Saturday Link List #1

I'm starting a weekly Link List - here goes! (Let me know if you like these types of posts!)

1) This Sugar Free Orange Cake Bites recipe looks delicious. I'm a huge fan of cake pops, and these look just as good but without the caloric overload. Actually, this whole website is great if you're looking to get healthy; it's full of motivation and recipe ideas!
2) Super easy, super cute Knot Your Average Pony hairstyle. I want to wear it every day!

photo courtesy of The Beauty Department

3) StumbleUpon.com. I'm sure lots of you have already heard of this website, but just in case - it's great. Register with some interests - I have beauty and humor as a couple - and click "stumble" to be sent to a random site that you're interested in. I'm never bored anymore, and StumbleUpon is how I found the hairstyle above!
4) Sweaters from Urban Outfitters are to die for! Adorable. I really want one!

I love the color of this one - photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters

5.) Hulu. Okay, not a new one either, but it's a huge favorite of mine. All my favorite shows are there: The Office, Community, Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, New Girl, Up All Night, Biggest Loser... the list goes on!

This may be a little bit short, but with time my Link Lists will get better, I promise! Does any of you enjoy these websites too?
Love, Val

November Faves

Now that November is coming to a close, it's time to sum up my favorite products this month! I stuck to warm tones, mainly neutrals with some shimmer.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss, Papaya - A fun orange shade with just enough pigment and shimmer.

Laura Mercier Paint, Rose Gold - The perfect metallic shade for fall, and so easy to use!

Elf Duo Eyeshadow/Liner, brown- I like to line the upper lash line with this, with or without the LM eyeshadow. It makes for a warm, soft definition.

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Foundation - Keeps me matte without powder, and evens out the skin with light natural-looking coverage. A must for oily skin.

All for now! What are your November faves?

Love, Val

Review: Sephora Color Flip Palette

SEPHORA COLOR FLIP PALETTE
A travel-sized, colorful, layered palette. It has three layers: eyeshadow, lip color, and cheek color.

EYESHADOWS Range from purples to neutrals to blues and greens. Unfortunately, the quality is uneven. I found the two matte shades on the far left to have the strongest pigmentation and the purples to have the weakest. With a base and a firm hand, I was able to "make them work!"

LIP COLORS A fun range of mostly fall-themed shades; there are neutrals, berries and even bubblegum pinks. My favorites are pictured in the second row from the top; a sheer, shimmery neutral brown and a vamp deep berry.

CHEEK COLORS Supposedly one is a bronzer, but I find the two shades to be more of a highlighter (left) and a blush. The highlight is pink-toned with shimmer; the blush is a lovely deep rosey color, but is unfortunately a total glitterbomb. I don't mind it so much, but some might.

OVERALL The quality is lacking in places, but it's a cute idea and encourages me to try new color combinations. It's compact and easy to toss into a purse.

TO BUY Sephora, $15.

What do you think of the Color Flip palette?
Love, Val

PS - Sorry for the long, long break - school has gotten really overwhelming. I've missed blogging so much and am glad to be back!

My Makeup Besties ♡

make/up best/ies phrase 1. Favorite cosmetics 2. Trusty beautifiers 3. Lifesavers

Definition taken straight from the Val Dictionary! I can always rely on my personal makeup besties to help me out when I'm looking "ehh", to get me ready in a flash, and to brighten my mood in the morning. Here they are!

 

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer - makes my skin look fresh, healthy, and not made up
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer - camouflages dark under-eyes without looking cakey 
MAC Satin Taupe Eyeshadow - can be popped on the lid and blended for an easy smokey look
DiorShow Iconic Mascara - gives a big, separated lash effect in a flash
NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick - enhances my natural lip color and moisturizes
elf Tickled Pink Blush - adds a fresh, natural pink to the complexion

What are your makeup besties??
Love, Val

PS - Sorry I was gone for so long! School + cross country = a very busy start to September. But I'm back for good! ;)

Earthy Eyes with a Pop of Teal!

Hey guys! Today I'm posting a video tutorial of this earthy, brown with a pop of color look I did using my Nuance palettes. Hope you enjoy! (Skip to 1:18 for tutorial.)

Products Used:
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer - 3
MAC MSF Natural - Medium Plus
Nuance Eye Quad - Smokey
Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara- Black
Stila Blockbuster Palette - peachy blush
Nuance Lip Quad - Warm

Tools Used:
Stila Brush #30
Sonia Kashuk Travel Brush
MAC 217 Brush
ecoTools Powder Brush

All for now! How do you incorporate color into your look?
Love, Val

Nuance Salma Hayek Launch, Reviews + Swatches

This month, a new brand of makeup is launching to CVS drugstores! Nuance, by Salma Hayek, is inspired by the subtleties, or nuances, of beauty. From what I've seen, it features earth tones and a variety of finishes. In addition, the line does not test on animals!

I have two quads: a lip quad in "warm," and an eye quad in "smokey." 

Eye Quad

Shades: "Cool Charcoal," a shimmery black-based green; "Warm Smoke," a satin taupe; "Pearl Teal,"a shimmery almost-teal; and "Silver Mist," a pinky-cream.

Packaging: Interesting! A black plastic bulb that opens into a "flower." Comes with a detachable smudge brush in the center. (There is a lot of empty space in the center; therefore, the item is not as compact as it could be.)

Pigmentation: All of the shades have nice pigmentation and smooth texture; my one gripe is that Silver Mist swatches a bit unevenly. 

Lasting Power: Unfortunately, the shadows fade quickly. Use with eyeshadow primer for a full day's wear.

Pearl Teal, Warm Smoke, Cool Charcoal, Silver Mist

Lip Quad

Shades: "Red Hot," a berry red; "Mauve Berry," a muted beige/pink; "Sheer Champagne," a sheer pink with gold shimmer, and "Plum Shimmer," a muted rose with shimmer.

Packaging: Same as the eye quad, but with a lip brush. 

Pigmentation: All are comparable to lipsticks; Red Hot is most pigmented, Mauve Berry and Plum Shimmer are close, and Sheer Champagne is, yes, sheer.

Lasting Power: The shine will fade soon, but the color lasts nicely as a stain throughout the day.

Plum Shimmer, Sheer Champagne, Red Hot, Mauve Berry

Price: I'm not sure of the particular prices of these items, but I do know that the line ranges from $7.99 to $19.99. 

Overall: Worth a shot if you're looking to try a new brand! The quality is great and the products are well thought out. 

All for now! Will you be trying Nuance?

Love, Val

I got these items for free; they were passed out at BlogHer. I am in no way affiliated with or sponsored by CVS or Nuance.

Back To School Makeup!

     It's that time of year again! Time to decide on your own back-to-school look. Will you reinvent your style? Try all the new trends? Stick with the classics? While you work on your perfect first-day outfit, I've already figured out a makeup look that will flatter anyone on their first day!
    It's a simple look designed to bring out your natural beauty. It features very little on the skin, with naturally pink cheeks, big and lifted eyes, and glossy coral lips. As a bonus, all the makeup is from the drugstore. Let's get started! (You may also check out my video tutorial here.)

1) For your base makeup, take time to evaluate what makeup you actually need. As an example, my skin has a few blemished areas and dark undereye circles, but other than that is relatively clear. Thus, I used concealer in those areas and left the rest bare. I even used a little extra on the lids as an eyeshadow primer. Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer - Light/Medium

2) Begin by giving your eyes some shine and dewiness with a shimmery cream shadow. elf Shadow/Liner Stick - Basic/Brown

3) Next, define the eyes with a brown liner. Apply accross the upper lashline, gradually getting thicker toward the end, and finish with a "kitten" wing. This will lift the eyes, making them appear large and bright. Apply some halfway through the lower lashline as well. elf Shadow/Liner Stick - Basic/Brown

4) Optionally set the shadows and boost color by applying powder shadows (in colors that match) directly on top of the creams. Revlon ColorStay Quad - Coffee Bean

4) Finish off the eyes with curled lashes and mascara. Revlon Grow Lusicous Mascara - Black

5) Keep the cheeks simple and natural by applying a blush that mimics your own natural flush. To do this, check the color of your cheeks after exercising. elf Studio Blush - Tickled Pink

6) Finish off with a glossy lip. There's a shade of coral for everyone! Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss - Coral Reef

Done!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and have a great day!
Love, Val