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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks Under $50

Norstrom Sale Picks under $50

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is finally here! I look forward to this sale every single year – they are my favorite retailer and always have the absolute BEST deals around. I accessed the early pre-sale on Thursday to score some amazing deals. Read on for my favorite trend pieces all for under $50 each!

Here’s what I personally snagged for under $200:
2 pairs Articles of Society jeans (one on sale, one not)
2 t-shirts (not on sale)
1 long-sleeve t-shirt
1 jacket

You can see all of my purchases on the blog next week, so stay tuned!

Beauty

Honest Proactiv+ Review

Proactiv+ Review

Proactiv+ Review

As many of you may know, I received a 90 day supply of Proactiv+ to try out a few months ago. My trial has finally come to an end, so I wanted to share my experience with all of you. I have always had really horrible acne, so I’m constantly searching for the next best product out there.

Day One

I do have to say I was a bit skeptical starting out because I used Proactiv in the past when I was in middle school and the product did not work for me. However, I enjoyed that Proactiv+ (which is a different product line than Proactiv) had three very different products for each step. There is a skin smoothing exfoliator face wash, a pore targeting treatment, and a complete perfecting hydrating moisturizer. When I used Proactiv before, one of the issues I had was my face drying out so I liked that it came with a moisturizer.

Day Thirty

At the 30-day check in point, I have to be completely honest – I was far from pleased. I had seen an increase in breakouts and my skin felt extremely sensitive. There was a point when I had to reduce my use of the pore targeting treatment to once every other day because it would sting my skin so badly. I remember hearing a few times from other people that “it has to get worse before it gets better,” so I didn’t want to give up and decided to stick with it until the end.

Day Sixty

I finally understand why they said it gets worse before it gets better. Pretty much right after the first 30 days were over, my skin began to clear up. I was overjoyed!

Day Ninety

My skin is as clear and smooth as it’s been in a while. I am really happy with how it looks and feels. I find myself using much less makeup on a daily basis when I used to cake it on. Unfortunately, I still have acne on my chest and back, but I understand this product was specifically made for your face so that makes sense.

Overall Impression

I am pleased with this product. I will definitely keep it as part of my daily beauty routine until the product runs out. I might even purchase it again because the products I received are actually really affordable (only $19.95 for a 30 day supply!). I would be interested to see if their body wash works as well as the face products because that might be something I invest in as well.

I know that Proactiv products do not work for everybody, so if you had a different (or better) experience with it, let me know! I’d love to hear about it.

Step One of Proactiv+IMG_1367-2Step Two of Proactiv+IMG_1365-2Step Three of Proactiv+IMG_1364-2

Beauty

Honest Bellami Hair Extension Review (one year update)

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honest bellami hair extension reviewSince Kendall Jenner’s debut of her new hair extension line with Bellami Hair, my blog has been attracting a lot more attention for my posts about their extensions. Since I wrote those posts nearly a year ago, I figured I owed everybody an update on how they were doing!

Personally, I hardly use hair extensions anymore. When I do, I use Luxy Hair Extensions NOT Bellami. I no longer use my Bellami extensions for several reasons.

  • Excessive shedding
  • Heat damage
  • Gross texture
  • One-dimensional color

I bought my Piccolina 120g 18″ Bellami extensions in dirty blonde last year and used them for about two months before I switched to another brand. While I originally loved the extensions, problems began after using them consistently for a while.

Excessive Shedding

When I would brush the extensions, excessive amounts of hair would fall out. I was very careful about brushing and treating my extensions with the utmost care. It was extremely embarrassing to be sitting at work or in class and have my lap or desk covered with hair.

Heat Damage

I used heat protectant obsessively on my extensions before styling them. Bellami hair is not cheap by any means, so I wanted to make this a long-lasting investment and treat my hair with care. Unfortunately, after two months, I had extreme split ends and the texture of the hair had completely changed.

Gross Texture

As I mentioned above, heat styling the extensions despite using protective products, the texture of the hair drastically changed. It went from soft, smooth, and natural to brittle, clumpy, and unruly. It became very obvious that the texture of my natural hair was noticeably different than the extensions – leaving my hair looking tacky.

One-Dimensional Color

One thing that bothered me right off the bat with Bellami was that the color lacked dimension. In other words, it was one very solid color – blonde. While this blended with my hair fine for a while, when I was exposed to the sun less and my hair darkened slightly, it no longer matched. With other extensions like Luxy, there is dimensional coloring to the hair so that it adapts naturally to slight changes in color.

Beauty

Mary Kay Obsession

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IMG_0936I recently received this amazing products from a Mary Kay representative to test out and I have to say, I’ve honestly fallen in love. Each product is high-quality, long-lasting, and performs its function expertly. The best part – Mary Kay products are incredibly affordable!

Products:

Click here to order and receive super fast, FREE shipping!

IMG_0930My hands are already pretty soft, but it’s always so nice to have luxurious hand treatments like these to make you feel like a goddess. Smooth, moisturizing, and refreshing, these three products are perfect especially in the cold winter months.IMG_0920I never tried a lash primer before now, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this. Between the primer and the mascara, my lashes looked extremely full, long, and natural. There was absolutely no clumping. In addition, I was worried that the mascara wasn’t waterproof. But when I wore it outside in the rain, it did not run or leave residue under my eyes. When it was time to wash it off for the night, it came off incredibly easy. IMG_0928These lip balms are so gorgeous! I’ve never been able to find a lip gloss that was long-lasting until now. These are highly pigmented, so they look exactly how they do in the tube as they do on application. My favorite was the hot pink color because it went on semi-sheer, but with enough coverage to give my lips an extra pop. IMG_0913This has to be my favorite product out of all of them. This primer is magical. I naturally have a very greasy face so my makeup sweats off quickly throughout the day. However, with this primer, I hardly need to touch up during the day at all. I went through an 8-hour day without looking in the mirror once. When I got home, my makeup looked the same as it did when I first applied it. Honestly, finding a high quality primer will save so much money and time because you won’t have to keep touching up throughout the day and wasting makeup. I am so happy with this product!

Beauty

January Birchbox

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IMG_0868IMG_0880My January Birchbox came! It came with Neil George shampoo and conditioner, Sumitra Color Contrast eyeliner, Silhouette by Christian Siriano Eau de Parfum, and Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm. Overall, I liked my December box better because it had more of a variety of products. However, I do like that it had such large samples of the shampoo and conditioner so it’s actually realistic for me to take them with me somewhere when I’m traveling.

IMG_0887I love how large these samples are, but I was unimpressed by the shampoo and conditioner. I think for most people, you have a shampoo and conditioner that works for you and then you stick with it. Personally, I have my very specific products I use for my natural curly hair and others I use when I want to heat style. So for me, this missed the mark. But I am sure for some people they would love it!

IMG_0891This body balm smells like a dream! Absolutely incredibly rich lavender. I wish it was a bigger sample because this is really just the size to throw in your purse and use as hand cream. It would be so great to have it for an actual body lotion! IMG_0894If you’re looking for a gorgeous, creamy, long-lasting, and pigmented eyeliner, this is it. I really cannot say enough good things about this eyeliner. It was a beautiful, rich gold that I had to literally SCRUB off! Gorgeous color and texture – I just need to figure out a way to style this.IMG_0903I don’t LOVE this scent but I also don’t HATE it. It has an light, floral small which is great and usually what I look for in a perfume. But for some reason, there was a little something off. I would recommend trying it though!

What was in your January Birchbox? How did you like it?

Beauty

First Birchbox Review

Honest birchbox review

BirchoxDecember Birchbox contentesWelcome to my first ever Birchbox review! My older sister gifted me a 3-month subscription, so I’ll be showcasing the products I receive here. For those of you who don’t know what Birchbox is, I’ll fill you in. It’s essentially a monthly subscription service where you receive a fun box stuffed full of beauty product and fragrance samples catered to your tastes. It’s extremely affordable and a great way to discover new products! Plus, who doesn’t love receiving packages in the mail?

The following products were included in my box: Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy body wash (retail $15 for an 8 oz. bottle), N.4 Lumiere d’hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect (retail $32 for 6.7 fl. oz. bottle), The Balm Stainiac lip and cheek stain (retail $17 for 0.3 oz.), Harvey Prince Ageless perfume (retail $55 for 50 ml. bottle), and Real Chemistry Luminous 3-minute Peel (retail $48 for 1.7 fl. oz.).

Body WashGilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy body wash  (retail $15 for an 8 oz. bottle)

This body wash smells amazing – just like you were sitting by the ocean. I don’t know much about body wash or what separates a good one form a bad one besides smell, but by going off of just smell, this one’s a winner in my book!Hair product

N.4 Lumiere d’hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect  (retail $32 for 6.7 fl. oz. bottle)

I rarely heat style my hair any more so it took me a while to end up trying this product When I leave my hair natural, I don’t comb it for days on end (it sounds gross but it’s what you’re supposed to do with curls, I swear!). Anyways, I used this before blow-drying and then curling my hair and it worked wonders. It detangled it well, reduced frizz, and provided shine. Lip and cheek stain

The Balm Stainiac lip and cheek stain (retail $17 for 0.3 oz.)

This stain is phenomonal. It only leaves a tiny hint of residue on your lips so it feels like you aren’t wearing anything at all. You don’t have to worry about this stain rubbing off either – it’s so thin and durable. I loved the color as well, but it was definitely not what it looks like exactly. It turned out to be a more of a dark rose color – less red than it appears in the bottle. Perfume

Harvey Prince Ageless perfume (retail $55 for 50 ml. bottle)

This fragrance is different than what I usually go for but I was surprised by how much I liked it. I typically chose very floral and sweet fragrances, but this one was much more refreshing and light. It made me feel like I was at the ocean – very clean and clear. peel

Real Chemistry Luminous 3-minute Peel (retail $48 for 1.7 fl. oz.)

I’m a newbie when it comes to face masks and peels, but I was so blown away by this product. As soon as you begin rubbing it on your face, it exfoliates and peels the dead skin away immediately. It was so instant it felt like magic. After I washed it all off, I felt like I had brand new baby skin! So fresh and clean! I absolutely loved this. Doing a peel like this one once a week would be so refreshing, I might have to consider investing in a bigger tube.

Beauty Fashion Lifestyle

Birthday Wishlist

birthday wishlist
birthday list
Beauty Fashion

Christmas Wishlist

christmas wish list
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1989 by Taylor Swift CD – Target | Zara Blanket Scarf  | Kate Spade “cedar street – maise” Satchel | Kate Spade “Break the Ice” Tumbler | Steve Madden Raspy Platform Bootie | Viva La Jewels Tear Crystal Chandelier Earrings | Hunter Boot Welly Socks | Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette | Brandy Melville Luana Top | Kate Spade Ballpoint Pens | UGG Australia Dakota Slipper | J. McLaughlin Sailcloth Duffle | Canon EOS Rebel T3i Camera

Happy December everybody! I started my Christmas gift shopping about a week ago and will hopefully finish it all by the end of today with all of the amazing Cyber Monday deals. I finally pulled together my own personal Christmas wishlist – I hope you enjoy it! The biggest thing on my list is the Canon Rebel T3i camera since I really need a new camera to step up the quality of my photos for the blog. Crossing my fingers Santa pulls through this year!

What’s on your Christmas list? Let me know in the comments below!

Beauty

Rimmel VoxBox Champ Extras

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In March, I participated in the Rimmel London Moisture Renew campaign through Influenster and was pleasantly surprised last week when I received yet another box of goodies from Rimmel and Influenster. It was a thank-you package from them for participating in their campaign stuffed with some of Rimmel’s hottest new products.

If you want to watch my video review of the first Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick I received back in March, check it out here.

Box Contents

Review of Contents

Moisture Renew Lipstick – color #260 “Berry Rose”

Stunning color perfect for the transition between fall and winter! It’s exceptionally creamy and rich with a little bit of shimmer. 

Moisture Renew Universal Transparent Lipliner – #001 “Universal” (not pictured)

I don’t really know how to use transparent lipliner…but I’m assuming this stuff does the job!

Glam Eyes HD 5-Color Eye Shadow palette – #029 “Royal Rose”

I love this eye palette! It has lid, crease, and outer corner colors plus a lighter shimmer for eyebrow bone and the corners of the eyes. It’s super pigmented so it lasts a while.

ScandalEyes Eye Shadow Stick/Crayon – #003 “Bad Girl Bronze”

This is really rich, dark, and creamy. I don’t know if I’m a fan of the color yet but I really love the texture of it and it lasts long. I thought it would crease awkwardly on my eyelid, but it stayed perfectly in place without smudging.

ScandalEyes Eye Shadow Stick/Crayon – #002 “Bulletproof Beige”

This is a really nice everyday color to swipe on really fast when you’re in a hurry. I just love how simple yet sophisticated it looks!

ScandalEyes Retro Glam Mascara – #003 “Extreme Black”

This mascara was great because it made my eyelashes look extremely long. The one thing I would say is that it definitely focuses more on length than fullness. That being said, it didn’t clump the lashes together or leave chunks on them, so I was super happy with how natural it looked. 

Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint – #005 “Apricot Glow”

This is probably my favorite item out of all of them! I’ve never considered wearing a blush with more of an orange hue – I usually just go for light pinks. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this color on my skin! Since it’s a cream, it makes your skin look like it’s glowing!

What’s your favorite Rimmel London product?