Hello everybody! I am back and better rested than ever. Thanksgiving is sadly over and all of my leftover turkey has been devoured; it went by so fast! It's almost Christmas and I can't believe it. Anyway, while I was at my Grandma's house this past week, I went to an Amish general store. Natalie, what is Amish, exactly? It's not "what" it's "who". In short, the Amish are a "group of Christian traditionalists", according to Wikipedia, and are mostly related to Mennonite churches. They live all over the country and prefer to live a simple lifestyle: no electricity and only propane gas, handmade clothes, they build their own houses, and choose to make other minimalistic lifestyle choices.
Many Amish communities have stores that people like us, or the "English" as they say, can go buy their products and produce they grow to sell. Many of these products are items you would normally see at any local market or pharmacy: cereal, canned goods, coffee, snacks, drinks, candy (lots of it), baking supplies, medicine, beauty and healthcare products, and much more. How they get these products is still to be figured out, but many of them are expired or closeout items that may have been slightly damaged or never bought. Fortunately, all of these items are almost 90% off and pretty much all of the makeup was a dollar. My family and I pretty much bought out everything they had and came home with boxes filled with stuff. This haul is probably a fourth of what we got in total. So here is only some of it:
So as I wandered over to the little shelf of drugstore beauty products, I noticed a huge cardboard box filled with nail polish. A lot of it was undesirable colors like neon green and weird, extraneous orange shades but, I managed to find a couple that I really loved. I was really surprised and overwhelmed by how practically free they were.
Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in Perfect Pair $.50 (Orig. $7.58)
Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in High Roller $.50 (Orig. $7.58)
Nicole By OPI in Shoot for the Maroon $.50 (Orig. $8.99)
If you've been here for a while you know that I have had a very long relationship with Simple's Micellar Waters. Boy, did I find Heaven. I use these every single day so, it wasn't such a bad idea to purchase every single one they had for just a dollar. They also had a huge collection of their wipes and I needed to pick a few up, as well!
Simple Micellar Water $1 ($7.79)
Simple Micellar Wipes $2.50 ($7.79)
Simple Exfoliating Wipes $2.50 ($6.29)
They also had a huge cardboard box of lip products. Pretty much all of these had seals on them before I took them off. I was especially excited for the Revlon Ultra HD lipglosses. I have heard raves about them all over and was intimidated by the high price to pay for only one tube. I also fell in love with this berry Milani shade that is perfect for this time of year.
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Love $1 ($8.99)
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Temptation $1 ($8.99)
Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Obsession $1 ($7.99)
I found a few face products and sort of had to guess which shade would match my skin tone. I managed to successfully find all of the shades that somewhat matched (more or less). I was very excited to try out some newer foundations and pick up a couple that I have owned before that I liked. The Covergirl concealer, for example, has been a long favorite of mine.
Rimmel Match Perfection BB Cream in Light $1 ($5.99)
Maybelline Age Rewind Foundation in 120 $1 ($12.99)
NYX HD Blush in Hamptons $1 ($10.50)
If you're still with me this far, kudos to you! I also picked up three L'Oreal eyeliners which I am super excited about and a Maybelline Master Fix Makeup Setting Spray. I have heard Tati Westbrook, a beauty guru on Youtube, rave about this spray and I've only ever tried the Elf Setting Spray which I didn't really like. Hopefully, she's right!
L'Oreal Lineur Intense Eyeliner $1 ($8.95)
L'Oreal Telescopic Eyeliner $1 ($8.95)
L'oreal Black Velvet Eyeliner $1 ($8.95)
Maybelline Master Fix Setting Spray $1 ($9.99)
I was actually in the need of some new drugstore mascaras to try out because I just did a big clean out of old ones I have used up. I was surprised to find many different kinds and was very happy to find the Revlon Lash Potion and Maybelline Brow Drama Gel.
Maybelline Brow Drama Gel in Transparent $1 ($7.99)
Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara $1 ($7.49)
Revlon Lash Potion Mascara $1 ($7.49)
Covergirl Plumpify Mascara $1 ($4.81)
Kind of out of order, but I also found the Simple Light Moisturizer which I also use and love especially during the winter when my skin is incredibly dry and I also found a new Elf eyelash curler that I am grateful to have found because mine was pretty much fallen apart.
Simple Light Protecting Moisturizer $1.50 ($8.99)
Elf Eyelash Curler $1 ($2.00)
Last, but not least, are these two Maybelline Color Tattoos. I actually have the cream versions and love them to death. They really do last for a whole day! There is no smudging, creasing, or crumpling. Hopefully these act the same as the cream versions do.
Maybelline Color Tattoo Crayon in Gold Rush $1 ($6.99)
I don't think I've ever had to put in that many links into a post before, phew! I hope you guys enjoyed this massive haul. I've never done anything like this and hope to do it again in the future when I go back to my Grandma's. Obviously, most of this stuff will be gifted off to some people because I couldn't use it all enough and I know some of my friends that would love some of these products even more than I do. I would say that it was a very successful haul, though. I found a ton of products for practically nothing that I would never have bought due to how expensive some drugstore makeup products can be these days.
What products that I bought have you tried? Let me know if you liked/disliked any!
Xoxo, Nat
Hello everyone and I hope you've had a great week! I'm trying to finish up a lot of school work before I go on Thanksgiving break and I am just so excited for a well-deserved time off. If you haven't read my last and most recent post, I will be out of town and blog-free for a week. It seems scary to just leave something you've been so consistent with but, I think it's for the best that I don't over do it.
So, today I have a mini OOTD post. I really enjoy doing these types of posts for you guys. I'll usually just take these when I'm out and about and "feeling ma outfit" for the day. Here's where everything is from:
Marble Jacket- Target
Striped Top- Zara
Rose Colored Jeggings- American Eagle Outfitters
Crossbody- Urban Outfitters
Sneakers- Platinum Nike Free Rn
A recent find was this marble jacket that I bought on clearance at Target. I love Target. Target has one of the best clothing collections, in my opinion. They cease to amaze me as I venture through their amazing store.
Marble has been a very popular trend lately and what more could you want with marble on a jacket?! It's a very light, wind-breaker type of athletic jacket; however, I love wearing it with jeans for everyday. If you couldn't tell already, I'm really into athleisure.
I feel like sneakers shouldn't just be used for working out and don't have to look really ugly and out of place when paired with jeans or jeggings. It's a very minimal and modern look-- I'm obsessed!
I am really liking this type of format for short OOTD posts and think they're really fun to read and see what everybody else has been wearing. Let me know if you guys like this format for some fashion posts I could do in the future.
See you all in a week and have a happy Thanksgiving! Xoxo, Nat
As the holidays vear closer and closer, my schedule has become so jam-packed full of events and things like that recently. After this week, I am going to take a break from my blog to enjoy Thanksgiving break. I feel that in order for me to write great content, that you all will enjoy, I need a new start and a break from it all once in awhile to spark more inspiration. I'll be back in a week for Christmas and all of that but, I think I'm going to take some time off from here.
Anyway, I had to make a quick shop for some of my favorite skincare products that I have been loving and using constantly. Is it bad that I get excited when I run out of these things so, I can buy more? Nah.
The first thing I ran out of was this Body Shop Body Butter in Mango--my all time favorite scent from the Body Shop. It honestly smells so delicious and their body butters are incredibly moisturizing on the skin. I use this every night and love it so much. The best part about it was that I only bought it for $6 compared to the original price of $22 at TJ Maxx! Whatever you do, do not buy it for that insane price and go get it for practically free there.
The next thing I bought was another one of the Simple Micellar Waters. It was last year when I really got into micellar waters and I have tried the Garnier Micellar one and have been switching back and forth. I noticed that they had come out with a larger 13.5 fl oz size and was very happy about it since I use it every morning to wash and cleanse my face. It's great for when you don't have enough time to pull out all of your face washes and moisturizers because it cleanses and hydrates at the same time.
A common known product, the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes, have been in my skincare collection since middle school. You can't go wrong with makeup wipes (even if they're like banned by all makeup gurus because they don't actually "cleanse" your face). On those really late nights, though, everyone can agree that taking off your makeup is the last thing you want to do. These are also great for travelling in case you need to touch up your makeup on the plane or some disaster occurs and messes up all of your makeup.
I feel like once you've found the best or right products for your skin type, there seems to be no going back. I hope I will find more products that I will use on the daily like these three but, I do love these dearly. I think a lot of people have their go-to face and body products that they keep on repurchasing; comment below which products you can't seem to stop buying like me down below! Have a great week guys.
Xoxo, Nat
Wearing false lashes has been a great fear of mine. You'd think since I love makeup so much that I would be familiar with them but, boy, do I avoid these at all costs! I envy everyone that can perfectly apply these and make their lashes look butterfly-like.
I thought I would take it upon myself and try to attempt them. Based off of many Youtube tutorials and advice, I have tried to at least get the lashes on my eyelid and nowhere else on my face. I thought this would be a very open and honest experience and wanted to do this for all of you (like me) who are scared or skeptical about trying false lashes for the first time.
When I walked into my local CVS Pharmacy to get these lashes, I was a bit overwhelmed with the different types and sizes. I knew, though, that I wanted "natural", or whatever that meant because they're obviously not natural. I wanted to try a couple different types to see how the cheaper ones compare to the more expensive ones.
The Lashes
e.l.f. Natural Lash Kit- $2.00
My first thought of these lashes was that they did not, whatsoever, look like "natural" lashes. These were the ones I used in the picture below. For two dollar lashes, I guess I expected them to not be as high quality compared to the Ardell lashes; the lashes looked like cellophane almost and the band was very flimsy and hard to apply glue on. It did include glue but, I was a bit skeptical about the quality of it. I would say, though, that these would work well if you wanted to achieve some type of costume/Halloween look. I don't think these are worth it if you are wanting a natural eye look.
These Makeup Academy lashes actually really impressed me. They were a bit more expensive than the elf ones but, really looked natural. They felt real and looked real. I actually used these ones for a Fawn makeup look over Halloween a couple weeks ago. I think these are really worth the extra three bucks! I would wear these every day if I could.
Ardell Deluxe Pack Lashes- $7.99 ($4.99 ea)
I have heard raves about these lashes and I wanted to see what it was all about! I bought this deluxe pack because I think you really do get more for your money. You get two sets of lashes, really handy tweezers, and a mini bottle of Duo glue which I thought was better than using the elf glue that came with those lashes. I think these could also be great to use to create a natural and more amped up look. For the same price as the MUA lashes, these are another great alternative.
The Application
For my first try, I think I did a pretty good job. It took a while to figure out the right way to do it and I am not exactly sure that I did it the right way but, let me explain what I did. I just used the elf lashes for my absolute first try so I wouldn't waste the other ones. However, I did use the Ardell tweezers and the Duo lash glue.
So, after watching some tutorials, the first thing I was told to do was to make sure you had the right glue and the right lashes for each eye. Check. Then it said to make sure the lashes fit your eye and cut off the ends so they are easily matched up. Check. Then, with your lash glue, it said to carefully add a thin layer of glue and wait for about 30 seconds for it to get "tacky" or whatever that's supposed to mean. Check.
After I waited a couple seconds, I lined up the lashes on the center of my lid closest to my upper lash line. I used the really helpful tweezers I got and pushed them down a bit. I noticed that the ends were coming up so I could have trimmed them down more and i didn't get very close to the lash line because my arm was in the way as I was struggling to see where I was applying it.
The Final Thoughts
I have only thought of false lashes and their correlation with beauty pageants and costume makeup. Never did I ever think that they could be worn during the day on a normal basis. This experience has opened my eyes (literally) and I think that they aren't that scary to use, even if they seem intimidating at first.
With practice, I think they can actually be fun to use to add a little drama to your look. Do I think they look natural? No. But, I think they're fun when used correctly. Even if you're not that psyched about the big lashes, try individual lashes to start and add a tiny bit of volume to your lashes.
Would I wear these on the daily? Eh, probably not. I know for a fact that I am not scared to use these more often now, especially for events and performances. I hope that I get better at applying them and I can continue to find better options for you guys!
If you have used lashes before, let me know in the comments what your favorite lashes are and your story with using them for the first time! If you're new to lashes, I hope you know that you are definitely not alone. They're not easy to start using so please don't feel bad if you're having trouble with them.
On a very different note (lashes aside), I hope everybody has a great day, and the results of the election (if you are a US citizen) does not affect the love and hope I have for every one of you. Please know that I am here to talk to if you would like to chat and please feel free to email me.
Xoxo, Nat
It's been awhile since I have been to a Lush store. The one closest to me had to close for remodeling and I have really been missing out on all of the new Lush products being released. I was so jealous of everybody who had access to them! Thankfully, over the past month, our Lush has reopened and is bigger and better than ever. I always find Lush stores (or at least the ones I've been in) to be incredibly cramped and packed with people. It was a much needed renovation but, took the whole summer to redo! At last, I was able to go visit the new store and picked up a couple bits.
The first thing that I have been dying to use is the Yoga Bomb. Of course I have been wanting to use it! I do yoga and it has everything you would want in a bath bomb after you do yoga! Infused with essential oils to calm you, this bomb has notes of sandalwood and ho wood oils that add more of a sweetness to it. Sounds inviting after a hard vinyasa flow!
Whenever I can go into Lush, I try to pick up a new face mask. I love their promotional deal when you use five pots and bring them back, you get a free mask. Their masks are incredibly fresh and they have so many for every skin type. This Cupcake face mask was created for acne prone and oily skin (keeping teenagers in mind). I love how smooth this makes my skin and how it gets rid of any dirt or grime in my pores.
I was in the mood for another bath bomb that was more fall based; I saw this beautiful Autumn Leaf bath bomb and was instantly pulled in. The website says that it's made with sandalwood, bergamot, and neroli oils. It really does smell crisp like autumn leaves. Imagine jumping into a huge leaf pile and rolling around in them--that's what it smells like. I can't wait to see what the colors look like in the bath! I love Lushes bath bombs because they're self preserving and last a very long time (without the harsh, synthetic preservatives). You can save it for whenever you're feeling stressed or just need a pick me up on those days.
I am really looking forward to Lush's Christmas collection and all of their festive scents! What have been some Lush products you guys have been dying over? Any ones I should try next?
Xoxo, Nat
Where did the month go? It was just Halloween! On that note, it's time for an updated favorites post and I have some new, recent goodies to share. There have been loads of new launches and releases and some recent favorites that I have just discovered (or rediscovered) and have come to love! Favorite posts are so much fun to write and read because instead of writing about something I hate, I can rave about all the things I genuinely use on the daily. I'm gonna try to make this post quick and very concise as I have already raved a ton about these products during the month (and will post the links to where I wrote about them in the past) so, I hope you guys enjoy this format a bit better!
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation- a great long wearing foundation for normal skin types and has a really great full coverage effect! Applied with a damp beauty sponge to maximize coverage and blend better. Read about it more, here.
Mini Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Concealer- this under eye primer really conquers all other under eye primers. It goes on smooth and keeps my concealer on and crease-free! I have trouble with creasing and cracking concealer and it really helps to moisturize my skin all day. Read more, here.
Wet 'n' Wild Ombre Blush in Princess Daiquiris- I really fell in love with the pigmentation of this blush and the velvetiness of it. While some don't fall head over heels with the color, I think it's very pretty and subtle to add a touch of frostiness to the cheeks. Continue reading about it, here.
Soap & Glory Glow All Out Powder- I really enjoy this illuminating powder. It's not as intense as a highlighter and it, again, leaves a very subtle frostiness to the cheekbones. I use it almost every day! View the original post, here.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara- there was a little concern at first when I tried the waterproof version of this mascara and completely hated the formula, however, I never tried the original! It definitely lives up to the hype that everyone hears and talks about. Read more in detail, here.
Too Faced Love Palette Eyeliner- found in the Too Faced Love palette, this eyeliner is a very hidden gem. I don't think I have mentioned this eyeliner on it's own before. It's a great, smooth pencil liner for anyone who avoids all pen eyeliners. It has a sponge tip for smudging and works very well. See my Love palette review, here.
Essie Luxeffects Top Coat in Tassel Shaker- this was a pretty recent score lately when I was strolling down an aisle at my local Walgreens. It was on clearance for 50% off and is an incredibly gorgeous color. This topcoat has a mix of copper, gold, and rose gold in it. The perfect nail polish for me! It looks awesome on top of or with pretty much every color.
This month has really proved to be one of my more successful makeup finding months. I have found so many great products that I use all the time now. Hopefully November doesn't fly by (but, I mean Christmas can come as soon as possible!) too fast. What products have you all been loving lately?
Xoxo, Nat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons