October Favorites

It's that time of month again! Is anyone else kind of freaking out that it's November next month? What did I even do this year?? Oh, work. How could I forget? 

Let's get on with the products.

THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment

Yes, I have the THIRTYMUD mask in another favorites post, but I had to! This mask saved my skin on all our flights.  I had to go through one layover each on the way to Barcelona and on the way back home, so my skin was super dry and parched from all the recycled air on the planes. Just a thin layer of this was enough to keep my skin from going completely wonky. I won't get into the details again, but you can read the last favorites post from September here. 

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne

Picked this baby up on my trip and I've been using it every day since. It's not a scent I normally go for, it's very fresh, fruity (not sweet though), and a bit woody. Not floral in the slightest, which is what all my perfumes smell like. The fragrance is very distinct. I loved it at first sniff. You can wear this scent all year round, but it's definitely more of a daytime fragrance. Go to your nearest Jo Malone counter and check this out!

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm - Sultry

An oldie but a goodie. It's finally Fall, so I've been wearing darker lip colors. I actually think Sultry is a very good dupe for the Kylie Jenner lip trend lately. This color is a darker pink, with some brown undertones. You can see how it looks on me in my Revlon Balms post. I've been loving mattes lately, and this one is so comfortable on the lips and not drying at all. Can't even feel it and it's long lasting too.

Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner - Enchantment

I've been pairing my Sultry matte balm with this lip liner from Rimmel. I never thought I would be a lip liner girl, but since using this product, I've noticed how lining your lips and filling them in makes your lips so much fuller. My lips are very thin and I have a small mouth, so anything helps. The color is a perfect match to the Revlon balm as well. The lip liner goes on smoothly, isn't drying and slightly waxy, so the color stays put. Besides you can't beat the price point at $5.99.

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

This was the only mascara I brought with me on my two and half week trip. It survived the sweat and sun of Barcelona and Rome, and the wind and rain of Amsterdam and Berlin. The only issue I have with this mascara is the wand, it's too big, so it's very easy to get it on your eyelids. But it's an easy fix. This stuff doesn't budge at all, and I never have any problems with smudging or flaking under my eyes.

City Maps 2Go - Travel Guide and Offline App

This app is a lifesaver. It helped us out so much on the trip. The amazing part about this app is that it doesn't require data or WIFI, you can use it anywhere and it'll locate you on the map. For anyone traveling, download this app right now, it's free too! I used this every single day, it helped me find landmarks, restaurants, bars, everything.

What have your favorites been this month? Let me know down in the comments! :)

September Favorites

So instead of packing, I'm writing this post. Priorities heh. September is finally over, which means the trip is finally here. AHHHH! I've been so stressed out and nervous thinking out all the things we have to do and plan, but I think we have almost everything done. Fingers crossed nothing will go wrong while we're over there.  I won't be blogging while I'm on this trip, because I'm not bringing my laptop, and I kind of want to just take a break from the computer. So no posts for the next two weeks. Sorry guys! You can follow me on my adventures in Europe on my Instagram!

This month's favorites will give you a sneaky peek into what I'll be bringing on my trip. I'm not bringing the whole jar of my THIRSTYMUD, because that's just going to take up too much room.

It's A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product
This is the original formula, and if you remember my first favorites post, I wrote about the keratin version. The smell is a bit overpowering, but it's a good smell. I think I'll be repurchasing the keratin one after I finish with this, because the smell is lighter. Comparing both, they work the same, with the same 10 benefits. This detangles my super thick hair in seconds. I don't spray this directly onto my hair, but into my hands and just run my fingers through my hair.

THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment
This has quickly become my holy grail moisturizing mask, I don't know what I did without this in my life. My skin used to have so many dry patches, but this has helped balance my skin. After washing my face, I don't get that tight feeling anymore. At $69 a jar, it's definitely not the cheapest product out there, but I think it's worth it, especially if you're like me and have super dehydrated skin. Read my post about a great deal on Sephora here.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
This eyeshadow primer is so, so much better than Urban Decay's Primer Potion. I had my eye makeup on the whole day, and my oily eyelids were still dry after about 10 hours. No creasing or smudging, and my eyelids felt satiny (that's the only way I can describe it). It comes out white, but dries transparent after you rub it in. If anyone is looking for a new eyeshadow primer, I recommend this one.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
A bottom lash mascara might seem gimmicky and a waste of money, but this has made applying mascara on my tiny, sparse bottom lashes so much easier. It doesn't smudge and run down your face either. The mascara comes with a small wand, so you can coat all the lashes. The packaging is compact, so it doesn't take up much space.

I might have another post while I'm gone, but it all depends on how much I can pack tomorrow. Hope you all liked this post! Leave me comments on what your favorites were this month! :D

August Favorites

September is finally here and you know what that means? Exactly one month until my vacation! I'm a few days late on this post, but I just haven't found the motivation to blog. 

I've been super into doing masks lately, especially since this month, my skin was breaking out more than usual. I do a mask at least once a week, sometimes twice a week, just to clear out all the gunk, plus it feels nice.

The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask

This mask is intense, whenever I use it, I have to use a moisturizing mask afterwards. I have really sensitive skin, so there's a slight burning sensation when I first apply this, but it goes away pretty fast. I don't leave it on that long, only until the whole mask dries, which is about 10 minutes or so. This leaves my skin so clean, and my pores look smaller too afterwards.

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

My favorite exfoliating mask, this makes your skin so smooth and bright. It exfoliates without the scrubby bits, since this mask uses acids; it doesn't dry out your skin though. I can only use this once a week, which is recommended as well. It has a fruity smell and it feels like fruit puree jelly. Your skin definitely looks radiant after using this.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

I got this in a Sephora set, but I kind of forgot about it until the past couple months. The skin under my eyes gets pretty dry and just looks so dull, especially when I don't get enough sleep (which is quite often).  This is not an anti-wrinkle cream, so I think this would be good for those people just starting to use eye creams. There are sparkles in this, to help your eyes look brighter and more awake, so I do not suggest using this at night.

Deborah Lippman Nail Lacquer - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun 

I've been loving this nail polish all summer long, not just in August. They describe it as a "carefree coral", and it is certainly a very bright, almost neon coral color. I like the gel-like finish it leaves behind the most. The color glides on smoothly and dries really fast too.

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo - Pomegranate Punk

My love for these cream shadows is never-ending. Unfortunately, this color is discontinued, but maybe you can still find it in stores, but it's definitely not sold online anymore (I only checked Ulta, Target, and the drugstores online). I never thought I would wear red eye shadow, but surprisingly, it's very natural. The color is a burgundy, brown. You can build it up or wear it sheer. Perfect for the fall and winter months coming up.

Is anyone else excited for cardigans and boots weather? I'm really not sorry to say goodbye to summer :) What have you been loving this month?

July Favorites

And just like that, July is over. This month has been super hectic for me, so I'm glad it's finally done with. Work and apartment hunting is stressing me out so much, all I want to do is sleep when I get home. 

Anyways, it's been super hot here lately and I don't like to wear too much on my face when it feels like it's going to sweat off any second, so I've been just wearing a bolder lip and keeping everything else bare. And to keep my lips hydrated in this heat, I think I might have found my favorite lip balm EVER. The Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm is super duper moisturizing and I love that it's a squeezy tube, so no need to dirty fingers. It also has SPF 25, which is important since we tend to forget about protecting our lips from the sun. The consistency is like petroleum jelly, but since you only need a little tiny bit, it doesn't feel gloopy at all. I think what I like the most is the scent though, the one I have is Lemon Chamomile and it reminds me of a lemon cake, smells delicious!

Another lip product I've been using lots this month is the Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in New York Scene. You can see my swatches here. This is more like a liquid lipstick but with a balmy consistency. It doesn't dry out your lips at all. I would say I got a few good hours of wear, and it would have lasted longer without eating or drinking. The colors are gorgeous and extremely pigmented, especially the darker colors. The only fault about this is the initial smell from the tube, but that goes away when you apply it.

I've been using the Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer  from First Aid Beauty for over a month now and I can definitely say that I like it. It's a much lighter consistency than the Ultra Repair Cream, which I still use at night. I've been using the moisturizer in the mornings and I like how it's so light and sinks in quickly. You need a pee sized amount for your entire face and it's really good to use under foundation as well.

Last favorite this month is my Bauble Bar Daisy necklace. I originally wanted the white one, but they were out of stock and sent me the ivory colored one instead, but I really like it anyways. I freaking love Bauble Bar, because it has absolutely everything for everyone. The prices are decent, without compromising quality, and they always have sales and flash deals.

Hope you all had a good month and let me know if you've tried any of these products or had any favorites to share! :)

June Favorites

Ahhh...June is over! The weather has been so warm and beautiful, it makes me want to go to the beach and just lie out with a book under a big umbrella. So, who watches soccer (or football for the rest of the world)?! I've been OBSESSED with the World Cup, I sneak in little snippets online when I can at work! Does anyone else do that? :D 

Anyways, back to the products! This month I've been using my NARS blush/bronzer duo tons. I got this in a set from Sephora back in December last year, but I've only recently been loving it. This is a mini version of the Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer.  I used to not like the Laguna bronzer much, because it seemed so hard to get the color to show up, but I found out I was just using the wrong brush. Oops. I use it less as a contour, more as something to warm up my face a bit, and it's easy to use because it's so buildable. It has a little shimmer in the pan, but it doesn't show up at all when you apply it. It's a nice product to have for people that are just starting to use bronzers, since you can't really mess up when you use it. I like the Orgasm blush, because it's such a pretty sheer peachy shade. It can flatter all skin tones as well. 

I always go light on the blush when I use it, because my cheeks are super red naturally. So I was always afraid to use cream blushes, because they seem so pigmented. But the Stila Convertible Color in Petunia is such a gorgeous shade, I just had to try it. It's the perfect Spring and Summer blush, giving your cheeks a nice, glowy flush. I haven't used it on my lips yet, but I feel weird applying something I put on face on my lips.

Another lippy favorite is the Body Shop Colour Crush Shine lipstick in #15 Fuchsia Flirt. Really comfortable to wear and leaves a bright pink color on your lips as the day goes on. Read my post about them here.

A non-beauty favorite has been Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. This was highly recommended by my friend Claire and she was kind enough to lend me her signed copy! Neverwhere is the first book I've read by Neil Gaiman, although I've heard tons of good things about the author. This book is a mix of fantasy and reality with a dark side to it. It's about a normal, London man whose world is turned upside down one day after helping a bleeding girl on the street. I loved it and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy books!

I hope you guys all had a wonderful month and remember to stay cool!

February Favorites

February always goes by so fast, which means this blog is officially one month old! Decided I would share some of the products I've used and loved this month. Some have been favorites for a while, but I want to share them anyway.

This cleansing balm is the first one I've ever tried, but I really like how it's non-irritating, especially for my sensitive skin. It's been extremely effective, even taking off my impossible waterproof mascara. I only use this for my eyes, and you only need a little bit. Normally, I wet my face, and then rub it in gently. This stuff doesn't burn your eyes at all, which is perfect, since I tend to rub it straight into my eyeballs sometimes.

I am the laziest person when it comes to my hair, I don't take care of it at all, so leave-in conditioner is a must. My hair has been dyed so many times, it feels like a broom and looks like it too sometimes. They didn't have the original It's a 10 in the store, so I bought this one. I don't know how this compares, but it does the job. It makes my hair so soft and smooth. A must try for lazy ones like me.

I'm definitely not the only one, but this winter has made my skin the driest it's ever been. I wash my hands a lot too, so it gets dry and cracked, even bleeding sometimes. I heard the Body Shop hand creams were moisturizing, so I decided to buy this to try, since they were having a sale too. I use this at night right before bed, and my hands have felt so much softer, so no more scaly alligator hands!

If you don't know this already, lippies are my favorite makeup product. It brightens up your face, even when you have nothing else on. 

Revlon's Just Bitten Balm Stains are always in my bag, and my favorite color is this one in the picture, Romantic. The color is a bright, pinky red. It's so moisturizing and amazingly long lasting, you don't even really need to put a lip balm under it. Even after I wipe my mouth, the red color is still bright.

NYX's butter glosses are so popular, and I can see why. The color I have here is Red Velvet; it is totally different from the color of the packaging, which can trick you. Red Velvet is more of a dark fuchsia than a dark red. The glossiness is just right, since I hate glosses that look like you have too much product on your lips. And the pigmentation is incredible. I wouldn't say it's extremely long lasting, especially after you eat, but it's still really good.

Maybelline's Elixirs have the cutest packaging. It's a gloss, but the shape looks like a lipstick in a clear casing. The only color I have is Rose Redefined, which is a pale pink color. It was difficult choosing which color to get, because they look really similar. This is not a stain, but I like how the shininess and color last for hours, without the need to reapply for that slight, glossy look.

I can't believe I'm putting an eye shadow as a favorite, but this is definitely one. Maybelline's Color Tattoos are loved by so many people, but I never dared to try it, since it's a cream shadow, which I'm scared of. However, this is so easy to apply and the color payoff is amazing. My favorite color of the bunch is Bad to the Bronze, which is a taupey, bronze with a bit of shimmer in it. I tested this out multiple times, where I wore it for over 6 hours, and it didn't crease at all, or at least not noticeably.

So who doesn't like chocolate, especially makeup that smells like it? I definitely like this Too Faced Chocolate Soleil over the NARS Laguna bronzer, because this one is matte and more pigmented. Sometimes I can go a little bit overboard with my brush, but this bronzer is extremely blendable, so mistakes are easy to fix.

My holy grail liquid eyeliner (yes I said it), this Stila eyeliner surprised me with its long lasting powers. I have the oiliest lids, gross I know, but it makes it so hard to find an eyeliner. I still use eye primer, so it lasts even longer. This eyeliner can last 8 plus hours on me, without smudging at all. It's extremely black, and you can create the perfect flick at the end. I've been recommending this to everyone, and once this one runs out, I'm definitely buying another one right away.