Summertime Essentials

Today I decided to make a post consisting of some of my summertime essentials excluding things like clothing and specific makeup items. Obviously this isn't everything, it's mainly just a few random categories+products that I like... Hopefully you'll somehow find this helpful! 

Anti-Breakage Serum: All that swimming (whether it's in a pool or ocean or even river/lake) is going to damage your hair one way or another, and if you need something more steady than a once-a-week hair mask, I definitely recommend some sort of serum or extra conditioning something rather that you can use after every hair wash.  The one I use and love is the Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. Not only does it smell amazing but it makes my hair so soft and shiny, and because of my hair type I can't brush it that often otherwise I'll get a poofy mess, but since using this stuff I don't even need to brush it! It never gets knotted anymore! And if it does get knotted and I comb it, the comb just runs so smoothly... it's wonderful. 

The actual Organix shampoo and conditioner didn't do much for me, but I have tried their hair treatments and I really do like them! Plus the packaging is really cute! 

Facial SPF: SPF is definitely a must, even when the sun isn't out! I went to a dermatologist recently because of my annoying sensitive skin, and although I did switch to Cetaphil products about a year ago, she recommended me try the CeraVe line, the Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 in particular! Let me tell you it's SO much easier having something with SPF already in it. I have been using this for about a month (as well as the body lotion) and I have a lot of good things to say about them! The moisturizer itself is very lovely and your skin soaks it up. The only downside to this item is that because of the SPF, throughout the day you can end up looking a bit oily but it's not anything major. If it does bother you blotting sheets or setting powder can definitely fix that! I'm not sure if this would suit oily skin but I'm sure there are other SPF moisturizers out there that would work on you!

 All over SPF is important too. I would recommend a good sunscreen for everyday use but I am currently still on the hunt for one! If you have one you love definitely let me know in the comments!

Setting Spray: I don't use this every day but when I know I am going to be out and about and it's going to be sweltering hot, I always spritz some on before I go out the door. I wanted to try out the different Urban Decay ones to see if one was better than the other, so I currently am just using the mini version of the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. You wouldn't think that some chemicals in a bottle would stop your makeup from melting off but it really does... Where was this when I went to Kona last Summer??? At least I know the first thing that is going in my makeup bag when I go again this year! 

Mint Sorbet, Flip Flop Fantasy, Butler Please

Nails: If you always have a color on your nails, like me, definitely invest in a good base coat and top coat! It actually makes all the difference in the world! I have trouble with polish peeling on me and literally just popping off, and I thought it was just because of my oily nail beds (is that a thing?) or something like that... My mani usually lasts about three days before it peels off, but since I started using the Beauty Secrets Base Coat my manicure literally lasts about a week! I don't think it'll last that long if your in and out of the water but I have a feeling my nails will be lasting way longer than two days! As for a topcoat I swear by Seche Vite... I refuse to use anything else. I also would recommend staying away from matte/satin finishes unless your planning to use a topcoat.. Those chip a lot faster than regular creme formulas. And if you need your mani to last as long as it can, go for a textured polish like something shimmery or glittery... Those won't budge! But if your using the Seche Vite topcoat I would try to avoid Zoya nail polish... For some reason it shrinks it and your left with something that looks like tip wear.

Summer colors usually vary from person to person but I thought I would include a few I know I'll be loving this season! 

Snacks: I know these are a bit odd to add in here but Summer is the season for fruit! Don't take that for granted (*cough* like me *cough*). Definitely eat as much fruit as you can before the winter months come! I've been obsessed with oranges lately but what I am so excited for is the WATERMELON! YAASSSSSS. 

For something to drink I would definitely go with an iced tea for some sort because unlike soda it doesn't bloat you and in the end you actually can lose weight just by cutting it out, on top of that it's so much more hydrating! Obviously drinks TONS of water but if your like me and get sick of water because of how much you consume, definitely go for some sort of tea! 

Swimwear: Last but not least is swimwear. Okay, I know this is most obvious thing in the world but I want to stress how important it is to find something that not only fits you really well because that makes all the difference in the world! My friend is super insecure of her body and uses nothing but one pieces however she tried on my friends bottoms a few weeks ago and let me tell you this is the first time in two years I have seen her in a bikini.

 Everyone has different body types so definitely try on a lot of different styles to see what looks the best on you! Especially with the bottoms. 

For me, since I have kind of big hips, wider bands look better than simple string bikini's. These particular ones are from Pull & Bear and I also have them in black!  I love the cut of these... They are more cheeky than your average bathing suit bottoms but they don't expose your entire backside which is always lovely for those people who weren't blessed with a nice butt (aka me). 

For my top, I have this black one from Topshop which is lovely because it goes with everything, and it fits really nicely and not to mention comfortable. The underwire is a god-send because it helps me in the boobage department (itty-bitty-titty-commitee member right hurrr) and that's always nice.

                                                                                                                                                                  

Anyway, I hope this somehow helped you! Definitely let me know what your summer essentials are! 

One of these days I'll actually get to the beach and take some photos for what I keep in my beach bag so definitely look forward to that! 

Monthly Favorites: April

Seriously can't believe that yet another month has flown by. Crazy.

Anyway, for this months favorites I don't have too much... They are mainly just random items that I have seemed to grow a liking too and I thought I might share them with all of you.

Miscellaneous

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: In all honesty I wasn't even sure if this book would make to be in a favorites post but when I was gathering everything to take photos I just said 'what the hell' and threw it in. After seeing the movie (looks like I did it backwards usually people read the book first) I wanted to get my hands on the book but I wanted to make sure I got the original cover instead of the motion picture cover. I finally went to a physical store and purchased this for $15 which is kind of expensive considering how small the book is, both physically and in thickness, as well as it being a paperback. I justified buying it though mainly because the money went to a bookstore which I feel are going extinct. Anyway, onto my actual thoughts on the book; it wasn't fantastic but at the end of the book I was like "hmm... That was rather good".

For the most part it's mainly personal preference when it comes to a book but I wanted to quickly mention that the movie is a lot cleaner than the novel. To my surprise they use a lot of drugs (same as in the movie but Charlie did a lot on his own) as well as sexual content. There isn't a whole ton of sexual stuff in there but there was a lot more in the book than there was in the movie. 

But all in all, I did enjoy it and if I went back to that day in Barnes and Noble and got the chance to   re-purchase it, I would. 

Kitty Ears from Claire's: Ok... This is a super random favorite and your probably wondering what the heck I am thinking. I got these ears half off at Claire's last year because I was a cat for Halloween (original, I know). They are actually really dang cute and it's a pity it's socially unacceptable to wear cat ears out in public. One day while I was cleaning my room I randomly put them on and they seemed to have found a place on my vanity countertop. Since then, I use them daily to push back my baby hairs when I apply my makeup in the morning. (I may or may not leave them on for a little while longer even after my makeup is on). 

Amethyst Bracelet: This was a late Easter gift from a lady who owns the boutique next door to where I work. I had never received an Easter gift before but honestly I fell in love with this! The color is sooooo gorgeous and it just makes me happy looking at it! Need I say more?

Smith Sunnies: Someone had left these at my dad's store about two years ago and never came back to claim them. My dad never used them so one day as I was heading out the door I happened to grab them. I have another pair of sunnies but they were rather expensive so I don't like bringing them to the beach or squishing them in my small purses.  

I ended up liking these a lot more than I thought I would and I kind of forgot about them until this month when I went to a beach party with some friends. First off I love how slim these are! They don't fit in my HOBO bag sadly but still. Second, I love the material of these. It's plastic but... Bendy? It's not bendable but it doesn't feel like hard plastic. It's very difficult to explain but hopefully that gives you an idea of what I am getting at. Because of that feeling, I don't mind throwing them around because I know the frames won't get scratched (the lens are a bit scratched but not anything too bad). Lastly I love how dark the lens are. 

Clearasil Scrub: I try a lot of scrubs. A lot. Every time I finish a tube I go out and buy a different one from a different line or brand because I heard somewhere that your skin can get immune to whatever scrub you use. I bought this sometime last month just so I could be ready when my Simple scrub ran out, but my friend had purchased the wash version of this and told me that it broke her out really badly. 

This made me so nervous because I have incredibly sensitive skin however I am so happy to announce that this didn't break me out! The opposite, in fact! My skin has never looked better! Ok. To be honest my skin isn't all that horrible to begin with but I have these year round gross bumps on my nose and skin and since using this they have loosened up and gone away! And my skin in general just looks so good (not to toot my own horn or anything). 

The cream part of this scrub is literally like a heavy duty moisturizing cream. It's almost like it's not even soap. It just feels so good on your skin (especially because I have dry skin) and afterwards my face feels so nice, fresh, clean, and moisturized. The beads are also really nice... They aren't too wimpy (like the Clean and Clear ones) but they aren't super rough (St. Ives). There is also a nice amount spread throughout. 

The scent isn't awful but it's not the best... It just smells like a moisturizer. 

Overall I love this product and it will definitely go on my re-purchase list!

Haagan-Dazs Rocky Road Ice Cream: Ok I'm literally such a loser for adding this in but I am obsessed with this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes that many exclamation points were necessary). CAN WE PLEASE DISCUSS THE MARSHMALLOW IN THIS?! It isn't like a regular marshmallow it's melted or something and it's seriously one of the greatest feelings in the world when your casually eating the ice cream and hit a marshmallow spot! And it all just oozes out and your sitting there squealing with joy because it tastes amazing and... *le sigh*. I've bought over 4 of these this month (and yes the banana is there to let y'all know I do eat stuff other than ice cream). 

Music Favorites

1. Surfboard by Cody Simpson 

I am not by any means a Cody Simpson fan. I rarely even listen to that genre but my friend sent me the music video and the tune ended up getting stuck in my head. I found myself searching it up on Spotify over and over again until it finally made it on my guilty pleasure playlist. It's a really catchy tune and if your looking for something easy definitely give it a try! 

2. Little Lion Man by Tonight Alive (Cover)

If you haven't listened to any of the "Pop goes Punk" albums they are seriously awesome. This cover by Tonight Alive is my favorite though and although it's kind of intense the chorus is amaaaazinggggggggg. If your curious the original is by Mumford and Sons. 

3. The Mighty Fall by Fall Out Boy ft. Big Sean

Not much to say about this song other than it's really fun to jam out to in the morning when I get ready. Big Sean (or should I say Little Sean he's so skinnyyyyy and tiny) has a very distinct voice and way he says "oh god" in the beginning and I've managed to mimic it pretty well resulting in it being sort of a little joke between my friends and I. My friends will text me "oh god" in response to something and then write " *big sean voice*. It's actually pretty funny for some dumb reason? 

That's it for this month! Sorry for lack of clothing items and beauty items but I'm in the process of trying some and I don't really know how I feel about any of them yet! 

If you have a favorites post up on your blog or want to let me know what your favorites are, definitely tell me in the comments! I would love to know! 

Monthly Favorites | March

Beauty

Victoria Secret's Hello Darling: I've actually been using this since February but forgot to include it in my monthly favorites post last month. I am so in love with this scent. I use it every day unless I'm going out at night or something. Not only is the bottle refreshing to look at, but the scent is also fresh which makes it perfect for spring. According to the bottle, it has notes of white nectar and peony. When you first spritz it, you get this amazingly fresh and light scent (peony I'm guessing) followed by this... Sort of warm sweet scent. It's really lovely. Next time you are in VS definitely head to the fragrances and get a whiff! 

Benefit Some Kind of a Gorgeous: This isn't a big favorite of mine, but I have found myself reaching for it when I go to tennis. I normally go bare face with a bit of sunscreen but lately my eyes have been looking so incredibly tired so I've been dabbing it under my eyes and in other problem areas. What I like about it is that it's so light so it doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything, and it seems to last long enough on my face. I wouldn't really recommend it as an everyday foundation/concealer (not sure what it is, actually), but it's really nice for those nights (or days) where you just took a shower, but then need to run to the grocery store or go to a late movie and you don't feel like going bare face and you are over re-applying your makeup. 

Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick #N9 (Copper Pink): I received this from Sephora as my birthday gift and although it isn't a color I would normally wear, I seriously love it. It's a prettier version of my lip color, if that makes sense... Lovely color. Nude with some warm dusty rose undertones. Very creamy, as well. 

Miscellaneous

Jewelry: These three bracelets came in a set but for some reason I always seem to grab for the silver bangles. As for rings I usually pair this heart ring with them. The ring itself isn't exactly my favorite but I like the way it fits and I love how I don't have to take it off when washing the dishes or getting my hands wet. Lastly in this jewelry category is this little box made to look like the skeleton of a sea urchin! Super cool! I don't keep much in it but it's so pretty to look at, plus it helps me keep track of my hair ties (to preserve them because I lose them all the time, I only have two out at a time). 

Pull & Bear Denim Button-Up: I waited long and hard for the right denim shirt... I wanted the right shade of blue, snap buttons, and a soft material. It took me a while to find it but I finally found this one when shopping in Jakarta. I wore it a ton last year but sort of let it rest during December and the beginning of 2014. Sometime this month I grabbed for it and apparently haven't let go since. If you don't have one of these in your wardrobe definitely add it to you wish list! They really give a cool and casual vibe to any outfit and are really comfortable! 

Music Favorites

1. Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless

I first heard this song in a Victoria Secret advert a long time ago. I randomly thought about it earlier this month and added it to my playlist on Spotify and I listen to it non stop. It makes me feel so badass when I listen to it which I (((guess))) is a good thing? Maybe? No? Yes?

2. Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Greenday

Yet another song on my Spotify playlist. I rediscovered the American Idiot album by Greenday and this song (well... Two songs) stood out to me in particular. Holiday is really fun and upbeat and helps me get ready for the day, whereas the lyrics to Boulevard of Broken Dreams are actually quite amazing. 

3. All Too Well by Taylor Swift

I admit I'm not the biggest T-Swizzle fan in the entire world, I mainly just listen to her top hits or whatnot, but I finally got around to playing to her entire Red album and seriously she is so incredibly talented. The lyrics to this song in particular are flawless and just her wording (especially in the middle part) makes it kind of relatable like you can feel and see what is going on. Bravo, Taylor. 

Can't believe March is gone! We are already in our fourth month into the new year... Crazy! Anyway, that's it for my monthly favorites, definitely let me know if you have tried any of these products along with what you have been loving this month! I would love to know! 

Everyday Makeup Routine

Benefit High Beam, They're Real Mascara, Hoola Bronzer | Maybelline The Rocket Mascara, Color Whisper in Orange Attitude | EcoTools Powder (?) Brush

Hi everyone! I thought I might switch it up today and do a quick beauty post concerning what I use when I get ready in the morning. 

First off... Let me explain about that really ugly concealer canister. I received that as a gift and it was a mineral concealer trio (not sure where it's from)... I had used most of it up so I knew I had to get more concealer. During the time I was on a neighboring island and I went into Sephora and ended up getting the Sephora Liquid Concealer (I don't think they sell it anymore??) and the nozzles on the concealers are really crappy and break off so you can't close it... So basically I just squeeze the product into the little concealer compartments and then I refill as needed. The poor container has been through hell... Literally. It's been thrown around, and even beaten with a hammer (I twisted it wrong and then the cap got stuck). However it's been with me for about three years now so props this little fella. The different shades really help me out actually because my skin color changes all the time depending on how much sun I get. 

This is the concealer I usually use but because I had forgotten it in my friends back last month I had rediscovered my Sonia Kashuk one (February Favorites) but for some reason for the past two weeks I have been reaching for this one instead of my Sonia one... Weird. 

Anyway, I usually start off with a freshly washed face and then I apply a bit of Cetaphil moisturizer. Afterwards I apply the concealer under my eyes, on the sides of my mouth (I have ugly veins there for some reason ew), on yet another vein by my eyebrow, and then on any blemishes I have. I then blend it out with my beauty blender except for the concealer under my eyes which I blend in with my ring finger. 

Afterwards I put on a bit of bronzer and then highlighter on my cheek bones and whatever is left on my fingers lightly goes on the bridge of my nose. 

For mascara I usually use They're Real by Benefit but it's drying up and semi finished but I love the way it separates my lashes so I still use it. Lately after I've applied that, I apply a mascara from Maybelline and I was never really that fond of layering mascaras but I have been doing it for about two weeks now and seriously the effect is amazing! 

Today I used this lovely orange color just for a little pop of color... I usually don't sport any lip color unless I actually have plans or I simply feel like putting something on. Maybe I'll do a post of my top favorite lip colors? Thoughts on this?

Definitely drop me a comment letting me know if you use any of these products and what steps or products you include in your own daily makeup routine! I am definitely interested to see what different products you all use.

February Favorites 2014

Beauty

Simple Cleansing Wipes: I've been using the Neutrogena ones for the longest time but I absolutely hate the residue it leaves behind! And I'm not sure if it's my imagination but it sort of stings my skin?? Anyway, I have heard lots of amazing things about this brand so I thought I would give their makeup wipes a try and I really like them! I won't one is better than the other but I will say that the residue it leaves behind isn't as... Hmm... Thick as the other ones, plus it doesn't sting my skin. (I wash my face in the shower and I only use makeup wipes to wipe away any extra mascara that didn't wash off in the hot water). 

Sonia Kashuk Concealer: I bought this back in July of last year at Target for around $10 and I really liked it. Since I am kind of a concealer freak I kind of forgot about it and started using a different one, especially when the colder seasons came around because this shade was a bit too dark for me. Since my birthday trip to Oahu, I came back visibly darker (Even though I'm brown and always will be brown, I prefer myself on the lighter end of the spectrum, however when I came back from Oahu I was really loving my tan!). I accidentally left my usual concealer jar in my friends purse so I decided to open this one up again and I fell in love all over again. It's super creamy, nice coverage, and matches me perfectly. It's long lasting (for me at least) and it covers blemishes and discolorations on my face left my pesky pimples up really nicely. Love it! I apply it using my EcoTools concealer brush. I don't have a Target on my island but next time I am near one I will definitely be picking up another jar! From what I remember there are only four shades to choose from which sucks but oh well, and if your wondering, I'm (currently) using the shade Wheat. 

Love&Beauty Beauty Blender Sponge: This is another item I purchased on my birthday trip. I was waiting in line at Forever21 to purchase some things and just for kicks I snatched it up. I had no idea I was going to love it this much! I can't compare it to other knock off brands and the actual Beauty Blender, but for $3.00 or whatever I paid I seriously love it. The color is super cute too. I use this to blend in my concealer. It's much faster this way and it's easier to hold than my usual sponge. 

Benefit High Beam: Nothing much to say about this other than I have been using this for a while and I still love it as much as I did the first day I got it. I never thought highlighters would actually do anything, I just thought it would be fun to put on, but seriously it makes your skin just look so... pretty in lower lighting and in regular lighting... Love it. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer: This is a little sample size I received but I never used it. I recently just started conturing (just a bit... it's really fun to put on) and I actually really like the way it looks. It's matte which I love, but I do have to layer it at least twice to make it visible on my skin tone. After I run out of this sample size, definitely going to purchase the regular one! Oddly enough this travel/sample has lasted me a while! I apply this with my EcoTools powder (?) brush which is just barely tapered, and on top of that I pinch it sometimes to get a more define edge before blending. 

Benefit They're Real: Alas. Another Benefit sample size. On top of being a concealer freak I'm also a bit of a mascara freak. I bought this mascara on top of three others but for some reason I didn't like this much at first but I recently started using it (I think sometime towards the end of November) and I ended up really liking it... I don't know what I was thinking?!?!??! It's amazing?!?!!? Why didn't I like it before?!?!?!?!

Tarte Matte Lip Crayon in Fiery: Ok. I spent way too much money on this damn thing ($25 mother frikin dollars on a jumbo crayon for your lips) but I don't regret it at all. I was frantically looking around Sephora, trying to find one more thing to buy just because I'm weird and the Tarte packing is so beautiful so I was sucked in.This color is freaking amazing. It's looks like your standard red but when you actually look at the product and actually wear it, it's a bit darker than you expect it to be... I don't know how to explain it. It's beautiful. It also lasts a hell of a long time (wore it all day today. From 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and when you apply it... It smells weirdly pleasant... Sort of like menthol. I hope to pick up more from this line in the future. 

EOS Lip Balm: I'm obsessed with these spheres. The last two weeks of this month have been brutal to my lips so I've been applying this every night before I go to bed and I love it so incredibly much. It's sort of... A dry texture, if you know what I mean. I have some chapsticks from Blistex that just feels like I'm applying an oily layer to my lips, whereas EOS is more on the... I don't know... Dry side? It's so hard to explain but I like the product and how it feels on my lips. Bottom line; love it. Going to use it tonight again. Not entirely crazy about this particular scent (summer fruit) but you can barely smell it. 

Dot by Marc Jacobs: This was the birthday gift I received from my best friend and I couldn't have been happier with the scent she chose! To be entirely honest, It doesn't really smell like anything special in the bottle (it's just a nice scent), but I feel like it mixes in with your natural body chemistry, producing something really just... Pleasant. That's all I can say. It's nothing spectacular it's just something that you enjoy smelling and you want to be around.

Miscellaneous

Rings: I love rings in general but this month I found myself gravitating to these two. I don't wear them on the same hand, but on the opposite. I purchased these in a set of three rings from Pacsun for around $10. I originally got it specifically for this horseshoe ring, but sadly I lost it. I think it went down my friends sink drain but not entirely sure and to be honest I'm too lazy to dig for it. 

Grey Aero Hoodie: I am not the type of person who likes clothing that has the brand name plastered everywhere (cough, Aeropostale, cough) but I went in there because my friend fancied some jeans (WHICH LOOK AMAZING ON HER THEY FIT HER PERFECTLY AND THEY WERE ON SALE FOR $9 EACH) and while I waited for her I came across these half priced PLAIN hoodies. For some reason I really wanted to get it in large (so I did) and I practically lived in it. It's so soft and cosy and it goes past my fingers and ughhhhhh. Loveeeee. It's actually been really cold here and this keeps me nice and warm. But on the other hand it's not super thick so I can use it on regular days without overheating (like today. It was sunny but had chilly winds and I wore this with some shorts and slippers). What I really like about it is how tragically basic it is, but what I love even more are the details that make it special. The first one being the hot pink little... Plastic ends of the drawstrings (does anyone know what those are called?) and the tulip cut sides. Little details like that make me happy. 

Forever21 Tee: Another utterly basic piece. Black charcoal tee shirt, crew neck, loose, front pocket, cuffed sleeves, semi burnout, soft. I wear it all the time. What I don't like about it is that the dye is like... Running? Especially around the areas where it's sewn. Thinking about buying some dye and just fixing it. 

Paper Towns by John Green: I don't want to ramble too much but I enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated. Had some suspense and really opened my eyes to how people and friendship work. Definitely recommend checking it out! I mention it to everyone I meet! 

Bath & Body Works Candle in Peach Bellini: They were having a sale on the mini's (3 for $10) so I couldn't pass it up. I somehow winded up getting both a soap and candle in this scent but seriously I'm not even upset this thing smells amazing! Almost halfway done! It smells so yummy and fresh and just frikin fabulous. Go and check it out next time your near a B&BW.

Music Favorites:

1.  She Looks So Perfect by 5SOS. 

Holy frikin crap I love this song. It makes me smile and want to dance and Calum's solo makes my heart melt. The music video is fun to watch as well. Michael (my bae) makes me swoon ughhh he's so cute. 

2. Somewhere in Neverland by All Time Low

Ok I had a really hard time with this second choice. Tbh it's sort of a tie between Love Like War, Get Down on Your Knees and Tell Me You Love Me, The Irony of Choking on a Lifesaver, and this song but I decided to go with Somewhere in Neverland simply because the lyrics are so incredibly sweet. 

"Wendy we can get away

I promise if you're with me, say the word and we'll find a way

I can be your lost boy, your last chance

Your "everything better" plan

Oh, somewhere in Neverland"

3. #GETITRIGHT by Miley Cyrus

Thanks to an amazing website called Spotify, I'm easily able to listen to all these albums I'm just really lazy to Youtube or listen to the previews on iTunes. I prefer just starting from the first song and just having the album as background noise as I clean or... Use the inter webs. Anyway, Bangerz was one of those albums and seriously this song (although a bit risqué if you listen to the lyrics) is sooooooo fun to dance around to. I find myself humming it all the time. 

That's pretty much everything I have been absolutely and unconditionally loving this February. This was really fun for me to write, and hopefully this is the first of many monthly favorites posts to come!  Please let me know if you would be interested in me continuing this! 

And please be sure to type me a comment telling me something you've been loving as well! I'm curious! 

xoxo,

                                          

                   Kelly

Nails | Spring is coming!

Not sure of the names but I can check if you like! 

Zuza, Kelly

Mermaid Tears, Planks-a-Lot, Steady As She Rose

Mint Sorbet, Haze

Clouds, Orion

In celebration of Spring being on it's way I thought I would make a quick post of some nail colors I want to bust out and start wearing again. Call me cliche, but Spring usually means pastels for me. To balance everything out, I added two dark colors, one of them being a navy glitter color by Ciate and Zoya Kelly (my name hehehe). Despite being a dark grey, Kelly has a heavy purple base to it which I think makes it at least a bit appropriate for Spring. 

Probably the main color I want to experiment with is different variations of white. Mine comes from one of my most favorite brands ever called Bettina which originated in Puerto Rico and are sold in some Walmarts over in Florida I think... Not entirely sure. Long story about how I came to obtain them but I have a whole bunch and I love them so dang much. Clouds by far is the best white I have ever used. The formula is creamy and not super streaky and is basically a dream to work with. I really suggest investing in a good white color because the formula can really make or break it. Most whites I've purchased in the past are super chalky and disgusting and instead of looking like polish it just looks like I painted my nails with white out. 

A bit nervous because I use my Bettina polishes so much (Especially Clouds and Haze) that I don't know what I am going to do when they run out since I can't exactly get them again unless I order them or something. Hmmm... 

Do you have any favorite colors for Spring?

xoxo,

                                          

                   Kelly

Beauty | Small Sephora Haul

For my most recent birthday I was lucky enough to have received a gift card to heaven on Earth; otherwise known as Sephora. On top of getting some major lemmings, I also received a small birthday gift that held two mini-sized items by Makeup Forever. 

First off I finally got my hands on the Naked Flushed Palette! Seriously been wanting this for the longest time. It includes a bronzer, highlighter (la la love highlighters) and a blush. 

The highlighter is absolutely gorgeous. It reminds me of High Beam by Benefit but the sparkles are more chunky. 

The bronzer is lovely but seems to blend in with my skin tone... Or at least my hands. I tried it yesterday for the first time and although I had to build it a bit, it was noticeable. It's a bit on the sheer side but I think that's only because they wanted the shade to be universal and build able so it could be worn by many people of many shades. The bronzer has little flecks of shimmer spread sparsely throughout. 

Lastly is the blush which is a gorgeous... Sort of rose toned color definitely on the warm side. This too has the sparse flecks. 

Right: Makeup Forever Artist Natural Lipstick in Rouge N6 (?) | Left: Tarte Matte Lip Stain in Fiery 

Lastly is the concealer by the Sephora brand which I just picked up. Decided not to swatch it simply because it's just concealer, and plus I haven't actually used it yet. It's sort of a tradition to always pick up a concealer whenever I go to Sephora (by the actual Sephora brand... No particular reason why) so I went with this one. I usually get the liquid formula but I noticed that they didn't have any... Did they discontinue it? 

I will say that I used my friends concealer the other day (same one as this one, different shade), and it was a bit dry... But then again it had only been used a couple of times so maybe it'll be more creamy once it gets more use. 

If you have any more specific questions about any of the products, don't hesitate to ask! 

Also wanted to mention that more in depth reviews and thoughts on some of these products will be expressed in my February favorites post which should be up in the last days of this month. 

xoxo,

                                          

                   Kelly

Autumn 2013 Must Haves: Makeup Edition!

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

As a follow up for THIS post, I decided to do one dedicated to beauty products I am loving for this upcoming season. 

Colors:

Like everyone else, I absolutely love burgundy's, which is why I included a few different versions. Red's are also a must have for me and I am planning on stopping by my local Walmart to grab a few more lovely red shades. The last color I am obsessed with, oddly enough, is orange. I have been the biggest Paramore fan for a while and I love Hayley's wild orange locks and lips, but it wasn't until I browsed the items at my local MAC counter that I tried on an orange lippy (that I can't remember the name of) and instead of smearing it on, I slowly built up the color by dabbing it (which is what I usually do for lip products, excluding balms). I fell in love with the bright color, but because of my dabbing, it wasn't all that stark and it really was just a lovely wash of color. 

Cosmetics Bag:

Pull & Bear is one of my most favorite brands, so of course I had to pop inside when I was passing one in a monstrous mall somewhere in Jakarta. While I was at the checkout, I caught sight of this cute makeup bag that had the Union Jack symbol on it. It was really annoyingly high above my head though, so I couldn't reach it, and I didn't have time to look for an employee to go and grab it to me. I was delighted when I found it on Polyvore and just had to include it in my set.

Makeup bags to some people are "unnecessary" but I think that they are a must. For me, it's one of those simple things in life that makes me smile whenever I take it out. I own multiple for different occasions, but the one I find myself gravitating more towards is my one by Coach. It's a lovely size, satin finish but plastic insides, and has watercolor prints on the outside. 

For affordable ones, Forever21 has the cutest. Last year I bought one for my friend for Christmas, and she loves it. 

Cheeks:

Weather is getting colder, and sometimes the cold makes powder cake up which is why I love investing in cream blushes... I have a few from TopShop that I absolutely love. I included the orange just because orange is sort of the color I am in love with at the moment, and I thought a little hint of orange on the cheeks would make your face just look really fresh and perky.

Benetint is a highly raved about and popular product from Benefit and can also be used on your lips. I haven't actually gotten to trying this myself, but it looks absolutely lovely on other's.

Other colors I recommend trying on to see if it suits you are dusty rose shades along with plum and mauve.

The Naked Flushed palette is a major lemming of mine. Urban Decay is one of my favorite makeup brands, and when this came out I thought it was so convenient because it is a three-in-one. The shade of the blush is also a lovely fall color. The palette is overall pretty warm which is why it's perfect for this season.

Eyes:
 I usually leave my eyes bare, but the past few weeks I have been experimenting with gel liner to create little wings which looks really chic and cute. Gel liner comes in all different kinds of shades so I am excited to maybe try a plum color or something... Just to switch things up.

The Naked Basics palette is my most favorite palette ever because it offers a lot of buildable matte shades (except one of them has fine, iridescent sparkles). This palette can obviously be used all year round (which is what I do), but I included it because it's a makeup staple everyone should have.

For a little sparkle to perk up those eyelids, L'oreal offers affordable color pigments that are ridiculously pretty. I can't remember the name of the one I own, but it looks lovely on all skin tones.

I didn't include mascara just because that doesn't really have anything to do with the seasons, but just for good measure, I have been loving They're Real by Benefit.
Lips:
Lips are my favorite part of this season! I personally prefer darker colors (even in the Summer), but now that it's Autumn I can go crazy!

Because I have eczema (ew), and I use to have it on my lips, I can't stand the feeling of something wet, just because it starts to irritate my lips... I just can't explain it... Ew. Because of that, I prefer dry lip products, like matte lipsticks, lip stains, and lip crayons. Further more, because I hate the feeling of anything on my lips, I tend to dab rather than apply. Dabbing gives off a really natural look that I think looks lovely, especially with lip products of a matte finish.

TopShop lip crayons are my favorite lip products, and I am really loving the shade 'Suspect' which is what I included above.

Like I said earlier, I have been loving the look of orange and hope to purchase the color I saw at my MAC counter.

Red's are a must have as well, and Rimmel has a Kate Moss Collection that has gorgeous colors to choose from, and I have heard so many great things.

I think bold, warm lip colors with an overall bare face (minus your face makeup) looks lovely, but if your wanting a change, definitely try a peach lip. I adore my Maybelline Peach Kiss Babylip Lip Balm. I own a lot of Baby Lip products and I love them all... It's one of the few 'wet' sensations I don't mind.

Lastly is lip balm. I have a small and growing collection of the EOS lip balms not only because they do wonders for my lips, but don't feel extremely wet like other balms, the smell is heavenly, and the packaging is so cute.

Face:
Autumn can be drying for your skin, which is why finding one that doesn't dry out your face even more is important. I don't use foundation or any face products besides my Cetaphil Moisturizer and my Sonia Kashuk concealer, but I heard the YSL Touché Éclat Foundation works wonders, and isn't drying at all.

My friends are all about BB cream, and even though I own one, I never use it. 

Halloween is the one day I deck myself out in makeup, so I decided to give it a go. I have extremely dry skin so after I put on my Naked Skin BB cream by Urban Decay, I was nervous when I realized that I forgot to put on moisturizer, however I was fine the entire night and that made me really happy! Definitely go check it out! 

~

Anyway, those are the products that I am loving, will be using, or will be on the lookout for this Autumn! 

If you have any questions concerning the products I use, feel free to ask! 

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

                                          

                   Kelly