Make Up For Ever | Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation

 The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick is not a brand new product, it made it's first debut in 2015. This foundation is lighter and more invisible than the original HD MUFE foundation but still covers absolutely beautifully and is so gorgeous that it even looks flawless in 4k technology (which, uh, yikes! will soon be on all of our cell phones)!!

September Favorites | 2016

I am slightly torn with saying these are my September favorites because as of today, the 20th, there are still quiet a few days left in the month! So instead I'm going to say these are some of my current favorites. 

Lat and Lo | Coordinates Necklace

For my birthday this year I was so spoiled and received a gift card to Lat and Lo from one of my best friends, Lauren. She has a few pieces from their line and knew that I would love them as well.

I knew that I wanted the largest circle pendant that they offered, as I love that look over a higher neck top. The hard part was going to be choosing the coordinates that would be engraved on the pendant. I decided to go with the coordinates to Traverse City, which holds a very large spot in my heart for many reasons. I also chose to have a "hidden message" engraved on the back, which is a phrase my mom and I say to each other almost everyday.

The pendant is 22.2mm (7/8") round disc on an 18" chain, and is 14k Gold-Filled. There are a few different options with sizes and colors. Shipping was extremely fast, which I was surprised by due to their website stating that it could take up to 21 days to ship.

I also wanted to point out how beautiful and detailed their packaging is. Every single experience that you have opening your gift is well thought out. The ribbon, the notes inside explaining your piece, the beautiful and soft reusable drawstring back that your necklace comes in is absolutely perfect.

I'm incredibly impressed by the quality of this piece and I know that it will last a very long time. I can't wait to give someone one of their pieces as a gift!

Check out Lat and Lo here.


XOXO,
E

Simple Saturday | #WIW

My style has slowly evolved and at this point in my life is extremely simple. Don't get me wrong, I love a good gingham top and a statement necklace, but this is what I've been most comfortable (and confident in) as of recently. The weather finally was under 85 degrees this weekend, so for an evening outfit - this was perfect.

Being an extremely frugal shopper (I blame/thank working at Forever 21 for 6+ years) I love finding a good deal. This pale pink/taupe top with a beautiful sheer tank underneath that hangs down a bit lower than the shirt was under $20 at Marshalls, and on clearance. My jeans are Vera Wang and shoes are from Target last year. This top will be a great addition to my fall wardrobe as well. I can already see it now with an infinity scarf, dark jeans and some booties. 

XOXO,

E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kat Von D - Lock It Concealer, Powder and Brushes | Review

I am over the moon with excitement that I was able to receive these beautiful products to try first hand and review. 

Kat Von D has always been a huge girl crush of mine, starting way back in her days of being on TV filming LA Ink. She now has a thriving beauty line, which incorporates many vegan products. As a vegan herself, I know that Kat has recently made the decision to remove all animal products from her makeup line completely. I'm extremely happy that all of these items are vegan! Way to go, Kat! 

The products I was lucky enough to receive are:

Lock-it Concealer Crème: L1 Neutral and L3 Warm
Lock-it Setting Powder: Translucent
Lock-it Edge Concealer Brush
Lock-it Setting Powder Brush

The brushes that Kat created are the softest things I have ever felt. They are luxurious but do their job, and they do it well. Both of these have a permanent spot on my vanity. 

The Lock-it Setting Powder is described as "An advanced translucent setting powder, formulated with Weightless Micro-Blurring Technology to set and perfect for a flawless finish". I am just going to go ahead and say it: You need this powder in your life. 

The hardest part of finding a powder I like is finding one that does not leave this dry-skinned girl looking like the sahara desert. This powder is light enough to set your concealer without adding too much additional coverage. SO thankful this was brought into my daily routine!

The Lock-it Concealer is described as a "creamy full coverage meets 24-hour power". Per usual with products that have a 24 hour claim, I never wear my makeup for a full 24 hours to put it to the ultimate test. This however does have phenomenal staying power and coverage. I have dry skin but my rosacea is something that I battle every time I do my makeup. Adding this concealer to my routine helped completely cover any areas that need additional help. It is extremely creamy as described and blends beautifully into the skin. The concealers unfortunately do have a slight scent to them, but once applied to the skin I did not notice it throughout the day. 

Left: L3 Warm, Right: L1 Neutral (Photos were not corrected to show true colors)

If you are considering any of these products, I would highly recommend them. They win extra points in my book for being vegan and cruelty free. Thank you to Kat Von D for creating an absolutely gorgeous makeup line without harming other souls in the process. 

XOXO,

E

*A huge thank you to Influenster for sending these products to me in exchange for my honest review. 

John Frieda Sleek Finish Flat Iron | Review

Unfortunately I forgot my beloved Nume flat iron at my parents house the last time I visited, which is about 4 hours away from where I live. Knowing that I would be back up to see them in a few weeks, I decided to test out a new flat iron to see if I liked that any more than my Nume flat iron. While in Target (where else would I be?) I saw that John Frieda had a flat iron that looked a little bit higher quality than many of the others that Target offered. The flat iron was a decent pricepoint, $39.99 (On sale through Cartwheel App for $34.99). I should mention that I have naturally curly, dry, frizzy, and color treated hair. I generally always have my hair curled to hide some of the damage, but the hair around my ears / face always need to be straightened whether I wear my hair straight or curly. 

I'll make this short and sweet - save your money, look for something else.

If you want to read my pros (spoiler: there is only 1) and cons, I'll explain them below.

Pro #1: The thing heats up FAST. Very fast. I know this is a universal trait for flat irons now, and anything that doesn't heat up in 15 seconds is straight from the ice age, but this sucker is very fast. 

And...that's it for pros!  

Con #1: The on/off and temperature buttons are literally in the worst place on the flat iron they could be. Depending on how you hold the flat iron, the buttons are either being pressed against the palm of your hand, or right where your fingers wrap around and hold the iron. Either way you hold it, you will press the buttons without meaning to, and you will do it often. This might not seem like a huge issue, but when you accidentally turn the iron off half way through straightening your hair, it's extremely frustrating. Why the buttons weren't placed on the inside, I'm not sure. (See below photos)

Con #2: The plates catch and pull your hair out. I'm not saying every piece of hair comes out, but the plates and edges are extremely rough and pull out individual pieces of hair as you pass over a section you are trying to straighten. 

Con #3: The plates don't smooth the hair as the packaging says they would. Like I mentioned before, my hair is thick and sometimes unruly, but this flat iron does nothing in comparison to my Nume iron. I could pass over a 1 inch section of hair 5+ times and it would not do the work that my previous iron could do in one pass. 

Con #4: (Not as crucial of a detail in my decision making - but something I wanted to mention...)
I noticed after plugging this in for the first time that this iron makes a faint clicking noise. Now, I get ready very early and it's very quiet in my house, so maybe it wouldn't bother anyone else, but I can't stand hearing the noise it makes. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a way to make it completely quiet, but again, might not be an issue for you! 

Overall, I would highly suggest waiting for a sale on Nume's website. I snagged an amazing deal, which they have often, where all of their flat irons were $40. I bought mine over three years ago and it still works just as well as the day I got it in the mail.
My order from Nume also came with an amazing carrying pouch, where you can put your 400 degree iron in, fold the pouch around it and go. The lining of the pouch is designed to withstand super hot temperatures so you never have to worry about waiting for your tools to cool down before moving them. I also received a very large bottle of Argan Oil with my purchase, which I am still using and have more than half a bottle of left. 

I highly recommend doing your research on flat irons before purchasing! Read reviews from people who actually have used the items and aren't being paid to promote an item. 

That being said, I'm not being paid for this review, I was just so disappointed that I wanted someone else to know the details if they were considering purchasing this product! 

XOXO, 
E

Tarte | Mother's Day 7-Piece Full-size Custom Kit

The excitement was unreal when this e-mail popped up in my inbox last week. Tarte's annual Create your Own Custom Kit was available on 4/26 for one day only. This kit gives you 7 Full Size (!!!) products of your choice (based on what is offered in each step of the process). This kit retails for $59, with free shipping.