Testing, Testing

As I've been looking through my beauty stash, I've noticed I've been testing out a few products all at once. Usually I tend to only try one new thing at a time, so since there are more than one I thought I'd give a little roundup of quick reviews and my first impressions.


The first product is the only new skincare product I've been trying. It's the No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm. I have the Melting Gel Cleanser from the same range, and I really enjoy using it, so I thought I'd try out its more nourishing counterpart and see how I got on. I usually use The Body Shop's Camomile Cleansing Butter to take my makeup off/as a first cleanse, so I tested this product in its stead. It didn't remove my eye makeup as easily as the offering from The Body Shop, but it did get there in the end. I've been using it either as a morning cleanse or a second cleanse at night after taking my makeup off with The Body Shop cleanser. It hasn't broken me out, and I don't think that should be a problem as long as you wash it off with a warm washcloth. It left my skin feeling so nourished and clean. As I've been sick this week it's felt so lovely on my dull, dehydrated skin, and it's definitely something I'll keep reaching for even when I'm not sick.

I've also been using a couple mascara samples I got with my Sephora points. The first is the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara. This has a curved brush that I find helps to coat every lash. It really does well as a curling mascara, but it doesn't seem to hold the curl as long as some of my other mascaras. It fans out my lashes beautifully and adds a good amount of volume and length. Despite it not being a waterproof formula, it really stays put throughout the day with no smudging. It's really a beautiful mascara, but I'm not sure if I'd get the full size because of the price.

The next mascara sample is the Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara. I had heard great reviews about this, and as I was about to get it I started hearing some not-so-great reviews. I decided to go with my gut and try the sample anyway and I'm glad I did. I think I'll definitely be purchasing the full size when my sample runs out. It has a large fiber brush, but it's not super dense, so its size is manageable. This gives the perfect amount of separation and length. It's dramatic without being over-the-top volumizing. As the name would suggest, it makes my lashes look so long and fluttery, which is something I always look for. It lasts the whole day for me without smudging or flaking, but it's really easy to get off at night. This one is a true win for me.

The last is a lip liner that I've heard is a dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's famous Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk - the Rimmel Exaggerate Full Color Lip Liner in Eastend Snob. The color is lovely - a great MLBB shade when applied with a light hand. The formula is creamy enough to glide on but not so creamy that it won't stay put. If worn all over the lips, it does tend to dry them out throughout the day, but that can be fixed by wearing a lip balm or moisturizing gloss along with it. I'll admit that my lip liners from higher-end brands like MAC and Estee Lauder last longer than this one, but this is still a great lip liner for the price, and one I'll gladly reach for over and over.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

NARS Audacious Lipsticks: Audrey & Anita

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anita (left) and Audrey (right)

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen me tweet about my quest for the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Audrey several times a few weeks ago.  I held out until I went to visit my sister at school so we could both go to Sephora together and each get one (easier to justify when it's a sister-bonding purchase). After trying it out for a couple weeks I was so impressed with the formula that I had to pick up a second color in the Sephora VIB sale - I went with the shade Anita.

The first thing that drew me to these lipsticks wasn't even all the hype about how great the formula supposedly was, but that each one was apparently named for a famous actress. I'm completely obsessed with everything Old Hollywood. I assumed the Audrey color was named after Audrey Hepburn (please don't correct me if I'm mistaken - I'd like to continue living in this fantasy), who is my number one favorite actress. I, of course, had to have it, even though it was a bolder color - not typically what I go for. But this color is probably the most beautiful one I own. Online it's described as a "red currant" - a red with a touch of berry to it, and it's almost a muted color. It's still bold, don't get me wrong, but it's not as bright or as dark as your typical autumn berry colors. It's actually so flattering on my fair skin and I've been breaking it out quite a lot - definitely more than any other brighter color.

Since my first one was a bolder color, I decided to go for a more neutral option the second time around. I debated back and forth between Anita and Anna, described respectively as an "antique rose" and a "smokey rose." When swatched, the Anita color had a bit more of a warm pink to it, while Anna had more of a cool mauve. I felt like Anna looked a little like MAC's Syrup, which I already have, so I picked Anita (I'm assuming this one is named after Anita Ekberg, famous for her role in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita - couldn't resist throwing in a little fun fact from the endless pit of film trivia that is my brain). And I couldn't be happier with my choice - I must admit though that Anna has been added to my Christmas list. It's the ultimate "my lips but better" shade for me - it's almost the same color as my lips are naturally, but with a touch more depth (as in about one shade darker plus some extra brown and pink thrown in). Although I have cool-toned skin, this is quite flattering and the warmth in it brightens and livens up my complexion rather than clashing with it. Since these have a satin (almost matte) finish, you can still tell I have something on my lips and it just looks so sophisticated. 

The formula of these have quickly become my new favorite. Yes, even above MAC lipsticks. They feel so creamy going on and are incredibly pigmented - you just need one swipe and your lips are covered in the most perfectly even color. They set down to a satin finish quickly and stay put. You'll need to reapply if you're eating or drinking, but other than that the longevity is great. They wear off evenly so you don't get that awkward line around your lips or have to constantly check on them, and the Audrey color leaves a lovely stain on my lips that lasts all day (I'm assuming the other bolder colors will do this as well).

I'm officially obsessed and will be asking for a few of these for Christmas - mainly Anna, like I said, and I'd love to add Greta, Olivia, and Vera as well.
Have you tried the Nars Audacious Lipsticks yet?

I'm also wearing the Diorskin Nude Foundation in 010 Ivory, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla, Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed, Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe, Stila In the Light Palette (Kitten and Bliss), Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner in Black, and Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara.

Sick Day Routine

Well, it's happened. I've officially caught the cold that my boyfriend had last week. Normally colds don't really phase me all that much, but they do always make me look a lot sicker than I actually feel.


When I know I'll have to leave the house, I employ a routine to pack in as much hydration as possible. I go through my normal morning skincare routine, although I may substitute in the No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm for my usual cleanser. I finish off with my nighttime moisturizer rather than my day one, the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, as well. This feels ultra nourishing, but doesn't leave me feeling greasy. If I'm not planning on wearing any base makeup and my skin is feeling super dehydrated I'll just slather on the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask as my moisturizer and leave that on all day rather than its intended use over night.

If I am wearing makeup, I like to first prep my skin with an illuminating primer - these are usually hydrating themselves, and they pack some radiance back into the skin to help you look healthy again. I've been trying a sample of the Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer and absolutely love it - it really is hydrating and gives my skin such a natural glow. Some cheaper options I've also loved using are the Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bare Light and the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer. All are great options for injecting some life into a dull complexion. The illuminating properties of these primers also make them great at diffusing the light and blurring imperfections, causing me to need less makeup to cover blemishes!

No matter what amount of coverage I need, I'll always use my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer as my base because I just want anything that will give me more moisture. This gives a great amount of coverage but if I need more, I'll just go in with the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Unless I'm feeling feverish or flushed I definitely need some kind of blush on my cheeks. I love either the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee or the Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Creamy Oil because (once again), they're both moisturizing. It's all about the moisture, people!

On my eyes I tend to do the same kind of look I mentioned in my Running Late Makeup Routine - just a quick sweep of cream eyeshadow and a couple layers of mascara. Right now I'm loving the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock for perfect eyeshadow in 5 seconds flat. For mascara I've also switched it up to the Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara to give the ultimate fluttery definition.

On my lips I once again always go for something moisturizing, and I've been loving the Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Tulip. It gives the most beautiful wash of a brightening pink color to the lips, making me look alive again. And it softens the lips and keeps them hydrated for hours before needing to reapply.

What are your go-to products when you're not feeling your best?