My May Favorites!

Hey everyone! It is time to talk about my May favorites! I have a variety of items this month that I'd like to share with you guys.  Let's get started with my beauty faves!

First off I was really excited to try out the L'oreal Miss Manga mascara.  Everyone knows that I love my Maybelline Falsies, but my only problem with that one is that it is so thick and clumpy!! The Miss Manga mascara is AMAZING when it comes to clump control.  And the wand feels comfortable in my hand (it has a certain weight to it, it doesn't feel flimsy... hard to explain!).  And of course, the results are great and it thickens my lashes as well as lengthens.

Next is the INM Out the Door clear top coat.  Recently I had noticed that my well-loved Sally Hansen clear shine top coat was beginning to get all goopy and sticky, and to make it even worse, it was taking hours and hours for my nails to dry.  I wanted to try something completely different so I walked into my CVS looking for something new.  I had never heard anything about this brand or this product so I decided to pick it up (and as far as I remember it was a reasonable price).  Can I just say how much I LOVE this top coat!! Not only does it leave my mani super shiny, it dries so fast!! Usually, I apply a base coat and two coats of polish, so it takes a while to dry.  With the Out the Door top coat, my nails are dry within 20-30 minutes.  I know it's not like a 60 second kind of thing, but as far as fast-drying top coats go, I find that these usually dry without much shine.  Unlike those, this one stays shiny and protects my manicure for a good week :)

Last is the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Gel Liner.  I was looking for a good brown liner and stumbled across this one.  I usually gravitate towards the gel or cream liners that are in a little pot.  I just find that these are easier to apply and makes a better "cat-eye look." I love this product so much that I have found myself wearing it alone on my lids without any other eyeshadow! It's so easy to use (very forgiving) and it even comes with a little brush.  To be honest, I don't use the brush, I mainly reach for my Real Techniques angled eye liner brush.

Last on my favorites list is kind of random.  For my birthday back in February, my mother-in-law sent me a book called "Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey."  It was written by Lady Fiona Carnarvon, who, along with her husband, the Earl of Carnarvon, own and operate Highclere Castle, the real location where Downton Abbey is filmed.  Basically, she tells the story of her predecessor, Lady Catherine and her husband, the then Lord Carnarvon.  I fell in love with the story and was happy to discover that she wrote another book called "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey," the story that takes place a generation before Catherine and is about Almina, her husband's mother.  These books are SO interesting, especially if you're into history and maybe even a fan of Downton Abbey (which I definitely am!!!!). So check these out if you think you'll like them, because they're great! Lady Fiona Carnarvon also manages a blog, where she talks about her daily life at Highclere which is so interesting (ladycarnarvon.com). I'd love to visit one day :)

Let me know if you've tried any of these products! Thanks so much for reading this long and wordy post!!

Miriam

Dupe Alert!!

Hey everyone! So I'm sharing this dupe with you guys because I know how much you appreciate it (as I do too!). I found this one by accident which is kind of funny. My sister got her nails done a few weeks ago and picked Essie's Chastity. After seeing the finished manicure and both of us freaking out about how amazingly beautiful this bright pink was, I decided to find it on Amazon to buy it for myself.  Strangely enough, a few days later I was doing my nails and reached for my Sinful Colors polish in Over It.  My sister saw me later that day and said "Oh so you bought the Essie color!?" Then we compared our manis and I couldn't believe how similar they were!!

So if you're like me and sometimes think Essie is a BIT pricey, check out this polish! They usually run for about $1.99 at your local Walgreens :)

Thanks for reading!

<3 Miriam

April Favorites!

Ok I know I'm a bit late on this!! I'm back from a semi hiatus since IT'S THE END OF THE SEMESTER AND I'M GRADUATING! I promise I will also be getting back to making YouTube videos too people! Ok so let's get started on what I was loving this past month!

1: EOS products! I've been loving my EOS Egg for years, but I had been dying to try their other products. Recently I went into Target and saw the hand lotion by the registers and decided to try.  I am in LOVE! I use it every night on my hands right before bed.  It's important to moisturize before bed because our skin regenerates as we sleep so extra moisture is essential.  And it doesn't hurt that the smell is amazing too (I think it's a berry scent). The last time I visited Target I was checking out the dollar section and came across the EOS shave cream and decided to try it (it was only like $1 LOL).  This is a great shave cream because it leaves your skin so soft, softer than any other shave gel.  I'm not sure if these come in a regular size (does anyone know??), but I'd love to have more of it! The only annoying thing is that it takes forever to come out of the tube.

2: Eyeshadow sticks.  I got really excited recently when they started stocking NYX products at my CVS, so I decided to pick up some of their eyeshadow sticks.  These are great!! I used Strawberry Milk (a shimmery pink color) on my sister's lids as a base color when I did her engagement photo makeup look.  These sticks are a great way to add color to your lids as a base or worn alone! Also pictured is NYX Yogurt (toupe-bronze color) and Rimmel Scandal Eyes in Bulletproof Beige.

3: Lastly is the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion skin exfoliator.  I got this in last month's Ipsy bag and it is probably my favorite product from the whole bag.  It smells like lemons and leaves your skin SO soft and radiant after using.  Basically, after washing your face in the shower, rub the exfoliator onto your skin for about two minutes and then rinse.  I wanted to purchase a full size bottle of this product, but it was way too expensive, so I guess that's the only downside!

Have any of you guys tried these products? I'd love to hear your experiences with them! Or what are some products that you have been loving this month?

Thanks for reading,

Miriam <3

Two New Videos Up!

Hey everyone! So I have two new videos up on my YouTube channel! Please check them out and subscribe if you haven't already :)) Click the pictures to watch!

Nude Nails for Spring

Hey everyone! So I know Spring is all about the pastels, but I say that it's about the nude colors too! Lately I've been super into these nude colors on my nails. I thought I'd share some of my faves with you (in order of the picture):

1. Maybelline Color Show: Born With It

2. The Face Shop nailpolish (doesn't have a name!)

3. NYC: Prospect Park Bloom

4. Milani: Angel Pink

5. Kardashian Khroma Beauty: Dahlia

Right now I'm wearing the NYC color.  Look how pretty:

It's very similar to the Maybelline Color show one, but I'm definitely in love.  Such a pretty and feminine color that looks great on everyone! So tell me, what are your favorite nail colors for Spring??

Thanks for reading,

Miriam <3

New NYX Lip Swatches

Hey everyone! Sorry I've been inactive yet AGAIN! It's the end of the semester and you know how that goes.  Anyway, so recently my CVS has started stocking NYX products! I have been waiting for a while now and then sort of forgot about it, then all of a sudden, there it was!! So last night I decided to pick up a few new lip products :)

This first one is the Butter Gloss in Merengue.  Such a pretty light pink color and it's of course great for Spring.  I love these butter glosses because they're so rich and creamy. I just love NYX, especially their lip colors!!

The second one is the NYX lipstick in Snow White.  This color is definitely very pigmented, so be careful when you're applying! You can even tell on the left side that I was having problems! Besides that, the color is beautiful and you can build it up to make a darker and more dramatic look :)

Well there ya have it! Check your local CVS, you might be getting NYX soon! Maybe it'll be unexpected like what happened to me.  Of course, you can always stop by your Ulta or NYX.com. What NYX lip colors do you love??

Thanks for reading,

Miriam <3

NEW Beauty Haul and April Ipsy Bag!

Hey everyone! New video now live on my channel! See what I have bought recently and what I got in my April Ipsy bag.  Also, I'm planning on a NYX Faux Lashes Mascara review coming soon to the blog, so keep an eye out for it!  Thanks for watching :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPd4Rvsqo08

March Favorites

Hi beauty lovers! So here is my blog version of my March favorites! I've been using a lot of new products this past month, but a few definitely stick out in my mind. Let's start:

1. Dickinson's Pore Perfecting Toner: this is my first time using a toner, I used many types of astringents during my teen years and I hated them.  This past month I decided to step up my skincare routine and this was the first step.  Every night after showering, I apply the toner all over my face using a cotton round.  Now, if you saw my March Favorites video, you know that I said the smell is kind of strange! It smells like food or something and it kind of bothers me.  I usually just hold my breath while applying and it's fine! Maybe it doesn't bother everyone, so don't let it discourage you from trying it.

2. Boots No. 7 Cleansing Water: this goes along with my new beauty routine.  I have to admit that I used to just step into the shower with a full face of makeup and just remove it with my face wash.  Now that I have started first removing it with this product before washing my face, I feel like I get a MUCH better clean. Not to mention that I no longer get out of the shower with that annoying left over eyeliner and mascara underneath my eyes.  I like this product because it doesn't feel oily, it definitely feels more like water.

3. Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer: I LOVE this stuff.  It's kind of fun to use, not gonna lie.  It's great for covering up those dark circles underneath your eyes and it blends really well.  I guess there's a reason why everyone loves this thing.

4. Forever 21 scrunchie: I'm wearing it in my hair right now! I'm definitely loving scrunchies right now, especially to use at night.  It's so much softer than a regular hair tie and a lot more comfortable to sleep in.  I like to use this guy when my hair is oily at night and I just want to pick it up in a messy bun.  But I will definitely still wear it outside of my apartment too! It's just so cute.

5.  Ssips juice boxes: these little guys are so cute and so good! I saw them at my grocery store (it was like a pack of 10 for under $2) and thought they looked good.  I got the Cherry-Berry flavor but they had a few different ones.  The only downside is that they're kind of small, if that bothers you (I think they're made for kids......).

So there you have it! My favorites during the month of March! Let me know if you've tried any of these products, I'd love to hear what you think.  

Thanks for reading,

Miriam <3

March Favorites!

Hello Hello!! I just uploaded a brand spankin new video to my channel! Check out what I've been loving this past month. I'll probably do a blog post to accompany it too.  Leave me a comment and don't forget to subscribe! Thanks for watching lovelies!!

<3 Miriam

Orange Lips for Spring

Hello beauty lovers!

I'm back!! Since today the weather is so dark and gloomy, I thought I'd bring Spring back into this blog.  Let's talk about orange lips!  I put together a list of my favorite orange lipsticks and glosses, so let's start.

Here I've swatched the lip products that I have pictured above:

1. Milani - Sweet Nectar

2. NYC - Coralista (NEW shade! And I must say it's an amazing bargain)

3. Ulta Beauty Lipstick - #208 (Guess these don't have names?)

4. Ulta Beauty Lip Crayon - Coral Kiss (these are great lip crayons if you're looking for one!)

5. Revlon Color Stay - Continuous Coral (I bought this a while ago, so I'm not sure if they will still have this in stock.  Even if they don't, Revlon always has great coral shades)

So there you have it.  You know I'll be sporting orange lips throughout the spring (except for when I'm wearing my signature bright pink!).  If I have inspired you to try any of these, let me know! Or if you know of any other amazing colors, I'm all ears :D

Thanks for reading,

Miriam <3

New Makeup Tutorial

Hey everyone! So I was going to make a new post about my Everyday Makeup look, but then decided to make it into another YouTube tutorial.  I just think it's easier to show you instead of typing it! So anyways! Watch my super easy everyday makeup look now on my channel.  Leave me a nice little comment and don't forget to subscribe!

Watch it here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMPT2c4W4-Y&list=UUE9lmK5FkyzJbG1LBsKNDsw

As always, thanks for watching and reading!

<3 Miriam

Sundress Weather TAG!

Hey everyone! I just uploaded my very first TAG! Hear all about my favorite things about Spring! I would really love it if you could subscribe while you're there!

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-fGLALvl-g

Enjoy!!

<3 Miriam

Boots No. 7 Fanomenal Lash Serum Review

Hello everyone!! The time is finally here..... time to review the Boots No. 7 Fanomenal Lash Serum! 8 weeks ago I said that I would come back with my before and after pictures and here they are.....

So uhhhh...... did this product work?? A few weeks ago I really felt like my lashes were a lot longer and thicker, but now that I look at the pictures, I'm kind of disappointed.  Ok, I think maybe they are a little bit darker or thicker, but they're the same length for the most part.  Do you agree?  I'm also disappointed because I LOVE this brand and everything else that I have tried from them is great! I use their Cleansing Water to remove makeup before showering and it's a great product.  It smells good, it's light and not greasy, and it works.  So I don't know! I don't want to put anyone off from using the Lash Serum, maybe it works for some people! I just don't think I got the results I really wanted.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Do you see a difference, even a small one? And are you interested in trying the Fanomenal Lash Serum?

If you are reading this, don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' and check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/miriamcpratt and subscribe!!

Thanks for reading!

<3