Hi lovelies! Today I wanted to share this highly requested review of the new Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette with you. I have been playing around with it for the past few months and can honestly say that it's GREAT quality however, there are a few unfortunate cons that I wanted to touch on. For my full review please check out this video then scroll down for detailed photos!
- In the video I accidentally mention that there are only 3 matte shades but there are actually 5 in total!
- While swatching these I did notice a bit of inconsistency with the feel of the shadows. The majority of them are that lovely silky smooth texture which is very opaque and pigmented in one swipe. However Lucid, Entombed, and Tornay are a bit harder to work with and can feel a bit chalky.
- I think my favorite shade out of this palette is Melancholia!
I hope you enjoyed today's review and make sure to comment below with your guess for the next Mystery Review Monday! What do you think about this palette?
Hi lovelies! This post in particular is one that I have wanted to do ever since I started blogging. Being the beauty lover I am you better believe I have tons of holy grail products and this is the one that started it all.
Back in my early years of high school I came across the 'new' Sunsilk line at my local grocery store. I can't remember why I gravitated towards this product but thank goodness I did because I can't picture my life without it. The Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme has become my most used product EVER and for good reason.
Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme Price: $24.41 on Amazon (link here) Size: 7 oz. Marketed As: "Put those messy, bothersome hairs back in their place with Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme with Nutri-Keratin. It's not a conditioner, not a gel- it combines the best of both. So it tames unruly flyways for softer, more manageable hair that flows together". Directions: "It's easy- just smooth 1 or 2 dollops through damp hair and style as usual. If needed, re-apply on dry hair for extra TLC during the day".
First of all this stuff smells INCREDIBLE! I use it every now and then after getting out of the shower to help make my hair 100% manageable and unbelievably soft. The only reason I don't use this every single day is because I am rationing it haha. It is super hard to come by now that Sunsilk has been put on the back burner which is one of the only down sides and a huge bummer!
I have pretty thin, naturally curly hair and I like it to be as soft as can be. I've noticed that when I apply this my hair feels instantly smoother and once I air dry OR blow dry it's completely frizz free and easy to work with. Since it makes the hair so soft it does exactly what it says it will do by smoothing all the flyways and making it flow together flawlessly. It by no means makes my hair greasy which can be an issue with other products and I use about a nickel size amount on my medium length hair.
Out of the entire arsenal of products I have blown through in the past 5-7 years this has always remained my constant favorite and no matter how hard it is to find I promise you I will track it down! Thankfully a bottle will last you forever and I believe I've only repurchased once in that time frame leaving me with about 1/4 of the bottle left.
PLEASE let me know if any stores near you sell this brand because I am looking to try the other Hydra TLC products as well (esp. the shampoo and conditioner) to see if they live up to this wonderful item.
What is your favorite hair product that you can't life without?
Hi lovelies! Sorry it's been a few weeks since the last time I blogged! I've recently had a lot on my plate keeping up with my YouTube videos, painting my room, and taking Bogey to puppy class. Luckily, things are settling down now and I've been overwhelmed with ideas so stay tuned for more posts especially on Sunday afternoons!
As for today's topic I'll be showing you what I keep on my beloved iPhone! I am a very nosy person and find myself watching these videos all the time so after a few of you requested it I couldn't resist. Caution: This video is almost 15 minutes long! I was feeling super chatty and was really excited about my background change. I'd love if you still gave it a look though because I talk about some really cool apps that I couldn't live without!
As I was editing the video I realized how much I have fallen in love with social media. It's how I get my videos (and posts) out to the beauty community, stay up to date on issues, and get to talk to you guys! So, since I talk about so many platforms in this video I thought it was only fitting to share some of my favorite accounts with you! Here's the run down...
Instagram
Recently, my Instagram has been getting a lot of attention and I couldn't be more excited! I adore sharing my thoughts and opinions in simple, straight to the point first impressions and reviews. What I didn't realize right off the bat was that there were so many great beauty accounts that contain beautiful photos, looks, and swatches. I love me a good beauty account but I also love personal photos too. Here are my favorites beauty and non beauty included.
1. TheVanityDiary
2. CarahAmelie
3. Emxbeautydiaryx
4. Weloveswatches
5. Lisasbeautymark
6. KSKYBeauty
YouTube
I think we all know that this category could get a little out of control if I let it! I mean heck, there are so many wonderful people who inspired me to start my channel but here are a select few I especially love watching.
I don't think I could love this app more than I do right now. To see it go from 0-100 in a matter of months was truly mind boggling but also inspiring! From cover songs to comedy sketches in an extremely short 6 seconds you'd be amazed with what these people can pull off. Here are the Viners that I have to catch up on every night before bed.
1. Sara Hopkins
2. Katie Ryan (Ava)
3. Rajiv Dhall
4. Madison Lawrence
5. Marcus Perez
6. Thomas Sanders
7. EvanIncredible
8. Kurtis Conner
9. Arielle Vandenberg
10. Carly Incontro
I hope you enjoyed today's video and post!
Do you follow any of these wonderful people already?
If not, please check them out and tell them I sent you!
Hi lovelies! Today I bring you a long awaited post based solely around natural products. After getting in touch with Malea Rhodes, creator of the BEbathworks shop on Etsy, I was able to finally dive into the world of organic and natural beauty items. She let me try 4 of her best sellers and in return I created this in-depth review video for all of you! If you're interested in my thoughts and opinions on each individual item I'd definitely check it out. Demos are also included!
As promised I wanted to include the ingredients of each product on my blog because I completely understand the importance of knowing what's in the products you put on your body. I have never been one to stress over reading every label but after trying these items I have a new found interest in paying a little more attention.
Directions: Rub 5-8 drops into skin, ring out a hot damp washcloth, press onto face, allow a moment to open pores, wipe clean.Also, use as a moisturizer by rubbing 1-2 drops into damp hands and press into face.
Calendula Essential Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Neem Oil, Angelica Oil.
Coupon Code
I also wanted to provide the coupon code she generously gave to all of my readers!
If you are interested in any of these items use: LACEY14 for 15% offyour entire order!
I love the fact that Malea was on board with my little interview idea because the answers she provided really help explain how and why she created her shop. I hope you enjoy reading over this as much as I did! 1. What got you interested in all natural and organic beauty products? One day I was looking at the ingredients in my high end store bought lotion. It contained high amounts of alcohol and mineral oil. They add alcohol to help the lotion dry fast when you apply it but it also drys your skin so it's really not doing you any favors. And mineral oil is like pouring motor oil on your skin. It's harvested the same way. Yuck. So I set out to find products that would actually moisturize my skin and that I would feel good about putting on my body. After I started making products for my family, I had an excess of product so I took it to a show I was already doing for my pottery (maleaspottery.com) and sold out of bath products and got two wholesale orders out of it. A new business was born!
2. Did you always have plans to create an Etsy shop? I have always been a huge fan of Etsy. It seemed a natural platform for my products and has done very well for me.
3. Out of all the products you offer which one is your favorite? It's a tie. I love my Cheeky, organic cheek color because it's just so good for your skin and it gives just the right amount of color to look like a natural blush of color on your cheeks. I am also a huge fan of my Cleansed, cleansing serum. It's a mix of a dozen organic and wild crafted oils that break down the skins sebum deposits, lift dirt and grime and wipes away smooth. My skin has never looked more radiant.
4. Do you have any future plans on expanding your line? If so, what do you want to include? I am looking at a few other colors of Cheeky to be able to accommodate all skin tones and and also make one that is more color and less moisture for people who want organic color but might have oily or combination skin. I am also going to be working on more lip tint colors but replacing the beeswax with carnauba wax as it is harder, will stand up to summer heat and will make all my products vegan friendly.
5. What is your favorite beauty product at the moment and why do you love it? Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian clay eye pencil. I don't wear a lot of make up but this portable pencil can look natural and is buildable for more intense evening looks. That plus my Cheeky and Lip Tint and I'm good to go!
Thank you so much for reading and please let me know if you enjoyed this post!
Hi lovelies! Do you remember the Black Radiance post I did a few weeks ago? It was all about their latest lip product and if you haven't seen it I'll link it here because I love that post! Today I am back reviewing yet another new product from this underestimated brand and again I am BLOWN AWAY! A few days ago I was checking out the display which is located right new to Wet N Wild in my local Meijer when I came across these babies. The bright, bold colors caught my eye because that is one world I'm a little afraid of when it comes to eyeshadow. I never typically incorporate color like this into my eye looks because I like experimenting with lip shades so much more but my curiosity got the best of me when it came to these summery hues. I HAD to see if they were worth it and if the pigmentation was as good as that of their sister company Wet N Wild and I must say I was incredibly pleased.
Product Information
Price: $2.84
Size: 0.08 oz./ 2.4 g
Shades: Cute (pink), Correct (green), On Point (brown), Ambition (purple), Alluring (blue)
Shade Selection: 5
Marketed As: "NEW Urban Identity™ Shadow Trio delivers tone on tone definition with intensely beautiful textures that blend easily for a stunning impact. Each trio compact features pearl, metallic, and matte textures of the same shade family to create a gorgeous waterfall color effect. The smooth, crease-resistant formulas can be worn alone or layered for endless looks day or night". Where To Buy: I found these at Meijer but they can also be found at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid or anywhere else Black Radiance is sold.
Swatches of Shades
♥ Across the board these shadows are very consistent and the pigmentation is wonderful. Each contains a nice mix of shades and as far as the layout goes the finishes stay the same throughout the entire line. The top left shade is shimmery with a slight sparkly quality, the top right shade is matte, and the bottom shade has a satin finish.
♥I LOVE the color choices they supply in each trio because even though they stick with the certain color theme they are uniquely different yet still complementary of one another.
♥ I definitely think applying a primer helps with these and in this case I used my favorite NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. I'm sure you can tell by the swatches but with the primer these went on smoother and with more color than on bare skin. As far as the formulation it is very smooth and silky. Keep in mind though I did find the darkest purple shade to be quite a bit more powdery than the rest.
All in all I can't explain to you enough how much I am falling in love with this brand and these shadows. For under $3.00 you can't beat the quality and if you are looking to add a little more brightness to your bland eyeshadow collection these are a wonderful and inexpensive addition. With all of these palettes you can practically have every family of colors and even though I don't feel like these could create single looks individually, they would be great supplemental shadows to any look.
If you want to see these in action check out my latest
Get Ready with Me video featuring the On Point and Ambition trio.
As always I hope you had an amazing weekend and please let me know if you have tried anything from this awesome line. I need to know what to pick up next!
Hi lovelies! Today I wanted to give you my thoughts on some great products I recently received. Lipstick Queen was a brand I had never heard of until I reached out to them and they were more than generous when working with me. They sent me 3 of their newest product launches and I must say I am INCREDIBLY impressed which is why I featured them in my recent GRWM video! This company mainly focuses on lip products after it's founder Poppy King was unable to find her perfect formula in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. She has even written a book that takes you through her years as a young entrepreneur which I would love to read someday. Her story seems incredibly inspiring!
Marketed As: "Invisible Lip Liner works wonders with any lip color. The perfect way to stop lipstick from feathering, color stays put and you can create a defined lip line. It's the liner that goes with every single lip color and skin tone".
I love the idea behind this, it's as simple as that. $18 for one lip liner may seem a bit pricey but just think... this is a one stop shop! Honestly, out of everything they sent me I haven't used this that much but that's only because I'm not much of a lip liner person. That may surprise you because I am obsessed with all things lip related but that's just one world that completely overwhelms me! With that being said I have really liked trying it out. The consistency is very smooth and lining the lip line is super easy. I love that this is a twist up pencil so there is no need for a sharpener and this does create a great base for the formula of lipstick I will talk about in a second. I am totally a fan of the idea of having a universal shade to cover all lip options.
Marketed As: "Just in time for spring, the Oxymoron collection is being joined by a vibrant new shade, Open Secret! In a romantic pop pink hue, this ultra-moisturizing lip and cheek tint, housed in a luxurious, soft touch gold case, looks perfect on your pout and pretty in your purse as well".
After laying my eyes on the beautiful color I was immediately hooked and have been using it almost every day since. This item can be used on both the cheeks and lips but personally I prefer using it as a cream blush. I did try the color on my lips one day but it came off a little too cool to flatter my skin tone and it felt a little drying. On the cheeks though it's a dream. A little goes a super long way and after picking up a tiny bit on my Elf Small Stipple Brush I am ready to blend. I begin on the apples of my cheeks and use my brush to dab the product out and upward towards my temples (I demo this in the video). They do offer 4 shades in their original line but each color is very natural looking so I feel like this shade in particular was a great addition for summer.
Marketed As: "A color-popping coral suspended in a super-nourishing formulation, Jungle Queen flatters all complexions and is 100% fabulous when paired with your favorite big cat prints. Rrrroar"!
I have really fallen in love with this shade and formula of lipstick. If all of their other colors are this easy to work with you better believe I'll be trying many more! This formula is very unique in the fact that it's pretty thin and very light on the lips. Don't think color pay off and opacity are compromised though! This is the most beautiful and bright summery coral that is said to look great on anyone. The warmth of this lipstick brings out my blue eyes and seriously warms up the complexion like no other (see what it looks like on in the video below)! Staying power is pretty average due to the light formula but the color does seem to hang around for a good while.
I can't even begin to explain how satisfied I am with this brand and these products- they are absolute must haves! They've impressed me so much that now I have many more of their items on my radar. On the top of my "must try" list is their Hello Sailor lip product. It looks deep blue coming out of the tube but turns to a sheer plum shade on the lips. I love things like this during the week when I wear minimal makeup and they say it's very moisturizing while also making your teeth appear whiter! The two other items I am dying to try is the darker shades from their Endless Summer collection as well as their Medieval shade which they claim is a universally flattering red.
I hope you enjoyed today's review and make sure to see these products in action in my latest video!
Make sure to keep an eye out for that Black Radiance post coming this weekend
and please let me know if you've ever tried anything from Lipstick Queen!
Hi lovelies! A few weeks ago I got an email from Birchbox because I am part of their BirchBloggers program. From time to time I receive emails containing information on how to enter simple giveaways on Twitter featuring products I could win to review and guess what... I recently won! They sent me 2 Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips- 1 to review and 1 to giveaway! How nice was that?!
Marketed As: "Packed with all-natural ingredients, Dr. Lipp’s thick, rich, long lasting formula is clinically proven to repair rough, flaky lips and smooth dry skin patches. Purified Lanolin is the closest thing to your skin’s own natural oils so it provides instant effective relief and the complex combination of lipids replenishes dryness and seals in moisture. Bonus: This versatile lip balm and gloss also heals cuticles, split ends, sunburns, and even diaper rash".
Directions: "Squeeze a small amount onto your fingertip and apply to lips. Reapply when necessary".
My first impression of this little guy was completely different than I imagined! I think all of us beauty lovers research products like crazy once we see something we like and I did just that with this. However, when I opened up this adorable yet hilarious box for the first time I couldn't believe how EXTREMELY thick the balm was! The product itself was so hard to squeeze out of the tube I initially thought that I got a defective batch haha. Once some finally came out I realized that that was the actual texture and I moved on with my life. As for the consistency it is identical to that of regular Vaseline and it really feels the same as that going on, it's just a bit more thick.
I have been using this on my lips for the past few days and I really like it. You just need a tiny bit and after getting used to the consistency I don't have much of a problem getting it out of the tube. I do think it's made my lips softer over the time I've been using it and it beats the staying power of a typical lip balm due to its thickness.
It feels a little bit heavy on the lips but I love that in a lip balm product because it makes me feel like it's actually doing something! It also has sort of a tacky texture which normally would bother me but it is so slight I actually prefer it because it prolongs the wear! It lacks any type of scent as far as I can tell and they do say that it is 100% natural which is pretty cool! I LOVE the idea of products you can use in multiple places and you better believe I will be keeping this multi tasking product in my purse because it is the perfect size. Since receiving it I have only used this on my lips but I can't wait to try it on my cuticles and feet next!
Hi lovelies! A few days ago I came across this new product from Bite Beauty on Sephora's website and I was immediately obsessed. I am a lip product fanatic (as you may know) and as sad as it sounds I couldn't stop thinking about them until I broke down and purchased online. Now, I HATE buying makeup online and find that choosing the right shade is nearly impossible but ultimately I decided on two.
If you're interested in a full review please let me know but for a little background information this is the first balm like lip product Bite Beauty has put out. Right when I saw this brand hit stores back in March of last year I picked up 3 formulas because the line immediately stole my heart (find my post featuring those here). It's a line based around lip products and lip products only so you know I was SOLD!
I couldn't wait to get my hands on these new BB for Lips and it was so hard waiting to try them until after I took tons of pictures! Since it's a brand that I already know and love I thought that these were a shoe-in but sadly I was a little mistaken. Don't get me wrong, these are very nice but they are definitely not as life changing as I thought they would be. In these photos you will also see their Luminous Crème Lipstick (wonderful formula btw) in Pomegranate which I had to pick up while I was at it. :)
We will start with the BB for Lips since that's probably why you're here! These are selling for $24 each and upon the first application I liked everything besides the scent! I even asked my boyfriend what he thought of it and he didn't like it either. The only way I can describe it is a pretty heavy savory smell that doesn't touch on sweet or floral at all. It reminds me of something along the lines of strawberries and cream without the strawberries haha.
If you didn't know Bite Beauty prides it's self on being "lip color that's good enough to eat" however I have heard a few complaints with the fact that they used Oxybenzone as the SPF agent. This is an ingredient that tends to break some people out so I would use caution if you've had trouble with it in the past. Keep in mind though that I haven't had any issues and these do contain SPF 15.
As far as color and pigmentation I am pretty happy. I initially got the Natural shade because on Sephora's site is says that these can be used as a primer before applying lipstick. I also thought it would be nice to try the colorless version to see how the formula compared to a typical lip balm. I was pleased with this shade and it does carry a little bit of a nude tint on the lips but personally I would never wear this in place of a lip color.
I feel a little bit differently about the shade Dolce! I always go for the darkest shades when dealing with balm like products because I want the most color payoff. I love bold lips and this shade satisfied my needs. It looks quite dark and scary in the tube but once on your lips it gives off a nice glossy berry shade that would compliment any skin tone! After trying this color I am also anxious to try Tawny which is more of a dusty pink.
I really do like the idea behind this product but I haven't been using them enough to see a drastic change in the texture of my lips. I have been getting a couple hours of wear out of these and once on they feel very nice and moisturizing like they claim. They are on the thicker side (think of the texture of say a Nivea or Fresh Sugar lip balm) but I love the feel. Keep in mind that these don't surpass my beloved Korres Lip Butters in the hydration department though. The one plus to Bite's product however is that it is in twist up form.
In the swatches I hope you can agree that these really do what they claim. They make my lips look healthier and more alive with a hint of natural color. My only hope is that in the future they expand the line to include a few other fun colors. As of right now there are only featuring 5 natural looking shades.
Quickly touching on the last product I picked up, I have loved their lipstick formula from first swipe and after hearing Emily Eddington rave about this red shade I had to get it. It's a really nice bold red that makes your teeth look incredibly white!
I hope you enjoyed this peak inside my recent Sephora purchase!
What do you think of the new BB for Lips from Bite?
Hi lovelies and Happy Easter! Today I wanted to give you a peek inside the beauty bag I keep with me at all times. This little pouch holds essential beauty related products that I might need on a daily basis and they come in handy all the time!
I didn't always carry something like this. It wasn't until I stared my journey on Retin-A that I realized how important touching up your makeup was throughout the day. I had extreme dryness on my chin area and if left unattended it could crack and peel like nobody's business. I didn't want to include my everyday makeup items that I kept at my vanity because transferring products to and from my purse would be a hassle so I took to my makeup collection and this is what I came up with.
For my face I needed some type of moisturizer, concealer, and powder. Since I am a simple girl I would typically use my hand lotion for the little dry areas I would tend to so here you only see my Stila Perfecting Concealer in Shade A and MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light. I decided on this concealer because it was the only extra one I had lying around! I used to love this stuff years ago but now find it to be quite sticky and hard to blend. It's gotten the job done in a pinch but the good news is that it is almost gone!
For powder I had purchased this MAC one because it is all I ever hear about online. It is really nice but for me a lot of face powders act the same on my skin so it wasn't life changing. I chose to keep it in my purse because it is compact and packs enough coverage for quick touch ups. I carry this little Too Faced kabuki brush around for application as well and got it a few years ago in a Black Friday sale. It is a nice size for setting that tacky concealer and for buffing out redness around my eyes.
For eyes I have a couple random items that I will quickly touch on. That mascara is Lancome Definicils and I am embarrassed at how old this sample is. Believe it or not though I love it now more than ever! It has gotten the chance to dry out quite a bit and I find that I can still achieve major volume and length with 2-3 coats.
I then just carry around 2 kinds of eye drops and I only began having these on hand because Jerome needed them. Lately however I have been having major trouble with my eyes when wearing contacts so I've found these extremely helpful. The older one I have here is the Clear Eyes Contact Relief formula and the latest addition is that Rohto Redness Reliever. I have heard so much about this Rohto eye drop brand online recently but it is a very unusual formula that makes your eyes feel minty and cool. Jerome hates it but I don't mind it haha!
For lips I carry around a few of my favorite products that are great for on the go. This Hydration Lock Chapstick came in my Birchbox a couple months back and I have already repurchased because this one is running low! It does a great job at keeping my lips moisturized and it's also a great base for lipsticks.
As for my Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose you should already know how much I love these! This is the shade that started it all and even though the lid has seen better days it hasn't dried out or run out in a couple years of good use. It's the greatest consistency, the price is super reasonable, and they hydrate my lips so much that I can skip the chapstick. Keep in mind that I do carry some other lip products and lipsticks in my purse as well, this is just what I keep lip wise in this little bag.
Last but not least are these 3 random items that come in handy the most! Starting with this adorable Tweezerman nail file that I got in a previous Birchbox, I use this sucker all the time! I have very thin nails that break and peel almost daily so this is something I use a lot.
You may be thinking that I screwed up and combined this contact case in the wrong category right? I have news for you though... this serves a whole other purpose! In here I keep a little bit of Neosporin and Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion. It's the perfect way to store these types of products in my opinion and I have had no issues with it spilling or causing any problem at all. I keep the Neosporin for obvious reasons but also use it on my lips occasionally. As for the lotion, it helps calm my mild Psoriasis but it's also something I turn to when my lips are severely dry and nothing else helps.
Finally, every girl needs to carry around some Band-Aid's. Whether it's blisters, cuts, or annoying cuticles I can never seem to have enough!
Lastly I am sure you can tell that my bag is from Ipsy and it is one of the earlier bags that I received after signing up. I love using their monthly pouches for storage and found this one to be the perfect size and shape for my purse! If you are interested in seeing what I got in my Ipsy bag and Birchbox this month I just posted my Beauty Subscription Showdown a few days ago!
I hope you enjoyed reading about my on the go beauty essentials!
