NOTD: Hot Pink + Gold Glitter Tips

I just uploaded this Nail of the Day on my Instagram (@lipstickndlace). This nail design was really quick and easy to do. I used Essie's Off the Shoulder all over the nails and brushed layers of Sephora by OPI's Only Gold for Me on the tips. Use a top coat to seal in the glitter and even out the nails and you're done!

XOXO,
Elle

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara

I recently mentioned this Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara ($19) in my July Beauty Favorites, it's the one mascara I've been reaching for the most this month and I'm sure I will continue loving it in the months to come. It really lengthens my lashes while at the same time maintaining a natural look, which is great for the daytime. It also stays put all day and I have bad smudging problems, so I give it some serious props for not making me look like a raccoon by the end of a hot summer day.

The packaging is unlike any other mascara I own, it comes in a squeeze tube instead of a regular tube so you can put every last bit of this mascara to use. It also came with this plastic "smudge shield," which I'm pretty sure is just a guitar pick, that you're supposed to use when applying your mascara to get close to the root of your lashes without smudging it onto your eyes. I think I ended up just throwing it out because it was too bothersome to use.

The brush of the product is nothing fancy, it's as the name states, it's a skinny brush with short tough bristles in a spiral, but I do like it. It doesn't clump my lashes together and applies just the right amount of mascara, not too much and not too little.

Overall, this is a great product and it is relatively inexpensive for a specialty store mascara. I recommend this product to anyone who wants to add length to their lashes while still maintaining a natural lash look.

July Beauty Favorites!

Well July sure flew by quickly for me. The first half of the month I spent in Florida at Disney World and Universal Orlando and the second half I spent in summer classes. Clearly, the first half of my July was the better half. But, at last the month is coming to a close and that means July beauty favs!

I'm still using a lot of my faves from June, like the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil, but there are a few new additions to my summer beauty routine.

First up we have probably the most expensive beauty item I've ever purchased in my life, the Cle De Peau Beaute Concealer ($70). Now I'm not in the habit of buying extremely expensive products but I decided to make an exception for this one. My entire life I've been searching for a concealer for my under eye circles and I could never find one that had the right coverage and consistency. I had all but given up until I heard about all these rave reviews regarding this concealer. I feel it was totally worth the $70 because it covers my dark circles like magic, and since I've been waking up at 6:45AM every Monday through Thursday for summer courses I have some serious circles to conceal.

My second favorite is this Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara ($19). I bought this a while ago from Sephora and I never paid much mind to it until recently. I don't know what came over me to go on and grab this mascara out of the bunch I have but I'm glad I did. It really lengthens my lashes and holds my curl.

I actually just purchased this Herbal Essences Hydralicious Shampoo ($8.67) & Conditioner ($8.67) about a week ago and I'm already completely in love with it. I couldn't quite put my finger on the scent for a while but in its description on Amazon it says that it has the scent of water lily nectar and passion fruit, all I can say is that it smells amazing. Most shampoos and conditioner weigh my straight and thin hair down but this duo leaves my hair soft and bouncy. I actually wake up in the morning with perfect looking hair, something that used to never happen to me with any other shampoo or conditioner I've used before.

Another drugstore and monthly beauty favorite is a longtime favorite of many beauty gurus, the Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm ($2.97) in Pink Punch. I'm pretty late to the game because when they first came out I figured it was just a glorified lip balm but now I see why everybody loves it. It definitely gives your lips a good amount of moisture and on top of that it gives your lips a nice hint of color. This shade in Pink Punch gives a hot pink sheen to your lips and I love how it feels lightweight, which is perfect for these hot summer days. It's a great product to take with you to the beach.

And finally, I've been really into my MAC Hey, Sailor! Blush ($21) in Fleet Fast! Like the Eyeko mascara, this was just lying around in my makeup arsenal for a while until I felt the urge to take it out again. It gives a nice peachy coral tint to the cheeks, giving me a nice and healthy glow for the summer.

So what are your July beauty favorites? I'd love to know! If you have a blog post please link it below, and if not then feel free to comment.

XOXO,
Elle

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain (Cherish)

I've been dying to try these Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains since I first heard about it. I know they've been out for a while but it has been almost impossible for me to find them anywhere! I've hunted all over the city for it and I could never find them, and when I did they were in colors that did not look like they would be flattering on me. So finally, when I was able to find the colors I liked, I picked them up immediately. The shade that I'll be reviewing today is Cherish, a light pinkish lilac.

The packaging of this product is very similar to that of the Tarte LipSurgences. The color of the packaging represents the color of the balm stain. It twists up so you never have to sharpen it but the downfall to that is that you won't have a nice pointed tip forever. I can deal with it since a chubby stick product like this would be hard to find a sharpener for.

The product itself is wonderful and was exactly what I was looking for. When you first apply it the color seems very sheer with a hint of mint (exactly like the Tarte LipSurgences), but as it oxidizes its true color comes out and almost matches that of the packaging. In the first hour or two of wear the color is very vibrant with a high gloss shine but as time goes on the gloss fades but the color stays on your lips.

I'm definitely interested in trying more colors but I've noticed that the color selection for this product is completely lacking. I've heard that the nude shades are not as pigmented and the rest of the shades are mostly pinks and purples. There is one red shade that looks interesting but so far I think I may have all the colors that would flatter my skin tone.

I highly recommend this product to anybody looking for a drugstore lip stain. It has good staying power and is a lot cheaper than buying a Tarte LipSurgence. The color and finish selection is not as great but it's pretty good if you're more into pinkish shades. This specific shade of Cherish is a very bright light purplish pink so I think it would flatter lighter skin tones the most. On a side note, all these colors, aside form the nudes, are very bright so they are great for a bold lip. I take points off for a lack of variety but in general, this is a great drugstore product.