November Favorites

Hello lovelies!

My favorites this month will be short and sweet. A lot of these products I want to do more in depth reviews on, so I won't talk about them too much here. There's also not a lot of makeup this month. Shocker! I know. I've been really focused on my skin care. I've been slacking and my face is letting me know. :) Let's get started.

First is the Noxema Ultimate Clear Anti-Blemish pads. They're around $5 for 90 pads. I have been using these since high school so for at least ten years. They're presoaked in a solution of 2% salicylic acid and take the place of a toner. I use one in the morning after washing my face and one at night after washing. They work so well. I hardly ever even get hormonal pimples. My skin is also incredibly soft. The only con to these is the smell. It is so strong and can make your eyes burn if you get to close. That's not enough to deter me, however.

Next I have the Maybelline Flash Clean Makeup Removing Lotion ($5). I'm not entirely sure why I bought this. I'm a huge fan of their makeup removing wipes, but the last few times I've been to Ulta, they were sold out. This product you massage on to your face like a cleanser, then wipe it clean with a cotton pad. It doesn't remove all of the makeup, but it does a decent job and leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized. I usually use it after I've washed and used a makeup wipe already. I'll most likely be repurchasing.

I strayed from my beloved Olay products (that I've also been using for ten-ish years) and purchased the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for combination skin. Again, I'm not sure what drew me to this product instead of repurchasing my usual moisturizer, but I'm very glad I did. It says "clinically proven to normalizing combination skin by moisturizing dry areas while controlling shine in oily areas." You guys. I haven't had to set my t-zone with a powder or use a primer since switching to this stuff. It is amazing. If I had one negative thing to say, I would say it's not as moisturizing as I'd like it to be, but to fix that I've bumped up my night cream to something a little heavier. Big fan.

I'm also been obsessed with thickening my hair. I have an in depth review of the Nick Chavez Plump N' Thick line coming so all I'm going to say here is WOW!

Batiste Dry Shampoo is another must have. I have a review here: http://havemascarawt.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-batiste-dry-shampoo.html
Check it out


Now on to the makeup!

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue ($4.29). I've always been a fan of the Baby Lips, but the new line with menthol and eucalyptus for hydration and soothing are amazing. They feel so good on the lips. They do have a strong scent which may turn some people off but I find it relaxing. The tints are nice and neutral for a pretty wash of color. I've been loving Pink Pout the most.

Benefit Eye Bright Pencil ($20)
This is meant to be used as an under eye brightener, but I find it's a little too cool and pink toned for me. It looks unnatural. However, as a brow sculpter and highlighter it's amazing. It brightens up the area and gives it a nice lift while defining and cleaning up any mistakes you've made. It also looks nice in the inner corner of the eye.

My new favorite way to fill in my brows is with the Benefit Brow Zings ($30). It is a wax/powder duo that fills in and sets for an all day natural look. I don't like the little mini brushes that come in the kit. They're too stiff, but the mini tweezers are adorable and function well. I have a more in depth review of this come as well so stay tuned.

I also have a new favorite mascara which I think is a great drugstore dupe for one of my high end favorites. It's the Rimmel Glam Eyes ($6.29). It's everything I want in a mascara. More in depth review coming for this as well.

Clearly I need to get to bloggin'! Thanks for reading, loves. If I don't get another post up before, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Much love XoXo

Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo

Hello lovelies!

In the last six months or so I have become completely addicted to dry shampoo. Once I gave up washing my hair every day, my fine lifeless hair needed something to give it a boost between washings. I have tried so many different brands from drug store to high end, but nothing is as amazing as Batiste.

It retails for $7.99 at Ulta. There are a wide range of scents from nothing to Wild which is what I'm currently using. It also comes in tinted formulas for light and dark hair. The packaging is fun and crazy. It definitely makes you want to reach for it. The smell can be a bit overwhelming. I'd probably consider a different one next time.

The mist from the aerosol can is super fine but it comes out very powerful. It may be easy to use a bit too much. However, after I spray this around the crown and rub it all in my hair seriously looks freshly washed. The dry shampoo soaks up the oil quickly without leaving a nasty powdery white residue. It also really pumps up my roots. I've tried Tressemee, several types by Suave, Big Sexy Hair, Garnier, Bed Head, and a few others and this is by far the best.

What's your favorite dry shampoo?

Five Things You Are Doing To Damage Your Hair

Hello lovlies!

Is your hair uncooperative? Does it seem like no matter what you do you always have split ends? Frizz? Curls that fall minutes after putting them in? Here's a few of the biggest culprits that are damaging your hair and what you can try to do to minimize it.

1. Washing too frequently.
    When hair gets wet, it absorbs the water and becomes heavier. This causes it to stretch and break easier under the pressure. Frequent washing also strips the hair of the natural oils it needs for a healthy balanced appearance.
    Try washing twice a week. I know you girls with oily hair are freaking out at me right now, but trust me, I used to be one of you. Your hair is most likely so oily from overwashing. Your scalp is producing extra oil to compensate for what has been stripped away by harsh shampoos. It will naturally adjust over time. I'm actually down to washing once a week depending on what products I've used. Use a dry shampoo for those days inbetween washes to touch up excess oil and add some volume and life back to the roots. If you must wash, focus only on the roots and stay away from shampoos that say deep cleansing or clarifying.

2. Brushing wet hair.
    Remember when I set wet hair gets stretchier and easier to break? Attacking it with a normal hairbrush fresh out of the shower or even over brushing dry hair causes strands to tangle and snap.
    Try using a detangling spray and combing through wet strands with your fingers. Start at the back of your head on the bottom and work your way up. A wide tooth comb is another gentler alternative to a hairbrush. Just remember to start at the ends of the hair and detangle upwards. This prevents more tangles from occurring and the need to brush hard.

3. Heat Styling
    This is no surprise to anyone I'm sure. Blow drying causes the quick evaporation of all water both on the surface and inside the hair. This causes the hair to become dry and brittle. Then we go back to brushing this extremely hot, dry, brittle hair. I bet you can guess what happens next.
    For some of us (me especially!) blow drying is a necessity. My hair will not behave without it. Always, always, always use a heat protectant or leave in conditioner! This will help to lock in more moisture. Use the lowest setting of heat available on your dryer and if you can help it, wait until your hair is cooled before brushing it.

4. Tight Pony Tails and Braids
    I love a high pony. It makes me feel sassy and free. However, the act of pulling that hair up tightly at the crown of my head is hard on hair follicles. Wrapping the hair band around the hair tightly causes breakage at the crown instead of the ends. Suddenly you find yourself with these short baby hairs that cannot be tamed.
    Be gentle with your hair. Tugging too tightly can not only break the shaft mid down, over time it can pull the follicles right out of your scalp. Opt for looser styles and don't sleep with your hair up. I'm guilty of this because I get so hot at night.

5. Towel Drying
     The texture of a towel is just not good for your hair. Rubbing wet hair with a towel roughs up the cuticle, causing damage and frizz.
     I wish I could take full credit for this method, but I actually learned of it through a group of friends. It is called the t-shirt drying method. Now, I'm not saying you should throw out all your standard bath towels. Who doesn't love a warm fluffy one right from the dryer? However, the smooth texture of something like a t-shirt is gentler on the hair strands. Softly squeeze and pat the hair instead of going crazy rubbing. The t-shirt soaks up the water much faster than a towel in my opinion. Since I've been doing this I've had virtually no frizz and can tell a difference in the way my hair styles.

That's all from me today. I hope life is treating you all well. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you next time.

Xoxo

October Favorites

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Hello lovelies!

The month of October has flown by! I have a good mix of oldies I've been showing love to and some new products I adore to share with you. Let's get right to it.

First up is a new night time moisturizer from Boots. It's the No 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream ($13.99). My skin was out of control for a few weeks. I couldn't decide if it was hormones, weather, or what. I was breaking out all over and extra oily. The major difference in my skin care routine was the absence my Olay night time moisturizer. I had run out and didn't repurchase. I came to the conclusion that my skin was actually dry and I needed to add the heavier moisturizer back in at night. The No 7 was on sale at Ulta so I grabbed it. What a difference! My skin is soft and supple and looks healthy and radiant. I will definitely be repurchasing this.

That same Ulta trip I also purchased a couple Revlon foundations to try. Even though I've only used the Nearly Naked ($9.99) three times it is probably my new favorite. It's incredibly lightweight on the skin but it has such full coverage it's amazing. I got shade 110 Ivory and it matches my skin perfectly. Despite the full coverage, this foundation actually looks like your skin with a nice satin finish. My t-zone does get slightly oily by the end of the day but it still looks natural. I haven't had to repowder yet. This is good stuff y'all!

Although the heavy highlighted and contoured look is not as trendy this season, it is still my favorite look for me. I've been using my Blank Canvas Cosmetics Contour palette ($15) like crazy this past month. I love using the white powder to set my under eye concealer to really brighten up the area. It does not cake and keeps my concealer from creasing. The deepest bronzer is my favorite to contour with. It's not too warm on my pale skin. The two peachy shades are beautiful natural blushes. This is such a versatile palette and one of the best purchases I ever made.

Allow me to continue my love affair with Jane for a few. I'm obsessed with the Multi-Colored Illuminating Powder ($12). I haven't touched my beloved Mary-Loumanizer since purchasing this. The powder is so finely milled it feels like silk on the skin. You can customize it for any look with the different shades. The rose gold color is divine, or you can go true gold and even champagne. It's shimmery but natural looking. I can't say enough good things.

I'm also digging the Jane Intense Color Lip Gloss in the color In Awe ($4). It's the perfect deep burgandy color for fall. You can build and intensify the color like crazy. It's not sticky and holy crap does it last. Lately I've been putting it over a merlot lipstick for that dark vixen look.

I've recently pulled out my Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel again in the color brunette ($22). My hair has faded considerably and this is the perfect color to match my brows to this weird blond/brown shade. It also looks very natural on the brows, holding them in place all day without making them look stiff.


















I use the Naked Basics palette ($27) for everything. I mean everything. The shade Venus is the prettiest hightlight I have ever seen for either the browbone or cheek bone. I use Naked 2 and Faint to fill in my brows. Crave is fantastic as an eyeliner. WOS and Foxy are great base shadows or blending colors. Naked Basics is a nice complement to the rest of the Naked line because it's cooler toned where the others are fairly warm. This is a great all around palette and totally worth the money.

Lastly is this Bodycology fragrance Enchanted Forest ($3.99). Every time I wear this I get so many compliments and even told I smell enchanting. It's a mix of jasmine, nutmeg, and musk. It's to die for. Great for day to day wear. Very refreshing.



That's it from me lovelies. Look for a couple reviews in the next few days. XoXo

First Impressions: Essence I Love Extreme Mascara

Hello lovelies!

One of the ladies I follow on Instagram had a post with her top 5 favorite drugstore mascaras. None of them were my usual suspects, so I thought I'd grab one and try it out. Essence is a European drugstore brand which can be found at Ulta, Walgreens, and a few other places. Their XXXL Shine lip glosses are some of my favorite on the market. I'm hoping to expand my love for Essence starting with the I Love Extreme Mascara. Oh, and did I mention Essence does not test on animals? Win!

The packaging is sleek and pretty with edgy baby pink lettering on a shiny black tube. The description says, "For all fans of the extreme this volume mascara will hit just the right spot! It contains ultra black pigments covering each lash color intensive and a large brush for stunning volume. This combination gives the perfect "i love-look"!" We shall see.

What makes this a volumizing mascara more so than the formula is the big fluffy brush for maximum coverage corner to corner. However, this brush is gigantic. It's like, bigger than my actual eye. I'm kind of afraid I'm going to poke myself. Not only is it large, it's also overly saturated with product. I can tell without cleaning this off it's going to turn into a clumpy mess.

I curled my lashes a couple times before putting on a thin coat of this mascara. Just one even swipe and the difference was considerably noticeable. This mascara is very dark black which helps in to create the illusion of volume on the ends my lashes where they are thinner. As I suspected, the mascara wand is difficult to work with. It's excessively large. You have to pay very close attention to where you're maneuvering it at all times or you'll wind up with mascara all over your nose and eyelid. Don't even attempt to use this on your lower lash line. I applied two more coats (as usual) and was very surprised with how much thicker and fuller my lashes looked. 

For a $4.99 mascara, this is good stuff. I don't think it's water proof but it does not smudge or budge without some makeup remover and a bit of elbow grease. It's a decent dupe for the Benefit Bad Gal. The wands and finished look are very similar. Give this a go and let me know what you think!

Review: Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

Hello lovelies!

I went to Ulta a couple weeks ago with the intent of trying new drugstore foundations. I bought two by Revlon: the Photo Ready and the Nearly Naked. Neither of these are new products, but they fall on the pricier end of drugstore so it's taken me awhile to get to them.

The Photo Ready in shade Ivory is a dead match for my skin. I hate admitting that I am so pale I'm ghostly, but it's true. Blending it in was a breeze with my flat top kabuki. I also tried a beauty blender but did not like the result as much. The first day I didn't use a primer or anything special. When my makeup was finished it looked beautiful and flawless. The coverage is a solid medium and build-able to full. I was happy.

Then around the four hour mark, I wasn't so happy. My t-zone was so unbelievably oily it was disgusting. The foundation had slipped around my nose and had caked in certain areas. Luckily, I had a buffing brush with me to even it all out. I was so disappointed because the foundation was gorgeous on my skin.

The next day I tried it with the Benefit Porefessional underneath to hopefully help with the oiliness. It didn't. I was still a shiny strobe light by the end of the day. I set with powder and a make up setting spray. No change.

On my first day off from work since trying this product, I decided to give it one more chance before throwing in the towel. Since I wasn't in a rush to make it to work on time, I spend extra time on my skin. I paid close attention to how the product was covering and settling into my face. Then I realized, I had been using way too much. A little bit goes a very very long way. One pump, ladies and gents. That's all it takes compared to my beloved Cover Girl Outlast which takes 2 1/2-3 to cover this mug.

I've worn it every day since. I still get a touch oily on the nose but this isn't a mattifying foundation by any means. Nothing a little powder can't fix. If you like a fuller coverage dewy finish then you'll like this product. The shade range is fantastic. I would say this is a pretty good dupe for the Makeup Forever HD Foundation.

What're your thoughts on this product? Let me know! Thanks for reading.

Remember Jane?

Hello lovelies!

I remember one of the very first cosmetics I ever owned was a dusty rose blush by the edgy and vibrant cosmetics company Jane. Jane was one of the first to market to the pre-teen crowd with bright colors and affordable prices. How many of you wore that shiny purple lip gloss every day?

Our friend Jane sadly disappeared for awhile. The blush ran out. The lip gloss was lost. Nothing could replace the void in my heart. So, imagine my surprise when I visited an Ulta store while in Texas last month and found a huge neon display in the drugstore section with Jane scrawled across it in the their trademark font.

At first I was confused. This couldn't possibly be the Jane of my youth. I started picking up products, examining them closely. She was different, for sure, but this was my beloved Jane.  The current collection is small but still electrifying and interesting. Owner and CEO Lynn Tilton pulled out all the stops with Jane's re-branding and this beauty blogger is so very happy she did. My "must trys" for y'all are the pH Adjusting Stain Gloss, Multi Colored Illuminating Powder, and the Water Resistant Liquid Liner in Golden Black.

Not only is Jane back with beautiful high quality products, she's also wielding some serious girl power with a new tag line ("Confidence comes in many colors.") and the Friends of Jane campaign. The new packaging features the faces of real women with incredible stories of giving back to their communities and making a difference in this world. Jane has made quite the comeback in just a short time. Look for big things from them in the future.