Makeup MAYhem: Is the accent nail still a thing?

 

 

 

I sure hope so because I just couldn't decide what color to paint my nails. I am an in serious need of summer. I haven't ever seen the ocean (flying over it doesn't count) and these two colors reminded me of that ideal ocean color. The accent nail is Essie's "Lapiz of Luxury" and the others are Essie's "Mint Candy Apple."

I'm still trying to perfect the at-home manicure. It is almost sad to watch me try and paint my right hand with my left hand. You'd think I had never used my left hand for anything... ever. But I have found a solution for the crippling drying process: OPI's Drying Drops. I wait a minute after applying my final coat, drop 2-3 drops onto each nail and in less than 5 minutes they are DRY! And I mean, you can do arts and crafts dry.

I still struggle with the (almost) immediate chipping process. Anyone have any suggestions? Any at-home manicure tips and tricks that you are generous enough to share?

 

 

I'm starting "Gone Girl" today. I have heard awesome reviews!

 

Yours xx



Makeup MAYhem: Lashes Baby!

There are things I don't leave the house without: my purse, my keys, my phone, and mascara.

I'm addicted to mascara but there are three that are constant products in my makeup bag. For about a year now, Maybelline "The Falsies" has been my comfort mascara. The wand is curved so it is sure to grab ahold of all the lashes, even those little itty-bitty ones near the corner of my eye. Plus, with oily eyelids, it doesn't give me that raccoon eye at the end of a 10 hour day! It is my mascara bestie.

Benefit "They're Real" mascara is what I wear if I need a lashes pick-me-up. Ba-BAM! Lashes! It is on the more expensive side of mascara (read: not drugstore) but, it is actually worth it if you need lashes that are going to look fake, but totally aren't. It is pain to get off (seriously, this stuff does not move), I can get away with nothing but this on my eyes and look like I have put so much effort in. The wand has this spiked end which helps separate and get those little lashes to become not-so little anymore. Expensive and tough to remove but, wowsa, it curls, volumizes, lengths, darkens... it does all the things a mascara should do.

A new addition to my must-have collection is the L'Oreal "Telescopic Shocking Extensions" mascara. This for those spider-leg like lashes. The wand is very small, which can be a turn off, but it makes my lashes go the distance, lasting all day and night. I need a mascara that is going to stay with me on length and fluttery lashes, which is exactly what this little guy does. Plus, how cute is the packaging? Like a little telescope! So clever, L'Oreal, so clever.

What are you favorite mascaras? Anyone else have that one product you won't leave the house without?

Yours xx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money, pictures were taken with my camera (unless otherwise noted/credited) and all opinions are mine and in no way represent anyone or anything other than me, myself and I. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.

Makeup MAYhem: Skin Care: Foundation before Foundation

With a couple of tweaks, I have a skin care routine for the first time in my makeup wearing life that makeup has become an accessory, not a need. My mother, aka the wisest woman I know, gave me the best advice when I wanted to start wearing makeup. If you are going to wear makeup, you have got to take care of your skin. We went to the Clinique counter and bought the 3-Step Program (if you've been a loyal reader this is not the first time you've heard this story). 

I'm lucky. I have good skin. (Now that I have said that queue the pimples..) I have oily/combination skin; particularly oily in my T-zone. I rarely get breakouts but when I do they are, as assumed, nas-tay.

I wanted to start doing more posts about beauty and what perfect timing with Makeup MAYhem going around the blogosphere. But this year, I'm playing too!

So, Mother Knows Best. Skincare before makeup.

 



I have two different skin care times: Morning and Night. Both have different needs.

First up, morning. The goal: Make me look human. The products: Cleanser, Spray Hydrate, Eye Cream, Serum, Moisturizer. The time: 3 minutes max.

In the morning, I just want my skin to be clean and ready for the day. I cleanse, tone, moisturize. Very simple concept, nothing too scary. Pro tip: Wait 10 minutes after skin care before applying makeup. It makes it sit better on your face.

 



The night time goal is to clean my face off and moisturize. Usually after a long day, getting the makeup and dirt off my face is like the last possible thing I want to do. I really want to plop down and pass out. BUT, tomorrow, I will regret it. So I've made this guy quick and easy. I find if I watch a YouTube video or listen to some relaxing music while I do my routine, it doesn't seem too bad.

I have to get my makeup off before anything else. I swipe on the eye makeup remover and the cleansing milk from Clinique then I cleanse with the fresh soy face cleanser. This cleanser smells like cucumbers. It is also great at removing any makeup that may have been missed (stubborn mascara!).

Toner toner toner! I don't exfoliate my skin enough so this gets into those pores for me. Spray hydrate... need I say more? Argan Oil = my favorite thing ever. Serious. And more moisturizer.

Keys for my skin: I love to moisturize. Keeping that moisture in, especially at night, is important for me. It gives my skin an extra large drink of water. 

And some days, I just can't with all the things so... enter cleansing wipes. (Ssshh, don't tell my mom.)

 

What do you need out of your skincare? Best pre-makeup advice?

Yours xx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money, pictures were taken with my camera (unless otherwise noted/credited) and all opinions are mine and in no way represent anyone or anything other than me, myself and I. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.

April Favorites

It has been a while since I've done a Favorites post. I haven't been testing too many new products out that I have been loving. I want to make sure I am sharing true favorites with you, lovely readers, so, yeah, that's my long winded excuse for not posting March Favorites.

April was full of showers (some with snow.. bleck.) so hopefully May brings some May-like flowers and sunshine. I do like a little rain so on those days I was exponentially happier than others. Does anyone else feel the same way about rain? I have heard that it makes people depressed and unhappy but, not me. I enjoy lots of things about the rain: the smell, the puddles, raincoats, clouds, free car wash.... the list goes on. But I am so ready for some sunshine!!

My favorites have been the more constant items in my routine and items that I couldn't have survived without. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 





Origins GinZing eye cream
In order to make myself look and feel human again after waking up this has been a MUST. Slap a bit of this on after a morning cleanse keeps my bags at bag and really lights up my under eye areas without globbing on the concealer. When I do put makeup on over it, the makeup sits nicely and doesn't crease or goop up. (Such descriptive words today...)

Clinique Moisture Surge
This was an unexpected free with purchase product from a later favorite. I went into the Clinique counter to get more of my 3-step treatment and the new Cheek Pop blushers, this little guy came home with me too. My skin has been feeling the effect of winter as of late so the more moisture the better. I have been using this at night before bed and when I wake up in the morning all the dry patches are gone! Poof! It is like a nice cold drink of ice water on a hot summer's day for my face. I really like this guy... enough to purchase a full size!

 



Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Beauty Balm
Talk about a name...shesh. I had been on the hunt for a new drugstore bronzer. I watched multiple YouTube videos, read oodles of beauty blogs, and this one seemed to have a lot of positive recommendations. It is shimmery but not too shimmery; it is bronzing but not orange and very easy to blend. I dust it across my cheeks, forehead, down my nose, and under my chin. I have used it to contour but I like it more as an all over color.

 



 



Clinique Cheek Pop in 01 Ginger Pop
The packaging, the design, the color and the texture of this little guy is #flawless. If you are a blush-a-holic, this is must have. It looks like a cream blush but has a powder finish on the cheeks. I use my Real Technique Stippling brush to apply and then I blend with my fingers (if I'm feeling particularly rushed) or my blush brush. The color payoff is awesome -- super pigmented. Start with a little, blend, blend, blend, and layer it on. I don't think I can emphasize this enough - BLEND! I walked into my office at work looking like Frosty the Snowman and I don't want this to happen to you too! Us girls gotta stick together.

 

 





Too Faced Natural Eyes Neutral Eye Shadow Collection
This palette came in my PopSugar box for the month of April and I have been using it every day since. My favorite combination is Day. I put Heaven all over the lid; Sexpresso (don't really care for that name but, hey, whatever) on the outer corner and blend! I put Push-Up onto the center of my lid for a bit of highlight. It comes with a little how-to use guide to create different looks. The colors are super pigmented with little fall out. They are really fun to blend and play with for all sorts of looks. Plus, it is super small (the container is magnetic so that's fun to play with... #geek) which is very convenient for travel.

 



Soap and Glory Flake Away body scrub and The Body Shop Honeymania body butter
I'm going to talk about these two products together because they have been the body care dream team. My skin was not ready for Spring season until these came into my life. The body scrub smells like sugary-peachy-shea happiness. It has scrubbed off all that funky dry skin stuff to leave behind fresh sun ready skin. The body butter leaves a honey scent that is just, ahh, bliss. It isn't sticky and absorbs very quickly. It has been like an IV for my skin. Plus, I smell AWESOME! :D

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Beauty in a bottle. This feels fantastic on my skin. Story time: When I was a kid and in soccer we had these squirt bottles with fans attached. When we would come onto the sideline for break this was like instant relief. That mist was refreshing and energizing! This product is the adult version of that spray bottle. After I tone and exfoliate my skin, I spray this on for a refreshing, cooling mist. It smells minty and fresh. It makes my skin nice and glowy before I apply my moisturizer. (PS I did already repurchase this little guy.)

 

Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo

Now, I am a huge fan of dry shampoo, but I hate the white-chalky mist on my roots. Enter this product  -- no white mist but all the benefits. It gives my hair that extra oomf. Plus, makes that second day hair look a little less second day.

 

 

That's all she wrote! I hope you enjoyed April as much as I did. What were your favorite products? Anything you'd like to recommend??

 

 

Yours  xx

 

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money, pictures were taken with my camera (unless otherwise noted/credited) and all opinions are mine and in no way represent anyone or anything other than me, myself and I. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.