lipstick review vol. 6

Well hello again, lovelies! I hope everyone had a good weekend! We had such a fun time taking the boat out for Father's Day, and I even made chocolate chip cookies for the occasion. (Still proud of myself for not overcooking them!) Anyway, on to today's topic: lipstick. This edition is a fun one because it contains two options that I absolutely love, one that was disappointing and the WORST lipstick I've ever tried in my life. So, let's get to it!

1. Bite Beauty in Dragonfruit — I had been researching new pink lipsticks for summer a few months ago, and I decided I wanted to give Bite Beauty a try because I've been following their Instagram and loved their whole Amuse Bouche line. Once I got to Sephora, I tested a few different pinks and fell head over heels for Dragonfruit and its magenta, purplish tones. The hue feels a bit more sophisticated than traditional hot pinks, and it seems to go with every color. I also love the formula — it's soft and creamy and makes your lips feel hydrated and healthy all day. Rating: 5 stars.

2. MAC lipstick in Viva Glam II and Ellie Goulding Plushglass in Explosion — This combo holds a special place in my makeup bag because they're my first nude lipsticks and I bought them at the Fifth Avenue MAC store in New York. The picture doesn't do it justice, but this duo is definitely my favorite nude lip look. The lipstick is a little darker toned, but it compliments fair to light skin tones so well. The gloss adds just the right amount of shimmer without looking like a cheap throwback to 2002 and without feeling sticky. This is what I wear when I want more of a sultry pout. Rating: 5 stars.

3. NARS Dolce Vita — I've been a NARS devotee since the first time I tried their lip pencil in Dragon Girl. So far, I haven't been nearly as impressed with their lipsticks. This is one I got in a nude lipstick sample set from Sephora and I've only worn it probably two or three times. The formula is super light and feels like a balm, but it takes about 10 coats just to make the color come out and then it comes off after one sip of coffee. Long story short: I would not pay the $28 retail price for this glorified lip balm. Rating: 2 stars.

4. NYX Lip Lingerie in Embellishment — And finally, the most terrible thing I have ever put on my lips. I know that sounds dramatic, but I have to be completely honest. I was so excited to try this new line by NYX after I saw this Instagram post. Gorgeous, right? And now look back at my photo. Not even close. In fact, the day I wore this, I felt insecure and paranoid that I looked dead because of the purple-gray color. Not only was the color totally different than its photo, the formula was awful. It's a gloss that turns matte, but it was so drying that I felt like I had left a face mask on for too long. And THEN, when I tried to take it off, it. did. not. budge. There's something to be said for long-lasting lipsticks obviously, but not when you're scrubbing and scrubbing with a damp wash cloth until your lips are practically raw — aka, what actually happened. Rating: 0 stars and a warning to save your money (and your lips!)

P.S. check out my last five lipstick reviews — which ones have been your favorites so far? Let me know in the comments!

lipstick review vol. 5

top row: Nudestix lip pencil in Whisper / MAC lipstick in Pink Nouveau

bottom row: Laura Mercier in Milky Way / Revlon lipstick in Berry Haute

Hey hey hey friends! How was everyone's weekend? I hope everyone who celebrated Mother's Day had a good one! My sister and I spent the day with our mom, going to church, eating brunch and going to see the new "Mother's Day" movie. It's always nice to spend a casual day together to hang out and have fun, especially now that everyone has grown up and gotten so much busier.

It's been a while since I've done one of my traditional lipstick reviews, so today I'm sharing two of my favorite nude shades and a couple pastels that are perfect for spring!

1. Nudestix Whisper — As I've mentioned before, this lip pencil quickly made its way onto my favorite nude lip list. It has a matte finish and a lighter tone that's great for a neutral, unassuming beauty look. It coats well and stays put with minimal need for touchups throughout the day — a major plus in my book. This is my favorite nude to wear when I choose heavier eye makeup or an outfit with a lot of color, but I also love it when I'm wearing white for an extra-clean, didn't-try-to-hard look.

2. MAC Pink Nouveau — I bought this light pink shade last year after seeing Caitlin wearing it in so many of her posts. It looked like such a fun, flattering color for summer! I wasn't quite as smitten with it once I tried it out for myself, thought, as the formula turned out to be a little sticky and chunky (gross). It's the only MAC lipstick I've ever had that issue with, so I think it may just be a defect in this one. The color is pretty, and it does seem to flatter most skin tones. I shy away from it sometimes because it sometimes feels too "Barbie pink" for me, but I still love the way it looks in pictures.

3. Laura Mercier Milky Way — This was one of the unexpected frontrunners from the nude lip collection I bought at Sephora a few months ago. It's a bit of a darker color with brown undertones that give it a '90s feel, and I actually love that about it! It goes on slick and glossy, but takes a couple coats to really bring out the color. I typically reapply it fairly often throughout the night for that reason, but it always feels smooth and not sticky.

4. Revlon Berry Haute — I bought this tube a couple summers ago when orchid lips were just starting to become more popular, and every time I wore it I felt it was a little too light and made my lips look dead... haha, not a great look! Purple lipsticks can be a hard shade to pull off in my opinion, because they don't tend to fit all skin tones like some of the reds and pinks. But I gave this one a try again this spring and I actually really loved it! It looks a bit lighter in person than in the photo, but I really do think it's darker than it was when I bought it...if that's possible! It's a great soft color for spring that's not too bold or in your face.

Which ones are your favorites? What are your best spring lip colors? I'd love to know!

P.S. all my other lipstick reviews

Clinique Universal Face Primer

Isn't it funny how we can become such creatures of habit? I have been using the same makeup primer for years, and even though I've never loved it, it just never occurred to me to try something new. I kept buying the same one and kept having the same results — crazy, right?

I was in the market for a new primer last week. I did some research and decided I wanted to try out this version from Make Up For Ever when I came across an old sample I had of the Clinique universal face primer. (P.S. One of my favorite things about Nordstrom is that you get to choose three free beauty samples with your beauty purchase!)

Funnily enough, when I first put the Clinique primer on my face, my instant reaction was, "Oh, this feels awful, I hate this!" But as I rubbed it into my skin, the texture changed from a creamy lotion feel to a soft matte, smoothing out my skin and making it the softest it's ever been. I'm not kidding guys — since I've been wearing this, I can't stop touching my face!

*These photos were taken around 4 p.m., when my skin is typically shiny through my T-zone. (P.S. Wearing this Smashbox palette on my eyes and Too Faced Naked Dolly over MAC Subculture lip liner.)

I tested this Clinique primer in several ways. Now, I know that working out with makeup on is like a cardinal sin of beauty, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. So, I wore this through a cardio workout where I worked up a decent sweat. While I usually immediately wipe down my face with cleansing wipes after I exercise, this time I actually (coincidentally) forgot to do it — and in 20 minutes, my skin looked like I hadn't worked out at all! No grease, no shine — completely matte, soft and without any trace of redness. I was actually shocked.

But let's get to the best part. I have combination skin that always starts out dry and flaky in the mornings and turns shiny by mid-afternoon. There have been maybe two or three days in my adult life that my skin didn't have an oily sheen by the end of the day, and honestly, I might have only imagined them. I've never found a product that fully combats this problem or stops my skin from shining for more than a few hours, especially during the humid summer months. The Clinique primer actually keeps my skin looking matte all day. ALL DAY! Trust me, this is a real miracle for anyone with oily skin.

Suffice it to say, I will be recommending this makeup primer till the day I die.

P.S. My favorite nude lipsticks and Sephora sheet masks for better skin

lipstick review vol. 4

In a nutshell, this has been my experience with nude lipstick: Two months ago I had zero nude lipsticks, and today I have 8 different nude lipsticks.

Yep, you read that right. 0 to 8 in practically no time. I'm obsessed with nude lips, and I wear them 90 percent of the time now. A nude lip is the perfect complement to any outfit, because it allows colors to be the main element of an ensemble and it also allows neutrals to stay neutral while adding an element of sexy. I love wearing my nude lipsticks with a brown and gold smokey eye for maximum effect. The gold and brown eye shadows really draw out the blue in my eyes, and I think the nude lips add an air of maturity and simple elegance.

To mix it up, I got this sample pack from Sephora with five different options to try. My favorite, by far, has been the Nudestix pencil in Whisper. It's the perfect skin-toned shade for me, and the pencil feels smooth and lasts reasonably well even through meals. The Nudestix is my top pick and I'd highly recommend trying it if you're looking to try a nude lip for the first time.

My second pick is the Laura Mercier lipstick in Milky Way. It's a little more chocolate-y brown (pun definitely intended), but it looks great on multiple skin tones. I like that it's a bit darker than the other lipsticks I have, and it looks really beautiful with neutrally colored outfits.

The Tart creamy matte lip paint in Namaste is a more pink-ish nude, but the formula is different than any lipstick or gloss I've tried before. It really does feel like a creamy matte lip paint, and it's super weird but really nice at the same time. The color is flattering, but it doesn't do well for all-day wear.

I was disappointed with the NARS Dolce Vita lipstick. The color is almost invisible, and the formula is very balm-like in that it doesn't even last through my morning coffee. I guess it would be a good option for anyone looking to dip their toes in the nude lipstick pond, but I definitely wouldn't pay full price for it.

And finally is the Marc Jacobs lip liner in Primrose, which has a beautiful peachy, pink color. I haven't worn it yet though because I don't have the right color lipstick/gloss for it, but from what I've sampled it seems like a good one.

Do you wear nude lipsticks or have a favorite? Or if you're looking to try one for the first time, which do you think you'll pick? I'd love to know! 

P.S. lipstick reviews vol. 1, vol. 2 and vol. 3

Instagram roundup No. 13

Happy Tuesday, friends! Sorry for being a little MIA last week, but between a(nother) cold and some blah feelings, I felt it was time for an unanticipated tech detox. But I'm back with another little Instagram roundup to get things going here again! First up: two beauty products I'm currently obsessed with. I bought this Too Faced eye shadow primer on a friend's recommendation, and I don't think I'll ever use anything else! And this Naked Dolly Too Faced lipstick had been on my wish list for a while, and I finally splurged. I need to get a good lip liner for it, but the color is beautiful!

product review: sheet masks

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today I wanted to share my first experiment with sheet masks, which seem to be all the rage lately. (Just ask Adele.) If you remember, for Valentine's Day I shared a bunch of goodies to pamper yourself and my plans to do at-home facials with Adam. Lucky for me, it didn't take much to convince him to try a sheet mask with me — all I had to do was promise not to share photos of him wearing it ;) So, we went to Sephora to choose our own personal spa treatments.

favorite winter nail colors Vol. 2

Time again to share a roundup of some of my favorite winter nail colors. This year's favorites include lots of glitter, because winter needs a little shine while we wait for the days to get longer, in my opinion. I tried a few new polishes for this group, and some left me much happier than others. Spoiler alert: you do, in fact, get what you pay for.

Essie in "Summit of Style" – You gotta love when your friends and family supply you with all the glitter nail polish for Christmas. You just can't go wrong with a chunky gold glitter to top off your manicures, and this one has great staying power. It acts as a top coat to protect the bottom color, and the glitter spreads out so much better than other glitter polishes I've tried. I feel like Essie has really outdone itself in the glitter department (and if there's such a thing as an actual glitter department, how can I get a job there?)

Deborah Lippmann in "Modern Love" – This Deborah Lippmann set was another gift, and I couldn't be happier with it. Deborah Lippmann is a celebrity manicurist and created her own line of polishes that are absolutely amazing. You can immediately tell these are not your average drugstore nail colors. This blush pink is the perfect cross between a rosey pink and nude, for when you want just the slightest bit of color. 

Deborah Lippmann in "Some Enchanted Evening" – Add this rose-colored glitter on top and you've got yourself a match made in manicure heaven. I'm really not much of a pink person, but I love this duo. It's so fresh for winter, and it'll transition perfectly into spring. They are a little on the pricey side, but oh so worth it. 

Essie in "Ignite the Night" – This one was on my Christmas wish list, and I was so happy to see it in one of my presents! (Thanks mom! ;) It's such a beautiful glitter nail polish, and it's perfect for fun nail art and layering. I wore it over a nude polish for a classy but fun New Year's Eve look and got major compliments. This one will definitely move into my favorites pile!

Maybelline Color Show in "Black Matte" – I've been wanting to try a matte nail polish for a long time, and I was in love with the look of this black matte polish as soon as I put it on. The drying effects were pretty cool too, as it turned from glossy to matte almost immediately after applying. But (and this is a big but) the quality is terrible. I guess that's what I get for paying $2, right? It chipped within a few hours and looked terrible by the next day. I put two coats on and didn't use a top coat, so that might have had an impact on it. Word to the wise: try black matte polish, but make sure you buy a good brand. 

Which colors are your favorites? What are your favorite nail colors to wear in the winter? 

P.S. Favorite Winter Nail Colors Vol. 1, Fall Nail Colors Vol. 1 and Summer Nail Colors Vol. 1

Lipstick Review Vol. 3

top row: Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 08 / NARS lipstick in "Scarlet Empress"

bottom row: Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 111 / Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Neon Red"

1. Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 08 — This was one of my very first lipstick purchases because it’s about as close to the color of my natural lips as there is, and perfect for beauty beginners. It’s a neutral shade that goes with virtually anything, and it’s very flattering. I love it for those days when I want to wear lipstick but nothing too bold, or outfits that don’t seem to match any other lip colors. The dusty pink shade is great for all seasons, so I get a lot of wear out of it, plus the formula is one of my favorites. It’s creamy without being too thick and it’s not sticky at all. It won’t last all day without reapplying, but the color is so natural that it won’t be obvious if it fades a little bit, which is a major win if you work long days like me. Rating: 5 stars.

2. NARS lipstick in "Scarlet Empress" — If you’re wondering why I haven’t posted a lipstick review since October, this NARS lipstick would be the reason. After I bought it, I wore it just about daily for the whole month of November (between my colds, that is). It’s the absolute perfect shade of purple, and it’s actually sort of a chameleon because some days it looks much darker than others. (You can see an example of the difference in this post.) It’s my favorite shade for fall and winter this year (obviously), but I can’t wait to experiment with it in the warmer months, too. I’ve been a huge fan of NARS ever since I bought my first lip pencil (Dragon Girl) over a year ago. This was my first try with one of their lipsticks, but I have to admit I wasn’t super impressed. The formula is super soft and comfortable for all-day wear, but it doesn’t last nearly as well as the lip pencils. I’m not sure if it’s just this shade since it’s the only one I’ve tried so far, but it takes a few coats to fully cover and it rubs off pretty easily, which can be a pain. Rating: 4 stars.

3. Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 111 — This is the first tube of lipstick I have ever finished, which already says a lot! It was my first red lipstick and one that I loved because the color is universally flattering and the most perfect dark-bright red. This Rimmel London formula had a strange-but-not-bad smell to it, but it never bothered me. It's good for long-ish wears, but it can get a little sticky by the end of the night, so I try not to wear it for morning-to-night occasions. It goes on thick and feels creamy so it doesn't dry out your lips, which is great. What I love most about this lipstick is the slightly deeper tone that pairs so well with different colors. Rating: 4.5 stars.

4. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Neon Red" — A bold orangey-red is a statement maker for sure, so I probably wouldn’t recommend starting out with it if you haven’t tested the lipstick waters previously. I didn’t want anything too orange, so I went with the “Neon Red” in the hopes of having a stronger tone of red. I love this color for summer because it’s vibrant and bright, but I’ve also worn it in the winter to liven up a dark-colored ensemble. I like this Maybelline shade because it goes well with my light skin tone and doesn’t wash me out. The formula is creamy with a glossy finish, and it lasts pretty well throughout the day without leaving your lips stained after you take it off. Rating: 4.5 stars.

Which one of these shades is your favorite? Do you have any lipsticks you'd like me to review? Just leave a note in the comment and I'll be sure to check them out! 

P.S. Lipstick reviews Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

Lipstick Review Vol. 2

top row: Too Faced Melted Long Wear Lipstick in "Melted Fig" / Revlon Pearl in "Fuchsia Fusion" (No. 657)

bottom row: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Vivid Rose" (No. 875) / Bare Minerals Moxie in "Live It Up"

1. Too Faced Melted Long Wear Lipstick in "Melted Fig" — Okay, this is the nerd in me, but I usually do quite a bit of research on a lipstick before I buy it. I check out the color I want, look at reviews and photos of how it looks on other girls with similar skin tones. But this one was a completely spur-of-the-moment purchase. I’d never heard of Too Faced Melted before, but I was intrigued when my friend Ashley was looking at it in Sephora one day. I was hesitant because it’s a liquid in a squeeze tube, which I gave up on long ago in middle school. But seriously — it is now one of my all-time favorites. It goes on creamy but dries to a matte finish. And it lasts forever! I can get through a full meal and multiple drinks and barely need a touchup. Sometimes the dryness makes it feel like it’s wiped off, but when I look in a mirror it’s hardly moved. I’m not a huge fan of the fuzzy tip applicator (although it is soft!) because it’s a little bit harder to get a clean line, but overall, it’s my latest top pick. Rating: 5 stars.

2. Revlon Pearl in "Fuchsia Fusion" (No. 657) —This was one of the first lipsticks I bought back when I started wearing it a couple years ago. It’s the same brand as the purple I wrote about in my first review, but the formula is much better. It’s creamy and comfortable, but this one doesn’t rub off like chapstick. You’ll still need a touchup after a meal, but it doesn’t leave your lips feeling gross like some of the others I’ve tried. The color covers well and doesn’t bleed around the edges, which I can appreciate even more now that I’ve been testing out a few newer brands that do (looking at you, Moxie!). I like the magenta coloring of this one, as it’s bold but not too bright. It does have a very faint blue tint to it because it’s “pearl,” which bothers me sometimes depending on my mood. What can I say, I’m a matte girl! Rating: 4 stars.

3. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Vivid Rose" (No. 875) — This is one of my favorite shades. Period. It's a bold, vibrant pink that looks stunning on every skin tone. It's the perfect summer lip color, and I proved that many times over this past summer! I love the Maybelline lipsticks because they typically have a great, long-lasting formula and they're only $5. You can't beat that price when it comes to lipstick! This shade really does last well throughout the day. It does need touchups after meals, but it works as a lip stain, so even at the end of a 12-hour day your lips will still have the color on them. Actually, after I've worn it for a long time sometimes I'll wake up and shower and my lips will still be tinted from it! But it has a slight creamy feel, so it usually feels really good on my lips for all-day wear. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for bold pinks! Rating: 5 stars. 

4. Bare Minerals Moxie in "Live It Up" — Bare Minerals is my go-to makeup brand. I’ve been using its foundation for years and love it. I have had my eye on the Moxie lipstick line for a long time, but for some reason I just never tried it out. But since I’m such a great bargain hunter lately that I happened to find this beautiful red shade in a sale basket at a salon recently. I didn’t spend much time debating because I was in need of a new red lipstick, and for just $10, I couldn’t pass up one of my favorite brands. As soon as I put it on, I knew I made the right decision. The formula is super creamy and has a nice shine to it. The color is the perfect dramatic red, which was exactly what I was looking for. It didn’t last through lunch, but the edges stayed in tact, so my touchup was minimal. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that it does bleed, so a lip liner is definitely necessary. Rating: 4.5 stars.

What lipsticks are you loving right now? What are your favorites from this roundup? Have you tried any of these before? Let me know!

P.S. Lipstick Review Vol. 1, the key to healthy lips and my fall wish list

Lipstick Review Vol. 1

Top row: NYX Matte lipstick in "Pure Red" / Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in "Plum Velour" (No. 850)

Bottom row: Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in "Bordeaux" (No. 124) / NARS Satin Lip Pencil in "Rikugien"

If you know me at all, you're probably thinking: "How did it take THIS LONG for this girl to do a lipstick review?!" I don't really have an answer for why it's taken me so long, but I finally did it! For each review you can expect a general description of each shade, plus a rating out of 5 stars. So here we go with the first of many!

1. NYX Matte lipstick in "Pure Red" — This is actually one of my favorite colors, but (and this is a really big but) one of my least favorite formulas. The red has just a hint of scarlet-orange and is great for my lighter skin tone. I always get a ton of compliments when I wear it, and I like to use it as an alternative for a darker, more "red" red. But color does not equal comfort, and this stuff feels pretty gross on my lips by the end of the day. Maybe it's the matte formula, but it's a bit thick and it always seems to get chunks in it throughout the day — even after I've thoroughly treated my lips. Rating: 2.5 stars.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in "Plum Velour" (No. 850) — Again, I love love love the color of this lipstick. It's the perfect non-intense purple for fall (or year-round, really). The problem, again, is the formula. It's weird because I have two other shades in this same lipstick and they are both great, but this one is super thin and rubs off almost instantly. Seriously, you will not make it through a cup of coffee with this one! It feels like I'm wearing Baby Lips, which is great, but as for long-lasting wear — not your best bet. Rating: 3 stars.

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in "Bordeaux" (No. 124) — Oxblood lipstick is my favorite fall beauty trend. I just love the vampy-but-classy look of a wine-colored lip — there's something about it that just makes you look and feel mysterious, you know? This one is a great shade and a great formula (finally!), but the bad thing with dark colors is that they tend to bleed around the edges of your lips. I use this matching lip pencil to line my lips before applying the color all over, which usually helps. I want to try this lip protector to see if it works any better, because you absolutely need to have clean lines to pull off a dark lip shade. Rating: 4 stars.

4. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in "Rikugien" — This is my fourth NARS lip pencil, but it was part of the free birthday gift at Sephora, so I didn't get to pick out the color. I probably wouldn't have chosen this one on my own, but I actually really liked it for a more natural shade. It's got a bit of a pearly tone to it, and it essentially just accentuates the natural color of your lips. It feels nice and lasts fairly well, but I probably wouldn't pay the retail price of $26 because I think you could easily find a drugstore dupe for much cheaper. Rating: 3.5 stars.

That's it for Volume 1! Let me know if you have any questions about any of these, and if you have suggestions for lipsticks you'd like me to review, send them my way! I have plenty more to write about, but I'm always up for trying new lipsticks ;) 

P.S. The key to healthy lips and my fall wish list

Favorite Fall Nail Colors Vol. 1

I finally broke out the dark shades for my most recent manicure, so I thought it was time to do a post with my favorite fall nail colors. Plus, now that it's finally September(!), my brain is consumed with all things fall. So, here are the nail polishes I'll be wearing on repeat for the next few months.

OPI Infinite Shine 2 in Get Ryd-of-thym Blues. I have been looking for a navy nail polish for more than a year, and I finally found one. The closest color I had before was a blue that looked basically black, so I'm excited to have a genuine navy polish, as it's one of the most popular fall colors.

OPI in Schnapps Out of It! First of all, how adorable is this name? Oh, to be the person who thinks up the names of nail polish. Anyway, I bought this burnt orange a few years back and I always like to break it out in the fall to celebrate pumpkin season. It also has a slight shimmer to it, so the orange isn't too overwhelming.

New York Color in Lexington Lilac. Even though this one is a lighter hue, its rich tones make it a perfect fall color. Sometimes lighter purples can wash out pale skin, but I think this one looks great on every skin tone — even my pasty hands!

OPI Infinite Shine 2 in Steel Waters Run Deep. A good gray nail polish is almost as hard to find as the elusive perfect pair of jeans. Sometimes they're too light and look like a bad white, others are too dark and make nails look sickly. This one is perfect. I love the neutral nail going into fall this year because I plan on wearing lots of reds and greens and blues!

OPI in Cajun Shrimp. This has to be my favorite nail polish buy in recent memory. I had been wanting a red-orange color for the longest time, and when I finally found this one I threw it in my cart immediately. It's gorgeous on nails, with just the right balance between bright summer tones and rich fall tones. I don't love it quite as much on my toes because it looks a little too orange, but I think it would make a good summer pedicure for next year.

What nail colors are you wearing this fall? 

P.S. Favorite summer, spring and winter nail colors

Short hair love

Let's talk about hair. I've always been a fan of hair, but I've never been good at styling it. Example: to this day I cannot make a french braid. For most of my adolescent life I sported a long, lifeless 'do, never giving it much time other than 8 minutes a day to straighten it — which, let's be honest, was a total joke because my hair is straighter than the hair on the models in flat-iron commercials. But I digress. I did get a few perms in my life, because due to the aforementioned straightness, taking a curling iron to my hair resulted in either copious amounts of hairspray or a sad, curl-less mess after a couple hours. Needless to say, something had to be done.

Product review: Jamberry nail wraps

At some point in high school I started wearing nail polish regularly, and ever since then it's become a rarity to see me with naked fingernails. I think the most I've gone without polish is about a week, and even that is a struggle for me. I've always loved the look of fancy nail art — but I'm not about to pay for a manicure every week.

When all those nail wraps started coming out a few years ago, I was really intrigued. So many designs and colors. Fast-forward to now and I'm still obsessed with all the pretty patterns these wraps come in, but I've been too cheap to spend the money on them without knowing how well they actually work or if I can even put them on correctly. So when the lovely Melanie wanted to send me a sample of her Jamberry wraps, I jumped at the offer!

Go Blog Social swag bags

As promised, here's a rundown on all the goodies they gave us at Go Blog Social last weekend. The Go Blog Social sponsors are amazing, so prepare for a little photo overload (sorry not sorry). I'm not much of a beauty expert, but I am very excited to try out all these great products! Keep reading to get all the details...

A trick for removing dark nail polish stains

I recently read about an awesome French trick for cleaning the dark nail polish stains off of your fingernails. All you do is hold your nails in a dish of lemon juice mixed with a bit of water for a few minutes and the stains fade instantly. Cool, right?

I was a little skeptical that it would work, but when I tried it myself after using my darkest polishes several weeks in a row, it really did help! Lemon juice is apparently good for both whitening nails and strengthening them when used in an olive oil mixture.

This is a really helpful tip to learn going into spring because I like to transition from my dark shades to lighter, more pastel hues, and the light colors can a little dirty with dark stains behind them.

Have you ever tried this trick before? What beauty tricks do you swear by? 

P.S. Favorite winter nail colors and how to get wrinkles out in less than 5 minutes

What's in my bag

With the weather being so cold lately, it's been really hard to get out, and we're starting to get a bit stir crazy. So this weekend Adam and I are taking a day off from work and going to see his family for a few days. It's only a two-hour trip, but it'll be nice to have even a small change of scenery! I thought it would be fun to share what I'm packing for the trip, so here are some of my travel must-haves.

Conair paddle hairbrush. This paddle brush has been by far the best one I've used. It doesn't pull my hair when it's wet, and the wide surface area makes drying my hair go super-fast.

Aveda Light Elements defining whip. I've never been a huge fan of products in my hair, but this defining whip is a miracle worker. It tames flyaways, adds moisture when the winter air dries it out and gives my hair an overall smooth look. I use it before I straighten or curl my hair, and then after it's curled to tame the stray hairs and texturize the waves.

Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer. I have combination skin, so it's always been hard to find moisturizer that keeps my skin soft without looking oily. I picked this one up on a whim when my previous brand was discontinued, and it's been amazing.

Dove Advanced Care deodorant. I've tried a lot of deodorants, but this one has definitely the most effective. It's dry, comfortable and it lasts all day.

Neutrogena pink grapefruit oil-free face wash. (Warning: cheesy anti-acne ad coming up!) When I was in college, I went through several different face washes in the attempt to cure my constant breakouts. None of them worked until I found this one. The grapefruit makes it smell great, and my skin feels so fresh and soft afterwards. I use the scrub about every other night and mornings when I travel. When I'm at home, I use the regular oil-free face wash with my Clarisonic brush in the shower.

Remington Wet 2 Straight flat iron. I'm almost a little embarrassed to talk about this flat iron. I bought it back in high school on sale at Wal-Mart when I couldn't afford a nice one, but it turned out to be a great purchase. I've tried some of the expensive flat irons, but I always prefer this one over the top brands. And I think the fact that I've been using it for at least 5 years really says something for its quality!

Handheld mirror (similar). A personal mirror is a necessity when traveling. I always use one when I'm curling the back of my hair, but it's also nice to have in case there isn't an available mirror when I'm trying to get ready somewhere. This way I can take it into any room and I never have to wait for the bathroom to open up if there's only one.

Conair Infinity Pro hair dryer. Another cheap surprise — this is my favorite hair dryer. It's so powerful that it dries my hair in less than 10 minutes straight out of the shower. I have pretty fine hair, so my hair has never taken all that long to dry, but this one is noticeably faster.

Bare Minerals makeup bag. This bag came with a set of makeup I bought a couple years ago, so (sadly) it's not available now. But it's the perfect size for all my makeup and it's small enough to fit in a purse so it's really handy to just throw everything in and go.

Wow, that seems like a lot of stuff now that I lay it all out and explain all of it! And I still have clothes and accessories to fit in my bag! What are your go-to beauty products when you travel?

Favorite winter nail colors Vol. 1

Ever since I discovered black nails could be chic back in my teen years, I've had a thing for dark shades on my nails for the winter. I don't use black on my nails anymore, but two of my favorite polishes are very dark blue and green, and people often mistake them for black. There's just something so classy about a dark, shiny manicure in the colder months.

I feel naked if I'm not wearing nail polish, so it's extremely rare that you'll find me without it. And right now, there's a 90 percent chance you'll find me wearing one of these colors. The darks are my tried and true favorites, and the white is a new one I just tried and (surprisingly) fell head over heels for. It seems like all the fashion bloggers are wearing white or some similar shade on their nails, so I decided to give it a try. I couldn't believe how much I liked it. It even caused me to go out and buy a new pinkish-white color (limo-scene by Essie).

Dancing with the Stars

Do any of you watch Dancing with the Stars at all? Did you see last night's Most Memorable Year episode? If not, stop what you're doing and go watch it now.

It. Was. Beautiful.

Jonathan Bennett (aka Aaron Samuels) paid a tribute to Mean Girls and dedicated it to his parents, who both passed away within the last two years. Betsey Johnson (the adorable and sweeter-than-sugar fashion designer) talked about her daughter. Tommy Chong (remember Leo from That's 70s Show?) even talked about the year he went to prison.

But one that really hit me was when Bethany Mota (of YouTube fame) performed to Colbie Caillat's "Try" and told the story of how she was bullied as a young teen. Most of the stories were very emotional, but this one seemed to be extremely relevant to society right now. Colbie Caillat sang live and the Bethany and Derek performed in front of a backdrop of hurtful and then inspirational words to tell the story. It was just beautiful.

The whole episode was an emotional roller coaster. The most exciting part for me (although I'm pretty sure most of America would agree) was Alfonso Ribeiro —finally — bringing back The Carlton. I've been waiting since his name was announced on the cast list, and I thought I'd have to wait for the freestyle portion of the finals to see it. But he knows what the fans want. Honestly, he could probably win the whole show if he just sneaks that into every routine.

Oh, and Sadie Robertson did a stellar duck-themed performance (feathers included) involving her family and the cast of Duck Dynasty — and lots of fake beards.

(Photo via ABC7)

Wish List: Fall accessories

As you already know, I love fall — especially the chilly weather fashions (I've got a whole Pinterest board dedicated to exactly that). So I thought I'd share some of the accessories on my wish list this season.

1. Statement necklace: Style this up or down with an elegant dress or a graphic tee for multiple looks  2. Headphones  3. Statement ring  4. Knit scarf  5. Oxblood lipstick: I love the deep red color of this NARS Audacious lipstick in Jeanne for the holiday season...very festive and sexy  6. Stacking rings  7. Sunglasses  8. Tiered necklace: This one from Gucci is WAY out of my budget, but I still love it  9. Black ankle boots: The gold detail and the open design on this style are so versatile  10. Purple infinity scarf  11. Layered necklace  12. Nail polish: These navy blue, dark cherry and nude colors are absolutely gorgeous for fall  13. Tan booties  14. Berry lipstick  15. Clutch: The soft leather and shape make this a perfect accessory for any outfit, from cozy sweaters to date-night dresses

What's on your wish list this season? Anything like mine? :)

Inspiring quote

Found this the other day and thought it sounded like a great new motto. There are so many people who try to be just like someone else, or do everything they can to change themselves into what they think other people want them to be. 

It's so refreshing to meet someone who is unapologetically herself (or himself). A person who is comfortable showing people their true self is so much more attractive than the person trying to fit into society's mold. 

Let's just be who we really are.

(Image via Pure Daily Style)