Mandy Apple Makeup

I'm Back!

2016-06-13T19:45:00.002-07:00

Wow it has been over a whole year since I've written a blog post for blogger! To make a long boring story short, I reluctantly switched my entire platform over to wordpress and I was not happy there. Blogger is my home and I'm so glad that I didn't decide to delete this all together. I'm excited to get back to blogging and keep you all updated with my life!

Just a quick rundown, I am now a full-time freelance makeup artist and loving it! The journey has definitely been tough and is not without it's (many) challenges, but I'm happy I switched over. I want to continue to get back into blogging so I can share the journey with you all and take you on this roller coaster with me. It's not fun seeing the end result of success without knowing all the blood, sweat and tear that went into getting there!
So along with freelancing I also just recently joined a team of amazing creatives called LovesickLA. We are an artist collecting that creates images for brands and I'm loving being apart of the team. Here are some images from our most recent work for Ouroboros Jewelry with model Misty Mason aka @kkbleedgoldxx.

I have sooooo many more other shoots to reflect on and give details to also. I can't wait to get back to it! But if you can't get enough of me, check out my new website and social media links, see you there!

Coachella 2015

2015-04-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s finally here. Festival season is upon us and for me that means Coachella! The main questions I get asked by those who have never attended this life changing event is, “Is it really worth it? Is it all just hype? It’s so expensive…” And to that all I have to say is yes, no, and so?? The Coachella experience is worth every dollar, every sunburn and every aching back from sleeping in a tent. It’s worth the trip, the lost shoes and porta-potty use (ok that part really sucks, but still…) it’s worth it all. It’s an incredible experience that I look forward to all year long and I’m here to tell you that if you’re thinking about going, go. Go with an amazing group of friends, go with plenty of booze, go with an open mind and a friendly attitude. But most importantly go prepared after reading this because I’m going to tell you what I pack to stay cute and fresh during this three day adventure in the California desert.

The first and most obvious factor to consider is the heat. There is no way around it, you’re camping in a polo field in the middle of the desert, it’s not going to drop below 100 degrees while the sun is out. With that you’re going to have to find a way to be cute as well as comfortable for as long as you feel like putting in the effort. Luckily thanks to the body positive movement and the fact that these festivals have gotten so popular, you can find “Coachella Style” clothing almost anywhere at any price point in all sizes. I’ve put together pieces from different brands so you can mix and match. For me I mainly stuck with products on the lower end of the spectrum because of how dirty your clothes can potentially get. There are dust storms, mud, water and grass just waiting to ruin your outfit and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on something that I may not be able to wear again, but that of course is up to you.

The most important thing to me is that my clothing needs to breathe. This is actually why I’ve opted out of wearing spanx. I usually am never caught wearing a skirt without shape wear but with the uncomfortable heat I want to make sure that my lady parts are able to breathe freely. This is why I’ve substituted shape wear for a high waisted pair of bikini bottoms. The bikini bottoms allow support almost all the way up to my bra line and are made of material that is much more breathable than panty hose. Also, it doesn’t hurt to always have a bathing suit on just in case you want to roam around the Do Lab and play in some water. Win win.

Now this brings me to my next necessity. If you’re lacking a thigh gap you are no stranger to chaffing. Along with the bikini bottoms, most of my clothing are either dresses or shorts so my thighs are going to be doing some serious rubbing. My secret weapon for all of this is an anti-chaffing cream I found in the tampon section at Target. You can get these almost anywhere and sometimes they can be found in the foot care isle. They come in a tube cream or in a rub on stick (similar to deodorant) for convenient use. As soon as you can, put this stuff on your thighs. You’re going to be walking and dancing from the minute you step foot on that grass and you don’t want to let a thigh blister kill your vibe on day one. Also, for this same purpose I also carry around a small bottle of baby powder. This too relieves chaffing and is much cheaper than the cream, it just doesn’t last as long. So I use the baby powder for sweaty spots like under my boobs, behind my knees and my feet. Remember, comfort is key!

And the last thing you’ll need, as I mentioned previously, is a great attitude. Coachella is supposed to be fun! Whenever I hear someone talking about the negatives (the heat, the crowds, the camping, the long days) I just know they either haven’t gone or they went with the wrong attitude. You are letting loose and living in a fantasy land for 3 days out of the year. You are surrounded by fellow music lovers in a place designed specifically for your enjoyment. It’s about you having the time of your life, making new friends, and of course being incredibly stylish and comfortable while doing it. So go out and do that, hopefully I’ll see you there.

My Perfect Hair Routine...PERFECT.

2015-03-17T23:02:00.001-07:00

My Perfect Hair Routine...PERFECT. by mandyapplemakeup

Well I did it. After thousands of dollars spent on hair care I can happily say that I have found the perfect routine. Even with all of my desires for change and restlessness I honestly do not see myself ever changing my products. They work in harmony, they smell amazing and my hair has finally got her groove back.

What are these magical products that I cannot live without you ask? Here they are and here are the steps!

1. I wash my hair with Matrix Biologe Color Last Shampoo

2. I mix my Matrix Biologe Color Last Conditioner with one full pump of Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and distribute through my hair.

3. Once out of the shower and towel dried, I spray my hair liberally with Pureology Colour Fanatic 21 Essential Benefits Leave in Treatment

4. Finally I put 2 small pumps of the Matrix Oil Wonders in Egyptian Hibiscus.

5. Then I blow dry with my Remington and flat iron my hair with my Chi and girrrrrrrl....it's over.

Note: This post is not sponsored, all opinions are my own.

Current Inspiration: Azealia Banks

2015-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've been into Azealia Banks ever since my friend put on her 212 video while we were getting dressed to go out to a party in 2011. I love that she is herself, unapologetically. She is honest about her feelings about other people as well as spiritual beliefs (if you've seen her instagram lately you know what I'm talking about).

I'm also really into the 90s influence that she adds to her music and style. This video 1991 is so reminiscent of that area and I'm also a little more obsessed with it because the key makeup artist for this video was Cynthia Rivas. She's a MAC Pro artist that I've met and follow her career, she does some amazing work and I really love the looks that she put together for this video. I like the combination of adding a pop of color with a neutral/mauve lip. They're fun but also very wearable and chic.

I Wrote for Skorch Magazine!

2015-03-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I know it's been a while (and really what else is new) but I've actually been very busy with other projects and would love to share that with you now!

A couple of months ago I was informed that Skorch Magazine was opening themselves up for public submissions and I decided to write a piece for them. Fortunately for me the ladies in charge really loved my work and not only did they publish my article, but it was a cover story! My inspiration for the piece was the topic, "does the plus size movement feel hyper-sexual?" Writing this article was defintely a fun experience for me, as you know I have been looking into branching out beyond just beauty blogging. I would like to give you all more of an insight on not just my beauty routine and reviews but also into my personal experiences and opinions as well. Being exposed to the readers of Skorch really motivated me to do more opinion based writing and I look forward to being able to share those types of posts in the future.

I'm including a link to the full issue of the magazine so that you can also enjoy all of the other wonder articles and spreads that this issue has to offer. There were some issue with the original platform so Scorch has posted this entire issue on their Facebook page. I'm also pasting the last two paragraphs of my article below. I'm not going to pretend like I know the ins and outs of editing but I'm sure for issues of space these were omitted by the publishers and my article lacked a conclusion. This conclusion to me was really essential to understanding my stance on the issue so I have it below for you. I will have more posts soon in regards to life and beauty! Thank you for sticking it out with me.

February 2015 Issue of Scorch Magazine

My final paragraphs...

Sometimes I feel like the plus movement only feels hypersexual because it’s fat women that are being sexualized. Sure we’re used to seeing thin models with little clothing on, but add a couple hundred pounds and all of a sudden everyone wants to talk about how offended they are. This is really the harsh reality of it though, fat bodies offend, and that is why for years we have been told to cover them up. To dress them in unfashionable clothing so they don’t draw attention, but we are at a point now where we want to draw attention. We want to tell the world that we love our bodies and we deserve to feel sexy in them.

It’s almost as if we had no choice but to start with this extreme, to begin with being naked. Look at all of the accolades that have been achieved through this declaration. Gabi Fresh now has her own collection of bikinis and bathing suits because she confidently wore a “fatkini” in public, looked amazing, and posted it to social media. Tess Holliday (formerly Tess Munster) is the first plus size model of her shape and size to be signed to a major modeling agency and she’s posting photos of herself in her underwear every week. We are forcing the world to look at us, to see the confidence that we radiate and to not look down on it, but to recognize that we are reclaiming a space that never should have been taken from us in the first place.

Winter Foot Care

2015-01-30T02:02:00.002-08:00

I've said on here a few times that I really don't like the process of putting on lotion. It takes a special kind that isn't too sticky or greasy for me to actually wear it. In the winter however, I really don't have the luxury of being this picky because my skin gets so dry and cracked that it needs extra love to keep it comfortable, especially my feet. Here is a remedy I do when I feel my feet start to get extra dry, or worse when they crack and I have a painful cut underneath my toe because I didn't start this process early enough.

What You'll Need:

A hydrating body cleanser. I'm using L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (you can find alternatives here and here)
A foot scrubbing brush, I got mine from target.
A heavy duty moisturizer. I'm using Aquaphor Healing Ointment but I'm sure Vasoline or any other thick moisturizer will also do the trick.
A pair of cozy socks (my favorites can be found here and here)

The process for this is really simple. While in the shower, use the bristle side of the foot brush and scrub your feet with the moisturizing shower oil. If you need it, use the callus remover sides or scrubber sides to get the callus off so your moisturizer will soak in better. Once you get out of the shower and dry off, put a huge coat of the heavy moisturizer on your feet. You want to think of this as a mask so use more than you normally would. If you wanted to you can also add a tea tree or peppermint oil to sooth them a bit, but I'm skipping this step. Then before your feet can touch the ground, lock in the moisure with a cozy sock. This actually feels really strange and sticky when you put the socks on, but I deal with this feeling by immediately going to sleep. Then when you wake up, you take the socks off and the moisturizer is absorbed and your feet are hydrated and baby soft!

Turning 26

2015-01-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

It's still appropriate to talk about my birthday in December and the end of 2014 even though that was all last month right? OK good...

Maybe it's because I can no longer be connected to my mom's health insurance, or because I'm closer to 30 than I am to 20, or because 25 just sounded like a good number to me, but 26 has me in a straight up quarter life crisis that I never thought I would find myself in.

I've been asked so many times how I feel about getting older and up until recently I was able to honestly say that I had no problem with it. I believe that I have an "old soul" and have always hung around those older than me, but I think the end to my 20s is rapidly approaching and I'm definitely starting to panic a little bit. If I'm being completely honest with myself I'm sure it's because I'm not where I thought I would be in my mid-twenties, even though I know no one is anymore. 30 is the new 20 and the American Dream has changed quite a bit since the 1950s so I know I need to stop comparing my success to others (let alone other generations) but I can't help it.

So as I thought about what it was I wanted to do for my 26th birthday the answer was simply, nothing. It hasn't been much of a winter here in Southern California and I usually am able to feel my birthday/Christmas season but it just hasn't been in the air. Even though I was feeling this way, I didn't want to end the year on a boring note because 2014 has actually been really good to me. I branched out and took some risks that really paid off, I have a job that I really like and that I have the ability to grow into, I've met some wonderful people and as corny as it sounds I've definitely grown into who I am and have become more comfortable with myself and my body. With all of these thoughts I decided a commemoration of the year would be perfect so of course, a photo shoot, duh.

These photos were taken on a parking structure roof top in Downtown Los Angeles on 12/13/14 the day after we had some incredible rain fall. The weather could not have been more perfect, the photos could not have come out more amazing and I'm happy I decided to do it. If you would like to see more work from this photographer his name is J. William Washington and you can contact him via his web site http://jwilliamwashington.com/ or instragram @jwilliamwashington.

And of course this would be be a beauty blog post without me putting makeup details!

For my foundation I used Estee Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige, my concealer for under the eye and around the brow is NARS Creamy Concealer in Vanilla. I set my T-zone with Laura Mercier Foundation Powder in #5. My brows are filled in with Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in Blonde. My bronzer is mixed shades from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette in Light and my blush is Gingerly from MAC. I highlighted with High Beam from Benefit. For my shadow I used neutral/golden tones from the LORAC palette and I'm wearing Ardell Wispy lashes. Finally for the lips I mixed NYX Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen with NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Hyde Park.

Turning 26 Shoot Makeup by mandyapplemakeup featuring a palette eyeshadow

Yoga When You're Sick?

2015-01-14T22:10:00.001-08:00

So for the past couple of weeks everyone at work has one by one been catching a bug that's going around, and unfortunately today I fell victim to it. Luckily it was my day off so I was able to drink lots of fluids and rest, but I also felt like my body needed an extra pick-me-up. I decided to look into a yoga sequence specifically for when you're feeling sick and I found one! I actually love all of Yoga with Adriene's videos so I was happy to see that one of hers was the top pick. I'm posting the video in case you or anyone you know wants to give it a try. I decided to do it right before I was going to settle into bed and my body does feel a lot better.

My Favorite Winter Fragrances

2015-01-12T23:49:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorite scents for the winter time. I try to match the mood of the scent with the weather for the most part, yet some of these can be worn all year round (Chanel is always in season). If you're looking to switch up your everyday fragrance, here are some of my favorite options.

1. Stella by Stella McCartney- This is really my all time favorite fragrance. I remember the first time I got a sample of it from Sephora, I sprayed it on and stepped out of my car and the first woman to walk near me stopped me and asked what I was wearing because she was about to go buy it. After I finished my sample tube, I did the same.
Notes: rose, peony flower, mandarin, rose absolute and amber.

2. Candy by Prada- This fragrance is for those who want to try something a little more daring. I love this scent for going out because it really smells like nothing else anyone else would be wearing and it is very long lasting.
Notes: carmel, musk, vanilla, benzoin

2. Shine by Dior Addict- I really shouldn't have put this scent on the list because it's almost impossible to find but I really love this fragrance. It is so clean and fresh smelling yet it's also floral and sophisticated. I like to wear it for a day out shopping because it's not too overwhelming to be smelling all day.
Notes: gardenia, raspberry, cedar woods

4. Chance (original) by Chanel- Even though I love all of the difference Chance fragrances, the original parfume will always be my favorite. I love the scent and love even more that it stays in my scarves and jackets even weeks after I've worn them. A staple scent for sure.
Notes: patchouli, grasse jasmine, vanilla, orris, vetiver

The Perfect Cherry Red Lip

2015-01-04T22:21:00.001-08:00

This lip combination was actually discovered by accident while I was at work. I never, I repeat NEVER wear lip gloss. Kind of because of the texture but mostly because it always ends up on my teeth. I also am a sucker for a great matte lip shade and they last longer than a gloss does. However, as you may know I am a total label whore when it comes to nice packaging and damn it, Chanel really did it for me this time!

Above: Took an awkward public selfie because the lighting was just oh-so-right

Now before I get into the gloss to end all glosses, let me talk about the lips I left my house with. If you want a solid red lip without the added attention that the gloss topping will give you, go for this combo. I lined my lips with NYX Retractable Lip Liner in RED, then I filled them in with the old faithful MAC Ruby Woo. Now I wear red lips pretty much every day, so this look was not dazzling to any of my coworkers, that was until I put on the gloss. I'm not even exaggerating I got 5x the compliments on my lip color that day than I had any other day when I wore this same cherry red combo. The Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in 19 Pirate is just the best damn red gloss on the planet. It gave my lips the pop they needed and the texture is smooth and non-sticky. Also, the best part about it if I'm being honest with myself is the packaging! The wand has a push top (almost like a pen click) and then you just slide the color out and add the perfect amount of gloss and shine to your cherry lips!

And of course, their are always alternatives to this. I'm sure if you add some clear gloss of any sort to your lips you may get the same reaction, but I'm going to credit the gloss since I went ahead and spent $35.00 on it.

Cheesin' in public

Should You Go To College?

2014-12-15T16:58:00.001-08:00

UCSB Main Gate. Photo Credit: http://www.econ.ucsb.edu/

Now before I let the title of this post scare you, let me explain. I have since graduated from a University (UC Santa Barbara) for going on 4 years now and there are lots of things I have learned not only while in college but also in my years outside of the ivory tower and in the working world that have really shaped my views on the college experience. I would like to share some of those views with you now in case you are someone who is thinking about attending or would just like an honest opinion on my experience.

I participated in a few protests. This one took place in DTLA

To begin with really, I was on track to be someone who attended a university. From Junior High school I was in honors classes, from there into High School I was in Honors and Advanced Placement classes and I had surrounded myself with individuals who were on the college track as well. In fact, I had been in classes with these kids really since grade school because we were all receiving similar scores and ended up with the same teachers. I knew during my school days that I was going to attend a University, I just really hadn't given much thought as to why it was I was going, or even better what it was I was going to study. Like most students (I believe) I went because I was supposed to go and because all sorts of doors and careers were going to open up for me because of it. It didn't matter what I majored in or what I did during college (C's GET DEGREES!) I just knew it was going to advance me to that dream career I had always wanted, though I had no idea what that career was. I remember the crunch time of submitting applications and feeling completely lost because no one in my family had ever gone through this process and everything I did I felt like I was doing it wrong. I felt like my essays were wrong, my scores were wrong and I was just going to have a mental breakdown in those 4-6 months that I waited for a response from all of these schools I applied to. I am proud to say that I was accepted to all of them except for one (they shall remain nameless) and I decided to attend UCSB. It was far enough away from my home to where I could get that "away" feeling, but close enough that I could drive back if I ever got homesick.

Random House Parties

Now for the college experience itself, I could easily write a very lengthy post about it filled with highs and lows but for the sake of keeping this from being a novel I'll say I really enjoyed my college days. I know that my "hermit" personality, insecurities and fear of rejection kept me from going out as often as some of my friends, but even with all of the alone time I got in I still enjoyed many moments. Both experiences with friends and people that I never would have crossed paths with had I not lived in student housing or even went to school. Even though I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood, there's definitely a different vibe when it comes to people who are from out of state, out of the country or even just out of Southern California. I was very enlightened by my experiences with the people that I met and this enrichment has carried on even after college ended, and really this is the point I would like to make about attending a University.

Vagina Monologues Cast 2010

Vagina Monologues Cast 2011

I participated in the Vagina Monologues for my Junior & Senior Year

I majored in Sociology and was very close to minoring in feminist studies. Once I realized my original major (communication) was not for me, I dove head first in the social sciences and didn't look back. I loved studying SOC and taking classes about feminism, race and class. I love understanding where ideas and concepts came from instead of accepting them to be true and this constant search for the truth and relentlessness to understand the meaning behind things is a trait I carry into my work today. Even though I had to take lots of requirement classes that did not directly relate to my major (I took an entire class about the AIDS virus) I still feel like I was enriched by every class I had taken. Art history, literature, all of them. And I think the moment that I realized that I was learning things about the world that I never would have was when the events and ideas in my classes began over lapping. Something mentioned in my literature class would also be brought up in a sociology class and I remember experiencing this amazing epiphany, like this is why I'm here. I felt like I was finally gaining an understand on how we are all connected and how important it was to know these connections.

One of my best friends, we attend Junior High, High School and graduated college together.

Now all of this brings me to my advice for you. If you're someone who is thinking about going to college what I will say is you should go because you want to go and because you want to enrich your life and see the world through a lens which you may never have acquired if you didn't go. Bachelor degrees are a dime a dozen now and they do not mean what they used to mean. If you're looking to advance your career and think a degree, ANY degree is the key to doing so, I can say from first hand experience that this is not true. After graduating from UCSB armed with my BA I found that many employers didn't even know where UCSB was. I think at this point they were getting so many applicants with a BA that it didn't really matter where you got it, just that you had it. So in some cases, having one didn't give me any sort of edge it just was a requirement box to check off. I'm a little embarrassed to say it but I have had 6 different jobs since graduating because I was snagging any opportunity that came my way and was looking for a company that I felt appreciated by and could grow with. Ironically the closest thing I have found to this is my current job which is a retail position. This is another thing that I feel was failed to be mentioned at my University, not all of us are going to go off and get Phds and be professors. Some of us want to claim a place in the working world and could use some advice on how to do so. I WISH I would have taken a retail position more seriously in college because had I done so I may have been much higher up than I am now, but who knows. I'm happy with the way things are going so no sense in dwelling on what-ifs. I have networked and hustled and cried my way through my post college experience and I am still learning on how to navigate the working world. So don't forget that piece of advice, while you're there, network, network, network! Everyone you meet has the potential to be a valuable connection one day, regardless of what you decide to do.

So if you want to go, go. Go for yourself and for the experience and the people and beauty and maybe even the booze. But if you think this is the only way you can achieve success, think again. For the 2015 freshman year, colleges are receiving their highest number of applicant to date! This means more and more students will be flooding out of college armed with the same degree, if you want to separate yourself from this group you're going to have to ambitious and in many cases an entrepreneur (and you can be both of these things without a degree). One thing that has really helped me decide on what career path to take has been reading self help books. That may sound kind of corny to some of you but I swear putting that positive energy out into the universe has helped me tremendously. My favorite so far has been Choose Yourself by James Altucher. You can buy it here. And that's really all of have to say on this for now. Obviously this is all written from the perspective of a Social Sciences major and STEM majors and Nurses and Doctors will have a totally different outlook but take my advice for what it is worth. Though my "post-college" outcome has been far from perfect it has been a learning experience, and isn't that what it's all about anyway?

UCSB Class of 2011

First Impression: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads

2014-12-01T15:04:00.002-08:00

As mentioned in my Evening Skincare Routine post, I've been using these Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads for about 2 weeks now and I feel like I'm able to give my first impression of them at this point.

I purchased these pads after deciding back and forth on which product I wanted to purchase with Glycolic Acid. For those of you that are not familiar with glycolic, it is used in some skincare products as an exfoliant and also helps to smooth, brighten and anti-age the skin. From a drug store brand most glycolic products have somewhere between 1-5% of the acid, and the higher you go (some have up to 20%) the less often you have to use it. The first glycolic product I fell in love with was actually made by Chanel, called Le Weekend. As the instructions suggest, you use this serum morning and night for two days in a row, then discontinue use for another 5 days and repeat. I had a deluxe sample of this and I really like it and saw a difference in my skin, but I just couldn't justify spending $115 on a serum I use once a week. Also, I'm not a fan of the fact that Chanel does not list the percentage of glycolic for this product. For this price tag I would have liked it to be a bit high, but based on others who have researched and reviewed it, it may only be around 3-5%.

With all of this in mind I then tried to find some substitute products and that is where Nip + Fab came in. I took a trip to Ulta and I was browsing up and down the isles when the words Glycolic jumped out at me. The item was onsale so I did a quick review check on my phone and decided this would be a great substitute for the expensive serum that I fell in love with, and really it has been.

When I first started using this I was only applying as a night treatment, however in the past week I have bumped it up to morning and night and I am honestly seeing a difference in the texture of my skin. It is definitely much smoother than it has been and also more bright. I'm going on two weeks worth of use and I'm at the point where I feel like I have makeup optional skin. Keep in mind that all of this also coincides with the other products in my skincare routine, but I know this is giving me added benefits. I would say that I can attribute most of the smoothness and brightness of my skin to this product. I also have found that it has some makeup removing benefits. When I use purity as my cleanser there are times when it still leaves some residue if I am not using my clarisonic. So when I swipe this across my face not only is it working to smooth and brighten, but it is also acting as a makeup remover. Not to mention it smells like fruity pebbles, which to me is a good thing.

Overall, I am more than satisfied with this product and I am even more so because of the price. When I purchased these, I received 60 pads which can be a one to two month supply depending on how often you use them for only $12. They have delivered everything they have promised and I'm excited to see how smooth my skin is once I finish this first batch. If you're thinking of investing in an anti-aging product with a few more added benefits, this is really worth investing in.

Above: The most recent photo of myself (11/28/14) and my skin is looking smooth and clear!

My Evening Skincare Routine

2014-11-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Ok the moment you've all been waiting for, my evening skincare routine! So lets not waste any time and get right to it.

Cleansing: I have been using philosophy's purity 3 in 1 cleanser off and on for about 10 years now. Idk whenever I stop using it I always go back to it because I haven't found anything else that takes makeup off super well and doesn't strip my skin. It really is the lazy woman's cleanser and I am a lazy woman.

Toner: Same as my morning routine, the Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toning Water.

Treatment: So this product is new to my routine and I will be doing a more in depth review of it next week but so far I'm into the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads that I picked up at Ulta. I've been wanting to add glycolic into my routine for the exfoliating benefits for a little while and after trying some pricier options I hadn't picked one up until these came along. So far I'm liking them.

Serum: After lots of research, referrals and procrastinating on picking up a night serum, I settled on the time tested Advanced Night Repair by Estee Lauder. My grandmother and mom have used this stuff and it continues to be a number one seller so I thought I would carry on the tradition. After 3 weeks I can't say I've seen all sorts of changes but I'm sure I'll know about 10 years down the road.

Eye Cream: I've had this eye cream for way longer than I'd care to admit (the top is even broken) but I'm using the Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes. I love the hydration from it and it really makes my skin feel cool and soothed, even more so than my "soothing" eye gel from my morning routine. But again, I'm still on the hunt for a good eye cream so suggestions are welcome!

Moisturizer: This is also a new addition that so far I'm pleased with. I'm currently using the Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream I picked this up because long ago I used to use the Aveeno body lotion on my face because I loved the textured and loved even more that it was unscented. Yet this formula is almost nothing like the body lotion as it is thicker in texture, contains more firming and smoothing benefits, has vitamin B3 and is heavily scented. But I was looking for a night cream that was thick in texture and had some firming benefits and I found that in this product for under $20 so I'm happy.

The New Face of Estee Lauder: Kendall Jenner

2014-11-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

All Photo Credits: www.esteelauder.com

I've never really used this blog as an outlet to discuss current events or gossip but I did want to make some comments on how I feel about this move by Estee Lauder. On Saturday November 15th I was sitting at my local Starbucks blogging, I had had a long day and decided to get some work done instead of going out. As I was finding links for my post I needed to go to the Lauder site and this was when I saw Kendall Jenner blasted on the front page. To see what I had missed on social media that day because this was news to me, I went onto Kendall's Instragram page and sure enough she had made her announcement that she was the new face of Estee Lauder.

Now I first want to say that I don't have much of an opinion on the "Kardashians." I'll catch their shows every now and then but I don't watch much TV to begin with so they are often missed. You could say that I disagree with a lot of the ways they promote themselves but at the end of the day they have been able to remain constantly relevant for about 7 years now and that alone is pretty impressive.

As far as this move is concerned, my opinion is that it is a genius one on the part of Lauder. It's funny because lately I have really been thinking about this brand (as mentioned in my Luxe Purchase w/ Purchase Post) and I really do feel that their products are usually overlooked, especially by younger makeup and skincare users. There are lots of new brands out there with new faces promoting themselves, brands with an edge that in some cases are born on social media and a younger audience is gravitating toward a company they feel they can relate to. Lauder has been around for a very long time and I know that most of us associate the brand with our mothers or grandmothers. Though the company is still making great numbers, they do need to build new cliental as their best customer base continues to age. Kendall really is an amazing choice because of how well that family is able to maintain their presence. Her connection with this company was so immediate that her fans have even taken over the #esteelauder hashtag. I just did a search for images of her with the company and thousands of photos have hijacked the tag to promote themselves and their businesses and this is the result in a matter of days, and to me her influence will only continue to grow.

I know there are lots of other points to be discussed on this, people are upset because of Kim's photos for Paper Magazine and other negative associations with the family. Even with all of that aside I still think this was a great idea. She is young, beautiful, relevant and has a large built in fan base. She really is exactly what Lauder needed to tap into this younger market and it will be interesting to see how their sales will continue to grow because of this move.

So if you want to tell me what you think about this, please leave me a comment! I'd love to hear your feedback.

My Morning Skincare Routine

2014-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks I have really fallen back in love with reading other beauty blogs and watching their review videos. I used to spend hours discovering fun new blogs to check up on but somehow I got too busy to keep up with all of them. Lately, I have been reading and watching a TON of morning and evening skincare routines and I thought I would join in on the fun! More so too because my routine has been very consistent lately. I have found one that works well for me and I have seen very minimal breakouts because of it. Keep in mind that I do have combination/normal skin, my T-zone gets super oily as the day progresses but other than that it stays pretty normal. With the exception of weather changes (I tend to get a little dry in the winter)but for the most part it's consistent.

Cleansing: I start my morning with my Clarisonic Aria/Mia 3 which has a cashmere brush head and I use the philosophy microdelivery exfoliating wash in the shower. In some cases it might be too harsh to use an exfoliator with the Clarisonic but I find that the cashmere brush head is so soft and it compliments the exfoliator really well. I get a deep feeling clean without my skin being brushed too hard. This size is a 32 oz that I purchased at Nordstrom during their anniversary sale.

Toning: I'm still on the hunt for a great toner so if anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears, but for now I've been using the Lush toning water in Breath of Fresh Air. This is an herbal toner that really makes my skin feel fresh. I spray my face and wipe it with a cotton pad to get rid of any residue and I'm on to the next step.

Serum: For my morning serum I searched reviews up and down until I landed at a brand that I had no idea I would for skincare. I'm currently using the MAC Prep & Prime Brightening Serum. I wanted something with a Vitamin C to protect my skin for the day time and brightening was an added benefit because I'm starting to notice more dark spots and acnes marks so I want to stop those in their tracks! I've been using this for about 3 weeks now and I just now starting to see some benefits.

Eye Cream: This category is again one that needs a bit more works because I want to try a more anti-aging eye cream. For now I'm using the Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel. This definitely gives me a cool boost and keeps my under eyes hydrated for concealer application.

Moisturizer: This varies on which foundation I'm using for the day, if it's a matte finish that's long wearing, I moisturize my skin with the Josie Maron 100% Argan Oil. This lets matte foundation (Like Estee Lauder Double Wear) glide on like butter and keeps it from looking cakey. If I'm wearing a more luminous finish foundation (Chanel Vitalumier Aqua) I use Lush's Imperialis moisturizer. It says it is meant for combo skin and gives me the right amount of hydration, not too much and not too little.

And for my final step I through some EOS lip balm on my lips and get to my makeup!

Estee Lauder Limited Edition Luxe Color Purchase w/ Purchase

2014-11-09T13:32:00.002-08:00

Photo Credit: www.esteelauder.com

I'm going to be honest, I've really blown off Estee Lauder up until a few months ago. I had dismissed them as an "old lady" brand that can't keep up with me and my beauty needs (ouch!). Without even really looking into the products they have available I just assumed that the lip colors would be all a strange shade of pink and the shadow would only consist of shimmers. I did find however, that I am pleasantly surprise with what this brand has to offer. Slowly I am falling in love with their fragrances as well as their color line, and I thought what better way to really introduce myself but to get this huge purchase with purchase compilation that they have going on.

When I picked up my AERIN fragrance lotion as mentioned in my previous post, I couldn't help but pick up this amazing set. I felt like this was a good opportunity to try a majority of the Lauder line to see how I really feel about it. It is still too early for me to review the products as I have not used them all, but I will say that after a week of what I have used I am happy with my purchase. I'm getting the most use out of the eyeshadow palette and mascara at the moment. The palette has this beautiful matte/granite shade that I've been using to deepen my crease. It's a really great everyday look starter. Though I think there could be less shimmers and find the blue-ish tones to be of no use to me, I still find myself reaching for this over other palette I have. I'm also in LOVE with the nail color and can't wait to put it on my toes the next time I get a pedi. It's a nice deep red wine/maroon shade.

And truth be told I am actually a little overwhelmed with how many pieces this comes with. It is very possible that I will be breaking up items I haven't put to use and distribute them as gifts, but we will is if I'm feeling generous or not when the holidays roll around :)

If you're wondering where to pic up this set you can buy it on their website or I picked up mine at Nordstrom, and I believe Macy's is carrying it as well.

Tried to get the full collection in the shot, so much stuff!

The lip products are probably my favorite

Top Sellers

That granite/brown, last row 3rd shadow over. LOVE.

October Favorites

2014-11-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

The transition from summer to fall has me super excited about basic skincare and makeup products. This month's favorites list is more about soothing my dry skin, maintain a smooth and glowing flawless face, taming my frizz and smelling amazing. So let's get to it!

1. Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask from Freeman - I actually picked this up on a random stop at Ulta when I had no particular product in mind to purchase. I had been planning a bath tub session and decided to grab a mask to use while I was in there. I saw the Allure award on this and decided to give it a try and that was seriously the best decision I have made in a long time! This is the greatest face polish I have ever used. It made my skin feel so smooth and soft I couldn't stop touching it! My moisturizer just glided on after and my foundation went on like butter the next day. I am definitely going to be buying the full sized tube of it very soon.

2. Pureology Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Treatment - Since my hair has been bleached to hell and back I was on the hunt for a great leave-in treatment for a little while. After asking around and getting some recommendations from friends this products seemed like the best choice. It lists 15 different uses, and though I'm sure some of them are a stretch, I feel like it works great as a leave-in and a heat protector which is really all I need it to do for me. Also, Pureology is about as vegan as it gets from a professional hair care line so sulfates and parabens are nowhere to be seen.

3. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige - I'm sure I've touched on this many times but I'm just in love with this highlighter. I pop this on the tops of my checks and down the bridge of my nose and I instantly have radiant skin without looking like I tried too hard. It's also worth noting that I use this highlight pretty much every single day and I have barely made a dent in it. It is a little pricey but it lasts a very long time.

4. NARS Concealer in Vanilla - I have been devoted to my tube concealer from another brand for a very long time but I've been in desperate need of an amazing concealer on a wand so my brow application time can be cut down. This concealer was exactly what I'm looking for. It works amazing to clean up the brow area as well as conceal underneath the eye.

5. L'Occitane Shower Oil - Okay. This products is amazing. I don't even know where to begin. The almond scent is what first drew me in, but from there I heard such great things about how it starts as an oil but then turns into this amazing soft lather. So it's lathering up and cleaning your body but without leaving an oily residue. For my winter eczema prone skin, this is exactly what I was looking for. Next on my list is the skin oil...

6. L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara - I know I'm pretty tardy for the party with this one but I'm in love with this mascara. I didn't think I would like this version because so far I haven't been impressed with Voluminous dupes (the millions lashes version) but this one really is amazing. The wand makes it super easy to get the tiny lashes in the corner and it bends with your movement. I will definitely be repurchasing.

7. AERIN Ikat Jasmine Body Cream - I have to be honest I had no idea that Aerin Lauder (Granddaughter of Estee Lauder) had a makeup and fragrance line. I heard about the purchase with purchase that was going on and when I was browsing fragrances I really fell in love with this scent. The jasmine makes it so feminine and I love how it lingers on the body. I can't stand a fragrance that fades away too quickly and the staying power of this one did not disappoint.

Fall Blog Sale

2014-10-26T16:40:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends!
If you saw my current makeup collection you might ask yourself, is Amanda still a beauty blogger? Does she even like makeup at all? What does she put on her face? Where did all her stuff go? I have downsized my collection so much that I really don't even need drawers for storage anymore. But this really has more to do with me eliminating what I don't need so I can make room for what I do as my purchases have not completely slowed down. I've really transitioned from someone who was obsessed with shadow and color to someone who's obsessed with skincare and my collection reflects this. So on that note I decided to put up some of my gently used or brand new products for my readers to hopefully enjoy.

Also, Since my storage has changed I will be updating how I house my current products soon and if you would like I can also do a post on my makeup kit (for professional use) which still has a ton of products. If you want to see that, please leave a comment below.

RULES FOR THE BLOG SALE- READ EVERYTHING BELOW

As much as I would love to extend this sale to my readers overseas I cannot, so this will be a US only sale. The way that this will work is that my prices are listed below, send an email to mandyapplemakeup@gmail.com and title it Blog Sale. In the body of the email please list the products you would like to purchase. I will write you back with a confirmation that the item is still available then you can submit the payment for the products or products through PayPal and add $4 for shipping. My paypal email account is abourne88@gmail.com.

Thank you!

1. MAC Iridescent Powder in Golden Bronze -~~$12 $8~~
Very gently used, I took a couple scoops out of this for my makeup kit but still found I rarely use a loose powder highlighter. This color works very well for deeper skin tones.

2. MAC Iridescent Powder in Silver Dusk - ~~$12~~ $8
Very gently used, I took a couple scoops out of this for my makeup kit but still found I rarely use a loose powder highlighter.

3. Benefit blush In Bella Bomba -$8 $5
Fairly used, but still plenty left. Have yet to hit pan.

4. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar -~~$18~~ $15
VERY gently used, I love the Beige as a highlighter but found the Nectar as a blush was not for me.

5. Kevyn Aucoin eye shadow duo in #202 -~~$28~~ $20
NEVER used, only swatched. I actually won this duo in a contest and just could never bring myself to use it.

6. Laura Mercier foundation primer in Protect -~~$10~~ $8
NEVER used.

7. Ralph Lauren body lotion in Romance -$10
Used a few times.
8. Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser, Sensitive Skin -$10
Used once.
9. MAC Eyeshadow in Water -$10
Never used, only swatched.

10. Kat Von D Tattoo Chronicles Palette -~~$15~~ $10
Used on a few occasions, but most shades only swatched.

11. Kat Von D Poetica Palette -$10
Used a couple of time

12. Coastal Scents 6 Contour Blush palette -$8 $5
Gently used

Thanks again, I will be updating this post as items sell so that you all know what is still available. I also have a few more products I can put up, so if this goes well I will probably be having another sale with more lip products soon!

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Sephora Mini Haul Gone BAD

2014-10-02T23:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!
I feel like lately I have done really well with not over spending on things like clothes and beauty supplies and have been saving my money for a rainy day. But I do notice that when I go a certain amount of time on this pattern, I get in a mood where I need to impulse purchase. So I was on a lunch break from work and I decided to pop in a Sephora to pick up a few things I had been contemplating for a while. Every product I bought I had done previous research on either through referrals or reviews on sephora.com so I thought for sure these were good buys, but as far as my first impression goes I will not be repurchasing the following items.

My adventure led me to an eye cream by Fresh, their Hydrating Eye Gel Cream, a brow product by Benefit called Gimme Brow, and finally a lip firming treatment from Peter Thomas Roth, Un-Wrinkle Lip Treatment.

Let's start with the fresh gel eye cream, when I was researching this product I liked the hydration factor but wasn't too happy that it didn't have much anti-aging properties to it. I have recently been using one by Murad that is super old and I'm sure all the active ingredients are done for so I wanted to move onto something more fresh (guess I took the name literally), and this just didn't do it for me. It is hydrating but I'm just not crazy about it. All of fresh's products have the same smell as the soy face cleanser and this is kind of bothering me about the cream. I can't smell the roses in it at all, and since it isn't anti aging, doesn't smell as nice as I thought, I will not be repurchasing.

As for Gimme Brow, this might be the biggest bummer for me because I have been eyeing this product for a while and just didn't want to spend the $22 without knowing for sure I was going to like it. I was convinced to get it however, when I saw a video by Makeup Geek talking about how much see uses it. I typically trust her reviews and I went ahead with the purchase, but for me it doesn't do enough. I use Anastasia dip brow on the last 2/3 of my brows and was hoping this product would fill in my first 1/3 and give me that gradient look. I found that when I wore it alone it just set my brows in place, the little fibers in it did not do much gripping to the ends of my brow hairs. So I have to add a light powder shade to this portion just like I have always done. I feel like this is just an overpriced setting gel rather than one that actually adds color or fibers to make them longer.

Lastly, the Un-Wrinkle Lip Treatment. This product burned the entire crap out of my lips! The bottle says that it will "tingle," but no. There is no tingle. It is a straight burning sensation and I wanted to wash it off as soon as I put it on. The feeling lasted about 5 min and eventually went away, but I just feel like it's not worth putting it on everyday if it's going to be painful. So I cannot attest to if this product actually reduces fine lines in the lips, but I will say the ingredients really did a number on me and I won't be trying it again.

If you have any more feedback or experiences with these or other similar products that you would recommend instead, please let me know in a comment!

OOTD: #1

2014-10-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

Southern California weather continues to fade into hot and cooler temperatures, and with that I'm finding I have no idea what style I want to stick with. On the one hand I am totally ready for scarves and boots, but on the other it was 90 degrees today and had I not been scheduled to work I would have gone swimming. As far as my wardrobe is concerned I have found my happy medium with mixing light weight clothing in fall shades that are kinda drapey so they don't cling to my body and make me sweat. This way I get the feel of fall while being realistic. I found myself wearing this outfit on multiple occasions and not only feeling cooled off, but stylish at the same time.

Also, literally every item I am wearing is no longer available (besides the phone case) either because I bought it forever ago, or because it recently sold out. So I have linked similar items below if you want to shop this style.

hat: BP / dress: OLD NAVY / kimono: NORDSTROM / shoes: HAUTELOOK / sunglasses: MARC BY MARC JACOBS / lips: LIMECRIME / necklace: GIFT / phone case: TIME

Makeup Details:

Yes this is a blurry front camera selfie, but I'm going to use it for the sake of giving the deets on my face anyway!

foundation: ESTE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR / powder: LAURA MERCIER SMOOTH FINISH #6 / lips: LIME CRIME RED VELVET W/ LIP BALM ON TOP / brows: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS DIPBROW IN AUBURN / blush: NARS ORGASM

Review: Lush, Ro's Argan

2014-08-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

Though my attitude on this is subject to change, for the most part I don't really enjoy putting moisturizer on. I think this has everything to do with me not liking the sticky feeling that comes with most of them and though some products don't have that finish and are great, I am glad that I discovered Ro's Argan by Lush because this almost eliminates that issue completely. Ro's Argan is a body conditioner that you apply in the shower that does exactly what a hair conditioner does, but for your skin.

After you wash yourself with a cleanser, you step away from the water and applying a coating of this product all over your body, the rose and Argan oil make it smell so amazing and gives it the most luxurious silky texture. Once it's all applied and rubbed in, you lightly wash it off with warm water. I place my shower head on a softer setting so it just glides off my skin without too much pressure, I also like to do this step at the end of my shower so the moisture isn't washed away with me standing in there too long. To towel dry, I pat the towel on my skin instead of rubbing it all over. If you would like, and it is recommended, you can apply your moisturizer ( or I would recommend a lush massage bar so you can get the full effect) or you can leave it be, without a lotion after the shower your skin will still be soft and moisturized to the touch.
The only down side to this product that I will mention is that it really sticks to your bathtub and grips onto dirt. I have to clean my tub right after I use it so it isn't dirty and also kinda slippery from the oils. So just be aware of that and keep your tub clean. But other than that, definitely a product worth buying again. My container is less than half way full and since I like to rotate products often, that's a big deal for me.

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Haircare Haul/What is a Paraben?

2014-08-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful readers!

I have been trying to think of the last time I purchased some hair products and I knew it had been a while because I really couldn't remember. I have this bad habit of getting over a product before I finish the bottle so I replace it and put the half/almost empty bottles under my sink and forget about them. Lately I've been dipping into that collection and using up some of my old stuff and I was thinking about how I really hadn't done any research on what was new.

The only thing I've heard time and time again is that parabens are terrible and everyone is choosing products that do not have them. And I'm going to be completely honest, even though I now work for a skin care company, I had no idea what a Paraben was or why it's so bad. So I'm going to go over my haul with you as well as give you a breakdown on what parabens and sulfates are so you can make your own decision when purchasing hair care products. I'm going to give you a general definition for each based on what I've read about them. If you want more detail a basic google search can tell you all you need to know...

What is a paraben? A preservative used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food products chosen mainly for its bactericidal and fungicidal properties as well as it's low cost. They are also known to be more effective and preserving products than more natural alternative such as grape seed oil.

Why is it bad? Traces of parabens have recently been found in breast cancer and also have been linked with adding higher amounts of estrogen to their users and possibly causing pre-puberty in young girls.

What is a sulfate? A salt or sulfuric acid used in shampoos and cleaning products that essential create the "lather" of the product.

Why is is bad? There have been claims that sulfates link to cancer but that is not definite. What has been concluded is hat sulfates actually cause more frizz for your hair, especially curly hair and also is damaging to color treated hair.

Ok now that we have all of that out of the way we can talk about what I purchased. All of the products in my new collection are sulfate or paraben free or both. In my first haul which included a trip to planet beauty and nordstrom I purchased only Alterna and Living Proof products based on recommendations from friends. Then I paid a visit to an Aveda store and was completely sold on their conditioner and anti-frizz leave in. I'm listing the products purchased below as well as my first impression of them. I've used everything for about two weeks now so I feel like I am able to give honest feedback.

For treatment I picked up the Kendi Dry Oil Spray by Alterna and the Aveda Smooth Infusion leave in treatment. So far I like the Kendi spray, it leaves my hair soft and shiny and the consultant told me that it also gives the hair heat protection which is the real reason why I bought it. I'd say that it does make my hair feel softer after I spray it and it isn't too greasy which I really like, but it really is just a glorified heat protectant, it does it's job but for $25 you can get something from the drug store that probably does the same thing, I won't be buying it again. For the smooth infusion by Aveda, I've used that about 3 times and I like it, I feel like it leaves my hair smooth, but I will say that if you use too much you will feel like your hair is too weighed down and a bit greasy. I prefer to stay away from products like this because I only wash my hair about twice a week so I don't want it to feel heavy/greasy right after I wash it. If you're looking for smoothness this definitely works, I would just say use a light hand when applying. Then for texture and as a curl refresher I got the Bamboo Beach Ocean Beach Waves texture spray and I really love this stuff. It's a nice second day curl refresher and it smells amazing. You spray it in the hair and twist the curls in the direction you want them to stay and they really do stay put. It's a bit pricey at $20 but I'm not using it on a daily basis so it's worth the spend to me.

For shampoo I ended up with the No Frizz shampoo from Living Proof and a Deep Cleanse Clarifying shampoo from Bamboo by Alterna. If you're not sure, a clarifying shampoo is meant to get rid of all the build up in your hair from products as well as give it a deep clean. I will say that this one REALLY cleans the hair out, though the consultant assured me that this does not strip your hair, it did leave mine feeling really rough and dry. I'm sure this has everything to do with how bleached and processed my hair is, so I would say use sparingly (once a week if that) and make sure you deep condition after. For a daily shampoo, the living proof no frizz is working out really well. It doesn't dry my hair out and gives a good clean, it also suds up enough so I can feel it cleaning even though it does not have sulfates which is nice. I didn't know this when I bought it but that lines was developed by scientists at MIT, so if that information is impressive to you then you might wanna pick it up!

Lastly for conditioner I purchased a daily conditioner by the Aveda damage remedy line and I really like this one, it's very moisturizing but not too heavy, it actually adds protein to the hair to help rebuild it. For my color treated hair I've noticed that after an intense clarifying shampoo this product did its job in adding the moisture back. For my mask/conditioning treatment I purchased the Alterna Bamboo Kendi Intense Moisture Mask and I would have to say out of all of my products this was my least favorite. I really haven't felt like it moisturized my hair anymore than a normal conditioner and even to get that deep moisture feel I had to use a ton of product and my hair isn't even that long. Maybe if you have thin hair this would be a good product but I wasn't impressed, I definitely won't be buying it again.

Well that's my haul, please let me know if you have any feedback on these products or if you can recommend a good conditioning mask. Ive heard good things about Enjoy, Aveda and Cavier so those are next on my list. If you would like to know where you can purchase these products I'm proving a link to my polyvore page where you can buy them online or visit a retailer.

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Update: I'm Still Here!

2014-07-08T16:05:00.001-07:00

I know it's been months since I posted on here and even though I've been super busy with things that really is no excuse and I apologize. Honestly aside of me being completely busy I have also found that I'm lacking some motivation/inspiration to create post.
I try really hard to make sure that my posts are meaningful and are something that I as a reader would want to read and in the past couple of months I haven been able to conjure up anything worthy enough. I don't want to just make posts for the sake of throwing something up on the site, I want to put effort into them and give you the most informative and hopefully fun information I can deliver.

With that being said I am in the process of completely changing my website as well as the blog to better reflect myself, my style and my lifestyle at the moment. I am currently working in the beauty industry as well as my new adventure into the plus size fashion industry and I want tho blog to now reflect that. I have been putting more time and effort into my outfits and would love to share those with you along with my usually beauty tips and tricks.

Like I said I am still really busy so I am doing what I can to make some great summer posts for everyone so please stay tuned! I am still very happy and surprised at all the hits my blog continues to receive even with my absence and this is just more motivation to deliver more great posts. If you have any comments or suggestions I would love to hear them! Thanks for reading for continuing to subscribe :) ttys

Fresh hair, makeup and necklace ;)

Monday Rave: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

2014-04-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

Good Evening! I promise at some point I'm going to start writing these in advance so they get posted in the morning, but until then you get evening raves ;)

I haven't mentioned this yet but I recently got a job in cosmetics at a department store, because of this I'm now able to test out a lot more products and most importantly products I probably would not have tested out otherwise. Being around brands I don't really gravitate toward has introduced me to some really awesome products, one of those being Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation.
I think because Chanel has all this prestige I just assumed that the products were more about the brand name than the quality so I never really gave them a chance. However, I recently I tried the Vitalumiere Aqua foundation and I'm kind of obsessed with it. So reasons why it's amazing, first off it has that dewy finish that I love as someone with normal/dry skin. Second, it gives amazing coverage for being so luminous, I feel like sometimes with that finish you really have to layer the foundation, but with one application of this it covered really well and really even. It has an SPF of 15 and the formula is super light. It is also worth noting that even though it is "aqua" which makes it dewy, I didn't need to set it too much. I just put some MAC studio finish powder on my T-zone and I was good for the day. I blotted with a napkin a couple of times for my oiliness but no need to retouch. Overall I feel like this is an awesome foundation with a nice finish and great coverage. My only issues with it would have to be the smell. ALL of Chanel's products are extremely fragrant, and I wish they didn't add such a strong perfume smell to the foundation. Also of course the price point is kind of high, $48.00 for 1 oz. But if you compare some other high end brands, that's barely above the average price.

Left: I found that the B20 Beige color matched me the best. I'm also pretty sure there is also just a 20 Beige option, so if anyone knows the difference feel free to comment.

Above: Me wearing the foundation with chapped lips, enjoy!

Monday Rave: Philosophy Hope in a Jar A-Z Cream

2014-04-21T15:54:00.002-07:00

Happy Monday Everyone!

Well it has only taken me a week to recover from Coachella and now I'm ready to get back to blogging. If anyone is wondering, I had the most amazing time while I was there! I'm thinking of doing a personal blog post about it, but I don't want to venture too far away from beauty. So if you are at all interested in that, please let me know in a comment.

Now onto the rave and also tying right back into Coachella, I wanted to talk about Philosophy's Hope in a Jar A-Z Cream which is their version of a BB cream. I used this product all through Coachella and have continued to use it everyday since I got back and I have to say I really love it. As I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted something that had the SPF plus a foundation so I didn't have to worry about adding an extra step to my routine. After applying it once in the morning, I had no need to retouch it throughout the day and the SPF covered very well, I spent a lot of time in the sun and did not get a sunburn.

I also really like the coverage, I would say it's in between light and medium coverage, but definitely the best coverage of a BB cream I've seen. The only thing I've had to do it spot conceal my really pronounced blemishes with a cream foundation (I've been using Cinema Secrets cream foundation). Aside from that, I've gotten a really even coverage with this BB cream and I love how moisturizing and lightweight it is. It gives you a dewy finish plus coverage so it's perfect for summer, I'm positive this will be my go-to foundation in the hotter months. I'm using it in shade Medium, and from what I've seen that is the shade that matches most. The only downside to this is that it does only come in 3 shades that don't vary too much in pigmentation, so their deep skin tone option is not very deep. If you wanted to add a darker tint foundation to it to match you better I'm sure that would work, but I haven't tried it.

I bought mine at Nordstrom for $38.00, I know you can get it online, at Ulta, Macys, Sephora, a ton of places carry philosophy and I'm pretty sure the price is the same everywhere. I did initially think this was a bit pricey for a BB cream, because that's about what I pay for a full coverage foundation. But so far I'm only using 2 pumps a day and I think the tube will last me for a good while. I can update you guys on how long it lasts me so you can get a better idea of that.

Conclusion, I love it! The proof is in the photo below, if you have any questions about it, please leave a comment below :)

Above: Me with the A-Z cream on, I spot concealed with Cinema Secrets cream foundation and I used a light dust of Ben Nye powder to set it.