Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Mask Review

Hello! Today we are talking about some skincare! Specifically a mask that I've been using lately.

I heard about Formula 10.0.6 a few years ago and have always wanted to try their skin care but kind of forgot about it for a while. I was looking for a new face mask at Ulta and found a display of this brand. I have to admit that I was kind of drawn on by their packaging because it's fun and colorful but so simple, and that this was a bit of an impulse buy. But upon reading their website, they claim to use fresh and natural ingredients, which is a total win in my book. However, they were a bit vague in this description so I'm not sure how 100% these claims are! This is also a super affordable brand, and that's always a plus!

On to the mask I bought!

When I use face masks, I prefer to use some type of mud mask. I chose the Pores Be Pure Skin Clarifying Mud Mask.

About this mask from Formula 10.0.6 website

"Pores Be Pure is the skin-clarifying mud mask that helps to eliminate impurities and clear blocked pores. With the help of Strawberry, Yarrow, and Rosemary, Pores Be Pure provides your skin with instant complexion perfections. Packed with anti-oxidants for clear skin."

I chose this one because when I was looking at the ingredients, I saw this mask had Kaolin Clay in it, which my skin responds well to. They also had another mask, called Deep Down Detox, which was also a mud mask containing Kaolin, and was orange scented. I chose the Pores Be Pure because I thought the strawberry scent sounded better. 

My Thoughts-

Overall, I enjoy this mask, but it isn't anything special. I really love the way it smells with the Strawberry scent. I can't smell the yarrow (I don't even know what yarrow smells like?) or the rosemary, which is nice. The scent is very light and not overpowering. 

This mask does feel a little bit tingly/hot on my face but it's nothing serious and doesn't bothers me. I've had masks that burn before and I can't deal with those, but this one is okay. The sensation goes away after it's been on my face for a minute or two. 

My skin does feel really nice and clean after using this, but I haven't really seen any changes in my skin. I'll definitely finish this up, and I do want to try more from this brand. I say if you want to try this out, it's worth a try but I'm not sure if I'd repurchase it! 

Have you tried any products from Formula 10.06 before? If so leave your thoughts on them in the comments! 

Everyday Makeup Routine

It's been a while since I've share a makeup look here on my blog! I thought I'd share my simple and go to, everyday makeup look that I've been wearing lately. I usually opt for lighter eyemakeup during the week (if I actually do my makeup), and save a full eye look for weekends or if I have go somewhere important.

PRODUCTS I USED

BASE + FACE MAKEUP

I rarely ever use a face primer anymore unless I do my makeup earlier in the day and want it to last, or if I have somewhere special to go so that is why no primer is pictured. For foundation I've been using my Covergirl Healthy Elixir Foundation. For concealer and setting power I use Mac Pro Longwear and Rimmel Stay Matte, these are my two holy grails. My go to bronzer has been the Stila Stay all Day Bronzer, I use it to warm up my face and a light contour. For blush I've been reaching into my Morphe 9N blush palette for this look I used the peachy shade in the very center (middle shade, second row). Since this blush has some shimmer, I skipped a highlight.

BROWS

The only brow products I ever use is Nyx Micro brow pencil and Essence Gimme brow gel. They are just the best brow products.

EYES

I always prime with Mac Painterly paint pot, even if I don't wear shadow. It conceals any darkness or discoloration on my lids. For shadow I honestly just take my blending brush and dip it into my Bronzer, blend it into my crease and under my lash line. Then I've been using L'Oréal Amber Rush shadow all over my lid. It's light, pretty, and gives a little color and shimmer without being too much. I tight line with L'Oréal Silkissime liner so my lashes look fuller, and finish up with L'Oréal Lash Paradise mascara (missed my review? Check it out here!)

FINISHED LOOK

I forgot to add my lipstick in the photo above, so here it is with the makeup look photos. I absolutely love this mini Tarteist lip paint in Birthday Suit that came with the Sephora birthday gift. It's literally the best color of life, and the most comfortable liquid lipstick I've ever worn. I want need the full size.

So there's my everyday makeup look and routine! I probably should have filmed this for my YouTube channel but *shrugs*.

EXTRAS!

I reached 600 followers on my 2nd Instagram account that I have for my Etsy Store! In honor of reaching 500 last week, I'm holding a giveaway over there and I'm over the moon that I already grew to 600 in just a few days. 

I'd love for you all to enter the giveaway, and win some goodies from my Etsy Store! Checkout my giveaway post on my MoonElements Instagram for more details!

L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara Review

Hello! Happy Wednesday!

There has been a ton of hype and hoo-ha over the new L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara lately. I heard it's a good dupe for the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, which I personally haven't tried, but I also heard from some that it's even better. My curiosity got the best of me and I had to try this mascara out. Everyone has been obsessed with it so I had to see if this lived up to it's claims of being the best drugstore mascara out there right now. I've been testing this out for exactly one month today, and I'm ready to share my thoughts on it!

It comes in an adorable baby pink tube, and has a brush thats slightly shaped like an hourglass. I usually prefer wands that are smaller and plastic, but I don't mind regular ones if the mascara is good. I believe I bought this for $9.99 at target. 

This mascara claims to have "a silky smooth formula to glide evenly and easily. Volumizing and lengthening to deliver a full lash fridge that's feathery and soft. No flaking or clumping."

I'm not going to lie, when I first tired this I did not like it. I seriously couldn't understand why everyone was raving about this. I didn't care for the formula, and thought it was kind of dry and sticky. I thought it made my lashes long, but didn't give them any thickness. I'm not a fan of the original L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, so I also wasn't surprised that I didn't like this either. After a week or so, I just thought it was OK, and nothing special.

AND THEN I CHANGED MY MIND.

I'm not completely obsessed, but I kind of am.

So here is the first time I used it. No mascara on the top two photos, and 3 to 4 coats on the bottom two. I know I said I didn't like it at first, and some of you may be wondering why. If I saw this photo of someone else's lashes, I'd probably think it looked great and that they are crazy for not liking it. Let me explain. I'm ridiculously picky when it comes to mascaras. This didn't give me as much thickness to my lashes like other ones do (e.i. Covergirl Supersizer and Maybelline Lash Sensational), so its hard for me not to compare it to ones that I love. 

Now let me tell you what changed my mind. Like most mascaras, the formula changes a bit after the tube is open and you use it for a week or two. After two week I started to like this more and more. It coasts my lashes better now and I get a ton of length, along with the thickness that I like my lashes to be. It also gives me really great volume and curl, and I love the way it looks on my bottom lashes. It doesn't flake or smudge on me like the claims state. You can see the difference in the top to photos (first week), and the bottom two (after two weeks), where my lashes are thicker in the bottom photos. I really like wearing this on days that I don't wear any shadow or eyeliner. Also, like L'Oreal claims, it does give you lashes a very feathery look. 

My only gripe with this is that my lashes seem to 'fall' throughout the day. They don't look as fresh and when the mascara is first applied. But this is easy to reapply if needed, which is nice because I find that some mascaras are hard to reapply after its all dried and such.

So do I think that this is the Mascara God's gift to earth? Not exactly, but it's pretty darn good. The more I use it, the more I like it. I do prefer the Maybelline Lash Sensational still, but I've been reaching for this more than my beloved Covergirl Supersizer.

I haven't decided if I'll repurchase it again yet. I'm going to revisit the Maybelline one after this is gone and then see if I miss the Lash Paradise. 

Have you tried out the L'Oreal Lash Paradise yet? Let me know your thoughts on it in the comments!

Naked Heat | Review, Swatches, and Makeup Looks

I'm not going to lie, I went crazy after seeing the new Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. Everyone seemed to have mixed feelings about it, either they were excited or they weren't. I've been a fan of the Naked Palettes for years, and always get excited over the new UD releases. I don't use my naked palettes often any more, and can agree with many others when they say that there is better quality palettes out there. But I can honestly say, I think that the Naked Heat palette is the best naked palette yet. The. Best.  And forwarming, this post is going to be very picture heavy, and this review will be way too long and detailed will be pretty lengthy!

 What initially drew me to this palette was the color scheme, not the fact that it's a new naked palette. I'm obsessed with warm, reddish, orange, and rusty shades. It's what I wear on a daily basis, so of course I wanted to get my hands on it.

The packaging is nice, it's the same as the Naked Smoky palette (hard plastic with magnetic closure) , rather then the usually metal tin or cardboard like the first three. I like this packaging the best so far. I think that UD put a lot of thought into not only the packaging, but also the box that it came in.

The palette comes with a double ended brush. I think UD makes great brushes, so it's always nice to see them included in the palettes.

Here is photos of the palette without the flash (top) and with a flash (bottom). You get a nice mix of matte and shimmed shades, but what's different about this palette is that you get MORE mattes than shimmers. Usually the naked palettes only have 2-3 mattes. (first 3), and the smoky has equal mattes/shimmers. This palette has 7 matte shades and 4 shimmers. It also includes a satin off white shade that is mostly matte but has a tiny bit of sheen to it (think the first shade in the naked basics palette).

Swatches

And here are swatches with and without the flash.

From left to right (top photos)- Ounce, Chaser, Sauced, Low Blow, Lumbre, He Devil

(bottom photos)- Dirty Talk, Scorched, Cayenne, En Fuego, Ashes, Ember

Formula, Pigmentation, and all that Jazz

Lets talk about about the quality these shadows before I share the makeup looks. The pigmentation is amazing and these shadows have really great formulation to them. These are the best quality shadows that I've ever seen in a Naked palette before. The matte shades are so creamy and blend out amazingly. They remind me of how great the matte shades in the naked basics palettes are, especially the Ultimate Naked Basics. The shimmer shades as also amazing. They apply so well with a brush or your finger. They also foil really well when using a wet brush.

Makeup Looks

I found it easy to create a ton of different makeup looks with this palette. You can create a natural/neutral look using the first few matte shades, or you can go all the way to super smokey with using the right end of the palette. The shades Lumbre (second to last on top photos), Dirty talk (first on bottom photos), and Scorched (second on bottom photos) all look similar when looking at them in the palette, but they are all completely different when used on the eyes in a makeup look.

Here is the most natural of the makeup looks that I created, and this has been my go to makeup look lately.

I used Chaser as my transition shade. I used Sauced and Low Blow in my crease, and Cayenne in the outer corner and to deepen the crease. I used Ounce all over my lid and under my brow bone, and Cayenne on the lower lash line. 

For this look I use Chaser as a transition, Sauced and Low Blow in my crease. He Devil and Cayenne to deepen my crease, and Dirty Talk all over my lid, with Ounce as my brow bone highlight, and Cayenne on the lower lash line. 

This next one is my favorite look that I created with this palette so far. 

I used Chaser for transition, Low Blow in my crease, Cayenne and En Fuego to deepen my crease, and Lumbre all over my lid. En Fuego on the lower lash line. I think Lumbre is my favorite shade in the palette. 

And for this last one I used Sauced and Low Blow as a transition/crease shade, He Devil to deepen my crease, and Cayenne and En Fuego in the outer corner. I used Ember on the outer half of my lid, and Scorched on the first half. I used Ember on the lower lash line. 

My Overall Thoughts

-Overall I think this is an amazing palette, and like I said It's my favorite naked palette yet. I also think its the best quality of them all. The pigmentation is great, the formula is buttery and smooth, and they blend really well. 

-I love all of the shades, and I think they work well with my green eyes to make them stand out. That's probably my favorite thing about the palette. 

-I love the fact that there is more matte than shimmer shades.

-If you are thinking about purchasing this palette, I definitely recommend it! Its definitely worth the money!

Have you picked up the Naked Heat palette yet? What are your thoughts on it?

Burt's Bees Review | Natural Acne Solution Cleanser + Brightening Refining Tonic

Hello! I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend! I'm excited that it's almost the weekend again!

Today I'm sharing some Burt's Bees Skin Care reviews. I'm a huge fan of their Natural Acne Solution toner, as it's one of the best I've ever used for my combo-oily and acne prone skin. I accidentally picked up their Natural Acne Solution Cleanser, because the packaging is pretty much identical to the toner. It's the same size and label. I actually wanted to try out this cleanser anyways so I wasn't that upset about it. BUT I did realize I bought the wrong product after I arrived on vacation in Maryland LOL. To shorten this long story, I went to walgreen across from our hotel to purchase the correct toner, which they didn't have, which led to me getting the Brightening Refining Tonic instead. And here I am doing reviews for both products.

Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser
Product claims via Burt's Bees website -
Our best acne face wash is clinically proven to help cleanse away acne-causing bacteria, excess oil and impurities without over-drying or irritating skin. Salicylic Acid, derived naturally from Willow Bark Extract, penetrates pores to help reduce acne and prevent future breakouts, in our natural purifying gel cleanser, while Evening Primrose and Beet Root Extracts help calm acne prone skin. The result is naturally clear and healthy-looking skin.

• Clinically proven to wash away acne causing bacteria, excess oil and impurities
• Soothes acne-prone skin
• Non-irritating
• Helps reduce acne and prevent breakouts with Salicylic Acid from Willow Bark
• Noncomedogenic
• Dermatologist Tested

This Cleanser is recommend for oily skin. I have combo normal to oily and and sensitive skin and this works well for me. It can be drying so if you have dry skin, I wouldn't recommend this. I totally agree with it's claims of being non irritating, and  helping to soothe and reduce Acne. It's honestly a great Cleanser and my face feels amazing and clean afterwards. My only issue with it (and the Acne Solutions toner) is that the bottles are small, and I run out of them fast. I do really like this, but I haven't decided if I'm going to repurchase it yet due to how quickly I use it up. If you have a skin type similar to mine and you skin responds well to Salicylic Acid, then I definitely recommend trying this (and the toner!) out!

Brightening Refining Tonic
Claims from Burt's Bees website
Clinically proven to help improve the appearance of surface dullness, revealing a more even skin tone in as few as 4 weeks,* our tonic is infused with Daisy Extract and effectively removes lingering traces of dirt oil and makeup. Use as a part of your daily regimen for a brighter and more even complexion, naturally.

*When used as part of a regimen with Brightening Facial Cleanser, Refining Tonic, Eye Treatment, Dark Spot Corrector and Even Skin Tone Moisturizing Cream. Product’s color is derived from natural ingredients and may vary.

• Helps visibly even skin tone
• Creates a brighter, more luminous complexion
• Removes lingering traces of dirt, oil, and makeup
• Dermatologist Tested

Like I mentioned earlier, I only picked this up because the store was out of the Acne Solutions toner and this was the only other Burt's Bees toner, and a more natural brand of skin care, avalible. This doesn't have a recommend skin type, but it's a pretty gentle toner. It's not my favorite, as I like the Acne Solutions ones much better. However, this hasn't irritation or broke out my skin, so that's a definitely a plus.  It claims to brighten and even out skin tone in as few as 4 weeks. I've been using this for about 3 weeks and haven't noticed much different in my skin tone. My only issue with this one is that the color of the toner is yellowish, so its hard to tell if it removes any excess makeup from my skin. I probably won't repurchase this because it's not my favorite, but it is a decent toner and worth trying.

So those are my thoughts on the Burt's Bees products that I've been testing! Over all I've been pleased with what I've tried from Burt's Bees skincare, and I have a few others on my wish list that I want to try out, especially from their acne solutions line! It's also a huge plus that in average Burt's Bees products are 99% natural, and over half of them are 100% natural! Natural skin care has worked wonders for my skin!

Have you tried any Burt's Bees skin a care before? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

June Favorites

This month went by so fast! It's only the start of summer but I feel like time is flying by. Today I'm sharing my makeup and lifestyle favorites for June. Last month in May I combined beauty and lifestyle favorites together, rather than doing weekly lifestyle favorites like I was in the past. This works out for me because my makeup favorites seem to be at a minimum these days!

Makeup & Beauty Products

You are going to see a peach toned theme here- but I've been reaching for my Too Faced Semi Sweet palette a lot, along with the Kat Von D Everlasting blush in Wish, and Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick. These have all been staples for me recently, and my go to foundation has been The Estee Lauder Double Wear. This has been my holy grail for a few years now. The Semi Sweet Palette is such a great warm toned natural palette and I used the heck out of it when I first got it a few years ago. I'm pretty sure these KVD blushes are discontinued, which makes me sad because they have a great formula. Wish is a peachy neutral shade that's great for everyday. Lastly, Mac Velvet Teddy has been a favorite of mine for years. Again, great peachy nude shade!

I've been trying out a new self tanner, and have been really loving this one. I bought the NKD SKN self tanner at Ulta a month or so ago. I love that it's organic and that it looks really natural on the skin. Plus it's super affordable, only $20! Does anyone want a review on this? Let me know and I will do one!

Food

I found a new favorite protein bar! These are the GFB (the gluten free bar) protein bars.  These are vegan, soy and dairy free, gmo free , and gluten free. They have some good ingredients and aren't loaded with a bunch of crap that other standard brands are (Quaker, special k, etc). I love the peanut butter flavor the best!

I've been making these tofu wontons so much! My hubby and I are obsessed and can't stop eating them. I crumble up come tofu and fry it in a pan with with veggies and teriyaki sauce, stuff the wontons and fry them, and then eat them with coconut aninos or soy sauce. You can put whatever you want inside these wonton wraps, they are so good!

Netflix

I binge watched the crap out of Riverdale and I'm completely obsessed with this show. It's soooo good! If you haven't watched it yet, I definitely recommend it. I've also been watching Weeds, and I think there are a few shows coming to Netflix in July that I'm super excited about. 

What are some of your favorites this month? Share them with me in the comments!

Spring Morning Routine + Instagram GIVEAWAY

Hi lovely people! For today's post, I'm going to share my current morning routine. It's changed quite a bit since my last one that I did, so I thought I'd share it with you! I think I got some of my blogging inspiration back, and I have a few posts (and videos!) in mind. It seems like Wednesday's and Friday's work for me best, but I'm keeping an open mind to Tuesday's and Tuesday's as well. For now I'm trying to post twice a week, so sometime between Tuesday-Friday I should show up on your blog news feed!

Before I get into my morning routine, I wanted to let you all know that I'm doing a giveaway right now on my Instagram page for my Etsy Shop! ((@moonelements)).  I'm giving away a necklace from my shop, which is a quartz crystal with a crescent moon crescent moon  on it! I'd love for you all to enter! You can check out my post on Instagram for more details!  If you leave a comment on this blog post saying you are entering, I'll give you a bonus entry!

I don't have a set time where I wake up in the morning. Being able to work from home, I'm fortunate to be able to let myself wake up when my body wants to, and not half to set an alarm. I like to lay in bed for a few and wake up, cuddle with my fur balls, etc. before getting up. Another thing I like to do that is not pictured is to drink a big glass of water or herbal tea when I first wake up.

After I wake up, I wash my face and do my morning skin care routine, brush my teeth, all that good stuff. My skin care for the morning just consists of my Lush Coal Face, Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel, and Lush Celestial Moisturizer. I will do a post on my nighttime skincare routine soon!

Next if I'm hungry, I'll eat some breakfast. Which is usually some kind of fruit, a smoothie, or some oatmeal. This day I made oatmeal, and loaded it up with some goodies. I added in a chopped apple, some raisins, some chia seeds, and some hemp seeds.

After I finish breakfast I get ready for the day. Sometimes I don't get ready, it just depends on what  I'm doing that day. Here is some makeup that's currently in my routine!

Then I get to work! I've been working hard on my Etsy shop, so I've been on my computer almost non stop. I also bought a planner, and each day I check out what's going on, what I have to do, and add in anything I need to for the upcoming days. My planner is super simple, but anyone wants to see a planner post from me, let me know! I created my own cover for it and decorate the inside a little bit!

And that pretty much is what fills up my morning and afternoon! Some days I don't work as much if I have errands to run like grocery shopping, sending out packaging, or sneaking in some World of Warcraft playtime ;).

What does your morning routine look like? Share it with me in the comments! And don't forgot to enter my MoonElements Instagram Giveaway!

March Favorites | Beauty + Haircare

Hello! Happy Friday!

The end of March has arrived, so that means it's time to do another monthly beauty favorites post! Like usual, I have a few makeup products that I've been using quite a bit, and one hair care product.

 I mentioned last month that I was going to do monthly 'shop my makeup stash posts' but I figured that I would just share those items that I've been using and enjoying in favorites posts instead. It seems silly to share them twice, because most of the product would likely end up here anyways.

Starting off with makeup, the two eyeshadow palettes I've been using the most are the Tartelette in Bloom and the Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basics palette. I swear, if I had to get rid of all my palettes except two of them, these are the two that I would keep. I love them that much. The In Bloom palette has to my all time favorite and go to palette. And the UD one is just such great quality, and has such good matte shadows in it. It's simple and pretty for everyday. I know this palette might not seem necessary if you have the other UD naked palettes, but I can't get enough of it.

I've also been using my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette a lot recently. I used the heck out of this thing when I first bought it a few years ago, and it's been nice to revisit it.

My favorite foundation this month has been the Urban Decay Naked Skin. Mine is almost gone so I hope to pick up another one soon. This will be the 3rd bottle that I've used up!

And the last makeup product is Mac Viva Glam 2 lipstick. It's a great nude lipstick that matches perfect with both of the eye looks I do with the two palettes I mentioned above.

Last but certainly not least, I've been trying out a new shampoo, which is the Yes to Coconuts ultra moisture coconut and argan oil shampoo. This stuff smells amazing and makes my hair feel amazing too. It's made with mostly natural ingredients and it's cruelty free!

What are some of your favorites for March? Share them with me in the comments!

Friday Favorites | Current Lifestyle Favorites

Happy Friday! Who else is happy that Spring is here?! I definitely am, even though I don't exactly trust that it isn't done snowing yet. We did have a nice day earlier this week where it was in the 50s, but that quickly turned back into the 20s. None the less, I know warmer weather is on its way, and that definitely has me excited.

I thought I would do a Friday Favorites today and share some lifestyle things that I've been enjoying.

First though, I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who left me such sweet and encouraging comments on post earlier this week on cruelty free makeup. All of the great feedback really meant a lot to me because it was a post that I was honestly nervous out of my mind to post. I love you all for the encouragement you showed me!

Back to my lifestyle favorites. Honestly, not much has been going on in my life lately. I feel rather boring as these might not be the most exciting things that I've posted before, but hopefully some of you will get some enjoyment out of it! Even though nothing too exciting has been going on, I have been working on some projects that I'm crazy excited about. These things have been taking up a lot of my time and thoughts but other than that, here are the things that I've been into!

Favorite Recipe || One of my go to dinners is tacos. I've been making these like crazy. All it has in it is black beans, corn, rice, and salsa. I cook my beans and corn while my rice is in my rice steamer. Once they are all done, I mix everything together with salsa and taco sauce. I add guacamole to a tortilla and add in the mixture. It's so soo good and simple. Also, a lot of you asked in my last 'what I eat in a day post' if my husband eats meat or plant based with me. He does eat meat, but also eats most of the plant based meals that I make. So sometimes when I make this, he adds in taco meat as well. If you want to make this recipe and want meat also, just cook your taco meat and add it on top of the mixture, also add cheese, sour cream, lettuce, etc. as you wish! However, this is amazing as it is, and I hope you all try it out this way too!

Favorite Workout || Hubby and I have been doing P90X. We're trying to change our lifestyle and workout and eat healthy. This workout program is definitely not easy, but I'm excited to have a program to follow! I'm sore as hell as we speak (as I'm typing?) but I'm also excited to get in shape and do good for my body.

Favorite on TV || Is anyone else a Survivor fan?? I've seriously been watching this show since I was like 10 when the first season came out. I got my husband into it as well, and this new season came on tv 3 weeks ago and its sooo good!

Favorite Game || I don't think a lot of you are into games but I'm definitely a nerd at heart. We bought the new Nintendo Switch and I'm completely obsessed with the new Legend of Zelda game. It's so good and we've been anticipating this game for what feels like years! Honestly, this has been taking up a majority of my free time, I'm not going to lie.

Favorite Quote || And lastly, I'm ending this with my favorite quote. I read this the other day and it really hit home. It's something that I needed to read and keep in my mind. I don't think that I've had the best focus lately, and that has been something that has gotten me down mentally reading this quote has definitely help get my mindset right!

I hope you all enjoyed my current lifestyle favorites!

And now I have a question for YOU! For those of my blogger friends who make videos, what video editor do you use? I had some issues with iMovie the last time I tried to use it, and I will try it again, but I'm looking for some other options. I'm seriously the least tech savvy person in the world, and I get super discouraged when I try to figure out things like movie editors and can't figure them out. My husband has a nice one on his computer but it seems really complicated. I would like something easy to use. And I really need to stop using the 'I can't figure out my movie editor' excuse as to why I'm not making videos!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! Do you have any fun plans? Let's chat in the comments!

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation

Hi friends!

I've been testing out the new Wet n' Wild Photo Focus Foundation for about a month now and I though I would share my thought on it with all of you. I was pretty excited when this Foundation came out, and after hearing a ton of amazing hype about it, I definitely knew I had to try it. Wet n' Wild is a brand that's been on my radar lately because 1. they are cruelty free, and 2. they are ridiculously affordable.

I don't normally have high hopes for cheaper drugstore makeup, even though you and I both know that dispite there being tons of gems in the drugstore among the hits and misses of certain brands, I always assume the worst for some reason. But after hearing all the hype of this in the beauty community, (and my drugstores being out of stock of this baby for weeks) I did in fact, have high hopes.

This foundation comes in 20 different shades and it is said to have been tested in 7 different types of lighting conditions to make your skin look flawless in every single one of them. Those seem to be some hefty claims, and if you want to read more about which light settings they tested in then you can click here.

This foundation is ridiculously affordable at $5.99, which had me even more curious to try it.

The packaging is really nice, with a glass bottle and there is a spatula attached to the lid for easy application. I thought this was a bit weird at first, but I actually like it. I prefer foundations that come with some type of applicator, so that was a win in my book.

My Thoughts

-This foundation applies really nice and has a great formula. It goes on matte, which is always a plus for my combo oily skin. It dries super fast, which I've heard complaints about, but doesn't bother me since I apply my foundation in sections.

-It has medium coverage that I don't find to be very buildable. It feels light weight on the skin.

-I've applied it with a beauty blender, the Sigma F80, and the Wet n Wild Flat Top brush, and they all work well and pretty much the same. I've also tested it with a few different primers, and setting sprays, concealers, etc. and always seem to get the same results with it.

-I do find this to be long wearing, but my only complaint is that my face does feel pretty oily at the end of the day. However, even though my face feel a bit oily, the makeup still looks good and doesn't look like a cakey mess. I'm not sure I would recommend this to someone with super oily skin, unless you can get it to work with some good mattifying products.

So overall, this isn't the absolute best foundation that I've tried, but I think it's pretty good for how affordable it is. For now, I'm really enjoying it and it's been my most used foundation lately. I'm attempting to go cruelty free with my makeup so this is one that I will definitely reconsider repurchasing in the future.

Have you tried the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation? 

February Favorites

Hello! Today I'm sharing my monthly favorites for February. I don't have many favorites this month, but I thought I'd share a few things that I've been enjoying anyways. 

The makeup favorites this month are minimal, mostly because I just did a 'shopping my stash' post last week, which are most of the products that I've been using. If you want to check that post out, click here, and you can see some makeup that I've been using and loving over there!

First up is the Derma E Purifying Daily Detox Scrub. This stuff is seriously awesome and I love how it feels on my face, and how my face feels after I use it. I did a more in depth review on it here if you want to see more of my thoughts on it. 

The first of the two makeup products I've been using is a blush by Majolica Majorca that I bought a while ago when I wanted to try out some Asian makeup brands. I mostly bought it because the packaging is adorable, but I did really love this when I first got it and used it a ton. I pulled it last week, after I did my shopping my stash post, and have been using it everyday since. The shade I have is a pretty peachy shade that looks natural and give a light flush of color to my cheeks. 

The second makeup product is the Colourpop Ultra Satin Liquid lipstick in the shade Littlestitous. I love the shade and it's a great everyday pink/nude. My only issue with this is that it stains my lips hot pink. My ultra matte one that I have does the same. Has anyone else had this happen to them with these?

My last two items are two new essential oils that I bought from Eden's Garden. I picked up a new Peppermint oil, which is my most used essential oil, and I also picked up one called Head Ease which is a blend for headaches. It's a nice lighter blend that's soothing. I like diffusing it as well as using it topically for headaches. I still prefer peppermint if my headache is really bad, but head ease is a nice edition to my collection. 

What are some products that you've been loving this month? Share them with me in the comments! 

Shop my Stash | February

Hi friends! How was your weekend? For today's post I'm sharing which makeup products I've pulled out recently that I've been negleticing. Shopping in my own makeup stash is nice to revisit some old favorites of mine that have been overshadowed by others or newer things.

 I seriously neglect too much of the makeup I own, so I'm sharing some things that I've put into my rotation recently! I'm hoping to do posts like this monthly so I can make myself reach for different options in my makeup collection more.

CHEEK PRODUCTS

First up is cheek products. I've been using both the Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil and the original Chocolate Soleil for bronzing and contouring. I was never a fan of the milk chocolate for contouring because it was a bit orange, so this was a bronzer that I use to dislike and I preferred the original. This was before I bronzed up my face on a daily basis and would just contour instead (makeup mistakes I use to make I suppose?). I pulled the milk chocolate out last week and tried tried it for bronzing and I loved it. So I also pulled out the original Chocolate Soleil which I have a mini size of, and used it for contouring. They make a great combo!

Next is two highlighters. I love the Lorac light souring highlight in moonlight and have talked about it many times. I wasn't reaching for it a lot so I make an effort to use it more again. I also pulled up my NARS Multipul in Copacabana, which hasn't been using in forever. I've had this thing for years, it was the first highlighter I ever bought LOL. I was checking to see if it was still creamy, and it definitely was. I never use to be a fan of cream highlighters but now I enjoy them more. This one is beautiful, and if also pairs well with the lorac one on top of if!

FACE PRODUCTS

I bought a smaller size of the Smashbox primer water a while ago and haven't used it much. Most of the Smashbox printers have made my face breakout, and I've kind of thought this one did too. But instead of spraying it directly on my face with nothing else but moisturizer on it, I'm trying it out as kind of a setting spray instead.

I also pulled out my Australis brow kit. I get bored with my routines often, so I started using this again. I use the powder and wax to add some color to my brows first, and then go in my with Nyx brow pencil. Also, please excuse the messy packaging, I need to clean this thang.

EYESHADOW PALETTES

The two shadow palettes I've been giving love to are the Lorac Pro 3 and my Mac palette. I've been into more natural makeup looks and both these palettes are good for that. The Pro 3 is super neutral and soft toned so it makes for a good everyday makeup palette. And my Mac palette is super easy for me to through a shadow look together in a minute or two.

Have you been shopping your makeup stash lately? What makeup products are in your current everyday rotation?

Nyx Ritualistic Illuminator Review

Hello! Happy Valentines Day lovelies!

Today I'm sharing my thoughts on the newest edition to my highlighter collection. I received the Nyx Illuminator in Ritualistic in the Ulta beauty box I received in December from their joy it forward program. I haven't tried any highlighters from Nyx, so I was happy to see this in my box. I'm going to try and keep this review short and sweet so I don't ramble on too much!

These Nyx illuminators come in a few different shades. Ritualistic is a pretty white gold shade, which is what I tend to gravitate towards when choosing highlights. These are super affordable at $8.99 and can be found at Ulta, and Nyx's website. Target may have them as well, but I haven't personally looked. My local target just stepped up their game and added a tons of Nyx makeup, which is a nice change from their small section they use to have.

From Ulta's website 

"Brighten up your skin with any of these Illuminators by NYX Cosmetics. The radiant shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow. Gleam through the day wearing any of these Illuminators for a natural touch of radiance! Complements the structure of the face with a touch of luminosity."

My Thoughts

This definitely matches the description and brightens up your skin with a subtle glow. It is not a super intense highlighter, and anyone who loves a nice subtle sheen to their cheeks should check this out. The formula isn't super soft or buttery (like Anastasia or Becca highlighters), so I think that makes it perfect for not picking up too much product and giving you a highlight seen from space. I love the white golden shade of it, and I'm enjoying wearing this on days that I don't want an intense highlighter. It's super affordable too, and total steal! 

Have you tried any of the Nyx Illuminators before? If so, share your thoughts on them in the comments! 

January Favorites

OK guys. I've officially given up on posting my 2016 beauty favorites. I thought I got my movie editor working and all figure out but things went wrong when it was processing. So I'm just going to move on and try again with the next video I film. Let's talk about my favorites for January instead!

Makeup Favorites

Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basics. I started using this last month in December and it's been the palette that I've reached for this most when wearing eyeshadow. I don't want to talk too much about it, but I reviewed it HERE if you want to see why I love it!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. I picked this up for the first time a few months ago, and it's been my go to concealer for everyday wear. I like its super creamy formula.

Mac Pro Longer blush in Make you Mine. I share this in my last haul post (check it out here!). It's a pretty nude/salmon shade and I love the formula of it. I'll do a review with swatches soon! 

Kat Von D Shade + Light blush duo in Mickey and Mallory. This has been a favorite of mine since early last year. I've talked about it a ton on my blog, but its my perfect everyday blush shade.

Nar Lipgloss in Chelsea Girls. This little mini Nars lipgloss is the first Cars gloss that I've tried, and I love the formula and color of it. It's a pretty nude/pink thats great for quick natural makeup days.

Skin Care

Schmidt's Natrual Deodorant Bergamot and Lime. I've mentioned this brand of deodorant before when I have the lavender scented one. I love both scents a lot, and I'm enjoying this lime one. It smells very citrusy and fresh, and this is an amazing brand of natural deodorant.

Lush Sleepy Hand and Body Lotion. This has been my everyday hand and body moisturizer all of January. Lush makes amazing lotions and this is definitely one of my favorites. It has a lavender scent and smells really great.

Lush Bubbly Shower Gel. I got this mini size for Christmas and I've already used it up. I really enjoy this and will definitely be purchasing a full size sometime in the future!

Lush Honey Trap.  This is another product that I've mentioned millions of times. It's my all time favorite lip balm that I recently repurchased. I swear every time I buy this stuff again I love it even more.

What are some of your favorites for January? Let me know in the Comments!