Beauty Products That Are Worth The Hype {Drugstore Edition!}

Hey, y'all! Hope everyone is doing well. I am kicking this post off with a little mini series. I have been wanting to do "worth the hype?" blogs for months and now I am finally getting around to it! As you can tell from the title, this post is all about drugstore beauty items that I think are worth the hype. I will be doing two follow-up posts with things I don't think are worth the hype and things I wish got a little more love. 

 L to R: Concentrated swatch of Sunny; Sheered out swatch of Sunny

NYC Bronzer in Sunny has a huge cult follow and for good reason! I tend to prefer warmer, slightly orange based bronzers over ones that are more cool tone. On my fair skin, I feel like cool tone bonzers look a little muddy on my face. Not cute, ladies! Sunny is great for fair/medium skin girls (and guys) and it works beautifully as a contour or as a light dusting to give your skin a little warmth. This is a matte bronzer and is a steal at around $3 at the drugstore.

Random swatches from the Eye on Neutral palette.

Sonia Kashuk's Eye on Neutral palette is seriously God's gift to the drugstore, well, Target! The drugstore has been lacking for years in the matte eyeshadow department (or mattes in general, really) and finally Sonia Kashuk has listened to the beauty bloggers and vloggers plea for affordable, yet incredible matte neutrals. The shades are beautifully pigmented and are buttery smooth...the first two brulee-type shades don't have as much color pay off, but I have enough skin tone shadows, so I don't mind! I use this palette all. the. time! The matte colors look incredible on their own and I even use this palette in addition to some single shimmery shadows I have, to get a little more depth and contract. This palette is $19.99 at Target and for 10 eyeshadows that go on like a dream (remember, I'm not a fan of the top two!) and blend seamlessly, I give this palette two thumbs up!

L to R: First three swatches are from the Walking on Eggshells (trio); Envy (single); Panther (single); Nutty (single) 

Gorgeous, wearable colors and check out the intensity of that matte black!

Wet-n-Wild eyeshadows are hands down the best of the best at the drugstore; they are incredible pigmented, blend beautifully, and are very affordable! I remember way back when the quality wasn't up to snuff, but in recent years Wet-n-Wild has really stepped up its game! All of their eyeshadows are dreamy: palettes, trios, singles- I love them all! There is a bit of fall out with some of these shadows, but if you just tap off your brush before applying, fallout won't be an issue! 

L to R: Brightener and Fair

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Concealer has been a favorite of mine for a couple of years now! I love that it is thin in texture, but is opaque enough to conceal dark under eye circles. My shade is Fair in the concealer and I also enjoy the Brightner. I have been through three tubes of the Brightener. I only use the Eraser concealer under my eyes so I cannot attest to how well it covers blemishes.  My under eye area is very dry and I don't notice it sinking into my fine lines too bad. Oh, and have I mentioned how amazing the staying power is?! Incredible! You can find the Maybelline Erasers at the drugstore for around $7-10 bucks, depending on where you buy!

With Flash

Without Flash

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks have been in my makeup collection for as long as I can remember. I've always been a lipstick girl and these come in a wide range of colors, finishes, and textures. I prefer the Creme finish, personally, but I do have one that's a pearl finish that I enjoy wearing in Fall/Winter. I think these lipsticks are comfortable on the lips and the staying power is pretty decent, too. My favorites are Fire and Ice, Berry Haute, Primrose, and Coralberry!

NOTD: Leopard and Oxblood Nails

Hello, Lovelies!

It's been forever since my last NOTD post and I thought since this is such an amazing combo, I just had to share! Oxblood and Leopard are a very popular combo this time of year and I have finally jumped on the bandwagon when it comes to nail art! As we know, I'm a bit of a snooze when it comes to nails...just sticking to one color or on the very rare occasion, a glitter accent nail. I had never used nail strips until tonight and I must say, I'm a big fan! What a simple, quick way to get fabulous nails! I am using Revlon's Limited Edition Parfumerie nail polish in Bordeaux and Kiss Stick-On Strips in the Leopard design. If you are not familiar with this Limited Edition collection by Revlon, the nail polishes are scented once the nail polish dries. I have already worn this one once before and although I adore the fruity-wine notes, I'm not a fan of the longevity. I've read many a blog post and watched numerous YouTube videos and for the most part, people love the staying power. Bordeaux chipped in two days and Italian Leather (the deep green) chipped in less than 12 hours. I'm giving this one another shot to redeem itself- stay tuned for my thoughts!

Where to buy: I picked up two of the LE Revlon polishes at Rite Aid. I think they were $7-8/ea. I took advantage of the BOGO 50% off sale! I picked up the Kiss nail strips from Dollar General. I think it was around $2.

The color is pulling more classic red than oxblood. Trust me, it's a deeper red in real life. 

Daily Dose of Pretty

• I had a lovely Skype date with my sister about an hour away. We had a cyber-nail party! 
• I think I'm going to make Spinach Stuffed Shells for Ross' dinner/my breakfast in the morning. #NightShiftLife
• I picked up a fabulous red table cloth the other day...getting in the Christmas spirit! 

Ellen Tracy Thick Stick Lip Color: Nude and Guava

Hi, friends. I mentioned in yesterday's post that I was out doing a little shopping yesterday. During my furniture and home decor shopping extravaganza, I saw these lip colors at Marshall's my $2.99 each. The colors I chose are Nude and Guava. There were two other colors: a hot pink/fuchsia and a red.

Top to Bottom (with flash): Nude and Guava

Top to Bottom (without flash): Nude and Guava

L to R: Tracy Ellen Thick Stick Lip Color in Nude and Guava 

Nude: This is probably the perfect nude for my skin tone...a little tawny, a little pink. I have a pretty neutral undertone to my skin, although there are days I swear it's a tad bit pink or a tad bit yellow. This shade has a slight sheen, but is not frosty or glittery in any way!

Guava: This was the first shade that caught my eye, as I am more drawn to brighter lips than neutral/nude lips. To be honest, I am still on the fence about the color. It's a lovely pinky-coral, but I can't decide if I like it or not. Seriously, I've been wearing this for about an hour or so and sometimes I look in the mirror and love the shade and how it looks against my fair skin and then sometimes I look at it and think it pulls too pink for my taste- if that's even possible. Like Nude, this shade has a slight sheen, but is not frosty or glittery in any way!

Overall Thoughts: The color feels very comfortable on the lips and I like that the bottom twists up so you don't have to worry about sharpening it. I cannot attest to it's staying power, as I just picked these up yesterday, but so far, I give these two thumbs up!

♥♥♥

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I made Roasted Cabbage Steaks today for a yummy and healthy late lunch. I found this recipe on Pinterest and I have a whole board dedicated to Healthy Eating. 
• I attempted to come up with my own recipe last night. I had a bunch of left over randomness in the refrigerator and didn't want them to go bad so I made a double squash pasta. I used Spaghetti and Butternut Squash, Spinach, Cream Cheese, Garlic, and Onion with some EVOO and seasoning. In my mind, it was going to be a culinary delight, but for some reason it didn't turn out the way I had hoped and wasn't good at all! #Fail 
• Ross goes back on night shift tonight. I am so incredibly grateful he has an amazing job, but these next 4-6 weeks of night shift training need to hurry up! I'm ready for my  fiancé and I to return to a more normal schedule. It stinks not seeing him as much! 

Why I Haven't Blogged In A While

Hello, Pretties! 
If you read my post in May, you know that I graduated from college in May. The day after I graduated, I moved to Auburn, Alabama to be closer to my fiancé and a month later (or should I say the longest month of my life- I hated not having a job!) got a job as the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Director at a local nonprofit agency in my area. I loved my job, but because of work, I literally had no time to blog. I essentially had walked into a position that had been vacant for months and had an audit with the Corporation (the people who gave my program grant money) less than a month later. To say I was busy (and stressed) is an understatement, regardless, I was thankful to have a job and amazing co-workers and volunteers! So, with that said, I had no time to blog. 

I had been at my job for about three months and was really starting to catch on to the many things you need to know about the job and had just got back from a Conference, which gave me great ideas about growing the program and retaining the current volunteers we had. I walked in the door after the long drive from Tennessee (where the Conference was) when Ross told me he had received a job offer from the company that interviewed him literally three days prior. Oh, and the job was across the county- in Oregon! 

He had been looking for a job for months since the grant he was working under ends in December of this year AND this job was incredible...it was what he worked so had for, getting his Ph.D. and learning certain computer skills (that, frankly, go way over my head). 

Let's fast forward to two months ago, when I turned in my resignation letter. I got back from the Conference on a Tuesday night and had a September 11th Event at Auburn University the next day. I knew I had to give my employer a month's notice to remain in good standing, so after he received the "official" offer that Wednesday I decided to turn in my notice on Monday, to give me a chance to think of what the hell I was going to say to my boss and write out a well thought out resignation letter. 

It's been a month and two days since I quit my job to move to Oregon with Ross and a month and a day since we left Alabama. Before we moved we had a lot to do: pack, get rid of literally anything that wouldn't fit in my car, sell his car, visit my family as much as possible, and I had to get things taken care of at work. I didn't want my replacement walking into the same mess I walked into. I wanted that person to have any and all information possible and for it to be readily available at their fingertips. So, I created a notebook that had everything I learned in my four months as well as contact information, everything s(he) needed to know about the grant I applied for (and was granted!), etc.

We have been in Oregon for three and a half weeks now. We have bought some furniture (well, a bed and kitchen table- couch, love seat, entertainment center and end tables will be delivered in about six weeks) and have many more things to buy. I am looking forward to volunteering somewhere in my area to give me something to do and to meet people. I will start the job search around the first of the year. 

Oregon is a beautiful state, but I sure do miss Alabama. There's nothing like Southern Hostility and sweet tea!

FOTD: Purple Lips!

Hello, dolls! I woke up this morning feeling like complete crap (took a sleeping pill too late) and was in desperate need of a fabulous lipstick to perk up my day! For the look, I wanted it to be all about the lips with a defined, but not dramatic eye. I was also pleasantly surprised that when I got home from furniture and home decor shopping that my makeup still looked nice and my lips still had some color-with no touch-ups throughout the day!

Face: Revlon Whipped Foundation (in Buff), Maybelline Eraser (in Fair & Brightener), Revlon Colorstay Blemish Concealer (in Light).

Eyes: Coastal Scents Hot Pots: Peach Puff (inner third of my eyelid), Peach- previously known as S33 (on the rest of my lid), Midnight Rodeo (with a light hand I wedge this in my crease), Dreamsicle (all along my lower lash line), and Sundried (on the outer half of my lash line). I lined my upper lash line with Almay's Intense i-Color Liquid Liner (in Brown Topaz). I used two coats of Maybelline's Falsies Mascara (in Blackest Black).

Brows: Maybelline Expert Eyes Twin Eye and Brow Pencil (in Blonde)

Cheeks: I mixed Elf's Mellow Mauve and Milani's Corallina.

Lips: I layered Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (in 660, Berry Haute) and JordanaTwist & Shine (in 06, Cranberry Crush).

The Goods...

L to R:  Coastal Scents Hot Pots: Peach Puff, Peach, Midnight Rodeo, and Sundried

L to R: Revlon Super Lustrous (in 660, Berry Haute) and JordanaTwist & Shine (in 06, Cranberry Crush).

The look about 6 or 7 hours later...

Don't mind the swatches. I bought two lip colors at Marshall's and wanted to see what they looked like. Chevy wanted to join in on the swatch party! 

We adopted a cat! Meet Chevy, everyone!

Meet Chevy! The newest member of our family!

I have been wanting a little animal for the longest time and Ross has been telling me "no, not right now" for months! Well, on Halloween, we adopted the cutest cat EVER from the Bonnie L. Hays Animal Shelter here in Hillsboro, OR. I've been around animals my entire life and I am really into rescues/strays-  #YayForStrays. When we went to the shelter we were looking to get a kitten because they are easier to train than older cats that are set in their ways. We were looking at an adorable and super playful kitten named Pumpkin, but when I saw Chevy with his partial mustache and serious/annoyed face, I knew he had to come home with us! The shelter let us play with both, but there was something about Chevy- I don't know, like some connection- that I just loved to pieces. He's an older cat, roughly 6 years old and when the shelter picked him up, he was a stray. Obviously we had some concerns about getting an older cat (with potential health issues) and that was a previous stray. Regardless, I had a gut feeling that he would be perfect for our family!

We have had Chevy about a week and a half now and he has been the best company, with Ross working so much! He sleeps a lot, but when he's ready for attention, you better drop whatever you're doing to play with him or he will walk under your feet and do whatever it takes just to get attention.

I hope this inspires you to take a chance on older animals or simply to rescue in general. Strays are the best...It's almost like they know that you saved them and are just so truly grateful!



Edit: I have added some new pictures of him. (:

Current Obsessions: Nov. 2013

I know,  I know! I've been M.I.A. for the months! Seriously, a million and one things have happened since my last post in May. I will be doing a Where Have I Been post in the next few days! Any who, I figured since it's been so long since I've checked in with you guys that I would do a Current Obsessions post. I love watching and reading Favorites videos and blogs. So, without further ado, here are my Current Obsessions- in no particular order.

 Hard As Hoof

My nails have always been awful. Thin and brittle, breaking or peeling anytime I get the slightest growth. I was telling a co-worker of mine at my previous job how bad they were and she said her aunt swore by Hard As Hoof. On her lunch break she went by Wal-Mart and picked grabbed the last two Hard As Hoof and gave me one...super nice of her, right?! I started out using it three times a day, but now that it's been about 3 or 4 weeks, I only use it once a day. I cannot get enough of this stuff! My nails are not crazy thick and still peel on the rare occasion, but I can tell a dramatic difference. I've never been one to say "You have to go out, like right now, and get this stuff!", but seriously, if you have brittle nails, you need this in your life!

Sweet Potato Chips

I am on a low calorie diet (I will get to how I track them in a minute) and have been looking for satisfying snacks that won't have MyFitnessPal yell at me anytime I have a little snack. These are delicious and 160 calories for 17 chips. I usually eat half a serving for 80 calories...just enough to satisfy my craving for a "semi-fat snack." I bought these at Fred Meyer for around $4.

Coastal Scents Hot Pot in Sundried

I have been wearing this color a ton lately: All over the lid, blended into the crease, or smudged under my lower lash line. This color is stunning and makes my blue eyes pop. I usually pair it with a nude lip.

Pumpkin Spice Tea

Who isn't obsessed with pumpkin this time of year?! Like everyone else, I love Starbucks's Pumpkin Spice Latte, but don't drink it that much for two reasons: (1) I don't want to drink my calories (2) because coffee makes me shaky. The scent of this tea is a bit strong, but it doesn't taste as strong as it smells. I picked this up at Target for around $5.

*not sure why the screen shot came out blurry.*

Apps: Snapchat, MyFitnessPal, and Vivino

Call me cheap, but I refuse to pay for apps! 

Snapchat has a cult following for damn good reason: it's freaking amazing! Who else finds themselves making ridiculous faces in public because you're Snapchatting your besties?! Guilty!

MyFitnessPal has been a God-sent for counting calories! I am going to be a Bridesmaid in my friend's wedding in January and when I ordered my dress I was a rail-thin college student surviving on grits, oatmeal, and granola bars. Don't get me wrong, I am still petite, but when I tried my dress on last week I cried. I had gained a few pounds and it was very obvious. Ross and I love our wine- empty calories- and whenever we moved across the county we were practically eating McDonalds three meals a day. Enough said, right?! So, as I sat on our bed in tears because my fat ass could barely breath in my dress Ross suggested in a loving way that maybe I count calories to get to the size I need to be to fit in the dress. My feelings were so hurt and not because he kindly suggested I get on a (healthy) diet, but that I needed to. I have been using this very easy-to-use app for a week now and I can already tell a huge difference AND I went to get my dress altered yesterday to get a little length taken off and the boobs taken in and my dress fit like a glove. I definitely will make a conscious effort to keep up the positive, healthy lifestyle changes in terms of my diet. 

Vivino is a free wine app that allows you to scan the picture of wine bottles and then see how other people rate the wine. Ross and I love this! I know I mentioned a second ago that I'm trying not to drink my calories, but a little treat every now and then is fine! The app also allows you to rate the wine so you can go back and see what you liked and didn't care for. Since we've moved to Oregon where there are wineries everywhere, this app has been wonderful! 

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• Jamming out to Crusin' by Huey Lewis and the News (ft. Gwyneth Paltrow)...my go-to karaoke song! 
• Leftover Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas for dinner #HealthyEats  
• I picked up two of the new Limited Edition Revlon Parfumerie nail polishes. I just applied Italian Leather and it's gorgeous!

I'm a college graduate and I have (positive) peer pressure to thank for that!

Let's be honest, I never thought I'd see there day where I was actually walking across the stage to receive my college diploma. To be honest, I never had any intentions of going to college. I remember when I was in high school I only took the ACT because all my friends were doing it and were all going out to lunch after. Like most teenagers, I was always in the mood to eat so I figured, what the hell, I'll pay x number of dollars to take some stupid test and hang out with my friends later. After weeks went by and I received my (pathetic) ACT results. Keep in mind, I really didn't apply myself much during the test (or high school, for that matter) and the final score proved that to be true: I got a 17. Whatever! I wasn't going to college...at most I figured I would take a few classes at the local community college and then find or stick to some job I already had. Well, because I obsessively care what people think of me, I figured after high school graduation (which, by the way, you basically only need a pulse to graduate from high school these days) I would apply to the community college and enter the LPN nursing program and be on my way in less than two years. After all, I wasn't going to be the only loser of all my friends not going to college.
Well, long story short, nursing school was a hell of a lot more difficult that I ever thought it would be- I tip my hat to you ladies and gentlemen that were able to complete the program. During the time of taking nursing classes and my general studies, I failed out of two or three of my classes- yeah, I got a few F's. I simply had no desire or motivation to study or even be in class. All I wanted to do was go out with my friends and drink: the typical mindset of a late teen/early twenty-something girl. Since nursing was no longer an option, I decided to change my major to early childhood education (at the community college) with no real intention of going off to a four year university.
Fast forward about a year later. My mom got very sick with cancer and during a final beach vacation two weeks before she passed, she made me promise her that I would graduate from college. She said that she was so proud of me for going to school and she really wanted me to stick with it. I agreed, but really didn't give it much thought. I was in complete denial of her prognosis and simply made the promise to make her happy. After she passed away, my entire world came crashing down. I was only 21 at the time and I remember thinking all the things she would miss. She passed away October 27, 2009 and I applied to Troy in mid- 2010 for the Spring 2011 semester. As time went on, something happened. I became a mature, productive person that actually cared about my grades and my future. Yes, I wanted to keep a promise to my mother and graduate from college, but I also wanted that college degree for me. It really meant something for me to be the first member of my immediate family to go to college and graduate.
During my first semester at Troy, I really applied myself and worked my butt off! For the first time in my life, During my first semester at Troy and throughout my years there, I graced the doors of a library to study, got annoyed when students were disruptive in class, and was the nerd that sat front row center of all my classes. I did extra credit work to improve my score, even if it was by the tiniest little bit.  My first semester at Troy I got a 3.0 GPA for the Spring semester. I'd never had a 3.0 in my entire life. I continued to strive for better grades and eventually started making A's. During my two years at Troy, I only received one C and that was in a physics class I took. And, if I may be so bold, I am still just as proud of that C as I am of any A I even received.

Yesterday, May 10th, I walked across the stage of the Trojan Arena and became a Troy Alumni. I am so proud to be a Troy Trojan and for the person that I've become over the past two years. It's funny now to look back 6 years ago. I was such a mess and I think that if it wasn't for positive peer pressure, I might not have applied to college and be the person that I'm proud of. I am also thankful maturity kicked in and that I began to apply myself to prepare for a better future. I don't know what tomorrow brings (or the day after that), but I do know that I have the confidence and willpower to succeed.

Side Note: I don't want this post to come across like I only graduated from college because of peer pressure from friends and a promise from my mom. I graduated from college because with age comes wisdom and I wanted to better myself. While at Troy, I worked really hard, put in a lot of hours, and applied myself more than ever. It's just nice that caring about what people that is what gave me the push I needed to apply to the community college six years ago.

FOTD: Rediscovered Products

I was totally inspired to use some old pink finds when I saw Emily Noel's Gloss Daily post on great summer eyeshadows. None of the shadows I've used are ones she mentioned, but it was nice to shop my stack for some great spring shades. Some of the things I've used are discontinued, but hopefully this will inspire you to shop your stash and rediscover some amazing products. 

Face

Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream (in Light/Medium), Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation (in 805 Ivory), Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer (in Light), Wet-n-Wild Blush (in 833E Mellow Wine), and Revlon Mineral Finishing Powder (in Brighten).

L to R: Revlon Mineral Finishing Powder and Wet-n-Wild Blush in Mellow Mauve.

 
Eyes

Loreal Single Eyeshadow (in 805 Morning Light), Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo (in 104 Strawberry Fudge), Revlon Colorstay Quad (in 06 In the Buff), Wet-n-Wild Mega Liner (in 868 Dark Brown), Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, and Maybelline Brow Pencil (in Blonde)

Lips

Loreal Color Juice Sheer Juicy Lipgloss (in 500 Watermelon Crush)

 About the Look

 Because I used pinks on the eyes, lips and as a highlight, I wanted to keep the skin flawless and natural. I typically don't use Wet-n-Wild blush in Mellow Wine in the Spring/Summer because I love my bright pinks during those months, but because this was already a pretty pink look, I decided to warm up the skin using a deeper mauve color. I know the blush color isn't showing up well in the picture, but it sure packs a punch in real life. For eyes, I used Morning Light on the inner part of my lid and then sweeped the pink shade in the Strawberry Fudge duo over the rest of my lid and blended a little of the pink into the golden champagne shade I laid down first. I used the top shade in the In the Buff quad as a highlight and then used the third shade in the quad to blend the colors and add a little contour to my crease. I didn't smudge any shade under my eye because I liked the easiness of leaving it bare. I then used a dark brown eye liner to add definition, but still keep the look soft. Lastly, I added two coats of mascara.  

NOTD: ColorMates Nail Polish in Little Blue Box

A few days ago, I hauled some nail polish and a lip gloss I picked up at Fred's Dollar Store. This is my favorite of the bunch! In my original post, I described it as a mint green, but the more I look at it, it's definitely a seafoam green!

Artificial Lighting. 

Two Coats.

Natural Lighting.

Two Coats.