5 Favorite Youtube Beauty Gurus of September!

I cannot believe I've had this blog for over a month! This is my 2nd YouTube Beauty Guru Favorites post! 

Well....here they are, in no particular order :)

1. Kassie from ShadesofKassie- click here for her Fall Eye Tutorial!
2. Tess from Tess Christine- click here for her Get Ready With Me: Running Late video!
3. Tiffany from MakeupByTiffanyD- click here for her Fall Makeup Tutorial!
4. Em from EmJustLikeYou- click here for a Minimalisic Look Tutorial!
5. Fleur from FleurDeForce- click here to watch her beautiful wedding video!

Battle of the Flat Irons: CHI Air 1" VS Remington Pearl 2"

I decided I wanted to do a battle of the flat irons! I wanted both of the flat irons to be ceramic, but I wanted them to be from different price ranges.

CHI Air Classic 1": I liked this flat iron, but I didn't love it. Although it got really hot, I had to go over my hair a couple of times to get it to go straight- and my hair usually straightens pretty easily! I noticed it was leaving creases in my hair (and I wasn't even holding it very long), so I turned it down to the lowest temperature setting & it still left creases in my hair. It also made my hair super static-y. It drove me insane! After about 30 minutes, my hair was very straight. I usually straighten my hair one morning and then sleep on it & it will still be straight the next morning, but in the morning my hair was very wavy! I don't think it's worth the $100 I spent on it.

Remington Pearl 2": The first thing I noticed about this flat iron is that it heats up very quickly. It takes it about 30 seconds to completely heat up, no matter how hot you want it to be. It took me about 20 minutes to straighten my hair with this flat iron. It creased a little at first, but after I turned down the temperature it stopped creasing. It made my hair very shiny (as did the CHI) and silky. It straightened well and I only had to fix a few pieces the next morning. I also like that it's 2". I think 2" flat irons are easier and faster to use than 1". This is a great flat iron. I would love to try the 1" version as well. I have had problems with Remington flat irons before, but I loved this one! I think it was worth the $35 I paid for it!

WINNER: REMINGTON PEARL 2"

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Fall Fashion {According to Pinterest} 2013

6 Fall trends according to Pinterest:

1. Boots. The trend last year was riding boots. This year, almost any kind of boot is fair game. Pair with some comfy legwarmers & you're good to go!

   

   Found on Pinterest

   

    These are great boots for Fall! $39.99 at Target!

   
   
2. Scarves. The infinity scarf is making an appearance again this year! I am uber excited.

   

   Found on Pinterest- Pinned from thememphisjewel.com
   

   

   My favorite infinity scarf was $20.00 at Nordstrom. {The Pointelle Infinity Scarf}

   
   
3. Crops. Even if you can't pull off skinny jeans (like myself), crops flatter almost every figure!

   

   Found on Pinterest from hellofashionblog.com

   

   My favorite cropped jeans are $29.99 at American Eagle.

   
   
4. Dark, but natural, lips. Tip for choosing a lip color: blue tones will make your teeth look whiter.

   

   Found on Pinterest, from thestylishprint.com

   

   I love the Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie! $6.48 at Walmart.

5. Braids. People are getting more and more creative when it comes to braids! I've already seen some amazing braids that are perfect for Fall.

   

   Found on Pinterest, from hair-sublime.com

   Here are some links to my favorite braid tutorials from CGH-
1. Double-Twist Bun Updo
2. Lace Braided Bun
3. Cobra Braid Side Ponytail
4. Lace Braid Headband
5. Box Fishtail Braid
6. Collared shirts + sweaters. Perfect for fall!

   

   Found on Pinterest, from simplyme091909.blogspot.com

   

   You can get this sweater at Target for $17.99 & it comes in a variety of colors. Layer with a dress shirt from Old Navy. Click here to go to Old Navy's website.
   
   
   
   *This is not a sponsored post.*

Tips for Washing Your Face & Having Clear Skin

1. Wash your hands before you wash your face! When you wash your face, there's a good chance you touch your entire face. If you don't wash your hands before you wash your face, you will be spreading germs/bacteria all over your face. Washing your hands before you wash your face will help you stay healthy and it will help prevent pimples.
2. Use proper water temperatures. When you are washing your face, it is important that you use warm water because it will open your pores and allow them to be cleaned. Make sure the water isn't too hot; the hotter the water is the more it will dry out your skin. When you have finished washing your face, make sure you close your pores by splashing cold water on your face. This will help your face stay cleaner longer. Plus it will help you wake up in the morning ;)
3. Remove your makeup before you wash your face. If makeup is in the way, you will not be able to clean your pores. Removing your makeup before you wash your face will allow you to get a deeper clean.
4. Exfoliate! Gently exfoliating will help remove dirt, dead skin, and oil from your skin. It will also help prevent blackheads and make your skin softer.
5. Pat your skin dry. It will help prevent pimples/acne and reduce the spread of bacteria over your face.
6. Don't over-wash! Only wash your face when you feel it is necessary. If you have oily skin, wash your face morning and night. If you have dry skin, only wash your face once a day; over-washing your face will make your skin more dry and it can also irritate it. Also, always wash your face after a workout!
7. Less is more. Don't use too many products on your face. The less you use, the easier it will be for your skin to breath. If you're trying to treat acne, try an oral medication rather than loads of products. 
8. Use face masks! Face masks are awesome! If you have oily skin, a clay mask will help will oil control, which will prevent pimples. If you don't have dry skin, peel off masks are great for any skin type! Face masks will really help keep your face clean. I recommend using a face mask 1-3 times a week.
9. Make sure any product you put on your face is oil free. Oil will clog your pores, so it is important that the products do not have oil in them, especially makeup! My favorite oil-free foundation is Clean by CoverGirl in the oily skin formula (& I don't have oily skin).
10. Don't spend a fortune. The price tag means nothing; sometimes the best stuff is the cheapest!

Do you have any tips for washing your face?

So Totally Clean Everyday Cleanser by Formula 10.0.6 Review

I really liked this cleanser! I removed my makeup and washed my face, then I used the cleanser on a cotton pad. It removed so much that the face wash and makeup wipe had missed! It didn't dry my face out, and it smells pretty good! It's also great for sensitive skin, just like it says- it's really gentle (I even used it on my eyes). I definitely recommend it :)

I got mine at Ulta for $5.99

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Favorites & Hate-Its: Makeup Wipes

• Equate Facial Cleansing Towelettes (retail at $3.97): These are my typical go-to makeup wipes. There's nothing too special about them. I usually have to pre-wet them because they're pretty dry at first. That's really the only thing I don't like about them. They remove makeup pretty well and they're cheap. Favorite or hate-it? They're not my favorite, but I don't dislike them in any way--so favorite. 4/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: Yes
• Gentle: Yes
• Moist: No
• Smells Good: Yes
• Moisturizing: Yes
  
• Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths (retail at $15): I got these after reading so many great reviews, but I honestly didn't see what everyone was talking about. Yes, they cleaned my face well & got all of my makeup off, but I wasn't a fan of them. I really hated how they smell and they made my face really red and burned my eyes (& I didn't get them in my eyes, it was just the smell of them that made my eyes burn). Favorite or hate-it? I'm neutral on this one. If it weren't for the smell, it would be a favorite. 3/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: Yes
• Gentle: No
• Moist: Yes
• Smells Good: No
• Moisturizing: Yes
  
• Equate Wet Cleansing Towelettes (retail at $4.67): I love these. I love that they're exfoliating- it really helps get all the makeup off, especially mascara and foundation. They're really gentle, too. Only problem is they can be dry, so you might have to pre-wet them. Favorite or hate-it? Favorite. 4/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: Yes
• Gentle: Yes
• Moist: No
• Smells Good: Yes
• Moisturizing: Yes
  
• Simple Kind to Skin Facial Wipes (retail at $5.99): I'm sure you've all seen YouTube beauty gurus talk about these before. I got them expecting them to be amazing, but they really weren't. They did a horrible job at removing my makeup and I had to pre-wet them. Favorite or hate-it? Hate-it. 2/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: No
• Gentle: Yes
• Moist: No
• Smells Good: Yes
• Moisturizing: No
  
• Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (retail at $4.97): These are almost the same as the first wipes I talked about in this post. They just smell different and don't need to be pre-wet. Favorite or hate-it? Favorite. 5/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: Yes
• Gentle: Yes
• Moist: Yes
• Smells Good: Yes
• Moisturizing: Yes
  
• Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes (retail at $5.97): I absolutely hated these wipes. I had to pre-wet them and they didn't take my makeup off. I wear a good amount of makeup (foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, etc.), but I don't wear waterproof mascara, so usually my makeup comes off pretty easily. I kept checking the wipe and nothing was coming off! It drove me insane. Favorite or hate-it? Hate-it. 2/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: No
• Gentle: Yes
• Moist: No
• Smells Good: Yes
• Moisturizing: No
  
• Equate Beauty Night-Time Soothing Makeup Remover Towelettes (retail at ?): These are my new favorite makeup wipes! The wipes are pretty big, so sometimes I can get away with just using 1/2 of the wipe. They smell great & the smell is definitely "soothing". They remove my makeup super easily. I barely have to rub my eyes to get my eye makeup to come off! & I don't have to pre-wet them, which is a huge bonus! Favorite or hate-it? Favorite! 5/5
• Cleansing/Removes Makeup: Yes
• Gentle: Yes
• Moist: Yes
• Smells Good: Yes
• Moisturizing: Yes
  

My Birthday Wish List

My birthday is on October 1st, so my mom wanted me to send her an email of things I'd like for my birthday. Since the list is basically all the makeup items I'd like to try, I decided to share my list with you. If you have any of the items on the list, please let me know what you think of it! It would be so helpful :)

1. Too Yacht To Handle by China Glaze- retails at $5.36
   
2. Basically anything from Hempz Treats. If you have not tried Hempz Treats, you HAVE to! It's the best stuff ever! They smell good enough to eat & they're really creamy and great for dry, sensitive skin!
   
3. Sephora Collection Artist Color Box Makeup Palette- retails at $20.00
   
4. FratBoy blush by the Balm- retails at $21.00
   
5. Nude 'Tude eyeshadow palette by the Balm- retails at $36.00
   
6. Real Techniques Travel Essentials kit- retails at $17.99
   
7. Real Techniques Foundation Brush- retails at $7.99
   
8. bareMinerals Angled Face Brush- retails at $20.00
   
9. bareMinerals READY Blush in The Aphrodisiac- retails at $22.00 (I have talked about this blush before on this blog- I occasionally borrow my sister's)
   
10. Gel Eyeliner Pencils by Ulta (in Peacock, Plum, and Olive Oil)- retail at $8.00 $4.00! This is the best eyeliner ever. I already have 4 of them....including Peacock. I just love it so much I asked for another one ;) The one pictured is a color called "Majesty". It's a beautiful deep purple. I already have this one, too :)
    
11. Sephora Collection Primal Instincts Eyeshadow Palette- retails at $28.00
    
12. Lorac Pro Palette- retails at $42.00
    
    

Happy.

This post will probably make you think I'm crazy. I promise I am, but only a little. :)

I am getting my haircut next Monday. This haircut it going to be a special one- it's going to be a fresh start (no, I am not shaving my head!). I am choppin' off my dead ends!

Ever since middle school I have straightened my hair. I only pulled my hair in a pony if I had a soccer game or I was going swimming. I did it out of insecurity; I didn't think I would be pretty unless I actually styled my hair. A few months ago I realized that was completely insane. I realized I could pull my hair into a pony tail and still be the same, beautiful me. 

But did I change anything? No. I continued to straighten my hair every.single.day. My sister would give me a hard time about my patches of broken hair. She told me it looked awful and told me how bad my school pictures were going to look because of it. And I totally cried about it. I wanted to fix it, I really did!

One night I decided I was too tired to straighten my hair (I straighten it at night so I won't have to in the morning), so I braided it. Just 2 simple pig tail braids. That one act of pure laziness led me to an entire Summer without putting heat on my hair.

Tonight I straightened my hair for the first time since May. I looked at my hair- like up close, not just in the mirror. I didn't see 6 inches of split ends and broken hair, but I saw healthy hair- for the first time in years! And it made me so happy! 

I just want to challenge you all to do something that will make you happy. Trust me, it's worth it!

That's all :) Goodnight!

Love, 

Brooke

Wet 2 Straight: Why I Switched

The Remington Wet 2 Straight (2 Inch) was my first flat iron. I loved it! Even though it didn't actually straighten/dry my hair if it was wet, I still loved it. After about 5 years of using it, I went to get my hair cut. My hair was ridiculously damaged, and I thought that was from putting so much heat on it. Without even asking me what flat iron I used, my hairstylist said, "You use the Wet 2 Straight, don't you?" I told her I did & she told me I needed to go get a new flat iron. She suggested a ceramic flat iron. 

She told me that the heat was causing a lot of damage, but the flat iron might have been causing most of the damage. Apparently (and this could be wrong), the "steam vents" can get pieces of your hair stuck in them, so it pulls your hair out. The hairs then get trapped in the vents & basically fry. So not only does it ruin your hair, but it also can possibly be a fire hazard. 

So that's why I don't use the Remington Wet 2 Straight anymore. I'm sure the newer versions of it are much better than the one I have. I currently use the Remington Pearl (2 inch).

Click here for the current model of the Wet 2 Straight 2"

Click here for the Studio Pearl Ceramic 2" (aka the Worlds Greatest Straightener)

& just in case you were wondering, here's the Wet 2 Straight I was advised to stop using:

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

A few weeks ago I decided to pick up the sugar lip treatment by Fresh. I bought both the original and the rose tinted lip treatments. I really like them! At first, I was scared to try the rose one; I thought it was going to be way too bright. I ended up loving the color & I think it's perfect for Fall!! The original one is like a lip balm on steroids. It's amazing. It's long lasting & makes my lips super soft. I definitely recommend both of them. I can't wait to try the entire line! 

Retail for $22.50 at Sephora.

**This is not a sponsored post.**

Overwhelmed

You guys are the best! Thank you so much for DOUBLING my views! I've had 140+ views in the past hour! Before today I only had 150 views. Thank you thank you thank you!!
Love,
Brooke

Garnier Products

Garnier Fructis is my FAVORITE brand when it comes to haircare. I used to love Tresemme, but I'll safe that story for another post. I've tried a lot of Garnier Fructis hair products, so I wanted to share my favorites with you. I'm also going to throw in a couple Garnier products I wasn't a huge fan of. 

• Sleek & Shine
• SLEEK & SHINE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER: These were the first Garnier products I ever tried. To be quite honest, I probably love the smell more than the actual products. I probably wouldn't purchase these products over other Garnier products, but it's still a really great line. They definitely make your hair sleek & shiny, so if that's what you're looking for in a shampoo or conditioner, give these a try! Did I mention they smell AMAZING? Retail around $3-$5 & I get mine at Walmart.

• SLEEK & SHINE FRIZZ DEFEAT DEEP TREATMENT: This is supposedly a deep conditioner, but I actually think regular conditioners condition my hair better than this product did. It really dried my hair out & its formulation is actually pretty thin compared to regular Garnier conditioners. I didn't like it! Deep conditioner? More like cheap conditioner. Retails around $5.00 & I got mine at Walmart. I got mine free using the free product coupon you can find on some Garnier shampoo & conditioners.

• SLEEK & SHINE ANTI-FRIZZ SERUM: This is your basic anti-frizz treatment. Nothing too special about it. It works great, but I definitely prefer my Organix Coconut Milk that I mentioned in my previous post. Retails around $5.00 and I got mine at Walmart.
  
• SLEEK & SHINE INTENSELY SMOOTH LEAVE-IN CONDITIONING CREAM: This is one of my favorite Garnier products. It makes my hair feel really soft & it's a great leave-in conditioner! It smells really good too! Retails around $3.00 and I get mine at Walmart.

• SLEEK & SHINE SMOOTHING MILK: This stuff is great too. I mainly use it to prevent frizz and seal in all the other products I use. It works really well! Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.
  
• SLEEK & SHINE BLOW DRY PERFECTOR STRAIGHTENING BALM: This is seriously an amazing product. My hair usually takes about 15-20 minutes to blow dry- even if I let it air dry for a while. My natural hair is a little bit of everything: curly, wavy, and straight. When I use this product, I can easily dry my hair in 10 minutes & it will dry almost completely straight....and I don't use a round brush! The only downside to this products is that it's pretty gel-like, so it might make your hair more tangly and textured. I like it, but it is a little bit harder to use than most styling products. Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.
  
• STYLE FLAT IRON PERFECTOR STRAIGHTENING MIST: This is my holy grail heat protector- I even like it more than the Tresemme Thermal Creations heat protector. Don't be fooled by the name, it does help your hair become straight faster, but it works well when you're curling your hair too. It makes my hair really voluminous, light, and soft. I really like the way my hair feels when I use it & I can tell it protects my hair from heat. Also, a lot of styling products break me out on my forehead and my back...but this product doesn't! Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.
  
• SLEEK & SHINE ANTI-HUMIDITY HAIRSPRAY: I'm not a huge hairspray user, but I don't recommend this hairspray. The nozzle (continuous spray) stopped working on mine just a few days after I purchased it. I bought another one thinking it was just a one time thing, but it happened again. My mom and my sister also bought it & had the same thing happen to them. The hairspray itself is great though. Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.

• Fall Fight
• FALL FIGHT SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER: I bought this line of shampoo & conditioner because my hair falls very badly. I really like the shampoo, but it's not my favorite. I didn't think it did much for my hair. The conditioner, on the other hand, is the best conditioner I've ever used! It makes my hair feel super soft & I can now wash my hair without my hands getting covered in hair! I rarely see hair in my sink or on my bathroom floor, which is amazing; I used to have to vacuum my bathroom floor every day because there was so much hair on it! Retails between $3-$5 at Walmart.
  
• Length & Strength
• LENGTH & STRENGTH SHAMPOO: This is my favorite shampoo! It makes my hair really soft & detangled. I have also seen a difference in the quality of my hair. I can definitely tell my hair has gotten a lot stronger since I started using this shampoo. & it smells really good! Retails around $5.00 and I get mine at Walmart.

• Triple Nutrition
• TRIPLE NUTRITION SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER: I really liked both of these products. I don't know if I would repurchase the conditioner because I like the Fall Fight one so much, but the shampoo is definitely my favorite shampoo to use in the Summer. It's great for days when you're not planning on putting heat on your hair. I think it makes my hair softer and shinier than the Sleek & Shine shampoo & conditioner. I recommend this shampoo & conditioner, especially if you have a dry scalp. Retails around $3-$5 at Walmart.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  That's end :)
  **This is not a sponsored post.**

No Heat Hairstyles

For the past 4 years, I have put heat on my hair nearly every single day. About 2 years ago my bangs had suffered so much breakage that they were about 2 inches long. It was awful! I realized I had to be nicer to my hair, but I was horrible at doing anything else with my hair & I wasn't confident enough to go to school with another hairstyle (pathetic, I know).

That's what got me interested in beauty; finding ways to straighten my hair without breaking it. However, my hair was still being damaged, just not as badly as it was before. This summer I decided I wanted to find other things I could do with my hair. & to be honest, I'm not very good at doing my own hair. I'm pretty good at doing someone else's hair, but I'm just not good at doing my own hair. With that, here are a few of my favorite no heat hairstyles that anyone can do!

1. Pony tail w/ lace braid: Start by lace braiding your bangs (or the front section of your hair if you don't have bangs.) A lace braid is sometimes called the "Lauren Conrad Braid". If you don't know how to lace braid, click here for a tutorial by Rachel from Rachhloves. I usually do my lace braid a bit smaller than Rachel did hers, but do whatever size you want! I take the lace braid down to my ear & then I start braiding the rest of the hair (from the lace braid) normally until I get to the ends. Then I pull the rest of my hair & the braid into a pony tail! Super quick & easy!
2. Beach waves: If you're like me & sea salt just doesn't work with your hair, this is a great way to get wavy hair! Simply start by dividing your {damp} hair into 2 sections. If you have a center part, just carry your part down to your neck & use that to divide your hair into the 2 sections. If you have a side part, divide your hair as close to the center of your head as you can, but make sure the small side of your part has a smaller section of hair than the big side of the part (don't make it too big of a difference though). Then just do simple pig tail braids. I don't french braid mine, but you can if you'd like! Let it dry (I sleep on mine) completely before taking the braids out. I like to spray mine with hairspray when I'm done.
3. Curly hair: Meredith (aka Stilababe09) did a tutorial a while back where she used the Conair Spiral Curlers to get a Taylor Swift-inspired curl. Just follow this tutorial. It's super cute & easy!
4. Curly pony tail: When my hair is about 80-90% dry, I divide my hair into 4 sections (vertically) & wrap each section around a spiral curler. I sleep on it & take it out in the morning. Then I pull my hair back into a pony tail & it makes a really pretty curly pony tail.

These are the Conair Spiral Curlers. They retail for $14.74 at Walmart.com

Tip for super soft pony tails: About 30 minutes before pulling your hair into a pony tail, apply coconut milk to your hair. I've found that letting the coconut milk sit for a while before styling really makes your hair extra smooth and healthy.

This is my favorite coconut milk. It's the Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. It retails at $5.74 at Walmart. You can also find it at Ulta and Target!

Hope this post was helpful! Let me know if you'd like a tutorial on any of these styles :)
*This is not a sponsored post.*

Every Day Makeup Tutorial by Lisa Cimorelli

A few days ago Lisa Cimorelli uploaded a makeup tutorial to YouTube. It features the Sephora Moonshadow Baked Palette (In the Nude) that I reviewed a while back. Go check it out! It's a great, really pretty tutorial. Click here to watch it :)

Pinterest!

I am now on Pinterest! Click here to follow me!

How I Store My Makeup

I'm not going to lie- I'm pretty much in love with my Tabletop Spinning Cosmetic Organizer by Lori Greiner. It's just the best thing ever. 

I got mine on QVC for about $30.00. Click here for more information :)

**This is not a sponsored post.**