Sephora Color I.Q. Experience

So today I ventured out in the rain to Sephora. I usually just look around. Maybe if I'm feeling a little crazy I might splurge on a nail polish or lip gloss. Well, I don't know what got into me. But before I knew it I was walking out of the store with Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in my little black and white striped Sephora bag!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji - $44 at Sephora

My sister had recently talked to me about getting color matched. I was just moseying around the store and a sales lady wasn't busy, so I asked to get matched. Well I found out that my undertones (which I thought were neutral) are actually pink. Very slightly though. I'm a "2R04" in case anyone was wondering! The foundation that I had be currently wearing was more of a neutral. I was running low anyway so I decided to go ahead an pick up the Nars Sheer Glow in Fiji so it would match my pink undertones. I've been wearing it most of the day and it is definitely lightweight, but gives a nice medium coverage.

I also found this awesome website about what to wear after you find out what undertones you have. I'm definitely going to be breaking out the jewel toned colors this fall/winter!

Warm/Cool Blog Post!

Don't forget to comment below! I would love to hear about your Sephora Color I.Q. Experience!

Amazing Skin Products

Well, I have been on a little bit of a hiatus lately. School is officially in full swing! I find myself looking up quick "get ready with me tutorials" on YouTube since my days now start at 5:00am.

Let's get to the good stuff! I have always wanted to try Mario Badescu products, but at $35 for one jar of face cream... I was definitely on the fence. I found this amazing website the other day (while I was taking a break from lesson plans of course) and it led me to samples on the Mario Badescu website! I figured it would take weeks to show up and honestly had almost forgotten about it. I got a little goody in the mail the other day and couldn't have been happier! 

Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Cream (Sample Size)

Even though I am fairly young, I make a lot of facial expressions and my skin is quite dry. My skin usually feels tight and I have small fine lines starting to form. As soon as I tried this my skin instantly felt moisturized! It was not greasy either. The cream also has little to no scent... which is perfect for sensitive skin.

The mini Peptide Renewal Cream also came with Peptide Renewal Serum. I found that product had a little bit more of a scent, but it was very moisturizing and went into my skin very quickly.

Both of these products are also gluten-free which is a huge plus for me! I have Celiac and it can be hard sometimes finding products without "fillers" or gluten in them.

I absolutely love these products and am so happy I finally got to try Mario Badescu! Make sure to check their website often because they do samples and it is a great way to discover something you love!

mariobeadescu.com

Stila in the Garden Look!

Okay, so I'm not brave enough yet to start doing makeup tutorial videos like some of the YouTube beauty gurus out there! But, I really liked this look I did today with the Stila in the Garden Eyeshadow Palette and wanted to share. I got this palette last holiday season, but have really had fun with it this summer. I think it has some great colors that will transition nicely to fall too. Best of all, Amazon has it on sale right now for about $17! I think that is an absolute steal considering the "smudge stick" (eyeliner pencil) it comes with usually retails for about $20 alone!

So on to my look!

All over my lid I used Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Barely Branded. It is a gorgeous champagne color with a slight sheen (no chunks of sparkle!)

Maybelline Color Tattoo Barely Branded 

I used Nectar (top swatch) on the first half of my lid. This is a matte peachy beige and goes on super smooth.

I used Honey (middle swatch) in my crease. This color is a true gold with brown undertones. It has a sheen, but no sparkles.

I used Breeze (bottom swatch) as my transition color to blend everything out. This color is also a sheen. It is a gray-ish beige, so I feel like it is pretty neutral and look great on basically everyone!

Stila in the Garden Eyeshadow Palette

Thank you for reading and if you have a certain look/palette you want me to review please let me know in the comments below!

Affordable Beauty Products That Actually Work!

I'll admit it. I'm a little hesitant to buy makeup and beauty products at the drugstore. Maybe it's the cheaper ingredients or already opened packages that other people have tested out (I'm kind of a germ freak). I'm just not a fan. However, when I find a product I like I will absolutely go for the less expensive alternative that is comparable to high-end products! Here are a few gems I have found that make the trips to the drugstore definitely worth it!


Noche Y Dia Vitamin C Pure - Okay, so I did get this at T.J. Maxx, and I know that isn't a drugstore. However, the whole 'unopened packaging' can be over whelming at times! I've found out that the store near me does sell name brand products. The staff knows what day they get certain shipments (ex. purses on Monday, beauty on Tuesday, etc.) so it is best to go when products are fresh and haven't been rummaged through yet! I love this Vitamin C cream. I use it in the morning and it instantly brightens my face and makes me look more awake. Best of all, it was on sale for $4.99. On Amazon it retails for over $30 so this was definitely a steal! Make sure you check out your local T.J. Maxx!

Vitamin C Moisturizer

Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Base Coat - Seriously, what did I do before I found this at Target? This stuff goes on as smooth as butter and creates the perfect foundation for your polish! I love doing my own nails and change my color about once a week now without my nails chipping. It is usually around $7, but I had a coupon so it ended up being only $5. This stuff really saves me money in the long run because I don't have to do touch-ups anymore and my polish goes on more opaque.

Salon Manicure Base Coat

EcoTools Domed Bronzer Brush - This brush is so dense and soft it's unreal! I think it perfect for putting on bronzer and also buffing out any powders. That way you don't have any harsh lines on your face. Target carries EcoTools products! This brush was around $8 at my local Target.

EcoTools Domed Bronzer Brush

Hopefully this information was helpful! If you want to see a specific review or type of post in the future please comment below and let me know. Thanks for reading!

Products I Am Loving!

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to let you know about some products that I have been loving lately! These all are items that I have been using everyday and have not had any issues with. Most of them are pretty reasonably priced too!

The Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer:

Yes, it looks dark in the pan. And I mean dark. However, I have light skin that gets somewhat tan in the summer and this bronzer is perfect for me. It is all about the application. You need a light hand with a quality brush. I use the EcoTools Domed Bronzer Brush. I just put a couple of swipes on my cheeks, temple area, nose, and I am good to go. I love this stuff. Best of all it has no shimmer and no orange undertones, so it looks totally natural!

The Balm's Hot Mama! Blush (can you tell that I've been on The Balm kick lately?) This blush is a gorgeous peach with pink undertones, so it is pretty universal. It also has a slight golden sheen to it. It gives your cheeks a nice glow and at about $15 on Amazon.com it is way cheaper than Nars Orgasm that is so popular! 

Hard Candy's Sheer Envy Face Primer from Wal-Mart. Yes, you do have to shake the bottle a little bit before you use it. However, you get 1.3 fluid ounces and the first few ingredients are the same as Smashbox's Photo Finish (silicone base primer). My foundation goes on super smooth when I use this and I have noticed that it lasts longer. I have had Smashbox testers before, and honestly this works just as well at a fraction of the price ($8 bucks!). I am a teacher, so yes I will always be looking for the best deals especially in the summertime! 

And lastly, elf's clear brow gel! I am not one of those girl's that waxes her brows to death and has to fill them in. I pluck where I need to, but I like a full natural brow. This keeps my brows in place all day. It definitely completes my look and for a $1 I am so happy I tried this!

Hope you all enjoyed! If you have any questions, let me know. I will be happy to answer them!

- Marie

Welcome!

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my makeup and beauty blog! I have always had a passion for makeup and beauty products. Recently I have been following "beauty gurus" on YouTube and started thinking "why am I not doing this!?" So here I am, trying to review makeup and beauty products honestly. If you ever have comments or suggestions, please let me know! Hope you enjoy!

- Marie