Sweet Tea and Hydrangeas

A Lifestyle & Beauty Blog

Life Lately January 2017

I am finally back from my blogging break! I haven’t blogged in almost a month and while it was much needed, I am so happy to be back into the swing of things. I’ve missed interacting with all of you, so let’s get caught up.

+I am in the process of changing things around here on the blog. Just the look though! The posts will still be the same of course. If there is anything you’d like to see on the blog let me know in the comments below and I will try my best to make it happen.

+I have lots of ideas for upcoming content. I can’t wait to get everything written out to share!

+I am working on a new blogging series with my sweet friend Leslie. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

+ I’m so excited that my wedding dress will be coming in next month. It will feel even more real that everything is coming together once it comes in.

+My grandfather has been gone for two months now. I had a lot of breakdowns last week because everything reminded me of him. I miss him dearly but am happy to be going to visit his grave again this weekend.

+I’m planning on working on my self care more this year. I will be doing a challenge soon and I’m looking forward to it very much. Would y’all like me to share the challenge on the blog?

+I want to do another Q&A on the blog. I need y’alls help with asking questions please! I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d ask me some questions in the comments below. 🙂 You can ask my anything (as long as it’s appropriate-lol).

+I got everything in place for our rehearsal dinner. Which makes me very happy. I am slowly crossing more and more items off my list of things to do for the wedding.

 

That’s everything that has been going on with me recently. Nothing overly exciting but I hope you all enjoyed catching up. I’d love to know what is going on in your lives currently.

 

Coming up on STH

+My Reflections from 2017

+My Word of the Year

+My 2018 Goals

+My Favorite Beauty Products from 2017

 

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Life Lately December 2017 + Reader Survey

Hey Y’all!! I’m so glad you are here with me today. Things have been quite around here lately, I figured it was time for some catching up. So grab your favorite drink and let’s get to chatting.

+I have been slightly disorganized lately. Life was so crazy for me in October & November, with both of my grandparents going into the hospital and then my grandfather passing away. I honestly have not had time to catch my breath especially with the holidays happening right in the midst of my family emergencies. I hate being disorganized but I’ve been exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. All I want to do is sleep lately which is probably what I need. With everything that has happened STH has suffered like crazy but life happens and there will always be blogging.  I seriously hope I get myself back on track before next year.

+I have not been feeling like myself lately. There have been so many things running through my mind about life in general and if I am making the right choices, etc. A lot of this has to do with everything that recently happened and conversations I’ve had. I’m sure that being disorganized has not helped either. It’s like I am just not feeling it lately in all aspects of my life. Hopefully some good rest of the holidays will help me clear my mind.

+I have been contemplating about changing the look of Sweet Tea & Hydrangeas. I am a little bored with my blog layout and thought about changing my blog name. Not sure what exactly I want to do yet. I think I want to stay around the same color scheme though. However, if you know any great places for WordPress.org themes,etc let me know!

+I am almost done with Christmas shopping. Thankfully I only have to get two gift cards and I am done. Next year I will be more on top of my game when it comes to shipping (hopefully).

+I had so much holiday content planned this year but I did not publish one single post. I’m disappointed in myself for that but I know a break was needed. I want to start 2018 off with lots of energy and kick butt with my blog.

+My grandfathers passing made a month last Saturday and I went to visit his grave two weeks ago. It took a lot out of me to be able to go visit but I am so thankful that I did. I broke down while sitting on his grave but I knew he was sitting there beside me telling me he was okay. At one point the wind started blowing like crazy out of know where, so I knew that was his way of comforting me.

+This past weekend I got to spend time with one of my best friends for over 11 years and it was so much fun. It felt so nice to be able to laugh and dance like fools. Sometimes a girl just needs a little bit of dancing to brighten her mood.

+I plan on getting my Blogging Bliss Series up and running again starting the beginning of next year. If you would like to be featured please let me know in the comments below. Read the previous posts here and here that I shared for the series.

+I’ve slowly gotten back into wedding planning mode and I am proud to say I have a huge chunk of items checked off my list. I want to share my wedding planning experience as well on the blog. Would y’all like to see that type of content for next year?

I hope you all enjoyed catching up with me and my life lately. What has been going on in your life? What are your plans for Christmas? 

I’d love to know in the comments below. 

 

-Reader Survey-

Seeing that it’s December, I love conducting a reader survey, to see what y’all want to see more or less of. I’d greatly appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to fill out. I want to make Sweet Tea and Hydrangeas better for 2018, so your feedback is greatly appreciated. Please, be kind but honest. Also, I will be giving away $25 in PayPal Cash to a lucky person who fills the survey out, so don’t forget to leave your email address! Thank You again so much for taking my survey.

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December 2017 Goals

 

This year has honestly flown by so quickly. I am still in shock that I am talking about my December goals already. In this post you will see that I am recapping my October goals instead of my November goals. Unfortunately in October both of my grandparents went into the hospital within a week of each other (You can read about them here and here). So I did not have much time to blog and then November came and things got really bad for me. My grandfather was said to have been doing much better and got out of the hospital, then went back in in which he passed away. It has been a very tough few months for me. However, I will leave my thoughts for another post when I am ready to talk about my feelings. A huge thank you though to all of those that sent prayers, love,etc my way during that time. I greatly appreciate it!

I always love a new month because that gives me something to look forward to as far as what I would like to get accomplished. It’s always nice to have a fresh start. Today I’m going to be recapping my October goals and share what I want to accomplish this month.

October Goals Revisited: Blog & Personal

-Set a date for my engagement photos// Yes!!! So happy this is done. I even scheduled my makeup/hair appointment for it as well.

-Start finalizing the rough draft of our wedding guest list// Yes!!! We added more people to it after realizing we had missed some people. I have a feeling we will be having to up our number of guests.

-Start looking into hotels to block off for the wedding night// Not yet. I really need to get on this!

-Write five beauty posts// This did not happen. Unfortunately with two family emergencies back to back, blogging this month got put on the back burner.

-Write five blog posts ahead of time// Didn’t happen either. I wrote three blog posts ahead of time. So I guess that is better than nothing.

-Continue working with brands// Yes!! I am currently in the process of working with a few more brands. I am excited for these opportunities.

-Start saving money for Christmas presents// I haven’t really saved any money yet for presents but I did buy a few, so I’ll count that as a yes.

4/7// I am actually proud of myself for even accomplishing four of my goals. October was a very rough month.

December Goals: Blog & Personal

-Block off a hotel for our wedding// Seeing I have not had time to do this…I really need to get on it.

-Take some time to relax// I have slowly begun to relax after all the events that took place. I need a spa day though ASAP!

-Continue to purchase Christmas gifts// I have only purchased a few gifts and have a long way to go.

-Enjoy spending time with my family over the Christmas holiday// Seeing everything that has happened recently, I just want to take all the time I can to enjoy it with my family.

-Begin drafting ideas for content for January// I already have several ideas as far as what I want to write for the month of January but I need to put it altogether.

-Start reading The Lipstick Gospel books// I saw this on my friend Leslie’s Instagram as a suggestion and I had to order them.

-Book a videographer for our wedding// I have already messaged several of them but need to make my final choice.

I hope you enjoyed the recap of my goals from October and my goals for this month. I have several goals for this month but nothing that is too crazy. I really need to take time to relax and enjoy life a little bit.

 

What are you goals for this month? What did you accomplish last month? 

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November 2017 Favorites

I honestly can not believe that I am already talking about my November favorites. It still amazes me how fast 2017 has flown by. Where did the time go? Life recently has been really crazy for me (more about that in another post) so it’s not surprising this month is almost over. Despite the fact that life has been crazy, I was able to try out several new products. So, let’s jump into what I have been loving recently.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Face Palette

I used this for the first time over the Thanksgiving break and I was extremely impressed with how blendable the shades are.  I have used some contouring products in the past and I looked like a muddy hot mess even after blending it out. The palette contains three contouring shades and highlighting shades. I do feel that even those with lighter skin will be able to use the contouring shades. I also love that this palette is refillable!

It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara

I recently stopped getting eye lash extensions and was on the hunt to try out a new mascara. I had seen previous reviews on this one and thought I’d give it a try. This mascara took my lashes from nothing to high volume with just one coat (I apply at least two coats for extra volume). Seeing that I apply more than one coat, I had no issues with my lashes becoming clumpy. This mascara is also good for your lashes because it contains strengthening biotin’s and proteins.

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream

Guys I am not going to lie with everything that has been going on in my life over the past month, my skin became extremely stressed out. I look like I had aged a little because of lack of sleep,etc. This product right here took my skin back to looking refreshed and soft. This is an anti-aging moisturizer that helps with dryness, fine lines/wrinkles and dullness/uneven skin texture. I have noticed that the lines around my eyes have slightly decreased, as well as my smile lines over the last few weeks. I can not say enough good things about this product!

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum

With all the sleepless nights I had over the last month this product was my saving grace when it came to making my eyes look less fatigued. I would put this serum on and my eyes instantly looked brighter and less puffy. It also helped with putting moisture back into my under eye area. Seriously one of the better eye creams I have used.

Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette

This is probably my favorite palette from Tarte currently. The shadows are full of warmth and just perfect for creating a neutral eye look. I love that it includes some matte shades and shimmer. The shadows are very pigmented, buttery and blend out beautifully. If you’re looking for a palette to splurge on this one is it!

Pelle Beauty Neroli + Rose Cleansing Foam

I’m a huge lover of Pelle Beauty products and this product did not disappoint. I love that Marnie uses natural ingredients in her products. This cleanser is very gentle on the skin as well as hydrating. I found that it effectively removed my makeup without any issues. It also smells really nice and not overly floral like.

Pelle Beauty Neroli + Rose Beauty Mist

This product can be used to set makeup and to hydrate your skin. I love products that can be used for more than one purpose. I use this product primarily to hydrate my skin when it needs a little pick me up. It does not leave my skin feeling sticky which is a major plus!

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Can I just say this stuff is serious lip crack and it smells amazing! I love using this mask when my lips are extremely chapped and even when they aren’t. Let’s just say that I can’t stand the thought of having chapped lips, so anything I can do to prevent that, I am all for it. This mask has moisture wrap technology that boosts hyaluronic acid and mineral that form a protective film over your lips that helps lock in moisture.

ColourPop Yes, Please Palette

This palette is perfect for Fall!!! It has oranges, reds, yellows and any shade you can think of to create that Fall look. This is the first time I’ve used any of ColourPop’s pressed shadows and these are really great shadows! I found that they were very blendable and highly pigmented. The best thing about this palette is that it’s only $16 which is a steal.

Have your tried any of these products out? If not which products would you like to try out? 

What did you love in November?

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STH Happenings// Vol. 6

 

How do I begin this post, other than saying life has been so crazy for my lately (this is why I have been missing recently on the blog, social media, etc). I thought things were settling down with everything that happened with my grandmother which I shared in this post. However, once things settled down with her, my grandfather went into the hospital as well. These last three weeks have been nothing short of exhausting and I honestly hope that the rest of 2017 goes by smoothly (I don’t think I can handle any more craziness to be honest). So today, I will be sharing some life updates and things that have been going on with my lately. I apologize now for lots of long paragraphs.

+My grandmother was released from the hospital and is now currently in rehab. She has lost usage of her right side completely, so we are hoping with therapy, she begins regaining her memory on her right side.

+My grandfather went into the hospital almost two weeks ago due to pain in his right side. The doctors told us initially that he had pneumonia and gallstones. Not too horrible right? Wrong!! They then proceeded to let us know days afterwards that he was extremely sick and pretty much probably going to die. This of course sent me into a panic attack….every emotion you can imagine, I was experiencing it. The doctors at the hospital he was in pretty much were giving up on him, which I was so mad because aren’t doctors supposed to do all they can do for people? Obviously not those doctors, they told us to go ahead and get his last wishes together,etc. I am not going to lie I wanted to punch every single one of those doctors at the hospital. So we transferred him to another hospital, which thank God they were not going to just give up on him. Thankfully he is doing much better and we can only hope that he continues to improve. If you can’t tell by now, my grandparents are my world.

+My fiancé and I flew out to Vegas last week to see Britney Spears in concert. Yes I am a Britney fan and have been since she came out with Baby One More Time (no shame y’all)! This was my birthday present (my bday was in May) but we were not able to go see her until last week. I must say the props, costumes, dancing…the whole show was amazing! I’ve seen her before in the past but Vegas was the topping on the cake. Here’s a picture of me before we left for the concert.

+I did a ton of damage recently with the Sephora VIB Rouge sale. Spent way too much money…and I don’t think I am even done yet. Would y’all like to see my recommendations for the sale? If so, let me know in the comments below and I’ll put together a post for this week!

+I’m starting to think of holiday posts that I want to do. I have lots of ideas but let me know what you’d like to see and I’ll try to make it happen!

 

That’s all that has been going on with me for the last few weeks. I hated to be away from blogging but my family comes first.

 

How have things been for you? Any exciting things going on in your life? Let me know in the comments below. 

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STH Happenings// Vol. 5

Happy Thursday!!! I am glad that I am back to blogging because things have been entirely too quite around here lately. With wedding planning, work, a family emergency and life in general, things have been happening non-stop. I wish I could pump the brakes a little and relax but life is going to be awfully busy for a while. I will admit though some things that have been happening are exciting! Here’s what I’ve been up to lately.

Happenings

+I booked my engagement photos. I’m pretty excited about these; however trying to figure out what we are going to wear….is going to drive me crazy. If you have any suggestions let me know!

+I said YES to the dress last weekend. I tried on about 25 dresses and it came down to two of them. I won’t lie it was a very hard choice but it came down to what could I dance in more (because I will be a dancing fool at my wedding). I went with a style that was not what I was originally going towards (which a lot of people say typically happens) Here is the one that didn’t make the cut. It’s so pretty though!

+My grandmother had a stroke last week which threw my family completely out of whack. Thankfully she is making small improvements and will hopefully get back to her old self again soon.

+I have been so exhausted over the last week with my grandmother’s stroke. I feel like I have not slept in years (I look like it as well). I just want to sleep all day y’all.

+I became an admin for BPP (Blog Passion Project). I am very excited to be an admin for this group. This is by far one of my favorite blogging groups because everyone is so genuine.

In Case You Missed It

+ Jan Marini Clean & Skin Zyme Review

+ October Goals 

+ My Fall Makeup Essentials 

+ Love It or Leave It Vol 1

Insta Lately

 

Happy Monday Y’all!! Yesterday I took a trip to @sephora to get some new goodies and my tried and true @urbandecaycosmetics setting spray. Testing out this @fentybeauty foundation to see if it’s worth the hype. I’ll have my review coming soon! Have you tried it out yet or any of the products? Let me know in the comments below. . . . . . @fentybeauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation in 170 @fentybeauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in Rum @fentybeauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick in Bamboo @nudestix Gel Color Lip in Wicked @laneige_us Essential Power Skin Toner @toocoolforschool.us Firming, Hydration & Pore Tightening Egg Mask @urbandecaycosmetics All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray . . . #sweetteaandhydrangeas #blogger #beautyblogger #beautyblogcoalition #makeup #makeuplover #skincare #sheetmask #photosinbetween #thatsdarling #thehappynow #theeverydaygirl #blogpassionproject #syblbeauty #urbandecay #fentyfoundation #fentibeauty #sweetwaterdecor #toocoolforschool #laneige #nudestix

A post shared by Sweet Tea & Hydrangeas (@sweetteaandhydrangeas) on

Has anything been going on in your life lately? I’d love to know how things are going for you! Let me know in the comments below. 

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Jan Marini Clean & Skin Zyme Review

This post has been sponsored by Jan Marini on behalf of BrandBacker. All opinions expressed are my own.

I share a lot of skin care products on my blog as you can see because I am a skin care junkie. I love being able to find products that truly work and share my opinions of them with y’all. So today, I am here to share another great skincare line that I was recently introduced to. As I get older taking care of my skin is something that I take very seriously. When it comes to skin care products, I want something that helps prevent aging and dull skin. When I got the chance to try out the Clean and Skin Zyme from Jan Marini I was excited to see how well the products worked out.

About Jan Marini

Jan Marini was founded in 1994 in California. The company believes in making products that focus on skin care concerns as well providing your skin with proper ingredients to help prevent and maintain aging. Jan Marini believes that products should provide results without having to make extreme sacrifices.

The products I was sent to try out are used to exfoliate the skin to help remove dead skin cells without harming or irritating sensitive skin. These products are suggested to be used in conjunction with one another to give your skin a more polished look but can be used separately as well. Both the Clean & Skin Zyme have proteolytic enzyme’s-papain from green unripened papaya and can be used on any skin type.

Clean Zyme Cleanser

I use this cleanser in the morning and at night time in place of my typical cleanser. I found that it is very gentle and does not irritate my skin, which is a plus because as I’ve gotten older certain cleansers make my skin go crazy. I loved that this cleanser was able to properly remove my makeup without any issues. I wear full coverage foundation so some cleansers do not take all my makeup off without using a ton of product.  With that being said a little bit of this product does go a long way which is also a great thing. After using this product my face very soft, smooth and more vibrant.

Skin Zyme

I use this product twice weekly and all I have to say is yes girl yes!!! I keep it on for 15 minutes as suggested and then wash it off with the clean zyme cleanser. Every time I use this my face is so soft and I have noticed that the redness in my checks have slightly decreased.  I feel like I have gotten a facial every time after using this product.

Overall Impression

I am extremely impressed with both of these products. I love how my skin looks and feels after using the Skin Zyme & Clean Zyme Cleanser. It has made my skin significantly smoother, softer and has improved the texture of my skin overall. It also does not irritate my skin nor does it make it oilier than what it already is. I do find that the price point for these products are very affordable for the amount of product you are receiving. I can not wait to check out some other products from Jan Marini.

Have you have of this brand or tried any of their products before?

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October 2017 Goals

How is it October already? I honestly feel like we were just celebrating Christmas the other day and now it’s only two months away. Insane!!! October is one of my favorite months because there are pumpkins everywhere, halloween and everything Fall!! I just really hope that this weather here get’s the message that it’s Fall.  We are still experiencing weather in the high 80’s to 90’s. I’m over it y’all!! Bring on the cold weather!!  Enough of my random ramblings…let’s get to business. Today I’m going to be recapping my September goals and share what I want to accomplish this month.

September Goals Revisited: Blog & Personal

-Work out 2 x’s a week (at least)// Yes!!! I am determined to look hot as ever in my wedding dress next year. Gotta get it all toned up!

-Finish reading The Perfect Stranger// I did not even open this book. I did no reading at all in September.

-Start using products that I receive in my Ipsy/Play! by Sephora boxes// Yes!!! Slowly but surely I am using a lot of the products I have received in those boxes. I plan on continuing to do this.

-Continue saving money for my wedding// We have saved up more money and will keep on saving.

-Write two beauty posts// I finally accomplished this!!! I wrote this post and this one.

3/4 I am so proud of myself for accomplishing almost all my goals last month. 

October Goals: Blog & Personal

-Set a date for my engagement photos// I know that we need to take them in mid February to late February in order to get the Save The Dates out in time.

-Start finalizing the rough draft of our wedding guest list// At this time we have 200 people that we can invite to our wedding. Our wedding list is around 220 right now. I was told that it’s better to over invite by some because not everyone will be able to make it potentially. We shall see what happens!

-Start looking into hotels to block off for the wedding night// Seeing that our wedding is during a huge music festival getting those rooms booked ASAP is a must very soon.

-Write five beauty posts// Seeing that I was able to write the two I set out to last month, I know I got this for this month!

-Write five blog posts ahead of time// I was doing really well with writing posts ahead of time a few months back but have slacked on this. It’s so much less stressful when I have my posts done ahead of time.

-Continue working with brands// Over the last month or so I have been able to work with some awesome brands. Some of these brands I knew and some I was not familiar with. I love being able to try out new products and working with brands.

-Start saving money for Christmas presents// Christmas will be here before we know it. I want to be prepared as early as possible, so I am not rushing last minute.

I have set a lot of goals for this month. If I accomplish all of them I will be excited but I’d be happy just getting all my wedding one’s accomplished to be honest. Fingers crossed I do well!

 

What are you goals for this month? What did you accomplish last month? 

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My Fall Makeup Essentials

Fall is officially here, though it is still in the 90’s here in TX. So of course while every one else is enjoying much cooler weather, I am over here dreaming of all things Fall. One of my favorite things about Fall is the makeup from the dark vampy lips to the burnt red, orange, cranberry and gold eye looks. Today, I put together a list of some of my favorite fall makeup essentials (with two nail polishes thrown in) that you should check out.

Eye Shadow Palettes

Morphe 350S// I love this palette because it has so many options for creating a warm golden look as well as some burnt out looks. It contains 35 eye shadows and is only $23 which is a steal if you ask me. These shadows are great quality and blend out so easily.

Naked Heat Palette// I am a huge lover of UD palette’s and this is no exception. So many beautiful shades ranging from red, warm browns and burnt orange. It has shimmer and mattes in the palette which is typically how Urban Decay does it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette// Another beautiful palette for fall probably one of my favorites so far. This palette contains fourteen shadows with matte, shimmer and satin finishes. The shades include mustard browns, sienna, burnt orange and golds.

Primers

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer// I have been trying out this primer for over a week now and I think it is going to be a perfect primer for fall. This primer is very moisturizing which is a huge plus for me because my skin tends to get drier in the fall time, which is complete opposite of how my skin is in the Summer time. To find out more about my review on this primer read here.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer// I have been using this primer for almost a year now and it is one of my go to’s. It keeps my makeup in place and is very hydrating. One of the things I really love about this primer is that it blurs out some of my imperfections (who doesn’t love that) and makes my makeup go on a lot smoother.

Blushes

MAC Plum Foolery// I have been wearing this blush for about ten years now. Obviously it is my go-to blush all year round and not just for the fall. This shade is a shimmery plum but it does not make you look like you rolled around in glitter if you prefer a more subtle blush. It have worn this shade while I have been pale and very tan. So I think it would work on a lot of skin tones.

NARS Sin// Though I have never used this blush before it is on my radar right now. I have heard a lot of great things NARS blushes, so I will probably be getting this one very soon. It is a berry shade with gold shimmer.

Pacificia Coconut Blush in Wildrose// I fell in love with pacificia coconut blushes after receiving some in my Ipsy bag. I was highly impressed with the blushes especially after being so affordable. This blush is a very subtle darker pink. I featured my love of their blushes in my Love It or Leave It post last week.

Foundations

Tarte Clay Stick Foundation// Though this is a mattifying foundation it is so hydrating!!! It glides on and blends out so easy which I love and appreciate.

Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation// This is a matte foundation as well however it does not dry completely matte. This foundation stays put pretty much all day for me and does not dry out my skin either.

Lipsticks

ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in More Better// This is a deep wine/raspberry shade. I love shades that range in the wine color because they just scream Fall. Another great thing about this product is that it’s only $6. If you haven’t tried out ColourPop yet, you should!

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Toolips// This shade is a dark plum color. It is much darker than it appears in the photos on the website. It is extremely vampy, so if you’re not afraid to rock a much deeper vampy lip this is your shade!!

Mac Lipstick in Rebel// If you love plum lips that are a true plum shade this is your lipstick!!!

Nail Polish

Essie Nail Polish in Clothing Optional// I absolutely love this shade of nail polish!!! It’s described as a natural sienna brown. It’s no overly crazy for a Fall shade but still so pretty.

Essie Nail Polish in Without A Stitch// This shade is a perfect gray. It reminds me of those rainy days snuggling up on the couch having a netflix marathon.

 

So that is all for my current Fall makeup essentials. I hope you enjoyed the products I put together.

 

What are your favorite Fall makeup essentials? Let me know in the comments below! 

 

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Love It or Leave It Vol 1

 

***This post may contain affiliate links***.

Welcome to the first installment of Love It or Leave it on the blog! This series is going to be all about the beauty products that I try out and if they are worth purchasing.  I always enjoy reading other bloggers opinions on products because it saves me money and time if the products suck. One of my goals this month to use more products that I receive in my Ispy and Play! by Sephora boxes, so this series is perfect for that. So let’s get started!

Pacifica Coconut Blush Duo// This is the first time I had ever used anything from Pacifica and I was very impressed. This duo had the shades beaming and tenderheart. Beaming is a muted terracotta and tender is a soft mauve shade. They are very pigmented and go on very smoothly as well as blend out with no issues. I find these shades to be very similar to some of my favorite MAC blushes but more affordable. I also love that the blushes are made with coconut which contain anti-aging properties. I was not able to find this duo on their website but they do have some other shades that I am sure would be great as well. They are $12 which is a steal!

Verdict: Love It

Too Faced Hangover Primer// Before putting this primer on my skin looked dull and tired but once I put this on my skin looked amazing. I looked more awake and my skin was very moisturized hence the whole reason why they call this the hangover primer. It contains coconut water, probiotics, as well as it boosts your skin’s radiance and elasticity while keeping your skin hydrated. This stuff really works!! It kept my makeup in tact with the exception of my t-zone which is always oily in the Summer time. I feel that this would be a perfect primer for anyone who has dry skin. I have normal to oily skin; however in the winter my skin gets dry at times. So I feel that once Winter hits here I will be using this primer for sure.

Verdict: Love It

Coola Face SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray// I have tried Coola’s sunscreens before and loved them, so I knew this would not disappoint. I spray it on every morning after finishing my makeup and it keeps it in place all day. If you’re looking for a matte makeup setting spray for your makeup look no further. I love that this spray contains SPF because protecting my skin from the sun is key. It also contains cucumber and aloe to help your skin stay soft and hyaluronic acid that keeps moisture in.

Verdict: Love It

TonyMoly I’m Real Pearl Luminating Sheet Mask// I love me a good sheet mask and TonyMoly is one of my favorite affordable one’s to buy. I used this face mask before I was getting ready to go to brunch to give my complexion a little pick me up. Seeing that my sleep schedule was off I knew I needed a mask to revive my skin which it did just that. My skin was extremely hydrated, soft and brightened.

Verdict: Love It

Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shine Oil// This oil smells so darn good!!!I am a huge lover when it comes to all things coconut because it makes me feel like I’m on a tropical island somewhere.  Before blow drying my hair I would take three dime sized drops of the oil and run it throughout my hair (you can use this when your hair is dry as well). Once my hair was dry it was so soft, smooth and smelled amazing. I loved that this oil did not make my hair oily even though it is an oil. I think this would be a great oil for anyone who had dry rough hair but it’s great for any hair type (I have oily hair if I do not wash it every day).

Verdict: Love It

Living Proof Night Cap Overnight Perfector// One of my new favorite hair masks!!! I applied a small amount of this to my hair and combed it out throughly then went to sleep.  Once I woke up that morning I washed it out (you don’t have to wash it out though) and blow dried my hair as I normally would. My hair was very smooth, shiny and my frizz was significantly reduced which is always a plus with this TX weather. I use this a few times a month to keep my hair looking healthy.

Verdict: Love It

New Age Beauty Charcoal Wash-Off Mask// This is a charcoal mud mask that unclogs your pores and impurities. I wear makeup pretty much every day, so my pores tend to get clogged especially my nose. This mask was extremely easy to apply which is a plus because some wash off masks are a pain in the butt to apply. Once I applied it I kept it on for the 15 minutes as suggested and then washed it off. My skin was extremely soft and smooth and I did notice the the pores on my nose were less clogged. I loved that this mask did not dry out my skin like other clay masks I have used in the past and it did not make my skin feel on fire (I’ve used some masks that have made my skin feel very hot and so uncomfortable).

Verdict: Love It

Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter// This lotion is not one of my favorite lotions to use but it’s not horrible by any means. I felt that it did make my skin a little softer but nothing that I was overly thrilled about. I also was not a huge fan of the smell which I don’t even know how to describe the smell honestly (it doesn’t stink but I’m not a fan of it).

Verdict: Leave It

Seraphine Guava Butter Creamy Lip & Cheek Stain// Who doesn’t love a multi-purpose beauty product? I will admit that I did not try this as a check stain because I am more of a powder girl when it comes to blush type products. I will say though that I loved this as a lip stain. The shade was the perfect amount of color and made my lips super soft! It glided on perfectly when applying it which is always a plus.

Verdict: Love It

As you can see I got very lucky with these products from my subscription services with the exception of one product. I love being able to try out products that I get through Ipsy & Play! by Sephora  so I don’t waste my money on the full sized products. Another plus is I get to try new brands out that I have never heard of. I hope you enjoy this new series and I plan on having several of these posts throughout the month.

Have you tried any of these products before? What are you loving or leaving lately? 

 

 

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