Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor Review

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Can you feel the holiday spirit yet?! I'm definitely starting to feel it! The spirit of the season isn't the only thing in the air right now. I'm talking about the cold of course! And something about winter weather always has me reaching for lipsticks over my beloved glosses. So today I'm reviewing what I would describe as a bit of a gloss/lipstick hybrid: the Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in the shade HD Devotion.

This is one of those products that I had to walk past the display several times before I finally decided to pick one up. So by the time I finally decided to grab one my choice of colors was pretty limited as the display was definitely very picked over, but better late than never right?! Why the hesitation to try this you ask? Confession: I've never been a big fan of matte lip colors. Maybe it's because I love glosses so much, who knows. But this one just kept grabbing my attention so I decided to give in (I have no willpower as we've established). Also, I have to say that the packaging really sold me here. It's just so sleek and cute! 

So what is this exactly? According to Revlon it is a "lightweight, high definition velvety matte color" they also say that it is moisturizing and 100% wax-free. I think that my biggest issue with matte colors in the past have been that they not only dry out my lips, but then seem to cake onto the dry patches. So the idea of a moisturizing matte color sounds pretty good to me. But wait, is it a lipstick or a gloss? Revlon doesn't seem too bothered about labeling it so neither am I. 

The first thing I noticed when I first put this on is that it does have a very buttery texture. The one thing that I think the packaging fails on is the applicator. As you can see in the above photo it has a round tip and does not make it very easy to get in the corners. There's just something about it that is big and clunky. But I can live with it. The color payoff here is very good. You barely need a coat or two for good coverage. I like the color, it's a nice rosy pink. 

Finally, how does this wear? Great! I love how buttery and moisturizing it feels on my lips. The cold air always sucks all of the moisture out of my skin, so anything with moisturizing properties is greatly appreciated. I wouldn't necessarily call this a true matte, there is a tiny bit shine to it. That might be why I like it so much. However, it still gives you a nice matte look. This is not super longwearing (although it doesn't claim to be), in that way I would say it is more like a gloss. There is some transfer when you are eating or drinking, but I would say it wears off gracefully. It just sort of wears off naturally without patching. 

My final verdict? I really like this one! You can get it for about $8 at your local drugstore. Maybe just maybe I'll be a matte lip girl from now on haha! Let me know if you've tried this one! Happy Holidays to you all, may they be sparkly and bright. <3

XO- Brittney 

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Beauty on a Budget: The Drugstore Eyeshadow Palette You NEED

Hello Beautiful Ones!

With Thanksgiving now under my belt, I have officially embraced all things Christmas! (Happy early Holidays to you all!). The Holiday season has me thinking gifts, but also budgeting. It's the dreaded elephant in the room. You want to get a great gift for your special someone (or yourself!) without breaking the bank. Well I have an awesome drugstore eyeshadow pallette for all of the beauty junkies on your list (or yourself!): The Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 Redemption Eyeshadow Palette.

I had never heard of Makeup Revolution until I ran across a display of their palettes during a recent trip to ULTA. It turns out Makeup Revolution is a British Makeup brand based out of London. They have several gorgeous looking palettes available in ULTA, but the thing that really caught my attention was the price tags. The Icon 2 Redemption palette is $7 (yes, you read that right!). I went for this one because it was full of neutrals that I was drawn to, and everybody knows I'm a sucker for a good neutral eyeshadow palette. The pans are very narrow, but pretty long giving you a decent amount of shadow in each one. The packaging is very sleek and thin, it reminds me a lot of the Maybelline eyeshadow palettes released in recent years. Adding a mirror would have made it the ultimate traveling eyeshadow palette, but I guess you can't have everything with a $7 price point!

So far everything has been fabulous, but how is the quality you're asking? Well, as it turns out that's pretty darn fabulous too! I've been wearing this one regularly for a couple of weeks now and there's very little that I dislike about it. Aside from a few of the lighter shades, they all have a decent color payoff. As I said this is a neutral palette, mostly suitable for the day time. But you could still ramp it up for night if you wanted too. I always use an eyeshadow primer, but the lasting power here is really good! I can put it on in the morning and it's still holding strong by the time I'm taking my makeup off at the end of the day (work tested!). I will say that this palette leans more towards shimmer finishes than mattes, so if shimmer shadow is not your thing this might not be the one for you. But none of these are overly glittery, and could easily be worn for work or class.

Bottom line? This palette is AWESOME and the $7 price tag is even better! Let me know if there are any other Makeup Revolution products you think I should try.

XO- Brittney

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Two New Makeup Sets from Maybelline: Lip Gloss Palette + Brow Drama Pro Palette

Hello Beautiful Ones!

It's officially that magical time of the year when all of the beauty brands start releasing their holiday palettes and sets! *screams internally* And the drugstore has some pretty great looking offerings this year (double yay for affordability!). There are two in particular from Maybelline that I just had to get my hands on, so here we are! Today I'm reviewing the Maybelline Lip Gloss Palette and the Brow Drama Pro Palette.

Maybelline Lip Gloss Palette

As soon as I found out this baby existed I started scouring my local drugstores for it, and (as always) Target did not disappoint me. I did however find it on a separate holiday display and not with all of the Maybelline stuff, in case you're also looking. I've enjoyed some of Maybelline's other palette offerings recently, particularly the Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette, and I like the idea of a lip gloss palette. You get a variety of color options all in one handy palette. The first thing I noticed was that in the pan all of the colors look extremely pigmented, but as you start swatching you see that they very much are glosses. Some have more color payoff than others.

The deep red looking color on the right looked the most intimidating to me in the pan, but as soon as I got it on my lips it quickly become my absolute favorite! Just goes to show you that you can't judge a gloss by it's pan color (giggle). What I love about this palette is that all of the shades are extremely wearable. My least favorite is probably the pale pink on the far left side, I just didn't get much color payoff at all. The lasting power is pretty decent, and normal for any gloss. The palette comes with a lip brush, but I didn't find much use for it. I just found it too stiff to do much good. I prefer to apply these with my finger. Since they're glosses you can get away with that! They feel really nice on the lips, not too sticky or too shiny. And the best part? You can get this for $9.99 at the drugstore!

Maybelline Brow Drama Pro Palette

I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Brow Drama brow gel, so I was excited to try this. The palette offers the gel to sculpt, a powder to fill in, and a highlight for the brow bone.

This palette come is 4 shades, I went with Deep Brown because I felt that the Soft Brown had too many red tones in it for me. The set comes with a dual ended brush for the gel, powder, and highlight, and a spooly brush for shaping and softening the look. I do really like both the double ended brush and the spooly. Although they are small, they are useful. The double ended brush is angled on both sides to make it easy to follow the arch of your brow. The lasting power is great, I can put this on in the morning and not have to worry about my eyebrows migrating downwards during the day (yikes!). The only thing I don't love is the highlight, I just didn't find it useful. It was virtually undetectable on my fair skin, but with that being said I really liked this palette. It takes a little longer to apply than my usual brow pencil, but the results are really great! You can get this beauty at drugstores for $10.99.

Is there anything better than getting a great makeup palette at an affordable price? Very little! Maybelline hit it out of the park this holiday season! Let me know if you've tried either of these (or if they're on your wishlist).

XO- Brittney

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Tony Moly Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm

Hello Beautiful Ones!

The alternate title for this post is "I'm a sucker for cute packaging." This is a beauty product that wasn't even on my radar, I just happened to run across this little egg shaped beauty during a trip to Sephora and I knew I needed to try it. Honestly I had already made my mind up about getting it before I even knew what it did exactly. So today, I'm reviewing the Tony Moly Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm.

Tony Moly is a Korean beauty brand. I've tried one other Tony Moly product before: the I'm Real Rice Face Mask For Clear Skin (review here). I really enjoyed that one, so I was excited to try this. According to the box (which is completely adorable by the way), this product "removes sebum and dead skin cells that clog pores." In case you're like me and you have no idea what sebum is, I googled it and it's an oily secretion (gross right? No wonder they chose the word sebum). And Sephora calls it a "self-heating balm that acts as a steamer to open up your pores. I've never really had too many blackheads, although I do occasionally get them around my upper lip. With that being said, I was really excited to see how this balm might help my oily, acne prone skin, and large pores. 

When you pop open this cute little egg you can see that the balm is a clear gel with very tiny orange beads in it. The other thing I noticed from the sample in the store (besides the packaging of course) was the amazing smell. Seriously, it's so good! It has a very bright citrus-y smell, although it is fairly strong so if scented beauty products aren't your thing then this might not be the one for you. 

According to the box directions you "apply an appropriate amount onto areas with blackheads"(don't ask me what an appropriate amount is) and rub it into your skin for 3-5 minutes, then wash off with warm water. I decided to apply it to my nose and cheeks. As soon as you start rubbing it into your skin it turns from a clear gel to white with a creamy consistency. I found that massaging this into my skin along with the lovely smell was really relaxing! You can feel the small beads, but it doesn't feel too abrasive when you're rubbing it in. I didn't however really notice it heat up too much, but it was still a pleasant experience. 

The first thing I noticed when I washed it off was that my skin was very pink. I would suggest using this at night or at a time when you're not planning to go out right away, it didn't last too long though. The other thing I noticed was that my skin felt soft and a lot less oily. I think this really would do wonders on blackheads because it really cleans out your pores. As far as the size of my pores I haven't seen any major changes but they do look slightly smaller. 

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this product, but I have to say that I really like it. You can get it for $18 at Sephora, although I just checked the website and they are currently sold out so you might want to snag it if you see it in store. 

So as it turns out that this product is pretty great both inside and out!

XO- Brittney

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Fab or Flop? Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Confession: I'm a little bit stubborn. I know what you're thinking: what in the world does that have to do with mascara?! Well, today's fab or flop feature is a product that has been getting gushing reviews all over the blogosphere lately and I think that's why I've been dragging my feet so much on trying it myself. I just hate giving in to insane hype, you know? I'm not a complete crazy person right? (please agree with me for my sanity!) Anyways, here I am to tell you if I think the Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara is fab or a flop.

I'm usually pretty fickle when it comes to mascara, always trying new ones and flip-flopping on my favorites. But, recently I've been pretty hooked on the Benefit Roller Lash (review here, shameless plug) so I was very interested to see if this drugstore offering could hold its own and back up the hype.

Let's start, as always, with the packaging. It's lovely. There's not much else to say about it. The metallic fire engine red and fuschia colors go together perfectly, and pop next to the black. It's a nice size. Not too big, not too small.

The thing that Maybelline is really marketing as the game-changer here is the brush. The bristles are a "cup shape" that is supposed to perfectly coat and push-up your lashes. I'm not going to lie I thought it would be much easier to see the "cup" shape when I took the brush out of the tube, but it pretty much looks like a normal mascara brush. I kind of wish they would have packaged it with the brush outside of the tube so that you can really see the shape before it's coated in mascara, but oh well! (I could also wash it off myself if I wasn't completely lazy). Here's some brush pics:

So with all that being said: does it actually work? I've been wearing this one for well over a week now and I can definitely say YES! It really does separate and lift the lashes extremely well. I would even compare it to my beloved Roller Lash in that respect. And the lasting power is fantastic. Not only can it survive a whole day of work but it even stayed put after a run! (I know, I did physical activity what a shocker). My only (small) complaint is that sometimes the product can get a little built up in the bristles so you either have to wipe off the excess with a tissue or just patiently work the brush through your lashes until it is evenly distributed.

My final review?  The Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara is 100% fab. You can get it for about $7.50 at most drugstores. The quality of product versus the price is phenomenal. Definitely holds its own against a lot of high end mascaras!

Have you tried this one yet? Let me know!

XO- Brittney

P.S. Thanks so much for stopping by, it means so much! Follow me on Bloglovin' or Twitter to know every time I make a new post! <3

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The PERFECT Fall Nail Color

Hello Beautiful Ones!

There is soup in my crockpot, apple cider in my mug, and fuzzy socks on my feet. I have finally decided to fully embrace fall! What better way to do that than with a gorgeous fall inspired nail shade? Nothing! Today we're talking about a color I'm officially obsessed with: Essie's Frock 'N Roll from their Fall 2015 collection.

I actually hesitated on buying this one, because it is just so much darker than the nail colors that I would normally gravitate towards. But as soon as I got it home and put in on my nails I was so happy. It is absolutely beautiful. 

Frock 'N Roll is a gorgeous deep plum, but what I think makes it really interesting is that it has an unexpected silver shimmer in it. It is a subtle enough that your nail doesn't look like a disco ball, but still gives the color a little extra dimension. 

It applied very easily and the coverage was great. I only needed one coat. The finish has a shine, but it's not too shiny. I've never met an Essie polish that didn't have good lasting power and this one is no exception. 

I am definitely going to be LIVING in this one this fall! What fall nail shades do you have your eyes on? I hope you can enjoy it with a cozy warm drink!

XO- Brittney 

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Maybelline Called Out Makeup Shaming on Twitter and It Was Awesome

Hello Beautiful Ones!

So this is a post that has been floating around in my head for a few days and I can't not write it out. The other day I was mindlessly scrolling through Twitter (as one does) when a post caught my attention and made me scroll backwards. It was a tweet from the makeup brand Maybelline's official twitter account responding to a tweet they had been mentioned in:

www.twitter.com/Maybelline

The original tweet is from a Twitter user, who appears to be a male, and says: "Girls remember that if you're wearing the entire counter of @Maybelline, you can't claim to be all naturally #beautiful #lessismore #makeup"

Maybelline's response: "Oh yes they can sir. Our girls are #bornwithit beauties whether they wear makeup or not."

There are so many things I want to say about this I don't even know where to start. But let's try to break it down beginning with the original tweet. I appreciate the fact that there are people out there male or female who want women to know that they don't need to wear makeup to be beautiful. That is a completely true statement and one that I stand behind 100%. With that being said, the argument for natural beauty does not excuse makeup shaming. I am a feminist and to me feminism means to support equality for women and to encourage them to do whatever it is they want. Basically to me, feminism means not telling a woman that she can't do something simply because she is female. By telling a woman that she shouldn't wear makeup (no matter how good your intentions might be) you are telling her what to do. Instead of telling women that they should or should not wear makeup, why don't we just tell women (and everyone for that matter) to just do whatever the heck makes them happy. If that includes makeup awesome, if not that's also awesome. It is never right to shame someone for doing/wearing something that makes them feel positive and happy. 

That brings us to Maybelline's response. I was practically screaming at my computer as if Maybelline was my favorite Football team and I was watching them make a touchdown during the last seconds of the game. I think that their response was perfect. They expressed that women are beautiful makeup or no, without attacking the Tweeter who said otherwise. When you have a difference of opinion with someone I feel that it is so important to address it with as much understanding and patience as we can. Attacking someone back is not going to solve the problem, only escalate it. Here's how this interaction played out incase you were wondering:

You could argue that Maybelline just wants to sell more makeup and that certainly is their business (by the way, this post is 100% unsponsored), but at the end of the day I think they made a great point. Makeup shaming is something we should all be talking about and I appreciate the fact that they were willing to open up an honest dialogue about it on a very public forum. 

So what is my point here? Let's stop makeup shaming. Instead of telling each other what we should or should not be doing, let's just encourage each other to embrace the things that make us feel confident and happy. There is nothing more beautiful than someone who is genuinely happy. 

XO- Brittney

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Lush - The Comforter Shower Cream

Hello Beautiful Ones!

I have to admit I was a little sad when I heard that Lush was retiring some of their old products (the You Snap the Whip Body Butter and Space Girl Bath Bomb were two of my favorites!), but I was also pretty excited to hear that there was a whole slew of new products coming! As soon as I started hearing about the new things available at Lush's Oxford St. store the one that really caught my attention was the Comforter Shower Cream and I finally got my hands on it.

This shower cream and a few other new products are now available on Lush's website and are starting to be available in stores as well. The Comforter is one of Lush's best selling bubble bar scents and for good reason! Comforter is a strong blackcurrant scent. The perfect thing for fall/winter!

This is a shower cream and not a shower gel so it has a bit of a thicker consistency. It doesn't lather up right away, but it does create a nice lather after some rubbing. It left my skin feeling extremely moisturized and soft.

You can get the Comforter Shower Cream for $9.95 (3.3 oz.). It's absolutely perfect for anyone who loves the Comforter smell, but doesn't have the time (or the bathtub) for a bath!

Let me know if there are any new Lush products you have your eyes on!

XO- Brittney

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The 5 Looks From Lauren Conrad's NYFW Show That Are On My Wishlist

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Fall is here and so is New York Fashion Week! I was pretty excited when I heard that Lauren Conrad would be hosting her first ever runway show for her LC Lauren Conrad line at Kohl's. I will be honest, I have a serious girl crush on Lauren Conrad! Her clothes are beautiful, her blog is inspirational, and she is a self-made woman! I own several pieces from her previous Kohl's collections and they are some of the most favorite things in my closet. So here are the 5 looks from Lauren's runway show that are on my lust list.

I love the way that Lauren's designs mix a delicate femininity with a powerful edge. All of the pieces from Lauren's show are already available on Kohl's website.

www.kohls.com

Faux-Suede Moto Jacket- $90.00
Lace Bandeau Top- $33.00
Organza Ball Skirt- $55.50

www.kohls.com

Tiered Fringe Crop Top- $37.50
Velvet Cigarette Pants- $45.00

www.kohls.com

Velvet & Tulle Dress- $52.50

www.kohls.com

Bow Sleeve Blouse- $24.99
High-Waist Soft Pants- $36.00

www.kohls.com

Embroidered Popover Top- $45.00
Embroidered Shorts- $45.00

All prices are the current sale prices listed on Kohl's website. I feel like so many of these pieces could be easily transitioned from day to night. I need those velvet cigarette pants like now!

Are you following NYFW15? What fall trends are you most excited for? Let me know!

XO- Brittney

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My Wish For You

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Do you ever feel like you have just blinked and suddenly years have passed? I'm definitely having one of those moments right now because my little sister turned 18 today! What?! It seems like just yesterday we were playing with Barbies and watching Disney Channel together and now she's starting her senior year and preparing for college! Being 6 years apart we've had our ups and downs in our relationship, but I can honestly say she's my best friend and I can't wait to see the amazing things she's going to do in her life. This is my wish for my Sister Shelby and anyone else out there who is starting a new chapter in their lives.

My wish for you is that you live your life with the wonder of a child. At 24 I can officially consider myself an adult, but I've learned how important it is to never stop asking questions or stop being amazed by all of the truely wonderful things that the world has to offer. Don't get so caught up in being a successful adult that you forget to admire the little things. Try to enjoy every little victory.

My wish for you is that you surround yourself with people who love and support you in all things that you do. It actually took me a lot longer than it should have to realize that all you really need is to find a few good people who will encourage you to be yourself. Someone that will be there for you always. It really is the quality of your friends not the quantity that matters.

My wish for you is that you NEVER let anyone or anything stop you from following your dreams. Following your dreams is not an easy task. It can be scary and sometimes even painful, but I promise you that the result is worth it. Sometimes you have to endure the storm to get the rainbow at the end. My wish for you is that you never give up.

Happy birthday to one of the prettiest and most talented sisters in the world (I might be a little biased!). Never stop being you!

XO- Brittney

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How to Get Out of That Beauty Rut

Hello Beautiful Ones!

As humans we are creatures of habit. It used to baffle me that even though most of my college classes had free seating plans (meaning you could sit wherever you wanted) my classmates and I would inevitably sit in the same seats every time. And if someone dared to sit in a different spot it threw everyone into a tissy (does anyone even say tissy anymore?! ). The point is, it's very easy to fall into a rut and the same goes for your beauty routine. Believe me, I definitely own infinite versions of the exact same coral pink nailpolish shade (oops!). So how can we expand our beauty regimens without going too far out of our comfort zones?

Lord knows I still haven't completely mastered the art of mixing up my beauty routine. Why mess with something if it works right? But the thing is that I wear makeup as a way of expression and because I like it (I strongly believe that you should only wear makeup if you want to, not because you feel that you need to wear it to please society), but if I'm wearing the same products or colors over and over it can get boring. Of course along with being creatures of habit we humans also tend to dislike change. So here are some of my tips for pushing yourself (gently) out of that beauty rut.

1.) Ease into it Slowly.

I know this one seems a little silly, but I'm serious. If you make a drastic change it is likely that your routine loving brain will reject it more strongly. So maybe just try one new thing in your daily routine. For example, you could use a dark brown mascara instead of black or pick a lip tint in the same shade as your normal gloss. Eventually you can work yourself up to trying and using other colors and products more often.

2.) Rotate through your products.

You know that super cute top that you forgot you even owned because it's living in the depths of your closet? Well the same thing can easily happen to your makeup. If you're like me then your organize your makeup and beauty products so that the ones that you use the most often are the most accessible. That makes sense, but it also makes it easier for you to use the same things over and over. So try every week (or whatever interval of time you want to use) to just change the placement of your products so the ones you use the least are at the front. You might find that the blush you completely dismissed and threw to the back of your drawer actually looks really lovely on you (And if it doesn't maybe it's time to clear it out). 

3.) Do a product swap.
Have a friend or family member that also has a stale beauty routine they'd like to shake up? That's perfect! Get together and swap some of those products you never use. Remember that old saying? One person's trash is another person's treasure. You probably have some things that you thought were going to look fabulous on you but just didn't. It might be perfect for your BFF though! My sister and I give each other dibs when we're cleaning out our makeup collections. So much better than throwing it out. You could even make a party out of it (any excuse for a party is a good one)! Of course you should avoid swapping certain products like mascara that shouldn't be shared!

4.) Crack out those samples.
If you are like me then you have a pile of free makeup and beauty samples that have been tossed to the side because it wasn't as convenient as using your full sized products (I'm lazy ok?). But some of those samples could actually be a holy grail waiting to be discovered. Makeup brands and stores will typically give you samples of their pricier products in an effort to entice you to buy the full sizes. So often you're getting something pretty great. If you shop at Sephora at all I would suggest enrolling in their Beauty Insider program. It's free and you can always get an extra free deluxe sample with any $25 purchase online (just be sure to check out the weekly specials section on their website). Plus, you get a reward point for every dollar you spend and you can save up your points for extra rewards.

Well there you go. My tips for breaking out of the dreaded beauty rut. I'd love to hear your own tips if you have them! We can help each other stay fresh and new (giggle)!

XO- Brittney

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Monday Musings: The Significance of Dying My Hair

Hello Beautiful Ones!

I think it was sometime around 7th grade when my naturally blonde and curly hair started fading to brunette. I was horrified. Honestly, it was like I was having some sort middle school mid-life crisis. I know that sounds pretty crazy, but it starts to seem a little less ludicrous when you look at the kinds of things that we all use to describe and define ourselves: our jobs, our relationships, our hobbies, and our possessions. You know what I'm talking about: "Hi I'm Joe I'm a doctor and a husband who golfs on the weekends and drives a Ferrari." All of these things influence who we are, but they aren't inherently us right? But sometimes they feel like they are. I guess that's why my changing locks had 7th grade Brittney going into panic mode. I had lived my whole life up until that point as a blonde and now suddenly I wasn't one anymore. Insert the blonde hair dye.

I continued dying my hair blonde all through high school and through most of college. Seriously, besides the times when I didn't make it to the salon in time and my roots starting showing, I was a perpetual blonde. But eventually all those trips to the salon began wearing on me (and my wallet). So that's why spring break of my senior year of college I found myself sitting in a salon chair while my stylist mixed up the brunette hair dye. I felt this weird nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach even though I had dyed my hair many times before. This one felt different. Probably because I had never actually seen myself as a brunette.

But why was that such a big deal? Did my hair color really matter that much to me? Those are the things I was thinking about while I waited for the chemicals on my head to do their magic and make me a brunette. When my stylist finally finished up and spun me around in the chair so I could get a look in the mirror I was shocked. It was me... but brunette. I mean duh that was what I had asked for, but it was still a shock. I kind of hated it. In fact, I would have gone straight back to the salon the next day to change it back to blonde if it hadn't been for my family insisting that it looked great.

Eventually, I fell in love with it too. But it wasn't until quite some time later when I realized why it had taken me so many years to embrace the brunette. I think it was because it took me that long to embrace my true self. I know what you're thinking: "Ummm, Brittney your hair color doesn't define your personality." And you would be totally right, but what I'm saying is that I had to be able to 100% embrace and love my true self on the inside before I could embrace and love my true self on the outside.

I've always been pretty shy and introverted. It was in college where I finally found my groove. I threw myself into my passions and surrounded myself with people who supported and accepted me for who I was. What I'm saying is, I realize now that I was kind of wearing the blonde hair as a mask. I think we can all have different masks that we wear: our hair color, our clothes, our attitudes, our makeup, and the list goes on. Once the mask came off it was really scary, but also really liberating. Don't get me wrong, I had some really good times in that blonde hair, but at this point in my life I've never been happier.

You are who you are despite what your hair color is: blonde, brunette, purple, green, or whatever. But if you are wearing some sort of mask in your life I hope you have the courage to take it off, because I have a feeling that you are really going to like what you see.

XO- Brittney

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Beauty Products That Will Help You Hang On to Summer

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Can we just talk for a minute about how it's already mid-August? Like, how did that happen?! Fall is seriously going to be here before we know it, but as always I'm living in complete denial. Summer will forever be my favorite season (and you can't make me change!). Last year around this time I wrote a post about some beauty products that will help you hang on to summer (you can check that out here if you want). Since that's still one of my favorite posts I figured I would bring it back. Don't fix what's not broken right?!

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

Let me just start by saying that the smell of this product is worth it all on it's own. I know that makes me sound like an actual crazy person, but I'm serious. The smell that hits you when you open the trademark little black pot will instantly transport you to having a cocktail on the beach (sign me up!). The ingredient list includes sea salt, avocado, coconut, lime, and vodka. Yes, I said Vodka. Besides smelling like actual heaven, it's also a great scrub. There are some thick minerals of sea salt in there that do a great job of exfoliating your skin. It's perfect for scrubbing off any dry skin before you shave. This is a little on the pricier side at $21.95 for 4.2 oz., but like I said: totally worth every penny (On a side note: we finally got a Lush store in my city, so it's safe to assume I'm always broke).

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

I've said it before, and I will say it again: Not Your Mother's is one of my favorite drugstore haircare lines of all time! They make seriously good stuff at a super affordable price. My hair is on the thicker side and naturally curly so sea salt sprays usually work well for me, and this one is no exception. Again, the smell is amazing. It's like someone put coconut and sunshine in a bottle (that makes sense right?). What's really great about this spray though, is that it gives you a nice amount of texture without being sticky. And the best part? You can get it at the drugstore for only $4.79!

Tarte Park Avenue Princess Contour Palette

This is a little palette that I've had for a while, but that I've found myself reaching for a lot recently. It features a full sized bronzer on one side with a half blush/half highlight on the other side. The bronzer is in the shade Park Ave Princess and is a pretty light bronzer, but it works really well on my fair skin. It's also very easy to blend, which I appreciate (bronzer has always been my makeup nemesis). The blush is the shade Posh which is a light pink. You literally can't go wrong with a light pink blush. And finally, the highlight is the shade Champagne Gold which is sort of a white gold. The highlight is not super pigmented, but I feel that it does give you a nice little warm glow. It's so handy to have all three of these products in one little sleek palette. Who says you have to lose that summer glow?! Oh and you can get this palette for $34, which is a great value for everything you're getting.

L'oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator 

I picked this up at the drugstore recently (full review here), and I've found myself using it a lot. I have the shade Rose Gold which I can only describe as a mix between a bronzer and a highlighter. It gives you a nice glow with a little shine mixed in there. You can wear this all over you face for serious glow or in targeted areas. I usually apply a little to the top of my cheekbones, above my eyebrows, and on the bridge of my nose. I think this would be the perfect product to help you transition into fall while not completely giving up that glow. You can get it for $12.99 at the drugstore. 

Lucky for me it's still 90 degrees here in Nebraska so I don't have to give up my beloved summer quite yet. How do you plan to hang on to summer?

XO- Brittney

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Dealing with Adult Acne

Hello Beautiful Ones!

I will be the first to tell you that being an adult is pretty awesome (ok, not the bills), but there's something pretty great about being able to make your own choices and finding out that you actually are capable of taking care of yourself. Amazing right! You know what's not amazing though? When your acne prone face makes you feel more like 14 than 24. Today we're talking about dealing with adult acne.

I will be the first to tell you that acne is not fun at any age. I've been dealing with it since I was a teenager, but I was always operating under the assumption that eventually I would grow out of it. If I could just survive high school I would be fine (we all just pretend high school never happened anyway, right?). But that's not what happened. In fact, it was pretty much the exact opposite. By the time I was a sophomore in college my acne had gotten much worse and was completely out of control. Not only was I breaking out constantly, but the pimples were becoming large and painful. Also, my extremely oily skin was no match for makeup. Attempting to cover up my acne just didn't do much good.

I tried nearly every treatment I could get my hands on including Proactive and just about everything offered at the drugstore, but nothing could handle my acne. I found a few things that worked for a while, but it was like my skin would eventually wise up to my tricks and the acne would return in full force. That's when I finally scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist.

My dermatologist started my on a regimen of an oral antibiotic and prescription topical cream. The improvement was gradual, but also pretty amazing. There was just one little set back when I was allergic to the first antibiotic (let that be a lesson to all of you to keep track of your allergies, yikes!). But once we found an antibiotic that worked for me my skin improved greatly. I was no longer getting those painful pimples, and I didn't feel like I had to cake on makeup just to go outside.

I took a little break from the dermatologist when I moved cities, but now I'm back on course. I'm once again taking an oral antibiotic and using a prescription topical cream. My current dermatologist suggested the Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash. I've been using it for a couple months now and I really like it. It's an extremely gentle cleanser that helps keep my oily skin under control.

I'm not advocating that you absolutely have to turn to medicine or prescriptions to cure your acne. That's the thing, everyone's skin is different. You just have to find what works for you. I also want to be very clear in saying that the acne on your face doesn't make you who you are. I promise you, you are beautiful just the way you are! But, with that being said you shouldn't have to deal with painful acne, or feel self conscious that people are only looking at your acne and not you. I've finally found something that works for me and I just wanted to share!

Here's to being adults (while still acting like children)!

XO- Brittney

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Get That (Subtle) Glow!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

We're officially approaching that deep part of summer where there becomes a fine line between looking 'glowy' and looking like you are about to melt into a pile of sweat (that's never happened to us right?). Trust me there are some summer days here in Nebraska where 'hot mess' isn't just a phrase, but an actual lifestyle. So how then do we get just that right amount of glow?! Well L'Oréal  might have just the thing: the True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator.

I ran across a display of these during a trip to ULTA the other day. They come in three shades and each shade also has a powder version, but I've always been a sucker for a good liquid highlighter especially during the summer time. I just don't like to put a ton of powder on my face when it's really hot. The three shades are Golden, Ice, and Rose. I went for Rose.

I was already sold when I thought this was just a liquid illuminator, but when I got it home and started actually reading the package I realized that it was being marketed as either an illuminator or can be mixed with foundation for an overall glow boost. Naturally, my little multitasking heart was overjoyed.

The first thing I noticed when I squeezed some of the product onto my finger was that the color was not exactly what I was expecting. I guess I was thinking that it wouldn't be quite so bronzy? I don't know. But it is a nice rose-gold color. Here's a color swatch:

As you can see, it blends into the skin easily which is nice. And it does create a nice little glow. I wasn't sold at first, but I think it just wasn't exactly what I was expecting. But now that I've been wearing it regularly for about a week I've been really loving it. Sometimes I use it as more of a spot illuminator on my cheeks and on the bridge of my nose, and other times I just go all out and wear it all over. It's subtle enough that you can wear it on your entire face or mixed with foundation. If you're feeling like a light makeup day I think you could even wear this on its own for just a little extra glow. It lasts well and applies easily. Just make sure you blend it in well so you don't get any streaks or harsh lines.

As far as drugstore makeup goes this is a little on the pricier side at $12.99 a bottle, but I do think it's a nice product to have in your arsenal. Especially in the summer when it's nice to have a little extra glow!

How do you like to get that subtle summer glow? Let me know!

XO- Brittney

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Urban Decay Naked Smoky is Here!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

I don't know about you but whenever an exciting new palette lands in the beauty world I usually end up thinking to myself "you definitely don't need a new eyeshadow palette you lunatic," and then I inevitably buy said palette because I have no willpower (I think we've established that haven't we?). This week Urban Decay launched something I could just not pass up, the highly anticipated Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette.

I should probably let you know that I own the original Naked palette, but have managed to keep myself from buying the Naked2 and Naked3 (see, I can control myself sometimes). But this new one looked like it had some colors that I could really get some use out of from day to day. It's easier to justify the $54 price tag when you feel that you can get a lot of versatile use out of a palette.

Let's start as always with the packaging. The outside packaging has a smoky/marbly (is that a word?) look to it. It just so happens to look gorgeous on my marble tiled table. Would it be weird if I displayed my eyeshadow in my entryway? Nevermind, don't answer that. The packaging is plastic and seems sturdy. My only complaint here is that it does seem a little heavy, and almost clunky. I also fear what might happen if I were to drop it on my bathroom floor with my butterfingers. But with that being said, I love that you get a very large mirror on the inside. It kind of annoys me when some palettes use what could be extra mirror space to add some more useless plastic (rant over).

Another handy feature? The palette comes with a double ended brush. To be honest I usually prefer to use my own everyday makeup brushes, but the brush is helpful if you're going to just grab the palette and go. One end of the brush is your standard eyeshadow shape and the other side is a standard crease shape. Good job Urban Decay!

Now let's get to the main event: colors! Even though this palette is marketed as the perfect tool to make any smoky eye look, I still think it can easily be used for day time. If you take the shades from left to right, you will notice that it starts out with shimmers and then gradually transitions into mattes. I personally gravitate towards shimmers so those are the ones that I noticed first.

Let's start with the shimmers first. I am obsessed with the first four in particular. I could wear the combination of High and Dirtysweet every single day. High reminds me a little of Sidecar from the original palette, except that the specks of glitter aren't so large making it more suitable for every day. Dirtysweet is your typical gold shimmer, and Radar is a nice brown shimmer. Armor is a lovely gray metallic with a lot of dimension, I feel like you could do some really cool things with that one! Slanted and Dagger have less shimmer, but both have great color payoff.

Black Market is a nice black matte to have in your collection, but it does have a hint of glitter. I wish that Smolder came off a little more purple when you swatch it, but I think it might look really cool on the lower lashline. Password is a very nice grey matte, while Whiskey is an equally nice brown matte. I haven't made up my mind on Combust and Thirteen. The color payoff is almost nonexistent on my fair skin, I'm just not sure that I can make them work. However, Thirteen could possibly be used as a highlighter if I cake it on. They would probably work if you have a darker complexion though.

All in all, the quality of these shadows is exactly what you would expect from an Urban Decay Naked palette at this point. Very creamy and lovely. The staying power is also good (I always use a shadow primer), but I have yet to see any creasing or rub off. At the end of the day did I need this palette? No I didn't, but I am very happy with it. Treat yo self right? Let me know if you plan on splurging on this one (or if you already have)!

XO- Brittney

P.S. I'd love to see you on Twitter!

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Stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Primer

Hello Beautiful Ones!

We are definitely in the middle of summer, it's a sunny 91 degrees here in nebraska, and I couldn't be happier! There is something about summer heat that just makes me feel so weightless and happy, but you know what else the summer heat does? Melt off your makeup (ugh). This is of course unless you have a great makeup primer! So today I'm telling you about a new one: the Stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Primer.

Stila is marketing this product as a primer stick that is cooling, hydrating, and reduces pores and redness. That all sounds pretty good to me, so I was pretty excited to try this. In fact I was basically stalking it in Sephora for a couple of weeks until I finally convinced myself to buy it (My curiosity won out against my frugal side this time). I also found it interesting that it comes in a stick form, most of my favorite primers come in tubes but this seemed like it would be especially handy for traveling. 

The first thing that I noticed when I popped open the lid was that it, is a solid but it has the consistency of a gel when you touch it. Then I actually put it on my face... oh my goodness, it really is cooling. It kind of reminds me of an aloe vera gel that you would use to calm sunburned skin, except it doesn't have all that sticky mess that comes with an aloe gel. It feels so good to apply on a hot and sticky summer morning. 

When it comes to application you can either rub some onto your finger and apply it that way or just go for your face with the stick (which is usually what I do). It feels very light on the skin which I love. It isn't a miracle on pores or redness, but I do think it helps. The big plus is that it is very hydrating, and possibly most importantly it makes my makeup stay on my face even in the heat (hallelujah). My favorite moisturizing primer for a long time has been the Too Faced Hangover, but I have to say that this one gives it a run for its money. I just love the cooling properties of this Stila primer. 

Bottom line? This is a MUST HAVE for the summer or someone who lives in a warm climate. Definitely worth the $28 price tag. 

Have you tried this one? Let me know! As always thanks for reading and make sure you go out and enjoy the sunshine if you're lucky enough to have it (she says from inside an air conditioned coffee shop)! 

XO- Brittney 

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Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Gloss Review

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Long time no blog! I took a little break last week, but now I'm back with a review of a product I've been excited about ever since I heard whispers about it in the good ol' blogosphere. Maybelline has just released a gloss version of their coveted Baby Lips line! Today I'm reviewing the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Gloss in the shades Fab & Fuchsia, A Wink of Pink, and Pink-A-Boo.

I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Baby Lips balms so I had VERY high expectations for these. The collection is made up of three different finishes: gel, shimmer, and cream. I grabbed a shade in each finish (and then I happy danced out of Target, but that's besides the point).

First off, I will say that the color payoff on these is not very bright. So if you are going solely for a bright colored gloss, then these probably aren't the glosses for you. Here's a swatch of all three:

From left to right: Pink-A-Boo, A Wink of Pink, and Fab & Fuschia.

The first gloss I grabbed was the gel finish in the shade Fab and Fuscia. As I said, none of these have a heavy color payoff so don't let the bright pink scare you off! This is mostly a clear gloss with a little bit of a pink tint. This is the type of finish I had in mind when I heard that Maybelline was doing a Baby Lips gloss. It feels very hydrating on the lips. None of these are sticky and all feel very comfortable to wear. It's not super long wearing, but the lasting power is pretty standard for a gloss.

The next gloss is the shimmer finish in the shade A Wink of Pink. When I picked this one up in the store, I was honestly expecting to like it the least. I just felt like the pink glitter might not look very mature, but I am happy to tell you that this is the one I keep finding myself reaching for. Once again the color is very subtle, and so is the glitter. It really just looks like a little extra shimmer, not a heap of glitter on your lips. I can easily wear this to work without feeling weird about it. This one is a little less hydrating than the gel, but still comfortable to wear. 

Finally, I grabbed the cream finish in the shade Pink-A-Boo. I really thought I was going to love this one the most, but it actually turned out to be my least favorite (I guess that old line that you can't judge a book by its cover applies to gloss too!). The color here comes off more as a little bit of a pearl shine and I felt it made my lips a little white looking. But the more I started to wear it, the more it grew on me. I think I was just a little taken by surprise initially. Again, it feels hydrating and nice on the lips.

I think the major thing to keep in mind here is that all of these are only going to give you a hint of color. Overall I was really impressed with these. The applicator makes them easy to apply and they are small enough to throw in your purse or bag. Plus, the packaging is adorable in true Baby Lips fashion! I love the way these feel on the lips and at $3.49 they are super affordable. I'm probably going to pick up a few more, not going to lie!

Have you tried these yet? Let me know!

XO- Brittney

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Urban Decay Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Today I'm talking about a product that has a long name but also a lot of uses, so it balances out right?! I stumbled across the Urban Decay Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil while I was browsing the new arrivals section on the Sephora website (as one does), and I thought it looked really interesting. The idea is that this primer pencil can be used for lining lips, priming eyelids, under concealer, or whatever!

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for any makeup product that has multiple uses. Why buy several products when you can get one that does it all? It's just logic! The trick though, is finding multi-use products that actually work. A lot of products claim to do just about everything but mow your lawn, and then they don't deliver (a blush that could mow your lawn would be pretty cool though, let's get on that science!). The point is, I hold my multipurpose products to high standards. 

First of all, I really like the idea of a clear lip liner because on most days I can't be bothered to match my lip color to my lipliner. Also, a clear liner is great for glosses too. This works pretty good as a lip liner.  It glides on effortlessly and feels so light on the skin, you can barely tell it's there. I haven't tried it with any heavy duty lipsticks yet, but I do feel like it helped my lip color stay on longer. 

One of my favorite uses for this pencil so far is as a primer on my eyelids. I've always been a big fan of the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, and I feel like this one is similar quality. It makes your eyeshadow last all day with no creasing or rub-off. I've also tried this as a primer under my concealer. It worked ok, but I wasn't really wowed. I have pretty oily skin, and I feel like it did melt off a little. 

With that being said, I feel that this is little multi-tasker that would be useful in any makeup collection. This pencil would be especially useful if you travel a lot or to throw in your purse or gym bag. It's so portable and can be used for so many different things! Also, the price point is pretty reasonable at $16.

Have you tried this one yet? Let me know!

XO- Brittney 

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Tony Moly I'm Real Rice Face Mask for Clear Skin

Hello Beautiful Ones!

I love trying out new beauty brands that I've never tried before, and Tony Moly is one that I've had my eyes on for a while now. Everything they have available at Sephora seems to disappear immediately. So is it worth the hype? Today I'm reviewing the I'm Real Rice Face Mask Sheet for Clear Skin.

Tony Moly has an entire line of these face mask sheets that target different skin needs. There are five of them available at Sephora (where I got mine), but according to the Tony Moly website the line has 11 varieties. I picked up the rice mask for clear skin because I've always had acne prone skin. 

As always I'll start with the packaging: I like this one! It's cute and simple. What more could you ask for? Here are some close ups of both the front and back of the packaging:

Each sheet mask is individually wrapped. It has holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth. The first thing I noticed when I pulled it out of the package was that it was literally dripping with moisture. The mask was folded up in the package, but was pretty easy to unfold and flatten out. All you have to do is place the mask on your face and wait 20-30 minutes before removing it. The mask stayed on pretty well, although I was mostly just laying on my bed watching netflix the whole time (shhh don't tell). The package directs you not to rinse your face after you remove the mask, but rather just rub in any oil left on your face. I was able to rub it into my skin easily.

According to Sephora the natural rice extract in this mask is supposed to "moisturize, brighten, and instantly invigorate your complexion." I felt like the mask really did that. My skin felt so soft and fresh. This mask would be perfect for a relaxing at-home spa day. Did it completely clear up my skin and get rid of all my blemishes? No it absolutely did not, but I was still happy with the results. Besides all the added moisture I felt that my skin also looked brighter. 

You can pick up a pack of two masks at Sephora for $7.50, which I feel is a completely reasonable price and totally worth the money. I would like to try some of the other masks available in the line to see what they're like. This one is definitely a winner for me!

Let me know if you've tried this face mask or have any holy grail products from the Tony Moly brand. I'd like to try more of their stuff!

XO- Brittney 

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