Beauty Blender: Worth the hype?

Up until about two weeks ago, I wrote off the Beauty Blender as an overprized, glorified sponge. One night while watching YouTube beauty gurus, I stumbled across a video by Wayne at gossmakeupartist. He has TONS of videos, and I can't even find it now! I believe it was one of his videos on foundations for dry skin. Anyhow, the point he made was that using a sponge such as the Beauty Blender is ideal for dry skin. When you use a brush to buff foundation on dry skin, the friction aggravates the dry patches and can worsen flaky areas. This made perfect sense to me. I almost always had areas on my face that looked flaky after using a brush to apply my foundation, even if my skin didn't look or feel particularly dry before applying makeup. I bought mine at Sephora with a 15% off coupon, but the Beauty Blender retails for $19.95. Yes, that is a hefty price for a sponge. I don't regret it for one second. Here's why.

Texture. This non-latex sponge is super soft and light. It is meant to be dampened with water before using and can be used with liquids, creams, and pressed or loose powders. I have only used this with liquid foundation, so I can't speak to how it performs with other consistencies. When you wet the sponge, it doubles in size. To apply foundation, you "bounce" or stipple the foundation across your skin with the dampened sponge. This makes foundation application a breeze! After you're done, you can sit the sponge on top of the container to dry. I'm not sure if that was intentional in the designing of the package, but it's suggested in the instructions and works out pretty well!

Shape. It's egg shape allows the sponge to reach all areas of the face, even areas around the nose or around the eyes when blending concealer.

Application. I am not exaggerating in the least when I say my foundation looks a million times better when I apply with the Beauty Blender versus a brush or my fingers. My skin looks like skin, but perfected. You don't notice the makeup on the skin. The material of the sponge blends out the makeup so well. I haven't had any issues with flaky patches since I've been using the Beauty Blender. I'm in love with this thing!

Drawbacks. There is no avoiding the fact that a sponge will soak up more foundation that a brush. I do have to use a tiny bit more foundation to get the same coverage I like with a brush. Water-based foundations will soak into the sponge more than silicone based foundations. I have also found that it takes quite a while for the sponge to completely dry. Even though I leave it out to dry on top of the container every morning, it still seems a bit damp when I'm ready to use it again the next day. Like brushes, the Beauty Blender needs to be cleaned often to prevent bacteria from spreading and causing breakouts. Some like to wash the sponge after every use. While this is certainly not a bad idea, I usually go a few more days between washing it. Your foundation may stain the sponge, so it may look a little dirty even when it's perfectly clean. And lastly, the cost. Twenty dollars is a lot to dish out for a sponge the size of a small egg.

The verdict.
In my opinion, the Beauty Blender is worth the money. I have never loved the way my foundation looked so natural but covered so well as much as I do when I use the Beauty Blender. If you've read my previous posts, you know that I struggle with dry/combo skin, so the fact that this sponge eliminates my flakey patches is huge.
For those who have pretty normal or oily skin, I still think the Beauty Blender is worth a try for the beautiful finish it gives. If you're not ready to commit $20, there are loads of reviews on BB dupes you can find on YouTube or beauty blogs. If you're makeup obsessed like me, go for the real deal. I love having this tool in my makeup collection!

What do you think? Have you tried the Beauty Blender? Found any great dupes? I want to know!

Curly Hair: How to Deal

I have fought a battle with my hair my entire life.

Exhibit A:

 



Kindergarten smile aside, this is how my hair looked 100% of the time. My poor mom had straight hair her whole life, so she had no idea what to do with a curly headed little girl! Those bangs, though.

I'm hoping it was an accident because....

 

Yikes.

 

So as things naturally go, it got worse before it got better. Middle School was a terrible time for my hair. I fought back with stronger weapons, parting it down the middle and wielding it into place with gel. I must have done a thorough job ridding our household of the pictures taken during this time, because I could not find a single one to show as proof. (You're not missing anything, except maybe a good laugh.) Apparently it was bad enough that my mom attempted to gently tell me I looked like a hot mess. She did her best to make me look less embarrassing in public, but she was unable to make much progress. It was a few more years before I taught myself how to use a round brush and blow dryer to smooth my hair into straight, silky locks.  

 

Slightly washed out, but you get the picture. No more lion's mane.

 

 

However, this post isn't about straightening your curls, but how to embrace them and make your curls look their best. (If you're interested in seeing how I straighten my hair, I can do a post about that too...let me know!) While it's perfectly fine to straighten your hair every now and again, it can open up a whole new world when you learn to manage your God-given texture. You'll save your hair from tons of damage, cut down on time styling your hair in the morning, and maybe clock in a few extra minutes of sleep!

 

I am going to share my favorite curly hair products and my best tips I have learned over the years. Some of the products I've mentioned before, but some are new discoveries. Disclaimer: I am no hairstylist or professional, these are just the techniques and products I have found work best for me. My hope is that some of these things will work for you too, and maybe you can come to love your hair's natural texture!

 

Let's Start with the products.

 

DevaCurl Light Defining Gel ($19) has been my favorite curly hair gel for years. I try other products all the time, but always come back to this one. I've never tried the Ultra Defining Gel, but I've been thinking about giving it a go when I run out of this one. I always get the best results when I use this gel. It smells so fresh and fruity, kind of like Sprite or 7UP. It's not sticky at all. I use about a half-dollar coin sized amount, starting at the ends of my hair and using what is leftover at the roots. Once I have that worked into my hair, I use a tiny bit more, maybe a dime-sized amount to scrunch my hair upside down. The DevaCurl website is also a great resource for curly girls. They have lots of how-to videos and tips on styling and caring for curly hair.

 

Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream ($6) is a great product you can find in most drugstores. This cream has a bit more hold than the DevaCurl Gel, and it gives you more defined ringlets. The only thing I don't like about this product is that the cream has a slight tackiness to it and can feel slightly heavy in the hair, but this helps give the cream the great hold it has. I've noticed that this one can be hard to find. I went to 3 or 4 different stores before I found it in stock at Ulta. Walmart carries the line as well.

 

Pantene Pro-V Curl Defining Mousse ($4) is another awesome drugstore find for curly hair. This non-sticky mouse defines my curls without feeling crunchy. It gives great volume (especially if used with a diffuser) and makes curls soft and bouncy. If you prefer a mousse, pick this one up next time you're at the store!

 

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish ($29) is a new product I discovered about a week ago thanks to an awesome Sephora consultant. This spray is very light and airy, but don't be fooled. Dryspun delivers amazing volume and texture with a few quick sprays at the roots. I like to use it to mess up my hair a bit. It's the perfect product when your curls seem to be falling or looking a little limp. Be warned: you WILL love it, but it goes fast! Try to use as little as you can to get the look you're going for.

 

Other curly hair essentials:

 

Wide tooth comb

Diffuser (the bigger the better)

Hair oil (Your choice. I like Moroccanoil Treatment.)

Microfiber towel, Turkish Cotton towel, or Tshirt

Curling iron (A 1" curling iron matches my natural curl pattern, and I use a normal curling iron. Not a tapered wand.)

 

Now that you've got your favorite products, give these techniques a try.

Start in the shower. ALWAYS use conditioner. Dry hair=frizzy curls. If you have tangly hair, use a wide tooth come while you're in the shower. If you brush or comb your hair after you get out, you will break apart and straighten the hair's natural curl pattern. You can also begin scrunching your hair in the shower to encourage the curls before you even step out.

 

If you're going to wrap your hair in a turban, pick the right fabric. My hair holds a TON of water, so I get water everywhere when if I don't put my hair up in a towel after a shower. However, choosing the right fabric is so important!! The loops in the normal terry cloths used to make regular bath size towels can pull hair and rough up the hair's cuticle. This means frizz! Microfiber and Turkish cotton towels don't have the same loops. This allows the towel to help sop up extra water without snagging the hair. Tshirts are also perfect. (Obviously use a clean one). Just be careful to wrap the hair very loosely to minimize crushing the curls. If you're able to get away without wrapping your hair, that's even better.

 

Don't leave the turban in forever. Try to limit turban time to about 15 minutes. It's more difficult to work with curly hair that has dried too much than damp or wet hair. If it's a little too dry when you take it down, you can re-wet it with a spray bottle or leave in conditioner.

 

Be gentle when working the product through the hair. When you're working the product into the hair, start at the ends, being careful to not pull the curls straight. Once you've finished with that step, flip hair over and give it a good scrunching. I always like to use a tiny bit more product to scrunch upside down. Scrunching upside down gives the hair more volume and bounce.

 

Air drying is best. Some products work better when trying to air dry than others. The DevaCurl gel is the best product I've found when I know I'll be air drying my curls. The gel gets slightly crunchy while drying, but it's designed to work this way. The crunchiness helps hold the curl but disappears after a scrunch or two. The cream also works really well when air drying, but I've noticed the mousse tends to be a bit hard and crunchy if you don't use a diffuser.

 

A diffuser is a curly girl's best friend. If you don't have time to air dry your curls every day, a diffuser is a must have. I have found the bigger, the better. The one I am currently using is very wide and round. This allows the air to be diffused over a wider area so that the air is blowing with less force when the air hits your hair. Without a diffuser, the air can blow the curls out of shape and leave them looking a bit frizzy and crazy. I like to use a diffuser just long enough so that it's not dripping wet (about 3 minutes). I start by focusing on the ends, then flip my head over and scrunch lightly upside down. Slowly flip your hair back over, and lift the hair at the roots to get just a little more volume. Then don't touch! The more you touch the curls, the frizzier they will become. That is all I normally do to my hair when I wear it curly (starting from the first tip).

Note: It is totally worth the investment to find a hair dryer that comes with a diffuser attachment. I have tried "universal" diffusers, but without much luck. Most do not stay in place and shoot across the room as soon as your turn the dryer on. Save yourself the trouble and buy a dryer with a diffuser attachment.

 

Use a curling iron to tame the curls that have gone awry. It's bound to happen. A curl or two will go completely straight or look completely wacky. Leave about 1 1/2 inches of the ends out, and wrap the rest around the barrel of the iron for a few seconds. Leaving the ends out will create a more natural looking curl instead of a perfect ringlet that was obviously styled with hot tools.

 

A little oil can go a long way. After your hair has dried, a little oil on the ends can help manage frizz and make your hair look really healthy. Just don't overdo it. Too much will weigh down the curls and look greasy. No thanks!

 

Experiment. My curls are loose; some are spiral-shaped, and others are more S-shaped waves. Try different products and different techniques to see what works best for you. Air dry it one day, and try using a diffuser the next. Try twisting individual curls to create a tighter curl. Mix and match products, or don't use any products at all. There is no one way to style curly hair. Find what works best for you!

 

Hopefully you've found something helpful or a new product to try. I'd love to hear your favorite curly hair products and styling techniques! Let me know in the comments below!

 



Spring Beauty Picks

It has been a ridiculously long time since I've been able to write a new post! After living away from home for a month for school and being out of town every weekend for the past two months, I am so happy to be posting again!

So, first things first. I need to mention Jackie, the owner of Rawwbeauty Makeup Artistry. Jackie is the makeup artist who did my friend Diana's makeup for her wedding. I totally forgot to credit her in my post for Bridesmaids makeup back in November. Sorry Jackie! Her work is seriously incredible. You can also follow her on Instagram at @rawwbeautymua. She has even started her own makeup line and is always adding new things to her line! Check her out!

Secondly, I want to say that Urban Decay has amazing customer service. I was having an issue with my Naked2 palette and sent a quick email one Friday afternoon. In less than 10 minutes, I had a real response from a real person...not just an automatic response. In less than 20 minutes from my original email, my problem was resolved, and they were replacing my palette with a new one. Thanks Urban Decay!! You guys are amazing.

Now, on to today's topic...Spring Beauty Picks! Spring and Summer are definitely my favorite seasons. I hate cold weather! I love being outside, and nothing's better than a day spent laying in the sun by the pool. Spring and Summer beauty trends are always my favorite. I love the focus on fresh skin, golden lids, and pretty, bright lips!

Face

 

      Fresh, glowing skin is in for Spring. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is one of my all time favorites. I would describe this foundation as a light to medium coverage. It makes my skin look so healthy! If you're oily, I would suggest going by a Chanel counter for a sample. It might add just a little too much glow! I've used a brush and my fingers to apply this product, but I think I get the best results using my fingers. You can wear this without a powder, but I always set it with Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder.

      Clinique's new Cheek Pop powder blushes are SO good. And can we talk about the packaging?! I love the clear acrylic casing that shows off the flower imprinted powder! Peach Pop is the perfect shade for spring and summer. It leaves a pretty peachy flush with a hint of shimmer that highlights the cheekbones. Check this blush out ASAP.

      I believe I have mentioned this product before, but it's worth another mention. Benefit's Watts Up highlighter is my ideal highlighting shade. I believe the slightly golden undertone is more natural looking than light pink toned highlighters I have tried. I usually do a quick line across my cheekbones and blend in. You can also use it on the inner corners of the eyes. While I love the color, I do wish it was available in a powder form. Either way, I will definitely purchase a full size when I run out of this little guy.

 

 

Benefit Watts Up on top, Clinique Peach Pop on bottom

 

 

Lips

 

 

Tangerine lips are one of the biggest beauty trends this spring. I apologize for the horrible picture. It was really difficult to get the camera to pick up the true colors! Maybelline's Color Whisper in Orange Attitude looks super bright in the tube, but it's more sheer when applied. It leaves your lips looking stained from an orange popsicle. The texture is super light and feels really comfortable on the lips. The only downside is that the color doesn't last long, maybe three or four hours. The bolder option is one I talked about in this post. Revlon's Colorburst Matte Balm in Audacious was one of my favorites in my initial review, and I especially love it now that we are officially in the spring season. The shade has a little more pink than a true orange.

 

Revlon's Audacious on top, Maybelline Orange Attitude on bottom

 

 

Eyes

 

Gilded lids are the way to go. Urban Decay's Half Baked is my favorite gold eye shadow. It looks just like it does in the pan when applied to the lid. The shade pictured is from my Naked2 palette, but it is also in the original Naked palette and is available as a single eye shadow as well. Another option I recently discovered is a deeper, more coppery shade. Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Caramel Cool is gorgeous. I found this one at a Walgreen's, but haven't seen it anywhere else. I believe it is limited edition. If you can get your hands on it, you need it! Gold eye shadow looks pretty on its own, but you can also take it up a notch by blending a medium brown shade in the crease. Load up on mascara and you're good to go!

 

Urban Decay's Half Baked on top, Maybelline's Cool Caramel on bottom

 

 

Nails

 



 



I love my pastel nail polishes! From left to right: Formula X A Little Sexy, Essie Mint Candy Apple, Boom Boom Room, and Lilacism. A Little Sexy doesn't translate as well on camera, but it is a shade unlike any other I had in my collection. It's described as a "pearl light periwinkle". I love my blue nail polishes, and I was immediately drawn to this unique color. Take a look next time you're in Sephora. Mint Candy Apple is pretty much how it sounds...mint blue/green. Quite possibly my favorite nail color I own. Boom Boom Room is more of a bright pink than a pastel, but so perfect for spring. Lilacism is a pretty pastel purple. It's not as noticeable on the nails as the other shades, but it is still a perfect color for spring.

 

Fashion

 

 

I am completely obsessed with my new Vans! The Floral Authentic Lo Pros are so fun and girly. You can wear them with jeans, shorts, or even a cute sundress. You can't beat cute AND comfy shoes.

 

 

 

What are your must-haves for spring? Let me know what I'm missing out on!

 

Valentine's Look Using Urban Decay's Naked3 Palette

I'll be honest...I hate Valentine's Day. It has nothing to do with a bitter breakup or a bad experience. I simply believe this "holiday" puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on guys to find a perfect gift or special reservations and gives girls unrealistic expectations of a magical, romantic evening on Valentine's Day. I also hate boxes of chocolate. They are nasty! I'm one of the only people in the world who loves the coconut chocolates. Growing up, my mom and sisters saved their coconut chocolates for me, and even though they had been squished to reveal the inside, I happily traded my unwanted chocolates for these delicious creations. Flowers can be nice. The thing is...these are things that should happen throughout the year or the relationship. Not just because it's a holiday marked in the calendar.
**Note to guys: It's much better to handwrite a note or letter to your special girl than pick up a cheesy Hallmark card last minute and a stuffed animal. Definitely no stuffed animals!!! Unless your date is five. Then that would be acceptable and most likely preferred.

However, being a makeup junkie, this holiday gives me inspiration to create new looks. I came up with this tonight, and loved the finished look. I used only shades from the Urban Decay Naked3 palette. You can read my full review here.

What you need:

• Naked3 palette (or similar colors...the idea here is the placement of the shadows and the warm, rosy tones in the shades)-I used Buzz, Nooner, and Blackheart
• Shadow primer-I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion
• Liquid or gel liner in black-I used the L'Oreal felt tip Slim Liner
• Pencil liner in black-I used Nars Via Veneto
• Mascara-I used L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess
• Pink blush- I used Nars Deep Throat
• Pale pink lipstick- I used MAC Angel
• Highlighter- I used Benefit's Watts Up

What you do:
Start by sweeping Buzz all over the lid.

 

 

Use Nooner in the crease. Focus the color on the outer half of the lid and blend along the entire crease. Using the color left on the brush or with a pencil brush, sweep this color along the bottom lash line.

 



 

 

Pick up a tiny bit of Blackheart on your brush. A little of this color goes a long way!! Place this color ONLY on the very outer corner of the lid. Do not bring the color into the crease. Blend out. Using a liner brush, line just the outer third of the lower lash line with Blackheart.

 

 

Line the upper lash line with the liquid or gel liner. I chose to wing it out, but you don't have to do this if you prefer a straight line.

 

 

Using the pencil liner, line your water line on the bottom only. You can line all the way around if you like.

 



 

Add loads of mascara. Focus on the outer and middle lashes. Next time I will probably add single false lashes to make them look fuller.





 

 

 

Here is the full finished look. I kept blush neutral with Nars Deep Throat and added a highlight along my cheekbones with Benefit's Watts Up. For lips, I chose a neutral pale pink with MAC's lipstick in Angel.

 

 

 

I hope you like this look! Let me know if you try it for yourself :)

Revlon Colorburst Matte and Lacquer Balms

Revlon has been releasing hit after hit this past year, and the Colorburst Matte and Lacquer Balms are no exception. Each range of matte and glossy colors includes ten shades. I own three in each collection, and I am beyond obsessed with these lip crayons!
 

From left to right: the Mattes: Unapologetic, Audacious, and Showy and the Lacquers: Coquette, Vivacious, and Provocateur

 



 

First of all, the color payoff is amazing for the formula of the product. These contain a triple butter formula including shea, coconut, and mango butters that are incredibly moisturizing, and I didn't find the matte shades drying in the least. The lacquers feel especially conditioning on the lips! There is a faint peppermint smell and a slight tingle that lasts a few seconds after application. I wouldn't say the staying power is anything impressive. You will have to reapply a few times during the day and especially after eating or drinking. I don't mind reapplying during the day if it means my lips don't dry out! 

 

 

Top to bottom: Provocateur, Vivacious, and Coquette 

 

 

Top to bottom: Showy, Audacious, and Unapologetic

 

 

 

 The Mattes

 

 

 

The Lacquers

 

 

 

Unapologetic (matte): bright pink with a hint of red. Beautiful color.

Audacious (matte): a stunning bright coral, perfect for spring and summer!

Showy (matte): a purple toned pink, one of my favorites.
Coquette (lacquer): medium pink, nice for every day.
Vivacious (lacquer): deep pink with red tones...love love this shade.
Provocateur (lacquer): cherry red, a gorgeous, juicy shade of red.

I'm not sure I can even choose my favorite shades! I love all of the matte shades, and Vivacious would be my pick of the lacquers. I will definitely be adding more to my collection. I love to play with lip colors but don't like to pay a fortune for a lipstick I won't use on an every day basis. These Colorburst Balms deliver the best of both worlds: high-impact color in a super moisturizing formula and a drugstore price. I highly recommend giving these a shot!

Have you tried these lip colors yet? What are your favorite shades?

 



January Favorites

The transition into the new year was such a crazy time! Sadly, I didn’t get to post near as often as I wanted.  Work, school, and the holidays completely took over my life. I won't even spend time talking about how fast January went by. As far as beauty products, I had a really hard time finding new things that worked for me. A huge reason for this is my finicky skin. My beloved Laura Mercier Foundation Powder even started accentuating my dry skin. I tried at least three new foundations. One in particular I thought I loved (will mention later in the post), and about a week later dry patches around my mouth and nose appeared. So frustrating! The rest of my face gets oily, but the skin around my nose and mouth is very difficult to keep from getting dry and flaky. Anyone else have this problem? Despite my foundation woes, I still managed to find a few products that are new staples in my every day makeup bag.

 

 

 

1. Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto $24- I have Christina to thank for this one. Best. Eyeliner. Ever. I have had issues with eyeliner smearing at the outer corner of my eyes for as long as I can remember. Nars completely solved that problem. This twist-up eyeliner is the longest lasting pencil I have ever used…I highly recommend this one if you have a problem with straying eyeliner. One thing to note however (Christina you were right about this!): the staying power is so amazing that it’s not very easy to smudge or smoke out. I don’t normally smudge my eyeliner for my everyday makeup, so this wasn’t a problem for me. I will be using this as long as it’s around!

 

2. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (I wear the shade Vanilla) $29- I am extremely picky when it comes to concealers. The formula is light, but it provides great coverage. I use this for under eye circles as well as any spots I may have. Never looks cakey. Great all around concealer.

 

3. Nars Blush in Deep Throat $30- Continuing the Nars trend, Nars Blush in Deep Throat is a new staple for me. My senior year of high school, I purchased the legendary shade Orgasm and used it until I couldn’t scrape any more color out of the pan. I’m not sure why I didn’t repurchase or try another shade from the line, because these blushes may be the best out there. Deep Throat is a light pinky peach shade (swatch below) with a little shimmer. This is the perfect natural shade for my skin tone. I'm not quite as adventurous with blushes and tend to stick to more natural pinks, peaches, and corals. You know how you always read that you’re supposed to pick a shade of blush that looks like you just finished exercising? Well this is it. The color makes me look so awake, fresh, and healthy.

 

4. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent $4- This really isn’t a new item to me, but I have discovered a new way to use this powder. After several failed attempts at finding a foundation that doesn't exaggerate my dry skin, I quit wearing foundation altogether. For several days, I either didn’t wear any foundation or concealer, or just wore a little concealer under my eyes, and dusted this powder over my whole face. It does an awesome job at keeping my oily T-zone under control, but doesn't dry out my skin. Even though the color is translucent, somehow it still made my skin look a little more even. I also use this powder to set any liquid foundation I use. At only $4, you really can’t beat this deal.

 

5. Milani Shadow Eyez 12 HR Wear Eyeshadow in Champagne Toast $6- After hearing Missglamorazzi talk about this shadow pencil, I was itching to try it myself. She was right about this one! The shade looks like it sounds…a light pink champagne. It is super easy to swipe across the lid, blend it out a little and either wear alone or with another shade in the crease. And it WILL NOT budge! The twelve hour part is serious.

 

Nars Deep Throat on the left, Miliani Champagne Toast on the right. Champagne toast looks way more bronze in the picture than it does in person! I could not get the color to show up accurately on camera.

Honorable Mention- Jouer Matte Moisture Tint $38- I was absolutely crazy about this stuff for about five days. Sadly, after about a week, I started noticing flaky skin around my nose and mouth. I tried different moisturizers, and to my disappointment, nothing helped, and I had to return it. However, if you have normal to oily skin, I highly suggest giving this a try. It has a mousse-like texture, but it covers like a light to medium foundation. I couldn’t believe how much this tinted moisturizer covered. You can wear with a little concealer, but I doubt you’ll need it!

 

Have you discovered any new favorites? Do you have any foundation suggestions for my difficult skin? I’d love to hear any suggestions!

Why Every Woman Should Wear Red Lipstick at Least Once

Even though I've worn hot pink, deep plum, and bright coral lipsticks, there was something about red that was intimidating to me. When perusing the makeup aisles, I always admired the ruby shades,  but shied away every time. Luckily, a beautiful red lip color made its way to me in my Birchbox last year. I immediately tried it on in the privacy of my bathroom. BAM. I was taken aback by the way it transformed me. No. I'm not being dramatic. Red lipstick will transform you. I fell in love with the way it instantly made me feel glamorous, elegant, and fierce. Red lipstick gives you a confidence you won't understand until you try it for yourself. Even after my moment of discovery, I was still hesitant to wear this beautiful color outside my own home. It was just so...red. Christmas came around, and I figured it was the perfect time to try it out.

Christmas Day! Finally brave enough to wear red lips out of the house :)

 



If you are like me and are reluctant to attempt red lips, try out these tips:

Essentials:

 

• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso (or your favorite red lipstick)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil (or your favorite concealer)

 

What to do:
1. Outline your lips with concealer.
2. Blend this line out very well. This helps keep the color from bleeding and makes a cleaner line for the color.
3. Fill it in! Take your time and do your best to follow your natural lip lines. If you get a little out of the lines, use a Qtip to clean it up, and add a tiny bit more concealer where it was rubbed off.
4. Finish the look. Here, I only wore mascara and a natural blush. It's super important to keep blush and other makeup fairly neutral so that the lips don't compete with your other features. Check out the other suggestions below if you want to do a little more than mascara.

Other options:

(Click the image to make it larger!)

 Far left: Use a liquid liner to create a subtle winged out line a la Marilyn Monroe.
Middle: Create a little definition. I used MAC's Naked Lunch all over the lid and Scene only on the outer corner and blended this out. Again, a subtle winged line works well with the shadows. This is how I did my eyes in the picture from Christmas.
Far right: Use a creamy pencil liner such as Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner pencil in black to draw a line along the upper lash line and smudge it out with your finger or Qtip. You can also use the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky Longwearing Shadow-Pencil I talked about here.

A word about the Stila Liquid Lipstick: I was very happy with this product! It didn't fade or bleed outside the lines. It looks glossy when first applied, but it dries to a matte finish. Despite the matte quality, it didn't make my lips feel dry or uncomfortable. Only downside: it will wear off when you eat or drink, so you will have to reapply a couple times to keep the color true. I definitely recommend giving these a try! I will be trying more colors from this line soon.

I hope this has been helpful for those of you who have been waiting to try it out for yourself! Now go pick up a red lipstick and see what you've been missing!

Things I Never Leave Home Without

Over the years I have found that there are a few things that are absolutely necessary to have with me at all times. You never know when you will have last minute dinner plans with friends (or someone more than a friend...), when you will wake up late and have to rush out the door, or when you'll have a day that just feels less than amazing. These are my weapons to combat any of these situations, and then some!

1. Bobby pins. Duh. Some days I just want to get my hair out of my face. It's super easy to twist my "bangs" out of my face and pin them back, pull my hair half up, or create a side waterfall braid and pin it in place.

2. Travel brush. I have had this thing for years. I can't stand my hair feeling tangley after walking outside. Last minute updos and ponytails can be a little easier after working out any knots. And sometimes it just feels nice to brush out my hair. Am I the only one that thinks this?

3. Hair elastics. Self explanatory. Some days just require a ponytail. Or a topknot. Or a braid.

4. Hand lotion. For someone who obsessively washes her hands, lotion is a must have. Dry, cracked skin feels awful. I discovered this lotion at a hospital where I had a rotation, and it has been my new favorite ever since. It just works. No greasiness, no fragrance, it absorbs quickly, and the moisture lasts forever. What else can you ask for? You can find 3M Cavilon Moisturizing Hand Lotion here on amazon.com.

5. Oil Absorbing Sheets. I prefer to use blotting paper instead of piling on more powder during the day. A ton of companies make these now, but I've always used the ones from Clean & Clear.

6. Powder. Yes, I know I just said I don't like using powder. I keep this on hand for the times when I find out about last minute plans. This powder adds just a tiny bit of coverage to make up for any foundation that may have worn off during the day. Plus it gets rid of any shine without looking overly matte. Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder has been a favorite of mine since high school.

7. Hand Sanitizer. I love the Target hand sanitizer with aloe. It has such a clean, fresh scent. Always important to keep your hands clean! Especially now that flu season is in full swing! (Get your flu shot!)

8. Eye Liner. I like to keep an eyeliner pencil in my bag in case the liner has faded on the outer corners or on days I am pressed for time. This Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in black is very creamy and easy to smudge along the lash line for a fast makeup look. Also great for creating a smokey eye for dinner or late night plans when you don't have time to go home and freshen up!

9. Lip Products. Four lip products may seem excessive to carry in your bag to some (I usually have about three or four more options), but hear me out. Covergirl's LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist is a beautiful color in a crayon-like form. I don't believe I've mentioned this one before. I love using this color on days when I only had time to swipe on mascara. It instantly makes me look more put together. The "gloss balm" formula is moisturizing, and the color payoff is pretty impressive. I feel like this shade can be worn year round, but I think it's especially pretty for spring/summer time.  Maybelline's Color Elixirs are always in my bag. I like to have a neutral option I can wear for every day, like Petal Plush. Raspberry Rhapsody has been hanging out in my bag lately too (not pictured). Revlon's Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie has been my favorite bolder option to keep on hand. Last but not least, a great basic lip balm is a no brainer. Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit is my favorite lip balm of the moment. Smells amazing, very moisturizing. It's all about options.

EXTRAS: I'm always prepared for any dilemma. My friends have jokingly (or maybe not jokingly) called my purse a "memaw bag". Other things I like to have that always come in handy:

• Safety pins- You never know when you'll lose a button and need to keep your pants up!
• Nail clippers- Get rid of hang nails fast or snip off tags on new clothes.
• Medicine/First Aid- I like to keep at least ibuprofen and bandaids with me. Sometimes those new shoes are killer.

What are your must-have items you can't leave home without? Thanks for reading!

Save vs. Splurge: Top 5 Dupes Collab with the Pursuit of Novelty

For our second collab, Christina from Pursuit of Novelty and I decided to choose our top 5 dupes. Some products are impossible to replicate. Others you can totally get a way with a drugstore dupe and have the same results. These options may not be EXACTLY the same in the tubes, pans, or packaging, but the finish and overall look are difficult to differentiate.

The left side (my left side) of my face is all drugstore products, and the right side is all high end products. The dupe I chose for lips is a color I didn't like pairing with the other makeup, so I included an additional picture below.

 



What I used:
Eyeshadow
Save: L'Oreal HIP Concentrated Shadow Duo in Sassy (the taupe shade) $8- True to the name, the shadows in this line are packed with pigments. This option is very slightly deeper than the high end counter part, but it has the same silvery shimmer. When applied, you really can't tell a difference!
Splurge: MAC eyes shadow in Satin Taupe $15- This classic must-have eye shadow from MAC is one of my all time favorite shadows. It is an awesome crease color and looks amazing on every eye color. The silver shimmer gives this taupe shade gorgeous depth and dimension.

Liquid Liner
Save: L'Oreal Infalliable The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner $8- This one is truly a steal! The felt tip is identical to the Stila Stay All Day liner, but at a much lower price. The finish is impossible to tell apart (see picture), and it makes applying liquid liner a breeze.
Splurge: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black $20- I'm sure you're tired of reading about this liner! The ONLY benefit of this liner over the L'Oreal version is that is does have a bit more staying power. It's never been a problem, but I do notice it takes a little bit more to get this liner off at the end of the day!

Mascara
Save: L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess $9- I found this gem when I did our $20 challenge. The original Voluminous formula is a cult favorite, but I really love the brush on this version. It makes it easy to separate my lashes while building up the volume. Awesome alternative to my true all time favorite mascara.
Splurge: Benefit They're Real! Mascara $23- My holy grail mascara. I never thought I would find a high end mascara that I would love enough to spend the money on. The formula is amazing. Lush, full, but separated lashes every time. Can't. Get. Enough. I highly recommend trying this out. Get the trial size if you don't want to commit to a full size tube.

Blush
Save: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso $8- All of the shades in this line are highly pigmented and have a gorgeous finish. Compared to Coralista, this option does have a little more of an apricot tone, but is still very similar to the Benefit blush. Because it is so pigmented, you have to be easy handed on the application. Start with a small amount on your brush and add more if  needed.
Splurge: Benefit CORALista blush $28- A favorite of mine for several years, this blush is the perfect coral. The pigment is not as intense as the Milani blush, which is good and bad. I usually have to work a little more to get this to show up on my skin tone. It also has more shimmer which gives the cheekbones a beautiful sheen without using highlighter.

Lips
Save: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Blissful Berry $5- I love the formula of these lipsticks. They feel moisturizing, but still have great color payoff. Berry Blissful has more of a satin finish than the MAC option, and has a slightly more blue tone. It is also more sheer, but buildable. Can't go wrong!
Splurge: MAC lipstick in Diva $15- Diva is a matte lipstick, so the finish is obviously different. As most matte lipsticks, it is a little bit on the dry side, but the color is gorgeous. It is described as an "intense red-burgundy", so I realize the shades between these two options are classified completely differently. However, when you compare the two, I don't think they look much different! Even in the tubes, the colors look very similar.

The drugstore dupes are on the left, and the high end products are on the right.

 

 

If you've been eyeing any of these high end products but are trying to save money, give these dupes a try! Let me know what you think! What are your favorite dupes I'm missing out on?