Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush

So first off it comes with a little retractable travel brush. I haven't used it and I more that likely won't ever unless I absolutely have to. It's not a bad brush, I just like my big powder brush and it goes with me everywhere so that's just that. It would however be great to throw in your travel bag or your purse for touch ups with other powders and what not.

The face powder is what we are talking about not the brush. I just thought I would mention it really quick.

So here is what it says on the Clinique website about the powder:

"Clinique's signature blended powder. Loose, lightweight texture is right for every type of skin. Sets and perfects makeup, makes pores seem to disappear. Airy, skin-hugging formula delivers a reliably flawless finish."

This powder comes in seven different shades including a invisible blend and a transparent neutral blend. I bought the transparent one because I already have a invisible or white face powder. The neutral shade, I feel like, could go on many different skins from light to possibly medium skin tones because it is neutral in tone. Meaning it doesn't have a gold undertone or a pink undertone. Looking at it you can see that it is not predominantly pink or gold in shade. It is also a natural matte finish which means it is meant to leave your skin looking natural but will help control shine throughout the day. It also has no shimmer or shine in it, obviously, so it's just matte. Clinique says that this is suitable for all skin types from dry to oily.

I am truly in love with this powder. I am on the dry side of combination and I can tell you that this does not cling to my dry patches and it sits beautifully on my skin. I also am willing to say that I have never used a powder that has kept me matte all day long. I do have a little bit of oily-ness in the middle of my forehead above my nose and I always have to touch up there. Since I have been using this powder, I haven't had to do this. It does all of that and doesn't make my skin look all caked up if I do reapply it. In saying all this I can totally agree with the natural and light finish this does have. 

I wouldn't say though that it is flawless. Like I would never wear this on its own and it's not meant to do that cause it is just a face powder. It also says somewhere that it helps to diminish pores. I have noticed that it does help with the visibility of my pores but I can still see them. Like it is not a miracle powder that makes your pores disappear and it doesn't claim to be but it only helps slightly with my pores anyway. So the perfecting part of the disciprtion is not so much true. I don't really think that any powder can "perfect" your makeup/face. 

With that being said I do really like this powder. It is super fine and you hardly need any at all to set your whole face. It doesn't make your makeup look caked up either when you apply it and then reapply it later in the day if you need to.

So I would say that the Clinique Blended Face Powder is for sure a hit in my book. As far as loose powders go anyway. I really love it and if you are in hue he market for a higher end face powder I would for sure recommend this one. It is available at Sephora and your local Clinique counter and you can also order it online from both places as well!

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

So in my search to find a new foundation other than my Mac Studio Fix Fluid, I found the Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation. I have just become a little disillusioned with my Mac foundations for right now. I have heard this a few times and when I was looking for a new foundation many of the people that worked in the stores, told me that they have been hearing that a lot lately. 

I purchased mine at Sephora because they have a skin matching card that you can place on your skin and whatever shades blends in perfectly, is your shade. Super easy. It is also available at Ulta.

Here is what it says on the Urban Decay website about this foundation:

"Weightless, ultra definition liquid makeup"

"Coverage without compromise. Our weightless formula blurs imperfections for a flawless finish that feels invisible but looks professionally retouched." (That is just the mini description, the full description is on www.urbandecay.com ...it's like five paragraphs long...)

This foundation comes in eighteen different shades and it comes in half shades and full shades. Which means that, for example if you are matched as a NC 20 in a Mac foundation and it is too dark in the fall and winter and they say to get a NC 15 to combat that and it's way too light all of the time, with the Naked Skin it's like having a NC 15.5 shade. 

So now on to how the foundation performs. They say that it is weightless coverage that feels invisible, with a flawless finish. I would completely agree with the weightless coverage and the invisible feel/look. I feel like when I wear this that there is nothing on my skin. When I have it on I can't even feel it. We all know that there are foundations out there that make promises of weightless coverage, like the Revlon Nearly Naked........but then you can still feel them on your skin and you try to layer it and then it is instantly heavy. Urban Decay's Naked Skin foundation is super easy to build. I do find that if you don't let the first layer dry all the way or don't apply the next layer right away, that first layer will move a bit but it is easily blended away and fixed. About the flawless finish, I am not so certain. I would say that with the first layer it completly evens out my skin tone and eliminates the vast majority or any redness I have on my face. With a second layer I find that it has covered pretty much everything but the really bad blemishes but even still in some areas it doesn't give a "flawless" coverage. I don't really think that you can get a flawless coverage with a light to medium coverage foundation. With that being said I do find myself using less concealer with this foundation. Which makes me really happy! It just evens out my skin tone that well!

So with loving this foundation so much and I do. It has replaced my Mac Studio Fix Fluid. It does have its flaws as well, as all products do. I have noticed that there is some clinging going on on my dry patches of skin around my chin. I also noticed that if I have a new blemish, like one that is really red and more like a face demon than a zit, it wears off of that area more quickly or just doesn't apply well over top of that area. But that is really it for the issues I have had. I wouldn't recommend this for someone with super dry skin though or someone with really oily skin. I feel like it is good for people that have some type of combination skin like dry-combination or combination-oily, somewhere in the middle. 

So all in all I love this foundation. I would recommend that you try to purchase it at a Sephora because they have those skin tone matching cards or they did at mine. I would think that all of them have it. Sephora also has that new skin tone matching, Pantone thing as well. Ulta does not have anything like that and the ones that I have been in lately don't have those cards either. So I would for sure talk to someone at Ulta so they can match you or make sure you don't just guess. 

My Brushes: Real Techniques

So obviously I use the Real Techniques line of brushes. You know how much I am in love with them if you watch my videos. They are by far the best brushes I have ever used/owned! Keep reading to find out why!!

So just to get the basics out of the way, you can purchase these brushes for $5.99 to $9.99 at:

Ulta or Ulta.com

Walmart.com (they might be in some stores to but they are not in my area!)

I mean can good brushes have a better price point? The kits of brushes are $17.99 to $19.99. So for a group of brushes, you can't really beat under $20. 

These brushes are 100% synthetic even though they look like duo fiber. They are super soft and when you wash them they don't lose their shape but go right back to they way they looked when you first bought them. They are all hand cut so that they have a perfect and precise shape to every brush. Since they are completely synthetic, they can be used with any product you can think of, cream or powder. 

This line of brushes could not be easier to use! All of the handles are color coded based on the collection that they go in and all of the names of the brushes are on the handles! The brushes that are sold on their own have flared handle ends so that you can stand them up on your counter or vanity.

The first collection of brushes is the Flawless Base and they have orange handles. This collection of brushes are going to be what you need to perfect your skin before you do anything else.

These are the brushes in this collection:

This collection has the Core Collection Kit in it which includes a:

Buffing Brush - this is a really soft brush that just makes applying and blending foundation super easy. 

Contour Brush - this brush is tapered and fits perfectly into the hollows of your cheeks and is also designed to apply and blend seamlessly. 

Pointed Foundation Brush - personally this brush is to small for me to apply foundation with. I use it mainly when I am applying a highlight on the tops of my cheek bones or a setting powder under my eyes. For me it would just take to long to apply foundation with this brush.

Detailer Brush - this brush is what I use for my lip brush. It is just the perfect size for my lips. It would also be good for concealing blemishes and pin point concealing. 

There are also four brushes that are sold on their own in this collection. They are:

Expert Face Brush - this is the brush that I use when I really want a flawless face. It applies a more full coverage layer of foundation and just make your foundation look amazing. 

Essential Foundation Brush - this is a bigger pointed foundation brush. It is pretty much a traditional foundation brush. (This brush comes in the Travel Collection Kit of brushes)

Angled Foundation Brush - it is exactly what it says. Just a regular flat foundation brush.

Powder Brush - this brush is huge! It is a amazing brush. It is a fairly loosely packed brush and is perfect for applying all over powder. 

For this collection I prefer to use the expert face brush or the buffing brush for foundation. I think that they are the best two foundation brushes because they blend as they apply to where I don't feel like the angled, essential and pointed foundation brushes don't blend as well.

Then there is the Perfect Finish Collection which has pink handles. These are the brushes that you will use to apply your powders and blushes or highlighters. 

This collection includes:

Multi-Task Brush- this one is a more dense powder blush that I think is great for an all over application of powder or applying a mineral foundation. (This brush comes in the Travel Collection Kit.)

Blush Brush - this brush is tapered so that it makes it easier not to apply to much blush. The idea behind this brush is that you apply the product on the very tip of the brush, then as you press it against your face and the bristles flare out, where the product it will apply and then the ones with no product will blend the blush out and around.

Stippling Brush - this is a really cool stippling brush. I feel like the white bristles that stick up father are not as long as a traditional stippling brush. They are shorter and closer to the black bristles. I feel like this helps to blend the product you apply with it. 

Setting Brush - this is a brush that I use every day for multiple things. I use it to apply highlight and setting powder under my eyes. I have seen other people use it to blend out their concealer to. So it is very much a multi purpose brush, just like all of them. I think that this brush is really the perfect size to fit under your eyes.

Kabuki Brush - I don't really feel like there is anything special about this one. It looks like any other kabuki brush. It is a little thinner than some and I think it might be a little denser than some but if you have it and you love it...kudos!

Next there are the eye brushes or the Enhanced Eyes Collection that has purple handles. 

In this collection is the Starter Kit:

Base Shadow Brush - this is my favorite blending brush. One side is flat and the other is fluffy so you can apply a base of color and then blend out any sharp edges that you may have after application. 

Deluxe Crease Brush - this brush is just to big for my crease. It really doesn't fit but I find that it is great for applying foundation under the eyes and on blemishes.

Accent Brush - I love this brush for the lower lash line. It just applies the color really close to the lash line and blends it between the lashes as well so you don't get that gap between the shadow and skin.

Pixel Point Eyeliner Brush - I use this to apply cream bases on the lower lash line. I think that for me it is to big to apply line and I prefer to use a angled brush to apply my gel liner anyway.

Brow Brush - this is great for doing your brows in a rush. It is a larger brush and apples color quickly and easily. I use this brush and an eyeshadow when I need to do my brows in a hurry.

The brushes that are sold alone are:

Shading Brush - this is a great brush for packing on the color. It picks up a decent amount of product and packs it on right where you press the brush. It also is slightly fluffy so it can also be used to blend colors together. 

Lash Brow Groomer - I don't actually own this one because I prefer to use a spoolie to brush through my brows and lashes. But I am sure it is good!

Fine Liner Brush - again I have not purchased this brush because I don't like fine liner brushes to apply gel or cream line. I very mush prefer and angled liner brush.

Domed Shadow Brush (actually comes in the Travel Collection Kit) - again I feel like this brush is to big for my eyes. So I mainly use it to apply concealer around my face and under my eyes. It is good if you are going to just apply a wash of color over the eyes or want to apply a cream base before other shadows. 

Then lastly there is the Limited Edition Duo Fiber Brush Set. I really love these brushes. They are all made and look like stippling brushes. The idea behind them is for them to pick up product on the white bristles and blend the product with the black bristles. They also belong in the other collections, even though the handles are white. The name on the handles is color coated to show where it belongs.

There are three brushes in this collection:

Face Brush - this is a great powder brush. I love it so much. It really just applies a light layer of powder to just give that little bit of extra coverage you might need and it helps not to make your face cakey by helping not to apply to much. 

Contour Brush - this is the brush that I have been loving for contouring as of late. I use it every day and it has replaced my other orange handled contour brush. I just like this one much better and feel it applies and blends color better than the other one from Real Techniques. 

Eye Brush - this is a small tapered eye brush. It fits perfect in the socket of my eye and I am in love with this. It is really good for building color as are all of the duo fiber collection. 

Whew!! I know that was a lot and was really hard to not blast through in the video post that I did. So I feel like I went into more detail here and if you missed anything from the video here is all of the info that I had in the video!! I hope you all enjoyed and it gave you some insight if you were thinking of buying these brushes!!

Carol's Daughter Hair Care Round Two!

So I know this was supposed to be up forever ago but I got busy. Such is life anyway this blog has a video to go with it so go check that out because that will go much more in depth about the products. 

I can say that after using these products for at least a month now, I am in love. I mean these are so good. I can't believe how good my hair feels! I have honestly never used products that work so well in my hair. 

Sometimes I feel like shampoo can really damage your hair because you get the super crunchy, dry feeling after the first time you wash it and I was my hair twice! Sometimes it just feels like you are washing the health out of your hair and a lot of the time the conditioner that goes with it does nothing to help. The conditioners can either leave your hair just as dry or super greasy. I can't believe I didn't look into Carol's Daughter sooner! Like I had said before I have been using the Monoi Split End Sealer for over a year and it never occurred to me to try their shampoo and conditioner lines! 

After I shampoo my hair doesn't have that straw like feel to it. I can actually run my fingers through my hair after I shampoo it! I have never been able to do that my entire life! I have such thick hair that it is near impossible for me to run my finger through it while it is wet, especially right after a shampooing.

Now I know that three conditioners Is kind of over kill. Not to mention ridiculous but seriously...I need them. The regular one you leave on for three to five minutes and let all the goodness soak in then, you just rinse it off and BAM! Soft, silky hair. Since my hair is so thick I really need to use a detangler or a leave in conditioner but for the life of me I can not find one that doesn't leave my hair super nasty and greasy. This one however is amazing! I think the trick to it is the fact that it is a spray bottle. You just mist it on your hair and brush it through. So for me there is no chance of using to much or being pissed that I didn't use enough and trying to use more and then using to much. This one just makes me happy because I don't have to worry about doing any of that! The the deep conditioner is amazing as well! I highly recommend it for color treated hair or over processed hair. All the Shea butter goodness soaks up into you dry, crunchy processed hair and ho-lee crap, my hair always comes away feeling better than it did and it really just works to get your hair back healthy. With this one I find that I don't have a problem with it leaving my hair greasy and I have that problem with deep conditioners.

So I am super happy to say that I thinks everyone should go out and buy this stuff!  Especially if you have dry or color treated/over processed hair! This stuff just works wonders and is amazing. I love it and for sure will repurchase this line and for sure try the other lines that they have available.

Back To School: Tips and Tricks

The best advice that anyone ever gave me when I was getting into make up and really learning how to use everything properly was KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Not that they were saying I was stupid, nut to remind me that less is more. Especially when you are a young girl and don't need a ton of make up anyway. And from me to you, when you are just learning, you don't want to be throwing it all on your face. If you were like me then you probably think that you look really good under those light bulbs in your bathroom or bedroom. Wrong. They will always lie to you and tell you that you look awesome. So here are my tips and tricks for make up for going to school (but really for always!).

1. KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid - This is a rule of thumb for basic make up in my life. Throwing on piles of make up everyday just really isn't practical. Even for me, as an adult, I try to keep my day to day looks fairly simple.

2. Lightbulbs are not your friends - Your bedroom lights, vanity lights and your bathroom lights are not your friends! They lie to you and tell you that you look awesome! The problem is that any lighting that is from a normal, house hold bulb is going to cast a light on all of your skin that makes it look all even and one color. The biggest problem with this is you can't see the true color of the make up that you are putting on your face. I am pretty sure that is how the girls in my school ended up looking like oompa loompas... The best way to go is to find yourself a window and do your make up with natural lighting. This really is the best way to see how make up is going to show up on your face. You can see the true colors in the light of day and see if they are properly blended or not!
                    *I know that sme of you probably have to be up before the sun so here is an idea! On the weekends, PRACTICE! Take a little time if you are going somewhere and sit down infront of your window and take the time to look at how things show up on your face. This way you can see how much product to apply, when to stop blending and when you need to keep blending, and it will just make you a better make up applier. Once you have that down and you know how much and where, you can do your make up in your room or bathroom because you now know your face and the products you are putting on it.

So those are my top two tips. Now I am going to get into tips for specific products. Always remembering to KISS.

Primer: There are tons of these out there and I reccomend wearing one even if you aren't going to put anything on over it. If you do were something over your primer it will just grab onto those products and help to hold them in place. Some primers that are out there have SPF in them which will protect your face from the sun and some help control oil and shine. Smashbox has an amazing range of primers for evey skin type and problem under the sun.

Foundations: This is not a product that I would really reccomened wearing to school on a regular basis. For special occasions like picture day or a dance, yes. Everyday while having to take gym, no. Especially when you are middle school aged this really is not needed. Your skin really hasn't got to much going on blemish wise anyway and a lot of make up can just ruin that and clog your pores and make you break out before you need to. Then there is just no way to look cute while you are in gym, runnung the mile and sweating off all of your foundation. It just can't happen. Then you spend the rest of the day in school with blotchy, uneven looking skin. Take it from someone who has done that and regretted it, there is just no way to look cute with ugly make up.

Concealer: In all honesty, I think this is the way to go. Especially when you find one that matches your skin really well and if its not a perfect match you can usually fake that with good blending and a little bit of powder. I say this is the way to go because there are hundreds of concealers out there and many of them are water proof. I have recently found one by Yaby Cosmetics that is "tear proof". So if your boo breaks up with you and  you need a good cry, your concealer will stay in place. They are also good for covering the odd blemish that you might get and there is less wear and tear if you are in gym. Another plus is if you do have gym and sweat off your make up, concealer is really easy to touch up when its all you are wearing. So this way you don't run the risk of having ugly make up.

Powders: Another product that does not come highly recommended by me for school. Yes you should use it to set your concealer to make it last longer. No you schould not pack it on your face like its going out of style. Powders are what make your face look cake like. Which is not cute. More is for sure less with any face or setteing powder. Its meant to help make you make up last and help to control oil and shine, not cover everything up that you don't want seen. If your skin is more oily, dust a little in your problem areas but avoid covering your entire face in it.

Bronzer: No. There is no need for contouring while at school. There is not need to add that bronzed glow at school. Oompa Loompas live with Willy Wonka not in middle schools and high schools. Really though, these just get a bad wrap on young girls. Many of which don't know how to apply them. We all know the Snooki look is out, even for Snooki who has actually classed it up a bit. Your face has natural variations in the skin that "highlight and contour" it all by itself.

Highlighters: If you have dry skin and want a little bit of a dewy glow maybe. If you have oily skin that already has a "dewy glow" beware. There really is no need for this if you don't have on a full face of make up anyway, same for bronzers or contour powders. Your face has natural variations in the skin that "highlight and contour" it all by itself. There is no need to have that if you haven't covered it with foundation.

Blush: Again not super reccomended by me. Maybe a little but of a cream blusher to give a the slightest bit of a natural fluch to the skin but if you are like me and had (and I still do) naturally rosy, flushed cheeks, you really do not need bluch.

Eyeshadows: Here is where KISS really comes into play. You want light, natural colors that bring out your eyes and make them look bigger and brighter. Keep with your nudes and brown tones. Shades that will just enhance this feature of you face. The original Naked Palette by Urban Decay is perfect for this. I would avoid blacks and bright colors for school. Unless it is a theme day or a special day, go easy on the eyeshadows.

Eyeliner: If someone calls you Ricky Raccoon, its probably not a compliment. You really want to avoid ringing your entire eye with black eyeliner, especially if your eyes are smaller in size. By doing that you just make them look smaller. I would reccomend the thinnest line possible on the top lash like just to enhance your lashes and lining your top water line again, to enhance your lashes. By doing those two steps, it makes the roots of you lashes look thicker and makes your lashes as a whole unit look thicker.

Mascara: This is a must. It will instantly make you eyes look more open and make you look more awake. Even if I wear no other make up, I wear mascara. Beware piling it on however. If you don't take your time and you are applying more than one coat, it may go clumpy on you. The eay fix for that is to comb them out with a lash comb or a spoolie.

Lipstick: I would say stick to colors that are your lips only better. These are colors that add a little but of shine but are mainly there to enhace what you already have. Even though red looks cute with played down eyes and light skin, its a bad word to keep on and inplace all day. Remember you do have to eat at some point while at school, so keep it basic when it comes to color and when in doubt, a little bit of clear gloss can do a lady good.

Lipliner: Not a product that is really needed if you are keeping it simple. Most colors that are "your lips only better" colors won't require a lip liner. This is really somethig you can avoid all together. Its really only needed for red adn darker colors that can bleed into the fine lines around your lips.

So sorry this was kind off long but I wanted to make sure I covered eveything and hit all the highs and lows of school make up. If it seems a little harsh, its only becasue I was remembering myself or girls I went to school with that thought they were oh so cute when they really just had red lipstick all over their face.

And really you don't need to wear make up to be pretty. Make up is about en hancing what is already there, finding your best feature and makeing it pop. But really make up can't fix an ugly personality. So make sure you are kind to all of your other class mates and make them feel welcomed and accepted when they are around you. That is one thing I learned in school and still hold to in life today, "Make up can make your face pretty but it can never fix the ugly when you are mean to people for no reason"

"Fit Me" Foundation Stick First Impression and Naked Palette Series Look #2

So this video is a little different. I wanted to do a review/first impression video for the new Maybelline Fit Me foundation and I was super excited to do it but then the video turned out to be super short and kind of boring so I decided to throw in a look to go along with my Naked Palette series. So I am going to give a full review of the foundation here and then just list the products I used for the look!

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick! (My color is 120)

So the foundation is super easy to use and like I say in the video, it's a little weird for me to use because I had a concealer stick about that size. It is nothing against the foundation that was all me! This is for sure a quick foundation to apply as well! It's a stick so really you can take it anywhere and it will be super easy to apply when you are in a rush. It also has a like, cream to powder core that helps to bring down shine. I noticed that it doesn't go on super shiny like some foundations can tend to, which makes you absolutely have to powder. It also blends really easy with fingers or a brush. I think this would be good for combination skin and possibly oily skin because of the "powder" core. It might be a little drying and not super comfortable for dry skin. I noticed later in the evening that it kind of highlighted my dry patch in my forehead and around my nose but my skin is combination more on the dry side though. I would say that oily skin would probably still have to use a powder or blotting papers for touch ups as well. 

 I would really recommend something like this for those young girls that are just starting out in makeup. It is not super heaven coverage and I think it still looks natural but just really evens out skin tone and all that. It is also build-able. So applying another layer on top of your first will not cause any problems, they just blend together and make it more full coverage. I would say this is a medium coverage foundation with just one layer. 

Like I said it goes on super easy and for me it stayed on well too! I was really impressed by that. I have a problem with drug store foundations wearing off of my face all over and not just around my nose and my mouth but for some reasons drug store foundations just fall off my face! Even with a primer! Now I did you a primer and some setting powder (through my t-zone) with this just to give it a fair test jus like I do with any other foundation. Now I am not saying that it magically stayed around my mouth and my nose but it didn't just fall off of my face and I was super pleased with that. I could also still see my blush by the end of the day (or the time I had it on...which was like four or five hours) and that is a sign of a good foundation! 

So over all I was pleased with how this foundation preformed and I will continue to use it. I'm not saying that it is going to replace my Mac foundations but I would repurchase this product!

Naked Palette Series Look #2!

Naked One Palette:

Naked and Buck in the crease and to blend out any harsh edges

Sidecar on the inner third (around the tear duct, top and bottom lid)

Darkhorse on the rest of the lid (top and bottom)

Smog between Sidecar and Darkhorse to blend

Creep in the outer v and very outer corner of the lower lash line.

Naked Two Palette:

Foxy to blend any harsh lines and brow bone highlight

Bootycall at the highest point of the brow bone (just under the eyebrow) to highlight

Like I said in the video, all other liners have been bothering my eyes so I have only been able to use my Mac liners lately. I did however list Urban Decay dupes below if you have or want to use those liners.

Mac Feline Kohl Power Pencil on top lid for liner (Urban Decay dupes are Zero or Perversion)

Mac Teddy Kohl Pencil to tight line (Urban Decay dupes are Bourbon, Corrupt, Hustle, Underground or if you wanted to you could use something like the color Smog. I also said Whiskey was close but it is actually to dark for what I wanted to achieve in this look.)

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara in black

Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara in "Very Black Blaze"

UPDATE: 

So this foundation made me break out pretty bad and I do not have sensitive skin. The product itself doesn't have a ingredient label on it that I saw or maybe I missed it so I would have to say that if you have sensitive skin or are afraid of being broken out I would look into what is in this product. I still think it is a great product but I just can't use it because it breaks me out. 

Carol's Daughter Haircare Round One!

So like I say in the video I have used the Monoi Oil Split End Sealer for about a year now and I love it!!! It really is the product that turned me onto Carol's Daughter! So the last time I was in Ulta, I noticed the Black Vanilla Moisturizing line that they have and I was looking for something that would help heal the stress of bleaching on my hair. It has become really dry lately. So I bought the leave in conditioner spray and fell in live with it after the first couple of times I used it! It is just great and the fact that it is a spray pump makes me feel better about putting it in my hair. I don't have to worry about putting to much in because it is a fine mist that you are spraying into your hair. There is no guessing at what a dime size or quarter size might be. With traditional leave in conditioners I always end up with way to much in my hair no matter how much I use but this one is not like that at all, which is really why I love it.

So those two products are great but the ones that I am going to be reviewing are the ones pictured below!

  It is the Black Vanilla Shampoo (which is sulfate free!), the Black Vanilla Conditioner and the Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie (which is a deep conditioner). I am super duper excited to use these and see how they work! They smell amazing and I have already been using the leave in conditioner since I bought it like a week ago and it is amazing. This line just smells so good and it really does what it says its going to do. So that makes me super happy because, one of the worst things is buying a product that says it is going to moisturize your hair (or any product that promises to do something amazing) and it doesn't. Especially when it was expensive. These products are not super expensive but they are not cheap either. I got mine at Ulta and here is what I paid:

Shampoo: $13

Conditioner: $16

Hair Smoothie: $20

Leave-in Spray Conditioner: $14

Monoi Repairing  Split End Sealer: $25

So some of the products are double what I normally pay for shampoo and I am glad that the ones I have tried so far have worked well with my hair. So like I said I am super excited to use these three new products that I got today and can't wait to share the results with everyone! 

Make sure to check out the video if you want to see what I say about the products in that!
Carol's Daughter Haircare Round One (video)

Naked Palette Series. Look #1

So I have decided that I am going to start a series! 

I am going to be doing a series of looks using only the Naked Palettes from Urban Decay. 

I know that these have been out for a long time now and they have come out with the Basics one and the flushed one. I am going to be using the original and the second one. I might, however, go get the basics palette (finally), so I can do some looks with that one too! 

I am super excited about doing this series because I love the Naked palettes. Out of all of the palettes i have had and used i would say that these two are my favorite. i bring these everywhere with me and they are pretty much the only eyeshadows i travel with. They are extremely versatile and you can make so many different looks with them. I find though that sometimes it is hard to make a look with them because the colors can seem very basic or too neutral for the kind of look you are going for. Using the two palettes in conjunction though, you can make some pretty amazing looks. 

So that is what I am going to do with my first series! I want to help those girls that have the Naked palettes and aren't really sure what to do with them sometimes. I hope that you find these videos helpful and learn some cool tips and tricks with these palettes!

Here are the products I used for the first look!

Face: (All done off camera)

Korres Antiaging Primer

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream mixed with Mac Select Cover Concealer in NC 20

Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Ultra Light 

Mac Studio Finish Concealer NC 20 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent 001

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in Give Me Sun!

Mac Mineralize Blush Dainty 

Mac Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Double Definition 

Urban Decay Setting Spray in De-Slick

Brows: (off camera)

Make Up Forever Eyebrow Pencil No.2

Chella Clear Brow Gel

Eyes: (on camera)

Urban Decay Primer Potion 

Original Naked Palette 

-Naked Soho Fluffy Brush 

-Buck Real Techniques Duo Fiber Eye Brush

-Sin Urban Decay Stiff Flat Brush

Naked Two Palette

-YDK Real Techniques Shading Brush & Urban Decay Stiff Flat Brush

-Busted Real Techniques Accent Brush & Shading Brush

-Blackout Mac 263

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in 005 Nude

Covergirl Flamed Out Waterproof Mascara in Very Black Blaze

Lips: (on camera)

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla Macadamia Kiss

NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches & Cream

Clinique "Take The Day Off" Cleansing Balm: Review!

Spoiler Alert! 

This stuff is amazing!!

Above is what it looks like. It is a huge tub of this stuff. It is a 3.8 ounce or 125 ml container. It costs $28.50 at Clinique and Sephora. So it's a little pricey but it will last you forever! You hardly need any at all. I have been using it for about a week now and have barely made a dent in it. You only need to use about a quarter size to remove a full face of make up and way less than that to take off a little make up. I also use it to just take off the dirt that builds up on my face when I don't have any make up on at all and when you do that it you barely need any at all. 

What it does is break down your make up super fast. You just massage it into your skin all over your face and then you just rinse it off with warm water. I put mine on before I get in the shower. I just find that to be the easy way to do it. But to each their own. The product itself is a solid, hard balm. Once you start to work it onto your skin however, it turns into a oil that breaks down all of your make up. It is a non-greasy formula and Clinique says that it is for all skin types. It seems like it would be greasy since it turns into an oil but after you rinse it off your skin feels healthy and moisturized. It is also non-drying which I really like. Most of the skin products that I have used in the past to remove make up leaves my face feeling dry or sticky. But this just makes my skin feel fresh and renewed. It is even safe to use on your eyes! Obviously you don't want to massage it on your eyes like you would your face but it removes eye make up to. So for me this product has become a must have because it is two steps in one. It takes off your make up and cleans your face!

The only draw back to this product, and it's not really a draw back (to me anyway), is that I have a hard time getting off my mascara. But that is something I have found true with all make up removers. I wear a lot of mascara, like four coats. It's ridiculous. But right now I have been wearing Benefit "They're Real". I have always had a hard time getting mascara off especially water proof ones. So for me, I just apply it directly to my eyelashes and let it soak in and then rub it gently and it breaks most of it down. It mostly comes off with the warm water in the shower but when I get out there is still a little bit of raccoon eyes going on. So I just rub my finger in there a little bit and gently rub it around my eyes and on my lashes and gone is the remnants of my mascara. So it is still mush easier for me than other make up removers. 

So all in all, I friggin LOVE this product. I don't think that they have it in stores at sephora but it is on their website and I am sure you can get it at any Clinique counter. I defiantly recommend that you give it a try and see how it goes. It is also better for your skin than all of the other products that dry out your skin! 

My Go-To Make Up Look

I think that I have done a look similar to this in the past but I modified it and I think it ended up being completely different... Any who, this is the make up that I tend to default to when I can't think of anything else to do on my face. Its really simple easy and is a good look to wear all day. You can easily change it to a going out look by adding a red or bright lip. Looks like these are great to have in your make up arsenal! So I thought I would recreate it for you all.

Here are all the products I used:

Face:

Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

Korres Anti-Aging Primer

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Fair to Light

Mac Select Cover Concealer in NC 20

Benefit "Fake Up" Concealer in Light

L'oreal Magic Lumi Concealer Pen in 860 Fair

Studio Finish Concealer in NC 15 & 20

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder / Real Techniques Setting Brush

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Translucent / Real Techniques Multitask Brush

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder in Sunny / Soho Fluffy Brush & Real Techniques Multitask Brush

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Blush in Sweet Cheeks / Real Techniques Blush Brush

Mac Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Double Definition / Real Techniques Setting Brush

**Brows: Make Up Forever Brow Pencil in No. 2 & Chella Brow Gel in Clear

**Urban Decay Setting Spray in De-Slick

Eyes:

Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork

Mac Eyeshadow in Cork / Sephora Dual Ended Crease Brush

The Balm Matt(e) Battali / Mac 263

Mac Eyeshadow in Carbon / Mac 263

My no name eye-lash curler...

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara

Day Off Make Up

This is my go to make up for my days off or a lazy day but I still have to go out and look somewhat presentable. Fr me its really quick and easy. It takes me some time because I am talking through it but this look normally only takes me about ten minutes to do! Super easy! 

Here are the products I used in the video:

Face:

Olay Fresh Effects "Long Live Moisture" Statin Finish" Lotion

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

Korres Anti-Aging Primer

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Fair to Light

Benefit "Fake Up" Concealer in Light

L'oreal Magic Lumi Concealer Pen in 860 Fair

Studio Finish Concealer in NC 15 & 20

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder / Real Techniques Setting Brush

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Translucent / Real Techniques Multitask Brush

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder in Sunny / Soho Fluffy Brush & Real Techniques Multitask Brush

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Blush in Sweet Cheeks / Real Techniques Blush Brush

Mac Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Double Definition / Real Techniques Setting Brush

**Brows: Make Up Forever Brow Pencil in No. 2 & Chella Brow Gel in Clear

**Urban Decay Setting Spray in De-Slick

Eyes:

Mac Eyeshadow in Cork / Sephora Dual Ended Crease Brush

Mac Eyeshadow in Carbon / Mac 263

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara

Lips:

Mac Lipstick in Viva Glam Nikki 2

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in 010 Darling

Mac Lipglass in Viva Glam Nikki 2

And here is the link to the video!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wB4PzlT66l0

Yes Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy

Ok so I am in LOVE with these lipsticks. They are really "glossy balm crystal color" (fancy YSL talk...) but they come in the same beautiful packaging as the regular lipsticks! And that's what really drew me in, the amazingly beautiful packaging!

So sorry the pictures are such low quality but I took them with my iPad really quick. I didn't want to do a full video about these but I did want to say how great they are! 

The first picture is #4 Succulent Pomegranate. And I know that when you go look at it in the store or look at it online, it looks super pink but it is kind of like the Revlon lip balms that are sheer (sorry I can't remember the name of them) or the Maybelline Baby Lips (except I find those very drying on my lips and these totally aren't!). So it just give a light pink tint to the lips and a great glossy shine. The second one is #1 Lush Coconut. I love this one as well! It gives a slight light brown/gold tint to the lips. It does have flecks of gold in it which gives your lips an amazing shine. 

I also find these really moisturizing on my lips. I, personally, have a hard time with lips balms. My lips tend to be really dry on their own and so I need a lip balm that will stay on my lips and tend to be kind of heavy. Like my favorite is the overnight one from Bath&Body Works. It's meant to stay on all night, so it's really heavy. I always find myself using it during the day because my lips are so dry. These however are super light, to me, and they stay on super long (when you just put them on for color, they stay on pretty well while eating to!). The fact that they stay on and are really light makes me super happy! Especially since they stay on so well! 

My only issue with these is the price. They are $32.00! However, i do realize they are a high end/luxury brand and they are going to be more expensive than anything other lip product that i have ever bought. There are some dupes out there and I think that Revlon and L'oreal make them. I know that L'oreal has their spring line out and there are some colors in there that are almost the exact same thing and they are only like $7 or $8. I am not sure how they feel on the lips though because I don't have any of them, I just saw the colors. As for the YSL ones,  I do really like them though and would buy them all if I could!

So I hope that was a good read! Maybe it helped you find some new products to use! And sorry I don't have any color swatches, my camera is acting up!

Collective Haul!

*Sephora

 -Benefit "Fake Up" Concealor in Light $24 (comes in Light, Medium and Deep {or Dark})
         *This is the newest concealor form Benefit. It is not supposed to crease and settle into fine lines around the eyes. And it doesn't! It is really amazing! The vitamin e that the actual concealor is contained in is super moisturizing under the eyes and in the whole face too!
-Benefit "Watt's Up" Soft Focus Highlighter $30. (full size)...(sample size that comes in this months birthday gift)
-Benefit "They're Real"$23. (full size)...(sample size that comes in this months birthday gift) 
-Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm $16. (comes in 16 colors) 
         -Two Ton Tomato
         -Oversized Orange
               * I really love this product. This is really one that I would recommend for people that like a hint of color on there lips or like color on their lips but are in a rush. These are super easy to throw on and run out the door since they are a crayon like product. They also are moistuizing to the lips and I am really going to go out and buy more of these soon!
-Make Up For Ever Brow Pencil in No.2 $19
         * I really like this product. Like I try to say in my video, it is a very hard waxy pencil. For me, it puts on just enough product and doesn't make me feel like my brows look all wonky or two dark. I had been using a Mary Kay wind up style pencil and I felt, recently, that it was putting too much product through my brows. Maybe I am just over that since winter is now done but I didn't like it and need a new one! I really would recomend this product. I think it is super good.
         *In my video I said that this product only comes in four colors but if comes in five! Here they are!
               No.1 Blonde
               No. 2 Taupe (this is the one I purchased!)
               No. 3 Brown (in the swatch online this looked really red! I don't remember it being that red in the store so you might want to check it out in person and not just buy it online!)
               No.4 Dark Taupe
               No. 5 Brown Black
-Urban Decay 
          -Make-Up Setting Spray in De-Slick $14 - $29 (there are 3 of these: De-Slick, Chill and All Nighter) I am really liking his product so far. As far as setting sprays go this has to be by far the best one that I have used. I used it in the morning and then in the middle of the day after I had, had my make-up on all day and I could feel it gettign rid of the oil on my face! 
          -Eye Shadow in Asphyxia $18 These come in 70 shades! There are not as many matte as there are glittery or forst finishes in this line but that is what I like about this line too! They do what they have always done which is be that "go to" line for awesome, super pigmented colors. And I love the when you wet the shiny shades that they become even more intense and bright!
*Mac Cosmetics
 - Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Double Definition $30 
          *This is really the best highlight that I have ever had/used! I am in love with it! It is a skin finish so it melts into the skin and just gives the most beautiful highlight to the face. I also love that it is two different shades, one darker and one lighter. It is great for an all over eye look using the darker color inthe crease and the lighter all over the lid.
 - Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline $16 (this is a great inky black liner that I just love)
 - 263 Brush $19. (and I checked, this one in synthetic)
 - Studio Fix Fluid in NC 20 $27 (like I say in the video, I jump around with foundations a lot and this is my current one and I love it!)
*Target

I know that I didn't put the products that I got for this section. I have been just so busy lately! But as soon as I have some real down time I will update this part!

And here is the link to the video:
Collective Haul! Video

First Make-Up Blog!

So here it is! I am finally getting a jump on things and creating my blog for my make up looks! So here I am going to post pictures and my videos and what not! So videos will be available on youtube and here! I am also going to list a full list of products that I use in each video here as well. Since I don't always remember to do it on the videos...haha. But go out and subscribe to my youtube and then follow me here too!!