Currently loving...

I haven't done a 'products i'm loving' sort of post since my monthly favorites for May and i've been meaning to share/briefly review a few products on here, so i thought i'd do a 'currently loving' post!  These products are all really ones that have been in my collection for a while & i've rediscovered, or products i've just gotten in the past month or so and have become staples for me.  There's a mixture of hair, eyes, face, & lip products, so a bit of everything!  Hope you enjoy. :)

♥ CHI Silk Infusion - I typically wash my hair at night & let it air dry, but lately i've been washing my hair in the morning and blow drying it instead (usually too tired/lazy at night!).  So i've been putting in a little bit of this into my damp hair before i blow dry it, to protect it from the heat.  This makes my hair super soft and healthy-looking, and i noticed my hair dries faster with this in.

♥ Got 2 B Guardian Angel - My phase of wavy/beachy-hair loving has ended and i've really been enjoying wearing my hair poker-straight.  Once my hair is dry, i spritz a bit of this in before i straighten it.  It smells gorgeous and makes straightening my hair a breeze since it really does protect the hair well and makes it super soft and shiny.  This is probably my new holy grail heat protectant. :)

♥ L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara - I've fallen in love with this mascara!  I was running out of my go-to Clinique High Impact mascara, but felt like trying something new and ended up trying this one, which is literally a third of the price of the Clinique one.  It's super black and makes my lashes look amazing, almost like falsies.  Just like the name implies, it's really volumizes the lashes.  Two coats of this and you have *the* perfect eyelashes.

♥ Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil/Gel in Dark Blonde - My Rimmel brow pencil was getting smaller & smaller so i went to go pick up a new one, but it was nowhere to be found!  So i ventured to find a new one & my mom actually spotted this one for me.  I was a bit hesitant to get this because i don't really like 'gimmicky' products like this, with two different products in one 'thing', but thought i'd try it anyway.  It's a lot less red toned than the Rimmel one (i used to one in Hazel) and goes with my hair color a lot more.  The gel is amazing as well.  Will be repurchasing this over & over!

♥ Urban Decay Primer Potion - I know i did a post on how i had converted to using Too Faced Shadow Insurance instead of UDPP, but i got another tube of the primer potion with the Naked palette and it just reminded me of how much i love this stuff.  I got comments on that post about how UD had started making the primer in tube form, so i think when i use up the Shadow Insurance, i will definitely be purchasing the tube form of UDPP instead!  Don't get me wrong, they're both great primers, i just find UDPP works better with my eyeshadows & my skin for some reason!

♥ Sephora Collection Professionnel Mineral Powder Brush #45 - I got this brush as a gift from my sister back in March and i can't believe i haven't blogged about this yet!  I use this to apply/buff in my Bare Minerals foundation and it makes doing so a dream.  It helps to build up the coverage and is super soft.  I know some people use this for liquid foundation as well, but i use it for powder.  It washes up really nicely as well & dries quickly!  Can't recommend this brush enough, it's hands down a must-have for me.

The flash washed out the color quite a bit, but it's deffo a bright coral. :D

♥ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 525 "Peachy Scene" - Kinda bought this on a whim on my first ever trip to CVS.  I've raved about this range of lipsticks so many times and they are definitely the best i've tried.  I added yet another shade to my collection and this isn't a color i'd usually go for.  I'd describe it as more of a bright coral than a peach, and it has a bit of a sheen to it.  It's so nice for summer & i've gotten lovely compliments on it!  If you don't want to do a full on red lip but want to venture out from nudes & pinks, i'd definitely recommend going for corals! :)  Really adds a bit of color & interest to an outfit.

♥

How much is your face worth?

I saw this tag floating about the beauty community, and although i'm a bit scared to see the grand total of how much i spend on my everyday makeup, i thought i'd do it!  Many of you will probably think this is an excessive amount of makeup for one to put on on a daily basis, but... yeah, i can't really think of an excuse to put here. :P  I do feel more confident & just better about myself after i've put some slap on, so i don't mind spending a little bit more money & time on doing so.

The only part of my routine that stays the consistent day-to-day is the 'base' category, with foundation & such.  Other than that, i wear more or less makeup & use different products in the other categories depending on my mood/what i'm doing that day.  The products included in this post are what i use on an average day & they make up a look that i've been wearing often recently.

Hope this is interesting to you ladies, i will now hold my breath while i add up the cost of everything! :O

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Base

Bare Minerals Prime Time - $21

Benefit Erase Paste - $26

MAC Studio Finish concealer - $16.50

Bare Minerals Original Foundation - $25

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil - $19

 Cheeks

Bare Minerals Warmth All-Over Face Color - $18

Sleek Contour Kit - $10

Clinique Powder Blush in New Clover - free sample size with purchase so i'm not counting it :)

 Eyes

Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde -  $6.48

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - $18

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in RSVP - $19

GOSH Quad in Driftwood - £7.99, about $13

GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink - free with purchase of the quad :)

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in True Black - $15

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara - $5.84

Lips

Carmex - about $1

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It - $4.97

Total

$218.79

Well, that is slightly appalling isn't it?!  To be fair, each of the products do last quite a while and i believe i get my money's worth out of them... Anyway, it's how i choose to spend my hard-earned cash.  Consumerism ftw. ;)

♥

Monthly Favorites: May

Have quite a few favorites this month; this is probably because i have been spending way too much on cosmetics & hair products lately... i apologize, bank account.  I also haven't done one of these monthly favorites posts in a while, and that's probably for the same sort of reason, in months past i haven't splurged on anything really as i had been saving up for my trip.  (A little sidenote as i got a question about this on my last post: yes i will be doing a post on my trip eventually, it will just take a while to put together!  Sorry if you're a bit annoyed with me...)

This month i've been using a lot of products i got whilst in London, as well as two i got back here in the States.  If you are also from the US and are wondering where you can purchase brands like Barry M and Sleek Makeup that aren't available here, i suggest Googling them and going to the brands' official websites.  The shipping costs may be a bit horrendous, but in some cases i do think it is worth it!  On to what i've been loving in the past month. :)

♥ GOSH Eyeshadow Quad in Driftwood & Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan.

The first time i tried this GOSH palette, i was actually really disappointed as the colors all tended to look the same on my eyes and it just didn't stand out to me at all, but now i've been using this most everyday!  I've found a combination of products to use in tandem with this palette to make a really lovely makeup look.  I use Benefit's RSVP as a base, then apply the Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan all over the lid & slightly into the crease.  I then apply the medium brown shade (top, right) into the crease, the dark brown (bottom, left) into the outer v, and the highlight shade (top, left) in the inner corner and brow bone.

The Dazzle Dust in Tan is very similar to the famous MAC eyeshadow in All That Glitters, but you definitely get more product for your money with the Dazzle Dust!  This shadow is so versatile and i think it would look so lovely on just about every skin tone.

 ♥ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It.

The Color Sensational lipsticks are hands down my favorite lipsticks i've ever tried - yes, i even prefer these over MAC! *shock horror*  The formula, the color payoff, the longevity, everything is just spot on!  Well done Maybelline.  This shade in particular is a fairly new addition to my collection.  It's a super lovely nudey-pink shade, and leaves a bit of a sheen to the lips.  It's one of those lippies that would definitely be described as a "my lips, but better" shades.  It's so perfect and wearable, i think i will repurchase this until Maybelline stops making these (and probably even after...they shouldn't stop making these anyway! ;)

 ♥ Sleek Contour Kit in Light, Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight, and GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink.

I talked about all three of these products in my "Gosh & Sleek Loving" post, so if you want to read my little review on these products, deffo have a looksie.  Thought they were worth mentioning again in this post. :)

(left to right: 264 Pink Iridescent Glitter, 309 Strawberry Ice Cream, 318 Peach Melba, 304 Mint Green)

♥ Barry M Nail Paints.

I have been absolutely loving the Barry M Nail Paints i got (yes, i did get nine... *slap on the wrist*).  I had a laugh at all the comments from some of you saying you literally giggled when you saw how many i bought, haha... i'm so pathetic, i know!  The four above are the ones i have already tried (besides the Nail Effects one) and have been looooooving.  These nail paints have made me actually enjoy painting my nails, they dry so quickly and the colors are so fun!

Swatches (top to bottom): Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It (is lighter irl!), and GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink

♥ Charles Worthington Rough & Tough Front Row Salt Spray.

I've done a post on this showing how i style my hair using this product, which you can read here. :)

♥ Tangle Teezer - Original.

In my London haul post, i said i didn't really know my thoughts on this product, but after a bit more use i've grown to love it.  It's one of those products that you don't really realize how good it is until you've stopped using it.  For instance, i'd been using this for about two weeks and thought it was nothing special, but then i decided to use my regular paddle hair brush.  The regular hair brush made it incredibly painful to detangle my hair and it ended up just ripping my hair out, really!  Since then, i've been using the Tangle Teezer - on wet and dry hair.  I love this and would recommend it to anyone whose hair gets all mangled like mine.  Such a hair and pain saver!

♥

11 most reached-for products

As some of you may or may not have noticed by now, i am quite the fan of tags.  This will be my 21st tag (and counting) post that i have on this here blog - some most of them may be a bit pointless (the "personal" ones), while the other beauty-related ones, like my old favorite "8 Things Tag", may be of more use to you lovelies.  Well, i'm sure many of you will be relieved to read that this is one of the beauty-related tags. :)

I was catching up on my Youtube subscriptions and came across one of Allison's newest videos, her 11 Most Reached-For Products tag, if you couldn't already tell by the title. ;)  I figured i would hop on the bandwagon myself & give my own two cents worth.  Just as Allison explained in her video, i'm leaving out my everyday foundation/face routine since that doesn't really change much for me.  For the most part, i'm just putting in products that i go to without much thought, that i know will look good & that i will still like by the end of the day.

Here are my 11 most most "reached for" products, in no particular order ♥:

1. MAC Studio Finish Concealer

This one of my first MAC purchases & it lasted me for a long, long time.  I use it to cover my blemishes (i find it's too drying for my under-eye area), and along with a bit of mineral foundation over top, it provides really nice coverage.  I find that my skin will break-out or be irritated by a lot of face products of various brands, but this doesn't cause my skin to react in anyway.  Will definitely have to buy a new tub of this!

2. Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in RSVP

I've already done a review on this, which you can read here.  This has been my go-to eye base/primer as of late.  It's so quick & easy to just slick on and it's quite versatile as well.  I wear it by itself with liquid eyeliner & mascara, with MAC's All That Glitters eyeshadow over it, MAC's Satin Taupe in the crease, & Twinks in the outer v, or just by itself & a light-medium brown shade in the crease (or Twinks in the outer v, blended into the crease).  As you can tell by that previous, unsightly sentence, it looks good so many ways!  It's love.

3. Clinique Brush-On Cream Eyeliner in True Black

This is one of the newer additions to my makeup collection and i don't know what i've been thinking in regards to liquid/cream eyeliner for all this time!  It has incredibly long lasting power, which i find to be perfect as my eyes are unnaturally watery/teary all the time haha.  It may take a little more time in the morning, but it's worth it for me.  May do a full, in-depth review of this eventually!

4. Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Pink Please

If you've read my blog for a while, you know i have so much love for this lipstick.  I wear this most everyday & it is always in my makeup bag.  It looks really nice with just about every look & adds a lovely bit of color to my otherwise pale face & lips!  Read my really old review of it here. :)

5. OPI nail polish in Got a Date To-Knight

If i ever finish a bottle of nail polish in my lifetime, this will definitely be the one!  This color is such a lovely, baby pink that i find is really flattering with my skintone no matter what time of the year.  I wouldn't say this nail polish is particulary long-lasting, and it also takes quite a few layers to build up the color, but this is by far one of my favorite shades i own.  Whenever i'm a bit indecisive of what color to paint my nails, i choose this one 99% of the time!

6. Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black

I used to be quite the Covergirl Lash Blast fanatic, although that was great for volumizing my lashes, i found it didn't do too much for length.  I'd had samples & even a full-size tube of High Impact before, but never really appreciated it until recently.  It both lengthens & volumizes, and it quite a deep black as well.

7. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin (called Drink Me, Eat Me in this palette)

This is by far one of my favorite all-over-the-lid colors and actually even one of my favorite eyeshadows i own.  It accentuates the eye very nicely - with a complimentary crease & outer v color, it's perfection.  It's also quite long lasting, and with a base it lasts for even longer.  I find it's really versatile as well, it looks so good with so many different combinations.  When in doubt, i almost always go for this shadow with Too Faced Shadow Insurance or Benefit CCS in RSVP on its own for a lid color.

8. Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in New Clover

I've mentioned this product in a few monthly favorites, but i just had to add it to this list.  I don't have an immense collection of blushes, and generally just use up the sample-size blushes i get from usually Clinique, but i find that i reach for this shade just about everyday of the week.  It gives such a natural flush to my cheeks and looks really flattering & pretty on my fair skintone.

9. MAC eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

Satin Taupe was one of the first MAC eyeshadows that i added to my collection, and it is one of my must-haves.  Along with many of the products on this list, it is very versatile.  It looks really lovely in the crease with just about any champagne color on the lid.  I usually wear it in the crease & built up in the outer corner (or Twinks in the outer corner instead) with Benefit's RSVP, but it looks great with just about any combination.

10. Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink Pout

This is probably the second most-used lipstick in my collection, after Maybelline's Pink Please.  :)  On me, it shows up as a lovely baby pink.  As you can see, it's a bit messed up...it actually broke the day i got it & i just had to stick it back in the tube in order to use it.  It's a bit drying as well, but it lasts quite a long time & has a nice matte finish.

11. Sigma E25 Blending Brush

This travel size brush came free with a Sigma order i made around Christmas.  It's supposed to be a dupe for MAC's 217 brush, but i have to say i actually prefer this one to the 217.  My 217 actually became quite fluffy over time & doesn't apply eyeshadow to the crease as well/as clean as it did when i first got it.  Maybe it's because i haven't had this for as long as i have the 217, but it applies crease colors SO well & i'm in love!  Quite the nice surprise to see this came free with my order. :)

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What products do you find yourself reaching for the most?

♥

What's in My Makeup Bag? ♥

Now i'm one of those girls who tends to carry her life around in her bag, but recently i've tried to minimize the amount of quote-unquote "crap" that i carry around with me - to save both my shoulder & my sanity.  Whilst rummaging through my bag and trying to make sense of all the mess, i first & foremost stumbled across my makeup bag and thought it would be a good idea to downsize the amount of junk i tote around in there.

I came to the conclusion that i really didn't need to carry around 50 hairbands & an entire palette of eyeshadows 24/7, so i took out all the unnecessary & excess baggage - resulting in a minimal, yet efficient makeup bag to tote around all the essentials i need on a daily basis :)

What are these essentials you ask?

I guess i'll let you all take a little peek ;)

The bag itself

This bag actually came free with a subscription to Teen Vogue.  I like to switch up my makeup bag quite a bit, but this is the one i'm currently using!  It's spacious on the inside & easy to find in my handbag.  It's not the most gorgeous thing ever, but i think it's quite nice & is easy to clean!

01. Compact mirror - Very handy to have a mirror (obv!) - for touching up makeup, fixing your hair, etc etc :)

02. Tresemme Travel Size Tres Two Hold Hairspray - Another very handy thing to have for long days at school and running about town.  Tres Two is my go-to/everyday hairspray, but the bottle is absolutely massive & definitely not something you would want to have to carry around!  If you live in the States, Walmart always has a little travel section with sample size products & such, which is where i got this bottle!

03. Eyelash curlers - I don't really like reapplying mascara, so i take my trusty eyelash curlers around in my makeup bag to give my eyelashes a little perk during the usually long, dragging day!  These particular ones are by Maybelline, but any would be fine :)

04. Facial tissues - aka Kleenex!  I have a little thing of tissues in my makeup bag at all times, even if i don't have the sniffles!  I can't tell you how many times i've went to the bathroom in a stall that didn't have toilet paper!  Very useful thing to have in those situations haha.

05. Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder - I can get quite oily throughout the day, so this is an essential if i want to prevent looking like an oil well!

06. Bobby pins - Pretty self-explanatory :)  My hair is usually a mess, so these definitely come in handy.

07. Lip products - I put the lip products (lippie & lip gloss) i'm using in a particular day into my makeup bag to touch up throughout the course of the day.  These two are my very well-loved Revlon Matte in Pink Pout & Maybelline Color Sensational in Pink Please - two you've all heard me rave about before, which are the two most likely to be floating about in my makeup bag.

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That's honestly all i carry around!  What do you girls always have to have with you in your makeup bag?

My next post will probably be on the few bits i got from Forever 21 yesterday.  Until then, hope you're having a lovely weekend!  ♥

Ask me anything / Tweet tweet!

♥

September Faves :)

Another month has gone by.....*insert long sigh here*.  September just flew by didn't it?  I swear i just saw Gaga last week!  Well, with the passing of another month, comes the obligatory monthly favorites post!  These have to be one of my favorite times of posts, both to write & to read.  This is probably because it really shows the products that have stood the test of time - i mean, you can try out all these new products, but with monthly favorites it shows what you really ended up using & what have really worked out for you!

Well i'll get onto what i've been loving this past month.  These are in no particular order :)

001. Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen in Purple

I've talked about this liquid eyeliner before in a fotd post, but i thought i'd include it in my September faves.  As i said in that post, it's really nice to switch up your everyday look.  I usually stick to my trusty black liquid liner, but it's nice to change it up every once in a while :).  This liner is really long lasting as well - it's lasted through many a gym class & long school days.  It does fade a bit after wearing it several hours, but that doesn't really turn me off!  Definitely worth a go :)

002. Brown eyeliner

Yes, another eyeliner!  I have been totally loving brown eyeliner in general.  This particular one is by Maybelline, but it's so old i don't even think it's even sold anymore!  Any brown eyeliner is fine though :).  Brown eyeliner is such great alternative to black - sometimes i find black can be very harsh, but brown gives just enough definition without being to harsh - love love love.

003. Benefit Erase Paste

When i first got this, i admittedly wasn't too fond of it - i didn't think it gave enough coverage, etc.  Since then, i've learned how to work with it to give just the right effect.  This is my go-to concealer for under the eyes, and it's just 'alright' on blemishes - i feel like i have to pack it on to cover any spots.  But as i said, it's wonderful for covering dark circles & brightening the undereye area to make you look like you got a full night's sleep, even if you didn't :)

004. Clinique Powder Blush in New Clover

I've recently try to branch out from my trusty Clinique Iced Lotus blush to try out different shades.  I have to admit i don't own a lot of blushes, mainly because i find many of the ones i try out break me out, but this one is lovely.  I got it in a gift set in the spring - hence the pretty flower packaging.  It's a pretty coral-peachy color, and gives a nice flush to the cheeks - it's lovely.

005. Yankee Candle Lip Balm

Who knew a company that's famous for their delicious candles made such fantastic lip balms?  This lip balm trumps my Burt's Bees chapstick..and even my Carmex!  This stuff is absolutely perfect for prepping the lips for lipstick.  No flaky, dry lips for me! :)  Definitely something to try out!

006. Bare Escentuals Max Coverage Concealer Brush

Last beauty item for this post!  I use this brush with my Bare Minerals foundation to set my concealer, and also to give a bit more coverage - it's absolutely fantastic!  It packs on the product - in a good way, haha - and is just a breeze to use.  Perfect traveling size as well :)

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Do you enjoy the festive Halloween decorations? LOL

007. Vitamin D Tablets

I went to the doctor because i was feeling just really down & depressed, and she told me it might be because of seasonal affective disorder, so she told me to try out taking Vitamin D tablets because it was worth trying & wouldn't do any harm to my body (Cliff note's version haha).  I started taking them about a week & a half ago & already feel a difference!  Maybe it's just in my head, but either way haha.  Strong bones & teeth are the way forward right? ;)

008. AUTUMN!

Yes, i do love rainy/generally crappy weather!  Autumn has got to be one of my favorite seasons - if not my favorite!  The air is crisp, the leaves are turning bright yellow, orange, & red, the sun is rising a bit later & setting a bit earlier, i've had the luxury of bundling up in sweaters & blankets....i just love it!  Bring on the holidays ;)

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More random favorites

009. Music - I've really been enjoying Beach House - particularly the song Zebra -Victoria's voice is amazing.

010. Eye candy - Andrew VanWyngarden.  End of story.  He's just so beautiful.  You may not think so...but tbh that's a good thing - more for me!  Haha ;)  He seems like such a great person as well :) ♥

What have you all been loving this past month?!

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♥

Eyeko Saucy Polish! ♥

As some of you may already know, i'm currently obsessed with all things red - nails, clothes, you name it!  So when i saw this polish, i knew i just had to paint it on my nails straight away.  The polish i so lovingly glided on my nails is one of Eyeko's newest polishes - Saucy Polish For Naughty Nails!  It's a bright, classic tomato red - the color & the name of the polish actually reminds me of salsa..tehe :)

I had heard a lot of great things about Eyeko's nail polishes, so i had high hopes for some seriously naughty nails ;)

Base coat - Maybelline Express Finish 50-Second Nail Color Base & Top Coat
Top coat - Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat

Saucy Polish actually went on really well, it dripped a bit at first, but overall it was really easy to work with.  You could get away with using just one coat to be honest, but since i really like to pack the color on, i ended up using 2-3 coats, depending how each nail looked after the second coat.  I found it dried really quickly, which of course i loved - i can't stand waiting forever for my nails to dry!



The brush isn't too thin or too thick, or too plastic-y, which is nice, but i did find that since it's so long, it was a bit messy, but nothing a little touch-up with a q-tip couldn't fix.
I did notice a little of wear at the tips of my nails, but that may just be because i'm rough on my nails :)

I really love the packaging, it's not like any other bottle i own!  It's quite quirky, and i adore the cute name :).  I'm a total sucker for cutesy things like that!  I think red nail polish is something every girl should own - it adds a little bit of sauciness to any outfit and can really pull an outfit together, it's like the cherry on top of any look!

Overall, i was really pleased with this polish & would recommend it to anyone who's looking to add a little spice to their look!  Eyeko polishes are available for $5.50 to those in the US on Eyeko's website, and Saucy Polish in particular is available here!  If you live in the UK, i think some Superdrugs sell Eyeko, and you can always order online :)

Look out for some more posts on other Eyeko products in the near future! ♥
Hope you're all having a lovely week!
xoxo
Disclaimer: I was sent Saucy Polish for consideration, but of course this is 100% my opinion, i'm not being compensated for this review, and i'm not affiliated with Eyeko!

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Fall-Inspired Nails ♥

I've been inspired by the recent weather change in just about every way in regards to my appearance - clothes (cue the cardigans & scarves :), makeup, and today - nails!  I love bright, colorful nail polish just as much as the next girl, but i embrace warmer, darker colors just as much.  It was quite enjoyable removing my neon pink polish and giving myself a nice fall-inspired mani!

Sorry for the mess ;)

After taking a brief scope through my polish collection, i landed on OPI's "It's a Doozi, Says Suzi", which i got in a sale at Boston Store last year, i believe :)

"It's a Doozi, Says Suzi" is a gorgeous vampy red, with subtle gold reflex in it.  In most lighting, it looks like a super deep red, almost a bit brown.  In sunlight, the gold really comes through & sparkles with all it's might :).  Suzi is absolutely fab!  I had to apply three coats, but it went on very smooth.

As a base coat i used Maybelline's Express Finish 50-Second Nail Color Base & Top Coat.  Three layers of OPI's pretty polish later, i applied Revlon's Extra Life No Chip Top Coat, which i am absolutely in love with!  Review for it here.

This is probably the best mani i gave myself in a while, hehe.  Look out for some more nail posts ladies!

What's your favorite color to paint your nails for fall? :)

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I wanted to put a little spot in this post in remembrance of the horrific events on September 11, 2001.  Thoughts and love to all the families and friends who lost the ones the love ♥.

Never forget.

xoxo

♥

Recent Beauty Purchases ♥

I have to admit that i haven't been buying as much makeup as i'd like, but literally all the money that i've been making has been going toward either saving up for driver's ed, or saving up for my trip to England & France in April.  Since i don't have a job, i've been doing petty chores around the house & spending as little money as possible.

That being said, whenever my mom offers to take me shopping & spend a little money on me - i have to accept!  On one of our recent shopping outings, she took my to Walmart where i bought a couple things :)

♥ Clairol Natural Instincts Rich Color Creme Non-Permanent Hairdye in 31 Coffee Creme (Rich Darkest Brown) - around $5 with coupon
This is my third time purchasing this line of hair dye (i can't bring myself to branch out!), i've done a post before with the result of the last time i dyed my hair, so if you want to read that click here :).  I'm not sure exactly when i'll be dying my hair, but sometime soon for sure!  I'll definitely be doing a post on it so look out for that :)

♥ CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof in 825 "Very Black" - $6 with coupon
This mascara is one of the staples in my collection.  I had a $1 off Covergirl coupon so i thought i'd pick up another tube :).  I've never tried the waterproof version, so i thought i'd try it out for a change.  Three cheers for pretty lashes :)

♥ Tresemme Curl Hydration Lotion Creme - $4-$5
I was strolling down the haircare aisle in attempt to look for a new hairspray when i spotted this.  From what i read on the bottle, it's basically a leave-in conditioner & not exactly 'curl-specific', which is good as i was actually on the hunt for a leave-in conditioner :).  Haven't tried this yet, but i'll test it out & see how it goes!
I also bought a backup of my favorite hairspray, Tresemme Tres Two Hold Hairspray.

♥ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 025 Pink Please - on sale for about $5
Another repurchase!  This lipstick is one of my faves & definitely my most-worn lipstick.  It gives just the right pop of color, but is still quite subtle.  I have a full review here if you're interested!

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I hope you ladies are all having a lovely week!  Tomorrow's Friday, yay :)
I'm off to go get ready to go see Lady GaGa tonight!  So freakin' excited ♥
xoxoxo

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Mini Q+A ♥

I was tagged by the lovely Sabra Rose to do the 8 questions tag!  Thank you soo much again sweetie :)

I've already done the '8 questions tag', but the questions are different every time, so i thought i'd go ahead & do it :) ♥

I also want to say a quick thank you to everyone who follows me as i reached 350 followers the other day!  Thank you ladies soo, sooo much - i don't deserve you ;D

click photo for credit :)

1. What's your favorite lipstick or lipgloss?

I'm definitely more of a lipstick person, and i have two lipsticks that i find myself reaching for the most :).  They are, Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in "Pink Please" - a more medium-toned, peachy-pink (review here) & Revlon's Matte Lipstick in "Pink Pout" - a warm, light pink color (review here).

2. Do you love fake tan or do you just embrace being pale?

I'm naturally super pale (we're talking NW15) & i've always hated it, i just never did anything about it.  But i've recently gotten into self-tan & i'm never going back!  Haha :) (A post on my self-tan venture here).

3. Are you a dog or cat person?

I think i'm more of a cat person.  One of the main reasons may be that i'm allergic to dogs :/, but i feel like i can relate to cats - as weird as that sounds hahaha.  They mainly just sleep all day, stretch, lounge around - exactly what i do ;D.  They're also mega adorable of course!  I still do adore dogs though :)

4. Do you feel more comfortable in jeans or a skirt?

I've never found the 'perfect' pair of jeans (i'm quite tall, so jeans either run too short, too big around the waist, too tight in the thighs, etc.), so i never really feel too comfortable in them.  And with skirts, i always feel really fussy with them, haha, but i think they are more comfortable tbh.  I'm still most comfortable in leggings or a dress though :)

5. Do you like matte or glowy skin?  Do you prefer to start with a matte base and highlight certain places on your face or do you just like to glow all over?

I like to try & find a happy-medium between the two.  I like to start with a matte base & highlight certain places, for sure - especially in the winter.  In summer though, i feel like it's easier to get away with more glowy/dewy skin.  I have quite oily skin, so either way, i'm always a bit shiny/dewy!

6. What's your favorite fruit?

I used to like strawberries & pineapple the most, but ever since this summer, i've started to like watermelon the best :).  So watermelon i think is my fave atm, but i love red grapes & green apples as well :)

7. Who's your style icon and who's your makeup icon?

I can't say i have one specific icon for either, but i do like to draw inspiration from celebrities, bloggers, magazines/ads, etc.  Some celebrities whose style i love are: Rachel Zoe, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, Whitney Port - anyone with a laid-back, bohemian-chic kind of style :).  As for makeup, i mainly just look up to beauty bloggers for inspiration to be honest :)  But i think i'll be unoriginal & say the Kardashians celebrity-wise - we all know they look absolutely fab 24/7!

8. How do you feel about tattoos?

Unlike my parents, i'm quite open to tattoos.  I think tattoos that have a meaning behind them are brilliant.  If you're going to permanently mark something onto your body, it might as well mean something to you, otherwise i think it's just something you'll regret.  If i were to ever get one, i think it would be just one word, or a short phrase that holds quite a significance to me in my life.  Overall, i think it's a personal choice & should be really thought through before actually getting it done, instead of it just being on a whim - remember, your skin isn't going to be this firm & wrinkle-free forever!

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Nails: Polka Dot Fail! ♥

I got a few comments on my June Favorites post about my nails (haha) & i was planning to do a nails-of-the-week post on these nails anyway, so here we go!  Teehee :)

I was inspired by another beauty blogger who also did polka-dot nails, i literally searched for 15 minutes trying to find who it was so i could link her in here, but i couldn't find her!  Errg.

Products used, in order:

-Maybelline Express Finish Nail Enamel Top & Base Coat - as base coat

-3 coats of Orly "Pretty Please" (this has been in my past two NOTW's haha)

-Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in "Blue Me Away" - polka dots

-Revlon No Chip Top Coat - review here

I put on the polka dots with a toothpick, and it was a total fail!  It's really not the nail varnish's fault, it was all mine!  I'm completely impatient when it comes to nails, but i really like my messy polka dots tbh :) - the polka dots are even worse on my other hand!

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I'd like to say a quick thank you to the girls who've tagged me to do those fun tags & who've given me awards!  I promise i'll get around to them, soo sorry it's taking so long!  Xoxo ♥

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June Faves :)

Another month has gone by my lovelies...2010 is more than half over now - weren't we just celebrating the new year a couple weeks ago?!  Goodness!

Here's another June Favorites post, i'm sure your dashboards are blowing up with them right now, but i thought i'd share with you all what i've been loving this month :)

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair ♥

I already did a post including this product with a bit of a rave (link here), but i have been totally loving this product this month!  It has a thick consistency and creates the most rich, luscious lather which leaves my hair feeling super soft.  It also doesn't leave my hair feeling dried out like other shampoos seem to do.  Love!

I'm pointing to the shadow i'm talking about - it's the brown matte one :)

Lancome Eyeshadow in "Mochaccino" ♥

I have loved this shadow for the longest time, long before i got my Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows!  It's a very lovely light brown color that is quite buildable.  I usually do a light shimmery color (most likely Urban Decay's "Sin") all over, and then place this in the crease & build it up in the outer corner, with a black liquid liner, mascara, & a bit of black liner on the waterline - it's such a simple, but pretty look :)

Bare Minerals All-Over Face Color in "Warmth" ♥

Since it's summer, i've totally embraced the whole 'bronze-y' type of look :).  I use Warmth as a bronzer & a subtle contour and i love it!  It's really easy to work with and looks really natural - although it looks orangey in the pot.  You also need to smallest amount, so this sample-size container will last for a long, long time!

Maybelline Eyelash Curler ♥

I'll be the first to admit that i'm a lash fanatic.  I love my mascara, and i love my eyelash curlers!  Something as simple as curling your lashes can really help your lashes look longer and help you appear more awake - & i personally think it just looks really pretty :).  I curl my lashes before i put on mascara & in the middle of the day, i re-curl them as they can droop a bit :).

Up & Up Women's Daily Multivitamin Dietary Supplement ♥

My doctor suggested i go on a multivitamin, so of course i didddddd.  Up & Up is just Target's brand, and this bottle was only a couple of dollars & really has the same vitamins & minerals as the more popular & costly brands.  The only thing about these is that they smell kind of bad, but i just hold my breath :) - it also took a couple days to get used to swallowing that massive pill haha.

Boots Botanics Organic Face Rosewater Toner ♥

I bought this after i heard a lot of positive reviews on it, and i've had this for a couple weeks now.  I absolutely love this stuff!  I used it with a cotton ball after cleansing my face & it removes any makeup & soap that may still be on my face.  It's also gentle, unlike other toners i've used (*Clinique*...ahem).  I love that it's organic & as very few ingredients as well :).  I honestly noticed a difference in my skin just a few days after starting using this!  Lovelovelove.  (Boots brand is available at Target in the US if anyone was wondering :)

This was a blush-bronzer duo, hence the other pan :)

Clinique Powder Blush in "Iced Lotus" ♥

As you can all probably tell, this blush has been well-loved.  It's a very pretty light-medium pink (if that makes sense :), with a little bit of shimmer.  I don't usually like blushes with shimmer in them, as i have quite oily skin, but i feel in summer i can pull it off a bit more :).

What have you been loving this month? ♥

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