Beauty Products Wish List Spring 2019

Hey guys,

So I meant to post this last Friday but I ended up getting behind and was just too busy last week. Then I was going to find time and post it on the weekend but then I pretty much wasn't at home all weekend so then I had to push it back even more. You guys know that I love all thing beauty and makeup and because of this I love writing about it! So I think I would share some of the things that I've had my eye on at Sephora for quite a while now! 

1) Sunday Riley Multivitamins Set
2) Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer
3) Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
4) Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
5) Glamglow Supermud Activated Charcol Treatment Mask
6) St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mouse
7) Glamglow Supertoner Exfoliating Acid Solution Toner
8) St. Tropez Gradual Tan Watermelon Infusion Body Lotion
9) Sunday Riley Space Race Acne, Oil + Pores at Wrap Speed Kit
10) Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum
11) Sunday Riley Flash Fix Kit

I have been really interested in the Sunday Riley products that Sephora has but they are sooo expensive. Since the last time I was looking at their products they've come out gift packages which I think is such a great idea for companies to do because it allows customers to be able to test out products without buying the full size first. I tend to have sensitive skin and I'm usually pretty reluctant to try out new products, especially ones that are so pricey. But I've heard that Sunday Riley has some great acne products and some scaring products. They also have some anti-aging products which are basically all products I'm highly interested in since I'm not getting any younger!

I also have been interested in the Glow Recipe products. I haven't read any of the reviews but the products seem really interesting! I also like their packaging and how they have mini trial sizes to test out. I also like how they are made of out fruit products and other natural ingredients!

One of my favorite brands is Glamglow and I absolutely love trying their new products whenever they come out with them. Also my favorite like by them is their supermud mask and I really want to try out the supertoner and see if it works well for my skin type!

I also love using St. Tropez items especially around this time of year so I can make sure I get my tan on! I currently have really tan feet though because I sit outside for lunch and my lunch is an hour long and so my feet are getting really tan because I usually wear pants every day to work. On the days that I wear dresses then I tend to get sunburnt knees and now I've recently started getting tan knees so I basically have the most strange/farmer's tan ever!

Talk to you soon!

XO, Steph

Sephora Haul March 2019

Hey guys,

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I did a little shopping at Sephora while I was at Disney this past weekend and I just wanted to share with you what I bought! I only bought 5 things but boy did I spend enough! I have been trying to watch what I spend lately so I can put my money towards things that I either really need or towards paying off debt. I'm trying to be responsible and you know do this whole adult thing! But anyways, it has been quite a while since I've like really shopping at Sephora and I had been craving to go there and buy some stuff!

Two of the items I purchased were foundations from Makeup Forever that I used to use all of the time and that work really well for my skin. The two that I bought were the Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation and the Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation. I have been using drug store foundation for about 2 years now and I wanted to treat myself to the good stuff! The other items were items I had never purchased before but have heard good things about them. The first thing was the beauty blender solid cleanser. My sister actually bought this before I did and she said it worked really well so I figured I would give it a try. I've watched a few YouTube reviews on it and they all say it works really well. 

The next thing was the Makeup Easer which I have heard pretty good things about as well. I honestly thought I would never buy one because it's $20 and I honestly just remove my makeup when I wash my face. But when I was looking around I saw this super cute bag with pineapples on it and had to check it out. I think this is just the cutest thing and it was such a good deal. It comes with a bag, a free sleeping eye mask and the actual towel and they all have the adorable pineapple print on them rather than just the plan pink print. And I only paid $20 for this so I thought it was a super good deal and couldn't pass it up.

The last item is something I'm probably going to lose or forget I bought before I need it again, which is the Evian Water Facial Spray. Whenever I go on long plane rides I always end up getting really died out and have a hard time breathing out of my nose and even my mouth sometimes. I basically have to constantly drink water and not think about how dried out I am. When we flew back from Paris a few years ago I almost had a panic attack because I had such a hard time breathing on the plane. I also thought I was going to get a nose bleed which just created more anxiety. Anyways I've read a few reviews and watched a few YouTube videos and people say to bring this on a plane ride to help with getting dried out. However, the last couple times I've remembered this before getting on a plane I searched all over and none of my local stores had it soooo when I saw it in the checkout line, my sister told me to buy to for the next time and at least I will be prepared now! But like I said hopefully I don't lose it before then!

Talk to you soon!

XO, Steph

Sephora Favorites Lashstash to Go Giveaway

Hey guys,

So I'm doing another giveaway! I was supposed to do this giveaway back in December but I ran out of time and I barely even got to post anything in December. However, so far this month I have not missed a day which I am so happy about! I've been late a few days this week but that's okay. I was at least able to get them up before the day was over haha!

Today' giveaway features one of my favorite gift sets that Sephora sells because it features 5 different travel size mascaras and then you get a bonus card inside that gets you a free full size mascara! It's seriously such a great idea and the perfect gift for a beauty lover. However, it only comes out during the holidays. Also, one of the nice things is the the Sephora inside of JCPennys typically sells their own version so you can actually both and get different mascaras. However, I think this year they might have just done the same packaging and mascara and just added the JCPenny logo.

Also, I did a giveaway back in December on Instagram, I never actually picked a winner so I think I might just redo that giveaway and include those who entered the giveaway on Instagram but I'll do it on the blog instead of Instagram. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway is open today and will close in about 5 days. I will announce the winner next Friday and let the winner know by sending them an email. Good luck! 

XO, Steph

My First Ever Blog Giveaway!

Hey guys,

So I have been wanting to do a giveaway for a while now so I have decided that since it's December and all (which means Christmas!) that it was time for me to do a giveaway! My blog will be two years old at the end of January which means I have waited long enough haha. I will be doing a giveaway every Friday for the rest of the month of December. I will be doing two giveaways here on the blog and two giveaways on my Instagram account so make sure you are following along so you can enter for your chance to win something! Most of the items are not very expensive but they were all paid for with my money. I'm not going to tell you what they are until I announce them mostly just because I want them to be a surprise!

So for today's giveaway, I will be giving away a this Sephora Favorites Lip Kit.

 These Sephora Favorites gift sets that they come out with every year are my absolute favorite. They make the best gifts because it allows the person to be able to try multiple items without having to spend a lot of money on each full size item. For example, with this lip kit, you can try out 6 different brands of lip products, find out which one(s) you like the best and then go buy the full size option. Plus they are perfect for travel because they are usually all below the TSA required size.

The lip kit comes with 6 different shades (I know there are only 5 in the picture, I didn't realize there were 6 until I had already taken and edited photos and didn't feel like retaking them haha) to try out from 6 different brands. They are all brands that I highly recommend. I personally already own and love a few shades of both the Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick and the Tarte tareist lip paint.

I purchased a set for myself as well and have already tested out the Laura Mercier Lip Colour and the Bite Lip Crayon and both are very bold and beautiful colors. I will definitely be buying more shades of the Bite Lip Crayon.

The giveaway will be open today and will close on Tuesday! I will announce the winner in next Friday's blog post!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This blog post is not sponsored and all items were purchased with my own money.

Thanks for stopping by!

Feel free to leave a comment or share this with your friends!

XO, Steph

Holy Grail Beauty Products: High-End

Hey guys,

Here is a list of 10 of my holy grail beauty products that are high-end. The products include makeup, skincare, and other items that are beauty related. These are products that I have purchased several times and have become staple in my beauty or skincare routine. 

1) GLAMGLOW SUPERCLEANSE™ Daily Clearing Cleanser

This is probably my most favorite cleanser of all time. This cleanser i pretty pricey for fashwash but it is magical. I also really like the mask version of it as well but it is even more money. If you have a zit just use this on it a couple times and it will dry it up and make it disappear within a few days. If you use the face mask it will typically clear the zit up a lot faster. Just put some of the mask on the spot and leave it on there for about 20 to 30 minutes and it will pretty much be gone by the next morning.

2) St. Tropez Tanning Essentials Self Tan Express Starter Kit

This is my favorite brand of self-tanner. I live in Florida and I am super pale, I know how weird that sounds but I unfortunately don't tan at all. All I do is burn and then peel and my skin will get a tiny bit dark but basically I would have to repeat that process over 100 times before I actually became tan haha. And unfortunately, skin cancer runs in my family so that is not something I will be doing. I would so much rather go get a spray tan or self-tan at home. I have tried a few different brands of self-tanner and this is by far my favorite. I like this kit because it comes with everything, it comes with an applicator mitt, an exfoliator to use before you apply the tanner, the tanner itself, and a moisturiser to help increase and keep the tan after you apply it.

3) MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist & Fix Setting Spray

Out of all of the setting sprays that I have tried, this is the only that really works for my oily skin. I have been wanting to try the Mac fix+ plus but I keep forgetting to purchase it whenever I am by a Mac counter. I use quite a bit of this stuff and I also will continue to use it throughout the day the more oily my skin becomes because this stuff seems to dry the oil up.

4) beautyblender the original beauty blender

This is my favorite makeup applicator. I use it to apply my liquid foundation, blend in my under eye concealer and my highlight, and I also use it to press powder under my eyes to set it. I have owned several beautyblenders and I plan to keep repurchasing them for a while. Also, I have owned several dupes and none of them work as well. They own 

5) Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This made it on my list for my top favorite high-end mascara which you can check out here! I absolutely love this mascara and I think everyone should own a tube of it. It is amazing!

6) Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick

So one of the lasted trends in beauty has been liquid lipstick. I personally love it and I own several different colors from several different brands. This liquid lipstick just so happens to be my favorite.  I own it in a couple different colors and I totally want to go buy more of it. Also, prefer liquid lipsticks  over any other lip product because they actually last for quite a while. It's very similar to a lip stain however some of them aren't as drying as lip stains can be. I don't own the color up above but I totally want it now!

7) Dior Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm

I discovered this stuff a couple of years ago because of watching YouTube videos. It smells amazing and it is also. It kind of reminds me a fancier/nicer version of vaseline. It's great for making your lips very smooth and it's to put this on at night before going to bed or before you start putting on your makeup so it can sink in and make your lips look great all day!

8) NARS NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette

This palette is quite expensive but in my opinion it is totally worth the price. You get 1 bronzer shade, 6 blushes and two of them can actually be used as a highlighter as well. You get quite a bit for the price and it's also great for traveling because you can just bring this one palette with you and you have your blush, bronzer, and highlight.

9) Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

This is my favorite face primer! I have tried sooo many primers and this is by far the best one that I have tried. The texture is quite weird but it makes your face feel so soft when you put it on. It's like your face becomes velvet, it's so crazy! I typically only use one pump when put this on and I also only use for special occasions because it is pretty pricey. 

10) CLINIQUE Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

So this is my favorite spot treatment for acne. I have had acne for several years and this is pretty much the only spot treatment that I will use. I have tried probably over 10 different spot treatment products and this is the only one that I have used for years and will continue to use because it really is the only one that works.

Since it is salicylic acid it can be very drying so I do recommend that you use a hydrating moisterizer  over the top otherwise it can make your skin look a little dried out and patchy if you use too much. This product usually works really well and pretty quickly. If I have a spot then I will put this on it morning and night and then depending on the size of the zit, it will be gone in 24-48 hours. 

However, this does not work on cystic acne, which is what I am really struggling with at the moment. I have yet to find a spot treatment that actually works on cystic acne and I don't think I will because of the fact that cystic acne is hormonal and under the skin.

Thank for stopping by!

Feel free to leave a comment or share this with your friends!

XO, Steph

SaveSave
SaveSave

My Favorite and Not-So Favorite High-End Foundations

Hey guys, 

So today's post is beauty related! I absolutely love makeup and I am not really that big a fan of foundation but that's mainly because I have extremely oily skin. I also don't really like the idea behind it. However, since I have struggled with acne for over 10 years I choose to wear it because it hides the acne and the scars that have been left behind. But if this was not an issue that I struggled with or if I didn't have oily skin then I probably would wear foundation. I would probably just stick with a tinted moisturizer or something with a very light coverage. 

In this post I am going to be sharing with you guys my top 3 favorite foundations (remember I have oily skin and prefer a full coverage). I would still recommend these foundations even if you don't have oily skin or prefer a full coverage mostly because these foundations will last you all day. They are in no specific order, I like all 3 of them equally. 

Top 3 Favorite High-End Foundations:

1) Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation

This foundation gives a great full coverage and will last you all day long. It's great if you have oily skin and it will most likely work if you have normal skin. However, I would not recommend this if you have dry skin because it Another thing that is great about this foundation is that it will last forever. Since it is a full coverage, a little bit goes a long way. 

I also really like the packaging because it's a pump and you don't have to worry about accidentally getting too much out and figuring out how to put it back in the bottle or just wasting it.

I actually believe they recently reformulated this foundation and I have not had the chance to try it since they have done that. But I'm sure it is just as great as before, if not better. Kat Von D is a tattoo artist and so she is known for creating items that will last all day to cover up your tattoos. 

2) MAKE UP FOR EVER Mat Velvet + Mattifying Foundation

This is a really good foundation and one that I really recommend if you have oily skin. It provides a really good coverage and it is also mattifying. It also stays on all day unless you touch your face a lot during the day then it won't really stay on.  

3) Hourglass Immaculate® Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free

To be honest, this foundation is really weird. It's liquid but it feels like a powder. You have to shake it really well and then you pump it out and it's liquid but when you put it on your face it feels like you are putting powder on your face. It doesn't really provide a full coverage unless you use a lot of it but it does help to keep your skin matte. I also like to pair it with the matching primer. However, both the foundation and primer are pretty pricey but they do last you quite a while. I recommend the combo if you are really looking for a good coverage and a full day of matte makeup.

Top 3 High-End Foundations I want to Try:

So back in July I did a post on the top 5 high-end foundations that I want to try, well I tried 2 out of the 5 so I thought I should update my list a little. Two of the foundations are the same still but the last one is a new one that I have heard great things about. I still want to try this one and this one but since I only have 3 favorite high-end foundations so far, I thought I should just stick with threes and make everything even (it's the OCD in me haha).

1) Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

2) Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15

3) Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

3 High-End Foundations I Have Tried and Do Not Like:

1) MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

This foundation is actually not that bad but for my skin type it's not really that great. It doesn't keep me matte (which it's not really supposed to do) but it does provide a full coverage. So I would recommend this foundation for someone that has a normal skin type.

2) Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

This foundation is very unique, it's very liquidy and who have to make sure that you shake it very well in order for it to work. It's a very good foundation but it requires a lot of foundation if you like a full coverage. I've already gone through most of my bottle and I've only had it about 2 months and that's not using it every single day. I typically will alternate my foundations to make sure that they last longer. So I was surprised when I saw how little I had left in my bottle. It also gives a very dewy finish which is not something that I like but I typically will add a mattifying powder on top since I already oily skin.

3) Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation

I tried this foundation recently and I don't really like it. I've tried two of the lightest colors and both of them oxidize way too dark/orange for my skin tone. It provides a good coverage so as long as if you are able to find a color that works for your skin tone then I totally recommend it. I would maybe go to Sephora and ask for some samples of this foundation before you purchase the whole bottle. I purchase the whole bottle and now I'm just trying to use it up by mixing it with different foundations to make it lighter for my skin tone.

Thanks for stoping by!

Feel free to leave a comment or share this with your friends!

XO, Steph

SaveSaveSaveSave