Lush lip products - review & swatch!

It has been SO. LONG! I miss you all! I need to find some consistency in my blogging life, and obviously I am still working on that - but good news, I'm back with a review! So, recently I went on a nice "date day" with my partner in crime (AKA boyfriend) and we went to an IMAX theater...which just so happens to be in a very large MALL (YAY SHOPPING!).  As I was walking through the mall I stopped right in front of lush and I could SMELL it...it just smelled so fresh like happiness and hugs.  I dragged him in (reluctantly) and I ended up dropping a solid 20 bucks on a couple delightful lip products.

The first product that I grabbed right away was this lip scrub - I had read about it previously and when I smelled the bubblegum I was sold.  I am a lover off all things lip scrub-esque.  Basically, you apply the lip scrub, buff it over the lips, and then lick it off when you're done.  It tastes like sugary sweetness and just smells heavenly..I have been using so much of it because I just want to eat it! It retails for about $9.75 (which is fairly expensive for just a sugar scrub essentially) but you do get quite a bit in the container and the company, Lush, holds great principles which I really cherish in my cosmetic companies.

The second product that I was able to try out was "The Kiss" lip gloss - it has a mouse consistancy in the container, but it goes on so smooth - I wouldn't call it exactly a gloss, I would call it more of a cross between a gloss and a balm - a glam?  I think I'll need to coin that term for a lip product haha. It is a very pretty pink color and has almost a candy scent - this one doesn't taste quite as good as the scrub when you but it's pretty good for a "glam".  It is a very pretty pink and it's soft enough to go with really any look.  It retails for about $9.50 as well.  

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Business attire 101 in 16 pieces (and 10 outfit combos!)

Hi ladies! So, as I prepare for my venture into the professional world (rotations start in May ahh!) where I have to actually wear business attire on a daily basis I decided to go through and pick out what some of my favorite "basics" are that any woman could find some variation of in a store near her relatively inexpensively and have at least 10 different looks from it.  Let's get it staaarteeeed up in here!

• Basic black blazer
• Basic white / colored blazer
• Neutral sweater
• Basic white button down
• printed button down in a dark color 
• Basic colored top
• Neutral skirt
• Black skirt
• Black pants
• Black flats
• Colored flats (I have ones to match the top for more versatility)
• Printed flats
• Basic laptop bag
• Statement necklace (preferably in black to be more versatile)
• Simple earrings
• Black scarf OR printed scarf (neutral)

1.  Outfit 1

2. Outfit 2

3. Outfit 3

4. Outfit 4

5. Outfit 5

6. Outfit 6

 7. Outfit 7

8. Outfit 8

9. Outfit 9

 10. Outfit 10

Have a wonderful day!

I am BACK with a review! Lip and Cheek chubby - Love it? Hate it? Check it out!

Hello ladies! It has been a whiiiiiiiiiile! In the midst of a hectic semester, I have been swamped under work, work, and more work...and it won't be letting up any time soon! However, I am determined to get some better time management so that I can keep bringing some lovely blog posts to you all! 

Now, second order of business -  I realize many people have nominated me for a leibster award, and I cannot even express in words how appreciative I am! I promise I have not been ignoring you! Your support is amazing, and I am so looking forward to answering all of the questions (eventually)...however, I want to bring to you today a long overdue review of something that I just picked up on a whim a few days ago at Walmart.

So who here has heard of Drew Barrymore's makeup line called Flower Beauty (flowerbeauty.com)...show of hands...anyone? No? Me either (or maybe you have, but you just weren't impressed - I won't spoil anything).  I was just perusing the makeup isle picking up everything that looked interesting and this "cheek and lip chubby" in the flower line stuck out to me - I LOVE  versatile product - the easier / more uses it has the more it's worth in my arsenal.  I picked it up for about $7.00 - which isn't super cheap but obviously not breaking the bank - however, I figured if it works well for me as a dual product then it would be worth it...well, no. Nope.

So, what do we see here - well, the cheeks are less than impressive in terms of pigmentation and the lips look very well pigmented....seems okay...NO.  

Here's the numero uno problem holding it back - this stuff feels HORRIBLE on the lips - gritty, flaky, yuck...just yuck. When I first swatched it I did notice that it has a much more powder consistency as a blush would, but it started to cake up and I noticed clumpiness and grittiness as I swatched it.

As for the cheeks, the pigmentation shows up well at first, however, within 30 minutes not a trace was to be seen. It could be an okay emergency product if you want to have one thing in your purse / clutch for a meeting or something - but it better be a short meeting, and hopefully you're not kissing anyone, because otherwise they might think you like to eat sand on a regular basis.  

Overall, I wouldn't buy this product again, I probably won't use it again (or maybe I will, just to exfoliate my lips), and I'm not feeling ultimately inspired to buy any other of my beloved Drew Barrymore's line.  

this should explain my overall feeling of this product.

Has anyone else every tried a flower beauty product? Love it? Hate it? Also...I am in the hunt for a lip and cheek chubby that doesn't make me want to apply chapstick every 5 seconds...so any recommendations would be highly appreciated! Have a great week!

Want bold, beautiful, natural looking brows? --> check it out!

Hi ladies! So, it's been a few days (so sorry, I'm back to reality and time is lacking!) - anyway, I was thinking today as I did my makeup how vital my brow routine is to my overall look.  I think out of anything that I NEED to do on a daily basis, brows are definitely it.  They can literally define your look, similar to a bright lipstick or a smokey eye.  In light of this revelation, I am bringing you my staples to bold, beautiful brows!

1. Keep them tidy:

• Pluck, but don't OVER pluck! 
• When you check out your brows in the morning, you should certainly remove any of the strays, however, it is so important that you don't go overboard with the tweezers, otherwise you can end up with sparse and misshapen brows 
• *I will do a more in-depth brow shaping tutorial in the future

2. Shape them up:

• My staple: Milani brow tint - nautral taupe
• this brow tint is in the form of a pen, and creates a soft but well defined line - perfect for shaping the outside of your brows.

3. fill em' in:

• My staple: Anasthesia Brow Powder Duo - cool dark brown
• This brow powder comes with two shades - I always go for the shade that is just a tad lighter than my original brows; this gives them a much more natural appearance while still being more bold.
• *milani also makes a fabulous brow duo if you are looking for a budget-friendly option!

4. hold them in place:

• My staple: Covergirl Natural Lash clear mascara
• While this is technically a mascara, I LOVE this for holding my brows in place; it is clear so it doesn't add any color, but it holds them all day, and the price just can't be beat!

My 4-step skin care routine!

Well, it's Monday....again. What better to read about this Monday then how I get my skin feeling squeaky clean and refreshed each evening? I'm bringing you my daily four-step skin care routine that I do every night to remove my make-up and prevent breakouts.

*disclaimer: everyone's skin has different levels of sensitivity to skin care products, my skin is extremely acne prone but is very dry in the winter.  This routine could easily be tailored to your skin type, but I cannot guarantee that everyone will respond to these products the same way (obviously)! It may be a good foundation for a skin-care routine for most people:

I always start my routine by taking off the bulk of my make-up with a make-up remover wipe (like these here) & taking off my eye make-up with eye make-up remover (simple is by far my favorite brand for sensitive skin!)

I then quickly exfoliate my skin to remove any left over make-up and prevent dry skin.  I usually pair my clarisonic with some "simple" foaming cleanser.  I find the simple line to be the only cleanser that is not overly drying while still preventing severe breakouts for me. I have rosacea and acne both of which have been well controlled since I started using this cleanser / brush system! If the hefty price of the clarisonic is not in the budget right now, then I could also recommend the olay cleansing brush system which also works well! 

After exfoliating I quickly swipe the olay oil minimizing toner over my entire face (found here); it evens my skin tone well and my pores have seemed quite a bit smaller since I started using this product

I finish up my routine with the simple light moisturizer (spf 15!) and my RoC retinol correxion eye cream (which has been working WONDERS after only 2 weeks of use! I will do a follow-up to this further in the future!) Moisturizers & eye creams are SO important even if you are young and don't have visible wrinkles yet...if you develop a good routine at a young age then you can keep your skin looking ageless for as long as possible (and my mother is living proof!) 

Taking off your make-up in the evening is so important for revealing healthy, evenly toned skin with a clear complexion...what better palette do we have for our make-up besides healthy luminous skin? Hope you all have a wonderful week!

What are your staple skincare products?

xo Kay

Sunday antiquing!

Happy Sunday ladies! Today I just could not stay in the house! I worked a short shift in the morning and then when I got home I convinced my partner in crime to go on an adventure with me! We went to an awesome (and huge) antique center in downtown New London, CT - this place is GIGANTIC.  

I am always fascinated with antiques - I get that from my parents.  I just am so curious to understand how an item gets to that point of sitting in a musty antiques building waiting for the next person to add to its story.  This awesome camera - while being beaten down an broken - still gives off such an awesome vibe when you're standing there admiring it.  I didn't have any worthwhile purpose to purchase it so I left it for someone to purchase who could really use it.  I did, however, have some awesome scores! A few of my favorites of the day:

Coach wallet - 10 dollars

Tea pot - 5 dollars

Cat mug - 1 dollar

While not all of these items are considered antique by any means, they are perfect for my quirky collection of mugs and teapots.  The coach wallet was just a steal!  Hope you all have a great week - be on the look out for a review soon! 

Top 10 "Must-have-in-my-bag"!

Happy Friday! Today I am bringing you a little sneak peak inside my bag - my daily must haves! These are the things that I always keep inside my purse in case of a beauty emergency or things I may need to reach for on a regular basis in my bag:

1. Galaxy note 8.0 tablet: I got this tablet for Christmas this year and it is a great accessory for any student, blogger, or business person.  It has a stylus and I can easily take notes for class or ideas on it.  I have this with my every day and use it for everything!

2. Matrix Biolage nourishing hand cream: I have this in the small 1 oz tube and it cost my about 4.99; this hand cream is AMAZING! A small amount goes a long way - I find myself constantly reaching for this during the winter months.

3. Bath & body works hand sanitizer: you can get these hand sanitizers in almost any scent very inexpensive at bath & body works - this is certainly a must-have during the winter flu season! Another huge plus with the bath & body works hand sanitizer is the fact that it doesn't dry your hands (though I keep my matrix hand cream close by anyway!)

4. Revlon just bitten kissable lip stain: if you've read my previous review (see it here!) you understand why - my go to is the color smitten!

5. EOS lip balm in sweet mint: I. LOVE. THIS. LIP BALM.  I know everyone has been saying that, but really, I do. It's a great way to freshen up your lip color in the middle of the day when it starts to dry out a bit (especially in these cold winter months brrr!)

6. Agadir argan oil spritz styling finishing spray: This is the perfect on the go spray - I use this when I am finding my hair is struggling to stay tamed and I just need a little bit of hold & shine...it is flexible, it smells good, and it only takes a small amount to get my hair back in check! 

7. Hair ties & bobby pins: I NEED to have hair ties & bobby pins in my emergency kit; I LOVE these hair ties from goody that have little gold beads on them for interest (they are designed to be worn as a bracelet as well).  I am constantly either needing to pin my bangs out of my face for work or throw my hair up to get things done! Tip: keep your bobby pins in an empty tic tac container to keep them tidy!

8.  Fekkai Brillian glossing styling creme: this was a recent addition to my daily must haves...and it is INCREDIBLE! A small amount of this creme goes a long way in laying down the fly aways, revitalizing my curls, and adding brilliant shine to my hair! You never know when you might need to just spruce up your hair in the middle of the day!

9. Beyonce heat rush sparkling body mist: every woman should have some kind of body spray in her bag (along with some deodorant) to freshen up on the go if needed.  I like the slight shimmer this body spray gives...it reminds me so much of summer which is welcomed during these freezing temperatures.

10. Secret outlast deodorant in sport fresh: I think deodorant is one of the more underrated items to have in your bag! Just a travel size of deodorant can do wonders - whether it's because you were rushed and forgot it in the morning (whoops!), you have an unexpected meeting/ date, or your just need to freshen up on a summer day every woman should have some with her!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend 

& comment below with your bag must haves!

Outfit of the day & easy dinner recipe(s)!

Part un - outfit of the day!

Hi ladies! I hope you're all having a fabulous Thursday! Today I'm doing a two-in-one type post, the first of which is my outfit of the day! 

1. Leopard infinity scarf
2. Sweater - Marshall's (15 dollars)
3. Calvin Klein jeans
4. Black ankle bootie

Part deux - recipes!

Well, it's 15 degrees here without the windchill...and what's better on a cold day than a veggie chili with sweet & spicy corn muffins on the side? ...that's right, not much (except maybe some tea, always tea.)  So I am bringing you TWO - yup, you read right - TWO recipes.  Now, since I'm a college student and I just went back today I really need easy, quick recipes...and that is exactly what these are!

Sweet & Spicy Corn Muffins:

1. 1 package corn muffin mix
2. 1 egg
3. 1/4 cup apple sauce
4. 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
5. 1/4 cup chopped pineapple slices (drained)
6. 1/4 cup finely chopped jalapenos (drained)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• blend ingredients in a bowl and let sit for 4-5 minutes (it should be clumpy - make sure ingredients are blended but be cautious not to OVERblend)
• Spray muffin pan lightly with cooking spray
• Fill muffin tins HALFway 
• Bake for 15-20 minutes
• Serve & enjoy!

Veggie Chili (fast!)

1. 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
2. 1 can corn
3. 1 can garbanzo beans (chic peas)
4. 1 can black beans
5. 1 can of green diced chilies 
6. 1/4 cup jalepenos chopped (if desired)
7. 1 medium onion
8. 1 green pepper
9. 1/2 tsp oregano
10. 1/2 packet chili seasoning (or desired seasoning)
11. 1/2 tsp basil

Directions (4 steps!)

Very simple, very straight forward, perfect for a winter day!

Enjoy! 

Hope you all are have a great rest of the week!