Makeup Monday: Makeup Faves

Current Everyday Makeup Faves

I'm a huge makeup fan and I'm always looking for great products and good bargains.  I haven't done a post about makeup in months and some of my favorite and most used products have changed.  I had someone suggest that I do more posts about makeup, so here you go!

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream for Eyes - This is a new favorite that I was introduced to at Spehora a couple months ago.  The coverage is great without being too thick or thin and I love that it has some skincare benefits in it as well.  
2. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - This has become one of my favorite powders ever.  It does a really nice job of setting my makeup and also has pretty good lasting power throughout the day.  
3. NYC "Sunny" Bronzer - I'd seen a lot of great reviews of this inexpensive gem and decided to drop the $3 on it when my other bronzer ran out.  I love that it's a matte bronzer and it's great for adding a little color and blending out my makeup for a more natural sun-kissed look.
4. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss - I'd neglected my NYX lip glosses for a while and recently went back to them.  I've been into neutral makeup looks lately and these have been just perfect!
5. Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer - I've sampled this one a few times, but always went back to my Benefite POREfessional.  I gave this one another try recently and came to really like it so I used some Birchbox points to purchase a full size.  The "light" version is prefect if you're worried about your skin being sensitive or breaking out.
6. NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray - If you're a fan of the Urban Decay setting sprays, you definitely need to give this one a try.  It works just as well, but is a fraction of the cost.  The only complaint I have is that the bottles are smaller, so I have to repurchase more often.  Despite that, though, it is much better deal for an almost identical product.
7. Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation - I recently picked this up during a 50% off sale at Walgreens after hearing a few reviews.  I figured for $2.50 it was worth a try, so I grabbed it instead of my Revlon Colorstay.  I really like it!  The coverage is a perfect not-too-thick but not-too-thin and I haven't even been using concealer expect for under my eyes!
8. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - I snatched this one up as soon as it hit Sephora's website.  I love having the rosy and pinky color options.  I wear this palette or my Naked 2 pretty much everyday!  
9. Smashbox 24 Hour Limitless Cream Shadow (in Topaz) - I've been using this as a base for my powder shadows and it works really well.  It gives a little color, but does the same job as a primer.  On days when I'm running behind, I can get away with wearing only this and I don't have to rock the completely naked lid look.
10. ELF Blush - If you haven't tried ELF blushes, you need to!  For $3 each, they're a steal and although they do have some fall out, they last a long time!  

I get asked a lot about the brands that I use and if I go for high-end or drugstore products.  I honestly use a good mix of both.  My Naked palettes are my most expensive purchases, but I bought both of those when I had coupons to Ulta or Sephora.  For me, some items are worth the extra cost, but there are also so many great drugstore products out there!

What are your makeup must haves?  
I'd love to hear your faves and get suggestions for new items to try!

Fashion Friday: Pick Yourself Up & Get Dressed!

Bright colors always boost my mood!

I'm trying to get back into regular posts, but for some reason that's been easier said than done.  I don't get on my computer a whole lot at home these days, so that kinda makes me forget about blogging.

Anyway, I think some of my favorite posts are Fashion Friday, so that's probably what you're going to be getting from me for the next month or so until school ends!

Getting dressed is probably one of my favorite parts of my day...  Sometimes knowing that I've got a cute outfit waiting for me is what gets me excited about my day.  It's really not in a shallow "I want to look better than everyone else." way, but rather it's something that I'm doing for me. 

Stripes, florals, and bubble necklaces...  Oh my!

I'm going to be completely honest and tell you all that picking out my outfits has become something really important to me, more so in the past few months than before.  Here's why...

Not to get too sappy and girly dramatic on you, but I dated a guy that I teach with during the first half of the school year.  But, that relationship ended right before Christmas break...  As much as I wanted to curl up in sweats and hate the world after that breakup, as I faced going back to work after our long Christmas break, I found myself wanting to look good.  Really good.  I've always liked putting together outfits and looking cute, but it kind of took on a new meaning in January.  I've known quite a few girls who give up on themselves after a breakup...  No makeup, sweats, ice cream tub in tow, but that wasn't me.  I was determined not to be that girl.

I love adding a little sparkle with my accessories!

 Part of it is to maybe rub it in his face and show him what he gave up (just being completely honest), part of it is the show him that I'm not giving up on myself, but a big part of it is for me...  It's something that I can do to help me feel good again and bring back some self esteem.  Seeing your ex 5 days a week is definitely motivation to look good, but even those other 2 days when I don't have to see him I still want to look polished and put together.  For me.


Even if you're not dealing with breakups and having to see your ex everyday, it's important to remember that sometimes making that extra effort to look nice is all it takes to boost you mood.  I joked with my principal on the first day of state testing that it didn't matter how awful the testing was, I loved my new outfit that day and wasn't going to let computer problems ruin my mood.  I'd rather have a crumby day and look nice than have a crumby day and look crumby as well.

My first day back to school outfit.  I looked HOT!

You don't have to look like a supermodel 24-7, but making that teensy bit of effort to look pulled-together or add a little lip gloss may be just what it takes to boost your mood a little bit.  Even just adding a cute necklace or a scarf can take an outfit up a notch.  It's part of what makes being a girl a little bit more fun! :)

Without further ado...  Here's a peek at some of my recent outfits (that I look the time to document)!

Showing my K-State pride in style.

Taking a break from my neon to show my softer side.

I love a good jewelry bargain!  Accessories can totally make your outfit!

My "assessment day" outfit...  The tests may have been crap, but I was going to look good no matter what!

My favorite necklace!

I developed a new love for dresses and boots this past winter.

My new favorite dress from Loft.

And a favorite new pin...