Applying Mascara: My Secret Weapon!

So I eluded to this in a previous post, but I have a very particular way of applying my mascara that I have found works really well and gives a fluttery finish that I just love. First, let me start by saying, I was blessed with long, full lashes. I have never had lash extensions and never wear false lashes (my wedding day was the one and only exception). I do, however, have a little routine that really helps to make my eyelashes look more dramatic and lush.

First, I will usually start by curling my lashes. Sometimes I accidentally leave this step out but I'm trying to get better at doing it every time I put on my makeup. I then apply several coats of my mascara. Right now I am bouncing between Revlon's Grow Luscious and Benefit's BAD gal lash mascaras. I prefer the BAD gal lash formula and wand (bottom) but the Grow Luscious is nice to use once in a while and the wand (top) is very large which I enjoy.

I like to go pretty heavy on the mascara. My eyes are my favorite feature to play up on my face and I feel like fluttery lashes just bring them out even more. This is where my secret weapon comes in. It can take many forms but the original was something I came up with while in my local Sephora. Now, I doubt that I'm the first one to have this idea but I didn't really learn it from anyone so I think it's unique and worth trying.

Anyway, I was browsing through loads of makeup and trying on several products, as usual. I decided to try a mascara and took one of their sample applicator wands to use. When I was done, I was about to throw the wand away when I realized, this is like a free makeup brush. I wrapped the sample wand up in a tissue and stuck it in my purse. When I got home I unwrapped it, feeling a bit sly, and washed it off to dry for the morning. It was one of the better ideas I've ever had.

After applying gobs of mascara now, I work the wand through my lashes until I achieve my desired effect. It really helps to work the mascara through from root to tip and fan out my lashes, giving them perfect fullness and volume. However, it doesn't stop here. I have now started to save the brushes from mascaras with wands that I love (BAD gal lash being one of them). I simply give them a good cleaning, and then use them when I find a mascara with an insufficient wand but lovely formula or just to work mascara nicely through my lashes.

Now I know that I can pay to buy a special mascara brush from Sephora or what have you, but why would I do that when I can get better ones for free? Just a thought that I hope you guys can take advantage of or enjoy exploring on your own. Let me know how you feel about this tip and if you try it out yourselves! Oh, and here is a peek at what my lashes look like when I'm done this little routine:

Not bad right (besides the photo quality). For me, this is a perfect look for my lashes because it keeps them looking a tad natural but still helps my eyes to really pop. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.. big, full, voluminous lashes included!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

Most Wanted Beauty Products: September

As August is coming to a close (it passed us by so quickly!) I thought I'd share some beauty products that I may be looking to invest in next month. Please let me know if you've tried any of them, how you got on with them, and if you'd recommend that I purchase them! If you enjoy these wish list style posts, let me know as I may do a fashion one as well.

Links to where you can purchase these products/where the pictures were taken from are in the captions of each photo!

POREfessional

1. Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm ($30)
So many people have reviewed this product well and as it is one of Benefit Cosmetics' best sellers, I would love to give it a go. The price has held me back for a while now and I've considered purchasing a Benefit beauty kit that includes a sample in order to try it out. I know on their website they have several kits in a range of colors called How to Look the Best at Everything that are 'coming soon' and they all contain a sample of the pro balm. Currently they also sell a Snow White & the Huntsman inspired kit that includes a full-sized one but the kit is still $45. The only reason I've considered this kit is because it also comes with a full-size BAD gal lash mascara which I also love (see my Hidden Beauty Treasures post) and that normally retails for $19 alone. Let me know what you think I should do and if you've tried any of these products or kits!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

2. Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18)
The only negative thing I've heard about this product seems to be the smell as some find it overwhelming for a face mist. However, I have sampled it several times in stores (as you should most products when possible) and the fragrance doesn't bother me, I actually quite like it. The elixir is meant to be misted on prior to applying your daily moisturizer and then throughout the day to refresh your look and bring radiance to your skin. It can also be used as an after-shave for men, but I highly doubt that I'd be able to convince my husband to give it a try. The price is a bit steep for a mist, but apparently it does last through many applications and continues to be a recommended product by a lot of people.

Woodwinked

3. MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow ($12-15)
Anyone subscribed to Tanya Burr's blog or YouTube channel will probably want this eye shadow by now. She uses it an awful lot and recently did a whole eye look with it in her Olympics makeup video. The way this shadow blends looks amazing and it seems like you wouldn't even need a different crease color because of the way it deepens as you work the product over your lid. If you've tried it, let me know your thoughts!

Starter Set (Purchase Here / Image Here)

4. Real Techniques Brush Set (~$18)
Most of the brushes that I currently have are from several different brands (Clinique, Sephora, or just Target) and I would like to invest in a nice set of professional brushes. I am far from a professional makeup artist, but the more eye shadows and eye creams I acquire, the more I long for nice brushes to apply them with. Real Techniques has several starter kits on their website that have three or four brushes in them for around $18, which is a great deal considering a lot of companys charge more than that for a single brush. Since I'm not looking to become a professional makeup artist anytime soon, I figure this is a reasonably priced way to get nicer brushes without being ridiculous.

In the Light

5. Stila In the Light Eye Shadow Palette ($39)
Several blogs have done reviews and swatched this palette and it just looks divine. I was considering investing in the Bobbi Brown Desert Twilight eye shadow palette when I was in Blue Mercury a few days ago, but its accompanying $60 price tag definitely scared me off. This Stila palette seems comparable and has more bang for the buck. I'll admit I have far too many eye shadows, but I do love a new palette so this is definitely on my most wanted list.

Spicebomb

6. Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Cologne ($75)
Yes, I am aware this is a men's cologne and no, I don't care. If you've smelled this fragrance you'll know that it has quite the androgenous appeal to it and is much better than the women's version Flowerbomb. This wouldn't be the first time I picked up a men's fragrance and I'm sure it won't be the last. I've never really been afraid to venture outside of my department and if you haven't tried it, you should! It's quite liberating actually, haha!

Sexy Pulp Mascara

7. Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara ($18)
So I have come to that magical time when all of my mascaras (I've been switching between three these past few months) are running very low or dry. I came across this recommendation from Zoe on one of my favorite blogs, Zoella. The large, oddly shaped brush on this mascara seems to be right up my alley and so I've wanted to buy it ever since she posted about it. I'd never heard of the Yves Rocher company before and it was a happy surprise to look through their website and explore all of the different products. I love discovering new brands!

There you have it! Hopefully I'll get to try some of these products in September and if I do, there are sure to be some reviews to follow. Again, let me know what you've tried or what you think I should try and I hope you all have a lovely day!

:: katie golightly x

images credited in captions. everything else is my own including opinions and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

Hidden Beauty Treasures

A couple of days ago, when I started this blog, I got the urge to look back through some of my older makeup and see what I'd written off or just plain forgotten in the past year or so. I am so happy that I did this as it led to me rediscovering some old favorites of mine that had simply been shoved to the back of a drawer in recent months. In all I found four products that have truly been born-again in my makeup collection. There is a mascara, a lip gloss, a lip stick, and an eye shadow with all but the mascara swatched at the end of the post. Enjoy!

These first two products are by Benefit Cosmetics and were from the Her Name Was Glowla makeup kit that I absolutely love. The kit came with the BAD gal lash mascara, Life on the A-list lip gloss, CORALista blush, high and moon beam highlighters, a five color eyeshadow palette, and a few brushes. It retails for $36 (USD) and is well worth the price.

The first product that I was happy to rediscover was the BAD gal lash mascara. It is a wonderful formula that applies like a dream mostly because the brush is amazing. It hugs all of my lashes and gives them wonderful volume and fullness without clumping horribly (I actually have a trick to applying mascara, but I'll save that for a future blog post so watch for it soon!). This has become my new daily mascara since I found it and I will be repurchasing when this one runs out.

The second product was the ultra shine lip gloss in the color, Life on the A-list. This bubblegum pink color suits me quite well and has quickly replaced other lip glosses that I had been using recently. The formula isn't too sticky unless you lather it on and it has a perfectly subtle shimmer to it that catches the light without looking cheap. There is also a slight sweet scent to it which earns it more points in my book.

Sorry for the boring photo, but this was the best I could do with how long the packaging is. Anyway, my next rediscovery is this long wear lip color by Stila in the color 'In the Nude' which retails for $20 (USD). I use this lip color when I want to completely nude-out my lips or layer it with another color for a nice effect. Naturally, I have very pink lips so if I want to start with a nude base this is perfect for me. The formula is nice and creamy and lasts for ages, especially under a gloss. The Stila lipsticks also have a very thin design which makes application more precise. I got a lot of use out of this last autumn/winter so I will be happy to break it out again in a month or so!

The last product I was happy to come across was this MAC eye shadow in the color Cranberry which retails for $12 or $15 (depending on whether you buy the full packaging or just the refill pan). I cannot say enough about this color. It is a beautifully warm pinky-toned red that has a coppery finish with fine shimmer. As most MAC shadows do, it applies nicely, blends well, and is very pigmented. I think this can be worn with any eye color but I do love it with my green eyes. You can see a swatch of it below (bottom) along with the Benefit lip gloss (top) and Stila lipstick (middle). 

Life on the A-list (top), In the Nude (middle), Cranberry (bottom)

So there you have it! I encourage you all to go through that horrible makeup drawer that you haven't cleaned in a while and find some old favorites that can work their way back into your daily routine. Let me know what you uncover and have a lovely evening!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

High End Beauty Haul

Though I don't own very many high end makeup products, I do tend to splurge on ones that seem worth the price. Some of my favorite brands that are on the more expensive side of things include: MAC, Bobbi Brown, NARS, Dior, Chanel, and Burberry. I recently visited our local Blue Mercury and Nordstrom stores and came away with three lovely products that I know I will get a lot of use out of and enjoy.

The first item I bought was this NARS eyeshadow duo in Kuala Lumpur which retails for $34 (USD). One of the best parts of buying nicer brands is the wonderful effort they put into the packaging. All three of these products are proof of that and it is something that can truly be appreciated. In the picture above, the colors look a bit lighter than they truly are but you can get a better idea of what they look like on the NARS website where they describe the colors as a 'rose gold and boysendberry infused with gold.' On the left is a peachy nude color and on the right is a deep purple tone. They both have a nice shimmer to them and apply nicely. I have light green eyes so these colors will really help them to stand out in any makeup look.

After struggling to find the Chanel Illusion D'ombre long wear shadow in the shade Emerveille, I decided to try this similar shade by Bobbi Brown. This long wear cream shadow is in the color Beach Honey and is pretty close in color to Emerveille but retails for $24 (USD) when compared to the Chanel shadow which retails for $36 (USD). This cream shadow applies like a dream and is just the most lovely champagne color with a perfect amount of shimmer. It sits nicely on the lid and stays on all day. This will definitely become a staple in my makeup bag.

Speaking of makeup bag staple, this was a repurchase from Dior and is one of my all time favorite products. The Diorskin Amber Diamond pressed shimmer powder is a perfect highlight but can also be used as eye shadow with a smaller brush on the individual colors. Again, the compact packaging is lovely and has a mirror for precise application. I personally do not love products that have a heavy glitter look to them, but the amount of shimmer in this powder is absolutely amazing for subtle highlighting.

Are you a fan of any high end makeup products? Let me know what you've tried and what you think of them in the comments below. I'll let you know how I get on with the shadows long term and maybe they'll end up in future beauty favorites posts!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

Review: Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters

I think it goes without saying that the Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters are one of the big drugstore break-out products this summer. They have accumulated many fans during the summer and continue to be loved by makeup lovers everywhere. The balmy consistency makes them easy to apply and leaves a soft finish on the lips. There are around twenty different colors and flavors available for purchase at $6.49 (USD) per tube. I bought mine at Target (as you can tell, I'm there a lot since that is where I do my grocery shopping every week) and selected two different colors: 090-Sweet Tart and 065-Creamsicle.

First let me start by saying, the packaging on these products is very nice for a drugstore brand. As with other pieces of the Revlon ColorBurst line (for example, the Lip Gloss), the quilted effect that they put on in the plastic makes it similar to higher end lines, almost Chanel-like. This more expensive feel definitely helps to sell the product and the lip butters themselves back it up.

The Creamsicle color (above) is a peachy pale tone that nudes the lips a bit and results in a muted look. The formula is a little clumpy and it required some smoothing out even after I exfoliated my lips. Overall, the color was nice but the name left me longing for more of a sweet creamsicle-like smell. That would probably be the only complaint I have with this product and it is very minor. I would have absolutely loved these lip butters if they had more of a scent to back up the dessert-themed names.

The Sweet Tart color is definitely more pigmented than the Creamsicle flavor and is a very pretty hot pink. On the lips it is amazing and was definitely one of the best lip colors I have used. It is very much the summery, girly pink that every girl needs in their makeup collection. I found that this color applied more smoothly and evenly when compared to the Creamsicle color. When I use the Sweet Tart shade in combination with a lip gloss it has an amazing effect and is an all-day fun look that steals the show.

some quick swatches, sorry for the poor quality: Top 090-Sweet Tart, Bottom 065-Creamsicle 

After trying them out, I would definitely recommend these products. The quality is top notch for a drugstore lip stick and it is well worth the price. The lip butter formula feels great on the lips and seems to last well during the day. I did find myself reapplying it a few times but I have yet to find a lip product that lasts beyond my daily chattering at work! If you've tried the Revlon ColorBurt Lip Butters, let me know what you thought of them in the comments. Also, if there is anything that you would suggest I try out, please send recommendations my way as I love excuses to buy new products! Hope you're having a lovely weekend. 

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

Review: Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream

Some general information of interest

The Garnier B.B. cream was the first beauty balm that I came across that was available in the states as a drug store brand. I hadn't read any reviews on it myself and thought I'd just take the plunge and see what all this B.B. cream fuss was about. First let me tell you, my skin type is combination to oily depending on the season (I tried this in the spring/summer but in winter I tend to get a bit dry). My complexion is usually quite light though it can range from fair to beige, again dependent upon the season. I purchased the Garnier B.B. cream in the 'Light/Medium' color and I believe it is only available in one other shade, 'Medium/Dark'. It was around $12 (USD) at Target and comes in a 2.5 fluid ounce bottle (75ml). It has an SPF 15 UVA/UVB sunscreen built into it and claims to 'hydrate, protect, and perfect' your skin. The packaging is typical for a drugstore brand and falls in line with the standard design of most Garnier products.

When I first tried this product, I was not certain how to go about applying it so I sort of had to fly by the seat of my pants for a while until I figured out a way to make it work for me. This formulation is quite oily and leaves a dewy finish on the skin. Since I have combination to oily skin, this didn't sit well with me at first and made me look quite wet as the day wore on. Thankfully, I decided to give it another go and this is the routine that I found works best for me.

How I apply the product

I make an effort to cleanse my skin every morning and evening in whatever way possible. Often, if pressed for time or feeling lazy, I will simply use pre-moistened cleansing wipes at night to take off makeup and general grime from the day. I then follow up with a toner which I wipe over my face with a cotton ball. At night I will use a hydrating moisturizer and leave it there. However, during the day, if I am using the Garnier B.B. cream, I will forgo the moisturizer as the B.B. cream has more than enough moisture packed into it for my skin.

To apply the Garnier B.B. cream, I start with just a pea-sized amount on the tip of my finger. I typically blend the cream into my skin with my finger tips and find that I can slowly build up coverage if I need it or go back over places where I have blemishes or redness. On the skin, the cream feels quite nice and is easy to blend. I would best describe it as a heavier tinted moisturizer. The coverage is nice for me because it is not too heavy and I can usually put it on light enough to achieve a 'natural' makeup look.

As I mentioned, the finish is rather dewy and can leave my skin looking quite oily although it tends to feel much better than it looks. In order to have the cream sit nicely on my skin, I will give it about 5 to 10 minutes to set onto my skin. I will usually go about some morning chores or watch a quick vlog on YouTube while I wait. Eventually, the cream sets very nicely and does not look or feel heavy. I always follow up with a setting powder as I enjoy a more mat finish, especially in my T-zone area. 

Okay, so that's just how I apply it.. now let's get to the actual review, shall we?

While I have not tried other B.B. creams, I will have to say that I was not entirely impressed with this one. I use it on a daily basis, but figuring out a routine that worked for me did take some time as well as some shoddy trial-and-error. Again, I will stress that I have a skin type that can range more on the oily side and so this cream may work better for those with normal to dry skin (let me know in the comments if you have this skin type and tried the Garnier B.B. cream). 

For the price and availability, this is a nice product that could have a happy place in your daily makeup routine. I have had my bottle for several months now and haven't even come close to finishing. I enjoyed the overall effect that the cream had on my skin as well. With most heavier foundations I will often have breakouts in my T-zone (mostly chin) after a few consecutive days of use. However, this cream has not had a negative effect on my skin. It actually keeps it quite fresh and youthful-looking throughout the day. 

I look forward to trying some more drugstore B.B. creams and may be able to sneak a few high-end ones under my husband's nose if I can find the time and money. So far, I have seen that CoverGirl, Maybelline, and L'Oreal have all come out with formulas that may be worth trying. If you've tried any of them, let me know in the comments and maybe I will get around to trying them all. 

Whew, that was my first review. Hope you've enjoyed the read, let me know what I can do to improve!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.