Favorite Shimmery Blushes for Spring and Summer

I tend to shy away from shimmery cheek products sans highlighter. Matte just looks so natural and pretty and simple, and sometimes I find if I have a spot or two on my cheeks, shimmer just highlights it. But in the spring and summertime I find myself using shimmery blushes more often, as they are a lovely "one sweep" cheek product, adding color and a highlight.

Clockwise from left: Physician's Formula Happy Booster
blush in Rose, Elf Studio blush in Tickled Pink, Benefit
Sugarbomb Boxed Powder, Elf  Baked Blush in Peachy
Cheeky

Three out of four of these blushes are drugstore, which is due to the fact that I don't find the drugstore to do too many incredible matte blushes, so when I look for a high end blush, I almost always make sure it's matte.

• Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose (top left): This is one of two products I've tried from this brand, and I picked this up because I've heard such amazing things about the Happy Booster powders. First off, the packaging is adorable. I love the concept of the heart designs with all of the different shades. I also like the fact that the colors don't bleed together when swirled. The formula itself is nice: smooth and not too pigmented, which makes it a good product to use quickly. The shimmer is a little more apparent than in some of the others, but as a whole, the product is wonderful.
• Benefit Sugarbomb Boxed Powder (top right): Everyone loves the Benefit Boxed Powders and this is (arguably) one of the most popular ones. Benefit describes it as a "sugar rush flush" which is so true. When swirled together, it created a pretty, medium-toned pink and the shimmery isn't too noticiable! Also, because of the peachy shade and the darker plum-toned one, it adds almost a bronze tint to my cheeks, meaning I can skip highlighter. In my opinion, this is worth every penny. 
• Elf Baked Blush in Peachy Cheek (bottom right): Elf's studio blushes are quite popular, and when they began to launch their baked line, the reveiws came out pretty solid. I picked out this blush out of the four (which are priced at $3 each, by the way) because it looked gorgeous for warmer weather and tanned skin. Well, I was right. This powder is so glowy and I just think it would be amazing on tanned cheeks as a glow-inducing sort of product. It's fairly shimmery and light, but I want to check out the other, darker colors from the line. 
• Elf Studio Blush in Tickled Pink (bottom left): In short, I think this is the perfect product not only for girls just beginning to dabble in makeup, but also for everyone who wears makeup to school. Tickled Pink is just a slightly shimmery, light pink blush that is just completely amazing and versatile. Can you tell I love it? I use this all of the time but the bit left along the edges refuses to leave. On the skin, the shimmer turns into a satin sheen, which is just beautiful. I recommend this to everyone who hasn't tried it, and luckily, this is one of the Elf products sold at Target store (and just like the other, for $3).

Swatch time!

Left to right: Physician's Fornula Happy Booster Blush in
Rose, Elf Studio Blush in Tickled Pink, Benefit Sugarbomb
Boxed Powder, Elf Baked Blush in Peachy Cheeky

What shimmery blush makes your heart swoon?
xoxo
Alyssa

Physicals Formula Mineral Wear Correcting Concealer Trio: Review!

I don't typically buy products without hearing some buzz some first, and when I do, they're from brands like Elf or Wet n' Wild or NYC, which are the lower price points in the drugstore beauty kingdom. I haven't truly dabbled in Physician's Formula--due to the price points and just not being captivated by any of their products--so I was genuinely surprised with myself when I purchased this.

This product is essentially a concealer trio designed to use on top of each other: there's a green corrector (step one), a beige cover (step two) and then a pink-toned, shimmery highlight (step three). I believe Benefit has something along the same lines (but instead of liquid they're a creamy consistency and are packaged in pots) and since I've been wanting to try the high-end version, I figured I'd give this a go. Something that's interesting to me is the packaging: the three little pieces click together, so you can have them separate or whole. The concept appeals to me, since in a makeup bag they'll always be together, but the actual packaging just seems a bit plastic-y and cheap. They also feature a doe-foot applicator.

In terms of formulation, to be honest, I don't love these. I wanted the consistency to be a little thinner and creamier, but it is quite thick. I used only a little on each spot, but I feel like if I would have used any more it would have looked cakey and fake, which is a no go in my book. The green correcter is such a vibrant green that it doesn't blend in with my skin, and even the beige cover doesn't make it look natural (especially since, like I said, it cakes). As per the highlight, I don't think I'd ever use this where I'd use concealer--especially on a blemish. But, I would--and will--use this as an cheekbone highlight when I want something a bit more prominent. The highlight is my favorite part of the trio, and thankfully, I can take this and put it in my everyday bag without the other two pieces.

All in all, I'm not thrilled. For the price point ($10-$12) I just don't think this is worth it. But if you had your eye on it, give it a try! Maybe you'll have better like than I did. Physician's Formula is usually available wherever drugstore cosmetics are sold.

Have you tried it?
xoxo
Alyssa

April Favorites 2014

April literally flew by. And I know everyone and their cat says that once a new month rolls around, but I feel like I blinked and suddenly the month had passed. Between stuff at school, my Spring break, and just having fun in the warmer weather (and rain!), this month has been pretty solid. I also have a few favorites to share, and I'm starting out with my favorite motivational quote!

Now moving onto the beauty products!

Hair Care:

• Dandruff Shampoo (generic brand): This may seem kind of gross, but I have dry hair, which means that I have a dry scalp, which means that I have dandruff. And since my hair is very dark, it's quite noticible. I've been mixing in some dandruff shampoo with my regular Garnier one and it's been really lovely to help break down exisiting flakes and prevent new ones. Gross? Ah, well!
• TRESemme 24 Hour Body Non Aerosol Hairspray: I hadn't tried a non aerosol hairspray, and seeing that this one was on sale, I picked it up. Now, I've been using it, but it's definitely not my new holy grail. The smell is quite a strong, typical hairpsray smell, and I'm not a fan of such a prominant scent, but I do like how this holds my hair and I've used it all month, so I'm throwing it in.

Skincare/Body Products:

• L'Oreal Hydrafresh Toner: My favorite toner is the Clinique Step Two one, but I've been searching for a drugstore alternative. I really love this L'Oreal one: it prevents/treats acne and cleans my face, but it's definitely not as good as my beloved Clinique one. However, I will love and use this one until I find my perfect drugstore dupe.
• Method Hand Soap in Hibiscus Flower: Is it weird to include hand soap? Regardless, I'm a huge fan of the Bath and Body Works foaming hand soaps, but they're so pricey unless you buy them in bulk. I've heard great things about Method soaps which caused me to try this out. I love it! It's just like the Bath and Body Works foaming ones (minus the great scent ranges...although I do really enjoy how this smells!).
• BeeKind Body Lotion: I got this in my Birchbox this month and I'm in love. The scent is lovely--lemony and fresh--and it's not greasy at all. I keep this by my bed as my go-to hand cream for when I'm home (my handbag one of choice being Soap and Glory's Hand Food).

Makeup: 

• Elf Cover Everything Concealer: I am absolutely floured with this product. I found this at The Christmas Tree Shop for a measly $2 and it is seriously so incredible. It's a light and creamy concealer that covers blemishes and spots so well. I love this so much that I'm going to stop in and pick up the next color up (I wear Beige right now) so I can still use this once I get some color. 
• Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in Coral Reef: One look at this and we all see the same thing: clown cheeks! I've heard lovely things about these Photo Ready cream blushes from Revlon (not so lovely things about Revlon's other blushes) and I picked this one as it is much different than other things I own. Sheered out on the cheeks, it looks like a nice, natural flush, and I love love love it.
• Revlon Photo Ready 3D Volume Mascara in Blackened Brown: Geez, I can't believe I'm gushing about a mascara more than the Maybelline The Mega Plush. But this is amazing. It lengthens and adds a bit of volume and doesn't clump, and what more could you want? Oh, the brush is also really nice and a good size in proportion to my eyes. I didn't even realize I had picked out Blackened Brown, but I like it! It's a tad softer, but honestly, it still looks quite black.
• Maybelline Super Stay 10 Hour Stain Gloss in Mauve Dream: I have another one of these in a dark berry color (Berry Heavenly, I believe?) and I wanted to try a more natural color, as I love that one but don't find myself wearing it too often due to its brightness. Mauve Dream is a really pretty browned out pink that looks really nice with my coloring. I know, I know, mauve is an old-lady type of lip color, but hey, I like what I like. 
• Anastasia Clear Brow Gel: Another Birchbox item, I really have been enjoying this. It holds all day, but I'm not sure if it's necessarily better than the Maybelline clear mascara (which many beauty lovers use to tame their brows and I personally love as well). I may do a post wearing the Anastasia on one brow and the Maybelline version on the other to see how they compare (weird again?).

Lip Care: 

• Smiths Strawberry Lip Balm: This has become my staple before-bed lip balm. Not only does it smell delicious, but it moisturizes so well and just makes me happy while using it. I've never tried the original Rosebud Salve, but using this product makes me really want to! Ah, the love!
• Blistex Raspberry Lemonade Blast: I picked this up on a whim and ended up loving it. It smells super fruity and refreshing and moisturizes my lips amazing well. I keep this in my bag for school and use it every single day!

Nail Polish:

• Essie Cute as a Button: I wore this for the first half of the month to welcome Spring time, and I really enjoyed it! It's a bright, coral-pink cream that just made me happy every time I looked at my hands. I may be a little late to the party with this color, but late is better than never, right?
• Revlon Colorstay in Provence: This is a light purple (dare I say lilac?) color that I wore a lot in the second half of the month. What I like about this polish is that it's not super vibrant, so it almost had a nude-like quality that made it subtle and pretty. Plus it stayed on for ages, which makes me happier than anything in a nail polish.

Fragrance: 

• La Vanilla Pure Vanilla: This might possibly be my new favorite fragrance of all time. My mom bought this and didn't really use it, so knowing I was sort of in love, passed it along to me (thanks, Mom!) I also never thought I'd love a roller ball so much, but I find the convenience to be amazing. I tend to like scents that smell like you can eat them, and this sweet vanilla scent is just that.
• Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Body Mist: When I wanted something more subtle, I reached for this. I love cucumber scents because they are just so fresh and clean, which I adore. This Dove body mist was very inexpensive but works really well!

Fashion: 

• Old Navy Studded Loafers: I bought these back in August and recently dug them out. I've been wearing them a ton and I think they are so cute! They have some little gold studs on the toe, which I love as the studs don't overwhelm the classic loafer style  by making it look too overdone. I'm not sure if Old Navy still has these, but I've been absolutely loving them.
• Forever 21 Floral Necklace: Statement necklaces make me happy, but I like smaller statement necklaces as apposed to huge ones that weigh my neck down/take up half of my shirt. This one from Forever 21 is so cute and just dresses up an outfit for Spring. Super cute!
• JustFab Regional Bag in Green: My favorite thing of this month: this bag from JustFab makes me smile every time I use it. It's a really great shoulder/cross body bag that's the perfect side and has the perfect amount of space for every day. I can easily fit my iPad Mini, a standard book, phone, wallet, small cosmetic bag, and various other essentials in here. I also kind of love the closure for some reason, but I honestly do! 

Random: 

• How I Met Your Mother: I watched 8/9 seasons on Netflix this month, and I am seriously addicted. I can't wait until the last season comes out on Netflix so I can finish the show off, but until then, I will avoid hearing about the season finale! The five main actors on the show are now five of my favorite actors of all time, especially the boys, and I enjoyed every single second of every single episode. Obsessed? Only mildly. 
• Peeps: Easter time is Peep time in my world. I enjoy marshmallows quite a bit, so coat them in sugar and I find myself eating multiple boxes in a day (okay, I'm not THAT bad). For Easter, my mom got me a little set that came with two boxes plus a little Peep plush, and he is so cute! I'm in love. 
• (500) Days of Summer: My friend D lent me this DVD and it is so good! Zooey Deschanel is amazing and the story line is just so wonderful and captivating. If you're looking for a movie to watch, definitely check this one out. 
• Chocolate Cheerios: I didn't have these to photograph, but they are amazing. I've been taking them to school for breakfast during the week, and on the weekdays have been thoroughly enjoying them with some vanilla almond milk. I find they're the perfect multipurpose cereal. I like to eat cereal for breakfast and dessert, and this one is perfect for both of those. Plus, who doesn't love a bowl of Cheerios?

I believe that is everything! Thanks for reading thus far, and I hope you have a fantastic month of May! 

xoxo

Alyssa

Drugstore Makeup Look for Spring

Spring is my favorite season. There's something so satisfying about the weather warming up after a cold, dreary winter. Today in particular I got to break out some bright colors and wear a light jacket and it was so exciting! As I got ready this morning, I did a really light, shimmery makeup look that I loved so much that it might just become my every day look once the weather stays like this! Of course, when I love something beauty related so much, I need to share it, so here we go!

First off: base makeup. My skin was actually cooperating with me today (knock on wood!), so I only used a bit of my Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette to conceal some redness and discoloration, but you can definitely use a tinted moisturizer or something a little heavier if you need extra coverage. I set everything with my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and then filled in and tamed my brows with my Wet n' Wild Color Icon Brow and Eyeliner Pencil in Mink Brown and my Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara. As you can see, all of these products are well loved (aside for the Rimmel powder, but it's actually a repurchase!).

For the eyes, I primed with my Elf Eyelid Primer in Sheer before going in with my Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Decadent. I used the color on the bottom left all over my lid, mixed with a little of the golden color, which is top right. The brown went into my crease and the pink on the top left was used to highlight. I forgot how much I love this color scheme! I've gotten far too used to cool browns and grays. I figured brown liner wold be a little harsh against a light, shimmery pink, so I used my NYX Slide on Eye Pencil in Brown Perfection, which is new and I absolutely am in love with it. For my waterline, I stuck with an old favorite and used the Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner in Nude to brighten, and then went in with my COVERGIRL Lash Exact Mascara to lengthen my lashes a bit.

To keep my my makeup light, I decided not to cake on the cheek and lip products and stick with simplicity. The Elf Studio Blush in Tickled Pink is one of my favorites (can you tell?) and it's just a light, satin pink that looks really natural with a slight shimmer. I picked a lip color that was a shade color than the rest of the pinks I used, just to add some contrast. The Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake is moisturizing and light, making it the perfect product to finish off the look!

What is your favorite makeup product this Spring?
xoxo
Alyssa

Birchbox March 2014!

I haven't done a Birchbox post in a few months, but I've been fairly pleased with my boxes since the last one I've featured. This box surprised me a lot, so let's just get into it!

March's theme is Spring Forward, a month dedicating to refreshing your daily lifestyle. I really love this theme. Spring is my favorite season, and there's nothing better than brightening things up after a long and gloomy winter.

My box included three deluxe samples and a Birchbox Find. My only complaint with the Birchbox Finds is that instead of being an occasional extra, it's in place of your beauty/lifestyle extra. I kind of wish they would include a Birchbox Find occasionally in addition to rather than instead of.

• Air Repair Rescue Balm: this sample is so minuscule, but I'm looking over the size because it seems to be along the lines of Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream (which is quite pricey).
• Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle: This is the third (maybe fourth?) time I've gotten this brand in my box, and I really like everything I've tried. I'm always on the lookout for a good detangler, and the smell of this (think Aquolina's Pink Sugar perfume!) is so decadent that I'm really excited to try this. 
• Mereadesso All-in-One Moisturizer: I was frustrated when I opened my box and saw this. Foil packets are not deluxe samples! I wanted to yell at Birchbox. That is, until I was looking up prices to calculate my total box value. The brand actually sells this as their travel size, and it retails for $28, making it the most valuable product for March. I'm still shocked and amazed!
• theBalm How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream: I love the brand theBalm. Every time I get something from them in my box, I get excited. This is a sample from their new How 'Bout Them Apples? palette, which is six cream shades that are dual purpose for cheeks and lips. My shade is Pie, and it's a really pretty coral-pink. 

The Birchbox Find was a nice, travel-sized version of the Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream (including a coupon for $2 off the full sized version!). I've heard of BB Body Creams and I like the brand, so I'm excited for this! I also love when Birchbox includes coupons, as I'm a huge coupon person.

All in all, I'm very pleased with this box! I'm excited about everything. The value of this box is roughly $41.10, which is great! I'm definitely looking forward to April. 

What was in YOUR Birchbox?

xoxo

Alyssa

Girly Obsession: Idea Notebooks

I've been super into girly things and keeping a positive attitude lately, which is one of New Years Resolutions for 2014. I found these two notebooks from Dollar Tree (obviously a dollar each) and thought they were adorable, but once I was home I had no idea what to use them for. And then it came to me: words of inspiration and positive energy. Perfection!

The notebook on the left--the one with the dotted swirl pattern--is used for words of inspiration. I love creative writing and I love book and movie quotes, but there are so many times where I hear or say something that just makes me think wow, except...I can't remember what it was five minutes later. From the front, I write quotes from books, TV, movies, etc. that give me that wow feeling. From the back, I write down things that I say or something a friend says that screams genius! to me. That way, if I'm writing or just in need of some words of wisdom, I know exactly where to go!

On the right--the leaf patterned book--is my "Daily Good" journal. 2013 kind of sucked for me (with the exception of the birth of the blog), so for 2014 I'm trying to remember that even though every day might not be good, there is good in every day. So every time I do something or something happens, I write it down. Each page is a different day, listed numerically, so that day when I think the week or month or even the year was crap, I have a little list of the good in every single day to remind me that I did smile at some things. I write down small things, like eating Chinese takeout or watching some episodes of Gossip Girl Netflix. But everything counts, right?

Do you keep a journal? What do you write in it?
xoxo
Alyssa

Skylark by Elle&Blair Lip Gloss Duo: Review and Swatches!

The blogger community went abuzz when beauty gurus Elle (allthatglitters21) and Blair (juicystar07) launched their makeup line a few years back. The girls announced that they were not waiting until they had a full collection out, but instead were releasing products as they felt they were perfected. The first release of the line was this lip gloss duo, inspired by the main characters in their novel Beneath the Glitter (and later sequel Where Beauty Lies), Ava and Sophia London. The duo was offered by redeeming reward points on JustFab.com, and once I realized that I had enough points, it was immediately in my basket.

I expected to hear an excessive amount of reviews on this set, but surprisingly, I hadn't heard anything except from the girls itself. The gloss duo features a light, cool-toned creamy pink (Ava) and a shimmery berry (Sophia). While the sisters never specifically said that the characters/gloss colors were based off of themselves, in my opinion, Ava definitely screams "Elle" and Sophia definitely screams "Blair."

The packaging is really beautiful: glass, circular containers with metallic caps and the name of the color written in a gorgeous, script-like font. The applicator is a sponge, yet it's flat, which I actually really like. It coats my lips nicely without an excess on my skin. Overall, the packaging gets an A+ from me!

The formulation is also incredible. These glosses are smooth, pigmented, and super creamy. The swatches above are one thick coat, but you could definitely sheer them out. As for Sophia, sometimes you can feel shimmer/glitter in glosses when you wear them, but this is most certainly not the case for this one. Overall, I prefer Sophia to Ava, solely on color preference. Berry tones tend to look better on me, but I think I'll get more use of Ava when it gets a little warmer!

All in all, I love these. I think Elle and Blair did a great job, and I'm excited try out the rest of their line as it emerges. I believe this retails for $30 for the duo, and as far as I know, is sold exclusively through blush.com!

Have you tried anything from Skylark cosmetics?
xoxo
Alyssa

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