Battle of the Mascaras: Round 3

Welcome back Stars, to the Battle of the Mascaras after we took the week off due to forgetfulness. It shall not happen again, I hope.  Today we have our reigning champion, Maybelline Lash Sensational Original versus the Rimmel Kate Moss mascara. Who will win? Will the reigning champ be knocked off of her pedestal? Keep reading to find out!

Battle of the Mascaras: Round 2

Hello my beautiful Stars and welcome to the Battle of the Mascaras, Round 2. If you missed out on Round 1, or would like a refresher, that post will be linked right here so you can check it out. Today the battle will be between last weeks victor, the Maybelline Lash Sensational original and the Maybelline Colossal Volume. I will compare both mascara's formulas, look, and application to decide which mascara will be this weeks victor to continue on to Round 3. So, let's get ready to RUMBLE!

Battle of the Mascaras: Round 1

 Being someone who loves mascara, I have quite a few and I decided I should share with you my findings of which is best for what and if there are any you should just steer away from. This may be a lengthy post so grab a drink and a snack and let's get started!

Adore Me Lookbook #2

Hello my Stars, Emma here, back with another Adore Me Lookbook! As I mentioned in this post, I have discovered the website Adore Me and I'm in love with their lingerie.  So as a little fun thing, I've decided to take some of their pieces of lingerie and pair some fun makeup looks with them.  You can find the Adore Me website here and specifically browse their lingerie through here.  They are always updating what they have on their website, which means I am constantly on there looking at all of the beautiful things they carry.  The look I did today is for a lingerie set called the Cindy Push Up and it comes in a total of six colors but I chose to go off of the yellow (mainly because I can't wear yellow clothes because they turn me red, so might as well wear yellow underwear!) Let's get to how I got the look!

My Brow Products

Everyone knows that eyes are the windows to the soul but also the eyebrows are the frame around that window.  Your brows help to frame your whole face, they can make or break you, so having the right product is key.  Luckily, there are many products on the market- drugstore and high end brand- that are now available.  So let's go and I'll talk a little about each product!

You're the Top Series: My Top 5 Lipsticks

It's been awhile since I posted something for the ongoing, 'You're the Top', series so I figured I would get together with some of my favorite lipsticks, have a photo shoot and show them off!  Great plan, huh? No? Just me? Ohhhkay then, well this is awkward. Kidding, I'm kidding! Hit that keep reading button, if you feel so behooved, and read on my little Stars and keep shining!

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation: First Impressions and Review!

Hello my beautiful Stars! Today, I'm going to share with you my first impressions and initial review of the BRAND NEW Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation which was graciously given to me by Influenster for review.  But do not fret, all opinions are honest and completely my own- let's get started!

June Jubilee Day 7: Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara REVIEW!

Before I start with the view, I have some news for you- this is my 300th post on this blog!!

So I just want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and reading and commenting and subscribing to my blog.  Who knew when I made my first post on November 28, 2012 I would make it to 300 posts three years later with 115 loyal subscribers.  Thank you guys so much!

Okay, now onto the review.  

Today I will be reviewing the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara because a woman on Instagram asked me about it and I realized I had never done one, so here it is (Keep Reading to see what I think!)

Maybelline Nudes palette- Yay or Nay: June Jubilee! Day 1

Hello Stars! Welcome to my new series, June Jubilee!- there is really no rhyme or reason to these posts and videos but they're all going to try and have a happy theme because, ya know, "Jubilee!" I know, cheesy right? Well, I'm a cheesy person ;)  Anyway, as you probably guessed from the title of today's post I will be reviewing the Nudes palette by Maybelline.  Now, don't judge it before you read this review or try it folks- you will be surprised.  The palette looks like this:
                                 
 The palette itself is quite durable, hard plastic casing with a clear plastic window so you can see the colors.  There is a good mixture of mattes and shimmer/sparkle colors- I was pleasantly surprised.  The only colors that are truly quite chalky are the two whites- top left corner, and second from the bottom right.  Even then, they are still usable unlike I was lead to believe by videos and blog posts bashing this palette.   So after hearing nothing but bad things about this palette I decided that I wanted to give it a try for myself, and I'm very glad I did.  I discovered that, with the right brushes and primer, the shadows can actually look quite nice.  

Here are a few of the colors swatched on my fingers:

The far right  (not my pinkie, no shadow on that finger) did get a bit washed out due to flash and bad back lighting.    But that is only two swipes of each color, pretty good for a $9.99 drugstore palette, non?  Here is the look that I created with this palette, not totally me because it's a bit smokey but I was pleasantly surprised with how well a look that I had not planned at all turned out.

I stuck mainly to the taupes for the lid and then took one of the shimmery dark browns and popped that in the crease.  I know shock horror shimmer in the crease but it can be done tastefully, I tell you! I promise! I then took the shimmery white, which was just the tiniest bit chalky, and highlighted my brow bone and then took the gold color and gently popped it into the corner of my eye to help open them up.  I then tight- lined my eyes with a simple NYX black liner and then used the Wet n Wild Max Volume mascara to finish the look off and I think it came off pretty well considering this palette was bashed left, right, and to the moon.  What do you think of this look? Would you now consider getting this palette? I definitely want to get the Blushed Nudes palette.  XOXO

Be bold, Be beautiful, Be YOU!

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Makeup MAYhem Day 28: ELF Lash Primer REVIEW

Here are the products I used to test the ELF Lash Primer; ELF Lash Primer (obviously), Maybelline The Rocket mascara, and my Tarte eyelash curler.  I prepped my eyelashes by curling them with my curler.  I clamp down on my lashes then bend them up and pump for ten counts and then hold the lash curler there for a count of five.  I did this on both eyes.  Then on my right eye (the picture's left eye) I applied the eyelash primer, using two coats.  I then put The Rocket mascara on the non primed eye for the first coat and then put the first coat on the primed eye, wiggling the brush back and forth.  I then went back and repeated the previous step except this time instead of wiggling the brush, I blinked my lashes into the product and I did this on both eyes.  Here is the result:

As you can see, the lashes with the primer look significantly longer and thicker than the side without the primer.  My final verdict? At first I was VERY apprehensive about this product.  I mean, a GOOD lash primer for under $20? You've got to be joking.  As you can see, though, I am currently eating my own words.  This lash primer is absolutely amazing and comes in at under $10.  ELF definitely has it's misses but as I've discovered this past 2015 it has more hits than misses.  I would definitely recommend this product for people wanting to try a lash primer for the first time OR looking for a new one since they've finished off their high end one.  I definitely say go to the ELF site here and get yourself this product. XOXO

Be Bold, Be Beautiful, Be YOU!

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Makeup MAYhem Day 26: $20 Makeup Challenge

Okay, so I sort of cheated and didn't go out and buy makeup but I'm really trying really hard to stick to my No Buy  (one more month to go!) so I used what I had and used the prices from either the website for ELF, since it's the same at the store, and Walmart pricing for everything else because that's where I would have gone if I had been buying makeup for this challenge.  So here is what I used:

1. Maybelline Fit Me Matte And Poreless foundation in 110 Ivory- $4.79: I chose this for my foundation because I don't feel the need to use a powder with it.  Usually I do, but for the purpose of this post I did not use powder.  It keeps me matte all day and the coverage is great.  It doesn't oxidize on my skin and it stays in place pretty well. I used my fingers to apply this on my face to save money on not 'buying' brushes.
2. ELF Studio Cream Liner in Black- $3: I was lucky and this came with it's own brush so I could use it and not have to add an extra price for an eye liner brush.  I love this liner, it stays all day and I can actually line my waterline with it without feeling like I'm stabbing my eyes.  The only problem is that it does wear off my waterline after a while.
3. Rimmel Scandaleyes Curve Alert mascara- $5.47: This was a MUST for this list because it curls my lashes without having to use an eyelash curler.  Best drugstore mascara ever. Hands down.
4. ELF  Essential Lipstick in Socialable- $1: This lipstick is actually a bright pink not red like the picture makes it look.  With that being said, this product will be doing double duty as a lip color and a blush and I did try it and it worked out pretty well.  Sadly, I forgot to take pictures :/
5. Maybelline Brow Drama in Light- $5.97: Of course you have to do those brows! Get them on fleek girl, and this stuff does in a pinch for under $6.  I really like using it alone on the day to day because it gives my eyebrows a tint while still shaping them and holding the hairs in place.
My Total? $20.41 wahh wahh wahhhhhhhh but hey, I was only forty-one cents over budget, I was afraid I would be two or three dollars over budget.  I now tag all of you, try the $20 makeup challenge but I would say you don't have to go out and buy new things (unless you have the means and want to).  I hope you enjoyed this post! XOXO

BE Bold, Be Beautiful, Be YOU!

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Maybelline Matte Lipstick: REVIEW

This post is not part of Makeup MAYhem, it's just a normal everyday post because I wanted to share this product with you.
A few weeks ago, I picked up one of the new (or maybe they're not 'new' but they're new to me) Maybelline Creamy Matte lipsticks in the color 670 'Ravishing Rose'.  I picked this up because I've been LOVING their Rebel Bloom and Vivids collection so I figured I would give one of these a try and I was not disappointed.
I don't usually use matte lip products unless they are the Revlon Matte lip crayons because I was having trouble getting into this new fad but not anymore! I absolutely adore this lipstick; the color, the texture, the non-existent scent, everything about it is wonderful.  I don't find it drying my lips out even though it is a matte lipstick, which is unlike most mattes out there.  I do find that it can sink into the tiny lines in my lips if I don't leave a lip balm on for a few minutes beforehand but even if I don't do that it doesn't deter me from wearing the lipstick.  The color is the perfect pinky-nude on me, and anyone else who is pretty fair like I am.  The consistency is very creamy and the lipstick just glides onto the lips instead of having a dragging feeling like some other matte products I have tried.  I also like that the packaging is matte so that I can easily spot it in my collection.  That's actually one of the things I love about the Maybelline lipsticks in general- the packaging goes with the type of product in the tube.  Otherwise the packaging is like that of any other Maybelline lipstick, silver base with the color and name sticker on the bottom with the product in a silver bullet.  I picked this product up at Walmart where the Maybelline Creamy Matte's collection runs about $6 which, for a lipstick, isn't too bad when L'Oreal and Revlon can run $4-$8 so it's right there in the middle ground.  Have you tried this lipstick? What do you think of it? XOXO

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Be Bold, Be Beautiful, Be YOU!

Makeup MAYhem Day #2: My Top Five Mascaras

Hello again Stars, how have you been this week? It's been super crazy for me and about to get crazier with Aladdin closing this Saturday.  So, before the craziness ensues I wanted to get up another well thought out and devised post.... which just happens to go along with my blush post. Oh, before we get to the good stuff, do you know what I did today? I got to go shopping with my friend Amy and help her pick out some of her first high end makeup products, like foundation and lippies, and then I got to teach her how to apply them all. Another job done well, booyah! Okay, okay, I'll stop rambling- onto the TOP FIVE MASCARAS!!

As with the blushes, they are in no particular order, and just because one comes before another does not mean I like it more or less. Cool? Cool. Let's rock this boat! (I have no clue what's with the sailing analogy, sorry guys)

1. Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, so I said this wasn't in any particular order- and it's not- but this is my Holy Grail high end mascara (with Perversion coming in a close second).  This mascara has an hourglass shaped wand that just makes your lashes looked fluttery and full and long without the hassle and trouble of false lashes.  I love this mascara, that's all I can really say.

2. Maybelline Rocket Volume mascara, okay. So. I picked this up on a whim at Wallgreens one day when they were on sale for $6 instead of the regular price and I decided to pick one up.  I had actually had pretty bad experiences with the last two Maybelline one's I had tried at the time so for me to take the plunge and try this was hard but you know what? I'm so glad I did.  This mascara is great for a drugstore mascara, I wouldn't say it gives me 'Rocket Volume' but I do notice that my lashes are a bit more voluminous and longer than when I went without it.  You do have to remember to curl your lashes before using it or you're going to have sad lashes.

3. Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex Mascara, my dad picked this up for me for Easter in a two pack because I wanted to try new Scandaleyes products but didn't know where to start, so he started with trying to get me away from my 'old faithful' mascara from the line and got this.  First off, the brush is hugh and it's bristles not plastic, which is really nice to see.

4. Rimmel Scandaleyes Cruve Alert Mascara is my all time favorite mascara.  It gives my lashes a great curl without using an eyelash curler. And is just my all time favorite. That's all I can say. Just go and try it.

5. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara has made it's way up in the ranks pretty fast, to the second spot just under my Curve Alert.  It's an amazing mascara that lifts and separates while also give a bit of curl and volume.  The brush is curved and has both short and long plastic bristles that help to get each and every lash.

So, two Rimmel mascaras and two Maybelline mascaras- can you guess my favorite brand yet? What are your favorite mascaras? Are there ones that you think I should try? Let me know down in the comments! XOXO

BE BOLD, BE BEAUTIFUL, BE YOU!

My Top 5 Blushes 💗

Well, I've finally done it, I've gone bonkers and paired down my many many blushes (if you'd like to see them all, please let me know) and picked my top five favorites.  These were not light hearted decisions and the ones I've picked, I really love.  I'm going to go from left to right describing them and I hope you maybe find some new blushes you would like to try out because of this post.

1. Milani Rose Blush in 08 'Tea Rose is the first in the line up.  I don't usually like matte blushes but this is a matte blush and it made it's way into my top five.  It's a nice deeper pink, but a deep pink that pale people can wear.  It is very smooth and soft, which makes it very nice to blend.
2. NARS blush in Super Orgasm is probably my all time favorite blush.  I love glitter and so the fact that it had gold glitter flecks in the blush is what drew me to it.  The big plus was that the peachy gold colored blush the glitter was in was absolutely gorgeous and was the final nail in shopping coffin and it found it's way into my Sephora basket.  It is highly pigmented which means all I have to use is a very light hand and you get a very nice color pay off.  I have a mini travel size of this color too, that's how much I love it.
3. Maybelinne's Dream Bouncy Blush in 30 Candy Coral.  I don't quite know how to explain the texture of this blush.  It's not a cream and it's not a powder but it is 'bouncy', like, you press it and it bounces back a little bit.  However you would describe the texture, it does nothing to compare to the product itself.  Note that with this blush you can really only use a stippling brush or your finger and my favorite brush to use is the E.L.F. small stippling brush, ANYWAYYY.   The color is absolutely amazing and beautiful, and the color pay off is just WOW! You have to use a very light hand or you will be blending for days, that's how pigmented it is.
4. NYX powder blush in Pinched, I have to say that I only purchased this because they said it was a drugstore dupe for the NARS Orgasm blush (it actually kind of is) but since then have come to love it as it's own.  It's a peachy pink color with a slight to mid golden shimmer running through it, and I absolutely love it.  It is a bit powdery but not so much that it takes me off it.
5. Tarte 24 Hour Blush in Adored, this is full size (I believe) that I got in a gift set.  It's a bright baby, almost Barbie, pink with a silver/white glitter running through the entire blush.  I think this is a gorgeous color, especially for spring and summer because it is so fresh and so beautiful.  This isn't very powdery and it blend pretty well, it's sort of in the middle in the road in that aspect.  As for the 24 hour claim, I don't know about that, but I do know that it lasts at least 10-12 hours when I wear it, which is super fantastic.
What are some of your favorite blushes? I'm dying to know! XOXO
Be Bold, Be Beautiful, Be You!

I LOVE Drugstore TAG

Hello my lovely shining stars, how are you today?! Great, I'm so glad to hear that! I have another video for you, this one is the I <3 Drugstore Tag for which I now tag all of you! I would love to see what you love and truly dislike from the drugstore :)
Please don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, it would really mean a lot. XOXO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQY-30hMdOerX2lCPb4pugg
QUESTIONS:

1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand overall?

2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?

3. Least favorite product?

4. What is the best makeup bargain?

5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?
7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!!

8. Drugstore product that isn’t worth the hype?

One mascara, two mascara, three mascara WEE!

Okay, so I don't have three mascaras it's more like eleven and one clear gel for my brows.  I know, I know, that's so many mascaras, right? Don't worry, dear fellow beauty bloggers, not all of them are open, I just took them out of their packaging because it was bulky and in the way.  Right now the two that I am using are Maybelline's Mega Plush mascara and the L'Oreal  Butterfly mascara and I keep them in my acrylic storage on my desk so I make sure to use them every day.  Would you feel better if I told you the ones that aren't opened yet? Okay, I haven't opened the Rimmel Scandaleyes Curve Alert, The Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves, and the E.L.F. glitter mascara. So I guess I have a slight obsession but I like having choices and being able to rotate them out every week makes it worth it.  

The Maybelline Pumped Up Volume really surprised me, I had never tried any piece of makeup made by Maybelline and so I was wary of how this mascara would work.  It makes my lashes look fuller and slightly longer so I would recommend it for you too try. I am still unsure of the Maybelline Mega Plush mascara, since I've only used it a few times since the new week started on Sunday. Then I have four Rimmel mascaras, two of which are unopened but one is a repurchase and the other I can talk about how I think it will work with the funny brush. Firstly, Scandaleyes Curve Alert is hand down one of my most loved mascaras.  It helps to make my lashes look like I'm wearing falsies and I just absolutely love this mascara. The other Scandaleyes I have is the Rockin' Curves one, I've never tried this one and since it isn't opened yet I can't attest to what it does to my lashes.  The thing that interests me about this mascara si the wand, it's in an almost 'S' shape.  I will let you know my findings when I open it! Another Rimmel mascara I own is the Retro Glam mascara.  This wand has two little bumps in the brush and that helps to make my lashes look more lush.  Finally, the last Rimmel mascara I own is the Lash Accelerator.  This one I am not too impressed with and am going to get rid of it.  I already have pretty good lashes so I guess I wasn't the best person to test the mascara that's supposed to help with the growth and lengthening of the lashes.

I received the CK One mascara on my birthday from Ulta as my birthday gift for being a rewards member.  Speaking of that, if you're not an Ulta rewards member you should definitely become because you get special coupons, a birthday gift, the chance to be a platinum member (which I am one) and you can get money off of your purchase if you have the right amount of points.  Anyway, I really like this mascara.  It separates my lashes  and doesn't make them clump, which was a fear of mine because of the brush being plastic but none of my fears happened.  This is a great mascara for seperating and lengthening my lashes.  Next mascara is the L'Oreal butterfly mascara.  I really love this stuff because it gives my natural lashes a winged look, which I am always trying to achieve.  Then the L'Oreal Voluminous I really just bought on a whim because it was teal colored.  I actually really like it when I do a coat of black mascara and then coat that with a layer of the Teal.  I think that the teal just alone would be too over powering.  Revlon Lash Potion, this is another one I need to throw away because it just doesn't work for me.  It doesn't look good on my lashes and it can't hold a curl worth a hill of beans.  So, in my personal opinion, don't get the Revlon Lash Potion mascara. As for the blue glitter mascara, I don't really know much about it other than that it is glittery.  Since I haven't opened it I have no idea if it is good or bad.

What are some of your favorite mascaras? Do you collect them like I do? Which one (high end or drugstore) should I try next? 

Thanks for reading! XOXO

Daily Makeup Routine

Here it is, my first tutorial video! I hope you guys enjoy and I would love to hear as much feedback as possible!

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Mad Men

This is a look I did yesterday to film a scene from the TV show 'Mad Men' for my film class.  I also have to replicate this look exactly on Friday, hence why I took so many pictures.  These are only half of them!  I hope you like this look!

I read the part of Peggy who, in the Pilot, is conservative and plain (for the 50's) so that is how I dressed.  I wore flat boots, a black pencil skirt, a red scoop shirt (which happens to be my best friend's shirt), and a wide black belt.  I do own some 50's style dresses but they didn't go with the character.  I wore simple faux pearl studs and faux pearl necklace to complete the look.

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes: REVIEW

I am a Rimmel girl through and through when it comes to mascara so for me to try another brand's mascara, it has to be a big deal.  I had heard a lot of good things about the Falsies line from Maybelline and so I figured I would give their newest mascara a shot and here is what I thought.

Valentine Sweetheart

This is my best friend Taylor, who became a (willing) model for a Sweetheart Valentine look I had been playing around with.  Like me, she is a Paley McPale Face but even more so, so the colors I used on her eyes really popped against her skin tone.  Here is the final look:
I used a light  pink wash all over the lids and then took a light purple/orchid color and did the crease and out to the eyebrow.  I then took a red and put it on the inner corner of her eye.  The final touch was a little bit of pink glitter from a NYX palette I own in the center of her eyelid.  On her cheeks I used my Napolean Pardis (NP) mosaic blush and swept it along the apples of her cheeks and up to the hair line.  One reason I really like this color is because it can either be sheer, like I did here, or be built up to a nice rosy flush.  The mascara I used was the Maybelline Rocket Blast mascara, which I've never used before.  I had read mixed reviews about it so I was a bit apprehensive to use it but was then pleasantly surprised when I put it on her lashes!  For her lips, since her eyes were so bold, I used a peachy sheen color from NYX gloss and it gave her a 'my lips but better' look.
This look is definitely meant more for night time partying or dates, but if you're bold- wear it whenever you want! That's the fun of makeup, if you can think of it- you can try it! XOXO