I Bought Some Fall Lipsticks! Wet N' Wild Megalast Lipstick Review and Swatches

I'm a pinky-nude lipstick kinda girl. Seriously, I could be president of the "buying different lipsticks in the same color" club. I have no idea what came over me, but I recently picked up some honest-to-goodness fall colors. 

I now own a purple lipstick. 

Who am I? 

I picked up three shades of the Wet N' Wild Megalast Lipsticks because I've heard good things about them and the $1.99 price tag is extremely appealing. 

The three shades I decided on were 902C: Bare it All, 906D: Wine Room, and 908C: Sugar Plum Fairy. 

These lipsticks are straight up gorgeous. Creamy, pigmented, and extremely long wearing. My only complaint is that the rounded tip makes precise application a tad bit difficult. But a lip brush and a steady hand can fix that with no problem. 

For $2 I was extremely impressed with the quality of these lipsticks. I will definitely be picking up more from the line soon! 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

The "It's Almost Fall" Makeup Look

There is a hint of fall in the air in Texas! And by a hint of fall I mean that it's below 90 degrees. But hey, beggars can't be choosers.

It's a lovely Sunday and I decided that I wanted to try my hand at a summer-to-fall transition look. It's a bit too warm here for a maroon lip, but it's definitely too late in the season for my favorite teal eyeliner. I came up with something bronzed and golden, but still shimmery enough to be appropriate for warmer weather.

I used a shimmery bronze cream shadow in the lid, a matte brown as well as a shimmery dark brown in the crease, and a matte dark brown shadow for the liner, which I brought down a little on the lower lashline as well. Apparently I have a thing for brown eyeshadow this fall...

I finished things off with some thick, black mascara and a nude lip. 

The cast: 

Maybelline bad to the bronze color tattoo

Mac eyeshadows in soft brown and mulch

Studio Gear single eyeshadow in Dark Chocolate 

Makeup Forever smoky extravagant mascara

L'oreal Color Riche lipstick in fairest nude

L'oreal Color Riche lipgloss in nude touch 

Elf Blush in candid coral

And now comes the part of the show where Maddie, the sassiest golden retriever in all the land, decides to crash my photo shoot. 

We sure do love her. 

Let me know how you liked the look! How are you celebrating fall where you live? 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

I Filmed a Video!

In the spirit of trying something new, I filmed a video! Let me know if you have any questions or if you like the video format!

xoxo,
Caitlin

Simple Skincare

I've struggled with acne for the better part of a decade. I scrubbed, stripped, and generally tore up my skin for years trying to get my skin to clear up. Around 4 years ago I finally broke down and went to see a dermatologist, who has helped me tremendously with getting my acne under control. One of the first things she told me was to be more gentle with my skin care routine. Now that I've settled on a routine that I love, I've decided to share it with you! 

Cleanser: 

Elta MD Foaming Facial Cleanser: I get this cleanser from my dermatologist and I am absolutely obsessed. It's creamy, foams up slightly, and gets your face really clean without overly drying. I use this cleanser morning and evening. (Cetaphil is a great alternative if you can't get your hands on this.) 

Scrub: 

I don't exfoliate very often, but when I do I use the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish. Its fine, gentle, and leaves my face super smooth and soft. I use this about one night a week 

Moisturizer: 

I use the CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I've been using this for years and I love how it keeps my face soft but not greasy. I use this both morning and night. 

Eye Cream: 

This is one of the only steps in my routine that I use two different products for morning and night. For night I use the Peter Thomas Roth Volufil Youth Eye Serum. This product is creamy and effective, and comes with a smooth metal applicator perfect for de-puffing eyes after a long day. For daytime I use Origins Eye Doctor, which is moisturizing and gentle. I've repurchased many times. 

Sunscreen: 

Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum Facial Sunscreen. This SPF 46 sunscreen is a light, non-greasy formula, which works to help reduce the appearance of discoloration while protecting your skin from the sun. I love this stuff and I use it every morning. 

Spot Treatment: 

When I do break out nowadays, it's usually a cystic pimple. To keep things under control, I'll apply some Murad Acne Spot Treatment. This formula boasts sulfuric acid as it's active ingredient, which is excellent for cystic acne. 

What are some of your skincare faves? I'm always open to suggestions! 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation Review

It's no secret that I love the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer. I wear it under my foundation almost every day and I'm really happy with the way it works for my oily skin. A couple weeks ago I was browsing the beauty section at CVS (As you do) and I found a foundation from the same Stay Matte line! Huzzah! 

Well, I've given it a shot for a couple weeks and I'm ready to give you my thoughts on it. 

This foundation is THICK. It's definitely a mousse type texture, which is helpful in preventing spilling and dripping, but it makes it super hard to blend properly. I have to say, when first applied it gives a gorgeous, matte, airbrushed finish. So imagine my surprise when I went to the bathroom after my first class of the day to discover a greasy, shiny mess!

This foundation did not work for me at all, which is super disappointing considering how much I love the primer. In addition to not controlling my oil, it also clung to some dry patches on my face making them super noticeable. Yes, I have oily skin that gets dry and flaky sometimes. Would someone tell me how thats fair? 

However, to give this foundation a fair review I will give it another try as the weather gets cooler. Because summer in Texas is something akin to living inside a hairdryer. I'll give another update in a few weeks! 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

My Travel Toiletries

Sorry about the long absence guys. Between the first week of school and suffering from a mild-to-moderate illness, I was left with little time for blog writing.

This weekend I went on a little adventure to see some family and celebrate my grandpa turning 90! He's 90 years old and still plays golf multiple times a week, what a champ. So, I thought I would share with you what I brought with me toiletry wise.

My bag is the Orla Kiely for Target weekender bag, which I absolutely adore. It's got 3 pockets, a spot for makeup brushes, and enough room to hold everything you could ever need. Which is an advantage for me because I'm a serial overpacker.

In the mesh pocket I keep things that are less prone to spilling: 

Neutrogena oil free moisturizer with SPF 15

Elta MD Skincare UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46 (This stuff is seriously amazing) 

Toothpaste 

Venus disposable razor 

Benefit "It's Potent" eye cream 

Tocca Graciella rollerball perfume 

Cotton swabs 

Baby loofah 

In the plastic pocket I keep all my liquids and gels: 

It's a 10 miracle leave in product 

Lush shampoo bar (in the pink soap box) 

Bath and Body Works shower gel in Country Chic 

Garnier Fructis conditioner (I use this for shaving) 

St. Ives Apricot Scrub 

Tresemme moisture rich conditioner (For my actual hair) 

Biolage Normalizing Shampoo (This helps get rid of chlorine build up if I go swimming on vacation) 

Cetaphil facial cleanser 

Aloe Vera lotion (Because I am tragically prone to sunburning) 

In the center pocket I just keep a few samples of my prescription acne medicine so I don't have to carry around the whole tube. 

Now, I didn't use everything in this bag for this trip, this is just the bag that I keep packed for every time  I go out of town. 

If you would like to see what I brought in my travel makeup bag, or any kind of back to school posts, leave me a comment down below! 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

Revlon Bold Laquer Mascara Review

I've been a fan of the Revlon Lash Potion mascara for a long time, so when I saw this new formula being advertised I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I finally did and I've been using it for a week or so. Spoiler alert: I really like it. 

This is definitely a dry formula mascara, which I'm partial to. I find wet formulas just too much to deal with. The wand in this mascara is pretty standard. Soft, full bristles and not too big. It gives your lashes fullness and length, while still looking natural. I was a competitive dancer growing up so anything other than natural looking lashes tends to give me nightmares. Rhinestoned false eyelashes are not as fun as they sound, people. 

The thing that impressed me most about this mascara was the staying power. The first two times I wore this was to a dance rehearsal and a baseball game in the middle of August. Sweat city. And let me tell you, this product did not budge. I'm going to say that again because I don't think you heard me...This mascara lasted through oily skin AND a late summer baseball game. Nothing short of a miracle, I think. 

In short: If you're looking for something that's going to give you bold lashes for a night out, this product isn't it. However, if you need a sturdy mascara that will get the job done for everyday, I highly recommend this one. I'll be repurchasing. 

Any other products you would like me to check out? Comment down below! 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

How To: Not be Afraid of Colorful Eyeliner

Once upon a time, I used to be terrified of colorful eyeliner. I had nightmares about looking like something out of an 80's workout tape. However, through the years I've developed a formula of sorts for wearing colorful liner. (Not without some mistakes along the way, of course. But that's me. Always giving.) And today I'm sharing this formula with you. 

I absolutely love colorful liner for the summer, because it's such a fun way to change things up while not doing anything too drastic. And the best part about this formula is that it can be replicated with any color your little heart desires. 

(I'm wearing Essie Watermelon on my nails, in case you were wondering.) 

Here's How: 

I feel like every look I do starts with a shimmery champagne shadow...whoops. Anyways, I sweep a champagne shadow all over the lid, blending it out with a clean crease brush. Step two is a colored pencil liner of your choice to line the upper lash line. Next I take an eyeshadow in a similar color to the liner and apply that over the line you just created. This gives the color a little more pigmentation and shimmer. 

I've found the secret to pulling off colorful liner is to tight line under your top lashes with a black kohl liner. This gives definition without taking away from the color. Side note: I finally can tight line without my eyes watering. It can be done, people! 

Finish the look off with some black mascara and a neutral lip. 

The Cast: 

Urban Decay primer potion

Urban Decay eyeshadows in Sin (lid) and Shattered (liner) 

Covergirl perfect blend liner pencil in cobalt blue

Rimmel ScandalEyes liner in black 

Almay intense i-color mascara for brown eyes

Revlon colorburst lipgloss in peony 

So there it is guys. We only have a few weeks left of summer, be bold! 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

Glam Glow Vs. The World

I recently acquired a travel size of the infamous Glam Glow mask. I've had some time to try it out, but instead of the traditional review, I thought I would compare the Glam Glow to two other similar masks: The Mint Julep Mask and the Lush Mask of Magnaminty. 

Because that's what I'm here for, spending the money so you don't have to. 

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque: I'm tempted to call this one my favorite just because it's so cheap and easy to get a hold of. I found mine for $4 at Walgreens. This mask is pretty standard; green, tingly, and super clarifying. You know, the stuff that sleepovers are made of. It's not the most amazing mask in the world, but it's really effective for the price. 

Lush Mask of Magnaminty: I already have a full review of this product that you can check out here. But I'll recap. I love this mask. Like, I really love it. It tackles my oily skin and blemishes without over drying. It also does a great job tightening my pores and helps with blackheads. You can find it in stores or online for $12.95. Not a terrible price, but not inexpensive either considering you only get 4.4 ounces. 

Glam Glow Mask: I've only had this product for about a week and a half, but I'm really liking it so far. I'm just using it on my nose and chin since those are my problem areas right now, and I can already tell a difference. My pores are smaller and I have significantly less blackheads. However, it stings...a lot. It doesn't last very long, but it sure is uncomfortable to wait for this baby to dry. It's also expensive, $20 for half an ounce. Yes, you heard me right. Is it a great mask? Yes. Is it worth the price? Probably not. 

If I had to pick just one of these masks, it would probably be Lush. Not too expensive, and very very effective. 

So there you have it, y'all! What are some other masks I have to try? 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

Simple, Polished Back to School Makeup

It's about that time again.

Back to school.

Sigh.

To help you feel a little better about things, I've brought you a back to school makeup look! Hooray!

...you're right, that doesn't really make things any better.

Let's be honest. When it comes to school, makeup needs to be quick and easy, because I am not about getting up early just to do fancy makeup for school. This look totally fits the bill. With a little practice, it can be done in 5 minutes, leaving ample time for the snooze button. 

I used Revlon Photoready BB Cream in light/medium because it's easy to apply and gives a decent amount of coverage for a BB cream. It also gives a sort of luminous finish, but isn't too much for my oily skin. 

I kept the eyes pretty simple, with a shimmery nude shade on the lid and a matte brown in the crease. I used a matte dark brown shadow for a liner, smudged as close to the upper lash line as I could possibly manage. I finished the look off with a light pink blush and a nude/pink lip balm with a hint of shimmer. 

The Cast: 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder 

Revlon Photoready BB Cream in light/medium

Mac Studio Finish concealer in NC20

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles concealer in fair

Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder in light/fair

ELF Blush in tickled pink 

Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara (for brows) 

Mac eyeshadows: Naked Lunch (lid), and Soft Brown (crease) 

Studio Gear eyeshadow in dark chocolate 

Revlon Lash Potion mascara

NYC Appleicious Glossy Lip Balm in Apple Blossom 

What are your favorite products for back to school? 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

P.S. Everyone say thanks to my friend Paris for taking these fun pictures! 

The Brush Discussion

 (How cute is my brush holder? It was handmade by my dear friend Paris, find her at Postcardsbyparis.blogspot.com)

When I first started getting into makeup, brushes were one of the most intimidating parts about it. All the different brands, sizes, and shapes could make anybody's head spin! You can also spend a ridiculous amount of money on any given brush. But, as with most things in my makeup collection, I'm a fan of the mid-priced, quality model. I have many a Sigma brush because I got a set for my birthday a couple years ago, not because I'm sponsored. Swear. 

I'm going to give you a run-down of my essentials. All of which make up a "starter set" of sorts. 

Foundation Brush: I'm a fan of a more fluffy, round foundation brush. I love the natural finish they give to the makeup when blended into the skin. I have two favorites in this category: The Sephora #56 brush, and the Real Techniques expert face brush. 

Powder Brush: A big, fluffy powder brush is an essential for everyone. This one is the Sigma F30 Large Powder Brush

Blush Brush: I'm not the biggest fan of this brush since it tends to shed, but it's the only one I have so I use it anyway. Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush

Eye Brushes: These three are my staples and can be used to create almost any eye look. I recommend a flat shader brush, a fluffy crease brush, and an angled liner brush. From left to right: Sigma E55, E40, E65. 

So there you go! What are your favorite makeup brushes? 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

Summer Wedding Makeup

Its wedding season again.

Don't we all just love wedding season?

Hi my name is Caitlin and I'm sarcastic, single, and a little bitter about weddings.

However, weddings are a great chance to dress up and play with some fancy makeup, which happens to be two of my favorite things!

Here's what I've been rocking this summer.

It's soft, feminine, and super easy to do. 

The cast: 

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in Classic Ivory

Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NC20

Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder in Light/Pale

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Concealer in Fair

Anastasia Brow Powder in Medium Brown

Maybelline Great Lash Clear

Dior Bronze in Honey Tan

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface

Mac Painterly Paint Pot

Naked 3 Palette - Burnout, Nooner, and Factory

Loreal Infallible Gel Liner in Blackest Black 

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It 

Mac LustreGlass in Love Nectar

What are your favorite products for summer special occasions? 

xoxo, 

Caitlin 

Rimmel Primer Showdown

Hey Y'all! After an inexcusable amount of time, I'm back!

Today, I'm bringing you a review of two different drugstore primers. I'm somewhat new to the world of drugstore primers, but I've given these a good go and I'm ready to spill the details on them both!

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

 

I was first drawn to this primer because of it's promise of matte skin. As you know, I have extremely oily skin and I'm always looking for something to keep it under control. All in all, I think this primer is a solid product for the price ($6.99 at Ulta). It didn't totally live up to it's claims of matte skin, but it did help keep the oil at bay. Its texture is nice and smooth, although a little hard to spread sometimes. My makeup lasts all day with this primer, but I would recommend a touch up with powder every once in a while. This primer is definitely not bad, and is probably my favorite of the two. 

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro

This primer promises a 5 in 1 result that "smooths, resurfaces, brightens, mattifies, and protects." Wow, thats a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, I didn't see any of these benefits in this primer. In fact, even as a basic foundation primer it disappoints. The only thing I like about this primer is it's consistency; its light, creamy and easy to work with. It gives a pretty airbrushed finished to your foundation, but that doesn't mean much if it only lasts for an hour or two. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. ($7.99 Ulta.com)

What's your favorite drugstore primer? 

xoxo, 

Caitlin