Products I've Used Up

Now that 2014 is upon us, it seems as though I've been getting to the end of quite a few of my products.  So, I decided to share a few of them with you - some good and some bad.  Enjoy!

1. St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub 

I added this salicylic acid scrub to my skincare routine this summer and I fell in love with it.  First off, it smells AMAZING and it has the right amount of exfoliating power that I can use it at least every other day.  I have oily, acne prone skin that dries out easily - and this stuff helped keep my complexion matte, reduced redness and blemishes, and did not dry out my skin.  This is a product that I definitely am going to repurchase.

2. Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for Dry/Prone to Breakage Hair

My hunt for the perfect dry shampoo continues.  I didn't hate this dry shampoo but it definitely isn't "the one."  The formula is a bit wet - and hard to work through the hair.  It left lots of white residue and only made my hair feel slightly cleaner.  I definitely like this dry shampoo from Psst... better. I will not be repurchasing this product.

3. Knotty to Nice Conditioner and Detangler by Not Your Mother's

I first heard about this leave in conditioner and detangler spray in this video by Missglamorazzi.  Since I have naturally tangle prone hair and was in between hair cuts I decided to give it a try.  It was LIFE CHANGING.  I love this stuff.  It makes combing my hair out so much easier - and it smells super nice.  I'm feeling rather lost without my detangler - so I plan on repurchasing this ASAP.

4. Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer

For December, my mom gave me the QVC Beauty Advent Calendar, and a sample size of this moisturizer was included in it.  I fell IN LOVE with it.  I am so so so sad that it is gone.  Not only did it not make my skin feel greasy, but it didn't make me break out either.  While I am quite impressed with this product - I'm not sure I can handle the hefty full sized price tag.

5. Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Intensely Smooth Leave - In Conditioning Cream

I've been using this leave in conditioner for quite some time now and am fairly pleased with it.  My ombre hair requires quite a bit of maintenance and moisture - and I don't really feel like this product gives that to me.  It does it's job - but I personally need something a bit more hydrating.  I may repurchase it in the future - but it is not on my immediate repurchase list.

What have you used up recently?  Anything worth repurchasing, or putting on your "never again" list?  Let me know in the comments!

Happy Sunday!

With love,

Traci J

This post was shared on http://twothirtyfivedesigns.blogspot.com/

My First Time at the Benefit Brow Bar

Hello everyone!

How are you? Have you been enjoying the holidays?  I know I have - except for this terrible cold I have had for the past few days.  I've barely been able to eat anything because my throat hurts so much!

However, nothing could keep me from making my annual post-Christmas shopping trip to Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, Illinois with my mom yesterday.

After having our usual lunch at the Rainforest Cafe (I had a delicious portabella wrap), mom and I wandered over to Macy's.  When I enter Macy's, I do not stop and do not pass go until I reach the make up counters.

My first and only stop was the Benefit counter.

I knew that I wanted to start building up my Benefit collection - since I am already in love with their It's Potent eye cream.  It is no surprise that Benefit has great products.  Everything from their skincare to blushes to mascaras are raved about in the beauty world.  So can you really go wrong when purchasing from Benefit? I have yet to find out.

While perusing the shelves of the Benefit counter - I found this amazing box set of skincare samples!!!!
I was drawn to this box because it contained my beloved It's Potent - and a bunch of other products from their skincare line. The best part - it only costs $24 and I get to try it all!!!

Box Includes:
Foamingly Clean Facial Wash
Refined Facial Polish
Moisture Prep Toning Lotion
Triple Performing Facial Emulsion 
Total Moisture Facial Cream
It's Potent! Eye Cream

So as I was starting to head towards the cash register, the nice man at the counter told me that they were having a promotion where if you buy $50 worth of products - you can get your brows done for free. So I though "why not?!"

To meet the $50 mark I added on the Stay Don't Stray eye primer.  I've been on the look out for a new eye primer for sometime.  I picked up this in the color light/medium.  Hopefully this helps tame my oily eyelids.

Then it was time to get my brows done.  Believe it or not, I had never had my brows waxed before.  I am a tweezer girl - but I will say that I loved my experience!  I will be getting my brows waxed on a more regular basis.  The woman who did my eye brows was nice - she remembered my name and asked questions about what I like beauty-wise.  I felt taken well taken care of.  My brows turned out fabulously - and she even touched up my make up for free!  One of my favorite parts of the experience was that she never tried to sell me any of the products.  Often I am overwhelmed by the pushy sales people at make up counters.  I would highly recommend the brow bar - regularly costing $23.

Have any of you visited the brow bar? How was your experience?

Thanks for reading!

With love,

Traci J

A Christmasy Day + Make Up Look + Cookie Recipe

Hello Christmas Lovers!

Today was a fun day.  I got up and played around with my make up - and then spent the whole day making Christmas cookies with my mom (aside from a short break to go shovel the driveway - eew).  So, since I had such a wonderfully Christmas-filled and relaxing day (again, aside from the snow shoveling) you all get a 2 in 1 post today.  The first part is the make up look I wore today - with muted browns and a beautiful plum shade on the cheeks, and the second part is this yummy palmier cookie recipe.  Enjoy!

My idea was for this to be a 2 in 1 post - first my make up look for the day, and then rolling into my cookie baking extravaganza.  However, I realized that this post would end up being too ridiulously long if I added all my cookie bits to it.  So click here for PART 2 of this " 2 in 1" blog post!

Start with a clean face - then apply a generous amount of moisturizer.  I have been double moisturizing lately since the winter air is super drying and just really not nice to my skin. :(

For foundation I have just started using Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 by Covergirl.  I use the shade Classic Ivory - since I am quite pale.  Primer is optional with this foundation since it is a 3 in 1 - and I definitely feel comfortable going without!  However, in the summer when my skin is super oily and sweaty, I would probably opt for a primer underneath.  This foundation gives good coverage and is build-able for my troubled areas (aka the acne on my forehead at the moment).  My go to foundation applicator is the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques - you can see me using it while staring at the camera like a weirdo in the picture on the right...

After blending my foundation, I use the Above & Beyond FULL Coverage Concelear by NYX.  I wear the shade Porcelain.  I have to be honest, this is not my favorite concealer.  I find it to be a little bit cakey on my face - and it doesn't do a great job at covering up my redness.  I am just trying to use it up before I purchase a new one.  Luckily, my foundation does such a good job - I don't need much. I also blend this out with the Real Techniques brush.

To set my foundation and concealer, I use the Shine Free Pressed Powder by Maybelline, in the shade Ivory. This powder is NOT cakey and doesn't settle into the dry skin on my face, which makes me super happy and in love with this powder.  I put it all over my face with the Total Face Brush by E.l.f.  

Once my powder is on - this is how my face looks ^^. Pretty nice, I think.

 

Next, I apply Color Tattoo by Maybelline in the shade Tough as Taupe (I just use my finger).  This is a nice matte shade that I find blends seamlessly onto my skin, it leans on the more grey side of taupe.  The Maybelline Color Tattoos are another one of those products that don't need a primer, but would benefit from one on a humid day or for a long wear application.

When I wear Tough as Taupe, I always cover it with the taupe shade from my Caviar & Bubble palette by NYX (this palette seems to be discontinued - I cannot find a link to it ANYWHERE - sad... I love this palette).  If you can't tell, it is the second shade on the top.  It almost exactly matches Tough as Taupe, and just makes blending in other colors a lot easier.  I also apply this allover my lid with my finger.

I then apply the dark brown shade from the same palette with this Defining Eye Brush by E.l.f.  I just put it in my crease and blend it a little with the same brush.  I then take a brush that is a little bit fluffier and better for blending, the Full Eye Shadow Brush by Ecotools.  I blend the eye shadow up and out until it makes a more natural look.

To highlight the inner corner of my eye and brow bone, I sweep on a little bit of the Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter by theBalm.  This stuff is my all time favorite highlighter.  It is a gorgeous light champagne color and makes my eyes look awake and shimmery. This is another product that I apply using my fingers.

So far, my eyes look something like this.

For eyeliner, I line my upper inner rim with the Color Stay Pencil by Revlon in black, and I use the Color Stay Liquid Eyeliner in blackest black to lightly line my lash line.  My favorite drugstore mascara is The Rocket by Maybelline.  I think that it does a great job at making my eyelashes look full but not clumpy.  I use the waterproof version in very black.  I applied mascara on both my upper and lower lashes.

And here are my eyes. Yay!

For bronzer I opted for a shimmery powder by E.l.f.  This is the Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder, I have absolutely no idea what shade this is... the label has worn off.  For my cheeks I used a brand new blush that I picked up from Ulta yesterday! I love new blushes!!! The blush is Cheekers by Covergirl in the shade Deep Plum.  This is a pretty plum shade that I think is perfect for winter, and I  apply this with a generic blush brush.

For lips I chose a pretty pinkish/brown shade.  I also picked up this product yesterday, and it is every bit as good as everyone is saying it is! This lip gloss is the Butter Gloss by NYX, and the color is Tiramisu.  Really, it feels just like buttery goodness on your lips.  Plus, I think it smells like cake - so that's a plus.

Here are a few photos of the finished make up look.  Sorry that this didn't end up as a 2 in 1 post - but be sure to check out what I did AFTER I did my make up here!

I hope you enjoyed this make up tutorial - please let me know what you thought in the comments.  Also, throw out any concealer recommendations that you have!

With Love, 

Traci J