The first month of the new year has already crept upon us. I can't believe how incredibly fast time has flown. A lot of things happened last year and I hope that this year brings a lot more great things as I transition out of high school and into college. On a less serious note, I have collected some of the products I found this beginning month, to be great products to start off the new year. I have many favorites, but I wanted to show you all the ones I have been reaching for the most this month and probably will next month, too.
The one mascara that I have been grabbing every time I use makeup is the Revlon lash Potion mascara. It has really grown on me since I first bought it. This was one of my Amish store bargain buys that I posted about last year. It has a great lengthening formula and is great at opening the eyes up more.
For my eyeshadow base, I use Urban Decay's Primer Potion. I've gotten way more into primers this year and love the way they can make my makeup last. I never knew why I was oblivious to any primers at all. I actually bought this version of the Primer Potion at Nordstrom Rack for only 10 bucks! It's a steal and I think I'll have to go stock up on some more for the future because it's pretty much the same as the new version they came out with. There's really no creasing or makeup moving around at all and I will continue to use this product forever until Nordstrom Rack stops selling it.
I haven't been wearing liner too much lately, but when I do, I have been loving the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Velvet Liner. I feel like this liner has really changed the game for me and has been applying very smoothly. When I want to create smoky looks, this liner really does the job.
I have never been a huge fan of shadow sticks, but when I bought this on a whim at that Amish store, I was so glad I did. The Maybelline 24 Hr Color Tattoo in Creamy Chocolate has been amazing under the eyes and for lining my lids. It gives off more of a bronze tone and looks beautiful on a golden eye look. I really love the look of it.
Next, is this Essence Brow Pencil that has been quite the handy tool when it comes to fixing my un-sculpted brows. When I'm not using my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow, I grab this and naturally touch up my brows for a subtle definition. It's not too waxy and is very easy to use, especially for beginners. I love taking this pencil on the go.
I have fully transitioned to using this palette and cannot get my paws off of it. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette has been my holy grail palette these past two months. The colors are insanely pigmented and look great on just about everyone. Check out my in depth review I wrote last week, here.
Powder is something that I use almost everyday to just keep my face matte and oil free. I have been on the lookout for a really nice pressed powder and Mac Studio Fix powder has really stood out to me. I'm one to keep repurchasing a powder if I love it, however, I think I will definitely have to keep this one stocked in my collection. It has a cute compartment for a puff pad to take easily on the go, which I love and keeps me matte all day long.
On the bandwagon of primers, I have been using and getting the most out of my Laura Geller Under Makeup Mattifying Primer. I put a dime sized amount and just use my hands to spread it all over my face before applying makeup (kind of like a moisturizer in a way). It's really great under any foundation and I can't put on makeup without it. It makes all the difference and allows my face to stay oil free all day!
I hope you guys enjoyed my compiled favorites for this past month. I have a lot of great things planned for February and am excited for what this year brings. What has been your favorite products this month?
For all of my years I've had with makeup, I've always wondered what it was like to actually own a Nars product, let alone four, because I was darn right broke (and still am). After constantly wanting more from my foundation, I decided to splurge for myself and purchase the ever-so-praised, Nars Velvet Matte Tint in the shade, Finland. I knew that I needed to try out Nar's foundations before spending 45 bucks on a product. It's a pretty big investment, but my attitude towards it was just psyched to get something better for my skin that I could wear wherever, whenever without creasing, sliding around, and becoming oily easily since it is a matte foundation.
I walked into my Sephora and bee lined straight to the Nars counter just so I wouldn't have gotten distracted by the other amazing products Sephora has to offer. Commercialism, people! Anyway, I wandered over and a nice woman greeted me and I immediately got help to find the best foundation for my skin. The lady color matched me first and I think it only took her one try to figure out my shade. Props to her! I felt very comfortable with the shade and it wasn't too orange or yellow.
Nars has four different types of foundations and I ended up trying the Sheer Glow and the All Day Luminous, along with the Velvet Matte. The lady gave me three quarter sized containers of each to bring home and put to the test. To be honest, it was more than enough product to use for about a week or two (and I still have extra) to try out. You only need a pea sized amount which is great.
I knew immediately that I did not want any part of the All Day Luminous because it is a water based foundation and with my oily skin, it was a complete no-go. I was unhappy with the application as I found it to stick into every nook and cranny on my face. It took a lot to actually build coverage on my face and I have heard a lot of disappointing reviews about it. I also tried the Sheer Glow, which was okay, but I still didn't want the "extra" glow it promised, or the Sephora lady promised.
When I tried the Velvet Matte though, I knew right away that I liked it a lot. I used a Beauty Blender with all of the foundations and I think it worked best with this one. It truly is velvety smooth and leaves my skin feeling soft and crease free. With that said, I have been wearing it for about a month and it lasts a good eight hours before I notice some natural oil around my t-zone. I never thought I would like matte foundations, because they usually make my skin look dry and cracked, but this one practically does the job of a hydrating foundation without bringing out excess oil.
You get a very copious amount of product in the tube and I only use less than a pea sized amount for my entire face. Another thing that really impressed me was that it had an SPF 30. This foundation sort of reminds me of a tinted moisturizer (which I think they have as well), but without being too light coverage. It has a great medium coverage and is pretty buildable if you wanted more. For my situation, I normally don't wear a crap load of product during school, so this is great for an everyday makeup look. I think this could also be very elegant for a night out or even prom. I think because it is so matte, it's perfect for an event like that. It smoothes out everything and leaves a very natural finish.
I know paying this much for a foundation is ridiculous and there are some great alternatives out there, but a girl's gotta live a little, amirite? I was already using up my older BB creams before buying this so, I would be stuck with a pile of foundation to use up. I really think splurging on a great face product is worth it. Especially if it's something you could practically wear anywhere. I love keeping the sample jar as a travel jar so I can bring a little bit of the foundation wherever I travel. Surprisingly, I haven't heard any negative things about this foundation at all, but if you have tried it, please share your thoughts! I'd love to hear them :)
It's always great to put off time to pamper yourself and I am a true believer in it. Among the chaotic week filled with work, school, and other things, we kind of forget to think about ourselves every once and awhile. In the beauty franchise, many brands have their own skincare lines and very nice, high quality (and high priced might I add) skincare products. Most masks you find at Sephora can range from $20-$100+ dollars. For most of us, we find ourselves at our local drugstores looking for the best masks for the cheapest price.
Especially for an easy and inexpensive mask, the Que Bella range of masks are so individually made for different skin types and my friend gave me this awesome pack of them (I think I already used one of them to try it out).
Each mask is priced at around two bucks; there are cream, gel, and sheet masks and are all made with 80% natural products. Obviously, with it being very inexpensive, they are not made with 100% natural ingredients and contain preservatives to let them last for a longer period of time. There's a very generous amount of mask in each packet so, you could easily share these with friends who have the same skin type as you.
So far, I have used a couple more of these masks and really like them. They're not you're 24 karat masks, but these are really great to use as a little pick-me-up on a cozy, Sunday night. These are sold at Target and I believe Walmart and Ulta, as well.
Sometimes, with cheaper masks, I find them to make my skin tingle a bit. I haven't had any allergic reaction to it, so I think they're okay for sensitive skin. A couple of the masks tingled, but I read on the back that it was normal for them to do that. If you are a bit skeptical, I would recommend reading the ingredients to see if you are prone to a reaction from it or just buy one and try it to see. These are super fun to do at sleepovers and parties, so I would definitely recommend these for anyone of you looking for a cheaper way to look gawrgeous! See you guys on Thursday. XX
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