April Favorites

Favorite Movie

The Longest Ride: I just got done reading a Nicholas Sparks' book, so I was in the mood to see this movie. I am reading the book now. It is a really sweet love story. Actually, two love stories. I heard someone say that you are a push-over if you like these kinds of movies. I don't think so. What's wrong with liking a sweet love story? It is inspiring to read or watch these kinds of stories because you can hope that something like this can happen in your own life.

Favorite TV Show

Fated to Love You: Here is another love story. It is a K-Drama. Remember I watched my first one last month? They are very cute! This is a lot like the one I liked last month. The girl is nerdy, the guy is rich and crazy. There are two love triangles. The girl and guy get drugged and end up sleeping together! She gets pregnant, and he is supposed to have an heir, so they decide it would be best if they get married. I haven't finished watching it, but it seems like they are going to fall in love. The show is funny, but it is also dramatic. But it isn't so dramatic that it makes me depressed at all.

Favorite Book

This book was so good! I have read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. His books are very easy to read, and they are just sweet, simple, love stories. It sort of teaches you how a good relationship goes. Something to hope for or to inspire you. The girl is starting over in a new town. She has a mysterious past. The book reveals what she is running from, and you can compare her new life with her old life. It gets really exciting! There is a surprise ending. I didn't see it coming.

Beauty Favorites

Elf Poreless Face Primer: I think this does a good job. It is inexpensive, and I used it all month. It makes the foundation go on smoothly.

Lush Happy Hippy Shower Gel: I got this in my surprise package from my friend. I had sent her a Lush goodie box, so she sent one to me. It had Spring bath things. This is my favorite thing in the box. It smells like grapefruit. I love the way this smells, and feels.

The Balm Balmsai Palette: It says, "We like our boys like we like our brows...in shape!" This is an eyeshadow and brow palette. It comes with stencils for your eyebrows, and eyeliner stencils! I think this helps me to do an eyeliner wing that matches. This was on sale on Hautelook. I don't know why I am a sucker for The Balm on Hautelook. I really don't need any more palettes.

Milani Color Statement Lip Liner in Nude: I think this is a Kylie Jenner type color. It is a matte nude. It looks like my lips but better.

Favorite Songs

1. Once In a Lifetime by Landon Austin

2. Revolution Town by Son of Dave

3. New Romantics by Taylor Swift

4. Pompeii by Bastille

5. Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne) by Clean Bandit

6. Because I'm Stupid by Kim Hyun Joong

7. Bright by Echosmith

8. Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks & Don Henley

9. Made New by Lincoln Brewster

10. Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon

11. Want to Want Me by Jason Derulo

12. Earned It by The Weeknd

April Birchbox

I like this box. It reminds me of Spring and my Grandma.

The card says, "There's a reason they call it spring. The fresh blooms and fresh air have put a bounce in our step, and we're thrilled to update our look (hello, new colors and trends). Even your Birchbox has gotten in on the fun: This month's box features an exclusive print designed by Rifle Paper Co. Founded by a genius husband-and-wife duo, the brand is known for its stunning illustrations and covetable stationary - we love them, and hope you do too!" The back of the card has a list of all the products in the box, and a description.

Clean Original Eau de Parfum: "This airy scent blends light fruits and florals for a freshly washed feeling. Spritz onto pulse points like wrists, neck, and behind the knees." I have had samples of this perfume before. It smells like laundry detergent. I can't make my mind up if I like it or not. At times it is a pleasant smell to me.

Not Soap, Radio Body Wash - Bathing with sharks: "This richly foaming cleanser has an energizing, beachy scent. Massage generously into damp skin, then rinse away - or add a dollop to your bath." It smells good to me. I will use this in the shower. I like using these kinds of body washes instead of bars of soap. I am still finishing all the Lush shower gels and Fortune Cookie body wash, but I can add this to the mix.

Paula's Choice RESIST 25% Vitamin C Spot Treatment: "This concentrated treatment fades dark spots, combats redness, and minimizes fine lines. At night, lightly pat onto dark spots and wrinkles. Wear SPF during the day." I have heard nothing but good things about this brand. I will try it out. I am skeptical about products like this because I'm not sure I see them working.

Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain: "This multitasking, long-lasting color adjusts to your skin for a natural, customized shade. Glide onto lips. Dab onto cheeks and blend well." I like products like this. I will have to try it out. I think the shade is Forever Pink.

Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel: "This acid-free peel gently exfoliates for instantly softer, smoother, brighter skin. Apply to clean face and massage to slough off dully, dry skin. Rinse away." I haven't exfoliated by face for a while. I probably should get back to doing that. Don't they say you should do it once a week? I can't remember. 

This will be fun to experiment with these new products this month. It seems like the IPSY bag had more makeup in it, and the Birchbox had more skincare.

April IPSY Bag

The IPSY Bag for this month looks Bohemian. I like it.

KCO Colors Lipstick in Natural Born Beauty: This reminds me of the Kylie Jenner lip color that has been so popular this year.

Jor'el Parker Femina Perfume: The notes are meyer lemon, white grapefruit, satsuma mandarin, summer forsythia, pink plumeria, wild verbena, and tahitian vanilla. It smells OK to me. I'm not sure if I like it. It may be too strong.

Hikari Blush in Tango: The blush color is on the left side. It is a bright, matte pink. I think it is pretty. 

The Balm Nude Dude Palette in Flirty: It is a pretty brown and gold shimmery color. It is on the right side. I like The Balm eyeshadows.

Lather Ultra Light Face Lotion: I haven't tried this yet. It is an everyday facial moisturizer.

I like what I got in this IPSY bag. Nothing is very exciting to me to be honest. I wonder if I should have subscribed to this bag.

Pretty Makeup Looks

These are looks I found on Youtube that I have copied and liked. I use my own makeup, and sometimes it is the same as the person doing the look. They are not for a particular season or fall into a certain category, like "Back to School Makeup", so that is why I group them all into "pretty makeup looks." I tried to find a drugstore dupe, but if I didn't I listed the color so you could dupe it with the makeup you already have.

1. Makeup Tutorial: NARS Anna & Naked 3 by AllThatFresh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH4soAERhcE
a. Foundation
b. Concealer
c. Eye Primer
d. Brows
e. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette in Limit (light dusty rose matte), crease
f. Nooner (medium pinky-brown matte), crease
g. Burnout (light pinky-peach satin), lid
h. Dust (pale metallic pink shimmer with iridescent micro-glitter), lid: Wet 'n Wild Walking on Eggshells, eyelid color
i. Concealer, under eye triangle
j. Powder to set concealer
k. Liar (medium metallic mauve shimmer), outer lid, crease
l. Strange (pale neutral pink matte-satin), under brow
m. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line, wing
n. Nooner, lower lash line, wing
o. Mascara
p. NYC Sunny (matte bronzer), back of the cheeks, temples
q. NYX Taupe (cool brown), under cheekbones, temples
r. Jordana Blush in Rose Silk (matte, light pink/mauve): Revlon Photoready Sculpting Blush Palette in Berry
s. Nude Lip Liner
t. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anna (smoky rose, semi-matte finish): Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Rosy Nude
My Thoughts: I don't contour my face anymore because it just looks unnatural on me.

2. Everyday Makeup Tutorial Wing Liner by MakeupByEvon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UerU74axLQ8
a. Foundation
b. Concealer
c. Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St. Lucia, bronzer side (has sparkle) in the crease
d. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line, wing
e. Dark matte chocolate brown, lower lash line
f. Mascara
g. Bronzer, under cheekbones, temples, hairline, nose, chin
h. Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St. Lucia, blush (has sparkle, peachy/pink) on cheeks and nose
i. Chapstick has a pink tint: Elf Conditioning Lip Balm in Peaceful Pink
My Thoughts: This looks is really quick and easy, but it looks polished.

3. Simple 3-Step Glam Purple Smokey Eye! For ALL Eye Shapes & Colours by Chloe Morello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX4ND0dR0yA

a. Max Factor Excess Shimmer in Pink Pearl (gel, lavender), lid, lower lash line

b. Max Factor Liquid Effect Eye Liner Pencil in Violet Voltage (purple), upper lash line, lower lash line, smudge it out

c. Hourglass Ambient Blush in Mood Exposure (soft plum, satin): Rimmel Mauve Cool

d. Chanel Mouche de Beaute Illuminator, top of cheekbones

e. Max Factor Brown & Nude Lip Liner (natural, peach), line and fill it in: Jordana Tawny

f. Max Factor Colour Elixir Maroon Dust Lipstick (brown, pink): NYX Lip Gloss in Natural

4. FAV Eyeshadow Combos | February 2015 by macshadowcombos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXhS9RygadE

a. MAC Teal Pigment (metallic teal), inner half of lid

b. MAC Black Tied (matte black base with silver sparkles on top), outer half of lid, 8^th shade in Wet 'n Wild Blue Had Me At Hello
c. MAC Copperplate (matte, grayish brown), crease

My Thoughts: For blush I wore Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, and for lips I wore Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Peach Pango. I thought at first it wouldn't look good on me because I thought it was more of a cool-toned look, but I think it looked good on me.

5. #EverdayGlam Makeup Tutorial by TheMakeupChair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6C-rkkL6_U
a. Face Primer
b. Foundation
c. Concealer
d. Powder
e. Benefit The Rockateur Blush (shimmery rose gold): Milani Baked Blush in Rose D'Oro
f. Eye Primer
g. Brows
h. Mememe Bronzer Shimmer Stack (shimmery bronzer), warmer shades, crease
i. lightest shade, under brow, inner corner (shimmery cream)
j. Blend it out
k. Mascara
l. Benefit Rockateur Lip Gloss (rose gold)

6. Makeup & Outfit Ideas for Work! by AllThatFresh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS-YmMCOuz8
a. Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, Salted Caramel (warm-toned, muted, medium orange with hints of brown and a matte finish), crease
b. Hazelnut (medium-dark, golden bronze with a soft, frosted sheen), crease
c. Haute Chocolate (slightly muted, dark chocolate brown with warm, reddish undertones and a frosted finish), crease
d. White Chocolate (warm-toned, pale beige with a matte finish), blend edge of eyeshadow out
e. Salted Caramel, blend everything out in the crease
f. White Chocolate, under brow
g. Marzipan (warm, peachy-orange with a frosted, slightly metallic, finish), lid
h. Haute Chocolate, lower lash line
i. Becca Flower Child Blush: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
j. MAC Soft and Gentle, top of cheekbones: Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki
k. Sonia Kashuk Lipstick in Nude Pink
My Thoughts: I love the rose gold color on the lid. The lipstick is the perfect nude pink color for my skin coloring. It doesn't wash me out.

7. Prom Tutorial | Makeup, Hair, Outfit by MsRosieBea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsdncJSw0A
a. Inglot 351 (white), lid: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 1st color
b. Inglot 335 (matte rusty orange), crease, lower lash line: Wet 'n Wild Desert Festival, upper right color
c. Inglot 11 (champagne), lid: Too Faced Sugar & Spice Palette, Champagne Truffle
d. Inglot 43 (bronze with a hint of gold), outer half of lid, lower lash line: NYX Bronze Smokey Look Kit, 3rd row, 3rd color
e. Blend it out.
f. Inglot 21 (bronze brown pearl), outer half of lid: Physicians Formula Brown Eye Candy, 3rd color
g. Blend it out.
h. Stila's In The Light Palette in Ebony, upper lash line
i. Same Palette, Kitten, inner corner
j. NYX Blush in Coral Dream (midtone coral pink with a matte finish): Milani Lady Rouge Rose Powder Blush
k. NYX Lip Liner in Natural, line and fill it in: Jordana Lip Liner in Tawny
l. MAC Lipstick in Hue: Maybelline Color Sensational Born With It
m. NYX Lip Gloss in Fortune Cookie: NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Natural
My Thoughts: The blush is a pretty color. It is a good quality blush. The Tawny Lip Liner reminds me of a Kylie Jenner type lip color.

8. My Go-To Long Wearing / Simple Makeup Look by Casey Holmes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6vPz-bdvU
a. Makeup Geek Creme Brûlée, crease: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette in Salted Caramel
b. Makeup Geek Preppy, crease: Too Faced Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar in Mousse
c. Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma, lid: The Balm Nude'tude Palette in Stand-offish
d. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line
e. Makeup Geek Infatuation Blush: NYC Blushable Creme Stick in South St. Seashell
f. Shimma Shimma, top of cheekbones
g. Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean, under brow: 4th shade in Wet 'n Wild Lust
h. Black Eye Liner, waterline
i. Darker brown, plum undertone, lower lash line (I skipped this step.)
j. Preppy, lower lash line
k. Essence Lip Liner in Soft Berry, line and fill it in: Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Baby Berry
l. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in London: Bonnebell Lip Lites in Cappuccino
My Thoughts: I feel like the lip color brings this look together. Her version is more of a purple lip, while mine is more of a berry. I like the berry color more.

9. Peachy Pink FULL FACE PROM Makeup Tutorial by Carli Bybel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1cGN0N3SJg
a. L'Oreal La Nude No.2 Palette, grayish brown color, crease: MAC Quarry
b. Same Palette, darker brown, smaller blending brush, outer lid: Wet 'n Wild Vanity, 3rd color
c. Makeup Geek In the Spotlight, lid: The Balm Nude'tude Eyeshadow Palette in Stand-offish
d. Makeup Forever Diamond Powder in Rue La Boetie, lid: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Amthyst Ablazed, top glitter
e. Black Liquid Liner, upper lash line, wing
f. In the Spotlight, center of lower lash line
g. L'Oreal La Nude No.2, 3rd and 4th color, pencil brush, outer 1/3 and inner 1/3 of lower lash line: MAC Quarry
h. Diamond Powder, lower lash line
i. White Eye Liner, waterline
j. L'Oreal La Nude No.2, 1st color, under brow: Wet 'n Wild Lust, 4th color
k. Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Pink and Peach, top of cheekbones, nose: Boots No.7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion
l. L'Oreal La Nude No.2, 1st color, top of cheekbones
m. MAC Toledo Ombre Blush in Ripe Peach: Sonia Kashuk Blush in Sunset
n. MAC Boldly Bare Lip Liner: Elf Feather Proof Moisturizing Lip Liner in Bark
o. Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick in Kimchi Doll: Wet 'n Wild Megalast Lipcolor in Just Peachy
p. Gerard Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Coral Craze: Palladio Herbal Lip Gloss in Clearly Coral

10. "No Makeup" Makeup Tutorial by Rachel Clark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz5NLLo8ZuI
a. Maybelline Master Glaze Cheek Cream Blush, I used Pinched Pink
b. Benefit's Watt's Up, top of cheekbones, nose, cupid's bow
c. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette, Naked 2, crease: Revlon Colorstay Palette in Attitude, top right corner
d. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, under brows
e. MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl, line and fill it in: Jordana Easyliner for Lips Retractable Pencil in Tawny