NOTD: Essie Fashion Playground

Hello Ladies! About a month ago I bought Fashion Playground by Essie, and it has quickly turned into a favorite. I don't normally reach for green nail polish, but I have worn this color a few times already. It is a pastel,  mint-green color, that is beautiful for the spring and summer. This color is part of Essie's Spring 2014 collection. This is the only polish I have from this collection, but there are a couple other nice shades.

This nail polish did need 3 coats to be opaque. That would be my only complaint, because it took so long for it to dry. I don't like to wear nail polish that is too crazy to work, but I feel comfortable wearing this color since this is such a soft green. I would recommend picking this polish up if you are looking for a nice green polish. 
Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already. Check it out here.  
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Does it Work: Cocoa Powder Tan

Hello! I hope everyone is having great week. I have seen a lot of great ideas on Pinterest, and a lot of not so great ideas. I thought it would be fun to have a series to try out some of the beauty ideas on Pinterest to see if they work and if they are worth giving a try. 
The first one I decided to try was the Cocoa Powder Tan. I'm not big into going to the tanner or laying on the sun, so a DIY tanner would be perfect to give my pale legs a little life. 
The directions said to mix 1/4 cup cocoa powder to 1 cup lotion. I decided not to make that much in case it didn't work, but I kept the 1:4 ratio the same.

I mixed 2 spoonfuls of the cocoa powder with Vaseline lotion. The first issue I had was mixing it together. It was hard to break apart all of the clumps of cocoa to make it entirely smooth. After a minute of mixing, it still wasn't completely smooth, but it was better. I put a small spoonful on my leg and started to rub it in. It was started going on very streaky and was hard to rub in. I was a little bit worried that it would leave a big, orange streak on my leg, but I wiped away the excess product and it took all of the color off with it. I can't say that I was too disappointed. If it would have left color behind it wouldn't have been even. 

Unfortunately this Pinterest idea did not work. Hopefully the next one we test will be better. 
Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already. here. 
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Giveaway **Closed**

Hello! Today I am excited because I am doing a giveaway. I have been wanting to do one for quite a while to thank everyone who reads my blog! I haven't tried all of the products, but a couple are my favorites. 
- Physicians Formula- Nude Wear Blush in Natural
-Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink
-Maybelline Nail Polish in Pretty in Peach and Coral Crush

a Rafflecopter giveaway Unfortunately the giveaway is only open to US residents. You must be 18 or older to enter, or have a parents permission :)
The giveaway will end August 4th.
Please let me know if you have any trouble entering. This is my first time using Rafflecopter.
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3 ways to add color to your eye makeup

Hello! I have been trying to add a little bit more color to my eye makeup lately. I am not one to wear a lot of colors, but I do like to add a small amount.

 

The first way is to add colored eyeliner to the bottom lash line. The top picture is with blue eyeliner and the bottom is green. I started by applying NYX Seafoam Green eyeliner. Since it is a nice blue/green color I used it for both of the looks. To complete the blue look, I used Shattered from Urban Decay's Ammo Palette over the liner with an angled eyeliner brush. Putting eye shadow over liner helps it last longer. For the green look I lined it with the color Mildew, also from the Ammo Palette.

For the second look I used Maybelline's Master Drama Eyeliner in Vibrant Violet to create a small winged eye. This eyeliner is easy to apply and glides nicely.

 For the last look I used Grifter in the Ammo Palette to highlight the inner corner of my eye. Since the color isn't very intense on its own, I used a white cream eyeshadow underneath to intensify it.

Let me know if you try any of these looks out. 
Thanks for visiting! 
 

Natural Makeup

Hello! I hope everyone had a great weekend and 4th of July.
Especially during the summer, I like to keep my makeup more on the natural side. These are some of my favorite products to use.

Foundation- A BB Cream or Tinted moisturizer is a great way to even out your skin tone without being too heavy, like a foundation can be. It is also nice because you can skip the step of applying moisturizer before the foundation because both tinted moisturizer and BB Cream moisturize. If you don't have these products, you can add a drop of moisturizer to your normal foundation to thin it out.

Blush- Cream blushes look more natural than powder because they blend into the skin better. Peachy and rose colors are a better choice because they give a natural flush. Physician Formula's Nude Wear gives a nice, sheer color to the cheeks if you are wanting to stay natural, but use a powder. 

Eyes- Eyes are my favorite part of makeup, so I still like to add some product, even when I am going for a natural look. The Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette is great for adding some dimension to your eyes. These are mostly matte colors that blend nicely together. I normally will go for a mascara that gives quite a bit of volume and length, but if you are looking for a mascara to give a little bit of color and separation, Maybelline's Great Lashes works well. Lastly, a brown gel eyeliner is nice to line the top lash line that is less dramatic than black.

Lips- Even when I am not going for a natural look I like to use Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Stains. They have a wide range of colors that go on light, but the color can is buildable and can be intensified. I also like to wear a nice nude. Right now, Nude Delight by Rimmel Moisture Renew is my favorite. 

What are your favorite products to use for a natural look?
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June Favorites

Hello! I can't believe that it is already July! This summer has flown by so far. I have a few favorites for this month that I wanted to share.

 

Paul Mitchell Full Circle Leave-In Treatment- I have been trying to wear my hair natural more often to give my hair a break from the heat. The Michigan humidity has made my hair a frizzy, hot mess. This product, along with a few other from Paul Mitchell has really helped reduce the frizz and make my curls look a lot better. I plan on doing an updated hair care routine soon. 

Loreal Butterfly Mascara- I feel like I have a new favorite mascara every couple of months. But this one makes my lashes look amazing. I normally find mascara either lengthens, or gives volume, but this one does a little of both. 

Yes to Grapefruit Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream- I can't say that this product help reduce dark circles, but it did a nice job moisturizing. I apply it underneath makeup and it helps my under eye concealer glide on. 

Nyx Single Eyeshadows- I have been wearing these two colors a lot this past month. I apply My Favorite Color  all over my lid, then use the color Rust in my crease. These shadows blend nicely and last for most of the day with a primer.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Pink Shock- This is a nice hot pink color. I have been wearing it on my toes. It lasted for a couple weeks before I had to redo them.

Sunbelt Bakery Oats and Honey Granola Bar- This is a random favorite, but these are so good. I have gone through so many boxes this month it is kind of embarrassing. They have no preservatives, which is a plus. I would recommend giving these a try. 

What are your favorites for the month?

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