Current Hair Favorites

Hello lovelies!

I hope you all had an amazing week! As you know my last post was all about my May Favorites, but I left out hair products because I have quite a few that I’ve been putting to the test. I wanted to dedicate a post to those products that I’ve been loving, how I use them, and other tips for healthier hair. So let’s get straight to it.

Shampoo and Conditioner:

I’ve put my curly hair through the ringer along the years and I’m doing all I can to bring it back to life. To be honest I alternate shampoos constantly, whether they be drugstore or high end, but as of late I’ve been using the L'Oreal Total Repair Restoring Shampoo. I like using shampoos that lather really well and get very foamy just because my hair feels so much cleaner and lighter afterwards. This one does just that, plus I’ve noticed my hair has less breakage, or maybe that’s do to other products I’m using, but even so it is still a very good, affordable hair product (and it smells great!).

*Tips

-If you have dry, thin hair like me, start lathering from the neck and work your way upwards; this helps to create more volume for when you blow dry.

-Don’t lather the ends because this tends to dry them out. When you rinse, the shampoo will naturally go through them.

-Don’t shampoo so often because, again, it is very drying for your hair: you are stripping it of its natural oils. I shampoo my hair every 5 days, but my hair can actually go for a week without washing (sounds gross I know, but it doesn’t look or feel gross). Since I know this doesn’t apply to everyone, my recommendation is to shampoo every 3 days.

-If you have color treated hair, I 100% advise to use a sulfate-free shampoo.

I don’t tend to splurge too much of my hard earned pennies on shampoos, but it’s a whole other story when it comes to conditioner. My favorites for the past month have been the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque as an overnight treatment, and the L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Intense Moisture (packaging has changed, but still the same formula)  for after shampooing. I have no words to explain how uhhh-ma-zing the Macadamia Hair Mask smells! It kind of reminds me of the original Herbal Essences scent, so you guys more or less know.

*Tip: Even though it doesn’t say it in the instructions, I use this mask overnight before I wash my hair the next morning. I dampen it (just a little bit) with water, run it through the lengths of my hair, detangle, and finally I tie my hair in two braids.

The next morning I shampoo my hair as normal, and follow up with the L’Oreal Nature’s Therapy Hair Mask. I leave it on for a few minutes, while I shave, meditate, maybe do some squats (no, really I do, why not?!) then rinse it off, and my hair feels so incredibly soft! 

Blow-Dry Prep

I blow-dry my hair every week, just because it makes it easier for me to manage during the week, which means I need to use a few products pre-blow dry. 

Starting off with the It's a 10 Miracle Leave In, which is actually an all in one product. It’s a detangler, a heat protectant, it helps remedy split ends, and has seven other functions (hence the name).  I follow up with a nickel-sized amount of the Paul Mitchell Straight Works, which looks and feels like gel, mixed with a pump of the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum. I run them through the lengths/ends of my hair and it just makes blow drying it a lot easier, plus they leave my hair looking sleek, shiny, and soft. I’ve been using these two for years, and no matter what other products I try for blow drying I always end up going back to them.

*Tip: if you have very flat hair, try blow drying your hair upside down at the end for extra/instant volume.

After I finish blow drying I apply some of the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Perfect Blowout Creme. You can actually use this product before you blow dry, but I personally prefer the Paul Mitchell products. Even so, I use it to smooth out any fly-aways, and get my hair looking even shinier and healthier, plus it smells so good (very luxurious type of smell if that makes sense), which it should because it is very pricy.

Extras

Now I said earlier that I can go a week without washing my hair (again sounds gross, but please don’t judge), even so I use a few products during the week to keep it looking fresh and healthy.

Oscar Blandi Dry Heat Protectant Spray: Curly Hair + Humidity = Totally Unsexy Combo, therefore I sometimes need to quickly run my brush and blow dryer through my hair while getting ready for my day, but I still want to protect it; which is when this product comes in handy. Most heat protectants are wet, which is fine if your hair is still damp, but this is perfect for when my hair is already dry because it comes out as a dry spray. It is pricy, but I haven’t seen anything like it a the drugstore, so if you guys know of a similar/cheaper alternative please let me know in the comments.

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo: This is a fairly new product, but I really enjoy using it when my roots are looking a tad bit oily. Just spray a little at the roots, massage in quickly, and you’re good to go. To be honest I am still a Batiste kind of gal at heart (I just love the scents), but I find this one leaves a lot less white residue, which is perfect for my dark brown hair.

*Tip: Dry Shampoo can also be used to give your hair texture and that “messy” look.

Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum: If I feel my hair (especially my ends) is getting a bit dry in between washes, I break this baby out. I run it through the lengths and ends (not the roots) and my hair just soaks this up like water for instant shine.

*Tip: It can also be used before blow drying.

Living Proof Flex Shaping Spray: When my hair is getting to that ‘this is as far as I can go” stage but I feel too lazy to wash and blow dry again, I tie it up in two buns (hanging below my ears) and leave them overnight. In the morning I wake up with really natural-no-heat waves, and spray a little bit of this product on to make sure they stay all day. I’ve enjoyed it because it feels very light, non-sticky, and doesn’t leave my hair feeling like a stack of hay. Since it is rather expensive, another good option is the TRESemmé Two Extra Hold Hairspray.

Well lovelies that is the end of today’s post, as always I hope it was helpful in some way (or many ways, you never know), and if that’s the case please feel free to leave a comment down below or ask any questions if you’re curious for more. I also wanted to let you guys know that I’ll be in the Big Apple for a few days, so feel free to follow me on Instagram (links down below) to see all my New York shenanigans. Have an amazing weekend!

Thanks for reading!

May Favorites

Hello lovelys!

I hope you all had an amazing long weekend! I know that summer is upon us and it is very rare to look down at a calendar during this season, but if you have, then you've noticed that May has come and gone in the blink of an eye; which means it's time for another Monthly Favorites!

I must admit that my product line up hasn't changed all that much during this month, but there are still some new additions that I haven't been able to put down. 

Let's start with skincare:

The Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel is the only new player in my skincare routine this month, and I have to say it takes the MVP. During April I was doing a lot of research (mainly on the Sephora website) for a no-muss-no-fuss cleanser I could use during the mornings. I wanted it to be a foaming cleanser that was still sensitive enough for my skin. I was torn between a few, but ultimately  decided on Boscia. This is my first time trying the brand, and I've really enjoyed using this cleanser. It is very light (because I don't want or need anything too heavy during the morning), and it leaves my face feeling literally squeaky clean but without stripping it dry. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate the fact that it comes with a pump! The only thing that I'm not completely thrilled about is the scent; mainly because it reminds me of the soap in my old high school's bathroom (random I know). It's not an offensive, terrible smell, but it's still not my favorite.

As for the makeup, I've been gravitating more towards dewey skin looks. As I've mentioned before in previous posts, I've been skipping my foundation lately, but even so, I can't resist putting some on for those nights out or for special occasions during the day. If this is the case, I automatically reach for the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. It offers amazing medium to full coverage without feeling so heavy or 'caky' on the skin, it stays put all day, it has a very natural/dewey finish, it's cheap...I can go on and on. Since falling in love with this I haven't even touched my beloved Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua *GASP*. The True Match line has well over 30 shades, so I'm positive there is one in there for you. The only thing that is missing, because nothing is perfect except for Emma Stone, is a pump. Why?! I wish I could have been in those marketing and product development meetings, so I could have stood up and made a case for the importance of a pump (or spout) in  foundation packaging. My point is, be careful while using this foundation because the lack of a pump (I still can't get over it) makes it messy.

Since I loved the foundation so much, I decided to give the L'Oreal True Match Concealer a whirl. To my surprise, it was just as amazing! I have never tried a concealer (from the drugstore) with this much of a lightweight formula, yet incredible coverage. It honestly gives my favorite NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer a run for its money. It is also very buildable without ever going caky. If I'm not doing anything special, I'll just go for one layer and that's good enough to cover my dark circles; if I know there's a possibility I might run into my ex, his ex, or his current girlfriend (or all of the above), I'll dab on a second layer. Even so, it is amazing quality, and perfect if you're on a budget.

Moving on to the three products that haven't left my lips, or my purse for that matter.

I've been loving more natural, nude/pinky shades for my lips lately and these have been my three go-to choices.
- NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams: 'Milan' (left) and 'Stockholm' (middle) are perfect, everyday, low-maintenance shades. They feel really soft/light on the lips and are the easiest lip product to apply. I will say, they don't last the whole day (you do need to retouch), but at least they fade beautifully on the lips: leaving a very light, natural tint behind and none of those awkward inner lip color lines. They also come in a wide variety of shades, so I seriously suggest you give these a try. You can find them at CVS, Walmart, Ulta, etc.
- Maybelline Color Elixir Lipgloss: When it comes to lipgloss I only go for pink/nude shades, and 'Caramel Infused' (right) is the perfect shade. I've been using it on its own to add a nice, healthy color/shine to my lips, or layered on top of one of the NYX matte lip creams for a little something extra.

On my face: All the make up products mentioned above, plus a few extras such as the Stila Liquid Eye Liner
and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

That pretty much concludes the beauty portion of the program, but I do have some non beauty favorites I wanted to share with you guys.

First off, my purse of choice for the entire month. I'm not one to change everyday-purses that often (probably because I'm too lazy). I usually just use the same bag for a couple of weeks, get bored, switch, and repeat the pattern. I got this one from Forever21. It's just a simple mini satchel style (I think) bag with gold hardware; nothing really special, but I really loved the color (plus I didn't have any this shade). It's not very big, yet it fits my wallet, makeup bag, and a few extras perfectly. Just a really nice everyday, easy to carry purse.

As for what's been blasting through my speakers: Phillip Phillips. I'd like to start off by saying: 'thee coolest name ever!' Straight off American Idol, he has stolen my heart (special thanks to my sister, Kiara, for introducing us) with his folky sound and incredibly manly/sexy voice. His music is so contagious and instantly makes me happy no matter what mood I'm in, not to mention I think he's incredibly h-o-t HOT! Honorable mention also goes to The Neighbourhood, whose album I Love You, I've been playing non-stop for a few months (yes, months!) now.

I'm finishing off this month's favorites with movie/tv. The monthly award for favorite movie hands down goes to X-Men: Days of Future Past. Somebody says Evan Peters or Nicholas Hoult and I am there faster than Quicksilver. Oh my god, I loved that film so much, and if you haven't seen it just go (no, RUN) to the movie theater! As for TV, all my series have ended *SOBS, TEARS*, so I need to find a new series obsession on Netflix, but until then I've been adoring watching the Will & Grace re-runs marathon they have on W/E TV every Saturday. It will forever be one of my favorite comedy shows, and needless to say my favorite in the show is... 'Just Jack'.

Well my beauties, that is it for today's post. As always I hope it was helpful in some way, whether a product caught your eye that you now wish to try, or you've been inspired to try a new make up look, or you were just simply entertained. Feel free to share, and comment if you have any questions or have tried any of these products. If you are curious about what I'm up to on a daily basis, make sure to follow me on Instagram (links below) where I post daily.

Thanks for reading!

Quick Drugstore Purchases

Hello lovelys!

I hope you are all having a great weekend! Mine has been pretty nice so far; I just came back from watching "Million Dollar Arm" (because I've basically seen everything else) and can I just say, "Mr. Jon Hamm, Mr. Don Draper....let me have your babies!"

Any who, back to the important things...I just wanted to do this quick post because I popped into Walgreens after the movies, and they had some good deals that I wanted to let  you guys know about.

Yesterday, I was browsing through the Walgreens app (I seriously recommend you download it if you haven't already) and saw that L'Oreal was having a 'Buy one get one 50% off' on all makeup products, but it expires today, so I wanted to take advantage before it ended. Then, my lovely friends at the beauty department (Yes, I go so often they know me by name) told me there was a special offer (a 'Gustazo') on select Maybelline products, including the Color Elixir lip glosses and powders, for $3 each (you can get up to five).

Here's what I picked up:

- L'Oreal True Match Concealer. I have the True Match Foundation and I can honestly say it is one of my favorite drugstore foundations, so I figured I'd try out the concealer because I really don't own a drugstore concealer that I truly love. Later on I'll let you know how I like it, but since it comes Amelia Liana recommended I have high hopes for it. 

- L'Oreal Magic De-Crease Eyelid Primer. I've been on the hunt for a good drugstore eye shadow primer because I've noticed that my shadows haven't been lasting as long as they used to. Picked this one up because it looks promising, but really mostly because I needed to get another L'Oreal product for the discount. 

- Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder. Another Amelia Liana recommended product (she is such an enabler). According to her, this powder does a great job at setting your foundation and just blurring out your pores, and that sounds like perfection to me, so let's give it a try. (plus it was three dollars!)

- Maybelline Color Elixir Lipgloss. I already owned one of these puppies and loved it! I'm not a lip gloss kind of gal, so I don't know what possessed me to get this the first time, but I'm so glad I did. Since then I really wanted to get more. Thanks to the 'Gustazo' (coupon) I picked up three new shades: 'Caramel Infused', 'Mauve Mystique', and 'Captivating Carnation'. I must confess, I tried these already and loved all the shades! They are just amazing lip glosses: nice pigmentation/shine, great color selection, and not sticky at all, plus I love that packaging!

- Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara. I've tried this mascara before and really liked it, especially for my bottom lashes because the gel formula didn't slip or give me raccoon eyes during the day. It has a really nice fluffy wand that gives great volume; overall a good mascara that for $3 I couldn't resist getting.

That's it for today's post guys. I just really wanted you to know about the sale going on today so you can take advantage. As far as the 'Gustazo' goes, I didn't have to present anything, just make sure you pay at the beauty counter because they have the coupon there to scan it. 

Maybe you need to repurchase one of your favorites, try something new, or maybe like me, you just like a good sale. Either way take a quick trip to Walgreens and see if anything catches your eye! As always I hope this post was helpful to you guys.

Thanks for reading!

Crazy for Kiehl's

Hello lovelys!

Today's post is going to be a short, sweet one, but hopefully just as informative. Yesterday I was going through my Instagram news feed and stumbled upon this:

Needless to say I got pretty excited (that's pretty sad that a sale excites me, but oh the savings!).

For those of you who might be wondering, Kiehl's is a very well-known apothecary, which means they are dedicated to the making and selling of beauty products, and when I say beauty, it is mainly skincare and haircare (for both men and women). Since they're having this weekend sale, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you guys my favorite Kiehl's skincare, so you have an idea of what products are really worth trying if you decide to take advantage of the 20% discount.

I first want to start off by saying that Kiehl's has an amazing skincare range! I mean uh-mazing! They use a lot of natural botanicals that really help soothe and brighten even the most sensitive of skins (like mine). To be honest, I was a little bit hesitant to try the brand because it was so natural. You're thinking "Huuuuh?" You see, basically the molecules that make up natural ingredients are much larger than those in chemical ingredients, therefore it is much harder for your skin to accept and break them down. Now it sounds like I'm making this up, but I promise I'm not; I've had looooong conversations with my dermatologist about this in the past. Even so, I decided to put my worries aside and try their products out. Best decision I ever made.

First off is their Ultra Facial Cream. It is the most amazing moisturizer I have ever tried. It's not too thick in consistency, but the moment you apply it, your skin instantly feels replenished and alive, plus it sinks in very quickly. I use this morning and night, and haven't used any other moisturizer since I found it. 

Next comes my most recent purchase from Kiehl's: the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. Now this is the thickest cream I have ever used, but the most moisturizing. Your skin is its thinest  under the eyes, and therefore where it is the most sensitive, so it is really important to maintain it moisturized. It is not a cream to help with dark circles or wrinkles, so don't expect to see a difference of that nature. Even so, I have noticed a difference in the texture of my under eye area. It feels a lot smoother and I find that my concealer is applying better since using this. 

Finally, "My Precious", the Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This-, jus-, it-, I-, dskjvbdskhbf! I just don't have words to describe how amazing this has been for my skin. Every time I wake up and I look in the mirror I can't help but smile because my skin looks so glowing, replenished, and just freaking beautiful. It is a serum (oil) that you use before bed and it does exactly what I just said: repair & replenish for healthier and smoother skin. Lately I haven't even been wearing foundation because my skin feels so smooth and looks so good that it doesn't need it. If you just want to try one product from Kiehl's, I would start with this.

*Note: If you have oily skin and you don't want to put oils on your face for fear that they will make you more oily, don't be! Using the right kind of oils on your face actually helps. Basically, using the right kind of oils balances out the amount of oil your skin produces. Since your skin realizes that it is receiving them, it doesn't produce as much oils. I really hope I made sense there.

I really can't recommend Kiehl's enough. I think it's probably my favorite skincare brand. Since they are not the cheapest of brands, I encourage you guys to stop by a store near you this weekend and take advantage of the sale just to see if any of their products work as well for you as they have for me. Ohh! Before I forget, you have to show the flyer (above) at the counter so you can actually get the discount. For all of you in Puerto Rico, there is a Kiehl's in Plaza Las Américas, and a new one opened up in Condado (next to the Stop n' Go).

As always I hope this post was of some help to you guys, and let me know in the comments if you decide to try any of the products, or have any further questions. here is the link to the Kiehl's website if you want to know more about the brand or just want to take a look around. 

Thanks for reading!

Travel Make-up Bag

Hello my lovelys!

I hope you all had a great weekend and got to spend a wonderful time alongside your mums (I'm feeling very british today). My family consists basically of all women, so all of our family events and holidays look pretty much like the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There were lots of gifts, movies, and far too much cheesecake, but enough with the catch-up rambling--let's get to the good stuff.

Summer is right around the corner and it's the perfect time to take a little (or if you're lucky, big) vacation; I love that feeling of getting on a plane and knowing that in a few hours I will be somewhere new, somewhere different. With that said, I might be taking a quick, cheeky trip this summer (jijiji), which is why I decided to write this post and show you what types of makeup products I take with me when I travel.

Before I get started with the makeup parade, one *Tip I want to give you: Don't over pack, leave room for the shopping. "Keyla, but I NEED choices!" Yes, yes you do my friend, but when it comes to traveling you need to make wise choices. Don't bring the blue and purple eyeshadows you never use because you might need them in case you decide to go out to a club where you miraculously run into Ryan Gosling and he will only notice you if you have purple and blue eyeshadow. It...will...never...happen. So my point is, if you don't wear it on a weekly basis, don't bother packing it, because you most likely won't wear it on the trip either.

Traveling is the perfect opportunity to break out all those minis, or Sephora samples you've been saving, just because  their convenient size takes up less space. I personally need a foundation primer because I tend to get rather oily during the day, and primer makes all the difference by keeping my make up in place all day. My favorite for a few months now has been the Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer, but another good, cult-favorite choice is the Benefit POREfessional.

Now when it comes to traveling with foundation, I don't like to take glass bottles because I always fear they're going to break. I would say just take one, but who am I kidding, I always bring two. First of is the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet. This is a very, very lightweight foundation, it's so easy to blend, it has SPF, and 'velvet' is a fancy way of saying it has a matte finish. Even though it is matte, it looks very natural on the skin and is perfect for wearing all day. The second would have to be the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. Again, a very lightweight, easy to blend formula with SPF, that perfects the appearance of your skin. Unlike the Chanel, this one has more of a glowing/dewey finish.

To finish of my base, I just take one 'holy-grail' concealer. At the moment, for me that is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, which I have mentioned in previous posts. It just does an amazing job covering up my dark circles, giving me that Kim Kardashian highlighting effect under the eyes, and staying put on my face all day. Other similar, really great options are the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and the Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer. Again, try to limit yourself to just one.

For cheeks I keep it simple, yet multi-tasking, and only take my Milani Baked Blush in shade 01 Dolce

Pink. I have a post all about these blushes and why I love them, so feel free to check that out. This shade is perfect because it goes with every makeup look, and since it is rather shimmery, there is no need for a highlighter. 

Next up: Eyes. Now if you have a favorite 'do it all' eye shadow palette like the Urban Decay Naked Palette or the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette, feel free to take it with you. I personally like something smaller, so I would bring my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, which has five neutral matte shadows and one satin finish shadow (perfect for the inner corner and as a brow highlight), as well as two or three of my recent obsession: L'Oreal Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow. Every time I go to the drugstore to pick-up whatever it is that I "need" that day, I always, always pick up a new one of these; they are just amazing! Really "buttery" and easy to apply with just your finger. They last really well (at least on me) and they have some b-e-a-utiful colors. Two of my favorites: 'Amber Rush'-- a really nice everyday color that fits all types of skin tones, and 'Bronzed Taupe'-- for a more smokey eye, evening look.

Now I'm a winged-liquid-eyeliner kinda gal, and my 'favorite-cannot-live-without-it' liner has got to be the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid eye Liner. Long name, I know, but it is so good! It's a felt tip pen liner, as you can see in the picture above, but it is so thin it helps do the most easy and precise winged/cat eye liner ever. If you have trouble doing this type of eyeliner look, don't give up, seriously give this a try! Even though liquid eye liner is my go to, sometimes I want a more natural, relaxed line, and that's when I reach for a kohl eye liner pencil. My favorite at the moment comes courtesy of Rimmel Scandaleyes and it's in the shade 003 Brown. Now this liner is very creamy, which means that it is easy for me to smudge with a brush and still get that winged eye effect I love so much, yet in a more subtle way. It looks like a regular brown, but it actually has tiny specs of gold glitter which makes it absolutely stunning!

Next come brows. I've mentioned in a previous post that I have the worst eyebrows 'evah', which is why I need to pack something that makes me look a little less Whoopi Goldberg, a little more, well anybody else really. Enter my saviors: the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, which has a spoolie at the other end, so I don't have to worry about bringing an eyebrow brush; and the Benefit Gimme Brow, which is like a tiny mascara for your brows that sets everything in place and makes them look fuller.

Last but certainly not least, come lips. Now this is where I can get carried away by taking my entire lipstick drawer. If you're like me, just give yourself a good hard look in the mirror and say: "No! You are only allowed to take three, JUST THREE! Discipline yourself and don't be a wussy. This is totally up to you and your color preference, but I would take a red, a nude, and a bold dark. 

-Even though I love my Sephora Lip Stain Cream, for a red I would pack the Bite Cashmere Lip Cream in the shade 'Sherry'. I just love that word "cashmere" because that is exactly what it feels like: A soft, pillowy, easy to apply, marshmallow goodness texture that just hugs your lips while giving them a hard to miss red-orange color. Ugh, I just love it!

-As for nude, I'd go for MAC Lipstick in 'Patisserie': A very easy to wear pinky nude (which are the best types of nudes for my skin tone) with a very creamy consistency that you can throw on with any 

make up look on any given day. Just an easy, 'don't-have-to-think-about-too-much' shade. 

-Finally for the bold dark lip, I would go for something like the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the shade 'Train Bleu' (so fancy). I've been trying to get a hold of this shade for months! I went to Sephora on a whim a few weeks ago and it was back in stock! My immediate reaction was: "Shut up, and take my money!" It is just a gorgeous shade that goes on real easy on the lips, and since it is a pencil you can be very precise, which you need to be with a dark lip. This shade is probably as dark and vampy as I can go without going black, but still I know it's not for everyone.

You might be wondering (or maybe you weren't) why I haven't mentioned mascara or powder. I of course, do take both when I travel, but I am a real mascara and powder whor...se. I am not particularly loyal to one in particular except maybe the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, so just pack which ever powder and mascara that work best for you.

Before I end the post, I wanted to include a beauty extra that I always carry around with me: the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. It's basically a face mist that soothes your complexion if you're face is

feeling a bit 'blagh" for lack of a better word. It also helps to blend in your make up perfectly if you are retouching during the day. I wanted to include it in the post because I know when you travel (especially by plane) your skin can get really tight/dry/icky, and this just refreshes it instantly. It has a really minty, herbal-y smell that I know a lot (including myself) may not like, but it just feels so nice and cool on the face that I overlook that small detail.

Well guys, that pretty much concludes today's post. As always I hope that it was of some help to you, after all that's why I'm here. If you have any questions or comments about some of the products mentioned please feel free to leave them below, I'd love to get your feedback! Also if you have any post requests (ex: haircare routine, skincare, everyday makeup, etc.) please let me know as well. You can also follow me on my social media (links down below) to catch up on my daily shenanigans.

Thanks for reading!

The Red Lip

Hello my lovelys!

Today has been a very gloomy, rainy day here in paradise, and I don't know what it is about rainy days that just inspire me to wear a red lip.

Two years ago I was petrified of going red, but once I found the product I'm showing in this post, I never went back! It was a "How have I lived so long without trying this!?" moment. Nowadays, for me a red lip is just the perfect way to glam up any makeup look, especially a simple one. When I'm in a rush, I just slap on some concealer, a little mascara, and finish off with a red lipstick, which will be the focal point of your face, and help distract from any other minor flaws.

Now I'm not here to brag (so please don't think I am), but every time I wear this lip cream from Sephora in the shade 01 Always Red someone (both men and women) always compliments me on it and asks where it's from. So, if I get compliments,  TRUST me, you will too.

What I love most about it is that it stays put ALL day: Rain, Shine, Eat, Drink, Kiss (yes kiss!) it...will..not...move. Maybe, just maybe, you might need to reapply just at the center of the lips, but that's pretty much it. It goes on like a lip stain/cream and then it dries to the most perfect velvet matte finish, which means you never have to worry about someone saying "You have lipstick on your teeth". On top of all, it's a great price, about $13, which is not bad at all considering I've paid double for some that don't even come close.

It is without a doubt my go to red lip color, and my top recommendation for anyone looking to start wearing red lips more often, or just looking for a good quality lip product.
Before I finish off here's a little *Tip: Make sure you carry hand wipes or make up wipes just in case you feel like taking it off during the day because it is the ONLY way it will come off.

As always I hope this post was helpful to you guys. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below, or keep up with me through daily posts on my social media (links also below)

Thanks for reading!

Goodbye! Dark Circles Hello! Bright eyes: Makeup Tips

Hello my lovelys!

As you guys can guess by the title, today’s post is all about battling those insufferable under eye dark circles. We’ve all been there: pulling all nighters during finals, all night partying, or maybe it is just genetics (or like me, all of the above). Whatever your reasons, I decided to go over some products and tips with you guys to help you look a little less ‘Walking Dead’ a little more ‘Gossip Girl’.

Let’s start with Skincare

First thing’s first guys, there are A LOT of crèmes that promise to diminish dark circles, but truth of the matter is, at least in my case, these are all lies. I have yet to come across an eye crème that actually erases my dark circles, but with that said I have found a fair few that brighten my under eye area, which is better than nothing.

Clinique All About Eyes Serum is by far my favorite, and one that I reach for on a daily basis. It comes out a clear liquid with the tiniest-barely-can-see-them shimmer particles (yes, that is the scientific term) that instantly brightens, tightens, and de-puffs the under eye area. One of the reasons I love it so much is because you apply it with a metal roller ball, which is why it is excellent at de-puffing. *Tip: I sometimes like to leave it in the fridge overnight; the cooling sensation in the morning is nothing short of A-MA-ZING! If you are interested in this product make sure you ask for the serum version, as Clinique also does a crème version (you can try which ever formula you prefer of course, I just find the serum works a lot better on me).

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream is a cult favorite. I feel everyone and their mother raves about this product, and with good reason. It’s a cream, so it feels extremely moisturizing and it brightens just as well as the Clinique serum. The only issue I have with this, is that since my skin is so sensitive, if I use it daily it can irritate it. Even so, I wanted to mention it because I know not everyone’s skin is as sensitive as mine, in which case it’s a great product to try out.

Next up: Makeup

It is needless to say that an indispensable makeup product for dealing with dark circles is concealer. Now, concealer to me is a desert island product. I cannot (well I can, I just choose not to) leave the house without it. I don’t do it for me, I do it for the children, that way the sight of me doesn’t cause them to run away crying and possibly get hit by a car (I’m so selfless, I know).

First I use Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles ( 60 Brightner), which I talked about in my last post, so I won’t go into much detail. It goes on really creamy and the pink shade cancels out the blue/purple tones of the dark circles.

Then I dab on (whether it’s with my ring finger or a brush) my concealer of choice. Lately, I alternate between two:

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (I wear shade ‘Ginger’). As the name states it has an extremely creamy formula, which means a little goes a long way and it’s very easy to blend considering it is a medium to high coverage concealer. It stays put all day, but if you have trouble with creasing under the eyes, I do recommend you use an eye cream before hand to prevent it.

MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer (I wear shade NW25). The MAC ‘NW’ shades have a slight pink undertone to them, which is why they are perfect for dark circles (even so, always ask a sales associate to match you, that way you get the perfect shade for your skin tone). I find this concealer has a more watery consistency compared to the NARS one, yet offers the same medium to high coverage. On me, this is a ZERO creasing concealer, seriously it does not budge, and perfect for oily skin types.

You can finish off with a little setting powder to prevent creasing and mattify.

To make yourself look more awake and rested, you can add a nude liner to your water line (it just opens up your eyes so much more) and a shimmery shadow on the inner corner of your eyes.

A good drugstore option for nude liner is the Rimmel ScandalEyes in shade 005 Nude (you can tell mine is well loved). It goes on really creamy and stays put for a long time; not all day though, which is why I keep it handy in my makeup bag.

As for shadows I always gravitate towards nudes: champagne, golden, and rosy shimmery colors. My favorite:

Stila eye shadow in ‘Kitten’. Literally use this baby everyday, either all over the lid or just on the inner corner. It goes on really opaque and has hardly any fall out.

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in ‘Iced Latte’. Now this is a pressed eye shadow, which means it is more powdery/loose than the Stila eye shadow. With that said, these shadows are practically identical (except in the price).

Kitten on the left, Iced Latte on right

You can easily apply any of these shadows with your finger, but I prefer to use a small brush. The one I reach for the most when applying on the inner corner, is the Real Techniques (by Sam & Nic Chapman of Pixiwoo) detailer brush. You can finally get your hands on some of the brushes within the line at Walgreens or for more options check online. You get really amazing quality brushes without going all Dracula and draining your bank account.

I am not the most confident when it comes to my dark circles, which is why I hope this post was helpful to any of you guys with a similar problem as me. As always feel free to comment and share and let me know if you have tried any of these products.

Thanks for reading!