Saturday, January 07, 2017

Beauty | ColourPop x Amanda Steele Weekend Warrior Palette | Swatches + Review

Happy snowy Saturday, everyone! I can't even contain myself over this review, guys. I'm so, so excited to share my thoughts on this palette. Eeeee!

So last month, ColourPop collab'd with model/YouTube Influencer Amanda Steele to bring us ColourPop's first ever pressed-powder shadow palette ($18) as well as three liquid lippies (one matte, one satin, one gloss) and three super sparkly shadows that I didn't grab because I wasn't really into them. But this palette on the other hand, I had to have!

Let's address how awesome the packaging is, shall we? The palette comes with a fishnet-print sleeve that you slip off to reveal the palette. The fishnet print continues onto the sturdy, cardboard palette itself. What's really cool about this is that the palette's "lid" comes down and around (does that make sense?) to ensure a secure closing. Hopefully you can see it in the pictures and understand what the heck I'm trying to explain. No mirror in this palette but I'm kind of cool with it as the price ($18) would probably go up more for it.

  • Throttle - a satin pale pink. Throttle is described as a pale pink but I'd say it pulls more a light, light grey-toned pink. The swatches on the site definitely show it being more pink on darker skintones so maybe it's one of those shades that looks different on everyone. The satin finish is super silky smooth and blended out beautifully.
  • Harley -  a matte cool grey. Harley is a great cool-toned cement grey. Again, as a matte, they can tend to be chalky but I really love how buttery soft and pigmented it is. Is it revolutionary? Eh, not really but it's still a nice grey if you're looking for one.
  • Burnout - a matte deepened teal. Yes! I love, love, love teal shadows. Minimal fallout from this pretty baby and it blends like a dream. Pigmentation was on point as well.
  • Chopper - a matte deepened purple. Rounding out the palette is this sweet dark plum shade. Again, a teeny bit of fall out but nothing crazy. Again, no issues with blending and I loved the silky formula.

(L-R: Chopper, Burnout, Harley and Throttle)


Overall: I find it pretty gutsy for ColourPop to come out with this palette for a few reasons. For one, they did mostly mattes in this palette which are so, so hard to get right. I found these shades to be absolutely beautiful and silky to work with. Chopper and Burnout did have some slight fallout but nothing that would make me want to send this back. Secondly, the palette is so cool-toned (which is my fave!) but I know many (if not most) enjoy warmer tones. 

Is this palette a must-have solely based on the shadows colors themselves? Eh, depends. I'm sure you could find similar shades laying around in other palettes but I much enjoying having these four together in one place. I really like that you can go for a natural look  with Throttle on the lid, Harley in the crease or take it to SmokeyVille with Chopper or Burnout in the outer V and bottom lid.

Is this palette on your wishlist? What would you like to see ColourPop come out with next?

Shop | Buy ($18)
Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Beauty + Lifestyle | PopSugar Must-Have Box | December 2016

* POPSUGAR provided me with a complimentary box.

I'm so excited for this post. For the past few months, I've been sharing with you guys the goodies in the latest PopSugar Must-Have Boxes and man, oh man. This month does not disappoint! PopSugar knows how to end the year with a bang! 

So, what's PopSugar? I'm glad you asked. It's a monthly subscription box delivered straight to your door, every month, filled with full-sized home, fashion, food, beauty and more products. They also have a "mini" box option that contains a smaller amount of products for a lesser price per month. The full-size box will run you $39.95 a month, $109.85 for three (saving you $10) or $214.70 for six months (saving you $25). The mini box will run you $18.95 per month.

What's In The Box?

  • Odeme Catchall + Ring Dish ($67) - YES PLEASE. I was so excited to see both of these in this month's box! While both are made from porcelain, they are pretty sturdy enough to throw your keys into without damage. I use the smaller one to put my rings into because you could bet I'd lose them if they weren't all in one place.
  • BaubleBar Snowfall Pendant ($28) - I love seeing necklaces in these boxes! Unfortunately, the pendant isn't really much my style but it's still a very pretty piece. The chain is about 28" long and can be worn alone or layered!
  • Mane Message Date Night Bobby Pins ($16) - What girl doesn't need bobby pins, am I right? These bobby pins from Mane Message come with two glitter ones and one enamel one for just the right amount of glitz. 
  • Winky Lux Lip Pill in Bunny ($14) - I love trying out new brands! I hadn't heard about cruelty-free brand Winky Lux until I received this lipstick in the box but needless to say, I'll be talking about them a lot more! Bunny is a perfect mix of red and pink and goes on super opaque for a somewhat satin finish.
  • Sisters' Gourmet Baker's Dozen Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix ($6.99) - As big of a cookie eater that I am, I have never tried making cookies from a jar mix! Clearly, I've been missing out! These were so, so delish! The mix makes about a dozen (depending on how big you make them) and would make an awesome gift as well.
  • Dessange Professional Color Restore Color Protecting Top Coat Serum ($11.99) - While I don't have dyed hair, I will be keeping this in my back pocket for when I do in the next few weeks! It contains vitamin E to protect those tresses and keeps everything silky and smooth.

Let me know in the comments below what your favorite product from this month's box is! Make sure to use the code SHOP5 for $5 off your first box! 

Shop | Buy
* POPSUGAR provided me with a complimentary box / contains affiliate links.
Monday, January 02, 2017

Baby | How To Keep Your Little Babe's Skin Soft in the Winter

Ah, New England winters. A special time of year where Mother Nature isn't sure if it should be 60 or 30 out which, in turn, wreaks absolute havoc on everyone's skin. I'm talking Sahara Desert-type of dry, people. But it's not just my skin I've been lotioning more often to protect.

Keeping your baby's skin moisturized is super key in the winter too. Not only does keeping their skin moisturized prevent uncomfortable cracking but it's also just a really great bonding experience. A happy baby = a happy mommy! 

Naturally, I'm picky. It took me a long time to find some really great lotions that aren't overly fragrant and harsh on the skin. Did you know certain lotions could actually dry out your little babe's skin with daily use!? Yeah, not fun. I recently went through my little lotion collection (yep, that's a thing) and picked out my four favorite lotions for little babes.


  • Earth Mama Angel Baby Angel Baby Lotion ($17.99) - Earth Mama Angel Baby is a trusted name in the mommy world when you're looking for a great product with natural ingredients. If that doesn't impress you, this lotion is also the first US personal care product-certified to the NSF/ANSI 305 Standard for "Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients"! If your little one has eczema or sensitive skin, this is a great option as it contains organic Calendula and Rooibos which is great for soothing the skin without an irritants. After researching, I found that this lotion can also be used for diaper rash, keratosis pilaris and as a daily facial lotion! 
  • aden + anais Ultra-Gentle Lotion ($15.95) - I'm a huge fan of their blankets (their stroller ones are with us in the car at all times and both of my boys still snuggle with their ultra-soft swaddle blankets) and now I'm obsessed with their lotion! I've been using this lotion since they first sent it to me way back when Hunter was born. I also use this on myself as it's "gentle enough for baby, sophisticated enough for you". It's paraben, petroleum oil, gluten, soy and phthalates-free. The scent is my absolute favorite and I kind of wish it was a perfume for myself. It's lightly scented with Australian Sandalwood and infused with fresh, fermented Papaya fruit and shea butter for super soft, silky skin for your little one and you! Side note: Both of my son's recently had super-dry patches on their knees. I used this for two days and their skin went right back to smooth-as-a-baby's-butt-soft.
  • Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream ($7.19) - For those looking for a more cheaper alternative as well as one with no scent, this one's for you! It's both hypoallergenic and unscented and contains Colloidal Oatmeal and rich emollients to soothe their skin, kind of in the way an oatmeal bath soothes skin, right? Another great choice for little babes with eczema, as well!
  • Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Cream ($7.39) - Another great, affordable choice for those looking for eczema relief! Last year, Hunter had "seasonal eczema" so I rushed out to get something that would ease the itchiness. While I grabbed both this and the Aveeno, I found myself using this one way more! It's a thicker cream enriched with natural oatmeal, Ceramide 3 and Licochalcone to calm and soothe red, itchy skin.

While it's hard to "over-lotion" with the above as they don't contain any harsh irritants that could dry out the skin, I still like to keep it to only twice a day. Once in their morning when I change them out of their pajamas into normal clothes and then at night when I'm changing them back into their pajamas. Lotioning them at night definitely helps my little ones settle down into their bedtime routine. If it's bath night, I just lotion them directly after bath time to lock in that moisture! My guys love their feet massaged! 

What are your favorite lotions for your little ones?

* Some products were sent for review.