(Belated) May Favorites!!!

Hello all!! I've barely had a chance to post these last few months- I've been so busy! The good news is, I have some very exciting prospects as we move into July, so hopefully I'll be able to fill you in on those soon!! In the meantime, I figured I might as well still do my May favorites- better late than never, right? In the summer I do tend to get very lazy with my makeup routine, so I've almost been using just these five products exclusively.

April Faves :)

It's gonna be May!! Or, rather, it already is. Can you believe that it's already May? I feel like just yesterday it was February. This past April, I was very into pink makeup, which is something I didn't fully realize until I had all of my favorites juxtaposed, haha. Ironic, because as you've seen if you're following me on instagram (and if you aren't, you can here!)  all I've been wearing are shades of black, white, and various denim pieces. I guess the color in my life was coming from my beauty routine :)

1) NYX Butter Lipstick in the shade BLS01 Razzle Fiesta ($5.99)- This month, I've got two lip favorites! The first is one of the NYX Butter Lipsticks. The shade Razzle Fiesta is an electric pink which I would normally never be brave enough to wear, but I find that if you put on a very VERY thin layer and blend it out with your fingers, you get a lovely muted pink that's perfect for spring. This lipstick has a matte finish which can leave your lips feeling a bit dry, but that's easily fixed with a clear gloss or lip balm!

2) Royal Apothic Kissed Tintie Lip Butter ($14)- My second favorite is a lip butter from Royal Apothic. I keep this one in my car, and use it when I've forgotten to put on lipstick (more common than it should be) or my lipstick has started to fade. It's a gorgeous hot pink, but it's also really, really sheer so you really only get the slightest hint of color, which makes it look super natural. The packaging is also adorable, and it's small enough and sturdy enough that it's really handy to throw in your purse or car :)

3) Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow in Inked in Pink ($6.99)- The Maybelline Color Tatoo Eyeshadows are some of my all time favorites, because they're so easy to work with. They can work as an eyeshadow base or be worn all on their own, and they wear super well. The color selection is amazing as well. This shade is a very pearly, pale pink, which is a nice departure from the nude and natural shades I usually wear, but also not so different that I feel out of my comfort zone. If you have the Naked 3 Palette, I think this would look amazing under many of the shades :)

4) Hikari Cosmetics blush in the shade Tango ($15)- I just received this blush in my April Ipsy bag (post here!) and it's quickly become one of my favorites. Despite looking shockingly pink in the pan, it blends out really nicely and just looks perfectly rosy on the cheeks, like you'd want this time of year :) These types of blushes are a weakness of mine, because they're so exciting to look at in the pan, and then look lovely on the skin as well. 

5) Loreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara ($4.99)- My last product  this month is not pink, surprisingly! I mentioned this product in my recent five product face post, so I won't go on too much about it. I've just found that the thin brush gives very long, fluttery lashes, which are just gorgeous for everyday. :)

Here are some swatches of my many pink products!  From left to right, the Apothic Lip Butter, NYX Butter Lipstick in Razzle Fiesta, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink, and then lastly the Hikari blush in Tango.

6) Reign- It's been a while since I've included a non-beauty favorite, but I felt this show really deserved a mention. It's a show about Mary, Queen of Scots, set in 16th century France. What I love most about this show are the female characters- while on the surface the men seem to be ruling (kings, lords, barons, etc) it's really the female characters who are calling the shots, as they use their charm, intellect, and sexuality to get ahead and make political power plays. And if nothing else, the fashion on this show is amazing- in particular, I love every single dress Lady Kenna has ever worn. 

So that's it for my April favorites!! And also thanks to everyone who participated in my giveaway, I was blown away by the participation and lovely comments, it was way more successful than I could have ever imagined. Congratulations to Craftelle for winning :) I will definitely be doing more giveaways in the future, so stay tuned! And be sure to let me know what your favorites were last month- I love trying new products.

Till next time, stay beautiful!

- Whitney

March Faves + GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hello all, happy April!! It seems like 2015 is just flying by. It's hard to believe we're already four months in! A lot has happened in March, both in my life and just in the world (Zayn LEFT One Direction!!! What?? Why??), but not much has changed for me in terms of makeup products. I found it hard to stick to one makeup regiment this month, and on top of that, I felt really lazy, quite frankly, about 90% of this month. So a lot of the products I'm going to talk about today have been mentioned on this blog before, but as such they are tried and true favorites :) And YES, this is my first giveaway!!! Blogging has really helped me become more confident and it's something I really enjoy, so this month, I will be sending a few of my favorites (spoiler alert- there's a NAKED palette in there!) to one lucky reader! That having been said- let's get on with it!

1)  L'Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Highlighter in the shade Medium ($12.94)- I mentioned this product in my November favorites, and it's still a frequently used product for me. What really made it standout this month for me, however, was the fact that as I got lazier (and I'll admit it- I got quite lazy, like a five-product face everyday) this concealer was acting as my base makeup all on it's own. It's very brightening, so I can just slap a massive amount under my eyes, blend away, and that was my base done!

2) Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum ($75 for a full size)- I am not a serum type of girl. I mentioned this when I first received this product in my January Glossybox, and yet, I think I've been converted. My skin just drinks this stuff up! It doesn't feel sticky at all, and it rubs into the skin really nicely and feels really lightweight. It does smell a bit of coconuts, which I really like, but which might put some people off. I'm really gutted that my deluxe size is almost out, $75 seems like a massive amount for serum? If anyone knows of a good, more affordable one, let me know in the comments!

3) Maybelline Brow Drama in the shade Deep Brown ($7.99)- I've waited a real minute to talk about this product on my blog. When I first started using it, I absolutely hated it. Some of you may remember that I was very seriously committed to my Benefit Gimme Brow, but I was open to the idea of a new brow gel. I'll be honest, this one takes a bit of work. It's not as quick and easy as the Gimme Brow, but it's definitely got some advantages. For one, I do find the brow drama lasts all throughout the day. And I also like that it really defines the shape of your brows (the key is to place the ball end of the brush at the far end of your brow, by your temple, work in a windshield wiper motion towards the other end by your nose, and then swipe again back towards your temple). It also doesn't leave your brows feeling stiff with product either, which is nice! I don't know if I can say it's replaced the Gimme Brow, but it is quite a bit cheaper and definitely an awesome product.

4) Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in the shade Submissive ($14)- I mentioned this product when I first received it in an Ipsy bag back in November, but I don't believe I've mentioned it since, which is strange, seeing as I use it everyday. It's a very sheer base, so I wouldn't recommend wearing it just on it's own- but it packs a lot of shimmer in, and is definitely awesome at increasing the wear of your eyeshadows. I find because it's sheer, it works amazingly under a variety of colors, and is especially lovely under mattes, because it gives them a bit of shimmer without losing color pay off!

 5) Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette ($29.00)- The moment you've all been waiting for! I did name this product in my 2014 favorites, so I'll try not to go on too much about it. My favorite shade is still Naked 2, which I wore almost everyday this month over the Be a Bombshell eye base. I found this combination to be super natural, but still really pretty. All of the colors in this palette are amazing and you can definitely build a huge variety of looks with it, and as with all of the Naked palettes, the formulation is pretty damn close to perfection. I've gone ahead and swatched all the shades for you, and if you guys are interested in a review or maybe an everyday makeup look featuring this palette, let me know!

From left to right (or bottom to top): Venus, Foxy, W.O.S, Naked 2, Faint, and Crave

And now, for the giveaway: I will be giving away a Naked Basics palette, a Maybelline Brow Drama (shade of your choosing), and a L'Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Highlighter (also in the shade of your choosing), all in a little makeup bag, and I will be shipping anywhere in the world! This giveaway will be open until the last day of April, good luck!!

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post, please don't forget to enter my giveaway!! 

Stay beautiful!!!!

- Whit

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

January Faves!!!

I can not believe it's taken me this long to get around to posting!! Going back to school this semester has been such a whirlwind, I feel like I haven't had ten seconds to just sit and breathe. Regardless, I'm back, I'm here, and I have a ton of products that I fell in love with in January. I threw in a few extras this month purely because it's been a minute since I've talked to you guys, so let's get into it :)

1) Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation in the shade Beige 50 ($57)- I actually picked this foundation up back in November, after a long year of pining and trying to justify the splurge, because Sephora was about to stop carrying it in favor of the newer Saint Laurent foundation. At the time, they were sold out of the shade I needed, so I picked up a shade lighter and prayed it would work for me in the winter months when I was paler. My wishes were granted- this is now the perfect shade for me. It's honestly so gorgeous and dewy and beautiful. Like I wish I could verbalize how lovely it is, but words can't do it justice. If you like a dewy finish, definitely give this foundation a try!

2) Naked Palette by Urban Decay ($54)- I used this palette everyday in January. The palette itself is incredible, with basically every color you could ever want all in one place, and on top of that each shadow is super buttery and blendable. If you guys are interested, I would love to do a full review of it, with swatches of each shade and the whole bit :) But for today, the real shining star is the shade half-baked, which is a pure gold. I wore this shade everyday all over the lid and blended out, and that was it. It took like ten seconds in the morning, lasted all day, and was pretty to boot.

That's a single swipe! Incredible!!

3) Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Rollerball ($22)- There's definitely a lot of hype around Nirvana White, and that's definitely understandable, as it smells amazing- but the Nirvana black is definitely my favorite. It may be a bit early to call it, but if I were to have a signature scent, I would want this to be it. It's a bit spicier and kind of sensual, with notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and violet. My only complaint would be that the rollerball doesn't really last on the skin, and I think that when I go to repurchase I will definitely be splurging on a full size bottle!

4) Nars Satin Lip Pencil in the shade Rikugien ($26)- Look at that, I've got a lip favorite! If you're a Beauty Insider with Sephora, you'll receive a mini of this product for your birthday. I'm not entirely sure why, but when I went into Sephora at the beginning of January, they gave me my birthday sample, despite the fact my birthday is in December. No complaints though, this is the happiest mistake that's ever happened to me. I've never seen a more perfect, natural, your-lips-but-better color!! It's a true rose pink, which I never would have thought would look good on my skin tone, but it's just subtle and lovely. And it's super creamy and moisturizing. I want to die wearing this lip pencil. It's that serious.

5) Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara ($20)- I received a sample size of this in my December Ipsy bag (link here!) which I was particularly excited about since it's so popular in the beauty blogging community. What can I say? It makes my lashes look fuller, holds a curl, is perfectly black, and basically just does all I could ask my mascara to do. This mascara definitely deserves the hype that it gets! 

6) Bath & Bodyworks Sugarplum Dream Body Lotion ($12)- This is a Christmas scent that I had left over, so it's definitely not available in stores right now. But in all fairness, I've really enjoyed using it this last month, because it's so sweet and lovely. And let's be honest, I lowkey still wish it was the holidays. If you remember in 10 months, I'd definitely check it out, haha! 

7) Topshop - My last favorite this month is Topshop. I've picked up several pieces there in the last month, and have gotten so much wear out of all of them, so it seemed only fair to give them a shoutout. That's all :)

I hoped you guys enjoyed this post, be sure to let me know in the comments if there were any standout products for this January! I would also like to give a shoutout to my friend Jenny, who apparently checks my blog everyday. You're the best! 

Until next time, stay beautiful! 

 - Whit

December Faves!!

I can't believe it's almost the end of 2014!! What a year. I'll try to save all my sentimentality until my best of 2014 post though :) This last month, I've been trying a lot of different products and I thought today I'd share with you guys some of my most used ones.

1) L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara ($7.99)- The first time I tried this mascara, back over the summer, I'll be honest, I really hated it. I felt like it was just really unnecessarily clumpy, and at the time, that really bothered me. Fast forward a few months, and I heard Alex from I COVET THEE talking about how it was one of her all time favorite mascaras, so I gave it another go. I don't know if the mascara just needed to sit in the tube for a bit, or if my eyelash preferences have changed, but I'm a total convert. I literally used this mascara every day of December! It is quite clumpy, so if that's not your aesthetic I completely understand, but I kind of dig it, because I think it makes your lashes look fuller and makes them look like, luscious and mysterious. Like a Kardashian.

2) Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($5.99)- Basically, this sponge is the budget version of the beauty blender. Don't let the price point fool you though- it's a really awesome alternative! I love using it for foundation because it really gives a flawless, natural kind of finish. It does take a bit more prep than say, a brush would, but I really think its worth it to put in the extra minute or two to get that airbrushed look! What I like to do is run it under water and let it absorb/ ring it out while I'm brushing my teeth in the morning, then get dressed, and come back to apply my foundation after. Mine is way past it's prime; I won't let you in on just how disgustingly old it is, but don't worry, I'll definitely be purchasing a shiny new one first thing next year!

3) NYX Love in Rio Eye Shadow Palette in the shade Meet Me at the Copa ($6.00)- In typical Whitney fashion, I received this eye shadow palette in an Ipsy bag... last March. However, the amount of usage I've got out of it I'd say makes up for the time lag. It's made up of three neutrals, a champagne, a light brown, and a smokey grey, and it's just a really lovely, no fuss kind of palette. The colors are shimmery but are neutral enough for everyday wear. My only complaint is the staying power/ color pay off isn't mind blowing- but apply these shades over a base you're good to go! 

Swatches go from right to left! (on the palette)

4) Nest Midnight Fleur Rollerball ($25.00)- I picked up a travel size of this rollerball in a trio I purchased on Black Friday (you can find that haul here!), but I definitely think when it runs out I'll be picking up a full size. I love this product so much, that despite receiving the Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black rollerball for my birthday (a scent I've been lusting after), I've still been using it everyday. Notes are black amber, patchouli, night-blooming jasmine, and vanilla orchid, giving it a kind of sensual, sophisticated scent, while still being very sweet. In all realness though, I think I'm just a sucker for patchouli.

5) Be a Bombshell Cosmetics The One Stick in the shade Sunset ($16)- Speaking of receiving Ipsy products and letting them sit for months and months... I got this in my Ipsy bag in December of 2013. A full year ago! In my defense, this product intimidated me a bit. The One Stick conceptually can be used for lips, cheeks or eyes- so all the colors are extremely pigmented. The shade sunset in particular is described as a deep coral, and when I first received it it wasn't a shade I was crazy about having on my eyelids (still, same),  not a good fit for my lips, and too much to have on my cheeks. I'm older now, and wiser; but even still, a little bit goes a long way. I like to take the littlest smudge on my stippling brush and blend it onto the apples of my cheeks, and often times, the color is so much I only have to do this once every other day. It does give a lovely winter kind of flush when used correctly though!

That's one hell of a swatch, am I right?

And here we are, at the end of my favorites! This one was a bit wordy, but this month I really did try an amalgam of products, and the ones I ended up picking to share with you I had a lot to say on. If you've found a product you really loved this month, I'd love to know about it! :) And with that, I hope you guys had very happy holidays and a great 2014. I'll see you tomorrow for a best of 2014 recap. 

Stay beautiful!!

- Whit