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Benetint | Buxom

So you're on your on lunch break and you head to the mirror for a quick hair & make-up check and it's not there anymore - you know, the make-up you applied ever so carefully earlier that morning.  This happens to me all. the . time.  Primer or not, by mid-afternoon my make-up seems to have vanished leaving me looking sick and yellow faced. 

Yuck.

Luckily, I've recently discovered two new (to me) products that leave me looking fresh-faced all day.  Cheek stains, which usually double as lip stains as well, are the perfect solution to keep your face looking lively all day.  I just swipe a little of this onto the apples of my cheeks and rub it in.  I'll be getting off of a 12- hour shift and this stuff is still on my cheeks.  Love it.

For years, I've searched for the perfect mascara.  I'll start off loving the fresh tube, but then after a few applications it just gets clumpy.  Not to mention, I was using two different mascaras to get both longer and voluminous lashes. Not fun.  I've been using Buxom Amplified Lash for a few months now and - oh my gosh- I'm in love.  This stuff rocks!  It gives me long, thick, clump free lashes.  I just twist the mascara wand to tighten up the bristles et voila  I've got a denser brush to give me more volume.  I absolutely adore this stuff.  And did I mention it stays on forever?  And doesn't flake?  Perfection!

:: lipstick love ::

I get a lot of questions and e-mails about the lipsticks I wear and so today I thought I'd share with you the lipsticks that I have in constant rotation.

{from left to right }

Plum {Sephora Rouge Shine #46 } - I recently bought this and know it'll be the perfect touch to my fall wardrobe. ( See how I wore it here.)

Light Pink  {YSL Lingerie Pink} - Definitely a very girly, playful look.  I love the contrast against my tan skin. (See how I wore it here and here.)

Orange {Make-up Forever #40} - By far the lipstick that I get the most compliments on.  It's not as intense as red so I feel like I can get away with wearing it during the day. If you're looking for a polished look, this is your color. ( See how I wore it here and here)

Nude { Sephora Glamour #19, out of stock} - As you can see I've gotten plenty of use out of this lipstick.  It's great for those days that you don't want to look too made-up, but still put together.  Not to mention it's silky soft - I use it to soften up my lips all the time. Unfortunately, it's no longer in production, but this looks like a good match.(See how I wore it here.)

My tips for applying lipstick:

DIY lip scrub , MAC Prep + Prime, Lip Brush

go nude

 for the past couple of months i've been having a love affair with one particular lipstick.  i've become addicted to it's look and feel.  the funny thing is, it really has no color.  more like a nude-ish color- and i LOVE it.  somehow it manages to give a touch of class and polish to my overall look- without looking too overdone.  and that my friends, is a win win in my book.

the specific shade I'm using is Innocent Beige (G19) from Sephora's personal line from the lip attitude collection- fittingly named "glamour".

update: beauty routine

a few months ago i shared with you some of my tried and true favorite beauty products.  by no means am i a beauty expert, which is primarily the reason why i share with you the beauty products i use on a daily basis. i'm all for good quality that is c-h-e-a-p.  if i think a product is worth, i won't hesitate to buy it; but please, a little tube of gunk for $45?  not for me.  no thanks!

1.)Chanel Precision Beauté Initiale, $70; Ironically enough i start with the most expensive thing on the list!  This is by far my most luxe and expensive beauty product.  I mentioned before that i was really bad at moisturizing (not to mention using one with SPF!).  I figured the only way to really get me to consistently use my moisturizer was to ensure that i absolutely loved it.  And you know i love my Chanel.  Plus, it smells good and has a light shimmer effect.  Not to mention how pretty it looks sitting on my vanity ;-)

2.) Mane 'n Tail Shampoo/Conditioner, $7, each;  I was a little skeptical to try this out because, well, it was originally made for horses.  But i kept hearing good reviews and honestly, it was all true.  The conditioner leaves my hair feeling so SO soft.

3.) E.L.F Makeup & Cosmetics; available online & at Target;  I'll be honest here folks, i love this makeup line so much i kinda didn't want to share with you.  i don't want them to jack up the prices!!  seriously, it is SO cheap and honestly, for someone who really isn't doing anything glamorous on a daily basis this is perfect for me.  I get the opportunity to experiment with new makeup without feeling guilty for throwing money away if i don't use it all.  P.S. the concealer and bronzer/blush combo are my favorites.

4.)  Biore Warming Anti-Blackhead Cleanser, $7.99; Biore is a company that i always go back to.  i'm a huge fan of the cooling cleanser, and was pleasantly surprised to try this particular warming cleanser.  it smells fresh, and oh baby, when you put it on your face - it.feels. so.good.  don't say i didn't tell you so.

5.) Kat Von D High Frequency Mascara, $9; Again, i'll be honest, i only got this mascara because it was on sale at Sephora.  i won't go out on a limb and say that i love this mascara, but i will say it's good.  not the best, but pretty good.

While those are my newest beauty products, these are ones that i must have in stock 100% of the time or else i'll freak out - no seriously, i need my aquaphor!!

1.)Aquaphor

2.) Moroccan / Argan Hair Oil

3.) Black Kohl Eyeliner

the 5-minute updo : a vlog

morning ladies! sorry to be MIA for so long, but I really didn't have anything interesting to say, so why waste time on something that my heart isn't into?  i've got something new to share with you today.  my first ever video blog!  i'm really surprised i'm letting myself upload this...i'm a little awkward if i dare say so myself.  does anyone else ALWAYS feel awkward when seeing/listening to themselves in movies?  oh well, c'est la vie i suppose.  

anyways, every now and then i get the sudden urge to play with make-up/ hair.  my older sister Heba is a genius at that stuff, and while i love it, i never think to "practice" it.  i've had a few events this month, and got a few more coming up (busy september!) so i figured that now would be the perfect time to experiment with new looks.  it's nothing spectacular, and you may already do this yourself, but i was excited (but that's coming from someone who is easily excitable!)

this video is just a tutorial on hair; for make-up i used this tutorial {via make-up geek}.  there's really no need for me to re-iterate what she said, she did it so well already :)

Rouge

As a little girl, I used to love watching my mom put on her make-up.  The way she dabbed foundation on her cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin was so "grown-up" to me.  But what I loved most was when she would put on lipstick.  To me, there is nothing more girly, flirtatious, or fun that putting on lipstick.  

During my teenage years lipstick was so uncool.  Lipgloss was the way to go.  And dear Lord, did I put on lip gloss all the time.  I was addicted.

Now, I've come back to the classic beauty of lipstick.  I love putting it on, and I love the finishing touch it can give to an outfit.  If anyone ever told me I'd one day wear hot pink lipstick, I think I'd be horrified.  But surprisingly, sometimes it just works.

The first three I bought from Victoria's Secret (in order: beauty rush "grape fruity", beauty rush " cutie pie", and VS "vulnerable" .  Unlike a lot of other lipsticks, they moisturize my lips - not dry them out.  The fourth one is "Red Revival" from Maybelline.  If you ask me, every girl should have red lipstick in their make-up cabinet.  It's classic and timeless, but the only downside is..it dries my lips out like crazy.  So I make sure to keep some aquaphor on hand whenever I go back to re-apply.  The last one is "511B" from WetnWild.  I don't usually buy this brand, but I tried it on at a friends house and thought the color was a lot of fun.  At times it's a hit or miss.  In real life, I love the way it looks, but in pictures I don't think it gets the justice is deserves.  

These are the top 5 lipsticks I rotate through on a regular basis.  I love putting them on even when I'm at home {it makes me feel prettier ;-)}  But my #1 fave?  The VS "vulnerable".  A glossy coral color- it makes my heart melt.  

Beauty Routine

I'm always curious about other girls beauty routines.  I've never been big on cosmetics, and my make-up routine is pretty boring.  My older sister however, could open up a small make-up store with all of the cool things she has.  I miss the days that I could sneak into her room and test out all of her make-up gadgets.

This is basically what my whole beauty routine consists of.

1. Victoria Secret black eyeliner.  I alternate between V.S. and Sephora.  Eyeliner is the love of my life.

2.  Covergirl TRUblend Minerals (435) - This is a life saver, but it takes a little technique...too much and you could look like Snooki

3. Maybelline One by One - This is a new mascara that I'm using, and let's be honest....I only bought it because a.) I needed new mascara and b.) I thought it was pretty. (I'm big on aesthetics)

4.)Aquaphor - Um, if you haven't tried this lets just say that you've been missing out...big time. I use this as my lip balm, just a little goes a long way. (Want to know how obsessed I am with this stuff?  I've got one in every purse, school bag, car, bathroom, night stand, and one right in front of me.  We're soul mates.)

5.) Neutrogena anti-residue Shampoo -  My hair gets oily incredibly fast.  Sometimes as soon as I touch the flat iron to my hair it gets oily.  This shampoo has been a life saver and is basically like soap in my hair.

6.) St. Ives apricot scrub- I'm pretty bad about taking off my make-up, but this stuff smells pretty good so I kinda look forward to my before bed exfoliation :)

7.) Neutrogena Triple Moisture hair mask - Remember how I said my hair is fried?  This has really helped  to moisturize and revive it.

8.) Lush Brazened Honey mud mask - My sister recently introduced me to this stuff.  Its another face mask, but I usually use it a few times a week.  I really feel a difference after I've washed it all off.  Plus, it's made from all-natural ingredients.  (P.S. they've got the funnest names too!)

9.) Johnson & Johnson baby oil gel  in coconut - I absolutely love this stuff!  The smell, the consistency, the silky smooth feeling after you've put it on.  This is perfect for after shower/before bed lotion.   I'm pretty sure I've used it as a suntan oil too because it's resistant to water.  And I like that this is a gel consistency, makes it less messier than its older sibling  - the oil.

10. Moroccan Hair Oil - Again, this is something my sister introduced me to (She's got pretty hair!).  I'm still fairly new to this, but I'm hoping it'll help in the moisturizing department!

11.  Natural glow self tanner  (not pictured) - I don't put this on everyday, but I always like to have it handy.  I think I would put it on every day if it didn't smell like poop!  Anyone have a good self-tanner that doesn't smell bad?

Overall the things that I simply cannot live without is my eyeliner, bronzer, and Aquaphor. I want to be Aquaphors poster girl.  I love them.  I cannot leave the house without my eyeliner and bronzer, I'm afraid they'll call the cops on me if I do.  During the summer I get pretty tan, so the bronzer is usually during non-summer months. 

So that's it.  No foundations or eye shadows, I feel like I'm a bit too "made- up" when I have them on.  But a lot of times I'll add a little blue eyeliner to my lower lid.  Kind of like this:

What are you're favorite beauty item?  Any suggestions?