May Favorites 2018

Hello everybody and welcome to today's post. Ok, so let me state the obvious, it's been a while since I've posted a blog post, but trust me, there is plenty of exciting things coming up this month. And speaking of this month I realized that there were a few products I found myself really, really loving last month. 

Ladies and gents, let me introduce you to my favorite products for May 2018. So if that sounds like something you're interested in just keep on reading >>>>>

BATH TIME!

Now that it's officially summer in Louisiana I find myself taking more and more showers and these three products have quickly become staples in the shower for me. 

For the month of May my go-to body wash has been the Dove Go Fresh Body Wash in Cucumber and Green Tea. This stuff smells ah-mazing! And personally it reminds me of summer. The cucumber is invigorating in the morning and the green tea makes me feel all fresh and clean. But the best part is that it's a moisturizing body wash - so my skin feels super soft for hours after the shower. 

The number two product I was loving in May was the Zoella Beauty Shower Shake. Technically, this stuff is a moisturizing body wash but I found myself using it for so much. Because the formula is kind of thick and really gentle on my skin I found out that it worked really well to shave my legs. 

Which brings me to the next product - the Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel. I came across this stuff when I couldn't find the Skintimate Shave Gel I normally use and let's just say after the first use I've been hooked. It leaves my skin feeling as soft as a baby's butt. And bonus, it's not overly perfumed - so the scent doesn't knock you down. In my opinion, this stuff works great and if you have sensitive skin this is the shave gel for you. 

THE EYES & FACE HAVE IT!

 

 

In the month of May there were a few eye and face products that really stood out to me. And to be honest, certain brands really impressed me. A good example is the Wet N' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palettes. I picked up two from my local drugstore - Rose in the Air and Not A Basic Peach - and I've been lovin' them ever since. These palettes are home some of the most buttery, easy-to-blend, buildable shadows on the market and what makes even more appealing - they're only $4.99 a piece. 

A lot of YouTubers have even been calling the Rose in the Air Palette an affordable dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette and I can honestly I agree with them. If you're looking for palettes with shadows that work just as good as some of the higher end palettes definitely give Wet N' Wild a chance. 

The next product is a face powder - the Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Nude. Since I have oily skin I tend to be kind of picky about my face powders - shine is a no-no. But this powder is great because it has a light and airy formula that doesn't cake or separate on the face. I apply it with a damp beauty sponge and (just like it's name) it works like a dream. Bravo, Maybelline!

I also found a product from a local shop that caught my attention in May - the Southern Magnolias Body Butter lotion in Apple Macintosh. It's one of the best hand-made lotions I've ever tried and not only does it leave my skin feeling moisturized and fresh - it smells like apples. I don't know why but I just love smelling like fruit. 

I've always been a fan of Real Techniques brushes but over the last few months I can honestly say I've become a super fan. One day I was browsing around my local Ulta and I found the Real Techniques 303 Glitter Contour Brush and my life was changed. This brush has to be best contour brush on the planet. Because it has a flat top it makes doing your contour a breeze. Plus, it has glitter on it. Need I say more?

As for the last face gem I found in May this little baby caught me by surprise at Target: the Sonia Kashuk Makeup Blender Sponge in Marble. If you're like me and you're looking to save some money without forfeiting value I would highly recommend this sponge. It blends makeup products flawlessly and even after cleaning it multiple times it has yet to lose it's shape. And was only $7.00. 

Now on to the lips >>>>

Lovin' the Lips 

May was the month of lips for me. Now don't get me wrong - I love beautiful lip products just like anyone else but I tend to buy more face and eye makeup products regularly than lips products. But for some reason in May more and more lip products caught my eye. Here are a few of the lip products that stole my heart last month >>>>

 Confession time, peeps, I bought something last month that I had been dying to try forever - the Lipstick Queen lipstick in Frog Prince - and all I can say is this has become my summer, on-the-go lip color. There are 3 things I absolutely love about this lipstick and there are follows:

1. The Formula - even though it's technically a lipstick it feels more like a lip balm when applied. Also, it gives the lips a natural and soft pink sheen with a tiny bit of shine. 

2. The Packaging - besides the name being super cute I loved the sleekness of the packaging. It come in a pink metal tube that compliments the lipstick nicely and makes it perfect for travel.

3. The Color - ok, so the main reason I bought this lipstick was not for the formula or the packaging - it was for the color. I mean it's a green lipstick that applies pink. How cool is that? My inner 13 year old was jumping up and down when I saw this in Ulta. And every time I wear it I think of The Princess and the Frog. Pucker up, Buttercup!

The next lip product caught me by surprise completely - the NYX Lip Lingerie in Ruffle Trim. This stuff is ah-mazing. It has a satin finish and comes in 24 neutral colors. I found that Ruffle Trim really complimented my skin tone, but even more I found the formula to be really nice. This product wasn't sticky or drying - it applied well and stayed on much longer than I anticipated. A drugstore gem for sure. 

NYX really came through for me last month because I fell in love with a second lip product from them - the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. This little lippies do just what their name says - they leave your lips feeling soft with a matte finish that isn't drying. NYX actually has a pretty decent range of colors for this line and I can't wait to see if they'll add more in the future. 

And for the last product I have been loving the Too Faced Natural Nude Lipstick in Birthday Suit. Too Faced never fails to amaze me when they release new products and this time was no different. I picked up the Natural Face palette in April and when I did I also picked up one of the lipsticks in their new Natural Nudes lipstick in Birthday Suit and I'm sure glad I did. The formula has coconut butter in it which makes it wonderful on the lips because it's not drying. Also, the color was really pigmented and it lasts forever. A definite must have. 

XXXXX

Well, that was all of my favorite products for the month of May. Now that you know mine feel free to share with me yours? Was there a new makeup or skincare/body product that caught your eye last month? Feel free to let me know in the comments below. 

Until next time, my dears >>>>

XOXO,

Nellie  

 

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

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