My Beauty Trash

Why is it that it's always all or nothing? Seriously?! It's been a hot minute since I filmed BUT I'm so happy that I had the opportunity to film this video today. For far too long this pile has been collecting dust in the corner of my office. I hope you enjoy this video. Excuse my overuse of the words "dry" and "moist". I don't know what to tell you. Some days I'm just in a weird mood and today is one of them...ah. I will have more videos and posts (apparently all I want to do is blog now) coming soon. Believe it or not, I'll probably have another empties video coming up soon. Seriously, feast or famine. There is a ton of products that I'm finishing up right now. Anyway, leave a comment here letting me know what videos or blog posts you'd like to see me film/write about next. I have a ton of ideas floating around in my head. As always, thanks for your support <3

My Eyebrow Routine | Maintenance & Tutorial

     Are you sick of the 20 minute eyebrow routines on YouTube because I sure am! I work a lot...like an insane amount...and I don't have time to spend a ton of time perfecting my brows every morning. I just want to look presentable and professional. 

     There are a few things that I do on a bi-weekly to monthly basis that help me keep my brows in shape. I have particularly dark brows so about once a month I lighten mine a few shades. I have used a few different lightening kits over the years but the Sally Hansen kit is my favorite. Full disclaimer, this is bleach...close to your eyes...if you chose to do this be careful! I'm sure Sally Hansen doesn't recommend this but what can I say; I'm a rebel. 

     I will also trim and pluck my brows on an as needed basis. Do NOT over pluck! I already have a blog post on how to pluck your brows correctly. I'll link that HERE. 

     Now that the grooming aspect has been covered; let's talk about filling in your brows. I personally find pencils to be the fastest. Shadow is the most natural looking. Pomades and gels are the most time consuming and trickiest to master. Decide what your brow needs are and which product is the best fit for you. I personally have used all three and am currently obsessed with the powder for day-to-day use. If I am going out or going for a bold makeup look, I'll use the pomade. This gives a more defined brow. 

     Once I have finished filling in my brows, I like to use a clear gel to set the look. I have been using the e.l.f clear lash and brow mascara for years. It's bomb! Don't waste your money on expensive brow gels. I consider myself a bit of a makeup snob and I'm telling you, BUY THE CHEAP OPTION!

     Checkout my video to see how I fill in my brows and the techniques I use. It should not take you long to do your brows on a day-to-day basis. Nobody's got time for that! 

     Leave me a comment below letting me know what your favorite brow products are. Links to most of the products I mentioned in my video are below. See you all in my next video!

Warby Parker Home Try-On

     Warby Parker has some seriously cute glasses! They are a stylish online prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses company. They have a ton of men and women's frames available. Believe it or not, a standard set of glasses will only run you $95 plus tax.  

     Once you create your online account, you can select 5 frames for a home try-on. They home try-on is free of charge. Although the try-on is free, they do require your card information. I'm assuming they use this as a "security deposit" just incase you decide to never send the glasses back. Anyway, you'll receive your glasses within 5-7 business day. Keep in mind, the frames you will receive during a home try-on will have nonprescription lenses in them. During the next 5 days you can really get a feel for which ones you like if any. 

     At the end of your home try-on, you simply return the box and sample frames to Warby Parker with the pre-paid mailing address they provided. From there, you can either pass on the glasses all together, select another 5 for a home try-on, or purchase a pair or two. 

     If you decide to make a purchase, they will need your prescription. You can either take a picture of your prescription and upload it to their site or have them call your doctor. Once your prescription is in, you should receive your glasses in 7-10 business days. 

     If you are not happy with your glasses, they do offer returns. They will also cover up to a $50 adjustment within the first 30 days if need be. That's pretty awesome if you ask me! Truly worry free shopping. If you have any questions about Warby Parker, you can view their FAQ page right here. 

Happiness and Self-Esteem

“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it.”

One of my friends sent me a picture with the above quote on it today and it spoke to me on so many different levels. This post is not going to be about beauty or fashion or any of the other topics I typically talk and write about. This is going to be on the importance of happiness and self worth. 

“No amount of makeup can mask an ugly heart.”-Kevyn Aucoin 

I am about to be 27 and I feel the happiest I have ever been and I can certainly tell you that it took work. This isn’t something that happened overnight but here are some tips I can offer to anyone who is looking to increase his or her own happiness and self-esteem.

Let It Go: Don’t ruin a new day by dwelling on a bad yesterday. This is the easiest way to ruin your day and self-esteem. Allow yourself an appropriate amount of time to “dwell” on something and then move on. When I am dwelling on something I tell myself to “stop” and I move on. I am done waisting my time and energy thinking about whatever it is that is not adding to my happiness or success. Once I tell myself to stop, I am literally done thinking about the topic. This certainly took time and practice for me to get use to but it is one of the best things I could have ever done for myself.  

“Sometimes you need to step outside, get some air, and remind yourself of who your are and where you want to be.”

Surround Yourself With Happy And Motivated People: The first step to getting what you want is having the courage to get ride of what you don’t. You can’t expect to be happy if you are constantly surrounding yourself with people who are miserable. Surround yourself with people who you look up to and motivate you. Negative people will suck you dry.  

“Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.”

One Day At A Time: Everyone is at different places in their life. Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Work on your goals and ambitions one day at a time.    

Find Your Outlet: It’s unhealthy to keep things bottled up so you need a healthy way to let your emotions out. For me, it is working out. I find that when I am stressed, I am really into my Zumba or weightlifting class. After I have completed the session, I feel so much lighter. For some people dancing could be their outlet or art. Find out what your outlet is and make time for it in your schedule.

Daily Affirmations: I am a true believer that everyone is responsible for his/her own happiness. It is just as much a conscious decision to be happy as it is to be sad or angry. You should not rely on anyone else to make you happy with yourself. It simply isn’t healthy. Everyday you should take a few minutes to affirm that you are smart, you are powerful, you are strong, you are gorgeous, and you are talented. Love yourself.

Build Others Up: The people who are always building others up and giving compliments are some of the happiest people I have ever known. On the other hand, people who are constantly tearing others down and belittling people are some of the most insecure and unhappy people out there. If someone is ever rude to me I remind myself that it is not a “me issue”. I think we all see this everyday; the person that is unhappy with themselves, home life, career, etc. take their frustrations out on others. Don’t allow someone else’s unhappiness impact your happiness.   

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Talk To Yourself Like You Would To Someone You Love: We are our own worst critics. Be gentle on yourself. No one is perfect. Being perfect would be awfully boring.   

Well, there you have it. These are some of my tips to staying happy and confident. Have a wonderful day and remember to take everything one step at a time. 

Pretty in Pink

     I just uploaded another new tutorial! I am calling this look Pretty in Pink! I was looking through my makeup drawer the other day and rediscovered my love for the Maybelline color tattoos. This Maybelline product is simply a cream eyeshadow. It is basically the same thing as a M.A.C paint pot. Out of all the Maybelline color tattoos I have, "Inked in Pink" is my absolute favorite. It is metallic yet subtle. It also makes my green eyes pop! Below are the three key pieces to the look. Watch the video for a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this look. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Inked in Pink"

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

Dior Color Reviver Balm in Lilac

A New Facebook Page

Hi, everyone! I finally created a Facebook page. Click HERE to "like" my page so you can stay up-to-date with my most recent posts. Don't worry, I will still be posting here just not as frequently as I will be posting on my Facebook page. I hope you enjoy the new Facebook page and the content that is being uploaded. Thank you all for your support over the past few years!

My (current) Everyday Makeup Look

     After receiving a few compliments on my makeup recently (thank you Starbucks employees!) I decided it was long overdue for another makeup tutorial. I was in a chatty mood this day so I decided to record it as a talk through tutorial. I hope you enjoy this video! I should be recording the eyebrow tutorial with in the next day to two so stay tuned for that. If you have any suggestions for future videos or would like to collaborate on a video or blog post, leave me a comment down below. Thank you for your continued support!

Favorite Fall Lippies!

       

       This post is all about my top five favorite fall lippies BUT it is also my very first collaboration with a fellow beauty blogger! How exciting?!?! Katy, creator of Skin Stuff by Katy, will also be posting her favorite lip colors of the season. She has an amazing blog and if you love makeup and beauty as much as me, you should absolutely go check her out. Her content is absolutely amazing!
       When I think of fall, I think bold, rich colors. I'd personally take a bold lip over a bold eye any day. Most of the shades below are more rich in color, but there are two more subtle shades. In the pictures below, I did not use any lipliners or primers. What you see is the lipstick alone. Let's jump into it!

 London by NYX

This is considered a soft matte lip cream rather than a lipstick, but it gives all the coverage and pigment you would hope for in a lipstick. This is a beautiful warm brown color. As the name suggests, it applies creamy with a matte finish. It  smells like cake batter and is cruelty free. What more could you ask for?

 Twig by M.A.C

This is a beautiful dusty rose color. I find this to be the most natural looking of all these shades. This is a satin finish which means it's not completely matte but not overly glossy either. The formula is very creamy and never dries out my lips. Super comfortable to wear.

 Rhubarb by Bite Beauty

If you are looking for a great berry color for the fall then look no further! This is a beautiful cool toned berry color. The formula is very creamy and I would consider it a satin finish. Bite Beauty is an absolutely amazing brand and their ingredients are top notch. They use food grade ingredients meaning you can literally eat their products and not get sick.

 Rivoli by Chanel

This is a gorgeous berry red color. The formula is a "Rouge Coco" meaning it has a very glossy finish. One of the things I love about this is that it is super moisturizing. Overall this is a very comfortable, lightweight lipstick. The packaging is also to-die-for! If you are looking for a little splurge, you can't go wrong with Chanel.

 Viva Glam III by M.A.C

I am a big fan of M.A.C when it comes to lip products. Every lipstick of theirs that I own has been comfortable to wear and has amazing staying power. This shade in particular is a matte, dark brownish red. Beautiful, bold color! When I go use a darker color, I prefer to start off by lining my lips. My go-to liner for this lipstick is Absolutely It by M.A.C.

* BONUS LIPPIE *

Motorhead by Kat Von D

The darker the lipstick the better! This certainly isn't everyones cup-of-tea, but if you are looking for a super vampy dark lipstick, look no more! This is an extremely dark purple, matte lipstick. This will stain your lips and last for hours. This is the lipstick that I get the most compliments on. Since this is such a dark shade, I always pair it with a lipliner. My go-to liner for this lipstick is Vino by M.A.C. I'd recommend putting on a small amount of Chapstick before applying the liner. The formula is on the drier side. You will certainly be able to feel it on your lips, but if you are accustom to wearing lipstick, it shouldn't even phase you. 

I hope you have all enjoyed this post and are as excited for fall as I am. Be sure to check out Katy's page and show her some love! Until next time.

XOXO

Steph

Favorite Fall Perfumes

     

     Good-bye August and hello September! I've always considered September the unofficial beginning to fall. I am a cold weather girl at heart and fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the rich colors, warm smells and pumpkin everything! You just can't beat fall!
     Once September first rolls around, I breakout my fall lipsticks, nail polishes and perfumes. I've already written a post about my favorite fall nail polishes (click HERE to view) and I will have a post coming on Friday about my favorite lipsticks. To date, I have not written a post about my favorite fall fragrances so I decided to change that today. Below are my top five favorite fall fragrances.

* Nirvana (White) by Elizabeth and James *
     
This is a fantastic summer-to-fall transition scent. The peony still gives this a slight floral smell but the musk softens and warms the scent.
     
Notes: Peony, muguet and tender musk

* Nirvana (Black) by Elizabeth and James *
     
The vanilla and sandalwood make this a very warm and inviting fragrance. This scent makes me think of snuggling up in a blanket outside by an open fire. The Nirvana fragrances layer well so it is easy to transition from day-to-night with both of these.
     
Notes: Violet, sandalwood and vanilla

* Guilty by Gucci *

I love scents with amber as one of the notes. Much like Nirvana (Black), this is a snuggly scent. Very warm and can easily be warn day or night.
     
Notes: Mandarin, pink pepper, peach, lilac, amber and patchouli

* Angel by Thierry Mugler *

I've never smelled a perfume that was more "me" than this. Angel is definitely in my top three all-time favorite perfumes. I personally find this to have a musky smell which I love! The smell always makes me think of incense. Whenever I wear this perfume, I always receive  compliments. Who doesn't love compliments? This scent certainly isn't for everyone but if you are looking for a signature scent, you have to try this out.      

Notes: Bergamot, hedione, honey, dewberry, red berries, vanilla, caramel, patchouli, chocolate and coumarin

* Cashmere Glow by Bath & Body Works *

This is another amazing transition scent! This one flows beatuifully from fall-to-winter. This is a soft and sweet smell. The sweetness is ultimately what makes me think of winter. Think sugar cookies and hot cider.
     
Notes: Bergamont, peach, guava, berries, apricot, mimosa, peony, jasmine, vanilla, dulce de leche, sandalwood and cashmere musk

     As always, let me know what your favorites are down in the comments section. If you've tried any of these, let me know what your thoughts are. Love them? Hate them? Leave your comment down below. Remember to check back on Friday for my favorite fall lipsticks.

XOXO
      Steph

Photo provided by commons.wikimedia.org

DIY Gallery Wall

   
     I finally have my own office which means it's time to decorate! Let's admit it, we are all obsessed with Pinterest and I have been pinning non-stop since we bought our house. Lately I have been pinning a lot of gallery wall posts so I finally decided to make one. Artwork aside, I think this was a pretty inexpensive project.

     To start, I bought all my picture frames at Walmart for a couple bucks each. I found a layout on Pinterest that I was trying to recreate so I already had an idea of the sizes and amount of frames that I would need. I'd recommend holding onto your receipt though just in case you need to return or exchange any frames.
     While I was there, I also picked up three cans of spray paint. Out of those I only ended up using two. One was a metallic gold, the other a bright gold and the third was a glitter spray. After I started spray painting I decided to pass on the glitter paint. I chose to spray paint my frames because it was less expensive than buying gold frames. A little elbow grease never killed anyone! While I had the frames laid  out I put a post-it note one each frame saying what color I wanted it painted. After I did that, I took a picture so I could remember which frame went where after it was painted.
     Fun fact, I actually bought all the frames before I had the artwork for them. I had two greeting cards that I picked up from Francesca's that I really liked and decided to see if that card company offered any additional pieces of art. Thankfully, that company did and I bought a ton of pieces from them. All my art is from Papaya and it is so awesome! If you are in to hippyish/eclectic pieces, you need to check them out! They have a ton of great stuff.
     Once the frames were dry, I cut the pictures to fit and popped them on the wall. I used painters tape and a level to hang these. As far as mounting them to the wall, I used Command brand picture and frame hanging strips. I've used these in the past and love them because they do not destroy my walls. Overall, this project took me about three days to complete. You can certainly do it in two if you are motivated. Waiting for the frames to dry was definitely the worst part. I probably spent about $70 on frames and paint but you could certainly pick some frames up at a thrift store for dirt cheap. All-in-all, I'm very happy with the outcome and am excited to finish decorating my office. Keep checking back for more easy DIY projects.

xoxo
Steph

Current YouTuber Obsessions

     I've recently started to have more time available to catch up on watching YouTube videos. Since my time is more limited, I am pretty particular about the videos that I choose to watch. Below are my current top 5 favorite YouTube channels. These are in no particular order. I'd highly recommend checking all of these awesome chicks out! I figured I'd share what I have been enjoying recently and you can leave me a comment letting me know what channels you have been enjoying. Let's jump in!

1) Nikki Blackketter- Nikki is a YouTube fitness guru. Besides the fact that she is sexy as hell, she really gets me motivated to workout! Her abs are to die for! She's real and shows the struggle but makes it fun to watch. What else could you ask for?

2) Claire Marshall- Claire is a beauty and lifestyle blogger and there are no words to describe how awesome she is. She puts an incredible amount of time and thought into her videos and it shows. She also has some pretty bad ass tattoos! She makes me want to get a sleeve! If you have an appreciation for video editing, I highly recommend checking her out. Some of my favorite videos of hers are Mary, Claire's Closet- The Leather Jacket, Favorite Nails Inc. Polishes, and Favorite MAC Lipsticks- Va Va Voom.

3) Leighannsays- She is kind of a train wreck but in the best possible way. She is probably the YouTuber that reminds me the most of myself. Really odd, kind of random, and struggling to adult. She is incredibly hard working and quirky and you can't help but love her. She recently created a vlog channel, LeighAnnVlogs, in addition to her beauty and fashion channel. She introduced me to Serial and I am forever grateful.

4) Jaclyn Hill- If you are looking for a hella talented makeup artist then look no further! This girl has some amazing skills when it comes to makeup artistry. She is another prime example of a truly talented and hardworking YouTuber. She has partnered with some great brands over the years and released some incredible products. Her most recent venture has been with Becca. Together they created a highlighter called Champagne Pop that the entire beauty community is losing their minds over including me.

5) Grav3yardgirl- Bunny is such a great role model in my opinion. Her channel is pretty hard to categorize because she covers such a wide range of topics but she certainly caters it to a younger audience. She makes me laugh and is always so positive so whenever I see one of her videos in my subscription feed I just have to hit play.

Remember to leave me a comment down below with the names of the channels that you have been loving lately. I love finding new YouTubers to watch.

XOXO

Steph