Winter Favorites! 2014

Hey cuties! I'm trying to get back into the habit of blogging regularly. I've been pretty swamped lately but spring break is coming soon and we need spring sooo badly! I swear, this has been one of the worst winters of my life because we had 6 snow days! And this is Minnesota we're talking about, there is hardly any snow days if we can help it. One time, it got to about -40 degrees with the windchill! But, as Minnesotans, we went to the movies that day. That shows how crazy we are. Funny thing is, we saw Frozen. Best. Decision. Ever!

So there's actually a point to this post, and that's my winter favorites. It's just easier for me to do seasonal favorites rather than monthly favorites. If I did this monthly, they would be super short and really boring and no one wants that. 

1. Dusty Rose Cardigan from Target- I've been trying to wear pieces that are a little out of my comfort zone, and this long, cardigan is something that I wouldn't usually go for because it's long but I love it! I'm so glad I got it because I literally every week. I would pair it with a white tank top (or my next favorite) and a long necklace and some black pants. 

2. Jhameel T-shirt- I mentioned this T-shirt in my Fall Favorites but I'm still in love with it! It's my Jhameel shirt and if you haven't listened to his music, I definitely suggest giving it a try because he is amazing. I can't wait for his new album to come out! I plan on getting his other t-shirt soon, as soon as I can spare the money. ;)

3. Boots from Shoe Department- In my last haul, I told you guys about the absolute bargain I got these shoes for! They were originally $125, but I got them for $19.97! These are definitely not winter shoes because they have no grips on the soles and I slip and slide on the ice, but they're so cute I don't even care. In the spring they will be absolutely amazing.

I've been into nudes this winter, is that weird? I feel like everyone was wearing deep, dark tones and I just wore nudes. I just wanted something that was no-fuss and was easy.

1. NYX Butter Glosses- review here. I feel like I've worn at least one of these every day since I got them. If  you want to know more, I have more information in my review.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink Cognito- This is basically the exact color of my lips, but a tiny bit pinker. This formula is nice because it's sheer and it's very moisturizing and shiny. If you are looking for a very simple lip color, this is a good one.

3. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Totally Toffee- One of the many nudes I've been wearing. This a little darker that the rest, but it's still really pretty, especially paired with one of my NYX Butter Glosses.

4. L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Fairest Nude- This paired with the Tiramisu butter gloss is a match made in heaven. I swear, they are made for each other. The colors match and the smell of the butter gloss masks the terrible smell of the lipstick. That's probably the only bad thing about this lipstick.

1. Clio Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Golden Black- I did a rave review on these pencils. They are so pigmented and smooth and they stay on your eyes all day. Plus, there's a built it sharpener. There's nothing else to say, it's just great and I've been using it every day.

2. Too Face Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder- Claire Marshall was talking about this powder in one of her videos, and anything that Claire likes, I have to get. And oh my goodness, it makes your skin look so smooth and matte. And it keeps me matte. For an oily girl like me, that's perfect. I was going to do a review on this, but before you know it I hit pan and it wasn't pretty anymore. Once I finish it and repurchase it, I'll do a full review.

3. Vera Wang Princess Perfume- I've been wanting to find a fragrance, and I really want the Prada Candy L'eau but I have to save up for it. So in the meantime I got the Vera Wang Princess rollerball and this smells amazing. It doesn't last really long but I don't really mind. Reapplying isn't a big deal. It's more affordable as far as perfumes go so if you don't want to break the bank but you still want to smell nice, Vera Wang is the way to go.

1. L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Line- My hair has been loving the this entire line of hair products. It makes my hair so lightweight, soft, and silky. The harsh weather has really taken a tole on my hair and this fixes it right up!

2. Hada Labo Replenishing Hydrator- This is a Japanese brand but it's sold in the US. I'm not sure if it's the exact same product but I sure hope it is. My skin has been so dry and ever since I started using this as a toner, it calmed down. I wouldn't use this alone because it's just not enough moisture for me, but as a toner it's amazing.

Mango Green Tea I love mangoes, and I love green tea. This makes me feel like I'm on a cozy, topical vacation and it's a relaxing morning by the beach. 

1. Urban Decay Naked 3- This is not pictured in the collective favorite picture because I forgot to include it. But I could not do a favorite post without it. Urban Decay has set my standards for eyeshadow very high. Nothing compares to the color payoff and the texture. If I could marry makeup, I would marry the Naked 3 palette. The rosy tones are gorgeous and they make my green eyes pop.
2. Essie Nail Polish in Muchi, Muchi- I went to target looking for a nude polish, but when I saw this polish, it was just too cute! Muchi, Muchi, that's the name. How could I resist? My friend noticed and I told her the name and she ran out and got it the next day. This has basically been the nail polish we've both been wearing for the past month or so.
3. 4. and 5. Maybelline One by One, L'Oreal Butterfly Effect, and L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extentions mascaras I have 3 mascaras. Let's be totally honest, I haven't been wearing a lot of makeup lately, especially eyeliner. Having great lashes makes up for most of my laziness. I will use my Telescopic mascara and then either layer my One by One or Butterfly Effect on top. Both the Butterfly and the One by One are very volumizing on their own, but Telescopic gives in that extra length that I want on top of the volume. I got them all in the black, waterproof formulas because the regular formulas smudge on me, and I will not deal with panda eyes! No!

Okay, that is a super long post. I hope it wasn't too boring for you. I'm just so ready for spring. I'm already planning on a the makeup I'm going to get to with all of the fun, bright colors. Especially lipsticks! I just started getting into lip colors last year and it's gotten so out of hand, but I just can't help my self.

Tell me what you've been loving this winter and what you're excited for spring? I love hearing from you guys!XD

What's In My Travel Makeup Bag + Cabin Fun!

Hey cuties! I think I've mentioned before that I kind of like these "what's in my bag" posts because I'm a little nosy. I'll admit it. So I wanted to do this post where I stuffed all of my makeup and skincare into one small bag. I hope you guys like long posts, because this is one of those posts. There's also pictures and information about my cabin trip at the end!

P.S. I forgot to include my face primer, but I definitely brought that along with.

Being a beauty blogger, this was hard picking only the essentials to bring. Especially for me because I'm one who tends to over pack. Does anyone else have that problem?

1. Kiehl's Superbly Efficient Antiperspirant Deodorant Cream- Deodorant, not much to say. It was 90 degrees out the whole time we were at the cabin.

2. Cetaphil Moisturizer in an Etude House Moistful Cream Sample- I pumped some of my Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion into the empty Etude House sample because it has SPF 30 and I didn't want to bring the whole bottle.

3. Biotera Long and Healthy Shampoo- Got this at Sally's in the discount section.

 1. Covergirl Eyebrow Pencil- My eyebrows are transparent because they're blonde. I need to fill them in.

2. Up & Up Eyeliner Brush- A cheap brush I used for my eyebrows. It's not so good for liner.

3. Mystery Eyebrow Powder From Sally's- I don't know the brand of this powder, but it has two shades and I use it to darken my eyebrows in some parts with the liner brush.

4. Sally Girl Eyeshadow- For my brow bone and inner corners.

5. Loreal Eyeliner Brush- Came with the gel eyeliner

6. Loreal Gel Liner in Brown- This is great for tight-lining your upper lash line for the allusion of fuller lashes.

7. Sonia Kashuk Spooly Brush- To blend out eyebrows.

8. NYC Liquid Eyeliner- This is actually a really good liner for the price. If you're in a pinch, I suggest getting this.

1. Holika Holika Petit BB Cream- Don't think this needs an explanation. Review here

2. Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer 125 Fair- My favorite drugstore concealer.

3. Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara- To set my brows.

4. Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya- Review here

5. Maybelline Fit Me Bronzer in Medium Bronze- Not a good bronzer, but it's the only one I own right now.

1. Maybelline Mega Plush Volume Express Mascara- Gotta have mascara!

2, Nevia Lip Butter- Review here

3, Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pact- Review coming soon

4. Palladio Rice Paper Blotting Sheets- If you're an oily girl, blotting sheets are a must.

5. Epiduo Sample- My prescription acne medication. 

6. Makeup Sponge- To blend BB cream

7. Calvin Kein Perfume- So I don't stink.

Here's a sneak peek into my cabin weekend!

So, I went up with only my sisters and we got to hang out in the cabin that we share with my (very large) extended family. My great uncle actually built it and we've been coming back for generations. Because we are very Finnish, we have a lot of traditions like going into the sauna (yep, Uncle Wayne had to build a sauna), playing Finnish card games, we even have Finnish sayings plastered all over our walls. Some of my family members speak Finnish, but I can't so I don't know what it says. 

Anyway, here's the view from the dock. Like I said before, it was 90 degrees or higher the entire time we were up there so we hung out in our swim suites most of the time because we were going to end up jumping in the lake sooner or later. It was fun because I got a little bit of sun and I didn't have to wear pants the whole time! It was too hot for pants anyway.

I thought this was cute. My uncle always used to tell us stories about the trolls that lived on the island, but they always changed every year. Do you see my reflection in the window? That is probably the only appearance I will make in this post because I didn't have any makeup on and I didn't do my hair for two days. Who needs to look pretty at the cabin?

My favorite part was probably taking the canoe out onto the lake and there's this one part where it's almost all lily pads. The first time we went out, the blossoms were already closed up for the night. So we went out the next morning so I could get some pictures. They were soo pretty!

In the far left part of this picture, you can see a little bit of green on top of the lake, those were the lily pads. This was also taken from our dock.

You can never have enough pictures of the lake at sunset. We actually had to take the canoe out again to paddle around the island that was blocking the view. But it was totally worth it because I got a ton of pictures and the water was so calm because the wind died down and it was before all the night fishermen came out.

My sister and I both agreed that the tip of the canoe was a nice touch.

I have more pictures, but I thought that this post was long enough. The pictures of the makeup and skincare products were taken at my house because I knew I wasn't going to have enough time to take pictures at the cabin. We only stayed there for about two days but we got a lot done in that time frame.

Let me know how you liked this post! Do you prefer a beach or a lake getaway? I'm from Minnesota (A.K.A. The Land of 10,000 Lakes, but we have a lot more than 10,000) so I can't have a beach getaway. Or at least at this moment I can't. ;) See you next time!

Product Review: L'oreal Power Moisture Rush Mask

Hey cuties! Is it just me, or does anyone else love anything that's a mask? I've tried a lot of face masks but I've never done a hair mask. Since it's summer and I have some extra time on my hands, I've been a little mean to my hair with heat styling and whatnot. I was hoping that this new hair mask by L'oreal would help bring some life back into my hair.

The product itself comes in this tub, which I'm not a fan of because I have to dig my fingers in there to get the product out. But it seems that most hair masks have this kind of packaging so it's not really a problem. I think we all would be thankful if most products came with a pump. :)

I used this about twice a week by adding it to my wet hair, putting it back in a bun, and waiting for a while. It never was a set time frame because I would go off and do other things, but I would say it was about a half an hour.

To be totally honest, it didn't do a whole lot for my hair. Was it moisturizing? Yeah, but it could be better. It didn't weigh my hair down or leave it looking greasy after I rinsed it out. What surprised me about this product is that it made my hair shiny. My hair is not the kind that will get shiny because it's already really light as it is. So if there is a shine, it's not really noticeable. 

Pros

-Affordable

-Made my hair shiny

-Does not weigh down hair

-Not greasy

Cons

-Not really effective

-Not a fan of packaging

Overall, it's a pretty decent product for it's price. It's the kind of product that will make a small different to you, but it won't make your friends of family notice. I don't know, not a lot of hair products work amazing on my hair, so it might work differently if you try it out for yourself. I guess I just have stubborn hair. XD Let me know some if you have any other hair masks I should try or if you've tried this one. I would love to hear your thoughts! ^-^

Easy Tutorial: CL 2ne1 Inspired Hair

Hey cuties! Today I have my first hair tutorial and it's something I've been doing a lot lately. It's inspired by CL in her music video for "The Baddest Female". My sister said that she liked this hairstyle and that I should shave my head to keep it forever. I'm not going to do that because I don't have the guts but it's the thought that counts. Anyway, this is actually really easy and quick. You guys are going to have to excuse my translucent eyebrows for a little bit longer, I'm currently trying to learn how to fill them in without looking really fake since I have really blonde hair. Plus, the lighting kinda washed out all the color I put into them. :( Does anyone have any tips for me?

source

Step 1: Separate your hair into two parts. Since my hair is really fine I only need to put up the hair on the crown of my head but anyone else might want to go by the top of your ears. Then spray some heat protectant, I'm using the Aussie Hair Insurance.

Step 2: Curl your hair. I like to keep the strands in these Little Bo Peep style ringlets when they cool because I found that it makes even curls. Then spray it with some hairspray.

Step 3: Let down the second layer and curl that the way you like it. You want to part your hair more than you usually do. My part is usually a little bit more to the left (my left) than in this picture. But for this hairstyle you want more volume on one side of your head.

Step 4: Brush back the hair from the top of your ear and pin it with some bobby pins. I like to twist it once so it will stay in place more. To get looser curls or waves, you want to lightly brush out your curls 

Here's what the end result is! This is great for second day hair if you use some dry shampoo and if you have really long hair this will look fantastic. I'm excited to wear this when my hair gets longer. This does work for straight hair if you are too lazy to curl your hair. Let me know if you like this or if you ever try it! See you next time! XD

Product Review: Organix Biotin and Collagen Shampoo and Conditioner

Usually, the kind of shampoo I use has no effect on my hair since it just falls flat a while after I blow dry it. Anything from the brand Organix always catches my eye for some reason but I've never had the chance to try it until now. I got the biotin and collagen shampoo and conditioner because it claims to make your hair look more thicker, fuller, and have more volume. My hair is baby fine and I've always had a struggle to make it look more alive and fuller. 

I first got the conditioner at my local grocery store. Don't you just hate it when you run out of conditioner before you run out of shampoo? Anyways, I was only using that for a while and I did see improvements in my hair. It was fuller, softer, and more luscious.

After being so pleased with the conditioner, I went ahead and bought the shampoo. I've been using both for a while and now I feel like I can now write an honest review.

Packaging-  The bottle is pretty small compared to the other hair care products out there. It's probably the worst thing about this product. I just feel like I'm paying more for less.

Price- These were about $8 each, which is a lot compared to my past shampoo which was only about $3 or $4 (I didn't really take care of my hair).

Effectiveness- These have been making my hair soo soft! After a while, I was walking up to my friends and saying "Feel my head". Usually, I have people walk up to me and ask to feel my hair because it's blonde, I have no clue why, I just do. Now when they say it's soft, I can actually believe them. This didn't add a lot of volume to my hair, but I did notice long lasting volume. My hair will look like I just blow dried it for most of the day, or at least when I get home from school and put it up into a pony tail or braid. 

Overall- Great product. If I get more Organix products and they work just as well, I might be addicted. I saw that they have a deep conditioner and their cherry blossom shampoo smells absolutely divine. So those might be my next purchases.