40 Beauty Questions Tag

My awkward attempt at a questioning face

Skincare:

-How many times do you wash your face daily? I wash my face twice a day, morning and night.

-What skin type do you have? (dry, oily, combo) I have combo skin, with occasional dry patches and a semi-oily T zone

-What is your current facial wash? I use Orgins GinZing Refreshing Scrub in the morning and First Aid Beauty Red Clay Cleanser at night.

-Do you exfoliate? I do an exfoliating mask a few times a week.

-What brand do you use? Most of my products are from The Body Shop but I also use a few things from Kiehl's, L'Oreal, First Aid Beauty, and Clinique. 

-What moisturizer do you use? In the morning, I use The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet and at night I use Origins Drink Up Intensive. 

-Do you have freckles? There are some prominent ones on my nose and some less noticeable ones on my cheeks. 

-Do you use eye cream? I do to counteract my dark circles and puffiness. I use Kiehl's Creamy Under Eye Treatment and Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel at night.

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin? I've never had terrible acne but do get red bumps occasionally.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? No.

Makeup:

-What foundation do you use? Foundation is a product I've been experimenting with lately, and believe it's possible to have many favorites. Currently, I've been loving YSL Touche Eclat Foundation in B30 and Makeup Forever HD Foundation in 120.

-How about concealer? Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer in Natural has been a lifesaver for me the past month.

-Do you know your undertone colour? I'm pretty neutral/beige, with slightly more yellow than pink.

-What do you think of false eyelashes? I love the look they give, but I've never really been able to master them.

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months? I do know that, but also adding eye drops to a dried out mascara can pro-long their life.

-What brand of mascara do you use? Maybelline and L'Oreal offer great drugstore options, and I also love Benefit They're Real. 

-Sephora or MAC? Overall, I would have to pick Sephora, simply because of the extensive selection of different brands. I am a huge fan of the MAC Limited Edition collections and their lipsticks.

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card? No.

-What makeup tools do you use in makeup application? Almost all of my brushes are from Sigma, but I have a few Sephora Pro Brushes too. Q Tips are also an essential for cleaning up eyeliner.

-Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes? Always! I didn't start doing this until a couple of years ago and I don't know how I lived without it. Colors last way longer and don't crease. I use either Too Faced Candlelight Primer or Nars Smudge Proof Primer.

-For the face? I like using different primers depending on my skin's needs--sometimes I want to moisturize, sometimes I want to counteract redness, or sometimes I want to help my "acne'". However, my holy grail primer is Smashbox Photo Finish
-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)? I'm all about the shimmer, and I love either a gorgeous champagne or light purple.

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? I use liquid eyeliner on the top and pencil eyeliner on the bottom.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? Almost never, although I'm still working on mastering the perfect cat eye. 

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? I like the idea of them, I've just never gotten around to using them.

-Do you use mineral makeup? I like the Mac Mineralize Skinfinishes, as well as the mineralize blushes. 

-What is your favorite lipstick? Such a tough question! Either Tom Ford Casablanca or YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Rose Infinite. 

-How about lipgloss? The Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors are great.

-What is your favorite blush to use? I don't think I have one favorite blush, but I like ones with a hint of shimmer that add a natural glow.

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay? I've bought makeup from international sellers that isn't available in the USA, like all of my Soap & Glory makeup.

-Do you like drugstore makeup? I have a love/hate relationship--there are certain things that are definitely a good bargain, but other ones that aren't worth wasting money on.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) No.

-Did you ever consider taking makeup classes? I never have, but would be open to the idea!

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? Occasionally I'll poke myself putting on mascara, and like I said above, I'm still working on mastering the cat eye.

-Name a makeup crime that you hate? I hate the foundation line when it's not completely blended in around the jaw.

-Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones? I'd like to think I fall somewhere in between--I like subtle shades of pink/purple/red, so you can usually tell I'm wearing makeup, but it's not too much.

-Which celebrity always has great makeup? I think Emmy Rossum always looks gorgeous and natural.

-If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use? Definitely concealer-- my dark circles are always crazy.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? Obviously I COULD and I have before but I like to do a 5 product face if I'm pressed for time (tinted moisturizer, concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara). 

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? I'm not one of those people who looks drastically different, because I do more natural looks, but I prefer myself with makeup. 

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? Dior delivers great quality products with a pricy tag. L'Oreal has lots of great products for the drugstore.

-What do you think of Makeup?? Obviously I love it. I think it's a form of art that you can use to enhance your natural features. I'm not saying you can't feel confident without makeup, because plenty of people do, but I think it works to help you show off what you already have.

I now tag all of you to do this! Leave a comment linking to your blog if you fill out this tag :)

The Brown Eyeliner Edit

As I mentioned in my July Favorites, I've been a recent convert to the brown eyeliner bandwagon. I've found that ones with a little bit of sparkle and shimmer adds a little something extra. Here are the six I've been loving recently.

1. Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon, Ro(Cocoa) and Brown-Out. These are my favorite of the bunch. They have built-in sharpeners, which is always a plus in my book, and one has more shimmer than the other. It stays on forever and is easy to blend.
2. Urban Decay Roach. This was the first brown eyeliner I picked up, because Urban Decay has the most impressive color selection and pretty good staying power. This is the lightest of the bunch and great for a bronzy look.
3. Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bronze. For a drugstore eyeliner, this one is bomb. It's almost as creamy as the Marc Jacobs one, plus isn't a flat color (I've found that can happen with drugstore eyeliners). If you're looking to ease into brown eyeliner, this one works without breaking the bank.
4. Too Faced Bulletproof 24 Hour Eyeliner in Dirtbag. The thicker point of this makes it great for lining the top of your eye and even winging it out. The little sponge on the bottom makes this one super unique because you can blend it out and even use it as an eyeshadow.

L-R: Brown Out, Dirt Bag, Ro(Cocoa), Bronze, Roach

Seven Shows To Binge-Watch

Summer might be almost over, but that doesn't mean you can't start a new show to binge-watch. It obviously takes me longer to watch an entire series during the school year but I'm still a pretty good binge watcher. I'll watch a show when I'm getting ready, in the background of homework, before I go to sleep.. yeah. Here are six of my favorite shows that are great for watching back to back in short amounts of time (aka binge watching). All of these shows, with the exception of the last one, are available with a Netflix subscription. If you don't have one, there are plenty of websites online where you can find the links for free.

1. Lost (6 Seasons). If you're going to commit to binge-watching a show, this is it. I watched all 6 seasons in 3 weeks last summer, because it is just that good. There's no show like it--kind of sic fi mystery, drama with the characters, comedic relief... you name it. The character development is fabulous and I love this show so much that one of the characters, Charlie, partially inspired my tattoo.

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7 Seasons). I would watch Buffy occasionally when it was on air, but I was too young to ever really get into it. During freshman year, I spent the better part of second semester watching this. The writing is great, and the show is about so much more than an actual vampire slayer. There's also a spinoff, Angel, which I didn't like as much but still watched.

3. Parks and Recreation (7 Seasons). When this show first came on the air, something about it rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn't get in to it. Fast forward to last winter break and suddenly I got hooked--each episode is only 22 minutes so it's easy to keep on watching. There are so many quirky characters (Ron Swanson is a common household name now), and it does take a season or two to come into its own. But power through--it's certainly worth it. Plus, this show is still on the air so you have something to look forward to in the fall.

4. Weeds (8 Seasons). Once again, this show took me a while to get into but once I started watching, I couldn't stop (I think I finished in a little more than two weeks?). It's Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan's first project, so fans of that will love this. It's the same type of dark humor and even features guest stars like Pornstache and Mr. Healey. I want to compare it to a more comedic Breaking Bad, with more sass and girl power. Nancy Botwin is such a cool mom, I hope I can be like her when I'm older (minus the drug dealing business).

5. Desperate Housewives (8 Seasons). The best way to describe this show is a guilty pleasure. It's incredibly ridiculous with the amount of lovers and murders on Wisteria Lane, but something about the show is captivating. It's like Gossip Girl with housewives, but you get more involved. My favorite character is probably Gabrielle Solis because she is just straight up ridiculous and the way she handles her life is so crazy you can't help but laugh.

6. Gilmore Girls (8 Seasons). I must have missed the boat because somehow I didn't watch this show in middle school. I watched it all for the first time last year and could not stop. It probably has some of the best writing I've ever seen, for such a simple small-town storyline, and the characters are amazing. The dynamic between Lorelai and Rory just cannot be beat, and the addition of quirky people like Kurt makes the show stand out (plus the gorgeous Jess and Dean don't hurt). Even though I didn't actually watch it in middle school, it brings me back to the early 2000s with a good sense of nostalgia.

7. Arrested Development (4 Seasons). This is arguably the funniest show ever. It is just so so clever and has so many recurring jokes that you can't help but laugh. The fourth season was released 10 years later as a Netflix original and lacks the vivacity of the first 3 seasons, but is still worth a watch. There are bumper stickers on my car that reference this show... that's how much I love it.

I'm in search of a new show, so I'd love to know what you've been watching and recommend!

Five Affordable Drugstore Mascaras

I'm a huge fan of drugstore mascaras--although I like a few certain high end ones, mascaras do expire quickly so it's better to buy something affordable. L'Oreal and Maybelline are the two brands that consistently deliver so here are my top five. I've mentioned most of them in previous blog posts so will link those as well.

1. L'Oreal Butterfly Mascara (mentioned here). This is one of the most unique mascaras with its butterfly shaped wand. I like to use this for a second coat mascara.
2. L'Oreal Voluminous Excess Mascara. My favorite thing about this mascara is its lack of clumps, probably due in part to the huge brush. It's incredibly black and voluminizing.
3. Maybelline Rocket Mascara (mentioned here). A great mascara for volumizing and lengthening. This one has mixed reviews but I'm definitely a fan.
4. Maybelline Illegal Lengths Fiber Extending Mascara. What a mouthful of a name! Don't be scared by the "fiber" lengths--you can't notice anything but this mascara is crazy lengthening and feels like a high-end mascara.
5. L'Oreal Paris Shocking Extensions Mascara (mentioned here). This is similar to the Maybelline one above but is maybe not quite as dramatic, yet still offers great results.

None of these are waterproof, but I find using a primer (my favorite is this Lancome one) before application and finishing everything with a setting spray ensures that my mascara doesn't flake or come off.

What's your favorite drugstore mascara?

Also, check out this really cool video of men trying women's makeup on half of their face. It's interesting to think about how beauty is so stereotypically gendered and the transformative power of makeup.

Summer Shoe Wardrobe

Summer is definitely my lazy footwear time. It's so easy to throw on a pair of shoes, not worry about socks, and show off your brightly colored toes. I definitely wear the Toms and Rainbows more often than any of these, but here are all my spring/summer/early early fall shoes (because flip flops in September can be acceptable).

Tory Burch Miller Logo Thong. These are my fancy flip flops, and I've actually dedicated a whole post to them here.
Tahari Wedges, similar. Unfortunately I don't think these are available since I purchased them a couple of years ago. The neutral color allows these to match anything and make an outfit slightly more casual, and the bands are made of a stretchy material that is super comfortable. They make my legs look miles long.
Sam Edelman Felicia Flat. Black ballet flats are a staple in my wardrobe. I'm not really a heels girl, being already pretty tall and clumsy, so these are my automatic "nice" shoes when it's not sandal weather. They come in a million colors and I have my eye on the nude ones.
Softt Wedges. These may be the most comfortable pair of platform shoes I've ever put on. They only have a couple of inches of height, and the footbed is so squishy and padded it's like walking on a cloud.

Birkenstock Gizeh. I used to think Birkenstocks were ugly, until I came to UVM. I'm still not a fan of them in black/brown but I like the griller cream color of these. They're incredibly supportive and comfortable and worth an investment for good quality.
Merona Flats. Like I said, I love flats and it's fun to have a pair in a non-neutral color to jazz up an outfit and make your feet the center of attention.
Toms Classic Slip-Ons. If you don't already own a pair of these, go out and buy one right now. They take a little bit to break in but once they do, you'll never want to take them off. You can wear them on a really hot day or also a chilly winter day and they work with any type of outfit.

Converse Low Sneaker. I've had these for almost five years but just can't seem to part with them. I think the more beat-up they are, the better they look and they're the closest thing to a sneaker you'll find me in without being in the gym.
Splendid Madrid Sandal. Yet another pair of "classy" flip-flops, these leather ones are an edge up above classic rubber styles while maintaining a casual feel.
Rainbow Narrow Strap Sandal. These are the flip-flops to splurge on. They become molded to your feet after you break them in and offer great arch support. They're spongy and surfer-cool, plus they're less likely to break than their rubber counterparts.

What shoes have you been living in all summer?

Book Review: Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands

Do you ever instantly love a movie or book just a little more because it takes place somewhere you're familiar with? I've always loved thing set in Boston because I'm able to relate to it just a little more, but it's a lot rarer to find a book set in Burlington, VT. Chris Bojalian's latest novel Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands takes place largely in the very "city" (I think of it more as a town) I've been living in and that makes it hit a lot closer to home.

This book really blew me away. It's a work of fiction, telling the story of a 16 year old named Emily who lives a charmed life in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. All that changes when a nuclear plant blows up, causing the whole kingdom to evacuate, but her parents are responsible and she is left alone. She becomes a runaway and lives on her own in Burlington, until she befriends a small child. The story is told slightly out of order but not in a way to confuse you. Bojalian really details Burlington so well you can imagine it even if you don't live there. The specific mention of many locations really allowed me to further empathize with the story.

Emily's voice is very compelling and although her story is tragic, she never gives up hope. Although a nuclear power plant exploding in Vermont is entirely fictional, it makes you think what might happen if you were left completely alone in the world with no one to turn to. I kept wanting to read until her story was resolved and I was never bored throughout the novel. I'm always a fan of first-person narration because it really helps me connect to the character and get inside their mind, and it works perfectly for Emily. Ultimately, this is a story of survival and while the end wasn't quite what I expected, it doesn't end in tragedy and offers hope for the young heroine.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone in Burlington because you'll love it simply for the identification of our city, but even if you're from somewhere else, it's a great read that enthralls and captures you. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Calling All Photographers!

I think it's about time I get a real camera. I find that having great quality pictures is something that makes a blog stand out amongst others. I've just been taking pictures from my iPhone, which is fine but doesn't deliver the best results. Now I'm not looking for anything ridiculously expensive, but I would like a digital camera around $200 that can do the job. However, I'm hopeless in the matter of knowing which is the best. This is where you come in. If you're a blogger who has a camera they like,  or just an avid photographer, let me know which ones are the best! I've done a little browsing on Amazon and thought this one might work. Yes I do love that it's purple but that's not a requirement.

Please leave a comment/link below with suggestions!