L'occitane

Empties | Out With The Old #6

2:16 PM

I can't \not\ mention my being away for a long time. I don't really have a good excuse, just the usual reasons that I'm sure we're all aware of. Life got busy, things happened. I got a new computer recently, so things are going to be looking generic and pretty boring while I get all my settings figured out and previous fonts transferred over to this new guy. This OWTO batch is pretty big, since I just kept tossing them in my 'toss' bag instead of actually tossing them.




Let's start with skincare, starting with the Almay Oil Free Eye Makeup Removing Pads - These are nice. I bought these in a pack of two these bottles. I like them, but would not purchase again - they leave sort of a sticky residue on my eyes and don't remove mascara well. I don't really wear mascara that much, mostly eyeliner, and this does the trick with eyeliner, but I wouldn't repurchase.

The Body Shop Shower Gels for Earth Lovers - Fig & Rosemary scent - This was a rather nice shower gel, albiet a very watery texture. This didn't bother me, as it foamed up well and was pretty cleansing. This particular scent didn't smell like either fig nor rosemary to me, and smelled like sage - a scent I love dearly that brings back wonderful memories. It's a sharp, spicey scent and I would certainly repurchase if I ever, ever run out of the millions of other shower gels I have sitting around waiting to be used. 

Boots No7 Melting Gel Cleanser - I was certain I wrote a review on this but now can't find it. I have featured it in a few posts, the most detailed description of it is here. I like this, and it smelled very nice, but I will not be repurchasing. It was just kind of a hassle to use.

H20 Marine Toner - this toner has long been discontinued by the company. I think the full bottle of it costs $18, which is definitely not worth it for this product. It's not bad, but definitely not life changing. I wouldn't repurchase even if it was still out.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream - I loved this moisturizer, loved it so much. It was thick and moisturizing, but sunk in very quickly. It smelled nice and soothing, and always left my skin happy and satisfied. I would definitely repurchase, and probably will. 

Mary Kay Timewise Firming Eye Cream - this little bottle cost $30!! I got it as a present and luckily did not pay that much, and I definitely do not recommend. It took far too long to sink in and did literally nothing for my skin; didn't moisturize or plump up the area. The pump, while a nice touch, was also very difficult to control. If you pumped out all the way you'd probably get enough product for your entire face. That being said, there's a lot of product in the bottle, considering how little you really need to cover your eye area. 

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream - this was a light moisturizer that smelled lovely and rosey. I liked it and would recommend; if I get the chance to buy this again I will, but I didn't love it enough to go out of my way to purchase it.

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve - this is my favorite lip product of all time. It's the only one that really seems to work for me, giving me deep, long lasting moisture. I have repurchased since then and will probably never leave this lip balm.


Mary Kay Suncreen SPF 50 - this was a weird, thick cream that never seemed to sink in and would leave my limbs feeling oily and strange. Would not repurchase.

Yes to Cucumbers Daily Calming Moisturizer SPF 30 - oh my god, the things I could say about this. Bad things, to clarify. It was a thick, white paste that took so much effort to spread in; it smelled like cardboard, always left me ghostly white, and didn't sit well/feel good on my skin. I suppose one could argue that this is more of a sunscreen than a moisturizer, but I'd rather just stick with my Coola sunscreen. I will not be repurchasing.

LO'ocitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - Personally I don't like the scent of shea butter, as it smells too much like diaper ointment to me. This is a really thick hand cream that does deeply moisturize, but the scent just bothered me too much. It also separated into a strange oil/cream mixture towards the end. Will not repurchase. 


Be warned, most of this makeup is old and disliked, hence why I'm tossing most of them. The four lip products (Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss, Elizabeth Arden lipstick) are all products I just don't use anymore, so why keep them around? They're all fine, but just fine. 

NYX HD Concealer - This bottle is half empty, and I still can't make up my mind about it. It's very high coverage, but accentuates any flaws on your skin. So while you could definitely use it to cover up some bumpy, discolored skin (like my chin and nose), it would bring attention to the uneven skin texture and cling desperately to any dry patches of skin. It's also too thick to use under the eyes. I will not be repurchasing.

Sonia Kashuk Liquid Light Concealers - these are my favorite liquid concealers! As the name implies, they have a light texture that is comfortable to wear. The coverage isn't incredible, but the concealers are luminizing and will bounce light from any trouble spots. I have already repurchase both these shades, as they're perfect for my undereyes and on my scars. 

NYX Eyeshadow Base - NYX has several versions of this; this is the nude shade. There's also a white color and one to help with glitter, and a liquid HD primer that I happen to love. A lot of people say that this product works excellently for them, but it just didn't cooperate with me. It would crease and ruin any eyeshadow I was wearing on top of it. I really liked the texture though, and the price was definitely agreeable. While I myself wouldn't repurchase, I encourage anyone with $5 to spare to try it out. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr whatever it's called - this product is old as hell, and I've never really used it. Time to go! 

Victoria's Secret Volume Plump Mascara - I think this was part of a BOGO deal or something; I didn't expect to like it but I really did! It lasted all day without smudging and always removed easily. It accentuated my lashes and I would repurchase.

NYX Gel Liner and Smudger - this liner is old and drying out. I really liked it, except that it dried out way too fast! But the creaminess and opaqueness of the product definitely warrant a repurchase. 

That's all for today, thanks for reading!

empties | out with the old #5

3:41 PM


Dove Replenish + Care Dry Shampoo
This is raved about so much but it's "eh" at best. While it smells good and provides hair with texture, it is totally temporary. There are also no oil-absorbing properties. I will not be repurchasing. 

Mary Kay Timewise Replenishing Serum + C
Ummmm this was an alright product. I did not see a huge difference in my skin; it was not brighter, nor did it imporve texture, but there was nothing wrong with it. It had kind of a funny cookie-dough type scent, and abosrbed in my skin very fast, but the retail proce is over $50 and for a serum that I found did nothing, I will not be repurchasing.

Giovanni D:tox System Purifying Facial Mask
I always raved about this mask, although nobody else had even ever heard of it. I found that it really calmed down my skin whenever it was irritated and was quite gentle. It definitel
y doesn't do wonders but is a great product for taking things a notch down. If I find it again I will repurchase, but since I haven't seen it anywhere in a long time I doubt I will..

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunscreen - Pure Lavender
I really liked this sunscreen before it went to shit. One day it was fine, and the next it had pretty much melted to some weird, liquidy oil. I might have left the bottle outside in the shade for a few hours which might be the culprit, but I don't think I'll be repurchasing simply because there are other natural sunscreens.

Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment
I quite liked this eye cream, which contained shimmery particles. I thought it made for a great morning eye cream since it sunk in well and sat beautifully under makeup. The full size of this is a hefty $32 dollars, but if it goes on serious clearance I will repurchase.

Almay Softies Eyeshadows
Bleh. Had great potential and sounded incredible, but there was simply no color payoff. They were sheer, did not apply well with tools, and did not seem to want to leave fingers when applied with those. They also faded pretty quickly on the rare chance that I got them to show up.

Pixi Extra Eye Bright Liner
I only used this on my waterline once or twice. It was simply too hard. However, I loved the pinky-lavender color and instead used it on my browbone for a very subtle and sharpening brow lift. I love the color so I may repurchase, but unless it's on sale I probably won't.

Pixi Lash Line Ink
I really loved this eyeliner. The long nib made lining my eyes easy, and winging it out would take no time at all. The formulation was pretty decent, although it wasn't entirely waterproof. I may repurchase sometime in the future - not anytime soon, however. But I would recommend this to people!

NYX Cream Shadow in Suede 
Man, this shade is beautiful and oh how I wished it had worked out. This set in about .12 seconds and would pill up and rub off if you tried to blend/smudge it out after it set. I would say that I could work with this, but I couldn't. It didn't have that sort of half-set tacky mode where some cream shadows get right before they set, it seemed to go from wet to bone dry immediately, so there's no way you could blend it out. It would also crease within 5 minutes, and the oil would eat up the shadow and an unattractive line would appear in my crease. Such a shame. Will not be repurchasing.

NYX Eyebrow Marker in Medium
I totally dug the formula of this, but the shade was just totally wrong. This is probably a shade for people with red tones - whenever I wore it it would look obviously wrong and very very bad on me. However, I did really love the simplicity of applying and the lasting power. If a neutral toned brown was released I would probably be all over that shit.

Sonia Kashuk Brightening Powder
Simply put, this was too easy to overdo on. It was pretty much impossible to not overdo. The shimmer would look very pretty in proportion, but it's extremely difficult to get the perfect amount and you end up looking like you'd just been glitter-bombed.

No7 Lash Adapt Mascara
While this mascara was a fine product, it didn't hold my curl very well. I actually really loved it on my lower lashes, as it really doesn't clump no matter how many layers applied, but I hardly ever wear mascara on my skimpy lower lashes and buying another for the lower lashes just doesn't seem justified. Those with naturally curly lashes might really enjoy this product. It never smudges or
flakes!

Burt's Bees Evening Glow Lipgloss
This is a pretty shimmer sheer red lip gloss. I really liked it, it wasn't sticky and was a great low-maintenance red shade, but I've had it for ages and figured it was time to toss it. I may repurchase, and I'll probably get other shades whenever possible.

e.l.f. studio small angled liner brush
I loved this brush! Until it just randomly pooped out on me one day. The glue loosened up and the bristles came flying out. Altho these are $3 and repurchasing them wouldn't hurt, I do not want to spend more money on yet a third broken brush. 

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Rollerball
Hoooooly crap, this smells so good. This perfume smells exactly like oranges. While it's awesome, the scent barely lasts and I began to see stuff in the perfume, like skin and dust. I will repurchase eventually, but after I go through some of my perfumes. 

Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat
While I loved this, it got super goopy and useless. The finish was very matte and lasted up fairly well. 

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner | Review

10:27 PM

Holy crap, I've been gone since October! I've just been so caught up in school, busy applying to colleges! I've been accepted to two out of my eleven choices so far (: Anyways, I'm back today with a review on this liquid liner.


What it is: liquid eyeliner
Where: Ulta and the UD website
Price: $19 but several of the shades are on sale for $10 on the UD site today (12/4/14)!
Note: Urban Decay is cruelty free and this product is vegan friendly!
The description that UD provides is basically a novel. "Draw liquid lines so sharp they could cut glass. Our slender brush lays down long-lasting matte, slick and shimmery shades sure to satisfy your color lust. Achieve clean, sharp WATERPROOF lines with shocking ease. The newest addition to our 24/7 franchise is available in a veritable rainbow of long-lasting, highly-pigmented, WATERPROOF color options – shades ranging from matte to glossy to shimmery! (And why would you only buy one? Try them all!) Use the ultra-fine brush tip to create lines that are razor-thin or thick, even and bold. The brush is also short and easy to control, making it ideal for liquid liner newbies. The slim pens are convenient – go ahead and pack 'em all into your makeup bag – and are color-matched to each shade." To sum it up, the super fine brush tip makes it easy to draw thin or thick and sharp lines. It claims to have a waterproof formula with several different finishes according to the shade. There are 11 versatile shades, ranging from a jet black (Perversion, which is what I have and am reviewing today) to a bright yellow. 



Let's talk packaging. It's simple and very functional, and I quite like it. (Above is a NYX single eyeshadow for size reference) Each tube matches the shade inside. As you can see, my black liner has black packaging. The brush is a thin, brush-tip applicator. It's on the shorter side of applicators. Despite how thin this is, it's surprisingly easy to use. It's very easy to control where the product goes and how thick/thin you want your line to be. I think the packaging is great! This product contains 1.7 mL (.058 fl oz) of product.

Perversion is a black-ass black. I think this shade is supposed to be matte, but it's not - there's a sheen to it. This used to irritate me a little bit since I like my liner matte as possible, but I'll let this pass since this liner is so good. This liner has a very thin and watery formula, and needs shaking before usage. There's a mixing ball inside the tube. Despite how thin it is, it dries almost immediately. Wear time is wonderful - this liner is nearly 100% waterproof. I tend to ignore waterproof claims because basically nothing is totally waterproof, but this one almost passes the test. I'll explain in a little bit. After it dries, this liner will last you all day and night with no budging. I've worn it on 16 hour days with hardly any issues. There is no flaking or smudging or transferring. But back to the waterproof front, if the liner gets wet and the water is dabbed off (versus rubbed off) it will stay fine. Rubbing with water can cause flaking. This liner removes surprisingly easily, despite the longevity of it. It will not come off with an oil-based remover, but using a wipe or a water based remover will cause the liner to flake off and it removes quickly without much hassle. 

I think this liner is a lot like the NYX Studio Liquid Liner in terms of pigmentation and longevity, but I like the thin, fast drying formula of this, not to mention the much more manageable packaging. If you're on a budget, the $4.50 NYX offering is definitely worth a shot. It contains more than double the product for less than a quarter of the price, but you have the weigh the other factors. All in all, I'm a little annoyed that I love this liner so much - I do not like the idea of dishing out $19 for an eyeliner. That being said, I do think it's worth the rather high price tag. I highly recommend. 

what's in my beauty bag

3:50 PM


  • bag: the body shop makeup bag
  • the body shop satsuma hand sanitizer - because i always seem to get my hands messed up at school and this smells nice.
  • taylor swift wonderstruck rollerball perfume - because sometimes i forget to put on perfume, so having this rollerball is really handy and nice.
  • nyx butter lipstick in little suzie - because a bright lipstick is exactly what i need on days when i forget to put lipstick on at home; vivid lipstick distracts anything and i'm usually running late when i forget to put on lipstick!
  • ecotools retractable kabuki brush - to apply powder
  • bareminerals ready touch up veil in translucent - the powder to apply
  • yes to cucumbers facial towelette - in case i ever need to take off my makeup
  • tide to go instant stain remover - because i'm clumsy and get stains on everything
  • l'occitane shea butter hand cream - because sometimes my hands get real dry

September Favorites | Recently Loving #9

3:42 PM

Long time no see, everybody! Blogging is a side hobby for me and I started school again so it's quite easy for me to push blogging onto the back burner. I'll try to blog more often during the school year but it's rather difficult. Anyways, today I'm back with a favorites post. 


These shadows are discontinued but are still easily available online. They have a great great formula that is soft, blendable, and this specific shade has the perfect amount of shimmer. It's kind of a sandy brown.  I think I'll have a review up on the shades I have soon. Anyways, I've been popping this all over the lid and blending it out to above my crease. It gives a subtle wash of color that looks more like a stain than makeup. The longwear crease resistant formula is wonderful and I'm just obsessed with this product.

There are two types of this available, I have the white, sensitive version. This is a konjac sponge, which is essentially a sponge with cleansing properties because the material it's made of, konjac, is really good for the skin. I use this in the morning and buff it over my skin after I've massaged my cleanser in. I love how this feels on my skin, it has a light, porous texture that makes me feel like I'm promoting circulation and very very gently exfoliates, but it's not harsh or uncomfortable on the skin.

I've brought these two back into my rotation and I don't think they're ever leaving. THis concealer is just so light and easy to blend and it looks so skinlike and illuminating. Although the coverage isn't the fullest, the concealer is so brightening that it just blends out imperfections and bounces light away. A wonderful wonderful concealer.

Lately I've been wearing this eyeliner on my upper waterline. I never used to do this because I always thought removal was a hassle, but I've been rimming my waterline with this and pairing it with lashings of mascara and it just makes my lashes look so thick, full, and natural. I've got a review on this eyeliner up here, but I'll reitoriate - super smooth and easy to apply, so unbelievably pigmented, and so long lasting. This waterproof pencil lasts 8/9 hours without smudging on the inner rim. 

I parted from this for a few days to go back to an old liquid liner favorite but since then I've just realized how much I love this. It's waterproof as hell and doesn't smudge, flake, or fade. The long nib makes application very easy, and mine is coming to the end of it's tenure and I will soon be needing new one. I am very very sad over it ):

These are my newest brush additions. This is a duo of double ended eye brushes, intended to give you all the eye brushes you need for a look. Like all other Ecotools brushes, these are soft, synthetic, and dry quickly. They apply product beautifully and really are enough for a look. My favorites are the shading and blending brush, but the smudger and angled liner are just as good.

Jenna Hipp Nail Polish in This Is My Jam
I've never really been one for bold nail colors, I usually paint my nails with my beloved Essie Buy Me A Cameo, which is a bronzed rose gold. This burgendy/maroony shade is a great autumnal color; it's bold but not statement, and looks great matte or shiny.

Unnecessary Necessities | Tech

3:32 PM

I'm so cool with my paradoxical titles. Today I wanted to talk about those pesky pieces of tech that you just can't seem to live without, although you secretly know you'd be perfectly fine without.




I talked about this in my favorites post a few days ago. Basically, it's an activity tracker. You wear it on your wrist and it tracks how much movement you do, and with that, estimates things like number of steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled, etc. It's totally unnecessary, but very cool and motivational. It pushes me to exercise when I can see just how little I work out. It has apps for the iPhone and Android (I have Android) and there's one for PC and Mac too. I blocked out my weight but it goes in the blacked out area.




These days, design-oriented headphones are taking the world by storm. Beats, Frends, etc. Headphones are not only about quality, but also design and appearance. I think these Sol Republic ones are so cool looking. This is a brand that hasn't gotten much publicity like Beats by Dr. Dre, but I think are easily comparable. Michael Phelpes has been seen sporting them, but that's about the only well-known person I've heard of wearing them. They're this ultra cool design where everything is an independent clause, meaning it's highly customizable and replaceable. The sound is nice and bright. Although to be honest, it doesn't sound particularly natural, not like if you were in the studio with the artist. Think more of in the middle of a concert.

This is an app that essentially saves pages for later. It's available on most of the platforms on the market - Apple, Android, and web! If you saw something while browsing your phone and didn't have time to read it, you could save it in Pocket and go back to it later on your phone, computer, or tablet - it even saves stuff offline, which makes it convenient for those on-the-go. I apologize for not having a screenshot, but check it out if it interests you.



This is a brand that makes pocketsized portable speakers that play unreasonably loud for their size. I have the V.1.1. Capsule speaker, but most of them resemble something along the lines of mine (although some don't have a cap like this one) - a plastic spring-like thing that condenses down and locks to save more room. These are really great because the battery lasts forever and there's a great sound quality. The bass booms and the treble is crisp and clear.



pixi

Pixi Flawless Vitamin Veil | Review

9:42 PM

Hi, everyone! Today I'm writing a review on a new foundation I've been trying out. Read on to see my thoughts!


What it is: cream-to-powder foundation
Where it is: Target and online
Price: $10 for the mini that I'm reviewing, $24 for the full size
Pixi products are not tested on animals.

Pixi says that this product "miraculously evens out skintone and makes it look like you have no foundation on. It also treats your skin to a host of vitamins, minerals and skin-enhancing goodies. It plumps lines, hydrates, nourishes and protects while perfecting skin. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance free. Suits all skin types." There are three shades available; this is the shade Medium.


The product I have is a mini size that comes in a simple compact with a snap-shut lid. The regular sized product comes in a sizeable compact with a mirror and a drawer with a puff. My mini contains .105 oz of product, or 3 grams.


Pixi claims that this is a "neutral medium tone" but I'd describe it as more of a yellow toned medium. It matches my skin tone perfectly and cancels out redness to a pretty good degree. It offers light/medium buildable coverage. I'm not sure if this is the deal with everybody, but whenever I use a cream product with a brush (rather than a sponge) it just looks patchy and bad. Anyways, I'm sure that you can infer what I'm about to say: when applied with a damp sponge, this looks natural and skin-like, but when applied with a brush, it's visable on the skin. This product is a lot longer lasting than expected. I'd say it starts fading around the 8/9 hour mark on my normal/dry skin. I find that this does set down to a powder finish, but it's not particularly powdery, nor does it help with oiliness, so I'd recommend a setting powder.

Honestly? While this product isn't bad, it's not remarkable in the slightest. Pass.

NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Gold | Review

9:31 PM

Hey guys, I'm really sorry for the inconsistent blogging. I keep forgetting that I do't have anything queued up. Anyways, today I have a review on a liner that I have quite a lot to say about.


What is it: colored liquid liner
Where it is: Ulta and online
Price: $4.50
NYX is proudly cruelty free!

I've seen an image floating around Pinterest for ages now of a girl with black liner with a thin gold line right over it, and recently I started lusting after a gold liner to be able to recreate the look. NYX says, "transform your look in seconds with this super-pigmented eye liner that highlights eyes with an electrifying stroke of color. The fine brush tip allows for precision application, and can be used to create lines of varying thickness. Go subtle or go glam." This product comes in ten shades, ranging from a classic black to an electric blue. The shade I'm reviewing is Extreme Gold.


I am not a fan of the packaging. It comes with a long, thin brush that is floppy and not exactly easy to control. Inexperienced eyeliner folks will not have a fun time with this, but if you know your way around a good liner you'll be okay.The well that the liner comes out of is also much too large, and you're forced to wipe the brush off before application, thus wasting liner. It contains .19 oz of product.


Holy me oh my. This liner is unbelievably pigmented. It is a light, bright gold with an extremely metallic and shiny finish. It's an eye-catching shade that will leave you in awe of how pigmented it is. Wear time is practically infinity. This fool will not come off without a battle. You gotta go down with your cotton swabs and oil and just go to town on your eye getting it off. It's not marketed as waterproof, but oh man oh man this is so waterproof. It's also smudgeproof, budgeproof, and bulletproof. It does take a moment to set, but I think those 20-30 seconds are worth 12+ hours of perfect liner.

Recently Loving #8

3:10 PM

I've not written a favorites post in quite some time. I tend to use the same products over and over again, in case you haven't noticed, haha. Hence, I don't discover a lot of new loves. However, I've got a few things to talk about today so let's dive into it!


Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Pressed Powder
Now that it's summer and I'm so shiny you could see my reflection in my forehead, I've been really appreciating a lightweight powder. It covers up the shine but let's my skin breathe. I've written a review here. I love tossing this into my purse with my EcoTools Retractable Kabuki Brush for applying on the go.

Real Techniques Starter Set
I picked up this set a few days and I have to say, I'm really impressed. The only brush that I'm not obsessed with is the Fine Liner Brush, but that's mostly because I prefer using an angled brush for eyeliner application. However, these are high-quality, soft and fluffy. They wash and dry so well. My favorite is the Base Shadow Brush. I also really like the Accent Brush. The case that it came with is also really cool.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
I have a teeny tiny size of this that I got in the Beauty Blogger Darlings kit at Sephora. I've not tried many eyeshadow primers, but two of the best did absolutely nothing on me so I gave up a little bit, but this is phenomenal. It has no effect on intensifying or length of eyeshadow, but it prevents creasing like something special. You could probably power a motorcycle with all the oil from my eyelids. However, with this primer, my eyeshadow stays crease free and looking fine all day.

e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in Medium
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I do, but the gel is just a perfect color match for me! This ashy dark brown is a perfect brow color for me, since I have black hair with a hint of brown. The gel is easy to use, lasts up well under sweaty runs and humid days, and looks so damn good.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo
This lip product has made many appearances on my blog. It's a dark plummy-pink that is bold without being very attention grabbing. Hard to explain, but basically it makes your lips look plump and full and the color is gaaaaawgous.

NYX Gel Liner and Smudger
I just wrote a review about this yesterday, so I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. Super pigmented. Stays put. Application is smooth and creamy.

Spotify
I tried Spotify when it was brand new a few years ago and I think it was only a premium feature then or something; either way, I didn't have a good impression and stuck with Pandora, but I've fallen just head over heels in love with Spotify. It's like YouTube specifically for music. There are playlists for every occasion and every artist imaginable.

Orange is the New Black
This show is ridiculously amazing. It's about a relatable character, Piper, who goes to a women's prison for drug trafficking from her past and has to survive. I started three days ago and I finished the whole show. Granted, it's only two seasons, but all I did for three days was hunker down and watch.

Bates Motel
If you've ever seen Psycho, this is supposed to be a prologue, but in modern times. It's about Norma and Norman Bates living in an insane town with insane people. There's good screenwork and decent acting/writing. I recommend you check it out.

Fitbit Flex
I got this a few days ago, and it is so mofoking cool. There are tons of these activity trackers on the market, but I saw this at Costco with some extra bands and figured "hey, steal!" and picked it up. Basically you wear it on your wrist and it tracks your movement. Think a glorified pedometer, but with a less condescending implication. You set a goal online or in the free app, and it tells you when you've reached it. I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a healthier and more active lifestyle.

Thirty Seconds to Mars
I watched Mr. Nobody the other week, a sci-fi film starring TSTM's lead singer Jared Leto and immediately developed a crush on him. That led to binge listening to the band, who I'd of course heard of but never really listened to the music. I don't have a definite taste in music, so I can't really tell you what kind of people would like this, but it's alternative pop/rock style music. Excellent songs will excellent instrumentation.

NYX Gel Liner and Smudger | Review

7:59 PM

Hey guys, I wanted to apologize for the lack of posts lately. I've been writing too many essays for schools and just the thought of writing something else exhausts me.


What it is: Gel eyeliner
Where it is: online and Ulta stores
Price: $8.99
NYX is proudly cruelty free!

NYX says that this "ultra-smooth formula is both extremely precise and easily blendable. Perfect for a bold cat-eye or a sultry smokey look." There are five shades available; I have the black shade, which is called Betty. 


This product has very simple packaging. It's in a small, glass jar with a plastic lid. I always wonder why lids are plastic and jars are glass. Does it preserve the product better or something? Anyways, while this lid shuts securely, it's recommended that you store it upside down to keep air from getting in and drying out the product. This liner contains .11 oz (3 grams) of liner. That's about $90 per oz. For reference, MAC Fluidline contains the same amount and retails for $16, making it $160 per oz.


This liner is as black as my soul. It's a deeply pigmented, true black with a matte finish. While this sets down to a matte finish quickly, the product is super duper creamy. The texture is much more like a cream than a gel. When dipping the brush into the pot, it's almost like dipping it into Cool Whip. It applies easily and smoothly without dragging. While this liner doesn't smudge or fade or flake off on its own, it's not waterproof and will smudge when it comes in contact with tears. All in all, I really do recommend this, but if you have eyes that tear up easily like yours truly, you might want to keep your eyes dry.

Thanks for reading!

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Hi there, I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you. I'm a beauty blogger who also happens to be very interested in photography/film. Chat with me, let's be friends!