August Favorites

Hello lovelies! 

I cannot believe it's already September! It feels like I just did July Favorites! But, I am more than happy to say goodbye to August, I've never been a big fan. At first when I started thinking about my favorite things this month, I didn't think I had many new things to share with you. But then I looked at my vanity and bathroom counter and realized I had some really good stuff! :) Some of them I have already showed you in a haul post or two, but I also realized that some of my actual favorites are things I just picked up randomly during my travels! 

In the last month or so, I have really been loving my Beauty Blender! I actually got this in my Christmas stocking this past year, but never really used it much before now! I am starting to become slightly obsessed! I love this way this blends my foundation perfectly! I use mine damp and just bounce the foundation all over until its blended the way I want! It helps me to use less product and I love the look it allows me to achieve! If you haven't tried this yet, you need to ASAP! 

I finally decided to pick up the Milani Bronzer XL in Fake Tan! I would pass by this so many times and think "Well, I wanna try it, but it's probably nothing thrilling." and I would opt for another item I had my eye on! Let's just say that was really stupid of me! It's amazing! I love the dual shades that can be used individually or mixed together. It gives the BEST bronzed glow! It's totally matte, doesn't make me look "muddy" at all and I can use the darker shade for contouring! Its so versatile! I've probably worn this everyday this month! ;)

Since August has been pretty damn humid (ew) I haven't really felt like wearing a full foundation every day. Instead I've been using Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bare Light. I mix this into my Revlon Primer (a Favorite from last month) and apply it all over my face. Then I just go in with a little concealer wherever I need it, and finish with setting powder and bronzer! I love the glow that this gives my skin! It's one of those products that really makes you look like you are glowing from within! It's a pearly shimmer, but doesn't cake my face in glitter! No one wants that! It's light and airy and perfect during these gross, hot, humid, August days!

Speaking of concealer, another product I have basically used every day this month is Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer (longest name ever!!!). This stuff gives amazing coverage without being super thick! In fact, it's a pretty thin formula for how much coverage it gives, which is impressive! I love the little "pouf ball" on the end of the "wand" and it helps me get just the right amount of product that I want! I usually blend the product out with my beauty blender and I love the look it all gives! I think this will definitely be a repurchase soon since I'm running low! :)

As for eyeshadows, I don't think it will be a big surprise that I am choosing a Makeup Geek eyeshadow pan in Beaches and Cream. Ugh I just love this shade! It just seems like it can do so much more than any other eyeshadow I've ever owned! I can use it solely all over the lid, to blend my crease, to transition into a different shade.. the options are just endless and I am constantly finding new ways that I love using it for my eye looks! I would be so bold to say that if you pick only a few Makeup Geek shades to try or add to your collection, make sure this is definitely one of them! :)

Another product I think I have used just about every day this month is the new Too Faced Bulletproof 24 Hour Liner in Dirt Bag. This stuff really and truly is bulletproof! I've never worn an eyeliner that is as long lasting as this one is! It seriously blows me away! I will usually put this on around 6am and I swear, not only does it not budge all day (or irritate my eyes- yay!) but it still looks flawless at the end of the day when I go to take my makeup off for the night! It's amazing! I love that this liner can be used for basic every day work looks and can also totally glam up a more dramatic look for evening or more social situations. I love the deep brown (think dark chocolate) and the teeny tiny micro specks of gold shimmer/glitter! I will definitely not only repurchase this one, but I also plan on picking up more shades! 

As far as lip products go, I have really been loving a lip gloss set that I picked up in Target by e.l.f.! These lip glosses are so super pigmented and I love the formula to death! They aren't sticky or goopy AT ALL! They go on so creamy smooth and feel like soft buttah (ha) on your lips! They don't dry my lips out, but I wouldn't say I noticed a ton of hydration from these alone either. I love these for a simple pop of color that is more casual! Perfect for day time or at the office! My boyfriend loves them too because, "They're not gross!" Hahaha! So they are kiss approved! ;) I think these were part of an e.l.f. back-to-school collection. The cherry reddish color has a little bit of sparkle in it, but nothing too crazy or super noticeable. The peachy color has just a teeny bit of shimmer to it. The hot pink color has zero glitter or shimmer and is just glossy! And finally the light pink color is a pearly and a teeny bit shimmery! I think all of the colors are perfect and offer a wide variety for different looks! I totally see why this was marketed as a back to school set! It would be perfect for a young teen or young adult to throw into their backpack or makeup bag! And you can't beat $5 for four great lip glosses! ;)

Earlier this summer I picked up a coconut lotion from Ulta's body line. It comes in an aerosol spray can and is all about the 'spray & go" concept. I must say, I love me a time saver! But even more than the convenience of the product, I love the summer coconut smell and the formula of this is heavenly!! It's not a super think or sticky lotion! It glides on your skin so smoothly and feels really cooling and hydrating! I love this especially for the summer months because I cannot stand feeling sticky from lotion when its super hot and humid! This has been a lifesaver not only for the month of August, but all summer long! The bad news is I can't find this on anywhere on Ulta's website!! I'm not sure if this was just limited edition for summer or if there are other scents! I will definitely look into finding more again and let you know if I come up with anything!

This month I decided to include a hair product! Since I happen to have the thinnest, most baby-fine hair on the planet I need all the help I can get out of volumizing products! I heard rave reviews on John Frieda's Luxurious Volume Root Boosting Blow Dry Lotion (another ridiculously long named product) and tried to purchase it in a few different locations but it was always sold out! Usually that's a good enough sign to me that it's a well liked product! I finally found one single bottle left on a shelf in Ulta a few weeks ago and jumped at the chance to try it! I've been using this every time I blow dry my hair and I can definitely tell a difference! It gives me a little more bounce and lift in my roots and doesn't make my hair hard or "crunchy" at all! Definitely worth trying if you have thinner hair like me or even if you just want to get a little more bounce to your hair!

As you have probably already noticed, lately I have been obsessed with all things Radiant Orchid! I just cannot get enough of it! I was in Charming Charlie's earlier this month and came across this beautiful orchid and navy blue bib-ish style necklace. I have literally worn this every chance I could get this month. Literally. Like to the point where my boyfriend pointed out that I wore it the last three or four times I saw him! LOL! I freaking love it!!! I love it casual, I love it dressy, I love it just hanging on my jewelry organizer! Its just so pretty that I felt that it needed it's own little shout out in my monthly favorites! Annnnd it even comes with little orchid drop earrings! Ugh- LOVE it and can't stop wearing it!!

So that about wraps up my August Favorites! It's funny how I thought I didn't have much at first but was able to come up with a bunch of stuff to ramble on about! Let me know if there is anything you have been loving this past month! I would love to hear about it!
On to September! :)

Thanks for reading!
♥ Nichole

Beautyblender- The Original $19.95

Milani Bronzer XL All Over Glow- Fake Tan $9.99

Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator- Bare Light $13.99

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer- Light $8.99

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan - Beaches and Cream $5.99

Too Faced Bulletproof 24-Hour Eye Liner- Dirt Bag $22

e.l.f. Essential Beauty School 4-Piece Shimmer Gloss Set $5 

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Root Booster Blow Dry Lotion- $7.49

Charming Charlie Candy Shop Necklace Set- Purple $15

Too Faced Rock N Roll Rock Candy Eye Shadow Collection Review

Hi guys!

So as you know from my previous Ulta haul, I picked up the new Too Faced Rock N Roll palette that I just couldn't wait to have! I planned on waiting until closer to Fall for this one because of the pretty jewel tones and darker shades, but I ran out of patience! Is anyone else DYING for fall yet or is it just me?

First of all, how adorable is the packaging?! I love the pink and black design! There are nine colors in the palette, all named after various music genres, which I thought was a really cool way to present them! There is only one totally matte shade in the pallet (Rockabilly) that makes a great highlight shade, while the other eight shadows all have a shimmer or glitter to them. The more shimmery shades are New Romantic (also a highlight shade) and Ska. New Wave, Rap, Pop, Heavy Metal, Glam Rock, and Punk all have a very glittery finish.

The right side of the palette has all of the lighter highlighting colors. The top color, Rockabilly, is a creamy matte shade that is best for highlighting. Its a basic neutral color that is cream/ off white and always good to have on hand in a palette like this! The middle color, New Wave, is a very, very, very glittery pinkish toned highlighter. I find this one to be a little bit chalky with really chunky glitter. Not my favorite look! The bottom color, New Romantic, is my favorite! It is a creamy, almost champagne toned color that is so pretty on the brow bone! I really like the way it plays off the darker colors in this palette and blends everything together really nicely! 

The middle column of the pallet has some of the brighter pops of color. The top color is Rap, a gorgeous bright gold, edgy color that definitely gives off  a bit of that Rock & Roll feel! I love this in the inner corners of my eyelids for a pop of color! It's creamy and has glitter throughout, but I think the bright color tones down some of the sparkle! It's one of my favorite colors in the palette! The middle color, Pop, is a pretty, but super dark plum color...like SUPER dark! Much darker on the eyes than in the pan or swatch! This also has some glitter in it as well, but nothing crazy. I was able to use this the other day as my outer corner color and blend it up into the crease to soften it up a bit and get a really pretty eye look without it being too harsh! The bottom color, Glam Rock, is a really hard color to describe! Its is almost a gun metal or pewter type of color with a greenish undertone that also has glitter in it. I've been a little puzzled over how I want to use this one honestly! It is really pretty and I'm thinking it might be good for a darker smokey eye!

The left side of the palette has the darkest colors. I'm slightly obsessed with the top swatch, Ska! It is such a pretty brown color with a little bit of bronze in it! It is one of the few shimmery shades in the palette and I think it is really versatile! I love using it all over the lid with a darker shade in my crease or with a lighter color on the lid and then put this in my crease! So many options with this one! The middle color, Heavy Metal scares me just a little bit hahaha! I find this one really difficult to use! It is a very dark navy blue color with glitter and I'm really just not so sure about this one. Other than using this as a liner on my upper lash line, I don't see a whole lot of options for it in everyday use. I think this one is the color that they really could have omitted from the palette altogether. The bottom and last color is Punk. This one is a dark forest greenish color that almost pulls black with (you guessed it!!) glitter in it. I'm not a huge fan of this one either to be honest. I think this is also a difficult color to work with. I would have much rather seen a true black shadow with some shimmer or glitter than a greenish shade. Just kinda meh about it really. 

Eye look using Ska on lids, Rap in crease and inner corners, and Rockabilly as highlight

Overall, I am really on the fence with the collection of shadows in this palette. I definitely had higher hopes for it and expected to be more excited to use it/ more impressed by it. It's just kind of confusing and I don't think there are a ton of different looks that you can really create with these nine colors alone. I feel like all you're really getting are a bunch of highlight colors and a bunch of dark colors. Neither of which really scream Rock N Roll to me! While the concept is a good one, I think they just totally missed the mark with the colors they chose to include. I think they would have been better off mixing up the finishes of these shadows a bit more. DEFINITELY less glitter would have been better, but more matte color options or more shimmer would have been great in my opinion! Even something a little more like the packaging would have been nice. Including a nice pink color, black, or silver would have tied it all together nicely! I think if they released their three newest palettes (Country, Rock N Roll, and Cat Eye) together in one larger palette (kind of like the Chocolate Bar) the look options would have been amazing! 

I plan to keep messing around with different looks from this palette and seeing if any of my opinions change (which I will definitely update if they do). I may try to work in some other shadows I have to see if I can balance some of it out or create a look that works better for me. 

Let me know if you have given this palette a try and what you think!

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great weekend! 

♥ Nichole

Too Faced Rock N Roll Rock Candy Eye Shadow Collection $36

My Eyes Are Totally Manga!

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! Today I am reviewing a newer product that I was really on the fence with for a few weeks, L'Oreal's Voluminous Miss Manga mascara!

Here is the reason I was so hesitant to even try this product:

The commercial is SO annoying!! It drives me absolutely nuts whenever it comes on the TV (which seems to be quite often.. or maybe I'm just super sensitive to it and feel like its on ALL the time?)!! I don't know why exactly, but there is something about it that I just cannot take! Haha! Am I alone in this? Does anyone else find it to be as nerve grating as I do?





Anyway, enough about the commercial! ;) I swore for weeks that I wouldn't purchase it in an attempt to keep my sanity... But... I cracked! After watching a few reviews that some of my favorite beauty bloggers posted on their YouTube channels, I must admit (as much as it pained me) I was intrigued! So many people were loving it! I was only a little surprised considering I am a fan of most of the mascaras that are in the L'Oreal Voluminous mascara line. I purchased mine a few nights ago at my local Bed, Bath & Beyond for about $7.99, but I have seen it pretty much every where lately (CVS, Target, Walmart, Ulta).





The next morning I decided to finally see if this mascara was all it was cracked up to be! My first impression was that the mascara wand seemed smaller and thinner than I was expecting, but I curled my lashes and went to work! I loved, loved, loved the formula of this mascara! I think it is a bit of a wetter formula, but not super thinned out and it was not messy or hard to work with. I think my lashes got pretty great length and separation out of it! I did both my top and bottom lashes (two coats of top, one on bottom) and was really happy with the results! I love that the point on the end of the mascara wand allowed me to really get the product on to the tiny lashes in my inner corner! I can totally see the "Doll like effect" that they are using to market this product! 

My only complaint would be the 360 degree "joint" that is in the middle of the mascara wand. I do find that it makes the wand a little bit harder to control and harder to get super close to my lash line. I would much prefer a wand that offered more stiffness! Other than kind of complicating the process, I don't find that the "joint" did anything to help or make the application process easier or effortless. 

At this point, I've been using the mascara for the past few days and have really come to enjoy it very much! I do see this being a product that I keep in my daily routine/ rotation for a while! I've even recommended it a few times already! Let me know if you have tried this product or decided to give it a shot and make sure to share your thoughts on it in the comment section! :) If you would like to see a great video review of the product please check out the link below to one of my favorite beauty guru's recent videos!

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a great week!


♥ Nichole








L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara $7.99

Mrslolalynn Demo: L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara