Five Faves and a Flop: October

Listening to Corey snoring on Skype. It's cute. When I tell him he's snoring and to turn over, he does. :)
Counting down. One week. Exactly. 
    Whoa, y'all. Five Faves and a Flop is actually on the last day of the month this month. My OCD side is writhing with uncontained rapture.
    This month has been a little different for me in that I really didn't have a flop. I didn't try anything new that I was displeased with. I didn't get tired of something I'd been using. The only real flop for me has been that the weather has been a little disappointing. I know that if you live in Georgia, a) the weather will never do what you think it's going to do and b) it doesn't get really cold, like slap-your-grandma cold until well after Christmas. I want that cold now. But it's not. January. January is brutal. But don't you try and wear a heavy sweater in October because everyone will look at you funny and you'll smell like sweat and embarrassment. I speak from experience.

    I've been working on my photography skills these last few weeks as well. I usually use my phone because the digital camera I've had since sophomore year of high school has met its end. Also I can't find the battery charger. I got my hands on my sister's Nikon Coolpix L110 and we've been having some fun. I'd love to get myself a good DSLR but who knows if that will ever happen. Maggs's is working pretty well in the meantime.
    On to the favorites!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 812 Nightwatch. (I got mine at CVS, but I've also seen it at Target. Couldn't find a link.) My dress for the Marine Corps Ball with Corey is navy blue (that's all he knows about it and all I'll say; the rest is a surprise!) and I decided I wanted my nails to match it.

I'll probably wear silver heels (no surprise there, they're all I have) and I thought having silver fingers and toes would be just a little too much. Plus it's autumn and I thought a dark color would be more sleek and sophisticated. I nabbed this one - it's part of the limited edition fall 2013 line, with Gold Roses - and tested it out last week and good gravy is it gorgeous. It's so deep and opaque it's nearly black unless light is shining directly on it, then you realize what a glorious midnight blue it is. Absolute perfection.

Bumble and Bumble BB Straight Blow Dry Cream. This was one of those little samples I received at the Sephora event for Bumble and Bumble. It's probably my favorite one - I blow dry my hair almost every time I wash it. It's rare that I let it air dry because I almost always shower in the morning right before going anywhere. To be perfectly honest, I'm not really sure what this is supposed to do, but what I notice is that it makes my hair super smooth and shiny - no frizz (which isn't a huge problem for me) and less tangles while I'm drying, which I deeply appreciate having color treated hair. (P.S. Went and did something a little cray this last appointment and Maggie introduced a color that is not blonde. Shock and Horror, I know.) Plus, as Hannah so astutely pointed out, it just smells good.

 Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Just Plum Good. I will admit, there was a slight initial flopping with this product. Here's the deal. Based on how ridiculously rich this color looks in the packaging, and the fact that it's a balm like my addiction the Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain, I thought this was going to be super pigmented. It's not. It's a gloss. It has a slight tint to it, but my lips were most certainly not "just plum good."

 I bought this back at the very beginning of the month and after that first use, I tossed it in my purse, disappointed. However, as I love to mix lip products, I tried putting this over some of my lip balm stains and lipsticks and loved the effect. A good shiny lip gloss on top of a lip stick or stain adds a lot of dimension and has a great plumping effect. When that lip gloss has a darker tint than the base color you're already wearing, it just looks amazing.

 I especially love this on top of e.l.f.'s Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose. "She's a beaut, Clark! A real beaut!" (Someone please name that movie.)

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow and Liner Palette in Hazel Eyes. Crazy name; awesome palette. I know y'all see me raving about Physician's Formula all day err'day. But seriously. I freaking love this palette.

I don't even have hazel eyes and these colors are still amazing. I really love using that middle super pale pink as a highlighter, and the darker shade above/to the right of it in the crease, then the bottom lighter purpley-pink over the lid. But honestly, any combination is beautiful.

And you can see how much I use these; almost every shade shows some use. Highly recommend no matter what eye color you have.

Glasses from Firmoo. Last but not least. I've been rocking these every other day this month. I'd be wearing them today if it weren't Halloween. They just don't quite match my costume... I won the lighter tortoise shell on the case over at Jessica's blog, The Lovely Side. I loved them so much I wanted another pair, and Firmoo is awesome enough to offer any pair from the classics collection for free (you just pay for shipping and if you want special lenses) if you're a first-timer on their site! So that's two pair of glasses that I got for ten bucks a piece! (I bought the scratch and reflection-resistant lenses). They fit really well, and are my prescription, which is always a plus, and they look super cute. If you're a glasses-wearer, or if you just want a pair of prescription-free frames, go check out Firmoo!

So there you have it! Sorry I have nothing to complain about this month... Maybe I'll be grumpier next month. ha ha. Hope everyone had a great October! Comment below telling me what you were for Halloween!

Five Faves and a Flop: September

 Listening to Groove is in the Heart by Dee Lite. (I highly encourage you to check out the vid. It's like a five-minute trip to the seventies, accompanied by some rad dance moves.)Dreading my midterm in 19th Century American Literature at 3:30 today.
    Last Thursday in September and look at me! I'm so on top of things. Except, you know, school things. Probably going to lose it during my midterm today. But I've got my blog post up!
    Not gonna lie, this month has been highly beauty-centered as far as my favorites go.

• Caress Tahitian Renewal - I have weirdly sensitive skin. I have to be careful what makeup, cleanser, and lotion I use, as well as what products I use in the shower. Everything has to be as natural as possible. The problem is that a lot of all-natural products really don't smell awesome, or make my skin as soft as it could be. I'd been using a Method soap for a while, but I've gotten tired of the smell. Before I went all-natural-everything, I'd been using Caress, and it didn't give me hives too badly. So what I've been doing is alternating every other day, Caress-Method-Caress-Method, etc. That way I smell and feel yummy, but the next day I really cleanse my skin and get all the chemicals that irritate my skin off completely. Tahitian Renewal feels like a trip to a private island villa with an outdoor bathtub and shower and bamboo flooring. Minus the likely jellyfish stings.
• Black Moccasins - I honestly don't remember where I got these since it was about three years ago, but I remember my grandmother buying them for me. She actually bought me two pair - one in tan, and these black ones because we liked them both and couldn't choose. The tan ones unfortunately broke a few years back, but these babies have held up! They are super comfortable - perfect for booking it around campus (get it? 'cause I'm running around, and hitting the books. Ha. Haha. Return of the Puns). Plus I think they're just super cute for fall.
• L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation in Creamy Natural - What with fall looks being all matte, I figured it's time to retire the BB cream (since the only one I like/can use has a very dewy finish), and opt for something a bit more mattifying. Unfortunately, alone, Magic Nude isn't quite what I wanted - although I guessed my color perfectly! In order to achieve that truly matte finish, I have to wear a primer underneath, and set at least the center of my face, if not all of it, with a mattifying powder. Which I don't mind, I would just appreciate less steps in the morning. It really does go on nicely, though I would recommend using your fingers rather than a brush or a sponge. And for goodness sake, shake before use. I made that mistake.
• EOS in Summer Fruit - It smells like peaches, tastes like Pez, and the cap is fun to twist on and off. I'm sold.
• L'Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Eyeshadow in Amber Rush - I really just love this color. It screams fall. Some have called it a rose-gold, some copper. I think Amber Rush is just fine. It looks like fall leaves against bright blue skies and pumpkins and brisk air and toe socks* and I love it. It's so beautiful, sometimes I wear just that one shadow as a wash over my whole lid with no crease color, no highlighter, and just a smidge of brown eyeliner. It's perfect. Infallible. Oh yes, I did.

• FLOP: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in Plum Velour - It's not really the lipstick's fault. It can't change what color it is. I just really wanted and oxblood color, and as dark as this color looks, it still looks like a berry color on my lips. And not even that dark. I was torn between this one and Black Cherry at CVS, so I guess I'll go exchange it tomorrow. (I literally just bought it today, too.)

*I associate toe socks with fall, mostly because I used to buy a pair of Halloween toe socks every Halloween during middle and high school.

What have you been loving this month? Any disappointments? Let me know!

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Product List

• Caress Tahitian Renewal
• L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation in Creamy Natural
• EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit
• L'Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Eyeshadow in Amber Rush
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in Plum Velour (discontinued.)

Five Faves and a Flop: August

Fave Song of the Month: That Girl by Justin Timberlake (are you really surprised?)


    I really didn't have much time to love or hate things this past month. I have a few, but the others were really just things I've been consistently using and appreciating rather than actually loving. I worked a lot this month and had my first two weeks of school, so I've just been too busy to be decisive on what I love and hate.

1. This backpack from Target. Story time: This is the first semester I've actually managed to get all my classes on one day: Tuesday/Thursday. This means I'm on campus for approximately eleven hours. Whoa right. Three of those classes are English, which require a lot of reading. Then Anthropology and Latin Poetry. So I can't just carry my binders and books like I've been doing since my freshman year. I borrowed my sister's backpack from before she started school at Toni&Guy. Thing is, she'd left it in her trunk for over a year with fruit in it which rotted and permanently stunk up the backpack and the trunk of her car. Oh my gosh, it smelled like a ferret had died in it and was still inside. It stunk up my car, the hall on campus, and each of my classes. I could actually see people looking around sniffing. It was mortifying. So I went out and bought this little tan-and-orange beauty from Target and it's been working wonders. Plus it doesn't smell like dead ferret.*
2. Starbucks Refreshers Packets. Since I've been working a lot this past month, and I don't like drinking coffee in the mornings in the summer, I've been loving these little Cool Lime Refresher packets. They're like the Crystal Light ones, only lime and Starbucks. I usually use only half a packet per 16 oz. drink because the full packet just tastes way too sweet and strong for me. If you like the Starbucks Refreshers, give these a shot. They're way cheaper than going to Starbucks four times a week to get a drink before work. Bonus: I can sleep in later.
3. This Palette from Physician's Formula. The main reason I bought this was because Corey gets all grumpy when I wear a lot of make-up. I figured if the colors were matte and neutral, he wouldn't get as huffy. But while he was here, I did a little experiment. He hung around in the bathroom while I used this palette, doing a very light, neutral eye, and complained that I don't need make-up and it's stupid and I look perfect without it and why do you wear so much? the whole time. Then the day he left, I did my make-up while he and his dad went out for coffee - an intense smoky eye, black eyeliner out the wazoo. Guess who didn't even notice? I think he just gets irritated when he watches all the work that goes into even the simplest make-up look. But anyways, I love this palette regardless and have been using it almost every other day since I bought it. It's smooth, super pigmented, and blends like a dream.
4. Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Honey. I've talked about this product before, and have probably even mentioned Honey, but guys, I can't get over this stuff. It's the perfect pink for me. Too much blue in it and it turns purple, but too red and it's just too bright for every day wear. My natural lip color is pretty washed out, but Honey looks like what color my natural lip should be, if that makes sense. Plus it's minty and tingly, and Corey always says it tastes good.
5. Pureology Perfect 4 Platinum Miracle Filler Treatment. I've been highlighting my hair since I was in the eighth grade. That's a long time. Always blonde and always super tangly, which comes with the territory. It's recently gotten to the point when I get out of the shower that I just wanna pin it into a bun so I don't have to brush it. Then Maggs, bless her wonderful hair-styling soul, brought home this stuff. The thing with highlighted hair is that the bleach causes some damage. It makes the individual strands rough, which causes them to tangle more. This spray is a "filler" so it fills in the parts that are rough and makes your hair smoother and easier to brush. And it's been awesome.

    Flop: Trident Gum in Mint Bliss. To be honest, this isn't exactly a flop. My mouth was like confused. It tastes like the original peppermint flavor of Trident gum (which I love), but like I'm chewing it while drinking Vanilla Coke (which I hate). I just don't know how to feel about this stuff. I want to like it. But I'm not sure I can. It also kind of reminds me of minty flavored soap. I don't know.

 

*But all my books still do. Gross.

Five Faves and a Flop: July

Listening to Ingrid Michaelson "Are We There Yet?" and the rain outside.
Craving almonds and dried cranberries. Look at me. Being so healthy.

    So initially, this blog wasn't meant to be much about style, make-up, etc. Admittedly, when I started this blog, I didn't wear a lot of make-up. Concealer, powder, mascara. Eyeliner if I was feeling fancy. But last year when I moved out, and didn't have cable, I got into following a lot of people on YouTube, many of them being beauty vloggers. Make-up suddenly seemed more accessible and fun, and I developed a bit more in terms of my own personal style. So like it or not, these things are likely to stick around.* Also, I am aware that July is not yet over, but I already have things to write about!
    On that explanatory note, here are my Five Faves and a Flop





Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquers
(aka Apocalips) in Celestial, Big Bang, and Luna

Being the YouTube junkie that I am, I'd heard quite the buzz surrounding these products for absolutely months from countless beauty vloggers... from the U.K. They came out in the U.K. at the beginning of the year and took a full six months to make it across the pond. Which, personally, drove me nuts. Everyone was obsessing over these things and I couldn't get my little paws on them. I saw Celestial on Fleur, and right away I knew I would love that one. Then of course, I saw Zoe wearing Big Bang and about lost my marbles it was so adorable. So, after raving upon the purchase of Celestial, my mom went out and bought one for herself (I cannot for the life of me remember which one) and Big Bang for me. Then I went a little mental and bought two more - Luna, and Nude Eclipse. I swear I don't have a problem. (Forewarning, if I've convinced you to go get one, they're only available in Walgreens at the moment. Very reasonably priced too, only about $5!)






American Eagle Corset Skater Dress

I desperately wish I had a photo of this dress on. It is so cute I can't even handle it. And it has this adorable big bow in the back with a keyhole detail. (I couldn't find a photo of the back as it's no longer in stores.) I nabbed this little number just before the Fourth to pair with - you guessed it - bright red Rimmel lip lacquer. And red undies that no one else could see, but they just made me feel more patriotic, you know? I have a deep and abiding love for American Eagle and aerie, but everything is just so expensive.  I've taken to waiting until things go on clearance, then waiting for the clearance to go on sale. By way of these methods, this dress (originally $50) was reduced to $40, then $20! That's the way to go, yo!



Mossimo and Co. Braided Rose Gold Sandals

I didn't expect these to be anything special, really. I simply needed sandals because I typically wear mine until they're falling apart. I grabbed them because they're simple and felt comfortable on, and I felt like rose gold hadn't really made a big appearance yet, so they were a little different. But they just go with everything! I've been wearing them non-stop - even more than my rope gladiator sandals from two years ago that I had been obsessed with. I also happened to be wearing them the night Coco proposed, so there's a pleasant memory associated with them as well.






Perfect Scents an Impression of
Marc Jacobs Daisy

Alright, now I feel a little guilty posting this one, but it was just such a good deal, and I really do love it. CVS has released a bunch of "impressions" of high-end perfumes, like Clinique Happy, and Viva la Juicy, and (as you can see) Marc Jacobs Daisy. They're under three ounces (read: perfect for travel), cheap ($10), and accessible (read: I hate going to the mall for stuff, please don't make me go). Now, one of the companies got a little angry and filed a law suit about it. I don't know how everything panned out, but I now feel slightly guilty about my purchase. I know the scents aren't precisely exact, but they're close enough. I have to say, though, that I love the Daisy "Impression."



PaperMate Inkjoy Pens

I've been writing a lot recently. Physically writing, working on yet another revision of one of my novels. Who knows if it will come to anything, I'm just happy I'm writing again. Those of you who know me personally know my scary obsession with office supplies. I love paper, notebooks, pencils, staplers, and especially pens. I like actually watching the ink being soaked in by the paper when I write. Writing at the most basic level. I'm weird, and I'm not sorry. These pens have been awesome. I won't go into the details for risk of further distancing the few readers I have, but yeah. I like these pens, y'all.
And... The Flop. Wah-wahh...





Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer
 in Nude Eclipse

It's really not the actual product that I dislike here. Honestly, it's just the color. And part of it I blame (in jest) on Zoe. You see, she has this beautiful porcelain complexion that almost any color compliments. She wore Nude Eclipse in one of her videos and it looked so chic and gorgeous. I thought, "I should like to look chic and gorgeous..." So I bought Nude Eclipse when I bought Luna. I am not porcelain. I am also not tan. I am a confusing and lonely somewhere in between with my weird yellowy undertones that wreak havoc with potential lipstick loves. Most unfortunately, Nude Eclipse on me is flesh. My flesh. When I wear this color, I have no lips. I have skin. It's just depressingly unattractive. I don't blame Rimmel, I don't really blame Zoe. I have no one to blame so it's just sad.

What have been your favorites this month?

 *N.B. I have not had anyone complain. But should anyone be thinking about doing so, I won't listen. 'Kaythanksbye.

Five Faves and a Flop

Still listening to nothing. Geek Squad said it'll be a hundred smackaroos to transfer everything from Lucille to Sulpicia (which is what I named my new computer) Poop. I am, however, currently obsessed with The 20/20 Experience, by my boy JT. Cannot. Stop. Listening.
Looking forward to vaca next week with Corey's fam!

   I promised y'all a post, and doggone it, I'm gonna give you one! So here are five favorites from the past few weeks, and one flop!

Photo from here.

Starbucks Cool Lime Refresher. These are probably not the best thing I could be drinking. They're the second most caffeinated drink at Starbucks according to my buddy Matt the Waiter. I refuse to look up anything else about them because I'm terrified they'll turn out to be awful for me. I am so obsessed with these that I found myself in the drive-thru last week ordering not a Venti, but a Trenta. That's absurd. But I sucked it down in about ten minutes flat then sat down and waited for the jitters to set in.

Photo from here.

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eye Palette in Classic Nude. I will say this may not be the most inexpensive drugstore brand, but I don't buy it unless I have a coupon. This palette runs for about eleven bucks, but the quality really is top notch and the packaging is super cute. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a mirror, so on-the-go really isn't an option. A lot of people say that the shimmer strips palettes are dupes for Urban Decay Naked palettes. I've never owned the Naked palettes so I don't know, but I can tell you that I bought this palette last week and I haven't stopped using it since!

Photo from here.

Sleek Mystique Fast Fixx Style Prep. My sister Maggs goes to Toni and Guy and she's amazing. She's the only person I've let touch my hair since the beginning of the year, and she's rocked everything she's done. About two weeks ago, she cut it off (it had been about halfway down my back). It's just barely brushing my collarbone now. She layered it and did the best job of anyone who's ever cut my hair (my hair isn't really thick, but I have a ton of it. It took her six hours for a cut and color). She made it a lot lighter than it has been, too. So she bought me this leave in conditioner spray to keep the color looking great. It's fast, easy to use, a great detangler, and smells really good, too.



Photo from here.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. Some of you may be aware of my weird allergies. Most things I'm allergic to make me itch - penicillin, most contact solutions and lenses, shampoos, soaps, bananas and spinach (which make my mouth itch) - but I haven't had many issues with face soaps because all I've used is Cetaphil which is specifically for people with super sensitive skin. This is all well and good except that I'm the laziest person with sensitive skin ever. Too lazy to squirt soap out on a washcloth and wait for the water to warm up. I tried using some Neutrogena face wipes, and that was a horrible mistake. Hives. Everywhere. So when a beauty guru on YouTube mentioned these recently I jumped on it. They're a dream. Except not the scrubby ones. They hurt. 

Photo from here.

Spoiled by Wet n Wild in Did I Dye It Too Blonde? This fave could really be so much more broad. I'm really just obsessed with neon yellow right now. The neon trend as a whole is fun and all, but yellow has always been my favorite color; neon yellow just brings joy to my soul. As for the polish, I've been wearing it every few days. I may switch it out but I keep coming back to it. The name could be more clever - I've read better. But for like two bucks, you can't beat it. And I wouldn't wear it alone. Definitely use a white base coat, but once you do - whoo! Grab your shades, cause this might just shrivel your eyeballs right up!



Photo from here.

e.l.f. Baked Eye Shadow Palette in California. I know I already touched on my abysmal disappointment in this product here, but I just want you to know that it has deepened. I heard on a few beauty YouTube vids that reviewed this palette that they're better wet. I don't know if it was just me and I had a bad go of it, but water did nothing but worsen these shadows. Not only were they clumpy (weird for an eye shadow, right?), but they went on streaky and immediately creased up. Just a horrible, ugly, gloopy mess. Do. Not. Purchase.

Whatcha think? Have any experiences with or opinions on these products? Tell me in the comments!