Boots No7 Beautiful Skin

Image taken from Influenster.com

Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm for Dry Skin
I was actually really impressed by this product. It's a milky/creamy cleanser that is great for people with dry skin. It effectively gets off makeup without really drying your skin out. It's hypo-allergenic and doesn't have a strong, annoying scent.

Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream for Dry Skin

I was also impressed with this product. It's a really nice, moisturizing night cream that isn't super heavy. It doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy like a lot of products formulated for dry skin does. It soaks in fairly fast. It's hypo-allergenic & also doesn't have a strong scent.

Overall, I highly recommend these products for someone with dry skin. I think they are pretty swell.

You can purchase these products at most drugstores and super centers.

For more information, you can visit http://www.shopbootsusa.com/

***I received these products complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox program***

Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin

Image taken from Influenster.com

I have been wanting to try these for a while but couldn't force myself to pay nearly $8 for two pins. Being able to test this product out has changed my mind because these things are awesome. They are really good for doing simple updos without having to use a ton of bobby pins or hairpins. These work on all types of hair. My hair is super thick & these things held my side bun up all day without it loosening a bit. They are well worth the money & super easy to use.

You can purchase these for around $7.29 at most drugstores and super centers.
For more information, you can visit http://www.goody.com/
***I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox Program***

Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream

Image taken from Influenster.com

I am no stranger to the Not Your Mother's line of products & I can say that I do love it. I think it's a really good quality "drugstore" line of hair products.

I've wanted to try the Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream for a while now. I have naturally curly textured hair that has a very strange curl pattern. Some areas are more of a spiral curl, some are more wavy, & some has barely any curl. When I use this product, it sort of makes my curl pattern a bit more uniform. It gives me more of a wavy curl. It smells really fresh & pleasant. It doesn't leave my hair feeling stiff or leave that weird film on your hair like some curl creams do.

Overall, I really like this product and I do plan on purchasing it again.
You can purchase this product for $6 at most drugstores & super centers.
For more information, you can visit http://www.nymbrands.com/
***I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox Program***

Kiss Ever Pro Lash Starter Kit

Image taken from everzlashes.com

I'm really torn on this product. There were aspects of it that I loved and some that I absolutely hated.

Let's start off with the good. This is a pretty awesome idea, a whole little lash kit. With that said, they lashes were just terrible. I prefer a more natural looking set of lashes, these fall far from that. They are very cheap and plasticky looking. Obviously they would look fabulous on some people, but they looked horrible on me!

Onto the good stuff. Holy glue, batman! This glue was freakin' fantastic! I always thought that Duo was the Holy Grail of lash glue but this stuff is just as good, if not better. It comes with a little wand similar to that of a lipgloss, so it's really easy to apply it onto the lash strip. This stuff does not budge once it's dry.
The applicator is pretty useful as well. It's a really ergonomic little tool. The slightly downward angle definitely helps in the application of the lash strips.

Overall, I would skip this kit but I would purchase the adhesive.
You can purchase this product for $4.99 at Walgreens. For more information, you can visit http://www.everezlashes.com/home
***I received this product complimentary for testing through Influenster's VoxBox Program***

NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact

I'm all for palettes, I think they are a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck & they are a little bit more space friendly. I was actually fairly impressed by this palette.

To start off with, let me talk a little about the pigmentation of these shadows. They actually have really good pigmentation. I was pleasantly surprised. They were really soft & easy to work with. I really like that you can do a lot with this palette as well. You can create a lovely daytime look as well as a bold look for a night out.

The downfall to this product was the terrible, awful "primer" and "illuminator". The primer was the most uncomfortable texture I have ever felt. It goes on as sort of a creamy, greasy mess but sets as more of a powdery finish. It does absolutely nothing for the shadows & it creases almost immediately. The illuminator is the same texture but it applies extremely patchy. I appreciate the fact that they tried to give you everything you need in this palette but I really think those two need to be reformulated.

Overall, these palettes are well worth the money.
You can purchase them for $4.99 at most drug stores & super centers.
To check out all the products they have, you can go to http://newyorkcolor.com/
***I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox Program***

Bath & Body Works Fall Mini Candle

I am a huge candle addict so I was really happy to receive one of the mini candles from Bath & Body Works in my VoxBox. Bath & Body Works makes some of the best scents ever, especially the fall collection this year.

Image taken from Influenster.com

The scent I received was Mahogany Teakwood. It smells just like men's cologne, which sounds sort of odd but it smells soooo good! I loved it so much I ended up going to get a 3-wick size of that scent. One of the things I love about Bath & Body Works candles are that they're available in different sizes. You can get a mini candle for $3.50, a medium candle for $12.50 or a 3-Wick candle for $19.50.

You can purchase these at http://www.bathandbodyworks.com

***I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox Program.***

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy

Good hair care is something that's really important to me. I'm all about trying new things to get my hair looking & feeling healthy.

CLEAR products are all about treating hair from the scalp. The have a range of products featuring 6 shampoos & 5 conditioners to meet different scalp & hair needs. Their products are infused with Nutrum 10TM which is a blend of vitamins & nutrients. They nourish the scalp & create a good foundation for healthy hair.

I received the CLEAR Total Care shampoo & conditioner. The first thing I noticed is that they do contain sulfates, which is a HUGE downfall for me. Having colored hair (red, to top it off) I'm very cautious about using products with sulfates in them since they tend to make color fade faster. I gave it a try anyway though. It did make my hair feel clean without being heavy or without it feeling coated. The scent is pleasant & clean as well.
Overall, I wouldn't repurchase the Total Care line of product due to the sulfate content, I would be willing to possibly purchase the Color Repair line though if it didn't have sulfates in it.

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy products are available at mass retailers, select drugstores, & supermarkets nationwide for $4.99-$5.99

**I received these products complimentary through Influenster's VoxBox program.

Quaker Soft Baked Banana Nut Bar

Image taken from Influenster.com

Everyone knows I love to test any kind of food! I loved the Quaker Soft Baked Banana Nut Bar!
It's made with real bananas & almonds. It also has 5g of fiber, 6g of protein, & 20% daily value of 5 B vitamins. It tastes just like homemade banana nut bread. I think it's a perfect thing to get your day started or a perfect in between meals snack.

You can find them at most major retailers for $3.29 for a box of 5.

**I received this product complimentary for testing through Influenster's VoxBox program.

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color

I have wanted to try a magnetic nail polish for a long time so I was really excited to see one in my Voxbox!

It's super simple & easy to apply & created a really cool 3D effect in literally seconds.
I applied the first coat, let it dry, then applied the second coat & held the magnet over it. The directions say to hold the magnet over it for 10 seconds but I held it for 15 just to be safe. I received the Silver Elements color & here were my results:

I really liked this polish & I definitely think it's worth the money if you want to switch up your nails & try something a little different!

It is available in most drug stores, grocery stores, & mass merchandisers for $9.99

**I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox Program.

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen

It's product review time! First up is the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen in SPF 30.

Image taken from Influenster.com

This is sort of a sunscreen & actual lotion in one bottle. It has moisturizing "silk ribbons" that hydrate your skin while providing UVA & UVB protection. It's also supposed to hydrate for 12 hours.

Now here's what I think about this product.
Normally I prefer a sunscreen that you can spray on just because it's a little easier & seems to "set" faster. With that said, I actually loved this sunscreen. I usually prefer an SPF 50 or higher, especially when I'm going to be out in the sun for a while but the 30 worked just fine. (Just remember, the lower the number, the more often you have to reapply.) It does moisturize quite well, as for the 12 hour claim...maybe not that long.
I love that it doesn't leave that really slick/slimy feel that most sunscreen does, it sinks in really fast & leaves a soft finish.
Overall, I would definitely repurchase this product.

It is available at most retail stores in SPF 15, 30, & 50 for $8.99

**I received this product complimentary for testing & review purposes from Influenster.

Quick Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects

Image from Influenster.com

I have been wanting to try these babies out forever so you can imagine how stoked I was to see these in my VoxBox. Unfortunately they did me absolutely no good. Maybe I just sucked at putting them on because I'd heard from everyone that they were awesome.

Here are the claims:
1. No dry time
2. Lasts up to 10 days
3. Removes easily with nail polish remover

It's true that there is no dry time but the last two were so not the case. To me, they were really hard to put on & kept buckling. I followed all the instructions that came in the box because I really wanted them to work. After I put them on, the next morning I noticed them popping up at the cuticles & the edges. That bugged me all day. While I was in the shower that night, one of the strips ripped in half while I was washing my hair. So it's safe to say that for me they did not last up to 10 days.
After the strip ripped in half, I had to take them off. They were THE biggest pain to get off with nail polish remover. It took forever and left a sticky residue all over my fingers. I was extremely disappointed in these. I wanted them to be fantastic. :[ I wouldn't purchase these again.

If you would like to give them a try, they do have 40 different styles. They retail for $9.99 & you can find them at most chain drug stores, grocery stores, & mass merchandisers.

***DISCLAIMER: This product was sent to me for review purposes by Influenster's VoxBox program***

Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox Review.

Hey guys!
So, if you aren't familiar with Influenster, it's a website that you sign up for & take little surveys to earn "badges". Influenster puts together different themed VoxBoxes which are a box with mostly full size  products in it that are sent out for review & feedback purposes. The more badges you have, the greater your chance of getting a VoxBox. I was so excited to get an email saying that I'd be receiving my first VoxBox!

Here's what was in my Spring Beauty VoxBox

1. Chapstick Lip Shield 365 ($1.89 to $2.39)

I love me some Chapstick! This Chapstick actually has an SPF of 50 in it, how awesome is that? I've tried a few lip balms with a high SPF in them before and the all had the same problems...they tasted HORRIBLE. This one has absolutely no taste. It doesn't feel like a normal lip balm on your lips, it's a lot more smooth & a lot less thick. The only downside is that it has a slight light color when you use it but it's no big deal to me. I loveeeee this stuff!

2. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash ($6.99 to $8.99 for a full size bottle)
Normally my skin does not like body washes. I have eczema so body washes usually tend to cause flare ups. I haven't used this yet due to the fact that I'm have a tiny flare up right now but once it all clears up, I'm gonna give it a go. It has a pleasant & very light scent to it though!

3. SoyJoy Bar in Blueberry ($.99 to $1.29)

So this is a little snack bar that's all natural, gluten free, vegan, & low GI (glycemic index). It also, as the name suggests, contains soy which I've heard is good and I've heard is terrible for you. At first, the texture is a little odd. It's like a really thick, dense bready texture. The more I ate of it though, the more I liked it! I will definitely be purchasing some of these.

4. Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Paris Amour ($14)
I love love love this scent, I already had a regular fragrance mist in this scent so I have the one I got to my Aunt. I noticed that the fine fragrance mist was a little bit more pungent (or so it seemed to me) than the original fragrance mist. I also prefer the new packaging to the old one, it's a bit more sleek.

5. Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Laced Up ($9.99)
I was SO excited when I saw these! I have been wanting to try these forever but I just couldn't force myself to pay $10 for something I wasn't sure was going to last more than a day. Since I gave myself a little leopard print mani last week, I'll be waiting till next week to try these out & possibly doing a blog post on them? I am so so excited though!

6. Sheer Cover Duo Concealer (Sold in a kit with 6 products for $29.99)
So odd, I was actually kind of looking into this kit a couple of days ago just to see what it was all about & this concealer pops up in my VoxBox. At first glance, the color seemed to be way off for my skin tone. I am extremely pale & have a pretty neutral skin tone. However, when I tested it on my arm just to play with it I realized that it blends out for a pretty sheer coverage. Since it is quite sheer, it doesn't really give me the coverage I need for my blemishes & dark circles, I prefer something with a full coverage for that. I did find that it is AWESOME for highlighting & shaping the brow area & for canceling out my natural lip color when the need arises. Overall I'm pretty happy with it.

*Bonus item* Dr. Scholls for Her Ball of Foot Cushions (~$5)
I'm pretty excited to give these a try too. I don't wear heels very often but even without heels I put a lot of pressure on the balls of my feet so I feel like this will come in handy!

If you want to sign up & possibly receive a VoxBox just go to http://www.influenster.com/

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren

***Disclaimer*** 

All these products were sent to me for review purposes.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 12.

Here's the last of my Hunger Games series look! (Possibly). District 12!
District 12 is responsible for coal mining, it was also in the Appalachian mountains and spread east so I would most likely live in District 12. The main character in the book, Katniss, is from District 12 so I drew my inspiration from the "girl on fire".

List of Products I Used:

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Coastal Scents 10 Color Blush Palette

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Black Bean
Manly 180 Eyeshadow Palette
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black
Generic black cosmetic glitter.
Duo Lash adhesive

Lips:
E.L.F. Nearly Nude Matte Lipcolor
E.L.F. Minty Gloss in Nashville

I just wanted to add a note in here since this is the closure of my series. I've really tried to incorporate both wearable and dramatic types of looks. Each district was meant to also incorporate different styles of makeup.

District 1 - Cut crease

District 2 - Contrasting liner

District 3 - Sharp edge shape

District 4 - Center shadow placement

District 5 - Contrasting shadows

District 6 - Color pop

District 7 - Neutral but dramatic

District 8 - Color blocking

District 9 - Monotone and blended

District 10 - Smokey eye

District 11 - Wearable but colorful

District 12 - Arabic-ish smokey eye.

I hope you guys enjoyed watching this series as much as I enjoyed making it!

Thanks for reading!

xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Inspired Nail Tutorial

Hey guys, so I'm going to the midnight premier of The Hunger Games and I wanted something neat to do to my nails. I figured I'd go ahead and make a tutorial of it while I was doing it.
 Here's the design I did...

The Mockingjay

This part is really kind of trial and error. Just open the image up in your word processor and resize it. Try different sizes on one sheet of paper then print it out & see which best fits your nail size/shape. Here's the picture I used, it's already mirrored so you won't have to worry with doing that. Then just follow the instructions in the video! Make sure to use 50% isopropyl rubbing alcohol to do the transfer. I tried it with 70% and it didn't work at all.

Products I Used:
Seche Clear Crystal Clear Base Coat

Sinful Colors Polish in Pull Over
OPI Polish in Curry Up Don't Be Late
China Glaze Polish in Riveting
OPI Polish in Rockette Red
China Glaze Polish in Electrify

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Thanks for reading!

xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 11.

So here's District 11! I can't believe I'm almost through!

District 11 is agriculture, which means they are responsible for providing crops for the Capitol. I wanted this to be soft & wearable but earthy so I stuck to using cool green tones.

List of Products I Used:

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Coty Loose Face Powder in Translucent
Coastal Scents 10 Color Blush Palette

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
Wet n' Wild Comfort Zone Palette
Wet n' Wild Coloricon Eyeliner Pencil in Turquoise
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Junkie
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
Maybelline Sensational Lipcolor in Born With It
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Crystal Lilac

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren

Fortune Cookie Soap, Hunger Games Tribute Collection: Hunter Green Body Butter Review.

Hey guys! So there is this bath & body company called Fortune Cookie Soap, they have a ton of products available from cute little fortune cookie shaped soaps to shampoo bars to lotions. They recently released a collection called the Tribute Collection inspired by The Hunger Games. In this collection they have a bath bomb inspired by Effie, a fortune cookie soap bar inspired by Peeta, bubbling bath crystals inspired by Cinna, a shampoo bar inspired by Rue, a body wash inspired by Haymitch, bath melts inspired by Gale, & a whipped body butter inspired by Katniss. You all know I'm a sucker for anything Hunger Games inspired!

Image taken from FortuneCookieSoap.com

The review I'm doing today is for the Hunter Green Body Butter.

Image taken from FortuneCookieSoap.com

"Katniss is a tough warrior who looks out for those she loves – that’s why she is our role model and star of FCS's The Hunger Games Tribute Collection! The fragrance we used for our popular and velvety smooth whipped cream is inspired by her sheer awesomeness! Katniss has an amazing talent at survival, by making things to eat from the woods around her; we custom blended a fragrance befitting her. It’s the perfect balance of fresh nature and the womanly spirit – just like Katniss!"

 Now I have really sensitive skin along with eczema so a lot of scented products don't work very well with my skin. However, this body butter is amazing. So far I haven't had any negative reaction (skin wise) to it. It isn't really greasy like most body butters, it absorbs really quickly and leaves your skin feeling so so soft.

As for the smell, I honestly don't think I've smelled anything like it. It's a really light, fresh, & earthy scent. To me, it sort of smells like fresh cut grass with a hint of white tea. Normally I don't particularly care for earthy scents but this one is so soft & light that honestly I love it!
Lastly, can we just mention the packaging? How cute is that!? It is so clever to me!

I can't wait to try a few more of these, I plan on getting the body wash, bath crystals, and probably the soap. 

Price: $10.99 (plus s&h) for 5oz. of product.

You can buy this at www.fortunecookiesoap.com

If you guys try any of these out, let me know!
Thanks for reading,
xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 10.

Hey guys, so here's the look for District 10!

District 10 is responsible for producing, raising, & slaughtering livestock for the Capitol. I drew my inspiration for this look from the tones and colors of fur. I also chose to add some wispy corner lashes to sort of emulate feathers.

List of Products I Used

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Coty Loose Face Powder in Translucent
MAC Blush in Harmony

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow Pencil in Rehab
Wet n' Wild Comfort Zone Palette
Estee Lauder Eyeshadow in Sand Dollar
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils in Zero and Bourbon
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black
Maybelline Stiletto Liquid Liner in Black
Ardell Lash Accents #305

Lips:
E.L.F. Lipstick in Classy

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 9.

So, here's the look for District 9. This one was actually a really tough one for me. Since I'm trying to do more wearable looks and stay away from gimmicky masks and such, I couldn't find a whole lot to put into a wow factor for this one. I tried to keep it kind of mono-toned and soft so I stayed away from using any really harsh colors.

District 9 is responsible for turning grain into other usable products such as flour, vegetable oil, and animal feed. I drew my inspiration from the texture and color of wheat/grain. I hope you guys like it!

List of Products I Used

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Coty Loose Face Powder in Translucent
Coastal Scents 10 Color Blush Palette

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
Generic 180 Eyeshadow Palette (I think the brand is Manly?)
Coastal Scents 88 Eyeshadow Palette
Loreal Featherlash Mascara in Auburn

Lips:
Aveda Lip Glaze in Mango Juice

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 8.

So here's the look for District 8. District 8 is responsible for textiles. They produce fabric and clothing for the Capitol and are known for their fashion sense.
I drew my inspiration from the colors of the raw materials it takes to make textiles. So for example, cotton for the fabrics & berries for the dyes.

List of Products I used:

Face:
NYX Concealer Jar in Orange
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Coty Loose Face Powder in Translucent
Coastal Scents 10 Color Blush Palette

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
Wet n' Wild Pride Palette
Coastal Scents 88 Eyeshadow Palette
Milani Easyliner Eyeliner in Blue Eyes
Wet n' Wild Mega Line Liquid Eyeliner in 863
NYX Eyeliner Pencil in Black
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
E.L.F. Liquid Lipstick in Nude Pink.


Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren.

Homemade Mask Recipe. Egg Mask for All Skin Types.

Hey guys!
One of the first blog posts I ever made was about an at home, easy to make, mask recipe. I've been meaning to keep these kinds of posts up but I just haven't been on my all natural skin care game lately haha.
However, there is a certain mask recipe that I always end up coming back to because it always does my skin good. It's made out of eggs, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and (optionally) orange peel.

Now before I get to the actual recipe let me tell you a little bit out why each ingredient is awesome for your skin.

EGGS:
Eggs not only tighten & tone the skin but they also have anti-inflammatory benefits as well. They have amino acids that help to reduce irritation & inflammation.
Egg whites have a clarifying & cleansing effect, shrink & refine pores, & even lighten dark spots
Egg yolks contain Vitamin A, which contains retinoids (a big ingredient in any anti-aging product), they have moisturizing effect which is good for dry areas.

Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is a natural toner. It regulates the pH of your skin, promotes blood circulation, & has antiseptic qualities.

Olive Oil:
Olive oil has been used for skin care since the time of Ancient Egypt. It has so many benefits! It's a great source of anti-oxidants, is a super moisturizer, has anti-inflammatory & anti-aging properties, & is noncomedogenic (which means it won't clog your pores). It's an awesome makeup remover & soothes & softens skin.

Orange Peel:
Orange peel contains antioxidants & Vitamin C. It has a natural cleansing effect, adds a natural glow to your skin, & adds a nice fragrance to anything.
An orange peel by itself is an excellent exfoliator.

Alrighty! To the recipe!

1 Egg
1 tsp Olive Oil
1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar (DO NOT use regular vinegar!)
1 1/2 tsp Orange Zest (optional)

Directions:
Separate egg whites & yolk into two separate bowls. Take a whisk & whip the egg whites until their start to look a little foamy.
In the other bowl, combine egg yolk, apple cider vinegar, & orange zest.
Once that is combined, whisk the egg whites in.
Apply to face & leave for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse with lukewarm water.
Apply your toner & moisturizer.

The orange peel is optional but I really suggest it since it without it, the mask smells disgusting. The mask will get really tight but it leaves your skin soft & smooth. Also, it makes a huge amount so maybe have a girl's day & share it with your friends. If not, it will keep in the fridge for about four days. If you decide to try it, let me know how it goes!
Obviously, if you are allergic to any of these ingredients, DO NOT use this mask.

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 7.

Hey guys!

So District 7 is lumber. They are responsible for exporting timber for the Capitol. I drew my inspiration mostly from a piece of fresh cut, raw wood. With that in mind, here's the look I came up with for District 7.

List of Products I Used

Face:
NYX Concealer Jar in Orange
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio FInish Concealer in NW20
Coty Loose Face Powder in Translucent
Coastal Scents 10 Color Blush Palette

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Sally Girl Single Eyeshadow in Beige
Wet n' Wild Vanity Palette
Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Eyeliner Trio for Brown Eyes
N.Y.C. Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922A
N.Y.C. Concealer Stick in Classic Ivory (960A)
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
E.L.F. Matte Lipcolor in Nearly Nude
N.Y.C. Extreme Lip Glider Lip Gloss in Carnegie Melon

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren

E.L.F. Review & Swatches.

Hey guys! So, I've tried a few E.L.F. products & most of them I actually love. If you aren't familiar with E.L.F., it's a "drugstore" brand of low cost makeup & makeup tools. The offer different "lines" of products ranging from $1 to kits costing $150.
A couple of weeks ago, their website had a deal where if you bought at least $15 worth of products, you got shipping for $1.98 so I decided to pick up a few things to try. Here's a quick review and swatch of what I got.

E.L.F. Blush in Gotta Glow ($3)

I'm still kind of 50/50 in my opinion of this product. Because I'm extremely pale, I can't really find a good highlighting color that's not a white eyeshadow haha. I like the color of this blush for highlighting but I HATE the texture of it! It's super chalky and really flaky. If you get it, be sure to apply it with a light hand & a fluffy brush.

E.L.F. Complexion Perfection Tone Correcting Powder ($3)

I don't wear a full face of foundation on a day to day basis. 90% of the time I just throw on a little concealer and a light dusting of a face powder. Not only do I have terrible dark circles but I have a lot of redness, specifically on my cheeks. Because this product has four different colors, it's supposed to neutralize you skin tone (Yellow neutralizes red & brightens, blue neutralizes orange, green neutralizes red, & pink neutralizes grey). The website says it's meant to be mixed together & applied, which I did & I hated it! It just looked like baby powder on my skin. I didn't think it was possible for me to look any more pasty, but it is. (Plus, I have dry skin and it just looked a hot, hot mess)  I then used just the colors I needed on the problem areas & that worked slightly better. On the up side, the texture is kind of nice. It's a really smooth, fine powder. Overall though, I would not buy this product again.

E.L.F. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Nude Pink ($1)

Let me start off by saying I loved this product. It's a neatly odd mixture of textures, kind of like a lipstick, kind of like a lipgloss. It's not super pigmented but it has just enough to make your lips look nice. It's not sticky at all and has some pretty great staying power for the price tag. I would definitely purchase more of these.

E.L.F. Lipstick in Nostalgic ($1)

Another win for E.L.F., this lipstick is lovely. It's a really nice nudey pink & the exact color I've been searching for. It has a slight luster to it but it's not super shimmery or anything. Because I'm pale have a warm skin tone, I can't really find a nice, natural looking nude, but this one does it. It can be a bit patchy, so I have to apply it & blend it out with my finger. I've tried a few other lipsticks from this particular line & I can say I love them all so I would definitely buy more.

E.L.F. Matte Lip Color in Nearly Nude ($3)

This lipstick is almost exactly like Nostalgic but slightly more pigmented and has a matte finish. It looks amazing underneath a nude gloss. Again, it's kind of patchy applying it straight from the tube, so I blend it out with my finger. I would definitely purchase this again. Love it!

E.L.F. Makeup Mist & Set ($3)

For me, this was the biggest bummer. I think everyone needs a good setting spray, especially for a night out & about so I was hoping that this would be a good cheaper alternative but I was wrong. I hate this. The website says that it is supposed to moisturize and soothe skin while keeping your makeup in place. For me, as soon as I sprayed it, it made all the powder I'd used gather on my face. I would not purchase this again.


Overall, I absolutely love E.L.F. and I think they have some really awesome products. If you've tried any of these, let me know what you think!
You can purchase E.L.F. products at http://www.eyeslipsface.com/ and most drugstores. (Around here, our Target, K-Mart, & Dollar Stores have it.)

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 6.

Here's the look for District 6!

District 6 is responsible for Transportation. They make all the cars, trains, planes, helicopters, etc for the Capitol.
I drew my inspiration for the overall equipment it takes to make automobiles. I didn't want it to be just a boring ole' smokey eye so I kind of drew some inspiration from roads as well and added a pop of yellow.

List of Products I Used

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Coty Loose Face Powder in Translucent
MAC Blush in Harmony

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eyeshdaow Pencil in Black Bean
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil in Pure White
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Zero
Makeup Forever Eyeshadow in No. 002
NYX Single Eyeshadow in Gray
NYX Eyeliner pencil in Black
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
E.L.F. Minty Gloss in Nashville

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 5.

District 5 is Power. It's responsible for providing power to all of Panem so that everything can operate properly & so that they can all watch the yearly Hunger Games.
I drew my inspiration from different types of power/energy (Solar power, wind power, & electricity).

List of Products I used

Face:
NYX Jar Concealer in Orange
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Aveda Blush in Petal Pink
Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder in Translucent

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Yellow
Generic 180 Eyeshadow Palette
Hot Topic Red Eyeshadow
Wet n' Wild Blue Had Me At Hello Palette
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Perversion
Avon Eyeliner Pencil in Navy
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Cherry Me


Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 4.

District 4!

District 4 is Fishing. It provides fish, seafood, & fishing supplies such as nets & things for the Capitol. Because District 4 is located near the sea, I drew my inspiration from oceany colors & the reflects you see when the sun hits the ocean. I used orangey/sandy colored lips to mimic the beach.

List of Products I Used

Face:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
MAC Blush in Harmony
Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder in Translucent

Eyes:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
TKB Trading Mica in Aquarius
TKB Trading Mica in Breath of Spring
Manly 180 Color Palette
Jesse's Girl Eyeshadow in Wicked
Estee Lauder Eyeshadow in Sand Dollar
Wet n' Wild Mega Eyes Defining Marker in Blackest Black
NYX Eyeliner Pencil in Black
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Junkie
LorealVoluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
NYX Round Lipstick in Orange Soda
Hard Candy Lipgloss in Love Child

Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren.

The Hunger Games Makeup Series, District 3

Here's District 3!

District 3 is Technology & is responsible for making all the electric goods for the Capitol. Since it makes things like computers and such, I kind of drew my inspiration from computer chips. I used blues with silver and white accents.

List of Products I Used

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory
MAC Studio FInish Concealer in NW20
Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder in Translucent

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Shadow Pencil in Clash
TKB Trading Mica in Colorona Dark Blue
Wet N' Wild Blue Had Me At Hello Palette
Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Perversion
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
Prestige Liquid Eyeliner in Pop Star
TKB Trading Glitter in Holla Glow Glitter
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips:
Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss in Fashion Diva


Thanks for reading!
xo Lauren.

TKB Swatches, Second Round.

Sooo, I couldn't resist & bought a few more TKB Trading colors. I bought mostly blue and green tones this go round because I didn't really have many.
These are all swatched wet without a base.

Aquarius

Breath Of Spring

Capricorn Sea

Colorona Dark Blue

Coral Reef Blue

Hydrated Chromium Oxide Green

Taurus Orion

Sagittaire

Dusty Rose