BEAUTY: Wallgreens Drugstore Haul // Skin & Beauty

Lately I've been having somewhat of a small battle with my skin...and my small battle I mean "Should-I-even-go-out-in-public-or-just-cry-in-bed-all-day?" So a trip to the drugstore was in order. Of course while I was there, I found a few extras, and a few extra dollars later I walked out with this happy little bundle.

I will of course be doing a full review on all of these products in the coming weeks, but for now here is a little peek inside my spending habits. These pouches were on sale 3 for $4, and I've easily gotten two uses out of the Calming Mask. Definitely worth it, and I can't wait to do a review on these once I've tried them all.

Before I get a lecture about the horrors of pore strips- I DON'T CARE. It's just so disgustingly satisfying to pull all the dirt and oil out of those nose pores. Plus this charcoal mask was 50% off since I bought another Biore product. Check back for a review later this week! I have very confused emotions about it.

Lastly, these were the fun parts. I needed a new mascara and I've been desperate to try a new BB Cream. Sadly, I haven't had the chance to properly review the BB Cream since I grabbed the medium shade instead of light, but watch for reviews! The lipstick probably will just get a shoutout at some point, but the rest will have proper posts just as soon as the photos are taken. 

Have you tried anything new in the skin care department lately? Have there been any amazing offers you just couldn't walk past? We all know I'm a sucker for a good coupon. 

xx, Katie

BEAUTY: Covergirl Outlast "Stay Fabulous" 3-in-1 Foundation Reivew

One of the best and worst things about being a blogger is people buying you random products for presents. This foundation wasn't even on my radar when my grandma (who is the best beauty gift giver- just mention something and she will almost always get exactly what you asked for) slipped this into my Easter basket a few months back. She had remembered me talking about wanting to try new foundations, and voila! It appeared. It sat in my makeup drawer for about a month until I picked it up the beginning of June, and after having tried it more than once, I think I can give a pretty solid opinion on this.

Pros:
-Packaging
-Price
-Coverage
-Wear
-Blends well

Cons:
-Matte finish
-Shade matching
-Thickness

Over all, I'd say this is a pretty decent foundation. The pump makes it super easy to get the product out, and the glass bottle is quite nice for a drugstore foundation. The price is less than $10 at Wal-mart, and I even found it at Target for less than $7.

The actual foundation itself has a medium to buildable full coverage, which is heavier than I usually go for. The formula was noticeably thick (thank God for the pump), and I certainly wouldn't apply this with a flat foundation brush unless you want to look quite painted. Having said that, it blends out to a nice level with a little work, and if matched to your skin correctly won't leave an embarrassing line along your jaw.

And on that note, I did NOT have the right shade in this. It was much too light. Rarely do I wear a any color darker than the 2nd shade, but this looked ghostly on me, even with bronzer. I checked online and this is the lightest shade, but boy is it light. The matte finish didn't help that either. I usually prefer a dewy look, and at least a neutral, but this set almost powdery. I didn't notice any accentuation of fine lines or settling into creases, though, which I've noticed can be a problem with matte foundations. It lasted most of my work day, but if I planned to do anything afterward it would require minimal touching up.

Over all, it's worth a shot, especially if you prefer this kind of finish. I'm usually all about letting my natural freckles shine through, but if there ever comes a time when I want something a little more covered, I very well could find myself reaching for this.

BEAUTY: The Do's and Don'ts of Washing Your Brushes

Now, I can't claim to be an expert on all things makeup brushes, because let's face it- I'm horrible at remembering to clean them. I'm lucky if I take the time to clean then once every six months. I know, I know...but lately I've been much better about it, and there are a few hard and fast rules that are easy enough to stick to.

1. Do use a gentle soap.

 I used Neutrogena's Gentle Foaming Face Wash to clean mine, but even baby shampoo works well. Just make sure it isn't loaded with harsh chemicals or heavy perfumes.

2. Don't pull at the bristles.

While you're washing it can be tempting to pull at the bristles while washing or rinsing. Instead, swirl the brush into the soap in the palm of your hand and gentle separate the bristles while rinsing- but only if you absolutely have to. If you can, just let the water run through.

3. Do rinse your brushes thoroughly.

Leaving soap residue in the bristles can irritate your face and leave the brushes harsh after they dry. Don't hesitate to double rinse, just in case.

4. Don't let your brushes sit in water.

I learned this back in high school with actual painting brushes. Letting them soak in water will loosen the glue that holds the bristles in, and will also loosen the head of the brush from the handle. Simply hold your brushes under running water to rinse them

5. Do let your brushes dry completely before using them again.

Using wet brushes will not only make the makeup cake into the brushes, but it will ruin whatever you're trying to apply! Make sure you won't need a specific brush the next day if you're washing them at night, because my more dense brushes took at least 24 hours to completely dry.

6. Don't blow dry/fan/spread out the bristles.

I'm not sure why you would ever blow dry a makeup brush, but I've watched a friend attempt it! As for the fanning and spreading of the bristles, it may seem like they will dry faster, but in reality it will just cause your brushes to loose their shape, and you'll end up with a bunch of brushes with giant blobs for bristles. 

7. Do listen to your face.

That sounds a little strange, but pay attention to what your face is telling you. If it hurts or your skin becomes red after using a brush, it might be time to bite the bullet and buy a new one. If your face has been breaking out recently and nothing in your routine has changed, it might be a sign that your brushes need a good scrubbing.

8. Don't over-think it.

I know when I washed my brushes for the first time I was super intimidated for some reason. It was probably just because I had never attempted it before, but no matter the reason it lead me to put it off. Don't! Worst case senerio is you ruin a brush and have to buy a new one- so start with the cheap ones first, haha.

xoxo, Katie

LIFE: Shopping Snippets

I know that Thursdays are usually a beauty post day, and I had one planned out and everything, but it rained all. freaking. day. yesterday and pictures were just impossible to take inside by house. The lighting is difficult enough to work with on a sunny day, let alone a drizzly mess.

However, the rain didn't stop my sister and I from taking a romp around town for some little things I needed for my room before The Big Move. One of our longest stops was Target, and I happened to remember to bring out my camera to get a few snaps of the goings on.

Of course in true "white girl" fashion we had to stop and get a starbucks for our trip around the store. I like to use the excuse that the town my college is in doesn't have one, so being home makes it a treat. Now that Lands' End has one inside the building I'll be working from, I have no excuse and will have to keep my habits in check.

A look through the dollar bin always proves fun! Although it's turned into the $1 & $3 bins now? When did that happen? Anyway, this basil growing kit made me laugh. Seth loves basil, and I thought this was a cute little kit I would have bought for him if I wouldn't have had to send it through the mail to reach him :( 
And these little candle holders were quite nice quality given that they only cost $1 each. If I was a tea light candle person, I would have bought them.

This little journal was too perfect to pass up. It's the perfect size for throwing in a purse (possibly the one to the right?) for jotting down notes/ideas/etc. I snagged that along with a few other items from the bins, and later this week I'm going to write up a haul post of everything I bought from Target and the two other places we went into. 
I fell deeply and madly in love with this brown purse, but the price tag just didn't warrant the splurge just yet. Especially because I really need a black structured bag more than anything (see my last post here for which one I've got my eye on). Looking at it now, however, I'm glad I didn't spend the money on it. It's photographed quite orange, and that's the trademark of cheap fake brown leather, I feel.

Running errands doesn't require a sacrifice of fashion. It was just as easy to throw on a pair of jeans, a sweater, and low heels as it would have been to wear leggings, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes (and heels don't require laces!). The make-up section of Target has also gotten a makeover since I've last been in. While it is brighter, I felt that it was quite a bit smaller- am I imagining that?

PS- my blog sale is going on through May 29th, so don't miss out on that. Later this evening I'll be updating it with books and shoes, so make sure to follow me on Twitter @styleduckling to know when everything is updated! I'll also be updating periodically with new items and tweeting every time something different goes up. Don't miss out ;)

xoxo, Katie

My Spring Break Makeup Travel Bag

Since the countdown is officially in full swing (t-minus 28 hours and 47 minutes to take off), I am of course scrambling around trying to get everything ready. It's a little known fact that I am a horrendous packer. I will inevitably forget something necessary, have a meltdown about it, and then have to improvise the rest of the trip. To add stress to that, I've never been to California or anywhere west of Kansas City really, so the weather completely confounds me. What does a "no humidity" even mean?

There was a saving grace in the one bag that was relatively easy to pack- makeup. I know I'm not going to want to fuss with TOO much, and I also want my skin to soak up as much freckle-inducing sunlight as possible (all under a layer of SPF of course). So here are the essentials that I was able to fit neatly into this size Victoria's Secret bag.

The Basics

Every good face starts out with a good base. So let's start from the bottom up. The Maybelline Baby Skin is a new discovery of mine. I'm not sure if it's really a new product, but I've steered clear of the makeup aisles for months now so as not to tempt myself. It's supposed to "erase pores" much like the super popular Benefit Porefessional. I can't say that this is a miracle product, but it was around the $6 mark and I do think my makeup glides on smoother with it. I'll put up a full review after a couple weeks of use.

Next, I've packed my Aveeno BB Cream. It has an oil-free SPF 30 formula, perfect for fast application with fingers or a brush. Which then leads me into which brushes I'm bringing. In classic beauty blogger fashion, I'm all about the RealTechniques brushes. The first one (pink handle) is the blush brush. The next three in order are the buffing brush (I use this for blending my powder with my BB cream), the contour brush (for bronzer), and the detailing brush (for concealer). So then speaking of concealer, I'm taking along my FAVORITE Maybelline Age Rewind under eye concealer. Seriously, this stuff works miracles. It isn't too heavy, it brightens up the face, and has lasted me ages. Second, I'm taking my Hard Candy "Glamoflage" concealer. It's not the best, but it does have fantastic coverage and doesn't get too cakey when I use the detail brush.

Lastly, the little stragglers of this photo. For powder I've brought my Rimmel Stay Matte powder in translucent. Trusty, dependable, and easy to replace if it gets broken in-flight. The little brown pencil next to my concealers is my favorite Mary Kay eyebrow pencil in Brunette. Lastly, I'm dragging my bulky Naked2 pallet. I know that it takes up tons of space, but it has the perfect combination of day to night colors for a bronze-y California look. Plus it's just easier to reach in and grab this instead of searching through 10 eyeshadow pots.

The Extras

I'm super proud of myself for only packing 5 lip products INCLUDING a Baby Lips chapstick. I am notorious for bringing an army of lip colors simply because I never know what I might need! But I pushed myself to dial it back and I think I made good choices. The two "colors" I'm bringing are Rimmel Show Off liquid lipsticks in Stellar and Luna. Stellar is a vibrant almost-red pink that can double as a bright day-time or going out lipstick. Luna is a beautiful orange toned peach great with a bronze eye. The last two (Rimmel Just Bitten balm in "Precious" and NYX Butter Gloss in "Creme Brulee") are a great pale nude combo perfect for any day time outfit or with smokey eye. 

For bronzer and blush I'm taking two compacts. The first is the blush/bronzer "Gloriously Golden" from the Flower collection. I am a huge fan of this brand because they are all made in the US and never test on animals! I also just bought this Maybelline bronzer, and I'm only taking it to try and force myself into using it. So far it hasn't wowed me and hardly shows up on my skin! Cross your fingers.

Lastly, I have my all time eye staples- Wet n Wild's Mega Liquid eyeliner and Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Yeyo. The travel mascara is by Tarte (Lights, Camera, Lashes!) and while it's probably not my faaaavorite mascara of all time, the tube is small and I was running out of room, haha. Lastly is the little pot at the top. That is "Bare Study" paint pot by MAC. It doubles as a pretty shimmer stand-alone eyeshadow and highlighter. Two-for-one is the name of the game when packing.

So that's what I'm taking! I still have a little time, so if you know of something I'm forgetting (or if you know I've packed something I won't use) leave a comment! I also want to know what YOUR travel makeup essentials are.

Goo Hoarding and Mini Reviews

I had no idea when I started this that it would end up like this. I didn't mean for it to happen, I promise. It just sort of...did. It's no one's fault, I just couldn't resist. It was too tempting and made me so happy...

That's right. I'm talking about lipstick.

Over the last few months, I have become quite the "goo hoarder" (a la Jenna Marbles). If a new line of lip colors comes out, I have to try them. If new colors for certain lines come out, I have to try them. It's like an addiction, and my sweet sweet love affair with lip products has lead me to acquire these beauts recently.

From left to right: Maybelline Vivid lipstick "Vibrant Mandarin", Elizabeth Arden "Neoclassical Coral", Wet n Wild "Just Peachy", Wet n Wild "Think Pink", and L'oreal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain "Rose On and On"

Vibrant Mandarin - Neoclassical Coral - Just Peachy - Rose On and On - Think Pink

I am absolutely a die-hard fan of the Vivid lipsticks. They have amazing color pay off, they last forever, and they're non-drying! The Elizabeth Arden lipstick I bought brand new from a resale store for 75 cents...what! Yeah, I know. The color is actually very similar to the Maybelline lipstick just slightly glossier and brighter.

The Wet n Wild matte formula lipsticks very pleasantly surprised me. Way back in the "dark times" before I discovered the wonders of makeup, I bought a Wet n Wild bright red lipstick for $1.99 just to wear red lipstick haha. It was a total failure. It wore off in about 10 minutes, got patchy, and the color just looked cheap. So I wasn't expecting much from these, but I'd heard a lot of good things about them recently and for $1.99, I thought I could give them a whirl and I'm glad I did! They lasted a fairly decent time and were not horribly drying for a matte formula.

I have to say that out of this bunch, my favorite has to be Rose On and On. Not necessarily for the color (although it IS a very pretty pink), but for the formula and the applicator. The color gets a bit more raspberry on the lips, but MY GOODNESS, it applies like a dream. Almost like putting water on your lips. It's that smooth. It soaks into your lips to create a stain effect while still retaining a slight sheen, and  the applicator is so soft and silky that I just wanted to keep applying it. All I can say is that you'll probably be seeing a collection of these in a post sometime in the near future...

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100 Subscriber Giveaway!

THE GIVEAWAY IS HERE! As a huge thank you to everyone subscribed to this blog, I'm hosting a giveaway! I announced this on my twitter and Facebook yesterday and asked for suggestions on what you all would like. Sadly, no one responded so I just had to grasp of straws here. Hopefully I didn't do too badly!

There are three "categories", the first being Bath and Body Works travel size lotions! I thought my international girls would appreciate this (yes, the giveaway is international!). The scents are "Paris Amour", "Honey Sweetheart", and "Be Enchanted". These are all personal favorites of mine so I wanted to share the love!

The next category is beauty/makeup, and I wanted this to be summer/spring themed so I bought some Aveeno facial sublock for underneath your makeup this summer! There is also a "Peach Kiss" Maybelline Baby Lips and a L'oreal False Fiber lashes mascara in "black lacquer".

The last category is nail polish, and there are three Essie polishes! The first is a florescent orange called "Bazooka", a milky pink white called "A-Dora-Ball", and an Essie Lux-Effect glitter polish called "A Cut Above".

So now onto how you can win/rules!

To win, you must...

1. Be subscribed to this blog.

2. Comment below with what is your favorite item(s) listed above and what fun summer plans you have!

You can earn extra entries by...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Victoria's Secret Shiny Kiss Lipgloss

I'm not 100% sure how these came into my possession. I came home from my boyfriend's to find them laying on the table, and my mom asking me "hey, you want these?". I know she didn't go out and buy them (she's always too afraid of buying the wrong thing), so my guess is that someone gave them to her? Oh well, either way, it's fun (and free!) for me to review!

(Ignore the weird little face hairs. I just put on foundation so they were all sticking up. I don't have a beard, I swear)

The first color, "Taffy Go Lucky", is a vibrant Barbie jelly pink with teeny gold glitters. In this picture you can really see them on my lips, but in a normal mirror they were almost invisible. I think this color would look really nice over a similarly colored lipstick. The opacity is probably a 3/10. If you lay it on thick you might get a more solid color, but it's still a gloss and very sheer.

The second color, "Strawberry Fizz", made me nervous when I first saw it. It's so glittery and metallic looking that I couldn't get passed that it looked like something a middle school girl discovering makeup would pick out. Still, I forged ahead to be happily surprised. It's definitely glittery, but not at all frosty or metallic, and it gives an almost invisible peachy glow to the lips. Very subtle, but still pretty. The opacity is a 1/10. Pretty much completely sheer with only the TINIEST color pay off.

The formula lives up to it's name of being extra shiny, and it wasn't quite as sticky as I remember Victoria's Secret lipgloss being. I haven't had any since early high school, so I'm sure they've changed the formula since then. The smell was QUITE enticing, and the packaging says "flavored gloss" but it wasn't very tasteful. It was more scented than anything.

Overall, I wouldn't go out and buy these, but it has reopened my mind to the world of VS Lipgloss, so perhaps I might wander in and give their less glittery glosses a shot.

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