Tarte Park Ave Princess Contour Palette- Review & Swatches

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Is there anything better than holiday palettes and gift sets? Is it bad that I love to buy said gift sets for myself? Oh well, it's important to treat yourself! One of the limited edition holiday palettes that really caught my eye was this Park Ave Princess contour palette from Tarte featuring a bronzer, blush, and highlighter.

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate this packaging? It really is gorgeous, and perfect for a gift (or to keep!). Here are some close ups of the packaging.

The palette is really slim and sleek. I love that you get a decent amount of each product. Also, there is a very large mirror in this compact which comes in handy if you are going to be doing any traveling. It's really convenient to have a bronzer, blush, and highlighter all in one palette. 

This palette includes a bronzer: Park Ave Princess, a blush: Posh, and a highlighter: Champagne Gold. I want to start out by saying that none of these colors are super bold, but since I have a very fair complexion they all work really well for me. You can build up the color as well. Here are some color swatches:

I've been applying these with a kabuki brush. Application is pretty easy, however you only need to tap your brush lightly in the bronzer to get a really good color payoff. The staying power is good, it can easily withstand a full day of work. Also, these colors are totally school/work appropriate.

The price tag is a little hefty at $34, but I would say that the product is totally worth it. Overall, this is a great value and a really nice piece for any makeup collection. Let me know what holiday beauty items are catching your eye this season.

XO- Brittney

Read More

Monday Musings: The Art of Embracing Change

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Happy Monday! The weekend always ends WAY too fast, where does it even go? So here we are at the start of a new week. It's been a while since I have done a Monday musings and there have been a lot of changes happening in my life lately, so that is the theme of the day: change. As always, prepare to experience the inside of my mind (buckle up kids!).

Ok, now on to the serious stuff: change. Change is literally inevitable. Without change we would all just be doing the same exact things day in and day out. That sounds terrible. So why then is change so scary? I think it's super easy to get caught in your comfort zone. Lord knows that happens to me more often than I would like to admit. But as I said, change is bound to happen. So I've decided that when change does happen (regardless of good or bad) the best thing you can do is just embrace it!

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I've been going through a lot of personal changes lately. You may have read on this blog previously that I recently graduated from college and then moved back in with my parents to job hunt. Well, I can officially announce that I am now an adult with a big girl job and rent to pay (bills make me wish I wasn't quite so grown-up).

Although theses changes were ones that I had been looking forward to, I still found them a little daunting when it actually came time to make the changes. First of all, the idea of my first full-time job was intimidating. I found myself thinking things like: "what if I can't handle it, or what if I hate it?" Luckily for me it turned out that those worries were completely unwarranted. After a week on the job I'm already in love with it and my co-workers.

Another change that had me nervous, was that my new job was also in a new city. Not only was I leasing an apartment for the first time, but I was also trying to adjust to a new place without my friends and family close by. I'm still getting used to this one. I'm learning to enjoy my alone time. That's another thing about change though: sometimes adjusting to change will take a little time.

I'm not going to pretend to have the art of embracing change down to a science, but I'm trying. That's all you can really ask of yourself.

To leave you with a little extra inspiration, here are some quotes on change that I love:

“The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.” 

-Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” 

-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” 

-Albert Einstein

I hope you all have some very sparkly changes waiting for you in the near future. Whatever it is, just remember to do your best to embrace it.

XO- Brittney

Read More

October Beauty Favorites

Hello Beautiful Ones!

We can officially mark down another month in the books! I'm guessing many of you are probably recovering from halloween festivities (mine was blissfully uneventful), so why don't we go through a calming little monthly favorites post shall we? Here are the beauty bits I've been loving this month:

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer- $32
Along with the falling leaves and cool weather fall always brings me dry skin, so anytime I can find a product that will add a little moisture I'm a happy girl. This is the perfect face primer for the fall and winter months. Not only will your skin be perfectly prepped for your makeup, but the hydration lasts throughout the day. The texture is similar to a moisturizer, and there is a bit of a smell when it comes out of the tube but I don't notice it after it's on my face.

Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama in Soft Brown- $8
This is a new drugstore brow mascara from Maybelline, and I'm in love! I've been using this over my usual brow pencil. It does a great job of helping you shape your brows and then holding them in place. The hold is good and not crunchy. The brush is rounded at the end and makes shaping and application easy.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black- $20
This is not a new product, but I've just recently developed a love for it. The applicator allows you to make an extremely thin line. The lasting power is awesome, I can put this on in the morning and it's not going anywhere until I remove it at night. If you're looking for a quality liquid liner, this is a great option.

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rio de Rose Gold- $18
If you're looking for a gorgeous liquid eyeshadow, you might want to consider this one from Josie Maran. I was already a fan of the other Josie Maran coconut watercolor makeup products, so I was excited to try this one. The lasting power is good, and the color is stunning. Rio de Rose Gold is a beautiful bronze. Here is the swatch:

Covergirl Colorlicious Lipgloss in Candylicious- $8
I just picked this up recently at the drugstore, but I'm already loving it so I decided to throw it in with my monthly favorites. This is just a really simple and pretty pink gloss. Covergirl is advertising Colorlicious as a  non-sticky gloss, and I would say it fits that description. The gloss glides on easily and feels super hydrating on the lips. I grabbed the shade Candylicious (it was about the only one left on the display), which is a very pretty light pink. Here is the color swatch:

And there you have it: all the beauty things I've been loving this month! Let me know what you were loving during October in the comments.

XO- Brittney

Read More

The Disconnect Between the Internet and Traditional Media

Hello Beautiful Ones!

This one is going to be a little different. I wasn't planning on writing a post today, but then I read an article that made my head spin and I felt that I needed to address it (after calming down... angry rants don't solve anything). I think it's important that we discuss what seems to be a disconnect between traditional media (television, news outlets, newspapers, etc.) and the internet. In the end don't we have very similar goals?

The article that made me see red came from the Independent Voices section of the Independent. The story was about mega-famous beauty vlogger/blogger Zoe Sugg (a.k.a. Zoella) titled "Of course, teenage girls need role models- but not like beauty vlogger Zoella." If that title is making you want to throw things then you probably shouldn't look at the subtitle: "her particular brand of sickly sweet girl power brings me out in hives."

I want to start off here by saying that absolutely everyone is entitled to their own opinions, however I feel that there is a fine line between stating your opinion and angrily attacking someone. The author of the article starts out with the line: "her eyes are enormous." Excuse me for being dense, but what exactly does someone's physical appearance have to do with her ability to be a role model?

The main argument of the article, as I understand it, is that Zoella shouldn't be able to tell young girls to love themselves just the way they are while still doing beauty product reviews and makeup tutorials. As the author puts it:

It’s maddening that a girl who has made it her business to tell teenagers how to put make up on, or get their hair just right, now feels she’s in a position to admonish them for “fretting” about their appearance.

This really makes me sad and angry at the same time. Are you saying that even in 2014 those of us who love makeup aren't allowed to feel like empowered women who can make a difference? The author says that Zoe should be encouraging young girls to go buy a book instead of eyeliner. Personally, I am a beauty blogger with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Does my love of eyeshadow offset my love of learning and knowledge? God I hope not. I am a strong believer that makeup can and should be used as a way of expressing yourself. I strongly advocate that you should only wear makeup because you want to... not because you think you have to in order to please the society you live in. 

This whole thing brings to my attention that there are still those in traditional media who don't understand/fear the internet machine. Zoe found success by being herself and following her passion, and she did it on her own without the help of traditional media. As bloggers we now have the awesome opportunity to share our lives and the things we care about with people all over the world. That is the power of the internet. 

Why is the internet and traditional media in a power struggle? We as humans typically fear things we don't understand. I think that's one of the things that is happening here. How could a girl who sits in her bedroom and reviews mascara on her camera have literally millions of followers (over 6 million Youtube subscribers to date)? The answer: those who are logging on to the internet aren't necessarily looking for an expert opinion. We want to hear from someone we can relate to, someone who can give us their honest opinion without the fear that they are just speaking for the company that pays them. Wouldn't this all be a lot more constructive if the internet and traditional media worked together instead of pushing against eachother. After all don't we want the same things: for people to see and enjoy our content? We are already starting to see some internet/traditional media collaborations, but clearly a complete truce isn't here yet. 

There is quite a bit more I could say about this, but I don't want to put you to sleep. What I do want is for all of you to think about these things. The disconnect between traditional media and the internet, and can someone who reviews makeup still promote inner beauty? It's easy to get angry about these things, but I think we would all be better off if we instead had a really great conversation about it.

As always your opinions are 100% welcome here (no matter what they may be).

<3

XO- Brittney 

Read More

Favorite Nail Polishes for Fall

Hello Beautiful Ones!

The weather today in Nebraska is gorgeous, not exactly fall like. But we can't deny that fall is here (and we have pumpkin spice lattes to prove it!). In an attempt to get myself into the fall spirit I've been sporting some fall-tastic nail colors (that was real cheesy wasn't it? Sorry).

I tend to go for darker colors on my toenails and lighter ones for my fingernails. I felt that these two colors complimented each other really well. Now let's get into the polish reviews and close up pics:

Essie Fall in Line- $8.50
Fall in Line is part of Essie's new fall 2014 collection. I wasn't really planning on buying this one, but when I came across it in the drugstore I just couldn't walk away. It's a gorgeous green that just screams fall (Essie describes it as "jade"). As always the lasting power of Essie is great I've been wearing it for a week now with very few chips. Here is a close up of the color:

Clinique Nighty Night- $12.50
This polish is from Clinique's A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins collection. So if you have any problems with polish irritating your skin this might be a great option for you. The price is a little steeper but the polish is great quality. This color is no longer available on Clinique's website, but I found it at my local counter or I'm sure you could scavenge for it online. This shade is really unique. Depending on the light you're in it can look anywhere from dark brown, maroon, or purple. I'm in love!

These colors are great and not too crazy if you need to wear them in a professional setting. (P.s. I officially got a big-girl job! More on that soon).

Let me know what fall colors you're rocking on your nails!

XO- Brittney

Read More

Coral Cheek Favorites

Hello Beautiful Ones!

We all have colors that we naturally gravitate towards. I never realized that coral was one of mine until I looked over my blush collection. I know that for some people the color coral can be a little intimidating, but I think you might be surprised to find that it is more flattering than you think! If you're now ready to jump in there and give coral a try, here are my three favorites:

Benefit Majorette Booster Blush- $28
I feel like I've been blabbing about this one for the last month (which is mostly true), but I can't help it I just love it so much. Majorette is a cream blush that can be worn alone or as a booster under your favorite blush. So if you're a little leary about coral you can take a small step by wearing this under your favorite pink. If you wear it alone the color starts out subtle, and then can be built up. The lasting power is great and as a bonus it has a really lovely citrus smell that will perk you up in the morning. And as a plus the packaging is adorable!

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in Robust Rhubarb- $21
I love Clinique's chubby sticks, so when they came out with a cheek version I was really excited. I'm a fan of anything that comes in a portable stick form (beauty on the run!). As soon as I saw this color swatched I just knew I had to have it. I just swipe it on my cheeks and then use a blush or kabuki brush to buff it out, but you could also use your fingers. It lasts well and is so easy to apply it's perfect for those days when I'm running late.

Josie Maran Coconut Water Color Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise- $22
This one looks extremely bright in the pot, but I promise you it is not going to turn you into a clown! Once again you can start out slow and then build up the color. Just like the Clinique chubby stick I apply the color with my finger and then buff it out with a brush. I love Josie Maran and her coconut watercolor makeup products and this one is no exception.

Well there you go! Now you can all boldly adventure out into the world of coral cheeks (or at least think about it.) Let me know in the comments if you have ever rocked a coral cheek.

XO- Brittney

Read More

Beauty on a Budget: Two New Drugstore Brow Products

Hello Beautiful Ones!

It's a been a while since I've done a beauty on a budget post, but I promise there will be more drugstore products featured soon! Today we are talking all about brows which have been my longtime nemesis (you can read more about that here). I always appreciate snagging great brow products at the drugstore, but it can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack.

Today I'm reviewing two new drugstore brow offerings. One I've been really enjoying... but the other just isn't really doing it for me. The brow products I've recently purchased are the L'oreal Paris Brow Stylist Sculptor ($8.99), and the Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama ($7.99).

Look at me being all festive with a mini pumpkin (fun fact: my Grandma grew that little pumpkin in her garden so you can thank her for my burst of fall inspiration).

L'oreal Paris Brow Stylist Sculptor in Brunette
Let's start with the product that I'm not exactly loving. L'oreal is marketing this new brow pencil as a 3-in-1 tool for brow shaping. They're counting the pencil on one end, the wax on the other end, and the small brush on the cap as the three tools. The first thing I noticed about this when I first used it was how incredibly pigmented the pencil is. You only have to press very lightly to get a lot of color. I grabbed this pencil in the shade brunette so I would be interested to see how vibrant the blonde shade is. After filling in my brows I ran the wax over my brows to set everything. In my opinion the wax is the star here. Although, you will want to have a sharpener on hand as I have used a lot more of the wax than I have the pencil. I really enjoyed the wax because it did the job without being sticky or gunky. The brush is just ok, personally I prefer a spooly. The real disappointment here though is that I can't seem to make the pencil stay on my brows. By the end of the day it always seems to be smudged or rubbed off completely. All in all I like the color payoff and the wax, but I find that the bad lasting power of this product makes it almost unusable.

Maybelline Brow Drama Eyebrow Mascara in Soft Brown
This is Maybelline's new tinted brow gel. I've had great luck with maybelline brow products in the past (Define-a-Brow is my absolute favorite drugstore pencil), so I was excited to give this one a shot. Even though the gel has a tint to it I still used it in conjunction with a pencil (it works great with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil). After I filled in my brows with my brow pencil I just ran the brow drama wand through my brows. You do have to run it through a few times to eliminate any clumps and make sure everything is coated evenly. I found the round shape of the brush helpful. I also used the spooly on the end of my brow pencil to smooth everything out. The gel doesn't set immediately so you have time to get it just the way you want it. After the gel dries you can barely tell you are wearing it, it doesn't make your brows sticky or crunchy at all. The lasting power is also good. My final verdict is that this product is great and definitely a good deal for the price!

There seems to be a lot of exciting things happening in the world of drugstore brow products right now. It's so great when you can find high quality products at affordable prices. Let me know in the comments if you have tried either of these yet!

XO- Brittney

Read More