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

My Friends Made Me Do It Haul

Hey cuties! You know when you go shopping with your friends and they convince you to get more things than you actually need? Well, that kind of happened to me this weekend. But just for the clothes, the makeup is my own fault. I have a problem. . .

So, there's an overview! I feel like I keep buying lippies and boots whenever I post a haul, but you'll find out why I had to get the boots later on.

My friends and I went to the mall and while we were wandering, we found the Shoe Department, and me being the cheap person I am, I walked straight to the clearance section. When I saw these boots I gasped because they were soo pretty! They are brown ankle booties with distressed detailing and it reminded me of an explorer or an archaeologist. Weird, I know, but these are the things that appeal to me. I was sold right away, and they were only $19.95! Then I saw the original price, $125! I love them, but I don't know if I love them enough to pay $125.

I have an obsession with red plaid. I guess I want to look like a lumberjack or something. But hey, I'm Minnesotan! That's just what we wear. ;) And at Rue 21, I found one that makes me look really small, which I love, and the floral shirt does the same. But when I got home, I was a little iffy on the floral shirt and I already tore off the tag. Stupid me! Should I keep it? Or will it go to my sister? I just wish I could get my money back if I do. Also, at Rue 21, they have a ton of stud earrings that were super cute and my mom's coworker gave me an earring tree so I've been trying to fill it up.

If you guys read my Fall Favorites post, then you know that I love Jhameel's music. It's been basically the only thing I've been listening to for two months. So I bought one of his t-shirts! He even included a thank you note in the package.

Onto the lippies! I'm not going to say too much about these because I might be reviewing some of them, so stay tuned! 

From left to right, Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shanghai Spice (my first MAC lipstick!), Maybelline Color Sensation Lipsticks in Totally Toffee and Warm Me Up

NYX Butter Glosses in Eclair and Creme Brulee, NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Thalia

This is kind of a mess, so I'll just list everything off. Maybelline Age Rewind Under Eye Concrealer in Fair, Clio Eyeliner Pencils in Beige Shine and Golden Black, review here. NYX Eye shadows, NYX Roll On Glitter, NYX Glam Eyes Liner, Urban Decay Eyeliners in Rockstar, Zero (not shown), and Demolition, Anastasia Brow Pencil in Medium Ash (review coming soon), MYX Wonder Pencil in Light.

So! That's it. There's probably more that I've bought over the past few weeks. When I get a lot of school work, I like to celebrate my hard work with shopping. Is anyone else like that?

Let me know if you tried any of these products or what you're wearing lately because I really need some new clothes. Maybe you guys can help me reinvent my wardrobe for the new year. ;D See you next time!

Product Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo in 70 Barely Branded

Hey cuties! So I'm back with a review for you guys. There's actually a funny story about how this product came into my life. I was actually getting something for my friend because it was her birthday. But the friend that I was shopping with wanted to get her something extra in the candy isle. There were these people hanging out doing a survey on a new sign and the organization of the candy isle and they were offering $10 gift cards for anyone who did it! I wasn't planning on getting anything for myself until I got paid, but after the survey I could! Plus another little gift for my friend, of course.

Since there's a ton of hype around these shadows, I had to have at least one Maybelline Color Tattoos in my collection. This particular shade was recommended by a friend because she absolutely loved it and said I had to get it.

The packaging is pretty basic. I don't think that there's a lot you can do with these small, pot like jars. All of my gel liners and cream shadows look really similar, and this one is no exception. This was meant to be applied with your fingers, which I'm not a fan of because it's a little messy, but that's the way you usually apply cream shadows. I'm not complaining, but I one who does ten million things in the morning while I'm getting ready and this shadow does get on the things that I touch. But that's my fault for being stupid and not wiping my hands.

I wasn't impressed by what it looked like in the pot, I thought it would've been more vibrant. But when I swatched it on my hand it was so pretty! It's shimmery, but not glittery and overpowering. It just brings a little fun and life in a very basic nude color. This covers all the little veins that show my eyelids (gross, I know) and any redness I may have. My eyelids are naturally dark, so when I wear this alone it makes my eyes look more awake and alert. Yay! No more zombie eyes!

When I test out products, I put it through school and work. If it holds up, then it's got great lasting power. And guess what! This stuff was still on my eyes by the end of the day. Yes, it faded a lot, and I mean a lot, but it was there. I'm usually out for about +12 hours, so I was definitely blown away.

When I was looking at these shadows in the store, they did come in a pretty good selection of colors. I think that there is at least a couple that everyone would like, if not more. I got mine for less than $7, so you can get more than one color without breaking the bank. Honestly, if something's cheap, that's my favorite part.

Pros

-Long lasting

-Pigmented

-Easy to wear

-Cheap

Cons

-Boring packaging

-Kind of messy

Overall, looking forward to getting more. My friend and I are eyeing the pink shade that just came out and I think I would like the bronze color as well. But we'll have to see what happens. See you next time!

Product Review: Maybelline Baby Lips

 Hello lip junkies! So I'm back in school and I needed a no-fuss lipbalm to stuff into my purse. Who wants to be worried about makeup touch-ups when you're studying? The Maybelline Baby Lips seemed like a good choice to make since there is a ton of hype fluttering about them.

The packaging is pretty cute with the bubbly script and the clear cap. I like how they picked complementary colors. But it does seem a little cheap because the plastic isn't the best quality. I'm not complaining because for something that costs less than $3, I was expecting that. 

I only have a couple of the tinted ones, Peach Kiss and Cherry Me. There is a bright pink one, but I didn't think that suited my skin tone. There are some that have no pigmentation and come in different flavors if you don't want anything tinted.

The formula is super moisturizing and soaks into your lips really nicely. It does leave my lips hydrated for a while, but not the 8 hours that they claim. I say it's about 4-5 hours, which means I only have to reapply this once during the school day.

I like and then hate the Cherry Me shade because it has a nice, sheer color that you can build up. It's not a bright red that's great for everyday wear, even so that I let my little sister use it (she has no experience with makeup). But the smell! It has a strong cherry Kool-aid scent. I don't know about you, but I never liked the smell of those powdered drinks. It's just so artificial and candy-like it's a little overpowering. It didn't seem to faze my sister, but it's too strong for me.

As for the Peach Kiss, the swatch is not how it looks on the lips. I have naturally dark lips for some reason, and this shows up a slightly nude shade. It was a little let down because I thought it was going to be this pretty peachy-pink, but I actually like how it turned out. I've never tried a nude lip color before. It's just like my lips, just a little bit lighter. Pairing this with a more dramatic cat-eye draws more attention to my eyes. As for the scent, it's definitely not as strong as the Cherry Me. Of course, it has to smell like peaches, but it's very muted. 

Pros

-Build able

-Nice color

-Very hydrating

-Cute Packaging

Cons

-Strong smell (Cherry Me)

-Not very pigmented

Wow, I think I talked a lot about a couple of lip balms. To be honest, I'll be using Peach Kiss a lot more than Cherry Me as long as my slight tan stays. For the first time in years I have a little color and I'm going to use it for my advantage. Cherry Me is still okay, I'll probably use it more when fall is in full spring. 

Have you guys tried these lip balms? What did you think? Let me know!