My Favorite "ipsy" Products

A little over a year ago I joined a monthly beauty subscription called "ipsy" . This subscription costs you $10 month and each month you get a cute little cosmetic bag filled with fun products based on a quiz you took on their site. Depending on how you answered, you get products sent to you that match your beauty product interests. I am not much on skincare and haircare so mine is tailored mostly to makeup products. I always look forward to my bag because there is ALWAYS something in there that I absolutely fall in love with and end up buying the full size product. I have never received a bag that I ended up hating or not using, never. That speaks for itself. I am also amazed that for $10 a month they send you products that are not cheap, mostly all name, high end brands. For the price you can't beat it. I would highly recommend this subscription to my beauty loving friends. I have went through all my ipsy products and picked out my favorites to share so you can see what the hype is all about. Some of these can't be found at your local beauty store (Ulta or Sephora) so I will list the website for those. I will also include the price point in case you're interested in purchasing these great items for yourself!

NYX eyeshadow in Innocent ($4.50) is a great champagne shade that works well for highlighting or all over shadow base. It gives Stila's kitten shadow a run for it's money. It isn't very shimmery and gives a nice glow, lightening effect on your lid. The color payoff is amazing and it lasts all day long. I wear this a lot when I don't want to do a full face but want to give my eyes a pick me up!

Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm ($12.00, 20 oz) is my ride or die when it comes to lip balms. This stuff is magic in a tube. I received this a year ago in the trial size (,35 oz) and I am just now at the end of my tube. A little goes a very long way and I will be purchasing the full size once I can't squeeze any more out of my little tube. This balm is ultra hydrating, it soothes and replenishes and tastes yummy. I have not had dry or cracked lips as long as I have been using it which is crazy. I use it every night before bed and in the mornings -- my lips thank me for it. It produces a nice shine and sheen to your lips so you can use it alone or under your lipstick.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara ($22.00) does exactly what it's tag line states; it gives you "bigger, blacker and badder" lashes. I am a mascara whore and this is currently my favorite to use when I am not using my fiber lash mascara. Even when I do where my fiber lashes I use this bad to the bone stuff as a base coat. This will definitely be a repurchase because it's the best mascara I have found and even beats Benefits "They're Real" which was a MUST have in my opinion.

Bye Bye Under eye concealer by it Cosmetics ($24.00) is hands down the best concealer on the planet for dark circles. I have already purchased a full size tube of this little miracle worker. I won't go into a huge rant on this because I just posted a review of it on my last post so you can just check it out there. However, a tiny bit goes a very long way so you can justify spending the $24 for it -- it's SOOOOOOO worth it if you suffer from dark circles. Go get yourself some now!!

J.Cat Wonder Lip Paint in Mad Splatter ($1.29, Ulta) is a fun filled tube of precious lip color. This looks kind of bright and crazy but goes on a nice shade of pink. After checking online this company has a large array of crazy colors to choose from along with a few modest shades. The color pigmentation is great and it lasts for hours. Figuring out how to use it is a bit daunting at first since it's in a tiny tube but it's pretty simple after the first try. I will definitely buy a few of their more toned down shades!

Star Looks Lip Pencil in Nude ($14.00) has been my most used liner in months. It has a creamy matte formula that blends well and lasts all day. It goes on so smooth and I use it almost on a daily basis. I have also used it as an all over shade just applying lip gloss over it because it's the perfect shade of nude. It comes in 23 shades so I am sure you can find the pencil for you!

Crease/Shadow Duet brush by Crown Brush Line ($6.99) is two brushes in one! I use this on a daily bases because the bristles pick up just the right amount of shadow and blends it with perfection. I like that it's great for travelling and the quality is amazing. This is a a professional series makeup brush so the bristles are high quality. The site offers great deal on sets and individual brushes at discounted prices that are very reasonable. There is also a array of types of brushes (synthetic, sable hair, etc.) so there is a ton of things to choose from that will meet your personal needs. 

Tastey Tuesday: Easy Taco Dip Recipe

I meant to post this recipe before the Super Bowl but life happened and I got side tracked. However, it is a great recipe to keep on hand for parties or just a weekend snack! This taco dip recipe is super simple to make and everyone will love it! You can make this a "skinny" recipe by just substituting the ingredients below with low fat ingredients.

Easy Taco Dip

- 8 ounces of Cream Cheese

- 8 ounces of Sour Cream

- 16 ounce jar of mild Salsa

- 1/2 packet of Taco Seasoning

- 2 cups of shredded lettuce

- 1 cup of shredded cheese (I always I add  more than this; I just eyeball it)

- small can of sliced Black Olives

Directions

In a large bowl mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, salsa and taco seasoning. Spread evenly on the bottom of a large shallow glass dish. Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese and then olives. Serve with tortilla chips.



Beauty Blog: My Favorite Eye Trios, Quads and Palettes

I am always buying new eyeshadow trios, quads and palettes so I thought I would share with you which ones are my favorites! I picked the ones that are my most used and the ones that I think would be a great addition to any makeup collection. Most of these are for all eye colors so they're pretty universal. They also range from matte shades to shimmery ones. I do tend to lean more to shimmery and frosted shades but I do have a few matte ones to share that I use often!

"Autumn Coppers" by Maybelline ($5.00)

This is a nice quad that is easy for a beginner because it tells you exactly where to put each color. It has minimal fall out and blends easily. I wear this mostly in the Spring & Fall. 

"Comfort Zone" by Wet n Wild ($5.00)

This palette contains 8 shades that you can do numerous looks with. It also is easy for a beginner as it tells you where to put each color. These are highly pigmented and blends easily. This color palette is great for brown and hazel eyes. I wear this one more in the Fall & Winter. 

"Florence" in the Fierce Foils collection by Milani ($6.99)

These are highly pigmented cream foil shadows that are stunning. It does take some time to get used to using. These are blendable, they do not crease and they last all day. I have worn these this winter. The copper shade really brings out my hazel eyes. 

"Metropolitan" in the Photoready collection by Revlon ($8.00)

This is another palette that is easy for beginners and you can do various looks with the shades provided. This is a great palette to own if you have hazel or brown eyes. 

"Naked Basics" by Urban Decay ($29.00)

The shades in this palette are very neutral and offer both shimmer and matte shades. There is some fall out with these but they are highly pigmented. If you are wanting to try any of the Urban Decay "Naked" palettes this is the one to buy because it's the most popular shades to use. Great for brown eyes!

"Suede Collection" palette by Nyx ($12.00)

I absolutely love this shimmer palette from Nyx and have used it a ton this past Fall and Winter. The shades are HIGHLY pigmented and blend nicely. This would help accentuate brown and hazel eyes. 

"Dusk til Dawn" Dream Catcher palette by Nyx ($12.00)

This is a must if you wanted to try the UD Naked 2 or 3 pallets but didn't want to fork over the money. They have very similar shades and in all honesty this is a better palette. There is very little fall out and the color pay off is phenomenal. 

"Pocket Palette" by Sephora ($10.99)

I got this palette around Christmas so I am not sure if they even make it anymore but it's a great one to own. This has both shimmer and matte shades that are highly pigmented. They are buildable and blendable. 

"Silent Treatment" by Wet n Wild ($3.99)

This is probably my favorite trio by WnW because it's so versatile. You can do a day to night look with this palette by simply adding the darker (center) shade. WnW produces highly pigmented shades that are affordable. You can't go wrong with adding this to your collection. 

Beauty Blog: My Recent Favorites

It's been forever since I last did a beauty post and now that we are on the mend I felt like it was time to start these posts again. I went through my beauty drawers and picked out a few products that I have really enjoyed using the past few months. So, let's just jump into it!!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater ($7.00) - This is something I picked up on vacation while in Savannah at Urban Outfitters on a whim. I love hydrating mist sprays because I suffer from dry skin and it helps add moisture to my face throughout the day. This particular spray caught my eye because it contained rose water and I love the smell of roses. I know that it sounds pretty high maintenance using a "hydrating spray" but don't knock it until you try it! This is a multi-purpose spray because you not only use it for hydration but you can use it to help set your make up and just give your skin a light boost throughout the day. It also smells wonderful so you can spray it all over if you want. I keep this handy at all times and spray it whenever I feel that my skin is feeling dry or irritated. It's also great to use on your skin if you are suffering from irritation as it helps soothes the inflammation/irritation. An added bonus is that your skin feels baby soft after applying it! You can pick this up at Ulta, Sephora or Urban Outfitters. 

Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer ($38.00) - I am a sucker for primers because I do have larger pores that I try to minimize. I received a sample of this in my ipsy bag one month and after using it I was totally impressed. It's nude in color and spreads nicely without a lot of tugging. It's thicker than lotion so it minimizes your pores nicely. I can tell a huge difference when I use this because not only do my pores appear smaller, my makeup goes on so much smoother and I use less foundation. This is 100% oil free so you don't have to worry if you have oily prone skin and it does give a matte effect once applied; it also lasts up to 8 hours before you need to reapply it. 

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye ($28.00) - If you have read any of my beauty blog posts you know that I am constantly looking for a great product to conceal my dark circles that I inherited. This is another product I received in an ipsy bag that I can't live without. I can't rave enough about this concealer because it's INCREDIBLE. I would have never spent $30 on something unless I knew for a fact that it worked wonders. This concealer hides my circles as well as a few spots of hyperpigmentation that I have on my cheeks. A little goes a very long way with this stuff; I literally apply half a dime size to my hand, rub it in a circular motion until it's warm and smooth then pat it on my problem areas. To set it, I use my HD powder from elf cosmetics. It doesn't run, crease or fade after hours of wear. I would buy this product over and over again because it's that awesome. You can also justify spending the money on it because the tube will last you forever if you use it correctly (as I stated above). Another perk is that this comes in 4 shades so you can pick the one that matches closest to your skin tone; I use the neutral medium shade. This concealer also contains collagen, Vitamins K & C. 

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils ($4.50) - I love any product that is multi-functional, high quality and also saves me money. Like most Nyx products these are a steal! I picked up several of these at Ulta when I had a coupon and honestly didn't expect much but I was shown otherwise. These jumbo pencils are amazing and provide a great, high end look. The color pigmentation is amazing, they are blendable, they don't crease and they last all day long. These cream shadow sticks are really worth adding to your makeup collection and I use them more often than not. The three that I would suggest buying if you wanted to try them are: Sparkle Nude, Iced Mocha and Black Bean. If  you are into a smokey look these make it super simple. I use the Black Bean to line my upper rim and it doesn't fade throughout the day. There are 23 shades to choose from so I am sure you can find the perfect one that suits your needs! 

Love Alpha 3D Fiber Mascara ($5-8.00) - This is a product I contemplated buying because it ships from China and I wasn't sure about the hype. Everyone in the beauty world has been approached about buying Younique's Fiber Mascara and before I shelled out $30 for it I wanted to do the research on what was out there. I ran across the Love Alpha on a review website and it had hundreds of reviews that beat the Younique brand. So, I jumped on the bandwagon and purchased myself a tube of fiber mascara. HOLY COW!!!!! This stuff is oh-maz-ing. You all know that I am a mascara junkie so if I say it's good....it's good. It doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes or contacts, it doesn't run and there is no fall out from the fibers. The only downfall is the directions come in another language but it's pretty self explanatory. You first apply the transplanting gel to your lashes and then layer and build up your lashes with the natural fibers. To add a more dramatic look I usually apply one coat of my Benefits They're Real mascara and then use the Love Alpha mascara. The thing I really love about this product is you can build up your look as much as you like and it never looks like spider legs. You actually look like you have extensions or falsies on. The other great thing that about this is it's not a pain in the ass to remove! I purchased my tube on Amazon and they have tons of vendors and different sets you can buy so just browse the site and pick which one you like best. It took me about a week to receive my order once it was placed. 

Viva La Juicy Gold Couture ($72.00) - I am absolutely in love with all the Viva La Juicy fragrances and the Gold is my favorite right now. The scent is a blend of caramel, vanilla, white floral, sweet and woodsy. Every single time I wear it I am usually stopped and asked what perfume I am wearing. I would say the only downfall is that the scent isn't as long lasting as the original Viva La Juicy but I think that's because it's not as heavy as a scent -- it's a tad lighter. However, I love the fragrance and would purchase it again. If you do want it to last longer I would just layer it with the Gold lotion and it will give you a longer lasting scent.