Current Beauty Favorites

I seem to be on a beauty buying bender the last few months and it's only right I share my favorites with you.

I love reading and watching beauty product/skin care/makeup recommendations from other bloggers and youtubers.  If you have any favorites I need to be using, send them my way!

I have always been a huge fan of Moroccan Oil products.  I LOVE the way the smell. So much.

For Christmas my mom gave me this great heat protecting spray.  It smells yummy and protects my hair when I actually dry it, win.

She also gave me their split end treatment.  While I love going to get my hair cut, I never do it on a regular basis and split ends inevitably happen. This seems to be helping.

Come to think of it, Mama gave me my holy grail mousse too.  We share a love of hair products.  I am always in search of more volume and Kenra Volume Mousse is magic. I usually cannot get volume to last more than a day but with this mousse I can get at least 2 days worth. 

As far as face products, I have continued to use Philosophy's oldy but a goody Purity face wash but recently picked up one of their masks as well.  Their Pore Extractor Exfoliating Clay Mask is excellent.  I try to use it at least once a week and can immediately tell a difference.  I feel like it brings out the impurities in my face but also clears them up very quickly. 

I have never really used any of Korres products but I've been using their Pomegranate Balancing moisturizer and it is lovely! It is super lightweight and a little goes a very long way.  I literally lightly dab my finger in the the jar and that amount will cover my whole face. 

Before I lightly swipe on my moisturizer I use BareMinerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Serum.  This guy has all sorts of good stuff in it and I can tell a difference that it is working.  It is for sure making my face smoother and also decreasing the appearance of wrinkles.  Again, a little goes a very long way.

In the makeup department, I finally purchased a Naked eye shadow basics palette.  Granted it is the small travel size but I can see what the hype is all about.  The colors are very nicely pigmented, stay on all day and go on like a breeze.  

On the drugstore side of things, Wet n Wild has really been winning me over.  Not only are they cruelty free but they are so affordable! At the moment I have at least 4 favorites from them.

Their foundation is currently my go to, it is a great medium coverage and lasts all day.  

I am also a very large fan of their Megalast Liquid Catsuit lipstick.  It is the first matte I've tried out and really like it.  

And they cannot be beat for face and eye shadow primers.  I've been using both for the past few years and they are both under $5.  Enough said.

Kait and Casey turned me on to Vital Proteins Collagen.  I wasn't sure I needed it at first but after a few weeks of putting it in my coffee each morning I can tell a big difference in the thickness of my hair and how fast my nails are growing.  I've already turned 2 other friends onto its magic.  

And those are some of my favorites in my beauty regime.  Are any of these on your list?  Do you have any that I need to try out??

Beauty Faves

I have recently stumbled upon some new beauty products that are rocking my world.  The only right thing to do is to share those with you, right?

Most of the below items were inspired by watching beauty bloggers on YouTube, which I do a lot of. Which leads to a lot of #youtubemademebuyit

It just happens, I promise.  

So before I get to these magical products, I wanted to share with you some of my absolute favorites on YouTube.  If you have any to add to my list, please share! 

Marnie from MsGoldGirl - I love her down to earth style, her range of posts and her honest reviews.  Plus I think I would totally fangirl if I ever met her

Tati - Tati is a new find for me but I am hooked.  Her drugstore hauls are fantastic as are her WTF luxury item reviews.

Jessica from JamBeauty89 - Jessica is just fun and energetic.  I love her honest reviews and she really thinks about her purchases/the makeup she's using and why it's worth it or not.  I really appreciate that.

Kristin Gehm - I am fascinated by Kristin's collection and love her '4 looks 1 palette' videos.  

Erin from Busbee Style - Erin has the most chic style and is a fantastic resource on jazzing up your wardrobe for the upcoming season. 

I have plenty of favorites but those are my top ladies at the moment. 

So now on to what they've 'made' me buy ;)

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara (in black) : I was using (and talked about) the Benefit version of this but the more I used it, the more I changed my opinion on it.  It became clumpy and seems to be drying up.  I decided to try out the NYX version and like it a lot better, plus its way cheaper.  And has done an excellent job keeping the caterpillars on my head under control.  

Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Primer - I formally used the ELF eyeshadow primer but never really loved it.  It would pull against my eyelids and I didn't like that.  Marnie raves about the Fergie version of this primer but all I could find was the normal.  Regardless, I can see why she loves it.  It works like a  charm and is cheap! I still had a lot of shadow on my lids last weekend after running 8.5 miles, talk about working! 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer - I think it was Jessica who turned me onto this and I am SO glad.  I used to use the baby soft primer but it is very silicone-y and just slides on your face.  This primer actually goes into your skin and really helps your makeup stay on all day. 

And as always I have a constant makeup wish list going on...

Right now at the top of my list is...

Basically anything from Colourpop.  I am constantly hearing about this brand and I am dying to try it.  And it's cheap to boot!

I currently have my eye on these shadows and this satin lipstick.    

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink - I hear this is an exact dupe for the Nars blush we all know and love.  I also want to try their Last Primer, want your mascara to look amazing? Always go with a primer. 

Beauty Winners 2015

As I think back on the year I have determined that 2015 was the year of beauty products for me (and other more meaningful things but that's a different post ;) ).

I have always loved products, make up, hair products, etc. but now I feel like now I have finally found items that I really, really love and work for me.  

Here they are...in no particular order.

Philosophy Purity Face Wash : I was given a sample of this and immediately ordered the full size.  I have always heard good things about this face wash but never pulled the trigger on it.  I felt like it immediately made my face clearer and smoother, even after only a couple of uses.

Organix Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo : I used to have very thick hair as a child...that has somehow gone away and now I just have a LOT of fine hair.  Its not as fun BUT this shampoo is helping plus it smells heavenly.  

Drybar Triple Sec :  I've sung my praises of Drybar and how everything there smells AMAZING and on top of that I love this product.  Its like dry shampoo on crack.  Get it. Now. 

Lorac To Go Palette :  This may be my favorite product of the year.  Mainly because its multiple products in one.  One side is bronzer (perfect color, not shimmery) and two blushes.  The opposite side holds 6 perfectly colored and very usable eyeshadows.  The shadows are thick and pigmented perfectly.  And to top it off, this is the perfect palette for traveling.  It has almost everything you need in one compact area.  

Benefit Gimme Brow : Thankfully I have brows that do not need filled in.  The downside of that is that they are all over the place.  To be frank, they needed tamed.
Recently I was at the Benefit Brow Bar attempting to get them under control and they suggested this product.  I am so glad they did...it really helps keep them in place all day long.  I heard NYX makes a similar product I want to try out next. 

Clinique Pop Lip Color Cherry Pop : I first heard about this lipstick on Ms. Gold Girl's YouTube channel (PSA- watch her videos she has the best reviews and tips) and I picked some up and am in love.  This is the lip color I have on in our Christmas photos.  Word to the wise, it will stain basset snouts...oops.  

NYX Butter Lip Gloss : I have a few of these lip glosses love them.  They are pigmented and stay on for a long time...and not too sticky, a major winner in the my book.  

Morocaanoil Hair Spray :  The salon I to go uses Morocannoil products and I am OBSESSED with the smell.  My mom recently picked up this hair spray for me and between the smell and performance I am in love.  The spray holds well but keeps your hair flexible...ideal.

So there it is! What were your beauty winners this year?

On the counter {Product Reviews}

I've picked up a few beauty and hair products lately that I feel I need to tell you guys about.

Mainly because they are all rocking my world.

Most of these I've found on my own during random trips to Ulta and Target.

But I must admit that I have been obsessed with watching make up and beauty YouTube videos lately.

Such great resources and make up tips.

I really love MrKongsMom, HerLateNightCravings and MsGoldgirl

First up...face

Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash

First of all, you may notice a few teeth marks on this bottle.  Floyd wanted to wash his whiskers.

Moving on, this face wash is very light, smells great and really foams up.  Which convinces me it is really working.  Who knows if that's true or not.  I really like that this wash is light and doesn't feel too heavy on my face.  I don't know how much it is really 'brightening' my face but I can notice a slight difference. 

to go along with the face wash I picked up Boots Age Defense Protecting Day and Night Cream. 

Now that I'm 30, I figured it was time I should start using age defense treatments.  Anything I can do to lessen the wrinkles, I am on board.  I was also really drawn to these because of the SPF 15 in them.

Both of these are super light and fluffy, almost a whipped texture.  The nighttime one smells like oranges and I love it.

I have always been a fan of Boots products and these are no exception!

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

I first saw this over at Camp Patton and ordered it immediately. 

The description mentions a pulsating formula and I read that to mean it would pull the junk out of my face.  I was right in that assumption.  This stuff WORKS.

I've done the mask a few times and I am going to say it is a miracle worker.  {Knock on wood} since I've done the mask I have had virtually no breakouts.  I am usually cursed with a bad one every few weeks and after this, nothing! 

I will warn you that is is messy and will get all over your hands.  I HATE for my hands to be dirty and icky but this stuff is worth it.  

I've also heard you can mix just a tad up with water and put on a blemish to spot treat.

BOOST IT

GUYS.  I cannot put into words my love for this stuff.

I randomly picked it up at Ulta a few weekends ago when I was looking for a texturizer.  

At $4.99 I was skeptical to how good this spray could be but after one use I was a believer. 

If you want volume and lift this is your spray.  

The description is spot it, it really does create lift...who doesn't want that?

I literally cannot say enough good things about it. 

I use a little bit at my roots at different layers and it is volume to the sky.  It works almost better than teasing...and better than tearing up your hair.  I think it also really helps with the beachy waves look.

Thank you to everyone who complimented my hair earlier this week! I owe that all to this stuff and my curling wand.  

And that is what I've been using lately.  I have a few make up products I want to share with you guys as well...I will have that up soon.

Any other products I should be trying?

What's In My Bag (Round 2)

Many moons ago I did my first 'What's in my bag' post and seeing as how I love to try out new make up, that bag has switched up.

I've found a few things lately that I really love and think you guys should know about.
And bonus, none of these items are more than $10!

 1. Let's start with a bang, my newest favorite eye product for date night.  It is the ELF liner pen and it goes on SO smooth and it's almost impossible to mess up. WIN.  I say date night because on me, black eyeliner is a little intense for everyday (see below).

2. Need a perfect fall colored blush? This Tickled Pink Blush by ELF is the ticket and the perfect shade of pink.

3.  Rocket Volume Mascara - This has been my version of 'They're Real'.  I have a sample size of 'They're Real' and while I do like it, I don't love it (gasp!). It's almost too clumpy for me and virtually impossible to get off. While this mascara is thick (love that), it's not 'clumpy' and it comes off pretty easily.  And it's way cheaper.

4. (Daytime) Brown Eyeliner - I have been trying to wear more eyeliner lately because I love the way it looks. BUT usually when I apply it, it looks as if Floyd did it. However, you know what they say, practice makes perfect so things are getting slightly better day by day.  I recently picked up this brown and really like that it adds the dramatic effect of eyeliner but less subtle than 'HEY I HAVE BLACK EYELINER ON LETS GO OUT!' (<---- that's generally how black eyeliner is perceived in my head when I wear it, see #1.)

5.  NYC Wonder Pencil - There is a reason this thing is called a wonder pencil. IT WORKS WONDERS.

I use it on my waterline every day and it's an instant eye opener.
It is also a concealer and lip liner...wonders!

And before I put any of these things on my face I've been using this system from Boots No.7.

I wanted to treat myself to something after my first half and this is what I choose.  I have been loving it ever since.  I love that it has anti aging qualities, protecting aspects and it to top it off, it just smells great! I can definitely tell my skin is smoother and healthier since I've been using it.

What have you been using lately?

In My Makeup Bag

 I have been trying to up the ante in my makeup bag lately.

Honestly, I have no idea what I am doing but it is fun to play!

However, I have run into a snag...

I need new foundation and I have no idea what to get!

Sooo, I need your help!

I am currently using Makeup Forever HD and I like it but I am ready for something new.

I ventured to Ulta and the sales lady tried the Smashbox foundation on me.

I liked it but I wanted to get some opinions before I made a commitment.

So tell me, what do you use?

Any personal favorites?

Also on the makeup front, 

I have also recently purchased some ELF products that I have really liked.

1. This eyeshadow palette that I've mentioned before

I'm really obsessed with this thing.

So much so that I've bought a couple for Christmas presents for other people.

2. All Over Color Stick 

Perfect for rosy holiday cheeks!

3. For $1each  you can't really beat their brushes

There you have it!

Have you purchased any great makeup products lately?

In other news I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of our TBC followers!!

We reached 100 yesterday and I could not be happier!

Floyd and I love you all and love that you want to come back again and again to read our lil ol blog!

Thank you lovahs!

Now who is going to be 101? :)