February Favorites! (And not-so-favorites)

Happy march :) Since February just ended I wanted to share with you guys a few of the products I have discovered within the past month or the ones that I have been using a lot more this past month. I'll skip the long introduction so here they are :)

• Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub: I discovered this a long time ago and it worked wonders for my hands, but I tried it on my face recently and I can not even describe how amazing it made my skin. I could tell it absolutely rid my pores of anything clogging them and my skin was so incredibly soft. I like a lot of face scrubs but this is by far the best as far as what it does to my face. And, perhaps my favorite part of this product is the smell! It leaves my skin glowing and I would recommend to anyone with any skin type.
• Yes to Cucumbers Soothing hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes- I got a travel size pack of these for my purse when I just feel like my skin is getting oily and I need to remove my makeup and feel fresh. It does the job SO well. It removes every trace of makeup and mascara, doesn't irritate my skin at all, and they are so convenient. I use them in between face washes (usually in the afternoon or evening) or when I am too lazy at night to wash my face.
• Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow- This is the first illuminator I've used but I am pretty impressed for what it does to my skin. It does exactly what it says: gives me a fresh glow and highlights wherever I put it (usually just a tiny amount above my cheekbones.)
• Flirt! Peek-A-Blush Sheer Powder Cheek Color (Color 15: Oh Please!)- I usually love Nars Laguna bronzer for days when I am wearing minimal makeup and need some color in my face. Sadly, I ran out so I picked this up at Kohl's with a gift card. This is the first product from this line I've used but I am really impressed. I bought it on a whim because the color was phenomenal. I've seriously never seen a color like this before. It's so pretty on my skin and I only need a little bit for that bronzed look.
• BareMinerals 100% Natural Lip Trio (Perfect Nude)- I bought this because it was a great deal. Only $30 for a BareMinerals lip liner, lipstick, and lip gloss. The colors go on and stay on very nicely and I definately think this is a universally flattering nude lip set.
• Smashbox Photo Finish Light Oil-Free Foundation Primer- I got the .5oz trial size of this primer to try it out because I have heard great things about this primer and Smashbox Cosmetics in general. I used it for the first time under my makeup for a school dance. It really did make my makeup look amazing and after hours of dancing and sweating in a hot gym, my makeup was STILL on and I had no trace of shine on my face. I was amazed, nothing has ever worked like this for me before.
• Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream- I bought this because I can not stick with a moisturizer for long, this was a great price (about 7 dollars), and I like gel moisturizers. This works great for me. It is oil-free and keeps my skin not dry, but not oily all day. It is my favorite, so far.

And now, my not-so-favorites (just a few):

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser- everyone seems to love this face wash but it was definitely way too gentle for me. I need a gentle cleanser but this seems to do nothing at all for me. It doesn't really remove any makeup, it leaves a yucky film on my face when I rinse it off, and I've been breaking out a bit more since I bought it. Unfortunately, It comes in a 16oz bottle so I need to use it all up :(
• Almay Pure Blends Liquid Makeup- this is the first liquid foundation I have tried and I know it is not the best. I got it on sale at Target so I decided to try it. It claims to be 97% natural which is always great, but that's as far as the benefits go. It made my skin SO oily the second I applied it, it is way too watery, and does not blend well at all. The texture is almost gross. I usually love Almay products, but I was very unimpressed. I guess that's what I get for a sale item though; I'm sure they make other liquid foundations I would like more.

Thanks so much for reading :) Please subscribe and let me know your favorite/least favorite recent products!

The Importance of Brush Cleaning!!

   I can not stress enough how important it is to clean your makeup brushes. The day I started cleaning mine, I noticed an immediate change in my skin and the way my makeup went on. It was absolutely amazing! Most people I know had no idea that they could and were supposed to wash their brushes. When your brushes are clean, your makeup will be applied so brilliantly and the pigments will be so much more beautiful. And, if you have sensitive, oily skin like I do, dirty makeup brushes will only make the situation so much worse.

   Cleaning your brushes is so simple. No matter the shape, size, or type of the brush, the steps are all the same. Brush cleaning should be done about every 7-10 days (depending on how much you wear and how often you wear it). If your brushes get very brittle and become tough and not smooth (bad adjective use, sorry!) then you can condition them using these same steps but with conditioner.

Here is what you need:

• all of the brushes you use
• a brush shampoo (you can buy these at most beauty stores, including Sephora and Ulta) OR a gentle shampoo/body wash (I use a gentle baby shampoo and it works perfectly :) )
• a sink with hot running water
• a small wash cloth

STEPS :)

1. Place all of your brushes next to the sink. Make sure the water is about as hot as you can stand to touch. Have the washcloth handy next to you.
2. Take which ever brush and completely soak the bristles (hold them in the water so that the bristles are faced down. You don't want water to get inside of the handle. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES YOU ARE CLEANING!)
3. Dispense a small amount the brush cleaner into the palm of your hand. Make sure your hand has some water on it.
4. Take the wet brush and, in a circular motion, swirl the brush around in the cleaner.
5. Rinse the brush and your hand. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until, when you rinse the brush and squeeze the excess water out there is no evidence of pigments left in the brush.
6. Smooth out the bristles so they all go the same way.
7. Lay the brush on the wash cloth to dry, leaving the end with the bristles to hang off the counter top to allow even air circulation.
8. Repeat these steps with all of your brushes :)

I hope this helps everyone! Leave comments or suggestions to let me know what you think :)

About Myself :)

Hi Everyone!
   I started this blog on a whim and thought it would be fun to share my interests/obsessions of all things related to makeup and skincare on a blog. :)
A little about myself:
I am sixteen (and a half) years old, so I'm a junior in high school. I absolutely love cheerleading, and i used to be a swimmer, although my time doesn't allow it anymore :(
I live in Missouri, it is boring so I have plenty of time to think about and try out new products, which is one of my absolute favorite things to do.
Everything I know about makeup and beauty I have learned myself, unfortunately I have no sisters or best friends who are makeup fanatics like I am, so I'm constantly reading about new products, watching tutorials, and I'm constantly trying out new tricks and trends, or making them up myself. You could say I'm a beginner at this, but I consider myself an expert because only I'm aware of my complete, outrageous obsession with all things makeup :)
I will try to post about once or twice a week, or whenever I spark up an idea. If you have any ideas please let me know! I am very new at this.
Thanks!