The Beauty Blogger Tag!

Hi Everyone! Do things look a little different around here? That would be thanks to the amazingly talented Chelsea of Olive & Ivy Design who created my new layout! I could not be happier with how it came out :) I'm really feeling re-energized to write and I want to make a more serious effort to keep things updated and relevant. A few weeks ago Emilynoel83 posted this tag on her blog and I thought it would be a good way to kick off the new blog design:

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

When I was younger, my hair was stick straight. Then in 6th grade I begged my Mom to let me perm my hair - I wanted super curly hair just like her. Well, the perm didn't hold but it forever changed my hair into the weird wavy mop that it is now :)

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

Since high school I've gone to the same salon, so they take care of me! Prior to that my Mom would dye it for me... it was so thick and long that it usually took 3 boxes to cover everything!

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?

I'm not really a "hair" person - I usually wear it up in a ponytail or bun. When I wake up early enough or have somewhere to go, I'll take the time to straighten it. If you see me with curly hair, it's probably a super special occasion! #aintnobodygottimeforthat

4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

Over the last year or so I've been trying to do my own manicures, just because I've been so busy and the cost of getting my nails done just didn't seem to be a smart move anymore. I still occasionally go, especially when I need a pedicure. Nothing beats a good foot massage and nicely painted toes!

Zoya Haul (Earth Day Exchange)

Hello, gorgeous!

Over the past 6 months or so, I've become a nail polish junky (take a look at my wishlist for proof!) When I read about the Zoya Earth Day Exchange at Temptalia, I knew I was in trouble. It was an amazing idea - Zoya lets you buy their 5 Free (read more about that here) polish for 50% off and in return, you send in your old, yucky chemical ridden polishes back so they can be safely disposed of. Amazing polish, at a huge discount and being environmentally friendly? Hook, line and sinker.

I'm still sorting through my current stash to see what I'll be sending back, most of mine are 3 Free, so it almost seems silly to send those (also, it was not a requirement to send anything back to get the discount, but why not right?) Here are some pictures of the 13 new additions to my collection:

Zoya Anaka

Review :: NYX Butter Gloss

There's an old Judy Garland song that goes "you made me love you, I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to do it" Those lyrics resounded in my brain as I tried these for the first time. I really didn't want these to work, but dammit they made me fall hard. I've been using them non-stop for the past few weeks!

Here's how this played out: I've heard a lot of people talking about how amazing these are, but I was skeptical. I had really high hopes for the NYX Round Lipsticks and the Mega Shine glosses in the past, and both of those were huge flops for me. I decided to pick up a few of the new Butter Gloss purely for reviewing purposes, and expecting to not like them for the same reasons their other lip products failed me: scent and smell

I originally picked up four colors from Ulta when they were on sale for $2.99 each: Maple Blondie, Strawberry Parfait, Apple Strudel and Merengue

Formula and Wear: It's creamy without being thick, non-sticky, with a very glossy finish. They are sheer to semi-opaque, which is right in my comfort level. The scent is spot on - it's a sweet bakery scent but very subtle, and only lingers for a few minutes. They last a couple hours on me, which again is fine because I have an addiction to reapplying my lip products no matter what. They are so incredibly comfortable to wear, which is why I can't stop myself!

Left: Merengue / Apple Strudel Right: Strawberry Parfait / Maple Blondie

Two weeks later I was back to buy Eclair, Peaches & Cream, Vanilla Cream Pie, Creme Brulee and Cherry Cheese Cake. These were not on sale, so they were $4.99 which is still a steal - even in drugstore standards where glosses are usually around $8. And I plan to pick up the remaining few shades very soon to complete the collection!

Left: Vanilla Cream Pie / Peaches & Cream / Eclair Right: Cherry Cheesecake / Creme Brulee

If you are looking for a super affordable, comfortable and wearable lip product, look no further!

X
Lauren

10 Products I Use Everyday

When you are so not a morning person, getting ready for work in the morning can be a challenge! I have my basic make-up routine down to a science to help me get ready faster and out the door. Here are 10 products I use pretty much every day!

  - Dr Jart+ Water Fuse BB Cream: This is the first BB cream I ever purchased, and there is no turning back! I used this as my moisturizer under foundation, because it helps add an extra layer of coverage and doesn't make me an oil slick

  - Covergirl Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation: After years of searching, my perfect everyday foundation was discovered at the drugstore for about $12! This provides medium/full coverage and I've found that I like it best when applied with a beauty blender. I have a lot of breakouts, redness and unevenness (yeah, my skin pretty much hates me!) This holds up really well on long work days and never looks too "done up" My only gripe is that the lightest color is just a touch too dark

  - Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Invisible Skin-Fusion Powder in Rose Clair: "Photoshop in powder form" is what this should be called! It provides a beautiful soft focus effect on the skin. It literally doesn't look like you're wearing powder, it's just so finely milled and blendable. It doesn't really add color, just provides an amazing finish. It's pretty pricey at $57 so I'm hoping I can find a cheaper alternative

  - Benefit Coralista: I consider this my perfect blush. It's subtle enough to wear everyday (and year round by the way) but can be built up for a bigger pop of color. It's not too orange like most corals, so even us fair, pink undertone ladies can wear this without looking like we have oddly sunburned cheeks

  - Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Brunette/Dark Brown: Up until sometime last year, I only 'did' my eyebrows for special occasions. I have thin eyebrows, so filling them in really helps bulk them up and frames my face. I've found the most natural look for me is applying this with an angled brush, rather than using pencils. The only downside is that I rarely touch the Dark Brown half, so I'm going to have to see if they are sold individually

  - Covergirl Clear Mascara: This is a staple that everyone should have! It keeps my brows tamed without taking too much effort, but make sure to apply sparingly with darker brows because it can look obvious. It doesn't make them super shiny or crunchy, which I've had happen with other products!

  - NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base: I have very oily lids and the two "best known" primers (Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance) but both felt too thin and don't seem to actually make my eyeshadow last. I have no such problem with Nars! It's a thicker, creamy consistency and really keeps everything in place

  - Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Waterproof Mascara: Ever since mascara-palooza, I've been grabbing this as my go-to mascara. The waterproof formula really helps it last through those long work days, which usually also include running errands or going out for dinner after leaving the office. It's a really good combo of length and volume, and it's surprisingly super easy to remove!

  - Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm: I'll admit it: I don't drink enough water! This causes me to be in a perpetual state of dehydration, and my lips often take the brunt of it. I apply this lip balm every night before bed and I still have some on it the morning - which is a miracle in of itself considering how crazy I roll around when I'm sleeping

  - Revlon Lip Butter (any shade): On any given day of the week, there is a good chance I'm wearing one of these on my lips. They are just so easy! They have really great pigmentation, they are moisturizing and for the most part, not SO intense that they can't be worn in an office environment

- Lancome Bi-Facil: I couldn't create a list like this without showing some love to my make-up remover! I don't know if there's an official timeline of how long you've been using something before it's automatically considered a holy grail item, but I'm pretty sure we've past that point! This is the ONLY make-up removing solution I've EVER used. EVER. I usually have 2-3 bottles on hand at all times so that I don't run out.  I'm on bottle 1,396,202... (kidding obviously... or am I?)

I would love to know what type of products you use on a daily basis!

X
Lauren

IMATS Haul & YouTube!

Do you know what heaven looks like to someone like me? Varieties of beauty companies, selling their products at a discount, surrounded by hundreds of other makeup obsessed people, and the opportunity to meet your favorite gurus. That is what IMATS NY was - it was such an amazing experience! I will definitely go again and have even considered going to the LA show in the coming years.

I bought A LOT of stuff, but I still didn't get a chance to get everything I wanted. I was in a bit of a time crunch - I got a late start, long lines at a few of the booths and having to hustle back to my hotel to check out and hit the road for the 4+ hour drive back home. It was a whirlwind! Over the next week I'll be taking pictures and reviewing the products, I can't wait to try them out.

Aaaand... I decided to make my very first YouTube video to show all the goodies I picked up. I was so nervous filming it and I'm still nervous thinking about having myself on a video floating around that anyone could look at, but it's something I've been considering for a while, so I decided to just go for it. I don't know if I'll make more, we'll see... but please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

X
Lauren

The Most Astonishing Hand Cream Ever?

If you read beauty blogs or follow your favorite beauty guru's on YouTube, and you HAVEN'T heard of Soap & Glory's Hand Food, well friend, you live under a rock. This has been the most talked about hand lotion of recent memory, with people singing it's praises for it's non-greasy formula, super hydrating abilities and sweet scent. This winter the cold, dry New England air really took a toll on my hands, so I jumped on the bandwagon in hopes of restoring some life into my skin

First things first, I'm a sucker for cute packaging, and this is pink and cute - love it! The lotion is infused with shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow, which makes this a creamy, sweet scent. I don't notice it very much, but my co-worker thought it was strong (then again, I like my mascara to be scented...)

It's a light cream, that absorbs quickly, but can be slightly greasy if you apply too much - so use less than you think you need! I find myself applying it ever few hours, and only because I enjoy the way it feels/smells and not because my hands need it. After using this for a few weeks, my skin is noticeably softer and I see a huge improvement in the area around my nails, no flaky dry patches and my cuticles look better than ever!

Is it the most astonishing hand cream ever? It just may be... I thoroughly enjoy using it and will repurchase when the time comes!

X
Lauren

MASCARA-PALOOZA! {High-end Edition}

After an uber-disappointing go at some of the most buzzed about drugstore mascaras, I decided I needed to dive back into the high-end pool. I've been eyeballing (ah - get it? Mascara. Eyeballs. I'm too much sometimes) two of these for months now and then one is a brand new release, so I went for it. And let me just forewarn you, the results of this test was miles apart from the last one...

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll
The regular YSL Faux Cils is hands down one of my all-time favorite mascaras. Interestingly enough, the part that I love the most about it isn't the luxurious gold packaging or how thick and lush it makes my lashes... it's the SCENT. It's a strongly perfumed mascara, which begs the question - why do we need scented mascara? For me, the fact that the wand is floating around at your face for a few minutes while you apply, makes for a more enjoyable application. I even find I can smell it for the first 5-10 minutes as it dries. In this newly released formulation, the scent is not as strong, so I was bummed, but it will be better for those that don't like heavily perfumed products. The wand has plastic bristles, almost like a merge between the Rocket and Clump Crusher wands. The formula is wet but thick, which helps build up great volume and length with less coats. This isn't waterproof, but it held up surprisingly well, with only a few small flakes starting to appear near the 6 hour mark. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn close.

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel
I'll admit it - I'm a snob when it comes to Chanel. I love their lipsticks, and covet them dearly. Using them makes me feel so much more - sophisticated and grown-up (I'm still considering myself a kid until I become a parent...) This is my first time trying a Chanel mascara, which has received some very positive reviews recently. The claim to fame here is the "snowflake" brush which is a combination of short and long bristles, which are supposed to be what gives all the volume.The brush was dense and the formula was... inky? I honestly don't know how else to describe it. I literally felt like I was brushing ink onto my lashes. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced, probably the easiest application I've ever had. And the results? Great length and volume, perfectly separated lashes. It had a great wear time, with some subtle smudges after 6 hours. Another winner in my book.

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill (Waterproof)
Last but not least, I finally took the plunge and bought this. I've been wanting to try the Eyes to Kill eyeshadow after seeing a bazillion glowing reviews on the formula and wear time. I could never pull the trigger because the colors I wanted weren't something I could wear regularly to help justify the cost (red eyeshadow anyone?) This was the only one of the high-end options that came in waterproof, so that's what I got. It's the driest formula of the bunch and had a traditional brush. This gave the most "natural" look - if natural equates to super dark, full, mile long, feathery lashes. At 7 hours of wear, there was not a single flake or smudge to be seen, and weren't any when I removed my make-up at the 10 mark! Clearly, the waterproof aspect made a huge difference, even over the other two high-end mascaras which also lasted significantly longer than the drugstore counterparts.

So... what have I learned from the plethora of mascara I've used in the past couple of weeks? For starters, my eyelashes have expensive taste. The high-end mascaras trumped the drugstore ones in every way. Each of these were $30 a pop, so they aren't easy on the wallet. But considering the formulas provided the easiest application, the least amount of flaking or smudging, and gave me the look I was going for - I would rather spend the money on a product I know is going to deliver, rather than try (and usually fail) with many cheaper tubes from the drugstore

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL THREE OF THESE MASCARAS!

I hope you've enjoyed me trying these out - what are your current favorites?

X
Lauren