Thank you, next 2018. I'm going to be completely honest 2018 was a challenging year in many different ways. A little less than halfway through the year I started a completely new job while simultaneously taking two MBA classes in subjects I am awful at. Battled anxiety. Let go of toxic friendships. Asked for help.

2018 taught me a lot. It taught me that you can struggle and things can still turn out amazing. I learned gratitude will always be there, even if you don't feel like you're there. It's the light at the end of the tunnel. "Gratitude helps you find meaning and some version of contentment in the chaos."

In 2018 I vowed to live a year of intentional gratitude, be more conscious about my purchasing behavior in regards to sustainability, and read 23 books.

I read 24 books. I was more mindful of my environmental footprint. I bought most of my clothes secondhand and cut down my consumption of beauty products. I even cancelled Sephora Play. I made sure that things I was consuming most often were able to be recycled. I shared my feelings even when it was challenging. I took as many walks as I could. I lost 4 lbs. I mediated frequently.

I am grateful for all that 2018 has taught me, including the proof that when faced against the odds I can still succeed (in heels too). In 2019 I will try my best to continue working on lessening my environmental footprint (bring a recyclable cup to coffee shops, take reusable bags, etc), work on handling my stress, try my best to practice my French everyday, be easier on myself and welcome each new day with gratitude.

What do you want to see on the blog in 2k19?
What are your goals and intentions for 2019?

Thank U, Next 2018

December 26, 2018

Thank you, next 2018. I'm going to be completely honest 2018 was a challenging year in many different ways. A little less than halfway through the year I started a completely new job while simultaneously taking two MBA classes in subjects I am awful at. Battled anxiety. Let go of toxic friendships. Asked for help.

2018 taught me a lot. It taught me that you can struggle and things can still turn out amazing. I learned gratitude will always be there, even if you don't feel like you're there. It's the light at the end of the tunnel. "Gratitude helps you find meaning and some version of contentment in the chaos."

In 2018 I vowed to live a year of intentional gratitude, be more conscious about my purchasing behavior in regards to sustainability, and read 23 books.

I read 24 books. I was more mindful of my environmental footprint. I bought most of my clothes secondhand and cut down my consumption of beauty products. I even cancelled Sephora Play. I made sure that things I was consuming most often were able to be recycled. I shared my feelings even when it was challenging. I took as many walks as I could. I lost 4 lbs. I mediated frequently.

I am grateful for all that 2018 has taught me, including the proof that when faced against the odds I can still succeed (in heels too). In 2019 I will try my best to continue working on lessening my environmental footprint (bring a recyclable cup to coffee shops, take reusable bags, etc), work on handling my stress, try my best to practice my French everyday, be easier on myself and welcome each new day with gratitude.

What do you want to see on the blog in 2k19?
What are your goals and intentions for 2019?

My love and appreciation for Mother Earth has been a lifelong relationship. You might remember my post a couple Earth Day's ago called, "Every Day Should Be Earth Day," where I shared a funny anecdote about trying to save a tree in my neighborhood. On the other hand, my passion for beauty really bloomed in high school. I remember dying to figure out how to do my makeup like Lily Ghalici (still quite haven't figured it out yet) and trying so many brands and products to get there. Although I did really learn a lot about beauty and how to do my makeup at a young age I didn't realize how much I was consuming at the time. I know I can't change who I was in the past, but I am trying my best to be an eco-warrior of the present.

Here are 5 Ways to Green Your Beauty Routine

1. Buy Less. The first of the three R's is reduce. I know this is something that no one wants to hear, but without reducing you can never truly have a green beauty routine. Today's makeup is so innovative that you can do more with less, and that allows you to buy and consume less! I challenge you to really try to cut what beauty products you're purchasing in half. You don't need to stock up once a year. Buy what you need throughout the year as you need it or you will never curb your consumption. Not only does it save money, but Mother Earth will appreciate it too.

2. Ditch makeup wipes and buy a Makeup Eraser. I had heard about the Makeup Eraser a long time ago but was always weary about it. One day I found it at TJ Maxx for $8 and I was like, "Done!" Since then I haven't bought any makeup wipes. The Makeup Eraser works super well and takes off all kinds of makeup: glitter pigment, lipstick, mascara, foundation, etc. You can wash it in the laundry machine and it lasts up to 1000 washes. It does need to be washed rather frequently but I have been able to get by washing it every 4-6 weeks and it works fine. Sometimes I do miss makeup wipes, probably out of convenience and the fact that the Makeup Eraser has a slight smell, but I've started having a mini bottle of makeup remover which I can recycle to make sure makeup doesn't seep into my fine lines.

3. Join Terracyle. Terracycle helps recycle the "non-recyclable." They partner with collectors, companies, retailers, etc to help recycle all sorts of "non-recyclable" items. Once you join their website you can sign up for recycling programs. I will be honest signing up for recycling programs is a bit secretive. They don't tell you how many spots there are for each program/where you are on the wait list, but that's my only problem. Recently, I was accepted into TerraCycle's beauty recyling program which allows me to recycle skin care, hair care, and cosmetic packaging. Its pretty amazing because you can recycle lipstick tubes, mascara tubes, eye shadow cases, eyeliner, hair care products, etc. I am really close to reaching my 10 lb goal!

4. Head to Origins/the Origins counter. Origins recycles cosmetic empties from any brand! Simply bring your empties to the Origins store or Origins counter at Macy's/Nordstrom/etc.

5. Support eco-friendly brands. We all have certain brands that we follow but we should try our best to support brands that are making a difference and making it easier to follow the three R's. I used to be a MAC fanatic in high school and that's something I'm not ashamed to say because you get rewarded for using and recycling makeup. Recycling 6 MAC empties to the MAC counter gets you a free $17 lipstick. MAC is not the only company making a difference. Ecotools, The Body Shop, Alba Cosmetics, Honest Beauty, Kiehls and Burt's Bees are a few other brands making a difference in the beauty community.

I know its not easy to change your ways, but its important to be accountable for our waste. I am working on nail polish/remover/cotton balls and trying to find a balance between my want for polished nails and need to help protect the environment.

Do you have a green beauty routine? What are some ways you could incorporate green beauty into your regular routine?

5 Ways to Green Your Beauty Routine

December 20, 2018

My love and appreciation for Mother Earth has been a lifelong relationship. You might remember my post a couple Earth Day's ago called, "Every Day Should Be Earth Day," where I shared a funny anecdote about trying to save a tree in my neighborhood. On the other hand, my passion for beauty really bloomed in high school. I remember dying to figure out how to do my makeup like Lily Ghalici (still quite haven't figured it out yet) and trying so many brands and products to get there. Although I did really learn a lot about beauty and how to do my makeup at a young age I didn't realize how much I was consuming at the time. I know I can't change who I was in the past, but I am trying my best to be an eco-warrior of the present.

Here are 5 Ways to Green Your Beauty Routine

1. Buy Less. The first of the three R's is reduce. I know this is something that no one wants to hear, but without reducing you can never truly have a green beauty routine. Today's makeup is so innovative that you can do more with less, and that allows you to buy and consume less! I challenge you to really try to cut what beauty products you're purchasing in half. You don't need to stock up once a year. Buy what you need throughout the year as you need it or you will never curb your consumption. Not only does it save money, but Mother Earth will appreciate it too.

2. Ditch makeup wipes and buy a Makeup Eraser. I had heard about the Makeup Eraser a long time ago but was always weary about it. One day I found it at TJ Maxx for $8 and I was like, "Done!" Since then I haven't bought any makeup wipes. The Makeup Eraser works super well and takes off all kinds of makeup: glitter pigment, lipstick, mascara, foundation, etc. You can wash it in the laundry machine and it lasts up to 1000 washes. It does need to be washed rather frequently but I have been able to get by washing it every 4-6 weeks and it works fine. Sometimes I do miss makeup wipes, probably out of convenience and the fact that the Makeup Eraser has a slight smell, but I've started having a mini bottle of makeup remover which I can recycle to make sure makeup doesn't seep into my fine lines.

3. Join Terracyle. Terracycle helps recycle the "non-recyclable." They partner with collectors, companies, retailers, etc to help recycle all sorts of "non-recyclable" items. Once you join their website you can sign up for recycling programs. I will be honest signing up for recycling programs is a bit secretive. They don't tell you how many spots there are for each program/where you are on the wait list, but that's my only problem. Recently, I was accepted into TerraCycle's beauty recyling program which allows me to recycle skin care, hair care, and cosmetic packaging. Its pretty amazing because you can recycle lipstick tubes, mascara tubes, eye shadow cases, eyeliner, hair care products, etc. I am really close to reaching my 10 lb goal!

4. Head to Origins/the Origins counter. Origins recycles cosmetic empties from any brand! Simply bring your empties to the Origins store or Origins counter at Macy's/Nordstrom/etc.

5. Support eco-friendly brands. We all have certain brands that we follow but we should try our best to support brands that are making a difference and making it easier to follow the three R's. I used to be a MAC fanatic in high school and that's something I'm not ashamed to say because you get rewarded for using and recycling makeup. Recycling 6 MAC empties to the MAC counter gets you a free $17 lipstick. MAC is not the only company making a difference. Ecotools, The Body Shop, Alba Cosmetics, Honest Beauty, Kiehls and Burt's Bees are a few other brands making a difference in the beauty community.

I know its not easy to change your ways, but its important to be accountable for our waste. I am working on nail polish/remover/cotton balls and trying to find a balance between my want for polished nails and need to help protect the environment.

Do you have a green beauty routine? What are some ways you could incorporate green beauty into your regular routine?
Is it crazy that winter is my favorite season for clothes? I love layers! Any opportunity to wear turtlenecks and put a hat on, I'm here for. I have been challenging myself to re-wear my closet with the addition of a few necessary pieces.

Perfectly Printed

December 7, 2018

Is it crazy that winter is my favorite season for clothes? I love layers! Any opportunity to wear turtlenecks and put a hat on, I'm here for. I have been challenging myself to re-wear my closet with the addition of a few necessary pieces.
After we said goodbye and buried the Naked palette the Urban Decay gods graced us with a new collection. I repeat, collection! Naked Cherry. A collection even Cheryl Blossom wouldn't gloss over.
I'm going to tell you a secret, promise not to judge. I have never owned a Naked palette. Naked foundation yes, gifted 3 Naked palettes yes, but I've never had my own. I've always wanted a Naked palette, but I have just lusted from a far. I hoped someone might gift me this beautiful palette and the Urban Decay gods did, with what I consider the most Chanel-esque palette.
This eye shadow palette is filled with 12 cherry inspired shades. Ranging from demure pinks and beiges to smokey browns.
From left to right:
Hot Spot: Although it looks super white this is a light beige. 
Caution: A pinky/peach beige. Very pretty on its own!
Bang Bang: Is a pretty soft, pink-coral with a pearly finish. This is a pretty color but its a little too light/2011 Sonia for me.
Feelz: A medium pink with a matte finish. This is a great transition shade.
Juicy: A light/medium coral with matte finish.
Turn On: A rosy copper. This is a very Naked palette shade.
Ambitious: A beautiful medium copper with a pearly/bronzy finish. 
Bing: A medium/cherry? pink. This color is similar to the Born to Run shade Hell Ride but its quite a bit lighter. 
Devilish: A pretty, plummy red. This is such a blendable eyeshadow.
Young Love: Medium plum pink/copper shimmer eye shadow. This shade was harder to apply.
Drunk Dial: A gorgeous deep plum! This is more of a satin shadow than metallic, but so beautiful.
Privacy: A dark, red-brown with a matte finish. 
As my first Naked palette I am definitely impressed. I love the color selection the red/pinks are so me. There are definitely some brown eye shadow looks you can do, but I have struggled with them because the browns are so dark. The only problem I have with this palette is the brush. I'm not a huge fan of the brush. Just like the other Naked palettes it has a double sided brush with a flat brush and a crease brush. The flat brush is just so small and delicate which seems unusual for this palette. I gotta pack the colors on!
Cherry is a deep berry wine with a shimmer finish. I really like this color. I feel like its one of those great colors that's not too red and wearable for many occasions.
Devilish is a medium almost berry pink with micro shimmer. Super pretty. I think its cool that they have a lipstick to match an eye shadow from the Naked Cherry Palette. The micro shimmers make this lipstick kind of hard to apply.

Juicy is a light peachy pink with copper flecks. This was a hard lipstick to wear. The glitter made it super hard to apply which was sad because it has the possibility of being such a great lipstick.

I was most excited to try this highlight and blush palette (which I've surprisingly never used) it has a highlighter, blush, and topper. I wear highlighter on the reg so you know I was excited about it! I love and am enraged by this palette. Mainly because I like separation from the shades, but the idea is that you can use this together. Cool idea but hard for make up users who like precision. I like the highlight shade and the blush. The topper I could do without.

Although cherry is not my first pick for a scent this cherry smell is not too overwhelming and I so prefer it over the normal UD setting spray smell that normally makes me sneeze. I like the shift towards scented palettes and sprays. It just makes the product line come together a little bit more. 

247 Glide-On Eye Pencil Black Market
Black Market is a satiny black eyeliner. Urban Decay liners hold up so good I swear. My Makeup Eraser has the hardest time getting it off.

Love Drug is a shimmery plum/wine. I'm low key scared of this eyeliner but just because its so pretty.
Overall, I am really impressed with this makeup collection. It definitely has a holiday feel, but I can see it transitioning really well to the summer. I think the must haves from the collection is the eye shadow palette and the lipstick, Devilish. I always love to see what they add on to the Naked collection because my favorite foundation came out of it! 

What do you think? Are you here for the Naked Cherry collection or are you a fan of the older collections?

I received these products courtesy of Urban Decay. All opinions are always my own.

Similar:

Cherry Bomb

November 25, 2018

After we said goodbye and buried the Naked palette the Urban Decay gods graced us with a new collection. I repeat, collection! Naked Cherry. A collection even Cheryl Blossom wouldn't gloss over.
I'm going to tell you a secret, promise not to judge. I have never owned a Naked palette. Naked foundation yes, gifted 3 Naked palettes yes, but I've never had my own. I've always wanted a Naked palette, but I have just lusted from a far. I hoped someone might gift me this beautiful palette and the Urban Decay gods did, with what I consider the most Chanel-esque palette.
This eye shadow palette is filled with 12 cherry inspired shades. Ranging from demure pinks and beiges to smokey browns.
From left to right:
Hot Spot: Although it looks super white this is a light beige. 
Caution: A pinky/peach beige. Very pretty on its own!
Bang Bang: Is a pretty soft, pink-coral with a pearly finish. This is a pretty color but its a little too light/2011 Sonia for me.
Feelz: A medium pink with a matte finish. This is a great transition shade.
Juicy: A light/medium coral with matte finish.
Turn On: A rosy copper. This is a very Naked palette shade.
Ambitious: A beautiful medium copper with a pearly/bronzy finish. 
Bing: A medium/cherry? pink. This color is similar to the Born to Run shade Hell Ride but its quite a bit lighter. 
Devilish: A pretty, plummy red. This is such a blendable eyeshadow.
Young Love: Medium plum pink/copper shimmer eye shadow. This shade was harder to apply.
Drunk Dial: A gorgeous deep plum! This is more of a satin shadow than metallic, but so beautiful.
Privacy: A dark, red-brown with a matte finish. 
As my first Naked palette I am definitely impressed. I love the color selection the red/pinks are so me. There are definitely some brown eye shadow looks you can do, but I have struggled with them because the browns are so dark. The only problem I have with this palette is the brush. I'm not a huge fan of the brush. Just like the other Naked palettes it has a double sided brush with a flat brush and a crease brush. The flat brush is just so small and delicate which seems unusual for this palette. I gotta pack the colors on!
Cherry is a deep berry wine with a shimmer finish. I really like this color. I feel like its one of those great colors that's not too red and wearable for many occasions.
Devilish is a medium almost berry pink with micro shimmer. Super pretty. I think its cool that they have a lipstick to match an eye shadow from the Naked Cherry Palette. The micro shimmers make this lipstick kind of hard to apply.

Juicy is a light peachy pink with copper flecks. This was a hard lipstick to wear. The glitter made it super hard to apply which was sad because it has the possibility of being such a great lipstick.

I was most excited to try this highlight and blush palette (which I've surprisingly never used) it has a highlighter, blush, and topper. I wear highlighter on the reg so you know I was excited about it! I love and am enraged by this palette. Mainly because I like separation from the shades, but the idea is that you can use this together. Cool idea but hard for make up users who like precision. I like the highlight shade and the blush. The topper I could do without.

Although cherry is not my first pick for a scent this cherry smell is not too overwhelming and I so prefer it over the normal UD setting spray smell that normally makes me sneeze. I like the shift towards scented palettes and sprays. It just makes the product line come together a little bit more. 

247 Glide-On Eye Pencil Black Market
Black Market is a satiny black eyeliner. Urban Decay liners hold up so good I swear. My Makeup Eraser has the hardest time getting it off.

Love Drug is a shimmery plum/wine. I'm low key scared of this eyeliner but just because its so pretty.
Overall, I am really impressed with this makeup collection. It definitely has a holiday feel, but I can see it transitioning really well to the summer. I think the must haves from the collection is the eye shadow palette and the lipstick, Devilish. I always love to see what they add on to the Naked collection because my favorite foundation came out of it! 

What do you think? Are you here for the Naked Cherry collection or are you a fan of the older collections?

I received these products courtesy of Urban Decay. All opinions are always my own.

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I still remember the first time I shopped on eBay. I was sitting in our kitchen trying to solve the mystery of how to get my hair to look like the Avril Lavigne poster I had in my room without bleach and without getting grounded. I remember finding a seller that sold the same color hair extensions I had been looking for and before I knew it, I had the same shade of hair extensions in my shopping cart. A few weeks passed and I was rocking an Avril inspired outfit with my new extensions. Who would've known that eleven years later I would still be shopping religiously on eBay.

Berries & Buy It Now

November 15, 2018

I still remember the first time I shopped on eBay. I was sitting in our kitchen trying to solve the mystery of how to get my hair to look like the Avril Lavigne poster I had in my room without bleach and without getting grounded. I remember finding a seller that sold the same color hair extensions I had been looking for and before I knew it, I had the same shade of hair extensions in my shopping cart. A few weeks passed and I was rocking an Avril inspired outfit with my new extensions. Who would've known that eleven years later I would still be shopping religiously on eBay.
It seems like everywhere I turn there's a new makeup collection out and honestly I want them all! My eye shadow palette collection has doubled in the past year and I have started to run out of room. Don't worry, I made room!
The newest palette I have added to my collection courtesy of Urban Decay is the Aphrodisiac palette.
This palette has six shades. 3 matte eyeshadows and 3 shimmers. Personally I really like this move to smaller palettes because they're priced more affordably ($29) and are easier to travel with/less bulky.  If you're like me and pack 5 eye shadow palettes to go on 3-day vacation this palette is perfect! Also, this palette is an Ulta exclusive.
There are six eye shadows in the palette.

Sheets is light/medium peach with a matte finish. Truly beautiful on its own.
Beyond is an orange with notes of light brown with a matte finish. This is probably my favorite shade because it has a warm undertone and reminds me of a retired KVD eyeshadow called Unrequited that I am still mourning the loss of. Beyond is super wearable on its on or with Sheets. 
Night Fever is a blush/copper with a glitter finish. I really struggle with the glitter finishes in this palette. They don't apply well without a concealer base and wet brush which is unfortunate because I think this glitter is so pretty.
Addict is a plum with a glitter finish. I also had a super hard time applying this shade. Similar to Night Fever I have to put a layer of concealer and use a wet brush. I thought this shade would be my favorite since it reminds me of a Metal Crush Kat Von D eye shadow called Raw Power which is a hair more red. Sadly, Addict's performance was a bit lackluster. I used it with the UD setting spray and it applied better.
Glare is a medium brown with metallic/bronze finish. I liked that it was more of a "metal" kind of eye shadow. Its a beautiful shade and I like wearing it alone on my lids.
Whiplash is a reddish brown with a matte finish. This color was fun. I feel like some browns are too dark and muddy up a look but this shade is perfect because it has enough medium brown in it to balance it out. It blends perfectly, even when you have a little too much on your eyeshadow brush.
Urban Decay also sent me these beautiful hi-fi shine ultra cushion lip glosses in three shades: Aphrodisiac, Ghosted and Tongue Tied ($20 each). I have been really liking lip gloss more these days.
The Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss claims to be an ultra-shiny lip gloss that's soft, long-lasting, and wearable. There is vitamin e and peppermint oil in this lip gloss that actually provides moisture. These lip glosses definitely do what they claim. I love the peppermint oil and the fact that these lip glosses are hydrating and not the least bit sticky. As we move into the colder days here in Kansas City I am definitely in need of MOISTURE and lip glosses like these are game changers.

From left to right shades are: Aphrodisiac, Tongue Tied, and Ghosted.
Tongue Tied Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss is a glittery fuschia lip gloss. This lip gloss is limited edition.
Aphrodisiac is a warm orange lip gloss with a sparkle finish, which I didn't expect considering the flecks of glitter are green. This lip gloss is super beautiful. Its very disco-y in a super super subtle way. Adds enough sparkle to spice up a boring look. I would buy this again in a heart beat, I wish it wasn't limited edition.
Ghosted is a neutral lip gloss with flecks of purple glitter. This is a rather plain glitter for such a pretty purple. I was slightly disappointed in this color compared to the other two it just didn't have the same glittery look.

Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencils are beautiful. I want these in every color.

Rockstar looks like a brown but its a pearly plum. A great alternative for browns if you want to switch it up. UD eye pencils are seriously the shit.

Zero is not the blackest black but its super creamy and sharpens well which is important. It doesn't seem to dry out quickly either which is what I love about UD pencils.

I am pretty impressed with this collection overall. Its very well thought out and the limited edition colors are definitely worth investing in before they disappear. I am definitely into the palette even though some of the colors require Rihanna level work, but the Aphrodisiac palette is super wearable for all skin tones and makeup expertise.

What do you think? Do you like mini palettes, disco lip gloss?


I received these products courtesy of Urban Decay. All opinions are always my own.

Photos by my friend Mallory


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Aphrodisiac Collection Review

November 5, 2018

It seems like everywhere I turn there's a new makeup collection out and honestly I want them all! My eye shadow palette collection has doubled in the past year and I have started to run out of room. Don't worry, I made room!
The newest palette I have added to my collection courtesy of Urban Decay is the Aphrodisiac palette.
This palette has six shades. 3 matte eyeshadows and 3 shimmers. Personally I really like this move to smaller palettes because they're priced more affordably ($29) and are easier to travel with/less bulky.  If you're like me and pack 5 eye shadow palettes to go on 3-day vacation this palette is perfect! Also, this palette is an Ulta exclusive.
There are six eye shadows in the palette.

Sheets is light/medium peach with a matte finish. Truly beautiful on its own.
Beyond is an orange with notes of light brown with a matte finish. This is probably my favorite shade because it has a warm undertone and reminds me of a retired KVD eyeshadow called Unrequited that I am still mourning the loss of. Beyond is super wearable on its on or with Sheets. 
Night Fever is a blush/copper with a glitter finish. I really struggle with the glitter finishes in this palette. They don't apply well without a concealer base and wet brush which is unfortunate because I think this glitter is so pretty.
Addict is a plum with a glitter finish. I also had a super hard time applying this shade. Similar to Night Fever I have to put a layer of concealer and use a wet brush. I thought this shade would be my favorite since it reminds me of a Metal Crush Kat Von D eye shadow called Raw Power which is a hair more red. Sadly, Addict's performance was a bit lackluster. I used it with the UD setting spray and it applied better.
Glare is a medium brown with metallic/bronze finish. I liked that it was more of a "metal" kind of eye shadow. Its a beautiful shade and I like wearing it alone on my lids.
Whiplash is a reddish brown with a matte finish. This color was fun. I feel like some browns are too dark and muddy up a look but this shade is perfect because it has enough medium brown in it to balance it out. It blends perfectly, even when you have a little too much on your eyeshadow brush.
Urban Decay also sent me these beautiful hi-fi shine ultra cushion lip glosses in three shades: Aphrodisiac, Ghosted and Tongue Tied ($20 each). I have been really liking lip gloss more these days.
The Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss claims to be an ultra-shiny lip gloss that's soft, long-lasting, and wearable. There is vitamin e and peppermint oil in this lip gloss that actually provides moisture. These lip glosses definitely do what they claim. I love the peppermint oil and the fact that these lip glosses are hydrating and not the least bit sticky. As we move into the colder days here in Kansas City I am definitely in need of MOISTURE and lip glosses like these are game changers.

From left to right shades are: Aphrodisiac, Tongue Tied, and Ghosted.
Tongue Tied Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss is a glittery fuschia lip gloss. This lip gloss is limited edition.
Aphrodisiac is a warm orange lip gloss with a sparkle finish, which I didn't expect considering the flecks of glitter are green. This lip gloss is super beautiful. Its very disco-y in a super super subtle way. Adds enough sparkle to spice up a boring look. I would buy this again in a heart beat, I wish it wasn't limited edition.
Ghosted is a neutral lip gloss with flecks of purple glitter. This is a rather plain glitter for such a pretty purple. I was slightly disappointed in this color compared to the other two it just didn't have the same glittery look.

Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencils are beautiful. I want these in every color.

Rockstar looks like a brown but its a pearly plum. A great alternative for browns if you want to switch it up. UD eye pencils are seriously the shit.

Zero is not the blackest black but its super creamy and sharpens well which is important. It doesn't seem to dry out quickly either which is what I love about UD pencils.

I am pretty impressed with this collection overall. Its very well thought out and the limited edition colors are definitely worth investing in before they disappear. I am definitely into the palette even though some of the colors require Rihanna level work, but the Aphrodisiac palette is super wearable for all skin tones and makeup expertise.

What do you think? Do you like mini palettes, disco lip gloss?


I received these products courtesy of Urban Decay. All opinions are always my own.

Photos by my friend Mallory


Similar:

With the holidays fast approaching Urban Decay got me thinking about the holidays early with this beautiful Elements eyeshadow palette. Inspired by the elements and in my opinion Avatar the Last Air Bender this palette draws inspiration from earth, air, fire, and water. 
There are 19 shades in this beautiful palette. Sparkles, metallics, micro-glitters, and mattes. Its all nestled in this round and may I add unusual but festive packaging. Some hate this packaging and think the circle is unusual but I actually quite like the round mirror because its beautiful and HUGE. However, its a bummer that this palette can't fit in any of my drawers. I do think this palette might be a challenging addition for most people's makeup bag (my makeup bag is basically a body bag). I could see myself taking this palette when I travel because the round mirror would work for an all around makeup application.
Starting with the external circle with the deep blue on the ride side:

Sapphire Dream is a navy blue metallic that reminds me of Pat McGrath's Blitz Blue but it isn't quite as vibrant.
Electric Air is a silver/lavender metallic. Its rather sheer. I don't see myself using this eyeshadow a lot sadly.
Antidote is a warm nude. Its peachy with some orange undertones. A great transition shade.
Secret Keeper is a bright, pistachio green
Earthbound is a dark poison ivy green with a metallic sheen.
Elemental is a medium brown. Its much browner than I thought. Its a very chestnut praline latte color.
Volcanic is a metallic bronze copper.
Lioness is not quite a plum and not quite a brown. Its a mixture of a plum and bronze with a metallic finish.
Fire Starter is my favorite shade. At first I thought it was a true red. Its a very deep red that is slightly pink but after 8 hours is a bit more magenta.
Dreamweaver is a medium bubble gum pink matte. This is definitely a color I would've loved in seventh grade. It isn't super vibrant upon application which was sad.
Ego is a shimmery plum that has a bit of lavender in it. This color is so beautiful. Its almost fuchsia-ish.
Heavy Water is a medium blue/turquoise. This shade is the hardest for me to wear for some reason. Its a very typical UD shade as well.

Now onto the inner circle starting with the shade on the right side:

Fortune Teller is one of those shades that UD does so well and I never get tired of. Fortune Teller is a blue green/plum eyeshadow. It wears for about 6 hours.
Silver Burn is a blackish purple with some pink glitter. This eyeshadow is hard to use as it wasn't very pigmented which was unfortunate, but made the color slightly more wearable.
Fool's Gold is a metallic gold shimmer. Its a beautiful bright gold with some green notes.
Moon Rock is a pretty medium dark bronze metallic.
Tectonic is a deep brown with some plumminess to it. Its so prettyyyy.
Hex Remedy is a purple satin eyeshadow. Also a color seventh grade Sonia would LOVE.

Right in the middle of all of it is Luna, a pretty white with sparkle and shimmer. Its sort of frosty, but I could see myself using it as a highlighter. In the inner corner works well too.

Overall, this palette is SO out of my ball park, but that's what I like about it. I have nothing like this in my entire collection. Which is not surprising to me because I usually am a neutral/red eye shadow palette kinda girl. The bold colors for the most part are very rich and pigmented. Using all these colors is a little bit of a challenge for me since I don't wear bold colors (minus red on the reg), but I am going to go all out and do a blue look soon.

PS what do you think of these sweet sunglasses? I am loving this revival of Jackie O. sunglasses. I received this pair from Cake Eyewear and I want to share a $20 discount off ALL Cake Eyewear with you! Just use Promo Code: SONIA20

What do you guys think of this palette? Does it remind you of the holidays? What colors do you gravitate towards?

I received these products courtesy of Urban Decay and Cake Eyewear. All opinions are always my own.

Photos by my friend Mallory

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UD Elements Review

November 1, 2018

With the holidays fast approaching Urban Decay got me thinking about the holidays early with this beautiful Elements eyeshadow palette. Inspired by the elements and in my opinion Avatar the Last Air Bender this palette draws inspiration from earth, air, fire, and water. 
There are 19 shades in this beautiful palette. Sparkles, metallics, micro-glitters, and mattes. Its all nestled in this round and may I add unusual but festive packaging. Some hate this packaging and think the circle is unusual but I actually quite like the round mirror because its beautiful and HUGE. However, its a bummer that this palette can't fit in any of my drawers. I do think this palette might be a challenging addition for most people's makeup bag (my makeup bag is basically a body bag). I could see myself taking this palette when I travel because the round mirror would work for an all around makeup application.
Starting with the external circle with the deep blue on the ride side:

Sapphire Dream is a navy blue metallic that reminds me of Pat McGrath's Blitz Blue but it isn't quite as vibrant.
Electric Air is a silver/lavender metallic. Its rather sheer. I don't see myself using this eyeshadow a lot sadly.
Antidote is a warm nude. Its peachy with some orange undertones. A great transition shade.
Secret Keeper is a bright, pistachio green
Earthbound is a dark poison ivy green with a metallic sheen.
Elemental is a medium brown. Its much browner than I thought. Its a very chestnut praline latte color.
Volcanic is a metallic bronze copper.
Lioness is not quite a plum and not quite a brown. Its a mixture of a plum and bronze with a metallic finish.
Fire Starter is my favorite shade. At first I thought it was a true red. Its a very deep red that is slightly pink but after 8 hours is a bit more magenta.
Dreamweaver is a medium bubble gum pink matte. This is definitely a color I would've loved in seventh grade. It isn't super vibrant upon application which was sad.
Ego is a shimmery plum that has a bit of lavender in it. This color is so beautiful. Its almost fuchsia-ish.
Heavy Water is a medium blue/turquoise. This shade is the hardest for me to wear for some reason. Its a very typical UD shade as well.

Now onto the inner circle starting with the shade on the right side:

Fortune Teller is one of those shades that UD does so well and I never get tired of. Fortune Teller is a blue green/plum eyeshadow. It wears for about 6 hours.
Silver Burn is a blackish purple with some pink glitter. This eyeshadow is hard to use as it wasn't very pigmented which was unfortunate, but made the color slightly more wearable.
Fool's Gold is a metallic gold shimmer. Its a beautiful bright gold with some green notes.
Moon Rock is a pretty medium dark bronze metallic.
Tectonic is a deep brown with some plumminess to it. Its so prettyyyy.
Hex Remedy is a purple satin eyeshadow. Also a color seventh grade Sonia would LOVE.

Right in the middle of all of it is Luna, a pretty white with sparkle and shimmer. Its sort of frosty, but I could see myself using it as a highlighter. In the inner corner works well too.

Overall, this palette is SO out of my ball park, but that's what I like about it. I have nothing like this in my entire collection. Which is not surprising to me because I usually am a neutral/red eye shadow palette kinda girl. The bold colors for the most part are very rich and pigmented. Using all these colors is a little bit of a challenge for me since I don't wear bold colors (minus red on the reg), but I am going to go all out and do a blue look soon.

PS what do you think of these sweet sunglasses? I am loving this revival of Jackie O. sunglasses. I received this pair from Cake Eyewear and I want to share a $20 discount off ALL Cake Eyewear with you! Just use Promo Code: SONIA20

What do you guys think of this palette? Does it remind you of the holidays? What colors do you gravitate towards?

I received these products courtesy of Urban Decay and Cake Eyewear. All opinions are always my own.

Photos by my friend Mallory

Similar:

Whenever I wear this dress I always think of Michael Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Something where he sings, "You're a vegetable, you're a vegetableee" Silly, I know but I just get such a kick out of this dress.
I first saw this dress on ModCloth ages ago but to my dismay they discontinued the style. Over the summer ModCloth brought it back for $120, wayyyyy over my dress budget. As fate would have it, I ended up finding the dress on eBay for half of Modcloth's price. Still expensive, but an eBay seller accepted my final offer and this dress was finally happily in my closet.
I love everything about this dress. The vegetables are so colorful and it just makes me so happy. Who doesn't love vegetables?! Its definitely a spring/summer dress, but can work into fall with a leather jacket. It could definitely work with tights/ankle boots too. I try not to get too busy with the dress since it clearly speaks for itself, but could get crazy with fun feather earrings to go along with it.
Mallory and I basically recreated the beginning of Cabin in the Woods searching for this art installation by Eboni Patterson for Open Spaces (A KC arts experience).
This blue swimming pool is filled with flowers, candles, and teddy bears. Its truly a sight to be seen. Open Spaces ends on October 28 so make sure you make it out to Swope Park.
\
Back to outfit details, I bought these SJP Doris D'orsay pumps for my birthday and they are so cute! This is the first time I've broken them out on the blog despite getting them in April.
I have been on the hunt for a new purse with a rather vintage/modern style. I found this clutch from the Balmain x H&M collection which I completely missed back in 2015 because I fell asleep... I love the red suede and gold handle. This purse goes with everything. I have been really craving a new luxury bag and this purse is enough to subside my purse lust.
I feel like it has been a bit since I've posted an outfit on the blog. Good news! I've been shooting a lot of content these past couple of weeks and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Aside from the blog life, work and grad school keep me busy, but I am managing it much better than I did in the summer. I finished international business and am now taking a stats class. I am learning how to balance my work, school, and personal life a lot better these days finding time to catch a movie, see my friends, and volunteer. I'm grateful to learn how to manage my schedule earlier in life although at times in can be frustrating.

I feel like I keep blinking and the months are changing I can't believe November will be here in just a mere week and gingerbread lattes soon! I have held October dearly in my heart friends. I hope you have too.

Wearing: Dress - ModCloth (exact), heels - SJP Collection (similar), clutch - H&M x Balmain (similar), watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs, nails - O.P.I Alpaca My Bags 

Photos by my sweet and talented friend Mallory Taylor. So grateful for you.

Similar:

You're a Vegetabe

October 24, 2018

Whenever I wear this dress I always think of Michael Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Something where he sings, "You're a vegetable, you're a vegetableee" Silly, I know but I just get such a kick out of this dress.
I first saw this dress on ModCloth ages ago but to my dismay they discontinued the style. Over the summer ModCloth brought it back for $120, wayyyyy over my dress budget. As fate would have it, I ended up finding the dress on eBay for half of Modcloth's price. Still expensive, but an eBay seller accepted my final offer and this dress was finally happily in my closet.
I love everything about this dress. The vegetables are so colorful and it just makes me so happy. Who doesn't love vegetables?! Its definitely a spring/summer dress, but can work into fall with a leather jacket. It could definitely work with tights/ankle boots too. I try not to get too busy with the dress since it clearly speaks for itself, but could get crazy with fun feather earrings to go along with it.
Mallory and I basically recreated the beginning of Cabin in the Woods searching for this art installation by Eboni Patterson for Open Spaces (A KC arts experience).
This blue swimming pool is filled with flowers, candles, and teddy bears. Its truly a sight to be seen. Open Spaces ends on October 28 so make sure you make it out to Swope Park.
\
Back to outfit details, I bought these SJP Doris D'orsay pumps for my birthday and they are so cute! This is the first time I've broken them out on the blog despite getting them in April.
I have been on the hunt for a new purse with a rather vintage/modern style. I found this clutch from the Balmain x H&M collection which I completely missed back in 2015 because I fell asleep... I love the red suede and gold handle. This purse goes with everything. I have been really craving a new luxury bag and this purse is enough to subside my purse lust.
I feel like it has been a bit since I've posted an outfit on the blog. Good news! I've been shooting a lot of content these past couple of weeks and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Aside from the blog life, work and grad school keep me busy, but I am managing it much better than I did in the summer. I finished international business and am now taking a stats class. I am learning how to balance my work, school, and personal life a lot better these days finding time to catch a movie, see my friends, and volunteer. I'm grateful to learn how to manage my schedule earlier in life although at times in can be frustrating.

I feel like I keep blinking and the months are changing I can't believe November will be here in just a mere week and gingerbread lattes soon! I have held October dearly in my heart friends. I hope you have too.

Wearing: Dress - ModCloth (exact), heels - SJP Collection (similar), clutch - H&M x Balmain (similar), watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs, nails - O.P.I Alpaca My Bags 

Photos by my sweet and talented friend Mallory Taylor. So grateful for you.

Similar:

In August I got a mysterious shipping notification from UPS that a package was headed to me. Beknownst to me on my doorstep was the whole Born to Run collection sent to courtesy of Urban Decay. Of course I was in tears. I am so excited to share my thoughts on  all these products to try from a brand I have admired for a very long time! It feels like it has been ages since I've done a beauty review like this. Grab some cider or an iced coffee and take a seat!

Born to Run Collection Review

October 8, 2018

In August I got a mysterious shipping notification from UPS that a package was headed to me. Beknownst to me on my doorstep was the whole Born to Run collection sent to courtesy of Urban Decay. Of course I was in tears. I am so excited to share my thoughts on  all these products to try from a brand I have admired for a very long time! It feels like it has been ages since I've done a beauty review like this. Grab some cider or an iced coffee and take a seat!
Hi friends, I can't believe its OCTOBER. I have gone back and forth on writing this review for what seems like so long now. I started writing Sephora Play reviews three years ago when I got my first box. I remember it like Christmas morning but in September. Back then there weren't huge websites dedicated to reviewing just subscription boxes and IG story unboxings were non-existent. Now three years later I am somewhat lost as what to do/where to go with these boxes in my content. Reviewing Sephora Play boxes was one of the huge chunks of my beauty content. Now I am working with more brands and making more original content, but those posts come in waves. Truthfully it has never been easy to keep up with boxes month to month and take pictures of all the products. 

Summer Sephora Play 2018 Haul

October 1, 2018

Hi friends, I can't believe its OCTOBER. I have gone back and forth on writing this review for what seems like so long now. I started writing Sephora Play reviews three years ago when I got my first box. I remember it like Christmas morning but in September. Back then there weren't huge websites dedicated to reviewing just subscription boxes and IG story unboxings were non-existent. Now three years later I am somewhat lost as what to do/where to go with these boxes in my content. Reviewing Sephora Play boxes was one of the huge chunks of my beauty content. Now I am working with more brands and making more original content, but those posts come in waves. Truthfully it has never been easy to keep up with boxes month to month and take pictures of all the products. 
Hi friends! You might have remembered my post about Stylebook from April. Back when I first started using this app it was to learn more about my style and how I can shop better in general. After using it for a few more months I figured I would post a update/my thoughts. Here it is!

Stylebook For Days

September 25, 2018

Hi friends! You might have remembered my post about Stylebook from April. Back when I first started using this app it was to learn more about my style and how I can shop better in general. After using it for a few more months I figured I would post a update/my thoughts. Here it is!
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