Products I Love: Smith's Rose Salve Balm

I am obsessed with this lip balm. I have been using this for so long - I remember always having a tin of this when I was a little girl. When I rediscovered it years later in Sephora, I was dying for that minty rose scent again. I picked up the Rosebud Perfume Co.'s Minted Rose Lip Balm tin and have gone through several since then. It smells amazing, it's adds the slightest pink tint to my lips, it's very hydrating, and makes my lips look instantly soft and moisturized. 

When I was in Sephora again recently, I had already browsed through the mini items near the register and was actually on my way out when salve tube caught my eye. I had to go back and purchase the tube because I love the tin version so much but it's not as convenient or hygienic. Sephora calls it a "cult-favorite" and I have to agree; I have loved that balm for years and it's perfect for anyone at any age! 

I also love the packaging! It's very antique-looking and classic. The tin seals really tightly as well so it never gets dirty or opens up when it's floating around my handbag. These are both technically salves so they can be used for other things such as scrapes and burns, although I haven't tried them for anything other than dry or chapped lips. Their website claims that the salves can be used to tame unruly brows, flyaway hairs, to add a dewy finish on cheek bones, etc. 

The tin version definitely adds more shine and a bit more tint to my lips, but the tube is super easy to throw in my handbag and quickly apply some balm on the go. Also, I believe the tube is just rosebud scent rather than minted rose. I have to say I prefer the minted rose option, but I love the smell of roses and Rosebud Perfume Co. manages to capture the rose scent without it being overwhelming or too floral. These are perfect for everyday wear; they can be applied alone or on top of lipsticks or pencils to add a glossy finish. 

Like I mentioned, I picked both of these up at Sephora, but you can also find these (and tons of other products) on the Rosebud Perfume Co. website. I also have the strawberry lip balm and I love it as well. Again, it's a scent that reminds me of when I had this as a child. The tins go for $7 and the tube for $6 so they're super affordable and last forever! I have a feeling I will get through the tube much quicker since it's so easy to apply.

Have you tried any Rosebud Perfume Co. products? Do you regularly use salves? Let me know in the comments!

Products I Love - My Top 5 Favorite Lush Products

I'm a huge Lush fan. All-natural, hand-made, never tested on animals, amazing scents, real ingredients - what's not to love? I can honestly say I've never purchased something from Lush that I didn't like. Unfortunately, the closest Lush store to me isn't all that close, so every time I get a chance to pop into the store I pick up my old favorites and try out some new things as well. I have several Lush products that are a part of my regular routine, and some that I save for special occasions or pamper nights. 

On a regular basis, I use their Breath of Fresh Air Toner. Don't let the word "toner" throw you off - this is basically just a facial mist. It's not at all drying and doesn't have any alcohol in it like a lot of traditional toners. Facial mists are so refreshing; I love to use this during the summer when it's super hot outside. It's made with seawater, seaweed extract, & aloe vera so it's very soothing and moisturizing. I spritz this onto clean skin and then follow up with a moisturizer. 

Another favorite of mine is the Ocean Salt Face & Body Scrub. I keep this in my shower and use it weekly on my body. It's made with sea salt, lime, and vodka so it's refreshing and gives your skin a very deep clean, but it also has avocado and coconut to keep skin moisturized. When my face is feeling particularly dry, I use this as a facial scrub, too. I love the smell of this! Reminds me of the beach.

One of my favorite cleansers to use in the morning is Angels on Bare Skin. I have very dry skin, so while I remove my makeup and cleanse with a more heavy-duty cleanser at night, in the mornings, I like to use something gentle and moisturizing. I don't like to strip my skin of necessary oils in the morning. This cleanser doesn't really lather or foam up like some cleansers, and because of the ingredients and consistency, it gently exfoliates as well. 

My new favorite from Lush is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner. I picked this up a few weeks ago and I have been obsessed with it since then. This is a shower lotion. Yes, a shower lotion. This is meant to be applied to damp skin while you're still in the shower and then rinsed off before getting out of the shower. This. Smells. So. Good. I could smell this all day. It's made with rose, cocoa butter, almond and Argan oils. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to moisturizing my skin after a shower and this becomes a bigger issue in the winter when my skin is much drier. Slathering this on in the shower and rinsing it off quickly is much easier and it leaves my skin so soft and hydrated. I have used this every other shower and I have not had any dryness at all. It was a little pricey at almost $35 for about 8 and a half ounces, but I will definitely be repurchasing this. It was totally worth the price to me - it feels so luxurious on the skin, smells amazing, and really works. Also, it doesn't take much to really moisturize a large portion. I still have more than half of the pot left and I've been using this for several weeks now. 

My last Lush staple is their Butter Ball Bath Bomb. I love to try out all their seasonal bath products, but this is one that I always pick up to use when I feel like a nice luxurious bath. It smells so good - like creamy vanilla and cocoa butter. This fizzes up as soon as you drop into your bath, makes the whole room smell like warm vanilla, and rehydrates skin that may have been dehydrated by a hot bath. I keep a few of these in my bathroom and they scent the entire room. 

I love making a trip to the Lush store to see what new bath bombs they have and any other products I need to try. Let me know what you can't live without from Lush!

Until next time! xoxo

Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat - First Impression

Just a quick first impression of this gel polish! I got this as a free gift with my VIB points at Sephora. I'm a big fan of the slightly pink natural nail polish. My all-time favorite is the Dior Nail Glow which costs a whopping $27 but looks so natural and pretty on my nails. When I saw this as a gift option, I knew I had to try it! 

A pink-toned clear polish is a perfect option when you need to swipe something onto naked nails in a hurry. You don't have to worry about being precise or getting any on your skin, because you won't be able to tell anyway. Also since it's "clear" you don't have to use so many coats - I swipe on a coat or two and that allows it to dry quickly so I can move on. Perhaps the best part about wearing a natural shade like this is that the nicks and chips don't show. I use this during busy weeks because if it chips, no one will be able to tell and you can wear it a lot longer before it starts to look worn. This polish claims to strengthen and brighten your nails. My first impression is that it dries really quickly, but it's not as rosy as the Dior version. It also really stinks - like a very strong top coat. The full version of this is $30 for .6 oz., which is still much cheaper than the Dior version ($27 for .33 oz.). I would imagine that the .6 oz. bottle would last a long time. I use my Dior polish more than any other polish I own and I haven't made much of a dent yet. After 2 days of wear, I don't see any chips in the polish. It is super shiny like a gel and seems to be holding up much better than Nail Glow usually does. My only complaint is that it really isn't very pink. I think next time I'll try 2 coats of Nail Glow and top it off with a coat of this Perfect Formula polish. Maybe that will be the magic combination!

What are your favorite natural nail shades? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time... xoxo!

Disappointing Product: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer

Sorry, Maybelline, I still love you... but this product was a miss for me. I picked up the Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer hoping it would be a similar product (maybe even a dupe) to the YSL Touche Eclat, which is a pricey $41. The Dream Lumi Touch is around $8 so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pretty disappointed with the product. Disclaimer: I have not yet mustered the strength to splurge on the YSL original, so I can't compare the two. I can only tell you what I thought about the Maybelline version on its own - compared only to my thoughts on how it should or is supposed to look. The YSL touche éclat is definitely on my wish list, but a major splurge item. 

There are tons of Maybelline products that I love, but I do find it hit and miss with skin products sometimes. I believe this is solely because of my skin tone. Maybelline tends to be on the warmer side of the spectrum and a lot of their face products can be too warm or too orange on my skin. This is no fault of the brand, it just simply doesn't work as well as some other brands with my skin tone. That being said, I still have several Maybelline foundations, concealers, powders, etc. that do work with my skin and look great. 

The shade I picked out is a pink-toned highlighting color. I knew I would be using this as a highlight rather than a concealer. I understand the same is true with the YSL product - it's not so much an under-eye concealer as it is a highlighting pen - meant to highlight, not necessarily cover up. Because I had read reviews on the touche éclat, I went for a pinky/salmon shade rather than a normal "ivory" shade because I wanted to test this out as a YSL dupe, rather than just another under eye concealer. I was planning to use this on my cheekbones as a creamy highlighting product.

My first complaint is the packaging. I'm not a big fan of the twist-up brush applicators. As you can see in the photo, things get messy pretty quickly. The packaging also felt very light and cheap, which is probably true as it only costs $8. Also, I had to twist forever to get any product to come out. Another reason I hate this sort of packaging is because you can't tell how much product you're dispensing. I might twist 5 times and get nothing... so I twist another 5 times and tons of concealer comes spewing out. My advice is twist slowly and be patient. The color is my second complaint. I know I chose a rosy shade (radiant 310), but it's much too pink. It comes off as a salmon color that's a little too orange and a little too pink. It just doesn't look good on my skin. I think I could possibly make the shade work better if it had a different formulation, but the consistency of the product is my biggest and final complaint. It's thick and dry... it doesn't blend well or easily and it ends up just being a cakey mess. You can see the lines where the highlight ends and your skin begins. It never seems to blend in seamlessly no matter what application method I try. 

You may be able to tell just from the photo how it settles into fine lines, looks thick and cakey, and doesn't have the right silky consistency that these type of products need to look good. You can also see the color here - it's a very bold salmon color that just isn't flattering on my skin tone. I have not tried any other shades of this product simply because I wasn't a fan of the formulation, but I could have just picked the wrong shade for my coloring. Maybe I should have gone with my trusty "ivory" pick, instead. I don't think I'll be finishing this product as I can't figure out a way to use it that works. 

Have you tried the Dream Lumi Touch highlighter? What were your thoughts? I'm also open to other drug store highlighting pen suggestions! I will still keep the YSL touche éclat on my list - let me know your thoughts on that as well! Is it worth the splurge?! Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! xoxo

Fall Lips!

When fall finally arrives in Texas I not only switch up my foundation routine, but I also begin to choose more autumnal lip & cheek shades. Of course, certain trends come into play, but traditionally, fall colors are deeper, darker, and more plum or berry. And of course, a red lip is always on trend. These are my current favorite fall lip products...

Stila Lip Glaze in Majesty - I believe this was a limited edition holiday shade. It was part of a holiday set, however, it looks like the shades Berry & Black Cherry would be very similar. These are definitely sticky glosses, but the pigment lasts a really long time. Even after the gloss has worn off, the pigment remains. If you're bothered by sticky glosses, these glazes are definitely not for you, but they are very long-wearing especially for a gloss. They are also super shiny. 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Rose Blush - This is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks. It's moisturizing and the color is a nude rose - like a your-lips-but-better nude shade. It's a deep rose color so it's perfect for the colder weather without being too dramatic. I like to dab this on if I'm sporting a more dramatic eye look or a neutral makeup look for a subtle lip color. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Brazen Berry - I love this range of lipsticks. They're bright and highly pigmented, but moisturizing and long-lasting. This is a bright berry shade; it's perfect for a day-time autumn look. This is the most purple shade I have chosen, it's a cool tone with less red in it. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Blissful Berry - this is a true berry shade. It reminds me of a cranberry shade; it's reddish with just the right amount of purple. To me, this is the epitome of dramatic autumn and winter lipsticks. I love the color and the formulation is creamy, moisturizing, and highly pigmented. This is perfect for a bold lip look.

Make Up For Ever lipstick - this is in my GIVEAWAY! Check out that blog post to learn more.

NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Soft Fuchsia - these are a cross between a lip liner and a lip crayon or chubby stick. It's part liner pencil, part lip balm, and part lipstick. These don't last for hours, but they're super easy to apply and I love this shade. This is a perfect everyday fall nude. It's a deep, dusty rose color, and you can dab these on a for a more natural/sheer look, or build it up to look like an opaque lipstick. They're slightly glossy but not at all sticky. They're very creamy and don't dry my lips out. I keep this in my purse during autumn & winter for a go-to lip color that I can swipe on quickly when I need it.

From left to right: Majesty, Rose Blush, Brazen Berry, Blissful Berry, Copper Pink, & Soft Fuchsia.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway going on now! Check me out on Instagram & Twitter.

Benefit Hervana Blush Review

Benefit Hervana Powder Blush

This is one of Benefit's newest swirled powder blushes. The shade is called "Hervana" and it comes in the classic Benefit blush box with a compact brush included. I picked this up at Sephora for $28 and I've been loving it lately. I don't usually go for purply blushes, but I actually really love the shade of this blush once you've swirled all the colors together.

The "good karma" face powder is comprised of 4 shades - a plum, a rose, a peach, and a light pink highlight. You get two triangles of each shade and they're placed just right so that you can swirl your brush to combine all the colors evenly. You get the plum color payoff but there's enough pink so that it's not too purple. It also has a shimmer to it from the highlight shade. Benefit describes it as an "orchid-blossom blush." The names of the shades are Lucky Shell (highlight), Divine Peach, Heavenly Rose, & Berry Delight.

The resulting color ends up being a mix of berry and rose with just the right amount of sheen to it.

As always, the little blush box comes with its very own brush inside. Typically when products come with a brush, I throw it out and never use it. However, the brushes that Benefit includes are all really good quality. I love the brush that comes with Hervana - it swirls the colors perfectly and angled brushes are perfect for applying cheek color. As you can see, I've definitely used mine!

Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about this blush. I will continue to wear it (even more) during autumn and winter - I love wearing blushes with plum shades during the colder months. The packaging is as cute as ever, and so convenient with the brush and mirror included. I have several Benefit blushes of all kinds and this is definitely one of my favorites.

What's your favorite Benefit product? Which blush shades will you be wearing this fall & winter?

Until next time!

Autumn Polish Colors

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Fall Shades

I love this line of polishes so much that I refuse to buy any other kind. Maybe if I spotted a color I couldn't live without, I might pick it up, but for now, I'm sticking to Sally Hansen. There are a couple reasons I'm hooked on these polishes...

1. The Brush. The brush is flat and much wider than most nail polish brushes. It makes it so much easier to place the brush in the right place and get perfectly smooth strokes. It makes painting with your left hand so much easier. You get a silky smooth and wide stroke of paint, but it's not too wide for more narrow nails. It makes it a lot quicker because it covers more nail area. 
2. The Formula. This polish lasts forever!! I can be pretty rough on my nails and this polish lasts at least 7 days. Usually, I can wear this polish up to 10 days before it starts getting chipped. If it's a more natural nail color, you can get away with wearing it even longer because little chips can go undetected. I recommend this polish to everyone mostly for its lasting power.

The colors, from left to right, are 

1. Rhododendron - this is a deep red with plum tones, similar to a wine color. 
2. Dark Knight - a very dark navy.
3. Gilty Party - a shimmery, reflective silver polish with flecks of pink and multicolored sparkles.
4. Moulin Rose - a dusty rose color (it's showing up deeper and brighter in the picture) with shimmer
5. Commander in Chic - a true grey (I love to make this color matte with a matte top coat)
6. Onyx - super shiny black.

All of these shades are perfect for fall and will look great on a wide variety of skin tones. I pick up all the new Sally Hansen shades at Target, but you can find these at drug stores, beauty stores, grocery stores, etc. You can, of course, also order them online.

What are your go-to nail colors for Fall? Let me know in the comments!