Travel Makeup Bag to Canada - Summer 2015 Edition

As the title implies, YES I AM GOING BACK TO MY MOTHERLAND (yes I do consider Canada my motherland). Words cannot describe how pumped I am to have Tim Hortons multiple times a day when I am visiting along with (hopefully) being able to meet up with my lovely friend Vanessa over at Citron and Guavaberry. A lot of these products are products I'm trying to finish up and are products that are trustworthy. On my last trip to Canada, I made the mistake of bringing out products that haven't been truely tested before...and as a result I was an oily mess the majority of the time I was there. However, we learn from our mistakes and move on! I won't be gone for more than a week, but nevertheless I wanted to share with you the products I will be bringing with me onto my trip across the border! If you are interested in seeing what makeup brushes I'm bringing, the brushes in last years Travel Makeup Bag to Canada is basically the same as the ones I'm bringing. 

Hits or Misses: It Cosmetics for Ulta Airbush Essentials Collection Brushes

Hello friends! Today I am sharing with you my thoughts on these four It Cosmetics for Ulta Brushes from the Airbrush Essentials Collection. These are currently the majority of my high end brush collection (minus the Mac 217 and two Anastasia brow brushes). I have been buying them slowly, usually waiting on a 20% coupon  from Ulta on prestige brands before I bought them. I have not regretted any of the brush purchases I have made, these four are soft and don't shed when you wash them. Also, another benefit of these brushes is that they are all synthetic!So for those of you who were wondering how these brushes were, hope you find my thoughts here useful!

How To: Natural Interview Makeup

Hey guys! Today I am sharing you the makeup I would wear to an interview (be it a job or grad school interview). It's currently the time of year where many of my classmates are job hunting or waiting to hear back from grad schools for their interviews. As a result, I wanted to share with you the makeup I would wear to an interview. It's a bit on the safer side, so definitely not appropriate for someone who is planning on going to an interview with a makeup brand, but this look is very easy, quick, and not stressful. I often wear this type of makeup when my eyes are irritated (without mascara of course) or when I have an important meeting or presentation. With that in mind, I hope you enjoy watching this video and reading a few of my tips. For some reason the volume is a little bit on the weaker side for the second half of the video, but you can always crank up the computer volume if you can't hear me :)

Summer Beauty Essentials

Hello friends! Today I am sharing with you my summer beauty essentials! While it is pretty much summer year round in Florida, it definitely gets significantly more humid during summer. Between the consistent monsoon rain and ridiculous heat, I have to be extra careful in protecting my skin when I am out and about. Plus, there are certain things that I like to use more during the summer than any other season. Hope you enjoy me talking about beauty products that I adore during the Summer.

Products I'm Testing #2

Top Row: BareMinerals Original Prime Time Foundation Primer, Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette in Medium, Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit in Light, Real Techniques Sculpting Brush, Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc Free Mineral Airbrushing Pressed Powder SPF 30 in Medium, Elf Studio Retractable Kabuki Brush

Bottom Row: Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow Quad in Island Dreams, Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Palette #02, Elf Studio Tinted Moisturizer in Beige, Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF 18 in O40, Make Up For Ever Duo Mat Powder Foundation in 202

Hello friends, so today I am sharing another batch of products I am testing out. I've pretty much made up my mind with all the products I tested out initially (here), so of course, I have another batch of products that you can expect to hear my thoughts on. In this post you will get my initial for the majority of the products in this post. Hope you guys enjoy me previewing my future reviews for the blog!

Product Smackdown: Blush Brushes!

Blushes Shown: Nars Guy Bourdin One Night Stand Cheek Palette (Review), Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose, Sleek Blush by 3 in Pumpkin, Benefit Box Blush in Rockateur, Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hr Blush in Exposed, Wet n Wild ColorIcon Blush in Pearlescent Pink, Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, The Balm Blush in Hot Mama

Hey guys, so today I will be introducing a new series to my blog! Today, I will be sharing a Product Smackdown: Blush Brushes Edition.

I don't know how you guys feel about blushes, but I love them. The picture above is just showcases a fraction of the blushes I own. However, my application of blushes isn't always the best. As such, I felt like sharing which blush brushes I own gives me the best blush application. In this post, I will be discussing EcoTools, Elf, It Cosmetics, and Real Techniques blush brushes and letting you know what I think is the best out of the ones I have tried (PSA: I returned my Mac 109 brush that I used to use because the bristles were WAY too harsh).  Keep reading on to find out what brushes I like and what I don't like so much.

FOTD: Dramatic Eid Makeup

Hello friends! Welcome to my 200th post on my blog! Today I am sharing with you another Eid look, this time a bit more dramatic featuring the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette. If you don't like a dramatic look, I recommend you checking my previous post here where I did a Natural Eid Makeup. This is the type of makeup I would typically wear for any special events that I go to. I love wearing a dark vampy lipstick and smoked out eyes.

Today was the first day that I tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit that I purchased on Wednesday when Macy's was selling it for $25. I have avoided contour kits in the past because a) the steep price and b) let's be real, do I really need more contours and highlights? But the deal was too good to pass up, so I impulsively picked it up. I'm not sure what I think about it yet, but I will definitely let you know with a review.

Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim friends! I hope you all have a wonderful Eid and I hope you enjoy this look :)

FOTD: Natural Eid Makeup

Hello friends! Today I will be sharing with you an Eid Makeup Look! Since I have many Muslim friends, I wanted to share with you a couple of looks that can be worn with the upcoming Eid al-Fitr. I will be creating the makeup looks using the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette that I will be borrowing from my sister. Since this is more of a special events makeup, the products I have chosen are products that should last for 10+ hours in a hot climate! This makeup look today is very natural and wearable look. Hope you guys enjoy this makeup look and if you are reading this when Eid has occurred, Eid Mubarak!

Review: OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil

Claims: This exotic precious blend of Moroccan argan oil penetrates, moisturizes, renews and creates softness and strength while protecting your hair from harmful styling heat and UV damage as it gives you smooth, sexy tresses.
Price: $6-8
Size: 3.3 fl oz/100 mL
Where to Buy: Publix, Target. Ulta, Walgreens. Walmart

Hello friends! Today I will be sharing with you a review of the OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil. I have been trialing this over a month now and I think I have developed a solid opinion on how this products works. I am a big fan of argan oil, ever since I initially tried the Arganics by NuMe Argan Oil (Review) I've been addicted to how smooth, silky, and moisturized my hair feels after using it for a prolonged period of time. As a result, today I am sharing with you my review on this affordable drugstore alternative.

May and June 2015 Beauty Favorites and Unfavorites!

Hello friends! Today I will be sharing with you my May and June Favorites (and Unfavorites). A lot of products here I am sharing with you are brand spankin' new to me, so I have formed some opinions on them, but not enough opinions to review. Nevertheless, you have some handy impressions on what I think of these products and I will churn out reviews as fast as I can (Spoiler Alert: I freaking love the new Elf brushes I bought and I just want to buy more brushes from them even though I will barely use them). 

Review: Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture 24 Hour Cream

Claims: Effectively pre-empts moisture loss at its source by helping to bind moisture deep within the skin's surface layers. Helps skin maintain its own ideal moisture level so it feels soft, smooth and balanced day after day.
Price: $10-15 at a CCO
Size: 1.7 oz/4.9g/50 mL
Where to Buy: Amazon, Elizabeth Arden Outlets and TJ Maxx (discontinued in the US unfortunately)

Hello friends! Today I will be sharing with you a favorite of mine, the Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture 24 Hour Cream. I have been a long time of the Elizabeth Arden Good Night Sleep Moisturizer for awhile, so I knew I had to try this one out. I picked this one up at TJ Maxx awhile back for 10-15 dollars, roughly half the price of the retail value. This is a wonderful nighttime moisturizer that I enjoyed thoroughly during the winter months (and whenever I need an extra boost of hydration).

FOTD: Summer Turquoise Drugstore Makeup, Inspired by FacadesandNuances

Hello friends! Hope you are having an AMAZING Fourth of July Weekend (for friends in the US) and hope that my friends in Canada had a FANTASTIC Canada Day! :) Today I am sharing with you how I created this beautiful makeup look. I was inspired by my friend's gift for me, the lovely earrings I am wearing! I have been friends for her for almost four years now (met her my freshman year of college) and man, does time move by quickly. She has a blog over at Facadesandnuances where she blogs about travel, diy, and other nifty things.

This makeup look is a bit out of my comfort zone because I'm working with blue eyeshadow. However, I really do like the end result and I feel it is extremely wearable because this shade of turquoise is a bit more muted. Hopefully you guys will enjoy this makeup look as well!