August Faves

As you can already tell there are no new makeup product faves for me this month. I'm still loving my old favorites as always. I'm interested to see if there are any fall items coming out that I want to get my hands on. Actually I know there are a couple fall LE color tattoos that I want to snatch up if I can find them. I need to make a Walgreen's run and see what they have. I haven't been able to find them anywhere else.

I got me a new planner this month. It is the Plan It brand and I love it. It has a regular calendar where you can jot down appts but then bigger day spots where you can jot down notes as well. It also starts in August and goes through July which is perfect when a new year sometimes feels like it starts in August instead of January. haha

I have also been loving Bath and Body Works Slatkin candles. I have always loved these but have went through probably 3 in the month of August alone. I just got a coupon in the mail which had all their fall scents. I don't have any fall scents left over from last year so I need to go pick some up. Anyone else ready for fall? I love me a cozy fall day where I can just be comfy in a pair of jeans and hoodie. ;) What are your fave BBW candle scents?

Another one of my August faves has been my Z-palette. Have you tried these out before? I depoted some Elf beauty books into this one. I like being able to have all my eyeshadows together and I can see what I have without having to go through tons of single eyeshadows. I also dislike huge/chunky palettes that some brands tend to come out with. They are cute but not practical.

Lastly, I have been enjoying lots of new jewelry this month. These are just two of my new pieces that I have been wearing together. The cross one is from INPINK.

Where can I purchase these items?

Plan It Planner

Z-Palette

Slatkin Candle

INPINK Cross Bracelet

 

What are your faves for this month?

 

Note: This afternoon starts Vacation time around here. :) My parents will be here Saturday to spend the week and then we are going to take them out to Colorado for a few days. I just wanted you all to know that next weeks posts will be pre-scheduled. I will reply to comments, check out your blogs, and follow back ASAP after vacation. Thanks for understanding in advance!!!  :)

Weekly Wednesday Bog Hop #23

This week's featured blogger is Courtney over at A Rare Reality.

**Hop Rules**

• Grab the button below or add a link somewhere on your blog. This lets others know about the hop so they can hop as well. :) The more the merrier!
• Please visit some link ups and follow if you like them.
• Make some new bloggy friends!!! :)
• This is optional but I would love for you to follow TGL. :)

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Tip Tuesday: Beauty Edition: Beautiful Skin

• The best time to apply lotion is right after a shower or bath when the skin is still damp.

• Overdo it with perfume? Dab a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on your skin. It will cut the scent without changing the overall smell.

• You are most likely to get sunburned between the times of 10 AM and 2 PM, those are the best times to stay out of the sun if at all possible.

• To help perfume last longer put petroleum jelly on your pulse points before spraying. Perfume evaporates on dry skin faster.

• Also don't forget to spray perfume on your ankles and behind your knees, scent rises!

• Exfoliate your entire body at least once a week to slough off dead skin cells. When skin is freshly exfoliated lotion absorbs better.

• Drink plenty of water, water helps your skin stay hydrated and moisturized.

• Eat healthy foods that are high in antioxidants, they help fight aging.

• Make good lifestyle choices, smoking and excessive drinking causes toxins that trigger stress and aging.

• Know your skin type (oily, dry, combo, etc) to maximize your skin care by using products that work great for that specific type.

• Get your beauty sleep! Skin regenerates and your hormones balance during sleep.

What are your fave skin care tips?

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Sponsor Spotlight

AUGUST SPONSORS

Check out these two lovely ladies blogs, they are great. :)

DianaLuv: Beauty Blog
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Close Encounters: Personal Blog
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Interested in being a September sponsor at This Girls Life?

I am currently doing blog button swaps so if you are interested check out all the info here and send me an email. I would love to swap buttons with you! :)

Review: Youngblood Mineral Primer

"This colorless base helps enhance the performance of makeup throughout the day. The lightweight, silky formula smooths the appearance of fine line and pores, creating an even surface for foundation. Packed with minerals and vitamins to protect skin from environmental damage."

This primer has the look and feel of Elf primer initially. However, the Youngblood primer definitely absorbs much better than the Elf primer and leaves your face nice and soft with no oily feel left behind. Although I don't like the initial oily/greasy feel of when you apply it I could get past that if it worked the way I wanted it to but it didn't. :(

I have dry skin and it really didn't do much in the way of combating any flaking foundation problems. I was not happy with the way my makeup turned out at all the day I wore this. I tossed out Elf's primer after one use for the same reason and will do the same for this most likely. I know not everyone has crazy dry skin so this primer might work great for you.

This primer will run you $41 at full size (though you can find it a little cheaper on Amazon), which is a 1 fl oz size. A little goes a long way when it comes to primer but still at $41 dollars I would expect something great. I love Laura Mercier primer and it only runs me $32 for a 1.7 fl oz. Laura Mercier works with my dry skin and not only that it has more of a lotion feel when applying compared to greasy feel.

Another thing I dislike about this product is the pump. I have a sample size so maybe the pump on the full size is better (I would hope so). I could never get the pump to work no matter how many times I tried. I had to unscrew the cap and force it out by shaking it.

I don't think this primer is horrible. It kept my makeup own like it was suppose to but for dry skin it doesn't do anything for flaking foundation which is my biggest reason for using a foundation primer to begin with. I don't love the "silky" texture as they call it. I would not recommend this to anyone with dry skin. If you have a more normal/oily skin this primer might work great for you. I would definitely suggest trying out a sample before purchasing anything at $41 though.

I give this product 3 stars. I didn't work for me and I wouldn't repurchase but it did keep on my makeup so at 3 stars it was OK.

Have you tried this product? What did you think?

 

 

Note: If you are wondering how my star rating works here is how I rate my reviews.

 

1 star = hate it, garbage / shouldn't even be a product

2 star = didn't like it / might work for someone

3 star = it was OK / probably would work for someone

4 star = liked it / really liked it / would recommend

5 star = it was amazing / definitely go purchase

Top 10 High-End Makeup Products

Last week I posted my top 10 drugstore makeup products, this week I thought I would throw in my top 10 high-end makeup products.

I'll be honest, I don't purchase a ton of high end products but I do have a few that I enjoy. I usually buy high end if it's something I have tried a sample of and I already know that I love it. It's a rare occasion that I will just purchase something on a whelm just to give it a try at high end prices. 

Here are 10 products that I would definitely recommend trying if you haven't. All of these I use often and would repurchase again.

1. Clinique Loose Powder

2. Bobby Brown Lip & Cheek Rouge

3. Missha BB Cream

4. Tarte Maracuja Concealer

5. Mally Volumizing Mascara

6. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner

7. Urban Decay Naked Palette

8. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush

9. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

10. Too Faced Shadow Insurance

 

What are your fave high end products?

 



Weekly Wednesday Blog Hop #22

This week's featured blog is WTFab!.

**Hop Rules**

• Grab the button below or add a link somewhere on your blog. This lets others know about the hop so they can hop as well. :) The more the merrier!
• Please visit some link ups and follow if you like them.
• Make some new bloggy friends!!! :)
• This is optional but I would love for you to follow TGL. :)

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Tip Tuesday: Beauty Edition: Pretty Face

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Sorry I didn't have a post up yesterday but we were celebrating my daughter's birthday. She turned the big 5. :)

I don't know if you are all getting tired of the beauty editions of the Tip Tuesday or not but I have a few more weeks of them before I'm done. I'm doing face tips today and then skin, hands, and legs to come in the next few weeks. Hopefully you are enjoying them.

• Try not to pull down on your skin when applying lotions or cleansers. Your skin already sags no need to fast forward the process. Apply in a upward and gentle motion.

• To stop makeup from fading during the day a good primer under your foundation works wonders.

• Blush should always be well blended, a heavy concentration of blush on your cheekbones never looks good on anyone.

• For special occasions, apply your makeup early and then touch up before you leave. This will make for a more natural look and you won't be rushed trying to get out the door.

• For the best foundation color match, test on your face or neck. Your wrist is too pale to get an accurate color for your face.

• Try not to touch your face unnecessarily, breakouts can be caused by your own fingers.

• Exfoliating should be a part of your weekly facial cleansing. It will help remove dead skin cells that block the pores, causing acne. Daily exfoliating upsets the skin so try to only do it once or twice a week.

• To open up your pores soak a clean hand towel in warm water, squeeze out all the water, and place it on your face for a minute. Use cold water to close them!

• Moisturizing regularly with a good quality lotion or cream will replenish the facial skin keeping it smooth. 

Got any great facial tips of your own?

Picture Source

This day 5 years ago!! :)

No post today... We are off celebrating my daughter's 5th bday. I can't believe it's already been this long. She isn't physically my tiny baby anymore but she will always be my baby. :)

Top 10 Drugstore Products // Makeup Starter Kit

If you are just starting out with your makeup these 10 drugstore products would make for a great starter kit. The majority of us have probably been wearing makeup for years so for those of you that have this is my top 10 drugstore makeup products. If you haven't tried any of these or some of these products I would definitely recommend them.

TOP 10 DRUGSTORE MAKEUP PRODUCTS!!

1. Revlon Colorstay Foundation

2. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

3. Loreal Magic Lumi Concealer

4. Revlon Colorstay Cream Blush

5. Rimmel Natural Bronzer

6. Elf Eyelid Primer

7. Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Trio

8. Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain

9. NYX Slide On Eyeliner

10. CoverGirl LashBlast Volume

MAKEUP STARTER KIT TIPS:

For those of you that are truly just starting out, maybe this is your first year back to school wearing makeup, here are some great tips for keeping it simple.

Foundation: This will help create a smooth and even toned face. If you are just starting out with makeup I would suggest going with something on the medium to sheer coverage. Full coverage can look cakey if you haven't mastered your skills on applying makeup.

Concealer: I know when I was a kid/teen just starting out wearing makeup blemishes were definitely something that I wanted to try and hide. Concealer is great for hiding blemishes. To find the right concealer you want to look for something lighter than your actual skin tone. This is were you can also look for something in the thicker consistency for fuller coverage.

Powders/Blushes/Bronzers: These type of products add color and definition. Powder is great for oily faces to keep the shine down. I spent a good majority of my first makeup years just wearing powder and skipping the foundation all together. Bronzer's can be a little trickier to wear so I would actually not recommend starting with a bronzer until you've had time to get the application of all your basics down.

Eyeshadow & Eyeliner: Define your eyes! Eyeshadow is probably the first product that young girls want to test out. I know it is for my daughter and she is only 4, well that and lip products. Ha! Eyeshadow can also be the hardest product to master in applying. I would suggest starting out with neutral colors and only using 1-2 shades in the beginning. You can learn a LOT by checking out eyeshadow tuturials on youtube so if you want to get better practice makes perfect. :) A good eye primer goes a long way as well.

Lips & Mascara: The finishing touches! If you are just starting out and you are attending school daily then you want to keep these two products minimal. I don't think the teachers would appreciate a bright red lip or a falsies style lash. Go with a neutral/nude shade or a light pink and keep the mascara with just a few swipes to brighten your beautiful eyes.

Hope these tips can help a beauty newbie in need. :)

**********

NOTE: The Elf primer and the NYX Slide On aren't actually sold at most drugstores perse but they are in that catagory for a great lower priced option. Color options are going to also depend on your skintone and what you like the best for your overall look.

What are your drugstore must-haves?

Weekly Wednesday Blog Hop #21

This week's featured blogger is Aveen at Sparkle In Sequins.

**Hop Rules**

• Grab the button below or add a link somewhere on your blog. This lets others know about the hop so they can hop as well. :) The more the merrier!
• Please visit some link ups and follow if you like them.
• Make some new bloggy friends!!! :)
• This is optional but I would love for you to follow TGL. :)

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Tip Tuesday: Beauty Edition: Happy Feet

For most people, keeping the skin on your feet healthy requires routine exfoliating and moisturizing. Did you know outside of feeling someones forehead for fever, feet is a great way to tell the health of any given person. Shouldn't we want to take care of something in our body that houses a quarter of all our bones? Here are some great tips for keeping your feet happy. :)

Picture Source

• Massage feet with lanolin based lotion to prevent dryness.

• To prevent ingrown toenails, trim nails straight across not into the corners.

• Keep your feet dry and clean to prevent toenail fungus. Remove workout shoes immediately after working out.

• Relieve swollen feet by alternating hot water soaks (3 mins) with cold water soaks (1 min). Approx 15 mins total.

• Always soak your feet prior to using a pumice stone.

• Having foot pain? Place hands under the arch and press firmly, draw the hands upward past the ankle for a quick relief.

• Be certain that your shoes fit with room to wiggle your toes.

• Try not to cross your legs when you sit down. This can limit circulation. (I'm really bad at this, I tend to sit cross legged in my chair and when I get up my feet are usually asleep. :/ )

• Skip walking barefooted, esp outside your home. It can increase your risk of contracting viruses (think warts), fungus (like athlete's foot) or bacteria (which can cause a skin infection).

Got any other happy feet tips for me?

 

Fall It Color: Oxblood

It's not quite Fall yet, it still is and feels very much like Summer outside, though we have had a few cooler days. I'm actually hoping they stick around. Anyone else over the 100+ heat wave?

Even though it's still Summer, school started back today for a lot of kiddos in our area and nothing feels like the end of Summer like school starting back. ;) Bring on the Fall!

Tangerine orange was the hot color for Summer but Fall 2012 brings a new hot color love affair and that is with Oxblood. If you are wondering what in the world is Oxblood then you might be more familiar with the term dark maroon. I mentioned I wasn't much of a fan for the orange simply because I don't like the way it looks on my pale complexion but Oxblood is a different story. I need a handbag in this shade, pronto!

From accessories to beauty...

What do you think about Fall's newest it color? Are you looking to pick up anything in this Oxblood shade?

I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for a handbag in this color. I may actually have a nail polish shade similar to this but if not it will be on my list too, as well as I'm sure something in the fashion department.

DIY Dry Erase Board

So I have a hundred and one errands to run today so just a super quick post. Ok, so maybe not quite that many but it feels like it.

I just wanted to post real quick on my hubby's DIY Dry Erase Board. If you are new or don't recall me saying before my hubby is an Army Recruiter and they needed a new (larger) Dry Erase Board in the office. Apparently the large ones retail for $200-$300ish dollars and while the Army tends to spend money on the most random wasteful things they weren't willing to spend money on something that could actually be useful. Go figure!

After doing a little investigating my hubby found out you could get large sheets (4x8) of "Mark R Board" at Lowe's for the low price of fourteen dollars. Sweet! So this past weekend he took a few minutes and made him and the guys he works with a custom board. This board is huge at 4x6 so obviously not the size for everyone but they did have smaller precut sizes if you didn't want to mess with a large piece.

The hubby just attached a wood frame around and some support in the back so the total cost was right around $20. I'm actually glad the Army didn't pay for a $200+ board because wow that is way overpriced compared to a simple (30 minutes at most) DIY project. I even had a 2x4 piece left over for my own purposes. ;)

Here is the one and only picture (sorry a little blurry) that I snapped right as he was getting ready to load it up and take it to the office. haha!

Has anyone else made them a DIY Dry Erase Board?

I've done the white board behind a glass frame style but I really had no idea that Lowe's carried this type of stuff. I think i'm going to have him frame out the leftover piece and use it in the office.