NOTD Essie Chinchilly

Hello! I am so glad the weekend is finally here. Last week I had an interview for a paraprofessional position with one of the local schools. I was excited, but nervous. While shopping for an outfit to wear, I stopped to take a look at the nail polishes. I had been wanting a gray for a little while, and when I saw Chinchilly, I thought it could work for the interview too.  That same day I had my interview I got a call that I got the job! I can't wait to get started next week.

 Chinchilly is a classic gray, with a hint of purple undertone. It is a gorgeous color that is perfect for the office. The only issue that I had with it is that is very sheer. The first time I wore it, it took 4 coats to have a nice, even application. I did wear it a second time and put a more opaque polish underneath to give it a base. I ended up needing 3 coats of Chinchilly on top of it, so the base didn't work as well as I had hoped.
Since I had to use 4 coats of polish, I didn't put a top coat on it. I didn't want to make the polish even thicker on my nail. I will definitely be using a top coat next time though because it only lasted a couple of days without one. 
Overall, I really like this color, I just wish it was more opaque, but I can deal with it.

Do you have a favorite gray nail polish?
Thanks for reading!

First Aid Beauty Face Product Review

Hello there! Around Christmas time I purchased a Kit of 5 First Aid Beauty Products. I heard that the products worked really well, especially for sensitive skin, so I figured I would give them a try. Today I am going to review 3 of the products: Face Cleanser, Facial Radiance Pads and Ultra Repair Cream. They don't sell the same kit that I have, but they do have a kit with the 3 products I am going to review at Sephora.
 My skin is normally combination-oily, but during the winter months it is very dehydrated and the couple of products I was using was not enough for my skin. The product I was most excited about was the Ultra Repair Cream.

Ultra Repair Cream- "Intense therapy, skin protectant with FAB antioxidant booster. Hydrate dry, parched skin, relieve minor irritation and itching due to eczema and other conditions. For the face and elsewhere." I typically use this only on my face right after using the cleanser. It is a thick cream, but it absorbs quickly so it doesn't leave a greasy feeling like some thick moisturizers. Since it is on the thicker side, I only use it before bed, not under my makeup. This has helped my skin so much and I no longer have any dry or flaky skin. It is fragrance-free so it doesn't have much of a smell to it, which is nice. My husband has used it on his eczema and finds that it helps with that. It is going to take me a while to use the whole tub, but I do plan on repurchasing it.

Facial Radiance Pads- These are suppose to exfoliate, tone and brighten. They are alcohol-free and can be used once or twice daily.  One side of the pad has a texture to it to exfoliate, while the other side is smooth. I don't know that they are strong enough to exfoliate well. I didn't notice a huge difference when I used these, but I only used them once a day instead of twice. It might work well for some, but I don't think that these would be worth purchasing again.

Face Cleanser- "Removes surface oils, make-up, dirt and grime. Safe for sensitive skin. Face Cleanser is an airy cream that gently cleanses the skin. The formula is infused with a blend of botanical antioxidants to stave off abuse of the elements. It is well suited for anyone with sensitive skin." This is a creamy cleanser that lathers nicely. It is gentle, but still works well. I normally use it with my Clarisonic to help exfoliate my skin. I doesn't break me out or dry my skin out too much.

I hope you found these reviews helpful. I have 2 more products from First Aid Beauty, so I will probably do a review with those two soon.
Have you tried any First Aid Beauty Products?
Thanks for reading!

Beauty Blender vs. Real Techniques Miracle Complextion Sponge

Hello! Finally it is the weekend and today we had another snow day. It has been very cold here with extremely cold wind chill. I hope it is warmer where you are! I recently purchased a Miracle Complexion Sponge from Real Techniques because it was about time to replace my Beauty Blender. I have heard quite a few good things about the Miracle Complexion Sponge and have heard it is a good alternative to the Beauty Blender, and is possibly even a dupe.
Before switching to the Beauty Blender, I was using a sponge by Sonia Kashuk. If you are interested in seeing that comparison, click here.

Price- Lets first talk about the price difference, because that is the first noticeable difference. The Beauty Blender is $19.95 at Sephora, while the Real Technique Sponge is $5.99 at Ulta. A lot of times, the Real Techniques brand will on sale for buy one get one 50% off too.
Shape- The Beauty Blender is in the shape of a tear drop, making it easy to use the larger side for foundation, and the smaller end for concealer and around the eyes and nose. The Real Techniques Sponge is a similar shape, but one side is flat. It's also easy to use the flat end to blend foundation, and the other end is also smaller for applying concealer.
Texture- both sponges expand when wet. The Beautyblender is softer while the Real Techniques sponge stays more firm even when wet.
Application- I do feel like I get a similar end result from both sponges. 
Overall- While I think the Real Technique Sponge it a nice alternative to the Beauty Blender, I do like the Beauty Blender more. Since it is softer, it is easy to bounce and roll  on the skin to get a perfect application. I feel like I have to work a little bit harder to get a similar application with the Real Technique sponge. If you have the money to splurge on a Beautyblender, I would say go for that, but if not, the real techniques is a great alternative.

Have you tried the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge?
Thanks for reading!

Lorac Pro 2 Soft Rose Tutorial

Hello!
I hope everyone had a great weekend. Ours was pretty low key. We just went to dinner for Valentines day and came home and watched a movie. I took a CPR class and can finally apply for my teachers certificate. I am pretty excited about that.Today I wanted to share another look using the Lorac Pro 2 Palette. This has been my go-to look for the past week.

Step 1: Use a primer. I applied Maybelline's Color Tattoo in the color Creamy Beige to make the colors more vibrant.
Step 2: Apply Nectar on the crease and blend upwards and out.
Step 3: Apply Rose to the entire lid
Step 4: Apply Plum to the outer eye and blend into the crease. The color shows slightly more purple in person than the picture shows.
Step 5: Use Buff as an inner corner and brow bone highlight.
Step 6: Apply eyeliner and mascara. I used a dark brown gel liner because it's softer than a black I normally use.

I hope you guys like this look.
Thanks for reading!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Review

Hello! Happy Friday! Last week I did a tutorial on how I apply matte lip products. The product I used for that look was Stila's Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the color Patina. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on this lip product.

Application- This product can be hard to apply. The first time I tried it, it look horrible. It looked cakey and settled into all of the lines on my lips. Following the steps in my How to Apply Matte Lip Products post, I was able to get a better application though, but it takes a lot of steps. The applicator with the lipstick isn't great. It holds onto a lot of product, making it messy and hard to apply evenly. I ended up using a lip brush, which works better.
Consistency- The product starts as a wet, glossy consistency, but dries matte. Sometimes, I will end up putting a gloss over it because it tends to be over-drying. Although, applying a lip balm underneath it does help.When I do wear it matte, it lasts a while. I wouldn't say all day, but I can eat and drink and it will stay put. When I wear a gloss on top, it wears off a little quicker.
Color- I love this color. It is a mauve/ dusty rose color that is absolutely beautiful. The color is nice and opaque and looks good with one layer, but it is buildable for a darker look.
Final Verdict- I contemplated returning this product, but I decided to keep it. I would give this lipstick a 3/5. It is a beautiful color, but it is too drying. For the price, I expected it to have a better application. If you are looking for a matte lipstick, I think there are other option that are better. 

What are your favorite matte lip products?
Thanks for reading!

Lorac Pro 2 Palette- Cool Navy

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great week. My week has been pretty slow and uneventful. We have gotten about 20 inches of snow, which made it difficult to go anywhere for a couple days.This past weekend I got my hands on the Lorac Pro 2 Palette. Chelsea from Tigerlovebeauty did a small series of different looks with this palette convincing me that I needed it. If you haven't already, you should check her blog out. I have had a lot of fun creating different looks with this palette, so this probably won't be the only look I post.

Step 1: Apply a primer
Step 2: Apply Cool Gray on the crease and blend upwards and out.
Step 3: Blend Navy on the outer v and take it slightly into the crease.
Step 4: Pat Chrome on the lid.
Step 5: Take Navy on a blending brush and go over the outer v again.
Step 6: Apply Beige on the inner corner
Step 7: Highlight the brow bone with buff.
Step 8: Use a small brush to apply Cool Gray on the lower lash line.
Step 9: Apply Eyeliner and Mascara

I hope you guys like this look.
Don't forget to follow on Twitter or Instagram for more Lorac Pro 2 looks as well as other posts! 
Thanks for reading!