September-October Beauty Empties

Hello pretty people!
    It feels like such a long time since I've posted one of these. I always like looking at these though, just to see what people thought about the products and also because I'm a big fan of packaging. While I didn't use up too many products, I feel I had enough to justify making an empties post. I'm going to rate these on a scale of 1-5. 1- never repurchase, 2- probably won't repurchase, 3- maybe repurchase, 4- most likely repurchase, 5- definitely repurchasing. I'm going to give a brief synopsis of each product, along with my thoughts and the rating scale. So let's get started!

1. St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub

Product: This scrub is supposed to clear blackheads and calm redness and also contains salicylic acne medication to helps unclog the pores and help prevent future breakouts. 

My Thoughts: I like this scrub. It does a good job of getting rid of any dry and flaky skin. I do think it helps calm my skin, but there wasn't any improvement on my blackheads.

Rating Scale: 3

2. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Product: This body lotion is made for dry and parched skin and is supposed to intensely hydrate the skin. It also doesn't have any petroleum, parabens, harsh chemicals, colorants, and is safe for sensitive skin.

My Thoughts: I was pretty excited when I got this in my Ipsy bag, because I'm always up for moisturized skin. But I found that my skin really disliked this product and it even created small acne bumps on my arms.

Rating Scale: 1

3. It's Skin Mini Bebe Mist in Shining Apple

Product: It a mist that you can use throughout the day to refresh your skin with ingredients like witch hazel and milk protein to provide moisture and nutrition to the skin.

My Thoughts: I really don't like this product. I'm usually a big fan of mists, however this smelled bad and cause my acne to stir up, creating little white heads anywhere I sprayed it. 

Rating Scale: 1

4. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner

Product: Conditioner that penetrate the hair shaft to restore softness and shine while strengthening the hair to make it silky.

My Thoughts: I loved the shampoo for this argan oil line, but for some reason I'm not a huge fan of the conditioner. While I love the musky scent, I'm not a huge fan of how it makes my hair feel. You can barely feel like your applying and it doesn't seem to make my hair very soft.

Rating Scale: 2

5. Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Pore Essence Primer

Product: a moisturizing primer that masks pores to subdue oil and help to improve makeup coverage. 

My Thoughts: I love this primer. It's the best of both worlds providing moisture and oil control, making this a dream for combination/oily skin like mine. It smooths out the pores and makes makeup apply so nicely.

Rating Scale: 4

6. Holika Holika Petit Clearing BB Cream

Product: Contains tea tree oil and oil controlling powder. It helps to clear up the skin using the tea tree oil and helps to maintain a fresh oil free complexion.

My Thoughts: This is a pretty good BB cream. It provides really good coverage and true to it's word, helps keep the skin from getting very oily throughout the day. The only problem I have, is that it can often give my skin a gray cast.

Rating Scale: 3

7. Memebox I'm Eyeliner in Night

Product: Discontinued- Water proof eyeliner that had good pigmentation and last throughout the day without smudging.

My Thoughts: I love this for tightlining. It stayed put and glided on really nicely. It lasted for a very long time and did a really good job  at emphasizing my eyes. I would repurchase this and give it a rating of 5 however since they discontinued it and I can no longer buy it, I gotta give it a 1.

Rating Scale: 1

    That's all for today! If you have any questions, comments, requests, or recommendations leave them for me in the comment section below. Until next time, love y'all!

Grace

Business inquiries: graceashipley@gmail.com

5 Things: End of the Week Favorites #12

Hello pretty people!
   I decided that with my busy schedule that I'm going back to two posts a week, one on Tuesday and one on Saturday. I have a lot of school I'm working on and between trying to fill out job applications and college stuff, I don't really have a ton of free time. But I still want to maintain good content and consistent uploading time frames for you all. Anyways, this week was pretty good and more relaxed. I would wake up, workout and shower before hitting the books, and occasionally go out with friends. I've been keeping my makeup very simple lately, just using some BB cream, a touch of concealer and a little mineral powder for  my base, a quick swipe of liquid eyeliner and some lashings of mascara, and just a touch of lip balm and sometimes lip stain. I've found a couple products this week that I now don't think I can live without, so let's jump into it!

    Last week I went to the dermatologist for a follow up appointment. Recently I have been dealing with a lot of white heads, so I wanted to figure out a reason for why as well as treatment for them. My dermatologist told me that it could be because of my makeup. A lot of times, products contain ingredients that can clog up you pores, so it's important to use non comedogenic products. So I switched back to using my much loved Garnier Anti Acne BB Cream. It's really moisturizing on my skin and provides really nice coverage, leaving me to only use a smidgen of concealer. I've also been experiencing some dry skin, thanks to an intense topical treatment that has been added to my regular routine.

    Because of the intense dryness of my skin, I've been needing a moisturizing primer and I've had this one just sitting around since I got it. The Shara Shara Dew Veil Primer has a really nice moisturizing texture, and while I'm not sure if it's non comedogenic, it has a ton of beneficial ingredients. It's packed with avocado, argan, drunk stick, and botanical oils protect the skin and provide a barrier. I've been using this around my mouth and in between my eyebrows, which is where my skin has been the driest. It keeps my skin from getting flaky and really smooth over my skin.

    The last face product, is the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum. With the weather getting colder it means that my tan I have been so proud of is fading. To keep my skin looking healthy, I've been loving to apply this blush. It goes on very sheer, but can be built up to a higher pigmentation. It looks very smooth on the skin and doesn't contain any shimmer, so it's perfect for my skin right now. It has a unique gel-like formula and finishes in a powder form. The color Pink Plum is the perfect natural looking pink flushed look for my skin tone, and helps to brighten up my whole face.

    Last beauty item is the Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Committed which is a gorgeous pink nude. It's almost the perfect my lips but better shade for me. And while I'm all about a glossy lip, I actually don't mind the matte feeling on my lips. It has a really nice cooling sensation that makes this very comfortable to wear. I recently got this in an Ipsy and I've really been liking it. I usually apply a little bit over some glossy lip balm to make it easier to wear during the day.

    And lastly:
Bright- Lost Kings Remix by Echosmith
    This remix takes the adorable song Bright and adds some killer electronic sounds making this slow dance song into a bubbly upbeat EDM.

    As always, I hope you all enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to comment down below any requests, comments, or recommendations and I'll get back to you ASAP. Until next time, love y'all,
Grace

Beauty On A Budget: Base Products

Hello pretty people!
    As a student, I often find myself with a very tight budget. Between putting money aside for a outreach trip to Haiti next July and paying for different monthly bills, makeup isn't something I can always spend a lot on. With this is mind, I wanted to create a post, for all of my readers out there who like to stretch their money out, and know that they are investing in good products. My plan is to make this a series, so today I'm going to start with everyone's favorite: base products. So let's get started shall we?

1. Garnier Anti Dark Circle Roller

    As far as under eye circles are concerned, I like something that I know will help them out, rather than just slapping on product over top of them. It uses micro-circulation to  massage the under eye area, reducing the puffy appearance that comes from lack of sleep, while concealing your dark circle with a tinted formula that clinically helps to reduce their appearance. I rarely get a good amount of sleep, and this product is an absolute life saver for those morning when I look like a zombie. It prices around $12 USD, but it literally last forever, so it's definitely worth the cost.

2. Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily Anti-Acne BB Cream

    I love a good BB cream and I highly recommend this one by Garnier for anyone who deals with acne. It's very moisturizing, but doesn't get oily on me, and won't cling to flaky skin either. It contains salicylic acid and it won't clog up the pores at all. I started using this when I was on vacation back in May, and I have to say, it is immensely impressive. My skin was very irritated and red from many days out by the beach tanning, and this BB cream was so soothing! It has amazing coverage for how light weight it is and is clinically proven to help reduce redness. It prices at $10 and is a must have!

3. Physicians Formula Talc Free Mineral Airbrushing Loose Powder

    I always say that Physicians Formula does an amazing powder, so I can't recommend them enough! I love setting my makeup with a light dusting of this, and let me tell you, it is a life saver on mornings that you are in a hurry. Because it's a mineral powder, it is ideal for sensitive skin types because it won't over stimulate and irritate your face. I really like the airbrushing one because it makes my skin look flawless in a non cakey way. It is priced at $13.95, but last for an eternity!

4. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

    I really enjoy a naturally flushed looking cheek. The bouncy blush line does that exactly. It gives a light wash of color, perfect for everyday natural wear. It has a unique formula that finishes to a powder, but applies like a gel seamlessly. It's ideal for students, makeup beginners, and anyone looking for a more natural look. It's very buildable, so you can easily determine how intense you want it to look. It is priced at $8.00

    As always I hope you enjoyed my post! If you have any questions, comments, requests or recommendations, leave them for me in the comments and I'll get back to you ASAP. Until next time, love y'all!

Grace

Ipsy October Glam Bag Review

Hello pretty people!
    Today I have another glam bag post! I have yet to be disappointed from Ipsy, and they are slowly becoming my favorite subscription service. This month's theme was alter-ego, daring you transform into whoever you want to be. Although that's the theme, I received products that I'd normally use, so honestly, the theme didn't really work for me. Hopefully the products have a different result. Let's jump into this glam bag! All information on the products comes straight from the Ipsy website.


1. Aurora Gel Effect Nail Polish in Inky Dinky

     Wish you had a nail polish that had all the pros of gel polish and regular polish? Say hello to GEL EFFECT nail polish! It’s easy and convenient to use, dries super fast without a UV lamp, is extra shiny and durable, and will last up to two weeks. It can also be easily removed with polish remover! Talk about the best of both worlds.

• Dries without a UV lamp

• Leaves a durable, shiny finish

• Easy to remove

2. Balanced Guru Scrub Me Body Scrub

    This nice and gritty organic body scrub is good for all skin types and can be used from head to toe. Use gently on your face and rough it out as much as you need to on your body. The formula is enriched with raw sugar, organic coffee, coconut oil, babassu oil and cocoa butter (plus a little spearmint and ginger to spice up your scrubbing experience).

• Brightens dull skin

• Good for all skin types

3. Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil in Black

    Xpress Line pencils are for anywhere you want xtra color, xpressive highlights, and xact definition.

• Long-lasting formula

• Highly pigmented

4. The Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Committed

    theBalm introduces a truly loyal long-lasting liquid lipstick—Meet Matt(e) Hughes. This long-wearing formula has a comfortable matte finish with no commitment issues. This matte vanilla mint liquid lipstick is stuck on you without feeling clingy!

• Long-wearing matte finish

• Comfortable, buildable coverage

• Vanilla mint flavor

5. Lavanila Laboratories Pure Vanilla Rollerball

    PURE VANILLA; The perfect vanilla, this sexy blend of pure Madagascar vanilla, sheer freesia and creamy tonka bean is seductive and magnetic. A grown up expression of vanilla, this fragrance is more vanilla bean than vanilla cookie. This Healthy Fragrance* roller ball is perfectly portable, clutch worthy, spill proof and long-lasting!

• Perfect Fall fragrance; It's cozy, warm and sexy.

• All-Natural

    That's all for this post! Leave me any questions, comments, thoughts, recommendations, or requests in the comment section and I'll get back to you ASAP. Until next time, love ya'll!
Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #11

Hello pretty people!
    Another week bites the dust, another week bites the dust. Anyway, This week I tried out a lot of new things, so I'm excited to share them with you. Besides from that though, this was a pretty basic uneventful week. I worked a couple of days and did some school, but other than that, nothing too eventful. Although I did buy new running shoes tonight, so that's always a bonus.But anyway, let's jump into this post!

    First thing that stood out to me this week, is the Treat Beauty Sweet Dreams body lotion. I got this off of Hautelook and have been loving it this week! It moisturizes my skin really nicely without any greasy feeling. The lavender scent is very calming and lingers for a long time of the skin. It really helped to clean up some sweat acne I had on my arms too, and has helped my body acne as well. It's organic and really good quality, so I had to mention it.
    Although not a new product, The Skinfood Good Afternoon BB Cream has come back into rotation. Now that it hasn't been as warm, my tan has started fading, so I can start wearing my BB creams again. This one is AMAZING at staying put. It's made for oily skin, and leaves a great matte finish on the skin. I really like it for the days I go to classes because I don't have to touch it up throughout the day at all.
    A trick I've been trying my hand at, is using an olive green eyeliner, I'm loving the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Sage Gold, on my tightline. It really enhances the green tones in my hazel eyes, and is a really pretty subtle pop of color. This particular eye pencil is literally so smooth and glides on so nicely, it really reminds me of the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On eye pencils. It's nice and waterproof too, so it doesn't transfer down to my lower lashline.
    Another thing added into my rotation again, is the Sleek Au Naturel Palette which has gorgeous cool earthy tones, that is the perfect fall palette. I like to take a matte brown into my crease, and apply a really pretty shimmer onto my inner corners. These shadows are very smooth, and apply like butter. The quality reminds me of MAC eye shadow, and is a fraction of the price.
    Lastly is the Covergirl Super Size Mascara. I'm not going to lie, I bought this mascara because it was had limited edition Star Wars packaging. I'm not ashamed either, but I am impressed. I got a waterproof one, which is good because I love using waterproof mascara, and it is intensely black. It makes my eyelashes look extremely long! Although it does a good job lengthening, I like to go in afterwards with a spoolie, just to ensure no clumping. It really open up my eyes though, and makes my lashes look amazing!

    That's it for this week's 5 favorites! I hope you all enjoyed it and be sure to leave your favorites in the comments below as well as any questions, comments, request, or recommendations. I hope that the week ahead gives us some more activity and that we have really good experiences. Until then, love y'all!
Grace

Email me any business inquiries at:
graceashipley@gmail.com

Makeup Tips to Remember

Hello pretty people!
    When I first started wearing makeup I was a mess: Blue eyeshadow, the ever popular Dream Matte Mousse foundation, and a raspberry lipstick claimed places in my heart. Thankfully, since then I've learned some basic makeup principles, and tricks that have ultimately taken my look up to a whole new level. I thought I'd share some tricks I've picked up throughout the years, so maybe you'll be able to either change your ways, or avoid these fatal flaws in general. Let's jump right on into this!

1. Matching eye shadows to my outfit
    While it's nice to have an accent liner that ties your whole look together and is perfectly acceptable, using a purple eyeshadow all over your lid to match your purple shirt, is a little much. If you want to incorporate the shade a little bit, try to find a light shimmer color for the inner corners that has a similar hue to it. Always keep in mind that an accent is better than colors going everywhere.

2. Blending out bronzer
    Harsh lines and an unblended bronzer is one of the biggest no-nos. The goal of contouring is to enhance your natural face shape by creating a shadow. Shadow's are hazy and soft looking, no harshness. So take a blending brush and go to town. Honestly, the more blended you can get it, the better your look will be!

3. Cakey Coverage
    While full coverage is amazing, it can often leave you cakey and your face feeling heavy. A trick I learned a while back, is to apply a very light base as your foundation. Take a full coverage concealer and apply on areas that need coverage and set everything with a light dusting of powder. On areas you applied concealer, pat on the powder, so you don't disturb the product.

4. Curl your eyelashes
    Most people know this one, but if you've never invested in an eyelash curler, I highly highly highly recommend picking one up. It really helps to take you lashes to a new level and makes your eyes look a lot bigger!

5. Tight line
    This is a really simple trick that can really makes your lashes look amazing. Take a waterproof eyeliner and apply it to the base of the upper lashes. Sometimes I like to use a green eyeliner to enhance my eye color, other days I'll go with a solid black shade. If you have blue eyes, you could try using a bronze eyeliner.

6. Don't take yourself too seriously!
    This is so important and probably the best thing I've ever learned. Have fun with your looks and try out different trends. Keep a few basic guidelines in mind, but ultimately, have fun. Makeup is an art form, and should be an enjoyable process and and experience. So wear that lipstick shade that's funky, try out a new nail polish, whatever!

    Those are a few things that I've learned over my years of wearing makeup. If you like this post, tell me in the comments, as well as any requests, recommendations or questions. Until next time, I love y'all!
Grace

My Favorite Under Eye Concealers

Hello pretty people!
    Hello, my name is Grace, and I'm an under eye concealer addict. It started somewhere back in junior high, which is when my lack of sleep started. To this day, I still only get a maximum of 8 hours at night, and about a minimum of 4 1/2 on most days. As horrid as that is, I've relied on under eye concealer to get rid of my panda eyes. Today I decided to share these concealers with you!


1. Maybelline Better Skin Concealer in Light
     While I don't believe that this product does what it claims to, I do like the natural coverage and finish that it leaves underneath my eyes. I usually like to apply this before my foundation and after on any veins that are still peeking out. It has a nice lightweight feel and works all over the face well too.

2. Sonia Kashuk Liquid Light Concealer in Halo
    This is a great highlighter and concealer combination! It does a really good job of combating dark circles and adding light to the whole face. usually I'll just apply it once underneath my bb cream and blend it out with a sponge. It really makes your eyes look wide awake.

3. Missha Under Eye Brightener
    This formula is a little drier than the previous two, and is the lightest of them all. I love this when it's the dead of winter and I need a brightener. It doesn't come off orange toned at all, so it works very nicely with my skin tone and provides a really nice coverage for my dark circles.

4. Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer Cream
    This is probably my absolute favorite under eye concealer. It conceals so nicely, and although applies thickly, can be blended into a really light formula with a damp sponge. It has salmon oil in it, which is really good at helping to not only brighten up your eyes by wearing it, but also help to diminish dark circles in the long run.

     That's it for this post! I hope that you all enjoyed it, if you did be sure to leave any questions, comments, requests or recommendations in the down bar and I'll get to you ASAP. Love ya'll so much, and I will see you next time!
Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #10

Hello pretty people!
    So I have been very bad at doing end of the week favorites on this blog. Usually I have been really busy or just hanging out with friends. Today however though, I woke up at 6 am and took my SAT's...... for 5 hours. With very little energy though, I bring to you the 10th installment of end of the week favorites.

Skinfood Good Afternoon Peach Green Tea BB Cream
     Since my skin is getting paler now, I've switched back to using my one of my favorite BB creams. This one is made specifically for oily skin types  and provides a good medium coverage for my skin. It leaves a semi matte finish and last for a really long time without getting oil. I'm pretty much loving this during long days and I love to give it an even more natural look with a damp beauty sponge.

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pact
     Something that I've liked to carry this around with me at school. It's really easy to apply and can help with that midday shine. I'm attempting to use more products from my collection that I often overlook, so I've been trying to use this one again.

Pony X Memebox Easy Mix Blush 
     With the weather getting colder and my tan fading, I've been needing a little skin tone booster. What really cool about this blush is that it has 4 different colors, so you can really switch it up with this blush. The one I've been liking a lot is the darkest shade 04 which is a rosey mauve. I sweep it onto the apples of my cheeks.

Yes To Carrots Nourishing Conditioner
    This conditioner makes my hair uber soft and get's rid of all the tangles. It's been awhile since I've really liked a conditioner. Also I'm trying to use more natural products in my skincare/ haircare routine.

Omen- Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
 
    That's all for this week! I'm sorry that it's not a very post, but I literally feel like I'm sleep writing right now. As always if you have any questions, comments, requests, or recommendations, leave them for me in the comment section below and I'll get back to you ASAP. Love ya'll and I'll see you next time!
Grace

Mini Korean Cosmetics Haul

Hello pretty people!
    So my sister Anna just recently got back from S. Korea and with her, a few things she got for me. Also, a Unni of ours gifted a few thing to me as well. I thought I'd share them with you in a small haul post. Enjoy!

Innisfree Skin Clinic Masks:
Collagen- rejuvenates the skin, leaving it feeling resilient
BHA- removes accumulated dead cells, leaving the skin texture sleek and soft
Hyaluronic Acid- leaves skin feeling dewy and hydrated
Catechin- resolves skin tone and wrinkle concern
Vita C- brightens dull skin, leaving it looking clear and radiant

Skinfood Rose & Shea Butter Hand Cream:
Contains the soothing and relaxing scent of Bulgarian Rose and brightens the skin tone and remains moisturized and smooth.

Innisfree Creammellow Lipstick in #2 Warm Vanilla Pink
Glossy lips with Camelia oil to make lips look healthy. This color is a really pretty pink color that looks very complimentary.

Nature Republic Jelly Drop Lip Gloss in Pomegranate


   That's all everyone! I hope you enjoy this post! Leave me any comments, questions, requests, or recommendations in the down bar. Also I plan on doing a review for the Innisfree face masks, so be keeping an eye out for that. Love you all!
Grace

Email me : graceashipley@gmail.com
Business inquiries only!