Wet n' Wild Fergie Lipstain

As a Christmas present this year my Husband's Aunt, or my Aunt-in-Law(?) gave me this Wet n' Wild Fergie Lipstain set (Thanks Nadine!). I am a HUGE lipstain fan (I wore lipstain on my wedding day). I've written before about how I had an incident growing up that left me with a scar on the right side of my bottom lip. I was always pretty self-conscious about it and so emphasizing it with bright lipstick was the last thing I wanted to do. At some point in my early twenties I figured I didn't care anymore, I didn't want to let it stop me. I started trying out new lipsticks, lipstains, and any bright lip product I could get my hands on. After sampling several lipsticks, lip glosses, and lipstains I discovered that I am not a fan of lip gloss. Although I own my fair share of lipsticks, lipstains are by far my favorite. Liptstains are exactly what their name suggest, lip colors that stain your lips. Most lip stains are matte colors that tint your lips and barely come off. These Wet n' Wild Fergie lipstains are sort of a hybrid between lipstains and lip glosses. The color stains your lips while the texture is almost that of a gloss. Below are pictures of me wearing all three lipstain shades.

 The above pictured lipstain is "Legendary Face" (A305). This particular shade, while not what most consider a nude, is rather similar to my natural lip shade. The above photo shows the shade blotted, but it actually has much more of a sheen. I definitely see this as more of a everyday lipstain color.

The second shade is more of a hot pink. This lipstain is called "Ball in Viena" (A307). This color is not one I would have selected on my own, but I'm glad to have it in my arsenal. The color is very Emma Stone, perfect for a flirty look or a night out. 

The third color is a red lipstain, on the warm side, but definitely a color I would have selected on my own. The red is shade is called "Vouging Madness" (A301). I'm a huge fan of red lip color and this red lipstain is a new favorite. While I'm not really fond on the sheen of these lipstains, I love the look of the red stain after it's been blotted. You will definitely see it featured in outfit posts.

 If you've never tried lipstains before I recommend picking up this three pack from Wet n' wild. It has the only three lip colors you'll ever need, and because it's a lipstain it's longlasting too!

-Reagan

My Skincare Necessities

Today I'm going to share my current skincare must haves. Some of these I've discussed on the blog before, but this is a bit more of a simple line-up, and it is definitely more focused on caring for your skin rather than make-up removal skincare. I've always had dry, sensitive skin for as long as I can remember and it can be difficult to find products that don't irritate my skin or leave it oily. Over the years I've found a handful of products that both me and my skin love. Here are five items I couldn't live without.

1. Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream - This guy is a life saver. Sometime my skin has a bad reaction to make-up or it just gets irritated and this stuff calms down the redness and irritation. It also helps me out with any allergy flare-ups. It's not an item I use everyday but it helps to have it on hand. Just the other day I had an allergy-related hives breakout and this stuff saved the day.

2. St. Ive's Timeless Skin Moisturizer - This is my favorite moisturizer. I've spoken about it here before, and tried numerous other moisturizers but I always come back to this product. I love the formula and it's light clean scent. This tub also lasts forever, not like with some pricier products.

3. Nature's Way Coconut Oil - At this point I'm sure you've heard about all the stuff coconut oil is good for, but in case you live under a rock I'll recap... This stuff is a multi-tasker like no other. It can be used as a lotion, a deep conditioner, for oil pulling, make-up removal, skin brightening ect. It has also hundreds of other uses outside of your beauty regimen... if you haven't jumped on this bandwagon yet - get to it.

4. Original Chapstick - I'm a fan of lip balm in general but sometimes it's nice to have something basic and non-scented like original chapstick, although I love anything Burt's Bees.

5. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque - This is another product I've mentioned prior to today but again, after trying a few other masques I always found myself coming back to this one. It's not drying like a lot of other mask products can be. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and fresh after you use it. Again, it's not something I use daily but if my skin is dull and needs some extra love it's the first product I grab. 

 What are your skincare must haves?

-Reagan

Everyday Make-Up 03

Last Month I shared my second everyday make-up post and decided I wanted to make it a more regular feature here on the blog. I like make-up and I have a lot of fun trying out new looks and new products. I always love reading make-up blogs but I find a lot of the time the products mentioned are pricier brands that I don't use and so I want to share more of my favorite drugstore brands that are easier on the wallet. Sound good? 

This month I wanted to share a look I'll be sporting a lot this fall, a more natural smokey eye and a deep fall lip shade. This is a classic autumn look but can also be easily adjusted for anytime of year. I tried to keep things pretty simple and use products that are easily available so this look will be super easy to replicate as well.

 I start with my favorite foundation, Covergirl Aquasmooth foundation in ivory. I love this foundation for so many reasons. It has spf 20 and it offers great coverage. With other foundations I've tried I have to use a concealer as well but this foundation covers everything up nicely without an extra product to carry around. (Anytime a product works well, is affordable, and allows me to eliminate an item from my makeup bag I'm sold.) After the foundation I used one of my favorite blushes, Covergirl Cheekers in pretty peach. I love this shade because it looks natural but gives your cheeks that slightly rosy flush. After I apply the blush to my cheek bones I move on to my eyebrows. I prefer Rimmel's eyebrow pencils although since going darker I've started using the dark brown shade instead of my usual light brown. Today I went for a softer natural looking brow so I just filled in and shaped my brows with a light hand. After my eyebrows I used the same Rimmel pencil to outline the outer portion of my lower lash line, and use a Rimmel Scandeleyes pencil in nude for my waterline to open up my eyes. Then I used the Covergirl eyeshadow in mink over my entire upper lid. To create the smoky look I used one of Covergirl's smokyshadowblast eyeshadow sticks in a rusty autumn shade in the outer section of my eyelid and blended it up into the crease as well. I also used Covergirl's eyeshadow in French Vanilla on the inner corners of my eyes and on my brow bone as a highlighter. To finish up my eyes I used Prestige Liquid eyeliner in black to achieve my signature cat-eye and then my favorite mascara, Maybelline's Falsie's BigEyes Mascara in Blackest Black on my upper lashes only, and then curled them and applied another coat (or two). For my lips I used a NYC lipstick in Mahogany, a perfect fall shade. I actually found this lipcolor on someone through pinterest or something and knew I had to try it because that line of NYC lipsticks cost less than a dollar and the lip color looked perfect. I wasn't sure if it looked quite right on me or not ( I'm usually a bit skeptical about darker shades because I think they emphasize a lip scar) but I decided I like it anyway.  So there you have it, a fairly simple autumn inspired make-up look using all drugstore products :)

Let me know if you try this look out I'd love to see. Also feel free to recommend other everyday looks you'd like to see!

-Reagan

Everyday Make-Up 02

Back in August I shared my everyday make-up routine and today I wanted to share another variation of easy everyday make-up adjusted a little bit for fall. I try to change up my make-up a little bit every season and in the fall I tend to favor neutral tones and a bit more dramatic eye make-up. Here is one simple variation of a fall make-up look.

 I'm still using my Covergirl Aquasmooth Foundation, it's my favorite that I've repurchased for years. I love the coverage and the formula of the foundation is spot on. For blush I went with my Jordana blush in Touch of Pink, it's a peachy-pink shade that looks almost natural. For my eyebrows I've been using an Essence eyebrow pencil in Taupe, although I'm really looking for a replacement as the formula of the pencil smudges a little bit too easily for eyebrow use. For my eyes I line the bottom with the same eyebrow pencil and smudge it into my lashline a little. On my eyelids I used Revlon's Colorstay eyeshadow in Decadent, primarily the two shades on the right. I used the lighter shade, which is a warm, gold-toned nude, all over my eyelid, up to my browbone, and then added the darker shade, which is a coppery brown shade, to the outer corner of my eye, and blend it up into the crease on my eyelid. I also used an angled brush to blend the darker shade into the eyeliner on my lashline to set it in and make it a little more blended and smoked out. I usually tend to keep things on the natural side but for this look I decided to emphasize my eyes a little bit more, while still using a natural pallet. After the eyeshadow I use a generous amount of Prestige Liquid eyeliner in my usual cat-eye shape. After eyeliner I apply mascara to both my top and bottom lashes. I never used to wear mascara on my bottom lashes because I always had issues controlling the amount of product that winds up on my lashes and it always ended up getting smudged under my eyes or clumping up. That was until I found Maybelline's Falsies Big Eyes mascara with dual wands for both upper and bottom lashes. I was a fan of Maybelline's Falsie's mascara before this but this sold me completely. It's a new favorite, and it is perfect for creating a more dramatic look. After mascara I use my Rimmel nude eyeliner on my waterline to open my eyes and to add a bit more drama. To finish this look I used a Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick a matte nude shade #113. It's an almost natural shade and a matte formula that doesn't dry out which can be hard to find. If you haven't tried a shade from this line I definitely recommend it! 

Anyway that ended up getting longer than I would have liked, but there you have it, a little step by step of what I do to achieve a slightly more dramatic everyday make-up look. I try not to use too many products and everything I use is budget friendly.

As always please let me know about any products you think I would like, I love hearing your suggestions and finding new products to love. Lately I've been looking to try out more natural, organic, and cruelty-free brands so if you know of any I'd love to hear from you.

-Reagan

Everyday Make-up 01

Today I wanted to share the make-up products I currently use to achieve my everyday look. I try to keep things pretty simple and also aim to keep my overall look natural but polished. 

I use Covergirl Aquasmooth foundation. I love this foundation and have repurchased it several times. It is a full coverage foundation with a creamy consistency. I also use a Covergirl Cheekers Blush in Natural Twinkle. This color is my go to blush for when I want a natural look that isn't too pink.  It's just perfect for my skin tone.

I'm still using my Milani Brow Kit for my eyebrows. This kit is my favorite product for achieving full natural brows. I've tried so many brown pencils and I keep coming back to this brow kit, it's just better than anything else I've found.

For my eyes I use the highlighter from the brow kit on my brow bone and in the corners of my eyes. I always do some form of a cat-eye when I do my make-up, today I went with a classic cat eye and only extended the eyeliner about halfway across my lid using my Black Pearl Almay Liquid Eyeliner. I finish off my eye make-up with several coats of Almay volumizing Mascara.

 

To complete my look I used an NYC Twistable lip color in Riverside Rose. Rose is my favorite lip color right now. It's perfect for fall and very easy to wear.

 

There you have it. I try to keep my make-up routine pretty simple because my skin gets fussy if I do too much. This is pretty much my signature look except I swap about rose, red, and nude colored lipsticks. I'm a huge fan of Cat-eye eyeliner and rosy cheeks so I rarely stray from this routine. 

What's your signature look?

-Reagan

Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

 I have been on the hunt for a good beachy sea salt spray for sometime now. There are a couple options I could buy but this is something I knew I could make and I'd even seen a few diy's on pinterest that peaked my interest a bit further. Then I saw this post on ABM and knew this was a good sea salt spray recipe to tweak for my own diy spray.

Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

One spray bottle

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 teaspoon Organix Keratin Oil conditioner

1/2 coconut Oil

1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Garnier Curl Sculpting Cream Gel

Simply Combine these ingredients into the spray bottle, & shake well before every use.

Style Hair by spraying until hair is damp and scrunch hair to create beachy waves. Allow to dry naturally.

I'm really pleased with the results from this sea salt spray. I love that it gives my hair beachy texture and also emphasizes my natural waviness. The conditioner and the coconut oil really help to moisturize my hair so it feels softer after every use. I also really love that I don't have to use any heat to style my hair this way. It's become such a quick favorite that I've already remade it several times.

Please let me know if you make your own sea salt spray as well as your results or any tips you may have!

-Reagan

Aveeno Positively Radiant

I have talked a little bit in the past about a few of products in my skincare routine both here and here but I have been wanting to simplify a little bit and have always been a fan of Aveeno so I picked up the Brightening Cleanser and also the Moisturizer from their Positively Radiant Line. I had use a few of their product before and I'm a fan of the scent which is noticeable but not overly fragrant. I like the formula of both of these products and they both seem to agree with my super picky skin so I'm sold.

I actually prefer this moisturizer over my old favorite St. Ive's moisturizer because it doesn't leave the same wet feeling after applying it. There is little to no waiting for it to absorb into your skin so you can apply make up immediately after moisturizing. I also love that it has an SPF in it.

I think I would definitely try other products from their Positively Radiant line so if you've tried any of them let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

-Reagan

Hair Growth Picks

 It felt appropriate to me to share some of my more recent hair growth tips with you all since today marks one month since I've used any sort of heat styling tools on my hair. I've shared a few posts about some products I've been using, styling routine without using shampoo, as well as some tips and tricks for maximizing hair growth. I've tried a lot of things to try to restore my hair after damaging it by a lot of dyeing, styling, and bleaching. I've done a lot to my hair, and around a year ago I decided to really cut back on all the damage I was inflicting on my hair to try to encourage growth. A huge part of this process for me was to attempt to stop the breakage caused by split ends from years of hair abuse.

Organix has been a brand that I have come back to time after time when searching for the miracle products to fix my split ends. The keratin oil line is my shampoo and conditioner of choice right now. Since I haven't been using any heat on my hair in the past few weeks these products have already made a difference in my hair. I'm seeing a lot less breakage when I wash and brush my hair, and my hair also feels and looks a lot better as well.

 The keratin oil 3 minute recovery cream has been my good to deep conditioning treatment. I usually apply this after shampooing, sometimes with the Keratin Oil conditioner and leave it on for several minutes, more than the recommended three. I use a generous amount, and concentrate most of the product on the ends of my hair and comb throw the length of my hair with the remainder of the product, avoid the roots.

The Coconut Water mist is to be used while hair is damp and combed through. It makes my hair incredibly soft and super shiny, and also makes it a lot more managable while damp.

 One of my favorite uses for it is to mist my hair with it when it just about dry and then to braid it to create soft shiny waves when the hair is dry and the braid is undone, the trick is to not braid too tight.

 It also works beautifully as a finishing spray to tame fly-aways. This stuff also smells incredible, just be careful, as with any product, not to over do it ;)

After a month of no heat styling, and using these Organix Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil Shampoo, Conditioner & 3-Minute Recovery treatment, plus their Coconut Oil Mist I believe that my hair growth has been increased due to a reduce in breakage. I definitely recommend these products if you're also trying to fight damage while growing out your hair.

-Reagan

NYC Twistable Intense Lip Color

 I've been wanting to do a post on the NYC Twistable Intense Lip Color pretty much from the day I came across it. It's pretty similar to Revlon version at about half the price. I currently own four shades. 

 The shades pictured are Riverside Rose, Ballroom Blush, South Ferry Berry, and Roosevelt Red.

My two favorite shades are the rose shade and the red shade. 

The rose shade is perfect for everyday wear, but I would say it may be more of an autumn shade (along with the Roosevelt red shade, which I found a tad too dark). The Red shade, South Ferry Berry, is the perfect cool toned red.

 The formula of these "twistable intense lip colors" is that of a lightweight balm type of lipstick. The formula goes on smooth and offers good coverage for a balm type lip color. I'm not a fan of lip color I can feel on my lips and this lip color isn't something I notice while wearing, although I do blot it after I apply. 

They have a variety of shades and I'm sure I'll get another because I love the formula of the product as well as the price. This is my new favorite lip item for the summer.

Have you tried a NYC Twistable Intense Lip Color yet?

-Reagan

5 Hairstyles With Braids For Summertime

 Today I wanted to venture out from my normal beauty type post to share a few hairstyles to inspire you this summer. I have a lot of fun trying new things with my hair, and now that it's a bit longer I have a lot more options to try as well. I really like braids and think they're a versatile hairstyle option, so all of these styles will involve braids.

1. Braided Bangs

If you don't have bangs it's a lot easier to just braid that front section of hair, if you do have bangs try following this tutorial. This hairstyle is a life saver during the summer when having bangs can just be frustrating.

 2. Maiden Braids

 This hairstyle is nothing new but it's perfect for getting long hair off your neck and shoulders during the summer. You can always try doing fishtail braids for a new take on this old classic as well.

 3. Sock Bun With a Braid

For this hairstyle I used a conair bun maker and pinned a braid around the bun. This is just another example of how you can alter a classic look to make it your own.

4. Half-up, half-down, Side Fishtail Braid

 This hairstyle was inspired by this look from the Barefoot Blonde. It's a super easy boho hairstyle that takes just minutes.

5. Side Fishtail Braid

 This has been a go to look for me for a few years now, it's just a quick way to get your hair off your neck and shoulders, plus it looks cute and put together.

& there you have it! 5 ways you can style your hair using braids this summer :)

Do you have any other braid styles I need to try?

-Reagan

Skin Care Favorites Pt.2

 I've been wanting to do another post about skincare for some time because I'm always on the hunt for the perfect product to transform my skin. A girl can dream right? I still haven't found a miracle product but I've found a few new products that have made a huge difference in my skin. As I've mentioned before my skin tends to be on the dry side, and recently I've recognized that it also tends to be a bit sensitive. I don't have zits or pimples often so my main focus is on blackheads and minimizing the look of pores without drying out or irritating my skin. 

First up is the Garnier BB Cream for combination skin in light-medium. I used to use the BB cream for regular skin but found the formula for the combination skin suits my sensitive skin a bit better. I find that it's much less oily. 

 Next is the Clearasil Superfruit face wash, this one smells so so good and leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh. This one is a favorite for the morning time because the scent is just so refreshing!

 The next product is Garnier nourishing Cleansing Oil for dry skin.  This product is unlike any skin product I've tried before. You apply it to your dry face with dry hands, and then rinse with water to remove the oil. This is definitely a new favorite that I'll be repurchasing. Because the product is an oil cleanser it leaves your skin super soft and not dried out at all. I also love it's scent.

 The final skin product is the Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser. This product leaves your skin with a deep clean feeling, and also leaves your skin super soft :) This item is my favorite of this group for targeting blackheads and pores.

I usually use the BB cream with make-up, or just on it's own without make-up. I love that it has an spf. The Clearasil is a product that I use every other day because I've found that everyday use dries out my sensitive skin. The Garnier Cleansing Oil is a product I can use everyday, my skin loves this stuff. The Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser it another item I use every other day or a couple times a week if my skin is looking dull or in need of a deep clean. 

So there you have it, four more of my skin care favorites. Have you tried any of these product before?

-Reagan

My Favorite Blushes

 In April I shared a few of my favorite pink lipsticks and today I am back to share five of my favorite blushes. It can be hard to know where to begin when trying to choose a blush. There is a lot to consider, including your skin tone, eye color, and personal preference. I tend to prefer pink and peachy blushes. I find that these shades are easy to wear for everyday use. I also like these shades because I can wear them year round. I think I started using blush in high school and it was then that I began using Covergirl blushers. My favorite shade right now is Pretty Peach #150. I actually own a lot of their blushers and love them all. This shade is great to wear for everyday make up and if you want a slightly natural pink blush.

The Elf Blush in Pink Passion is the probably the most pink pigmented shade and is definitely the least natural shade on my favorites list, but I love this neon pink pop of color, and some how I don't feel overly made up when I wear it. The Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Pink Frosting is another pigmented blush but it is easier to control the amount of color based on it's application. Use a little bit for a sheer pink tint or apply more blush for a more pigmented cheek color. The texture is really fun, but it can be strange to apply, I like to use a make up brush or a sponge.

I originally purchased Wet n Wild's Pearlescent Pink Blush because it it supposed to be a dupe of a high end blush ( I can't even remember which one). It is pigmented and subtly shimmery. It isn't a sheer blush and a little bit of it goes a long way, but it is a great blush option for those on a budget.

The Jordana Blush Pot in Touch of Pink is another budget friendly blush that has quickly become a favorite. I love the peach pink color that is a more matte option than my go to covergirl blush.

 What's your favorite blush?

-Reagan

 

Pink Lipstick Favorites

 In February I shared with you some of my Favorite Red Lipsticks and today I wanted to come back to share my favorite pink lipsticks. The thing about pink lipsticks is that there are a lot of different kinds out there. For the purposes of this post I am focusing on light pink lipsticks. I love berry pinks and rose pinks, but I will save those for another post ;) 

I have to admit I was a bit intimidated by light pink lipsticks at first. They don't always have the dramatic impact that red or deeper toned lipsticks can have when looking at the bullet so it can be really hard to shop for them. And like I mentioned before, there are A LOT of options for pink lipsticks out there and that can make it hard to narrow it down to one that you really like. I have learned over the years through trial and error what I prefer, and for me that is a creamy to matte lipstick with no shine or glitter. I don't like glossy finishes, and I can't wear something too drying either. My skin tone is somewhere in the middle so I can usually get away with wearing both warm and cool toned lip colors so my favorite pink lipsticks will feature a bit of both. All of these are drugstore lipsticks that are affordable on pretty much any budget.

 1. Wink For Pink Revlon Creme Lipstick

This is a very subtle easy to wear slightly warm toned pink. The creme formula lipstick from Revlon is one of my favorites and to me this color is very safe and perfect for everyday wear.

 2. 101 Kate Lipstick For Rimmel

I found this one after reading reviews online. It'd from the Rimmel Kate Matte line, but the formula is still creamy, not drying. It's a cool toned pink that isn't too light and is also a favorite for everyday wear.

 3. 563A NYX Lipstick

This one is a bit of a wildcard color for me and not something I would usually pick up but I was looking for something a bit different. I was happy with the formula of this lipstick and its great for days when I want a more hot pink type color. It's a light hot pink that is only slightly warm toned.

Not what I'd go for for everyday wear.

 4. Petal Rebel 60 Maybelline Color Whisper

I love the Color Whisper line from Maybelline. The lipsticks are super lightweight with sheer, but buildable color. This a light cool toned pink. This lipstick sheer formula makes them perfect for spring and summer time wear.

5. Primrose Revlon Creme Lipstick

This one is one of my favorite pink lipsticks by far. It is a cool toned pink that I feel compliments red hair. I think this color probably isn't for everyone because it is very light, but I love the fun pop of color. The bullet looks almost purple in color, but it still appears pink when worn. 

 There you have it, five of my favorite light pink lipsticks, right in time for spring! Pink is the perfect lip color for this time of year, and pretty pink lips can be the perfect pairing to your favorite sun dress for everyday wear. I'm glad I overcame my little fear of pink lipsticks because now they're almost all I wear. Pink lipsticks are so easy to wear for work or for running errands so they wind up in my makeup bag a lot. 

Do you have any favorite pink lipsticks you think I need to try? Let me know :)

-Reagan