October♥Favorites 2013

Hey Everyone!! This is my first monthly favorites video, I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to give it a thumbs up and subscribe (it would mean SO much to me!)

PS tomorrow is Friday, Hooray!

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theBalm "Vanilla Oil Absorbing" Face Moisturizer Review

Hey Folks! Maybe you recall a few months ago I did a post about a haul from a few brands on HauteLook; one of said brands being theBalm Cosmetics. I have several rave reviews for many products I have tried from theBalm, but I haven't really ventured into their skin care line. Actually to be honest, I didn't even know they had a skin care line! Most YouTubers that I watch that use theBalm mention how wonderful their blushes and their eyeshadow palettes are, but I've never heard anything about their skin care line.

Well, today I was getting ready and I hit that dreaded point in my daily moisturizer where I have to pump to top several times just to get the tinniest bit of product to come out. "Oh No" I think, "I'm getting close to running out!" It is at that moment that I know that the product I am using is Holy Grail product. Sometimes it gets exciting getting to the end of a product, especially if you have your eye on something else or if you really didn't like the product much to begin with. I really hadn't even given my daily moisturizer much thought, until this morning when I was frazzled at the fact that I am almost going to be throwing this bottle into my "empties" collection. 

theBalm White Tea Vanilla Oil-Absorbing Face Moisturizer is honestly AMAZING and highly underrated. Also, quick point off topic, when I tweeted to the company today that I think this product is amazing, they favorited my tweet! I absolutely love when a company is actually interactive with their social media community, I find it makes me want to keep purchasing their products and communicating with them. Anyway, I have in the past used Bobbi Brown Oil Control Lotion and I found it to be nice, but never repurchased. I like the scent of it although it irritated my skin in the slightest way because of the Seaweed Extract; I think it was the scent caused my sensitive skin to turn bright red. With this Oil-Absorbing lotion from theBalm, I find that I do not need to blot or touch up my face with powder all day. My skin is combination to Oily, but can have extreme dry patches, very acne prone, and extremely sensitive. I don't find that this lotion is too drying on my skin when it is drier and I find that it has held up in even the hottest weather conditions I've been in--Reno, Anaheim, Canyon Lake, Sacramento, you name it. The scent on this is absolutely lovely. It is very natural and subtle. I hate when things are labeled "unscented" and it smells like a scent of "unscented" (does that even make sense? is it just me?). This smells like the ingredients in it without added perfumes. I also like that it isn't a "matte" formula, it makes the skin look so much more natural and radiant. It also has not caused me to break out and it is paraben free, cruelty free, phthalate free, and synthetic dye free. 

Another great thing about this product is, and I kid you not, but there are some days where I put this on with my Tarte Maracuja C-brightner eye treatment and feel totally comfortable and beautiful walking out the door without a trace of make up on. It makes the skin look so fresh, clean, and bright. 

The packaging is gorgeous glass and looks very high end if you ask me, and the pump detail is nice too. The best part? This product is only $20! Which is a steal if you ask me as you could easily go to Target and find an Aveeno moisturizer that isn't half as lovely for $15 or more dollars! 

All in all, it is easy to see that I really love this product, even if it wasn't so obvious to me before I nearly ran out, I now see that I am going to need to order this stuff in mass quantities because I never want to be with out it. If theBalm was ever to stop making this, I honestly do not know what I'd do. I find it to be a really unique product that is highly underrated. 

As I always recommend with theBalm products, keep your eye out for them on Hautelook, I think I got this moisturizer for only $10 when it came around! 

Shimmering Amber Eye Tutorial

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Review: Tarte "Off The Cuff" Blush Palette

As I've stated several of times over here on Beauty and Blogging, Tarte is one of my favorite brands to browse at Ulta and Sephora. While there are dozens of products by them that I have yet to try, the few that I have tried are some of my all time favorites that I own in my collection. Of these favorites are definitely their blushes. They are highly pigmented and last a really long time. They come in a variety of finishes and look quite natural which make them photograph really well. They are one of the easiest blushes I've found to work with, especially for beginners, as I find that since they are not really powdery or buttery it doesn't come across streaky or ever worse, clown-ish!
Last year, Tarte released a Holiday Collection that contained 4 miniature blushes that were limited edition colors. Needless to say, I had to have it! I bought it for myself and immediately fell in love with all of the colors. To this day, I use all 4 all the time and they still look brand new; these things last forever! They also came out with another really fantastic Holiday Collection that came with lipglosses, a blush, a brush, an eyeshadow palette, and a finishing powder all bundled together in a travel case that I use every single time I travel. Bottom line, Tarte comes out with the absolute best holiday collections.
This year they recently released a blush palette that contains 4 blush shades, 1 bronzer shade, and a cuff bracelet as the palette is so properly named "Off The Cuff". While I'm not positive it is part of their "Holiday Collection", it is now available for a limited time at Sephora.

The packaging is very flashy and shiney. I think it is very pretty but I don't really like the texture of the palette's cover fabric. I feel like it will snag and get dirty really quickly.

The cuff bracelete is also a little cheesy; I probably will not wear it, but it did look cute wrapped around the palette. 

Now into the good stuff! The palette comes with a really large mirror and very substantial sized blushes/bronzer. I know that Dollface (the 4th shade) and Park Ave Princess (5th shade) are permanent to the collection, but I'm not sure about the other three; I don't think that i've ever seen them but I could be wrong. Anyways, I wanted to snag this up quickly since last year after I realized how much I loved my blush collection I wanted to go pick one up for a friend and it was nearly impossible to get my hands on. I also do not own any blush palettes and missed the boat on one that Nars released a few years ago and have never really gotten over it. I always travel with several blushes in my caboodle so I figured this would be a really good thing to have. I've tried all four of the blush shades and would love to give some quick thoughts on each:

Crave: described as a pink peach. I really like this shade a lot, it is my favorite of the four. It is a fantastic shade to wear in the fall and winter as it is fairly neutral but really warms up your cheeks which makes your complexion look flawless. Paired with your favorite bronzer, this shade is absolute perfection.

Dazzled: described as a soft rose. This is a neutral shade with shimmer. It is much darker than the other rose blush by Tarte called "exposed". I really like this shade as it leans a little bit on the red side and reminds me a little bit of my favorite Nars blush in "Lovejoy". This shade would look great with perfected lashes and a deep lip shade. 

Darling: described as a nude melon. This shade is what drew me to the palette in the first place and ironically it is my least favorite of the four. I do not hate it, but I don't find that it does much for my skin or complexion. It is a little bland. To give it more dimension, I put "Crave" onto the apples of my cheek and it made it look more interesting. 

Dollface: described as a light pink. This is a great shade of blush for everyone to have in their collection. Light pink blushes are very natural on the cheeks and make you look like you've just been out in the cold (in a good way!) I've never purchased this blush by Tarte before, even though it has been getting rave reviews since the beginning of time, but I am so glad they incorporated it into this palette. It is one of those shades that would be flattering on anyone. 

I have yet to try the  Park Avenue Princess matte bronzer that is in the palette, but I'm sure it is gorgeous and very usable. Everyone on YouTube and blogs across the internet have been raving about it for years now, and I love the Tarte matte bronzer in "Hotel Heiress" so I'm sure this one is no different. 

(Left to Right) Crave, Dazzled, Darling, Dollface, Park Ave Princess.

This palette comes in at $42, which given the fact that a single blush is $26 and a bronzer is $29, I think that this palette is a really good price. Each of the powders inside the palette are full sized so you're getting the 5 for the price of two! This would make a great gift for a friend (or yourself!) But I recommend getting your hands on it quick, I have a feeling it will sell out fast!

YSL Babydoll Mascara...Worth The Hype?!

What does Tim Lincecum have to do with mascara reviews?!
Keep reading to find out =]

Hey Guys! Okay, so YSL is known for having really luxurious products that people really love and cling to. Their lipsticks are a cult favorite and their mascaras are said to be the best. I personally only own one of their Candy Sheer Lipsticks and have never tried their mascara. While part of me wanted to know what I was missing out on, the other [rational] side of me was really unwilling to spend at least $30 on a mascara if it wasn't going to work out for me. With my track record, most mascara's that people love, NEVER work out on me. While everyone is raving about all the Maybelline mascaras, I'm over here trying to separate my lashes and keep my eyes from watering from the awful black mess Maybelline mascara leaves on my face. I was really torn between wanting to try out YSL Babydoll mascara, but not wanting to spend the money.
After my birthday, I got some gift cards to Sephora and I wanted to treat myself to something I wouldn't typically buy for myself. Now was my chance to try the YSL mascara that so many YouTuber's are going crazy about!

The brush is a rubber bristle brush, which I tend to prefer because I can get closer to the root of my lashes while I try to build volume. The issue I ran into with this mascara, is no matter how close I get to the root of my lashes and how much I work to build volume, I cannot get my lashes any thicker or fuller! It drives me crazy because I get amazing length and great separation, I can really maneuver the brush into the inner and outer corners of my eye, and when applied to my lower lash line (which is something I very seldom do), it almost doubles as a liner, but does not smear under my eye and really does open up my eyes and make them look really wide and "babydoll" like. I just cannot get enough volume! The main thing I look for in my mascara is mega volume with some lengthening qualities as well. This is not cutting it. 

I find myself wearing this mascara on days when I want a more "natural" look, and while it is a look I go for often, I do not need a special mascara to achieve a natural lash and especially not one that costs a pretty penny. 

What I do like about this mascara is that it works well with others. I've been wearing it under a heafty coat of my beloved Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara and it makes my lashes look fake! I'm not kidding, the other day I was taking shameless selfies at a San Francisco Giant's game and I was amazed at how full my lashes looked, even in pictures. 

My final consensus on this mascara is that it is a Pass. It is not worth the hype and I would not repurchase it. While it is not horrible, I am most definitely not loving it and the price is just not doing it for me. 

You can actually see that I have eyelashes in the photograph; I was amazed!

PS. HI CHAD!

I told you...shameless selfies.
GO GIANTS!

Tarte Friends and Family Sale Haul

Hi guys! As I've mentioned in my Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara review , Tarte is a really wonderful brand. It is cruelty free, paraben free, and has some really fantastic quality products. The other thing I really love about Tarte is their customer appreciation; they send out promo codes often for discount and I've even gotten birthday discount codes sent to me. They have a Friends and Family sale a few times a year and that is when I really like to take advantage of some of their products that are a little bit more expensive than I would like to spend.
I'm not exactly certain what the discount amount was for the F&F sale was, but I want to say it may have been somewhere around 30% off your entire order, and it was on every product they sale, not just some. Isn't that the worst? When a company has a sale but it's only valid for some products. I love that the Tarte discount is storewide.
I've had my eyes on a couple products by Tarte that i've been looking forward to trying and the F&F sale was the exact push that I needed to make the purchase.

I've been dying to buy their BB Cream for a long time. Any time that I swatch it I love how it feels, it's very silicone-y and it's very different from any other BB Cream that i've tried. Today I wore it for the first time and I really am enjoying it! I love how small and convenient the packaging is, the coverage is amazing, and you really don't need that much product to cover up your whole face. The coverage can be compared to most foundations in that it is pretty heavy without feeling heavy. It also has SPF 30 which is GREAT as I find myself outside quite a bit lately and like knowing that my face is protected. It also contains some anti-aging benefits but, honestly, I'm not too concerned about those. In addition to that, I do not have to set this with powder, how awesome is that! I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and would never leave the house without setting powder, until now. This product is truly amazing.

I got my shade in Light. Usually I would go for light-medium or medium but this particular BB Cream tends to run a little darker. Light matches me really well, and it isn't too pink or too yellow. If you are looking for a nice BB cream and don't mind spending $34, I highly recommend this one.

The next product I had been really wanting to try out was this Maracuja Rain Forest Glow. The packaging of this is gorgeous, gold and purple. It also comes with 5.0 fl. oz. of product which is quite a bit. This product retails at $36 and it is really unique, i've never used anything like it. It is described as a bronzing, matte, waterproof body perfecter infused with Maracuja oil. As mentioned in my I <3 Summer tag , I am not a fan of fake tanning in any way, shape, or form, and I am far to active to try to lay out and catch some rays. The only tan I get is from just being outside doing everyday activities. This product can be applied like a lotion and it perfects and bronzes up the skin. It looks very natural, not orange-y at all, and makes a huge difference to the appearance of dull skin. It almost gives it some sort of dimension. It does not streak and does not need to be applied super carefully, which is amazing because I just do not have the patience to perfect my fake tan. 

I also received a sample of the Tarte Fake Tan product "Braziliance". 

Although this image makes the sample look huge, it is very, very small. I'm not sure how I could ever use this because I don't think it could cover more surface area than maybe one hand. Nonetheless, free samples are always appreciated!

My final consensus of this haul is a perfect 10! I like everything that I purchased and find them both to be very unique. I would highly recommend both of these products that I purchased. Keep an eye out for more Tarte deals by following them on Twitter (@tartecosmetics). Maybe you'll become a Tartelette, too!

Nanny Style MOTD&essentials and OOTD

I have a whole post ready to be written with pictures and the whole nine yards BUT I wanted to be sure to get a post up today and knew I wouldn't have time for a proper full review. 

In addition to being a student, I am also a nanny. I personally think I have the greatest job in the world because I love children so much. Sometimes I work early in the morning and simply don't have enough time or energy to get ready. Sometime I work incredibly long hours and don't find it necessary to have a full face of make up because there is no one I'm trying to impress. Nonetheless, I'm a female, and females like to be put together, regardless of how pointless it is to look good for no one.  

I have four face essentials that I put on almost every morning (or throw in my purse to hopefully get the chance to put on during baby's nap time) 

I always carry a BB Cream (right now I'm using Tarte's) because it is moisturizing and offers some coverage while also providing sun protection, which is great at the pool, swim lessons, or the park. 

I always fill in my brows with a Brow Powder (Milani) or a brow pencil. Brows shape the face and are much more important than you may think. It's important to fill those babies in!

Bronzer is a staple, I must always wear bronzer. I chose bronzer over blush because it sets some of my bb cream and gives my whole face a healthy glow. I apply it with a large brush so it covers a lot of my face, not just as a contour. 

Mascara cannot be skipped because without it, I would look tired and unfinished. Mascara is a great finishing step because it really does make a huge difference. It opens up the eyes to make you look more awake and energized. 

I wash my hair the night before and let it dry naturally. A V-neck is absolutely perfect because it is functional for carrying babies but is still airy enough for playing outside in the summer, this one is from J Crew. Comfy jeans, like these boyfriend fit ones from Lucky, are great for running errands and squatting down low to talk to a small child. Trust me, I've ripped more pairs to tight jeans than you could ever imagine. A watch is also great, mine is from Ripcurl, because then you don't need to fish your phone out to check the time every second. When I'm holding hands with an active three year old and carrying a baby, I simply don't have an extra hand to check my phone. I also love this one because it is water proof so when we go swimming I can wear it in the pool. Not to mention, this watch is absolutely gorgeous (thanks Dad, it is a wonderful gift) 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday! I have a few fun reviews coming up soon, so keep your eyes peeled. 

TARTE Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara Review

Tarte cosmetics is one of my top favorite brands. Whenever I walk into Sephora or Ulta I always make sure to check out their little display. I love that their products are paraben free and are not tested on animals. It makes their steeper price tag totally worth it knowing I'm buying a high quality product. Not to mention, I've yet to be disappointed by any of their products.

One of my all time favorite products by them, and all time favorite mascaras, is their Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. It is phenomenal and a really difficult formula to beat. They recently released a new mascara from the same line called Lights, Camera, Flashes, and I simply could not wait to get my hands on it 

As usual, their packaging couldn't be more beautiful, I admit it's a little bit extravagant which probably drives the price up but honestly, it looks high end and makes me feel fancy.

The wand on this baby is what makes it so incredible and unique

Although its hard to tell (and even harder to photograph), the brush has two sides. The directions on the box suggest using the dense, soft side of the brush first to build volume, then comb through with the flex-bristles to create length and definition. It also suggests applying two coats, which I always do anyway. 

The formula of the mascara reminds me a lot of  Benefits "they're real" mascara, it's really wet and can be messy. I find that it does have a tendency to clump a little bit but I'm going to work with it and practice so I can avoid that issue. This stuff means business when it comes to holding a curl. My lashes stay curled, thick, and long all day. It's serious stuff. 

Here are some shots of the application process:

Two coats applied to the left side, compared to nothing on the right. 

After mascara was applied to both eyes (natural light). 

This mascara makes some big claims and promises, and although I may not agree with "+752% volume", I would agree that this mascara makes a HUGE difference. I love the false lash effect that it gives, I feel like my lashes are butterflies every time I blink. I love that it's formulated without parabens, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, or synthetic fragrance (yuck!). It truly is amazing and very unique. I was not a fan of Benefit "They're Real" and was skeptical that this would disappoint me since they seemed comparable, but I won't lie, I love this stuff!! If you're in the market for a nice high end mascara, Tarte "Lights, Camera,Flashes" retails at about $23. 

PS I found this image online and found it helpful at explaining the brush's technology 

Bronze, Baby, Bronze!

It is no secret I have an obsession with bronzer, I love to bronze my face and create a luminous look that is also flattering because it helps shape the face. 

For the Fourth of July, I wanted to do a really bronzy-tan face with red lips. I knew I would be outside all day and I wanted my face to look golden and sun-kissed. Many of my friends were asking how I made myself look so tan so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite products with you!

 

(that's my boyfriend Chad, we like to match).  

I didn't even think to take pictures that really captured the look, but this is one that we took together, and I like it and look for any excuse to post pictures to my blog.

• Mac Pigment in "Tan",  I love mixing a little bit of this pigment into my foundation. I find it looks amazing in my Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua, which gives the skin luminosity without being heavy at all. 
• Nars Bronzer in "Laguna", this is absolutely no surprise if you've read any of my previous posts. It is not completely matte, but it's most definitely not shimmery. It looks fabulous all over the face and I love that I don't have to be extra cautious when applying it.
• Tarte Mineral Bronzer in "Hotel Heiress", I like this bronzer a lot. I always have one in stock in my collection (I actually snagged one up on my Hautelook app for only $10!). It is a little bit more orange, but certainly not like, ORANGE! It looks really great all over the face, especially on days when you want to skip on blush. 
• Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in "Aruba". This is a shimmery bronzer, but it looks especially great on the cheek bones. I like to wear it with tinted moisturizers as a blush. This is a product that anytime I wear it (especially if I haven't worn it in a while), I get several compliments and people want to know what I'm wearing on my cheeks. I think it would also look great over a more matte bronzer.
• Mac Sheertone Shimmer Blush in "Trace Gold",  this would look AWESOME on people with a darker skin tone than me. If I don't want any color on my cheeks, I wear this instead because I like the glow that it gives the apples of my cheeks. It's also wonderful for layering over other blushes. This is a really great blush for any collection because I do feel that it is very versatile. 
• Mac Lustre Drops in "Sun Rush",  this is a new product for me, but when I saw it, I knew I needed it. It's like liquid gold, for your face! I apply it with a thick dome top Kabuki brush from the back of my hand and apply it as a highlight around the apple of my cheeks. It also looks nice under the brow bone instead of using a white highlight. I'm still playing around with this product so, stay tuned ;-)

I find that just as important as bronzing the face is, it is equally important to highlight! My absolute favorite highlight is by The Balm Cosmetics called "Mary-Lou Manizer". I've never loved a highlight or felt the need to use one, but after using this one, I cannot leave the house without highlighting my face. It really is flattering, especially if you do it correctly (and lightly!) I really recommend this product, and it is another item that can sometimes be ordered for discount on Hautelook.