My Juicing Journey

Apple, Lemon, Orange, Celery, Carrot, Spinach, Ginger

So... it's been a really long time. When I first decided to create a blog, I was extremely inspired and made the decision to start on the first of the year, with intentions of posting daily. Needless to say, I have failed miserably but I have made the promise to myself to get back into the habit of doing things that make me feel happy. In the past few months I've found it harder to be optimistic even though I promised myself I would seek it out. 

I have always wished to create something where I could document my life and so I've decided here it is. No more putting invisible pressures or criticizing myself for ever little thing. I am my own worst critic, this I know with absolute certainty but this is going to change.

To start off fresh and new.. and since it's about a month until my birthday, I want to get back into the habit of health. I have decided to start juicing and to the document journey. So here I go...

Oh, and also I have to make the point to express how shocked I was that it didn't taste like shit. It was delicious, which makes me even more excited to continue.

Time For A Change

Sometimes you go through periods where you lose sense of what inspires you. You can’t find happiness in the simple things, even though you try to. Everything feels a bit negative and you truly don’t feel like doing anything but laying in a dark room in bed watching movies all day. Getting dressed is an effort, and absolutely nothing seems to make you feel better. Struggling with depression and anxiety has always been an issue for me and sometimes it can be hard to drag yourself out of it. You feel guilty for feeling badly even though you do not fully understand what it is exactly that is making you feel down. You just do and you have lost your energy and there is no source of anything good. I mean there are some days that just seem like a complete waste because I have accomplished none of the things that I was suppose to get done, before I know it I look outside and it is dark and I just wonder how the time passed so quickly and what I was even doing. Then I realize that I do want to change and there are always the possible choices of medication or talking to a therapist but I hope to reach a point where I don’t have to do those things to start to feel good. Springtime is here and I feel like its time to pull myself out of this slump and really feel on top and in control of the things around me.

The Best In Topcoats

I have tried many different varieties of both base and top coats. Ranging from the cheap to the more expensive brands, and was always disappointed. No matter what, my nails would chip so quickly it made it a pointless task to paint them even. Either that or I would get the really gross sticky finish, where no matter how long I allowed them to dry I would still get the annoying imprints and smudges that would ruin my manicure. One day, while visiting my Mom, I rummaged through her polish drawer and grabbed this topcoat to finish off my freshly painted nails. I was SHOCKED. Not only did my nails dry in seconds, they were left feeling harder and shiny, the kind of shine you get from a Shellac manicure. For this reason, I immediately had to pick both the Seche vite top and base coat up the next time I was at the beauty supply store. This topcoat keeps your nails from chipping like nothing else I have ever tried. I went from being the girl that absolutely hates doing her nails, to doing them a couple times a week. You won't regret making this purchase, highly recommended. 

Updated e.l.f. Review

Blush- Left: Twinkle Pink, Right: Pink Passion

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick- Left: Pink Umbrellas, Right: Movie Star

Cream Blush in Temptress

Long-lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow- Left: Soiree, Right: Festivity

So this is bound to be a long critique- but I kind of wanted to bang out the review of my e.l.f loot in one post. I originally wanted to post each separately, which is how I first started but then I realized that there were a lot of products that weren't worth an individual post. Mostly because they didn't live up to my expectations and I really didn't have a lot to say about them other than, "meh."

When I first discovered the brand I was extremely excited. The pictures of products on their website looked promising, as were many reviews, so I loaded up my basket and made my purchase. On receiving them I noticed the very cheap packaging but that didn't bother me, as long as the actual product held up to my expectations.

Sad to say, they didn't. I found that out of their assortment of eyes, lips, and face products... only the LIP products really stuck out to me. They had the best color payoff that also were the most long wearing. I have listed all the products I purchased below where I've given a short description and opinion on each product. 

Ultimately though, I felt unimpressed and pretty disappointed. Although these products are cheap to buy, I found that they are good if you are in a pinch or want to test out a new look before investing in a more expensive product. Other than that, for me personally, I would rather save up and buy a product that-yes might be a few dollars more but that have an overall better result.
Again these are my personal opinions, feel free to give me opinions on the e.l.f. products you have personally tried, and what you liked and did not like about them.

Powder Brush

Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter: Fair/Glow

Cream Blush: Temptress

Powder Blush: Twinkle Pink

Powder Blush: Pink Passion

Radiance Enhancer: Spotlight

Body Shimmer: Mystic Moonlight

Shimmering Facial Whip: Spotlight

Shimmering Facial Whip: Toasted

Eyelid Primer: Sheer

Eyelid Primer: Champagne

Primer Eyeshadow: Misty Mauve

Cream Eyeshadow: Candlelight

Cream Eyeliner: Gunmetal

Long-lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow: Soiree

Long-lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow: Festivity

Mineral Eyeshadow: Elegant

Liquid Eyeliner: Stardust

Liquid Eyeliner: Copper

Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick: Pink Umbrellas

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick: Movie Star

Luscious Liquid Lipstick: Perfect Pink

Luscious Liquid Lipstick: Strawberry

Hypershine Gloss: Flirt

Lip Stain: Fashionista

Lip Balm SPF 15: Peach

Recommended:

Powder Brush: This brush was one of the most highly rated products from the e.l.f. line and I have to say that this was one of my top favorites also. I have washed it many times and the bristles are still perfectly intact and I've never had a problem with them falling out or shedding. You can use it to buff in liquids and creams or use it to apply powder products, which I love. The bristles are extremely soft, and I would have to say that there is only one downside to it. When using applying loose powders I feel that it sometimes eats up the product so you need to use more of the products than you normally would. 

Powder Blush-Pink Passion: Color payoff with this blush was much better than with the color Twinkle Pink. Although it looks florescent in the packaging, it smoothly adds a nice pop of a soft pink to the cheeks. If you don't want to invest a bunch of money into trying out a new pink blush, give this one a try. I wouldn't say that it compares to the textures of higher end brands, but if you are looking for a change and don't want to pay a pretty penny then this might be a good option for you.

Body Shimmer- Mystic Moonlight: This was my favorite of the highlighters I purchased from e.l.f., as the texture was nice and not sticky. The color payoff and shine was actually noticeable and even when rubbing into the skin it held up, instead of completely disappearing. I found that although they categorize it as a body shimmer, using it on the face proved to be just fine. The color is a subtle pink-lavender-frosty sheen that is pretty worn on the chest, shoulders, or highlighted areas of the face.

Long-lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow- Soiree and Festivity: Being a mouse texture these are sponge like and soft. The color payoff is nice and shiny and to get the best look from these I would actually apply them on top of an eyeshadow instead of wearing them alone. They can really jazz up your eyeshadow for a nice evening look.

Mineral Eyeshadow- Elegant: I figured I could use this for the inner corners of my eyes seeing that it is a nice vanilla shade. The only problem with this was getting it to stay on. No matter how much I packed on I felt like it hardly showed. If using this on top of something like Urban Decay's Primer Potion it might be another story. This definitely needs something to stick and hold on to if hoping to achieve long lasting results.

Primer Eyeshadow- Misty Mauve: This primer had a totally different texture than e.l.f.'s regular eyelid primer. It wasn't slippery like silicone but more of a creamy eyeshadow. The color payoff was decent and it stayed in place. This is great for putting a bit of color on your lids when you are on the go.

Cream Eyeliner- Gunmetal: Being a grey I wasn't expecting this to be a really dark liner but something subtle. I would not suggest using the brush that comes with, as it is super small and hard to work with. I found this to be a good eyeshadow base and the color lasts. 

Liquid Eyeliner- Stardust and Copper: Both very pretty glitter lingers. Copper is a typical gold shade while stardust is a subtle mixture of soft multicolored sparkles. Either would be great to add on top of a darker liquid liner, painted onto the eyelashes after applying mascara, or even on top of eyeshadow if patting it in with a finger.

Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara: It's a clear mascara, what more is there to say? It gets the job done.

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick- Pink Umbrellas and Movie Star: I really enjoy these non-sticky glossy lipsticks. If you want just a hint of moisturizing color these are the perfect choice and they are extremely easy to use. The lighter pink shade is a flattering light pink that looks fresh when just popped on during your more natural makeup days or paired with a darker eye for a more neutral look. The red looks dark pictured above but it actually applies similar to a balm so the pigment is just enough without being overbearing. It's perfect if you are still drawn toward the more red toned lipstick colors, for a lighter option as we soon go into spring.

Lip Stain- Fashionista: This was by far my favorite product purchase. This lip stain held up longer than my go-to red long wear stain from Revlon. It lasted through means and even when reapplying it didn't ball up or become thick like a lot of other stains do. I highly recommend trying some of these colors.

Lip Balm SPF 15- Peach: Another great lip product. It is your standard tinted lip balm but the color payoff is a lot better than other brands I have sampled. Minty in taste and highly moisturizing.

The Not- So- Worth It:

Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter-Fair/Glow: This product does slightly brighten and provides a very light coverage. The texture is nice but it doesn't exactly due the job. I would only suggest this for someone who has no darkness under their eyes and just wanted to add a bit of brightness.

Cream Blush-Temptress: Being a perfect color for someone with fair skin, I was extremely disappointed at the color pay off. When either using my fingers or a brush, I found it hard to get enough product to actually make the pigment show up.

Powder Blush-Twinkle Pink: The texture of this product is what bugged me. It was almost gritty due to the shimmer that runs throughout this, which is more on the side of being glitter than a finely milled frost. The color pay off was just okay, as it was hard to apply it evenly and I felt like it was a really splotchy product.

Radiance Enhancer- Spotlight: I picked this up because there were reviews saying that it was a dupe for Benefit's High Beam. This was not the case. Although when first applying it the color was similar, it had no staying power and you can literally rub it right off.

Shimmering Facial Whip- Spotlight and Toasted: The biggest complaint about these were that some batches came out watery. I didn't have this problem and although I knew it was a whip, it was kind of on the side of being too thick. It was hard to spread evenly and was actually a bit sticky. I applied Toasted which is a rusty-shiny-brown on my eyelids and it them as a base for my eyeshadow, which I found was pretty nice. I felt like these needed to be mixed with a moisturizer to give a better texture when applying. Mixing these into a foundation would also be a nice way to achieve a bit of a glow, although I don't know if it is worth the risk of a break out. Also if you are wearing any powder you might have a difficulty applying them and achieving a suitable texture due to their thick texture.

Eyelid Primer- Sheer and Champagne: Not worth it. Not only does this product feel like it is a slippery silicone that doesn't dry down, I am convinced it was causing me to get a stye. It in no way helped my eyeshadow to last longer, be brighter, and not crease. I felt that it did nothing for me.

Cream Eyeshadow- Candlelight: This product did not work for me. The texture would almost ball up and I could never get it to apply evenly. It was chunky and not at all blend-able. 

Luscious Liquid Lipstick- Perfect Pink and Strawberry: These are an okay item and although the say they are a liquid lipstick, it is almost misleading because they are basically just glosses. A nice and minty fresh tasting product, with very little color payoff. I wasn't "wowed"

Hypershine Gloss- Flirt: The brush applicator was better on this product than the liquid lipsticks. It was an actual brush, which helped when applying it and it didn't make me feel like I was wasting a bunch of product. I would rate this about the same as the lip items above, it would be great to apply over a lipstick to add some shine.

Luscious Lips With L'Oréal's ColourRiche

Left: Angora Sunset, Right: Cotton Pink

Left: Angora Sunset, Right: Cotton Pink

Lately I've been having a moment with lipsticks. I have been playing around with all different brands trying to find the a texture that suits my mood lately, which has been more on the balm and stain side. This weather has been tough on my lips so I've been staying away from anything with a matte texture or anything else that is a heavily pigmented with a thick feel. Not only do those sometimes show the areas on my lips that are less than smooth but if I am out and about, the last thing I want to worry about is my lipstick wearing off in that horrible, fading in the middle of my bottom lip look. I don't want to be bothered to look in a mirror obsessively to make sure everything is in the right place so I found a better alternative that doesn't break the bank. L'Oréal's ColourRiche collection, offers a balm like texture with sheer color that is really build-able. My favorite part is that once the color does wear off your lips are left a little bit stained, there's no strange fading and they are not sticky but instead really smooth hydrating. Although they are not extremely long wearing I still find these as a great item to throw in your bag because you never know when you need to add a little bit of color to your face and with these you can throw them on and go, no need for lip liners and precision. Even when picking some of the brightest shades, they add a pop of color that still seems fresh and light, perfect for the upcoming spring.

Just The Basics

There are some days when you don't want to look extremely made up, like you have spent forty five minutes applying your makeup. Especially when I am going to school, I tend to feel too dressed up when I have all the steps done- contouring, highlighting, three different shades of eyeshadow blended together, precise black winged liner, ect. Although I like to look put together, I don't want to look "overdone" so I've been working on fine tuning a more refined and simplistic makeup routine. This is especially helpful when I am running late and I need to get ready in a hurry, which was me this morning. I used some of my favorite basic products for a quick natural look.

Tarte Smoother Operator Tinted Moisturizer, 00

Too Faced Amazing Face, Skin-Balancing Flexible Coverage Foundation Powder, Vanilla Créme

Benefit BrowZings, Light

Laura Mercier Créme Cheek Colour, Oleander

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, Ivory

BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow, The Truth

L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara, Black

L'Oréal ColourRiche, Sunset Angora

e.l.f. Essential Lipstick's

       As you can tell the packaging is extremely cheap but for $1.00, I don't mind dealing with it. I was expecting it to smell like the lipsticks I would get as a kid that came in those little play makeup kits but to my surprise it didn't. Instead it kind of smells like a fruity lip balm, which I'd much prefer over something that smells of plastic. The color payoff is actually very nice and they don't dry my lips out like some of the MAC lipsticks. They do feel a bit waxy but they aren't thick on your lips and the best part, is that they go on smoothly. When they wear off it looks like more of a slight stain, than a heavy lipstick that wears off in the center of your lips. For the price I would recommend trying them, especially if you don't often wear lipsticks and are wanting to play around with color.

Winter Time Exfoliation For The Body

With the winter weather causing dry flakey skin, exfoliation is a must. We tend to spend countless dollars on skin care products that focus on buffing away dead skin on our face but what about providing that same service to our body? Sure there are many different types of sponges and loufas that target exfoliation but I have to be honest… sometimes they gross me out. It's not just the fact that it accumulates the dead skin we are sloughing off but also the fact that it hangs in our showers damp for hours, yuck. Maybe this is me being a little on the phobic side but regardless I have a better, more sanitary alternative.

This product is not only affordable, being less than $4.00 for a gigantic bottle, St. Ives Exfoliating Body Wash is both hypoallergenic and paraben-free. One of the key reasons you should exfoliate is that by getting rid of the top layer of dead flakey skin, your moisturizer will soak in deeper, leaving you much more smooth and hydrated. I have very sensitive skin and this product has been a wonderful, gentle way to exfoliate, never causing irritation. As you can tell, I have very long hair, which I love to try new products on and unfortunately … this can sometimes mean the annoyance an occasional breakout on my back, which no girl wants. This product helps to prevent breakouts giving your back the pampering it deserves, which not only feels amazing but it also leaves my back feeling extra clean and soft.  This is my second bottle now and I absolutely love this stuff! I also use this before shaving and it helps to achieve a nice close shave while also preventing ingrown hairs - a major plus. This is not only a great tool for the winter time but this will be the perfect product going into spring and summer, as people begin to use self tanners, as It will help to cut down on patchy or streaky application. At such a bargain price, it's definitely worth a try.

Managing Your Mane With, It's A 10

To start with.. I want to explain that I do NOT have hair like the average person. I have a MANE. By this I mean that my hair is not just long, but in its natural state, it is quite curly and can be a bit of a drag to tame. I do not like washing it every day because it is a task to say the least and even after using a pretty heavy conditioner, I still have a hard time combing it out.  I have heard a lot about, It's a 10, both good and bad so let me break down my views on both, the miracle deep conditioning treatment and the miracle leave-in spray.

I first have to explain that this product is best suited for curlier hair types as they are normally dry and need the extra hydration. If you have very fine almost straight hair you might not see a huge difference although this product does double as a heat protector so in any case, it will only be helping your hair out. Anyone with color treated or damaged hair would also find these products useful to help bring softness back to the sometimes crunchy texture that dying can cause.

The Miracle Hair Mask, is wonderful and I can definitely tell a difference in the health of my hair. I use it about once a week, and in just the first few uses I can feel that my hair is stronger and less brittle than before using it. It is a very deep conditioner but is light enough to not weigh the hair down or make it greasy. My hair is always less frizzy after using, very bouncy, soft, and manageable. Although it's price is a little high, a little goes a long way. The leave-in conditioning spray, is one of my staple go to products. It really helps me to comb out and untangle the knots in my hair without damaging it. Not only does it smell great but when I spray it on, I can actually feel the knots coming loose. I can feel the hydration working as a light lotion coating the strands of my hair, loosening the tangled parts. I absolutely love this product and it goes not weigh my hair down one bit, which I am so happy about. I cannot stand those goopy products that leave a residue all over my neck, yuck. I would highly suggest both of these products although the leave in spray is my top pick. The fact that it protects your hair from heat is a big plus considering all the heat tools we use on our hair, although I would still suggest using a separate heat protector for heavy heat use. Both of these products retail roughly around $20 each, depending on the size you choose, and you can find them as a package deal in some stores for about $35. It is an investment but highly worth it!

e.l.f. Haul

After spending countless amounts of money over the years on expensive products, I decided I would give in and buy some Eyes Lips Face products. I have heard a lot of good feedback on these products and I was shocked at how inexpensive their brand really is. Needless to say I didn't just splurge, I went absolutely crazy. I have to admit I am a sucker for a good deal so I hope that I have stumbled upon some great finds here and if not, I won't be losing a ridiculous amount of money anyway. I am going to be splitting this haul up, otherwise it would be quite a long post of me blabbering on. Anyway, just wanted to show a quick picture of what I purchased so you know what things from e.l.f. I will be reviewing!

New e.l.f Post...
For The Updated Review, Click Here

Saying Goodbye To The Holidays And Hello To The New Year

I have to say that I am really sad about the holidays being over. It felt like they went by really quickly but then again, maybe it was because for the first year in a long time I wasn't working around all the crowds of people shopping for gifts for their loved ones. Although I am sad, I am also very happy for the start of a fresh new year. I know that with the new year people tend to make all types of resolutions for themselves but instead of putting enormous pressures on myself, this year I simply want to focus on being a more positive person. Not only in the way I view others, or the world, but also how I view myself. Sometimes it can be hard to remember all the positives and it's usually the more negative side of things that are more readily available in our brain. It can be much easier to dwell on the things we can not change than to put our energies toward the things we can change. With that said, here is to a new outlook on things, new friends, and to positive changes...

A New Year, A New Blog

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had a passion for all aspects of the beauty world. While attending college I found work in the beauty industry, starting first with makeup artistry and later working for a high end skin care company. At first I absolutely loved it! Who would not enjoy applying the best makeup and skin care brands on new faces each day while having access to the newest products on the market? To my disappointment, I found that it was not my cup of tea, as it was more about people buying products rather than the artistry aspects. I decided to create this blog as a way to express my passion for makeup and all aspects of beauty world, where I could still be involved, just on my own terms. In this blog, I will give my truthful opinions on all types of products and tools, high end and drugstore, while also providing makeup tutorials. I hope that you out there who share my passion find this helpful and interesting!