French pharmacy haul + cheapest pharmacies in Paris

I obviously have quite the obsession with beauty products, but when it comes to the French pharmacy I'm absolutely crazy. I've discovered a couple pharmacies with the cheapest prices here in Paris (and, therefore, they're the most crowded and unpleasant to shop in) so I've picked up many things. I also had to get a couple things from Monoprix as well. 

I picked up a few polishes from Mavala Switzerland, as well as their base and top coat, Mavadry. This is quite honestly the worst polish brand I have ever tried. I think I need to write a whole post on the stuff I picked up just to rant. Just don't go crazy on the Mavala, no matter how cute the little bottles are. 

I also picked up the hand cream and lip balm from Caudalie. The lip balm is essentially the stick version of the Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm that comes in the pot (and yes, it's more similar to the pot lip balm than Nuxe's own stick version of the lip balm). The Caudalie hand cream is the best hand cream I have ever used. While it may not be as moisturizing as some hand creams, it's still hydrating and leaves no greasy feeling. It also smells incredible. I like the Nuxe Rêve de Miel hand cream in consistency, but the smell is more perfumey than the natural fruity/herbal smell of the Caudalie. I think the formula is nicer than the L'Occitane formula as well.

I also repurchased for the third+ time my favorite Caudalie shower gels. They were two for seven euros. Steal. They smell so good. Definitely looking forward to using these again.

The two wearable nail soaker things were actually an eBay purchase. My mom sent them to me by accident here in France, but I ordered them from the US ebay for about 4 bucks for the twenty. I got these to remove glitter nailpolish instead of using the foil method. You just put some nailpolish remover in them, soak your nails for two minutes, then the glitter's off. 

From Monoprix, I picked up some wax strips since I left my epilator at home. Yes, I prefer ripping my hair out every once in a while to shaving. These don't work that well though, unfortunately. They just don't really grab on to the hair.

I also picked up the 1 second nail polish remover from Bourjois. This stuff is just as incredible as everyone says. While it doesn't get the polish off in one second, it gets it off pretty damn fast without the need for cotton pads. It's also acetone free and smells good. Only downside is that you can only use it for fingers, and it also leaves your fingers pretty oily after. I have to wash my hands after I use it to get oil off my nails before painting again. 

I went to my other cheap pharmacy and picked up the Phyto Phytokératine shampoo and the Phytobaume conditioner. These were among the only sulphate free shampoos in the pharmacy. 

I also got the Bioderma Nodé DS+ anti-dandruff shampoo (gross, I know) because the hardwater here in Paris is killing my scalp. It works okay so far, but I need to use it longer to say anything more about it. It also came with a mini Nodé shampoo that is sulphate free. 

The pharmacy also had my favorite toothpaste of all time, Marvis. It was way cheaper here than in the states. Instead of picking up my usual Jasmin or Cinnamon Mint, I went for the Classic Strong Mint to see how I like it. I also picked up their new mouth wash. It's luxurious stuff. The packaging is to die for, and it looks so pretty in my bathroom. However, although it says it's alcohol free, it's not, and it stings like Listerine. 

I picked up the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint mineral powder since I ran out of the Wet n Wild one already (that stuff does not last long). This might be the worst powder I have ever tried. It's cakey, heavy, and does not mattify. Avoid at all costs! 

I also picked up the Bioderma Sébium Mat moisturizing mattifying fluid. It's the same idea as the La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Mat, but it doesn't have alcohol in it. It smells incredible (like watermelon), and it sinks in and really hydrates the skin. It's like a refreshing drink for your skin. I'm not sure how we'll it mattifies, but it is a great lightweight moisturizer. 

I also picked up a tube of Boiron's famous Homeoplasmine. I got this because I was sick and blowing my nose constantly. It works wonders to soothe a dry under-nose, and it is nice for lips, too, although it's not as good as the Nuxe Rêve de Miel or the Caudalie lip balms. 

Here are what the nail polishes I got look like on the nails. They're pretty, but I do NOT recommend the Mavala formula. Again, full review to come later.

The pharmacies I went to, and the cheapest pharmacies that I've found in Paris, are Pharmacie Place Monge (Place Monge stop metro line 7) and City Pharma Rue du Four (Metro line 10, Mabillon or Odéon, or line 4 Saint Sulpice). 

Both are always packed with people. If you shop at these places, come with a list of what you want or else you'll get overwhelmed trying to look. People are crazy and mean when shopping for skincare. 

I prefer Pharmacie Place Monge because I think they have more brands (and more interesting brands), and depending on the brand, it's even cheaper than Rue du Four, and it's a bit less stressful (not that much less stressful though). They also have a special checkout for people that want to get a tax refund upon returning to their country. 

I also like Place Monge because it's closer to where I go to University. Convenience for the win!

Favorite Hair, Body, and Fragrance 2013

Last of the 2013 favorites series. Let's get crackin'!

Shampoo and Conditioner: Free Your Mane Sulphate Free Shampoo and Detangling Conditioner

If I ever talk about a shampoo and conditioner on this blog, I always compare it to these, the Free Your Mane shampoo and conditioner. I discovered these when I first started working in my local beauty store, but I finally tried them in January 2013. In one use, they took my hair that had been dried out by the Bed Head shampoos and conditioners and made it soft and shiny and healthy again. It was incredible. Everything I tried after these (including the completely overhyped Ojon and Oribe haircare) has not been able to measure up. If you have thicker, frizzy hair, I highly recommend these. They are sulphate-free, and the lather is still incredible. A little goes a long way, as well, so while they are more expensive than your normal shampoo, you'll still have the bottles for a really long time.

Favorite Treatment/Styling Product: Free Your Mane Baobab Hair Oil

Again, Free Your Mane has just been incredible for me. I have tried a few hair products this year that I did really like (the Garnier hair cream stuff and the Ojon Damage Reverse Serum), but this oil just comes out on top. It's really thick and hydrating, but at the same time it never made my hair feel oily. It just completely takes out frizz and makes the hair so soft. Combined with the shampoo and conditioner, this is the perfect haircare regime for me. It also smells amazing.

Best body wash: Caudalie body washes

I first got a tube of the Fleur de Vigne body wash this winter from Sephora, and it was kinda expensive for the quantity. However, I got to France and found that these were actually pretty cheap (less than 4 euro, depending on what pharmacy you find them in). I then kinda went crazy. I tried three of the four scents (Zest de Vigne didn't really call to me) and loved them all. My favorites, however, are still Fleur de Vigne and Pêche de Vigne. They have an incredible lather and super fresh scent, and they don't dry out the skin. I liked the scent of Thé de Vigne, and adore the perfume, but the formula didn't lather as well as the other two. Caudalie body care in general is really nice. I really like their body lotion, the hand cream, and the lip balm as well.

Best Moisturizer: Vaseline Aloe Fresh

I went through a lot of body lotions this year, but I decided to repurchase an old Vaseline one that I knew I liked, and yep, I still liked it. I still think it's the best one I've used all year, as it's really hydrating yet sinks really well into the skin. It smells super light and fresh, and it's paraben free. I also like how you can turn the bottle upside down to get every last drop towards the end. Good packaging. Oh. It's cheap. Can't forget the cheap.

Fragrance: West Third Brand Saint Patron

I went to Chicago in April to get my visa for Spain, and when I was in Wicker Park, I discovered this beauty. It's that perfect spring "the flowers are blooming right outside my window" scent, and it has no synthetic smell to it. I used up the whole bottle in four months, as I could just not put it down. It's so lovely, and for a perfume it wasn't too expensive either. I also just love not smelling like anyone else, as West Third Brand is rather hard to find.

What were your favorite body products of 2013?

Favorite Skincare of 2013

Skincare is a little baby of mine, and I've discovered so many incredible products this past year. This was incredibly hard list to make. However, I filtered through all my posts, and out of everything I've tried this year, these are the products that I would choose if someone told me I could only use one product from every category mentioned below ever again. So here goes.

Cleanser: Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

Cleanser was a very tough one for me this year.  I've tried so many good ones, (like the Eve Lom cleansing balm and the Fresh Soy Cleanser, which I absolutely love) but I feel that the Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser is just the one that does it all in the end. I'll massage a couple pumps of this onto my dry face lightly to remove makeup (even more gently around the eyes) at night, rinse, then massage another couple pumps onto my wet skin as my second cleanse.  I'll just do another couple pumps in the morning on wet skin, but instead of rinsing, I'll leave this on for five minutes to dry as a mask while I brush my teeth. I'll then rinse off and have perfectly soft supple skin before applying makeup. This cleanser is such a multitasker since it's a makeup remover, exfoliator, and a mask. It also smells incredible, is good for the environment, and is gentle (I usually don't like physical exfoliants as I find that they scratch the skin, but this one has round particles that won't create microtears and spread bacteria). The salicylic acid also keeps blemishes at bay. Everyone I recommend this to absolutely loves it, and it's a cleanser I really miss when I don't have it. 

Toner: Mario Badescu Glycolic Toner diluted with La Roche Posay Serozinc and the Mario Badescu Rose Facial Spray with Aloe and Herbs

The Mario Badescu Glycolic Toner was actually something I was a bit on the fence on at first. When I first used it, I kind of found it drying and irritating. However, once mixed with my hydrating toners to dilute it (you can use anyone you like), it became the perfect exfoliating toner, gentle enough for me to use twice a day. It does keep the skin clear and it gets rid of all the dead stuff. 

Eye Cream: Natura Bisse Skin Ceuticals Eye Balm

This is hands down the best eye treatment I have ever used. It's more of gel, but it still keeps the eyes hydrated, never greasy, and I actually saw results with this, as it dimished all my fine lines, puffiness, and under eye circles. It's expensive, but a little goes a very long way. It's incredible, and I'll leave it at that. 

Serum: Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum

I used the Mario Bacesdcu Vitamin C serum all year, and I absolutely loved every drop of it. I found that it made the skin nice and clear, and it really helped with dark spots and hydration. It just works for all of my skin problems. 

Moisturizer: Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturizer (day and night, but at night the Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex pressed over the top)

I think Tata Harper has just won my favorite skincare brand in general prize this year, as I love every single one of her products, but her moisturizers really come out on top. The Rebuilding Moisturizer is the best moisturizer I have ever used in my life. It has a matte finish, which as an oily skinned gal I greatly appreciate, but it still is so incredibly hydrating. I used it in the morning under sunscreen, and I used it at night with the Replenishing Nutrient Complex pressed over the top for an extra hydrating boost and, if I even had any with the Tata skincare regime, to sooth any blemishes or rough patches. This combo just leaves your skin absolutely glowing, and I can't recommend it more highly. 

Mask: Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

Best mask ever, hands down. If there's one thing you need from this whole post, it's this mask. I've used the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, and I can tell you for sure that this mask is one hundred times better. You need the tiniest bit to cover your face, and by the time it takes you to watch an episode of How I Met Your Mother, you will have a glowing complexion with diminished dark spots and reduced blemishes. It. Is. Amazing. Instead of AHAs, this mask uses enzymes and BHA to get rid of any dead skin and clean out blocked pores (AHA only gets the surface layer, not into the pore). It's not irritating at all (I know this because I have accidentally fallen asleep with it on and woken up with no problems, just amazing skin), it has a light plant-y smell from all the natural goodness in it, so the smell was never a problem for me, it's not drying because of its super powered hyaluronic acid that Tata gets specially from Egypt, and it's another one of those multitaskers. Not only do I use this as a mask, but I use it as a spot treatment to get rid of any blemish over 1-2 days and as a cleanser booster if I need to make a regular cleanser into an exfoliating one. My mom and dad are also obsessed with this (we have Tata Harper mask sessions as a family), and I got the lovely Jessica Beautician hooked on this, too. Try it and thank me later. 

Treatment: Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion

This is another hero product I discovered this year. The Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion is the only thing I've tried (aside from the Darphin Skin Mat Masque) that gets rid of those under the skin cystic blemishes. If you put this on a hard zit as soon as you notice it coming up, it will completely block it. If that blemish is already there, this will bring it to a pop-able whitehead. It can be a little drying, but after you've battled your blemish, you can stick the Replenishing Nutrient Complex from Tata Harper over the top, and all will be well again. 

Sunscreen: Shiseido Urban Environment SPF 43 tinted 

I love me a good and high SPF, but without a greasy white cast, that can be hard to find. However, I found that my favorite sunscreen this year was the Shiseido Urban Environment. This acted as a tinted moisturizer for me, as it does have that slight amount of coverage and hydration, but it wasn't at all greasy or streaky like other sunscreens with a similar SPF. 

So here you go, some of my top favorites not only of 2013, but of all time. Hope that was helpful!

I linked to posts where I go more into depth about the products. A lot of those have links to the products or info where to get them.  ;)

My Favorite Makeup of 2013

I'm quite minimalist when it comes to makeup. I truly believe that the better you take care of your skin, the less makeup you'll have to wear. I also will usually completely use a product before going out to buy another one, so that's why I don't have too many makeup bits to share with you guys. However, there have been things that I've tried this year that have truly stood out to me and became absolute staples in my everyday routine. If there's something in a certain category that I haven't mentioned, most likely it's not something I use on a regular basis or I haven't found anything particularly amazing. If I've done a full review, I'll try to link those throughout the post. 

Concealer: theBalm Time Balm Concealer

I usually go straight from my sunscreen to concealer (unless I have some kind of primer under it). I don't use a liquid foundation because I don't think I really need it, and I use a powder foundation on top anyway. This little pot of concealer (I shouldn't say little because it's a fair amount of product and a little of it goes a very long way) covers absolutely everything flawlessly. I think it works best blended and patted in with the fingers. It covers anything from blemishes to under-eye circles, lasts all day, and doesn't look cakey. You should, however, make sure the skin is properly moisturized first before putting it under the eyes and over any dry patches. This is incredible. I'm on my second one now, even though my first one wasn't completely used up due to an unfortunate accident involving a toilet seat that was left up. I think you can guess what happened next.

Powder: Trish McEvoy Even Skin Mineral SPF 15

This is easily the best powder I have ever used. It has really amazing coverage for a powder foundation, and it just completely evens out the skin without making it look cakey. It also absorbs oil like a dream and just looks like skin, and it doesn't settle into fine lines. Love love love.

Blush: Trish McEvoy Natural and Easy Going and Sonia Kashuk Melon
These are the only blushes I wore all year. Trish Natural has become my everyday go-to, and it really does just look like a natural glow from within. Easy Going is my truly easy going blush. I can pair it with absolutely everything from red to berry to pink to coral lips. It's perfection. Melon is an incredibly pigmented peachy pink blush. A little truly goes a long way. I also just love these kind of shades because I find that they look the most natural on me.

Eyeshadow: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and the Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone palette

I bought these in the fall of 2012 and have been using mostly these shadows ever since. The Maybelline Color Tattoos are actually kind of hit and miss for me in consistency, but the shade Bad to the Bronze is a huge, huge hit. I'll slap this baby on at 6am and it will still look perfect when I remove my makeup at 11 pm. It's also just super fast to use, because once you have this on you don't need anything else in the crease, and you don't even need liner because it's just that multidimensional. I've used up most of my little pot, and it's still not even dried out. The Comfort Zone palette from Wet n Wild is another thing I've used constantly is year. I just find it has everything I could need for an eye look, and I absolutely love every single color, even the greens. The pigmentation and blendability of these shadows are also spot on, and they last a good while on the lids, even without primer. It's also under 5 bucks. Bam.

Liner: Trish McEvoy Finish Line

I've done a full review on this, so I'll spare you a long rant about how much I love this magical potion that will turn anything into eyeliner.

Mascara: Trish McEvoy High Volume and Lash Curling

Again, I've raved about these mascaras so much I don't know if I need to go in depth, but I just love the look these give me, all with the most incredible formula.

Brushes: Trish McEvoy

I've just been completely wowed by Trish McEvoy as a whole this year, but her brushes are particularly amazing. Trish actually got her makeup line started with her brushes. She would cut her brushes herself, and then all of her other makeup artist friends started asking for them, and voila! You have the whole shebang. I've been using her brushes constantly this past year, and after touching my face with these babies, nothing else compares. The powder brush is a favorite of mine, as I find it packs on powder in two seconds with full coverage. It's super soft, too. The bronzer brush is also amazing. The shape is perfect for contouring around the cheekbones, jaw, and forehead, and it just blends everything to perfection. My only gripe with the two brushes mentioned above is that they are expensive and have a slight tendency to shed hairs and glue, but really the fact that they just do all the work for you is worth it. The rest of the brushes I use from Trish don't have a shedding problem! however. One of my favorite brushes to use ever is the 48 blending. It's the best brush I have ever used for blush. It picks up the perfect amount of product, and since it's small it puts it in all the right places and just blends your blush out for you perfectly. I love it so much I could write a poem about it. I also love the Trish medium lay down for my shadow, because again, it just picks up the right amount of product. The crease brush is also a loved one because it fits perfectly into my little crease and blends everything out into perfection. The precision smudge is also perfect for under the eye or to smoke out any dark liner on the upper lash line, and the angled liner brush is the best one I have ever used to get that perfect cat flick, as the bristles are stiff, but still flexible. Another star brush is the eyebrow brush. It is the most amazing brush ever for putting powder shadow into the brows and blending it to natural perfection. Perfect brows? Yes, please.

Bags: Trish McEvoy Makeup Planner

I know this is a makeup post, but I can't do a yearly favorites without mentioning this perfect bag that I've been using all year. Another star product from Trish McEvoy that has made her line so unique from the rest is the Trish planner. This is Franklin Covey for your makeup right here. I've depotted basically all my eyeshadows to fit into the magnetic pages (like mirrored z-palettes that you can put in a binder), and all my Trish products fit cozily in there, since her makeup is made for the pages. This saves a ton of packaging, by the way, for those of you who love to be environmentally friendly or just chic and sleek. The binder also has slots for brushes and tubed products and a handy pull-out mesh makeup bag that I use all the time for flights. I freaking love this makeup bag and don't know how I lived without it for so long. You need this!!!

If you want to see a lot of this stuff in action, you can watch these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-fQULFfoBI

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed raving about the products I've been using all year, and I'll see you soon for skincare, body, hair, and fragrance! Because better late than never.... :)

My favorite beauty bloggers and youtubers

There are so many youtubers and beauty bloggers out on the internet now, and sometimes I just don't have time to watch all of them. This is a list of bloggers that I always make time for, however. I trust all of them for good product recommendations, reviews, and tips, and they're also just fun to watch.

Lisa Eldridge
Lisa Eldridge has been in the makeup industry for years and probably does all of your favorite celebrities' makeup. Luckily, she passes on her expertise to us through her amazing youtube videos. Every time I watch her I learn something new, and it's always helpful to take her tips to my job when I'm doing peoples' makeup. She's also just so classy and calming to watch.

Caroline Hirons - Beauty Mouth
Caroline is probably the most amazing skincare expert, and I've definitely learned so much from her that's helped me with my skincare routine. She takes shit from no one and puts none of it out herself. If you just want to-the-point answers for your skincare questions, you should definitely follow her blog. I've spent hours just reading her past posts and skincare cheat sheets.

Emily - Emilynoel83, Beauty Broadcast
An ex-news anchor, Emily puts out very professional videos, and she's very well-spoken and educated. I also love just how honest she is. She will never accept money in return for reviews, so you know everything she says is what she thinks. She's basically tried everything out there, so her recommendations tend to be the most reliable for me (we also have a similar skin type and same skin color, so it's also helpful when I need to know my shade in a product - I just get the one she uses). I also really appreciate her taste for drugstore products. She knows something doesn't have to be high end in order for it to be awesome, and if she does use high end, you can be sure she'll throw some cheaper dupes your way. Check out her other channel, beauty broadcast express, for short but complete reviews of a different product everyday.

Alix - I Covet Thee
Whenever Alix puts up a video on youtube, I basically jump for joy. Her voice is relaxing, reviews are to the point and usually spot on (we also share the same skin type, so whatever works for her almost always works for me and my oily skin), and being as drop-dead gorgeous as she is, if anything she mentions can make me look like her, hell yeah, I'm buyin'.

Anna, Lily, and Amelia - Vivianna Does Makeup, Lily Pebbles (What I Heart Today), Liana Beauty
For those that want to read/watch a few girls who are just as obsessed about beauty as you are, Anna, Lily, and Amelia are the ones to follow. Their blog posts make me feel like I'm reading a magazine, and their pictures are fantastic. Follow them on instagram, too, and drool at all the beautiful makeup they post. They've also got some really amazing makeup tips and life-hacks that are easy enough for anyone to incorporate into their routines. And when they do videos together? It's always funny to watch.

Fleur - Fleur de Force
Fleur is actually one of the first beauty gurus I ever subscribed to. She doesn't beat around the bush, is honest, and has great recommendations. Any questions or doubts you could possibly have about a product, she answers them. If you follow her instagram, too, you'll get the most adorable pictures of her puppies that will basically just make your day.

Estée - Essiebutton
I watch Estée for her great product reviews, but I also watch her because she is so freaking hilarious. She's one of the only gurus who will literally make me laugh out loud while watching an empties video (hers are my favorites) or monthly favorites, and she's just someone you want to be best friends with. Her vlogs are great, too, and you'll get to watch her and her hilarious boyfriend and beautiful rescue greyhound on their daily adventures. Plus she's Canadian. How can you not love a Canadian???

Tati - Glamlife Guru
Tati is also one of those people who's super fun to watch, and she always has great tips for you that you might have never heard of. She dabbles in high-end and drugstore makeup, and she's another person I really trust when I'm shopping for a new product. If Tati gives her stamp of approval, I can usually count on a product to be good.

Jessica, Kate, and Meg. Jessica Beautician, gh0stparties, Lipssofacto/MeganIsobel
Jessica and Meg just know so much about skincare, and their personalities are just so magnetic. Kate is also one of the most funny people on youtube, and her instagram pictures (mostly of her kitty, Mouse) always make me smile.

Who are your favorite beauty bloggers?

Spanish Haulin'

So as I've run out of some things (and am about to run out of some things), I thought I'd do a little shopping and, of course, show y'all what I picked up. 

September Top 10

It's been a while since I've done any kind of favorites, but I've been loving a few things recently, so I thought I'd keep you updated. I picked out ten things that have been popping up a ton this month, and I highly recommend all of them. If you're in the market for something new, definitely check them out.

Little Spanish Haul

When I came to Spain from France, it was just after traveling, so I basically ran out of everything, and I was working on my travel size things. So I went to El Corte Inglés, think Macy's but with a grocery store and a CVS in it, to stock up on stuff.

French Pharmacy Haul #3

So you know when you go into a store for one really small thing and end up leaving with way more than you intended? That's what happened here. I needed to go to the pharmacy because I ran out of my shower gel, but I ended up walking out with a whole lot of things. I'll just start with the shower gel because it's what I actually went in for.

I got the Caudalie Thé Des Vignes scent this time, as I've already used Fleur de Vigne and Pêche de Vigne. Gotta change it up right? The scent's a little bit deeper than the two mentioned above, and it's just kind of warm and cozy. I really like it, and I have my eye on the perfume...

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.

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.

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!

March Favorites!

It's that time again, and this is what I've been loving most.

I forgot to mention this, but I've also been loving the Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunbronze. It's great for contour, it's matte, and it just looks natural. I will say though, for lighter skin tones, it might make you a bit orangey. It also gets a minus for packaging. Not a fan of a lid that just pops off. (I have the same problem with the Stay Matte powder, even though that actual product is my favorite powder from the drugstore).

I also forgot to mention my epilator. Got it off Hautelook, I love it, and I don't know what people are talking about... it doesn't really hurt that much... I can do a separate post on that though. 

Products mentioned in the video:

Trish McEvoy High Volume Mascara

Trish McEvoy Finish Line

Trish McEvoy planner and planner page

Trish McEvoy SPF 15 Mineral Powder

Trish McEvoy Blushes in Natural and Easy Going

Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturizer

Lancome Visionnaire 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with aloe, herbs, and rosewater

Mario Badescu Acne Repair kit

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion

Mario Badescu Drying Cream

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Ojon Damage Reverse Hair Serum

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh

Deborah Lippmann Nail File

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light

Revlon Colorstay Basecoat

Revlon Colorstay Topcoat

Rimmel Sun Bronze

Epilators

February Favorites

My favorites for the month of February! A few I have finished up at the beginning of this month, so look out for them in March Empties. 

Products mentioned:

Serge Normant Meta Silk Shampoo and Meta Velour Conditioner

Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum

Free Your Mane Reviving Spray

Caudalie Fleur de Vigne Shower Gel

Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42

Edward Bess Illuminating Eye Shadow Base in Suede

Revlon Colorstay Gel-Smooth Basecoat

OPI Number One Nemesis

Deborah Lippmann Lady Sings the Blues

Please use google to find prices and where to buy near you!

I'm a horrible person: CVS haul. Again. Also maize and blue nail marbling!!!

My dear friend told me there was a sale at CVS (Wet 'n' Wild BOGO), so I couldn't resist. I've had my heart set on getting these shadows after trying the Petal Pusher and Comfort Zone palettes. They're so gorgeous and pigmented. My favorite shadows ever. 

I'm Wearing Walking on Eggshells ($2.99) today, and it's so amazing. The colors blend so well and are just beautiful. These are dupes for Mac Shroom, Cork, and Naked Lunch, too. 

The Walking on Eggshells palette was free because I bought the eight-pan Blue Had me at Hello palette. These shadows are insanely pigmented, especially the bottom left Definer shade. It's crazy. I'm in love with the navy blue colors, and the matte black is super nice. Only $4.99 for all eight. :0)

I needed a highlighter, and Physicians formula was spend $10 get 7 Extrabucks. How could I resist? I got the one in Malibu Strip. It looks fine as a highlight, but it's not the greatest thing ever. I'll have to use it a bit more to review it fully though. It's kind of expensive, too ($13.79). 

 I needed some lip color, so I got Wet 'n' Wild (BOGO!). These are the moisturizing formula, so they're pretty slick. I like the shade on the left, and I plan on using it for Halloween (I'm going to be Marla from Fight Club), but the red isn't that great. The color feathers super badly. I would definitely not get it again. They don't taste or smell great. For $2.99 though, not too bad. 

I've been wanting to try these FOREVER. Maybelline was spend $10 get 3 Extrabucks, so that was my excuse to try them (they are kind of expensive at $6.99 each).

Tough as Taupe is a super pretty greige kind of color. It's kind of multidimensional. These apply so nicely with the fingers as well. 

I love Bad to the Bronze. It looks super cool blended out, and it applies so nicely. I'm definitely going to get some more of these. I have my eyes on Bold Gold and Pomegranate Punk.

After trying and falling in love with the Revlon Colorstay Topcoat (I had it over an OPI polish and it lasted for 6 days!!!), I decided to try the nail polish. Revlon was on offer, too, so I didn't feel too guilty about this. I got Pale Cashmere and Velvet Rope. ($7.79 each). They're kind of expensive for Drugstore nail polish, but I got 5 extrabucks at least.

I then marbled my nails for game day today. I used a dark shimmery blue and a gold. 

Here they are!

Go blue! Beat Sparty!!!

SO yeah. I was bad, but I got a lot of coupons out of that and $15 Extrabucks. My next purchase will be free right? :P

May Favorites

Sorry this is so late! It's almost time for a June favorites isn't it... I wasn't able to upload this video at my house because my internet's as slow as glass (which is a slow-moving liquid). Wow. I'm smart?

Kirkland angled blush brush


Bare Escentuals Full-coverage Kabuki Brush
 

Covergirl 24 hr lash blast 

Extra-virgin olive oil

CVS Cleansing Wash for sensitive skin

Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask


St. Ives Green Tea Scrub 

Lush Strawberry Feels Forever massage bar

Lush R&B hair moisturizer 

Kérastase Lait nutri-sculpt

Rosebud strawberry lip balm, minted rose lip balm, and cherry chapstick

Dior eyeshadows

April Favorites

This is my first monthly favorites blog! It's always hard for me to come up with favorites every month because I don't buy much. I've been trying this thing in which I use up all the products I have before I buy anything new in that category, and usually I'll just use something up and then buy its replacement (so that way I'll only have one of each necessity at all times, no random unused products lying about). However, after I've finished something, unless it's a holy grail kind of product, I like to buy something new to try out. For now, anyways, a lot of my favorites have been things I've owned but have just rediscovered or used in different ways.

First favorite of the month is my Smashbox concealer stick that I talked about in my daily makeup blog. I use the shade 4.0, which is dark for me in the winter months, but now that I've gotten some sun, it looks great. It covers my acne and dark spots and blends really easily. I had this hidden away for quite sometime, but I'm glad I pulled it out again.

My next favorite is my CVS feminine wash. I've been using it for a few months now as it's supposed to be used, but I've just started using it as a body wash as well, and it's been so great for my skin.

Yet another CVS product, and possible Holy Grail, is my serum for dark spots. I've never noticed such drastic results with a lightening product before. This feels great on, is hydrating, and really works. Love this.

My bar got really thin. I dropped it and it broke. :( Still usable though.

Lush's solid shampoo bar, Jumping Juniper, is my next favorite. I've had this since last July, but I've not been able to use it as often as I like because I've been at school (I find it hard to take solid products to the dorm showers because I haven't found a good way to store them so they don't melt away). Now that I'm in a place where I can keep my shampoo on a soap saver in the shower, I've been using this every day. I love how easy it is to use and how shiny it makes my hair. The lather is perfection.

I've just recently discovered the awesomeness of the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri topcoat, and I will never be without this again. Like it says, it dries super fast, leaving a glossy finish on any nail polish. Holy Grail, definitely. Nail routine post coming soon featuring this baby.

I've been loving the TRESemmé Climate Control Conditioner lately. It makes my hair really soft and manageable and it smells AMAZING. The only thing bad I have to say about this is that it doesn't completely smooth down the fuzz on the top of my head when I wake up in the morning. Nothing that a little Argan Oil before bed can't fix though, which I've also been loving. Full review on that later, though.

I've been really liking my 24-hour lashblast mascara. It looks really nice and stays put. It's hard to get off, but I've discovered that just using Extra Virgin Olive Oil will do the trick. Careful though: this stuff will smudge on the tops of your eyelids. Again, full review later.

I don't usually wear eyeliner, but I have been a bit more this month. I've had the Maybelline gel one in black for a long time now, and I really love it. It doesn't last all night if you wing it out far, but it lasts long enough. It applies really nicely with my angled liner brush from Target, and defines the eyes really nicely. Glad I pulled this one out of my makeup box.

So again, not many favorites this month, but I'll update you regularly anyway when I find products that are absolutely fantastic.

What are your favorites for April/in general? Have a happy May!!!