New Do New You!

          Recently I've been in a bit of a hair funk. I went pretty blonde back in June and haven't touched it since then.... I'm lazy and cheap! So my hair has been looking pretty damaged and brassy. So being the procrastinator that I am, I decided the end of them semester when all the work/ studying starts piling up was the PERFECT time for a hair shake up. I had been toying with the idea of going a whole lot shorter and just touching up the color, something a la Taylor Swift in the Shake it Off video or I LOVED Lo Bosworth's new short and sassy cut, however after the half mullet I was pretty scissor shy.

 

Well I plucked up my courage and headed to the salon and trusted my brand new hair dresser and came out looking like a whole new person! My hair dresser was super confident and made it really easy to trust her, so when she said going lighter would just damage my hair more, I just decided to go with whatever! I ended up going about 3inches shorter and a color I didn't expect but absolutely love. Maybe my bad hair curse has been broken? All I know is I know who I'm going to for my next haircut!

Before

After!

What do you think? Quite the change huh?

Doe A Deer!

Hello Everybody! It's been awhile hasn't it? In the few months since I've blogged last, I have moved 3 times, written 3 midterms, gotten a new job, and have generally had an off computer life! Crazy how time flies huh? I thought i'd jump back into blogging with a halloween treat. I stumbled over this adorable deer tutorial on Pinterest maybe 3 days before halloween and it's surprisingly easy!

Above is my test run, seriously this look was shockingly easy!

and here's a selfie for good measure!

You'll need some sort of white cream base, I used an oil paint from the halloween store, not something I'd recommend as it is quite difficult to work with

bronzer

a contour color

black eye liner, I used gel liner

a brown lip liner

clear gloss

and finally some false lashes. The lashes are optional of course but i decided it was time to try new things and I have to say lashes are FUN!

Step 1: Use your white base and go over your eyes, nose, a bit of forehead, and the tops of your checks. On my test run i used my beauty blender and it wasn't as opaque as i wanted so the next day i tried my Real Techniques buffing brush. It was defiantly and improvement but i think my issue was with the product itself. 

Step 2: Use your bronzer on a large fluffy brush and go over the hollows of your checks, top of your forehead and temples

Step 3: Deepen the contour with a darker shade and add a slight contour to your nose

Step 4: Line your eyes with a thin line and bring it down a few cm out of the corner of your eye

Step 5: Arch the liner through the socket of your eye, creating an extreme cat flick and connect the line with the inner corner of your eye and the outer corner

Step 6: draw 2 lines down the sides of your nose and color in the tip

Step 7: Starting at the expanded line from the inner corner of your eye, make a curved line below your eye

Step 8: Add some mascara and if it pleases you some false lashes! Mine were pretty tame, I was doing this for work if i was going out i think i would want some more dramatic lashes.

Step 9: Add some white dots on your checks and forehead with your cream base

Step 10: Line your lips with a brown, I used a Rimmal scandal eyes eye shadow pencil, and smudge it out and add a clear gloss

Finally find yourself some antlers and your good to go! Hope you all like it!! 

What was everyone for halloween? It's one of my favorite holidays and i'm always looking for next years costume!

Rose Gold Stole My Heart

From the moment I pressed the confirm purchase button I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the most beautiful makeup brushes in the world! Am I the only person who obsessively tracks packages? I think I checked the progress about three times a day... I was excited, don't judge! My obsessive browser refreshing was relieved earlier this week when these beauties arrived at my doorstep! The Zoeva Rose Gold Makeup brushes are finally mine!

I had been waffling for about 2 months (yes months), about wether or not I needed this set but really they are just too pretty not to own!

Opening this package, it just oozed luxury. The set came in a leather pouch with a rose gold zipper inside of a sleeper bag or dust bag as some call it.

All I want to do is run these over my face they are that soft! I'm loving the angled cheek brush and silk finish brush.

I really love the design of these brushes, the rose gold (obviously), the handles are thicker and feel very sturdy, they're shorter as well compared to my MAC and Sigma brushes, and I really love the Zoeva motto on the end of the handle as well! I think it's such a nice touch.

High End vs Drug Store

I have been so loyal to my Maybelline Master Prescise Liquid liner pen for about two years now. I love how easy it is to use and how it NEVER seems to dry out. I always manage to make the perfect cat eye flick with this stuff. However I got tempted by Essie Button about a month ago when she started rocking navy liquid liner. I searched high and low for a drugstore navy liner pen and there are absolutely none. Frustrating right? So I popped into Sephora and picked up the Stila Stay All Day liquid liner. I thought I would show you a side by side comparison, my favorite Maybeline liquid liner vs the cult followed Stila pen!

The Maybelline pen has a longer and more tapered nib. It is thicker at the base and tapers off to a .02mm tip. Stila has a shorter nib, I assume to allow more control over the line, and it also tapers down to a .02mm tip.

With a shorter nib I find I have to use more strokes. As you can tell from the picture, this results in a bit of a choppy line. Personally I find that I get a smoother line with a longer nib, I like to lay the nib along my lash line and build from there. 

Stila Stay All Day

Maybelline Master Precise

I find the color inconsistent with the Stila liner as well. You can see the black line is quite a dark, true black throughout the line whereas the navy is a bit lighter on the start and end of the line, or the inner conner of my eye to the tip of the cat flick.

I'm also finding that the Stila liner is already starting to dry out, which is annoying as I bought it a month ago. I find it picks up my eyeshadow as I draw the line along my lid, which might be why it's drying out.

Overall I'm not to impressed with the Stila liner. I love the color if it was a bit more even. I'd jump for joy if Maybelline brought out my "Old Faithful" in some addition colors! Anyone know where I can find a drugstore liquid liner pen in navy? This isn't cutting it!

In My Glory, Soap & Glory!

Well I'm finally here with my Soap & Glory review! A bit of a long time coming I know, but I wanted to make sure i'd given the products enough of a test time so I could give you an honest opinion. So my mother and sister went to Africa about a month and a half ago and they stopped over at Heathrow Airport. So being the beauty addict I am, instead of a souvenir tshirt I requested a list of Soap & Glory products I couldn't get ahold of in the States. From my list of 5 I got the two most important on the list! The Ultimelt hot cloth cleanser and the No Clogs Allowed self heating deep detox mask (what a mouthful THAT name is!).

First up is the Ultimelt,  and let me say this is my favorite of the two. Put this baby on, massage it into your skin on a full face of makeup and it literally melts it away! I have been loving this to take off my makeup at night and i'm about 1/2 way through the tube already. I'm seriously concerned about how I'm going to go about getting another bottle of this since I'm already addicted.

I was wearing the Bennifit They're Real Mascara in the day these were taken and that stuff is notoriously difficult to get off... as you can tell by my raccoon eyes The Ultimelt was up to the job! I also found that my eyelashes were softer after using this cleanser. Not what they market it for but I was happy with the side effect. I was really happy that this didn't break me out as that had been happening with most cleansers I had been trying and my skin felt really clean and soft after this.

Now the No Clogs Allowed, I was really excited about this for the self heating part of the mask. It really is warm! The tube says to shake the mask before applying which I found a little difficult as it is a pretty thick product and in a tube so not exactly conducive to shaking. However I did what I could! The mask comes out a light green color and is a weird texture. It's chalky and grainy and a bit lumpy.

I could feel the mask heating when I first applied it to my skin, I paid close attention to my nose to get at those pesky blackheads when smoothing it on for the first time. Next you wet your hands and scrub some more! The mask heats again and is supposed to turn blue to let you know when to stop but i haven't seen that happening. It really buffs away dead skin and after this is off my face feels like a baby's bottom!! Overall a great product as well! I'm not going through it as quickly as the Ultimelt because I only use it once or twice a week.

Soap & Glory really need to get their act in gear and sell the full line of products in the States and Canada! I was in New Brunswick a few days ago and hit up Shoppers thinking I'd be able to find some but they have the same products Sephora has here. Needless to say I was disappointed.

Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

A new outfit post for you today! We got this dress into the store a few weeks back and I fell in love as soon as I tried it on! I never thought I would like the midi length trend but I think this dress is actually really flattering. I'm not to keen on spaghetti straps though, so I paired it with this denim vest I picked up last year from the Levi outlet, I love the asymmetrical studding detail and it goes with literally everything!

To accessorize I'm wearing my gold coin necklace from Forever 21, which was in my May Favorites post, and my navy purse from Target. Also from Target are these cork wedges which were only $35 and are really comfortable!

     Whats on my face: Makeup Forever HD foundation in 110, MAC Peachykeen blush, Rimmil Stay Matte Powder, Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Blonde, and YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Color 8 Pink in Confidence, Stila Liquid Liner in Midnight    

I have been loving the milk maid braids as an easy, cute hairstyle and it's perfect for work as I don't have to worry about hair in my face all day. It's super easy to do and take about 5 minutes which is a win in my book! I honestly hate doing my hair and anything quick and easy is usually what I fall in love with, hairstyle wise.

This has been my go to work look recently, it's so easy to throw on and look chic! It's always a really easy dress to style differently as well, I've worn it with a chambray shirt instead of the vest and this dress looks great with flats too! I feel really confident while wearing this and thats what you strive for when getting dressed right? Anyone else have that one item in your closet you know you feel confident in?


Another PS: I know I said last week I would be doing a review on my new Soap and Glory goodies and I will! I'm just giving them a good test run first!

Candles, Candles, Everywhere!

Anyone else have a candle burning addiction? I love Bath & Body Works candles and with this love comes a huge amount of empty candle jars. I've been leaving them laying around thinking that there may be a use for them sometime, and low and behold there is!

I was on the hunt for some cute way to store my cotton ovals that I use to take my makeup off and then thought, why buy something when you can make it yourself? So I did!

You'll need an empty candle jar, lid, hot glue, and a adornment for the top

Step 1: Find the center of your candle lid and heat up the hot glue

Step 2: Glue center of the adornment, I used drawer handles from target, and immediately place it on to the middle of the lid

Step 3: Let the glue dry overnight, I made the mistake of thinking an hour would do and took managed to take the handle off again.

Now you have a super easy and cute jar to store whatever you'd like! I think this would be great for bracelets and necklaces too!

I also use empty candle jars to hold my makeup brushes, you can customize them with paint or glitter. Right now mine are boring with just some craft beads at the bottom to give the brushes something to stand in. I love easy, cute DIY's. Do you have any ideas on what I can do with the rest of my empty jars? I have a few!

            Also just as a little incentive to stay tuned, my mother just got back from a trip to South Africa and when she stopped over at Heathrow she picked me up some Soap and Glory goodies! I tried them tonight and there may be a review next Saturday!!

May Favorites!

Is it just me or does it feeling like this year is racing by way too quickly? It feels like just yesterday was my birthday and now it's June! This month I've been trying out a lot of new products and I've also brought out some old favorites! So without further ado let's get into my May Favorites!

My first favorite this month has been the Rimmel Stay Matte primer. Remember this post about primers? Well it was my lucky charm because right after I posted it I went and purchased this Stay Matte primer and I'm in love. It really mattifys well and I like the texture of the cream, it feels great on my skin: under foundation and on its own.

So I have finally jumped on the bandwagon... the beauty blender bandwagon that is. I held out for the longest time having little conversations with myself in Sephora, "Caitlin you don't need the Beauty Blender, you love the real techniques brush you have. Why do you need ANOTHER way to apply foundation?" this conversation usually worked. That is until I leveled up to a VIB which comes with 10% your purchase at Sephora. I caved and I am SO glad I did! This apples foundation beautifully and gives a flawless finish. It's also really fun to use, am I the only one who thinks that? Probably. Oh well I love it!

Since the seasons are a'changin I've switched up my blush to a more summery color! This MAC blush in Peachykeen is an oldie but a goodie. I've been using this blush even before I was really into makeup. It's a gorgeous coraly shimmery color that looks really pretty with my skin tone if I do say so myself!

Another old favorite is Benefit's They're Real Mascara. Everyone raves about this and I'm no exception. It separates and elongates my lashes, stays put and doesn't flake off! It is so long wearing that it is a bit difficult to get off but Benefit has even solved that problem by creating an eye makeup remover. I believe it launches in stores in June so I'll be interested to try it!

Next few products have been helping me wage war against my skin. I've been having a horrible time with acne this past month, which is really out of the ordinary. Even through high school I've always had pretty blemish- free skin so it's been a rough go this month!

I wouldn't have made it through without LUSH's Dark Angel's Charcoal Cleanser and the Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Cleaner. I use the Origins cleanser in the morning in the shower and Dark Angels at night for more of a deep clean and exfoliation. I think it has been working and I do see an improvement in my skin as I'm writing this.

Next in my skin care war is the Mario Badescu drying lotion. You dot this stuff on to any blemishes with a Q-Tip after you've cleaned and moisturized, right before bed, and it is supposed to dry them up! I purchased this closer to the end of the month so it may or may not have had a hand in clearing my skin but I enjoy it!
Drying Lotion

Last makeup favorite is the Dior Diorskin Nude BB cream. This applies really well with my beauty blender and it has a nice dewy finish. It has an SPF 10 which is great and combined with my normal daily moisturizer which has an SPF 30 I don't have to worry about my skin all day! I really like the packaging this comes in, and really with a Dior product am I really surprised I love it? Dior always has really sleek, high end looking packaging. This has the added bonus of coming with a pump and thats always a win in my book! I have the color Light 001.

My final favorite this month has been statement necklaces. For the longest time I just couldn't find necklaces I liked and stuck with very simple, understated, dainty jewelry. Boy did that change! This month they wasn't a statement necklace I came across that I didn't fall in love with! The one I've been reaching for the most often has been this gold collar-ish necklace with gold coins dangling from it from Forever 21. I think this looks great with a plain t-shirt but also really nice with a button down oxford as well. It's super versatile and I think it will be a favorite for longer than just May!

Bit of a rambley post today but gold star if you made it to the end! Hope you had a wonderful month of May!

Top 5 Holy Grail Products!

          I thought I would share my absolute favorite products. Things I repurchase over and over again, here are the things I could not be able to survive without having in my beauty arsenal!

#5 is Burt's Bees Beeswax lip balm in the original tube form.... I'm addicted. I have on beside my bed, on my vanity, at work, in my handbag, and two on hand in my closet just in cases. Has anyone ever actually finished a tube of lip balm? I always lose mine before I get to the end, hence the "just in case" back ups!

#4 I have been using religiously for around 2 years now. If I run out of this and don't have another one on hand, panic mode ensues! The Body Shop's Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. I have super super pale skin so all of my skin care really needs to have an spf in it as I burn just thinking about the sun. I ideally would like to have a spf in my foundation but i can't be to picky because if the color matches my skin tone i'm super lucky so this moisturizer handles keeping the harmful rays off my skin while nourishing and brightening as well. It smells like oranges!

#3 is MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow. This is the perfect "i'm not trying but I kind of am" shadow. It is a beautiful champagne shadow that looks great on it's own all over the lid or as a brow highlight or inner corner highlight.

#2 would have to be my TRESemme Thermal Heat Protectant spray. I have used this eat protectant for maybe 5 years now. I'm not sure if it's a security blanket for my hair or it really works but i recommend it to everyone and it smells quite nice too!

My #1 absolute favorite product that I can NOT live without is the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner. I love how much control this liner gives, it's super easy to use and very build able and stays put all day. The tip is really really tiny so it can make a super thin line or lay it sideways on your lid to make a thicker line. The best part is the price, it's only $7.99!

         I love reading these kind of posts, it always makes me want to try new products. What are some things you can't live without? Favorite cleanser? Mascara? Blush? I want to know!!

Online Deals

Every avid online shopper knows the best time to shop is when all the coupons start rolling in. That time is your birthday month! Since mine just passed and I had a bit of a coupon free for all, I decided to share!

First off Sigma gave me 15% off so I picked up 3 brushes I had been looking at. The E35 blending brush, F35 tapered highlighter, and the F88 flat angled kabuki. Theres always room for another blending brush right? I have 2 MAC 217s and a 222 and they always seem to be dirty! The F35 looks like it will be really great for contouring and so far I've really liked using it. Finally I just really liked the look of the F88. I have been experimenting with different ways to apply my foundation recently and which method works best with which product. I've been using the F88 with my Diorskin Nude BB Cream and so far i really like the finish it gives. I also love the shaped it gets into all the nooks and crannies of my face... nooks and crannies sounds like a strange way to describe a face but you get what I mean right?

Next purchase came from American Apparel who gave me 25% off my order. I was quite restrained with American Apparel, I only bought 2 hair bows. I love these bows, I have a black on I bought at the beginning of last summer and its the perfect accessory for ballerina buns, a look I rock embarrassingly often, I've been eyeing the navy one for some time and with 25% off why not get two? Maroon is my absolute favorite color right now and it's gorgeous in bow form.

This final deal wasn't a birthday code at all but I justified it that way! In Tayna Burr's recent Get Ready with Me video, she used the NuMe Titan curling wand and left a code in the description box. $150 off the Titan curling wand and only $12 shipping. Who can say no to that? I've already tried the medium size barrel and I am in total love! It heats up super fast and makes the prettiest curls! The code is TANYALOVE if you want to purchase one for yourself!

                                          click this link to see her video -> Tanya Burr's Video

Defiantly check it out, and the rest of her videos too! She is one of my favorite youtubers!

So not a massive haul, but that what I what I bought myself for my birthday. Sometimes you have to treat yourself right? :)

What Do You Wear to a Matinée?

I turned 23 last week!!! April 25 of last week to be exact! For my birthday my parents took me to see The Book of Mormon in Boston. It's getting harder for me to dress for the theater these days, people have started dressing down and starting to look more like they are at a movie theater. Matinées are especially difficult because if you are going out shopping afterwards (there may have been shopping afterwards), you don't want to be TOO dressy but still need to be respectful of the production and actors. I went a bit more casual than I usually would, but it's not jeans!

I got most of this outfit at the J Crew Factory store at the outlets I work at, everything was half off! Being the New England girl that I am i could't resist these nautical anchor pants and this color block tee was just to good of a deal to leave. My coat is from DKNY that I actually picked up in Marshalls, my flats are Lucky Brand, and belt is from Target.

After the play, we were walking to the parking garage and a man behind me asked if I was a Delta Gamma, as I stared at him confused, he asked if i even knew what it was. Being semi familiar with the Greek scene I did, he proceeded to tell me the anchor is their emblem. I told him I wasn't a sorority girl, just a New England girl... who happens to really like anchor pants. Just a fun lil interaction for ya!

Now because a trip to Boston usually has a trip to Newbury St. and because it was my birthday there was a cheeky stop into Georgetown Cupcakes. AKA the most delicious pieces of heaven cakes!

mmmmhmmmmmmmm just looking at this picture makes me want more!! The play wasn't as great as we were expecting but I love being in Boston and had a great day! Here's to 23 being an amazing year!

#BostonStrong

              There are moments in life you remember forever, where you where, what you were doing, and how you heard. Ask any parent, grandparent, or friend they will recount the circumstances of their life when they heard start of WWII or the assignation of John F. Kennedy or 9/11. Last year one of those events occurred in Boston. I can remember sitting in my room in St. John's at my desk, procrastinating studying for my 2nd to last final when the Facebook status's started rolling in. There's a moment of confusion where you think this can't be happening in MY city, and then the terror and horror starts in. Normally My mother and sister go to the Marathon every year ( I went when I wasn't in school), and camp out at the finish line. Thank god last year things came up and both had other plans and didn't end up going.

             Flash forward to last Monday, my cousin was in town to run the Marathon so of course we had to go. There was such an overwhelming sense of community! It was truly an experience I can't put into words but I did take some pictures!

Love that dirty water!!

One mile from the finish line, almost there guys!!

My cousin Kevin veering off course a bit to come give his kids kisses

Here I am with my cousin Grace, snapped by my mother

            We managed to grab a spot about a mile away from the finish line after being turned away from two check points. Security was defiantly amped up and I think next year will be better and the kinks will be worked out. We got to see Kevin run by and he ran up (a rather steep hill) to come give his wife and kids congratulatory kisses. It was adorable. I really love seeing all the military run by and the encouragement every single member of the crowd gave to the runners. If someone slowed to a walk the entire crowd would start cheering them on. It was spectacular!

            I have to say overall I love this city and we are and will be forever BOSTON STRONG!

NYX Butter Glosses

Ok people I think I may be in love.... with a lipgloss. Not just one though, an entire line of lip glosses! And as you can probably deduce from the title, they are the NYX butter glosses. I first purchased the Creme Brûlée shade from ULTA and from the moment it touch my lips I was hooked and had to grow the family. As of this post I am the proud owner of 5 shades: Creme Brûlée, Fortune Cookie, Peach Cobbler, Maple Blondie, and finally, Red Velvet.

These are the newest additions to the family I instagramed after purchase

These glosses really do live up to their name. They are super buttery and are extremely pigmented, not sticky at all and for a $6 gloss they last really well! The darker shades are almost like a lip stain in lasting time.

From top to bottom: Red Velvet, Peach Cobbler, Maple Blondie, Creme Brûlée, Fortune Cookie

From left to right: Fortune Cookie, Creme Brûlée, Maple Blondie, Peach Cobbler, Red Velvet

Now it isn't all sunshine and roses with these. Formulation wise i'm in love but I am not a huge fan of the Fortune Cookie color. I find it too pale and it really washes me out. I've been trying it over different lipsticks but because it is such a thick and creamy formula it really isn't working. But one out of five isn't bad right? I am really excited to grab some more colors and expand my little Butter Gloss family!

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

    I picked this L'Oreal mascara at ULTA right after I got back from South Carolina. Initially, I hate to say, I got sucked into the marketing which is why I picked it up. However, after using it  for a few weeks... I'm in love! It has a really unique wand, it looks like a butterfly wing... Gee i wonder how the product gets it's name? This baby really does it's job though! They longer bristles on the outside really lengthen and volumizes the outer lashes creating an almost flash lash look. But in a really natural way, confusing I know. The wand is rubber with a really flexible head and is great for getting the base of your lashes to volumize but the bottom of the wand has shorter bristles which i like to use to coat my bottom lashes.

    I didn't get a water proof version because i HATE trying to get it off at night but this stays on all day, doesn't flake, and holds a curl really well. Over all L'Oreal gets an A++ in my book!! And you have to love the price too! Drugstore mascaras are my fav, anything under $10 is worth it in my book!

Pre Mascara

After Mascara

         As you can see my lashes are visibly more voluminous, lengthened, and curled. I'm literally in love with this mascara!!!!

PS. Please ignore my unruly eyebrows... I have an appointment to get the waxed!