Thursday, April 17, 2014

Skincare: Current Toners and Eye Cream




A lot of people have said they want to know more about my skincare in the comments of my latest posts.  So I'm giving what the people want! Today's post revolves around my toners and eye cream I have currently been using.  Toning is only of my favorite parts of cleansing, it also is one of the most important that should not be skipped!  Even after cleansing, your skin isn't completely clean and toning gets rid of any excess dirt, oil, makeup, you name it.  I use two different tones, one for morning and one for night.

The Elizabeth Arden Refining Toner Lotion ($19 $10.96) is the one I use for the morning.  I don't cleanse in the morning because I see it as unnecessary since I didn't get very dirty while sleeping, it also helps keep my skin balanced.  This is my second bottle of the Elizabeth Arden toner and I love it.  It is very gentle, perfect to get rid of morning oil.

The Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener ($24.50) is my night time toner.  I found this a month ago and am obsessed! Not only is the packaging beautiful but the toner makes my skin incredibly soft.  It's also alcohol-free so it doesn't dry me out and is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin.

When it comes to eye cream I don't think you are ever too young to start using one.  If you are in your early 20s or late teens you won't need anti-aging properties yet, but definitely look for moisture and brightening powers.  This will keep your under eyes looking smooth and awake.  An added benefit is your concealer will go on much smoother and less likely to crease.  My current eye cream is the Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture 24 Eye Cream ($30 $18.22).  It keeps my eyes very hydrated and smooth, and I have seen a decrease in the sliding of my concealer.  It claims to have brightening agents but I haven't noticed a difference in the month I have used it.  Even though it has worked well I don't think I will purchasing it when it's done.  I would rather shell out a few more bucks for something a little stronger.

Tip: Check your local TJ Maxx and Marshalls before shelling out big bucks for your skin care.  I get all my Elizabeth Arden there!  They also house other big brands like Shiseido, Retinol, theBalm, and others, but it does differ at each location.

What toner and eye cream do you like using?

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Coachella Beauty

Coachella Beauty


This weekend is the kickoff of Coachella and music festival season.  While you're navigating through the concerts, parties, and rides, the last thing you want to worry about is your makeup falling apart, but at the same time you to take look cute for all the pictures (obviously).  
For the makeup for this weekend, keep it natural, easy, and with SPF.  Here are the perfect products for your festival style. 

B A S E 

  BB Cream is a perfect base, it keeps your complexion natural and protected.  Bobbi Brown's is a best seller for it's naturally matte coverage that comes it a wide color spectrum, so everyone is sure to find a shade. 

  Coachella is not the time to try out your Kim K contouring and highlighting skills.  Make the skin bronzed and luminous with this bronzer with a subtle shimmer across the temples, the nose, and in the hollows of your cheeks. 

  Peachy pinks are perfect for the natural look.  NYX blushes are super pigmented and super cheap so it's a win win. 

E Y E S 

  Keep the eyes light and shimmer.  These chubby sticks are easy to put in your makeup bag and are super easy to blend with your fingers.  The taupe brown shade is perfect all of the lid for a ultra natural look, but the green shade is nice if you are looking for a little more color. 

  Waterproof mascara is not optional, its a necessity.  The Clump Crusher will hold your curl but keep your lashes separated and defined. It's also easy to add more coats without getting spidery and chunky looking.

L I P S 

  Balm stains are great because they are moisturizing and long wearing.  This shade is perfect for every skin tone and is bright enough to keep your look exciting and fresh. 

What would you wear to Coachella or any music festival this spring and summer?

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Sephora VIB Sale Picks


If any of you are avid makeup shoppers than you know that high-end makeup almost never goes on sale.  So when the VIB Sale at Sephora rolls around a few times a year it's the time to pick up all the things you have been dying for.  I didn't have a huge list of products I wanted to pick up but there were two that I knew I had to have.


The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders ($45) are beautiful powders that are designed to blur the imperfections of your skin like you are in certain lightings.  The one I chose was Diffused Light which is a "soft, warm yellow powder."  Its goal is to diffuse the redness in the skin, which is what attracted it to me the most.  It eliminated shine while still leaving a radiant glow to my complexion.  I put it to the test today and had it on for over 12 hours(!), while washing a car in 85 degree Los Angeles heat and running errands. It has kept my oil completely at bay.  I am very impressed not only with the beautiful finish it gave to my skin but the incredible wear time.  I will definitely be picking up more of these beauts and I think you should too!


No, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is a purple lipgloss.  I've always wanted a Nars Larger Thank Life Lip Gloss ($26) but didn't want to get just another pinky nude, I have far too many already.  This new color called Annees Folles intrigued me and I decided to go for it.  The coverage is very sheer so it plays up your natural lip color while giving it a beautiful purple undertone.  It made my lips turn to a beautiful pale pinky lilac, it was very flattering.  In regards to the lip gloss formula, it is incredibly moisturizing but a little too sticky for my taste.  I don't think I will be shelling out twenty six bucks for another one of these lip glosses any time soon, but it is still a great piece to have in my makeup bag.

Did you score any great items in the VIB sale?

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Favorite Spring Accessories + Giveaway (CLOSED)

Spring Accessories

There is nothing I love more than fresh spring accessories.  Florals and pastels are the perfect addition to any outfit.  Forever 21 is one of my favorite places to shop accessories, mostly because it's cheap and they always seem to be on point in that department.  Even though I love dainty necklaces, I always feel more done up with a statement necklace.  I've also been trying to up my bracelet game (thanks to @damselindior and @songofstyle) lately.  These two are great statement pieces that can easily be paired with simple chains or bangles.  If there is one place Forever 21 always gets right it is earrings.  They are super cheap, chic, and always have the perfect 12 piece sets for everyday.  I usually always stick to small studs, but after seeing Emma Watson sport the prettiest ear cuff to the Noah premier I knew that is what I needed next.  Though they may seem intimidating for an everyday look, they will be great to pair with a night time look (and make sure you're hair is pulled back or up, you wouldn't want to hide that beautiful ear candy!).  

Necklaces


Bracelets


Earrings


I am so thankful for everyone who reads my blog and want to thank you by giving away one $20 gift card to Forever 21 so you can go get some great spring accessories! 

Giveaway Rules:
1. Like and follow me on FacebookBloglovin'Twitter, and Instagram
2. Leave a comment with suggestions of posts you would like to see in the future and also your Twitter and Instagram handles

This giveaway will be open until Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 11:59 pm. 
Winner will be announced on this blog post and Twitter Sunday, April 13, 2014. 
Winner will be contacted through direct message on Twitter.

(This giveaway is for US Residents only.)

Winner: Bekah!

Thank you for everyone that entered.
Look for more giveaways in the future!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Review: 3 'The Body Shop' Masks


So I was in line at Ulta and only have one thing in my hand, so naturally my shopaholic ways took over and my eyes wandered to the in-line displays.  I was instantly attracted to the bright packaging and for $2.50 each, what a steal!  I grabbed them and this week I have put them to the test. 

  This mask was created for us dried skinned gals.  It has a very thin, lotion like consistency and it does not harden like most masks, which was new for me.  (Confession: I was a bit sad that it didn't, I secretly love the feeling when your face is stuck in a mask.) After the allotted 10 minutes I washed it off and patted dry and reveled in skin glory.  My skin felt soft and very supple, there was no need for a moisturizer.  I think I would buy the full size during the winter months when the chilly and dry Santa Ana's blow through LA, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone with super dry flaky skin.  

  Clay masks always get me excited.  I just picture it pulling out all the gunk stuck in my pores like a magnet!  And this mask did not disappoint.  It goes on black and dries to a grey of about 10 minutes.  It feels very tight and invigorating.  After washing it off I couldn't see a huge difference, but I could feel it. My face felt squeaky clean and my pores felt tighter and looked smaller.  For dry skin types I would caution against this, unless you are experiencing a breakout, because it might dry out your skin.  This is a holy grail mask for oily and acne-prone skin, I think once a week this mask would work wonders on giving your skin a good deep clean. 

  I didn't notice this was a mircodermabrasion until after I got home, but I was excited to try it regardless because I had never tried anything like it.  I was expecting a St. Ive's type of scrub that had big abrasive beads.  Instead the scrub had a lot of microscopic beads.  As I massaged it over my face for a minute or so it felt as though my face was vibrating.  Once I washed my face my skin looked radiant and incredibly soft!  I still felt as though my skin was vibrating even a few minutes after though, but I enjoyed it, I felt as though I had just gotten a real microdermabrasion treatment.  I don't think I will buying this anytime soon because I fear its a little too exfoliating for my skin but it would be a great treatment to do once a month to keep my skin glowing. 

Do you have any masks you love and also how many times have you fallen for the impulse buys at Ulta and Sephora? 
They really know how to suck you in.