First Impressions (New Year New Makeup)

Hello lovlies!

As the new year has come and gone there has been an abundant outpouring of new beauty products that promise flawless skin, moisturized lips and exceptionally colorful pouts which will make you the envy of all beauty gurus.  The biggest problem with this is the overwhelming question of, "Does this actually do what it claims?"  We hope yes, but can only know once the money has been spent.

I bring to you my first impressions of a few of these products so that you can decide BEFORE you purchase them if they are actually what you want.

The first of these products that I tested out were Covergirl's latest addition to their lipstick collection, the Butter Cream line of shades that have been released for Spring.  First off, the packaging is adorable since there are three color collections; nudes, pinks, and berrys and the cases are matched up to each one.

225 Dulce De Leche 325 Spellbound 390 Sweetheart Blush 365 Enchantress Blush

These lipsticks are true to their name.  They deliver gorgeous, lightweight color that goes on super smooth.  The application is so easy and the colors are flattering.  I will certainly be going back to purchase more of these.

These were lipsticks that I could not wait to try out!  Firstly, the packaging made my heart so happy because the caps are this lovely pinky purple shade that look stunning on my vanity or even just in my makeup bag.  This collection is the Rebel Bloom line; pastels which claim to deliver shockingly pigmented color.

705 Blushing Bud 725 Lilac Flush 740 Coral Burst 710 Petal Pink 700 Barely Bloomed 730 Orchid ecstasy 720 Power Peony 745 Peach Poppy

This picture honestly does not do the colors their rightful justice.  The first one I picked up was Lilac Flush because I am in love with pastel purple lips.  When I applied it I was happy to find that it was almost a perfect dupe for Kat Von D's Studded Kiss lipstick in Coven which costs twenty bucks.  Definitely if you want to try the pastel lip trend, try these out.  They are smooth and go well with all skin tones.  Although the color is not as pigmented as I would have like it is still a great brand new product.  

This product has already been featured on my blog once in my December favorites post and after that I knew I needed to do a First Impressions on.  To start, Covergirl has really upped its game concerning their products.  Since Katy Perry signed on as their newest spokesperson, nothing but good things have come from them.  Their Ready Set foundation became my favorite and the Juicy glosses were a welcome addition into my collection.  The packaging of these glosses are to die for and look exceptionally high end.  They shine, sparkle and make me feel good whenever I pull one out.

880 Colorlicious 820 Mango Lava 850 Look It's Lava 840 Ooh La Lava 860 Lava-nder 800 Lava Luster 810 Lychee Lava

The product itself delivers a high dosage of pigmented color that rivals their Juicy glosses and pretty much sends them packing.  These Lava Lips are the next best thing in lip glosses.  Each of these swatches was created using just a single stroke of the product and as you can see it delivers.  The only downside is they are a little sticky, but not to the point of utter annoyance.  They are perfect for parties and wonderfully bold lips.

This next product is a specialty store purchase that I had been waiting to get my hands on.  Mally Beauty came out with three color palettes which were versatile and beautiful.  I fell in love with the brightly colored crocodile skin packaging and couldn't wait to add them to my palette collection.  They are a little on the pricey side, at fifty dollars apiece, and that is currently my only issue with the product.

Brownstone, Caught In The Limelight, Angel Wings, Bright Eyes, Mally's Look, Gimme Plum Lovin', I Love Lavander, Sparkling Taupe, Starbright, Natural, Merlot

This first palette is the LOving Life one and has a more neutral feel to it with some pops of shimmer.  The colors are beautiful and appear much better on the eye than they did on my arm.  They are a little light for my taste, but make a wonderful palette for understated looks.  I would deem this the 'wedding gues' palette since you can create soft looks that still bring attention to your natural beauty.  The colors are smooth and do look nice on.

Shadow Base, Angel Wings

This palette is the one that I am currently crazy for.  In my opinion if you are going to purchase one of these then make it the Loving Color one.

Lavander Glow, Pop Art Blue, Sweet Samba, Pretty Lady, Fantasy Green, Soho Silver, Plum Glow, Mally's Glow, Denim, Skyscraper

Although these shades are still fairly light, especially if compared to pigments from Urban Decay, their color is gorgeous and look stunning on the eye.  When I first tested out these palettes I wasn't too sure, but am now in love and believe that they are definitely fantastic beginner palettes because of how much you can do with what you've got.  There is something for everyone and it makes a nice into into higher makeup.  Basically, if you are starting out and do not know what to get, then grab one of these, because it gives you neutrals as well as color and that makes it super versatile.

As I said earlier, Covergirl is coming out with all kinds of new and exciting products.  Even though I am not usually a huge fan of their foundation, except for the Ready Set Gorgeous one, I was intrigued by this new release because of what it promised.  "Covergirl's first makeup to minimize the look of flaws and fine facial hair."  That certainly sounded good to me, so I scooped it up.  The applicator is a plastic circle that feels sort of like a rubbery gel and is supposed to be used to smooth the product on in the direction of your natural facial hair growth.  

I tried and was pleasantly surprised because it went on smooth and definitely seemed to minimize the appearance of all those things that I didn't want people to see.  Although the applicator is tricky to master it works well.  Comes in many shades and is worth a try.

Lastly is something from Revlon.  I am a total Revlon junkie.  If I could choose one brand to wear forever from a drugstore it would be Revlon.  All of their products have been wonderful and I am always eager to try something new.  This is an addition to their already famous Photoready collection and works as an anti shine primer.  You can wear it alone, under makeup, and even over as a finishing powder or for touch ups.  I am always looking for things to help diminish that lovely oily glow I get.

When I first put it on under my makeup it made my Revlon CC cream look even more amazing and my face truly looked 'photo ready' as it were.  It makes for a wonderful touch up and finishing powder and keeps you looking unbelievably fresh.  I know for a fact that in the Summer I will be wearing this and nothing else for easy walk out the door makeup that evens my complexion.  This one does not disappoint.

Well, I hope this was helpful and that you will enjoy trying your new products for 2015.  Let me know what you tried and what you love.

Be True to You.  <3 <3 <3

December Favorites!!!

Hello lovlies!

As the new year has come and passed us by I decided that it was time to blog about what things became my favorite during the month of December.  

So, the first thing on my list is this fabulous t-shirt that I have been pining after for several months ever since I saw EVERY blogger wearing it.  I just thought the quote was adorable and super chic to wear with a high waisted skirt or jeans.  Perfect statement for any fashion lovers around the world or Chanel enthusiasts in general.

Next are Covergirl's newest lipglosses!  These things are amazing and go on beyond their earlier released Juicy glosses.

The color you see was achieved with a single stroke of the precise applicator.  They are highly pigmented, have long lasting wear and look fabulous on the lips!  They are simply gorgeous! However, if you are not a fan of shine, don't approach since they are packed full of shimmer, sparkle and glitter!  I want them all!

If you saw my November favorites blog then you were aware that I was a HUGE fan of the small Smashbox On The Rocks palette and planned on purchasing the larger one as soon as I could.  Well, here it is!  Even more colors to choose one, with gorgeous packaging and high pigmented colors that go on smooth as butter across the lid.  Non crease and long lasting; if you can get your hands on this ASAP.  I know Peebles still has some stocked.

Alright this should be a given, but ANYTHING Physicians Formula.  I was recently turned onto them by a fellow Instagrammer and I cannot get enough of their products.  The blushes, bronzers, highlighters and eye shadows are all gorgeous, have fantastic pigmentation and wear and are even good for your skin.  They all go on flawlessly and have added benefits like their Happy Booster set which does lift your mood.  Go out and get SOMETHING by then.

And on that thought; THIS new product.  If you are already a fan of the Argan Oil trend that is going around then head to CVS, Ulta, Sephora, or wherever you can nab these babies and pick yourself up some gorgeous glow.  The design is beyond gorgeous and although I have not used mine, I tested them at my local Ulta and was amazed with the results.  It takes just a little and suddenly your sad Winter complexion is turned into a beachy paradise.  There is a tinted CC cream that I cannot wait to get my hands on.  

With Winter comes dry skin.  At least for me.  I put my foundation on and my face turns into a ghastly looking desert scape with peeling flakes of skin and nasty looking ruddy patches.  Not the way any lady wants to look.  I HIGHLY recommend Lubriderm!  Using this lotion has changed my skin for the better.  I see splotches are even, I have less redness and my skin basks in the hydration of sea kelp extract.  Not sure how it works, but it does.  Now this kind is rather pricey, but if you can get your hands on it your face will thank you FOREVER! 

My mother is amazing.  I had to put something from Christmas on this list because it is December favorites after all.  My December favorite bag and current favorite bag period is this amazingly pink Kate Spade.  I cannot get enough of it.  The color is to die for and I feel like a modern day Barbie every time I have it on my arm.  Don't know if you can still get it, but I love, love, LOVE this bag.  

Urban Decay makes some of the best makeup products out there.  This All Nighter makeup setting spray is no different.  What I tell my friends that it is hairspray for your face.  XD  Not quite, but it does set your makeup so that it lasts for a very long time without needing to do a lot of touch ups.  The only downside is I have noticed that after applying the spray I need to re-powder my face because it can cause it to appear shiny.  But definitely worth it.

Alright, and that is December!  Hope to see you again and hope you've enjoyed your year.

Be True To You!  <3 <3 <3

The Selfie Game (And being honest with yourself)

Hello, lovlies!

Today I would like to discuss the somewhat controversial topic of selfies.  This twenty first century phenomenon consists of taking candid pictures of yourself and then posting them to social media sites such as Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  When famous people post selfies, such as Ellen Degeneres' famous 'groupie' as some people are now calling it, we, the people oooh and ahhh over how wonderfully human they are.  But when normal people such as you and I pose for these Selfies, we receive mixed reviews.  Some tell us to get over ourselves and assume that we are self absorbed, even though I am pretty sure that the Jenner girls are a lot farther along that path than I am.  (Or ever will be, thank God.)  

Above is a good example of a garden variety selfie.  Phone in view and bathroom in the back.  No shame, just me.  And I'm fine with that.  Some people take object to my selfie, and this is where the glorious double standard begins.

On the firsthand Selfies have become a means of self expression, artistic triumph and an all around excuse to take a picture of yourself when you feel pretty or are simply having a good time.  For example, beauty gurus like Graveyard Girl and Zoella take selfies to show off awesome makeup, fantastic hair and amazing clothes and shoes.  You could say that Instagram is simply the site for sharing your life via selfies.

All in all I would say that is fine and dandy, except for the little problem that I like to call majority rules.  Graveyard Girl has over four million people in her 'swamp family' and Zoella was just given a spot in one of the more recent issues of Seventeen magazine.  These ladies and many like them have hundreds of thousands of followers, so when they post pictures it becomes the next big thing among their fans, and quite frankly, most people on the sites.  They are allowed to post hauls or show off three hundred dollar shoes since it isn't bragging because they're social media site famous.

Now don't get me wrong; I love both of these gals and faithfully watch their youtube videos because they are entertaining, give fantastic beauty advice and do amazing tutorials.  However, because these girls are slowly, but surely becoming part of the one percent category of the world's population it makes life harder for those underneath them to achieve their dreams.  

I've been trying very hard to make it as an alternative model.  I've done some shoots, most of which are sponsored, paid for and arranged by me.  I don't receive services, products or endorsements for free, so have to pave my own way.  Many famous youtubers and bloggers are 'contacted' by clothing sites, makeup brands and other affiliations to promote their products for free.  I've seen some girls receive whole makeup collections just to talk about how good they are.  AKA, pandering because they have fifty thousand followers.  Is this fair?

In reality, nothing in the social network world is honestly 'fair.'  Companies choose favorites and act accordingly even though there are girls who have put their life's work into a blog, Instagram account or Deviantart page.  I feel that it really isn't all about what you do, but rather who you end up knowing by being good at selling yourself.

So what we end up with is Bethany Mota having her own line at Aeropostale, Zoella with a collection of bath and beauty products and Graveyard Girl getting to model for Dollskill.  These girls are examples of the elite youtubers who have achieved their fame and as a result can leave other girls feeling inadequate.  Yes, seeing beauty youtube gurus making their dream come true can be inspiring on a certain level, but also, realizing that you aren't really one of them leaves you wondering, what am I missing from my pictures?

Honestly, absolutely nothing.  You should take your selfies because they make you happy, not because you are trying appease the masses of online individuals who care more about how many followers someone has rather than the quality of their content.  Even if you don't have fifty thousand followers or aren't being given clothing for free just because you are so amazing in some company's  eyes does not make you any less an awesome person.  Blog, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and take selfies because you enjoy it.  That should be the most important thing.  Don't give a flying whatever about what other people think because you're famous in your own way.

So take it from me and post pictures of your five dollar thrift store shoes and understand that just because someone else has a gazillion more followers and a supposedly better life because of it doesn't mean they do.  Focus on creating a unique you rather than trying to replicate a boring them.  You deserve to be just as awesome no matter how many followers or blog views you have.  Enjoy your own existence and own it!

Be True To You! <3 <3 <3