Monthly Makeup Edit: September 2015

Hello pretty people!
   So this is my first monthly makeup post, and I'm excited about this! I'm not a really big fan of monthly favorites, mainly because I switch up my look so often and it's hard to stay dedicated to products throughout an entire month. However, usually during the month, I find certain products that make up my routine. So throughout the month of September I've kept my routine pretty simple, with a slightly shimmery eye and glossy lip with an overall glowing base.

Face:

Dr.Young Anti Pore Balm and Maybelline Better Skin Foundation:
    While I love a good dewy face, because I have combination skin, I need some pore care on my T-Zone. This primer does a really good job of filling in my pores, and it leave the classic silicone feeling to your skin. Not only does it make your skin look good, but it does good with helpful herb extracts.
    As you can tell from the picture, I've been using this foundation like crazy over the summer. While it doesn't provide the greatest oil control or long lasting properties, it does a really good job of leaving a nice and natural finish to my skin, really enhancing the glow and perfecting it. While I didn't notice any skin difference with using this foundation, I do really like how it looks on my skin.

Eyes:

Tarte Golden Days and Sultry Nights Palette/ Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Mascara/ Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Shadow Primer/ NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt/ Starlooks Pro Longwear Eye Liner

    I've been using the Rimmel Eye primer as my base since I bought it. It has a really nice silicone feeling similar to the Urban Decay Primer Potion, with a white and shimmery base that really helps eye shadows pop, and it's waterproof!
     After applying primer, I go in with the Yogurt on a firm eye shadow brush and use it as my base color. It gives a nice rose gold wash. In my crease I take a matte brown from the Tarte palette called Espadrilles with a fluffy brush.
    To create a nice and thin line, I've used the Starlooks Pro Longwear Liner which provides me with a really steady hand, so I apply the color evenly. On my lashes, I'm addicted to how the BB mascara makes them look and feel. It has coconut oil in it, so it really nourishes my eyelashes.

Lips:

Shara Shara Acerola Moist Oil Balm
    My lip has been pretty boring this month, but I haven't been interested in coloring, but really nourishing, so that's what I've been about. This provides a really moisturized lip and adds a nice gloss too, so it looks a lot more put together than just a regular balm.

    That's my makeup roundup! I hope that you all enjoyed a look at my makeup routine this month. If you have any questions, comments, requests, or recommendations leave them for me in the comments, and I'll see you next time!
Grace
   

Ipsy Glam Bag Review: September Edition 2015

Hello pretty people!
     We have hit that time of the month again when we all receive our ipsy bags. For $10 each month, you receive 5 products and a cosmetics bag. The way it equals out, you paying around $2 for each product. That's a pretty sweet deal. I've been subscribed to other beauty services before, but I think Ipsy is my favorite of them all, the main reason being that they give you good sized products! The info aside, let's jump into the bag:

     Ipsy finally has given us a synapses on the card that comes with every bag. This month is all about transitioning into deeper, richer tones with fall approaching. I am a big fan of transitional makeup, so this was a perfect bag for me this month. I love me some copper tones and that's exactly what I got with this ipsy. Also really quick, all the product descriptions are from Ipsy!

1. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

     Ultra Repair Cream is a head-to-toe moisturizer that provides instant hydration for dry, itchy skin. This quick-absorbing moisturizer is recommended for anyone with dry skin. With the help of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, soothing eucalyptus oil, and ceramides, its luxurious, ultra-hydrating formula provides immediate relief and visible improvement for distressed skin.

• Can be used all over the body-elbows, feet, hands and face
• Alleviates dry skin and minor skin irritations
• Hydrates and moisturizes skin

2. Octavio Aceite de Argan 

    This argan oil gives your hair a silky smooth shine – full of antioxidants and Vitamin E. It also naturally protects your locks from UV rays and fights against frizz!

3. City Color Cosmetics City Chic Lipstick in Je T'aime

     Your lips are bound to make a statement with City Color’s signature City Chic lipstick. This ultra-creamy formula gives your lips long-lasting color and luscious shine. These buttery lipsticks are ideal for any classic City Chic look.

• Intense, bold pigmentation
• Ultra creamy formula
• Paraben free

4. Elizabeth Mott Queen of the Fill Tinted Brow Gel

      Give your brows the royal treatment! Queen of the Fill comes in 2 long-lasting and easy-to-use colors that fill in sparse hairs. Not only does it naturally define, sculpt, and groom your brows, but it’s also buildable. Go from untamed to polished brows in seconds. The tapered brush is perfect for quick, effortless application. Just remember: let the gel completely dry and you’re ready to go!

5. NYX Cosmetics Ipsy Eye Shadow Trio

This 3-color eye shadow palette gives you go-anywhere intensity day or night thanks to the highly pigmented formulations. Provides intense eye colors with a silky texture for seamless application for any eye look that you desire. It consists of 3 complementing eye shadows to wear together or alone.

• Each eye shadow provides great color payoff with every application.

• Create any look on the go with the help of the dual applicator that allows you to apply, smudge and line your eyes effortlessly.

• Exclusive palette designed by NYX just for ipsters!

    So that's my ipsy bag this month! Share what you got with me in the comments below as well as any thoughts, questions, requests, or recommendations  as well. Also, if you've followed my blog for awhile, you'll notice that it looks a little different. That's right, we got a makeover! I wanted something that had a more professional feel, so I hope you like the new vibe I got going on. Until next time!

Grace

                                                  →EMAIL ME @←

                     ✉BUSINESS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE!✉graceashipley@gmail.com

How Much Does My Face Cost Tag

Hello pretty people!

     So I was scrolling through a list o f blogging prompts and spotted this one among the slew. Basically the idea is that you add up the total cost of products you are currently wearing on your face. It was really quite shocking how much money I spend on makeup; even the drugstore products begin tallying up after awhile. So that being said, I would like to add a little disclaimer: I'm a makeup hoarder and some of these products I've had for a few years now (I know, I know expiration dates, but it so hard to part with some items!), and I've been adding to my collection, practically since I started wearing makeup. Recently I purged myself of a lot of products that I felt I no longer wanted/needed and gave them to my sister, who doesn't really wear a ton of makeup. While the total get's pretty high, I would like to say that I purchased majority of my products myself, some of them i got from gift cards, etc. I realize that many people are less fortunate then I am, and am in no way saying that everyone needs as much makeup as I have. Also, the prices are all in US dollars.  I think I have all the bases covered so let's just start on the list shall we?

Face:
Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Essence Primer: $12.40
Maybelline Better Skin Foundation: $9.98
Yes To Tomatoes Corrective Concealer: $9.99
Maybelline Better Skin Concealer: $7.99
Tarte Park Avenue Princess Sample: n.d.
Physicians Formula Mineral Loose Airbrushing Loose Powder: $13.99

Eyes:
Etude House Perfect Brow Kit: $11.70
Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Eyeshadow Primer: $4.50
M.A.C Velvet Eyeshadow in Vanilla: $16.00
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt: $4.50
L'Oreal Cupa Joe Quad: $5.99
Memebox I'm Eyeliner in Night: $5.00
Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Cocoa: $12.00
Starlooks Pro  Luxe Longwear Liner: $19.00
Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Mascara: 8.79
Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer: $7.80

Lips:
Shara Shara Acerola Moist Oil Balm: $10.27

Grand Total: $159.90

     Ew.......... Well now that we have that out in the open, I think I can come to terms with it. I have seen some of the posts with a grand total of over $500 dollars! That's truly insane in my mind, like how do you use that much product? But then again, I'm over here applying 2 different mascaras and 3 eyeliners. I hope that you all enjoyed this though, because it definitely wasn't that fun for me to accept. I tag all of you to do this post as well, it's very eye opening and can draw attention to the fact that we spend so much money on makeup. If you have any questions, comments, requests, or recommendations, leave it for me in the comment section. Although one thing I will say though, is that I definitely want to lay off buying more makeup for a little while. I'll talk to you all next time, until then,

Grace

→EMAIL ME @←✉BUSINESS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE!✉graceashipley@gmail.com

Fall Nail Polish Edit

Hello pretty people!

    With cooler weather comes a new selection of nail polish colors to help usher in the autumn spirit. I find that I gravitate towards the browns and purples during the fall months, so I rounded up the winners into one post.

China Glaze Nail Polish in Dress Me Up-

    Unfortunately this nail polish was apart of the limited edition Hunger Games nail polish collection. Although you can still find it on Amazon, it's no longer available in stores. But it is a gorgeous creamy dusty rose shade that works as a great transition color.

OPI Warm and Fozzie-

    Another limited edition nail polish apart of OPI's Muppet's collection that came out in 2011 (wow was that really 4 years ago?! I feel old now). Warm and Fozzie is a really fun duo-chrome bronze that has gold and fuchsia shimmers in it.

Ulta Nail Polish in Chocolate Kiss-

     A discontinued nail polish, but I had to add it because it's still very pretty. It's a coller toner chocolate brown with a reddish hue, giving it a chocolate covered raspberry vibe with tiny tiny silver microshimmers.

Aila Mister Pookies-

    Finally something y'all can get your hands on! This nail polish is a really pretty and creamy steel gray with purple undertones.

China Glaze Nail Polish in Agro-

    Another nail polish in the Hunger Games collection is Agro, which is one of my favorites by far! It's a gorgeous multi faceted military green that has such a pretty shimmer to it, it almost looks like it's glowing.

Maybelline Color Show Vintage Violet-

    While it's not in stores, it is available on Amazon. This is a really pretty deep matte burgundy that has purple glitter chunks in it to give it a little somethin'-somethin'. You can also add a glossy topcoat to make it not matte.

    As always, I hope you all enjoyed this post! If you did be sure to leave me any questions, comments, requests, or recommendations in the comments below. Love y'all!
Grace

→EMAIL ME @←
✉BUSINESS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE!✉graceashipley@gmail.com

D.I.Y Pumpkin Spice Latte Body Scrub

Hello pretty people!
    Tis the season for donning your favorite pair of combat boots, lighting a B&BW candle. and going to Starbucks to order the cult classic Pumpkin Spice Latte. I love a good cup of coffee, but not only does coffee give you energy, having a coffee based body scrub will energize your skin. Coffee grinds help to give an added glow to your skin and helps with stretch marks, and perks up areas that may need a little bit of tightening. How does it do this? Caffeine, the most magical substance on earth. So today I decided to share with you all one of my absolutely favorite body scrubs during the fall season, inspired by the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

What you'll need:
Used Coffee Grounds (the amount will vary depending how much coffee you drink. Mine usually is about 3-4 heaping tablespoons)
1 TBSP Cinnamon
1/2 TBSP Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract (optional)
1 1/2 Cup of White Sugar
1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
A Clean, airtight container

Directions:

1. First of all, brew yourself a cup of coffee. The grounds need to soften with the hot water to be gentler on the skin. Once done, dump the grounds into a clean container.

2. Add in the spices and mix everything together (optional: you can totally add some vanilla to this).

3. Add in 1/2 cup of white sugar and mix everything together.

4. Add in 1/4 cup of Olive Oil and mix everything together.

5. Pour in the rest of the sugar and mix together.

6. Depending on how you like your scrubs (either more liquid feeling or grainy), add as much Olive Oil you prefer to create your ideal texture. I like a good mixture of both the liquid and grainy feeling so I added the rest of the Olive Oil.

7. Mix everything together until the overall color is the same. Seal the container with it's lid,  and place in your shower.

 
    That's it folks! It's pretty darn easy to create this body scrub. It leaves your skin feeling oh so smooth, and your bathroom will smell just like a Starbucks. I hope you all enjoyed this post, if you did leave me any comments, questions, requests, or recommendations in the comment section below and I'll get back to you ASAP. Love ya'll so much!
Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #9

Hello pretty people!
    So today has really made me embrace sweater weather. It's pretty cold out at only 52 Fahrenheit, and it has really been making me crave a good pumpkin spice latte, and all I want to do is curl up with a book and sleep all day. Alas, since that's not possible, I'm just going to relax and share a few things that I've been liking this week.

Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Essence Primer-
    With the weather getting trickier to meander around for my skin, I've been attempting to provide my skin with moisture, but not too to the extent where my skin feels too heavy. This primer by Etude House is a really good combination of pore care whilst still pampering my skin underneath my base products.

Maybelline Better Skin Concealer-
    With the school year back into full swing, I'm left with very little amounts of sleep. Like, maybe 5-6 hours every night. That being said, I've been needing a pick-me-up concealer, and this does a really great job with my under eye circles. I also use it on spots, and it does a fantastic job of concealing and treating at the same time.

Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer-
    This little sucker is amazing at making my eye shadows last all day long. I've been having really long days, so the fact that even when I get home, my eye shadows are still in place, is kind of incredible. This primer is waterproof so it's fantastic at lasting on even the oiliest of eyelids and has a similar texture to the Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Celestial Seasonings Authentic Green Tea-
   For the past week, I've had a little head cold. It kinda sucks because it makes me really foggy in the head most days, and my nose gets all clogged up (sorry, TMI). But nothing makes me feel better when I'm sick, then a nice warm cup of green tea. So I've been chugging a cup of this green tea before bed every night, and I do believe that it helps a little bit.

Song of the Week:
Kick The Dust Up- Luke Bryan


    That's it for this week everyone! Sorry it's not more interesting, but seeings how I had a cold, I wasn't much of an experimenter this week. Hopefully I'll have a lot of new and more exciting goodies to share at the end of next week. As always if you have any questions, comments, requests, or recommendations, leave them in the comments below and I'll get back to you ASAP. Love ya'll,
Grace

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation and Concealer Review

Hello pretty people!
    So I know I've been a little missing in action, but I caught a cold during the middle of the week and haven't been feeling up to blogging. However, I feel a million times better today and felt that a blog post needed to be had. So I'm now dutifully sipping on my coffee and typing up a post for you! Earlier in the summer months, Maybelline came out with a new foundation and concealer line called Better Skin.
     I'm not much of a foundation girl. I always felt like it was too heavy and didn't let my skin breathe enough, so I usually steered clear of them. I also had idea in my head that it would clog my pores and make me breakout. But, I have since changed my thinking. I now believe that certain foundations can lead to breakouts, but that definitely isn't the case with this one.
    As for concealers, I'm a big fan of liquid ones. I like how pliable they can be and they don't tug on the skin like some stick concealers do. I only recently picked up the concealer to match, and I've only used it a few times, nut I'm already impressed. So without any further jabbering, let's jump into these products.

Better Skin Foundation-

Product Description*:
    Longwear foundation that improves skin's appearance every minute you wear it. With the antioxidant power of Actyl-C , a more durable form of vitamin c. For all skin types. Medium to full coverage.
Why you'll love it: 
Superstay Better Skin Foundation gives an all day  flawless coverage and better looking skin in three weeks. The foundation reduces the appearance of spots, dullness, uneveness and gives you a brighter, more even and stress free skin.

My Thoughts:
    This is possibly the only foundation that I've ever loved. I'm super picky about what I put on my face; like to the point of paranoia about whether a product is going to break me out or not. So when I first started using this, I was highly skeptical, but after using it for 3 months, I can say with confidence that this is an amazing product! My skin literally loves this stuff and it doesn't feel heavy or cakey at all! I like to apply this with my beauty sponge from Real Techniques, as it gives a lighter and more natural finish to this foundation. Definitely recommend this for all skin types and especially for students. It's a long lasting formula that you won't have to touch up on throughout the day, and it pampers your skin during the process. What more could a girl want?

Better Skin Concealer-

Product Description*:
     Superstay Better Skin Concealer is a two in one target concealer and corrector with Actyl-C, an ingredient known for it's antioxidant benefits.
Why you'll love it:
     Superstay Better Skin concealer instantly provides all day flawless correction. Visibly reduces the appearance of spots, dark circles and imperfections in just 3 weeks.

My Thoughts:
    Basically this is a more potent version of the foundation. Higher coverage that blends out seamlessly into the skin, and sets nicely without budging. While this product is on the newer side for me, I'm already impressed with the coverage and how it wears on the skin. It doesn't look cakey and I'm excited to test out how this baby will treat my dark circles.


     That's all for today! I'm going to try super hard to get more posts up this week :) Don't forget to leave me any questions, comments, requests, or thoughts in the comment down below, and I'll talk to ya'll next time. Kisses,
Grace

The Purge: Cleaning Out My Makeup Collection

Hello pretty people!
    So the other night after a mass study cram session, I felt the urge to clean out my makeup collection. There are so many products that I either only used occasionally or used once, and I figured they were just taking up space. Also I'm trying to curb my makeup buying habits in an attempt to save money. I got rid of a TON of makeup! I let my sister look through it before pitching anything else that she didn't want. Wanna see what I ditched?

Nars Hungry Heart (not in picture/ Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden / Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded/ Etude House Tear Drop Eye Liner/ NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pure Gold and Strawberry Milk/ Covergirl Lashblast Luxe/ Max Factor Vivid Impact Mascara/ Covergirl Natureluxe Mascara

Almay Intense Eyes Shadow in Satin-I and Bold Nudes/ Too Faced Glamour to Go Fairy Edition / Maybelline Blowout Bronze/ Depoted Maybelline Eyeshadow in Bare Minerals container/ Grace My Face Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadows

NYX Diamond Sparkle Lipstick in Dusty Rose/ Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Petal/ Revlon Colorburst Lipbutter's in Tutti Fruitti and Cupcake/ Clinique Dramatically Different Lipstick in Precious Pink/ NYX Round Case Lipsticks in Margarita and Sash/ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pink Beach

ELF Lipgloss/ Stila Peaches and Cream/ Nature Republic Rose Lipgloss in Peach Rose/ Ulta Brilliant Color Lipgloss in Chocolate/ Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Victorian/ Aritaum Wannabe Lip Cushion Tint in Sugar

    That rounds up my purge! Wow, I thought I was going to feel remorseful about getting rid of so many things, but lately, I've felt pressed to not take for granted all that I do have. And honestly, if I'm not using it, I shouldn't keep it, and I don't want to end up being a hoarder. So I hope that you enjoyed this post! Don't forget to comment down below any questions, comments, or requests. Also please follow me on Bloglovin, to keep up with all of my posts :) Love ya'll so much!
Grace

What's In My Makeup Bag: Summer Edit

Hello pretty people!
    It's quite ironic that I'm writing this post today. The high is about 65 degrees Fahrenheit :( However, since I haven't shared the products that I've been addicted to this season, I figured better late than never. So lets jump right on into it shall we?

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation I only recently started wearing foundation. I've always been a BB cream or CC cream because of the benefits that accompany them. But after hearing the hype coming off of this product, I decided to see if I liked it. It is a medium coverage natural finish foundation that is heavy in antioxidants and Actyl-C which is a concentrated form of Vitamin C. I like to take this foundation on with a damp beauty blender to create a more natural, lighter weight look.

Maybelline Mast Concealer   While I like my foundations to be on the light side, I NEED a full coverage concealer. All summer I've really been liking this formula, although it is important to not apply it to thickly or over too large expanses to prevent your skin from looking cakey or too heavy. I like to use the tip of my beauty blender and dab the concealer on the spot. When using the beauty blender, it'll give a more natural coverage to the skin.

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Loose Powder  I've always been a fan of mineral powders. They work really nicely with my skin and also provide better coverage than when I set with regular powder. It has soothing plant extracts, antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E to really pamper the skin. I like to use the dab and swirl method when applying powders. Which simply means that I take the product on a powder brush and dab the product into my skin and create circular motions to blend it in. The dabbing creates coverage and the swirling blends it out.

Pur Minerals Hot Rocks I love a natural looking blush. This one gives a really pretty glow to the cheeks and adds some color. I like to swirl this onto the apples of my cheeks and blend it out with a stippling brush. It adds some needed warmth to the skin, after concealing any natural flush you might have had with foundation.

M.A.C Woodwinked Eyeshadow This has been the go-to for me. It's a gorgeous warm antique gold shade that is the perfect all over lid color for the warm months. It's the only eyeshadow I've been using for the past couple of months. I do a light sweep with a fluffy brush as the base and pack it on more into the outer corners with a firm eyeshadow brush. It adds some shimmer to the eyes in a natural kind of way that suits daytime wear. I also like to outline my eyes using an angled brush with this eyeshadow. When the light hits it, it looks amazing!

Memebox I'm Eyeliner in Night This eyeliner is an amazing dupe for the Urban Decay glide on eye pencils, for a fraction of the price, coming in at $5. It is a gel pencil waterproof eyeliner, and this stuff does not budge! In the summer my tight line eyeliner often transfers down to my lower water line. But not with this little baby. I apply it to my tight line to subtly define my lashes, and give them a fuller look and it lasts in place all day.

Physicians Formula BB Mascara This stuff makes my eyelashes look amazing! It is enriched with coconut oil, which gives a dose of love to the lashes. It lengthens them and provides a glossy wash of pigment. It looks really nice on and doesn't give lashes a clumped up look. I like to wiggle the big bristle part through my lashes and do a good even coat on upper and lower lashes. I finish it off wiht a sealing waterproof mascara to insure it's staying power.

Clinique ColorPop Lipstick in Bare I'm loving the formula of this lipstick! My grandma was a big fan of Clinique, and after she passed, I kept some of her eyeshadow, and that was my experience with the company. After reading rave reviews from gh0stparties blogger Kate, I decided to give it a try. The shade Bare works great with my skintone during the summer months, really enhancing my tan. It's a warm neutral shade with shimmers, and looks similar to the Clinique lipstick in Think Bronze which has been discontinued. But it gives a similar effect in enhancing.

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #8

Hello pretty people!
     Another week bites the dust, and I'm seriously looking forward to the cooler weather that has been showing it's face a little bit recently. This week was a pretty chill one. I started my college orientation and hit my goal of running 5 miles by the end of the summer. It kills my legs and lungs, but I feel really accomplished afterwards. But anyways, let's get started with this weeks favorites!

     First off is the Pixi Vitamin Veil Foundation in Medium. I love this formula! It wears so nicely on the skin and cuts down the time. "This formula miraculously evens out skintone and makes it look like you have no foundation on. It also treats your skin to a host of vitamins, minerals and skin-enhancing goodies. It plumps lines, hydrates, nourishes and protects while perfecting skin. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance free. Suits all skin types." I don't like really heavy foundation, and I'm used to BB creams and CC creams, but this had been on sale at Target for quite awhile so I decided to get it. It looks so natural on the skin and the coverage is amazing and build-able for more coverage. 

     Also a product that I recently got on clearance at Target is the Sonia Kashuk Liquid Light concealer. My dark circles are making a comeback right now and that being so, I need some heavy duty help. "The moisture infused formula contains a hydrating complex to enhance skins texture, radiance and color to impart a healthy glow. The perfecting fluid offers buildable coverage and seamlessly blends into a second-skin finish that softens the signs of fatigue and aging."  This covers my under eye area really nicely and it also works as a great highlight for the rest of my face. 

     I'm addicted to hair oils. I believe that they are some of the best things that you can put in your hair. When we wash our hair, we take out some of those beneficial natural oils. So hair oils, help to balance out the lack of natural oils. "Daily, lightweight oil for strong, glossy, frizz-free hair. Whether your hair is curly, straight, thick or thin, this Argan Oil Treatment will become a daily staple in your beauty regimen. No matter what your style, your hair will always look its best when it is strong, healthy looking and shiny. 
Created with Mediterranean Olive Oil and Moroccan Argan Oil – the ancestral beauty secret of Morocco – it deeply penetrates to fortify, protect and condition hair. Vitamin E and Shea Butter hydrate and soften. When you buy Argan Oil products for your hair you’re getting one of the best natural resources for healthy looking hair." This oil makes my hair feel so soft and silky! I apply a couple drops into my wet hair, and it adds a tone of gloss and shine.

    I always have the hardest time creating the line I want with liquid eyeliner. This makes my life so much easier. I like a nice thin line, just to outline the shape of my eyes and this product makes that very easy for me. "A staple product for every makeup lover, this felt tipped pen makes it impeccably easy to create flawless eye lines of any variety. Whether daily, nightly, or anytime in between, Starlooks' Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen enhances all eye colors, shapes, and sizes with our exclusive, incomparable PRP formula! Available in black, brown, and eggplant. Applies smoothly, dries quickly, and lasts all day (or night) long!"  The formula is nice and long lasting. While not waterproof, it doesn't budge or smudge, and it doesn't flake off at all either.

     Last is a song favorite which is Not Good For Me by Hayden Calnin. It is a great moody song that has a nice beat to it. A little for eccentric, but still a good one.

     That wraps up this week! I hope you all enjoyed this post. Comment down below any of your favorites, or requests, recommendations, and comments. I'll get back to you ASAP. Love ya'll so much and I'll talk to you next time!
Grace

Things I Wish I Knew Before High School..... Part One

Hello pretty people!
    So while I occasionally whip up a fitness advice post, I have yet to do a lifestyle one. And with back to school in the air, I though it was the perfect time to try my hand and this. Enter a high school advice series. I myself am going into my senior year and I couldn't be happier. Not to say that I've had a bad experience, but simply because I'm ready to explore the great big world that is out there waiting for me. But seeings how I've made it to my final year, I thought that I have some knowledge to share on the topic ;)
     You'll notice by the title that this is part one. I plan on making this a 3 part series, just so I don't get too long winded during these posts. This one, I'm going to mainly focus on the academic side of high school, in the second part, I'm hoping to talk about relationships, and the third will be on beauty and fashion. So, let's just jump right on into this.

1. Take the important classes NOW!
     Everyone tells you when you start high school that you can basically just have fun your freshman year. That you have another three years after this one to take the big classes. But I want to strongly advice against that belief. My freshman year I decided that I wanted to take all the big sciences and maths before my senior year, to help lighten the load. With that in mind, I took Biology and Algebra 1 my freshman year, sophomore year I did Chemistry and Algebra 2, and my junior year I took Anatomy and Physiology and College Algebra. Doing these courses early one, allows me to begin PSEO's, which is a program that gives you dual credit for college and high school. Plus I can get it paid for if my SAT scores are high enough. It's pretty sick that I can get my first year of college out of the way before I graduate. It's because I did the big things early on. So, make a plan for yourself, so that you can have a more relaxed and chill experience come senior year. AS far away as that sounds, you'll be thanking yourself later.

2. Study
     This seems like a given, but it's super important! Study the material so that you can ace your tests, and keep up a good GPA. It can be difficult sometimes to find an environment where you can unplug from the rest of the world and dive into your studies, but I find that a quiet room and some headphones can do a world of good. I'm one of the types of studiers that likes to listen to music when I study. Some people recommend classical when your working on math, and pop when your studying English. For me, acoustic music or even some nice folk/bluegrass can do be a world of good. I really like Ben Howard and The Civil Wars. Also I like highlighting important things and writing them down in a notebook, so I can peek back to them from time to time. The information really sticks in your brain if you have to write it down.

3. Don't take yourself too seriously
    By this, I mean keep your options open for the future. I changed what I wanted almost every year, until I found something that I'm actually passionate about. Try new classes and experiment with different field options before settling with. This is a great thing to do when your an underclassman because you have a ton of time.

4. Get enough sleep
    I know that cram sessions can sometimes create great papers, but nothing is going to be better for your mind then getting sleep. I almost got mono one year because I ran on about 4 hours of sleep at night. Talk about being a zombie. So make an attempt to get at least 6 hours everynight. I promise you your body will thank you in the future.

     So those are a few of my pointers about high school. In the end, it's your education to make of it what you want. I hope that you have an amazing first year of high school and that you learn so much during this time frame of life. What are some things you wish you knew, or want to know about? Tell me in the comment section down below, along with any requests, comments, or recommendations. Love ya'll so much!
Grace

Ipsy Glam Bag: August 2015

Hello pretty people!     May I just say, I'm so extremely impressed with the Glam Bags I've received. I've tried a few other monthly subscription services and none have ever really stood out to me. They all had teeny tiny samples that I wasn't that big of a fan of. So far, I haven't been disappointed with anything from Ipsy. Now that I've got that out of the way, let's look and see what I got this month!

1. Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen    "This liner is a staple product for every makeup lover, this felt tipped pen makes it impeccably easy to create flawless eye lines of any variety. Whether daily, nightly, or anytime in between, Starlooks Eye Liner Pen enhances all eye colors, shapes, and sizes with its exclusive, incomparable Pro formula! Available in black, which is universally flattering for all complexions. Applies smoothly, dries quickly, and lasts all day (or night) long!"

Ingredients:water , polyacrylic acid , acrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer , triethanolamine , sor b itan sesquioleate , propylene glycol , polyvin ylpyrrolidone , black oxide of iron ( ci : 77499 )My Thoughts:    I've been meaning to tr out a pen liner for quite awhile now, and this gives me the perfect opportunity. The liner has a thin felt tip that is soaked in a gorgeous black shade. It isn't waterproof, but it has proven to be very smudge proof without flaking.
2. Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco Oil Treatment     "This treatment is a lightweight oil used daily for strong, glossy, frizz-free hair. Whether your hair is curly, straight, thick or thin, this Argan Oil Treatment will become a daily staple in your beauty regimen.Created with Mediterranean Olive Oil and Moroccan Argan Oil – the ancestral beauty secret of Morocco – it deeply penetrates to fortify, protect and condition hair. Vitamin E and Shea Butter hydrate and soften."

Ingredients:cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, cyclohexasiloxane, argania spinosa kernel oil, linum usitatissimum (linseed) seed oil, isodecyl neopentanoate, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, keratin, parfum (fragrance), paraffinum liquidum, tocopheryl acetate, butirospermum parkii (shea butter), d&c red 17 (ci 26100My Thoughts:    I'm a big fan of any type of hair oil. They work really well with my hair type and add such a nice shine. I actually have this in my hair right now and it is amazing! It makes my hair feel so extremely soft and cuts back on my frizzies. Also it is nice and moisturizing for my recently dyed hair, that needs more TLC than normal.

3. Clear Clinic Laboratories vanished    "vanished is an on-the-go, clear spot treatment specially formulated with menthol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and zinc. Thanks to its clear formulation, you can use vanished to quickly clear blemishes all day, under and over makeup. Its travel-sized bottle also makes it easy to take with you on the go"

Ingredients:isopropyl alcohol, purified water (aqua), zinc sulfate, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, camphor, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, cellulose gum, mentholMy Thoughts:    I'm really excited to try this product out. I'm really big on skincare, and if I can wear this over or under my makeup, I'm thinking it's gonna help with clearing up my more stubborn acnes. Since I'm out most of the day, this seems like a really convenient option for me. We'll see what happens.

4. Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Merlot     "Check out Hikari’s collection of gorgeous, high-shine matte lip glosses. With these high-pigment lip glosses you can wear them alone or layer them over your favorite lipstick to create intense new colors. They will give you the perfect sultry lip with just the right amount of shine!    ipsters who sample Hikari Cosmetics will either receive the shade Salsa(classic red) or Merlot (intense red mauve)."

Ingredients:polybutene, mineral oil, ethylhexyl palmitate, squalane,tridecyl trimellitate, silica, phenoxyethanol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, bhtmay contain +/-: titanium dioxide (ci 77891), red iron oxide (ci 77491), yellow iron oxide (ci 77492), black iron oxide (ci 77499), fd&c yellowno.5 lake (ci 19140), d&c red no.7 lake (ci 15850), d&c red no.27 lake (ci 45410),fd&c blue no.1 lake (ci 42090)My Thoughts:    I like berry toned lips once the weather turns colder, and I'm really curious to see how this is going to work with my lips. I'm a really big fan of the color, because I think I can make it either really intense or more toned down, based on the method of application. This should be really fun to play with this school year.

5. Aila Cosmetics Luxury Nail Lacquer in Mister Pookies     "This lacquer is healthy, beautiful and functional, and turns your mani into nail therapy! There are no toxic ingredients in AILA's lacquers and removers. They use the most natural and organic ingredients out there. Talk about a treat for your nails!"

Ingredients:butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, nitrocellulose, adipic acid/neopentyl glycol/trimellitic anhydride copolymer, acetyl tributyl citrate, isopropyl alcohol, styrene/acrylates copolymer, stearalkonium bentonite, n-butyl alcohol, benzophenone-1, silica, alumina, trimethylpentanediyl dibenzoate, polyvinyl butyralmay contain (+/-): aluminum powder (ci 77000), oxides (ci 77499 / ci 77491), red 34 lake(ci 15880), red 6 lake (ci 15850), red 7 lake (ci 15850), yellow 5 lake (ci 19140), ferric ammonium ferrocyanide (ci 77510), mica (ci 77019), blue 1 (ci 42090), yellow 11 (ci 47000), titanium dioxide (ci 77891), violet 2 (ci 60725), polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, ethylene/va copolymerMy Thoughts:    This color is a really pretty gray toned chocolate brown that looks really nice in the bottle. Since a brown tone product screams fall to me, I'm probably going to try this out more once September hits us. 

     Overall this has been a really enjoyable bag, and I will continue to use Ipsy in the future. What did you get in your Glam Bag this month? Tell me in the comments, along with any questions, suggestions or requests. As always I hope you all enjoyed this post, love ya'll so much!Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #7

Hello pretty people!
    With the end of the week comes my end of the week favorites. This week I've been going to a conference almost every single night! That plus work has left me feeling so tired, but there is a bright spot. I'm currently visiting my family right now, and it is such a great way to end the week! Since I had an event every single night this week, a lot of my favorites are makeup products. So shall we just dive right on in?

    First off is the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Honeymoon Honey. This shade is described as a neutral brown. It works great on the hollow's of my cheeks, acting as a lightweight bronzer. It goes on really smoothly and leaves a natural, contoured look. I really like how long lasting it is, going throughout the hours without ever looking blotchy. I like applying this with the Real Technique's Expert Face Brush to really buff this into my skin.

    MAC Woodwinked is steadily becoming my absolute favorite eye shadow. I've been loving to sweep this all over my lid with a big fluffy brush, and dragging it onto my lash lines to define my eye some. It gives me such a great summery look, but in a very subtle and natural way. It's a gorgeous warm bronzed gold that is sooooooo pretty. I got this only a little less then a month ago, and it's been the only thing I've used since!

     I've had the NYC Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in White for ages, but I only recently started using it a lot. I found a trick that really opens up my eyes and adds so much depth and dimension. I apply it on my upper lash line and into my inner corners and drag it halfway on my waterline. Once I have it where I want it, I blend it out with a firm eye shadow brush. Viola! It's like magic.

     I'd been hearing about the Clinique Color Pop lipsticks for a while around the blog community, so I decided to purchase one to see how I liked it. I picked the shade Bare pop as per my sister's strong recommendation since it enhanced my tan. It's a very long lasting and moisturizing formula that doesn't feel heavy or sticky on the lips. This particular shade is a bronzey pink with a shimmer to it. It looks great on green and hazel eyes, really enhancing the tone and shade, which is a big portion of why I like this product.

     This book!! AHH!!! I think I read it in about 4 days. Since I'm crap at describing books that I recommend, my friends at Goodreads are going to help me out :)

"When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.

As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?"

     That wraps up my week! While maybe not the most eventful week of my life, it was still a pretty good one. Tell me how your week was in the comments, as well as any requests or recommendations and I'll get back to you ASAP. Love ya'll so much

Grace

How To Find Your Perfect Clay Mask!

Hello pretty people!
    While I'm usually a pretty busy human, I do like to take the time to relax at least once a week by soaking in the tub with a good read and let the warm water work out all the tension my back carries throughout the week. But even if I don't have a enough time to soak up some TLC, I always like to apply a clay mask at least twice a week. At the most, I'll apply a mask 3 times a week, but I try not to get too carried away. Each mask I use has it's own special claims, so to fully give my skin the love it needs, I often have to use different masks to get pretty skin. Why, you might ask? With all the many different types of clay out there, each one will do something unique for your skin. Here's a quick run down:

Green Clay:
     Green clay is rich in minerals like Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorous, Silica, Manganese, Copper, Potassium, Selenium and Silicon. The minerals make this type of clay great for oily skin types as well as those who struggle with acne. Although you do have to limit your amount that you use, because too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Green clay can irritate the skin and cause it to breakout and become irritated.

Bentonite Clay:
     Sourced from volcanic origin, this type of clay is rich in magnesium. It's unique formula helps to heal and draw out the impurities in your skin. Once hydrated, it's molecular and electrical components produce electrical charges, causing it to swell like a sponge, ready to soak in anything. This mask type is also great for acne and oily skin types since it draws out any gunk that is left in your pores.

Kaolin Clay:
    Also known as White Clay, is rich in Calcium, Silica, Magnesium, and Zinc.  It's a more drying formula, but it has great antibacterial and natural absorbent properties, making this great for oily skin.


     With all these different types of masks it can be pretty confusing and difficult to maneuver around which one is suitable for you. I personally like the ones that help with pores and acne the most, so I find myself gravitating towards the bentonite, and green clay masks the most. These are such staple for me, since I have oily/combination skin that can often get flaky and have a build up of dry skin. Clay masks are so amazing for helping to naturally and gently exfoliate your skin.


1. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

      One of Amazon's most beloved masks, is one of my favorites too. A midwife my mother worked with once said how amazing this mask is for the pregnant mothers to help with hormonal acne that they would get. Being someone who struggles with that kind of acne, this has been a god send. It's very potent at cleaning out the pores and makes my skin look 10x better. When you first use it there is a time frame when your acne can flare up, since this mask draws out all the impurities in your skin, but after that, it's smooth sailing.

2. Boot's Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask
 

   
     While a semi new addition to my mask collection, it is slowly becoming one of my favorites. This is great for oily/acne skin, drawing out impurities and clarifying. This mask contains mineral rich ocean clay which has a negative electrical charge that acts like a magnet helping to draw out deeply rooted impurities from the skin. Since it's not a drying formula, it leaves the skin soft and smooth.

3. Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
   

    This is a favorite of all my Korean friends. One Unni actually picked this up for me from Innisfree's home base on Jeju Island last summer. This mask has volcanic clay clusters which effectively absorbs sebum and resolves pore problems. It also feels nice and cooling on the skin, leaving a tingly feeling during application. You can really see the difference with this mask very quickly in your pores size and also decreases the size of blemishes too.

     So that concludes this post! I hope that it helped you with the hard decision of which clay to use. Always keep in mind not to over do it, to avoid drying out your gorgeous skin. I like to use a clay mask 2-3 times as week at the most. As always if you have any questions, comments, or requests, leave them for me in the comments and I'll get back to you ASAP. Love ya'll so much!
Grace

Song to check out:
Ready for You- Hunter Hunted