Haul: Sephora

Below is what I got in my most recent purchase. I have liked the melted matte lip glosses so I decided to get a couple of the other colors. With that said, I will be returning two of them! :-( The packaging color is deceiving (keep in mind I bought these online anyway), so keep that in mind when purchasing. I love "Feelin' Myself" though! Such a pretty coral!

Mostly though, my purchase was based on the Better Than Sex mascara in their new waterproof formula! I grew to love the original formula, and have used it daily for a long time, but noticed that it started to transfer just below my eyebrows and knowing that I'm going to Hawaii this summer I opted to look into waterproof mascaras. Unfortunately, there haven't been any that I've loved. There was staying power, and I didn't have any transfer, but I wasn't getting the fullness and length that I was getting with other mascaras, specifically my favorite Better Than Sex. When I saw they had a waterproof formula I was thrilled. I sure hope I like what it does to my lashes like the original but without transferring! A couple of things were bought with points and others are just samples. I'm never super thrilled with the Beauty Insider reward options or samples though, and they rarely get used, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to use them!

Empties

It's been a hot second since I've done one of these, so naturally I have a ton of empty items! They're all staple items, so nothing too exciting to report! Haul and more makeup looks coming soon! :)

LOTD: Makeup Geek Shadows

Please forgive the air-drying, carefree hair of mine! Haha I decided to add to my Makeup Geek collection and above are the new shades in my new Z-Palette before I added the ones I've had. I used Cupcake on my brow bone, Twilight on my lid, Drama Queen in the outer one-third and crease, and used In the Spotlight as a highlight, which I already had. I'm also trying a new mascara because I needed a waterproof one. It's Covergirl Flamed Out. I'm liking that it stays put but I miss the fullness Too Faced Better Than Sex gave me. I'm always on the lookout for the perfect mascara! Aren't we all?! Which mascaras are you loving?

Haul: Sephora & Ulta

Sephora:

ULTA: 

Mostly, these purchases were made for the upcoming weddings in my family. I'm in charge of doing my little sister's makeup for her wedding in Hawaii, somewhere I've never been, and in a climate completely different from the one in which we live. I also do not claim to be good at doing others' makeup so I am feeling the pressure! However, the countless hours I've spent watching YouTube videos has led me to these products that I have tried and have fallen in love with. The Bite Beauty lipsticks are strictly a splurge for spring/summer in some fun, season-appropriate colors.

I just got some Makeup Geek shadows in the mail today, so tune in for some looks using those soon! Thanks for reading! :)

Ulta & Walgreens Haul

This haul seems to have a hair theme haha. I recently heard castor oil is good for your eyebrows, and after a little more research I've also come to find that it has many hydration benefits as well. I bought it at Walgreens along with the spray bottle. I plan to try a few different application techniques for it, so I'll update you on what works best and if it even works! What random things do you get when you decide to go shopping just for an excuse to get out of the house?

Spring Green LOTD: Anastasia Beverly Hills Self-Made Palette

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate...EVERYTHING?! Life isn't perfect but I think that's what makes it so great. Take a deep breath in (seriously do it—you won't regret it!), and smell the spring air! Hallelujah! We have made it through the doldrums of another winter! I don't know if it's because I'm a 90s child, love Spring/Easter, or what but I love pastels; not to the point where I would paint the walls in my house a pastel color, but I do love wearing them and decorating with them to get into the Springtime mood! Hence this post! I introduce to you this spring green look. 

For this look I used a little more of the darker foundation than I've been using this summer (remember I mix two shades), added Fix + to my blush brush before applying Milani's Dolce Pink. On my lips I have Too Faced's Melted Metal Peony. For my eyes I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Self-Made palette. I primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion, blended Sherbert generously on my brow bones, applied Treasure beneath my brows and in the inner corner of my eyes, pat Isla on my lids, and used Hot Chocolate in the creases and outer third of my eyes. I think a brown eyeliner would have been more ideal, but I didn't have one, so I just stuck with black. If you're wearing something with black in it, a great alternative to Hot Chocolate would be Spirit Rock blended out so as to not be so dark. I hope you liked this fresh faced, dewy springtime look. Check back for more reviews coming soon. As always, thanks for reading! :)

Empties

Here are my empties from the last little while...

The cocowhite sachets are a product I've been using the last couple of months and I really like them. I think it's helped me to be more diligent in flossing (because I'll always floss before) and the combo has helped with oral health and hygiene. I can't say for sure it's actually whitened my teeth, though.

I think the Living Proof heat protectant has been helping, as I haven't been plagued with split-ends nearly as much. It definitely gives me peace of mind before drying and styling!

I don't know that I will ever try a different foundation and foundation primer system than Makeup Forever's. I have been nothing but impressed and truly love the flawless, healthy skin finish I get every time.

The Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in Tropical Mango was something I had lying around for years, and can't remember where, when, or why I got it. I recently became obsessed with The Body Shop's shea butters, so I called myself shopping my stash before opening another one of those. I have to say I like the Body Shop's better, and I'm not entirely sure what the cost differences are, but the Tree Hut brand is greasy feeling, and sometimes when I'm just wanting to moisturize my heals before putting on socks it's not a problem, but when I'm trying to hydrate my hands it's not my favorite feeling. The scent also isn't as good as the Body Shop's brand of mango. I can't compare any other scents, but the Body Shop never lets me down!

Olay Facial Hair Duo (medium to coarse hair) has been amazing! I came to realize I didn't love the small, and although blonde, hairs I have on my jaw, neck, chin and lip area. I tried waxing but my sensitive skin couldn't take it, so I had to stop and then I heard about this system. It's something I do while I'm swishing my coconut oil (only up to 10 mins) and my skin has been reacting much better. I still break out along my chin/jaw area, but who's to say if that's why or if that's just where I'd be breaking out regardless. I plan to keep using this until my skin either reacts poorly, or if I find something even better.

I have always used a detangler, maybe because my Mom always did, but they quit selling my beloved Aussie one, so I picked up the Pantene Pro-V Moisture Mist, and the scent just isn't as amazing, but it definitely gets the job done! I'm a bit obsessed with scents, so I'll probably keep trying other kinds, but all-in-all not a bad product!

Other than the shampoo, which was just something my cosmetologist sister told me to use and has since told me to use Biolage, the rest are just staple products I've been using and will keep using. I have to say that I've noticed a huge difference in my lashes since making eye makeup remover part of my routine. I think before I'd just scrub and rub with facial cleanser (without really getting it all removed) and now I just let it break the mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow down and then I'll wash my face, and won't be so aggressive in the eye area. My lashes have improved and the skin around my eye which normally gets so dry hasn't been as bad this year. I love when I can stay on top of that because I really don't want to look any older or age any faster and the eye area is a big indicator!

What products are your staples? What new products are you testing out?