New Obsession: Early Grey Green Tea

I know this isn't terribly exciting, but I obviously don't care seeing as how I'm still posting about it.


left to right: anthro monogrammed mug // bigelow earl grey green tea // anthro grapefruit sugar bowl

I LOVE this tea. It has the health benefits of green tea with the taste of earl grey. Perfect for anyone trying to add green tea to their diet without giving up drinking earl grey.

I like mine with a bit of non dairy creamer & raw sugar or honey.

Now go try it. Or don't. Whatever floats your boat.

-Becca

What's in my Makeup Bag?

I'm super nosy & I love taking a peek at what other people have in their bags so here's a chance to see what I bring with me while I'm out and about.


left to right: mac prep + prime lip // 'rose' fresh sugar lip treatment // random forever 21 brush // nars 'douceur' blush // maybelline purestay powder spf 15 in 'ivory' // boots no7 brush

I normally carry my trusty Maybelline Purestay Powder Foundation with SPF 15 because it's one of the few things with SPF in it that won't make me break out. I don't normally use it in the morning when I apply my makeup but I like it for touch-ups. Both brushes are cheap but serve their purpose & I know I won't be heartbroken if I lose them. I normally switch out my blush depending on what I'm wearing that day & the same goes for my lipstick. MAC Prep + Prime is awesome for setting my lips to make my lipstick color last longer and go on smoother. I like keeping it on me for re-applying my lipstick. I should honestly have one for home and one for my bag because I like it that much. I keep my Fresh Sugar 'Rose' lip treatment in my bag permanently because it's good for it's moisturizing properties and for a quick sweep of pretty color. + I love the way it smells! It reminds me of the way fruity pebbles cereal tastes or smells or something. Kind of lemony but sweet? It doesn't have a taste but mm that smell, I love it.



I know my makeup bag I keep in my purse for everyday touch-ups isn't really exciting but it serves it's purpose and it's a good excuse to have a kitten print bag in my purse. Is your makeup bag over-run with random products? I try to keep my things organized for fear of losing them when I switch purses but I bet full bags are way more fun to look through!

-Becca

Review: Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in 'Tiki'

I can't remember where I first heard about this but I know it's supposedly a dupe for Dior's Amber Diamond highlighter. I have no idea if it is since I don't own it's more expensive counterpart.

While it's called a 'bronzer' it's really FAR too light to be considered anything more than a highlighter. And what a gorgeous highlighter it is. It's much more subtle than my NARS Albatross or MAC creme color in 'pearl' and it's so beautiful on the skin. So if you have naturally oily skin like I do (aka a grease-pit), you may prefer this over some of the more intense highlighters available.

I've taken to applying it with my Real Techniques buffing brush so I can get a nice sweep of subtle sheen all over my cheekbones and brow. I especially like pairing it with my NARS 'Douceur' blush and a peachy nude lip. Since it's been teetering between hot and cold this spring in north Texas I find it's easier to go with a neutral but well sculpted cheek and peachy lip. It just feels right, man.


left: swatch // right: blended swatch


The only drawback to this 'bronzer' is that if you live in the US, you can only find it at Wal-Mart & it retails for $9.00. Now, I don't know about you, but I HATE having to go to Wal-Mart. I never shop there unless I have to and they don't do store coupons so I can't get cosmetics for super cheap like I can at Walgreens or CVS.

HOWEVER this highlighter is worth braving the dead-eyed Wal-Mart shoppers and weirdly long lines (1pm on a Tuesday?? wth) because it's beautiful and relatively inexpensive.



-Becca

Makeup & Travel Bags

I was piddling around in Forever21 (like one does) a few weeks ago and I fell in love with these cosmetics bags. I have to babysit overnight fairly frequently & I use cosmetic bags to store my hair and makeup bits, so this felt like a pretty reasonable purchase. Plus, each case ranged in price between 6 and 10 dollars. Not exactly breaking the bank if you know what I mean.

left to right: pink french bulldog cosmetic pouch // yellow quilted cosmetic bag // turquoise cat print cosmetic bag

(They don't have these exact sizes available on their website so I've linked the pouch version of the french bulldog print case and the train-type bag version of the cat print bag. Hopefully that makes sense. Just click on the links and you'll see what I mean.)

I use the cat one for storing my makeup I use for touch-ups & the french bulldog print one is perfect for carrying my makeup when I go out of town or have to babysit over-night. I haven't figured out what to use the yellow one for yet since it's kind of a peculiar shape but rest assured I'll find a use for it.



-Becca

Spring 2013 Beauty Wishlist

Today it was a balmy 84 degrees in Denton and it finally felt like spring! I know it's supposed to dip back down into the 40's-60's the next few days so here's a little wishlist to get you in the spirit! I've been stumped on what to wear with this constantly fluctuating weather but I can't wait to fully commit to super bright colors & pastels.


1. // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5.

1. Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in 'Porcelain' - $38 USD
2. MAC 'Painterly' Paint Pot - $18.50 USD
3. Stila Convertible Color in 'Gladiola' - $25 USD
4. NARS Roman Holiday Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - $25 USD
5. Melvita Floral Water in 'Rose' - $22 USD

-Becca

Review: NARS 'Douceur' Blush

Described on the NARS website as a "soft pink-brown", 'Douceur' serves as a matte cheek contouring blush. When applied it creates perfectly sculpted cheekbones with the tiniest bit of soft dusty-rose color.



This is the blush I reach for when I'm unsure of what I want to wear that day or if I just want my makeup to look classy and really put together.

I've paired it with my MAC Marilyn Monroe lipstick in 'Pure Zen' which is a really beautiful nude lipstick that isn't too pale on the lips (trust me I'm the pickiest about nude lipsticks). I believe it's available in their normal range of lipsticks so you don't have to try and hunt down the Marilyn Monroe packaged one by any means (found it!). & Douceur has a matte finish but I'm wearing a Hard Candy highlighter (tiki) in the photos so that's why there's a slight sheen. Look for a full review of that highlighter in the future!

This photo really doesn't do the blush justice, but it's been gross and cloudy out all week so it's all I've got!
on my face: nars sheer glow foundation in 'mont blanc' // hard candy so baked bronzer in 'tiki' // nars 'douceur' blush // mac lipstick in 'pure zen'
NARS 'Douceur' Blush retails for $29 USD at Sephora & the NARS official website.

In conclusion, if you've been looking for something soft and subtle that will give you amazing looking cheekbones, definitely give NARS 'Douceur' a chance.

-Becca

GLAMGLOW Super-Mud Clearing Treatment Review

I had never heard of this particular mud mask until a few weeks ago when I accompanied Taylor on her hunt for a sample of GLAMGLOW. On a whim I asked the Sephora sales associate for a sample as well because why the heck not. I managed to squeeze two and a half uses out of that sample & I fell in love.

While I'm not particularly a fan of the smell, (something between dirt and mint??) the effects were definitely worthwhile.

On the back of the jar it says it is supposed to help with: pores, problem skin, blemishes, pimples, breakouts, zits, spots, black and white heads, razor bumps, & in-grown hairs

Well, I've really only tried it on my face so I can only attest to it's blemish treating/pore minimizing attributes. I use it maybe once a week if I remember and I can definitely see a significant difference in the size of my pores and the overall feel of my skin. The first few days after using it my skin always feels softer and my makeup just glides on. I have fewer breakouts and when I use the mask (combined with a few other bits I use) if I'm having a breakout or problem area, my face looks significantly better the next day. Pimples start to dry up, bumps go down, etc.

Essentially you put it on your face, I normally focus on my t-zone and where my pores are largest and you let it sit for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 20 minutes. I always do 20 minutes because I wanna get the most out of my money & despite my skin being pretty sensitive, this doesn't seem to bother it at all. In the meantime you can watch the mask slowly pull all of the oil and gunk out of your pores. It's pretty gross but it's also fascinating. Look up photos if you want to see what it looks like, I'm not posting a photo of me wearing it, no no no.

Despite it's ridiculous price tag ($69 USD for 1.2oz of product at Sephora) I will probably repurchase it when I run out because:

1) I don't use it but once a week so it's going to take me quite some time to use it up &

2)I bought it off of Amazon for $39 USD

HOWEVER, and this is a big however, I haven't tried many masks so maybe this isn't some sort of magical mud, maybe this is what most mud masks do and I'm just a sucker for buying this really expensive one.

So, if you're feeling like maybe this could help you like it helped me, go to Sephora & get a sample. If nothing else, you'll get to feel really fancy & gross a couple of times for free.

-Becca