Makeup Talk // Review of Cowgirl Dirt Makeup

Hey beauties! Today I am bringing you a review of Cowgirl Dirt Makeup, a natural and organic brand based out of Texas. According to their website, the brand stands for "the best of Western Tradition". If you check out their website, you'll learn a bit more about the brand and see the fun western-inspired makeup names. When it comes to reviewing the products, I always test them out for 2-3 weeks at least before giving my opinion-I hope this review can be found helpful for anyone curious about a great natural and organic brand!

 Wearing most of the products I was sent! The blush, bronzer, 3 eyeshadows, highlighting concealer, and foundation. 

From L to R: Under Eye Highlight Concealer, Eye Firming Cream, Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 4", Wild West Blush in the shade "Rawhide", Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 5", and the Dusty Bronzer in shade "Arena". 

Top picture: natural lighting. Bottom picture: with flash. From L to R: Under Eye Highlight Concealer, Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 4" and then "Grullo 5", Dusty Bronzer in shade "Arena" and the Wild West Blush in shade "Rawhide" heavily swatched and then lightly swatched. 

The first product I used was the Eye Firming Cream, which is said to firm and tone the under eye area. I do not think I have had enough time nor sample to really confirm the benefits, but so far I do know that it leaves my eye area feeling soft and moisturized.

Next, I used the Under Eye Highlight Concealer. This is a peachy toned cream concealer that helps to brighten the under eye area. For a girl like me (with hereditary dark circles, products like these are a must.

As you can see, the right under eye is a ton brighter than the left after using this product. I believe I tapped on a bit of the product, let it set for about 30 seconds, and then tapped on a bit more to get more of a brightening effect. If you are someone with only minor dark circles, I think this product could be a huge help to your beauty routine! Since mine drive me so nuts, I add a bit of concealer on top of this to really get the coverage I want.

After priming my face with my usual moisturizer and primer, I applied the Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 5" to half my face. I find that this powder foundation gives a sheer to medium coverage (buildable) and leaves a natural finish. This foundation wears amazingingly (not a word but oh well). I have worn it to work-sweating and running around-and it still holds up. The same goes for the Pressed Powder Foundation, which wears just as well, with more of a medium to semi-full coverage (buildable). Something I love about both these foundations are their ability to photograph well. Not only do they look great in person, but they also look awesome with flash photography, which is hard to come by when you have mineral makeup products.If you look at the picture below, you can see how airbrushed the makeup looks-I didn't edit my skin at all. The shade "Grullo 4" is a tad too light for the summer months for me, but it would probably be a go-to for the winter! As for my skin type, I have combination-oily skin and I was impressed with how the foundations did not cause any extra oil, and it was helpful in keeping excess oil from breaking through.

As you can see, the pressed foundation gives a bit more coverage. I think the pressed foundation is a tad bit darker than the loose foundation (even though they are the same shades), but maybe that has to do with the coverage they offer. 

Matte/Semi-Matte Eyeshadows in shades "Mud", "Arena Sand" and "Rodeo Rose".

 Swatches of the same shades with flash photography (top) and natural lighting (bottom). 

 A light application of all 3 shades.

 The last items I used/received are the Matte (and semi-matte) Eyeshadows. The colors are pretty and definitely pigmented, and were easy to blend. I didn't have any issues with fallout or the product smudging throughout the day, but I also tend to use concealer as a base on my eyelids, which acts as a primer. 

  Another shot with all the products! This is a picture with natural lighting-you can see how smooth the foundation still looks. It is almost like a "your skin but better" finish!

Well, if you made it through this super detailed post, thank you! I always try to be as detailed as possible, in the the hopes that my opinions could be helpful for someone trying to decide if they should try a product or not. I honestly have nothing bad to say about any of the products; I have spoken up before about products I was not happy with, but that is not the case here! All in all, I would 100% recommend and back up in product that I have spoke about on this post. I actually am interested in a few more of Cowgirl Dirt's products (such as the cream foundation, organic facial serum, and lipsticks) because I was so impressed with the products I already have. I could definitely see myself buying Cowgirl Dirt products and using them for a majority of my makeup needs-they are amazing! Give them a try if you are on the fence, I dont think you will regret it!

Thank you for reading!

XO, Kelsey

 

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**These products were sent to me free of charge. As always, nothing has influenced my opinion other than the products performance itself.

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.

Bright Eyes // Three Favorites For Waking Up Tired Eyes

Hey lovelies! Today I wanted to let you in on a few of my current favorites for not only my everyday makeup routine, but for waking up dark, tired eyes in general. Dark under-eye circles tend to run in my family, so I am constantly trying to come up with ways to brighten the area. Pair that with some seasonal allergies causing redness in my waterline and we are just a hot mess in the morning! This post will feature the Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara, the Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Eyeliner, and the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye  Under Eye Brightening Concealer. A few posts ago I wrote about my favorite combination for concealing my under-eyes, and I still LOVE that combo; I will never take it out of my beauty routine probably! However, this concealer I would like to review packs in the same brightening and long-wearing properties without having to mix two different concealers!

No makeup...scary!

In those photos, I am makeup free and bearing my dark circles in all their glory, as well as my reddish/pink waterline. In the next picture below, I have applied the Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Eyeliner. 

Taking this one step already makes such a difference! The lighting is a bit off throughout these photos, but hopefully you get an idea of how just a few steps can wake up your look!

Mini Review: This nude liner is the perfect shade for brightening your waterline, without looking like you tried really hard. It has the best creamy consistency and glides on with no problems, sort of setting itself in less than a minute so it doesn't come off. I would say it lasts 6 hours or so before needing to be touched up, although most of the time I don't worry about that! Price: Less than $5 at most drugstores.

The next product I use is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Brightening Concealer. This stuff will pretty much wow you if you ever decide to try it!

Review: The color I use is "Neutral Medium". This product has a pretty thick consistency; when I say that, I don't mean it feels cakey on your skin (although if you use too much, that very well could happen) but it almost has a thick whipped texture to it. When applied, it is noticeable how pigmented it is, which is why you need to use so little. It is long wearing, which will be awesome when I have to work 12 hour shifts at the hospital (I start today!) I don't have a dry undereye area, but I do find this concealer to feel a bit moisturizing, so I am sure those who look for that in a concealer would appreciate that characteristic of this product! I haven't had any issues with it irritating my skin or causing breakouts, which is always a plus. Speaking of breakouts, sometimes I use this for just that; I think it does a really nice job of getting rid of the redness and concealing the pimple or redness. I always set my under eye area (or any are on my face for that matter) with a setting powder. I think that this is a foolproof way to add extra wear time to almost any makeup. Price: $24.

My application technique.

So much brighter! Concealer will always be one of my favorite beauty products-ever!

Review: The last product that really opens and brightens the eyes in the morning is mascara. Trust me, you can see a huge difference just by swiping on one coat of your favorite mascara. My current (and maybe all-time?) favorite mascara is the Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara. I'm not going to lie-I didn't love it at first. It was quite "wet" in consistency, which made me think it wouldn't do anything for my lashes. Because of this, I left the cap partially unscrewed one day during classes, which made it dry out a bit, thickening up. Now I am 150% in love with it! It doesn't clump up or  flake, but it does add length and volume. Trust me when I say I used to be the girl with 6+ mascaras on rotation, using a different one each day. I only reach for this one now. Price: One of the best parts about this is that I believe it performs like a high-end product, yet it is less than $10 at most drugstores.

One coat...I don't like to layer on mascara!

Awesome length from the mascara! :)

I hope this post is helpful in some way to someone out there! It is amazing how certain products can awaken your whole face! 

Since this post just needed a few more photos...haha.

What are your tips for brightening up your eyes in the morning?

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

**The IT cosmetics concealer was sent to me for free for consideration of review. I am in no way influenced by a company when I am sent a product; all opinions are my own and formed after using a product for longer than a few weeks!

Vapour Organic Beauty Review

Hey gorgeous! Today I am going to take some time to review a brand that I came across about two months ago-if you are interested in more organic beauty products, this might be right up your alley! According to the Vapour Beauty website, their products are described as being:

"100% natural with 70% certified organic ingredients and 30% minerals and vitamins. There are no toxic chemicals, no parabens, no phalates, no gluten, no animal testing, no nano particles, and no irradiation".

To be honest, I don't know a ton about every single thing these products are made without; however, I know enough that I don't want those things in my products! This has led me to branch out and want to try to use better products in my everyday life. If you have been around this blog for awhile, you know I tried a bunch of mineral makeup products over the past year, nearly all of them being pretty pure in formulation, without any extra fillers or chemicals. I continue to use these products as I move forward in my quest for what I think is best for my skin!

The products I received for consideration of review are the Elixir Plumping Lipgloss, Aura Multi-Use Blush, and the Elixir Lipgloss. I can't seem to find the link for the plain old Elixir Lipgloss, which is why I didn't provide a link! Just as a general piece of info, I have had these products and have been using them for over a month! Now that all that is out of the way, let's get to the individual reviews!

 From top to bottom: Multi-Use Blush, Elixir Plumping Gloss, and Elixir Gloss. Swatches below.

        
Elixir Plumping Gloss:
In the shade "Coax", this product is described as offering "versatile color, dimension, and shine. Hydrating botanicals and organic plumping liposomes lock in maximum moisture for ultra-hydrated voluptuous lips. Never sticky or tacky, Elixir delivers superior body and shine". 

Personally, I love the formulation of this product. It is one of the most moisturizing glosses I have ever used, which might be surprising as it promises to plump! Many name brand plumping glosses I have used actually dry out my lips, which probably is due to the ingredients in them. Compared to plumpers like Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb, the Vapour lipgloss doesn't cause a burning or tingly feeling as it plumps. I don't mind the tingly effect...in fact, I kind of like it (does that make me weird?!) Either way, I think the plumping actually comes from all the moisture this gloss packs...I could be totally wrong, but it's almost like it makes the most of what your own lips can achieve from being moisturized! I don't find this to be sticky or tacky, which could be  a downside to some as this usually makes a product last longer. I would say it wears for a good hour before you start seeing the product fade; this includes drinking and eating! I would say the pigmentation is very sheer, at least in the shade I was sent.The taste isn't the best (not like the typical mint or fruit flavor many glosses offer), but for what the gloss does, I don't mind how it tastes.

Elixir Gloss:
In the shade "Sultry", this gloss is very similar to the plumping gloss, although you may not see the same plumping effects with this of course! Unfortunately, I can't find a description of this on the website, and I don't have the original box with me. Taste wise, I find this to have more of a flavor; one I can't exactly describe but it is better than the plumping gloss flavor! This gloss has a bit more of a tacky texture to it, but it isn't sticky...does that make sense? I want to say that maybe it's better explained as just adhering to the lips more effectively! This gloss wears about 2 hours before I really want to touch up. I adore the shade I was sent; it's more pigmented than the plumping gloss and I found it to pair well with many pink-toned lipsticks. I am actually wearing this gloss with a small amount of the plumping gloss in the picture below.

Aura Multi-Use Blush:
In the shade "Spark", this product is described as giving "a natural flush of color. These universally-flattering core colors work on all skin tones and all ages. Give the Vapour glow to cheeks, lips and eyes with one convenient stick. Aura blends like a dream for a polished look in seconds".

I think this is my favorite out of the three items I was sent. It really is very versatile! I have used it on my cheeks and my lips, but I am excited to see how it would work as a cream eyeshadow. I have pretty oily eyelids, so it would be interesting to see the lasting ability. The way I apply this is directly to my cheeks in an upward slanting motion. After this, I buff it out using a stipple brush. I find that doing this makes me look like I have a natural glow, and really makes it foolproof to apply! For lasting power, I would say that this lasts all day on me. I have pretty oily skin, but mostly in my t-zone, so I am not sure how this would work on someone with extremely oily skin everywhere. I do set it with a translucent powder, as I set all of my makeup, so I think with powder the lasting power should be no issue! I haven't had any problems with breakouts from this product. On my lips, it seems to be pretty moisturizing, although lasting only as long as a chapstick probably would.

Application technique! You can also see the shade on my lips in this photo.

Buffed out.

Voila! End result!

You can find more Vapour Organic Beauty products HERE.

Hopefully you find this review helpful! If you currently use natural, organic, or vegan products, I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment below or email me at kelseylenay@hotmail; you can find me on twitter @kelseylenayyy or instagram @kelseylenayy

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

**As started before, I did receive these products free, for consideration of review. Vapour Organic Beauty has no influence on my opinion of these products, as no brand or company ever will! I genuinely enjoy these products and am offering my honest opinion of how they performed on me personally!

Things I'm Loving and Random Rambles!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope wherever you are right now, the weather is treating you right! It was such a nice weekend; although today has been nothing but what feels like torrential downpour!  Anyways, I wanted to share a few things I am currently loving lately...I feel like this is so much easier than doing full blown reviews on products-unless you want more details on something, then of course I would love to share all my thoughts with you!

One-Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Balancing Moisturizer
This stuff is soooo good for my oily skin! I feel like it really has helped in balancing out all the excess oils, while also keeping my skin hydrated enough that I am not over-producing oil! It also seems to help with taking away some of the redness in my skin. I am almost out of this, so I will definitely be repurchasing it!

Two-My concealer combo for concealing dark circles
A few posts ago I shared my favorite way for hiding my pesky, dark undereye circles. Putting together Maybelline  Instant Age Rewind Eraser Darkspot Treatment Corrector + Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Concealer was the best thing I could do for my beauty routine-so mych so that I had to blog about it! You can find that post HERE. I think these two products work together so well...it seems like both sort of play off each other, so I don't tend to use them alone very often. I have even got a few friends hooked on this combo, so I won't be straying for this favorite anytime soon!

Three-The end of the semester!
YAYAYAY is all I have to say...oh, and I am a senior in college now. More YAY's ensuing!

Four-Spring and Summer trends
I don't even know where to begin. Basically, if it is involved with either season, I probably love it. I can't wait to have a little extra cash for non-necessities so I can buy some new staples for my wardrobe! If you want to find everything adorable and fabulous in one place, I would suggest checking out Monica's Closet Essentials! Monica is a blogger that I have mentioned many times, and I've loved her blog for basically ever. She doesn't know that I am mentioning her boutique in this post, and I don't know if she will even see this, but trust me-her shop is so worth checking out. Here are a few pieces I love:

Drawstring Dress 

 Blush Belted Maxi Skirt

 Flirty Cut-Out Swing Dress

So cute! I always have my eyes on items from J.Crew, Madewell, and Express too!

Five-The little things
Today, I called my stepmom to catch up, but my five year old brother answered her cell phone because they were at the store. Sammy, my brother, is ridiculously smart, witty, sarcastic, and adorable for his age. So anyways, I never know what to expect from him. He told me that he was getting the "music for the Frozen movie", aka the soundtrack. Me: "Oh really?! That is so cool Sam! We will have to watch the movie together and sing the so-" Sam: "I'm going to sing you a song from the CD, okay?!" He then proceeded to sing the whole Let It Go song to me...I wish I could have recorded it. It was the most precious thing ever, and he didn't miss a word. I couldn't stop smiling! It's the little things guys!

I am pretty sure I could list a few more things I am loving, but I will just keep the list to a minimum since this post is already getting a little wordy! Besides all that, lately I have been looking forward to starting my co-op job at a local hospital (let's be real here, I am SO nervous too!) It should be an interesting and educating experience, so I am excited to see how it goes. On another note, I have randomly been thinking about putting my nose ring back in. I know, I know, some people hate it and some people love it...I always wore a super tiny stud that was barely noticeable, like ones from the Fresh Trends site; most people didn't even know I had my nose pierced, but I loved having it!

 (Super old picture-but you can see that I liked the tiny diamond studs!)

What do you think? If I do put it back in, I will just have to put in a clear plastic retainer when I am at work. Decisions, decisions! Could this post get anymore random? I am definitely rambling at this point, but I have so much to say! I'll just cut the post short here, so I can relax for the rest of my night! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend and a good start to the week...and-don't forget, cherish the little things!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

Makeup Talk: Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Beauty Products

If you are a beauty lover, you know how much it can bum you out when you run out of your favorite product, or the feeling you get when you "hit pan". Today, I wanted to share a few tips with you for extending the life of your products, getting the most out of what you have, and when you should throw out makeup! I also want to share two of my favorite tips from Lara, from the HSN blog! You can find her post here.

1) Broken pressed powder product? Add a couple drops of rubbing alcohol, press the pieces back together, and wait for it to completely dry. In no time you'll have it back to its [almost] new condition.

2) Don't like your conditioner? You don't have to toss it! Use it as a shaving cream-it should moisturize while giving you a smooth base for shaving!

3) Dig! If you are running low on one of your lipsticks and can no longer use it directly on your lips, use a q-tip to dig a little out and then apply to your lips! Even better? Use it as a 2-in-1 product to get the most for your money; take a little and dab it on your cheekbones as a cream blush! The result will be a really natural glow!

4. A tip from Lara:

-I think this is key in making the most out of your products! I myself have bought the same shade of lipgloss or eyeshadow, even though I know I already have something similar. Instead of letting it go to waste in the future, really think about what you are buying before you get it.If you know that it can be duplicated (or almost duplicated) by something in your collection already, hold off! Reward yourself with that new item when the similar one is gone!

5. Does your eyeliner break off too easily? If it is too soft and falling off (or losing its shape!), you may find yourself constantly sharpening it, which consequently means you are using it up faster than you need to. Store your pencil liners in a ziplock baggy in your fridge-the cool temperatures will help it keep the shape! You could also just pop it in the freezer for a bit before applying it!

6. If you find yourself going through facial cleansing wipes too fast, cut them in half! You'll be surprised that half a wipe actually can take a fair amount of makeup off! Fold it up and use different sides; that way, you are getting the most out of the wipe!
7. A tip from Lara:

-Please keep this tip in mind! What good will your brushes be if they become frayed, caked up, or germ infested? Lara makes a great point when she says that you are also extending the life of your products doing this! Case in point-your favorite pressed powder gets a slightly darker "film" over it, and it seems like no matter how many times you try, you just can't pick up very much product from that area. That "film" is likely face oils that have been deposited by your makeup brush (or sponge!)

8. Don't pump! When you pump your mascara wand up and down in the tube, it puts more air into the tube-drying out the product and leaving more room for bacteria to grow inside.

9. Running low on your favorite liquid foundation? Mix a liquid concealer that is the same shade as your skintone in with your favorite moisturizer. The extra pigment from your concealer can mimic the coverage your foundation could give you. Apply it as you would your foundation and save the last of your real foundation for a special occasion!

10. When to throw it out:
-Mascara: After 2-3 months, especially when you notice it is becoming clumpy or has a weird smell.
-Liquid foundation & concealer: After 6-12 months; when you notice the color is becoming lighter and separation has occured in the product.
-Lipstick: After 2 years; when it becomes noticeably dry.
-Lipgloss: After 1 year; when it becomes extra sticky.
-Nailpolish: After 1-2 years; when separation occurs that doesn't blend after shaking, or when it becomes extra "goopy".
 -Powder, eyeshadow, blush: After 2 years; when it becomes extra dry or flaky.


I hope these tips were helpful! What is your makeup saving tip?
Want more of Lara's tips? Find her post here.

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey 

*This post is based on my own opinions and tips from experience. The tips from Lara were used with permission, as a way to do a shared post. No commission was made from this. This post is solely for the benefit of anyone that wants to read these tips! :)

A Few of My Favorite Things [Currently]

Hold on a second. Christmas is in 12 days guys. Twelve! This year has flown by! Since I have been so busy the past two weeks with the end of the semester and finals, I decided to try and make up for it by sharing some of my favorite things at the moment! I love hearing about what products, songs, and non-material things (and anything else!) that people are liking, so I thought this post would be a fun one!

1. Bath and Body Works "Velvet Sugar" Body Mist: This stuff smells SO good! It is sweet and sugary just like the name implies...and I think it is perfect for the holidays! I have really enjoyed spraying this on me throughout the day if I don't want to wear a heavy perfume.

2. Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Lotion: This lotion is one that is supposed to balance your skins moisture levels as well as clear up or prevent acne. I really think it has been doing what it says, and may write a whole post dedicated to it! I have been using it morning and night!

3. Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector: You may remember seeing me review this primer recently...and I am still loving it and using it daily! Definitely the best primer I have ever came across! For using it everyday, I am so surprised that I have so much left still!

4. Sibu Beauty All Natural Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser: Well that was a mouthful. I have been using this cleanser lately and have fallen in love with it! Expect to see a full review of this product when I review the lotion I mentioned above! The two of them together are like magic! I also noticed that the website that sells this is having a 40% of sale right now-check it out if you are interested in some natural skincare!

5. Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo: This is a lifesaver. I have tried so many brands of dry shampoo and this is one of two that I have found that works amazing for me. I can't go without this! It does leave a bit of a gray tint to your roots if you have darker hair, but once you run your brush through your hair it is completely gone. Perfect for the days you skip washing your hair!

6. Benefit Gimme Brow Gel: If you fill in your eyebrows, this product is definitely worth looking into! I have pretty dark eyebrows that are full on their own, but I do like to fill in the tails of my brows just to look a bit more put together. It is crazy how filling in your brows just a little bit can add so much more to your look-in a good way! I have mine in the shade "medium/deep".

7. NYX Butter Gloss in the shade "Maple Blondie": This lip gloss is exactly what it sounds like...like butter. I mean imagine the softest gloss ever on your lips. The lasting power is really nice, and the subtle scent just adds to my love for this gloss! I have been pairing this a lot lately with my Mac lipstick in the shade "Spirit".

8. Virtual "Try on" Websites: If you know anything about me, you know I like to change things up a lot; because of this I kind of play around with looks online before I actually go for it. Over the summer, I reaaaaaallly wanted to chop of my hair-and I did. Before I did though, I "tried on" hairstyles and hair colors to be sure I would look okay with the big change. I also like to try before I buy, so it has been really useful to try on virtual glasses before making any big decisions. If you ever get bored...seriously do yourself a fun favor and look up virtual try-on sites...you will have a blast, haha.

9. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in the shade "Blissful Berry": This color is so dang pretty for fall and winter, and I just can't get enough! Like many others, I adore a darker lip color in the colder months, and this one is perfecto! You may have seen me wearing it in this outfit post!

10. Rimmel Scandal Eyes Wateproof Kohl Eyeliner in the shade "Nude": Since buying this about 2 months ago, I haven't went a makeup-wearing day without it! I line my waterline with this and it really brightens up my eyes and makes me look a bit more awake...great for those who didn't get enough sleep the night before!

Swatches, from top to bottom: Rimmel Eyeliner in "Nude", Maybelline Lipstick in "Blissful Berry" and NYY Gloss in "Maple Blondie".

11. The song "Story of My Life" by One Direction: I shouldn't even bring this up because it means it will once again be playing in my head. I am not kidding when I say this is probably day 6 or 7 that my roommates and I CAN'T for the life of us get this song out of our heads. None of us even really listen to One Direction, but somehow this song creeped into our minds and totally took over. You think you are safe from this song, and then someone else plays it in our apartment, and the cycle repeats. Someone should ask me a week from now if the song is out of our heads... if we don't go crazy by then.

What are you loving lately?
Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

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