Purse Essentials

I am known to stuff as much as possible in a purse. I never want to be caught in a bind without a pair of travel scissors or a nail file. I think this means I'll be a super overbearing prepared mom. I've narrowed it down to the essentials in this post (although I'd still suggest travel scissors and a nail file and at least 6 lip products.)

1. Travel hairbrush - one with a mirror is a bonus!
2. Travel deodorant - cuz u don't wanna smell
3. A versatile lip product like Dior LipGlow - somehow it chemically reacts with your lip color to give you the perfect "flush" - also it's more moisturizing than a lipstick.
4. This Batise dry shampoo is my favorite - plus it comes in a cute little baby can for just a few bucks.
5. Bobby pins are essential. I think I keep around 5 in every nook of my room and bag. You never know when you'll need to pin back your bangs, or are having a terrible hair day.
6. A waterproof eyeliner. I never thought I'd need to reapply an eyeliner, but sometimes it's just the boost you need to go out after work or if you overslept and didn't have time to get fully ready. (make sure you get one that doesn't need to be sharpened!)
7. This powder is a good, light coverage and comes with a puff and mirror, which is helpful because I'm not carrying a brush and powder is pretty impossible to apply with your hands.
8. A concealer is great to have and this one can be used underneath your eyes or on blemishes. Thin and easy to use, but covers well. Again, touch up after work -- never know who you'll see!

Top Ten Summer Lipsticks

L to R: MAC Viva Glam V (lustre), MAC Hot Gossip (cremesheen), Maybelline Color Whisper in Pin Up Peach, Rimmel Moisture Renew in Pink Chic, Too Faced Juicy Melons, Loreal Color Riche Velvety Fuchsia, Milani Hot Pink Rage, Maybelline Color Sensational Fuchsia Fever, Revlon Super Lustrous Love That Pink

Here are my most worn lip products over the summer! Some drugstore, some high-end. Click on the names to find where to purchase!

1. MAC Viva Glam V (lustre) - This is a great shade for lots of skin types and for nearly any season. A great staple to have. Not as smooth and balmy as the rest, but it does last a fair amount of time.

2. MAC Hot Gossip (cremesheen) - My newest MAC lipstick. On me, it's a "my-lips-but-better" shade but it could come off more pigmented on someone else. Looks great with a pink or nude lipliner, or none at all. Whoa! Crazy!

3. Maybelline Color Whisper in Pin Up Peach - I love these things! I have 2 and intend on getting more. Easy to apply, I usually don't need a mirror. They provide enough color while still being moisturizing, but not as silky or balmy as Maybelline Baby Lips.

4. Rimmel Moisture Renew in Pink Chic - Classic pink. Can't go wrong!

5. Too Faced La Creme in Juicy Melons  - I LOVE this formula! So smooth and great opaque color. Can't get enough of this coral color.

6. Loreal Color Riche Caresse Velvety Fuchsia - This is a sheer fuchsia that looks, color-wise, really similar to #7, but doesn't last as long. Great to throw on as you're running out the door. Easy, breezy, beautiful... Loreal?

7. Milani in Hot Pink Rage - To be honest, I haven't worn this a ton, but it was a good purchase and I feel like the whole range of these lipsticks is a good one, with a good price. They do kind of taste like plastic though... Great colors. Check them out at CVS.

8. Maybelline Color Sensational in Fuchsia Fever - This is a more pink fuchsia than #6. This is one of the Maybelline Vivids line, so they are extremely vibrant. But they don't taste very good, to be honest.

9. Revlon Super Lustrous in Love That Pink - This hot pink/cherry color is as opaque as they come! I would wear a lipliner with this one. A fun, warm, bright color for spring/summer.

10. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion - Love. In form of a lipstick. Wow. My first Chanel purchase was definitely not planned, but I was drawn in by this limited edition. It's silky and not sticky, and a great color. Also after the balminess (is that a word?) has worn off, it leaves a nice stain. I validate this purchase by knowing that it lasts longer than most.

What were your favorite lip products this summer? 

Spotlight: Wet n Wild Eyeshadows

You may have seen Wet n Wild displays over the years, or maybe you used it when you were a preteen, but when is the last time you gave the brand a fair chance? Before hearing how great the shadows and blushes were, I'll admit I was weary. Allow me to show you the perfection that is a Wet n Wild palette... 

First, I bought the Vanity palette which is a 6-pan collection of natural colors, matte and shimmery. Wow! This is a great palette to have in your collection, no matter your age. Personally, I like the matte highlight and matte light brown the best.

Next is the trio called Silent Treatment. This is an awesome everyday palette that really packs the color. The taupe color has purple undertones and is similar to MAC's Satin Taupe. The crease color is a soft black with a hint of shimmer. I wear this all the time and will definitely repurchase it.

This is a brand new one I just opened for this blog post. It's called Cool as a Cucumber and I think would look great on blue or hazel eyes. The crease color is a nice matte brown with purple/blue undertones, and the emerald is super pigmented.

The big kahuna! The Comfort Zone palette is a cult favorite, and for good reason. The left side features a great rose gold color and the right side has some nice blue/green colors. This palette is good for traveling, since it holds unique combinations. I do wish it had more matte colors, but I guess I'll survive!

As you can see, Wet n Wild offers great colors with incredible pigmentation for cheap, cheap, cheap. Why wouldn't you want these?

The eyeshadow palettes retail starting at $3.99 (!!!) and are available at CVS. 

This post is not sponsored and Wet n Wild has no idea who I am. 

Products I've Used Up | June 2013

Four dry shampoos, three eye products, two moisturizers, and a primer in a pear tree!

Ok. I may be crazy.

I love reading these posts/watching empties videos to see what people actually used up and made their full opinion on. A few things I have already repurchased and some I could do without. 

1. Simple Cleansing Face Wipes: I absolutely love these. I have gone through tons of them and have bought multiple backups. They don't irritate the eye area and are super gentle, but take off all of your makeup. 

2. Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara: I posted about this mascara once and it has grown on me,  and I've now recommended it multiple times. It's a thin formula and doesn't clump, obviously. I've already bought another one so yes, I like it. 

3. Revlon 3D Volume Mascara: This was a dry formula and I didn't love it. It gave great volume at the base of the lash, but not much length and it dried out pretty quickly. Meh.

4. Buxom Lash Mascara: This stuff is great. Volume, length, curl. It was not too wet and not too dry. I loved it. 

5. Benefit They're Real Mascara: I liked this for exactly what it was marketed for: to look like fake lashes. I'm not sure how it would perform on everyone else, but I have thought about buying the full size a few times...

6. Loreal Infallible Liquid Eye Liner: This is a brush tip liner that I've talked about before. I like the control that you get with a brush tip, without the super super fine felt tip. I like the finish it gives and looks pretty natural for a liquid liner. 

7. MAC Eyebrow Pencil: I don't really know why I bought this. I could have done without it, but it was nice to have. Easy to control since there is such a fine point, therefore looking more natural since they are short strokes instead of drawn-on brows. I like it, but I don't know if I will repurchase. 

8. ELF Gel Eyeliner: I got this because I heard it was a dupe for the Bobbi Brown gel liner, which I love. It started out great, but dried out way too quickly. I'm throwing out over half of the product, and even though it was only $3, it's disappointing. 

9. Two MAC Eyeshadow Pots: These aren't actually empties, but I will be throwing them away. I depotted a few shadows I had. Cheating, I know. 

10. Benefit Total Moisture Moisturizer: This is a heavy moisturizer, so I didn't like to use it every day. It made me oily, so I won't be repurchasing this. 

11. Ahava Day Moisturizer: I really liked this. I've used Ahava products before and have had great experiences. Light scent, natural ingredients, and just the right amount of moisture. 

12. Origins Checks and Balances Face Wash: This was a sample I got from Sephora and I went back and got the full size after I finished it. Super gentle and I felt like it actually got my skin completely clean without drying it out. 

13. Suave Dry Shampoo: (Disclaimer: I use dry shampoo every other day. I go through a lot. Since this post, I've gone through another bottle. Eek.) This was a good dry shampoo that had a light citrus scent. I think I paid $6 for 2 so it's a great value. I'd say the best drugstore dry shampoo. 

14. Batisse Dry Shampoo: This. Is. My. Jam. I went back and bought 2 more bottles after I finished this. It does have a white-cast, so brunettes beware. I think they sell one that has a hint of brown. It soaks up all the oils and gives great volume. Cheap. Love it. Available at Ulta.

15. Bed Head Rockaholic Dry Shampoo: I got this as a recommendation from my friend Caitlin (hey girl hey!) and I really liked it. I'd probably buy it again if there wasn't a cheaper alternative (I'm lookin' at you Batisse).

16. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: I just posted about this singing its praises, so I won't go into it, but I have repurchased another bottle. Essential for summer! 

17. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Hair Conditioner: This is a deep conditioner that I would use about once a week. It is definitely the cheapest deep conditioner I've tried and liked, and it does the job. Smells like coconut and I like that a whole lot. 

18. Philosophy Aloha Girl 3-in-1: These 3-in-1 products from Philosophy are marketed as shampoo, body wash, and bubble bath. Personally I wouldn't put anything on my hair and also use it for a bubble bath. Is that high maintenance  Maybe. But would you use body wash as a shampoo? Anyway, it smelled good and I used it as a shaving cream. It took FOREVER to finish so I'm really tired of the scent. 

19. MAC Brush Cleanser: I purchased this on a Monday and finished it within 2 weeks. You don't get a lot of product and it's too expensive for me to validate. That's saying a lot! But seriously, use baby shampoo. See my last post! 

20. Simple Exfoliating Face Wash: I always want a finely milled face scrub for my sensitive skin. Nothing that will strip my skin or break it out. This is checks all those boxes. May be too gentle for some people though. 

21. MAC Prep+Prime Skin Base: I found this primer in my mom's bathroom and it became mine pretty quickly. It was ok. Nothing special. It had some reflective qualities, not shimmer, but close. Eh. I won't buy it again. 

That's it! Let me know what you'd like to see next! 

Spotlight: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Enter one of the most anticlimactic, yet important products in my routine... 

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

This beauty is a mist that you spray over your completed makeup look to "lock" it in place all day. 

It's an easy step that finishes your routine by adding more staying power to your look. I use it everyday, about 4 "mists" all over my face. It dries within a few seconds, and you're ready to run out the door. So easy you kind of wonder if it's doing anything, but trust me, I notice when I don't use it. In the hot summer months, it's an essential. 

This spray is made by Skindinavia for Urban Decay. They also have "De-Slick" which is for oily skin, and "Chill" which has a cooling sensation (would be great for summer!). Skindinavia also sells their own spray with formulations ranging from Bridal and No More Shine. 

This product retails for $29 and lasts at least a few months. A great investment! 

Have you tried it? Let me know in the comments below! 

*I'm not affiliated with any brands mentioned

Spotlight: YSL Rouge Volupte Shine

Just look at that beaut! 

I've always gazed at everything YSL at Sephora, but I could never bring myself to splurge on it. I was in there the other day, like usual, and decided to treat myself. I knew it had gotten great reviews, so it felt better forking over the $34 for a lipstick (still hurts though). 

I chose a good neutral so that I knew I would use it more often. It comes off as a red orange in the tube, but on the lips it gives just enough color. Perfect for everyday.

This is the smoothest, most comfortable lipstick I've had the pleasure to own. I now understand and am part of the bandwagon. I could probably live without it, but I don't want to. 

Overall, I completely recommend these if you're willing to pay. I don't know when I'll buy another (probably a brighter color). Until then, I will continue to gaze at Sephora and enjoy the one I have. 

What would you like me to review next? Let me know in the comments below!

 This post is not sponsored and I have no affiliation with YSL or Sephora. Although I wish I did...

How to: Wash Your Makeup Brushes

Ok ladies, when was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? Never? Maybe once? 

It's recommended to wash them about once a week. That may seem like a chore, but I'll show you how easy and cheap it is here! 

Why would you need to clean your makeup brushes? Think about all the bacteria on your face and where you store your makeup brushes. If you rub all that bacteria, dirt, and oil into your poor pores (HA!) everyday, you aren't doing your skin any favors. 

Let's start with the soap. There are a lot of brush cleansers on the market: MAC and Elf both make some that I've used. But Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo works just fine and it's affordable and easy to get your hands on! 

Choose your brush you want to wash. I don't wash all my brushes every time, just the ones I use every day. 

Put a nickel sized amount in your hand and softly rub the brush bristles into the soap. Slowly incorporate water and rinse out the soap. The temperature of the water doesn't matter, but I usually use warm because it's most comfortable.

By the way, this was super hard to photograph so sorry for that...

The main tip I have is not to get water into the area shown below as the "no no zone".  The "ferrule" as it's called has glue in it to hold the brush and the metal part (ferrule) together. If you get it wet, over time it will wear down and the brush won't last as long.

Then lay your brushes out to dry flat on a towel. I tend to wash at night and by morning, they are ready to be used! 

If you'd like to see a video to get a better idea, see this tutorial from Amarixe, one of my favorite bloggers and where I learned to just use baby shampoo. Check it out! 

Thanks for reading and happy cleaning!