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!

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!

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!

Primer Problem

     I have been having the hardest time finding a primer that works for me. Sephora has been fantastic with letting me bring home samples to try. Nothing has done what i was hoping. I'm looking for something to control shine, hide pores, and fill lines. That's exactly what Maybelline's Baby Skin primer claims to do! I picked it up and i have to say i am really disappointed! This is supposed to be a dupe for Benefit's POREfessional and from how this looked on my skin i'm really hesitant to try Benefit's version.

       This is a silicone based primer so it should sit on top of the skin, blur the look of pores and fill in lines. Obviously I was all over this.... everything i want at a drug store price? Yes please!

       

         It comes out clear and looks as you would expect and it apples really smoothly and easily. I used the Baby Skin on half of my face after moisturizer and left the other half without. Here I am looking beautiful, pre- foundation!

      The right side of my face has the Baby Skin primer on it, the left just has my normal moisturizer.

         Here i am fully made up for the day. I'm wearing Make Up Forever's HD foundation in the shade 110, Revlon color stay concealer in porcelain (i think... whatever the lightest shade is is what i have), the Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser in the illuminating shade, Cargo's HD translucent finishing powder, and finally the L'Oreal Telescopic mascara.

         Finally, here I am at the end of the day. I went to the mall, out to lunch, and worked a 5 hour shift. There is no noticeable difference in the sides of my face in this picture, in real life I'm a bit shinier on the right side, my makeup actually wore better without being primed.

     

        Overall the Maybelline Baby Skin didn't fill in lines, control shine, or make my make up last longer. In fact my makeup did these things better without the primer on. It didn't work for me but many people have raved about it so i handed it off to my sister. Maybe she will have better luck!