August 2014 Favorites!

And yet another month complete in 2014.  Hard to believe we are heading towards the end of the year so soon!  No better time than any (considering it's the last day of the month) to do my monthly favorites.  This month I have to mention one brand that was a home-run winner for me, and that is Tree Hut.

The first thing I purchased from this line was the Shea Sugar Scrub in Almond & Honey, and that was all it took.  I was hooked.  Since then I have purchased their body butter and body wash in the same scent, their hand cream in Coconut Lime, and their DD Cream in Raspberry Macadamia.  You can find some of this stuff at Wal-Mart and some of it at Ulta.  It's such good quality stuff for such an affordable price ($5-$10/piece or so.)  Love every piece, definitely will be repurchasing all of them.

Hair favorites this month:   First up, my absolutely delicious Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey shampoo.  This has been a favorite of mine for 10 years +, and I will continue to buy it for as long as they make it.  LOVE.  Bought mine at Target for around $15. 2.  Chi Silk Infusion.  Another tried and true product that makes my hair feel so soft and smooth.  I actually am able to get this at my local Wal-Mart in the regular hair-care aisle for around $23. 3.  Living Proof Perfect Hair Day styling treatment.  After hearing a lot of hype about this product I finally caved and bought it.  I use this in conjunction with my Chi Silk Infusion.  These two products work so good together!  The Silk Infusion is a clear/oily kind of serum?  The Living Proof product is a white, more lotion-like product.  In the years I've used the Silk Infusion, I've always enjoyed using it in conjunction with a lotion-like product.  That type of combination has just always worked well for me.  Similar products I've used are the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In product, Desert Essence Shine and Refine Hair Lotion, Organix Coconut Milk Split-End Mender, etc.  This Living Proof product works really good though, and I would definitely repurchase. 4.  And my final hair-care favorite of the month is the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray.  I got mine at Ulta for $19.95.  Great product to give you texture and wave without drying out your hair.  Love, love, love.

Skincare favorites this month: 1.  First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser.  A simple, no frills product that does exactly what it's supposed to - clean your face and leave it soft and supple without overdrying.  Love it, a product worth every penny.  I bought mine at Sephora for $20. 2.  Bioderma.  People I have used this stuff for roughly 5 years or so now, and I swear, nothing beats it.  I buy the big 500mL bottles on Amazon, and the last time I used all mine up I went ahead and started using up some of the other brands I had on hand.  Since I don't wear makeup everyday, it takes me a long time to use up a bottle of eye-makeup remover.  It's taken about 6 months or so, but I used up a bottle of the Nars Gentle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover and a bottle of the Up & Up brand you get at Target.  As soon as those two bottles were used up I went straight online and got a bottle of the Bioderma.  I use it to take off my eye makeup, but I also use it on a cotton round to remove the rest of my makeup too.  It's sooooo refreshing and it really perks your skin up.  Will buy this, and only this, from now on. 3.  Caudalie Beauty Elixir.  I bought this at Sephora towards the beginning of the month and I have to say, it's really growing on me.  Such a nice product to have that you can mist on your face throughout the day to freshen you up.  It smells earthy and relaxing and it feels amazing on your skin.  Not only will I buy this again, but I will buy the bigger bottle next time. 4.  Yon-Ka Serum.  I have subscribed to US Weekly for at least a decade now, and hands down my favorite page in the magazine has to be the 'What's in My Bag' article each week.  I'm always like turning the magazine all around trying to see what each individual item is that the celebrities are carrying and using.  This particular item was in Martha Stewart's bag in one of those issues, and I remember thinking 'shoot, if it's good enough for Martha Stewart then it has to be good stuff.'  That lady is 73, but she doesn't look half her age.  She's stunning!  It has been at least a couple of years ago I bought this stuff, back whenever that magazine came out, and I've used this serum off and on since then.  I'm always buying new things and trying new things and forgetting about things that I have, etc.  You know the cycle, lol.  Anyways, I found this in my skin-care cabinet and pulled it back out to start using and have loved it.  So moisturizing on your skin, and I love the oily consistency. 5.  Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream.  So simple and gentle on the skin, this eye cream is delightful.  It doesn't have all kinds of chemicals in it or anything, it's basically just the hyaluronic acid that pulls moisture from the air and puts it in your skin.  Keeps your whole eye area completely hydrated, which really helps with crepiness and fine lines.  Love.

Makeup favorites: 1.  Make Up For Ever HD foundation.  Sephora.  $42.  Go out and get it people. 2.  And while you're at it, pick you up some of the setting powder as well.  LOVE these. 3.  It Cosmetics CC+ Cream.  I've used this all summer and it has worked just perfectly.  I recently used this the entire week I was in Destin, and it was the ideal product.  It's your moisturizer, serum, makeup, and spf all in one.  A total must have for summer.  I won't ever be without this product. 4.  The eyeshadow I have found myself reaching for the most this month was definitely the Bare Minerals Top Shelf Duo.  A gorgeous, shimmery champagne and bronze this by itself can give you such a gorgeous look. 5.  Milani Bronzer XL in Fake Tan.  This has been my go-to bronzer not only this month but this entire summer.  You get a ton of product here for very little $, and the colors are just spot-on. 6.  Love & Beauty blush in coral.  Super cheap and such a pretty color for summer!  I have loved this! 7.  Anastasia Brow Wiz - the only eyebrow product I use now.

My favorite lip products of the month get their own category, lol.  I keep it really simple with lips, and this month I've really enjoyed throwing on a MAC lipglass and going.  Favorite shades this month (pictured left to right):  Bared For You (limited edition from the Story Book Romance line), Ciao Manhattan, Florabundance, and Viva Glam VI.

I am somewhat of a lip balm fanatic, and this month I discovered and fell in love with the Softlips cubes.  I have vanilla bean and blueberry pomegranate.  I thought for sure the vanilla one would be my favorite, but I was totally wrong!  The blueberry pomegranate one smells/tastes the best hands down.  Both feel great, both make your lips baby soft, and I would repurchase both of them.

And lastly, my favorite candle of the month - BBW Salt Water Taffy.  A sugary sweet summer scent, I'm almost through with this bad boy.  I am having to hold myself back to keep from breaking into my Autumn and Fall scented candles and tarts!  I am thinking by the time this candle is gone that it will probably be time, hehe.  Summer is coming to an end, so I am enjoying it while it lasts! Have a great week everybody!

In Memory of Jamie: RIP

It was a sad day today when I heard one of my friends had taken her own life last night.  I actually went to high school with her, but we weren't ever really close or anything.  We have kept in touch via social media (Facebook and Instagram mostly), and it's amazing how fond you can get of someone communicating with them on a regular basis through these kinds of sites.  She was lovely, always one of the first of my friends to like a photo or to leave a sweet comment, she continually went out of her way to notice me on a daily basis.  After going through and reading some of the things others had posted about her, it was then I learned she wasn't like that with just me.  That's how she treated everybody.  She was good and decent and kind and made you feel special.  It breaks my heart to know she was as unhappy as she obviously must have been, that life had been so unkind to someone who was so good.  She was very present on my blog and on my other social media sites, so it was only fitting I dedicate a post to her in her memory.  Your presence is one that I will definitely miss.  It is my hope and my prayer that whatever hurt you were experiencing here is now over and done with, that you have shed that earthly body that was sickly and plagued with illness, and that you are dancing in the streets of gold.  I pray that our Heavenly Father eases the pain in the hearts of your son and other loved ones, and that you are resting peacefully.

;

August 2014 Empties!!!

Hey guys!  One of my favorite types of YouTube videos to watch are 'Empties.'  I have never done an Empties blogpost, because I cannot even stand the though of hanging on to garbage, lol.  It annoys me to no end, I'm way too type A for that sort of thing.   Instead I decided to snap a pic of things as it's going into the garbage can, that way I can share with you what I'm using up and I don't have to hang on to it.  Win/win???  I have had this draft saved for like months, so I guess I'll go ahead and share this and get it posted! 

First thing I used up, my Michael Todd Peppermint Wake Up Body Wash.  This was pretty good, not my favorite body wash, but I did enjoy it nonetheless.  Not only did I use it for a body wash, but I also used it with my Mr. Pumice bar to exfoliate my feet.  I adored it for that!

Huggies wipes.  I keep these at my vanity to use both during makeup application and when I'm swatching products.  Work great.

I most enjoyed the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser, well, in the morning.  Smelled so clean and fresh and was a great pick me up.  Used it with my Clarisonic and would definitely repurchase.

Random bubble bath/body wash from BBW.  I love the simple scent of this.  I have SO many bubble baths and body washes to use up, so I'm not going to be repurchasing any for quite a while.

#projectdeclutter

BBW Strawberry Lemonade body lotion!  This was temporarily (I think) released as one of their 'Classics.'  This was my go-to scent in high school, so using it again was fabulous.  I stocked up on this, so I have like, 5 or 6 more bottles of it.  Yay!

I have really grown to love The Body Shop products, and this Vitamin C moisturizer was no different.  I have bought this numerous times before and it will always be something I kind of keep in rotation.  Love it.

I try to incorporate a serum into my morning and night-time face care routines, and I used this puppy up in like no time.  It felt really nice, don't know how effective it was in it's claims to resurface your skin, but I did like it.  Unsure if I would repurchase.

My favorite body oil to use when I get out of the shower or bathtub.  I love silky smooth, supple skin. ALL over my body and this does just that.  As soon as I step out of the shower I put my hair up in a towel, apply a tiny amount of this on wet skin, then I towel my body off.  Leaves your skin buttery soft, to the point where lotion is totally optional.  Love it, won't EVER be without it.  It's kind of $$$ for a drugstore product, but you can get a smaller bottle for less $.  I get this at Wal-Mart and get the biggest bottle they have.   I have used this for at least 10 years and I simply can't be without it, period.

For the past 6 months or so all I've been using toothpaste wise is the Crest 3D White.  This one was great and I would definitely repurchase.  Right now I'm using the 3D White Luxe.  I can't really tell a big difference between the two, either way I love them both.  My teeth are naturally pretty white, so I don't know if they really whiten your teeth that much.  But, it tastes great and makes your teeth feel really clean, and the whitening agents don't make your teeth sensitive (which is something I frequently experience with bleaching products.)

I love Aveeno products whether it be stuff for the face, body, hair or what have you.  I have a couple of other Aveeno face washes I am using up, but whenever I did need to buy a new face wash this would be a definite possibility.  Although I will mention, I have been using a new face wash I bought at Sephora that I am totally loving, stay tuned for my August favorites to see what it is!

Caress body washes are some of my absolute favorites, and I LOVE this Passionate Spell scent.  How a body wash lathers is of uber importance to me, and these do a phenomenal job.  Will always repurchase this in whatever scent they have!

As I empty stuff up I will probably continue to do this type of thing.  You can really give a better review of a product if you've used it long enough to empty it, you know?  Anyways, have a great weekend everybody!!!  Ciao!!!!

I Love My Viewers!

Just wanted to take a minute to thank each and every one of you who take the time out of your day to view my blog.  I am astonished each and every day to see that people all over this world are viewing my web page.  I can't thank you enough, and I am flattered beyond belief. So once again, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

NOTD: Essie Bikini So Teeny

Hey guys!  Today I am wearing Essie's adorable periwinkle blue Bikini So Teeny.  Such a sweet color to wear, it is basically a creamy polish (with extremely subtle silver shimmers in it in the bottle.)  Such an easy color to wear, but has a slight pop to your nails.  Love it.

I cut my nails off!!!!  They have been growing at a ridiculously fast pace this summer, and were as thick and hard as steel.  I was slicing a peach and sawed through one of them with a knife, so I went ahead and cut them all off.  I adore short clean nails, so this is perfect for me!  xoxoxoxo -

My Go-To Red Lip Look: YouTube Tutorial

Hey guys!  New tutorial up for a quick & easy red lip look!  Thanks for watching!!!

Vacation Beauty Haul: Target, Sephora & Ulta

Hey guys!  As you might already know from my blog, we went on one more kind of last-minute beach trip for the summer to Destin, Florida.  We were gone for a week, and while I was away I picked up some beauty stuff and thought I would share it with you.  I usually make sure I pack exactly what I'm going to need for trips, but I purposely didn't this time.  I wanted some new stuff so I packed really light and picked up what I needed along the way.  Hehe.

Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo/Conditioner, Target $14.99

I have used this shampoo for at least 10 years, probably longer.  Hands down the greatest smelling shampoo and conditioner OF LIFE.  Smells good enough to eat and I've had it on my mind for a while now.  I found it at Target and have been using the fire out of it ever since.  I'm sure all of you have used this at one time or another, but if you haven't, omgoodness, go out and get it TODAY.  It is just the BEST.

Revlon ColorStay Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, Target $8 In all honesty I truly did forget a black liquid eyeliner.  I grabbed this new one by Revlon, the ColorStay Skinny one at Target as well.  It is really black and easy to apply and I have really been enjoying it.

Healthy Sexy  Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray, Ulta $19.95

This is the texturizing spray I use at home, and I ran off and forgot this as well!  I have naturally dry/frizzy hair, and as much as I love sea salt sprays they tend to make my hair feel even drier.  This Soy Renewal Beach Spray with Argan Oil by Healthy Sexy Hair doesn't do that to mine.  I can't feel this product in my hair at all, and it really does help tame the wild unruliness I normally experience with my hair.  Love, love love.

Tree Hut DD Cream Raspberry Macadamia, Ulta $7.49

Tree Hut Hand Cream Coconut Lime, Ulta $5.29

Ever since I stumbled upon the Tree Hut sugar scrub and body wash at Wal-Mart, I have been HOOKED.  Definitely one of my favorite product lines this summer.  Every single thing I have tried from this line I have absolutely LOVED.  It was so sunny and bright in Florida and having a body lotion that had 20 spf in it was so handy.  Both of these products feel so nice and make your skin silky smooth.

Joico Travel Size K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor, Ulta $4.99 With all the salt water from the ocean and the chlorine from the pool, about mid-week I wanted to do a treatment on my hair to keep it looking and feeling nice.  Again, I've used this stuff for years and it has never let me down.

The Body Shop Hand Cream in Mango, Ulta $6

Great hand cream to throw in your purse, and the scent is so delicious.

The goodies on the shelves at the checkout always get me.  I already had the exact dry shampoo with me, and similar face wipes and nail polish remover.  But, these things are just so handy when traveling so I picked up some backups.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, Sephora $20

I went in Sephora just for this product.  This is available in 2 sizes, I went for the larger one because this face wash is uh-mazing.  Nothing special, just your basic no-frills face wash.  It's very mild but does such a great job of making your face feel super soft and clean without making your skin feel dry.  Highly, highly recommend.

It's on rare occasion I splurge on 500 point perks, but this was one of those occasions that totally deserved it.  I went ahead and picked up the Origins Round the Clock Radiance kit.  I am currently out of my beloved Nerium, and seeing as how I could pick this up for no extra cost, I thought it was a total steal.

You get a deluxe sample size Checks and Balances face wash,  huge GinZing and High Potency Night-A-Mins moisturizers.  When you purchase the GinZing and Night-A-Mins, the full-size products are 1.7oz.  In this perk you get 1oz bottles, which have SO much product!  And lastly you get a GinZing eyecream which I have always adored.  It brightens your whole eye area up and feels so good.  Totally worth the splurge here.

Alright guys, that just about does it for my beauty beach haul!  Hope you enjoyed.  Let me know what beauty things you're loving!!!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!  

Muuuaahhhh!

Sephora Haul: Caudalie, Urban Decay, Dior, Etc.

Hey guys!  So I was going through my posts today and I noticed this particular one that, for some reason, I just never got around to posting.  I got this stuff around 6 weeks ago or so, and I guess it helps waiting this long to post because I have a better idea on how I'm feeling about some of these products since I've had a chance to use most of them.  Let's get started.

First thing I picked up was the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (1 oz. bottle/$18).  I hadn't ever tried this stuff so I grabbed the smaller sized bottle to test it out.  Turns out I really love it.  It is described as part-toner part-serum mist of essential oils and plant active ingredients.  It claims to smooth the skin, tighten pores, and provide an instant burst of radiance because it stimulates microcirculation.  It doesn't contain any of the bad stuff (parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dyes, etc) and it truly does feel just lovely on your skin.  Definitely would repurchase.

Urban Decay de-slick Makeup Setting Spray (4oz bottle, $30)

I've used this bad boy for years.  I had been out of it for a while and was using other sprays I had, but I finally broke down and repurchased.  It reallyyyyyyy helps keep oil at bay for those oily gals like myself, and it really does help your makeup last all day.  Love UD setting sprays, and this is my ideal one for the hotter months.

Sephora Ultimate Brightening Serum (1.69oz bottle, $15)

I had noticed this product on Sephora's website several times before, and I finally decided to go ahead and try it.  This product retails for $30 but you can find it a good percent of the time half off for $15.  You get a fairly decent sized product for that amount, and I would definitely repurchase this.  It claims to diminish newly emerging and older skin pigmentation imperfections.  And while I haven't used this long enough to confirm it's true effectiveness, I can say that it definitely brightens your skin.  My favorite thing about it?  The scent.  OMGsh, smells SO good....almost like a men's cologne?  Nothing super strong or overpowering, but I adore the scent myself.  If you are someone who is particular about products having a scent that might be something you need to keep in mind.

Sephora Collection Z Palette ($28)

I've mentioned these a dozen times.  I have 3 of the large ones and 2 of the small ones.  My favorite Z palettes ever.

Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm ($27) I keep this lip balm on my nightstand and I use it before I go to bed at night.  It really is a great lip balm and while I would probably repurchase it, I think there are really great lip balms at the drugstore as well.  I really like that this one has a little bit of spf in it (spf 10 to be exact) and the delicate rose scent.

Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Brown 100 point perk, $25 for full-size product To be honest I haven't tried this yet.  It was really pretty at first glance though, and I love the packaging.  Looks like a pencil you would sharpen but it is in fact mechanical.  You get quite a bit of product in this perk as well!

Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Powder

100 point perk, $19-$34 for full-size products

This powder is made of 100% mineral silica for a glowing/radiant soft-focus look.  I adore Make Up For Ever products, and this is no exception.

Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil (5mL bottle was free with a coupon code.  Available from $18.50-$50) I packed this in my travel toiletry bag to use while I was in Destin this past week, and I really loved this.  My skin changes when I am in different climates and away from home, and this helped to kind of wake everything back up.  Super moisturizing and good for your skin, this has all those omegas for elasticity and smoothness and I love it.  I have an obsession with oils though, so if you're not into them this might not be for you.

Where it's been a while since I ordered this stuff I can't really remember what this goodie bag was.  I'm fairly certain it was a coupon code, or maybe it was a VIB or Rouge thing?  I don't remember.  But anyways, it came jam-packed with some really great stuff.

First thing was this Marc Jacobs Lip Lock lip balm.  This stuff feels uh-mazing.  Like I said above, there are some great lip balms at the drugstore, but this definitely feels incredible.  Suuupppppperrrrrrr soft and moisturizing, I would probably purchase this at some point.

Next thing in the goodie bag was this cute sample of the Givenchy LeRouge lipstick in Mandarine Bolero (muted red orange.)  I haven't tried this yet, I guess I'll use it when I'm going for a simple eye and a bold lip.  I definitely love red-orange lippies, so I'm sure this will go over well.

You also got 4 samples of Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks. I have a full-size tube of a Revolution lipstick -

My shade is Native.  I absolutely adore this lipstick so I'm sure I'll like the others.

And the last thing that came in this bag was 3 samples of YSL Gloss Volupte.  I own just one full-size YSL gloss - 

It is one of their Golden Glosses and my shade is Golden Macadamia.  The color and the look of the product is absolutely BEAUTIFUL.  But there are 2 things I do not like at all about this product - 1.  the applicator.  I am a total doe-foot (or similar) applicator gal, I HATE a brush applicator.  And, 2.  the smell/taste.  I haven't tried the samples of the new formula, but no one seems to complain about them, so I'm hoping they've improved.  I adore the new applicator and I think these colors are just beautiful.

And of course, all my samples.  Hope you guys found this interesting and maybe it gave you some ideas on some things to try out next time you're at Sephora.  Thanks for stopping by!!!