Go-To Brush Cleanser

I'll admit...sometimes I can be really bad at remembering to clean my make-up brushes, but I try to clean them once every two weeks.

 

A good cleansing really does wonders for keeping your brushes sanitary and keeping them in good condition. I love using Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo in the original formula and scent.

Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo is affordable and easily found in drugstores. What's your favorite go-to make-up brush cleanser?

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

Nail of the Day: Zoya Yana

I was in the mood for a summery pink and stumbled across Zoya's Yana while on a recent trip to Ulta. Zoya describes the shade as a germanium pink. It's a pink cream, but there is definitely a subtle shimmer.

2 coats, with camera flash

This was my first experience with a Zoya polish and I was very impressed with it's formula and ease of application. It isn't the most unique color, but it's definitely unlike any other pink in my collection. I look forward to trying out other Zoya polishes.

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

Nail of the Day: Sinful Colors Island Coral

Love, love, LOVE this coral color. It was gifted to me by All Things Haley, and I'm absolutely in love with it. I love my purple nail polishes, but coral is definitely the perfect color for spring and summer.

2 coats, with camera flash

I've always had positive experiences with the color payoff and formula of Sinful Colors polishes, and this one is no exception.

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

Nail of the Day: Essie Using My Maiden Name

Purples are probably my favorite color on my nails.  I'm loving this color from Essie's 2013 Bridal Collection. Using My Maiden Name is described as being inspired by blue Hydrangeas.  It's a beautiful pale violet with a slight purple shimmer that also flashes silver and pink at times, depending on the light.

with camera flash, two coats

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

Nail of the Day: OPI I'm Feeling Sashy

Today, I chose OPI's I'm Feeling Sashy, which is part of OPI's Miss Universe 2013 Collection.

2 coats, with camera flash

I absolutely LOVE this dusty medium purple cream color. The formula was great, too. It has a good consistency and easily opaque in a single coat. 

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette: My Thoughts

After classes were over, All Things Haley and I decided to purchase Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette as an end of semester gift to ourselves from Sephora. We each had our Beauty Insider Reward Cards to use, so that was pretty exciting as well. 

This palette is my first experience with Urban Decay's Naked palettes and their shadows, in general. I haven't purchased the other two Naked palettes because, for me personally, I didn't see myself wearing the colors on an everyday basis. When I saw the colors in the Naked 3 palette, however, I was immediately drawn to all of the rosy-toned shades.  I have hazel eyes and I find that colors with rosy and pink tones make my eyes pop without being too dramatic.

Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart

I've been using this palette for the last week or so, and I've really been enjoyed playing around with all of the shades. As far as I can tell, Strange, Limit, Nooner, and Darkside are matte, while all the other shades are shimmery.

Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick

I've enjoyed using Strange as a matte highlight and Limit works great as transition color in the crease or an all over lid color. The shade, Dust, is a little loose and doesn't have as much pigment as I would have liked. However, I've found that it works better when layered over another shade to add a little extra shimmer.

Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick

The second half of the palette contains the darker, rosy-toned shades. Nooner is a great matte crease color and I've really enjoyed using Blackheart, which contains ruby-pink micro glitter, to deepen any look as well as a liner color. Factory and Darkside work great as the palette's brown and gray-toned shades.

Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart

Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart

Overall, I'm impressed with the quality of these shadows...they're pigmented and easy to blend. While I can't really compare this palette to the previous Naked palettes, I think the Naked 3 palette is wonderful. If you're into rosy-toned neutral shades, then I definitely recommend checking out the colors for yourself. I think this palette would be flattering for many skin tones and I'm looking forward to experimenting with more looks!

Have you tried out this palette yet? What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

bareMinerals All-Over Face Color: Warmth vs. Faux Tan

I've been using bareMinerals foundation for several years now and absolutely love it. Along with the foundation, I've also been using the All-Over face color in Warmth. This shade came in the first bareMinerals Starter Kit I purchased, and I've been using it ever since. Warmth is described as a chestnut color that gives a healthy, sun-kissed glow. 

bareMinerals Warmth

I noticed that I was getting close to using up all of Warmth, and decided to try bareMinerals All-Over face color in Faux Tan, which I had head quite a bit about through other blog posts and various video tutorials/reviews.  Faux Tan is described as a sunlit bronze shade.

bareMinerals Faux Tan

I couldn't quite tell the difference between Warmth and Faux Tan by looking at images, so I decided to purchase the Faux Tan shade and compare the colors for myself. To me, the shades are pretty similar, but Warmth is slightly more red-toned than Faux Tan and lighter in its mineral form before it's applied to the skin.

Left: Warmth, Right: Faux Tan

I'm a fair-skinned girl, who definitely burns and will sometimes tan afterwards. So, I'm all for being able to add some color and life to my face without having to get a sunburn first. I've really loved using the Warmth shade because it's very easy to apply and I think it gives my skin a healthy glow without being too shimmery. Despite the slight difference between the two colors, I'm really looking forward to using Faux Tan!

What are your thoughts on the bareMinerals All-Over face colors?

Thanks so much for reading!

:)