Huge Ipsy Review!!! February + March!!!

Hey guys! As busy as I was last month, I didn't find a minute to sit down and do my February Ipsy bag post. So, seeing as we're coming up on the end of March, I definitely didn't want to miss out on another month's review! As a result, today I'll be reviewing both bags for you guys. But don't worry- I'll mostly be focusing on this month's products with just a bit about February, to keep this post from getting too long!

I also haven't really altered my beauty routine too much since February, so a lot of these products still have yet to be used. So in a second effort to conserve space, I'll try to keep things really concise and only really talk about the products I've tried :)

We've got a lot of ground to cover today, so let's get into it!

 

1) NYX Butter Lipstick in the shaded BLS05 Hunk ($6)- Looking at the tube, the bullet itself, and the description of this shade online (blue violet) you would assume this lipstick was going to be pretty damn purple. I could literally feel my heart pounding when I twisted up the bullet for the first application- I had been craving a good, vampy purple for the longest time. Imagine my surprise then, when it applied almost totally sheer- leaving me with a good, solid, berry-toned magenta. Not a bad color at all, it's gorgeous- just not what I was expecting. However, the lipstick itself is really creamy, smooth, and moisturizing, and I'm about 100% sure I'll be going into the store to pick up a couple more shades. Especially since magenta isn't really the shade I'm going for this time of year!

 2) Pūr~Lisse Beauty Pūr~Delicate Gentle Soymilk Cleanser & Makeup Remover ($36 for a full size)- I haven't had the chance to try this cleanser just yet (I'm really starting to stock up!!) but as some of you may remember, I received the Pur~Lisse Moisturizer some time last year and used up every last drop, and absolutely loved every second of it. If this cleanser is half as good, I'm in luck!

3) Boo- Boo Cover-up in the shade Medium ($20 for a full size)- Receiving this concealer this month was a literal God send. I have a few concealers, but almost all of them are either too dark for me, or double as highlighters. And while that's usually a good thing, every once in awhile I wake up with these horrendous dark circles the night before an exam, and all I want is a good, matte concealer. It's been a real pleasure using this one so far, it blends easily, is an awesome color match (just a hint too light, which makes me look like I'm alive), and doesn't look cakey or heavy. I love it!

4) Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion ($60 for a full size)- I've received one other Dr. Brandt product through Ipsy, and that was his microdermabrasion scrub, which I have yet to go through. However, a lotion is a much easier product to get on with then a scrub, so here's hoping I like it! It is also always nice to get a deluxe size of a high end product.

5) VINTAGE by Jessica Liebeskind Illuminating Face Highlighter (Ipsy Exclusive)- I guess this product was made exclusively for Ipsters and is now sold out! That's a nice thing they've done. It's a very pearlescent dusty pink- and according to the website can either be worn alone as a highlight or over a blush for added shimmer. I haven't tried it yet, but I love the idea! 

And now, just a quick peek into my February Ipsy bag-

1) eva nyc Up All Night Volumizing Spray ($24 for a full size)- Haven't tried it yet, but the reviews are really promising!!

2) Cargo Cosmetics Mini Lip Gloss ($16 for a full size)- This was the worst color match for me that I have ever seen in a lip product ever. I can't even remember anything about the formulation, I was too distracted by the sheer atrocity of baby pink on my normally fairly dark/rose toned lips.

3) Hey Honey- Take It Off! Exfoliating Honey Peel Mask ($29 for a full size)- I haven't given it a try yet, but it's a really interesting concept! I love honey and face masks!

4) Rob Scheppy for 'Tini Beauty Eyeshadow in the shade Pearl Fizz ($12)- This is the most pigmented, pearlescent, light catching inner corner highlight shadow I've ever used. I'm talking, 8 hours later, if I haven't touched my face it's still almost white in the best possible way.

5) ModelCo Blush Cheek Powder in the shade Peach Bellini ($22 for a full size)- Not sure if this shade is available online, or if mine is a full size or not. SUPER SUPER pigmented. A little goes a very long way, but it's absolutely gorgeous used sparingly!

And that is the end of this Ipsy bag Extravaganza! Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription, and for $10 a month, you receive 5 products (varies from person to person) and they are typically full or deluxe sizes :) If you're interested in Ipsy, click here to check it out! If you are an Ipster or use a different beauty subscription, let me know what you got in the comments! Thank you guys so much for getting through this longer than usual review, I'll talk to you guys very soon :)

Stay beautiful!

- Whit

2015 Goals and Positive Thoughts!!

Hey guys! Today's post is a bit out of the ordinary, but I felt like it was something I really wanted to talk about. A few months back, I wrote myself a letter and gave it to a friend to hold onto, and today (about 6 months later) she gave it back to me. I had completely forgotten about it, and so when I opened it to read it, I was fully expecting it to be a reminder of all the struggles and negativity that had been on my mind 6 months ago. However, it was entirely positive and full of good vibes- my first sentence is literally, "Hi Whit! I just wanted to give you a reminder that you're a queen.".

It really made me realize that in the last few months, after working my butt off to achieve the things I wanted in 2014, I had become really passive in my own life, and had focused a lot on the negative things. I suppose in contrast to how hard I worked in 2014, I was hoping things would work themselves out for me in 2015. But reading this letter to myself made me realize that I don't want to the type of person that sits and waits for things- I want to be positive and reach for the things I want. There has to be a fine line between the two extremes. So I've come up with a few simple goals I'd like to achieve :)

1) Eat healthier and try to work out 3 times a week. Ever since my gym closed in January, I've found myself increasingly sluggish and lazy. As a result, my eating habits have gotten worse as well. Back when I was running several times a week, I felt healthy, light, and motivated- and I think it's about time I got back on that horse!

2) Post my outfits on Instagram at least twice a week. As much as I love and truly enjoy blogging, it's something I'm very shy about in real life. It's really difficult for me to talk about my blog or post pictures of my outfits because I worry about what people will say or think- and I don't want to do that anymore. This is something I really enjoy, and hope to do for the rest of my life, and anyone that doesn't want that for me doesn't belong in my life!

3) Only say things that are true, and always be kind when I say them. For those of you who don't know, I was raised Buddhist (I'm a poor one, but one nonetheless!). This has always been one of my favorite ideals of Buddhism- that everything you say should be true, kind, and without malice. I think in the last few months I've become very concerned with how other people perceive me, and have been less inclined to speak my mind, and have also lashed out at the people around me as a result of that stress. Obviously, that's not a good thing, so here's to shutting it down! 

Those are the main ones, and perhaps I'll update this list as I go :) The last paragraph of my letter to myself was very sweet- it assured me that I was strong, beautiful, and that any choices I had made in my life were the right ones for me and that everything was going to turn out fine. I hope this is a lesson you take in your life as well- the same holds true for you! No one is ever going to be able to love you as well or as unconditionally as yourself. 

I also included $5 and told myself to buy a bath bomb and to treat myself- I advise you to do the same. You deserve it!

I love you all, stay beautiful!

- Whit 

February Faves!!

Hello all! Time has just flown by, it's been so hard to find the time to sit down and post! But I've definitely missed it, and I'm going to try to be posting a lot more in the coming weeks. Also, I hope you all have been doing well! Spring is here, which is really lovely, here in San Diego it's like the sun has been out 24/7. :)

I realize that it's almost mid-March, but I really didn't want to let a month go by without doing a favorites post, so I've collected a few of my favorites from February to share with you guys today. A lot (almost all!) of these products have remained staples in my beauty routine moving into March, so I have had a lot of time to figure out what it is exactly I like about them. Let's get on with it!

1) L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quad in the shade 250 Absolute Taupe ($9.99)- In February, I got really into wearing cooler tone shades instead of my normal warmer tones (maybe it had something to do with the end of winter?), so I really got a lot of usage out of every shade in this quad. The pigmentation of these eye shadows is incredible! Seriously, the color payoff at that price is a total bargain, definitely up to par with some of the higher-end shadows in my collection. My favorite, and the one I used every day was the second shade, which is a true taupe, often with the fourth shade (cool brown) in the crease. 

2) Bourjois Bronzing Powder + Highlighter Duo ($11.99)- This bronzing powder and highlighter duo (which I received from Lois over at Bunnipunch!!) has quickly become one of my favorites. I can see why this brand is so popular over in the UK!! While I wasn't overly impressed by the highlighter, which seems to be the general consensus in the beauty blogger community, the bronzer is amazing! It wears really well and isn't orange-y at all. I also really like the packaging, it's a little gimmicky, but I think it's adorable!

 3) Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Curl ($22)- I received this product in my February Glossybox (post here!), and have been very impressed with it since. It stays on all day, and if I wear it out and forget to take off my makeup before bed, it's honestly still in place in the morning, which is incredible. The brush is quite large, but it makes application really easy, I only need a coat (two tops) to have really gorgeous, long lashes! And I'm still in love with that name. That's just a winning product name, in my opinon!

4) Lollipops Eye Pencil in the shade Goodbye Moon ($8.10?)- I'm not entirely sure this product is available in the US? I received it in my January Glossybox (shoutout to Glossybox, post here!), and it's converted me back to pencil eyeliners. It's just really creamy and smudges out so easily! I like to apply a fine line right above my lash line and then blend it out with a flat eye liner brush. If I really want it to last I can always set it with a black eye shadow, but I find it's not usually necessary, and that this product lasts very well on it's own! I also quite like the packaging, it's pretty reminiscent of Too Faced, which is one of my favorite lines!

5) Makeup Forever HD Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in the shade N9 Copper Pink ($20)- This was the birthday gift from Sephora in 2014 (a mini, part of a Makeup Forever sampler!). I really love this shade, it's like a perfect color match for my lips! I think if you're fairer it may be quite a dark shade, but it works as a your-lips-but-better color for me. As soon as I finish the mini I will definitely be picking up a full size! It's very moisturizing and no fuss as well, I just apply it straight from the bullet, no lip liner required.

And that was it! I want to thank you guys for sticking with me through my brief little hiatus, hopefully I'll be posting again very soon! Be sure to let me know in the comments what products you loved this past month :) Until next time!

Stay beautiful!

- Whit