the tried and true

So ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for me to share with you my favorite of my favorites when it comes to beauty products. Uh, YEAH!! 

 

1) Clinique – Superbalm – Greatest lip smoothing treatment. Balm goes on clear and shiny so that you can wear it as gloss over color, or use it as a night-time lip treatment (it’s that powerful!). Fresh, citrusy scent is a bonus too.

2) L’occitane – Verbena Harvest Eau de Toilette – Mmm, if you like citrus scents, this is the one for you.

3) Laura Mercier – Tinted Moisturizer – Okay, so it’s a little spendy ($42) but trust me, it lasts for months and you’ll hardly ever have to wear foundation! Gives your skin a nice, pretty, polished glow that makes it LOOK like you’re wearing makeup without making you FEEL like you are.  

4) Sephora – 4 Step Buffer – So I’ve already raved about this one. If you really must know, go back a few posts. 

5) Anastasia – Perfect Brow Pencil – So I tried this one at Sephora and LOVED IT. It didn’t make my brows look fake, but it made them obviously better. I did one brow, then asked my (blind) sister which she felt looked better and she immediately said the one with Anastasia’s Pencil on it. (Of course I later filled in the other brow, I didn’t walk around looking like an idiot for long.)

6) Bare Minerals – Skin Rev-er Upper – Not really sure what this product was even designed to do, but, I think it’s supposed to act as a Primer for your Bare Minerals. That’s what the rest of la filles en ma famille use it as, but, I rarely use the Bare Minerals Foundation. I use this as a moisturizer! Minimizes the pores to the EXTREME, the only downside being that it smells like a Clorox Bleach testing facility (if that is even a thing).

7) Smashbox – Photo Finish Foundation Primer – Yeah so you see this in magazines and think it’s totally overrated. BUT IT’S NOT! It has silicone, which minimizes pores and fills in fine lines so you look like a million bucks even without foundation. I found this primer like 4 years ago and since it has grown to be the biggest success on the face of the planet and now comes in colors that do different things. Whatever, I don’t by that. Use the clear version and stick with the classic. C’mon Smashbox, don’t fix it if it ain’t broken.

8 ) Clinique – Brush-on Cream Liner – My mom bought this as a joke, for us to use as eye-black when we’re fangirls at football games. Yeah, well it worked then (lasted on my face from 7 in the morning to 2am all of Homecoming Friday!) and it works now, but in a different way. It’s great for those cute looks with a little perfect eyeliner and some bright lips. You know the ones. Or if you wanna wing it out the sides and be all dramatic. It’s a miracle worker that can do 1000000000 things.

9) Sephora – 3-in-1 Extractor – So it looks like a torture device, yeah. Kinda hurts your face, yeah. But it makes blackhead disappear! Like seriously. I would know, I have the worst blackheads and you just put the head around them and push. Voila! Blackheads no more.

10) MAC – Eyeshadow – Comes in a million colors and stays on all day. Again, back to Homecoming. “Aquadisac” stayed on my eyes for as long as the liner did. Awesome for when you have to basically plan Homecoming and look hot and fun all while running around with no time to pee, let alone touchup. (I also have it in Barbie and Brown Down, which are my two favorites.)

11) Mario Badescu – Drying Lotion – So I’ll be the first to say that this potion ain’t pretty. It looks so gross you won’t wanna put it on your face. (DON’T SHAKE, SHAKE SHAKE, A-SHAKE IT, OR YOU WILL BE SORRY.) But if you do get the nerve to try it, you’ll be happy. Just dip the q-tip into the pink gunk and rub it on a pimple, wake up the next morning and, I’m not saying it’s completely disappeared, but the size of the bump has gone down to the point that it’s just a little flat red spot. Well worth the seventeen bucks, and it lasts a lifetime.

12) Dove – Go Fresh Beauty Bar – So I’m basically a Marketing Major (We have “Majors” at my High School, weird, I know) and I can honestly say the best example of good Marketing is the Dove Go Fresh Beauty Bar. But it’s not hard to keep repeat customers coming back for more of this awesome soap. Smells delicious, doesn’t leave you feeling dry or sticky like regular soap, and it has little exfoliating beads that are soft enough to use daily. Plus it’s at drugstore prices, nothing is better than that.

13) Clinique – Clarifying Lotion 2 – Yummy! Best toner out there. Leaves skin feeling tight, but not like OH MY GOSH MY SKIN IS GOING TO TEAR OFF MY FACE tight. The good tight. Like tight shirts on Abercrombie Models tight. (Not that Abercrombie Models ever wear shirts, which is even better..) Stings when it gets in owies thought. But that means it’s working. 

14) Secret – Aerosol Anti-Perspirant – I have a FES (that’s Foreign Exchange Student, for those of you non-that-70′s-show-viewers) and I steal this from her every once in a while. It smells great and doesn’t make you drippy or sweaty. 

15) Mascaras:

All over best: Clinique – Long Pretty Lashes

Most Fun: Benefit – BADgal Blue 

Lengthening: Maybelline – Volum Express (So Yeah, it says volumizing, but it’s more lengthening. Maybelline’s loss, our gain.)

Shiniest: Sephora Brand - Lengthening Mascara

Volumizing: Dior – DiorShow Mascara

16) Biore – Daily Recharging Revitalize 4-in-1 Cleanser – Great drugstore cleanser that minimizes pores and washes away acne and oils.

17) Benefit – Full Finish Lipstick – Great colors, stays on long and doesn’t come off through food and drinks and straws and whatnot. Not as bright colors as the tubes would have you think, but great nonetheless.

18) Tweezerman – Mini Slant Tweezers – Cute, little tweezers that get the job done!

19) Neutrogena – Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock – Dewy and glowy, smells great and protects from the sun. Doesn’t clog pores either! Great for daily use on your face.

 

Okay, well, there you have it. My top beauty picks! Plus tons of great mascaras for every occasion. Enjoy them all, my dears!

Prom under $100

So you lovely ladies, it’s almost Prom Season! Before you hit the tanning beds and fry yourself silly, check out how to do Prom the right way – my way! 

Charlotte Russe -Satin Tube Dress – $29.99

Heritage 1981 – Spring Rose Necklace – $4.80

Forever 21 – Nancy Slub Sweater Cardigan – $19.80

Essie – “Greenport” – $9.00

Charlotte Russe – Patent Slingbacks – $24.99

Forever 21 – Faux Patent Croc Wallet – $9.80

 

Okay! Now feel free to tan! I’m lovin’ red wine dress with the blue accents, so so chic! Hmmm now I need an idea for my next project, hmm…

feroush under $40

Again, bargain hunting at it’s finest! The accessories post was lots of fun, and it’s always great to spread the knowledge to other savvy shoppers, right? Though American Eagle and Forever 21 may not be the world’s best kept bargain shopping secrets, you can still find some chic and surprising things for less than you’d think! Another tip? Shop the men’s side!! I know, I know.. My sister refuses to shop with me because of this! She won’t even go to the mall with me anymore, but, lots of Women’s styles are influenced by Men’s styles, so why not? It’s usually cheaper anyways! Plus it’ll make you feel good when you find yourself in a XS.

 

American Apparel – Interlock Pencil Skirt – $32.00 (15 Colors!!)

Heritage 1981 – Bethany Woven Spaghetti Top – $18.90

Heritage 1981 – Heathered Knit Tank Top – $9.90

Forever 21 – Delphine Strapless Dress- $24.80

Forever 21 – Pinstripe Ruffle Blouse – $24.80

American Eagle – Eagle Polo – $24.50 (9 Colors!!)

American Eagle – AE Sunwashed T – $14.95

Victoria’s Secret Pink Brand – Athletic Artsy Tee – $10.50

Gap – Striped button-tab Shorts – $39.50

 

Enjoy my dears!

because there’s nothing more important than a girl’s [cheap] bling

Because I love to bargain shop! Accessories are my favorite. So here’s my favorite picks of cute accessories under $20! (Oh, the things you can find at Forever 21..) That Faux-Snake belt is so chic! And under $3. Oh my..

Heritage 1981 – Grooved Flower Ring – $4.80

Something Silver – Gold Metal Octopus Necklace – $15.00

Forever 21 – Springtime Lucite Bangle – $5.80

Forever 21 – Polly Plaid Fringe Scarf – $8.80

Fred Flare – Petite Bow Headband – $14.00

Fred Flare – Rose Ring – $10.00

Fred Flare – Flight of the Feather Earrings – $12.00

Unique-Vintage – Jewelry by Sweet Romance Rialto Earrings – $20.00

Anthropologie – Sauvignon Earrings – $19.95 (SALE!!)

Uncommon Goods – Candy Girl Bracelet (made from recycled candy wrappers!) – $12.00

Forever 21 – Color It Snake Belt – $2.50 (OMG.)

 

So maybe in a few I’ll post some of my favorite cheap fashion finds?

I’m turning the idea over in my head as we speak.