Ipsy: March's "Tres Jolie"

Hello and Happy March!

SOOO sorry it's been a hot minute, but things have finally calmed down for the most part.
The past few bags have been pretty good but haven't really made me drop my jaw.
This month, I'm really excited for the products I'm getting AND the bag.
Let's just jump in, yeah?

The bag:
Absolutely adorable.
I love this bag so much.
The pale, pastel pink pouch is so cute and very spring!
The design is unique and convenient.
Love it!

Deep Repair Conditioning Treatment from Marc Anthony:
I have finally fallen in love with having curly hair, but I still have moments where it's very dry.
I LOVE deep conditioners so I am really excited to see what this guy is going to do to my hair!
Although I'm not a huge fan of the jasmine scent, I will deal with it if it makes my hair feel fabulous.

Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer from First Aid Beauty:
So a friend of mine actually has this so I have tried it before.
I honestly really liked it and it doesn't take a lot of product!
I will definitely use it for those seasons where my skin really needs an extra boost.

Blending Brush from Elizabeth Mott:
I LOVE getting new brushes, especially blending brushes.
They're an essential piece in a makeup collection.
Bristles are soft and slightly condensed which helps for better, flawless blending.
The handle isn't extremely long which I actually really like because I can have better control when blending.

Freematic Shadow in Marisa from Doucce:
I have never actually heard from this brand, but I always like finding brands to try.
The color is beautiful, the pigment is sheer with little flecks of shimmer and formula is buttery and creamy.
It's a bit smaller than I expected it to be, but it's still a nice color!

Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Rose from Tarte Cosmetics:
GORGEOUS.
The color reminds me a bit of theBalm's Meet Matt(e) Hughes in Committed.
Pigment is rich, formula is very creamy, easy to apply and matte finish is gorgeous.
It does take a minute for it to mattify but once it does, it isn't going anywhere.

Overall, 5/5.
Great bag and products!
My favorite is definitely the Tarte Lip Paint because I have been on a big matte lip kick recently.
If you get Ipsy, let me know what you got!
Want to sign up? Click here!

See ya next month! :)
<3 Shelby.

Ipsy: November's "Rockstarlet"

Happy November and almost Thanksgiving!
This is one of my favorite times of year--the weather changes, the time change and the seasonal food!
Let's go ahead and get into what I got this month!

The bag:
YES.
I absolutely love this bag and I will be getting use out of it.
I love the idea of the makeup constellations from stars.
For me, this bag reminds me of the bag from last November.
Either way, I'm obsessed with it.

Small Duo-fiber brush from Luxie Beauty:
I've gotten several brushes from them and I love them.
They're made well, soft and gorgeous.
I like that this brush is a good player in the game--creams, liquids, powders.
I've used it a few times since I got it and I already really love it.
It is the full size and goes for $18.

Formula X polish in Huntress by Sephora:
Gorgeous color.
I've been getting a lot of nail polish lately, but I ain't mad.
I love that this color is a deep, jewel color and has reflecks of gold.
This definitely says "Hey there, Fall!"

Ghost Oil by Verb:
This hair oil is meant to help revitalize dry looking hair without it looking greasy.
For this time of year, I'm definitely willing to give it a try.
I've seen a lot of positive reviews on this product, so I look forward to seeing what it does for my hair!
And if I don't like it, I have friends/family who will.

Cream Eyeshadow in Rose Gold by Starlooks:
Now, I've gotten products from this brand before and haven't been terribly thrilled.
I was blown away.
This cream eyeshadow is GORGEOUS.
It has a good lasting power and looks amazing!

Mad Lash Mascara in Black by theBalm:
We all know I'm a fan of the brand.
This mascara is BOMB!
The wand is fun and gives amazing volume and curls to give that very full look.

Overall, I love it.
It's a great bag with great products that will get used.
If you get Ipsy, let me know what you got!
Want to sign up? Click here!
<3 Shelby.

Ipsy: October's "Black Magic"

This was a great month for Ipsy!!
I'm so excited to dive in so let's go!

The bag:
SO. FREAKIN. CUTE.
This is one of the cutest bags and it's so perfect for the season!
The material this durable and it's a nice size to throw in a purse!

Ciate Fierce Flicks Eyeliner in Black:

LOVE. 

I am a huge fan of felt liner and this is such a beautiful, pigmented liner.

It has a flexible tip to help create that easy cat eye.

Definitely in love and it's a full size; $19.

Hot Mama Blush by theBalm:
I'm already a big fan of products from theBalm and I absolutely adore their formula.
This blush is a peachy pink color and is absolutely beautiful.
What I also really like is that the pigmentation is amazing and it's super easy to blend.
The sample costs about $3 and super easy for travel.

Pur-lisse Daily Lip Nourisher:
This is a lip balm that contains rich butters and oils to help deeply moisturize lips.
What it doesn't contain is petroleum, which I think is pretty neat and different.
It smells really good and it's a nice trial size.
The sample costs around $4, so I'm not mad!

Tre'StiQue Matte Lip Crayon in Belize Bordeaux:
I've had several different products from this brand and I was really happy to see it in my bag!
The color is a little different than you originally expect it to be.
It seems to be this really deep berry color, but it's not as deep as you think.
Nonetheless, it's still beautiful and buildable.
This deluxe sample costs about $9.

Adesse New York Liquid Chrome Polish in Grand Central:
Nail polish is always really exciting for me to see in my bag and this one is absolutely stunning.
I love shiny, reflective colors and this one is gorgeous.
It reminds me a lot of some of the Julep chromes, but this is a very pigmented color.
The one thing I have a small pinch about this is that the brush on mine was coming apart.
Other than that, this is such a wonderful polish!
I believe this is a full size polish that costs $20.

This was a GREAT month for Ipsy.
I love all of the products and they will definitely get a lot of use!
If you get Ipsy, let me know what you got!
Want to sign up? Click here!
<3 Shelby.

Chapstick Influenster Vox Box

It's been a little while since I've gotten a vox from Influenster!
Even longer since I've posted about one.
So this vox is surrounded around the newest flavors from Chapstick.

The first I tried out was the Green Tea Mint.
I liked it a lot!
It has a nice tinge to it and smells really nice.

The next one was the Sweet Papaya.
I LOVE this one.
I'm typically not a fan of actual papaya, but this scent is wonderful.

The last one was the Pink Grapefruit.
This one has a really strong scent.
Not really a bad thing because it smells pretty good!

Overall, the was a great vox!
The products are so buttery and have good lasting power.
I really enjoyed being able to try out these products and I highly recommend them!

Are you interested in getting awesome & free things?
Click the Influenster widget on the right side bar and complete your setup!
I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
All of these opinions are my own and was no way influenced to tell lies about these products.

Ipsy: September's "Glamazon"

Ipsy did not disappoint this month!! 

The Bag: 

SO fun and so cute! 

I love it and is definitely glam! 

Buff Her House of Exfoliation Vanilla Almond Crumbles:

I love scrubs. 

This scrub from Buff Her has a combination of cleansing and exfoliating with a hint of foaming.

It's a really cool feeling sensation PLUS it smells amazing.

Naked Advanced Aloe Cream by Naked Cosmetics:

Very different in a good way.

It does have the smell of Aloe, but I really like that.

Aloe is very soothing and nourishing and with the seasons changing, dry hands happen.

Definitely a good size to keep in my desk at work!

Mattelustre Lipstick in Rose Naturelle from Pixi by Petra:

I actually already had this color, but I still am so glad I got it. 

It's the perfect, day to day lip for late summer, early fall.

This color and formula are amazing. 

Champagne Socialite by Trust Fund Beauty:

I wish I could express my love for this color. 

The formula is amazing and the color is a great transition for the season. 

Superhero Mascara in Super Black from IT Cosmetics:
LOVE this mascara!
If offers great volume, has little to no flakiness and lasts all day when the heat really hits.
My go to is the Clinique High Impact mascara and this is definitely creeping next to it.

Overall...

4 bags out of 5!
Love each product and they'll definitely get used!
If you get ipsy, let me know what you got!
Want to sign up? Click here!
<3 Shelby.

Being An Adult: What I've Learned (Part 2)

Continuing from my last post, I'm still constantly learning how to do things.

Figuring out what works and what doesn't and how to deal with it.

Here are a few more of the things I've learned about that thing called Adult Life.

(Also, the list is continual, so don't be alarmed by the numbers.)


6. Don't give up when things get hard.
This is really hard for me personally because when I get stressed out and things get difficult, my anxiety takes over and I don't feel like I can do it.  Don't give up on any of it. After graduating college, finding a job doing something I enjoyed was extremely difficult. The job I was at at this time was mentally and physically exhausting and parts of the management team made it difficult to be at 100%. I had applied for close to 100 jobs and got a ton of rejection letters. It hurts and can be discouraging, but I pushed myself and now I have something lined up for the next chapter of my life and it is definitely worth it!


7. Things will change before you know it and it's not always a bad thing.
Out of the blue, paths will change. It'll add new directions and cut off others completely.  It's an exciting feeling to know that nothing is every truly constant. People, jobs, relationships, circumstance. All of it. It will suck at times, but you can get through it! Sometimes, it takes some tears but you can always push through it. Talk it out with a friend, mentor or therapist and keep going. You are never alone and there is always help.


8. Keep certain things to yourself.
You may have something life changing in your path and want to tell everyone, but sometimes it can hurt you more than help. Sharing with family and close friends is completely fine, but make sure to maintain confidentiality. Word spreads fast and it could end up costing you. I know I've had my moments where I should've stayed silent and it ended up putting me in a little hole. When the time does come for you to move on, the best thing you can do is be positive about it and be ready for that change. Make sure you submit a 2-weeks notice at your current job. It will keep your resume looking well and shows dependability when you're on the job market. Although "quitting like a champ" may be a fun concept and idea, it isn't going to make you look very well to your possible future employers.

"When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you being to discover that it's bottomless, that it doesn't have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You being to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space."   -Pema Chödrön

9. Self-Care is extremely important.
It seems silly, but taking a few minutes out of each day to take care of yourself is vital. I've read some great articles on self care tips (which I will link below) and some fun things to do during that time. I'll probably mention certain self-care type things throughout this series, but the concept is extremely important. Keeping up with you will help you keep up with life. The quote about is actually from a book I have been reading recently called, "Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind To Yourself." It's not really a self-help book, it's more of a life book. It gives different situations and how people handle it and suggestions on how to handle certain things and to care more about yourself and mental well-being in the process. I started reading the book at a very difficult time in my life and recently started to reread it and wow. It has reminded me that in order to care truly about others, we need to care about ourselves. "


10. Be organized and stay organized.
I love everything that deals with organizing. I recently purchased a new planner and have had the best time writing everything in it! I make time every week (sometimes multiple times a week) to go over my schedule. I sync my Google Calendar (which, btw, is the absolute best) to my phone and tablet and compare it to my planner. I also try to schedule time to be alone or focus on things that will help me (going back to that whole self-care thing..). When it comes to my money and how I spend it, I use Mint to help me keep track, categorize and plan for the month. This helps me organize all of my expenses and show me what I need to calm down on and save for.


Slowly but surely, I'm getting there.


Here are some of the articles and things I referred to and others that I hope are helpful:
http://www.eyelinerwingsandprettythings.com/get-your-life-together/#more-1071
http://www.classicingray.com/easy-ways-to-practice-self-care/

http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/8-amazing-ted-talks-every-woman-should-watch-in-her-20s
https://www.buzzfeed.com/brettvergara/lets-give-ted-somethin-to-talk-about-how-about-love?utm_term=.imxA8kdAZ#.ojyQYvnQ8
http://www.ted.com/playlists/353/talks_to_help_practice_patienc?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=playlist&utm_term=social-science 

Ipsy: June's "Rebel Rebel"

Hey friends!
So this month was honestly a real good month of products!
I'm so excited, so we'll go ahead and jump into it!

The bag:
Honestly, I don't care much for it.
The concept is fun and cute, but I won't use it.
I'll end up giving it to someone or putting it with my donation stash.

Everything Balm from Delectable by Cake Beauty:
This is definitely an 'everything' balm.
You can use it for skin, hair and, if you add some pigment) lip and cheek tint.
I'm interested in using it and seeing how it works!
Definitely a good enough size to just through in my bag for normal, day to day use!
A full size is $16, making this size close to $5.50.

Hey Honey 24-Seven Revitalizing Cream (0.5 oz):
This is a normal moisturize that you use to help revive your skin.
I like the smell and it doesn't take much to get a nice layer.
I'm excited to use it more and see if there's a difference.
A full size is $38 (eeeeeeek..), making this about $14.

Happy Hibiscus Blush by Seraphine Botanicals:
A nice blush is always nice to get!
This color is a very rose-based shade and layers on nicely.
The formula is smooth and vibrant so it gives a nice glow to the cheeks.
This is a full sized blush and is worth $18!

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Lounge:
This is the product I have been looking the most forward to this month!
Urban Decay is a great brand and they're shadows are super pigmented!
Lounge is a red-brown shade with a teal duo shimmer.
It honestly reminds me a lot of the duo chrome color in the Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone palette.
A full size shadow worth $19, and this one is probably close to $10.

Formula X in Wingwoman by Sephora:
A bright scarlet is always a necessity!
I already enjoy the Formula X polishes, so I'm excited about this one!
The color is beautiful and the finish it nice.
I definitely still use a top coat because it helps it last longer and look glossier but without it, it still had a nice finish.
A full size is $10.50, putting this at about $3.50.

Overall, I give this bag a 4 out of 5!
I really enjoyed the products and I'm definitely excited to try everything and see what I like the most!
If you get ipsy, what was your favorite product?
Want to join and get great products for $10 a month? Click here!

Til next time--
Shelby <3