July Favorites

Wow, I can't believe July is over already. It feels like I just did my June Favs. I usually like bright and bold for the summer, but this month I've really been leaning towards clean, fresh, and nude.

Rainkissed Leaves scent. This is weird to admit, but I had forgotten how much I love Bath and Body Works. I went in there a couple of weeks ago and smelled this Rainkissed Leaves in the body mist--it was so light and fresh and actually does smell like rain. They were having a sale, so I got this in the lotion and body spray.

Clean, Shower Fresh: I found this roller ball perfume at Sephora. My friend had one and after using hers for almost a week I broke down and bought my own. I don't think it lasts as long as some other perfumes, but since it's so light, you can reapply it a few times during the day without it being over powering.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock: I don't love this, but it's the best one I've tried on my face. My face isn't as dry as I thought it would be after using this, but I just dab it with oil absorbing sheets before I put on my makeup, which brings me to...

Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets: These do the trick. I usually have to use a couple a day, but I like them. I still use blotting powder after I do this though to keep oil away longer.

OPI Sand in My Suit: beautiful nude color! I think it's a perfect nude and it has some shimmer which keeps it from being too flat.

MUFE Aqua Cream eyeshadow in shade 13: This reminds me of MAC pain pot Bare Study, but with gold rather than silver undertones. I've been wearing this a lot lately as my only eye color rather than messing with powders.

MAC tinted lip conditioner in Petting Pink. This adds a very pretty flush to my lips and it has spf 15 in it! Another lip product I've been loving this month is....

Dior Lipglow Color Reviver Balm: Wow! This is probably my favorite product for the whole month. It's like a mixture of lipstick, lipgloss, and lip balm. It gives my lips a pretty dark pink color with some shine, but really just feels like I'm putting on lip balm.

What have you been loving this month?

Cheers!

Sephora Haul from June

Sorry this has taken so long to put up. This haul was about a month ago... However, while I was on vacation in June I went to Sephora, which was nice because I don't live by one, so I usually end up ordering online, and it's nice to be able to walk through the store and see all the products in real life :) Here is what I got (all the Make Up For Ever products were in a set for $60 which is still available [I checked a couple of days ago])

MUFE Aqua Cream eyeshadows: The shades only have numbers; the light color is #13 and the darker one is #15. I like these, probably because they remind me of MAC's paint pots. I like the lighter one better because it's just a hint of color on my lids, but the darker one is really pretty and I like to use it as a base for some of my brown powder eyeshadows. Definitely worth looking into.

MUFE Aqua Eyes eyeliner in 0L (black) and 21L (dark gray). These are probably my favorite eyeliners right now. It's easy to get a really thin line on my lashline, and they don't smudge and stay on all day, but are easy to get off with makeup remover.

MUFE Aqua Lip in 1C. I wasn't sure about this color, it's not what I usually go for. It's a bit of a muted pale coral (I can't figure out any other way to explain it). But it's pretty and looks good under MAC lipstick in Hue or Creme d'Nude. This can be a bit drying though so I would definitely wear something over it.

MUFE Aqua Smoky Lash. I do not like this mascara. I'm keeping it around because it is my only waterproof mascara and I'm hoping that maybe after I've had it for a while it will get better....?... This is clumpy though and if I'm not careful makes me look like I have only a couple of lashes because they all stick together. It is very black though and does make my lashes look long.

MUFE sample of makeup remover for eyes. This works pretty good. I'm happy with my neutrogena makeup wipes, but I use this to get rid of stubborn mascara.

Urban Decay De-Slick powder: This is a mattifying powder and works great! I love it! The color of the powder is a very, very light purple, almost white in some lights, but it's translucent on my skin. However, my friend, who has darker skin then me, doesn't like this because it makes her look a bit ashy.

Benefit Erase Paste in No.1 fair: Great concealer! I believe I talked about it in my June Favs.

Benefit Get Even: Technically a blotting powder, but it evens out redness and I use it as a foundation some mornings.

This is photographed, but when I first went I purchased MUFE Matte Velvet foundation instead of Get Even, but this foundation didn't work for me at all. (I have a full review of this on makeupalley under the name ppinkrroses)

Hope everyone is staying cool in this summer!

Cheers!

How: Being Adaptable

For some reason this week the word "adaptable" has been creeping into my head. I think in terms of skin and hair care, being adaptable is a must. There are days you are going to wake up with a huge zit on your face, greasy flat hair, or a head full of frizz, and you're going to have to deal with these problems when they arise. Now, you can simply panic and call in sick, or you can make a game plan now, and stick with it when "disaster" strikes.

Acne--it happens to all of us, sometimes for decades. I keep a strong acne medication in my medicine cabinet and at the first sight of one of those little buggers I start applying it 2x a day. Also avoid wearing too much makeup in that area and keep it oil free (such as dabbing it throughout the day with an oil absorbing sheet). If the pimple is big or prominent, know how to use concealer to cover it up and play up an area of your face away from the pimple. For example if you have a zit on the lower part of your face, make you eyes stand out and stick with neutral lips and cheeks.

Dry Skin or patch of skin--lately my chin has been really dry (weird) so I've been putting on my moisturizer as usual, and then adding a bit more to that area. I've also avoided dusting powder on my chin since it makes the dryness stand out. And at night I put on rose salve on my chin which has helped.

Hair--so many things can happen to hair. For me, I deal with greasy, flat, and limp hair. So I keep dry shampoo on my shelf and reach for that first because it absorbs excess oil. Then I use hair spray with alcohol in it (also good for the oil) and a quick blast of hot then cold air with the blow dryer. On your worst hair days? Wear a pony tail ;)

I think that if you know what to do ahead of time, you're less likely to freak out or get upset about beauty mishaps.

What are some of your game plans for a morning gone awry?

Thanks!

Favorite Drugstore Finds Part 3

I buy most of my skincare products from the drugstore. I have tried a lot of different products and I'm constantly trying new face washes and scrubs, so I decided for this post I would only include products I have repurchased multiple times.

1. Freeman Facial Peel-Off Mask. The only place I've been able to find this is at Ulta, but it's worth the trip. I use this mask once a week. I like it because it really gives me a clearer complexion, and it helps with acne scars. It takes a while, but I used to have a lot of acne scaring and slowly they've been disappearing.

2. St. Ives Softening Whipped Silk. This is my all time favorite lotion. The only time I reach for something else is when my skin is dry and needs more moisture. It is a very soft and light texture that goes on easy and absorbs right away and it does a pretty good job at moisturizing.

3. St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I actually use this as a body scrub. I figure if it's gentle enough to use on my face than it can be used on my body. I also like that it has acne medication in it so it helps with body acne.

4. Biore Dual Fusion Moisturizer with SPF 30. So far this is my favorite day time moisturizer. It works fine for my oily skin and I love that it has SPF 30 in it because most lotions have 15 or less.

5. Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Toner. Actually, I'm not convinced this is a favorite product, but I've repurchased it a couple of times and when I use it 2x a day it helps with my acne, so I'll keep using it for now.

6. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes in Night Calming. These do a great job at getting off all my makeup. They also are pretty good at cleansing my face on those nights I'm too tired to anything except take my makeup off.

What are some of your favorite skincare products from the drugstore?

How: Matte Lipstick

MAC Lipstick in Please Me (matte finish)

This color is pretty close to what it looks like in real life. It's a bright cool tone pink.

A couple months ago I decided I wanted to find the perfect pink lipstick; one that I could pull off and could easily put on straight from the tube and go. So of course I went to the MAC store by my house because MAC has a crazy selection of lipstick colors. Unfortunately, the sales woman "helping" me really wasn't much help. I was really disappointed because the people at MAC are usually so nice, but not this time. Long story short, the lipstick she insisted I get was Please Me and I just wanted to get out of there so I bought it without realizing it was a matte finish. I got home and hated it. It's too bright for me (I have to be careful with pinks because of the pink and redness in my face) and I hate the finish. Part of me still thinks I should have just returned it, but I didn't and it sat in my draw for a couple months without me ever reaching for it.

When I went on this past vacation, I decided I was going to make this color work one way or another, so the only lipstick I took with me was this one. This forced me to figure out ways to work with it and I've come up with a couple ideas that I hope help you with dealing with any lipsticks you don't like--whether it's the texture or color.

1. Use the lipstick as a stain. First I put chapstick on my lips to help the color go on easier, then blotted. Then I dabbed the lipstick onto my lips (I dabbed it from the tube, but you can also use your finger) and then finished off my either putting a bit more chapstick or lipgloss on (this helps it from drying).

2. Tinted lip balm effect. Again, I started with putting on chapstick, but only a little bit because I didn't blot this time. Then I apply the lipstick right away straight from the tube onto my lips. Then I use my finger to blend the color on my lips.

What are some ways you deal with a lipstick that doesn't work for you?

Thanks! :)

Fast and Easy Tip 3: The Monochromatic Look

This is great for days when you're in a hurry, or if you want a fresh, no makeup, makeup look. After applying your foundation, choose a blush or bronzer (any color works. I like MAC Bronzer in Golden and MAC Beauty Powder in Summer Rose) that has a bit of shimmer in it, because you don't want this look too matte. Then apply the color from the apple of your cheeks up to your temple (yes, even bronzer) and onto your eye lids. If you're using a bronzer, you may want to add a bit of color along your hair line and on the bridge of your nose, but don't over do the color, you want to see two colors on your face: your skin color (foundation) and the colored product.

Doing this look will give you a wash of color all over with the use of one product! Usually when I do this I'll also put on a thin line of liner on my upper lash line and mascara on my upper lashes, and then pair my lips with a similar color. If I'm doing pink, then I chose a pinkish lipgloss and if I chose to do bronzer I like to do a nude lip or a bronze-ish colored lipgloss.

Thanks!

June Favorites

I'm back from vacation and spent the afternoon taking pictures for my blog, so look forward to me updating more often :)





I have quite a few favorite's this month, but it's summer and other than the heat, I love this season!

1. The monochromatic look: I plan on doing a separate blog on this, but my favorite products to use for this look is MAC bronzer in Golden and MAC Beauty Powder in Summer Rose.

2. Bright nail polish: I have a few, but the one's in the picture are OPI in Tasmanian Devil made me do it, and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Lightening (note on this one, it's a great bright yellow, but chips easily).

3. Clinique solid perfume in Hint of Citrus (very summery)

4. MAC paint pot in Coral Crepe: pretty color for summer and easy to sweep on and go

5. CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Buffer: my lips have been chapped lately so this little guy is a life saver

6. Benefit Erase Paste: amazing concealer. I bought this while I was on vacation (yes, I plan on doing a haul blog) and I'm in love. It conceals and stays put all day without creasing.