My Current Favorite Things!

Alright gals!  Brows are a hot topic these days and Anastasia Beverly Hills could not be flying off the shelves any faster!  And you can definitely count me as a fan because I cannot get enough of the Dipbrow Pomade in shade Ebony.  :-)

This stuff is basically magic in a pot and has become a major beauty staple.  It's smudge-free and waterproof and is perfect for humid weather and oily skin.  I will admit, one night I violated beauty rule #1 and didn't wash my face (I know, I know) and I woke up the next morning with eyeliner and mascara everywhere...but you know what looked damn good??  MY BROWS.  They were still totally filled in and sculpted and I could not have been more pleasantly surprised.

As you know, I have black hair and thought that whatever color I use in to fill in my brows, it should be lighter and more of an ash color.  When I saw that the pomade line really didn't have anything that matched that shade, I initially started with the color Chocolate...NOPE.  Black haired girls, do NOT use Chocolate.  BUUUUT, since Sephora had the 15% off sale, you can't find this stuff anywhere, so I've been stuck having reddish-brown brows!!  #firstworldproblems  Fortunately, the Sephora near me happened to have a couple of the Ebony in stock the other day, so you best bet your hiney I was down there immediately and swapped mine out!

I'm not sure if you can tell from the pic, but the Ebony is almost a really dark brown...I was nervous that it was going to come out black since nobody wants chola brows- unless you're a chola of course.  Don't worry, I'm not hatin'!  :-P

Now if you're going to camp out and wait for Sephora to restock up on these puppies, then definitely make sure you're picking up the Mini Duo Angled/Spooley Brush to go with!

I could not apply the pomade without this pretty tool.  The brush end is really thin, but it's firm and precise, which is exactly what your want! Use the spooley end to brush out your brow hairs first and use the brush to outline and fill in.  Then use the spooley again to blend everything in!

Me using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade

Love.  Peace.  And buttermilk biscuits.

Nadia

What's in My Bag?

My first ever "What's in My Bag?"!!

People say that you can tell a lot about a lady by the contents of her purse...well!  Let's see what mine says about me...  :-)

The Bag:

This Michael Kors Jet-Set Large Tote Travel is my favorite tote that I have (okaaaay, so I only have two...haha).  I first bought it because at the time, I worked in a very professional office environment and wanted a handbag that would would match my power-persona.  It's clean, functonal, durable, and practical.  Even though I have a different job, I still use this tote frequently and know that it will be a staple for a long time.

1. Wallet.  An essential.

2. Coin purse.  Also an essential.

3. Chewy Bar. To prevent a case of the hangries.

4. Makeup bag. For all of those little touch ups throughout the day.

5. Cuticle cream.  My cuticles get so dry, so we gotta keep those puppies moisturized.

6. Hand lotion.  Same deal here.

7. Purell.  I'm a bit of a hand sanitizer freak.

8. Bus transfers. You know you live in the city when you have more bus transfers than dollars in your bag.

9. Trader Joe's receipt.  TJ's.  Good stuff.

10. Movie tickets for Captain America.  UH-MAZING.

11. Important papers from work. Every working lady knows something about this!

12. Compact mirrors. I don't normally have two, but hey, why not.

13. Mints.  Bad breath is one of my biggest pet peeves- have a mint please!

14. Cute pair of sunnies.  Living in Seattle, you never know when a ray of sunlight might peek through!

So I guess we can conclude that I'm a beauty loving, city girl who doesn't go anywhere with my handbag essentials!

Love. Peace. And buttermilk biscuits.

Nadia

Drugstore Primer Comparison

I am definitely a believer in primer.

Since I've adjusted my makeup spending to a budget, you know I'm always looking for awesome stuff at the drugstore.  Buuuuuut SOMEBODY got a new job, so Sephora- I'm coming back for you baby!!  In the meantime, I thought I'd share my three favorite primers that can be found at your local Bartells, Rite Aid, or Walgreens.

Everyday use:

Maybelline's Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser is a pretty basic formula that gets the job done.  It's light weight, mess-free, and the packaging is just too darn cute.  I like to use this primer on a daily basis with my normal makeup routine.  I find it definitely helps to prolong my foundation wear and creates a blurring affect.

For those special occasions:

L'oreal's Miracle Blur has been getting a lot of spotlight lately- and for good reason.  This primer is seriously good stuff!  It smooths out any fine lines, your pores, and creates a smooth canvas for your makeup.  I like to use this when I'm going to a party, on a date night with my hubby, or just whenever I'm looking for a little more umph.  Trust me- you'll see the difference.

For anytime you want:

L'oreal offers up another great primer in the Magic LUMI Light Infusing Primer.  This product is not only meant to help prolong your makeup wear, but to create a glow or luminescence to your face.  You can honestly wear this year round depending on your skin type.  I would say that if you have oily skin, it might not be recommended to use this during the warmer months, just because you will already have a dewiness to you. 

Love. Peace. And buttermilk biscuits.

Nadia

Love It or Leave It? Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

Remember how excited I was to try this foundation?!  Well, now I can tell you my informed opinion of this product with my latest Love It or Leave It!

Pros:

1. Great coverage.
2. Easy to use.
3. A little goes a long way.
4. Love the packaging- unique and clean.
5. Great price point.

Cons:

1. Settles into fine lines.
2. Isn't long-wearing.
3. Makes my face look really dry.

Verdict:  LEAVE IT.

I'm usually not too picky about my makeup settling into my fine lines because I can normally fix it with a little smoothing and touch up magic. BUT, when wearing this foundation, my husband literally said to me, and I quote, "YOUR FACE IS CRACKING."  OK.  First off, my husband is a guy's guy.  He really doesn't know the difference between mascara and brow gel (which, let's be honest, is there really that much of a diff??) and could care less!  So for him to actually notice what I did with my makeup and to have negative feedback is HUGE.  I tried this product for almost a week and let me tell you- he was right!  The makeup was settling into my smile lines big time and making my face look uber dehydrated. So, as much as I wanted to love this product, it's a leave it for me.

Love.  Peace.  And buttermilk biscuits.

Nadia