Current Loves

Alright, I have a few minutes to kill; the boyfriend is still sleeping, and I'm waiting for my dad to text me about what time he wants to meet for breakfast. It's my birthday today so we're going to Cracker Barrel to celebrate. :)

I was thinking of what I could write about and it all came back to these few things I'm currently obsessing over.  The first thing is fall, which I know I somehow mention in every post. But really, the weather is wonderful, it's just chilly enough for a fleece or hoody and it's pretty windy out there. All of the fall home scents have come out too...I think fall scented candles are my biggest weakness. We went to Ulta last night, as well as Bath & Body Works and picked some up. At Ulta, I bought a WoodWick Candle in the scent "Cider Mill." I love the WoodWick Candles because they crackle like a fireplace, are extremely scented and last a lot longer than any other candle I know of. At Bath & Body Works they had the Slatkin & Co. 4 oz. candles on sale 2 for $10, which is a great deal considering they are usually $9.50 a piece. I already have some scented oils from that brand in the fall scents so I picked up two candles, one in "Spiced Cider" and the other in "Autumn". Spiced Cider is amazing, it smells exactly like a mug of hot apple cider. I have the oil in that flavor as well so that should cover the whole house. The autumn candle smells just like one would expect "autumn" to smell. It smells like if you were to walk in the woods on a fall morning. Just delicious, I burned it last night. I also have an oil in the flavor "Leaves" which smells like, well, leaves. These types of smells just make me feel happy inside, I'm not sure why!

Bath & Body Works also sells the room sprays in those scents so I picked one up in "Spiced Cider" for an upcoming contest I'm hosting.

Another thing I'm loving? My new phone.

I went to AT&T on Thursday morning because my boyfriend had lost his phone the night before. My phone had been giving me some problems so I wanted to have them look at it, anyway. Well my boyfriend decided (after much deliberation) to buy the new Blackberry Torch. I've heard a lot about it, it's the first real touchscreen Blackberry and is supposed to be a super smart-phone. I'm not going to lie, I was jealous. The tech there, Fred was his name, couldn't figure out what was wrong with my phone so I asked when I was eligible for an upgrade. "Not until next April" Fred replied. Oh well.

But then we got to talking about U-Verse, AT&T's cable service. We are unhappy with our current service and Fred told us we could get U-Verse for $10 cheaper a month with all the same channels and internet, plus more. Fred then told me I could get the Blackberry for the upgrade price ($!99) if we switched to U-Verse. I was intrigued but I didn't need a new phone so I passed. He was really pushing the U-Verse so he said "alright, you can get the phone at the upgrade price AND I'll give you a $100 Visa gift card if you switch to U-Verse."
I still wasn't biting, I just couldn't justify it. But then he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. "I'll give you the $100 Visa gift card and I'll sell you the Blackberry for $98, if you switch." How could I turn that down? Even if I waited until April I'd end up paying $100 more for the phone. I was sold. And Fred could tell because he went and got a new phone and put it by the register "just in case."
Anyway, on to the phone. I love it! It's so complicated, I'm not even sure I know how to use it. I figured out texting, Facebook and Twitter, that's about it for now. The camera stopped working so I'm taking it back either today or another day this week, it must be a glitch. I feel rather important with this phone, like a high powered business woman. I think Blackberries have a way of doing that to a person.

The other thing I'm really liking is my Rimmel eyeliner. I had an eyeliner from Rimmel a really long time ago, it's down to a nub now, and all I could read on the pencil was "Magic." I wasn't sure of the exact color name or type of liner it was. I could never find another one to match up to it. I recently bought one called "Jet Black" and that was clearly not it. It didn't glide on smooth at all, wasn't super pigmented and didn't last long. So while at Meijer on Friday afternoon, I was walking by the Rimmel display and saw that there were two different black eyeliners. I swatched them both on my hand and it was clear as soon as I swiped the one called "Black Magic" on my hand that it was the one I had been after. It glides on so smooth, is super black and stays put. And it's only about $3.50! It looks awesome on the waterline, FYI.

I also have been in love with my Converse shoes. I got them at Target about a month ago for only $22. I used to have a pair of navy blue high tops but my sister has them and I wanted the shorter ones anyway. I also got them in grey because I'm obsessing over that as well and it goes with everything. I wear them all the time, as soon as I get out of work, if I run errands or anything, I slip them on. They are so comfortable and easy to drive in. And they look cute as well :)

Random Babble

I'm trying my hardest not to fall asleep at this very moment. This week has been super busy so far, and it's only Wednesday. At work we have what's known as "shut-down" where our building gets, well, shut down. Only for a week but during that time we deep clean and fix things that can't be done while we're surrounded with guests. There are a few good things about it, you get to work with people who's shifts don't normally cross yours, you get to work as many hours as you want to, and you get to wear normal clothes while blasting the music. The bad things about it are that you have to work-a lot- to get the things on your list checked off, you have to balance shut down maintenance with your normal everyday workload and then there's the waking up 6 hours before you usually do to get there early. But I'll take the overtime while I can, since things are still not looking good for poor old Michigan.

One thing I'm excited about is that it's raining here. And not just sprinkling, it's pouring cats and dogs with a fierce wind. We needed the rain so much, in August we set records for how dry it was. Maybe this will break the humidity? Wishful thinking. This has been one of the hottest summers I can remember. It's hard to breathe outside. This weekend is, however, supposed to be a high of around 70 so maybe fall is right around the corner? Let's hope.

...Not that it matters, I am moving into autumn with or without the weather's cooperation. I currently have Home Alone on the TV, which I consider to be a Christmas movie, and I have a Yankee Candle in Cozy Home burning and it smells ahhmazing! Apparently (after searching on Google for the better half of an hour) it's discontinued. It makes me want to blow it out and not burn it but it just smells so yummy, like all the scents of fall melted into a cute little orange jar.

=Anyway, on to the beauty part of this blurb. I'm contemplating dying my hair dark(er). Right now, it's a medium brown with blonde highlights. The highlights are growing out, a lot, and I'm sick of giving up mucho dinero for hair appointments. Plus with the winter months coming, I like a change. I'm just unsure. I picked up a box of Garnier Fructris hair color because it's my favorite kind. The avacado and grape seed oil really nourish my hair and make it silky smooth. I got the color Chestnut, or Medium Golden Brown. Still iffy on the color and if I should even color it at all...

=In other news, I picked up the new Soft Lips in the flavor Chai Tea. I'm not too impressed with the scent, I thought it would be more spicy but it's just a sweet vanilla-esque smell. It smells good, and fall like, don't get me wrong, I just was hoping for something that smelled more like the chai tea I order from Starbucks. Great conditioning as always and I love the size of the tube :)

I'm really hoping fall gets here soon. This weekend is going to be a good one. Saturday I may or may not go into work, but if I do, it will only be until about noon. Then, at 2:30pm it's UofM Football kick-off time baby! I can't wait! BDubs, Beer and my couch is all I want. Then at night, we're heading to Detroit for a really good friend's birthday. Sunday we have a Labor Day BBQ at my mom's house and I'm sure my boyfriend's family will want to get together for Labor Day on Monday, which is fine, since we both have that day off. I'm just excited for things to come, finding a school to go to finish my degree, my birthday in two weeks and the holidays of course. For me, from September on, the rest of the year is the best time and I couldn't be happier :)

I'm sure I'll do a tutorial or OOTD on Saturday so I will see you then!

Aces or Disgraces?

This will be my version of the "In and Out" or "Sexy vs. Skanky" topics. The 'Aces' are things I'm excited about, have been loving, or want to try. The 'Disgraces' are things that I'm just over or that are bumming me out. Not the best title but, that's all my creative-less brain could come up with at the moment. Let's see how many I can think of!







Aces


Fall! I'm so excited for the fall season I can't even stand it. It's not just fall, it's everything that goes along with fall. My whole personality changes in the fall time. I know spring is supposed to be a time or new beginnings but I really feel that way in the fall. I'm so excited for the things coming up that I'm just a happier person all around. I love the football games, the sound of the marching band and chanting the Michigan fight song, I love eating Panera Bread on lazy Sunday afternoons with my boyfriend. I love the colors that change in our makeup, nails and clothing. I love starting a big pot of chili in the morning and sprinkling the cheese on top with a dollop of sour cream right before I devour it. I love bonfires with big fleeces and a Bud Lite, I love sleeping with the windows open letting a nice cool breeze in, I love the smells and colors of all the leaves falling and the pumpkins and gourds ready to be picked, I love going to Three Cedars Farm and Cider Mill and of course, I love the upcoming holidays. There's nothing not to love about fall time. Ahh I can't wait! Ok, moving on...






Gel eyeliner. I have four of them. E.L.F. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Midnight and a Wet 'n Wild Mega Eyes Cream Liner in Eggplant and MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and Dipdown, They all work well, and I've neglected them. I've been so into smudging my eyeliner out that I forgot what my eyes looked like with a nice straight liner all the way around them. I think gel liners make the easiest winged out line and you can make the as thick or thin as you'd like. I wore it today for the first time in months and I really liked it. Plus, I don't want them to dry out so; I better get crackin'.






Routine. I've been running every morning and I'm really proud of myself for sticking to it. Even if I don't have a lot of time or energy, I still do my work out. I think getting into the habit of it is going to be the hardest part. I hate running, I really do but when I'm done I feel so accomplished. Not only am I going to be healthier for it, I'm hoping to lose a great deal of weight before Christmas...updates to follow.






Nude Nails. I'm not talking clear nail polish here. I love nude colors like Desert Haze by E.L.F. and Grey Suede by Revlon. They perform the same task on your hands as nude pumps would for your legs. They make them look longer and leaner. These colors also look so different on different skin tones so everyone looks unique.






D.I.Y. I am totally in to home renovations right now. I always have been, I watch HGTV and DIY Network religiously but I've only had my own place for about 8 months. I've been consumed with wanting to update this place for so long. When we first moved in, I made some minor changes, like reorganizing and painting the main rooms (living room, bathroom and kitchen- in that order) and putting up pictures and what not. Our next renovation will be the bathroom on the first floor and the kitchen. The boyfriend and I have been staying up late at night, just talking about what we want in the kitchen, measuring things out, researching galley kitchens online...basically dreaming. We don't want to do so many improvements that we go above the value of our home because we plan on selling within 10 years. I've always wanted an apron front farmhouse sink. I had all but given up on that, though, because of the hefty cost. However, I went to Ikea today with my sister and while we were walking around the model rooms, I heard her say "Ew, I hate this sink!" I walked over to see what she was looking at and BAM! It's an apron front. Now, I'm used to seeing sinks like this one priced anywhere from $500-$3,000. The price tag on the Ikea sink: priceless. Nah, I'm just kidding it was $299.00 Yes! A 36" apron front porcelain sink for under 300 dollars!






Whoa, did I just go on a tangent or what? Needless to say, I can't wait to get started on this remodel. :)










Now time for the Disgraces.


The vampire craze. I cannot even put into words how annoyed I am with the whole vampire scene. I don't care about Twilight, let alone all the other shows that are made to resemble it. I'm sick to death of hearing about True Blood, The Twilight Saga and Vampire Diaries. How long will this trend continue? Now I know how my step brothers felt when I was obsessed with *NSYNC and Hanson. The worst part is that it's not only kids that are engrossed in this movement; there's teenagers, twenty-somethings, even adults impatiently waiting for the next installment of Twilight to emerge. Blood sucking creatures were cool for a second when I was younger and Interview with a Vampire came out. Come to think of it; wasn't that when Tom Cruise was cool too? I can't stomach the hype that comes before, during and after these wretched movies releases. I don't care to see those "actors" from the movies anymore. I honestly feel that I'm the only one who isn't into it. I better just leave it at that.






While we're on the 'pop culture' phase of disgraces, I have to include the "anyone-who-was-ever-famous-for-anything-in-their-life-can-have-their-own-reality-show-about-nothing" thing that's currently going on. Who doesn't have their own show? Come on! Ochocinco? Don't even get me started on how that's not really how you say 85 in Spanish. Gene Simmons? Who cares about you anymore?! The TO Show? Boring slash weird. I'm sure he has a really hard time finding a mate. And why on earth do people still pay attention to Paris Hilton. Over it! Along with this is all the celebrity competition shows. Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Apprentice...Don't get me wrong, I love reality TV. I mean if I didn't watch that, what really would I watch? Real Housewives and Teen Mom are personal favorites...celebs need to give normal people the chance to shine.






Perez Hilton. I don’t really need to elaborate on this one…but I will. I cannot stand him. Now, does that mean I’ll “unfollow” him on Twitter? No. I need to know what’s going on gossip wise, even though lately, he hasn’t said anything worthwhile. I’m beyond sick of this person. He is one of the most annoying people on the planet. I was actually happy when the guy from Black Eyed Peas punched him. Doesn’t he know how stupid he looks when he addresses Lady Gaga as “Wifey”? Seriously? She never ever responds. He needs to stop acting like a fool and keep to himself. Most of Hollywood can’t stomach him. He doesn’t even report facts as much as his stupid opinion on everything and everyone. He acts like he is a celebrity himself only no one is supposed to pick on him at all. He can pick on everyone else, draw inappropriate things on their pictures and act like they are all best friends. Like famous people just come over his house for pizza. The thing that makes me the most frustrated is that he is becoming a celebrity because of all the hatred toward him. He’d accept any form of attention; which is sad because all he does is sit on the computer all day on Twitter and his blog. Someone needs to knock him down a peg…or just knock him out. Ok, got that out of my system.


The last “disgrace” I have for this time around is free samples. Of course I love most of them, who doesn’t? The ones I have a problem with are the ones that don’t give you enough to actually try the product. I recently received a sample of Frederic Fekkai Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner. I was excited because I’ve been itching to try it and it’s pretty expensive to buy, not knowing if you like it or not. But the little packet the product came in was barely enough to do half my hair. Don’t get me started on the packaging. I know it’s just a sample but those packets are nearly impossible to open! I have to open them and then set them upright in the shower until I’m ready to wash my hair because you can forget about trying to open them when your hands are wet. I must have 8 other sample packets in my bathroom drawer. I think samples need to be a little bigger with easier to open packaging because it would make me more apt to try them and purchase them if they’re what I’m looking for!






Well that’s all for me, I’m off to take a shower and get ready for work. It’s Friday the 13th so maybe a horror movie is in order for tonight? Thanks for reading!






-Liz

Updated Go-To Products!

I am going to post my "Go-To" Products again because the last time I did this was April. A lot has changed in 4 months, including the weather, trends and of course, my tastes. So, here we go:


Primer
Currently, I'm not using a primer at all. If I do, it's rare but I'll either use my Rimmel Fix & Perfect (which I used to loathe) or Loreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base on my t-zone. But typically, I apply my foundation right over my moisturizer.


Foundation
My foundation is ahhmazing. I cannot say enough good things about it. I'm currently using Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse in 110 Porcelain Ivory. Not Dream MATTE Mousse, but Dream SMOOTH Mousse. This foundation came out about a month ago, I'd say, and I'm in love! It provides medium to full coverage and leaves your face with a healthy, dewy glow. I apply it with a 187 brush and it looks flawless!


Concealer
Ahh, finally I end my battle with concealers. I've found my concealing soul mate and it's name is Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque. This concealer has a peachy tone to it, which helps cancel out dark circles. I also found it at the CCO so I saved a few bucks, which is always nice. I apply this concealer with either a fluffy brush or a flat concealer brush, both work wonders. I'm not saying this is forever my HG concealer, but for now, we have a winner :)


Setting Powder
I really have been loving my CoverGirl TruBlends Mineral Powder in Translucent/Fair. It looks dark in the jar but it's a perfect match. It isn't completely matte, so it leaves a good finish on top of my Maybelline foundation. I really like this powder for setting my makeup!


Blush
I absolutely love my MAC Stereo Rose MSF. It is such a pretty coral/pink color and gives a glow at the same time. I want to use it everyday, but I'm afraid I'll waste it if I do!! I can't imagine getting my hands on another!

Contour/bronzer
I really like my Milani Sunset Duo in Sunset City. I have never used the blush from it because it's rather small. But I love the bronzer part. It looks like it would be too dark for me but it really isn't. It's not muddy or orange either, which is a big deal. There are minimal sparkles but they work with the glowy face I've got going on this summer.


Cream Highlight
I gotta give LolaMarie7 (on YouTube) a shout out right now. She created this tag and I love that she put "Cream Highlight" and "Highlight" in separate categories. Now I don't have to choose between the two! For a cream highlight, I'll go with my E.L.F. Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal. I've heard this is a dupe for a Benefit product but I'm not sure. Lilac Petal is a taupe/lavender color and it gives a really nice glow on the nose or cheekbone. Blends really well too.

Highlight
I'd say MAC Perfect Topping MSF. This Mineralize SkinFinish is a cream color with gold, orange, peach and purple veining throughout. It does an excellent job at highlighting and doesn't look too powdery.

Mascara
My Go-To mascara of the moment has to be MAC Zoom Lash. I never thought I'd like a MAC mascara, I've only heard negative things about them, but I do. I got this as a free sample with a code I had for free shipping one day and I really ended up liking it. It reminds me a little of Maybelline Lash Stilettos, so maybe I'll have to give that one another go.

Eye Shadow
This is hard, I'm going to have to pick more than one. The eyeshadows I reach for most often are Stila Kitten, MAC Shroom, MAC Wedge and MAC Warming Trend. All neutrals, as usual.

Eye Liner
Has to be Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon. A deep chocolate brown with gold flecks. It doesn't irritate my eyes like other pencils can.

Lip Liner
I still never, ever wear lip liner but if I do, I'd say NYX Rose. It's a bright vivid pink color that makes your lips pop.

Lipstick
Probably MAC Shy Girl. It's the perfect coral-nude color. If I'm not sure what to wear, I wear that.

Lip Gloss
The lipgloss I find myself reaching for most often is probably Loreal Colour Juice in Bubble Gum. It smells great and the color is a milky, opaque peachy color. It's a similar color to Revlon Peach Petal Superlustrious Lipgloss from the new collection, only difference is the applicator. I like the tube better than the wand. This looks great over a lot of different lipsticks or alone.

Eyebrow
I don't do anything to my eyebrows so...

Makeup Brushes
The makeup brushes I use nearly every day are 187, 150, 194, 239, 224, Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush, E.L.F. Blending Eye Brush and E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush.


Nail Polish
I have been really into nudes, greys and muddy browns lately, much like everyone else. My favorites are E.L.F. Smoky Brown, E.L.F. Desert Haze, OPI You Don't Know Jacques, Essie Playa Del Platinum, Revlon Grey Suede, Rimmel Steel Grey...you get the picture.


Well, those are my Go-To Products as of August, 2010. What are yours?

-Liz

A Little Update...

Wow, May 11th? The last time I wrote a blog post was May 11th? Unacceptable.



Moving on, today is August 9th, 2010. A good day to document since a date like 8-9-10 doesn't happen very often. I'm lying on the couch watching Real Housewives of New Jersey. Gosh I hate/love this show. These people are ridiculous, but I must stay tuned.

I'm pretty proud of myself because I made tomato, basil and mozzarella pasta for dinner, with no recipe. It turned out really good, if I don't say so myself. (And got Josh's stamp of approval as well.) I want to start cooking dinner more often. I think I will when the weather starts cooling off. It has been so unbearably hot here; I haven't wanted to use the oven or stove. Anytime we cook, we grill. Speaking of grilling, we are hosting another bbq this weekend. I'm excited because we've had it "planned" for almost a year. This is our first year with our own house, patio, backyard, firepit, outdoor table, grill, etc., and I've come to realize we love to entertain. We also have a smoker, so maybe we'll use that too.



I honestly cannot wait until fall. Fall is by far my favorite season. I love absolutely everything about it. Wait, I love everything about it except the fact that it means winter comes next. But I really love fall because of the colors, the smells, the crops, cider mills, pumpkins, and the holidays starting and of course, FOOTBALL. I think we're going to skip the UofM games this year, save some money and watch from home. I have a feeling they won't be doing excellent this year anyway...but we can hope.

So that's what I'm looking forward to; fall (and everything that comes along with it), hosting parties and actually not being in school for the first fall season since I was four years old. I will be in school again, but I'm definitely taking a much needed year off. I accomplished my degree, but still have no idea what I'm going to do. So, there's that...

Hmm...what else is new? Oh! I've been running in the mornings before work. Ok, well, it's only been 2 weeks but I plan to keep doing it, 4-5 times a week. I really want to get healthy. That being said...I ruined whatever good I did today with my pasta and about 4 Paula Deen cookies. I know, I know. Tomorrow is a new day. I have also been considering switching from coffee to tea. We'll see how that goes.


Since this is a makeup/beauty blog, I guess I should talk a little about it. I'm really excited about the Eye of the Day I came up with for work today. I tried something a little different, putting MAC Bare Study Paint Pot (a shimmery white/beige colored base) all over my eye. I topped it off with MAC Phloof! Eyeshadow (Shimmery off white) from lash line all the way to the brow bone. I used a 224 Brush to put MAC Wedge Eyeshadow (a medium toned brown) in the crease, just to add a little dimension. Then I used my new E.L.F. gel liner in Midnight (a deep navy) and made bold line on my upper lash line with a winged out edge. Then I used a Rimmel eyeliner (I can't remember the name but it's a navy color as well) on the lower lash line. Finished with MAC Zoom Lash Mascara and I was good to go. Took me all of 5 minutes but I really loved the way it turned out. Note to self: Experiment More.



I also need to invest in a night time eye cream. I’ve heard you are supposed to start using them in your early 20’s and I’ve already noticed some fine lines around my eyes and nearly panicked. I need to also look for a face wash containing Benzoyl Peroxide because I know I’m going to break out with the weather changing in the next month or so and I don’t think my skin reacts to Salicylic Acid. Benzoyl Peroxide is a harder ingredient to find than Salicylic Acid so this should be fun. Very interesting, I know.



I think I may do one more blog post before bed, perhaps an updated Go To Products? Lots have changed since April :)



Talk at you soon, Forensic Files just came on.



Liz

My Favorite Drugstore Products :)

So I have a crock-pot of White Chili cooking on the counter, I've finally gotten into my sweats and I'm curled up on the couch not doing my homework since my books haven't arrived yet. It's raining men [I wish, especially ones that resemble Tim Tebow] like crazy outside and has been all day. It's chilly for May - hence the pot of chili that smells wonderful by the way. 
Anyway, I feel like I've been neglecting this blog...and I don't want to do that so...


I think I'll list my favorite drugstore products. I think it's easy to write drugstore items off as "cheap" but there are some great products out there that I've fallen in love with; some that department store products can't hold a candle to.


The first "category" I'll mention will be haircare.
Two drugstore brands that I genuinely love for haircare are Suave and John Frieda. I love Suave because a) they are extremely inexpensive (less than $2/bottle) and b) they really do work wonders for my hair. My favorite line is the Suave Professionals and it's a toss up between Suave Professionals Vibrant Shine and Suave Professionals Rosemary and Mint for shampoo and conditioner. They both work about the same for my normal hair and they both smell amazing. My hair always feels shiny, smooth and soft after using either of these shampoos and conditioners. Now on to John Frieda. I think "he" makes fantastic "high-end" feeling shampoos and conditioners. They are a bit more expensive for a drugstore brand, about $7 a bottle/tube but I think they work well for colored/processed hair. His shampoos are generally aimed for fixing certain problems. I personally like the ones aimed for making blonde hair brighter and taking the brassiness out. I also love his Frizz-Ease line. All the products in that line make your hair smooth and tamed without weighing it down. My favorites are the John Frieda Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioning Spray and the Frizz-Ease 100% Shine Glossing Spray.


Another drugstore hair product that I recommend to anyone is the Pantene Pro-V  Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask. It retails for about $5 and last quite a long time. I use this mask about once a week instead of my normal conditioner and I only put it on about the bottom half of my hair. After I put a coat of this on I leave it on for about 3 minutes, I'll brush my teeth or shave my legs while it's "replenishing" my hair. Since I first bought this probably 2 years ago, I refuse to go without it. As soon as I get down to the bottom of the tub, I'll run out and purchase another because I think it is that good. 


The next product is TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray. I think this spray does a really good job of protecting your hair before you blow dry and before you straighten. I also like that it is inexpensive (about $5) and has a unique sprayer that is easy to use.


The last product I'm going to mention for haircare is the new L'Oréal Elnett StrongHold Hairspray. I have to admit, this is a "YouTube made me do it" type of product. I wanted needed to get it as soon as I heard about it. I've tried a ton of drugstore hairsprays. I tried the Herbal Essences one and the nozzle always got clogged, I've tried the Aussie one and it smelled like Grape Dimetapp. I've tried countless others and they all gave my hair a crunchy french fry texture...not cute. But when I sucked it up and bought this L'Oréal hairspray for (gasp!) $14.99, I didn't regret it. It made my hair stay in place but didn't change the look or feel of my hair. This hairspray also has the finest mist. The smell is just o.k., it smells like you would expect a hairspray to smell. I can live with it though, for what it does for my hair. I can still easily run my fingers through it - I'm in love. I don't use hairspray that often so I think hope this will last me a loooong time :)


Let's talk about skincare:
As a brand, I really like Clean&Clear. I feel like they have amazing products for people with acne-prone skin. I can't think of a time I was really "let down" by one of their products. My favorites are the face lotions. I like the Morning Glow Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15 because it really illuminates my skin and has an SPF for the day. I also like the Dual Action Moisturizer because it fights acne as it moisturizes. I just wish it had SPF!! I like their Advantage Acne Spot Treatment because it's the only spot treatment that gave me a noticeable difference overnight.


Another brand I'm rarely disappointed in is Aveeno. They are a little pricey but still affordable. They also use a lot of natural ingredients, which is good. My go to face wash, the one I've been using for at least a year now is the Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub. I honestly feel that it gives my skin a nice glow and does a good job as a daily exfoliator. I also love their Positively Smooth Shave Gel.


I can't talk about my favorite drugstore skincare products without mentioning St. Ive's. I never really realized how many products I own by St. Ive's until recently. My favorite product by them has to be the body washes. All of them. Especially the Oatmeal Shea one. All of them smell heavenly and moisturize like crazy. These are especially nice in the colder/drier months. I also love their lotions. My favorites are the Renewing Collagen Elastin Lotion as well as the Oatmeal Shea lotion. They all smell so warm and cozy and they're not at all greasy. Another St. Ive's product that I pretty much can't live without is their Apricot Scrub. I use the Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub. It's good for a weekly exfoliator on your face and body. I really like how they make you feel like you have a clean slate and a fresh start with your skin by sloughing off all those dead skin cells.


I absolutely love Neutrogena products as well. I love their Pore Refining Toner. It's not too strong to where it dries out your skin but it definitely gets any remaining makeup out of your pores. Their sunblock is fabulous too. I use the Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 60. It's great.

Another product that I can't live without would be the Up & Up (Target's brand) makeup removing wipes. They are the best I've ever found and I've tried a lot of different brands. The towelettes are textured so it really gets all the makeup off and they smell nice. Plus for $3.49 for a pack of 30? Sold.


Now onto makeup:
I can think of a fantastic makeup item for just about every category that you can find at the drugstore. I'll just go by facial features.


Lips: I love Nivea's Kiss of Moisture Essential Lip Care. The most moisturizing, smooth feeling lip balm I've ever tried. I have one in my purse, one on my vanity, one on my nightstand and back ups all over the place.
I also love Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick. They are super creamy and they have a nice color selection. For lipgloss I gotta go with Maybelline Shine Sensational Lipgloss. They are long-lasting without being too sticky and they're shimmery but not glittery. The Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour Glosses are also fantastic if you want that sparkly look.


Eyes: I truly believe that drugstores have the best mascaras on the market. My absolute favorite is Rimmel's Max Volume Flash. It makes your lashes voluminous and long and isn't clumpy at all. I also love Rimmel Glam Eyes Lash Flirt, Covergirl Volume Exact Mascara, Maybelline Define-A-Lash and a few others. One of the best eyeliners I've ever tried has to be Milani's Liquif' Eye in Brown. It's so soft and creamy and once it's dry, it doesn't budge all day. I also think Wet N Wild has really stepped up their game and have put out some fabulous eye shadows in the Color Icon Palettes. They blend really well. I did a blog post on them, you can check it out below if you want more info!


Face: I have to mention Physician's Formula Baked Blush in Baked Berry. I believe this delectable dome shaped baked blush is discontinued [ :( ] but you can still get it online [Thank Goodness.] It's the perfect shimmery pink summer shade. I also love NYX Blush in Natural and of course...the N.Y.C. Blushable Creme Sticks. These things are amazing! I just dot a little on the apples of my cheeks, blend it in and go. So quick and easy and gives you the look you want whether it be dramatic coral cheeks or a natural pink flush.
For a primer, there's two drugstore ones that I love. The first being Revlon Age Defying Primer. I think this may be discontinued (again, sad face) but even if it is, I still have a holy grail drugstore face primer. The Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base. This primer is seriously great. It gives your face a perfectly matte base to work with. Your skin feels velvety and soft. Love it!
I'm also a huge fan of Revlon foundations. Of course the coveted ColorStay is my everyday foundation but I also love PhotoReady for days that I want more glowy skin and/or less coverage. But I do think there is a foundation that is very "underhyped." Covergirl TruBlend Whipped Foundation. If I really need full coverage or a completely matte look, I grad this one. It's easy to apply with a brush because it comes in a jar and it has a very silky texture. Great color matches too!
And bronzers...I love my N.Y.C. Bronzer in Sunny. I think it's the perfect finish for a bronzer. I don't like ones that are too shimmery, they don't contour very well. This one is perfect and it's not too dark either.


Well, I think I've rambled on long enough and I must now go and put a pie in the oven...I hope you enjoy this list and I'll probably be editing it soon because I know I'm forgetting a million products. What are some of your favorite drugstore items??

My Everyday Makeup Routine

I will do a video of this soon...and then I will post it on this page. My camera is currently sitting on the counter and I'm currently in need of a shower...plus I also have a list of 3 or 4 videos to do. On the plus side, I have all day tomorrow to film :)

On to the makeup routine as of May, 2010 (I love to try new products so it will change soon, I'm sure.)

After I wash my face and put on Nivea Kiss of Moisture Hydrating Lip Care, I use a toner. For the past 3 months I've been using Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner. It's not too strong but still gets makeup residue off. I haven't noticed shrinking pores but it works well as a toner anyway.

Then I'll choose between using my Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+ or Clean & Clear Morning Glow Moisturizer Oil Free SPF 15 Moisturizer depending on how long I plan on being outside that day. The Clean & Clear moisturizer has an illuminating effect that I really like.

For primer, I've been using L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base and I'm in love. This primer diminishes the look of pores and I'm assuming it would do the same for fine lines. It makes your face matte and is a perfect base. It really is magic. You only need a tiny bit (which is good because the jar is freakin' tiny) and you can evenly spread it over your face. If I have any out of the ordinary redness I'll also use L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer, I got these two when Ulta had a BOGOHO on L'Oreal products. I don't need the anti-redness primer everyday but I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who has excessive redness.

Now that the boring stuff is overwith, I'll start with the makeup.

In my "Go-To Products Video", I mention Revlon PhotoReady Foundation as my favorite. I believe that that foundation is good for people with normal to dry skin, or if you have oily skin, I think it would suit better for the colder, drier months. It was my all time favorite HG foundation but since the weather has gotten warmer and my skin has been more oily, I've switched up my routine. Lately I've gone back to another foundation, Cover Girl Trublend Whipped Foundation. This one is a perfect match to my skintone (I find the Revlon to be a little yellow for me) and it is about as full coverage as coverage can get. It makes me look almost airbrushed and dries to a velvety finish. I love this foundation, especially during the summer because it doesn't add any unwanted sheen. Love!

Then I'll do concealer. A lot of people put concealer on before foundation but I've never thought to do it that way before so I'm not gonna start now! For concealing blemishes or scars, I use Maybelline Cover Stick because it's thick and creamy and covers pretty well. You do need to set it with powder to make it last all day though. Then for under my eyes I'll use Clinique Advanced Concealer. I love this because it dries to a powder so that it sets itself. It also covers dark circles pretty well.

Next, I set everything with a powder. I alternate between 3 powders for this based on what look I'm trying to achieve for the day. If I need more coverage and/or I used PhotoReady Foundation I will use NYX Twin Cake powder. It provides a little color and goes on very smooth. If I am preparing for looong day at work/school or I'm going to be outside and risk sweating or my makeup running anywhere I'll use E.L.F. Studio High Definition Powder. This powder is really messy but it works wonders. It will help keep your oil to a minimum throughout the day and it's translucent. I like to apply it with a puff and blend it in with a kabuki. Some people say its comparable to the MUFE HD Powder, and even a little better. Plus its only $6. Can't beat that. If I'm going out at night or I want to add a little illumenence to my face, I'll use the Revlon PhotoReady Translucent Finisher. I like how it adds a little dimension to my face and it applies evenly and easily.

After setting powders I apply my bronzer, blush and highlight. For bronzer I always use New York Color Bronzer in Sunny. I like this bronzer because a.) its a nice warm brownish tan color that looks natural as a contour. b.) its matte and c.) it's like $2.99. I put that on the bottom of my cheek bones and through my temples to my forehead. Then for blush I've been obsessed with NYX Blush in Natural. It really does look natural. ha. Then for a highlight I use MAC MSF in Perfect Topping. just on the very tops of my cheek bones, temples, top of my nose, cupid's bow and chin.

Then I spray my whole face with MAC Fix + and let it dry...and put my nose ring back in :)

For my everyday neutral eyes, I have it down to a science. First I prime my eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion. Then I put Ulta's Truffle Eyeshadow all over my lid, followed by MAC Satin Taupe in the crease. I blend it all out and put MAC Shroom in the inner corner and under my brow. Top it off with either MAC Fluidline in Dipdown or Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in Deep Brown, on the upper and lower lash line, depending on how much time I have. I finish with Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara. Very simple yet flattering.

After that I basically grab a lipgloss and run out the door hoping to make it to work before 9:04. :)


What do your everyday makeup routines consist of?