CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous Foundation Review

For a long long long long long long long... well you get the point, long time I swore by my Revlon Color Stay foundation, but something changed. I don't know if it was their formulation or my skin, but either way something changed. I noticed that the Color Stay was starting to settle into my pores and with oily skin the size of my pores is pretty considerable. So as you can imagine the settling of foundation into my considerable sized pores was unacceptable. Right around that time CoverGirl released their Ready, Set, Gorgeous (I will have you know I want to type Glamorous instead of Gorgeous every time!) line. Now I haven't tried the concealer or the powder because I am currently pretty pleased with both of them but obviously I was in the search for a new foundation. So I decided what the heck and bought this. Now this foundation claims to be oil free, I think it's more like 90% oil free. I defiitnitely get some oil with this foundation, especially if I don't use it with a primer like NYX Shiner Killer and use it with Too Faced Primed and Poreless. I find it really breaks down around my nose but no more than any other foundation. As for the color match with my skin I think this is spot on. The coverage is also pretty great. I would say this is a medium to full coverage foundation if you build it up to be. So since I love full coverage foundations I definitely like the coverage this one provides. This does settle into the fine lines around my eyes, but less so than other brands. I would give this 3.5 stars out of 5 over all because of the oiliness and the breakdown but for a drug store foundation I'm very pleased and it it my everyday foundation. I just learned to use my NYX Shine Killer with it and I have zero problems :)

NYX Shine Killer Review

I have been on a primer rampage lately. I don't know what has been the culprit but my skin and my eyes have become the oiliest things on the planet. I had been using the Too Faced Primed and Poorless for ever and it was working just fine and then one day my skin decided to hate me. So after killing what was left of my primer I bought the NYX Shine Killer. Now before this my only other experience with NYX had been with my Butt Naked Pallete and I once tried to order things off of their site but never received them. Now Shine Killer claims to give you a shine free face, with or without makeup, it even has a picture on the back of the box showing you the results of application. Of course I never believe those pictures because chances are they are photo shopped like hell. But I was out of my fancy primer that wasn't doing the job anyway and I was at Target and it was in my hand so it came home with me. Now before I tell you how this worked for me let me really really really emphasize the oily state of my skin so you will fully understand how desperate I was to find a good primer. I use about 3 oil blotting sheets a day because I can't go for more than a few hours before my skin looks like and oil slick. This is not an exaggeration, this isn't made up, that's my life and my skin. So when I say the name of this product is perfect I mean it. I wore this for an eight hour day, AN EIGHT HOUR DAY, and didn't need to use an oil blotting sheet once. This was the only thing I changed. I used the same foundation, the same blush, the same setting powder, this was the only difference and what a difference it made! This is a game changing product and I don't know how I ever lived without it before.

My Everyday Essentials (Drugstore and High End)

Now that I have a job where makeup is kind of a requirement (or at least to me it is) I have found myself reaching for the same products everyday and I wanted to share with you what I have found to last through out the day. Mostly what I use is drugstore but I do have 3 high end products that I use. I'll go through them all like I put them on in the morning just so I can keep everything straight. First is my Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil-Free Moisturizer . I really like this product because it really does moisturize my skin without adding any extra oil. I then pencil in my eyebrows with my Maybelline Expert Wear Twin Brow and Eye Pencil in blonde. I have been using this for 4 or 5 years and I have never had a problem with it running off my face nor do I find I need to use any kind of setting gel with it. I then apply my Urban Decay Primer Potion in the original formula to my eyelids (duh). From there I have a few options as far as my eye shadow goes. For work I really like to stick with light neutrals, more on the end of natural beauty type makeup. So my eye shadow picks are as follows: Wet n Wild in Nutty, ELF Single Studio Eyeshadow in Pebble, Cover Girl single in Champagne, and a Cover Girl trio in Shimmering Sands. Lately I've really been loving Nutty and Champagne as my everyday colors.Then I use my E.L.F. Eyelash curler and apply my Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara in the waterproof formula. Next I use my Too Faced Primed and Poreless Primer and rub that into my skin. I don't let this sink in or anything before I apply my Cover Girl Clean Whipped Foundation using my E.L.F. Angled Foundation Brush. While I feel like the foundation does cover my flaws for the most part I do have some really dark under eye circles so I apply my Costal Scents Eye Bright Concealer. Then if I have any really noticable blemishes on my face I will use my Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer. I finish everything off my applying my Hard Candy Welcome Matte Powder. I hope a glance at my everyday makeup will inspire your everyday look! Be Fearless. Be Beautiful. Be You.

Mini Target and CVS Haul

I said mini haul and I meant mini! I don't feel like I really need any new products so the stuff I bought today is either because I have an immediate need or because I'm replacing something else. First I went to Target and purchased the Clean and Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser for around $6. I bought this because I need to start exfoliating more often because the number of of blackhead that my skin has is just ridiculous  but what made me buy this particular "scrub" was that it has benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide forces oxygen into a clogged pore to help clear it out, and sadly my face has declared war and pimples have sprung up EVERYWHERE. I also picked up a stick of Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm for close to $3 because my other stick has gone missing. I can't be without my Burt's Bees, its my favorite lip balm of all time. It's the only lip balm I buy. Then at CVS I picked up the Physicians Formula Conceal RX in Light Green for $5. I bought this to help hid the redness that my pimples from hell have brought with them. I mean my Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer covers 98% of it but they are pretty red so they show through a little bit. And as everyone knows (or should know) green concealer cancels out redness, so of course this made it's way into my basket. What really appealed to me about this green concealer is that it wasn't a stick. I have use the Maybelline green stick concealer and it was horrid. It was hard and incredibly difficult to blend. Not to mention, chances are you're using this to cover up a red blemish, why would you want this to touch your skin? BACTERIA!!! I'm so glad this green concealer is liquid. Anyway I hope you lovely ladies enjoyed! Be Fearless. Be Beautiful. Be You.

Maybelline Color Whisper Review

I know I don't review a whole lot of lip products and that's because I'm afraid of lip color. There I said it. I am afraid of lip color. My fear with lip color is that I'll look like a clown. I don't have very big lips so bright colors just look odd on me and my natural lips don't have a whole lot of color so I need to put something on them. That's why when I found out about the Maybelline Color Whispers I became really excited. I was really sold on the fact that you could build up the color intensity, so I bought two shades then my mom gave me another. The three shades are: Lust for Blush, Pink Possibilities, and One Size Fits Pearl. The shade One Size Fits Pear is transparent on me with just a little bit of shimmer. Personally, because of my fear of lip color, I'm ok with that. Lust for Blush is, for me, my lips but better. On my mother, who has a darker skin tone than I do (I'm a natural ivory and my mother is in the buff range), this gave her "death lips". Last but not least Pink Possibilities is a nice bright pink without being too over bearing. I wear that color in only one coat so that I can get used to seeing color on my lips. However, the products is very smooth and moisturizing. It's not heavy at all. All in all, I'm pretty pleased. Hopefully this will help ease my fear with lip products. Be Fearless. Be Beautiful. Be You.

Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara Review

Before I start my review about this mascara I just have to say how much I love my Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion. I tried this mascara purely out of curiosity, and I'm glad I did. I found this mascara to have the same staying power as my Lash Blast Fusion. It doesn't flake or smudge. It is a drier mascara, which is why I think I like it so much. However, what sold me on this mascara would have to be the dramatic look it gave my lashes. I found that it made me look like I had false lashes on, it was that much of a difference. My older sister tried and said it did the same thing to her lashes. I did buy the waterproof version just because no matter the brand if its not waterproof mascara I'm gonna have raccoon eyes. All in all I'm thrilled with this mascara and will certainly repurchase this, probably more than the Lash Blast Fusion. Be Fearless. Be Beautiful. Be You.

Drug Store Dupes of Popular High-End Products

We're all aware that we are in a recession. Money is tight for everybody, but that doesn't mean we have to give up our right to look fabulous using our favorite products. I have found a few dupes for some popular high end products so no one has to go without or feel the pain in their wallet. I've found the dupes for three eyeshadows and one blush. We'll start with my favorite discovery and that's the dupe for MAC's Satin Taupe.

I know it doesn't look like a dupe from this angle but it is. It's crazy how similar they are. I have heard beauty gurus on youtube rave about this. I even remember one saying she couldn't live with out her Satin Taupe. Well now she'll never have to. My next discovery was a dupe for MAC's All That Glitters. Now I know some girls know this as the screen name of a very popular beauty guru on youtube by the name of Elle Fowler, but it is an eyeshadow. It's actually where she got the name from.

The drug store alternative is CoverGirl's Mink. This is a much better picture to show how similar they are. So now all of you girls who've wanted to try this shadow or buy it but couldn't rationalize the price for a single MAC eyeshadow can try it for less than five dollars. My next and last eyeshadow dupe is for Stila's eyeshadow in Kitten.

Now what I love about this dupe is that you can not find a better value than Wet n Wild. It is without a doubt the cheapest makeup with the greatest payoff. I love every single Wet n Wild eyeshadow I have ever tried. They are so pigmented and easy to blend. Talk about bang for your buck. Now for my last product, and my only face product dupe: Benefits Coralista Blush.

The VERY affordable dupe is E.L.F.'s Studio Blush in Candid Coral. E.L.F.'s products are great, but their studio products are amazing. One of my favorite eyeshadows is E.L.F.'s studio eyeshadow in Pebble. So there you have it my ladies! I hope this keeps you in your favorite looks and your wallet slightly fatter. Be Fearless. Be Beautiful. Be You.

Back to School Makeup: Drugstore Edition

Now I'm 21 years old and my school days are over but I do remember how excited I got before a new year began. It's a fresh start and the opportunity to kind of reinvent myself. It was actually my senior year of high school that I started to get into makeup. Like most teenage girls I was on a budget so I usually bought my new makeup through out the summer and at the drugstore. I have compiled a list of drugstore products that will help you achieve great looks all year round for every occasion. The first thing you need no matter what you choose to wear is a great primer. It will make your makeup last all day and all night so you can worry about bigger and more important things. My favorite eyeshadow primer is $1 primer from E.L.F. Eyeshadow Primer. I have said before it works just as well as my $18 primer from Too Faced and I mean it. You will also need a primer for your face, so you're foundation will last longer and your face will continue to be flawless looking. I personally like the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer you can buy at Walmart for $8. However if you have used these products and you don't like them there is a few other alternitives. For eyeshadow primer your other options are L'Oreal De-Crease, Hard Candy Eyeshadow Primer, the $3 Mineral Eyeshadow Primer from E.L.F., or NYX HD Eyeshadow Base. Now for face primers you can choose from Rimmel Fix & Perfect or Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro, L'Oreal Studio Secrets Primer, or NYC Smooth Skin. I think there's another primer from Almay but I don't know the name of it.

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer and E.L.F. Eyelid Primer

For eyeshadow I have a few options. My first suggestion I think makes the most sense and will save you the most money. If you're really on a budget I would recommend buying the new E.L.F. Little Black Beauty Books in both the Warm and Cool Editions. I think it will give you enough options to change your daily look up but it wont cost you a ton of money or take up a ton of space either. The Warm book will give you plenty of options for a great neutral look while the Cool book will give you the ability to do a great smokey eye. You could also mix and match colors and create a fabulous look of your own. The best part is they're only $5 a piece. My other suggestions are the Wet n' Wild trios. I think Walking on Eggshells and Sweet as Candy are the best everyday options. I think even the Cover Girl trios and quads are great. Shimmering Sands is a great option if you want a neutral look.

E.L.F. Little Black Beauty Books, Wet n Wild Waling on Eggshells, and Cover Girl Shimmering Sands

Now as for foundation and mascara I find it's hard to make suggestions. Everyone's skin is different so while one person looks great wearing Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse, it may break someone else out. The same goes for lashes. I have sparse lashes with oily lids. This means I need a thicken waterproof mascara. While my sister has natrualy dark full lashes, all she needs is and eyelash curler and clear mascara to make them stay put. My go to foundation and mascara are the L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle and Cover Girl Last Blast Fusion (the waterproof formulation). I do like other foundations like Rimmel's Lasting Finish and Maybelline's Dream Matte Mouse. I haven't found any other mascaras that I just can't live without.

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion and L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle 

Last but not least concealers and setting powders. Now not everyone need's a concealer, but they don't hurt to have for the occasional blemish or after a late night of studying. I really like Revlon's Photo Ready concealer because it goes on really nice and smooth and it has pretty great coverage. If you use it under your eyes be sure to set it with a powder cause it will crease. If you're looking for an even heavier concealer I would recommend Hard Candy's Glamoflauge Concealer. It reminds me of Makeup Forever's Full Cover Concealer. Now on to setting powders. My new love is Hard Candy's Welcome Matte Powder. I've used it a few times and it really does make a difference with how oily my face gets through out the day. My other favorite powder is L'Oreal True Match Powder. I think it has enough coverage that you could use it as and extra coverage step if you felt you needed it. Even if you don't need the coverage it's a great powder that doesn't get cake-y.

Hard Candy Welcome Matte and Revlon Photo Ready Concealer 

I hope all of this has been helpful and will help you achieve the look you want this school year. Remember to study and make good grades because that will serve you better in life then makeup ever will. Be Fearless. Be  Beautiful. Be You.