My New Hair Care Routine: Lush Cosmetics

Hey everyone! I'm sorry have I already mentioned how obsessed I am with Lush?? I rely on this brand for everything from my skincare routine to all my bath / pamper products. I have finally invested in a new all natural hair care routine from Lush as well! If you are interested in having the most delicious smelling and best looking hair of your life read on!

My suggestion if you do end up going into Lush looking for hair products -  Don't just buy what I'm reviewing here. Buy what they tell you will work for your specific hair type.

More often than not the Lush employee that helps you is going to be extremely passionate about these products and knows the exact right routine for you. Trust what they tell you and don't buy the items based off of scent (you will probably end up with items that smell good anyway because everything in there is heavenly).

Honey I Washed My Hair - My first reaction to this product is wanting to eat it. Every time! I smell it and I'm like omgggggggg this is marshmallow buttery deliciousness. The main ingredient in this amazing shampoo bar is Honey which helps to hydrate and add shine to your hair. I'm just now realizing a shampoo bar may be a foreign concept to most of you. Basically you scrub this directly into your hair. These tiny bars don't require any packaging (although I prefer to keep it in the cute Lush tin) and they are said to last up to 80 washes! Which is equivalent to 3 BOTTLES of shampoo! Say whaat I am so down to make this my forever ever shampoo. I was nervous that an all natural shampoo wouldn't lather up at all and would force me to use more of it to feel clean. To my surprise this shampoo lathers up like crazy leaving my hair feeling squeaky clean.

Happy Happy Joy Joy - This conditioner is the most fragrant hair product I have ever tried. After my first use my hair smelled amazing all day long! Rose water, orange blossom water and almond milk are the main ingredients in this product. This is a lightweight formula that moisturizes my hair without weighing it down.

Marilyn - This incredibly calming pre-wash hair treatment is made specific for my fellow blondies! And this counts for natural blondes like myself or my blonde gals that need a little extra store bought assistance! Chamomile, saffron and lemon are the main ingredients of this product which work to soften, enhance color and add shine to your blonde locks. This treatment is meant to be used regularly in order to see results unlike other Lush hair treatments that can be used every once in a while.

I have seen a major increase in the health of my hair ever since switching over to this natural routine! I 100% recommend Lush for those of you gals that are looking to switch up your hair products. The question isn't why try Lush all natural hair products but why not!?!

Here is a before and after picture taken on the first day I used these products. I did not use any additional styling products. I simply blowdried my hair after letting it air dry for about 30 minutes. *Quick Tip* It is way better to let your hair air dry mostly before blowdrying in order to prevent heat damage. Also I took the before picture the minute I opened my eyes for dramatic effect.
Looking. So. Good.  ;D

Alrighty gals thank you so much for reading and please like this post if you enjoyed it! I always love to hear when you all try the products I suggest so please don't hesitate to keep me updated on your experiences! Follow my blog if you want to see more from me! 

My Makeup Brush Collection: Names and Uses

Hello everyone! I recently received a bunch of hand-me-down brushes from a good friend of mine and decided to write a post about my makeup brush collection! As you will see in this post I have a number of makeup brushes that I use for different steps in my routine. It is not necessary to have a million brushes in order to apply your makeup successfully. My sister (sorry Meg) only has about 4 to 5 makeup brushes but that works for her because she doesn't wear that much makeup in general! In this post I will show you the different types of makeup brushes I have in my collection and what I use them for.

Kabuki Brush: A Kabuki brush is a short, dense brush that is generally used to blur harsh lines on your face created by blush / bronzer. I use this brush when contouring my cheeks. Now some of my girls may not know what contouring is. Contouring is when you create harsh lines under your cheek bones  and blend them out in order to create shadows - making your face appear more angular. This is why people like Kim Kardashian have such pronounced cheek bones! I also use the Kabuki brush to dull down my blush if I have accidentally applied too much. This is one of the brushes my friend Katie gave me and I am so so thankful she did!




Face Brushes: You can use these brushes to apply powder / liquid foundation, bronzer or blush! The first brush to your left with the red handle is my favorite blush brush. It is so soft and the perfect size for my face. The bristles are also super soft which helps give me a flawless application. The brush in the middle is my favorite bronzer brush. The bristles on this brush are so fanned out that it is perfect for a subtle bronzer application, helping me avoid caking it on my face. The third brush all the way to the right is the brush I use to evenly spread out my concealer. Before I got my Kabuki brush I also used this brushed to blur out harsh lines on my face and it works amazingly! This brush is also from the brand E.L.F. which is a super inexpensive makeup brand that is great quality! This brush was only $3 and it has lasted me well over 2 years.

 Highlighter Brush: This brush is generally categorizes as a blush brush but I use it to apply my highlighter! I mentioned this brush in my "Highlighter: Who, What, Where? " post from last week. I love to use this brush for my highlighter because it is the perfect medium size that allows me to apply my highlighter with precision while avoiding streakiness that smaller brushes can create.
















Concealer Brushes: These flat brushes are perfect for applying liquid foundation or concealer. Personally I use them both for applying concealer to my face. The larger flat brush to your left is the one I use to apply concealer to the inner corners of my eyes when I don't feel like using my fingers. I use the smaller flat brush to apply concealer around the edges of my lips to clean up my lipstick application. I don't recommend to use brushes to apply concealer to blemishes. This only contaminates your brushes and spreads the bacteria to other areas of your face.















Eyeshadow Blending Brushes: I use all of these brushes
to blend out my eyeshadows. I have a lot of these because for different eyeshadow looks I like to use different sized brushes to achieve the look I want. The first brush to your left covers the entire surface of my eyelid. I like to use this to apply one shadow that covers my entire lid in one motion. The second brush in from the left with the red handle is my favorite brush to applying a smokey shade to the outer corner of my eye. The purple duo-sided brush in the middle is a brush I use for both blending and densely applying eyeshadow. I use the top fluffy brush to blend out eyeshadows and I use the bottom flat brush side to apply smoky shadow shades to my lower lash line. The last three brush to your right are my favorite brushes for blending out my crease. In my opinion eyeshadows always look a million times better when you blend out the crease of your eyelid. This creates a softer, more professional look.



Angled Brush and Pencil Brush: I use these two brushes to accomplish defined eyeshadow looks. The brush to your left is a angled brush that helps me achieve even winged eyeliner. I use this brush to "map out" where my wing is going to go on both my eyes. I use a light brown eyeshadow for this extra step because it is much easier to rub off and reapply than actual liquid eyeliner. I also use this brush when I want to get a smoked out eyeliner look with matte black eyeshadow. The brush to your right is called a "pencil brush". This brush is used to achieve very fine, strategic lines with your eyeshadow. I use this to define the outer corners of my eyes as well as my bottom lash line. I love this brush because it helps me get a more dense eyeshadow application without feathering eyeshadow all over my face.










Alright gals I hoped this post helped you better understand the names and uses of makeup brushes! Let me know if you have any questions about brushes you did not see in my collection. If you enjoyed this post please "like" it . If you would like to see more from me hit that "follow" button at the bottom of the screen!

How to Apply Eyeshadow / Daytime Smokey Eye Tutorial

This was a special request from one of my besties! My girl wanted to know how to apply eyeshadow without looking like a crazy person. I hear you, eyeshadow can be totally messy and awful if you don't know the proper steps. I'm here to guide you! Obviously you all know I am not a profession makeup artist but I do have a lot of practice under my belt for me to feel confident enough to tell you what will work! This post will bring you through the products and tools I use to create my day time smokey eye. Even if this specific look doesn't appeal to you, these tips and tricks will help you through any eyeshadow look you attempt.

Products / Tools Used:

I am using my Nake 2 Palette by Urban Decay because this is hands down my favorite palette ever! I usually go for shimmery, metallic shades and this has all that and more!

I am going to sound like a makeup snob but oops guilty! Eyeshadows from high end makeup brands are worth the money! Most eyeshadows I have tried from the drugstore are  chalky and have close to no pigmentation. When buying eyeshadows you want to make sure they feel "buttery" and are very pigmented which means you don't have to use a lot to get good color pay-off.

To apply these shadows I am using a fluffy crease brush and a duo brush that came with another Urban Decay palette I got for my birthday last year. This duo brush has another fluffy crease brush and a dense flat brush. The two colors I used for this look are "Pistol" and "Verve".

Application: 

The first trick to applying eyeshadow successfully is following your eye shape! When applying "Verve" to my my eyelid I use my fluffy crease brush. I apply it all over my lid and only go up to my natural eye crease. I then repeat this step layering "Pistol" on top of "Verve" to create a slightly darker look.

 It is important to not go over your natural eye crease because then you will get that crazy raccoon look that nobody wants. The trick is to apply eyeshadow all over the lid only up to the crease and then blend out the shadow from the crease *after wiping off the access shadow from your fluffy brush.* This will softly blend out the shadow line creating a smokey effect.

After that I also apply "Pistol" to my lower lash line using my flat brush. You don't have to do this for every eyeshadow look but I think it helps unify everything to achieve a sultry effect. By using my flat brush to apply shadow to my lower lash line I get a clean but soft shadow application while avoiding getting excess shadow all over my under eye and cheeks. *If you DO happen to get fall-out don't panic! Cleaning it up with makeup remover and a Q-Tip is do-able you just need to reapply your concealer after to brighten that area back up.

Lastly I like to apply a highlight shade to the inner corners of my eyes and to my brow bone to brighten things up a bit! This also helps create dimension to your look helping your eyes not look so flat with just two grey shades on there. The highlight shade I used from this palette is "bootycall".

After that is done I simply curl my lashes and apply my favorite mascara at the moment (Benefit's Roller Lash) and there you go! You have successfully applied eyeshadow without looking like a crazy person! Again my top tips are to only apply eyeshadow to your lid - up to your crease, blend out that crease using a wiped off fluffy brush and apply shadow to the lower lash line using a flat brush in order to unify your eye look!

Selfie Time :D

Alrighty thats all I have for you today. Let me know how these tips work out for you! If you enjoyed this post please give it a thumbs up. And if you would like to see more from me hit that subscribe button at the bottom of the screen!

Highlighter : What ? Where ? How?

Highlighter is something I've only recently added to my makeup routine this past year and now I can't live without it! This is something that a lot of my friends and family don't know about or use so I thought I would dedicate a post to this makeup product that is essential to any gal like me who wants to appear glowing and fresh on a daily basis!

What: Highlighter is a beauty product that has recently
become a staple in the makeup world. Highlighter is used to illuminate your face helping you look like you are glowing. I've found highlighter helps me feel more confident about my skin because the dewy effect makes my skin look healthy and fresh. It comes in cream, powder and liquid form. Personally I have both powder and cream highlighters in my collection which I use interchangeably depending on the season. The powder highlighter I use that you see to the left is Mac's Mineralized Skin Finish in "Soft and Gentle". The cream highlighter I use is Benefit's "Whats Up".

Where: Highlighter is generally applied to all the highest points of your face; your cheek bones, brow bone, bridge of the nose, top of the forehead and some people like to apply it to their cupids bow to make their lips appear more full. Now you don't have to do all of this! I only apply highlight to my
cheek bones, nose and sometimes to my brow bone.

How: You can use just about any brush to apply powder highlight. I like to recommend medium sized brushes in order to avoid streakiness you can get with very small brushes while still being able to strategically apply the product without it getting all over your face. There is a specific brush made for this product and that is the fan brush you can find at any makeup store.
       
Cream and liquid highlighter can both be applied to the skin and blended out using your fingers. Benefit's "Whats Up" comes in a stick form that I apply directly to my cheek bones and blend out with my fingers. This product in particular is a cream-to-powder finish therefore it won't rub away any concealer or foundation you have on under it.

I thought I would include some before and afters per usual! Some you might be able to see the difference in glow more than others. I took selfies in two different sets of lighting in order to show you guys that fresh look I love!

Alrighty let me know what you gals think! If you enjoyed this post please give it a thumbs up. Also if you would like to see more from me hit that subscribe button at the bottom of the screen! 

Skin Care Routines : Steps and Products

Having a skin care routine is essential to maintaining healthy, beautiful skin throughout your life. It is never too late to start but it is important to make it a habit instead of doing it every once in a while.

Everyone's skin is different so the products I use may not necessarily do wonders for you. This post will bring you through the types of products that make up a skin care routine and what order to use them in. I will also include my personal tips when using these products that I have found beneficial.

Step 1: Cleanser

It doesn't matter if you wear make up on a daily basis or not. You absolutely need to wash your face every morning and night. Throughout the day dirt and oil builds up on our face that then sinks into our pours and causes issues. Over night you are rolling around in your own sweat and oils that also can cause issues. Cleansing twice a day in my book is necessary to keeping your face consistently free of breakouts.

There are many different types of cleansers to choose from. Personally I prefer creamy or exfoliating cleansers. The two that I currently use (see product reviews in "My Lush Obsession" Post) are both exfoliating cleansers.

A friend of mine asked how often she is supposed to exfoliate and I  would say every day. Now I know a lot of people would say you are only supposed to exfoliate a couple times a week but I have only seen positive results from exfoliating every single day. If you don't want to exfoliate day and night that is perfectly fine - you can use a creamy cleanser in the morning and an exfoliating cleanser at night. Whatever you see works best for you. I also want to point out that any exfoliating cleanser you use should be applied with a gentle hand. In no way is it good for you to scrub vigorously at your face.

Step 2: Toner

Toners are something I ignored throughout my life until about 2 years ago. I figured they were just an extra product companies tried to convince us were necessary when they didn't actually do anything. TONERS ARE SO IMPORTANT. I can't stress that enough. A toner can further cleanse your skin from dirt and oil, insert additional moister to your skin and balance out your complexion helping you avoid dry patches and breakouts.

There are two ways I apply toner:

In the morning I spray my toner on to my face and let it soak in for a couple seconds.

At night I spray toner onto a cotton pad and wipe my face. I've found this picks up the dirt and oil that my cleanser may have missed.

Step 3: Moisturizer 

Growing up I cared more about covering my face in pimple cream instead of moisturizer. I was having all these breakouts and figured drying out my skin as much as possible was the answer. Keeping your skin moisturized is the answer to healthy skin! I apply face cream morning and night. Night creams are commonly seen throughout most brands but I don't think they are completely necessary. I have seen positive results from keeping my routine as simple as possible and using the same moisturizer day and night. In the winter you may find you need a heavier face cream than in the spring and summer.

Step 4: Eye Cream

I find that most of my friends neglect using eye cream. Although most of them don't wear as much eye makeup as me on a regular basis - keeping your eye area hydrated is extremely important! Your eye area is the most sensitive skin on your face. It is extremely thin and often get the most wear and tear from applying and removing eye makeup.

Personally I have switched over to using anti-aging eye creams because in my opinion once you have hit your twenties it is time to start preparing your skin for the results of aging. Because the skin around your eyes is so sensitive it tends to show wrinkles first.

Of course if you are not interested in anti-aging products yet there are plenty of eye creams out there that simply focus on moisturizing.

Extra Tips: 

* NEVER go to bed with your make up on. This can lead to eye infections and clogged pours. Grossssss!

* Always wash your hands before your cleanse your face. Also wash your hands after using make up remover / before moisturizing.

*Don't be afraid to switch up your routine when the seasons change. You will probably need a more light weight moisturizer  and more "oil absorbing" cleansers during the hotter months.

*Of course try not to pop pimples but if the temptation becomes too much wash your hands before and after extraction. Also try sanitizing the spot with tea tree oil or rubbing alcohol to cancel out bacteria.

*Face masks are a great way to pamper your skin. These can be used 2 times a week sometimes 3 if you can't help yourself :D Always cleanse your skin before you apply a face mask. Use toner and moisturizer after you have washed it off.

*INVEST IN YOUR SKIN. I know skincare products can be pricey but most of the stuff from the drugstore is just not worth it in my opinion. You'll be looking at the same face your whole life so don't be shy to spend a little more on its well-being!

Recommended Brands & Products:

My favorite brands for skincare products are Lush, Origins. Khiehl's and The Body Shop.

Cleansers : Dark Angels, Angels on Bare Skin and Herbalism by Lush
                  Checks and Balances by Origins
                  Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash by The Body Shop

 Toners: Breath of Fresh Air by Lush
              United State by Origins

Moisturizers: Celestial and Vanishing Cream by Lush
                      The Perfect World and Night-A-Mins by Origins

Eye Creams: The Eye Doctor, GinZing and Plantscription by Origins
                      Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado by Khiel's

Spot Treatment: Tea Tree Oil by The Body Shop


Ok everyone let me know what you think! Please like this post if you found it helpful. And if you want to see more from me hit that follow button at the very bottom of the screen. If you have any questions or requests for future posts please leave them in the comment section below!

2nd Day Hair: Products and Styles

Hey gals, today's post is going to be all about hair! I went through a sort of hair transformation the year I came home from college. I discovered coconut oil treatments (see coconut oil post for tutorial) and I started washing my hair every other day or sometimes every three days.

I have very thin, semi-straight hair. Until the past couple years I had been washing my hair every day in order to avoid looking like a grease ball. Since I started washing my hair less often, I have seen a huge change in how fast my hair grows and its overall health & appearance. 

This post will show you the products I use to tame 2nd and 3rd day hair and my three go-to hairstyles for when I'm between shampoos. 

Products: 

Moroccan Oil, Batiste Dry Shampoo, Tresemme Heat Protectant, Tangle Teaser

Moroccan Oil - Hair oil is a necessity for any hair care routine. This can be applied to wet or dry hair in order to assure smooth, healthy ends throughout the duration of your hair cut. I've been using Moroccan Oil for about 4 years now and I can say I've seen a significant reduction in split ends in between cuts. Also the amazing amber scent of this oil lasts in your hair all day; you'll be smelling like you just stepped out of the salon! Moroccan Oil can be purchased online or at most hair salons, retailing from $12- $40 depending on the size.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - Dry shampoo is the key item in my 2nd and 3rd day hair styling routine. I've tried a lot of different brands and Batiste is the only one that doesn't leave a tackiness in my roots. You can get Batiste at any CVS or online of course. It retails from $8-$12 and lasts me about two weeks per can. 

Tresemme Heat Protectant - When using tools such as curling irons, flat irons and hot rollers it is a MUST to use some sort of heat protectant. I prefer this one by Tresemme because its cheap and does the job. This one in particular has keratin which is a protein that provides an extra layer to your hair in order to prevent heat damage. I also love that this spray doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky or crunchy. Tresemme Heat Protectant can be found at any drugstore and retails from $6-$10. 

Tangle Teezer - This brush has completely transformed my hair! I first started using the Tangle Teezer because my hair gets crazy knotted behind my neck and I heard this brush gets the tangles out with ease. The Tangle Teezer does all that and has helped my hair grow faster! I've always heard scalp stimulation promotes faster hair growth but I've never considered sitting around massaging my head all day. By using this brush on a daily basis the flexible bristles work to stimulate my scalp without me even noticing! This is especially thanks to the revolutionary egg shape of this brush. The Tangle Teezer is sold online and I've found it in Urban Outfitters stores. It retails from $8-$20. 

Styles: 

This first style is super simple. I just sprayed some dry shampoo in my roots, applied moroccan oil to my ends  - brushed it all through with my tangle teezer and threw on a headband! My favorite stores to get headbands from are Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Lou Lou. 

Side braids have always been a go-to hairstyle for me. Although braids can be considered more of a summer style I wear them year-round. I usually french braid my bangs back which takes a bit of practice. My top two tips for achieving a successful side braid are to take in super tiny pieces of hair and to loosen up the braid with your fingers after you have pinned in back. This makes the braid appear more full. 

My final 2nd / 3rd day hairstyle is to curl my hair and throw it back in what I call a "side poof". The curler I use isn't particularly great hence why I didn't include it in the picture above. The size of the curler you use depends on the length of your hair. The longer your hair is the larger you can go with the barrel size if you are looking for a loose / beachy style. A general rule of thumb for me when curling my hair is to wrap my hair around the wand instead of clamping it and winding it up. This causes less heat damage to your ends and leaves you with a more natural looking curl.

Ok everyone let me know how these products and hairstyles work for you! If you enjoyed this post please give it a thumbs up. Please leave any post requests below in the comments section. If you wish to see more from me hit the "follow" button! 

Brand Review : ColourPop Cosmetics

ColourPop Cosmetics is a fairly new brand set out of California. I was first interested in this brand when I heard they have great quality lipsticks, lipliners and eyeshadows for only $5 each!!!

I went ahead and ordered a ton of products from their website in order to try them out and let you guys know what I think! This post will bring you through the 8 lipsticks and 2 eyeshadows I have purchased from ColourPop Cosmetics. I will include swatches and in-depth reviews of each item.

"Lippie Stix" 

As you have probably figured out already, I am quite the lipstick junkie. I love trying on every color available in order to see what does and doesn't work for me. When I heard ColourPop sells AMAZING quality lipsticks at such a low price, I had to get my hands on some. 

Swatches: 

                          

                        

 

Bound, Easy, Cake, Rocket, Juicy, I Heart This, Bichette, Leather

Reviews:

"Bound" - This is the everyday neutral shade I have been searching for! "Bound" has a glossy finish and includes a pink undertone in order to avoid that concealer effect that most nude lipsticks provide for  a pale skin girl like myself. 

"Easy" - Light pink lipsticks tend to wash me out and show off all the fine lines in my lips; making them look more chapped than they really are (nooot cuute). Because "Easy" has a glossy finish I get more of a classy feel from this shade! I'll probably save this one for the summer time when I feel more comfortable wearing pastels. 

"Cake" -  I've always loved the idea of pastel orange lipsticks but I was never brave enough to try it on myself. Again I will probably save this one for warmer weather but I have to say this glossy creamsicle-esque lipstick will be a staple for me this summer! 

"Rocket" - Talk about a wearable hot pink! I've rocked my share of hot pinks in the past but "Rocket" is a whole other story. I love this shade because it has a bit of peach mixed in which totally tones down the vibrancy of this color. If you are looking to ease into wearing hot pink lipstick this is the product for you. 

"Juicy"- This is a shade I could have gone without. "Juicy" is basically a glossy version of "Rocket" with a slight berry tone added in. I don't necessarily dislike this color but it is for sure nothing to write home about. 

"I Heart This" - Another one of my favorite shades of this collection! I have been searching for the perfect vibrant, berry lipstick and "I Hear This" is definitely it. I love this color because it can be worn during the day or night! Berries in my opinion are a more playful version of the classic red lip. 

"Bichette" - Vampy lip lovers will definitely appreciate this shade. This deep wine color is perfect for the winter and is without a doubt a night time shade.

"Leather" - I know this shade can be a bit shocking but I just love it! Warning this color does require a bit of bravery to wear out in public. This being strictly a night-time shade in my book; throwing on "Leather" is the perfect way to add some edge to your look. It is boarder line goth looking on my super pale skin tone but I can't help experimenting with purples! Purples are a great color to try with lipsticks because they are edgy enough to get people to take a second look but not too outrageous to make you look like a crazy person. This color also makes your teeth look crazy white! Bonussss Jonassssss ;D

Eyeshadows 

The thing that sets ColourPop's eyeshadows apart from other makeup brands is the texture. These eyeshadows are described as a cream-to-powder formula. To the touch these shadows feel like a mousse but when applied they turn to a powder finish. These shadows last waaayy way longer than any others I have tried before and are creamy enough to help you avoid eyeshadow falling all over your face during application!

"Girly" & "3"

Swatches & Eye Makeup Look

I wanted to create a makeup look with these two shadows in order to show the product in action!

I applied "3" all over my lid with my finger. I then used a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend out the crease. Lastly I added "Girly" to my brow-bone and inner corners of my eyes. Slap on some liquid eyeliner and mascara and you're good to go!

Reviews

"Girly" - This is a very pretty white-based eyeshadow with golden metallic shimmer added in. This is probably not the most pigmented eyeshadow from this brand as I do have to layer it with an eyeshadow brush in order to achieve a metallic effect. This is a nice basic color to have in your collection but to be honest ColourPop has a ton of different versions of this shade on their website that probably have better color payoff. 

"3" - Generally I go for glittery / bronze shades when I am getting ready to do a dramatic makeup look. I think they are a great way to get a smokey eye without getting yourself into a disastrous  raccoon eyes situation . This shade is great because it can be applied lightly to wear in the day or you can layer this up to get a dark sultry effect. 

Lip Liners - As you have probably noticed I have not purchased any of the ColourPop lip liners YET. My next order will definitely be of all the matching lip liners for the "Lippie Stix" I have purchased. The liners are said to make your lipsticks last even longer and make the application process that much easier! 

Ps. If you are not already sold on trying out this brand, might I just mention that they do not test on animals yaayyy! 

ColourPop does not have any stores yet and all purchases must be made through their website: www.colourpopcosmetics.com

Thanks for reading and please like this post if you enjoyed! If you wish to see more from me hit that follow button! 

How To Fill In Your Eyebrows: Using One Subtle Product

One makeup step that most people ignore is filling in their eyebrows. By no means did I ever have spares eyebrows. But once I saw how much more framed my face looked with them filled in - I couldn't go back!

My favorite product for filling in my brows is Benefit's "Gimme Brow". The main difference between this product and the brow mascara that you can buy at the drugstore is that this product contains fibers that cling to your existing hair and makes it appear thicker. I prefer this to a brow pencil or gel because its quick and subtle enough that its hard to mess up! You really have to layer this product on in order to give yourself that drawn-on look that nobody wants.

As you can see in the image above, the wand is small enough to easily sculpt your brows without getting product all over your face. "Gimme Brow" comes in two different shades I believe. I suggest trying them on at your local Sephora or a Benefit Cosmetics store before you choose your shade. This product is also great for taming your brows in order to extend time between wax or thread appointments.

"Gimme Brow" retails from $18-$22. I know this seems a little steep for such a small product but trust me its worth the investment. Not to mention this tiny tube usually lasts me about 3 months!

I've tried cheaper drugstore options such as Maybelline's "Brow Drama - Sculpting Brow Mascara". This didn't do anything for my brows except give them that crunchy, gelled-down look. It also did not thicken my brows in the slightest. Go for the good stuff! Give it a shot and let me know what you think!

Before and After Photos:

My Lush Obsession: Skincare and Pamper Products

Hey everyone! I wanted to dedicate a post to my favorite cosmetic brand in the entire world - LUSH! I rely on Lush for everything from my skincare routine to bath and body products. If you are interested in smelling amazing every day of your life this is the store for you!

                       

To me, Lush stands out from all the other cosmetic brands because it believes in using all natural, ethical ingredients. Not only does Lush not test on animals but they also support fair trade farms throughout the world! The products are also such high quality for reasonable prices! 

My current collection consists of birthday and Christmas presents as well as skincare products I use on a daily basis. Some items you may not see here that I purchase regularly are their bath bombs, dusting powders, hair treatments, bubble bars, bar soaps and their fresh face masks. This post will take you through my favorite items of my current collection. 

My Skincare Routine: 

Winter of 2013 I saw a huge change in my skin. I had stubborn dry patches on my chin and started breaking out more than usual on my forehead. I tried multiple expensive skincare products that just ended up burning my dry patches and did nothing for my breakouts. Finally I turned to Lush. One of my favorite things about Lush is that all their employees are so eager to help. They love these products so much they are determined to find the right solution for you. 

Herbalism is my every day facial cleanser. Made with ground almonds and rice vinegar this cleanser provides a gentle exfoliant that absorbs all your extra oils in order to prevent future breakouts. Warning this is not the most pleasant smelling product! But it sure gets the job done and you get used to it after a while.

Breath of Fresh Air is my every day toner. This herbal facial spray has a calming beachy scent. Made with sea salt water, rose and aloe vera this spray is perfect for every day use to balance out your skin. Breath of Fresh Air totally balanced out my dry and oily areas. I especially love this stuff in the summer to freshen up my face throughout the day. I also use it in my hair! In the winter I spray this in my dry hair to get rid of static. In the summer I spray this in my already damp hair at night and then throw it up in a bun to wake up to effortless waves!

Vanishing Cream is my every day face cream. I use this in the morning and at night. This light weight, lavender infused face cream is great for all seasons. In the winter I've found I use just a little bit more of this product in order to keep my skin hydrated against the cold, dry air.

Dark Angels is a facial cleanser my sister bought me for Christmas! Although for my skin this product is too abrasive to use on a daily basis; I love having this heavy duty cleanser on hand for days when I feel a breakout coming on. Made with black sugar, charcoal and rhassoul mud, this cleanser helps deflate breakouts and knocks out redness!

Pamper Products: Every product I use from Lush feels like a little luxury. I love to use bath and body products from Lush because it gives me a way to pamper myself on a daily basis. For all my gals out there that don't prefer or don't have access to a bath tub, all the products below (except for the body lotion of course) are shower friendly! 

Formula Known As is my favorite body moisturizer of all time! This light weight lotion is Lush's version of cocoa butter with a floral twist. I'm not the kind of girl to go for floral scents. Often times I find floral based products are too strong and end up giving me a headache. Although the scent of this lotion does linger it is the most elegant chocolatey scent out there!

Buffy - This product is contained in the Lush tin you see above. I didn't take a picture of this product on its own because it's almost all used up and looks pretty pathetic. Buffy is one of Lush's body butters that comes in a bar form! Made with a cocoa and shea butter base this bar also has ground almonds, rice and beans in order to buff away any imperfections you might have! Use it in the shower or bath on wet skin. It is suggested when using Buffy to specifically focus on your "back side" :D THATS RIGHT GALS this bar  is supposed to scrub away cellulite! I haven't used this product consistently enough to notice a real difference but I will say it sure feels like its working when you're scrubbing!

Rose Jam Shower Gel is my favorite shower gel from Lush! This scent is a combination of rose and citrus which leaves you smelling like a flowery, fruity dessert. The shower gels at lush are great because a little goes a long way. The formula is so dense that a 3.3 fl. oz. bottle often lasts me a whole month! The only sad news I have about this product is that its limited edition and is only sold during the holiday season :'(

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner is the same scent as Rose Jam and is sold year-round! I believe "body conditioner" is something Lush made up. A body conditioner does the same thing regular conditioner does for your hair. You simply smooth this on to your wet / damp skin and towel it off and you are left with fragrant, silky skin! Body conditioners are great for those days you don't have time to wait for your body lotion to soak into your skin. Its almost like getting to skip a step! This product is made with argan oil, cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, almond oil, brazilian nut oil and shea butter - what a treat!

African Paradise Body Conditioner provides all the same benefits for your skin as Ro's Argan Body Conditioner  but  has a bit of a different scent. This product smells more herbal including ingredients such as: moringa oil, mango juice and aloe vera.

Santa's Lip Scrub is sadly another limited edition product only sold during the holiday season. Luckily Lush sells three other flavors year-round! Lip scrub is something I never would have thought I needed in my life until, well, I bought it. I don't necessarily use this lip scrub on a daily basis but it is exactly what I need when my lips are terribly dried and cracked from winter weather or from being sick with a cold. I also like to use this before applying lipstick in order to get a smooth, plumped surface for easy application!

The only item I didn't talk about from my collection is the Vanilla Dee-Lite body lotion. As much as I would love to recommend everything I own from Lush this is one product I do not plan to repurchase. I have no complaints of the quality of this lotion - but the smell is too much for me. I much prefer the dusting powder version of this scent. On the rare occasion I use this product I only apply it to my hands and feet in order to avoid feeling sick from the overwhelming scent. But if you are an extreme lover of vanilla - go for it! Some of the main ingredients of this lotion are vanilla, kiwi and coconut oil. 

Thank you so much for reading and please "like" this post if you enjoyed it! Follow my blog if you want to see more from me <3 

My Lipstick Collection & Swatches

Lipstick is one of my favorite ways to switch up my make up. Too many of my friends think they can't pull it off. Lipstick is meant to be fun and you just have to go for it! In this post I will take you through my personal collection providing lip swatches that will demonstrate how different shades can transform your look!

My Collection:

Estee Lauder "Melon Shimmer", NYX "Big Cherry", NYX "Licorice", NYX "Pops", Make Up For Ever "Rouge Artist Intense #36", Make Up For Ever "Rouge Artist Intense #42", MAC "Vegas Volt", MAC "Dare You", MAC "Snob", MAC "Rebel"

Swatches: 

Dupe alert! If you are interested in the MAC "Rebel" shade, "Licorice" by NYX is the exact same color for only $6!

As for application it's always best to start off with a lip liner. Once your lips are fully lined you want to fill them in with the lip pencil. Next apply your lipstick; the lip liner creates a base for your lipstick, which will give you a longer wear. You can then use a concealer to clean up the edges and you're good to go! 

How To Brighten Your Eyes: 3 Easy Steps

Personally I have a fair amount of redness around my eye area. I have found three easy steps to brighten up my eyes in order to appear more awake and polished for the day! This post will walk you through a tutorial of how I acheive this look and what products I recommend.  

Before and After: 

Products Used: 

                              

The three products you will need for this look are a concealer, a flesh-toned eyeliner and a pearlescent eyeshadow. The products I used are the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (shade: vanilla), the Sephora Long Lasting Kohl pencil (shade: infinite beige) and the eye shadow "Bootycall" from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette.

Here are some drug store recommendations that are comparable to these products:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
Price: $7-$9

Milani Shadow Eyez in shade "Almond Cream"

Price: $6-$8

Milani Powder Eye Shadow in shade "Golden Shimmer"
Price: $6-$8

Lets move on to the tutorial!

Step 1: Apply concealer all around eye area including the lids, inner corners and the under eye area. It should look something like this:

I like to add concealer to the tops of my cheeks in a triangle shape in order to blend the brightness of my eyes with the rest of my face. I also add concealer to the bridge of my nose as a personal preference. Once you have applied your concealer, blend it all in with your finger or a makeup brush.

Step 2: Apply the flesh-toned eyeliner to my waterline. Like so: 

Step 3: Apply pearlescent eyeshadow to your eyelids, the inner corners of your eyes and right at your bottom lash line. 

After that simply apply your favorite mascara and you're done!