October Beauty Favorites

I'mmmmm backkkkkk ;)

I know, I know, I haven't posted in about a month (sorry!!). I started a new job around three weeks ago, so I've just been adjusting to my new schedule and all that good stuff. However, I am happily back today with some beauty favorites that I have been using the entire month of October - most of this stuff I've been wearing to work so everything is office appropriate! I also have been working on some upcoming posts - so I don't plan on disappearing for another month! Anyways, I'm glad to be back and I hope you all enjoy the rest of this post :)

Links Below!

1. My first, most important, and unfortunately most expensive favorite is my Clarisonic Mia. My skin has been really giving me problems lately and as soon as I started using this baby again all of my problem areas started to clear up! It's basically just an exfoliator that does all of the work for you. I know there are some less expensive versions out there, or just use an exfoliating scrub from the drugstore!

2. What a perfect color for fall. This in-between purple/grey hue called Merino Cool is one of my favorite colors on and off nails - and it's by Essie so of course I'm in love!

3. I'm always searching for that go-to drugstore foundation and I decided to try the Nourishing Long Wear makeup by Neutrogena. It's supposed to last 12 hours, and although I don't quite think it does (be sure to use a finishing powder over it anyways), I do find that it lasts most of the day while I'm at work. I recommend this for dryer skin types!

4. An oldie, but certainly a goodie! I think Urban Decay's Naked Basics has to be one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes ever, mainly because it has the perfect neutral everyday colors. All of the shades are matte, except for the first one, which I like to add on my eyelid for a very subtle pop of shimmer. Love, love, love!

5. In addition to finding a go-to drugstore foundation, I also am always looking for a go-to drugstore mascara. I've been really enjoying the Voluminous Miss Manga mascara by Loreal. It's almost comparable to my Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (almost!). But if you're looking for a volumizing mascara, I'd say give this one a try!

6. So we all know Mac's Rebel is a huge fall favorite for many. However, I find that Rebel is a little too intense for everyday, so instead, I've been absolutely loving my Mac lipstick in the shade 'Up the Amp'. It's in that same purple family, but way less intense!

7. Now that it's fall I've been using my shimmer bronzers less and less. Benefit's Hoola Bronzer is perfect because it's matte. I've been using this bronzer everyday for a cheekbone contour.

xox,

                 Meredith

Face of the Day: Matte & Smokey

Just a quick Face of the Day post for you today! This look is actually from yesterday - I went to grab dinner with a friend. A wearable smokey eye with a neutral matte lip - yes please :)

See it all in action below:

Links Below!

Face:

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base

MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation

NYX HD Concealer - Light

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Medium

Cheeks:

Milani Baked Bronzer - Glow

MAC Powder Blush - Prism

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighting Powder

Eyes:

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot - Soft Ochre

Lorac Pro Palette (Crease: Taupe & Sable, Outer Crease: Espresso, Lid: Cream, Liner: Black)

Loreal Telescopic Mascara

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 

Brows (not pictured whoops!):

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Soft Brown

Lips:

MAC Lipstick - Velvet Teddy

MAC Lip Pencil - Stripdown

xox,
                 Meredith

Drugstore Products Worth Trying

If you've been on this blog before, you've probably already seen some of the below products floating around in several posts. That's because I stick to the products I love and only recommend products that I actually use and enjoy. Below are all prodcuts that can be found at the drugstore that I definitely feel are worth a try. So the next time you're at the drugstore and are thinking "hey, I need a new concealer" maybe you'll think of this post and fall in love with a new product like I have. All of the items are linked below :)

1. Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner - One of my favorite eyeliners to use on my top lash line. Allows for an easy cat eye wing.

2. Essie Nail Polish - Essie is by far my favorite nail polish brand. The formula never fails, and the color selection is amazing!

3. Revlon ColorStay Foundation - This is one of my go-to drugstore foundations whenever I'm not trying out anything new. It stays put all day and leaves a matte finish.

4. Loreal Paris Telescopic Mascara - If you've see this blog before, you've most likely have seen this mascara already. I love the tiny bristle because it helps separate my lashes before applying whatever volumizing mascara that I am using next.

5. Milani Glow Baked Bronzer - You've probably also have already seen me mention this bronzer a time or two. I absolutely love it! Leaves the perfect bronzy sheen to my face, especially looks great in the summer.

6. NYX Powder Blush - These are my go-to drugstore blushes. They are pigmented and have a lot of great color dupes to more high-end blushes.

7. Eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm - This is my everyday lip balm. It's moisturizing, lasts longer than some other lip balms, and comes in great flavors.

8. NYX Butter Gloss - This is one of my favorite overall drugstore lip products. Its got this buttery formula that isn't sticky on your lips, and also has great color payoff.

9. NYX HD Photo Concealer - I recently started using this again and instantly remembered why I love it so much. It is great for my under-eye area because it doesn't crease, and also gives that brightening effect that I love. Highly recommend!

10. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I haven't been able to find that many drugstore powders that I actually like, but this one I like! I press it into the areas of my face (after already applying foundation) that I don't want to shine, typically the center of my forehead, and chin.









Any others worth trying? Let me know!



P.S. if you decide to get the Eos lip balm, just keep it away from your cute dog!

xox,
               Meredith

5 Minute Makeup using 5 Products

There will be times in your life where you just have to hustle when doing your makeup. Any last minute plans or errands that need to be taken care of can leave you flustered and unsure of what makeup products you should limit yourself to. For this post, I literally timed myself and completed my makeup in 4 minutes and 57 seconds. The products I chose to use are just the basics, but I feel are essentials before walking out the door. If I'm running really short on time, I can limit it to three of the below products (BB cream, brows, and mascara). But I think dedicating 5 minutes to your makeup even when you're in a hurry is pretty reasonable! Check it on out below :)

1. First, I applied by Neutrogena Visibly Even BB Cream in shade 'light to medium' to my entire face and just blended with my fingers.

2. Then, I used my fake-up concealer by Benefit in the shade 'light' and applied it under my eyes, again blending with my fingers.

3. I quickly filled in my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in the shade 'soft brown'.

4. Next, I applied two coats of my Loreal Telescopic mascara, waiting about 30 seconds between each coat.

5. Lastly, I applied my Milani Baked Bronzer in the shade 'Glow' very generously all over my face, concentrating on my cheekbones, forehead, and jawline.






...and Voila!

What are your go-to 5 minute makeup products?






xox,
                  Meredith

August Beauty Cravings

What, it's already that time? Yup, it's August 1st and I'm not wasting any time with my August Beauty Wish List. The unplanned theme of these products seems to include very neutral toned makeup (eyes, and lips) and adding on a classic winged liner with some long, dark lashes. I've heard great things about the Loreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation by women of all ages (my mom loves it!). I've also been seeing the Nudes eyeshadow Palette by Maybelline pretty much everywhere and am eager to try it. I love Urban Decay's Naked Line for their eyeshadow, but have yet to try out any of their lip products, which is why a gloss and a lipstick are listed below. Have you tried any of the below items? Let me know your thoughts!

Links Below!

Have a great weekend!!

xox,

                  Meredith

Face of the Day: A Simple Summer Glow

Hello, Hello! Today I have for you a quick face of the day post. If you've never heard of "FOTD" short for Face of the Day (which I guess is pretty self explanatory), it's basically a list of all the makeup products you used on your face that particular day. So now if you ever see the hashtag #FOTD, you'll know exactly what it means! My makeup in general always kind of stays on the lines of a natural look. I just like to add a little bit more 'glow' in the summer.

The foundation I used is by Loreal called True Match Lumi, which is pretty lightweight but leaves a nice dewy finish. Over my concealer I added a little bit of a highlight with my MAC Prep + Prime Highlight Stick in the shade 'Radiant Rose' to really brighten up my under-eye area. I of course set everything with my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in the shade 'Medium'. I went for a real simple eye using my Naked Basics Palette by Urban Decay, just using the lightest shade all over my lid, and the neutral shade in my crease (4th shadow in). I lightly lined my upper lash line and applied a bunch of mascara. For my cheeks I used my Sonia Kashuk bronzer/blush duo and then just added a little of my favorite highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones. I finished the look off with some of my NYX butter gloss in the shade 'Eclair' and called it a day. The only product not shown is my brow powder, which is by a brand called Kelly Baker Brows. It's a medium ash brown shade that I applied with an angled brush. Look below for pics! :)

Links Below!

Here are the products in action! P.S. don't mind my messy hair ;)

xox,

                   Meredith

July Beauty Wish List

I hope everyone is either nice and relaxed or hungover from their holiday weekend. Either way, that's how I know you had a nice weekend! Today I've put together a few beauty items that I've been wanting and have heard great things about. Some of these products are fairly new, including the Lorac Pro 2 Palette and the Loreal Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara. Others are just products that I've literally heard so much about and need to try for myself, such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, and the infamous Beauty Blender. I've already ordered the Brow Wiz in the shade 'Soft Brown' and am waiting for it's arrival along with the Hourglass Femme Nude Lipstick in shade no. 2. I've also been on the hunt for a new BB Cream to use during the summer and read such great reviews for the Tarte Illuminating BB Moisturizer. There's something about the word 'illuminating' that makes me really want to try it. Links for all products are provided below!

Links Below!

1. Loreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Soft Brown

3. Lorac PRO Palette 2

4. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

5. Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo - Nude No. 2

6. Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick

7. BECCA Shimmer Skin Perfector Pressed Powder - Moonstone

8. Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer

9. The Original BeautyBlender













What's on your July Beauty Wish List?




xox,
                   Meredith

Daytime Makeup Look

I was having one of those days where I just liked the way my makeup came out, so of course I had to document it for you. (Ladies, take advantage of when you like the way you look and don't be afraid to take pictures and share your beautiful face with me and everyone else!). It turns out that many of the products I used are also featured in my "My Go-to Makeup Look" post from a few months ago (same exact eye look). See it here. There are, however, some changes in products so I wanted to keep you updated! I apologize for the lighting and quality of the pictures - it was a little later in the day so the natural lighting wasn't at it's best, but you can still get an idea of what the makeup looks like in action. For a full list of everything I used, keep on reading!

Products Used:

Face:

Primer - MAC Prep + Prime Skin Primer

Foundation - MAC 'Mineralize' Moisture Foundation Broad Spectrum - NW18

Concealer - Benefit Fake-up - Light

Powder - MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural - Medium

Cheeks:

Bronzer - Milani Baked Bronzer - Glow (Pictured in product picture is a similar bronzer by Victoria's Secret)

Blush - MAC Prism

Highlight - The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

Eyes:

Primer - MAC Paint Pot - Soft Ochre

Lid - Lorac Pro - White & Cream

Crease - Lorac Pro - Taupe & Sable 

Liner - MAC Blacktrack Fluidline Gel Liner & Urban Decay 24/7 - Black Velvet

Brows - Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade - Dark Brown

Lips: 

MAC Pink Plaid

xox,
                Meredith

Friday Five: May Beauty Favorites

TGIF Everyone! This Friday Five will be featuring my May Beauty Favorites. These are five products that I've found myself using and loving all month long. They are some really great products that I would recommend to anyone to give a try. Find out why they are my favorites below!

Links Below!

1. Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream - I have always been a fan of Jergens and their different types of body lotions. I love to use the glow daily moisturizer especially in the summer, but since I hardly have any sort of tan yet, this BB Body Cream has been my thing. We all know that BB creams exist for your face, but how cool is it that there is one specifically for your body? This product is intended to hydrate & smooth, brighten & illuminate, even out skin tone, firm skim, and minimize the appearance of imperfections. I've been really liking this because I do feel that it is hydrating and helps even out my skin tone. I've noticed it the most on my legs. It is not a self tanner, so it doesn't dry streaky. It also smells really great. If you've ever tried Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods - it smells pretty much exactly like that! 

2. L'Oreal Paris Boost It High Lift Creation Spray - If you've ever had trouble teasing your hair, or getting some volume - this stuff is for you. My hair is thick and curly, so it naturally has a significant amount of volume, but this stuff just gives it some crazy lift. Spray a little at the roots and back comb your hair, and it literally stands up straight. Just be sure to smooth it out when you're done, since, you know, we no longer live in the 80s. ;)

3. Maybelline Super Stay Concealer - I have been using this concealer all month because I ran out of my favorite NYX photogenic concealer; however, I have really been enjoying this one by Maybelline. It has great coverage and that brightening effect that I love for under the eyes. 

4. Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick - I have had this shimmer brick for years and I love it! I had stopped using it for a while for some reason, but for the past month, I've been using it everyday as a highlight and to blend my blush and bronzer together. If you saw my post from yesterday, I also used it as an eyeshadow! If you want to try something a little less expensive that you can find at the drugstore, I believe Physicians Formula and Revlon have very similar products.

5.  Essie Resort Fling Nail Polish -This Essie color has pretty much been on my nails the entire month of May. I did have to use three coats to get it to the opacity that I liked, but I just love the color so much. I will probably be using this nail polish into the summer as well!

Have a great weekend!

xox,

                  Meredith