Currently Obsessed

So I've been a bad blogger, but I wanted to share a few things I've currently been obsessed with, sound good?

1. This EOS Holiday Three-Pack

I already love these lip balms and when I ran into Ulta for something and saw them, I bought them on a whim. The flavors are so amazing, probably my favorites out of all of the ones I already owned.

Flavors include:

• Aloha Hawaii Strawberry Kiwi
• St Barth's Sunrise Pink Grapefruit
• Indian Summer Orange Blossom

If you have an addiction to lip balm like I do, you need these!

2. Netflix.

I used to have it a long time ago, but canceled. Now I have it again and I can't stop watching. Right now I've been loving Orange is the New Black I know, apparently I was out of the loop and have been missing out! It's pretty raunchy, but I love the character development and getting to see the story lines/stories for each character. Why does season 3 not come out until June?!?!

I've also been obsessed with re-watching Gilmore girls! I used to love that show when I was younger, and it's so fun being able to go back and re-watch it! I'm on season four now :)


3. Sour gummy... anything!

For some reason, I've been on a sour gummy kick. It started this past summer when I tried some of these Trolli Octopus. Sure they look creepy (kinda like spiders!) but OH MY GOSH THEY TASTE SO GOOD. They're definitely different from the regular sour worms. Trust me if you haven't, you need to try them! I've only been able to find them in certain places, Hobby Lobby being my biggest (and most random) dealer ;)

But seriously. They are addicting and so so good!



4. Red lip and winged eyeliner

I've been inspired by the makeup Taylor wore in her Shake It Off video. While I look nowhere near as gorgeous, I've still been enjoying that makeup look! It's classy and elegant, and surprisingly easy and fast to do.


5. Turning 21!!!

Can I put this on my list? Haha, well I am!
Monday, I turned 21. Yeah, it sucked having such a moments birthday on a Monday, especially since I had to work. Boo being an adult! But I had a great day nonetheless. :D

Hope you enjoyed my list!

October Ipsy Bag

Okay, I feel like I just did this...oh wait, because I did.
But I figured that if I just did one video per bag it would make the video shorter for you guys.
It's all for you ;)

Anyway, here's what I got this month:




What a glorious thumbnail, no?

No really.

One of my readers suggested that I change up my personality thing on Ipsy's site so maybe my bags will start getting better. It worked! (thanks Lovely) I was pretty happy with my bag this month.

My November bag is already being shipped so I'm sure I'll be back soon with my November bag!

Beauty Shaming

We were walking to my next class, having just finished our heated discussion on the professor's teaching philosophy, when she looked over at me and casually said:

"You know, you would be so beautiful if you didn't wear makeup."

I was taken aback. My first thought was uhh yeah, no. You haven't seen my naked face in the morning. It's pretty scary. But, I just kinda smiled at her and brought up a new topic.

But as the day went on, the comment kept bugging me. I kept thinking how rude it was to judge another woman's beauty based off her choice in to wear or not to wear makeup.

You see, my beauty does not lie in the choice I make to wear makeup. In fact, my beauty doesn't have anything to do with my face at all.

I am beautiful because of my passions, the things that drive me, the dreams I aspire to. I am beautiful because I can make people laugh and because I am smart and caring and kind. I am beautiful because of my character, my inner-thoughts and the depth of my soul. None of those things have anything to do with makeup.

Beauty does not correlate to what I decide to put on my face. 

I think that the issue lies within what women and men are taught from a very early age. We are taught that thin, tan legs, flat stomachs and a big chest contain women's beauty... that the rosiness of our cheeks, the length of our eyelashes, the color of our cheeks make us pretty. All these things are instilled in us as things to strive for. But I reject it. I am not beautiful because of those things and they are not what define me.

As I think about what that peer told me that day, I want to respond with this:

As women, we need to stop judging ourselves and others. Personally, I do not care about your choice in not wearing makeup and you should not worry about my choice in wearing it. What I do care about is if you are a genuinely good person with a good soul who wants to make a difference in this big ol' world.

Yes, I like to wear makeup. But I realize that my face is only skin deep. I am constantly reminding myself that if what I have on the inside doesn't match with what appears on the outside, I have a problem.

I think that as a society (not just women), we should be more uplifting and accepting to differences. I should love you not because you choose to wear makeup or not, not because of who you love, because of the religion you follow and not because you have a different skin color than myself. None of those things should define who you are and I should not be judging you based off those facts.

Let's choose to uplift and inspire one another, not degrade and bring each other down. Together let's strive to be more accepting to others and their differences and to learn to look past the surface. Let's train ourselves to not judge outward appearances and focus on making ourselves better human beings on the inside. 


Beauty is not a check box. It cannot be defined by a certain set of requirements. So please, please stop shaming one another. We are all better than that.

August and September Ipsy Bags!

So, I get pretty awkward once again in this video. I was in a strange mood (maybe just how I normally am, you'll never know.) which might explain some of the awkwardness.



Anyway, this is what I got in my past two month's bags. Like I said in the video, I am thinking about canceling my Ipsy subscription. The quality has seemed to go down recently and I find that I just keep giving most of my products away. Let me know what your thoughts are!

Fall Beauty Essentials- Rose Golds

Ahh, simply mentioning the word 'fall' and I instantly picture the most glorious time of year. 

As promised, I'm sharing some of my favorite beauty products for autumn. 

I like using darker shades on both the eyes and lips this season...something about it just screams class to me. Another trend I'm loving for the fall is all the rosy tones, in fact now that I'm looking at the pics, most of my products were rose inspired!

I simply adore the rose gold shades with deeper shades on the lips.

I'm also really liking playing with a pop of blue or green on the eyes! Although I have blue eyes myself, I still like adding a pop of warm greens to really capture the sense of the season.

I also tend to use more blush than bronzer in the colder months to really add an intense flush of color.

Starting clockwise:
1//Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
2// Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet
3//The Balm Instain Blush in Houndstooth
4//Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on pencil in Desperation
5//L'oreal 24hr Infallible eyeshadow in Golden Sage
6//Clinique Blush in Iced Lotus
7//Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain in Honey
8//Maybelline Eyestudio quad in Makeover Mocha
9//L'oreal Silkissime Eyeliner in Plum
10//L'oreal 24hr Infallible eyeshadow in Amber Rush
11// Mac lipstick in Plumful

Let me know if you'd like to see some makeup looks using the products above! What are some of your favorite fall trends?

Allure Sample Society Review: Is it better than Ipsy?

I've been debating for a while now whether I was going to continue on with my Ipsy subscription. I've had it for about two years now (crazy!!!) and I was just itching for a change. I did my research and found Allure Sample Society.

Here are the details:

• $15 a month (shipping included) 
• Five deluxe-size beauty samples—so you can use each one more than once
• Curated mix of skin, hair, and makeup products, as well as fragrance
• Allure mini-mag, packed with in-depth beauty sample product reviews written by Allure editors
• $10 BeautyBar.com gift card to redeem on any $50 Beauty Bar purchase

I've been subscribed for two months now, so here's a peek into what I got in my two boxes:

Now to the nitty-gritty....

Here's what I like so far:

• The products are more high-end than what I generally receive in my Ipsy subscription. (Meaning the products are valued at a higher cost. For example, September's allure box was valued at over $95 and I got two full sized products. Whereas my Ipsy bag for August was valued around $25)
• There's a bigger variety in the products. Ipsy typically is mostly makeup with the occasional skincare/haircare item. In the Allure box, it's always a mix of skincare/haircare and makeup and occasionally a fragrance. 
• It's packaged nicer. I always say that I wish Ipsy would get rid of the bag and add in another beauty product because most of the time I don't like the style of bag and to be frank, I have a crap ton of bags. In the Allure box, it definitely feels more fancy when you open it. I love the bright red box (which I reuse for storage!) and the crinkles and tissue add a nice touch, without being wasteful or excessive, unlike the Ipsy bags. 
• I like that they include the magazine which shows how much each item costs, how it's used, and why Allure likes it. That really helps when you get a product and you have no idea what it is! Plus, it's nice to see a price to show just how much your $15 stretched. 

Now onto the dislikes:

• Obviously, the biggest one is that it's $5 more expensive. Now, I actually don't really mind it because I feel like I am still getting more for my money. To me, the point of these subscriptions is to try things you normally wouldn't buy for yourself. With the Allure box, these are all brands that I could never afford to just buy at the store. 
• I don't really like that they include the fragrance sample as a 'sample'. These are typically free in any department store, so I don't see the point in including them. Now, if they were a bonus sample, that would be another story. I also never end up using them because I tend to be pretty picky with scents. But I will say my friends and family always end up with a billion samples! 

So there's my full review on the Allure box! I am excited to see what I will get next, and I will be sure to start documenting that on here if you'd like! Yes, I am going to show my August and September Ipsy bags (I still haven't gotten my Sept. bag but that's another story). I think I will continue with my Ipsy subscription another month and I will decide then which I will continue with. 

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!

I'm not affiliated with either subscription service, and I actually pay with my own money. Although, now that you mention it, it'd always be nice to get free stuff ;) However, I do get credits if you subscribe to either service by clicking on the links to the left of my page and links in this post. 

Project Goo: One Month Update

Two months ago, I started a project to try to use up and eliminate a lot of the leftover beauty products I have lying around half used. I started with 30 products...here's how I did so far:

I had 16 body/skin/haircare products and now I have successfully gotten rid of half of them! 

I have to say though, I am making very good progress on the rest. Most are actually almost empty but I wanted to be fair and only count the things that I truly threw away. 

Now onto makeup:

I've made it a point to use each of these products. After using them again for a few times, there were some I just did not like. Those I ended up giving to my Sis-in-law and have been trying to use the rest more often. Actually, I might start another pile of products to give to her!

Oh, and I discovered a rekindled flame for that FratBoy blush. LOVE IT! It looks so beautiful sheered out. See, this project has been so useful! 

I'll check back in next month for (fingers crossed) the last update. 

June & July's Ipsy Bag

Soooo... I did a little something different. A friend suggested to me that instead of making a post about everything I received in my bag, I should make a video showing it! I finally mustered enough courage to make my very first video. It's pretty awkward and to be honest I cringe watching it, but nevertheless here it is!

As you know, I've been traveling a lot this summer, so I actually have the past two month's bags to share, thus making this a crazy long video! Feel free to fast forward all of my babbling....and sorry about the random phone call! I'm new at this, I swear! ;)

Project Goo: Part 2, The Details

Ok, so I think the way I'm going to go about this is to divide this project into two halves: Makeup and  Skincare, Haircare, etc. Mostly because I don't think I will necessarily use all the makeup up (which is what I want to do with the others) because that would take way too long, but I do want to make a point to use them more. So the makeup section will be more of a 'use more' whereas the rest will be 'I want to use all this up and then throw it away for good'. Does that make sense?

So first up, here's the makeup I plan on including:

So the breakdown:

There's 14 makeup products total

2 lipsticks (both red which I never wear, so I will be rocking the red lip soon!)

2 loose eyeshadows (way messy so I never use, once again will be using soon!)

1 eye primer 

1 blush

1 bronzer

1 cream blush/highlight stick

1 face powder

1 face primer

3 eyeliners

1 eyeshadow palette (blue is typically not my jam)

Now for the Skincare/Haircare!

The breakdown:

16 products total

4 lotions

2 face washes (which suck by the way, but gosh darn it I'm using those stinkers up!)

1 body scrub

1 conditioner (which I've literally had for like 5 years, sad I know.)

1 body wash

1 eye makeup remover

1 spot treatment

1 lip treatment

1 body spray

1 hair oil

2 eye creams

So that's a total of 30 products that I plan on using up and getting rid of... Let Project Goo begin!

Project Goo: Part One

Ok, so as I was taking my shower today, I got a brilliant idea. I was sick of 50 million bottles in my shower that fall everywhere and to be honest, most of them I am just plain tired of staring at them all the time. So I came up with this challenge/project.

I am a self-professed Goo Hoarder. I literally save every single product that I tell myself I may need in the future. Who really needs 5 different bottles of lotion at one time? The answer to that is no one.

So over the next few weeks or so, I am going to make a point to use up all those silly products that I have in my shower, in my cabinets, etc.

And so I introduce you to PROJECT GOO! What a perfect way to hold myself accountable and to maybe inspire you as well.

Tomorrow I think I will write down all the different things I plan on including (I was going to do it now, but I just realized I have a whole other goo hiding spot. See, it's a problem.) So stay tuned!

Summer-ize Your Makeup Routine!

For me, makeup becomes non-important during the summertime. I normally don't wear it all that often and if I do, I want it as simple as possible. Whether I'm at the beach, pool, or riding a roller coaster, I really want my makeup to stay put and to protect me from the sun. 

Here's 5 ways to simplify and 'summer-ize' your makeup:

1. Trade your primer for sunscreen

I don't know about you but I'm not a big fan of skin cancer. Technically, I should be wearing this year round, but I really step up on wearing sunscreen daily during the summer. While yes, primer will help my makeup stay put longer, sunscreen is way more important.

I use the The Neutrogena Sheer Dry-touch Sunscreen SPF 100 because it dries clear and doesn't show   through my other face makeup.

2. Trade your foundation for a BB cream

If I can even be bothered enough to put any sort of foundation on my face, I will always opt to go as light as possible as far as coverage. BB cream is a no fuss product that you can slap on easily with your fingers. It still gives you a fair amount of coverage (I'd say lighter than a light coverage foundation) Try the Maybelline Dream Pure BB Skin Perfecter as a great drugstore option!

3.Trade powder eye shadow for cream shadow

To be honest, I don't even normally wear anything on my eyes besides mascara during the hotter months, but sometimes I like to swipe a neutral shade all over the lid. Trade the powder shadows for a cream shadow because they blend easier and will withstand water and sweat longer. I really like the Elf Studio Cream Shadows because of the shade options and its longevity. 

4. Trade regular mascara for waterproof mascara

This one seems brainless but really does help. I doubt that if you're swimming in a pool or beach you want those hideous black streaks under your eyes. With a simple switch to waterproof mascara, the problem's solved! My favorite is the L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara (psssst. it's on sale for less than $5!)

5. Trade lipstick for a lip stain

Lipstick can tend to look heavy on the lips. For summer, I like low maintenance (as I've said) so I don't want to have to reapply my lipstick. Switch your fav lipstick for a moisturizing lip stain that will stain your lips and will last all day! My favorite drugstore option are the Wet N Wild MegaLast Lip Stains. Plus, it feels like chapstick on the lips!

Things I skip for a low maintenance makeup look:

Eyeliner

Bronzer

Highlighter

finishing powder

If I have time I'll add blush, concealer and my eyebrow pencil, although it's not always necessary!

What's your go-to summer makeup look?

Younique 3D Fiber Lash Review

Let's have a chat about lashes, okay?

Okay. 

Yes, I will sneak in book references any chance I get, ok.

So I'm sure by now (if you are into beauty stuffs) you've heard about Younique's 3D Fiberlash System. Here's what they say about it:

 Our simple three-step process combines Transplanting Gel and Natural Fibers to help create the appearance of incredible thickness and volume to your existing lashes. Watch as your lashes transform into something you have only dreamed of! The 3D Fiber Lashes are water resistant but easily washes off with warm water and facial cleanser at the end of the day. Try it! It will quickly become your favorite makeup must-have!

Here's what my sad lumpy lashes look like with nothing on them:

The first step is to apply your regular mascara. Here's what mine look like with one coat:

See, sad and wimpy. 

The next steps are to apply transplanting gel, the fibers and lastly another coat of the transplanting gel and you can continue that combination until you reach the desired volume you like.

I only went with one because I was amazed at what they looked like already! 

Here's the finished look:

I totally did a double take because thought I was wearing falsies! 

The verdict: This really does give your lashes so much life! It's like wearing false lashes without all that frustrating work. Not to mention, it comes off easily with a cotton ball and makeup remover.

I will be honest and say that for everyday, I like a more natural look because I don't wear a lot of makeup to work or on campus, so I won't be sporting this everyday, but I love that you can make it natural or you can make it really va-va-voom!

and just because I love before/afters:

I'm definitely interested in trying out their other makeup products because I really did love this mascara. 

To buy Younique products, click here

May Ipsy Bag

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend to remember all those who've served for our country!

It's that time again... I'm sharing what I got in my monthly Ipsy bag.

I feel like I say this every time, but I really believe that this is the best bag to date! I was so happy with all 5(!!) products and I really feel like I got way more than my $10 worth!

1. Therapy Session Hair Mask by Eva NYC

What they say:

The Therapy Session Hair Mask deeply conditions, repairs and strengthens dry and damaged hair. Argan Oil nourishes and revitalizes, while Keravis Protein drastically increases hair’s strength and elasticity. The results are hydrated, soft and manageable hair. 

What I say: This smells amazing and makes my hair so soft and smooth! I definitely recommend this.

2. Mineral Eye Shadow Duo by Pacifica in Celestial and Opal

What they say:

The Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo are coconut infused mineral eye shadows that are a perfect addition to any makeup collection. Packaged in a beautiful travel ready recyclable container, these exclusive duos are customized just for ipsy! These shades can be found in the Pacifica Mystical and Charmed Palette. Smooth application with gorgeous color pay-off. 

What I say:

I am already a huge fan of this brand, so I was excited to try these! I love the shades, great for everyday wear. I apply the warm shade all around the lid and then highlight with the lighter shade along my brow bone and inner eye. It's such an easy, but beautiful everyday eye look! 

3.Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer by Too Faced

What they say:

Bronzing has never been so delicious. The Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer is a shimmer-free, matte bronzer perfect for contouring and creating an all-over deep tan using real antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. It’s all the tan without the twinkle. Infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone. 

What I say:

You guys know I am already a huge fan of this bronzer! It was a favorite of mine for a while, so I was happy to see it in my bag. I looooove the smell of this, chocolate, but it does go away once applied to the face. It's a great shade, even though I'm pale, it's not too dark. This will be great travel size to take on trips!

4.Classic Sport SPF50 by Hang Ten

What they say:

Protect and nourish your skin with our clear, lightweight, naturally scented sunscreen. Provides maximum water resistance and full body coverage against harmful UVA/UVB rays. 

What I say: Sunscreen is always a good thing...this will definitely be thrown into my beach bag this summer! It smells a bit like coconuts, which I love.

5. Thermal Spring Water by Avene

What they say:

Known for its long history in treating atopic dermatitis, the Avène Thermal Spring Water is the only thermal spring water bottled directly from the source and packaged in a sterile environment to guarantee purity and maximum skin benefits. Its unique composition is proven to soothe inflammation, itching, redness, general sensitivity and post-medical and aesthetic procedure irritation as it softens, protects and purifies the skin. Avène Thermal Spring Water is recommended by dermatologists worldwide. 

Spray onto the skin in a fine mist. May leave on for 2 to 3 minutes, and then gently pat dry. Ideal for use after cleansing, shaving, exercise, sun, to soothe diaper rash and set make-up to help keep it fresher looking longer. 

What I say: I was so intrigued by this product, as I've never tried anything like this before. It works great on the skin to remove any excess oil, and I can't wait to apply it after I shave (I get bad bumps). This is such a multi-use product, I will definitely get lots of use out of it. 

Swatches:

To get your own bag, for only $10 a month, click here!

April Ipsy Bag

Here's what I got in my Ipsy bag this month:

 Overall, I'm pretty impressed...lots of great products this time :)

1. Jelly Lip Gloss by Mary Kay at Play in Berry Me
What they say:
Turn up the volume with Mary Kay At Play™ color! It’s flirtatiously fun makeup you can remix-n-match to create your own color playlist. The Mary Kay At Play™ Jelly Lip Gloss has a fun jelly texture that offers brilliant, intense shine with a sheer wash of color. 

What I say: I am not a lip gloss wearer at all. I prefer moisturizing lipsticks mainly because I hate the stickiness of lip gloss. This is a perfect example of that. This lip gloss is horribly sticky on the lips. In fact, it feels like I have straight up Elmer's glue on them. Yuck.

2. 24/7 Velvet Glide -On Eye Pencil by Urban Decay in Black Velvet
What they say:
A must for smoky-eye fanatics: an ultra-plush version of UD’s creamy, waterproof 24/7 formula. Create perfectly blended-out or rich, precise lines that are blacker-than-black. 

What I say: I'm already a huge fan on these eyeliners, so I was pleasantly surprised to find one in my bag this month!They are so smooth and go on easily. Not to mention they last forever and the pigmentation is awesome. I love this rich black shade, great for everyday wear! In fact, out of all the UD eyeliners I have, this one is the darkest.

3. Jasmine Perfume Oil Roll On by Demeter
What they say:
An exotic, sweet, warm floral bouquet. Demeter’s Jasmine is the experience of the living flowers picked on a beautiful spring night. Wear alone or layer with your favorite Demeter fragrance. With over 250 fragrances, the Demeter Fragrance library is inspired by everyday objects and experiences. 

What I say: I love the smell of Jasmine, so this was an automatic win in my book. It's not too overpowering (great for my migraines) and smells nice! I remember seeing this brand a while ago... they have some crazy scents like dirt, funeral home and gin & tonic, just to name a few. That makes me happy that I got Jasmine!

4. Microdermabrasion by dr. brandt
What they say:
The dr. brandt® microdermabrasion gently sweeps away dead skin cells and softens skin texture, which enables better absorption of skincare products and helps diminish the appearance of fine lines, acne marks, and skin discolorations. A great at home alternative to professional clinical treatments. Safe to use for all skin types. For best results use with dr. brandt® skincare products. 

What I say: I'll admit that I haven't actually tried this yet...it's in my pile of stuff I need to use! Hehe. I like exfoliaters that are really heavy duty, and this one sounds like it's just that. I'll let you know if it is a game changer or if it really sucks!

5. White Gold Shadow & Highlight Mousse by City Color
What they say: Brighten your eyes and cheekbones with the City Color White Gold Shadow & Highlight Mousse. This smooth and creamy product is enriched with luminosity, providing a beautiful gold sheen finish. Use as an eye shadow base as well as a highlighter. 

What I say: I thought this was just ok, nothing too extraordinary. It looked nice as a base under my eyeshadow and was a little too gold for a highlight against my pale skin. Overall, I wouldn't repurchase.

Here's a swatch of the shadow, liner and gloss:

Like what you saw and want to get a bag of your own each month? 

Sign up here!

Recent Drugstore Favorites

Today I thought I'd share a few beauty products I've been loving lately!

Let's start with the face stuff, shall we?

Going clockwise...

1. Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls in shade Translucent Pearl

I picked this up at Target because I needed a good highlighter. I have to say I probably wouldn't have purchased ($13.99, are they crazy?!?!?!) this if it didn't have a buy 1 get 1 free coupon attached to it. But I'm glad I did. It's the most gorgeous pearly pink shimmer that really makes the face look bright and healthy!

You can see above how it catches the sunlight beautifully.

2.Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Waikiki Strip

I guess technically this was free (thanks to that awesome coupon!) I had heard great things about these, especially that they were great dupes for those crazy expensive Bobbi Brown ones. These are very pigmented and great swirled all together or used separately. I like using these as eyeshadows, and it's a great way to add warmth to your skin as a bronzer. 

Far left is all swirled together and right are each of the shades

3. Revlon Photo Ready Bronzer in 100 Bronzed & Chic

I picked this up initially because a completely matte bronzer is sorta hard to come by. I love that I can pick which color I want to use, whether it's the lighter, darker or a mix of all four shades. It's perfect for contouring, too! I got this for $3.50 at Big Lots so go pick one up for yourself!

(I swirled my finger in all four shades for the above swatch)

4. Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Very Fair

This concealer rocks. It covers my dark circles and doesn't make my look like I have makeup caked on. I highly recommend it!

5. Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Matte/Shimmer Palette

This was one of those impulse buys at target. It was marked down to $7 at almost 70% off. I figured I'd try it and if I didn't like it, I'd return it. Ha! It is crazy pigmented and the shades are all gorgeous. If you don't want to fork the money over for those Naked palettes, I recommend running to Target to get this. The shades remind me of all three of those palettes and are just as good. 

 I didn't realize that this was a limited edition so if you want this go to Target ASAP!

Anyway, these were just a few beauty items I've using and loving lately. 

March Ipsy Bag

I'm back for another round of what I got in my Ipsy bag this month!

As always, to sign up for Ispy, click here.

I have to say I was a bit disappointed when I only saw 4 products this month. Typically it's 5, so I've been spoiled! Good thing I liked all the products ;)

1. Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad by Be a Bombshell

What they say:

The Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad contains a highly pigmented long lasting formula for all day wear. 

What I say: The shadows are surprisingly very pigmented, especially when wet! I'm not too sure how much use I will get out of these shades, but I think they'd be perfect for summer. I love the idea of using that blue shade as an eyeliner. {swatches of the shades below}

2.Body Butter by Pacifica in scent Indian Coconut Nectar

What they say:

Smell incredible with our nourishing and anti-oxidant rich ingredients. The Pacifica Body Butter helps fight signs of aging while adding deep moisture and protection. Made with nature's best moisturizers - shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil - Pacifica’s paraben-free Body Butter is a skin must-have. Now available in tubes in our best-selling fragrances, making them easy to take with you anywhere.

What I say: I love this lotion! It smells so yummy and really moisturizes my skin nicely. It sinks into my skin fast too, so that's a plus. 

3. Marvelous Moxiee Lipstick in Get Ready by bareMinerals

What they say:

Make an impact with Marvelous Moxie™ Lipstick. Creamy, super-saturated, ultra-pigmented color glides on like butter for full coverage in a rich satin finish. Lips look fuller and more voluptuous. An infusion of minerals revitalizes lips for a healthy-looking pout, while a moisture-loaded hydrating complex helps to nourish and condition with Abyssinian Oil and Omega Fatty Acids for supple, baby-soft smoothness. All the while, an encapsulated vitamin A, C and E complex helps to deliver antioxidant defense, so you’re ready for anything—and everything. Learn more about Marvelous Moxie™ here. 

What I say: I looooove this lipstick! It's such a gorgeous shade and is so moisturizing and smooth on my lips! This shade is the perfect 'my lips but better' shade for my own lips. (they are pretty pigmented on their own!) I will definitely be interested in trying other shades, too.

4. Roughles by Nicole by OPI in shade On what grounds?

What they say:

Nicole by OPI launches Roughles (“ruffles”) - 4 new textured nail lacquers featuring speckled, pastel shades of purple, pink, turquoise and yellow. When the lacquer dries, Roughles lacquers reveal a unique pebbled finish. For the perfect matte effect, skip the top coat!

What I say: I'm not a big fan on matte nail polish nor textured polish, so I don't think I will be using this much. I will say I love the color, it's the perfect aqua!

Here are the swatches:

To get a bag each month with products correlated to exactly what you like, for just $10 a month...click here. 

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag?

This month I am planning on doing a lot of traveling, so I figured I'd share with you what I plan on bringing with me! 

As I travel more, I've started to realize that I don't need to bring everything that will fit. I've added so much stress onto myself by overpacking and I've learned to just to bring what I only truly need. This goes for makeup too. As you all know, I am a bit of a makeup junkie and it's really tempting to bring all of my lovely products, but I am not going to do that to myself. So I've vowed to bring products that either are compact, can be doubled up (meaning more than one use), or are small travel sized. 

 Here's what I plan on bringing on my spring break trip:

*Note* What may seem like minimal products for me, may seem like a lot to others. Again, keep in mind I am a bit of a makeup junkie.

I get a ton of travel sized products in my ipsy bags each month, so I made sure to pack them to save space and to get good use out of them. The two mascara samples I brought are this Tarte one and this one (from an ipsy bag). Now, I know I don't need to bring two mascaras, but one is almost out, so I needed to make sure I had a back up. 

 I packed as my highlight, my sample of Benefit High Beam, which I will also use as a cream eyeshadow. Eyeliner is my go to Urban Decay 24/7 pencil which has both brown and black. (Both of which are almost out!) I packed a sample of the Urban Decay Primer Potion that should last me a long time. I also brought a new favorite, the NYX Jumbo eye pencil (shade milk) which I will be talking about on the blog soon. The primer I packed was this sample of the Too Faced Primed and Poreless which I've never tried...so we will see. Of course I had to bring my holy grail foundation (also because I didn't have any foundation samples) the Urban Decay Naked Skin (Shade 0.5). 

 I packed my Nars The Happening Palette (No longer available, I got w/ my mom's discount). I love this because it's so travel friendly! It has both blush and bronzer AND 4 eyeshadows... it also is really compact! 

Again, I know it's not totally necessary to have two blushes, but blushes are my thing and I just wanted options. (Again, I'm a woman and want my options!) The Tarte Amazonian Clay blush shade is Fearless, but it's been discontinued... too bad, it's a favorite! And last is the Bobbi Brown eye shadow palette that is so compact and small... again perfect for travel! (Shade is Champagne Quartz eye quad) I got this as a freebie, and love it. It gives a great neutral eye look.

and I'm not going to go into too much detail here, but these are the brushes I'm bringing with me:

Of course my favorite foundation brush (Real Techniques Expert Face brush) and a few ecotools kabukis for the face thrown in there. For eyes, I packed a mix of ecotools and a random cover girl brush. 

Oh! For makeup bags, I get a ton with my ipsy subscription, but I have always loved Forever 21's selection of cute, affordable bags. (That's where my polka dot one above is from.)

Hopefully you found this post helpful if you plan on traveling anytime soon!