Beauty Tip Thursday | Current Favorite Beauty Hacks

The beauty world can be an amazing place, but it can also be time consuming and confusing and (of course) expensive! I formed this list of 5 of my favorite beauty hacks that I use on a regular basis to save myself some time and effort during my beauty routine. I rounded up these 5 because they are literally my most used, but I have many more little tips and tricks that I could share, just let me know in the comments if you would like to see more of these beauty hack posts for Beauty Tip Thursday!

1. Voluminous Ponytail - If you have problems with your ponytail maintaining volume throughout the day just use this trick. Tease and pull the top section of your hair into a half up style and secure with an elastic. Gather the remaining hair and incorporate it into the ponytail with a second elastic. BOOM! All day volume! 

2. Lipstick - Make lipstick last longer by dabbing lips with a tissue after applying your lip color, then dust a translucent powder over your lips. This trick will help your lip color last longer and can easily make any lip color matte. 

3. Dull/Dry Hair - Make your own leave in conditioner by simply mixing a touch of your regular conditioner with water in a spray bottle.

4. Clumpy Mascara - Add a touch of saline contact solution to your dry or clumpy mascara to revive it. *Note : mascara should be discarded every 3 months so this trick should only be applied to mascaras less than 3 months old. 

5. Perfume - If you find your favorite scent doesn't last as long as you would like, apply vaseline to your pulse points prior to your perfume. This makes the scent last longer by preventing the perfume from being absorbed as quickly as it normally would. 

There you have it! Five of my favorite beauty hacks that I use regularly! Let me know if you would like to see more posts like this. Also let me know if you have any cool beauty hacks in the comments! 

Beauty Favorites | January 2015

I don't know what it is about January but I always seem to be caught off guard at the end of it thinking - where did the month even go? All of a sudden its January 27th and I'm finding myself rushing to gather my monthly favorites together so I can finally get one of these posts up at the end of the actual month I'm talking about (lets cross our fingers I make it happen more than once!). Without further delay, lets get into these favorites, and start also making our way through the shortest (and most gloomy in my opinion) month of the year. 

First off, I found myself reaching for these couple face makeup items pretty much every single day this month except for the days I wore no makeup at all. Loreal True Match foundation was always a favorite of mine, and after repurchasing it a couple months back I've found it back in my everyday makeup bag from the depths of my makeup drawers. Perfectly paired with the foundation was my Benefit Erase Paste which does a double duty of blemish and under eye concealing. I've been pretty constant on my bronzer and concealer this month as well - Nars Laguna Bronzer paired with the Rimmel blush in Pink Rose have been my dream combo. 

As for the rest of my makeup I've been keeping it pretty simple as well. I've really been enjoying a more simple eye look with lots of mascara - the one I haven't been able to keep my hands off of is Loreal Miss Manga which I did a full review of this month as well. As for lips I have to say a shout out to one of my favorite bloggers and fellow Canadians Estee (Essie Button), as I saw in her Best Beauty Products of 2014 video that she mentioned the Revlon Balm Stain in Honey was a favorite of hers. Lets just say any lip product specifically that Estee calls her favorite of the entire year has got to be purchased, like.. yesterday.

(Top to bottom) Nars Laguna, Rimmel Pink Rose, Revlon Honey 

There you have it guys! A very small but to the point January Beauty Favorites! Comment down below with some of the products you've enjoyed this month! 

Five Things | Go To Drugstore Foundations

Foundation is one of those very individual things, and I know everyone has a different preference - dewy, natural, matte, light/full coverage etc - and everyone also has different skin types, which makes it difficult to wear certain types of foundation. I tried to choose a variety for this post so that there is something for pretty well everyone. As I've said in many a post before, my skin is combination. All these foundations work well for me, it just depends on what finish or coverage level I'm looking for on any given day. 

The first two I grabbed are both similar in that they leave a more dewy finish to the skin - not in the 'I just left the gym' kind of way though. Maybelline Fit Me is a wonderful one for a nice medium coverage, and leaves the skin looking dewy, but not oily. It does have an spf built in which is great for protection your skin, but should be avoided if you're planning on getting your picture taken - white cast is bad news! Rimmel Wake Me Up is my other favorite drugstore foundation in the glowy catagory. This has a very, very fine shimmer to it which reflects the light giving you a lovely 'lit from within' look. It's medium coverage, and I especially love this foundation for this time of year because of the glow, and the fact that it gives any dry areas on my face a little extra moisture. 

If you're not so much into the dewy look, these next three will be more your style. If you're after the most matte face possible, Rimmel Stay Matte is right up your alley. This is probably the most mattifying foundation I've ever tried - if your curious about the finer details, you can read my full review of it here. Loreal True Match foundation is much more a middle of the road type of foundation. I would call it medium to full coverage, and because it is oil free I feel it does a good job of keeping oily areas at bay, but does not have the extreme matte effect of the Rimmel Stay Matte.

My last pick, and my most favorite as of lately goes out to Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous. I've raved about this for about two straight months now - I've done a full review that you can read here - but to sum it up, it's a long wearing foundation with medium to full coverage that keeps your skin looking matte and flawless all day. The price point of this (about 6-8$CAD) for the quality is simply astounding. I think it's safe to say I'll continue to be raving about this for many months to come.

Throw a comment below on some of your favorite drugstore foundations! 

Beating Winter Blues With Champagne Shades

I love a good glow in my makeup all year round, but I seem to be craving that lit from within look even more during this gloomy time of year. We're right into the thick of the winter right now, and it's not our skins best friend. The dry weather and short days tend to make skin dull and lack luster - my solution is to pull out the champagne tones. 

(Top to bottom) CG Champagne, MAC Naked Lunch, Hard Candy Tiki Bronzer

(Top to bottom) Benefit Watts Up, Smashbox light luminizer, NYX cottage cheese, 

Rimmel bullet proof beige 

My first and most obvious choice - note the name - is the Covergirl Eye Enhancers eyeshadow in Champagne. So soft and buttery, it makes for the most amazing inner corner highlight that will truly make your eyes pop. Naked Lunch from MAC is also one of my favorite powder eyeshadows for bringing extra brightness to my eyes - the bonus is it isn't a heavy glitter shade so it never looks over the top. As for cheeks my go to powder product is the Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki. It's labeled as a bronzer but for that purpose I think it would be impossible to pull off. It is however one of the best drugstore highlighting products I've ever found. 

If you're more of a cream product type of person, especially in terms of face highlighters, then Benefit Watts Up is the perfect product. In a stick form it makes for super easy application and adds the most wonderfully natural glow to the skin without looking like you actually applied a highlighting product. Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Powder - what a mouth full - is yes, technically, a "powder", however I kind of find it to be an in between kind of product. The applicator dispenses small amounts of this creamy powder that adds such a beautiful glow to the cheeks or eyes. Just a tip, I dispense it onto the back of my hand and then use a brush to apply it to where I want it - applying it straight from the container can get a little tedious. 

My final two picks are both eyeshadow sticks, and seriously, who doesn't love a good eyeshadow stick - so easy to use and convenient. The NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in cottage cheese - the name leaves little to be desired - is a stunner. It's shimmery white with undertones of gold. Finally the Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick in bulletproof beige, which I must add is waterproof, adds a gorgeous light golden glow to the lids. I love wearing this both alone and as a base to make other shadows really pop. 

Five Things | Perfect Mac Starter Eyeshadows

In terms of eyeshadows you've really got to love some MAC, am I right? The thing with this is that their large selection - the large range of colors and finishes, can be amazing for a seasoned MUA, but for a beginner approaching a counter can be more than a little intimidating. Hopefully some of the apprehension can be taken care of with this run down of my five favorites which are perfect for beginners. The only requirement is that you have to love neutrals - neutrals are my jam if you didn't already realize - and have a decent makeup brush for eyeshadow application. 

My first and probably most well known of the bunch is Naked Lunch. This beauty is probably one of my first true loves from MAC - I've hit pan! It's just so easy to wear. It can be a light wash of color, or it can be the beginning of a more glamorous and dramatic eye. If I'm not just wearing this on its own (which I do quite a lot), I love pairing it with Espresso. This is a warm, matte cocoa shade that makes for the perfect crease color - it's soft enough to not look over the top. It also makes for a great brow shade depending on your natural tones. It blends like a dream which is why I find myself reaching for it with many of my brown smokey looks - you wont get any chalkiness here!

The next two shades I picked also have a lovely relationship with Naked Lunch - they both look amazing when used as a crease color. Cork is a matte golden brown shade, and much like Espresso, one of my go to crease shades for any type of neutral smokey eye. Also like Espresso, it is so smooth, blendable and not chalky or powdery at all. If you want something that is still neutral but more on the taupe end of things then Quarry is an amazing option. Out of my selection of five this is the third and final matte I chose. This is a soft plum brown that I enjoy wearing both in the crease with something like NL, or on its own swept over the lid as a nice simple wash of color - trust me it's a stunner!

Finally, where on earth would a neutral lover be without a good bronze option? Mulch is a brown with undertones of red and bronze pearl. It has a velvet finish which basically just means all the shine glamour without the risk of glitter fallout. This is another shade that can easily be thrown all over the lid and blended out into the crease - it looks like you did way more work than you actually did. It also looks stunning when built up with other colors to create a great smokey eye look. Any way you want to rock this is the right way in my opinion. 

So there you have it, five shadows that can easily be mixed and matched to create everything from an everyday wash of color to a dramatic evening smokey eye. What would your go to favorite five from MAC be? Let me know below! 

Current Non - Beauty Favorites | January 2015

I love my beauty products (surprise, surprise!), but there is always other favorites I have that I rarely (if ever) share with you all. I grabbed six of my favorite things of the moment to show you. I think I'll try to make this a more regular thing so you can all see what types of drinks, fashion, and even music or books I'm enjoying at the moment. 

First is this tank from Aerie that says "Running every morning (for coffee)" - like seriously, I don't think I could ever find a tank that suits me more. I love Aerie tanks a whole ton, perfect for working out or just for a casual outfit. My second favorite is also from Aerie and it's one of their blanket scarves. I had been eyeing these for such a long time, and finally grabbed this one which is navy with hints of white and pink in it. I'm so obsessed with it and all the different ways you can wear it. I'm going to need a couple more of these! 

My next two non beauty favorites actually go perfectly together - Tim Hortons Blueberry white tea and this Bath and Body Works candle in Lavender Vanilla. This tea is seriously addictive, I can't get enough of it or the amazing smell of this stuff. Much like the tea, I am completely obsessed with the smell of this candle, so soft and relaxing. It has become my go to candle to burn while I have a bath. 

My final two favorites are jewelry favorites, and although I'm not big on wearing jewelry on an everyday basis aside from a watch and maybe some stud earrings, I've been wearing these two pieces non stop. This small cuff bracelet from Swarovski is an amazing pairing to my favorite watch, and I find it can be dressed up or down - it's great at adding some sparkle and shine to an otherwise plain outfit. I've also been lusting over this feather ring from Pandora  which I received from my wonderful man this past Christmas. It is all types of stunning and I can't get enough of it! 

These are my current non-beauty favorites - let me know some of yours at the moment! 

My Jewelry Storage | January 2015

Hey guys! So I decided to do this little post as I thought it may be of interest to some people on what I use to store my jewelry in. My set up is pretty straight forward and I really don't own that much jewelry  but I thought it would be helpful for some to see my organization. 

I will start off by saying that I received this jewelry box 2 Christmas' ago from my mother in law (I believe she got it from Costco, but I could be wrong). I never really thought I would use something like this as I don't own a huge amount of jewelry, and own even less good quality jewelry, but ever since I got it I've used it, and I've ended up really loving it.

My favorite part of this box is how the lid can be left open or closed. When open it has a rather large mirror and you're able to see the items that are being stored on the top storage area of the box. 

There is two smaller drawers which have been sectioned into 6 smaller areas (perfect for earring organization). Then there are two large drawers, which I use for my larger necklaces, cuff bracelets and other larger or more awkward to store items. 

Each side also swings outward to reveal hooks that are perfect for smaller/more dainty necklaces that can easily become tangled if they were to by laid in a drawer. 

There you have it, my jewelry storage! If you guys enjoy these types of organizational posts please feel free to request anything else along these lines that you would like to see!

Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette | Review and Swatches

Over the years I'd heard so many different people talk about this little palette, and for the most part it was all positive reviews - good quality eyeshadows for an amazing price. I finally decided it was my turn to test it out, and for five dollars who can say no?

I'm just going to start this off by saying, if you don't already have this you need to get your hands on it. For about 63 cents per shadow (and good sized ones at that), you can seriously not go wrong. I was of course drawn to this one specifically because of the neutral lover in me, but they also have a palette with blue tones, purples and one with a brighter mixture of shades as well.

These shadows are seriously buttery and so easy to blend - probably one of the better formulas of eyeshadows you can find at the drugstore.

The palette is laid out perfect for beginners as well - each shadow is pressed with a suggestion on where to use each specific shade to create either a simple or dramatic look. I prefer the shades on the left side, but the brow bone shade on right is seriously gorgeous, and the definer color on the right is the most amazing duo chrome finish (the swatches do not do it justice) - in some lights its a dark brown, in others it's blue.

Let me know if you've tried this palette before, or if you are interested in it!

Ready In A Rush | My Five Minute Face

Being rushed in the morning to get all the things done that you need to before you have to get out the door and on with what your day entails can be a struggle for everyone. Some days I just find myself wondering where the time has gone, and realize I need to get myself publicly presentable in only a matter of minutes. 

The look may change slightly (specifically my lip color of choice), but in general these are the products I use to get my face and hair looking fresh and awake without taking up any extra time. 

When time is of the essence I love to reach for a BB Cream. I've really enjoyed this Loreal Skin Beautifier BB - it primes, perfects, hydrates and corrects. It leaves my skin looking good and natural, but much improved on my bare face. Once I've applied my base I have to reach for a good concealer. The one I love to reach for is the Maybelline Age Rewind because it conceals my under eye circles, and also does a nice light cover up of any blemishes I may have going on. 

Brows are a must for me, I just don't feel like I look right if I don't give my brows a quick fill in. This Revlon Brow Fantasy is the quickest and best for the job, and there has been a reason I've been raving about it constantly lately. It's both a pencil and brow gel, so it seriously doesn't get any easier than this two in one product. 

To wake myself up a little more I like to add just a touch of color to my eyelids, and the easiest way for me to do that is with a cream product. You all know I love my Mac Paint Pots, but I adore the Maybelline Color Tattoos as well - today I used the shade 'Bad to the Bronze', simply applied with my finger tips. 

We're almost there, next is mascara. Obviously any mascara will work the exact same, I've just been really love this Miss Manga mascara from Loreal. When it comes down to it I can really skip the cream shadow step, but there is absolutely no skipping mascara for me, I truly don't feel human without it. 

Finally I like to add a touch of color and moisture to my lips, and my favorite product for being able to accomplish both is the Revlon Lip Butters - today I went with the shade 'sweet tart'. Once I've gotten all that done I spray some dry shampoo through my hair to freshen it up and then do my go to quick hair style of a couple bobby pins to pin my hair half up. 

There you have it! The products I use and steps involved in me getting ready in a rush! 

My Current Skin Care Favorites | January 2015

Although I've had this blog for a number of years now, I don't think I've ever devoted an entire post to skin care. I've certainly included favorites here and there in my monthly favorite round ups, but never have I sat down and gathered together all the products I'm using in combination, which make up my skin care routine. 

Before jumping in to the products I must first give a run down of what my skin type is, and what my mentality is when it comes to skin care and skin care products. 

My skin has, for as long as I can remember, been combination - slightly oily on my forehead, nose and chin, with normal to dry skin elsewhere on my face (slightly more dryness during the winter months as well). 

My entire mentality to taking care of my skin is less is more - I know that seems unbelievable considering my love and lust for beauty products, and my constant need to try new things, but when it comes to my skin I find something that I like, and I stick to it. There seems to be nothing my skin hates more than the constant switch up of products, and me using a whole suitcase full of products on my skin during my morning/evening skin care rituals. The products/brands I'm currently using are ones that are tried, tested and true. They may not work for everyone, but for me (and my skin) they are what works best. Bottom line for me is that if my skin is looking good and I'm generally pleased with it, I'm not going to mess with what's working!

Removing Makeup
I am a recent cleansing oil convert after trying out The Body Shops Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil. It is the most amazing makeup remover I've ever tried and I really don't think there is any going back to my old ways after using this product. It gets all of my face and eye makeup off in about a minute and leaves my skin feeling amazing and silky soft.

Face Wash
I use two different face washes - one when removing my makeup at the end of the day (after using the cleansing oil), and one in the morning prior to doing my makeup. I use the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub when removing my makeup. It's an exfoliating wash so I feel it gets my skin extra clean after a long day, and also helps to remove any dry/dead skin. In the morning I prefer to use the Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser. It is much more gentle on the skin but still leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh and ready for whatever the day has in store.

Toner
I've been faithful to this Nivea Purifying Toner for combination skin for about three years now. I typically only use it once a day, but whether I use it in the morning or evening really just depends on how I'm feeling, how many breakouts/problem areas I have at the moment, and how much makeup I did or didn't wear that day.

Moisturizer
This is another product I've been using for numerous years, and even though I've attempted to use others, I always end up coming back to the Neutrogena oil free moisturizer for combination skin. I use it both prior to applying makeup, and after I cleanse my skin in the evening.

Face Masks
I actually have a number of face masks I do enjoy using, but my number one has always come down to the St. Ives Timeless Skin Mineral Clay Firming Mask. I really enjoy how this both removes impurities and also leaves my skin looking firmer and younger. I use this about once a week, but I also gauge that on how my skin is feeling/looking.


I hope you all enjoyed this little insight into my skin care favorites, and a little taste of how my skin care routine works.

Comment below and let me know some of your current skin care favorites!

Five Things | Mood Boosting Books

From time to time I get feeling like I'm a little down and in a bit of a slump, as I'm sure most people can relate to every now and again. I've found over the years that when I get feeling this way there is nothing better for me than to read. I feel that transporting your mind to another place with a good book can really help you to take a step back from what ever stressful or upsetting situation is occurring in your life and allow yourself to calm and relax. 

I have compiled five of my favorite books that serve the exact purpose of picking up my mood and allowing my to de stress and even laugh out loud. Obviously everyone has different taste in books, but I thought I would share five of my favorites with you in hopes it will inspire all of you. 

The Little Book of Answers
This is just such a fun book to flip through at your leisure. It's filled with, you guessed it, answers! Answers to random and even silly things, things you didn't even know you wanted to know.
Example - "Why do we call Academy Awards 'Oscars'?"

All Things Wise and Wonderful
I have had this book for many many years. I believe it originated from my parents book shelf, and I took it for something to try reading, and probably ten years later it still hasn't been returned. This novel depicts the life of a Veterinary Surgeon living in a fictional town in England. The story is at times sad, but overall a very heart warming tale. This may not be everyones cup of tea, but I've read it numerous times because, for some reason, it speaks to me. Picking up this book is like talking to an old friend.

The Book of Awesome
If you have never heard of, or flipped through this book (there is also a sequel), then you absolutely must! It is based off of very simple scenarios/smells/objects etc. Each chapter is a topic such as "The smell of Crayons", and the chapter describes how the specific topic is awesome. It's a very simplistic read, and one that leaves you nodding your head and smiling as you recall your own memories that go along with each chapters topic.

Seriously.... I'm Kidding 
I don't think much explanation is necessary with this one - Ellen Degeneres can put a smile on pretty much everyones face I think. Read this book and you'll be laughing out loud, I promise.

Extreme Vinyl Cafe
This is one of many Stewart McLean books in my collection and ever since discovering his short stories about a fictional family from Toronto Ontario Canada he has become one of my favorite writers and Canadians. The stories are down to earth and simplistic tales of the daily life and general happenings of a family of four. The stories are light and fun. I find his books to be almost like a comfort food - makes me feel happy and warm and safe.

Please let me know if you liked this post - let me know if you would like me to do more book related posts in the future! 

Loreal Miss Manga Mascara | First Impression & Photos

Like a faithful beauty blogger I am always up for trying a new mascara - I feel like I'm on an eternal search for the perfect mascara. I don't believe this is a super new product in stores but I felt instantly drawn to the packaging, and I've also heard some positive reviews floating around so I thought I would give it a shot. This is actually the first Loreal mascara I've picked up in a long time. Lately I've been more devoted to my Covergirl and Maybelline ones, but it's always nice to switch things up! 

The Claim:

Voluminous Miss Manga Black Angel mascara featuring the 360 degree Flexor Brush to build bold volume with high intensity from top to bottom. Instantly builds oversized volume for up to 15x lash volume in a flash. Top lashes amplified and bottom lashes maximized for an ultimate wide eye-look. 

The brush, as you can see, is smaller at the tip, and then the bristles grow in size the closer you get to the cap. I really enjoy these kinds of wands because it always makes it super easy to get the lashes at the inner corner of your eye, as well as you bottom lashes. 

The above picture is full makeup minus any mascara or lash primer. I think as far as lashes go I've got decent ones. They're moderately long and decently thick, but not very dark in color. 

After applying the mascara (3 coats, just as I always do every day), you can visibly see it added length and volume to my lashes. The formula is very black, which I love, and pretty thick/sticky, which I also love. I imagine, as with all mascaras, the formula will change slightly after a couple more uses once some air has gotten into the tube. This demo is based on my very first time opening, applying and wearing the product so just keep that in mind! 

Overall I'd have to say I believe I'm really going to love and enjoy this mascara. It creates a great bold lash which is what I love. Even on a day to day basis when I'm not wearing foundation, concealer and the whole works I still do mascara, which is why I love when one single mascara can accomplish both length and volume. 

Let me know if you've tried/want to try this mascara and leave any opinions below! Hope you enjoyed this quick little review/first impression! 

A Little Body Shop Haul | January 2015

This past weekend I was out running some standard errands and decided to pop into the mall to browse. While walking around I passed The Body Shop and realized that it had been simply forever since I was even into the store, let alone bought something for myself. I felt as though I had let down an old and faithful friend, so to make up for my neglect I picked up a couple things in hopes of making amends (anything to justify buying beauty products!). 

I picked up two of my old favorites in my absolute favorite scent The Body Shop has - Coconut Body Butter and Coconut Cream Body Scrub. Both of these products are so super moisturizing and smell AH-MAzinggg! There is something about using coconut scented products during the winter months that I'm absolutely obsessed with. Maybe its because the scent makes me miss the summer sun a little less, and makes me forget about the snow outside, at least for a minute or two. 

I love this body scrub because it isn't as abrasive as others that have larger granules of sugar etc. It does the job without being to harsh on my sensitive winter skin. 

I decided to try a couple new products that I've been thinking about for a while now. First is the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, which I have seen Amelia Liana rave about on her YouTube and blog many times. I've tried it several times now and although I'm still in the testing stages, I believe I am a cleansing oil convert and I may become obsessed with this. 

I also decided to try out the RainForest Radiance Detangling Spray. I heard of this a long while back from a couple different friends of mine but I had never bothered to try it out. I recently ran out of the Garnier one I was using so I decided it was time to give this stuff a shot. After using it about three times now I can say I think I'm going to really enjoy it, and its been great for using on my daughters' hair as well. The scent is lovely, like blueberries, and I can see myself spraying this on my hair purely for the scent. 

I also received a little sample of their Vanilla Brulee hand cream, which I pretty much instantly stashed in my purse (if you can't tell by the dent I already have in it), although I have yet to try it out yet.

Hope you enjoyed this little haul on what I picked up from The Body Shop! Leave comments regarding your favorite Body Shop products because I think I've fallen back in love. 

December 2014 Beauty Favorites

I know, I know, it's basically half way through January of a new year now, but I figured better late than never. With that being said, here are my favorite beauty products that brought me into the new year!

Bath and Body Works Frosted Wonderland Body Cream

The scent of this is absolutely heavenly, and the formula is my favorite as far as body lotions go from Bath and Body Works - extremely moisturizing for this time of year especially. 

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation

I've previously mentioned this foundation in another favorites post, and have also done a review which you can read here. 

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume (waterproof)

This mascara is an old favorite. I decided to repurchase it a while back and can't believe I ever stopped using it. It is one of my top drugstore mascaras ever for sure. 

China Glaze Evening Seduction Polish

I truly love dark polishes all year round, but especially through the fall and winter. This has been my go to quite a bit lately - almost black, but not. It's actually a very deep purple shade that I find extremely flattering, long wearing and shiny, even without a top coat. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

This bronzer is completely matte (love), and has a cooler tone (also love), which makes it perfect to give you some color this time of year, but does the job without making you look overdone or orange. There's really no time of the year that I'm not obsessed with this bronzer. 

St. Ives Smooth and Nourished Oatmeal Scrub + Mask 

I've tried this product as a scrub, but I was not a huge fan, but I have absolutely loved it as a hydrating mask. I remove my makeup, cleanse my skin and then apply this for about 10-15 minutes once or twice a week. It leaves my skin feeling super soft, plump and hydrated and has really helped with some of the dryer areas around my nose and chin that I tend to get this time of year. 

Rimmel Exaggerate Full Color Lip Liner in Enchantment 

These lip liners are my absolute favorite from the drugstore and overall. This is the most perfect neutral plum shade - perfectly pair with many medium toned lipsticks of like color, or just as beautiful on its own (my personal favorite lately). 

Revlon Brow Fantasy

I've been completely obsessed with this little duo pencil and brow gel, it is awesome! I did a review on this which you can find here .

Loreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense 

This is a classic and old love of mine - look back to any post from probably two years ago and it was probably included. I ran out of my Maybelline Line Stiletto around the middle of December and decided to go back to Loreal just to switch things up. I honestly don't know why I ever gave this stuff up. So easy to work with and perfectly bold and black. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing my (very late) December 2014 beauty favorites! 

Revlon Brow Fantasy - First Impression

When it comes to eyebrows it seems I can never really commit to, and end up repurchasing the same product twice. I never feel completely satisfied, and I'm always left thinking "there must be something even better out there". So when my poor Maybelline Define Brow pencil turned into an unusable nub, I knew it was time to seek out my newest drugstore brow product.

I noticed that Maybelline has released a new brow product, which mimics Benefit Gimme Brow, a tinted gel for filling and shaping your brows all in one. I initially thought that I would be giving that a try, but after further consideration I realized I really didn't like the idea of just using a gel on its own. That is when I came upon this - Revlon Brow Fantasy. I can't honestly tell you how new/old this product is, I can just say that I've never noticed it, nor have I tried it until now, so it is new to me!

I was drawn to it because of its sleek packaging, and that it includes both a pencil and gel all in one - no muss no fuss! There were only three shade options at the store I was in so I went for Dark Brown. I was slightly nervous that it may be too dark, but after using it for the first time today I can say I certainly made the right decision.

This is my first time ever using a tinted brow gel before. Until this point in time the only brow gel I've ever used is actually just the Maybelline clear mascara. I can totally say I'm a convert now though!