January’s Sephora PLAY! Box (2017)

Hello again my beauties!  I hope you’re having a great day and that you are ready to explore the items I got in my Sephora PLAY! box this month! 

I am so sorry I didn’t post this blog yesterday. My poor Sookie has an ear infection and I had to take her to the vet!  We have to give her two different types of medicine once a day, and let’s just say she is not my biggest fan right now. She does, however, like to come and sleep by me while I do homework. 🐶💜

On to all things beauty!  Yesterday I received my Sephora PLAY! box, and I couldn’t be more excited…ok I could and you’ll see why!

Here is what the box looks like when you first open it…

There is a thin card attached to the information sheet, and this will give you 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any purchase. This is a bonus feature that comes with the box every month. 

They always send you information about each product. They tell you why they selected it, how to use it/apply it and usually an extra tip/ingredients or about the brand. I love that this is included because it helps me become more knowledgeable about the product, in case I want to purchase the full size. 

Here is an example…

The first item I received is a perfume packet. Every month Sephora will choose a perfume sample to place in the box. It’s guaranteed that you will receive a perfume sample. This month it is Pinrose’s Wild Child. As you can see in the photo above, it is a mixture of florals, vanilla, and amber. I’m not sure if it’s a one time use, so I haven’t opened it up yet. 

The next item is a Ouai Treatment Masque for damaged hair. I have heard amazing things about Ouai hair care products, so I am looking forward to using this masque. It does say that it is geared more towards dry hair, so I may use it on my ends. 

The item I grabbed next was a boscia B.B. Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 27 PA++. It is oil free, which is perfect for me because I have extremely oily skin. It says on the package that it is a “Self-adjusting shade for all skin types.”  I have heard Serein Wu (one of my favorite beauty influencers) speak highly about boscia products and so of course, I can’t wait to try this out. I’ve never tried a b.b. cream before which makes me wonder how my skin will like it. 

Another exciting product that I received was by Caudalíe Resveratrol [Lift].  This is a face lifting moisturizer and it has an SPF 20. I bet this product works wonders!  I may be young, but I could use some help. (Side note: The first thing that came to mind when I saw the word resveratrol, was the Real Housewives of Orange County!  I know that sounds funny, but it was from the whole Vicki and Brooks situation. Too funny.)

The next product I grabbed out of my bag was Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It’s like a lip balm/gloss with a hint of color. It mentions that you can build the color up, and that it’s very hydrating. I love the name and I like that it’s something I can just throw in my purse as a backup in case I forget to put on lipstick.  Also excited to try this out!

The last product I received was such a surprise, and I was beyond ecstatic to see it!  I now have a sample of the tarte FRXXXTION Stick. 😱 I have been wanting to try this for months, but was afraid to purchase it in case I didn’t like it. Now I can test it out and see if it’s going to be a good fit for my skin!  It’s so tiny and cute, and also good for travel. 

I feel like Sephora really hit it out of the park this month. They definitely have met my expectations and have raised the bar for 2017 PLAY! boxes. 

Between my ipsy glam bag and my Sephora PLAY! box, I would definitely have to say the PLAY! box was the better of the two. The PLAY! box is harder to get than the ipsy glam bags. I was on a wait list for a few months for the box, whereas the glam bag you can sign up for at any time. I believe the box is worth the wait list, and both are about the same in price. ($10 plus tax I think.) 

Thank you for being patient with me and for hanging out with me today!  I plan on posting again this weekend, so stay tuned for the next blog post. 

School started this week, and I’m taking 4 classes plus a lab. I’m going to do my best to post 3 times a week (Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 🤞🏻), and if I need to go down to twice a week, I will definitely let you know!

Thank you again beauties. I hope you have a great weekend!

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If you are curious about what I’ve been going through health wise for the last year and a half, check out My YouTube Channel

January’s Ipsy Glam Bag

Hello again all my beauty friends,  I hope your weeks is going good so far, and you’re ready to talk about what I received in my first ipsy glam bag of the year!

First, let’s talk about the bag itself. It is a pretty baby blue top layer with little hole cut outs and silver lining. Silver is a good after the holiday type of color. It’s saying, the holidays are over, but we’re still celebrating the new year!

The first item I pulled out is by naked cosmetics. I’m not exactly sure if it’s a highlighter or a loose eyeshadow. It’s in the shade Desert Sunset. It’s a beautiful shade, I just wish I knew what is was suppose to be!  It’s a very find powder which leads me to believe it may be a highlight. It’s makeup, there’s no right or wrong way about it. 

The second item I grabbed was a Gelology Top Coate by Ciate London.  I have heard of Ciate, but have never tried their products. I actually just got acrylic nails and did a matte finish, so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to use this. It will come in handy if I go with a shine finish or take my nails off. 

The next item is by H2O+ and it is their Oasis Ultra Hydrating Cream. It smells absolutely amazing and feels very smooth.  It says it’s “clinically proverb to double skin moisture.”  Unfortunately, I have super oily skin and I think this may be a little too Hydrating for me.  

Next up is a Trust Fund Beauty Lipgasm Lipgloss in Blame Game. The last lip product I got from Trust Fund Beauty wasn’t exactly a win for me. It feathered out and it gets everywhere. This one has a weird smell too it and is super sticky. I’m going to give it a try, but I have t figured out if I want to use it as a topper or alone. 

Last, but certainly not least, is the L34 Blend Beauty Brush by Slmissglam!  I was most excited about this item because she has the softest brushes I have ever felt. I have another brush of hers that I got in a previous ipsy bag, and I absolutely loved that one as well.  I love the detail on the brushes as well and the beautiful color!  I watch almost all of her videos, she’s super sweet and creates amazing brushes!  Definitely check her out on Instagram and YouTube!

Well my friends, that is all I have for you today!  Remember the new posting schedule is Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday because of my school schedule. 

I hope you enjoyed this unbagging!  What monthly beauty subscriptions do you get?  If you receive ipsy, what did you get in your bag?  Let me know in the comments below!🖤💄

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If you’re interested in my what’s been going on with my health (kidneys), check out my YouTube channel!

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Friday the 13th-A Lighter Shade of Goth

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!  I hope you didn’t have any bad luck today. I actually had a good day with the exception of forgetting to run one errand. Anyways, who is ready for a simple, light, and fluffy goth look?

Here is the makeup look I created today!  Not too dark, but dark enough to celebrate Friday the 13th!

I used my e.l.f. Daily Moisturizer and primed my faced with my Benefit POREfessional primer. I’m still trying to find a good moisturizer.  I used to use Aveeno Daily Moisturizer and then switched; now I’m looking for a new one. My POREfessional primer is absolutely amazing, it’s like a vanishing cream for my pores and it’s my favorite. 

For foundation I went in with my L’Oréal 24 Hour Infallible Pro Matte foundation with my imitation beauty blender. This is also a favorite of mine right now and looking for another to switch back and forth too. 

You know what concealer I used, my ride or die tarte Shape Tape in Light Sand.  I also have the shade Fair that the lady at Ulta recommended, but I don’t think I’m that light!

I did bake today because I thought I might be running errands a while (aka waiting at the tattoo shop longer). I used my Bellapierre Banana Setting Powder which is super awesome, I really like the powder and it’s a good color for my skin tone. I got this in one of my ipsy glam bags!

While I baked, I started on my eyes.  I didn’t want too dark of an eye look, so I skipped the eyeshadow on my lids, and just did a wing with my Stila Slay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner. I really love this eye liner, it makes creating a wing so easy because it is a felt tip and gives you a lot of control. What makes me a little sad is that this brand is not cruelty free. I know there are other brands I use that aren’t cruelty free, and I’m working on straying from those companies. I’m not sure if I’ll repurchase once this has dried up. 

For my water line, I used my Urban Decay 24 Hour Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero. I have quite a few different colors in this line, and although they’re very pigmented, I feel they are hard to work with and the color moves around. (You can tell I still use it though because it’s so small!)

For my under eye I used the black eyeshadow from my ipsy NYX trio, and I just smoked out my bottom lash line. 

To contour and bronze my face I used my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Bronzer. This was also an ipsy bag steal that I absolutely love. Not to mention, it smells like chocolate powder!

My blush was the Bellápierre in Desert Rose, which is my favorite right now!  I think it works well with my skin tone. 

Ok, about my eyebrows….I originally went the cheap route and bought the NYX brow pencil in Auburn. 

When I put it on yesterday, I looked like Carrot Top. If you don’t know who that is, google him. I was so disappointed by the color!  It was definitely not Auburn. I really wish I would’ve taken a picture for you all to laugh!

I ended up exchanging the NYX brow pencil for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Auburn. This was a true Auburn and it’s a triangular brow pencil which makes it much easier to be more precise. 

Once I wiped away my bake, I added some amazing highlighter from my tarte Tarteist Pro Glow to Go palette in Gleam. Once again, another super favorite of mine!

I also used my Urban Decay foundation powder in Light/neautral to set the rest of my face. 

I went in with me Benefit They’re Real! mascara.  This mascara seriously lifts your lashes to the Gods, it’s amazing, and no falsies needed!

Finally for lips I used NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner in Alien (black), and then colored in a little on the outer part of my lips. I then used The Eday Group lipstick in Starlet Cocktail to give a red to black ombré effect!  This was my first time trying this lip look, and it didn’t come out too bad. 

With filter. 

Thank you again for hanging out today!  Did you participate in any Friday the 13th activities?  Did you do any makeup looks to match the day?  Let me know in the comments below!

Due to school starting next week I will be changing my posting schedule to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday’s. I’m going to try my best to post 3 times a week, but we’ll see how busy school will have me and we’re also moving soon!

Have a great weekend friends!🖤🖤💋💋

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If you are interested in my health journey about my kidneys, please check out my YouTube channel!

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Urban Decay||Electric Palette Eye Look

Hello hello my beauties, welcome back to my blog!  I’m going to make this blog short and sweet, just like me! (Pfft, yeah right!). I know I am a little late to the Urban Decay Electric palette game, but better to be late than not show up at all!

Here is the look I created today…

Please disregard my disastrous eyebrows. I had a bit of an emergency today. Which I will talk about in an upcoming first impressions blog. Today we are just focusing on the eyes!

My love for Urban Decay started more than 10 years ago, I believe. It was the first “high end” brand that I really liked, and I loved the fact that they had the out-of-the-norm eyeshadow shades. I got the Electric Palette for Christmas and I couldn’t be more excited to use it!  It is a little hard to create a full look because there is no base or transition shades, but it wasn’t that bothersome to me. 

I started out by going in with the shade Vintage from my tarte Tarteist Pro Palette.  It’s a great shade to set your eyeshadow primer with!  That was all I needed from this palette. 

Next it was time to jump into all those beautiful Electric shades! (Side note: there is a blue shade called Gonzo which makes me think of the Muppets and is also my dads nickname😜.)

The first color I went in with was Jilted which is a gorgeous deep fuschia!  It has a small amount of shimmer to it. I took this shade into my crease and brought it from the outer v to the inner v to create a halo look. 

The next shade I went in with was Urban which is the most beautiful deep purple color. Brown eyes and purple eyeshadow go together like peanut butter and jelly!  I used this in the outer v and then blended it in about half way through the crease. 

For the middle of the eyelid I used Fringe which is a dark blue/green shade. (Almost like the NYX shade Jaded, but darker.). I just tapped this on my eyelid and made mall windshield wiper motions. 

I used Revolt on the inner corner of my eyes to make them pop with color. This is a stunning sparkly silver color that you can’t help but love!  

Here is the completed look with no filter. I used my Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner. For lips I used a neutral brownish lip liner and then went in with the shade Khlo$ from the Koko Collection by Kylie Cosmetics. It is a long lasting liquid lipstick, and it is a great nude for my skin tone. This was my first time wearing it and I was very pleased!

Filter. 

No filter. 

I also took Jilted and Urban on my lower lash line. I used my 24hour Urban Decay eyeliner in black on my water line. I used Benefit‘s They’re Real! Mascara and no falsies!

I am so sorry for the lack of pictures through the process, I am learning as I go. 

I hope you liked this dramatic eye look as much as I liked creating it!  I’m a sucker for purples!  I love the Electric palette, I think it has some beautiful shades and I can’t wait to create more looks with it!

Thank you so much for joining me friends, enjoy the rest of your week!

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A Little Less Glam

Welcome back my beauties!  I hope you all had a fantastic weekend and that you’re ready for the week!  Are you still pulling through on your goals for 2017?  Don’t give up yet, keep on keepin’ on!

Today I went for a toned down makeup look with a natural eye. This is good for someone who may need to get ready quick or if you’re just feeling lazy. Nothing wrong with being lazy once in a while, right?!  

Here is the look I created!  Very simple!

I started with a clean face and applied my Dermalogica Oil Free Matte lotion. This does have an SPF 30, which will be great for the warmer months. Right now I’m using it to control my ever so oily skin!

I am not doing any eyeliner or eyeshadow today, which is why I’m calling this a natural look. The star of this look is my Benefit They’re Real! mascara in Beyond Mascara(aka black). This mascara works wonders!  Who needs false lashes when you have this in your makeup collection!  It is a rubbery type wand with a ball at the tip to help get the hard to reach eyelashes and bottom lashes. It really grasps the lashes and coats every lash, which is why it is so amazing. I believe they also have this in brown, I haven’t tried the brown yet, but really want too!

I’m going in with my absolute favorite foundation right now, the L’Oréal 24 Hour Infallible Pro Matte foundation in shade 103 Natural Buff. This is a great match for my skin tone and it also helps control the Oil. What I learned (the hard way) is that if you use too many mattifying products your skin could start to over compensate the oils that are being sucked up by the products. Make sure you are using a moisturizer, always!  I used to think I didn’t need moisturizer because my face was so oily, I young and naive haha. 

You all know what I’m going in with next…my handy dandy tarte Shape Tape!  I can’t rant and rave about this product enough!  I have horrible bags under my eyes, but you wouldn’t know because this shields them.  I use this under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, a little between the eyebrows, cubid’s bow, and chin. Basically I conceal and highlight with this amazing stuff! It is pricey, but worth the money and you get a good amount!

To set my concealer and foundation, I went in with my urban decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder in Light Neutral. This can also be used on its own without any foundation, which I really like for a no makeup makeup look. 

For contour and highlight I used my trusty tarte Tarteist Pro Glow to Go palette. This is another product by tarte that I really love. The shades are buttery and blendable, absolute perfection!  I used the shade Chisel for my contour and Gleam for my highlight. My two favorites!

Side note, the mirror is a really good size!

For blush I used yet another tarte product!  Pampered is a shade in their Amazonian Clay 12-Hour blush collection. I mentioned before that I felt it was too pink for me at first, but now I go in with a light hand and it looks great!

I know my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn is the only product I use on my eyebrows, but I will be testing out a new brand/product very soon. 

For lips I am using my Trust Fund Beauty liquid lipstick in K, Bye. It’s a brownish/purple nude. I really enjoy the color, but it’s bleeds out from the lips and doesn’t look clean and sculpted. I may try it with a lip liner next time, but I don’t see that helping too much. Love the color, but not the formula. 

My last step for this less glam look is the urban decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray. This is also used to control oil. It’s oil free, paraben free, and it also says it has temperature control technology. I love this setting spray and you can also use it to refresh your makeup. 

No filter. 

With a filter. 

That is it for this makeup look friends. I hope you like it!  Of course you can change this up however you’d like; false lashes or a different lip color. Whatever works for you!  Thank you for joining me, and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday!  

Come hang out and connect with me on my social media platforms!

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If you are curious about my health and what I’ve been through this past year, check out my YouTube channel!

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No Wrong Way-Golden Brown & Purple Eye Look

Welcome back everyone!  I hope you all had a great first week of the new year!  My week consisted of doctors appointments and trying to stay warm!  My life is a tad on the boring side, but that will be changing in a couple weeks.  

Today’s look….👇🏻

How about we jump into today’s makeup look?!  I wanted to create a brownish gold eye look, with some hints of purple. 

Here are all the products used to create today’s look. I’ve really been loving tarte’s tarteist pro palette, it’s absolutely stunning and you can create a plethora of looks with it!

My face is already prepped and primed, so let’s jump into the eyes!

I started with chic all over the lid, easy enough, right?  I took a different brush to go in with edgy, but I didn’t clean my brush well from my previous use and got part of punk in my crease, oops!  To defuse the situation I went back in with chic to lighten the eye up more. Thank goodness for layers!  

Once I switched brushes, I was able to go in with edgy in my crease, and I brought that all the way into the inner corner of my eyes. I did end up taking a tad bit of punk onto the outer v of my eye, but not too much. All over the lid is glam. I absolute love this light gold shimmer, it’s stunning and really brings the eye look together. 

Next I went all in with the Hikari eyeliner in Iris, which is a deep purple and beautiful. If you have brown eyes, you know any plum to purple eyeshadow or eyeliner will look fabulous on you!  Unfortunately, you can’t even tell it’s purple on my actually eyelid. You live and learn, right?  

I used N.Y.C.‘s Through the Storm eye pencil for my bottom water line. I was attempting to excentuate the purple Hikari eyeliner. 

For mascara, I used Smashbox‘s Full Exposure mascara. The wand on this mascara is old school;  it’s your normal brissel spooly that’s nice a fat…if that makes sense. I did not wear falsies with this look. 

Once my foundation was applied (L’Oréal Infallible Pro Matte), it was time for concealer!  If you don’t know what the tarte Shape Tape is yet, you are so late to the game!  It is one of the BEST concealers out there. It helps brighten your under eyes, helps decrease the look of bags I’m carrying under my eyes, and it’s just amazing!  It is a little pricey, but well worth it, and it will last you a while. 

Here are all the powder products that I used to beat my face!  I used my urban decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation (say that 5 times fast)  in light neutral to set my foundation and concealer. I did not bake. Baking is something I usually do when I need my makeup to last ALL day. 

To contour and warm up my face I used my Benefit Hoola bronzer. I really like the brush that comes with it; it makes contouring your nose so easy and helps with a sharp look. 

I used my tarte blush in Pampered.  At first I thought this color would be too pink for me, but as long as I go in with a light hand, it works perfectly!  

For highlight I used my e.l.f. Illuminating palette. It’s the top right corner shade which is a nice light sandy color. The pigment on this palette is like WHOA!  E.l.f. is not playing around, they’re really giving the higher end brands a run for their money!  

For brows I used my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn. I really need to get a better brush though.  Oddly enough I don’t have a proper eyebrow brush, I’ve just been using an angled eyeshadow brush.  I also need to add a little something so it’s not so dry. 

For lips I used my Ulta Matte Lip Cream in Tender.  It’s a really nice nude, light on the lips, and I love the matte finish. 

No filter. (Don’t mind my not so straight eyeliner…it was one of those days.) 

No filter. 

With a snapchat filter. 

With a snapchat filter. 

With a snapchat filter. 

Thank you for joining me today on this live and learn tutorial!  Not everything will work out in makeup, and if you can’t wash it off and start over, then work with what you have. The best thing about makeup is that there is no right or wrong way about it, you just do what makes you happy!

Have a great weekend friends! 🖤🖤

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2017-New Year, New Me?

Yes folks, it’s here(whether we like it or not), 2017!  I know it’s the 4th, but I wanted to take the time to really think about how I am going to make this year different. I really want to be the best Me  I can possibly be!

Now I know this is a beauty blog, but beauty starts from the inside and works it’s way out, therefore, I wanted to talk a little about my life and some of the goals, (not resolutions, I don’t like the word resolution) that I would like to set for myself!  I actually don’t like the saying “new year, new me.”  Most people stay the same as years go by or they start the new year off on their best foot, and then it fades out after a few weeks. I do not want to be that person by any means. 

My first goal for 2017 is to get my diabetes under control, and also work on becoming healthier. I was only given one body and after 33 1/2 years, I figured I should start taking better care of it!
 

This is my new Food Log!  I will be using this to log every meal, snack, and drink that goes into my body. By doing so, I will be able to actually see where I need to make changes. Sometimes if you see it written down on paper, it becomes real. Even on day 4 I’m like, if I eat that I’ll have to write it down haha. I feel this is a great tool and it was a great suggestion by my mother. She is also trying to be more health conscience, not to mention, this is something we can do together!  I’m hoping by seeing what I take in, I’ll be able to change my eating habits, and maybe even shed some weight!  

Last year I lost between 30-40 pounds in a very unhealthy way, and in result of that, I’ve gained it all back. I am definitely disappointed in myself, but I can’t sit around and mope about it!  I mean, I can, but what’s that going to do?!  Needless to say, this time around I need to make permanent changes and not deprive my body of the nutrients it’s needing. 
 

One huge goal I have in life is to become a college graduate. I’ve changed my major 4-5 times, and oddly enough I’ve come back to my original major, Pyschology. I want to be a therapist, but I haven’t decided on the category I want to settle into just yet. In Texas, it’s a better idea to go the Social Work route and then branch off into the Psych world, so that’s what I’ll be doing. I am super lucky to qualify for grants which will pay for all my classes and books. I’ve been in Texas for almost 2 years, so I don’t have to pay out-of-state fees. 

While I was writing this blog post, I received my Transcript Evaluation results. To my surprise, a lot of my classes transferred and I may be able to finish at the community college by the end of 2017, and start at UTA next spring. 

I am super excited to go back to school and to feel like I have purpose again. I was in a very dark place in 2016, with no motivation and my goals took the back burner. I definitely plan on throwing myself into school!

My diabetes and weight are not the only health setbacks I have to deal with, I also have massive kidney stones that need to be surgically removed or “blasted”. I have a YouTube channel that talks about my journey with my kidneys, and let me tell you, it’s a crazy ass story!  (If you are interested, here is the link: My Medical Nightmare ). 

I am on my 4th procedure on my right kidney, and it’s still being worked on. Once the right kidney is clear, my urologist will be able to start on my left kidney. It has been such a roller coaster, but at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I’m hoping that once 2017 is over, my kidneys will be clear, and I’ll be able to be pain free!

Another goal of mine is to keep blogging! I really enjoy writing, it’s one of my passions, and it makes me incredibly happy. I also have a passion for makeup, so it just seemed like an amazing idea to start my beauty blog. Its a lot of fun to me, and I don’t even care about how many views or followers I get out of it. I know that sounds funny, but it’s just fun having this amazing platform and outlet. I’ve also thought about changing my YouTube channel into a beauty channel, but that idea is still in the works!

Thank you so much for hanging out with me today friends!  What are some of your goals/resolutions for 2017?  Is it your year to be a go getter or is it your year to take some time off and relax?  Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you guys!

Happy New Year and I wish you all an amazing 2017!

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Violet Voss Holy Grail Eye Look

Happy new year my beauties!  I hope you all had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve/Day, and that you brought in the new year on a good note!  2017 is going to be an amazing year, and I hope that it treats you right as well!

Today’s look was created by using the Violet Voss Holy Grail Palette!  This palette is so beautiful, and it has a wide variety of colors to create so many different looks. I honestly couldn’t wait to use this palette, and I especially wanted this palette for the shades Wine n Dine & Cranberry Splash.  I’ve been wanting colors like these for months!  If you see Jaclyn Hill create a red smokey eye, then dammit you want a red smokey eye!  

Let’s get started!

These are all the products and brushes that I will be using for this look. Don’t mind my oh so dirty beauty sponge. A lot of these products were in my 2016 Ride or Die blog if you want to check that out as well!

Today I am trying my Lancôme Nude Miracle foundation. I haven’t tried this foundation with my new moisturizer and setting spray, so I couldn’t wait to see how this was going to work out!

Once I applied my foundation and my shape tape concealer (which was not in the product picture, sorry) it was time to bake. No, not an apple pie….muh face! Do you like my super awesome hair clip?  This is my sexy look by the way!

Also not in the product shot, is my go to eyeshadow primer. Now, do not judge me, but this primer is kind of old. Your first clue would be the packaging. It hasn’t done any harm to me and it makes my eyeshadow stay put, therefore, I use it.  Once I applied this baby, it was time to do some damage!

My pictures are so professional. At the top of this picture shows the colored numbers in the order they were applied. Now I was going to stop at Glamping, but I wasn’t liking how it was turning out, so I added Cranberry Splash on top of Glamping. After that, I had created the look that was exactly in my mind. 

Bathroom lighting with Ashby(I think) filter from Instagram. 

Natural lighting(no filter). 

Also natural lighting(no filter). 

Both these pictures are with filters from snapchat. 

This look couldn’t have come out better. I was super pleased with the palette. The foundation on the other hand, was not a good match for the moisturizer I use. I became very oily throughout the day and ended up doing touch ups. 

Mid-day

End of day. I had taken off my lip gloss, and you can see how shiny my forehead is, and you can see all the texture in my skin. My eyes still look amazing though!

Thank you lovelies for joining me today. I love the Violet Voss Holy Grail palette, I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a cranberry, brownish, with hints of pink palette….if that makes sense. I definitely got my inspiration from Jaclyn Hill, she can create the most amazing looks, and she’s hilarious!  I absolutely love her!  

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us all in 2017!

2016 Ride or Die Beauty Products!

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!  I hope you all had an amazing 2016 full of love, laughter, and great beauty looks!

2016 was definitely a challenge for me because of my health, but I know that 2017 is going to be so much better!  I’ll be going back to school this January, working on my health, and my amazing beauty blog!

Today we are talking about our 2016 Ride or Die Beauty Products!  You know, those products that made beauty fun, easy, or maybe even magical!  Let’s get started!

The first products I want to talk about are my skin care products!  Now this isn’t everything I use on my skin, I’m still in the process of testing out some products. The first item is the Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads; I love these so much!  They really get in there and help remove all the makeup from the day, and they leave the skin feeling smooth and clean. 

The other item is the e.l.f. Makeup Removing Cleansing Wipes.  These are so soft, they smell amazing, and they’re not harsh on the skin. These will definitely remove any makeup you have on your face, and sometimes I’ll even go in with my Aveeno Cleansing Pads afterwords for a deep cleaning. 

Last but not least, the Equate Blemish Control Apricot Scrub. Now I’ve been hearing that St. Ives’ Apricot Scrub is being sued due to the product ruining people’s faces. I believe they’re saying this is because of an ingredient called walnut shells or walnut shell powder. I personally have never had a problem with either brand, and a lot of the reaction could be a nut allergy, but who knows. I love this to exfoliate my skin, I don’t think it’s harsh, and it actually leaves my skin super smooth after using it!

The next group of items are all my face creams/primer, plus my cheap knockoff of a beauty blender.  

Dermalogica has been around for a long time, and yes they are expensive, but it’s worth the investment because their products actually work. I have the Oil Free Matte Lotion with SPF 30.  I have combination to oily skin, but mostly oily, and I was having such a hard time with preventing “cake face”.   I spoke with an employee at Ulta and they suggested this product. So far it has been working beautifully, and will stay in my makeup routine!

Next up is my Benefit POREfessional Primer that I absolutely LOVE😍. This works like magic on my pores!  I have pores the size of dinner plates, and you would never know because I use this product!  Yes, it is that good!

My LO’REAL 24 hr Infallible Pro Matte Foundation, is a God send!  This is a recent find for me, but omg, game changer!  This is hands down the best foundation for my skin type. Now I am still having some dry patches, but better that, than having “cake face”, you feel me!  Love, love, love it!

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer need I say more?  If you are a makeup junky like myself or you watch a lot of makeup tutorials, also like me, you know this is a holy grail product. It brightens, tightens, and definitely conceals like no other!  The proof is in the pudding!

Then there is my knock off beauty blender. I love the makeup sponge idea, it works like a charm!  No streaks and it helps press the product into the skin which helps it last longer and stays put!

Here is a combo of Sonia Kashuk brushes that I’ve had forever, but never used lol, and e.l.f. brushes that I bought this year. In this group I have a blush brush, 2 blending brushes, a crease brush, an angled brush I use for my eyebrows, and 3 multiuse eyeshadow brushes. I use these brushes every time I put makeup on, and they make the application so much easier!

These eyeshadows have been some of my favorite this year!  There is the NYX Jaded, Urban Decay’s Midnight Cowboy & Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, and then Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick in Rose Gold.  What I like to do is put the Rose Gold down as a base, and then put one of the Urban Decay shadows on top. It’s quick and simple, and looks amazing!  Jaded is just a beautiful color, and I mixed that with some greens from my Morphe 35s palette. I used it for my Christmas makeup look!

I’m pretty sure that eyeliner is my favorite makeup item, that and red lipstick. I also put in my favorite eyeshadow primer, Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I know this packaging is old, but I love this stuff, it works like a charm, in that it makes my eyeshadow stay put!  

Next I have my favorite eyeliners, the Stila long wear eyeliner in black, and the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyelinrr & the Colorstay Skinny Liquid Eyeliner. At first I didn’t like the Revlon products, but after I played with them a few times, I was hooked!  They glide on, and even with my unsteady hands, they always look beautiful!  

Eyebrows are so important, so make sure you find products that work for you!  

Before I dyed my hair red, I was religiously using my Benefit Ka-brow & Goof Proof Brow Pencil. I believe I have shade 2 in both products. I would get so many compliments on my eyebrows after using those two products!  I wish they had these products in an auburn color. 

Next I have my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn. I started using this once I dyed my hair red. I love how natural it made my eyebrows look, and the color matched perfectly. I do need a better brush for application, but soon I will be switching to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil. 

These are some of my favorite powder products that I use!  First we have the tarte Pro Glow to Go palette, it comes with 3 shades; 2 highlight colors, and a bronzer. It is absolutely gorgeous, and super handy to have around!  

Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer is also amazing!  That is usually my go too for contouring or warming up the face. Love the formula. 

My favorite blush is the Bellápierre Cosmetics blush is Desert Rose. This color is a perfect match for my skin tone. It’s not too pink, but not too dull. It is a mineral blush, so you have to be careful that it doesn’t get all over the place. It blends well in the skin, and gives me the right pop of color. 

I couldn’t help but have a ton of lip products in my ride or die’s for 2016. First I will start with my Marc Jacobs Mini Lipstick in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It is a beautiful dusty rose color that would pretty much look good on anyone. I got it in my birthday kit from Sephora. 

Ipsy always has amazing products in there glam bags, and when I saw this Smashbox Liquid Lipstick in Drivers Seat, I was shocked!  It’s a perfect nude color, and it dries matte!

Another ipsy glam bag product was Absolute New York Matte Stick in Dark Red. I always say I’m a sucker for red lipstick, it’s my favorite color lipstick and I love that it’s matte. It is full size, and I wear it often!

The next product was in one of the first ipsy bags I ever received, and it was a mini of Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss Collection in Underage Red. This lipstick stays put!  I can eat a meal, and 90% of it stays on!  It’s a gorgeous in your face red, and I love it!

I have one red lip liner that I use, it’s very universal. It’s a Sephora lip liner in Classic Red!  It goes with pretty much any red lipstick I have, and that’s what I love about it. 

This next product is a new favorite of mine, it’s by Too Faced and I absolutely love the name; it’s called Lady Balls!  That is the awesomest name for a lip color. This formula is amazing, it glides onto your lips, it’s a matte lipstick (which I love), but it does transfer a little bit, so blot before it dries or do the finger trick!

The last item I want to mention is Urban Decay’s de-slick Makeup Setting Spray with Oil Control!  I mean, that’s a no brainer for someone like me who has oily skin. This locks everything in, and helps control all that oil!  I got it on sale at Ulta, so I was super happy about it!

Well my loves, I know this was a long blog, but I didn’t want to leave any products out!  I hope you all have a fun and safe New Years, and that 2017 is one of your best years yet!  I’m hoping 2017 brings me lots of laughter, happiness, and a sense of accomplishments!

Happy New Year!🖤🖤🖤🎉🎉🎉

What I Got for Christmas-Part 1

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you all had a great Christmas  (if that’s what you celebrate), and I hope you got to enjoy time with family and loved ones. It was just my mom, dad, sookie (my dog), and I this year, but that was good enough. 

Although I am 33 years old, I am able to admit that I am still spoiled by my parents, when they’re able to do so. This year has been a very, very challenging year for us. My health has been at an all time low which spiked my depression. Seeking help was definitely the best option for me, and I also found a lot of joy in watching makeup tutorials. This also gave me the energy to start doing my own makeup again. Makeup brings me a lot of happiness and it gives me confidence. That being said, this year for Christmas I asked for a lot of makeup, makeup utensils, and makeup organizers. Not to mention a few clothing items and such. 

Without further ado, let’s see What I Got for Christmas!

​​ So funny story….I researched and researched on every brands palettes, and I wanted the most bang for the buck. I kept hearing mixed reviews about tarte’s paintbox set and too faced holiday palettes. After looking at the reviews I narrowed it down to tarte’s tarteist pro palette. I was like, this is it, this is definitely what I want!  Then I started looking around at other palettes and I found Violet Voss’s Holy Grail Pro Eyeshadow Palette. I fell in love with the colors “wine n dine”, “cranberry splash”, and “on fleek”. I mean, I fell in love with the whole palette. My mother had already ordered the tarte palette so I made a deal with her, order the Violet Voss palette and we’ll take back the tarte palette.  Well she surprised me and gave me both!  

The Urban Decay Electric palette was on sale, so my mom picked that up for me too. I love the bright and shimmery colors the Electric palette has, and I love that one of the blues is called Gonzo (my dads nickname). Not to mention, it also came with a dual sided eyeshadow brush that is incredibly soft! 

 These pictures do not do these palettes justice, they’re absolutely stunning. Once I saw the tarte palette in person, I really didn’t want to let it go!  I can’t wait to create all the eye looks with these amazing palettes!

I know what you’re thinking….ugh Karen, those are empty haha. Yes they are, but that’s because one is a Z Palette, and the other is tarte’s version of a z palette. These are so useful to depot your single eyeshadows or powder products and create a unique palette to your liking. They are both leopard print, obviously haha. The tarte palette comes with a mirror which costs a little extra, but is definitely worth it. Just waiting for my depotting tool to come in the mail!

This awesome kit came from Ulta. They almost always have these cool kits during the holidays, maybe even throughout the year. Ulta has definitely stepped up their makeup brand game in the past few years, so I’m excited to utilize everything in this kit. It’s basically your full face: eyeshadows, blushes, highlight, bronzer, lip liners, lip products, eyeliner, eyebrow tint, and primer. This is a great gift for a all ages. My mom also got one, but it was a little bit smaller. 

Yes, that’s right, I finally got my hands on some Kylie Cosmetics products!  The first item is the collab that Kylie did with Khloe to create the Koko Collection!  These colors include Okurr, Khlo$, Gorg, and the lip gloss in Damn Gina. Now I’m excited about all these colors, but my top two or Okurr and Gorg!  The next item I got was the Kylie Lip Kit in Merry. This comes with the liquid lipstick and the lip liner. I’m a sucker for reds! Haha. This packaging is amazing on both items, and I love that the lip kit comes as an ornament you can put on your tree!

These next items were really awesome gift ideas!  The Marilyn Monroe makeup bag was to die for and inside of it was makeup removal wipes, a contouring brush, falsies, and eyelash glue!  Some basic essentials for glamming it up!

Every woman needs beauty sponges!  This is the Earth Therpeutics Precisso blending sponges.  Brushes are still a handy tool, but beauty sponges help the product blend into the skin better and it doesn’t leave any brush streaks. 

The next two items are from e.l.f.  I got the Hydrating Bubble Mask, which I have yet to try and I’m dying to use it!  I’ve heard so many good things about it, and I’ve seen it all over YouTube!  Then I received e.l.f’s get glowing highlighter set. It comes with a highlight/contour quad, a liquid highlighter, and a brush. The brush is so soft!  I actually love e.l.f.’s brushes, they’re super soft and affordable!

Now, what makeup fanatic wouldn’t be complete without a Natural Daylight Vanity Mirror!  I am so excited to use this because we all know bathroom lighting in apartments are not the greatest!  I may also be able to use this to step up my selfie game! Haha

Alright my lovelies, this will complete part 1 of my What I Got for Christmas blog!  I know it’s a long one, I still have some more items to tell you about, so I figured a 2 part blog would be best! What did you guys get for Christmas?  I’m always interested in what people got haha!  Have you tried any of these products?  Let me know in the comments below!  Thank you for joining me, can’t wait to share more with you all!