Quick Favorites of the Moment!

I have up two new beauty goodies this week that I am absolutely in love with.. so I thought I'd share with you guys! Have you gotten anything exciting lately?! If so, let me know in the comments! Enjoy! :)

The first thing I got was this nail polish! It is Essie's Naughty Nautical, and I can't get over how gorgeous it is! It is described as a marine blue-green shade, but it definitely leans toward the blue side. It shows up a little bit dark on my nails in this pic because of the shadows, but it is a bright color for sure. There is also the slightest bit of shimmer in this polish. It doesn't show up on the nail unless you really look for it. With that being said, I find that the shimmer makes this polish easier to apply. That's a bonus in my book! Anyways, I just REALLY love this color for summer! I'm certain I will be wearing it non-stop!

 

 The second thing I have is this AMAZING lip gloss from Dior. I tried my best to capture the color of this product, but it was quite hard and this picture just does not do it justice. It is super glittery and oh-so beautiful! This is the shade 343 Spring Ball. I would deem this color the perfect peachy pink! It is more peach than pink, and it is filled with lots of golden micro glitter. The sparkle is noticeable on the lips, but in a subtle good way. It's not super chunky or anything, although you can feel the grit of the glitter a tiny bit. The gloss applies flawlessly and gives me the absolute perfect natural, but still put together, look on my lips. This comes from the Dior Addict gloss collection and was part of the current main display on the Dior shelf of my local Sephora. It is the first Dior product I have ever owned and would definitely a splurge for me. Thankfully, my Aunt surprised me with it as a "Yay For Finishing the First Year of College With All A's and B's" gift :). I'm in love!

xoxo,
Lulabell

Early Summer Essentials!- Part 1

It's May!! Which means.. IT'S SUMMERTIME! Well, at least in my book! I've been done with classes and finals for a few days now, and it feels absolutely wonderful! I finally have time to get back into blogging and such, and I'm ecstatic! Anyways.. enough with the blabbing. Here are some things I am currently loving as it starts to warm up here in Tennessee.

 This first item is bareMinerals' All-Over Face Color in Pure Radiance. I picked this up at their outlet store in Destin, Florida two months ago, and I'm so in love with it! It is so effortless and easy that I haven't used a single blush since I got it. I thought it might be too much sparkle when I first got it, but it actually blends out to a perfect glow. I sweep it over my cheeks, temples, hairline, down my nose and a tiny bit on my chin. So it kind of doubles for blush and bronzer. It blends flawlessly and gives your whole face an instant healthy lift!

 I'm a nail polish junkie, addict, hoarder... you get the point. Normally I use different nail polishes every time I give myself a manicure, but lately I have found myself gravitating towards these two beauties more than others. The first one is Illamasqua's Nail Varnish in Lament. It's a magnificent summery coral with the ever so slightest golden shimmer. To be honest, I didn't even know the color had shimmer until I took the bottle outside and then confirmed what I saw on the Illamasqua website. I had worn the color multiple times and never even noticed. The second polish is Ciate's Big Yellow Taxi, a gorgeous, totally opaque yellow creme! This is the first yellow that I've ever actually liked on my nails. It's so bright and fun for this time of year!

 I have two simple lip products that are must-haves for me right now. They are the Maybelline Baby Lips.. one in Melon Mania (left) and one in Twinkle. Melon Mania gives my lips just the slightest bright pink color. It almost just enhances my normal lips. This is the only lip color I've been wearing lately. It puts my look together without making me look overdone. Twinkle just comes out clear and I use it as a nice dose of moisture when I'm not wearing much makeup. And they both smell SO yummy.. a definite bonus for me!

Lastly, on a non-beauty note.. With the days getting sunnier, these Ray-Ban Wayfarers haven't left my side. I wear them anywhere and everywhere! I got them as a late birthday gift, and I'm in love. I have two other pairs of Wayfarers, but this Light Tortoise color is just so nice and carefree. Regardless of what color they are, these sunglasses are amazing quality.. a million times better than any other designer sunglasses I've owned. So if you're in need of some nice sunnies, definitely check these out!

Until next time...

xx
Lullabell

Rimmel Stay Glossy

I have been hitting the drugstore aisles way too much for my own good lately.. it's a problem. But at least I get some fun products to share out of it! I had intentions of posting pics of to go along with this post, but I honestly just got lazy and wanted to go ahead and write it. Soo.. I'll probably post swatches and such later on! I'm going to quit intro blabbing for now and get into the good stuff!

I can think Tonya Burr for this first new obsession of mine. Damn you, beauty vloggers..  always sucking me into believing that I MUST have new products. Anywho.. the Rimmel Stay Glossy lipglosses are incredible! I could go on for days about these... but I'll spare you that one :) These glosses are nicely pigmented, creamy, long lasting, and not the least bit sticky. The only complaint I have is the smell. Some people supposedly like it, but I am definitely not a fan. It smells a bit like an old woman to me. With that being said, the scent wears away quite fast so it is totally worth it. My two favorites are All Day Seduction, a nice coraly pink with gold shimmers, and Non-Stop Glamour, a nude golden pink. They last SO long, and are only around the $4 mark!

Acne Attack!!

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that I have acne in a previous post.. so I'll save you from reading all of that mess again. Really quick though, I am 18 and I have had moderate acne for 11 years now. Over half of my life, guys. Yeah.. it sucks. But anyways.. I've used a lot of different products in the past year that I want to share with you. Some are good, some not so much. I'll also throw in my current skincare routine that was recommended to me by my dermatologist. It's not a routine I am loving at all.. quite frankly, I hate it.. but I'm going to try and stick it out for a while.

One product line that I have tried over the past six months is the Obagi Clenziderm system. I purchased this set from a trusted Amazon seller for about $75. These products can be super pricey if bought from a dermatologist or spa, and one of my mom's doctor friends said that going for the cheaper price on Amazon would be just fine. So I picked the system for normal to oily skin, and it came with the Daily Care Foaming Cleanser, the Pore Therapy toner, and the Therapeutic Lotion. Overall, I liked this line.. but it never cleared up my acne. It kept the overload of pimples at bay, but that's about it. I would go back to it though... especially if my current regimen doesn't start working in the next month. Oh, and for reference, I used the system for about 3-4 months and the only thing I was starting to run out of was the toner!


Three products I have used in the past year and completely despise? Lush's Ultra Bland, Lush's Grease Lightning, and Lush's Herbalism. Back in February and March I thought I would switch it up and start trying some more natural products as opposed to the harsh chemical filled ones I have always used. While that route may work wonderfully for some people, I personally thought it was completely terrible. My skin was SO bad, and the products themselves were hard to use and smelled horrendous!

My current skincare routine is cleansing with Obagi Nu-Derm, treating with prescription Epiduo, exfoliating with Dermalogica Clean Start's Ready Set Scrub, and moisturizing with Purpose's Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with SPF 15. The Obagi Nu-Derm... not a fan. The only reason I am using it is because my doctor gave it to me for free and you have to use a gentle cleanser when using Epiduo. I LOVE my Clean Start Exfoliator! I could (and probably will) do a whole post on the stuff! It's a mask and scrub.. and it smells like fruit loops! As far as Epiduo goes, it isn't such a great prescription acne treatment .. I've used almost everything there is and it's probably my least favorite.. but my derm insisted I use it for now. Purpose moisturizer is a dermatologist recommended lotion that I have used for years and years now. I really like the product, but I'm starting to want to test out the moisturizing waters again. If you have any suggestions let me know!!!

So that's it for my current routine.. and a few products I've used over the past 6 months. If you have any products that you just love, feel free to comment and let me know! I'm always up for trying new stuff if there are good recommendations behind it!


                                               XOXO,
                                               Lullabell

New To The Makeup World? No Problem! - PART ONE

 

  Knowing where to start with makeup these days can be a very daunting task! When I started wearing makeup there weren't Sephora's on every corner so I had fairly limited product access. Now there are so many brands that I couldn't come even close to naming them all. Most of the magazines list their favorites or what is the best of the best for the current time.. but that all changes so quickly and the brands they choose tend to be expensive- not what you want as a newbie for sure! Even now as an avid makeup connoisseur I find myself always drifting back to drugstore favorites! This my friends, is the best place for makeup beginners to.. well.. begin!

 

 

You probably know that you need to get some eyeshadow, but before you do that you need to pick up an eyeshadow PRIMER! Primers are all the rage now, and they are one of the few hyped about products that I actually think make a huge difference. ELF Eyelid Primer is amazing.. and it's only $1!! Lightly rub this in across your lids before applying shadow for mega staying power and a look that is going to last all day long!

 Eyeshadow is probably one of the most plentiful products out there. You will find so many different shades and such that you won't know what to do with yourself! This is when you make a trip to WalMart and pick up Wet 'n' Wild's Walking On Eggshells eyeshadow trio. This is only $2.99, and has all three colors you will need.. and tells you where to place them! I have re-bought this mini palette numerous times, and I love the natural eye it gives! 

Next comes eyeliner.. probably the scariest product to actually apply. When it comes to eyeliner there are two things that I find most important.. staying power, and easy application. Pixi's Endless Silky Eye Pen's are perfect for both of those! You can find this brand at your local Target, and one liner will set you back $15. Yes, that isn't the cheapest.. but good eyeliner is a must! Start out with Black Cocoa, the perfect dark brown! Only use this on your upper lash line.. if you want to apply liner to your lower lash line buy an angled eyeliner brush and dip it into the crease color from the eyeshadows above!

 

Lastly on the eyes is mascara! Mascara is a pretty easy thing to use. I would recommend buying a cheap eyelash curler from the drugstore and curling your lashes at the base. Then sweep on a black mascara and you're good to go! My current favorite is Maybelline's The Falsies Volum Express in the Flared version! 

I hope this helped any of you that might be new to the makeup world! I am going to follow up this post with a part two dealing with face products (blush, foundation, etc). If you have any questions about different brands or how to apply certain products feel free to ask!  :)  

XOXO, 

        Lullabell

 

Image Sources: www.eyeslipsface.com, www.pixibeauty.com, www.vinnakatz.com

So I've been internet shopping for the past hour or so.. or more :) And I thought I'd just put a little outfit together for you guys. Just a little taste of what I'm loving at the moment!

 

I am absolutely in love with maxi skirts! I think they are soo cute, and nothings better than the perfect boho look. The bright blue of this Water's Edge Skirt from Anthropologie is amazing! It's simply perfect. I would just pair this with a simple white tank like this Sparkle & Fade Drapey Tank. You do a simple pattern as well, but I like to keep it pretty basic.

These Sam Edelman Kellan Woven Lace Up Wedges are to die for! They are a cut up bootie type look and will easily transition right on into fall. I absolutely adore the lace up bootie look and the perfectly natural color!

Vamoose has some of the cutest jewelry ever! It's all handmade and it's so simple and chic! These Layered Metal & Gemstone Necklaces are great and veryyy versatile. I would probably choose the peachy one for this outfit, but any would do just fine! Any simple necklace would be alright, but I would stick to something that's going to be short and up around your neck. With the skirt being super long you wouldn't want everything to be so lengthy.

As far as accessories go I would keep it pretty neutral. I love golds and natural colors, plus the skirt is pretty darn bright in itself. This is the Coach New Poppy Leather Pushlock Satchel in Sand. This is an all around fabulous bag that I am DYING to have! I don't really care for bracelets, but rings for me are a must! This little gold Heart Flower Ring from Forever21 adds the perfect sweet girly touch!

Well I hope you liked my quick little outfit! And I hope you had a fabulous Fourth of July!
xoxo

Miss USA's Emerald Eyes!

 

As I am sure most of you know, the Miss USA 2011 pageant was held on Sunday. All of the contestants were absolutely stunning and flawless! I could willingly spend hours scoping out every single girl's makeup for the show, but unfortunately that would take entirely too long. So, instead I'm going to highlight the big winner, Miss California, Alyssa Campanella. I loved her entire look, and I love her feisty auburn hair, even if she is a natural blonde.

Very smokey eyes were a pretty solid trend for the pageant this year, and I can definitely see why. Smokey eyes bring out the best in everyone. It is a sultry look that brings on the hotness! Alyssa's take on it was perfect too. Her dress was a beautiful emerald color, so she followed that through in her makeup. It's not a strong green though, just a hint to make everything come together.
As usual, start with a primer (Urban Decay is my faithful fav) all over your lids and up to your brows. Then I would cover the entire lid with NARS shadow in Night Porter. It is a deep greenish-black with amazing emerald glitter. If I were to do it, this would be my main color for this look. You can always go lighter or darker to suit your taste.

Follow this with any black shadow. I would probably pick a matte to offset the lid and highlight color, but anything will work. Place the black shadow in your outer corner and make sure to blend it really well. Take a small brush and apply the same black on the outer lower lash line. Connect this up to the crease and blend it up into your brow bone for a cat eye effect. I would use the Night Porter again and apply it over the rest of the lower lash line and into where you placed the black- just to make sure everything blends together. A little dusting of Urban Decay's Urb on the inner corner would really make your eyes pop. It's a perfect light green!

MAC's Blanc Type, or any matte beige will go great as a highlight on the brow bone. I definitely would keep it matte for this- anything else will be too overwhelming.

Top all of this off with black liner on the upper lash line. Sweep it out a little to go along with the cat eye. I would probably use liquid, like Urban Decay's Liquid Liner in Perversion, but anything that is blackest black will do. A curl of the lashes and two coats of DiorShow mascara would finish this fabulously!

Image Sources: www.crushable.com, www.polyvore.com, www.sephora.com, www.urbandecay.com

Beach Bumming!

I am spending this week in Naples, Florida for vacation.. spending my days at the beach and loving life! Going to the beach is fabulous, but you can't relax too much! You still want to keep your skin and hair healthy. You also want to keep your makeup routine at its simplest! Here are a few of my favorite beauty products to have at the beach or on vacation-

1. Supergoop 30+ Everyday Face & Body Sunscreen- SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN! I can't stress sunscreen enough. I use a moisturizer with SPF protection everyday, but being at the beach calls for extra measures. Lather this on your face before you go out in the sun and reapply about every hour.

2.Joico K-PAK Intense Hydrator- Using a mask or extra hydrator every other day while you're at the beach is a super idea! Your hair can become dry and damaged from the sun and chlorine in pools. To help keep my hair shiny and smooth this is my go-to product. I use it after I shampoo and leave it in for about 4 minutes. I rinse and follow up with my regular conditioner.

3. bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen Powder- This product is great if you have a few blemishes you want covered up but don't want to cake up your face with makeup. Its a simple powder that you buff onto your face. It contains SPF 30 and comes in different shades If you want light coverage during a day out this is great too!

4. Pond's Morning Refresh Towelettes-  There is nothing worse to me than a grimey dirty feeling face after being at the beach or in the pool all day. These easy towelettes are perfect for a quick clean up that is refreshing and isn't too harsh on your skin!

5. Burt's Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm SPF 8- When you're going to be in the sun you can't forget your lips! I pretty much use this balm throughout the whole summer. There is absolutely nothing worse than sunburnt lips!

5. Floppy Hat- Floppy hats are great for the long summer days! I have one that I have been wearing at the beach and it's perfect! It keeps my face from getting burnt and also blocks the sun so I can see my book, magazine, or cellphone sooo much better!

 6- Sunglasses- You can't forget your sunglasses! I have wayy too many pairs, but for the beach I highly recommend using a cheaper pair. This is because sand can easily scratch up your lenses, and you don't want to ruin your expensive pair! I have been wearing a pair of peach colored sunglasses from Forever21. They were only $5 and are so fun! I love colored sunglasses, but if I am coughing up any larger amount of money I always tend to stick to neutral colors. This is a great opportunity to go out on a limb with colors and styles since they are super cheap!