A week or so ago, I posted about the products that are on my Beauty Blacklist, or in other words, that I absolutely wasted my money on.
Now I want to share with you some of my all-time favorite beauty must-haves.
When it comes to facial cleansers, this stuff is pretty boss. My husband even requests it, and says he thinks it really does keep his face in check...and you have to understand, his input on beauty products is pretty few and far between. With tiny exfoliating grains, this stuff really gets your face clean but doesn't irritate, not even my super-sensitive pregnancy skin. (Seriously, what's up with your freakin' skin when you're preggos?)
Pond's Cold Cream. When I wear makeup, it usually involves both eyeliner and a good bit of mascara, which is killer to remove at the end of the night. Instead of torturing my eyes with bunches of face soap, I use this stuff with a cotton ball to remove most of my eye makeup before I wash my face. It's not expensive, and the tub lasts a really long time-as you can tell, mine is looking a little rough because I've had it for months.
Loreal Translucide Loose Powder.
You probably won't find this stuff in stores, but Ulta carries it online. When I use this stuff on my face, I truly do not get oily all day. Every time, I almost can't believe it. It also smells great and doesn't break out my skin. It's not shimmery, but not too matte either. It is just a really really great product.
Although I am still looking forward to trying some of the concealers that some of you guys suggested, I bought this stuff last week because it was on clearance. OMG. Not only does it truly help shrink a pimple by the end of the day, it covers extremely well and blends good too. What keeps it from being perfect is that you do have to reapply throughout the day because it wears easily. But it blends so well that reapplying is a cinch and it covers so well that to me, it's worth it. I will also note that it comes it light, light-medium, and medium. Though I am extremely pale right now, I got the light-medium and it works well, which leads me to believe that this stuff runs a little light.
Cover Girl brow & eye makers in soft brown.
If you don't currently use an eyebrow pencil, try it and it will change your life. I plan very soon to do a before/after of brow pencil picture of myself to show you guys-the difference is just crazy. Brows are the frame of your face, and filling them in a little does wonders. This color is very light, and works on ANY brow color-seriously.
There you go guys........what are some of YOUR beauty faves?
XoXo,
L
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thrifty Thursday

Forever21-$27.80

Forever21-$6.80
Francesca's Collection-$44

Asos-$41.90

A'GACI-$42.50

Jacket-PINK ICE-$49.99

Target-$39.99

Old Navy-$39.94
Thrifty Etsy Find of the Week:

Personalized locket-
MenuetDesigns-$32.50
Happy Shopping!!
XoXo,
L
Labels:
shopping
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunshine
Seriously, getting anything for free is like a little ray of sunshine in your week. I don't know what is up with my luck lately, but I have won giveaways from two different blogs this week! Ladies, enter giveaways-you just never know!!
Here are my spoils from the {posh} daisy shop, this amazing flower headband and beaded line necklace. They are really both so beautiful in person. And the headband looks beautiful on, even with your hair down. For some reason, I have a hard time finding headbands that don't make my hair look all wonky when it's down...it's hard to explain, but with the soft stretchy band on this one, it doesn't make your hair pouf out on the sides. It just works!
Thank you so much Cerrisse for the amazing giveaway-seriously, you made my week : )
If you guys want to check out Cerrisse's wonderful blog and shop, click here or here.
And yes, this is my "outfit of the day post' for today. It was grocery day...and I was hoping everyone would focus on my beautiful new headband and not my lame outfit, hehe.
xoxo,
L
Labels:
fashion,
outfit of the day,
random
Amazing.
There's a blog that I've been meaning to share with you guys for a while, by someone that I actually know *outside the blogging community*, megans.rosee! One of my favorite aspects of her blog are her "Model Monday" posts, where she features a specific fashion model in each post. What I love is that she thinks outside of the box and features gorgeous and interesting models that many of us haven't heard of, so you aren't just seeing pictures or getting info that you already have.
Today her post is about Tara Lynn, one of today's most beautiful PLUS size models. It really is inspiring to see the fashion world recognize that beauty comes in many forms. I strongly urge you to check out today's Model Monday post over at megans.rosee.
xoxo,
L
Today her post is about Tara Lynn, one of today's most beautiful PLUS size models. It really is inspiring to see the fashion world recognize that beauty comes in many forms. I strongly urge you to check out today's Model Monday post over at megans.rosee.
xoxo,
L
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Disney Couture
For those of us that still dream in sparkles...

The Minnie X Mawi Gem Bracelet

The Pirates Glamour Skull Ring in Gold

The "Believe" Ring in Gold

The Little Mermaid Collection Hidden Pearl Ring

The Alice in Wonderland 'Drink Me' Bottle Pendant

The Pirates Bright Thread Wrapped Bracelet

The Little Mermaid Shark Jaw Ring

The Pirates Beaded Stretch Charm Bracelet

The Cinderella Platinum Plated Key Pendant Necklace

The "Have Faith In Your Dreams" Bracelet in Black

The Minnie X Mawi Gem Ear Necklace in Gold
All images property of Karmaloop.com
What I really love about this collection is that not only are the pieces beautiful, but it's almost like buying a little piece of history.
XoXo,
L

The Minnie X Mawi Gem Bracelet

The Pirates Glamour Skull Ring in Gold

The "Believe" Ring in Gold

The Little Mermaid Collection Hidden Pearl Ring

The Alice in Wonderland 'Drink Me' Bottle Pendant

The Pirates Bright Thread Wrapped Bracelet

The Little Mermaid Shark Jaw Ring

The Pirates Beaded Stretch Charm Bracelet

The Cinderella Platinum Plated Key Pendant Necklace

The "Have Faith In Your Dreams" Bracelet in Black

The Minnie X Mawi Gem Ear Necklace in Gold
All images property of Karmaloop.com
What I really love about this collection is that not only are the pieces beautiful, but it's almost like buying a little piece of history.
XoXo,
L
Thrifty Thursday

La Posh Style-$46.99

Shop Kempt-$42

Cropped Blazer-Akira-$49.99
Kardashian Collection @ Sears-$46.99

If you need a peacoat this season-this is it. Comes in 7 colors, regular, tall, and petite sizes. Under $50.
Old Navy-$45
Francesca's Collection-$18

Denim Jacket
Tobi-$49
Happy Shopping!!
XoXo,
L
Monday, October 10, 2011
What I REALLY wore
Yep. This is my outfit of the day. The picture is blurry, but it serves it's purpose. When I get home from whatever errands I'm running, I change immediately back into my pajamas. Everytime my husband comes home and I'm still in jeans, you'd think I'm going off to prom or something. Which is good in some ways (I mean, if I want to impress my spouse all i have to do is slap on some jeans) but kinda tells me I might need to step it up a notch around the house. This (below) is actually stepping it up a notch. Usually pajamas for me consists of either my husbands sweatpants (if I'm cold) or shorts (if I'm hot) and a baggy t-shirt. If I'm feeling really sexy, I'll wear my big blue fuzzy robe over the shorts and t-shirt. lol.
This pj legging/long sleeve tee set from Victoria's Secret would actually look pretty cute if I didn't have my husband's tube socks on. Side note, this is one of two pj tops that I actually wear out in public as a regular top. Please don't judge me.
Hmmm...laptop-check. Bible-check. Instyle magazine-check. Yep...must be G baby naptime! Only this sight is getting rarer and rarer these days...because now I'm usually face down on our living room couch listening to either Giada at Home or Martha Stewart Living while I take a nap myself. Giada and Martha both have soothing voices. If Rachel Ray comes on, I wake up. hehe.
Hope everyone had a great weekend!! I am having a great day today because 1)After physically feeling like crap took a complete toll on my attitude and morale for the past week I did some serious praying last night to snap out of it and woke up in a much better mood and relatively low nausea.
and 2) I won an awesome giveaway from The Posh Daisy Shop!! I am so excited!!
If you follow blogs, you really should try to participate in giveaways when you can. This is the SECOND time I have won a giveaway-the first was some really amazing Mary Kay mascara from the awesome blog Raising Rylin which I totally meant to do a review for but haven't gotten around to yet.
You just never know, and most of the giveaways out there are AWESOME!
XoXo,
L
This pj legging/long sleeve tee set from Victoria's Secret would actually look pretty cute if I didn't have my husband's tube socks on. Side note, this is one of two pj tops that I actually wear out in public as a regular top. Please don't judge me.
Hmmm...laptop-check. Bible-check. Instyle magazine-check. Yep...must be G baby naptime! Only this sight is getting rarer and rarer these days...because now I'm usually face down on our living room couch listening to either Giada at Home or Martha Stewart Living while I take a nap myself. Giada and Martha both have soothing voices. If Rachel Ray comes on, I wake up. hehe.
Hope everyone had a great weekend!! I am having a great day today because 1)After physically feeling like crap took a complete toll on my attitude and morale for the past week I did some serious praying last night to snap out of it and woke up in a much better mood and relatively low nausea.
and 2) I won an awesome giveaway from The Posh Daisy Shop!! I am so excited!!
If you follow blogs, you really should try to participate in giveaways when you can. This is the SECOND time I have won a giveaway-the first was some really amazing Mary Kay mascara from the awesome blog Raising Rylin which I totally meant to do a review for but haven't gotten around to yet.
You just never know, and most of the giveaways out there are AWESOME!
XoXo,
L
Labels:
outfit of the day,
random
Friday, October 7, 2011
Beauty Black-listed: The products I've tried and tossed in the trash
Nothing kills me more than buying a beauty product, taking it home-trying it out, and then realizing that I just utterly wasted my money. I typically try to make things work-but some products out there are literally almost unusable.
You do have to take into consideration that what works for some may not work for others, as we all have varying skin types, hair types, and tastes. But that being said, here is my beauty blacklist.
Maybelline Colorsensational Lip stain. To be honest, this is the only brand of lip stain that I have tried, so I suppose it's possible that I just don't care for lip stains in general, but I don't think so. The marker-tip applicator flip-flopped between applying too little or not enough color, it was just like when you try to use a marker that has dried out to color a picture, except this was brand new and definitely moist, not dried out. Not to mention, some of the tip flaked off a little on my lips, causing extremely dark spots in some areas. I think I paid about $8 for this, and it was a total waste of money. Also, the color (mine was the third from left in the above pic) was too dark and just not pretty.
Garnier Fructis...anything. That's right, I said it-anything. Garnier has pulled me in countless times over the years with their commercials promising longer and stronger hair with natural fruit oils, and I have never bought a product of theirs that I have been happy with, or used all of. I have tried their shampoo, conditioner, and shine serum. Deep conditioning mask. Leave-in conditioner. I have recently tried their new 3-minute undo dryness reversal treatment and also hated it and threw it away. This stuff leaves my hair STICKY and hard to manage. The shine serum is greasy. And everything is too strong smelling. Now...if you use Garnier and love it, please don't hate me. I can only use it on my own fine/prone to split ends hair, so I don't know if it works well for those with curly or thick hair.
Okay. There is almost nothing more frustrating than doing my research, finding a product with rave reviews, trying it out myself, and HATING IT. Many women really like this stuff. I used it for about a month (because it was about $15) before finally say screwing it and throwing in the trash like I had wanted to do since day 1. This stuff left my skin stinging slightly, flaked under my makeup, and smells nasty. If you have used this and didn't like it, I'd love to hear from you, because right now I feel alone on this one. I'm almost embarrassed to put this one on here because I'm afraid I'm wrong about it...but what can I say-I didn't like it!

Physician's Formula green tea tinted moisturizer.
Organix Brazilian keratin therapy flat iron spray.
You do have to take into consideration that what works for some may not work for others, as we all have varying skin types, hair types, and tastes. But that being said, here is my beauty blacklist.
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| source Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer. |

Oxy Clinical Clearing Treatment.
I don't have anything personal against this stuff. But up until this month, I had used it for three months, hoping it would help with breakouts, and it just never did. Doesn't work.
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Maybelline Coverstick.
This is just not good concealer. Way lighter than it should be. Does not blend well. Doesn't cover well. Settles into lines. Blacklist, blacklist, blacklist.
I swear I don't have a personal vendetta against Maybelline, though this is my second product of theirs on here. I think they have amazing mascaras and eyeshadows, and their new ColorSensational lipstick is pretty nice too. I still love you Maybelline!
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This. is. one. the. worst. stuff. ever. I have used this brand before to satisfaction, but this stuff is absolutely horrible. It smelled bad, felt heavy on but didn't cover anything. Weird color and consistency. I literally only used this twice and then washed it right off in disgust. Ugh.
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Covergirl Lip Perfection.
First, I have to tell you that I didn't throw this in the trash. But I do only wear it at home, and only when my husband isn't home-it looks that bad. It does kind of work as a chapstick for moisture so I use it as that. I got it in a coral color, but the color doesn't go on smoothly and is frosty-like something from the 80s. I have heard a lot of complaints about this, so I don't think it's just the color that I got. This lipstick just doesn't look good-but does moisturize well.
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You would think this smells all good and coconutty, right? No. It has a strong alcohol smell to it-like cheap hairspray. Made my hair sticky. Not good. I truly trashed this stuff after using it. (I gave it a couple tries first)
Okay. I could probably rack my brain and think of more things from years past, but I am going to cut my hatin' off for now.
xoxo,
L
Tunic Time+Tips for wearing over-the-knee boots
I bought this awesome Karen Kane tunic this Spring on clearance at Belk for literally $100 off (it was originally $118-I got it for about $16.) It's silk and feels so luxurious, not to mention big enough for my growing tummy!
Tunic-Belk
Shorts-Target
Boots-Target
Earrings-Forever21
Watch-Guess
Okay, so...over-the-knee boots are awesome, but a little hard to pull off. My advice is to wear them with either:
-Tailored shorts. (Not jean shorts. I feel like if you have an amazing pair of over-the-knee brown suede boots, this could be an exception though.)
-A full skirt. Just make sure that the boots rise above the hem, as in you can't see where the boots end, OR make sure the boots end at least an inch below the hem of your skirt. Don't ask me why...it just works. Basically, if your boots end right where your skirt begins, it's going to look weird.
-And of course, really tight jeans or pants.

source

See how the boots disappear under the skirt?
source

source

source
XoXo,
L
Tunic-Belk
Shorts-Target
Boots-Target
Earrings-Forever21
Watch-Guess
Okay, so...over-the-knee boots are awesome, but a little hard to pull off. My advice is to wear them with either:
-Tailored shorts. (Not jean shorts. I feel like if you have an amazing pair of over-the-knee brown suede boots, this could be an exception though.)
-A full skirt. Just make sure that the boots rise above the hem, as in you can't see where the boots end, OR make sure the boots end at least an inch below the hem of your skirt. Don't ask me why...it just works. Basically, if your boots end right where your skirt begins, it's going to look weird.
-And of course, really tight jeans or pants.

source

See how the boots disappear under the skirt?
source

source

source
XoXo,
L
Labels:
fashion,
outfit of the day
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