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?

LOTD: Christmas Day Look using the Tartelette In Bloom Palette

A little late, but here's my Christmas Day look!









To get this look I first primed my lids, then applied Smarty Pants to my crease and brow bone area, pat Rocker on my lids, with Funny Girl as a highlight, and Leader and Activist in my outer third and crease, I've been going a little bolder with my eyeliner wing, but have still been using the Ulta Automatic eyeliner in Black/Brown. I also used my regular trio of mascaras. For my lips I used Kat Von D in Outlaw. I love the formula of Kat Von D's liquid lipsticks, so I've been buying more shades. What looks did you come up with for Christmas?

LOTD: Tartelette In Bloom Palette

I was immediately drawn to this palette because of Firecracker, so naturally, that was the first shade I couldn't wait to use! I used a primer and then in a windshield wiper motion I applied Sweetheart in my crease up to my brow bone. After that, I pat Firecracker on my lids and Rebel over Firecracker in the outer one-third of my eyes, I used Funny Girl as a highlight, and Leader to deepen Rebel. I love the way the shadows blend! I bought the Tarte neutralEYES palette back in 2013 and ended up returning it because I hated everything about the shadows. I was extremely hesitant to purchase this one because of that, but had heard nothing but good reviews and sure enough, I am in love! They must have changed something because this is a night and day difference. One of my complaints about the neutralEYES palette was that the shadows weren't pigmented enough, but the ones in this palette are and are true to how they appear in the palette on skin. I especially love this palette because there are so many combinations that I can't wait to try, so check back for more looks!

Christmas 2015 Beauty Haul

From Caitlyn, the girl knows the key to my heart!



What fun things did you get or plan to get with your gift cards?

Ulta Haul

The Sephora VIB Sale got me good, but there were some bareMinerals things I wasn't able to purchase through them, so I leaned on Ulta to get them, and I avoid paying for shipping like the plague, so I always throw stuff in until I reach the bare minimum for free shipping. I usually go way over it though ha! Here's what I got:

Sephora Haul

That dang VIB Rouge sale was far too tempting, so I got my staple items and then they sent me $20 off a $50 purchase, so I picked up a few more things! I'm excited to try all of these! I seriously have so many new lip products to try it's not even funny!

LOTD: Urban Decay NAKED Smoky Palette

I'm finally accepting that it's fall, so I've started using my NAKED Smoky palette and have come up with an easy, everyday look that I wanted to share. Here it is:









I have a little bit of beef with this palette—I don't like the transition shades! Maybe they're only too close to my natural skin color, but they just don't get the job done. I ended up using the Too Faced Natural Matte palette's Strapless on my brow bone before using the shadows from the NAKED Smoky palette. From that palette I used Dirtysweet on my lids, Password in the outer third and creases with Smolder over it to deepen it up. For a highlight I used High. I used my usual Ulta eyeliner and mascara trio. Since I was wearing turquoise and had a less dramatic eye look, I figured I could try out a pretty cranberry lipstick I recently got from my Sephora points. It's a Bite Beauty lipstick in Kir Royale. It also came with a lipgloss in the same shade (which I don't like at all!!!) I love the lipstick though! It's so smooth and hydrating, which I'm grateful for since my lips (and my skin for that matter!) haven't transitioned as well with the change in weather this year. What are some products you use this time of year either because of colors or to combat colder weather?

Halloween Look: Ladybug

I was out of town for Halloween this year, and knew ahead of time I would need a simple costume for an event at my Grandfather's VA Home, so I found some cheap ladybug wings and an antennae head band at Spirit and wore some black and red items I already owned. Halloween is NOT my favorite, so it's hard for me to get into it, but I started looking up makeup looks on Pinterest for some inspiration and enthusiasm. Keep in mind these pictures were taken hours after application and I smudged it a little because I kept forgetting I had it on. Here it is:

I first primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion banking on it preventing the dreaded creasing (it didn't fail me! :D) I didn't own any red eye shadow, and didn't get a chance/wasn't super motivated to buy any since I wouldn't use it again for a while-if ever, so I used my NYX waterproof lip liner in Red instead that I've used maybe twice on my lips. Ha! For the black I used Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl eyeliner in Black. For lashes I used Ardell Natural 120 Demi in Black. 'Cause you have to have fluttery lashes as a ladybug! I really didn't know what I was doing, hadn't practiced before, and didn't have any time to wipe it off and start over, so I am pretty pleased with how it turned out, all things considered. I think if I were to do it again I'd have the body of the ladybug connect with the wings and also do the spots differently/more random. Other than me forgetting I had the makeup on and rubbing my face/forehead/nose, I'd say it had great staying power. I was super worried about the lip liner creasing since it wasn't meant for eyelids, but it was extremely pigmented and held up all day. What looks did you come up with for Halloween?

Empties

Most of these products are tried and true, but a few are some staple items that I tried in new brands. The first one I can think of to mention is the makeup removing wipes. The Dollar Tree brand failed miserably. They aren't thick, moist or large enough to get the job done! The Swisspers brand of cotton rounds aren't my favorite either. I believe I bought a value pack of three sleeves from Walmart and I've gotten used to them but I think I'll spend a little more to get a thicker cotton round that will give me more bang for my buck. Are you familiar with the Yes To brand? I had heard a little but about it, and understood it was a pretty natural line of products. I picked up the Yes To Cucumbers facial wipes which are for normal to sensitive skin, and my skin would turn beat red afterwards. I didn't figure out what was causing it at first but eventually ruled out other things as this was really the only variable and new product I was using. I have never had a reaction to cucumbers so I don't know why I reacted the way that I did, but sure enough, I would react every time. Terrible! The Calgon body wash is to die for! I have stuck with Sweet Pea for a good 10+ years, but I was trying to use up products I've had forever, so I made myself stray from the usual and I really like it! The Victoria Secret perfume in Pure Seduction is also a favorite and became my summer scent. I've always loved the scent and it's perfect for summer, as it is so fresh and floral, so I finally used this bottle up that I've had forever. The last product I haven't reviewed yet is the floss. Random, I know! I got this from my dentist and it is the worst! It shreds and becomes useless after just a few teeth. Any suggestions for a good quality floss? :D

Thanks for reading!

LOTD: Urban Decay NAKED Smoky Palette

I'll admit, I held off on buying this palette for a while—even after going the day it came out and swatching it with the BFF. It just didn't do anything for me! I felt like the colors were too similar to the other 5 (!!!) Urban Decay palettes I own, let alone shades I have in other brands of palettes or singles. I ended up buying Too Faced palettes instead, and have loved them, yet I was still drawn to this palette. I ended up swatching it every time I went to Ulta or Sephora but couldn't justify buying it. Sephora ended up having a 3X the points at the beginning of August, so I purchased some staple items and the palette. I thought if I wasn't impressed, I could always return it. I left on a trip right after I received it so it did not make the cut for which palettes I was going to bring. (I only bring palettes I am familiar with and know quick looks to get me out the door fast.) So since getting back I have been wanting to try this new palette and I have to say, my hesitation was unwarranted. What I thought were your typical smoky shadows, were actually very diverse shadows! They might look similar to each other and similar to other shadows we all already have, but these really are a different kind of amazing. The pigmentation, blendability, quality, and intensity are one of a kind! I highly recommend this palette! Here is the first look I came up with:











Thanks for reading! Let me know if you try this look! :)

LOTD: Too Faced Natural Matte & Love Palettes

For this look I used both palettes that I recently purchased and this is what I came up with:

To get this look, I first applied Too Faced Natural Matte shades Strapless with a fluffy brush to my brow bone area, Honey Butter on my lids, and Chocolate Cookie in the outer third of my eyes. From the Love palette I used shades from the Pure Love square. I used Adore on my lids, Amorous on the outer thirds and crease, Dearest in a small triangle above my irises, and Cherish as a highlight. To finish the look, I applied Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara as well as Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. Normally, with the color of shirt I'm wearing and the summer vibe I would use a coral lip color, but because Adore is so coppery, I decided to use a lip color that had blue undertones. I used the Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Barcelona Nights.

I hope you enjoy this look as much as I do and are enjoying your summer! :)

Haley's Hints & Hits

I was recently asked to teach a three 45-minute makeup classes to girls ages 12-17. It caused me to reflect on the basics, something I think I overlook a lot. I hope the information I gave the young women, as well as you, will help prevent mistakes that I made for years from being made.

Haley's Handout

"Make-up, if applied tastefully and in moderation, can enhance appearance. But no amount of eye shadow, lipstick, or mascara could possibly compete with the natural attractiveness of a genuine smile. It brightens the room. It cheers others. It communicates friendship, love, and optimism so much more than any cosmetic ever could. It puts people at ease and is welcoming. Truly in the world of glamour, there is no close second to a genuine smile.”
~Elder Lynn G. Robbins

Haley’s Hints:
-Don’t sleep in your makeup! Your eyelashes and skin will do so much better if you allow them time to breathe. Hygiene and skin care are so important! No amount of makeup can compensate for unclean or unhealthy skin. I highly recommend eye makeup remover to ensure all the eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara are off without excessive rubbing or scrubbing. Allow the moistened cotton pad to sit on your eye for a few seconds and then gently wipe off your lids. In the same way you applied your mascara, gently use the pad to get the mascara off of your lashes. You don’t want to cause premature wrinkles in the eye area from poor makeup removing techniques. Your makeup will apply easier if you’re working with a clean slate, so wash and hydrate your skin and then you won’t need as much makeup and it won’t take as long! Depending on your skin type, once or a couple times a week, use a face mask or cleansing brush to deep clean your pores so they don’t get clogged and cause breakouts that could have been prevented. Avoid scrubs, as they will cause mini tears in your skin which will only make things worse. Be sure to have the water just barely warm because if it’s too hot it will burst capillaries, which will cause redness and an older appearance.
-Hydrate and protect your skin—always! If you notice you are breaking out, don’t skip your moisturizer! Your skin may even be breaking out because it’s over-compensating from the lack of moisture and nourishment that can be found in face creams. Face creams and sunscreen will help keep you looking young! DNA is of course a huge factor, but control what you can and it will prolong the aging process! The sun provides us with Vitamin D, which is vital, but excessive exposure will cause your skin to become leathery and will wrinkle much sooner than it would have otherwise. It can also cause skin cancer, so be diligent in protecting your skin! If you do get too much sun, apply aloe vera without lidocaine (it’s alcohol based and will dry your skin out) to get your skin healing fast! You also need to hydrate yourself from the inside out, so drink lots of water and avoid greasy foods to help keep your skin clear and luminous. It will pay off in the long run, I promise!
~Makeup Application:
·Face
-Primers for eyeshadow and face may seem like a gimmick, but they truly help to create a smooth canvas for flawless application. Eyeshadow primers help the shadows appear in their truest shade, stay put, and keep them from creasing. Face primers make foundation application easier, allow you to use less, and will help with staying power.
-Mineral foundation/loose or pressed powders are great for everyday use because they’re light, easy to apply, and yet still provide coverage. They’re also great to use for setting foundation when it is worn for special occasions. If you do start using foundation for school dances or family pictures, make sure you have the right shade! Either mix two shades of foundation together or mix a foundation that is slightly too dark with a moisturizer to tone it down for your perfect shade. It’s very important to get as close to skin color as possible. Of course we always want to look tan or we feel like we have to cover up our flaws and blemishes so we want to go darker, but it's important not to go too dark. Always blend a little foundation down your neck and below your ear so there aren't any harsh lines. I like to use a foundation brush or beauty blender to make sure it’s even so it doesn’t look patchy or caked on.
-Cream blush can have better staying power and can be applied with a small stipple brush or your fingers. It’s best to apply blush slightly below or on your cheekbone, depending on your face shape, and from the colored part of your eye (iris) out because any closer can accentuate redness around your nose.
·Eyeshadow

-Blending is key! I like to use a shadow that is a shade or two darker than my skin tone (usually kind of a blush color) for blending on my brow bone so my highlight shade and my darker crease color transition more smoothly. There really aren’t any rules to how you apply shadows, but my go-to is using a medium shade on my eyelids, a darker shade in the outer one-third of my eye and crease, and a light color for a highlight below my eyebrows and in the inner corner of my eye. The darker the color, the smaller the brush.

·Mascaras
-I have yet to find the perfect mascara, but there are tons of great ones at the drugstore. You don’t want it to flake off on your face or make your eyelashes look like spider legs. A mascara that lengthens, thickens, separates, or keeps your eyelashes curled can be a fun way to switch up your look.

Hits with Haley:
-e.l.f brushes, primers, blush, eyelash curler, lip exfoliator, zit eraser, etc.
-Up & Up or Equate Eye Makeup Remover & Facial Cleanser (no different than Neutrogena)
-Ulta (drugstore & high-end products with a rewards program)
-Search YouTube for dupes of high-end products, reviews, and tutorials for palettes or products before buying

Remember, you’re already beautiful! Makeup should accentuate your natural beauty, not cover it up. :)

LOTD: Too Faced Love Palette

I used the True Love shadows (center square of the palette).



This is what it looked like:







I'm really liking my palettes! I highly recommend them!