December Favorites

Ahh I can't believe this is my last post of December. I've had my blog for about 6 months and am incredibly grateful for all of my readers and support. It's been really fun to do and I can't wait for bigger and better things to come in 2015. I do want to do a "2014 Favorites" but since the majority of my makeup is at school, that may be more of a mid-January post. I've tried lots of awesome products this month (actually having good shopping around is super dangerous) and here's what I've been loving.

Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Lucky. One of my favorite bloggers Amelia Liana has raved about this lip gloss for ages, so I took the plunge and bought it. It's a gorgeous peachy pink nude with a perfect amount of sparkle. I've been really into nude lips lately so this looks great over lipstick and isn't too sticky.

L'Oreal Super Slim Eyeliner. I never thought I could find an eyeliner I would love as much as my Marc Jacobs one, but this one rivals it. It's incredibly cheap, super long lasting, the perfect matte black shade, and it's really easy to remove. I'll definitely be repurchasing this and I wish it was available in more colors.

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud Hydrating Treatment. If you have dry skin, run to your nearest Sephora and scoop this baby up. I love to leave this on instead of a moisturizer at night and it is so incredibly moisturizing. It doesn't really leave a gross slimy film, although I would recommend actually using this as a removable mask during the day. Plus it smells like coconut, which is a bonus in my book.

Dior Star Fluid Foundation. It's been a while since I've tried a new foundation and this one has been on my wishlist for quite sometime. It has buildable coverage to give you anywhere from a light to heavier coverage and leaves a great, natural finish. It's slightly dewier than matte but not so shiny that you look greasy.

Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector in Light/Medium. My dark circles have been thanking me ever since I got this. You can use it alone or under concealer, and the salmony tone helps to counteract the blueness. It's creamy but doesn't crease and could soon achieve holy-grail status.

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob, Addiction, and Epic. Like I said, I've been loving nude, Kylie Jenner type lips and these babies easily help me achieve that. I either just line or fill in my lips, and these are super creamy and non-drying. I also love MAC lipliners but these are cheaper dupes for the popular ones like Soar, Whirl, and Spice. 

L-R: Rimmel East End Snob, Addiction, Epic, Chantecaille Lucky

Books: Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin, Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be A Grownup by Grace Helbig, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, You by Caroline Kepnes

Music: Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake, Do You by Spoon, Riptide by Vance Joy

I hope you all have a great New Years and I will talk to you in 2015!

Seven Deadly Sins of Makeup Tag

Well I officially survived the holidays. And I have less than two weeks of being home, with a trip to Disney thrown in next week (surprisingly it's for educational purposes. I swear. I'm taking a class through my school). I can't believe there's only a few days left of December, and I have an awesome set of favorites coming up on Wednesday.

Greed: What’s your most expensive beauty item?

Hmmmm probably one of my perfumes like Flowerbomb. But if we're talking ridiculousness in price, I did once spend $50 on a Tom Ford lipstick.

Wrath: What item do you have a love/hate relationship with? 

I love liquid eyeliner and wear it everyday. When I have more time or for a special occasion, I like to rock a winged look but I'm convinced my eyes are different shapes and it's almost impossible to get an even look.

Gluttony: What brand takes up most of your collection?

I'm gonna go with Charlotte Tilbury--I think I own 95% of all her items.

Sloth: What product do you neglect the most due to laziness?

I am pretty bad about contouring--I like the look it gives and it doesn't take that long. I just always forget it.

Pride: What product gives you the most confidence?

Concealer is definitely on the top of the list because I'm so self-conscious about my dark circles. A nice smoky eye always boosts my confidence too.

Lust: Which item is top of your beauty wish list?

I've been pining for a Tom Ford eyeshadow quad for a while, but I just can't bring myself to spend that much money on one quad right now.

Envy: Which makeup product/look is great on others but not on you?

I don't really look good in super bright blushes or lipsticks. If I do buy a brighter color I make sure to still keep it as natural as possible.

The Two Second Eye Makeup Trick

Okay so maybe this eyeshadow look takes a bit more than 2 sec. but it's the easiest thing to do when you're in a rush and still want to add something to your look. I'm a recent eyeshadow stick convert and they're so easy to apply. They're also portable and you don't even need a brush so you can take them on the go! Here are the ones I've been loving lately.

Pixi Fairy Dust in Mocha Magic. I've never seen fairy dust, but I imagine it looks somewhat like this. This is extremely shimmery and glittery, but not so much that you look like a disco ball. There's minimal fall out and this is softly pigmented, so you could layer it on top of other eye colors. It also doubles as a cheek and brow-bone highlighter.

L'Oreal Infalliable Silkissime Powder Eyeliner Pen (not online yet). These just launched in the drugstore last week (I got mine at CVS) so I can't even find them online. As the name suggests, these are a powder eyeshadow that is applied with a spongy tip. The color is very pigmented with a hint of glitter and blending it all over your eye really does create a "smoky" look. Perfect for when you want to touch up your makeup at night and add something special.

Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eye Stick in Au Revoir. This is a cream shadow that combines the best of both worlds-- a long lasting, pigmented formula with glitter that doesn't overwhelm you. These are the most long lasting of the bunch and have a nice cooling sensation when applied (don't be scared). The narrow tip also allows you to apply the color as an eyeliner if you want.

*Not pictured but I also love the Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon Pencils--check them out in a post here.

L-R: L'Oreal Taupe, L'Oreal Brown, Pixi, Marc Jacobs

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate it and an awesome holiday series regardless of what holiday you celebrate!

New Beauty Launches to Get Excited For

It's not even next year and already spring makeup launches are popping up everywhere! There are a lot of cute new things that are definitely worth saving your holiday money for.

1. Chanel Spring 2015. I only own a couple of Chanel makeup pieces (for the obvious price tag reasons), but the ones I do have are great quality. The limited edition blush has an adorable flower design and seems like a great color to add a natural flush. There are also a couple of limited edition eyeshadow quads, nail polishes, and lip products.

2. Tarte Spring 2015. The big launch of this collection is an all matte eyeshadow palette--although I much prefer glitter shades, I know Tarte does mattes quite well. There's a new blush, eyeliner, lipstick, and re-promote of a lip crayon as well.

3. Too Faced Semi-Sweet Spring 2015. A companion to the milk chocolate eyeshadow palette has just launched, as well as some new melted lipstick colors. I have my eye on the Soul Mates Bronzer and Blush because Too Faced does great bronzers and this design is just too cute!

4. Benefit Puff-Off. Pretty much any new launch from Benefit gets me excited because they have the cutest packaging. This is an eye cream that de-puffs and is slightly colored to counteract blue circles. The applicator is in the shape of an iron (adorable!) and I have high hopes for this product.

5. Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette. If you only want to treat yourself to one new thing after the holidays, this palette offers a great variety for the price. It has a full-sized Perversion mascara, eyeliner, lipgloss, 5 eyeshadows, highlighter, bronzer, and blush, all in one container! It's great for travel as well.

These are just some of the many launches I'm looking forward to. What are you excited for? Comment below!

New at the Drugstore Haul

There were so many new, exciting looking things at the drugstore that it was hard to narrow down my picks. Thanks to some posts on Nouveau Cheap, I had an eye out for the certain things I wanted. These are just first impression reviews, as I've only used the products once or twice. I got them all at my local CVS, but you may have to ask if they have things in the back, because I snagged the BB cream before the display was even out.

Milani Foil Eyeshadows. I'm really really impressed with the quality of these for drugstore shadows. They're a cream-to-powder formula, so make sure you use a primer before applying as they can crease. Something about the shadows reminds me of Charlotte Tilbury level glitter (Dolce Vita dupe anyone?), although the texture is different. Each swatch was done only once without a primer underneath, so you can build up pigmentation.

L-R: Milan, Rome, Florence

2. Rimmel 16 Hour Provocalips in Make Your Move. These launched in the UK a little while ago and I was super excited when they launched here. It's a duo, with one side of color and one side a clear gloss that locks in the formula. Although it fades to more of a stain throughout the day, it does last quite a while and didn't really seem to dry out my lips.

3. Rimmel BB Cream Radiance in Light. I've tried a few drugstore BB creams and I really, really like this one. It gives quite a bit of coverage and blends seamlessly into my skin. I always look for radiance in a base and this one delivers it's promise. It also claims to moisturize, minimize pores, and more, although the radiance is it's best claim.

4. Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara. I think this has been out for at least a month, but it's new to me. I heard really good things about it so I figured I would pick it up for myself. I have decently long lashes, so I don't really need the extra growth benefits, but it would be cool if it worked. This is great for the price--it lengthens and adds volume without clumping.

What Have I Been Reading Lately? Psychological thrillers are my favorite type of books and movies, and I recently read You by Caroline Kepnes. It's told from the point of view of an obsessive stalker, and it's always interesting to get inside the mind of the "bad guys". I'm currently reading Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grownup by Grace Helbig. I know Grace is a Youtube star but I've never actually watched her videos. I love this book and it's so well written with my kind of humor.

Makeup Shakeup #1

The semester is finally over! It's been an especially rough week but I'm glad it's finally over. I'm home from school for an entire month (it hasn't sunk in yet), which means I'm away from my makeup stash collection. In addition to keeping my travel makeup bag at home (there's a post on it here), I packed another bag of my not-quite-essentials that I still wanted to keep in rotation. I'm sure I'll buy some stuff when I'm home but here are the items I'm going to be primarily using this month.

Aerin Multicolor for Lips and Cheeks

Diorskin Concealer

Charlotte Tilbury Fallen Angel Palette

Chanel Jersey Blush

Bobbi Brown Highlight Powder

Chantecaille Lip Gloss in Lucky

MAC Lip Pencil in Spice and Dervish

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner

MAC Lipstick in Brave

Clarins Instant Concealer in 01

Clinique Cheek Stick in Peony

YSL Lip Oil in I Rose You

Marc Jacobs Eyeliner in Plumage

Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Chantecaille Tinted Moisturizer in Nude

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder

I'm excited to be back on my blogging grind this week! I have a few post ideas but let me know what you'd like to see. There's a lot of exciting new products at the drugstore that I want to review, and comment if you want an in-depth review on anything in this post :)

The Week From Hell

I'm so so sorry it's been over a week since I've written a blog post. Last Friday, my computer randomly stopped turning on and I couldn't get anything to work. Nothing in Vermont was open until Monday so I brought it to my school's computer depot and they just returned it to me today. Unfortunately, not all my preferences backed up and I'm on the latest operating system so that will take some getting used to. I'm lucky I finally got it back but going a week without a computer makes you realize how much you rely on it.

Also, it was finals week so not having a computer made it even worse. A few people let me borrow their computers, which was incredibly kind, but still made studying difficult. I'm in the process of restoring everything from my old computer.

I also lost my favorite ring which I've had for over six years so that made things even worse. Anyways, I'm off of school for a month which leaves plenty of time for blogging, so I will be back in action next week!

So You Want To Try A Face Mask...

I love face masks--they not only feel like a mini spa treatment at home, but usually do work wonders for skin. I have dry/combo skin, so my main concerns with masks are usually moisturizing or unclogging pores. Here are the five that I use off and on (most once every week or two), although there are so many good ones on the market.

1. Philosophy Total Matteness Mask (I can't seem to find the exact one I have anywhere online... they seem to have reformulated it into a cleanser/mask). Clay masks are great for extracting impurities out of your skin and unclogging pores. I leave this on for ten minutes and my skin feels so much better after. This works for all skin types.
2. Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Mask. You wouldn't expect something with the word charcoal in the name to smell so good, but the sugar makes it smell divine. Although it's an exfoliator mask, the texture is light and liquidy enough that you could use it as a cleanser. It's great for sloughing away dead skin and is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
3. Freeman Chocolate and Strawberry Clay Mask. Again, another amazing smelling mask for Freeman. These are easily the best drugstore masks out there and they are so cheap! This one is great for dry skin, as it's really moisturizing and toning. I wouldn't recommend this for oily skin, you might want to go for the Philosophy one.
4. Michael Todd Wild Berry Exfoliating Treatment. If you're looking for an intensive skin detox, this is your guy. It really scrubs away at your top layer of dead skin as you leave this on for about ten minutes. It also works to even out skin tone, but if you have extremely sensitive skin, I wouldn't try this as it is a more intensive treatment.
5. Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask. I just mentioned this in my November Favorites, and this is a great mask that you can use a couple of times a week if you want to rejuvenate skin in just two minutes.

What kind of face masks do you like to use? I've heard good things about the First Aid Beauty ones so I might have to check those out soon!

It's crazy that this is my last day of classes of the semester--after next Friday, I only have 3 semesters left of college then I have to enter the real world and that is a terrifying thought.

November Favorites

It's crazy enough that we only have a month left of the year, but even crazier that I have less than two weeks left of the semester! I have a couple of finals and some papers then I'm done next Friday! Due to that, blog posts may be less frequent but will return with creative content over break since I won't have access to my whole makeup collection. Let me know in the comments what sorts of different posts you would want to see for December/January!

1. Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask. I love treating my skin to a face mask, but sometimes I don't have ten minutes to leave it on. This one from Liz Earle is great because you only have to leave it on for 2 minutes to get all the benefits. It gives a slight tingling sensation to rejuvenate skin and leave you looking more radiant, which is especially great in the winter months.

2. Charlotte Tilbury Signature Makeup Bag. In case you couldn't tell from the makeup bag I brought home, my Vera Bradley bag is bursting at the seams! I figured I would grab a makeup bag from my favorite lady Charlotte Tilbury and I love the design. It's very lightweight yet roomy, and the maroon and gold look lovely together.

3. Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eye Stick in Three Shakes. I've recently been on an eyeshadow pencil kick, because they're easy to apply in a rush and last forever. This one from Marc Jacobs is no exception--creamy, pigmented, and long lasting. It also has a nice cooling sensation on eyelids.

4. Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Mascara. Just a great all around mascara. It lengthens and volumes without being clumpy, although you may want to layer it with another one if you're looking for a super dramatic look. The formula also claims to hydrate lashes and help them grow as an added bonus.

5. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in #8 Pink in Confidence. I have a couple other shades of this lipstick, and when I heard this color compared to Chanel Rouge Allure in Boy, I couldn't resist. A great MLBB that's more on the pink side, it's sheer enough to not look like Barbie and makes lips moisturized and shiny.

6. YSL Gloss Volupte in 19. Basically me in a gloss. It's a rosy pink with glitter that's not in-your-face and it looks great alone or over a lipstick (like Pink in Confidence). The formula smells awesome and lasts for a pretty long time.

L-R: Three Shakes Twinkle Pop, Pink in Confidence YSL, YSL Lipgloss in 19

Books: How To Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman, Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes (easily one of my favorite books of the year), Yes Please by Amy Poehler, The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Music: The General by Dispatch, The Start of Something by Voxtrot, Sacrilege by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (also an awesome music video).

Smashbox Double Exposure Palette

I didn't hear great things about the first palette, but this looked so tempting I had to try it. I got the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette from Ulta and am excited to play with it. I was disappointed because the top right shade, Veiled, came kind of broken but I didn't want to return the whole thing. The shades are big enough that I didn't think it was a huge deal.

You get a variety of 14 shades, which is great for the value. The brush seems to be decent quality, and it also came with a mini Full Exposure mascara (not shown).

•                   TOP ROW (Left to Right): Silver, Mauve, Peony, Blanc, Quartz, Flushed, Veiled

•             BOTTOM ROW (Left to Right): Midnight, Temper, Haze, Noir, Copper, Fig, Espresso

Each shadow seems very buttery and applies evenly (all swatches were done without primer). Most people had a problem with the super glittery shades and fallout in the first palette, so this one avoids that. I think my favorite part about the palette is the array of colors--you have some warm, some cool, and a good mix of neutral and pop colors. It seems very similar to the Lorac Pro Palette, so I wonder if I'll like it as much. Shadows can be used wet or dry, although I've never been one to use wet shadows but I guess if I wanted a really intense look I could.

This palette is great to pick up if you want some neutrals and other shades in one palette. Although there are less shadows than the Lorac Pro Palette, each individual shade is bigger and contains more product. The package is definitely bulkier which makes it a con, but overall I have good vibes so far!

Holiday Gifts for Beauty Lovers

The holidays begin in less than a month, and Black Friday is this Friday! There are so many great gift sets out already, so if you have a beauty lover in your life, one of these is sure to please (hehe rhyme. Also they work fine if you're looking to treat yourself).

1. Nars Virtual Domination Cheek Palette. I love Nars products, particularly cheek ones. This great palette includes the popular Deep Throat blush (one of my faves), Ms. Liberty highlighter (I've heard good things), two new exclusive shades, and a big Laguna bronzer. You save 90 dollars, get a great variety, and it's perfect for travel. What's not to like?
2. Sephora Gold Brush Set. I think Sephora brushes are great for their value, and this includes six different ones! They all have a beautiful gold finish, instead of the normal black, and even come with a display so you can have them front and center on your vanity.
3. First Aid Beauty Hydrating Duo. You can split up the lip balm and moisturizer or give them together. I know my skin gets really dry in the winter, and their ultra repair cream is great for hydration. The lip therapy works wonders on chapped lips and they're both fragrance free, so you can give this to anyone.
4. Smashbox Double Exposure Palette. I actually just got this for myself (expect a full review around Wed.) but I've had my eye on this for a while. I don't own the first exposed palette, but this one seems different enough that I could justify it. There's a nice variety of shades, so if you've been giving the Naked palettes to someone the past few years, this may be a welcome change. Shadows can be used wet or dry as an added bonus.
5. Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Butter. If you know someone who loves pampering their skin, this body butter may be right up their alley. The texture is just as whipped as it looks in the picture, and it's one of the most moisturizing things I've ever tried. It also smells amazing and is great to soften skin right after the shower.
6. Charlotte Tilbury Mini Lipstick Charms. I couldn't do a beauty lovers gift guide without including something from Charlotte Tilbury. This kit features three of her awesome lipsticks in So Marilyn (a great true red that I love), Bitch Perfect (a nudeish coral), and Penelope Pink. A full size lipstick from her sets you back about $32, so this kit is great if you want to try out a few shades.

What's on your list for the holidays? If you'd like to see a non-beauty gift guide with more fashion and accessory type things, let me know!

I'm on Thanksgiving break this week, which means I have a whole 9 days off of school. It's awesome to come back and relax (minus the three take home finals and two in person finals I have to prepare for), but it can also be a bit lonely. I love the city of Boston more than Burlington, there's a lot more to do, but I miss the people from Burlington. Crazy to think I only go back for two weeks then am home for a month (can't think about it).

What's in My Travel Makeup Bag?

I'm going home for about a week on Friday, and although I have some makeup at home, I always find that there's a reason I left it there. It's hard to narrow down my collection to fit into one small bag for a week, but I managed to do it. Here's what I'm bringing home for the week (and will most likely bring again for December break, which is a month). A lot of these products have been featured on the blog before, since they're some of my all-time favorites. Most products are Charlotte Tilbury, which is no surprise as it's my latest favorite makeup brand.

As you can see, I'm kind of in need of a bigger bag (I do have the large Vera Bradley cosmetic but it is currently stuffed with blushes), and I have my eye on the Charlotte Tilbury Christmas makeup bag coming out soon.

Face

Dr. Jart Pore Minish Primer

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation

Charlotte Tilbury Retoucher Stick

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Finish Powder

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow

Charlotte Tilbury First Love and Sex on Fire Blushes

Eyes

Lorac Behind the Scenes Primer

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita and Glamor Muse Eyeshadow Quads

Pixi Lash Line Ink

Marc Jacobs Eyeliner in RoCocoa and Overt

Urban Decay Subversion Primer

Stila Mile High Mascara

Charlotte Tilbury 5 Star Mascara

Lips

Charlotte Tilbury Blondie Lip Gloss

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Rose Infinite

Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss

Brushes

Sigma Tapered Highlighter Brush

Sigma Duo Fibre Powdered Brush

It Cosmetics Airbrush Foundation Brush

MAC 217 Brush

What are your essentials when you're limited to one bag for makeup?

How on point is this buzzfeed article about 29 struggles all Sephora addicts know to be true--I know they definitely apply to me. 

Add Some Sparkle and Shine To Your Holiday Look

Next week is Thanksgiving, and before you know that Christmas will be upon us! I always love to add glitter, sparkle, and shine to my look, but I find that it looks especially nice and glowy for the holiday season. Whether you have a party to go to or are just sitting under the fire, these are some of my favorite products to add a bit of shimmer.

1. Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette. Easily my favorite eyeshadow palette lately, and Charlotte's best selling one. The four shades work so well together for subtle shimmer or can be built up for a more night time look. These are my favorite palettes because they take the guesswork out of what shadow goes where and they're long lasting.

2. Laura Mercier Baked Highlight Shimmer. Holiday time is the best time for using highlighters because they add a "lit from within" look, especially when skin can look a bit sallow. This is a beautiful champagne shimmer that can be used above the cheekbone, as eyeshadow, highlighting under the brow bone, or whatever else you want

3. Bobbi Brown Golden Bronze Highlight. Bobbi Brown's holiday collection has a lot of gorgeous pieces, but this is the one to go for. It's a more dramatic highlight than the Laura Mercier one, and the golden tone adds more definition. It doesn't emphasize pores and is incredibly smooth.

4. Tarte Airblush Maracuja Blush in Shimmering Peach. Cream blushes are great to wear out to events because they're very long lasting. I love these ones from Tarte because they're shimmery yet still look natural on. Their powder blushes are great as well if you prefer that formula.

5. Charlotte Tilbury Blondie Lip Gloss. This little guy is the perfect size to pop in your purse. I love natural lipsticks that can work on their own or on top of any color--the shimmer isn't chunky and adds a lot to a look without looking blah.

6. Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow. If you want a glow that extends beyond the cheek and lip realm, look no further. Wonderglow can be used as a primer to enhance skin before foundation, or you can add it after on places you want to make skin really glisten and glow.

I just read Amy Poehler's book Yes Please which is a fun, comedic read with stories/musings/poems... you name it. If you're an Amy Poehler fan, I highly recommend it. 

Beat the Dry Skin Blues

Winter is coming (let's count how many times I've said that in a blog post). And my normal/combination skin suddenly becomes super dry. These are a few of my favorite products to help keep skin moisturized and supple.

1. Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. I've mentioned this a couple of times before, but it's my ultimate dry skin savior. Although it's a "mask", it's more of just an intensive moisturizer that helps my skin feel supple then I wake up. I use it at least four times a week and you can also use it on dry areas on your body like elbows and knees.

2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream. This moisturizer is one of their best selling items for a reason. I use this as a morning moisturizer that has more of a lotion texture but moisturizes as well as a cream. I love all products from the Vitamin E range because they just make skin so soft.

3. Vitamin E Moisture Serum. If moisturizer isn't enough, this serum is for you. You put it on immediately after cleansing and the liquidy texture contains lots of good-for-your-skin ingredients like honey and wheat germ oil.

4. Murad Hydrating Toner. Although I use toners morning and night, they can also be great in the middle of the day if your skin is feeling dry and needs a pick-me-up. This is light enough that it's easily absorbed and won't mess up your makeup. Supposedly it helps skin retain water and bind water to the skin, but I'm not sure how easily that can be done.

5. Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel. Another great moisturizer, but I love this one because the black gel is supposed to work to minimize the look of pores. The packaging is hygienic and innovative since you don't have to constantly dip your fingers into it. 

Do you have anything you swear by to help stop flaky skin? Let me know!

*This post was also featured in the online magazine I'm a part of, Her Campus UVM.

The "Me Time" Tag

Two of my favorite Youtubers, Essiebutton and Amelia Liana, created this tag. As winter quickly approaches and all you want to do is stay inside, I figured this tag was more than appropriate.

What do you watch or read during me-time? I love to catch up on my favorite Youtube videos, it's a great way to relax. For reading, I'll read pretty much anything but I recently read The Jewel by Amy Ewing and loved it.


What do you wear during me-time? #nobra
 I'm pretty much in leggings 24/7, but they are definitely an essential "me time" item. I also like a big comfy shirt and fuzzy socks.

What are your me-time beauty products? If it's "me time" (and no one else will see me), then I honestly don't really wear any makeup. I love to use a nice face mask (like Origins Clear Improvement Mask).


Current favourite nail polish? 
The Sally Hansen Gel Polishes are great because they last longer than normal polishes and don't ruin your nails.

What do you eat/drink during me-time? 
Popcorn is essential--I eat multiple bags a week. Trader Joe's Iced Pumpkin Scone Cookies are divine. Since it's fall, I also enjoy drinking apple cider.

Current favourite candle?
 Unfortunately I can't have candles in my sorority house, so I haven't played with candles in a while. I always love BBW's offerings though.

Do you ever have outdoor me-time? 
I'm not the biggest outdoor person--occasionally I'll go for a drive alone to clear my mind.

Would you ever go see a movie alone? For me, one of the most fun parts of seeing a movie is discussing it after and if there's no one who saw it with me, how can I do that?


Favourite online shop? Nordstrom is great for clothes and beauty, plus they have free shipping.

Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time? 

I tag anyone who wants to do this--post a link if you do!

Best Budget Eyeshadow Buys

I love a good eyeshadow quad/palette more than anything but certain ones can be very expensive. Here are a few ones from the drugstores (all less than $10!) that perform really well. This post was originally written as a guest spot on EllaStreet.com, another awesome beauty blog.

1. Rimmel Glam Eyes HD Eyeshadow. I know these have been available in the UK and Canada for a while, but I've seen them slowly making their way into US drugstores. First of all, I love how you get five different shades so you can create a variety of looks. The sets usually include mostly shimmer shades, but there's very little fallout. They can be used wet or dry, although I'm not a big fan of doing wet shadows. They claim to last up to 8 hours and I've found it to be pretty consistent with minimal wear throughout the day.

2. Wet n Wild Color Icon Shadow Trio. If you're looking for a super affordable option that doesn't disappoint, look no further. I know sometimes people think the cheaper an item is, the cheaper it will perform but these babies prove that theory wrong. Each shade is super pigmented, creamy, and lasts for a long time. The packaging is a bit flimsy but at literally $3 it's hard to complain. I also have a couple of the bigger, 5 shade shadows and those are more hit-and-miss.

3. Almay Intense I-Color. Although these are supposed to correspond to specific eye colors, I find that the shades are so gorgeous they can work with any eye color. Again, these are more shimmery but they blend together so well to create a nice look. I love the packaging because it lays out exactly where you should put each shade and the plastic is a bit stiffer.

If you're looking to keep these super affordable, you can certainly use the plastic sponge applicators they come with. I personally don't like these and throw them out--instead I love using my MAC 217 Brush. 

It took me a lot longer to get to than I wanted, but yesterday I devoured Jodi Picoult's latest novel, Leaving Time. As per usual, it did not disappoint and all the characters were extremely fleshed out and relatable. There's a twist at the end which I did not see coming and made me love the book even more. I highly recommend it. 

Face of the Day #2

These are always my favorite posts because I love seeing what everyone else uses for makeup. I wore this on Saturday for my Halloween costume as Easy A (but I would totally wear this makeup during the day too).

Too Faced Hangover Primer

Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Foundation in Bisque Light

Smashbox BB Eyes in Light

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Light

Too Faced Candlelight Eye Primer

Bobbi Brown Smoky Nude Eye Palette

Pixi Lash Line Ink

Charlotte Tilbury Rock n Kohl Eyeliner in Bedroom Black

Lancome Enhancing Lash Base

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara

Stila Mile High Mascara

Bobbi Brown Skin Weightless Powder Foundation in Sand

MAC Warm Soul Blush

MAC Salon Rouge Lipstick

And a pic of me in costume...

Hope you all had a good Halloween!