February 2014 Favorites

#1 // Olay ProX Advanced Cleaning System

I use this to cleanse my face every night for sure and sometimes in the morning as well! It leaves my face super clean and smooth and I think it is also helping my skin stay clear. If you use this make sure that you only keep it on your face for one minute, it might over-cleanse your face if you leave it on longer than that!

#2 // L'Oreal Pore Vanisher

I am officially convinced that this product does what it says it will and will shrink your pores after continued use. I found a bunch of samples and have been using them for a couple weeks and I love what this product does to my skin to help put my makeup on smoothly and even out my skin texture.

#3 // Revlon Lip Butter in "Pink Truffle"

I think that this color is a my-lips-but-better color. It is a little bit darker than my natural lip color but it is a great nude!

#4 // Lancome Juicy Tube in "Touched by Light"

This lipgloss smells just like any important high school event for me. Juicy Tubes were the THING to have back in the day and I wore this color to Prom, Ball, Homecoming, Graduation, this list goes on and on. Last October I felt the need to repurchase when I was feeling nostalgic. 

#5 // Physician's Formula Eye Booster Liquid Eyeliner in "Ultra Black"

This eyeliner has been great! I have been searching for a liquid liner that wouldn't transfer down after a few hours of wear. The product also promises to make your lashes longer and fuller, I haven't noticed yet. The product doesn't promise to be waterproof which is what I really want, but I haven't had problems with it like I had with my Jordana Fabuliner and L'Oreal liquid eyeliner pen.

#6 // Almay Eyeliner in "Black"

This eyeliner has been the best that I have found in years. I cannot tell you how many eyeliners I have tried: waterproof, smudgeproof, regular...They all smudged on the side of my eye. This eyeliner does too, but I have had the longest success rate with it (three to four hours without smudges).

#7 // Too Faced Shadow Insurance

This stuff almost never creases on me! I still want to try the Nars eyeshadow primer, but as long as I have this and it works 99% of the time, I am happy! If you need a primer that doesn't make your eyeshadow crease I would recommend this.

#8 // Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

This was an impulse purchase. It was the last palette at the store and I just needed it. You know how that goes, right? The shadows smell like chocolate, they are incredibly pigmented, and did I say almost no fallout? SO AWESOME.

#9 // Batiste Dry Shampoo

Why am I so late to jump onto this band wagon??? I didn't realize there was a difference in dry shampoos until now! This stuff is literally a magic potion for your hair. If you are trying to go a couple days between washing your hair, you need this stuff.

#10 // L'Oreal Boost It Blow Out Heatspray

I have never used a heat protectant hairspray, but I love this one. It's affordable, it creates volume, and it keeps my hair de-frizzed. If I use too much it can make my hair a little on the greasy side, but totally manageable.

Valentines Day Eyeshadow Tutorial Using Naked 3 Palette!

This post has been a long time coming. I have had a couple months to play with my Naked 3 palette and I can honestly say that I love it just as much as I thought I would. But from the moment I saw it two colors really stood out to me: Trick and Factory. The following look was the first look I created using my palette and I have used it on myself and my friends. I find it to be universally flattering and you can always use less or more depending on your taste.

1. I primed my eyelids with two products: Too Faced Shadow Insurance (Original) and my Limited Edition Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Nude Pink." I took both of these products from my lash line to brow bones.
2. Then I took the color "Limit" on a fluffy brush from Sonia Kashuk and blended that into my crease and a little above as my transition shade.
3. Using my finger I put "Trick" on the inner half of my lid (I have found this color to be difficult to apply with a brush, it is easier to use a wet brush but I like how it looks using my finger).
4. Using my MAC 139 Brush I put "Factory" on the outer half of my lid and blended it slighly up into my crease.
5. I took my MAC 124 brush and the color "Nooner" and buffed the edges of "Factory" and "Trick" out and added a little more to my outer-v.
6. Finally I highlighted my brow bone and inner corner with "Strange."
7. I used my Physician's Formula black liquid eyeliner pen and did a little wing.
8. Lined my waterline a with my Almay eyeliner in Black
9. Finished up with some "They're Real" mascara by Benefit!

January/February 2014 Bulletin Boards

Hello to my Bulletin Board Seeking RA Friends! Below is my personal hallway bulletin board along with the bulletin board I created with my floor buddy!

I was inspired to create this bulletin board by an ad campaign about sexual consent. I thought this bulletin board was relevant also because spring fever brings love to all residence halls. I found a slogan that I liked and then attached speech bubbles around the sides that were ways for residents to ask for consent or to understand when consent is not given. On the far end I included information about consent (ex: When you are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol you cannot give consent). Attaching condoms made this bulletin board extremely popular. If you search on Pinterest about Sexual Consent you will find tons of ideas.

This is not what I used to create this bulletin board, but if you are interested in re-creating I would highly reccomend giving it a look.

I saw this bulletin board idea originally with the Up! house (from the movie Up! by Pixar) and the house had balloons attached to it and residents could write about what lifts them up on the balloons. The balloon die-cuts we have are really small and I wanted residents to write a lot and have a lot of people be able to write. WARNING/UPDATE: There were a lot of inappropriate messages on this board over the month so be careful to monitor it.

January 2014 Favorites

My first "Favorites" list! I wanted to start this in 2013 but because I have not been the most consistent blogger (something I am working on!), I am starting in January. This "Favorites" list is in no particular order, so I have one coffee favorite thrown in with the beauty and makeup... Maybe next month I will do better to keep my lifestyle favorites at the end! Here goes nothing!

#1 // Clinique Acne Solutions Line

I started to use this in December because my skin was revolting against me. After a month of consistent use my skin completely flipped on me (in a good way). I plan on posting a more in depth review of the line soon, but until then just know that if you are struggling with acne you should check this out!

#2 // Stress Relief Lotion

I don't know if this lotion actually relieves stress, but it has an amazing smell that is great for men and women! I think that just applying lotion is relaxing so that might be why I enjoy it so much!

#3 // Better Than Sex Mascara

Too Faced is know for their scandalous names--but this one is too much! I don't know about the title, but the product is amazing. Two or three coats of this stuff and you will not even recognize your lashes! It is absolutely wonderful.

#4 // Butter Toffee K-Cups

Best. Coffee. Ever. That's really all I have to say.

#5 // Este Lauder Double Wear Foundation

This foundation is the perfect balance of coverage and not looking like cake-face. I wear the shade 2N1 Desert Beige and it is a pretty great match for me when I am in the winter months. 

#6 // Beauty Blender Dupe

This is not the right picture or a link to where you can purchase. But it is a link to Casey Holme's video about beauty blender dupes! I got mine at Marshall's!

#7 // Hard Candy Fox in a Box

These blushes are awesome! I love every one of them that I have (and I think I have all the colors), but I somehow waited until this January to buy them! they are super blendable and come in a large enough variety that any skin tone will have a blush complementing them.

#8 // Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm

These things are amazing! I own five from the line (lacquer and matte balms) and the Laquer Balm in "Ingenue" is my favorite nude lip of the moment.

#9 // Naked 3

Need I say anymore?

#10 // Gelly Roll Pens

These were such a blast from the past for me when I found them earlier this month! I cannot wait to take all of my notes for the semester with these pens!

Face of the Day: In Honor of NAKED3 Release!

Urban Decay released the new Naked3 palette today! I am so so happy to say that Chris was able to order it before it sold out! It will be my Christmas present so I do not get to play with it until then. But because I am still so excited!!

My Face of the Day features both the original Naked palette and the Naked2 palette. Here goes a little step by step instruction guide for those of you that are interested in recreating this look!

1) I primed my entire lid from eyelashes to browbone with Wet n Wild Fergie eyeshadow primer in "Take on the Day."
2) I took my new limited edition Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Matte Brown" and put it only on my lid below the crease.
3) I brought out my original Naked palette and took the color "Darkhorse" on a flat shader brush and put that on the outer half of my lid and took it a little above the crease. I also took a pencil brush and put that color on the outer half of my lower lash line.
4) Staying in the Naked palette I took sin on a different flat shader brush and put the color "Sin" on the inner half of my lid and blended it into the "Darkhorse." Taking a different pencil brush I put "Sin" on the inner half of my lower lash line.
5) I took a clean blending brush and started to blend those two colors into my crease so that there were no harsh lines.
6) I then took the color "Naked" on the blending brush and blended that into my crease and a little above the crease.
7) I brought out my Naked2 palette and took the color "Bootycall" on a small shader brush and put that next to my tear duct and blended it into the "Sin."
8) Finally I took matte highlight "Foxy" and put that on my brow bone.
9) For eyeliner I lined my upper and lower waterline with New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in "Dark Brown."
10) Then I did winged liner using Jordana Fabuliner in "Brown."
12) Finally I curled my lashes and applied my new L'oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara in "Blackest Black."

Some Extras (not linked):
-Foundation: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous in "Creamy Natural"
-Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me in "Light"
-Blush: MAC in "Warm Soul"
-BronzerNew York Color in "Sunny"
-Highlight: Hard Candy bronzer in "Tiki"
-Lips: Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in "Cranberry Crush"

Be sure to sign up to be notified when Urban Decay gets Naked3 back in stock!!

Sweater Weather Tag

I saw this tag floating around YouTube and I wanted in on the action! So here goes nothing, this will be my first tag!

1. Favorite candle scent?
I am not allowed to burn candles because I living in the Residence Halls, but I use the car scents from Bath and Body Works and I loved the scent Flannel so much I bought two car scents and the candle for my mom's birthday!

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
Definitely without a doubt in my mind, coffee. I am an addict. It is the first thing I do on most mornings, get out of bed and make coffee. I am a gold card holder at Starbucks and I do not mind putting $5-10 on my card at any given time if I am in the mood for my coffee fix.

3. Do you switch up your makeup routine for the season?
Not really, I have been experimenting with more jewel-toned eyeshadows recently, but for the most part I stick to my neutral eyes. And every once in a while I will add a bold berry or red lip!

4. Favorite Thanksgiving food?
The turkey sandwiches my family makes three or four hours after family leaves the house. They are the best! There is something about getting leftover Thanksgiving dinner out of the fridge and just pilling stuff on to make a sandwich. My favorite combo: white bread (the only time of year I eat it), turkey, cranberry sauce (the jelly can kind), and mash potatoes. Let me tell you, if you have never had it you should try.

5. Hats or scarves?
Definitely scarves. I get serious hat hair year-round and I have an outrageous scarf collection. I don't wear them too often, but when it is very chilly you will most definitely see me with a scarf! And when I worked at Claire's I bought a ton of scarves (some still have their tags!).

6. Most worn sweater?
I have a cardigan that I bought the day after Christmas my Junior year of high school which is my go-to. My holy grail sweater if you will. I have sewed that thing more times than I can count and it is hanging on by a thread in some areas. But until I can't sew it back together anymore I will wear it!

7. Must have fall nail polish?
I do the Sally Hansen Gel Polish and my two favorite gel polish colors are Wine Not (included in the starter kit I linked!) and Commander in Chic! Wine Not is a deep red with a little sparkle and Commander in Chic is a grey-purple. Both are beautiful and very fall!

8. Football games or jumping into a pile of leaves?
Definitely leaves, when they put the leaves on my school campus in piles I have to tell myself not to just run and jump into them!

9. Skinny Jeans or leggings?
Definitely leggings. I love my skinny jeans and all, but leggings with boots and a sweater is a classic fall look.

10. Boots or Uggs?
I love how comfortable Uggs look and feel, but I think that they are sometimes glorified slippers. I will literally only wear Uggs for days if given the chance and I am working on presenting myself in a more professional way and that means staying away from my favorite moccasin shoes and Ugg type boods.

11. What is your #1 thing about fall?
Layers! I love dressing in layers. Sweaters are fantastic, you can pull out your favorite boots to wear over leggings, and no one can go wrong with scarves!

12. Do you have a song that gets you in the Fall mood or just a song you're loving at the moment?
I am currently loving "Little Bit of Everything" by Keith Urban! It isn't necessarily fall related, but it's a song I am loving in fall!

13. What is the fall weather like where you currently live?
I am so incredibly blessed to live in Sacramento: the City of Trees. Seriously. I will end this post with some beautiful pictures of my school! (You might recognize this from a post I did last year)

What I Wear to Class

This is my uniform of sorts lately. I will not lie to you, I bought out Target's clearance v-necks in black at the end of the season. But here goes nothing!

-Black V-Neck (similar): This could be any colored t-shirt, but I own about eight or nine black t-shirts, so you could say they are my favorite.

-Rolled Jeans (similar): I found a pair of jeans at a consignment store a month or so ago, they are New York and Co. and I am obsessed with them

-Grey Toms: My mom got these for me on clearance at the end of Summer! I love them so much (mine are a little dirty, I went apple-picking in them!)

-Fossil Watch: This was my gift from Chris last Christmas and I love it! I wear it every day, it goes with everything, and it is reasonably priced (perfect for anyone's Christmas wish list!)

-Cat Earrings (similar): I am OBSESSED with my cat earrings. I wear them multiple times a week. What can I say? I love cats!