Too Faced Beauty Editor Darlings

     Okay beauty lovers, not too long ago Too Faced was having a sale on their website, so naturally I had to pick up a few things. One of the items was the Beauty Editor Darlings, "Industry Insiders' top 5 favorites. Orignally sold for $20, I got it for more than 50% off, at only $9! Can't beat a deal like that haha. The 5 mini/trial size items were as followed:

1. Lashgasm Mascara
2. Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer
3. Glamour Gloss Lip Gloss
4. Lip Insurance Lip Primer
5. Primed & Poreless Face Primer

     Since I am super picky about my mascaras, I am not a big fan of this one. The brush is one of those rubber short bristled ones, and usually those are used to give more length than volume, not that that's a bad thing ever, just I prefer dark thick volumonus lashes. 

     The Eye Shadow Primer works pretty well, I don't really have too many complaints about it, expect for the fact that my eyeshadow didn't stay on as long than if I wouldv'e used my cult favorite, Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I actually really do like the Glamour Gloss Lip gloss though. It is a nice sheer pink/mauve color that goes on smooth with a high shine finish; no stickiness at all. This lip gloss also plumps the lips as well, I definitely noticed mine got a tad fuller and the plumping agent is tingly without being overpowering. 

     My least favorite has to be the Lip Insurance Lip Primer. I've been searching for a product as such because my lipstick/gloss always fades quickly throughout the day (whether it be from eating, drinking, licking my lips, etc.) but this one definitely is not it! This primer makes my lipsticks look more feathered as opposed to being anti-feather proof and because of that it makes my lips look more chapped than they actually are. And it is not smear-proof either, my lipsticks and glosses felt more runny with this under it. After being so, disappointed in this, I think I'm gonna have to try MAC's Lip Prep & Prime, to make my lips happy again.

     On a brighter note, the Primed & Poreless Face Primer is one of the best face primers I have ever tried! It is a nude color, which I like better than some of those milky frosted looking ones because it make your foundation look more natural. My makeup stayed nearly close to perfect for at least 10 or more hours! It does reduce pore size a tiny bit making skin look more flawless but my absolute favorite thing about this primer is that it reduced shine so well! Me, being someone with combo skin, I tend to get oily in my t-zone area and right on the apples of my cheeks, but with this primer I didn't have to worry about blotting throughout the day! I highly reccomend this primer!!!

     All in all, there were some good products and some not-so-good ones in this darling little set, but that's too be expected. Not everyone is going to like everything, but the key is to TRY! Trying different products is the only way to find out for yourself what products you love and can live without :)

Tamanna Palette by Anastasia of Beverly Hills

     I cannot even contain my excitement about this palette! First of all, the packaging is gorgeous! These 10 highly pigmented colors compliment each other beautifully; whether you're looking for the perfect nude shade or to create the perfect smokey eye, this palette has the ability to give you endless looks. And Venezia is the perfect aqua pop of color for someone who doesn't like wearing bright shades all the time. This holiday palette has wonderfully warm shades that in my opinion, are timeless colors. Nude colors are colors that are inspired by skin tones and nature, so the options are endless. My favorites so far are chocolate, bengal and custom. Chocolate because I love doing a brown/gold smokey eye, bengal is the perfect blending color and custom because metallics are hot this fall! I am super anxious to recreate all of the looks that Tamanna has created on the 5 "Get the Look" cards that come with the palette, but I've only recreated one so far since I only got the palette yesterday haha. This palette is the first product I've purchased from Anastasia of Beverly Hills and I'm so in love! Anastasia has an official home in my makeup collection now, and it's loving it! Up next on my "Wish List" is the contour kit, the amrezy palette (if I can find it) and the waterproof creme colors! Stay tuned for more reviews :) 

From left to right: Fresh, Blush, Venezia, Gilded, Custom

From left to right: Sangria, Bengal, Chocolate, China Rose, Noir

Cosmetology School Has Begun

     It's been a little over a week since I started school and I can honestly say that I'm loving every second of it! From 12 to 3pm we do practical, from 3 to 4pm is our lunch break and then from 4 to 6:30pm we do theory. We're techincally supposed to be in class until 6:30 everyday, but we usually get out around 5:45-6:00 which is nice! So far, I've learned how to do a french twist, roller set, perm rods, pin curls, finger waves, and I've also done hair parting/sectioning and how to use the pressing comb. 

 

     A pressing comb does the same thing as a flat iron does; not many people use them today though. It is made of steel or brass with a wooden handle. There are different types of presses that you can do, a hard press, soft press or medium press. A soft press is used on people whose hair is a little wavy while a hard press is used on someone whose hair is extremely curly. 

     Putting perm rods in the hair is not an easy task, regardless I've only done it once (haha) but to be able to sandwich the ends of the hair in between two end paper without having the ends of the hair slip out is tricky. I'm learning that the key is to keep the end papers super wet. 

     I actually really like doing roller sets, because once the hair is dry and you comb it out, it gives the hair a nice amount of volume and a really pretty flowy curl to the hair. Usually, younger women don't use rollers, but I think it's a big misconspection that it's just for older women, because it's not. 

 

     During the theory part of the day, we review the chapters that we do each week, we do practice tests, and quiz each other on the hundreds (and I'm not kidding) vocabulary words. It's a lot of repetitiveness but as my teacher said, the main goal is for me to make sure that you pass the state boards. School teaches you the basics but it's up to you to be creative with it. A lot of learning is done in the salon once you get your license. There is a tone of bookwork to do as well, not anything hard, but again just all repetitive so that it really gets engrained in our brains; the fundamentals are the most important. 

     I am so happy that I made this decision to go to cosmetology school. I know it my heart that this is a career that I'm going to love to do for the rest of my life. Doing hair and makeup has always been a passion of mine and to be able to take that passion and follow my dreams is priceless. Once I have 600 hours I will be able to get my permits and start working in a salon, probably as a shampooer or hair assistant. But once I get my full license I would like to work in an upscale salon to start but also, start freelancing doing hair and makeup for weddings and special events. It is a huge dream of mine to work on tv sets, so fingers crossed I will get there one day! :) 

                        

                              Pin Curls -Before 

After 

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Conditioner

     One of my hair stylist friends recommended this product to me, originally because I was telling her how my hair gets damaged easily because of all the heat I use on it. I had never tried a leave-in conditioner before, so I figured why not? Now, I am actually obsessed with this product! I bought a travel size bottle of the one with keratin just to try it, because the full size bottle runs from $20-$25. The little travel bottle was still $14 for only 2oz but the price didn't really matter to me. The spray bottle it comes in makes it easy to apply as opposed to a squeeze bottle, which can get kind of messy.

     That night after I got out of the shower I sprayed the leave-in conditioner all over my hair, from roots to ends, spraying a little more on my ends. After I was done blowdrying my hair, I could see that my hair was smoother, a little bit straighter, and it cut now on the frizzing. Overall, for one product, it definitely does a lot. My hair was easier to straighten and took less time and I didn't have to use as much heat protectant spray/oil (someones it can make your hair look oily). I don't think this product has any long lasting results on the hair, I think it just works from shampoo to shampoo, but I would recommend it regardless. If you're someone who has unruly hair, frizzy hair, or just wants to protect their hair then this is the product for you! 

     My travel size bottle lasted me about 3 weeks, and I wash my hair almost every other day. The Miracle Leave-in Conditioners also come plain without anything added in it, and in "Silk" and they also have shampoos and conditioners, which is 100% on my "must try" list. This product will lean you down the path to healthier more beautiful looking hair :)

OGX Coconut Milk Split Ends Mender

      I don't know what it is about my hair, but for some reason I get split ends so easily! It's extremely frustrating since I take all the necessary precautions to protect my hair. I shampoo and condition my hair in the shower, I use a leave in conditioner after I get out of the shower to protect my hair from the heat when blowdrying, and I use a heat protectant spray before I straighten my hair. Some would say maybe I'm going a little overboard, but protecting my hair and always having it look healthy and beautiful is #1 in my book. I've tried a bunch of different in shower conditioners; one's with no sulfates and one's that claim to "restore" your hair, but nothing has seemed to work when it comes to reducing the number of split ends I was getting. Considering I flat iron my hair every day, sometimes twice a day, it is super important to me that my ends don't fry! There is nothing worse then having the bottom inch or so of your hair look like straw.

      I have used OGX shampoos and conditioners before, but when I came across their Split End Mender I figured I'd give it a shot. I personally haven't tried any other products specifially made for repairing split ends, so I was excited to see if this would actually work. And sure enough, it did! I was suprised that I could see a difference in the ends of my hair after just one use! I applied this gel cream directly to the ends of my damp hair, following the leave in conditioner. I blow dryed and straighted my hair as I normally would, and when I was done I could definitely tell that the ends of my hair looked healthier, and upon further inspection (lol) I could see that a lot of the split ends I had were repaired. The delicious coconut aroma even lingered after I had straightened my hair; definitely an added bonus! If you're like me, and you're hair gets damaged easily then I would recommend you try this! This product is great for a little extra heat protection as well. This is going to be a permanent addition to my hair care routine from here on out. It's not everyday that I come across a product that actually does what it says it does, SCORE!!

Only $7.99 at Ulta!

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

     In my opinion, the BIGGER the lashes, the BETTER! I'm pretty sure I've tried everything from Maybelline and Rimmel to Christian Dior. There have been ones that I've liked, such as Rimmel's Scandaleyes, to ones I've hated, such as Maybelline Great Lash. But none have been as amazing as Urban Decay's new Perversion Mascara!! Some women wear fake lashes everyday and even though I'm all for it (just not everyday), I prefer to amp up my lashes by taking the natural route.

    "Bigger.Blacker.Badder" couldn't have been more of a perfect tag line for them to market this mascara with because it does just that! This mascara gives you extreme volume, is the blackest black you can find, and when it's all said and done will give you the baddest lashes you've ever had, that people will think you're wearing fake lashes. Volume is everything for me when it comes to mascara and with just one coat you can already see your lashes double. I take the wand and press it against my upper lash line and then sweep upward. Not only does it volumize, but it seperates your lashes as well. This mascara is also buildable, so you can apply as many coats as you'd like to get your desired look; I apply 2 coats. I use the wand vertically to apply it to my outter lashes to get that winged out butterfly look. I use the same technique on my bottom lashes, just using the tip of the brush to coat and seperate the lashes; I don't like anything too extreme on my lowers.

     This mascara doesn't get dry and brittle, so when you're ready to go out at night reapplying is a breeze and won't make your lashes look straw-like. I purchased this mascara at Sephora for $22 and it came with a sample size of Urban Decay's new Subversion Lash Prime as well, for "Thicker.Longer.Stronger" lashes. This primer is the holy grail of all lash primers! Even though the Perversion Mascara can be used alone, I highly suggest you use the Subversion primer first, just like I do, because I think it makes all the difference to getting those thick, luscious lashes I crave! If this isn't in your makeup bag, then it should be! :)