Sephora Haul and Review

I recently picked up a few items from Sephora. Although I was tempted with all their beautiful holiday releases but I stuck with some essentials for this trip.

The first item I picked up with Urban Decay Eye Primer in Eden. I love Urban Decay's Primers, I find that they work incredibly well at keeping eyeshadow on longer and crease-free. I especially like the shade Eden because it is a light skin toned color that is opaque. It conceals redness and any imperfections, and because of its light color it really brightens any eyeshadow that is put on top of it.

The second item I picked up was Anastasia's Brow Powder Duo in Ebony. This particular duo comes with two cool toned dark brown shades. This is my first time purchasing this product and so far I am really liking it! I have always liked powder to fill in my brows, I find it  gives a more natural look as pencils can often be harsh. The powder goes on smoothly and is very pigmented. I apply it with an an angled brush and finish with a brow gel.

The last item I purchased was NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla. I have used this product before and it quickly worked its way up on my list of favorite concealers. As the name suggests it goes on on very smoothly and gives a beautiful brightening look without highlighting. I find that it lasts about eight hours on me before it starts to look a bit faded. Overall, I find it to be a great long lasting concealer.

I think these products are great and would definitely recommend them.

What are your makeup essentials?

More Beauty Discoveries coming soon,

Francesca

Manicure Monday: Butter London Saucy Jack Photos and Review

My most recent manicure is Butter London's "Saucy Jack". The color is a beautiful blue toned red. This polish has a great consistency and is nearly perfectly opaque in one coat, though I did do two. There are no sparkles and the polish dries now with a nice shine but I did put my favorite fast dry top coat on top, Seche Vite. I love this color, it is a great classic red and I definitely recommend it if you need a good red for your collection! I think it will be especially perfect during the holiday season.

 

What is your favorite red polish?

More Beauty Discoveries coming soon,

Francesca

Weekend Wishlist

Some Items I have been lusting over this weekend! What's on your wishlist?

Bauble bar iridescent zodiac bracelet

The Azalea ballet flat by Tory Burch

 

 

        Jeweled-Collared Boy Blouse and  Technicolor Floral necklace from J.Crew 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              

Nighttime Essentials

I find that taking even just ten minutes to relax before bed helps me sleep much better. My favorite ways to unwind before bed are to drink a cup of tea and read a good book. The book I am currently reading is 'The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green, which I think is fantastic so far. If I have extra time to relax I like to light a nicely scented candle, I usually buy from Bath and Body Works when they have their 2 for 22 sale, so I have quite a few nice scents to choose from. The last thing I do before sleep is moisturize. I really love the Dior Creme de Rose lip balm as it is so moisturizing it lasts long into the night and because I love the smell of rose. For hands I love Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, which is made with botanical oils including Avocado, Eucalyptus, and sesame seed, as well as a natural wax derived from olive oil. Honestly, this cream is amazing at keeping hands soft and smooth, and I feel like this and the Dior lip balm add a little luxury into my nighttime routine. 

Let me know if you use any of these products or have any suggestions!

Get Ready for Back to School! School Bag Essentials!

It's that time of year again! Back to school season, or, if you're out of school, just a time to get organized, and maybe buy a few new office supplies! Today I want to talk about my favorite back to school items.

Every year in college I debate: backpack or tote? I have decided that for everyday use totes are the answer. They are cute and compact, and I can go from class to work, as well as out and about with it. However, during midterms and finals when I have more books and work to carry I definitely break out my trusty Jansport backpack!

This year for my tote I picked the Michael Kors Neoprene tote in Royal blue. I liked it because it was made with a soft material (the one he also uses for laptop cases) so I felt like it would protect my stuff better than a standard tote. I was also happy to find it on sale at Macys!

Photo via polyvore

My next essential item is an agenda or planner. This helps keep me organized and remember what I need to accomplish. This year I chose the Lilly Pulitzer jumbo agenda in Lucky Charms. I chose the biggest size because I like to write lists of what I need to do, and this can take up a lot of space. I love the Lilly agendas because they are very nice quality and hold up in my school bag well, and because they are so cute I want to write in them more!

Photo via Lillypulitzer.com

The next items are college ruled spiral notebooks. For my five classes this year I chose two large spiral notebooks with dividers that I will use for two classes that occur on the same day. I have one smaller spiral notebook for the fifth class. I like to do this so that it will save space and be easy for me to grab what I need. Even though I hand write my notes I have not had any trouble with running out of paper. I buy new notebooks each semester. I got two of the marbled looking notebooks from Typo and the mint one from Target (last year).

Another item is a folder and three ring binder with dividers. Each divider is for a different class of mine. I bring the folder to class each day for handouts and assignments then when I come home I put the handouts in their proper divider. I leave my binder on my desk and do the work there. If something is ready to be turned in I put it back in my folder and bring it to class. I find that this eliminates carrying excess papers with me and weighing down my bag. To make my binder more fun I created a monogram printable on forchicsake.com.

My next essential is a pencil case. You definitely do not want to be in class without something to write with! I have always used a pencil pouch but I hate how dirty they always seem to get so this year I am trying out a pencil tin! I found this cute one at the store, Typo! I always carry pencils, pens, and a different color highlighter for each class.

My next item is a small tech case. I chose this Lilly Pulitzer one but any small pouch will do. I like to put my headphones and flashdrive in here. As well as some extra cash, and when I don't want to bring my whole wallet I stick my ID and debit card in here.

For those of you like me who do not return home for long hours once getting on campus I like to bring a small cosmetic bag to touch up. This year I found this adorable Ralph Lauren Pouch, which I like because it is compact and sturdy. Inside I put a cute compact from Forever 21, the Revlon Lipbutter in Berry Smoothie and the Mac Lipglass in Lust, I chose these two because they are easy to put on and are both similar to my natural lip color. Next would be a hand sanitizer from Bath and Bodyworks (I try to avoid getting sick at school as much as possible!) Listerine Breath Strips, and Rimmel stay matte powder with a tiny buffing brush.  I also stuck in a Lilly Pulitzer calculator for quick math in classes where a graphing calculator is not needed but where we are not allowed to use phone calculators.

The last, but one of the most important, essential is a tumbler or reusable water bottle! I got this tumbler from World Market but many places carry them. I also like the Camelbak water bottles with the straw (These are good if you want to put them inside your bag as they close and do not spill) I find that I drink more when I have a water bottle with a straw and it is so important to stay hydrated on campus.

Photo via Lifeguard Press

That's all my school bag essentials, be sure to check back for more posts!

Bauble Bar Haul and Review

Here are my most recent purchases from Bauble Bar! Bauble Bar is an online store that sells inexpensive and trendy jewelery. I love looking at their site because they have such cute styles that are changing all the time. Although I have been looking at the site for over a year this was actually my fist purchase. I took the plunge because Bauble Bar was offering a free necklace (from a selection of four) with a first purchase, and to make things better there was also a coupon code for a jewellery roll-up bag with any 50 dollar purchase.

There were so many cute styles to choose from I had trouble limiting myself (I may already have another order on the way...) but I ended up choosing four pieces, as well as my free necklace.

My favorite piece is the Roseland Disco Wrap bracelet. It is an adorable rosegold beaded bracelet, the center beads are crystallized which gives it a beautiful sparkle. The quality is nice, and it looks more expensive than it is. I also like that it has a string closure that tightens by pulling either end. I like this namely because it's easy to take off and put on, but also because it gives the bracelet a more laid back feel. I think this is nice because it makes the bracelet more versatile. It sells for 28 dollars.

Here's a picture of it from one of my recent instagram posts (the watch is by the brand Zodiac):

The next piece I became smitten with was the yellow Sunflower Collar. I love the way this necklace looks, and it dresses up an outfit beautifully. I was a bit disappointed with this piece though as the first the first time I wore it one of the yellow beads became loose and I had to push it back into place. I have worn it since and it seems fine. Overall, I am happy with the piece. It sells for 34 dollars.

The next two pieces I chose were called the Spring Potpourri necklaces. I chose white and lilac. I have loved the J. Crew and J. Crew inspired bubble necklaces since they came out but never actually purchased one. When I was making my purchases these necklaces were on a limited time sale for only 15 dollars! I felt like I had to buy them, and I have really been liking them so far! According to the site they are still 15 dollars although it does say "limited time". There are also different colors than when I ordered. The white is still on the site but as of today the lilac is gone.

The necklace I got for free was the the Pastel Twist Strand. This necklace has lilac, cream, and mint gems strung together with a blue colored thread. It also hangs quite close to the neck. It is not a necklace I normally would have chosen for myself but honestly I am really happy I got it. I think it is a really chic and subtle way to wear pastels.This piece sells for 42 dollars.

 I think my first purchase from Bauble Bar was very successful and I will definitely continue to order from them!

Tarte Blush Review

Tarte Amazonian clay blushes have received a lot of attention in the beauty community and have been praised for quite awhile! Tarte boasts that these blushes are very long wearing and will last twelve hours. I do agree that they are long wearing, however; I only get ten to ten and a half hours of wear before the blush looks faded. These blushes all have a very nice soft texture and are finely milled. I am most impressed with the great amount of pigmentation a that a small amount of product will give you.

These three are my favorites of the Tarte blushes I have tried so far, though I am always tempted to get more!

 Flush

Flush is a bright plum color with just enough pink in it to make it appear more natural. It can add a nice pop of color when diffused or be quite dramatic with more product.  It has a nice sheen and no defined sparkle.


Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty looks far from natural in the pan! It is a bright raspberry color with a bit of sheen but no defined sparkle. Once diffused on the skin, however; it is easier to see how it got its name. It gives off a healthy rose color, as though you've just gone for a brisk walk. It is a very pigmented color and can easily transform from a healthy glow into a dramatic color with just a bit more product.

Blushing Bride

Blushing Bride is a mauve shade with golden sparkles. It looks glowing on the cheeks, and is one of my favorite fall blushes. It has a slightly drier texture than the other two, though I don't find that a bad thing, as it is not as necessary to worry about over pigmented cheeks. I find that since it is not as soft as the other two the brush does not pick up so much pigment.

These blushes are $25.00 for .20oz. Overall, I think they are a fantastic product and come in a nice range of colors. I would definitely recommend
them.

Chanel Lait Confort Review

My newest purchase from the Chanel counter is Lait Confort, which is  described as a creamy cleansing milk. I didn't originally plan to purchase this (isn't that always the case?) and had gone to to try on the new Chanel CC cream, but when the sales assistant used this to remove my makeup I fell in love. I found it very unique in that it is used without water. The cream is rubbed in to the skin to breakdown makeup and can be removed with a cotton pad.

I have been using mine for a over three weeks now with no adverse side effects. The texture is as described, very creamy, and soothing on the skin. It is white in color and does have a fragrance. It is a clean and refreshing sent that I personally enjoy, although if you are sensitive to fragrance I would recommend giving it a whiff before purchasing.

 I have been using one pump for my face makeup and a little under half a pump for my eyes. I rub it into dry skin in small circular motions. The makeup breaks down quickly and does not irritate my eyes or skin. Once the makeup is broken down completely I wipe away what remains with a cotton pad before starting my normal skin care routine.

As a girl with normal to dry skin I really appreciate the texture of this product, it is not drying and very gentle. If you are looking for a gentle way to remove your makeup, and are not opposed to a higher price tag, I would definitely recommend this product.

This product is made with Tulip Tree Extract and Arum Lily Extract. Chanel states that Tulip Tree Extract is de-polluting while Arum Lily extract is hydrating. It is 5fl oz and sells for $45.

Welcome to my blog!

Hi everyone!

As an introduction to my blog I thought I would let you all know a little bit about myself. I created this blog to share my thoughts on everything beauty related. Since I was a little girl I have always loved makeup and fashion, now I am in my college years and I have only grown to love it more! It is my goal to work in this industry that I am so passionate about. 

Aside from school I have been working as a freelance makeup artist and I absolutely love it! Because of this job (and because I love makeup so much!) I have a huge, some might say excessive, makeup collection. I plan to review these products and other beauty related products, share tips as well as my experiences. I am always open to suggestions and would love to hear from you!

Thanks for checking out the blog! 

Francesca