makeup

pur cosmetics vanity palette

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but not for a lack of activity in my life. Actually quite the opposite. It’s getting harder and harder to find the time to sit down and type out a blog post, but I do hope I can keep it up. Because having the space to write a little bit more than what I have on Instagram is definitely needed for clarity of mind.

The other day I tested out a full face of Pur Cosmetics for the first time. Wait I lie, minus the lips. I’ve used the 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder before as a foundation but this time I got to use their recently launched Vanity Palettes, in addition to some others.

I started off with the Bare It All 4-in-1 Skin Perfecting Foundation. This is right up my alley, seeing as how I like liquid foundations that claim to improve my skin. It feels more like a cream than a liquid, but the coverage is really good and did last me all day long at work. Very often most makeup begins to dissipate from my face at the 4-hour mark because of how active I am at work, but this one stay put! I applied it with a dense foundation brush and then lightly set it with the Pressed Mineral Powder.

Onto brows, which really is the part of my makeup routine where I start to look alive. This Wake Up Brow pencil will be my new go-to once my current one runs out. It was the kind that isn’t super creamy so you don’t have to have a super sensitive touch like some other pencils. It includes a highlighter on the other end, but I didn’t really need to use it.

Here is the star of the show, the Vanity Palette! As you can see, it fits in the palm of my hand and the mirror pops out for added ease. This is a great palette to throw in your purse to touch up through the day since it does include highlighter, cheek, bronzer, and eye shadows. This, much like the brow pencil, was easy to use. The pigments are soft and blendable and great for beginners. I say that (me myself being a beginner) because I do own some palettes where the pigment comes off WAY too easily and then you have to spend a million years blending out your raccoon eyes. The whole palette is soft and buildable, lending itself to a bronzey romantic look.

I used more of the warmer shades because I have a yellow undertone in my skin so I just feel more comfortable using browns, oranges, corals. Once I was done and happy, I set the entire look with Balancing Act to make sure I wasn’t going to get too shiny throughout the day.

Overall I was really pleased with how everything performed! I got compliments on my makeup at work and I think everything is really well-suited to the girl on the go. I never do dramatic eye looks so I’m not sure if it’s good for that. Overall I think each and every product is definitely worth a try!

Pur Cosmetics products used:
Bare it All 4-in-1 Skin Perfecting Foundation
4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation
Wake Up Brow
Vanity Palettes

the warmest winter

You’re probably well aware by now that this has been the warmest winter. I write this as the sun is beating down outside and the temp reads somewhere in the 60s. I will never complain about Spring weather coming early (except that I’m not into this whole climate change situation) but I’m just a little disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to wear these new boots for just a little while longer. I got them from Target for $20. How.

I typically have a tough time with shoes, but I mean.. don’t we all. I have even worse trouble with boots this high; I can never find ones that hit the right spot and also have the right heel and also don’t look like hooker boots. The color of the grey faux suede is probably what did it for me. And I also can never wear boots all the way to my knees because it’s just not flattering. Trust me.

current beauty routine

Once upon a time, my mom bought me an Urban Decay makeup palette for Christmas. Lil old me had no idea how to make a good eye look out of it so I did what any normal person does, I looked up a tutorial on YouTube. I found one YouTuber who I thought was so beautiful yet down to earth – she reminded me of one of my college BFFs. One video led to another and the rest is history. Here I am over a year later and I am addicted to watching YouTube makeup gurus every night before I go to bed. Part of it is to learn more about beauty and skincare and the other part is that its become ritual. It may sound lame, but it starts to feel like these personalities are like your friends.

Some of the products I list here are from YouTube recommendations, others were random finds, and some were recommendations from real live friends. I have no idea if you’re interested in my beauty routine at all, but I’ve found some really good keepers so I thought I would share just in case! This is not my entire makeup collection – just my absolute staples for the last month or so. Without further ado…

Starting with skin; I feel like I’m so dumb when it comes to skincare. I’m rapidly approaching 30 this year and I’ve yet to figure out the best things for my skin. Since I have a short makeup attention span, it’s been hard for me to stay with something long enough to love it. The products above though? They’ve been working for me for the last month or so and I think I’m in love. Everything feels great on my skin – light scents, refreshing textures, and really easy to incorporate into my bedtime routine. Of all the things, the Origins GinZing moisturizer is probably my favorite. It smells like a tall glass of OJ for my face! Oh and here’s what I look like without anything but moisturizer on:

Yup, that’s me. My biggest qualms with my face are texture and tone. I’ve been trying out lots of foundations and concealers this year (high end and drugstore) and the combo pictured above is the best of the best right now. The other foundations I used this year were: Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Foundation, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation, Maybelline FitMe Liquid Foundation, and Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation. Surprisingly enough, this L’Oreal Infalliable Pro Glow is pretty much the best of all worlds. It gives me good coverage (not too much but not too little) and leaves me looking dewy, like myself. Paired with the Hourglass primer and the Maybelline FitMe Concealer… match made in heaven. At least for now.

tropical roots

s’more grams

I don’t have a smartphone, but thanks to an incredibly generous boyfriend I get to instagram to my heart’s desire! Favorites tend to include food and fashion. Can you blame me?

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