America Hauling #1 - A few bits and bops

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been around lately but if you saw some of my recent posts I am now in America! I am on vacation visiting my family in California and it is darn hard adjusting to a different country once you get used to living somewhere else. It feels really weird being back home and I keep waiting for myself to just wake up and for this all to just be some crazy dream. I am also suffering from severe jet lag. I'm so so tired and sore and nauseous so if any of you know how to get over jet lag quicker, please be sure to mention it and help me out! 

I have of course in the mere two and a half days of being here already done some beauty shopping and I've picked up honestly some amazing products that I am already loving after only one use. Most of these have been on my wish lists for quite some time so I'm stoked to finally be trying them out and adding these babies to my collection. To start off with, I wondered into a Rite Aid while going for a Starbucks run and found that the Rimmel Stay Matte collection had a coupon for $1 off any of their products in the collection. I love the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and although I haven't used  a drug store foundation for quite some time, I was definitely intrigued so I went ahead and picked it up. I chose the shade True Ivory and I have to admit, I am kinda in love with this foundation. I even have been picking it over my high end ones such as the Nars Sheer Glow and my YSL Youth Liberator. When I first tried it out, I realised it is a mouse like texture and that was a bit intimidating but it covers beautifully and you really only need a tiny amount for a full coverage look. My beauty blender makes this foundation finish perfectly and although it is very matte and a tad bit too light for me, adding bronzer creates the perfect look. It's lasting power is also outrageous, I've gone all day with it on and it still looks like I just put on my makeup. I would definitely recommend picking this product up and it is so super inexpensive that you really don't even have an excuse not to! 

The next day, I wandered into the mall with my mom which was so nice being able to spend some time together and I happened by a Mac Cosmetics counter where I finally purchased my first Mac Paint Pot. I was stuck between choosing Painterly and Soft Ochre but I was determined to find a base that would cancel out any darkness and really allow eyeshadows to be more pigmented. I found that the Painterly shade had more pink undertones and I even spoke to the girl at the counter who recommended Soft Ochre instead for my specific skin tone. It really is the perfect shade and creates such a beautiful clean canvas on the eyelids that my eye makeup has been far more striking simply due to the paint pot. Next, we went to a Lush store and I headed straight to this product because it is all anyone is raving over lately. Lush's Grease Lighting Tea Tree Cleanser contains one of my favourite acne fighting products - Tea Tree Oil and it literally has cleared my skin and spots in only a day. I tried this as soon as I took off my makeup and when I woke up in the morning, a spot that was growing on my jawline shrunk and disappeared by sunrise. I was so completely impressed and I even used it on just my acne scaring and it made quite a difference already. I can't wait to post a full review on this baby soon! Lastly, I bought myself an EOS Lipbalm in the flavour pomegranate raspberry and I wouldn't say that this stuff is amazing or anything too special compared to other lip balms but the packaging is definitely cute and nifty. I just feel like you need to own one of these at one point in time and I'm super stoked that my collection now has one. 

I told ya'll I would be doing some major America Hauling as soon as possible and I'm really thankful for your patience and support. I've been wandering into drugstores and Sephoras but to be completely honest, they are quite overwhelming. There's just so much to look at and I almost don't know what to get because I want it all. I'm still open for any suggestion on great products to pick up and review so be sure to leave those down bellow! 

Have any of you tried these products? How are they working for you? Let me know, down bellow!

Stefanie xx

What I got for Christmas 2013

This year Christmas came early for me as my package from America arrived about a week and a half before the big merry day. I've been waiting to post these items for ages now because I'm so in love and so thankful for my Christmas goodies. Every year I usually have the issue where no one knows what to buy me so this year when my mom asked, I went ahead and made a beauty wish list and man did she deliver. I am so so thankful and am absolutely in love with the products I got. I also received a few other bits and bops such as money and candles but these are my four favourites this year. 

First off, I finally finally got the Naked 2 palette. I know that everyone was gifted the Naked 3 this year but since I usually opt for nude eyeshadow and hadn't yet gotten my hands on one of these palettes I asked for the Naked 2 instead. I absolutely adore it but would recommend that for better color payoff a cream base eyeshadow is necessary. It's definitely worth the hype and has convinced me to pick up the Naked 3 in February during my trip to America. 

Next, I got the NARS Eye Paint in Mesopotamia which is basically a gel eyeliner in a deep brown shade. I have mentioned this before but I've been steering clear of black eyeliners lately and this deep brown is a perfect transitioning color that really glides seamlessly and creates the perfect neutral eye look. My only complaint about this product would have to be that unlike the drugstore gel eyeliners such as the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner it doesn't come with a brush! Since this is my first time in ages trying out a gel eyeliner, I didn't actually own a brush to use and although I've tried different brands such as the Real Techniques Brushes or even the ELF brushes, nothing seems to be as perfect for gel eyeliner as the ones that come in the drug store kits. I'm considering picking up a Maybelline set just so I finally have the perfect brush to create that winged eyeliner look. If you guys have any recommendations for good gel eyeliner brushes please be sure to mention it because I'm on the hunt for the ideal brush. 

I've already mentioned one of these beauties but my mom was kind enough to get me the Nars Guy Bourdin Promiscuous Lip Coffret and it includes some of the loveliest lip pencils I have ever had the pleasure of owning. These lip pencils are supposed to be the minis but they're so large and lasting that there's no way I'm going to get through any of these anytime soon. The set includes four velvet matte shades and one velvet gloss - Cruella, Sex Machine, Dolce Vita and Never Say Never would be the amazing matte finish colours and the little glossy pencil that was included would be none other than New Lover. I am in love with these pencils and really think that the color payoff is so beautiful and flattering for my skin tone. I think that it would be lovely for any skin tone to be completely honest. The only issue I have with these pencils is that they are incredibly drying and I have yet to figure out how to wear them without drawing attention to my chapped lips. Overall, it was a lovely gift and I'm so thankful to finally own some of these Nars Lip Pencils. 

Last but not least, I officially own my very first Mac Eyeshadow Palette. My older brother went to the Mac store and picked up four absolutely gorgeous shades that have made me fall head over heels for Mac's eyeshadows. Their color payoff and lasting power is insane and it makes me truly understand why the price is so steep. I will definitely be picking up more on my trip but for now, I own the beautiful soft shade Ricepaper, Patina a burnt golden brown shade that has just the slightest hint of shimmer, Copperplate which is a gorgeous warm grey matte tone, and Sable which is a burgundy type of brown creating the perfect crease color. I am in love with all these shades and for the last two weeks have found ways to use at least one of these colours everyday to create a new look. Mac eyeshadows really are amazing quality and perfect for a lasting impression on the eyes.

Christmas was bittersweet this year and although these amazing gifts were so lovely and I'm so grateful for them, I couldn't help wishing to be with my family instead. I am literally counting down the days until my trip which will be at the end of January and I am so pumped to go back home and see everyone again. Also, I will be doing loads and loads of beauty shopping while I'm there so get excited for some killer new posts in the new year. There's a Sephora maybe ten minutes away from my house back in Cali and I'll most likely be living in there. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got some goodies that you really wanted as well. 

What did you get for Christmas? Have you tried any of these products yourself? If you've made a blog post of video about your Christmas 2013 Gifts be sure to leave the link in a comment down bellow. I love seeing these kinds of posts and would really enjoy reading yours as well! 

Happy Friday. 

Stefanie xx 

Online Shopping Haul

Recently I've done a little shopping online for bits and bops that I've had my eye on. FeelUnique has had this lovely little Advent Calendar everyday which offers free goodies with your purchases and since I'd had a few things in my shopping cart, I decided to check back everyday until I found something I liked. I ended up purchasing the Maybelline Dream Lumitouch Highlighting Concealer because I'd heard such great reviews about it. Many claim that it is a dupe for the YSL Touche Eclat Concealer and I was really tempted to give this baby a shot. I love finding dupes for high end products that will save me money and work just as well! Next, I also added to my cart two eyebrow products. One being the Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara in the colour dark brown. I have been experimenting with my eyebrows lately trying to find the perfect routine and since I didn't own a brow gel, I thought I'd go ahead and try this one out. Something else I was lacking in my collection was a good eyebrow brush, I found the Kent Angled Eyebrow Brush and decided to pop that in my basket as well. Upon first impressions I will admit I've noticed that the bristles aren't as dense or easy to manoeuvre as the Real Techniques brushes but I'm willing to give it a shot and hopefully, it won't be a dud. Last but not least, I finally picked up the Real Techniques Powder Brush which has been on my wish list for ages. I am already in love with this brush, it feels wonderful, has a sturdy handle and if it's anything like my other Real Techniques Brushes it won't drink in the product but instead help it glide seamlessly across my face. My order did also come with the free BareMinerals Full Sized Big and Bright Eyeliner Pencil in the colour Espresso. I have been drawn to brown tones for eyeliner recently and surprisingly really enjoy the colour of this product. It also is a very smooth formula that works great on my waterline and highlights the colour of my eyes wonderfully. I'm excited to put this to good use and manoeuvre it into my eye makeup, replacing the harsh black I am known to lean on.

I also got my package in from Amazon today and over the weekend I came across this mini set from Essie which had three shades from their Winter 2013 Collection. The little pack came with Parka Perfect, Shearling Darling, and Toggle on Top. What sold me most on this set is that it was around the same price one Essie nail varnish is, so I got three minis for the price of one full sized polish. The shades are also just simply beautiful. Parka Perfect is a lovely pastel blue with grey undertones that  has the slightest shimmer reminding me of snowflakes and winter time. Shearling Darling is a deep wine red which is one of my signature nail polish colours and is perfect for this time of year. I'm a strong believer in red nails, I think they add a punch of sassy power to any woman and can be versatile, sensual, and fierce. Lastly, there is this gorgeous deep red with glitter accents known as Toggle on Top. This reminds me of Rudolph's shiny red nose and Santa's jolly cheeks. It's the perfect Christmas shade. All in all, I am so glad I picked up this set and am looking forward to dabbling more into the fabulous nail polishes by Essie. 

Have you done any online shopping lately? Do you own any of the products mentioned or what's on your December wish list you're wanting to haul? 

Let me know, down bellow.

Stefanie xx 

Cheeky Purchases - Lush, The Body Shop, and more

Ocean Salt Cleanser - Lush €11,95 

Bubblegum Lip Scrub - Lush €8,95 

Tea Tree Water Toner Sample - Lush (free) 

Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes - The Body Shop €8

Tea Tree Oil - The Body Shop €12 

Real Techniques Core Collection Kit - Amazon €25,15

Bobby Brown Eyecream Sample - K&O (free)

Balea Dry Shampoo - DM €2,95

Today was definitely a day of cleansing, I went into the city with a good friend of mine and decided to reward myself with some purchases that are a little pampering. These past two weeks we had been studying almost everyday for a major exam we had on Friday. After the anxiety, hardcore studying, and endless amounts of coffee, I thought a day of shopping was well deserved. Rather than going for beauty goods however, I decided to buy myself some skincare products I've really been wanting.

We ended up going to Lush and most of you are probably familiar with the overwhelming need to purchase absolutely everything in one of these homemade goods stores. The sales woman who was helping us was super sweet and she helped me pick out two things that will hopefully help clear my skin up and make it completely blemish free. She helped me pick out the Ocean Salt Cleanser which is great for oily and blemish prone skin, it's a wonderful mixture of products such as ocean salt (duh!),  fresh lime extracted in vodka, and fresh avocado butter. It smells amazing and I'm really hoping I've finally found the perfect cleanser for my skin. She also gave me a Tea Tree Water Toner Sample which I've heard great things about but wasn't completely sold on just yet. I've never used a toner and since my skin does break out easily from face waters I got a sample to try out for the time being. It's supposed to wake up the skin and with just a few spritzes help oily, dull, and spotty skin look refreshed, beautiful, and bright. Lastly, I finally picked up something I've been dying to try and due to this cold weather have really been needing - the Bubblegum Lip Scrub. I see so much hype for these lip scrubs all over youtube and the blogesphere and ever since I've noticed how dry and cracked my lips have been looking, I decided to see if this could somehow work magic on me too. I already tried this out once today and only after one use I've already noticed a difference in my lips. It feels amazing and tastes yummy too and I can see how just after one scrub all the dead skin on my lips has been scraped away leaving them soft and smooth. I'll most likely be writing a review on this product sometime soon so keep an eye out for that. 

The other half of my shopping mostly took place in the Body Shop. Ever since I purchased my Tea Tree Pore Minimiser (review here) and found that it worked such wonders on my skin, I've fallen completely in love with the store. I received a €5 voucher the other day and so today after picking up my Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes and Tea Tree Oil, I only ended up paying €10 euro for the bunch. I love stores that sell great products for such affordable prices. As you can probably tell, I'm on a tea tree kick as of lately and couldn't resist trying out the Tea Tree Oil and Cleansing Wipes. They're both for blemished skin and while the Cleansing Wipes sooth and get rid of that extra oil and dirt from the day, the Tea Tree Oil is used to focus on specific spots and dry them out, making your skin blemish free in no time. I'm really looking forward to trying them both out and possibly liking them as much as I do  the Pore Minimiser. 

Lastly for miscellaneous purchases, I finally picked up some dry shampoo again. I opted for the Balea Dry Shampoo because although it does leave a white wash on my hair when spraying too close, it's affordable and does the trick. I'd used up my entire bottle before and although I tried more expensive alternatives, I found this one was the best for my hair type and refreshed my day two and even three hair each time. I also was given a free sample of the Bobbi Brown eye cream at the Bobbi Brown Counter in K&O. I see rave reviews for this product everywhere.. but it's just so dang pricey. I love Bobbi Brown cosmetics but they are definitely on the higher end of beauty products. For a whopping €40 for a small glass of product, I figured the sample will just have to do for now. The only problem is I'm absolutely horrid with samples, I always find myself never using them because I fear I'll just end up loving the product so much that the little sample won't be enough. I guess that's what companies want to happen but it stinks when you don't want to actually hash out that much cash on one product. 

To finish up this insanely long post, I just had to mention that my Real Techniques Core collection Brushes finally came in the post today! They're basically amazing and I'm more than excited to use them tomorrow and welcome them into my everyday makeup routine. All in all, it was a refreshing shopping day. I picked up some things I've really been wanting and am looking forward to trying everything out. 

Have any of you been to Lush or the Body Shop Lately? What are your favourite pampering products? 

Stefanie xx 

Weather Changes

I've been really down lately so, like a silly girl I decided to do some retail therapy and go shopping. It's super difficult for me to shop in the town that I live in now because none of the stores really carry any of the make up or hair products stores in America do. It's super frustrating but since I was desperate and willing to try some new products I picked up a few beauty, skin, and hair care products. I also have been doing some autumn/winter clothing shopping but I think a lot of it will be happening online so once everything arrives I'll be sure to do another separate clothing haul post. 

So to start off I have fairly long hair that's been dyed and broken and such quite often in the past. It gets oily and the ends are dry and I never really was one for putting product in my hair. Recently I have decided that I wanted to start taking better care of my hair and I would start looking into some products that can make it thicker and longer and just overall more healthy. I used to wash my hair everyday because my scalp would get incredibly oily and greasy but recently I have started washing it every two or sometimes even three days. Now I wouldn't be able to do this were it not for dry shampoo. I purchased a cheap version a while back by I believe the brand Balea just to test it out on my hair and see if dry shampoo really was all that it had been hyped up to be. I went through the bottle in about two or three months having used it every few days or so. It wasn't a bad products but it did leave the gross white marks that dry shampoo sometimes does and therefore I figured this time I would buy one a bit more expensive and see how these two compare. 

I purchased the Syoss Anti-Grease Dry Shampoo (€6) and I have to admit although I've only used it twice so far, I'm incredibly disappointed with this product. Not only does it have a much heavier visible leave in grey zone from using it but it also smells absolutely overwhelming. The spray itself smells like a salon but it sticks to your hair and it's simply not something you want to walk around smelling like everyday. If you use it in a bathroom or small room, it's bound to leave the whole place reeking and the actual effect it has on taking away the grease is no better than the cheaper alternative from Balea which was around €2. I don't actually know if I'm going to keep this product or if I'm going to just order a brand from America off Amazon but I wouldn't personally recommend it to anyone. 

Along with the dry shampoo, I also picked up the Syoss Heat Protectant Spray (€8). Now, I know its absolutely horrible and I do use heat products every day whether it be a flat iron, blow dryer or the occasional curling iron but I never used Heat Protectant for my hair. I shouldn't be surprised as to why my hair is damaged but like I said before, I'm trying to change. I have used this product about four or five times now and it works seemingly well, I haven't seen significant change or anything but I suppose it could be protecting my hair more? Who knows really? But, overall I don't have any complaints with this item. I like the spray handle, I think it's really durable and basically just gets the job done. 

My skin had been acting up lately and though I usually make an at home remedy for break outs (blog post coming soon), I decided to pick up a face mask (€1.50) that I can put on once or twice a week that cleanses my pores. This one particularly has algae, minerals, aloe vera, Camille, and a few more ingredients I don't actually know the english translation of. It burns a little when first applying and leaves my skin a bit red afterward but it felt amazing and soft as soon as I rinsed this mask off. I think for the cheap price it's a really good product.  

I also went ahead and restocked my favourite liquid eyeliner by S.he Stylezone (€2). I love how affordable this eyeliner is and unlike a lot of other cheap liquid eyeliners it's a true black and doesn't smudge through out the day. It also is really easy to draw a clear line and I genuinely don't see the point in spending more money on higher end liquid eyeliner when this one is just as good. I think the formula is really amazing and it doesn't take loads of make up remover to try to get it off, which is always a plus. If you're having trouble finding a liquid eyeliner that's affordable yet still incredibly well made, check this one out. 

Last but certainly not least, I finally picked up a Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in the colour Eternal Gold 05 (€8.95). I really really love this product. I will admit that I think the price is a bit ridiculous especially for a drug store brand but I see this product lasting me for months. I like to use it as an all over lid colour which I mix with a light yellow or nude eyeshadow and because it comes off so light, it just enhances my eye colour and makes my eyes pop. I love the finish and it stays in place all day long which is very rare for eyeshadows. I'm thinking of also picking up one of the light pink shades but this Gold is definitely a simple add on to any make up look that will make your eyes and overall appearance pop. I like that there's little to no fall out and that it's in a durable pot, I basically just like everything about it. I know a lot of beauty gurus rave about these colour tattoo pots and I definitely admit they're worth all of the hype.

Okay guys, that's about all I had to show you. I know I haven't been blogging as often lately and I think it's because I just don't have the motivation to write lately. I have work later on tonight until midnight which I am completely dreading but hopefully things will get a bit better lately and then I'll be bringing out some more blog posts too. 

Be patient with me,

Stefanie 

Changes Changes Changes

The last few days have been a little overwhelming for me. I've finally come to make some new decisions and I think maybe things might be heading in a positive direction. I have recently decided that the living situation with my grandparents simply isn't working out and I am going to look for a second job so that I can move into an apartment hopefully by the end of this year. I think that living in an apartment by myself will make things a lot easier and it's also insanely exciting. Not to mention I'm going to love the freedom of decorating my own apartment, I already have tons of ideas in mind and am just hoping for everything to go right. I went into the city today to hand out applications for jobs at various restaurants and coffee shops, I think I would most want another waitressing job because of the extra workout and the tips that come with it. A few places said they'd be calling in the next few days and others were really positive about my possible addition to the place so I'm keeping my hopes high and maybe something good will come from it. On the way back I decided to pick up a few school supplies I'd still needed and then happened to treat myself to some nail polish from the local Drugstore. 

Prom Berry by Essence Colour & Go - 1.75 euros

Icy Princess by Colour & Go - 1.75 euros 

#317 by She Stylezone - 2.75 euros 

The Colour and Go brand is one of my favorites because it's so affordable but also has a really nice formula that never leaves my nails feeling dry and doesn't chip easily. I also love that the formula is suitable with simply one coat but as you go onto more the color itself changes as well. I have the Prom Berry color on my nails now and the formula is a rich, vampy purple which is perfect for fall. It comes off almost black in some lights but I really like the way it shows a different range of colors. The Icy Princess color was also something that I felt would fit well with my autumn clothing because it hints a neutral softer edge to the dark colors that will be in this fall. Lastly, I was dying to see this nail polish from the She Stylezone collection because I've been eyeing the Essie color that looks almost exactly the same, For The Twill Of It which is this metallic grey color with green shimmer. I really hope this is a dupe for the Essie nail varnish since it's more than half the price. I really enjoyed these little purchases and I'm always looking for new nail varnish colors to add to my collection.

What Nail Color are you rocking right now? 

What are your favorite colors for the fall and winter seasons?

Let me know in the comments down bellow 

Until Next time, 

Stefanie xx