2014 Beauty Favorites: Eyes

Hey Pretties! Hope your week is going well! Only one week until CHRISTMAS!!!!!! Can you tell I have been excited all month long? :)

This next post is my favorite eye products from 2014. The majority of these products I have been using for the whole year and have consistently stayed my favorite all year long. I have loved them for a while now and I wouldn't be surprised if they made my favorites next year as well! We will have to see :)

PALETTES:

Every palette that I own, I adore. I love eyeshadow palettes and prefer them over single shadows. I just like how I have everything in one spot and knowing I have several shades that will go well together. Even though I could list all of my palettes as my favorites, these would have to be my top three. And if you are looking for any last minute Christmas gifts for a sister, friend, cousin etc... these palettes would be great for anyone!

• Chocolate Bar Palette by Too Faced - This is my all time, number one, nothing can beat it palette! I absolutely LOVE this palette! It is the perfect palette as it has shadows that are matte, shimmery, sparkly, neutral, bold... it just has everything you need! The shadows blend amazingly and are so easy to work with. The colors are gorgeous and the palette smells like a cup of hot chocolate. YUMMM! And I am like a little kid in a candy store this past week since the new Semi-Sweet palette came out! Girl, you already know I ordered it and I can't wait to get it!!!

Chocolate Bar Palette by Too Faced

• Naked 3 by Urban Decay - I love this palette because it is so feminine and girly. It is gorgeous! I love all the pinky, rosy colors! You can do something light and flirty or you can do something more sultry and sexy. I just think this is the ultimate palette for a girly-girl! Urban Decay's shadows are amazing quality. The shadows are so blendable and have so much pigmentation. If you love makeup, this is a must-have!

Naked 3 by Urban Decay

• Pro Palette by Lorac - I love the Pro Palette because it has as many matte shadows as it does shimmery/sparkly shadows. In most palettes, there are only usually 2 or 3 matte shadows. This palette has 8! I usually always use a matte shadow for my crease/transition color so I like that with this palette, I have more matte shadows to choose from. The Pro Palette has an amazing range of shadow choices and the shadows feel so silky and smooth. This is a great staple palette to have in your collection!

Pro Palette by Lorac

PRIMERS:

I think that there are a lot primers out there that work great. A lot of them do their typical job of what they are supposed to do - prevent creasing, help the longevity of the shadow and make the pigment pop. But these are the two that I constantly use and think that they are the best!

• Shadow Insurance in Candlelight by Too Faced - I have used this primer for several years now and it has become a staple for me. I do own the regular Shadow Insurance version but I prefer the Candlelight one. I like that it creates a really soft shimmer (the original version has no shimmer). It is so subtle and pretty and I think it really helps the shadows stand out a little bit more - almost in a glow-like way! This is the primer that sold me on eyeshadow primers. I never knew how amazing your eyeshadow could look with a primer - no creasing, lasts so much longer and the colors look so much more pigmented! This is definitely my go-to for higher end primers and I absolutely love it! 

• Eyelid Primer by e.l.f. - I discovered this primer a few months ago. Not only is it a great primer but the most amazing part about it is that it is only $1! Yes, only ONE DOLLAR!!! Go ahead and splurge on something you have been wanting and pick this up for next to nothing! And don't let the cheap price fool you! It works great and I am constantly going back and forth between this one and my Too Faced one. I notice it works just as good as my higher end primer and I am still amazed how cheap it is for such a great product!

Eyelid Primer by e.l.f.
Shadow Insurance in Candlelight by Too Faced

MASCARA:

If you have been following me for a while, you know it is hard for me to find a mascara that I truly love. Over the past several months of blogging, I have sampled some mascaras that have started to impress me. I have narrowed down my "likes" into the top two that I am truly loving and I think these are the best out there!

• Le Volume de Chanel by CHANEL - This has been my most favorite mascara I have tried all year. It makes my lashes look truly amazing! I have really short, stubby, fine lashes and this mascara makes me look like I have long, voluminous lashes! The formula isn't messy and it is super black! It only takes a few swipes and my lashes are looking so long and voluminous! It really is amazing! For a luxury brand, I feel like the $30 price tag for this mascara is definitely worth it! This sample has lasted me quite a while and I am most definitely going to purchase a full size when I run out! 

• Hypnose Drama by Lancome - Although Le Volume De Chanel has been my favorite mascara this year, Hypnose Drama is my second favorite. I just got this sample probably about a month ago but I have been really loving it. Like the CHANEL mascara, this is not messy at all. I absolutely hate thick, clumpy mascaras! I feel like it doesn't give me as much volume as Le Volume de Chanel but it definitely is comparable on the length I get with this mascara. I just like how clean this formula is and I like using this to apply a good base coat when wearing false lashes. It helps them blend easily into to the false lashes as they won't be clumpy. I am happy to have finally found some great mascaras that are working for me :)

Le Volume De Chanel by CHANEL
Hypnose Drama by Lancome

EYELINER:

90% of the time, I am wearing gel liner. I only use this same gel liner and rarely ever wear any other type of liner. I do not care for liquid eyeliner whatsoever. And if I by chance happen to wear anything other than my beloved gel liner, it will be the pencil eyeliner I mention below. And the best part is: they are both drugstore items!!

• Eye Studio Gel Liner in Blackest Black by Maybelline - When I started to experiment with gel liners, I was a little intimidated. But I quickly learned that applying gel liner is actually much easier than I thought! Once you practice a few times, you will get the hang of it easily! After trying out gel liners, I said goodbye to liquid! What I love about this gel liner from Maybelline is that it is so creamy and so pigmented. It just glides right on and makes your shadows POP! This liner stays put and I never have to worry about it smudging or feeling like it needs to be touched up. I love this gel liner and will forever continue to repurchase it!

• Silkissime Eyeliner in Black by L'Oreal - If I don't feel like taking the time do to gel liner, I will just quickly pop this liner on. It glides on so easily and effortlessly and that is what I love about it! But it is also so pigmented as well... and I love that even more! It will be just as bold as my gel liner and it will never smudge or wear away. I know that it is going to stay put and won't fade away throughout long day. This is the best pencil liner I have tried from the drugstore and if you use pencil liners, you should check this one out!

Silkissime Eyeliner by L'Oreal
Eye Studio Gel Liner by Maybelline

LASHES:

These are the two lash products I swear by. I haven't found anything better than these two, nor do I want to! They are awesome products and both so affordable!

• Sweet Romance by House of Lashes - If I ever could dream up a pair of perfect lashes, these would be it. I love these lashes and they are the only ones that I wear! I don't like wearing lashes that are too over the top. I don't want people to look at me and think "Those are the most obvious fake lashes I have ever seen in my life!" These lashes are perfect because they are SO natural looking but add just like right amount of length and volume. I get asked "What do you use to make your lashes look like that?" and girls are amazed when I tell them they are false lashes. They tell me they look so natural and that is exactly what I am going for! If you love false, natural-looking lashes you must try these out. And if you are a girl who is just getting into false lashes, I HIGHLY recommend these! It is amazing what a little bit of extra OOMPH to your lashes can do to make your eyes look even more amazing!

• Lash Grip Eyelash Adhesive by Ardell - I mentioned a while back that I have a love-hate relationship with this eyelash glue. It works AMAZING but it smells AWFUL! I never have to worry about my false lashes coming undone with this lash glue. They will make the lashes stay in place all day long with no worries about the corners coming off. But the smell of the glue is atrocious! It legit smells like manure mixed in chemicals. I know, I'm sorry that's disgusting. But it is so bad! I tried finding another glue but it did not work whatsoever. I have decided to just bear the smell when it comes out of the tube and once it dries you can't even smell it. If you can handle a couple of minutes of a very unpleasant smell, the result of not having to worry about lashes falling off is well worth it :o) 

Lash Grip by Ardell
Sweet Romance lashes by House of Lashes

BROWS:

• Brow Wiz by Anastasia Beverly Hills - I LOVE BROWS! This is the one and only brow product I use. And in my humble opinion, nothing out there is better than the Brow Wiz! There are so many color/shade choices offered for the Brow Wiz (I use "Taupe/formerly Ash Blonde") and the extra fine tip is perfect for filling in every sparse spot in your brows. Having shaped, filled in brows is SO important! It really defines your face and brings everything together when doing your makeup. If you don't fill in your brows, I suggest just giving it a try! What is awesome about the Brow Wiz is that it gives you perfect brows, yet it is so natural looking! I never filled in my brows before using this product and once I tried it out, I was hooked! It is amazing what having great brows can do for you!

Brow Wiz by Anastasia Beverly Hills

OK... That was a long post! :o)  Hope you got some good ideas and recommendations if you are in the market for some new eye products!

Have a wonderful weekend, loves!

xoxo Kayla

Friday Five: 11/7/14

Happy Friday! Typing out "11" for November felt crazy! I can't believe it is November! Where does the time go?!

Here are my favorites for this first week in November!

1. Pore Minimizing Primer by Smashbox
     I got this as a sample with a Sephora order a while back and I have been really loving it! It is hard for me to find a primer that I truly love. And I never use Smashbox products. So I have been pleasantly surprised by this one. It is oil-free, oil-absorbing, minimizes pores, claims to last for 8 hours, mattifies the skin and sweat/humidity resistant. I would have to agree all of those claims are true. I love how it mattifies the skin and minimizes the appearance of my pores. Also, I have been wearing this primer on nights my husband has games and it really does resist against any humidity caused by being around thousands of people. It also lasts all night long. Since I have been liking it so much, I really want to purchase a full size. But it is $39! I think that is outrageous for 1oz of primer! I know primers last forever since you only use a little bit at time, but I just think that's a steep price tag! I am going to take advantage of the 20% off sale Sephora is having in the States to have some new makeup goodies sent out in a care package, so maybe I will splurge and get the primer with the discount. We will see!

Pore Minimizing Primer by Smashbox

2. Sweetheart Flush Blush in Candy Glow by Too Faced
     I had this as a favorite this past summer and I have been loving it again this week! First of all, the packaging is just way too cute. That might be the main reason I splurged on this blush! I love unique and pretty packaging :) But the product is definitely amazing as well! I love Candy Glow because it is such a pretty color. It gives you the most natural looking flush of color to the cheeks and it really does have a glow to it. I have very few blushes with sparkles in my collection because I personally don't like sparkly blushes. But with this one, I don't mind it at all! The sparkles are so subtle and really do give an extra "UMPH!" I think every girl should splurge on one of these Too Faced Sweetheart blushes :)

Sweetheart Flush Blush in Candy Glow by Too Faced

3. Infallible Eye Shadow in Iced Latte by L'Oreal
This is another favorite I have previously mentioned. I have been using it a lot this week (and even last week). It looks so pretty on the lid and just brings so much light to the eyes. It really opens your eyes up as well as bringing such a pretty shimmer to your eye look. Since it is a champagne color, you can pretty much use this with any other eyeshadows you want and it is going to go together great! I love that with this product you can use it wet or dry. By getting your brush wet, it gives it a little more of a metallic look! I really need to get more of these Infallible Eye Shadows in my life! They are so beautiful and affordable!

Infallible Eye Shadow in Iced Latte by L'Oreal

4. Lipstick in Dark Wine by Wet n Wild
     I have been trying to step out of my comfort zone (nude lips) and go for a bolder lip. I have been loving Dark Wine by Wet N Wild. I posted a picture on Insta with Dark Wine mixed with Wet N Wild's Cherry Bomb and have gotten so many compliments on it! Honestly, Dark Wine and Cherry Bomb are SO similar in color that you really don't need both of them (will show swatches below). I just lined my lips with Cherry Bomb and then filled them in with Dark Wine and the colors just blended in together. The reason I like Dark Wine better is because it is a creamier formula. Cherry Bomb can get very drying on the lips so I have just been sticking with Dark Wine! I think both of these lipsticks are only like 99 cents in the States! Maybe $1.99? Either way, super affordable and as you can see, HIGHLY pigmented!

Dark Wine by Wet N Wild

Top: Dark Wine
Bottom: Cherry Bomb

Picture I was referring to from Instagram!

5. Boo-Boo Cover-Up Concealer (in Medium)
     I am about to rave on this product here! If you have acne scars, you need this in your life! I received a full sized tube of this in my Ipsy bag several months ago and it is something I can't live without now! (and I just found out it is $20! awesome product to receive from Ipsy!) Boo-Boo Cover-Up is a Canada-based company and they have made an incredible product. This product completely covers up all my post-acne scarring. It is thicker than a normal concealer, but it blends out so amazingly that you wouldn't even think that it could have been so thick! What is even more amazing about it is that it has natural ingredients in it to help heal your skin - Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Chamomile, Green Tea and Tea Tree Oil. I honestly don't know why I haven't mentioned this product before! I am always so amazed at how much it evens out my skintone when I cover up my acne scars. It really does hide everything! I just love this stuff! If you are looking to cover up any imperfections on your face, check out this product! I am probably about half way through my tube so it really does last a long time.

Boo-Boo Cover-Up Concealer

Have a fantastic weekend, loves!

xoxo Kayla
     


Find the products I mentioned here:

Pore Minimizing Primer by Smashbox

Sweetheart Flush Blush in Candy Glow by Too Faced

Infallible Eye Shadow in Iced Latte by L'Oreal

Lipstick in Dark Wine by Wet n Wild

Boo-Boo Cover-Up Concealer

Friday Five: 10/31/14

Happy Halloween!! 

And it's Friday! What a great day :) And here are some great products I have been loving this week!:


1. Baked Blush in Pinktastic by e.l.f.
     I raved about this in my last post about how I LOVE using this as a highlighter. I seriously can't put it down. I even bought two backups of it to bring with me to France so that I wouldn't have to worry about running out of it :) This is a little hidden gem and e.l.f. absolutely nailed it with this product! Holy. Grail. Status!!!

Baked Blush in Pinktastic by e.l.f.

Swatch of Pinktastic by e.l.f.

2. Eyelid Primer by e.l.f.
     This is another favorite I have been loving from e.l.f. I like how it has a wand applicator to apply directly to your lids. It makes it so easy and convenient and then you can just blend it out with your fingers. Like I mentioned in my last post, it is a great primer for your eyeshadow! Long wearing, doesn't crease and only $1!!

Eyelid Primer by e.l.f.

3. Luscious Longwear Lip Liner in Naked by Starlooks
     I have been loving this lip liner this week because I have been trying to attempt the ombre/3D/contouring effect with lipstick and lip liner. Kandee Johnson did a video a while back on tips and tricks on how to master this effect and I was like YASSSSS! She makes it looks so incredible and easy! (Watch her video here to see her tips) So since I love a good nude lip, I have been trying this lip liner with different lipsticks to try to master the effect. It is very creamy and applies so easily. It is a true pink color so I have been pairing it with more truly nude colors like MAC's Myth and Creme D'Nude and I have been loving it! I haven't perfected it quite yet, but it's getting there!

Lip Liner in Naked by Starlooks

Swatch of Naked by Starlooks

4. Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum by OGX
     I've recently become more aware of trying to treat my hair a little bit better by doing deep conditioning masks and trying to cut down on the heat that I apply to it. But I have always used a serum on my hair. If I don't, my ends become so dry, brittle and frizzy. I have been trying out this anti-breakage serum by OGX for a few weeks now and I have really been loving it. It is infused with coconut milk, coconut oil and whipped egg white proteins and my hair is so hydrated, silky and smooth! Not to mention this stuff smells AMAZING! I absolutely love any coconut scent! I get to feel like I am on a tropical island for a brief moment while applying it to my hair :)

Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum by OGX

5. Bronzer in Sol De Rio by Sephora
     This is a limited edition bronzer that Sephora came out with around May. I will try to keep this short since it is no longer available. But I hope Sephora comes out with something like this again because it is HUGE! It is almost the size of my hand! I love that I can easily sweep my brush into it instead of being confined to something so small (like Hoola by Benefit). It is a great matte bronzer that gives you a perfect golden glow. If Sephora does release this bronzer again, or something similar to it, I highly recommend grabbing it before it's gone!

Sol De Rio bronzer by Sephora

Sol De Rio bronzer by Sephora

Sol De Rio bronzer by Sephora
(in comparison to my hand)

I hope you all have a fun Halloween weekend... I can't believe Thanksgiving is just right around the corner! And then Christmas! I love it :)

xoxo Kayla


Find the products I mentioned here:

Pinktastic by e.l.f.

Eyelid Primer by e.l.f.

Lip Pencil in Naked by Starlooks

Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum by OGX

(Sol De Rio bronzer unavailable. Limited Edition)

e.l.f. Products

Bonjour Beauties :)

Before I left the States, I decided I wanted to try out some e.l.f. (eyes lips face) products. I always bypass them at the store because I just never thought makeup ranging from $1-$3 would be quality makeup. But I've been seeing the products pop up more and more on beauty blogs and YouTube so I thought "OK I will try e.l.f. out!" The worst that could happen would be I'm out a few bucks and move on.

That being said, I am absolutely BLOWN AWAY by e.l.f.! WOW! They have some amazing products for dirt cheap! I don't think I have ever been so pleasantly surprised by a line of makeup. I grabbed a handful of products before I left and I know I will be having more sent out to me in care packages that our families send (since I don't think e.l.f. is available in France??). That is how much I am loving e.l.f!

This is such a great brand for any girl. It is perfect for younger girls who are on a budget and just getting into makeup, all the way up to girls who are more experienced with makeup. No matter who you are, you really can't beat getting great makeup for so cheap!

I know that every product by e.l.f. is probably not going to be for me (there was one product that I tried and did not like at all ... and I will include it in my next "products that didn't work for me" post) but I think they have some amazing things going for them! Here are the things that I tried out and I am completely impressed by:

First, I am going to start with the product that if I had to recommend to you just one to get out of the bunch, this would be it:

Baked Blush in Pinktastic
     Ok.. I am not sure why this is labeled as a blush because if you wore it as that, you would look like a big shiny mess! But why I love it so much is because it is a GORGEOUS highlight! I'm not kidding when I say this: I might just like it a little more than Mary Lou Manizer by The Balm... and that has been my go-to highlight! In my opinion, this just gives you the most perfect highlight. Not too simple and muted and not too over-the-top shine. It is just a little different than other highlighters I have tried because it has this stunning rose-gold undertone to it. You guys, it is just beautiful! I can't even describe it. Just to Target, spend the $3 to try this out. You will see what I mean and you will love it too!

e.l.f. Baked Blush in Pinktastic

Swatch of e.l.f. Baked Blush in Pinktastic

Matte Lip Color in Nearly Nude and Natural
      I picked up Natural first and loved it so much that I went back and got Nearly Nude. The formula of these Lip Colors really are great. I am so impressed that it is a non-drying matte formula for only $3! Natural is a pinky-nude and Nearly Nude is a true nude color. The colors are so pretty and I like that since it is a stick, you can precisely line and fill your lips. I like wearing them alone or topped off with a gloss - either looks beautiful! I do have to build up the color a bit to get the opactity and color pay-off that I want, but once it gets there, it is gorgeous!

e.l.f. Matte Lip Colors in Nearly Nude (bottom) and Natural (top)

Swatches of e.l.f. Matte Lip Colors
Nearly Nude (bottom)
Natural (top)

Eyelid Primer in Sheer
     This primer is amazing! And it is only $1!! After trying out this primer, I will not be purchasing any more higher end eyeshadow primers for a while. My eyeshadow doesn't crease at all with the primer, it lasts all day and the true color of the shadows show through. When applied, it is a peachy-nude color, but when you blend it out with your fingers over your eyelid it becomes sheer. It is truly an incredible primer and it works just as great as any high end primer. I just can't get over that it is only $1!!

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder Duo in St. Lucia
     This is the duo that is supposed to be the dupe for NARS Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer. It even has similar packaging! I don't own the Laguna bronzer but I do own the Orgasm blush. While I would NOT claim that this blush by e.l.f. is a dupe for Orgasm, it is a pretty darn cheap alternative! NARS products are on the pricier side, so if you aren't willing to spend that much, I think you will be happy with spending the $3 for this blush/bronzer duo. I do feel like I have to work at building up the pigmentation of the blush and bronzer as I don't think they have a very good initial color pay-off. But once I work at it a little bit, I think they look great!

e.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder Duo in St. Lucia

e.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder Duo in St. Lucia

Swatches of St. Lucia compared to NARS Orgasm
Bottom: Orgasm by NARS
Middle: St. Lucia blush
Top: St. Lucia bronzer

Brushes - Complexion Brush and Powder Brush
     I wanted to try out a couple of brushes from e.l.f along with the actual makeup products, so I grabbed these two. The Complexion Brush is almost in the shape of a fan brush and is very thick and dense. I like to use this for contouring because I think the shape of it works perfect to get the bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks. The Powder Brush is also thick and dense but it is sooo soft! I like to use this brush after applying my bronzer and blush to blend out the harsh lines. It blends amazingly! These brushes are also $3 and I think they are wonderful brushes!

e.l.f. Complexion Brush

e.l.f. Complexion Brush
sorry, she's a little dirty from some bronzer! :o)

e.l.f. Powder Brush

e.l.f. Powder Brush

Now that I am on an e.l.f. kick, what are your favorite e.l.f. products?! I need to know what to get next :)

xoxo Kayla
   
Find the products I mentioned here:

Pinktastic

Nearly Nude

Natural

St. Lucia

Complexion Brush

Powder Brush

Friday Five: 10/24/14

Hi ladies! Another Friday which means another Friday Five! I hope you enjoy reading about five different products each Friday to give you an idea for a new purchase... or if you already own them, just hear about how awesome they are again :)

This week it has been all about getting my skin back to normal. Traveling and being in that plane with all that stale, recycled air for so long really does a number on my skin. It is either one extreme of the specrtrum to another of either getting extremely oily or extremely dry. I sometimes get slightly shiny/oily in my T-zone from time to time, but never have to worry about being over-oily and likewise with never having to worry about dry skin. The only time I am effected by it is when I am traveling internationally. Last season when traveling to Italy, my skin got SO OILY for about a week. And this year when traveling to France, my skin got SO DRY for about a week. Apparently my skin just freaks out when I travel! So here is what I have been loving this week to get my skin back in shape!

1. Intense Hydration Day Lotion by Burt's Bees
     I got this little sample in a Birchbox months and months ago. I tried it out a couple of times but essentially, it was forgotten about. Then when I was packing that little baggy you can bring on your carry on with 3oz products or less, I saw this in my drawer and thought "I'll throw this in there since it is the perfect size and maybe I might need a little moisturizing on the go". I am SO HAPPY I decided to bring this along. It has made my dry skin disappear! Like it is named, it is an INTENSE hydration. It is a really thick moisturizer and my skin felt like it was taking a drink of water after applying it! It has a very light, fresh scent and a little bit goes a long way. It has anti-aging properties as well, which is a nice little bonus. After only a couple of days of using this, my skin was significantly better and then completely normal by the end of the week. This would be perfect for girls who have dry skin or get dry skin in the winter months!

Intense Hydration Day Lotion by Burt's Bees

2. Foundation Primer - Protect by Laura Mercier
     To give a little extra moisture to my skin, I have been using this primer this week on the days that I am wearing makeup. It is super hydrating and feels exactly like a moisturizer when applying it. It is has definitely been the most moisturizing primer I have tried. It has been perfect for my dry skin and it is also a very long lasting primer! My makeup looked and stayed great! I also got this as a sample, but it is an amazing sample size! To put it into perspective, Baby Face primer by Maybelline is .67oz and this is .50oz. So almost the same size! I know that Laura Mercier is a little on the pricier side so I am happy I got such an awesome sample size. I also would recommend this to girls who have dry skin!

Foundation Primer - Protect by Laura Mericer

3. Mint Julips Lip Scrub by Lush
     I absolutely love this lip scrub. It gets rid of all the gross, dead skin on my lips and makes my lips so smooth and plump after using it! My lips have also been dry and chapped from traveling, so this has been wonderful for my lips. It smells like mint chocolate and gets the job done so fast. I just take a pea-sized amount of the product and scrub my lips for about 20-30 seconds and my lips are left feeling amazing! If you are looking for a good lip scrub at an affordable price, I highly recommend the Lush lip scrubs! They offer it in different flavors (Popcorn, Bubblegum or Santa - which is cola flavored) and are made of natural ingredients!

Mint Julips Lip Scrub by Lush

4. Mongongo Nutrient Dense Anti-Aging Lip Conditioner by Jersey Shore Sun
       To follow up the lip scrub, I have been using this lip conditioner. I got it in my Ipsy bag a couple of months ago. At first I wasn't all that crazy about it. The smell isn't terrible by any means but it just isn't my favorite. The scent is "Mandarin Green Orange Ginger" and I just would prefer something more minty, vanilla or berry (They do offer a coconut vanilla, which I would definitely like). But the scent isn't a deal breaker and this is exactly what my lips have been needing. It is SUPER hydrating and moisturizing and it lasts for a very long time on the lips. I absolutely love how it makes my lips feel! I also like that it is organic and has anti-aging properties. The lip scrub and this lip conditioner have tremendously helped my dry, chapped lips this week!

Mongongo Nutrient Dense Anti-Aging Lip Conditioner by Jersey Shore Sun

5. Therapeutic Sulfur/Acne Treatment Masque by Peter Thomas Roth
     Since I have acne-prone skin, I was really worried that I would break out from traveling. The day of my flight, I used this as a masque to really give my skin a deep cleanse just so I knew I was taking that extra step to make sure I was starting out my travel on a good note. After I was done traveling, I immediately showered when I got to our new home and used this masque again to deep clean all that yucky stuff that accumulated on my face from traveling. I think by doing this really helped my skin. I did end up getting only a few blemishes in the next couple of days, but I just used this as a spot treatment and it helped to clear them right up! I absolutely love this masque and it does wonders for my skin!

 Therapeutic Sulfur/Acne Treatment Masque by Peter Thomas Roth

Have a fabulous weekend, lovelies!

xoxo Kayla

Find the products I mentioned here:

Intense Hydration Day Lotion by Burt's Bees

Foundation Primer - Protect by Laura Mercier 

Mint Julips Lip Scrub by Lush

Mongongo Nutrient Dense Anti-Aging Lip Conditioner by Jersey Shore Sun

Therapeutic Sulfur/Acne Treatment Masque by Peter Thomas Roth

Friday Five: 10/3/14

Happy Friday, dolls!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend ahead of you! My cousin is getting married so I am super excited to celebrate this weekend! An October wedding is going to be beautiful :)

My favorites this week are:

1. Flora by Gucci in Gorgeous Gardenia
     My husband got me this perfume for Christmas last year and I was OBSESSED with it. I wore it every single day for a good five months (and it still looks like I am just barely making a dent into it!). When we got back to the States for the summer, I decided that I needed to switch it up a bit and wear some of my other fragrances that I left behind at home. I just came back to Gorgeous Gardenia this week and I am obsessed with it again. When I smell it, it makes me so happy and makes me think of Italy because that is where I wore it... funny how scents make you think of certain things! I love really feminine, fruity, flowery scents and this is the perfect mixture of all those characteristics. The Flora line by Gucci offers a few different scents (Glamorous Magnolia, Gracious Tuberose, Eau Fraiche, Eau de Parfum), so there are different options to appeal to your personal preference! Check them out... I am sure you will find one you like :)

Flora by Gucci (Gorgeous Gardenia)

2. Pink Cult blush by MAC
     You know me and my blushes! Just addicted to them! And I am in love with this blush! I don't really have any cool-toned blushes and when I saw this I was so excited for it and I had to add it to my collection! It is described by MAC as a "midtone dirty neutral pink". To me, it looks like the perfect mixture of pink and plum and it looks so, so perfect for Fall! It is a matte blush and looks very natural on the cheeks. I have already worn it several times since getting it last week and I can't wait to continue wearing it throughout the Fall and Winter!

Pink Cult by MAC

3. Pores No More by Dr. Brandt
     I got this in a Birchbox or Ipsy bag several months ago... I don't even remember when! It's not that I wasn't excited to try it, I just was using other primers in my collection. I have been really noticing my darn pores lately, and needed something to help disguise them. I have been putting this on before doing my foundation and it has really helped to eliminate the look of my pores. It also is a great mattifying primer and it I don't notice any wearing away of my makeup when wearing this primer. I have been liking it more and more as I have continued to use it and it just might be a full-size purchase in the future!

Pores No More by Dr. Brandt

4. Fit Me Foundation Stick by Maybelline in Toffee Caramel
     This foundation is way too dark for me! But I do not use it as a foundation. I love using it as a cream base for contouring! I personally love using a cream before going in with a powder bronzer because it really creates a great base and helps the longevity of the contour. I also feel like it gives my contour a more defined look. I just use a few swipes of it where I want to contour, blend it out with my Beauty Blender, and then go over it with my bronzer! It is so simple but I feel like the extra step of using the cream really makes a huge difference!

Fit Me Foundation Stick in Toffee Caramel by Maybelline

Swatch of Toffee Caramel

5. Perversion mascara by Urban Decay
     What is going on!? I found another mascara that has impressed me?! If you keep up with my blog, you know that it is really hard for me to find a mascara that I truly like. I got this sample of Perversion in my Ipsy bag last month and have been trying it out over the last several weeks. The reason it has taken a little while to get into my Friday Five is because I really wanted to use it for a while to see if I would continue to like it. There have been several times when I try out a new mascara, think I am going to really love it, and then I end up thinking it just really isn't all that great. But Perversion has continued to impress me! It does an awesome job at lengthening and volumizing and the formula is very clean - not messy at all! I am very happy this mascara made it past my picky ways :)

Perversion by Urban Decay

Have a great weekend!

xoxo Kayla


Find the products I mentioned here:

Flora by Gucci in Gorgeous Gardenia

Pink Cult by Mac

Pores No More by Dr. Brandt

Fit Me Foundation Stick by Maybelline

Perversion by Urban Decay