Lazy Fall Day Makeup Routine- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 20, 2014

As much of a makeup addict I am, I still have my lazy days where I do not want to do anything. But life is unpredictable, so I devised myself a quick little standby routine that I can easily apply with no fuss and still look somewhat presentable.

Step 1: Foundation/Concealer 

Any makeup look always starts out with a good base. On my lazy days esp. when I have to leave the house quick I don't like to fuss with heavy foundation. My go to product this season has been my Maybelline Pure BB Cream. I just apply it with my fingers and viola! It is super easy to blend and has great coverage. After I apply my BB Cream it is time to cover up my dark under eye circles. I been loving the Cover Girl Ready Set Gorgeous concealer. It covers my pesky under eye circles and brightens up my complexion as well. Even on days where I don't apply any sort of foundation I still apply concealer on my under eye circles. Trust me it makes all the difference in the world!

Step 2: Powder

Any time you wear any type of liquid product, it is always a good idea to set it with a powder. Powder not only keeps your makeup on but also blends your foundation a little more. I been using my Maybelline Dream Wonder powder quite a lot this season. When I first bought it I didn't really like it. It made my skin really shiny and my foundation cakey, however I started to apply it with a lighter hand and it's been working pretty well keeping my makeup together. 

Step 3: Bronzer/ Blush

Just to give myself a bit of color. I like to contour a bit with my Rimmel Bronzer and the blush I been obsessing over is my Benefit Dandelion. It is a pretty netural pink that is great with all looks and skin tones. 

Step 4: Brows

I don't like to put on eyeshadow on my lazy days but I do like to fill in my brows a bit. It makes me look more alive and not like I just rolled off my bed. The Maybelline Master Brow has been a holy grail. It combines my brow color and gel in one so all I have to do is apply and I get nice looking brows.

Step 5: Lip color

Probably the easiest step. Just take you favorite lip color swipe on and go. I been using my L'Oreal Balm in Tender Mauve. It is perfect for fall and a great all around neutral color that won't wash you out. 

XOXO

Quick & Healthy Fall Lunches- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 17, 2014

1. VEGGIE WRAP

Take your favorite tortilla wrap and spread some hummus on it. Then layer your favorite veggies on it. My favorite hummus is the Trader Joe's Garlic Hummus. As for veggies I like romaine lettuce, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and shredded carrots. Before rolling it up top it off w/a bit of balsamic vinaigrette. 

Example from www.myrecipes.com 

2. SALAD IN A JAR

Take a mason jar and layer your veggies. Start with your favorite lettuce (I like romaine it is heartier and sturdier) then continue layers with veggies like beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives even chicken or qunioa. Store your favorite dressing in a small separate container to prevent the veggies from wilting. 

Example from www.theyummylife.com

3. EGG SALAD SANDWICH

You can make this the night before.

Chop your boiled eggs and mix with vegannaise (healthier alternative to mayo and actually pretty good), salt, black pepper, paprika, and a touch of garlic powder.

You can also add a celery stalk for extra veggies and crunch.

Spread on your favorite bread (try Ezekiel Bread- sprouted grain bread and super good for you) add some spinach and VIOLA!!!

Example from www.seriouseats.com

Get to Know Me: Skincare Tag- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 16, 2014

SKINCARE TAG

-How many times do you wash your face daily?

2 Times (Once in the morning and once in the evening)

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)

Dry, sensitive, & acne prone

-What is your current facial wash?

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Facial Cleanser (Morning)

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (Evening)

-Do you exfoliate?

Yes

-What brand do you use?

Mario Badescu

-What moisturizer do you use?

Mario Badescu Ginseng Moist Cream (Morning)

Vaseline Deep Moisture (Evening)

-Do you have freckles?

Nope

-Do you use eye cream?

Yes

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

Yes

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?

Yes once and it almost completely destroyed my skin...

Evening Skincare Routine- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 13,2014

EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE FALL/WINTER EDITION

Hello again and welcome to part 2 of my skincare routine for fall/winter 2014.

Enjoy! XOXO

All products mentioned are available @ drugstores, Targets & Wal-Marts unless otherwise specified.

From Left to Right: Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Vaseline Deep Moisture, Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner, Equate Eye Makeup Remover, Mario Badescu Anti Acne Serum & Rose Hips Nourishing Oil

From Left to Right:
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser $9- This is a classic product in skincare history. It is a simple facial cleanser for all skin types (they have different cleansers for different skin types but overall similar product) that deep cleanses and keeping your skin nice and fresh. There isn't any bad chemicals and super gentle. I like to use this at night because of my acne treatment this cleanser won't strip my skin.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner $18 (Ulta)- This is an amazing product not only it cleanses your skin it is also an exfoliate that helps with uneven skin tone and very effective for super dull, dry & sensitive skin. I use this with a cotton pad and just pat is all over my face. I do recommend only using this once a day. Glycolic Acid has different effects on different people and some have had reactions to it during long term use. So adjust accordingly to your skin needs. 

Vaseline Deep Moisture $4- My mother first introduced me to this product this past month and at first I was very skeptical about it. I am not a fan of petroleum jelly especially on my face but my skin was particularly very dry one day and my mother told me to try is and BOOM I fell in love. This product is super moisturizing and actually penetrates the skin. It is a bit greasy and heavy but nothing uncomfortable. It is better to use at night.

Left
Mario Badescu Anti Acne Serum $20 (Ulta)- This is a product that I have recently started using this year. My acne for some reason decided to come back and haunt me. This stuff is pure gold. After 2 days I immediately saw a difference. My breakouts had calmed down and my pimples were less visible. It contains salicylic acid along with thyme and other natural herbs. A bonus this stuff does not sting the sh** out of you.

Right
Mario Badescu Rose Hips Nourishing Oil $20 (Ulta)- I always had super dry skin  and it has gotten worse this time around for some reason. This product has become a holy grail item in my skin care. I like to mix it in with my moisturizer and it just adds another layer of moisturizer and rose hips are really great at calming redness. It is more of a watery consistency rather than an oil. 

Miscellaneous

These are products that I use on days when I have makeup to take off.

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser (LEFT) $5- This is an oldie but a goodie. And when I mean an oldie this stuff has literally been around since our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. This was the classic way women had removed their makeup back then and is still very effective today. I put it on my skin dry and rub it in and wash off. It removes everything to waterproof mascara. Plus it smells amazing. It also works as a great brush cleanser (2 in 1 product!!!). O and did I mention that this stuff is super cheap!

Equate Eye Makeup Remover (RIGHT) $4- This is the Wal-Mart knockoff of the Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover but somehow works 10x better for 1/2 the price. This stuff dissolves the toughest waterproof makeup out there.

Morning Skincare Routine- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 12, 2014

MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE: FALL/WINTER EDITION

Welcome to my fall/winter skincare routine 2014 edition. I change my skin care  every 2 seasons or depending on how my skin is acting. This is my current skincare for the morning. I am by no means a skin expert nor I pretend to be this is just what works for me.Please always consult a professional if needed.All of these products can be purchased at your local drugstores or Targets/Wal-Marts with the exception of a few.

(I have super dry, sensitive, acne prone skin.)

Far Left: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser
Front Left: Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Face Suncreen SPF 30
Far Right: Neutrogena Alcohol- Free Toner
Front Right: Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream (Top) & Mario Badescu Ginseng Moist Cream (Bottom)
Front: White Cloud Cotton Rounds

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser $7 
Waking up can be a hassle especially if you are not a morning person like me. So the first thing I like to do in the morning to wake myself up a bit is to wash my face. I always tend to get breakouts during the colder season so I like to use an anti-acne facial cleanser. This particular one by Neutrogena is gentle enough to use everyday and contains 2% Salicylic Acid to help keep my breakouts at bay. It also has an AMAZING grapefruit scent that helps you wake up.

Neutrogena Alcohol- Free Toner $6
After cleansing my face, I like to go over my skin with a toner. The toner not only gets rid of gunk that may have not washed off but also refreshes your skin. I like to use this one in the morning because not only it's refreshing it doesn't dry out my skin thanks to no alcohol. 

Mario Badescu Ginseng Moist Cream & Ceramide Eye Cream Both $18 each (Available @Ulta (online and in-store) or Mario Badescu online)
It is super important to always moisturizer your skin no matter what!!! This Ginseng Cream by Mario Badescu is super moisturizing but not heavy at all! Ginseng has anti wrinkle properties as well as helps heal and calm irritated skin.

The Ceramide Eye Cream is also pretty amazing (I did a separate review on this). It is super thick but like the moisturizer it is not heavy and can works either alone or under makeup (makes applying concealer effortlessly). I also use this eye cream @night. 

Left: Ginseng Moist Cream
Right: Ceramide Eye Cream

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Face Suncreen SPF 30 $10
And of course you can never forget your SPF. I can't stress enough how essential it is to include some type of SPF in your skincare routine. It not only protects you from UVA/UVB rays which can cause skin cancer but it also helps prevent premature aging, sagging, sun spots and more. This one has a nice coconut scent to it and is actually very moisturizing on its own. I like to put this on top my moisturizer.

White Cloud Cotton Pads $5 for 300 (100 per pack 3 packs total)
I like to use this for my toners as well as removing makeup. You can get this at Wal-Mart for $5 for a pack of 300.

Quick & Healthy Fall Inspired SNACKS- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 10, 2014

1.) Frozen Mangos 

This is definitely more of a summer snack however it is also great for the early fall season. Inspired by frozen grapes the snack we all grew up and loved frozen mangos though take it up to a whole new level! You can either cut up your own fresh mangos when they are in season (they keep in the freezer for about 3 months) or you can just buy them all ready cut up and frozen. The only thing is not all brands of frozen mangos taste the same. My favorites are either the Great Value brand at Wal- Mart or the Trader Joe's brand. 

Wal-Mart's Great Value Mango Chunks

Trader Joe's Mango Chunks

2.) Homemade Apple Sauce
I know what you must be thinking is she crazy who makes their own applesauce these days? Hey don't hate till you try it. Store bought applesauce contains massive amounts of sugars and unnecessary ingredients. Homemade allows you to control what you put in and be a little more creative. You can make a big batch and just store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks although you will probably finish eating it right after you make it! The other great thing about this recipe is that there isn't exact amounts of each ingredients you can just add as much as you like. 

Here's how to make some...

Cut up as much apples as you like, any type is fine you can also do a mixture of apples.

Get a large pot and put your apples in it.

Add enough water or apple juice to cover the apples

Add some cinnamon, sugar (or stevia), nutmeg and whatever other spice you like.

Cook until apples are soft and use an immersion blender to blend to your consistency. It you don't have an immersion blender you can use a regular blender just be sure to cool the sauce down first and blend it in batches so the sauce doesn't explode in the blender.

After blended put into containers and store in the fridge for at least an hr then ENJOY!!!

Optional: Add other fruits like strawberries to pump it up even more

3.) Yogurt Balls

These are so fun and delicious and another homemade recipe. Take some blueberries and dip them in some greek yogurt. Then place them on a cookie sheet and freeze for about 3 hours. They are so delicious and easy to eat.

Favorite Fall Lipsticks High-End BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 8, 2014

A couple posts back I talked about my favorite fall drugstore lipsticks. Today I am going to show you guys my favorite fall High-End Lipsticks. These are all a great investment if you guys do choose to go for a more pricer lip color.

From Left to Right:

MAC Rebel:

I love love love this color!!! This is a lipstick that will always be on trend for the fall season. It is the perfect plum color and goes well with any skin tone. The texture is super creamy and glides on smoothly. The wear time with MAC lipsticks isn't the best but for this color it is totally worth every penny!!!

MAC Violetta:

For those of you who want to be a little funky try this one on for size. This pretty violet color is great paired with winged eyeliner and full lashes. Another bonus it makes your teeth look whiter :D

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie in Raise the Bar:

This is for those of you who don't really feel comfortable with dark and funky colors this fall. While it is a bit on the nude side the coppery undertone definitely screams fall. This color reminds me of the leaves changing colors.

YSL Rouge Volupte in #12:

This is one of more pricer lipsticks but totally worth it. Rich, creamy and not to mention the GORGEOUS color you can't go wrong with it! 

From Left to Right:

MAC Rebel- Medium plum (Satin)

MAC Violetta- Bright Violet (Amplified)

Raise the Bar- Coppery nude (Satin)

YSL #12- Bright raspberry plum (Satin/matte)

Swatches below

Favorite Fall Drugstore Lipsticks- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 6, 2014

Here are my top favorite fall DRUGSTORE LIPSTICKS. All of the mentioned below are under $10 and available at your local drugstores. Look fabulous w/o the hole in the wallet :D 

muah xoxo

From Left to Right: 

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte in Divine Wine (695)- Goes on particularly smooth and not drying at all compared to most matte lipsticks. Wear time is pretty decent especially if you don't eat or drink much throughout the day. I have wore this lipstick for 5 hours straight w/o any touch ups.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry (477)- Truly a timeless classic. This lipstick is amazeballs. It goes pretty much with any skin tone and has a nice sheen to it. I do recommend blotting afterwards and apply in layers. This lipstick is super pigmented! Wear time is okay around 2-4 hours w/o touch ups.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Alabama (07)- A classic "bad girl" red. I feel a girl version of the Ramones whenever I wear this. It has a nice rusty copper undertone to it. This lipstick can be drying so put on a nice lip balm before applying. This lipstick has a great wear time. I have wore this particular color out for 6 hours and it still looked pretty decent. I did have to do a little touch up throughout the day.

Wet n Wild Lipstick in Urban Nights (34481) LIMITED EDITION!!!- First of all can we please take a moment and look at this color and wonder how is it only $1.99!!! I love all the Wet n Wild matte lipsticks. The pigmentation of these lipsticks are INSANE! They are very drying so moisturize moisturize and o did I mention moisturize. They do tend to feather out a bit throughout the day so wearing a lip liner underneath is recommended. (This is a limited edition color from their new Halloween collection so snatch it up before its gone!) 

From Left ti Right:

Divine Wine: Dark rich red wine (matte) 

Black Cherry: Dark purple cherry (Satin)

Alabama: Rusty red (matte)

Urban Nights: Cranberry (matte)

Stay tuned for my favorite High-End fall Lipsticks!!! 

Quick Beauty Updates from Summer to Fall- BLOGTOBER OCT 1, 2014

It is finally that time of year... FALL is finally here :) Here are 5 quick beauty updates to help you transition from summer to fall.

1.) Dark Lips- This one is pretty much a no brainer. Dark Lips is a classic fall trend that is timeless and is here to stay. It is also a very affordable trend for those who are watching their budget. So switch out those bright pinks and fuchsias for darker hues like purples, cranberries and such.

Suggestions:

High End: MAC Lipsticks in Rebel, Diva, and Faultlessly 

Drugstore: Maybelline's Color Sensational Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine, Revlon's Black Cherry, and Wet n Wild's Urban Nights (All of these are under $10!!!)

2.) Berry/plum Blushes: This particular blush combo color is great with all skin tones and gives that just stepped into the cold look. 

Suggestions:

High End: Clinique Plum Pop and Nar's Amore

Drugstore: Miliani's Rose D'Oro and Revlon's Cream Blush in Berry Flirtatous 

3.) BB Creams to Liquid Foundations: With the weather getting cold outside it is time to bust out those liquid foundations. And have no worries just because we are busting out the liquid foundations doesn't mean they have to be heavy and icky feeling. The foundations below give you guys nice coverage but leaves a nice fresh feeling at the same time! 

Suggestions:

High End: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

Drugstore: CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous Foundation 

4.) Bold Brows: Bold brows are great for all seasons especially fall. There is something about fall that lets the boldness come out. So bring those bush man eyebrows out this season!

Suggestions:

High End: Anastasia Brow Wiz

Drugstore: Miliani Eyebrow Kit 

5.) Thick Moisturizers: With the changing seasons, it is so important to keep your skincare consistent. It doesn't matter if you have dry or oily or combination it is crucial to keep your skin moisturized, the dry cold weather can really suck the moisture right out of your skin.

Suggestions:

High End: Murad Hydrodynamic Moisturizer

Drugstore: L'Oreal Biotherm 

NEW! Wet n Wild Megaslicks Balm Stains (new colors)

Megaslicks Balm Stains

PACKAGING:

The new colors come in the same crayon packaging as the original ones. These also twist up at the bottom.

FORMULATION:

There really wasn't much difference in the formulation with these new colors compared to the original. However like the originals the color doesn't look like what it shows when applied to the lips except these new colors were 10x worse. Both of these colors including the 2 other new ones look like nothing compared to the packaging. At least with the original formulas there were some slight resemblance with the color these not so much. 

The Tangerine and Tribal one also kept flaking on my lips even after I put on a lip balm under it!

Overall the colors are nice but I wouldn't recommend them at least not any in the new collection. And since fall is coming soon it is better to save your money on dark hues.

Festival Fashionista- light fuchsia coral pink

Tangerine and Tribal- milky pink (not tangerine at all whatsoever)

Top: Festival Fashionista
Bottom:Tangerine and Tribal