Fashion Find | Sheer Blouse

I love wearing white in the summer. I recently purchased this awesome, sheer button-down blouse from Forever 21. Its got a little bit of a high-low hem and bronze collar detailing. I've been really into wearing it unbuttoned over a patterned tank top with shorts. It it so comfortable, flowy, and breathable it is definitely going to be a staple in my summer wardrobe!

Hopefully I will get an outfit of the day post up featuring it soon!

Product Review | Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

I am a lady of little patience - I hate waiting in lines, I hate waiting when other people are late, and I absolutely hate waiting for my nail polish to dry. I used to tediously paint two coats of polish (which takes long enough, by the way) and then sit with my hands flat while they dry. Every single time I would think I've waited long enough, even though I probably knew I hadn't, and think Oh, maybe they're dry, LETS JUST SEE.... and NOPE! Now I've got a big ol' smudge that needs repainting which means even more waiting time.

Well folks, with this Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat all my nail polish woes have been resolved (well, I still suck at nail art but whatever). This is seriously like a little miracle in a bottle. As soon as I finish the 2nd coat of polish I apply this little baby and WHAM dat shit is dry in like two minutes. Or three. Really. After just a couple minutes I can touch all my nails without any smudging, I can push my bangs out of my eyes without sticking, and I can pull my boots on without leaving a golden glittery trail (that sounds kind of pretty though but trust me, it isn't.).

The only weird thing about this is that on the box there is a warning label that says "WARNING! This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause birth defects or reproductive harm." It is referring to the presence of Toluene which is a toxic chemical. After doing a bit of research it seems that this is really there because California thinks it is necessary (and it is) for people to be aware. California has stricter laws regarding such things. I think that in moderation it's okay, they're probably worried about people abusing the product - huffing, ingesting, whatever. I probably wouldn't use it if I were ever pregnant though.

Quick & Easy Eyeshadow

I really don't usually do any fancy makeup for work but I liked how this simple look came out. I started with Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over the lid, then from the Urban Decay Naked Palette I applied Virgin on top of that, Buck in the socket for some warmth and a little bit of Darkhorse in the crease & outer V. I finished by applying Benefit's They're Real mascara and little bit of a dark brown eyeliner. Super simple but noticeable!

Product Review | Bath & BodyWorks Sugar Scrub

As you might have guessed from my last post, I'd probably die without body wash. Okay, I wouldn't die but you get the idea! I've tried regular washes, scrubs, and oils but "sugar scrubs" are a whole new venture for me. They're basically the former three all combined into one pot of moisturizing, skin-softening goodness.

This aromatherapy sugar scrub by Bath & BodyWorks is the first of its kind that I've tried. There are a few other scents to choose from but the one I picked is "eucalyptus tea." The scent is hard to describe - it's a little earthy, a little herbal, and smells a lot like the stuff your boyfriend probably showers with. I think I liked the scent better in the store (it doesn't smell BAD, but I would like something a little more feminine), and when (if) I repurchase this I'll pick up a different one.

Apart from the scent that I chose, I think I am officially in love with sugar scrubs (sorry Josh.). This product has very large sugar granules which are in charge of some major exfoliation. I will say though, that you should  not vigorously scrub this on your skin because it can actually hurt - a light hand is best and is all that is needed to slough off any rough skin. The sugar granules are submerged a VERY oily substance and this is my favorite part of the whole scrub. I actually like the *almost* greasy feel that this product has and leaves on the skin. The shower rinses off any of the actual oil and you are left with moisturized, touchable skin.

When using this, the sugar granules are mainly what you want to scoop out otherwise you'll get a handful of the oil and it will be running through your fingertips and dripping all over the shower. The oil is in there to coat the sugar for added hydrating benefits, however, if like me you like that oily feel then by all means go to town with it!

This is best left in the shower after first use because the packaging gets really slippery. I would definitely repurchase this but I want to try more kinds of sugar scrubs first! I just saw that Burts Bees makes one - probably going to pick that one up next!

Dupe for L'Occitane Shower Oil!

Keeping my skin moisturized is always a top priority! I always try to go for body washes that are intended to be extra moisturizing and am always looking for something different to try. I had been a fan of the L'Occitane hand creams for a while and when I had first learned that they also had this almond shower oil I knew I had to try it. I mean, an OIL? really? How would this be different than the two billion other body washes I have tried?

I knew this love affair would have to put on hold for a while because the product costs $24 which is more than I could ever be able to justify for a body wash. A little while ago, however, Sephora offered this tiny little sample size (its actually not that tiny, I got a good 8 uses out of it) as a gift with purchase, so I was finally able to try it.

It is everything I had hoped it would be. It is perfectly moisturizing, nicely scented, and amazing to shave with. If it weren't for this dupe that I found, I probably would have ended up buying the full size.

Fashion Find | Cotton On Bag

Last Saturday was a bit of an adventure day! I went on a little day trip to a place about 3 hours away from where I live. In the area there was a store called "Cotton On" which I had never heard of before. Intrigued by all the sale signs in the window (total cheapo over here!), I decided to take a look and FINALLY I found the perfect chartreuse handbag. Chartreuse is definitely one of my favorite colors (it is so unique and beautiful) but it is also a really hard color to work with. It is definitely best used for an added splash of color or small statement piece.

Most of my wardrobe is black so I don't anticipate having a hard time styling this, but what makes this bag extra awesome apart from the color (and $10 price tag) is the material. It is a very good imitation-suede: super soft and touchable with a subtle, cozy texture. It has a bit of gold hardware with a matching gold chain for the strap. The only complaint I have about this bag is that the chain is a little too long - but that can be easily fixed by tying it into a small knot.

Lip Combo | MAC Violetta + NYX Purple Rain

All right, lets face it - I'm a bit of a lipstick addict. Applying a bit of lipstick is the easiest way to update your style and brighten your face. I will wear almost any shade of lipstick though I find myself drawn mostly to purples and reds. Today I will be showing you the purple lip combo that I have been obsessed with recently - MAC lipstick in Violetta paired with NYX lipliner in Purple Rain.

As you can tell by the swatches, the two are a perfect match. When wearing such a bold color I feel that a lipliner is an absolute necessity. Since bolder colors tend to pack more pigment, a liner helps to keep the lipstick in place so it doesn't feather outside the lip line. If you also lightly color your lips in first with the liner it will keep the color on longer and help it still look good while it's wearing down.

Application can get a little messy with super pigmented lipsticks if you aren't careful. First I line my lips then lightly shade it all in with the liner. I then apply the lipstick directly from the bullet onto the center of my bottom lip and kind of run my lips together to spread the color. Lastly, I use a lip brush the apply the color to the edges of my lips and anywhere else that still needs to be filled in.

NYX lip liners are one of the best ones I've used and at around $4 each they're a great bargain!

Product Review | Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

A couple weeks ago I was perusing the beauty section of my local RiteAid when I spotted what had to be one of the cutest looking mascaras I've ever seen in a drugstore - Revlon's Lash Potion mascara. Now this was a total impulse buy on my part because this mascara is part of their Grow Luscious range (I don't like the original) and I wouldn't have been intrigued by it if it weren't for the cute packaging. I guess their designers are doing something right, right?! (or I just have no self control... there's always that possibility.)

Anyway, the way Revlon describes this mascara is interesting. Going with the magical theme of it being a type of "potion", Revlon implements other mystically-appropriate terms such as it having an "illusionist's wand."

Well I don't know what any other illusionist's wand would look like, but this one's made from soft nylon bristles which are staggered in length. Nothing too fancy here, really. The gaps allow for the fairly wet formula to fully coat lashes. I found that it did give decent length but it wasn't really volumizing for me. Wear time was normal - I don't usually have a problem with mascaras flaking or transferring, so usually my mascara will stay on until I decide to take it off.

All in all, it's a pretty standard drugstore mascara and it definitely didn't leave me spellbound. Not bad, but not something I would repurchase.

DIY Ombre | L'Oreal Wild Ombre Results

Excuse the awkward thumb-in-pocket action happening above, but today I wanted to share with you guys my experience using the new L'Oreal Wild Ombre kit. As you can see, I have been growing my hair out for quite some time and my long brown hair had started to feel a little boring. I had always liked the ombre trend and decided I ought to give it a go since the L'Oreal kit offers an inexpensive way to try it out. An ombre done at a salon runs $100 or more whereas this at home kit runs around $13 depending on where you buy it (got mine at CVS!).

I will admit I was fairly skeptical about this kit before I tried it (my hairdresser friend even advised me not to), but I figured that because it doesn't require bleaching all of the hair I could just cut it off or dye over it if I didn't like it. I actually like how it turned out! It isn't 100% what I had hoped for but it is definitely something that I'm going to keep for a little while.

This product comes in three shades - 060, 070, and 080. I used 060 for dark brown hair. The process was very easy and directions easy to follow, though I did make a couple modifications to L'Oreal's suggestions. The process basically just involves mixing the solution together then applying it on the hair. The directions say to start at shoulders or chin (depending on hair length) then work down toward tips and let sit for desired time - this is the part that I did differently. If you do it this way then the result is going to be more like a dip-dye with no gradient effect. Instead, I applied it the tips of my hair first and let it sit for 20 minutes before applying more higher up then leaving it all on for the remaining time (no more than 45min). In retrospect, I wish I would have done this in three parts instead of two to get an even better fading effect and blonder tips.

It comes with a mini shampoo packet that you're supposed to use when you wash out the bleach. I did use it but I also picked up the Jhirmack Silver Plus Ageless Shampoo at RiteAid to use in conjunction. It is a purple shampoo which is intended for use on bleached hair to help prevent brassiness. I apply this just to the ombre part of my hair and leave on for a minute or so before using my regular shampoo and I think it really does help to eliminate any orange tones.

Beauty Favorites | May 2013

       I seriously feel like 2013 has just begun and cannot believe it's already almost half way over. This month I've kept my beauty routine fairly minimal (for me, anyway) but I figure I'd ought to share with you some of the beauty products I've been loving this May.

        The first couple of things I want to mention is this trio of eye shadows by MAC Cosmetics. When it comes to the eyes I tend to stick with neutrals. I think that neutral shadows can be used to create a multitude of different looks from quick and easy to sultry and smoky. I am a HUGE fan of the Urban Decay Naked 1 & 2 palettes (some of my HG shades) but I won't be including them in this post because I wanted to show you some less blogged about shadows that I have been playing with all month.

        LEFT: Mineralism. This is a beautiful taupey-brown with a bit of glitter. I love to pack this one all over the lid for an easy look. I find that it does tend to have a little bit of fallout because of the glitter but this is easily remedied by either: 1. Simply applying before you do your foundation or 2. Using a bit of Scotch Tape to remove any stray glitter particles. It also helps to apply this (and other glittery shades) on top of a stickier base, and for this I would recommend a Maybelline Color Tattoo (Bad to the Bronze looks especially nice paired with Mineralism) or a MAC paint pot. 

        MIDDLE: Omega. If you are super pale like I am , this might just become your next go-to shade for crease work. It is a matte light brownish taupe and looks amazing applied in the crease or just under the lash line for a natural contoured look. No matter what I'm going for when I do my eye makeup in the morning, I use this shade.

       RIGHT: Brun. A dark, matte brown. This is the best color I have found for my eyebrows. I apply this to my brows every day with a tiny angled brush.

      Omega and Brun can be purchased on MAC's website or from any MAC counter/store. Mineralism, however, is not available. I purchased mine in the beginning of the month at a Cosmetics Company Outlet, so keep an eye out at your local CCO in case this baby might make an appearance there!

      Cargo blush in Louisiana. What can I say about this other than HOLY. COW. This blush is gorgeous! This blush is everything I wanted NARS Orgasm to be. It gives a healthy glow and a natural highlight with a beautiful wash of color and amazing staying power. It has a bit of glitter but it translates to the skin as a nice sheen, so you won't have viable glitter chunks on your face. My ONLY problem is that since it is super finely milled it becomes quite powdery on the brush ultimately wasting a little bit of product with each use.

      Tarte BB Tinted 12-Hour Primer in Fair. I've been using this little guy nonstop since I purchased it the end of April. I am kind of sick of this whole "BB" trend that skincare/makeup has been going but this one by Tarte really got my attention. First of all, most of the BB creams that are on the market right now only come in one or two shades, and "one or two shades" just doesn't cut it when you are paper white like I am. The Tarte range, however, comes in 4 shades and the fair one actually IS fair enough for me. Its pretty much a miracle when I can find a good match (Kat Von D foundation in Light-42 is the only other real match I've found). 

      When my skin is looking fairly decent I just use this and a little bit of concealer. Tarte claims that this product has build-able coverage, however I find that really it just evens out skin tone. It basically just makes the bits of skin that are already good look better - if you are trying to cover any kind of blemish or dark spot, this won't be any kind of magic. Coverage-wise, this is comparable to a basic tinted moisturizer (this is also supposed to be moisturizing). I have super oily skin and I find that while this does nothing to combat the oil throughout the day, it doesn't further exacerbate the issue either (which in my book is a plus!).