Ipsy July Beach Beauty Bag Review

Beach Beauty was the theme for my July Ipsy bag and once again I really liked my samples! There was only one product this month that I didn't totally love. I'm so glad I made the switch from Birchbox and I won't be looking back. Here's what I got for July:
 

POP Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush

 

From Ipsy: POP's Pouty Pop Crayon nourishes, treats, and adds that perfectly-plumped pop to lips. These extra-nourishing balms gently bounce onto lips creating a plumped & pillowy pout leaving them with luscious, long-lasting colour with a super-smooth texture. Available in six shades.

My review: I love this lip crayon! I absolutely love the color and I am so happy that the applicator has a twist dial that allows for much more product once it starts to get low. My Revlon lip crayon does not have that twist applicator and when my product got smashed in my bag, it was all gone. Needless to say, I was VERY happy with this product!

BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow Sample

From Ipsy: This BH Cosmetics makeup palette includes a shade from each of the California Collection palettes: Hollywood, San Francisco, and Malibu.

My review: I really liked these eyeshadow samples. I'm a sucker for anything purple so I was so happy to see that one of the shades was a beautiful plum color. I used all three to really play up my eyes and they looked great together.

Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray Conditioning & Texturizing Spray

From Ipsy: Creates beachy undone texture that looks and feels like you’ve spent a day at the beach. Contains argan oil which helps nourish, protect and heal hair damage.

My review: This was just okay for me. I really do love beach wavy hair (it brings me back to my childhood) but this product didn't give me more waves than I usually have. I liked that it didn't have a strong scent or make my hair feel sticky or weighed down, but it didn't do that much for me. Maybe if my hair was pin straight I would have noticed the difference it would make but for me it just didn't change the texture of my hair. I do love the Sexy Hair line so maybe this was just a fluke. Next time!

COOLA Mineral Face SPF 20 Unscented Moisturizer

From Ipsy: Keep the sun and environment at bay with this SPF 20 broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen; a clear, Titanium Dioxide based formula (for those who are Zinc sensitive) made with 98% natural ingredients.

My review: I actually received a COOLA face moisturizer in my May Birchbox but I really liked the sample so I was happy to get another moisturizer from the line. I really liked the mineral face SPF and again love the fact that 98% of this product is made from natural ingredients. I put it on before going out for 9 holes of golf and it kept the sun away from my face the entire time. Great product!

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer In Mai Tai

 

From Ipsy: Beach-ready doesn't stop at your coverup! It goes all the way down to your toes! Nailtini is making sure your toes are nothing less than intoxicating this summer with our seasonal fave shade, Mai Tai. This rich creamy tangerine sunrise is the perfect complement to sandals and sun-kissed skin.

My review: With how active I am it's really hard to find nail polish that will actually stay on my hands and not chip. Even Essie and OPI nail polishes chip after a day on me! This stuff lasted DAYS longer and I really loved how it went on. It dried a little more orange coral than pink coral, but the color was bright and fun. I went to CrossFit twice with it on and it held up! I was very impressed!

 

 

Want to try out Ipsy for yourself? Sign up for your own glam bag here! Only $10 a month and SO worth it!
 

*disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I pay for Ipsy out of my own pocket and really enjoy my subscription every month. If you click the link above and sign up for  your own bag I get a few Ipsy points for the referral :)

 

Amanda's Wedding Day Look

 

I'm back! Maui was amazing and I can't believe our honeymoon is already over. We filled our days with the beach, pool, snorkeling, zip lining, biked down a volcano (yes, really!), spent some time at the spa and even surfed! It was truly an amazing honeymoon. We took over 1,100 pictures (thanks to my amazing husband who kept busting out the camera to capture all of these fun memories) and I can't wait to go through them all.

 

We won't have our professional photos back from the wedding for a while, but I've got a few pictures to share that family and friends took so you can see my complete wedding day look!

I already shared my hair and makeup pictures from my trial and I am pleased to say that my hair and makeup turned out even better than I ever imagined on the day of. I was so happy with the way I looked and I truly felt beautiful.

My dress was a classic lace dress with a keyhole back from David's Bridal. I wanted to go with something that fit our vintage venue and was easy to dance in. It was the perfect dress for our wedding and I wouldn't change a thing. I couldn't believe the prices of some dresses when I started looking and was so happy I found this one at a reasonable price. I had some minor alterations such as adding cups, taking it in at the hips and moving the straps down a bit. I also added my own sash that I purchased off of Etsy.

I wore blush colored Vera Wang Lavender shoes for the pictures, ceremony and first dance and then ditched them for some more comfortable flats for dancing. I was so happy that I brought a different pair, my feet would have been so angry if I didn't.

 

I'm so lucky I had such amazing bridesmaids to help me get ready on the biggest day of my life! Adrianne is nothing short of an amazing friend and I'm so happy she was there by my side :)

 

I can't wait to share more wedding details with you!

 

 

Bridesmaid Hair and Makeup

Amanda got married over the weekend and it was a GORGEOUS wedding! I had the honor of standing up as one of her bridesmaids. 

Amanda will be sharing her wedding day look when she gets home from her Hawaiian honeymoon. In the meantime, here’s my look:

Makeup: Laura Geller Spackle Under Makeup Primer, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original, The Body Shop BB Cream, Benefit Erase Paste, CoverGirl Pressed Powder, CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara, CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in Snow Plum, CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Coral Twist, Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Air Kiss, Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Bootycall and Suspect), Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Black, Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Avon Brow Pencil in Light Brown, CoverGirl Clear Mascara

Hair: Done by amazing hairstylist. Here was my inspiration picture:

{via}

Dress: J. Crew

Shoes: Coach

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Congrats to Amanda and Jay! Stay tuned for her lovely wedding day look. :)

Wedding: Amanda's Hair and Makeup Look

Aloha from Maui! Here's another wedding post in honor of my wedding last weekend :) I hope you enjoy!

I did a hair a makeup trial a few weeks before the wedding and I am happy that I can finally share the photos with you! Jay reads this blog and I didn't want him to have a sneak peak of what I was going to look like on the big day.

For my wedding makeup I wanted to keep it natural and simple. I wanted to look like an enhanced version of myself but still like myself. I didn't want to be overly done or look like a clown so I asked my makeup artist to keep it simple and use lighter colors on my eyes and lips. 

She used:

Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation in cream ivory 

Bronzer 

Peach blush 

Brown eyeshadows from a huge makeup kit (I'm so jealous of her stash!)

Fake eyelashes that I purchased from Nordstrom Rack 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture lip stain in #29 Rose Forreau 

I knew I wanted my hair up and out of my face at the wedding. I had pinned a bunch of images on my Pinterest hair board and they all had one thing in common: loose romanic curls that were up in a low bun at the nape of the neck. I knew I had to try the look to see if it looked how I imagined. My hairstylist was able to recreate the look so quickly and I was so happy with how it turned out. 

I will share wedding photos with the official hair and makeup look when I get back but these were what we went off of for the big day. 

So what do you think? What hair and makeup looks are you loving for weddings this season?

Makeup Look of the Day

I really enjoy trying out new makeup looks, but it’s difficult when you work in an office and have to keep things on the conservative side. That doesn’t mean I can’t experiment though. Here’s a look where I got to use some fun colors, but that’s totally appropriate for work:

Here's what I used:

• Face: Garnier B.B. Cream in Light/Medium; Benefit Erase Paste; Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in #3
• Eyes: ELF Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition (Light Brown w/ Gold Flecks and Turquoise); Sephora Nano Eye Pencil in Black; CoverGirl Lash Exact Mascara
• Brows: Avon Eyebrow Pencil in Light Golden Brown; CoverGirl Clear Mascara
• Cheeks: Tarte Blusher in Park Avenue Princess
• Lips: Smashbox O-Gloss

What to Keep in Your Beach Bag

One of my favorite beaches--Crandon Park

The weather in Chicago has been beautiful lately—sunny and over 80 degrees. The hot temperatures have got me thinking about heading to the beach and I can’t wait to do so!

If you’re planning a beach day, here’s a list of must-haves to keep yourself cool and comfortable throughout the day:

• Blanket and towel: My pet peeve is using a sandy towel to dry off. Save yourself some hassle by packing a large picnic blanket to lay on the sand.
• Sunglasses: I just can’t be out in the sun or do much of anything outside without a pair of shades. Keep them on as much as possible to protect your eyes.
• Leave-in conditioner, wide-tooth comb and clip: Hair is most susceptible to breakage when it’s wet. After you get out of the water, spritz your hair with a leave-in conditioner and use a wide-tooth comb to work out the tangles. Use a clip instead of a hair tie to secure your hair.
• Hydrating mist: Sitting out in the sun can leave your skin feeling like it’s baking. Occasionally pull out a hydrating mist and spray it on your skin for instant relief.
• Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF: If you don’t use sunscreen before heading out in the sun, what are you thinking? It’s a must to cover your body with sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. And don’t forget your lips
• Wipes: Take along some baby wipes. It seems like an odd item to bring, but there are several uses at the beach—use them to wipe your face before reapplying sunscreen, clean off your sunglasses or even wipe down your arms, and legs if they become sweaty or sandy.
• Beach dress or cover-all: If you need to get up to find the nearest bathroom, have dress or cover-all handy to throw on. (Unless you’re totally comfortable strutting in your swimsuit!)
• Water and snacks: Try to avoid pop and salty snacks—those will just make you feel dehydrated.
• Makeup bag: If you’re planning to go anywhere but home after the beach, pack a bag with some basic toiletries like deodorant, body spray and toothbrush/toothpaste. Go easy on the makeup and let your sun-kissed skin shine through—a little tinted moisturizer, cheek color and mascara is all you need.
• Entertainment: After about half an hour just lying in the sun, I get antsy. Don’t get me wrong, I love being outside taking in the gorgeous weather, but I always need something to keep me occupied. For me, there’s nothing like reading a mindless novel. It always feels really indulgent!
• Plastic bags: I always keep a few plastic bags with me—they’re a must for holding a wet towel or swimsuit if you plan to change before heading home.
• Small empty spray bottle: If you’re lucky enough to be near an ocean, take advantage of one of mother nature’s best hair care products: salt water. Fill up a spray bottle with some ocean water to take home—it’s much better than any sea salt spray.

What are your beach must-haves?

Makeup Look of the Day

Here’s a great smoky look that’s great for day or evening:

If you want to recreate the look, here’s what I used:

• Face: Garnier B.B. Cream in Light/Medium; Benefit Erase Paste; Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in #3
• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion; Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Matte Black; Kat Von D True Love Palette (Lucifer and Missy); ELF Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition (Gray); Fresh Supernova Mascara
• Brows: CoverGirl Clear Mascara
• Cheeks: Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flush
• Lips: Bare

Hope you guys are enjoying the weekend!

Girls Night Out Makeup

This past weekend we celebrated Amanda’s upcoming wedding by going out on the town for her bachelorette party. Here is a picture from the festivities:

I thought it’d be fun to share the makeup look I wore that night. Here are the products I used:

• Face: Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation, Benefit Erase Paste, Clinique Airbrush Concealer in Neutral Fair
• Cheeks: Tarte Dollface Blush and MAC Blush in Garb (for contouring)
• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Naked 2 Palette (Bootycall for all over lid color, Pistol for crease color and Blackout for liner), MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, Urban Decay Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara, Sephora lashes
• Brows: Avon Ultra Luxury Brow Liner in Light Golden Brown, Anastasia Clear Brow Gel
• Lips: CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor in Temptress

What makeup products do you like to wear for a night on the town? 

Beauty: Save Tons of Money Instantly!

 

Want to save up to hundreds of dollars a year? I've recently discovered a little trick that may save you a ton of money.

 

I was running out of my BB cream and thought I might be able to get a day more out of my product even though I couldn't squeeze any more out of the tube. I figured it wouldn't hurt anything if I cut the bottle open to see if a little more could be used. To my amazement there was a TON of product left. We're talking at least 2 weeks worth of product (I don't use a ton on my face so this amount will last me a while).

 

I was happy but then got a little upset -- I had been throwing out a ton of product in the past without even trying this easy trick to get more out of the packaging. How much would that even add up to? I know companies need to make money, but creating packaging that allows a ton of product to be trapped inside is such a waste.

 

 

 

I cut the very top off of the tube and scraped what I could reach out into a small clean jar I had laying around. After all of that product was out, I cut the bottle again further down so I could get even more out. I still can't believe how much would have been tossed if I didn't open the tube.

 

Think about it -- there are tons of things I use in liquid form that comes in packaging like that. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, tons of makeup products, etc. If you did that every single time you could be saving hundreds of dollars a year. It's worth the effort if you ask me!

Have you ever cut open your beauty products to get more out of them? Do you have any other money saving tips to share? We'd love to hear all about it!

Beauty: Arbonne RE9 Advanced 6 Step Anti-Aging Line & Makeup Primer Review

An old friend of mine who is an Arbonne Independent Consultant recently reached out to me to see if I would be interested in trying out some product samples to review on the blog. Heck yes! She sent me some sample of the RE9 Advanced 6 step anti-aging line as well as the Makeup Primer. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions of the products are my own.

A little about the company taken directly for Arbonne.com:
At Arbonne, beauty begins with premium botanical ingredients, innovative scientific discovery, and an unwavering commitment to pure, safe and beneficial products. Arbonne creates personal care and wellness products that preserve and enhance the skin, body and mind for an integrative approach to beauty. Working closely with scientists around the world and our Arbonne Institute of Research and Development (AIRD®) facility in Switzerland, we continually explore and develop scientifically advanced, botanically based proprietary formulas that meet our exacting standards for quality, safety and sustainability.

The products are great for all skin types because they work to balance your PH. Due to how concentrated Arbonne products are you only need to use a very small amount (about the size of a tic tac). This means that the products will last about 4-6 months if you're using them twice a day. So, if you're experiencing some sticker shock by looking at the prices for some of their products, think again -- you're actually spending less than most high-end brands due to how long they will last you!

Another major bonus about the Arbonne line is that the products are formulated in Switzerland where there are very strict laws about what can go into products. They ban about 1100 different ingredients compared to the 11 in the US. The products are vegan certified and are not tested on animals.

The verdict? I LOVED THIS STUFF. After only a day of using the RE9 Advanced line I could really see the difference in my skin and my fine lines under my eyes and on my forehead were already reduced. I couldn't believe it worked that quickly for me! The samples lasted me a lot longer than I expected (about 2 1/2 weeks) due to how concentrated the formula is. I was worried that the 6 steps would get annoying, but honestly because of the great results I was getting, I didn't even notice. What's a few extra minutes to have great skin? I have combination skin (mostly dry though) so it's really hard to find products that work well for me. I was skeptical that these would be the same way but was thrilled to see how well they worked on my skin.

I am currently using the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer (review to come soon!) so the Arbonne makeup primer didn't totally knock my socks off like the RE9 Advanced line did, but it still worked great! It made my makeup smooth and it was so much easier to blend it into my skin. It made my makeup last super long too - which is always a good thing after a long day of work ;)

I highly recommend trying Arbonne products out for yourself. Everyone's skin is different but with the vast amount of product lines the company offers, I'm sure you'll find one that will work for you! Contact Kelly via her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Valentino-Arbonne-Independent-Consultant/512445235474176 to try samples of Arbonne products and to get more information.

Have you tried the Arbonne line yet? Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

Makeup Organization and Storage Solutions

 

If you're a makeup junkie like me you have tons of products with limited space for storage. What is a girl to do? Throw away products you love? Stop buying new products? Never! The key is to get organized and store your makeup so that you maximize space. Here are some tips I've found that have really helped me:

 

Buy cute containers: Containers like the ones above from the Container Store (I know, they have pictures of shoes and clothes in them but they would work great for makeup too!) are great for organizing and storing your makeup. If you can see what products you have you'll be more likely to use them! These are cute enough to keep out on your counter tops (if the man or roommate in your life doesn't mind).

 

Go through your makeup and organize it: I have all of my eye products in one container and all of my face stuff in another. If you have more products and need more drawers you can break it up further by eyeshadows, eyeliners and mascaras, foundations, tinted moisturizers and bb creams,  blushes and bronzers, lip products, primers, etc. There are endless possibilities as long as you know where stuff is located.

 

Put your brushes in a cute container too: Don't forget about your brushes. I have mine stored in a decorative metal cup my mom gave me with the brush heads sticking out. It makes it really easy to find the brush I'm looking for and keeps them all in the same place. I also don't worry about them getting dirty or bent in a bag somewhere.

 

 

Check your inventory every 3-6 months: I go through my stuff more frequently than every 3-6 months, but find the amount of time that works best for you. I check over my products to see what I'm low on, get rid of what I haven't been using that I probably wont and check for items that have dried out, are expired or stopped working correctly. This lets me maximize my storage space and helps me get rid of old products that I'm not using anymore. My good friend, Kate recently got me the Once Opened Beauty Expiration Kit and it's really opened by eyes to how long I hold onto products well after they should be tossed. I don't know about you, but I don't want an infection because I held onto a product for too long -- not worth the risk!

 

What do you do to keep your makeup organized? Let us know if you try any of the tips above!

 

 

Adrianne's March Glossybox

As you might remember from my post about February’s Birchbox, I ended up canceling that service and signing up for Glossybox. 

Let me just say—Glossybox is a HOME RUN! When I initially signed up for a beauty subscription, my hope was to be able to try new makeup products. Glossybox totally delivers on that. Four out of the five items I received were makeup products.

Look at how pretty the box is!

Here’s what I got:

1. Elite Models Liquid Eyeliner

2. ModelCo Cheek + Lip Tint

3. Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen

4. Illamasqua Eye Pencil

5. Sebastian Professional Shaper Fierce Hairspray 

1. Elite Models Liquid Eyeliner: I used to shy away from liquid liners, but have found some favorites with ones made by Eyeko and Stila. I can definitely add Elite Models’ version to liquid liner rotation. The color is dark brown—the perfect shade to really enhance the eyes, but it isn’t too intense. The product goes on smoothly and dries instantly, so you can apply your mascara immediately afterward. 

2. ModelCo Cheek + Lip Tint: Before trying this product, I read that it was a gel-based stain. It is definitely a stain—so much so that my fingers were tinted pink after using it. When you squeeze the product out of the bottle, it almost looks like a drop of blood. But, when you blend it into your skin, it turns into a really nice soft pink. It’s a perfect color for spring. And, because it’s a stain I didn’t see any signs of fading while wearing it. 

3. Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen: I never hear much about Pixi in magazines or on blogs, and that’s a shame. Pixi has a few really great products that I’ve tested. So, I was excited to receive this shadow pen. This versatile product can be used as an all-over shadow, eyeliner or even a highlighter for the inner corners of the eyes or brow bone. The product is really easy to apply and leaves you with a not-too-dramatic shimmery pink.

4. Illamasqua Eye Pencil: The insert in my Glossybox said I was supposed to receive a sample of Prestiche Essential Oil Bar Soap. But….I guess someone messed up and gave me an eye pencil instead. Score! (Speaking of Prestiche—the box came with a $40 off coupon for this line of products. I tried to visit the website and there was an error. Hmm.)  I’ve heard so much about Illamasqua products, but never tried anything from the line. The color I received is best described as khaki. It can be used on the eyes, lips, face or body (according to Illamasqua). This is something I probably wouldn’t use on anywhere but my eyes—the color is great for a daytime or work look. The pencil glides on, is intensely pigmented and lasts. 

5. Sebastian Professional Shaper Fierce Hairspray: This hairspray is designed to provide flexible hold to the hair while giving it high shine. I was skeptical when I read this. As a brunette, I usually find that hairsprays just make my hair look duller. The hairspray does work and provides great hold. I wouldn’t say that it provides my hair with more shine, but it definitely doesn’t dull my hair like other products do. The negative on this one for me is the smell. It has a really intense chemical smell.

Have you tried Glossybox? I think I’m hooked!