A Little Something to Brighten Your Day

Hey Guys!

So, if you're having a bad day, or even if you're not, hopefully this might put a smile on your face!

If you read my other post, I want to be a news anchor, and I do well with it.

But, last week, I tried my luck at being a weather girl...

Not so good... Actually not at all good...

I live in Indiana and clearly, I'm not pointing to that... or anywhere where anyone lives for that matter....

And honestly throughout the entire weather, I truly don't think I ever pointed to Indiana...

Blonde much? Maybe a tad...

Loving it!!

 

Any embarrassing moments happen to you lately??

XOXO Mandy

Collective Makeup Haul

Hello, Ladies!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, it's midterms week... dun dun dun.... But one more midterm and class to go and then it's spring break for me! Woohoo!

So, I bought some makeup over the weekend, shocker, and I wanted to share it with you!

I love seeing what other people buy!

What I bought:

• Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tan Liquid
• Supersmile Professional Whitening toothpaste
• Mario Badescu Whitening Mask
• Josie Maran Argan Oil Lip Balm
• Josie Maran Argan Oil
• Benefit Watt's Up
• Nars All About Eve
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface
• Too Faced Blush in Who's Your Poppy?
• Urban Decay eyeshadow in "X"
• L'Oreal True Match Lumi foundation
• Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Warm Me Up
• L'Oreal Colour Riche in Fairest Nude

Let me know if you want reviews on any of these products!

 

What have you bought lately?

XOXO Mandy

A Simple, Natural Makeup Look: Tutorial

Hey, Everyone!!

I'm more of a natural makeup kind of girl! I feel as though I don't look good in a heavy smokey eye, or a bold red lip.

I wanted to show you a simple, easy, natural makeup look!

I like the look of glowing skin and neutral eyes!

This look is perfect for mornings where you just don't want to take the time to do an intricate look!

WARNING: I apologize for my crazy unruly eyebrows... I haven't been home from school in weeks to get them waxed, but lucky this weekend I'm getting them done! :)

What I used:

• L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation (Loving this thanks to Doctor Pretty's recommendation)
• Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer
• Garnier Skin-Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
• L'Oreal Visible Lift Blush in Peach Gold
• Wet N Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Reserve your Cabana as a highlight
• Mac Painterly Paint Pot
• Nars All About Eve Eyeshadow Duo (the darker pink on the lid, and the shimmery pink on the browbone and inner corner)
• Mac Soba in the crease
• Mac Bordeauxline eyeliner on the upper lashline
• Dior Diorshow mascara
• Mac Lipglass in Pinkarat

Hope you enjoyed this natural, every day makeup look!

 

What is your favorite makeup look?

XOXO Mandy

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel: Review

Hi, Folks!

A quick review on the famous Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel bronzer formally known as Chanel Bronze Universal.

I wanted this product for so long after seeing endless rave reviews on it.  I finally splurged on it a couple months ago, it was around 50 dollars + tax... So definitely not the cheapest...

Is it worth it?

The packaging is gorgeous with a black lid embellished with gold Chanel emblem. Although, I would expect nothing less than beautiful packaging from Chanel.

The product itself is different from anything I've tried... It's like a putty texture if that makes sense which makes blending a breeze!

The best part is that there is SO much product that this will most definitely last me for years, do definitely loving that!

Make sure to keep the plastic cover, it will help prevent the product from drying out!

What I do:

I use the Real Techniques Expert Face brush to blend under my cheekbones, up through my hairline, and down my jaw to contour.

This does create a beautiful, natural appearance to the skin! And lasts all day on my skin!

The downfall being it isn't *perfect* on fair skin just because you may have to blend a bit more, but that isn't a big deal to me!

I think I will like this product even more during the summer when I'm not basically translucent....

PROS:

• Natural looking bronzer
• Adds a glow to the skin
• Perfect for contouring
• Gorgeous Packaging
• No shimmer

CONS:

• Not ideal for fair skintones
• Price

All in all, is this a must have? Not really... It's quite expensive! But, I think if you have the money to spend and looking for a natural looking bronzer, perfect for contouring, I'd give this a try!

What is your favorite bronzer of the moment?

XOXO Mandy

25 Facts About Me: Trust me, You want to know!

Hey, Everyone!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I saw many blogs doing a "25 Facts About Me" post and I thought it would be a fun idea, and I hope more people do it! I like knowing random facts about people!! :)

So... let's get into the wonderful life of Mandy....

1. I'm from Indiana, born and raised, but I have only been on a farm once.... we ain't all hicks 'round these parts ya know!
2. I have a fake front tooth... I chipped it when I was 7 and had half a fake tooth, and then when I was a junior in high school, I knocked it completely out... Lucky it was the same tooth right? What a loser...
3. My biggest fears include: Children, the dark, frogs, and people touching my big toe... 
4. If you want to take me out to dinner, all you can eat buffets will be your best bet...
5. I love sports cars, and actually drive one!
6. My biggest insecurity is my nose
7. I go to Ball State University and majoring in Telecommunications and Journalism
8. I am such a bad driver, so bad in fact, that a couple weekends ago, my car was stuck on the median, yes a concrete median... my wheels weren't even touching the ground...

 9. I am a 5th year senior and rockin' it!
10. Seriously, 25 facts?
11. I really REALLY like strawberry flavored fruit snacks... actually anything gelatinous is amazing
12. If it's pink or glittery or both, I will own it.
13. I can't cook, like at all... I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches pretty much, oh, every single day.
14. I originally went to school for business... Uh, Mandy? Sorry, but no, just no...
15. I can't drive in parking lots, at all, so I park really far away so I don't risk getting in a parking lot accident... (again)
16. I want to be a news anchor one day!
17. I can fart with my leg pits
18. I have a major MAJOR crush on Ross Geller on F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
19. Nerdy awkward guys are my weakness

20. I was a cheerleader in high school;  my parents made me try all sports when I was little but I sucked at everything so I became a cheerleader from then on out.
21. I obviously like makeup, when I see a good review, I have to have it! I just have to!
22. I eat a lot, I'm that person at the table everyone gives the food they can't finish to...
23.I have one sister who is a freshman in high school and is 6 foot... I, am a mere few inches over 5 feet, psh love that...

24. My first makeup product was Mac Glitter, like legit the stuff in middle school you put on your face and totally tacky... I thought I was cool though...
25. I like 80's music best!


Hope everyone enjoyed getting to know the weirdness that is me!

 

What is a random fact about you?

XOXO Mandy

Victoria's Secret/ Beachy Waves Hair Tutorial

It's the weekend folks, hope y'all are doing swell!

I wanted to do a very quick and VERY simple hair tutorial for everyone!

My friend actually always comments on my hair whenever I wear it like this and I thought, well gee, why don't I just explain how to do it in my blog? Duh!

So, I would say this hairstyle is sort of loose beach waves a la Victoria's Secret models? Now, if I only had the body of one... (Chyea in my dreams, sorry Mandy, newsflash you're 5'3"....)

But, basically this hairstyle is super easy!

Granted, my hair naturally has *some* wave to it so it helps.  But, honestly anyone could create this look using these steps!

You need a 1 inch curling iron and a teasing brush to create this look.  ( I prefer the curling iron by Hot Tools)

Basically, curl a 1 inch section of your hair by starting about 8" down from the root. Curl your hair by gradually turning the iron and adding more of that 1 inch section into the iron. 

THESE ARE THE KEY POINTS!  Leave a little tail out of the iron, don't curl your hair all the way to the ends if that makes sense.  And then as soon as you let the curl drop, finger comb it out! IMMEDIATELY!

Then, after all your hair has been curled, and finger combed, tease it to make your have a *bit* more volume!

And Voila! Sexy!

NOTE: I should seriously start making YouTube videos... Explaining this would be MUCH easier broadcast form.....

Hope this made sense, and you will try it! Be ready to get lots and LOTS of compliments!!

 

Do you like to straighten your hair or curl it?

XOXO Mandy

Exciting News and a Shopping List!

Hello!

So, I didn't post anything yesterday and I apologize, but I have a legitimate excuse....

I am actually going to school studying telecommunications and journalism in hopes that one day I will become a news anchor.  Well, the other night was my FIRST real newscast and it went FANTASTIC!

So, last night it was uploaded online so, naturally, I sent it to my family and friends! I was on the phone much of yesterday with people congratulating me!

So, all in all, I was pretty excited!

Here are a couple pictures of the show:

So, like I said, pretty excited to get out of school and begin my career hopefully as an up and coming news anchor!

Beauty related...

I am going to Indianapolis this weekend and thought I'd do some shopping at Sephora and Ulta while I'm there!

I thought I'd show you what I intend to purchase!  Let me know if these are worth-it products!

Nars All About Eve Eyeshadow Duo

  Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Glisten

 

 NYX Cream Blush in Glow and Tickled

 

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer 

  Urban Decay X Eyeshadow

 

Like I mentioned, please let me know if you have tried and loved any of these products or any other recommendations! 

 

 What have you been wanting to purchase lately?

XOXO Mandy

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse: Review

Hey, All!

I went to Walgreens today and L'Oreal products were buy one get one 50% off.

SO, I had been wanting to try the Colour Riche lipsticks for quite some time because they reminded me of the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy. (L'Oreal is owned by YSL so this made me even more excited to try them)

I ended up buying the colors 172 Blushing Sequin, and 174 Rose Taffeta.

Let me just tell you folks, these are simply AMAZING. I personally like them better than the YSL version because these are *much* more pigmented. 

They are shiny and have great color payoff! I love them so much!  I am definitely going back for more!

I also like these more than Revlon Lip Butters because the L'Oreal ones are much more shiny and moisturizing!

Blushing Sequin:

Is a bright pink color with a very tiny amount of gold shimmer that is undetectable in my opinion.  This will be an awesome color for spring and summer! It reminds me of YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in NO. 4 Succulent Pomegranate. But, like I said I like this even better because of the color payoff!

Rose Taffeta:

A mauvey- my lips but better, nude color that just adds a little color to my face! I wanted to try both ends of the color spectrum so I opted with this shade and I am loving it!

PROS:

• Color Payoff
• Moisturizing
• Packaging
• Pretty good wear for a Balm

CONS:

• Slightly expensive for a drugstore product ($9.99)

I DEFINITELY recommend these products and I will surely be buying more soon! I recommend buying them bogo for a better deal! I am so happy with these lip colors!

 

Have you tried the L'Oreal Colour Riche lipsticks?

XOXO Mandy

Valentine's Day Makeup Look: Tutorial

Hello, Everyone!

Hope ya'll are enjoying your week so far!

WARNING: These pictures contain a hairstyle I like to call "Slept in a messy bun, woke up too late to fix, took my hair down because I don't like my forehead" hair. You all know the style! So I apologize :)

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and whether you have a hot date or are just hanging out with friends that day, I think it's fun to do your makeup a little differently for the holidays!

For me, I like more natural makeup, but I decided to add a pink flair to my neutral toned makeup! In my opinion, less is more, and the male form usually agrees!

So, I thought I'd do a natural makeup look, but clearly more "Valentinesy." (Yup, Valentinesy, I like it)

 Products I used for my FACE:

• Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
•  Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
• Maybelline Instant Age-Rewind Dark Circle Corrector
• Benefit High Beam
• Nars Angelika Blush

Products I used for my EYES: 

• Mac Painterly Paint Pot
• bareMinerals The 15 Minutes Eyeshadow Duo
• Mac Phloof Eyeshadow
• Mac Bordeauxline
• Revlon Brow Fantasy
• L'Oreal Voluminous Full-Definition Mascara

Products I used for my LIPS:

• Mac lipstick Speed Dial
• Mac Dazzleglass Baby Sparks

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday of love!

 

What is your Valentine's Day makeup look?

XOXO Mandy

My "Going Out" Hair and Makeup Routine

Hi, Everyone!

It is FINALLY the weekend, and I couldn't be more excited! This week has been far too long...

Don't judge me, but I went out last night, Thursday, and had early class the next day..........

And now, I have to sit in a newsroom for 4 hours straight.... Good choice to go out last night, Mandy, good choice.

But, I thought I would tell you what makeup look I wore as well as the hairdo I was sporting. (This is my usual "go-to" makeup and hair look when I go out)

I am going to tell you, my pictures of my makeup are not that great because my room is dimly lit and it was dark out, obviously, so bare with me! (And just about everything in my room is a shade of pink so...... it kinda makes me a shade of pink as well! haha)

The main topic I wanted to share is how I curl my hair because SO many people ask how I do it so I thought this would be a perfect time to explain!

 The makeup I wore last night:

• Monistat Anti-chafing Gel as a primer
• Revlon Colorstay Normal/Dry in the color Buff (loving the dry skin version!!)
• Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer 
• Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus
• Wet N Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil
• Nars Orgasm
• Wet N Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Reserve your Cabana (as a highlight shade)
• Urban Decay All  Nighter Setting spray
• Mac Painterly Paint Pot
• Urban Decay Naked Palette Toasted on the lid in a winged shape
• Urban Decay Naked Palette Naked in the crease and to blend
• Urban Decay Naked Palette Virgin as my highlight shade
• Jordana Fabuliner in Black on the upper lashline
• Revlon Brow Fantasy
• 3 coats of L'oreal Voluminous Full-Definition mascara
• NOTE: In these pictures I don't have my lip color on yet but I wear Mac Hue

Wow, I feel like that's a lot of makeup... But, that's okay, we are all makeup crazies here :)

On to my hair:

Night:

 

Next Morning:

 

I took a picture this morning to show that my hair looked about the same as it did last night after SLEEPING ON IT! It's crazy how long-lasting these curls are! I did nothing to my hair after waking up this morning in that picture!

And I have to be honest, what I really should be doing is making YouTube videos.

#1 This would be much easier to explain and show in a video
#2 I actually love being in front of the camera (I'm in school to be a news anchor)

On to more important things, MY HAIR!

What I do is the following:

• Start with clean blow-dried hair
• Section off your hair so that the bottom third of your hair is down
• Using my 1" curling iron from Hot Tools open the clamp and wrap a small piece around the barrel but don't ever close the clamp!
• Keep that wrapped on the barrel for about 10 seconds
• Let the curl fall off the barrel into your hand and hold for a few seconds until cool
• Do this all through the rest of your hair in sections, curls all going the same direction
• Do your makeup, or find something to do until your hair is cooled
• Then brush out your curls a bit to break them up and to make them more voluminous!
• Spray!

So there you have it, my "going out" hair and makeup!

Hopefully this is helpful for some!

Hope ya'll enjoy your weekend!

 

 What is your "going out" routine?

XOXO Mandy

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation: Review

Hi Everyone!

It's halfway through the week, so be excited it's almost the weekend!

 

WARNING: I had a total blonde, face palming moment... You will see why at the end of my post.

I bought the Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation (heck of a name, right?) a few weeks ago and have given it a fair trial. I bought mine at Walgreens for around $13.

What Covergirl says:

All-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step! The 3-in-1 formula provides a flawless look that lasts all day long.

This foundation has medium-buildable coverage which I tend to look for in a foundation because of acne scarring, hyper-pigmentation, etc. (I applied this foundation with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush)

I absolutely love the packaging of this foundation simply for the fact that is has a pump! Why can't Revlon get on board with that?

This foundation lasted pretty well during the day and I only had to powder my face once during an 8 hour day, which is impressive and something I look for in a foundation.

However,

This foundation looks so cakey on my skin and emphasizes all of my pores!  It looks terrible on me! My skin looks 10 times drier than before I put on this product! NOTE: in the winter I have drier skin.

This foundation also feels quite heavy on the skin and I feel like I am wearing makeup and have that "Everyone knows I am wearing foundation" feeling. If you know what I mean...

Not only that, I chose the shade 805, which is the second to lightest shade, because the lightest shade looked to *pink* for me. Initially, when I buffed in this foundation, it looked my shade. About ten minutes later, this foundation totally oxidized and turned orange on me. No, just no.

I don't even want to try the lightest shade because that already looked pink in the bottle, so forget it.

PROS:

• Medium-buildable coverage
• Bottle has a pump
• Good lasting power

CONS:

• Cakey, emphasizes pores and dryness
• Oxidizes majorly
• Pretty expensive for a drugstore foundation ($13) 
• Heavy feeling

VERDICT: I would not recommend this product if you have dry skin, bottom line.  Maybe oily skin gals this would work for, but definitely didn't on my dry skin.  I may have to try this foundation again during the summer months when my skin isn't as dry.


Now for the blonde moment... Why are there no photos you ask? Well I wrote the post at work (productive, right?) and I told myself that when I got home I was going to take pictures of everything and return the foundation to Walgreens.... Yep, forgot to take pictures and already returned it to Walgreens. Seriously? Such a loser... haha

 

Have you tried this new foundation from Covergirl?

XOXO Mandy

Wet N Wild Blush Pearlescent Pink: Review

Hello, Everyone!

I wanted to do a quick review on this awesome drugstore blush, Wet N Wild Pearlescent Pink

 I just put it in my favorite drugstore items post and forgot how truly great it was until I pulled it out and used it today! I've always loved it but it sort of got pushed behind until I was looking for my drugstore favorites!

This blush is around 3 bucks at most drugstores and Wal-mart. Uh, pocket change right?

Not only that, but is so pigmented.  So pigmented in fact, that I usually have to buff out my blush with a Kabuki after!

This blush is a neutral pink color with a tad bit of golden shimmer, which adds a great glow to my cheeks!

This blush lasts all day on me and looks great with any eye and lip combination!

The packaging is cheap looking, but I mean the product IS only 3 bucks so I am definitely not complaining because the quality is top-notch!

This is my only Wet N Wild blush and I am not really sure why... I may run to Walgreens after class to pick up a few more!

Have you tried any Wet N Wild blushes?

XOXO Mandy

My Drugstore Favorites

Hi Y'all!

I wanted to share with you my favorite drugstore beauty products!

I love high-end makeup as much as the next girl, but with a college budget, sometimes it's hard to buy expensive makeup!

Luckily, there are many drugstore products that are up to par with the high-end brands! Drugstore brands have really upped their game lately in my opinion!

I wanted to share with you my favorites from the drugstore!

Be sure to let me know if you want full reviews on any of these products!

My first favorite is the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation.  This product has been reviewed time and time again by just about everyone in the beauty world, so all I'll say is it has good coverage and has amazing lasting power! I usually buy the Oily/Combination bottle, but my skin has been so dry lately and I want to try the one for dry skin! Thoughts?

Another foundation favorite is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation.  Many people say that this product is a dupe for Nars Sheer glow! (I unfortunately have not tried Sheer Glow yet.)  This foundation does give a healthy glow and I'd say is a medium coverage! I always use a primer so this foundation has decent staying power in my opinion!

My ALL-TIME favorite pressed powder is the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder.  This powder is awesome! It sets my makeup, never looks cakey, and keeps my skin matte all day! Perfect! Go give it a shot, it's cheap and works wonders!

The Monistat Anti-Chafing gel is an amazing drugstore primer for only 6 bucks! Yeah, it may seem weird, and yeah, you  may feel awkward buying it, but it is basically the same product as the Smashbox Photofinish primer but way more inexpensive! It smooths my lines and pores, and makes my makeup last all day! I use this primer much more than my higher end primers! I used it in my everyday face here!

A new bronzer I have discovered is the Wet n Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil.  This is the darkest of them all but the shade inbetween looked a tad orange.  So, I opted for this one.  With a light hand, this bronzer is so pretty! It adds a glow to my face without being sparkly! HUGE PLUS: This is about 4 bucks and the pan is huge! Awesome find in my opinion! I've been using it more than my Nars Laguna lately!

Another Wet n Wild product I've been using is the Coloricon blush in Pearlescent Pink.  This is such a gorgeous pink shade with a golden glow! It's so pretty, y'all! If you haven't tried Wet n Wild blushes before, you are missing out! The pigmentation is awesome, the colors are gorgeous and the price is around 3 bucks! Total steal!

For eyeshadows, I love the L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows! They have great pigmentation and are such a unique formula! I mentioned them in my January favorites here!

Speaking of great pigmentation, Wet n Wild wins it again with their eyeshadows! They have awesome trios and palettes that are all top notch in pigmentation.  And even better, they're all under 5 bucks! One of my favorites is the Walking on Eggshells trio, that has been mentioned many times in the beauty community!

I absolutely LOVE the Maybelline Color Tattoos! They work awesome as a base for eyeshadow or just on their own! The colors are absolutely gorgeous and they work well to prime my eye! They are definitely comparable to the Mac Paint Pots! My favorite is the Inked in Pink Color Tattoo and I like to put Urban Decay Toasted eyeshadow on top! Gorgeous!

My favorite mascara is the L'Oreal Voluminous Full-Definition mascara! This mascara is amazing! See review and pictures here!

Finally, my favorite body lotion is actually from the drugstore and it is the Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant lotion!  It's so moisturizing and doesn't have an obnoxious scent! Also, a humongous bottle of this stuff is only 5 bucks at Wal-mart! Love it!

What are some of your drugstore favorites?

XOXO Mandy