April Ipsy Glam Bag

I know it's been a while since I last wrote a post and I sincerely apologize. Life got in the way as usual and I couldn't find the time to blog. I can't guarantee that I'll be back on a regular schedule since I'm graduating soon and finals are just around the corner, but I will try my best. Now let's get on to what this post is actually about. My April Ipsy Glam Bag arrived while I was away in Spain and I couldn't have been more excited to see it waiting for me in my mailbox when I got back. I opened it right away and was instantly intrigued when I saw that it had a rock star theme. I thought smokey eyes and glitter, but what I found inside was all that and more.

Review: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine (Fuchsia in Excess)

Can somebody please tell me why Yves Saint Laurent can do no wrong? From their Touche Éclat to their Glossy Stains almost all of the products they've debuted in the past few years have become cult favorites. One of these cult products is their Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine ($35). From the beautiful packaging to the perfect quality everything about this lipstick screams amazing. It took a long time for me to finally cave in and purchase one but I'm so glad that I did.

If I could I'd buy every shade of this lipstick but since I'm a 21 year old girl on a college student budget I had to decide on just one. I ended up opting for the Sephora exclusive shade Fuchsia in Excess. Described as a bright luminous pink on the website this shade is definitely bright and bold. As a huge fan of statement lip colors, I immediately fell in love with this shade and have been incorporating it into almost all of my makeup looks these days. A neutral eye with the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine as a pop of color has been my go-to lately.

The product itself performs exceptionally well. Highly pigmented and easy to apply, the color lasts for up to 3 hours before I need to reapply. While that is rather weak in terms of staying power, the product makes up for the lack of longevity by being very hydrating. I don't feel the need to apply lip balm like I do with MAC lipsticks and I prefer to have hydrated lips than a long-lasting lipstick.

As if the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine doesn't already sound amazing, the packaging is gorgeous. You can see from my photos that it comes in a decadent gold tube with an intricate YSL design around the center. The lipstick feels slightly heavier than most other tubes but it gives the product a more luxurious feel. It is by far my most beautiful lipstick on display in my makeup collection.

If you can't tell by now I am absolutely smitten with the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine and I definitely intend on purchasing more shades. It's even beat out my Chanel Rouge Allure! I'd definitely recommend this product to anyone and everyone who is in the market for a high-end lipstick. I'm also looking in to picking up one or two of the Glossy Stains since I had such an amazing experience with the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine. If you have any shades to recommend please do so!
♥
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Review: MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

I don't typically reach for gel eyeliner but I've recently been getting back into the softer yet still precise look that it gives. I previously owned the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($24) but after having it for around 3 years the product finally dried up. Instead of repurchasing the Bobbi Brown liner I decided to try the ever-popular MAC Blacktrack Fluidline ($16).

Best of Beauty 2013

My favorite beauty products from the year of 2013. Sorry for the late upload, I was without internet for a week!

☺LETS BE FRIENDS!☺
Blog: http://bit.ly/1dtpXi7
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1843L8z
Instagram: http://bit.ly/14jRzTF

★PRODUCTS MENTIONED★
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (Travel Size)
http://bit.ly/1ekNA9T

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation (Natural)
http://bit.ly/1bnmJcA

La Mer The SPF Fluid Tint Broad Spectrum
http://bit.ly/KSanC3

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer (Light)
http://bit.ly/1awiXmz

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (Shade 6)
http://bit.ly/1mEgTZq

bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil SPF 15 (Translucent)
http://bit.ly/1mSSLVU

N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder (Sunny)
http://bit.ly/M69BTC

MAC Mineralize Blush (Warm Soul)
http://bit.ly/1d1l3VP

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo (Dark Brown)
http://bit.ly/18I8LUn

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original)
http://bit.ly/1a7GB3V

Urban Decay Naked Palette
http://bit.ly/1eZf72c

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Super Slim Liner (Black)
http://bit.ly/1ganLA8

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Zero)
http://bit.ly/1d1pvE3

Benefit They're Real! Mascara
http://bit.ly/15Rsznu

Revlon Lip Butter (Raspberry Pie)
http://bit.ly/1ivleRv

Lancôme Rouge in Love Lipcolor (Roses in Love)
http://bit.ly/1mT5Xu9

Maybelline Baby Lips (Cherry Me)
http://bit.ly/1dVZ3BY

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Sassy Mauve)
http://bit.ly/1htBG12

♥WHAT I'M WEARING♥
Brandy Melville Mariana Knit
http://bit.ly/1htC7Is

DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored. Some of the links above are affiliate links.
♥
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Review: Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick in Scoundrel

I have to be honest, I've never been interested in trying any Buxom products. In my mind the brand was well-known for their plumping lip glosses and I'm not a fan of lip plumping products. What eventually changed my mind and convinced me to purchase this Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick ($21) in  Scoundrel was one of my girlfriends. She was wearing the lipstick in a different shade while we were shopping in Sephora and of course the makeup junkie in me had to buy one for myself. It also didn't help that we were in a Sephora and I can never walk out of that store without purchasing something. I ended up picking up the shade Scoundrel because a girl can never have too many red lipsticks, right?

The lipstick comes in an hourglass shaped mirrored tube that functions like a normal lipstick. I'm not the biggest fan of the packaging since it gets dirty very easily. Although the mirror exterior helps if you are trying to apply lipstick without a proper mirror on hand, it picks up fingerprints almost as easily as NARS' signature rubber black packaging.

Scoundrel is a blue red shade, which is flattering on all skin tones. The color stays vibrant for 4-6 hours and I can go through lunch without needing to touch-up. There is no feathering from the lipstick even without the use of a lip liner. But be wary of smudging some on your teeth and transferring the color onto other objects (i.e. cups, food, your boyfriend, etc.), since I've done both in my experience. 

I would purchase another Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick but I have to say that the shade range is rather limited. While there are pinks, reds and plums, each shade only has a few variations. However, the staying power and intense opacity definitely makes up for the lack of color selection. On top of that, the product is not drying so you don't need to worry about chapped lips and needing lip balm.
If I were to buy other shades of the Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick I'd most likely purchase Exhibitionist and/or Hooligan. Both shades were beautiful when I swatched them and I almost picked Exhibitionist over Scoundrel. ♥
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October Favorites 2013

It's that time of the month again!

No, not that time of the month.

It's favorites time!

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix - http://bit.ly/1dqE1se

B. Vitalised Eye Cream - http://bit.ly/HsOhp9

Collection 2000 Concealer Lasting Perfection - http://bit.ly/16VtXbe

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush - http://bit.ly/17YcwS3

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Celestial - http://bit.ly/1cEjJgW

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in Shade 5 - http://bit.ly/1atGGyn

Barry M Nail Polish in Raspberry - http://bit.ly/15tMNTV

ON ME:

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil-Free in Natural - http://bit.ly/1adIu0t

MUFE Full Cover Concealer in 6 - http://bit.ly/17HokIe

Collection 2000 Concealer Lasting Perfection - http://bit.ly/16VtXbe

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Medium Brown - http://bit.ly/18I8LUn

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen - http://bit.ly/1adJUYX

UD Naked Palette (Gunmetal on the inner lid, Creep on the outer lid) - http://bit.ly/HfzhtX

L'Oreal Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner - http://bit.ly/1icj985

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - http://bit.ly/15Rsznu

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

MAC Mineralize Blush (Warm Soul) - http://bit.ly/1eXesBY

Lorac Perfectly Lit Highlighter in Spotlight - http://bit.ly/Hgr7Bf

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Celestial - http://bit.ly/1cEjJgW

Sigma Brushes:

Click here http://bit.ly/1h6swsn and use code FALL2013 to get 10% OFF your order through October!

♥
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Review: Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial

I searched for these bad boys everywhere back in the States but no matter where I went they could not be found. That's why the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers ($10.68) were at the top of my shopping list for when I came to London. I bought mine in the shade Celestial, which is a mauvey pink, but I'm certain I'll be adding more to my collection the next time I visit Superdrug.

To start off, the packaging is very drugstore. It doesn't try to pose as a higher end product and if you are very judgmental on packaging as I am, it looks flat out cheap. The product comes in a standard tube, like that you'd find lip gloss in, with the only unique property being that it has an irregularly shaped top. I'm assuming it's meant to represent a constellation of some sort since all the names of the shades have to do with outer space.

Once you open up the product you can see that it comes with a hollowed-out doe-foot applicator, which I've never seen before. I'm not sure if the design serves a particular purpose but I'm very impressed by the application. The product glides on smooth and is highly pigmented. I only need two coats for full opacity and to cover any areas I may have missed in my first coat.

On me, the lip stain lasted for approximately 6 hours with eating and drinking before it began to fade. I wanted to test its limits so I didn't reapply it and while the color was quite subtle, the product was still on my lips come the end of my 12 hour day. Never once did my lips feel dry and the color faded evenly across my lips, unlike the L'Oreal Lip Lacquers, which tends to fade in patches. Quite impressive if you ask me since I've never found a drugstore lip stain to last that long.

I'm incredibly impressed by the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers and there's no doubt in my mind that I'll be purchasing more shades. I'd highly recommend this product if you're looking for an affordable, long-lasting lip stain. I currently have my eye on Stellar, Nova, Galaxy and Apocaliptic. It's possible that by the end of my time here I'm going to have accumulated all the shades!
♥
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TAG: I Heart Fall 2013

I ♥ Fall Tag!

QUESTIONS:

1. Favorite Fall Lip Product?

2. Favorite Fall Nail Polish?

3. Favorite Starbucks Fall Drink?

4. Favorite Fall Candle?

5. Favorite Fall Scarf or Accessory?

6. Haunted House, Haunted Hay Ride, or Haunted Corn Maze?

7. Favorite Halloween Movie?

8. Favorite Candy to eat on Halloween?

9. What are you Dressing Up as for Halloween?!

10. What is your Favorite thing about Fall?

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sassy Mauve - http://bit.ly/H0LFxL

Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama - http://bit.ly/H0LN0h

Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Leaves - http://bit.ly/Hgq5oS

Primark Infinity Scarf

ON ME:

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil-Free in Natural - http://bit.ly/1adIu0t

MUFE Full Cover Concealer in 6 - http://bit.ly/17HokIe

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Light - http://bit.ly/1fTTqoa

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Medium Brown - http://bit.ly/18I8LUn

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen - http://bit.ly/1adJUYX

UD Naked 2 Palette (Snakebite on the outer lid, Suspect on the inner lid) - http://bit.ly/179qF2j

L'Oreal Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner - http://bit.ly/1icj985

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - http://bit.ly/15Rsznu

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

Sleek Blush by 3 Palette in Lace (Guipure) - http://bit.ly/165pEEh

Lorac Perfectly Lit Highlighter in Spotlight - http://bit.ly/Hgr7Bf

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sassy Mauve - http://bit.ly/H0LFxL

Sigma Brushes:

Click here http://bit.ly/1h6swsn and use code FALL2013 to get 10% OFF your order through October!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored. Some of the links above are affiliate links.

♥
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Review: Boots Essentials Cleansing Wipes

I first mentioned this product in my Boots & Superdrug Haul not too long ago and if you watched it then you'll know what I'm going to say next. This Boots Essentials Cleansing Wipes (£1.50) is absolute rubbish. I only bough them because I was jet lagged wandering around Boots trying to pick up whatever I desperately needed in as little time as possible and it happened to be on a 3 for £3 sale.
While I got the product for only £1, in essence you are paying £1.50 for 25 wipes. I believe this is the standard amount of wipes you would typically get in one of these packets but I feel like I use them up so quickly because sometimes I'll need two to effectively rid my face of all my makeup. This is because the wipes are so dry. When you take them out of the packet you feel almost no moisture and even when I got down to the bottom of my last pack the sheets were still not damp.
I feel like I'm rubbing my face with a paper towel when I'm using this product. I'm the type of person who likes wipes that are heavily saturated so clearly this product gets a big thumbs down from me. I believe the only up side to these wipes are that they are not heavily scented and I haven't had any problems with irritation from the formula.
I ended up buying two of these Boots Essentials Cleansing Wipes and one Boots Essentials Eye Make-Up Remover Gel for a total of £3. While it certainly was a bargain, I would have much rather paid more money for products that actually work. If you read my review on the Boots Essentials Eye Make-Up Remover Gel then you'll know that it sounded exactly like this one. After my experience with these two products from the Boots Essentials line, I can decidedly say that I am never buying a product from this line again.
♥
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What's Your Skintone? | House of Fraser

Today I bring to you yet another exciting post! I have been working with House of Fraser, a department store with locations in both the UK & Ireland, to put together a post on how to find your skintone. This is the first time I've ever been featured as a guest blogger and it would mean the world to me if you ladies (and gentlemen) could check out the post on the House of Fraser blog.
In it you can learn about the different skintones, how to find out which one is yours, and what makeup will suit you the best. I have a warm skintone so if you're interested you can head on over to the House of Fraser blog and read what I had to say about working with a warm skintone. Along with my own advice, you can read what several other beauty bloggers have to say about their own skintones and the great tips they have to share.
What's your skintone? And what advice would you have to give when it comes to choosing makeup for your skintone?
♥
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I'd like to extend a warm thank-you to House of Fraser for allowing me the opportunity to work with them on this post. It's been a pleasure!

Boots & Superdrug Haul!

I really apologize for this video being two days late. I had filmed this haul on Monday but when I went in to edit it I was really unhappy with the lighting and the quality. So I decided to re-film and re-edit the entire video. I'm still working out the kinks in my filming situation here at my dorm so bear with me while I try to get everything perfect.

☺LETS BE FRIENDS!☺
Blog: http://bit.ly/1dtpXi7
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1843L8z
Instagram: http://bit.ly/14jRzTF

★PRODUCTS MENTIONED★

BOOTS:
Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash
http://bit.ly/19EPyPE

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion
http://bit.ly/1855RsC

Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Make-Up Remover Gel
http://bit.ly/1bM91pc
Review: http://bit.ly/GPwiZh

Boots Essentials Cucumber Cleansing Wipes
http://bit.ly/16BwVPV

Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion
http://bit.ly/16VsSQS

Boots Conditioning Nail Polish Remover
http://bit.ly/165oada

Boots 6 Way File and Bufffer
http://bit.ly/19pX4zO

Models Own Iced Neon Nail Polish in Bubblegum
http://bit.ly/19EQsvt

Models Own Velvet Goth in Sardonyx
http://bit.ly/19EQEL8

SUPERDRUG:
Head & Shoulders Shampoo in Menthol
http://bit.ly/165oVD7

Head & Shoulders Conditioner Smooth & Silky
http://bit.ly/1edYNeB

Barry M. Nail Polish Raspberry
http://bit.ly/15tMNTV

Barry M. Gelly Hi-Shine Dragon Fruit
http://bit.ly/1bjkg48

Collection 2000 Concealer Lasting Perfection Light
http://bit.ly/16VtXbe

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick Shade 5
http://bit.ly/1atGGyn

Rimmel Apoaclips Lip Lacquer Celestial
http://bit.ly/1cEjJgW

Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara Black
http://bit.ly/GJEpq4

Sleek Blush By 3 Lace
http://bit.ly/165pEEh

♥WHAT I'M WEARING♥
Madewell V-Neck Pocket Tee White
http://bit.ly/15tNCfp

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick Shade 5
http://bit.ly/1atGGyn

DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored. Some of the links above are affiliate links.


♥
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Review: Lush Celestial Facial Moisturizer

I've always been a sucker for Lush. There's something about the simplistic packaging and company values that draw me in to their products. If you saw my Lush, Sephora & Barneys Beauty Haul, you'll know that I stopped off at Lush before I came to London to stock up. Which in hindsight was pretty silly since Lush was founded here in England, so the prices on some of their items is actually lower.

One of the products that I picked up during my visit was this Lush Celestial Facial Moisturizer ($24.95). If you read my Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser review that I posted up two weeks ago on my blog, you'll know that I was looking for a skincare routine to help treat my acne-prone and oily skin. The wonderful sales associate at Lush in Soho recommended I use the Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser with this Lush Celestial Facial Moisturizer in order to "reset" my skin.

I had been using Lush's Imperialis Facial Moisturizer ($24.95) before this and noticed that it wasn't hydrating my skin enough, so I asked for something more moisturizing this time around. The sales associate at Lush recommended I try the Lush Celestial Facial Moisturizer because it's formulated for dry and sensitive skin so it's moisturizing while at the same time it's not too thick that it'll irritate or clog my pores. It sounded like good enough logic to me so I picked it up and have been using it for a little over a month now.

The product is made of almond milk and cocoa butter so it pretty much smells like a milkshake for your face. Beware though for it is heavily scented, so if you don't think you can stand the smell of almond milk then I'd suggest you opt for a different moisturizer. If you can get past the scent, or actually enjoy it like I do, you'll notice that the product has a very light and milky consistency. It's not a thick cream but it's not watery like some light facial moisturizers are. It's in that in between state so it feels decadent when applying it and your skin drinks it up quickly since it's still quite light.
Since I've started using the Lush Celestial Facial Moisturizer I've noticed that my skin hasn't been as dry. When I was using the Lush Imperialis Facial Moisturizer, the area of my forehead in between my brows would always be dry and flaky no matter how much moisturizer I applied. Now the flakiness is gone and the rest of my skin isn't too overly hydrated. I've been really enjoying this product since I've bought it and if it weren't for my need to try every possible facial moisturizer I can that piques my interest, I'd definitely buy this again. ♥
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Review: Boots Essentials Eye Make-Up Remover Gel

One of the first things I did when I moved into my dorm a little over 2 weeks ago was take a trip to Westfield Stratford Center to pick up toiletries that I either couldn't, or had forgotten, to bring with me from home. My first stop was Boots, which I suppose could be compared to an Ulta back home in the States. Suffering from jet lag and a lack of sleep, I didn't want to think too much about what I was buying so I grabbed things on a whim.
One of those things was this Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Make-Up Remover Gel (£1.50). I'd heard decent things about Boots' brand of skincare and couldn't be bothered to scour the aisles for a different one so I dropped it in my basket and headed for the checkout line. In hindsight, I probably should've looked a little harder for a better makeup remover because I really wish I didn't buy this one.
Straight off the bat, the product looks like complete rubbish. The packaging is cheap and totally generic. It comes in a cheap plastic bottle with nothing but the name of the product printed on the front. I really should've been more judgmental of this product, because if I had I never would've picked it up.
The product itself is as much crap as the packaging is. It's a thick gooey gel formula that you pretty much smoosh onto your eyes with a cotton round to attempt to take your makeup off. With the first swipe you end up with panda eyes and with every swipe after that you slowly start to remove your makeup. I find that I have to use a lot of product and sometimes go in a second time with another cotton pad or makeup removing towelette in order to really get off all my makeup.
Needless to say, this is a terrible product that hopefully I can return. If any of my readers knows the Boots in-store return policy, please let me know what it is because I feel like I just wasted £1.50.
♥
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September Favorites 2013

It's that time of the month again ladies (and gents), time for my monthly favorites. Watch my video after the jump to see what products I've been loving during the month of September. Also, keep in mind that this is the first video I've ever filmed in my dorm room here in London, so the lighting is a bit dodgy and I look incredibly tired due to jet lag and lack of sleep.

Lush, Sephora & Barneys Haul

Did some last minute shopping at Lush, Sephora and Barneys before I made my journey to London! Check out the products I got!

Review: Hourglass Foundation/Blush Brush No. 2

I made a trip a few weeks ago to Sephora and bought a bunch of stuff before I went abroad and somehow this pricey brush made its way into my bag. This Hourglass Foundation/Blush Brush No. 2 ($58) was definitely not worth the money. Don't get me wrong, the brush is of very high quality, however for the price tag it just didn't cut it for me.

September Empties (Products I've Used Up)

Greetings from London! My sincerest apologies for not posting in over a week, I haven't had the chance to sit down in my room since I got here. I filmed this video back at home before I left and had meant to post it the Wednesday before my flight but per usual, life got in the way. Please keep watching to see what products I used up in the month of September and whether I'd repurchase them or not.

Review: Mica Beauty Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow in Bronze

I've never been a huge fan of mineral eyeshadows, I always found them too messy to work with. Often times, if I just dampen my brush and use a pressed shadow I can achieve the same high shine and intensely pigmented look. However, if you watched my August Ipsy Glam Bag Unboxing video on YouTube you would've seen how excited I was after swatching this Mica Beauty Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow ($14.95) in Bronze.

August Favorites 2013 + ANNOUNCEMENT!

It's that time of the month again. Check out my favorites and see what big announcement I have in store for you guys after the jump!

Review: Pixi Lash Booster Mascara

I'm always looking to try new mascaras because I have yet to find one that could be considered my holy grail. I have straight and thin Asian lashes so I need something that can hold my curl and give me both volume and length. So when I received this Pixi Lash Booster Mascara ($17) as part of my August Ipsy Glam Bag, I was excited to try it.