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

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

Battle of the Highlighters & New Video!

Hello readers! Today I thought I would feature my favorite part of my beauty routine: highlighters! I love to highlight my cheekbones, especially in the spring and summer.  I usually achieve this look by using a moisturizing foundation with brightening effects such as Almay's Wake Up foundation (featured in my Spring Makeup Look video tutorial HERE).

In the picture above I have some of my favorite highlighters (I rotate them and use different ones each time I apply makeup).  So, if you're on the market for a new highlighter, these are some to consider:

1. NYX Liquid Illuminator: As you all know, I'm a huge NYX fan. Their products are seriously so good for the price and you can never go wrong with them.  This is a good one for a subtle glow, just use underneath foundation, and remember -- don't apply powder on top, it'll mattify it and that defeats the purpose!

2. Victoria's Secret Ultimate Glow Face Trio: I love this little compact for traveling.  It includes a bronzer, blush and highlighter (and a mirror), so it's super easy just to chuck in your travel bag and you don't have to worry about bringing too many separate products! Also, the blush color is BEAUTIFUL.

3.  Benefit High Beam: I really like this little thing, but I always pair it with the Benefit Posietint because they look beautiful together.  These two products are great for a subtle flush and glow (a lot of times, I add a powder blush and highlighter on top for a better effect). Also, as I've mentioned before, make sure you apply it on top of foundation, never on top of powder! It will not blend well and it'll just look weird.  This also goes for any other Benefit tint.

4.  Milani Illuminating Face Powder: I love this product so much, I even included it in my February Favorites video (if you want to watch, just click HERE).  This powder is great alone or over a liquid highlighter.  It's a beautiful combination of pinks and golds that work perfectly to create a natural glow. I like to apply it on my cheekbones, chin, nose, and cupid's bow.

5. Boots No. 7 Skin Illuminator: This is my FAVORITE highlighter!! Most of the time I apply it before (or after) foundation and then I go in with the Milani powder right on top.  It also has a really cool applicator.  When you open the cap, it'll reveal a brush applicator.  You just squeeze the tube and apply it using the attached brush.  Just a tip: a little goes a long way with this product, so don't go too crazy! I am obsessed -- I really suggest trying it!! 

Also, I have a new video up on my channel! Watch it HERE. Don't forget to subscribe and to leave me a lovely little comment :D

Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear some of your favorite highlighters... I'm always up for trying new ones :D

Miriam <3

New Video Live on my Channel!

Hi readers! I just uploaded a new video inspired by my post a while back.  Learn about my all time favorite lipsticks! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think and don't forget to subscribe :D

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dZw2-yfAVE

Soft & Romantic Valentine's Day Makeup

Hi readers!! So of course Valentine's day is around the corner! I know I will be going all out with my makeup when I go out with the hubs that night :)! Today I was playing around with makeup, trying to come up with a good look that I can share with you guys.  I'm obsessed with purples and lilacs at the moment so I decided to go with that.  Keep reading if you want to achieve this beautiful and soft look for Valentine's day (or any other day!).

1: First moisturize and prime.  I used Maybelline's Baby Skin (of course) and applied all over with a foundation brush.

2: Next comes foundation.  I used my Rimmel Stay Matte foundation and applied with my Real Techniques stippling brush.

3: Conceal and highlight under eyes with a good concealer.  I used the Rimmel Match Perfection underneath my eyes and the Physician's Formula Perfecting Concealer Duo for any blemishes.

4: Now the finish: apply a good face powder anywhere you applied concealer to seal it all in.  I used NYX's Radiant Finishing Powder (LOVE btw!).

5: Can't forget the brows people! Define your brows with anything you like to use... I used my e.l.f. eyebrow kit.

6: Prime your lids.  I used my e.l.f. eyelid primer all over lids and crease.

7: Ok now for the eyes. For this look, I used my Too Faced In Your Dreams palette.  First, I applied Pink Peacock all over my lid (or any light shimmery pink will work of course) with a flat shader brush.  Next, apply a dark purple to the crease (I used Dream On) with a fluffy crease brush.  Then, a dark grey to the outer V of your eyelid (I used Fishnet) using a small accent brush.  Keep blending! Blending is the most important step!

8: Now line the top of your lash line with a black cream liner and add a little flick at the outer corner (I used my e.l.f. cream liner).  Line your waterline with a brown pencil liner (like the NYX eyebrow and eyeliner pencil in Medium Brown) and then using an angled brush, apply a brown shimmery eyeshadow underneath your lash line (I used Rapture) to smoke it out.

9: Mascara time! I used my Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant mascara, but of course any kind will work.  You can also apply false lashes here too (I might do that on Valentine's day).

10: Now for the cheeks.  Use a good bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, under the jaw line, and up to the top of your forehead.  Next, apply a highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones (like NYX's Liquid Illuminator). Then, last but not least, a pink blush to the apples and blend out to your hairline (NYX's Baked Blush in Spanish Rose).

11: Now for the best part! Lipstick! I used my all-time favorite lipstick here... EM Cosmetic's lipstick in Violaceous.  It is the most beautiful lilac color and I am obsessed.

There ya go! Don't you look pretty? I'd love to know if anyone tried this look and how it worked out for you! Thanks for reading :)

<3 Miriam

Products used:

MOTD

Tonight's makeup look brought to you by:

A Slice of my Makeup Bag

Heya :) So I thought I’d do a “what’s in my makeup bag?” kind of thing to start off my blog. Here goes:

1. Primer: e.l.f. Mineral Face Primer, which is AMAZING by the way and I’ve tried A LOT of primers. And for some reason I have two eyeshadow primers: my e.l.f. shadow primer and NYX eyeshadow base. Both are great, but the e.l.f. one is much better, plus I’ve noticed that many people rave about it.

2. Foundations: I have two for some reason. My trusted Rimmel BB Cream in “light” because it’s amazing and then my new Almay Wake up liquid makeup in “ivory” because I just got it and to be honest I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.

3. Concealer: Right now I toting around my Physician’s Formula Perfecting Concealer duo that I got for literally like $2 at CVS.  It has a green tone that you apply below the actual concealer that hides redness and blemishes.  Then on top of that you just add the normal skin tone concealer to cover any minor flaws.  When I apply this, I usually use a concealer brush and then blend it out with my beautyblender makeup sponge. IT IS SUCH A GOOD PRODUCT.

4. Powder: the amazing Rimmel Stay Matte powder - seriously one of the best that I have ever used.
5. Blush/bronzer/highlighter: My favorite product has to be my new Ultimate Glow Face trio by Victoria’s Secret that I just bought at the Semi Annual Sale.  It has a bronzer, blush, and highlighter shade (that I apply at the top of my cheekbones and down my nose) and it gives such a pretty glow and color to my face.  Also have NYC Cheek Glow in Central Park Pink and NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in Pink Cheek Glow (these are ok, they’re inexpensive so what do you expect?).  Not to mention my Covergirl blush (I think the color is “pink”?) that I have literally had for years and it still has not run out. It is a beautiful color and very pigmented - one of my faves for sure.  Almost forgot my new NYX Liquid Illuminator in the color “sunbeam.” Not sure how I feel about this yet, but I will definitely let you guys know.

6. Eyebrows: e.l.f. Eyebrow kit which I am obsessed with.  I don’t feel like my makeup look is complete without a good defined brow. Basically I take an angled brush into the waxy part, apply it to my brows creating the shape.  Then, I take the powder to set it and it stays all day I love it! I also have a new product: the NYX “pushup bra for your eyebrows” yeah that’s literally what it’s called.  Basically it’s a two sided pencil, one side to fill in your brows then the other is a highlighter that I like to apply underneath the arch to give a lifted effect and not to mention a nice highlight (I don’t like filling in my brows with a pencil so I only use the highlighter).

7. Eyeliner:  I have a few for some reason: my Sephora kohl expert and my Hard Candy Take Me Out Liner.  Both are good, but what I mainly use is my e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner which I definitely recommend if you have trouble applying any type of liquid eyeliner it’s a life saver.

8. Eyes: I always use my Revlon eyelash curler before applying mascara, it creates a more dramatic curling effect to any mascara.  Right now I’m using the Loreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions mascara which is amazing.  I used the Maybelline Cat Eyes mascara for a long time which is also AMAZING.  I decided to try out a new one because I have this thing where I always need to try a different mascara and I really don’t know why….

Ok so that’s my makeup bag :) And I realized that maybe I keep too many things in there lol.  Hope I maybe gave you guys some inspiration…. ask me any questions you might have!! <3