March 2015 Favorites

Where’d ya go, March?  This month seriously sped by!  I feel like I just did my February favorites yesterday.  But here we are again!  I have to admit, my brain feels like the equivalent of TV static right now.  I’m going to power through and get this post out tonight.  Hopefully it will make sense in the end, but my hopes aren’t high.  Yours aren’t either now, are they?  Before I get started, I wanted to welcome any new followers and remind you all that you have three more days to enter my giveaway!  Read more about it here.  Okay, I just spent five minutes staring at the word “here” because I didn’t think it was spelled right.  My brain…wow…so dead…  Alright, let’s just dive in!

First up is Philosophy’s “Fresh Cream” body lotion and perfume.  These retail for $17 and $38, respectively.  I received the lotion earlier in the month and dedicated an entire post to it here. Obviously, I had to purchase the accompanying perfume because I just can’t get enough of this scent!  I’m not sure everyone around me loves it as much as I do.  They keep asking “what’s baking?”  Or, “where are the cookies?”  Whatever.  If I want to smell like baked goods, that’s my prerogative!  Hmmph!

Up next is Covergirl’s Ready, Set, Gorgeous foundation ($7.50) and Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind concealer ($6.99).  With the warmer weather approaching, I just want my face to feel light and fresh.  This foundation is quite thin and liquid-y, but packs the punch of a full coverage product.  It lasts all day and feels weightless on the skin.  My only gripe is that the lightest shade I can find is still a smidge too dark for me: #palegirlprobs.  This concealer has been my go-to for literally years.  But paired with this foundation, it just looks beautiful.  Again, it’s a thin consistency, which is what I’m looking for this time of year.  The coverage is just spot on.  I’ve been using it under my eyes as a concealer/highlighter, and also to cover up any spots or stubborn discoloration.  With these two, my base is done in no time!

Here we’ve got two beauties: The Too Faced “Natural Matte” palette ($36) and Wet n Wild’s “Comfort Zone” palette ($4.99).  Now, I know what you’re thinking…  Rachel, didn’t you just do a post about how the Tartelette palette is better than the Too Faced palette?  Yes…sort of.  I agree that they’re both amazing products, and you really do get more bang for your buck with the Tartelette palette.  BUT, I just can’t get enough of these particular shades.  If I’m in a hurry, I just sandwich “Cashmere Bunny” in between “Heaven” and I’m good to go.  It’s such an easy, beautiful look.  And the Wet n Wild palette has always been a winner in my book, I’ve just reached for it so often this past month.  The shadows are so blendable and lovely!  My favorite shadow to use on it’s own is the one in the bottom/right corner.  It’s basically a dupe for Mac’s “Blue/Brown” pigment.Again, I’m into products that just make my life easier lately.  Benefit’s “Gimme Brow” ($22) does just that!  I just brush it on, and I’m out the door.  Well, you know, after the rest of my makeup is finished.  You know what I mean.

Next up is Urban Decay’s original “Naked Flushed” cheek palette.  I have a love/hate relationship with this product.  I love the color of this blush, and I had to include it in my March favs because I’ve reached for it so much these past few weeks.  It’s a gorgeous color that matches so many eye looks.  So yes, this part of the product I love.  BUT, that’s where my love ends.  I dislike the bronzer just because it shows up far too orange-y on my skin. And the highlight would be beautiful, but it gets so muddied being sandwiched between the blush and bronzer.  It just ruins the integrity of the product due to the way it’s packaged.  Anyway….love the blush!  Haha!

This picture focused strangely, didn’t it?  Oh well!  Anyway, here we’ve got the Moisturizing Antibacterial Facial Cleanser by Exuviance.  You can purchase it at Ulta for $35.  I received mine from a vendor during one of my trainings.  Last month, my skin had experienced a few bad breakouts.  Ever since I started using this cleanser, that has stopped!  Yay for clear skin!  Thanks, Exuviance!

Hello, beautiful!  This is ColourPop’s “Lumiere” Lippie and Pencil.  Each retail for $5 (YES, FIVE DOLLARS!) at colourpopcosmetics.com.  For more swatches and my full review of their products, click here.  These above pictures don’t do this product justice.  It’s far more “purple” in real life.  I’ve worn it almost every day this month, and I’m not exaggerating.  It’s such a unique shade, and it lasts all day!  Lurve it!

Alright, how about some lifestyle favorites?  I seriously don’t know where I’d be without my day planner.  I just picked it up at the beginning of the month, and I honestly don’t know how I survived without it.  I’m technologically challenged, which is ironic since I run a makeup blog, so this has been perfect for my life.  I think I may have to buy a larger one!

As many of you know, I recently got another tattoo.  This makes number 4 for me.  If you’ve ever gotten one before, you know how annoying the healing stages can be.  I’m currently in the dry/cracking/wanttoitchmyarmoff stage.  Just talking about this makes me want to go into the garage, grab some nails, and scrape them across my tattoo for some relief.  UGH!  Polysporin has been a life savor!  My forearm is constantly shiny thanks to this guy.  It really helps the tattoo to retain as much moisture as possible, and it’s keeping my skin nice and healthy.

I’m going through a phase where music makes me melancholy.  I mean, I love music.  It’s a big part of my life, and I really do enjoy it 99% of the time.  But lately, it’s just made me feel sad.  I know it doesn’t make sense and I have no idea what’s going on with me, but I’ve counteracted that feeling by listening to the comedy station on Spotify.  Whenever I’m in my car, I’m laughing along with an invisible crowd to whatever comedian is streaming.  It’s awesome and it’s helped lift my spirits considerably.  You should try it for yourself!

And there we have it!  That’s all the favorites I could muster up for this quick month.  Before I end, I have to show you all some pictures I took of my little man.  Now, I’m no professional, but I love how some of these pictures turned out.  How precious is my child?

Man, my kid’s cute!

Alright, friends, thank you SO MUCH for reading.  I appreciate you all!

Stay weird!

-Rachel

Tartelette VS Too Faced Natural Matte: Battle of the Palettes!

Oh, happy day!  The beauty world is embracing mattes!  I adore anything and everything matte.  Whether it be lipsticks, eyeshadows, or foundations, matte is always better in my book.  Lucky for me, Too Faced and Tarte have both come out with some stellar palettes these past few months!  In my opinion, matte shades tend to wear better throughout the day and are perfect for adding depth in eye looks.  As women get older, shimmer can cling to and accentuate wrinkles and fine lines.  Yet another reason why matte shadows look lovely and sophisticated on women of all ages.

So which brand takes home the prize of Best Matte Palette?  Let’s take a look at each product before making our final decision!

Tartelette Palette

$44.00

First Row (L to R): Free Spirit, Force of Nature, Dreamer, Multi-Tasker
Second Row: Careiver, Natural Beauty, Best Friend, Bombshell
Third Row: Super Mom, Wanderer, Power Player, Fashionista

Pros:

• Twelve highly pigmented shades
• Sturdy, compact case, which is great for travel
• Palette is well-rounded (contains both a highlight and black/dark brown shade for a complete eye look)
• Shades are visibly labelled (with cute feminine, empowering names)
• Palette has a large, self-standing mirror
• Shadows create very little fallout
• Part of Tarte Cosmetics permanent collection

Cons:

• Some shades are a bit streaky, which means you have to work a little harder to blend
• Shades more on the “cool” spectrum

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

$36.00

First Row (L to R): Heaven, Cashmere Bunny, Sexpresso
Second Row: Lace Teddy, Strapless, Risque
Third Row: Nudie, Honey Butter, Chocolate Cookie

Pros:

• Nine highly pigmented shades
• Sturdy case for traveling
• Shades visibly labeled (with sassy names!)
• Contains “how to” guide for putting together eyeshadow looks
• Shadows blend together beautifully

Cons:

• Shades more on the “warm” spectrum
• Some shades are powdery, which create fallout
• Six of the shadows are quite small
• Palette contains very small mirror
• Palette does not contain a deep brown or black

So how do you choose?  Honestly, I love each of these palettes.  They both have fantastic qualities, but I think we have a clear leader here.

::Drumroll:::

And the winner is…..THE TARTELETTE PALETTE!

You just get more bang for your buck with this beauty.  You can create a wider range of looks with it, and the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot.

I hope you found this review helpful.  Have a great weekend, friends!

Stay weird!

-Rachel

P.S.- Thank God for my employee discount. 😉

Need a laugh? Read about my life!

I have to say, today was one for the books.  Truthfully, this whole week has been.  Let me preface these next couple of stories by saying that I live a very unusual life.  Unusual in the sense that weird people and events are drawn to me, like a magnet.  My co-worker recently said that if she wasn’t there to physically witness some of the things that happen to me, she wouldn’t believe they actually occurred.  But they do, friends…They do.  They are widely referred to as “Rachel Moments.”  I truly believe that I would make any television network successful just by allowing them to film my every day life.  I’m not saying that to brag, it’s just that my life is entertaining..but usually at my own expense.  Here are some examples that have truthfully happened within the past seven days.

1. The iPad Punch

This story has been told in an earlier post, but I felt it was worth another mention so as to give you all a better idea of why my life is a literal comedy.  So my husband and I were lying in bed the other night watching a documentary on the iPad.  I was holding the iPad slightly above my face at an angle that both my husband and I could see the screen.  About halfway through the movie, I noticed the battery was about to die.  The charger was lying on the floor next to my side of the bed, so I reached down to grab it while still holding on to the iPad.  I lost my grip, and it pelted me right in the mouth.  My tooth cut into my lip, and it immediately started to bleed.  I sat up, dripping blood all over me trying to process what had just happened.  My husband just starred at my gaping wound for a second before running to retrieve a towel and ice.  Even though I iced it for a good hour or so, I still had a fat, bruised lip the next morning.  In fact, it’s still bruised four days later.  I’ve worn dark lipstick every day in order to hide it, but my lovely coworkers have told me the bruise is still visible.  Awesome.

2. The Unfortunate Customer

I was near the cash registers at work when a rather large lady walked into the store with a return.  Trust me, it’s important that I say she was overweight, and you’ll understand why in a minute.  She came up to me and said she needed to exchange a skin care product.  She showed me the product, which was a facial moisturizer.  She then asked if I could tell she was allergic to it.  Noticing her face seemed more than a bit puffy, I confidently asked her if it made her face swell.  Aaaaaaand, insert foot in mouth!  She just looked at me, appalled, and said that it had actually just given her a slight rash on her cheeks.  Sorry I inadvertently called you fat, ma’am!  Sometimes I just suck at communicating.  Lesson learned, treat these kinds of situations with the utmost care.  Better yet, just play dumb and let them explain.

3. Public Indecency

We recently got a new dog, Pixie, who is still very puppy-like.  She really is a (mostly) good girl, but lately she’s been having a few accidents in the house.  This has made me hyper aware of her behavior, and any time I think she may have to go potty, I run outside with her.  Such was the case early this morning.  She hopped off the bed and started sniffing around.  Now, I’m one to only sleep in a tank top and underwear because our house gets quite hot at night.  I didn’t think I had time to throw on sweatpants, so I ran to the front door with her and just shoved her outside.  Just for reference, we live in a pretty decent sized neighborhood.  So I’m watching her through the window next to the door, and she’s just standing there staring at me.  I’m frustrated and just want her to do her business so I can go back to bed.  I reach my leg out the door, yelling “go potty!” thinking that will give her the hint to walk down the steps and into the yard.  Nope.  Begrudgingly, I sneak onto the porch, pulling my tank top down over my behind and walk down with her.  She happily follows me, but still won’t pee.  I walk a little further into the yard, hoping I can fool whoever is looking into thinking my obvious shirt just could be a…dress?  Yeah, probably not.  All of a sudden, I hear a man and woman talking.  It’s this young, fit couple going for a jog just yards away from me.  Of course, I panic and start to walk backwards all while trying not to draw attention to myself.  Just as they’re almost past my driveway, I trip over the bottom porch step and fall backwards.  This causes me to release my tank top which springs back up around my stomach, showing my bright pink underwear.  The couple gapes at me silently as they scurry away.  Hey, neighbors!

4. Dirty Old Man

This last story occurred this very afternoon!  A middle-aged man who was shopping with his wife approached me, asking if we carried “hedge trimmers.”  Immediately, I’m on guard.  My “weird customer” sensor is going berzerk in my head.  He explains that he’s been cutting his beard with dog clippers, and he wants to buy an actual beard trimmer.  I walk him over to that section of our store, and out of nowhere he asks if I can do “this.”  He starts to flex his pectorals, one after the other.  Without missing a beat, I say “No, but I can do THIS!”  And I show him how I can repeatedly flare my nostrils.  I have to say that his expression was one of pure astonishment!  He breathily exclaims, “Wow…that’s so sexy.”  Playing along, I tell him that this is something I already knew.  He then asks if it’s how I get “all the guys,” and I tell him it’s how I snagged my husband.  Thank you, sir, for an interaction that I’ll never forget!

Alright, so are any movie producers reading this?  Am I eligible for my own reality t.v. show yet?  I’ll be eagerly waiting for someone to contact me, because how can people NOT be amused by my strange little life?  Alright, time to go and disconnect from the real world for a bit, but I’m positive there will be more Rachel Moments to share with you soon..

Stay weird!

-Rachel

ColourPop Cosmetics Swatchopalooza!

I’m officially part of the ColourPop Cosmetics club!  There has been so much hype surrounding this brand as of late, and I had to get my hands on it myself!  I purchased fifteen items this time around in order to get a true feel for the quality of their products.  That may seem like a lot, but at around $5 an item you definitely get your money’s worth!  Before I start swatching like a mad woman, let me tell you a bit about the products.  The shadows and blushes are unlike anything I’ve ever worked with before.  They have a soft, mousse-like consistency and need to be closed tightly after each use in order to keep them from drying out.  Because of their texture, they are best applied with your fingers.  That may seem a bit scary at first, but I was able to apply a few shades on my eyes using my index and middle fingers, and they blended together perfectly.  I did the same with the blush, and it blended out evenly on my cheeks.  I’ve heard that you can use brushes with these products as well, but synthetic hairs work best and it may take a little building up to get your desired opacity.  The lip products are amazing.  I’m in love with the colors I purchased.  They’re smooth, creamy, and have decent lasting power.  I do recommend using the corresponding lip liner with the brighter shades to achieve a crisp, even application.

Enough with the chatter!  Let’s dig in!

This eye shadow is adorably named “I Heart This.”  It’s a light golden color that contains small glitter particles.  I envision using this as either a wash of color all over the lid, or a pop of shimmer in the center of the eye.

The next shadow is named “Eye Candy” and is an ultra shimmery, mid-toned pink.  So beautiful!

Next up is “Meow,” my favorite eye shadow of the bunch.  It’s got pink, silver, and dark grey shimmers marbled together.  When you swirl your finger over the top, you get the above color.  I’d describe it as a deep, iridescent taupe.

The last three shadows I bought are all mattes.  This is “Bill.” A pinky-mauve color that would work amazingly in the crease.

Here we have “Hanky Panky.”  While I love the name, this is the one shadow I’m unsure about for my skin tone.  I feel  the light, warm brown may wash me out a bit, but hopefully I can make it work!

The last shadow we have is “Girl Crush.”  It’s a bit like “Bill,” but a smidge darker.  Again, it’s going to be a great crease color!  Perhaps I’ll pair it with “Meow?”  Ooh, la la!

Here’s a picture of all the shadows swatched side-by-side.  From left to right, we have: I Heart This, Meow, Eye Candy, Bill, Hanky Panky, and Girl Crush.  As you can see, the first three are extremely shimmery.  I’m not one to normally go for glittery shadows, but they’re so pretty that I had to make an exception.

On to the blushes!  I only bought two of these, but I’m loving the shades.  They are perfect, every day blushes that I know I’ll be using often.  First up is “Between The Sheets,” which is a matte peachy-pink.

Second is “Birthday Suit.”  It’s a gorgeous, wearable pink that’s right up my alley.

We have arrived at my favorite portion of the hall.  The lip products!  To which, I have a serious addiction to.  Seriously, you should see my collection.  What’s seven more, am I right?  Well anyway, first up is the “Lumiere” lippie and lip pencil.  Can I just say that I hate the word “lippie?”  Well, I do.  ColourPop, so far this is my only gripe…  Moving on!  Lumiere is a lovely, matte mauve/dusty rose color.  Many have described it as the perfect Kylie Jenner lip shade, and I’d have to agree.  It seems like it’d be her jam!  I still barely know who Kylie Jenner is…sorry kids, but I’m not that cool.

You’re looking at the “Frieda” set, which is described as a warm, nude pink.  Again, it’s perfect for every day wear.

Here we have “Button.”  It’s a wearable peach with a satin finish.  I can’t wait to wear it this summer!  I didn’t buy the matching lip pencil, because this seemed like a color I could get away with using on its own.  Hopefully that will be the case!

Lastly, here is “I Heart This” lippie/lip pencil duo.  Look at that color!  It’s a matte, red-based fuchsia.  I actually took a picture wearing this one, but I was looking a little rough after a long day at work.  Instead, I think I’ll do a look with these products and post a tutorial in the near future.  That’ll make up for it, right?

We’ve reached the end of the haul!  So sad!  I have to say, I can’t find a fault in these products as of yet.  They’re priced right, super pigmented, blend effortlessly, and seem to have great staying power.  In fact, my arm is still stained from the row of shadow swatches I did earlier in the evening.  Have you tried out ColourPop Cosmetics yet?  If so, what are your thoughts?

Stay weird, friends!

-Rachel

P.S.-If you haven’t already seen, I’m now on Bloglovin’!  Look for the “Follow Me On Bloglovin'” Button on the bottom/right side of the screen!

February 2015 Favorites

Oh, loves!  How long has it been?  I came down with what I like to call “The Georgia Plague” a few weeks ago, and it took a round of antibiotics, steroids, and more ginger and green tea than I ever want to intake again to kick it.  I’m just now feeling like myself again.  Unfortunately, in my stubbornness, I still went to work through the worst days of my illness.  People treated me as a leper, as I coughed and hacked in their direction while applying makeup to their disgusted faces.  Sadly, I passed the plague along to several of my coworkers, which they now lovingly refer to as “The Rachel.”  Whoops!  Anyway, even though I was down and out, I still found myself reaching for these specific products often and with much affection.  Without further delay, here are the February all-stars!

The first is L’Oreal’s 24-HR Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation and my Beauty Blender Sponge.  The foundation sells for $12.99 and the sponge retails for $19.95.  You guys…this foundation is heaven sent.  It can only have been made by angelic beings, it is so perfect.  I never thought I’d find a drugstore foundation that would beat out my beloved Cover Girl 3-in-1 Stay Fabulous Foundation, but I absolutely did.  With the help of my Beauty Blender, it applies evenly and flawlessly and lasts all day long.  Seriously, it doesn’t budge!  I can’t imagine another face product out doing this one any time soon.

Next up is Pur Mineral’s “Soak It Up” Moisturizer ($34).  I’m going to admit something to you.  I hate moisturizing.  I hate the feel of it on my skin.  I know it’s a necessity, but I just HATE feeling greasy.  And then I met this little number..  It’s more of a hydrating gel, and it soaks into my skin so quickly that I don’t have time to feel oily.  It perfectly primes (alliteration) my skin for foundation and whatever else I throw on it.  Plus, a little goes a long way, so it’s well worth the money.

Up next is Dr. Brandt’s Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant ($78).  Now before you freak out, I got this product for free.  Perk of my position at work.  I’ll admit that I’d pass if I had to purchase it myself.  But since I have it, I’m getting so much use out of it!  It cleans my skin so deeply, and I love the smooth texture it gives my skin.  So far, I’ve been using this product about twice a week.  These types of products can damage your skin if you use them too frequently, so I’m using caution.

Here we have Bath & Body Work’s Fragrance Mist in “Beautiful Day.”  It retails for $14.  On the official site, this scent is described as “sun-kissed apple, wild daisies & fresh pink peonies.”  I’m not sure if I get all of that, but it does smell amazing.  It’s very light and reminds me of a sunny, spring day.  That’s probably the reason I’ve been wearing it so much as of late.  I’m wishing the warmer weather would stay!

Next is Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Mascara ($8.99).  I wouldn’t describe this as the best mascara I’ve ever used, but it gets the job done better than most.  I’m a fan of the brush and its gel-like consistency.  It’s a win in my book!

“Isn’t she lovely?  Isn’t she wonderful?”  That song popped into my head as soon as I saw this beautiful shade.  It’s Lorac’s Alter Ego Lipstick in “Girl Next Door.”  You can purchase it for $16 at Ulta or Sephora, but I got it as a bonus when I purchased the Unzipped Cheek Palette.  It’s a creamy matte, which is my cup of tea for sure.  It stays in place, doesn’t feather, and doesn’t dry out my lips.  Plus, it smells like a cupcake.  I’ll take 3 more, please!

Speaking of Lorac’s Unzipped Cheek Palette ($30), here we have it!  I’ve been on a cheek palette hunt for the past six months or so, and this definitely satisfied my craving.  I’ve used it every single day since I purchased it.  Every. Single. Day.

Ah, the infamous Tartelette Eyeshadow Palette ($44)!  Is there a more perfect collection of matte eye shadows in the world?  No.  The answer is no.  What do I love about this palette?  Let me just count the ways!  It’s all matte, which is always a favorite in my book.  It’s sturdy.  It contains a lovely mirror that stands on its own.  The shadows are visibly labeled.  The shades blend nicely.  It’s a one-stop palette with it’s deep black and brow bone highlight colors.  Finally, it’s a perfect mix of cool and warm shades.  Money well spent!

The last beauty product in the list is the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque.  I’m not sure what this retails for originally, because I found it at TJ Maxx.  Can I just say how much I love that store, by the way?  I always feel like I’m on a treasure hunt!  But anyway, this masque has been a god send for my poor, bleached hair.  Going blonde has been a fun adventure, but it’s done a number to my once lush hair.  This product smells so good, and I notice a big difference in the quality of my hair when I use it.

I bought this Beringer Pink Moscato recently at Target on sale for $6.99.  I’m a sweet wine fan, and I doubt it gets much sweeter than this.  In fact, I’m enjoying a glass right now!  Yum!

And finally, my last February Favorite is my sweet little Pixie!  We got her this month at a local shelter, and she couldn’t be a more perfect fit for our family.  She’s a one-year-old Pit Bull mix.  She’s a sweet girl and a major cuddler.  I’ve been taking her and my other dog, Lola, out for walks almost nightly.  They’re helping me get in shape in their own little way!

Well, friends, thank you for being patient with my recent absence.  I don’t intend on letting that happen again any time soon!  I’ll be back soon with more reviews, favorites, and funny anecdotes.  Have a great night!

Stay Weird!

-Rachel

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks…and a little humor.

Friends. If you ever had a doubt that I lived an extravagant life, let me just set the record straight. My life is so glamorous that Fergie herself would be jealous. You know, because she sings the song…Glamorous? Anyway, let me just take you through a day in the life of yours truly. This morning, I had to wake up bright and early to take my child to preschool. Do I bother to change into regular clothes? No, I don’t want to appear like I’m trying too hard. I like to put on the front that I’m just like the rest of the moms out there. So I rock the frump. To take it a step further, I decided against brushing my teeth and wearing a bra. You see, I’m really getting into character! Plus, I’ll only be in there a minute to drop him off, right? Well, today I had a little excitement. I left my keys in the car while it was still running! What fun! I’ve never had to call a locksmith before today. What a treat! Luckily, I was able to hang out with the school superintendent while I waited. In only 42 minutes, the locksmith arrived! Impressively, he earns $65 for two minutes of work! Good for him. Anyway, the rest of the day consisted of meeting up with some friends and running a few errands. I had to purchase a few glamorous household things such as a new shower curtain, a garbage can, and lettuce.

On to the evening! After a quick stop at my parents for dinner, I headed home to begin some cleaning! I know, I know..it’s almost criminal how much fun I’m about to have. First off, I scrubbed the bathrooms from top to bottom! But wait…what’s that heavenly aroma? Could that be…feces? Yes! Apparently the dog hadn’t wanted to go potty outside when I took her a minute ago. She felt crapping on the plush carpet suited her better. Who can blame her? Anyway, after cleaning that bit up, I vacuumed the entire house. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Was that a wet spot I just stepped on? I gazed up at the ceiling to make sure the roof hadn’t sprung a leak. It hadn’t. That must mean the dog decided to pee on the carpet as well! That’s okay, that particular spot was able to get extra clean. I should be thanking her! While on the topic of bodily fluids, I decided to clean out the litter boxes while I was at it. My favorite part about cleaning them out is when my cat immediately pees in one as soon as I bag up the goods. Why leave it spotless? It is a litter box, after all. At this point I was getting a little fatigued, but I like to see just how far I can push myself. I thought it might be extra fun to mop the kitchen floor! As soon as I walked in, my cat knocked a decorative vase of pickled peppers off the highest cabinet. It was the biggest one! It almost moved in slow motion as it cascaded down to the floor. And yes, it shattered into a thousand pieces. What a neat noise it made, too! The best part was that it was filled with decade old vinegar. The smell kind of reminded me of dying Easter eggs, so that was fun and nostalgic. It took about an hour to fully clean that up. Whew! After that, I thought I’d end the evening by giving the living room a quick dust. Again, I smelled something…different. It was a mixture of rotten vinegar and something oddly familiar from earlier this evening. Poop! Again! I didn’t think she had any more left in her, but boy was I wrong! To end my fairytale-like day, I decided to treat myself to a glass of wine. Wow. What a life!

Even after all that, I still wanted to get this little review out to you all. Over the last few months, I’ve acquired five of the Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks.

You can find them at your local drugstore and they retail for around $7.50. Let me tell you…they are amazing! They have serious staying power and they keep my lips feeling hydrated. That’s a rarity in the matte variety. Another bonus to these beauties is the fact that I don’t really notice much feathering when I wear them! They really do stay in place. Enough with the talking, let’s get to swatching! I put each one on so you could get a feel of what they really look like. Keep in mind that I can’t keep a straight face to save my life.

First up is the shade “Daringly Nude.”

Next, we have “Lust For Blush.”

Here is “Touch Of Spice.”

Feast your eyes upon “Craving Coral.”

And finally we have “Siren In Scarlett.”

I’m not going to lie. My lips hurt. But I hope you enjoyed this little life glimpse and review!

Stay weird!

-Rachel

Wine in bed? Don’t mind if I do…

A New Year Means A (Half-Hearted) New Me!

Let’s be honest. Most New Year’s Resolutions end in bitter disappointment, and I’m not unrealistic about mine. But in following tradition, I figured I’d make a few of my own. Speaking of a new me, I got my hair done yesterday and I’m loving it. Want to see my mane’s progression of the last year or so? Well, you’re about to!

My friends (and amazing hairdressers), Kari and LaVonne have helped me go from almost black to blonde without killing the integrity of my hair, and I’m so giddy and grateful!
Photo break is over, and back to my semi-goals!

Goal #1: Be a better blogger.

Actual Expectation: Post 2ish new blogs a week. Feel proud of at least one of them. Because, come on, they can’t all be gold!

Goal #2: Lose weight.

Actual Expectation: Lose 10ish pounds or maintain current weight. Continue to feel confident in my one-piece swimming suit…and shorts.

Goal #3: Be a better person.

Actual Expectation: This one I really mean. I strive to be a better mother, wife, friend, daughter, etcetera. I think we should all continuously work towards being the best version of ourselves. I mean, isn’t that the point?

There you have it! I was going to think of more, but again…let’s not get crazy.

I hope you’re all having a great start to the new year! My family and I are about to go on vacation in a few days, and I hope to document some of it here for you. We are heading up to the bitterly cold Midwest, which happens to be my old stomping ground.

Stay tuned and stay weird!
-Rachel

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette Tutorial

Oh loves, it’s been far too long!  If I go without blogging for more than a few days, I get kinda twitchy.  It feels good to be sitting down to write again.  This week has been insane.  For all who were wondering, I survived Black Friday.  Barely.  While I was getting ready this morning, I played around with the idea of putting some war paint beneath my eyes just to let everyone who crossed my path know that I meant business.  Luckily, I only ran into a few crabby customers, and the rest were quite pleasant.  There were far, far too many of them…but at least they were pleasant!  My shift ended with a lady backing into my car in the parking lot.  Fitting for the day, I’d say.

Anyway, I thought I’d show you the eye look I’ve been wearing pretty consistently lately.  Ever since I bought the Chocolate Bar Palette, I haven’t been able to put it down.  For one, it just smells too delicious NOT to use on a regular basis.  Again…Too Faced are geniuses when it comes to marketing products for women.  ::Applause::

Let’s do it!

First, I primed my face with Pur Mineral’s Miracle Mist.  I can’t get enough of this stuff.  I also primed my lids with Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Alright, these pictures are WAY too big.  Sorry you’re getting an up close and personal view of my pores.  Anyway, the next step foundation followed by concealer.  I’ve been using this Cover Girl foundation lately, and I LOVE it.  Again, Cover Girl is the way to go when it comes to inexpensive, drugstore foundations.  The only problem is that I can’t find a shade pale enough for my ghostly white face (#palegirlproblems).  I used my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer under my eyes and Pur’s Disappearing Act Concealer on my blemishes and discoloration.

Here’s the eye look halfway done.  Oh, look at my poor, tired, got up at 3:30-to-be-at-work eyes.  ::sigh::  Anyway, keep reading for the breakdown of shadows used.

“White Chocolate” was used on the brow bone.

“Creme Brulee” and “Champagne Truffle” were layered the lids.

You can’t tell, but I’m doing “rawk” fingers here.

“Milk Chocolate” was blended through the crease and applied on the lower lash line.

Lorac’s Front of the Line Liquid Liner in “Black”; Urban Decay’s Perversion Mascara; Anastasia Brow Wiz in “Taupe”

These products were used to finish up the eyes.  Have a looks-y.

Finally, I applied some blush and added a neutral lip to complete the look.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in “Exposed.”  Applied to lower cheekbones and temples.

NYX Waterproof Lip Liner in “Nude.” Lorac Lip Gloss in “English Rose.”

And there we have it!  Now to wash this off and get some much-needed rest.  Enjoy your evenings, Awkward Annies!

Stay Weird!

-Rachel

P.S.- I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award by two lovely bloggers.  That post coming soon and thanks for the nomination!

Kylie Jenner Makeup Look

Good evening, lovelies!  Tonight I tried my take on the gorgeous Kylie Jenner’s trademark makeup look: Neutral eyes with a slight wing and full, 90’s-esque lips.  I have a confession to make.  I had no idea who Kylie Jenner was until this year when her face started popping up everywhere in the makeup world.  I never watched any of the zillion Kardashian shows nor did I follow them on any media site.  I do have to say, Kylie is beautiful and I really enjoyed creating this look.  Now for the obvious disclaimer:  I look nothing like Miss Jenner.  I mean….we are literally complete opposites.  So, if you want to see what Kylie’s makeup looks like on a pale, blonde girl…then keep on reading!

Here is the picture I drew my inspiration from, for reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First off, I applied my base.  I wanted to look slightly “dewy,” so I used L’Oreal’s Magic Lumi Light-Infusing Primer and True Match Lumi foundation.  For concealer, I used my Pur Disappearing Act in “Light.”  I set it all with corn starch.  Yes, corn starch.  Read my earlier posts to learn more about my love for it.

 

I used my Naked Basics 2 pallet for the eyes.  Although it’s not my favorite product, the colors were perfect for recreating her look.  For the lid, I mixed the colors “Skimp” and “Stark.”  I also used “Skimp” as a brown bone highlight.

 

To blend out the crease, I used “Primal.”

 

I applied “Cover” to my lower lash line.

 

Looking through pictures of Kylie, I saw that she varies quite a bit with her liner.  Sometimes she doesn’t use any, and other times she wears an extreme cat eye.  For this particular look, it seems that she just extended her liner slightly.  I used Lorac’s Front Of The Line liquid liner in “black” to do so.

 

I wish I would have had access to false eyelashes tonight, but sadly I didn’t.  Instead I just packed on the mascara and curled the heck out of my lashes.  I used L’Oreal’s Telescopic Shocking Extensions for length and Urban Decay’s Perversion mascara for volume.

 

To finish up the eyes, I applied Ulta’s black gel eyeliner to my upper water line and a white pencil eyeliner to my lower water line.

 

Can’t forget the Kylie brows.  She (or her makeup artist) is amazing at executing the ombre brow, where it gets more defined as you reach the outer tip.  I’m not an eyebrow expert, but I did my very best!  I used my trusty Anastasia Brow Wiz in “taupe” for this part.

 

Our face shapes are so different, but to slim my cheeks, jaw, and nose I had to do a little contouring.  I used a flat Sonia Kashuk brush and Too Faced’s Chocolate Soleil’s Bronzer to chisel out those areas.

 

Here’s what it looks like blended out.  I added some more warmth to the outer areas of my face with the same bronzer and a fluffy brush, as well as adding more to my cheeks.  The bronzer also took the place of any blush, as it doesn’t appear she’s wearing any in the picture.

 

The final steps is, of course, the lips.  Now, I wish I had her beautiful lips..but I don’t.  She has more Angelina Jolie lips and mine are more Lucille Ball.  But still, I did my best to slightly overdraw them so they would mimic the fullness of hers.  This lipstick is totally one I could see her owning.  It’s the Lorac Pro Matte Lip Color in “Mauve.”

Here is a close up of the finished look:

 

Too close?  Oh.  Well, here are some more for you.  So picky…

 

 

Thanks for reading and stay weird!

-Rachel

90’s Nostalgia Part 2

Ever since I wrote my last post about the 90’s, memories that I’d forgotten just keep popping up in my head. It makes me feel like the initial post was incomplete and I can’t have that….No! I cannot have that! So we are going to take a second stroll down memory lane together. Hope you wore your walking shoes, because this jaunt is going to be a long one!

Let’s start with movies and television. The more I think about my youth, the more I realize that I spent entirely too much time in front of the tv. Ah well, anyway…Here we go!

Labyrinth and The Secret of Nimh. Two incredibly awesome and incredibly
dark and disturbing movies. Oh! Speaking of disturbing, I just remembered another classic!

Did anyone else watch this movie? I was obsessed! I remember wishing with all my might that I could find a lunch pail tree like the one she ate from. Also, to this day whenever I see a green decoration, I want to put my hands on it and say “Oz!” Anyone? Am I alone here?

I religiously watched way too many shows. Some favorites being David the Gnome, Rainbow Bright, Reading Rainbow, Under the Umbrella Tree, Rude Dog, Hey Dude, and Salute Your Shorts.

I’m almost positive that I am the only person to have ever watched Under the Umbrella Tree. Whenever I mention it, I always get a look of bewilderment. And Reading Rainbow…has any other show to this day ever had a more glorious theme song? The answer is no. Remember the irritation that came in the form of the TV guide channel? If that didn’t teach you patience, I don’t know what would.

Another favorite pastime was my beloved Nintendo.

And let me tell you, I was a Little Mermaid prodigy. That was the first game that I ever beat, and I’m still proud of it to this day. Way to go, Me!

Anyone remember this gem?

I lived for Oregon Trail time in grade school. Hunting was my favorite. I would hunt more buffalo than my little wagon could carry, causing my entire computerized family to drown every single time. R.I.P.

The last little bit if technology that kept my small self busy was the one and only Lite Bright.

It was so fulfilling to see your finished masterpiece lit up like a Christmas tree.

I do remember spending the majority of my time outside with the neighbor kids. We spent countless summer nights exploring the field behind my house, playing Kick the Can and Ghost in the Graveyard, and riding our bikes around the block.

I could even ride my bike without using the handlebars. Oh, you read that correctly! I was basically an acrobat on wheels.

…Except for these wheels:

I swear these were somehow rigged to cause you to wipe out every five seconds. You’re the devil, Fisher Price.

I completely overlooked 90’s fashion in the last post. Shame on me! My attire mainly consisted of the following:

Stirrup pants were the bane of my tiny existence. My mom would always make me wear them, but I rebelled against wearing them correctly. I couldn’t handle that elastic band invading and restricting my feet. Ugh. They were the worst.

If I was at school, you would also see me with these essentials:

Lisa Frank’s obnoxious art was idolized by little girls everywhere, including me. And if you could find a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper, shoot! Girl…you were golden! I remember when my Trapper Keeper obsession hit and I just had to have one. My poor dad drove me to every store in the area, and they were all sold out. We went home empty handed that day, but it wasn’t soon after that I got one of my own. I still remember it, too. ::sigh:: The memories…

The treats back then were full of sugary, cancer-causing goodness.

By the way, the struggle that it took to cleanly peel off a candy button was not worth the gratification of eating it. You basically ate 80% candy and 20% paper. Why were these even a thing?

Lastly, we come to some iconic toys of the decade.

I was never one to play with Barbies, but My Little Pony was where it was at! I also had a secret collection of Troll Dolls that I had to keep hidden because my mom found them creepy. I mean, they are creepy…creepily delightful! I loved their little bejeweled bellies. Beanie Babies hold many fond memories for me. My best friend, Bridget, and I used to trade them and create little movies using them as the characters. I remember my Scottie dog Beanie Baby performed an awesome rendition of “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston.

I could have also included some more old music here, but honestly, there’s just way too many bands to name. Also, my fingers are literally throbbing from typing. So we end here, friends! I think I’ll hold off on traveling down memory lane again in the foreseeable future. I told you it was going to be quite the hike!

Stay weird!

-Rachel

I’m spent.