September Favorites

1. Benefit They're Real Mascara

I have heard this talked about for so long. I didn't want to buy it because I knew it was a high end mascara and I like to buy the mascaras from the drugstore. Well, this month was my birthday and I got a birthday present from Sephora. They gave me this little sample mascara and a sample benefit highlighter. I understand now what all the hype was about. This is a really good mascara. I'm not going to buy the full size, but I enjoy this little sample.

2. Hard Candy Blotting Papers

I keep this in my beauty bag and take it to work with me everyday. During my break I blot my face with a tissue and put powder on. I have combination skin. Sometimes it is oily, sometimes it is dry, and sometimes in areas it is both. These are handy papers to have and I don't think they were expensive. I got them at Walmart.

3. Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector

When I was on Sephora's website shopping for my birthday presents, they let me pick out some samples. I chose this deluxe size sample primer. It lasted almost the whole month. I used up all of it. It is a good primer. Again, I wouldn't purchase it because it more expensive then I like to spend. I have other primers I need to finish, and when I get a primer next I will get one from the drugstore.

4. Stila In The Light Palette

This is something I got for my birthday. I love this palette! The eyeshadows are so pigmented and good quality. I had heard people talk about it on Youtube, so I have been curious about it. It has the eyeshadow "Kitten" which is also very popular. It is a beautiful shadow. I did a blog post about this, this month with different looks I found that I liked. I'm happy I got this. I also got Stila's In The Garden Palette, which I plan on doing a blog post about too.

5. Argan Oil and Coconut Oil

I got this tip from pinksofoxy http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg9f9knI31hrUYBN8ey0m6Q She is someone I subscribe to on Youtube. She uses natural oils on her face, body, and hair. For her hair she puts 3 drops of coconut oil in her hand and 5 drops of argan oil and rubs her hands together and puts it on her hair, avoiding the roots. I've been doing this, this month and I think it is a good treatment. It helps my hair not be so frizzy. It also smells good. With the coconut oil it comes in a solid form so I put some in the microwave for 20 seconds and let it melt, then I use a dropper to put on my hand.

6. Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner

This is another thing inspired by pinksofoxy. She uses this in the shower. It smells so good. I happened to see this in the organic section at my local Fred Meyers. I remember pinksofoxy talk about it, so I decided to get it. It isn't expensive. There are no sulfates. It makes my hair feel so good! I love this stuff! It also makes my hair smell good. The conditioner makes my hair really silky.

7. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Skin Perfecting Primer

I think I mentioned the original primer in a monthly favorites before. I like that one too. I wanted to try the other kinds of primer. There is a skin correcting one and a lumanizing one. This one is the skin correcting one. This is what the back of the tube says, "Perfecting primer evens out skin tone and creates a flawless, smooth finish to skin. Fills in fine lines, wrinkles, and pores." I used this after I finished with the Becca primer. I like this primer just as much as the Becca one. I don't see it even out my skin tone, but I do notice it makes a smooth finish on my skin for before I apply foundation. This reminds me of the original one. I can't really tell a difference. The lumanizing one I can tell is more shiny, so I have to be careful with that one so I don't make my skin look too oily.

8. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Pink

I mentioned the Happy Booster Blush in Natural in another monthly favorites. I like this blush too. It is a cool pink, almost matte. I think I have warm coloring, and this looks good on me. When I want to wear a pink blush, I reach for this. It smells good too! I love the little hearts. Physicians Formula seems to always have the cutest packaging. It reminds me of Asian makeup because there are a lot of cute packaged makeup from Asia. I wish more companies had cute packaging in America. I have several blushes from this line. I think it's good quality.

9. Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Sunset

This blush is so beautiful! I have mentioned in another monthly favorites the Sonia Kashuk blush in flushed. It is more of a pink. This is a coral. It is one of my all time favorite blushes. It is a great formula too. Sonia Kashuk can be found at Target. It is more on the expensive side, but it is worth it. At least for the blush. I think the brand gets mixed reviews.

10. DIY Makeup Brush Spot Cleaner

I have been using this brush cleaner I got at Fred Meyers for awhile, but I always run out of it and I feel like I could save money if I made my own. I looked it up on Youtube and I found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5X27Yl1Oss. It is really easy to make you just need baby shampoo, a squirt bottle, and rubbing alcohol. Then the way I use it is I squirt some on a paper towel and clean my brushes with it after I'm done doing my makeup. This has come in handy for me, and it works really well. It disinfects and conditions the brushes.

11. ScentSationals Pumpkin Spice

Now that it is fall, I got some fall wax scents at Walmart. They are only $2! I fill my room with the pumpkin scent. Ohhhhhhh! It smells so wonderful! My mom wants to know what I'm baking. xD I actually don't like pie, but I love the smell of pumpkin pie. You only need a little piece of the wax and it will last for days!

Favorite Songs

Complicated by Avril Lavigne
Mine by Taylor Swift
Red by Taylor Swift
Rocket Man by Elton John
Time After Time by Cyndie Lauper
There's Always Something There To Remind Me by Naked Eyes
September by Earth, Wind and Fire
My Girl by The Temptations
Baby I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton
See You Again by Carrie Underwood
What About Now by Lonestar
Billy Jean by Michael Jackson
You're No Good by Linda Ronstadt
Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Love Somebody by Maroon 5
Sitting On the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
Call On Jesus by Nicole C. Mullen

These are songs I've added to my exercise playlist:

Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) by Chris Brown
Without You (feat. Usher) by David Guetta & Usher
The Next Episode by Dr. Dre & Snoop Dog
Fergalicious (feat. Will.I.Am) by Fergie
Club Can't Handle Me (feat. David Guetta) by Flo Rida
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet
Harden My Heart by Julianne Hough & Mary J. Blige
SexyBack (feat. Timbaland) by Justin Timberlake
Bad Romance by Lady GaGa
Paparazzi by Lady GaGa
Poker Face by Lady GaGa
Cherry, Cherry by Neil Diamond
Starships by Nicki Minaj
We Will Rock You by Queen

I hope you enjoyed my list of favorites! What are your favorites of the month?

Positive Changes Week 7

I feel like I keep gaining weight one week and losing it the next. This week I gained 3 lbs. It's very discouraging to me. I have a plan for exercise. I've been walking even when the weather is bad! I have been good at eating breakfast, and not skipping it (which is what I would naturally want to do.) Sometimes I skip lunch because I'm not hungry for it. Then I get really hungry later in the day and I don't want to eat anything healthy. I met with a coach at the beginning of the week and it came out when I was talking with him that I didn't want to listen to the hypnosis cd because I felt guilty. It is telling me all of these healthy changes to make, but I am reminded of how I haven't made the changes, and I feel bad. So I avoid listening to it. I'm supposed to listen to it three times a day! The coach said I need to not be so hard on myself and understand that I am a person with flaws, but I am doing a good job. He had really good things to say and I felt encouraged. Unfortunately, I don't have him in my mind at all times. This week what I want to do is get some ingredients to make a healthy dinner. I will try not to get overwhelmed. I will eat three meals, so I wont get really hungry. I will make myself listen to the cd 3 times a day, no matter how it makes me feel.

Do you have any helpful tips for me? How do you stay healthy and in good shape? Do you have the same problems as me? Do you know of any good recipes?

Positive Changes Week 6

I have been doing good on the program! I lost 2 lbs this week! I walked 6 days of the week! The accell class was about exercise. I'm now wondering if these hypnosis cd's are sort of like brainwashing, but they don't want to call it that. I am aware of everything they say, and I agree with it, so nothing is outside of my control. I just felt very motivated to walk this week. And I think that's the number one thing that helped me lose weight. I didn't eat extremely healthy, but I wasn't over eating or eating poorly. I have been drinking water, and eating three meals a day. I have been eating fruits and vegetables. One of the days I had a class, but I didn't go because I was feeling really worn out. That's the first time I missed an appointment. I don't plan on making that a habit. I haven't been good at listening to my hypnosis cd. I find that it makes me tired, and I don't want anything slowing me down during the day. I was listening to it before bed, but then I stopped doing that because I felt too tired to listen to it. They say we should listen to it 3 times a day! I'm not exactly sure how I will do this. I guess I need to just make up a schedule and stick to it. I don't like listening to it repeatedly. I guess that is to brainwash us. (But they don't say it that way.) If they were telling me something I didn't like or agree with, I wouldn't listen to it. But they are telling me to do healthy things, and things I agree with. Someone I was talking to about it was wondering if I was being hypnotized and not remembering what happened afterwards. That isn't the way it works. I remember everything. I feel really relaxed and I'm listening to someone speaking. They help me to relax my muscles and imagine I'm in a relaxing place like the beach and then they will start talking to me about the positive changes I want for my life, like exercising and eating healthy. I'm visualizing myself doing the healthy things. And I think it is supposed to motivate me to carry out the visualizations.

If you have any helpful suggestions please leave a comment! What do you do to be healthy?

Stila In The Light Palette Looks

For my birthday I got a gift certificate to Sephora and I got a couple of palettes, Stila In the Light Palette and Stila In the Garden Palette. I've seen it on Youtube and they both look like nice palettes. Stila in the Light has a shade called Kitten that I hear people talk about a lot. It is a really pretty color. I want to share with you the looks I have found that I liked. The palettes each come with a lookbook that has 6 looks. It also comes with the Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Damsel. It is a basic black liner. If you want to see some really good swatches go to this blog post: http://www.allurabeauty.com/2012/review-swatches-stila-in-the-light-naturaleyes-eye-shadow-palette/.

1. Purrfect Cat Eye by the lookbook that comes with the palette
a. apply bare from lash line to brow bone
b. apply kitten to the lid and blend
c. apply bliss to crease and outer corner of the eye
d. wet brush and apply ebony to lash line, carefully extending the line up past the eye
What I added:
e. Eye Primer: Milani Eyeshadow Primer
f. Mascara: Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara in Black
g. Under eye moisturizer: Olay Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
h. Primer: Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector
i. Foundation: Boots No.7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Cool Ivory
j. Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Fair
k. Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
l. Blush: Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Pink
m. Lip Gloss: NYX Lip Gloss in Beige
My Thoughts: I chose a pink blush and lip gloss because the eyes were warm toned. This is a simple, natural look.

2. Ombre Sultry Eye by the lookbook that comes with the palette
a. apply bare from lash line to brow bone
b. apply sandstone to the lid and blend
c. apply gilded gold to crease and diffuse
d. apply luster to lash line and blend upwards
What I added:
Same as above except for lips I wore Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched and L'Oreal Colour Riche Anti Feathering Lip Liner in All About Pink.
My Thoughts: The sandstone color is a dark brown, so this felt like a darker look than the first one. I like it.

3. Urban Gypsy by the lookbook that comes with the palette
a. apply bubbly to lid and blend
b. apply gilded gold to crease
c. apply sunset to lash line and blend
d. apply smudge stick waterproof eye liner in damsel to upper lash line and outside corner of bottom lash line
What I added: Same as above except for lips I wore Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Afterglow.
My Thoughts: I really love these eye shadows. They go on really well and I like the colors.

4. Basic Beauty by the lookbook that comes with the palette
a. apply bare from lash line to brow bone
b. apply bliss to lid and crease
c. apply sandstone to lash line and lid, blending upwards
d. apply a thin layer of smudge stick waterproof eye liner in damsel to upper lash line
What I added: Same as above except for lips I wore Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pinkissimo.
My Thoughts: This is again a natural look. This palette has a lot of natural colors. I don't really like the eye liner it comes with. It is hard for me to apply it.

5. Midnight Dream by the lookbook that comes with the palette
a. apply bare from crease to brow bone
b. wet brush & apply night sky to lid and blend upwards
c. apply smudge stick waterproof eye liner in damsel to lash line, carefully extending the line up a bit past the eye
What I added: Same as above except for blush I wore Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, and for lips I wore Buxom Lip Gloss in Creamsicle (something else I got for my birthday).
My Thoughts: This is a sparkly dark blue on the eyes. It's a smokey look. I wore peachy coral blush and lips to complement the cool toned eyes. I really like the lip gloss. It plumps up your lips and smells like vanilla.

6. Smoky Luster by the lookbook that comes with the palette
a. apply bliss to crease and blend upwards
b. apply luster to lid and blend into crease
c. apply night sky to lid
d. wet brush and apply ebony to upper and lower lash lines
What I added: Same as above except for blush I wore L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Blush in W1-2 Bare Honey, and for lips I wore Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pango Peach.
My Thoughts: This is another dark look for the eyes. So you can do a natural eye look with this palette and a dark smokey eye. I'm surprised I liked all the looks in the lookbook. Next I want to try out some looks I found on Youtube.

These are the products I used for just about every look:

Eye Primer: Milani Eye Shadow Primer
Brown Eye Liner: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Brown
Mascara: Benefit They're Real first and then Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara in Black
Face Primer: Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector
Foundation: Boots No.7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Cool Ivory
Concealer: Bare Minerals Well Rested
Powder: Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Light
Lip Balm: Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched
Black Liner: Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Damsel
Black Liquid Liner: Jordana Incolor Fabuliner Liquid Eye Liner in Black
Bronzer: Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzing Powder Matte in Matte Light
Nude Eye Liner: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude

7. Sultry Smokey Makeup Tutorial by Hayley Thompson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qu-igNxgnk
a. Concealer over eyelids
b. Stila In the Light Palette, Bliss, crease
c. Sunset, below Bliss in the crease
d. Bare, under brow, inner half of eyelid, tearduct
e. Sandstone, outer 1/3 of lid, outer crease, blend it out
f. Brown Eye Liner top lash line
g. Gilded Gold over liner
h. Mascara
i. Foundation
j. Concealer
k. Powder
l. Benefit Hoola Bronzer, forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, hollows of cheeks: A good dupe is NYC's Sunny Bronzer.
m. Estee Lauder Blush Pure Color in Witty Peach: I used Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Sunset.
n. MAC Lip Liner in Subculture: I used Boots No.7 Lip Liner in Nude.
o. Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist: I used NYX Xtreme Lip Creme in Natural.
p. High Tech Cosmetics Instant Volume Lip Gloss in Golden Peach: I used Milani Glitzy Glamour Gloss in Puttin' on the Glitz.
My Thoughts: This is really pretty. The eyes and lips are natural and the cheeks are peach. This blush is one of my favorites.

8. Get Ready With Me: Stila in the Light Palette! by KathleenLights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvQTrLB-jRc
a. Lip Balm
b. Eye Primer
c. Stila in the Light Palette, Bliss, crease
d. Bubbly, eyelid
e. Glided Gold, outer v and into the crease
f. Sandstone, to make outer v darker and more intense
g. Black eye liner waterline, tight line
h. Bare as highlight under brow, inner corner
i. Sandstone, lower lash line
j. Bubbly to inner corners of lower lash line
k. Black Liquid Liner, top lash line
l. Mascara
m. Face Primer
n. Foundation
o. Concealer
p. Powder
q. Bronzer, hollows of cheeks, temples, jawline
r. Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St. Lucia, blush
s. Wet 'n Wild Megashield Lipstick in Within These Adobe Walls
My Thoughts: This look really brings out the eyes. I also like the peachy pink lips and cheeks.

9. Get Ready With Me: Stila in the Light Palette by KathleenLights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR5H2cycPNY
a. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk, eyelid
b. Bliss, crease
c. Sunset, eyelid
d. Sandstone, outer v and crease
e. Anastasia Matte Highlighter, nude under eyebrow, inner corner: Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow
f. Bare underbrow
g. Kitten inner corner
h. Face Primer
i. Concealer
j. Powder
k. Brown Eye Liner, tight line, waterline
l. Sandstone, lower lash line, upper lash line
m. Bliss, lower lash line under sandstone
n. Mascara
o. Contour hollows of cheeks, temples, hairline, jawline
p. MAC Blush in Melba: Elf Candid Coral
q. Kitten top of cheekbone, nose, cupid's bow
r. MAC Lipstick in Hue: Maybelline Color Sensational Porcelains in Nude Nuances
s. MAC Fix Plus spray face: Urban Decay All Nighter Spray
My Thoughts: I like it. The eyes are dark, the cheeks are coral, and the lips are nude.

10. Pink Lemonade: Summer Makeup Tutorial by Elle Fowler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BavbyCE00JA
a. Foundation
b. Concealer
c. Powder
d. Bronzer, cheekbones, temples
e. Estee Lauder Blush in Tease: I mixed L'Oreal True Match Superblendable Blush in C1-2 Baby Blossom and Covergirl Cheekers Blush in True Plum
f. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly: I used the Milani Eye Primer and Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadows in Not Just Nudes, 1st color
g. Kitten, eyelid
h. Bliss, crease
i. Tiny bit of Sunset, outer corner
j. Bare, browbone
k. Bubbly, lower lash line
l. 2 dark colors besides the light blue, upper lash line
m. Mascara
n. MAC Lip Pencil in Silly, fill in lips: Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Pure
o. MAC Dazzleglass Lip Glass in If It's Pink: MyGlam Glam Gloss in 02
My Thoughts: The lips are a little bit bold for me. I don't know if I feel comfortable wearing them. I did this look before I think, but I duped the eye shadows because I didn't have the palette. I'll try to find the link for you. http://beautydiversion.blogspot.com/2013/06/summer-favorite-makeup-looks-part-2.html The look is pretty, I'm just weird about the lips.

11. Autumn Leaves Makeup Look Using My Stila In the Light Palette by claireheartsu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFrfPeoBGlw
a. Eye Primer
b. Bliss eyelid
c. Bare underbrow
d. Sunset eyelid
e. Blend it out
f. Sandstone crease
g. Sunset lower lash line
h. Sandstone outer corner of lower lash line
i. Kitten inner corner of eye, inner eyelid, inner lower lash line, brow highlight
j. Black Liquid Liner top lash line, wing
k. Nude Eye Liner in the waterline
l. Mascara
m. Face Primer
n. Foundation
o. Powder
p. Lip Balm
q. Elf Conditioning Balm in Nice and Natural: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Creme Brûlée
r. MAC Mineralized Skin Finish (she doesn't say which one) top of cheekbones, nose: Elf Baked Blush in Pinktastic
s. The Body Shop in Coral Blush Baked to Last: Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Sunset
My Thoughts: This is a pretty look. I think it's good for any time of the year, not just Autumn.

I hope you enjoy these makeup looks and I hope they inspire you! This is a really pretty palette. I'm happy I got it.

Positive Changes Week 5

This past week was motivating for me. First, I had a personal session with a hypnotist. We have to fill out a sheet answering questions, like checking off personal successes we feel like we have achieved and writing down what are struggles are. It asked how confident I was feeling on scale from 1 to 10. I put myself down as a 2. So the hypnotist looked at my paper, and he was concerned that I was not very confident. I was totally being honest. I feel like I have been a failure on this diet plan, and I didn't feel like I was really going to lose much weight. I feel like I have been scammed sort of because you have to agree to pay the money up front, so there is no way I can get my money back. I mentioned that I had lost 4 pounds, but that was just the first week. The program says you will lose 1-2 pounds every week. So the hypnotist had reminded me it had been 4 weeks, so I was actually doing normal on the program. I just felt bad because I hadn't been continuing to lose weight. So he made me feel good. Also, since I have been exercising I might have been gaining muscle which may have reflected on the scale. They say to throw your scale away, but I like to measure myself every week. This hypnotist focused on helping me with my cravings. I hope it works.

The second day I went I went to accell where you listen to a hypnosis cd and wear the weird light glasses. I'm getting more used to it, so I think I can relax and listen to one of the voices. It was talking about how you are not on a diet program. This is changing the way you eat. I still feel like I am on a diet though because I feel like I go off the diet when I eat something unhealthy.

I wish I was better at eating healthy and exercising. There is a part of me that wants to lose weight, but then there is a part of me that wants the freedom to eat whatever I want to eat. I also don't want to waste the money I spent for this program. Part of me wants to stop making these blog posts because I'm embarrassed that I'm not doing very good, but I feel like this is keeping me accountable. It is nice to write down my feelings. I don't want to feel like a failure either. I want to finish well what I start.

Do you have any tips for me? What keeps you motivated? What do you like to do for exercise? How do you eat healthy?

Positive Changes Week 4

I feel like I got lucky this week. I weighed myself earlier than the normal day I weigh myself (Saturday), and it said I gained weight, so I felt like I could eat whatever I wanted since I already gained weight. Well, I weighed myself on Saturday and I lost the extra weight, so I'm still the same weight as I was before. I still haven't lost weight.

On one of the days I had an accell class and I remember feeling like I had been hypnotized. I had gone there feeling tired and in a bad mood, but after being hypnotized I felt well rested and in a good mood. I don't remember what it was teaching because it focuses on a subject.

The next day I went was a class, and it was about how to hypnotize yourself. I remember feeling bored.

I still struggle with overeating. I exercised 4 times this week, so that was really good.

If you have any tips for weight loss, please comment below!

Back to School Looks

Honestly, I'm not too happy about going back to school. I work at an elementary school. I don't really like changes. It takes me awhile to get used to my new schedule and everything. It reminds me of when I was a student. I feel really shy. This year I've been trained to give a statewide assessment to kindergarteners! It is the first thing they will experience. It is supposed to test what they learned in preschool. Even though not everyone went to preschool, we will still test everyone. Hopefully, the end result will be the areas of the state that didn't test well, will have funding to go for preschools in those areas. I'm nervous about testing and doing a good job. Also, other people are nervous about coming back so I find people are not always on their best behavior, adults and children.

I like this time of year for the back to school makeup looks. They are usually the type of look I like: easy, natural, and pretty. I still have a lot of looks from last year that I never did. These looks are all from 2012, but if they look good I don't think it matters. I don't think they are very trendy looks, they are just looks suitable for going back to school. I hope you like them as much as I do! I won't include any looks I tried that I didn't like.

These are the products I used the most:

Concealer: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant (under eyes), Milani HD Advanced Concealer (under eyes)
Bronzer: Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzing Powder in Matte Light
Eye Shadow Primer: Milani Eye Shadow Primer
Mascara: Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara in Black (top lashes), Maybelline Lash Discovery Mini-Brush Waterproof in Very Black (bottom lashes)
Black Gel Liner: Essence Gel Liner in Midnight in Paris
Brown Gel Liner: Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Brown
Black Eye Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero
Brown Eye Liner: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Brown
Nude Eye Liner: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude
Black Liquid Liner: Jordana Incolor Fabuliner Liquid Eye Liner in Black
Face Primer: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base, NYX Shine Killer, Pixi Flawless & Poreless Face Primer in Translucent, Hard Candy Sheer Envy Skin Perfecting Primer
Foundation: Boots No.7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Cool Ivory, Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in Ivory
Powder: Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Light, Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
Lip Balm: Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched
Setting Spray: Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray

My face routine is usually face primer, foundation, concealer, and powder. I wear this no matter what the look says. For example, sometimes it will say BB Cream, but I won't be using that because my skin has been oily these last few months. Also, I like to have more coverage than a BB Cream or tinted moisturizer. Sometimes people don't put on any powder, like if they have dry skin. I like to set my face with powder because of being oily and I want my makeup to last for a long time.

Sometimes people will wear false eye lashes. I don't do this step. Also, people will do their eyebrows. I don't include this in the look because I don't do my eyebrows other than brush them and put clear gel on them to keep them in place. I have dark eyebrows, and I don't feel like I need to put eyebrow pencil or shadow on them. I feel like it's up to the individual whatever they choose to do. Some people need to do their eyebrows and some look better leaving them natural, in my opinion. I try to keep them waxed and groomed.

Also, I wash and moisturize my face before putting on makeup.

These are 10 looks I found on Youtube that I tried out, liked, and wanted to share them on my blog. You can use the makeup they used, what I used, or something similar that you already owned. I try to find inexpensive dupes. I included the link to where you can find these looks. Sometimes it's helpful to watch the video while you do the makeup. Depending on who does the look, you can learn a lot about how to apply your makeup. I have learned so much from watching Youtube videos.

1. Back 2 School Makeup by samanthaschuerman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw0jJooYmc8
a. BB Cream with Foundation
b. Concealer
c. Bronzer, hollows of cheeks, temples, forehead
d. Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
e. Urban Decay Cream Highlight in Moonshine, top of cheekbones, nose, cupid's bow: Boots No.7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion
f. Eye Primer
g. Covergirl Quad in Coffee Shop, matte white, on brow bone and inner corner: Wet 'n Wild I Heart Matte, 1st color
h. Brown Eye Liner, bottom section of eyelid and blend out with finger
i. Same Palette, reddish copper, on lid over liner: Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone, 2nd color
j. Same Palette, yellow gold, blend it out on crease: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 5th color
k. Mascara
l. Rimmel Vinyl Jelly Gloss Lip Liner in 003 Starlet, all over lips: Boots No.7 Line and Define Lip Liner in Nude
m. Covergirl Wetslicks in Peaches and Gleam: Elf Hypershine Lip Gloss in Blossom
My Thoughts: It's really easy and it looks good.

2. Back to School Makeup Look by ForeverYours0727 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iyARZpoirY
a. Foundation
b. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line starting at the middle of the eye and wing it out
c. Mascara
d. Concealer
e. Bronzer, hollows of cheeks, sides of nose, temples
f. Wet 'n Wild Blush in Heather Silk
g. L'Oreal Color Riche in Pink Cashmere: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart
My Thoughts: This look is also really easy and cute. I used a stippling brush for the blush because it is very pigmented.

3. Drugstore Butt Naked Back To School Look by DivaMakeupQueen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMByYhyqLzQ
a. Eye Primer
b. NYX Butt Naked Palette, 3 across, 2 down, eyelid: Covergirl Tapestry Taupe
c. Same Palette, 4 across, 2 down, crease: MAC Quarry
d. Same Palette, 3 down, 4 across, outer corner: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 3rd color
e. Same Palette, top left corner, under brow: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 1st color
f. Same Palette, 3 down, 4 across, lower lash line: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 3rd color
g. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line
h. Wet 'n Wild Megachrome Eyeliner Pencil in Antique Amethyst, lower lash line: I have a Wet 'n Wild Liner in Amethyst.
i. Milani HD Advanced Concealer, under eyes
j. BB Cream
k. Powder
l. NYX Pure Nude Lipstick: Revlon Lipstick in Pink Pout
m. Mascara
n. Bronzer, hollows of cheeks, temples
o. natural blush: Wet 'n Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink
My Thoughts: This is a pretty, natural look. I love it.

4. Back to School Makeup Tutorial! by Tanya Burr http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djve2ZZeO3g
a. Foundation
b. Rimmel Sun Safari, peachy gold, eyelid: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 5th color
c. Same Palette, opposite color, crease: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 2nd color
d. Same Palette, cream, inner corner: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 1st color
e. Eye Liner, top lashes, center of lid and out
f. Mascara only on top
g. Concealer
h. Powder
i. Elf Blush in Pink Passion
j. Top Shop Lipstick in Pillow Talk: Revlon Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon
k. Rimmel Stay Gloss Lip Gloss in Always Lovely: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Pink Ice
My Thoughts: This is really pretty and easy to do.

5. Back to School Hair & Makeup by JLovesMac1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcbnhrcZWKQ
a. Foundation
b. Concealer
c. Powder
d. Neutral Lipstick: Boots No.7 Lipstick in Bare
e. MAC Bamboo, eyelid: 2nd shade in Wet 'n Wild Greed
f. MAC Texture, outer corner: 2nd shade in Wet 'n Wild Vanity
g. MAC Brown Script, outer corner and crease: 3rd shade in Wet 'n Wild Vanity
h. MAC Brown Down, outer corner and crease: 3rd shade in Wet 'n Wild Vanity
i. Gel Liner
j. Mascara
k. Bronzer
My Thoughts: I think in my list of dupes Brown Script and Brown Down is duped with the same color, so I just used the 3rd color in the Vanity palette in the outer corner and crease and it looks good. This is a neutral makeup look. It's really simple.

6. Back to School Full-Face Makeup Tutorial: Mostly Drugstore by MakeupByTiffanyD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT3q9sBE9Q
a. Concealer
b. Powder
c. Revlon Colorstay Color Stick in Torch, light side on lid: Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadows in Va Va Va Bloom, light pink color
d. Revlon Colorstay Color Stick in Torch, dark side, draw an outer v and outer 1/4 of lower lash line, dab to blend it out: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Rich Mahogany
e. Wet 'n Wild Sweet As Candy, pink color, eyelid
f. Same Palette, brown color, pat over outer v, fluffy brush to blend around edges not on lid
g. Same Palette, lightest shade, under brow and inner corner
h. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line
i. Mascara
j. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Mauve Cool
k. MAC Sheen Supreme in Supreme Style: Covergirl Lip Perfection in Romance
My Thoughts: I'm not good at doing the outer v. I don't know why it's so hard for me. Maybe because of my eye shape. This look is different than the other looks because it has pink and brown on the eyes, the cheeks are neutral, and the lips are dark. It looks good though.

7. Back to School Makeup and Hair! by fashionista804 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAzU9mHY_9E
a. Lip Balm
b. Face Primer
c. Concealer
d. BB Cream
e. Powder
f. MAC Bare Study all over lids: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige
g. Urban Decay Buck, crease: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 3rd color
h. Urban Decay Virgin, inner corners: Wet 'n Wild Lust, 4th color
i. Gel Liner upper lash line
j. Nude Liner in waterline
k. Mascara
l. Bronzer contour hollows of cheeks, forehead, chin
m. NARS Orgasm Blush: Wet 'n Wild Blush in Pearlescent Pink
n. Benefit Benetint High Beam, nose, cheekbones, cupid's bow: Boots No.7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion
o. Benefit Coralista Lip Gloss: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef
My Thoughts: The eyes look neutral, the cheeks and lips are coral. This is a pretty look.

8. Easy, Simple Back to School by BeautyChaoticLive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qn-SO-LFIE
a. Eye Primer
b. Too Faced Natural At Night Palette, Night Light, on eyelid and inner corners, lower lash line: 3rd shade in Prestige Earthling Beauty Bar
c. Same Palette, Cocoa Star, crease, outer corner and blend it out: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 3rd color
d. Same Palette, Spotlight, under brow and blend it downwards: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 1st color
e. Black Liquid Liner, top lash line
f. Gel Liner in waterline and tightline
g. Mascara
h. Concealer on lips
i. Powder
j. Bronzer contour hollows of cheeks
k. Benefit Blush in Dallas: Covergirl Blush in Soft Sable
l. Sephora Brillant Berry Lip Liner, line lips and fill it in: Wet 'n Wild Color Icon in Brandywine
m. MAC Lipstick in Sandy B: Wet 'n Wild Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 Within These Adobe Walls
n. Benefit Lip Gloss in Sugar Bomb, dab in the center: Milani Crystal Gloss in Summer Baby

9. Back To School: My Everyday Eye Look by ciaoobelllaxo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxaR300HEKk
a. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly: Revlon Illuminance Creme Eye Shadows in Not Just Nudes, 1st color
b. Urban Decay Foxy, under brow: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 1st color
c. Urban Decay Bootycall, inner half of eyelid and tear duct: Wet 'n Wild Lust, 4th color
d. Urban Decay Half Baked, outer half of eyelid, blend with Bootycall, lower lash line: left color in L'Oreal Hip Duo in Dynamic
e. Urban Decay Naked, crease: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 2nd color
f. Mascara
g. Bronzer, hollows of cheeks and temples
h. Blush, I don't know what she used. I used Wet 'n Wild Pearlescent Pink.
i. MAC MSF Soft and Gentle: Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Vegas Strip, on top of cheekbones
j. MAC Lipstick in Hue: Maybelline Color Sensational Porcelains in Nude Nuances
k. MAC Pro Longwear Lipglass in Patience Please: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Peach Petal
My Thoughts: The eyes are gold and neutral. My cheeks are peachy pink and my lips are a glossy nude. I like this look. It's really simple.

10. Back to School: 3 Looks/ 3 Shadows! by MakeupByAlli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViUadzPktfI
First Look
a. NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Honeycomb, lightest color, all over lid and under eyebrow: Wet 'n Wild Baked Not Fried, middle right color
b. Same color inner corner
c. Same Palette, golden tan color, crease and blending it upwards: I used a mix of L'Oreal Hip Duo in Dynamic, gold color with Wet 'n Wild Vanity 2nd color
d. Same Palette, brown color, upper lash line, outer corner, outer v, lower lash line: Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone, 3rd color
e. Black Liquid Liner upper lash line
f. Mascara
g. NYX Blush in Mocha: Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
h. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Perfect: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Peony
My Thoughts: I like it. The eyes are neutral. The cheeks are pink, and the lips are a glossy peachy pink.
Second Look
a. NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Honecomb, golden tan color, eyelid, lower lash line: L'Oreal Hip Duo in Dynamic, gold color with Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 2nd color
b. Same Palette, brown color, crease, outer corner of lower lash line: Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone, 3rd color
c. Same Palette, lightest color, under brow, inner corner: Wet 'n Wild Baked Not Fried, middle right color
d. Brown Eye Liner, upper lash line
e. Mascara
f. NYX Blush in Mocha: Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
g. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Perfect: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Peony
My Thoughts: In this look the eyes are more brown. The first look the champagne color was more on the eye. The blush and lips are the same as before.
Third Look
a. Same Palette, brown color, pat half way on the lid, then blend up to the crease: Wet 'n Wild Comfort Zone, 3rd color
b. Same Palette, golden tan color, crease and a little bit above: L'Oreal Hip Duo in Dynamic, gold color with Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 2nd color
c. Same Palette, highlight under brow: Wet 'n Wild Baked Not Fried, middle right color
d. Same Palette, brown color, upper lash line, lower lash line
e. Same Palette, highlight inner corner, blend over inner 1/3
f. Brown Eye Liner, tight line, waterline
g. Mascara
h. NYX Blush in Mocha: Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
i. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Perfect: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Peony
My Thoughts: I think I like this look the best. It goes from darkest color to lightest color on the eyes, a gradiant effect.

I hope you like these back to school looks. I think I'm going to come back to this later because I got some new palettes for my birthday that I'm excited to use and make blog posts about. Back to School looks work any time of the year.

Positive Changes Week 3

I'm so disappointed! I didn't lose any weight this week. I honestly don't feel like I'm being hypnotized. I feel like I'm listening to the CD's and trying to be healthy during the week. One day I went for a personal coaching session. That was my first time doing that. The lady was really pretty and nice. She did motivate me and gave me a lot of papers about eating nutritiously. She said next time she would talk with me about exercise. I read over everything she gave me, and it all looks like the standard nutritional advice that I have heard before. She listened to my issues and took notes, for when I would be hypnotized next. I left feeling really motivated. I got home and cooked a healthy dinner and ate well the whole day! Unfortunately, the motivation didn't last the entire week.

On another day I went to a class. This time we didn't watch a video, there was a teacher and she taught us the common misbehaviors of overweight people. I thought this was interesting.

1. Compelled to open the fridge. (I don't think I have this problem.)
2. Grab candy off a coworker's desk. (I don't have this problem.)
3. Whatever is on your plate, you have to eat all of it. (I do this.)
4. Candy at the checkout stand. (I don't have this problem. I did when I was little.)
5. Eat when you are not hungry. (I do this.)
6. Eat when stressed. (I do this.)
7. Drink things other than water. (I do this, but I have been getting better with drinking water.)

Then she taught us this technique for changing an unwanted behavior. I thought this was interesting. I don't know if it works. We did it in class, but I haven't done it on my own yet. They say you are supposed to do this three times in a row.

1. Close your eyes.
2. Imagine a food you want to stop craving.
3. Imagine a picture frame.
4. Put the food in the picture frame.
5. Hold your arms out in front of you and imagine you are holding onto the frame.
6. Create the desire for the item while holding it away from you. Imagine the way it looks, smells, and tastes.
7. Imagine the tension is building. You can feel it in your arms. Once it is maxed, imagine it flies 200-300 feet behind you. Say, "Whoosh!"
8. Then say, "Nothing tastes as good as thin and healthy feels."

I did this while imagining Chicken Pad Thai. I haven't wanted it since. So I don't know if it is because this technique worked, or I just haven't wanted it.

Afterwards, we put on our goggles and our headphones and listen to a hypnotizing CD. This time I brought tissues so the lights wouldn't be so bright. I tried to relax, but I just felt uncomfortable the whole time. The lights bother me, and the voices talking two at the same time is hard for me to focus on. I feel like I'm not being hypnotized. I just feel stressed. I don't know if my subconscious is listening either. One voice is telling you to imagine something, and I try to imagine it but I miss what it says because the other voice grabs my attention.

I didn't do a good job exercising because I had to go back to work a couple days last week and I was given this task to move boxes and paper and it really hurt my back. I'm not in good enough shape to do what the task required. My back hurt for the rest of the week, so I didn't exercise.

I do a good job eating healthy in the morning and afternoon, but at dinner time I have strong cravings and I want to eat high calorie type foods.

I'm also tired of listening to the hypnotizing CD's.

I'm so discouraged because I really want this program to work. I really want to lose weight. And this program is expensive. I'm afraid maybe I'm not a person that can be hypnotized.

This next week I go to accell, which is where you listen to a hypnotizing CD and there is a class on another day. My goal is to exercise this week. Also, I'm going back to work, so I don't want to turn to food to ease my stress. I need to persevere with listening to the hypnotizing CD's. And I should try that new technique taught in class. Hopefully I will lose weight this week.

September Empties!

These are products I've used up or hit pan on since my last empties post. Some of the products I didn't use up, I just didn't like it and was finished using it.

1. Differin Gel: I haven't been very faithful with using this. I'm supposed to use this every night, but at night time I'm very lazy about having a routine. This is supposed to help you not have acne, but with what I do already I haven't been having acne, so I haven't been using this. Then I found out it helps with wrinkles and eliminates acne scars! I have started using this again. Once I realized why my dermatologist prescribed this for me, I see why I need to use it. I put this all over my face at night, and then put CeraVe cream on top. You need a moisturizing cream after using this because it dries out the skin. It doesn't bother me, as long as I put on the cream afterwards. I haven't noticed it removing wrinkles or acne scars, but I will keep on using this. I repurchased this. I think it will take several months for me to notice any changes.

2. Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Dead Sea Minerals: This clarifies and renews skin. This is what it says on the back, "This anti-stress mask, with Dead Sea Minerals, instantly absorbs excess oil while clarifying and purging clogged pores. Rinse away the mask to reveal smooth, radiant, healthy looking skin." This is a bright turquoise colored mask. It really dried up any oil on my face because my face was begging for moisturizer after I rinsed it off, but it didn't sting my skin at all. I think it does what it says it does about purging clogged pores. I've been noticing my pores a lot lately. I try to pat in my primer into my pores and stipple my foundation on to them too. I've been learning more about pores and how makeup works with the pores. So I want to make sure I'm keeping them clean too, and not just clogging them with makeup all the time. I think I would purchase this in the full tube. This is just another sample mask from Walmart. I used this once a week.

3. Banana Boat Sport Performance UVA/UVB Protection Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50: I love this stuff. It has no scent, and it protects my skin. I like to put it on my chest and arms. It is non greasy and water resistant. I repurchased this.

4. Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo Pure Clean: I really like this shampoo. It made my hair feel really clean when I used it. It smells like apples. It has no silicones, no parabens, no dye, and an acerola berry antioxidant. I still have other shampoos I need to finish, but once I finish them I think I'm going to repurchase this.

5. Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base & Top Coat: I usually use this as a base coat. It lasted a long time and I liked it. I don't think I'm going to repurchase it because I'm curious to try a different base coat. I didn't use all of this. The formula started to change, and it was hard to get at the bottom of the bottle. It looks weird on my nails now that it is almost empty. I think it is old.

6. Wet 'n Wild Lust Palette: I hit pan on the 4th color. I use it as a dupe for MAC Shroom. It's a good dupe for lots of colors. It's a skintone, shimmery color. It is also a dupe for Urban Decay's Virgin.

7. Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Big Eyes Waterproof Mascara: This didn't last very long. I won't repurchase it. I think either it went bad or I liked it at first and then realized it wasn't a very good mascara. I was using two mascaras, and I figure the other mascara was doing all the work.

8. Johnson & Johnson Reach Gum Care with fluoride Floss: I got this sample at the dentist. My gums are very sensitive and I need fluoride. The dentist is always telling me I need to use fluoride things, like mouth wash and floss. I like this floss because it is gentle on my gums and it is minty. I repurchased a full size.

9. L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base: This is a really good primer. It is expensive for a drugstore primer in my opinion. It's $9.99 if you get it at Target. It is only 0.5 fl. oz. But it smooths out the skin and works really well. I have other primers that I want to use up before buying a new one. I would repurchase this one.

10. Milani HD Advanced Concealer: I heard this was a dupe for the YSL Touche Eclat concealer. I don't know if that is true or not. I like how this looks, but it creases in my fine lines. I decided to stop using it. I'm not going to repurchase it.

I hope this post was helpful for you! What items have you finished? Will you repurchase them?