elf

Recently Loving #4

4:42 PM


(Sorry for the photoshop job - I reeeeeally don't want to take pictures today, plus the lighting is weird in my room right now!)

I found this at TJ Maxx just as I was starting to contemplate purchasing one of these facial sprays. There haven't been any drugstore releases and I was going to go out and purchase an $18 bottle until I found this gem for $3. I am in love. I spray this on my face (or body) whenever my skin is feeling a little dull and needs a refreshing pick-me-up. It also works very well as a makeup finishing spray. The spray nozzle itself is very good as well, the spray is fine and consistent.

I was beginning to think I would never find another moisturizer other than the infamous Nivea Soft, which contains things like mineral oil and petrolatum. When I stumbled upon it, I remembered I really liked the Oasis Mist and decided to try it - after all, it was oil free, not tested on animals, and the packaging was lovely. I have to say that I adore this. The gel texture is amazing. It feels soothing and refreshing, and the smallest dab can cover my entire face and neck. It hydrates my normal/dry skin amazingly well and I quite like the scent of it! The only problem I have with it is that it's unhygienic and no SPF - but both of those aren't a big issue.

I've had very mixed feelings about this product. While I like the product itself, the claims are just ridiculous and that really puts me off. Anyways, it's nice and light, perfect for a no-makeup makeup look. It's also very convenient, very nice for quickly slapping it on and running out the door. I'm enjoying it lately mainly because it's really easy to apply. I dab a bit on the inner corners of my eyes, by the crops of my nose, on my chin and bridge of nose, and I can blend as I make the mad dash out my door and to the car. Although most of the coverage fades away after just a few hours, the concealer never creases or gets cakey.

This nifty little palette is something I use on a regular basis without really thinking about how nice it is. It's a cream concealer with a very creamy (duh) consistency that has medium coverage, is very blendable, and not at all drying. It contains a green toned concealer so you can cover up any red spots with ease, and two shades so you can mix your custom shade. Very handy, quick, and a lovely product in general.

Seriously, this brush is amazing! It's a small stipple brush, as the name would suggest. Why use a small one, you ask? Well, it allows you to have more control and reach areas you wouldn't be able to reach with a larger one (like around the nose and under the eyes). I wouldn't recommend for foundation simply because it would take too long, but you could do it. It's a very multipurpose brush - I can use with liquid, cream, or powder products! I use it buff and blend out my undereye concealer, which gives a very natural but beautiful finish. Fair warning though, stipple brushes give light, airbrushed coverage. This one does so as well. Anyways, it looks sleek, doesn't shed, and dries quickly!

This brow pencil is a savior when I'm in a hurry. It's a hard, waxy pencil, which means that I can skip out on brow gel because not only will the color last all day, the wax base of the pencil will tame my brows to an extent. It's also got a spoolie on one end for quick brushing. Like I said, savior!

This is a very very VERY thick cream. I wouldn't recommend using this on your face, but I find that it's great for moisturizing my neck. I often forget to moisturize my neck, because it's too high for my body butter but too low for my face moisturizer (what terrible reasoning). Lately I've been slathering this on my neck after my shower and I've found that my neck feels... tighter. It's hard to explain.

Triple Threat Facials
I've been LOVING VDM's Triple Threat Facials! I did a post on some products that I've been using for these facials - basically you exfoliate, then deep cleanse, and finally hydrate. I find that after one of these bad boys my skin just feels amazing.

Misc favorites now!!


Little Alchemy
This is an app on the Google Chrome store, but now that I think about it is it available on the Apple store? Update: I just checked and it isssssss. Anyways, this is a cute little game where you start out with four basic elements: earth, air, fire, and water, and you have to make more elements. For example, if you combine fire and earth together you'd get lava, see?



Supernatural
Oh dear lord, please don't get me started on this. I crammed eight years worth of 45 minute episodes into six weeks. What an amazing show. Very suspenseful and each season has an amazing plot. The actors, writers, and directors are amazing. I highly encourage you to watch... Wait, don't. It's so painful... 


Thanks for reading! What have you been loving?

bliss

Desktop Darlings

6:43 PM

I tend to spend a lot of time cooped up at my desk, doing schoolwork or tapping away at my computer into the early hours of the morning. Seeing as I spend so much time at my desk, I put together a collection of of essentials on my desk to care for my constant beauty needs.


I always have to have a lip balm with me. If I don't, I steal yet another one of my boyfriend's. I have a growing pile of his stashed in a drawer of my desk. However, his lip balms are no competition when it comes down to using either mine or his. I always have my favorite lip balms floating around on my desk... my current favorite is the Fabulips Softening Lip Balm.

I'm too cheap to slop out $18 dollars for a Caudalie Beauty Elixir, which in my head is just a glorified toner, so I have a toner on my desk. This can be seen as a bit strange to some people, but I like to spritz it on my face whenever my skin is feeling a bit dull and drab. It really revives my skin and wakes me up. The toner I have right now is the H2O+ Oasis Mist.

Speaking of refreshing my skin, I have a refreshing eye roller in this little pile as well. It's the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Roller. I think this product is a bit gimicky, as it doesn't actually depuff eyes, but it does feel cooling and lovely on eyes.

This is another essential I usually have on my person, eye drops. My eyes get very dry and tired sometimes, and these hydrating eye drops from Visine always perk them up and rewet them.

Of course, to care for my ever dry hands, I have two creams: Nivea Creme, and the L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. Both of these are deeply hydrating and help heal my sad little hands.

For hair, I've got one of these tiny claw clamps and a hair tie!

I have some random essentials here as well, a pair of JLab headphones (I love these bad boys), my flashdrive with all my blogging work on it, and a microSD card reader!

Thanks for reading! What products do you keep by your desk?

Garnier

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment Review

3:52 PM

Aloha! Today's post is a review on the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment.


This oil was about $6 at Target. Garnier products can be purchased online and in drugstores. This product contains 3.75 fl oz of oil and was made in the United States. Unfortunately, Garnier does test on animals.


Basically, what this is is a leave-in conditioner. You can also add it to your conditioner for extra hydration and use it on dry hair to tame frizz and flyaways.

Claim from the website:
    Our Innovative leave-in treatment with precious Argan Oil from Morocco.

    - Absorbs in an instant
    - Restores smoothness
    - Mends roughness
    - Intensifies shine
    - Deep, sleek conditioning

    How to use
    Apply a small amount to wet, damp, or dry hair: 
    In shower 
    Boost your conditioner
    Mix a few drops into your conditioner
    After shower 
    Use as a leave in
    Work it through hair for softness & easy styling
    On dry hair 
    Use as a finisher
    After blow drying smooth it in to tame frizz & and shine



It's a thick orange oil that smells absolutely incredible. It's fruity and flowery and just plain amazing.

I like this treatment. It lives up to its claims; it does absorb instantly, makes my hair shiny and smooth, and works well as a leave in conditioner. I add it to my conditioner in the shower, and also apply it all over my damp hair. I use this on a daily basis, only putting a tiiny amount of my ends when I don't wash my hair. Beware of putting this near your scalp when it's dry, it might make it look oily. I don't use heat on my hair anymore, so I can't say much about how it is as a finished, but it seems like it would work really well. It keeps my hair static free in the winter and hydrated in the summer.

I would definitly recommend to anyone needing a leave in treatment. It's affordable and smells wonderful, check it out!

Beauty

Everyday makeup!

7:27 PM

Hey there. Thought I'd show you my everyday makeup routine, if I'm even wearing makeup.


I always start with my undereye concealer. The one I'm currently using is the Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller, and I'm not sure what shade this is as there was only one color when I purchased it. I roll onto my dark ring and draw a triangular shape from there to the tip of my nostril and blend out with my off-brand beauty blender.

Then I dot the Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Beige evenly all over my face and blend out with my fingers, or my off brand beauty blender.

Following that, I dab some L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer in Light/Medium W4-5 on any acne, scars, or hyperpigmentation on my face and blend out with my fingers.

The next step is is to add a light wash of color onto my eyelids. I've been really loving the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink, it's part of the Metals line, which may or may not be made permanent.

Then I sweep the No7 Maximum Volume Mascara onto my lashes. Crap mascara for volume, length, or definition (meaning all you really want in a mascara) but good for a natural look.

The last step is to dab the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red onto my lips for a natural red lip. Read my review of this product here.

That's it. I have a pretty simple routine. 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!