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

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

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10020791/?claim=2mq36xmynzv">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

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

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.

Foundation Holy Grail

Hello lovelies!

Do you know the saying "If it ain't broke don't fix it!"? It is so true. Why would you take something that works and experiment at the risk of ruining everything? It makes no sense.

Do you know what else makes no sense? I keep spending money on foundations hoping to find something new and amazing, but I keep going back to the same one. My selections range from Urban Decay Naked Skin to Revlon Photo Ready, but my most used and trusted foundation is the Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation.

This product has never ever let me down. It has a great shade range and is the truest to my skin tone. It's matte without looking flat. I don't have to use a primer or a powder and it controls the oils in my t-zone. The coverage is medium but buildable to full and it stays in place all day.There isn't any oxidation so I know I won't look like an oompa loompa by the end of the day. This foundation is just beautiful with minimal effort.

I don't know what it is about this stuff but it is my holy grail of foundation. Cover Girl hit it out of the park with this one.

Do you love the Cover Girl Outlast as much as I do? What's your favorite foundation?

Smooch me!

Hello lovelies!

Today I have a review of the Cover Girl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm. I walked by these in the store countless times with little interest. Sure, the packaging is darling but the names (ie: "#C u l8r" and "#tweet me") are kind of obnoxious. What drew me in was Ulta's Buy 1 get one 50% off sale, like always. 

I chose the matte red #Tweet Me and the nude pink shimmery #Smooch. #Tweet Me is a gorgeous orangey red color. It's subtle enough for day to day wear. It's one of those "is she wearing lipstick or isn't she?" shades. I love the color and it lasts for hours, even through eating and drinking. 

#Smooch is the most perfect nude color ever for my skin tone. It's fairly similar to my natural lip color but it's frosted. My only complaint actually is the shimmer, and not because it's there, it's the fact that it's fairly large so the balm feels grainy. If I'm not rubbing my lips together it's fine but when I do it's just uncomfortable.

This are great little lip balms to throw in your pocket on the go. They're moisturizing and long lasting without being too shiny and never sticky. I'm going to pick up a few more shades next time I go to Ulta.

Thoughts on this product?

Duped the Dior

Can you tell which eye is wearing Diorshow?

Hello lovelies! Finding a suitable drugstore replacement for the beloved Diorshow mascara has been incredibly difficult. I hated the product myself and had to force myself to wear it to get an idea of the formula. After considering several different mascaras I've decide that the one most like the Dior is the Cover Girl Flamed Out mascara. Funny enough, I don't like that one either. By the way, Dior is on my right eye.

Even though I don't care for this Cover Girl mascara, I still think it's better than the Diorshow. It lengthens and volumizes where the Diorshow only separates and provides a tiny bit of volume. The main difference between the two is the Cover Girl is a wetter formula so I recommend wiping the sides of the brush off before application.

I think one of the main draws to the Diorshow mascara is the big fluffy brush. This type of wand is meant to catch the lashes and build volume from root to tip. The Cover Girl mascara also has a big fluffy wand but it has an hour glass shape to it. I can't think of any other mascara wand that is shaped in this way, but it helps you get into the corners of your eye and catch all the lashes.

Here's a close up comparison of the two for you. Diorshow retails for $25 and the Cover Girl Flamed Out is $7.99.

August Favorites

Hello lovelies!

I'm back with my favorites from the month of August. It's been ridiculously hot and humid here in Minnesota, so the theme has been long wearing and natural looking products. There's a mix of new products, trusty go to's, and old loves I've rediscovered. Let's get to it!

Benefit the POREfessional PRO Balm $30

This was recommended to me by the girls at Ulta when I was looking for a mattifier. It has a slight pigment that evens out skin tone and Aloe to help soothe redness. I've tried a lot of primers over the years and this is the only one I will pay this kind of money for. It does exactly what it says it will: minimizes pores, keeps me matte, and helps lock makeup in to place. I just repurchased yesterday after 4 months with daily use.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation $6

I just did a full review on this so I'm not going to spend time gushing over it again. You can read all about it here: http://havemascarawt.blogspot.com/2013/08/falling-in-love-all-over-again.html

Nyx Stay Matte but Not Flat powder foundation  $9.99

This powder is so finely milled it feels like silk on the skin. Most often I use it to set my oily t-zone. It never cakes and keeps me matte all day. I wore this on its own one day when I went to Ulta and all the girls raved about how beautiful my skin looked. They couldn't believe it was a drugstore powder foundation. I've hit pan and will need to repurchase soon.

My pup Reagan also adores this product. She says the compact is sleek and shiny and the powder smells good!

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer $15.00 (full size $30)

This is a mini size of the highly popular Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer I picked up from the sample containers at Ulta. It comes with a cute little kabuki brush which I promptly lost. I love this bronzer for contouring. It's not too orange or warm on my pale skin and there is absolutely no shimmer. Plus, the smell, mmmm yum! Just like chocolate. It's very likely I'll purchase a full size when I run out of the little one. 

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer $24

You may be thinking, "$24 for a highlighter?! You're crazy!" Um, duh! While there are plenty of amazing drugstore lumanizers out there, there isn't one exactly like this one from the Balm. It is so pigmented you barely have to tap your brush in it. The texture on the skin is smooth and silky. The color is just gorgeous. It's a gold toned highlighter perfect for summer.

Swatches of the Mary-Lou Manizer (left) and Chocolate bronzer (right) on my baby hands.

e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set $3

Makeup setting sprays seem to be really popular in the beauty community right now. A lot of the Youtube gurus are using the Urban Decay b6 spray, but I haven't been able to talk myself into spending the money on it. I ordered this in my last elf haul to give the whole concept a go and I am in love. This keeps my makeup in place all day and controls the oil on my face. If I find myself looking a bit cakey from the powders, just a few spritzes of this helps everything settle and look natural. It's very refreshing and soothing. I definitely recommend this.

Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Babydoll $10 (full size $30)

This mascara is in-freaking-credible. I've always been anti-high end mascaras but this one talks the talk and walks the walk. I got the travel size just in case I hated it but unfortunately for my pocket book I love it. My lashes look so full and long and doll like. It holds a curl all day, doesn't flake or smudge and is so dark. One of the few things worth the price.

Physician's Formula 2 in 1 Eye Booster Liquid Liner $10.99

I also have a full blog post touting the awesomeness of this product you can read here: http://havemascarawt.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-physicians-formula-eye-booster-2.html

After a few more weeks of continuous useage, I do think my lashes are longer, fully and healthier.

Mark Whipped Up Lemon Sugar Body Butter $10

I've been using this stuff for years. It smells so delicious. The scent lasts all day so no need to use an additional perfume. My skin is so soft and smooth after use. They have other scents now as well, but this is till my favorite. It feels so luxurious.

That's it for my August favorites! What have you been loving this month?

The First of Several Fails

Hello, lovelies!

I've been on a new product binge lately and I'm sorry to say most of them have been complete duds! How disappointing to be so excited to try this new supposedly amazing product only to have your hopes and dreams dashed when it fails to live up to its claims.

In my last Ulta haul I showed you the new Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer from Benefit. Emily the eyebrow lady demo'd this for me and I fell in love. I should have had her use it on my face instead of my wrist because oh boy did this disappoint on so many levels. For reference, I have combination skin with a super oily t-zone and dry everywhere else.

The best thing about this primer is the packaging, all adorable with its black polka dots and trendy font. Its revolutionary stick design makes storage and application simple. However, it is water based, so if you lose the mini cap inside of the big cap, this will dry out and become useless. I repeat, the little cap is necessary, do not discard!

The idea behind this primer is that it melds with your foundation to lock it in to place for a full 15 hours. Yeah, I don't think so. I used it daily over the course of a week with four different types of foundation. It did not change the staying power but oddly enough it did change the shade of my foundation, making it lighter.

 I feel like my foundation never truly set. There was very little help in the oil control department. My t-zone was very shiny within three hours of application. The formula is incredibly sticky making use of a brush or sponge for foundation application pretty impossible.

Actually, it's not completely fair to say this product didn't meld anything together. If anything, it locked it all in my pores. I broke out so badly on my cheeks where I have never had acne. This was the only change to my routine and once I discontinued use, the acne cleared up. 

The only use I found for this product was actually on the eyebrows. Strange? Maybe. Using my finger I applied a small amount before filling them in with a brown eye shadow and an angle brush. I think it made a difference in how well my brow product stayed on and kept my brows in position. However, for $32 this is not a good enough reason for me to keep it. I really wanted to love this primer, but back to Ulta it goes.

Have you given the Benefit Stay Flawless primer a try? Let me know your thoughts!

Mascara is life...

Hello, lovelies!

So maybe you've guessed by my namesake, but I am a total mascara addict. I'm constantly on the hunt for new and exciting formulas. Over the years I've tested a few amazing products, while most others have fallen flat. Admittedly, I ask for a lot out of my mascara. I want it all: curl, length, volume, definition. That's hard to find in just one product! No, my friends, mascaras are not created equal; and like most beauty products, what works for some will not work for all. Let's break it down.

For starters, there are two basic options to choose from: regular or waterproof. This may be a no-brainer but the difference is simple. Regular mascara will come off with water. This also means it will smudge and run if you sweat or cry. Not an attractive look. Waterproof mascara, in theory, will not budge until you forcibly remove it with a makeup remover. In my experience, waterproof mascara may not run or smudge, but some brands sure do flake which is just as annoying.

Now, as previously stated, I am crazy about mascara and lashes. Normal people will use one or the other. I use both. Daily. No, I'm not joking. My lashes are long but not particularly curly. If I only use a regular mascara, all that work I did with my eyelash curler wilts away within an hour. However, if I use a waterproof mascara right after curling, that curl will stay all day. I don't know if there's a different type of wax in the waterproof that allows it to lock the shape in place, but it's magic. Don't believe me? Try it! After using a thin coat of waterproof, I'll use my normal regular formulas. Three layers is a must. Like I said. Crazy.

Once you've chosen regular or waterproof, you have to decide what you want your mascara to do. There's a lot of trial and error here. If you're trying to keep a curl then you want to find a formula that's on the dry side so the weight of the product does drag those flirty lashes down. If you want volume, find a brand with a big fluffier brush. Some formulas have microfiber type extensions or tubes that add length. Walk throw the makeup aisle at your preferred dealer and take a peak around. It's a big mascara world out there. The choice is yours! What will it be?

And now I present to you, my mascara favorites.

Maybelline One by One in waterproof- this is the best drugstore mascara I have ever used. This little red tube does just about everything. If I could make one improvement, I would have it be a little more lengthening. The brush has around 300 bristles or something ridiculous that coats and separates each individual lash. I never have to worry about losing my curl either. One by One is the first layer that goes on every morning.

Maybelline The Rocket- This is another fantastic drugstore mascara. I was afraid they were replacing the One by One with this when it was first introduced because it is so similar! The major difference I can tell is this one is a wetter consistency so it's a little heavy.

Benefit "They're Real"- Two coats of this stuff and you honestly cannot tell if they're your own lashes or falsies. This applicator has a nifty little brush on the tip to really help you separate and push those lashes sky high.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes- I'm sure you can tell how much I adore this mascara by reading my Instagram tags. This is probably the most volumizing of the mascaras I own. It also has conditioning properties. Since I've started using this my lashes are so soft and shiny on their own.

Quick tip: If you're going to go mascara crazy like me, make sure you let each coat dry thoroughly before going on to the next. This will prevent unsightly clumping.

Do you have suggestions or recommendations for me? I know the Dior Show mascara is a popular one and on my list to dupe. Anything else you'd like to see? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you soon!

July Favorites

I don't even know where to begin! I feel like my makeup collection has expanded tremendously this past month. It was very difficult to choose only a few products to share because so many of my purchases have become favorites. There's a lot here so let's go ahead and get started.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple facial cleanser ($10)

This was one of those last second purchases at the Ulta checkout line and I love it. This is the only cleanser that has ever gotten all of my makeup off. I don't even have to use a toner afterwards. It smells amazing and is TSA Travel size approved!

Olay Fresh Effects Satin Finish Moisturizer ($14.99)

I was going on a business trip to Atlanta and bought this simply because it was travel sized. My normal Olay moisturizer is 4.0 oz and the TSA has a fit about it. Oy. Anyway, I had absolutely zero expectations for this moisturizer and was prepared to hate it. Well, I was wrong. I love it and just purchased another tube. It's somewhere between a gel and a lotion. The consistency is... strange, but it has a satin finish so I don't end up super shiny. I can't believe how refreshed and soft my skin feels. Thank you, Olay!

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Foundation ($15)

I did a first impressions post on this foundation less than a week ago and I have worn this foundation nearly every day since. It makes my skin look healthy and radiant without being too dewy or greasy. I have not used a primer with this once and it stays on beautifully throughout the day. I hope Rimmel launches it in the US soon. It'll do well. Check out my initial thoughts here:

http://havemascarawt.blogspot.com/2013/07/first-impressions-friday-rimmel-london.html

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment Concealer ($8.99)

I cannot say enough good things about this product. It is well loved, as you can see. I use the brightening shade because I'm a fan of that super highlighted under eye area ala the Kardashians. It's very pink toned so if you aren't super fair you may not like this shade. I do also have it in light, which is equally as loved. I don't think my dark circles or under eye puffiness has improved while using this product, however it does cover them very well. The consistency is very creamy and it soothes and moisturizes the under eye area. It also doesn't settle in to my fine lines which is a big plus.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F23 tapered kabuki brush ($16.95)

This brush is used exclusively for blending out my under eye concealer and setting it. It's the perfect shape to fit right under the eye and in the inner corner. It's super soft. Sigma makes a version of this which is more readily available in the states, however, I think BCC's is better quality and worth the wait from Ireland. I got mine in their Pro Deluxe brush set, but it's also available for single purchase.

Nyx Illuminator in Narcissistic ($8.99) and ELF Studio Blush in Candid Coral ($3)

This combination of blush/highlighter gives you the most perfect summer glow. Both feel like silk on the skin and are long lasting. This is pretty much all I've worn on my cheeks the past month and a half. Candid Coral is also my go to blush for models with high pigmentation in their cheeks. It's neutral enough to not accent any high coloring but there's enough pigment to still give a healthy glow.

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Vivid Rose ($7.49) and Nyx Butter Gloss in Merengue ($4.99)

The Vivids line from Maybelline have to be the most gorgeous lipsticks I have ever tried. I'm not a big fan of lipstick usually. They tend to be drying and bleed on my lips. These, however, are super comfortable, stay put and they last so so long. Vivid Rose is my current favorite. It's a bright in your face bluey redish pink. Love! 

I've raved about the Nyx Butter Glosses before. I can't get enough of them. They're high pigmented gloss but they're not sticky and the smell like candy. Merengue is a perfect barbie pink. It's pretty and feminine and my go to the last couple days.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara ($19) and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz ($21)

This mascara is incredible. It lengthens. It volumizes. It separates. It conditions. Seriously, my lashes are in the greatest shape of my life. Oh, and I only ever need one coat. Incredible.

I love the Anastasia brow pencil because it is really fine tipped so I can be very precise with it. I am crazy about eyebrows and lashes. I probably spend more time on my brows than anything else I do in the morning. It also has a nifty spooly on one end to comb everything in to place.

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play ($15.95)

Is your hair stick straight? Baby fine? Limp and lifeless? You must try this. It's a powder that you sprinkle around the crown of your head then massage it in like crazy. You'll actually feel your roots plumping and getting thicker. The volume you get is insane. I'll post a before and after for you guys sometime. No back combing necessary, just a little bit of hairspray. It also doubles as a dry shampoo so you can get an extra day or two out of your style.

And lastly:

Gel Nails ($25+)

Yes... I know I have baby hands :) Obviously depending on your salon and if you have designs or not, the price for a full set of Gel overlays will vary. For a single color at my salon it's $23, french tips start at $30. I love nail polish but hate having to repaint weekly. I also hate how long it takes and as soon as you think you're dry you smudge them. These gel overlays do not smudge, chip, crack or break. I've tried. In the airline industry, you are very hard on your hands. I cannot mess these up! They claim 14 days, but I can stretch a french tip for a full month before it starts to peel off. It's a great option for those of us who use our hands a lot and constantly ruin regular manicures.

So there you have it, my favorites for the month of July. Have you tried any of these products and loved them? Hated them? What have you been loving this month? Let me know!

Thanks for reading, and I'll talk to you soon!

Instagram:babs09

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/havemascarawilltravel

KIK:babsHMWT

Twitter: Brooke_Ashley86

email: havemascarawilltravel@gmail.com

"Make Down" Monday

One of my favorite things to do is find dupes for high end makeup products. Now, to be fair, I'm not a fan of the word "dupe". That implies that the products are exactly the same, and let's face it, they won't be.

I grew up a Cover Girl. My favorite go to foundation is still Cover Girl Outlast. Only recently have I been dabbling in the world of high end cosmetics. Like a lot of women, I'm all about the bargain and if I can find something at the drugstore that gives me the same tingly feelings, I'm going to use it.

My beautiful friend Meg has been having similar feelings lately and asked me to give her a "make under". I was tasked with finding her a similar look on a budget. This was the most fun I've had in awhile and I hope she's happy with my recommendations.

If you'd like me to find alternatives for your favorite high-ends, send me an email, find me on facebook or twitter, or message me on KIK and I'll get right to work.

Here are Meg's favorites:

Her Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish $36
My Primer: Rimmel Fix and Perfect ($7.49) or ELF Mineral Primer ($6.00)
Meg doesn't have any special needs from a primer other than prolonging her foundation wear. This makes both the Rimmel and the ELF perfect candidates for her. They both give her a nice smooth canvas to apply her foundation and will keep her looking flawless throughout the day.

Her Foundation: Smashbox Studio Skin 1.1 $42
My Foundation: Revlon Color Stay ($9.99) or Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous ($12.99)
The Smashbox Studio Skin foundation boasts medium to full coverage 15 hours of sweat-free, transfer-proof, humidity-resistant and shine free wear. The Revlon Color Stay says it lasts for 16 hours. I wore this foundation bar hopping in Las Vegas in the middle of summer for about 24 hours and it looked just as flawless the next morning as it did when I first applied. It's a pretty solid full coverage. While the Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous does not give an exact amount of time, in my experience it lasts just as long as the Revlon Color Stay. I constantly find myself reaching for this foundation. The coverage and finish is beautiful and it stays shine free on my super oily skin.

Her Concealer: Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer $32
My Concealer: Hard Candy Glamoflauge $6.00; Maybelline Instant Age Rewind $8.99
The Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer is designed to cover up major imperfections such as scars and can also cover tattoos. It is highly pigmented with staying powder. Glamoflauge by Hard Candy does exactly the same thing. It is super thick and creamy but still sits comfortably on the skin. For the under eye area, I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind. This is soothing and moisturizing without creasing throughout the day.

Her powder/highlight: Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight $30
My powder/highlight: Nyx Illuminator in Narcissistic $8.99
This was a difficult one for me as I share her affection for the Too Faced highlighter. The powder is so finely milled it feels like silk on the skin and looks very natural. However, Nyx does a good job of replicating the glowing effect of the Candlelight. It's a touch more on the shimmery side.

Her Blush: Smashbox Blush Rush $24
My Blush: Nyx $5-$15; Maybelline Fit Me $4.99; ELF Studio Blush $3.00
I have yet to find a super special blush, drugstore or not. All of my drugstore favorites have beautiful shade ranges, great pigmentation, and are long wearing. Some of my favorites are Nyx powder in Mocha or Tickled from their cream line. ELF Studio in Candid Coral is a go to. Recently I've become a fan of the ELF baked blushes in Peachy Cheeky, Rich Rose, and Pinktastic. These are shimmery enough they can double as a highlight.

Her Mascara: Blinc $26

My Mascara: L'Oreal Double Extend $9.99

Meg has very sensitive eyes so any mascara that runs or smudges will not work for her. Blinc is a tubing mascara so instead of simply painting pigment on her natural lashes, it encases them. It will not budge, smudge, run or move until she removes it. Even then it will pull off with the tube in tact. Not many drugstore mascaras will do this. L'Oreal Double Extend is the only one I know of currently on the market.

Her eyeliner: Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner $19

My eyeliner: Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Pencil $3.99

These Rimmel Kohl pencils are the only drugstore ones I've found that don't smudge or fade as the day goes on. I haven't tried the Scandaleyes ones yet, but if they're like these they'll be fantastic.

Lips: Nyx Buttergloss $4.99; Rimmel Lasting Finish $2.49; Maybelline Vivids $7.49; NYC 8HR City Proof Gloss $3.49

Meg was looking for lip product recommendations in general. She wanted to venture into reds. The Nyx Butterglosses are highly pigmented glosses from nude pink to orange red. I almost exclusively wear these now. They're very comfortable, moisturizing and not sticky. Rimmel Lasting Finish hosts my favorite red lipstick in the Kate Moss Collection shade 06. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids collection is gorgeous. The shades are eye catching.

Do you have any alternatives for these high end products? Anything you want me to research? Let me know!

Email: havemascarawilltravel@gmail.com

Twitter: Brooke_Ashley86

KIK: babsHMWT

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/havemascarawilltravel

Instagram: babs09

I just went to get one thing! Ulta Haul

I've learned something about myself in the last month. I cannot go to Ulta without supervision. Seriously. I went Saturday specifically because their liter sized hair care products were on super sale and I've been dying for more Big Sexy shampoo/conditioner but not loving the price. However, at my local Ulta, the hair care products are in the very back corner of the store, which means I had to walk by a lot of pretty, shiny, colorful compacts of happiness. It's ok. Most of them were buy one get one half off. That makes it all better!

Here's what I came home with:

This has been on my radar for about a week now. I had no intention of purchasing it, but Emily the Benefit Brow Bar Lady was good. She demo'd it on me and I was sold. I can't wait to review it for you!

This has been my go to moisturizer for a couple months now. It's very light weight with a satin finish that helps keep me matte. I love BB Creams and O'lay so I figured I couldn't go wrong here. Will report back!

Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Frisky. This is a gorgeous color. You can't tell on camera but there are little gold flecks throughout the rosey color. I looooove it!

I now own the Nyx Buttergloss in every color. These are my favorite! Highly pigmented and moisturizing without being sticky. I'll add swatches.

I also got two more Maybelline lipsticks. Vivids in Vivid Rose and Whisper in Petal Rebal.

On the left are 4 Maybelline Color Tattoos in Pomegranate Punk, Tough as Taupe, Inked in Pink, and Bold Gold.

The Maybelline Clean Express makeup remover wipes are my favorite. They're super fresh. I picked up a L'oreal True Match crayon concealer in N1-2.

And of course, what I really went to Ulta for, Big Sexy Hair color safe Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner.

I want to back up a little to the beginning of this post where I mentioned Emily the Benefit Brow Bar Lady. Benefit has become one of my favorite high end brands without being too high end. Yes, some of their products are expensive and not so great, but the not so expensive ones are fantastic! I went to their little area to look at the Bad Gal Lash mascara for a friend. Instead, I met Emily and my life has been forever changed.

Emily introduced herself and asked if I had any questions. I didn't at that time, but she was very friendly so I decided to make conversation. Sometimes you learn unexpected things. Then she started talking about their brow services and I got to thinking I was looking a little unruly around the eyes. I love well groomed brows. They frame your face and are a must do for me every day, even if I'm wearing no other makeup. If you have not had the opportunity to visit a Benefit Brow Bar, run, don't walk to your nearest Ulta (or other location that hosts this service.) You, my friends, will not be disappointed.

It took about 15 minutes total start to finish. We discussed what I liked about my brows, what I hated, where my frustrations were, etc. Emily measured and mapped them out and by the time we were done I had perfectly shaped and arched brows. She took the time to explain why we were removing what hairs from where and why she left certain ones that looked out of place to me. It was a very eye opening (literally!) experience that is totally worth the $20.

Before and after. I don't remember the last time my brows were actually the same shape!

Have you visited a Benefit Brow Bar? Loved it? Hate it? Share you best and worst waxing experiences with me!

Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you soon. Bye!