February Favorites ~ 2015

2nd post of the day! I was thinking back on all of the products I've been using this month and I couldn't find too many new ones. For the most part, I've been sticking to the same products for a while now. I did manage to find a few products that are recent loves. I've been on a major spending ban which is the reason I haven't been trying new products.

Herbal Essences Hydra-Licious Shampoo

This shampoo smells so amazing! It lathers really well and is less than $4!

Freeman Anti-Stress Mask

 This mask is so relaxing. It looks a a little crazy on but it feels so good. My skin feels super soft afterwards.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleanser

 This is my new favorite facial cleanser. It makes my face feel so refreshed and clean.

Elf Neutral Palette

 I've been going back to my very first brow routine! The light matte brown in this palette is the perfect shade for filling in my eyebrows.

Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter

 This lip butter smells divine and is so moisturizing!

Flower Beauty BB Cream

I'm so happy my Mom let me try this out since she didn't like it. For a BB cram, it has really great coverage and it's really thick. 

Tarte Smooth Operator

I have been loving using this powder under my eyes. It makes my skin look so flawless and airbrushed!

Only 7 favorites for this month!

February Empties ~ 2015

I got so caught up in other things yesterday that I completely forgot to post this! February has been really busy for me and I can see the same happening for March. I planned to post my February favorites today so you might just get 2 posts in a day! ;)

Garnier Fructis Passion Splash Shampoo

 This shampoo worked fine for me but I could not stand the smell! I didn't want to waste it, so I used it all up, but I would not buy this again!

Kirkland Makeup Wipes

 I bought a huge package of these at Costco not realizing they became scented. These really irritated my eyes and I did not enjoy them. I would definitely not repurchase.

Secret Paris Deodorant

 I love this deodorant. it lasts really long and smells nice. I couldn't find it in the store so I chose another scent but I would repurchase this again!

Nivea Lip Butter

I love most Nivea skincare product including this one! It's super moisturizing and unscented. I would repurchase this for sure.

Elf Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Gel

 This is my favorite brow gel! It's only $1 and it holds shape all day long. I already have repurchased this and will continue to.

Oral-B Glide Floss

 I recently began flossing again. This doesn't have much to do with beauty but I really like this floss and would use it again!

Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Oil (Sample)

 I got this sample at Sephora quite a while ago and just recently finished it. it worked fine but was nothing special. I wouldn't feel the need to buy it.

Gilette Satin Care Ultra Sensitive Shaving Gel (Mini)

All shaving creams seem pretty much the same to me. I enjoyed this but it was nothing special. I've already picked up a cheaper alternative.

Delon+ Coconut Body Butter

 I love this lotion. I use it daily and it smells great! I would definitely repurchase if I could get my hands on it.

Those are all of the products I've used up this month. Have an amazing morning/day/evening!

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleanser ~ Review

 I've recently been on the hunt for a new holy grail face wash. Ever since Clean & Clear discontinued my favorite morning burst face wash I've been testing tons of new cleansers. Most of the ones I've tried have had a funny scent, or they haven't lathered well or they and too drying. This is the first one I've tried that I can actually see myself repurchasing. It's not the best face wash I've ever used but I think it might have to do.

The scent isn't my favorite but it's nothing unbearable. 

One pump is all you need! It lathers really nicely and is easily worked into the skin. It is also really easy to rinse off. I tend to wash my face once a day in the shower.

This was is directed towards normal to oily skin which is exactly what I have! I've actually recently noticed an oil decrease in my skin but I can say this is the reason. I've been using lots of new products so any of them could be the cause. 

My skin doesn't feel dry or tight after I use this, in fact it feels quite soft and smooth. 

I believe it's around $8 at the drugstore which is fairly average.

In the end, I found this to be a really simple cleanser that hits all the points I look for.

OVERALL

Lather: 9/10

Scent: 7/10

Price: 9/10

Would I repurchase?: Yes!
Would I recommend?: Yes, again!

Overall: 8.5/10

I definitely plan to repurchase this since it's the best cleanser I've tried in a while!

Philosophy Sugar Plum Fairy ~ Review

I also received this shower gel as a Christmas gift! I haven't tried much from Philosophy but what i have tried, I've loved! I feel like Philosophy is such a unique brand with their scents, packaging and products! All their products are so fun and exciting. This shower gel (& bubble bath & shampoo!) was from their Holiday collection and it's gorgeous. 

Just look at the color of this! The appearance alone sold me 100%! the candy purple bursting with pink shimmer makes me feel like and 5 years old... And I'm not complaining. No worries with the color since it definitely does not stain my skin or my bathtub.

This product isn't just a shower gel but it's also a shampoo and bubble bath! I can't say I've used it as shampoo but I've definitely utilized the other uses. I don't usually love bathes however this created the most simple, perfect bubble bath! The scent isn't super powerful which I actually enjoy. It's a nice subtle, slightly spicy scent. It's not overpowering at all. I couldn't possibly describe this scent nor could I compare it to sugar plums so I'll just leave it to your imagination.

I'm nearly 3/4 done this bottle and I'm sad to see it go!. However I have definitely been enjoying it. I love using it as a shower gel. It lathers nicely and makes me feel squeaky clean! My favorite part by far is the sparkle party I have every time I lather up!

I am so grateful to have received this as a Christmas gift. It has definitely encouraged me to try some more from Philosophy. Overall, I'd rate this 9/10! Not quite 10/10 since I can't quite tell what I'm smelling.

Smashbox Try it Kit ~ Review

 I've still got a ton of Christmas reviews coming! I've been wanting to make sure to completely try everything out so that I'm sure with my opinions. I've been trying the Smashbox Try it Kit for a while now and I'm finally ready to review it! I received this for Christmas last December and I've been using it ever since. It's a little gift set with 5 different Smashbox best sellers sample products.

 First off, the photo finish lid primer. This isn't my favorite eye primer, but it worked fairly well! It's slightly colored and yellow toned so it cancels out any discoloration. It's a little bit thick but it blends out nicely. After a few hours of wear, the eyeshadows I had put on still looked the same. By the end of the day, the shadows hadn't creased however they were slightly less vibrant. Overall I'd say this primer did a pretty good job of keeping my eyeshadow on and I'd give it an 8/10.

 I absolutely loved the photo finish foundation primer. I never really used face primer before this and I always had issues with my makeup wearing off. A little goes a long way with this products. It feels like a silicon formula and is makes my skin so smoothly. After a fee hours my foundation still looked great and by the end of the day, I had slight wear under my eyes and around my nose. That's way better than my normal wear all over my face. I would definitely consider repurchasing this. Overall I'd give it a 9/10!

 I'd never even heard of their limitless eye liner. I was pleasantly surprised with this. I don't really ear eyeliner all that often but I really didn't mind trying this out. It lasted really well on my tightline which is rare for me! I also tried it out by lining my eyes normally and it smudged and faded slightly but it wasn't too noticeable. I'd give this liner a 7.5/10

 The kit also came with a mini lip gloss in the shade Illume. I was surprised that I liked this since I'm not usually drawn to shimmery lip glosses. This gloss adds a great highlight to the center of a solid lip shade. it didn't last too long but not many glosses ever do on me. In the end, I'd give this gloss an 8/10.

 Lastly, like most sets, this set came with a mascara. I've tried a Smashbox mascara before and didn't mind it. This mascara doesn't give a ton of volume however it is easy to apply and it's buildable. the main thing I noticed about this mascara was that it added length. I don't think I'd repurchase this mascara but I will definitely continue to use it up! Overall, I'd give this a 7/10.

I really did enjoy this kit! It's great if you're looking to try some Smashbox products. I'm not sure if they sell this anymore since I checked the Sephora website and the kit seems to have been changed up a bit!. I still have seen this version of the kit in stores so grab it if you still can!

Favorite Smoothie Recipes

Smoothies are one of my all time favorite snacks! They are healthy, filling and you can drink them anytime! I never really follow a certain recipe, but I do love playing around with different combinations. I thought I'd share some of my favorite smoothie combos. I never measure so all of the measurements are approximate. As as much of what you like until you like how it tastes (That's how I make mine!).

Basic Smoothie

1 cup fruit
2 tbsp yogurt
1/2 cup liquid (milk/juice)
honey/agave
vanilla extract 

Vanilla Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie

1/2 a banana
A few frozen strawberries
2 tbsp yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp honey/agave
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk

Berry Banana

Frozen strawberries
Frozen blueberries 
1/2 banana
Juice (Peach/mango)
Milk
Vanilla Extract
Honey/agave

Hidden Spinach

Frozen Fruit (Strawberries, pineapple, peaches etc...)
1/2 banana
1/2-1 cup spinach
2 tbsp yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Orange Cream

Frozen Fruit (strawberries, peaches, pineapple, mango etc...)
3 tbsp yogurt
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

The whole package

Mixed frozen fruit of choice
1/2 banana
1/4 cup applesauce
1 tbsp yogurt
1/2 cup juice
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

These are the main smoothies I like to go for. I've currently really been into a the strawberry protein smoothie!

(Updated) Skincare Routine

My last skincare routine was over a year ago. I figured it was time to share my updated routine since it has changed quite a bit! I still like to keep my skincare fairly simple since my skin is quite sensitive. I often breakout when I try new products and these are the products that work for me. my skin is combo-oily. My t-zone tends to get super oily throughout the day however I also get dry spots here and there.

I wash my face once a day in the evenings. My favorite cleanser by clean & clear was discontinued so I've been on the hunt for a new one. I've tried a ton and so far Neutrogena's Deep Clean is the one I like most. It lathers fairly well and doesn't leave my face dry or tight.

Once a week or so, I like to exfoliate my face with Queen Helene's scrub. I like this scrub because it's not too harsh.

I also like to use a mask once a week. I usually switch it up but my favorite is First Aid Beauty's Instant Oatmeal Mask. It's really gentle and makes my skin feel so soft.

My holy grail skincare product is Lush's Tea Tree Water. It keeps my acne at bay and I can't go a day without it! It's also really refreshing.

At night, I like using the Nivea Nourishing Night Cream. It's very thick and moisturizing. My skin always feels so soft the morning after.

After the shower, I love using the Ultra Repair Cream from First Aid Beauty all over my body. A little goes a long way!

In the morning, I apply First Aid Beauty's Face Moisturizer. It soaks in super fast allowing me to apply makeup sooner.

I love Nivea lip products for my lips. My favorite lip butter scent is Raspberry Rose.

That's about all I do!

OPI Drip Dry Drops ~ Review

 I've always been a fairly impatient person. I don't really enjoy waiting for things, I'd much rather be doing something productive with my time. I've always found myself trying to find the perfect time to paint my nails so that I know I won't smudge them. I received OPI's Drip Dry Drops for Christmas and I love them! They make painting your nails way less time consuming.

I couldn't even guess on how these work but all I know is that they do! After applying my final coat of polish, I apply one drop of Drip Dry drops to each nail. My nails become instantly dry and I can move on to do anything. I usually wait around an hour for my nails to dry. I would definitely recommend this especially if you're short on time. I believe these cost around $10-$15 for this size. They are a bit pricey but I find it worth it.

OVERALL:

Drying: 10/10

Price:7/10 A bit pricey

Would I repurchase?: YES!
Would I recommend?: Yep

Overall: 9/10

I don't know what else to say about these so that's about it!

Wanderlust

Recently I have had a burning desire to travel the world. It seems like such a waste to be living on this huge planet for so long and not exploring it as much as possible. Not only have I had a desire to explore new territory, I also really want to go back to a few of my favorite places. I'm so fascinated by all of the different cultures and sights of the Earth so I thought I share some places I'd love to go!

San Francisco
 I actually went to San Francisco a few years ago. I absolutely loved it there and I can definitely see myself doing anything to get back there.
 

South Africa
 I honestly don't know too much about South Africa but I'd definitely love to travel somewhere in Africa.

England
I would absolutely love to visit England. I really want to see Stonehenge and lots of other sites!

Ireland 
 Based on photos I've seen, Ireland's landscape looks beautiful!

Paris
There are many reasons I want to go to Paris. It looks absolutely gorgeous and I've heard great things about it.

Italy 

Italy is one of the places I want to go most. I'd love to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa as well as many other classic sites.

Switzerland

 I feel like Switzerland often gets overlooked however I find the mountains stunning.

Egypt

 I would absolutely love to see the pyramids!

Japan

 The huge crosswalks and crowds in Japan amaze me. I'd love to visit there someday!

New York City 
I will make myself go to New York City one day! It just appeals to me so much.

Florida
I've been to California so I'd really love to see east coast.

Texas
I don't really know why, I just want to!

Chicago
I really want to see the bean! (Cloud Gate)

Greece
Greece looks absolutely stunning from all of the photos I've seen.

Thailand 
I'd love to go to Thailand and visit Phi Phi Islands

Maui
Maui is probably my favorite place on Earth! I've been many times and can't wait to go back someday.

I wish I could travel absolutely everywhere but I know that's not practical!

Prettiest packaging

I'm going to be honest and say that I often buy makeup just for the packaging. Packaging is a big part of makeup product and it can make or break it! The packaging needs to be sturdy so it can hold up and pretty since you'll be looking at it for a while. I gathered a few of my favorite products' packaging so here they are!

Palettes 

Urban Decay's Deluxe Shadow Box: The velvety purple paired with the shiny silver material are very eye catching! The palette is also quite compact too!

City Color's New York Palette: I'm not sure where you can get this brand but I thought the packaging was very cute. Each palette is themed for a different city and it's all adorable!

Tarte's Bon Voyage Palette: Tarte always has gorgeous packaging and this palette is stunning. Gold and purple go perfectly together and the design ties it all together.

Benefit's World Famous Neutrals: I found the packaging to this very unique! It'd a bit bulky but the outer packaging it too gorgeous to pass up.

 Other

Physician's Formula Nude Wear Blush: I must say this is my all time favorite makeup packaging. It's so girly and beautiful!

C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve: This packaging is so classic and simple and I love it!

Revlon's lip glosses: These glosses also have such classic packaging that feels so vintage. 

Maybelline's Baby Skin (And Baby Lips): The bubble letters and bright colors is what draws me into this packaging!

Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara: The packaging of this mascara is so unique from the snakeskin print to the deep purple.

Those are all of my favorite packaged products!

Matte makeup

 I've always been one for super shimmery and glittery eyeshadow. I thought it drew a lot of attention to my eyes and just looked nice. Lately I've been experimenting with some matte shadows and I love them! After developing a love for matte shadows, I've begun to go matte for the whole face! I thought I'd share my favorite matte look so far!

 To keep my matte makeup lasting all day, I love using smashbox's foundation primer as well as their lid primer. These both keep my makeup looking fresh.

 For face, I've recently been loving the Flower Beauty BB Cream. it has quite good coverage and a fairly matte finish.

 The Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder by Tarte is a super smooth and matte powder. It's long lasting and makes your skin look flawless!

 Another trend I've been following is contouring. Just a light sweep of the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer and your face has so much more dimension. Also it's matte, so it looks more natural.

 Brows are a staple so I like to fill them in with the e.l.f. eyebrow kit in medium.

 I love big bold lashes so mixing the smashbox Full Exposure mascara with Tarte's lights, camera Lashes is perfect!

I like to go for a neutral pink on the lips. NYX's soft matte lip cream in Tokyo looks great on the lips.

My latest eyeshadow obsession is the palette from the Tarte Bon Voyage set. It has mostly matte sades to fuel my addiction. My favorite shades are 

1: Moulin Rouge

2: I think I Cannes

3: Eiffel for You

4: Chantilly Lace

I start by blending Moulin Rouge into the crease. I then deepen it up with I think I Cannes. In the outer corner, I blend in Eiffel for You and add Chantilly Lace to the center of my lids.

This look is perfect for any day! You can keep it simple for the day and add some winged liner for the night!

Bath & Body Works Golden Sugar Scrub

I love reviewing all of the goodies I got for Christmas so here's another one! One of my friends gifted this body scrub to me and I'm so thankful. I had actually been needing a body scrub so it was the perfect gift! Often, Bath & Body Works scents are a bit too overpowering but I am in love with this scent! I couldn't describe it for the life of me but it's just amazing.

It's fairly chunky/gritty which is great for exfoliating my legs. I use it in the shower once a week on my legs and it makes them feel soft. After I hop out of the shower and apply lotion, I can't stop touching my legs. However, I can't shave after I use this since It makes my legs so smooth the razor just glides over everything, missing every hair. That's not really too much of an issue for me though. This scrub isn't painful in any way which is good, the exfoliating actually feels quite nice. 

OVERALL:

Scent: 10/10

Exfoliating power: 8/10
Would I repurchase?: yeah
Would I recommend?: yes!
Overall: 9/10

I hope this review helps some of you! Enjoy the rest of your day!

Mani Monday ~ OPI Bubble Bath & Princesses Rule!

I completely forgot to take photos of my most recent manicure! They were chipped by the time I thought of it so I decided to just repaint. Since I received the OPI Trend on Ten kit for Christmas, I thought I'd try a couple of shades from that. I was in the mood for a neutral, girly look and that's exactly how this turned out. The pale pink is Bubble Bath by OPI, and the glittery pink is Princesses Rule! also by OPI. I had to do about 4 coats of Bubble Bath since it was so sheer. I think I've found my new favorite neutral pink! As you can probably tell, I've already chipped a couple of nails :0

 I'm pretty sad that it already chipped, but I'm pretty sure it's because I didn't let them dry for long enough. This manicure is perfect for everyday with a bit of color.

That's all! It's not my best manicure, but I still like the combo!