March Empties and Happy Spring!

Who wants to look through my trash?  You're probably thinking this is an absurd question and that I've lost my mind.  That's what I thought too once I saw so many beauty gurus posting "empties" videos on YouTube, where they show beauty products they've recently used up.  They've actually become some of my favorite videos to watch.  Anyone who has used up an entire product can usually give a comprehensive and well informed review and can share whether or not they would repurchase it and if they think it's worth buying.  That's exactly what this post is, so stay tuned if you care to see what I've used up lately and what I think of each product!

Makeup
I've gone through a few mascaras.

One, which isn't pictured because I threw it away, was part of the QVC mascara sampler my aunt gave me for Christmas, and that is Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes!.  I thought this was the best one I've tried so far from the sampler.  It has a rubber wand, which I'm discovering is my favorite kind because it separates the lashes well.  I would use 2-3 coats of this mascara and got nice volume and length.  Though I like Covergirl Lash Blast much better for the price, if I were to purchase a high end mascara, it would probably be this one.

The one pictured on top here is the Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara, also part of the sampler.  This one was nice and gave good volume.  This has a traditional bristle type wand, so it doesn't separate as well as the Tarte but doesn't clump badly either.  It's a good mascara, but I think you can get the same result with L'Oreal Voluminous.  I probably wouldn't purchase this one by Mally.

The mascara pictured on bottom is the Stila Major Major Lash Mascara and was part of a Stila Christmas gift set from my mother-in-law.  It has a bristle type brush as well and gave awesome volume and thickness.  My only complaint, which nobody else might have a problem with, is that there is quite a bit of distance between the bristles and the handle--more than I've ever experienced with any other mascara.  Because of the way I turn the wand in my fingers to get the product into the roots of my lashes, it was difficult with this wand and hurt my hand.  For that reason, I wouldn't purchase it, although it looks like they have improved the packaging to where this may no longer be an issue.

Onto concealer...

I finished a pot of the Bobbi Brown Corrector.  This stuff is awesome!  It has a great peach tone that cancels out dark circles and makes your under eye area look bright.  Bobbi markets this as a product made to layer underneath concealer, but I used it alone, and it worked wonders.  It's thick, so make sure you wear an eye cream underneath it.  I will repurchase this at some point in the future, but there are many other concealers I'd like to try first.  Also, I wouldn't use this anywhere else on your face--just under your eyes.

Hair

I finished up a can of Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo.  This stuff is amazing, and I will definitely repurchase it!  If you're looking for a dry shampoo that makes your hair feel fresh and clean, this isn't it.  In fact, it almost makes your hair feel dirty in a way.  That sounds weird, but I love it because of the texture and grit it gives my hair.  I even use it on cleanly washed hair, and it helps to hold my style.  I also spray it through my hair and love the texture and un-done look it gives my waves.  I only wash my hair once or twice a week, and this works wonders in helping to control oily roots.  My hair is really smooth and has a hard time holding a bun or ponytail, but when I use this, all my problems are solved.

The second hair product was a sample of the Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Oil Dry Oil. I used this on the ends of my wet hair after washing it.  I honestly am not the best person to test this product because I don't have dry hair.  It didn't feel heavy, but I can't speak to the quality as far as moisturizing and treating damaged hair.  I wouldn't purchase this simply because I don't have a need for it.

Other

The last two items are a hand cream and a makeup setting spray.

The setting spray was a travel sized Urban Decay All-Nighter.  I will definitely repurchase this product... It helps my makeup last through a whole work day (which often includes a mid-day workout).  It's great stuff, and they also make setting sprays for dry and oily skin.

The hand cream was a travel sized Soap and Glory Hand Food.  It's a nice hand cream and is moisturizing and not greasy.  It smells really good--if you know what the old Miss Dior Cherie smelled like, this is pretty much it in a hand lotion.  The scent is strong though, so I found myself not wanting to use this if I was wearing perfume so the scents wouldn't compete!  I'm not sure if I would repurchase this, as right now, I'm loving an unscented one from Eucerin.

And that sums up my recent trash post!  Just wanted to throw in a quick picture from the first day of spring because like many of you, I'm ready for winter to be over!  My mother-in-law gave me this adorable scarf, which is perfect for spring.  Thanks, Kristi!

Thanks for reading!  I hope this post finds you all well.

CC

Tuesday OOTD, FOTD, and Super Easy Winged Liner!

OOTD and FOTD

I have the luxury of being able to wear whatever I want to work.  Sometimes, I get stuck in a rut and just wear my workout clothes.  But sometimes, it's nice to glam up a bit (and by glam up, I mean wear jeans) and look nice.  I'm really not trying to impress anyone, but I do notice that when I look better, I feel better, and this often leads to a good day.  Here's what I wore to work today:

Outfit:

-Top: Express

-Jeans: Express

-Boots: White Mountain brand from DSW

(And of course, Augie's head snuck into the picture)

Eyes:

-Lorac Primer

-Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Cinderella (lid), Creme Brule (blending color above crease), Mocha (outer portion of lid and crease), Shimma Shimma (inner corner)

-Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Corrupt (liner on top)

-Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Mocha (liner on bottom)

-L'Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara

-Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara

-Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Mohogany (brows)

Face:

-Clinique Super Primer 

-Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach (under eyes)

-Neutrogena Skin Clearing Concealer in Medium (on blemishes on forehead because my acne decided to join the party today.  This covers it up well!)

-Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Warm Natural (to cover redness around nose)

-Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Medium Tan 

-Physician's Formula Happy Booster Bronzer

-Bobbi Brown Blush in Sand Pink

-Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze

Lips:

-Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop

Easy Peasy Winged Eyeliner

Going over any kind of black liner (liquid, gel, or pencil) with an angled brush and black eyeshadow helps to soften the look and smooth out any bumps.  I recently purchased the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in the color Corrupt, which is a SUPER black black.  It's by far the most smooth and pigmented black shadow I've ever seen.

I decided to put this to the test and see if it could perform as a good eyeliner on its own.  And sure enough, it did. 

This was the quickest and most fool proof way I've ever found to do winged liner.  I just swept an angled brush (my faithful Sedona Lace Small Angled Brush E561) through the eyeshadow, drew it on, and voila.  It looks soft, yet due to the awesome pigmentation of the shadow, it still looks defined.  If you have a hard time with your winged eyeliner, definitely give this technique a try.  You can use any black or brown eyeshadow, but I would HIGHLY recommend the Makeup Geek shadows--obviously by the sheer number of shadows I used in this look, you can tell I love them.  They're cheaper than MAC's shadows but just as good (in fact, I think they're even more pigmented).  

Thank you for reading.  Hope you're all having a great week!!

CC

Super Bowl FOTD

Hello everyone, I just wanted to hop on and do a super quick FOTD before I head off to watch the Broncos!!

I didn't have any orange eyeshadow but was able to incorporate some blue liner into the look. I did some bronze eyeshadow on the lid and pretty neutral face makeup and lipstick.  I also went with Broncos colors on my nails.  Here's what I have on:

MAC Eyeshadow in Mulch (lid)
Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Creme Brule, Latte, Cocoa Bear (for crease blending)
Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Black (upper lash line)
Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in Cobalt (lower lash line--also blended this out with Makeup Geek Creme Brule on  pencil brush)
Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Mahogany (eyebrows)
L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara
Tarted Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara
NYX Blush in Dusty Rose
L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder in Cappuccino (used this as bronzer/contour)
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze
Essence lipstick in Creamy Nude

Thank you so much for reading!

CC

Recent Favorites and FOTD

Since I love experimenting with different products (and since I have a lot of makeup), it's rare for me to wear something for several days in a row--let alone almost an entire month straight.  Most of the products I'm about to mention are new to my collection, whether they were Christmas presents or just something I treated myself to.  Without further ado, I'll jump right into my most recent loves.

Face
My standout face product of the month is the one and only Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze.  This compact makes the most BEAUTIFUL highlight of anything I've ever seen.  It has a nice sheen yet looks natural on the cheeks.  I like swirl all the colors together and dust it on the tops of my cheekbones (a typical spot for highlighting), then I lightly dust it over my cheeks on top of my blush.  The pictures don't do it justice--you just have to check it out for yourself.

Swatched on my hand is the combination of all colors.  Again, this does not do it justice!

 

 

 

I know it's pricey at $42, and many companies have tried to dupe this.  When I really want an expensive product, I think on it long and hard and do tons of research on it before I plunge.  What I got from the reviews is that none of the dupes hold a candle to it.  It had been about six months since I'd started wanting one, so after reading reviews and waiting so long, I decided I had to have it and couldn't be happier about my decision.  I've literally worn this every single day since I purchased it.

I must also mention the primer and foundation I've been using this month. 

The primer, Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Primer Potion, was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law that came with a mini sized Urban Decay setting spray.  I'd never tried this primer and immediately fell in love with it.  Since my skin has been a little drier from all the acne products I've been using, some primers and foundations have accentuated the dryness (not attractive!).  This did not.  It comes out white and has a very smooth, slightly silicone-y texture.  Once it blends into the skin, the whiteness goes away.  I like to put it on first thing, do my eye makeup as I let it dry, then do my face makeup.  I give this primer two thumbs up.

The foundation I've been using is one I've mentioned, Bare Minerals Original Foundation in the shade Medium Tan.  This is a long time favorite of mine and one I've purchased at least three times.  The shade is perfect for me right now since I'm still a little tan from Maui, and it provides the most perfect finish--it's not cakey at all, but it's not oily.  It just looks like beautiful skin.  Love, love, love it.  That plus the primer make a dynamite combination.

Lastly in this category, I'd like to give a shout out to the ELF Studio Blush in Mellow Mauve.  This is a really nice shade for winter that gives off a bit of sheen.  Oh, and let's not forget to mention that it's THREE DOLLARS!!  My mom complimented my blush one day when I was wearing this and wanted to know what it was.  I apply it with the Real Techniques Blush Brush.

Eyes
How on earth did I live before I had a brush like this??? I am referencing the Sedona Lace Universal Blender EB 09, which is the same type of brush as the Sigma E25 Blending Brush and the famous MAC 217 (but less than half the price!!). 

You're probably wondering what's so special about this brush.  I always wondered that too... until I finally bought it a couple months ago.  It really just does it all.  If you could only have one eye shadow brush, this would be the one to own.

You can pack color on your lid with the flat side, but you may also be able to see from this picture that it has a fluffy tip.  This is perfect for putting color in the crease.  I like to use the fluffy part to feather darker colors from my outer corner inward and up into the crease to create a nice gradient.  You can also turn it vertically and use the fluffy part to blend all your shadows together.  Everybody needs this brush or one like it.  Everybody.

Onto mascara.  I like to layer my mascaras, and lately I've been combining an old favorite with a new discovery. 

The old favorite is L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black.  If you've never tried this mascara, you need to.  It builds really well and creates amazing volume, although I find when you open a new tube, you have to use it for a couple weeks before it yields the best results.  Anyway, I like to do two coats of this mascara, let it dry, then go in for a third coat with Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes.  This is a new mascara for me, and I'm using a sample size that came in the Lashtastic 8-Piece Mascara Discovery Collection, which was a Christmas present from my aunt.  So far, this is the only Mascara I've tried from the collection, but being a mascara junkie, I'm excited to try all the others!

Lips
My lip product category in general this month has been tinted lip balm.  It's low maintenance, you don't need a mirror to apply it, and it provides color plus moisture (critical for winter and especially for those of us living in dry climates).  My favorite of the month has been Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm.  The one pictured here is in the color Pink Blossom, but I've also been loving Rose (which is in my car at the moment).  These are so moisturizing and pretty at the same time!

FOTD
Finally, here is a quick face of the day.  I used all of the products I mentioned above.  For the eyes, I used some of the plum shades from the Lorac Pro Palette.  I love the shadows in this palette but am still trying to find the perfect plum combination.  I like what I did today but still think I can do better.

And that does it for my recent favorites.  Thank you so much for reading!

Much love,

CC

Packing for a Trip: Makeup and Brushes

I'm super excited to travel to Maui with my husband and parents tomorrow, and what better time is there to blog about efficient makeup packing?  I always try to be prepared and give myself options but not bring more than I need.  It's important to think about what kind of trip you're taking, how often you'll be wearing makeup, and how much you'll be wearing.  I know I will be going to the beach almost daily and won't be wearing any makeup for that.  I probably will throw some on for going out to dinner or wherever else, but I know that any  makeup I do wear will be minimal and low maintenance.

If you've accumulated sample sized items over the last few months, trips are great opportunities to try those products out since their compact sizes are good for travel.  When packing, you want to think in terms of efficiency--how can you get the biggest bang out of the fewest amount of products?  Eye shadow palettes are great for travel.  I would recommend only bringing one palette--and make it your most versatile one.  I'm bringing my Makeup Geek Eyeshadows, which I've put in a Small Z Palette.  If you don't have to bring any single eye shadows, great!  The only single I'm bringing is for filling in my eyebrows.  If you have any blush/bronzer palettes or duos, those are great too.  This one is the ELF Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder.  Why bring two single products if you have a two-in-one compact?  For lips, I'm going super low maintenance and only bringing one lipstick and one tinted lip balm.

Face Products

Eye and Lip Products

The same logic applies for brushes--pack ones that have multiple uses.  For example, I'm only bringing one Angled Contour Brush to use for both bronzer and blush.  This Universal Blending Brush by Sedona Lace is a fantastic multi purpose brush that has become a staple in my routine.  This brush roll is a nice and compact way to pack brushes and came with this Brush Set from Sedona Lace.  Other tools to pack include tweezers and an eyelash curler.

If you're like me, you worry that you'll forget something.  The best tip I have to avoid this scenario is to pack your makeup and brushes a couple days in advance.  Do your makeup for the next couple days only with the packed products and brushes.  That way, if you realize in doing your makeup that you're forgetting something, you can just throw it in your bag.

I hope these tips help you pack for your next trip!

Sending love always,

CC

Acne at 25

Yup, you read it right.  I'm 25 years old, and I still have acne.  I know that I am not alone and that many other adults still suffer from it as well.  As I explained in my last post, I've been inundated with breakouts in the last couple months.  I finally decided to switch up my skin care routine (obviously, what I was doing before wasn't working for me).  I wanted to share what I've been using and doing to clear up my face.  It has been working for me, and though my skin still isn't perfectly clear, I've seen a drastic improvement in the last month.  I'd also like to preface this post by letting you know that this is just what has been working for me, and I can't guarantee that it will work for you.  We are all unique with our skin, and my needs aren't necessarily the same as yours (even if we have a similar skin type).  If you are completely unsure about what to use on your skin, please see your dermatologist!

So, without further ado, let's get into my new skin care routine!

The Products:

 The two most common active ingredients used for fighting acne are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxixde.  In my research, I found that benzoyl peroxide is stronger but can leave behind more discoloration from blemishes.  Since I have dark skin, and post-blemish marks are a problem for me, I opted for a mostly salicylic acid routine (all of the products I mention are from the drugstore). 

I've been using Clean and Clear Daily Soothing Acne Cleanser.  Not all salicylic acid cleansers are created equally--they vary from about .5% to 2% in strength (at least the over the counter ones do--prescription products may be stronger).  I opted for this product because it's 2% but claims to be gentle on the skin.  I like that it's a foaming cleanser, and I started out by using it morning and night.  I have since cut back to only using it at night, and I use a gentle cleanser with no acne fighting ingredients from Aveeno in the mornings.

 

After cleansing my face, I use this toner by Equate (the Wal-Mart version of the Clean and Clear Essentials Deep Cleaning Toner for Sensitive Skin).  They have two variations--one with 2% and one with .5% salicylic acid.  This is the .5% for sensitive skin, and I got this one because with all the products I'm using, I didn't want to over-dry my skin.  I use it morning and night.

I let the toner dry, then apply my eye cream as usual.  The next step is moisturizer, and I've been using this one with .5% salicylic acid (the Target brand of the Clean and Clear Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer).

 The final step is one I only use at night to spot-treat blemishes after I give my moisturizer a few minutes to sink in.  It's the Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10 Acne Medication. 

 Results and Final Thoughts:
I've only been using these products for one month, and my skin has definitely improved.  After about a week, my skin felt more dry, and I also noticed flaking.  I expected this to happen, as the salicylic acid helps skin cell turnover (the flaking comes from the ingredient working to slough off dead skin cells).  This makes it an effective acne treatment because you won't have as many dead skin cells clogging your pores.  However, you still need to exfoliate.  Twice/week, I swap out the Clean and Clear cleanser for a gentle exfoliant at night (I use the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Scrub).

If you already have drier skin, I would recommend only using all these products once/day.  You may also want to add something more moisturizing on top of the salicylic acid moisturizer.  Also, if you're going to be out in the sun, make sure you use sunscreen on your face.  I haven't been, but come summer, I'll be using a sunscreen over the moisturizer

The fact that I've also not been wearing makeup as often is worth mentioning.  I have basically stopped wearing liquid foundation (something I used to wear daily) except for special occasions or if I want my skin to look especially flawless.  Instead, I've been going with a naked face whenever I can to let my skin breathe (which is hard when you want to cover up your acne!).  When I still want some color on my face, I use a BB cream or a primer with light powder foundation over it (I recently re-discovered an old love, the Bare Minerals SPF 15 Foundation).  I like this product because it makes your skin look healthy and provides coverage--plus, it doesn't have all the heavy ingredients my liquid foundations have.  I plan on continuing with this routine and going light-handed with products on my face, and with any hope, I'll have clear skin one day!  To any of you out there going through the same thing, I hope this was helpful.  Thanks so much for reading!

xoxo,

CC

A Long Absence and A New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my long absence on this blog.  It was really not intentional; I just let things get in the way.  I think part of it was due to the unwelcome influx of acne that has taken over my forehead in the last couple months.  I've been too embarrassed to take pictures, and I have also been not wearing much makeup in an effort to let my skin breathe.  But I know that's just an excuse, and I shouldn't let that stop me from doing what I love.  I also realized that writing about my acne and what I've been doing to clear it up would make a good post--so stay tuned for that!

I've missed blogging, and if you're still with me despite my absence, I appreciate it!  We are about to that time of year where we all make New Years resolutions, and one of mine is to keep up with this blog.  There are always excuses to keep you from doing what you love, and being "too busy" or "too tired" are among them.  The key is to not let those excuses get in the way, as I have done with this blog.  I'm realizing that I have to make time for what I love... I need this creative outlet.  It's also easy to tell yourself that you'll just do it tomorrow or next week or next year.  I am out of excuses!  The future is guaranteed to nobody--all we have is this very moment that is right now.  So, right now, I am writing and also making a promise to all of you and to myself to try harder to keep up with my writing.  Thank you all so much for your love and support!!

Much love to all,

CC