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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