February Favorites 2012

Well, another month has flown by which means it's time for me to share my favorites with you all! Enjoy! 

Bekah's February Favorites for 2012!

ELF Little Black Beauty Book Volume 1

ELF Little Black Beauty Book Volume 1: I've had this product for 4-5 months but recently I have been grabbing for it constantly. I love all the neutral colors it has so it's always easy to create a quick yet pretty eye look for the daytime. Some shadows are better pigmented than others but I find that most of them work quite well. A few of the colors are more powdery than others so I tend to avoid those but all in all this little book is super convenient! 

OPI Matte Nail Envy & OPI It's My Year

OPI Matte Nail Envy Nail Strengthener: I originally purchased this with the intentions of of using it as a matte topcoat over other nail polishes, but quickly realized that it's not as matte as I was hoping for or expecting (it has more of a satin finish that resembles the natural sheen of your bare nails). I will continue my hunt for a matte topcoat but I found that this works as a great base coat. It really seems to help my nail polishes stay on a bit longer. I can't say whether it has strengthened my nails because I honestly haven't noticed a difference. (Warning! After purchasing this I found out it has formaldehyde in the ingredients. This doesn't frighten me enough to toss it out, but I will not be repurchasing this product.)

OPI It's My Year (Miss Universe Collection): This gorgeous color instantly caught my eye. At first glance it looks purple but it contains tons of the tiniest copper/bronze shimmer specks (the photo above really doesn't do it justice!). When worn on the nails it usually appears purple but when you tilt your hands (especially in the sun) it sometimes appears as if it magically changes into a copper polish. The purple base is somewhat sheer but 2 coats will make the polish opaque on your nails. The only thing I didn't like about this polish was that it stained my nails, even with one coat of base coat, and that hadn't happened to me in years. So make sure you double up on your base coat!

Clinique City Block Sheer Tint SPF 15

Clinique City Block Sheer Tint SPF 15 Light/Medium

Clinique City Block Sheer Tint SPF15 in Light/Medium: I found this tube in my mom's bathroom and she said I could take it since she was trying out a new makeup. After only wearing it a few times I found that it felt really good on my skin. It's not super moisturizing which I don't need since my skin is oily and I live in a super hot/humid climate. I like how it sinks into my skin and doesn't look shiny. It provides sheer coverage which I don't mind because anything too heavy in this climate just melts and rubs off anyway. (Unfortunately this product has been discontinued although I believe Clinique sells new formulas.)

Covergirl 415 Siren, Revlon Super Lustrous Pink Pop, Wet n Wild 514A Cherry Frost

Covergirl 415 Siren (top), Revlon Super Lustrous Pink Pop (middle), Wet n Wild 514A Cherry Frost (bottom)

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in 415 Siren: This poor lipstick hadn't seen any love from me since last summer so I decided to pull it out and start using it again. It's such a fun, bright, beautiful pink that is perfect as we begin to transition into wearing Spring colors.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop: This lipgloss makes a perfect partner for my Covergirl Siren lipstick! It also looks great alone because the color shows up really opaque. It's definitely buildable so you can wear it very sheer or build it up to be opaque like the swatch above.

Wet n Wild in 514A Cherry Frost: This is my absolute favorite red lipstick. It is a true cherry red (I wish it didn't show up as magenta-ish in the swatch above! The photo of the lipstick in the tube is much more true to color.). It has tiny gold micro-glitter specks but it's not noticeable on your lips whatsoever (so don't be afraid if you don't like glitter). I love the cool tone of this red because it makes your teeth appear super white!

Nail Polish Remover Pads in Jasmin

Nail Polish Remover Pads in Jasmin: I found this at a gift shop at the Micronesia Mall here in Guam and wow wow wow these little things work amazingly! What I thought was cool is that they don't contain alcohol or acetone which we all know are damaging ingredients for our nails. They have an oily consistency and take off nail polish sooo easily! And smell amazing! They are made by Natural Products and can be found here. I believe they can also be found on Amazon.com.

Spring 2012 Nail Polish Trends

It may not quite be Spring yet, but all the Spring clothing and beauty collections are popping up which means fun new colors and trends to immerse ourselves in! I particularly love following nail polish trends because it is such an affordable way to be "in" every season. But even if you don't like following trends, new nail polish colors are always fun regardless! Here are some of the main colors you will be seeing on nails this Spring. 

Nudes & neutrals: Think light beige shades that are similar to the color of your skin tone, creamy whites, super light grays, and pale pinks.

(OPI Samoan Sand, Deborah Lippmann Amazing Grace, Essie Chinchilly, Sephora by OPI The Way Tutu His Heart)

 

Creamy neons: The new neons have white added to them which makes them appear much more creamy than the typical neons you might be used to.

 (Essie Orange, It's Obvious, OPI Did It On 'Em, China Glaze Fuchsia Fanatic, American Apparel Neon Blue) 

Glitter: While glitter isn't exactly a new trend, it's now showing up in tons of fun new colors and shapes and sizes.

 (Essie A Cut Above, American Apparel Supernova, OPI Save Me, China Glaze Techno) 

Pastels: Pastels are always a Spring staple and the "it" pastel this year is definitely pistachio green. You'll also be seeing light, buttery yellows and pretty lavenders.

 (Essie Navigate Her, RGB Vellum, Essie To Buy Or Not To Buy) 

Reds: Reds ranging from burgundy to true red to fire engine red are hot and are even hotter when you match them with your red lipstick!

 (Chanel April, Butter London Come To Bed Red, Essie Ole Caliente) 

Favorite Makeup Products of 2011

Hello loves! 

It has been far too long since I last updated & my New Year's resolution for 2012 is to update consistently! I figured I would start off this year by telling you all about the amazing makeup products I fell in love with during 2011. I've already begun collecting new products for 2012 but I didn't want these to go unmentioned! So let's get to it! 

Lip Products: 

• Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm: I have probably owned 10+ tubes of this lip balm. This is my all time favorite lip product, hands down! I am in love with the minty fresh feeling it gives my lips & I never ever get chapped lips because of this stuff. It's also 100% natural AND it's not tested on animals!
• Rimmel Moisture Renew in Coral Shimmer with SPF 18: I really loved coral shades this year. This lipstick is a sheer coral-pink with the tiniest specks of gold shimmer. So beautiful and very wearable!
• C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint No. 1643 Coral Mint: This lip gloss was my go-to when i wanted extra shiny lips. It has 2% peppermint oil so it's minty fresh like the Burt's Bees which I love! I usually layered it over my Rimmel Coral Shimmer lipstick. It's not too sticky and the woman at Bath & Body Works told me that since it's 100% natural, you can even put a dot of it on your tongue to freshen your breath! However I don't think I've ever actually done this... I prefer gum. :) 
• Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in Petal Glow with SPF 20: This was an impulse buy that I ended up really liking! It's very moisturizing and has a sheer rose-colored tint to it and makes your lips a bit shiny. I keep this in my purse at all times! It has a fruity smell that I don't love, but it won't stop me from using it.
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Glossy Rose: If you want a high quality lip gloss without spending lots of money, this is the one to try! This particular one is a rose color with the tiniest shimmer specks. It has good pigmentation, feels great on the lips, and isn't sticky which most drugstore lipglosses are. It comes in so many pretty shades! I highly recommend this!

Face Products: 

• Bare Minerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation in Fairly Light: I first tried the Original formula of this foundation and didn't love the "dewy" effect it gave my face. Once I tried the Matte version, I was hooked! This is my second container and I prefer it to liquid foundation since I always live in hot climates. It can have light all the way to full coverage depending on how you apply it, and leaves your complexion looking flawless.
• Bare Minerals SPF 20 Eye Brightener Well-Rested: I've only had this product for a few months but I already love it! It's a yellow-ish finely milled mineral powder I apply it under my eyes on top of whatever concealer I'm using to set it and add extra brightness to my eyes.
• Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller: I never have very high expectations for under eye products but I buy them anyway hoping to come across a miracle. Although I won't say it reaches miracle status, I am impressed by this product. You roll it on and it's a liquid consistency with a very sheer tint that surprisingly does provide a bit of coverage. But what I really love is that it actually seems to help de-puff my under eyes! Not drastically, but more than anything else ever has. It's perfect to apply on days when you don't want to wear much makeup but still want some coverage. I also use it as the first step of my concealer routine under my eyes. (I have very dark circles so I have to layer on different products! lol)
• Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Light with SPF20: I needed a new stick concealer so I decided to try this one out. I absolutely love how it applies! It's much smoother than most stick concealers and blends out very easily. It's creamy enough to apply under your eyes and is perfect to use on blemishes or redness on your face. 
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Light: Again, in hopes of finding a miracle I grabbed this product when I saw the words "dark circles treatment." It contains Goji Berry and Haloxyl which supposedly help decrease dark circles. I honestly can't say I have seen any improvement, but I love this concealer regardless! It's very creamy and super easy to apply under your eyes. However the spongy ball applicator on top is a little annoying because it tends to get over saturated with product. I'd prefer different packaging but oh well! 
• Nars blush in Orgasm: I saw this blush in a magazine and it explained how this shade suits almost every skin tone out there. I decided to try it out and now it is my favorite blush of all time! It is a beautiful peachy-coral-pink with tiny golden shimmer specks. It applies sheer on the cheeks but can be slightly built up.
• Covergirl Cheekers blush in Classic Pink: Once I hit pan on my Nars Orgasm I got sad and wanted to conserve it (lol) so I started reaching for this. And before I knew it, I couldn't stop using it! I literally used this every single day until it got to the state it is in now (which is almost completely non-existent). I will definitely be repurchasing this because it is the perfect pink for every day and looks like the natural pink flush your cheeks would get if you were blushing or were outside on a hot day.
• Nars The Multiple in Orgasm: Since I was so in love with my Orgasm blush, I ended up buying the Orgasm Multiple as well. It's a roll-up stick that can be used on your eyelids, cheeks, and lips. It's creamy and smooth and beautiful! I love it on my cheeks and it's nice on my lips too but I like to top it off with a lipgloss to add more shine or else it looks a bit flat. I've never used it on my eyes though because I'm not a big fan of pink eyeshadow.

Eye Products: 

• Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express in Classic Black: I am a mascara addict and am always on the hunt for the perfect mascara. This is my second tube of Colossal which says a lot considering I hardly ever repurchase a mascara. This mascara is great at separating and volumizing your lashes. It leaves somewhat of a shiny finish on your lashes (which I like) and is super black compared to some other "black" mascaras. Even a certain MAC mascara I own isn't as dark black as this mascara.
• Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Boosting Eyeliner + Serum in Ultra Black: This eyeliner has a pointed felt-tip and is really easy to apply since it's almost like using a very thin marker. I like the idea that there is supposedly eyelash serum mixed into the formula, however I can't say that I've noticed a difference in the length or thickness my eyelashes. But I still like it as an eyeliner! 
• Revlon Grow Luscious Lashliner in Onyx: This is one of the smoothest eyeliners I have ever used. It glides on like butter and is super dark black. I love using it on my waterline when I want the darkest line I can possibly get. It's also really easy to smudge out for a smoky effect.
• Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Black: When it comes to amazing staying power, this will always be the eyeliner I rely on. I have tried so many other eyeliners only to end up with a smudgy mess after a few hours. This one lasts all day! Even in a hot, humid climate! 
• Stila Eye Shadow in Starlight: This is the perfect neutral eyeshadow. It's a beautiful champagne color that applies so smoothly on your eyelid. It can be worn alone, used with a crease color, and could even be used as a highlight. When I don't want to think about what makeup to wear, this eyeshadow never fails me. 
• MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study: This is a newer addition to my collection (I've only had it for about 2 months). But I love it so much that I had to include it in my favorites. It's a creamy champagne colored eye shadow that can be used alone or as a primer/base under powder eye shadows. It's such a pretty color and makes your powder eye shadows last all day and keeps them from creasing. 
• Wet n' Wild Ultimate Brow Kit in Ash Brown: This kit comes with a tiny set of tweezers, a tiny angled brow brush, two matte shades of brown powder (one light and one dark), and a clear setting wax. It also has a slide out mirror on the bottom of the compact. I only use the lighter brown powder because it matches my eyebrows perfectly and gives a very natural look when you use light-handed, short strokes to apply it.
• Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow Brush: This handy little brush is amazing! It's the perfect size to apply eyeshadow to your lids and has extremely soft bristles that never shed. 
• e.l.f. Professional Blending Eye Brush: What an awesome brush for only $1! Most e.l.f. brushes are great quality but I picked this as one of my favorites because I find myself grabbing for it all the time. It's great for applying a crease color and to blend. 

Nail Products: 

• OPI Nail Lacquer in Black Shatter: This was definitely the "it" nail polish of 2011 and was so hard to get my hands on when it first came out! Every salon I went to was sold out and I wanted it so bad that I ended up ordering a bottle online! It applies over any nail polish and creates a "shattered" effect. I now own it in other colors but the black is definitely my favorite! 
• OPI Nail Lacquer in Teenage Dream: This shade came out in the Katy Perry Collection. It has tiny specks of pink shimmer along with bigger specks of silver glitter. It's beautiful worn alone or applied over another color.

Perfume: 

• Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue: This scent is so hard to describe but smells amazing! It is a light, citrus yet sweet scent that smells absolutely refreshing! I've gone through 2 bottles already and will definitely repurchase a 3rd.
• Escada Island Kiss: This perfume has a sweet scent that smells like candy mixed with fruit and flowers!

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite makeup products of the year! I will probably do in-depth reviews of some of these products later in the year. Let me know if there are any products you are particularly curious about! And feel free to share with me what your favorite makeup products of 2011 were! :) 


PS: I apologize in advance for the low quality of the photos! These were taken on my cell phone but I'll be using a real camera from here on out. :)

I Wear Pink for _____.

I entered a contest on Polyvore today called "I Wear Pink for ____." in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month! Polyvore will be donating money to Stand Up to Cancer. I wear pink for a cure! What do you wear pink for? :) 

 

xobekahgirl wears pink for a cure! by xobekahgirl

Spring 2011 Nail Polish Trends



Photo by J. Frasse

     As a college student, I am usually on a pretty tight budget when it comes shopping money, because let's face it, paying for rent, bills and food is a little more important (whether I'd like to admit it or not). As a self-proclaimed fashion addict, I would obviously like to splurge every month on the latest clothes, shoes and accessories but unfortunately this just isn't a reality for me. This is where nail polish comes in. Lately I have rediscovered my love for nail polish (I used to collect them as a little girl) and have realized that nail polish is a totally affordable accessory. Maybe you're bored of that little black dress that you wear every season, but if you try painting your nails this season's "it" colors, you can instantly update your look! Here are a few of my favorite nail polish colors for Spring 2011.

Greige

 "Greige" (a cross between gray and beige) has been "in" since last fall but is still being spotted everywhere this spring. I personally love this taupe-y color because it acts as a neutral and goes with just about any outfit. And sometimes when I think it looks a little boring, I layer a really chunky, glittery clear nail polish over it. It turns out really cool!

Sky Blue

     Sky blue totally reminds me of spring. It makes me think of sunny skies, flowers, and Easter. It works well with most outfits and is a great alternative to the typical pinks and oranges you usually see during spring.

Lavender

     I have been loving the different shades of lavender that I've been seeing. It's such a pretty color that I think often gets ignored when it comes to clothes and shoes because no one really wants to look like Barney the dinosaur. However, as a nail color it's subtle and adds a nice splash of an unexpected color to an outfit.

Nude

     

     Nude goes with literally everything, but it is easy to end up looking like a mannequin so make sure it is very glossy. Sometimes if it matches my skin too much to the point where it looks like I have no nails, I'll add a coat of light, shimmery glitter nail polish over the top to add more shine.

Peach

      Peachy pinks are pretty similar to nudes in that they are neutral and match most outfits. And again, I think they look better when they're very glossy. It is a great alternative to regular old pink.


Gray

    
     Gray nail polish has also been "in" for a while and has carried over from fall. It is a great alternative to black, which has been popular for the past few years. It is probably one of my favorite colors to wear. Plus, it adds a little edge.

If you are interested in any of the colors I have shown here today, check out these websites:

http://www.chinaglaze.com/

http://www.chanel.com/

http://www.revlon.com/#/1

http://www.opi.com/

love,

xobekahgirl