If I Had a $20 Makeup Budget.....

If I had $20 to spend on makeup & the makeup I bought with that $20 was all I was allowed to wear, here's what I would buy.....

Foundation: Rimmel Match Perfection...............$4.49 

Concealer: e.l.f. Tone Correcting Concealer...............$1.00

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder...............$3.59

Blush: e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick...............$1.00

Eyeshadow: Bonne Bell Eye Style Eye Shadow Box (Cafe Classics)...............$3.74

Mascara: Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Mascara...............$5.94

Total: $19.76! Barely made it!

What would you buy if you had a $20 budget to buy your makeup? Have you ever tried any of these products? Did you like them or dislike them? I would love to know!

**Disclaimer: I have not tried the foundation, concealer, powder, or blush I listed. I have, however, tried both the eyeshadow and the mascara and I love them both!**

A Post About......Cucumbers?

Today's post is a little different because I am going to tell you how eating cucumbers can be beneficial to your overall health! I think I'm going to start doing occasional posts about the benefits of certain foods.  :)

First of all, cucumbers are a great source of Vitamin B, which is a metabolism-boosting vitamin that also helps prevent heart disease and cancer. If you leave the skin on, cucumbers are also a great source of Vitamin C (click here to learn more about Vitamin C). There is also silicon and sulfur in cucumbers, which will help stimulate hair growth. The phytochemicals in cucumbers will help fight bad breath. Cucumbers are also very effective when it comes to ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, thanks to their high water and dietary fiber content. Cucumbers are often used to cure joint pain, regulate blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol. Probably the most well known benefit of eating cucumbers is that they help clean your liver! Those are just a few benefits of eating cucumbers; there are so many more, but I will end it there so I don't bore you!
I recommend adding fresh cucumber slices to your water bottle. Carry it around & drink it all day. When you drink all the water, simply refill it & use the same cucumber slices you were using before. At the end of the day, go ahead and eat the cucumber slices :) This will make one cucumber go much further than it normally would.

Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant Lotion

About a month ago I picked up this honker at the drugstore-

$6.64 at Walmart

Although I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be, I do like this lotion. 

• Moisture: It moisturizes very well, but it's definitely not the most moisturizing lotion I've tried.
• Good for sensitive skin?: I've had pretty good luck with it, but it does make my legs tingle after I shave. No rash though.
• Long lasting?: Not really. I can go maybe 20 minutes before my skin feels dry again.
• Smell: I think it smells good- it's not very strong, just a subtle cocoa smell.

I do recommend this, but I definitely have others I like better! Ask if you'd like some recommendations, I have lots!

My Biotin Experience {Cycle 1}

About 2 years ago, I started experiencing some hair problems; my hair got very brittle, it fell out in large amounts, it was very dry, etc. I initially thought it was something to do with my Thyroid (I have a very strong family history with Thyroid problems- 2 of my aunts have had Thyroid Cancer, 1 of my aunts has Hashimoto's, and 2 more of my aunts have Graves' Disease), so I got my Thyroid checked & all of my tests showed no signs of Thyroid problems.

I then decided to start taking Biotin to try to improve the quality of my hair. For those of you who don't know, Biotin is a dietary supplement that supports skin, hair, and nails. I've heard that people have good experiences with Biotin, but I've also heard that some people didn't really notice a difference. 

Just in case any of you were considering taking Biotin, I decided I would record my experience with it as I go. I'm doing it in cycles (to keep me from turning into a "werewolf")- I started taking one 1,000mcg daily for the first week, the second week I took two 1,000mcg daily, and the third week I was back to one 1,000mcg daily. I then took a week off, which is where I am now. I have just finished the first cycle.

My cycles will each be two weeks longer than the cycle before and I will add/take away one pill a week.

Cycle 1: 3 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 1 pill

*1 week off*

Cycle 2: 5 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 3 pills, 2 pills, 1 pill

*1 week off*

Cycle 3: 7 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 3 pills, 4 pills, 3 pills, 2 pills, 1 pill

*1 week off*

Cycle 4: 9 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 3 pills, 4 pills, 5 pills, 4 pills, 3 pills, 2 pills, 1 pill

*1 week off*

Cycle 5: 7 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 3 pills, 4 pills, 3 pills, 2 pills, 1 pill

*1 week off*

Cycle 6: 5 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 3 pills, 2 pills, 1 pill

*1 week off*

Cycle 7: 3 weeks long- 1 pill, 2 pills, 1 pill

Does that make sense? & the most I ever take a day will be five 1,000mcg, which is the recommended dose.

I'm only going to take Biotin until about April 2014 because I don't want to be super hairy in the summer! haha

So far, I have noticed that my hair is MUCH softer than it normally is! It is always so smooth and soft! As far as growth goes, I know it's making my hair grow faster because I can tell when I look at my eyebrows; I have never seen my eyebrows grow back so quickly after I pluck them. I find myself plucking my eyebrows everyday because they seriously grow back that fast! Let's just say that if it was summer I would have to shave every day....luckily it's not & I can get away with not shaving too often! Those are really the only thing I've noticed so far. I know that the longer I take it and the more I take, the more of a difference I will be able to see. 

So basically if you have a No Shave November competition going on, try taking some Biotin! ;)

How Much Does My Face Cost?

Hey ladies! Sorry I haven't posted anything for a while. Since I've been such a slacker lately, I'm going to load this week with a lot of posts. & just a heads up--I won't be blogging at all the week of Thanksgiving either.

Anyway, let's get to it! I do try to do my makeup differently everyday, but for the sake of the post I based it off of what I wear most often.

1. Foundation: Covergirl Clean Oil Control Foundation- $5.94
2. Powder: Covergirl Smoothers Pressed Powder- $6.24
3. Eyelid Primer: e.l.f. Eyelid Primer- $1.00
4. Lid Color: Sephora Collection Primal Instincts Eyeshadow Palette- $28.00
5. Crease Color: Sephora Collection Moonshadow Baked Palette In the Nude- $27.00
6. Highlight Color: Sephora Collection Makeup Made Simple Palette- $34.00
7. Eyeliner: Ulta Gel Eyeliner Pencil- $8.00
8. Mascara: Benefit's They're Real- $23.00
9. Highlighter: Benefit's Watt's Up- $30.00
10. Blush: NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder- $4.99
11. Lippie: Maybelline Color Elixir- $7.99

TOTAL: $176.16

Maybelline Color Elixir in Mauve Mystique

$7.19 at CVS, I got mine for around $3 at Walmart

When it comes to lip gloss, I am super picky. I cannot stand wearing a lip gloss that dries my lips out or settles around my lips or in the dry patches on my lips. That being said, I can honestly say I love this lip gloss. It is not drying at all! It's pretty moisturizing and it's actually advertised to be balm-infused. This specific color is very wearable for anyone. It's a pretty-yet-subtle  nude-berry color. It's not too bright or too nude, it's a perfect medium. I don't mind the taste either- I can't tell what it is, but it's not that disgusting lip gloss flavor ;) I highly recommend this gloss. They're affordable and fit perfectly in any purse/bag; very convenient! This, in my opinion, is the perfect color for Fall & Winter! I love it!

OOTD: Red Tights

This is the Polyvore version of what I am wearing today :)

• The Dress: I am actually wearing a lace skirt from Loft, but the one in the photo above is a lace dress from H&M.
• Click here for the H&M dress for $34.95
• Click here for a similar dress from Macy's for $79.00
• Click here for a tutorial for a skirt that is very similar to mine
• The Jacket: I am wearing a jean jacket I got from Forever 21, but the one in the photo is from Madewell.
• Click here for a similar jacket from American Eagle for $65.95
• Click here for a similar jacket from Old Navy for $32.50
• Click here for a similar jacket from H&M for $29.95
• My Shirt: Just in case you were wondering, you can click here for the Express shirt I'm wearing. It retails at $39.90 and it seriously goes with everything.
• The Necklace: I am wearing a bubble necklace I found on Ebay, but the one in the photo is from Zad.
• Click here for a similar necklace from Charming Charlie for $13.00
• Click here for another similar necklace from Charming Charlie for $13.00
• Click here for another similar necklace from Charming Charlie for $13.00
• Click here for another similar necklace from Charming Charlie (this one's probably my favorite) for $13.00
• Click here for an Ebay seller who sells bubble necklaces in multiple colors for $7.99.
•  You can find bubble/statement necklaces at most boutiques as well!
• The Shoes: I am wearing flats from Target, but the ones in the photo are from Tory Burch (boots) and Nordstrom (flats).
• Click here for the Tory Burch boots for $525.00
• Click here for the Nordstrom flats for $167.95
• Click here for the Target flats for $21.99
• The Tights: My tights are from Walmart, but the tights in the picture are from Urban Outfitters. I am kind of obsessed with these. They are fleece lined, so they're just SUPER soft and comfortable. If you have never tried fleece lined tights, I HIGHLY recommend them.
• Click here for the tights from Walmart for $4.97
• Click here for the tights from Urban Outfitters for $16.00 (or 2 for $22)

& in honor of the 1st legit snowfall of the year (legit = it actually is sticking to the ground).....

*this is not a sponsored post*

Battle of the Concealers! Hard Candy Glamoflauge vs Maybelline Cover Stick vs e.l.f. Studio Duo Concealer/Highlighter

HARD CANDY GLAMOFLAUGE HEAVY DUTY CONCEALER

$6.00 at Walmart

This concealer was good, but it wasn't great. It supposedly covers tattoos, but I doubt it actually does. Has anyone ever tried covering a tattoo with it? A little goes a long way, so it's really hard to work with- even if you apply the smallest amount you can, it will still be way too much. It feels really oily on my skin, which I don't like. It had good coverage, but it doesn't last long & it creases very badly. Overall, it wasn't the best concealer, but it did have pretty good coverage.

MAYBELLINE COVER STICK CONCEALER

$4.94 at Walmart

This is probably the cakeiest concealer I have ever tried. It's super thick, which makes it hard to blend. It just looks so awful! On the bright side, it lasts all day and is fairly waterproof. Great coverage, horrible formulation!

E.L.F. STUDIO DUO CONCEALER/HIGHLIGHTER

$3.00 at Target

This was such a thin concealer. It gives almost no coverage whatsoever. You would have to use the entire bottle to cover a pimple. The only thing I liked about it was that it didn't settle into the dry skin around my pimples like most concealers do. It didn't cover the dark circles under my eyes at all. & in case you were wondering, the highlighter is awful as well- you can't see it at all.

WINNER: HARD CANDY GLAMOFLAUGE

My Favorite Scented Lotions

1. Rome Honeysuckle Amore by Bath & Body Works- I love this stuff! It smells just like honeysuckle, so if you don't like honeysuckle this probably isn't for you. Top: Italian peach, blackberry, green mandarin. Mid: Pink honeysuckle, white raspberry, peony. Dry: Golden amber, soft sandalwood, cypress wood.

   

   Now $5.50 at Bath & Body Works (yes, the full size 8oz!)

2. Be Enchanted by Bath & Body Works- This is a great everyday scent that anyone can pull off. It's perfect for Fall/Winter. Top: Mouthwatering citrus, iced pomegranate, chilled wild berries, chilled passion fruit. Mid: Sheer honeysuckle, floral frosted bouquet, sugared petals, dewfruit, Asian pear. Dry: Whipped vanilla, light mush, sandalwood.

   

   $12.50 at Bath & Body Works

3. Beautiful Day by Bath & Body Works- This lotion reminds me of Summer. It's very fruity and fun, and I don't care that it's Fall & I'm wearing a Summer/Spring scent ;) Top: Sun-kissed apple, dewy pear, sparkling cassis. Mid: Wild daisies, lily of the valley, fresh pink peony. Dry: White peach, blonde woods.

   

   $12.50 at Bath & Body Works

4. Love Sweet Love by Philosophy- I can't get enough of this lotion. It's a very sweet, romantic scent (it reminds me of Valentine's Day!) & it's very long lasting! It moisturizes well, but the fragrance makes it difficult to wear since I have extremely sensitive skin on my hands and legs. I still love it though!

   

   $35.00 at Sephora

5. Any and all lotions by Hempz Treats. These smell good enough to eat. They smell exactly like the dessert they're supposed to smell like- it's crazy how amazing they smell. They're extremely sweet, so some people might not like them. They're nice and thick- super moisturizing! I buy mine at TJ Maxx for about $6, but you can get them on Amazon as well. My favorites are Strawberry Cheesecake and Butter Pecan. I can't wait to try the holiday scents! 
   

5 Favorite YouTube Beauty Gurus of October

1. Tess Christine- click here for her Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby) tutorial, here for her fairy tutorial, and here for her Audrey Hepburn tutorial! 
2. Anna Saccone- click here for her Fall Makeup Routine video!
3. Allison Andersen- click here for her Sweater Weather makeup tutorial!
4. A Brunette Duet- click here for their Rainy Day Hair + Outfit video and here for their Pumpkin Chocolate Caramel Blondie Recipe video!
5. Ingrid (missglamorazzi)- click here for her Pumpkin Spice Mini Cake video!

PS- Sorry I haven't posted for a while! I went on vacation for a week & I didn't have any time to blog until today. :)