French pharmacie haulin'

Not going to lie, the part I was most looking forward to of this year abroad was la pharmacie française. I don't know if you can tell, because it's not like I blog about it or anything, but I'm a product junkie. I love skincare and trying new things out, and so far, some of the best stuff I've used has been French. They just know skincare. Walking around the streets here in Grenoble, you can see that all the French women have absolutely perfect skin because they take damn good care of it with really good products. So the first chance I got, I got my French pharmacie shopping on.

Makeup Ridiculousness

If you're not familiar with Daily Grace, you should be. Grace Helbig is hilarious. 

She just posted a 3 Minute Makeup Challenge video for today's Sexy Friday here, and it's probably one of the best things I've ever seen.

It kind of made me think about how ridiculous some of the stuff we do to our face is, (and how it takes me a whole two minutes to put on mascara). 

But hey. We love it. It's fun. 

Lush Lust: Vanilla Puff Dusting Powder and Vanillary Solid Perfume

I got Vanilla Puff Powder last summer when I went to NYC. The sales assistant at Lush told me to use it to top off my deodorant, Aromarant. I found that I didn't really use it for that though. I barely use this, so I probably won't repurchase it, but when I do use it, I use it after my shower at night, putting it on my armpits, on my thighs, on my arms, and a bit on my chest. There are other ways to use it of course

Best Cleanser Ever? Fresh Soy Face Cleanser Review

Whenever you're browsing some kind of site that sells skincare, if you go to the face cleansers section, this cleanser will come up as one of the best sellers. And for a good reason. This stuff is freaking awesome.

Jackson Pollock Inspired Nails

I had seen tutorials for this kind of thing on youtube before, so I thought I'd have a go myself. It's quite possibly the coolest thing I've ever done to my nails. 

I think mine ended up coming out pretty well, so I just wanted to pass on how I did it.

First Impression: Boots Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm

Since the Eve Lom cleanser that I really love has mineral oil in it (its only flaw aside from the price), I was on the hunt for something new, mineral oil free, and possibly more budget friendly. I was at Target and found the Boots Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm for only $8.99. Most balms I find are upwards of 30 bucks, so I really wanted this one to work.

Hautelook Heads-Up: Mario Badescu skincare Review- The good, the bad, and the really really ugly

Hi, I'm Madeleine, and I'm addicted to Hautelook.

Now, if you don't know what Hautelook is, good for you. You have hope. However, I got hooked on Hautelook a while ago, and have spent a bit too much money since... and justify it because I'm saving money on stuff I "would have bought anyway..." Right.

How I wash my brushes (with the Palmolive® soft touch™ dish soap)

Makeup brushes get dirty. Bacteria and product accumulates on them, and they need to be washed. If they don't get washed, I bet you you'll have a few nasty breakouts pop up.

So how do you do it? There are many ways. But I just deep clean them every couple of weeks with olive oil, dish soap, and water. Now, you can spot clean your brushes. Spot cleaning is great if you have just used a brush with one color and want to quickly use it again for another. However, if you do this, you still need to deep clean, because spot cleaning won't get everything.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder Reformulation

I recently repurchased my favorite drugstore powder (I've mentioned it was my favorite in previous posts and videos), however, upon using my new one, I've been noticing that I've been breaking out, and in general, the powder didn't absorb oil as well, and it felt heavy and cakey. I know Rimmel recently changed the packaging for Stay Matte, however, I called Rimmel, and they told me they changed the formula as well.

Haul: New Skincare Bits (and toothpaste)

I'm a bit obsessed with skincare. I guess. So even though I've been trying to use up the products I have on hand and minimize what I'm taking abroad with me, when the opportunity presents itself to try something new, I can't help it. I just can't. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Turquoise Eyeliner Summer Tutorial

One of my favorite ways to wear color on my eyes is by using a bold color as liner on an otherwise neutral eye. I find the pop of color is refreshing, but not too scary for a neutral-lover like me. The products aren't expensive either. Always a plus. For blush, I used one that's peachy (you can even use a coral or orange) to contrast with the blue liner. Enjoy!

Subscribe to my youtube channel for more beauty tips (and lots of skincare talk)

Products used: 

Sonya Kashuk Melon Blush
Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials in Nude*

Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone, Blue Had Me At Hello, and Brulée (swatches here)

Trish McEvoy Finish Line*
Edward Bess Quad (darkest color in brows)*

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara

Brushes:

Trish McEvoy: 37 Bronzer*, 32 Eyebrow*, 41 Precision Smudge*, 29 Tapered blending*, 40 Medium laydown*

Target Liner Brush (In store, Up and Up brand)

You can obviously use less expensive brushes. I like ELF and Up and Up (at Target) brushes as a cheaper option. 

The best drugstore makeup

Working in beauty, you get a lot of free stuff. It's pretty nice. However, for the other days in the year, most of us college students are pretty damn poor. So when I actually do have to buy makeup, I go to Target or any drugstore. I say specifically Target, because they have more brands, and usually their prices are lower in general than other drugstores. SO this is what I like to buy.

Basic skincare for acne-prone skin

I work in a beauty store, and each day I'm at work, the most common issue people come in for is acne. Acne sucks. I'm pretty sure most people have had to deal with it at some point in their lives, and it's rough. 

I've dealt with acne, although it wasn't too horrible for me like it is for some people I've talked to, and it's not fun. It's not fun having those huge cystic zits on your face that hurt every time you smile (leading to you just not smiling), lovely, and it's not fun being a girl in middle school with braces, glasses (until your amazing parents let you start wearing contacts), and that huge zit on the tip of your nose that immature boys ask you about because they don't even know what it is and you do. Sigh.

May Favorites!!!

It's that time of the month again! Not that time, but you know, that time....

All of the links for things are on the youtube page in the description. 

Subscribe if you want to see more videos!

Butter London Knackered over Revlon Colorstay Provence

As the date I leave for Europe quickly approaches, I've been taking the time to do the most important of things, such as watching Netflix and deciding which polishes I'm letting myself take with me for the year with minimal packing space.

Everyday Natural Makeup for the summer

May Empties

Colors of the Rainbow

R: Marvis Cinnamon Mint Toothpaste

O: Lumene Dry Skin Comfort Radiance Cocktail

Y: Boots Extracts Mango Bodywash

G: Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil

B: Natura Bissé Oxygen Mousse

I: Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light

V: Fresh Sugar Berry Lip Treatment

Pink: Mario Badescu Facial Mist

Multi-colored: Butter London Black Knight

I saw this super fun tag going around on YouTube, so I thought I'd contribute. I really love all of these products, but I haven't reviewed all of them yet. I thought this would be a good way to share. :)