February Favorites 2016

We've found our way to the end of yet another month, which means its time to talk about the best beauty products I've been using in the past couple of weeks. I'm still pretty hooked on a lot of what I was using in January, so you should definitely check out that post as well if you haven't already. Still, there are always new loves, discoveries, and rediscoveries to talk about, and I've got quite a few of them to share!

February 2016 Birchbox

Friends, it's a miracle. I'm actually going to post my February Birchbox review IN FEBRUARY! I know, don't let the shock get to you too much. This month's theme was "What's the occasion?", giving an indirect nod to Valentine's Day. I can't say that the products I got were truly geared toward a date night or special occasion, but they are certainly perfect for everyday. Come take a look!

Winter Essentials: My Favorite Lip Balms

Has anyone else noticed that Mother Nature seems to be awfully confused about what season it is? One day its -8º out and the next its 60. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for an early spring, but these constant changes in temperature seriously wreak havoc on my body. My allergies are going nuts, as is my skin (which can't decide if it wants to be bone dry or oil slick). Truth be told, if there is one word that I can use to describe my usual state of existence between January and April living here in New England, it's uncomfortable.

So what's a girl to do? Do you just need to suffer through three months of static shocks, frizzy hair, and dry hands without reprieve? The answer is no. Or at least, not entirely. Maybe you can't avoid the pain of your face being slapped by a wind chill of -25º while you're walking in to work, but you can certainly do something to protect and treat the bits of you that are exposed to the elements.

Perhaps the most crucial of all my cold weather essentials is lip balm. Chapped lips can range from annoying to downright painful, which means I am all about taking the necessary steps to prevent them. And as your resident beauty enthusiast, it also means that I am forever on the hunt for that life changing, Holy Grail, ultimate savior from angry lips. Which, of course, brings us to today's post. I'm sharing 5 tried and true balms for surviving winter chap-free.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette Review

Today's post marks another eventful happening in my ongoing quest to explore cult beauty brands. Based in London, Makeup Revolution is well known to my friends across the Atlantic for their affordable, yet quality makeup. I've read many a rave review about their eyeshadow palettes, and how they are incredible dupes for the Urban Decay Naked Palette series. Unfortunately their products are a little harder to come by over here in the states, so I'd never made much of an effort to try anything out. However, with a little nudge from a 20% off coupon and a BOGO sale at Ulta, I finally decided to push the "order" button and add a few of their products to my collection. As much as I love eyeshadow (and you all know how much I love eyeshadow), the drugstore is brimming with affordable neutral palettes, and I wasn't all that excited to try another one. Then I laid my eyes on the Makeup Revolution Blush Palettes, and my mind immediately thought a resounding YAS!

Giant Unboxing Video

Today's post is all about an exercise in will power.

Somehow I've managed to put all of my beauty mail aside for almost an entire week so that we could unbox it together. Dedication, man. It's the mark of a true beauty blogger.

In today's unboxing post we're going to take a look at everything inside my February Birchbox, one of the latest Target Beauty Boxes, as well as my Wantable Accessories Collection. Hopefully my being patient will be worth your getting to see my absolute first reactions and impressions to everything I got!

Valentine's Pinspiration

When it comes to finding any source of inspiration, be it for a new craft project, an outfit idea, or what I'm going to make for dinner tonight, my favorite place to turn is undoubtedly Pinterest. For those of you who have yet to dip your toes into the waters of said site, it's truly one of the most remarkable search engines out there. You can find links to posts and pictures for just about anything your heart desires, and then save and organize everything in an incredibly easy way. For me the real kicker is that Pinterest is an incredibly visual site. Cause let's be serious, who doesn't love pretty pictures and graphics?

With Valentine's Day being right around the corner, I decided to create a new Pinboard to help you all get a little inspired for the holiday. Whether you're feeling uber romantic or are planning on celebrating your singledom with your gal pals, there's a little something fun for everyone to check out. Wondering how to master chocolate covered strawberries? Need some great date night ideas? Want to get crafty and make your own Valentine's cards? There's a pin out there to help you out, and I'm going to put them all in one place for you!

Get Your Chocolate Fix (Minus the Calories)

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and regardless of how you might be feeling about the holiday, I think there is one thing many of us can agree on - a love for all things chocolate is always worth celebrating. If you #treatyoself to a giant box of chocolates and don't feel like sharing with anyone, I will not judge! You indulge. You deserve it. But if you're craving a bit of cocoa infused goodness and don't want to totally infringe on your New Year's healthy eating resolutions, I've got a solution for you! Why not opt for one of these glorious, chocolate scented beauty products instead? Not only are they crazy decadent, but they'll definitely last longer than a candy bar!

Julep It's Whipped Matte Lip Mousse Review

If you didn't get your fill of matte lips in 2015, have no fear. The trend is solidly here to stay, with a number of brands introducing their own offerings to further the liquid lipstick craze for the new year. One version I've decided to get my hands on are the new Julep It's Whipped Matte Lip Mousses. These lovelies launched back in December, and promise long wearing, weightless, hydrating color. Sounds pretty amazing, right? But with so many other great formulas out there, any new challenger really needs to deliver on its claims or risk falling by the beauty wayside. Which is exactly why I've spent the past two months putting these lipsticks to the test! Are they everything they promised to be? Do they stand a fighting chance against the likes of Stila and Kat Von D? Let's get into the nitty gritty and find out.

January 2016 Birchbox

Hello there beautiful people! I am absolutely the worst when it comes to posting my subscription box reviews in an even remotely timely fashion. I do not know why I fail so hard, but I hope you all will still love me regardless. I have more faith in your being understanding than I do in my ever posting things in the actual month that I'm supposed to. ANYWAY, moving on to the topic of today's lovely post! A brand new year is here, and with it the first of many cheerful boxes full of beauty-related joy.

Ethereal Everyday Makeup Tutorial

Hello there friends! It's been far too long since I've done a makeup tutorial, and even longer since we've talked everyday looks. I was going through my beauty stash a few weeks ago and rediscovered the Smith & Cult lipgloss in Life in Photographs. It was one of the products from the LE Everyday Glamour Birchbox I fell in love with back in the fall, but fell by the wayside as I got distracted with new lippies I started to try. The formula is gorgeously shiny, and leaves your lips feeling beautifully hydrated without turning them into a sticky, goopy mess. Ultimately it inspired me to create this look, which is soft, glowy, and understated. It's super easy to recreate, and involves a nice mix of drugstore and high end products. Sound intriguing? Come watch the video!

January 2016 Favorites

It's hard to believe, but the first month of 2016 has already come and gone! It's been a bit of a whirlwind, and I've been trying a TON of new and awesome products. Here are some of the ones that I think you guys definitely need to check out!