4 Awesome Face Palettes to Travel With

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the weekend! Summer is just around the corner and you know that means, right? It's time to start traveling. Whether you and a group of friends are taking an awesome summer road trip or you're going on a family vacation somewhere exotic, if you're a makeup lover you're going to want to read this post. 

One of the hardest things for me when traveling is limiting the amount of bags I bring with me. Seriously, it was getting to the point where I wasn't leaving the house without 5 bags of luggage - 2 suitcases, 1 Caboodle (for my makeup, of course), 1 camera bag, and my purse. By the time my husband got through loading everything half of the car was full of my stuff. 

So, in an effort to downsize my packing I decided to invest in a face palette. That way I wouldn't have to pack an entire makeup kit with separate blushes, bronzers, highlighters, etc. But, me being me, I invested in not 1 but 4 face palettes to try out and now I can't wait to share them with you. 

These are (in my humble opinion) 4 awesome face palettes to travel with. If that's something you're interested in just keep on reading >>>>>>

4. Tarte Limited-Edition Tarteist Contour Palette Version III

This first palette was so amazing I actually did a solo review of it in April. To see that click here. Anyway, this palette is perfect for traveling because it has everything you need to do the perfect contour. It comes with circular pans with magnetic backs that can be removed so you reuse the palette even when the products run out. And it comes with not 1 but 2 bronzer, a contour powder, a blush, and 2 highlighters - one champagne-y and one golden. I can honestly say, for the first half of April this was my ride or die face palette. The powders are really pigmented and trust me, a little goes a long way. 

3. Benefit Get the Pretty Started Mini Cheek Palette

This little palette is by-far the most affordable palette on this list and the cutest. It's compact, which is perfect for traveling, and it offers 3 of Benefit's best products - the Hoola Bronzer, the Galifornia blush, and the Watts Up Cream Highligher. All through the month of March this little baby was my go-to face palette. All of the products in it work together nicely to give your face a healthy glow that lasts all day - even after a long and stressful work day at the office. Who wouldn't want that? 

2. Too Faced Natural Face Palette

This palette is my favorite face palette not only on this list but probably of all time. It comes with two of everything - highlighters, blush, and bronzer - that totally can fit almost every complexion. And what's better this palette actually lives up to it's name. No matter if you use the lighter bronzer or the darker bronzer you'll always end up with a natural looking contour. 

1. Estte Lauder Limited Edition 42 Shades. Endless Looks Palette

Ok, the last palette is really more than just a face palette - it comes with 30 eye shadows, 6 lips colors, 4 blushes/bronzers, and 2 shimmery highlighters. To me this is the ultimate palette to travel with because it has a little bit of everything. I really liked how the eye shadows were broken up into individual looks so everyone can create a look they love. As for the face part of this palette I love every part of it - from the blushes to the highlighters - this palette is a must for any travel beauty guru. 

So there you have it folks, the four face palettes I would recommend for traveling. Whether you're on the beach or chillin' on a cruise ship, seeing the local sights or hanging out overseas each of these palettes would do you well. 

Now . . . what's you're favorite face palettes? I'm always looking for a new palette to try out. Let me know in the comments. And have a happy weekend.

Until next time, my lovelies . . .

XOXO,


Nellie

Happy Mother's Day, Alice Ree!

 

 

Happy Mother's Day everybody! I just wanted to take the time to give a shout out to my mama, Alice Marie (or as I like to call her, Alice Ree). She's one of my best friends, one of my biggest supporters, and the one of the two people who loves me no matter what. She works hard and she loves even harder and I feel honored and blessed to have her a my mom. 

I hope you all have a great day and now let's go out there and show our moms some love.

Until next time . . . 

XOXO,

Nellie  

5 Movies You & Your Mom Should Watch This Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day weekend everybody! I hope you and your mom are having a great day. Whether she's near or far, right next door or the next room, take the time to time wish her a wonderful day. And if she's deceased take the time to remember her and give thanks for her. The Bible says: 



Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. - Proverbs 31:30

My mom and I love watching movies - everything from chick flicks to comedies - and nothing says I love you more to her than chilling on the couch and having an at-home movie fest. So, in honor of my mom, here are 5 movies you and your mom should watch this Mother's Day. 

1. Disney/Pixar's Brave
Ok, so when you think of Mother's Day the movie Brave probably doesn't come to your mind right away but hear me out, Brave touches everything a mother/daughter relationship consists of. For those of you who've never seen it, Brave is the story of a princess named Merida who makes a wish for her fate to change. As a result her mother, the queen, turns into a bear and the rest is as they say history. 

Merida and her mom find out that if they don't appreciate each other soon her mom will stay a bear forever. So it's up to Merida and her mom to find a way to see each other's strengths and realize that even if they have they're ups and downs, they'll always love each other.

2.Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias movie is what Mom and I like to call a "good, old-fashioned cry-fest" film. It's about Shelby and her Mom, Mlynn, and not only the ups and downs of their relationship but their friendship with four other women. Plus it was shot in Natchitoches, Louisiana (shout to LA!) and had some amazing actresses before they hit it big - like Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, and Daryl Hannah just to name a few. 

This movie will make you cry and laugh. Like Trudy (Dolly Parton) said in the movie, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion."

3.The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 
The next movie, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, is also shot in Louisiana (go figure) and my mom and I absolutely love it because it chronicles the rocky relationship of a woman named Sida Lee and her slightly eccentric mother, Vivi. When things go south (no pun intended) with Sida and Vivi, it's up to the Ya-Ya's to help bring them back together. Like Steel Magnolias, it's another tear-jerker but it'll definitely make you both laugh. 

 4. Monster-In-Law
Mother's Day is not only for your mom. If you're married you might have a mother-in-law to celebrate the day with. And if you do I have the perfect movie for you - Monster-In-Law. This movie is basically J.Lo vs. Jane Fonda and it's one fight you'll never forget. It'll touch your heart and make you smile and even laugh. 

5. Gilmore Girls the Entire Series
For the last movie on this list - it won't actually be a movie - but a tv show - Gilmore Girls. Mom and I have been a fan of Gilmore Girls since it first came out and we totally feel like we've grown up with Lorelai and Rory. We've laughed with them, cried with them, have even gotten mad at them during a few episodes but we always come back for more. This is the kind of show you and your mom can sit down and binge watch together. It'll be hours and hours of fun.

So there you have it, folks, 5 movies you and dear old mom can sit back, relax, and watch together. I hope you all have a great Mother's Day and if you know of any more great films of tv shows that you and you're mom love please feel free to let me know in the comments. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Until next time . . . 

XOXO,

Nellie

Sports Banquets & Sweet Sixteens

Hello everybody and welcome to today's post. Ok, so last weekend was pretty busy for me and my husband, Denis, because we had a sports banquet to go to on Friday and a Sweet Sixteen party on Saturday. Talk about a weekend of cake - which is never a bad thing for me. 

The sports banquet went great. Denis even gave a speech and handed out some trophies. As for the Sweet Sixteen party - my little cousin, Chancy, (who's not so little anymore) made the big 1 6. Her birthday party was bohemian themed and I thought her cake was one of the most coolest ones I've ever seen. 

All in all we had a great weekend with family and friends. And I can't wait to see all the amazing things Chancy's gonna do the older she gets. 

Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie

My Go-To Makeup Brushes

Hello everybody and welcome to today's blog post. I don't know about you but there are certain makeup brushes that have stolen my heart. From Morphe to Sigma to Makeup Geek to Real Techniques there are just a few brushes that I find myself consistently using. The brushes in this post are my ride-or-dies, my must-haves, my go-tos. I've used them for years now and I can truly say that each of them are worth the money.

To me, a good makeup look can totally become a great makeup look if you use the right tools. The right brush can take your makeup game to the next level by giving you a smooth application and blending your flaws away. And who doesn't want that? 

So if you're interesting in finding out what my My Go-To Makeup Brushes are, grab a comfy seat and a nice cup of coffee and let's jump right in >>>>

FACE

When it comes to my face makeup there are 6 brushes I use every day because they give me the smoothest application:

1. Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush - This little baby is so awesome I bought not 1 but 2 of them - just in case I needed a back up. This brush has a dense, flat top with soft bristles that applies foundation/bb cream/any cream product like a dream. 

2. Morphe M459 Flat Contour Brush - I actually heard about this brush from Jaclyn Hill. She swore by it for years for her baking so I gave it a try and turns out she was right. If you need to apply finely-milled powder under your eyes or make your contour look more define this is the brush for you. It's bristles are perfect for packing on the powder. 

3. Morphe M523 Tapered Powder Brush - For all my bronzing-loving babes the Morphe M523 is the brush for you. It's super soft bristles and tapered shape make it the easiest brush you'll ever use to contour and bronze your face and neck. 

4. Morphe E4 Angled Contour Brush - This is my go-to brush for applying blush. I know the name says it's for contouring but I always use it for blush. There's just something about the way the bristles are shaped that applies blush perfectly to the apples of my cheeks. 

5. Morphe M501 Pro Pointed Blender - There was a time, ladies and gents, that this brush was the Youtuber go-to brush for applying highlighter. And while a lot of people have moved on from it - I still swear by it. This brush applies powder highlighter amazingly. One swipe and the high points of your cheeks are glowing like sunbeams.  

6. Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush - Marlena Stell, the founder of Makeup Geek Cosmetics, taught me the importance of setting your under eye area after you've finished your makeup and this is the brush I use to do that. Because the tip is slightly tapered and the bristles are flat it's perfect for swiping some transluscent powder under your eyes to brighten them up. The brush isn't sold individually but comes in a set, but I didn't mind because these brushes are affordable yet durable. So worth the $$. 

 

So now that you've seen all my face brushes let's move on to the eye brushes, shall we >>>>

EYES 

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and I must say I want my windows to look amazing and well-blended. The brushes listed below have been my favorites for years - they travel with me, they stay within arm's reach, and they help to create all my favorite eye  looks.  

 

Left to Right: 

1. Morphe E36 Detail Crease Brush - This little brush is perfect for smoking out the lower lash line. It's tiny tip and soft bristles won't irritate your eye one bit. 

2. Sigma E56 Shader Lid Brush - Have you ever tried to pack a loose pigment on your lid with the wrong brush and it ended up going everywhere and ruining your whole look? Yeah, I've definitely been there before, which is why I invested in this little beauty. This brush has dense bristles that pick up loose pigment and pack it securely to the lid. 

3. Morphe M432 Flat Liner Definer Brush - This is another brush perfect for smoking out the lower lashline. It's tip is flat and soft, making it ideal for your waterline and lower lashline. 

4. Morphe M433 Pro Firm Blending Brush - This is my go-to brush for packing on darker shadows to the outer V of my eye. It's tapered shape help you blend shadow into the crease like a dream. A must-have for any eye brush collection.  

 

 

 5. Sigma Small Angle E65 brush - If you're looking for an angled eyeliner brush that's easy to use and creates awesome wings with a single flick this is the brush for you. Honestly, this is the brush I would recommend to makeup beginners because it's angled tip makes it almost impossible not to draw a good wing.
 

6. Morphe M160-1/16 brush - This is hands-down my favorite eyeliner brush of all time. I mean, seriously, you can't go wrong with it. The bristles are super soft, bendable, and tiny, making it the perfect tool to use when you're going for that super sharp, detailed wing. In my opinion, it's a must for any makeup brush collection.

 

7. Makeup Geek Outer V Brush - If you've read some of past blog posts then you're bound to know that I'm a major Makeup Geek fan. I find all of the Makeup Geek products to be as good or even better than high-end products and this includes their brushes. The Outer V brush is a small-domed brush that's perfect for packing on the color in - you guessed it - the outer V of your eye. But I use it for other things - like highlighting my brow bone and inner corners. All in all, this brush is the business and definitely worth you're hard-earned $$. 

8.  Morphe M124 Firm Shadow Brush - Like the Sigma E56 this brush is great for packing on loose pigments because it's bristles are - as the name says - firm yet soft enough not to irritate your eye. 

9.  Morphe E18 Round Crease Brush - This brush is the perfect Morphe dupe for the Makeup Geek Outer V brush. I basically bought it as a backup for when my Outer V brush was dirty and it's served me well. 

THE BEST OF THE BEST

These last 5 brushes are what I like to call "The Best of the Best" because they work phenomenally and you will always, always, always find them in my makeup bag. 

10. MAC 239 Synthetic Eye Shader Brush - This brush is the best for packing on shadow on the lid. It's stiff bristles pick up the most pigment and it's flat shape fits your lid perfectly. 

11. Sigma Tapered Blending E40 Brush - If you could only buy one eye brush in the world to use for the rest of your life this would be the brush you should choose. It blends out eye shadow like a dream with just a few motions and it is definitely worth the bucks. 

12. Morphe M431 Precision Pencil Brush - This pencil brush is amazing because it's affordable and puts the most pigment to the lower lash line.

13. Morphe M441 Pro Firm Blending Brush - Sometimes when you're layering eye shadows you need a brush that can really get into the crease without making a mess - this brush is the one for the job. It has a tapered tip that fits perfectly into the crease and outer V. I loved it so much I bought 2 of them from the Morphe site. 

14. Sigma Tapered Blending E35 Brush - This brush is basically a smaller version of the E40 but I love using them both together because they work so well in blending out shadows - even the most stubborn eye shadows. Sigma has outdone themselves.  

 

So there you have it folks, my favorite makeup brushes. These babies have gotten me through a lot of occasions from my every day makeup I wear to work to my wedding day. 

What's your favorite makeup brushes? Do you like Sigma or Morphe or another brand more than the others? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie