March Boxy Charm

Boxy Charm is one of my favorite things in life! Every month, I watch my email for the shipping notification, and then I start checking my mailbox everyday LOL! When I get my package, I feel like a kid on Christmas. 

Boxy Charm is, in my opinion, the best beauty subscription box out there. It costs 20$ per month, and the contents are always worth well over 100$.

I am always very pleased with my Boxy Charm, and this month is no exception. 

The first thing that really caught my eye was the Makeup Geek eyeshadows. Makeup Geek makes one of the best eyeshadows out there, so I was stoked when I saw these gems. They came in the shades Coco Bear, and Mai Tai. The first one is a super pretty, warm brown. it is very soft and pigmented. The second one is one of the duo chrome shadows. It is a pretty peach shade with a pink shift. I'll definitely be wearing the heck out of it this spring and summer!

Next up is the body illuminizer by OFRA. This type of product isn't really my jam, nor did I notice any illuminating happening. I noticed some slight sparkles, but nothing noticeable. I definitely would not go out of my way to use this product.

Next up is the perfume Style by Paris. It's always hit or miss when it comes to perfume samples, but this one was definitely a hit. Right away, I noticed that the scent was very familiar. I started picking up bottles of my perfume to compare it to. In the end, I think the one it smells almost identical to is the Marc Jacobs' Decadence. I love purse sprays, and I'm excited to carry this little guy in my purse. Another thing that was kind of cool about it is that the lid screws on and off, so you can reuse the bottle when it's gone. 

Next up is the small contour brush from Luxi. I have a few brushes from this brand, and I absolutely love them. They're very soft, and just such good quality. I probably won't use this brush for contouring, but I think it will be perfect for sweeping highlighter on. 

Last up is the brow pencil from Chella. I have a few products from this brand that I've received in subscription boxes, and I like the brand. I did swatch the pencil, which is in the shade Taupe, and it is a really pretty, neutral shade that I think most brunettes could wear. It is very skinny like the anastasia brow wiz, and the formula seems similar as well. I'm excited to use it. 

That concludes this month's Boxy Charm review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have a fabulous weekend,

XOXO

Favorite Romance Movies

I was tagged by my girl, Daysi. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we decided to put together our top 6 cheesy, feel-good, Romance/Romantic Comedies. 

And in no particular order...

Music and Lyrics

This is possibly my favorite of the cheesy, feel-good movies out there. I've always loved Drew Barrymore, and I used to have a little crush on Mr. Grant. My dad loves this movie, too! LOL 

Wedding Singer
 
This is a favorite of my sister and I. We used to watch this all the time. When she got married, her first dance with her husband was a song from this movie. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are a classic duo. 

The Holiday
 
This movie is classic. I mean, who wouldn't want to meet a love interest while on vacation? As with all of these movies, the cast is so great. 

The Vow

 

I mean... Channing Tatum. That's all that needs to be said. 
Here's a meme to show my thoughts
 

P.S. I Love You
 
Heartbreaking, but so sweet. 

And last, but not least...
Sweet Home Alabama
  
 Ah young love. I love all the little antics in this movie. But it's so sweet, at the same time. 

And that does it! 

Thanks to Daysi for tagging me in this. It was a super fun post to write, and now I want to re-watch all of these movies!

What are your favorite cheesy, feel-good movies?

XOXO

 

2016 Resolutions

 

I'm gonna start the new year off with a resolution post, of course! Here we go!

2016 New Year Resolutions

Top 10!

1.       Exercise 3-4X per week. Whether it be taking a walk or hitting the gym, I want to get moving 2.       Eat better. I’m putting myself on a diet! 1300-1400 cal per day, consisting of mostly healthy food. This one is going to be a challenge.
3.    Enjoy hobbies I've been neglecting.
4.       Save $/Spend less! Between buying a new house and having to pay back my student loans, it’s time for me to cut back. Less fast food purchases, less makeup purchases, and more budgeting.
5.       Organize the house/Finish moving. There are still some finishing touches to make to the new house, like hanging pics on walls, organizing the guest room and office, etc. 
6.       Potty Train Walter. In 2016, I’m really looking forward to getting the puppy trained. It will be nice to not have to clean up poop all the time LOL. 
7.       Take A Vacation! Not sure where yet, but I need to go somewhere this summer! Maybe a cruise or even just a trip to Disneyland.
8.       Career/Professional Goals. This includes either working toward a promotion at current company, or venturing out into the teaching world to use my degree! 
9.       Read More!  I’m making it a goal to read 25 books in 2016 (including 5 classics) 
10.   Post 2X per week on the blog! Look, I'm already doing better than last year LOL!

Those are my top 10 resolutions for 2016! Wish me luck! 

Fall Tag!!!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year! I love pretty much everything about it. That being said, I've been thinking about doing a fall tag, and after I saw Jaclyn Hill's Fall Tag, I knew I had to jump on board!

This is basically her tag with just a few of my own questions added on. 

Enjoy! 

1. Favorite fall candy-- Candy Corn
I know some people HATE it, but I LOVE it!

 

2. Favorite fall candle-- This changes every year, but after combing over the options at B&BW, This one is definitely the winner!

 

3. Favorite Clothing/Accessory-- I couldn't decide between boots or scarves. They're both so much fun! Here are a couple of my favorites from my collection. 

  

4. Favorite Drink-- Hot Chocolate! Hands down, this is the drink that I live for in the fall and winter seasons. 

5. Favorite Fall Lipstick-- I decided to pick a few options that would be fabulous, day or night. 

(From left to right: Nars in Audrey, Mac in Rebel, and Mac in Stone)  

 

6. Favorite Fall Blush-- Surprisingly, both of my blush choices are from the drugstore!

(Milani in Luminoso and ELF in Wanderlust)

7. Favorite Fall/Halloween Movie-- The Shining

8. Favorite Fall TV Show-- Dancing with the Stars. I know, I'm a nerd haha.

9. favorite Halloween Costume-- I've had a lot of favorites throughout the years. Here are a few of my favorites!

 10. Favorite Thanksgiving Food-- Greene Bean Casserole

 11. Favorite Fall Nail Polish

 12. Favorite Fall Trend-- Dark Lips! They're totally my jam!
 

13. Favorite Album/Song/Music-- Rocky Horror Picture Show! I seriously listen to this on repeat from September through October. 

14. Favorite Fall Treat-- Caramel Apples! I love them more than life... well almost. ;) 

And last, but not least...  

15. Zombies or Vampires?

Obviously vampires! What kind of question is that?!?! haha 

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you're feeling fall in the air!

Stay Fabulous

  

 

  

June Boxycharm and Ipsy Bag review

I wanted to take a quick minute to talk about my subscription boxes. I was subscribed to 4 different beauty boxes at one point, but after having tried all 4 out for over a year, I finally decided to narrow it down to my favorite 2. The 2 that I chose to keep were Boxycharm (my favorite) and Ipsy Bag (a very close second). 

First up is Ipsy

Ipsy is 10 dollars per month, and is a great value for the price, in my opinion. Was this my favorite Ipsy bag ever? No, it was not. I haven't tried all of the products in this bag yet, so I can't judge it 100 percent fairly, but based off what I see, i'd give this a solid B rating. 

I did try the lipstick, and it was ok. I have tried a bunch of sheer-type lippies, and this is pretty similiar to other ones that I've tried. It reminded me of the Tarte ones, but I like the Tarte ones a little better. 

The green shadow stick, I haven't used. I probably won't use it, to be honest. It's not my style. That's not to say it's a bad product, just that it's not my style. I did swatch this one, and the color payoff was decent. 

As far as the Smashbox primer, I am excited to try this one out. I've heard a lot of great things about it, so I'm hoping that it lives up to the hype. 

The pore refining mask is pretty good. I've had this sample in other subscription boxes before, and I like it. I may repurchase this once my samples are gone. 

Lastly, we have the leave-in conditioner. I haven't used it yet, but i did spray a little pump into my hand, and I think i'll like it ok. It smells decent, and the texture is nice. Nothing out of this world, but it's nice. 

Next up, we have Boxycharm

Out of any subscription box that i've tried, this is my favorite. This box gives you 5 full-sized products for 20 bucks. The box always ends up being worth at least 100 bucks more than I paid for it.  This month's box wasn't my absolute favorite, but there were a few products that I have been enjoying. 

The star of the box, in my opinion, would have to be the highlighter. It's the one in the white tube. This highlighter is gorgeous! I used it at first just on my cheekbones, and that was super gorgeous, but I also tried mixing it in with my foundation, and that's the way I prefer to use this product, I found. This gives your skin the prettiest, most radiant glow. So nice for the summer. 

I also really enjoyed the nail polish. If you can't tell from the picture, it's just a pretty, dusty rose/nude pink type of shade. Really pretty, and lasts about a week. I'm wearing it as I type this :)

I was sad to see that my Cargo eyeshadow was broken, but I'm sure Boxycharm will put a replacement in my next box. They've done that for me before. Boxycharm has great customer service, in my experience. I did swatch this, and it swatches gorgeously. 

The kabuki brush wasn't my favorite. The brush was very soft, to the point that it wouldn't apply my bronzer super evenly. I'd recommend the elf kabuki over this one. 

Lastly, I got a face mask. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems gentle and moisturizing, which I'll like.

over all I'd give this month's box an A- because 4/5 products were good. I just didn't care for the brush. Still an insane value for the price though. 

Bottom line: If you're going to only go with one service, get Boxycharm. If you'd like 2 services, Get Boxycharm and Ipsy. 

Hope you enjoyed this post. 

Have a fabulous week!

XOXO

Drugstore Haul!!!

I love makeup shopping! It brings me so much joy. This weekend I decided that I "needed" a better selection of drugstore makeup in my collection. These are the products that made the cut. So sit back, relax, and enjoy!

First up... Blushes!!!

(from left to right: Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Pink Rose, Nyx Blush in Terra Cotta, Loreal True Match Blush in Barely Blushing, and ELF blush quad in Light)

I have an obsession lately for blushes. It's my thang. These are a few blushes that i've heard great things about, and have wanted to try for a while. 

The Maybelline is technically a highlighter, but it's a blush topper for a fair fairskinned gal like me, so that's how I will be using it. This has a gorgeous shimmer to it. Not opaque enough to use alone as a blush, but gorgeous as a topper. 

The NYX blush is my favorite out of the ones pictured. This color is so pretty for summer. This will give you the most gorgeous bronzy glow. Formula isn't super intense, so it's easy to work with as well. This is a must have for summer. 

The Loreal blush is really pretty, really creamy and soft, and VERY blendable. This stuff is super easy to work with. It is just the tiniest bit chalky, but not enough to bother me. 

Last up is the ELF blush. I am a big fan of ELF products. They are very affordable, and they are usually great quality. I like this little quad for traveling because the shade selection and packaging are ideal for that. Are these the greatest blushes I've ever used? No. They are a bit on the chalky side, and you need to go back into the product a few times to build up the color.  All of the shades are matte, which I love, because I have mostly shimmer shades in my collection. Overall, I still like this for traveling, but I certainly wouldn't reach for it when i'm at home.

Here are swatches for your viewing pleasure :)

Next up... Lippies!!!

(from left to right: NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Tea Rose, CoverGirl Outlast Longwear + Moisture Lipstick in Pink Shock, Rimmel I love My Lips Lip Balm)

The NYX Megashine Lipglosses are fantastic. They are my favorite drugstore gloss for sure. I have a few other colors, but didn't have this one, so I decided to pick it up. These are so smooth and shiny, but not super sticky. This color is so gorgeous on the lips, and of course, it smells so good. 

The CoverGirl Lipstick surprised me. It is very pigmented and not drying on the lips at all. It smells a little funky, but not as bad as the regular cover girl lipsticks. Overall though, this is a great lip pie for summer, and the color is so freakin gorgeous. Paired with the NYX gloss, it's a perfect combo. 

The Rimmel lip pies are just whatever. They're kind of similar to baby lips by maybelline, but not as good. They're a little tinted if you're just looking for a light wash of color. They don't smell like anything, really, which is what i'm a little disappointed about. Packaging is a little cuter than baby lips, i'd say, but I would definitely go for baby lips in the future. 

Next up: Eyeshadows!!!

(From left to right: Loreal Infallible eyeshadows in Iced Latte and Eternal Sunshine, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bold Gold and Painted Purple)

The infallible shadows I was very impressed with! I have been meaning to try these out for a long time, but haven't for some weird reason. I'm so glad I gave them a go. I actually was trying to get Amber Rush, but somehow grabbed Iced Latte. I do like Iced Latte, but I'm definitely going back for Amber Rush. 

The Tattoo shadows were ok. I do like the Bold Gold color. I wore it today as my base color, and it held up pretty well throughout the day. No creasing. The color was a nice base for the Infallible shadows. I didn't like The purple one at all. As you can see from the swatch, It's very patchy. That was a few swatches just to get it to that color. I honestly can't see myself ever using it. 

Next up... Face products!!!

(from left to right: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous, ELF Hydrating Face Primer, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 01 and 02) 

I tried the foundation yesterday, and I liked it. I wasn't over the moon about it, but it was nice. I did set it with a powder so that it wouldn't move, but before I set it, it was very luminous on me. The elf primer is really nice. I used it yesterday. It has sort of a silicone feel, but it's hydrating also. I like it. I also got a couple shades of the Fit Me concealer because I'm almost out. I've been using 01, but thought i'd try 02for summer as well. I love this stuff. It's my favorite drugstore concealer. 

Lastly... CoverGirl Intensify Me Liner

As you can see, this liner has a wedge looking tip. The idea is that you can create a thin line or a thick line, depending on how you hold the pencil. I have used this one time. It was ok. It goes on pretty smooth, and has a nice black color. It does dry shiny, rather than matte. I prefer matte liners, myself. This is a felt tip, which I like ok, but I prefer brush tips. I would use this one again as a drugstore alternative, but I prefer my current daily liner, which is the Kat Von D tattoo liner.

That's all folks! I hope you enjoyed my haul and my insights. 

Have a fabulous day, and feel free to subscribe or leave a comment!

XOXO 

Welcome and May Favorites!!!

Welcome to my blog! I am so excited you stopped by. Just to get things rolling, I'm going to tell you a little bit about my blog. 

What is it? 

This blog is dedicated to all things beautiful and fabulous. While most of the posts will be makeup and beauty product related, I would also like to post other things from time to time. You might find some DIY, Book Recommendations, Fashion Hauls, Inspirational Quotes, and various other things that I find fabulous in some way. 

Why did I choose to start this blog?

I am always trying to find ways to express my love, passion, and thoughts about makeup. I decided that a blog might be the perfect way to share my makeup obsession with like-minded individuals. After toying around with the idea of a blog for a long time, I finally decided to make it happen. I have some amazing, makeup-loving friends at work who encouraged me to get the party started, and after one of these girls started a blog of her own, I decided to follow suit... Finally! 

So here we go!!!

May Favorites

I wanted to start out with a May Favorites post for a few reasons. #1- I love love love to see other people share their monthly favorites. I draw a lot of inspiration from it, so I hope to inspire someone to try a new product that they've been eyeballing. #2- it's the end of the month, so i figured it was perfect timing. Finally, #3- I just really wanted to bask in the glory of my favorite products because it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. ;) So let's do it!

Here is an overview... I know it's a ton of stuff, so if you'd like to pause and go grab a snack right now, i'd highly encourage that. :)

First up... Marc Jacobs: Instamark Light Filtering Contour

Shade: Mirage

Price: $49

                                      

I have been SO obsessed with this Marc Jacobs contour duo. Truthfully... This is probably the star of the show. No joke... This is the best contour powder i've ever used. The highlight shade is also pretty amazing. These powders feel like butter. They are so creamy, and they blend like a dream. If you're just starting to get into contouring, I would highly recommend this. You literally can't mess up your contour with this product. It's impossible. 

Next up... NARS Dual Intensity blush

Shade: Adoration 

Price: $45

This is a beautiful blush duo. The darker shade has a nice sheen to it, while the lighter shade has quite a bit of shimmer. It's not an obnoxious amount of shimmer though. I like to use the darker shade first, and then use the lighter one on top. These are nicely pigmented, but they aren't the type of blush that you need to be careful with. They won't transfer too much product onto your face. 

Next up... Wet N Wild Bronzers

Shades from left to right: Reserve your cabana, Ticket to Brazil, Bikini Contest 

Price: 2.99-3.99

I have been using these like crazy this month. It's finally warm enough to bust out the bronzers, and I'm stoked! These are all called bronzers, although I don't consider the first one a bronzer. I use the lightest shade as an all-over face powder, and it gives just a hint of a glow to my face. I like to use the middle one as an all-over powder when I'm self-tanning, and the darkest one just along the outer perimeter of my face. These are very smooth and blendable, and they're very inexpensive! 

Next up... Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Shade: Opal

Price: $38

I don't know why it took me so long to hop on the Becca bandwagon, but I'm so glad that I finally did. This is the most gorgeous highlighter i've ever used. It's super shimmery, which I love so much! This is like an "in your face" type of highlighter. It's pretty intense. If you're looking for just a natural shimmer or sheen, this isn't it. It's not sparkly, and there's no fall-out. It's just really gorgeous. 

Next up... Colourpop Highlighters 

Shades from left to right: Wisp, Butterfly Beach, Boba

Price: $8

If you've never tried Colourpop Cosmetics, you need to. The consistency is unlike anything else on the market. It's kind of a cross between cream and powder, but also kind of squishy. In any case, They're very pigmented, creamy, and super bold. I apply these products with my fingers and then blend them out with a duo fiber brush. 

Next up... Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue 

Shade: natural 05

Price: $29

This product is perfect for summertime. It's not heavy, but it offers medium coverage. It has an SPF 30, but photographs well. It's very moisturizing, which is perfect for dry-skinned gals like me. I wore this everyday on my Disneyland vacation, and my skin looked really good in all of my pics. 

Next up... St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse 

Price: $44

I used this before I went on vacation, and it gave me a beautiful tan. It applies very evenly, and it dries fairly quickly. I did have to use it about 3 times before I reached my desired color, but there's so much product inside, it will take a while to run out. The one downside to this product is that it doesn't fade away evenly, so you have to scrub it off really well when it starts to fade or else it looks super patchy. Overall though, it's great. 

Next up... Lorac Alter Ego Eyeshadow Palette in Heartbreaker

Price: $24

The packaging alone makes this a winner. Besides the packaging though, the eyeshadows are really pretty! They are all very pigmented and soft. They blend out easily, and there's no fallout. Perfect summertime palette. 

Next up... Model Co Blush

Shade: Peach Bellini 

Price: $22

I received this in one of my subscription boxes, and I'm so glad! This has been my go-to blush this month. this is that perfect peachy color that everyone loves for summer. The quality of this product is outstanding. It is very soft, smooth, pigmented, and blends very well. You can wear this all day with no touch-ups either. 

Next up... Mac eyeshadow in Nylon and MICA pigment in carnival

Price: Mac- $16 MICA- $14.95

The MICA shadow is a loose pigment with a ton of shimmer. every time I wear this, people tell me they love it. The MAC shadow is the perfect inner corner highlight. Also can be a gorgeous brow bone highlight when you want something really intense. 

Next up... Bodyography Essential Brow Trio

Price: $19

I received this is a subscription box, and I was so impressed. I usually use brow gel, but i've been using this like crazy since I got it this month. It's so quick and easy to use. Very pigmented, and stays on all day. 

Next up... Sephora Collection LusterMatte Long Wear Lip color

Shade: Lilac

Price:$ 16

This is the most gorgeous shade of pink. It's a cool-tone pink and very vibrant. Perfect for summer. 

Next up... MAC lipstick in Creme D'Nude and gloss in Girl On Board

Price: $16

These are pretty separately, but they are GORGEOUS paired together. 

Next up... Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

Shade: Berlin

Price $20

The lighting is a little off in the picture, but this is a warm rose color. Gorgeous for summer, and lasts several hours. It is very drying, so just don't use it everyday. 

next up... Colourpop Lippie Stix

Shade: Pepper

Price: $5

Colourpop Lippie Stix are very pigmented and creamy. They last a long time and smell good. This particular shade is my obsession at the moment. It's that cool-toned pink with almost a purple vibe. Must have for summer. 

Next up...Benefit Roller Lash Mascara 

Price: $24

This is the best mascara i've ever used. It gives my lashes length and volume. It doesn't clump or flake. It's everything a mascara should be. 

Next up... Sally Hansen X-treme wear nail polish

Shade: Pacific Blue

Price: $ 2.50

I'm not a huge nail polish type of gal. I don't have a wall full of polish like some girls I know, but I do know that this polish is amazeballs. It stays on a few days before chipping, and the color is gorgeous. It's super bright and perfect for summer. I wore the pants off of this last summer, and have gone back to it this month. 

Next up... It's a 10 miracle leave-in treatment

Price: $20

This stuff is good! I spray it in my hair before brushing it out after my shower, and it detangles my hair. It leaves my hair super soft as well. 

Next up... Bath and Body Works lotion in Georgia Peach

Price: $12.50

This is the best scent around for summer. I've been using this almost daily this month. It is 12.50, but I always get the buy 3 get 3 free sale. 

Next up... LUSH Red Fun

Price: $6.95

LUSH will always be an obsession of mine. This month, i've been particularly enjoying these bubble crumbles. You just break off the tiniest piece and it gives you a bubble bath. It has an amazingly fruity scent that's perfect for summer. 

Almost there...

Stella McCartney Perfume and Balenciaga Perfume

Price: about $20 each

I've decided to buy more purse sprays lately because I never go through my full-size bottles. I bought the Stella McCartney perfume at the beginning of the month, and wore it nonstop. Recently, I bought the balenciaga perfume, and I can't stop wearing it. I'm totally obsessed. I'll probably end up buying the full size, because I can't get enough of it!

And Finally... 

Alex and Ani Disney Parks Collection bracelets 

Price: $39.95

So I know this isn't makeup, but i had to share. I just got back from Disneyland about a week ago. I was at the 60th Anniversary celebration, and it was so much fun. I went to the 24hr-day, and it was nuts! I got a ton of limited edition stuff though. The castle bracelet with the blue diamond thingy was part of the special 60th anniversary edition. I have been getting into Alex and Ani bracelets lately, so I had to grab these while I was at Disneyland. 

If you're still reading this post, you are amazing! I know this was super long. Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed this. 

Please feel free to subscribe and/or comment below!

XOXO,

Becci