This weekend flew by and here we are at the start of another looooooong week. I will try to review the blush Coralista and the highlighter Sun Beam by Benefit this week. All I'm going to say about them right now is I'm digging them. Also, per UPS, I should be getting my LORAC lip gloss set tomorrow. I'm very excited about trying them out. I was really hoping they would get here today, but alas such is life.
Now on to the good stuff.
This weekend I got to spend some one-on-one time with my hunny. On Friday he brought home a dozen beautiful dark pink roses for me. How sweet is he. Then he took me out to eat at one of my favorite restaurants Chop House. If you have never been, you are missing out. The steaks there are AMAZING to say the least. If you go you have to get the filet mignon with the burgundy mushrooms and ranch on your salad. They have great ranch too. I order that every time we go. Yes, it's that good. Then we came home, watched some TV and cuddled on the couch.
I can't tell you how lucky I am to have a man like him in my life. I know, I know I'm getting all lovey dovey but I can't help but sing him praises. This man tells me every day that I'm beautiful and I know he means it. I'm not going to go in to details but in my last relationship we will just say I didn't have that. It makes me cherish him even more and realize how fortunate I am. God has blessed me in so many ways. When I was in my last relationship (my ex-husband) I didn't understand why all the things that happened did, but I now know why. If we don't go through the bad times then we can't really appreciate the good times.
So grasshopper the moral of the story is to always appreciate the good times God has blessed you with.
Until next time.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Review
I went by Sephora yesterday because I wanted to pick up a new blush by Benefit but they were completely sold out of the one I wanted. Boo! Since I was there anyway I decided to shop around a bit. I wandered over to the Nars section and almost picked up the blush called Super Orgasm. It is a pink shimmery sorta blush. It's beautiful and I almost bought it. I swatched it against the Rockateur by Benefit and I really liked the one by Benefit better so I decided to wait. And I'm glad I did.
I always stop by the rack that has samples. They had a sample size blush called Coralista by Benefit and it came with a small sample sized highlighter called Sun Beam for around $12. I swatched Coralista and it was really pretty. It wasn't orangey like I thought it was going to be. They also had a sample sized Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion for around $10.
I was pretty proud of myself. I picked up a highlighter, blush, and eye primer for less than the price of the Nars blush I almost bought. Granted these aren't full sized products but they aren't tiny little samples either. I really love picking stuff up at the sample rack because the samples aren't expensive and you get enough product to really decide if it's worth buying the full sized or not.
Now I will stop rambling and get on to the review.
I did a review on the eye primer by elf not long ago and let me just say there really is no comparison. UD blew elf out of the water. The UD eye primer potion is creamy and glides on very easily. You don't have to use very much either which is nice. I noticed that my eyeshadow looked great all day and didn't budge at all.
So I decided to sleep in it. I don't suggest you sleep in your makeup because it is not good for your skin especially if you are prone to break outs like I am. I just had to see if it had the staying power to last all night and it did. I woke up this morning and my eyeshadow looked perfect. There was no creasing at all and the color hadn't melted away or moved at all. I was sold. If this magic potion can make my eyeshadow stay perfectly on my oily lids all day and all night then I'm a fan. Once I run out of my sample sized tube I will be buying the full sized one from now on.
Next I might have to try their face primer. I hope it works as well as their eye primer. I can honestly say I have never been disappointed by any Urban Decay products I have bought.
I will try to review the other products I bought soon so stay tuned.
Until next time!
Friday, September 27, 2013
High Five For Friday!!
Whew! Finally it's Friday! This has been a long and trying week. I am so glad to have survived it. Hopefully things will start to slow down and not be nearly as stressful. Now it's time to count down my top 5 highlights of the week.
1. Mom is doing well from her surgery. I had to take her to the E.R. Wednesday but she is feeling much better. I am so very thankful she did not have cancer. Prayer works you just gotta have faith!
2. I'm having a date night with my fiancé. We rarely get to spend time alone together so this is a much needed date night. Once things slow down and mom heals more from her surgery I'm going to make it a point to have 1 date night week. I think it is very important to have one on one time with your significant other on a regular basis. It's very important to a relationship to have time to just be with one another without distraction. I'm not sure what our plans are yet but I hope it involves a movie!
3. I ordered a LORAC 6 piece lip gloss set from HSN that I blogged about yesterday. I got confirmation that it was shipped today! Hooray! I can't wait to get it and try every single color! I really really hope I like this lip gloss set. I've got my hopes up that it won't be the usual sticky lip gloss and that I'll fall in love with it after the first swipe.
4. I uploaded my first pictures of how I do my eyeshadow on my blog. This was very exciting for me. I was honestly a little afraid to put up the pictures. I was hoping that you all would like how I use my Naked 2 palette. Maybe one day I'll get the nerve to actually do a tutorial on my Youtube channel.
5. This next highlight is actually a Saturday highlight. I have plans to meet my sister from another mother for a margarita at Chili's. My favorite margarita is their Presidente Margarita. If you've never had it, you are missing out and you should immediately go get one. They are amazing and they come in a shaker!
That's it for my high five for Friday! Hope you all had a great week!
Linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday
1. Mom is doing well from her surgery. I had to take her to the E.R. Wednesday but she is feeling much better. I am so very thankful she did not have cancer. Prayer works you just gotta have faith!
2. I'm having a date night with my fiancé. We rarely get to spend time alone together so this is a much needed date night. Once things slow down and mom heals more from her surgery I'm going to make it a point to have 1 date night week. I think it is very important to have one on one time with your significant other on a regular basis. It's very important to a relationship to have time to just be with one another without distraction. I'm not sure what our plans are yet but I hope it involves a movie!
3. I ordered a LORAC 6 piece lip gloss set from HSN that I blogged about yesterday. I got confirmation that it was shipped today! Hooray! I can't wait to get it and try every single color! I really really hope I like this lip gloss set. I've got my hopes up that it won't be the usual sticky lip gloss and that I'll fall in love with it after the first swipe.
4. I uploaded my first pictures of how I do my eyeshadow on my blog. This was very exciting for me. I was honestly a little afraid to put up the pictures. I was hoping that you all would like how I use my Naked 2 palette. Maybe one day I'll get the nerve to actually do a tutorial on my Youtube channel.
5. This next highlight is actually a Saturday highlight. I have plans to meet my sister from another mother for a margarita at Chili's. My favorite margarita is their Presidente Margarita. If you've never had it, you are missing out and you should immediately go get one. They are amazing and they come in a shaker!
That's it for my high five for Friday! Hope you all had a great week!
Linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday
Thursday, September 26, 2013
LORAC Red Hot 6 Piece Lip Gloss Set
Early this morning while I was getting ready I had HSN on. They were showcasing LORAC products and I saw this 6 piece lip gloss set for $27 and I couldn't pass it up.
I've never tried any LORAC products but I'm very excited to receive this and give it a try. The colors looked really pretty on the models and they said they weren't sticky. Hooray! I hate hate hate sticky lip gloss. It seems like most lip glosses are sticky and then your hair gets stuck on your lips. Sticky lip gloss is very annoying.
Did I mention I'm excited to try these? I keep checking my email for confirmation that they have been shipped. I live close to one of their distribution centers so I usually get stuff I order from HSN in a matter of days.
I should get them in a few days and I will write a review on them and try to take some pictures as well.
Until next time!
I've never tried any LORAC products but I'm very excited to receive this and give it a try. The colors looked really pretty on the models and they said they weren't sticky. Hooray! I hate hate hate sticky lip gloss. It seems like most lip glosses are sticky and then your hair gets stuck on your lips. Sticky lip gloss is very annoying.
Did I mention I'm excited to try these? I keep checking my email for confirmation that they have been shipped. I live close to one of their distribution centers so I usually get stuff I order from HSN in a matter of days.
I should get them in a few days and I will write a review on them and try to take some pictures as well.
Until next time!
Monday, September 23, 2013
elf eye primer review
In my previous blog post I said I was going to review the elf eye primer and try to take a picture to show how my eyeshadow held up. Well here it is.
Here is the first picture. I had just completed my makeup around 10am (ish).
Here is what my eyeshadow looked like about 10 hours later.
The first picture was taken with natural light and the later picture was taken with artificial light. Now granted the lighting is not as good as the first picture but you can still tell a difference in the eyeshadow. It creased and the color is not nearly as vibrant. I tried and tried to get a better picture but this was the best I could get.
Would I buy this eye primer again? Nope. It was only $3 but I would have rather paid a bit more and gotten a product that really works. I have oily skin so maybe for someone who doesn't have oily skin it might be perfect. I really wanted to avoid spending more than $10 bucks on some eye primer but I guess you get what you pay for.
I've never had luck when it comes to drug store makeup. It either melts off my face by the end of the day or irritates my skin. For me it's worth it to pay a little extra for the higher end products if it means that they last and perform like they are supposed to and don't cause me to break out.
Until next time.
Here is the first picture. I had just completed my makeup around 10am (ish).
Here is what my eyeshadow looked like about 10 hours later.
The first picture was taken with natural light and the later picture was taken with artificial light. Now granted the lighting is not as good as the first picture but you can still tell a difference in the eyeshadow. It creased and the color is not nearly as vibrant. I tried and tried to get a better picture but this was the best I could get.
Would I buy this eye primer again? Nope. It was only $3 but I would have rather paid a bit more and gotten a product that really works. I have oily skin so maybe for someone who doesn't have oily skin it might be perfect. I really wanted to avoid spending more than $10 bucks on some eye primer but I guess you get what you pay for.
I've never had luck when it comes to drug store makeup. It either melts off my face by the end of the day or irritates my skin. For me it's worth it to pay a little extra for the higher end products if it means that they last and perform like they are supposed to and don't cause me to break out.
Until next time.
How I Did My Eyeshadow Day 2
I used my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette and did this eyeshadow today.
I used the elf eye primer all over my lid. I'm going to try to take another picture at the end of the day and then do a blog post reviewing the elf eye primer. So make sure you check back at the end of the day for that.
Next I took the color YDK and placed it all over my lid up to the crease. I then took the color Tease and dusted the outer corners of my eyes and slightly in the crease. I also used Tease to line my lower lashes.
I took Foxy and dusted right below my eyebrows and in the inner corner of my eyes just to brighten my eyes up.
I took a small liner brush and lined my top lashes with Blackout. I used Sephora waterproof eyeliner in black/brown on my waterline.
To finish I took a small fluffy brush and blended it all in. The colors in the Naked 2 palette blend really well.
And that's it! I hope you enjoyed my little how I did that.
(My face really isn't that pale. It was just very bright in the bathroom this morning. Oh, and that is a nose ring on my nose if you couldn't tell.)
I used the elf eye primer all over my lid. I'm going to try to take another picture at the end of the day and then do a blog post reviewing the elf eye primer. So make sure you check back at the end of the day for that.
Next I took the color YDK and placed it all over my lid up to the crease. I then took the color Tease and dusted the outer corners of my eyes and slightly in the crease. I also used Tease to line my lower lashes.
I took Foxy and dusted right below my eyebrows and in the inner corner of my eyes just to brighten my eyes up.
I took a small liner brush and lined my top lashes with Blackout. I used Sephora waterproof eyeliner in black/brown on my waterline.
To finish I took a small fluffy brush and blended it all in. The colors in the Naked 2 palette blend really well.
And that's it! I hope you enjoyed my little how I did that.
(My face really isn't that pale. It was just very bright in the bathroom this morning. Oh, and that is a nose ring on my nose if you couldn't tell.)
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Red
I'm going to share a secret with you. I have always adored an amazing red lipstick...but I have never been able to wear it myself. I have always had issues with wearing any bright or dark color lipstick.
images from Google
I have adored red lipstick from afar. I have actually worn it around the house and then taken it off before leaving the house. I really want to wear red lipstick in public and not feel like I look like Bozo the clown. It's not that I have red lipstick all over my face I just feel like it doesn't suite me. I wish I could pull off the red lips in the second picture. That color is amazing!
I was told tonight that I would look really good in a red lipstick because of my hazel eyes and my dark hair. This got me to thinking. Maybe I can pull it off. The more I thought about it the more I really wanted to.
And I'm going to do it. Next payday I'm going to Sephora and with their assistance I'm going to wear red lipstick.
Until next time.
images from Google
I have adored red lipstick from afar. I have actually worn it around the house and then taken it off before leaving the house. I really want to wear red lipstick in public and not feel like I look like Bozo the clown. It's not that I have red lipstick all over my face I just feel like it doesn't suite me. I wish I could pull off the red lips in the second picture. That color is amazing!
I was told tonight that I would look really good in a red lipstick because of my hazel eyes and my dark hair. This got me to thinking. Maybe I can pull it off. The more I thought about it the more I really wanted to.
And I'm going to do it. Next payday I'm going to Sephora and with their assistance I'm going to wear red lipstick.
Until next time.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
How I Did My Eyeshadow
I know I have been going on and on about the Naked 2 palette from Urban Decay but I just can't help it. I love love love this palette so much! You have so many options with the colors it is just amazing. In my High Five for Friday post yesterday I said how I've been trying to do new color combos each day last week....well here is a pic.
Here is how I did my eyeshadow:
First I started off with elf eye primer. I would have to say I'm not a fan. I found at the end of the day my eyeshadow still creased and it didn't seem to hold on to the color for the whole day. I have oily skin so this primer might be awesome for someone who has normal skin. I will try to do a blog post about this eye primer with some pictures. Anywho back to the shadow.
Next I applied Half Baked to my eyelid with a shadow brush. I never use the little foam applicators. I feel like I get a better result if I use a brush.
With a clean brush I took Snakebite and applied it just to the corners of my eyes. I then pulled that color in to about 1/3rd of my eyelid. I also took a small amount and went up into the crease just to define that area.
I then took Half Baked and applied a little more to the inner part of my eyelid just to brighten it up a little more and I also applied some to my lower lash line. I feel like doing that just ties the whole thing together.
I forgot to mention that the Naked 2 palette comes with 2 awesome brushes. The flat one is perfect for placing eyeshadow and I also use it to line my lower lashes. The fluffy brush is great for blending eyeshadow. So once I complete my eyeshadow I take that brush and blend it all together and buff out any harsh lines.
And that's it. Oh, and all the colors I used are in the Naked 2 palette. I hope you enjoyed my little how I did that. Hmm that would be a neat thing to do on my blog. I could have a series called "How I Did That". Let me know what you guys think.
Until next time!
Here is how I did my eyeshadow:
First I started off with elf eye primer. I would have to say I'm not a fan. I found at the end of the day my eyeshadow still creased and it didn't seem to hold on to the color for the whole day. I have oily skin so this primer might be awesome for someone who has normal skin. I will try to do a blog post about this eye primer with some pictures. Anywho back to the shadow.
Next I applied Half Baked to my eyelid with a shadow brush. I never use the little foam applicators. I feel like I get a better result if I use a brush.
With a clean brush I took Snakebite and applied it just to the corners of my eyes. I then pulled that color in to about 1/3rd of my eyelid. I also took a small amount and went up into the crease just to define that area.
I then took Half Baked and applied a little more to the inner part of my eyelid just to brighten it up a little more and I also applied some to my lower lash line. I feel like doing that just ties the whole thing together.
I forgot to mention that the Naked 2 palette comes with 2 awesome brushes. The flat one is perfect for placing eyeshadow and I also use it to line my lower lashes. The fluffy brush is great for blending eyeshadow. So once I complete my eyeshadow I take that brush and blend it all together and buff out any harsh lines.
And that's it. Oh, and all the colors I used are in the Naked 2 palette. I hope you enjoyed my little how I did that. Hmm that would be a neat thing to do on my blog. I could have a series called "How I Did That". Let me know what you guys think.
Until next time!
Friday, September 20, 2013
High Five For Friday
1. Mom got out of the hospital on Monday. So thankful she is making a good recovery after her surgery.
2. Grand Theft Auto 5 was released! All the GTA games are awesome but this one has got to be my favorite.
3. Getting the Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay. I'm loving every color in that palette. I am so glad I bought it. I've tried to experiment and do a different set of colors every day this week.
4. I got this cute lace gray and white cami from Target on clearance for $4.50.
5. It rained this week. Don't get me wrong I love my sunshine too but I love rainy/foggy fall days. I can always tell when the seasons change. It's like there's a click and it's fall. The air is a little crisper and a little cooler. There is a different smell in the air. The rain is even different.
Linking up with Lauren for High Five For Friday!
2. Grand Theft Auto 5 was released! All the GTA games are awesome but this one has got to be my favorite.
3. Getting the Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay. I'm loving every color in that palette. I am so glad I bought it. I've tried to experiment and do a different set of colors every day this week.
4. I got this cute lace gray and white cami from Target on clearance for $4.50.
5. It rained this week. Don't get me wrong I love my sunshine too but I love rainy/foggy fall days. I can always tell when the seasons change. It's like there's a click and it's fall. The air is a little crisper and a little cooler. There is a different smell in the air. The rain is even different.
Linking up with Lauren for High Five For Friday!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Some Outfit Ideas for Fall
This dress is from Target and I'm loving it. You can dress it up by wearing it with some pumps and some jewelry. It would also be cute with some tights and booties.
Another great Target find! I love this Merona cardigan. It comes in several shades but I'm really digging the gray.
It would go great with this Merona cami from....you guessed it....Target.
These Merona bootcut trousers from Target go great with it. You could do them in black or a dark gray.
And last but not least. Black Merona Mae ballet flats to finish the outfit.
Here are some jewelry options that would go with either outfit. I love this necklace.
This one is awesome too.
Now for some earrings. If I wear a statement necklace then I tend to wear small earrings. I'm loving these.
These Hematite studs are beautiful.
All of these items are from Target! I think it's safe to say I love that store!
I hope you like my ideas!
Monday, September 16, 2013
Why I Started This Blog
While I was sitting in the hospital room today I started thinking about my blog. Why I started it, what I wanted it to be, what I expected out of it, and how much personal information I was willing to share. In the everyday world I am a very private person, meaning I rarely disclose close personal information to anyone. Dare I say I have trust issues?
I originally started this blog because I love to write. I used to watch Sex in the City and think Carrie had the coolest job. I didn't really get the extreme fashion, but I loved that she wrote a column. I have started writing several books. The problem is eventually life gets in the way and I stop writing. I think having this blog and making myself write every day will help me to make time for myself.
I wanted my blog to be about....well everything really. I wanted to write about whatever struck my fancy that day. I might write about makeup or just how my day was. The topics are endless.
I got really interested in makeup in my mid twenties. Before that I was an all natural kinda gal with maybe some eyeliner and sometimes some eyeshadow. I had a hard time finding makeup that didn't feel like a mask or make me break out so I gave up makeup. Around my mid twenties is when I was introduced to Bare Minerals and that changed everything. Ever since I've been playing around with it, but I am no Guru by any means. I like to keep things simple. With makeup less is more. I don't think you have to cover or mask your flaws. Our flaws make us unique and our uniqueness make us beautiful. Hence the name of the blog Simply Beautiful.
Now what did I expect out of my blog? I don't think I have any expectations for my blog. If I can give some tips or advice about makeup or a product and help someone out then that's great. If anyone gains any knowledge about anything from my blog, fabulous. I suppose just me writing a post every day is expectation enough.
How much personal information am I willing to share? Hmmmm.....I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see.
I originally started this blog because I love to write. I used to watch Sex in the City and think Carrie had the coolest job. I didn't really get the extreme fashion, but I loved that she wrote a column. I have started writing several books. The problem is eventually life gets in the way and I stop writing. I think having this blog and making myself write every day will help me to make time for myself.
I wanted my blog to be about....well everything really. I wanted to write about whatever struck my fancy that day. I might write about makeup or just how my day was. The topics are endless.
I got really interested in makeup in my mid twenties. Before that I was an all natural kinda gal with maybe some eyeliner and sometimes some eyeshadow. I had a hard time finding makeup that didn't feel like a mask or make me break out so I gave up makeup. Around my mid twenties is when I was introduced to Bare Minerals and that changed everything. Ever since I've been playing around with it, but I am no Guru by any means. I like to keep things simple. With makeup less is more. I don't think you have to cover or mask your flaws. Our flaws make us unique and our uniqueness make us beautiful. Hence the name of the blog Simply Beautiful.
Now what did I expect out of my blog? I don't think I have any expectations for my blog. If I can give some tips or advice about makeup or a product and help someone out then that's great. If anyone gains any knowledge about anything from my blog, fabulous. I suppose just me writing a post every day is expectation enough.
How much personal information am I willing to share? Hmmmm.....I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
I'm soooooo in love with the Naked 2 palette! The colors are amazing and I think every color is very wearable. I'm a sucker for eyeshadow. I love trying new colors and different techniques. I'm not a big lipstick kinda gal. I usually just stick to a tinted lip gloss or a light lipstick. I like playing up my eyes and having that be the focus.
Ok, now back to the amazing palette. I have been reading amazing things about this palette and every time I went into Sephora I oogled over it. It is around $50 so it's expensive. Needless to say, I broke down and bought it. I knew it would be worth it and it is. The colors are really pigmented so you don't have to use a lot of product not to mention you have 12 colors to play with.
Google the swatches and tell me they aren't gorgeous. I highly suggest the palette. If you are on the fence about it, go ahead and do it. It is well worth every penny.
Ok, now back to the amazing palette. I have been reading amazing things about this palette and every time I went into Sephora I oogled over it. It is around $50 so it's expensive. Needless to say, I broke down and bought it. I knew it would be worth it and it is. The colors are really pigmented so you don't have to use a lot of product not to mention you have 12 colors to play with.
Google the swatches and tell me they aren't gorgeous. I highly suggest the palette. If you are on the fence about it, go ahead and do it. It is well worth every penny.
Friday, September 13, 2013
High Five For Friday!
I have been following Lauren Elizabeth's blog From My Grey Desk and she does a High Five for Friday so I wanted to link up with her and start doing this as well. It will be nice to reflect on the past week and think about the highlights of the week and the things I'm grateful for!
1. My mother's surgery on Tuesday went well. She is going through a tough time right now because the doctor's think she had a small stroke on Wednesday night. So far all of her test results have been good and they have started her on a clear liquid diet. I believe her confusion is from the medicine they have her on. All doctors really do is guess anyway so hopefully they are wrong about her having a stroke. Only God knows for sure and I have been praying for her and her recovery. I'm so very grateful that she is ok. (This is a highlight and lowlight)
2. I took Cody (my son) to get a fauxhawk haircut. They had rock star day at school and he wanted to dress up. Nothing screams rock star like a fauxhawk and eyeliner! I think he looked like the lead singer of Papa Roach.
3. Two of my aunts came to see mom in the hospital so I got to spend some time with them. I don't usually get to see them very often so it was nice to chat with them.
4. Melanie, my sister from another mother, is coming to visit tonight. I know it hasn't happened yet but I'm still counting it as a highlight. Any time I get to spend with her is great and we always have a great time no matter what we do.
5. I got a Snickerdoodle coffee from Einstein Bros Bagels and it was delicious! I have to grab another one today it was THAT good.
*Linking up with Lauren for H54F
1. My mother's surgery on Tuesday went well. She is going through a tough time right now because the doctor's think she had a small stroke on Wednesday night. So far all of her test results have been good and they have started her on a clear liquid diet. I believe her confusion is from the medicine they have her on. All doctors really do is guess anyway so hopefully they are wrong about her having a stroke. Only God knows for sure and I have been praying for her and her recovery. I'm so very grateful that she is ok. (This is a highlight and lowlight)
2. I took Cody (my son) to get a fauxhawk haircut. They had rock star day at school and he wanted to dress up. Nothing screams rock star like a fauxhawk and eyeliner! I think he looked like the lead singer of Papa Roach.
3. Two of my aunts came to see mom in the hospital so I got to spend some time with them. I don't usually get to see them very often so it was nice to chat with them.
4. Melanie, my sister from another mother, is coming to visit tonight. I know it hasn't happened yet but I'm still counting it as a highlight. Any time I get to spend with her is great and we always have a great time no matter what we do.
5. I got a Snickerdoodle coffee from Einstein Bros Bagels and it was delicious! I have to grab another one today it was THAT good.
*Linking up with Lauren for H54F
Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream
image from Google
I picked up this eye cream about a month ago. I've read mixed reviews on it so I asked the lady at Sephora about it. She said it was a really good eye cream for fading dark circles and puffiness. (The packaging is adorable too) Sephora has a really good return policy so I don't ever fear buying anything from them.
Now I have read on some reviews that it made some people's eyes red and burn. Ummm.... yeah that kinda scared me. I don't want to end up worse than where I started. I also wear contacts and the lady at Sephora said it was safe to use with contacts. So here we go....
I have some slight puffiness in the mornings when I wake up but generally it goes away as the day goes on. I also have some fine lines around the corner of my eyes and some dark circles. It's not bad but it's noticeable to me and I want to get a head start on keeping my skin looking great as I age.
After I washed my face and put on my Renewing Cream from Proactiv I took my ring finger and dotted a little cream under my eyes and the outer corner. I also applied some to the inner side of my eyes near the bridge of my nose (a little lower than where glasses would sit). I took my ring finger and smoothed it so it would cover the whole area but didn't rub it in all the way. (Always use your ring finger to apply products to sensitive areas since your ring finger is the weakest finger) I never rub in all the way any of my moisturizing products. I feel like the product soaks in your skin better that way.
The first thing I noticed was it kinda gives an illuminating effect to my under eye area so it didn't appear quite as dark. It was nice to have an immediate improvement. I apply this stuff religiously every morning and every night. It took about 2-3 weeks before I could tell a difference in my fine lines around my eyes. I feel like the darkness under my eyes has diminished some but not completely.
I have been trying to get more rest at night and I have also been drinking more water. I feel like that also played a part in reducing the dark circles. I try to remember to take vitamins daily as well. I tend to take care of everyone else and forget to take care of myself and that is something I need to change.
Would I buy this eye cream again? Ummmm....I don't know at this point. I'm happy that I can tell a difference in the dark circles and fine lines BUT my problem areas aren't gone completely. Maybe I'm asking too much and no matter what product I use they will never be gone entirely. I do want to try other eye creams and see which one works best for me because there are a ton of eye creams out there.
If you have a favorite eye cream please leave a comment and let me know so I can give it a try.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Perfume I'm Loving
About a month or so ago I went shopping for some perfume. Let me just say that I am extremely picky about my perfume. It usually takes me forever to find one I really like and when I do I wear it all the time. I'm not one of those girls who buy several different perfumes and switch it up.
So I went into Victoria's Secret and I was going to buy more Noir but I decided to smell around. By the way Noir smells really good too. Anyway I smelled Bombshell and I was in love. I sprayed some on one of the perfume testers and carried it with me while I checked out some other perfumes. I went to a few other stores but I didn't find anything that could compare.
I went back to VS and this time I sprayed some Bombshell on my wrists. Before buying a perfume you always want to spray it on your skin. All perfumes smell differently when it mixes with your body chemistry. Make sure you only try one at a time or else you will smell like a....well you get the idea.
I was able to get a gift set of Bombshell. It had a regular sized bottle of perfume, a tiny one for your purse, a matching body wash, and lotion. I got the set for $70 bucks which was a steal! Not to mention they had a special going on so I also got a free weekender tote.
The picture doesn't do it justice, this bag is HUGE! Now I just need to go away somewhere for a weekend so I can use it!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A Blog To Follow
Last night I was trying to wind down from a very stressful day so I started searching blogs on the internet. I came across one blog that everyone should check out.
www.maskcara.com
This chick can do AMAZING things with makeup! I was totally blown away. She does Makeover Mondays where she takes before and after pictures of people she does a makeover on. It is truly unbelievable the difference. She also does some Celebrity Lookalikes where she makes not only herself but other people look like a celebrity. This girl has some real talent.
She also posts some how to videos. I'm going to have to try some of them. I'll let you all know how it works out for me when I do. I look at doing makeup kinda like painting and as far as painting I don't have an artistic bone in my body but I think I do alright with makeup. I like trying new things and experimenting with new colors. Lipstick is the only thing I'm a little hesitant about. Well anywho I hope it turns out good.
If you live in or are planning on visiting Las Vegas she does consultations and you can even enter to be part of her Makeover Monday. I want to go to Las Vegas just to have her do a makeover on me!
www.maskcara.com
This chick can do AMAZING things with makeup! I was totally blown away. She does Makeover Mondays where she takes before and after pictures of people she does a makeover on. It is truly unbelievable the difference. She also does some Celebrity Lookalikes where she makes not only herself but other people look like a celebrity. This girl has some real talent.
She also posts some how to videos. I'm going to have to try some of them. I'll let you all know how it works out for me when I do. I look at doing makeup kinda like painting and as far as painting I don't have an artistic bone in my body but I think I do alright with makeup. I like trying new things and experimenting with new colors. Lipstick is the only thing I'm a little hesitant about. Well anywho I hope it turns out good.
If you live in or are planning on visiting Las Vegas she does consultations and you can even enter to be part of her Makeover Monday. I want to go to Las Vegas just to have her do a makeover on me!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Surgery, Haircut, Nail Polish...Oh My!
Today has been a bit crazy/stressful. My mom had surgery today so we had to be up bright and early at 5am for that. She is doing fine but it's going to take her a while to recover. Then after picking up my son from school I took him to get a haircut. He got a fauxhawk. It looks awesome on him! Let me try to explain this haircut. I can spike his hair up into a mohawk and he still has hair on the sides so it isn't a true mohawk but if he doesn't want his hair spiked up I can just comb it down and it looks like a regular haircut.
Tomorrow the kids are dressing up like rock stars at school so that will work out perfectly. Now we just have to plan his rock star outfit. He is wanting me to put some eyeliner on him and I'm hoping that this is the only time he ever asks me to do that!
It is only Tuesday and I'm already ready for Friday to get here. I have had enough of this week. I didn't go to work today since my mom had surgery so I know there will be a ton of stuff for me to catch up on tomorrow. Why can't I just win the lottery already?
On another note I posted about some nail polish Urban Decay came out with for fall a few days ago....well I broke down and bought one. It was really pretty and I couldn't find a shade similar to it so I figured I would treat myself. I picked up the shade Addiction.
(image from google so it doesn't really do the color justice)
The color is smoky greenish/grayish metallic. Anywho it's really pretty. I painted my toes and my fingers over the weekend and so far no chips. I like this polish better than my China Glaze and OPI polishes. The trick to getting your polish to last longer is a good top coat (I use Seche Vite) and you have to paint the ends of your nails. I have short nails so I end up painting the tips of my fingers and then I use a Q-tip with acetone to remove the polish from my skin.
Since I'm in love with Urban Decay's nail polish I'm thinking about giving their eye shadows and maybe lipstick a try. I usually just wear a gloss or a nude lipstick. I'd love to be brave enough to wear a bold red lipstick....oh well maybe someday.
Tomorrow the kids are dressing up like rock stars at school so that will work out perfectly. Now we just have to plan his rock star outfit. He is wanting me to put some eyeliner on him and I'm hoping that this is the only time he ever asks me to do that!
It is only Tuesday and I'm already ready for Friday to get here. I have had enough of this week. I didn't go to work today since my mom had surgery so I know there will be a ton of stuff for me to catch up on tomorrow. Why can't I just win the lottery already?
On another note I posted about some nail polish Urban Decay came out with for fall a few days ago....well I broke down and bought one. It was really pretty and I couldn't find a shade similar to it so I figured I would treat myself. I picked up the shade Addiction.
(image from google so it doesn't really do the color justice)
The color is smoky greenish/grayish metallic. Anywho it's really pretty. I painted my toes and my fingers over the weekend and so far no chips. I like this polish better than my China Glaze and OPI polishes. The trick to getting your polish to last longer is a good top coat (I use Seche Vite) and you have to paint the ends of your nails. I have short nails so I end up painting the tips of my fingers and then I use a Q-tip with acetone to remove the polish from my skin.
Since I'm in love with Urban Decay's nail polish I'm thinking about giving their eye shadows and maybe lipstick a try. I usually just wear a gloss or a nude lipstick. I'd love to be brave enough to wear a bold red lipstick....oh well maybe someday.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Clarisonic Mia 2
I bought a Clarisonic Mia 2 a few weeks ago and I love it! I know it sounds crazy spending roughly $135 bucks on a face cleansing brush but it is well worth it. I have struggled with acne since I was 12. I have large pores and oily skin and this little machine has worked wonders for me.
I bought the Proactiv brush some time ago and saw great results with it so I wanted to give the Clarisonic Mia a try. They have a 90 day refund policy so I could always return it. I wanted to see if it gave me better results than the Proactiv brush.....and it does!
I have been pretty much blemish free after using it for about a week twice a day. I have noticed my skin is not as oily and my makeup goes on smoother and lasts longer. I wish I would have bought it sooner.
I bought my Clarisonic from QVC and it came with some Peter Roth cleanser and moisturizer. I tried the Peter Roth products but wasn't impressed at all. The cleanser made my skin feel very tight and dry. What made me originally buy the Clarisonic from QVC is they had it on flex play so they broke it down in to interest free monthly payments. You can also pick these up at Sephora and Ulta. Sephora has an awesome return policy. I'm new to Ulta so I don't have a clue about their return policy.
I suggest ordering it from QVC on flex pay (I think the first payment is around $26) and use it for a month and if you don't think it's the best thing ever, return it. This way you are only out around $26 while you are testing it out.
The only negative thing is when you first get your Clarisonic you have to charge it for 24 hours. I wanted to use it right away! Good news is the charge lasts for a while and it will flash to let you know when it needs to be charged. Oh and it's waterproof too!
If you decide to try the Clarisonic or have tried it, feel free to share your experience in the comments.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Cleaning Makeup Brushes
Here is how I clean my makeup brushes:
I grab a small plastic cup and add enough warm water so I can submerge the bristles of the brushes. I add just a small amount of kids shampoo and stir with my finger until I have some nice suds.
I take my brushes and dip them in the water and smoosh them against the bottom of the cup so I can make sure I get the whole brush clean and not just the outer sides.
I rinse the brush under the faucet in cold water. Make sure you get all the soap out of the brush.
Once rinsed I squeeze the remaining water out of the bristles and I shape the brush back into it's original form and lay on a clean dry towel to dry.
I empty the water from the cup and start the process all over again with the next brush.
I have read that you are only supposed to wet the bristles of the brush and not wet the metal part since that will loosen the glue that holds the bristles. I have tried that and honestly it never works. I always end up getting the metal part wet at some point. So far I haven't had any issues with my bristles falling out.
Keep in mind when you wash your brushes it will take them a day or so to dry. I usually wash mine on a Saturday that way I have the whole weekend to let them dry completely. I also have a couple of backup makeup brushes that I can use just in case. It never hurts to be prepared!
I usually wash my brushes once or twice a month and in between washing them I use a makeup brush cleaner spray.
I picked up this daily brush cleaner spray at Sephora for around $6.
After you apply your makeup spray 2-3 times on your brush and then wipe on a lint free towel. I just use a paper towel and then leave my brushes out to dry for the rest of the day. Usually they are dry by the time I get home from work or if I do this at night they will be dry by the next morning.
There are all kinds of makeup cleaning shampoo made specifically for makeup brushes but I have always used my son's shampoo. It is gentle and I feel like it gets my brushes clean so I've never really seen the need to buy any of those products.
I hope this helps any of you out there and if you have any questions please comment below.
I grab a small plastic cup and add enough warm water so I can submerge the bristles of the brushes. I add just a small amount of kids shampoo and stir with my finger until I have some nice suds.
I take my brushes and dip them in the water and smoosh them against the bottom of the cup so I can make sure I get the whole brush clean and not just the outer sides.
I rinse the brush under the faucet in cold water. Make sure you get all the soap out of the brush.
Once rinsed I squeeze the remaining water out of the bristles and I shape the brush back into it's original form and lay on a clean dry towel to dry.
I empty the water from the cup and start the process all over again with the next brush.
I have read that you are only supposed to wet the bristles of the brush and not wet the metal part since that will loosen the glue that holds the bristles. I have tried that and honestly it never works. I always end up getting the metal part wet at some point. So far I haven't had any issues with my bristles falling out.
Keep in mind when you wash your brushes it will take them a day or so to dry. I usually wash mine on a Saturday that way I have the whole weekend to let them dry completely. I also have a couple of backup makeup brushes that I can use just in case. It never hurts to be prepared!
I usually wash my brushes once or twice a month and in between washing them I use a makeup brush cleaner spray.
I picked up this daily brush cleaner spray at Sephora for around $6.
After you apply your makeup spray 2-3 times on your brush and then wipe on a lint free towel. I just use a paper towel and then leave my brushes out to dry for the rest of the day. Usually they are dry by the time I get home from work or if I do this at night they will be dry by the next morning.
There are all kinds of makeup cleaning shampoo made specifically for makeup brushes but I have always used my son's shampoo. It is gentle and I feel like it gets my brushes clean so I've never really seen the need to buy any of those products.
I hope this helps any of you out there and if you have any questions please comment below.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
New Things
So today was my first trip to Ulta. If you have never been there you are missing out! I was surprised by how many products they carry. Usually Sephora was my go to shop for all things makeup but I believe I have a new favorite now. I could seriously spend hours in there!
The only down side to Ulta that I saw was their limited number of Benefit products. I am hooked on their Watts Up highlighter and am falling in love with their It's Potent eye cream. They also have several eye shadows I want to try so I guess I'll still be hitting up Sephora every now and then.
Ulta carries Bare Minerals and they have a bigger selection then Sephora does. I'm all about options so that's a huge plus. They also carry tons of professional hair products and tools. I was able to pick up my leave in conditioner It's a 10 there as well as some KMS California Hair Play Makeover Spray.
They also carry a huge selection on Urban Decay products. I have heard good reviews on their products. I haven't tried any yet but I plan on it in the future. Urban Decay also came out with 2 nail polishes for fall. Addiction is a smoky metallic color that is beautiful and Vice is a metallic purple. They each run $15. Ouch! I really hate paying that much for nail polish but they are limited edition so I'm going to have to break down and buy Addiction.
Ulta's rewards program far exceeds Sephora's rewards program. I wish I would have been shopping at Ulta instead! Oh well, now I know. Hind sight is always 20/20.
The only down side to Ulta that I saw was their limited number of Benefit products. I am hooked on their Watts Up highlighter and am falling in love with their It's Potent eye cream. They also have several eye shadows I want to try so I guess I'll still be hitting up Sephora every now and then.
Ulta carries Bare Minerals and they have a bigger selection then Sephora does. I'm all about options so that's a huge plus. They also carry tons of professional hair products and tools. I was able to pick up my leave in conditioner It's a 10 there as well as some KMS California Hair Play Makeover Spray.
They also carry a huge selection on Urban Decay products. I have heard good reviews on their products. I haven't tried any yet but I plan on it in the future. Urban Decay also came out with 2 nail polishes for fall. Addiction is a smoky metallic color that is beautiful and Vice is a metallic purple. They each run $15. Ouch! I really hate paying that much for nail polish but they are limited edition so I'm going to have to break down and buy Addiction.
Ulta's rewards program far exceeds Sephora's rewards program. I wish I would have been shopping at Ulta instead! Oh well, now I know. Hind sight is always 20/20.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Clear Hair Care
I have fine wavy hair that is oily at the scalp and dry at the ends. I have tried all kinds of shampoos that would moisturize my hair and not leave it in a frizzy mess. Clear is by far the best shampoo and conditioner I have used. I have noticed that my hair is more moisturized and my waves more defined and not nearly as frizzy. My hair is also stronger and I'm not seeing as much breakage. My hair looks and feels healthier. I am totally satisfied with this product and the price isn't bad either. I picked mine up for around $5 each for the shampoo and conditioner.
While I can't afford to buy the salon shampoos or conditioners, I do buy a really good leave in conditioner. It's a 10 is an awesome leave in conditioner that is a must I have been using for years.
Oh, I forgot to mention that Clear has a money back guarantee. The bottle says if you don't have healthier hair in 7 days they will refund your money.
*I was not paid to endorse any products. This is my honest opinion of the products.
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