Sweet Tea and Hydrangeas

A Lifestyle & Beauty Blog

5 Things I’m Currently Loving

Hey Y’all! I haven’t shared things I have been OBSESSED with in quite some time, so I wanted to share them with you today! From beauty products to accessories, these are things I can’t get enough of recently.

ColourPOP No Filter Concealer

I am so picky when it comes to concealers. I can’t stand concealers that set into any fine lines, crease, etc because I feel like that’s wasting my time of even applying it. One of my favorite concealers is Tarte’s Shape Tape which I find this one to be just as amazing/very similar. The best thing about this concealer is that its extremely affordable at $6. I love that its very moisturizing, blends out with out issues and does not crease. If you’re looking for a new affordable concealer this one is amazing!

Fake Bake Flawless Darker Self-Tan Liquid

This has become my favorite self tanner that I have tried in a long time. It smells amazing, applies easily and looks very natural (no looking all orange). Another great thing about the formula is that it is very buildable without becoming streaky. I personally do about 3 coats because I like being really dark. Depending on how many times I take a shower and shave, my tan will last about a week to a week in a half.

Anderson Lilley Candle in Super Bloom

I received this candle in my Spring FabFitFun  boxand it smells so good! The scent is a mixture of different flowers. Once the candle has been completely burned you can use it for makeup brushes, pens or anything else.

Rachel Pally Reversible Clutch in Paradise

Another item I received in my Spring FabFitFun box. I love that it’s reversible and big enough to fit my makeup essentials, sun glasses, etc in it. It’s can be paired with several different Summer looks which is a huge plus.

The Bold Type

Talk about a show that is all about empowering women!!! GIRL POWER!!!It is centered around three young women who work for the magazine Scarlet (our Cosmo). The show does a great job of addressing real life issues when it comes to love, jobs and life in general. Seriously obsessed!!!

 

What are some things you’ve been loving recently? I’d love to know in the comments below. 

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My Sephora Spring Bonus 2018 Recommendations

I absolutely love when the VIB sale comes around each year (they have one in the Winter & Spring). This sale is a great time to restock on items you already love and to splurge on those high end items you’ve been eyeing. I typically spend way too much money during both sales, but it’s completely worth it! The sale ends today so make sure to get all the items you’ve been wanting.

 

ESTÉE LAUDER Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup

This has been my holy grail foundation for the past month. It is the only foundation that I have found that stays in place all day long, especially with my oily skin. It is medium to full coverage, very buildable and does not make your face look caked on.

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

I have about five bottles of this on hand currently (obsessed much). Seeing that I live in the South anything I can do to keep my makeup in place is a must. I love that this spray is light weight and helps extend the wear of my makeup.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

This has been my go to concealer for the past few months because it is so hydrating. It blends out easily and a little bit goes a long way. It does not settle into my fine lines which is awesome.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

One of the best eye shadow primers I have ever used. My eyeshadow does not budge and goes on much smoother when I use it.

Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer

When I want a natural looking glow this is the perfect bronzer. It’s extremely blendable which I love because I do not want to have my face looking muddy.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

A staple palette for me (I’ve owned two of them already) because I am able to create so many looks with this palette. It’s also a great palette if you want more neutral shades.

Make Up Forever Skin Equalizer Primer

When it comes to having oily skin I love putting this primer on my T-Zone to keep my makeup in place when it’s crazy hot outside.

Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color

I love that I can create natural to dramatic eyebrows with this gel. The gel goes on easily and blends out without any issues, while still giving a natural look.

Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel

This goes hand in hand with the Ka-brow! Cream Gel. This setting gel keeps the eyebrow gel in place and makes it last longer. A little bit of this gel goes a long way as well.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

When my lips need some serious TLC this mask takes them to a whole new level. I love that you can keep this mask on while you sleep. When you wake up your lips feel so much smoother and softer.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Love, love, love this mask!! The formula is so light weight, non-greasy and can be used on all skin types. When my face is feeling dry or dull this masks helps bring it back to life. I love that it makes my skin look brighter and smoother.

These are just a few of the many recommendations I have! These are the staple products that I am constantly reaching for and use on a daily/weekly basis. I hope my recommendations helped you out!

What products are you going to be purchasing? I’d love to know in the comments below! 

If you want to see a post on everything I purchased from the sale let met know in the comments below as well. 

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How I Am Getting My Teeth Wedding Ready With Smile Brilliant

 

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Smile Brilliant, as always all opinions expressed are my own. 

I’ve been searching for an affordable, easy and effective at home whitening system, to get my teeth pearly white for my wedding day. I’m an avid wine and coffee drinker, so keeping my teeth white is always a challenge. With all of the pictures I will be taking for my upcoming wedding events, I want to make sure my teeth look perfect (because who wants yellow stained teeth).

In the past, I’ve gotten my teeth whitened at the dentist which became too costly, as well as used other whitening systems. I found that with most at home whitening systems, I experienced a lot of pain due to sensitivity. I also felt that the other systems were messy and a waste of time/money. When Smile Brilliant reached out to me, I was excited to see what type of results I would get from using their products.

How It Works

  1. Smile Brilliant will send you their teeth kit. The kit includes: mold paste to make your impressions and whitening/desensitizing gel. I love that they send detailed instructions on how to make the impressions with no issues. Making the impressions was a lot of fun and so easy!
  2. Once you make your impressions, you send them back to Smile Brilliant to make your custom whitening trays. Your trays are typically mailed back to you within 3-5 days.
  3. Start whitening!

 

My final thoughts

I found that the Smile Brilliant process was easy, painless and effective. I loved being able to insert the trays into my mouth while going on with my day to day routine while at home. I kept the trays in for an hour each time before taking them out. After one use, I saw immediate results; however it made me realize how bad my teeth were stained (it had been a hot minute since I had whitened them). After whitening them I would use the desensitizing gel to ensure that I didn’t have any issues with sensitivity. I will also say that a little bit of both gels go a very long way.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive yet effective at home whitening system, Smile Brilliant is the way to go! They have kits for those who do not experience teeth sensitivity and those who do have issues with sensitivity. I think that is really awesome because most whitening kits do not offer that option. I’ve included some links below for you to check out Smile Brilliant for yourself. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

Results after 3 weeks

 

Smile Brilliant FAQ

Whitening Gel

Desensitizing Gel

 

Have you heard about Smile Brilliant before? What teeth whitening systems do you use? 

Give Away

One lucky STH reader will win their own whitening kit-valued at $149. To enter, simply follow this link.

***This giveaway ends on May 17th at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to USA, UK, Australia, and Canadian residents only. Winner is selected at random.*** Good luck!!!

If you’re eager to get your own kit now, use code sweetteaandhydrangeas15, for 15% off any whitening kit.

 

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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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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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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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Friday Favorites Vol 4

Friday is finally here!! I’m happy to see it but I am also currently preparing for Hurricane Harvey, as well as battling a cold/sinus infection. The hurricane is supposed to hit us sometime today, so we shall see what happens. I’ve rode out several hurricanes in my lifetime, so it’s nothing for me to really deal with but of course they are still to be taken seriously. If it happens to be bad, I plan on catching up on sleep, reading and some blogging (at least I’ll be able to write out future blog posts because I probably won’t have electricity). I guess that is the plus side to it. However, trying to get gas today was a hot mess and the stores were cleared out of water, bread, etc. Thankfully I drink water like it’s going out of style so we always have a ton of it (yes to being a camel) and I’m so glad we have a gas stove to be able to cook during the storm. Enough about this hurricane and my random ramblings, lets to what I’m loving this week!

+This work out took my by complete surprise when it came to doing it. I was like okay this isn’t going to do much but holy moly the next day I was feeling it. Burn so good!!

+Instagram can be a a little tricky especially with this new algorithm. Summer writes an awesome post about “How To Write The Best Instagram Captions here. Go check it out! Lots of great advice!

 

+Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry” has been my jam lately. Also, can I say how amazing she looks in this video. You go girl!She makes me want to go back brunette.

 

+I’m also loving “Most Girls” by Hailee Steinfeld. It’s a great reminder that us girls are all amazing! I loved her after seeing her in Pitch Perfect 2.

+I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but the Jaclyn Hill X Morphe Palette has been my go to palette. I have been doing a somewhat smokey golden eye with it as far as my everyday type of look. To see watches and read my review click here.

+If you follow me on Instagram or read my post here, you’d know I am obsessed with Kimono’s lately. So of course I am loving this Kimono but this whole look is me! So I had to order it of course.

 

I hope you enjoyed my picks for this week!! What are you loving lately? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great weekend!!

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July 2017 Favorites

 

Each month I love being able to share what products I’ve been raving about with y’all. This month’s favorites will include some things I loved in June as well.  I seriously can’t believe July is over today, just crazy!!! Now let’s get to what I’ve been loving.

Beauty

Pelle Harmony Beauty Oil $58 for (30 ml)// I absolutely love this oil (I also love the Nurture beauty oil as well but I will use that more in the winter time)! I use it several times a week and it has made my face so smooth, soft and moisturized. Read my full review on them here. If you make a purchase use code SWEETTEA for a discount.

Sephora Pearl Sheet Mask $6// For a mask that is so affordable this is one of my favorites. Anytime my skin is feeling dull and needs a little pick me up I grab this one. It makes me look so much more alive on those days were I look like I could use a million cups of coffee.

Jaclyn Hill X Morphe Palette $38// This palette right here is amazing and extremely affordable. You can create several different looks with this palette and it has a little bit of everything as far as shades are concerned. Check out my full review here. Note that this palette is currently out of stock but should be available again next month.

 

LipSense Lipstick in Caramel Apple $25// I recently tried LipSense for the first time a few weeks ago and I’m hooked. This stuff seriously is smudgeproof, waterproof and transfer proof. I love that the Caramel Apple shade is the perfect amount of color without going overboard. So with that being said because I became a believer of the product I decided to become a distributor as well.

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Hair Product

It’s A 10 Miracle Five Minute Hair Repair for Blondes $20.58// This hair masque does wonders for my blonde hair! When my hair is feeling damaged this makes me hair look 10 x’s better. I also love that it keeps my hair look fresh and not brassy. Check out more of my favorite products from It’s A 10 here.

 So here’s all my favorites recently. I can’t wait to share some new favorites with y’all next month!

 

What have y’all been loving lately? I’d love to know in the comments below. 

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Jaclyn Hill and Morphe Palette Review

Jaclyn Hill is by far one of my favorite beauty youtubers out there. I’ve learned so much more about makeup by watching her videos. When I heard that she was collaborating again with Morphe for a second palette, I knew I had to get my hands on it (it’s the fan girl in me that loves Jaclyn). I will say though that this palette caused a lot of commotion on the internet, seeing it took two years to make it and it sold out in forty five minutes on the first launch. Good thing is that this palette will be back in stock today at 8 AM PST. Now let’s get to the review shall we.

Pricing:

This palette sells for $38 on the Morphe website and the Morphe store in Burbank, CA. I find that the pricing for this palette is a deal considering it has 35 shadows in it, so your paying a little over $1 a shadow. The only bad thing about it is having to pay $7.95 for shipping (if you live in the US) but if you live in other countries, I do believe that shipping cost $22.99 which is completely insane. I think that the shipping costs on both ends is a bit much to be honest. Maybe that is just me though….

Packaging:

Seeing that Jaclyn loves white and silver it’s very fitting for her palette to have these colors on it. I do like the packing because it is very clean; however I do find though that with it being white, it can get extremely dirty very quickly. I don’t know about y’all but when I do my makeup, things tend to get a little messy. I do like that the packaging is cardboard making it slightly sturdier than other Morphe palettes but it is still on the flimsy side. I’m also hoping that these shadows do not pop out like the other palettes which are plastic and not sturdy at all. One thing I do not like about the palette is that the names of the shadows are not on the palette itself. It comes with an insert with the names of the shadows, which to me can easily get lost. I would have thought maybe Jaclyn would have thought of that before finalizing the palette. So overall, I feel that the packing itself could have been a lot better. I typically do not travel with my Morphe palettes because they are not sturdy.

The Shadows: 

I love that Jaclyn picked a range of shades for this palette that include warm, neutral and pops of colors that is perfect for anyone.  I also love that the palette has matte and shimmer finishes. When I swatched the palette I was extremely impressed with how creamy and smooth the shimmer shades went on. However, I did find that the mattes were a little harder to work with seeing that I had to swatch them more than once to get a good swatch. The shadows as a whole are easy to blend overall. I would recommend using a primer when using the shadows.

Swatches:

***All of these swatches were swatched dry and with no primer. Also in natural lighting.***

1st Row (L to R): Enlight, Beam, Silk Cream, M.F.E.O, Faint, Sissy & Little Lady

2nd Row: Creamscicle, Butter, Pooter, Pukey, Hunts, Firework & Queen

3rd Row: Obsessed, S.B.N., Hillster, Roxanne, Jacz, Buns & Cranapple

4th Row: Royalty, Twerk, Hustle, Meeks, 24/7, Chip & Mocha

5th Row: Pool Party, Jada, Diva, Enchanted, Central Park, Soda Pop & Abyss

Overall Opinion of Palette:

I feel that this palette is one of the better palettes from Morphe as far as the formula of the shadows are concerned. I know that Jaclyn was extremely picky with making sure this palette was perfect before she launched it. She did a great job on including shades that everyone could wear which is a huge plus. I’m happy that she included a matte black in the palette because her first palette with Morphe did not have one.  If you’re looking for a palette that has a variety of shades and is affordable, this palette is perfect. Is this a must have palette, I’d say yes if you are a Jaclyn Hill fan but if not then you could find other palettes that are equally just as great. For me, seeing I am a huge Jaclyn fan, I had to have it. I hope this review was helpful!

Have you purchased this palette already, if so what are your thoughts? If not will you be purchasing it?

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