Hey beauties! I hope you guys are enjoying and basking in this beautiful weather, knowing the PNW, who knows when it will head out the door! Since I started school this week, I'm pretty convinced that getting up at 6am every morning is slowly causing my death, but nonetheless, I have to find a way to get breakfast in mah belly without waking up earlier (no way that's gonna happen). I used to always be a no-breakfast kind of gal. I could never stomach food in the morning or I was just too dang lazy! With early classes this quarter, I can barely make it through the day if I don't eat something big before I head out the door. So, I thought I would share with you guys two of my go-to breakfasts for those early mornings that are super healthy, super tasty, and super easy!
P.S. Please don't mind my photography skills that likely make these meals extremely unappealing, I promise they are delicious!
1. Healthy scramble
Scrambled eggs are always a great go-to because they are super easy, and you can always throw it in a tupperware and run out the door with it if you're in a big hurry. My go-to scramble is 4 eggs, shredded chicken (for some extra protein), sliced white mushrooms, avocado, spinach (or arugula), pepperjack cheese, and Cholula Jalapeno & Green Pepper hot sauce. I throw everything in the pan at once with a splash of milk. After it's cooked, I throw some extra hot sauce on top (sometimes a little Sriracha too). Honestly, the spicy kick wakes me up! This gives me a huge dose of protein and vegetables, is super healthy, and really gears me up for the day.
2. Poached egg toast
Poached eggs are such an easy AM snack, but putting them on toast with a few extra goodies make them extra yummy. I love making poached eggs in the morning because I can set a timer and finish off my makeup or get dressed while I wait on them. I throw my eggs in for 2-3 minutes, I like the yolk to be really runny so it covers my toast. While the eggs are cooking, I spread a really ripened avocado on top of whole wheat toast. I place two poaches eggs on each piece of toast, and top with fresh basil and tomato slices. This gives me my protein, veggies, and grains in the morning, and I can throw it on a paper plate and eat while I walk to campus if I'm in a rush. It's such a filling and tasty breakfast!
What is your go-to breakfast to get you ready for the day?
Hey guys! I hope everyone had a super Easter and filled themselves until their jeans unbuttoned themselves. That's what I did. My mom said I looked miserable after dinner. Miserable, in a very satisfied way, of course.
The other day I posted this photo below on Instagram and Facebook and asked if anyone would like to see a tutorial on the look I'd created. I was feeling really inspired by the Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette. I've worn this look almost every day since I first tried it because I really love it!
If you guys would like to see a really quick how-to on this look (it's so easy to create), just check out the youtube tutorial I created below, it's a short speed through video with a voiceover where I walk you through all the steps. This is a full tutorial from the primer to the finishing powder, the whole shabang!
I hope that you guys found this tutorial helpful, and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask in the comments section down below. What palette have you been inspired by lately? What kind of look would you like to see in my next tutorial?
Hey guys! I hope you guys are having a lovely day, and that you have fun Easter plans tomorrow! A lot of my memories of Easter (from when I was young) are egg hunts and all the delicious candy that the grocery stores start selling this time of year, Cadbury eggs, robin's eggs, peeps (yeah I like those little sugar covered marshmallows, don't judge). So, in the spirit of sugar and unhealthiness, I thought that I would share a recipe with you guys, especially since a food related post is long overdue!
Last night Jason was visiting me, and he was craving cookies, and I realized that my fridge was missing butter sticks, and my pantry was missing chocolate chips...so I freaked out a little (the cookies were basically me bribing him into staying an extra night with me, shhh). I decided that I was going to go out on a limb and try something random and throw together some cookie related measurements and ingredients and then go from there. And, if you know me, you know that I have a weirdly obsessive love for Oreos. I always have a pack of Oreos at home, with an extra backup in case I run out. I go through gallons of milk like a crazy person because I eat so many Oreos. And, anything with Oreos in it is kind of my jam - Oreo McFlurries, flash fried oreos, anything Oreo and I'm in. So, I threw them in with my cookie batter, and they turned out freaking delicious. I'm sure this has been done before, but I threw it all together, so I'm calling this my recipe. Just in time for Easter dinner.
Ingredients:
Pure Virgin Organic Coconut Oil (8 tbs)
Cane Sugar (1/2 c)
Light Brown Sugar (1/4 c)
Pure Vanilla (1 tsp)
1 Large Egg
Baking Soda (1/2 tsp)
Sea Salt
All-Purpose Flour (1 1/2 c)
6-8 Double Stuf Oreos
The steps:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees so that it's ready by the time your batter is! Place a silicone baking mat (my favorite method) or parchment paper on top of a cookie sheet so that your cookies don't stick to the pan or burn on the bottom.
2. Measure out 8 tablespoons of coconut oil. If your coconut oil is rock hard, microwave it for about 10-20 seconds. You want it to be soft and smooth, like softened butter, but you don't want it in liquid form. Put this into a small mixing bowl, and using an electric mixer, cream the coconut oil with 1/2 cup of cane sugar and 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar. Beat for about 3 minutes (don't skimp on this part, creaming these ingredients is the foundation for perfect cookies).
3. Add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla and 1 large egg. Beat for a few seconds until well mixed, you don't want to overbeat the egg.
4. Add in 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and a dash of sea salt (a couple turns out of a grinder). Use the electric mixer to mix in the dry ingredients. Then start to mix the dough with your hands. It should be easy to work with and form into a ball if you press it together, and the batter shouldn't stick to your hands at all.
5. Put 6-8 Oreos (depending on how heavily you want the flavor to appear) into a ziploc bag. Crush the cookies (I like using the back of a spoon to do this), then pour into your dough, mixing them into the dough with your hands.
6. Using a small cookie scooper, scoop 8 mounds per pan for approximately 8-9 minutes for tender cookies (keep in mind that my oven is probably from the 70's and is about the size of Barbie's oven, so this time cook estimation might not be very accurate for YOUR oven). They should look golden brown on the top, and still feel pretty squishy when they come out of the oven, they will harden up as they cool, but the coconut oil keeps them moist and gooey. Cook longer for crunchy cookies.
7. Grab a glass of milk and enjoy!
I hope you guys enjoyed this recipe share! My mom and Jason both tried the cookies and said I definitely needed to share it on the blog. If you try the recipe, please let me know! What is your favorite kind of cookie?
Happy spring everyone! It's officially here. So, of course I wanted to do my first spring makeup tutorial as quickly as I could. I thought this would be a great opportunity to bring in a few of the many spring products that are launching right now, show them in action, and do a tutorial for a natural and glowing spring look all in one. There are so many new products launching for spring that I can't keep up. I chose all products that have released in the last 1-2 months that I have had time to work with and see how they work best so that I can kind of talk through, review, and show you them. I also haven't been hauling anything new (as much as I want to) because of my transition right now. For the products that are newer launches from the past few months, I captioned them with 'NEW' below each photo of products that I used, and I also shared the not new products that I gravitate towards and use everyday.
For this look, I wanted a super wearable look for everyday with luminous skin, bright eyes, and healthy looking overall. This is such a simple tutorial that anyone can get down with whatever products they have at home, so I'm going to walk you through the steps, and show you what products I used. If you prefer the quick route in a video, feel free to check out the speed through tutorial below as well.
1. Always start with cleansed, toned, and moisturized skin! This will keep your skin healthy and hydrated throughout the day and works as a great base for your makeup to glide on top of.
2. Priming your face is always a good step to start your makeup routine. All products will build better with a primer as your base, and you can always find one for your specific needs whether that be makeup prolonging, luminosity, mattifying, hydrating, etc. I chose to use the Becca Backlight Priming Filter which is a newer product from the past few months. I adore this primer because it gives the skin the most healthy looking luminosity that peeks through under any foundation. I think this is an amazing new launch and it perfect for spring!
3. Color correcting is a huge trend right now and many products are being released. My favorite of all color correctors that I've tried are the new YSL Touche Eclat Neutralizers. They are pens that release product that is a very thin and blendable consistency. It doesn't cake up or feel thick, and the formula is just a dream. I use the color 'Bisque' under my eyes and 'Violet' in my highlight areas. Another great spring launch are the color correcting drops from Algenist Reveal. I have a free deluxe sample from Sephora in 'Green'. I love the consistency of this because it is very thin, so you can put it under foundation easily, or you can mix it with your foundation to cancel out redness if it is an all over issue. I put a bit of this onto a concealer brush and dab onto blemishes and redness.
Face
NEW: Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation 'Vanilla' (left)
NEW: Benefit Dew the Hoola (top)
NEW: Sephora Perfection Airbrush Mist Blush 'Such a Peach' (right)
1. One of my favorite launches the past few months was the Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation. This foundation looks just like skin, gives the perfect amount of natural coverage, and really does make you look like you are lit by the light of a romantic candle. It's perfect for a dewy spring look. I apply this using a flat top kabuki brush.
2. Apply concealer under your eyes and blend out using your method of choice (mine is a damp beautyblender). My holy grail is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.
3. Benefit released Dew the Hoola, a liquid matte bronzer, within the past month. I got my hands on a free deluxe sized sample, and as you can see in the video (my first time using it), I am super impressed! It blends out beautifully, doesn't look nearly as orange as it does when you first pump it out, and it applies to give you a natural looking bronze. Apply by dotting where you usually bronze (for me, this is above my cheekbones, my hairline, and above my brows, and my temples). Blend out with your fingers using tapping and sweeping motions. It blends very easily with the warmth of your fingers.
4. Sephora released an air mist blush, which comes in a spray can. It comes in a couple different colors, I have 'Such a Peach' which is a stunning peachy pink color. I saw Tati haul this and she raved about it, so I had to give it a try, and I am absolutely in love with it. It lasts for the entire day, is a dream to apply over foundation, and the colors are perfect for spring. I spray about 6inches away from a blush brush, and lightly tap onto the apples of my cheeks first, then work my way back on my cheekbones.
Setting
1. To make sure that your makeup stays in place throughout the day, use a setting or finishing powder all over to lock everything in. I reached for Hourglass Ethereal Light, which is almost a white powder with shimmer. This gives the skin the most natural, beautiful glow and I've never seen anything like it. I love how this powder doesn't mattifying like setting powders do, it just accentuates the luminosity of your skin, it's truly gorgeous. I used Hourglass Diffused Light to set my under-eye area. Yellow tinted powders are best for under the eyes because they brighten the area while setting it. I love this powder because it does have that perfect banana tinge, but it also brightens more than the average yellow setting powder because of it's soft focus effects that all Hourglass Ambient Powders contain.
1. Make sure to start your eye look that your eyes are primed, this will keep your shadow lasting all day long. To skip a product you can always prime your eyes using your concealer.
2. Too Faced released their Peanut Butter & Jelly palette recently, full of warm shades and a few pops of color. This palette was revolved around the raved shade 'Peanut Butter' from their Semi Sweet Chocolate Bar palette. It smells like the chocolate bar palettes but with a peanut twist (so it smells AMAZING, but don't worry, no peanuts, so allergies are a-okay). I felt like everyone on youtube has been doing the same exact look with this palette, so I wanted to just keep it natural and simple today.
Apply a matte natural shade from lashline up to brow bone all over to neutralize redness and give a neutral base. I used 'Extra Creamy' in the PB&J palette. Next, apply a warm brown shade very lightly in the crease and outer socket of the eye using small brush strokes. I used the shade 'Peanut Butter'. Next, apply a shimmer shadow all over the lid to add brightness to your eyes. I used the shade 'Spread the Love'. Go back in with a blending brush and make sure everything looks seamless.
3. Using a black eyeliner of your choice, line your upper waterline to add depth to your eyes. Ardency Inn eyeliners are my go-to and stay in my waterline all day long.
4. Apply a jet black mascara to your lashes. YSL Babydoll Mascara is my tride and true for fluttery, false looking lashes.
5. Outline and fill in your eyebrows with a shade that matches you. Anastasia Beverly Hills launched a new brow product called the Brow Definer within the last couple months which has a slanted tip. I love this for my big bushy brows because it really speeds up the process! Next, using a clear or tinted brow gel, brush through your brows to set them for the day. I always reach for the Benefit GimmeBrow.
NEW: MAC Lip Pencil 'Rosy Rim' (top)
NEW: Givenchy Rose Inderdit Vinyl Lipstick '03 Rose Mutin' (bottom)
1. Before applying lipstick, no matter the shade, I like applying a lip liner to line and fill in my lips because it makes my lipstick last longer throughout the day, and you can create your own shades when you mix and match colors! MAC released some gorgeous new colors in their normal lip pencils awhile back (probably 6 months ago or so) and one of the shades was Rosy Rim, and gorgeous poppy pink that I thought would be perfect for spring.
2. Givenchy released a new sheer lipstick with the most modern and sleek packaging I've ever seen. I have the shade '03 Rose Mutin' and it is beautiful on its own or paired with liners. Alone, it gives a sheer wash of cool pink that makes you look healthy and hydrated. With a lip liner, it gives a beautiful moisturized looking shine. I adore the formula of these lipsticks because they are so creamy, comfortable, and ultra hydrating.
I really like this look because it looks really natural, very spring and fresh! I hope that you guys enjoyed the little walk through, and make sure to check out the video to see the steps first hand.
What trends and products are you guys excited for this spring?
Helloooo! I hope you guys had a super lovely weekend. So, I got to see Jason this weekend for the first time since I moved, so I was obviously super excited! Unfortunately, my camera, laptop, and tripod weren't exactly a practical choice for the bus ride or the weekend itself, so thus the lack of blogging and vlogging the past bit.
Today I'm starting a totally new series! I think there are a lot of products that people rave about all over the beauty world that you sometimes sit and wonder "is this really worth all the hype?". I'm often the last person to buy those products, so I thought I would start a series called [I'm late to the party] where I give you my 110% honest review on a product that's been raved about for centuries and it feels like I'm the last one on the planet to buy one! I love watching the really hyped up youtube stars, but sometimes I gravitate to smaller youtube channels and blogs for the truly honest reviews because there is comfort in knowing that there is no brand pressure, no sponsorship, not advertisements, nothing but the pure enjoyment of talking about makeup. I really hope that this is what that series does for you guys. Heads up - this is going to be a very information based, text-heavy post, so grab yourself a lil' snack and a cup of tea and relax! I just want to give you all the information I can. If you want something real quick and easy, the video version is short and sweet!
If you haven't lived under a rock in the sea with Patrick Star the past few years, you probably know that Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup is one of the most raved about and loved foundations of beauty bloggers all over. I can't count how many people include this in their "holy grail" and "worth the hype" posts. It's been out for a very long time and people have loved it for just as long, and it continues to bring in new interest even after all this time. Well, they reeled me in like a fish without a brain you guys. Well over a month ago I finally decided to get it out of my system. Honestly, I was sick of hearing about it and I didn't believe it could be true, and I had to test it for myself. Sometimes seeing really is believing I guess. Spoiler alert: I'm an Estee robot now. This is hands-down the best foundation I've ever tried in my life.
Let's talk about the foundation itself really quickly. It comes in a gorgeous frosted glass bottle with a gold cap. Unfortunately, there is no pump, which I do find frustrating for it's high price tag, especially when I am a true believer that excess product is used when a pump isn't available. But, if you aren't lazy like me, you can go to a MAC store or order online and get a foundation pump. It claims to be a 15-hour wear foundation that lasts through "heat, humidity, nonstop activity" (sephora.com). It claims to be a "lightweight, oil-free, and buildable formula", "leaving your makeup looking as fresh as when you applied it" (sephora.com). It is a fragrance free and non-acnegenic product. You receive 1 oz of product (standard for most foundations) for $38. There is an enormous shade range, so choosing your shade really shouldn't be an issue, and if you have trouble with this, head over to Temptalia.com to help get your match, that is what I did to find my color.
The formula
I have the shade 1N2 Ecru with is specified for Pale Ivory Beige with Neutral Undertones according to the Sephora website. I found this color to be a perfect match. When I first poured this foundation onto my hand, the consistency was surprising to me. For such a full-coverage foundation, I expected the formula to be thicker. It was kind of evenly between thin and thick, if I had tipped my hand where I placed the foundation, it isn't so liquidy that it would've slid off, but no so thick that it wouldn't budge. The foundation feels very light on the skin, is easily sheerable or buildable (sheer with beautyblender application or by mixing beauty oil into the foundation prior to application).
Application
I honestly don't feel that a primer is even necessary with this foundation, a simple moisturizer should do the trick just fine. I use Stila One Step Correct to neutralize redness and brighten my complexion, but I don't find it to be a makeup pro-longing primer, and I use that underneath this foundation and haven't found it to wear any less time without the primer.
I tried applying this foundation with different foundation brushes and my beautyblender, but I found that I like the beautyblender best because it spreads the foundation across my skin beautifully and makes it look more natural, but doesn't lessen the coverage too much. When I say natural regarding this foundation, it doesn't look like skin (not that natural), it definitely looks like makeup, but it doesn't look overdone, cakey, or thick.
Coverage
This foundation is absolutely a full coverage foundation. The thing I love most about it is that you don't need a lot of product to get full coverage out of this, and it doesn't look like a cakey full coverage.
Finish
The finish of the foundation is a demi-matte. It isn't luminous or flat matte, it is a perfect meeting point between the two. I do like to set my foundation with powder always, just so that the powder products I apply on top go on smoothly and don't appear patchy at all, so I do set this foundation with the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder.
Makeup application
After setting the Double Wear with a powder, my makeup products glide on like a dream and blend beautifully. I have had no issues with makeup application post-foundation or pre-foundation. I have put corrector underneath the foundation and the foundation applies beautifully on top. I have put liquids and powders on top of the foundation, and nothing disturbs it or reacts poorly.
Skin reaction
I have very sensitive skin so I was very excited to see that this foundation was non-acnegenic, but I had never heard of such a thing, so I was also a little nervous to the try the foundation. I have this weird expectation that full coverage foundations will really seep into my pores, clog them, and cause my face to react poorly (why I don't use silicone primers). My skin hasn't had any poor reactions to this foundation and I have been wearing it religiously for at least a month now. If anything, my skin has become accustomed to it, because wearing other foundations sometimes irritates my skin now. It is a foundation that requires full cleansing and toning at the end of the night to remove from your skin thoroughly, it is called "stay-in-place makeup" for a reason afterall.
Wear
I have no doubt for a second that this foundation lasts for the 15 hour claim time. I wore this foundation for the video review for 12 hours, and my foundation still looked great at the end of this period of time, which I think is just insane. Below is a photo after 13 hours of wear with this foundation (I don't usually wear makeup this long, purely for review this time). As you can see, the foundation and all products built on top of it are completely in tact and unbothered on my cheek area. There is a bit of shine on my nose and forehead, but after 13 hours it should look more like I just got off a record speed treadmill run, whereas here I somehow just look like I ran errands for a bit or got too warm in my jacket. There is redness around my nose, but I was blowing my nose every 5 minutes from being sick, so that is likely a factor. There is a scratch on my chin peeking out, also because I scratched it during the day. There is absolutely no artificial lighting or editing done to this photo.
Every day I wore this for the first week I would come home from a long and crazy busy work night asking myself how it was possible that this foundation held up so well!
Verdict
If you guys couldn't already tell, I am absolutely head over heels for this product. I finally understand. Hands-down my new holy grail #1 favorite foundation. I think this a great foundation for everyday wear because it doesn't feel too heavy, but also great for events because it is full coverage and looks flawless. I have no shame for my new undying love for Double Wear. If anything, I feel shame for not having discovered it for myself sooner! This is one of those products that feels as though it completes your collection, that it's the reason you've been trying so many different products, to get to this one, at least that was my feeling. Cup of thoughts and a bag of tea approved [I'm late to the party]!
I hope that this kind of a series is going to be helpful for you guys, and if there is a product that I'm definitely late to the party too, don't hesitate to comment down below or shoot me an email cupofthoughtsandabagoftea@gmail.com to chat with me about what you'd like me to review or anything else, I love chatting with you guys! If you'd like to see a demo and close ups at the end of 12 hour wear, check out the corresponding video at the top of this post.
Thank you so much for sticking around for such a lengthy post you guys! I wanted to include as much information as I possibly could, those are my favorite kinds of reviews. Make sure to comment down below with your holy grail #1 foundation, and I'll talk to you soon.
We're one week away from the first day of spring. Is anyone else itching for it? The sun is already out, the air is nice and crisp. Usually spring is my least favorite season, it's so deceiving. I look outside and see the bright sunshine and put on capris, sandals, and a cute tank, and I either end up rained on our freezing my butt off. Regardless, spring and summer are the seasons for dewy, luminous skin, bronzed and tan skin, healthy and glowing skin. I'm excited to put on bright sheer lipsticks and pops of pretty blush! But, my favorite part? Bronzer. I love bronzers, and I honestly don't know how I did without them for so many years before I started really loving makeup. They warm up your skin, they make you look sculpted, tanned, and glowing. Whether they're shimmery or matte, I have some favorites in each category.
Last month, I started a "best of the best" series, in which I talk about my favorite products within a category, like blush, mascara, etc. After going through that video and post, I realized that it was too lengthy, and there was way too much information, so I decided that from now on, we're going to do best of the best top 5, where I choose 5 of my favorites within the category (P.S. not easy for me). The post did really well and everyone really seemed to enjoy it here on the blog and on youtube, so hopefully narrowing it down will be more helpful! Since spring is about and I'm loving that bronzey, glowing skin, I decided the best of the best this time around would be bronzers. I haven't been contouring at all the past couple months, I've just been bronzing to warm up my complexion and make me look a little less pasty than I really am, and there have been some that I really want to talk about with you guys because they are so good!
1. Too Faced 'Milk Chocolate Soleil' // This is likely my favorite bronzer of all-time. I'm pretty sure I've used it in every single tutorial I have done on youtube. It is infused with cocoa powder, which smells amazing! And just so happens to taste nice, you know, if you just happen to have a little powder kick-up that lands on your tongue...or if you taste it, that too. Every morning when I put it on I crave a steaming cup of hot cocoa! When I started exploring other bronzers I was so bummed at the lack of chocolate smell that I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to find another I loved so much. This is by far my most-used and well-loved bronzer. It is completely matte, and it does come in two other shades, 'Chocolate Soleil' and 'Dark Chocolate Soleil'. The powder doesn't look super exciting when you swatch it, but it applies smoothly and beautifully to the skin, and this shade is perfect for my pale ladies out there.
2. TheBodyShop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder '01' // This was a product that youtube made me buy. Estee Lalonde raved and raved about this, and eventually I gave in, and I'm glad I did. This product is really affordable, and the formula of it is amazing! The powder itself is very soft and very blendable. 01 is the perfect matte shade for very light skin tones. I love using this powder on days where I'm going for a more natural look, I just blend this along my cheeks and cheekbones, temples, and under my jawline over foundation, pop on a little blush, and I'm good to go. It gives a very natural finish and doesn't look powdery at all.
3. Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder '1 Golden Light' // Another matte bronzer that I love. The formula of this bronzer is probably the best of the three matte I have mentioned. It feels almost creamy to the touch and is so blendable and smooth on the skin. It warms up the face naturally and beautifully, just as Bobbi Brown intends with all her products. I also love the packaging of this product because it is very sturdy and simple, great for traveling. This is the darkest of the bronzers that I have, but it works perfectly on my skin tone because it is goes on lightly, and is buildable for deeper color.
4. Hourglass Ambient Bronzer 'Luminous Bronze Light' // This is by far my favorite shimmering bronzer. When I first swatched this it scared me because of how shimmery and how orange it applied on my skin. But, when I put this on my face, it gave it life, warmth, and glow like no other bronzer can do for me. It's absolutely beautiful on the skin, not too orangey or too shimmery like I thought it may be. It is marbled with the Ambient Lighting Powder 'Luminous Light' which just gives your face a luminous finish. I can't even describe or do justice for how beautiful this powder is on the skin! If you want a cheaper dupe for this (although in my opinion nothing can dupe this product), the Tarte Waterproof 'Park Avenue Princess' is similar in tone, with a bit more of a gold shimmer in comparison.
5. Ofra Blush/Bronzer 'Millennium Gold' // Now don't get mad at me. I know this will be the third time that I've mentioned this on the blog, but that tells you how much I love it, right? I love the slight sheen this bronzer has, and how it is marbled with a cream and a pinky shade, so it applies beautifully as a blush and bronzer so that you only need to use one product. This is more on the orangey side, and it is very pigmented, so you definitely need to go in with a light hand. If you are looking for something natural with a beautiful glowing finish for the spring and summer that is affordable, I highly recommend this one! And, as I've mentioned before, big youtubers always have 30% off OFRA coupons on their youtube channels, so you can get this bronzer for a total steal.
Swatches
I swatched these 5 bronzers so that you can see comparisons of them side by side. As you can tell, I generally tend to reach for the same color family, oops! The top three are all matte bronzers (any specks or shimmery looking particles are just extra powder) and the bottom two are shimmery.
Top to bottom: Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil,
TheBodyShop Honey Bronzer '01', Bobbi Brown
Bronzer '1 Golden Light', Hourglass Ambient
Bronzer 'Luminous Bronze Light', and OFRA
Blush/Bronzer 'Millennium Gold'
I absolutely recommend all of these bronzers and adore each one of them. There are so many more that I love, but these are the ones that really stand out to me that I couldn't live without! I tried to include a couple that were more affordable, and a couple more high-end. I hope that this narrowed down 'best of the best' was helpful for you guys, and less overwhelming than the last of the series. My goal is to continue this series with this style, so if you have time to comment down below and let me know your feedback, I would love to hear from you!
What are you favorite bronzers? Are you ready for spring?
HELLO! Long time no talk guys. It's been a crazy last couple of days adjusting, moving in, all that jazz, so I'm sorry for my absence here on the blog, but I'm hoping that within the next week I can get into my groove again. Today I thought to ease back in we could finish the two part series about coconut oil! The last post, if you didn't see it I will link it here, was about five ways to incorporate coconut oil [into your daily diet]. This post is going to be about how to incorporate it externally, like your skin, hair, etc. You guys know about my obsession with coconut oil, and so I thought I would share with you some of my favorite ways to use it. They are such easy ways that you can try at home!
1. Use it as a massage oil // Coconut oil is an extremely smooth consistency and is extremely hydrating. You can melt it in the microwave first, or you can use it as is and the warmth and oils of your skin will melt the oil as you use it. Massage oil is good for reducing friction between the skin and the hands during a massage, but you can't use just anything in place of massage oil (olive oil and almond oil are other good alternatives). I love using coconut oil because it leaves my skin feeling ultra soft and hydrated.
2. Use it as a hair mask // Coconut oil is said to be better than any synthetic conditioner out on the market. Simply massage it into your hair and your roots, down to your ends, and leave it in for 20 mins minimum to overnight, and wash out after or the next morning. It will leave your hair the softest, shiniest, and strongest you've ever felt it. Coconut oil doesn't break down easily and it retains moisture, so it will hydrate your hair better than a lot of expensive hair masks. It won't leave your hair feeling greasy or with residue like olive oil does. It is good for lice prevention, hair loss, damaged hair, split ends, etc.
3. Bathe with it // Like I've said a million times, coconut oil has incredible hydrating and moisturizing properties. My favorite way to incorporate it into the bath with me is to create bath soaks with coconut oil in them. Sea salt or epsom salt mixed in with calming lavender or soothing chamomile tea and a splash of melted coconut oil will exfoliate, soothe, and moisturize while you sit back and relax.
4. Use it in a sugar scrub // My favorite sugar scrubs to make are sweet and simple - melted coconut oil, sugar, and my favorite essential oil. If you want to go crazy, you can add pretty much anything natural and healthy to put on your body like coffee grounds, vanilla extract, tea, etc. Coconut oil makes the consistency of the scrub easy to use, and it allows you to exfoliate your skin gently while leaving your skin baby soft. I love jarring mine and keeping it in the shower, it makes your legs as soft as a baby's bum (I've always thought that's such a weird term).
5. Use as a topical moisturizer // Instead of spending $30 on a tub of anti-aging, sallow-correcting moisturizer from a fancy skincare company, go to your local Trader Joe's and get a canister of organic virgin coconut oil for $5.99 and use this as your moisturizer. It has so many good properties, and studies have shown amazing effects that is has, like acne reduction, and a little goes a long way so it will last you ages!
As you guys can see, using coconut oil in your daily life is so easy! Even if you can't use it every day, once a week in your bathtub or as your moisturizer will really hydrate and improve your skin, hair, etc. in a natural way. I hope this post was helpful for you guys hearing the simple ways I like to use coconut oil externally. How do you incorporate coconut oil into your life?
Happy Friday yall! So, before I move, I wanted to do one of those "empties" posts that all these internet gurus do. I've never done one of these before so I thought it would be kind of fun to give it a try and see what you guys think. I figured doing this before I move would probably be smartest so that I wasn't lugging around empty nonsense with me along with my millions of other boxes and jazz. Empties are basically products that someone has used up. It's a way to round up a bunch of products in one place, talk about why they may or may not be repurchasing the item, and do some mini reviews. I love empties posts because it's a great way for me to find out about products that people may love or not love, products that are new, or oldies but goodies.
I didn't take photos to post on the blog because I figured that photos of empty bottles and canisters wouldn't be very thrilling to scroll through, so I'm going to link everything that I can, as well as show you in the video, and talk about everything I mention, so let's get started!
up & up Milk and Honey Handsoap Refill 64oz //$3.74 // This is a product I have purchased time and time again, and will continue to do so. There's something citrusy and wonderful about the scent of this handsoap that I absolutely love, and nothing compares! I also find this so much more cost efficient than purchasing individual soap pumps every time I run out, and this lasts much longer as well.
up & up Exfoliating Body Wash with Pomegranate Seeds 18 oz // $2.46 // I absolutely love the up & up line for household and bodycare, there are so many knock-off scents and products that are high quality, but super reasonable. I liked this body wash, it didn't knock my socks off, but for $2.46, who gives a crap, it did the job, it made me clean and smellin' good! I fell in love with the smell of this body wash, the only reason I won't repurchase this is because since it was an exfoliating wash, I felt like it took more product to lather, so I went through it a lot quicker than I do most body washes.
Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk 3.2oz // $20 // This is a dry shampoo that I've loved for ages and have talked about before here on the blog. This is the gentle formula, tinted for brown to dark hair, which has been a total savior for me. I am kind of a dry shampoo addict, but it's hard to find ones I love because they often leave a white powdery finish in my roots where my dark hair is most concentrated. This dry shampoo doesn't leave anything behind, it makes my hair look so clean and grease-free, and the scent is super fresh and natural, I adore everything about it! I have tried so many dry shampoos, and continue to find a cheaper option, but this one is hands-down my holy grail. I will definitely be repurchasing this, and recommend it highly!
Kirkland Signature Daily Facial Towelettes 150 ct // $11.99 // Obviously, this deal can't be beat. $12 for 150 facial wipes? I don't think anything this cheap exists out there. I had received a 30 pack of these as part of a gift for Christmas, and I began using them to remove makeup, but I found that they stung around my eye area, so I started using them for wiping swatches off my hands and arms when doing makeup videos. I find that I like them much better for the latter use, and I will likely repurchase them when need be, but my skin was too sensitive to use them as a makeup removing wipe, and I'll have to look around for something a little more gentle on my eye area for that use.
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Freshen Formula 2 (Normal Skin) 5oz // $14 // The Botanical Effects line is one from Mary Kay that I've loved for a long time. All the products are so gentle on the skin, they are formulated without synthetic dyes or fragrance, and they are hypoallergenic. This is basically a toner that removes excess residue from your skin. I liked using this after cleansing by spraying on a cotton ball and moving along my entire face, especially areas where makeup likes to cling like my hairline, under my jawline, and the sides of my nose. Unlike many toners, this didn't sting or feel harsh on the skin at all. It is said to restore natural balance in your skin and hydrate effectively, so I may try using this on top of my makeup as a hydrating facial spray soon! I definitely recommend this stuff! I already have a back-up.
12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment 6oz // $22 // I received a deluxe sample of this in a Birchbox mystery pack one month. I enjoyed the smell of this product, although it did come off a little perfumey. I liked using it as a detangling leave-in conditioner post shower, but I definitely won't be repurchasing it. I think that 6oz for $22 is extremely overpriced for what it is. It claims to have 12 benefits from strengthening your hair to making it shine, but I didn't experience all these crazy good benefits myself. I much prefer the leave-in conditioner from ENJOY, and it is less than the price of this product for 4 more ounces.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate 1.7oz // $58 // I was pretty disappointed to have run out of this serum, but I knew it was coming soon, because it had already lasted me a solid 3-4 months, which is more than I expected. I used a very small amount of this serum after toning my face and before patting an oil into my skin. Every morning I swear I woke up with plumped skin, lines were filled in and everything looked smoother. If you're looking for a serum, I highly recommend this one! I won't be repurchasing it at this point in time because I don't think it is a necessary step in my skincare routine, but I did absolutely love this.
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo 5.3oz // $24 // The scent of this kills me. It smells absolutely incredible. I really did love this sample from Birchbox up until my last use when I ran out, and realized that in the lighting I was in at the time, that this dry shampoo left serious white powdery residue on my roots that looked a lot like dandruff. Cool. Wish I would've noticed that before I emptied two sample bottles! If you have light hair, I highly recommend this dry shampoo. It does it's job, it smells lovely, but for my dark haired ladies out there, this one isn't for us.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream 1.7oz // $27.50 // I went through a large size of this, and a baby sample size as well that I was using for traveling. I highly recommend this facial cream. It's amazing for sensitive skin, ultra hydrating, and lasts for ages. It took me about 4 months to finish off my big tub, and I already had a back-up waiting for me because I knew I couldn't do without it. Facial creams are my cup of tea during drying winter months as opposed to a moisturizer because they are really thick and extra hydrating.
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Grapefruit Whipped Body Butter 2oz // $15 // I am so heartbroken about running out of this limited edition body butter. I am seriously wishing that I had stocked up on these during the season they were out, because this stuff smelled so good that I wanted to eat it. You guys know that I have a weird obsession with grapefruit, the scent, the taste, everything about it. Fortunately, their permanent line always has a soy & milk version, which also smells lovely, which I will likely purchase after I run out of my current body butters from The Body Shop.
LUSH Catastrophe Cosmetics Fresh Face Mask 2.1oz // $7.95 // Out of the LUSH Haul I did last month, this was by far my favorite mask that I purchased. This mask was full of chamomile, free blueberries, and calamine. There's something so soothing about putting a cold mask on your face in the first place, but this one soothed irritation, redness, breakouts, everything! I will absolutely be repurchasing this mask, and I highly recommend it.
Artistry Signature Eyes Automatic Liquid Liner 0.034oz // $21.25 // I did a blog post about this eyeliner ages ago, because I loved this stuff to death. It has a felt tip, and makes eyeliner application a total dream. It glides on, and makes things a total breeze for beginners especially. I've had this for ages and it never dried up on me, it just got streaky when I ran out of product inside the tube. I highly recommend this for anyone struggling with liquid liner, or anyone who wants it to be quick and easy in the mornings.
YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch 2 Luminous Ivory 0.1oz // $42 // I went into Sephora and requested a sample of the YSL Touche Eclat in #2, Luminous Ivory because I've heard models and youtubers just rave about what this does for your face. It is supposed to awaken tired eyes instantly, and all these crazy claims. I wanted to try a sample since this product is so expensive. I found that this product was really brightening, and I did really enjoy the consistency and blendability of the formula, but it wasn't something that I felt like I needed to run out and purchase, nor will I purchase. I understand why people like it, but I feel like I can handle looking a little more drowsy for $42 cheaper...but I totally understand the hype, especially for those models on the go to castings and people with quick lifestyles that need easy fixes.
I hope that you guys enjoyed this post, and found the reviews and information helpful. Let me know in the comments down below if you guys liked empties posts, and if it's something you'd like to see in the future. Also let me know what products you've used up recently!
Happy start to the week everyone! If you guys have been watching my videos or reading my posts, you know that I'm in the process of moving, so I'm sorry for my absence here on the blog and on my youtube channel, but I will be moved in this weekend and ready to get back into the swing of things! Mid-February I did a first impressions post and video on the Stila Aqua Glow Serum Foundation and the corresponding concealer. In my first impressions, which I'll link here in case you haven't seen it, I was super impressed with the foundation, and not so impressed with the concealer. Of course, first impressions are truly first impressions, and it's hard to know whether or not something works until you've tested it for a period of time. With foundations, you usually have an idea of how you'll feel about it with first glance, but your skin may not feel the same way after a week whether it be a breakout, effects on your skin's hydration levels, etc. So, long story short (not really, I'm no good at that, let's be honest), I wanted to check in and do a full review on this foundation after having used it for a couple weeks now.
If you want details on packaging, pricing, or where you can get it, check out my first impressions post for those, since I already talked about it over there.
Stila Aqua Glow Serum Foundation
The main reason I wanted to do an updated review on this product is because towards the end of February, I had a terrible breakout. I've never had an issue with acne, and if I ever get a breakout, they are usually small and stick around my nose or forehead. This breakout has been tons and tons of small little pimples, almost like little bumps just everywhere, making them very noticeable and impossible to hide even with full coverage makeup. Redness hasn't been a majority of the issue because the breakout is mostly just texture, but different foundations are good at different things, and I wanted to share how I feel like this is for different skin types, especially my current skin type.
First thing I want to say is that in my video, I used a foundation brush to apply this foundation, and after experimenting with a beautyblender and the foundation brush the last couple weeks, I do much prefer application with a foundation brush. I feel that the foundation doesn't look as natural with a beautyblender. There was a lot of cakiness around my nose and dry patches with the beautyblender, and it soaked up quite a bit of foundation, as should be expected with a water based foundation, it is a sponge afterall. I also like using a skin tone correcting primer (Stila One Step Correct) first for smoother application and since I don't feel that this foundation does much for redness.
I tend to have a pretty normal skin type, just with dryness seasonally. I do tend to get oily in my forehead area just because I work long strenuous hours. The first day I wore this, I was impressed with the fact that I did get oily, but gracefully, it just looked like luminosity and natural skin when I did get oily. When I got close to a mirror, this foundation truly looked like my own skin, even around my seasonally dry areas like the sides of my nose.
As my skin has gotten progressively more dry the past couple of weeks, my skin does not look nearly as nice with this foundation. There is serious creasing on my forehead and smile lines, and buildup on my very dry areas around my nose and my chin. The coverage remains the same for me, light-medium upon initial application, buildable up to medium. Blemishes and redness very much still peek through on me, which you can see in the photo below.
You can see in this photo that blemishes and dryness are accentuated with this foundation, especially around my chin area. Redness is not covered, like my hairline and the red spot on my cheek. It is clear after using this foundation more that it is for a very normal (lucky) skin type. Oily skinned people will likely find this foundation too luminous, and dry skinned people will likely find that this clings to spots they don't want it to, like it did on me in this photo. I can confidently say that I liked this foundation much better when I had a more normal skin type.
If you care about looking nice on camera, or from a distance, this foundation does that. From afar, I do like the way this looks on my skin, but when I get up close is when I really notice that it accentuates my imperfections. As you can see, on camera, in good lighting, and from a distance, the foundation looks smooth, luminous, and natural, which I do love. I know that once my skin type is back to normal I will definitely gravitate to this foundation more often, but my current skin type just doesn't mesh well with this foundation.
Stila Aqua Glow Serum Concealer
I am sad to say that my opinion from my first impressions post remains the same with this concealer, I am not at all a fan. This concealer feels nice on the skin, but it doesn't have the coverage I need for my dark circles, and it doesn't layer well with correctors underneath, which is what I like to do with my daily routine. It needs to be set extremely well, and creasing is still an issue then. It is too thin and sheer to work well for covering redness and blemishes fully, and it heavily accents blemishes and dry patches. I have tried application with my fingers and a beautyblender and honestly wasn't a fan of either! The beautyblender soaked up a majority of the product, and my fingers just made it look patchy.
You can see that after less than an hour of wearing this concealer, even when heavily set, it creases a lot. You can also see that it does a very poor job of covering up my dark circles. This photo should also give you a better idea of the foundation's cakiness around my dry nose and the creasing into my smile lines near my mouth.
I don't know if I received a dud somehow, or if everyone just goes through this product like nuts, but I've used the concealer maybe 3 times (that's how much I dislike it), and I'm over halfway through the tube, and having a difficult time dispensing product. This is confusing to me because this has more product than my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (my holy grail), which I've had for months and months on end and still have plenty left. I understand that the NARS one is more opaque so I need less, but I should not be going through the Stila one this quickly. I even mentioned when I filmed my video that I felt like there wasn't much product in the tube, so I wonder if there is an issue with the one that I received.
All in all, I would say that I'm not nearly as impressed with these products as I was upon first impression, which just goes to show that products are really geared towards certain skin types, and that first impressions can easily change. It's always a good idea to pick up a sample of a foundation or concealer from your Sephora to test it out before purchasing, they are always happy to provide that option for you. I look forward to using this foundation again when my skin type returns to normal, but for now, it will likely sit on the back of my shelf. As far as the concealer goes, I will continue to test it out on days where I'm only running errands or just at home to see if there may be a way to make it work (if I don't run out of it next use).
I would recommend this foundation to those with normal skin, not people on either side of the spectrum, meaning dry or oily. There are other water based foundations I would highly recommend over this one, like the Becca Aqua Luminous, and I definitely wouldn't recommend this concealer.
I hope that this updated review was helpful, especially to those out there that were wondering. Have you tried Stila Aqua Glow? What are your go-to foundations?
Happy start of the week guys! You guys know I've been one for the bare essentials in my brush collection. I don't have a ton of makeup brushes compared to lots of beauty lovers, and I love the brushes I do have. I prefer brushes that I can use for multiple things, it makes life easier, and it makes traveling a million times easier. But, the more makeup I acquire and the more products I discover, I find that some brushes work well with certain products and certain formulas compared to others. I decided that instead of spending an insane amount of money on buying individual brushes, I would be better off purchasing a big set with all the brushes I would need. But, a lot of brush sets are extremely expensive, or I don't find the shapes of the brushes as useful or as comfortable to me as I'd like for the amount of money. I was watching Elanna Pecherle on youtube and in almost every video she uses at least one brush from LOUD MAKEUP, and she always talks about how much she loves them, so I decided to bite the bullet, and invest in a makeup brush set that would give me all the brushes I'll ever need.
These brushes ship from Canada, so shipping to the U.S. is a little more on the pricey side ($10 I believe). They only sell their brushes in a 15pc set, but all of the brushes are really useful and great quality. The set retails for $68, but they are often on sale for $55 (like right now)! You could spend that on a single brush from Bobbi Brown...or you could get this whole set for the same price. Their brushes are vegan and cruelty free (which is part of why I'm in awe about how reasonable the price is for the entire set). The set comes with a neoprene case, and all the brushes are very safely wrapped up and secured in the mail. Brush bristles are synthetic, handles are natural wood and aluminum ferrule. The handles feel very sturdy and high-quality, they are thick and easy to hold and use, but the large handles do make them a little difficult to store in my usual storing mechanism (a small mason jar). The brushes claim to be great for sensitive skin, which was something that drew me to them. Shipping to the U.S. claimed to be 6-10 days, and it came to me about 1/2 a week earlier than the tracking expected it to, which was exciting when I found it on my doorstep!
I've been using these brushes for a long time now to give you guys a really thorough review with my thoughts and a walk-through on this whole set. I'm beyond impressed with the quality of these brushes and couldn't be happier that I decided to invest in this set!
Face Brushes
01 Large Soft Powder Brush // This is a brush I've been using every single day since I received it (can you tell? It's a little dirty). It is super soft and works well for setting my foundation with a translucent powder so that I can layer powder products like blush and bronzer on top without any harsh lines or blending issues.
02 Tapered Soft Powder Brush // This brush is another fluffy face brush that is more tapered at the end. I use this brush for both contouring and bronzing. I use the flat side to bronze my cheekbones and temples, and the tapered end for my hairline, jawline, and the sides of my nose. This brush blends bronzers like a total dream! This is probably my second favorite brush of the entire set.
03 Flat Kabuki Foundation Brush // This is by far my favorite brush of this set. It completely changed the makeup game for me. You guys know that I love my beautyblender. I've tried applying liquid foundations with brushes before, and I've always had issues with application whether it be streakiness, shape of the brush, etc. I tried this brush and I absolutely fell in love. It's dense enough that you can pump your foundation directly onto the brush and it won't soak up the product. It blends products beautifully into the skin, and it doesn't leave any streakiness behind.
04 Pointed liquid foundation brush // This is the brush I've been using daily to apply my highlighter. I use the flat side of it to apply highlight to my cheekbones, and the pointed end to apply highlighter to the center of my nose and my cupid's bow. It applies and blends beautifully. I know this isn't the purpose of the brush, but that just goes to show how versatile these are!
05 Angled Blush Brush // This brush is extremely soft, and would work extremely well for both blush and contouring, but I used it for something completely different. I use this to set my undereye concealer, and I absolutely love it for this purpose. It's shape allows you to get super close to the lashline, and the fluffiness of the brush doesn't disturb the liquid products. You can use it to swipe off a bake under the eyes, or you can use stamping motions to press in powder products to set the concealer.
06 Tapered Round Highlight & Contour Brush // I use this and 04 pointed liquid foundation brush interchangeably. I actually like the way 04 applies my highlight better, so I don't reach for this one as often. Both are on par quality wise, I just prefer the shape of 04 as my personal preference.
07 Flat Kabuki Bronze & Contour Brush // This is a brush that Elanna Pecherle raves about, she actually just included it in her February favorites video. I don't ever reach for this brush unfortunately. This is a great brush, but I don't contour often, and when I do, I use powder products, and I feel that this brush is suited more for liquid/cream contour products with how dense it is.
08 Kabuki Concealer Brush (left) // This is another brush I don't reach for often, solely for the reason that I highly prefer my beautyblender for blending my concealer.
Eye Brushes
09 Soft Tapered Blending Brush (right) // I love to dually use this as a blending brush and a crease brush. This brush is a great eye brush, and I've been using it really often.
10 Eyeshadow Shading Brush (left) // This is another brush that I don't reach for as often. It is a little bit long in brush length for the roundness of my eyes, and I don't find it extremely useful for my eye shape. However, I do like this brush for highlighting underneath my brow bone.
11 Classic Eyeshadow Brush (right) // This one has a similar domed shape to it as 10, but it is more short and stout. I absolutely love this brush for placing one color all over my lid, or for packing a pop of color on the center of my lid. The shorter brush length of this one suits my eye shape much better.
12 Pencil Eyeshadow Brush (left) // I was so excited to have this brush added to my collection! I have wanted a pencil brush for so long, and it's just as amazing as I could've dreamed. This is the perfect must-have brush for highlighting the inner corners of your eyes.
13 Eyebrow Duo // This is another one of my favorites of this brush set. One end has a very soft and gentle spooly, and the other end has an angled brush which is meant for filling in your brows. Since I don't fill my brows in with powder, I use this to create faux eyeliner along my lashline using eyeshadow, and I absolutely love it for this purpose.
14 Portable Lip Brush // I will admit to having been uber confused when I first saw this, but now that I understand it, the concept is really cool to me! I haven't gotten a chance to use this brush because I rarely apply lip products using a brush. This is such a great idea especially for traveling because it makes a no-mess situation!
15 Bent Eyeliner Brush (right) // I haven't used this brush yet because I haven't done gel eyeliner in ages, but I can't wait to try this one! The shape of it makes application so easy and hassle-free, which I think is super cool, and I don't have anything like this.
My favorites
The brushes that I reach for every day are the large powder brush (01) the tapered powder brush (02), the flat kabuki brush (03), the pointed liquid foundation brush (04), and several of the eye brushes (09, 11, 12, 13). These are the brushes that I keep in my mason jar for daily use, I keep the less used brushes in the neoprene makeup bag that the brush set came with.
Overall, I can't say enough good things about this makeup brush set. I am not at all affiliated with the brand, and neither is this post, just to clarify. I've just been so content with this brush set that I wanted to share my thoughts and thorough review with you guys, and do a little brush guide since theirs is a tad unclear.
The only complaint I have with this brush set is my wish that this had their corresponding numbers or names on the handles, or that they had a more in-depth brush guide. Their website has a brush guide, but it doesn't include all of the brushes, so it took me some research and matching to find out what each of these brushes was meant for, versus what I've been using them for. Remember that makeup doesn't have rules and you can use anything however you want to, whatever makes you happy and comfortable!
Do you have LOUD MAKEUP brushes? What are your go-to makeup brushes that you always have handy?
