Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Beauty Haul

Recent Beauty Haul

One of the most peaceful experiences for me to do when I'm feeling down, bored, or uninspired is to go makeup or beauty shopping. There is just something about walking up and down the isles swatching makeup or smelling perfumes and hair products that makes me feel uplifted and inspired again. I was feeling a little uninspired recently so my sister and I decided to take a day and go to a bunch of beauty store to see what was new.

So, I have picked up some new products from a couple stores and I wanted to share my great finds with you! Some of the products are repurchases and others are brand new to me. I will let you know which products are new and repurchased in the descriptions below. The following products were purchased at the drugstore, beauty supply stores, and high-end beauty stores.

Note: If you would like swatches or reviews on any of the products below, please leave a comment and I will be happy to do that.

Simple Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes (New)
Cost: $4.49
Where you can find it: Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Costco, Target

 
Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash (New)
Cost: $5.49
Where you can find it: Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Target
 
 
Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant in Stress Response (Repurchase)
Cost: $7.99
Where you can find it: Walgreens, Walmart, Target, CVS, Jewel
 
 

Batitse Dark and Deep Dry Shampoo (Repurchase)
Cost: $.7.99
Where you can find it: Ulta, Target, Walgreens
 
 
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (Repurchase)
Cost: $22.00
Where you can find it: Ulta, Sephora, Macys, Nordstrom

 
 
 
Pureology Hydrate Hydra Whip Hair Mask (New)
Cost: $50.00
Where you can find it: Ulta, select beauty supply stores
 

 
Bath and Body Works Hands Soap (Repurchase)
Scents: Golden Pineapple Luau, Turquoise Waters, Tiki Mango Mai Tai, Black Cherry Merlot, Hawaiian Pink Hibiscus
Cost: $6.50
Where you can find it: Bath and Body Works
 

 
The Body Shop Sorbets in Mango and Strawberry (New)
Cost: $15.00
Where you can find it: The Body Shop 
 
 
Bath and Body Works Body Lotions (Repurchase)
Scents: Waikiki Beach Coconut, Limoncello, Pink Chiffon, Tahiti Island Dream, Tiki Mango Mai Tai
Cost: $12.50
Where you can find it: Bath and Body Works
 
 
Wet Brush Detangle (Repurchase)
Cost: $11.99
Where you can find it: Ulta, select beauty supply stores
 
 
Origins Drink Up Intensive Face Mask
Cost: $17.00
Where you can find it: Sephora, Macys, Nordstrom
 

 
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita
Cost: $20.00
Where you can find it: Sephora
 
 
 
Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam
Cost: $40.00
Where can you find it: Sephora, Macys, Nordstrom, Ulta
 

 
All Photos by Becky Schutten

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Favorite Nude Lipsticks

Favorite Nude Lipsticks


If I had to choose only one lipstick color to wear for the rest of my life, it would definitely be nude!When I look through my extensive lipstick collection, it is clear that I have a nude lipstick obession. I have double the amount of nude lipsticks than any other lipstick color in my collection. Nude lipsticks are my favorite because they can go perfectly with any makeup look. A smoky eye to a neutral eye, a nude lip will go with anything.

When I think of a nude lipstick, I don't have a limited view on what a nude color is. When some people think of a nude lipstick, they think that it looks like the color of skin. However, I feel that a nude lipstick is any color that ranges from the natural color of lips all the way to flesh toned lipsticks. The advantages to wearing a nude lip is that you can create many different looks with the many colors of nudes that you have. For instance, you can apply just the nude lipstick and blur out the edges to create a soft focused lip look, or you can use a corresponding lip liner to make the nude lip crisp and defined.

I have choosen my top 15 nude lipstick colors that range from light to dark, sheer to opaque, and glossy to matte. I think that in this selection of lipsticks, anyone can find a lipstick that would look great on them. As a reference, I am a NC30/NC35 in MAC foundation right now as I just self-tanned a few days ago.


Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Nude
Price: $21.00
You can buy this at: Ulta, Sephora, and Macy's


Milani Lipstick in Naturally Chic
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Milani.com, Mejer, and CVS


MAC Lipstick in Japanese Maple
Price: $17.00
You can buy this at: MAC stores, Macy's, and Nordstrom


Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Baby Pink
Price: $27.00
You can buy this at: bobbibrown.com, Macy's, and Nordstrom


Lime Crime Lipstick in Coquette
Price: $8.00
You can buy this at: limecrime.com


Bite Beauty Lipstick in Caramel
Price: $26.00
You can buy this at: bitebeauty.com and Sephora


NYX Lipstick in Athens
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Ulta, Target, and nyxcosmetics.com


Kardashian Beauty En-Joystick in Modern Mauve
Price: $ 8.99
You can buy this at: Ulta and kbeauty.com


YSL Lipstick in #8
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue


Urban Decay Lipstick in Naked
Price: $22.00
You can buy this at: Ulta, Sephora, and Macy's


MAC Lipstick in Shy Shine
Price: $17.00
You can buy this at: MAC stores, Macy's, and Nordstrom


Estee Lauder Lipstick in Desirable
Price: $30.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Macy's, and Nordstrom


Chanel Lipstick in Boy
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Macy's, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue


L'Oreal Lipstick in Jennifer's Nude
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Walgreens, Walmart, and Target


YSL Lipstick in #9
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue


All Photos by Becky Schutten

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

#internationalwomensday

#internationalwomensday

What does International Women's Day mean to you? Standing up for women's rights? Focusing on equality between men and women in the work place and in society? Women embracing their bodies and their sexuality? All of the above?

As hard as it might be to believe, inequality doesn't just stop at race or the color of someone's skin. Women's inequality is still a huge issue in today's society. And as hard as it is to admit, it's not just men that help create and sustain this inequality. Women can be some of our biggest enforcers when it comes to keeping limitations on what it means to be an  "independent" and "free" woman in today's society. This is extremely alarming to me. We, as women, already have more obstacles to face than men when trying to live a life free of judgment and shaming to be putting those limitations on ourselves and each other. We should be supporting one another to succeed and be comfortable in our own skin. Supporting one another to be confident in the skin we were born in and comfortable with making our own choices about what we want our life and legacy to be.

"Live and let live."

This term is hard for a lot of people to understand and implement in their lives. Everyone wants to be accepted for the person that they are and supported in the choices they make as they are trying to become the person they want to be. No one wants to be made to feel like they are inadequate or that they cannot truly be themselves in the fear that people will judge them. We are all human beings and we need to respect other's choices and let them live. LET LIVE.

No one is perfect and no one will ever live up to other people's standards of the perfect person. As women, we have an even greater pressure to be perfect. The perfect hair. The perfect makeup. The perfect face without any makeup. The perfect body. The perfect outfits. To be honest, women tend to make up these "perfect" scenarios of how they should look and act then project them on to other women. As a result, women begin to feel inadequate and feel shameful because they will never live up to these standards that are put on them.

We were all born different. Different shapes. Different sizes. Different colors. Different personalities. Different views. Different goals. And that's perfectly okay! In fact, I think that's pretty damn amazing! I get inspired by women how are different than I am. I look at how they live their lives and the decisions they have made and it inspires me to live my own life as authentically as possible. I might admire the way another woman looks or the confidence she has or how business savvy a woman is, but the best part about that is that those aspects and traits that I admire in so many women are helping me to become the great woman that I hope to be as I navigate through my life.

So, instead of judging another woman because the doesn't have the same values as you, or she is comfortable with her body, or she has opinions and she's willing to voice them, or she isn't what you consider to be the "perfect woman" consider the following:

Would you want your daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother, friend, niece, or wife to be judged or made to feel badly about who she is? I would be willing to take a risk and say that just about everyone would never wish those feelings upon their loved ones.

So, instead of taking the time to tear someone else down, why not take that energy and use it for something good. Lift someone up today! Give them a compliment. Tell them what you like about them. Focus on the positive. Use your voice to uplift others rather than spreading hate in an already cold and judgemental society.

Bullying others in person or on social media should never be accepted or tolerated, so let's spread the love instead. Women to men. Men to men. Men to women. And women to women!

Happy International Women's Day! Embrace yourself!

Women who inspire me (in no particular order):

                                                                Marilyn Monroe: Movie Star

 
Elizabeth Taylor: Movie Star

 
My Amazing Mom
 
 
Lindsay Matway: Fitness and Life Coach
 
 
My Beautiful Sister
 
 
Anna Saccone-Joly: YouTuber/Beauty Guru
 
 
Kim Kardashian West: Reality Star/Entrepreneur
 
 
Pastor Grace: Woman of God
 
 
Amra Olevic (Amrezy): Beauty Blogger/Guru
 
 
My Wonderful Grandma: Rest in Peace
 
 

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Eyebrow Pencils: Anastasia vs. NYX

Eyebrow Pencils: Anastasia vs. NYX


Finding the perfect eyebrow pencil can definitely be a challenge, and I have done my research for the best ones at the expense of my bank account. Just because a product has a big price tag doesn't mean it is worth the money when it comes to the quality of the product. In particular, it can be difficut to find a great eyebrow pencil regardless of the price, which makes the hunt for the perfect brow product even harder. Creating a perfect yet natural looking brow has become a huge trend, and an even bigger eyebrow tend in recent years has been Anastasia Beverly Hills. Anastasia Beverly Hills' products have made everyone in the industry really step up their game when it comes to creating amazing quality and selections in the brow department. As much as I love almost all of Anastasia's products, NYX has come out with an amazing line of eyebrow products that are comparable to the infamous Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil. These two eyebrow pencils are very similar, but the big question is: Is it worth spending a bit more money for the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil or sparing your bank account and buying the NXY eyebrow pencil?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
(Shade: Medium Brown)
Price: $21.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, and Nordstrom
http://www.sephora.com/brow-wiz-P202633?skuId=1394717&om_mmc=ppc-MSN&mkwid=ptfOvTgw&pcrid=11604371611&pdv=c&site=us_search&country_switch=us&lang=en


The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a brow pencil in a slender black and rose gold tube. The Brow Wiz comes in nine different shades which include: Taupe, Caramel, Auburn, Medium Brown, Soft Brown, Chocolate, Dark Brown, Ebony, and Granite. I think that this range of colors is a great selection for all hair colors, and they cover all of the undertones. The Brow Wiz is a duo-sided container with one side containing the actual eyebrow pencil and the other side containing a spoolie to brush the eyebrow. This eyebrow pencil is retractable so you can move the product up and down as necessary. The actual eyebrow pencil is thin and comes to a point so you can get a precise application. Since the pencil is so narrow, it allows the user to get a super precise and natural looking brow because you are able to draw hair-like stokes which creates the allusion of having a fuller or more perfect brow. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a stern material which I personally love because I think that this gives you more control over the product which in turn makes it easier to create your desired shape. I love to set the Brow Wiz with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. This brow gel sets the eyebrows so well without having to use too much product. A little bit truly goes a long way.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil
(Shade: Espresso)
Price: $9.99
You can buy this at: : Ulta, Target, and nyxcosmetics.com
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12011193&skuId=2284052&CPMID=CSBING&CAWELAID=330000200000255557&catargetid=330000200000463933&CADEVICE=c


The NYX Micro Brow Pencil is a brow pencil that is in a slender black tube with white writing. The Micro Brow Pencil comes in eight different shades which include: Taupe, Blonde, Auburn, Chocolate, Ash Brown, Brunette, Espresso, and Black. I think that NYX came out with a good range of colors for someone who is looking for a brow pencil that is on the cool-toned side, but I think that they do not have as any options for people who are looking for a darker warm-toned brow pencil. The Micro Brow pencil is a duo-sided pencil that contains a pointed brow pencil on one side, and has a spoolie on the other side. The NYX brow pencil gives the same effect as the Brow Wiz, however it is a little bit harder than the Anastasia brow pencil. I know someone people love when their brow pencil is harder, but I think that it is a little harder than I would like it to be. When it comes to the presicion of the NYX Micro Brow Pencil, I think that it gives you a great result and you can obtain any shape you want with easy (you just have to use more pressure to get the color payoff you want.) The Micro Brow Pencil is by far the best eyebrow pencil I have ever found at the drugstore or for a drugstore
price!

When it comes to deciding which eyebrow pencil is worth buying, I think the results really depend on how much you want to spend or what your budget is. I personally like how my brows come out better when I use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, but if I was on a money crunch, I would have no problem buying and using the NYX Micro Brow Pencil. These two eyebrow pencils are very similar to each other  and are both super stars in my eyes. However, if I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Anastasia Bevery Hills Brow Wiz because I like the fact that it is slightly more easy to work with.

All Photos By: Becky Schutten

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Favorite MAC Blushes

Favorite MAC Cosmetic Blushes

Price: $17.00 - $27.00
You can buy this at: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, and Nordstrom
www.maccosmetics.com


Having worked at MAC Cosmetics for a few years, I have tried every blush color and formula that they make on every skin type and every skin tone. MAC has a great selection of colors and textures of blushes that can meet anyone and everyone's needs and desires. They have a couple different types of blushes which include: the powder blushes, pro long wear blushes, mineralize blushes, and cream blushes. The powder blushes are the standard MAC blushes that they have the most color selection to choose from. The powder blushes have good staying power on the skin and can be blended easily for a smooth-looking application. The pro long wear blushes are a long wearing formula that is also easy to blend on the skin, but they are a little more dry in texture. There is less options in the pro long wear blushes than the powder blushes. The mineralize blushes are very pigmented and all of these blushes have a shimmer running through them that gives a glow to the skin. This formula has a smaller selection than most of the other formulas that are offered by MAC. Lastly, the cream blushes are creamy and glowing on the skin, and last very well. They are probably the most forgotten about formula when it comes to MAC blushes, but they are extremely beautiful and great to use under a powder blush for a more long-wearing effect. Most of these blushes are available in a pan form besides the mineralize blushes, so you can create your own custom blush palette.

Some of my favorite blushes from MAC can be used on any skin tone or skin type, but for reference I am a NC20 in MAC foundations.

Note: You can always go to a MAC store or counter to swatch these colors on your skin or have a MAC artist try them on you before you purchase.

Margin (Powder Blush): A neutral soft peach with gold shimmer.


Blushbaby (Powder Blush): A soft rosy pink with a beige undertone.


Pinch Me (Powder Blush): A deeper rosy coral.


Peaches (Powder Blush): A true peach.


Springsheen (Powder Blush): A peach with gold shimmer.


Ambering Rose (Powder Blush): A deeper rose with gold shimmer.


Pinch O' Peach (Powder Blush): A satin peachy pink.


Rhubarb (Powder Blush): A deep magenta.


Apple Red (Powder Blush): A true red.


All Photos By: Becky Schutten