Review: Covergirl Clean Normal Skin Pressed Powder

Since I love the Covergirl Clean foundation, I decided to try the Covergirl Clean powder. I really wish I had gotten the oily skin formula, rather than the normal skin formula, because it would probably work better- and I don't even have oily skin. I've heard that you can either use this powder as a powder foundation or a setting powder, but I don't know if that's true. I've been using it as a setting powder & here are the things I've noticed-

• You need a lot to make your makeup feel like it's been set.
• It makes my foundation and face makeup last longer...nearly all day.
• I don't like the smell...it smells like old lady perfume.
• It looks very natural and smooth.                                                                        
• I like it better than the Covergirl Smoothers pressed powder.

Overall, I don't hate it because it actually works, but I do wish I had gotten the oily skin formula because it would probably set my foundation better. I do recommend it and I will probably repurchase it, but I am still looking for a really good drugstore setting powder. Any recommendations?

$5.94 at Walmart

5 Favorite YouTube Beauty Gurus of December

Yes, I know I am SUPER late with this post! Truth is I didn't have a ton of time to watch YouTube in December and I was without Internet for 10 days. I've been trying to catch up, but catching up has resulted in me missing January videos, so I decided to just choose my top 5 based on the few videos I watched so I won't have the same problem this month. Without further a do & in no particular order...

1. Ingrid (missglamorazzi): I LOVED Ingrid's DIY December videos! I've already shared a couple of her DIY December videos in some other posts, but you can click here for the link to her DIY December playlist.
2. Jenny (ShowMeCute): You can click here for her DIY Confetti Popcorn recipe/tutorial and here for her DIY Metallic Sharpie Fingernails tutorial. I love the whole Sharpie nail art idea! Genius.
3. Tiffany (MakeupbyTiffanyD): Yes, her videos are typically about 20 minutes long, but Tiffany is so easy to watch, she seems super sweet, and I can tell she knows what she's talking about. You can click here for her Healthy Hair Care Routine & 6 Minute Curling Tutorial, here for her Holiday Glam & Classic Makeup Tutorial, and here for her Naked 3 Palette Review & Swatches video!
4. Allison (amarixe): I think Allison has been in almost all of my favorite YouTuber posts. She recently went on a trip to Europe & she took some great pictures, so I recommend you follow her on Instagram as well :) You can click here for her What's in My Travel Beauty Bag Europe Edition video.
5. Stef & Tracy (eleventhgorgeous): I love this sister duo. They are so fun to watch and I love that they are best friends. I also think it is more entertaining when there are 2 girls as opposed to just 1. You can click here for their Get Ready With Me- New Year's Eve video.

Since this is a post about YouTubers, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the recent change to A Brunette Duet. As sad as I am that Steph is leaving, I think Laura will do great and I will continue watching her videos. What do you ladies think of the change? You can click here for Laura's channel.

Review: Dove Cool Moisture Foaming Facial Cleanser

Disclaimer: This product is discontinued. It is still sold on Amazon and possibly a few other websites, but it can be pricey. I do believe Dove is currently selling a similar facial cleanser, but I could be wrong.

I use this cleanser during my nightly routine. I use a makeup removing wipe to remove my makeup and then I was my face with this cleanser to clean my face. 

I love this cleanser! It removes any excess makeup and is very gentle and refreshing. My face feels soft and clean after I use it. It's very moisturizing; probably the most moisturizing cleanser I've ever used! It also smells nice, which is a bonus. I also used to use this in place of a shaving cream on my legs & it worked very well. It's great for sensitive, dry skin!

I highly recommend this cleanser, however, I honestly don't think I will be repurchasing it due to the cost since it has been discontinued. I do love it though.

Here is an Amazon link for this product:

http://www.amazon.com/Dove-Moisture-foaming-facial-cleanser/dp/B000P06X38

Ulta Cheek Color: Infatuation

My current favorite blush is Infatuation, which is a blush from Ulta's collection. It's perfect for fall & winter and I have to say I've been loving it more than I love my Nyx blushes. It's super wearable, easy to work with, and silky. The only things I don't like about it are the packaging and that it doesn't last all day (but that's not a huge problem). Yes, the packaging is awesome for traveling & such because of the size, but it's not super durable. Regardless, it's such a gorgeous blush and I highly recommend you pick it up! It's only $7.00 at Ulta and right now they're buy one get one free! 

PS- In this picture it looks darker than it actually is. This picture makes it look like a dark berry color, but it's really a more natural berry color!

Review: Clean and Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Smoothing Facial Scrub

I typically use the Clean and Clear Blackhead Eraser scrub every morning, but I was looking for something that would be a little more moisturizing for winter, so I picked this up.

I read a lot of reviews before I purchased it & everyone said it was very moisturizing, so I originally intended for it to be the face wash I use every morning. After just a few uses I noticed this is NOT a daily cleanser because it is too abrasive. My skin, especially my nose, got extremely dry and I had to stop using it for about a week while my skin got back to normal. Now I use it a few times a week. It does make my skin really smooth, but it was not moisturizing. It is not for daily use and it doesn't do much for pimples, acne, and such. It smells good, makes my face feel smooth, and it's fairly brightening. 

There are definitely products I like more than this, so I will not be repurchasing it. I do recommend it is because the majority of the reviews I've read for this product have been raves, so I think there's a chance you might like it!

Review: Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

A little over a month ago I received a sample of the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask in one of my Sephora orders. I had read reviews on it & I wasn't expecting good results since it didn't have good reviews. The sample lasted for 5 uses. I washed my face before each use, used it once a week, and left it on for 30 minutes, like the instructions say to. 

I honestly wasn't impressed by this product. I didn't hate it, but I would never spend $55 on it! I probably wouldn't even buy it if it was $5 at the drugstore.

$55.00 at Sephora

I'm going to go through what it's supposed to do (according to sephora.com) & tell you if it did it or not.:

Enhance Skin's Radiance: I did not notice any "enhanced radiance". I was sure I would, since you can find inexpensive products at the drugstore that brighten your skin. This really disappointed me. 

Eliminate Dull and Blemished Skin Cells: I did notice that it helped make some of my scarring a little less noticeable...if that counts.

Reduce the Appearance of Pores: I was really hoping this would be true, but I did not notice a change in the appearance of my pores.

Reduce Inflammation: I actually saw a huge difference with this particular one. It pretty much eliminated the redness around my pimples and made it much easier for me to conceal them.

Promote Hydration: I did notice it was fairly hydrating, but nothing I've never seen before in a Freeman face mask. I did, however, have to use moisturizer after I used this mask.

Leave Skin Soft, Refreshed, and Glowing: My skin was soft after I used this, but as I said before, I still had to use moisturizer. As far as "refreshed" goes, I didn't notice anything particularly "refreshing" about this mask. Lastly, I don't think it made my skin radiant by any means- nothing more than the typical clean-face "glow". 

The Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask is nothing special. It's not worth the $55 it costs and it didn't do a ton for my skin. I don't recommend it, especially because the other reviews I've read are exactly like mine, so I know I'm not the only one who didn't like it. However, if you're still interested in trying it, you can get a free sample of it with your next Sephora order (online). I highly recommend getting the sample before buying the full size since it is expensive.

My Lysine Experience

In addition to taking Biotin, I have also started taking Lysine. Lysine is a dietary supplement that supports skin and tissue health. I have taken Lysine every now and then for the past 5 or so years, but I have never taken it religiously [and probably never will]. I used to take it whenever I had a cold sore or canker sore, but I recently started taking it because of other skin problems, specifically acne on my back and and constant breakouts on my face. I have never really had skin problems and I rarely get pimples, so when I started breaking out so often I decided to start taking Lysine.

I have noticed the Lysine helps, but not a ton. I have noticed I don't get pimples too often anymore, and if I do they're not very big and they go away quickly. I also noticed that my skin isn't as oily (face) or dry (legs & arms) as it normally is, so that's nice. As far as my back goes, I haven't seen a difference at all. What I think has helped the most with my back is that I use antibacterial body wash to wash it daily.

I have been taking Lysine daily for the past 3 or 4 weeks now, and I will keep you updated if I notice any other differences!

P.S.- If you're interested in taking Lysine, know that the pills are ginormous! I can usually swallow them pretty easily, but other family members and friends who have also tried Lysine have mentioned that they have a hard time swallowing the pills. They aren't the biggest pills I've taken, but they're definitely huge. If you're not great at swallowing pills, maybe try taking birth control to help with your skin before trying Lysine- they're much easier to swallow!

My Biotin Experience {Cycle 2}

I recently finished my 2nd "cycle" with Biotin. To see my 1st post about Biotin, click here. This time around was totally different from my last. 

I feel like my hair growth started to regulate itself. Before I started taking Biotin I had to shave my legs every other day (I have dark, very thick hair and it would grow very quickly). Although I didn't shave very often during either cycle, if it had been Summer during my 1st cycle I would have had to shave my legs every day, which would have sucked! The 2nd cycle was much different than the 1st mainly because my hair growth on my legs and underarms became more "normal" and it stopped growing so quickly--hallelujah! That being said, I have to add that I did start to notice the hair on my head started growing a lot more, which really confused me. I don't know how on earth this happened, but it's perfect. 

I also noticed that my nails got a lot stronger; this was probably the most noticeable difference I saw this time around. My nails didn't chip at all during the 3 weeks of my 2nd cycle. It was awesome. The only downside was that if I scratched myself my nails would cut me, which was super annoying, especially since I have such dry skin. 

So far, I have had a pretty good experience with Biotin. I have seen a difference in my hair and nails and I know it has been doing its job. Cycle 3 here I come!

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 12 {DIY Map Panel}

I saw this on Pinterest and decided I wanted to make one for my mom for Christmas! It only cost a little over $15 total, so it's a super easy, cheap gift idea!

This is not my picture- all rights go to owner.

This picture is the actual "tutorial". There are no written instructions or anything on the website I got it off of, so I decided to write my own. Here are the steps I followed in making the panel-

1. Purchase supplies. I was able to find everything I needed at Walmart! I found a wood panel by the art canvases for about $12. You can click here to see some cute, cheap panels from Walmart. Next I bought some nails. I bought the shortest nails I could find, they ended up being 18x19mm, 2oz or something like that! They cost $0.94. I chose my mom's favorite color, dark burgundy, to paint the panel. The paint was just the typical acrylic paint you can find at any craft store that costs $0.97. For the string I used crochet thread, which cost like $1.27. 
2. Paint the panel.
3. Find a map of the state/province/country...whatever it is you're making & cut out the outline. Set it on the panel wherever you'd like it to go & VERY LIGHTLY trace around it. After you trace it, you will not need the map anymore and you can throw it away or do what you'd like with it.
4. Keeping a consistent distance between each nail, use a hammer to secure the nails where you'd like them to go. I kept mine about 1/3 inch apart. 
5. Lightly draw a heart in the capital or the hometown of the person you're giving it to. For my mom's, I put the heart around her hometown. 
6. Using a hammer, secure the nails around the outline of the heart. I kept mine as close as I possibly could.
7. Use the thread to "embroider" the map panel. I recommend dividing the # of nails you have on the map outline by the # of nails you have on the heart outline. This will tell you how many times you have to use each nail in the heart. I had to do 7 nails from the map for each nail on the heart.
8. When I was done with the "embroidery", I tied a very secure, small knot and used tacky glue to glue it around the nail so it blended in with all the other strings wrapped around the nail. 

Obviously I'm horrible at writing instructions. Especially #7 and #8! Those probably make no sense at all. Sorry! Hope this helps. My mom loved hers. She immigrated to the US when she was 18, so doing her hometown made her really happy :) 

I probably won't be posting again until after New Years, so Merry Christmas everyone!

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 11 {A Romantic Evening}

This gift idea is something you can make super funny or keep it totally serious- either way, I think it would make a great gift.
For example, last year my sister gave my parents a popcorn bucket that had some uber tacky lingerie (keep in mind this was a joke), some super stupid movies, sparkling cider, etc.  On the other hand, you could keep it serious & give them a gift card to a nice restaurant & a gift card to a movie theater or something like that. This year I'm giving my grandparents a gift card to their favorite restaurant & tickets to a concert they said they wanted to go to.
There are endless possibilities for this gift idea! Take the time to find out what the person/people you're giving this to would find enjoyable & that will make it such an amazing gift! Not only is this a great gift idea for your parents/grandparents, but you could also give it to a friend, or even your significant other (that way you get to go too ;) ).

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 10 {Sugar Scrub}

Sugar scrub is a super easy, affordable homemade gift! Anyone can make/give this because it's so easy to make and most people already have the ingredients, so you don't even have to run to the store! Not only can you use sugar scrub on your hands and feet, but you can also use them on your lips and armpits. All you need is granulated sugar and an oil of your choice (I prefer vegetable oil). I usually start with 2 cups of sugar & then add the oil until I like the consistency. If you accidentally add too much oil, just add more sugar! Once you like the consistency, you can add any extract and food coloring you'd like. My favorite is to make an armpit-lightening scrub (I use scrubs on my armpits because I use Drysol & I just feel like it's good to exfoliate every now and then), where I use strawberry extract, a couple drops of red food coloring, and real lemon juice. It smells like strawberry lemonade & it ends up being a light pink color. For the holidays, I like to make make vanilla-scented or peppermint-scented sugar scrubs and add holiday sprinkles to the mixture! You can be as creative as you'd like! It only takes a few minutes to make & then you can put it in mason jars & tie a bow around it to make it the perfect gift. If you think the person you give it to is going to use it in the shower (most people do), make sure the lid is not metal (or it will rust). You can usually find a glass jar with a plastic lid at the $1 store or a drugstore.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 9 {Perfume/Cologne}

Perfume/cologne is a great gift idea because everyone wears perfume/cologne. For a more affordable option, I highly recommend the fragrances at Rue 21. Rue 21's fragrances cost $9.99, so they're very affordable. Other than that, I would recommend going to Macy's and picking whatever you think the person you're giving it to would like. Ed Hardy is my favorite line- I think their men's and women's fragrances smell great. Taylor Swift, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears all have great fragrances for women. Perfume and cologne are gifts that are great for any budget because you have so many options price wise.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 8 {Sephora}

There have been a few things at Sephora I've seen & thought would be great gift ideas! I'm basically just going to show you the things on my list, just so you can have an idea. Sephora's website has [very large] gift guide on it as well.

$49.50 at Sephora. I've heard mixed reviews on this product & I know it's smaller than it seems it would be, but I still think it would make a great gift.

$52.00 at Sephora. Who doesn't have this on their list this year? The colors are absolutely gorgeous!

$22.00 at Sephora. The colors are absolutely perfect for the holiday season. I especially love the 2 on the right!

$50.00 at Sephora. Such a great deal (considering 1 costs $22.50)! If you have never tried any of the Fresh Sugars before, you HAVE to! They're amazing. They're super moisturizing & easy to wear.

$28.00 at Sephora

$20.00 at Sephora. I just purchased this & I'll probably have a review up sometime in January. As of right now, I actually really like it. They're not very long-lasting, but other than than I like it. Definitely worth $20.00. 

$28.00 at Sephora. I think this is a great gift idea because it comes with the scrub, the balm, and a gloss.

$25.00 at Sephora. This is at the top of my list this year. It looks like a beautiful holiday palette. Sorry the picture is so blurry!

 $32.00 at Sephora. I was given this as a gift and let me tell ya how great it is. I use the brushes daily and they're just great. & hey, a girl can never have too many brushes! This is great because it's travel size & super easy to travel with.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 7 {Homemade Mug}

Everyone uses mugs, especially during winter! I personally don't drink tea or coffee, but I would definitely use a mug like this for hot chocolate. This is an easy, budget-friendly gift that you can customize- way better than a store bought mug! Ingrid (missglamorazzi) shows you how to make your own mug in her DIY December Day 9 video! Enjoy.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 6 {Pampering Kit}

Who doesn't love a little pampering? I think a spa kit is a great gift idea because it doesn't need to cost a lot of money, but it can if you want it to! Everything listed is just an idea of something you can put in a spa kit, so totally optional!

1. Face Mask: I don't know about you, but I love me a good face mask! My favorite face masks are the Freeman Feeling Beautiful face masks from Ulta. They're only $3.99! You can also get sample sizes at Walmart for a $1 or $2.
   
2. Soap: This is a pretty broad category. If you're trying to keep it cheap, I recommend running to the drugstore & picking up a cheap bubble bath. My favorite holiday soaps are from Philosophy. I love so many of their holiday products. It's a bit of an obsession.

   

   Sweet Fallen Snow shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath, and body lotion $26.00 at philosophy.com 

   

   Home for the Holidays holiday scented shampoo, shower gel & bubble baths, and lip shines $42.00 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Have a Cherry Christmas white cherry shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   The Cookie Exchange gift set $24.00 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Peppermint Stick shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Spiced Gingerbread Cookie shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Old Fashioned Eggnog shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

3. Fuzzy Socks: Who doesn't love fuzzy socks? I've seen a lot of super cute holiday fuzzy socks at Walmart, but I chose a 2 pack from Target for $5.10.
   
4. Lotion: You can either get a non-scented lotion for sensitive skin (I recommend Vanicream, Cetaphil, or Vaselin), or you can get a scented lotion. For scented lotions, please refer to my previous post :)
5. Nail Polish: I think nail polish is a fun addition to a spa kit! My favorite holiday colors are in the Mariah Carey Holiday Collection by OPI! Here are a few of my favorites from the collection-

   

   My Favorite Ornament

   
   

   

   In My Santa Suit

   
   

   

   Cute Little Vixen

   
   

   

   Visions of Love

   
   

   

   All Sparkley & Gold

6. Hair Mask: I recommend either the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 mask (click here for my review) or the Macadamia mask. You can either get the full size Macadamia or the sample size. I personally would get the L'Oreal one because you get more for your money, but they are both terrific & would be great for a spa kit!

   

   $33.00 at Ulta

   

   $4.00 at Ulta

   
   

   

   $5.97 at Walmart

7. Candle: I love candles and think they are perfect for a spa kit! I highly recommend any of these candles:

   

   $10.00 (large) $5.00 (small) at Target. This has been my favorite candle for a really long time. I've purchased 3 or 4 this year alone!

   
   

   

   $10.00 (large) $5.00 (small) at Target

   
   

   

   $20.00 at Bath & Body Works

   
   

   

   $20.00 (3 wick) $4.50 (mini) at Bath & Body Works

   
   

   

   $20.00 (3 wick) $4.50 (mini) at Bath & Body Works

   
   

   

   $20.00 (3 wick) $4.50 (mini) $12.50 (mason jar) at Bath & Body Works

Make it your own! You can throw some pajamas in there, maybe a loofah, an eye mask, hot chocolate mix- anything you'd like!