The Ultimate Guide to Summer Body Care- Everything from your tips to your toes!

Summer is such a great time of year for fun under the sun- but what about the dandruff, sunburn, bug bites, and dry flaky skin? Fear not- I’ve compiled a list to get you through the heat, feeling foxy all the way through!

You knew I was gonna cover this right? Right. The best way to care for your body is to prevent the sun’s harmful rays from zapping your skin. You can still get color while wearing an SPF, so you needn’t worry about staying pale for the next few months. There are so many different types of sunscreen- find the right one for your situation and ALWAYS protect that beautiful face. Don’t depend on the SPF claims in foundations either- they aren’t enough to do anything real; You’d literally have to wear the whole bottle and even then, it’s not enough. Get a moisturizer with SPF (like Clinique’s Even Better) or a stand alone facial sunscreen (like Boots No.7). And don’t forget the part in your hair, your ears, or your hands. Hands are the first thing to show your age! Protect them!

Eyes are generally neglected and the heat of summer can make it even worse! Get yourself an eye cream (like Algenist Eye Balm) and use it! Warm it up between your fingers, then gently dab it all over the eye area using your ring finger. I also highly recommend a cooling eye mask for hydration, de-puffing, and general cooling.

Sun can cause really dry skin- or really oily skin that breaks out. For dry skin- be sure to gently exfoliate a couple times a week and apply a good hydrating moisturizer. I like gel consistency moisturizers for summer- they apply so nicely and melt right into the skin. Plus, you can pop it in the fridge for a refreshing cool burst! For oily skin- be sure to cleanse, tone, and exfoliate. Exfoliation is key- dirt, oil, and dead skin is the perfect formula for pimples. Gel moisturizers will work wonderfully for you as well, so get your cool on 🙂

The sun is great at making hair oily, giving the scalp dandruff, and sucking the color out of your strands. But you can fight back!! If your ends are dry- try a hair oil treatment and use a split end protector before using heat. Greasy hair? Try using a clarifying shampoo once a week, less product overall, and spritz of dry shampoo when you need a touch up (this one by Macadamia is my favorite because I notice that it’s less drying). Curly girl? Embrace those curls with a curl cream. They have moisture and hold to keep curls looking great. And don’t forget- conditioner is your best friend- you could even try a conditioning hair mask. Generally dry hair? Get a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. The conditioner should be thick like lotion! I like Joico KPak and for a bargain- I’ve been LOVING the Garnier Whole Blends Coconut Milk duo. So cheap- so shockingly good! And if you have color- go hat shopping, invest in a cute headscarf, and wash your hair with sulfate free shampoo in cold water. The best way to protect it- is to cover it and keep it out of the pool! Lol

To keep your hands and feet in top shape- use a moisturizing scrub. OPI makes incredible options that smell good enough to eat! Don’t forget cuticle cream and moisturizer! In the summer, I really love the way a bright nail polish pops! Don’t be afraid to have fun with your color choices, but don’t skip a base coat. This is especially important for toes because they are particularly suceptible to staining.

I really love a good body sugar scrub in the summer. The oil in it helps lock in moisture and makes the skin so glowy, plus it destroys any gross dead skin cells. Don’t forget to moisturize- find what works for you consistency wise.

Bikini Line- Exfoliate first. Be sure to use a razor with four or more blades. I really recommend men’s razors because that are made to cut coarser hair and are cheaper in the first place. Use coconut oil to shave with (legs too! I just keep the jar in the shower. It has an insanely low melting point so don’t worry about it clogging the drain). Finish up by gently patting the area dry and applying a men’s shave balm. It’s incredible stuff and can stop ingrowns and bumps before they happen.

••• TEA TREE OIL- *the summer miracle* •••

• Face: add a few drops to some witch hazel and apply 1-2x per day for an antibacterial, acne fighting toner!

• Hair: add a few drops to your shampoo to help with annoying summer dandruff and oil.

• Feet: Sweaty, smelly feet? Fear not! Add a few drops to an epsom salt soak and kiss that smell goodbye. Nail fungus? Apply a drop directly to the affected nails. Repeat until it’s gone.

• Body: Sunburned? Add some tea tree to jojoba oil and you have the perfect combo to banish the redness. Bug bite? Apply some tea tree oil to the bite to stop the itch. It can even be used to repel the mosquitos!

If you’re a mask person- you may enjoy some body mud! It’s wonderful in the summer for pulling out impuritiesand refreshing the skin. If you like shimmer- add some liquid highlighter to your moisturizer! It has a blurring effect to minimize imperfections and makes tan skin glow like a goddess. Looking to get bronze quickly? Pick up a tan accelerator. They seriously work, but be careful and don’t over do it at first.

And lastly- deodorant. Nobody wants to smell and nobody wants to deal with white marks and balled up bits of deodorant in their armpits. Pick up a dry spray! You get the same protection as a stick, but it dries completely and leaves NOTHING behind. If you have darkening in your armpits- mix a paste using turmeric, water and a splash of lemon juice. Let it sit 20-30 minutes and wipe away. Turmeric also helps keep unwanted hair at bay, so it’s a double win!

Now you’re all set to have the beautiful summer of your dreams! Any fun plans? Anything you wanna add to the list? Let me know!

Until next time,

Xx&o,

Meg

DIY: Rose Water & Aloe Facial Mist.

Hello lovelies!

Summer has officially landed here in Ohio and I’ve already had my first awful sunburn. This brought me to my most recent DIY- rose water. I’m a frequent buyer of the cult favorite Mario Badescu Rose facial mist, but I always wondered about making my own..

Since my rose bushes were on their last legs for this bloom, I snatched up the petals and got crafty! And I loved my results! Want to make your own rose water facial mist at home? Keep reading love!

Natural glycerin is great for moisturizing the skin. Be sure to pick one that is plant based- the chemical based versions are not good for the skin. Don’t worry too much about your rose petals- mine came right off of a bush, but you can use store bought or gifted roses just the same. My bottle is actually a recycled Mario Badescu one. I reuse them all the time- they are great for alcohol and water in a kit or on a vanity at home, and are the perfect size. And the aloe vera gel is good for calming redness and refreshing thirsty skin! You will also need a small saucepan, small strainer, and a measuring cup with a pouring lip for ease. Let’s get started, shall we?

I like to gently press a spoon against the petals before straining, just to remove any last rosey goodness, lol. Look at that beautiful natural color!

You can also add a drop of your favorite essential oil or extract. Just be cautious with essential oils, as some of them can cause sun sensitivity.

(Lol at my homemade funnel)

Don’t be afraid- mist your face whenever you need a pick me up, to settle your makeup, or to cool down on a hot day! It is all natural after all!

Note: The rose scent won’t be as strong as in the MB one- but his is an added fragrance, not from the roses. The less ingredients, the better. The benefits are in the rose oils and essence 🙂

Do you have any favorite beauty DIYs? Do share! I’m always looking for new beauty crafts.

Until next time,

xx&o

Meg

Wet N’ Wild Photofocus Foundation: Worth the Hype?

Hello beauties! I’m sure you’re aware of all the hype around the new Wet N’ Wild Photofocus Foundation. I’m normally not one to buy into that, but for $5, I felt I could indulge and not be annoyed if it completely bombed. There’s nothing worse than makeup heartbreak, friends. So let’s get down to business!

I’m pretty impressed with a 20 shade range from a drugstore brand- especially one that’s so incredibly affordable. I also love the spatula applicator! I’ve heard quite a few gripes about how it seems unsanitary- yet we use doe foot applicators allll the time lol. Anyway- I swipe it on the back of my clean hand and apply it with a beauty blender. 

I guess matched myself with Shade ‘363C Nude Ivory’ and I purchased mine at my local Walmart. I did a pretty good job as the foundation doesn’t oxidize a whole lot and they lean toward the lighter side. Here are swatches:

And here, on my face:

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I have combination skin and I absolutely love this foundation. It had a medium coverage that was buildable and made my skin look smooth. I also had no oil buildup after 6 hours of wear- which is insane for my T Zone. I loved the way it applied with a beauty blender and would recommend that method of application. The finish is Demi matte to matte in my opinion. I don’t think it’s 100% flashback proof- but that can be varied depending on the powders you’re using too. I’m not a flash photo kind of gal, so that’s not a deal breaker for me. One con- it literally smells like house paint. I don’t notice the smell after it’s applied- but if you are sensitive to smells, I would pass on this.

I’m definitely a fan of this!!

Have you tried this foundation yet? What’s your drugstore holy grail foundation? Let me know in the comments!

xx&o,

Meg

Shop Miss A: Experience, Reviews & Swatches.

Hey lovelies! I’m still full swing in my makeup challenge, but I just had to come and and tell you guys about my experience with ShopMissA.com. If you aren’t familiar with MissA, it’s a website where everything is just $1. They have makeup, accessories, jewelry, body jewelry- all kinds of stuff really. I first heard about this site through the grapevine and after watching many other vlogger’s hauls on YouTube, I felt comfortable enough to place an order. As if the whole ‘everything’s $1’ thing wasn’t good enough- the shipping is $3.95 flat rate and comes from Texas (so if you get one item or sixty, your shipping cost will be the same. If you spend over $35, it also becomes eligible for priority upgrade shipping). If you want to check any of these videos out for yourself, search ‘Miss A Haul’ on YouTube and quite a few results will come up.

I actually ordered twice from them- two separate orders because they had restocked a bunch of colors and products I was interested in trying. The orders were at my front door in about seven days and I had the priority upgrade shipping both times. The packages came in plastic bag mailers. The products in the bag mailer are wrapped in foam sheeting and then tissue paper, then wrapped in a layer of jumbo bubble wrap. I was truly impressed with care and time they placed in that. They also include a packing slip that shows who filled the order and has each item checked off like an inventory.

So, what did I get? And was it worth the $1? Keep reading..

Let’s start off with some of the things I ordered that are worth skipping..

These lipsticks are really pretty craptastic. They smell awkwardly of childhood, apply patchy to the lips, and are greasy in texture. ‘Golden Rule’ is really the only decent one and after watching those haul videos, apparently the application is pretty crappy across the board, even with the other colors I didn’t grab. It still smells weird, but I’m sure I will use that one. Overall, just no.

Here we have the Kleanista Creme Lipsticks. You know I got all excited when I saw those colors. Talk about disappointment. These apply like total trash- all except for ‘Cast of Spell’ which is actually gorgeous and pretty opaque. It has a completely different formula than the rest! So other than that one awesome shade, these are a no go.

Now we can get to the good stuff..

First, jewelry. I ordered quite a variety of jewelry seeing as everything is just $1. I got a lip stud, faux gauges for my ears, a charm bracelet, thirteen charms and these:

The jewelry I ordered is fantastic quality for the price! I’m talking at least the quality of Forever21 jewelry for just $1 a piece. The ring pictured above is heavy weight and has an adjustable band. They need to be clear coated to prevent tarnishing, but so worth it! The body jewelry was great quality too and they have quite the selection of items. They also add new designs quite frequently and restock quickly, which was a bonus. I also ordered a few pairs of undies just to see (lol, sorry no pictures) and even those were decent quality! I will say, sizes run small- I’m a size 4 or 6 in jeans and I ordered size large and they fit perfectly. Thumbs up.

I saw this and thought it was pretty cool and I was blown away by the pigmentation! They were sold out of black or I would’ve chosen that instead, but I love ‘Indigo’! It comes in a gigantic pan too. The swatches are over UD Original Primer Potion and I recommend a primer because they will stain your eyelid otherwise. Loved it!

I love a cream color and couldn’t resist trying this one! It really has quite a bit of pigment, blends beautifully, and is pretty close to Benefit’s ‘Majorette’ cream blush. They have many other shades available and you get a ton of product.

Would you just look at that pigment!?! Can you even believe these are just one single dollar? Believe it. There are at least twenty different shades available and they too come in generous portions. They are buttery and smooth and easy to get addicted to (obviously, lol). ‘Mauve’ is my new bestie.

I ordered 10 pairs of lashes ( I know- brave) and a set of individual lashes. I love them! They are easily as good as Ardell or Eyelure but just $1 a pair. They have a large variety and they make it easy to stock up for a kit or event. I was completely surprised! I also couldn’t pass up those lovely sponges!

This blush is so buttery- I can’t even tell you. I’m totally in love. The packaging totally sucks and it comes with this cheapo teeny blush brush, but for four quarters- yes! There are a few other shades in this line available as well.

I liked four out of the five eyeshadow brushes I ordered- one of them sheds terribly and is by Kleancolor. Two are from ELF so those were obvious choices. I should say they offer quite a bit of ELF products, but I tried not to order those things because I know how they are and already like them. The sticky pencil makes it so much easier to put jewels on nails and eye looks and the wheel of nail gems was a total deal! It comes with quite a few shapes and they are the teeny size that looks great on eyes too. The striping tape is just meh and I didn’t think it was sticky enough- two thick coats of topcoat would probably be enough to lock it down, but I haven’t tried that yet. Shop MissA has literally tons of nail art stuff- decals, jewels, wraps, etc. I highly recommend it to the nail lovers out there!

And finally.. the best grab of the whole haul.

These baked eyeshadow quads are a phenomenal value. I could go on and on about not only the pigmentation, but the sizes of the shadows in the quad. The packaging is decent and they have four palettes of these available. I seriously would compare the pigmentation of these to Urban Decay shadows, plus you get four for $1!! The swatches are DRY over UD Original Primer Potion. I haven’t even swatched them wet, but I can only imagine the intensity they will have. I promise you will not regret these- omg.

If you look up these products on other sites- they go for more, except for the ELF stuff. I highly recommend checking this stuff out- tried, tested, and true!

Have you ordered from MissA? Let me know what you think.

xxx&o Meg

Checkpoint: Halfway through the Challenge!

I can’t believe I’m already halfway through my 100 Days of Makeup challenge! Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess! I figured it’s time for me to share the first half of the challenge with you lovelies! I hope you enjoy 🙂

Summer Beauty: Tips, tricks, & product recommendations!

Hello lovelies! I’m here to talk about one of my favorite things in life- SUMMER. I’m ready for you warm sunshine, bonfires, and vitamin D! But along with added sunshine and time outdoors come a few beauty dilemmas. Here, we’ll talk about some tips and products I recommend for a beautiful summer. Let’s get started!

Time spent at the beach and more exposure to air can mean dry skin- especially elbows and legs! I’m loving the new fragrances at Bath & Body Works, but good ol’ Aveeno will do the job (only better, lol). Apply liberally as needed! I like to mix a little bit of highlighter in my body lotion in my hands before application to get ‘glowy’ skin. The one pictured by CK is gorgeous and works perfectly, but any liquid highlighter will work too.

Next we have the VIP- sunscreen. It is an absolute, no excuses, MUST HAVE to be applied daily, 365. The worst thing at Ulta was all the women not using suncare products. Melanoma is not a joke and doesn’t discriminate against age, race, or gender. I always choose a sport sunscreen- they tend to be waterproof, have higher spf, and come in a fine mist sprayer. The days of thick, sticky cream sunscreen are gone! And remember, you can’t overdose on sunscreen- apply between each activity, especially when the sun is highest in the sky. And don’t forget the part in your hair! Scalp sunburns really suck and then there’s horrific dandruff aftermath, just avoid that noise. To protect your beautiful hair color in the sun (bright reds!!), I recommend a cute hair scarf or sunhat. The sun’s harsh rays will suck that color out with a straw. A nice leave in conditioner spray is a good beach bag add in, in general. I recommend Soya Want it All from Big, Sexy Hair, 22 benefits plus it smells fab. Moisturize your locks to prevent dryness and breakage!

Individual tan towels (Tan Towel, Tarte Maracuja Tanning wipes, etc.) are a good way to fake that sun kissed look without orangey skin! They’re affordable and easy to use. Fake it til’ you make it honey because you’re better safe than sorry.

Inside:

A girl’s gotta have a pretty shimmery bronzer and a super natural blush to rock all summer long! I LOVE ‘Park Avenue Princess’ from Tarte! Gorgeous gold shimmer in a subtle, smooth, buildable bronzing powder. And the blush- ‘Prim’ is so pretty, I can’t even tell you. It was love at first swatch! These are so smooth and blend beautifully.

Fragrance, if that’s your thing, can be a fun way to switch up your summer beauty routine. I recommend citrus, woody and light floral fragrances, like Jimmy Choo ‘Blossom’ and Marc Jacobs ‘Daisy Dream’. The fragrance pictured is the Coach ‘Signature’ scent. A roller ball is a great way to take your fragrance along with you through the day, but remember heat brings out the fragrance, so less is more.

That hot, hot, heat can mean ornery, red skin. I love Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe and Rosewater for hydration and cool relief. It smells faintly of roses and feels fantastic. Plus, it’s from a spa and retails for a very un-fancy price of $7! An absolute must have. If you need something with a little muscle, Dermalogica’s Ultra Calming Spray is magic in a bottle. We’re talking, redness gone in five minutes good.

Oooh, look! More sunscreen! 🙂 Here’s one of my favorite facial sunscreens from Boots No.7! It’s light, doesn’t make me break out, and has spf 25. I put it on before foundation or primer.

I’m one of those girls who gets oil mania every summer, so I add a cream mattifier to my routine. This one from Vichy Labs or the one by Dr. Murad are great options. It’s just added protection for my makeup and if you get oily too, try one of these babies!

In the summer, I like to switch to a lighter foundation such as a BB or CC Cream. The coverage is so breathable and they usually have added spf along with a multitude of other skin benefits. Many brands from drugstore to high end make a version of this, so there’s something for everyone.

I absolutely cannot rave enough about the Mally Beauty Poreless Face Defender! Like I mentioned before, I get so oily- this is a clear (CLEAR!) pressed powder. It looks so gimmicky and like it wouldn’t work, but it works AMAZINGLY. It mattifies and smooths the look of makeup but is literally invisible. Makeup magic I’m telling you.

See that little Napoleon cube? That’s my bff, Color Disc in ‘Amazon Jungle.’ This color is seriously gorgeous- a warm bronzy coral pink. If that’s a thing. It makes a lovely blush and is fantastic on eyes! A great one color choice for a quick pretty eye and even better in a travel bag.

EOS lip balms. They’re so cute and colorful you just have to. Plus, nobody wants dry, chapped lips!

Rose Salve- salve is awesome in the summer (Burt’s Bees makes a great option too!) It helps dry skin on cuticles, knees, lips, face and anywhere else! I’ve even used a little to smooth fly aways. They come in compact tins and are great for travel or in your purse.

Bulletproof shadows- got a pool party and not sure what to do about your makeup? Grab a Mally Beauty Evercolor Cream Eyeshadow stick and your shadow won’t even flinch in that chlorine. And trust me, it’ll laugh in the face of sweat too. Plus, the colors are beautiful!

I like to keep blotting papers in my bag during the summer to help keep me shine free even when I’m sticking to the seat of my car. They’re cheap and super easy to use! These NYX ones are $5.99 but ELF makes them too and those are $1!

Base coat is super important to prevent your nails from staining in the sun. Yellow nails are no fun and distort polish colors. Don’t forget to bust out those bright and glitter polishes! A pedi is a great idea too for sandal ready toes (you can read about how to DIY one at home here).

Don’t forget some fabulous sunnies! Your eyes can burn in the sun too believe it or not! Especially light colored eyes! Get your chic on ladies!

And finally, one last treat..

Isn’t this adorable? lol. It’s a cooling mask I got at Bath & Body Works for just $5.50! I saw it and couldn’t resist bringing it home. You pop it in the fridge and when you feel hot, have a headache, or have puffy eyes wear it for instant relief. I love these things and they feel so good!

What are your favorite summer goods? Do tell! And stay tuned for part two of this post- ‘Simple, pretty looks for Summer’.

xxx&o Meg

Skip or Steal: NYX Edition.

As you already know, NYX is by far my favorite of the drugstore variety cosmetics. Today I wanted to go over what’s worth a grab and what you should skip over. They have such a smorgasbord of products available, it’s easy to get lost! Let’s get started!

First, let’s talk about Face Products:

WORTH IT:

NYX makes fantastic HD primer and the setting spray is definitely comparable to the Urban Decay at such a smaller price tag! It’s nice to have Dewy or Matte options, but the price has gone up a buck to $7.99. Annoying, but it’s a must have.

The foundations are great, but aren’t made for everybody and don’t match all skin tones. Definitely play with the testers before you take one home. I love the BB cream in the summer!

The concealer varieties are fantastic- I love the dark circle concealer best of all!

I like to use the Taupe ‘blush’ as a contour shade seeing as most other contour products tend to be too warm for me. If you can get your hands on an always sold out Contour kit, it’s overpriced ($30!!!) but a great option. There’s talk of replacement pans coming soon too.

The regular blushes from the line are gorgeous- super pigmented and a steal at only $6 a pop! The pigment in them would seriously shame a few high end brands out there. They do have fallout, but a gentle hand will help.

It’s also not pictured, but the NYX Matte Bronzer is a total dupe for Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer and it comes in two shades too.

SKIP IT:

That ‘Honey Dew Me Up’ skin serum? No. It’s $15 and has CHUNKS of gold floating in it. The applicator is a spatula. Just no. IF you’d spend $15 on that- upgrade and get something better that provides true skincare.

The Angel Veil Perfecting Primer? Nope. $15.99 and it’s about the same as Maybelline Baby Skin which is only $6.99.

Next, let’s talk Eyebrows:

WORTH IT:

The brow powder, Micro Pencil, new Brow Pomade, and Brow Gel are TO DIE FOR. The prices are fantastic ($6.99-$10.00) and they are definitely comparable to higher end versions. The only word of caution I will advise is that the Micro pencil is harder than the Anastasia, but Brow Wiz is gone within a flash and also $21!

SKIP IT:

The brow mascara and other eyebrow pencil from NYX are very hit or miss. IF you have thick brows already, the mascara will work for you. For me, it’s a hell no and actually makes mine look more sparse. I also strongly dislike their thicker pencil- the colors are weird, the tip is too fat, and it’s waxy in application. I gifted mine to my mom.

Next, let’s talk about LIPS. Omg.

WORTH IT:

Do yourself a favor and stock up on these lip liners! They are $3.49 each and they have SO many colors. It makes it easy to match any lipstick in your drawer!

Primer- It’s not a must have, but I like it. I think it helps the color stay longer! It comes in two shades at $6.99 each. If you’re a lippie girl, I’d get it. If not, nah.

Anything limited edition lip- whether it’s gloss or lipstick, it’s definitely a do and they go very quickly. I love my Wickeds, the Macaroons, the iridescent gloss set… drool.

WORTH IT:

I absolutely love the pigment and formula of the new Extreme Lipsticks! They’re only $5.99 and my favorite NYX lip product by far.

The round lipsticks are now only $3.99 each (they dropped $1) and they are creamy and lovely! There’s also tons of color options. My favorite is the ‘NYX’ one which is a gorgeous shimmery orange.

The Butter Balms- these are just a hint of color and are $3.99 each. The aren’t particularly moisturizing, but I think it helps them last on the lips and I like their subtlety.

Extreme Butter Gloss- I hate lipgloss, but this pigment is SO worth the $5.99! I just layer it over lipstick to brighten the color and I find it less sticky than the other glosses NYX makes.

SKIP IT:

Matte Lip Cream- can I get an overrated?! People are obsessed with these and I’m going to be very blunt here. They aren’t true mattes, they slide all over, and they are PATCHY as hell. Especially ‘Transylvania’, which I had to wait almost four months just to get it in stock. Huge disappointment. if you’re okay with all of the above, go for it, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I also will say that the swatches NYX provides on their displays DO NOT match the actual product and that annoys me too. Just no.

Butter Glosses- super low pigment and pretty sticky. I hate them. Every single last one of them.

The ‘Vamp’, ‘Pinks’, ‘Reds’, ‘Nudes’ Crayons: Hello patchy! So, so patchy. They also break if you breathe on them, if you don’t buy it already broken in the wrapper. You wouldn’t believe how many of these got returned weekly at Ulta. They also tip the scales at $6.99 each (the highest priced lip product in the line!).

Now we can talk eyes, my favorite!

WORTH IT:

I am so 100% obsessed with the roll on shimmers! They are only $3.99 each and the pigment and sparkle are so lovely! It’s a fantastic value for how much product you get! I also really like the roller ball applicator. As you can see, I have seven now. Ooops.

The Pearl Shadows- these are roll on shimmers, just not in a roller ball. The are only $2.99 each and are pigmented and just as beautiful. Trust me on this one. Primer is a must here though!

Crystal Liners- The lids say ‘Not Meant to be used in the Direct Eye Area.’ Confused? Me too. I use these alllllll the time, all up in my eye area. I’m just careful when I remove them not to get any in my actual eye. They are so, so pretty. The gold is my favorite. Ever. These are $5.99 each and if you figure out where you’re actually supposed to use these, be a dear and let me know. lol.

WORTH IT:

Eyeshadow singles- they’re $4.99-$5.99 each, but you can get matte, shimmer, baked, whatever you like really. if you want a specific color, this is a good road to take. I really like the new foil ones, but only the shades pictured above. Those in particular are pretty soft, so be careful with them.

Palettes on the smaller side- the pigment and value are great with a primer. I’m talking 5-9 pans tops. Use the testers and use your own judgement if you think it’s be worth it. A lot of the light shades are very powdery.

SKIP IT:

The Wicked Dreams Palette. It’s $15 and if I would’ve paid that, it would’ve gone back asap. Tiny, microscopic pans and zero pigmentation. No thank you.

WORTH IT:

Gel Liner- Dear sweet baby Jesus, YES! It’s $9.99, but so is Maybelline and they hate puppies, so there’s that. lol. But seriously, this is my absolute go to. I have Urban Decay and other high end options and this is BETTER. I use it like crazy.

Automatic Eye Liners- I like these, they go on very smooth. There are a ton of colors, but they won’t be good for you if you’re an eye waterer. Just a heads up on that.

Jumbo Pencils- love, love, love! ‘Milk’ and ‘Black Bean’ are must haves, but they have plenty of color options. They make great bases and work well in the waterline too. They wear similarly to the automatic pencils.

Liquid liners- these are only $6.99 and there’s white now! Woo! Take that you $21 Stila! They have regular, matte, and white and I love them all especially for wings and dotted details!

SKIP IT:

Regular Pencils- they scratch my eyeball and the pigment just isn’t there. I use the two pictured for lip liner because I hate to waste them.

WORTH IT:

Eyeshadow bases- yes. They have a skin tone one too, but it can be pretty dark on fair skin (ah-hem, moi for instance). These are such a fun way to switch up the look of your shadows and they’re only $6.99. They will go bad before you’ll run out because you get so much. The black and white ones are ‘Milk’ and ‘Black Bean’ in pots, I promise.

SKIP IT:

Mascara- I think they’re pricey (around $9.99 each) and of the four pictured, I like ONE. And I don’t like that ONE enough to reach for it over my Holy Grail Laura Geller GlamLASH. The ‘Doll Eyes’ is probably my favorite and the one with the teeny little wand is a good priming step, but use your judgement.

What are your favorite NYX goodies? Did I forget anything you’re curious about? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time lovelies,

xxx&o Meg

100 Days of Makeup.

Hello lovelies! I just wanted to come by and see if you’ve been over to my Instagram lately- I’m on Day 12 of my 100 days of makeup challenge and there are lots of fun looks posted! I appreciate any and all support from you. The main photo here is Day 10: Blue. Each day of the challenge is a 1-2 word blip that I make a look based upon. If you’d like to find me on IG, my name is : @childoftheuniverse

I will be posting a blog tomorrow on what to grab and what to skip from NYX, so stay tuned for that! I miss you guys dearly! It’s taken me a week to get that together while doing the challenge stuff! Doing a big makeup post takes up a lot of my time and mental effort and I’ve been focusing on that and I can already see improvement in myself!

Stay positive! See you tomorrow.

xxx&o Megan

Jamberry Wraps and Solo Gel Polish Review.

Today I’m here to share with you my newest nail obsession, as well as review Jamberry Nail Wraps. First, we shall start with the new love of my life- Solo One Step Gel Polish.

Solo Gel Polishes are a one step, done deal gel polish. They retail for $9.99 and are available both online and in Ulta stores.

I currently own two colors ‘Sunset Blvd.’ ( a burnt orange) and ‘Starry Night’ (a royal blue with tons of silver sparkle). To apply these polishes, you simply paint a coat and cure it in a LED lamp for sixty seconds. Then apply one more coat and repeat and you are DONE. It seems too good to be true, but I swear it’s all truth. And even on my oily nail beds, it lasts like any other gel polish. I love how simple and fast the application is and the colors are to die for. The price is exactly the same as Red Carpet Manicure or Sensationail gel polishes, so there’s no reason not to try them for yourself. You can thank me later. Let’s get to swatches. There are two coats of polish applied in each photo.

Here is ‘Sunset Blvd’:

And here is ‘Starry Night’:

I also wanted to share a little tip (please excuse my out of control cuticles, I can barely keep up with them they grow so quickly)- if you are a nail biter or have peel-y, weak nails, consider switching to gel manicures. These are my natural nails and I can credit their length and health to gel. The extra strength helps keep their shape and they will grow like weeds! People can barely believe these are really my nails, but I assure you they are. I used to be the WORST nail biter and I’m so happy I am finally over it. Have you tried Solo before? What did you think?

And on to the Jamberry wraps! IF you’ve seen my prior posts about my feelings on nail wraps, you know I hate them. They bubble and crinkle on my nails which makes them snag my hair and off they come. Not the case with these! I will say that the ‘clear’ wraps apply much more easily than the regular or patterned ones, and they are definitely my favorite of the group. I only say this because it’s pretty hard to get the others lined up on the nail perfectly. If you don’t have OCD, you probably won’t mind, but I mind quite a bit and we ordered mostly clear ones for this reason, haha. You get quite a few uses from each sheet of wraps and they retail for $15 per sheet, or buy three get one free. The sheets look like other wraps, only they are much thinner and made from a super thin vinyl. Here is a wrap I clipped from the sheet and it applied to my nail.

One single wrap (as pictured) would be cut in half and would cover two nails. Even if they are long like mine. I also applied these over gel polish, which is pretty awesome. The application process goes like this:

1. Wash hands with Dawn dish soap. Clean nail with alcohol. If you have gel polish or acrylics on, you will want to gently buff the surface prior to application to give the wrap something to stick to.

2. Choose the correct sized wrap for your nail and cut in half.

3. Using an orange stick, gently lift the wrap from the plastic sheet and gently heat for a few seconds.

4. Line up wrap on your nail. Run the orange stick from the nail bed to the tip and start smoothing the wrap from the center out.

5. Trim the excess with cuticle scissors. Then holding a file at a 90 degree angle, file downward to get the perfect fit.

6. Heat for a few seconds and file again if necessary. Ta-da! Done.

My mom applied hers to bare nails and the application went just as smooth, but lining the wrap up was pretty tough. The designs are totally cute though, and they make an adorable accent nail. I know I definitely don’t have the patience to apply ten wraps and I am obsessed with gel manis, so I will only be using them as accent nails, but I still love them anyway. We chose eight wrap designs and got the mini heater ($109! Yikes! But we were helping out a friend and having some girly fun. Plus, they will last forever).

Have you used Jamberry wraps before? Have any application tips for me?

xxx&o Meg

Back in Action!

Hey all you lovely people! I’m baaaack in the saddle again and ready to blog my little heart out. Tomorrow, I will be starting a 100 days of makeup Instagram challenge! I will be doing a completely new look each day without reusing any of my old work. I’m hoping to grow a lot as an artist and challenge myself a little bit. I hope you’ll tune in for that. If you’re not an Instagrammer, fear not- I have a Facebook page (finally!) and would love it equally as much if you’d go on over there and give it a like. I’ll be posting my challenge images on there as well. The first day of the challenge (Saturday, May 2nd) will be ‘Black & White’.

I also have gathered the most perfect little things for my giveaway and I finally feel like it’s ready to be won. Details coming soon on how to enter and what you can win!

I went to a ‘Jamberry’ nail wraps party tonight and will have a full review on those for you tomorrow, as well as debut my new favorite nail product!

Also, just wanted to share this $2 Wet n’Wild beauty with you:

It’s amazing what a little lipstick can do- Wet n’Wild ‘Mocha-licious’.

See you tomorrow loves!

xxx&o Meg