October Favorites

I love reading other beauty bloggers' monthly favorites, so I decided to join in on the fun! Get ready for... October Favorites! What did I go gaga over this month?

Impulse Buy Monday: Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain

It's that time of the week again, where Monday rears its ugly head and we must all return back to work (or school, or whatever you got going on!). This week, I bought and tried out Revlon's new Colorstay Moisture Stain from Ulta.

I've seen this new lipgloss popping up here and there on the beauty blogger radar, and not only was Ulta running a sale on Revlon lip products, but I also had two coupons so I decided to give it a try. Otherwise, I think its regular price point of $9.99 (Ulta) is a little steep for drugstore brand lipgloss. I picked out the shade Barcelona Nights, but right away I was unhappy with the shades offered at my local store. Barcelona Nights was the shade most appealing to me out of my choices, but I felt that the ones offered were just not attractive in general.

Barcelona Nights from the package is a reddish pink, bordering on magenta. It reminded me of

So Many Foundations

As I've mentioned many times before, I love bareMinerals Original Foundation. It's my go to, everyday HG product. It's easy to use, doesn't cost an exorbitant amount of money, won't aggravate my acne-prone skin, quick to apply, and lasts forever (seriously, I opened my current jar in December and I'm only getting to the end now).

But I'm going to let you in on a little secret... sometimes I cheat on my beloved bareMinerals. I'm only human, and humans get bored! Let's say it is a Saturday, and I'm on my way out for the evening, and I want that dewy look. Am I going to reach for powder foundation? Heck no. That's when I go to a nice liquid foundation. Or maybe I just don't feel like doing the whole bareMinerals routine of tap, swirl, and buff. Yes, sometimes I am that lazy. That's when I grab my pressed powder and quickly swipe it all over my face. Sometimes I just need to switch it up, but that's when this happens:

Quite a collection of foundations! These are only the foundations I could put my hands on right away, I fear there are more lurking in the shadows. Some of these are for touch-ups and live solely in my purse. Some hang out in my makeup storage and only see the light of day when I'm in the mood. Some of them are even unopened! But each one has their pros and cons.

My favorite, obviously bareMinerals Original, I'm going to skip. Y'all know I'm in love.

My favorite liquid foundation would be the bareMinerals bareSkin liquid foundation. Check out my review here, however I haven't been grabbing for it much lately. I've also found that if you don't use it for a while, you have to really, really shake it to get all the liquid mixed up again.

Instead, I've been digging the Cover Girl Whipped Creme foundation. It has a weird smell, but fantastic coverage and doesn't feel at all heavy. Also, it blends very easily.

When I'm looking for a more full coverage powder, I go for the bareMinerals Ready foundation. This stuff is serious, folks. A lighter hand is a must with this, as it can get a bit cakey if you use too much.

My favorite for touch-ups is L'Oreal True Match Mineral Powder. The compact is tiny enough not to take up too much space in my bag, and the amount of coverage is perfect for those quick fixes I need midway through the day on my oily spots. By itself, however, this foundation does not provide as much coverage as the loose or pressed bareMinerals powder.

One foundation I always keep on hand just in case is Cover Girl Clean Makeup. It's a classic foundation I've been using since college. It's a basic, medium coverage foundation that never goes out of style. If you're new to foundations, try this one out, it's a good beginner.

And I just purchased a brand new (to me) foundation, Revlon ColorStay Makeup liquid foundation. I've heard so many great things about this drugstore gem from other beauty bloggers, so I decided to pick it up for myself. I'd love to find a full coverage foundation that stays put during the day, so I'm looking forward to seeing if this lives up to the hype.

What are your favorite foundations? Do you find yourself switching up your routine now and then?

PS I just thought of a foundation I forgot to include, my IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation. Check out my review here.

Impulse Buy Monday: Jesse's Girl Eye Color Collection

Happy Monday! Or should I say, booooo it's Monday. Either way, it's that time of week again where I confess to my latest impulse buy! This one is a true impulse buy, considering I haven't even heard of the brand before!

I had a very bad cold recently, and I was in Rite Aid buying medicine. My local store is renovating, and is installing a shiny new beauty section, so there was a TON of clearance items to dig through. I found some great clearance stuff from Revlon and Physician's Formula (more on these to come in the future), and I was very beauty-satisfied when I was on my way to the checkout line. But that's when I saw it: a display I've never seen before, with products I didn't recognize! Jesse's Girl cosmetics was calling out to me! With eyeshadows, mineral makeup, nail polish, lip gloss, even makeup brushes, this line was pretty impressive and very reasonably priced. It reminded me a lot of NYC and Wet n Wild. I decided to get one of the nine shade Eye Color Collection palettes in Tickled Pink. It retails at Rite Aid for $3.99 (can you believe it).

The packaging is beautifully sleek, and I must admit I love the feel of it and love just looking at all the colors! Tickled Pink has a gorgeous range of shades, from light pinks, to purples, and progressively darker into corals and brownish reds. All the colors have a bit of sparkle in them, but some are far more matte than others. This palette is perfect for fall, especially with the deeper colors that have a lot of brown and orange notes. It's such a versatile collection, where each color could easily stand on its own for a one color look, but also can combine into new and fun multi-color styles. Oooh, the darker purple and the coral shades would look so interesting together!

I didn't notice much fallout on my lids or cheeks, which I was fully expecting with such a low-priced palette. However in the pans, there was a lot of flaking when I dipped my brushes, but that's not too big of a deal. The palette smelled strongly of what I can only describe as makeup from when I was a kid. Not quite like baby powder, but almost. The first ingredient is Talc, so that explains that! The Talc may turn some people off to this palette, but I've got to say the smell actually made me really nostalgic (there's no smell when it's applied).

The look I created (left side):

Unfortunately each shade is not named! I'm going to refer to them as numbers, starting with #1 on the left of the palette to #9 on the right side. For this look, I used #6 all over my eyelid (the coral looking shade). In my crease and the outer corner, I used the darker plum shade #8. In my inner corner and under my brow bone I used the first shade, the light pink #1. Under my eye I used the plum #8. For eyeliner I used L'Oreal Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner, and my mascara is Cover Girl Flamed Up Mega Curl.

In person, the eyeshadow comes off much more pigmented than in the photo. I am still trying to get the hang of taking photos of my own eyes, it's very difficult!

I love the look I created with this palette. It's absolutely perfect for autumn! I'm satisfied with the strength of the pigment, as I was worried that because the price was so low the quality would be low, too, but that doesn't seem to be the case. My only complaint is with the highlight color (#1). There was zero pigment with that shade, it disappeared once it hit my skin. 

Impulse Buy Verdict: Completely worth it!

I Got Tagged! Liebster Award Tag

I got tagged! I'm so excited. I'm still a newbie at blogging, and this is the first time I've ever been tagged to do a post. I'm so psyched! Beth, over at the properly named blog A Girl Called Beth, tagged me (along with ten other blogs) in her post that is designed to give some exposure to some of the smaller blogs. The author has to tag 11 other blogs that have 200 followers or less and also create some new questions.

So here we go!!

1. Why did you start blogging?
I went to college for creative writing, but unfortunately life has gotten in the way and I veered away from pursuing it as a career. I have a passion for makeup and am always talking about my beauty adventures to anyone who will listen.  I realized one day that if I combined my two loves, I could realize my dream of writing while sharing my addiction makeup. I also love the fact that people are actually reading what I am writing!!

2. Who is your idol?
My mother. May sound cliche but it's true. She is someone I try to emulate every day.

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
LONDON! It has always been my dream to move abroad and live in London. I've always loved all things British. If anyone wants to send me a ticket.....

4. Signature scent?
Karma from Lush

5. Favourite makeup brand?
bareMinerals. If you've read previous posts, you can tell I have a strong affinity (to say the least, more like unhealthy obsession) for that brand.

6. High street or high end fashion?
High street.

7. Favourite song?
Ever? Voodoo Child by Rogue Traders. I heard it in an episode of Doctor Who and downloaded it immediately. It always makes me want to dance!
8. Favourite album?
Again, ever? Spiceworld. Yep I said Spiceworld.

9. Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
Twitter all the way. I'm a bit obsessed with it. Follow me @ckellywho

10. Which celebrities style influences yours?
I love Jennifer Lawrence's style. Not only in fashion and makeup, but her whole personality is just awesome. I also love Jenna Coleman's style.

11. Best holiday?
I'm a Christmas kind of gal. I love that time of year.

I tag:
Kel's Kurls
Everything Beauty ...
Effstar Beauty
Lucylou
Little Beauty Bug
Lost In Lipgloss
Lost In The Lipstick Aisle
Juliette Stephenson
Emsy Lou
Life's Little Qualities
Kay's Life


Here's your assignment, if you choose to accept it:

1) What is your favorite thing about blogging?
2) Drugstore beauty, or high end products?
3) What's your favorite movie?
4) Out of all your blog posts, which is your least favorite?
5) If you were stranded on an island, what would be the one product you take with you?
6) What's your ideal Saturday night?
7) What's your favorite season and why?
8) Favorite food?
9) How would you describe your style?
10) How do you balance time from day-to-day life with your blogging?
11) Favorite TV show?

I have to say I loved doing this tag because when I started I didn't know 11 bloggers with under 200 Twitter followers. I discovered so many great blogs this way!

Thanks for the tag, Beth!

Impulse Buy Monday! Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over

It's Monday yet again. Although the weekend may be over (is it Friday yet?), I love posting about my latest impulse buy! Today's product that I couldn't resist trying out is actually the first skincare product featured on my blog, the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. Although I received this product as part of a free gift at Ulta, I am considering it an impulse buy because I didn't intend to spend enough to get the gift. When I got close to the minimum I just couldn't resist going all out to get the gift with purchase! Ulta was having a deal where if you spent enough on Cover Girl or Olay products, you got an adorable makeup bag filled with a full size mascara and a deluxe sample of Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Hydrating Gel Moisturizer (0.5 oz jar).

I am not a huge fan of gel moisturizers, as they tend to be very drying for my skin. As a Retinol user for my acne, I have to diligently moisturize my skin to avoid the extreme dryness that can accompany Retinol. Gel moisturizers usually don't hydrate enough to counteract the Retinol, and somehow even make my skin dryer than it would normally be if I didn't moisturize at all after my medication. However, I love Olay products and trust the brand, so I was eager to give this gel a try.

This moisturizer promises an "instant burst of cooling hydration," with 24 hours of moisturizing. It's oil-free and non-comedogenic, and includes ingredients such as honeysuckle and white tea. At Ulta the full size retails for $13.99.

Let me start by shedding some light on my evening routine. I first wash my face with a gentle cleanser, followed by a five minute sulfur mask, and after that is rinsed off I use my Retinol acne medication. I let the medication settle and absorb into my skin for at least ten minutes, and then put on my moisturizer.

As I mentioned, gel moisturizers are mostly terrible for my skin, but this one I actually like. I've used the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over several times and it has yet to dry me out like others. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my skin feeling tacky at all (another beef I usually have with gel moisturizers). During the heat of the summer, I enjoy that this is a lighter moisturizer than my usual cream lotions that can feel heavy after application.

The greenish goop smells divine, it reminds me of a Cucumber Melon scent. Scented lotions are usually a no-no for my face, but luckily I didn't have an adverse reaction to it. A little bit goes a long way, and a small dollop is able to moisturize my whole face.

My only complaint is that it doesn't have any SPF in it, so I can't use it in the morning without an additional sunblock. Retinol use makes your skin extremely sensitive to the sun (even without the Retinol, my fair skin tends to burn very easily), so I need a moisturizer with some SPF to protect my skin from sun damage. I enjoy using this moisturizer so much at night, I think it would do great during the day also but unfortunately I can't use it without the SPF protection.

As the cold weather starts to creep in, I may save this moisturizer for more warmer times. Cold wreaks havoc on my skin, so I usually stick with First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream to keep it from getting too dry, but the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over is a nice alternative when I don't need such a heavy duty cream.

Impulse Buy Verdict: So far so good!

Impulse Buy Monday- Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara

We all have those moments in a store, where you see that item that you heard about in the blogosphere, or something marked "Brand New!", or maybe it's just something in pretty packaging that's calling your name. It's that thing you had no intention of purchasing when you walked into the store, but it beckons you over to the display and gnaws at you until you ultimately put it right into your basket. It's in honor of these great finds (and huge mistakes) that I'm starting a new segment on my blog: Impulse Buy Monday! Each Monday I will be reviewing a new product that I've purchased solely on an impulse, since I usually can't resist!

Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara gets the privilege of my first Impulse Buy Monday review. Ulta was having a buy one, get one 50% off sale on Maybelline, and I had already chosen one item and couldn't pass up a 50% off sale. I scoured the display for anything that caught my fancy for the second item. Although I already have way too many mascaras on deck and waiting to be opened, Maybelline has such an impressive selection of different mascaras that I was mesmerized by all the choices. One of my favorite YouTube vloggers, LearningToBeFearless, has often mentioned her love for the Falsies mascaras, and she is a great resource for beauty advice, so I decided to give it a try. Despite the many, many, many, (did I mention many?) mascaras I have, for the price I figured if I hated it, it wouldn't be any great loss, and if I loved it, I could use it as an everyday mascara and save my higher-end ones for when I need extra oomph.

I bought it in the shade "Black Drama," and I only chose that shade because I liked the black lace design on the packaging (lame, I know). This mascara features a curved brush to hug your lash line "without gaps", plus a flexible joint on the wand for what purpose I'm still not sure.

I'm still getting the hang of taking photos of my eyes, and even needed help taking these! Anyway, this is my eye before and after curling my lashes and applying one coat of the Volum' Express The Falsies mascara. I honestly think one coat is all I need for an every day look, and am impressed with how great my lashes look with this mascara.

I don't really notice any clumping at all, and my lashes feel thicker and longer. The formula is perfect, not too wet and not too dry, and it sets quickly so it doesn't make a mess once I blink. The brush is a perfect size to really get down to the base of the lashes easily, and is versatile enough to maneuver into the hard to reach spots like the inner eye and lower lash line.

I've never worn false eyelashes, and although I don't get a false eyelash vibe while wearing this mascara, I do think that it provides a beautiful color, plus volume and length to my lashes (both top and bottom). It holds a curl decently, but not any more than any of my other drugstore mascaras. Perhaps the waterproof version holds a curl better.

I wear mascara pretty much daily, and most people don't notice when I'm wearing it, but the very first day I wore this mascara three separate people commented on how my eyes looked amazing. Consider me convinced!

Impulse Buy verdict: Totally worth it.

Anyone else try this mascara?