Makeup Talk // Beauty Counter Review

Hi friends! Happy 2017! I am not sure how weather in your state has been, but in Ohio, we've had 68 degree weather one day and 20 degree the next (literally). If I didn't have a job to venture out to I would probably just stay inside and hibernate for the rest of the "winter". Choosing clothes daily has definitely been a back and forth unwanted guessing game. Anyway, at least my makeup isn't changing drastically like the weather each day! Today I wanted to show you my "everyday" makeup look (I do tend to switch one product for another some days, but the basic look is the same). I also will be reviewing three products from the Beauty Counter line and showing how I include them in my daily routine. Side note-since I work as an RN, sometimes even this amount of makeup is just too much (especially if I am running late). On those days, I stick to moisturizer, a primer, concealer under my eyes, a translucent powder and mascara.

Beauty Counter has a goal to make safer beauty products accessible to whoever may be interested. Why does this matter? According to BC's website,

"Over the past two decades, the European Union has banned more than 1,300 chemicals in the product formulas of personal care products and restricted the levels of over 250 more in such products. The United States has only partially banned 30 to date".

In order to provide a product that does not include many of these chemicals that are not banned, BC made the decision to ban over 1,500 of the questionable and/or harmful ingredients in the use of their products. To me, that is a step in the right direction. I hope that more companies transition to this mindset so more products that the public has more access and more choices when it comes to "safer" products. Another great thing about BC is that their website does have an ingredient glossary, as well as the "Never List" which are some of the ingredients that you won't see in their products.

Products pictured (clockwise): Flower Beauty Glow Baby Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo // Flower Beauty Daily Brightening Under Eye Cream (shade DB2) // Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner, shade "brown" // Beauty Counter Lengthening Mascara "soft black" // Tint Skin Foundation (2 shades shown; swatches and shades listed later in post) // Lip Sheer "Rose" //

Tint Skin Foundation 
This product claims to be "lightweight and creamy", with sodium hyaluronate, which helps to retain moisture, promote smoother looking skin and reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The coverage can be sheer to medium per the website, depending on how you apply it.
For me, I tend to use it on the days that I want a "no makeup" look.  I would say the coverage is definitely buildable. I honestly wear it to run errands or when I am going to work-I have not tried to get more coverage than in between sheer/medium. I did find that it wears well, about 6 hours before I start to notice the coverage is fading. I think this product would be amazing for someone with normal to combination skin. A primer or a great moisturizer is necessary (from my experience) to get a smooth application. I do have combination oily skin, and found that the foundation flaked up around my smile lines and nose. From the four shades I received to test out, I could easily go between two of the shades (linen and sand) depending on if I self tan or not. Since this product is pretty sheer, the shades are very forgiving. While testing this out, I did have a breakout; after switching a few products around, I realized it was actually a moisturizer I was using and not this foundation, so it has not caused any breakouts (win!) As you can see in the following pictures, it gives a satin/natural finish, but I always end up setting with a translucent powder due to my skin type.

Retail price: $41 USD

Shades from top to bottom: Porcelain, Linen, Sand, and Honey.

I used Linen without a self tan, and Sand with a tan.

No makeup. My camera for blogging is currently out of commission. The iphone 7 puts a slight filter on the skin with pictures (I haven't figured out how to turn it off). My skin isn't bad-just slightly red, with noticeable pores. 

 Coverage with the Tint Skin Foundation, shade linen. Even though the picture has the slight filter (sorry), you can see the coverage and finish it provides. 
Dry patches around mouth.

Lengthening Mascara  
This mascara was made to create a daytime or dramatic look, while also hydrating the lashes and defining the eyes. The product states that the brush provides "clean application without smudging, clumping, or flaking. My take? I would agree with most of this! It has not smudged or flaked-nor has it clumped. I found that the brush really does help to define and separate the lashes. I have slightly long lashes naturally, so this mascara is perfect for helping to really make them stand out. I did find that my mascara was dry; I spoke with the consultant and she confirmed what I had noticed from most of the reviews: the product is usually really creamy and completely opposite of dry! Since I couldn't just give up on this new (to me!) product, I decided to put some contact solution into the container/barrel? I think I may have received a dud, because with a little extra moisture, the mascara was performing as it said it would. I will say, if you are looking for volume, I didn't really find it in this product. The name states it is lengthening, which is what you will get! I received the color black; I think this is the only shade. 

Retail price: $29 USD 

Finished look (mainly showing the mascara here!)

Again, finished look (including the Lip Sheer). Pre-gym and errand running!

Lip Sheer

This product is meant to be a lightweight, moisturizing and safe formula to give a sheer wash of color. There are no synthetic fragrances-just pure vanilla planifolia. It promises to condition lips without feeling oily or waxy. It is gluten free, vegan, nut free, and soy free. This product states that it could also double as a cream blush (have not tried that yet!) To cut to the chase, I will just say I absolutely love this product. The packaging of the full size product is beautiful, and I really adore how the product applies and wears. It's one of those items that you want to keep using but you also don't want it to run out. I have a few more shades on my list to purchase full size. It is listed as a Best Seller on the site, and I totally know why. If I could just shell out all the cash for the whole collection I would! 

Retail Price: $30 USD

If you have any questions regarding these products, or are interested, I highly recommend reaching out to the consultant that I worked with, Jenny Pittman. Her Beauty Counter link directly is www.beautycounter.com/jennypittman; her instagram page can be found by searching "jennypittman, her Facebook page is located at www.facebook.com/groups/BeautycounterwithJenny. She also has an email, beautycounterbyjenny@gmail.com. She has been super helpful with these products and I am so glad I got to work with her for this post!

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

*I was not paid for this review. I did however receive the Beauty Counter Samples for review.
**Primer used under Tint Skin Foundation was Pacifica Jasmine Iris Oil Control Primer (a primer that deserves its own review!)

Life Currently // What I Wore // New Faves

Hello? Anyone still out there, checking in on this blog? Hopefully! I can finally say I am motivated to get back into blogging. You know you don't want to read posts from someone that feels like they are just dragging their feet and being forced to write a post just for the sake of having something out there - just posting to keep the blog alive. No thanks! That is one of the reasons I do like blogging.

Regardless of if I have a major following or not, I can always turn to this space on the interwebz to write my thoughts, likes and dislikes, and questionable fashion choices. This little blog has existed for about 4 years, and hasn't disappeared if I chose not to post for a bit. I like that. Here I am - first post of 2016 and hopefully not the last. So, here it goes. 

This past October, I started my career after graduating in May as an RN (got my BSN, yay!) I work as a pediatric nurse, so that in itself is pretty crazy. I work, sleep, meal prep, and workout. Oh, and try to have a social life. I would say I'm slowly starting to find balance in this new chapter as an adult, hence the time to do a blog post!  Overall, I love working as an RN, especially with the little babies. They are the best... even when they decide to have a major fit when you need to go tend to the next little one. Patience is key, for real. 

Beyond the whole career thing, I've been trying to make time for friends, family, and my boyfran, which is another balancing act in itself! I've also been trying to minimize the "stuff" in my life. Going through clothes, makeup, skin care, etc, and trying to get rid of/donate what I do not need/want. Having too much "stuff" really has started to stress me out. Basically, I want to Spring clean my life. Does that make sense? On top of all that, I am still really working  on throwing out and replacing "toxic" beauty and skincare products and choosing more natural and non-toxic brands. This is one task that is super hard and can be expensive if not done slowly. Trust me (from experience, hah). 

Anyway, here is a random outfit I forgot to post on here-I really miss doing frequent OOTD posts! Also, sharing some new products/products I am loving as of late... feel free to make beauty/skincare/makeup suggestions for organic/natural/non-toxic products!

 Outfit details-  Scarf: Rose & Remington (local boutique) // Shirt: Target (similar)/(similar) // Jeans: Old Navy // Booties: Jessica Simpson Brand (from TJMaxx) (similar) //

Products from **Creek Baby Organic: Arawak Face Powder // Coco-Olive Facial Creme // 

*Side note: This Arawak Face Powder has absolutely blown me away. I think I have found a product to replace my Mac Blot Powder, which I never thought would happen, especially with a natural product! I do plan on doing a full review on this!

More favorites, with mini reviews! 

Clockwise: The Body Shop Limited Edition Hand Protector (a percentage of each purchase from this moisturizer will be donated to protect and enrich the planet, the oceans or animals and people-you can choose when you buy!) // Pacifica Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash (in love!) // Pacifica Jasmine Iris Oil-Control Primer (I will do a full length review on this-still testing this one out!) // Alba Botanica Acne Dote Invisible Treatment Gel (works like a charm!) // Nature's Gate Sunless Tanner (this deserves a review to itself as well; easily one of the best self-tanners I have ever used!) // Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioner, shade "Blossom Lady" (I now use this every day-it's amazing!) // Nugg Beauty Intense Lip Boosting Mask (all natural, completely vegan...definitely increases moisture and makes your lips seem more plump; I also adore their face masks) // W3ll People Bio Extreme Lipgloss , shade "Nude Rose" (I wouldn't say this is super plumping, but it does a great job of hydrating your lips and has a gorgeous color selection) // 

That my friends, is all for now. Sorry for the longest, chattiest, multi-directional post ever. Please share recommendations for health and wellness books, organic and natural makeup/skincare, and general comments below! 

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

**Depicts a product sent to me free of charge. No opinions or reviews were expected in return. These are my general opinions on these two products that I am happy to share within my blog.

Makeup Talk // Jane Iredale Makeup Review

Have you ever tried packing for a trip but halfway through packing your makeup you think, "this is way too much-but what if I need it?!" Yes. Yep. Story of my life. Even going away for the weekend (to visit places such as my hometown) I feel like I over pack just about everything. Luckily, an amazing makeup company has kind of solved my [makeup] packing problem! If you have been around this blog for awhile, you'll know I have previously written about Jane Iredale (post here). Now, I am back with a review of more of Jane's products-and spoiler alert-I am in loooove!

I received the Color Sample Kit ("medium" shade), the LipDrink SPF 15 Lip Balm ("buff" shade), and two Just Kissed Lip Plumpers (shades "Sydney" and "Milan").

First, I want to talk about the LipDrink SPF15 Lip Balm. On the Jane Iredale website, it is stated that the product "smoothes and softens, soothes, and has antioxidant benefits". As a lip balm, it definitely surpasses the performance of other balms. It feels soo so soft on your lips-not only does it feel soft, but it really does moisturize your lips at the same time. I chose buff as my shade because on the site, it does look the most neutral and wearable. As a nurse, I feel like I always "need" to carry a lip balm. It is one of those things that is nice to have on hand during a 12 hour shift. The "buff" shade is wearable for work, which I love! These balms are vegan and gluten free, if you are interested in that!

Next, I want to talk about the Just Kissed Lip Plumpers!  This plumper reminds me of a lipstick balm-pretty sheer color with a bit of moisture. The plumping effect comes from ginger, mint, and special peptides. I love that the product contains mint, because once applied, it feels cooling/soothing. When it comes to actually plumping my lips, I cannot say I noticed a huge difference in fullness, but I did notice a slight amount of plumping. Overall,  I feel that the product is great for creating a hint of fullness, moisture, and a sheer wash of color. These plumpers are not vegan, although they are gluten and cruelty free.

Wearing the Just Kissed Lip Plumper in shade "Sydney". Perfect for the summer and spring months!

 Here, I'm wearing the Just Kissed Lip Plumper in shade "Milan". This shade is perfect for everyday wear//I have fallen completely in love with it!

The last product I received is the Color Sample Kit in shade "medium". This kit includes sample/travel sizes of the PurePressed Base in shade "Golden Glow" (see my past review for the PurePressed Base here!), PurePressed Blush in "Whisper", PurePressed Eyeshadow in shades "Cream", "Supernova", and "Suede", Circle\Delete 2 Concealer, PureMoist Lipstick in shade "Lily", and PureGloss Lipgloss in shade "Beach Plum". The kit also contains a Blush Brush and a Duel Ended Eye Brush.

 Just to save this post from being too long, I encourage you to check my review out from a few years ago on the PurePressed Base. I still agree with my previous post, but I love the product even more now! I am obsessed with the gorgeous glow the base gives, and the wear time of the product. Since I use a primer I like, I think it really helps with the staying power of the product. The blush gives a very pretty glow on the cheeks and wears well throughout the day. 

 The gorgeous sheen of the blush in natural lighting!

Wearing all of the products/showing the glow from the blush.

 The  three eyeshadow shades do not have any fallout, wear well, and are more pigmented that the Urban Decay Naked Shadows (in my opinion!) The kit obviously is meant to be used as a one stop shop, which is why the 3 eyeshadows look so great when paired together. Side note: Usually I fill my brows in with some sort of pencil or powder. For the purpose of this post, I sort of filled them in with the eyeshadow "Suede". One weekend while away at my boyfriends' house, I realized I did not bring any brow products. Luckily, I had this kit and used "Suede" to make do. Surprisingly the "Suede" shade is almost perfect as a brow shade, which comes in handy when I am on the go/traveling.All 3 shades are gluten free; 2/3 of the shades are vegan-"Supernova" is not vegan.

Wearing all the eyeshadow shades (light application). Here, you can also see me wearing the lipstick and gloss that comes in the kit. 

When it comes to the Concealer, you will see in the picture that it really brightens my dark under-eye area. I was pleasantly surprised when I used this product, because most cream concealers tend to crease on me, which this did not. For those interested, this product is gluten-free, but not vegan.

A before and after shot of the Circle\Delete 2 Concealer

I honestly did not use the two lip products very often from this kit, just because I was so smitten with the Lip Plumpers I received. However, the times I did use the 2 lip products in the kit, I was happy with their quality. The lipstick was moderately pigmented, while the lipgloss paired perfectly over it. I will say that I felt the gloss was slightly sticky, but not in an overwhelming way that would keep me from using it. Since it is a bit sticky, I find that the gloss tends to last a bit longer than most other glosses, which some may be very happy with. Find a shot of me wearing both products above. Both the lipgloss and lipstick are gluten-free and vegan.

 Swatches of all products from the kit (excluding the lip products). From left to right: "Suede", "Supernova" and "Cream" Eyeshadows. Circle\Delete 2 Concealer, PurePressed Blush in "Whisper" and the PurePressed Base in "Golden Glow". 

 From left to right: Just Kissed Lip Plumpers in "Milan" and "Sydney", PureMoist Lipstick in "Lily" and PureGloss Gloss in "Beach Plum". 

For anyone looking to try out a few of Jane Iredales products and shades, this kit is perfect. It is also great for those who travel, because it makes packing SO much easier. I took this with me to California when I went last month, along with a liquid foundation, mascara, and eyeliner, and I was all set. I can not say enough good things about this kit and the products I am reviewing today. I highly recommend trying out Jane Iredales products (especially if you have ever been curious!) I don't think you will be disappointed! 

A few products that are either new or I absolutly want to try next from Jane Iredale:

1. Smooth Affair for oily skin primer

2.  Liquid Minerals Foundation

3. PlayOn Lip Crayon

Have you tried Jane Iredale products before? Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

XO, 

Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

*All products in this post were provided free of charge. All opinions shared are strictly based on the month long review process I used.

Makeup Talk // Mineral Fusion Concealer Duo Review

Hey lovelies! Today I have another beauty review for you-this time, featuring just one product, from Mineral Fusion Mineral Makeup! A few weeks ago I was browsing Health Foods Unlimited (they have everything-food, beauty and skincare, household items, etc) and found the beauty section (shocker, I know). I decided to purchase the Mineral Fusion Concealer Duo in the shade "warm". Since trying to clean up my skincare and beauty products, I have yet to find a concealer that even comes close to covering my dark under eye circles. In the past, I have written about how I cover my circles, but the products are in no way non-toxic or natural. You can find that post here.

This concealer duo comes with one light and one dark shade. I sometimes use the lighter shade for a brightening effect, and then layer the darker shade over it. Or I mix the two and apply at the same time.

Natural lighting.

  With flash.

•  Shade selection: There are 4 shades of duos to choose from; cool, neutral, warm, and deep. I have the shade "warm" and find the lighter shade in the duo to be too light/bright for wearing alone. As stated before, I do not wear it alone, so this is not an issue for me. According to the website, you are supposed to use the duo to create your perfect, custom shade. I would give the selection of shades a 8/10. I feel most people could customize the shade to work for them!
• Coverage: This is a medium to high/full coverage concealer. Most days, I just use this alone. Some days, I do use another concealer on top of it (liquid, and unfortunately made with toxic ingredients-I can't find a replacement for it!) Even though this is great coverage, I like using the other concealer to "set it" so to speak. It's probably not necessary! 9/10 coverage wise!
• Application: This goes on sooo smoothly. It does get a bit melted if it gets too warm, but when at room temperature, it is perfect. It feels just like any other cream product. 10/10 on application!
• Wear time: This wears amazingly! Lately I have worked so much; always sweating, working long hours, and rubbing at my sensitive eyes. I give the wear time a 9/10. It looks good when I put it on, and when I get home it still looks awesome after 6+ hours.
• Overall product: 9/10. Great for someone with dark under eye circles and perfect for covering up blemishes. Not sure I will find another natural concealer I love more than this! However, I would love your suggestions if you have any!

See the difference?!

I hope you find this post helpful! Check out Mineral Fusion's Website to look into more of their products here! If you want to learn more about them, go here!

Thank you for reading,

XO, Kelsey

*This product was purchased by me with my own dolla dolla bills ya'll. Mineral Fusion did not encourage me to post anything regarding this product, nor do they know this blog even exists (probably, but it would be cool if they did!) All opinions are 100% mine and honest! 

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

Natural, Organic, and Cruelty-Free // Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Review

Hi all! If you have followed along with this blog for awhile now, you know that I am on a seemingly never-ending search for beauty and skincare products that are made of "better", "safer" ingredients. After researching for hours, I narrowed down a list of companies I would like to learn more about. I reached out to Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques and they kindly sent me a few samples to try out. After using the products a few weeks, I know I am ready to give an honest review!

A little about the company

According to their website, Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques uses natural and organic plant oils and extracts, soothing flower essences, plus beautiful minerals and pigments from the earth. In their products, there are no parabens, chemicals, or unnecessary fillers.

I received the creme foundation as well as a pressed eyeshadow duo. I originally received 9 foundation samples (for finding my shade), but because I found a great match for my skin, I traveled with it...and lost it. So unfortunately I can not share that shade swatch with you!

Creme Foundation

•  Shade selection: 8/10; There are 21 shades to choose from, including cool, neutral and warm options. I did find that many shades would work with my skin tone. Kind of odd, but I almost feel like the shade can adapt if it is semi-close to your natural tone. I used shade "warm no. 3" when not self tanning; I would say my natural skin tone is about light-medium with slightly golden undertones. When self tanning, shade "warm no. 4" worked well for me. 

[top picture with flash// bottom picture in natural light]

• Application: 7/10; The product itself has a mousse like texture. It almost feels whipped! I was kind of nervous that the foundation would make my oily skin even more oily because it is a creme. Totally wrong about that assumption, but we will get to that later! I put a few dots of this around my face and used a buffing brush to buff the product into my skin. It spreads pretty easily, although I imagine it may be a bit harder to buff out if you did not moisturize prior to application.

• Coverage: 9/10; holy smokes! This stuff is magic. I would say it is easily medium to full coverage. I never tried to build up extra coverage, because the coverage was already enough for me. While the coverage is amazing, it doesn't feel heavy at all, which is a major plus. The finish is pretty matte I would say, maybe semi-matte before setting the foundation.

• Wear time: 9/10; This foundation has become one that I rely on for long work days, or a night out. I have had such a hard time finding a natural foundation that would wear well and look good, so I am happy to have tried this! I would say the creme foundation wears for about 6.5 hours before needing blotting with powder, but the coverage still looks great. Around 8 hours of wear I start to see spots wear the foundation is wearing away. (I do wear a moisturizer, primer, and setting powder with this foundation as well).

• Overall product: 8.5/9; The creme foundation is definitely one of my go-to's for everyday wear, as well as special occasion wear. I love that it does work with my oily skin, not drying it out or making me more oily. I can't say where I would look for any improvements on the foundation-if anything, I just can't decide what actual shade I am, because a few shades can work for me, but that is not a bad thing! Buffing the product in is not 100% easy-but I imagine it is because the product is natural, not filled with all the "bad things". One point I want to hit on is that this does not break me out. Some natural brands have caused breakouts, but this one has not caused any sort of reaction or breakouts! I highly, highly recommend this foundation-I feel it may be hard to beat! I would however love any recommendations for other foundations you may have! 

[Wearing the creme foundation in shade "warm no. 3"]

 Pressed Eyeshadow Duo

I received the duo in the shade "Toffee/Sandalwood".  I was curious how a natural pressed eyeshadow would work out, since I had only tried loose natural shadows in the past. I honestly kind of doubted the pigmentation and wear time because it is a natural product, but I was wrong.

 [Pressed eyeshadow duo in shade "Toffee/Sandalwood"]

• Shade selection: 9/10; There are 12 different pre-made duos to choose from, or you can customize you own duo. I this the latter option would be really fun and an easy way to build a collection you know you will get use out of.
• Application: 9/10; I apply this with a standard eyeshadow brush. It applies just as any other eyeshadow would, so there is not much to say when it comes to this!
•  Pigmentation/Fall out: 8/10; I think this product is comparable to any high end eyeshadow. It is just as pigmented as my Naked Palette shadows. I don't notice fall out immediately, but I did notice that my shadow slightly smudged as the day wore on.
• Wear time: 8/10:This shadow duo wears about 6 hours before I notice any smudging or fallout under the eyes. I have been working a ton  since trying out this product, and I get reallllly hot and sweaty (running up and down stairs as a waitress, until I pass my state boards!) so I haven't had a neutral day to test the shadow when I am not sweating, so I would say the duo works pretty well!
• Overall product: 8.5/10; Love the duo colors, love how it applies, and love how wearable it is! Such a gorgeous set of colors for a neutral loving girl like me! 

 [Wearing the duo on a light makeup day-applied with a light hand!]

I hope you enjoyed this review-Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques is a brand that is really impressive and up there with high end brands. I look forward to looking into more of their products since they have already surpassed my expectations!

Also...I am looking for an all natural primer and bronzer. Any recommendations would be super appreciated! Please leave your favorites in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

**The Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques products were sent to me free of charge; I was not paid nor guided to say anything about these products. All opinions shared are my own.

Update//plans and rambling!

It's officially 2015! I can't believe that it is almost February... seriously, where has the time gone? 2014 was a great year for me, with awesome opportunities, life changes, and memories made. I am so excited to see what 2015 brings-in just about 4 months, I will be a college graduate, preparing to take my state board NCLEX exam to become Kelsey, RN, BSN. WHAT?! With everything being said, wow... I have been super busy. I find myself missing this blog, because I love writing, reviewing, and "meeting" people through the blog world. I haven't had a lot of free time to devote to blogging this previous semester, but I think that will change this semester! I am so excited to go back into blogging.

 If you have been following me on here for awhile, you will know I spent a lot of time reviewing mineral/natural products over the past year and a half. Wellllll, that is pretty much one of my main focuses now! I am very interested in purging all of my old, chemical laden products, and slowly replacing them with non-toxic, natural, eco-friendly alternatives. If you love topics like that, I think you will be interested in what I have to post over the next year! I also have spent a lot of time changing up my diet and lifestyle; I want to feel my best, and be the healthiest version of me that I can be. My whole life, I have had cardiac issues and other health problems, and I have really had to deal with those things over the past year-so being as healthy and happy as I can be is something that means a lot to me. Look forward to fun recipes on here, as well as an occasional outfit post!

Lately, I have been into staple outfit pieces that you can dress up or down. I like the idea of creating a simple wardrobe that can be versatile, accessorized, and minimal. The thought of downsizing everything is something that has been on my mind a lot lately; I feel as though sometimes, you can have too much! I hold on to clothing from 6-8 years ago, because it still fits, and "maybe I will need it one day!" But how is it useful at all if it has sat in my closet, untouched for 2 years? Looking at websites such as H&M (for basic tees/leggings), Simons (dresses), Tobi (for sweaters/dresses), Loft (for blouses/sweaters), and Banana Republic (for sweaters/accessories/other basics) has given me a lot of inspiration for basic outfit items that can be worn in SO many combinations-just what I would like! Also, I recently discovered the world of outlet shopping. Oh.My.Gosh. Why did I never go before a few months ago? You can find so many "in style" pieces at the outlets, and barely have to spend money! Example: I went to the Banana Republic and J Crew outlet and got 2 mens button ups, a sweater, a casual jacket, 4 shirts, and a pair of Nikes for around $115. To me, that is a great deal for those brands. (I had to share that story because I went around telling all my friends and family how excited I was for those deals for about a week straight after that, haha).

Now that this post is all over the place, I think I have said enough for now! My next post will be a review, although I am not sure which product I want to share first! My question for you is: What type of posts interest you the most? Do you like beauty/skincare posts? Fashion posts? Recipes or fitness posts? Please share!

Until next time!
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me:
on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

Makeup Talk: 100% Pure Makeup Review

Hello lovies! Today I want to talk about the brand 100% Pure. This brand is one that I have been looking into closely lately-if you have been following this blog for awhile, you would know that over the summer I went mineral-makeup crazy. I am always looking for ways to change up my skincare and makeup, and realistically, I would like to make it more natural based, as I feel it is best for my own skin type. Straight from the website-100% Pure is "truly 100% Pure-no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins!" I was lucky enough to receive a few samples, and after more than a month of trying them out, I think I am ready to honestly review them. I should preface this by saying I went into trying these products thinking they wouldn't perform well because they were all natural, vegan, free of preservatives, etc., something I wasn't 100% familiar with...so seeing how they worked was pretty interesting to me.

I received the Coffee Bean Eye Cream, Fruit Pigmented 100% Natural Juicy Lip Gloss in "pink peach", and the Fruit Pigmented Blush in "cherry". At this point, I will start by saying I can't pick a favorite between the three-you'll see why!

 Wearing all three products! No idea why this picture looks so soft focused-I think I may have had it on the portrait setting when I took the picture! Ooops.

First, I want to talk about the Coffee Bean Eye Cream.
Description:
 Clinically proven to de-puff and brighten dark circles.
Clinically proven to lessen lines and wrinkles.
Caffeine rich eye cream makes you look more refreshed and awake.

Pros:

-The texture is so smooth-almost like it is whipped.

-The tube has a pump attached (love this!)

-It smells amazing.

-It is absorbed easily into the eye area, and leaves the under eye really smooth...if you have ever used the Philosophy Miracle Worker, you know how awesome the eye area feels after it is absorbed...you get a very similar outcome with this which is amazing in my book!
-It makes a great base for concealer.
-I have noticed my under eye is  brighter after using this...immediately after applying and in the long run (with no makeup on!)

Cons:
-Sometimes the pump doesn't work correctly. I looked this up somewhere on the website and it does say that if you unscrew the pump, it can alter how well it works....which I unfortunately did. So, lesson learned! 

Price: $21 for 1 fl oz.

Fruit Pigmented 100% Natural Juicy Lip Gloss in"Pink Peach"
Description: 
100% natural, 100% vegetarian, gluten free.

Colored with fruit and vegetable pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes.

Made in a base of vitamin e to moisturize and soften lips.

Pros: 
-Really moisturizing on the lips.
-Not sticky.
-If you just so happen to lick your lips, it's pretty tasty!
-The color is build-able, so if you want to wear it alone, it will be a really pretty shade, but it looks gorgeous layered on top of lipstick!
-There is no chunks or pieces of glitter in the gloss.

Cons:
-Some may think the sheer color is a con (although I like to layer!)
-It isn't extremely long-wearing (probably 2 hours if you are eating and drinking).

Price: $15 for 0.24 fl oz.

Fruit Pigmented Blush in "Cherry"
Description:
This fruit pigmented blush to make you sparkle and shine!
This blush is colored with the antioxidant and vitamin rich fruit pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes.

Pros:
-Long wearing; I could put this on early in the morning and you can still see it very well into the night.
-Extremely pigmented! When I first got it, I thought it would have to be layered a ton for any color to show up....SO WRONG! You just get a little on your blush brush and use a light hand to apply; I would say this is just as pigmented as MAC blushes or any other high-end brand. 
-The finish looks gorgeous, like you're glowing from within (with no sparkles or glitter of course!)
-The packaging is adorable! I can't get over the design of what it is packaged in.

Cons: 
-If you are particular about fingerprints, the packaging really can attract them.

Price:   $28 for 9 grams (0.32 oz)

Overall, this brand has been nothing but great so far! I am really interested in expanding my makeup collection to include more natural and vegan products, so I will definitely be looking into this brand more! They even have foundations, tinted moisturizers, body washes, hair products, etc. which is awesome for someone who really has interest in products geared to be more natural and chemical free!

Do you buy any vegan, natural, or gluten free makeup products? If so, what are your favorite brands? 

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey  

*All 100% Pure Products reviewed were sent to me for free in consideration for review. Any opinions stated are all my own and are in NO way influenced by the brand. You can always count on an honest review! 
**Linking up with more pieces of me and on the daily express. All other link-up buttons can be found on the "link-ups" page!