel counter and it was $45 + tax. The lady was very helpful and friendly and offered to match me to the right shade. If you aren't so sure about purchasing the foundation then and there. I suggest you ask for a sample. They give you a really cute bottle that has a spatula attached to the cap to get the contents out. The bottle lasted me about two weeks or a little bit more which I think is enough time to decide whether you like the foundation or not. Once I was sure I liked it, I went back and purchased it. If you are worried they won't have your shade you can always stop by and look at their 10 shades. Another reason why I love this foundation is that it smells pleasant. Its not an over powering scent but its really light. If you do buy this foundation, I suggest you use your fingers to apply it because it goes on so smoothly. If you must use a brush then you can but I would spread the foundation out first and then use the brush to blend it out.

Now its time for bed! xx

P.S. I really recommend the series "The Originals"!! 

Real Techniques Brush

Hello Everyone! 

Everyone who loves makeup or wears it knows about different brushes and ways to apply your makeup. There are the huge labels or brands like MAC that sell really expensive brushes. I think out of all the brushes I own, which are not many in my opinion, I own but one MAC brush. I try and opt for more affordable brands that do the exact same thing at a much cheaper price. You may think that since they are cheap they are falling apart but no! It is all in how you take care of your brushes. If anyone is interested I can do a blog about how to take care or wash your makeup brushes. 

I've recently purchased a new brush because I have lost my foundation brush and I cannot find it. I had heard a lot of good reviews on the Real Techniques makeup brushes but was put off because I thought it was something completely pricey. To be honest, I had never checked the price because I just assumed they were over my budget. Since I really needed a brush I drove to ULTA and was browsing around for something to replace my old brush. They have a lovely section of makeup brushes that range form all sorts of prices and brands. I spotted the Real Techniques brushes and as I looked at the price and I was really surprised at how affordable they really are. A single brush ranges from $5.99 to $17.99 depending on what you are looking for. 

Right here I have the Expert Face Brush and I have to say it is amazing! It blends perfectly and its super soft. The handle is perfect for you to have control over the brush and you can use any kind of motion you want to do your makeup. I think I am in love with this brand. I haven't had the pleasure of trying all the other brushes but when I do I will make a review on them. 

If you are looking at trying these brushes I would suggest you order them from ULTA right now, if you don't have one near you. They are having a B1G1 50% off sale. Your other option is going to their website and buying them from Real Techniques. They also show you how to use your brush if you are a beginner in makeup using or just want to know more on how to use your brush that will exceed your already good looks.