Afternoon Style : beauty

3/05/2015

February Beauty Finds

I've been trying to write this post for over a week now, but cold weather and being 29 weeks pregnant has gotten the best of me. 8 Naps later here we are...

I'm the type of person where I'm never really 100% satisfied with my beauty routine. There are always going to be brands coming out with new items and therefore, there will always be new items that I want to try every month. I don't have the budget to try out every new item that comes out, but I do like to try a few new things each month. I didn't post my favorites for December or January, so this post will actually encompass 3 months of products. After this, be sure to come back the last Thursday of every month to see what beauty products I tried and what I do or don't recommend. Let's get started! 

The products I've tried in the last 3 months are: 






The good: 
-$12.00, very affordable 
-a little goes a long way
-it gives you full coverage
-has a great matte texture. 
-if you have oily skin, this is a great product. 
-there are a lot of shades to choose from

The bad: 
-I have very dry skin and this product made me skin even drier- which I'm really sad about because it had great coverage
-it doesn't come with a pump and can be hard to get out of the bottle when it gets low

Will I repurchase? 
- I won't be repurchasing this because it isn't the right foundation for my skin, but I would recommend it for oily and combination skin types. 


The good:
-very dewy
-perfect for dry skin
-lasts all day
-multiple shades to choose from
-very affordable: $5-8

The bad:
-doesn't have a pump

Will I repurchase?
-Absolutely! I love this foundation. Even without the pump, I'm in love with this foundation and you can't beat the price. But take a hint, Maybelline... us girls love pumps on our foundations!


The good:
-also very dewy and it is light
-lighter and more well... luminous than the previous foundation
-comes in a variety of shades
-affordable at about $10/bottle
-Bonus: it has a pump!

The bad:
-it doesn't give me as much coverage as I need.
-very buildable but I have to put more on or powder my face throughout the day for lasting coverage.

Will I repurchase? 
-Yes. I actually plan on re-purchasing both the Loreal Luminous foundation & the fit me foundation. I generally wear the fit me foundation on days when I need lasting coverage and the luminous foundation on the weekends or days when I'm just at home.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

The good:
-I love this concealer! It is smooth, easy to blend, and it doesn't build up.
-I've also been using it as a highlighter and it has been working great for that.
-Also the color seems to match pretty well, I buy a light and it works well with my very fair skin.

The bad:
-the only bad thing I can say about it is that it goes fast!

Will I repurchase?
-Definitely!


The good:
-Very hydrating and moisturizing
-Matches any skin tone

The bad:
-It can give a little too much 'lume' or shine in my opinion
-After some time it has to be shaken to keep its consistency

Will I repurchase?
-Probably Not. I have found that I prefer BB creams to primers since they kind of have the same purpose. See more below. 


The good:
-this is great for touching up your make-up throughout the day
-it's also great for the parts of your face that do get oily (for me that's only my nose)
-it's a really great all over powder
-it's a solid powder so it's easy to control how much you are using

The bad:
-If you have dry skin like I do, too much of it can dry your skin out even more and be less of a good thing

Will I repurchase?
-Yes. It's a good powder to have around when I need it. 


The good:
-This makes contouring easy, as it comes with a blush and a bronzer
-They are very pigmented which can be good and bad
-They seem to last a long time
-This product is very affordable at only $3

The bad:
-It only comes in one shade
-You have to be extremely careful with the amount you use. You can easily use too much and totally mess up your contouring/make it too dark

Will I repurchase?
-Probably not. I will continue using it periodically throughout my make-up routine, but I'd like to explore some other bronzer options. If you know of any great bronzers for fair skin, be sure to share them with me in the comments! 


The good:
-The is exactly as it sounds... basically a lipstick for your cheeks
-I just dab some onto my brush and blend it into my cheeks
-It is very easy to blend & apply
-Very pigmented
- I really love how moisturizing it is and how it looks on my skin
-Very reasonably priced at $7-8 each

The bad:
-It doesn't last as long as powder blush usually do
-I've only seen it in about 5 shades. The have a great pink and nude shade, but I still wish there were more shades to choose from
Will I repurchase?
-Yes, despite the bads I really like this blush!


The good:
-I recently tried this lipstick when I was looking for a good, bold lip color
-It's very pigmented, but it doesn't dry my lips out
-It's actually moisturizing in my opinion!

The bad:
-I really can't say anything bad about this product

Will I repurchase?
-Yes. I have the color, "On Fire Red" and plan and trying more colors in the future. 


The good:
-incredibly satin/soft/moisturizing finish
-a little goes a long way
-has 5 shades from fair to tan-deep. I use fair and it's a perfect match
-does a great job at evening out your skin tone.
-stays on all day
-completely natural
-hasn't caused any breakouts
-makes your skin super soft
-SPF 30
-it's a primer, moisturizer, and sunscreen all in one

The bad:
-it's expensive at $34 a pop

Will I repurchase?
-even though I love this, I still need to put foundation over it. It does even out my skin immensely, but I am so pale that I need something to reinforce it after it is applied. I do like using the bb cream underneath a foundation better than just using a foundation though. I know lots of people who can wear it without foundation on casual days when they don't need a lot of make-up. My skin is quite fair and has been battling dryness lately, so I need something to reinforce it on top. As much as I love it, I don't know that the price is worth it since I do need to wear foundation over the top. Ultimately, the deciding factor will be how long each bottle lasts. On the contrary, I do think that this will be very useful in the summer months when I don't want to wear a lot of make-up. If you are the type of person who wants light coverage, I would definitely recommend this product for you. I may or may not repurchase.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

The good:
-very hydrating
-great for dry skin
-comes in 5 different shades
-very affordable at $5 each

The bad:
-I've heard that if you have oily skin, this is actually too hydrating because it can be watery
-it really didn't make a difference on my skin.
-it didn't even out my color or eliminate redness

Will I repurchase?
-No. I've heard that this works well for some women, but I am not one of this women. Although it was very hydrating and felt great on my face, it didn't even out my skin tone, eliminate redness, or really get the job done at all. If you don't need a lot of coverage and don't have a lot of redness, this may be a good buy for you though. It just wasn't for me. 


The good:
-AMAZING for dry skin
-very smooth
-doesn't dry out your skin
-it actually hydrates your skin more than any other cleanser I've used
-96% natural
-has aloe vera, shea butter, and organic carrots
-petroleum & paraben free
-it has really helped with my extremely dry skin
-it's only $8
-smells great
-can be purchased at drugstores

The bad:
-thus far, I have nothing bad to say about this product!

Will I repurchase?
-I recently was introduced to Yes To products and I am obsessed. I am kind of in shock that I could have buying this $8 cleanser all these years instead of wasting money on more expensive products that didn't even work! Ever since I was a teenager, I've hated skincare because my face is always dry and it seems that a lot of products will just make dry skin worse. However, I've finally found my match and the fact that it is so affordable and all natural is such a plus. I will most definitely be re-purchasing this product and trying other items in the product line.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

The good:
-very long lasting
-lengthening & voluminous
-wand doesn't clump easily

The bad:
-it dries really fast
-it is too thick to layer. If you do, your lashes will clump
-it is pretty pricey at $24 each
-it is hard to wash off
sho -it's thickness make it hard to re-curl your lashes after application

Will I repurchase?
-I'm really on the fence with this mascara. I've bounced between different mascaras for a while and after hearing rave reviews from women with beautiful, long lashes, I decided to give this a try. For the first few weeks, I genuinely loved this mascara. It didn't clump in my lashes and it gave them great length. However, after a few weeks I started to not like this mascara as much because it is so hard to get off. I noticed I would accidentally pull out lashes when washing my face. Also, if you accidentally leave this mascara on, it's not good in the morning. My lashes felt waxy after forgetting to wash my face and it was even harder to wash the mascara off at that point. The benefits just don't outweigh the cons of this product and I'm almost certain I can find a better mascara for a lower price in the future.

I hope you've enjoyed reading brief reviews of all the products I've been trying instead one dedicated post for each item! Let me know what you think of this series and if you'd like to see it every month.

What are your favorite beauty products? I would love to try any suggestions that you have! 

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2/12/2015

5 Tips for Thicker & Fuller Eyebrows


I often get complimented on my eyebrows and am asked how I do them every morning. I like to think that my eyebrows are one of my best features and I think you should always accentuate your best features. However, I definitely don't wake up with them looking perfect. Through a lot of trial and error, I've learned what works and what doesn't for getting that thick, full texture that is very popular right now. Here are my 5 tips for achieving thicker and fuller eyebrows! 

1. Groom them. 
I really can't say this enough- the first step to better looking eyebrows is grooming them regularly. If you are trying to get thicker eyebrows this may be the last thing you want to do, but believe me, it will help you more than you think. I get mine waxed every 4-6 weeks and I tweeze the strays every 1-2 weeks. Usually by the time the 4-6 week mark rolls around, it is very evident that they need to be waxed.  Even if you are trying to grow them out and get them thicker, you still want them to look clean and shaped. With that said, do not get them waxed at Fantastic Sam's or Great Clips- just DON'T. They will not give you the results you want. I probably went to 10 different salons/spas before I found an eyebrow lady I love, because I'm that picky. But it really is important that you trust the person who is doing your brows and that they have an understanding of what you expect from them. 

2. Let them grow. 
I know I just said to groom them regularly, but it is possible to keep them clean and let them grow at the same time. As a teenager, I had really thick eyebrows but as I got older they started thinning out. especially after a few terrible over-plucking incidences. At one point I realized how thin they had become and I wanted to figure out how to grow them out again. I found out that the key is a lot of patience- just letting them grow. You can still clean up the strays so you don't look homeless, but the best way to get thick eyebrows is to let them fill in on their own. 

3. Use an eyebrow gel. 
One thing that we may not realize about eyebrows is that they are close cousins, not sisters. Eyebrows just don't naturally match and they never will. Of course there are the people who have beautiful, perfect, identical eyebrows but those people are definitely the exception! As you're trying to grow out your eyebrows and thicken them, eyebrow gel will be your best friend. It looks like a bottle of clear mascara and can be found at pretty much any beauty of drugstore. My eyebrows have a mind of their own and like to do whatever they want to, so as I was growing my eyebrows out, there were often pieces that stuck up or just looked out of place. Eyebrow gel won't actually thicken your eyebrows or make your hair grow, but it will hold those pieces in place and help tame them. My favorite is the Ardell Sculpting Gel.

4. Fill them in. 
This is possibly the most popular way to get thicker eyebrows right now... I mean it's like pure magic. Filling your eyebrows in can completely transform them and make them look thicker & fuller. However, there are definitely good and bad ways to do it. 
-You should always follow the natural shape of your eyebrow. If you color outside the lines, people will know. 
-Make sure you match your color closely and do not go too dark- I see this mistake happen all the time. People use too dark of a color on their brows and you can totally tell. I think the key to filling in your eyebrows is so that they look natural and people can't tell what your secret is!
-Always clean them up after with a q-tip. No one's eyebrows are perfectly square, and cleaning up the edges with a q-tip will give you the natural look you want. 

I've used several eyebrow pencils/crayons and the one I like the most is the Clinique Instant Lift for Brows. This is more of thin crayon than a pencil and it works great. It also comes in a wide range of shades for those with light and dark hair. 

5. Use a mascara wand. This thing is seriously like a secret weapon. I buy my eyebrow pencil at the Clinique booth at Dillard's and they give me these wands for free every time I go in. They are basically a small mascara wand- but they're clean and dry. They work better than an eyebrow brush, in my opinion- to smooth out your brows and shape them. Here's a tip: once you put on gel and fill in your eyebrows, use the wand to make sure every hair is in place where you want it. When you have the thick shape you desire, spray a bit of hairspray over the wand. Then run that over your brows and outline the edges and your brows will stay put all day! 

These are the best tips that I have found that work for me, but everyone is different. There are so many products on the market for eyebrows now and so I'm sure there are many that work. I encourage you to try these out and see what works best for you! Below are all the products that I've mentioned in case you'd like to try them. 


What do you do for your eyebrow routine? 


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11/03/2014

Rose Gold Nails Tutorial Featuring Jamberry Nails & a Giveaway

Announcement: The winner of the KendallJane Boutique giveaway is Caitlin Odom. Expect an e-mail from me this week and please make sure you reply within 24 hours to claim your prize! 


There is not another color in the world that I love more than rose gold... I love it in my jewelry, my make-up, and now on my nails! And when I found out that I could actually obtain a rose gold nail color... I was ecstatic

The secret to these beautifully colored nails are Jamberry Nails. This is the fourth or fifth time that I've used them and I absolutely love them! 

That is the full sheet that you get! They are all the same color, but the light makes them look like they are different shades. Each tab is a different size, so they can fit on any size nail and any length!





The great thing about these nail wraps are: 

-they are heat-activated, vinyl nail wraps. 
-they are formaldehyde-free and non-toxic (unlike many nail polishes.)
-they won't damage natural nails and can also be used on artificial nails 
-they go on your nail for an easy, fashionable look and they last up to 2 weeks! (Much longer than nail polish lasts!)
-they do not chip, smudge, crack, etc. 
-you can wear them on your toe nails too, where they generally last up to 6 weeks. 
-Each pack can create more than one manicure and they have over 300 different patterns & styles to choose from. 


My tips: 

I swear by Jamberry Nails and I love that they stay on a lot longer than nail polish. If you're like me and you don't have time to paint your nails every week, then these are for you! Although I love Jamberry Nails, here are some tips I have that will make application easier and smoother- pun not intended! 

-Watch this youtube video when you are ready to apply your Jamberry nail wraps for the first time. It will walk you through the whole thing. 
-They talk about this in the video, but make sure you clean your nails with alcohol before-hand and use a hairdryer to activate the wraps. 
-I recommend putting the wrap on your nail (seen above) before cutting it at all. Then once it is applied, cut it around the edge. Leave a little bit of room so that it isn't too short and file the excess wrap off. I always end up using 1 entire wrap for two different nails and still having extra scraps. 
-make sure you smooth out your nail wrap as soon as you put it on. 
-measure the wrap's size against your nail before putting on your finger. Once it's on, you can take it off, but it just makes it easier. 

Lucky for all of us here on Afternoon Style today, Lyssa Beth, my personal Jamberry Nails consultant is kindly giving away one lucky winner a sheet of Jamberry Wraps! Follow the giveaway below to enter. 

If you are excited and just can't wait to try Jamberry Nail wraps, then you are in luck! Head on over to Lyssa Beth's page HERE and you can pick out your very first pair of nail wraps! 

My favorites are: the gold leopard, the metallic gold stripe, and the reminisce. These are all wraps that I have used and loved. 

disclaimer: giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents ONLY. Must be 18 years old to enter. Giveaway closes on 11/10. Winner will be announced on this post and notified via e-mail. 













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10/09/2014

NYX Finishing Powder Product Review


I'm normally set in my ways with my make-up routine... until something isn't working anymore. Last month, I realized that my powder/foundation situation was no longer working. I'm not a big powder person because I have dry skin and the last thing I want to do is make it worse. However, I noticed that my foundation wasn't giving me full-day coverage. Part of the problem was my foundation, but that story is for a different post. 

When this problem occurred, I did what any normal person would do: I spent an hour in the the make-up aisle at Target. I was looking at a variety of primers, foundations and finishing powders. I totally swear by NYX products and I think they're amazing! Have you tried their mascara? It's my fave. 



Anyway, I found this NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder. It sounded appealing- so I bought it. 

This is available in a few different shades. You can either get the mineral powder in your skin tone OR you can get the translucent powder (I chose this one because it will work with any skin tone). 



The good: 

-There is a lot of powder in the container. I'm sure this will last me for well over one year. 
-You barely have to put any on your face for full coverage. 
- I like how the container has tiny holes inside, so it is easier to put the powder on your make-up brush and to prevent it from spilling everywhere. 
-It is SO easy to apply. All you do is get a tiny amount of powder and dab it (do not brush it) onto your face.
-The color. As mentioned before, the powder is white and I love that! It doesn't make you look ghostly or pale. It just blends in with your natural skin tone and fills in your pores. It can be hard to find powders that match your skin exactly, so this is a plus!
-It makes your skin silky & soft! I love how it feels. 
-The number one reason: It keeps your make-up on!! I apply moisturizer, then highlighter, then foundation, then bronzer, then blush, and then this powder. I get ready around 8 a.m. every morning and when I get off work at 5 p.m. my skin is still glowing and full of color! 
-It is extremely affordable. It's only $10 at Ulta, find it here or you can buy it at Target too. 


The bad: 
-You cannot be generous with this stuff. Less is more. If you put on too much, it will make your skin very dry and it will look weird. 
- I can't put it on my nose because since that is the most dry part of my face, it will dry it out more. 
- I don't recommend applying it under your eyes. It seems to bring out the bags under your eyes, unfortunately. 
-If you are too generous with the powder, it will go everywhere. Beware of putting too much on your brush or it will get all over the counter!

Overall, I strongly recommend the NYX Finishing Powder. I use it almost every single day and I have seen great results. The goods definitely outweigh the bads. Times like 500... or more. My whole purpose in using this product was to see if it would help keep my make-up on and it did! 

Have you used the NYX Finishing Powder before? What did you think? 

Do you use a different finishing powder? If so, I'd love to hear all about it so I can try it out! 

Thanks for reading! 

This post was NOT sponsored by NYX and all opinions are based on my own experience with the product. 



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9/15/2014

Fall Make-up Routine

When it comes to make-up and beauty products, I'm pretty consistent with what I use for the basics. I don't change up my foundation, eyeliner, mascara, highlighter, etc often- unless I'm not satisfied. However, I like to rotate different blushes, eyeshadows, bronzers, etc out from day to day, especially when the seasons are changing. 

I recently deciding to try some new products for long term use, but also to make my make-up more appropriate for fall.

Here's what I used: 

New Products: 

Basic Everyday Products:




This is a great foundation for the fall. It gives even coverage and it stays on all day, without feeling too heavy. See it here


I really love this blush stick! I chose the color nude because I was looking for a bronzer for fall, but I never have good luck with bronzers. This is very soft and goes on easily with a brush. It works as a bronzer and a blush, which I love. See it here. (Excuse my chipped nail polish!)



This stuff is fantastic. It helps keep my make-up on all day, so that I don't have to reapply it. I put it on over my cheeks, forehead, and chin after I apply my foundation and blush. I don't put it over my nose because that is where my skin is especially prone to be dry in cooler months. I have it in white/translucent, which shows up clear. You can also get it in light, medium, or dark- but I am satisfied with the translucent and haven't tried the tinted version yet. See it here


This is my favorite eye shadow palette and pretty much the only one I've used in 2014. It has 20 different shades and there are so many possibilities. I think that this is just as good as the naked palette, but for a fraction of the price and you get more. 


My go-to for my eyebrows. I highly recommend it. I use the deep brown. See it here






I have had some questions about my specific eyebrow routine and I will be sharing that in a full tutorial soon! If you would like to see any specific product tutorials or reviews for these products, be sure to let me know and I can work on that! 

What are your go-to products for your fall make-up routine? I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail at: afternoonstyleblog@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!

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11/08/2013

Nautical in Autumn

I feel like this week was so long. Is that just me!? Thank goodness it's Friday now! Do you guys have any big plans this weekend? Brogan and I don't have much planned. We are going to see Brogan's brother and his wife and our adorable little niece, so that will be fun! I will also be locking myself in my office so that I can make bracelets galore this weekend. I am participating in a craft show next weekend so I am trying to get ready for that. If you haven't already checked out my online shop, please do! 

I have an outfit post for you today, but first: a few orders of business. 

1. Thank-you to everyone who entered the $300 Target Giftcard Giveaway! The winner is Katie Hanson. Please e-mail Lily at lilyac13@gmail.com to claim your prize. 
2. Remember when I posted about the Bloggers Give Back Event earlier this week? Well today I am hosting an auction with JJ Walters Designs on their instagram page. It will begin at 1 PM MST and the items auctioned will be jewelry, clothing, and accessories. 100% of these funds will go to the BGB fund. Follow us @jjwaltersdesigns to join in on this fun auction and to see all the rules!

This outfit: I am loving this J.Crew oxford that I bought from a fellow fashion blogger on instagram. I am seriously obsessed with oxfords this season and I can't stop wearing them! I think it's because they are comfy and casual but they also have a classy and dressed-up touch to them. It's a win-win. This specific top has a blue-striped pattern, which reminds me of all the nautical trends that were circulating this past summer. So I of course had to wear my Sperry's with it! I also paired this scarf with it because I just can't get enough of pattern mixing these days. 

Also: This is my new favorite shade of lipstick. It's the NYX Matte Lipstick- which I LOVE, in Pure Red









oxford top: J.Crew, bought from another blogger, similar here // jeans: H&M // shoes: Sperry's // tassel bracelet, emerald bracelet, navy rhinestone bracelet: JJ Walters Designs // tartan infinity scarf: JJWD

I hope everyone has a good weekend! 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am taking part in the 30 Days of November Gratitude Challenge that Chelsea started. 

Follow me on twitter to see what I've been counting my blessings for and join in if you'd like! 


 
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