February Favorites

February 2016 Favorites

February is over, so it's time for a favorites post! This month I'm trying something new and including my non-beauty favorites at the beginning as well. My favorite food has been Ruffles Oven Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips. Oh my gosh, they're freaking delicious! I've tried the normal, non-oven-baked kind and I don't like them as much because I think they're too greasy. The oven baked kind also have less fat, so that's a plus, but I would eat them anyways because they taste good. My favorite drink has been the Odwalla Chocolate Protein Shake. They taste super yummy and they have a decent amount of protein in them. My favorite song has been "Something In The Way You Move" by Ellie Goulding, although my favorite music artist of all time remains and shall always remain Ed Sheeran. My favorite YouTuber has been emilynoel83. Her beauty videos are both informative and entertaining, and many of the products she talks about are affordable and easy to find. I also think that her reviews are very honest, so I feel like I can trust when she says a product is worth the money or not. Now, onto the products!

I've been really enjoying the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water this month. I use it to remove my eye makeup when I do tutorials to post here. It works super well and it doesn't sting my eyes at well. It also doesn't break me out. I put some on a cotton pad, hold the cotton pad on my eye for 10-20 seconds, and swipe the makeup off, and the majority of it comes off. Mascara and eyeliner takes a little bit of rubbing, but nothing that hurts my eyes, and eyeshadow comes right off.

This is the last lip balm I need to use up for my Project Use It Up, and I've actually really been liking it. It's super moisturizing and it leaves my lips feeling nice and smooth. I got it at Dollar Tree, so it was only a dollar, which I think is a more than reasonable price.

My favorite makeup brush this month has been the brush that came with the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette. The fluffy end is really good for blending out shadow and the other end is great for applying shadow to the inner corner or lower lashline. It's super soft and it never sheds at all, although I haven't had it long enough to see if it can withstand frequent washing.

The fourth thing I've been loving this month is something homemade. I made this makeup brush spot cleaner out of some 97% isopropyl alcohol, water, and a tiny bit of baby shampoo, and it works great! I spray some onto the brush after I use it and swirl it onto a paper towel until it's clean and that way I can reuse brushes throughout the week until it's time to do my once a week deep cleansing.

This MAC lipstick in Brave is my all time favorite lipstick. It has a gorgeous satin finish that doesn't wear off easily while still not being drying. It's a really pretty pinky nude that I think would look good on anybody.

My last February favorite is the Hard Candy Look Pro Neutral Eyes palette. I've managed to find a use for every shade and my favorite is the one in the very middle. I've experimented with using some of them wet and they look even better that way.

January Favorites

January Favorites 2016

January has seemed to really fly by, and I wore makeup more than I did in December, but I think I have fewer favorites because I just wasn't absolutely loving very much. One thing I didn't get a picture of because it was downstairs and I'm too lazy to get up is my new MAC lipstick in Brave. I wore it more than any other lipstick this month even though I didn't get it until about halfway through, since I think it looks really nice on me. One thing I'm not a fan of is the vanilla scent, since I'm not a big vanilla fan. I can see how other people would love it, though.

My first pictured favorite is this candle. It makes the whole room smell absolutely lovely and it claims to last 50-60 hours, so it'll last me a long time. The smell isn't overpowering, but it isn't too light either. It smells just like cranberries and some people might consider that a Christmas scent but I never really care if a scent is a seasonal one or not - if I like it, I'm going to like it year round.

I got a set of Body Shop body butter minis for Christmas, and I've finished one and I'm nearly done this one. I probably only have one or two more uses left of this one because I've been loving using it all month. It's just a shea butter body butter, so it doesn't have much of a scent, but it's super moisturizing and the light scent it does have is very pleasant. I mostly use this on my arms after I shower so they get super moisturized.

Another thing I've been loving is this deluxe size sample of the Origins GinZing eye cream. I got it as a 100-point perk from Sephora because I wanted an eye cream for my dry undereyes but I didn't want to invest in one without trying it out first. So far, I love this one! Not only does it makes my undereyes less dry and puffy, it also seems to be lightening my dark circles, which I never thought an eye cream could actually do. I've always had pretty dark circles under my eyes and nothing seemed to fix them, but this really does. It has to be this eye cream doing it because I haven't changed my skincare routine otherwise and I haven't been getting any more sleep than usual.

This month I've been using this LA Colors Color Craze polish in Ballet Slipper a ton. I have to paint my nails two or three times a week on average, and this is the color I've been gravitating towards most of the time. I did a whole review on this line of polishes here if you want to know more about them.

This is the Physician's Formula Happy Booster blush in Natural. It's my go-to blush because it's just pigmented enough that it's easy to see, but not so pigmented that you can go overboard easily. It's lasted me over a year and I'm still nowhere near hitting pan. I use this pretty much every single day.

This Beauty Treats Almond Creme lip scrub was only a dollar on ShopMissA, and oh my gosh, it's fantastic. The thing that does the actual exfoliating is finely ground up walnut shells, which are really effective. I use this daily, which is necessary for me because I wear a lot of lip balm.

My last favorite of the month is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough As Taupe. I use this as a base under eyeshadow and it helps it last all day with no creasing. I've found that this actually looks really cool underneath gold shadows.

December Favorites 2015

December Favorites 2015

I'm writing this on December 30th 2015, and the date that Blogger/Blogspot will say it was published on will probably say that, but I'm not actually putting it up until January 2016 since I've prewritten a few posts. Due to how Blogger/Blogspot works, I have to publish things in the same order I prewrite them in, as they display in the order they were written regardless of what order you publish them in. So this post will be a bit late, but I wanted to put it up anyways. I had two weeks off for Christmas, so I was home and not wearing makeup much, which means this favorites is a bit short.

I may have featured this in a favorites before, but I still love it so I'm including it anyways. This lotion is fantastic and smells fantastic too! I get to walk around smelling like a giant candy apple, and it's great.

This is empty now, but I really enjoyed this Moringa body butter. I'm not usually into floral scents as much as fruity or musky ones, but this smelled really nice. I'm planning to try fake tanning soon, so I'm moisturizing a lot, and this was a great product for that.

I got this little tin of Nivea Creme at the dollar store, and sadly it's nearly empty. I get super dry hands sometimes, and this has been really good for soothing that dryness. I'll probably purchase the full size once this fully runs out.

This is the Makeup Eraser, which I got for Christmas. Although I haven't been using it all month, I still wanted to include it because it's absolutely AMAZING. Although I haven't tested if it truly removes waterproof makeup with just water like it claims to, it definitely removes normal makeup with just water, and I rarely wear waterproof makeup anyways. It's much gentler on my eyes than a makeup remover wipe and works just as well, if not better. I generally hand-wash it because it tends to need to be washed more than I need to do laundry, but a few squirts of baby shampoo and a thorough rinse in warm water seems to clean it well enough. Even though $20.00 USD may seem like a steep price for what appears to be a washcloth, it works so much better than a normal washcloth, and you can use it over and over again, unlike makeup wipes. So over time, you're saving money, and I love it.

Another thing I got for Christmas that I'm including anyways is the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette. I've fallen in love with this palette! I love every single color and I've already played with it a ton. I don't know about wear time, but every other aspect of these shadows is practically flawless. They're smooth, buttery, pigmented, and have very little fallout if there's any at all. This is my first palette from the Naked range and I would gladly spend $54.00 USD for another one if I were to run out of all the shades in this one.

I'm running out of this, which sucks because it's become one of my favorite lip balms. It's the medicated tangerine EOS. Other EOS lip balms just moisturize my lips, but this one helps heal them when they're chapped as well. I do still like other EOS, but this one is my favorite.

This is the NYX HD Concealer in CW01 Porcelain. This is the first concealer I've ever found that is light enough to highlight under my eyes. Most concealers are just too dark to highlight with, and the majority are too dark to even use to conceal pimples. Not only does the color actually work for me, it's a good quality concealer as well.

My new absolute favorite mascara is the ModelCo VolumEyes Extreme Black mascara. I prefer voluminous lashes, and oh my gosh, does this ever give your lashes volume. I got this as a gift, but I would still pay for it at it's full price, which is $22.00 USD. The CoverGirl SuperSizer is similar, but it's not quite as black, and this one gives even better volume without any clumping whatsoever, whereas the SuperSizer does have a bit of clumping. So if you like volume and you want to splurge on a mascara, this is the one to get.

Last but not least is this Essence brow pencil in Blonde. This makes my brows look so much better with very little effort. All I do is outline them and fill them in using small, short strokes and bam, perfect brows.

October Favorites

October 2015 Beauty Favorites

I've liked a lot of things in October, most of them Halloween related. There were only 8 beauty favorites this past month, and since I wasn't wearing much makeup, most of them are body stuff rather than face stuff.

My first favorite in October was this Paris Amour Golden Sugar Scrub from Bath and Bodyworks. It smells lovely, and it exfoliates really well. This is my third tube if it.

Another thing I loved in October was this set from Bath and Bodyworks. The Suncrisp Apple Harvest things smell absolutely amazing, just like a candy apple. So I've been walking around smelling like a giant candy apple after I shower, which is fantastic.

The third thing I really enjoyed in October was this Nivea Creme tin. I got it at the Dollar Tree because I love other Nivea products and wanted to try out a new one. I ended up loving it when used as a hand cream because it smells good and absorbs quickly without leaving my hands all greasy and gross. It's also super moisturizing.

Another thing I've been loving is this TRESemme dry shampoo. I haven't tried any other dry shampoos before, so I can't compare it to other brands, but it works super well and smells great. It can leave a slight white cast on the darker parts of my hair, but most of my hair is light pink so it doesn't really cause a big problem.

One of my absolute favorites in October has been this Beauty Treats Bunny Balm. I was surprised by how incredibly smooth and moisturizing it is, since it was only a dollar. It's one of my new favorite lip balms of all time, and I'm thinking of getting a bunch more to give to friends.

Another favorite for October was this Hard Candy setting spray. I have long days - they range from 10 to 12 hours without a chance to touch up my face makeup - so this has been a life saver when it comes to my makeup. It keeps my makeup looking perfect all day, even through physical activity and eating.

A new favorite of mine has been this sponge I got from the Dollar Tree. I know it's dirty, but I haven't had a chance to clean it yet this week. Don't get grossed out, though, I plan to wash all my brushes and sponges very soon, I'm not a huge fan of it for blending out foundation, but for concealer, it's great. I've never owned a Beauty Blender, so I can't compare it to that, but if I ever get one then I'll do a comparison post.

My last October favorite has been the Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 palette. My favorite shade is the sixth one from the left, which is a very nice shimmery gold. I usually pack it on the lid for a pop of shimmer. I also love every single other shade, and none of them have gone unused.

September Favorites

September 2015 Favorites

It's October now, so that means it's time for a monthly favorites! I plan on doing this every month. I have quite a few this month, so let's get to it!

My first favorites are two of the Wet' n' Wild MegaLast lipsticks in the colors Just Peachy and Bare It All. I love them because they're long lasting and very pretty. They are a bit drying, but I don't mind.

This is a lip balm that I got from ShopMissA, and it's super hydrating and moisturizing. I use it almost daily to help heal my chapped lips, and it works really well.

I use this Nivea lip butter (as well as the one in Raspberry Rose Kiss) to moisturize my lips over night. It leaves my lips really smooth when I wake up in the morning, in good condition to wear a more drying lipstick.

This is the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Shine-Free primer. I use it every day and it makes my foundation last a couple hours longer. It's by far the best primer I've ever tried!

Next up is this black Essence gel eyeliner. I use it with an angled eyeliner brush to get a perfect wing. It doesn't smudge throughout the day, and it comes off super easily.

Next we have the Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 palette. I loooove this! All the colors are super pretty and quite pigmented. My favorite shade is the golden one, which I pack onto my lid for a shimmery look.

This is a pretty Milani nail polish I got at the dollar store in the shade Canyon Country. I've used it a couple times and although it chips pretty easily, it looks very nice. I think it's a good fall color.

Moving on to the face, I've been loving these e.l.f. Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths. They remove makeup super well, even if it's waterproof. And at three dollars for 20, they're pretty cheap, too! I recommend storing them upside-down so that the top cloth is more moist when you use it.

After taking off my makeup, I use this Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Daily Face Wash to get off any excess and get more down into my pores. It claims to diminish acne within 12 hours of use, and it really does! I also use it once or twice a week with a loofah in the shower to exfoliate my face. It even works to prevent future breakouts.

Now for the body! This is the Philosophy "Unconditional Love" shower gel. The scent is pleasant, and it reminds me somewhat of cotton candy. I love this stuff and use it on my arms every time I shower to make them smell nice and also use a loofah with it so they'll be smoother.

Lastly, we have a couple of hair products. These are the L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Color Vibrancy shampoo and conditioner. I have colored hair, and this really does help keep it vibrant for longer. The shampoo is almost gone and the conditioner is about halfway done. I plan to try new shampoo when this one is done, but it was fantastic!

Summer Favorites 2015

Summer Favorites 2015

Summer's over now, so I wanted to share the beauty-related things that I enjoyed this summer.

This Nail Polish

This is Essie's "Bikini So Teeny". It's quickly becoming my favorite nail polish due to how easy it is to apply, even for somebody as bad at nail polish as me, as well as because of how pretty it is! I would describe it as a light sky blue, and the Essie website describes it as a "cornflower blue". You can buy it for $8.50 USD from www.essie.com.

These Facial/Makeup Remover Wipes

These face wipes are fantastic! I use them to remove my makeup at the end of the day, but I imagine you could use them just as a nice, refreshing quick clean. They're the Burt's Bees Cucumber and Sage Facial Cleansing Towelettes. Although I'm not a hug fan of the scent, they certainly don't smell bad, and I am a huge fan of how easily they remove makeup! They also leave my face feeling clean and refreshed. They come in a pack of 30 for $6.00 USD, and you can find them here. A huge bonus is that they don't break me out at all!

This Primer

Hard Candy's Shine-Free Sheer Envy Primer is my absolute favorite, go-to primer. It keeps me matte and makes my makeup last all day long. An added bonus is that it makes my skin feel really smooth when I apply it. It also doesn't tend to ball up, which I've found some primers will do. You can buy it here for $8.00 USD. It's currently out of stock, but I'm sure it'll be back soon.

This Lip Tint

I love this lip tint so much! I got this Tarte Power Pigment in "Flush" as a birthday gift and I've loved it ever since. It was great to get because I own few high-end products at the moment compared to all the drugstore products I have. No other lip tint or stick I own smells as nice or applies as well as this does. It also lasts a very long time without feathering, even without lip liner. I would classify it as a blue-red, but the website calls it a "sheer berry", even thought it is very pigmented. You can buy it for $24.00 USD here.

This Mascara

This is the Bombshell Volume by Lashblast mascara from Covergirl in very black. It's the first multiple step mascara I've tried, and I love it. It adds loads of volume to my lashes, as well as a little bit of length. I often times use just the first end and find that it's enough for me, but your lashes will look even more voluminous if you use both ends. It costs $10.74 USD and you can buy it here.

This Foundation

I absolutely LOVE this foundation! It's the L'oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup, and I'm in the shade W1 Porcelain. It claims to give light to medium coverage on the L'oreal website, and I find that to be true. I prefer using it for a medium coverage, which usually takes 2 thin coats. The one thing I feel the need to warn people about is that it's super liquidy, so be careful pouring it out. I think it lives up to the name of super blendable, since I've never had any trouble with blending it. It even has an SPF of 17, so it'll keep you protected from the sun! You can buy it here for $10.95 USD.

This Blush

This is the Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Blush in Natural. It's currently the only blush I use because I absolutely love it! I'm quite pale, so finding a blush that isn't too bright can be difficult. This one looks great and it's hard to apply too much. Mine is a little bit broken on the edge, but it was in perfect condition when I bought it. You can get it here and it costs $11.95 USD.

This Makeup Remover Pen

If you often mess up your winged eyeliner or smudge your mascara, you need this! This is the e.l.f. Studio Makeup Remover Pen. Just keep in mind that if you want it to be effective for a long time, you have to wipe off the tip immediately after using it, which can be annoying. You can get it for $3.00 USD here.

This Bright Palette

 I love love LOVE bright colors, so this is my absolute favorite eye shadow/pressed pigment palette. It comes with a double ended brush and ten super bright, super pigmented eye shadows/pressed pigments. Although it warns you on the back not to use certain shades around the eyes, I've used all of them on my eyelid and had zero problems other than some staining, which doesn't bug me. You can buy it for $49.00 USD from www.urbandecay.com.

This Lovely Smelling Palette

This palette smells like chocolate! It includes 16 gorgeous eye shadows that all include real cocoa! It comes with a little pamphlet of look ideas and an insert with the shadow names, as well. It costs $49.00 USD and you can buy it here.

This Brush

This e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush is the brush I've been using to apply my liquid foundation. It's very soft and it's made from synthetic fibers. You can buy it here for $3.00 USD.

This Perfume

This is my absolute favorite perfume - Incredible Things by Taylor Swift. You can get it off of here. It's usually $49.50 USD, but right now it's only $32.60 USD!

This Lipstick

This is the Wet'n'Wild MegaLast Lip Color in "Just Peachy". It can be hard to apply and a little bit drying, but not only is it gorgeous, it's only two bucks at Rite Aid!

This Eye Liner

This is NYC's Liquid Eyeliner in black. It's easy to apply and it lasts all day! Buy it here for $2.99 USD.