December 2013 Favorites

Hi, Beauties!

The month of December has flown by, is that just me or what? It's crazy that next week will be the start of 2014. In a state of nostalgia, here is the list of my favorites from the past month. 

Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre - Amethyst 

I know, I know. This again?! I am in love with these, obviously. I've used this color for more looks this month than anything else. The subtle purple and coppery look it gives is so pretty and brings out my eyes. So yes, I wear it often. I promise these products won't be in my next favorites post.

Studio 83 Piece Essential Makeup Collection - White

This is totally meant for summer because of the bright colors and the shades of the bronzers, but I wear it in the winter and don't care! I love colors and have used this palette often to spice up my everyday looks. It also helps that a few of the eyeshadow colors perfectly match some of my sweaters in my closet. 

Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mist - True Escape

I love, love, love this scent so much. The funny thing is I only find myself wearing it in the fall and winter. When I was shopping in Victoria's Secret I was smelling the fragrances and immediately knew this one was a must. I literally have never had such an intense feeling of I want this more than anything. I've broken this fragrance out for the season and am happily in heaven smelling it all day. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This was an obvious pick for the favorites this month because I absolutely love this mascara and use it everyday. I'm going to be sad when this sample runs out.

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner - Perfect Black

This eyeliner has changed the way I look at other eyeliners. Even the Starlooks one that I have raved about before (although I still love it). It comes off so dark even over eyeshadow. It's creamy and so smooth to apply. Can't get enough.

That's it for the December favorites. Have a happy New Year! I can't wait to see what 2014 brings!

What's your favorite scent from Victoria's Secret?

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

7 Beauty Subscriptions to Look into for the New Year

That's right Beauties! 2014 will be a whole new year of beauty and glam. As I've stated before, beauty subscriptions are awesome for trying new things for cheap and helping you find products you would have never known you loved. They extend and expand your beauty knowledge, as well as your collection. Here is a list of 8 beauty subscriptions that I think are worth looking into for the new year.

1. Glossybox

This beauty subscription service offers 5 luxury products for $21 a month which they keep secret until it's delivered. It's also available in certain countries outside of the United States. Try it out here.

2. Julep Maven Boxes

For the nail polish addicts or for the girls who are simply trying to expand their collection. This service offers at least two nail polishes along with some beauty products all for $19.99 a month. The nice part about this service is you can view what you are getting around the middle of the month. If you don't like the colors you can opt for a new style or you can send your box to a friend for no additional charge. Along with that you can add discounted products to your Maven box. By becoming a Julep Maven, you get free shipping and 20% off their website. Try it out here.

3. Birchbox

Birchbox is a subscription that offers 4-5 products in mixed categories for $10 a month. The box usually includes beauty, grooming and lifestyle products. This service offers boxes for both men and women which is different than most beauty subscriptions. For this one you have to request an invite which normally is a two week wait. You can check it out here.

4. Ipsy Glam Bags

Ipsy is the only beauty subscription service that I'm subscribed to right now. As you all know I love it and can never stop raving about it. Ipsy offers 4-5 beauty products for $10 a month. The products come in a different reusable bag every month that are absolutely adorable. You can see my posts about what I have received in the past to get a good idea of what you can expect to get. Here's my referral link or if you prefer to check out the site this is the link.

5. BeautyArmy

BeautyArmy has a cool idea with their service where you choose 6 products from the 9 shown each month for $12. You have the option to pick less than 6 if you really wanted to, but the price stays the same. You have the option to a skip a month with this service. These products are mostly sample sized with very few full sized products, but they offer the full sized products on their website. To check it out click here.

6. Wantable

This subscription service not only offers a box for beauty, but also one for accessories and intimates. Each one is $36 a month or $40 for a one-time box. The beauty and intimates boxes have 4-5 products (all full sized beauty products) and the accessories box has 3-4 products. You have the option to skip the box for the month in this subscription as well. Check this one out here.

7. Beauty Box 5

Beauty Box 5 ships 4-5 beauty products to your door every month for $12. This beauty subscription is one of the only ones on this list that isn't customized to you. Check this service out here.

Are there any beauty subscriptions that you like that I didn't include? Let me know in the comments below and include the details!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a Happy New Year! Thanks for reading!

Brianna

Ipsy's December 2013 Glam Bag: Celebration

Hey Beautiful!

My Ipsy Bag came in the mail on Monday! Yay! This month's bag is a good one, featuring some products and brands that are new to me. I'm really excited about it! And an added bonus is that the bag is super cute this month and doesn't feel as flimsy as some of the others have.

Here's the list of products in this month's bag:

• Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio - Naturally Bare
• Be a Bombshell The One Stick - Girl Crush
• English Laundry Signature Fragrances - Signature and Signature Pour Femme
• Nicka K New York Nail Color - Classic Taupe
• J. Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil - Red Rose

This bag sets up a nice winter look for the holiday season, which is something I really like about it. The red lipstick is a little bright for my skin tone but I'm sure I can find a way to make it work. The One Stick by Be a Bombshell is a really cool product because it's a three in one product. It can be a lipstick, eyeshadow, or a cream blush. This shade is too light to be a good lipstick for me, but as a blush it is very flattering. I'm really starting to like the brand Be a Bombshell thanks to Ipsy! Overall this month's bag was a success. 

What did you like or dislike about this month's bag, Ipsters? 

Thanks for reading and see you on Christmas!

Brianna

Too Faced Better Than Sex Amazing Eyes Set Review

Hey Beauties!

I was Christmas shopping a week or so ago and found some pretty awesome sets at Sephora that I couldn't resist. One in particular was the Too Faced Better Than Sex Amazing Eyes Set. I have seen the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara at Sephora before and have always wondered the one and only question: is it better than sex? Below is why Too Faced is quickly becoming one of my new favorite brands.

The set comes with Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara and Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black. 

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black

The eyeliner lives up to the name by being a very rich black eyeliner. It's extremely creamy and easy to go on. The awesome part? It doesn't budge for the entire day and it's waterproof. Normally eyeliner fades or smudges by the end of the day, but this product literally didn't move. I think I'm in love. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

When I first saw this mascara in Sephora I was intrigued. It runs for $23.00 and claims to be "better than sex," so naturally I assumed this mascara must be fantastic. Another part of mascara that I'm really big about is the brush. This brush is thick with a unique shape. When I first used the mascara, it went on like no other mascara ever has. It separated my lashes and lengthened them like so many other mascaras have tried to promise. The mascara is also dark and one sweep of the wand is all you need to have beautiful lashes. 

The Bottom Line:

Yes, I would definitely recommend these two products. They live up to the names and prices. 

Pros:

• Vivid dark color
• Creamy application
• Easy application
• Lasts all day
• A little bit of both products goes a long way

Cons:

• Expensive

Have you tried these two products? What are your thoughts on them? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

The Differences in Lip Products

Hey Beauties!

Today's post will go over the differences in the different kinds of lip products. I was inspired to do this idea because I know a lot of people who are confused by the different types of lip products. I was also going through my makeup and realized I had organized my lip products into the different types and thought it would be interesting to do a post based on this idea. Hope this helps!

Lip Balm:

Lip balm is a moisturizing lip product that helps heal and protect lips against dryness. ChapStick is one of the best known brands (along with Blistex, Nivea, etc.), but is often confused as being its own type of lip product because that is simply what we call it. I always use the term ChapStick when referring to lip balm because that's basically all I use. Lip balm can be tinted or not. If it is tinted, it's normally not very pigmented because when using lip balm, you aren't normally looking for a full coverage lip product. If it's full coverage you're looking for then you will want...

Lipstick:

Lipstick is a thicker lip product that is highly pigmented and used for full coverage. The thickness of lipstick is sometimes a deal breaker for some women because it feels different than a lot of other lip products. The opaque coverage and the usual matte finish are what really make this product popular. Lipsticks don't have to all be matte though, there are tons of lipsticks that are shimmery or have some glossy looks to them. The downside of using lipstick, is that most of them don't last all day (although some brands do have long lasting kinds). If it is long lasting color you are looking for then you'll want to try...

Lip Stains:

Lip stains can be pretty awesome because they last a long, long time. They can add a nice touch of color without being too much, like lipstick sometimes can be. The issue with lip stains are that they tend to be very drying. Some of the higher end brands do a better job at fixing this issue though. You want to make sure to use some sort of moisturizer after using lip stains.

Lip Crayons:

Lip crayons are a "new-ish" product on the market. They are a more sheer type of lipstick that doesn't have the weight that lipstick does. Due to its shape, it is also slightly easier to apply. I like lip crayons because they are a nice subtle color without drying or without too much thickness to them. It's a happy medium.

Lip Gloss:

Lip gloss is a very glossy lip product (hence the name) that is more sheer. It can be shimmery, sparkly, flavored, and scented. It is a staple throughout late middle school and high school for a lot of girls. It's a quick way to play up your look if you want to make up your eyes, but not look too heavy in the day time. I find it to be more sticky than anything else, and don't usually prefer it. The particular lip gloss in this photo is from Sephora and is made to match your skin tone using pH. It's actually a really cool idea and works pretty well. No more fighting with trying to find a shade that looks good on you because this product does it for you. 

Plumping Lip Gloss:

If lip gloss doesn't give your lips that juicy glossy look that you want then plumping lip gloss may be your thing. Plumping lip gloss has all the perks of regular lip gloss, but is supposed to "plump" up your lips by temporarily irritating them. Lip plumpers use ingredients that increase the flow of blood to the lips such as different types of mint or cinnamon. The increased blood flow causes lips to swell temporarily. Lip plumpers are used to make lips look more full. The cheaper brands, such as e.l.f. (above), don't make much of a difference, but I can't speak for higher end brands because I haven't tried them. 

I hope this list helps clarify things a little bit!

Do you think I missed anything? Comment down below! Also let me know what your favorite kind of lip product is!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna