March Haul...

This month has been a real success when it comes to my makeup collection... As if I need anymore makeup but lets be real... I HAVE AN ADDICTION!
PLUS... ULTA and Sephora both sent me amazing coupons... HOW CAN I RESIST?! 

So I am going to talk about all of my purchases which is a lot so bear with me...

I tried the Khroma Joystick and I got it in two colors as you can see... I really like these... They're convenient and I love how deep the colors are. The babydoll color will look SUPA beautiful on those with fair skin and I think the Shocking Pink will look great on all skin tones.The only thing is they come off VERY easily so I'd make sure to travel with it if you plan on going out anywhere. They were 50 percent off... LOVE A BARGAIN! So I'd get em while they're on sale to give them a try.

I had always heard of NARS orgasm and have wanted to try it but... I just couldn't bring myself to pay so much money for a blush. Foundations... YES! A blush ehhh... So Sephora sent out a coupon and I decided to get it. It is a beautiful blush and will look good on almost all skin tones but if you have darker skin tone the color may not be as pink and more of a shimmer and give you a glow. BUT.... I have mentioned there is a drugstore dupe... So if you're not look to spend then go with the Milani dupe!

I have mentioned in previous blogs how OBSESSED I am with this hi-light. If you are darker in skin color I think this is essential.  As you can see in the swatch it is very light but gives the most GORGEOUS glow a girl could ask for. FAVORITE PURCHASE OF THE MONTH!

Another favorite hi-light of mine that I usually wear with pink blushes and it is soooo pretty! Put this baby on your cheak bones and all the boys will come to the yard! And it can double as a eye shadow if need be. Also... it will make your eyes POP if you put this in your tear ducts!

This is perfect for travel! It has a bronzer (which you can barely see in this picture), hi-lighter, and blush! I do really love this because the products in this go on so smoothly and look so finished once applied! And I think it's about $30 for three great products... not bad!

This might be the best foundation and concealer ever created!!!  I usually have long days and this is the perfect foundation and concealer I could have ever asked for. It stays on ALL DAY!

And I find myself not as oily too... GREAT PRODUCT!

l have been using this concealer on a daily basis and it really is better then i expected it to be. I do like that it has a wand and it gives you pretty decent coverage I can't complain. But, for some reason it tingles when I put it on I have no idea why?! I still use it... lol. 

Great Lash is a known mascara and I have neglected to try it for some random reason. But I find myself gravitating to this over all my other mascaras! I love the natural look and the only issue I have is that the wand is very small. But all in all really worth it and it's soooo cheap! You really have nothing to lose. 

PIGMENT is my new fave! I have several but I am getting back into it! I LOVE this color because it's warm and neutral! And the best thing about pigments are that they last FOREVER! So though they can be pricey you will get your moneys worth because it lasts so long!

Glitter is one of the girliest things ever and be a perfect pop for certain occasions if done correctly. I know NYX has glitter along with Sally's for a fraction of the price! They'll do the job just as good as any MAC glitter.

These electric cool eyeshadow's have a pillowy/ creamy feel! They are fairly sheer but have a lot of sparkle so your eyes will have the necessary twinkle needed! I love the colors and think most can be worn with any skin tone. The creaminess is what sold me and the fact that it's so effortless and looks so great!

These are basic neutral colors and can be used as hi-lights. I am sooooo into SKETCH! All the other colors are really nice but, sketch has me love struck! I think everyone should have this color in their collection because it's just that perfect. But all of the colors are warm and can look great on EVERYONE! And can be worn on a daily basis because they're neutral!

SIGMA brushes are the BESTTTTT! They're identical to MAC and though they are not the cheapest they're way cheaper than MAC brushes. I use the tapered highlight brush under my eyes and it's the best brush I've used thus far for setting my concealer with powder. The flat definer brush is what I use if I want to apply shadow on my bottom lash line because it gets in so close! Both brushes are great and LOVE LOVE love them!

These brushes were buy one get one half off at ULTA so why not give them a try?! One I use to blend my concealer and the other I use with gel liner. I am not used to it being bent but I am getting used to it. For the price of both brushes I have no complaints. They're actually better quality then I expected.

Keep an eye out for ULTA coupons and keep an eye on their adds.

http://storead.ulta.com/Ulta.asp?CodeId=7.7.1.1&BookCode=m1213flx

Sigma Brushes

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/view_all_s/160.htm

AND... There's a place called The Cosmetic Company Store... See if there are any in your area. They carry a lot of high end makeup for several dollars cheaper then what they would cost at the actual location. i got a lot of my products from there!

Blue Magic!

On Tuesday I went to the Heat game and decided to wear something extra bright and have eye shadow to match... typical Sam. But I snapped this picture before I went and posted it on Facebook and a lot of people wanted to know how I got this look. So be prepared this is a little lengthy process!
I have been super busy and sleep deprived too so I'm Sorry!! I've been MIA...

So first as usual I prime both my face and eyes! I used MAC's painterly eye shadow primer which I strongly recommend to EVERYONE and Tarte's poreless primer.

I then use this pink brush above and cover my lid with MAC's Jewel Blue. I make sure to pack it on really good so it's nice and bright blue! Yes you look crazy but it gets toned down. I then go over Jewel Blue with MAC's Shimmer Moss.

I then use MAC's Soft Brown in my crease to blend out any harsh lines I might have from the dramatic blue with the Sigma Blending brush.

I then put Nehru on a Blending blush and put it in my outer corners and drag it to my mid crease. Make sure to use a light hand because you don't want the black to look too harsh! I then go back in the the previous Sigma brush and blend it all out so it's nice and buffed with no harsh lines. 

You can't even see it but I had on glitter!! Love any excuse to wear glitter and why not use the basketball game as an excuse. I apply the glitter using a MAC 242 brush sprayed with NYX Dewy finish. I dip the brush in the glitter and apply it on the inner portion of my eye. it gives it even more of a pop and extra excitement! 

I then use Maybelline Eyestudio in Blackest Black as my eye liner. I always use the brush that comes with it because it works best for me but I know a small angled brush can also be used. I gave it a little wing because I love wings and it helps bring dramatics to the eye. But go with whatever your little heart desires or best fits your eye shape.

I use Maybelline's Great Lash in very black, which I love, I do not know why I waited so long to try it! Then I used Urban Decay's 24/7 in Zero and put this in my waterline. I personally lay it on so it's dark because it makes my eyes pop!

Because I was going to be gone for a while I decided to use MAC's pro longwear foundation which is my new obsession and I am in LOVE! I apply is using a Sigma Flat Kabuki brush. This is one of my favorite brushes to use to apply foundation. 

I also used the MAC pro longwear concealer for under my eyes also another new favorite! I use this blender sponge to apply it so it's nice and even! 

Since my face is oily i always set my foundation with a loose powder and went with the Giorgio Armoni one. It is imperative that you always set under your eyes with a powder too, regardless of what skin type you have, so the concealer doesn't settle into lines!

I used MAC's weekend creme bronzer because I wanted to keep the focus on my eyes and keep the rest of my face  pretty neutral. I love this Angled Kabuki by Sigma ... Especially for creme blushes! Actually any blush really. Creme blushes are so beautiful and I love the finish they leave... give it a try if you're into blushes!

I then used Gold Deposit by MAC to highlight my cheek bones! This is the most beautiful highlight EVER! (It gives Betty Lou-Manizer a run for it's money.) I am obsessed with it and this would be beautiful on all skin colors but those darker in skin OMG you'll be addicted!

I am totally obsessed and have been recommending this to any girl that breathes!

I finished it all off by using MAC's Studio Fix because it was more of an occasion and I wanted a flawless finish! I used Studio Gear #10 to apply it all.

To fill in my eyebrows I use MAC's brown clown ... It looks super light in this picture but it's a dark brown and it fills in my eyebrows really well. I also know Cork is another popular color to use. I apply it all using an angled brow brush! 

To help keep all of it in place I used Urban Decay's all nighter which I love! Really works! And used a simple lipgloss from NYX!

ALL DONE 50 steps and 100 products later!

If you're interested in the brushes I used here's where I got them http://www.sigmabeauty.com/makeup_brushes_s/159.htm

They're comparable to MAC and way cheaper!

Brush Cleaning...

Brushes are something we used everyday on our faces and because of this very reason it is IMPORTANT that we keep these as clean as our busy schedules possibly allow. So as hard as it is I have to make it a point to clean them on a weekly basis. And it's hard... But there are two ways I go about doing so...

I just just learned how to properly use olive oil to clean brushes. I though you were to solely use olive oil with water but I was scared it would leave oil behind on the brush which can then alter and mess up products. I just was unsure of how to properly go about using it. Then I learned that you pour equal amounts of olive oil and antibacterial dish soap into a plate and mix it together. I lather them up and let them sit until I finish doing this to all my brushes. I think it is a good mix because the dish soap kills the bacteria on the brush and gets rid of all the crap that comes of your face i.e. dead skin or dirt and the olive oil keeps the hairs from drying out. 

The way I used to always clean my brushes, until recently. I like Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo... It's not too harsh but it is good enough to get the job done. It didn't make my brushes dry which was great! And... it smells AMAZING!!! 

Then I lay them out and let them air dry. Make sure to SHAPE YOUR BRUSHES because you don't want them to dry all weird with hairs going on all the wrong directions. 

I then put them into these little brush stands which were made from old candle jars and cute lettering. So cheap! Almost free if you have any candles laying around that are almost done. And you can be creative and do them any which way!

Happy Cleaning!

Hair Care

Hair is a top asset to each and every girl out there... And we all do what we need  to take care of it. I am going to list a few of my favorite products below and tell you what I do to not spend a fortune. ..

My hair is very peculiar and I can't use any shampoo or conditioner because it can either make it too dry... usually the cheaper products. Or too greasy. So I am really particular with what I use in my hair.

Recently I ran out of shampoo and I really like the sexy hair collection but it is expensive! So my solution is TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I don't see what makes them any different from purchasing them at a salon and my hair hasn't fallen out yet so I consider this a BARGAIN!
I am in love with the Healthy Sexy Hair. It leaves my hair feeling absolutely PERFECT and it's slowly becoming my new obsession! 

Redken is also another favorite and I love that they offer Sulfate Free options. I can tell the difference in my hair but not enough to never want to use shampoos and conditioners containing sulfate. I really like their conditiner because it leaves my hair really soft and moisturized but not to the point where it's greasy! So I really love that about this product. Also another TJ Maxx Bargain... woop woop!

One of my favorite products of all time is the Organixx collection that's sold everywhere and always a great price! Ulta usually has the best prices because they always have coupons and sometimes they have them buy one get one or buy one  get one half off so this is a must if you're BALLIN ON A BUGET! Got me through my brokest of moments in college with FABULOUS hair lol.

Throughout high school I only used Pantene Pro V and it was a miracle. Another basic favorite of mine and everyone will always give you compliment on how awesome your hair smells. Always will be a good fall back product that won't do you wrong and it's CHEAP which is always a plus.

After I wash my hair and on a daily basis it is essential that I put a few drops of oil in my hair. It makes all the difference and I am positive it will be beneficial to ALL hair types especially if you use heat in your hair which almost EVERYONE does so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT! Moroccan Oil is the best of the best but it is SOOO expensive and I've purchased it a few times but it just was getting hard to dish over a good amount of money for such a small product. Ummmm... I could buy other beauty products with the money I would spend on this and they would last me a lot longer. So I tried out the organixx oils and they were just as good to me and got the job done! I think Organixx is a life saver, so practical, and their products are great...

Before I apply any heat to my hair I ALWAYS use the Matrix heat protection spray. It really makes a difference in your hair. I absolutely HATE when the ends of peoples hair looks like a broom stick and this is what saves your ends... at least until your next hair appointment. So this is a very important product to me.
Dry Shampoos are a miracle product. I use them on my in-between days to keep my hair fresh or when I want to add some volume to my hair. I have tried soooo many dry shampoos and they're very hit or miss for me because I have dark hair and some sprays makes your hair look gray. NO THANK YOU! Batiste makes a dry shampoo especially for dark hair and I LOVE IT!!! I found it at TJ Maxx randomly and decided to give it a try! LOVE LOVE LOVE.... 
I also LOVE John Frieda's dry shampoo... I can only find it at Target or Ulta and it's great! Though it's not specific to dark hair it doesn't ever leave a gray tint and it's one of the best dry shampoos out there in my opinion. It doesn't leave a film and your hair still feels silky ... So either of those products are great.
If your hair doesn't get greasy then these aren't important and you're a lucky lucky girl but... can they can be used to give you volume or just freshen it up if needed...

So this is all I have for you....
Let me know if you love it or hate it!

Here's the add for Ulta to see if any of the products you desire are on sale or they have a special. Usually they have a coupon on the last page

http://storead.ulta.com/Ulta.asp?CodeId=7.7.1.1&BookCode=u1013flx
Happy shopping!

Drug Store vs Retail

So I had a request from Brianne about my personal opinion on drug store brands vs. retail. A lot of people can't see how in the hell people spend a small fortune on makeup product and that's understandable because there are definitely some pricey items out there. So I am going to compare a few products I have tried and tell you what I think is worth it and what I think you can buy at a drugstore.

This is going to be random no rhyme or reason just some products I find myself using on a regular basis.

So here we go...

If you use eye shadow and wear it for long periods at a time don't skimp on this product! I have nothing to compare it to because I just think it's so worth it!! MAC's paint pots in Painterly and Girl Friendly are an absolute must. Those people who get eye shadows bunched up in their creases and just can't get products to stay NEED THIS! Really, I think everyone should at least own one of the two... But, hey that's just me!

Mascara's are something I think you can buy at your local drug store, supermarket, walmart, etc... This is totally and unnecessary splurge! They are NO different then any of the high end products! I personally really like Maybelline's Great Lash in the pink and green tube and their Lash Stiletto mascaras. Love the way they look and find myself reaching for them more then my pricier mascaras!

NYX is my FAVORITE drugstore brand of all time leaving Maybelline in a close second! I think their Shine Killer primer is equivalent to Tarte and SmashBox's primer and for a quarter of the price! They have a pore filler one I have yet to try but I'm sure it's good too... So this is a big money saver because these primers get pretty expensive. 

FOUNDATION.... This is a big chunk of change for those who purchase retail and I DO think it's necessary to have one bottle of a nice foundation whichever brand you prefer I personally like MAC's foundation the most but for everyday use I turn to L'Oreals Lumi true match and I do think this is a really great foundation but I just think it's important to have a flawless foundation for events and special occasions or whatever you see fit. 

Liquid eyeliner is something I think makes your eyes really shine! I think it is a staple for every look whether it be casual or a formal event. I've tried several drugstore brand eye liners and I just do not care for them personally. I am a firm believer in Stila's liquid eyeliner and I guarantee you WILL NOT go back to ANY other brand after using it... It's a gift and I really will never love any other liquid eyeliner as much as I love Stila's! OBSESSED to say the least.

Pigments are so beautiful and I really think L'Oreal's HIP pigments are beautiful and come in a large variety of colors. I've had them for years and they're still full and really don't see how someone can go through one by themselves. In comparison's to MAC's I think they(HIP) are a little more pigmented which is nice for certain looks but I find myself using the MAC pigments more for some reason. I have a bunch of both and really there is no real significant difference so if you don't want to splurge on MAC's pigments it really isn't a must! The HIP pigments will do just a good of job!

Gel eyeliner is something new I've been getting into and I do really like the product. I think once you get into the swing of it it's a nice item to have! But, be patient lol I'm still trying to master it but I do like it so far. When it comes to this DRUG STORE all the way. MAC's gel eyeliner is ok but the Maybelline's eye studio gel eyeliner is the same if not better! So definitely buy the Maybelline brand!

Concealers are essential for those of us who have bags or blemishes we wish to hide from the world. I have tried a ton of concealers and love Maybelline's FIT concealers and Garnier's concealer but I do like Bobbi Brown and MAC's concealers as well. This is another thing I think the cheaper items are what you wear on a daily basis and the more expensive items you use for special occasions. 

I love glitter in eye shadow! It's soooo cute and depending on who's applying it can be a nice pop or just a hot ass mess... Whichever route you decide know that you can buy NYX glitter mania and it's equivalent to MAC's glitter. So don't waste your money buying this at MAC if you don't have to!

Bronzers/Blushes are another staple to any look you're going for. I have tried many drug store bronzer and it's a complete miss in my opinion. I think this is an item that you need to spend a little more money on. My FAVORITE bronzer as of right now is Betty Lou Manizer by the Balm and it's GORGEOUS!!! It is to die for and it gives you a beautiful glow.... BUY THIS RIGHT NOW, so serious lol. As for blushes, I have the NARS oh so special Orgasm and it is very pretty but Milani makes a baked blush in the shade Luminoso which is identical so save your money there FOR SURE. I also really like NYX Blushes whether it's powder or the cream blushes they're all great products. I also love MAC blushes if you're willing to spend a little more. But, I think NARS is overpriced in my opinion and the only reason I bought that was because I had a coupon lol

Lip Glosses... Definitely don't waste your money at any retailer I think it's nuts to spend anything over 6-8 dollars on lipgloss considering how quickly you go through it. THE BEST and most affordable lipgloss is also from NYX I love their butter glosses in particular and there are a variety of shades available. I really think they're the most amazing lipglosses I have used in a while. And there's also Maybelline's color whispers that I also enjoy using. I have a ton of them and think they're also another great drugstore lip product. As far as lipsticks I know Revlon has some good lipstick's but I suggest MAC's lipsticks because the colors are perfect and I think they look the best... 

MAC's mineralized skin finish powder has NO COMPETITION!! YOU CAN NOT GO CHEAP ON THIS!!! Trust me this product is worth every penny and the same applies for the hi-light powders as well. So yes this is more costly but your makeup will really come together for a finished look when using these products!

MAC has a fix plus finishing spray filled with all these things I can't remember but I think it's a waste. Some people think it's the best thing ever but I substitute it for NYX Dewy Finish spray. It may not have all the extra vitamins or whatever special stuff they have in the MAC product but it's just as good in my book and... THE PRICE IS RIGHT! And when I really know i am having a long day I love the Urban Decay all nighter! Really it is the best even though it is pricey but... it's not a necessity but a great addition if you're willing to loosen up the purse strings!

So there you have it...

As you can tell NYX , Maybelline, and L'Oreal are my go to drug store products!

NYX is sold at ULTA (my obsession) along with some of the high end products.

I hope my advice helped

Make Up Organization!

For those of us who have a decent size makeup collection we know the struggle of keeping it organized... I am constantly looking for new ways to organize my things but I am never happy with it because I have to run from one place to another to look for different items... ANNOYING!
I had a caboodle which was a good solution for a while but then my collection was too big to fit it in there. So I have been looking online for makeup organization items and found one item that I absolutely loved but absolutely hated the price! It was the acrylic makeup cube and the going price was $100. Do you know how many beauty products I could buy with that money?! So I kept it moving and continued looking and there was nothing that was doing it for me.

So on a random trip to Target I was looking at the storage units and picked up these beauties ...

I had one similiar and I loved it and they're stackable so I bought two and made a 6 drawer tower as you see above. I transfered all my products in there and they fit in the drawers nicely and it was just easier then my caboodle and less clutter in my bathroom. To pizzaz it a little I cut some construction paper and used different handwritings to label what was in each drawer to help me adjust to the new set up and just because I love color. 

I couldn't be happier and it's very convenient! The best part about it was that it was CHEAP! 

When I was at Ulta i was browsing and came across these acrylic vanity organizers and thought they would be perfect for my lipsticks, lip glosses, and foundations. BEST CHOICE EVER! I love the way it looks and it is so easy to grab things and do what I am doing. Also not very expensive and I had a coupon ... Score! I still have a drawer in my dresser dedicated to eye shadow palettes which is the only thing I haven't really found a special storage idea for but it's fine where it is... until I get my vanity. I am hoping they will all fit in the one drawer it has....

Maybe I helped solve some of your organizational dilemmas or maybe this was pointless... Regardless thank you for reading!