June Beauty and Fashion Favorites!

This has been yet another month that has flown by! I didn't really have too many new things that I tried this month, but I love doing my monthly favorites so I figured I would go ahead and share the few things with you anyway. Lets get started:

1. Firstly, a new lipstick that I have become pretty in love with this month, my L'Oreal Vagabond Mauve #550 shade. I picked this up at Target on a whim, simply because I wanted to try something new and I am so glad that I did! This color reminds me a lot of a more calmed down mauve-y tone of my previous favorite VS Heat Lipstick. (I will do a swatch collection of all my new lipsticks soon! at the moment my camera is dead )

2. Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Medium, I bought this as an alternative to my Origins VitaZing moisturizer. At $35.00, I thought I would try to find a cheaper option, but agreed that if it didn't do the same thing that my Origins one did, I would definitely deal with paying a higher price. Needless to say, I LOVE this product. I know I hopped on the bandwagon late with this, but thought I would share my thoughts with you guys about it anyway. I don't really have problematic skin, so the fact that this is a sheer coverage tinted moisturizer with SPF 30, I found this to be exactly what I had been looking for. It does not clog my pores or break me out etc, the medium shade was also a perfect match to my skin! I definitely recommend this.

3. Come to think of it, this is the second thing that I bought this month as an alternative to a product I was already using, but was running out of. I have been an avid L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara user for years let me tell you and finally I decided to try something different. I wouldn't necessarily classify this mascara as being something better or worse than my L'Oreal Voluminous one simply because I find that it does something completely different for my lashes. What I love most about this mascara is how much it separates each of my individual lashes making the length look that much more natural. I am definitely glad that I tried this!

4. My White Mountain Seaside Boat Shoes may be my all time favorites thing that I discovered this month. They are a close twin of Sperry's but when I purchased these, I found them at Marshall's for only $34.99! That's less than half the price of the Sperry's! They are SOO comfy and definitely a staple item in a casual comfortable summer ensemble :) They also go with my Nautical Themed Blog post that I posted a few posts  back ;)

5. Last, but certainly not least, my St. Ives Naturally Clean Apricot Scrub. I have actually used this off and on throughout probably the past 4 or 5 years believe it or not. I have always really liked it, which became evident obviously by how many times I repurchased it, but this past month I bought it and for some reason I really came to love it. I love that its a gentle yet thorough face scrub, I love the way it smells, and I also love that my face feels amazingly smooth RIGHT after I rinse it clean! I bought the one in the jar as opposed to the one pictured above, the only difference is that one comes with 4 more oz.'s of product :) This product is also very inexpensive, which you know is always great in my book!

May Fashion/Beauty Favorites!

Here are a few of my fashion favorites for the month of May. These are all things that I have obsessively loved this month and thought that they were significant enough to share with you guys :)

1. J.CREW Tanks: These tanks are my favorite tank tops this spring! They are super comfy, as most JCrew tops are, and come in the cutest color stripes. I bought the two above and have worn them both already, layering them over a white or gray tank. These are definitely the kind of tanks you want to layer as they are that super awesome baggy fit, on myself at least. The cotton is super soft and they also have a cool zipper detail on the upper part of the back making them all that more interesting :)

2. Urban Outfitters Fedora: I am really big into fedoras as you all probably know from my previous fashion related blogs. This one however has been one that I have wearing weekly during this month of May. It just seems to go with a lot of what I wear on a daily basis so it is so easy to just grab it and go.

3. Lucky Brand Acacia Sandals: These sandals are amazing! I bought them on impulse at my local Macy*s one weekend before vacation and I thought hey if I don't like them when I get home I could always just return them. I say this because too many times do I love something in the store and then hate it when I get home lol Needless to say, these are definitely going to be a staple shoe of mine this summer. I LOVE the 70's boho vibe they give off with the chunky bottom, they are soft good quality leather and are SO comfy!! I wore them all day on vacation this past weekend and I was on my feet going up stairs walking through museums etc for almost 7 hours and not a blister or hurt in sight :) DEFINITELY recommend!

4. Ballerina Buns: Here I show a pic of Kourtney Kardashian sporting this look, one of my favorites as the warm humid weather comes upon us. I find that when it is hot and sticky (humid) out the last thing I want is hair on my neck, the thought of it just makes me hot! lol This is a simple yet put together way to get your hair off of your face and out of the way. It only requires bobby pins, hair ties, smoothing hair brush and hairspray and you are good to go. There are many levels on your head to wear this, I however wear it like this:

My casual version of the ballerina bun :)

5. Havaianas Slim Flip Flops: A girl can never have to many flip flops during the warm months in my opinion. They are almost the only shoe I wear in the summer/spring when being casual. The Havaiana Slim flip flop is my favorite because it is comfy, sleek & stylish and comes in a variety of colors to match any outfit!

Below are a few beauty related items that I found myself using over and over again this month :)

1. Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser: I love this stuff! It moisturizes my dry skin and leaves my face looking great. I use it every other day in the shower and haven't had any irritation or anything like that so I am definitely pleased. The Yes to Carrots line has worked wonders for me so far and this is just another thing to add to the list of things I love. It has the consistency of a cold cream and a little bit is all you need which means this will be lasting me a while. The smell isn't strong like I have read from some other reviewers which makes me thing maybe they changed the formulation to take care of this problem.

2. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny: After hearing so many good things about this bronzer, I decided to give it a try. I saw it at my local target and at a little under $3 it was hard to not try. I absolutely love this bronzer, not only is it the perfect flush of light bronzer but it is something that I have found myself using daily, and that in itself says a lot! This may not be great for all skin tones as I have heard that it can appear a bit orangey on certain people, but for me it is perfect! I have other bronzers that are more than 8 times this price and don't look at great as this one. I have olive medium skin and this is definitely a light bronzer on me, but it is just enough for everyday use. I have my MAC Golden for when I need a more intense bronze. Give this a try asap!

3. Essie Nail Polish in Tangerine: I got this right before vacation this past weekend and it has quickly become one of my favorite spring/summer colors! It is a coraly deep orange color, almost completely matching my MAC lipstick in So Chaud. I love the way orange nails look with a nice golden tan :)

4. NYX Lipstick in Paris: This lipstick is another thing that I have found myself wearing at least 4 times a week this month. it is a creamy carnation pink color and looks amazing with nearly everything! It isn't shimmery or anything so it is perfect for everyday wear. I really like the NYX lipsticks because they are very pigmented, although I would always be sure to pack their lipsticks in my handbag because you are sure to have to reapply within the next few hours.

5. Yes To Carrots Carrot Lip Butter: I purchased this a few weeks back and this has already become my new favorite everyday lip balm. It has a citrusy scent that isn't too strong but refreshing. It goes on smooth and keeps my lips moisturized for the most part. I love again that it is from a paraben free, all natural company :)

It's April Favorites Time !

Ahhh! I'm so excited to share this month's favorites with you guys because I am absolutely LOVING these products! Lets get right into it :)

1. Yes to Blueberries Facial Towelettes 

I previously mentioned these in a blog, where I gave a bit of a more thorough description of how these work. They are used to gently remove makeup, dirt and oil, and they definitely do just that. I switched up my normal Neutrogena Night Calming makeup removing wipes for these this month, and I have yet to be sorry that I did. They smell great, work great and don't leave that oily film on your face (that my Neutrogena ones do) after using them. They say there is no need to wash your face afterward, and you truly feel like there isn't! You can find these here!

2. LA Splash Creamy Shadow Base

While at IMATS, I picked up two of these eyeshadow bases to give them a try, and I definitely like them. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any photos of them, but you can check the colors out that they offer on their website which you can access here .  I purchased "Highlight" and "Smoky", complete opposites of each other. Highlight is a frosty light pink color, VERY reminiscent of Urban Decay's shadow in Sin. Smoky on the other hand is a dark frosty gray. I use them under shadows for that added color burst, and love using smoky for smokey eyes :) Highlight can also be used as a highlight :)

3. Victoria's Secret Kabuki Bronzing Brush

 
I purchased this kabuki brush a few months back, and really wanted to get a complete feel for the shedding and usage etc before I decided to include it in a favorites or not. I love that it is dense, the brush hairs are soft on my face, and most importantly, it blends out product well. Turns out, this is now one of my favorite brushes (we all know my ABSOLUTE favorite is my E40 from sigma ;) I use this for my MSF's and bronzers and I find that it buffs out very well for that perfect natural look. I grabbed this at my local VS for under $15!

4. Essie French Affair Nail Polish

*this is not my photo*

The photos of the polish on myself  "mysteriously" must have gotten deleted from my phone, I work with kids, so this is expected lol Oh well, I did however, find this lovely swatch on a skin tone close to my own so I borrowed this from another website :) haha I saw another woman at the nail salon wearing this and she was rather fair and this polish came out COMPLETELY different on her, so let me warn you in advance. I do love the color though. It is a very creamy carnation pink color, if you aren't used to working with nail polishes that are creamy like this, you may experience streaking, its that creamy! I love the opacity of it, and how springy it looks :)

5. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Flush

To say I love this blush would be an understatement, I adore this blush! After hearing all the rant and rave about it, I went to my local Sephora and grabbed one. I didn't swatch or anything at the store, I simply grabbed the one that looked like something I didn't already have in my collection, which at this point is hard because I have so many! lol When I got home and opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only was the color gorgeous on me, but the blush comes with a mirrored lid, which is awesome for on-the-go application. A deep Plumy Punch color is what this reminds me of with SLIGHT shimmers, that I don't notice so much on my skin as to where I feel like a disco ball, I hate that! This blush is extremely potent so a little definitely goes a long way with this, and it definitely lives up to the "lasts super long" hype. I applied it at 1:30 pm. and took it off at 11:30 pm and it still looked wonderful! You can purchase it here !


**I also wanted to include my VS lip liner in Nude in this month's favorites, but I could not find it online ANYWHERE to give your reference as to where to buy it online etc, nor any swatches or even photos of the darn thing! Its so weird....anyway if you're in a VS beauty section, definitely check out the nude lip liner, its creamy and a great nude shade!

 Happy Shopping in the Month of May! xox

March Favorites!!

Below are a few of the things that really stood out to me this month and that I highly recommend :)

Hello Kitty Eau de-Parfum 1.7 oz. $55 Click here!

I absolutely adore almost anything Hello Kitty, I wouldn't consider myself a crazed fanatic, I just think her little face is so cute haha  This perfume packaging is so adorable and the scent is very floral like with vanilla. This also comes in a roller ball, which is great to throw in your purse or for traveling! The bottle will for sure be a collectors item :)

Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy Boosting Moisturizer 17 oz. $35 Click here!

I just purchased this this month and I am totally loving it. The first time I used it I saw an immediate radiance to my face! Its comes out of the tube white, however when rubbing together on my hands I saw it change to a more fleshy tone color, which means it gives a "slight" tint to your skin. I have a medium skin tone and this blends flawlessly :) If you wear light coverage foundation now (I do not), you may just be able to skip foundation all together as this evened out my entire skin tone. Its not oily or heavy and definitely makes your skin look radiant (perhaps from booting its energy haha) A little bit goes a long way with this one so the price in reference to the amount of use you get out of the tube is perfect. Take my word and try this!

MAC MSF Soft & Gentle $28 Click here!

I have been looking for the perfect highlight for months! When I came across this one, I was so pleased with the initial swatch I did that I felt compelled to give it a try. Needless to say I love this stuff! Its a high frost metallic finish which is perfect for highlighting above the cheekbones, down the nose as well as your cupids bow if you wish. I use this with my Sigma E40 brush which is small yes, but I feel like this gives me the ultimate control of where I am placing the product so I don't end up with a tin man looking face haha

Reebok RunTone Action On Sale for $76! Click here!

Can you believe the last time I owned a pair of sneakers that weren't Coach Fashion-like ones was more than 6 years ago! I know I can't either lol I've never been much of a sneaker girl, I prefer flip flops, flats, wedges etc. My boyfriend and I are going to be doing quite a decent amount of traveling this summer so he saw it fit that I actually have something to walk around comfortably in haha He got me these babies for Christmas, and boy were they an awesome gift! Number one they're pink, they also are super stylish and don't make your feet look all chunky and wide, they're breathable with some mesh parts that allow your little toes to catch a gust of wind on occasion hahaha AND they work your bottom and legs out the more you walk in them! SCORE on all ends with this sneaker :) I definitely recommend these to everyone without a doubt!

Kohl's Juniors S.O. Long and Lean Ribbed Tank On sale for $5.99! Click here!

I am always buying tank tops, like ALWAYS! I find that during any season, a tank top can be layered or thrown under a cardigan for a perfect polished effortless look. I like my non-ribbed ones from Target, but unfortunately they're only available for a month or so then they are no where to be found until the next year! I cam across these ribbed tanks at Kohl's and let me tell you what I love about them: 1. They are good quality 2. They come in a variety of colors 3. They have a nice colorful piping on the inside :) and 4. They are totally the kind of tank that WON'T stretch out on you during the day, I HATE THAT!! The case of the saggy tank top by noon is not a good look lol 

Happy Shopping! xox

Things I Could Not Live Without in The Month of February :)

Let me start by saying I do not think I can fully commit myself to doing these every month because frankly I don't purchase new things that often, however, I will do them as much as my "new things" collection allows :) Since this is my first one, I will explain a little about what these will typically consist of. The things I will briefly speak about will be things that I tried and loved, things that I found myself using consistently throughout the aforementioned month and thought worthy enough to share with you guys :) They can consist of everything from makeup products, general beauty products, shoes, all sorts of things! Now for the "stuff" haha Be sure to follow me on twitter as well, which is easy enough by clicking on that pink "follow me" banner on the right side of my my blog!

1.  My Planner!
Being that I am obsessive about being organized, this thing is a life saver. I love it because its small, I would estimate maybe 5 1/2 inches x 5 1/2 inches, and has a coil binding that makes the pages super easy to flip through. As you all know from a previous blog post, I love Anne Taintor and her super silly humor depicted in these retro pictures! I get a laugh everyday I use my planner, how cool is that! You can find this here !

2. My L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara  
A good mascara is hard to come by for sure. You always run the risk of it being too watery, clumpy or just not doing the job at all! A few years back I remember seeing a commercial that Eva Longoria did for this mascara, and being that I absolutely love her I gave it a whirl. Needless to say I fell in love with this stuff! The formula is perfect, not too clumpy or watery and makes my lashes look fabulous! I get the color Carbon Black :) Its very well priced too! You can find it here !

3. My iPhone 4 Case
I love this case! I have had the iPhone 4 for about 6 months now and have gone through a ton of different cases, mostly rubber ones. I was always skeptical of getting a hard case in fear that it would scratch the back of my phone etc., but when I heard about these Speck cases I was so eager to give them a try. My case is hot pink and beautiful! Rubber inside and hard on the outside, this case will literally protect your phone from nearly any kind of damage! My phone looks stylish AND is super protected :) You can find Speck cases at Target and other retailers, but I found the best deals to be here !

4. I Finally Found My Favorite Orange Candle!
I have been on the hunt for a good aromatherapy orange candle for months! I came across this one "Orange Ginger Aromatherapy" at my local Bath & Body Works. It is potent and smells amazing and is almost mentholated, I could swear I breathe better when this is lit behind my bed lol I am in love with this candle and will be buying tons of them in the future for sure! :)

5. My E40 Sigma Brush
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Sigma for making such a wonderful brush. It can be compared to the MAC 224, which retails for $29.00 (but WAY better in my opinion). This brush is BY FAR my favorite makeup applicator for my eyes. Its soft, dome shape is the perfect blending tool for making your eye makeup come out to perfection. I am compiling a few looks I have done using ONLY this brush for my all over eye makeup and I'm so excited to share them with you guys soon. If you are going to invest in any kind of brush, I'm a firm believer you could survive using just this brush. Its only $9.00 on the Sigma Website which you can access here !




Happy Shopping! xox