Beauty Haul!

Hey Lovelies!!!

Recently, I've done some shopping at the drugstore and picked up some new beauty goodies! So, as usual, I'm going to share what I got with you!! So here we go!

Target

♥ Satin Care + Olay Shave Gel

♥ Essie Fiji Nail Polish

♥ Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam Waterproof Mascara

♥ L'Oreal Nail Polish in Royalty Reinvented

♥ Cotton Rounds

♥ Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Deodorant

♥ St. Ives Lemon and Orange Facial Scrub

♥ Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner in Black

♥ Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent

♥ Maybelline Clean Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

♥ Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Nova

♥ BioTrue Contact Solution

CVS

♥ imPRESS Press-On Manicure

♥ Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

There isn't much to this post because it is simply a haul. Most of these products are new and I haven't tried them out yet. But you can look forward to some reviews coming real soon! And if I'm feeling up to it, I might do two posts a week while I'm home for the summer. I'm not promising anything but it's a possibility! And Saturday is the last day of May so you know what that means.... Monthly Favorites!!! Until next time, stay beautiful!!

♥♥♥

April Favorites

Hey Lovelies!!!

It's that time again... Monthly Favorites!!! YAY! But before you get too excited, I have some kind of bad news.. Unfortunately, yesterday I had a pretty bad allergic reaction to something I ate (I'm allergic to ginger and it must have been in something that I ate and I wasn't aware of it) so this post is going to be kind of unimpressive. The day before I post is usually the day that I plan it all out and take pictures. So because I wasn't able to do that, I'm going to be using pictures from the internet just to make my life easier and not cram everything in today. I'm still going to be telling you the things that I've been loving this month, just not with my own pictures. I hope you can all understand why I'm doing this and no one is upset. So here we go!!

Fashion

♥ Daisy High-Neck Crop Top from Aeropostale - As you might already know, I work at Aeropostale so I spend a lot of time looking at their clothes. And they have some really nice stuff! So buying it to wear to work isn't so bad because I can wear it outside of work too! And I've recently been loving daisy prints, so this crop top was perfect for me. I don't wear this to work but I'm looking forward to wearing it this summer paired up with the orange skirt below.

♥ Orange Skirt from Aeropostale (pictured above)- Another fav from Aero. I'm a super girly-girl so I love wearing dresses and skirts. But I didn't have a bright orange skirt in my collection, so I figured this one would be the perfect addition, plus it looks amazing with the daisy crop top!

♥ Zodiac Tank from Aeropostale- Thanks to Andrea Russett, I've recently been loving tank tops like this one. They're kind of baggy and super comfortable to wear. And when I saw this one at work, I had to get it. And I'm loving it. It's super soft and has a cool bright green stitching.

♥ Tribal Scarf from Aeropostale- Another impulse buy from Aero. I was putting up these scarfs on the display and decided that I needed one of them in my wardrobe. And my favorite thing about this scarf is that I goes with almost anything because of all the colors in it.

Makeup

Nothing new this month :(

Nails

Again, nothing new :(

Skincare

♥ Jergens Natural Glow Body Lotion- Being a naturally very pale person, I need all the help I can to look tan for the summer. I tend to burn and never tan when I'm outside, so I need to use self tanners to get nice tans. While a lot of self tanners can make you look unnaturally orange, the Jergens Natural Glow line doesn't. It gives a very natural looking, gradual tan. I've been asked by many people if I went tanning or on a vacation, when all I've done is applied this a few times. Totally recommend for anyone who wants to try out a self tanner.

♥ Jergen Natural Glow Facial Moisturizer- Along with the body lotion, the face moisturizer in the Jergens Natural Glow line works amazingly! And an added bonus is the fact that it contains SPF 20. It's not the highest SPF but anything will help, right?!

♥ Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Body Wash- I've switched my body wash to something a little bit fresher and more appropriate for spring. Although it's not my favorite scent ever, it works really well and smells very fresh and clean. Plus, the bottle is huge so it should last me a while.

Hair

Nothing new this month :(

Scent

♥ Caribbean Escape Wallflower from Bath and Body Works- Always a favorite scent when it becomes Spring/Summer time. It smells of coconut and tropical flowers. I have this plugged into my wall in my dorm room and I have a candle ready to burn once I arrive home next week.

Food/Drinks

♥ Arizona Green Tea- I'm a huge green tea fan, and although this one has a lot of sugar, it's delicious and at only $0.99, it's impossible to pass up. I like the green tea flavor the best, but Arizona also has so many other flavors to choose from. You just can't lose with Arizona!

Entertainment

♥ I don't have anything really specific, but I've been loving listening to throwbacks from the 90's. I've been listening to them on iTunes Radio on various stations (Spice Girls radio, N'SYNC radio, Jesse McCartney radio). If you're a 90's kid, I highly suggest checking out these radio stations because I think it's impossible to not be happy when listening to throwback music.

Well, there you have it. I'm already feeling a lot better so I'm hoping I can put 100% effort into Sunday's post. Oh, and just a heads up, I working really hard making some changes to the blog appearance. It's a lot of changes and using tools I'm really new to, so I don't know when it will be finished, but I'll keep you all posted. So, I'll talk to you all again on Sunday, and until then, stay beautiful!!!

♥♥♥

Review- Target Beauty Box

Hey Lovelies!!!

I'm back with a review for this week. I feel like it's been ages since I've posted a review... And, as you can tell from the title, I'm going to be reviewing the Target Beauty Box, so there will be a few different items that I'll be talking about. Yay!! And for those of you outside of the U.S. or who don't know what the Target Beauty Box, it's basically a box that comes with a few products that are "trending" at the moment. And at the price of $5.00 to get 5 products, either travel/trial size or full size, plus discounts on future purchases, you cannot possibly pass it up! Unfortunately, you can't order it any more, but keep your eyes out here in case they make a new one because it's totally worth it!

Here's what's inside:

A list of all the products and a short description as well as a coupon for $3 off a $15 beauty purchase at Target (which I'll definitely taking advantage of)

Promotion card for 20% off at Target's partner stores: DermStore (skincare), blush (makeup), and HairEnvy (hair).

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo:

Regular Full-Size Retail Price- $4.99 (on sale for $4.74 right now!!!)

I've recently become a huge fan of dry shampoos so I was really excited to see this one in the Beauty Box, since I've never tried it before. And I'm very happy with the results! I've been using the Dove Dry Shampoo and I like both the Dove and Herbal Essences for different reasons. I think the Dove Dry Shampoo absorbs the oil in your hair, but doesn't give too much volume. The Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo smells amazing first of all. It gives a lot more volume to your hair and is also transparent, so it won't make your hair look white. It also has no parabens which is a major plus, in my opinion.

Jergens BB Body Cream Light:

Regular Full-Size Retail Price- $11.99

I'm going to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of BB Creams, but I gave this a try anyways. I've never even seen or tried a BB Body Cream, so I was interested in what it would do. Unfortunately, I don't think it really does anything... I've used it in the morning every day for at least a week and haven't noticed any change in my skin. It is a nice lotion though; it is a really nice consistency and has a light, pleasant smell. 

TONI&GUY Sea Salt Texturising Spray:

Regular Full-Size Retail Price- $4.99 (2.5 oz), $14.99 (6.8 oz)

I am a huge fan of the look that Sea Salt Spray typically gives to your hair. It's just such a nice, relaxed look. Unfortunately, sea salt sprays don't really do anything for my hair :( My hair is really smooth and straight so it doesn't easily hold shape, whether it's waves or curls. But I was able to get enough of a result to form my opinion.  I had high hopes for this product and, unfortunately, I was disappointed. This sea salt spray made my look really greasy/oily throughout even though it was freshly cleaned. It didn't give my hair the beachy look that you would expect from a sea salt spray. Overall, I would choose my Not Your Mother's Sea Salt Spray over this one.

Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochies Sizzle Gloss in Blind Date:

Regular Full-Size Retail Price- $6.49

I really don't like this product just for the amount of glitter in it. I enjoy the smell and it's a very smooth lip gloss even though it has glitter in it (let's be honest, nobody like a sticky lip gloss). The color of this is also really pretty. So I'm really disappointed because of the glitter. Other than the glitter, I know, for sure, that I would really love this lip gloss.

L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara in Black:

Regular Full-Size Retail Price: $6.89

I'm still not completely certain how I feel about this mascara. I'm not a huge fan of the formulation because it tends to clump, A LOT. But other than that, I really love this brush. It gives my lashes the exact look that I want: thicker on the outside and thinner on the inside. I just really wish that the formulation was different because that would make it so much better. But for now, I'm going to stick with my The Falsies Big Eyes and Clump Crusher.

I hope you liked this review. Even though I didn't like all the products, I don't regret getting the Target Beauty Box. And seeing the real prices of all the products compared to the $5 I paid to get the box, is crazy. How could anyone pass it up?! And I was able to test out some products that I wouldn't have otherwise. So, now I know, whenever there is a Target Beauty Box available, I will definitely be purchasing it!!

Oh, and tomorrow is the last day of March (crazy, right?!), so you know what that means!!! Monthly Favorites post!!!! So keep an eye out for that!! Until then, stay beautiful!!!

♥♥♥

Beauty Scenario Tag

Hey Lovelies!!!

Today, I have a very exciting blog post that I was tagged to do by the lovely Beauty Spiced Latte to do the "Beauty Scenario Tag" which was created by Lily Pebbles. I've never done a tag post, but I really liked this one, so I figured it was a good one to start with! I hope you enjoy!

1. You have to get rid of all your foundation and you can only keep one high-end and one drugstore, which do you keep?

For my drugstore pick, I would choose Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation, hands down. It has great coverage, great staying power, and looks really natural. For my high-end pick, unfortunately, I don't have a pick because my budget doesn't allow me to splurge on expensive makeup... :( #brokecollegestudentprobs But I just got a job at Aeropostale, so hopefully that will change soon!

2. You go for and interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely?

I would probably not say anything... I'm a really quiet and pretty shy person and would only ever tell my friends or family if they had lipstick on their teeth. Plus, I wouldn't want to jeopardize getting the job.

3. You're not feeling yourself and you need a pick-me-up. Which lipstick do you put on to make yourself feel beautiful?

I would choose a bright pink! I'm not a huge red lips fan on myself. I much prefer pinks. And the brighter, the better. Right now, I'm absolutely in love with Maybelline's Color Elixir in Fuschia Flourish. And just as the question says, just that lip product, can make me feel so much better.

4. You go back in time for a day to your teenage years, how would you do your hair and makeup differently?

Well, first off, I'd put a lot more effort and care into how I look. Starting out with actually doing something with my hair instead of just wearing it down and natural. For my makeup, I'd probably stick to mascara, maybe some tinted lip balm and blush. I used to wear eyeshadow, glitter eye liner, and shimmery/glittery lip gloss. It was actually horrendous and I would never want to go back to that. EVER.

5. You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott hair cut, but they hear wrong and give you a pixi cut. Do you a) Smile, say thank you, leave and call your mum hysterical b) Cry in the chair and things get awkward or c)Complain to the manager and demand a refund?

Definitely A. Like I said previously, I'm pretty quiet and shy and would never confront a person in a situation like that. And I would definitely call my mom hysterical. Plus I'm super particular about my hair and get really anxious when going to the hairdresser (I rarely cut my hair because of that).

6. Your friend surprises you with a 4-day city break and you have 1 hour to pack. Which "do it all" palette do you pack in your makeup bag?

To be honest, I wouldn't pack a palette. If I had only and hour to pack, I'd end up just dumping my everyday makeup products into a cosmetics bag and move onto clothes, shoes, accessories, and other things. I take packing really seriously so I don't forget anything, so I wouldn't get hung up on my makeup. (Sorry if I took this question way too seriously...)

7. Your house has been robbed, don't worry everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What's the product you really hope is safe?

I would hope my concealer and mascara were safe. It sounds super random because they aren't all that special, but those are my absolute minimal makeup necessities. I could wear concealer and mascara to go out and restock my makeup without looking absolutely disgusting. But, if there's one product I couldn't live without it's my Sally Hanson Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish in Gold Roses. It's not really a makeup product, but it's limited edition and one of my favorite nail polishes so I wouldn't be able to replace it.

8. Your friend borrows your makeup and returns it in awful condition. Do you a) Just pretend you haven't noticed b) Ask them to repurchase it or c) Secretly do the same to something of theirs?

I would definitely ask them to replace it. I'm quite OCD and so if my makeup was returned in bad condition, I would definitely have them replace it for me and I'd probably never let them borrow something of mine again. It sounds mean, but I'm just very particular about how my stuff is maintained. You'd understand if you saw how everything of mine is kept and maintained.

Okay, so that's all the questions. I really liked this tag. Sorry if it seemed a bit ramble-y at some points... I would love to see this tag really do well because it is really good. So, I'm going to tag:

♥ Beauty By Nicholle

♥ Makeup Or Break-Up

♥ Plastic Bows

♥ Lottie Mayy Loves

I hope you girls try out this tag and let me know if/when you do! Again, huge thanks to Beauty Spiced Latte for tagging me! I loved doing this tag. And if any of you haven't checked out her blog, please do! She's so lovely and deserves all your love on her blog!!!

Let me know if you liked this post and your answers. If you do this tag, please let me know so I can check it out! I'll see you next Sunday. And as usual, stay beautiful!!!

♥♥♥

Review- Maybelline Baby Skin

Hey Lovelies!!!

I'm back one this wonderful Sunday with another review. And this is something I've seen many reviews on but I felt that I needed to get my opinion out there too! After weeks of searching for this product at Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, I finally got my hands on the very last one at my local Target. I was so excited to finally try this out. Although I heard very mixed reviews about it, I figured I'd still give it a try.

I posted this lovely picture on my Instagram (@megsmaquillage) as soon as I arrived home with it!

First thing... packaging: I adore this packaging. Mainly because it consists only of my two favorite colors: pink and Tiffany-ish blue. It sticks to the traditional writing that Maybelline features on Baby Lips, Dream Fresh BB Cream, and Dream Bouncy Blush. This actual display in stores, however, isn't anything special.

Next thing... first impression: like most pore erasers or primers, it feels very silicone-y. However, I do feel that Baby Skin is slightly more oily/greasy than most other similar products. On top of that, I didn't feel as if it truly erased my pores... maybe made them appear slightly smaller, but definitely not erased. I was impressed with how nicely my makeup, especially my foundation, went on after applying this. It was so smooth and looked flawless and even. However, after applying my foundation and concealer, it was clear that my pores were still visible from up close. After applying all of my other makeup, I left for classes and lunch.

Here's a picture of what Baby Skin looks like straight out of the tube. Notice that it's clear, unlike some other pore erasers, like Porefessional, that are a nude-ish color.

It doesn't look like much, but this is what it looks like after being blended in. Sorry about the hand as an example, my skin isn't in it's prime at the moment. :(

First impression continued: After wearing Baby Skin under my makeup for about 5 hours, I came back to my room to examine how it appeared to look and wear. Unfortunately, there was no real significant difference between what my makeup looked like with and without Baby Skin underneath. And, because I have oily skin, I have to reapply a mattifying powder half-way through the day. On this particular day, my skin was looking extra oily, especially in the areas that I applied the pore eraser. And even though this isn't a primer, and isn't meant to allow my makeup to wear longer, it seems as if it makes it wear for a shorter amount of time.

Final impression: I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this, even after trying it out for a week straight. It makes my skin look more oily but, at the same time, makes my makeup go on and look flawless. In my opinion, I think that Baby Skin is not made for people with oily skin (but maybe dry skin, possibly...?). Although it is considered to be a pore eraser, I don't think it did that at all (maybe the slightest bit). Now, compared to Benefit's The Porefessional, the price is much better, but that isn't saying much.

Overall, I don't think that I'll be repurchasing this after I run out. I'll continue to use it until I can completely determine how I feel about it. I think that after I'm done with Baby Skin, I'll try out some other pore erasers (hopefully drugstore ones... I just can't spend all that money on one product until I get a proper job). If any of you have tried this, please let me know your opinion. Maybe it worked for some of you... I just don't know. I was expecting much better considering it was so difficult to get my hands on.

This is my first proper negative review... :( As much as I hate saying bad things about products or companies, I felt my readers should know my honest opinion, in case they were thinking of buying this. However, some reviews have said very positive things about this, so maybe it's just me and my annoying oily skin... Anyways, I hope you liked this post. And I'll be back again next Sunday for my weekly post. As always, stay beautiful!!!

♥♥♥

What's In My Bag??

Hey Lovelies!!!

So, I've experienced a "Blogger's Block" or creative block today... :( I've spent my entire 3 hour trip back to school trying to come up with some ideas and was at a complete loss. But I couldn't break my resolution for weekly blog posts, so I found something. It's pretty generic, but almost every blogger does this post at some point. And if you guys are like me, you love to get an up-close look in people's bags, rooms, etc. (not trying to sound creepy, I promise). So, here it is... Here's what I have in my bag all the time:

First off, here's my bag. It's a medium Longchamp Le Pliage bag in Black. It's such a functional bag and last forever! It was about $125 (give or take) and I've had it for about a year and a half. And it still looks brand new!! And I always end up going back to this bag eventually.

So here's an picture of everything that was in my bag laid out. It's missing a few items that change by the day. All the items in the picture above are always in my bag. I typically have whatever lip products I'm wearing that day, even though that changes regularly, and a mirror in my bag too. And typically, I'm carrying my iPhone in my hand.

♥ Wallet- This is a Vera Bradley Turn and Lock Wallet in Mocha Rouge. I got this for Christmas in 2012 and I've used this ever since. It has tons of space and compartments so I never run out space. And it's still in really good condition!

♥ Glasses case- I always carry my glasses case with my glasses and contact holder inside, just in case I have to take my contacts out for some reason. Although it's a rare occurrence, it happened once and I didn't have this with me and I really regretted not bringing it.

♥ Sunglasses- These are my absolute favorite pair of sunglasses and I have these with me at all times. They are from Target. I got them a year or so back so I have no way of figuring out which type they are. All I know is they are perfect. Out of the five pairs of sunglasses I have, I always end up wearing these.

♥ Snack- I like to have a small, but filling snack in my bag just in case I get hungry. These granola bites were featured in my January Favorites because they are so delicious. They are the Sea Salt Caramel and Almond Granola Bites from Target and I'm absolutely obsessed. And they're perfect for keeping in your bag!

♥ Mini cosmetics bag- This pink, glittery bag is from Victoria's Secret. I got it for Christmas with a gift card in it and I've found a way to reuse it:

I use it as an "emergency kit". That's probably not the most appropriate name for it, but I figured it worked. It's not a big case at all but it easily fits a hand sanitizer, chapstick, cuticle cream (a miracle especially in the cold weather because it's so moisturizing and smells really good!), band-aids, hair bands, and bobby pins. And if it doesn't help me, sometimes my friends need one of these things and I have it!

♥ Tide-To-Go- Another really good thing to have with you. I've gone through many of these between myself, my friends, and my family. You never know when you'll need it and it works so well to get out marks from your clothes if you can't wash it right away.

♥ House keys and store reward cards- Pretty self-explanatory... These stay in my purse all the time or else I would forget to bring them with me when I go back home from college.

♥ ID Keychain- I always have this with me because, on the lanyard, I have my room key and campus ID which I need to get into my building and also get food and do laundry. So it's practically my lifeline here on campus. And having the Vera Bradley ID case and lanyard keeps it all together and I never forget it.

♥ iPhone charger and earbuds- I typically have these in a tangled mess in my bag because, that way, I'll always know where they are. And it's unpredictable when you'll need to charge your phone throughout the day.

So that's all that I keep in my bag. It's a pretty good collection for the moment. But it changes sometimes, so I'm sure there will be another What's In My Bag later on down the road. If you want to, leave a comment below letting me know what you have in your bag! I'd love to know and see if we have anything the same! :) But that's all for today... I'll be back next week with another review (let's see if anyone can guess what it will be for ;)). Until then, stay beautiful!!

♥♥♥

January Favorites 2014

Hey Lovelies!!!

So along with my weekly posts every week for 2014, I'm also going to be doing monthly favorites. Now, I can't guarantee that each month will have new beauty products, but I'm also going to add fashion, food/drinks, entertainment, and anything else that I'm just absolutely loving for that month. I hope you all like this new type of blog post from me! And let me know what you're loving this month!! :)

Beauty

♥ Revlon Parfumerie Nail Polish- I don't have enough good things to say about these. I've done a full review for these, so go check that out! And as you can see, I've picked up another color in "Apricot Nectar"

♥ Maybelline Color Elixirs- LOVE THESE!! And again, I've done a full review for these, so check that out as well. All the colors were reviewed there.

♥ Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue- I've always been a fan of the Baby Lips and when I saw that they came out with a new collection, I had to try it out. I got "Too Cool", which is a clear lip balm and I really like it. They have menthol in them, so they aren't the best smelling lip balms, but they really work to heal and moisturize dry, chapped lips. And the menthol gives off a cooling sensation.

♥ Maybelline Gel Eyeliner- I love this eye liner. It comes with a brush which works really well for applying the eye liner precisely. I got it in the color "Eggplant" and it looks amazing, especially on brown eyes. It has really subtle finely-milled shimmer; it's not obvious but gives some nice definition. I would classify this more as a cream eye liner rather than gel, but everything else is perfect.

Fashion

♥ "California Stole My Heart" Sweatshirt- I bought this recently on sale at Forever 21 and I'm obsessed. It's a really pale pink color and quite thin for a sweatshirt, but I think it will be perfect for the spring and fall where it's a little too cool for no sweater. And it's super comfortable!!!

♥ French Maroon Pajama Shorts- I'm totally in love with these pajama shorts and they're super comfortable too. It's still freezing here in MA but I like to wear these when I'm having a lazy day around the dorm room. And they're white so they make my pale skin look (a little) tanner. And they were under $10 so f course I had to get them.

♥ Plaid Pajama Pants- These pajama pants are from Victoria's Secret and they actually came in a set with a (slightly cropped) pajama shirt. I got this as a gift from my cousin for Christmas and couldn't be happier. I love lounging around in pajama pants and these are so nice and fit perfectly. They are slightly more pricey but, I think, totally worth it as a gift.

♥ Long Key Necklace- I got this from Forever 21. It was on sale for $2.80 (no lie) so I couldn't pass it up. It's a long gold necklace with a decorative key. I don't have much gold jewelry, never mind long gold necklaces. I absolutely love keys (skeleton keys especially) so I was thrilled when I found this with such a low price tag! I'm definitely getting my money's worth as it goes with a lot of different outfits.

♥ New Glasses!!- I recently got these adorable Candie's glasses because I desparately needed my prescription changed (I'm practically blind). I tried on a lot of pairs and these were by far my favorite. They are black with a lot of gray in them so they aren't super dramatic. The suit my face really well and every time I wear them, I can't help but imagine I'm Zooey Deschanel (I absolutely adore her).

Entertainment

♥ New Girl- I LOVE THS SHOW!!! It's definitely my favorite at the moment. I watched it when it first came out and then randomly stopped (I don't know why). And right after Christmas, I watched every single episode. I finished right in time for the new season which I'm loving!

♥ Lorde "Pure Heroine"- I've recently got into more alternative music. I don't really know what prompted me to but I love it now! And I really love Lorde's album. My favorite songs are Royals (even though it's extremely overplayed on the radio), Team, White Teeth Teens, and Tennis Court. Definitely check it out! Such amazing talent for a 17 year-old.

♥ Bastille "Bad Blood"- Another alternative group that I love. And they don't overplay them (yet). I don't have too much to say about the album other than I love it. My favorite songs are Pompeii and Flaws.

♥ JacksGap "The Rickshaw Run"- My favorite YouTube channel, hands down. And their journey across India is documented in their 4-part series. It is absolutely stunning and intriguing and is almost like a reality show (but a good one). I watched religiously as soon as they came out and was genuinely sad when it came to an end. If you haven't already seen it, GO WATCH IT!!

Food/Drinks

♥ Panera Mac & Cheese- Need I say anything at all..?! If you've had it before, you know what I'm talking about. It's not that healthy at all but it's definitely a nice occasional "treat". And, to make it better, they sell it in Target now!

♥ Sea Salt Caramel & Almond Granola Bites- Oh my god! I'm in love with Salted Caramel anything. So mix it together with almonds, granola, and chocolate and it's irresistible.

♥ Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Carton- So good! It's not as good as getting it in an actual Starbucks but it's also way less expensive and tastes pretty good. I really like having this and adding some caramel sauce to it; it makes it taste a little closer to the real thing. I was actually really excited when I saw this in Target and just had to try it.

Other

♥ Olay Fresh Effects "Shine, Shine Go Away" and Brush- I had heard some good reviews on this product and when it was on sale at Target, I picked it up to see what I thought of it. I got the brush with a mini/travel sized "Shine, Shine Go Away" and really, really liked it, so I went out and bought the full size product. The brush is actually really good too (it's not a Clarisonic, but for the price, it works well). And there is a definite difference between just using my facial cleanser and using the cleanser with the brush. And my skin is a lot smoother and clearer because of it.

So that's it! I hope you all like this post. Please let me know if you do so I can do more like this in the future. I'd also like to give a quick little shout out to a fellow blogger/Instagrammer Nicholle. (Blog, Instagram: @beautybynicholle) So go follow her!!! And Nicholle, if you're reading this, let me know!!! :)

I'll be back again on Sunday with a regular, weekly post. And until then, stay beautiful!!

♥♥♥

My (Pathetically Small) Brush Collection

Hey Lovelies!!!

I've been wanting to do a blog post like this one for quite some time but felt slightly uneasy about it because of my lack of brushes. I still have very few brushes but they work for my everyday makeup look, which is basically all that I wear while in college. I have intentions to expand my brush collection, but since I'm in college, with no proper job and very little money to spend, it may not be for a while... :( I feel like sharing my collection with you, however, because I love most of the brushes I use and want to share my opinion to those of you who are looking for one.

And before I begin my post, I just wanted to point out that I'm in school until the beginning of May. I will continue to do at least a post a week. However, for those of you who follow me on Instagram or have found me there (@megsmaquillage), the posts on there will probably be much less since taking #ootd especially is very difficult in my dorm room. However, I'll try my best to get a few photos up every once in a while. And if I buy some stuff (which could be rare- #brokestudentprobs), I'll definitely be posting and Instahaul! But still, go follow me on Instagram!!!!

 

So, back to the brush collection. As you can see, it's very small; only eight brushes at the moment. But those eight brushes work really well for my on an everyday basis. I've changed my everyday makeup quite significantly since my previous post (http://megsmaquillage.blogspot.com/2013/09/makeup-collection-and-storage-dorm.html). And just from looking at the brushes, you can probably tell that I REALLY LOVE the Real Techniques brushes. In case you didn't know, Real Techniques brushes are made by Samantha Chapman is a makeup artist and has a YouTube channel with her sister (http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo) and she makes these amazing synthetic makeup brushes and continues to release more and more brushes and tools and they're just flawless. Go check out the website if you haven't already (http://realtechniques.com/). And for those of you who are new to makeup, they even have video tutorials of how to use the brushes and also makeup looks!

My current makeup brush collection consists of eight brushes. I guess I'm proving that you don't need 100 different makeup brushes to wear makeup! :) I'll give the name of the brush and also what I use it for:

♥ Real Techniques Expert Face Brush- My most recent addition. I use it to apply liquid foundation. And it applies it FLAWLESSLY! It's super dense and SO soft! Highly recommend it to anyone that uses liquid foundation!

♥ Target brand Crease Brush- I actually use this brush for concealer (occasionally, I usually just use my ring finger). It's not the best brush, but it was pretty cheap and I thought I'd give it a try. I would actually recommend getting an elf brand brush over Target brand brushes, it will save you some money and they tend to be a little softer.

♥ Real Techniques Powder Brush- I use this brush for face powder (obviously). It's not nearly as dense as the Expert Face Brush but just as soft. It's really big and fluffy and really evenly applies powders. Again. I highly recommend!

♥ elf Professional Total Face Brush- I use this brush for bronzer (when I wear it). It's decent, especially for the price ($1). It applies a pretty good amount- not too much, not too little. I'm using this brush for the meantime until I get something a little better (Real Techniques Mulit-Task Brush from Travel Essentials kit maybe???). If you're on a budget like myself, this is a pretty good brush.

♥ Real Techniques Blush Brush- I use this for blush, like it says. I really like the shape of this brush. It's quite small but narrow. I do find that right after I was the brush, though, it doesn't really apply a lot of blush and takes a bit of building up to have the color show. Although that could just be the blush I use too. I would recommend this as well.

♥ Real Techniques Shading Brush- I use this brush for an eye shadow all over my lid. I love the shape of this brush, thick but flat, so you can really control the eye shadow placement. It's very soft and quite dense. It's not super flimsy so you have added control over the brush. I really recommend this brush!

♥ elf Professional Defining Eye Brush- I use this brush to apply dark brown eye shadow to my lower lash line. The shape of this brush is perfect- thin and angled. It's extremely cheap ($1) and totally worth it!! I would definitely recommend!

♥ Maybelline Cream Eyeliner Brush- I got this brush with my cream eyeliner and I really like it. It's thicker on one side and thinner on the other, so you can really customize how thick you want your eyeliner. A lot of companies make eyeliner brushes/tools but I like this enough that I'll just stick with this one! I recommend trying this brush along with the eyeliner it comes with!

And here's how I store it all:

The brush holder is an old, used Bath and Body Works candle that got GIYed by following the steps in MissGlamorazzi's video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRPvlXJbzGI). It's the perfect size and looks so adorable! It's a great way to up-cycle old candles.

So, there you have it! If you haven't already tried the Real Techniques brushes, I really think you should. You can get them online, at Ulta, Walmart, online at Target, and maybe a few other places... And, just a disclaimer, these are completely my own views and opinions. This wasn't sponsored by Real Techniques or anything like that, I just really love their brushes as do many other people.

Anyways, it's almost the end of January already. I'm going to be posting my January Favorites on January 31 (next Friday) which will have beauty, fashion, food, entertainment, and other categories so stay tuned for that! I'm not sure if I'm going to post twice next week yet or if I'm just going to do January Favorites. Let me know what you think in the comments! As always, I'll see you very soon and stay beautiful!!!

♥♥♥

Review- Maybelline Color Elixirs

Hey Lovelies!!!

My WiFi has been down for the afternoon so I'm posting on my phone so the set up may be slightly different until I can get on my computer to fix it. I'm going to try my best until then!

So, recently, I've came across one of my new favorite lip products!!! The title of the post probably gave it away, but they are the new Color Elixirs from Maybelline. They are stunning and I think they have great formulation.

("Mandarin Rapture", "Fuschia Flourish", "Petal Plush", "Celestial Coral")

I'm going to start by reviewing the presentation and packaging. To start, they are small square tubes that appear to be lipstick.

It's not until you twist the top to realize they are actually a lip gloss. The actual applicator is really nicely shaped and angled so it's very easy to get an accurate application all over the lips.

In addition to individual presentation and packaging, there are many colors to choose from (I believe time around 20) with colors ranging from red, pink, nude, orange, and purples in light, bright, and dark shades.

The product itself is quite fragrant and pigmented. I think the smell is nice but if you're sensitive to strong smells, this might not be the best product for you... As soon as you apply the product, you can see color immediately. It feels thicker than a lot of other lip glosses but it's not sticky at all! These are also pretty moisturizing. The color only last for a couple hours but leave your lips feeling soft and hydrated - a major plus even if it means reapplying. These aren't meant to be a stain, so it's not expected that these will last all day long.

I have gotten 4 colors in the last 2-3 weeks (no judging!) and I like all of them!

(I posted the same picture without flash above but I really feel like this picture captured the true color of the tubes)

And here are the swatches ("Mandarin Rapture", "Fuschia Flourish", "Petal Plush", "Celestial Coral")

As I've said, I love these so much and I don't have much to complain about for them. It would be nice if the color lasted a little longer, but I'm very satisfied with how they are now. And I would recommend them to anyone! (That means you!! ;)) Out of the colors that I have, my favorite is hands down Fuschia Flourish, which was the very first one I got!! It's a very pretty hot pink that looks very flattering and can be worn casually or formally as well.

If you try this product, let me know what you think of it! Also, if you liked this review please let me know so I can make more like this!! Until next time!! And, as always, stay beautiful!!!

❤❤❤

Review- Revlon Parfumerie Nail Polish

Hey Lovelies!!!

I'm sure most of you are aware of the tons of new products in the cosmetics section of the drugstore. I've recently picked up a few of them and still looking for a few that have been sold out. And I've set up an Instagram recently (@megsmaquillage) where I upload instahauls, outfit of the days, and a few miscellaneous photos, so be sure to follow me there!! I post there very regularly!!! But anyways, I hope to post a few reviews of the new products I've been trying out recently. Here's the first one for Revlon Parfumerie Nail Polishes.

Basically, these are scented nail polishes, hence the name, which make them so unique compared to other nail polishes on the market. And according to their website's product description, each color has a separate scent. The color/scent that I got is called "Bordeaux". It's a very beautiful deep red color and (I'm terrible at describing scents, but I'm going to give it a shot) fruity scent. The scent, however, doesn't show up until the polish starts to dry, so don't smell the polish in the bottle! I applied a base coat, 2 coats of Bordeaux, and even after applying a top coat, I could still smell the scent; a major bonus!! And even after washing my hands multiple times and showering, I could still smell the scent the following day! I should also mention how nice of a consistency and pigmentation/opaqueness this nail polish has... I probably could have gotten away with just one coat of the nail polish because it was so nice! The one thing I really don't like is the applicator handle. It's a little sphere in order to add to the presentation of the product to represent a perfume bottle. It's rather small and not the easiest to use.

I do want to say that I found it crucial to use a top coat! Not because the color polish isn't good quality or not shiny enough, but because the nail polish chipped only in the one spot that I missed with top coat. The top coat (Revlon Colorstay) really held the nail polish in place and strengthened it. And, like I said before, don't think that the top coat will take away the scent of the nail polish. And if it weakens the scent, it's very slightly.

Overall, I am very pleased with the product and will definitely be purchasing more in the future. The price, at $4.99 at Target, is very affordable, especially for the quality and uniqueness of the product. I'm very interested in seeing if the other colors in this line are just as high-quality as Bordeaux. I'm also interested to seeing the different scents of each of them. I'm anticipating other companies to start making scented nail polishes to compete with this line and it will be interesting to see how they compare.

I hope this review helped you out as it is my own complete and honest opinion. I'll talk to you all soon! Stay beautiful!!

♥♥♥