revisiting an old makeup palette (too faced the power of makeup)

Some days, I feel like doing a little digging. Through my makeup collection, that is! These days, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the new releases and forget about the items that you already own. This is something I am actively trying not to do. As much as I love new makeup...there are a lot of items in my collection that I love just as much. Take the Too Faced The Power of Makeup palette. This has made a shopping my stash post in the past...and it looks like it is about to make another appearance. Though there are an awful lot of eyeshadow sets in my possession, this is one that I come back to time and time again. It might have to do with the bold outer packaging (it is eye-catching in the best possible way) or the fact that there is a purple shadow in there that makes me very happy. Whatever the reason, it seemed like a good idea to revisit this palette.

celebrating 1500 blog posts

1500 posts. It's hard to believe, but since I started this blog eight years ago, I have written just over 1500 posts. Today, I wanted to pause and really celebrate that milestone. A lot of people in my life have asked me how I continue to come up with post ideas and how I stay motivated. It's pretty simple: the creation of beauty is art. is a passion project. When you are passionate about something, it is much easier to find focus, stay inspired, and keep going. Out of the 1500 posts, some certainly stand out in my mind. 

does it work?? laneige lip sleeping mask

There is nothing like a good lip mask. Or so I've heard. I have tried out a few in the past, but they all failed to impress. (Case in point? The Kiehl's lip mask, which you can read about here.) Recently, I got the Laneige lip mask in a Sephora VIB Rouge sample bag and had been meaning to put it to the test. Finally, now I am. This mask claims to address dryness and fine lines. According to the brand, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask "has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips for quick absorption. Its exclusive Moisture Wrap technology boasts hyaluronic acid and minerals to form a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture and active ingredients. A generous layer of this soothing mask at bedtime helps reduce flakiness so you can wake up to lips that feel refreshed, supple, and soft to the touch." Clearly this mask has makes some big claims...but does it actually work? It's time to find out how this high-end lip mask performs.

in september, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage.

Where oh where did the summer months go? Though the official end of summer isn't until the 23rd... there is always something a little bittersweet about it all. Soon, kids will be back in school and the days of sunshine will be nothing but a distant memory. Personally, I am trying to pack in as much last minute summer fun as possible, but the end is certainly near. Before long, we will be fully immersed in sweater weather and frost bitten leaves. (Which I am kind of okay with.) With September officially here, I wanted to celebrate the end of one season and welcome in the new.

review: hard candy sheer envy instant eye fix (under eye treatment)

I'll give Hard Candy this: they never become complacent. Out of all the drugstore brands out there...Hard Candy impresses me most. Not because every single product is a winner, but because they never stop creating. Is there a new beauty trend? Hard Candy is on it. A high end item that is making waves? Hard Candy is there. I love that they take things that used to be exclusive to higher end stores and make them accessible to the masses. For instance, Hard Candy is the first drugstore brand I ever saw release rainbow coloured lipsticks and the first to release a Strobing Kit. The list goes on and on! So, when I saw their latest release, I bought it almost immediately. Though not everything from the brand works flawlessly (check out my recent review of their matte-aholic line for proof of that)....I have immense respect for the brand and what it stands for.

how to wear smokey eye makeup on your wedding day

Nice and neutral or sultry and smokey? This is a question every bride to be will ask themselves at one point or another. The way you look on your wedding day is important. Not only will all eyes be on you – but you want to feel confident in everything from your hair to your dress to the makeup. Making a decision about your wedding makeup isn’t always easy. It takes a lot of thought, care, and consideration. For instance, you might wonder if a smokey eye is the best bet. You might hear from others: Not too much! Pretty and soft! Natural is better! However, if you've decided to go for something sultry and smokey rather than ultra soft and natural....this post is for you. Keep reading to find out how to wear smokey makeup on your big day. 

testing high end beauty samples (chloe, philosophy, and hourglass)

There are a lot of samples floating around my beauty collection at the moment. Partly because I am terrible at using this up and partly because of all the Sephora events I've attended in the last while. It's always exciting to get a new sample - especially a high end one - but making sure they actually get used up is another task altogether. So, with a fresh dose of determination, I have set a personal goal to use up all (yes, all) of the beauty samples currently in my possession. To kick things off, I am focusing my attention on a roller ball perfume from Chloe, a Philosophy moisturizer, and a mini mascara from Hourglass.