Everyday Makeup

Hey! Happy Leap Day! Today I wanted to do a quick post on the makeup products I have been reaching for every time I do my makeup lately when I just want a quick, easy (no thinking required) look.

On my face I have been wearing:

-Origins Vitazing, which is just a tinted moisturizer with very little coverage

-Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Fair

-Maybelline Fit Me powder in 120

On my cheeks I have been wearing:

            -Nars Deep Throat blush

            -Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base

On my brows I have been wearing:

            - Maybelline Define-A-Brow in light blonde

            - Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Clear

And lastly, on my eyes I have been wearing:

            -Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (numerous looks depending on my mood)

            -Covergirl liquiline blast eyeliner in black fire

            -Covergirl lashblast mascara in very black

I didn't include any lip products as it varies greatly from day to day. I either wear a natural looking lipstick or gloss or just lip balm. 

This routine takes me no more than 10 minutes, which is what I have been wanting lately. It is quite a natural look with very little coverage, which is fine since my skin has been looking pretty good recently. This is not for those of you that want a super flawless look that will last all day, but if you like a natural, quick look then this is for you. 

Tanda Zap

Hey Guys! I thought I would review the Tanda Zap Advanced Acne Clearing Device today. I have had this product for at least 6 months now and have used it off and on as needed. It is a device that uses blue light to kill bacteria and also vibrates and heats up. It claims to “clear or fade acne blemishes within 24 hours”.

I feel that this helps to get rid of blemishes quicker than doing nothing, but I think 24 hours is a little unrealistic. When I get a breakout I use it on the spot twice a day along with a salicylic acid spot treatment and the blemish goes away within a few days. I like that this helps to clear the acne without drying my skin out. Anyone with acne prone skin that also happens to be dry can appreciate that since most acne clearing products create dry flaky skin. I like the product and use it, but I don’t think it’s a miracle worker. If you’re looking for something new to try and don’t mind spending some money then this is something you can try. Keep in mind a regular skincare routine is most important in keeping your skin healthy and clear. This product is only for speeding up the healing process when you do get a breakout. It is only good for 1000 uses then you need to buy a new one. I don’t think that I will be repurchasing when mine stops working since the results aren’t outstanding and $49 seems a little expensive to me.

This device should be used on mild to moderate acne breakouts. It is not appropriate for blackheads or cystic acne. I purchased it at Sephora for $49. It uses three AAA batteries. It cautions against using if you are sensitive to light. Also, do not look at the light as it can be damaging for your eyes. 

Skincare: Masks

I try to use a facemask once every week or two, so I thought I would share my face mask collection. I have a few different kinds that I use in rotation based on what I feel my skin needs at the time. 

First up is the Pangea Organics Facial Mask. It has Japanese match tea, acai, and goji berry in it and claims to be for all skin types. It also pretty much claims to solve all of your skincare woes. I like to think of this mask as a balancing mask and I use it when my skin is relatively good, but needs a little brightening. It is a green tinged brown mask with little particles in it and makes you look like some kind of swamp creature when wearing it, but I like the results. It helps to clear pores and exfoliates (when removing), yet doesn’t strip my face at all. 

Next is the CVS Purifying Mint Masque. This is the CVS knockoff of the Queen Helene Mint Masque. I use this down the center of my face when I feel like my pores are moderately clogged and my skin is not too dry at the moment. It helps clear out my pores, but definitely strips the skin a little. I like it, but I don’t think it is amazing.

The Bliss Steep Clean 15-minute Facial is probably my least favorite of my masks and the most expensive, so I can’t say I would recommend it. It claims to exfoliate your skin and clean out your pores, but I have never noticed a difference and a lot of times feel like my skin is greasier after using this. I still go back to it every once in a while thinking maybe it will work, but I am always disappointed. 

The last three I got as a set from Origins around Christmas time last year. The one on the left is Drink Up. It is a moisturizing mask that you leave on for ten minutes and then either rinse off or tissue off. I don’t use this very often even though I have dry skin. It works well, but I prefer to use an actual moisturizer when my skin is feeling dry. The mask in the center is the Clear Improvement mask. It is a charcoal mask that draws the impurities out of your face without drying it. This is my favorite mask of the ones I own. Last is the Out of Trouble mask. This mask is extremely drying, but it gets the job done when your skin is freaking out with oil, blackheads, and breakouts. I sometimes use this all over, but more often than not I just use it on problem areas. It uses zinc oxide, sulfur, and salicylic acid to tackle those trouble spots quickly. 

Those are the masks I use to keep my skin in line. I hope this post helped introduce you to some new products that might work for you (or keep you from buying something that doesn’t sound right for your skin). 

Valentine's Day Pampering

So I know Valentine’s Day can be a little sad if you’re single, so I thought I would give you all an idea for Valentine’s. Of course you can go out with friends, but not everyone wants to do that especially when Valentine’s falls on a Tuesday. So if you’re single and were planning on staying in this year, here’s an idea. Instead of wallowing about not having a date…spend the time pampering yourself. Use the night to relax and recharge and celebrate being you. Here are some ideas:

Take the time to put a deep conditioner or some oil in your hair and let it sit for a while before showering it out (or overnight if you shower in the morning).

Go ahead and give yourself a mini facial by steaming your face over a bowl of water, cleansing, exfoliating, using a mask, and moisturizing.

Give yourself a manicure and a pedicure.

Do a whole body exfoliation in the shower and then slather on some body lotion or self-tanner if you use it.

Take a bath.

Read a good book or watch a movie.

Cuddle up in a blanket and drink some tea.

Make an amazing dinner for yourself.

I hope that this gave you all some ideas for Valentine’s Day. If you are single try to use the day to de-stress and recharge. Remember that you are amazing and there are people who love you whether you have a significant other or not. Also, think about how stressful going out on Valentine’s can actually be. Sometimes it is world’s better to just spend the night by yourself doing all of the things you want to do, but maybe don’t always have the time to do. And hey, just imagine how great you will look the next day if you spend the time taking care of yourself.

P.S. If you have a date this year you can still do these things either in preparation for your date or just anytime you need some “me” time. 

Instant Age Rewind Concealer Review

Two posts in two days! We are really on a roll now. I thought I would share my thoughts on the concealer that has everyone raving. The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer is a treatment concealer marketed towards those with more mature skin. I do not have any fine lines as I am in my early twenties; however, I do have dry skin. The great thing about this concealer is how moisturizing and lightweight it is on your skin. I find that it doesn’t settle into pores or the creases under my eyes throughout the day and have not had any problems with it lasting all day (although I do not usually have any problems with that). It covers under-eye circles well and some general discoloration on my face. This does not work well for acne spots though if that is your concern (it is marketed for under-eye circles not face issues). When you first apply the concealer it feels a little slippery and greasy, like it would be too thin to cover anything, but it sets in a few minutes and the feeling goes away.

I have two shades of the concealer. One is the Brightener (left in all pics) which has a pink undertone to help conceal blue shades under the eye and the other is in fair (right in all pics) which is more neutral. I have used the fair shade both under my eyes and on the face. I have owned the fair shade for about a month longer than the brightener hence the level difference. 

 with flash

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 without flash

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I really like this concealer and it has quickly become my Holy Grail concealer. I use it every time I wear makeup and it is the only concealer that I have used that looks just as good at the end of the day as when I apply it. I do think the texture may not be everyone’s cup of tea though. If you’re intrigued by the idea of this concealer I would say give it a try as it seems most people are liking it. I don’t think that it has been overhyped at all. I am intrigued by the foundation, but as I have too many foundations at the moment I do not plan on purchasing it anytime soon. 

Bathing Suit Haul

Hey guys!
I recently purchased some bathing suits from Victoria's Secret in preparation for summer. I'm sure some of you haven't been thinking about summer yet, but there was basically no winter this year where I live. The majority of January I was wearing shorts and t-shirts. So, I'm expecting summer will be here in no time. Anyways, this year I branched out a little with my purchases. I usually buy the normal triangle bikini top and that is still my favorite kind of bathing suit, but this year I wanted to change it up and buy some new styles.

First, I got a bandeau top with a jewel design in the center. I have never owned a strapless bikini top and I think this one is beautiful. It does come with a strap that you can attach if you want. This top was about $40. I didn't buy any bottoms because I already own some that will match.

I also bought the Beach Sexy Gorgeous Push-Up Halter Top with matching bottoms. This was an odd purchase for me as I have always thought a bathing suit with padding was kind of crazy. The top is in the same style as their gorgeous bra, which I own and like. I randomly tried this on at the store and decided that I liked it even though it still seems odd to me. I'm not sure I would wear this at the beach as it seems a little fancy, but for a day by the pool it seems perfect. It would be especially great for somewhere like Vegas where you want to look even more amazing than usual. The top was $44 and the bottoms were $18.

Lastly, I purchased a cover-up. I always wear jean shorts and a tank when I go to the beach or pool, but since I was branching out with my other purchases I thought I would get an actual cover-up. I saw this one and was drawn to it. I seem to like orange this year, which is also new. It was rather expensive at $68.50. Especially when you think about the fact that it's basically fishnet material, but it does feel nice and soft. 

I am really happy with my purchases and can't wait to put them to good use. Hope you all have a good day and if you're somewhere cold right now I hope this post warmed you up a little.