Category Archives: Beauty

Elf Palette Faves #3

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Elf Palette Faves #3

Hellooo everyone and happy Sunday!! Welcome to my final post of my top three favorite colors from my Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette! I could have gone with the bronze color today, but everyone already knows that that’s one of my favorite eye makeup colors. Instead, I went with this lovely, chocolatey mauve shade, which can be seen below. We’ll call it…Chocolatey Mauve. Take a look:

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Chocolatey Mauve is the third shade from the right and can be seen dry on the first heart and wet on the second. I like this shade because it’s such a fresh alternative to plain old brown eyeshadow. The combination of milk chocolate and a dusky purple makes for a color that is perfect for an alternative to the classic black and grey smokey eye. Pair a Chocolatey Mauve lid with a light pink or taupe-y brown in the corner and you’re in business!

So there you have it, the last of my Elf Palette Faves! What colors do you like to use to create a smokey eye? What is your favorite color of eye makeup to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Elf Palette Faves #2

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Elf Palette Faves #2

Hi everyone and happy weekend! The next color that we’re going to talk about in my top three faves from my Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette is a pretty shell pink that’s perfect for using on the corner of your lids for bright, sparkling eyes. Unfortunately, the names of these colors in my palette are not listed so we’ll just go with the generic Pretty In Pink for this color, lol, check it out:

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Pretty In Pink is the shade in the middle of the palette and can be seen dry in the first heart and wet in the second. As you can see, there’s not that big of a difference, but I prefer to wear it dry. I’m all about wetting my brush when I’m using eyeshadow as a liner but for the colors on my lids, not so much. This color is great because it goes with virtually anything and is a flattering shade for all skin types. As I mentioned earlier, it looks great in the corners or slightly underneath the eyes. But, for a fresh princess glow, a generous sweep on the lids is all you need for a delicate and feminine look.

I like Pretty In Pink a lot for its versatility and, of course, the sparkles in it don’t hurt, either! I think all of the colors in my Elf palette are really nice, but be sure to tune in tomorrow to catch my third and final Palette Fave! What shade in the Nude Rose Gold Palette is your favorite? What kind of makeup look would you create with this product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Elf Palette Faves #1

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Elf Palette Faves #1

Hiiii everyone and TGIF! Okay, so this Wednesday I introduced you guys to my New(ish) Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette and I wanted to share a few of my fan favorites with all of you. Unfortunately, I don’t know the names of any of these colors SO I’LL MAKE THEM UP MYSELF. Ayyy! Let me introduce you all to SPARKLING EGGPLANT lololol:

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Sparkling Eggplant is the last color on the right in my palette. This is my favorite color out of the ten. I love the purple-y, mauve color and the fact that this shade has some glitter thrown in for good measure makes me like it even more. I prefer to wear Sparkling Eggplant (It never gets old!) as an eyeliner and I wet my brush to give it the appearance of the second heart seen above.

My eyes are hazel and frequently change colors from brown to green or gold depending on the lighting and what makeup I’m using. The purple hue of this eyeshadow brings about green eyes, which I love. To complete this look, I like to use one of the shell pink colors in the corner of my eyes with one of the browns or mauves in the palette across the lid. I then blend these together for a purple haze, smokey look – which sounds a lot better than my makeup skills allot for!

So there you have it, the first of my Elf Palette Faves! How do you use makeup to play up your eye color? How would you name this color from my palette? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New(ish) Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette

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New(ish) Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette

Hellooo everyone and happy Hump Day! As all of you know, I’m trying to get (slightly) more adventurous with my makeup choices. I don’t want anything crazy, and even if I did, I don’t have anywhere near the makeup talent required to do it. But, that doesn’t mean that I can’t branch out and try some new eye makeup colors!

As opposed to buying a bunch of different eyeshadow shades, I was hoping to use a more economic approach and find a palette that would work for me. I wanted to find a palette with colors that I was comfortable with using, as well as with a price tag that I was comfortable with, too. In June, I found that with this here Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette. I know, I know it’s taken me a minute (obviously) to write about it, but here it is:

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With ten eyeshadow colors perfect for mixing and matching and a ten dollar cost, I think that this palette is perfect. It offers colors that I use already, like the bronzes and pinks. But it also gives me some darker shades that I’m excited to try for a more sultry, smokey look. Wa wa woo we wa!

I won’t bore you with swatches of all of the colors, but I thought that I would post some individual pictures of my favorite shades throughout this week. So, after a call to action announcement tomorrow, do make sure to check out some dry and wet swatches from my New(ish) Elf Nude Rose Gold Palette!

What is your favorite eyeshadow palette? What are your favorite drug store makeup brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

NYX Fireball Eyeshadow Swatches

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NYX Fireball Eyeshadow Swatches

Hello everyone and happy first day of August! So as you guys know, I’m not the biggest makeup girl in the world. I am the most undaring, untalented makeup applier that there is – and the thing is, is that I don’t really care. Makeup is and always has been my older sister’s territory. She’s absolutely phenomenal at all manners of makeup application and has been since we were teenagers.

Kristen loves to shop at Sephora and lives for her monthly Ipsy subscription. Meanwhile, I live for her semi annual makeup clean throughs so I can get the odds and ends that she doesn’t want. Kristen’s makeup clear outs can rid products that she might have doubles of, doesn’t care for, or is simply bored with. This is how I acquired an NYX eyeshadow that she got from her Ipsy subscription that I’m looking forward to trying. Take a look at Fireball:

^^^ Lol AYYY. And as always I have no rights to this song or video!

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^^^ The first heart is the eyeshadow dry and the second one is when it’s wet, which is how I prefer wearing my shadows.

I was a bit worried when this NYX eyeshadow came into my possession, because with a name like Fireball, you’d expect for the color to be fairly red. And the color does look it in its container. But, upon applying it to the back of my hand, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the color was a far cry from the Fireball red that I was expecting. Rather, it looked more like a rusty bronze – which I LOVE.

Fifty shades of bronze/gold is my preferred eye makeup color. I love how it looks with my skin, eyes, and hair and I feel like it’s a shade that looks good on everyone. When this NYX shade is dry, it has more of that orange-y bronze look to it. But while wet, it gives a gorgeous, metallic, rose gold aura and I live for it. It takes me a minute to warm up to trying a new shade of makeup – at twenty-three, I’m just now growing comfortable with experimenting more while painting my face. But, when the time is right, I’m totally hyped for this NYX eyeshadow to make its debut!

So there you have it, my NYX Fireball Eyeshadow Swatches! What is your preferred makeup brand? What is your favorite color of eyeshadow to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Expert Roundup: Hair Dyeing For Beginners

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Expert Roundup: Hair Dyeing For Beginners

Hi everyone and happy weekend!! I am so proud to announce my participation in Perfect Hair Guide’s Expert Roundup to give pro tips on Hair Dyeing For Beginners. I am no cosmetologist, beauty guru, or stylist – but I have been coloring my hair since I was at least fourteen (I’m 23 now!). I used to get my beloved red locks spruced up at the salon, but upon realizing how much money I could save with my favorite box color, I made the switch to dyeing my own hair at home.

Thanks to Vidal Sassoon’s Runway Red dye from their London Luxe collection, I turned a monthly eighty dollar bill at the salon into a ten dollar purchase, saving me time and money. It always makes me feel so good when people compliment my hair and ask me for my secrets to maintaining such a vibrant color. The look of shock that I get when I tell them that I dye it myself never gets old, either!

It was such a joy to be able to share some of my tips when it comes to hair dyeing and maintenance with the world wide web, which you can see below:

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^^^ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!

For more amazing advice when it comes to dyeing your hair, please be sure to give Perfect Hair Guide’s Expert Roundup a looksee! What are some of your hair dyeing pro tips? What color is your hair currently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

July 2017 Finishes

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July 2017 Finishes

Hi everyone and TGIF! My goodness, the months are just flying by, which brings us to another wrap up post for all of the beauty goodies that I used during July. This month brought to an end some products that I’ve been using for what seems like forever as well as some short lived lotions that were still enjoyable, just the same. Take a look at my July Finishes and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Beach Nights lotion: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma Body Puree: YES
  • Destiny Boutique Charcoal face wash: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost: YES
  • The Body Shop Amazonian Acai Energizing Radiance Mask: NO
  • Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Lotion: You guys all know that I love me some Bath & Body Works so, of course, this lotion was no exception. I got this full sized lotion as a freebie months ago and just now got around to using it and am so glad that I did! The Beach Nights scent smells amazing!! It literally smells like vanilla mixed in with the crisp sea breeze scent of the ocean and marshmallows roasted over a big bonfire. It’s absolutely delicious. A fair warning, though, – the lotion is quite pungent. I never wear lotion unless it’s at night, but even if I were a day time wearer, this would be my last choice to use. It took me about six full body uses to finish this product.

TBS Body Puree: I looooooove all things Satsuma from The Body Shop. To me, it is the most divine citrus scent on the market and I am always so happy when I can snag some of its energizing deliciousness. I would never buy The Body Shop bath and body care products from there because the prices are absurd, but when TJMaxx is stocked with their items, it’s hard not to indulge! I got this lotion for four bucks and it was such a wonderful treat. The Body Purees are so much lighter than a normal lotion – it feels like using a lush, aquatic gel and it feels so nice on the skin. The Purees also absorb almost instantly, which is another amazing touch! It took me about seven full body uses to finish this product.

Destiny Boutique Face Wash: Destiny Boutique is a brand that I discovered through TJMaxx that I freaking love. I am obsessed with all things charcoal and loved using their charcoal face bar so much that it seemed silly to not buy their cleanser. This face wash was well worth the ten dollar price tag as it took me OVER FIVE MONTHS to finish it. Every day, this cleanser left my skin feeling fresh, clean, and blackhead free – which is a fantastic way to feel! I’m so happy that I have another one of these washes in my hoard for another five months of beauty bliss!

TBS Skin Boost: I don’t need to explain my love for this product anymore, you guys already know all about it! It took me over two and a half months of daily use to finish my Vitamin C Skin Boost from The Body Shop.

TBS Face Mask: I really enjoy using face masks but, unfortunately, this Amazonian Acai Energizing Radiance Mask from The Body Shop really missed the mark. In its title, this mask has everything that I look for when selecting a product – something invigorating that provides bright radiance to the skin. This mask did none of that and my skin was left looking and feeling no different after about a month and a half of using it two times per week. The product smelled lovely, but it was far from effective. Whomp whomp.

Too Faced Mascara: I rarely write about makeup finishes during my monthly empties posts, but this mascara is a different story. Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara has been a complete game changer to my makeup routine. My sister got me hooked on the stuff and after using this mascara for close to FOUR MONTHS, I had to get more to feed my addiction!

This mascara is AMAZING. It does for my lashes what using multiple different tubes of mascara during my routine couldn’t even come close to doing. Better Than Sex gives you gorgeous fanned out, jet black, lush, plush lashes that stay in place but still feel soft to the touch. There is literally nothing better and I am so willing to shell out the twenty-three dollar price tag for a mascara that does what the classic drug store brands can’t. It’s worth every penny and then some.

Besides for my face mask from The Body Shop, July was a very successful month for my finishes. I am so happy with the empties that I did like and would happily purchase them again in a heart beat!

So there you have it, my July 2017 Finishes! Which beauty products did you finish up for the month? Has anyone used any of my empties before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Intergalactic Planetary Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Intergalactic Planetary Edition

Helloooo everyone and happy Hump Day! Last night, I treated myself to using the other bath bomb that I got during my Lush shopping trip a few weekends ago. Other than the “DAD” one that I purchased (lolol), I also went with the galaxy bath bomb. I’ve seen many a post about this little wonder product so I just had to give it a go to see if it looks as cool in real life as it does on my laptop screen. SPOILER ALERT: It did! Take a look:

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To me, the Lush bath bombs don’t smell a lot like anything – but that’s okay! These products are still a lot of fun. As soon as I dropped the galaxy bomb in the water, it changed almost instantly. The deep indigo, pink, green, and white began swirling about my tub so quickly and didn’t fizz out for at least fifteen minutes. As much as I loved my DAD bomb for humor’s sake, this one definitely took the cake!

Another pretty surprise was the glitter, that you can kind of see above in the second to last photo. The bright white glitter scattered throughout the water looked like little mini spiral galaxies in a dark night sky and it was so cool to see. As soon as the water was ready, I turned off the main lights in my bathroom, eased myself into the tub, and spent my evening floating around in outer space.

Like my DAD bath bomb, this galaxy one left my skin feeling so supple and hydrated. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the dark blue water didn’t stain my tub, which was definitely a nice bonus! I’m a bit sad that I have no more bath bombs from Lush to play with, so I guess that’s what my Christmas wish list is for! Hey, it’s only five or so months away, right?! 😉

So there you have it, the newest issue of Bath Bomb Blitz: Intergalactic Planetary Edition! What is your favorite bath and body care product? How do you like to pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

9 Simple Self Care Changes That Make A Big Impact

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9 Simple Self Care Changes That Make A Big Impact

Having a soothing evening of self care is something that everyone enjoys. A little bit of TLC can make a world of difference with how you feel. Here are some of the best ways to relax and refresh your mind and body:

A long, hot bath: This time may be difficult to achieve if you have young children, but if you do get the chance to have a long soak in the tub, then snap it up. Light some candles, switch the main light off, pour yourself a glass of your favorite drink, and dollop a large amount of bubble bath into the tub. Let the hot water and amazing aromas take you away from the stresses of life for a little while.

Another great thing to do when taking a bath, is adding some pink Himalayan salt to your water. It has incredible health benefits, especially in the realms of skin care. You’ll come out feeling relaxed and your skin will feel super soft thanks to the exfoliating properties of the salt.

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 Those nails!

Face masks: Another great way to treat your skin is to slap on a face mask, cut some slices of cucumber, and relax for ten or so minutes. Your skin will feel refreshed and supple and hopefully the cucumbers will have eliminated those tired bags from under your eyes.

One downside of face masks, is that the first few times that you use them, you may break out in acne. This is your body expelling the dirt underneath your skin. Always remember to make sure that you’re using a mask that is safe for your face. Check out beautyproductwarnings.com for the best advice on skin care and products.

Meditation is a fabulous way of unwinding from your day. Put some relaxing music on, sit comfortably, and breathe deeply. With each exhale of air, push out any worries or complications that you’ve had that day. Once you feel calm and relaxed, you can continue to enjoy the rest of your evening.

Similar to meditation, hypnosis can also work wonders with relieving stress. You simply pop some headphones in and listen. Make sure that you’re comfortable and let the recording take you away. Hypnosis can be great for people with anxiety or people who struggle to sleep. Michael Sealey’s YouTube account is a fantastic example of the hypnosis that you might want to look for.

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 R&R

Time to yourself: Having a small amount of time to yourself is underrated. You may adore your partner and children but taking some time to just be yourself is incredible for the mind. Letting it all hang out (ayyy!) on the sofa in front of the TV is all some people need to rejuvenate.

Foot spa: You might not have a fancy foot spa at home, but there are other ways that you can treat your feet for next to no cost at all. Get yourself a bucket and fill it just under halfway with warm water (the heat you would use for a bath). Be sure to add some bubbles and maybe a drop of lavender oil into the water. Sit yourself down with a book or while watching TV and pop your feet into the bucket. You will feel relaxed almost instantly. Be sure to hit the pumice stone and lotion after!

Manis & Pedis are another great way of treating yourself. You don’t necessarily have to do this at home, either. Take yourself to your favorite salon and enjoy some pampering. Plus, with the amount of wonderful designs that you can choose for your nails these days, you will walk away looking absolutely fabulous.

Dye your hair: Doing this can make you feel like a whole new person. Your hair will look shiny and full of life again and you can even cover up those evil greys(!). Be careful not to over-dye your hair, though, as this can be very damaging to your scalp and locks. Be sure to also get regular trims if you dye your hair as split ends are easily formed.

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 Pamper party!

Have a beauty evening with your girls: Invite the girls over for some drinks and giggles and ask them to bring their makeup bags. You can gossip and put the world to rights while doing each other’s makeup. It’s a great way of relaxing and afterwards, you will be ready to hit the town!

One thing to remember with using makeup is to not ruin your skin by caking it unnecessarily. Take a look at the best way to apply foundation and the routine you should adopt before applying it.

Spend alone time with your SO: It’s likely that you’ve both had a mega hectic day and have barely seen each other. Take the time at least once a week to cook a meal together and sit at the table with no distractions. Talking through your day or week with your loved one can relieve stress and anxiety, and it will also stop any distancing between you as a couple. Grab some wine and make it romantic. There’s nothing wrong with keeping the spark alive in your relationship, even if you’ve been together for many years.

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#datenight

We all have to work hard in life to get what we want, but we also need to take care of ourselves in the process. Take time at least once a week to do one of these things and you will start to notice the difference in how you feel. Also, pampering and self-care will not only make you feel better, but look better too. It’s a win-win situation!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

When it comes to beauty, nothing is permanent and it’s important to remember that. Girls grow up and want to emulate their favorite pop stars, TV princesses, and movie queens and, as such, we copy every out-there look. Whether it’s a spray tan as dark as hardwood or a nose ring to copy the latest DJ, experimentation is part of growing up as a young person. That need to find out who you are comes with a territory and sometimes that territory means donning blue hair with green streaks. Don’t laugh, though, the mermaid look is very much in, and you only have to look here to see it!

Sometimes, even after that experimental teen phase passes, a change is needed. There are so many ways that you can make a change to your look; clothes and makeup being just two of them. Some of the changes can come with regret, but as we’ve already said, nothing is permanent. Piercings can be removed and the holes close up. Wardrobes can be reshuffled. Hair can be dyed back to a more ordinary color. Even tattoos inked into the skin can be sorted with several visits to a tattoo removal service. Beauty isn’t always cheap, and reversing that beauty isn’t, either. However, it is available to you and you don’t have to stay looking one way or another just because of a little ink or hair dye!

When it comes to changing part of your look, it comes with a shift in your life. So many self-help books tell you not to go for a big, dramatic change when stressful situations arise, but change is the way that so many people cleanse. Strip it all back and start again with a clean palette, that sort of thing. There are so many ways that you can change your appearance and reflect a different part of your personality. For example, someone who loves the meaning of tattoos and certain designs are more likely to cover themselves in tributes to areas of their lives that they never want to forget. Of course, these can be removed down the line, but that’s why it’s said never to get a tattoo unless you are 100% sure!

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Those who enjoy the look of piercings are different to those who like to streak their hair with frosted blonde. The change that is made with a piercing can be reversed but more often than not, is preferably permanent. You can experiment with clip on piercings before going for the real thing, so you can see what it looks like. Ears are the usual place to pierce but those who want to be more out there and different go for noses, septum, lip, and even cheeks! Making a change in your appearance is never a bad thing, but you need to be sure that you want to make a change before you go for it. Understand your reasons behind the change and make sure that you feel comfortable with it.

Change is good for the soul and sometimes after tragedy or excitement strikes, a new update to your appearance is just what the doctor ordered!

Featured Image By: Wikimedia