Bloggers Made Me Do It

Before I started this blog, I read loads of other blogs (which eventually gave me enough confidence to think, "You know what? I can do this, too!"). Reading about so many products made me keep a long list of things I thought I would like too, and eventually my stash of blogger-enabled purchases grew and grew. I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite products that I was influenced to buy from reading a blog, and maybe you'll want to try them too!

My biggest enabler by far has been Estée from Essiebutton (she even has her own hashtag on Twitter because of this, #essiebuttoneffect). Because of her I've gotten my favorite eyeshadow palette, the Lorac Pro Palette, the only bronzer I'll ever need, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer, and my favorite mineral foundation, the Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation. I finally recently got the Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Cherub after seeing her wear it all the time, and it's quickly become a new favorite. I've even pictured myself wearing it when I get married. Another recent purchase inspired by her was the Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Tulip, and I don't know why it took me so long to get one of these. They're so incredibly moisturizing, they smell amazing, and the color is perfect for me. Excuse me while I stock up on every color.

My next biggest enabler is Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup. Her blog is amazingly well-written (and was one of my biggest influences to start this blog), and she could probably talk me into buying anything in the hopes of looking as effortlessly cool and chic as her. I've picked up the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask based on her recommendations, and I don't know where I would be without it. I'd certainly be a lot more dehydrated. I also stepped up my lip product game because of her, from lusting after every single Nars Lip Pencil to buying MAC Rebel lipstick specifically to wear as a stain on the lips. I also finally bought MAC Patisserie lipstick after hearing her talk about it and having it on my wishlist for months. It's such a perfect everyday color.

A couple other favorites have been influenced by Zoe from Zoella. Hers was the first YouTube channel I subscribed to, and probably the first blog I read. When I first started watching her videos, she always wore the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 107 and I immediately had to have it. I've had it for about a year and it's such a staple for this time of year. My all-time favorite eyeshadow duo by Estée Lauder in the shade Raisins (currently unavailable*) was also purchased because of Zoe. My sister can attest to how much I wanted this duo for the longest time, and I think I wore it for over a month straight after I bought it. It's still something I reach for quite often, and I'll probably be posting a look using it soon.

I love the blogging community, especially because it's so easy and fun to swap product recommendations. Are there any products that you've bought because of another blogger's recommendation?


*A duo with very similar shades to the Estee Lauder Raisins is the Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Kuala Lumpur. If you like cream eyeshadows, the Maybelline Color Tattoos in Inked in Pink and Pomegranate Punk are also similar.

A Good Night's Sleep in a Tin

Here's something a little different than my normal chattering on about beauty products. I've never really had trouble sleeping and was always quite proud of being able to maintain normal sleeping patterns throughout college. But suddenly a few weeks ago, I couldn't get more than 5 hours of sleep per night. Either I would take up to 2 hours to fall asleep, or I would suddenly wake up early in the morning and not be able to get back to sleep. It was making me absolutely miserable. I have no idea what brought on this sudden change, but I will tell you what fixed it.

I had heard of sprays and balms and other products that claimed to help you drift off to sleep, but I never really believed they would work. A couple weeks ago I read a post on Tattoed Tealady about two sleep balms, and it really convinced me to give them a try.

I thought about getting the This Works Sleep Balm, but I decided I would go for the cheaper option, the Badger Lavender & Bergamot Sleep Balm, in case it didn't work for me. I was so excited when it arrived from Amazon - I was still skeptical that it would work, but hopeful that I would finally get a good night's sleep. This is quite a solid, oily balm. I wouldn't say the scent is particularly lovely (I love lavender but am not bergamot's biggest fan), but it is super calming and relaxing, and it's really grown on me now. I rub a bit of this on my wrists and other pulse points and a tiny bit under my nose before I go to bed. The first night I used it I was able to drift off to sleep in about 15 minutes and slept all the way through the night and got a full 8 hours - I was amazed!

If you're having sleeping troubles, or just think that you could be getting more sleep, I definitely recommend the Badger Sleep Balm. I'm not particularly stressed about anything at the moment, but this still helps clear my head and shut off racing thoughts so I can get to sleep. I've heard that the This Works offering works even more quickly, but I'm happy enough with the balm from Badger that I think I'll stick with it.

Have you tried a sleep balm before? Did it work for you?

The "Almost Too Pretty to Use" Edit

Do you ever buy a new product and it's just so pretty that it pains you to actually use it and mess it up?  Well here's my list of my most beautiful products that took a lot of convincing for me to stick a brush in.


The hands-down most beautiful product I own has got to be the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat. The marbling of the blush and cult-favorite Ambient Lighting Powders is unique in every one, and I had to actually force myself to swirl a brush in it the first time I used it. Luckily this is even more lovely on the skin as it is in the pan, so it doesn't take much convincing now to mess up that beautiful marbling.

If you had to give out an award for "best lipstick packaging," there's no doubt the lipsticks from Yves Saint Laurent would be at the top of the list. I have the Volupte Sheer Candy in the shade 4, Succulent Pomegranate, a bright pink with red undertones. The packaging feels very weighted and luxurious, and I love that the color of the lipstick appears around the middle of the tube.  The silver tube of the Sheer Candy formula is lovely, but I think the gold packaging of their other formulas is even more beautiful.  Although I don't want to use it up, it's such a lovely, wearable, and brightening shade that I always find myself reaching for it.

Another blush that's almost too pretty to use is the Clinique Cheek Pop Blush. I picked this up last month in my Boston Haul, and I was so afraid to use it and ruin the adorable daisy embossed in the blush. I've already used it quite a lot because it's become one of my favorite blushes, but luckily the daisy seems to be holding up.

The prettiest set of eyeshadows I have is the Marc Jacobs Style Eye-con No.3 Plush Shadow in The Innocent 116.  This set contains a very shimmery taupe, a warm matte brown, and a matte nude.  The shades themselves are beautiful (especially that glitter shade!) but it's the gorgeous packaging that makes me feel so luxurious when I whip this out of my makeup bag.  The packaging of the whole Marc Jacobs line is so sleek and beautiful that it makes me want it all.  The neutral-warm colors of this small palette make it a good pick for every day in the fall, and the shadows themselves have a gorgeous buttery formula.

Although I don't want to "ruin" these gorgeous products, using them makes me feel a little more fancy and a little better about myself, so I still reach for them often.  What's your most beautiful product?