Getting Through a Quarter-Life Crisis

The quarter-life crisis is no myth. It's the "what am I doing with my life" phase almost every 20 something goes through at one time or another where you just feel lost.  And let me tell you, with my 25th birthday in a few short weeks, I am feeling mine pretty strong. I've tried to keep my blog strictly beauty related, but I've been in a slump for sometime now and it definitely is reflected in my blog. So I just wanted to get on here and kind of explain whats been going on and give a life update.

Honestly, blogging has been the last thing on my mind lately. I have just felt unmotivated, uninspired and just bored with my content. I'm at the point now where I'm just putting up posts once a week just to post because I feel so guilty when I don't, even though I sometimes straight up don't want to be blogging at that moment. I just haven't cared for quite sometime. Everyone gets the blogging blues, and I know I'm not alone because I've read countless posts on them and how to pull yourself out of one.

But what about when your in a life slump?

I've been out of college for a few years now, and I can firmly say I still have no idea how to adult. As I get older, I realize no one really does and we are just all bumbling through life. But the pressure to have it together is still there; to have a successful career. a house and in the not-so-distant-future, kids. The big focus lately has been trying to get going on some sort of a career instead of just having a job where I live paycheck to paycheck. Job hunting is exhausting, time consuming and your self-esteem definitely takes a beating during the process. Going from being hopeful and optimistic about a job prospect to being rejected over and over again can make anyone feel down in the dumps.

Last year, my husband got in a serious car accident and was in the hospital for a few days. Thankfully, he is doing just fine now, but it definitely marked the beginning on a downward spiral financially and emotionally. Between medical bills, other random, expensive (monetarily and emotionally draining) life events popping up, having to buy not one, but two new cars in the past year (my car decided to hate me and breakdown like every month) AND having a car stolen just to pay more money to get it back weeks later from an impound has been difficult to say the least. Because of all the stress, and just the joys of working with small children, I am sick ALL THE DAMN TIME. My health has not been the greatest, and I haven't been eating as well as I should or being as active as I used to which I know has been a product of stress. Luckily, I have someone to get through it all with, and that I am forever grateful for.

The timing of it all has sucked. It's been so overwhelming and it's been hard to stay positive. Blogging was a nice escape when I first started where I didn't care about how many views, comments or followers I got, I just loved blogging. It actually has been a source of stress lately where I feel pressured to put up quality content with amazing pictures 3 times a week, to be a great blogger, which has just been impossible lately. I've also been thinking about morphing my blog from just strictly beauty to incorporating more lifestyle/self-help posts. Why? Because I can! As I'm changing and what I need in my life changes, my blog should change right along with me.

But as I feel like I'm drowning in this thing called life, there is still a lot to be thankful for. And as I feel alone in all of this, I know that I'm not and hopefully after this rant of a post I can assure someone else that they aren't the only ones either.

All I can say is that it's OKAY to not want to blog sometimes and take a hiatus when you need it. It's OKAY to take time to focus on yourself and to do what you want to, self care is important. It's OKAY to not know what you're doing all the time, because who does? Don't pressure yourself and compare yourself to others, or get down on yourself for not being where you want to be ( I'm terrible at this and have unrealistic expectations for myself), you will get there eventually. It's OKAY to eat pizza two days in a row, you aren't going to die. Take one day at a time, stop and breath. Focus on what you do have, not what you don't and be grateful for at least one thing a day. And when in doubt...

Whew! Sorry for this scattered brain rant/explosion of feels, but I needed to get it out of my system and explain why blog has been so meh lately, believe me, I'm not happy with it either.

In light of all this, I think I will step away from my blog for a little while to better focus on my health and emotional well-being. I also want to rethink my blog and what I would like it to be to post better content that I can be proud of and that is helpful to others. I might post sporadically when I actually really want to, and not just because I feel I have to.

How have you pulled yourself out of blogging/life blues? Got any suggestions for content you would like to see from me? Want to vent about how life sucks sometimes? What is your biggest quarter-life struggle right now?

Comment away!

Thank you for all your support!

xoxo

Jessica

April 2016 Favorites

It's time for another round up of products I've been loving in the month of April, and most of them are actually newer products I've picked up some what recently that I can't stop using!

Let's take a looksy...

I just HAD to pick up the new Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronze that everyone has been raving about recently, and I can see why it's been so hyped. For one, the packaging is always on point from Physicians Formula and this bronzer is no exception. The product itself is a matte, neutral powder that is pretty light yet pigmented and really blendable. Perfect for fairer girls who have problems finding a bronzer that isn't muddy, orange or too dark. Plus, the coconut/pina colada scent is so amazing that I find myself wanting to use it just to smell it every morning! I've also been gravitating towards my Essie Nail Polish in Off Tropic, a dark green, that recently came out in the new summer collection. I love green polishes, and this one is dark and sophisticated looking which is a nice change of pace from the typical lighter and brighter spring/summer colors.

I also picked up one of the new NYX Ombre Blushes in Mauve and got an Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Liar that was on mega sale at Ulta. This blush is the perfect blend of mauve, purple and rosy tones that looks absolutely gorgeous on the skin. I keep picking this one out of my blush collection almost everyday since I got it I love it so much! The lipstick is a fabulous pinky mauve shade that has amazing pigmentation and the right amount of shine; perfect as an everyday nude. 

Lastly, I have some oldies but goodies that I've been using a lot through April, and they are the Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tiki and Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle. The bronzer isn't a bronzer obviously, but a beautiful golden highlight that leaves a glowy sheen on the cheeks with no chunks of glitter. The lip butter is basically a sheerer version of the UD Lipstick in Liar, and is great for days when I'm not feeling a full-blown lipstick but more of just a wash of color.

Top: Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
Bottom: UD Liar

Top to bottom: Tiki, Butter Bronzer, Nyx Mauve

What were your favorites this month?

xoxo

Jessica

Spring Nail Picks

As we all start whipping out our spring and summer wardrobes, it's also time to put away those deep, dark nail polishes (or don't and do what you want!) and start wearing lighter spring colors! I scoured my nail polish shelf for some of my favorite spring-like shades to share with you all, so let's take a look!

When I think spring, I think light, pastel colors that are really feminine. I LOVE Essie Rose Gold, that is well, a true rose gold with a gorgeous metallic finish and Essie Mademoiselle, which is a light, natural pink. In the bottle Rose Gold looks kinda meh, but on the nails it's straight magical and one of my favorite all time nail polishes. Mademoiselle is the perfect natural, pink nude that just makes your nails look polished and clean.

For colors more on the bright, bold side of pastel (if that's even a thing), I enjoy LVX in Mynt, Trust Fund Beauty in Elegantly Wasted and Defy & Inspire in Stagecouch. The LVX and Trust Fund Beauty polishes I got in subscription boxes, and Defy & Inspire polishes can be found at Target. LVX Mynt is the perfect mint green shade because it doesn't lean too green or too blue but is a true mint. Elegantly wasted is a beautiful dark lilac that is also one of my favorites to rock year round, but is great for spring. Stagecouch is a new found favorite and is a iridescent periwinkle blue with orange, pink and peach shifts. It's seriously a stunning color and pictures do not do it justice!

Those are my spring nail picks! What are yours?

xoxo

Jessica

April 2016 Birchbox Unboxing!

My Birchbox is finally here, and OH MY GOD it's beautiful! The box is designed by Rifle Paper Co. and it's a stunning vintage floral print. Definitely keeping this one!

Let's get into it!

As a bonus, we also get a promo code for 20% off Rifle Paper Co. online. Score! They always have such beautiful notebooks, so I might pick one up.

I got a (MALIN + GOETZ) Grapefruit Face Cleanser and bonus (MALIN + GOETZ) Vitamin E Face Moisturizer. I've really enjoyed products from this brand, and this face wash smells amazing so hopefully it agrees with my skin which has been extra sensitive lately. I'm looking forward to trying the moisturizer too!

I was also super stoked to see a Marcelle 3-in-1 Micellar Solution deluxe sample! I love micellar waters, and this is the perfect size to throw in my travel bag. I've used it once and seems to be a nice micellar water for gentle cleansing.

I am so excited to see an Obessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar sample in Strumpet! I've never tried the infamous lip tars before, and let me just say the color is GORGEOUS! It's a super rich, pigmented raspberry red that seems to have crazy staying power by how hard I have to try to scrub the swatch off my hand. I can't wait to wear this!

Lastly, I got a one time sample of the WEI Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask and a Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. One time use samples are annoying to me because I end up wasting a lot of product by being forced to throw it away since it can't be sealed back up. I have quite a few hair masks I have in rotation at the moment, so it might be a while before I try this one.

Seriously, this month's Birchbox has blown me away. I like and look forward to using all of these products! Birchbox has slowly become one of my favorite subscriptions over the past few months; keep up the good work!

What did you get in your box this month?

xoxo

Jessica

Products I Used Up #5

I'm a little behind on getting this post up, but better late than never right? I'm particularly stoked about some products I finished because I'm a weirdo who actually loves finishing a product. There is something so satisfying about it! Plus, it's an excuse to buy something new. :) Anyways, let's see my March empties!

Last month I finished my Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask, Organix Argan Oil of Morocco Hair Oil, and a sample of the Embroylisse Laite-Creme Concentre Moisturizer. I love love love this mask because it's super exfoliating without being too harsh. I like using it as a scrub instead of a mask, and leaves my skin looking fresh, smooth and clear. I'm currently using a different scrub and I'm missing this one dearly.

 I've had this argan hair oil for YEARS, and I finally finished it! I use it sparingly when I feel my hair needs extra moisture and to help tame frizz. I liked it, and might repurchase it again after I get through some others I have.

I actually really liked this moisturizer I got in a Birchbox! It was a nice moisturizer that wasn't too heavy and even helped prime my face for makeup. I might look into the full size version of this!

When it comes to finishing makeup products, I feel particularly proud of myself because it hardly ever happens. I've been working on my Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls Bronzer in Light and Wet n' Wild Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana for what feels like forever. Physicians Formula does bronzer so well, and this glow pearls bronzer was the second one I bought because I liked it so much. It looks super shimmery when it's new, but once you scrape off the annoying glitter over spray it's a beautiful satin finish bronzer that doesn't look orange or muddy. It's one of my all-time favorites!

 I am also in love with Reserve Your Cabana as an everyday highlighter because it's more subtle and work appropriate. My skin looks naturally glowy and beautiful when I use this! It's super affordable  Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder dupe and lasts a really long time since it's a giant pan.

I also used up a Skindinavia Oil-Control Finish Spray, one of my favorite setting sprays. It controls my shine and locks in my makeup all day wonderfully. I order it from the Skinidinavia website and they almost always have free shipping and sales.

What did you use up in March?

xoxo

Jessica

March 2016 Favorites!

Spring is in full swing now as we head into April, and that means it's time to reflect on what I've been loving the past month.

Let's take a look at my March favorites!

I recently picked up the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion for Very Dry Skin because I've heard rave reviews about it. It's a body lotion you put on while your still in the shower and rinse it off before you get out. This is so convenient because I often skip putting on lotion after my showers (too much of a hassle for my lazy self). This stuff is AMAZING! My skin has never been softer and this is now a staple in my shower.

I've discovered my all-time favorite primer combination that I've been using every. Single. Day. It's my Nivea Post-Shave Balm and NYX Pore Filler Primer. I first apply the Pore Filler to the areas with the largest pores, namely my cheeks, and then go in with the Nivea Post-Shave Balm all over my face. The combination is perfect for getting flawless looking skin that keeps your makeup shine free and in place ALL DAY. I highly recommend these two if you have problems with pores and makeup meltdown, because this combo is straight magic.

I've recently re-discovered my sample of the tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess as my go-to bronzer because it blends like a dream, has the slightest amount of shimmer and is a more neutral brown that isn't too warm but almost golden in shade. It's perfect for adding the right amount of warmth and life to the skin and helping to blend out matte bronzers or contours if they appear a little patchy.

I also picked up this Defy & Inspire Nail Polish in Stage Coach, a seemingly new brand at Target, and it's a gorgeous pearly iridescent periwinkle/lavender with pink and gold shifts. Stunning! Lastly, I purchased the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Aging Micro-Powder because it was one of the steals during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty and I am definitely going to repurchase this when it runs out because it's LIFE. It's a super finely milled, light weight, translucent powder that minimizes pores like no other powder I've tried and sets my foundation beautifully without look cakey. It's loose so it does tend to get messy, but I don't mind because I love it so much. It also works well for setting under eye concealer!

What were your favorites in March?

xoxo

Jessica

March 2016 Birchbox Unboxing!

Hey guys! I'm finally putting up a post on my March Birchbox, even though we are now headed into April. Oops! Let's take a closer look at what I got!

On of the the things I was most excited about was this Cargo Eye Shadow Duo in Joey & The Rocks, shadows from the Down Under Palette. The lighter beige shade is a wonderful light transition shade and the darker brown is perfect for the crease. They don't blend as well as I hoped, but I'll still get some use out of them, especially when travelling.

... and a perfume sample from Blocki This Grand Affair. BOOOOO!

I was also stoked about this Keihl's Since 1851 Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum. I've heard great things about Keihl's products, and I love getting eye creams and serums in subscriptions so I don't ever have to buy them! Right now I have so many in my rotation I doubt I'll run out for a verrrry long time. I've tied this one a few times and I've been enjoying the lightweight, moisturizing texture under my eyes. So far so good!

I also got a Juara Radiance Enzyme Scrub, that I have yet to try. I love exfoliator samples, and I can't wait to see if it lives up to the claims of minimizing pores.

Lastly, I got a Number 4 Hydrating Shampoo and a sample of the Hydrating Conditioner to go along with it. These products are very fragranced, and have a strong floral perfume scent which I didn't mind. The shampoo however, wasn't that hydrating in my opinion, and felt like it was stripping my hair of natural oil. It might just be me and my curly/wavy, thick and course, hair type that many shampoos that claim to be hydrating do the opposite for me. The conditioner was pretty good though! I just wish the conditioner was in the bottle, and the shampoo was in the packet.

That's it for my Birchbox! This box is going into my saved boxes stash for sure because I'm a sucker for metallic/mint. :) Not a bad box at all! Birchbox is $10 a month and is perfect for those who don't just want mostly makeup samples, but higher end skin and hair care products.

What did you get in your box this month?

xoxo

Jessica

March 2016 Boxycharm Unboxing!

I skipped last months Boxycharm, but with a few sneak peaks into this months box, I just HAD to get it! Boxycharm usually gives you 4-5 full size products for only $21 a month, and it's definitely one of the better value subscription boxes out there.

Let's take a look!

I was so excited to see that we got not one, but TWO Makeup Geek Shadows!!! I've always wanted to try Makeup Geek shadows, and now I finally get to. I got the shades Cupcake, a matte mauve pink, and Shimma Shimma, a shimmery champagne. Both are beautiful, have great pigmentation and seem really blendable. Cupcake would make an excellent transition shade in the crease and Shimma Shimma would be good for inner corner, brow bone highlight and all over lid pop of shimmer. 

I also got a Luxie 512 Small Contour Brush! This brush is sooo soft and one of the prettiest brushes I own. I probably won't use it for contour because I like using bigger brushes, but I'll probably use it for blending out concealer or even using it to highlight.

I also got a full size Chella Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Pencil, Clarks Botanicals Anti-Puff Eye Cream, and a travel size Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris Perfume. 

I'm meh about the perfume just because I'm so tired of getting it, but at least it's a decent size and smells nice, like a light mix of citrus and floral. I've gotten Chella products before and I've liked them, so I'm stoked about this pencil! The color is a good match for me and the formula is on the waxy side, but I prefer that over too creamy a formula. 

I'm real excited for the eye cream though! It's a giant size, has a pump and seems like it'll be super nourishing and moisturizing without being too thick. Allergy season is upon us, and if it combats puffy eyes like it's supposed to this will definitely come in handy!

Like I've said, Boxycharm is probably my favorite, and I'm loving almost everything I got this month (minus the perfume).

What did you love in your Boxycharm this month?

xoxo

Jessica

Ipsy March 2016 Unboxing! #HelloSpring

Hey guys! As you may have noticed (or not), I kind of took a 2 week break from posting. Sometimes, life gets in the way and I was having a hard time finding time just to sit down and write a post, let alone take decent photos with so many thing happening in my life at once. That in combination with feeling pretty uninspired, I decided to take a little break. Hopefully I can get back into my groove of posting at least on the weekends.

Anyways, let's see what I got in my Ipsy bag this month!

It certainly is starting to feel like spring here in the PNW, and this spring themed bag is super adorable. I was so excited to see this Pixi by Petra Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold. One half is a gorgeous rose gold blush with a slight sheen, and the other side is a champagne highlight with amazing pigmentation. 

The blush however, I could not for the life of me get it to show up on my skin; and I have pretty light skin. Also, I use a pretty big blush brush so it was hard to fit my brush into the pan to just pick up the blush. So the blush is a little disappointing for me, but the highlight is on point. If you swirl them together, it's a beautiful rose gold highlight that I also enjoy! 

I'm not a fan of eyeliners in my boxes/bags because I get so many, but this Skone Insanely Intense Tattoo Liner in Jet Black is a pretty nice felt tip liner! I rarely wear eyeliner, but when I do I prefer felt tip ones to draw out my wing if I'm doing winged liner, and then fill it in with gel. It's super black and seems easy to work with, so I'm excited to try it out! 

swatches on swatches on swatches

I wish we got fluffier eye shadow brushes in our bags instead of your typical packing on color brushes, like this Beau Gachis Paris Eye Shadow Brush. This brush though is insanely soft, which actually surprised me because it kind of looks like a cheaper brush. I might end up using this after all, because I was thinking about passing this on to my sister.

The NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Pink Lust I will be passing on however because hot ass pink magenta is not my color. The formula seems nice and creamy, but I prefer reds, corals and deeper shades for my bold lip choices. I might have to pick up a different shade on my own to really give this formula a try.

Lastly, I got another Marc Anthony product, this time the Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Out Smoothing Cream. What a name! I usually enjoy Marc Anthony products, so I'll start incorporating this into my hair routine before I blow dry to help tame my frizz and report back.

That's it for Ipsy! Not too bad, but I wasn't super thrilled with the products, mainly the lip color and disappointed with the blush pigmentation. 

What did you get this month?

xoxo

Jessica

Shadows To Make Your Eyes Standout

Choosing eye shadows based on eye color isn't anything new, and they even sell specially designed shadow quads and palettes for specific eye color. There is something magical when certain shadows are paired with the right eye color and makes your eyes the center of attention. Here are a few 'secret weapon' shades to make your eyes pop based on your eye color!

Secret Weapon for Brown Eyes: Purples, Emerald Green, and Cobalt Blue

Brown eyes are neutral, so us brown eyed gals can pretty much wear anything! But vibrant jewel toned shadows like purples, cobalt blue, and emerald green look especially gorgeous and make those brown eyes standout. Golds, pinks and golds also pair well!

I have a bunch of single shadows from Coastal Scents in a palette that are pretty much a brown eyed girls dream, complete with browns, purples, copper and a pop of green. I also love the Jordana 12 HR Made To Last Shadow Pencil in Endless Emerald and Prolong Purple because they have great pigmentation, staying power and lovely colors. I also have a sample of the Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Electric Blue, which adds a pop of color to the waterline and is creamy enough to put all over the lid. 

Secret Weapon for Green Eyes: Pinks, Mauve, Plums, Rose Gold

Want to make your green eyes be the center of attention? Wear pink shades, mauve and rose golds shades to compliment your green tones! The combination creates a soft, romantic look, and these shades don't overshadow green eyes. The Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette ( a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3) has a bunch of beautiful pink, mauve and rose gold tones. The L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Amber Rush would look stunning all over the lid for a metallic sheen! Earthy brown shadows also compliment green eyes nicely.

Secret Weapon for Blue Eyes: Reds, Oranges and Coppers

I am so jealous of you blue eyed girls because reds, oranges and coppers look absolutely STUNNING! The opposite of blue on the color wheel is orange, so it makes sense that these shades would compliment blue eyes. The Lime Crime Venus: The Grunge Palette is practically made for blue eyes with rusty reds, maroons, oranges and pinks. NYX Prismatic Shadow in Fireball is an amazing metallic red, and Colour Pop Shadow in Game Face is an amazing orange copper (totally forgot to include it in pictures). I love these types of shades, but reds are hard to pull of with my brown eyes without looking like I have pink eye.

Secret Weapon for Hazel Eyes: Plums, Purples, Browns

Whenever I see my hazel friend wear plum shadow, I cannot stop staring at her eyes. The plum purples emphasizes the green tones in hazel eyes so well! A, absolutely gorgeous combo. The Coastal Scents Revealed 2 also comes in handy because it not only has pinks and mauves, but a few deeper plum shades which the Naked 3 doesn't have. This Luxie Single Shadow in No. 290 is plum brown that would also pair well with hazel eyes! 

This isn't an exhaustive list obviously, but just a few shades that I find pair well with each eye color. But remember, these are not hard rules but suggestions. If you have blue eyes and want to wear green shadow, or have brown eyes and want to wear red shadow, go for it! If you like it, that's all that matters. :)

What are your favorite shadow/eye color combos?

xoxo

Jessica 

Products I've Used Up #4

Daaaammmnn Jessica... back at it again with another empties post! That #DamnDaniel video just lights up my life in a ridiculous, stupid way. Anyways, I have another round of products that I finished this month to share with you all and share my thoughts on them!

Enjoy!

I finished 2 hair staples, my John Freida Frizz Ease Dream Curls Spray and Macadamia Oil Flawless Cleansing Conditioner. I'm always repurchasing these two! The curl spray helps define my looser waves/curls and protects from heat at the same time. The cleansing conditioner is great for in between shampoos, is very moisturizing and cuts down on blow dry time!

The Catwalk Curlesque Strong Hold Mousse I got on sale at Ulta for, I'm not kidding, $1.97 when it's usually $19. My mind was blown, and kept asking the lady at the register if that was right, and surely it was. It's a pretty good, strong hold mousse that locks in my curls, but I probably won't repurchase again since it's usually so expensive. As for the Silk 18 Conditioner from Maple Holistics, I was sent it for my consideration and it's just an okay condition with nothing super special about it.

On to makeup!

My tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara is pretty much gone, so I decided to just toss it. I like it, but I bought it because it was half price online during a sale. I don't like spending more than $10 on mascara since the drugstore does it so well. Sadly, my tiny sample of benefit Gimme Brow is empty. I loved this product for filling in my brows quickly because of the tiny brush and fiber formula. it definitely is on my wishlist to get the full size! I also finished my Nyx Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe, which I've really loved up until discovering the L'Oreal Brow Stylist. It's more on the waxy side and comes in a variety of shades. If I can't find the Brow Stylist, this is my second favorite.

 Lastly, I squeezed out the rest of my L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in 102 Shell Beige, an oily skin girls dream. It's got great coverage and helps my skin look flawless ALL DAY with minimal shine. However, their color selection is not that great for lighter skinned gals because the lightest shades are pretty pink toned that look a tiny bit off with my yellow/neutral undertones. But I do love this foundation regardless and it mixes well with other foundations.

What did you use up this month?

xoxo

Jessica

February 2016 Favorites!

Hey guys! I'm getting a jump start on my favorites this month, and reflecting back on what I loved during the short month of February, there were only a few standout items. Let's go through my favorites shall we?

Let me just say that Wet n' Wild is SLAYING right now with their products. I've been loving the newly reformulated Wet n' Wild Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche and Wet n' Wild Coloricon Blush in Rose Champagne. These matte contour powders are way more pigmented and blendable than the originals, but still kick up a ton of powder. I don't mind, but they do get messy. I haven't played with the actual contour shade much, but the beige highlight shade I've been using everyday to highlight my face and help lighten if I went a little too H.A.M with my bronzer. The pan is a gigantic size for under $5! Uh, yes please.

I've also finally found a use for my EcoTools Complexion Collection Mattifying Finish Brush that has just been sitting in my collection forever! It surprisingly makes a fantastic contour brush believe it or not. The bristles are shaped kind of like a duo fiber/ stippling brush, so it doesn't pick up too much pigment all at once to help diffuse and blend my contour powders right under my cheek bones for a softer look. It's especially handy for powders that are darker and super pigmented, like my theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer that you can go overboard quickly on. It's my favorite contour brush at the moment.

Excuse the dirty brush though...

Back to the new blush; it's a gorgeous shade! A shimmery satin muted rose gold blush that literally goes with everything since it's a more natural looking blush. It looks pretty boring in the pan, but it's so beautiful on the skin. The formulation is different though, and is less pigmented than the OG Coloricon Blushes. But now they kick up less powder while still delivering buildable color, compared to before when you barely had to dip your brush into the pan. Some are disappointed that they changed the original formula since it was already awesome ( I have the old Pearlescent Pink Blush that I love), but I still like it! I'm less likely to apply too much now.

I've re-discovered my L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Iced Latte, and found a new love, the L'Oreal Brow Stylist Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette. Guys, the L'Oreal Infallible shadows don't get nearly the love they deserve because they truly are some of the best shadows I've come across AND they are from the drugstore! The shade Iced Latte is a stunning champagne shade that I've been wearing constantly. It brightens the eye and has a metallic sheen while not being too over the top. Loooooove it.

The Brow Stylist is my favorite go to brow pencil now because it's creamy, pigmented and so easy to use with the skinny tip that allows for precise application with a convenient spooly on the other end. It's also a neutral/cool brown that isn't too dark! Hallelujah!

Top: Iced Latte, Rose Champagne, Contour and Highlight 

What were your favorites this month?

xoxo

Jessica