December Favorites

Hi All,
So first off I need to apologize for the 5 month disappearance! My life got really really hectic and my computer has been out of commission.  I got a new laptop for Christmas (Thanks Mom!) so I'm hoping to keep up with my blog among other things now that I have a working computer. So I hope I still have people reading but if not I'll kinda be acting like this is a brand new blog, posting it out. I hope you all will share this too!

1. Primer - So I have finally fallen into the Urban Decay primer potion trend. I have tried so hard not to fall into high end trends for so long buttttt I got a sample of this in a palette I got on Hautelook in early fall.  I rarely use the palette but fell in love with the primer.  It's like now that I've tried something this good I can't go back.  Now ELF's primer that I had loved for forever feels gross and greasy and nothing really holds it own anymore. Now I have to find more because it's almost empty =(.   I have also been using the ELF mineral infused face primer to prime my face, although I'm working as a nanny now so I am rarely doing full face makeup.

2. Eye Shadow - This month I have been sticking to some very neutral eye looks, between the holidays and work I have tried to be natural and just perfect the blending of the eyes more than add too much color. I have been loving the Covergirl Shimmering Sands trio that I got last year during a sale at CVS. I'm really close to hitting pan on at least 2 of the colors, the lighter and the medium colors. I have also been using the Maybelline color tattoo's as base colors and I love them so much.

3. Eye Liner - This month I have continued to love my Prestige Total Intensity eye liner in black for my water line and a few of the Sephora Nano eye liners for my top lash line.

4. Foundation -  I haven't really been doing much foundation this month but have been loving my Loreal Frutis BB Cream in light/fair as well as my ELF mineral foundation in porceline.

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.  It is so creamy and thick enough that it really does cover dark circles.  I literally use it ever single day.  I also have been loving the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser.  It literally ERASES my dark circles without being cakey or too thick.

6. Blush- I  haven't loved any blushes this month really, but I have beem reaching for my ELF mineral Blush in Joy, which is a mauvey/pink shade, which isn't too shimmery.

7. Palette -This month I didn't really use any stand out palettes.

8. Face Applicator - this month I found myself reaching for the E.L.F. Powder Brush for EVERYTHING!

9. Eye Applicator - This month I've still been using my Sonia Kashuk Small Powder Brush. This brush will be a forever forever favorite.

10. Hair Product - I've been loving Argan Oil for the last few months, and along with my mom have gone through about 3 bottles in 3 months.

11. Perfume - Last month, when I went out black Friday shopping, I picked up a sample of the new Bath and Body Works scent in Forever Red and literally not gone a day without it. Got a larger roll on sample size for Christmas that I'm super excited for since I just finished my little sample. 

12. Mascara - This month a friend of mine got me the Loreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Black, which she had been suggesting for months but I never bought it because I liked the mascaras I'd been using.... man was I missing out!

13. Moisturizer - This month I have loved the Bath and Body Works triple moisture body cream in the scent Secret Wonderland.

14. Lip Products- This month, with such dry, cold weather, my main goal with my lips has been to keep them from being dry and cracky.  I have loved my Nivea Lip Balm in Honey and Milk, as well as their kiss of Shimmer lip balm.  I have also been loving my Baby Lips from Maybelline. I have two of those, the grape colored one and the shimmery peach color, both which work wonders for me.  And lastly I have been loving my Sugar Fresh Sugar Plum tinted lip treatment, which I have been loving for months now.  It is a beautiful color and provides so much moisture.

So those are my favorites and most used products of December.

May Favorites... a little late!

1. Primer - This month I have been using the Sephora Glitter Eye Shadow in the small tub for my eyes and Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer for my face, though I haven't been doing much with my face this month.



2. Eye Shadow -This month I have been sticking with very neutral eye shadows.  I have been sticking with Covergirl Eyenhancers Trio in the color Shimmering Sands and  the NYX Trio in the color In The Woods. The colors in both of these trios blend together very well, though both groups are very different.  They are both shimmery but help keep me create a professional and casual look that is easy to apply daily. I have also used the Wet N Wild Color Icon single shadow in Nutty.

3. Eye Liner - This month I have been constantly using Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Trios.  I have been using the smokey eyes, nude and hazel trios primarily.  These colors are great because they glide on easily and stay on all day.  I have loved using the NYX Baby Blue Eye Pencil as a pop of color.

4. Foundation -  I havent used foundation this month at all.  I have been using different

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer and use it constantly, as does my mom.  She is constantly stealing it from me.  I also have been using the Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles. I have also been sealing both of these with the ELF High Definition Undereye Setting Powder.

6. Blush - This month I loved the Milani Baked Blush in Luminouso, I love the glow it give my cheeks and how peachy it is without being overly orange.










7. Lip Products- This month I have loved 3 different lip products. I loved the Baby Lips in Peach Kiss, Wet  n Wild Lip Sticks in 502A. And the Bare Escentuals ID lip stick in the color Yumi.  I love all of these colors and used them constantly.













8. Hair Product - I have been loving the Aussie Split End Protectant this month.  I think it has been

9. Perfume/Lotion -This month I have loved Taylor Swifts Wonderstruck, it's strong but not overpowering and is floral enough that it is summery.  I have also loved the Ulta Freshwater Mist Fragrance Spray. 

10. Mascara - This month I have continued to use my Covergirl Lash Exact Highlights mascara for hazel eyes and then I have discovered the Ulta Bountiful Lash Fortifying Mascara in Soft Black












11. Moisturiser -I have loved the Clean and Clear Finishes pore refining moisturiser.

12. Non Beauty- This month I have been loving my new Kindle Fire.


So those are my favorites and most used products of  May. Have a great night!

My Favorite Lip Balms

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment- I originally received this as a birthday gift from Sephora and was hesitant about it because my friend who had it was not a huge fan.  Well Idk why she didn't love it but I sure did.  This lip balm that comes in six different colors, five of them are tinted and one is clear.  The tints are not overpowering, but very lightly pigmented and leave a thick layer of moisture that lasts for quite a long time, hours.

Baby Lips-These lightly tinted lip balms from Maybelline are one of my favorite products, period.  I love these. The color is very light, just a sheen but the sheen is beautiful.  The moisture that these balms I love this so much, desipte the childish packaging. There are 6 shades that all range between $3-4 and smell/taste amazing.




EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm- I love this as a constant moisture renewing lip balm.  I love the egg shaped packaging and the flavors/smells are fantastic.  There are 5 fruity flavors and 1 minty one.  My favorites are the Strawberries and Cream and the Sweet Mint.  I always have one of these on my person and they are so fun to use and talk about.




Carmex- I had to include Carmex in this list as it is such a consistent and reliable brand of lipbalms.  These are great for when your lips are legitimately chapped and need some medicated treatment. These come in many different flavors and both stick and jar balms.  I prefer the stick balms as they tend to be more travel friendly, cheaper and more convenient. 

April 2012 Favorites

1. Primer - This month I have been using the Sephora Glitter Eye Shadow in the small tub.

2. Eye Shadow - I haven't really been using any individual eye shadows lately but if I were to choose one it would be I the Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

3. Eye Liner - Physicians Formula Brown Eyes Shimmer Strips Cream Liner is awesome as is the prestige total intensity black eyeliner.

4. Foundation -  I have been trying to give my skin a break this month and have been using the Garnier BB Cream and Elf Mineral Powder Foundation.

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.

6. Blush - This month I loved the Milani Baked Blush in Luminouso

7. Palette - this month I loved using the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips for Hazel Eyes, Eye Candy edition.  I love the selection and variety that this palette offers.

8. Face Applicator - this month I pretty much primarily used my Soho Beauty Sponge for all my face application and then used my ELF Complexion Brush to apply my powder and blush.

9. Eye Applicator - This month I have been loving the Ulta Eyeliner brush that I recieved for Easter and have been using it all month long.

10. Hair Product - I have been loving the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner this month and have been using it about 2 times a week to help my hair stay healthy and shiny.

11. Perfume/Lotion - I bought a PINK Body Butter in Fresh Vanilla, Feel Flirty and have loved it all month long. 

12. Mascara - This month I have fallen back in love with my Covergirl Lash Exact Highlights mascara for hazel eyes.

13. Moisturiser - Just like last month and the one before., I have been using Bio Oil  constantly and love it!

14. Nail Care Product - Burts Bees Lemon Oil Cuticle Cream.

15. Non Beauty- This month I have been loving braids in my hair.


So those are my favorites and most used products of February. Have a great night!

My Top 5 Favorite Mascaras

Mascara, the most flattering of all makeup and my personal everyday necessity.  I have tried dozens of different mascaras in my time wearing makeup and here are my top five mascaras. 

Follow Me on Instagram- Life4Eva07

CoverGirl Lash Blast Length - $6.97 at Target
This has been a long time favorite of mine and I have rebought this mascara multiple times.  This mascara is great at separating  and pulling out each individual lash. If you are looking for something to make your lashes look more long this is the one but do not expect any volumizing effect from this. I usually use this with the Lash Blast Volume overtop of it.

Urban Decay Super Curling Mascara- $20.00 at Sephora
I received a sample size of this mascara in the Book of Shadows IV Palette that I bought off of HauteLook a few months ago and to be honest this has been my favorite thing about the palette.  This mascara give a great hold and really does curl the lashes. This wand is curled and reaches every lash from the inner to outter corner and is housed inside the most beautiful mascara packaging I've ever seen.

L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes-$7.00 at Target

I have been using this mascara regularly over the last month or so after hearing about it from a friend and I do love it.  It does the work of both a lengthening and volumizing mascara and it also separates and pulls out lashes, naturally making your lashes look fuller and longer.

Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Black Sequins- $7.00 on Amazon.com

This mascara has the most unique wand I have ever seen and the formula is lightweight, dry and includes small flecks of shimmer. I have tried a lot of the different shimmering mascaras and have always loved the effect they give to the color of my eyes but this is my alltime favorite because aside from adding sparkle to the lashes, which accents your eye color and creates a fuller look.

CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume- $6.97 at Target

My go to volumizing mascara, this makes your lashes look so full, long and priceless.  I love this stuff so much.  I have used all the of different kinds of the Lash Blast line mascaras, the luxe, the fusion, the length and the volume. All of these formulas are great but this one is my favorite, it the most dramatic of all the others in my top 5.  I use this primarily overtop lengthening mascaras or ones that need some extra fullness. the brush is big and chunky when allows it to coat every lash and it is just overall great for the price.

Facts: Get to Know Me

So I know this tag has been going on a lot on youtube and similar ones have been on facebook and whatnot and decided I really wanted to let you guys get to know me a little better.  So here are as many things about me as I could remember off the top of my head.

• My favorite color is purple. 
• I drink water, tea and coffee... and that is all. 
• My laundry is never completely done. 
• I think there should be a screening process for parenting. 
• Makeup is my way of building my confidence, drawing away from my weight and other imperfections.
• I love ER, SVU, Make it or Break it and Crossing Jordan. 
• I was horribly bullied all my life, creating illusions about myself that I am constantly trying to not reinforce. 
• I was an extremely competitive rower from the ages 12-18 when I hurt my shoulder. 
• I have one tattoo on my back, a rose for my grandfather
• Depression has been a battle I have been fighting for years but I haven't relapsed into the dark in 2 years and I know it won't happen any time soon. 
• I spend money like it is going out of style.
• I am a residential counselor at a home for kids with behavioral problems. 
• ELF is my favorite brand of makeup.
• Eyeliner makes me look alive. 
• I like mascara that smells funny.
• Taylor Swift is my favorite musician.
• Skillet is my favorite band. 
• I love my family. 
• I bite my nails to a stub whenever I'm stressed or upset or am in a movie theater.
• Gymnastics is my favorite sport to watch.
• I have a skin condition that's really embarrassing. 
• My hair is always in a pony tail but that doesn't mean I dont take great care of it. 
• I didn't own any makeup until I was 20. 
• My sign is a Gemini.
• I cannot wait to be a mother someday. 
• School cost me $30,000 in loans and won't let me finish my last 3 classes. 
• I've been in the hospital for over a week due to depression. 
• My life goal is to change a child's life for the better. 



View from the boardwalk at Castle Island

• Castle Island is my favorite place in Boston. 

Ulta/Easter Haul

Hey everyone so for the very first time, I visited Ulta! OMG heavenly!! So I am just going to list and picture of each item. Please comment below if you have any of these products. 

Disclaimer: These were all a gift from my wonderful parents for Easter!

Ulta Secret Garden Collection

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Too Cool 

Essence Stay All Day Cream Eyeshadows in Stars and Stones & Glammy Goes To...

NYX Lipsmacking Fun Color in Rose & Galaxy

Ulta Bountiful Lash Fortifying Mascara in Soft Black

EOS Lip Balm in Honeydew Hibiscus 

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in In the Woods

Prestige Soft Blend Khol Eyeliner in Jet Black

NYX  Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese & 

Strawberry Milk

LASplash Lipgloss in Catch Me

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Daring Green

Essence Eyeliner Pen in Black

Essence Brow and Lash Gel in Clear

Physicians Formula Eye Definer in Ultra Black

 
Ulta Eye Liner Brush

So.. Project 10 Fail

My Non Palette Eye Makeup

About a month ago I started a Project Pan with a list of products I wanted to hit pan on, and though I have hit pan/finished a few of the items on the list, I have also grown to love and appreciate a few of the cosmetics that I originally put on the list.  The whole Project Pan became very vain to me after that.  I had been rushing through these products, hoping to finish them the as quickly as possible just so I could buy new products.  How twisted is that? So I've decided to change the parameters of my cut back into a more lax makeup diet. I have decided that from here on out I am just going to try to spend less than $20 a month on cosmetics and at the end of the month I will do a post on that months emptys.  I hope that this will help encourage me to use more products that I own and spend less on new products.  This will include makeup, hair and body products.

If anyone has any tips on how to spend less/use more please leave a comment below!

TAG: 10 Little Secrets

THE QUESTIONS!
1. What is one product that makes you feel like a million dollars?
Whenever I wear any of the pH Matchmaker products from Physicians Formula I feel great, the colors are so vibrant and pigmented and my face look so bright and happy.


2. What is your skincare secret? / A passed down skin care tip
Um my biggest skincare tip is to wash your face everyday and wear BioOil to bed every night.  I love it so much. 

3. Share your hair care secret?
Argan Oil, my hair would be nothing without argan oil.  And try to stay away from heat. 

4. What is your biggest diet rule?
I don't really have any diet rules, I just try to be conscious of where my food is coming from mostly, I like being aware.

5. Any workout tips?
When I workout in the morning I feel happier throughout the day than when I try to workout in the evening after I have already had a long night.. 

6. Which perfume is your secret weapon?
Lavanilla is my favorite perfume for a boost of confidence, the scent is light and airy but long lasting.  I love wearing this to work. 

7. Show us a clothing item of yours which always turns heads. 
I don't have much head turning stuff lol. 

8. What is your most treasured piece of jewellery?
I have a celtic knot from my grandmother that I love but I try not to use it very often. 

9. Who is your style crush?
I love Taylor Swift and Sandra Bullock's styles. 


10. Tell us something we don't know about you
I love Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream

Giving into the Hype- New Product Haul

Hey guys, so this weekend I finally caved and purchased a few of the newer hyped up products that I haven't stopped hearing about. SO here are the products I purchased and my first impressions of them.

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Cream Eye Shadows in the colors Tough as Taupe, Pomegranate Punk and Bad to the Bronze- $5.84 ea. at Walmart

Top-Bottom- Bad to the Bronze,
Pomagranate Punk, Tough as Taupe

Impressions:
Tough as Taupe- This is the only Matte Color I saw in the collection and is incredibly pigmented, goes on smooth and has a very cement like look to it.   I liked this color but it was not my favorite of the three.  It is very gray and I'm not a huge gray fan, I just don't think it compliments my complexion but I am sure I will make use of it.

Pomegranate Punk- This color was my favorite, a very wearable berry color with a beautiful satin finish.  It was a little more splotchy than the other two colors but I loved it just the same.

Bad to the Bronze- This was the most creamy of the three colors and it spreads so smoothly and perfectly onto the lid.  I used this as a base more than once and it is so amazing and works great with other colors overtop of it.

Stock Photo of Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in the color Pink Plum- $8.29 at CVS
Impression:
I hateddddddd this blush and returned it this evening.  The color payoff was terrible.  The consistency of the product was very interesting but The product itself sucked.  There was no color, the product didnt spread and was not smooth at all. This is the worst of the products I purchased and I will not be trying any more of these products but do hope to try other cream/mouse blushes in the hopes that they would be better pigmented.

Sorry for the lighting!

Hard Candy Take it Off Makeup Remover- $5.00 at Walmart
Impression:
This may be the best makeup remover I have ever used.  For years I relied soley on cold cream for makeup removing and I really liked the way it instantly reliveed your face but became frustrated with how it made my skin, particularly my eye area feel after using it.  This creamy product is very similar in consistency but does not leave the heavy grease feeling that I had experienced with the cold cream.  I love that is a lotion and that it is specifically formulated for erasing "glitter, waterproof and long lasting products", as these titles are on most of my favorite products and liquid makeup removers never seem to be able to completely remove them.

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream in Light/Medium- $10.00 at CVS 

B.B Cream in Light to Medium

Impression:
Okay so we know that there's a huge trend spreading through the beauty world surrounded the B.B Creams that have come out recently.  I had been hearing a lot about them and wanted to find a cheap alternative to try, especially with summer coming up.  I work in a pretty high activity job and need to use makeup that won't be too heavy, wear off through the day or melt if I'm in the heat but I also need some coverage.  I looked around at the different high end B.B. creams but I didn't want to spend 30+ dollars on a cream I wasnt even sure I would like.  I love my foundation combination that I have been using lately and I didn't want to commit to another product.  So I picked up this cream when I saw it at my local CVS the other day and have been LOVING it so much the last week or so. It gives this awesome dewy look and sheer enough that you can see all of my freckles but enough coverage that it helps to even out my skintone.  I use this with my Covergirl/Olay Concealer and they match together so well that it's just straight up gorgeous!

Overall aside from the horrible blush I am super satisfied with my purchases and hope that you find these mini reviews useful and helpful.

Please comment and follow!