Not Another LA Blonde

Tag: make up for ever

February Faves
Good morning and happy Wednesday friends! My teams cheer season ended this past weekend, so now that I no longer have practice after work, I’ve realized I have a lot more free time. I’ve been using my new found free time to get some stuff done over at the condo before Robert moves in. Last night was spent taking the old shelf liners out of every drawer/cabinet. My mom came with me and started laying new lining down in the pantry.

I’ve been meaning to write about some of my favorite products that I use on a daily basis. I’ve been hard core crushing on a few beauty products lately and felt like I should share with y’all what they were!

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IT COSMETICS Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ – $15-$38

Ok, I didn’t used to wear this, but it’s a total game changer. This cream is perfect for covering up any discolored or splotchy looking skin. It eliminates any redness I might have and completely evens out my skin tone. I usually put this on before I put my concealer on so that my face is even. I love that it glides on so smooth and feels weightless all day! I apply it using a sponge I bought at Target (here). The only negative thing I will say is this (and this is a no brainer), wash your face and get all the makeup off your face before going to bed because you will get a pimple or two if you leave this on overnight! It comes in shades Fair to Deep giving you seven options to choose from. You can also test it out and buy the mini size in either Light or Medium. You can also find this cream at Macy’s.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation – $37

I have been using this powder FOREVER!!! I used to use a different powder, but found my skin was breaking out from it, so my hairdresser recommended this one a few years ago and I fell in love. The powder comes in 21 shades ranging from Pink Porcelain to Neutral Ebony. I vary between 115 Pink Ivory and 118 Neutral Beige depending on the time of year. This is a breakthrough multiuse formula that can be applied as a foundation or setting powder. It is super lightweight and doesn’t look cakey when applied!

I use the MAC 150 brush when applying my powder. You can find the brush at:
- Bloomingdale’s (Gift with any $25 beauty purchase)
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Nordstrom
CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips – $9.50-$19

I first purchased the travel size because I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, but I did and went and bought the full size. This makeup remover is great because I don’t feel like it dries out my skin after I use it. It effortlessly dissolves longwearing makeup, even waterproof mascara. The Sephora website says that it is suitable for contact lens wearers and I 100% agree! It doesn’t irritate my eyes if I forget to take my contacts out before wiping away my eye makeup. I use these cotton rounds from Target to help get all the makeup off from my eyes and lips!

You can also find this at:
- Clinique
- Nordstrom
- Macy’s
- Ulta
TORY BURCH Love Relentlessly Perfume – $30-$118

I actually bought this the day before my London trip because I ran out of perfume and was looking for something new to wear. I usually go towards more floral scents and this one is filled with Pink Pepper, Rose, Orris, and Sandalwood. Love Relentlessly captures the euphoric feeling of falling in love and the bottle is so pretty. This perfume comes in the roller size (perfect for traveling) and three other sizes that you spray on yourself.

You can also find this perfume at:
- Tory Burch for $30, $88, $118
- Macy’s
- Nordstrom
So there you have it, those are my top items that are currently on repeat in my beauty routine. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me! Let me know if you end up picking up any of my fave items!

XOXO
February 28, 2018
Ipsy – August 2017

Good Morning and happy Tuesday y’all! I got my Ipsy bag at the end of last week and I’m going to be real honest… I like about half of what I got (maybe I’m just being picky lately, but I haven’t been super impressed with the last few bags I got)!

I know we never talked about the July bag, but with everything going on last month I just ran out of time!

Here’s the deal, I’m going to share with y’all what I got in my pouch this month and what I did or didn’t like about each item in my bag:

For starters, the theme of August’s bag was GOOD VIBES ONLY. My bag said Peace Love Lipstick. I liked this bag more than some of the others because of its simplicity and is cute enough to throw into my work purse.

The Products:

theBalm Cosmetics Voyage Vol. 2 Eyeshadow in Willkommen – Value for 0.57 g= $5.50

You can get the Face Palette for $39.50 which includes 9 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, a bronzer, a highlighter, and 2 lip/cheek creams. Famous for their triple-milled pigments and anti-aging ingredients, theBalm is one of our fave go-tos for gorgeous, cruelty-free products. The Willkommen eyeshadow is a deep caramel shade, perfect for creating boho-inspired looks. I think this color is super cute and if I didn’t already have like 5 of the same color then this would def be a keeper in my book. I really like theBalm products and look forward to receiving it in my bag!

FORMULA 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask – Value for 1 oz = $2.06

The full 3.4 oz mud mask retails for $6.99. You’ll instantly feel the tingle of this clarifying mask as it sucks the gunk out of clogged pores. AHHHH yes, I love masks that I can paint on my face! I prefer these over sheet masks any day of the week. This one smells really good and left my face feeling really clean but not all dried out like some masks make you feel. I can’t wait to use this again and with its inexpensive price I will definitely be buying this again!

sundays Nail Polish in No. 28 – Value for 14 ml = $18

This is a FULL size product!! Based in NYC, Sundays’ nail salons have spawned a cult following for their cruelty-free, non-toxic nail polishes! Sundays nail polish has an insanely shiny lacquer finish and a totally curated color selection. This color is a lavender grey and looks really nice on the nail. I normally do gel manicures, but sometimes a girl’s just gotta let the nails breath and use a regular ol’ polish. This color will be great when the weather gets a little bit cooler and we transition into Fall!

Make Up For Ever EXCESSIVE LASH Arresting Volume Mascara – Value for 2.5 ml = $7.35

The full size 8.5 ml mascara retails at $25. This mascara gives you the fanned-out lash look with its petite brush. The blend of soft and hard fibers on the brush allows you to layer on the formula and build up your lashes while combing through to nix clumps. I LOVE getting mascara in my bag!!! Personally, I love Make Up For Ever and was super excited to get this in my bag this month. I’ve been looking for a new mascara so this came at the perfect time. (side note: I haven’t purchased mascara for almost a year now!) I really like this mascara and it’s become my go-to in the morning.

Hey Honey Come Clean: Propolis & Minerals Facial Scrub – Value for 15 mL = $5.14

The full 70 mL cleanser retails for $24. The main ingredient in this scrub is Propolis extract (a healing and anti-inflammatory compound produced by bees). It helps dissolve residue, minimize the look of pores, hydrate, and brighten up your skin. It’s also packed with non-abrasive dissolving crystalline beads to help clear dead skin cells and blackheads for a smoother complexion. This is the perfect size to throw into my gym bag for when I shower after my workout during lunch. It has a nice feel to it because of the beads (I always feel like my face gets cleaner with them) and I am totally washing away all the sweat/makeup residue after my workout!

While I can’t guarantee an exact price of the products in the whole bag, I’ve estimated that the AUGUST bag is worth at least $38.05! While there was only 1 FULL size item in the bag, I think that the $10 you pay for the bag is such a steal compared to buying each item separately!

The cost of the box every month is $10 + tax and free shipping. So for 5 products (one of which should be full size, the low price is a pretty good bargain. The bag is great if you’re looking to try out different products that you may not currently use.

To subscribe to Ipsy use my referral link to discover new brands/products that you might come to love that you wouldn’t otherwise try!

XOXO

p.s Let me know if you got anything different that you absolutely loved!

Also, if you see something that you like/want feel free to check out Mercari if you have it. If I can’t find friends that want any of the goodies I’m not a fan of, I try to sell it!

August 15, 2017
Ipsy: June 2017
Happy Tuesday y’all! I got my June Ipsy bag last week and I like about half of what I got!

Here’s the deal, I’m share with you what I got in my pouch this month and what I did or didn’t like about each item in my bag:

For starters, the theme of this month’s bag was VOLUME UP. The bag was cute with just lips on the front. I liked this bag more than some of the others because of its simplicity.

The Products:
1. NYX Whipped Lip & Cheek Soufflé in Cocoa Bean Value for 8ml= $6
This is a FULL size product. In my opinion, this is a pretty small item that NYX is considering to be full size. This product can be used for BOTH lips and cheek! The whipped formula is supper light so that it feels like you’re not even wearing anything. The Cocoa Bean color is a super versatile nude brown that also works great for contouring. I’m personally not a fan of this color and wish I had gotten one of the other colors offered. With that being said, it is super lightweight, but it isn’t a product that I’ll be buying on my own.
1. Skyn ICELAND Glacial Face Wash with White Willow Bark Value for 20ml = $4
The full 150ml tube retails for $30. This super foamy cleanser leaves your face feeling fresh and hydrated! It helps soothe, revitalize, and detoxify. The formula is also very mild so it’s perfect for any skin type! I always love trying new face washes, so this product was a win in my book. I like how it left my face feeling after washing it. Would I buy this product again? I’m not so sure; even though I liked it, I can’t imagine paying $30 for face wash!
1. City Color Cosmetics Bold Brow Eyebrow Powder in Medium Value for 0.8oz = $4
I think that this might be a FULL size product or pretty close to it because it retails for $4 online. This duo of matte powders creates soft, subtle definition without looking super harsh. With two colors, you can create the perfect blend to match your existing brows! I personally don’t use powder for my eyebrows and prefer Benefit’s Goof Proof Brow Pencil.
1. Doucce Maxlash Volumizer Mascara Value for 6ml =$10 (Super rough estimate as sample sizes are usually half of the full size)
The full size of this mascara retails at $22. This lash-fattening formula makes our fringe look insanely lush, fluttery, and fab. The chubby wand coats every last lash so none of them are left behind! I love trying out new mascaras and love getting them in my bag! I honestly haven’t bought mascara in about a year! I liked this mascara, and with it retailing at $22 (fairly normal for full mascara) I may purchase this in the future.
1. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua XL Eye Pencil in M-10 Matte Black Value for 0.02oz = $10.50
The full 0.04oz eyeliner retails for $21 at Sephora. The cutting-edge formula is insanely creamy, so it glides on like butter with no tugging or dragging. This waterproof formula literally stays put until you decide it’s time for it to come off. I love pencil eyeliner so much more than liquid, so this was a pleasant surprise when I found it in my bag. I like the way it glides on and I’m also a fan of the brand! I would definitely buy this product again.

While I can’t pinpoint an exact price of the products in the whole bag, I’ve figured that the May bag is worth at least $34.50 (just a super rough estimate, not sure if the eyebrow powder was full size or not and couldn’t get an exact price on the mascara)! I think that it is fairly accurate, so the $10 you pay for the bag is such a steal compared to buying each item separately!

The cost of the box every month is $10 + tax and free shipping. So for 5 products (one of which should be full size, the low price is a pretty good bargain. The bag is great if you’re looking to try out different products that you may not currently use.

To subscribe to Ipsy use my referral link to discover new brands/products that you might come to love that you wouldn’t otherwise try!

XOXO

p.s Let me know if you got anything different that you absolutely loved!
June 13, 2017