Date Night Gotta Have It

Hey all you lovely ladies!!! I hope that you are having a fantastic, enjoyable weekend perusing around town and just being happy!!

This weekend, my husband I got to do something we rarely ever do...we went on a date night. Typically on the weekends, we relax, do chores, travel a little, and just enjoy being with each other. But last night was the first time in forever where we just said: you know what? Let's do something fun together. And that is exactly what we did!! We went to PF Chang's for dinner and followed it with a late-night showing of Saving Mr. Banks (highly recommend the movie btw...but bring your waterproof mascara :)

I love getting all dressed up for dates with my hubby. It's so fun to be with the same guy for seven years, and still have them say: "wow" when you get you're all dolled up. But getting all made up doesn't mean you have to spend tons on products you may or may not like!!

I included some products I used, for yesterday's date night look, that I feel confident you guys will LOVE and that won't break the bank (I promise!)

Loreal Lumi Foundation in Soft Ivory $12.95

 

Yes, yes I know! $13.00 is a little extreme for a drugstore foundation. But okay hear me out!! First of all there are tons of coupons always floating around in Sunday's paper to make your Loreal purchases a little less hefty on the wallet. Pair that with whichever drugstore chooses to have a special on Loreal products and your set!! I think I got my bottle for maybe $10.00. And it was...seriously..the best $10.00 I've spent in ages.

 

First of all, this is my new holy grail of foundations. It blends so beautifully, and still gives a nice dewey (not matte) finish that makes you look natural and glowing. It just is so radiant and AH how nice it is to FINALLY find a foundation that understands I actually have some yellow-tinting to my skin. I seriously love this foundation and cannot say enough good things about it!!! If you don't already have this...you should :)

 

 



 I love this ELF high definition powder. When I first bought it, several months ago, I opened the top and was greeted by (seriously) a WAFT of a white cloud. I feel like that really threw me off and it went buried never to be used again for several months.

Thankfully, I have our housing move to thank for re-discovering this little gem. I gave it another try and now it is in my arsenal of every-day usage. If you are wondering if this product is a mess to deal with and an even bigger task to clean, the answer it yes. However, this product can easily be remedied by doing what I now do and lining the bottle with some type of a dish cloth so the excess can be easily washed.

Now, onto what I love about this guy. First of all, it only cost me $6.00 for this HUGE tub of powder. Like I said, I've had it for months and been using it every day for two months now and inside (I realize the outside looks like I ran over it five times with my car) the supply looks like it's brand new!! Not to mention, the stuff just WORKS. It minimizes redness, and minimalizes the flaws in your skin--making you look soft and your skin look more finished/polished. Full discretion on this guys---DO NOT use it with flash photography. This powder was made to dupe the Makeup Forever High Definition powder which SEVERAL celebs found themselves the victim of after lovely, flattering photos like these were realeased with them wearing said powder.

 

Aye carrumba!! For some weird reason, it gives awful flashback so DONT DO IT if you know your getting flash photos taken.

 

                                   MAYBELLINE COLOR TATOO BARELY BRANDED

 

The next thing I wanted to talk about was this Ah-MAZING color tattoo product by Maybelline. First of all, I've had my eye on those MAC paint pot thingy's for FOREVER!!!! They are supposed to make your eyeshadows last forever and just be a great color base for every type of look. But at $20.00 a pop I can't really ration that out when that's a 1/4 of my grocery costs for the week.

 

I'd heard this was a great alternative, and for $6.00 I was willing to try it. Seriously you guys...look at that swatch!! It's this beautiful light goldy color that makes your eyeshadows just look incredible!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention...it lasts...all......night. AHH!! So glad I found this!!!!! Apparently this specific shade dupes for one of the MAC Paint Pots too, but I can't attest because (read above about groceries and whatnot)

 

The last, relatively new purchase I made to complete my datenight look yesterday was this

 

 

WET N WILD SINGLE BRULEE

 



You guys all know of my love for Wet N Wild so I will (reluctantly) spare you the details about why the brand just freaking rocks. But can I just for a moment tell you of my sincere joy when I discovered our Walgreens now carries the single colors too. This color, specifically, is amazing for a browbone highlight!! And the best part is it was only .99!!

Here is the video of my whole date night look

So yah I hope you guys enjoy!! Until next time, stay savvy super savers!!

Luscious Lipsticks for 2.00 or Less :)

There are several things we, as women, simply will NOT  leave the house without. These items may include (with slight variation) keys, wallet, some type of a compact, and of course lipstick/lipgloss. In all sincerity, there are so many beauty products you could live without on a day-to-day lipstick. But in my humble opinion...lipstick just aint one of em'.

I mean, seriously, think about it. Your stuck somewhere on a desserted island, coupled with an incredibly cute Tarzan look-alike. You can make yourself look acceptable with just one tube of lipstick or gloss. Need to make your pucker pout? Lipstick. Need some slight coloring on those cheeks? Lipstick. Need a little color in the crease of your eyes or an eyeshadow? Nude lipstick here you come.

Lipstick is just that one product that never goes out of fashion and is always oh-so helpful to have on hand. The only problem is finding colors you like for any type of an acceptable price tag. I mean 25.00 for one tube is pretty extreme!!!!!

Luckily, I was able to find six colors here for only 2.00 or less!!! So give this a whirl and see if it is helpful!! Until next time, luxurious lipstick lollygagging.

Ho-Ho-Hottttt curls

Hey girlies!!! I hope you lovely ladies are having a fantastic holiday season. Today, I wanted to write about something that is near and dear to my heart---the never-ending search for perfect, lasting curls.

To me, attaining curls that LAST has been a vast life-long experiment wrought with lots of failures and few  successes. This quest felt kind of like finding a needle in a haystack. It was that fruitless you guys....I SWEAR!!

My hair is so freaking fine and thin, that I would leave the house and be all

And then.....seriously yall like five minutes later I was all

Most frustrating thing EVER!!!!!!! Until finally I figured out one single, technique that actually DOES SOMETHNG!!!! So, of course I had to share it with you gals!! FULL DISCLOSURE: this works best for more during Winter-time because of the whole no-humidity thing (which in Florida is like never) but it DOES work :) I hope it helps you lovelies get pretty, bouncy fun hair!!!

The Ox and Lamb Kept Time....Plumb Ump Ump Ump UMP!

Sorry about the title folks...I had to do it :)

So yahhhh....the question is who ISN'T wearing plumb this holiday season?! I lovvee all the fashion, accessories, nail colors, and of course the eye makeup. Here is my take on the ever-popular plum smokey eye. Enjoy!!

Dollar Tree Dolls

Okay first of all let me begin by answering your most certain mental question right now. If you have read ANYTHING else I have ever written (like EVAAAA) than you are probably wondering if I actually have a harbored residence INSIDE of a Dollar Tree. The answer to that question is of course no, but I'm about as close to that as you can get. I....freaking....love....Dollar....Tree.

I mean I could literally make this entire post about all the multitude of reasons why I think it's the greatest store ever. However, since you chose to spend your busy afternoon with us here for a few quick beauty tips, I'll instead thank you for your time and digress.

If you have not been to your local Dollar Tree within the last few months for beauty supplies.....RUN....do not walk.

For those of you who don't know me, I store my makeup for the weekends in a giant black caboodle that looks like some traveling salesman's wears from the 1950's. Its crazy big, it's cumbersome, and there is no way in heck this thing is used on a day-to-day basis. I mean granted, it does an awesome job keeping everything organized and it's really helpful when I do bridal makeup or fun makeup for other people but for me it mostly on comes into play on the weekends.

Typically, on the weekdays I let my face take some time off from makeup all-together. I like to think your skin is kind of like you. It works hard all the time, but enjoys a little vacation every now and then ; )

My skin on the weekdays

My skin on the weekends

 

So on the weekdays, I keep a tiny little bag of makeup around for just the basics.

 

This is where Dollar Tree comes into play. I mean, the brands they are starting to carry right now....its...O-M-G. While walking through the makeup aisle this last time I was completely blown over. They carried ELF and Rimmel, Wet N Wild, and LA Colors.

 

I can't wait to try all the products I saw on the shelves, but since I've only tried a few I thought I'd show you which ones made it into my daily makeup bag/ basics and why.

 

These line of ELF lipliners are amazing!!!! Typically, lipliners start out at $6.00 or more and that is WITH a coupon. Meanwhile, these little beauties start out at just a buck in a multitude of colors. Just fyi my personal favorite is in the color "Natural" because it's a gorgeous peachy tone and it pretty much goes with every skin tone.

 

 

 

PROS:

 

*Goes on easily

*Beautiful color selection

*Does not bleed color

*Comes with sharpener

*ITS ONLY ONE DOLLAR!!!

 

CONS:

*Does not last all day

 

These incredible eye pallets from LA Colors. Now, before you get all snobby on LA Colors, hear me out. I know we all remember getting those HUGE LA Colors kits for Christmas and birthday parties when we were little girls that had the eye shadows with the texture of chalk but SERIOUSLY. If you haven't given the eye shadows a try recently....I highly recommend it. The texture is now really nice, and it gives a beautiful pigmentation. To show how much I believe in these products, I'll follow this by saying I just used the pallet depicted below doing bridal makeup. Not only did it last all day, it looked BEAUTIFUL!!!!! P.S. The pallet color below is in TRADITIONAL which is my favorite because is has tons of gorgeous, neutral colors.

 

 

 

PROS:

*Beautiful color selection

*Nice, creamy texture

*Awesome pigmentation

*ONCE AGAIN FOLKS....IT'S ONLY ONE DOLLAR

 

CONS:

*Not much product in the pans

*We STILL have those LA Color Christmas memories which always ended with us looking a lot like Mimi from the Drew Carrey show. Sorry LA Colors, you are awesome now...but the memories remain. LOL!!

 

This mascara by Wet N Wild is FANTASTIC!!!!!! It's got this really tiny brush that makes doing your longer lashes a breeze and it's so good for lengthening those lashes. I especially like using this mascara as a layering mascara under falsies.

 

PROS:

*Nice packaging

*Does not make eyelashes appear to plasticky

*Lives up to claims in lengthening and separating those lashes

*Awesome small brush for easy application

*DOLLAR MAKES YOU HOLLER FOR LONGER LASHES!!

 

CONS:

*Is not waterproof

*May lead to spider(y) eyelashes if you apply multiple coats of just this

*You probably want to apply with something volumizing and not just use it in it's own entity because if not, your lashes look really skinny.

 

I mean seriously you guys these products rock!! Give them a shot and tell me what you think!! I plan to get some new videos up and  running soon and don't be surprised if you see me rocking these new dollar products :) I honestly believe they have all the quality of high-end products without spending the extra $$$$$$$. Until next time, Delightful Dollar-Descending :)

 

An Open Letter to Our Readers : )

The other day, while laying back in bed preparing for sleep, I had this horrible nagging feeling of something missing. I kept going back and forth-wondering where the heck this feeling was coming from. Had I forgotten to get cheese again at the market? Did I not put the wash into the drier for the fortieth time?

 

Then I realized I hadn't written on here in like forever...and I do mean FOR- EVER.

And I felt so bad because writing and makeup are two things I love!!!!! It's so much fun to just write about whatever we're doing with makeup and hair right now and then to find out later that other people (our awesome readers) like to hear what we have to say!!

So anyways, this is just an open letter to our amazing readers (and at over 2000 hits now we know you are out there) to say: the writing continues folks!!!! I feel like I've learned so much in the last few months about new hair ideas, new makeup products that work, and new tips and tricks regarding getting the best beauty bang for your bucks!!! Please keep stopping by for your beauty fixes :)

Baking Soda Babe

I don't know about anyone else, but come summertime in Florida, I don't stop sweating....ever. Here in the land of the sun, summer= three-four months of just pure, unadulterated beat downs by mother nature. And my apologies to those of you living in Florida with leather seats. That's like playing a game of hot potato, with your thighs, that lasts however long you car trip does. OUCH!!

=

My face especially feels the pain as I never feels my skin looks quite "right" during these months. It all begins when my pores look too oily due to aforementioned sweat-fest. Then, in a sad attempt to fix the oiliness, I apply too much toner and BAM the skin is now over dry. It's a fun little game I play all....summer....long.


That's why I'm always on the hunt to find new, natural washes/treatments that help restore facial skin. I've been seeing one such idea floating around Pinterest for months now. It suggests you wash your face using baking soda and nothing else. The original "pinner" (or author for those of your foreign to the uuber-addictive online pin board craze) stated that making a paste with just baking soda and water, and then applying this to the skin to let sit, makes for a type of microderm treatment. So, I gathered up my pennies, nickels, and dimes and gave this idea a shot.

First of all, when I say that I gathered up my nickels, pennies, and dimes to purchase a box of baking soda...that is what I actually mean. A box like this one cost me .59 at Dollar Tree. I've also seen a similar brand of baking soda at Aldi for .77. It is SOOO not expensive and baking soda is AMAZING for oh-so-many reasons. But I'll get to all the arguments for why baking soda rocks in uno momento por favor. For right now, let's get back to treating your face with the stuff.

Okay, so essentially, I just mixed baking soda and water together until I got a nice, thick consistency. P.S. THIS IS WAAAYYY TOO MUCH!!!

Then I applied the baking soda mixture on my face and let sit for about fifteen minutes.

Then I washed it off

Overall, I really liked the way letting it sit on my face made me feel. It kinda tingled as it sat there and it felt like it was really working on my facial pores. When I washed it off, my skin didn't LOOK any different, but it felt much tighter and more smooth in some areas.

Also here are two other reasons why baking soda rocks:

1) With the excess mixture from the face treatment, I used the water/baking soda pre-made mix in a really hot bath. It makes a silky, incredible texture that makes you feel like your bathing in something fancy-dancey. SOO nice
2) If you mix a touch of baking soda with a little water and apply to leftover mosquito bites (yet another fun reality of Florida summers)it really brings down the swelling and more importantly the itch.
3)Mix a touch of baking soda with your regular toothpaste to make an extra-strength whitening formula
4) Out of room spray? Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a 1/4 cup of you favorite fabric softener in an empty bottle. Fill the rest with water. This makes homemade febreeze for 1/2 the cost.

Is it worth it?! For the cost of the box it's at least worth a shot!!! And I really enjoyed the way it made my skin feel (although if you have the sugar and honey at your home for the aforementioned face-scrub nothing beats that).

Until Next Time,
Baking Soda Beauty Bantering!!


Eliz