Fall Lip Product Haul

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Hey guys! I know posting has been very sporadic, and I'm really trying to figure out a blogging schedule that fits around my daughter's routines. It's been kinda tough lately figuring things out with her, and this blog has been neglected. Please bear with me as I figure things out! Anyway, I decided to do a little lip product shopping when Ulta was having an extra points deal, as well as a 20% off coupon. I'm all about Fall and love everything about it! The colors, smells, foods, cooler weather, it all puts me in a good mood. 

As you can see, I got quite a few lippies to play with! Maybelline was buy one, get one 50% off, so I picked up the matte shade called Toasted Truffle, and a Color Sensational lipcolor in Deepest Cherry. I've been wanting to experiment with nude shades and see what works with my fair skin, and of course I needed something dark for Fall. 

Revlon was also buy one, get one 50% off so I chose Mauvy Night and Certainly Red. I love mauve shades so much, and I love trying different shades of red. Certainly Red may not be cool toned enough for me, but I have yet to try it out. 

I don't own very many MAC products, and most people say a lot of good things about their lipsticks. I got Party Line and Creme in Your Coffee, both of which are cremesheens. Both shades are gorgeous, and I cannot wait to rock these in Fall and Winter!

The e.l.f. Matte Lip Colors have intrigued me since they came out. They're so inexpensive, and I have heard pretty good things about them. I picked the shades Praline and Wine, which I hear great things about. I definitely look forward to trying these out finally!

I love me some lip products, and would love to know if there is anything you've picked up recently that I need to try!

My Top 10 Favorite Drugstore Products

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Hey guys! I don't think I've done a post like this on the blog before, but I wanted to share with you what my favorite products to buy at the drugstore are. The best of the best, in my opinion, and what I can't live without. I have a mix of hair and skincare, but the majority is makeup. 

1. Aquation Gentle Moisturizing Cleanser - I had done a review of this along with a couple other Aquation products, but this cleanser is my favorite out of the bunch. It's amazing at removing makeup at night, it hydrates the skin without making me feel greasy, and it just makes my skin feel so good. I always go in with toner and moisturizer after using this, but I can tell that my skin is absolutely loving this cleanser. 

2. L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation - I had purchased this a while ago after hearing some pretty amazing reviews, but put off trying it for the longest time. I picked up the shade 101 Classic Ivory, which was surprisingly hard for me to find at the time. It's like there wasn't a place in the display for it, but I eventually found it at Walmart. I am beyond impressed with how this foundation applies and how well it keeps my skin shine-free. It sort of reminds me of the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ foundation, but much cheaper. 

3. Batiste Dry Shampoo - If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I adore Batiste. I've tried quite a few of their scents, but the Tropical scent pictured is my ultimate favorite. It smells like coconut and the beach, and it's wonderful. It makes my hair feel so much cleaner when I haven't washed it in 3 days, and never builds up to feeling gross like other dry shampoos can. It's the best and there are usually sales going on, which is when I tend to stock up. 

4. Milani Baked Blush - This is probably no surprise, since everyone talks about Milani Baked Blushes, but these are just fantastic! The shade pictured is called Dolce Pink, and it's my favorite one. I wore it on my wedding day and it gives the prettiest shimmery, healthy pink glow to the skin that I can never get enough of. 

5. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - This is an old favorite that I will always go back to when I use up other powders. I have quite a few powders in my collection, but this is most definitely my all-time favorite. It keeps me shine-free and never looks cakey. I usually pick up the Transparent shade, but they do come in a range of colors. 

6. Colourpop Super Shock Shadows - Now you can only buy these on the Colourpop website, but at only $5 for each eyeshadow, they're such a steal! The shade pictured is called La La and it's a pretty coppery bronze shade that looks gorgeous over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. If I could buy every shade of these shadows, I totally would. 

7. Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios - My love for the WnW eyeshadows trios is massive. I don't own too many, but the ones I have are so gorgeous and the shadows are super pigmented. I have to say though, limited edition trios are not as good as the original ones, and I'm not sure why. Pictured is Silent Treatment, and it's my favorite that I own. They make for such a pretty, cool-toned look that I like to wear for date nights. 

8. NYX Butter Glosses - Again, these are old favorites that I typically use when I have no idea what I want to wear on my lips. There's a huge shade selection, but the one pictured is Cupcake, a bright pink shade that's perfect for Summer. These smell like vanilla and I have quite a collection of these in my lip stash. 

9. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer - You all had to have seen this one coming! This is my all-time favorite concealer ever. Seriously, I always want to kick myself for trying something new, and sometimes more expensive, only to find that this one is still way better. I usually get the Brightener shade, but I have used Fair. I think the Brightener shade works so much better at masking my dark circles, and the Fair shade is good for spot concealing around my face. 

10. Covergirl Mascara - I honestly have yet to open this Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, but I had to picture something in place of my beloved Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara. I used my one tube up ages ago and haven't repurchased yet, but I miss it terribly. The Super Sizer makes my lashes look fake and I always get complimented when wearing it. It's probably my favorite mascara out of the drugstore that I've ever tried, and I've loved quite a few. 

What are some of your drugstore picks?

Easy, Everyday Makeup Routine

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Hey guys! This post was meant to go up yesterday, but you know, life happens sometimes. Anyway, I'm getting into the habit of doing my makeup more often. Since becoming pregnant, I honestly didn't care one bit about makeup and didn't wear any for the longest time. I wanted to start wearing it again just to help feel more confident, even though I feel like a bloated whale. I have a pretty easy, go-to look when I don't want to really think about what I'm doing, and I wanted to share it with you. 

I usually start off with my eyes, so these are the products I used:

- Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
- Urban Decay Naked2 Basics
- Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow (these are usually in a gift with purchase set)
- Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
- Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
- Urban Decay Supercurl Mascara

For the face, I went very light since it's so incredibly hot here lately:

- Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Fair
- Rimmel Match perfection Concealer in Fair

Lips:

- Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Pin Up Pink

I'm super happy with this look, and yes, there is no blush pictured, because I really didn't think I needed it! One of the perks of pregnancy is the supposed "glow" everyone says you get. I never really noticed a glow until very recently, but I'm not complaining! I also do switch out brands and whatnot, but usually keep the look about the same. I'm a neutral girl to a fault, and I really need to step out of my comfort zone more!

What do you use in your everyday makeup routine?

Review: Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color - Nude Flush & Rebel Red

*Disclosure* Products mentioned were provided for review thanks to Influenster. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always! Post contains affiliate links.

Hey guys! I know I promised this post a little while ago, but this pregnancy has sure been kicking my booty. I can feel great for a day or two, then get knocked down again for almost a week. I'm still blessed though, so onto my review of the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors in the shades Nude Flush and Rebel Red. Finally!

 A description of these liquid lipsticks from the Maybelline website:

Color Sensational® Vivid Matte Liquid™. Rich, intense lip color that glides on smooth to a matte finish.

The benefits:

Drench your lips in vivid color. Pure pigments collide with a creamy liquid base for a soft, cushiony feel. The result? A high-impact lip that stands out! Available in a collection of intense shades. 

How to use:

Step 1. Apply lip lacquer with the applicator wand in the center of your upper lip and follow along the contours of your mouth. 
Step 2. Glide the lip gloss across the entire bottom lip.  

Nude Flush on my lips is a peachy nude. There is another nude shade in the line called Nude Thrill that seems to have more of a grey tone to it, so I think this particular nude would be better for me. I personally am not the biggest fan of peachy nude shades, I prefer more pinky nudes. 

Rebel red is a gorgeous color! I feel on me it leans more warm, and I know I prefer cool shades. Regardless, you can't deny how beautiful this shade is. 

Now, there has been some mixed reviews on this particular line of liquid lipsticks. The name of the product has 'matte' in it, yet it really isn't once applied. I have read that to get more of a matte look, you can blot with a tissue, but really, who wants to take that extra step? I personally don't mind that these aren't as matte as other brands because they're much less drying. One downside for me was the application. It has a flat doe-foot applicator, which would make it seem like these would be a breeze to apply. For me, not so much. It was pretty messy, and I had to clean up around my lips quite frequently. The end result is fine, but it just takes so much extra time applying and having to fix mistakes. Since I don't mind the formula of Vivid Matte, I would be willing to try out just one other color to see if I can make it work. Over the course of a day, these do dry down to a more matte finish, but it's not uncomfortable at all. These liquid lipsticks are not transfer proof!

The line looks like it comes in 10 shades, and ranges in price from $6 to $8 depending on where you buy it. You can find these at drugstores, Ulta, and Walmart. 

Have you tried these Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors? What do you think of them? 

Collective Makeup HAUL! Big Lots, Sephora & Ulta

Hi everyone! The past few weeks I did a bit of makeup shopping, and I wanted to share with you what I purchased. I'm trying to be good right now because the Sephora VIB sale is coming up next weekend for Rouge members, and I have a feeling I'll be splurging a bit. I plan on doing a wishlist for the event that should be up hopefully by tomorrow or Monday/Tuesday, so stay tuned! Anyway, lets see what goodies I have this time!

Starting off with the things from Big Lots, the first product I found is Body Raves Fresher Than Green Detoxifying Wipes. These are said to be infused with Aloe and Cucumber with Green Tea and they remove makeup, dirt, oil and environmental toxins. I snagged these up because they were only $2 and you get a whopping 60 wipes in a package. That's an incredible deal and if I end up not liking these on my face, they'll be fine for swatches. 

The next two products I was so excited to see and they're the Maybelline Eyestudio quads in Sapphire Stylist and Spirited Seas. The packaging for Sapphire Stylist says it was limited edition, but I have no idea what collection it's from, and Spirited Seas says "New", but it was probably discontinued for whatever reason. The price of these were incredible so brace yourselves. They were only $2.20 each! I couldn't believe it! In the drugstore, these quads are around $10, so just over $2 for each was amazing, and no one stuck their grubby hands in them either!

The last two products I found were shades from the discontinued Maybelline Color Whispers line. I found the shades Lust For Blush and Coral Ambition. I absolutely adored this line when it came out because the formula feels like a very hydrating gel. I have about 3 or 4 other shades, so I'm excited to have these in my collection now! Lust For Blush was $3.50 and Coral Ambition was $3. 

Next up is a couple things from an online order at Sephora. I was browsing Instagram a little while ago (I'm @Skinstuffbykaty there if you want to follow me!) and someone had posted about the Make Up For Ever Metal Palette being an awesome dupe for the Z Palette, at a much better price. Z Palettes are typically over $20, and this baby was just $14! I had also gotten a 10% off code to use on this purchase, so that brought the price of it down to $12.60. It was out of stock when I initially went to look it up, but I signed up to be notified when it came back, so I snagged one right away once I got the email. This palette is freaking fantastic! Seriously, it holds so much more product than the Z Palette and the price is incredible. The only downside is that it is heavy because the entire palette is metal. That doesn't bother me, and I'm officially converted. I've even switched my Makeup Geek shadows over to this already. I highly recommend picking one of these up! 

The next product I picked up is the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in the infamous shade Lolita. The liquid lipstick version is always sold out, but for some reason, this lipstick looks like a prettier color to me. I have yet to try this as I want to review it, but I have to say, this smells like a vanilla cupcake, and that makes me very happy. 

I had cashed in 250 of my Beauty Insider points for the Bite Beauty Lip Lab Trio in Kir Royal. This was October's Limited Edition trio, and I knew I had to have it since it's a beautiful burgundy/berry/fuchsia color. I love Bite Beauty more everytime I try other products from them, and I'm slowly building up my collection. 

Last up is Ulta! I had received a 20% off coupon in the mail a couple weeks ago for Platinum members, and it was good on EVERYTHING! There were just a few exclusions, like Dermalogica, Lancome, the Benefit Brow Bar and one or two others. I had my eye on the Too Faced Star Dust Palette by Vegas Nay, but kept telling myself I didn't need it and had so many colors like what's in the palette, in my collection. As I kept seeing rave reviews on blogs and YouTube, I had to check it out for myself. This truly is such a stunning palette in person! While I probably have many similar shades already, I got sucked in. It also comes with deluxe sizes of Better Than Sex Mascara, Shadow Insurance, and a Glamour Dust Glitter Pigment. I figured since I got 20% off, why the heck not?! #TreatYoSelf

Anastasia Beverly Hills is one of those brands that everyone and their dog talks about, but I really haven't tried much. I do love her clear brow gel, and I also have the Tamanna eyeshadow palette. I've never tried her famous brow wiz and I have not a care in the world for her liquid lipsticks or glosses. However, after seeing pictures and swatches of this Self Made Palette on Instagram, I knew it had to be mine. Do I need another palette? Not at all, but I feel like she has some really nice eyeshadows for an amazing price. This retails for $35 and with the 20% off, it came down to just $28 before tax. Not too shabby for 14 different shades in one palette!

The last product I picked up is the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream 3 piece set that has the shades Monte Carlo, Copenhagen, and Transylvania and retails for $11.99. I saw this set online but with different shades, and in-store they had three different sets. I was drawn more towards this one as I'm trying to broaden my dark lip horizon. I haven't tried Monte Carlo or Copenhagen yet, but Transylvania is just such a gorgeous color, yet it's kinda difficult to work with. It goes on a bit patchy and you have to layer it to get it to look nice. I also feel like I maybe need to invest in a lip liner for shades like this. I still feel like the set is worth it, and the price is great. The Soft Matte Lip Creams retail for either $5.99 or $6.99 individually, so it's like you get one free in this set. Also, with the 20% off coupon I had, it really wasn't bad at all.

That's everything! I feel really happy with this haul honestly since I got things I had been wanting for a little while now. Is there anything you've purchased recently?

September 2015 Empties

Hey guys! This is my first real post in a while. I didn't get a chance to show you all the products I used up last month, so without further ado, here they are!

The first product I used up was a joint effort between myself and my husband. We both really enjoyed the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo. It cleans my hair well and actually does make it shiny. Does it work for my husband's curly afro? Not at all with making it shiny, but he says it gets the job done. 

Next up is a Tom's Whole Care Toothpaste in the Spearmint flavor. I didn't care much for this honestly. I'm in love with their Sensitive toothpaste and it's always sold out when I need another one. I would only repurchase the Sensitive version.

Using up body scrubs can take a while for me. I honestly wasn't much of a fan of The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub. I adore the scent, but it doesn't have enough scrubby action to it to make that much of a difference.

I used up a ton of skincare, which I'm really happy about! Of course it wouldn't be an empties without The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner. I always go on and on about how much I love this stuff. Best toner of life. 

Next up we have the Purederm Choco Cacao Collagen Mask. This came in a Memebox ages ago, and I finally got around to using it. The only good thing about this is that it smells like chocolate. Otherwise, it did nothing for my skin. I just don't really like sheet masks, and I don't know why I keep trying to.

I had the Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer sitting in my collection for ages. I did a sniff test (it smelled fine) and saw that there was no weird separation, so I used it up. I actually really liked this! It smells nice and blends in the skin nicely too without feeling greasy or leaving a white cast. 

I also used up a deluxe sample of the Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion. I had an oily skin kit from the brand in my stash and decided to finally try and use up the products. I used to be obsessed with this moisturizer about 7 or 8 years ago, but now it just doesn't work for my skin. It dried it out pretty bad. My skin must be alot less oily than when I was younger, which is nice!

Another Dermalogica product that came in the kit was the Dermal Clay Cleanser. Again, I used to love this cleanser as it also acted as a quick 3 minute mask to help soak up oils and get rid of blackheads. I also feel that this is just too much for my skin now. The only nice thing I liked about it, is that it feels so refreshing and cooling on a hot Summer day. 

I finally used up the InstaNatural Youth Express Eye Gel. I had done a review on this over a year ago here when I was sent the product to try. I really ended up liking this because it made my eye area feel tighter and brighter. I am glad that I was able to use this up, it sure took a while!

The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant also came in the oily skin kit I mentioned above. This stuff is freakin' fantastic! Seriously, if I could afford the full size, I'd buy in bulk. This product is basically a powder exfoliant that you add water to, creating a paste. You gently rub it into your skin and when you rinse it off, prepare to feel the softest, smoothest skin you've ever felt. Seriously. This is most definitely gentle enough for daily use, even on my sensitive skin. I adore this product!

The last skincare product I was able to use up is the Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum. I really enjoyed using this when I felt like my skin needed a glow booster. even though I have oily skin in the Summer, I am prone to some dry patches and dullness. This really helped to smooth out my skin and make it look pretty again.

Finally, we have a few makeup products! I used up my beloved Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer in the Brightener shade. This is my all time favorite concealer for my under eyes, and also wherever I feel like I need some brightening. I do have a backup of this, but I don't want to crack it open just yet as I have quite a few concealers to go through first. 

I was so sad to use up this sample size Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. I honestly don't do much to my brows, usually just some gel does it for me, and this stuff is magic. It literally is like hairspray for your brows. It keeps them in place all day and it doesn't flake or wear off. It's amazing. 

I technically didn't use up the bareMinerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in the shade Midnight. I had gone to use it one day, and while I was sharpening it, the whole eyeliner color just fell right out onto the floor and shattered! I guess it had dried up too much. That's a shame too because I have Urban Decay 24/7 liners that I've had for YEARS, and they're still good and still perform amazing. Oh well, I don't go through liners often, so it's not a huge deal.

I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get this post up. If you read my last post, you know I had a bit of a health setback, and I'm trying to get posts done when I have the energy. Today is a good day so far, so I'm going to try and get a few posts pre-written so I can schedule them for you guys!

What products did you use up last month?

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Fall Inspired Makeup feat. Colourpop La La

Hey everyone! As promised in my last post, which was a review of the Colourpop Shadow in La La, I'm bringing you a full makeup look inspired by the changing season. Fall is probably my favorite time of year. The weather is perfect, the leaves are pretty, and I always feel it's the time for a life change. Here is the look I did!

Face
-Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer
-Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ Foundation in shade #15
-Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser
-Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
-Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
-Essence Silky Touch Blush in shade 10 Adorable
-Pixi beauty Bronzer in shade Subtly Suntouched
-Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Lips
-Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in shades in Fig and Date
-Juice Beauty Lip Gloss in shade Pink (It's not very pink, more mauve-y)

Eyes
-Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer
-Urban Decay Naked Palette: Naked in crease, Toasted in outer Corner and smudged on lower lash line
-Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in shade La La all over lid
-Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense in shade Intense Black Honey, smudged on upper and lower lashline
-Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara and Covergirl The Supersizer Mascara

Overall, I really, really love how this look turned out! I was considering going dark with the lip, but I decided to go neutral as I wanted the eyes to be sort of the focus. By the way, I'm LOVING the Mat Velvet+ foundation! Expect a review in the coming weeks.

Do you have a certain makeup look you like for Fall?

My Top 5 Favorite Fall Lipsticks!

Hey everyone! I'm so happy that Fall is almost here, and I'm really excited to be sharing with you today my favorite Fall lipsticks! What's even more exciting is that this post is a collab with with my friend Steph over at Warrior Makeup. I've known Steph since we were in elementary school, and she's so sweet and nice, so I'm happy to be doing this collab with someone I've known for nearly 20 years! 

First up is the Maybelline Color Whisper in the shade Berry Ready. When the Color Whispers first came out, I was pretty excited to try them. They're said to have pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel. I couldn't agree more with that statement! These are so soft feeling on the lips and just glide on effortlessly. This particular color, Berry Ready, is alot more pigmented than I thought it was going to be. When I originally purchased it, I thought it was going to be a very light berry color, but it really packs a punch. It can be sheered out as well, but I ended up liking how pigmented it looked with my fair skin, so I load it on. Unfortunately, I don't think Maybelline sells these anymore, which is a shame because the formula is incredibly hydrating. 

Now, when I think of Fall, going into Winter, I think of red lips. My all-time favorite red has got to be the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in the shade Standout. I've always had an incredibly hard time finding a red I liked because I'm super fair, but I have cool undertones. Looking for a red that didn't look orange on me was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Until Revlon brought out these Matte Balms. I had read reviews of this particular shade, and many had said it's a straight up neutral red that would look good on anyone. I took the chance and purchased it. This truly is a total neutral red. It doesn't have that yellowy orange tone, but there's no blue or purple either. It's completely neutral, and I'm in love. If they ever get rid of this shade or the Matte Balm line in general, I'll cry. Then I'd buy up all Standouts they have in stock.

This Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick on the shade Plum Velour is a newer edition to my collection. I have never owned a Revlon lipstick in the Super Lustrous line until I purchased this (and one other, which you'll see next!). This is a shine formula, which I'm assuming means it's a more sheer formula. I'm not complaining about that at all, because when I first tried it out, it was love at first swipe. I was amazed at how creamy it felt, and I like how the shade is a bit more of a muted plum color, and not as dark as it looks in the bullet. It's not very buildable color wise, but to me, that makes it easier to just swipe it on and go without having to think about it. 

This is the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in the iconic shade, Cherries In The Snow. I've heard about this shade for years and years, and everyone loves it. People have said that it's the "ultimate red," but I find this to have a fuschia/raspberry tone to it. If sheered out, it looks like you just came in from the cold or ate a cherry Popsicle. This particular lipstick will probably be my go-to red this year as it's in the creme formula and it feels incredibly hydrating on the lips. 

I had to go a little vampy for this post, and the lipstick here is Bite Beauty's limited edition Matte Creme Lipstick in the shade Elderberry. This is from their Frozen Berries collection and is described as a deep purple shade. I personally really love this color, but it takes some time to work with, so patience is required. I recommend exfoliating your lips well, then applying a lip balm that's kinda waxy feeling as it'll act as a primer. I'm not a fan of lip liners, but it might be a good idea to use one with this or other shades like it. Playing with different looks to go with this lipstick is going to be pretty fun, but trying to not look more like a vampire is gonna be interesting. 

Those are my favorite lipsticks for Fall! I'd use these shades all throughout Winter as well, since they all would work. As you can tell, my love for Revlon is pretty strong right now. Also, make sure to check out Steph's post here, and follow her everywhere! 

What are your favorite lipsticks or lip colors for the Fall time?

Drugstore Beauty HAUL! Walmart & Dollar Tree

Hey everyone! A few weeks ago after a doctor appointment, I was feeling a little blah, so my husband decided to take me out for lunch before we went about our errands for the day. We stopped at Walmart for some necessities, and the Dollar Tree was a few stores down from where we had lunch. Naturally, I looked at the beauty section in both places and came out with some goodies to share with you guys!

Starting off with Walmart, I decided to pick up the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in the shade 091 Light Ivory. I hear so many people talking about this and how awesome it is for a drugstore foundation. I haven't worn makeup like I normally do lately, so I have yet to try it, but I have a feeling I'll like it. It was so inexpensive too, only about $5 or $6. 

I've been wanting to try the Maybelline Master Conceal Camoflaging Concealer since it came out. I bought mine in the shade 10 Fair, and I think it was the only one that hadn't been tampered with. I don't know what it is about Walmart, but their beauty section always looks a hot mess and tons of products have been broken into. Anyways, sorry for the little rant there. I've heard mixed thoughts on this concealer, and it wasn't too pricey, so I figured I'd give it a try. 

I had also been wanting to try the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in the color Blackest Black. The other reviews I've heard have been mostly positive, and Maybelline mascaras are probably my favorite in the drugstore. 

Maybelline had my heart this day, and I picked up one of their newer matte lipstick shades in the color Blushing Pout. This is such a pretty nude-y rose color that I think will look really nice with my fair skin and a simple eye look. I LOVE Maybelline's matte lipstick formula as it's not too drying like other ones can be. 

Now for the Dollar Tree! I love that store so freaking much, it's stupid. Anything I think I need, I immediately go there and see if I can find it. Most times, I can, and I feel so proud to have only spent $1. I picked up one of the English Lavender soaps from Yardley. I honestly don't know how much these are normally, but I don't think they're that expensive. I bought this mainly to clean my makeup brushes with, and I can't wait because this soap smells incredible. 

I never really get excited about L.A. Colors, but I saw a bunch of their Color Balms, and I picked the shade Boom, which looks like a bright red in the tube. I don't expect full-on color from this since it is a balm, but I think it might give a light wash and a bit of hydration. 

I got really excited seeing Jelly Belly lip balms, and picked up the scent Bubblegum. The packaging says this is flavored, and I have yet to try this, but I can't wait to test that claim. No, I'm not going to eat this, but when you're wearing a balm or gloss and accidentally get some in your mouth, it's not very pleasant. I feel like a little kid with this balm.  

Lastly, I purchased two brushes. one is the Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Brush and the other is an ELF Smudge Brush. I haven't used either of these yet, but the ELF brush is already shedding on me, and I have yet to wash it. ELF brushes aren't usually my favorite, but for $1, I don't care too much. The Wet n' Wild brush feels really nice and there is no shedding yet. I'm hoping to like both once they're washed and used a few times. 

Is there anything you've hauled at the drugstore lately?

Spring 2015 Walmart Beauty Box

Hey guys! Today I'm going to be sharing the Walmart beauty box for Spring 2015. I have a rant on this one, as I did with the Winter box I received, but I'll save that until the end. Here is everything I got.

I made the products look all nice in the box for this picture. I probably shouldn't have because I'm pretty disappointed. 

-Lady Gaga Fame Perfume: Don't like perfume, this is getting passed on to a co-worker

-Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes: I'll definitely use these at some point to remove swatches or makeup, but there are only 7 wipes. Probably more good for travel, but I don't have plans to go anywhere anytime soon

-Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime Omega Repair & Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner: I've never heard of these before and again, these can be good for travel. They're so small and are basically like free samples they send out

-Dove GoFresh Body Wash in the scent mandarin & tiare flower: This smells nice, but again, this is like a free sample

These are some foil packet samples and coupons for L'Oreal, Schwarzkopf, Nivea and Maybelline. I'm curious to try the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion, but I am nervous it will make my shower all slippery. 

I was thoroughly unimpressed with this box. Granted, it's only $5 and you get one per season, but I've had so many issues, that I just cancelled. Now for my rant. I was charged twice for this box and had to call customer service, which is a pain normally because either they never answer, or they're just rude and don't know what they're doing. I was told I'd receive a phone call or email back about being double charged, and I waited and waited for weeks until one day I noticed my credit card was refunded. I waited for probably close to 3 weeks to notice the refund and was pretty pissed that no one could send me a quick email letting me know I'd get a refund. Also, when answering the phone, I don't want to hear, "customer service, how can I help you?" in a nasty tone from a total douche bag guy who probably has no interest in a beauty box or helping people with legitimate problems. There was no professionalism at all with him and I was really upset. I work in retail where customer service has to be our top priority. While there may be some customers who I don't think deserve good customer service, I still have to help them, with a smile, and be professional. The dude I talked to was just rude and not very helpful. I am definitely glad I got my money back from being double charged, and once I received this box in the mail, I made sure to cancel right away. I probably shouldn't be so upset over 5 bucks, but that's my hard earned 5 bucks. I say skip this crappy box, spend $5 more and subscribe to Ipsy. Way better products, full size products at times, and awesome customer service. I have never had an issue that wasn't resolved immediately with them. *End rant*

Are you subscribed to the Walmart Beauty Box? If so, have you had similar issues to mine?

Review: Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Powder - 100 Translucent

Hi everyone! Today I'm going to be doing a requested review on this Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Powder. I got the shade Translucent, as that's what I normally get in face powders. 

According to the Maybelline website: 

Fit Me!® Matte + Poreless Powder from Maybelline New York goes beyond skin tone matching to fit the unique texture issues of normal to oily skin for the ultimate natural skin fit.
Fit Me Matte + Poreless Face Powder provides long-lasting, mattifying, shine control and up to 12HR wear for a natural, poreless-looking finish.

It also has buildable coverage, it doesn't clog pores, and it is oil-free.

Directions:

With the provided applicator, blot the powder onto areas of face with excess oil. Apply to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin and blend all over using gentle downward strokes. Build for fuller coverage.  

The translucent shade is perfect for me. There is a Porcelain shade that I could probably get away with, but this one was a smidge lighter and it blends in perfectly. I agree with the natural, poreless-looking finish and that it has buildable coverage. What I have a problem with is how long it lasts. It claims to have up to 12 hours of wear, which is a pretty big claim, but it doesn't even last half as long with my oily skin. Even though it's still cold here in Eastern Pennsylvania, my skin knows the season is changing and it's now starting to get super oily. I noticed my skin was shiny after only 4 hours every time I used this. Honestly, that's fairly typical for me. I've even had powders that only lasted an hour or two, so 4 is a bit better than what I'm used to. This definitely doesn't hold up for me during a full work day. I do really like this for setting my under eyes, though.

Despite the powder not giving me the oil control I need, I must say, it goes on really nicely, blends in well, and like I said above, the translucent shade is perfect once it's blended in. I just wanted to show a heavier swatch so you can get a look at the color. The powder itself is very, very soft and buttery feeling, and it doesn't kick up excess powder when dipping a brush into it. As for the sponge it comes with, I find those to be useless. I can't stand them for some reason and I immediately throw them out. 

I purchased mine at Walmart for $5.94, but the suggested retail price is $7.99, depending on where you buy it. I tend to like buying makeup at Walmart since most makeup there is $2-3 cheaper than at the drugstore. There are a total of 8 shades available, and the darkest one doesn't even look that dark to me. 

Would I recommend this overall? Maybe. Depending on what you do in your daily life, it can be an ok powder. For me, I can really only get away with wearing this on my days off when I'm running errands and doing stuff around the house. This doesn't last through a normal 8 hour day of work. I'm a greasy mess half way through and then my makeup looks really bad. My all-time favorite mattifying powder is still the Rimmel Stay Matte. I haven't found anything yet that comes close to it. 

Have you tried this powder yet? If so, what do you think? If not, would you?

Spring Drugstore Makeup HAUL!

Hello everyone! I went to Walmart earlier today and decided I wanted to treat myself to some new makeup for Spring. Today is the first nice day we've had in a while. Last Thursday we had a nasty snowstorm that gave us close to 10 inches of snow, and today it's just over 50 degrees, the sun is shining, and Rita's Water Ice was open (yes, I did get some!). My husband is also off work so we got to spend some quality time together. Anyways, enough of the rambling. Lets see what I picked up!

I'll try to go in order as much as possible, so the first product that's pictured on the top left is the Hard Candy Glow All The Way Ombre Baked Blush in the color Punch. It's a beautiful pink shade that I thought would look better with my fair skin. They had another one that was a bit more peach toned, but my husband said they looked exactly the same. They did look similar, but this one was definitely more pink. It only cost me $7

Next up we have the NYC Smooth Skin BB Creme in the Instant Matte version in the color 01 Light. They had only one other color in a medium shade, so I do hope this goes well with my skintone. I heard about this from a review on YouTube and it was only $3.57 so even if I don't like it much, it's not a huge loss. 

I also decided to try out the L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in the shade 101 Classic Ivory. I have heard rave reviews since this came out and I really want to get into foundations more. I have really oily skin when it gets to be Spring and Summer, so I do have high hopes for this. At my Walmart, this costs $11.88, which is pricey, but alot less expensive than drugstores. 

My Walmart finally has a good selection of E.L.F. cosmetics, so I picked up two of their Smudge Pots. I got the shades Cruisin' Chic (left) and Ain't That Sweet (right). Cruisin' Chic is a light bronze shade and Ain't That Sweet is a pink-y champagne color. I've heard good things about these products and they were only $3 each. 

I saw the brand LAB2 at a different Walmart a while ago, but didn't pick anything up. I saw the line at my Walmart and decided to try their Blending Brush. This is supposed to have some technology that provides superior pigment pick-up and release, and gives professional results. This brush was only $6, so we will see about those claims.

I've been a little bored with the powders I normally use, so I decided to try out the Maybelline Fit Me Matte+Poreless Powder in the shade 100 Translucent. The lightest colored shade seemed a bit too dark, so I normally have to buy the translucent versions. Since warmer weather is upon us, I figured I would put this to the test and see if it works for my skin. It cost me $5.94

I've heard everyone talk about the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder, and I picked mine up in the shade Translucent. They only had one other shade available, but it looked way too dark. I've never tried this product before, so I'm excited to see what the hype is about. This is only $5.97, which is an insane deal for the amount you get. 

There was a huge display of the new Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Blooms lipsticks, and I picked up the color 715 Hibiscus Pop. Alot of the shades seemed like they wouldn't go well with my skintone, and this was the most neutral pink shade. alot of them seemed too orange or red based which makes me looks dead. I'm excited to get into lipsticks some more, and I love anything Maybelline. This was only $5.50

The last two lip products are from NYC. The first product on the left is the Expert Last Lip Lacquer in the shade 201 Lincoln Square Love Affair. It's a beautiful creamy pink shade that will look really pretty for Spring. The second product is the Big Bold Plumping Lip Gloss in the shade 479 Voluminous Pink. It's a similar shade to the first one, but it has a bit more of a mauve tone. Both of these lip products cost $3.57 each. 

I have yet to swatch or try anything here, but if you want reviews of something, definitely let me know! Is there anything you've purchased recently to get ready for Spring?

November 2014 Favorites

Happy December! I know everyone and their dog says this, but this year has totally flown by! I mean honestly, where does time go? It's the 1st of December, which means there is only one more week until my birthday, and one month til 2015! Craziness. Anyways, this month was up and down with products. I've been working my booty off, which means I spent alot of my free time sleeping and not doing my makeup before work, but I do have a few products to share with you that stood out for me!

First up, we have a body butter from The Body Shop and it's in the Shea scent. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this on my blog and had it featured in a favorites before. Since it's been unusually cold lately, my skin is freaking out. It's so dry and flaky, so I started using this stuff again and it definitely helps my itchy, dry Winter skin.

The next product is one that I hauled here, and it's the Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix. As of writing this post, the Sephora site says it's permanently out of stock, which sucks, because this set is amazing! I seriously love every color, there isn't one that I'm even iffy about. They feel nice on the lips, go on smoothly, and last a while as well. Definitely one of my favorite purchases lately!

Next up we have the InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum. I did a review of this here, and honestly, I think this is one of the best treatment serums I've ever tried. When I use this, I feel like my skin gets more and more clear and looks really healthy. It dries down really quick, but I do add a moisturizer on top. 

Then we have the Be A Bombshell Eye Base in the color Submissive. I did a review here, and I really am enjoying this eye base. I do love my color tattoos from Maybelline, but I've been reaching for this more when I don't want to fuss with my makeup but still want to look like a normal person. It gives a nice wash of color to the lids, but I do notice it does crease a bit when I don't use a primer underneath. 

My last favorite is the Maybelline Matte Lipsticks, and the two colors I have are Lust For Blush and Ravishing Rose. If you were to tell me a year or so ago that I'll be loving lipstick in the future, I'd probably look at you like an alien. I've always loved gloss, but I could not get into lipstick, especially matte ones. These are phenomenal lipsticks! I'm amazed at how they feel on my lips, even though I do use balm underneath. I love the colors I have, I love how they apply, I love everything about them. I'd get more colors, but these were the only two that stood out to me right away. I think I want to review these in a future post, so stay tuned for that!

November was definitely the month for lippies! What were some of your favorites last month?

October 2014 Empties

Hey everyone! I used up so many products in October, especially skincare, so I'm just gonna get right into it.

The first product I used up is the Colgate Optic White mouthwash. I thank everything that is holy this is used up. I hated this so much, it burned and didn't make my breath feel fresh at all. Hated this stuff!

The next product is a good one, and it's The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel. This product smells like heaven. I swear everytime I use this in the shower, it makes my whole house smell like oranges. I'm a huge fan of The Body Shop's shower gels and will always have one or two backups in my closet. 

Next up is a Hair, Skin & Nails supplement by Spring Valley. I like taking these supplements to help take care of my hair, but I notice a huge difference in the health of my nails the most. 

Then I have a small tube of L'Occitane Hand Cream. This hand cream contains 20% shea butter so it's ultra hydrating. I liked using this before bed so it could sink into my skin. My hands are really starting to dry out now, so I can already tell I'll be going through hand cream like crazy. 

I definitely used up quite a bit of skincare and the first product is the Hydroxatone AM/PM Anti-Wrinkle Complex moisturizer. This took me ages to use up because I used it at night and I did alternate between different moisturizers. This stuff is pretty heavy, but I didn't break out from it, which was nice. I did a review of it here and it was sent to me from iFabbo.

The next product I used up is the Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner. I think I may have put this in a monthly favorites, but don't quote me. I did like this toner alot. It was very inexpensive and did feel good on my skin. I don't know if I'll repurchase only because I'm so attached to the Aloe Toner from The Body Shop. 

Next I used up the Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream Moisturizer. I don't like this stuff at all. It doesn't do anything for my skin and the scent is too overpowering for me. 

I've decided to throw away the Proactiv Mild Exfoliating Peel. I was going through my closet and saw this in there. I was actually going to use it then saw when it expired. In the trash it goes!

The last skincare product is the Own Firming Silk Concentrate. I did a review on this here, and now that it's all used up, I can say that I would not repurchase it. It was nice while it lasted. I mixed it into my night time moisturizer for extra hydration, but it did feel a little oily on my skin. 

I loved the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara. It lasted for close to a month and made my lashes look nice. All other mascaras pictured were drier than the Sahara so in the trash they go. The mascaras are Pop Beauty Smoky Lash Kapow!!! (yes, it really has 3 exclamation points at the end of the name), theBalm What's Your Type? "The Body Builder", Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash, Korres Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran, and two of the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes. All of those were just so dry and un-useable.

Now finally some makeup products! The first product is the Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer. I didn't find this particularly amazing. I think it did help foundation/concealer go on a bit nicer, but it didn't really do much for my pores or oily skin. I do have another one of these to use up though.

I finally used up my Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in the color Fair. I love this stuff so much and will always repurchase once I use up some other concealers. I think this is one of the best concealers for my dark circles. 

I also finally used up my Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in the Translucent shade. This took me so long to use up since I don't use alot and mostly used it under my eyes. I love how fine this powder is and how it keeps my skin looking nice and shine free for a while.

I'm sad to say it's time to get rid of the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge I've been using. It had started to get tears in it and little bits were coming off when I was using it. Even though this is way less expensive than the Beauty Blender, it doesn't hold up as well as the Beauty Blender. I've been using my Beauty Blender longer than I was using this Miracle Complexion Sponge and it's holding up so much better. 

I used up this tiny sample of the Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel that I received in an Ipsy bag. I actually did really like this. I don't do much with my eyebrows, so some gel to tame them a little is fine with me. 

The last product is the La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes. This little package came in either an Ipsy bag or an old Birchbox. I used these because I couldn't find a large package of wipes and they kinda sucked to be honest. They didn't remove makeup well, so I mainly used them to clean up swatches. Even then they didn't clean well. 

What did you use up in October?